Binder2, tuesday, march11, 2014

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 21

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Police, MASSOB bicker over Enugu Govt House attack Sanusi Leo Sobechi

T

hree days after some hoodlums attacked the Enugu State Government House, Enugu, the state

police commissioner, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, has accused members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of

Biafra (MASSOB) of masterminding the attack.

But, in his reaction, the National President of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, said the com-

missioner “is suffering from a serious malaria attack and he should seek an efficacious malaria drug to address his ailment”.

He described the allegation as baseless, unfounded and of no effect.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu yesterday, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

again! Says ‘cabal’ stole $20bn

Page } 3

Quit now, Maitama Sule, Ango Abdullahi, Unongo tell Jonathan

lNorthern leaders canvass Sovereign National Conference lSay, ‘we are ready to go to war’ Muhammad Kabir Kano

T

he Conference of Leaders and Elders of

Northern Nigeria, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to step down from office to allow for a robust Sover-

eign National Conference (SNC) that would discuss the issues threatening the peace and unity of the country.

The leaders said they don’t have confidence in the National Conference which begins on Monday.

The Northern elders

Roll Call at Meeting

at a meeting held in Kano and convened by former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

• Alhaji Maitama Sule • Solomon Dalong • Prof. Auwalu Yadudu • Prof. Ango Abdullahi • Mrs Pauline Tallen • Dr. Paul Unongo • Yakubu Bako CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

2015: How we plan to eliminate rigging, by Jega lCommission to use 150,000 polling units in 2015 lSeeks NASS nod to establish Electoral Offenders Tribunal lReveals why Osun REC cannot be redeployed lTo publish names of electoral offenders

A

ttor ney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, has written the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to clarify the controversy surrounding the multiple registra-

tion of the governor-elect of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano.

Obiano was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on November 30 last year after the first election conducted on NovemCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

President Goodluck Jonathan (second right) switches on the automated construction equipment at the ground-breaking ceremony of the second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday. With him are: (from left) Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen.

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‘2nd Niger Bridge to be completed in 48 months’ Page 4

Akwa Ibom: Choice of Akpabio’s successor stokes fire Page 15

International oil firms put employment on hold in Nigeria Page 25

Iran, Bosnia search for Eagles’ match tapes Page 51

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INEC to create additional 30,000 polling units CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ber 16 was inconclusive.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige, had accused Obiano of registering in Lagos and Anambra states, thereby contravening provisions of the Electoral Act. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Tony Nwoye, also said due to the allegation, Obiano should be disqualified.

The governor-elect will be sworn-in on Monday to succeed Governor Peter Obi. Jega, who disclosed this in Lagos yesterday, said Adoke wrote him for clarification on whether Obiano actually registered twice when the multiple registration allegation came up.

He, however, did not say if Obiano is guilty of the allegation or not, adding that it would be prejudicial to comment further on the issue.

Jega, who said that more than one million Nigerians were guilty of multiple registration, declared that the commission lacks enough personnel to prosecute offenders.

“Yes, I received a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation on the allegation of multiple registration against the Anambra governor-elect and on his validity to stand for that election. Well, we have provided what we have because we have a procedure to detect multiple registration. Although we can prosecute, we don’t have the power to arrest.

That is the challenge we are facing.

“If we are to prosecute offenders of multiple registration, over a million Nigerians will be guilty. The

challenge we face is that we have a small legal unit which cannot cope with all cases. That is why we have sent a proposal to the National Assembly to establish the Electoral Offences Tribunal with regards to multiple registration and other offences.”

He, however, revealed that INEC would publish the names of people who did multiple registration and place the list in the polling booths.

The former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who disclosed that the commission would soon create additional 30,000 polling units for the 2015 elections, maintained that the budget for the polls “is not too much given our challenges”.

“We have 120,000 polling units and we give each member of the National Youth Service Corps

(NYSC) N10,000. Because we don’t pay the security agents, we provide N1,000 food money for each of them. We provide logistics, transport and other things. The number of personnel we require for any election is huge.

“We are also reviewing our polling units. For the 2015 elections, we may increase the number from the current 120,000 to 150,000 units. This is because in some of the current polling units, there are about 3,000 voters in each. That is too large and it leads to rowdiness during election. We don’t want voters to be more than 500 in each unit”.

The INEC Chairman equally revealed that the commission would put to use the permanent voters card in the coming elections. Giving the features of the card, Jega described it as a chip-based card

“which is like the regular ATM card”.

“It contains all the details of the voter”, he said.

He expressed concerns that some stakeholders are not doing enough to ensure that “we have a credible, free and fair election.

But we still have time for some of these to be corrected”.

Describing himself as an incurable optimist, Jega assured Nigerians that the 2015 elections would be better than previous exercises.

“Since 2011, we have improved the process of election but it can be better. From the preparation, guideline and the work we have done, 2015 will be much better. We are going to have a new voter register in September and those who are 18 and above since the last election will be captured. That is why we have commenced the

CVR (Continuous Voter Registration) for the Ekiti and Osun elections.

“We couldn’t do it in Edo because of the controversy which erupted.

It was the same thing in Ondo but the register we have now is the best in the history of the country.

Multiple registration is being eliminated completely.

“We also have the serial numbering of ballot boxes and ballot papers which will eliminate rigging.

Unlike before when INEC staff handled materials, now, it is the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) that will receive the materials and will hand them over to us on the eve of the election.

“The idea of using Vice Chancellors as Returning Officers is also a good one.

Since it is working creditably, we may start using members of the NBA (Nigerian Bar Association), engineers, doctors and

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST PORT HARCOURT

Adamu denied media reports that one person was shot and killed when security personnel attached to the Government House repelled the attack.

He gave the names of the suspects in police custody who are all indigenes of Anambra State as Shedrack Onwuka, Francis

33o 22o Thunder Storms

ABUJA

37o 24o Partially Cloudy

KANO

34o 13o Partially Cloudy

ENUGU L-R: Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Chief Medical Director, University College, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge during the Presidential Summit on Universal Health coverage at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO:TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Police: MASSOB behind attack on Enugu Govt House CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

even journalists as Returning Officers. We are also training our staff for efficiency”.

Jega accused political parties of breaching Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which strictly forbids parties from campaigning unless it is 90 days to election.

The section states: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

“All parties are guilty of this. It is strictly 90 days.

Parties have not conducted primaries, so, on which platform are they campaigning? Anybody who says ‘I am the candidate of any particular party’ is committing an electoral offence. They are violating legal timelines. Parties can hold rallies as long as they don’t say ‘vote for a particular politician”.

In a story published by New Telegraph on Monday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress

Nwokocha and Sunday Okafor, adding that one of the suspects, Ifeanyi Chukwuma, who was shot during the attack, is still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

He explained that the suspects, including 20 others now at large, attempted to gain entrance

into the Government House with the sole aim of hoisting the Biafran flag as well as their banners.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were invited by some people to go to Enugu and hoist Biafra flags. The real motive is what we are still trying to

find out,” the CP stated, adding that the suspects had disclosed the names of their sponsors to the police.

He indicated that while the police command continues the search for the sponsors, the suspects in custody would soon be charged to court even as he itemised the objects re-

covered from the suspects to include MASSOB banners, Biafran flags, machetes and a bag full of charms.

The banners carry proBiafra messages, such as “the Republic of Biafra, aka, The Tribe of God; Amalgamation Dissolved; Biafra an Ally and Supporter of Israel”.

34o 23o Thunder Storms

IBADAN

33o 24o Thunder Storms

CALABAR

33o 22o Thunder Storm

MAIDUGURI

37o 19o Partially Cloudy

ONITSHA

33o 22o Storm

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

3

Sanusi accuses ‘cabal’ of stealing $20bn Jonah Iboma

T

he suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has once again accused a cabal of stealing $20 billion through questionable kerosene subsidy scheme.

In a report by New York Times, Sanusi was quoted as having said he discovered that proceeds from oil sales were not being paid into the national treasury.

According to the report, based on an interview the newspaper had with the suspended CBN governor, Sanusi met bank chiefs in February and informed them that they would have to open their books for investigations to unravel the movement of the money.

The meeting was held on February 11.

“The bankers were going to have to open their books, the governor, Lamido Sanusi, warned them at the recent meeting.

He wanted to see where the money was going -$20 billion from oil sales that, mysteriously, was not making its way to the treasury, in a country that

could soon be declared Africa’s biggest economy and already attracts the most direct foreign investment on the continent, according to the United Nations,” the newspaper reported.

However, Sanusi stated that his warning to the bankers on their possible investigation was reported straight back to the Presidency and that was the source of his eventual removal.

“Some of them were not giving information about their accounts,” the central banker said. “I told them I would order a special examination,” the newspaper quoted Sanusi.

The newspaper also said Sanusi’s claims were corroborated by some bankers.

The newspaper said, “He made it clear to them that the CBN would need to unravel what was going on, and they should cooperate.”

According to the report, many of the bankers became angry. “One of us said, ‘What next?’ “ a second banker said. “There was a general heaviness.

He spoke tough.”

It was this panic that Sanusi said made several of

the bankers to go straight to the government.

He also alleged that by making the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) an issue in his allegations and having proven to the National Assembly that issue was a

scam, people appealed to him to be calm. He added that the allegations were considered a threat to the source of funding for 2015 elections.

He said: “I wasn’t just talking about numbers. I showed it was a scam.”

“By making NNPC an issue now, the source of money for financing elections is threatened,” Sanusi said, referring to the petroleum corporation. “If this is stopped, there will be no money to finance the elections.”

“It was critical that we stop this hemorrhage,” he reportedly said. “Otherwise, we can’t maintain stability. Reserves had gone way down. We would watch the naira collapse,” he said of the nation’s currency.

L-R: Deputy General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), Comrade Sylvester Chimeze; General Secretary, Comrade Issa Aremu and National Treasurer, Comrade John Adaji, at a news conference in Kaduna, over the closure of Federal Government Colleges in the North...yesterday.

N8.3bn

The total export value of ginger of Nigeria in the second quarter of 2013.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

N13.05bn

The total import value of other appliances such as tapes, cocks and other valves of Nigeria in the second quarter of 2013.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

14,056,000 The size of Arctic Ocean (in sq. km).

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Quit now, Maitama Sule, Ango Abdullahi, Unongo tell Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, said they are ready to do anything to defend “the corporate Nigeria”.

The leaders advised Jonathan to sacrifice the remaining period of his tenure for a proper sovereign conference instead of the National Conference taking off on Monday.

Solomon Dalong, a lawyer, made the call during the meeting.

His call received a standing ovation from all the leaders present.

“If President Jonathan refused to step down for the Sovereign National Conference (SNC) by May 25, 2015, the country should recognise members of the conference as the only duly recognised leaders in the nation,” he said.

Present at the meet-

ing were Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Dr. Paul Unongo, Yakubu Bako, Habibu Shuaibu, Air Vice Mukhtari Muhammad, Dr. Saddiq Abubakar Abu, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Dr. Sule Bello Abu, Ahmad Hassan Kila, Musa Gwadabe, Ahmad Aruwa, Air Vice Marshal El-Amin Daggash, Ibrahim Babankowa and others.

Unongo, Second Republic Minister of Power and Mines, threatened that the North is ready to go to war in case of any eventualities. “We will go to war to safeguard the integrity of the corporate Nigerian nation, as we did in the last 50 years or so,” he said.

Former Federal Permanent Secretary, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, noted that Northerners are only go-

Roll Call at Meeting • Habibu Shuaibu • Air Vice Mukhtari Muhammad • Dr. Saddiq Abubakar Abu • Hakeem Baba Ahmed • Dr. Sule Bello Abu • Ahmad Hassan Kila • Musa Gwadabe • Ahmad Aruwa • Air Vice Marshal ElAmin Daggash • Ibrahim Babankowa ing to the national conference as mere spectators who have nothing to contribute.

“At a time when hundreds of innocent lives are being slaughtered, the President is talking about holding a faceless conference. This is a conference that will have neither the time nor the clout to take up the alarming rise of violence in the lives of

Northerners and it will not have the capacity to ask how the Nigerian military that fought civil war and took part in peace mission to Liberia, Sierra Leone and others cannot protect children from being slaughtered in their schools or young girls being abducted or entire villages being razed routinely.

“The conference will be engaged in quarrels over composition of committees, rules and agenda, while the northerners ask who exactly is killing them in towns and villages in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa and Kaduna.”

He noted that the North will participate in the conference at best as a spectator, or at worst as a helpless victim of conspiracy to further exploit its weak-

ness. He urged Northern delegates to walk out of the conference.

Also, Borno elders that spoke at the conference said they have lost confidence in the Jonathan administration as a result of humanitarian crisis in the North-East.

“We have reached a point of no return, because of excessive killings and maiming of our lives, and the Federal Government has completely abandoned us to our fate,” Zanna Hassan Boguma, who spoke on behalf of the Borno elders, told the conference.

He argued that the failure of the Federal Government to arrest the spate of killings in Maiduguri was because the government lacks political will to act.

Boguma told the Northern elders that since the

Federal Government has completely failed in its responsibilities, they should rescue the situation.

He noted: “Today, the North is being turned into a war zone; a war that is meaningless and fought behind shadows. That is why until those who were named as financiers and allies of Boko Haram are brought to justice, and until the political Boko Haram members were apprehended and prosecuted, and until the operation to contain this madness is sincerely handled, lives of our innocent villagers will continue to be sacrificed.

“A situation where an entire community is wiped out, places of worship destroyed without recourse to even women, children and the elderly is not just condemnable C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

4

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

‘2nd Niger Bridge to be completed in 48 months’ Uwakwe Abugu and Dominic Adewole onitsha

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday performed the much awaited ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a N117 billion second bridge across the River Niger in Onitsha, even as he praised the people of the South-east and Southsouth zones for their patience.

At the ceremony in Atani, Jonathan said, “this bridge and the National Conference which would be inaugurated by next week Monday in Abuja, are two vital components of our national cohesion.”

Turning to the mammoth gathering, switched over to politics. “My sincere promise during my campaign is today made a reality to the good people of the South-east and South-south.”

One notable absentee at the historic event was Imo state Governor Chief Rochas Okorocha. While fellow South-east governors like Peter Obi of host state Anambra, Theodore Orji, Abia, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and even Delta governor Emmanuel Uduaghan threw banters at the occasion. Reports filtered in

that Okorocha was busy in Owerri receiving a beauty queen.

There were insinuations that the Imo state governor’s absence had more to do with politics since all the governors who accompanied the President to Onitsha belong to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Okorocha is of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The dual carriageway bridge, designed to be 1,590m long, is scheduled to be completed in four years by Messrs Julius Berger Construction Company.

Jonathan said the Federal Government was building two important bridges across the two great Rivers in the country – Niger and Benue –for the benefit of Nigerians.

Mr. President charged the governments of Anambra and Delta states to provide the enabling environment for the contracting firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.

The highly elated Managing Director of Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch, promised to work day and night and that the contracting firm will not compromise standard and assured that the project would be delivered

Quit now, Northern elders tell Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

but barbaric and cannot in any way be linked to a particular religion.”

Sule urged Northerners, regardless of their religious and political affiliation to forge common front in the task ahead.

Sule, who is the Danmassani Kano, observed that the high incidence of insecurity and poverty level facing the North was as a result of the polarisation in the region on religious and tribal issues.

He noted that Nigerian leaders nowadays have gone astray because of unnecessary sentiments to disunite the country.

“In the olden days, leaders of the North saw themselves as one indi-

visible people, fighting common goals. It was on record that most aides and loyalists of the late Ahmadu Bello were Christians, people like the late Sunday Awoniyi and others. Yet, the late Sardauna kept them in his cabinet. Today, the reverse is the case. Where does the North go from here?” Sule asked.

He urged the Northern delegates to see the confab as an avenue to right the wrong in the polity.

Most of the leaders stated that the solution “to our problems neither lies with the People Democratic Party (PDP) nor the All Progressives Congress (APC), but with you the Elders of Arewa.”

as expected.

Earlier in his speech, Minister of Works, Mike Onolemenen said the project was being executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concession period of 25 years, through the Design, Fi-

99%

nance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.

Onolemenen assured that government would hold the concessionaire accountable on both technical and financial issues during the construction, operation and maintenance stages of the proj-

The rate by which the number of new cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) has decreased since 1989.

Source: Who.int

ect.

According to the works Minister, ‘’The second Niger Bridge which will assist the existing aged steel truss bridge built in 1965 is 1,590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project, which construction cost is put

728m

The number of people wlho have been reached by preventive chemotherapy for at least one disease in 2011.

Source: Who.int

at N117,860,700,741.82 vat inclusive.’’

He said government with support of the World Bank would also commence the procurement and construction of two by-passes to complement and add value to the second Niger Bridge.

76%

The rate by which the reported number of cases of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) has decreased from 1999 – 2012.

Source: Who.int

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph, Bolaji Tunji (right) presenting copies of the newspaper to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, in Lagos yesterday. With them is the Editor, Gabriel Akinadewo

Why we registered APC, by Jega CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

(APC) and the Presidency had differed on whether President Goodluck Jonathan’s unity rallies across the nation is a breach of Section 99 (1).

On the order of election (February 14 for presidential/National Assembly and February 28 for governorship/House of Assembly), he revealed that what the commission did was to combine the first two elections in 2011 (National Assembly and presidential) for February 14 and the last two (governorship and House of Assembly) for February 28.

“Holding all elections in one day is good in advanced countries but if we do same here, we will be inviting more challenges.

We better keep on improv-

ing on what we have now because if we insist on that, we are going to have five ballot boxes and five ballot papers at the same location. We will be biting more than we can chew”.

On why the All Progressives Congress (APC) was registered and the other APC (African Peoples Congress) was not, he said the former registered through a merger of existing political parties while the latter did not meet the constitutional requirements.

Jega also said the inauguration of the National Conference cannot affect the preparation of the commission for the 2015 elections.

Given the provisions of the Electoral Act, he declared that electronic voting is not possible for now.

“We have recommended to the National Assembly to amend that section. There is total prohibition now.

We can’t go outside the law.”

Jega confirmed the registration of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but said the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was yet to be registered “due to some disagreement among the leaders”.

On the controversy surrounding the continued stay in office of the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) of Osun State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, Jega said: “Before the 2011 elections, one of the parties to the dispute in Osun State said the REC was a member of a political party, that he should not be allowed to conduct

the election. They went to court and got a judgement that he should not be allowed to conduct the election. Information at that time told us that the action was politicial. So, we appealed and filed for a stay of execution. It will be subjudice to remove him when the matter is in court.

“Even now, they are still writing petitions, putting pressure that he should be removed. It is going to be a dangerous precedent for any party to make noise and we just remove the REC like that.”

He reiterated his earlier position that elections will be conducted in the North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa once the security situation improves.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

5

APC postpones convention, congresses indefinitely Julius Toba Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress, APC has said it could not meet up with scheduled dates of its congresses and national convention.

The party is finding

it difficult to abide by a section of its own constitution q(Schedule III), having stayed beyond six months in office.

According to the Transition Provision in the APC Constitution,the Interim National Executive Committee is only empow-

ered to manage affairs of the party for a period of not more than six months, commencing from its date of registration by INEC. Following its final registration on the 31st of July, 2013, APC which appointed 35 key members to manage its affairs

since August 1, 2013 has not been able to elect party officers till date.

Recall that before this development, APC had initially scheduled 15th of March 2015 for a commencement of its ward congresses across the country, and mid April for

L-R: Professor G.T Olutunla, Vice Chairman, Board of the Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology, Mrs. Olugbemiga Adeyeye of the Federal Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, Registrar, FUTA, Princess Adetutu Adesida-Dike , the Regent of Akure Kingdom, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami, a Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State and Chief Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, President Institute of Directors, Nigeria during the 2014 International Women’s Day Celebration at the Main Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, Akure

12,088

The total population of Nanru, the third smallest country of the world.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

80%

The percentage of the world’s total population that lives on less than $10 a day.

Source: Globalissues.org

1bn

The total number of the world’s total population that entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.

Source: Globalissues.org

Federal allocation: States lose N800bn Biodun Oyeleye Ilolrin

T

he federal statutory allocation to states have been reduced by over N800 billion in the last seven months, it has been learnt. The development is already impacting the ability of many states to meet their statutory obligations.

Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu who made this disclosure in a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital estimated the state’s portion of the loss to be about N10 billion. He said the Federal Government and Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) had identified oil theft and pipeline vandalism as responsible for the shortfall.

But he expressed concern that the development was affecting states

negatively with many of them now being unable to meet statutory obligations to workers and called on the stakeholders to find immediate solution to the problem. He accused the federal government of insensitivity to the plight of workers by the way it has so far handled the matter.

He said the state’s portion of the shortfall amounted to N6 billion since August last year while the 16 local government areas in the state have also seen their allocations reduced by N4 billion in the same period.

Banu noted that while there has been an increase in the price of Nigerian bench mark oil in the international market against the budget benchmark, state and local governments “are still recording drastic reduction in their monthly statutory allocation”, adding that

“the shortfall is above 30 percent, while oil price is still above oil budget benchmark.”

According to him, the shortfall and the policy of not augmenting the allocation “is making the mockery of budget process .The federal Government must urgently address the problem otherwise, it will be difficult to implement the budget.”

Banu called on the federal government to step into the issue because the development has been causing hardship for civil servants and pensioners across the country due to inability to comply with the budgetary expenditure.

While lamenting that the shortfall has become a source of worry to the state government, he assured that Kwara State would continue to make concerted efforts to ensure

prompt payment of workers’ salaries and other commitments.

The commissioner also asked opposition politicians in the state to prevail on the federal government to handle the matter without much delay as he noted that the implication of not receiving full allocation in line with the budget is that most states could not pay salaries and meet other financial obligations.

“Let them call on the Federal Government to do the necessary thing. This problem is affecting all the 36 states of the federation.

Are we going to continue with this hardship? The Federal Government must find a lasting solution to this problem in order to ensure prompt payment of civil servants salaries and other delivery of developmental projects across the state for the benefit of the people.

its national convention.

Currently, it was gathered that there is a growing tension within the party to push out the current interim NWC led by Bisi Akande, on the ground that its tenure had expired since January 15th, 2014.

This prompted two members of the APC, Iheke Solomon and Nnamdi Olebara who led a group called “Conscience Group” to challenge the constitutionality of the interim NWC before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Checks by New Telegraph confirmed that the leadership of APC again met in Abuja at the weekend to deliberate over the development and choose possible dates.

Though Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the party, when contacted told New Telegraph that “Yes, the dates have been postponed mainly because of overwhelming response from the registration exercise, we need to set up IT centres to collate list of our registered members. A new date will be announced later” But further findings revealed that APC may be

applying delay tactics to address certain of its critical issues before electing any party officer.

Inside sources revealed that the party is still holding crucial talks with about three state governors over their possible defection from PDP, all from the north.

This scoop may have further been corroborated

by Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankaso who recently disclosed that more state governors were expected to join APC. Again, it is said that APC is now waiting for outcome of several court cases involving the G5 governors and former PDP members in the National Assembly.

Aside from that of the 11 Senators, verdict on the case of the 37 defected members of the House of Representatives is fixed for 26th March.

Also against position of Lai Mohammed on ICT the Centres, it was gathered that APC wants to continue with a kind of underground registration to get more members, since there were reports that it did not meet turnout expectations in certain states.

Protesters block highway over killings Muhammad Ali Kaduna

T

he busy Birnin GwariKaduna highway was yesterday blocked for several hours as over 2000 youths took to the streets, protesting the incessant insecurity in Birnin Gwari and environs yesterday.

The protest which was triggered by the killing of a lecturer of Kaduna State University(KASU) last Saturday by suspected armed robbers, disrupted vehicular flow on the major highway to Lagos.

Decrying the state of insecurity, the Birnin Gwari emirate council said that about 215 people have been killed in the last one year by armed bandits , while around 14, 763 cows have been lost to cattle rustlers.

Former Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation, Alhaji Zubair Abdurauf Idris who spoke on behalf of the emirate, told newsmen in Kaduna that ‘’incessant attacks, killing and cattle rustlers that has become order of the day in our area. ‘’ According to him, the Birnin-Gwari Kaduna road and Birnin-GwariFuntua road have been taken over by robbers.

Last Saturday , two people were killed along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road, he added.

Birnin Gwari has been experiencing attacks from cattle rustlers and armed robbers for a long time.

Last December, several people were killed at Ingade village following a clash between Fulani herdsmen and residents.

6

NEWS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

PHOTO NEWS

Fuel tanker explodes, destroys TCN installations in Delta Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

T Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right); Fuji Maestro, Wasiu Ayinde (left) and his mother, Alhaja Aminat Sadia Anifowose during the celebration of the 57th birthday of the musician in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State…yesterday

wo days after the Transmission Company of Nigeria lost its 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer in the Osogbo Sub- regional/ Work Center office to fire, another of the Company's installation was on Sunday in Ughelli, Delta State razed down by fire.

The fire incident in Ughelli led to the loss of one of its 330kV

transmission lines from Sapele to Ughelli in Delta State and twelve towers along the line route. The fire also caused the melting and snapping of all of the line conductors.

While the Osogbo incident was caused by explosion, the Ughelli incident was as a result of fire from a fell petrol tanker.

The management of TCN in a statement from the General Manager, Public Affairs, Seun Olagunju, stated that the repair will cost N1 billion.

On the effect on the affected area, TCN, however assured that an alternative route will be used.

Olagunju, in her statement said, "the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has lost one of its 330kV transmission lines from Sapele to Ughelli in Delta State and twelve towers along the line route, to a fire incident caused by a petrol tanker which caught fire between towers 88 and 89 at about 9:42am on Sunday, 9th March, 2014.

EFCC vs Bayelsa govt: Commission alleges blackmail Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

T L-R:Managing Director, Lead Capital, Wale Adewumi; Former Chairman, Crusader Sterling Pensions, Tola Mobolurin; Group Managing Director, Custodian and Allied Plc, Wole Oshin; Managing Director, Crusader Sterling Pensions, Niyi Falade and former Managing Director, Nigerian Re-Insurance, Joe Ameh during the farewell dinner in honour of retiring directors of Crusader Sterling Pensions in Lagos…yesterday

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday described as "provocative" and "blackmail", news reports that the Bayelsa state government has dragged the commission before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, seeking the remittance to the state's treasury looted funds recovered from former governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The commission's

angry reaction entitled, "Re: Alam’s Loot: Bayelsa Drags EFCC to Court", was contained in a statement signed by its Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren.

The statement, which doubted the veracity of the suit, in view of the fact that the commission was yet to be served, however, declared that the antigraft agency will carry on with its ongoing investigation of some government officials.

While doubting that the said plaintiff, one Mr. George Uboh, was acting on behalf of the Bayelsa state government, the

Three burnt to death in Ibadan church A cross-section of the members of the newly inaugurated State Audit Commission and Public Procurement Agency taking their Oath of Office before the Lagos State Governor at the Lagos Government House, Ikeja…yesterday.

L-R: Director , UAC Nigeria PLC, Mr Joe Dada; Managing Director, Softskills Management Consultant, Mrs Wonu Adetayo; Group Managing Director/CEO, UAC, Mr Larry Ettah; Director, UAC, Mrs Awuneba Ajumogobia and Director, Mr Abdul Bello during the company’s maiden edition of the International Women’s Day celebration for 2014 titled “Inspiring Change” held at Golden Tulip Festac, Lagos…yesterday

Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

I

T was wailing and gnashing of teeth yesterday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State when three worshipers of a Pentecostal church, Mercyland Prayer Ministries, were burnt to death in a night inferno.

The incident led to a pandemonium at Alaro/ Okoro area of Oke-Itunu in Ibadan as people beheld the charred bodies of the deceased, a coffin on the floor of the burnt church.

Scores of sympathisers including school children gathered in clusters discussing the incident,

when pressmen visited.

Five persons including a pregnant woman, Sade Oyediran, however escaped death by the whisker in the inferno which, New Telegraph gathered, started at about 2.00 a.m.

According to investigation, the fire emanated from a room attached to the church and later spread to some of the power generating sets fully loaded with petrol, resulting in a sudden spread to other parts of the church.

Aside the three worshipers: two men and a woman that died, the two power generating sets fully loaded with petrol, the roof of the church,

commission warned that "those pushing this deliberate misinformation for whatever ends should therefore prepare to substantiate them."

It regretted that "a matter as serious as its originators would have the world believe is given to reporters without serving the respondents."

Insisting that "the publications and the motive behind them are highly suspicious", the statement observed strongly, that the intent and purpose was "calculated to impugn the hard-earned credibility of the EFCC."

two complete drum sets, ceiling fans, many sewing machines, as well as the plastic and wooden chairs were completely burnt.

According to one of the lucky survivors, identified as Akin, "the inferno caught everybody unaware. Some of the worshipers were sleeping when it occurred. Only God saved me, and that is why I'm still alive.

"The flame together with heavy smoke immediately enveloped the church, resulting in the worshipers struggling to escape. But due to the heavy smoke, the three persons that died could not escape. I, and a few others tried to rescue them, but we were prevented from doing so by the smoke".

NEWS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

A’Ibom civil servants get N29.1 million housing loan Tony Anichebe UYO

T

he Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Finance, Elder Nse Ekefre, says the ministry has paid out over N20million as loan to civil servants through the staff housing loan scheme. and completed about 47 urban roads totaling 29 kilometers, five water supply projects in some communities through the community-based Urban Development Project.

Ekefre, who made this known during his presentation at the ongoing progress reports by members of the College of Permanent Secretaries yesterday in uyo, said the ministry has realized an investment income of over N82million while the total market value of the ministry’s investment in equity portfolios stood at N127million as at 31st December, 2013.

The permanent secre-

tary told his colleagues that over N36million has so far been recovered from some beneficiaries of the state Micro Credit Scheme while Government has also saved over N254million from salary payments between January and December, 2013 following series of verification exercises carried out by the Funds Monitoring Unit of the Ministry.

The details showed that over N110million was recovered from ministries and department, one N115million from parastatals and N28million from Local Education Authorities and SUBEB Headquarter.

With respect to 2014, Ekefre said the state government intends to acquire right issues in companies in which government has substantial investments, give loan to worker to purchase shares in the companies as well as grant housing loan to 150 beneficiaries.

SCREENING

Party disqualifies aspirants over tax, party dues

Onyekachi Eze, ABUJA and Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secreening committee for Ekiti governorship election has disqualified three of the 16 aspirants who appeared before it.

Those disqualified are Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Mrs. Bosede Cecilia Dada and Mr. Peter Obafemi.

The committee, which

58%

7

Ekiti poll: Screening Committee clears 13 aspirants, disqualifies 3 submitted its report to the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus yesterday in Abuja, said it adopted five criteria in screening the aspirants.

These were: evidence of payment of tax as at when due, evidence of party membership, evidence of basic educational qualification, party activity and evidence of payment of party dues.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ndoma Egba, who spoke to newsmen after the submission of the report, disclosed

The percentage of deaths in children under the age of five that is caused by infectious diseases.

Source: Who.int

that Olowoporuko was disqualified for two reasons: absence of tax clearance certificate and lack of evidence of court judgement overturning his previous expulsion from the party.

He said the aspirant later presented court judgement quashing the expulsion, but it came later, just few minutes before the report was submitted. He added that the aspirant has the opportunity to present his case before the PDP Appeal Panel.

On Mrs. Dada, the committee said there there was

18,000

The total number of children under-five that died daily in 2012.

Source: Who.int

no evidencee of West African School Certficate, no tax clearance certificate and no evidence of payment of membership dues.

The committee chairman added that Peter Obafemi was disqualified because he failed to present his National Youth Service (NYSC) discharge certificate.

New Telegraph gathered that one of the aspirants could not be screened because she failed to beat the deadline for the submission of the nomination forms.

78%

The percentage of children with suspected cases of pneumonia that are taken for treatment to an appropriate care provider.

Source: Who.int

National conference can revolutionise Nigeria, if - Ekweremadu Chukwu David ABUJA

T

he Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday expressed optimism that the National Conference would help reposition and transform Nigeria into a stable and prosperous nation if well handled by delegates.

Ekweremadu stated this at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, before joining President Goodluck Jonathan for the ground-breaking ceremony for the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Consequently, Ekweremadu appealed to the participants to approach the dialogue from a patriotic and nationalistic standpoint, devoid of parochial sentiments of ethnicity, partisanship or sectionalism.

In a press statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr.

Uche Anichukwu, the PDP chieftain said: “The National Conference is something that I believe will reposition this country if handled well.

“I want to appeal to participants to approach it from the point of view of patriots, not just as individuals representing their various states, ethnic groups, political parties, or professional bodies.

“They should think as Nigerians and about what we have to do to ensure the stability and progress of the nation and ensure that we bequeath a nation that our children will be proud of.”

The politician further promised that the National Assembly would give the national conference delegates all the legislative support to constructively deliberate on issues and come up with decisions that would help the country to rapidly overcome her multifarious socio-political challenges.

L-R: South East Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Stella Oraka; Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘C’, Assistant Comptroller-General Dan Ugo and Comptroller, Enforcement and Revenue, Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘C’, Umar Yusuf, during a sensitisation exercise on the Nigeria Trade Hub/Paar regime in Port Harcourt …yesterday.

Akpabio wants successor from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District

G

ov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has appealed to the people of Etinan Federal Constituency to support the emergence of a governor from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in 2015.

The governor made the appeal during a town hall meeting organised by the State Government for the people of Etinan Federal Constituency at Etinan Council Hall yesterday. ``Since 1999, the two

senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom North East and Akwa Ibom North West had produced governors in the state. ``Justice and fairness demand that the people of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District should take their turn in 2015. ``This government decided to hold the town hall meeting because we believe strongly that we have come to a critical moment in our history”, Akpabio said.

He said this was the moment to take a decision on the way forward. ``You are a strategic partner in the development of the state. ``Since the days of Dr Clement Isong of old Cross River, no government could succeed without the contributions of Etinan Federal Constituency”, Akpabio said.

He, however, assured the people that there would be no anointed candidate and that the

election would be open to all contestants in 2015.

Akpabio said stakeholders would sit and zone political positions at the end of constituency consultation.

Former Sen. Effiong Bob (Akwa Ibom North East), thanked the governor for initiating the town hall meeting to test the pulse of the people.

Bob, who is the ProChancellor, University of Benin, said the meeting was an opportunity of telling the truth.

8

ACROSS THE NATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Kaduna

Yobe

Kaduna

Fune

Gov Yero begs defectors to return to PDP Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna state yesterday begged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state who defected to return.

Yero made the call in Kaduna at the inauguration of PDP stakeholders for the 23 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the party still recognises members that defected to the All Progressive Con-

gress (APC) but have not returned their membership card to the party.

The governor pleaded with defectors, who had left the party on grounds of disaffection or offence by his administration to forgive and accept his unreserved apology.

"Those who left PDP because Mukhtar has offended them should please forgive and forget the grievances and return to the party to assist it forge ahead.

FCT Abuja

CPC moves to check subscribers’ rights abuse In a bold move aimed at improving consumer education and protecting the rights of subscribers from certain exploitative activities of some telecommunications operators across the country, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), has

launched a Compendium of the Rights of Telecommunication Subscribers in Nigeria.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, launched the compendium in Abuja yesterday at the Consumer Roundtable on Phone Rights put together by the CPC.

First class Yobe emir dies in accident The Emir of Ngarzalma in Fune local Government area of Yobe state, Alh Muhammedu Mai yeri Ibn Isa II died yesterday in a ghastly motor accident in Garei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Confirming his death, the Secreatary of Ngarzalma Emirate Council , Alh

Abubakar Ibn Maiyeri, told the New Telegraph, that the accident happened around 2:00pm and the Emir died instantly.

The first class emir died at the age of 49 and is survived by two wives and 13 children.

The Secreatary of the Council said, the late Emir will be laid to rest in the ancient town of Ngarzalma by today.

Lagos Victoria Island

FEC approves Lekki Port devt, five others await consideration The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the development of Lekki Deep Sea Port in order to handle bigger vessels.

Also five others, Olokola, Ibaka, Ogidigbe, Agge and Badagry deep sea ports are awaiting FEC consideration.

Transport Minis-

ter, Senator Idris Umar dropped the hint yesterday at the Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) held at Eko Hotel Expo Centre, Victoria Island in Lagos.

He said the deep port would createemployment opportunities under the Public private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

The minister added the ground breaking for the construction of the port would be performed very soon.

Lagos

FCT

Ejigbo

Abuja

Fuel shortage imminent again as NNPC pipeline bursts, spills product in Lagos Shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Monday became imminent at the Ejigbo depot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

A System 2B pipeline belonging to Product and Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC), which transports product from Atlas Cove to the depot burst in Lagos spilling PMS in Iyana-odo, Isheri area of Lagos.

6,650km

The length of River Nile, the world’s longest river.

Source: Blatantworld.com

371,000

The size (in sq. km) of the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest lake.

Source: Blatantworld.com

1,033bn The total population of Africa, the world’s second largest continent.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Ekiti Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti communities demand additional 71 local governments

L-R: Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere; Governor Rochas Okorocha; Miss Black Africa UK, Sonia Ike and the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Toedore Ekechi, during the visit of the beauty queen to the Government House in Owerri…yesterday

Ondo

Rivers

Akure

Port Harcourt

Confab: Ijaw in South West alleges marginalisation, rejects delegates list President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen in the South West geo-political zone yesterday alleged marginalization in the composition of delegates to represent the zone at the National Conference.

Consequently, they rejected the list of delegates

submitted by the Ondo State government to represent the state at the National Conference and the one submitted by the Afenifere to represent the zone at the conference.

As a distinct group in the zone, the community argued that there was an error in the compilation of the list of delegates from the state for the conference.

Child trafficking suspect discharged, acquitted In a dramatic twist in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday, a woman, Dr. Chinyere Emeka Precious who had been waiting arraignment over an offence bothering on child trafficking since her arrest in August last year was freed as the Nigeria Police withdrew the case

against her.

Chief Magistrate Ipalibo Iyabo discharged and acquitted her after prosecution counsel, Inspector Wilson Isaiah informed the court of a written directive from the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to withdraw all charges against her.

Communities in Ekiti State have demanded 71 additional local government areas in the state, the Chairman, Committee for the Creation of Additional Local Governments, Justice Akin Ajakaye (rtd), has said.

Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday on the progress so far made by the committee, he said the highest demand came from Ekiti Central Senatorial District with 30 local governments.

He said additional 24 local governments were being demanded by communities in Ekiti North Senatorial Disrict and 17 local governments from Ekiti South Senatorial District.

The state currently has 16 local governments. The current Ikole Local Government has 11 memoranda demanding more LGs.

FG targets 2015 deadline for rice importation Federal Government is working towards exiting rice importation by the year 2015, Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku has disclosed.

Maku, who disclosed this while speaking at the just concluded exhibition for made-in-Nigeria products in Abuja, said that last year alone, 1.1 million tonnes of rice were produced in the country during the dry season farming.

“Nigeria is working assiduously to exit rice importation by 2015 through support for farmers in terms of improved seeds and capital, last year alone 1.1 million tonnes of rice were produced in the country during the dry season farming. This development gave rise to the establishment of several new rice mills in different parts of the country to process the rice produced in the country” he said.

FCT Abuja

Suswam advocates partnership with Christian missionaries on education In yet another hardnosed assessment of Nigeria 's educational system, Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has said a genuine partnership between government and Christian Missionaries on education matters at various levels was necessary if the nation was to guarantee quality education for the children.

Lagos Ikeja

Entries open in Mike Okonkwo essay competition Organisers of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School students in the country have announced the opening of entries for the 11th edition of the competition.

The theme of the 2014 edition of the essay competition, which entries period is from March 3 to May 2, is “The Power of Your Vote: a catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria.”

NEWS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

NEW CEMENT Firm raises the bar, launches higher cement grade

A

s debate rages over the quality of cement produced in the country, leading manufacturers of the commodity, Dangote Cement Plc, yesterday raised the bar with the launch of a higher grade of the product, 52.5N into the Nigerian market.

Group Managing Director of the Company, Devakumar Edwin, told newsmen in Lagos yesterday that Dangote Cement Plc has commenced the production of the cement grade from all its three plants in Ibese, Ogun State; Gboko, Benue State and Obajana in Kogi State.

Edwin disclosed that the new cement grade, which has been certified by the Standard Organization (SON), as conforming to the requirements of NIS 444-2003 and other relevant standards, would sell for the same amount as the lower grade 42.5N

Dangote launches higher grade cement type.

Giving reasons for this, Edwin said though its costs more to produce the 52.5 grade, Dangote Cement decided to sell at the same price to make it affordable to all.

The SON certificate read in part, “Considering the inspection carried out at your factory by a team of SON officers and the outcome of the laboratory samples of the product of your company, I have the pleasure to inform you that the under listed product of your company is hereby adjuged by the SON to conform to the requirements of NIS 444-1:2003 and other relevant standards.”

He explained that the new cement could be used for all construction purposes but that it is the best for any civil construction having bearing colum.

EFCC seeks time to produce Fani-Kayode's bank details Joseph Jibueze

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos for more time to produce statement of accounts belonging to a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

The commission's lawyer, Festus Keyamo, told the court presided over

by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia that the bank has promised to generate the required statement within a week.

The bank details to be tendered are for the period of 2004 to 2008, Keyamo said.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40-count charge of moneylaundering.

The former minister was said to have laundered about N100,219,500 by paying them into an investment account through an associate.

The money, EFCC al-

9

leged, was put into FaniKayode's investment account for 90 days, an offence contrary to Section 15(1)(d) and punishable under Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004."

Fani-Kayode pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

At the resumed trial yesterday, a prosecution witness, Mr Okechukwu, who is the Relationship Officer at FCMB, said Fani-Kayode's account in the bank is dormant.

Led in evidence by Keyamo, he said: "I have never met Fani-Kayode, but I hear about him. He maintains an account with the bank. The account is dormant.

"The account was formerly with First Atlantic Bank, then it moved to Finbank Plc, before FCMB took it over."

Keyamo then tendered Fani-Kayode's bank statement containing record of transactions made between August 2008 and September 2012.

L-R: Secretary to Etsako East Local Government, Mrs Benedicta Attoh; Onwuwueko of Okpekpe, Peter Osigbemhe; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and others during the governor's inspection of the Apana-Okpekpe road in Etsako East Local Government, Edo State...yesterday.

Ex-NIMASA boss inflated contract for generators supply, says witness DOCKED

Ex-NMA DG on trial over contract splitting

A

former DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr Raymond Omatseye allegedly inflated a contract for the supply of generators, a Federal High Court in Lagos heard yesterday.

6.6bn

Testifying at the resumed trial of Omatseye over contract splitting, Mr Aliyu E. Aliyu of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said N100 million was budgeted for "Lot 39", which is for the supply of 1KVA generators.

He said a company, Marine Gold Limited, bidded N84million for the supply.

Another company, Daniel Nigeria Limited, submitted a N100 million bid.

However, the contract

The number of children under-five that died in 2012 worldwide.

Source: Who.int

was eventually awarded to Daniel Nigeria for N129million.

"The award is higher than the bid price of N100,001,475," Aliyu said.

The witness said Daniel Nigeria was not among a list of pre-qualified bidders published in a newspaper on September 11, 2009.

"From the 21 pre-qualified names, I cannot find Daniels Nigeria Limited," the witness said.

According to him, another contract for the

2.6bn

The total number of the world’s population that lack basic sanitation.

Source: Globalissues.org

supply of 100 Blackberry phones was not advertised in two national newspapers as statutorily required.

"A contract is null and void, and a nullity if not advertised in a national newspaper," he said.

He said there was also no evidence that there was a formal bid opening process.

"I didn't see any document containing attendance list of participants with their numbers at the bid opening," he said.

1.8m

The total number of child deaths that occur each year as a result of diarrhea.

Source: Globalissues.org

Court remands ex-Edo SSG, three others in prison over N113m SUBEB fund Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

T

he High Court sitting in Benin Edo State capital yesterday ordered that the immediate past Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, and three others be remanded in prison custody.

Imuekemhe and three other officials of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) were dragged to the High Court by the anti graft agency, the Economic and Finan-

cial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged involvement in the misapplication of N113million meant for execution of projects in the education sector in the state.

The court, presided over by Justice Esther Edigin, had ordered that the former SSG and three other officials spend four days in the dark room pending their bail application by their counsel, Mr. A. Omonuwa (SAN).

They are to remain in custody till Friday, March 14, 2014, following the ob-

jection of the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Larry Peters Aso, to their bail application.

He stated that since the case was being heard by the court, the accused could no longer continue to enjoy the administrative bail they enjoyed before.

The court is to hear the bail application of the four accused persons on the next adjourned date.

They had pleaded not guilty to an eight count charge of misapplica-

tion of the funds of the board read to them.

According to the charge sheet dated 20th January, 2014 and signed on behalf of the EFCC executive Chairman by Mr. Aso Larrys Peters of the Legal and Prosecution Department, which was filed against the four accused persons, the amount was moved from the original project to another contrary to Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

10 NEWS WOMEN ARISE

Participants decry low involvement of women in politics

Temitope Ogunbanke

U

nited States Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare and President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin have challenged Nigerian women to be actively involved in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

Speaking at the 2014 International Women’s Day celebration, organised by Women Arise for Initiative in Lagos state, the trio decried the lowlevel of participation of women in the nation’s politics, urging them to

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

US Ambassador, Okei-Odumakin task women on 2015 elections contribute their quota towards nation’s building.

The US Consul General however noted that although women folk were faced with unimaginable obstacles, but the way forward remains economic and political empowerments, stressing the need for the voice of Nigerian women to be heard through active participation in governance.

“I believe that engaging women as political and social actors can positively impact on government policies while ensuring more representatives as well as better performance. Evidence has shown that women contribute immensely

to decision-making, thus leading to ensuring conflict preventions and resolutions”, he stated.

According to his statement, “Nigeria needs to hear their voice. Nigeria needs to hear their perspective. Needs them to be actively involved in politics and involve in private industry as well as government.”

“With at least 60 million women in Nigeria, they could be powerful force to reckon with, if they can join hands together”, Hawkins challenged Nigerian women.

In his own submission, Pastor Bakare lamented that the assault on women globally had become endangered spe-

cies, adding that women should be respected, not harassed or abuse.

Earlier in her opening speech, the President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin said the event was aimed at celebrating achievements of women in the world while also focusing on areas that require further attentions.

“We are here to prove that women remain the lubricant for the survival of any entity”, she noted.

The wife of the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Pamela Schmoll in her own address said, women in Nigeria must find their voices and be able to participate fully

L-R: Chairman, Governing Board, Consumer Protection Council, Air Commodore Ishaku Mwadkon (rtd); Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson; Director General CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki and Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Sen. Odion Ugbesia during the Consumer Roundtable on Phone Rights to Commemorate the 2014 World Consumer Rights Day in Abuja... yesterday

Ondo bye-election: LP will defeat PDP, APC, says Akinyele Babatope Okeowo Akure

T

he ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State has vowed to defeat the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) in the April 5 byeelection for Ilaje/Eseodo Federal Constituency in the state.

Chairman of the party, Chief Dele Akinyele gave

the assurance when delegates from Eseodo Local Government, led by Capt Nelson Job paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of the party in Akure.

The position became vacant, following the death of Hon Raphael Nomiye, representing Ilaje/Eseodo in the House of Representatives.

Already, three major political parties have nominated their candidates. While

PDP selected Adewale Kutute, APC nominated Chief Adewale Omojuwa, just as LP presented Prince Kolade Akinjo.

Akinyele told party leaders that LP, being the largest and ruling party in the state, is the party to beat in the forthcoming bye-election.

According to him, “the LP would win the April 5 bye-election because the leader of the party in the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko

has touched the lives of the people of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments since his assumption of office.

The party chairman, however said none of the party executives would join another party because they are co-owners of the party in the state.

The candidate of the party, Akinjo said he is the most qualified for the position among other candidates jostling for the position.

in governance.

"We must never take the right to vote for granted as women. We

must encourage more women to run for political offices in Nigeria" she stated.

Kwara lawmakers back Code of Conduct Bureau Motion

Assembly to make law forcing public officials to declare assets Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

K

wara State House of Assembly said it would partner with Code of Conduct Bureau to tackle corrupt practices in the country.

To achieve this, it has promised to sponsor a motion to make public office holders in the state to declare their assets before assuming public office to curb their corrupt tendencies.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barrister Razak Atunwa disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital while welcoming the Commissioner of the Conduct Bureau in his office.

According to his media aide, Alhaji AbdulRaha-

man Sanni, corruption has damaged the nation’s livelihood.

While observing that asset declaration will be a veritable tool for reversing the trend in the country, he advocated the extention of the jurisdiction of the Bureau to include investigation, saying it would ensure effectiveness of the antigraft agency.

Atunwa therefore commended the effort of the Bureau at sensitising public office holders, assuring that the legislature under his leadership would give the needed supports to enhance performance.

Earlier, the Commissioner of the Bureau, Dr. Christy Ekoja that the mandate of the agency was to ensure high standard of public morality in the conduct of government businesses while ensuring that the behaviours of public officers conform with the highest standard of morality and accountability.

2015: UPP vows to dislodge Okorocha in Imo Steve Uzoechi Owerri

N

ewly-elected Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in Imo State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Egbuchulam has promised to dislodge Governor Rochas Okorocha in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Egbuchulam, a former Majority Leader in the State House of Assembly said, although the party is relatively new, but it would embark on aggressive grassroot mobiliza-

tion and sensitization to enlighten the people on its mass-oriented prorammes and policies.

The UPP boss, who spoke to newsmen in Owerri, shortly after his election, said the party has taken a detailed study and analysis of intra-party squabbles in other parties and would guard against this ugly scenario by ensuring participatory governance as well as collective leadership.

This, he said, would involve men, women, children as well as other stakeholders in the state.

NEWS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Rusal ALSCON sacks 200 workers Tony Anichebe UYO

I

n a bid to further cut cost on the overhead and personnel salaries and emoluments, Redundant aluminum giant, RUSAL ALSCON, has fired undisclosed number of staff which an insider told New Telegraph stands at about 200. Last year, the management of Rusal ALSCON sacked about 500 staff out of its about 775.

The latest sack will now leave the struggling aluminum firm with about only 75 people.

In a statement signed by its managing director, Mr. Stanislav.L. Kruglyashoz, and obtained by the New Telegraph, Rusal ALSCON

121m

The total number of children that are out of education worldwide.

Source: Blatantworld.com

said “due to the ongoing crisis in global aluminum industry, further disruption in gas supply for ALSCON and non-completion of ALSCON’s connection to the national grid project, the management of the smelter is taking further steps aimed at minimizing losses while aluminum production at the smelter is suspended.

“Among others, such measures include further optimization of payroll, which foresees layoff of part of the staff currently employed at ALSCON. ALSCON will provide employees being affected with compensation benefits exceeding the level in accordance with the Nigerian law.

11

Stop using derogatory words on Ekitis, group cautions PDP WARNING

Group frowns at party's choice of words over Ekiti polls

Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

T

he Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against using derogatory words on Ekiti people while talking about its bid to take over the state and others in the South-West from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections.

The group, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dimeji Daniels, frowned at the use of words like 'capture' and 'seize' by the PDP to describe what it plans to do in the concerned states when elections are held.

The group was reacting to the statement by members of the PDP Governors' Forum at the weekend in Minna in Niger State where they had gone to support President Goodluck Jonathan at the North Central geo-political zone's rally.

"The Peoples Democratic Party should stop using derogatory words

such as "seize" or "capture" on Ekiti people as the people of the state are highly cerebral people and not slaves as members of the Peoples Democratic Party have always thought.

"Words such as "seize" or "capture" can only be used for people who are weak and are not in control of their own destiny.

Ekiti people encountered civilization and education before the states of origin of most of the nonEkiti PDP members who are fond of using such words," he said.

He recalled the words of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, when he

boasted in Igede-Ekiti during a rally for Segun Oni before the 2009 rerun election that the PDP "will use soldiers; the other time we used MOPOL, we will use soldiers."

"Indeed, true to Bankole's words, they brought soldiers to Ekiti to chaperone the Ayoka Theatre of the Absurd, but God and the people of Ekiti rejected them such that they ended up in ignominy. That was in 2009. This is 2014, three years and five months after Ekiti people started enjoying good governance and lasting dividends of democracy under the Fayemi Administration."

4

The number of countries that River Nile cuts across.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Gundiri Defection: ACN family in Adamawa vows to remain in APC Ibrahim Abdul

YOLA

T

he political family of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Adamawa State, including the running mate of Markus Gundiri in the 2011 gubernatorial election, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namdas, have dissociated themselves from the recent defection of Gundiri from the All Progressive Congresss (APC) to the PDP. The declaration of the stakeholders came few days after 20 of the 21 local government chairmen of the defunct ACN disassociated themselves from Gundiri's defection.

Speaking at the Lelewal Motel in Yola yesterday, chieftains of the party, including Gundiri's running mate in the 2011 gubernatorial election, Abdurrazak Namdas, reiterated their full-pledged support for APC, saying it was the party to beat come 2015.

"As former members

of the defunct ACN, we were aware of the fact that APC was a collection of different groups/individuals; it therefore goes without saying that only sacrifice and patience will make the party work.

"This attribute was what is being exhibited hence the reason for the strength and harmony of the APC today.

"Despite the little hitches which are usually common in every human organization, APC inclusive, there are no major problems in the party," Namdas said.

Namdas said that the party was poised to entrench the rule of law in its dealings, assuring that every member of the party will be treated fairly in line with the party's policy.

"We wish to assure our people that just as we secured and protect their interests during the registration exercise, we shall do the same during the forthcoming congresses.

L-R: Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi; Managaing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi and Chairman, NIMAREX 2014 Planning Committtee, Mrs. Margret Oyema-Orakwusi, during the 4th Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) held at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

CHALLENGE

Oil firm allege delay tactics over suit against Chevron

Joseph Jibueze

A

n oil firm, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, yesterday accused an exploration company, Brittania-U Limited of employing delay tactics in a suit against it and Chevron Group at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Brittania-U is challenging Chevron's proposed sale of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 52, 53 and 54.

Chevron Nigeria Limited, Chevron USA Incor-

Court adjourns suit against Chevron over oil mining lease porated, BNP Paribas Securities Corporation, Mr. Hermant Patel and Seplat are co-defendants in the suit.

Brittania-U is alleging that Chevron is making secret moves to ignore the result of the competitive bid conducted for the sale of the oil giant's 40 per cent interest in the three oil blocks.

Brittania-U was said to have emerged as the highest bidder, offering $1.015billion, while Seplat and its partners came second with about $900million offer.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Brittania-U's lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN), told Justice Mohammed Yunusa that at the last adjourned date, the matter was fixed for hearing of the preliminary objections filed by the respondents, and to enable parties to file their processes in respect of the objections.

Tarfa said Seplat had already served him with an appeal filed at the Appeal Court against the interim order of the court.

In view of the development, and coupled with the fact that he was still

within time to respond to the motions, Tarfa said it might not be expedient to proceed with the hearing of the objections as scheduled.

But Seplat's lawyer, Damian Dodo (SAN), said Tarfa was not interested in moving on with the case just because he already had an interim order in his favour.

He said the picture painted by Tarfa was not the actual position, because the appeal had nothing to do with the issue of objection, which the court originally adjourned for hearing.

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IG withdra ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Tuesday,March 11, 2014

0802 393 8212

NO CASE After six months in detention, police withdraw case against woman accused of child trafficking

Ghanaian police probe murder of Nigerian student I

Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt n a dramatic twist yesterday, a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrates’ Court discharged and acquitted a woman, Dr. Chinyere Emeka Precious, who had been awaiting arraignment for child trafficking.

Precious was arrested last August but was freed from litigation yesterday when the police withdrew the case against her.

Curious murder Sent to Ghana for higher education, but killed by assailants for reasons unclear

Juliana Francis with Agency Reports

T

he police in Ghana are working to unravel the identities of the killers of a 19-year-old Nigerian student at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Mr. Godwin Chukwudi Ayogu.

Ayogu, who was brutally murdered penultimate week by persons believed to have links with his Ghanaian roommate, Mr. Abotsi Gweus, alias Enay.

The 300-Level Economics student was stabbed to death by his attackers, who tied his hands and feet, disemboweled him and later dropped his corpse in front of his hostel in the seaside Ghanaian university.

According to the boy’s father, Mr. Fred Ayogu, a Lagos-based businessman, the younger Ayogu had returned to school for the second semester in September last year with $5, 000 meant for his tuition and sundry fees.

However, for inexplicable reasons, the money was allegedly collected from him for ‘safe keeping’ by Gweus, a 400-Level Music student. But, up until the night of his murder, Ayogu was yet to pay his school fees, because his roommate allegedly refused to him the money.

When Gweus was asked by the police why he refused to hand the money over to Mr. Ayogu since he said he was only holding it for ‘safe’ keeping, he reportedly told the police that the money was no longer enough to pay the school fees required by the university since, according to him, Mr. Ayogu had earlier collected $600 from the $5, 000 leaving a balance of N4, 400; “Which is not enough to pay his school fees.”

However, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution was said to have faulted the claim when he ordered his secretary to print out the fees for the session, whereupon it was discovered that the total amount payable by 300-Level Economics students for the session amounted to

Man disap Taiwo Jimoh

A Godwin Ayogu with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ayogu during his matriculation at University of Cape Coast, Ghana

exactly $4, 400.

At this point, Gweus reportedly changed his story, claiming that Ayogu later removed the whole money from where he, Gweus had kept it and that that was why the people he referred to as ‘they’ killed him.

The police in Cape Coast are working on the theory that Mr. Ayogu was killed by his attackers to prevent him from squealing on them either to his parents or the school authorities. The slain student was to have travelled back to Nigeria after he summoned courage to tell his parents why he was yet to pay his school fees, more than five months after he returned to school.

In an interview with New Telegraph in Lagos, the elder Ayogu said the police in Ghana had assured him that his son’s killers would be found and punished. He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian High Commission in Accra for the ‘expeditious manner in which they handled the case.’

“I can’t thank the High Commission officials enough,” he said. “My escorts and I were actually conveyed to the university and back to Accra in the High Commission’s vehicle. They demonstrated a new Nigerian resolve to ensure that no citizen is killed so carelessly again in a foreign land or anywhere else for that matter.

“I was told that some Nigerians who were involved in the murder are now at large, but I am certain thatthelongarmsof thelawwillcatch up them.”

“My son just lost his life so carelessly. He was kind to a fault; he lent his own school fees to another person to pay his own school fees and their gratitude was to murder him. It’s most unfair, a very callous thing to do to a fellow human being.”

New Telegraph learnt that the Senator representing Enugu North District where Ayogu comes from,

Senator Ayogu Eze, has briefed the Senate and the Presidency on the development. The Presidency is believed to have taken up the matter with its Ghanaian counterpart, which, it was reliably gathered, has ordered the police to leave no stone unturned in unmasking the killers.

At the time of this report, the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Diaspora had concluded plans to raise the matter on the floor of the House, its Chairman Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said yesterday.

would-be bridegroom, Ka Danladi, has disappe a week before his wed throwing members of his fa and that of his supposed brid confusion as to his whereabou This was even as all the ding plans being organised b two families have been tempor halted and are in jeopardy.

New Telegraph Metro le that on Sunday, February 25, 23-year-old Danladi was said to left Kara along the Lagos-Ib Expressway for Agege to buy clothes to add to the ones he bought for his weeding that w hold on February 9, 2014 in K State.

According to his brother, A Seidu; “I was not in the Kara Sunday, but the previous da were together in Kara buying items he was to takehome fo weeding, I even got him some currency notes to give to my

Couple arrested for two-year-old boy’s m Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

P

olice in Ikere-Ekiti have arrested a couple, identified as Mr and Mrs Owoeye, for the murder of a two-year-old boy in the town on Sunday.

Confirming the incident in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, said the boy, Ayomide, was appar-

ently killed before his body was dumped in a well close to where he lived with his mother, Oredola Olakunboye.

The PPRO said the boy’s mother was outside their home with the boy on Sunday afternoon when she left him outside for a few minutes to do something inside. The woman came out to find the boy missing and promptly raised the alarm.

After searching for hours, he

said the lifeless body of the was found in the well.

On what led to the arre the couple, Babayemi said boy’s mother was married late brother of the main sus adding that the man pest her for a relationship.

He said: “The woman after agreeing, their r tionship led to a pregna and the boy was born. W the woman was carrying

PDP, APC, APGA scramble for South-East/ PAGE 14 | Parties can’t dictate to INEC –Igini / PAGE 16

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

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Deputy Editor, politics

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A’Ibom: Choice of Akpabio’s successor stokes fire

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

p-15

TUESday, MARCH 11, 2014

Ethnicity, zoning dominate Delta governorship race

Uduaghan

Politicians and stakeholders in the oil-rich Delta State engage in the battle of wits ahead of the 2015 governorship election.

DOMINIC ADEWOLE, in Asaba, reports on the verbal war over zoning, ethnic and fear of vendetta that have dominated the state politics

E

ven before the start of electioneering, the political space in Delta State is daily becoming tensed over the February 28, 2015 governorship election. Already, the ethnic issue and zoning of the governorship is tearing the state apart as stakeholders launch verbal attacks on one another.

More worrisome is the fear of vendetta among politicians in the event of shift of the governorship to a particular zone.

The poser: Could it be true that supporters of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori are afraid that if the governorship seat shifts to Delta North Senatorial District, vengeance will be visited upon

Ibori

Macaulay

them and the two other senatorial districts of the state?

Ibori, who hails from Delta Central Senatorial District and whose touted home coming from a UK jail recently triggered celebrations among his kinsmen and the Urhobo Political Union (UPU), administered the oil-rich state for eight years.

The former helmsman was highly instrumental to the emergence of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, having appointed him as his Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Ibori’s eight years on the saddle, between 1999 and 2007, was said to be tale of woes to the

Delta North axis of the state (the Igbo speaking district), called the Aniomas, who alleged that no meaningful infrastructural development sprang up in the axis despite that Asaba is the capital city of the state.

Delta North has not tasted the governorship seat since the creation of the state over 22 years ago. The zone has drawn the battle line.

The alleged marginalisation Asaba suffered during Ibori’s eight-year rule was recently corroborated by a two-time senator and an elder statesman of the district, Chief Nosike Ikpo, who wondered why every effort was being made to thwart power from

shifting to Delta North in 2015.

Senator Ikpo did not just talk.

He was taken aback that of all people, it was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovouzorie Macaulay, that heated up the political space of the state. Macaulay was quoted to have said there was never a time the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agreed on power rotation, let alone that power would shift to Delta North at the expiration of Governor Uduaghan’s tenure. That he was sceptical about the agenda of the Aniomas (the Igbo speaking people of the state) producing the next governor.

“I was turned off by the negative campaign of marginalisation being labelled against the past rulers of the state by Anioma aspirants. It smacks off an

CROSSFIRE

The fight against corruption must be tough in all our dealings because APC is preparing to build a New Nigeria and lead Africa. There is a strong link between corruption and system failure. This roadmap will be our guiding principles to do things differently - Gov Babatunde Fashola

The leaders of the APC are the grand patrons of corruption as could be seen from the SouthWest... where the selfstyled leader imperially superintendents the finances of six states with mind boggling cases of corruptions -Chief Olisa Metuh

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

POLITICAL NOTES

A confab of exclusion

A

s the National Conference kicks off next Monday, several ethnic groups in the country have lamented their exclusion from the process being put together purportedly for their benefit. They have been excluded, either by omission or commission from having a say of how they want Nigeria to be.

It is well known that Nigeria is inhabited by over 350 ethnic groups, yet the list of 492 delegates released by the Federal Government contains about three, four names of people from the same ethnic group. This raises questions as to what attempts were made to have a widespread representation of the different ethnic groups in the country, a representation that will include everyone, as much as is humanly possible.

Many people had criticized the intentions of government in allocating three nominations to each state government, which they said would be filled mostly by politicians in the state government’s favour. Yet, there are indications that three nominations may not be enough to accommodate the number of tribes in some states, given that some states are inhabited by several ethnic groups.

It seems then that what government has succeeded in doing is creating a feeling of insignificance among Nigerians who have been excluded from the national discourse, and by implication, from the scheme of things in the country.

By failing to reflect the cultural and ethnic configuration of the country, it only goes to show that a few years from now, the country will be back to square one, because those excluded from this present exercise will be agitating for another national conference.

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

PDP, APC, APGA scramble for South-East

T

he leading political parties are stepping up strategies on how to consolidate on already gained grounds and expand frontiers ahead of the 2015 elections, following the release of the polls timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Though the election is about 11 months away, some political analysts are already up with predictions on how the pendulum would swing in the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

While such calculations, particularly for the South-West, South-South, NorthEast, North-West and North Central are predicated on the strength of the country’s two leading political parties – the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as the voting pattern in past elections, the South-East seems to be up for grabs.

Ordinarily, the battle for the soul of the South-East would have been between the PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which hitherto controlled the zone until the recent incursion by the APC foreclosed the hope of a two-horse race.

The PDP and APGA were the dominant parties in the zone with the former having three states (Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi), while the latter had two states (Anambra and Imo) until the defection of the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha to the APC. APC’s threat Okorocha’s action, some analysts say, is likely to open the window for the APC’s “broom revolution” to sweep across the Niger, although the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the APC’s legacy parties, won some National Assembly seats in Anambra State in the 2011 elections.

The Imo State governor has already vowed to win the South-East for the party in the forthcoming elections. To him, the APC is not only a formidable platform that will enthrone good governance at all levels in the country in 2015, but the fastest political vehicle for the realisation of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

“I have said it and I will continue to say it that APC is the best option for Ndigbo and we must embrace it. In APC, Ndigbo must produce either the vice president or president in 2015, but we must be united to achieve this,” Okorocha said at the recent inauguration of the South-East interim executive of the party in Owerri.

The party’s national leadership is also optimistic that the APC can run the PDP out of town in 2015, but it remains unclear how the party would achieve this tall ambition, given the fact that the PDP won a landslide in the South-East in the 2011 presidential elections with its candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, winning over 95 per cent of the zone’s votes.

A breakdown of the poll’s result shows that the President scored 4.9 million votes in the South-East while the legacy parties of the APC – ACN, CPC and ANPP had a paltry 66,209.

APGA, PDP ‘alliance’ Besides the affinity between Jona-

The forthcoming general elections will certainly be a popularity test for the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially in the South-East where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) currently hold sway, writes FELIX NWANERI.

L-R: Senator Hope Uzodinma, former Governors Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, and Governor Rochas Okorocha welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan at Owerri Airport on his way to the PDP Unity Rally, in Owerri, recently.

than and Ndigbo, some analysts however opined that the APC will also have to contend with the “alliance” between the PDP and APGA which is likely to work in favour of the former in the presidential poll, even as there are indications that APGA will not field a candidate in the presidential poll, as it did in 2011.

Leaders of the party, including the National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, outgoing Governor Peter Obi and the governor-elect, Dr. Willie Obiano, who disclosed this shortly after the party’s victory in the November 2013 governorship election, said APGA will reciprocate Jonathan’s tremendous support to the state, which made the poll very successful by adopting him as the party’s presidential candidate in 2015 election.

As it stands, Anambra is sure to go the PDP in the presidential election because there would not be much at stake except the state and National Assembly polls. The same scenario will also play out in Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu states where PDP governors – Theodore Orji, Martin Elechi and Sullivan Chime, currently hold sway.

Imo as APC’s joker It is likely to be 50/50 game in Imo, the zone’s fifth state. The state had been under PDP’s control since 1999, but was overrun by APGA in the 2011 elections, no thanks to Okorocha (now in the APC), who dumped the PDP at the eve of the poll.

The North and SouthWest, which are key partners in the merger deal that led to the birth of the party are unlikely to concede much to a zone that played a less significant role

Since that shocking defeat, members of the PDP in the state have never hidden their intention to retake the Imo Government House.

They have against this backdrop commenced a rebuilding process to launch a comeback. In the forefront of the campaign are former Governor Ikedi Ohakim; the senator representing Imo North Senatorial District, Hope Uzodinma and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

Their efforts have led to the return of some members like former Governor Achike Udenwa; Senators Ifeanyi Ararume and Chris Anyanwu and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) who dumped the party at the eve of the 2011 governorship elections.

Their return notwithstanding, the Imo PDP will still face a Herculean task as the “Okorocha hurricane” which saw the defeat of Ohakim in an election that nearly caused a constitutional crisis before the INEC came up with a supplementary arrangement that decided it, has not ceased.

APGA, PDP reacts The APC’s dream of making an inroad into the South-East was however described by APGA and PDP as a tall one.

While APGA boasted that it would send Okorocha packing in 2015, the PDP said that Ndigbo have always been part of its big umbrella.

“Imo has been an APGA state since 2003; we won and it was stolen away from us and we could not retrieve it at the tribunal. In 2011, we won but it was also a difficult fight because we have to go through supplementary elections,” Umeh said, reminding Okorocha that the government he took to APC belonged to APGA. The PDP on its part believes that it will

win all elections in the South-East come 2015. President Jonathan gave the assurance recently while addressing party faithful in Owerri, Imo State capital during the party’s unity rally.

Jonathan is also using the second Niger Bridge to lure Ndigbo to his side. The President, who visited the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe at his Imeobi Palace, Onitsha, Anambra State after the Owerri rally, said he would lay the foundation stone of the bridge before the end of Governor Obi’s tenure on March 17.

Fear of marginalisation While Okorocha has continued to win more converts following series of peopleoriented programmes that he has so far initiated in the state, although some say they are not enough to earn his new party the support of Ndigbo.

Those who hold the view that power balancing in the APC will not favour the South-East argued that the North and South-West, which are key partners in the merger deal that led to the birth of the party are unlikely to concede much to a zone that played a less significant role.

Both the South-West and North have taken shots at the presidency since the return of civil rule in 1999, but there is little or no chance of the APC opting for the South-East, which is yet to occupy the number one position for its presidential candidate in 2015.

APC assures APC Deputy National Chairman, Okonkwo, who allayed the fear of marginalisation of the South-East in the party, said Ndigbo will have a say and ample opportunity to actualise their presidential ambition is the APC. A chieftain of the party in Imo State, Chief Udo Ejelonu, who also spoke on the issue told New Telegraph that “the allocation of positions in the party for now is temporary as such positions would be re-jigged to reflect and accommodate ethnic and religious diversity of the nation when the APC holds its national convention later in the year.”

The Senior Special Assistant to Okorocha on Lagos Affairs and Lagos Liaison, Chinwe Asugha, also told New Telegraph that there is the need for Ndigbo to unite under the APC and take their rightful place in the country’s polity.

She said: “Ndigbo are major players in the nation’s economy, but they are suffering despite that position. We therefore want a change because we cannot continue to be used and dumped. That is why we should embrace the APC, as it will offer us the opportunity to take our rightful position in Nigeria’s mainstream politics.”

The assurance notwithstanding, only conscious efforts by the leadership of the APC between now and the end of the year will determine where the pendulum would swing to, as the people of the South-East have continued to cry marginalisation despite their massive support for the PDP in previous polls.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

In a rare feat, the state executive council in Akwa Ibom has presented a list of governorship aspirants from which Governor Godswill Akpabio would pick his successor. Tony Anichebe writes on the development and the controversy trailing the action.

A’Ibom: Choice of Akpabio’s successor stokes fire

I

n a bid to ease the political tension in Akwa Ibom State over who succeeds Governor Godswill Akpabio in the February 28, 2015 governorship election, 20 commissioners and four special advisers in their collective wisdom recently presented a list of three people from which the governor can make a choice of his successor.

In the list of preferred choice of the cabinet members were, the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel; the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Effiong Abia and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekpenyong Netkim. Incidentally, the three aspirants are all from Eket Senatorial District favoured by Akpabio to produce his successor.

But Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, a trusted ally of the governor and the longest serving Commissioner for Finance declined to endorse the document. Akpan, who is from Uyo Senatorial District, is running for the governorship.

Akpan’s plan to succeed Governor Akpabio, according to our source, dates back to 2007 when he was appointed commissioner; an ambition that puts him in the black book of the former SSG, Umana Okon Umana, who tried unsuccessfully to kick him out of the cabinet. Umana wants to be the governor too.

Akpabio’s cabinet led by their Dean and Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, justified their action. He said their action was to give the governor direction on who should succeed him.

Etim who tried to debunk the general belief in the state that the governor had chosen his new SSG as his successor noted that Akpabio has not imposed anybody on the state executive council.

According to him; “23 out of 24 members of the exco unanimously agreed that we should approach the governor to consider his successor from the state exco members.

“The governor has been misunderstood and misrepresented. We in the exco believed we have a stake on what is happening in Akwa Ibom State. So, we assembled all commissioners and discussed extensively. Out of 24 of us, 23 unanimously agreed that we should approach the governor to consider his successor from members of the council.

“We gave the governor three names.

We sat down and deliberated on the three names and the three names are from the Eket Senatorial District. As a people, we thought it is only fair for us to tell the

15

Akpabio

governor that as your disciples, why can’t you consider someone from within your council? We urged him to give us approval for three of our colleagues and he obliged us.

“The governor thanked us and re-affirmed that the playing field was open to other aspirants. The governor has not imposed anybody on the council. The three people we have put forward are some of our best. We want to be very clear that we are not coaxed into doing this; we are not doing that to save our jobs.”

But mixed reactions have continued to trail the action. Other governorship aspirants believed that the action of the state exco smacks of selfish interests. A chieftain in Senator Helen Esuenne’s camp, Mr. Bassey Uno told New Telegraph that members of the state exco are narrowminded by drawing a line after three of their colleagues were selected and shutting out other political heavyweights in the senatorial district equally gunning for the governorship. Mr. Okon Ebong, who is working for the emergence of Ambassador Assam re-echoed the now well known message of his principal that “not even the president or the Governor of Akwa Ibom State will determine the next governor but God and the people of the state.”

Ebong who spoke with New Telegraph in Uyo said that the action of the state exco members will not weaken their resolve to join hands with their chosen aspirant to pursue his gubernatorial ambition to a logical conclusion.

In the same vein, echoes from the camp of the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Elder Okpolupm Etteh, a front runner in the guber race described the choice of Akpabio’s successor to three members of the state exco by their colleagues as an effort in futility. “We cannot buy into such tricks,” said Sifon Asuquo.

He told New Telegraph that as the commissioners were making choices among themselves, the campaign office of Etteh

Emmanuel

The three people we have put forward are some of our best. We want to be very clear that we are not coaxed into doing this; we are not doing that to save our jobs is ready to kick start the 2015 governorship elections.

Mr. Clement Essien from Nsit Ibom Local Government, who is a strong supporter of a former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Nsima Ekere, appealed to the state exco to allow party faithful chose their preferred candidates at the primaries.

He maintained that the Akwa Ibom people not the cabinet members will chose who takes over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent governor.

“Since when has it become a norm that being a member of the sate executive is an express ticket to the Government House? Because it worked for Akpabio in 2007 does not mean it will work this time around for another exco member,” he observed.

However, a lawmaker in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and the member representing Oron/udung Uko State constituency, Chief Jerome Isangedighi, hailed the development. He said it is a step in the right direction.

But he noted that Akwa Ibom was created on a tripod of three ethnic groups, the Ibibio, Annang and Oron stressing that it is necessary to allow Oron nation to occupy the Government House since the other two ethnic groups have had their turn.

Two of the three aspirants endorsed by the state exco, Abia and Ntekim are

from Oron Nation.

Isangedighi said: “Even visitors to Akwa Ibom State know this position, our senior brother have taken their turn and an Annang man in the person of Chief Akpabio is on the saddle now “By 2015, it is expected that the slot goes to Eket Senatorial District, precisely to Oron nation with five local government areas. So, I do not see anything wrong in the action of the state executive council by adopting the three men. It is for us that will take the final decisions in respect of who takes what and why, but I am convinced that the person will be an Oron man.”

Meanwhile, New Telegraph observed that the recent action of the members of the state executive is a complete departure from Governor Akpabio’s initial plan for a successor after Umana’s controversial exit from his cabinet.

Late last year, the governor desirous of ensuring that he grooms and hand over the reins of power to a trusted successor adopted his new SSG, Emmanuel, and quietly formed a 31-member steering committee made up of his strong and trusted allies from the 31 local government areas of the state and empowered them to return to their various communities and galvanise support for the SSG’s governorship project in 2015.

Emmanuel’s project the New Telegraph gathered was dead on arrival as several stakeholders at various council areas visited refused to endorse it during the various town hall meetings held to market the Udom Emmanuel brand notwithstanding the enormous resource deployed to “wet the ground”.

In Uyo council area, for instance, while the stakeholders acknowledged Akpabio’s various achievements since his assumption of duty as governor but refused to endorse Udom Emmanuel as his successor in a meeting that nearly ended in turmoil.

Again at the Uyo Senatorial District meeting held recently at Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio hall, Uyo, a serving council chairman of Ibibio Ibom Local Government Area, Mr. Godwin Ekpo, narrowly escaped lynching by the mob when he moved a motion for the people to support the power shift to Eket Senatorial District and endorsement of the SSG as Akpabio’s successor. It took the combined effort of soldiers and mobile police to smuggle him out of the venue of the meeting alive.

Several other meetings held across the state with the project in mind suffered similar fate.

Top government sources told New Telegraph that the governor in planning his exit is conscious of the fact that if not properly handled, a repeat of 2007 episode may come to fore when former Governor Victor Attah lost control of the party machinery midway and failed to install his choice candidate as governor.

16 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Parties can’t dictate to INEC –Igini

Cross Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, is a respectable electoral officer who has supervised elections in several states. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the 2015 elections, the controversy trailing the election timetable and other salient issues. Excerpts:

How do you see various criticisms that trailed the 2015 elections timetable?

We listen carefully to the views expressed on the justreleased timetable on why it came early or why some elections should have been held first before others, some prefer holding all elections in one day. Some also question why the commission failed to invite the political parties to agree on the dates, time and the order of elections.

While I respect all those who have expressed opinion on this matter, interestingly, none accused INEC of violating the provisions of Sections 76, 132 and 178 of the constitution, as well as the provision of Section 25 of the Electoral Act all of which conferred on INEC the power to appoint dates and time for the holding of election.

While these concerns are noteworthy, most of them are subjective and relate to how group political advantages may be realised and often do not take into account the logistical realities of our context in the management of elections.

Moreover, empirical evidence of previous elections conducted even by the current leadership of the commission in the past, do not have supporting evidence of invitation of political parties to jointly fixing election timetable. What happens, if such a meeting is convened and the parties suggested different dates and time and the commission settles for a particular date and order which aligns with the suggestion of a parINEC ticular political party; would INEC leave such a venue of meeting with its independence unchallenged for adopting the suggestion of party ?

With the utmost sense of honesty, an umpire should dwell on the objective rather than the subjective in matters of contest of advantage of interest by groups in order to maintain independence. This is necessary because there are actuarial constraints inherent in conducting five elections in one day, especially constraints for the voter, which is our principal focus in this matter.

The key task of election management is to give the voter unfettered access to make a free choice at the polling unit. Therefore, conducting all five elections in one day will result in issuance of five ballot papers to electorate. This may confuse many voters requiring lengthy explanations for many which may lead to extension of voting time, the potential consequence resulting in many spoilt and invalid ballots, long time for sorting and counting of ballots.

We were in Kenya to observe the election where seven ballot papers were issued to electorate and we witnessed how the electoral process almost collapsed, but it is to the credit and resilience of the people who were able to overlook many challenges which arose from these many ballots. Elections were conducted on March 4, 2013 and result that was expected to be declared within 48 hours could not be declared until six days after precisely on March 9, 2013.

To reduce the avenues for irregularities it is better to reduce the margin of error by doing this in two election phases and sometimes even three, especially in our context where people often dispute election outcomes.

Igini

Well political elites are the same in most contexts; they want to win elections so that they can give expression to their goals. However, I must say that sometimes some politicians do not draw the line which acknowledges the fact that the motivation for contesting is to serve the public. If you are contesting to serve people, why should anyone engage in unwholesome acts that may lead to the maiming or killing of the same people you want to serve? I have strong dislike for such practices and cannot condone same. My best moments in this task are those occasions when politicians come to my office or through telephone calls to inform me of plans either by opponents or groups to undermine the process because that helps me to plan better to foil such plans. Other moments are when the results of elections are acceptable to voters and ultimately winning candidates deliver on development outcomes for the voters. This makes me very fulfilled because elections are not an end in themselves but a pathway to the goal of development.

So, when elections lead to conflict, bitter disputes and disharmony the whole purpose is defeated and that to me is sad.

REC’s

F RUM

You are one of the respected RECs in Nigeria as you have presided over elections in many states. What has been your experience with politicians?

What are the peculiar challenges of INEC in Cross River State and how have you been able to address them?

When I first assumed office, one of the early problems that I highlighted in the press was the state of our offices and our working environment. I also made a case for the poor remunerations of the staff when you compare their work with the risks involved and the responsibilities it places on them to deal with potentially corrupting political elites. Efforts are on to improve the working environment of our offices with the building of local government areas INEC prototype offices gradually.

Professionally, I had some feisty issues with some politicians over matters of internal democracy, particularly during the nomination period prior to the 2011 general elections and later with regard to the conduct of elections in the Bakassi Local Government Area.

Empirical evidence of previous elections conducted even by the current leadership of the commission in the past, do not have supporting evidence of invitation of political parties to jointly fixing election timetable

INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega was recently quoted to have said that Nigerians should not expect perfect elections in 2015. Should the people of Cross River State not expect a perfect election as well?

The matter of perfect election that has been a subject of concern alluded to by our chairman is a universal conceptualization, described in election management literature as “the concept of election integrity”. It simply refers to an aspirational ideal in which elections are conducted without anything that anyone could complain about whatsoever. We all know that perfection belongs to God. There are bound to be complaints by human beings over an exercise carried out by human beings who are imperfect by nature. All credible election experts agree that such an ideal can only be aspired to which is the direction that we are moving but practically it has not been attained.

To talk in more practical terms, it means that whereas in managing elections you seek perfection in all ramifications, but you may still find that despite very good and honest efforts, there could be human failings sometimes that could be a subject of wide interpretation, largely because of the nature of politics as a contest of advantage of interest. Yes there could be unforeseen issues that may impact the on process, such issue may affect the level of performance of an election. But these are different from deliberate actions and malpractices to undermine the process for personal gains. In the case of fraud or deliberate malpractices, these are clearly outright betrayal of public trust that election managers must refrain from to earn the trust of stakeholders.

However, even when you try everything you may have some people who still indulge in malpractices and fraud.

This is why the commission takes additional steps such as the customization of ballot papers and result sheets which INEC is currently doing; the digitalisation of biometrics for the voters registers and the planned use of card reader of the permanent voters card during the accreditation process and such other processes to improve the fidelity of elections. More important, is the need to strengthen the laws to make electoral offences punishable by more deterrent sanctions. We should establish an Electoral Offences Commission that should become a national democratic institution to remind everyone that electoral offences have permanent consequences.

Making strong laws for electoral offences and creating an electoral offences commission are not within the scope of INEC’s mandate but is the purview of the National Assembly. Nigerians can help to strengthen the electoral process and reduce the margin of error while increasing the potential for perfection if we all insist on these additional measures proposed by INEC to the National Assembly.

Have you ever been lobbied by politicians in the process of doing your job, either in person or by proxy?

In life when you make your convictions clear and open to all, people will respond to you in the same way.

I believe my convictions and disdain over electoral banditry are sufficiently clear to everyone; hence no one has attempted to lobby me directly to undermine elections, because they know it will not happen under any circumstance. Not even a trillion would make me violate my official oath and betray public trust. Any under-hand deal that would make it impossible for me to face a fellow human being and say no or you are wrong cannot happen. It is possible that some people have been lobbied, but they have respected me and have never raised the matter before me or brought it to my attention, and I am glad they have not, because it may ruin our relationship, because I will not oblige. So, if anyone has that in mind, he should not bother because the right people to lobby as I have always maintained are the voters, and the best way to do it, is to deliver on public services or have a track record of delivery.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Nyako, deputy battle for the soul of Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala James Ngillari, are squaring up for a serious political conquest over who becomes the governor in 2015. IBRAHIM ABDUL reports.

A

s 2015 approaches, political realignments have started taking shape in Adamawa State, especially in the wake of defection of Governor Murtala Nyako to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

One interesting feature in the ensuing political development is a fierce battle for the control of the soul of the state between Governor Nyako and his defiant deputy, Bala James Ngillari.

The development was accentuated by the refusal of the deputy governor to defect along with Nyako to the APC, which further exposes the no love lost that has ensued between the two political gladiators for a long time.

Already, both camps of the governor and his deputy have started flexing muscles over the 2015 political battle. The current political scenario playing out between the duo was a manifestation of the prolonged crisis of confidence as a result of unwillingness on the part of Nyako to have his deputy succeed him.

Some politicians privy to the development between the two gladiators told New Telegraph that the genesis of the crisis was that the deputy governor knew early that his boss would not support his ambition to become the governor. Hence, he started a subterranean move to ensure an alternative option to get to the coveted position.

The belief was further reinforced by the close relationship which the deputy governor established with the Presidency.

“Even Mr. President, during his recent visit to Adamawa, had rhetorically endorsed Ngillari as the leader of the party in the state,” Mr. Yohanna Yoila, a PDP chieftain, claimed.

Before the recent visit of the President, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, had met with the deputy governor. During one of the closed sessions the minister had with the deputy governor. She was alleged to have told him that the Presidency was solidly behind him, noting that his loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan would not be in vain.

The position of the minister was further justified during the closed-door meeting the president had with the deputy governor and some stakeholders of the party where he re-echoed the unflinching support of his government to the Ngillari, who by virtue of the defection of Governor Nyako to APC became the automatic leader of the PDP in the state.

Nyako’s loyalists have continued to accuse the deputy governor of subterfuge, saying the governor gave the deputy all he needed to succeed in office.

“I will make it abundantly clear that in Nigeria, no governor gave his deputy the kind of support Nyako gave to Ngillari which saw him as one of the busiest deputies in the whole of the country at a time when many of his contemporaries are being neglected by their bosses,” said Mr. Josiah Istifanus.

Istifanus noted that that in order to help the deputy succeed in his assignment, Governor Nyako funded the office of the deputy through hefty budgetary allocation, such that Ngillari’s office has the highest allocation of votes in the whole of the country.

Despite the accusations and counter-accusations being hurled by the supporters of the two gladiators, one issue that remains glaring is that the 2015 conquest in the state is one between the APC and

Nyako

Major stakeholders of the PDP are either having direct ambition of governing the state or have proxies whom they want to succeed Nyako the PDP led by the governor and his deputy.

But one advantage that Nyako seems to have over his deputy is that as the leader of the APC he has succeeded in ensuring peace among the fractious elements that constituted the party and with that feat APC is now seen as one strong and indivisible party.

Following the harmony, the APC has since constituted the State Interim Committee with the various blocs being fairly represented during a grand occasion at the Dougirei Government House where all the leaders of the various blocs including Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Boss Gida Musdafa, Hajiya Fatima Balla and a host of other party stalwarts and stakeholders conceded the leadership of the party to Nyako.

With that feat and the latest defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to APC, the party boosts of prominent politicians in the state including former chairman of the Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Marwa, Hajiya Fatima Balla, Alhaji Dahiru Bobboi and a host of others.

But unlike Governor Nyako, his deputy is faced with the predicament of being saddled with a herculean task of dealing with very strong party stakeholders who may not likely be comfortable with his emergence as the candidate of the party.

Unlike Nyako who was able to bring all the aggrieved party stalwarts to a round table, it will be a herculean task for the deputy governor to get the PDP stakeholders to back him in the coming onslaught.

It is an established fact that the major stakehold-

Ngilari

ers of the PDP are either having direct ambition of governing the state or have proxies whom they want to succeed Nyako.

For instance, despite his ouster as the PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur is still pushing to have his son, Awal, become the next governor of the state.

Similarly, the former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Jibril Aminu is already working for his political godson, Dr. Idi Hong, to succeed Nyako while Dr. Umar Ardo is assiduously working to ensure that he become the next occupier of the Dougirie Government House, Yola.

With the situation, many political pundits believed that it will be difficult for the deputy governor to make any glaring success in bringing these powerful stalwarts to a round table, especially in convincing them to stake their own political interests in favour of his.

For now, the deputy governor has kept quiet. New Telegraph, however, learnt that the deputy governor is working underground to realise his governorship ambition. Sources say he will definitely contest for the governorship.

Governor Nyako, who by May 2015 would have served out his two terms, is keen about who succeeds him, especially one who share the same vision with him and may likely consolidate the developmental strides he initiated.

It is equally important for Nyako to deploy a strategy to stave off any untoward challenge after he must have served out his tenure. As a result, it becomes more expedient for him to actively participate in the process that will lead to the emergence of his successor.

It will be recalled that the governor on several occasions had been accused by his political adversaries of massive corruption which resulted in the poor performance of his administration.

Such accusations have come from the likes of Prof.

Aminu. The governor has variously repudiated the submission, saying that it was because he has simply refused to share the state’s resources to them.

The question on the lips of many people is that can Nyako successfully pave the way for the smooth coming of his successor? Only time will tell!

18 POLITICS CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

intention to engage in vendetta against the people of South and Central districts should an Anioma person become governor in 2015. As an insider, I was not aware of any agreement between the Anioma and other parts of the state for a power shift, even if one was. It was crystal clear that the people and leaders of Delta North never faithfully adhere to it.

“In other words, in 2015 power can shift to any district even the Delta South, which Governor Uduaghan and me hail from,” the SSG said.

With this statement, Macaulay set the stage ready for the political fight. Apart from the PDP state chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi, from Delta North, immediately told the SSG to “shut up! Because he was never a party functionary but a journalist who was co-opted into the politics of the state by Ibori,” the Chief of Staff to Governor Uduaghan, Dr. Festus Okubor, an ardent loyalist of Ibori who was his Commissioner for Information and a governorship aspirant, has reminded the SSG of the stipulations of the party’s constitution concerning power rotation.

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe is one of the aspirants.

Senator Ikpo, an Anioma elder, rose to the challenge. He wondered why the SSG who did not vote for Governor Uduaghan during the rerun election of January 10, 2011 and 2011 governorship election in the state was making power shift to Delta North a do-or-die.

According to him, the SSG should have buried his head in shame because neither him nor his people in Isoko North Local Government contributed to the reelection of Governor Uduaghan, instead of fomenting troubles ahead of 2015 to gain relevance by destabilising the prevailing peace in the state.

He said: “If not for the intervention of myself and a few others, including late Elder J.P. Otobo, who engaged in a serious political battle with Uduaghan, he (Uduaghan) probably would not have contested the election of 2011, let alone winning it. In winning, all of us voted for Uduaghan but Macaulay (SSG) did not, because, Uduaghan lost in his local government, his domain. How are we sure he (the SSG) voted for the governor? But today, those of us who made it possible with the grace of God are not being recognised, not that we are hungry, but Macaulay who did not vote for him and lost his domain is the SSG. “Macaulay forgot that ethnicity don’t produce candidates for election but political parties. I’m an elder statesman, so, I’m in a position to say what I’m saying now because I was twice elected to the Senate in 1979 and 1983.”

While he maintained that 2015 has been ordained as Delta North’s mandate, he decried the ethnic politics recently introduced by the SSG to heat up the prevailing peace in the state. He called on the governor to sanction the SSG for flouting his directive forbidding public office holders from making comments on the 2015 governorship race.

“So, those who want to be governor from Delta North should go out, work hard and compete with their contempo-

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Ethnicity, zoning dominate Delta governorship race

Nwaoboshi

Ochei

We are carrying the fight to the party, starting from the PDP in Delta State, to the national secretariat of the party because if they have policy where zoning is recognised, the second word of it is power shift raries at the primary election and win.

If any Delta North aspirant wins the primary, nobody can stop him because we are all stakeholders,” Ikpo said.

Corroborating Ikpo, the National Coordinator of the Anioma Welfare Initiative (AWI), Elder John Ehikwe, who was the state secretary of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the defunct Bendel State during the Second Republic, said Delta North would go across party-divide when the time comes to get what belongs to the district. “Well, we are not talking on the platform of a party, even though the PDP is the dominant in Nigeria and dominant party in Delta State. AWI is not talking on behalf of the party as of now, we are carrying the fight to the party, starting from the PDP in Delta State, to the national secretariat of the party because if they have policy where zoning is recognised, the second word of it is power shift. There is power shift even in the constitution of the party. Also, the federal character in the constitution simply means recognizing every section of the country for important positions for good governance. This time now, there will be an improvement in the amendment of the constitution, especially in the area of power shift in governorship position among senatorial districts. We are not sleeping; we are going to get our mandate. And again as I said, it is not just a PDP affair, we are going to all other

Orubebe

political parties to tell them and convince them that the just thing, the fair thing to do is for all the parties that want to field candidates for the election to make their choice from Delta North,” he said.

While Macaulay’s kinsmen quickly bought into the crisis and rose to defend their own. The chairman of Isoko Grassroot Movement (IGM), Hon. Sunday Elueni, has challenged Nwaoboshi and other leaders and aspirants from Delta North to address the salient issue raised by the SSG, condemning the strategy adopted

by Anioma aspirants to cling power.

Elueni described the PDP state chairman as “a failed lawyer and Ibori’s parasite.”

Elueni recalled how Nwaoboshi and his cohorts frustrated the zoning pact when all attempts were being made among the ethnic groups in the state to have one. He asked: “What was Nwaoboshi’s role in Governor Uduaghan’s emergence? Was he not Chief Godswill Obielum’s main anchor when Uduaghan was running in 2006/2007? Did he not throw his weight behind Chief Great Ogboru from Delta Central in 2011, despite knowing that the man belonged to the opposition party? What if God had granted his wish, will Nwaoboshi still be talking of zoning?”

Nwaoboshi, who has suffered the

worst hit from Macaulay’s utterances, wants the SSG to henceforth bother himself with his job.

“Apart from the fact that he is not a party functionary, he is not a foundation member of the party. He is just trying to make himself relevant. If he has political ambition, he should be bold to declare it and not to charge the political atmosphere with such provocative statements,” the PDP state chairman said.

Delta State Youth Forum for Good Governance, on its parts demanded the resignation of Nwaoboshi as the state chairman of PDP for engaging Macaulay in a war of words over who becomes the next governor in 2015.

The President of the youths, Comrade Prince Kpokpogri, said: “May we emphasize here that the campaign offices of Delta North governorship aspirants in Isoko North and South Local Government (Macaulay’s stronghold) will be closed down and none of the aspirants will be allowed to campaign in the area if the chairman fails to tender the apology.”

Already, Macaulay has raised alarm that his life and that of his family has come under threat.

Wading into the zoning crisis also, the former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, cautioned that zoning should be negotiated by political parties in the interest of peaceful coexistence and development of the state.

While he urged the people of Delta Central and South not to be clannish about the governorship seat, he expressly said: “I believe that with time a good candidate will come. If they come from the Delta North, why not, I am not against a northern candidate but I am not going to be parochial to say the governor must be Ijaw or Urhobo because they are my two constituencies.”

Amidst the logjam, Governor Uduaghan has refused to be dragged into the messy situation. At the memorial service in honour of the father of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, the governor warned all political appointees from utterances that are capable of overheating the polity ahead of 2015.

“As far as I am concerned, no political appointee in Delta State should grant political interview so that we do not overheat the system. You can grant interviews on the official duties of your department, ministry and agency,” the governor warned, even as he charged aspirants to go about their businesses in a peaceful and lawful manner, maintaining that “government will not tolerate acts or utterances that are capable of breaching the peace of the state.”

The days ahead will ultimately witness lots of intrigues with ethnic card and zoning dominate the political space ahead of the February 28, 2015 governorship election in Delta State.

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TUESday, MARCH 11, 2014

The UBTH sickle cell transplant feat

he successful sickle cell transplant at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), is a major leap in the fight against the dreaded disease. At a press briefing to announce the feat, Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Prof.

Michael Ibadin said the exercise was made possible through the joint effort of a team of medical experts from UBTH and the University of Basel, Switzerland, which provided the technical support and the machine designed for the procedure.

The procedure involved the removal of sickle-cell infected blood from a patient’s system and its replacement with healthy, uninfected blood. Indeed, head of the medical team, Dr. Nosakhare Bazuaye, a Consultant Hematologist and Coordinator of UBTH Stem Cell Centre, put it more succinctly when he declared triumphantly: “We now have the ability to remove all the cells and replace them with new ones. When we do this total red cell exchange, we will remove the entire blood and it is replaced. The machine is such that it does not cause much discomfort; as it is taking away blood from one side, it is being replaced immediately from the other side. It can also be done for children without harm.”

By this feat, UBTH has not only given hope to people living with

the disease, who have searched fruitlessly all these years for solutions, but has also justified its establishment as a “centre of excellence.” This means that if such institutions were properly funded, a lot of success stories could come from them and encourage some of the country’s medical professionals scattered abroad to come home and contribute to the country’s progress.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the UBTH has made headlines in its area of medial competence. In 2011, the medical team successfully carried out its first stem cell or bone marrow transplant by transmuting a seven-year-old sickle cell anemia patient, who reportedly suffered stroke, from HBSS to HBAA genotype. It was a medical feat that was acknowledged as the first in West Africa and third in Africa, coming after Egypt and South Africa.

Nigeria is not in short supply of capable medical personnel who can compete favourably with their foreign counterparts. But, there are intractable problems afflicting the health sector. There is, for example, a regular exodus of highly trained health personnel seeking greener pastures abroad for the simple reason that they are not well remunerated here.

Developed countries have high population of Nigerian doctors, nurses and other health person-

nel who are well paid and practising with top-of-the-range medical equipment. To be sure, they are needed here, but it is difficult for some of them to agree to come and subject themselves to the appalling state of medical practice in Nigeria at the moment. We are, therefore, concerned that failure to provide our medical personnel with up-to-date equipment, good remuneration and conducive environment may lead to further depletion of the stock of trained health personnel who struggle to bridge the yawning gap in the patient-doctor ratio in Nigeria.

The crisis in the nation’s health sector is underscored by the large number of people who daily seek Medicare outside the country. However, we believe that this novel and remarkable feat in UBTH will go a long way in stemming the tide of so-called medical tourism to India, Europe, America and other parts of the world, which costs Nigeria a shocking N250 billion ($1.6 billion) annually, an amount that could be deplored to make substantial impact in the health sector.

The truth is that our health sector’s problems are legion. Most of the health institutions, for instance, are operating under a deplorable condition, occasioned by poor funding, dearth of infrastructure, lack of medical personnel and equipment. Even the latest sickle cell transplant would

not have been carried out if the UBTH did not get technical support from the University of Basel.

Dr. Bazuaye was quoted as saying that the second transplant had to be conducted after two years due to inadequate facilities and financial constraints of the patient.

We urge the federal government to establish an international centre in UBTH to provide this mode of therapy for Nigerians who are weighed down by the enormous burden of sickle cell anemia and other ailments such as cancer, leukemia, multiple myeloma, among others, at a subsidized rate. While we commend all those involved in the UBTH feat, we implore other “centres of excellence” to effectively contribute their quota to the health sector.

Be that as it may, a critical step in fighting the disease also subsists in regular sensitisation, especially by religious bodies, of intending couples on the need to know their sickle cell status before getting married. Challenges faced by health institutions are enormous, but surmountable.

With the political will from various governments and improved health insurance policy, sickle cell and stem cell transplants could be made available, accessible and affordable to Nigerians.

The health insurance policy, which at the moment is ineffective, should be re-focused to suit the needs of Nigerians.

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

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

OPINION 2015: On Jonathan rests Nigeria’s future Nduka Uzuakpundu

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t’s tempting to suspect that some of the major crises facing Nigeria, since the advent of the Jonathan administration, are the crafts of some personalities who did not wish President Goodluck Jonathan well. Such crises as the on-going Boko Haram insurgency, the 2012 nation-wide subsidy protest, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, corruption, inflation, air disasters, disquiet in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), unrelenting soar of unemployment, especially amongst graduates of tertiary institutions, kidnapping etc. are some unhealthy developments – too insalubrious – that conspiracy theorists say aren’t helping the growth of democracy in the Fourth Republic.

Amidst these unsettling, inherited issues, Jonathan is seen from within and outside as a determined hard-working individual naked – almost hopelessly – in the blizzard. His political enemies are so ambitious that it’s their fervent wish that may he never find a protective shelter from the crises. By implication, it’s their expectation that, as a minority president, it would be Jonathan’s awesome duty to preside over a gradually – if frighten-

ing – process that is sure to lead to the disintegration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – as prophesied, by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Since the fuel subsidy protest in 2012 Jonathan’s political foes, it would seem, have found – alongside the Boko Haram insurgency – a good reason to believe that Nigeria’s is crawling, inexorably, to the towering height of a failed state – a la Somalia.

But whatever the CIA may have said, it was more of a wake-up call that there was a pressing need to sharpen intelligence gathering, as a primary step in curbing violent crime and corruption. Washington is interested in seeing a healthy and united Nigeria, chiefly because it, too, is a federalist democracy. It’s no less interested in a united Federal Republic of Nigeria for the fact that Abuja plays a clearly well-defined strategic role in the West Africa sub-region, especially in the fight against global terror and piracy in the South Atlantic. That may explain why the Obama administration has agreed to offer Nigeria some assuring assistance in fighting the Boko Haram extremists.

It might be correct, to a certain limit, though, to think that the Boko Haram insurgency has to it a Crescent-versus-

Cross complexion: a localized version of global heave bent on undermining the Jonathan administration, which is headed by a Christian – an Orwellian pig, better still, from Nigeria’s oil-rich, deep south. Take, for one, the timing of the insurgency: the Fourth Republic, which has had two Christian presidents: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the first, and Jonathan, the third; both of them southerners, between them was the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

Cynics, who pretend that they are no sympathisers of Boko Haram, argue that the predictable rise in the number of Bible- believing presidents of Nigeria, since the Fourth Republic, may well explain Jonathan’s awkward predicament in his attempt to contain the terrorists.

Perhaps, it’s in a frantic bid to stem this trend that some personalities are insisting that Jonathan must be denied a second-term candidacy of the ruling PDP. Such cynics have been heard, besides, to have said that the Fourth Republic has lasted for too long – almost fifteen years on – and so it was high time it was terminated. The question is: how? Certainly not via a military coup.

Stratocracy is no longer fashionable.

Any rifle-wielding man or woman, who’s

interested in political power or governing this country, is advised to shed his or her military uniform, join any one of the registered political parties and from that base start working diligently towards where Jonathan presently is. Good luck to such an ex-soldier!

In effect, what is being said is akin to a fervent wish for a man or woman – preferably the latter – from Obasanjo’s former tribe. And if the Fourth Republic has lasted for fourteen years – more than a decade, which is the combined life span of the First and Second republics – it’s primarily because Nigerians are tired of stratocracy. The faceless sympathisers of Boko Haram and other political foes of Jonathan do not seem, yet, to see the beauty and appeal of Nigeria – like Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Algeria, Gabon, Togo, Benin etc. – steeling the culture of democracy in Africa. Rather, as some of them said, recently, “fourteen years of the Fourth Republic has been so long a period of unrivalled corruption, ineptitude on the part of the palace, administrative decay; and almost half the period characterised by kidnapping and indiscriminate killing by the Boko Haram group”.

Ministerial screening: An abnormality that has come to stay Limo Jackson

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ellowNigerians” I guess you would not be surprised by the use of this prefix. This actually the cliché Nigerian politicians use in swaying their audience/listeners and/or intended target audience. As such, you would kindly permit me the use of this cliché in this article and many more to come from me. However, I stand to be different and would like to seen as being different from the many politicians who had used this cliché to win the legitimacy of the populace only to act contrary to the disappointment and dismay of these ones. I shall be honest and would seek to be truthful in every submission of mine raised therein. The use of clichés like this is good but this must be backed up by sincere thoughts and actions at the end of the day My name is P.R. Voice a member of the “Talakawa class” but this does not exclude me from talking on a public issue that has come to become a norm.

Fellow Nigerians, my submission therein is a criticism of an

abnormality that had persisted in our body politics which has now been allowed to be an accepted norm. “The clearance of ministerial nominees by the national assembly without designated portfolio.” Is this how things ought to be done? Shouldn’t we be allowed the benefit of criticism of each nominated candidate against the portfolio he/she is being nominated to fill? Isn’t this an act of tyranny on the part of our past leaders beginning from the formal President Olusegun Obasanjo running through “Dr. Ebele Jonathan who have been the architects of this abnormality in our body politics? Is this how things are done in developed countries of the world? Is this how the legislature of developed countries gets to clear nominated candidates for political ministerial appointments without a portfolio attached to their name(s)? Too many questions you may say begging for appropriate answers.

Fellow Nigerians, let me stretch my argument further, whenever there is a criticism against the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration e.g. (the case of the open letter of the formal President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan readily

Shouldn’t we be allowed the benefit of criticising each nominated candidate against their portfolio comes to mind;) his “So called Publicist” who rarely would have done any meaningful homework were quick to come up to his defence mentioning that say corruption which they are criticizing his regime for did not commence from his regime.

They are quick to mention case studies of the failures of past administrations. If the President’s “Publicists” are truly adept with the responsibilities and functions of their duties to the President I guess they should have known this simple but practical definition of Public Relations and by extension what the role of a publicist is to someone of the caliber of the President of our country. Put simply: “Public Relations is the art and science of analyzing trends, predicting their consequences and

counseling organizational leadership and implementing planned programmes of action that would be to the interest of both the public and that of the organization.

In this case, we here-by take our President to be that impersonal entity called “An organization desirous of a cordial sustained relationship and goodwill with the members of its publics.” As such, a lot has to be considered before having the President in this instance say, do and/or act on anything. It’s supposed to be the professional responsibilities of the Publicists surrounding the President to let him into what the consequences of any of his actions, statements and policies stand to cause him should he go ahead with this. That’s why I call the Publicist working with the President “So called Publicist.” My apologies for this if need be for saying this.

Going further, Fellow Nigerians, don’t our politicians know that the most respected and appreciated leaders in the world are the ones that are fearless, bold and courageous in thinking through their decisions and desires for their people? They are such ones that are not scared of criticism as long as they can convince themselves that all

they are doing is in the interest of the people they govern. So, what’s the fuss about seeking to take a departure from the past?

Fellow Nigerians, I remain surprised as do many Nigerians are when the President of our country forwarded his list of ministerial nominees to the national assembly; yet again and according to the previous tradition of preceding administrations failed to indicate the ministerial position allotted to each ministerial nominee.

I feel this is the imposition of individuals as ministers on the populace. Before we could say “Jack Robinson,” such one succeeds in passing through the screening of the Senate and at this stage; there is practically nothing anyone can do. At the end of the day, the President would now sit down in the comfort of his office despotically appointing portfolio for each of this ministerial nominees.

Who made him lord and masters over us?

Limo Jackson, B.Sc, MAPR, ANIPR, MCIPR, AMNIM Is of PR Voice, Abuja

OPINION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Kogi: Look inward before it is too late (1) Oyigu Onuche-Ojo Elijah

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heartily congratulate you over your recent victory at the Supreme Court which upheld your election as the governor of Kogi State. As the good people of the state celebrate you over such conquest, we do pray to the almighty God to unveil the responsibility that follows such victory to you since every victory comes with a veiled responsibility. It is also my prayer that God will give you the needed agility to move the state to the desired level of its God given destiny.

Your Excellency Sir, when I first glanced through your official resume and discovered that you were an aviator with a highly rated experience in piloting, I developed a hope within me that with God on your side, you will be able to pilot the affairs of this state to the desired aerodrome of prosperity.

We do hope that, within the remaining years of your administration, you will be able to safely land the state at the said aerodrome.

However, I considered it not necessary to have reached you through this medium due to the hectic nature of your official engagements and especially the fact that letter writing has

become a familiar medium of official communication in the recent times. I would not have joined the wagon of letter writers considering its open status but I however obliged owing to the constraints of other potent media, hence my reason to communicate you through letter writing. As a concerned citizen of the state that hail from Ibobo–Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area, I am constrained to bring the points I would be making to your hallowed table through this medium with the hope that, a deep consideration will be given to them.

The choice of the title of this letter is premised on the need for us as a people to look inward by reconsidering the imperative of harnessing our God given natural resources as a formidable way of developing the land and limiting the degree of the state’s dependence on federation money. While this will give room for financial dependence, it will also procreate a platform for massive employment for our employable youth that are scattered across many states in Nigeria in search of white Kola jobs. However, your recent effort in investing in the agricultural sector is highly commendable and it is hoped that, such investment is properly man-

Over 33 mineral resources were discovered in 2008 from across the states of the federation aged by impeccable hands to enable the state enjoy her edaphic prosperity.

Your Excellency Sir, mineralogical researches have divulged that, Kogi state is a Nature’s favorite when it comes to mineral availability across the entire nation. It has been revealed that, the state is blessed with more than 29 mineral deposits which is ranked higher than other states in Nigeria but seconded by its next door Nasarawa state with 25 mineral deposits.

A documentary programme by the Nigerian Television Authority in midJune 2009 which was mainly dedicated to the field reports on mineral resources from different part of the country under the eagle watch of the then Minister of Mines and Steel development, Mrs. Diezanii Allison Madueke revealed that, over 33 mineral resources were discovered in 2008 from across the states of the federation. The said

report also indicated that, Kogi state has the highest mineral deposit when viewed numerically. Her speech reads in part: “As far as mineral deposits are concerned, Kogi state and the next-door Nasarawa state are the most endowed across the entire country. The statement also read further that, Kogi state alone has deposit of a total of 29 mineral resources available in commercial quantities.” The report further showed that, some of the mineral deposits discovered are coal, dolomite, feldspar, bauxite, iron ore, tar, limestone and gold to mention but a few.

In the light of the above discovery, one could adduce that, Kogi state was pre-blessed by God even before the creation of the state hence the need to look inward into the content of our soil and enjoy the dividends of those mineral deposits when they are appropriately exploited. If Kogi state is rated as the state with the highest mineral deposit in Nigeria, it is expected also that the state should be seen as one of the most industrialized and perhaps developed states in Nigeria. prophoyigu@yahoo.com

Imminent change brings freedom to Kwara Tajudeen Kareem

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he punches were well measured and clinically delivered. The message was clear and loud. Kwara is on the threshold of a change; change from the grips of predatory politics and god-fatherism in securing political offices. In fact, the train of change left its station a little more than a year ago with the demise of the strong man of Kwara politics, Oloye Olusola Saraki on 14 November, 2013. Last Monday, it arrived at its major terminus-the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, built by his beloved son, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had rolled out its machine at a grand reception attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and top members of the party to welcome returning and defecting politicians to the PDP fold. The event sent fear to the camp of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which had devised many silly pranks to whittle down the impact of the gathering and its political significance. Now looking back at the mammoth crowd and the ecstasy which enveloped the city, the APC in cahoots with the state government may have literally dug its grave in Kwara state.

There were strong speeches, laced with heavy innuendoes but all resonant with the liberation of the state from a few opportunists who had, in the last ten years, ran the state treasury like a personal bank. But the most poignant message was delivered by a seemingly evasive politician, Senator Simeon Ajibola, representing Kwara South senatorial district at the upper chamber. The thousands of PDP supporters at the rally, he postulated, is indicative of the fact no single individual can presently boast of having a dominant control over Kwara politics.“Mr. President, you can see now that Kwara remains a PDP stronghold. Those who claim to control politics in this state are mere media tigers”, he asserted.

As early as 7 am, men and women dressed in fabrics

made in PDP colours began arriving at the Square for the rally which started in earnest with the arrival of President Jonathan at noon. By 10.30 am all the available seats at the arena had been fully occupied even as hundreds lined the entrance in multiple columns trying to pass through security screening. From the Ilorin Airport through Gerin Alimi to Oja Oba, many lined the routes waiting to catch a glimpse of President Jonathan who first visited the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari at the palace. That was part of the crowd the APC derisively alleged were rented from neighboring states, including Lagos, to welcome the President in Ilorin.

The crowd-renting theory is indefensible considering the fact that PDP had a week earlier staged a test-run rally to measure its popularity in the state. That earlier rally on a Sunday, at the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority field was a great success, uniting major political gladiators in the state under the PDP umbrella. The attendance was massive, ecstatic and authentic, but the opposition APC pretended it wasn’t important; although spies were sent with video cameras to record the event for ‘forensic analysis’ at the Government House the next day.

The organizers of the rally believed that but for the presence of President Jonathan, the hawks holding power in Kwara would have disallowed the PDP to use the Square for that event. In its desperation to keep the crowd away from the rally, the state government same day organized a phantom empowerment programme to distribute Taxi cabs. The APC also directed its members to hold ward meetings across the state. Caretaker Chairman of PDP in state, Mr. Solomon Edojah was heard threatening court action against fuji musician, Saheed Osupa for cancelling his performance at the rally after collecting a mobilization fee. Party supporters fingered the overbearing influence of the APC on the singer. On the eve of the President’s visit, the opposition party suddenly erected its billboards along the routes to be plied by the President. It also printed large quantities of its posters, apparently to cover those earlier pasted by the PDP,

welcoming its guests. The Police had to step in and prevent a direct confrontation between the two groups.

A few minutes after mid-day, the President arrived at the Metropolitan Square with a large band of PDP adherents, among them, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; National Chairman Adamu Muazu and Board of Trustees Chairman Tony Anenih.

There were a few senators, ministers and special advisers to the President; the governors of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Niger States as well as the deputy governors of Sokoto and Kogi States. The women also came in large numbers, led by PDP women leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe. Alighting from his car, an appreciative President Jonathan, wearing snow-white babanriga and a sky blue tajia with a neck scarf made in PDP colours, walked round the stands. He waved to the crowd and threw a few punches to betray his amazement at the large turn-out in spite of earlier impressions created that PDP had been decimated with the defection of Senator Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to APC. He reiterated his feelings when he mounted the rostrum at exactly 1.35 pm. “Today is a great day,” the President’s voice boomed in the microphone. He congratulated Kwarans for keeping faith with the PDP and for exercising the freedom to identify with the party they liked. He described the rally as a manifestation of “unity and freedom” for the people and noted that everyone that matters in the state has identified with the PDP. He, like other speakers before him, denounced the over-bearing influence of godfathers and the imposition of candidates during elections.

President Jonathan, in a veiled reference to governors who cross-carpet and expect everyone to follow them to their new party, decried the conduct of political leaders, especially those holding executive positions, who see themselves as absolute rulers. “We don’t own the state. We are elected to serve the people,” said the President. He went on to praise the resolve of PDP members in the state for keeping faith with the party when a few influential members decided to pursue their own private agenda.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

ARTS

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

THEATRE

Tony Okuyeme

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NEW TELEGRAPH

fter a week of exciting and inspiring plays spanning three continents, the 8th Jos Theatre Festival ended penultimate weekend with performance of Akolo James Anthony’s A Toast of Triumph and raffle draws organised by Grand Cereals Limited.

Held on the theme “Building Understanding and Renewing Communities”, the festival organised by Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT) with the support of the US Mission Nigeria, ran from Saturday February 22 to Sunday March 2, 2014.

For the growing theatre-going public in the Plateau State capital, the Jos Theatre Festival organised by the Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT), offered rich panoply of theatrical experiences with plays that were as diverse as they were interesting, staged at the premises of the Alliance Francaise, Jos. Ranging form, Wole Soyinka’s classic The Lion and the Jewel which attracted a festival record audience. There were two American plays which were performed as part of the yearly African American History Month, a month set aside to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. The two plays were August Wilson’s Two Train Running and Charles Fullman’s Zooman and the Sign. There was the Spanish play, Federico Garcia Lorca’s The Shoemakers Wonderful Wife and the Czech play, Landislav Smoljak and Sdenek Sverak’s The Conquest of the North Pole.

In The Lion And The Jewel which was the pre-festival play, we will see the Baale of Ilujinle, Baroka in a test of wiles and wills with the school teacher, Lakunle over who ends up wooing and marrying the village belle, Sidi. In a swift contest, the Baale, outsmarts both Sidi and Lakunle and Sidi ends up happily in his harem. He had told his first wife, Sadiku the ‘secret’ that he had lost his manhood and Sadiku not knowing it was part of a larger plot by the Baale, goes out to mock him and tells Sidi who decides to find out. The rest is history.

The festival proper began with staging of Federico Garcia Lorca’s comedy, The Shoemaker’s Wonderful Wife. The play tells the story of a middle aged shoemaker who marries a girl young enough to be his first child had he married early.

The festival continued with the performance of Zooman and the Sign. It is Charles Fullers version of events that occur in a close knit neighbourhood. It is summer and people are enjoying the beautiful weather. In the midst of this tranquility, Jinny a little girl playing on her porch is killed. All the neighbours pretend that they did not see the killer.

Her father posts a sign on their doorstep accusing all the neighbours of the murder and daring anyone to remove

"I REGARD THE THEATRE AS THE GREATEST OF ALL ART FORMS, THE MOST IMMEDIATE WAY IN WHICH A HUMAN BEING CAN SHARE WITH ANOTHER THE SENSE OF " WHAT IT IS TO BE A HUMAN BEING." ― - OSCAR WILDE

A Toast of Triumph as Jos Theatre Festival ends

A scene in Okikiro

the sign. The neighbours eventually co-operate and the murderer is caught.

August Wilson’s play, Two Trains Running is next on stage. The play is set in a neighbourhood where the restaurant is the meeting place for all manner of people – from the undertaker who comes in to eat and talk about his clients, the boys turned bad of the community who are all hustling to make a decent living and the neighbourhood imbecile who has been chasing a piece of ham owed him for the past ten years.

The Conquest of the North Pole then took the stage on the fourth day. It is the

story of a group of men who decide to leave Prague for the North Pole and in the process run out of food.

The 8th Jos Festival of Theatre ended with the stage production of ‘a new play by a new playwright’ as earlier announced by JRT. It is Akolo James Anthony’s A Toast of Triumph. It deals with the very contemporary issue of unemployment. It is Kigbu’s story of how he triumphed over his unemployed status by taking to farming where he eventually ‘makes’ it beyond his wildest dreams. It is a call for all youths to go back to the land to earn an honest and

decent living.

The plays explore the human condition and emotions ranging from deception, husband/wife issues, dominance, communal responsibility, life and death, triumph, fantasy and madness.

“Any emotion you wanted to ex[press was adequately shown in Jos Theatre Festival,” Oteh said, adding that “the festival moves to Abuja starting from tomorrow Wednesday March 12, with the performance of Landislav Smoljak and Sdenek Sverak’s The Conquest of the North Pole, at the Merit House auditorium, Maitama, Abuja.

Here comes The Five Maids of Fadaka Tony Okuyeme

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he Five Maids of Fadaka returns to the stage at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Sunday, 20th and Saturday 26th April 2014, as a special Easter treat.

Produced by Thespian Family Theatre and Productions, the play written

by Ayo Jaiyesimi and directed by Abiola Segun Williams, Five Maids of Fadaka features a rich blend of drama, folklore, traditional dance, music and poetry, in a typical African village setting. The Five Maids of Fadaka is centred on a King’s lavish marriage ceremony and the native preparations that usually go along with it. In selecting the bridal train, he invites young maidens from all the

neighbouring villages in what seems like a beauty pageant. In this contest, the main focus is not on outward beauty but the test of the inner constitution and character of the contestants.

“The cultural setting and storyline invokes a nostalgic feeling and readily engraves Nigeria’s rich and diverse culture in the audience’s heart.

“Thespian Family Theatre & Productions (TFT) is a theatre and production organization that aims to inspire positive change in society and create a deeper engagement around core values that define the spectrum of humanity.

“Our productions usually have one or more of these five unique themes /messages: community and citizenship, unity and diversity, culture and

heritage, character and values, family and fun,” TFT said in a statement, adding that the company started in 2003 as a youth programme using the platform of drama. This programme has helped develop a number of stage and screen titans.

“With the aim of making a positive impact on the community, our mission is to ‘develop community through the performance arts’. We support and partner with relevant groups to push community causes that are dear to our heart. With this in mind, we passionately say that ‘we are not just a theatre, we are a cause’. The Five Maids of FADAKA, one of TFT’s signature plays.

“At TFT, we are ‘…building the community, a stage at a time…’ “

24 ARTS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Nobody wants to see it, and many would not want to buy it.

But all the money realised would go for the treatment of those who are not yet as lucky as these survivors, those at the brink of death if you don’t assist them

Some of the photographs on display

Battle Scars: Photo exhibition on cancer awareness in Lagos The adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words" which refers to the “notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image”, was brought to the fore in Lagos recently. As breast cancer ravages the lives of women in Nigeria, sending many to their early graves, Sebeccly Cancer Care in conjunction with Camara Studios organised a three-day photo exhibition at the Goethe Institut, Lagos, to create more awareness of the disease and raise funds for the victims. EBERE AMEH was there.

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alm and deep in thought about her situation, a middle aged survivor sits in her one-room apartment that houses her possessions. Another, young and beautiful, stylishly wore her panama hat but seems to have lost all the reason to smile when she lost her breast to cancer. She covers her face with her scarf; others with their bare hands. As the reality of their precarious situation becomes apparent by the day, they are lost in thought hoping that help or solution will come soon. These images are among the many poignant photographs on display at the just concluded photography exhibition on breast cancer awareness held at the Goethe Institut, Lagos.

Organized by Sebecly Cancer Care and Support Centre in conjunction with Camara Studios and Goethe Institut, Lagos, the pictures vividly captures the lives and painful struggles of these people who have fought and eventually conquered breast Cancer.

Others were not lucky to tell their stories.

The images are different in

every way as their portraits portray; but they are all united in one purpose and have the same story to tell. They are united in their battle for survival, and having conquered, they have their different stories of the battle, of hope, survival, stigmatization and acceptance.

Despite the fact that they agreed to be photographed, though the pictures are ready and up for sale, would anyone want to see mastectomy in pictures? Who would want to hang them and look at how cancer has ravished the bodies of our women causing them pain and untimely death?

“Nobody wants to see it, and many would not want to buy it. But all the money realised would go for the treatment of those who are not yet as lucky as these survivors, those at the brink of death if you don’t assist them,” Yetunde Ayeni – Babaeko, the Executive Director of Camara Studios and one of the conveners of the event explained.

According to her, photographing them was a great experience. “It is all to inspire you to help. The United Na-

tions recommends that each country should have one cancer diagnostic machine per one million of the population.

In Nigeria where we have a population of over 150 million people, we have only two machines that are functional,” she said, asking for all hands to be on deck to save the victims.

Available reports have it that thirty Nigerian women die every day from breast cancer. Most available cancer treatment centres in Nigeria today lack modern diagnostic equipment for diagnosing the condition. Besides, there is a lack of awareness on the disease, especially the causative factors, preventative measures, likely treatment options and facilities where such treatments are available and so much more.

It is in the light of this and in an attempt to help the millions of Nigerian women who die daily because of this preventable diseases that the exhibition was put together to raise awareness for the disease, raise fund for the patients and reach out to those in dare need.

Founded by Dr. Omolola Salako who is an Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Sebeccly Cancer Care has brought untold joys to many homes through its activities geared towards giving the cancer victims a second chance to live again.

In an interview, one of the survivors who is a beneficiary of the Sebeccly Cancer Care, said she got to know about the centre when she needed over N10 million to continue with her care.

“My father is late and my mother is a struggling widow managing in the village. My fiancée who had two shops and a plot of land in Lagos sold everything he had to save me but to no avail. It was when I was at the end of the road, when all my hope of survival was lost that I heard about Sebeccly.

It is not just the money they assist you with that makes Sebeccly wonderful, it is the care, the encouragement, the education, the love,” she said, struggling to hold her emotions.

Though she detected a lump in her breast when she was

just 21, the young girl who begged to remain anonymous could have died due to wrong information and poor management, if not for the mercy of God. “I told our matron about it and she told me not to worry, that she would give me medications that would melt it.

After about one year, when it was obvious that her medications were not working, she introduced me to Tianshi products, which her husband sells. I spent over a million on Tianshi. Though there was no improvement, she kept discouraging me from going to the hospital. She told me that LUTH is bad that they will cut my breast. To cut a long story short, it is the same LUTH that saved me, by the grace of God. It is there also that I got to know about Sebeccly,” the young girl said gratefully.

For Mrs Kemi … the story is different. She also detected her lump early enough while breast feeding her last child, and got it removed immediately. However, she was advised to have a mastectomy to avoid any further problem by her doctor. She lives happily with her family in Lagos where she teaches Geography in a Government Secondary School.

Throwing more light on the issue of breast cancer at the venue was Dr Fakolade Adeola of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre. She was on hand to explain to the people that while all breast lumps are not malignant, the detection of a lump in one’s breast does not always mean a death sentence. While asking for the unalloyed support of all and sundry, Mrs Clementina Ometu also of same organization, advised that women endeavour to get themselves checked to nip the disease in the bud, because of the high cost of treatment, poverty in the land and government’s insensitivity.

BUSINESS Tuesday, March 11, 2014

What's news Job loss scare rocks TCN, power distribution firms Thousands of employees in the power generation, transmission and distribution stratum of the sector now live in fear of another round of mass sack.

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

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ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

IOCs put employment on hold in Nigeria

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Deep waters investment: IOCs’ production hits 1.2bn barrels International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria’s multi-billion dollars oil and gas sector produced over 1.19 billion barrels from deep waters in 2013, a document by Royal Dutch shell has shown

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Power ministry to spend N59bn in 2014 The ministry of Power is planning to spend N59 billion in 2014, the budget proposal by the ministry obtained by New Telegraph showed at the weekend.

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Experts renew call for creation of Construction Bank Against the backdrop of the dearth of funds to finance construction works across the country, built environment experts are renewing call for the establishment of a Construction Development Bank where stakeholders can have access to cheap and long-term finance

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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) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

L-R: Chairman, Trust Yields Securities Limited, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf; Managing Director/CEO, Kapital Trust and Secutities Limited, Mr. Michael Daniel Katrit; Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike; Group Managing Director, GTI Securities Limited, Mr. Abubakar Lawal and Managing Director, Mr. Tunde Oyewole, during the visit of ASHON executives to GTI Securities Trading Floor, the first private stock trading floor in Nigeria built by GTI Securities, in Lagos.

TOUGH TIME Oil companies are going through hard times.

Adeola Yusuf

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nternational oil companies operating in Nigeria, have placed embargo on employment of staff, New Telegraph gathered at the weekend.

A management staff of one of the multi-nationals, who disclosed this at the weekend, maintained that the oil companies are going through a difficult time in Nigeria.

“No employment in Nigeria for now,” he said, adding that they now rely “on the services of contract staff to do most of their works.”

Blaming government for the dwindling investments in the country’s oil and gas industry, he insisted that the country now ranks among the top five

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter

most difficult countries to secure oil and gas contacts in the world.

“Government is the stumbling block for us. I don't want to stress this and I will crave anonymity on this because we are waiting for approvals, but the contracting procedure is killing business in Nigeria.

“Because of this, there is an

embargo on employment in oil industry. Nobody will say it but what we are going through is tough. It is really unfortunate.

The investments are capital intensive. For instance, $60 million is still needed to drill oil well in Nigeria but the average contracting cycle in the country is 3-4 years. It is really unfortunate,” he concluded.

He also blamed the footdragging on the passage of the 14-year-old controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly as part of the way government is killing oil and gas business in the country.

The Federal Government lost a whopping $100 billion over the last four years, following the nation’s inability to attain her annual crude production capacity of about 3.6 million barrels per day.

This was the verdict of stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, after assessing its growth prospects in the face of declining investment in production infrastructure and bureaucratic bottlenecks against the proposed deregulation of the upstream sector.

In a no-holds barred, Chatham House forum on the controversial PIB, the stakeholders including private sector operators in the oil and gas industry, management and financial consultants warned that government’s business may evenCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Power sector loses N140bn to generation, distribution LOOPHOLES

Adeola Yusuf

New investors in the distribution and generation are yet to solve energy theft and gross inefficiency in revenue collection.

T

he electricity market in Nigeria has suffered an estimated N140 billion revenue shortfall in four months, New Telegraph learnt at the weekend.

The loss is due mainly to power generation instability,

inability of new power assets owners to arrest energy theft and inefficiency in collection of revenues by distribution companies.

A source at the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) told this newspaCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

AngST over depletion of aviation manpower via incessant sacks

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

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Mar. 7)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N172 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N285 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N235

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Mar. 7)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N159.15 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N266.10 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223.58

26 business | news OVERHAUL The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has vowed to overhaul its operations.

Adeola Yusuf

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housands of employees in the power generation, transmission and distribution stratum of the sector now live in fear of another round of mass sack, New Telegraph has gathered.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Job loss scare rocks TCN, power distribution firms This came as the April 30 terminal date, which the six-month window given to the new power investors by the Federal Government is fast approaching.

The new investors retained some of the electricity workers after the November 1, 2013, takeover of power assets to understudy them for due transition.

“Some of them will be sacked after the six-month window,” one of the new owners who craved anonymity told New Telegraph, adding that some who “have within the six months proved that they can cope with the private sector operation would still be retained.”

A management staff of one

Executive Director, Risk Management and Control, Diamond Bank Plc, Caroline Anyanwu (left), presenting an Award of Excellence to Assistant Director, Banking and Payment System Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Anthony Okafor, during the Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO) Annual Dinner in Lagos.

of the distribution companies told this newspaper that many of them have, for the umpteenth time, been frustrated by the new owners.

“We are aware of the sack and I can tell you that we are not afraid of it. Many of us have been subjected to some ridiculous working conditions by these guys, but we are coping and hoping that may be after April 30, if we are still here, these people will change their ways. For now, they have not shown that they believe in some of us,” he said.

The Board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had already vowed to overhaul the total operations of the firm.

Chairman, Board of TCN, Mr. Ibrahim Waziri, who declared the plan to overhaul when he led board members on inspection to some of the ongoing projects in Lagos, however, debunked insinuations that the overhaul would lead to mass sack.

"Human capital renewal is

Power sector loses N140bn to poor generation, distribution C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

IOCs put employment on hold in Nigeria C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

tually grind to a halt if the deteriorating level of public and private sector investment in the upstream sector continues over the next few years, particularly against the backdrop of demand and price volatility in the international market.

It was revealed that the parlous state of affairs in the upstream sector was responsible for the loss of $100 billion from 2008 to date as she failed to attain her annual crude oil production quota, even when resources and investment to achieve same are available. They stressed that the amount would continue to increase until full deregulation and less involvement of government in operational activities was achieved.

The major headache now, however, was that the on-going reform in the power sector may be another effort in futility, since guarantees and commitment for regular gas supply to the generating and distribu-

tion companies are yet to be extracted from suppliers under the current dispensation due to uncertainties of the nation’s fiscal environment.

More worrisome from this perspective was the revelation that despite the massive decay of pipeline infrastructure across the country, government’s investment in exploration and seismic activities has continued to decline in the face of drastic divestment by international oil companies due to the country’s poor fiscal environment.

The stakeholders also disclosed that one of the major reasons for the growing divestment by the IOCs remained the unfavourable average contract cycle in the industry, which currently stands at about 36 months in Nigeria as against only three months in Saudi Arabia, six months in Angola and five months in Kazakhstan and Argentina, respectively.

Just as the forum observed that though government’s investments in the sector can guaran-

tee about 3.6 million barrels per day, it could only set a target 2.4 miillion per day while as at the end of March 2013, only 1.98 million barrels per day was attained.

This development, according to the stakeholders, merely gives signal that government’s business may suffer some setback in the short run while its long-term threat could be phenomenal if nothing was done to correct the situation.

The discussants also attributed the widespread abandonment of key economic projects and high level of unemployment across the country on the Federal Government’s inability to meet production targets, warning that the trend could contribute significantly to jobs losses and other vices that could impair the peace of the country.

However, in order to address the problem, the discussants recommended the immediate passage of the PIB, which will trigger an elaborate institutional reform process in the industry.

important to the board, which we have assured our staff on prompt and effective human capital development,’’ he said.

The total overhaul of the company, Waziri said, is to improve electricity distribution operations in the country.

The TCN board chairman said that the essence of the visit was for the board to see the facts on ground and find ways to improve the power transmission to the distribution companies to the end users.

According to him, in no distance time, the board will ensure adequate solution and prompt protection of energy loses in the country.

"The company is working towards completing over 160 on-going projects within the country to serve the electricity consumers effectively.

"We are working towards achieving 10,000 mega watts willing capacity by 2017, while planning to hit 20,000 mega watts by 2020.

per that the commission had already began moves to rally stakeholders in the sector on how to quickly address the loss.

The commission, he said, “will sit down with the new owners of the privatised electricity companies to analyse the critical indicators of the losses in the coming months.”

A staff of Market Competition and Rate Division, NERC, Mr. Shettima Abdulkadri, had recently confirmed the shortfall in power sector’s revenues at a workshop in Abuja.

The revenue shortfall, he said, “is a figure that fluctuates because generation fluctuates.

The collection also fluctuates, but on the average, in the last six months, the data that we have indicates a collection of about N18.5 billion per month for all the gencos.

“All the market participants are expected to be paid and again it also fluctuates depending of various factors and it could go as high as N30 to N35 billion. That will give you a rough idea about the quantum of the shortfall we are talking about.”

The Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for 2013 was based on power generation of 7500 mega watts, but since the beginning of the year, power generation has hovered around 3000mw, which has seriously destabilised the key assumptions in the tariff assumptions.

Abdulkadri explained that “the reasons for not meeting those capacities are that we expect new generations to come from NIPP plants but they did not come at the time we had expected, but some are coming in now with the commissioning of the Geregu plant.

“Another reason is that generation may be there but because of transmission constraints or gas unavailability, the generation will not be there and that will affect the tariff negatively.”

NERC chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, had noted that gas supply remains critical to stability in power generation, assuring that arrangements in the Power Purchase Agreements between gas producers and generation companies would ensure that most hiccups experienced in the sector are addressed.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Deep waters investment: IOCs’ production hits 1.2 bn barrels OFFSHORE Shell, ExxonMobil, Agip, Chevron and Total have produced over 1.19 billion barrels of oil up to 2013 from deep waters in Nigeria.

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

I

nternational Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria’s multi-billion dollars oil and gas sector produced over 1.19 billion barrels from deep waters in 2013, a document by Royal Dutch Shell has shown.

The document obtained by New telegraph, which showed that the investments in deepwater activities in Nigeria by International Oil Companies (IOCs) have also exceeded $48 billion, added that the deepwater projects, which are currently handled by Shell, ExxonMobil, Agip, Chevron and Total delivered over 0.8 billion barrels up to 2012.

“The deepwater potential is capable of producing up to 600,000 barrels per day,” the

Oil rig offshore Nigeria.

document stated, showing a total production increment of 1.19 billion barrels up to 2013.

The investments were said to have come through world-class projects like Abo (Agip), Erha (Mobil), Bonga (Shell), Usan (Total), Agbami (Chevron) and

Akpo oil fields.

A top official of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Stefan Vos De Wael, had earlier hinted newsmen about this potential of deepwater production.

De Wael, who made a presen-

tation using a similar document at a forum with newsmen last year, said that the nation has huge potential in its deepwater basins that are ready to be explored in the next few years.

Quoting figures from McKinsey Multiplier Model, Wael

said the IOCs are planning to invest about $165 billion into the industry in the next five years.

According to him, the deepwater potentials is capable of generating about $3 billion yearly, besides producing up to 600,000 barrels per day and 200,000 jobs, which is equivalent to growing the oil and gas industry by 30 per cent.

He estimated that the deepwater operators are spending over $5 billion yearly to develop and about five billion barrels, hence the need for a fair legislative document that would encourage further investment in the sector.

Managing Director of SNEPCo, Chike Onyejekwe, had also said at a training session for journalists, that his company had produced 450 million barrels of crude on its Bonga field alone.

However, he noted that Shell operated Bonga oil field has exported about 450 million barrels of oil as at December 2012, and plans are in the pipeline to expand its potentials to Bonga South-West\Aparo and Bonga North, offshore Nigeria

Total’s N560bn Egina FPSO $5.8bn $350m court hearing resumes today DELAY The exact take off date of the $3.8 billion Egina Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) deep water facility is uncertainty.

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Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will today resume hearing in the litigation between Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) and two corporate giants - Samsung and Total-over the N560 billion ($3.8 billion) Egina Oil Platform project.

The Justice Chuku-Jekwu Aneke’s Court had hitherto adjourned hearing to March 11, 2014 and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.

This had affected the takeoff of the $3.8 billion Egina Oil Platform project, planned to be built in Total’s Egina Oil Field in Lagos.

“The take off date for the

project is still uncertain. This will be determined by the outcome of the Court ruling on the injunction tomorrow (today)” a source at the Total’s Egina project said.

Counsels to both LADOL and the two corporate defendants continue to argue over the court’s jurisdiction, prompting Justice Aneke of Federal High Court, Lagos, to adjourn hearing to March 11, 2014 and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.

Total awarded the contract to Samsung Heavy Industries and LADOL to integrate a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform, otherwise called Egina Project, to be sited at LADOL’s base in Lagos.

But LADOL, suspecting that Samsung wanted to scheme it out of the juicy contract, sought injunctions last week against both Samsung and Total. Also joined in the suite are, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd (Total), Nigerian Content Monitoring

Board (NCDMB) and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The case, however, assumed a fresh dimension last Friday when counsels to the first and second defendants, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Adewale Atake, in their respective submissions argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Professor Fidelis Oditah, counsel to LADOL, objected to the plea, arguing that it was in order for the court to hear the case as well as entertain hearings on the injunctions sought on behalf of his client to restrain the defendants from excluding LADOL from the project execution.

Speaking with newsmen at the court’s premises shortly after the last hearing, Professor Oditah said the bone of contention in the issue borders on local content provisions in the contract, which was jointly won by LADOL and the first defendant.

The amount Federal, States, Local Governments raked-in from sale of 10 National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) plants. Source: Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE)

Assigned financial stock of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) Plc, which the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) will manage on behalf of the NBET. Source: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Tanzania needs $300m to boost rural power

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anzania needs 300 million US dollars (about 480 billion) to enhance rural electrification from the current seven to 30 per cent, Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, has said.

The minister said that to reach 2025 development vision, deliberate efforts had to be made to provide electricity to rural dwellers, which make over 70 per cent of the national population.

“Between two and three years, if we get this amount of money either as a grant or soft loan, we will make sure that

rural electrification is stepped up,” he noted.

Prof Muhongo made the remarks in Dar es Salaam during talks with the Canadian Minister of International Development and Francophone, Mr Christian Paradis, which dwelt on how the two countries can cooperate in developing natural resources, including concentrated investment in energy sector.

He requested Canada to see how it could help Tanzania with funds, either as grant or soft loan, to complete the rural electrification mission.

28 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Power ministry to spend N59bn in 2014 APPROPRIATION Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has insisted that Nigeria would attain 10,000 Mega watts (MW) generation capacity before December, 2014.

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he ministry of Power is planning to spend N59 billion in 2014, the budget proposal by the ministry obtained by New Telegraph showed at the weekend.

N20, 592, 094, 44 was allotted to the main ministry for recurrent and capital expenditure, N24, 912,292,467 was allocated to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), while N7, 461,202,582 is for Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Similarly, N1,750,000,000 was budgeted for National Electricity Commission (NERC), N2,607,856,489 for National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) while N585,344,402 and N1,142,500,000 were mapped out for NELMCO and NBET respectively.

Agencies under the ministry, which also appeared at the budget defence, were the TCN, REA, NERC, NAPTIN, NELMCO and NBET. Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has expressed confidence that the attainment of 10,000 mega watts of electricity before the end of the year is visible.

Nebo, who predicated his optimism on the availability of more funds to the ministry via the budget, enumerated his areas of priority for the ministry in the current year to include

Hubbub as fire guts NNPC Mega Station in Lagos LOSS NEROS Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited had a fair share of the late night fire at the Abule Egba Mega Station.

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ire at the weekend gutted the mega station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Abule Egba area of Lagos, causing pandemonium among commuters who had queued at the station to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The fire, which razed a unit of dispensing nozzle at the station, also burnt a KIA car belonging to NEROS Pharmaceutical Limited.

Eye witness account showed that the fire incident, which started about 9: 27 pm on Thursday caused multiple accidents among motorists who had queued up at the station for fuel.

“The long queues here disappeared immediately alarm was raised about the fire. You will not believe how every motorist ran for his life. Some cars even had in accidents due to the

scare caused, but none of their drivers waited to complain,” a staff of the station who craved anonymity told the New Telegraph.

The incident occurred during the fuel scarcity, which rocked Lagos and environs last week.

When this newspaper visited the scene, the station had began to dispense fuel to motorists but a car with registration number FST 151 BG belonging to NEROS Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited was parked at the scene.

The left side of the car including its rear tyre the boot and the rear door were badly burnt.

The nozzle from where fuel was being dispensed into the car was also burnt.

The Station Manager was not around to give his account of the fire incident but the female staff said: “You will join us to thank God if you really know what happened here on Thursday night.”

"They have not removed the NEROS car because some findings needed to be done. But immediately this is done, it would be removed,” she said.

the completion of 215MW Kaduna power project, completion of bankable feasibility studies on 17 small and medium hydropower sites as well as the coalfired power plants at Enugu/ Gombe axis.

Other areas to be given premium attention, according to the minister, are the fasttracking of the development of 70MW Zenguru hydropower projects, ‘Operation Electrify Nigeria Project’, the comple-

tion of the power component of 34MW Dandinkowa Dam in Gombe State as well as the development of the power component of 40MW Kashimbilla multi-purpose dam, among others.

Faulty power equipments at the 133x32 kv Transmission Station (TS), Lagos Region of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ota, Ogun State. Photo: Adeola Yusuf

South Sudan takes control of main oil fields, output steady

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outh Sudan's oil production is little changed since last month at 160,000 barrels per day, foreign workers are back at work and the government is in control of the oil fields in the main producing area of Upper Nile state, the oil minister said at the weekend.

Petroleum Minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau, was speaking on a trip to Paloch, site of an oil complex and key crude oil processing facility in the north of the country near the border with Sudan, which hosts the sole pipeline export route.

"I'm here to assure that the government is in full control of the situation in Upper Nile and in particular the oil fields," he told reporters invited to join him on the visit to Paloch in Upper Nile.

At 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) output, it is still roughly

around the level reported before a battle last month over the nearby regional capital, Malakal, the worst fighting since a January 23 truce. The flare up raised worries output could be hit.

In February, an oil official said output was 167,000 to 168,000 bpd.

But production is still down a third on the 245,000 bpd recorded before the conflict first flared in December between troops backing President Salva Kiir and soldiers loyal to his sacked vice president, Riek Machar.

Production from neighbouring Unity state was halted earlier in the conflict, but Upper Nile has faced limited disruption.

Speaking from Paloch, Dau said: "The situation is normal. The oil field is fully operating; the employees are working normally – foreign-

ers, nationals."

The minister said some non-essential staff had been temporarily evacuated because of recent fighting in the region but said they had all since returned. He did not give specifics.

Oil firms in South Sudan, a country the size of France, include China National Petroleum Corp, India's ONGC Videsh and Malaysia's Petronas.

Dau's comments were echoed by Liang Jindong, the production facility superintendent at Paloch, which is 400 miles (640 miles) north of South Sudan's capital, Juba and 90 miles (140 km) northeast of Malakal.

"Now we have more than 400 wells running, so that means our facility is working normally and export is normal," the superintendent said.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 29

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Putting fuel scarcity behind Nigeria After, relative stability in the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Nigeria suddenly exeprienced an acute shortage two weeks ago. ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf, who periscopes efforts of the ministry of Petroleum resources to stop this menace, outlines ways to permanently nip the recurrent issue in the bud.

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was forced to open its reserves of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol last Wednesday following a directive from the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Within 24 hours, the corporation pumped 209 million litres of petrol into Lagos and environs and these products were solely given to members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

Before these efforts, Lagos and its environs have been thrown into a gridlock of long queues at filling stations but the NNPC and marketers gave divergent reasons for the cause of the scarcity.

While some marketers said that the queues were caused by the delay in the approval of first quarter fuel imports allocation the NNPC, others believed that the long queues were caused by sharp practices of some marketers who engaged in hoarding and profiteering.

“This explains the reason why the 33 million litres released by the NNPC were given solely to major marketers who could be traced,” a source close to the minister said. “We are so concerned about how these saboteurs could make nonsense of efforts to ensure stability of products distribution nationwide.”

Besides, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, spokesman for the NNPC, who said that 40 million litres of fuel are consumed daily in Nigeria, disclosed that many tankers were heading to the country from overseas to bring fresh supplies.

“We hope to put this ugly situation behind us before the end of the week (last week),” he said.

Commuters pay dearly In all these bickering, commuters were left stranded at bus stops while those that could not afford to pay were forced to trek as public transport operators raised the price of journeys to offset fuel cost increases.

Petrol marketers and tanker drivers blamed the scarcity on a delay in the approval of fuel import permits by the

NNPC and warned that the situation could take weeks to resolve.

New Telegraph penultimate Sunday reported that attendants in some of the filling stations in Lagos connived with black marketers to sell the product at N150 per litre, instead of the official pump price of N97 per litre. The attendants sold the product to the black marketers in jerry cans.

These touts, in turn, sold to motorists on queue inside the filling stations. In some places, motorists were not allowed to drive into the filling stations. Instead, the fuel attendants sold to black marketers, who in turn dispensed the product to buyers.

Black marketers sold fuel at N150 per litre to motorists who could not endure the long queues at AP Filling Station, Agege, Lagos; MRS at U-Turn area of Abule Egba; and Iswat Filling Station in Ota, Ogun State. As motorists struggled to buy fuel at these stations, black marketers, stationed inside the premises of many of the stations, took advantage of the scarcity by selling a four litre-keg of the product at N600.

“When are we going to be free in this country,” a motorist, Emmanuel Adedoja, who spent over two hours on queue for fuel at the mega station of NNPC in Abule Taylor asked New Telegraph penultimate Sunday. Like Adedoja, Kasimu Akanji, a commercial bus driver, who claimed that he paid N100 to hoodlums before he was allowed access to AP Filling Station in Agege, Lagos, called on government to assist the public by making fuel available. “If they want to increase the price, they should be sincere by telling us. The pains they subject us to are too much,” he said in Yoruba.

Ibrahim, however, said the extra volume was being made available to cut queues at petrol stations and that the NNPC was concerned about the effect of the scarcity on homes and businesses.

“The NNPC has enough stocks to meet demand. Nigerians should have no fear at all. They should not indulge in panic buying and petrol stations should also desist from hoarding.”

Alison-Madueke

The firm blamed the shortage on petrol dealers hoarding the product in anticipation of a planned hike in the official price of petrol and anyone caught profiteering would be prosecuted, he added.

“We do not know where they got their information on price increase from. Government has no intention to hike the pump price from N97 (58 cents, 42 euro cents) per litre,” he said.

Nigeria is forced to import fuel because of inefficiencies and mismanagement of its oil refineries.

Labours’ perspective The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, (TUC), at the weekend asked the minister of petroleum resources to investigate the activities of the NNPC and oil marketers if it really wants to put an end to the lingering fuel scarcity across the country.

The congress, which expressed concern over the scarcity of fuel, said the familiar trend was unacceptable given the fact that the country remains the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world.

TUC, in a statement issued by its President and Secretary, Bobboi Kagama and Musa Lawal respectively said it was “more depressing that the scarcity was artificially created by the same cabal that has vowed not to see the nation’s

Omar Farouk Ibrahim, spokesman for the NNPC, who said that 40 million litres of fuel are consumed daily in Nigeria, disclosed that many tankers were heading to the country from overseas to bring fresh supplies

ailing refineries work.”

It observed that long queues of vehicles had reappeared at filling stations throughout the country, adding that this had crippled economic activities for over a week.

This, the congress stated, was happening at a time Nigerians are mourning the killing of thousands of people in the North-eastern part of the country.

“Over the years, workers in the oil and gas sector and other well-meaning Nigerians have repeatedly bemoaned the state of our refineries and called for new ones to be built, but successive administrations have turned deaf ears to their cries.”

Consequently, the labour centre urged government to x-ray the activities of the NNPC, marketers and every organisation that has anything to do with the oil and gas industry so as to put an immediate end to the present scarcity of fuel.

The Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) last week approved the first quarter import allocation for oil marketers, including Conoil, Total, Oando, Forte Oil, Mobil and MRS. Solution Nigeria should increase efforts at augmenting her local refining capacity.

Refining crude oil locally will not only make available enough products for local consumption, it will also provide employment for our teeming population of unemployed youths.

This will also raise the country’s external earnings. It has been said severally that Nigeria has the capacity to refine crude oil and enjoy full benefits accruable to a sixth oil producer in the whole world.

The problem perhaps has been lack of political will to go ahead with the full privatisation of the four inefficient refineries and to liberalise the market for construction of other green-field refineries, which is the trend of development or industrialistion in the 21st century.

30

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Oil firms position for Shell’s $3bn OML 18, Nembe Creek pipeline SALE Shell describes divestment plan on N480 billion Nigerian assets as confidential Stories by Adeola Yusuf

L

ocal and International oil companies have stepped up race to purchase the Shell’s stakes in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and the troubled Nembe Creek Pipeline, New Telegraph investigation showed at the weekend.

The Royal Dutch Shell, as exclusively reported by this newspaper last Thursday, secretly placed these assets in Nigeria worth N480 billion ($3 billion) for sale."

Check however, revealed that Glencore and six other members of consortium are to submit final bids for the assets.

“The race is becoming hot now and I can tell you that Shell is now receiving final bids on the assets,” a source close to the deal told this newspaper.

The assets include the stakes in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18

where Shell’s subsidiary in Nigeria, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operates the gas plant at Alakiri Creek as well as the troubled 97-kilometre Nembe Creek oil pipeline.

“The oil giant is selling its 30 per cent stake in four oil blocs, owned jointly with France’s Total and Italy’s Agip,” according to a source familiar with the deal.

Shell spokesperson, Precious Okolobo, confirmed the process but declined to give details of the divestment plan.

“The process for any potential divestment is fair and transparent and doesn’t confer preferential status on any party. We do not wish to go into details as divestment processes are ongoing and confidential,” he said.

The s ource, however, said that Shell has already shortlisted Glencore and six other members of consortium to submit final bids for its assets worth around $3 billion. The OML 18 asset, where Shell operates the gas plant at Alakiri Creek, produces 80 mmscf/da.

The gas production is slated to increase to 120 mmscf/d, and Nembe Creek pipeline which

Gabon asks Total to pay $805m taxes

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abon's government has told French oil major Total's local subsidiary to pay $805 million in taxes it owes for 2008 to 2010, in a case watched closely by potential investors in the West African country's energy sector.

Total Gabon said it would challenge the tax demand, which follows a state audit of the former OPEC member's petroleum industry that began in 2010.

The company said it "considers this tax adjustment unfounded" and was confident that discussions with the government would have a favourable outcome.

The government is restructuring its energy sector as it tries to double output to 500,000 barrels per day.

An earlier tax dispute with Addax Petroleum, a subsidiary of China's Sinopec, led

that company to pay government $400 million.

Other companies will be subjected to similar tax audits, a senior official in the Ministry of Petroleum told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Total is the oldest foreign petroleum company in Gabon and owns 58.28 per cent of Total Gabon, with the Gabonese government holding 25 per cent.

One industry source said government's holding was likely to help speed a resolution to the dispute.

The government said Total's rejection of its tax demand was proof of bad faith.

"The administration deplores (Total's) attitude, characterised by a tendency to pay attention only to one's point of view," Gabon's director general of taxes, Joel Ogouma, said in a statement sent to Reuters last Friday but dated Thursday.

The Transmission sub-station of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Oshogbo being gutted by fire at the weekend.

transports 150,000 oil barrels per day.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, had lost about $76 million to the eight days’ shutdown of Nembe Creek pipeline by Shell.

Shell, which said it spent $1.1billion in 2010 to replace

BLACKOUT Power supply has suffer another setback as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) lost a 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer to fire in Oshogbo at the weekend.

P

ower supply in three states-Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, worsened at the weekend as a 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer in the Osogbo sub-regional/work center office of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was gutted by fire in the early hours of Friday.

The areas affected were parts of Akure, Ilesha, Ife, Ondo, Osogbo Complex, AdoEkiti and Iwo, which the TCN said are now experiencing power rationing.

In a statement by TCN management, signed by the company’s General Manager (Public

the 95,000 barrels per day capacity facility, announced its shutdown penultimate Sunday.

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), a Nigerian subsidiary for the Anglo- Dutch firm, confirmed the shutdown of NCTL. Okolobo, however, disclosed to this newspaper at

the weekend that the facility is yet to be restored. Although he declined to comment on the stage of completion of the repair work, Okolobo maintained that his company was still working on removal of crude theft points on the facility.

“What I can tell you is that

‘How fire razes TCN’s equipment in Oshogbo’ Affairs), Mrs. Seun Olagunju, the fire, which started after an explosive sound was heard from the 150MVA power transformer, raged for most part of the morning, but was successfully extinguished by the fire service, preventing it from spreading to the other transformers. The second 150MVA, 330/132kV power transformer in the sub-regional office, however, tripped during the incident but was not affected by the fire.

According to the statement, TCN’s Protection, Control and Metering (PC&M) engineers worked tirelessly to re-arrange the 132kV lines taking supply from the station in such a way that the effect of load shedding in all the affected areas would be minimised.

With this arrangement, one of the feeders was diverted to Ganmo 330/132/33kV Substation while the remaining three would now be fed from

the second 150MVA power transformer that was not affected by the fire incident. By this arrangement, TCN said that all the affected towns would experience minimal load shedding as soon as the station’s second 150MVA power transformer is restored about 6pm last Friday.

TCN added that the management of the company has commenced investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the inferno that gutted the 150MVA, 330kV/132kV power transformer commissioned in March, 2010.

“TCN regrets any inconvenience the power disruption has caused the government and good people of Ilesha, Ife, Osogbo Complex and Iwo in Osun State, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State as well as electricity customers in Akure and Ondo, Ondo State,” the statement said.

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

31

One electrocuted as IBEDC suffers equipments' vandalism OUTAGES Two 500KVA transformer sub stations have been vandalised in the network of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

O

ne vandal of electricity equipment was electrocuted at the weekend, a statement by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has revealed.

The company’s franchise area cuts across Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Kwara states and parts of Ekiti, Kogi and

Niger states. It explained the reason behind the power outage being experienced by its customers in Osogbo, IleIfe, Ilesa and Omu-Aran and parts of Ikirun Business Units.

A statement issued by the company's spokesman, Mr Tokunbo Peters, in Ibadan said that vandals had succeeded in vandalising two 500KVA Transformer sub stations in the network of IBEDC. One of the acts of vandalism took place at Irepodun Local Government Area headquarters, Ede, while the other occurred in Ibadan.

In the course of vandalising the Irepodun Local Government headquarters' sub-station at Ede, the vandals tripped off power supply to Ede water

Works' 33KV line.

Also, one of the vandals got electrocuted when IBEDC attempted to restore electricity to the feeder.

However, in the case of the vandalism at Ibadan, Mr Tokunbo Peters, disclosed that one of the vandals was caught, while the vandalised materials, which include feeder pillar and armoured cables were recovered. Both cases have since been reported to the Police.

Peters reiterated that customers in the franchise area of IBEDC should keep watch over their neighbourhood power infrastructure and safeguard them from vandalism. This, he said, is “because the infrastructure are for the common good of the public and in the event of their being vandalised, the

affected community would be plunged into needless blackout.”

Peters explained that the power outage was as a result of a fault on a 150MVA transformer at the TCN substation at Osogbo. This has hindered the evacuation of power from transmission to some injection sub-stations in the franchise area of IBEDC, thus resulting into power outage to IBEDC customers, he said.

IBEDC, he said, regrets whatever inconveniences, which the power outage may have caused its esteemed customers in the affected areas. He promised that normal power supply will resume as soon as TCN commences the evacuation of power to its injection sub stations in the affected areas.

$6bn Investment required to drill an oil well.

Source: Reuters

Cameroon oil production to pass 82,000 Bopd in 2014

C

ameroon's 25 per cent increase in oil production in 2014 will take daily output to just over 82,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), the SNH state oil company has said.

The increase is driven by the November 2013 start of oil production from the Mvia offshore oil field in the Douala-Kribi-Campo basin. However, output is well down levels of around 185,000 bpd in the mid 1980s.

"In 2014, Cameroon aims to produce around 30 million barrels, over 6 million barrels more than the previous year," SNH said in a statement.

Oil accounts for 39 per cent of exports and close to 45 per cent of foreign exchange earnings in the Central African nation, according to the World Bank.

London-listed Bowleven, Sinopec unit Addax Petroleum, French oil firm Perenco and Kosmos operates in the country.

Cameroon has launched a new bidding round for four oil blocks for the Bomana, Lungahe and Ndian River blocks in the Rio del Rey Basin and the Manyu block in the Mamfe Basin.

The deadline for submissions is June 26 and the results will be released in mid-July.

A Gas plant

$11.7bn Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) targeted by successors of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for capacity expansion. Source: Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)

209m Barrels of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) released within twenty four hours by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to Major oil marketers to subdue fuel queues in Lagos.

Source: NNPC

Ethiopia, Kenya get $5m grant

E

thiopia and Kenya have secured a US$5 million grant from the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility for Eastern Africa to develop renewable energy and reduce costs in the use of fuel to generate electricity. The programme will co-finance surface studies and drilling projects aimed at developing largely untapped indigenous and renewable energy resource.

The agreement was signed by Ethiopia’s State Minister for Mines, Tewodros Egziabher and Dr. ElhamIbrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission. Ethiopia, 90 per cent of whose energy comes from hydropower, also secured another grant of nearly US$1million. It is close to conduct a study in the Dofan and Cobetti areas in the north of the country. It is also

set to sign an additional US$5.6 million agreement with the Facility shortly to develop a 300mw project.

The State Minister for Mines said Ethiopia had the prospect of generating 10,000mw from geothermal energy from 22 potential areas, which had been identified. The Commissioner said the African Union was now processing the second phase of the applications for the facility from 11 countries in the region, including Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Congo DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility was established by African Union Commission in 2009, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY FRUGALITY The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has cautioned Nigeria and other members on oil revenues spending.

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he United States of America will totally shut crude imports from Nigeria by 2020, the global energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

Washington, Nigeria’s biggest crude importer, had hitherto cut over 600,000 barrels per day oil imports from the Africa’s biggest oil producer due to upsurge in the U.S. shale production.

Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, New Telegraph can report authoritatively, will, as a result of this, be faced with the biggest threat since existence of the country as an independent nation in 1960.

The US will overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer and shun imports from Nigeria and other countries by 2020, a radical shift that could profoundly transform not just the world’s energy supplies, but also its geopolitics, the IEA declared.

The US, biggest consumer of crude from Nigeria, imports over 1 million barrels of the commodity from Nigeria on daily basis.

‘US to stop oil imports from Nigeria by 2020’ The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has already cautioned Nigeria and other crudeproducing countries against cutting spending on projects to boost their capacity in response to an International Energy Agency report predicting the United States will not need to import oil in the future.

Abdalla Salem el-Badri, Secretary General of OPEC, said remaining in such investment would be disastrous for the world because the US won’t remain self-sufficient long.

If countries don’t invest in efforts to produce more hydrocarbons, “there will be a shortage (of oil). The price will be very high. We want other (non-US) producers to invest,” he said in an interview.

In its closely watched annual World Energy Outlook, the IEA, which advises industrialised nations on their energy policies, said the global energy map “is being redrawn by the resurgence in oil and gas production in the United States.”

The assessment is in stark contrast with last year, when it envisioned Russia and Saudi Arabia vying for the top position.

“By around 2020, the United States is projected to become

Foreigners barred from China's privatisations

A

s China embarks on a new wave of opening up state-dominated industries to private capital, foreign firms will largely be kept out and authorities are likely to look to institutions like domestic pension funds and insurers.

State giants, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec Corp and China Railway Corporation have said they were seeking investments from private capital and also social capital, or funds sourced from pension funds and insurance companies.

"I think those are going to be the key groups that the SOEs (state-owned enterprises) will first partner up with," said Sun Lijian, deputy director of the School of Economics at Fudan University.

"It will also fit in with Beijing's strategy to diversify

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

investment channels for its vast, locally managed pension funds."

The move reflects China's desire to avoid adding further debt on to the Federal Government's books while injecting much-needed cash into vital sectors, but without ceding control.

On Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang said on the opening day of the annual parliament session that the fiscal deficit would be maintained at 2.1 per cent of GDP in 2014, the same as last year.

Analysts said recent announcements by some of China's largest state-owned enterprises to diversify ownership provides a hint of Beijing's public-private partnership model as it opens up its petroleum, railway, finance, power and telecom sectors to private investors for the first time.

the largest global oil producer” and to overtake Saudi Arabia for a time, the agency said.

“The result is a continued fall in US oil imports (currently at 20% of its needs) to the extent that North America becomes a net oil exporter around 2030.”

OPEC’s view was corroborated by another survey in the states.

The United States is already self-sufficient in terms of natural gas supply, but will never be completely self-sufficient in oil supply, according to De-

loitte’s recent survey of oil and gas industry executives.

Seventy-five per cent of the 250 executives surveyed said the United States was already self- sufficient in gas, or will be so in the next decade. However, 54 per cent said the United States would never be fully self-sufficient in terms of oil, according to Deloitte’s online survey conducted in October.

Additionally, only 26 per cent said oil independence was achievable in the next decade.

However, the survey results

would likely have been different if all of North America was included in the question of oil self-sufficiency.

“Given North America’s remarkable success with unconventional oil – both tight oil in places like North Dakota and oil sands in Canada – something closely resembling selfsufficiency is arguably within reach,” said Peter Robertson, an independent senior advisor with Deloitte and former Chevron Corporation vice chairman.

Oil barrels ready for shipment.

Oil ends second week around $102 pb APPROPRIATION The $97 per barrel benchmark in the 2014 budget is still visible.

T

he price of oil crept up to near $102 a barrel last Friday after a solid increase in US employment and a decline in the dollar.

Benchmark US crude for April delivery rose $1.02 to close at $102.58 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. After a swing in prices earlier in the week due to the situation in Ukraine, oil ended the week with a loss of 1 cent.

Brent crude, used to set prices for international varieties of crude, gained 90 cents to $109 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

The brutal winter weather didn't faze US employers, who added 175,000 jobs, far more than the two previous months.

The Labour Department said the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent from a five-year low of 6.6 per cent, but that was because more people grew optimistic about their job prospects and began seeking work.

The dollar fell against other currencies, helping oil. A weak dollar encourages holders of other currencies to buy dollardenominated assets such as oil.

Meanwhile, the price of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) basket of 12 crudes stood at $104.37 a barrel last Thursday, compared with $105.24 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. (View Archives) The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, March 11, 2014

SPECIALISED FUND

Abuja World Trade Centre

Experts are canvassing for a special bank for the funding of long-term projects in construction/ housing sector.

Dayo Ayeyemi

A

gainst the backdrop of the dearth of funds to finance construction works across the country, built environment experts are renewing call for the establishment of a Construction Development Bank where stakeholders can have access to cheap and long-term finance.

They pointed out that for Nigeria to develop in infrastructure and housing provision for its population, a much more sympathetic bank is required, as the construction sector cannot thrive under the exorbitant interest rates being charged by the commercial banks.

Its promoters said that they have been working on a lot of positive milestones and that in no distant future the bank will come on stream.

The proposed bank is a brainchild of professional bodies in the built environment including the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigerian Institution of Surveying (NIS), Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN).

The promoters had in June 2006 undergone private placement offer to raise the N25 billion capital base required by the Central Bank of Nigeria before it could secure operating license, but due to the inability to meet the required capital base and conditions, the bank could not fly.

Renewing the call, President of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said that the sector requires a construction bank to fund various developmental projects such as roads, bridges and housing across the country.

He made this observation during the Construction Industry Exhibition held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, at the weekend.

He said that the essence of the exhibition was to bring all contractors together to harness opportunities that abound in the sector.

The FOCI president stated that though efforts to form such specialised bank failed in the past, due to inability to raise minimum capital base of N25 billion stipulated by the Central Bank, with what is going on and coupled with dearth of cheap fund for the sector, stakeholders must put heads together and try it again.

He said: “We really need a construc-

Experts renew call for creation of Construction Bank

President Goodluck Jonathan

Ajanlekoko

tion bank. About nine years ago, we were thinking that we could form a construction bank where we will offload all the contract jobs and documents and get funding from the bank whereby government will be paying the bank, but we could not succeed because of the major problem in the economy.

“Government was telling us that all banks must recapitalise to the tune of N25 billion, and at that period, we could not raise the money. With what is going on now, maybe we have to try again. If we have such bank, we will be able to persuade it that instead of paying 20 to 25 per cent interest rate, which is giving the construction industry problem, the construction bank will give us loan of between five and nine per cent.”

Justifying the need for the bank instead of the new Infrastructure Bank operating currently, he said: “Infrastructure Bank has nothing to do with construction industry; we want a bank where our members are participants.”

Lead promoter of the proposed bank, Mr. Olusegun Ajanlekoko, pointed out

We cannot meet the expectations of the people if we have the present commercial bank rates being used to service construction

recently that construction projects are capital intensive and are of long term, saying that the idea on the need for a construction bank came up upon this platform.

According to him, if the nation needs to development rapidly and fill the yearning gap existing in housing and infrastructure development, a much more sympathetic financial institution that can help fast-track development is needed.

He pointed out that in order to meet UN project for housing for all, the underlying factor to the achievement of the goal is funding.

Ajanlekoko noted that in other countries, the financial institutions or instrumentality that helps to ensure that infrastructure and housing are delivered to the people is different financial instrument, hence the need for a specialised bank for the Nigerian construction/housing sector.

He cited other countries such as China, Malaysia, South Africa and America as nations that have been able to move forward due to the existence of construction banks.

“Quasi Financial Construction Bank in South Africa and China Construction Bank have helped their population to be able to have housing,” he said.

Ajanlekoko explained that the existing high interest rates that commercial banks charge on loan to develop infrastructure and housing are not sustainable, insisting that the sector needs a much more sympathetic cheap fund.

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property & ENVIRONMENT

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

‘Govt shouldn't embark on white elephant project' housing sector that it is time to put round peg in square hole.

From political experience, this is the way the housing sector has stagnated in the last couple of years.

But the Vice President is an architect, a member of the build environment industry. If you look at the political office of your vice president, it is such a big office that one person cannot be saddled with the responsibility of over sighting your critical industry.

That is the fact, you need tested professional, man or woman with pedigree in the housing delivery system to articulate all these policies and ensure that all the stakeholders join hands with him or her to ensure that you walk your talk. All we have over the years is that the minister comes in, make all the noise in the world, but nothing tangible is taking shape on ground.

Mr. Bode Adediji, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), spoke with DAYO AYEYEMI, on many issues confronting the housing sector and suggests ways forward.

What is responsible for vacant houses in Nigerian cities especially Lagos and Abuja?

It is a matter of concern to people like me in the industry that both the public and private sectors continue to roll out the same type of houses even when it is clear that market for such project is still very minimal. Take for instance, today, most of the developers, either public or private, concentrate on building for the middle and upper classes. Of course, we know that the population of these two income brackets, to a large extent, remain stagnant or in the case of middle class, it is rapidly falling; that to me accounts for the glut we have in most of the major products being rolled out now.

Now, what is the solution? It is only when government can actually summon the political will to call critical professional stakeholders in the industry to dissect these problems and factor ways of solving them; if possible, by leveraging on experiences the other countries had gone through. I foresee, a situation where, if we continue building certain type of houses, in certain type of locations, the banking sector would definitely be affected, especially in areas where constructions were funded by borrowing.

You have been canvassing the need for stakeholders to

Adediji

come together, is this still necessary?

When you see people lambasting government for this and that, I have never joined them. What I find out is that we have never gotten the prominence of pressure which governments all over the world require to do the needful. Once you do not have professionals with pedigree in knowledge in the environment, housing and urban development and construction industries, we will never get anywhere. Why is it today that when they want to appoint the Minister of Health, it must be a medical doctor? To appoint Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, he must be a lawyer.

It is when it comes to appointing someone in the

The Federal Government is embarking some projects to mark the country’s centenary celebration. What is your stake?

I have never objected to any government bringing out programmes on centenary or no centenary, the only advice I always tell people and government is that if a particular national programme is going to be a drain pipe, it is totally unpatriotic to enter into any form of white elephant project when majority of the youths are on the street without work, without house and without food. So, if a programme comes like that and the funding is transparent and publicised, and Nigerians are going to be the drivers and beneficiaries of such project, I would certainly embrace it. But if it is going to end up the way of COJA game and lead to mass outflow of fund from Nigeria, then it will be an unforgivable mission for any government to embark on any white elephant project at a time when there is serious crisis.

Lagos homes not for low-income group, says new landlord ARGUMENT While some people say the cost of houses under LagosHoms is expensive, experts say the units are affordable, considering the locations.

…No, they are affordable -Housing experts

Dayo Ayeyemi

H

aving emerged as winner of a three bedroom apartment in the Olaitan Mustapha Scheme, Ojokoro, during the open draw held for subscribers of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, last week, Mr. Sylvester Akintoye, disclosed exclusively to New Telegraph that most of the housing units in the estates were not for the low-income earners in terms of cost.

Although he was full of joy when his name was announced, he stated that many people would not be able to afford the accommodation due to high cost.

He said: “I feel good moving up to the cadre of a landlord, but so many people will not be able to afford it because it is not for

Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro, Lagos.

the low-income earners when you calculate the mortgage.”

He disclosed that he applied for a three-bedroom apartment in the estate, which government has put at over N11 million, adding that by the calculation, he would be paying about N66,000 monthly as mortgage for the next 10 years to meet the spread balance.

This implies that he will be paying about N3.6 million as down payment for the house while the balance will

be spread over a period of 10 years.

On how he feels about the scheme, he stated that he doubted the scheme initially, but it has now turned out to be a reality.

For the fear of not been selected, he said that he had to fill his forms manually and asked questions on documents to be submitted to ensure his qualification.

Akintoye disclosed that he lived in a rented apartment at

Jakande Estate, Abesan, before now and that he was happy that he has suddenly become a landlord.

Another winner, Mrs. Vivian Kanayo, was full of joy, saying that her aspiration has been met.

While some commentators have expressed concerns about the high cost of the housing units under LagosHoms, especially one-bedroom apartment in Shitta Scheme in Surelere that cost N4 million, experts in the built environment took an exception, saying that the mortgage scheme was the best thing to have happened to the housing sector in Nigeria.

Speaking with New Telegraph at the weekend, Chairman, Faculty of Housing of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Chief Kola Akomolede, explained that for any government to build houses and sell for N4 million, such authority deserves credit.

According to him, N4 million is no money if issue of

housing is being mentioned, saying that prohibiting cost of land, high cost of materials, exorbitant cost of title documentation and building plan approval have made housing production expensive.

He said: “If you look at the land on which you are going to build the house and the cost of materials in town, N4 million is a reasonable price. A room you are talking about is a room with a living room, kitchen and toilet. It is a one bedroom apartment. So it is something good. I can assure you that government is subsidising it.

Government is just covering the cost of construction. It is a very small house in a very solid land and in Lagos, most lands require special foundation. I think one-bedroom apartment at N4 million is reasonable.”

President of Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr. Femi Johnson, said he has not been able to do market study, but stated that the house prices are not on the high side.

property & ENVIRONMENT

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

35

Consider elegance when remodeling bathroom Do you want to update the look of your bathroom and don’t know how to go about it? Please don’t rush. According To experts @ www.styleathome.com, an effective bathroom design should address all your needs, physical and spiritual.

H

ere are the most important tips to consider when considering bathroom renovations.

Choose elegant fixtures: A pedestal sink with graceful lines is more attractive than a blocky cabinet vanity. A classic claw-foot tub is like bathroom sculpture. Even enclosed in a deck, the simple lines of the lip have an inherent beauty that surpasses most acrylic versions.

Sit in a bathtub before buying it: Bigger isn’t always better. A 60-inch tub is fine for most people. It offers enough room to stretch out and provides a secure foothold, so you don’t float into oblivion when the tub is full. Assess the angled back and lip for comfort and neck support - a tub for two people slants at either end and has taps in the middle. If you only have enough space for a small tub, buy an extra-deep one.

Select durable flooring: Ceramic, marble and stone tiles are all excellent durable and water-resistant choices for a bathroom. Subfloor heating coils will make these hard surfaces warm. Well-sealed hardwood floors offer natural warmth and act as a foil for the other hard, cold surfaces in a bathroom.

Hang a stylish mirror: One beautifully framed mirror over a sink is more attractive than many surfaces covered with mirror. Supplement it with a wall-mounted adjustable makeup mirror, and consider installing a lighted, mirrored shaving

niche in your shower stall.

Use found space: Take advantage of space between wall studs by recessing a tall storage cabinet into the wall to maximise vertical storage while saving floor space. The cabinet should have an interior depth of at least three inches and a door flush with the wall.

Grohe introduces innovative sanitary fittings Dayo Ayeyemi

I

n order to serve its customers better, Grohe, the world German manufacturer of sanitary fittings, has extended its operations to Nigeria to the delight of architects, interior designers and developers in the nation’s housing sector.

Of recent, the company has penetrated the Africa market through continued expansion and dedicated commitment to bringing pure water enjoyment to endusers across the continent.

Grohe product range comprises everything from aesthetically appealing designer faucets for bathrooms and kitchens to ingeniously safe thermostats to showers and systems that pamper the user, from smart installation

and flushing systems to attractive accessories.

Speaking during the media presentation in Lagos, its Chief Sales Officer, Mr. Micheal Rauterkus, and President of Grohe, East Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Simon Shaya, explained reasons for the company’s expansion into Nigerian market, saying the nation is among the fastest growing markets in the world, therefore the need for the populace to enjoy what the company has to offer.

According to them, Nigeria has been grouped among the fastest expanding global economic trading blocs, otherwise known as the MINT nations, and that for this reason, the company has deemed it fit to introduce

its pure water enjoyment to end-users in Nigeria .

MINT is the acronym for an association of four major emerging economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.

They said: “As a global brand for sanitary products and system, we realise the economic potential in Nigeria. Grohe has launched fully functional offices in East and West Africa; Nairobi and Lagos."

The duo said the products were designed to encourage intuitive interaction, please their users for many years to come and meet the need of sustainable development.

They added that the technology employed allowed smooth running and accurate temperature control, and also encouraged re-

sponsible use of water and energy.

"This technology saves energy by preventing users from inadvertently running the faucet in the mixed-water position, thereby avoiding the unnecessary heating of water for such daily activities as hand-washing and tooth brushing," they said.

According to them, the company would try as much as possible to train local artisans such as plumbers on further skill acquisition for perfect water equipment installation, saying it has employed some 9,000 people on average worldwide.

Besides, they foresee a situation, whereby the company establishes a plant in the country in the nearest future.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Investments that will change the face of Abuja Infrastructure Innovations that will change the face of Abuja in the nearest future.

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

hirty eight years after the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was created, only about 25 per cent of its master plan has been developed. This comprises 11 Districts and two Sector centers.

Since physical development of the city commenced in 1980 after the production and certification of its Master Plan, Federal Government has been at the forefront of provision of basic infrastructure and services to the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Territory.

It was envisaged that the Abuja Master Plan, which made provision for IV Phases within the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, would be achieved in 25 years.

The Federal Capital City has about 76 Districts and about N50 billion is required to provide basic infrastructures like road network, water supply mains, telecommunication ducts, electricity lanes, storm water drainages as well as sewage disposal lines that make a standard district.

These are inclusive of District Centres and Sector Centres in cases where there are cluster of about four adjoining districts.

Today, the reality confronting the nation is inadequate funding and Abuja which is one of the projects of the federal government has received its own fair share of this economic down turn that seems to be a global phenomenon.

However, the nation's capital through the Federal Capital Territory Administration has attracted some foreign and local investments which are believed to have keys to changing the face of the city in the nearest future.

World Trade Center This is perhaps the biggest project in Abuja at the moment. The FCT Administration, through Public Private Partnership, synergised with the Church Gate Group, and the partnership gave birth to the on-going 37-storey sky scrapper to be known as World

Proposed Abuja Millennium Tower

has also made government to save about N4 billion in terms of preliminary technical works like engineering design, detailed land use and site development plans, in addition to the survey data.

Trade Centre at the Central Business District. The investment is said to be worth about $2 billion.

Abuja Down Town Development The Senator Bala Mohammed led administration has also been able to partner with the Chicason Group pooling resources from the United Kingdom, China, South Africa and United Arab Emirate to embark on the Abuja City Centre development, popularly known as the Abuja Down Town Development with Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) of 2.7 billion US Dollars.

Abuja Industrial Park Recently, Vice President, Muhammad Namadi Sambo, was invited to flag off the Abuja Industrial Park. This is a partnership between the FCT Administration and Zerbaced Limited on one side and government of Turkey on the other side. This romance is bringing 1.8 billion US Dollars as investment into the Federal Capital Territory.

Utako Motor Park Project Senator Mohammed has been able to package the Utako Motor Park to attract investment of 134 million US Dollars.

This marriage is between the FCT Administration, Intercity Transport Terminal Limited and a Consortium Company of Nerija International getting funding from the US Nexim Bank.

The project is expected to upgrade the motor park to international standard with state of the art facilities.

Millennium Tower The project is officially known as Cultural Centre and the Millennium Tower of

Senator Mohammed

Nigeria. It is also expected to have the National Square.

When completed, this multi-billion naira project is, no doubt, one that will stand out as an architectural masterpiece in the FCT. The Millennium Tower being handled by Salini, Nigeria, is an edifice which will appeal to all Nigerian ethnic group. It will surely create employment and be a fountain of cultural enrichment.

The site, which is a complex unit of architectural happenings still under construction

by Salini Nigeria, alongside the Great Mosque, the CBN, the NNPC, the Cathedral and the upcoming Abuja Gate are going to make up the new skyline of the capital city.

Other projects include the Centenary City, which is coordinated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It is also private sector driven covering about 1,200 hectares of land.

While the Aerotropolis project development, which is the Airport City, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Aviation, would be incorporating the present Airport covering a total land of approximately 2,890 hectares.

Property Watch: LEKKI ON SPOTLIGHT S/N Description of property/location

Abuja Land Swap The Abuja Land Swap Initiative crowns all these investments drive where 15 Sub-Districts have been taken by private investors to provide the needed infrastructure that hitherto should have been provided with public funds which seem not to be forthcoming.

Thus, about N25 billion is needed to provide one of these Sub-Districts with basic infrastructure and so N25 billion multiple by 15 Sub-Districts will amount to N375 billion.

The Land Swap project attracted conglomerates like Dangote Group, Gilmor and SCDC. On this project, the FCT Minister once remarked that " a situation where land owners hold title documents for Godknows when, is now being reversed by this pro-activeness."

He noted that this huge funds would be pumped into the development of the Federal Capital Territory within just a period of four years which is indeed very unprecedented.

The Land Swap Initiative

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

37

Angst over depletion of aviation manpower via incessant sacks Lack week, President Goodluck Jonathan shocked the nation with the removal of aviation agencies' chiefs, less than a month after Stella Oduah was sacked as Aviation Minister. WOLE SHADARE takes a cursory look at the dearth of manpower in the sector and asked if the recent exercise was in the best interest of the industry.

D

ivergent opinions have continued to trail the sack of former aviation chiefs by President Goodluck Jonathan. While some lauded the exercise, stressing that it would help to reposition a beleaguered sector, others condemned it, hinging their condemnation on the fact that the industry had witnessed too many sack of experts who were removed at a period the sector needed their services.

The sector is gradually dying, not for want of ideas, but for a high turnover of technocrats who have had to leave the industry at very young age.

Not only that, many of them had been trained with huge government resources both locally and abroad.

The high rate of turn-over of top aviation chiefs is quite alarming. It is made up of Managing Directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), DirectorsGeneral of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), including General Managers, described as the powerhouse of the agencies.

Not also left out of this problem are the newly created Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) which for many years could not graduate pilots, air traffic engineers and other professionals.

The only agency which has maintained some level of stability is the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). This, according to experts, could be because the agency is not high revenue yielding agency and, as such, it’s not always in the public glare.

It is no surprise that the NCAA has had five Directors-General in less than 13 years. This does not do the system any good. The late Zakari Haruna was the pioneer DG of the agency when it

MM2 terminal.

was set up in 1999. In 2003, he was removed, occasioned by ill health and replaced by Mr. Ephraim Onyeudo. He did not last long before he was replaced

by Mr. Fedilis Onyeyiri.

Onyeyiri was unceremoniously sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo after the Bellview and Sosoliso plane crashes that killed over 200 passengers in Lisa, Ogun State and Port-Harcourt, Rivers State respectively.

Not a few criticised Obasanjo’s actions and the manner Onyeyiri was humiliated, with the former leader accusing him of complicity in the crashes.

Onyeyiri’s sack brought on board Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren, an aircraft safety engineer. He was reputed to be very uncompromising and thorough in repositioning the sector for some of the finest moments of the aviation industry.

Under Demuren, Nigeria achieved the United States highest aviation safety status, otherwise known as Category One. The status which Nigeria hopes to defend come March 31, 2014, gives the country’s designated airlines the right to operate to the United States

with their equipment.

Many of the reforms in the sector took place under Demuren and he remains the longest serving DG of the aviation regulatory body as his tenure lasted from January 2006 till 2013.

After him was Captain Fola Akinkuotu. Events leading to his confirmation were tumultuous and laced with intrigues. He, however, spent less than six months before he was last week removed by President Goodluck Jonathan alongside former managing directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Captain Chinyere Kalu and the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Captain Muhktar Usman, whose name has been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation for the position of NCAA DG. The problem is not different in FAAN and NAMA. For NAMA, seven chief executives had been fired within 15 years, an average of about two years for each of the CEOs.

It’s not possible to walk away. They always have to travel or do other travel related things around the airport.

This may be the reason the ministers are building mini personnel empire in almost all the agencies right from the agency head to other categories of staff

Equally disturbing is the fact that seven persons had occupied the position of CEO in FAAN between 2003 and now; a very disturbing figure for the agency, not to mention over one hundred general managers, regarded as the backbones of the agencies.

Aviation analyst, Olumide Ohunayo, explained that the removal of agency heads is usually predated by a cabinet reshuffle, stressing that, “in our clime, cabinet reshuffling is usually after a general election and midway into a mandate, which translates to an average of two years.”

He said: “Every minister wants to pick a team he can work with, without regards to the incumbents’ performance and achievements. Also there is the issue of dual loyalty where Onyeyiri was unceremoniously sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo after the Bellview and Sosoliso plane crashes.

“For other ministries, once a minister leaves office, he probably would not have any linkage with the ministry again, but for us in aviation, it’s not possible to walk away. They always have to travel or do other travel related things around the airport. This may be the reason the ministers are building mini personnel empire in almost all the agencies right from the agency head to other categories of staff,” he said.

Ohunayo noted that although the last may not have been heard of the chess game, but contracts and agreements need to be reviewed urgently to restore confidence, sanity and transparency in the all-important sector.

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BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

World premier: Lufthansa presents premium economy class

Lufthansa introduces a new travel class for the first time in 35 years Wole Shadare

T

he ITB 2014 in Berlin is the scene of a world premiere on its opening day: Lufthansa’s new Premium economy class was, at the weekend, presented to industry experts.

The new travel class can be booked from May and will be available from November 2014, initially on the Boeing 747-8.

The new seats will gradually be fitted on the entire longhaul fleet within 12 months.

Lufthansa German Airline Board in charge of sales, Product and Marketing, Jens Bischof, during a presentation at the Lufthansa stand said: “Our premium economy class will create a completely new travel experience that combines affordability with greater comfort. The seats offer up to 50 per cent more room than economy class and will position us in a premium segment within the international competitive environment.”

The new product would enable Lufthansa to meet the requirements of many business and private passengers who travel with other airlines in a similar travel class or who fly economy class due to travel specifications.

Following the introduction of its new full-flat business class, the airline created a much wider gap between economy and business class.

As a result, there is now room for its new premium economy class, which offers considerably more space and comfort as well as many additional product features, but is closer to economy class than business class in terms of its average prices. The move also means that Lufthansa is introducing a completely new travel class for the first time in 35 years.

According to Bischof, “the design and features of the new seat in particular are based on extensive passenger surveys and workshops with sales partners – a process that has been successfully used at

Lufthansa.

Following the upgrade of our First and Business Class, the installation of 3,600 seats on all 106 of our long-haul aircraft in just one year will mean another step towards becoming a five-star airline,” he added.

50 per cent more room and “German engineering” The new seats were designed in partnership with the company, müller/romca Industrial Design in Kiel and produced by the seat manufacturer, ZIM Flugsitz near Lake Constance.

Depending on the aircraft type, they are up to 3 centimetres wider and provide greater privacy as well as approximately 10 centimetres more room at the side, thanks to each seat having its own wide armrest and a centre console between the seats.

The back rest can be reclined

Side view of the seats

The adjustable head-rests.

further and the seat pitch is a significantly more spacious 38 inches, or 97 centimetres.

As a result, passengers have around one-and-a-half times as much room as Economy Class.

The head rests can be set to the exact height desired and folded at the sides for added comfort and support. Height-adjustable foot rests from the second row back and – for technical reasons – leg supports with an integrated foot rest in the first row provide extra comfort.

Practical features around the seats such as a bottle holder, electrical socket and lots of storage space for passengers’ belongings also help to ensure a relaxed and pleasant journey.

Additional services for Premium Economy passengers With a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 23 kilogrammes each, passengers can take twice as much free luggage with them compared

The premium economy class seats

with economy class. For an extra Euro 25, passengers can also enjoy the comfort of the Lufthansa Business Lounges before their departure. Lounges were previously only open to status customers and are otherwise unavailable on a paying basis. Check-in and boarding procedures as well as hand luggage regulations are the same as in Economy Class.

An enhanced service awaits Premium Economy passengers on board: They are greeted with a welcome drink and will find their own water bottle as well as a high-quality amenity kit with practical travel accessories at their seat. Meals are presented on menus commensurate with the new travel class and served on porcelain tableware.

Passengers can navigate the extensive in-flight entertainment programme using their own touchscreen monitor on the seat in front of them. This can also be done using a remote control, which serves as a controller for video games as well. The screens are 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 centimetres), which makes them at least 2 inches bigger than the screens in Economy Class, de-

pending on the aircraft type.

A wide selection of magazines and newspapers completes the range of entertainment on offer.

Attractive pricing, up to 52 seats, depending on aircraft type Lufthansa premium economy class is located within the cabin as a clearly identifiable separate compartment between business and economy Class. It has a high-quality design and contains between 21 and 52 seats, depending on the aircraft type. Installation of the new travel class, which is to be carried out on a gradual basis, sub-fleet by sub-fleet, will start this autumn and finish in summer 2015. The first subfleet to be fitted with the new seats will be the Boeing 747-8.

Ticket prices in the new Premium Economy Class will be closer to Economy Class than Business Class – a return flight across the North Atlantic or to Asia will cost an additional EUR 600 on average.

Five Star: Premium Economy Class an important part of the service campaign The introduction of premium economy class will complement the many improvements that Lufthansa plans to make in all classes on board and on the ground by 2015. By this point in time, the entire long-haul fleet will have the new First and Business Class – which will involve the installation of 7,000 new seats on the company’s aircraft.

Apart from the interior of the cabins, services on board and on the ground are also being enhanced. The goal is to demonstrate to an even greater degree the qualities of being a dedicated host with a keen understanding of service and hospitality.

British Airways uncovers travellers’ quirky habits Stories: Wole Shadare

N

ew Ipsos MORI research commissioned by British Airways has revealed the range of emotions fliers go through when they travel and the quirks that make them feel comfortable.

The study found that travellers experience seven different emotions when they fly: enjoyment, conviviality, belonging, security, control, empowerment and vitality.

Most travellers feel the need to start in control, often exhibiting behaviours such as ticking off checklists and fibbing to partners by telling them the flight leaves earlier than it really does in order to get to the airport in plenty of time.

Once there, people continue with the control phase and are super-

organised. Documents are at hand (and regularly checked on), ready for each checkpoint. Travellers are already clutching their 100ml liquids in a plastic bag at security before being asked to and the time they have to spend in duty free has been calculated with precision in advance.

They also take the time now to organise what items they will need to hand on the flight and what should be stored in the overhead lockers.

This need for ‘control’ now starts to intertwine with the ‘empowerment’ need. Regular travellers will know which seat they want and will employ the shortcuts they know to get through the airport more quickly. And many people take the opportunity for a final toilet stop before boarding.

Once on board, the ‘secure’ and

British Airways aircraft

‘belonging’ feelings kick in with fliers appreciating the tannoy announcement from the pilots, and a smile from the crew. At this stage most will arrange the space around them to their specifications.

This is when the ‘enjoyment’ and ‘convivial’ behaviours come to the fore and there is a distinct theme of suspending normal life for fliers with many of them admitting to breaking their own norms and indulging in calorific food, drinking alcohol first thing in the morning and watching three films in a row ‘because they can.’ Those travelling with others will use this time to eat together and many will watch the same films to share the experience.

The ‘vitality’ need – that desire to experience something new – rears itself at various points throughout the journey. It may manifest itself as planning activities or being more open minded as to trying different foods. Excitement is a big factor too.

The pods that transfer Terminal 5 passengers from the car park to the airport bring out the child in the travellers that use them. Equally, those flying with children pick up on their sense of excitement and for regular travellers something as simple as the start of a new month heralding a new selection in inflight entertainment gives them a frisson.

Etihad posts third consecutive year net profit

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tihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has announced record financial results for 2013, with net profit up 48 per cent to $62 million on revenues up 27 per cent to $6.1 billion.

The record performance also saw earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up 22per cent to $208 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rentals (EBITDAR) up 30 per cent to $979 million, a margin of 16 per cent of total revenues.

This marked the third succes-

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways

sive year of net profitability, in the airline’s tenth year of operation.

President, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said: “This is another important step forward in our journey as a growing, commercially successful business. We have hit every financial target for each of the last seven years, bringing sustainable profitability to a business which has grown from just $300 million in revenues in 2005 to over $6 billion today.

“We have delivered that through our unique strategy, which has seen us combine industry-leading organic growth with wide-ranging partnerships and minority equity investments in strategically important carriers around the world.

“This journey has seen us evolve from a highly successful airline into a growing aviation and travel group, with the infrastructure and strategy to develop even further in our second decade.

“We are particularly pleased to deliver a return for our shareholder, while also playing a major role in the development of trade

and tourism within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Revenue increased by 27 per cent to $6.1 billion (2012: $4.8 billion), on passenger numbers up12 per cent 11.5 million (10.3 million).

Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) – measuring passenger journeys - increased by 16 per cent to 55.5 billion (47.7 billion), while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) – representing capacity - grew by 17 per cent to 71.1 billion (61 billion).

These figures reflected strong growth in passenger traffic volumes, in a year when Etihad Airways added six new destinations – Washington DC, Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Belgrade, Ho Chi Minh City and Sana’a - and increased capacity on 18 existing routes. At year’s end, the average networkwide seat load factor was 78 per cent, unchanged from 2012.

The airline has announced nine new destinations for 2014 – the US cities of Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth, the European gateways of Rome and Zurich, Jaipur in India, Perth in Western Australia, Phuket in Thailand, Medina in Saudi Arabia and Yerevan in Armenia.

AIR RAGE

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WITH

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

39

Wole Shadare

here are many reasons why the aviation sector in Nigeria cannot grow. No matter how it is painted, it is a known fact that intrigues and politics have done incalculable damage to an industry that is life dependent.

Aviation is critical to any country’s growth, and as such, governments all over the world try all they can to safeguard the sector.

Statistics from Oxford Economics puts the contribution of Nigeria’s aviation to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at N119 billion (0.4 per cent), with N59billion coming from airline, airports and ground services; N35 billion going directly to supply chain, N26 billion on employees consumption and supply chain and N78 billion in ‘catalytic’ benefits through tourism (0.2 per cent).

Another statics from Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders 2012, showed that while the sector contributes 0.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, Spain gives 5.2 per cent to the Spanish economy; United Kingdom 5 per cent, United Arab Emirate (UAE) 3.5 per cent, Canada 2.6 per cent and Germany 2.6 per cent.

It is a known fact that the same high level intrigues that is playing out in most of the aviation agencies is capable of destroying the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), regarded as the power house of the sector. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of any nation is the custodian of aviation sector regulations and one that must not be compromised.

There were allegations that the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, interfered hugely in the affairs of the NCAA. Many saw this as one of the things that affected the agency and the perceptions were echoed even outside the shores of the country.

For a very long time, the agency could not train inspectors and other critical aviation safety personnel following allegation of remittances of N600 million monthly by the NCAA, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the Ministry of Aviation.

This anomaly persisted under an Acting Director General, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam , who was heavily indicted by the Senate, House committees on Aviation and the Presidential panel set up to investigate the purchase of two bullet-proof BMW cars at a staggering amount of N255 million for Oduah. The rot was on until Capt. Fola Akinkuotu assumed duties as substantive DG of the NCAA in August last year.

It is only in Nigeria that the acting DG who by law is expected to have been sacked for not only attaining the retirement age of 60 by civil service regulations but for his indictment in financial scandals that is said to be unprecedented could remain in office.

The same man is said to be busy undermining the newly-appointed acting DG, Benedict Adeyileka .The NCAA, as it is constituted, has been destroyed and it would take the grace of God for the country to pass the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety test slated for March 31, 2014. There are signs that Nigeria may not retain the FAA category one aviation safety status.

One wonders how serious the Americans would see Nigeria, as Akinkuotu’s removal could be a big setback to the progress of the audit. He had set up modalities on how to go about the process. It is hoped that they would sustain the tempo.

Akinkuotu’s sudden removal was surprising to many, considering that his position is tenured and one that should have been done with utmost caution.

A highly respected aviator, Capt. Dan Omale, had this to say: “It is rather unfortunate that the majority of Nigeria’s elite know very little of the damage/harm inflicted on our aviation sector in the past three years. Any sincere and rational stakeholder of the industry can testify to the everlasting and almost unrecoverable deconstruction of the NCAA’s roles and responsibilities. The NCAA, within the past three years, has been infested with paralysis bugs.”

40

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Malaysia Airlines jet was ‘at safest point' in flight Wole Shadare

with Agency report

A

s mystery surrounds the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370, which was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing early Saturday, experts said the airliner would have been at the safest point in the flight.

“It was two hours into the flight -- this would have been classed as the 'cruise portion of the flight,'" they said. "You break down the flight into taxi, take-off, climb out and then cruise.

"So in that particular point of the flight, this is the safest part, nothing is supposed to go wrong. The aircraft is at altitude on auto-pilot, the pilots are making minor corrections and changes for height as the plane burns off fuel -- the plane will be going higher and higher -- so this is extremely serious that something happened at this point in the flight."

The aircraft -- a Boeing 777-200 – is said to be around 11 years old, powered by two British-made Rolls-Royce Trent engines.

So, it's not a particularly old aircraft. Malaysia has 15 777-200s in its fleet, It's an extremely experienced operator of this type of aircraft. It's a very reputable airline with a very good safety record.

They noted that it takes three or four minutes for an airliner to fall out of the sky when it is at cruising altitude, adding, "We don't know and won't know for some time whether the plane broke up in the air or entered the water in one piece."

Once that is discovered, investigators can analyze if a crash was due to mechanical or structural failure, a fire, or terrorism, he noted.

Greg Feith, a former investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, suggested the pilots should have been able to report in, even if power on the aircraft had failed.

"The airplane by certification has to have battery backup power -- they still have to be able to utilize certain flight instruments and communication tools to complete the flight safely.

Strong start for passenger demand in 2014 T he second century of commercial aviation began on a positive note, with air traffic demand rising in line with generally positive economic indicators. While this is in line with an improved overall outlook for 2014, aviation remains highly vulnerable to external shocks. Rising geopolitical tensions around the world have the potential to cast shadows on this optimistic outlook.

This was the view of the Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler.

This is coming as IATA announced global passenger traffic results for January showing a strong increase in demand, with total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rising to 8.0 per cent compared to January 2013, an improvement over the December 2013 growth of 6.8 per cent and the full year 2013 growth of 5.2 per cent. January capacity increased 6.7 per cent, pushing load factor up 0.9 percentage points to 78.1 per cent.

“2014 is off to a strong start, with travel demand accelerat-

ing over the healthy results achieved in 2013, in line with stronger growth in advanced economies and emerging market regions,” Tyler said.

According to IATA, African airlines’ traffic climbed 2.7 per cent compared to January 2013, the slowest rate of growth for any region, while capacity rose 4.0 per cent, resulting in a 0.9 percentage point drop in load factor to 68.9 per cent, the lowest load factor for any region.

Results could partly reflect adverse developments in some parts of the continent, including the slowdown of the South African economy as well as some moderation in trade volumes.

Asia-pacific carriers’ traffic rose 8.0 per cent compared to the year-ago period; however, this result is partly distorted by the timing of the Lunar New Year in January, a month earlier than in 2013. Comparisons with December traffic suggest a continuation of the slower growth seen toward the end of 2013, likely in line with signs of a slowdown in the Chinese economy.

"So you could lose all the generators, you could have both engines out, but the battery back-up -- which will only work for a certain time -- is intended for emergency situations."

Feith also pointed to the possibility of an issue with the pressurization of the aircraft.

"If you have a high-altitude pressurization problem, catastrophic decompression, the time of useful consciousness (the time a pilot can operate with an insufficient oxygen supply) in the 30,000-40,000-feet range is a matter of seconds."

Asked whether it was likely the airliner could have made an emergency landing, he said it was possible but unlikely.

"You're not talking about a Cessna here. You're talking about a long-haul, wide-bodied aircraft and that puts it into a completely different league."

Search for aircraft The lack of communication suggests that something most unfortunate has happened -- though that does not suggest there are not any persons that need to be rescued and secured.

Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General, US DOT But with speculation mounting over whether Flight MH 370, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, went down on land -- perhaps in Vietnam -- or in the South China Sea, one aviation expert says it's essential to find the plane as soon as possible in case there are survivors.

"Given the modern communications and the truly modern equipped (Boeing) 777, it's highly unlikely this plane would have landed somewhere not contactable," Mary Schia-

vo, the former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, told CNN. "Depending on how the plane has gone down, there could be many survivors in need of aid.

"That plane has many different ways to locate it: Automatic beacons that tell you where it is; there are several ways to contact it both with radios and GPS, as well as computer communications within the cockpit.

"But the lack of communication suggests that something most unfortunate has happened -- though that does not suggest there are not any persons that need to be rescued and secured."

Schiavo warned that if for some reason the transmitters on the airliner are not operating, then the search will obviously become far more complex and time-consuming.

A Malaysia Airlines aircraft

Iberia, first Spanish airline to measure air quality for research

I

beria is the first Spanish airline to take part in the IAGOS air quality and composition measurement project, a part of the European Union’s Infrastructures Research Strategy.

The Spanish airline has installed air sampling equipment on an Airbus A340-300 used on Spain-Latin America routes, to measure quantities of H2O, O3, CO, CO2, NOx, and aerosols at high altitudes.

The aircraft will collect and report the data for several years, showing variations over time. The data will also be reported to weather services almost in real time.

The IAGOS project is intended to monitor and predict climate change, in order to help design policies. The air sample data furnished by the airlines cannot be collected by satellites or by ground-based

weather stations.

Iberia corporate development manager, Sergio Turrión commented, “Our participation in the IAGOS project is an example of Iberia’s major contributions to environmental protection, which includes the incorporation of cleaner aircraft and numerous initiatives to reduce harmful emissions and put our business on an increasingly sustainable footing.”

Also participating in the IAGOS project are Lufthansa, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Air France. Iberia was chosen because of its prominence on Europe-Latin America routes.In recent year Iberia’s environmental policies have rested on three main pillars: Fleet replacement New and more efficient

aircraft have been key in reducing the airline’s carbon dioxide emissions by 5 per cent since 2009. The company is also actively involved in research projects aimed at obtaining alternative aviation fuel, including one based on microalgae.

Initiatives in daily operations To cut fuel consumption and atmospheric emissions, by reducing the laden weight of aircraft, optimising routes and cruising speeds.

Customer-based initiatives Such as the CO2 calculator application, which informs customers of the magnitude off their “carbon footprint” as passengers on a given flight, and invites them to offset it by contributing to reforestation projects?

MOM&PARENTING

NEW TELEGRAPH

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www.newtelegraphonline.com/mum&parenting

appolonia adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com appoloniaadeyemi@gmail.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Women leaders demonstrate anger at the the protest march with Okei-Odumakin announcing their grievances through the microphone. She is flanked by Daniel (right), Akiode (left), Olufemi-Kayode (third left) and Odukale (second left) at the protest in Lagos last week.

Nigerian women on pupils’ killing: Enough is enough Nigerian women mourn killing of students in a protest march and urged government to stop the massacre, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

A

s early as 7a.m on Thursday, March 6, some women began to converge at the popular Femina Restaurant at the Lagos Television (LTV). More women trooped in, running into hundreds. Two things that became noticeable. The women adorned all black attire. Secondly, they were sad and sorrowful as someone who had lost something that is valuable.

“What is happening? Why are these women in black clothes, one of the security men manning the access gate at the LTV premises,” wondered aloud to himself.

From the black attire, which is a sym-

bol of grief over the death of someone, a guest making his way into LTV, responded, “May be, they lost a relation. They are certainly mourning a departed person.”

Clearly, their black attire is an indication that something is amiss, but ‘what’, is the question on the lips of those that observed the sadness, the pain, and the anguish written on their faces.

Shortly, when they kicked off the protest, it became clear that they were truly mourning the killing of students in north eastern Nigeria.

Convener of the protest tagged, ‘Nigerian Women Mourn’, Laila St. Matthew Daniel said feeing concerned about the escalating rate of violence in north east, especially the senseless killing of 59 stu-

Tips on child rights • Right to life • Right to survive • Right to develop • Right to education

dents of the Federal Government College, Yobe and the abduction of 25 girls from their schools in Borno State, the women who represent several nongovernmental organisations came together to demand an end to the carnage.

As the women marched from LTV through the Lagos State Secretariat , Alausa, condemning the killings, it was clear the violence being recorded almost daily in the country has removed sleep from their eyes. No wonder, majority of them wept openly to demonstrate their pain.

Some of the placards read: Never Again Shall Blood of Our Children Be Spilled; Our Children’s Murderers Must Be Brought to Book; Stop the Murder of Our Children; No To Murder; Rescue Abducted Girls Now; and Have We Lost Our Humanity: Women Arise; United we Stand Against Murdering of Our Children; Enough of Senseless Killings.

Similar protests by some women over killing of children by the Boko Haram Sect simultaneously took place in Benin, Edo State, Asaba, Delta State, Abuja, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and in London.

For the women, these killing can no

longer be condoned. it is time to stop this preventable bloodshed. It is time to stop this barbarism and place value on human life. Besides, no word has been heard about the 25 girls allegedly abducted from Borno by the Boko Haram Sect.

News of the death of the students was a rude shock, which overwhelmed Nigerians.

It will be recalled that before the current killing at the Government College in Yobe, there had been previous attack of students in their schools, resulting in several deaths.

On September 28, 2013 at the College of Agriculture, Guijba, Borno State, more than 50 students of the school met their untimely death. The terrorists behind it attacked the college at midnight when most of the students were deeply asleep.

That also, was not without precedence. In June 2013, some terrorists killed eight pupils and a teacher during an attack on Government Secondary School, Damaturu in Yobe state. They also killed 29 pupils at Government Secondary School, Mamudo, also in the state.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42

MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Odumakin, others: Enough is enough C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

That is not all.

On Saturday, April 13, 2013, an unspecified number of students of Monguno Secondary School, in Monguno Local Government of Borno State, were killed as they returned home on foot and on bicycles from the centres where they wrote the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). Before that daylight massacre, six secondary school teachers, including a principal, were also hacked down by the terrorists in the same local government area.

Given these background, the protesting mothers are asking: “For how long will these wanton and senseless killing continue?

Looking at the high rate at which students are being killed in schools, the position of the protesting Nigerian women is clear. They are women who had been through the rigour and pain of pregnancy.

Of course, carrying a pregnancy for about nine months is not a child’s play and no woman that has been through this ordeal and finally delivered of the baby, will be quiet on hearing about killing of children, especially in Nigeria that is ranked amongst countries where pregnancy is unsafe to carry.

According to World Bank data, Nigeria ranks 9th worst countries where pregnancy is unsafe to carry in the world, with 630 maternal deaths per 100,000. This is from 10 years data collected from 1990-2010.

Clearly, this statistics shows that child bearing in this environment is akin to going through the eye of the needle. It is not just a herculean task; it is a matter of life and death.

Stop the killing, Stop the persecution. Stop the genocide.

Let our children be because they are the future of Nigeria Hence, the protesting women reason that any child that is lucky to be delivered safely in this country should be allowed to live its life to the fullest.

Besides, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child of which Nigeria is a signatory, every Nigerian child has a right to life; right to survive; right to develop; and right to education, but rather than get benefits of these rights, they are being killed in their prime.

Again, children are highly valued in the African setting. So, whoever kills children ultimately makes life meaningless for their mothers, fathers and entire family system.

Consequently, whatever jolts the family will impact negatively on the nation.

After all, children are the leaders of tomorrow. If they are wiped out in their prime, what is the future of the nation?

These are the reason the women took to the street to seek permanent solution to the carnage.

The position of the women was contained in a letter they handed to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola when they terminated the walk in his office.

In the letter jointly signed by Matthew Daniel, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode and Amy Oyekunle, the women said, “We are saddened that this situation has been left to fester for so long with no noticeable resolution on the part of the govern-

ment and related bodies.

They called on the government to provide lasting solutions to end the mayhem and bloodshed. “To provide adequate security for citizens of Adamawa, Borno and other locations experiencing insecurity and to provide adequate compensations for victims and survivors.”

Furthermore, the mothers called on aggrieved sects behind the massacre of the children, women and men to stop forthwith as well as end the abduction of citizens.

The women in their letter urged aggrieved groups behind the killing to embrace dialogue to resolve problems at stake.

Receiving the women on behalf of the governor were the Head of Service in Lagos State, Mrs Josephine Oluseyi Williams, Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba and Special Adviser (Information & Strategy), Mr. Lateef Raji.

Williams who spoke on behalf of Fashola challenged Nigerians to adopt the culture of being security conscious and report any strange events they observe to security agencies.

Expressing how she feels over mass killing of school children, Laila said, “I feel sad. Sometimes, I want to cry because of these killings.

According to her, the march is a peaceful, non political, non tribal, non confrontational protest. “We will like

the federal government to hear our cry and do something about what is happening to our children, women and fathers.”

Explaining why women chose to stand up over this problem, Laila said it is because women are the matrix of the society.

Women are the core of the society. When women rise up, the heavens answer.

“The message from the women is “Stop the killing, Stop the persecution. Stop the genocide. Let our children be because they are the future of Nigeria. Enough is enough!

“The abducted girls, do you know what they are going through? Mothers are being made widows. Husbands are being made widowers while children are made ophans. North, east, south west, south east, we are one Nigeria and that is why we are here today.”

Also speaking, Coordinator, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin called on members of the Boko Haram sect to give peace a chance by laying down their weapons and embracing dialogue, adding that sanity must prevail in the nation.

On her part, Dr. Abiola Akiode, executive director, Women Advocates, said women are proposing a national strategy to address this killing. “It is obvious that our security agencies have not done enough.

Our government has not done enough.

These deaths are preventable.”

For Mrs Bola Akpan Odukale, victims of the killings in the north are all Nigerians. Although, the killing is taking place in the north today, it could happen in other states tomorrow. “We need the government to be proactive. Let them do something. It is not about sitting down and talking. Let the talking stop and let the doing happen.”

... U.S, Canada react to school children killing

A mother hugs her daughter following a shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Connecticut

W

hile the killing of school children by terrorist groups including the Boko Haram Sect is a new phenomenon in Nigeria, other countries including the United States (U.S), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, among others have over the years recorded killing of students in classrooms. Here are a few examples from abroad: In December, 2012, a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a primary

Parents react to shooting of 20 children in the Connecticut school

school in the U.S state of Connecticut. It is one of the worst-ever U.S school shootings, with a toll close to the 32 who died at Virginia Tech in 2007.

On April 16, 2007, an outburst of gunfire at a Virginia Tech dormitory, followed two hours later by a ruthless string of attacks at a classroom building, killed 32 students, faculty and staff and left about 30 others injured.

On December 6, 1989, 25-year-old Marc Lepine killed 14 women and wounded a

further 13 people at the École Polytechnique at the University of Montreal in the worst school massacre in Canada’s history. He then took his own life. In a letter he left behind, he indicated a hate for feminists as a motive for the shooting. It remains to this day the worst massacre in Canadian history.

April 20, 1999, two students stormed Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and murdered 12 other stu-

dents aged 14 to 18 as well as a teacher. A further 24 people were injured before the attackers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed themselves.

Expectedly, wherever these killing had happened, it has shocked and horrified governments, parents, guardians and relations. No matter the reasons for perpetrating such crime, local and global reaction is similar track the perpetrators and bring them to book to act as deterrent to others.

FEATURES

NEW TELEGRAPH

43

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

TTUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Impact of Boko Haram’s violent killings is threatening Nigeria’s fragile unity, but will the new Defence Minister tame the terror group? EMMANUEL ONANI asks

Boko Haram: Does Gusau hold the magic wand?

T

he tragic setting of today’s conflagration was Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and the protagonistduologue was the late Ustaf Mohammed Yusuf, whose power of conviction, was said to have won hundreds of converts.

In 2009, Yusuf had led a movement in protest against western education and its acquisition, which he termed Boko Haram (roughly translated to mean, ‘western education is a taboo’).

His army of followers were said to be so devoted, that they lived on date fruit (a Hausa edible fruit called “debino”), throughout the day. And because they believed strongly that western education was evil, they pushed for the enthronement of an Islamic state, wherein the Sharia law will be the ground norm.

To halt what many have come to describe as “one of the many internal contradictions of a chequered state,” the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ordered the arrest of Yusuf, whose eventual death, many argue, was an act of indiscretion.

While many are of the opinion that Yusuf ’s preoccupation was conversion into the movement, his successors have since shown, without any strand of equivocation, that violent agitation is the only way to settle scores.

The accompanying mindless killings and wanton destruction of property are clear indications that members of the sect have since declared war on the Nigerian state, the fact that the north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have become the theatre of bloodletting, notwithstanding.

No doubt, President Goodluck Jonathan may have adopted different conventional strategies of warfare, including the “carrot and stick” approach; all in a bid to contain the insurgents, whose activities are now more vicious in content and daring in character.

Or, what could be more mindless and wicked than the recent killing of over 40 students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in Yobe State.

Conservatively, about 140 people may have been killed within 10 days, especially with the latest attacks on Mainok, Mafa and Kaga areas of Borno State.

Regrettably, though, the outlawed elements trudge on, in defiance, as it were, of earlier offensives by the now “disbanded” Joint Task Force (JTF) as well as the

Gusau

Badeh

The late Yusuf

The late Yar’ Adua

Multi-national Forces.

Again, neither the establishment of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, nor the new counter-terrorism campaign by the Defence Headquarters, seems to be really containing the excesses of the Boko Haram fighters.

This may largely be because it has embarked on a guerrilla-warfare.

Smarting from the huge casualty figure, the Federal Government moved swiftly and closed the country’s border (in Adamawa state) with Cameroon, ostensibly to foreclose the tendency of escaping to that “unfriendly” Central African state, whose uncooperative attitude toward the on-going terror war, leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many.

Cameroon, unlike Niger and Chad republics, has not shown commitment to the fight against insurgency, as it is perceived as providing a safe cover for fleeing sect members.

While briefing journalists on the new

counter-terrorism campaign against Boko Haram, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, had said the new approach marked another phase in the operations designed to further contain the terrorists and their activities.

He said: “The specialised campaign, which has commenced, is being undertaken simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.

“This operation is also in furtherance of the efforts at apprehending the terrorists and ensuring they do not escape out of Nigeria as they are now so desperate to do.

“Unfortunately, however, they have in the course of their flight towards various borders, continued to perpetrate mayhem as noticed in some parts of Adamawa State yesterday night where they attacked communities.

“In desperation for money and food, they looted and burnt banks, shops and

filling stations along their way through Michika as they headed for Cameroon border.”

In the face of all these measured attempts at halting the drift to a lawless society, coupled with the seeming refusal to be contained, one is compelled to ask: “what is the newly-appointed Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), bringing to the table?

This became compelling, against the backdrop of the many desperate prescriptions to the affliction and malaise, all of which seem to make their disposition more audacious.

Having been a National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gusau is expected to harmonise his imbue capacity for intelligence and spy operations with the untiring and unrelenting efforts by the new security chiefs - led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh - to arrest the ominous signs of anarchy looming in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

With a track record of achievements, as seen in his capacity to navigate Obasanjo’s first term presidency away from the threats posed by the mass sack of senior military officers, expectations are high, that the NorthEast zone will soon be rescued from the “noisy pestilence” of bombs and guns.

It is on this basis that all hands must be on deck towards winning the on-going war.

Notwithstanding the speculation that the intelligence czar is seeking additional power to, among others, coordinate the war on terrorists, it is hoped that the end will come to bloodletting in the country.

Apart from occupying the coveted position of Chief of Army Staff in 1993, Gusau was at various times Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as well as Acting Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO) from September 1985 to August 1986.

Besides, Gusau was General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Mechanised Division, Ibadan (December 1989), Commander of 9 Infantry Brigade, Abeokuta, among other exalted positions in the Army, which qualify him as a candidate to win the war against terror. That is, with the joint collaboration of the military and other security agencies.

Time, only, will tell.

44 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Prostitution: Seeking new recognition for oldest profession Despite social opprobrium, sex workers marched on the streets of Lagos to demand legal recognition, reports EBERE AMEH

I

t was business as usual on Monday, March 3 at the ever-busy Aladiye roundabout at Shomolu, as ‘conductors’ of the ubiquitous yellow buses called their routes to potential passengers.

Operators of tricycles, otherwise known as Keke Marwa, were not left out in the noise even as members of the free readers’ association were busy in their open parliament, reading the day’s papers and analysing the situation of the country.

That was before some women started gathering in front of a shop opposite the roundabout, drawing attention to themselves by their chattering and sheer number.

They are sex workers in Lagos who have gathered to begin their rally to Shomolu Local Government Secretariat to demand their rights and recognition as professionals.

They gathered to mark this year’s International Sex Workers’ Rights Day. Despite the 9am take-off time, the usual traffic that characterises many parts of Lagos did not allow the coordinator of the rally, the Executive Director of Women of Power Initiative (WOPI), Ms Margaret Onah, to arrive early.

Until the women put on the branded T-Shirts which Onah brought, nobody would have been able to differentiate between them and other women in other trades going about their businesses there.

Young and old, beautiful and ugly, thin and fat, etc - they looked like everyday women, numbering over 50.

These women damned the shame and stigma associated with their profession to demand their rights.

With red inscription that reads Sex work is work, we need our rights on white T-Shirts and their red umbrella, which they used in solidarity with the Red Umbrella Project, a global network of sex work projects that amplifies the voices of people in sex trade, they attracted passersby who took snapshots of them.

Granted, some of them are young and beautiful, but one of them, Joy, stood out.

She could be described as stunning. Black, beautiful and less chatty, one may not associate Joy with prostitution on a good day.

“Please don’t video me. I don’t want my mother-in-law to-be to see me on TV,” was her response as she agreed to talk to the press.

A caterer who is an orphan, Joy lost her father to spinal cord injury after spending all her money on his treatment. Being his only surviving relative, she said she took

WOPI members fighting for the rights of sex workers

When men come to sleep with us, we don’t tell them our HIV status because it is a confidential issue a bank loan to bury him. When the bank started coming after her, a friend and a law graduate, who is also a sex worker, encouraged her to dabble into prostitution to settle her bills.

She said: “By the special grace of God, I will be out of this business in the next two months. I’m getting married to my fiancé. He is not very buoyant. Though I told him I was going to Lagos to work, he got to know what I am doing and said I should stop it. I’m just here to raise money to support him for our marriage in the next two months.”

Another of the sex worker, who identified herself as Evelyn, was before now doing her ‘business’ in Warri, Delta State.

Evelyn, who is in her 50s, told New Telegraph that she would leave prostitution when she had made enough money.

Looking worn out, with stretch marks and dark patches on her elbows and cheeks, the effects of bleaching creams, she said it was the vicissitude of life that pushed her into the trade.

But Ayide, a dark in complexion outspoken sex worker, said she was not ready to quit the profession.

Though living with HIV AIDS, Ayide embraced the job because she did not “have luck in marriage”.

She said: “A sister introduced me to this line of business. Getting a job is not easy in Nigeria especially when you are not educated. I can’t do a job of N10,000 per month. I don’t see what N10,000 can do.”

Ayide, who believes the prostitutes are adding value to society, also talked about their plight.

She said: “When we talk about the police, we are pointing at only a group.

The fact is that all the uniform men, especially the Mobile Police are oppressing us. They use their uniform to harass us.

They extort money from us, beat us and still rape us.

“Meanwhile, we have done so well for the society.”

Ayide, however, hides her HIV status from those who patronise her.

“When men come to sleep with us, we don’t tell them our HIV status because it is a confidential issue.

“We insist that they use condom and that is a good job we are doing, isn’t it?” she said.

Ayide also disclosed that some men tempt the prostitutes with a lot of money to have unprotected sex with them.

To Pat, the president of sex workers in Lagos Sate and the coordinator of WOPI in Nigeria, it has been good so far.

She said: “I’m proud to be a sex worker because with this I put food on my table and take care of my children and extended family.

“It is like every other work. It’s like being a teacher, being a doctor or being a lawyer. We are all looking for money and we all need our rights to be respected.

“I don’t think I can do another job. The way you like your profession, that is how I like mine. I can’t work for anybody; I can only work for myself. I have achieved a lot of things. I am a landlady, I have tenants, my children are in the university, so what else do I want? I am happy.”

The marching and singing of the prostitutes also attracted snicker comments from passers-by.

“This is sign of the end time they are talking about. Prostitutes are not ashamed again. God have mercy!” a middle-aged woman exclaimed.

“Since prostitutes have repackaged, armed robbers too will soon join,” a young man, who was busy making video record of the event with his phone, remarked.

Excited and bewildered, many staff of the local government trooped out to see what one of them described as ‘one of the wonders of the century’.

Unperturbed, Pat stood up and presented their demands to the authorities amidst cheers from her compatriots.

Among other things, they asked for a reformation of the laws to grant sex workers protection from society and law enforcement agents.

She said: “When our governments are campaigning for our votes, they say ‘vote for us and we will deliver’.

We have voted but our governments have not delivered. We try to raise our voices about human rights’ violations that we face on a daily basis, but no one listens. We need a law reform and the decriminalisation of sex work so that we have the space to access our rights.”

In his response, the Vice-Chairman of Shomolu Local Government, Abiodun Orekoya, who stood in for the chairman, Gbolahun Gbagbo, explained to the sex workers that their demands were above the power of the council.

He said: “The law that will give you more protection can only be done by the Assembly, we don’t have that power. They are the lawmakers. So I will encourage you to still go to them and let them know that you want the law amended to protect you.”

METRO 45

arch 11, 2014

aws charges against child trafficking suspect Court remands 75-year-old Chief Magistrate Ipalibo Iyabo discharged and acquitted the woman after prosecution counsel, Inspector Wilson Isaiah, informed the court of a written directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to withdraw all charges against her.

Precious was yet to be arraigned on charge number PMC/1934c/2013, but defence counsel, Chief Ernest Igwe, told the court that since the IG’s directive said “any other charges related or incidental to the on-going prosecution”, there was no need for her arraignment.

The defence counsel did not oppose to the application for withdrawal when it was brought before the court.

Ruling on the matter, Iyabo said it was the police that initiated the matter and since the IG had decided to withdraw the charges, the court was ready to grant the application.

The chief magistrate, who also relied on Section 484 of the Criminal Procedure Law, therefore discharged and acquitted the accused.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the ruling, Igwe hailed the decision of the court. He said he did not oppose the application because in law it was the complainant that had right to withdraw a suit.

Prince Ndubuisi Joseph thanked God for their acquittal.

Ndubuisi, who narrated

IGP, Abubakar

how the police brutalised him, said he was forced to submit that he went to the clinic with the intention of selling his baby.

He said: “I didn’t want my wife to go there that day because it was already night. But I said ok, let me carry you and that was how I was also arrested.”

Mrs. Favour Chioma

Joseph, 2nd accused, on her part, said she was at Chinyere’s house that fateful night to give account of what transpired at the clinic while she (Chinyere) was away.

“I came to Dr Chinyere’s houseandwecameforcheckup because she travelled and when she came back she called me to come and give record of what happened when she was not around.

“When we came to the house she was at the parlour plaiting her hair with the hairstylist, we heard a noise at the gate and before we knew it, police came in.

“Theyarrestedusandtook us to the station that we came to sell my baby that we have anaccommodationproblem.”

ppears a week before wedding

Kabiru eared dding, amily de into uts. e wedby the rarily

earnt , 2014, o have badan some e had was to Kebbi

Amzat a that ay, we g some or the e new mum

in the village and some other family members.

“The following day, I saw him in the evening at the market, he told me he was going to Agege to buy more clothes to add to the ones he had bought before, I bade him goodbye.”

Seidu also told our correspondent that he waited endlessly for Danladi in the market throughout the night, hoping that he would come back.” He added that some family members have been calling him on his cell phone to know of his whereabouts, I tried to console them that he would be back.

“I have visited Elere Police Station, Okooba Police station and Pen Cinema Police Station to check their cells to confirm whether he was among those who were raided by the police in that area.” We have also gone to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital mortuary in Ikeja to check if he was knocked down by a hit and run driver, but all to no avail.”

Mrs. Hawau Danladi, the victim’s mother, who spoke in Hausa Language through an interpreter, told our correspondent that life has not being the same for her and the entire Danladi family in Argungun community since the disappearance of Danladi as they have pooled their resources together to give their son a befitting weeding. He said, however, that the family takes consolation in Allah, who they believed would return him safely.

“As I speak with you now, everything is set for his weeding here in Argungun, the family of his wife and my family are also set for the weeding only to be told that he has been declared missing in Lagos, this is too heavy for us to bear,” his

est of d the d to a spect, tered

said relaancy While g the

pregnancy, the wife of the suspect went to her repeatedly to threaten her.

“According to the woman, the main suspect too started behaving funny after the boy was born, saying he would not accept him and threatening her and her baby.”

Babayemi said an autopsy would be conducted at a government hospital to determine the cause of boy’s death.

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

A

n Ilorin Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 75-yearold pensioner, Alhaji Jimoh Aduagba, in prison for allegedly belonging to a syndicate of land speculators, who defraud their victims.

Aduagba of No. 35, Aduagba Area, Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin, had been arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal misappropriation, contrary to sections 97, 312, 322 and 308 of Penal Code Law. According to court documents, the accused had on August 26, 2013 criminally conspired with one Alhaji Haruna Agbabiaka, now at large, of Agbabiaka Area, Ilorin, and collected N600,000 from one Mrs Victoria Funmilayo, purportedly for the sale of two plots of land to her in the same Agbabiaka area.

The victim, who is based in the United States, was said to have processed the purchase through her cousin, Mr Teju Oguntoye of No. 17A, Taiwo Road.

Aduagba was also said to have allegedly brought a land agreement to his victims, claiming that he had purchased the land, upon which a deed of agreement was prepared and signed, having also collected additional N20,000 from his victim.

However, the dark side of the deal was revealed when the buyer

Uyo

P

Danladi

wanted to start construction work on the site but was chased away by soldiers who claimed that one of them had initially bought the land.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter, efforts to get another land or refund the money the accused had collected proved abortive.

The FIR added that preliminary investigation conducted by police at ‘F’ Divisional Headquarters, Tanke, Ilorin, showed that the accused had once sold another person’s land to the same victim in 1997 before she discovered in 2012.

He was alleged to have then collected N200,000 which he claimed to be for elders.

The FIR described the accused and his accomplices as members of a syndicate of land speculators fond of depriving people of their hard earned money through selling of lands in a fraudulent manner.

When the charges were read in court, the accused denied the allegations while the prosecutor, Sergeant Nasiru Yusuf, said in his submission that he would leave the determination of bail for the accused to the discretion of the court.

Although counsel to the accused, A. M. Abdulgafar, pleaded for bail on behalf of his client, the magistrate, MohammedIbrahim, refusedandorderedthattheaccusedberemandedat the Federal Prison, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, until March 25 when the case would come up for further mention.

Akwa Ibom monarch’s suspected killer arrested Tony Anichebe

murder

e boy

mother said.

Aliu Ismaila, a friend to the victim, said we were in Kara that evening when he came to me that he was going to Agege to by some items.

“We have searched the nooks and crannies of Agege and Berger area, the most painful part was that he understands little or no English Language that could help him find his way in Lagos.”

NT Metro learnt that the Seriki Hausa of Awori Land, Muhammed Badamosi, has urged the Hausa community in Lagos State to help in the search of Danladi, saying if found, the Kara Malu in Isheri Olofin or the Seriki Hausa palace should be contacted.

land speculator in prison

olice in Akwa Ibom State have recorded a breakthrough in the attempt to unravel the motive behind the murder of Dr. Sunday Udoekong, the village head of Ibong Otoro, Abak Local Government Area of the state.

This followed the arrest of a principal suspect in the case, a middle-aged man said to be a family member of the deceased.

It was learnt that the suspect had some time ago suffered mental illness but was healed through the effort of the late village head.

After healing him, Udoekong took the suspect as one of his own.

A family member, who plead-

ed anonymity, told our correspondent that the suspected murderer had lived with them for more than five years, adding that, in his magnanimity, the late village head catered for his needs.

However, on the fateful day, the alleged murderer conspired with others now at large and killed his benefactor by chopping off his head in the broad day light, throwing the entire community into a pandemonium.

The suspect then fled on a waiting motorcycle into hiding until his arrest at the weekend. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Etim, confirmed the arrest.

He said: “The suspect has been arrested by our men.”

According to him, the suspect is currently helping the police in their investigation.

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

46 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

Daily Summary (Equities)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 10, 2014 Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 11 39 19 69

Current Price 0.50 41.55 44.00

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 3.83

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021 U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

81 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 1 252 56 309

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.50 4.08 65.90

309

Quantity Traded 2,519,450 449,848 36,410 3,005,708

Value Traded 1,260,125.00 18,708,274.46 1,567,867.48 21,536,266.94

Quantity Traded 172,055 172,055

Value Traded 657,546.50 657,546.50

3,177,763

22,193,813.44

Quantity Traded 24 28,908,600 835,396 29,744,020

Value Traded 36.48 115,908,651.97 54,684,137.42 170,592,825.87

29,744,020

170,592,825.87

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Building Construction Totals

1

of

Symbol ARBICO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.30

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 530.00 530.00

Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 1.58

Quantity Traded 435,734 435,734

Value Traded 696,661.08 696,661.08

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 75.00

Quantity Traded 24,098 24,098

Value Traded 1,746,123.00 1,746,123.00

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 21.06

Quantity Traded 73,262 73,262

Value Traded 1,518,984.14 1,518,984.14

533,194

3,962,298.22

Quantity Traded 199,279 19,127 30,000 1,459,491 1,707,897

Value Traded 34,560,981.53 530,406.50 107,700.00 215,813,500.26 251,012,588.29

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 INTERNATIONAL Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

51 Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 68 11 1 157 237

Current Price 171.73 27.99 3.77 149.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Food Products--Diversified Totals

Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

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

Page No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 82.64

Quantity Traded 13,093 13,093

Value Traded 1,136,079.61 1,136,079.61

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 44 57 67 26 23 4 221

Current Price 9.50 11.00 78.00 4.04 13.00 0.57

Quantity Traded 191,077 1,169,818 563,246 726,362 137,380 9,575 2,797,458

Value Traded 1,792,048.28 12,850,963.80 43,827,359.18 2,920,031.28 1,795,178.44 5,360.94 63,190,941.92

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 39 53 92

Current Price 85.00 1,026.35

Quantity Traded 1,043,337 81,920 1,125,257

Value Traded 88,656,035.38 84,890,312.64 173,546,348.02

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 38 38

Current Price 4.59

Quantity Traded 677,731 677,731

Value Traded 2,870,755.77 2,870,755.77

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) PZ 45

Current Price 35.50 47.00

Quantity Traded 489,647 588,898 1,078,545

Value Traded 17,142,548.83 27,643,270.91 44,785,819.74

UNILEVER

74 119

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals

713

of

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 271 7.70 39,243,824 80 6.85 7,423,854 86 15.00 3,061,150 73 2.34 3,664,323 307 26.00 16,072,568 90 3.77 6,851,576 41 2.30 1,919,394 213 7.70 11,702,382 38 9.70 316,865 2 0.50 240,000 57 1.04 4,472,818 323 21.60 8,960,153 1,581 103,928,907

Value Traded 300,526,236.38 50,930,928.03 44,432,043.67 8,384,216.32 402,955,341.18 26,008,850.47 4,385,953.15 89,815,923.80 3,066,785.50 120,000.00 4,543,428.75 192,838,232.16 1,128,007,939.41

Symbol AFRINSURE

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 6 0.50 28,108

Value Traded 14,054.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI GUINEAINS HMARKINS INTENEGINS LAWUNION MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS OASISINS PRESTIGE UNIC UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 31 8 4 1 2 4 1 7 1 10 1 25 3 3 8 2 1 3 80 201

Current Price 0.81 1.07 0.56 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 2.34 0.50 0.82 0.50 0.50 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.85

Symbol No. of Deals NPFMCRFBK 1 Daily Summary (Equities) 1

Current Price 0.75

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

PublishedFINANCIAL

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

Quantity Traded 1,341,832 1,104,700 136,729 1,108 Page 55,900 6,108 200 431,351 1,108 758,000 50,000 164,043,162 191,000 355,846 1,019,351 140,000 50,000 1,000 7,834,857 177,550,360 Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000 Page

316,222,732

1,570,788,559.44

2,661

Symbol EVANSMED

No. of Deals 2 31 25 11

Current Price 2.70 3.13 70.00 2.14

Quantity Traded 334 1,026,500 583,253 109,288

Value Traded 876.58 3,105,605.93 40,863,421.38 234,640.40

Symbol NEIMETH

No. of Deals 4 73

Current Price 1.76

Quantity Traded 19,251 1,738,626 1,738,926

44,237,431.97

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.70

Quantity Traded 1,238,600 1,238,600

Value Traded 919,244.00 919,244.00

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,305 10,305

Value Traded 5,152.50 5,152.50

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.85

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 556.00 556.00

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 45 45

Current Price 0.54

Quantity Traded 8,877,578 8,877,578

Value Traded 4,858,998.92 4,858,998.92

10,126,583

5,783,951.42

HEALTHCARE Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

FIDSON Daily Summary (Equities) GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

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

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals Chemicals Totals

Metals ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

Page

74

Daily Summary (Equities)

56

Symbol

6

of

Value Traded 32,341.68 44,236,885.97

Page

7

of

No. of Deals 29 18

Current Price 16.80 9.87

Quantity Traded 264,620 53,068

Symbol CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 16 12 68 1 2 3 1 5 56 211

Current Price 45.25 9.70 236.86 1.48 0.50 0.61 1.90 5.13 110.11

Quantity Traded 81,355 18,688 397,540 1,200 215,980 85,508 250 202,107 1,618,612 2,938,928

Value Traded 3,595,598.00 173,192.12 94,368,899.61 1,704.00 107,990.00 52,159.88 452.50 1,036,808.91 178,433,787.98 282,737,025.16

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 2.00

Quantity Traded 15,866 15,866

Value Traded 33,318.60 33,318.60

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.63 19.45

Quantity Traded 3,000 550 3,550

Value Traded 4,650.00 10,450.00 15,100.00

ASHAKACEM Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

13

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 CONOIL PLC Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Page 2,958,344

216

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals BOCGAS

1

Value Traded 4,467,645.25 498,786.91

13

13

Current Price 6.66

Quantity Traded 1,000 Page

Value Traded 6,330.00

Symbol ALUMACO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.75

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 737.00 737.00

1,100

7,067.00

2 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,386,411 1,386,411

Value Traded 693,205.50 693,205.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 224 224

Current Price 18.16

Quantity Traded 3,115,520 3,115,520

Value Traded 57,163,128.75 57,163,128.75

No. of Deals 20 19 8 15 2 (Equities) 17 81

Current Price 48.00 3.87 104.00 125.98 54.44 170.00

Quantity Traded 429,028 682,220 6,442 8,679 1,100 10,536 1,138,005

Value Traded 20,556,153.72 2,640,238.90 612,020.00 1,053,892.10 56,892.00 1,770,076.10 26,689,272.82

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS Daily Summary TOTAL

Page

Current Price 3.90 2.10 12.80 3.40 0.63 21.25 2.80

Quantity Traded 6,528,895 397,578 8,624,847 3,115,375 727,773 6,119,078 9,129,509 34,643,055

Value Traded 25,393,299.29 862,780.49 111,209,734.97 10,665,645.68 458,037.59 129,773,665.68 25,817,981.38 304,181,145.08

316,222,732

1,570,788,559.44

Quantity Traded 300

Value Traded 546.00

10

of

5,639,936

84,545,607.07

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,108 1,108

Value Traded 554.00 554.00

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 1.35

Quantity Traded 151,000 151,000

Value Traded 198,117.72 198,117.72

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 4 7 11

Current Price 4.32 2.75

Quantity Traded 160,000 94,301 254,301

Value Traded 690,600.00 259,842.80 950,442.80

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 1,924,714 1,924,714

Value Traded 988,874.14 988,874.14

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 900 900

Value Traded 450.00 450.00

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.55 0.66

Quantity Traded 90 10,000

Value Traded 409.50 6,900.00

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

Activity on Board EQTY Published

by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Hotels/Lodging Totals

11

of

13

13

13

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Quantity Traded 10,090

Value Traded 7,309.50

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 9 3 2 7 21

Current Price 1.80 1.90 2.40 4.08

Quantity Traded 269,231 3,800 400 89,351 362,782

Value Traded 465,010.84 7,060.00 912.00 367,792.64 840,775.48

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.97

Quantity Traded 51,000 51,000

Value Traded 49,010.00 49,010.00

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,654,360 2,654,360

Value Traded 1,327,180.00 1,327,180.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 16 27 43

Current Price 3.08 5.60

Quantity Traded 174,258 148,298 322,556

Value Traded 516,953.10 817,540.33 1,334,493.43

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Transport-Related Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021Services

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

SERVICES Totals

131

Equity Activity Totals

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Traded Fund Totals

5,732,811

4,625

EQTY Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

No. of Deals 147 18 453 70 5 52 132 877

331 Symbol AFROMEDIA

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

of

Quantity Traded 1,000

OIL AND GAS OIL AND GAS Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

9

Current Price

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

13

Value Traded 6,330.00

No. of Deals 1

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals

8 of 13 282,785,443.76

Symbol

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Value Traded 553.50 553.50

Current Price 1.91

Value Traded 25,393,299.29 862,780.49 111,209,734.97 10,665,645.68 458,037.59 129,773,665.68 25,817,981.38 304,181,145.08

Value Traded 546.00 546.00

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Packaging/Containers Totals Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded 410 410

No. of Deals 1

Quantity Traded 6,528,895 397,578 8,624,847 3,115,375 727,773 6,119,078 9,129,509 34,643,055

Quantity Traded 300 300

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

Current Price 1.42

Symbol MORISON

Current Price 3.90 2.10 12.80 3.40 0.63 21.25 2.80

Current Price 1.91

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

13

No. of Deals 1 1

2,661

No. of Deals 147 18 453 70 5 52 132 877

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol ABBEYBDS

HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC.

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 1 1

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 553.50 553.50

Symbol MORISON

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 75,000.00 75,000.00 of

Quantity Traded 410 410

Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

ICT Totals

Value Traded 1,096,329.92 1,169,029.00 74,575.37 554.00 13 4 of 30,745.00 3,054.00 100.00 271,424.11 554.00 1,753,160.00 25,000.00 126,546,222.50 95,500.00 178,523.00 570,729.40 70,000.00 25,000.00 500.00 6,598,867.15 138,523,921.45

5

Current Price 1.42

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Summary on Board EQTY PrintedActivity 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 PLC WAPIC INSURANCE Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Medical Supplies Totals

Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 IT Services Totals Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

536,542,533.35

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Printed 10/03/2014 14:49:21.021

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC

7,399,981

3

No. of Deals 1 1

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

13

of

Symbol 7UP

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 10/03/2014 Banking Totals

2

Symbol ABBEYBDS

383,275,390

383,275,390

4,625

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 2,138.00

5,697,207.07

2,727,136,738.61

2,727,136,738.61 12

of

Quantity Traded 150 150

Value Traded 320,700.00 320,700.00

ETF Board Totals

1

150

320,700.00

ETP Activity Totals

1

150

320,700.00

13

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

10-Mar-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

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

FGN

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

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

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

0.02 0.06 0.30 0.55 1.12 2.44 3.13 3.38 3.48 4.22 5.30 5.62 7.89 14.72 15.20 15.70 16.37

13.32 13.37 13.73 14.20 14.36 14.11 14.27 14.11 14.10 14.07 14.09 14.02 14.06 13.68 13.66 13.64 13.66

6.84 10.87 13.22 13.90 14.20 14.03 14.15 13.98 13.98 13.96 14.01 13.93 14.00 13.64 13.61 13.57 13.60

99.92 99.81 98.60 97.45 89.60 97.85 102.00 88.82 87.29 89.50 106.90 73.27 110.85 108.20 92.54 67.05 76.25

100.07 99.96 98.75 97.60 89.75 98.00 102.30 89.12 87.59 89.80 107.20 73.57 111.15 108.50 92.84 67.35 76.55

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,402.04 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Price

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

#

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

0.64 1.21 1.57 2.75 3.11 3.32

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.31 17.22 16.63 16.12 15.61 15.11

90.98 81.92 100.93 88.86 85.85 84.35

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

0.41 0.60 1.48 0.85 1.38 1.38 3.11 1.94 3.81 2.58 4.57 2.79 2.79 3.37 3.25 5.70 3.31 4.11 6.72 4.12 4.15

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

18.85 20.24 18.86 17.77 18.94 17.96 19.71 21.73 15.88 15.91 15.05 15.12 15.33 15.11 16.57 15.96 16.85 16.81 15.01 15.51 16.02

98.07 96.58 92.12 95.90 94.48 97.43 78.15 88.24 94.72 96.11 96.58 98.85 104.18 98.51 97.49 94.59 94.92 94.23 93.69 101.55 101.20

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

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

0.58 0.78 0.81 0.96 1.04 1.12 2.56 2.63 3.56 2.18 2.08 2.50 2.50 4.54 2.36 2.69

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

15.23 19.67 23.21 19.55 15.69 17.27 15.11 15.45 18.62 15.98 17.57 19.31 19.17 17.11 16.39 20.22

97.98 95.68 95.54 92.15 96.77 97.11 95.64 97.43 85.81 104.70 97.44 97.63 101.75 90.43 98.96 93.98

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.68

2.76

16.77

93.96

11-Feb-18

3.93

1.00

15.08

85.90

Bid Price

Offer Price

1,304.32

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

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

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

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

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

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

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

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

14-Nov-13

15.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.51

5.37

107.02

107.82

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.71

4.51

101.61

102.39

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.97

5.86

102.88

103.66

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

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

3.98

3.26

113.51

114.92

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.29

4.64

104.49

105.87

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.38

6.08

98.50

99.69

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.25

6.85

99.99

101.17

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.39

8.06

94.75

95.88

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.36

4.71

114.04

115.45

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.35

6.91

103.33

105.00

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.63

6.36

99.99

101.07

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

2,960.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 59

FIXINGS Maturity 20-Mar-14 27-Mar-14 3-Apr-14 10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14

Bid Discount (%) 12.90 12.90 12.55 12.90 12.55 12.85 12.80

Offer Discount (%) 12.65 12.65 12.30 12.65 12.30 12.60 12.55

Bid Yield (%) 12.95 12.98 12.65 13.04 12.72 13.06 13.07

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

NIBOR

Money Market Rate (%) 13.4583 13.5833 13.9583 14.1667 14.4167 14.6667

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

12.71

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

13.13

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

164.30 164.70 164.96 165.57 166.77

164.40 164.98 165.34 166.31 168.08

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 12.92

NA

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

FGN

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

48 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS BUSINESS Rating/Agency

Issuer

POSITIVE Agency Bonds

yesterday’s loss to market forces and other incidental occurrenc14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 es that usually affects a market, 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 which12.50 is information driven.

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00however, BENUE 30-JUN-2016 They predicted that 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 the most likely thing that will 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 happen this week was that pric14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 es will again be on the upbeat 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 for a while.

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Meanwhile, the All-Share 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 Index15.50 climbed by 220.29 basis GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOSper 22-NOV-2019 point14.50 or 0.56 cent to close at 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 39,172.76 against 380,952.47 re14.75 as OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 corded the previous day, while 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 apprethe market capitalisation ciated by N71 billion or 0.56 per

Sub-National Bonds

StoriesBbb-/Agusto

by Chris Ugwu Lagos

T

A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Bb+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

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

ransactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday closed in the green following gains recorded by some highly capitalised stocks after a week of downward swing.

The mood in the equities market at the close of trading last Friday signaled a return of bullish tendencies as the marTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ket capitalization increased Corporate Bonds

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

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

T

LAFARGE WAPCO

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

BB+/GCR

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

*FLOURMILLS

# #

#

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

89.60 97.85 102.00 88.82 87.29 89.50 106.90 73.27 110.85 108.20 92.54 67.05 76.25

89.75 98.00 102.30 89.12 87.59 89.80 107.20 73.57 111.15 108.50 92.84 67.35 76.55

Sanctity of Truth

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

0.64 1.21 1.57 2.75 3.11 3.32

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.31 17.22 16.63 16.12 15.61 15.11

90.98 81.92 100.93 88.86 85.85 84.35

1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

15.96 16.85 16.81 15.01 15.51 16.02

94.59 94.92 94.23 93.69 101.55 101.20

cent to close the day at N12,582 Conversely, Eterna Oil, detrillion in contrast to N12.511 preciated by 5.61 per cent to 1,304.32 trillion recorded on Friday. close the day at N3.87. Portland A further review of transacPaints followed with a 0.41 loss of 05-Aug-09 14.00 17.00 05-Aug-14 14.00 that 30 6.00 15-Oct-14 tion in15-Oct-09 the day showed 5.00 per cent to close at0.60 N5.13, 31-Aug-10 12.50 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.48 companies pitched their tent while Custodian Insurance 30-Sep-10 13.00 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.85 fell 14.00while 23 13.00 on the30-Jun-11 gainers’ table, by 4.98 per30-Jun-16 cent to close1.38 N2.10.

30-Jun-09 15.50 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.38 others19-Apr-10 were listed on the lagOn the sub sectorial 10.00 57.00 19-Apr-17 3.11 lev30-Jun-10 13.75 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.94 gard for want of poor patronel, Insurance sub-sector of 30-Dec-10 14.00 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.81 14.00 50.00 30-Sep-18 age in30-Sep-11 the days trading. the financial service 2.58 sector 04-Oct-11 14.00 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.57 Skye Bank led the strengthened by the activities 09-Dec-11 14.50gainers; 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.79 14.00 by 5,90 12.00 12-Dec-18 chart 12-Dec-13 after appreciating on the shares of NEM2.79 Insur14-Feb-12 15.50 27.00 14-Feb-19 3.37 per cent each to close at N3.77. ance and Wapic Insurance, 02-Oct-12 15.50 20.00 02-Oct-19 3.25 14.50 22-Nov-19 5.70 Royal22-Nov-12 Exchange followed with 80.00 12-Dec-12 14.75 30.00 12-Dec-19 3.31 14.75 to close 11.40 30-Sep-20 4.11 a gain30-Sep-13 of 5.00 per cent 27-Nov-13 13.50 87.00 27-Nov-20 6.72 at 63 kobo, while Vitafoam add31-Dec-13 14.50 5.00 31-Dec-20 4.12 15.00 at N4,79 5.00 06-Jan-21 4.15 ed 4.5906-Jan-14 per cent to close per share among other gainers. 567.90 11.80

13.50 17.00 10.00

13.17 2.00 15.00

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

FGN

07-Oct-14

0.58

1.00

15.23

97.98

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.71

4.51

101.61

102.39

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.97

5.86

102.88

18-Dec-14 19.67 95.68 ccess Bank has0.78part- 5.21 try of Petroleum Resources and 31-Dec-14 0.81 8.71 23.21 95.54 nered the CWC Group Nigeria National Petroleum 17-Aug-15 0.96 4.88 19.55 92.15 09-Dec-10 12.00 37.50 09-Dec-15 of this 1.04 15.69 96.77 on hosting year’s 1.00 Corporation.

06-Jan-11 14.00 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.12 2.63 17.27 97.11 ternative investment window Nigerian Oil and Gas Now in its 14th year, 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.56 1.00 15.11 95.64 the Nige25-Oct-13 25-Oct-16 2.63 1.34 15.45 Gas (NOG) 97.43 Conferfor investors, the 14.25 first ETF 5.53 (NOG) Strategic Conference rian Oil and 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.56 4.52 18.62 85.81 was launched on the Nigeria ence has proven to be the most in Abuja.

30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.18 1.88 15.98 104.70 09-Apr-11 16.00 09-Apr-18 2.08 3.48 97.44 bourse in December 2011. We 8.01 CWC Group veritable17.57 engagement platform is an interna09-Sep-11 18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.50 5.20 19.31 97.63 are using the ETF product cattional non-governmental organfor policy makers and operators 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.50 5.06 19.17 101.75 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.54 3.06 17.11 90.43 egory22-Sep-11 to open up cost-effective isation renowned for creating in the sector.

The conference, ac18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.36 2.29 16.39 98.96 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.69 6.11 20.22 93.98 diversification opportunities opportunities and developing cording to the statement, will 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.68 2.76 16.77 93.96 knowledge in the oil and gas once again be opened by the for investors, while giving the 175.67 broker-dealer community an sector.

Honourable Minister for Petroinstrument to better service A statement from Access leum Resources, Mrs. 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.93 1.00 15.08 85.90 Diezani Bank said the annual forum, Alison-Madueke, delivering the their clientele. This listing of 12.00 the VG 30 ETF is anticipated to which starts from Monday, state of the industry address Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price help advance the investor mar- March 17 to Thursday, March with leading political figures, Prices & Yields ket in Africa's fastest growing 20, 2014, is organised under the national and international in07-Oct-11 500.00 107.02 107.82 auspices of28-Jan-21 the Federal5.51 Minis- 5.37 economy by further 6.75 dustry leaders in attendance.

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

A

11.50

Jalo-Waziri noted that the 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 VG 30 ETF was designed to 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 track18.00 the C&Iperformance LEASING 30-NOV-2017 of the MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 constituent companies of the MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 NSE MPR+5.25 30 Index and to replicate 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 the price and yield performance 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 of theMPR+5.00 Index.

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 The NSE 30 Index comprises of the top 30 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 terms of market capitalisation and liquidity and is a price inDescription dex weighted by adjusted market capitalisation.

JAN 28, 2021 "In order to6.75 provide an al-

led in volume terms with 177.5 million shares worth N138.5 million in 201 deals, while the banking sub sector,98.07 also of the 4.88 18.85 5.99 financial20.24 service 96.58 sector was 4.44 18.86 92.12 boosted by the shares of Access 3.23 17.77 95.90 4.46 18.94 94.48 million Bank, GTB traded 103.9 3.48 17.96 97.43 ordinary19.71 shares worth N1.12 5.59 78.15 7.60 21.73 88.24 billion done in 1,581 deals.

1.79 15.88 94.72 1.80 On the15.91 96.11 of 383.2 whole a total 1.00 15.05 96.58 million ordinary shares valued 1.00 15.12 98.85 1.21 15.33 at N2.7 billion were104.18 transacted 1.00 15.11 98.51 by investors deals.

2.46 16.57 in 4,625 97.49

Access Bank renews pledge to oil sector funding

07-Oct-11

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

*UPDC

#

14.20 14.03 14.15 13.98 13.98 13.96 14.01 13.93 14.00 13.64 13.61 13.57 13.60

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

*CHELLARAMS he Nigerian Stock ExA+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO A-/Agusto FSDH exchange (NSE) has A/GCR UBA panded its product ofBBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro; BB+/GCR *DANA ferings via the official A-/DataPro; BB-/GCR *TOWER listingAAA/DataPro; of Vetiva A+/GCR Griffin *TOWER30 A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA Exchange Traded Fund in Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA MarchBB+/DataPro; 2014. BBB-/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO TheTOTAL Executive Director in OUTSTANDING VALUE charge of Business DevelopSupranational Bond ment, AAA/S&P NSE, Mr Haruna JaloIFC Waziri,TOTAL explained that The VetOUTSTANDING VALUE iva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Rating/Agency Issuer Fund (VG 30 ETF) is an openFGN Eurobonds ended fund that will be listed on BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P the Exchange.

14.36 14.11 14.27 14.11 14.10 14.07 14.09 14.02 14.06 13.68 13.66 13.64 13.66

4,402.04

NSE enlarges product offerings A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Nil Bbb+/Agusto A-/Agusto

1.12 2.44 3.13 3.38 3.48 4.22 5.30 5.62 7.89 14.72 15.20 15.70 16.37

Stock market heads northwards Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) AMCON The bulls returned as 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 FMBN 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 NA market sentiments came 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 marginally

by N2 billion. ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 alive.

0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Market pundits attributed

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

1,500.00

103.66

10-Mar-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 Corporate Eurobonds the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

B-/S&P; B/Fitch

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

FGN Bonds

Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

Rating/Agency B/Fitch

Issuer

Afren PLC II

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE **Treasury Bills

DTM 10 17 24 NA 31 38 45 59 66 73 80 87 101 108 115 122 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 129 150 178 269 Rating/Agency 304 318 Agency Bonds 332 346 360

VALUE

Maturity 20-Mar-14 27-Mar-14 3-Apr-14 FGN10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 4-Dec-14 Issuer8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 AMCON 5-Mar-15

Description

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

10.25 APR 08, 2019

Issue Date

Coupon (%) 08-Apr-12

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

10.50 18-MAR-2014 18-Mar-11 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 10.75 31-MAR-2014 31-Mar-07 9.20 29-JUN-2014 29-Jun-07 9.25 28-SEP-2014 28-Sep-07 4.00 23-APR-2015 23-Apr-10 Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 12.90 12.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 12.90 12.65 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 12.55 12.30 12.90 12.65 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 12.55 12.30 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 12.85 12.60 16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 12.80 12.55 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 12.85 12.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 12.90 12.65 12.95 12.70 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 12.95 12.70 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 12.95 12.70 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 12.90 12.65 10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10 13.20 12.95 13.20 13.20 13.20 13.20 12.50 Description 13.10 13.10 13.10 13.15 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 13.30

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 NA 0.00/16.00 *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated andLCRM not the09-DEC-2016 duration # ***LCRM LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and 0.00/16.50 liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

12.95 12.95 12.95 12.95 12.25 12.85 12.85 12.85 12.90 13.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.98

3.26

113.51

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.29

4.64

104.49

105.87

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.38

6.08

98.50

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.25

6.85

99.69 Price

300.00

02-May-18

8.25

10.50 10.75 9.20 9.25 4.00 Bid Yield (%) 13.05 12.95 15.10 12.98 9.85 12.65 13.04 9.35 12.72 10.70 13.06 16.00 13.07 7.00 13.16 16.39 13.24 13.33 15.00 13.36 12.49 13.43 8.50 13.41 10.00 13.77

Maturity Date 300.00 300.00

320.00 18-Mar-14 6.63 360.00 35.00 31-Mar-14 2,960.00 45.00 29-Jun-14 100.00 28-Sep-14 FIXINGS 535.00 23-Apr-15 NIBOR 292.47 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 CALL 13.4583 27-Jul-17 720.00 DAYS 13.5833 30 DAYS 13.9583 100.00 31-Aug-17 60 DAYS 14.1667 300.00 30-May-18 90 DAYS 14.4167 351.30 29-Jun-19 180 DAYS 14.6667 233.90 23-Oct-19 365 DAYS 14.9167 600.00 27-Jan-22 75.00 28-Nov-28 NITTY 150.00 22-May-29 Tenor Rate (%) 200.00 20-Nov-29 1M 12.9424 591.57 23-Jul-30 2M 13.1807

09-Dec-13

13.81 13.85 13.96 14.11 13.77 Issue14.70 Date 14.79 14.87 15.02 28-Dec-11 15.31

3M

8.39

8.06 Offer

5.36

4.71

Bid Yield (%)

07-Aug-20

7.35 0.02 13.32 6.6313.37 0.06 0.30 13.73 0.55 14.20 Money Market 1.12 14.36 Tenor Rate (%) 2.44 14.11 OBB 12.7114.27 3.13 3.38 14.11 O/N 13.13 3.48 14.10 REPO 4.22 14.07 Tenor Rate (%) 5.30 14.09 Call 12.92 1M5.62 13.7514.02 3M7.89 14.2514.06 6M14.72 14.7513.68 15.20 13.66 NOTE: 15.70 13.64 16.37 13.66 :Benchmarks 09-Dec-20

6.91

Yield (%)

6.84

99.99

101.17

94.75

95.88

114.04

115.45

Bid Price

103.33

105.00

100.07 99.96 13.22 98.60 98.75 13.90 97.45 97.60 Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) 89.75 14.20 89.60 14.03 97.85 98.00 Tenor14.15 Bid ($/N)102.00 Offer ($/N)102.30 Spot 13.98 164.30 88.82 164.40 89.12 7D 13.98 164.70 87.29 164.98 87.59 14D 13.96 164.96 89.50 165.34 89.80 1M 165.57 166.31 14.01 106.90 107.20 2M 166.77 168.08 3M 13.93 168.57 73.27 171.32 73.57 6M 14.00 171.85 110.85 176.06 111.15 1Y 13.64 178.86 108.20 188.12 108.50 13.61 92.54 92.84 13.57 67.05 67.35 13.60 NA :Not Applicable 76.25 76.55 6.36 10.87

99.92

Offer Price

99.99 99.81

101.07

* :Amortising Bond # :Floating Rate Bond µ :Convertible Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria # FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria Risk†: Rating expired Valuation Avg.ofLife/TTM FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria Coupon (%) Issue Value (N'bn)IFC: International Maturity Date Premium Finance Corporation (Yrs) Yield (%) LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management(%) NIFEX NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Current Price ($/N) NGC: Nigeria-German Company 978.35 31-Oct-14 0.64 1.00 15.31 BID($/N) 0.00 165.0500 UBA: United Bank for Africa OFFER ($/N) 165.1500 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 0.00 24.56 24-May-15 1.21 2.63 17.22 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 17.25 6.00 03-Apr-17 1.57 Company 2.27 16.63

4,402.04 6M 9M 12M

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

13.2547 14.1375 14.6945 15.2966

TTM (Yrs)

08-Apr-19

114.92

112.22 116.70 66.49

09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.75 3.11 3.32

2.00 1.49 1.00

0.41 0.60 1.48 Implied Yield 0.85 1.38 14.25 1.38 14.07 3.11 13.66 1.94 13.95 3.81 2.58 4.57 2.79 2.79 3.37 3.25 5.70 3.31 4.11 6.72 4.12 4.15

4.88 5.99 Implied4.44 Portfolio Price 3.23 4.46 100.1495 3.48 116.9625 5.59 82.57257.60 102.1318 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

16.12 15.61 15.11

Indicative Price 90.98 81.92 100.93 88.86 85.85 84.35

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds KWARA 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 NIGER 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 Porfolio Market KADUNA Modified Duration 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Buckets Value(Bn) *EBONYI 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 *BENUE 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 <3 1,227.40 *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 3<5 1,040.64 LAGOS 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 >5 451.07 *BAYELSA 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 Market 2,719.11 EDO 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 *DELTA 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 NIGER 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

11.50

6.88 Value Outstanding 10.25 (N'bn)

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

FMBN

Bbb-/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Bb+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

Bonds

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

1,280.27 951.30 591.57 2,823.14

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 Weighting by 31-Aug-10 Outstanding 30-Sep-10 Vol 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-0945.35 19-Apr-1033.70 30-Jun-1020.95 100.00 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 Weighting 12.50by Mkt Value 13.00 14.00 15.50 45.14 10.00 38.27 13.75 16.59 14.00100.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 Bucket Weighting 16.50 13.00 18.50 0.45 57.00 0.34 50.00 0.21 25.00 1.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 % Exposure_ 31-Aug-15 Mod_Duration 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 21.99 30-Jun-16 38.65 19-Apr-17 39.36 30-Jun-17 100.00 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

18.85 98.07 20.24 96.58 18.86 YTD Return92.12 INDEX (%) 17.77 95.90 18.94 94.48 1,013.06 1.3060 17.96 97.43 990.39 0.9606 19.71 78.15 999.61 0.0393 21.73 88.24 993.88 0.6117 15.88 94.72 15.91 96.11 15.05 96.58 15.12 98.85 15.33 104.18 15.11 98.51 16.57 97.49 15.96 94.59 16.85 94.92 16.81 94.23 15.01 93.69 15.51 101.55 16.02 101.20

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 49

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sterling Bank to engage 1000 bank agents “We restrained ourselves in the past to reach out to more customers, but now we are coming out to reach out to as many passengers as possible. We want to pioneer financial inclusion, and we are the only banking promoting financial inclusion at the moment. This will mitigate a lot of problems that the unbanked have because if they don’t have access to banking, all the monies they have would stagnate. There wouldn’t be growth and the economy will be worst for it” he said.

The need of this area will determine whether a full branch cash centre or agent would be

PIONEER Sterling Bank moves to get the unbanked into the system.

I

n a bid to take banking to the door steps of existing and prospective customers,.

Sterling Bank Plc plans to engage 1000 bank agents in addition to the 80 it currently has.

The lender also plans to open between 100 and 200 bank branches and cash centres across the country in addition to its 300 existing branches.

Sterling Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos, Mr. Devendra Puri, disclosed these in Lagos at the inauguration of the lender’s new branch in Itire, Lagos.

Located within the Ilasamaja Industry Estate, the bank will serve a huge community of business people and residents.

Puri explained the new expansion drive of Sterling Bank was deliberate because the bank wants to drive financial access to the unbanked while benefiting from the numerous business possibilities.

Bankers’ Committee marks Global Money Week

deployed there, he explained.

High point of the occasion was the cutting of tape by Oba Lateef Abayomi Akanbi, the Onitire of Itireland, to officially open the branch.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Regional Business Executive Lagos Mainland of the Bank, Mr. Abiodun Oladapo, said the lender’s relationship with the businesses people around the branch, the natives and other people will be cordial and mutually beneficial.

“It’s our desire that Sterling Bank would make this community a lot better than we met it” he said.

Sterling Bank MD, Yemi Adeola

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

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

T

he Bankers’ Committee through its Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-Committee (FLSC), has mapped out activities targeted at primary and secondary school students to mark the 2014 edition of Global Money Week.

To commemorate the weeklong event, a statement from the Bankers’ Committee said that Thursday 13th March 2014, has been designated ‘Financial Literacy Day’, by the Committee. The aim of both Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day is to inculcate sound financial knowledge and fiscal planning skills in children and the youth.

Planned activities to mark the week include visits by officials of the various financial institutions to schools adopted by their institutions.

According to the statement, the financial institution CEOs will during their visit, teach selected students from

E

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

Bankers' Committee to inculcate sound financial knowledge in children.

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

the schools a module of a Financial Literacy curriculum specially designed by Junior Achievement Nigeria - a nongovernmental organisation focused on educating children about their economic environment. Other activities include visits by students to banks to observe bank activities. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will also be organising a Child and Youth Finance Fair/Exhibition in Abuja to mark the week.

Speaking on the activities, Emeka Emuwa, Chairman of the Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment SubCommittee and Group Managing Director of Union Bank said, “Financial Literacy is a key enabler in our quest to achieve Financial Inclusion for sustained economic growth and development in Nigeria. Members of the Bankers’ Committee are fully committed to stepping up our activities in this area. “ The FLSC, according to the statement, has defined its 2014 priorities and objectives to include educating children, youth and adults on Financial Literacy, launching and promoting Financial Literacy Day.

ETI floats committee to search for new board

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

FINANCIAL SKILLS

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) yestetday announced that it had set up a new committee to search for new Board members.

The seven member search Committee, according to a statement from the bank, consists of two former chairmen (Mr. Gervais Djondo and Chief Philip Asiodu), two representatives of the current board and three shareholder representatives.

ETI stated: “The Committee has been established as part of the detailed 51 point Governance Action Plan agreed by shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Ecobank’s pan African Centre in Lomé on Monday 3 March 2014. It will be assisted by an external search firm. “The move to reconstitute the Board at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated follows recommendations made by West African regulators of the Stock Exchanges where Ecobank is listed as well as from a report by the Global Board Center of the renowned Swiss business school, the In-

ternational Institute for Management Development (IMD).

The IMD report by their Global Board Center followed a review of ETI’s corporate governance, including the size and constitution of the Board, its procedures for managing related party transactions as well as its committee structures and incentive policies.”

The search Committee, according to ETI, will recommend potential Board members to the shareholders of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated at their Annual General Meeting, to be held in June.

“At their Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday 3 March, the shareholders agreed to limit the size of the Board to a maximum of 15 people. It will comprise representatives of both majority and minority shareholders; executives and independent directors. In addition the reconstituted Board will reflect the geographical spread of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated as well as a more balanced gender and professional mix,” the statement said.

50 NEWS | WORLD

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Pistorius vomits as court hears pathologist's testimony

O

scar Pistorius, the doubleamputee Olympic sprinter on trial for murder yesterday in Pretoria, vomited in court as he heard a pathologist's testimony about the nature of his girlfriend's injuries after he shot her dead.

Gert Saayman, the forensic Pathologist told the court that Reeva Steenkamp was shot four times, with one of the bullets piercing her head, hip and arm.

Pistorius suddenly blocked his ears and put his head be-

tween his knees as Saayman addressed the court.

He cried, vomited as his face became red, and his hands shook.

Saayman confirmed that Steenkamp wounds were consistent with a statement from Pistorius that he had fired the shots through the bathroom door in his home in the city of Pretoria. ``Wood splinters were found on her body and bone fragments and tissue were found on her T-

shirt, he said.

The court granted an adjournment of a few hours requested by defence lawyer Barry Roux.

The athlete's brother Carl and sister Aimee consoled him during the break.

Pistorius was national hero until he shot and killed the model and law graduate on February 14 last year.

He says he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar. The couple had been dating for a few

months.

The trial in which Pistorius is facing a charge of premeditated murder and other gun-related charges opened on March 3. The court has heard testimony from his neighbours that they heard a woman screaming prior to the shooting.

The trial was being broadcast

Central Africa pays state wages for first time in 6 months

C

Pro-Russian forces dubbed the "military forces of the autonomous republic of Crimea" at their swearing-in ceremony in the Republican military enlistment complex in Simferopol on March 10, 2014. Crimea's pro-Russian authorities sought to boost their claim to break from Ukraine yesterday as volunteer soldiers swore an oath of allegiance in front of prime minister Sergei Aksyonov. He told journalists 186 volunteers had so far joined the new Crimean "self-defence" units after pro-Moscow forces took power in the region and announced their intention to join with Russia, with a referendum planned for Sunday.

Blame game erupts as China criticises Malaysia over missing plane

B

eijing yesterday blamed Kuala Lumpur for a lack of information about a vanished Malaysia Airlines flight, as tearful relatives of the 153 Chinese passengers aboard voiced frustration with all sides of the response effort.

Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people aboard Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 were from China, and if the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would be China's second-worst ever air disaster.

The Chinese government "urges the Malaysian side to step up their efforts to speed up the investigation and provide accurate information to China in a timely fashion," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

"They should also properly manage work related to family members of passengers and follow-up issues," he added.

Qin noted that "the incident is still under investigation", but China's state-run media

minced no words, lashing out at Malaysia and its national carrier over their handling of the missing jet, demanding answers despite the early stage of the investigation and calling for a swifter effort.

For its part, MAS said in a statement that it is deploying an additional aircraft on Tuesday "to bring the families from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur".

Officials said an Italian and an Austrian whose names were on the passenger manifest who both had their passports stolen in Thailand - were not on board.

"The Malaysian side cannot shirk its responsibilities," the Global Times newspaper, which is close to China's ruling Communist Party, wrote in a scathing editorial. "The initial response from Malaysia was not swift enough.

"There are loopholes in the work of Malaysia Airlines and security authorities," it said.

"If it is due to a deadly me-

chanical breakdown or pilot error, then Malaysia Airlines should take the blame. If this is a terrorist attack, then the security check at Kuala Lumpur airport and on the flight is questionable."

China itself regularly enforces heavyweight security, but authorities are often secretive about real or alleged incidents.

The China Daily newspaper wrote in an editorial that "terrorism cannot be ruled out".

"The fact that some of the passengers on board were travelling with false passports should serve as a reminder to the whole world that security can never be too tight," it added.

"Terrorism, the evil of the world, is still trying to stain human civilisation with the blood of innocent lives," it said.

Malaysia's police chief said yesterday that one of the men who used the passports had been identified.

live but the presiding Judge Thokozile Masipa however ruled that details of the autopsy could not be broadcast live.

Journalists were only allowed to summarise the evidence.

The trial was adjourned as the pathologist would continue to give his evidence today.

ivil servants in the Central African Republic were paid their first wages for six months yesterday, a small sign of normality in a country that has been paralysed by sectarian violence.

Huge lines of state employees, impatient for their first pay packets since September 2013, formed outside the major banks in the capital Bangui.

"Better one month than nothing. We're barely living," paramedic Jean Nguelebo told AFP. "If the government makes the effort, we may be able to get one or two more months -- if the treasury allows."

Cyrille Ngoazeyou, a teacher, said the money would mean she could afford "to give my family a few dishes of pointinini (small dishes of sea fish) while waiting for better days."

Transition president Catherine Samba Panza in January

took the reins of a country that has been torn apart by conflict since the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted president Francois Bozize in March last year, sparking a cycle of revenge attacks between the Muslim minority and Christian majority.

The crisis has paralysed the country's administration, starting with its public finances, which has crippled the state's ability to pay its employees.

During a visit to Bangui on February 28, French President Francois Hollande said that state employees' salaries would be paid quickly via agents in other countries.

But many expressed discontent that banks were immediately taking back advances they had given during the months that civil servants weren't being paid.

Reforms vindicate my classified data leaks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Snowden

F

ormer security contractor Edward Snowden, facing arrest if he steps foot on U.S. soil, said the changes the American government and private companies have made about managing massive amounts of data helped vindicate his leaks of classified material.

Speaking to a sympathetic and tech-savvy crowd at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, via a video link from Russia, Snowden added that the U.S. government still has no idea what material he has provided to journalists.

"I saw that the Constitution was violated on a massive scale," Snowden said to applause, adding that his revelations of government spying on private communications have resulted in protections that have benefited the public and global society.

Last year, Snowden, who had been working at a National Security Agency facility as an

employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, leaked a raft of secret documents that revealed a vast U.S. government system for monitoring phone and Internet data.

The leaks deeply embarrassed the Obama administration, which in January banned U.S. eavesdropping on the leaders of friendly countries and allies and began reining in the sweeping collection of Americans' phone data in a series of limited reforms triggered by Snowden's revelations.

Major companies also tightened up safeguards, but Snowden said that is still not enough to protect privacy properly.

"The government has gone and changed their talking points. They have changed their verbiage away from public interest to national interest," he said, adding that this poses the risk of losing control of representative democracy.

World Indoor: Yusuf Alli plays down Nigeria’s failure Charles Ogundiya

A Alli

former international, Yusuf Alli, has played down Nigerian athletes’ failure to win a medal at the just concluded IAAF World Indoor

Games in Sopot, Poland.

Despite getting to two finals at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, Team Nigeria finished empty-handed.

In the 60m, Gloria Asumnu recorded a disappointing 7.18m

SPORT

to place 7th despite impressive semifinal outing, where she ran a season best of 7.11m on Saturday to come second behind Cote d’ Ivoire’s Murielle Ahoure, who ran 7.06m.

Alli in an interview with New

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

iran,bosnia search for eagles’ match tapes

Victor Moses (right) contesting the ball with a Mexican player

}p-54

Safet Susic, Bosnia coach

Iran player

Keshi

Pistorius vomits in court at Steenkamp autopsy details

Enyeama,Ejide are world class –Dosu

}p-52

}p-53

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

That Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored a tournamentrecord five goals in one game during a 6-1 win over Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup in the United States

TUESday, MARCH 11, 2014

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

Telegraph said the performance has nothing to do with the preparation for the Commonwealth Games as the athletes that went for the competition were not the best the country can offer.

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

51

Dzeko

Eagles’ jersey of controversy angers Elegbeleye }p-55

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Enyeama, Ejide are world class –Dosu Charles Ogundiya

Balotelli

‘Balotelli is our greatest talent -Chiellini

G

iorgio Chiellini believes that Mario Balotelli is Italy’s greatest talent ahead of the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The AC Milan striker, who scored twice against Germany in the semifinals of Euro 2012, is set to lead the line for Italy again this summer, and Chiellini feels he can deliver once again for the Azzurri faithful.

“Mario Balotelli is undoubtedly the greatest talent of Italian football,” he told Goal.com. “His career so far has seen many ups and downs, but let’s hope that at the World Cup he will lead his team in the way that all Italian fans want.”

F

ormer Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, on Monday said that Coach Stephen Keshi should count himself lucky to have two of the best goalkeepers in the world in his team.

After watching Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide against Mexico, the Atlanta gold medalist was of the opinion that both are good as first choice in the team.

Dosu said, “Keshi should be happy for having Enyeama and Ejide in his

team, they are among the best goalkeepers in the world. Enyeama is doing well in France, Ejide was also in France before moving to Israel and he has been doing well too.

“With the performance of the two in the game against Mexico, I can say the goalkeeping department is the most solid in the team but other departments must complement their efforts.”

Enyeama has also been in spectacular form for his team, Lille of France this season as the former Enyimba stopper once kept a clean sheet in 11 games in the ongoing season.

Eagles not spectacular –Taribo Mercy Jacob

F

ormer Nigeria international defender, Taribo West, has said that there is no spectacular player in the Super Eagles led by coach, Stephen Keshi, that the nation can rely on at the forth coming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

West, in an interview with New Telegraph, believes that the feat the Super Eagles achieved in the last Nations Cup in South Africa was just by the grace of God, insisting that there is no superstar in that team that can change a game during crucial situations.

He, however, said that he was not afraid of the Super Eagles’ opponents at the World Cup, adding that Keshi’s boys will fly past them as he believes that the grace they have

been enjoying would continue to follow them in the World Cup when the hostilities begin.

“I have critically examined the Super Eagles team and I am yet to see a player that can turn games around as it was in my own days. In fact, in my days, we have good players, players that you can depend on to get results, even at that we did not achieve much, but the current Super Eagles have no such player.

“They only have grace going for them and it was this grace that gave them the Nations Cup, so I believe the Super Eagles would shock the world as there is no particular player to look up to.

“All the same, if there is any African team that would excel at the World Cup, it would be Nigeria,” the ex-Inter Milan defender added.

Pistorius vomits in court at Steenkamp autopsy details

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rack star Oscar Pistorius, on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, wept and vomited into a bucket in a South African courtroom on Monday after hearing graphic details from her autopsy.

Patholo gist Ger t Saayman was interrupted several times by the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete’s sobbing and retching but the defence team argued against an adjour nment, saying a break would not improve his state of mind.

Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa imposed a broadcast blackout on Saayman’s testimony out of respect for Steenkamp’s family and to prevent children from accidentally hearing its contents.

“Broadcast would compromise the privacy of the deceased, hurt the interests of the Steenkamps and be against the morals of society,” Saayam said when he took the stand to ask for a temporary broadcast blackout of a trial that has so far been shown in its entirety on live television.

Masipa, who has been presiding over the week-long trial, extended the ban to live reporting on Twitter.

P i s t o r i u s, n i ck named “Bladerunner” for the special prosthetics he wears in competition, admits he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, but argues that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity and that he thought she was an intruder who had broken in to his luxury Pretoria home.

Pistorius

Ejide

Ogude grabs brace in Russian debut Ifeanyi Ibeh

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igerian midfielder, Fegor Ogude, on Monday had a debut to remember as he scored twice for his new Russian Premier Division side, Amkar Perm, in their 5-1 demolition of FC Volga.

Ogude, who joined Amkar from Norwegian side, Valerenga, over the winter, needed just four minutes to get his name on the score sheet as he slotted the ball into the corner from 10 yards out.

The visitors equal-

ized on the half-hour mark through Jamaican Luton Shelton, who volleyed in from a tight angle after a corner had evaded everyone and drawn the home side’s goalkeeper off his line.

But Bulgarian midfielder, Georgi Peev, restored Amkar’s lead six minutes later from the penalty spot, for his ninth goal of the season, before Ogude grabbed his second of the game with a pinpoint header from a corner kick 11 minutes to the end to round off a fairy-tale debut.

Taiwo tips Eagles for World Cup success Ajibade Olusesan

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ut-of-favour Super Eagles defender, TaiyeTaiwo, has declared that the national team has what it take to advance from their World Cup group but leaves his own chances of making the squad to God. The Eagles were handed a tricky draw at the World Cup as they face Iran, Bosnia and Argentina in the group stage.

But Taiwo maintained that the Eagles could get out of the group despite the quality of oppositions.

He said Nigeria was a big country with a lot of experience especially at the World Cup, insisting that such quality would help

them against teams like Iran and Bosnia.

“We have a very good chance of qualifying from the group. We have the experience, we have the players and we also have a very good coach. What the team just need is support, Nigerians need to keep supporting their team, and they must continue to pray for the team so that we can have a successful outing at the World Cup,” he said.

Taiwo has played all of Bursaspor’s 21 league games and as a defender he has scored two goals for his Turkish side, a record that should count in his favour as Coach Stephen Keshi is set to release the list of the players that will fight for places in his team for the mundial.

Taiwo

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0805 400 5669

Nairabet.com to sponsor two to World Cup Charles Ogundiya

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wo Super Eagles fans, Onyekawem Becky and IwuohaChinedu, will be in Brazil to cheer the team to victory in the 2014 World Cup, courtesy of Nairabet.com.

The betting company had partnered with a football knowledge contest ‘So you think you know football Nigeria’, a competition organised by popular sports presenter, George Essien, “What A Rush”.

The competition which has the likes of MutiuAdepoju, Dosu Joseph, SegunAgbede as judges, saw the contestants testing their knowledge in football after which IwuohaChinedu emerged the winner.

Speaking to New Telegraph, the CEO of Nairabet, Akin Alabi, said; “Sponsoring people to the World Cup is our own way of supporting the Super Eagles.

Two other winners will be going to Dubai while there were some other consolation prizes for the other contestants.”

Premier Lotto Athletics winners get laptops, cash Emmanuel Tobi

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inners at the second edition of the Premier Lotto Lagos Secondary Schools Athletics Championships smiled home with laptops and various cash incentives at the weekend as the two-week championship ended at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

All gold medalists went home with a laptop each and N30, 000 worth of Puma vouchers with second position winners getting silver medals and N18, 000 worth of Puma vouchers while the third position got bronze medals and N12, 000 worth of Puma vouchers.

The athletes, who were drawn from the six educational districts participated in 10 events namely 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 100/110 hurdles, high jump, triple jump, relay race and shot put.

Sponsor of the competition, Chief Adebutu Kessignton, while commending the athletes for their giant strides at the championship, pledged his continuous sponsorship through his company, Premier Lotto Nigeria Limited.

He said, “We are committed in cre-

Honeywell reiterates commitment to sports development Charles Ogundiya

H

oneywell Flour Mills Plc, makers of Honeywell noodles has reiterated its commitment to supporting sports and other laudable programmes in the country.

To this end, the company was at the grand finale of the first U-10 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Kids Cup competition that was held inside the Campus Mini Stadium, Ajele, Lagos on Friday, March 6, to mark the 105-year posthumous birthday of the late political sage.

The Executive Director, Marketing, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, said the company would continue to support good cause, especially those that has to do

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

with grassroots sportsdevelopment.

He said, “At Honeywell Flour Mills, we are a socially responsible organisation, we support good causes, especially causes that has to do with children, when we receive the request from the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation to sponsor the kids cup, knowing the values that Obafemi Awolowo stood for, the integrity of the foundation and also when you put into consideration that it has to do with kids, it was not difficult for us to agree.

“We love to support initiatives that are good and that also helped the grassroots, which is in line with the company’s vision and mission statement.”

ating a brighter future for the kids and that is why we encouraged them through the school system to combine their education with sports.

“Premier Lotto will continue to sponsor this championship through the Adebutu Kessignton Foundation and we are grateful to the Lagos State government for creating an enabling environment for us to sustain our business.”

Meanwhile, six new records were broken at the championship in high jump (girls), shot put (girls), 100m (girls), 100m (boys), 1,500m (girls) and 1,500m (boys).

Esther Isah, from district three, made up of schools from Epe, IbejuLekki and Lagos Island, set a new record in the girls’ high jump with 1.45m.

Isah’s feat nullified Joy Patrick’s 1.42m record in the 2013 edition while in the girls’ short put, Joy Michael of district two, threw 9.37m to displace Ojo Ojoluwatide’s 9.25m record in the maiden edition.

Other record breakers were Magdalene George, 12.68 return time in 100m Girls, Sunday Emmanuel 11.50 in 100m Boys and Saka Sanusi, who finished 4.13, in the 1,500m for boys.

Magdalene George (left) and Timothy Emmanuel displaying their medals

Why Milo embraced sports –Nestle MD Ifeanyi Ibeh

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estle Nigeria Plc’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Dharnesh Gordhon, has given reasons why the beverage makers have continued to sponsor the annual Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship in the last 16 years.

The first edition of the championship took place in 1999 and between then and now; the tournament has grown to become one of the most keenly awaited events in the Nigerian schools’ sports calendar.

The state preliminaries got under-

way across the country at the weekend with close to 7, 000 schools competing to secure a spot to the national finals, billed for August in Lagos and Gordhon feels creating a platform for the country’s youths to showcase their talents was one of the reasons Nestle continues to sponsor the championship.

“Our belief that sports serves as a suitable platform for youths to imbibe important values such as honesty, teamwork, fair play, respect, adherence to rules, discipline, perseverance and resilience has been the motivating factor behind our commitment,” said Gordhon.

Heineken’s ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ winners storm Germany

I Osun State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Stephen Kola-Balogun (left); Executive Director, Marketing, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan; Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Fundation, Chief (Mrs.) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, captain of the winning team, Master Salami Mubaraq and Senator Bode Olajumoke, at the maiden U-10 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Kids Cup competition sponsored by Honeywell, in Lagos, on Thursday.

n fulfillment of its promise to consumers at the beginning of the season, the international premium lager beer, Heineken, has sent five lucky consumers to watch the high profile UEFA Champions League match involving Bayern Munich and Arsenal live at the Allianze Arena in Germany.

Olawale Ajadi, Ejike Emmanuel, Nonso Oguama, Onimisi Anibasa and Chimezie Onwumere are the lucky consumers who won tickets to watch the match. They all triumphed among thousands of participants in the Heineken ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ promotion that was held during the group

stage of the ongoing season.

The traveling team left Lagos on Monday night aboard Lufthansa Airline and arrived in Frankfurt this morning for a short trip to Munich for the all-important match this evening at the Allianze Arena.

Interestingly, it will be the second time that Heineken consumers will enjoy an allexpenses paid trip to the same stadium for a UEFA Champions League match. Earlier, five lucky consumers of the brand enjoyed the spectacle of FC Chelsea’s triumph of May 2012, when they lifted the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

54 SPORT | INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Milan not scared of Atletico

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d e l T a arabt insists that Milan will not fear Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Taarabt last-16 tie in Spain on Tuesday.

The Serie A outfit have it all to do in the Vicente Calderon after Diego Costa’s late strike at San Siro gave Atletico a crucial advantage heading into the return leg.

But Taarabt, who joined from QPR in January, can see no reason why Milan cannot go and produce the result they need to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

strootman

Guardiola wary of Arsenal threat

Madrid step up Pogba chase

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Their quality is always there to see.

“I know Arsene Wenger well and so do my players. They know what they have to do.

“Arsene works really well with young players and never changes his style. He’s one of the best coaches around.

“It’s a massive game tomorrow so I expect a huge performance from Ozil and the rest of their team.”

Guardiola also praised Kroos and David Alaba, with the former being the subject of speculation over a move away from the club at the end of the season.

“He’s a very good player and has

lots of time to improve,” the Spaniard added.

“He’s played very well this season and I hope that continues.

“David is an unbelievable player.

He has no fear, is disciplined, a team player and plays well in the biggest games.

“In Alaba, Bayern have an outstanding player for the next 10 or even 12 years.”

Kroos, meanwhile, refused to be drawn on talk about his future.

“I’ve read a lot about myself in England but the situation is the same. My decision will be made in the summer,” he said.

Mourinho back City, Arsenal

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ourinho has talked about the possibility of a strong English representation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League because he believes that both Manchester City and Arsenal can qualify despite trailing 2-0 on aggregate against Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively. It has so far been a bad season for English clubs in the Champions League knockout stages, as none have come out from their first leg matches with a win. Manchester United, Arsenal, and City are on

evin Strootman will miss the rest of the season and World Cup with a torn ACL. Both AS Roma and the Dutch national team have received a massive blow, with midfielder Kevin Strootman set to miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. He collapsed in a heap during the giallorossi’s Serie A defeat to Napoli on Sunday, and now faces several months on the sidelines.

The 24-year-old has been an instrumental part in Roma’s revival this season, after joining from Dutch club PSV for €17 million in the summer.

eal Madrid have asked Juventus for a meeting to discuss the possibility of signing Paul Pogba, it’s suggested.

El Confidencial report that Los Blancos have requested to meet with the Bianconeri hierarchy to enquire about the France international.

The former Manchester United youngster has been heavily linked with a switch away from Turin this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain, the Spanish giants and his previous employers all supposedly keen.

Marca claimed over the weekend that Madrid assistant Zinedine Zidane had set his sights of signing Pogba for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

And El Confidencial believe that the wheels have been put in motion to start that process, by asking members of the Juve board to meet.

Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich (right), scoring against Arsenal at the Emirates.

ep Guardiola is wary of the threat that Arsenal will pose to Bayern Munich in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last16 second-leg tie.

Bayern come into the game at the Allianz Arena as strong favourites after goals from Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller earned them a 2-0 advantage in the first leg in London.

Despite that significant lead, Guardiola knows the danger that Arsene Wenger’s side carry, especially Germany international Mesut Ozil.

“Arsenal have lots of good players like Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil,” he said.

“They pass and move very well.

Strootman to miss World Cup with injury

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

the verge of being knocked out after 2-0 defeats.

The possibility of a comeback is made even tougher since both City and Arsenal have to face their opponents away from home in the second leg. Despite this, Mourinho says that the two clubs have an opportunity at the Camp Nou and Allianz Arena.

According to Sky Sports, he said: “Can’t City win in Barcelona? Barcelona lost against Valladolid. And lost at home against Valencia. So, why can’t they win?

Silva rules out PSG exit

“Arsenal, at Bayern, can they win 2-0 and go to extra-time? Difficult. Probably the most difficult, but they can.”

Mourinho was confident about City’s chances ahead of their first leg against Barcelona, but he was made to eat humble pie after the Catalan club dominated the encounter Silva from start to finish. Howhiago Silva is flattered ever, his current predicby fresh reports linking tion is based on Barce- him with Barcelona, but lona’s recent poor run of insists he is happy at Paris form, which has seen them Saint-Germain. conceded their lead in the The PSG captain was la Liga table. high on Barca’s wish-list

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last year without managing to pry him away from the Parc des Princes, but the Catalans could be back in for the Brazil international as it looks to replace departing captain Carles Puyol.

However, Thiago Silva is not looking to leave PSG, with whom he has a contract until 2018.

The 29-year-old former Milan defender told Spanish newspaper Marca: “I feel good, I feel valued by these things that come out in the press.

Iran, Bosnia search for Eagles’ match tapes Emmanuel Tobi

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ootball officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran are leaving no stone unturned in an attempt to stop the Super Eagles of Nigeria when they battle in Group F at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Bosnia and Iran who are Nigeria first two opponents at the football mundial are in search of the Eagles match tapes to have an idea of the pattern of play and the structure of the African champions.

New Telegraph can exclusively report that some spies who were in At-

lanta to keep tabs on Nigeria during the goalless draw with Mexico on March 6, solicited for help from the few Nigerian officials and journalists who covered the encounter.

The spies who disguised as media personnel for the Mexican friendly were very optimistic about their countries’ chances against Nigeria at the World Cup. Ironically, both Bosnia and Iran had on March 5 lost their international friendlies to their African opponents in Egypt and Guinea which ended 2-0 and 2-1 respectively as part of strategies to feel the African brand football being played by Nigeria.

The spying officials who are ready to offer juicy monetary rewards for the match tapes spanning from the World Cup qualifiers to the international friendly against Italy, however left disappointed because nobody was ready to give them the required attention.

“They were very desperate. They approached some journalists at the stadium and also came to the Eagles hotel to meet some officials. They were also asking where they could get the match tapes in the USA.” Mexico and Nigeria played out a goalless draw inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta as part of preparation for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Ghana World Cup Jersey

Nigeria World Cup Jersey

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Nnamdi Oduamadi My best is yet to come. @oduamadi7 Maria Sharapova I love this sport with a passion!! @MariaSharapova Wesley Sneijder The throne belongs to the ones who dare. @sneijder101010

Eagles’ jersey of controversy angers Elegbeleye Mercy Jacob

TNdanusa,Bassey

he controversy over the poor quality and colour of the new Adidas jersey for the Super eagles is still very hot as the Director General

mourn Demola Alli

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lhaji Demola Alli, alias Fireman, and long time serving image maker of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, died on Monday at the age of 83.

Mr Paul Bassey, a member of the Sports Veterans confirmed Alli’s death, saying ‘’He left us this evening (yesterday) after a brief illness.

Also, Dr Kweku A. Tandoh, Director of Sports, Lagos State who described the late ping-ponger as an all-round sports man said that he would be buried today at the Ikoyi Cemetary, Lagos.

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Sani Ndanusa expressed shock at the death of ‘Fireman’ and described him as an all-round sportsman. ‘’His life was all about sports and we pray that God grants him eternal rest,’’ Ndanusa said.

Ideye’s car

Ideye’s working permit stolen in Ukraine

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uper Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, on Sunday in Ukraine lost his working permit to robbers after his car was broken into.

Posting on his twitter handle and Facebook wall, Ideye said; “Some dude broke my car last night and took my bag and wallet with all my credit cards and my Ukraine working permit.”

The striker, currently playing for Ukrainian club, FC Dynamo Kyiv, was not part of the Super Eagles team that played out a goalless draw against Mexico last week in Atlanta, USA.

of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, expressed severe anger over the issue on Monday.

Our correspondent called Elegbeleye severally without success and thereafter sent a text to the NSC DG. The poor colour which does not match the country’s national colours is a major issue while it was also learnt that Adidas has accepted to change the lemon to army green.

The red numbering will also be

changed to green.

Elegbeleye told our correspondent on the telephone that he was not bothered about the controversy over the jersey.

“I am not in the NFF. So who will quote me wrongly? In fact I don’t want to say anything again about it,” he said in a harsh tone.

The NFF and the German based manufacturers have been heavily criticized since the jersey was inaugurated shortly before the friendly match between Nigeria and Mexico.

Fabrice Muamba The feeling you have after speaking to your mother is priceless. @fmuamba Brown Ideye Coming out from a restaurant and i saw this. Some dude broke my car and took my bag with all my document in it. lSuper Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, posts a picture of his car, along with its smashed window, after he was robbed in Ukraine. @OfficialIdeye Earvin Magic Johnson There’s no team more fun to watch than the Heat and no player more fun to watch than LeBron James. @MagicJohnson Daniel Sturridge Who God blesses, no man curses. @D_Sturridge

NFF laments N829.9m World Cup budget deficit l Confirms NT’s exclusive story on special budget l To pay Eagles $10,000 bonus

Jude Opara

Abuja

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he Nigeria Football Federation has decried the budget deficit of a whopping N829.9 million from its budget for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, even as the football house appealed to the National Assembly to intervene in the budget which it argued will enable the national team prepare adequately for the global soccer fiesta.

The NFF made the appeal yesterday in Abuja while making its budget defence before the House of Representatives’ Sports Committee.

The budget will cover the payment of allowances to the Super Eagles players and their officials including winning bonuses up to the quarter finals stage as well as accommodation and other sundry expenses.

The NFF had budget N2,084,053,765 (Two billion, eighty- four million, fiftythree thousand, seven hundred and sixty five naira) for the preparation and participation of the Super Eagles at the World Cup. The General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, who led a team of the federation’s management staff to the National Assembly regretted that with the amount of money approved by the government, the NFF will be running into a budget deficit of about N829,893,436 (Eight hundred and twenty-nine million, eight hundred and ninety three thousand, four hundred and thirty six naira).

He therefore appealed to the lawmakers to intervene to enable the national team be well motivated at the global soccer showcase.

Meanwhile, a point by point breakdown of the budget indicates that the NFF has reverted back to the earlier $10,000 as

Emenike (left) against a Mexican player

match bonus for the Super Eagles in the group stages of the World Cup while each of the players will also pocket $12,500 and $15,000 if they qualify for the round of sixteen and the quarterfinals respectively.

This was a confirmation of the exclusive story reported by New Telegraph on Sunday titled; “Brazil 2014: Presidency lifts Eagles with special bonus.”

Also the Head Coach, Stephen Keshi,

will earn $20,000 winning bonus at the group stage, while his three assistants will receive $15,000 each. For the other stages of the championship, Keshi’s winning bonus will be raised to $22,500 and $25,00 if the team progresses to the round of sixteen and quarterfinals stage respectively, just as his three assistants will smile home with a 25 percent increase of their bonus.

“There will be a shortfall in this world cup budget to the tune of N829, 839,436 and the way we look at it, this amount the government is bringing N1.2b will only take the Super Eagles to the round of 16 match in terms of the bonuses to paid, air ticket, estacodes, preparation and the rest of it” Amadu said.

Reacting to the request made by the NFF, a member of the committee, Hon. Mohammed Wudil, said that the NFF has done well in the past one year and deserved all the support, even as he charged the federation to endeavour to make judicious use of the revenue it generated from both winning the 2013 AFCON and FIFA grant for participating teams to make up for the budget deficit.

World Indoor: Yusuf Alli plays down Nigeria’s failure C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

“Look at the athletes that went for the championship, were they our top athletes?

Also you have to look at the athletes preference, some athletes prefer outdoor games to indoor and they perform better when they are competing outdoors.

“Those that went now knows where they stand and can easily improve on their performances. But to me, it has nothing to do with any other competition especially the Glasgow 2014 coming up in July,” he said.

Alli added that; “During our time, most

of us doesn’t go for indoor games as we perform better during outdoor games.”

In the 4x400 m women, the quartet of Omolara Omotoso, Folasade Abugan, Bukola Abogunloko and Patience OkonGeorge came last in the final returning in time of 3:31.59. USA, Jamaica and Great Britain came first, second and third with a time of 3:24.83, 3:26.54 and 3:27.90 respectively.

The men’s 4x400m relay team, despite posting a new African indoor record of 3:07.95, did not qualify from the preliminary stage on Saturday.

On Marble

World Record

There is a sacredness in tears. They are the not mark of weakness, but of power.

They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.

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

- Washington Irving

TUESday, MARCH 11, 2014.

RESPECT With women proving their mettle, they could do with more recognition

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Women’s empowerment and the frontlines of Nigeria’ global ascendancy

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n March 8th, the world celebrated “International Women’s Day”. This occasion has been observed since the early 1900s, originally tabled in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, a German Social Democrat, during a transnational conference on women’s rights in Copenhagen. Over the weekend and in to the days that followed, we together took time to acknowledge not only the arduous climb of the gender towards socioeconomic equality but indeed the pivotal role women’s empowerment plays to our collective modernity and, intriguingly, to Nigeria’s near-assured ascendancy to the forefront of global markets.

At face value, the battle for parity has been seemingly never-ending.

Women today own only 1% of titled land in the world. Nearly 70% of the 1.2 billion people living in dire poverty are women and children. The terms of employment themselves for women remain an outstanding issue, where their particular jobs in the workplace tend to be more insecure and aren’t necessarily slated as long-term. This degree of discombobulating in the market can cause uneven salary intake and further the notion of an all too familiar “glass ceiling”.

And the imbalances have been visible in the political realm as well, to no immediate fault of any particular sect or executive branch. For example, the World Bank reports that in 2013, the proportion of seats held by women in Nigeria’s national parliament equated to roughly 7%, an unambitious statistic, to say the least.

What is undeniably clear, as eloquently stated by Sophie Preuss of Adam Smith International, in fact when commemorating International Women’s Day, is that tragically, scarcity continues to have a female face. Emergent economies, and specifically those stewards within the budding ECOWAS, can no longer ignore this.

Nigerian prosperity can truly come to fruition, both virtuously and indeed economically, in-part by enabling the true potential of women in the workforce to be unlocked.

We understand the critical role gender empowerment can play towards amplifying the output, productivity, market value and overall reputation of a given nation in contemporary geopol-

N150

Fastest 100 metre hurdles wearing swim fins (male) is 14.82 seconds and was acheived by Christopher Irmscher (Germany) on the set of Guinness World Records - Die Grössten Weltrekorde in Cologne, Germany, on 13 September 2008.

World View SAM AMSTERDAM

Okonjo-Iweala

itics and in ever-globalizing markets.

And so we turn to inspiring figures to applaud their individual stories of success and respective stewardships, each helping to bring about an equality-driven, transformative and lasting degree of development to countries such as Nigeria.

No doubt Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has gar-

nered domestic and worldwide admiration alike for serving as an accredited fiscal captain, steering Nigeria’s economy to the acronym-oriented forefront of the M.I.N.T. (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey) emerging marketplaces.

I personally commend her recent position to reduce import tariffs on rice and thus encouraging legal importation and simultaneously checking an underlying economic impediment of commodity smuggling.

This is but the latest indicator of progress undertaken by Minister Okonjo-Iweala in a series of innovations executed during her unprecedented legacy. From her tenure at the World Bank to her cemented position as an economist of the highest regard in Nigeria, truly her career is proof positive of not only the nation’s global offering but it’s undeterred dedication to achieving equality in all it’s forms.

We also laud the efforts of First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and President of the “African First Ladies Peace Mission”, Dame (Dr.) Patience Faka Jonathan, who has long advocated for women’s rights. In honoring International Women’s Day, she notably stated that “the time has come to further strengthen and broaden the opportunities available [to women] for

Nigerian prosperity can truly come to fruition, both virtuously and indeed economically, inpart by enabling the true potential of women in the workforce to be unlocked rapid national transformation”.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Jonathan however cautioned that the day should also serve as a reminder that much more needs to be accomplished in order to overcome the “…discrimination, challenges and barriers that confront women simply because of their gender”.

Indeed, it is not enough to merely celebrate our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters on the 8th of March.

We must solemnly continue our efforts to ensure ours is a globalizing society of mutual understanding and respect.

We must recognize that the brightest and best of the next generation should be on equal footing and will together serve as proponents of Nigeria’s economic transformation and dynamic ascendancy.

OmoBaba

I’M NOT AFRAID OF BOKO HARAM - Buhari

- Yes, that’s why he’s a General!

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