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Friday, July 11, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 143

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Senate rejects call to remove fuel subsidy

lAdopts committee report on $49.8bn unremitted oil funds lOrders NNPC to refund $218m Chukwu David Abuja

Senate yesterday reThejected a recommenda-

tion by its Committee on Finance, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, which investigated the alleged unremitted $49.8 billion from

oil sale proceeds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the removal of fuel subsidy.

It also ordered the oil

corporation to refund to the Federation Account $218.069 million being the share of the federation from third party financing

agreement it did not remit.

The Senate, while adopting the report of the committee, upheld its recommendation that NNPC

failed to remit the sum to the Federation Account.

The committee was saddled with the task followCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Army court-martials 18 soldiers for mutiny

lUN adopts new strategy to tackle Boko Haram

Emmanuel Onani and Anule Emmanuel

T

he Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Mininah, has ordered the court-martial of over 18 soldiers deployed in Borno State to prosecute the counter-insurgency war, for mutiny and other “administrative operational offences.”

The errant soldiers, according to military sources, were involved in an attempted mutiny against the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maj. Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed.

The sources, who spoke separately with New Telegraph, said apart from the alleged mutinous soldiers, the army headquarters CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

L-R: Former Managing-Director, Daily Times Plc, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; guest speaker, Prof. Pat Utomi and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, at the 80th birthday of former Managing Director, Champion Newspapers, Henry Odukomaiya, in Lagos…yesterday

Impeachment: Nyako, lawmakers close to deal lAgain, panel shifts sitting venue Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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eprieve may be underway for beleaguered Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, as he moved towards resolving

his differences with lawmakers who have initiated a process to remove him from office.

The governor, it was learnt yesterday, met in Abuja on Wednesday be-

hind closed doors with the lawmakers, who were led by the Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

At the meeting, according to a source, the two parties had negotiated on

how to resolve the crisis of confidence that degenerated to the bid by the lawmakers to impeach the governor and were close to resolving their differences.

Notwithstanding the rapprochement between the feuding parties, the seven-man panel set up to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Mr. Bala James Ngilari, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Court restrains AMCON, AGF from tampering with Ibru’s assets } LAGOS

Storms

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Jonathan picks Chidoka to replace Oduah in cabinet

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Borno mutiny: Army tries over 18 soldiers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

had also ordered the courtmartial of some soldiers who had over time allegedly sabotaged the ongoing terror war by releasing intelligence, operational and surveillance information to Boko Haram members.

One of the sources, while reacting to a report by an online newspaper, Premium Times, said: “Yes, but there is more to the reference you made.

“The Defence Headquarters and army authorities are trying more than 18 soldiers, via a court-martial.

“There is a court-martial involving soldiers, with many glaring administrative and operational offences, which the 18 earlier referenced are part of.

“You will recall that most of our well-planned operations against the insurgent group in Borno and Yobe ran into some minor fatalities owing largely to sabotage on the part of some of our soldiers.

“This is a cleansing exercise and we are determined to see it through.”

Although the sources declined to name the soldiers being tried for mutiny and other offences, Premium Times in its report yesterday had identified 18

of them.

According to the report, the 18 on try for mutiny with their service numbers are: “96NA/ 42/6235 Cpl Jasper Braidolor, 96NA/ 43/ 10277 Cpl David Musa, 05NA/ 57/ 3451 LCpl Friday Onun, 09NA/ 64/ 4905 LCpl Yusuf Shuaibu, 09NA/ 62/ 1648 LCpl Igono Emmanuel, 09NA/ 64/ 4214 Pte Andrew Ngbede, 10NA/ 65/ 8344 Pte Nurudeen Ahmed, 10NA/ 65/ 7084 Pte Ifeanyi Alukhagbe, 13NA/ 69/ 2898 Pte Alao Samuel, 13NA/ 69/ 2907 Pte Amadi Chukwudi and 13NA/ 69/ 2898 Pte Allan Linus.

Others are: 93NA/ 36/ 1542 Cpl David Luhbut, 97NA/ 45/ 7423 Cpl Muhammed Sani, 03NA/ 53/

816 Lcpl Stephen Clement, 09NA/ 62/ 1648 Inama Samuel, 09NA/ 64/ 5858 Iseh Ubong, 10NA/ 65/ 6912 Ichocho Jeremiah and 10NA/ 65/ 7343 Sabastine Gwaba.

The soldiers had on May 14 in Maiduguri, opened fire on a car carrying the GOC. According to the report, an internal memo by the Commander, Army Headquarter Garrison, B.T. Ndiomu, had ordered the constitution of a general court-martial, to be presided by Brigadier-General C.C Okonkwo.

Members of the courtmartial comprises seven members, two waiting members, a judge advocate and two prosecuting

officers.

Others include a liaison officer, a contact officer, two officers authorised to sign any amendment convening officer and eight other soldiers who form a court secretariat.

Among others, the soldiers face a six-count charge of committing mutiny, criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, attempted murder, disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour contrary to and punishable under the law, and false accusation.

If convicted, the accused, in line with the Armed Forces Act face death, imprisonment and dismissal, among others.

Meanwhile, the United

Nations has adopted a new strategy to assist the Federal Government in curbing the excesses of Boko Haram whose activities have claimed led to the death of about 15,000 people in the last five years.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, said yesterday at the opening of the 45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra that the strategy known as an integrated support package, was targeted to complement ongoing efforts of government.

He expressed satisfaction with the support of CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

31oC 23oC

27o C 21oC Thunder Storms

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35oC 23oC Partially Cloudy

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IBADAN

29o C 21oC Thunder Storms

CALABAR

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MAIDUGURI

36oC 25oC Partially Cloudy

ONITSHA

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Commodity Exchange, Mr. Yusuf Abdurrahim; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Director-General Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh, at the inauguration of Electronic Warehouse Receipt System in Abuja…yesterday

Nyako, lawmakers close to deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

31o C 23oC

30o C 23oC Isolated Storms

AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

Partially Cloudy

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FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

continued sitting yesterday.

But the panel had to shift the venue for its sitting from the secretariat of the state chapter of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), which like the hotel where it held its inaugural sitting, ejected the panel.

The governor, who has been away in Abuja for about one week, on arrival in Yola, the state capital, yesterday, inaugurated administrators for 36 development areas that were earlier rejected by the governor.

Nyako’s alleged refusal to endorse the list of the administrators was part

of the dispute he had with the lawmakers which later degenerated to the impeachment move against him, as they accused the governor of not carrying them along in running the state.

The swearing-in of the administrators, it was gathered, was part of the deal reached at the Abuja meeting to resolve the lingering crisis between the lawmakers and the governor.

Nyako also used the opportunity of the inauguration of the administrators to reward some of his supporters who stood behind him in his trying moments.

He announced the appointment of the Secre-

tary of state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peneas Elisha, whose name was earlier rejected by the lawmakers as a commissioner-nominee as the Senior Special Adviser on Government Affairs.

The appointment of Elisha was seen as a subtle move by the governor to reduce the overbearing influence of his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdurrahaman Abbah Jimeta.

However, following its ejection from the state secretariat of MHWUN, the probe panel has shifted its sitting to the conference hall of the Federal Secretariat, Yola.

It was learnt that officials of the union, includ-

ing its Chairman, Mr. Jeremiah Nkyekwar, ejected the panel because they were not duly consulted before it began using the facility.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers behind the bid to impeach the governor have fallen into trouble with their constituents.

Among those affected were lawmakers representing Girei constituency Dr Abubakar Umar; Abubakar Umar (Mubi North) Hassan Kaigama (Maiha).

It was gathered that the constituents rejected Ramadan gifts from the lawmakers to protest their involvement in the plot to impeach Nyako and Ngilari.

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

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Jonathan picks Chidoka to replace Oduah in cabinet Chukwu David Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded to the Senate the name of

Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka, for confirmation as minister.

He also nominated Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, a lec-

turer at the University of Abuja, to represent Kwara in the cabinet.

Chidoka, from Anambra State, will replace former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah,

who was dropped from the cabinet following criticisms over the procurement of two BMW bulletproof cars, valued at N255 million for her use, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (left), presenting a plaque to the New Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassaddor Gu Xiaojie, during a courtesy visit to Gu Xiaojie, at the Chinese Embassy, Abuja…on Tuesday

Court restrains AMCON, AGF from tampering with Ibru’s assets Tunde Oyesina Abuja

A

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday restrained the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from further tampering with the assets and properties of Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria allegedly taken over by AMCON. Justice A.R Mohammed gave the order while ruling in a suit by former Managing Director of the now defunct Oceanic Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru.

Ibru, through her counsel, Ted IseghohiEdwards, had told the court that the AGF and AMCON were tampering with Aero Contractor’s assets and operations in a way likely to ground it.

He further told the court that despite the pendency of a suit by Ibru and five others, accusing the AGF and AMCON of acting outside the plea bargain agreement she entered with the Federal Government on her conviction in October 2010, the defendants had moved into the aviation firm and taken steps to ground it.

The plaintiff ’s counsel, who prayed the court to

order parties to maintain the status quo and allow things to remain as they were as at the time of filing the suit, argued that should the court allow the defendants to carry on the way they were going, the res would have been destroyed and there would be nothing left to protect.

AMCON’s counsel , Abayomi Okubote, had argued that his client acted within its powers under the AMCON Act and by virtue of a November 12, 2013 order by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Lagos division of the court, Justice Mohammed held that there was no evidence that Aero

Contractors formed part of Ibru’s assets covered by the order.

Justice Mohammed, who ordered parties to the suit to maintain status quo pending the next adjourned date of September 17, held that since his earlier order that the defendants should come and show cause why the interlocutory injunctions sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted still subsists, it was wrong for the defendants to take further steps in the case.

Apart from Ibru, other plaintiffs in the suit are Sidochem Industries Ltd., Edgar Sido and Dr. Francis Sido.

Alleged Boko Haram link: APC warns FG against frame-up Lateef Ibrahim and Biodun Oyeleye

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he All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday warned the Federal Government not to seize the opportunity of the security challenges facing the country to frame up opposition members.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while briefing reporters in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area

of Kwara State, decried the comments attributed to the National Information Office (NIO) that security agents, during a raid an enclave of Boko Haram, found cards belonging to a political party, which it failed to name.

His warning came just as BringBackOurGirls, the group campaigning for the quick rescue of over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April from Chibok also warned security agents

against embarking on a campaign of calumny against the group.

The party said given the way the Federal Government had been labelling the opposition party as sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgency, it did not require much effort to know that the claim was an attempt to frame the opposition.

Also reacting to allegations by the Department of States Security (DSS) that it was supporting terrorism,

the BringBackOurGirls group yesterday decried DSS’ claim that it is a franchise.

It described the tag as “a dangerous and unprecedented attack.”

The group, in a statement signed by its Coordinators, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, in Abuja, said the term franchise, as is well known in security circles, was used to refer to interrelated terrorist cells.

Authority (NCAA).

On his part, Abubakar will fill the slot of Kwara State, which became vacant following the removal of former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

The nomination of Chidoka, whose second tenure as head of Nigeria’s road safety agency ends in June 2015, brings to an end controversy over who will represent Anambra State in the cabinet.

Stakeholders from the state have been at loggerheads following the report that the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was being touted to replace Oduah.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had kicked against the recommendation of Obi by the leadership of the party in the state.

The nomination of the Corps Marshall and Abubakar was contained in a letter Jonathan wrote to the Senate, which was read at plenary by Senate President David Mark.

Similarly, Jonathan forwarded for confirmation, the name of the acting Director-General, National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, as the substantive head of the agency.

The president also forwarded the name of Mr

Ebenezer Fobi for appointment as a commissioner representing the SouthSouth in PENCOM. The Pension Reform Act provides that the commission shall comprise a part-time chairman, a director-general, four commissioners and seven part time members.

The Act also provides that the appointment of the chairman, the director-general and other members of the commission, other ex-officio members, shall be made by the president subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Jonathan said the request was in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004, following the expiration of the term of the acting director-general and the commissioner representing South-South.

“In line with the provisions of Pension Reform Act 2004, I present the nomination of Mrs Chinelo Anoha-Amazu and Mr Ebenezer Fobi as a Director-General and Commissioner respectively in the National Pension Commission for the kind consideration and confirmation by the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is my hope that the request would receive the usual expeditious consideration and confirmation of the distinguished senators,” Jonathan said.

Borno mutiny: Army tries over 18 soldiers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

sub-regional body to the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the Boko Haram scourge.

The UN representative explained that the current support from ECOWAS was also a reflection of the solidarity of the countries of the region and their legitimate concern about the spread of violent extremism.

“The United Nations has adopted an integrated support package to complement Nigeria’s efforts, since we are convinced that only a multi-dimensional approach can bring lasting solution to the crisis.

“Out primary and immediate concern is the plight of children, including in particular those that are being held in captivity by the terrorists, Boko Haram group as well as the fate of the civilian population in the North-East,

where human rights and humanitarian conditions are distressing,” he added.

The Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS promised that they would not rest on their oars to support Nigeria in curbing the excesses of Boko Haram.

President of Ghana and current chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, in his welcome remarks, commended the establishment of peace operations in Cameroun and Chad to defeat Boko Haram.

He said great opportunities lie ahead of the region for creating prosperous life for citizens but only when its leaders could achieve peace and security.

On the Ebola threats in the sub-region, Mahama expressed concern over the spread of the virus and called for concerted efforts to tackle it.

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Again, confab adjourns abruptly over resource control Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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roceedings at the National Conference were again cut short yesterday following a stalemate in the discussions of the 18-member Consensus Committee, which has been meeting in the last three days to fashion out a common position on resource control and an acceptable derivation formula.

The adjournment came amidst recriminations between the committee members on who was responsible for the deadlock in the deliberations of the Consensus Committee.

Co-Chairman of the Committee on Devolution of Power and Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, led other Northern delegates in rejecting the report and accused Chief Raymond Dokpesi and other Southern delegates of presenting the wrong report. In response, Dokpesi, Chief Olu Falae, Col Tony Nyam and Chief Sergeant Awuse all from the South accused Prof. ibrahim Gambari and other Northern delegates of acting in bad faith and misrepresenting the decision of the consensus committee.

In the midst of this confusion, Chairman of the

conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, announced that given the inability of the consensus group to resolve their differences, the principal officers of the conference will have to meet with the ad hoc committee of 50 wise men, the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 20 standing committees of the conference and the consensus committee to break the deadlock.

This expanded intervention meeting will hold today.

The conference had adjourned abruptly on Wednesday when a report

from the Consensus Committee provoked protests among delegates who were aggrieved that the report presented to the plenary was not a true reflection of what was agreed upon.

At the point of adjournment on Wednesday, the consensus committee was given 24 hours to iron out their differences and to present a harmonised report.

However, it almost turned out an endless wait as the committee could not conclude its deliberations after several hours.

When it finally did, a

fresh round of protest began as a member of the Consensus Committee and delegate from Jigawa State, Dr. Bashir Dalhattu raised a point of objection to the document submitted

by Dokpesi, one of the leaders of the committee.

Before the objection, Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, had made moves to commence the consideration of what was thought to be the harmonised report of the consensus committee on derivation.

In raising his objection,

Dalhatu argued that he and some others did not sign the report submitted to the conference because the content of the new document was different from what was originally agreed upon by the committee.

He asked that the committee be given some more time to resolve the outstanding issues.

On this objection, Akinyemi ruled that the conference would adjourn for one hour to enable the committee harmonise the report. But again, it turned out to be another fruitless wait as members

of the consensus committee failed to return within the stipulated time, triggering protests from other delegates .

Earlier, the conference had considered the recommendations of the Committee on Devolution of Power as it relates to the Legislative List. The delegates voted in favour of keeping mines and minerals, banks , banking, exchange control bills of exchange, legal tender and promissory note as well as finger prints and prisons on the Exclusive Legislative List.

L-R: President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; President Goodluck Jonathan; President Alasane Ouattarra of Cote D’ivoire and President Ibrahim Keita of Mali, at the 45th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana …yesterday

Senate adopts report on $49.8bn unremitted oil funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing allegations by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that NNPC had not been diligent in remitting to the Federation Account proceeds from the sale of crude oil.

The committee, among others, was asked to verify how much was outstanding in view of the various figures bandied by Lamido.

However, while considering the 73-page report, the Senate unanimously rejected the recommendation that the Federal Government should remove fuel subsidy because of the alleged misapplication of billions of dollars being voted annually for the scheme.

It also directed that inter-agencies reconciliation meetings between institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, NNPC, CBN and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should be done regularly to block potential problems emanating from such communication gap.

It said such regular

meetings among sensitive economic institutions would prevent a recurrence of a situation that gave rumour for controversy over remittances to the Federation Account by agencies of government and ensure that all revenues were properly and legally accounted for.

The Senate however, rejected the committee proposal to accept the N813.8 billion subsidy deductions by the NNPC from January 2012 to July 2013, since it was certified by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and appropriated for by the National Assembly.

But it accepted the N180 billion deducted by NNPC as subsidy for the fourth quarter of 2011, which was also certified by the PPPRA and appropriated by the National Assembly.

The Senate advised NNPC to stop paying its’ operational expenditures directly from funds accruing to the federation without appropriation by the National Assembly.

It asked the oil corpora-

tion to strictly adhere to international best practices in keeping records.

The Senate further cautioned that NNPC should not control the revenue account of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) so as not to undermine its separate legal status and make accountability more difficult.

Besides, it urged the NNPC to ensure due process and diligence in its operations just as it stressed the need for the expeditious passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law so as avoid the mistakes of the past.

Senate President David Mark, in his remarks, commended the committee for presenting a courageous report based on the facts that were presented to it, stressing that members were forthright by paying attention to details in the course of their assignment.

He said: “At the inception of the 7th Senate, I did say emphatically that there is no issue in this country that we cannot discuss as respected and

distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If we have the courage to set up a committee, nothing will stop us from taking the report of that committee and nothing will be swept under the carpet in this Red Chamber.

“I think what is glaringly from this report is that we are all guilty. If the committees expected to carry out oversight functions on the NNPC were doing their job very well, we wouldn’t have needed the governor of Central Bank to ring an alarm bell before reacting.

“Whether the alarm is genuine or not, is another matter. The executive may have good reasons but the legislature obviously does not have reasons not to find out. Let me appeal to the various committees to endeavour to do their work.

“Facts are different from rumours and what we have before us are the facts based on the interview conducted by the committee on public hearing and on all the documents that they could put

together.

“One thing is very obvious, due process has not been followed and they have stated so very clearly.”

On resolution of the Senate not being adhered to, Mark blamed the legislature for that, saying that the Senate has a task to enact a law that will enforce compliance to its resolutions by the executive.

“We would have to be supported by two-thirds majority. If we have to do so, we have to enact a law that would make a resolution binding; it is not something that could be done by voice vote.

“Whether it is funds yet to be remitted, funds yet to be reconciled or funds yet unaccounted for or missing, I think we should not play politics with it because if we described it as missing or unaccounted for, the issue is that there is a reconciliation going on.

“When you outright said it is missing, then you have concluded. The point I am trying to make is that we should not con-

clude when the process of reconciliation is still ongoing,” he stated.

On fuel subsidy, Mark appealed to his colleagues not to do or say anything that would pit themselves against public opinion.

“If subsidy has to be removed, there must be public enlightenment and education so that facts would be made available to the people and then public opinion at the end of the day will count.

“If we sit here now and say remove subsidy, I think those who are benefitting from subsidy are very powerful and tomorrow they would influence media report and twist it to create an impression that the Senate is antipeople.

“If the subsidy has to go, I don’t have problems with that but let us sensitise the people over it for a very long period of time so that everybody will be carried along and everybody will be on board and then, we can take a final decision on the issue of subsidy because the recommendations are farreaching,” he added.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

2600 days in Office: ENLARGING THE FRONTIERS OF EXCELLENCE IN LAGOS

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espite seven years of relentless stewardship, the present administration in the state of excellence, remains unwavering in its drive to make the state the envy of others and Lagos, Africa’s model mega city.

Just recently, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said Lagosians would continue to receive prompt response to the needs of Lagosians, with the assurance that his administration would serve the people with creativity and vigour until its last day on May 29, next year.“For me, it is work in progress. It will always be better. We are not relenting in our efforts. We are not relenting in our commitment. We are going to push it right to the wire.”

Government has equally completed the 4-kilometer Ago Palace Way in Isolo. The road, built with service ducts to prevent cutting, street lights and walkway, experienced delay in delivery because a lot of engineering work and urban planning were needed in order to design a proper transport solution in the Ago –Palace axis, since the road is situated in a densely populated area of the state.

Similarly, work is advancing on the Ejigbo-Isheri Oshun-Ijegun road and bridges. The bridges, which connect Ejigbo LCDA and Igando-Ikotun LCDA, when completed, would significantly reduce journey time. In Ijegun and in Ijedodo, as part of the plans to link Ejigbo to the other parts of Alimosho, Pipeline, Aboru and other adjoining areas, the State Government has invested huge sums of money in view of the swampy nature of the place. Construction process has been gruelling, as road length is six kilometres and about 1.2 km of bridge network.

Within the past 100 days, several inner roads have been handed over to various communities across the state.

Government has equally continued the relentless pursuit of its housing programme through the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS), with two hundred and thirty five ( 235 ) winners emerging from public draws. At first edition of the public draw at the Blue Roof Hall of LTV8 in Agidingbi, Ikeja, 31 successful winners emerged , the second edition produced 36, the third 76 people and the fourth draw 92 proud home owners. The scheme, aimed at providing residents the opportunity to own their own homes and pay under a period of 10 years, has challengedgovernment to embark on massive housing construction to meet the objectives of the scheme. This led to the development of houses in Ikorodu, Ogba, Epe, Badagry, Lekki, Agege, Alimosho, for people to have choices on where they wish to reside. To ensure that more people benefit from the scheme , the government has released the whooping sum of N2 billion, as mobilization to fresh contractors to new estate sites. The present administration in the state, has been working assiduously, to deliver on the five - unit Lagos HOMS at Olu-Aina, Mushin, with total of 60 flats consisting of one, three and four-bedroom flats. The Olu-Aina Lagos HOMS is more than 60 percent completed. In addition, a new Lagos HOMS site on Dibor Way, Isolo is on going. The scheme has benefited 134 construction companies, 459 sub-contractors, employing over 1,168 persons, seven consultancy companies and 5,442 suppliers, artisans, labourers and numerous citizens who are employed in the supply chain of sand, gravel, wood and fittings, as well as food vendors and transport.

In pursuit of its environmental regeneration programme, Governor Fashola recently commissioned and named another newly built recreational park after a former Military Administrator of the state, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu. The park, situated in Alausa, is to enhance the greening culture, andoccupies approximately a total land area of 17,195 square meters with facilities such as ornamental plants, palms, garden seats, trees of various types, including fruits producing tree, rotunda, garden lights, gazebo with seats, multipurpose court, children playing ground, irrigation facilities, toilet facilities, walkways and parking area that can accommodate a minimum of 40 cars.

In continuation of its quest for safety, particularly on the waterways, 2000 life jackets were distributed to operators in the water transportation sector in Ebute Ojo. The goal is to ensure safety on the waterways by ensuring that passengers who board canoes, ferries or outboard motorboats, do so by putting on life jackets before boarding. This it believes, will reduce incidents of boat mishaps.

In furtherance of the need to ensure effective security of its citizenry, especially in the face of security challenges across the country, 100 Hilux patrol vans, 150 motorbikes and five mobile cells, were handed over to the State Police command. The intention of the administration is to replace the vehicles every three years in the hope that those who use them will have the first right of purchase. LASACO Assurance Plc, in appreciation of government’s efforts in protecting lives and property of the electorate, made a donation of N10 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

The state also hosted the maiden edition of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games for South West Secondary Schools. It is aimed at strengthening the bond of friendship among south west states. The state as expected, emerged the winner of the event. Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States participated at the epoch games.

Artisans in the state received continuous assurance of patronage and support by the government. At the annual artisans, week Governor BabatundeFashola told the artisans to document their activities,

Babatunde Fashola

Executive Governor, Lagos State

in order to be seen in corporate light and attract financial support. He urged them to open business registers and reconcile their accounts, so that financial institutions would be able to assess their operations and give necessary support. He also said they were eligible to participate in the Lagos HOMS scheme, but they first have to streamline their accounts, for them to convince the government of their ability to pay their mortgage.

An Inter-religious faith conference was organized to sustain existing peace and tranquility reigning in the state. Addressing leaders of the Christian and Moslem faith, who had turned Golden Hotel, Festac Town, venue of the conference to a religious Mecca, Governor Fashola said the gathering was designed to respond to security challenges facing the country, as well as the need to consistently work towards the sustenance of peace and harmony, by mapping out means of sustaining inter-religious peace in the state. He advised that as much as possible, they should avoid religious debates because of its logical sequence. He equally told the leaders to be wary of those who have turned religion to business and implored them to ensue restraint while on the pulpit, as their utterances are powerful and could lead to unplanned consequences by their followers.

Living up to one of the tenets of democracy, transparency and accountability, the State Government opened another milestone in its open government stance, as it documented landmarks attained in the historic Lagos Eko Project, for which government obtained a $90 million (₦13.5 billion) World Bank Education loan. Rending account on the utilization of the funds at the book launch titled, “Lagos Eko Project (2009-2013): A Legacy of Excellence’ at Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, Governor BabatundeFashola ( SAN), recalled how his administration judiciously utilized the $90 million (₦ 13.5 billion) World Bank Education loans his government procured in 2009. He stated that the loan obtained to fund teaching and learning infrastructure has achieved its purpose, as witnessed by significant improvement in student’s performance in the state. He expressed delight at the progress the state has made in performance at public examinations, stressing that from a 7% score in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, the state has moved up to 41℅ performance. He, therefore, challenged teachers to work towards achieving 61% performance in the nearest future. He stated that in order to ensure effective management of public schools and end the era of broken windows and louvers, no chalks, etc., government decided that schools should take over the management of their institutions with funds made available directly to such schools. The Governor gave the assurance that payment of direct grants to schools will remain firmly in the state, even after the World Bank project has gone because the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget has been told to incorporate this into the state’s annual budgeting system.

The State Scholarship Board has announced the payment of bursary awards to indigenes of the state studying at the Law School and Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa Ibom State. This is an on going development aimed at relieving parents and guardians of expenses on education.

A Land Use Charge Assessment Appeal Tribunal to ensure that no

property owner is unduly charged, was equally inaugurated, in line with Section 12 of the Land Use Charge Law of 2011. The 15-member tribunal is an opportunity for aggrieved citizens to make formal complaints, express their fundamental rights and have free access to justice. According to government, the tribunal came about as a result of the need to adjudicate on appeals received from citizens who feel aggrieved by the land use charge law. The tribunal is designed to mediate between the state’s Land Registry and property owners on land use charge and assessment. It is also empowered to sit over appeals by any person aggrieved by the decision that a property which he owns is a chargeable property, or that he is liable to pay land use charge in respect of such property or any calculation of an amount which he is liable to pay as land use charge.

The Health Facility Management and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), organized the maiden Professional Healthcare Regulators forum on the importance of a coordinated approach to the regulation of healthcare professionals operating in the state’s health sector.

The event was attended by representatives of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMC), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Traditional Medicine Board (TMB), Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board (MRTB), Optometrist and Dispensary Optician Registration Board and Radiographer’s Board among others. Government said it was resolute in its plans to resolve conflicts affecting healthcare professional regulatory bodies operating in the state, so that all will work in harmony to regulate the various aspects of healthcare, especially where their functions overlap. It urged them not to exceed their jurisprudence but stay within their designated roles to avoid intrusion into responsibilities of other professional bodies. It equally explained that the registration of medical health professionals with HEFAMAA was not only necessary, but mandatory, as the primary purpose of regulation was to the eradication of quackery in the healthcare sector. The agency also organized the 4thedition of its grassroots town hall meeting in Epe. The meeting was conceived as a one-stop solution by HEFAMAA to stop quackery in all ramifications in the state’s health sector through grassroots sensitization rotating through all Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the state.

The grassroots meetings which started last year at Isolo Local Council Development Area, has been held in Ejigbo LCDA, Ikorodu Local Government and most recently, Epe Local Government. Chairman, HEFAMAA Board, Dr. Omotayo Bello, said in order to smoothen access and elicit quick response to reports of that perpetuating quackery and suspicious healthcare operators, members of the public should contact it via text messages directly to numbers of senior government functionaries printed on the back page of the HEFAMAA handbook distributed at the venue of meetings. They include those of the of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. YewandeAdesina - 08055329229, Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. JGG Asuni, 08023513345, 08181194707 or Chairman HEFAMAA Board, Dr. Bello on 08037164984, 08074079350. He gave the assurance that information received will be treated with absolute confidentiality.

The State Government also inaugurated a Joint Planning and Budget Finance Management Committee to improve the synergy between the State Government and Local Governments in the implementation of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2012-2025). Inaugurating the committee in Ikeja, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, noted that in order to effectively move forward, development plans of the various LGs/LCDAs will be designed in consonance with the State Development Plan as it affects them. He said it will remove the risk of working at cross purposes or duplicating efforts on projects, a development that has led to waste of human and material resources. The terms of reference of the include up scaling the planning reform process at the LGs/LGDAs, development plans are in conformity with the state’s vision through the writing process used by the LGs/LCDAs; formulate the structure and coordinate functions of the Local Government Planning Team (LGPTs) for each of the LGs/LGDAs; ensure the Local Government Teams (LGPTs) are formed and functional in all the LGs/LGDAs, in addition to providing technical support for the implementation and institutionalization of the planning reform process. A Technical Working Group (TWG) to work on detailed strategies that will ensure successful transformation of the planning process at the LGs/LGDAs level, was also inaugurated.

It would be technically responsible for writing the Local Government Development Plan (LGDP), Medium Term Plans and develop the annual budget for each LGA/LCDA in the state. The joint planning and budget committee unlike what was obtainable during the Military era when budgets of states and local governments were subjected to the approval of the Federal and State Governments respectively, is a more democratic way of coordinating the affairs of the budgets of the two tiers of government.

Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba

Is the Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lagos State

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Assembly crisis: Edo APC floors PDP at Appeal void

Court disappoints nine lawmakers in ultimate battle for control of Anthony Enahoro house Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Benin Edo State, may have shattered the tall dreams of the nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly in the supremacy battle with 15 All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts over the control of the hallowed chambers.

The appellate court, yesterday, ordered the opposition group of lawmakers to bow themselves to the authority of the legislature under Speaker Uyi Igbe.

Justice H. M. Ogunwumiju, in a lead verdict noted that the PDP lawmakers cannot challenge a valid order that they have failed to obey.

The judge along with two other justices of the court, frowned that the legislators should have taken steps to obey the order restraining them from coming into the house of assembly and also allowed the motion on notice served on them to be argued in court.

Besides, all the traditional rulers in the state

yesterday finally resolved to wade into the lingering political impasse rocking the house with a determination to set up a committee to resolve the crisis between both parties.

Justice Ogunwumiju said, “It is quite law also that the stay of execution is not granted in void.

The party in contempt cannot deliberately flout an order of the court and proceed to seek remedy in a higher court while still in contempt of the lower court”.

The court further faulted the hasty action of the lawmakers for failure to give the judge of the High Court the opportunity of considering the motion for interlocutory injunction.

According to the judge; “The appellants/ applicants are acting with undue haste and jumping the gun and they did not give the judge who granted the order the opportunity of considering the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction...it would have been an opportunity for both parties to argue all issues, deliberate on them and resolve. They should have allowed this to be done before rushing to this court and thereby making the proceedings of the trial judge inchoate”.

The four suspended PDP members of the state house of assembly including the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Festus

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju; Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Coordinator, South-West Mobilisation, Buruji Kasamu, during the Ogun State PDP stakeholder's meeting in Abeokuta…yesterday

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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House of Representatives member, Abiodun Akinlade, yesterday urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State to rally round the party, towards unseating the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state.

The lawmaker, representing Yewa South/ Ipokia Federal Constituency, spoke at a reception organised in his honour at the PDP state secretariat in Abeokuta.

Akinlade, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, dumped the

Opposition needs unity to unseat APC, says Akinlade All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP. In his address, Akinlade, who has expressed interest in the 2015 governorship, berated the policies and programmes of the ruling APC in the state.

According to him, the state needs alternative government that is people-friendly in the forthcoming general elections.

He said, "The current approach of indiscriminate road expansion, bridge construction and

white elephant model schools project at very outrageous cost using short term bank loans and to the exclusion of other critical sectors is not only inimical to the welfare of our people but also detrimental to the future progress of Ogun State.

"We have a responsibility to rescue our dear state from the current government otherwise even generations yet unborn will never forgive us. Let us reunite to reenact the PDP magic in

Ogun State and give our people the government they truly deserve."

Akinlade, however, stressed the need for PDP members in the state to bring on board those aggrieved in the interest of the party.

He specifically urged elders of the PDP to convince former Governor Gbenga Daniel and former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, among others, to return to the party.

Bayelsa to pay compensation on airport land Bayelsa State govThosthe ernment has assured communities of the state owned International Cargo Airport project under construction at Wilberforce Island, near Amassoma that government is prepared to pay

full compensation to the land owners. But the government pleaded that they should exercise patience.

The State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), stated this during a

meeting between the state government officials and representatives of the five communities-namely; Amassoma, Ikibiri, Ikoli, Sabagria and Igbedi, where the International Airport Project is sited.

The deputy governor

therefore, pleaded with the women of Ikibiri Town, who, in the last six days, have been occupying the dredger that is dredging sand at the project site over non-payment of compensation, to vacate the equipment.

Ebea had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the court order restraining them from the house.

The judges therefore dismissed the applica-

tion brought before the appellate court on the ground that the application lacked merit as they refused to obey the interim order against them by a lower court.

Igboezue commends delegates Leo Sobechi socio-political assoANigeria ciation of Ndigbo in and in the dias-

pora known as Igboezue, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Igbo and other delegates at the National Conference.

Igboezue also urged President Goodluck Jonathan not “to hesitate in forwarding the recommendations of the National Conference along with the draft Constitution rising from it to the National Assembly with an Executive Bill to enact a law without delay for the conduct of a referendum”.

In a statement signed by its National Leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Igboezue called on the National Assembly not to see the National Conference as a rival group but as partners in progress for a better Nigeria.

“The patriotism of the National Assembly members is expected to be on display in their speedy and expeditious consideration of the Executive Bill that will pave way for a referendum whenever it is forwarded to them by the

Presidency,” the statement said, adding that with the referendum, “Nigerians can legitimately claim rightful ownership of the Conference and its outcome”.

The statement reads: “It will be recalled that in the course of the proceedings of the Conference, we were pained to observe a certain kind of lackadaisical approach and laissez-faire attitude by most of Igbo delegates to issues being discussed on the floor of the Conference as monitored by us and other Nigerians, who watched the live broadcast of the proceedings.

“We did not hesitate to intervene in very strong terms. There was no doubt that most of Igbo delegates at the Conference were unsettled and rattled by our strong protest. Some of their friends and associates did not like what we did but overwhelming majority of Igbo people hailed our intervention as representing their opinion at that time. Our role was that of a gadfly for the interest of our people, there was definitely nothing personal."

Reps commend Briton on return of stolen Benin artefacts Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of RepresenTmended tatives yesterday comthe integrity and

honour demonstrated by a British citizen, Dr. Mark Walker, for returning two important artefacts stolen from the Benin kingdom.

The House consequently urged the British government to heed repeated calls by the Oba of Benin to return looted artefacts from the kingdom.

This resolution was made following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) and 40 others.

Presenting the motion, Osagie said the British army, which was led by Dr. Mark’s great-grand father; Captain Philip Walker, stormed the kingdom in an attempt to subdue the people into accepting British rule.

He said: “The military action by the British soldiers led by Captain

Philip Walker resulted in the killing of thousands of Benin people, the deportation of Oba Ovonranmwen to Calabar and the desecration of the royal palace”, he said.

“Among the celebrated artefacts that were looted by the soldiers was the original mast head of Queen Idia which in 1977 was used as the official symbol of the Festival of Art and Culture (FESTAC) and it has remained amongst others, in the British museum till date”, he added.

Contributing to the motion, chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP, Abia) submitted that the British people had condoned the possession of valuable cultural artefacts belonging to Africans without seeing the need to do what’s honourable as exemplified by the governments of the United States and Canada, who recently returned such stolen artefacts to the Sokoto Caliphate.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Bamidele Aturu (1965 - 2014)

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osun 2014

Don’t polarise traditional rulers’ circle, Olufon warns politicians Stories by Adeolu Adeyemo, Osogbo

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monarch in Osun State, the Olufon of Ifon Orolu, Oba Abdul-Moruf Magbagbeola, yesterday warned politicians not to polarise the traditional rulers’ circle

Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Yinka Farounbi, signing the condolence register at Bamidele Aturu's residence in Lagos…yesterday.

Tears as motorcyclists, market women, Sagay, others mourn Aturu Foluso Ogunmodede

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IGERIANS from all walks of life yesterday besieged the Lagos home of the late fiery activist lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Francis Aturu, who died at the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Aturu, who died at the age of 49, was on his way to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital for a case billed for yesterday when he suddenly developed

the illness at the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. He died shortly after he was rushed to the emergency ward of the hospital.

However, tears flowed freely yesterday at his 29, Olufeso, Opposite Millenium School, Cement Bus stop, resident as sympathisers, particularly those whose lives had been touched positively by the rights activist.

Associates, professional colleagues, family, friends, market women,

artisans and the motor cycle riders wept openly amidst repeated question: “God why Aturu”?.

Some women, whose children were on Aturu’s scholarship, wept uncontrollably, saying ‘where will our help come again?.

Also, some of his professional colleagues fought back tears as they discussed in hushed tones, the life and times of a colleague they described as ‘advocate of social justice’.

Oyetibo, CD, Fayemi, others grief Joseph Onyekwere, Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja Temitope Ogunbanke, Mojeed Alabi, Sony Neme

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senior advocate of Nigeria and the Chief Counsel, Tayo Oyetibo and company, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo yesterday described the death as a big loss. "The premature death of Bamidele Aturu is a big loss to the Bar in particular and the nation in general. Aturu was very active in the human rights front as well as in the civil society.

He was committed to the defence of the rights of workers in Nigeria and played a prominent role in the fight for the return to democratic governance in Nigeria," he admonished.

Campaign for Democracy (CD) has described Aturu as a man who was dedicated to the cause of social change, defense of the weak and expansion of the frontiers of freedom during his life time.

CD in a statement by its President, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin, noted that Aturu has played his part and has departed to the realm of the ancestors but his deeds have entered the archives of progressivism in Nigeria.

For Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi the death of Aturu was "very tragic and unfortu-

nate".

Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said the death of the prominent lawyer is an unprecedented loss to the pro-democracy and human rights community in Nigeria.

He said Aturu's demise has robbed the oppressed of an irrepressible defender, a tireless advocate and a committed fighter of injustice, oppression and repression in the Nigerian society.

An Abuja based Lawyer and Right activist, Mr Kayode Ajulo said the death of Aturu is a great loss of a genuine activitist.

Ajulo harped on the pertinent need for the government to honour Mr Aturu. According to Ajulo, Bamidele Aturu should be honoured and interred with his NYSC Discharged Certificate.

"His death is more than a rude shock to me. It’s a death too many and once again we've lost another committed and genuine activists," he said.

Also, Labour leaders, politicians and other stakeholders poured encomium on Aturu.

In a condolence message issued by the Trade Union Congress, TUC, yesterday, and signed by its National President and Secretary General, Comrade Bobboi Bala

Kaigama and Musa Lawal respectively, he was described as a frontline member of “the people’s constituency,” saying he sacrificed for the masses till his death.

TUC therefore submitted that the only way Aturu could be happy with Nigeria was for the country’s leadership to change for good by doing away with corruption and assume the roles of responsive and responsible servants, rather than lording it on the masses.

In a similar development, the lawyer-turned pastor and Chairman of Fresh Democratic Party, Rev. Chris Okotie has condoled with the family, friends and colleagues of the late lawyer, praying for the repose of the soul of the pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God. The condolence message, which was signed by the party’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Kola Dopamu, on behalf of the party’s leadership, stated that Aturu until his death “stood his good causes and was a champion of the oppressed. He was iconoclastic till his death.”

Nollywood comic actor, Babatunde Omidina a.k.a Baba Suwe broke down in tears as the news of the death of his lawyer, Bamidele Aturu was communicated to him.

in the name of politicking.

The monarch dropped the warning when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 9 election governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and his

campaign team paid him a courtesy visit ahead of the election.

He said: “A situation in which some powerful individuals nearly caused disaffection among respected traditional rulers in Yorubaland is not acceptable".

APC governors, leaders parley on way forward eadership of the All formance of the party in party at the meeting L(APC), Progressives Congress the just concluded gover- were the National Deputy its governors, sena- norship election in Ekiti Chairman, Engr. Segun tors, House of Representatives’ members and other chieftains on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Osogbo, to strategise on the August 9 governorship election.

The meeting, which commenced at 10.00pm, lasted several hours before some decisions were taken on matters concerning the election.

Though, journalists were not allowed to cover the meeting, New Telegraph learnt that the per-

was reviewed by the leadership to determine the way forward in the Osun election.

Also discussed, according to sources, was the impeachment move against Governor Muritala Nyako of Adamawa State.

Some governors sighted at the meeting included the host governor, Rauf Aregbesola and others like Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

Some leaders of the

Oni, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Babatunde Ojudu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nasir El-Ruffai, among others.

At the end of the meeting, the National Deputy Chairman, South, Segun Oni, accused the PDP of introducing high-tech election manipulation into the election in Ekiti, lamenting that APC wants a free, fair and transparent election and not one that would be shrouded in manipulation and intimidation.

PDP petitions IG over ‘Aregbesola Boys’ State chapter of high caliber thugs, called to swing into action as Oic sun the Peoples Democrat- ‘State Boys’ for perpetuat- members of the governor’s ‘state boys’ have Party (PDP) yesterday ing these atrocities. petitioned the Inspector General (IG) of Police, asking him to prevail on Governor Rauf Aregbesola, to stop disturbing the peace of the state.

The party, in a press conference by its Head, Legal Unit, Ojo Williams, accused the APC administration of being the brain behind the perpetration of evil and the spate of violence witnessed in the state in recent times.

They accused the governor of introducing

In a copy of the letter made available to newsmen in Osogbo, Williams argued that the so-called ‘state boys’ have wreaked havoc on innocent citizens, charging him to act fast before it degenerates into an uncontrollable situation.

“It becomes important to draw the attention of peace loving citizens to the existence of this unlawful gathering of thugs. It is also important for security chiefs

been going about killing, maiming and destroying public property.

He said, "this assemblage of miscreants is a creation of Aregbesola as it is their stock in trade to leave blood in their trails.

“The said ‘state boys’ were responsible for attacks across the state, especially during and after APC rallies. These attacks targeted at PDP members have resulted in the killing and maiming of many.

Journalists are social crusaders, says SDP embers of the Osun ria Union of Journalists ministration," he said.

M “We want an array of State Social Demo- (NUJ), in Osogbo, Osun cratic Party (SDP) cam- State. professionals to join our paign team yesterday described journalists as social crusaders and reformists that could advance the growth of democracy in the country.

The SDP said this through their Director of Publicity, Hon. Yemi Edundokun, after paying an advocacy visit to the state council of the Nige-

He, however, advised them to do accurate reportage on the forth coming election so as to enhance democratic growth in the country.

“Journalists have all been made to sustain the nation, but they are watchdogs with little attention, but we want to change this notion under the SDP ad-

candidate to lead Osun State to greater heights.

“Our party will allow both the NUJ and the RATAWU to sit together and nominate who will be the Commissioner for Information and we are passionate about it. One of you in the cabinet will be able to relate with you better.”

LP pledges to revive state economy Party (LP) govLtheabour ernorship candidate in August 9 election in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, yesterday said that the present administration in the state has bastardised the economy through its unpopular economic policies, promising to re-shape it if given the opportunity.

Akinbade made this known in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, in Osogbo.

He said: “LP administration in the state would collaborate with the Federal Government and other international agencies to re-engineer the economy that is already in the doldrums.”

He further assured that he would do everything to ensure that he did not betray the trust the people if elected.

Akinbade added that; “The economy of the state has been strangulated by this government, but by the grace of God, my administration will improve it."

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Borno to construct estate for Boko Haram victims Ahmed Miringa

for the internally displaced

MAIDUGURI persons of Bulabulin Nga-

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he Borno State government is to construct 430 two-bedroom flats for those whose houses were destroyed by Boko Haram crisis in Bulabulin Ngarandam ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council .

Inaugurating an 11 man committee for construction of the Housing estate at the Government House, Maiduguri yesterday, Governor Kashim Shettima said that the state government is compelled to carry out the construction work

naram area of Maiduguri metropolis that were heavily affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, who have been taking refuge at the NYSC Orientation Camp Maiduguri under tight security pending the completion of the estate.

Shettima said the Boko Haram insurgency has adversely affected millions of people within and outside the state capital in the past five years in both urban and rural areas, adding many people have been displaced and rendered homeless and jobless.

Pensioners barricade National Assembly entrance Philip Nyam

Abuja

undreds of pensioners Hmajor yesterday blocked the entrance leading

to the National Assembly complex, Abuja, protesting non-provision for the payment of 53.4 per cent pension increment in the 2014 Appropriation Act. The pensioners, who were led by the President, National Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mr. Abel Afolayan carried placards with different inscriptions: “Coordinating minister of the economy, please release funds for pensioners

entitlements”; “FGN- hear the cries of senior citizens so that it will be well with the country”; “53.4% is our rights, pay us”; “Multiple senior citizens are suffering of different ailments”, “pay our pension arrears to enable us settle medical bills”; 'Productive years of pensioners wasted for a country that care less about their welfare, what a pity!' 'SGF, HOS, Ministers of Labour & Productivity, Finance direct payment of 33% pension arrears' and 'Pensioners are dying daily in numbers without enjoying the fruits of their labour.'

APC criticises militarisation of elections Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

or free and fair elections Fdemocracy to be held in 2015 and for to really work,

the All Progressive Congress (APC) has stressed the need for soldiers to stay away from election venues, stressing that the militarization of election works against democracy.

The party also said that the non involvement of the military during elections is the only way the people’s votes can count.

The APC, which stated this through the Chief of

Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, during the inauguration of the Elders’ Advisory Council of the party in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State said the party has a strong edge in the state due to its nearness to the grassroots.

He said that the heavy military presence will discourage the electorate from participating in the electoral process, noting that soldiers were only expected to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

Court declares judiciary funding by governors illegal Wale Elegbede

n Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has declared unconstitutional, the current appropriation practice, whereby the annual budget estimates of the Judiciary is included in the appropriation bill of state governors.

Delivering judgment yesterday on a suit filed by Dr Olisa Agbakoba against the Attorney General of Ekiti state and others, Justice J. O. Adeyeye, said the act was

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unconstitutional and runs contrary to Section 121 of the Constitution which guarantees independent funding of the judiciary.

Agbakoba had approached the Court asking for four Orders, namely, one, a declaration that the present practice of funding the judiciary is unconstitutional; secondly, a declaration that any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary ought not to be released to the judiciary in warrants by the executive arm.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (right) and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledging cheers from residents, artisans, market men and women and other stakeholders, during the inauguration of the Osun Micro-Credit Agency at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Oshogbo

Nigeria gets Sept date on aviation audit Wole Shadare

igeria will in September 2014 know its fate concerning the success or otherwise of the audit conducted on the country’s aviation industry by the United States highest aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 31, this year.

The body has informed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that the outcome of the recertification exercise will be communicated to the Authority in September, this year.

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This is to allow the regulatory authority sufficient time to file with the FAA, the evidence of training of some of its safety inspectors, who had been slated for the exercise in Europe between now and August.

This was disclosed by the FAA team leader, Andre J. Lamarre, at the NCAA’s office yesterday.

Lamarre, who led a three-man team comprising Michael Jennisin and James Plasman, said the most important thing to FAA at this juncture was the sustenance of a robust oversight of the industry and strict enforcement of

Police brutalise protesting poly students in Abuja Mojeed Alabi

ore than 50 students of polytechnics, who had assembled at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, yesterday, to convey their displeasure with the lingering face-off between their lecturers and the Federal Government, were brutalized by the police, who were said to have heavily descended on them using batons, tear gas and the butts of their guns.

According to the Senate President of the National

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Association of Polytechnic Students,NAPS,Salawudeen Lukman, the assembly of the students had commenced on Monday following the expiration of the ultimatum issued the FG by the association last week, but that since the new Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was to resume yesterday, the students had hoped to be addressed by him. “But what we witnessed was the beginningof another round of inhumanity as we were battered with many of us sustaining various degrees of injuries.

World Population Day Appolonia Adeyemi

he Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) has called on the three tiers of government, relevant stakeholders and families to ensure that the age group of 10 to 24 are responsibly developed to enable them make the best decisions

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regarding their sexuality and reproduction.

Dr. Fred Achem, president of SOGON, who made the call, said responsible development of this age group will ensure that the adolescents that constitute this group will avoid the waiting scourges of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

compliance of safety regulation by NCAA. The team arrived at the Aviation House, Headquarters of the NCAA, ostensibly to conclude the final phase of the Category 1 Recertification which began in March, this year.

Lamarre said his job was to verify all corrective actions, the dates, the plans, the completion of trainings, adding that, “We will thereafter make our recommendations based on the verification of items corrected that we have found here. We will look at what is opened and what is closed and commu-

nicate back to Washington on the category”.

The Director General of NCAA, Benedict Adeyileka, who welcomed the team to Lagos, said the regulatory authority had closed all the findings from the March audit.

According to him, the only area left is the recurrent training and it can be regarded as a closure since the authority had “signed contract for recurrences with various Simulator organizations. Simulator training has commenced in earnest and we have a spreadsheet of confirmed dates.”

Three killed in Bayelsa road accident hree persons were yesTroad terday killed in a fatal crash on the Bayelsa

State axis of the East-West road while eight other sustained serious injuries.

It was gathered that the accident, occurred at about 8pm close to the Odi junction on the SagbamaOdi stretch of the EastWest road.

The two vehicles involved in road carnage

were a Bayelsa Transport Company truck and a commercial passenger bus belonging to Agofure Motors.

Although the cause of the accident could not be ascertained, eyewitnesses told our correspondent that it might have been caused by over speeding and poor visibility.

Police brutalise protesting poly students in Abuja.

Judiciary workers begin strike today Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

he Judiciary Staff Union Tlevels of Nigeria at the state will this morning

begin an indefinite strike action.

The Union headquarters had yesterday directed all its members at the state levels across the country to embark on the strike.

The union in a statement issued in Abuja said the strike was to press home its demand

for various state governments in the country to comply with court judgments which granted financial autonomy at both the state and federal levels.

In the statement, which was issued at the end of the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of union, the union also expressed support for the ongoing strike embarked upon by its members in the Rivers State as a result of the current judiciary crisis in the state.

news

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

9

Fasehun backs INEC Temitope Ogunbanke

he Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has endorsed the resolution by the national conference in Abuja, calling for the scraping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

It also suggested that all elections in the country should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday, UPN National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said the National Assembly should henceforth outlaw appointed administrators from running local governments anywhere in

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the country.

He also called on Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to immediately stop current moves to create new local governments and local government development authorities, urging him to rather concentrate on making provisions for the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections before his October handover date.

The UPN national chairman, while speaking on the state of the nation and the impunity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, took a swipe at some of the governors over alleged anti-people policies.

PDP chieftain accuses Bafarawa of imposition Umar Danladi Ado

Sokoto

Democratic AinPeoples Party (PDP) chieftain Sokoto State, Alhaji

Yusuf Abdullahi, yesterday accused former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, of imposing an unpopular chairman on the party against the wishes of the party’s supporters.

Speaking in Sokoto yesterday, Abdullahi said the emergence of Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, as the PDP chairman, was against the wishes and aspirations of the party’s supporters.

He decried that Bafarawa imposed Milgoma on the PDP in order to achieve certain sinister motives.

According to him, Milgoma was not qualified to contest for the chairmanship position and as such his election was unaccept-

able to the supporters.

The PDP stalwart added that the constitution of the party stipulated that only those that had been in the party for 18 months, could be eligible to contest for party positions, adding that Milgoma only joined the PDP six months ago.

He described the emergence of Milgoma as a sham and unconstitutional.

“As far as we are concerned, there was no election in Sokoto PDP. It was just Bafarawa’s arrangement to impose his loyalists on party members against their wishes and aspirations.

“We have gone to court and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that justice is done,” he stated.

He noted that with the acrimony in the party, it would be difficult for the PDP to win the 2015 election in Sokoto.

Boko Haram: Okorie cautions against speculation, suspicion Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

ational Chairman of NParty the United Progressives (UPP), Chief Chek-

was Okorie, has cautioned Nigerians, especially opposition parties and the Federal Government against speculation and suspicion that are capable of worsening the country’s current security challenges.

Okorie, who spoke with New Telegraph in Abuja, said the blame being traded by the opposition and the Federal Government on the activities of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, would not solve the problem.

While reacting to insinuations that Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid is fuelling insecurity, the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said both the ruling party and the opposition are guilty of the same allegation.

“I wouldn’t reduce it to President Jonathan’s ambition, but I would rather agree that the inordinate ambition of politicians, whether legitimate or not, have led to such insecurity and the bloodletting to gain advantage.

“It is not President Jonathan’s affair only, many people also think even the opposition also wants to make the land ungovernable so that the President can be projected as incapable of providing good leadership," he added.

L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Osun State chapter, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare; Justice Monisola Abodunde, during the federation's 50th anniversary public lecture in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

50%

The percentage drop of capital importation of Nigeria in 2009 from the preceding year.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

103

The ratio of women to 100 men in Burkina Faso in 2010.

Source: Un.org

12.45%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Gambia in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

30 abducted women arrive Adamawa from Sambisa Forest Ibrahim Abdul

Yola

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bout 30 women and children abducted last month by suspected Boko Haram members from Kumamza and Munagu-Afayi areas of Borno and Adamawa States, have escaped from the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

Reports said the women crossed erected walls, when their captors went out to fight, though some were said to have been recaptured by the insurgents.

According to Madagali

Local Government Chairman, Mr. James Abawu Watharda, “At least 30 women, including their children have escaped and we are assisting them.

“They were taken to Gulak General Hospital for treatment and examination, in fact, they seem to have been manhandled by their captors,” said the local council boss.

In a telephone interview, some of the escapees said they fled when their captors went out to fight.

“We took the bold step when our abductors moved out to carry out an operation; we crossed

over erected walls in the forest.

“We saw hell, they put us under duress to read the Quran, they beat us with horse-whips and branches of trees, and whoever defied their order was either killed or made to face their wrath,’’ one of the escapees, who simple identified herself as Rejoice Baba, said.

While others were lucky to run with their children, Mary David was not so lucky, as she abandoned one of her two children.’’

She said: “While we were running in the

bush, they (Boko Haram) tracked down some of us, they opened fire on us, and in the process, they recaptured one of my children, it is unfortunate and shocking,” she exclaimed.

Also another victim said she was held captive with more than 30 other women and young girls for over two weeks.

“We were forcefully used by the insurgents as sex toys. The virgins and the very young girls were usually given to the leaders. The older and married ones were left for ordinary fighters,” she recalled.

Abia commissioner shot, in critical condition Igbeaku Orji

UMUAHIA

G

unmen yesterday shot and wounded Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu.

He was rushed to the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Aba Road, Umuahia, where doctors led by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof. Augustus Mbanaso, are still battling to save his life.

New Telegraph investigation revealed that the incident took place along the new road linking Amakanma with Olokoro, both in Umuahia South Local Government.

According to the CMD; “At about 9.00pm, I got

a call that the Commissioner for Agriculture had been shot, so we jumped into the car, myself and my son that was with me to go and see him.

Mbanaso said: “When I came to see him, I found that his intestines had gushed out and that his blood pressure was low. He was semi-conscious and we tried to resuscitate him to a level where he could be operated upon immediately.

“We looked for all types of infusions, demanded for blood, then sent for an anesthetist, sent for surgeons who will assist me, made sure all the nurses were there and other theatre paraphernalia were carried out.

“Meanwhile, we watched him until the

blood pressure improved.

We started with a pint of blood before three more pints were administered.

By the time we were finishing at 12.30am, up to four pints of blood had been given and that helped us to operate on him, trying to repair the damage."

According to Mbanaso, “this morning, we have reviewed him, he was responding to my call and a few questions I asked him.

He is being monitored closely; it’s less than 24 hours this thing happened.

“What we need now is prayers for his survival.

What we have done is what we can do clinically, but healing is of God. Last night, just five minutes before the operation, the governor came in and I told

him briefly that we were going to operate on him, he wished him well.”

The CMD said he was able to get the doctors to assist him in spite of the strike, because the hospital is managed under a public private partnership arrangement.

Mbanaso also disclosed that another woman hit by the assailants bullet, was also operated upon.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Abia State, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident, saying that no arrest has been made, but that investigation was ongoing. He said it would be premature to pin the incident to anything since nothing was removed from the car the commissioner was driving.

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NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

Man, 27, remanded for homosexuality Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

Magistrates’ Court Oredo Local GovAremanded ernment Area of Edo State yesterday a 27-year-old man, Saturday

Aigbedion, in prison for having unlawful carnal knowledge one Chikere Okereke through the anus.

The accused was immediately taken to the Oko Prison in Benin.

Aigbedion faces 14 years’ imprisonment if convicted.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of unnatural offence.

The Chief Magistrate, Mike Osayi, said Aigbedion committed an offence against morality.

He said: “If the accused is remanded in the prison custody for a long time, he is still going to mix up with same sex.”

The chief magistrate said that bail for the accused would be considered on the next adjourned date following the application of his counsel.

The police prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Omor, told the court that the accused committed the offence at Erie Street, off Sakponba Road, Benin in December 2013.

He added that the accused unlawfully had carnal knowledge of Okereke “through the anus”.

The offence contravenes Section 214 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Bendel State as applicable to Edo State.

The case was adjourned to July 17 for further hearing.

FRIday, JULY 11, 2014

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

0802 393 8212

Jonathan’s uncle’s abductors, Emmanuel Onani Abuja

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he State Security Service (SSS) yesterday in Abuja paraded six persons suspected to have kidnapped President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle, Chief Nitabai Inengite.

Parading the suspects (one of whom is a native doctor), the SSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said Inengite, who was kidnapped on February 23, was whisked away in a Honda ‘Jeep’ to Onuegbu, from where he was transferred into a waiting speedboat and taken to the creeks.

Ogar disclosed that Inengite was held at two locations within Bayelsa State, one of which was the creek of Brass, close to the Atlantic Ocean.

Members of the kidnap gang paraded before journalists were Eldred Magnus (30), Raphael Inengesi (32), Ibeabuchi Inya (29) and Oreva Abridi (29).

Also paraded were Tammy Tamarapreye Agbai (29) and Felix Onuoha, who claimed to be a native doctor from Anambra State.

In a related development, members of a kidnap syndicate, who hitherto terrorised young women in Abuja and its environs, were also paraded by the SSS. Answering questions from journalists, the abductors of Jonathan’s uncle insisted that no ransom was paid for his release.

According to Ogar, Jonah, who masterminded the kidnap, provided the take-off grant of N40,000 for arms procurement and other logistics.

She added that following interrogation by operatives of the service, the mastermind confessed that he carried out surveillance on the victim, even as he revealed that “the gang had two teams for the operation”.

While advising citizens to remain vigilant at all times, Ogar warned that “the long arm of the law will always catch up with perpetrators of crime in Nigeria, no matter how long it takes”.

Meanwhile, members of the FCT kidnap syndicate said they got N10 million as ransom, before they re-

leased two sisters from their custody.

This is even as the men, who also specialised in car-snatching, said that they exchanged 10 stolen cars for five AK-47 rifles, to facilitate their nefarious activities.

One of the suspects, Oyemire Asagba aka Paul/Sky, is a convict, having served one and half years’ prison term in Keffi Prison last year.

The operation, which culminated in their arrest, was carried out on June 8, at New Life Camp, where they forcefully took two sisters, whose ages were put at 15 and 17 years.

Asagba was said to have coordinated the operation, with the help of one Dikko Iko, “who works as a guard at the residence of the victims”.

Other gang members are Sunday Otse Attah, Zacheus Salami, Victor Kingsley Bassey, Sani Mohammed and Aragba Omuya Itopa Ademo.

Other members are Ojo Idris Gambo, Haruna Asama and Mhammeed Adamu.

Lions Club distributes free eyeglasses Taiwo Jimoh he Lions Club District 404B (Nigeria) Zone 11A, comprising Osogbo Living TSprings Lions Club, Ede Mapo Lions

Club and Osogbo Metro Lions Club, has donated eyeglasses to about 103 visuallyimpaired patients in the district.

The club under the leadership of Mr Akinpelu Olaore recently distributed free eyeglasses and drugs to support the healthcare programme of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

The distribution took place at Pearl Eye Centre, Enuogbope Orphanage Home, Kobo-Ota Efun, Osogbo, Osun State.

Olaore, on behalf of Lions Club, promised more selfless services to the lessprivileged in society.

Olaore urged the government to support the organisation in alleviating the people’s suffering.

He said: “As a club, it is part of our humanitarian duties to assist the lessprivileged in society.

“Thus, the distribution of free eyeglasses to visually-impaired people among us is therefore our own contribution to helping our people.

“We as a club deem it fit to give to the society part of our God-given resources.

We also want to appeal to government to assist our organisation so as to increase our contribution to the course of humanity.”

Some of the suspects

Police arrest 26 robbery, kidnap suspects Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

P

olice in Oyo State yesterday paraded 26 suspected criminals for involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and fraudulent acts.

The police also recovered seven vehicles, among them exotic Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), from the suspects.

The owners of the recovered vehicles, who besieged the police command at Eleyele, commended the police for efforts.

The robbers reportedly snatched all the vehicles at gunpoints from different parts of the state, including Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibadan.

They also sold the vehicles to unsuspecting buyers in Kano and Kaduna states.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, who addressed

journalists at the police headquarters, said that on April 17, Akinkunmi Olatide and Uwatse Samson were arrested in a robbery operation and confessed to be members of armed robbery syndicate that had been terrorising Ibadan, Oyo town and Ogbomoso by snatching expensive cars at gunpoint.

He said: “They said their receivers are based in Kano and Kaduna states.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives went to the two states where buyers of the stolen cars were arrested.”

Indabawa gave the details of the cars as Toyota Matrix marked LND 86 BD, a Toyota Highlander car with registration number APP 781 AZ, Honda Odyssey with registration number APP 264 CQ, Toyota Camry marked Kano KMC 61 PW, and Honda Civic with Lagos FS 631 KJA registration number.

Some of the suspects, such as Lawal

Kabir, Ayodele Olaitan, Biola Alaba, Sunday Omooba and Dolapo Olayinka, who spoke with our correspondent, said they actually committed the crime.

They all said that they regretted their actions.

Those who bought the cars, however, claimed they did not know they were stolen.

Among them were Yussuf Ibrahim and Mohammed Yisa, who agreed they bought the vehicles at different prices but never knew they were stolen.

Some of the owners, who did not want their names published for fear of being attacked, narrated how their vehicles were snatched at different parts of the state.

The police said that the suspects would soon be arraigned in court for prosecution.

METRO

Friday, July 11, 2014

In this village alone, we have lost over 26 youths to this symptom and there are three other neighbouring villages facing the same challenges

others apprehended

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100 feared dead as Lassa fever hits Bauchi Muhammed Sani Bauchi

ore than 100 people, M mostly adults, have reportedly died at Maciyar Kuka, Jamda and Badas villages in Bununu town, headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The 56-year-old village head of Badas, Malam Inusa Adam, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent.

He said that the sign of the ailment was the same in each of the dead persons.

According to him, it always starts with a pain below the neck and descends down to the chest followed by a fever.

He said: “When the patient is taken to the General Hospital in Bununu town, the nurses will fix drip to the patient and later refer him or her to

the General Hospital in Bauchi Local Government. Our expectation is the pronouncement of death of the patient.”

Adam, who was complaining of the same ailment at the time our correspondent visited the villages, also disclosed his son was the last among those that died.

The village head also regretted that his daughter suffered when she was in labour and on transit to the Bununu General Hospital because of lack of health facilities and medical experts in the three villages.

He said that Bununu, where the hospital is situated, is about eighty kilometres from the village.

The Chief Imam of Jamda village, Yunusa, said that there were about 25 orphans under his care and called for the government to initiate ways on how to cater for them.

He said: “We decided to

face the reality and keep burying our people, looking up and praying to God to proffer a solution.

“People are dying every day here in this town of Jamda. In this village alone, we have lost over 26 youths to this symptom and there are three other neighbouring villages facing the same challenges.”

The three villages are without hospital or primary health care centre which contributes immensely to their predicament.

The representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) told our correspondent that it was a sign of Lassa fever because most of those who died had trickle of blood dripping from their mouths.

He disclosed that WHO would soon launch an investigation into the causes of the deaths.

Cult members, pirates terrorise Rivers community Some of the suspected kidnappers.

Photo ELIJAH OLALUYI

Two convicted for vandalising rail tracks Taiwo Jimoh

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Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta yesterday convicted two persons for destroying the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NPC) tracks at Igbore Iwokun village near Obada Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The convicts were arrested by the surveillance team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command.

The men, Dele Taiwo and Sunday Popoola, were sentenced to two years in jail each.

Taiwo and Popoola, both residents of the state, were standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and wilful destruction of NRC

tracks.

During the trial, the two men initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. They, however, later changed their plea and pleaded guilty before the case was determined.

Meanwhile, during the trial, the NSCDC counsel, Bukola Akande, urged the court to find the men guilty based on all the evidence placed before the court.

Akande, however, said the charges against the two had been proved beyond reasonable.

Counsel to the accused, J. O. Apanishile, also urged the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first time offenders.

However, having considered all the available facts and evidences presented by

the two counsel, the judge, Justice Folasade Ogunbanjo, concluded that the offence was criminal and a menace to society.

Ogunbanjo therefore sentenced them to two years imprisonment, counting from the date of their arrest.

The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Kareem Olanrewaju, commended the judgement, which he described as a victory for the corps.

According to him, it will serve as a detriment to others who may want to engage in vandalising public property in the state.

He said: “Ogun State Command of the NSCDC would not relent in its effort to ensure government property are protected.”

Mother pours hot water on four-year-old son Bisola Tiamiyu woman yesAan27-year-old terday appeared before Ikeja Magistrates’ Court

for pouring hot water on her four-year-old son and on the body of her neighbour.

The accused, Joy Adeyemo, committed the offence while trying to defend her son.

According to charge sheet no: FCI/JUV/38/2014, Adeyemo was accused of pouring hot water on her son, Kelvin Adeyemo’s back

and Chidima Ogbonna’s breast.

The charge sheet reads: “That you, Joy Adeyemo ‘f ’ on the second day of July, 2014 about 0820hrs at No 11, Olajesu Street, Obawole area, Ifako, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully inflict injuries by pouring hot water on the back of one Kelvin Adeyemo ‘m’ aged four years which caused him bodily harm.

“At the same place and time at the aforementioned Magisterial District (you)

did unlawfully inflict injuries on the breast of one Chidima Ogbonna ‘f ’ by pouring hot rice water which caused her bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the Criminal Laws II Vol.44, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

Presiding over the case, the magistrate, Mrs Akinde, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000.

She also adjourned the case till August 11 for further hearing.

Militants

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ormer militants and Fvaded cult members have inKula community

in Akuku Toru Local Government of Rivers, disrupting the peace achieved in 2009 when elders and youths surrendered their weapons before the expiration of the Federal Government Amnesty programme.

The residents of the community said that the pirates had been operating along the waterways that link the community, while the cult members were terrorising residents, mostly those not in the camps of two prominent sons, trying to hijack the community’s vacant kingship stool.

Some of the resi-

dents, who fled to Port Harcourt in the wake of the attacks under the umbrella of Concerned Kula Youths, said that some of the hoodlums neighbouring communities, had attacked one Mr Kio Papa, former chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), while on a visit to the community.

They also alleged that some people had been injured by the hoodlums.

The National Coordinator of the Concerned Youths of Kula, Comrade Glad Ibigoni, said the sponsors of the ongoing violence had brought back the era of criminality when hoodlums freely used in the community.

Ibigoni said the threat to lives and properties in

the community and environs was real, adding that something urgent must be done by security operatives and the government to save the people.

He said: “Cult members and militants have invaded all the satellite communities in Kula, namely: Ekulama I, Ekulama II, Belema, Robert Kiri and other principal settlements.

“They have been carrying out all kinds of atrocities, including rape and sea piracy, pipelines vandalism and other vices.”

The youth called for the intervention of the marine and mobile police, the State Security Service (SSS), and the Joint Task Force (JTF) to check the menace of the hoodlums.

12 NEWS CORRUPTION Femi Fani-Kayode still has a long way to freedom from prosecution

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday closed its case against former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode before Justice Rita Ofilli-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over allegation of money laundering.

The former minister is answering questions to an amended 40-count charge that touches on the alleged offence made against him by the anti-graft agency.

The anti-graft agency represented by Mr. Vitalis Ahaotu informed the judge of a letter from his principal, Mr. Festus Keyamo telling

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Money laundering trial: EFCC closes case against Fani-Kayode the court of its intention to close its case.

The prosecution's position was however not opposed by the defense lawyer, Wale Akoni (SAN), who rather informed Justice Ofilli-Ajumogobia of his intention to file a no case submission in answer to the charge against the defendant.

As a result, the trial judge issued a 21 day ultimatum to the defense within which to file their application before the court, and the prosecution seven days to respond. The court consequently adjourned further proceedings to October 28, 2014 for adoption

of final written addresses.

The EFCC had opened its case on March 10, 2014.

In all, the anti-graft agency called a total of five witnesses including: Investigating Police Officers, bank legal officers, and former aide to Fani-Kayode.

At the last hearing on the matter, the anti-graft agency had informed the court that claims by a witness, Ojo Agbor that he was forced to lie against the exminister was not true.

Agbor had on May 14, 2014 insisted that the antigraft agency's operatives beat him up and detained him; forcing him to write a false statement, with a

further position that the agency said otherwise he would be charged alongside the former minister.

He further told the trial judge that someone else gave him various amounts of money to pay into FaniKayode's account, adding that the anti-graft agency also told him to write that it was the former minister who gave him the money.

"They then told me that I should write that it was Fani-Kayode who gave me the money to deposit. They threatened to make me an accomplice if I didn't write that Fani-Kayode gave me the money. My Lord, I had no option than to write",

Agbor had told the court.

But an investigator with the anti-graft agency, Mr. Shuaibu Umar, who claimed to have handled the case maintained that Agbor was never forced to make the statement.

The investigator posited that he discovered that lodgments were made by various individuals into Fani-Kayode's bank account, including by one Mark Ndifreke and Agbor.

The witness stressed that Agbor was invited to make an explanation on the monies he paid into FaniKayode's account, adding that he was cautioned before the statement was

made.

Consequently, Keyamo prayed the court to declare the witness as hostile.

The judge obliged him the prayers. Keyamo had hinged his application on the grounds that the statement dated August 20, 2006, made to the EFCC by Agbor was totally different from his testimony before the court.

Fani-Kayode is charged by the EFCC on an amended 40-count charge bordering on money laundering. The former minister was first arraigned sometime in December 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed on a 47-count charge.

Justice Olotu: Court threatens to summon EFCC over media reports Tunde Oyesina

Abuja

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday threatened to summon the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over media reports relating to a suit filed by Justice Gladys Olotu, who was sacked by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for misconduct.

The EFCC had in a counter-affidavit dated April 1, 2014 and filed to counter the claims by Olotu in her suit for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights, pending before the court said it was still investigating the judge and two others.

It also claimed in the affidavit that its inves-

tigation was based on a petition written to it by a group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), in which Justice Olotu was accused of maintaining an offshore account with First Bank (United Kingdom) and was alleged to have worth over N2billion in cash and investment.

Justice Olotu, who was compulsorily retired earlier this year by President Goodluck Jonathan on ground of “gross misconduct and upon the recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC),” went to court after she was invited by the EFCC. At the resumed hearing yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi frowned at the reports in the media, which emanated from the commission.

L-R: Commissioner for Youth Development and Sport, Patrick Ugbe; Cross River State, Governor, Lyle Imoke; Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham and General Manager, GOtv, Elizabeth Ampka, during the opening ceremony to kick off the 5th Cross River State Athletics Championship sponsored by GOtv in Calabar… yesterday

Grand Alliance Against Group advises pregnant women Terrorism launched in Benue Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

T

he Executive Director, Centre for Social Reconditioning and Development, CEFSORD, Mr. Eyitayo Fabunmi has advised pregnant women, family and community members in Ekiti State to come out and access the local SURE-P facilities aimed at ensuring maternal and child care services.

Fabunmi, made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti yesterday at the SUPE-P/ MNCH Health Policy Dialogue with various stakeholders in the state.

According to him, everybody must play their roles at ensuring a reduction in maternal and childhood illness and deaths in the country, adding that selected primary healthcare centres,

PHCs had been upgraded and provided with drugs, health commodities and equipment for efficient and effective service delivery.

Fabunmi called on all pregnant women to access the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, of the SURE-P, and called on those who did not complete the process of registering for the programme to do so.

In her speech at the stakeholder’s forum, the Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA, Ekiti State, Mrs. Folakemi Falore, noted that SURE-P should be remoulded to suit local communities in Ekiti State.

According to her, Ekiti State was working in synergy with SURE-P and all Federal Government health programmes for the people to access good health.

Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

citizen intervention Anering initiative aimed at garnational support to

combat the growing challenges of terrorism and other security problems and known as Grand Alliance Against Terrorism (GAAT) was yesterday launched in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Speaking at the event, Coordinator of the initiative Mrs. Elizabeth Jeiyol explained that GAAT is a brainchild of patriotic Nigerians, Civil Society Organizations (CSO's) and religious organizations targeted at re-awakening the consciousness of Nigerians on the need to collectively support the federal government's efforts in fighting terrorism.

Mrs. Jeiyol who decried the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians by

the outlawed Islamic sect Boko Haram with others rendered homeless, also condemned abductions, suicide bombings of places of worship and other public places, saying these dastardly acts have negative implications for the development of the country.

Mrs. Jeiyol who was represented by the Coordinator of Gender and Community Initiative, Mrs. Dorcas Iorkusa, commended counter efforts by the federal government at curtailing the upsurge in terrorist’s activities in Nigeria and Benue State in particular, the purpose for which she said triggered off the formation of the initiative.

According to her, the initiative has already been launched in Abuja but stressed the need to replicate it in the 36 states of the federation.

Veteran journalists eulogise Bisalla Musa Pam

Jos

he League of veteran Tstate Journalists Plateau chapter has commis-

erated with the management of New Telegraph Newspaper and the family of late Suleiman Bisalla, Managing Editor (North) who died in the recent bomb blast that rocked Wuse 2 Abuja.

The veterans in a statement Jointly signed by its chairman Dr. Gideon Barde and Secretary Mr. Tunde Oladapo and made available to New Telegraph in Jos yesterday described late Bisalla as a vibrant fearless and unbiased writer whose ideology in life was for good governance, peaceful co-existence and respect for his seniors and colleagues in the pen profession.

"Late Bisalla was a seasoned, vibrant and dedicated Journalist who started his career in the

newsroom of Plateau Publishing Corporation, publishers of Nigerian Standard Newspapers, Jos", they recalled.

The veterans also condoled with the President and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the people of Plateau state over the death of their son and prayed God to give the Family and Management of New Telegraph the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Meanwhile, the Veteran Journalists have appeal to the both the Federal government and the striking doctors to find amicable solution to the current impasse.

The Group described the strike as wrong in period and time; this time when the insurgency challenges and death toll is on the increase owing to frequent bombing and explosions in the cities, towns including the federal Capital Abuja.

‘RAISING THE STAKES FOR DEMOCRACY’ / PAGE 14 | A’IBOM PENSION LAW: HISTORY WILL VINDICATE AKPABIO –UKPE / PAGE 15

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

13

YAKASSAI: WE DON’T NEED MORE STATES

p-16

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Upbeat in Enugu ahead of 2015 The return of Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime from his annual vacation has heightened political tension in the state ahead of the 2015 general election, reports UWAKWE ABUGU

P

ermutations on who takes over from Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State come 2015, which has dominated the state’s polity of late have heightened with the recent of the governor from his annual leave.

With the general election months away, New Telegraph gathered that one of those believed to be angling to succeed Chime is one of his close aides. The aide, who returned from an overseas trip recently is said have been anointed by the governor.

Besides the issue of Chime’s successor, another knotty issue dominating the state’s political space is how to contain some National Assemly members from the state who are set to confront the governor and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over the decision to bar those who have served up to two terms and above from contesting the positions they presently occupy in the 2015 elections.

A dependable source close to Chime told New Telegraph in Enugu that “the governor has returned but he had to stay back in Abuja to attend the Council of State meeting that held Tuesday and we hope that he would be here in Enugu after that meeting.”

The governor proceeded on his annual leave on June 18, and in view of the controversy generated by his prolonged stay abroad during his vacation that came before this last one owing to his ill-health, he had formally announced his last vacation, clarifying that he would travel with members of his extended family to the United States.

Although the growing speculation on who would be Chime’s successor and the issues relating to his senatorial ambition, which has pit him against the Deputy Senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, continued to hold sway even in the governor’s absence, hints of his return increased the political tension.

Asked what the political terrain would offer the anxious aspirants to the various positions next year as Chime returns from vacation, another source told our correspondent that “now that he (Chime) is back, we expect him to open up and begin to make the various races less hazy because we don’t have much time again.”

“You know that apart from the governorship election, we have all other elections beginning from the state to the National Assembly elections, and decisions have to be taken on all of

Chime

Ekweremadu

them as the party primaries are fast approaching,” the source added.

Another politician who seemed very anxious to have the governor back in view of the crucial 2015 issues starring politicians, especially members of the ruling PDP in the face, told our reporter that “the issues are quite weighty in view of the personalities involved and because of the rivalry between the governor and Ekweremadu”.

He stated that developments in the next few weeks would make or mar the state, but quickly pointed out that there could be surprises as the expected big crisis may not come eventually.

To some of the combatants, 2015 election is a fight of their life; a make or break situation that would determine what political fate holds out for them beyond 2015. In the case of Ekweremadu, for instance, his rumoured ambi-

tion to replace Governor Chime come 2015 may have come across his mind owing to the seeming opposition from a section of his Enugu West Senatorial District, including the governor, against his return to the Senate for a fourth term.

The said opposition against his return is believed to be thickest among the very populous Udi and Ezeagu council areas that constitute quite a chunk of the population of the zone.

The other local councils in the zone include Oji River, Awgu and Aninri which is Ekweremadu’s home town.

Chime hails from Udi, the largest of the five. Yet, in Udi, believed to be Chime’s stronghold, Ekweremadu appears to have been penetrating, even getting the chairman of the party in the council area to his camp. And only recently, a political pressure group

CROSSFIRE There cannot be any other reason for the incessant loans by an outgoing governor than to punish the incoming administration and the state. What has happened to the $100m loan approved for Amaechi

-Felix Obuah

Unlike the PDP, the Rivers State Government is focused on ensuring governance and service-delivery to its people... it has remained of the least indebted states in the country

-Ibim Semenitari

from Awgu, which had been drumming support for the Deputy Senate President, who is their son, openly called on the governor to run for the Senate seat.

Again, for the people of Enugu North Senatorial District of the state who have waited since 1993 to have another opportunity to rule the state and with the visible support Chime has shown for the realisation of that dream, it is unthinkable to speak of Ekweremadu nursing a governorship ambition to replace Chime who hails from the same zone with him.

Many query thus: “Does he want the West to retain governorship for 16 consecutive years?” Chime had reiterated the decision of his administration to support the emergence of the next governor from the North zone. Hence, Ekweremadu may not be able to run for any election in 2015. That is, if Chime and those opposed to his return would have their way.

The PDP will hold its primaries later this year. Certainly, the 260 electoral wards in the 17 local government councils of the state will become the clear battlegrounds. Chime had last December conducted local council elections in which the PDP made a clean sweep of all the seats. Each of the 260 electoral wards will produce three delegates.

This number will be added to the list of other statutory delegates who are eligible to partake in the primary elections of the PDP. With the easy way the CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

14 POLITICS The inaugural Freedom House Democracy Lecture series held in Lagos may have come and gone, but the crucial issues on the nation’s democratic experiment raised by Professor Larry Diamond, a director at the Centre on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Stanford University, United States of America, will continue to linger, writes WALE ELEGBEDE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Freedom House lecture: Raising the stakes for democracy

S

omewhere in the hearts of guests and dignitaries listening to Professor Diamond as he divulges contents of his lecture on “Nigeria’s Governance Predicament: Poverty, Terrorism and Democracy” in Lagos, last week, would be the burden for a new Nigeria that will be inspired by a process of sanity at the polls. But how to achieve that enviable state is another kettle of fish.

A glance into Diamond’s dossier indicates that his choice as the lead speaker of the occasion is by no means a fluke. It will suffice to say that he was made for a gathering of such motive. His insights and understanding of Nigeria’s political climate wasn’t an adaptation from the web, but a function of deep-rooted intellectual foray that has spanned over two decades.

As a scholar of repute, he has written extensively on democracy and ethnicity in Nigeria. He is the author of the book, Class, Ethnicity and Democracy in Nigeria: The Failure of the First Republic (1988); Nigeria in Search of Democracy (1984) and The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies throughout the World (2008). These collector’s items situated Nigeria in global democratic practice, stressing the need for strong governance structure.

In his 26-page lecture, Professor Diamond exhumes the various potholes the country has had to fill in the process of aiming to sustain and expand its democratic experiment. While giving cogent and feasible panacea that will guarantee the country’s democratic prospects, he strongly advocated for an increasing commitment to the tenets of rule of law and democracy.

Opening his speech with a resounding message of hope for the country, the erudite scholar said, “Because Nigeria has largely squandered staggering natural resource wealth and human potential over more than half a century of independence, there is a chronic tendency here and abroad to see its national prospect as nearly hopeless.

“But Nigeria is not condemned to suffer endemic corruption, waste, ineptitude, and insecurity. These are the products of deficient institutions and a culture that has grown up around them. People make institutions. People produce and reproduce cultural norms and expectations.

And people can change them.”

The university don averred that the core problem of Nigeria today is the chronic deficit of honest and effective governance adding that it is only the civilian political actors who must summon the will, the strategy, the resources, and the credibility to lead the process for a better nation.

Professor Diamond said though he was asked to speak about the challenges posed to democracy by poverty and terrorism in Nigeria, he argued that the core problem of the country is not one of poverty, “Neither is it

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo; Amaechi, Tinubu, Prof. Diamond, Dambazau and Bishop Kukah at the event

one of terrorism. These are manifestations of a deeper and more diffuse malignancy: bad governance. Governance that is not addressing the central policy challenges of the country.

“Nigeria’s huge oil reserves have largely been a curse, because it distorted the structure of production and discouraged agriculture. Corruption booms, because the money is there for the taking— unimaginable amounts of it — and it is not really anyone’s money anyway, it is just spewing up from the ground. It is a different ballgame when compared to countries like India, which relied primarily on taxes,” he added.

Assessing the alleged trend of corruption in Nigeria’s oil production and income, Diamond said it is disheartening to know that up to ten per cent of Nigeria’s oil income is disappearing even before it enters the books, stressing that, “It is just not credible for defenders of the current order to dismiss all these allegations as partisan or “unproven”.

They form a pattern of documentation of embezzlement, mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds that is shocking in scale, irrefutable in essence, and devastating in impact.”

Delving into the state of insecurity in Nigeria, the scholar said in the absence of very serious and farreaching governance reform, the problem of Boko Haram’s murderous violence in the north is not any more amenable to termination than is the problem of piracy and criminality in the Niger Delta area.

“There is no purely security solution to either of these security challenges. Each emerges as a twisted response to a situation of pervasive corruption, injustice, distrust, moral decay, and state weakness. And each appears to be intertwined with struggles for political power in complex, opaque, and volatile ways.”

Hampering on the need to engage in comparative experience in countering insurgences, he warned that, “By further victimising many innocent people, human rights violations by state security forces enlarge support for the insurgency. In and outside Nigeria, there is growing concern over the climate of impunity by state security forces.”

While canvassing for a ‘think outside the box’ method, he proffered six reform responses, adding that Nigeria has to do multiple radical and unconventional things if it is going to climb out of the deep trough in which it has been stuck for half a century.

The first antidote prescribed by the scholar is electoral reforms. He said the two crucial requirements for clean elections are effective and neutral administration, and comprehensive transparency. Borrowing from the experience of India, he said the key thing here is making INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) truly independent, by ensuring that the chairman of the commission is not nominated by the president, but by an independent body, as recommended by the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission.

The second path to greatness as recommended by him is for Nigeria to adhere to international standards for monitoring elections, adding that Nigerian civil society organizations do not have to reinvent the wheel.

“Third, there is a need to advance internal democracy within Nigerian political parties,” identifying the fourth as the need to reform and modernise the state security apparatus.

“The military, police, and intelligence must be trained and equipped to wage the security response with the proper tools and strategy, and to target the use of force carefully and effectively.”

“Fifth, the laws on paper against bribery, corruption, and conflict of interest are reasonably good in principle, but they have huge weak-

There is no purely security solution to either of these security challenges. Each emerges as a twisted response to a situation of pervasive corruption, injustice, distrust, moral decay, and state weakness

nesses in enforcement that must be repaired. The only way to fight it is with a system of horizontal accountability that is vigorous, comprehensive, independent, and interlocking,” he noted.

On the sixth recommendation, he appealed the United States, Europe and Nigerian leaders themselves to take steps to bring back whatever amount of money —probably well over $100 billion— that successive generations of Nigerian politicians have looted and stashed away outside Nigeria in identifiable liquid and fixed assets: bank accounts, stocks, property, and other investments and luxury wealth.

In his parting shot, Diamond said, “It is noteworthy that several opposition parties have succeeded in unifying under the banner of the new All Progressives Congress, promising to make the 2015 elections the most competitive of the Fourth Republic.

These coming elections will thus represent a historically crucial test of the electoral process in Nigeria, and it is vitally important for political stability in Nigeria that they be credible, free, and fair.”

Speaking earlier while delivering his opening remarks, former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu exuded optimism that the lecture would become a permanent feature of Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

While faulting the current democratic process in the country, he stated that the nation is governed through a hybrid process where democracy is often the junior partner and minority attribute.

Tinubu said, “Faced with a growing number of state governors in the opposition party, the Federal Government arbitrarily has reduced the revenues flowing to the states in order to punish the political opposition.

“In effect, the federal government has imposed economic sanctions simply because some political leaders have the temerity to belong to another party. That the people are made to suffer means little, for the people are not why they entered into governance. Power and privilege are.”

Spicing up the discourse in his caCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Governor Akpabio recently did a volte-face on the Akwa Ibom State Pensions Law and had it amended because of the outcry that trailed it. If he was convinced that the law was right, why did he bow to public pressure?

Actually this was a 16 year-old law which was just amended by the House after due deliberation on an executive bill. The state government noticed a lacuna in the open-ended provision for the medical treatment of former governor and deputy governor and their spouses.

It therefore, sought to put a ceiling to it to safeguard against it against abuse and protect public funds. In clear terms, the amendment was right and was made with all good and patriotic intentions.

Sadly, in Akwa Ibom State, politicians try to reap selfish political capital out of everything. Where the law simply put a ceiling on how much, in terms of health insurance, former governors and deputy governors and their spouses who were sick were entitled to annually, the politicians mischievously cast it as if it were a yearly pay out to former governors and deputy governors. This was preposterous falsehood.

Unfortunately, some sections of the press, apparently acting the scripts of these mischievous politicians, did editorials along this jaundiced line, without reading the law or confirming the situation from the relevant officers in Government like the Attorney General or Speaker of the House of Assembly.

They obviously did not want the facts to interfere with their biased conclusions.

It was the worst distortion of truth by some sections of the mainstream press in recent times and a worrisome pointer that every Nigerian has his price. This was why Governor Akpabio rightly described the situation as a siege on truth in his media chat.

As to why Governor Akpabio decided to have the law amended, you should remember that he ended his speech to the press by referencing Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s quotation that “history will vindicate the just.” History will definitely vindicate him. If the press had sought to be fair, it would have compared the Pensions Law in Akwa Ibom with those of other states and they would have known that Akwa Ibom has the most modest of such law in Nigeria. I believe that history will vindicate Governor Akpabio.

Some people have argued that the Pensions Law ran into a storm because the media was not carried along?

Such thinking is not only patronising, it gives the impression that some sections of the press cannot analyse events on their face value. You do not need to carry the press along when you are sending your child to school. You do not have to carry the press along when you are undertaking a righteous cause of action. Remember to the pure all things are pure. This is more like noticing that your house is on fire and your try to fix it up. Only for your neighbour to block the fire truck and claim that you did not carry him along before calling the fire truck. What Governor Akpabio did was a righteous act and he could not have anticipated that men who do not wish the state well would seek to destroy it for their selfish advantages using the press. Governor Akpabio is not just any governor, he is a governor, whose uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State speaks for him, and testifies to his statesmanship, candour, forthrightness, integrity and good conscience. Asking for the law to be amended has been applauded by many Nigerians and has strengthened his credentials as uncommon leader with a good heart and conscience. More so it would have been unfair and unjust for these illintentioned politicians to seek to define his sterling performance as a governor by referencing this law.

Right now the burning issue in Akwa Ibom State is zoning. While the governor wants power to be zoned to Eket Senatorial District, some want an open contest with

15

A’Ibom Pension Law: History will vindicate Akpabio –Ukpe Aniete Ukpe, the Chief Press Secretary/Senior Special Assistant on Media to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio says that history will vindicate his boss on the amendment of the state pension law. He also speaks on the contest for his principal’s successor, 2015 general election, Akpabio’s 2015 senatorial ambition, among other issues. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports Abuja. Politics is about selling one’s self to the electorate; not selling one’s self at the capital, Abuja. I am using Abuja here as a generic term. Home is where you should prove your mettle, not Abuja. The political battleground is in Akwa Ibom, and you cannot win in Akwa Ibom by telling stories and making propaganda in Abuja. You cannot plant a farm in Abuja and harvest in Akwa Ibom. So, if you want to reap in Akwa Ibom, come and plant here in Akwa Ibom. It is as straight cut as that.

Ukpe

candidates from all over the state. Why is Governor Akpabio backing Eket Senatorial District?

When Governor Akpabio says that it is the turn of Eket Senatorial District to produce the next governor, he is speaking the minds of Akwa Ibom people. His position is based on justice, equity and fair play; attributes that endear him to the people and mark him out as a statesman. He had town hall meetings in all the federal constituencies in the state and the people were unanimous that power should be zoned to Eket Senatorial District. Eket Senatorial District is the only district that has never produced a governor in the 26 years of Akwa Ibom State. In line with the principle of zoning and extant agreements, it is therefore, fit and proper for Eket Senatorial District to have a sense of belonging by producing the next governor. That has been the governor’s and Akwa Ibom people’s just position. Those who fault this are a vocal minority who are not driven by altruistic interests. Added to this is that zoning is in the PDP constitution and should be observed.

What is the relationship between the Governor Akpabio and the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG) Mr Udom Emmanuel? Is he the governor’s candidate?

Considering his antecedents and contributions to the banking industry, the SSG, Mr Emmanuel Udom, is eminently qualified to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State. He is from Eket Senatorial District. He shone like a thousand stars in the banking industry and rose to the top echelon of the industry by deploying the Akwa Ibom attributes of integrity, honesty and diligence. He is doing an excellent job as the Secretary to the State Government. He commands great respect throughout the length and breadth of the state. The fact remains that Governor Akpabio is imbued with a democratic spirit

In clear terms, the amendment was right and was made with all good and patriotic intentions.

Sadly, in Akwa Ibom State, politicians try to reap selfish political capital out of everything and would not impose someone on Akwa Ibom State that the people do not want. He is too much of a democrat. He wants all Akwa Ibom people to be involved in the exercise of choosing their next governor and ensuring that the legacies he is leaving behind are in safe hands.

Those talking about imposition are afraid of something else that they cannot afford to say publicly. What are they afraid of ? It is that the governor is so extremely popular and loved in the state that if he endorses any aspirant, the people will immediately gravitate towards that person and the fight would be over before it starts. So, they would want him blindfolded and gagged so that the people would not know what he thinks. But that is not possible. In every democracy all citizens have the right to endorse anyone – even media institutions, in spite of their strict code of impartial reporting, at times endorse candidates.

Governor Akpabio has been talking about metropolitan politicians. Who are the metropolitan politicians?

It was a general statement. What the governor is saying is that if you want to contest in Akwa Ibom, you should connect with the people in Akwa Ibom; not

Some stakeholders are saying that the governor should provide a level playing field towards the emergence of the next governor. What is your comment on that?

That the governor will not allow a level playing field is a fallacy. Anyone who knows the governor can attest that he plays by the rules. PDP has its rules pertaining to the conduct of primaries and the governor will definitely observe the rules to the letter in Akwa Ibom. Like I said earlier, their fear is that the governor has a surfeit of goodwill in the politics of Akwa Ibom State. They forget that the governor is a citizen of Nigeria and based on his human and constitutional rights, he can relate with whoever he wants to relate with and endorse anyone he may want to. Just like they can also relate with or endorse whomever they want. But they want to reserve the right for them to endorse whoever they please and deny the governor the right to endorse anyone. Even in the American presidential election, popular presidents endorse candidates. It is only unpopular presidents who could not endorse anyone, because their support would be counterproductive.

How prepared is Governor Akpabio to actualise his senatorial ambition come 2015?

Governor Akpabio is not the one putting up the billboards. He knows nothing about them. He is not the one who wants to go to the Senate; it is the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District who have said that it is a desideratum for him to go to the Senate. They want him to render service at a different level because he has been very faithful in the discharge of his duties as a governor. When you have a treasure, you show it around. The people believe that for him to have performed so creditably well as a governor, it will be of great benefit to them if he represented them at the Senate. The senatorial agenda is the agenda of the people of the senatorial district and they are the ones doing everything. The people put up the billboards you saw. The governor does not want to be distracted from performing his duties as governor, and he wants to end his tenure on a crescendo.

Has he formally declared his intention to run for the Senate come 2015?

He does not need to. Like I said, it is the people of the senatorial district who offered him the position. A declaration is a notification of intent. When the intent is the demand and desire of the people, who you ought to make the declaration to, then the narrative has to change. A formal declaration would be done at some point to fulfil all righteousness, but right now it is a mass movement in action; a mass movement by the people of the senatorial district to send someone who will give them the best possible representation.

16 POLITICS

OPEN FORUM Ralph Nwosu, national chairman, African Democratic Congress (ADC)

T

he creation of 18 states is good so long as the essence is to balance the six regions. The need to create states is to balance the six regions. There are things that are affecting our country today.

Each area continues shouting marginalisation without paying attention to the region that is truly being marginalised. We have six regions in this country, some have six while others have seven states, but there is a region with just five states. From the perspective of natural justice, it’s wrong, and things like these are things that cause disharmony.

Whether we create 18 or 19 states, whether we create 30 or 48 states in Nigeria does not really matter, what is more important is that we are able to address that thing that has been causing us problems. It will then be for the people of this country and leadership to challenge the states that are not viable to stand on their own. It is not about population. There are some countries of the world registered under the United Nations that are less than two million. Two million is even much, there are countries with a total population of about 50,000, and even below, so for states in Nigeria to be more than 100,000, it can be viable to sustain itself as a state. It’s just that our political leaders have to be resourceful.

We are talking about nation building here. Nation building comes in phases or stanzas. The first stanza is fairness, which is when we talk about balancing of structure. Let me tell you something, I am a scholar and a practitioner, and one of my core areas is nation building. When we have a diverse group that came together to form a nation like we have in Nigeria, one of the things we need to take care of is the issue of structure. This is to ensure that no one feels marginalized. For instance, don’t let the south east or whichever zones feel shortchanged.

So when we take care of this, the first basic problem is taken care of.

The next will be; what will each of

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

...CONFAB RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW STATES

Nwosu: In order if meant to balance the regions There is no state in Nigeria that is not capable of doing something great, it is all about mind set and orientation

Nwosu

the constituents bring to the table?

And if for instance, natural resources are truly lacking in a particular location, the country may now decide to find a way to compensate them and incorporate them into the scheme of things.

After the challenge of the first stanza, we can now say that the first challenge has been taken care of.

The other challenge is now balancing up so that nobody will feel that the system stifles them. When we get there we will now ask ourselves, so each state, what are you bringing to the table? Because now, the way we are looking at the country is still in such a way that each state is still asking how much is it getting from the federal government? No, that is wrong. By the time we resolve the

issue of structure, we now start to raise more fundamental questions which is, each state, what do you now bring to the table? So the important thing is let’s solve this problem in this first stanza so that no one will feel shortchanged. Then we will now be bold to say, now you are a state, what do you bring to the table? Not what have you come to take from the table?

Agitation will always continue but the moment we have equal number, no portion or section of the country will feel that being part of Nigeria has emasculated them. The Igbo man will not feel that the other region or zone has taken advantage of him, nor the Ijaw man complaining that he has no sense of belonging in the Nigerian nation, and so on so forth.

One other thing I want Nigerians to understand is that population or viability should not be in the fore front of consideration first, now listen to this, when the state of Nevada of the United State of America was created, the population was not up to 20,000 people. It was just a big desert with stones everywhere, but the moment the people saw they were handicapped, they decided to transform the state to one of the most attractive places to visit in US and that is why you have Los Vegas. If you go to Los Vegas today you will see hotels with over 250,000 occupants. This is simply ingenuity; the Ingenuity of people of a place that would have

Raising the stake for democracy CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

pacity as a panelist at the dialogue, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, noted that Nigerians are too docile in retrieving what rightly belongs to them from the ruling class, adding that the followership is as guilty as the leadership.

“The only way to stop us from stealing is to stone us. The followership is equally guilty as the leadership. The institutions are already compromised and there is no alternative to them. Nigerians seem not be against corruption but they are against how long you stay being corrupt. Don’t expect those in public office to fight corruption because you can’t stop a man from eating.

“I still wonder why Nigerians are not on the streets protesting against corruption. While we were Students Union leaders in the 1980’s, we can’t hear that they have stolen $20 billion and we won’t be on the streets protesting. Now, I hear that NANS president now has a car, has special advisers, it’s a shame.

“Nothing will change in this country until you take your power back from us.

There is only one way we can take our

power back as a people; it is for us to be on the street. If we continue to recognise them, we will not change Nigeria.

If the soldiers shoot and you run away, then they will pursue. The Arab spring started by a man who sacrificed himself. Until one of us stands and says today is the end of stealing, it can’t come to an end. I have told Nigerians, when you start the protest, I will like to be in front with my wife and children but it has to come from you,” he said.

Another panelist, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, called for an urgent think out of the box approach at all levels of government, lamenting the monetisation of politics, adding that, “in a country where moneybags often dominate nominations for elective positions that it might be difficult for serious aspirants with good ideas to emerge.”

On his part, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto, Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, took exception to the ominous picture of the country painted by the guest speaker and others, saying that the comparison of the country with countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, the

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ghana may not be appropriate, adding that circumstance differs.

He said, “It depends on how we measure. I agree we could have done better, but I don’t agree that we are living in the most rotten part of God’s forsaken earth.

“Leaders have to lead based on certain beliefs and principles. It is difficult to lead Nigeria because the followership is far more educated, better equipped than those who are holding public offices,” he stated.

“We are confusing those in public office as having powers of being leaders; you can hold a public office without being a leader. That is why when you see some of our governors, ministers and presidents when they leave power, you may not recognize them.”

Clearly, the inaugural lecture which was chaired by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), has come at a time where a radical political restructuring its needed for the Nigerian polity, it is only hoped that the nuggets from the gathering would not fizzle into thin air.

been considered a remote place, with no point of attraction.

Now within 20years they turned it to a tourist city. They created Los Vegas some other tourist attractions.

Today if you go to Vegas, you will see the biggest shows, with people coming from different parts of the world to do trade exhibitions. So you can convert anywhere you feel is backward to the biggest point of attraction. Once there are human beings there clamoring for the status of a state, let them have it, it’s only lazy people that cannot do anything.

I am not sure if any state governor in Nigeria has done much in terms of turning their states into points of attraction. The fact that you have natural resources in Rivers, Bayelsa or Delta does not mean they are doing wonders or the fact that you have Lagos, which of course has served as a national capital, with lots of investment, people were just naturally drawn to it and not because anybody has turned it into heaven using the human ingenuity. With democracy, all of these things are possible.

There is no state in Nigeria that is not capable of doing something great, it is all about mind set and orientation. That is why the president is talking about transformation agenda. Transformation in that sense does not mean physical transformation only, but transformation from the way we are doing things. If like I said earlier, 20,000 people can transform a rock and desert filled land to a global tourist garden, why can’t it be done in Nigeria? And again, time is of essence here, you don’t expect that once a state is created it is transformed automatically. No, it is a gradual process. All it takes is just creativity. If Nigerian leaders will apply creativity in governance, Nigeria will not take long to transform into a global epicenter, because Nigeria is uniquely gifted.

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

Yakassai: We don’t need more states Tanko Yakassai, elder statesman and former Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari

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f I am given a chance, I will push for the former 12 states structure. Personally I don’t like the idea of additional states. Even the 36 states we have today are too much. We are spending a lot of money to maintain these states, paying the governors, the deputy governors, the commissioners, their personal assistants and a host of others in their care. The money we are supposed to use to develop this country like build schools, hospitals and job opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths, we are wasting them on running democracy and other frivolities.

Left for me, I do not support the recommendation in any way. But because we are in a democracy where the opin-

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

OPEN FORUM

...CONFAB RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW STATES

Uda: We may end up creating more problems Mr. Mike Uda, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State

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f the south east is given an additional state, state creation in other regions can be contemplated. This is because for a long time now, the south east has been marginalized, every other region in the country has at least six states and south east has only five states, and it is not as if the population or land mass is not there, two important criteria that are considered for state creation. So I think it is expedient to give the south east one state to make sure that every geo political zones has at least, six states before the national conference, or whatever body will begin contemplating creation of more state anywhere. So it is a welcome development for the people of the south east.

The decision is a right one in the spirit of fairness. If the south east geopolitical zone is given, at least, one new state to make sure it is on a near equal footing with the rest of other geopolitical zones in the country, I think for now we can wait because it is not important or imperative to keep on creating states because states can never be enough. It seems as if the more states are created the more the agitation for states comes. If we are able to get one more state in the south east and juxtapose it against what we have in other zones, I think for a while we can pause and begin to look at some other issues in the country which may not necessarily be addressed through state creation.

If some ethnic nationalities attached to some other feel shortchanged, or fell their interest is poorly represented and they came up with proof for their case and we look at their case and it makes sense, they may be given a state, but we have to be careful to make sure that we don’t create states unnecessarily, especially when we realize that there is going to be an imbalance because in this kind

We should make sure that there is that premium placed on balance, otherwise, we will end up creating more problems of situation one should be happy that we have balance. If we want each geopolitical zone to have seven states for instance, we should make sure that every zone irrespective of size, has seven states, or if we want a minimum of six states, we must peg it at six for all the zones, otherwise, there will be some element of injustice.

But if there is a glaring case where it is imperative, or where it is so obvious that there is need for the creation of more states, we should be able to consider that to ensure the principle of balance. So if we see that we can create additional states without necessarily creating more elements of imbalance within the country, we can create but we should make sure that there is that premium placed on balance, otherwise, we will end up creating more problems.

On the other hand, If there is any zone, or any particular section of the country that has met all the criteria for the creation of an additional state and we find out that if we create that state it does not make or affect the political forms or structure of other political regions in the country we can consider it, but all in all we should be guided by the principle of balance, fairness, justice and number in the

ion of the majority thrives, I have to respect the opinion and views of the majority, but for me, 12 states structure is what the country currently needs.

The 36 states structure as we have now or the demand for more is a waste of resources.

There is no country in the world which has less population than Nigeria with more states than Nigeria, why will Nigeria’s case be an exception when we cannot maintain the least of all the states.

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

process of state creation.

Yes, it is understandable that some states may not be viable to stand as a state, but the only thing permanent in life is change. Necessity they say, is the mother of invention. If there is any need to collapse some of the states into smaller units, why can’t we do it?

However, we should not be in a hurry in doing that. My advice is that we should take out time to look at all the ramifications of the issue of state creation, and at the end of the day, a high powered committee should be set up to consider all these factors and come

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

Banjo: It’s selfish and unpatriotic Lanre Banjo, is three time governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Ogun State and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

T Yakassai

Uda

up with something that will be in the interest of the generality of the country, from then, if there is need for us to collapse some states, we collapse and where we have need to create more we can then go ahead to create more.

We should equally remember these things are not things we should be in a hurry to do. First, we have to take out time and get the people that will do the job. We make sure that people who will consider them are people who are reasonable, people who are patriotic and altruistic and we will make sure that the demand for more states or the demand for the collapsing of some will not be guided by the principles of tribalism, ethnicity, religion or whatever. Once these elements are eliminated, I see no reason why we cannot have a review of the existing structure in the country in its entirety.

Secondly, we have to think about the platform. The national conference though, may be a good platform; but it may not be the final bus stop. There will still be the need to take up such issues to some other places. At the end of the national conference, for instance, there is nothing wrong in having a referendum, there is nothing wrong in the National Assembly deliberating on whatever may have arisen from the there. National issues should not be done in a hurry. We will make sure that every segment of the society or every part of the country is taken along before we come up with something we can call the new structure. But it is worthwhile. It is good as it was started at the confab, but it should not be the last bus stop.

he demand for the creation of new 18 states shows that the people at the National Conference are not patriotic and they don’t have the nation’s interest at heart. Because if you are saying that they should create more states, considering that some of the present 36 states are not economically viable and those in government cannot even think rather than to continue to impose hardship on the citizens in terms of unnecessary taxes, how would they fund all the new states they are proposing to create? It would be expenses to create new states.

The moment we have another state there would be need for another government mansions for Government House, Governor’s office, House of Assembly complex and creation of more local governments. Where would these resources come from? At present people are complaining that government did not construct roads and many people are dying because of lack of good medical and some people are saying that they should

create more states. Is that our priority now? The proponents of creation of more states are just selfish and they are not patriotic because if they are patriotic they will not be talking about creation of more states. It is not about posterity. Some of them are clamouring for new states so that they can be the first governor of the new states.

Those who are proposing more states are doing it for selfish reason; they are not patriotic and they are not thinking about the required resources needed to manage the state when created. Another reason why I am saying they are not patriotic is because if they are patriotic, they will know that there is strength in number. So when you keep dividing and dividing, it will bring disunity among the people. For example, when there was a tussle between Alaafin of Oyo and Ooni of Ile-Ife in the old Oyo State, the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida thought that dividing the state into two will settle the tussle but it did not despite the state been divided into Oyo and Osun State with both of them having their boundaries. Presently, they are talking about calving New Oyo State from the present Oyo State. So, these are the reasons why people like us are not comfortable with creation of more state now.

However, I will agree to state creation in the South so that we can equalise with the North or they should take Kwara State out of the North. If they take Kwara State out

Banjo

of the North, the South and North will have equal numbers of state and there would not basis for the North to be harassing the South. That is what all of us should fight for. At present, there is 19 states in the North while the South has 17 states, so they create additional state in South-East and South-West so that the North and the South will have equal numbers of states.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

18 POLITICS The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. VICTOR OGENE, writes on the 100 days in office of Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Obiano: 100 days and beyond

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hen two years ago - precisely on Saturday, September 22, 2012- I declared at a live media talk show hosted by the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS), that after pleading with our kith and kin from the two other zones of the state yet my people of Anambra North Senatorial zone are still not allowed to produce the next helmsman of the state, I would lead a civil disobedience march to actualise the quest, many in the state - and beyond - felt that the outburst amounted to mere grandstanding.

Yet, that declaration, aptly reported in the national dallies, especially The Nation Newspaper of Sunday, September 23, 2012 at page 8, with the headline,” Anambra 2014: It is Anambra North or Revolution,says Rep”, was a summation of the resolve of Anambra North indigenes to take their political destiny in their own hands, 21 years after the creation of the state.

Although the generality of the people, including traditional rulers, politicians, elder statesmen, youth and women groups within the zone had hinged their clamour on the tripod of equity, justice and fairness, they were, undeniably, bolstered by the determination of the then governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, to redress the long years of alienation which the area had suffered in the jostle for political offices.

But those who opposed this unique zoning arrangement were to come up with counter-poise, to the effect that merit and competence ought not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning. As cogent as their opinion appeared to be, we persistently averred - and correctly too - that Anambra , nay any other state for that matter, is equitably blessed that no singular zone can claim a monopoly of talented, competent and credible leadership materials that can creatively and successfully pilot its affairs. Furthermore, we posited that no previous governor of the state, post - 1999 - except, of course, former Governor Obi - ever got to the exalted seat by reason of merit.

Think Mbadinuju. Think Ngige.

As it turned out, upon the conclusion of the state’s gubernatorial election last November, common sense prevailed as the electorate overwhelm-

Obiano

ingly endorsed the candidature of Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), thus bringing to fruition the quest for the state to have a governor of Anambra North extraction.

Having mounted the saddle on Monday, March 17, 2014, the Obiano administration recently turned a decisive bend: it marked its 100 Days in office. Agreed that a ‘mere’ 100 days may be insignificant in assessing an administration with a fou -year tenure, for the people of Anambra, Governor Obiano’s sure and measured steps since assumption of office are replete with positive reflections of a certain purposefulness that engenders hope.

Sure enough, hope for the creative and unique transformation of the state into a new level of development became manifest, going by the governor’s

Governor Obiano is aggressively rolling the wheels of his four pillars of development, to wit: Agriculture; Industrialisation; Trade and Commerce; and Oil and Gas blueprint, zest and passion with which he literally set out at dawn through a faithful adherence to his promise to continue with his predecessor’s projects, complete them, commission and

Upbeat in Enugu ahead of 2015 CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

ruling party swept the polls during the council elections, pundits argue that the governor’s structure would produce almost all the delegates.

From the look of things, most of the council chairmen, if not all of them, will continue to be in the governor’s line up come 2015. Apart from the fact that the governor held the key to the emergence of most of them as candidates during the December polls, the state government has the capacity to oust any council boss who is seen as opposition.

Hence, the governor, for now, has a firm grip on the structure of the party.

But a source claimed that the camp of the Ekweremadu is not folding its arms in the face of the obvious disadvantage. According to the source, “we know that the Deputy Senate President has also engaged three persons from

each of the 260 wards and he intends to use them as his parallel delegates if this crisis degenerates to a level when he would use his connections in Abuja to try to form a parallel PDP state exco.” It was learnt that these designated ‘spare’ delegates are being paid monthly stipends.

Again, in recent times, Ekweremadu has been visiting communities outside the five local government councils that make up his West Senatorial Zone. For instance, he has visited Obimo and Ibagwa-Ani communities in Nsukka council area. In fact, in Obimo community, he has done some road and water projects which were elaborately publicized by his Dream FM radio station based in Enugu, the broadcast station itself being seen largely as a political mouthpiece strategically positioned ahead of the 2015 polls.

Besides the Chime and Ekweremadu battle, another knotty issue beclouding political activities in the state ahead of the 2015 general election is the fact that most aspirants have since failed to show either ample body language or outright expression of interest in the positions they would contest.

And what caused the lull is an open secret among PDP chieftains in the state who now know that the fear of the consequences of exuberance in going about one’s interest in a position was the beginning of political wisdom at these crucial times.

But what appears certain in all the circumstances in the offing in the political terrain of the state is that the battle for supremacy between Govenor Chime and Senator Ekweremadu, would be one of the major sore points in the 2015 polls in the Coal City state.

then commence new initiatives. Infact, so sure-footed is Governor Obiano that today, he is no longer seen from the prism of having emerged from the pre-election sentiments of been a candidate from Anambra North, to one who is driven by the vehicle of competence, passion and commitment to the upliftment of the state.

This, in essence, has seemingly unified the desires of advocates of the governorship stool going to Anambra North, and the few that opposed it, in a melting pot of satisfaction.

Indeed, Governor Obiano actually hit the ground running by taking some audacious steps aimed at checking insecurity. This, he did by taking the war against criminality to the doorsteps of the criminals by setting up a security apparatus with the code-name “Operation Mkpochapu” - a no - nonsense response to the manace of armed banditry and kidnapping; with the resultant effect that there has not been any reported case of reign of terror these past three months.

With Moshe Keinan, an Isreali security expert headlining an all-embracing security summit which the governor convoked in Awka, the state capital, after barely one month in office, many watchers of the burgeoning administration knew instantly that it would no longer be business - as - usual.

As a tested technocrat, with proven track record in the corporate world, Governor Obiano, without any doubt, understands that in order to tackle youth unemployment, create genuine wealth and engender economic prosperity in the state, he must give special attention to agriculture, which provides huge job and wealth creation opportunities, invest in physical infrastructure to encourage and support industrialization and rally the citizenry in the fight against insecurity, as no meaningful economic development can take place in the absence of peace and tranquillity.

With this great leap in security, which has seen no fewer than 177 kidnappers nabbed and put out of business, many might, however, be tempted to think that all the governor’s energies are concentrated in only that direction.

Quite unknown to several ndi Anambra , however, Governor Obiano is aggressively rolling the wheels of his four pillars of development, to wit: Agriculture; Industrialisation; Trade and Commerce; and Oil and Gas. In the road sector, for instance ,he has initiated the construction of 14 new roads, totalling 167.494 kilometres; commenced the construction of three new fly-over in Awka; and flagged-off the erection of a bridge leading to the oil fields of Aguleri.

Under Agriculture, he has secured 3,000 hectares of land for the cultivation of cassava; flagged-off a farm project which has the capacity to produce 120,000 metric tons of rice per year, plus a potential to absorb no fewer than 1,000 job seekers - just as he has signalled the take-off of construction of four modern markets in Awka, Ogbunike, Umunze and Oba, to boost his quest for trade and commerce activities.

Besides being renown for commerce and industry, Anambra also boasts a remarkable deposit of Oil and Gas which is dire need of development, and to the delight of many, Governor Obiano is already setting machineries in motion for the official recognition of Anambra as Nigeria’s 10th Oil- producing state.

For a people whose cynicism for government and its operations run high, the warmth and adulations which they shower on Governor Obiano - after just 100 days - is, perhaps, indicative of a long romance and support for his quest for excellence, regardless of the geopolitical sentiments which threw him up in the first instance.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

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

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

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

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FRIday, JULY 11, 2014

Unacceptable maternal and infant mortality rate

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he plight of the Nigerian child, especially the infant, continues to get deplorable international indices. The latest “Lancet Every Newborn Series” report shows 295,000 stillborn and 267,000 neonatal deaths every year in Nigeria. This boils down to 1,540 babies dying daily at birth, largely from preventable and treatable diseases.

In addition, data from the Series indicates that 289, 000 women still die every year from complications at birth and 6.6 million children do not live to see their fifth birthday, including nearly 3m newborns (who die in the last three months of pregnancy or during child birth), while, globally, at least 200 million women and girls are unable to access family planning services that would allow them to control when and when not to have children.

Globally, each year, 2.9 million newborns (first 28 days of life) die and 2.6 million are stillborn (die in the last three months of pregnancy or during child birth). Also, 15, 000 babies are born and die daily without ever receiving a birth certificate. The accompanying analysis shows 3 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths in 75 high-burden countries could be prevented at an annual cost of only US$ 1.15 per person.

Last year, Nigeria reportedly came last as “the worst place for a baby to

enter the world in 2013,” in another report by Economist Intelligence Unit, a subsidiary of The Economist of London. Currently, about half of the world’s under-five deaths occur in five countries of the world – Nigeria, India, Congo, Pakistan and China.

Though difficult to believe, these are not mere statistics, but human beings whose deaths are preventable with a functional health care delivery system. It is particularly sad when viewed against the background that Nigeria’s leadership fritters away so much of the country’s wealth that could make life meaningful for the citizens.

Unfortunately, these deaths are attributable to treatable and preventable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and HIV/AIDS, which account for more than 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria. The underlying fact is that if a Nigerian child is not killed by any of the above diseases, he or she is likely to be mauled down by malnutrition, which contributes 50 per cent to such deaths. According to health experts, the highest infantile mortality in Africa is related to maternal malnutrition, which could lead to miscarriages, diarrhea, anemia and weight loss in babies as well as jaundice, which could eventually result in brain damage for the new born.

It is double jeopardy for Nigerian children!

Sadly enough, most of these deaths are said to occur within the first week of life, mainly due to complications during pregnancy and delivery, affirming the relationship between newborn survival and the quality of maternal care. The coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria are still at the lowest ebb, although health authorities are beating their chest in selfcongratulation.

According to United Nations Funds for Children (UNICEF), currently, 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants. With this poor coverage, there is hardly any need to ask what is killing Nigerian children and their mothers.

However, the Lancet Series analysis also reveals that these deaths can be dramatically reduced via proven interventions like breastfeeding, neonatal resuscitation, kangaroo mother care for preterm babies and antenatal corticosteroids. Nigeria, for instance, according to the new data, could prevent 375,000 maternal and newborn deaths by 2025 – making it the country with the second highest number of lives that could be saved, if these and other standard interventions are effectively implemented.

At the just concluded historic and much anticipated ‘2014 Partners’ Forum’ – a global health summit

hosted by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss the new findings (Lancet) and other maternal, newborn and child health issues, world leaders took a swipe at various governments for failure to improve the health outcomes for newborns.

They unequivocally called on heads of government to develop new sustainable development agenda to be right-based, equity-focused and to place the health of women, children and adolescents at its core as well as new framework to focus on ending preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity, and ensure sexual and reproductive rights, including universal access to quality sexual and reproductive services. It is hoped that Nigeria, which was in attendance will align itself to the call and do what is needful.

It is high time this insidious health crisis is tackled head on, as it is incumbent on governments to guarantee the health and well-being of millions of children in the country and their right to life, education, happiness and general well-being.

Similarly, provision of maternal care, skilled care at birth, immunization, and wider distribution of bed nets, and vaccines would significantly reduce infant mortality and speed up the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

OPINION Soyinka’s souvenir: Sour, somersault so sombre H

eroes do not easily get pushed over. A pretty difficult task watching your idol slide from the peak of adoration to the valley of derision.

Professor Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka is my idol. I have never engaged him in a telephone conversation. I am too small to stand before him when it comes to grammar. He is the Lion of African literature, even if he does not wear jewelry.

Kongi, the son of ‘Essay’ and ‘Wild Christian’ [Mama Eniola], the professor of professors, father of commissioners, playwright, activist, evergreen friend of Chris Okigbo and erstwhile defender of Ndigbo, seems to have derailed again.

Recently, he granted an interview to a foreign news agency and after reading his remarks, I almost threw up.

Hear him, “the bloodshed is now worse than during the 1967-70 Biafra War when a secessionist attempt by the Eastern Igbo people nearly tore Nigeria up into ethnic regions.”

He was not done.” We have never been confronted with butchery on this scale, even during the Civil War. “T his is most unbearable.

Soyinka’s friend Okigbo must be boiling with rage

Igbo villages were wiped out.

Homes were destroyed, wives were abducted, girls were raped. Men were eaten, and their flesh used to prepare peppersoup and suya. Ask Brig Godwin Alabi Isama in his grave. Okigbo died fighting for Biafra in Nsukka in what has been described as brave suicide. The young man confronted an armoured tank with hand grenade.

And this same Soyinka was even pilloried by the General Yakubu Gowon regime on allegations that he had a soft spot for the Biafrans.

The same Gowon had detained this icon and it stiil pains Soyinka that he was languishing in detention when his father was buried, i think in 1972.

I remember there was an attempt to reconcile the duo

by Chief Gbenga Daniel in 2004 when the playwright turned 70. The general offered apologies, but made all laugh when he said of Soyinka, “his mouth wowo”.

Why would Soyinka who is celebrating 80 choose this time to ridicule my people? What has really gone wrong? Is it that age is taking its’ toll on this celebrity?

I am in a good position to talk about the Biafra War because I have not recovered from it. I saw the war, and I am bold to say that i survived it.

Millions of my people are not alive to tell any story, because they were consumed by war. For Soyinka to wake up in 2014 to say Biafra was child’s play is unfortunate.

The other day, I was reminded of Gen. Iliya Bisalla.

He was credited to have prayed Ukpabi Asika to beg his friend ,then Col. Olusegun Obasanjo, to stop using heavy weaponry on Igbo civilian population. Obasanjo’s response was something like, he did not want to expose his troops to danger. The pummeling continued.

Igbo villages were wiped out. Homes were destroyed, wives were abducted, girls were raped. Men were eaten, and their flesh used to prepare peppersoup and suya.

Ask Brig Godwin Alabi Isama.

It is injurious to say Biafra was all about Eastern Igbo. General Ojukwu’s second in command was Gen. Phillip Effiong. We had men from the then Mid-West like Conrad Nwawo, Michael Okwechime, Beneth Ochei, Tim Onwuatuegwu and Yoruba like Ganiyu Adeleke.

Professor Soyinka should withdraw these words. I have never seen him in this negative light.When many were fighting him over Chinua Achebe, I stood by the poet. Afterall, one cannot use leaves from Ake to bribe the Nobel Panel.

I will shout out to Dr. Dokun Soyinka, Ogun state commissioner for Health. Should anything happen to those of us, his father’s admirers, who cannot understand the old man any more, we are rushing to Abeokuta for medical attention.

APC and the imminence of defeat in Osun (1) Biola Adekola

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he Ekiti elections of June 21 have come and gone, yet the APC, which was comprehensively defeated at the polls, has been behaving like the ostrich, citing some imaginary evidence of “photocromic” rigging or intimidation of voters by the presence of armed security agents as the cause of its woeful defeat at the polls.

The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has been the loudest proponent of the thesis that APC did not lose the elections in Ekiti. He went further to boast that the outcome of the forthcoming elections in Osun would prove him right.

Every objective and rational observer of the Ekiti political scene, prior to the elections, knew that Governor Kayode Fayemi was spending his last days as governor and that Ayo Fayose would emerge victorious anytime the elections took place.

The APC, in its folly, was supremely confident that its propaganda and barefaced lies would hoodwink the people and make them vote en-masse for Fayemi whose achievements are found more on the pages of newspapers and television than in any identifiable part of Ekiti.

Now that the chickens have come home to roost, even the rabid pro-APC columnists of The Nation newspapers have started to enumerate and analyse Fayemi’s original sins – bordering on lack of

sincerity, accountability or transparency and his preoccupation with the fanning of his own ego and that of the clique that surrounded him.

Aregbesola’s sins are more when juxtaposed with those committed by Fayemi in Ekiti.

A critical analysis of these transgressions point in the direction of another comprehensive defeat for Aregbesola and the APC on August 9. Osun people are no fools and are witnesses to the demolition of houses, shops and property (without due compensation) by the Aregbesola administration.

They are also witnesses to the total destruction of the educational system through wrong-headed policies. The consequence has been declining performance

by Osun State students in public examinations, yet Aregbesola insists that his policies are the best for the education sector.

The reckless acquisition of loans to finance phantom projects have left Osun in a state of financial asphyxia and when it dawned on the APC apparatchik that nonpayments of months of arrears of salaries will jeopardise the party’s electoral chances in Osun, they hurriedly went to secure another round of loans at very exorbitant rate of interest to pay months of arrears owed teachers, civil servants and the O-YES employees whose own arrears run into about nine months.

They are presently looking for more loans to pay pensioners.

An already heavily-indebted Osun

State will be further impoverished by an additional burden of hurriedly-contracted loan agreements.

The Omisore Campaign Organisation is happy that workers are being paid money owed them but we are absolutely sure that Osun people are not deceived by the sudden “feel-good” and “wooing” tactics of the Aregbesola administration.

They are aware that the APC government in Osun has shown itself to be antipeople in the four years it occupied the seat of power.

Unless they want a return to the days of government by deceit and propaganda, they will not vote for Aregbesola’s continued occupation of Abere.

Till date, no one, except Aregbesola himself, knows the true state of indebtedness of the Osun State government. Governor Aregbesola and his aides have not been able to give in any written document or interview, an account of how much the state is owing.

When asked, they’ve always dismissed Omisore’s figure as false and yet failed to provide the true figure of the state’s indebtedness. Who is fooling whom?

It is a tragedy of monumental proportions that Osun State, which occupies the 28th position out the 36 states of the federation in land mass as well as the 17th position in terms of population now has the unenviable reputation of being the 4th most-indebted of the 36 states of Nigeria.

So much for the “revolutionary” touch of Ogbeni in Osun.

When one realises that Osun State has received nearly N400 billion from the Federation Account between December 2010 and May 2014, the depth of the financial quagmire into which Osun State has been thrown by the Aregbesola administration is better imagined than described.

Today in Osun, there is poverty writlarge on the faces of the generality of the people who now look back with nostalgia on the days when the PDP was in the saddle.

Under the PDP administration, money went round because government invested Osun money in Osun State. Under Aregbesola, local contractors have been sent out of business, money circulates only within his Lagos clique and Lagosbased contractors got all of Osun’s major contracts. The implication of this is that capital flight takes place daily and Osun people have become more immersed in poverty and squalor.

The response of Aregbesola and his APC goons is that they are not interested in building “stomach infrastructure” when we all know that they build “stomach infrastructure” only for the governor and his coterie of friends from Lagos.

Infrastructural development that is not matched by raising the people’s standard of living and providing food, clothing and shelter is untenable and anti-human.

•Adekola, a political analysts, lives in Lagos.

ARTS FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

CULTURE

Tony Okuyeme

P

resident, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Oliver Enwonwu has expressed the determination and commitment of the Society to repositioning the visual art sector in the country. He said among various projects being initiated by the National Executive of the Society include the creation of more platforms for the production, display and dissemination of contemporary Nigerian art, as well as is building partnerships with various cultural institutions and government agencies with a view to building cross-cultural relationships while increasing exhibition and exchange programmes for Nigerian artists.

Enwonwu stated this in his opening address at the opening ceremony of the 3rd international Convention on Art and Development (CONADEV 2014), held July 7, 2014, at the National Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. The Convention themed, The Role of Art in National Development, is part of the 50th anniversary of SNA. The event attracted several scholars, art patrons, culture administrators, critics, artists, among others.

Noting that the 50th anniversary of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) coincides with an important period in the global appreciation of modern and contemporary African art, he said that these global shifts have been marked with increasing prices for art from the continent on the domestic and international art market, the inclusion of African artists at seminal exhibitions and art fairs, and most importantly, the inclusion of African arts and artists in contemporary discourse.

“However, in Nigeria, there still remains poor government funding for the visual arts including numerous endowment funds that are given lip service, a problematic and outdated art curriculum, the absence of a befitting National Gallery of Art to house our rich cultural heritage, the non-deployment of works by Nigerian artists as embellishment for public buildings, and not to mention, the absurdity of a white paper that merges the National Gallery of Art with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

“The Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) continues to respond to these

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

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TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

THE LITERARY ARTIST LENDS VERBAL DEPTH TO THE VISUAL. THE VISUAL ARTIST PROVIDES VISIBLE ARTICULATION FOR THE LITERARY." ― ABERJHANI

SNA committed to repositioning visual art sector, says Enwonwu

Enwonwu

changes by repositioning contemporary Nigerian art through the creation

In Nigeria, there still remains poor government funding for the visual arts including numerous endowment funds that are given lip service

of more platforms for the production, display and dissemination of contemporary Nigerian art. Indeed, the Society is partnering with regulatory bodies like the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education to seek ways in amending and improving the art curriculum in tertiary institutions.

For instance, a cursory look at the curriculum will show a near absence of entrepreneurial course to assist students in preparing for life outside of the university walls. The result of which, the art graduates have great

G-Clemp drops Ini Edo A

s the year rages further into August, Nigerian artists continue to up their ante in fresh explosions of singles and videos; popular musi-comedy ace, George Clement Pius after hitting the airwaves with his Microphone single is releasing a new single titled Ini Edo. Speaking on the new single, G-Clemp said “Ini Edo is still an Ibibio speaking chorus – makossa flow – which gives you an insight on the shape of the beautiful married actress Ini Edo. You know she has a beautiful shape and she is also from Akwa Ibom where G-Clemp also comes from. I know he is promoting his language, his culture and his people, trying to remove the perception of many people that Akwa Ibomites are only good as maids, so he is trying to clean up some stuffs.”

According to Makinde Adeleke, of South-South Records, “We believed in G-Clemp, no doubt, he is a talented musician whose talent and influence tran-

scends in all nooks and crannies of the nation. There is a curious excitement when the name G-Clemp or Microphone is mentioned, because of his kind of musi-comedy. If you don’t hear what he sings, you follow the flow which is easily adaptable even by children.”

Mr Chukwudi Maduforo, of Media and Monitoring in Lagos said “I have had the good fortune to own G-Clemp’s album where ‘Microphone’ made the airwaves hot. To my mind,’ Ini Edo’ is still going to be superb, going by the way; the label is positioning that single.

G-Clemp’s music contains the ingredients that make you think and dance at the same time.”

On what makes the new single and video different from his previous videos, G-Clemp said, “It’s different because we spent more on it. It’s something different from what people used to see from GClemp and the song, is a club banger. For the first time, you will hear me rap in my

G-Clemp

native language and the song is a blend of hip-hop, afro-pop and of course the comical flavour which is always inherent in my style. It has to be funny and of course, the video is funny and entertaining”. He also disclosed that he will drop his full album before the end of the year.

difficulty in building a formidable portfolio of work, building business relationships or applying for grants to funding bodies.

“In addition, the SNA is building partnerships with various cultural institutions and government agencies with a view to building cross-cultural relationships while increasing exhibition and exchange programmes for Nigerian artists,” he said.

According to him, in furthering these developments, the SNA commenced its 50th anniversary celebration last year with the National Abuja Children Art Workshop. Mobil Nigeria Ltd sponsored this educational-based initiative. It aimed to lay a strong foundation for the development of contemporary Nigerian art by encouraging children in over 20 primary and junior secondary schools, to develop their creativity while their experiences and ideas on issues affecting their environment.

“In continuation of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Society, we are holding the 3rd international Convention on Art and Development (CONADEV 2014) in Lagos,” Enwonwu said, adding that with the recent bomb blast in Abuja, security was a major reason to hold this convention in Lagos.

The Convention aims to evaluate Nigeria’s 100 years of existence through the performance of the visual art sector, the engine of technological growth of any nation. It also aims at exploring the role of the arts in causing desirable changes in society while enabling practitioners compare favourably with their colleagues in other sector of the economy.

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Take documentation of cultural resources seriously –Chukwuezi Tony Okuyeme

T

he Director, Department of Educational Services and Training, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Abuja, Professor Barth Chukwuezi, has stated that there is need for our cultural managers to take documentation of cultural resources very seriously because it will reposition the cultural resources in the country for better management and other benefits.

Chukwuezi stated this in a paper, “New Approaches To The Documentation of Nigerian Cultural Resources,” which he delivered at the 5-Day Workshop on, “Repositioning Culture Workers for Improved Productivity,” organised by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for staffers of the Department of Culture, Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, at the Oasis Garden Hotel, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

His words: “Cultural resources are a symbolic product of cultural formation which is a generative tool for societal development. Cultural resources could be developed to generate revenue, income, employment, entertainment and other forms of leisure, even in educational settings.”

According to him, Nigeria’s cultural resources are valuable, and if destroyed, cannot return to their original state, so

Moses Kadiri

I

ke Udobi, (a.k.a B-lce) is one of a sizeable number of Nigerian artistes that, arguably, can make remarkable, appealing songs within a space of time.

His new single “Liki Liki”; featuring Triple MG star Tekno has the potential of rocking dance floors in clubs, homes.

The single which will be released in a couple of days has the capacity of connecting any individual to the song; the transition from the melody, rap, to the chorus and the combination of artistes make it a delight. Whatever the mood, “Liki Liki” is sure to excite, and to fresh the soul. “Anything sweet in my own contest can be called Liki Liki,” B-lce who is the first artiste signed to his own label AVL Clique disclosed.

“If l play the song at the background if you don’t know who the artiste is or you have not heard the song before you will be moved with or without anyone’s permission. That is how you can tell the sweetness of “Liki Liki,”” B-lce said, adding that the song will make people to forget their worries.

“Especially now that the country is experiencing insurgent; regardless of what we are passing through as a nation; Nigerians are fun loving people, we can be happy regardless of any situation, and “Liki Liki” is that kind of song that you can use to unwind and have fun. It will cheer you up.”

The BSc Electrical/Electronics Engineering graduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, is a lover of good music regardless of genre, which is evident in his music influences spanning from soul and afro beat to hip hop and R&B “We were just in the studio and l told Selebobo I need something that can cheer people up; that can get them moving; and he came up with the beat. The moment l heard the beat l liked it. When Tekno came we did the chorus and l did

Cultural resources could be developed to generate revenue, income, employment, entertainment and other forms of leisure, even in educational settings they should be properly documented and handled with the care they desire; and that, documentation, which is a form of conservation and preservation, helps researchers in their work and also assists in the search and return of objects missing in the culture sector.

He disclosed that online documentation needed to be intensified in every cultural Parastatal because data when digitised and stored in the database of computer systems or websites could be replayed or reproduced at any given time, adding that, advertising through this medium would attract many tourists, researchers and the public to cultural resource activities.

Professor Chukwuezi further observed that the various forms of digitisation approaches like Facebook, YouTube and search engines like Google and Yahoo were invaluable, and that with any of these approaches, cultural

Chukwuezi

resources could be posted and information received by a wider audience, just as information on cultural resources could be recorded, disseminated, even downloaded and watched as scenic videos.

He therefore charged every Cultural Parastatal in the Federal Ministry of

Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, to form a committee to bring out a standardised guideline for the documentation of cultural resources, arguing that it will arouse the momentum of cultural resources documentation among cultural managers.

Liki Liki, new single from B-lce

B-lce

the rap. It took us like a day to make the whole song. I mean 24 hours, but we had break in between but on different days, if you put them together it will be like 24 hours making the song.”

B-lce who has a large music library added that “Liki Liki” is not a song he wrote down, but a song done on the spot.

“Most times if it is not inspirational song; if it is a fun song l like to come out with the concept when l hear the beat, when Selebobo made that beat I know the next thing to do. It was something l did on the spot. I have different kind of songs for different mood, if l am doing conscious song it will probably take me a longer time. I am sure if you listen to it that same energy level l had doing it will be transferred to you also.”

The video of “Liki Liki” was shot 2 weeks ago, it also portray the sweetness.

It is fun, and colourful. “If you watch the video you will know what l am talking about. It will be out in a week or two, the song is sweet, the video is sweet,” B-Ice who is also music producer said.

Continuing, he added: “While the song took 24 hours to complete we were on set for the video from 8pm till 9 am the next morning. It took us a long time to shoot the video; you will see the beauty when it is released. You cannot listen to “Liki Liki”and stay put.”

Though, a trained engineer B-Ice who is ready to take the Nigeria music industry by storm sees music as engineering.

“Music sounds engineering. The studio work, mixing, recording, it is all elec-

tronics and engineering. I know lots of people did not take it that way, but that is really what it is.”

The Asaba, Delta State born singer who have been doing music first as hobby which has now become a profession revealed that music is life. “Music, to me is life; l can make music in different directions as life throws itself at me. In sad mood I can make music to express myself, if I am in a happy mood I can also make music to express myself.

Music for me is life and also profession.

The whole idea of music came from my daddy. They say when you introduced little kids to something they are most likely to go that way. My daddy used to listening to all kinds of music ranging from jazz, R&B, soul music in the past.

He is a music enthusiast. Not that he is a musician. He has a large music library.

I was listening to hip hop before I was 10 years old. It is not that I have a particular music instrument in the house that I grew up with... I am a music producer I make beats with my computer. I have a mini controller which is like a keyboard; when it comes to music I am good, be it spoken word, rap.”

Just like everyone will aspire to be at height of its career B-Ice has projected his first single in the Nigeria mainstream music industry topping music charts, and becoming a nationwide anthem. “I project “Liki Liki” becoming a nationwide hit, bust outside the country.

In a couple of months I should be close or completed my album, aside putting up single I am more concern with the work that I began, I am always in the studio literally everyday creating new music. Couple of months I see myself putting up new singles, releasing videos and in a year time having an album ready,” the ex-student of Kings College, Lagos projected.

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Ebere Ameh

E

ven though the Nigerian woman has always been particular about her looks, none would have believed, about ten years ago, that the make-up industry would grow so much to the extent of holding fairs. But that’s is what is happening now. Not only are there beauty and make-up fairs in different cities, the attendance by women of all ages, shades and colours is simply unimaginable.

That was the case at the third Lagos Make-up fair (LMUF3) that took place recently. Organised by Pop Concepts, a beauty, make-up and lifestyle consulting firm, the fair attracted a lot of women and curiously enough, men too. The two day event sponsored by Maybelline Cosmetics New York saw so many make-up brands exhibiting their products.

Speaking exclusively with New Telegraph about the fair, the Creative Director of Pops Concept and the convener of the event, Omolola Faleye, among other things, said that due to popular demand, the fair, which had always been a one day affair was extended to two days.

“This is the third Lagos make up fair, the 12th edition in the Make-up Fair Series. The Make-up Fair Series is a platform for beauty shopping. We bring strictly Make-up and Beauty professionals and enthusiasts together - people who want to showcase or promote their products, those who want to make sales, those who want to network, those that want to buy or learn the art of makeup, together with professionals. We do it once a year in various cities across Nigeria. We have done in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Uyo and Owerri. We have done the 2nd Port Harcourt, this is the 3rd Lagos, we’ll do the 4th Abuja in August and the Christmas beauty affair in Lagos in December. Due to popular demand, we are having a two-day-fair as against the one day we have always had.”

So far, there has been eleven editions of the fair, which started in 2012. According to Faleye, people didn’t understand what they were doing then.

“When we started, it looked like something new and people didn’t understand it but right now, they are beginning to get it. The make-up industry is growing. When we started years back, it wasn’t that people were not this beauty conscious but now, there is more patronage and so many brands are coming in.”

Speaking about the Nigerian woman, Faleye said they are beauty conscious and most of them want to learn how to look better.

“The average Nigerian woman has so many unanswered questions when it comes to make-up. The essence of make-up is actually, to enhance one’s beauty and doesn’t need to be too loud.

So the platform is an opportunity for them to get those questions answered.

Some just want to be representatives of

Participants at the fair in a make-up session

Art of make-up takes centre stage, as ‘fair’ rekindles interest some particular make up brands others want training because as you can see, it is not just shopping that is happening here, there is real make up class going on at the sides.

“Yesterday (Saturday)we had makeup artists demonstrating different looks, there was a gele demo, and how to do your personal make up – tips were given on how to do one’s own personal make up for different occasions and a dancing competition. Today (Sunday) the contest and trainings are going on simultaneously.”

The training, it was found, was tied to what one was purchasing. Buying products worth N10,000 from a particular brand qualified one for a free make-up class. According to some of the ladies, it was a good bargain.

Because of the Lucrative nature of the business, Faleye who is a graduate of Accountancy is opening up a Makeup Academy to meet the growing beauty needs of the Nigerian women.

“We want to start Pops Makeup Acad-

The average Nigerian woman has so many unanswered questions when it comes to make-up. The essence of make-up is actually, to enhance one’s beauty and doesn’t need to be too loud emy soon. From our various fairs, we have a lot of people asking for training and the difference is that we are pulling artists who have different skills and talents together. So, unlike any before it, we shall have many tutors, covering various aspects of beauty and make-up in the academy.”

To show how far the industry has grown, Faleye, who disclosed that she

just stumbled into make-up, just came from Dubai, where together with others, represented Nigeria in the Beauty World Middle East, a three day event for make-up artists from various countries.

She is planning her next outing in South Africa and the United States.

“I stumbled into make-up. I was a project manager for six years. I was a team leader and we were working on a particular project when one of my clients worked up to me and said there was a particular make up brand she was particular about bringing into Abuja. I helped her but because it was not my field, I wasn’t really very interested. But along the line, we had gone very far into it and she told me she was relocating to London. That would mean allowing the product die and all our effort washed down the drain. So I thought, let me carry on and when you are back, you will continue from where I stopped. That was how I resigned came into make-up and I found myself loving it,” she said.

24 TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Starwood Hotels heads for Ikot Ekpene Tony Anichebe UYO

F

ollowing the successes of its five hotels in Nigeria, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, has set its sight on Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, for a new property. This is beside the other hotel projects already in the pipeline in Lagos, Ibadan and other locations with some nearing completion, thereby extending its influence and presence in the Nigerian hospitality market as one of the largest international brands in the country.

Contract for the new four-star hotel project was recently signed between the Akwa Ibom State government and representative of Starwood in the Governor’s office in Uyo, the state capital.

The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem signed Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

R

wanda tourism was on sung last week as the country celebrated the 10th anniversary of Kwita Izina alongside the naming of baby Gorillas. The yearly celebration which held amidst pomp and colours was attended by important personalities across Africa with over 40, 000 residents and tourists gathered to witness one of the most celebrated events of the country’s tourism calendar.

The event, which held at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains in Kinigi, Northern Rwanda, Musanze district had as theme: Kwina Izine: “A Decade: Conserving-Empowering-Growing.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza said of the event thus: “We celebrate, for the tenth time, the growth of the gorilla family by naming 18 baby gorillas born over the last year, bringing the total population of the endangered species to over 600 in the Virunga Transboundary Parks.”

Ambassador Rugwabiza added that the increase in mountain gorilla numbers is due to the tireless collaborative efforts of the government, the local communities of the park and other conservation partners. Some of the activities, which heralded the celebration included conservation, business, cultural and entertainment. Also was the launch of Basumba Primary School in Bigogwe, Nyabihu District. The school of six classrooms was built with funds from the Shared Revenue Scheme which gives five percent of tourism profits from the national park back to the communities surrounding the gorilla habitat.

Over 100 regional and international

for the state while the Vice President of Starwood International, Mr. Hassan Ahdab signed for the hotel group.

Governor Godswill Akpabio said ‘‘the signing of the agreement is another milestone for Akwa Ibom people and the building of the four point hotel is to strengthen our hospitality in the state. The project was awarded to Renaissance Construction Group and the construction of the hotel is already ongoing. We are on the seventh floor now and we are expected to commission the hotel on March 31, 2015. The hotel would be a 12-storey building, with 128 standard rooms, 16 suites, two presidential suites, meeting rooms, swimming pools, roof top cafe, among others.’’

The choice of Ikot Ekpene, said the governor is based on the cultural and historical heritage of the town, which

he said should draw attention to the town. ‘‘Ikot Ekpene is one of the oldest cities in the state. It is not only known as a raffia city but it is an archival centre for Akwa Ibom State. The project is sited at where the former Ikot Ekpene Prison was located, which we had to pull down and relocate the prison to another area, so that the hotel would turn the place of grief to a place of joy, because this government came with a determination to turn our sorrow to an uncommon joy, which today has led to the uncommon transformation of the state.’’

Although hotel business and tourism is private driven, the governor said that the state government decision to invest in the new hotel building is to give impetus to development in the state and attract other investors. Akpabio commended Starwood

Rwanda holds Kwita Izina 10th anniversary, celebrates naming of baby Gorillas

Some of the celebrants dressed in Rwanda cultural attire during the event

tour operators and media took part in business to business meetings organised

by RwandAir. In addition, Kwita Izina guests joined in the Global Umuganda (community work) in Nyamata. They also participated in the Igitaramo, a community celebration with residents in Kinigi, Musanze at which local artist Jay Polly performed.

Kwita Izina is inspired by the ancient Rwandan tradition of naming babies soon after they are born. The ceremony

has transformed from being a local event in 2005 an international gorilla conservation event, promoting tourism. Early this year, Kwita Izina won second prize in the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance.

In the nine years since the event was established, 161 Gorillas have been named in a celebration of nature.

Over 470 international guests from Kenya, Nigeria, China, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Russia, Japan, South Sudan,

Igbo traditional rulers pledge support for domestic tourism rom some traditional rulers in Igbo Fport land, eastern Nigeria have come supfor the domestic tourism push of

the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo even as

for the successful management of the Le Meridian Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, expressing the hope that they would replica such and even more with the Ikot Ekpene hotel once it comes on stream.

On his part, Starwood Vice President, Mr. Ahdab, expressed appreciation of the group to the statement for the support and confidence it reposed in the group for trusting them with the management of the new hotel. He assured the governor of the deployment of the best hands and management practice of Starwood in order to make the hotel a success.

He also applauded Governor Akpabio for the transformation of the state Ikot Ekpene inclusive, stressing that the presence of the hotel would greatly enhance the value and economic activities of the town.

they commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the DG’s appointment, which they described as well – deserved.

This commitment was given during a visit to the DG led the Idu II of Igbo-

L-R: Nnamoshimli of Alapo, Igwe Jonathan Olapalaezeche, DG, NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo and Idu II of Igbo-Ukwu, Igwe Martin Ezeh during during the recent visit to the DG of NTDC.

Ukwu, Igwe Martin Ezeh. “Mbanefo has a clear-cut idea on how to practically develop tourism in Nigeria. Her excellent track record of best practice in the private sector. We have no doubt that she will move development of tourism in Nigeria from mere rhetoric to reality,’’ said the traditional ruler.

The traditional ruler who said that domestic tourism would boost the economy of the people pledged the support of Anambra State people to the tourism agenda of Mrs. Mbanefo even as he unfolded plans for the new yam festival, which is scheduled to hold in August in Igbo Ukwu.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mbanefo used the occasion to reiterate her commitment to promote domestic tourism and enjoined the traditional rulers to intensify efforts at creating an enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their different communities even as she expressed appreciation to them for their kind words and support of her vision.

South Africa, Gabon and Ghana, among others were attracted to the event with Nigerian Ikechi Uko who is the publisher of Africa Travel Quarterly, organizer of Akwaaba and Abuja Bantaba both travel trade exhibition among the few who performed the naming ceremony.

Others included - Rt. Honourable Pierre Damien Habumuremyi- Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Leoni Cuelenaere – Ambassador of Netherlands to Rwanda, Mr. Omar Samra –Tour operator representing Egypt and the Middle East, General Mushyo Kamanzi - Army Chief of Staff, Mr. Charles Onyango Obbo – Editor, Mail and Guardian AFRICA, Amb. Tegla Loroupe – Kenyan Athlete and Peace Ambassador, Ms. Uwamahoro Agnes – Local Community President of COPAV Mararo, Nyangye Sector, John Sempebwa – Deputy CEO United Tourism Board, Uganda, H.E Donald W. Koran – Ambassador of the United States of America to Rwanda, Mr. John Mirenge – Chief Executive Officer RwandAir, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed – Principal Secretary for Commerce, Tourism and East African Affairs, Kenya, Ms. Lisa Karanja – Senior Director Business Competitiveness, Trade Mark, Hon. Barnaba Marial Benjamin – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, South Sudan, Mr. Bigirimana Francois –Volcanoes National Park Guide, Rwanda Development Board, Dr. Adam Woo – Chief Operating Officer, Chinese Business Network, Ms. Keiko Mori – Japanese Friends and Mr. Fidel Nizeyimana- Tracker, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Development Board.

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

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SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

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FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Glo and Anioma Festival’s 3-year deal I

stories by sony neme

t was with pomp and fun that Telecoms giant Globacom signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the people of Anioma in Delta State to sponsor their annual cultural show tagged Anioma Festival Globacom sources said the addition of Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), to their sponsorship portfolio is because of their interest in taking the festival to a higher point and giving it its rightful place among prominent festivals in the country.

At the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding on the sponsorship of the festival by Globacom, President of OFAAC, Mr. Keister Ifeadi said Globacom's involvement in the festival would help in deepening cultural allegiance among clans located within the nine local government areas of Delta North senatorial district that make up the Anioma nation.

Ifeadi, who was represented by his vice, Mr. Paddy Ugboh added that beyond reawakening the consciousness of the Anioma people, "The coming on board of Globacom will further cement allegiance, encourage reciprocity and keep the beautiful flame of our culture in synergy with Nigeria's cultural heritage for the unity, peace and development of our dear nation".

Sales Manager, Delta State Globacom, Mr. Aaron Johnson (right), presenting a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding for the sponsorship of Anioma Festival by Globacom to Mr. Paddy Ugboh, Vice President, Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture while the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien watches the proceeding.

He further said: "I want to seize this opportunity to thank the management of Globacom Limited for this new relationship with the people of Anioma.

I believe that in no distant time, the name Globacom will go down in his-

W

Kefee goes home today remains of Irikefe Don-Momoh Twillhe nee Obareki better known as Kefee, be interred at Okpara-Inland,

Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State, today.

This was disclosed by the family to members of the Kefee Memorial Committee (a collection of artistes and entertainment personalities) who paid a condolence visit to the late singer’s parents in their Sapele, Delta State home last week.

A statement released by her publicist stateed that,"Kefee’s husband, Teddy Don-Momoh, who has been making arrangements to bring her body back from the U.S., would arrive in the country first to receive her body before taking her down to her hometown for burial."

Members of the condolence team that travelled to Sapele from Lagos included Sammie Okposo, Nikki Laoye, Annie Ibrahim, Gordons, Princess, Linda Etukudo, Rex Anighoro, Noah Momodu, Covenant and Chika 100%.

The statement further stated that Sammie, who spoke on behalf of the committee, told Kefee’s family that the delegation was in Sapele to commiserate with them on their loss and harmonise the arrangements of the Kefee Memorial Committee with the preparations by her family."

Kefee’s father, Mr Andrew Obareki thanked them for the visit. He said the

tory as having contributed immensely to the growth and development of culture, tourism and community development in Delta State and the country as a whole," he added.

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike

visit had reduced their grief and prayed that God would continue to guide and guard the entertainment industry so there will be no similar occurrences like the untimely death of his daughter.

His words: “I stand on the authority of the word of God and use the key of David to shut the gates of death from the entertainment industry; there shall be no more sudden, tragic, premature and untimely deaths. I’m glad Kefee touched the lives of many and her memory will continue to live on. Sometimes it’s not easy to give God thanks but we have no choice.”

Kefee was a well-liked Pop-Gospel artiste who had been active in the entertainment industry for the past 10 years. She was born on Feb. 5, 1980 in Sapele, Delta State and was known as the Branama Queen, in reference to her debut hit track and album, ‘Branama’.

She also scored a hit with the track, ‘Kokoroko’, featuring Timaya and had four albums to her credit— ‘Branama’ (2003), ‘Branama 2’ (2005), ‘A Piece of Me’ (2009) and ‘Chorus Leader’ released last year.

ith inflow of entries from potential contestants in their thousands, organisers of the Maltina Dance All season eight (MDA 8) are set for the regional auditions of the popular family dance show sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc. Up for grabs for this year’s edition is a whopping N10 million, while the first and second runners up will also get N3 million and N1 million respectively. This is a considerable increase from the N6 million, N1 million and N500, 000 won last year by contestants.

Interestingly, contestants are gearing up for action in the tough selection process, as the process of selecting Nigeria’s top dancing family enters a critical stage. The exciting process will kick off in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital at the Atrium Event Centre on July 18th - 19th. Other auditioning centres are: Lagos - National Theatre, July 24th- 26th and Abuja - Nicon Luxury Hotel on August 1st – 2nd.

In a statement made available to

Edozien, who was at the ceremony, said he had no doubt that Globacom would add great value to the festival just as the Omu of Anioma, Her Royal Highness, Matha Dunkwu pointed out that the entire "beautiful people of Anioma will now believe that Globacom is complete by coming to identify with our cultural heritage, the Anioma Festival."

In his remarks at the occasion, Globacom's State Manager, Delta State, Aaron Johnson said the signing of the MOU was the beginning of an enduring partnership with the people of Anioma.

"Since culture reflects the essence of a people, showcasing their ways of life, preferences and taboos, rest assured of our resolve to take Anioma Festival to the next level by making it among the best festivals celebrated not only in Nigeria, but in the entire black world," he stated.

Johnson assured the people that the company would bring its wealth of experience to positively project the festival and celebrate the unique selling propositions of the Anioma people, as it had done in other festivals such as Ojude Oba, the Ofala and Lisabi festivals.

Traditional rulers from the nine local government areas that make up the Anioma clan such as the Obi of Onicha-Ugbo, Obi of Ejeme Aniagor, Obi of Ubulu-Okiti, Obi of Utegbeje, Obi of Ute-Okpu and the Omu of Anioma were present at the ceremony.

All is set as MDA 8 Audition Commences

the media, Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Mr. Adewole Adedeji said: “We are glad with the evolution of the Maltina brand over the years and the impact it has made thus far. We are also very excited about what season 8 of MDA has in store for us. The MDA ‘Rhythm of Happiness’ edition will be refreshingly unique because we put a lot of work into it. Every year, there is something bigger and better. You will agree that eight years is a long time C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 6

Bay Lounge Grill And Chill World Cup special s the 2014 world cup reaches a feverALagos ish pitch, The Bay Lounge Lekki, is offering Nigerians within the

metropolis an exceptional weekend viewing of the last world cup matches in an experience aptly themed The Grill and Chill World Cup Weekend Special.

The event, which is supported by Sovereign Trust Insurance, Smooth FM, Classic FM, Metro FM and Inspiro productions, will hold from July 11-13.

According to the promoters, the events promise to be three days of a beautiful blend of world cup action, fashion, music and grilled meals. In addition to the premium ambience, there will also be other forms of en-

tertainment.

They further stressed that “while chilling at the lounge and cheering their favorite team, guests are given the opportunity to enjoy barbecued meals to give the palate that irresistible satisfying taste and cold drinks.

One Mega Screen will be situated at the lounge for the total experience of complete football viewing.”

Aoola sadare who spoke with New Telegraph said: “Lagosians are in for a real deal at the Bay Lounge located along Admiralty Road. The venue is an ultimate point and it has a waterfront with spacious luxury and provides its guests a serene and relaxed atmosphere.”

26 Entertainment

Friday, July 11, 2014

Big Brother 8 audition continues across Africa

T

he ninth edition of Africa’s biggest reality series BIG BROTHER AFRICA kicks off in September.

Already the audition which began simultaneously on June 30 in Lagos, South Africa, Malawi and Ethiopia will be concluded at The Meikles Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe this Saturday and Sunday. The train stops today and tomorrow at New Africa Hotel, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Unlike previous years, this year’s entry process is slightly different as potential housemates are invited to come in their numbers for auditions in their respective country venues.

According to information from Multichoice Africa, “AfricaMagic has always been associated with unearthing, nurturing and recognizing talent from around the continent and Big Brother Africa is one of the shows that have become known for transforming ordinary citizens into stars.

For M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa) Wangi Wa-Uzoukwu, “We look forward to the selection of our potential housemates coming in large numbers to auditions at the specified venues and take that chance at being the next Big Brother star. The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we

Biola Alabi and Wangi Wa-Uzoukwu

need to keep it fresh. And that is always made possible by the enthusiastic and fun-loving young Africans who will answer to Big Brother. We are rearing to go and we know that this will definitely be another exciting season that is full of quality entertainment!”

Her sentiments were echoed by Endemol MD Sivan Pillay who says, “We have been producing this series for M-Net for a number of seasons now and as partners, together

Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa, host

we have seen this show grow to the phenomenon that it has become. We hope the season will be even better as we strive to improve on our offering season after season.

“We will not hold back on the quality and exciting unpredictability that has become synonymous with Big Brother Africa. Audiences and fans can expect yet another high quality production and of course, another group of fun-loving housemates

who will keep you guessing who will be left standing until day 91.”

MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer says: “As MultiChoice Africa, we are always pleased to welcome each new season of Big Brother Africa onto our platforms and we applaud its amazing success and ability to bring together audiences from all across the continent. The inclusion of Rwanda in this season is even more exciting

as this displays that our reach and growth into the various sub-Saharan markets is going from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing further growth as well as the impressive social media presence that the show enjoys.”

All persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and have a valid passport, can enter Big Brother Africa 9. If you are open-minded, bold and adventurous, that’s even better! Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this Remember, entries are open to the following 14 countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA 8 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show, which begins on Sunday 7 September and is scheduled to run for 91 days. Big Brother Africa is produced by ENDEMOL SA.

All is set as MDA 8 Audition Commences CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

Frank Amudo, Tonia Smart and Segun Bankole

Music blends with fashion at FAME 2014 Bukkie Smart

C

ome December 14, all roads will lead to Oriental Hotel, Victoria island, Lagos as an annual Fashion and Music Entertainment, FAME, talent exhibition, comes to town. Winners of the talent-hunt show designed for 16 to 25 years old fashion designers and musicians will be smiling home with N1m and other freebies that include recording and others.

That much was revealed by the founder and CEO, FAME Production, Bukkiie Smart.

The young lady who spoke with journalists at a media briefing through Skype, said original-

ity and quality of fabrics used are some of the criteria that the undisclosed judges will look at to arrive at winners who will be monitored as an Ambassador of the show.

According to Miss Smart who spoke from her London base, “Upcoming designers and artistes to be are expected to upload and get people to like their posts on social media through their website www. famenigeriacom to be eligible.

Entries start this month and end in December, while audition commences in August.

Artistes are not limited to any genre and our unique selling

point is getting young people from 16 to 25 years old. This is targeted at those in JSS 2 to fresh university graduates.”

The young lady who is also into charity in the United Kingdom said she was inspired by her experience at some of the talent hunts she had attended while in Nigeria. She also spoke on her chances in the face of stiff competition as there are a plethora of such talent hunts.

Her words: “I have been to a few of the concerts over the years in Nigeria. While most of them were boring, some are entertaining. While very few of them still exist, many others have gone underground. But we are here to stay as it is going to remain an annual affair.”

She poured encomium on her immediate family for solid support as she singled out her mother, Dr. Mrs. Tonia Smart, for praise. “She is my main pal,

my manager and my number one fan. My main strength is that my family and the quality of consultants I have will make a huge difference,” Miss Smart enthused.

Interestingly, a major insurance firm, Standard Trust Insurance Plc has thrown their financial muscle behind FAME 2014.

In his reaction, Mr. Segun Bankole, AGM Corporate Affairs, said the firm was collaborating with FAME because of their belief in the project.

Mr. Bankole whose has a wellknown pedigree in the entertainment industry, said: “We at Standard Trust Insurance PLC like to tread where others fail to walk. We believe in the project, and our presence here is to change the mindset of people about insurance. We have done it before and we are here to do it again.

for a show to still remain relevant and we’re very glad that Maltina, through MDA, continues to bring the brand experience of sharing happiness and fun to the consumer.”

The regional auditions are used as the platform to select family representatives who are expected to qualify their families before the show proper kicks off. Mr. Adedeji added that consumers who missed the opportunity of registering online at http://www.maltinadanceall.tv would have the opportunity to register at the audition venues, stressing that during these regional auditions, consumers and respective family members also stand a chance to win any of the attractive regional dance competition prizes The TV show will be aired from September 7 on major TV networks with videos uploaded regularly on YouTube and Facebook. As usual, viewers can also participate and win prizes through the interactive SMS platform in the course of the show.

Since its introduction into the Nigerian market in 1976, Maltina has evolved to become a well-liked malt drink with high quality natural malt, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. This affords the entire family the vitality and superior nourishment necessary for their daily activities, including those special fun moments shared with friends and loved ones.

Entertainment

Friday, July 11, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

JULY 11 – 17 Highlights

27

Half Of A Yellow Sun for cinema August 1

Britain’s Got Talent airs on M-Net from Thursday 10 July at 18:30 CAT W

T

DSTV

13 July at 20:00 CAT on Mnet Movies Zone An orphaned boy goes in search of his parents. Along the way he discovers that he’s a hidden musical prodigy, and his gift brings him closer to finding his family.

he dream judging panel of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams is back on a mission to unearth the most entertaining and original talent around. Joining the judges are the award winning duo Ant and Dec, who will be guiding viewers through all the acts as only they can.

What I Want Part 1&2 on 13 July 2014 at 21:00 CAT on Africa Magic Movies Gift’s inability to balance her life due to increasing family demands eventually leads to her break-up with her fiancé Richard. She is now forced to reevaluate her own life and put herself first. But has she left it too late? Starring Omotola J. Ekehinde, Uche Ndigwe, Rycardo Agbo, Obey Etok and Chinelo Ndigwe.

Secret Societies of Hollywood airs on Entertainment on Thursday 10 July at 22:00 CAT Beyond the red carpet lies a forbidden Hollywood that only the rich and famous know about – until now.

Join E! for an exclusive and shocking glimpse into the private lives of the stars as we draw back the curtain to reveal the lies and scandals that celebrities try their best to cover up. From agents and managers to high-powered attorneys and private investigators, discover how the glitterati keep a lid on their indiscretions and avoid spending time behind bars.

With exclusive footage, firsthand accounts and a panel of experts, this special exposes the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry.

George of the Jungle airs on Disney Channel on Friday 11 July at 17:00 CAT Brendan Fraser is George, a clumsy klutz - a Tarzan style character who's been raised by gorillas after a jungle plane crash, but isn't as good at all the swinging through the trees stuff and usually ends up crashing into them! One day he rescues the beautiful Ursula from a lion. She likes him and his lifestyle, but her fiancé is jealous, which spells trouble for George and his jungle. Based on a wellknown animated TV series from the '60s, this major movie about the lovable George is full of fun-filled action.

Prodigal on 13 July at 14:30CAT on Africa Magic Movies Jerry’s refusal to ask Kwame an unwelcome guest creates a discord between him and Raakia his fiancée. His younger brother Richie begins to suspect that Kwame may have some hold over Jerry, which may explain his brother’s sudden reluctance and strange behavior.

Tune in to 'Secret Societies of Hollywood' on E!Entertainment

Futurescape With James Woods airs on Discovery HD Showcase on Wednesdays at 21:00 CAT Acclaimed Hollywood actor James Woods leads viewers on a journey to reveal world-changing breakthroughs and their implications for the future. Each episode focuses on one idea or discovery guaranteed to blow minds and critically alter life as we know it. What's happening in these gamechanging fields? And what does it mean for us? James asks the big questions, ignites debate, and uncovers a stunning image of the fu-

ture.

Ask Oprah’s All Stars airs on TLC Entertainment on Thursdays at 20:00 CAT Join Oprah's team of go-to experts as they give advice on how to live your best life.

In the finale show of Ask Oprah's All Stars. Moderated by Gayle King, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Suze Orman come together to talk about your health, wealth and financial well-being. Let the advice begin!

NFVCB DG, Patricia Bala speaks to the press after a recent field operation in Abuja.

August Rush Sunday on

The Test on 17 July at 19:00CAT on Sony Entertainment Television This fresh take on the “he says, she says” television talk show genre shows guests in crisis looking for the truth about their loved ones. Their suspicions will either be confirmed or refuted with the aid of science.

Lies, truth, scandal, deception, redemption… who’s telling the truth? All will be revealed in this riveting new series!

Close Combat EP. 6 on 19 July at 20:00CAT on Blackbelt TV The best MMA fighters from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines leave it all in the ring for glory and to be named the toughest armed forces team.

ith the certification last Friday of Half Of A Yellow Sun by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the movie will now be available in cinemas across Nigeria from the August 1. It has been classified as ‘18’ This was contained in a press release signed by Shareman Media and FilmOne Distribution. While expressing joy at the new development after protracted efforts to secure official certification for the film got to a head in May, they declared: “We are happy to announce that the highly anticipated movie, Half of a Yellow Sun has been certified for theatrical release in Nigeria… The producers and distributors of this landmark movie would like to particularly thank all Nigerians for their patience and support.”

They further stated that the movie starring BAFTA Award-winning and Oscar-nominated actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor and BAFTA Award-winning actor Thandie Newton among other grade A thespians has been opened to audiences in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and USA. The statement stressed that, “With world-wide rave reviews and critical acclaim, this silky love tale has thrilled movie audiences everywhere. Half of a Yellow Sun is now set to strike a special chord with every Nigerian.”

Other notable actors in the mega bucks movie shot at location in Cross River State are Anika Noni Rose, AMAA winners Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, Zack Orji and O. C. Ukeje, among others Half of a Yellow Sun is an adaptation of the international best-seller and Orange Prize-winning novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The movie is directed by Biyi Bandele.

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton his wife in the controversial movie

s preparation for this year’s Ational edition of Africa Interna- AFRIFF’s new date for film submission is July 24 Film Festival (AFRIFF) daily film screenings, master will celebrate winning film en- Film Festival (LFF), noted that due for Calabar, Cross River State, takes shape, organisers have extended closing date for film entries from African filmmakers to July 24.

The prestigious event, which enters its fourth edition this year, is coming with film workshops, training programmes and thrills, starting from November 9th to 16th, at the popular Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar. It is coming with award prizes ranging from $3000 to $6000.

According to its Artistic Director, Keith Shiri, “AFRIFF remains a platform that seeks to give expression to African cinema, by recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry.”

The event will also feature

classes, exhibitions as well as film premieres and will round off with an award night that

tries and their cast and crew.

Shiri, an advisor for the British Film Institute’s London

Lynn Withfield, 2nd left, with some Nigerian actors all for AFRIF

eligible films must have been produced after January 1, 2013, while preference will be given

Chioma Ude at a press conference

to films, which are yet to be screened globally or in Africa.

He further explained that categories for entry would include Feature, Short, Documentary and Animation.

Shiri also urged interested filmmakers to ensure that they read the rules and regulations thoroughly before submitting their films for the award segment of the festival, just as he disclosed that short films must be of 40 minutes or less, while Feature length films must exceed 40 minutes.

“For your film to be considered for the 4th Africa International Film Festival, please include a DVD copy of the film, plus a synopsis and/or press kit as soon as possible. You can also send an online screener via dropbox to info@afriff.com. We also require you to complete our entry submission form.

28

Friday, July 11, 2014

Meyer: 20 years ago many people called us crazy …MultiChoice elevates Nigerian talents in Africa

T

uesday, June 24 to Friday June 28 marked a watershed in the history of showbiz in Africa. The journey to the island nation in the Indian Ocean witnessed the MultiChoice Content Extravaganza with the theme “Only the Best”. And the event clearly sent a strong signal that it will continue to deliver the best local and international television content in Africa.

It was a week that MultiChoice Africa, the pan-African leading Pay-TV entertainment destination gathered television/entertainment talents across the continent in Mauritius. Journalists from across the continent and Europe were also part of the week-long package that witnessed high networth networking among participants from diverse backgrounds.

The historic event featured over 50 television and music celebrities that are regular on various DStv and GOtv channels. They include BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment, E! Entertainment, Style, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Telemundo, Comedy Central, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, History Channel, Crime and Investigation, Africa Magic, Ebony Life TV, Channel O and SuperSport among others.

The CEO of MultiChoice Africa, Nico Meyer, who proudly addressed the audience, expressed his joy at being part of a company that has pioneered Pay TV on the continent. He also seized the occasion to re-emphasis his commitment towards ensuring that MultiChoice subscribers continue to receive world class news and entertainment on DStv and GOtv services.

With an incredible story of MultiChoice journey, which dates back 20 years, and as one of the first subscription television services outside of the United States, Meyer said, “We faced many hurdles, as a new company. And we needed to build and develop credibility not only with the market in which we were offering services, but also with international channel suppliers and satellite companies. 20 years ago many people called us crazy!”

As “crazy” as it may have been at the outset, MultiChoice Africa has today made remarkable and groundbreaking footprints in the continent. “In 2013 alone, the MultiChoice launched 13 fantastic new channels on the DStv platform, which include three M-Net Series Channels, M-Net Movies Zone, Fox, Ebony Life, Telemundo, Hip TV, Spice TV, CBS Action, CBS Drama, JimJam and MGM’, Meyer informed a rather critical audience who were better informed at the end of the day.

Meyer said, in an effort to reach out to a mass market audience, MultiChoice also launched GOtv in 2011as a low-cost digital television service using the latest generation Digital Video Broadcast standard and represents the most advanced digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast system and infrastructure established in Africa to date. They also leap-frogged the out-dated T1 systems utilised by first movers in the Digital Migration process, thereby putting Africa at the forefront of technology in the digital migration process.

As an innovative company, he further explained that MultiChoice has constantly introduced new technology to ensure that subscribers have access to the best information and entertainment anytime, anywhere, on any devise.

This is evident in the recent launch of the DStv Explora, which has significantly changed the way subscribers can experience and control their TV. For John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, analysts cannot celebrate MultiChoice’s resounding accomplishments at the continental level without mentioning its tremendous contributions to the growth of the nation’s television talents and the entertainment industry.

Ugbe stressed that besides technological innovations, MultiChoice has been in the forefront of the promotion of local television content that promotes family values, in Nigeria.

He further said: “We have gone to great lengths to customize our services for the Nigerian market. This is why we have commissioned a range of top content from our channel providers like Doctors Quarters, Edge of Paradise, Big Brother Nigeria, Gladiators, Money Drop Nigeria, Tinsel, Jara, Studio 53, NFL, DStv Basketball league, Fashion Protégé, AfricaMagic Original Films.

Channels such as the AfricaMagic and SuperSport Select, with more than 70 per cent of their content are Nigerian.”

On their contributions to the nation’s entertainment industry, Ugbe said technological innovations have also enabled MultiChoice to add value to the lives of its subscribers. He said MultiChoice has invested nearly N100 million in building the Lagos uplink to enhance capacity in carrying the national free-to –air channels.

“These free-to-air channels include NTA 2, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Nigeria’s first independent TV station, Channels TV, Murhi International Television (MITV) and Silverbird Television (STV). The Radio Stations include Raypower 100.5fm, Star 101.5 fm and Rhythm 93.5 fm,” posits Ugbe.

He recalled that MultiChoice Nigeria pioneered the first Africa Magic channel in 2003, which has since grown to eight channels including AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic Movies 1, and AfricaMagic World, as well as dedicated language channels such as AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Swahili and AfricaMagic Yoruba. “The company has also invested billions into SuperSport and M-Net studios across the continent to ensure that we harness local talent and bring you the best local programming money can buy,” he remarked.

Apart from the innovative, technological and capital investments in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, MultiChoice has also invested heavily in the development of human resources in the industry. Names that readily come to mind are the host of Big Brother Africa, Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa, Actor/ Presenter and BBA Winner, Uti Nwachukwu, Tomi Odunsi of Tinsel, Gideon Okeke of Big Brother Nigeria, Host/Actor, Eku Edewor, and Studio 53 presenter, Comedian Helen Paul to mention a few.

Today MultiChoice is committed to using every technology available to enhance entertainment and learning experience, “We believe that new developments on the horizon hold the promise of exciting changes and putting new technology to good use is a challenge we relish,” Ugbe declared.

In a statement sent by Timothy Okwu of MultiChoice, he explained that it’s not all about television and en-

MultiChoice Africa CEO Nicol Meyer during the welcome dinner at the Marquee on the Beach

tertainment alone, the company also invests in the community in which it operates.

Said he: “In the area of Corporate Social Investment (CSI), MultiChoice focuses on education development with its MultiChoice Resource Center project.

This is an audio-visual teaching and learning aid made available to over 1700 schools in 27 countries across the continent. MultiChoice has not only helped improve the quality of education on the

continent but has also made teachers appreciate digital learning innovation.”

He further stated that “there is also the DStv Eutelsat Awards, aimed at assisting young learners to understand Africa’s challenges. And to promote the knowledge of how satellite technology can change the course of development on the continent and have, to date, seen numerous young Africans winning various prizes including trips to Eutelsat in Paris to witness a live rocket launch.”

COSON launches ‘Operation No Hiding Place’

G

eneral Manager, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji has served notice of caution that COSON is launching a comprehensive action to fish out all organizations and individuals that blatantly ignore their obligation to pay for the deployment of music in their businesses or in a public setting.

According to Mr. Chukwuji, the comprehensive action known as ‘Operation No Hiding Place’ is such that no matter where the infringer is hiding, he will be smoked out and made to bear heavy consequences for the infringement of intellectual property.

Mr. Chukwuji spoke with journalists in his Ikeja office before leaving Lagos for Algiers where he is representing COSON at the African Committee meeting of the Confederation of International Societies of Authors & Composers (CISAC). He said the society was committed to ensuring that nobody using musical works or sound recordings in Nigeria in a commercial or public setting successfully avoids meeting the required obligations.

“I can clearly state here that COSON will take decisive steps within the confines of the law to get full compensation for the works of all our members,” he stressed. “No defaulting music user will find the easy way out. Hotels and similar establishments that constantly defy the law and have gone ahead to abuse the rights of our members and affiliates will get it tough from us from now. We will leave no stone unturned

to ensure that our members get the deserved rewards for their labour.

“It has come to our notice that some major hotels around the country have decided to evade their obligations to the music industry in spite of being heavy consumers of music. It is even worrisome because some of these hotels are international brands, which adhere to copyright laws in other countries where they operate but totally ignore the same obligation in Nigeria because they perceive Nigeria to be a country where the law can be flouted without consequence. They are wrong.”

“While COSON remits copyright royalties to the home countries of some of these hotel brands for their works used in Nigeria, they choose to exploit our members’ works without appropriate compensation. COSON will not tolerate this anymore. I, therefore, call on all users of music around the country to show respect for the intellectual property of an industry that has contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian economy,” he added.

“While a good number of music users are taking up the culture of paying royalties, a few others are still playing around and I want to assure them that they will not find it easy any more. With Operation No Hiding Place, there will be no hiding place for any copyright infringer. COSON will fish them out and they will pay massively for trying to play games with us.”

BUSINESS Friday, July 11, 2014

29 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Pension: Mixed expectations trail PRA 2014 }p-31

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Airtel to sell 3,100 telecoms towers worth $2bn in Africa

BPE, AGF to kick-start privatisation tribunal

}p-30

SALES SAGA

What's news

Bharti Airtel Limited, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria, has said that it will sell about 3,100 telecoms towers in four African countries to Helios Towers Africa.

Obasanjo, five African presidents to close Nigeria’s FDI gap Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and five African presidents are planning to close the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) gap between global investors, Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

}p-30

WAAPP-Nigeria releases 966.5mt seeds to farmers It is celebration time for Nigerian farmers as West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, (WAAPP-Nigeria), in collaboration with some research institutes in Nigeria, has released a total of 966.5 metric tonnes of certified seeds to them for the current planting season.

}p-33

Boost for cocoa as nontoxic black pod spray debuts Farmers in cocoa producing areas across the globe may have cause to smile this year as scientists have found a non-toxic pesticide that can stop the destructive menace of black pod disease, a deadly destroyer of cocoa pods, New Telegraph has learnt.

}p-36

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

Some investors reneged on their post-acquisition plan while some are genuinely held back by unfavorable Nigeria environment

Monitoring team combs sold firms “Yes, there is on-going monitoring of privatised enterprises by the post-privatisation monitoring unit. But it’s not always the position that a core investor contravenes SPAs, sometimes

government also violates portion of agreement too. For instance, as an investor in telecom sector, government is expected to provide the enabling conducive environment such as sup-

ply of constant power supply.

But where this is not possible, you will find a telecom operator providing diesel, ferrying CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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reliminary discussions for establishing of privatisation tribunal have been consummated in Abuja, New Telegraph has learnt.

Discussions in this regard, according to a source within the Presidency, were held between top officials from Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke.

The privatisation agency has also raised a team from postprivatisation monitoring unit to conduct on the spot assessment in some select privatised firms with a view to ascertaining implementation and adherence to the Share Purchase Agreements (SPA) by the core investors that assumed control in such firms.

Thereafter, a detailed assessment report is to be submitted by the post-privatisation monitoring unit team.

The idea to set up special court to handle privatisation cases was contained in the working plan document released early in the year by Director-General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki.

Speaking exclusively to New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja, the source explained that it had come to their knowledge that some investors reneged on their post-acquisition plan while some are genuinely held back by unfavorable Nigeria environment.

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr Segun Odusanya; Group Managing Director, MiDCOM Limited, Mr Akash Kumar; Chief Executive Officer/President, Samsung Electronics, Korea, Mr Boo-keun Yoon and Executive Director, Lagos and South-West of FCMB, Mr Femi Bakre, at the launch of MiDCOM’s manufacturing facility and partnership with Samsung in Nigeria in Lagos.

Underwriters, maritime stakeholders finalise insurance database LOOPHOLES Corruption and revenue losses due to wrong insurance commitment in maritime industry is set to be resolved Sunday Ojeme

M

ajor stakeholders in maritime and insurance sectors met recently to finalise details of the extension of Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID) to the mari-

time industry.

Although, details of the meeting attended by members of committees from both sectors were not made available, New Telegraph gathered that the essence of the parley was to put finishing touches to the documents that will guide the implementation of the project.

In a chat with this newspaper, the Head, Media and Communication, Nigerian Insurers Association, Mr Davies Iyasere, disclosed that the committees were currently engaging in final consultations with the major stakeholders towards the smooth

implementation of the project before the end of the year.

He said: “The process commencing the implementation has gone into advance stage.

Stakeholders in the maritime sector and the NIA committee on the implementation met recently to cross the ‘Ts’ and dot the ‘Is’.”

The NIID is a central system that allows all insurance companies to store all valid policy real-time.

The centralised insurance industry database solution is deCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2014..................................8% April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at July 04)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N166.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N227.50 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.74bn as at 04/07/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at June 04)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N267.08 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N211.61 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS EXPANSION The sale of Bharti Airtel's towers will expand Helios's tower coverage in Africa to over 7,800 Jonah Iboma

B

harti Airtel Limited, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria, has said that it will sell about 3,100 telecoms towers in four African countries to Helios

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Airtel to sell 3,100 telecoms towers worth $2bn in Africa

Towers Africa.

The transactions are in line with the telecom’s strategy of keeping with its plans to sell most of its transmitter towers in Africa, in a process that could raise up to $2 billion.

Speculation has been rife in the past few weeks on plans by Airtel to offload its towers and

the statement by the firm confirms what had been expected by industry watchers.

Helios Towers, founded by George Soros-backed Helios Investment Partners, claims to have the largest number of telecoms towers held by an independent company focused exclusively on Africa.

In May, Helios Towers was said to be seeking to raise $500 million to purchase towers from Airtel African operations.

The sale of Bharti Airtel's towers will expand Helios's tower coverage in Africa to over 7,800, the company said in a statement.

Bharti Airtel's African business has been a drag on the company, which has yet to turn a profit there four years after spending $9 billion to acquire money-losing mobile phone as-

sets. The Indian company will have full access to the towers under a long-term lease contract, the company said.

With the deal, aimed at driving cost efficiencies, tower operations-related personnel will be transferred from Airtel to Helios, Bharti Airtel said.

Bharti entered Africa in 2010 with the $9 billion acquisition of Kuwaiti telecoms group. Billionaire Sunil Mittal, who heads the company, said in May, that Africa represents one-third of Bharti's business.

Maritime stakeholders finalise insurance database CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido (right), exchanging pleasantries with the Managing Director, Overland Airline, Mr Edward Boyo, after the signing of MOU with the state government in Dutse.

Obasanjo, five African presidents to close Nigeria’s FDI gap To meet foreign investors in London Adeola Yusuf

F

ormer President, Olusegun Obasanjo and five African presidents are planning to close the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) gap between global investors, Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

The African leaders are to meet in London for the Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS).

Organisers of TGAIS said that a partnership had already been signed with Nigeria’s indigenous independent oil firms, Seplat, for the summit.

The summit will involve African governments profiling investment opportunities to London’s international finance community by focussing on bankable projects and upcoming investor milestones. The event is not just for talks about doing business, it is about securing finance and bringing foreign direct investment to Africa.

Bridging Africa’s investment gap will help convert a decade of strong economic growth for the continent into long-term socio-economic development.

"The partnership sees Se-

plat sponsoring the event and the company's chairman, Dr AB Orkiako, addressing the conference on opportunities in investing in Africa’s natural resources sector," Seplat said in a statement.

Dr. Orkiako is amongst strong company on the stage at TGAIS, with headline speeches from African president’s including presidents Paul Kagame, Yoweri Museveni, Jakaya Kikwete, John Mahama and Faure Gnassibé of Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo respectively.

Event director, Mr Paul Sinclair, highlighted the importance of having African businesses represented at the summit. “We’re seeing African firms taking an increasingly high profile in areas of the economy that used to be dominated by foreign firms.

“Governments across the continent are pushing for increased local participation in sectors such as oil and mining.

To have Seplat, one of Nigeria’s biggest oil success stories, presenting at our event ensures that the important lessons this firm has to offer can be felt elsewhere.

“As a London and Nigeria cross listed firm, Seplat embodies the spirit behind The Global

African Investment Summit.

By building the links between the international financial community in London and African opportunity, we expect to see many more companies following similar financing arrangements.”

The event was hosted by Obasanjo, the former President of the Republic of Nigeria and the country has strong representation throughout the programme, the statement said.

signed to serve the objective of developing a capacity to monitor and authenticate underwriting transactions within the insurance industry, which would serve to reduce the incidence of fraudulent insurance transactions and policy certificates.

Davies said: “Our technical team has also been meeting to sort out the gray areas prior to the launch. We are going to accommodate every single stakeholder in the sector. This will include the Nigeria Customs, the various associations, the freight forwarders and everyone involved in one form of business transaction or another.”

Although he could not give the exact amount of money the insurers were losing to the loopholes in the sector, he, however, said that it was huge considering the fact that the marine industry is one of the highest revenue earners for the country.

The maritime industry, which is unarguably the second highest revenue earner for the country after crude oil, has for long constituted a major prob-

lem for underwriters as fake insurance documents are often used to effect multi-million dollar transactions.

Records show that underwriters met their claims obligation to marine insurance policyholders to the tune of over N400 million in 2011.

Findings by this newspaper revealed that Unitrust paid the highest claim of N60.98 million to oil conglomerate, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) for the losses it suffered in one of its premises.

Besides Unitrust, ADIC Insurance Company Limited also paid out claims to Infinity Tyres and Dana Foods Limited, while Cornerstone and International Energy Insurance met their obligations to Anotech Global Nigeria Limited, Japaul Oil, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, and the Nigeria Police Force respectively.

Details of the payments further revealed that Lasaco Assurance Plc, Law Union and Rock, Leadway Assurance, Mansard, Mutual Benefits, NEM, Staco, Union Assurance as well as Zenith General Insurance Limited also met their obligations to the policyholders.

BPE, AGF to kick-start privatisation tribunal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

generators to power all the basestations. All these are expenses that investor may not have envisaged,” the source said.

“That is why we are currently engaged in discussion with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation with a view to setting up privatisation tribunal, though it has always been part of the Privatisation Act that a special court be set up to handle privatisation cases.

The way it is now, if an investor takes to a conventional court and chose to stay there for over five years, the economy will lose. But if we set up this privatisation tribunal, we expect cases to be treated with quick dispatch,” he said.

When contacted last Tues-

day, BPE spokesperson, Chigbo Anichebe, confirmed these developments . He said that discussions were still on-going in respect of setting up of privatisation tribunal between BPE and the office of the AGF just as he said that the post-monitoring privatisation exercise is a routine job of a unit in BPE. Meanwhile, Aura Energy Limited, owners of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), disclosed that a customer audit to ascertain the number of electricity consumers within its coverage area has been conducted.

Executive Director (Operations Support) of the company, Mr Umar Bello, said this when a team from the BPE visited the company in continuation of its post privatisation moni-

toring activities of the newly privatised PHCN successor companies.

A statement by BPE's Head of Corporate Communication, Chigbo Anichebe, quoted Bello as saying that the audit was carried out by AF-Mercados EMI, a specialist consultancy firm that supports clients in liberalising energy sectors and promoting efficient sustainable energy markets, adding that it was necessary to reduce the inefficiencies within the system.

He said that from the consumer enumeration carried out during the exercise, it was discovered that Jos distribution company had about 400,000 customers as against the 274,000 initially indicated during the privatisation process.

Pension

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

PRA 2014 The new pension law is being reviewed from different perspectives by stakeholders as it affects their welfare

Pension: Mixed expectations trail PRA 2014

Jonathan

Ahonu-Amazu

Sunday Ojeme

sion unlike in the past, the long drawn battle of non-harmonisation of pension for railway workers with their counterparts who retired from other agencies still cast doubts on Federal Government’s sincerity.

He said: “Like I always say, the monthly pension is regular but the general complaint has been the issue of harmonisation of the pension with other Federal Government agencies. The minimum pension for a railway retiree is N5,000 compared to N8,000 earned by his colleagues in other agencies.

“There has also been this clamour for 33 per cent increase of pension across board. Why is it taking government such a long time to implement?

Even if the 33 per cent is eventually approved, we will still be underpaid.

We have written series of letters to the minister and he set up a committee and the committee believes that we have a case so they are working on it.

“We are over 18,000 spread across the country. We cannot give government any ultimatum, we are only appealing but we are hoping it will come on time.

We want the harmonisation done before the 33 per cent increase, otherwise we will still end up being underpaid. So I just hope that the new law takes care of all these.”

O

ne week after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the new Pension Law, stakeholders in the industry have continued to bare their minds on whether the law will actually enhance the welfare of pensioners in the country or further deep the neglect that has greeted pension administration especially as it concerns beneficiaries under the old non-contributory scheme.

New Telegraph findings reveal that while stakeholders operating under the Contributory Pension Scheme are at home with the new law, pensioners under the old order are rather lukewarm, preferring rather to question the Federal Government’s seriousness in the implementation of the section bordering on criminality.

With no part of the law making reference to the issue of harmonisation being pursued by the National Union of Pensioners (NRC chapter) and periodic increase in the pension earned by the elderly citizens as stipulated in the constitution, the pensioners believe that the new law might be another government design to further isolate them.

Those being owed arrears of pension also told New Telegraph that the president had the opportunity to address the issue at the time of signing the law by directing whoever is in charge to immediately release funds to offset the arrears.

Non-Contributory In a chat with New Telegraph, the General Secretary, NUP (NRC chapter), Alhaji Rauf Balogun, said although he was yet to get hold of a copy of the new law, the section that recommends 10-year jail term for pension thieves would remain a joke except those who had stolen in the past are appropriately dealt with.

According to him, the failure of government to prosecute pension thieves in the past is enough reason to doubt the sincerity in the new law. He said that although the president had tried in the area of regular payment of pen-

31

PHCN Pensioners Also reacting to the law, a pensioner with the NUP (PHCN chapter), Mr Olu Ayeni, said that the best way the Federal Government could take care of the electricity pensioners is to pay them off completely instead of subjecting them to series of hardship on a monthly basis.

Ayeni, who expressed disappointment in the administration of pension in the country, especially as it concerns PHCN, said that part of the money realised from the sale of PHCN assets was enough to pay off the pensioners before talking about a new law, which he said was only aimed at further making life difficult for them.

He said: “There is nothing that can assuage pensioners in this country better now especially those from PHCN

Ideva

Balogun

other than paying them off completely.

As I talk to you now, we are still being owed four months arrears. That one has not been addressed and they are talking about new law.

“The other day it was transferring NELMCO’s liability to PTAD. To me, all these are just ways of delaying payment so that more pensioners would die and there will be enough money for the pension thieves who are never punished.”

PFA's However, for the Pension Fund Ad-

The industry which has enabled over six million workers rake in over N4 trillion in assets, is now set to witness unimaginable growth

Yola

ministrators, the new law is one of the best things to have happened with pension administration in the country as it has not only set out to enhance their business but also to build a better and comfortable retirement future for current workers who are registered under the CPS. According to the Managing Director, Premium Pension Limited, Mr Wilson Ideva, the new pension law further concretizes the statutory foundation of the pension industry and positions it for the attainment of even greater heights.

He said that the industry which has enabled over six million workers rake in over N4 trillion in assets, was now set to witness unimaginable growth, such that has never been seen in any sector of the Nigerian economy.

He pointed out that the growth in the industry would have even been more expansive if the previous law allowed the application of very stringent measures on non-compliant institutions and individuals, adding that moral suasion yielded little results.

He said: “It is expected that when the new pension law is fully applied, majority of the country’s working population, be they in the public or private sector or even artisans would be covered by the scheme.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of Legacy Pension, Misbahu Umar Yola, lauded the upward review introduced to the new law, which pegs the minimum pension contribution from 15 per cent to 18 per cent.

Yola described the aspect that repealed the 2004 lighter sanction for operators who mismanage pension fund to be liable on conviction to not less than 10 years imprisonment or fine of an amount equal to three-times the amount so misappropriated or diverted or both imprisonment and fine as a welcome development which he said would instil sanity into pension matters.

He expressed optimism that the newly signed 2014 Pension Act which repeals the 2004 Act would correct many lapses of the past, including deduction and non-remittance of pension as prevalent with some private sector employers.

32

business | PENSION

SUMMIT The continent’s postretirement welfare also dominated debates at the just-concluded Word Pension Summit Sunday Ojeme

M

anaging Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Premium Pension Limited, Mr Wilson Ideva, has described the just concluded World Pension Summit as a great potential that can address the seething individual dependency syndrome that characterises life at old age in Africa.

Ideva said in a statement obtained by New Telegraph that the widespread poverty in Afri-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

WPS: Panacea to Africans’ retirement nightmare, says Ideva ca was as a result of numerous factors but exacerbated by lack of social security at old age.

According to him, “the contributory pension scheme is a vehicle for savings and investment and provides lump sum payment at commencement of retirement and also programmed monthly pension for retirees. The scheme, in addition, avails government of large pool of funds to drive social and economic development.”

He noted the importance of the special summit to have been hosted in Nigeria in conjunction with the National Pension

Commission (PenCom), stressing that Nigeria remaining in no small measure the epitome of Africa and the exchange of ideas and experiences from around Africa and the world would only serve to enrich the rendition of the contributory pension scheme across the continent.

Ideva said that the pension industry was becoming central to the contemporary narrative of development in Africa.

His words: “With increasing economic growth consequent upon local and foreign investment, the pension industry will

L-R: Brandzone Consulting LLC, Brand and Communications consultant to Agusto and Co, Chizor Malize; Managing Director, Agusto & Co. Limited, Vivien Shobo; Executive Director, Isaac Babatunde; Executive Director, Yinka Adelekan and Associate Director, Rita Emoefe, at a formal media presentation on Agusto & Co. 2014 Industry Reports in Lagos.

Legacy pension boss lauds new pension Act Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

M

anaging Director of Legacy Pension, Misbahu Umar Yola, has lauded the upward review introduced to the 2014 pension Act which pegs the minimum pension contribution from 15 per cent to 18 per cent.

The newly-signed 2014 pension Act by President Goodluck Jonathan increased to eight per cent, the amount to be contributed by employee and 10 per cent by the employer making a total deduction of 18 per cent to be pooled into worker’s Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA).

Speaking exclusively to New Telegraph on the side-line of World Pension Summit on Africa in Abuja, Yola also lauded some other modifications contained in the new Act, saying that they would all make pension administration effective and functioning as it should be.

Specifically, he said that the aspect that repeals the 2004

lighter sanction for operators who mismanage pension fund to be liable on conviction to not less than 10 years imprisonment or fine of an amount equal to three-times the amount so misappropriated or diverted or both imprisonment and fine” is a welcome development which, he said, will instil sanity into pension matters.

He expressed optimism that the newly-signed 2014 Pension Act which now repeals the 2004 Act would correct many lapses of the past including deduction and non-remittance of pension as prevalent with some private sector employers.

Meanwhile, Acting DirectorGeneral of PenCom, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said that implementation for the reviewed contribution of 18 per cent will commence after a meeting by the stakeholders comprising the National Assembly and PenCoM. The 2014 Pension Act repeals that of 2004, as sanctions under the old law were considered no longer sufficient deterrents for

offenders.

The 2014 Act also empowers PenCom, subject to the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation, to institute criminal proceedings against employers who persistently fail to deduct and/or remit pension contributions of their employees within the stipulated time. This was not provided for by the 2004 Act. The Act also empowers PenCom to take proactive corrective measures on licensed operators whose situations, actions or inactions jeopardize the safety of pension assets, which was the reverse with the 2014 Act. It also makes provisions for the repositioning of the Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), to ensure greater efficiency and accountability in the administration of the Defined Benefits Scheme in the federal public service such that payment of pensions would be made directly into pensioners’ bank accounts in line with the current policy of the Federal Government.

continue to provide a platform for savings among the working population in Africa. It is heartwarming that this summit is addressing important aspects of and tools for effective pension delivery mainly from the prism of African peculiarities.”

Panellists at the summit also called for the inclusion of the informal sector in the contributory pension scheme in Africa.

The panel chairman, Timi Austen-Peters, Principal Partner at Austen-Peters & Co, said that the continent had a large pool of pension funds available that could be invested in infrastructure.

He noted that the continent was no longer faced with the problem of pension funds deficit, but what to do with the large pool of pension assets.

According to him, pension reforms in Africa started in 2004 when Nigeria inaugurated its Pension Reform Act. He said that following the introduction of the act, other African countries keyed into it, adding that it had yielded positive results in a short period.

“Now it is not the question of whether it is working or not, it is fantastic because we have this large pool of money, the question is what to do with it.

However, how can we extend it to other people because today we have about $25 billion which is 25 times bigger than our Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“Can we invest this money in critical sectors?” he asked.

The Chief Executive Officer,

Financial Service Commission of Mauritius, Clairette AhHen, said that it was important for anyone that was working to have some savings as an investment for the future.

Ah-Hen said that if more power was given to pension regulators and private investors, pension funds would be properly managed in Africa.

She dislosed that Mauritius had a voluntary pension scheme where those in the informal sector could make contributions to save for their future.

According to her, if the private regulators do not have confidence in the scheme, the pension reforms will not work.

“Before we introduced these pensions in Mauritius, we found out that the best investment parents can make for their children is pension because I am one of those who benefited from it,” she said.

Also, President, International Organisation of Pensions Supervisors (IOPS), Edward Odundo, said that Kenya had incorporated the informal sector into its pension scheme.

Odundo said that the Kenyan pension regulators encouraged the informal business operators in the country to ensure that they contributed a minimum of 25 pence a day using mobile phones.

According to him, the formal sector constituted about 15 per cent of the country’s population which accounted for 20 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

‘New law to concretise pension industry’

P

remium Pension Limited, one of the leading Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the country, has praised the Federal Government on the signing into law of the Pension Reform Bill, 2014.

The new pension law repeals the Pension Reform Act, No.2, 2004 which has been in operation for the past ten years.

A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Premium Pension, Mr Paddy Ezeala, said that the new law further concretised the statutory foundation of the pension industry and positioned it for the attainment of even greater heights.

According to the statement, “the industry is now set to witness unimaginable growth such that has never been seen in any sector of the Nigerian economy.

“Nigeria’s contributory pension scheme has recorded tremendous success in its first decade of operation, enlisting 6.4 million Nigerian workers and raking in 4.3 trillion naira as funds under management. It is widely believed that the growth in the industry would have even been more expansive if the previous law allowed the applica-

tion of very stringent measures on non-compliant institutions and individuals. Moral suasion yielded little results.

“It is expected that when the new pension law is fully applied, majority of the country’s working population, be they in the public or private sector or even artisans, would be covered by the scheme.”

The statement further stated that the Pension Reform Act, among other things, would enhance the enforcement responsibilities of the regulatory institution, National Pension Commission (PenCom), and also ensure further airtight protection of pension funds and unpack guidelines and possibilities of creatively and professionally applying pension funds for national development.

The statement added: “The law makes provisions that will enable the creation of additional permissible investment instruments to accommodate initiatives for national development such as investment in the real sector and infrastructure.

The law also seeks to expand the dragnet of the scheme to include the informal sector.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Agric

BUSINESS 33

WAAPP-Nigeria releases 966.5mt seeds to farmers SUPPORT Sub-regional agency and research institutions put a smile on Nigerian farmers’ faces Stories by Siaka Momoh

I

t is celebration time for Nigerian farmers as West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, (WAAPPNigeria), in collaboration with some research institutes in Nigeria, has released a total of 966.5 metric tonnes of certified seeds to them for the current planting season, New Telegraph can confirm.

The National Project Coordinator, WAAPP-Nigeria, Prof.

Damian Chikwendu, stated this in Abuja at a meeting with seven private seed companies collaborating with WAAPP for the purpose of availing certified seeds to Nigerian farmers.

A breakdown of the figures shows that 434 metric tonnes of rice, 432.5 metric tonnes of maize and 100 metric tonnes of Sorghum were produced and distributed to farmers through the seed companies. According to the coordinator, the seeds being targeted for production

by WAAPP are the high-yielding and drought-resistant varieties. These include Samas 16, 26, Ife High Breed 3 and 4, for maize. Others are Faro 44, 50, 51, 52, Nerica 8, and Faro 59 and FK 512, BSR 01, 02, and KSB for sorghum.

Addressing the operators of the private seed companies,

Chikwendu reiterated that the objective of WAAPP is to produce enough genetic materials in form of certified and foundation seeds in the priority agricultural commodities of rice, maize sorghum, yam and cassava to enable farmers increase their productivity.

The seeds, he said, would be provided to farmers through states’ Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), the research institutes and colleges of agriculture as well as universities collaborating with WAAPP, who are the immediate hosts to the farmers in the adopted villages and the agricultural innovation platforms.

WAAPP is interested in producing certified seeds to go round Nigerian farmers.

The project is currently tar-

geting 1.5 million farmers. To this end, WAAPP has already acquired substantial quantity of breeder seeds which will be released to the private seed companies at subsidised rates for processing into foundation seeds. These foundation seeds will then be certified by the National Seed Council before being released to farmers.

While commending efforts of the various seeds companies for their timely delivery of foundation seeds to farmers for the current farming seasons, Chikwendu disclosed that WAAPP is fully aware of the hanky-panky business being perpetrated by some seed companies. He said that WAAPP would withdraw dealings with any seed company that fail to meet the specifications of the National Seed Council.

High yield seeds

Unilorin invests in 600ha plantations he University of Ilorin has, in recent years, invested in Tover 600 hectares of planta-

tion, Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ambali, has said.

The plantations in question are those of Teak, Mango, Jatropha and Moringa.

Ambali was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 58th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities (ADAN), hosted by the University of Ilorin recently.

He said that the 2014 Africa Multiple Indicator Scorecard on Hunger and Food Security Report has indicated that Nigeria has 12.1 million hungry people. He warned that the 12.1 million figure of hungry Nigerians would worsen unless Nigeria addresses the problem of over-dependence on oil and develops the agriculture sector.

Ambali believes that Nigeria can reclaim this heritage.

We recently hosted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who flagged-off our 1,000-hectare oil palm plantation, into which N1.2 billion is committed,” he said.

In his welcome address, chairman of ADAN, Prof. A. S. Fasina, revealed that the meeting would focus on agricultural training and curriculum review, update on Bill for the Nigerian Institute of Agriculture, and harmonisation of B.Sc. Agric. programmes in the nation’s universities.

He said that the meeting would also look at entrepreneurship training and innovation in advancing agriculture in Nigeria as well as agricultural production and value addition.

Nigeria’s mid-crop cocoa signals more production Nigeria’s production for 2013-14 will grow to 300,000 metric tons from 295,000 tons a year earlier

N

igeria’s mid-crop cocoa is taking longer to complete and boosting prospects for production from the world’s fourth-largest grower of the beans, Bloomberg has reported.

The smaller of two annual harvests is still progressing with a few signs of damage from disease or bad weather, said Wale Owofemi of Olatunde International Ltd., a co-

coa buying company based in Akure, Nigeria. The mid-crop usually ends in June with the larger main crop starting in October.

Nigeria’s production for 2013-14 will grow to 300,000 metric tons from 295,000 tons a year earlier, according to the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, which groups farmers, traders and processors.

Cocoa exports in May jumped 38 per cent to 4,461 tons from the previous month as favorable weather bolstered crop performance, according to the Federal Produce Inspective Service. The mid-crop will climb to 66,000 tons from 35,000 tons, the Akure-based Cocoa Development Initiative, a nongovernmental organization

that provides advice to farmers.

Rain is forecast for this month in cocoa growing ar-

Cocoa beans

eas in Nigeria followed by less moisture and sun in August that will benefit drying beans, Andrew Oniarah, of the

Meteorological Office in Lagos said in a phone interview.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 5

34

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

2014 HALF YEAR review Siaka Momoh

T

he Federal Government made the point clearly from the onset that it was beginning a new phase in agriculture, a phase of agriculture rethinking, transformation and turning agriculture into a “moneymaking business.”

Goals of Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) is to stimulate 3.5 million jobs across the agricultural value chain and add 20 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic food supply by 2015.

One of the high points of ATA is to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2015. In 2012, Nigeria produced over one million metric tonnes of paddy rice, which is about one third of the additional rice needed to meet the target for rice production.

In two years, the private sector has established 14 large scale integrated rice mills producing international quality

Whither agribusiness?

Backward integration policies have been adopted for sugar as well as rice; progress is being made on wheat; palm-oil roadmap draft is waiting for government endorsement long-grained parboiled rice.

Reports have it that Abakiliki rice cluster is blossoming.

But on the flipside is that poor irrigation system is a menace, one which Dr. Muyiwa Osiname, leader of the Rice Transformation Team of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) says is being addressed, citing provision of water pumps to farmers at a subsidised rate.

But regrettably, despite this robust drive to achieve rice self-sufficiency, smugglers are having a field day. Earlier in the year, rice importers and millers rose up against rice distributors. They put the

blame for continuous smuggling of rice into the country at the doorstep of rice distributors.

Why is smuggling still going on? The answer is simple – there is still a shortfall in supply. Rice Dealers Association of Nigeria (RIDAN) noted then that statistical revelations indicated that Nigeria’s domestic rice demand “is five million metric tonnes of milled rice while domestic supply has been put at 3.2 million metric tonnes. There is therefore a supply deficit of 1.8 million metric tonnes or over a third of total domestic rice demand,” it said.

Agric commodities

Agricultural Commodity Prices - Grains Commodity CBOT Corn CBOT Wheat CBOT Oats CBOT Rough Rice CBOT Soybeans CBOT Soybean Meal CBOT Soybean Oil ICE Canola

Softs

Commodity ICE Cocoa ICE Coffee "C" ICE Sugar #11 ICE Orange Juice Conc ICE Cotton #2 SFE Greasy Wool CME Lumber TOCOM Rubber CME Ethanol

Units USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USD/cwt USd/bu.

USD/st USd/lb.

CAD/mt

Price 401.25 551.50 336.50 13.61 1,113.25 357.40 37.68 458.00

Change -3.00 -4.75 -4.00 -0.09 -3.00 +0.10 -0.29 -4.60

% Change -0.74% -0.85% -1.17% -0.66% -0.27% +0.03% -0.76% -0.99%

Contract Dec 14 Sep 14 Dec 14 Sep 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Dec 14 Nov 14

Units USD/mt USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb. cents/kg USD/tbf JPY/kg USD/gal.

Price 3,089.00 173.95 17.43 150.60 70.19 333.00 202.60 2.16

Change -27.00 +1.00 -0.25 -0.25 +0.09 +0.90 +0.50 +0.02

% Change -0.87% +0.58% -1.41% -0.17% +0.13% -% +0.27% +0.25% +0.70%

Contract Sep 14 Sep 14 Oct 14 Sep 14 Dec 14 Aug 14 Sep 14 Dec 14 Aug 14

Time(ET) 10:32:19 10:32:14 10:30:37 10:29:13 10:32:03 10:31:59 10:32:30 10:32:42 Time(ET) 10:32:07 10:31:44 10:31:52 10:31:44 10:32:35 10:32:29 05:59:59 10:31:41

Livestock Commodity Units Price Change % Change Contract Time(ET) CME Live Cattle USd/lb.

154.13 +0.60 +0.39% Aug 14 10:32:34 CME Feeder Cattle USd/lb.

217.13 +1.23 +0.57% Aug 14 10:32:24 CME Lean Hogs USd/lb.

130.50 +0.65 +0.50% Aug 14 10:32:15 Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price.

Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

Cassava flour substitution policy This is aimed at reducing import bill on wheat by replacing some of the wheat flour used in bread and confectionaries. Incorporation of 20 per cent high quality flour has been introduced to corporate and major bakers. This is commendable, but there is still a lot of rooms to go. Only corporate bakers who have limited market coverage currently bake cassava bread and confectioneries. The litany of ‘Agege bread’ type bakers is, at best, still learning the ropes, courtesy of the Federal Government.

New wheat varieties These are varieties that are heat-tolerant. We have become addicted to foods made from imported wheat. The agric ministry is trying to change this addiction. But it will take time. Tastes cannot be changed overnight. Our children have become hooked on Indomie and other noodles made from wheat; even the older generation who eat pounded foods, traditionally made from yams and cassava, now eat pounded foods from wheat flour.

Today, Nigeria’s wheat import is about four million metric tons per annum and estimated to grow at an alarming rate of five per cent per annum.

At this rate, the country will be importing 10 million metric tons of wheat/annum by 2030, spending $15 billion annually on wheat imports alone.

Silent revolution Government is not throwing up its arms in dejection. According to Adesina, “a silent revolution is already happening on farms all across Northern Nigeria. This revolution is being sparked by the release of two high yielding improved wheat varieties, Norman Borlaug and Reyna-28 produced

by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in collaboration with our own Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri. These varieties give average yield of five to isx tons per hectare. In addition to high yields, these varieties have excellent milling and bread-making quality.

“We have begun massive distribution of these varieties to farmers through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) and electronic wallet scheme.”

According to the minister, a total of 2,500ha of wheat fields were cultivated in 2013; for the 2014/2015 wheat season, a total of 75,000ha will be cultivated by 75,000 farmers; the area under wheat production is expected to increase to 150,000ha

by 2015/2016 dry season and to 300,000ha by 2016/2017 dry season.

“At the average yield of five mt/ha, Nigeria will achieve its target of producing 1.5 million metric tons of wheat by 2017 and reduce wheat imports by 50 per cent,” he said.

Divergent view But one of Nigeria’s frontline wheat millers believes that government should tread softly on this issue of adoption of cassava flour by millers. Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Folaranmi Babatunde Odunayo (now retired), said in an interview with New Telegraph: The way a country should run and the way it is “fair to the consumer is that you must offer them choices. It is not the business of government to regulate what somebody wants to eat; if it is too pricey the consumer will choose something else. We use wheat for baking of bread. We should continue to use wheat for bread and also continue to import wheat for that purpose until one day when we can also grow locally the volume that is required.”

Rotten fish The Fishery Department unit of the agric ministry had to shut down many fish cold rooms stocked with rotten fish in Lagos, impounded and destroyed them, during the period under review. The fishery unit found out that the companies involved engaged in fish smuggling with the connivance of unscrupulous senior government officials.

To consolidate on the gains of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, inaugurated the Nigeria Agribusiness Executive Leadership Group, an organised private sector body. The group comprises about 20 foremost Nigerian agribusiness companie,s including Dansa Foods, Okomu Oil, Chi Group, Cresta Group, Datti Fish, Olam and Wilbahi, among others.

The group will help to ensure that the on-going reforms of the agriculture sector are protected and sustained. It will work closely with government to improve further the business environment of agriculture.

Some milestones •Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, said previously that 1.9 million metric tons of rice was produced in the dry and wet seasons combined in 2013. Output is forecast to hit 2.9 million metric tons this year and the official expectation is that Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice in 2017.

• Backward integration policies have been adopted for sugar as well as rice. For wheat, genetically-modified variants are options that may be adopted for local cultivation.

•In fisheries, local output has CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

35

Agriculture is high-yield investment ADVICE A wake-up call to Nigerians to take control of their agric resources Chukwudi Odili

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his commentary reflects the findings of contemporary research. The May 2010 issue of Marc Faber’s Gloom Boom& Doom Report predicted that: “Investing in agriculture today will be like investing in the oil sector in 2001-2002,” when prices fell to rock-bottom levels before they surged cyclically to all-time highs.

In Nigeria, recent research

by PrOpCom, a UK Department for International Development programme, revealed the massive potentials existing for many crops, especially the export of Ofada rice to Europe and the USA. All these research findings clearly disclose the secret of tomorrow’s storehouse of wealth. It is particularly a wake-up call to Nigerians to hurry and take control of their agric resources now, before foreigners would find time to invade the country and reap the gains ahead of indigenes.

The solutions to population increase and food insecurity in Nigeria lie in increasing agricultural production with special regard to crops, livestock and fisheries, coupled with improved access to markets and infrastructure.

Mechanisation holds the ace and has a clear-cut edge over traditional farming.

Nigerian soil is rich in cereals such as maize, rice, sorghum, corn, millet, wheat; food crops such as cassava, yam, plantain, potato, coco yam; legumes such as soya beans, groundnuts, cowpeas; fruits such as mango, banana, oranges, guava, papaw, pineapple; vegetables such as cabbage, green pepper, carrots, lettuce, spice, onions, melons; and cash crops such as oil palm, cocoa, rubber, coconut, kola nut, coffee, she nuts, beniseed, cotton, cashew nut and sugar cane. Other agric prospects include commercial growing of flowers and ornamentals.

Raising cattle for the agricultural market is one of the largest industries to be found within the commodities market and one that will come with distinct rewards and challenges.

Whether it is a small-scale ranch or a huge commercial cattle enterprise, there are several aspects of cattle ranch you will find necessary to understand prior to venturing into this field. Breeding Angus cattle is one of the most rewarding types of farming that you can find in terms of monetary value. Raising other breeds of cattle particularly if you operate a commercial un-

Mango plantation

dertaking can also prove to be a great means of living.

Cattle may be generally bred for the purpose of producing milk, hides and skin, hoof, horn, bones and dairy products like butter and cheese. The local Fulani Bunaji or Rahaji species could be crossbred with the Sokoto Gudali, the Shuwa Arab, the Azaouk or the Bargawa. If for the purpose of beef production, then the local Ndama, Kuri, or Dali species must be stocked. As the business grows, the imported Hoistel Freisian cows and bulls could be introduced to facilitate cross breeding through artificial insemination. Procreation techniques involving artificial insemination would indeed be a key factor in the rapid animal population growth, survival and disease resistance.

Aquaculture or fishery is a fast growing form of food production. It’s particularly a significant source of protein for people in many countries, including Nigeria. Globally, nearly half the fish consumed by humans is produced by fish farms. This worldwide trend

The estimated investment and profitability profile for cultivating selected key crops on one hectare of land is as follows: CROP

STOCK COST TURNOVER GROSS PROFIT (Kg.) (N) (N) Per Season (N) MAIZE (seed) 32,934 164,440 577,220 412,780 YAM (head- tuber 100,000 80,284 520,000 439,716 stock) CASSAVA (stick) 150,000 95,964 416,400 350,436 PLANTAIN (stem) 65,500 75,364 366,000 290,636 Business Unit

Fixed Costs Recurrent Total Costs (N) Costs (N) (N) Fish Rearing Unit 3,284,683 2,809,357 6,094,058 Cattle & Ram Rearing Unit 4,890,543 2,970,000 7,860,543 Single produce processing Unit 2,280,272 1,016,027 3,296,299 Big-time farmers should consider going further to process the produce. The investment profile of a typical produce processing unit integrated with animal husbandry units would look like what appears in the following table.

Assuming you start with about three hectares, you are indeed sure of realising a gross profit of about N4 million in one season, just for cultivating four crop varieties alone. You will, of course, plant vegetables in-between, and this will mean more money. Now think of the gains if you go commercial and widen the scope to include animal husbandry and other related agric activities. toward aquaculture production is what is expected to happen in Nigeria. Demand for safe, healthy seafood is also expected to grow at the same time.

Several incentives exist for

agric sector investors in Nigeria. They include generous capital, dutty and tax allowances. Also, the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), administered by the Central Bank of Nige-

ria, guarantees up to 75per cent for all loans granted by commercial banks for agricultural production and processing. Moreover, each of the state governments in Nigeria has various forms of additional incentive for investors willing to invest in agriculture.

The startup capital could be reasonably trimmed down. It is realistic to start a small-integrated farm, comprising crop cultivation and cattle rearing on a few hectares piece of land, with N5 million equity funds.

Then, gradually the venture could be expanded with loans under the Agric Credit Guarantee Scheme.

Profit levels over a projected five-year period almost triple cost levels in these instances Agricultural investment today is obviously where tomorrow’s wealth lies. I choose to reveal this secret to you via this popular medium so that you do not miss this golden opportunity!

• Chukwudi Odili writes from

Abuja, and can be reached via his email address: ticodilis@ yahoo.com

Nigeria’s mid-crop cocoa signals more production C O N T I N U E D F R O M pa g e 3 3

Meanwhile, cocoa prices rose earlier in Ondo and Osun states due to the scarcity of the midcrop whose harvest is at its tail end in both states, traders said recently, according to Dow Jones newswires.

In Ondo State, Nigeria’s largest cocoa-producing state, graded cocoa is trading at N480,000 ($2,824) a metric ton up from N450,000 three weeks ago, a trader in the state’s capital, Akure, said.

Ondo State produces 40 per cent of Nigeria’s annual cocoa output of 250,000 tons and is one of the five main cocoa-producing states in the southwest.

In Osun State, the country’s third-largest cocoaproducing state, the price of graded cocoa has risen to N460,000 from N450,000 a fortnight ago, said Bisi Omoyeni, a trader in Ile-Ife, a cocoagrowing and marketing centre in the state.

Omoyeni told Dow Jones the cocoa prices were going up in some states in the southwest because of the scarcity of the midcrop. “The volume of cocoa reaching the markets is decreasing as farmers have fewer pods on the trees to harvest.”

He said that harvesting of the midcrop began in the southwest in March, adding

that the crop was expected to finish in July, while the region would begin harvesting the 2014-15 main crop cocoa next month because of the good rainfall and favourable weather that helped its development.

Omoyeni said that cocoa trees in Osun are full of main cocoa pods, the good weather has boosted the cocoa, farmers will begin the harvest in late August,” he said.

An official of the Ondo State Farmers Congress, Eric Akinyele, said that main crop cocoa “is developing rapidly in the state,” adding that farmers will start its harvest next month.

Meanwhile, good weather for cocoa production is continuing in south-western Nigeria, which accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s annual output, with officials and traders saying that this bodes well for the 2014-15 main crop.

“Though we are in July when much rainfall is expected, we are getting rainfall and a sunny climate. The weather is okay as at this month for matured cocoa,” said Toba Adenowuro, cocoa desk officer at the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture. “This type of weather will reduce the incidence of black pod disease on cocoa farms, which could lead to higher output.”

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Cocoa nears 3-year high, cotton slides Cocoa for September delivery rose to $3,149 a ton on the ICE Futures US exchange, the highest level since August 24, 2011 Siaka Momoh

C

Cocoa pods

NOVELTY Cocoa farmers to smile as non-toxic pesticide that will put deadly Black Pod disease in check is found Siaka Momoh

F

armers in cocoa producing areas across the globe may have cause to smile this year as scientists have found a non-toxic pesticide that can stop the destructive menace of black pod disease, a deadly destroyer of cocoa pods, New Telegraph has learnt.

Industry sources say cocoa farmers will lose an estimated 30 to 40 per cent of their crop to pests and disease, and with chocolate prices having risen globally by roughly two-thirds in the past decade, concern is growing about production sustainability. Of particular concerns are the environmental impact and human health risks of toxic agrichemicals – organochloride insecticides and heavymetal-based fungicides – used in cocoa production to fight pests and disease.

But scientists at Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences have found – in a safe, biodegradable compound – a potential alternative to the hazardous antifungal agents currently being used to combat one of the most damaging cacao diseases, Phytophthora pod rot (also known as black pod), responsible for an estimated 20 to 30 per cent loss in yield yearly.

Black pod thrives in wet and damp conditions on cocoa farms. State-run Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria said that about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s cocoa output could be damaged by the black pod if left untreated. ‘We get rainfall on a daily basis in Ondo State but this is followed by sunny climate. The main crop cocoa is doing well and its harvest will start in August,” said Joshua Oyedele, a vice president of CAN. The rainy season runs from May to October in southwest Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has said that the rainy season may be shorter in 2014.

“The current weather, though is good for matured cocoa, it is

Boost for cocoa as non-toxic black pod spray debuts not good for cocoa seedlings that have been transplanted to farms. The seedlings need more and constant rainfall to survive as they are not as rugged as matured cocoa trees,” said Adenowuro.

“The weather is perfect for next season’s main crop, if it continues as at present, the 201415 main crop cocoa harvest will be good,” said Tunde Ogunbola, a trader in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Mark Guiltinan and Yufan Zhang, with Siela Maximova in collaboration with Phil Smith of the Metabolomics Core Facility, have discovered that spraying the leaves of the Theobroma cacao tree with a low-concentration glycerol solution triggers the plant’s defense response and enhances its natural disease resistance.

“Right now,” says Guiltinan, “cocoa farmers are using fungicides and other chemicals that are very effective but are also highly toxic compounds, very persistent in the soil, and relatively expensive. Glycerol, on the other hand, is extremely non-toxic; it's super safe, super cheap, biodegradable, and it triggers the plants’ defenses very efficiently – it only takes small amounts to trigger the whole plant defense system.

“The plant immune system,” he continues, “is made up of many different components that – imagine, if you can – are like little micro-machines. It has five or ten major components that all have little safeties on them, and safeties on the safeties, and things that turn them on and off and regulate them. Some of these components are always running at some level and the system is a complicated thing on a hair trigger, always ready to go. You just give it a little trip and off it goes – all the little micro-machines will be activated in a certain sequence and the whole thing takes off, so glycerol is one of the ways we've found to come in and trigger this to happen.”

Glycerol, a simple sugar-alcohol compound called a polyol, is

a colourless, odourless, viscous liquid commonly used in soaps and other cosmetic products and is produced in different ways, including as a by-product of biofuel production where it is removed from plant or animal fats in a process known as transesterification.

“When you make biodiesel,” Guiltinan says, “you end up with a massive amount of glycerol that nobody really has a good use for, and it’s super cheap because of that.”

Zhang adds that the production of glycerol from biofuels “is projected to increase ten-fold in the next ten years, as high as six times the projected demand, and people are already generating excessive amounts of glycerol that they don’t know what to do with. There are journals focusing specifically on the use of glycerol and other biodiesel products, and research is being done on all different kinds of by-products from the biodiesel industry to find out what how these compounds could be

used.”

“At the very beginning,” says Zhang, “we weren’t focusing on glycerol's effects on the cacao plant's defenses. We were more focused on its effects related to fatty acid biosynthesis – but digging deeper, we found that glycerol also has an effect triggering the plant's defense response.”

The Guiltinan Lab studies two main aspects of the cacao tree: one has to do with the quality of the cocoa solids and fats being produced in the cacao seed, and the other is focused on disease resistance in the plant.

Zhang was working on a project to better understand what genes are implicated in the quality of fats in the cocoa bean, so it was “somewhat serendipitous,” says Guiltinan, that he discovered a paper describing a potential intersection with disease resistance: in some model plant species, certain types of glycerol-related fatty acids triggered the plants' key defense mechanisms. Zhang decided to test this on the cacao tree.

2014 HALF YEAR review

Whither agribusiness?

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

steadily increased over the last five years. Data from the CBN show that artisanal production accounted for around 76 per cent of the catch of 851,000 mmt in 2012. Much of the catch is from coastal and inland waters.

• Other segments set to grow are oil palm production and bee-keeping. The Delta State government intends to boost oil palm in collaboration with the United Nations’ Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) in processing and packaging as well as market linkages. Meanwhile, support for apiculture will be geared towards increased honey production, processing and training of qualified personnel.

• When we consider the increased investment in sugar

and rice production as a result of backward integration, we expect to see similar outcomes in other sub-sectors.

Only recently, stakeholders in the oil palm sector drafted a palm oil roadmap which proffered solution to the problems bedevilling the sector.

The draft policy, among other things, says government should henceforth stop the granting of waivers and concession under any guise to import crude palm oil and refined vegetable oil. It says government will maintain the existing tariff regime of 35 per cent for the importation of crude palm oil and prohibition on the importation of refined vegetable oil.

Government is yet to come out with a statement on this draft which it already has in its possession.

ocoa prices reached a nearly three-year high last week as strong demand for chocolate fuelled buying, according to Dow Jones.

Cocoa for September delivery rose to $3,149 a ton on the ICE Futures US exchange, the highest level since Aug. 24, 2011. The contract has since eased from that high, recently trading 0.2 per cent lower at $3,111 a ton.

In a quarterly statement, Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut AG, one of the world’s biggest cocoa processors, said its sales rose by 2.4 per cent to 1.14 million metric tons in the nine months ended May 31, with more than 18 per cent of the growth coming from emerging markets. The sales excluded its newly acquired Petra cocoaprocessing unit.

The chocolate manufacturer also said the outlook for cocoa supplies has improved. “A good start to the mid-crop cocoa harvest, further helped by record rainfall in the West African region, could turn an expected deficit for the 2013-14 season into a slight surplus,” Barry Callebaut said in a statement. The 2013-14 season ends September 30.

Cotton futures traded at a 19-month low on signs that growers in the U.S., the world's biggest cotton exporter, will reap more bales this year compared with last year. On Monday, the US Department of Agriculture said domestic growers likely planted 11.4 million acres with cotton this spring, about 2.7 per cent more than the market had expected, and a 9.6 per cent increase over last spring.

Total U.S. production is expected to rise to 15 million bales, up 16 per cent from the current season, but many market participants expect output to climb even further, which would add pressure to prices.

Cotton for December delivery was down 0.6 per cent at 72.01 cents a pound.

In other markets, raw sugar for October delivery was down 0.3 per cent at 17.81 cents a pound. Arabica coffee for September delivery was up 0.1 per cent at $1.7340 a pound. Orangejuice concentrate for September delivery was unchanged at $1.4810 a pound.

Meanwhile, Barry Callebaut, has sided with investors forecasting a surplus in world cocoa output this season after all, but unveiled a further slowdown in its own volume growth, against a backdrop of a “challenging” cocoa powder market, according to Agrimoney.com.

FEATURES

37

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

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

Coroner law: Reducing deaths from medical negligence Many man-induced factors, including negligence on the part of medical care-givers, have sent many people to their early graves, reports JULIANA FRANCIS

A

medical doctor was watching a football match between Arsenal and Manchester United while a patient was rushed into his office. It was an emergency situation.

‘When the nurses called him, the doctor said he would attend to the patient after the match. By the time the match was over, the patient was dead.

The same doctor signed the patient’s death certificate.

The above may sound unreal, but it actually happened.

The Director of Programmes, Access to Justice, Leonard Dibia, painted this gory while buttressing his argument that medical negligence has become one of the major causes of untimely death in Nigeria.

According to Dibia, who was one of the facilitators at a workshop organised by the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), the above is replicated almost on a daily basis in government health facilities across the country.

The director of programmes presented a paper on “Promoting Awareness and Effective Application of the Lagos State Coroners System Law, 2007.”

He said: “Unlike before 2007, it is heartening to now observe that cases for coroner inquest now compete with regular cause lists in designated magistrate/ coroner courts in Lagos State, with cases for inquest ranging from police killings to medical negligence and domestic violence.

“When the pop star Michael Jackson died in the United States, initial autopsy report cleverly concealed the real cause of his death which was made to appear like a self-inflicted abuse of drugs or an inculpable but abnormal sensitivity to regular dosages of common sleeping pills.

“It took an incisive coroner inquest to unravel the real cause of his death which was certified to be a raw case of medical negligence, in respect of which the doctor concerned faced criminal charges.”

Even as Dibia spoke about using the coroner law to arrest and check cases of death caused by medical negligence, with the aim of making medical practitioners accountable for their actions, he went further to explain that under Section 14 of the present coroner law, any aggrieved person who identified himself as “party interested,” could write a “report of death” to the coroner (even in pidgin English), requesting for commencement of inquest.

He said: “Such request is called an epistolary procedure. It involves neither the professionalism of a draftsman nor is it amenable to the technical rules of legal pleadings. It requires neither the authorisation of the attorney-general of the state nor the fiat of the chief judge of the state, nor any preliminary investigation by the

Dibia (right) and others at the workshop

Nwanguma

police before commencement of inquest.”

According to him, the inquest process is the investigation itself and aims at ensuring a dependable, independent and unbiased process and system of unravelling the true facts and circumstances surrounding the death of a person who the law describes as having died in ‘sudden and unnatural circumstances’.

Explaining how the process of seeking inquest is back by the coroner law system, Dibia said that Section 14 of the law stipulates that: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was sudden, unexpected....”

Section 15 states that: “The coroner shall hold an inquest whenever he is informed that the death of a deceased person lying within the district was a result of death in a violent, unnatural and suspicious situation...”

Highlighting the ways of combating hidden cases of medical negligence, Dibia said: “The need for an alternative system of inquiry is further underscored by a phenomenon in our society which, though is neglected, has accounted for many preventable deaths in our society, and that is medical negligence.

“At the time of presenting this paper, my colleagues in Access to Justice are before the coroner, urging a verdict to be entered against a notable medical facility in Lagos State. We call it the Malanido inquest. The victims were rushed to hospital within 10 minutes of their being shot by the police. The hospital authorities admitted them properly but, as was alleged by friends of the deceased person, they (the hospital authorities) requested an initial deposit of N1.5 million on a Saturday morning before treatment could be carried out on the dying victims.

“The victims died. The central question which we have submitted to the coroner is to determine whether within the terms of sections 5 and 35 of the Hippocratic Oath and the new legislated Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, the conduct of the medical facility should not warrant disciplinary action and payment of exemplary and punitive damages by the hospital. The

to have the circumstances of the death of their relatives inquired into, to ascertain whether they died of natural causes or due to negligence.

“There have been several instances of pregnant women losing their lives or the lives of their babies or both after they had gone into the labour room without any prior known medical issues.

“There have also been cases where people in critical situations - people bleeding from gunshot injuries or accident victims - requiring emergency attention had been denied treatment by medical care-givers on account of their requirement of police report or deposit of some money before commencement of treatment.”

Nwanguma urged people to begin to report or complain to coroners or demand an inquest into suspicious death of their loved ones. “If the coroner is not satisfied that the person died from natural causes or the cause of death is unknown, then they must hold an inquest to investigate and establish the cause of death.

“The coroner should hold an inquest where there is reason to believe that negligent medical treatment may have caused the death,” he added.

Nwanguma also noted that Nigerians were yet to understand the importance of the coroner system and the need to utilise it. He said: “Hence, many cases of unnatural death have gone un-inquired into, the truth unravelled and justice not done. The coroner system is basically about finding out the truth about the cause of any unnatural death, ensuring that justice is done and that it does not happen again. It is about preserving human life.”

According to him, the government and civil society need to popularise the coroner system law and sensitise the Nigerians to the system and how it can help them seek and secure truth, justice and accountability in cases of death of their loved ones by medical negligence and other unnatural causes.

He said: “There is also the need to train lawyers to develop expertise on the coroner system law as well, for specialist organisations which will run a legal helpline which victims or concerned citizens can call for detailed advice when there is a question about medical treatment or need for legal services on coroner inquest.”

At the time Shipman’s pleasure for killing his patients was discovered, over 215 persons have gone through the death-hammer of his injection needles matter is still ‘subjudice’. The Michael Jackson case is one striking example.

“You may have heard of the Dr Shipman inquiry case in England. Shipman successfully killed hundreds of his patients over a period of 20 years because the circumstances he explained as causing the death of his victims (who were all his patients) were not specifically and mandatorily defined as deserving of inquest.

“At the time Shipman’s pleasure for killing his patients was discovered, over 215 persons have gone through the deathhammer of his injection needles.

“Another Shipman may just be lurking around town without anybody knowing.

‘God forbid’ is a common religious cliché in our society. But many things that God forbids occur in our society with unflinching rampancy. We have to take steps.”

Reacting to the issue, the National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, said that clinical negligence could be further defined as the failure on the part of the doctor or treating institution to reach the accepted standard of medicine.

According to him, in Nigeria, many medical practitioners had always got away with deaths or permanent deformities arising from their incompetence or negligence.

This, Nwanguma said, was due to the traditional Nigerian attitude of complacency, reluctance to report and seek truth, justice and accountability, and resignation to fate on account of faith or religious beliefs and notions.

He said: “Nigerians do not often take recourse to the coroner system laws in order

sport fanzone

38

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Eagles' best and worst performers in Brazil A cross-section of Nigerians speak on the Super Eagles players who thrilled and failed them at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

Mikel, Ameobi, Uchebo were not fit for Brazil

Enyeama, Musa, Osaze best Eagles

Mikel Obi failed to justify the confidence Nigerians M had in him following his poor midfield role, while Shola Ameobi's role proved he was not fit to be part of

will pick Vincent EnIMusa yeama, Ahmed and Osaze

the 23-man squad with his lacklustre outing. I think Michael Uchebo was unable to prove his inclusion in the team. He was neither here nor there when he had the opportunity to show Nigerians his quality.

My best players were Juwon Oshaniwon, Onazi Ogenyi, Vincent Enyeama. Oshaniwon's display proved the qualities that are inherent in home-based players. He was one of the discoveries in the Super Eagles. Onazi was solid as ever in the middle. His absence due to injury exposed Mikel Obi's flaws and Vincent Enyeama's rating as one of the 10 best goalkeepers at the World Cup is no fluke. He ensured that Nigeria was not disgraced with his super saves and reflexes.

Odemwingie as my three best players while Mikel, Yobo and Rueben Gabriel were the worst Eagles at the World Cup.

Sandra Aernyi, football player Vincent Enyeama

Frankie Omokhua - Dream Fm, Enugu

Mikel, Yobo, Azeez biggest flops

M

ikel Obi should be converted to a full back defender and Joseph Yobo really proved that he had seen better playing days in his lifetime.

Also, Stephen Keshi’s gamble on Ramon Azeez was a disaster because he was not yet ripe for the World Cup. Vincent Enyeama was the best Super Eagles player in Brazil because he saved the team in several difficult situations. Juwon Oshinawa was outstanding too because he surpassed people’s expectation with his performance. Ogenyi Onazi’s performance proved that he can easily step into Sunday Oliseh’s shoes.

Seun Ogunde, marketing executive

Moses, Mikel, Yobo were mere passengers

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ur best players were Vincent Enyeama, Ahmed Musa and Efe Ambrose, while the worst were Victor Moses, Joseph Yobo and Mikel Obi. Overall, the team had no passion, no desire, and most importantly, they were highly materialistic, demanding bonuses before matches. We had all it took to beat France, but there was no passion expressed in the game. That is why Keshi preferred not to go down with a sinking ship, especially as players were forced on him by the NFF. Keshi foresaw the outcome, but he just played along not to kill the spirit of millions of passionate Nigerian fans.

Okwoli Fidelis, businessman

Enyeama, Babatunde, Osaze were heroes

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incent Enyeama displayed wonderful leadership skills and was responsible for some of the world cup's most amazing saves. However, his errors against France cost us the match. Yet, he remains my favourite of the team. Against all odds Michael Babatunde emerged as the most outstanding Nigerian player at the tournament and was very valuable until his injury in the game against Argentina. Coming in as a substitute, Osaze Odemwingie not only showcased his strengths but proved that he deserved to be in the starting line-up of every match. He was level-headed and also tireless in pursuit of the ball and was an asset even in the defence.

Reuben Gabriel and Ejike Uzoenyi messed up the only opportunities afforded them.

Isoken Ekhator, event manager

Mikel, Yobo, Moses had no business in Brazil

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he trio of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Joseph Yobo has no business in Brazil because they went there to disgrace themselves. They were a total disappointment because they didn’t add anything to the team, but rather gave the Eagles more problems. Vincent Enyeanma, Osaze Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emenike were my best three players because they contributed immensely to the team. They played for the team and were the engine room that took the team to the second round.

Chijioke Uchendu, banker

Enyeama, Onazi, Osaze lifted Eagles

believe our three best players in chronoIOsaze. logical order were Enyeama, Onazi and Enyeama was our best player and

you could see the respect accorded him by opposing teams as they all must have talked about him in their team talks. Onazi, for all his tireless running, was badly missed when Matuidi with his horror tackle ended his World Cup, and Osaze, for his commitment and goal against Bosnia that took us to the second round. Our worst players were Reuben Gabriel, Mikel Obi and Victor Moses. Gabriel for his awful performance against France; Obi for not putting in any of his experience over these years of playing for Chelsea and despite this being his first World Cup, and Moses for a lack of genuine effort. And he lost interest too early in the competition. But considering the horror he has been through at a young age and still deciding to play for Nigeria, I think he always gets love from me, even if Keshi fell out of love with him. But he could do better.

Lekan Idowu, businessman

Osaze, Ambrose, Musa were fantastic

M

y best player was Osaze Odemwingie because he displayed tactical discipline and showed a lot of character considering the circumstances in which he was selected for the competition.

Ambrose Efe was also good because he stood his ground against top oppositions. Ahmed Musa also did well although he was not consistent, but Juwon Oshaniwa was my third best player for his determination and good fighting spirit.

Mikel Obi was arguably the worst Nigerian player at the World Cup. Also Gabriel Rueben and Ramon Azeez were big disasters and that has really proved that Keshi was wrong to drop combative midfielders like John Ogu, Nosa Igiebior, Fengor Ogude and Sunday Mba. Ripson Oloja, South Africa

Enyeama, Onazi, Osaze reign supreme

Enyeanma kept NigeVhisincent ria in the competition with world class saves. He was

simply in the best form of his career. Ogenyi Onazi was the midfield general whose absence was felt when he got injured against France. He controlled the field and his distribution of passes was accurate. Also, Osaze Odemwingie was a threat going forward and his quick way of tracking back when the Eagles lost the ball was very commendable.

The worst players were Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Victor Moses because they never made any significant contribution to the team.

Felix Adewumi, Abuja

Enyeama, Onazi, Emenike were fantastic pick Vincent Enyeama as my Ibywill best performer. He's followed Ogenyi Onazi. Although Em-

manuel Emenike did not score his all-round performance was encouraging, so, he is my third best player. Generally, Eagles did well and it is difficult to name three bad players but a player like Mikel did not cover himself in glory.

Waheed Majekodunmi, University lecturer

Mikel, Azeez, Yobo wobbled

ikel Obi was a great disappointment M in Brazil; I can now see reason why he has been staying on the bench at Chelsea.

Azeez Ramon allowed the atmosphere to get to him while Joseph Yobo failed to lead as the captain from the back.

Vincent Enyeama is my best player in that Super Eagles team, while Emmanuel Babatunde really impressed with his work rate on the pitch.

Osaze Odemwinge also shows that experience cannot be bought in the market.

Lekan Oyinlola, Agriculturist

Enyeama, Osaze, Omeruo are patriots incent Enyeama was VBrazil Nigeria best player at 2014 World Cup.

He was the savior of the Super Eagles in all the matches they played at the competition. Osaze Odemwingie was fantastic also and I think Kenneth Omeruo also did well.

My worst players were Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Michael Uchebo they were just spectators at the World Cup and I kept wondering why Keshi took them to the competition.

Deborah Sunday, footballer

Enyeama, Omeruo, Oshaniwa saved Eagles ur best player, in my opinion, O was Vincent Enyeama. If not for him we would have

returned from Brazil with a basketful of goals. He showed why he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. After Enyeama, I will go for both Kenneth Omeruo and Juwon Oshianiwa, who were both impressive despite their inexperience.

Our worst player by miles has to be John Obi Mikel.

Considering his vast experience, he disappointed me. He was far worse than Victor Moses, who was also a disappointment. The players worse than these two were Iker Casillas and Salomon Kalou.

Paul Udochi, security expert

The crew Emmanuel Tobi Ifeanyi Ibeh Ajibade Olusesan Charles Ogundiya

SPORTEXTRA 39

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Emerging stars of Brazil 2014 AJIBADE OLUSESAN in this piece highlights some of the emerging stars who made breakthrough at the 2014 World Cup Kenneth Omeruo, Nigeria (21)

James Rodriguez, Columbia (22)

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espite his big-money move to AS Monaco last summer the Colombian was still a surprise package in the World Cup. The 22-year-old stepped up in the absence of the injured Radamel Falcao and set the tournament alight with his trickery and great dribbling skills. His four goals and two assists highlight his influence in the Colombian national team.

He is now been talked of the same breath with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This lad is surely destined for something great.

nce again, Omeruo proved that he’s one of the players Nigeria can rely on for a long time to come with commanding performances at the Mundial. He lost his defensive partner, Godfrey Oboabona, to injury early in the competition but he worked seamlessly with Captain Joseph Yobo as Nigeria reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1998. He is surely one of the star men for the Eagles and has attracted a lot of interest from several European clubs.

D

Rodriguez

José María Giménez, Uruguay (19)

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he young player has been one of the defensive revelations of the tournament. He is mobile, aggressive and an excellent reader of the game.

A perfect size for a centre-back, he seamlessly slotted in as understudy to his fellow player in Atletico, Diego Godín, in the middle of Uruguay’s back line. He displaced unimpressive captain, Diego Lugano, and the player never disappointed until the team was kicked out in the round of 16 of the tournament.

Memphis

Memphis Depay, Netherlands (20)

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epay has become the super-sub of this tournament. The youngster cannot fight for starting shirts with Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar ahead of him but he has contributed immensely for the Oranje despite his cameo appearances.

In just 97 minutes of work over three games, Depay scored two goals and added an assist for the Dutch cause.

He’s an impactful winger who loves to drift inside when the moment presents itself.

Omeruo

Raphael Varane, France (21)

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arane proved himself that he is a defensive rock for France. Though just 21-years-old he so good that he forced the more experienced Laurent Koscieny out of the starting line-up.

Varane reads the game well and his timing has been impeccable. Up to and including the Round of 16 win over the Super Eagles, Varane had not committed a single foul. For a centre back, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Paul Pogba, France (21)

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he closest thing to Patrick Vieira the whole world has seen since the elegant French midfielder hung up his boots three years ago. Like his men-

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ne of the most remarkable stories of the World Cup, the young German-born player was selected by Coach Safet Susic, on the eve of the tournament after a near two-year absence from the national team. Rejected

by Hamburg after only three first-team appearances as a centre-back, he was given a free transfer to the Hungarian side Ferencvaros in 2012. Brazil 2014 has proved to be some redemption for Besic; he excelled in his defensive-midfield role, keeping Lionel Messi quiet in the opening fixture and providing measured, composed performances throughout against the Super Eagles and Iran.

Divock Origi, Belgium (19)

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Joel Campbell, Costa Rica (22)

Kostas Manolas, Greece (23)

A Manolas

lready on the shortlist of many high-profile clubs, the Greece centre-back has confirmed his status as one of the most wanted defenders in Europe, and his performances in Brazil have made the world aware of his potential. Apart from the disappointing opening fixture (losing 3-0 to Colombia), Ma-

tor, Pogba is tall and powerful, both in the air and on the ground. He is a typical box to box midfielder, a defensive competitor and offensive creator.

Pogba came under criticism in the early stages of the competition after unconvincing performances but he established himself as the tournament wore on.

His heroics against Super Eagles of Nigeria encapsulates his campaign. He scored his only goal of the tourney and also ran Nigeria’s midfield aground with his pace, presence and poise. He was also one of the shining examples in France’s loss to German y in the quarterfinals.

Muhamed Besic, Bosnia (21)

Origi

surprise inclusion that has made a massive impact on a Belgium team that reached the quarterfinals of the tournament. The young forward, whose father played for Kenya, with his blistering pace and physicality practically turned the game for Belgium twice after coming off the bench for the ineffective Romelu Lukaku. Though he was kept quiet in the quarterfinal match against Argentina, he had done enough to announce himself in the world stage.

Gimenez

nolas has appeared assured and confident enough to suggest that he is ready to slot into the heart of even a Premier League defence.

With strong, commanding centre-backs few and far between, the young Olympiakos defender will not be short of suitors over the next few months.

C

ampbell appeared to have played his way back into the Arsenal squad with brilliant performances at the World Cup. The Gunners sent the Costa Rican player on loan to Olympiakos last season but he seems to have convinced Arsene Wenger to give him a chance in Arsenal's dressing room.

His speed and strength are some of his attributes and he displayed plenty of that as the North American team cruised to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Campbell

EXHORT A TION

40

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adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340 FRIDAY JULY 11, 2014 l 14 RAMADAN 1435 AH

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH Breaking Fast due to Breastfeeding QUESTION

Can I break my fast due to breastfeeding

ANSWER IIn the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, thanks for your question, and we implore Allah to accept our fasting and to grant us piety in this blessed month.

Fasting in Ramadan is an obligation upon every accountable Muslim, and no one is excused from fasting at the time of fasting except for those who have valid excuses such as the sick, travelers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the very old and those who are forced to break their fast. Most of the scholars are of the opinion that if the pregnant and breastfeeding women fear for themselves, then they should not fast but they have to make up for the days they miss.

Responding to the question, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states the following: Yes, it is permissible for you to break your fast if you are breastfeeding and you are concerned that your milk will go dry.

If the pregnant and breastfeeding women fear for themselves, then most of the scholars say that they should not fast and they only have to make it up. In this case they are similar to the sick.

But for the pregnant woman who fears for the fetus or the breastfeeding woman who fears for the child, it is unanimously agreed that they are not to fast. The scholars have differed on if she has to make it up, or if she just has to feed a poor person for each day, or if she has to do both.

The majority of scholars say that she is to make it up, while Ibn `Umar and Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) say that she is to feed a poor person, and the others say that she is to do both. But it appears to me that it is permissible to feed a poor person instead of making it up, especially with regards to the woman who is constantly pregnant or breastfeeding and would not find a chance to make it up. One year she would be pregnant, the next year she would be breastfeeding, the next she would be pregnant and so on.

She would constantly be either pregnant or breast-feeding to the extent that she would not be able to make anything up. And if we burdened her to make up all the days she did not fast because of pregnancy or breastfeeding, then that would mean that she would have to fast a number of continuous years after that. This has in it a great hardship, and Allah does not wish for His worshipers to be in hardship.

Allah Almighty knows best.

“Verily! Allâh commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is Ever All­Hearer, All­Seer.” Quran 4:58

Hijab ban: Court to deliver judgement September 26 MEMORISATION The MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit to stage the Grand-Finale of the Annual Qur’an Memorisation Competition Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court has fixed September 26, 2014 to determine whether or not the use of Hijab (Muslim head-scarf) should be allowed by female Muslim students in public schools in Lagos State.

Justice Grace Modupe Onyeabo made this pronouncement after hearing both the complainant (The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria) and defendants (Lagos State government) argued their cases.

A 24-paragraph counter affidavit presented by the counsel to the Muslim Students, Adetola Kassim (SAN) said the use of Hijab is a compulsory religious obligation on Muslim ladies who have reached the stage of puberty, which is not applicable to women alone.

Hijab, he said according to a statement by MSSN, Lagos Area Unit, “is Allah’s injunction as stated in the Holy Quran, as well as a fundamental rights as fully established in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He, however, said: “We are

L-R Mudir, Markaz Islamic and Arabic Institute, Agege, Lagos, Sheik Habebullahi Al-Ilory, Grand Qadi, Kwara State, Justice Soliu Muhammed, and Justice Abdur-Raheem Ibrahim, during the Grand Qadi’s visit to the institute recently.

not demanding for a full lent hijab, we have exhibited a photograph of a sample of hijab, which still represents their school identity. The colour of the hijab can conform with the school uniform. All we want is for the students to be allowed to use Hijab. If beret and caps are allowed for female students, hijab shouldn’t be an exemption.”

Counsel to the Lagos State government, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), while reacting to the counter affidavit argued that the compulsory use of Hijab as stipulated in the Holy Quran

specifically relates to Muslim women in public and not female students enrolled in public and secondary schools, who are not adults (women) but children.

Pedro (SAN) spoke further that the matter has nothing to do with religious discrimination rather a way of ensuring standard uniform among students in public and secondary schools in Lagos.

He said, “the state has decided, base on concession, to accommodate the use of Hijab in public schools on school uniform by female Muslim

students who wish to wear it only during Islamic religious knowledge classes, solat (prayers) and jumat (friday) prayers.”

The Muslim students, through their lawyers, however not satisfied with the concession, insisted that the issue of hijab is not negotiable. Apart from the fact that it’s their fundamental right to freedom of religion as entrenched by section 38 of the Constitution of Nigeria, it’s also Allah’s injunction as firmly established in the Quran, not formulated by anyone.

2015: Religion shouldn’t be a factor in choosing leaders, says Al-Ilory

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prominent Islamic cleric and the Mudir of Markaz Islamic and Arabic Institute, Sheik Habebullahi Adam Al-Ilory, has warned that religion should not be a factor in choosing political leaders as the country approaches 2015 elections.

Al-Ilory said this at the institute’s ongoing Ramadan lecture against the backdrop of clamour in some quarters that Christians should produce the governor of Lagos State in 2015.

Rather, he said, all aspirants should be given a level playing ground while the electorate were given the free will to

choose their leaders.

He said: “Religion should not be a yardstick to choose political leaders. That is undemocratic. Our leaders are either Muslims or Christians but they are not imbibing the lessons of their religions.

“Some churches and mosques have become dens of criminals, looters, killers and this should not be. Most religious leaders are now preoccupied with material gains and they want to compete with rich men. They have commercialised God and now trade in His name.”

On the clamour for creation

of additional states by various ethnic groups, Al-Ilory expressed regrets that some Nigerians believed that whatever America did could be replicated in Nigeria.

“They are asking that 18 new states should be created in addition to the existing 36 states.

It is true that America has 52 states but we should not forget that America is a continent.

Within America, hours of different states differ. We tend to overdo things in our bid to copy America,” he added.

On the drum of war being beaten by some groups in the

country, Al-Ilory warned that it was not in anybody’s interest for Nigeria to break up, adding that nothing good comes out of war.

“It is not in anybody’s interest for the country to break up. A good example is what is happening in Ukraine at the moment. Let us stop beating the drum of war. No religion encourages war or violence and lslam is not an exception.

“In Islam, we are permitted to wage war but it has to be defensive war because you are not allowed to fold your arms while enemies come to your territory to humiliate you,” he said.

Where-about of abducted Lagos Islamic scholar, wife still unknown-MURIC he Muslim Rights Concern Twhere-about (MURIC) has said that the of Ustadh Ab-

dulGaniy Jumah and his wife, Shakirah, is still unknown days after they were reportedly abducted.

The Islamic scholar and his wife were reportedly whisked

away at gun point from their family house at Fagbemi Street, Off Ntabo Bus Stop, Ijoko, near Sango in Ado Odo Ota LG, Ogun State by 3 am on Saturday 5th July, 2014.

MURIC in a statement by its Director, Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, disclosed that the in-

cident may be the beginning of a crackdown on scholars of Islam.

“Although the abductors were said to be soldiers who came in three vehicles including a jeep, bus and van, none of them wore the army uniform,” Akintola said.

He continued: “Nobody could pick the numbers due to shock and the confusion.

Ustadh Abdul Ganiyy owns an Arabic school (modrasat) and teaches both working class and school children in Arabic and Islamic Studies in the area.”

CRIME

41

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JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Boko Haram in Lagos? It can’t happen, declares Fasehun As controversy continues to surround the twin explosions which rocked the Creek Road area of Liverpool, Apapa, Lagos State, on June, 25, with some people alleging it was a Boko Haram invasion and another set of people insisting it was a tanker explosion, the Founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun has joined in the cat and mouse game. In a chat with JULIANA FRANCIS, Fasehun reveals what he felt was the cause of the explosions. He also speaks about the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls, from their school since April, 2014. Excerpt:

What do you think is happening with the rescue of our Chibok girls? What has become of the international intervention?

I think we treated the matter with some levity. I personally thought we should have negotiated. We should have sorted things out because I believe over 200 girls; removed from a community, means virtually every household would have been affected.

If a country is unable to defend its citizenry, then such a country should go back to the drawing board. It’s unfortunate and very embarrassing to Nigeria. The stature of Nigeria in the international community is such that it would be expected to be capable of defending its citizens. But here we are! Now what we need to do is to regard that Nigeria is at war and we are at war! We have lost over a thousand people. If we have lost over 2000, 3000 people and we have not declared war; then we are not serious!

If we regard ourselves as being at war, then let us go to the table and negotiate, so that this war can come to an end.

I hate to think of what is happening to those children; I hate to think of it. It’s just that people must be decent in their language and use of language. A lot must have happened to those children. I think the leadership of a country should be thinking of doing something about it. That’s one of its primary functions.

What about the white people that came? How come everything became silent?

Terrorism has its own diplomacy.

How are you sure that you’re the only diplomatic person in the circumstance? These terrorists also have their own diplomatic influences all over the place. They do. Why has the international community gone silent and acquiescent? Are they not thinking? We are all citizens of the world, so governments all over the world

have the right to intervene and interfere where citizens of other countries are not been treated well and I don’t think citizens of Nigeria have been treated well under the present circumstance. So, if our government is not going to wake up, I think the international community should wake up. But like I said, maybe diplomacy has swallowed diplomacy.

Do you think Federal Government should have swapped the girls with members of Boko Haram, arrested by security agencies?

Of course it would have helped!

Swapping or exchanging citizens across no-man’s border is a common way of settling international crisis. It was done in Korea, South Africa, Kenya and it was done during the last world war. Exchange citizens and prisoners across noman’s land and that’s what Nigeria should have done and influence the United Nations to come and supervise the exchange. The exchange of citizens and prisoners or if you like, the international Red Cross should undertake the exchange. I don’t know why Nigeria would not listen to her own citizens that were saying; don’t listen to war mongers and let us dialogue and exchange citizens and prisoners.

Fasheun

How will you react if someone tells you that Boko Haram has invaded Lagos?

I don’t think they have any work to

CRIME QUOTE Funding sources for Boko Harām are not certain, but is believed to be partially funded by bank robberies and by kidnappings and ransoms, which have earned the group millions of dollars. Other Islamist groups are another source, in February 2012, recently arrested officials revealed that “while the organization initially relied on donations from members, its links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM, opened it up to more funding from groups in Saudi Arabia and the UK”…Wikipedia

do here (Lagos). Their targets are not situated in this part of the country.

But if they try or want to introduce violence into our own community, we’ll use our own method to discourage violence.

Did you hear about the explosions in Apapa?

Yes, we heard about it and we went into it and we found out that it was exploded fuel tanker.

What would OPC do if in the worst case scenarios Boko Haram invades Lagos?

I can assure you that OPC will not shit in its pant if such happens! OPC had been asked not to be violence CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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CRIME

CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 4 1

prone, but that doesn’t say if violence comes into our environment, we will not react to such violence. When violence reacts against violence, peace is the ultimate goal. We’re interested in peace.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

‘I won’t publicise OPC’s method The 3rd Eye to tackle Boko Haram’ Budget monitoring crucial to anti- graft war

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How do you react to intelligence reports that Boko Haram is targeting some areas in Lagos, especially Kilometer 47, Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, where we have different churches and Nasfat?

That will cause religious warfare!

The big churches in Nigeria are situated along that axis and I don’t think even the leaders of the churches, peace loving as they would be on the pulpits, will allow the destruction of their congregation with impunity.

Are you saying it can’t happen?

This is a sect that had killed several people Yes! It will not happen!

You said they’ll not invade Lagos because their target is not here. What do you think is their target?

I don’t even know what their target is. I only know and I’m aware of the methods they adopt. I don’t know why they adopt those methods, but they have been adopting those methods within a defined area of this country. I don’t think they would adopt such methods elsewhere. I don’t think so and I know they won’t come to the south west.

What is your advice to security agencies in Nigeria, especially Lagos, incase Boko Haram has such a planned invasion?

There are many things government can do to secure even the whole country; virtually every governor takes security vote every month. What do they spend this security vote on? If what we experience as citizens is insecurity, why should they be given such huge sums of money every month to provide security? If I had my way, the National Assembly should stop doling out security funds to these governors because they use security funds to enrich themselves, without procuring or providing any form of security.

What the government should do at the federal level is to contract these things out to people who can do it, to companies that can do it. But unfortunately, government is not thinking of it. How on earth do you smuggle two hundred plus children across our border without security operatives being aware? What is going on? There are now various gadgets to secure our international borders. A particular company came and what they can provide in term of security is phenomenal. Area, land, sea, adopting some forms of cameras.

Even CCTV is not a new innovation to them. A CCTV that will follow the terrorist for miles inside its own territory.

Is there any gadget like that?

There is! That’s what I’m telling you!

Why it is that Nigeria doesn’t want to utilize such techniques, such technologies? This is an invisible thing and perimeter security. So why are we not

Bank after explosion at Apapa

adopting these things? I know they say some Chinese company went away with a hundred million or hundred billion naira worth of security contract. They promised to secure Abuja, using CCTV and they were given a deposit of about a hundred billion and they ran back to their country.

Invisible fences are now being used to secure areas. Nothing stops the local government people or even state government from securing our schools with these types of fences. We’re talking about the local schools and put this type of security around such schools.

This vehicle can lay any of these fences round the school whose area of land is one kilometer radius; you can imagine the area of fence it will cover.

Why are we not adopting all these?

Are you saying we’re not investing in security?

Yes, we’re not investing in security!

And that is why security is nothing to speak about in Nigeria. We are very cheaply secured.

It’s like the Boko Haram members are killing more of our security agents?

We got a report that our security men are killing the Boko Haram. That’s what we got but unfortunately it’s the other way round. There are television sets that now can see 10 kilometers ahead.

Why are we not adopting this? Why are we not utilizing such technology? The technology is there.

How will that help?

At least it will help to warn border security that people are planning in their own country and approaching your international border? So you will be alerted long enough for the military to be warned, that something may happen. The world has gone past all these.

Taking security of borders into consideration, how do you think Boko Haram gets

guns and materials to make their bombs?

That is why I said, diplomacy has swallowed diplomacy.

So you think a country is giving it to them?

Of course! of course!

A country trying to wipe out Nigeria and Nigerians?

Nigeria doesn’t have too many friends.

What we call friends are those friends that are envious of our natural resources and we expose our own security to them, thinking they are our friends.

When a country as big as the United States said it openly; that Nigeria would splinter into smithereens. Some of us wondered by what form of wizardry do they come to know this. They have said it, are they working towards the answer?

A year before 2015, the magic date, Nigeria is already experiencing, unfriendly demonstrations and so on and so forth.

What is giving you the confidence that Boko Haram will not come into the South West?

People have confidence in the OPC. And the security of a people is directly dependent on the people themselves.

When we started off 20 years ago, people didn’t like OPC. But today, virtually everybody that lives in these areas now is a member of the OPC. So that is very good for security.

The security operatives at any moment can warn you and alert that something nasty may come in and since they themselves are involved in that security, they’ll prepare themselves to meet insecurity with security. Well, as somebody directly involved, I shouldn’t speak with too open a mouth. I don’t want to publicize the methods OPC will adopt if anything happens. When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it.

But in a nutshell, they won’t come?

By the grace of God, they won’t come!

he fight against corruption in public life would acquire greater traction if citizens show more interest in monitoring budget implementation. This was the preponderance of views at a two-day workshop on Budget Tracking organized the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, through its Enlightenment and Re-orientation unit, E&R, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State July 8, 2014.

In his keynote address, Osita Nwajah, deputy director, Public Affairs, who represented the chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde said the workshop became necessary because of the need to educate people on budget tracking and monitoring in the fight against economic and financial crimes. He said the workshop is part of the prevention mandate of the EFCC, aimed at ensuring citizen’s participation at all levels of budget processes for better service delivery.

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters commended the EFCC for the workshop. He opined that if budget monitoring is done properly, it will benefit every citizen of the State and the entire nation.

One of the resource persons, Bashir Bello in his lecture on “Budget Monitoring and Tracking” explained that section 14 of the 1999 constitution allows public participation in good governance. He urged all the participants to take greater interest in budget monitoring, as doing so will enthrone good governance, accountability and development.

Dr. Oji Ogbureke, who delivered a lecture on Budget Analysis; Evaluation and Social Audit; took the group through hands-on exercises on how to analyze and evaluate budgets using required tools.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from community based organizations, Non-governmental organizations; Faith based organizations and staff of local governments in Ebonyi State.

The two-day workshop which lasted from the 7th to the 8th July 2014 was attended by over fifty CSOs, NGOs and Local government agencies in Ebonyi State.

SMS: 08189679439

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

43

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44 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Mortgage refinancing has commenced, says CEO •MBAN confirms 36 recapitalised mortgage banks

Dayo Ayeyemi

T

he much-awaited Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) has finally commenced operation ‘technically’, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sonnie Ayere, said yesterday.

He disclosed this to select journalists in Lagos at a workshop for all stakeholders in the industry including officials of mortgage banks, International Finance Corporation (IFC), lawyers among others.

Ayere stated that contrary to speculations, NMRC has commenced operation technically and that by December, the company will release the first finance to mortgage originators, which are the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs).

He said: “Technically, operation of NMRC is starting now and not December. We are only working on uniform underwriting standards.”

He advised banks that want to benefit from the first finance

to start originating mortgages now, explaining that they must have generated loans for six months before they can qualify for the refinancing facility.

He said: “We are putting in place standards for mortgage banks so that they can begin to originate mortgage. We are putting our technology together and in the last six months, we have been working on the enabling environment. By the end of this year, we are going to produce the first finance.”

On the issue of fund, the NMRC boss disclosed that the equity had already been raised, and that the first tranche is in the tune of $20 million, adding that the company got another N7 billion and additional N3 billion from other sources.

Besides, he said 10 billion would come in after the certification.

Ayeye explained that 21 states had already keyed into the

scheme, adding that the company with his legal team are proposing the drafting of modern laws to be adopted by these states for seamless operations.

“We want to have a policy on implementation,” he said.

On the readiness of PMBs for the scheme, especially when some of them have not been cleared by CBN in terms of their recapitalisation, President of the Mortgage Bank Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr. Femi Johnson, disclosed that although CBN has not disclosed the names of qualified mortgage banks officially, but that names of the 36 PMBs that met the deadline has been forwarded to him.

He however, declined the mention the names the names.

“CBN said 36 mortgage banks crossed the hurdle of recapitalisation. Johnson expressed joy over NMRC, saying the company will be respon-

FG raises N70bn via treasury bills T he Federal Government sold N70.56 billion ($434.78 million) at a sale of threemonth and six-month treasury bills last Wednesday, with yields broadly unchanged from last month's auction, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said.

Subscription levels fell at the auction compared with last month's sale, the apex bank said yesterday.

It sold N20.16 billion of three-month debt at 9.95 per cent, the same yield fetched at the previous auction. It also sold N50.40 billion worth of

six-month paper at 10.24 per cent, marginally lower than the 10.25 per cent the same tenor fetched last month.

Combined demand for both papers stood at N102.65 billion, compared with N115.76 billion for three-month and six-month debt offered at the last auction.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

sible for refinancing of loans originated by mortgage banks.

NMRC is a liquidity facil-

ity and not a loan. It provides liquidity for mortgage loan portfolios.

CBN to bank customers: Enroll in BVN Initiative

Stories by Godson Ikoro

he Central Bank of Nigeria Ttomers (CBN) has advised bank cusin Lagos to enroll and

obtain their Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The banking watchdog in collaboration with all Nigerian Banks introduced the BVN as a unique identification number for all bank customers.

This exercise, according to a statement has gone live in selected bank branches in Lagos.

This is the first phase of the countrywide roll out.

Consequently, all Nigerian banks have their headquarter servers configured, deployed and tested, and their staff trained in preparation for the enrolment and verification of end users who are all bank customers.

The BVN gives each bank customer a unique identity across the Nigerian Banking industry. This can be used for easy identification and verification of bank customers.

The BVN initiative is part of the overall policy of the financial inclusion policy of the Financial Sector Strategy (FSS) agenda of ensuring Nigeria becomes one of the top 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.

Commenting on the enrollment process, the Managing Director of NIBSS, who doubles as the Head of the BVN

Project Management team, Mr. Ade Shonubi said, “the enrolment process is simple and easy”. A bank customer will be required to walk into any of the selected bank branches; fill and submit the BVN enrolment form; present self for data capturing (such as fingerprint, facial Image, etc.) Thereafter, an acknowledgment slip with the transaction ID will be issued to the individual.

Within 24hours the system confirms the enrollment and a unique BVN is generated. The customer will immediately receive an SMS notification with the BVN. He further explained that in order to ensure an efficient implementation, a phased rollout approach is being adopted beginning in Lagos. Biometric data capture machines have been deployed to about 1000 bank branches in Lagos, to date over 16,000 BVNs have been issued. At full roll out, 10,000 enrolment sets will be deployed across 5,000-bank branches nation-wide, the statement said.

“The BVN solution is to ensure accountability, protect bank customers’ account from unauthorised access, reduce exposure to fraud, check identity theft, enhance credit advancement to Bank customers, and also encourage financial inclusion,” the statement added.

Standard Bank has $170m exposure to China metal fraud Bank Plc said it has a source familiar with matter.

Sna'standard total exposure related to ChiA spokesman for the bank Qingdao port of about $170 declined to comment on the million worth of aluminium, and has started legal proceedings in Shandong province to protect its position.

Standard Bank is the third company to say it has started legal action to recoup losses since Chinese authorities launched an investigation into whether a private metals trading firm, Decheng Mining and its related companies, used fake warehouse receipts at Qingdao Port to obtain multiple loans secured against a single cargo of metal.

The bank, a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group, said in a statement yesterday, it also has an exposure of $40 million worth of aluminium at other bonded warehouse facilities in Shandong province and has started legal proceedings to secure its position.

Standard Bank, according to Reuters had about 80,000 tonnes of aluminium in Qingdao Port and about 20,000 tonnes of the metal at the nearby Penglai Port, said a

volume.

Despite the emergence of another port in this scandal, trade and bank sources who have checked inventories at terminals across China said the scandal remains as an isolated incident centred on Decheng, which also used storage facilities at Penglai Port in Shandong province and another terminal in the northern Liaoning province.

As details of the potential fraud become clearer, more companies, including Citic Resources Holdings Ltd and China's Shanxi Coal International Energy Group, have begun to launch legal proceedings and announced their potential exposure.

Wanxiang Resources, a commodities trading arm of Wanxiang Group, has also been hit by the alleged fraud and has filed a lawsuit against Decheng Mining in a Shanghai court, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 45

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

10-Jul-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

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

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

0.22 0.79 2.10 2.80 3.05 3.14 3.89 4.97 5.29 7.55 9.68 14.39 14.87 15.36 16.04

10.63 10.82 11.44 11.44 11.39 11.39 11.42 11.52 11.51 12.01 12.21 12.18 12.19 12.19 12.24

9.94 10.11 11.36 11.38 11.27 11.27 11.32 11.44 11.42 11.95 12.16 12.14 12.14 12.13 12.19

99.65 94.97 102.90 108.50 96.12 94.70 97.78 116.60 82.49 121.35 111.10 118.86 102.03 74.63 84.40

99.80 95.47 103.05 108.65 96.42 95.00 98.08 116.90 82.79 121.65 111.40 119.16 102.33 74.93 84.70

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,375.01 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

#

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

0.31 0.87 1.48 2.42 2.78 2.99

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.73 13.42 13.29 13.34 12.37 12.39

96.52 89.29 105.18 99.08 97.57 95.09

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

0.07 0.27 1.14 0.75 1.27 1.27 2.78 1.82 3.48 2.45 4.24 2.65 2.65 3.03 3.10 5.37 3.16 3.78 6.38 6.48 3.96 3.99

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

12.06 13.98 15.27 14.06 15.36 14.38 16.96 12.21 13.19 13.14 12.43 12.36 16.14 12.39 12.39 12.52 14.13 12.41 12.72 13.68 12.86 13.37

100.09 99.89 97.15 99.82 98.59 101.34 85.03 102.47 102.18 101.96 105.01 104.73 95.77 105.12 107.90 107.52 101.53 106.71 103.30 105.54 104.80 104.73

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.24 0.44 0.48 0.62 0.93 1.01 2.22 2.29 3.23 2.04 2.00 2.17 2.17 4.20 2.27 2.35 3.48 6.35

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

11.66 16.06 19.60 15.75 11.77 13.39 12.32 12.67 12.39 13.19 14.78 16.52 16.38 12.77 13.62 17.44 13.56 14.47

99.88 98.89 98.84 96.27 100.49 100.61 101.23 103.01 101.52 109.33 102.40 102.96 101.92 103.84 104.34 99.37 106.58 103.10

11-Feb-18

3.59

1.00

12.41

93.74

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

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

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

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

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

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

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.87

4.73

110.39

111.23

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.10

3.91

103.73

104.47

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.28

5.16

107.79

108.65

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

3.73

3.07

111.56

112.61

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.94

4.22

104.46

105.76

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.09

5.82

99.66

100.67

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.63

8.21

94.39

95.67

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

4.84

4.23

113.59

114.70

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.34

6.12

99.62

100.53

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.03

6.61

104.25

105.75

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.58

5.28

104.04

105.20

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

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49

FIXINGS Maturity 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.30 10.30 10.35 10.20 10.35 10.40 10.40

Offer Discount (%) 10.05 10.05 10.10 9.95 10.10 10.15 10.15

Bid Yield (%) 10.32 10.34 10.41 10.28 10.45 10.53 10.55

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.6417 12.5163 13.3590 14.3749

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.39

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.64

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.30 162.53 162.79 163.40 164.55

162.40 162.79 163.13 164.07 165.74

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.42

14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

165.17 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

9.68 14.39 14.87 15.36 16.04

12.21 12.18 12.19 12.19 12.24

12.16 12.14 12.14 12.13 12.19

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

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

0.31 0.87 1.48 2.42 2.78 2.99

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 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

46 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS AMCON FMBN

NA

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

Bearish sentiments return to NSE ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds

DECLINE

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

Bargain hunters jostle to take profits

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE closed in the red yesCorporateas Bonds terday the bears staged a A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO comeback to cull gains recordAa/Agusto GTB ed during the previous day.

Nil NGC The return of bearish senBbb-/Agusto *UPDC A-/Agusto was on the *FLOURMILLS timents backdrop BB+/GCR of bargain hunters*CHELLARAMS jostling to A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO take profit, which consequentA-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR ly lead to price losses UBA suffered BBB-/GCR & I LEASING by major blue chip *C companies.

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA Specifically, at close of A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER transactions, banking AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR the *TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR of the sub-sector financial UBA µ

#

# #

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

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

sector returned as the most active stock in volume terms with 147.3 million shares valued at N857.4 million in 1,577 deals.

The shares of Unity Bank and Access Bank Plc activated the sub-sector. Other financial services sub-sector enhanced by the shares of FBNH Plc trailed with a turnover of 41.3 million units valued at N383.6 million in 736 deals.

On the whole, investors ex11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 changed a total of 310 million 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 shares valued at N3.6 billion in 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 5,568 transactions.

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 Further analysis showed 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 that at the close of trading 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 session, the NSE All-Share 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Index was down by 35.04 basis 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 points or 0.08 per cent to close MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 atMPR+7.00 43,004.38 as9-SEP-2018 against 43,039.42 TOWER recorded the previous day. The MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBAcapitalisation II 22-SEP-2018 market depreci-

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Supranational Bond

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

ando Plc has converted Rating/Agency Issuer a $218.9 million loan to its FGN Eurobonds Toronto-listed unit Oando BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Energy Resources to equity, to increase its stake in theFGN subBB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P sidiary by 1.6 per cent to 93.6 BB-/Fitch; per cent, it said yesterday.

BB-/S&P TheOUTSTANDING oil firm said the debt is TOTAL VALUE part of a $1.2 billion facility it Corporate Eurobonds approved for its subsidiary last B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I February to help finance the GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch acquisition of ConocoPhillips GTBANK PLC Nigerian assets. ACCESS BANK PLC B+/S&P B/S&P; B/Fitch securedFIDELITY Oando Nigerian BANK PLC B/Fitch AFREN PLC last government approvals B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P B/S&P; B-/Fitch

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

Description the deal, month to complete which it had agreed last year with ConocoPhillips but was 6.75 JANtimes 28, 2021 due to delayed several problems raising funds, oil 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 industry and banking sources 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 said told Reuters.

The subsidiary said it converted the debt to equity at C$1.57 per 11.50 unit and issued FEB 01, 2016 150 million 7.50 units to its parent MAY 19, 2016 firm. Each6.00 unit consists of NOV 08, 2018 one share of 7.25 Oando JUL 25, 2017Energy 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 Resources and half a warrant 10.25 APR 08, 2019 to buy an extra share at a price 6.25 APR 22, 2019

#

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

11.73 13.42 13.29 Friday, 13.34 12.37 12.39

96.52 89.29 105.18 July 11, 2014 99.08 97.57 95.09 Sanctity of Truth

Choms is Caverton Helicopter’s new MD

1,304.32

averton Helicopters, a subCSupport sidiary of Caverton Offshore Group Plc, has named

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

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

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

0.07 0.27 1.14 0.75 1.27 1.27 2.78 1.82 3.48 2.45 4.24 2.65 2.65 3.03 3.10 5.37 3.16 3.78 6.38 6.48 3.96 3.99

Captain Josiah Choms as its new managing director with effect from August 1st, 2014. ated by N12 billion or 0.08 per In a statement from the cent to close at N14.199 trillion management, Choms will take in contrast to N14.211 posted over from Mr. Sola Falola who will step down on July 31st as the previous day.

Twenty-eight gainers were the pioneer managing director recorded at the close business, and accountable manager of while decliners closed higher the leading provider of aviaat 20. tion support services to the oil Forte Oil Plc led on the and gas sector.

Having successfully served gainers’ table N10.50 to close at N220.50 per share while out two terms of four years Guinness Nigeria Plc followed apiece, Falola is stepping down with a gain of N2.47 to close 572.90 in line with the company’s corat N200.00 per share. Ashaka porate governance practice.

07-Oct-11 07-Oct-14 0.24 Cement added N1.4011.50 to close at 11.80 These developments, ac18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.44 N31.00 per share. cording to the statement, are 01-Apr-10 17.00 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.48 On the flip side,10.00 Dangote 15.00 part of the 17-Aug-15 company’s reposi17-Aug-10 0.62 09-Dec-10 09-Dec-15 0.93 tioning plans.

Cement Plc led on12.00 the price 37.50 06-Jan-11 14.00 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.01 An economist and a former losers’ table, dropping by 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.22 N2.00 to close at N245.00 per banker, Falola will however, 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.29re30-Sep-10 13.00 Plc fol20.00 30-Sep-17 3.23 of share while Unilever main a member of the board 30-Nov-12 18.00 30-Nov-17 Helicopters’ 2.04 lowed with a loss of N1.51 to 0.94 COSG, Caverton 09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.00 close09-Sep-11 at N51.50. Wapco Plc lost parent company , and is expect18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.17 N1.06 to close at N111.01 per ed to play critical roles as the 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.17 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 share. company diversifies into4.20the 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.27 provision of first-of-its-kind 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.35 aviation training and aviation 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.48 maintenance, repair and over14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.35 haul services in Nigeria.

180.17 He has served the company meritoriously ,” said Mr. Ader11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.59 emi Makanjuola, chairman of 12.00 COSG, while announcing the of C$2 changes.

“He has Issueper Date share.Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Datecontributed Bid Yield (%) It said the deal was ap- in lifting Caverton Helicopters proved by the Toronto Stock to enviable heights and into be07-Oct-11 before the 6.75 conver500.00 Exchange coming the28-Jan-21 pride of the 4.87 aviasion.18-Dec-09 Parent company Oando, 500.00 tion logistics services sector 5.13 12-Jul-18 4.10 which is also listed in Johan- in Nigeria and beyond. Apart 01-Apr-10 12-Jul-23 nesburg, has said it6.38 intends to 500.00 from retaining his position5.28 as a close the Conoco deal this July. 1,500.00 board member of the Caverton It hopes the acquisition will Group, he will also continue to help01-Feb-11 it make the 11.50 transition 450.00 be the Chairman of Caverton 01-Feb-16 3.73 from19-May-11 a marketer of refined 500.00 Aviation, Cameroon.”

7.50 19-May-16 4.94 petroleum products into an 400.00Choms, has had over 15 years 08-Nov-13 6.00 08-Nov-18 6.09 upstream business focused of continuous aviation experi25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.03 09-May-13 6.88 on oil and gas exploration and 300.00 ence and is 02-May-18 the erstwhile 8.63 Shell 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 for Caverton 4.84 production.

Contract Manager

Oando converts $218.9m Canadian unit loan to equity O AAA/S&P

111.40 119.16 102.33 74.93 84.70

4,375.01

Agency Bonds

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

111.10 118.86 102.03 74.63 84.40

Helicopters. He holds the Air1.56 12.06 100.09 plane 3.29 Transport 13.98 Pilot Licenses 99.89 4.44 15.27 97.15 (Aeroplanes and Helicopters) 3.23 14.06 Flight Instruc99.82 and is a Certified 4.46 15.36 98.59 tor3.48 and an Authorised Examiner 14.38 101.34 for5.59 the Nigerian Civil Aviation 16.96 85.03 1.00 12.21 Authority (NCAA).

He102.47 is also 13.19 102.18 an1.79 ISO 9001:2008 Lead Auditor.

1.80 13.14 101.96 “Captain 12.43 Choms has 1.00 105.01deft 1.00 12.36 104.73and leadership, organisation 4.78 16.14 95.77 inter-personal skills, which he 1.00 12.39 105.12 will bring to bear in the man1.00 12.39 107.90 1.00 12.52 107.52 agement of Caverton Helicop2.74 14.13 Makanjuola.

101.53 ters,” said Mr. 1.00 12.41 106.71 “He has held several positions 1.00 12.72 103.30 of 1.94 increasing13.68 responsibility 105.54 as 1.44 of a progressive 12.86 104.80 part senior 1.95 13.37 104.73 management development.

He was at the heart of the introduction of the state-of-the11.66 99.88 art1.00 AW139 helicopter type into 5.21 16.06 98.89 Caverton Helicopters.”

8.71 19.60 98.84 He joined15.75 Caverton96.27 in Au4.88 1.00 2010, serving 11.77 gust first100.49 as the 2.63 13.39 100.61 Chief Pilot for Shell Port Har1.00 12.32 101.23 court his promotion 1.34 before12.67 103.01 to 1.00 12.39 for the 101.52 Managing Pilot entire 1.88 Operations 13.19 covering 109.33 Shell Port 3.48 14.78 102.40 Harcourt, Warri and Lagos.

He 5.20 16.52 102.96 was Direc5.06appointed 16.38 Deputy101.92 12.77 tor1.35 of Operations with 103.84 concur2.29 13.62 rent responsibility as 104.34 Deputy 6.11 17.44 99.37 Shell Contract Manager 2.16 13.56 106.58and took over as the substantive 2.76 14.47 103.10 Shell Contract Manager in May 2013, a position he held creditably with opera1.00 12.41 stable93.74 tions and good availability.

Choms has attended several Yield aviation and Offer (%) Bid Pricemanagement Offer Price courses in Nigeria and abroad Prices & Yields including Cranfield Universi110.39 111.23 Inty,4.73 UK and Massachusetts stitute of Technology , USA. He 3.91 103.73 104.47 also holds a multi-disciplinary 107.79 5.16 108.65 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the University of Wales, UK and is a member of several professional bodies 3.07 111.56 112.61 including the Association of 4.22 104.46 105.76 African Studies of the UK, the 5.82 99.66 100.67 Royal Society, 102.30 and the 6.41 African 100.59 8.21 94.39 National Association of95.67 Pilots 4.23Engineers.

113.59 114.70 and

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.34

6.12

99.62

100.53

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.03

6.61

104.25

105.75

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.58

5.28

104.04

105.20

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

10-Jul-14

**Treasury The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and

Money Market model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products,FIXINGS fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market.

The use of (Spot this report is subject Foreign Exchange & Forwards) DTM OTC PLC Terms Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) to the FMDQ of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

NIBOR

7 17-Jul-14 10.30 14 24-Jul-14 10.30 21 31-Jul-14 10.35 7-Aug-14 10.20 FGN Bonds28 35 14-Aug-14 10.35 42 21-Aug-14 10.40 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 49 28-Aug-14 10.40 56 4-Sep-14 10.40 9.25 28-SEP-2014 63 11-Sep-14 10.70 70 18-Sep-14 10.70 4.00 23-APR-2015 77 25-Sep-14 10.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 84 2-Oct-14 10.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 91 9-Oct-14 10.25 9.85 27-JUL-2017 98 16-Oct-14 10.70 9.35 31-AUG-2017 105 23-Oct-14 10.65 112 30-Oct-14 10.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 119 6-Nov-14 10.65 NA NA 16.00 29-JUN-2019 126 13-Nov-14 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 133 20-Nov-14 10.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 147 4-Dec-14 10.50 14.20 14-MAR-2024 182 8-Jan-15 10.35 15.00 28-NOV-2028 196 22-Jan-15 10.45 210 5-Feb-15 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 224 19-Feb-15 10.35 8.50 20-NOV-2029 238 5-Mar-15 10.40 10.00 23-JUL-2030 273 9-Apr-15 10.30 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE23-Apr-15 287 10.20 301 7-May-15 9.95 *from the Amortising # bonds, the average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Description Rating/Agency Issuer **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

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

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

10.05 10.05 10.10 9.95 10.10 10.15 Issue Date 10.15 10.15 28-Sep-07 10.45 10.45 23-Apr-10 10.45 16-Aug-13 10.40 27-Apr-12 10.00 27-Jul-07 10.45 31-Aug-07 10.40 10.45 30-May-08 10.40 29-Jun-12 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.35 27-Jan-12 10.25 14-Mar-14 10.10 28-Nov-08 10.20 10.15 22-May-09 10.10 20-Nov-09 10.15 23-Jul-10 10.05 9.95 9.70

Bonds Tenor O/N

1M 3M 6M Outstanding Value

(N'bn)

953.07 951.30 756.74 2,661.11

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

Rate (%) 10.6417 12.5163 13.3590 14.3749

OBB

10.39

O/N

10.64

Tenor

Maturity Date

100.00 NITTY 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 Tenor Rate (%) 500.27 16-Aug-16 1M 10.2163 452.80 27-Apr-17 2M 10.7489 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 10.9712 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 11.0109 9M 11.1595 300.00 30-May-18 12M 11.2151 351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 165.17 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 75.00 28-Nov-28 BID($/N) 150.00 162.3000 22-May-29 OFFER ($/N) 162.4000 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30

REPO

TTM Call(Yrs) 1M 0.22 3M 6M 0.79

Rate (%)

Bid10.42 Yield (%) 12.69 10.63 13.19 13.98 10.82

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 9.94 6M 1Y 10.11

2.10 11.44 11.36 2.80 11.44 11.38 3.05 11.39 11.27 :Benchmarks 3.14 Bond 11.39 11.27 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 3.89 Bond 11.42 11.32 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.97 11.52 11.44 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 5.29 11.51 11.42 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 7.55 12.01 11.95 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.68Contractors Receivables 12.21 12.16 LCRM: Local Management 14.39 12.18 12.14 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company O/N: Overnight 14.87 12.19 12.14 UPDC: UAC Property Development 15.36 12.19 Company12.13 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 16.04 12.24 12.19 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

162.30 162.53 162.79 163.40 Bid Price 164.55 165.82 99.65 169.51 177.27 94.97

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.40 162.79 163.13 164.07 Offer Price 165.74 167.45 99.80 173.14 184.25 95.47

102.90 103.05 108.50 108.65 96.42 NA :Not96.12 Applicable 94.70Rate Bond 95.00 # :Floating ***: Deferred 97.78 coupon bonds 98.08 116.60 116.90 †: Bond82.49 rating expired 82.79 121.35 121.65 111.10 111.40 118.86 119.16 NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United 102.03Bank for Africa 102.33 74.63 74.93 84.40 84.70

4,375.01

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017Volume(Bn) 1,006.07 1,137.72 682.79 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 2,826.57 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

10.32 10.34 10.41 10.28 10.45 10.53 Coupon 10.55 (%) 10.57 9.25 10.90 10.92 4.00 10.95 13.05 10.92 15.10 10.52 9.85 11.02 9.35 10.99 11.06 10.70 11.03 16.00 11.22 7.00 11.03 16.39 10.96 14.20 10.91 15.00 11.07 11.06 12.49 11.05 8.50 11.16 10.00 11.16 11.09 10.84

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

0.00

978.35

0.00 BOND INDEX 24.56 FMDQ FGN

35.81 35.75 28.44 05-Aug-09 100.00 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value 0.00/16.50

35.59 40.25 24.16 14.00 100.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

6.00 112.22 116.70 Bucket Weighting 66.49

1,304.32

0.36 0.36 0.28 17.00 1.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00

Maturity Date

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 % Exposure_ 20-Apr-17 Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17 17.72 36.35 45.93 05-Aug-14 100.00 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.31 0.87 1.48 2.42 2.78 Implied Yield 2.99 11.44 11.85 12.23 0.07 11.96 0.27 1.14 0.75 1.27 1.27 2.78 1.82 3.48 2.45 4.24 2.65 2.65 3.03

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 116.9110 132.7738 98.9013 1.56 117.4603 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00

Valuation Yield (%) 11.73 13.42 13.29 13.34 12.37 INDEX 12.39 1,110.42 1,124.28 1,153.76 12.06 1,115.75 13.98 15.27 14.06 15.36 14.38 16.96 12.21 13.19 13.14 12.43 12.36 16.14 12.39

Indicative Price 96.52 89.29 105.18 99.08 YTD Return 97.57 (%) 95.09 11.0417 12.4278 15.3763 100.09 11.5747 99.89 97.15 99.82 98.59 101.34 85.03 102.47 102.18 101.96 105.01 104.73 95.77 105.12

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014

Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050

Daily Summary (Bonds)

business | CAPITAL MARKET

47

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 10, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 29 13 42

Current Price 33.00 38.06

Quantity Traded 327,800 210,534 538,334

Value Traded 10,816,116.00 8,001,372.84 18,817,488.84

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 40 40

Current Price 3.05

Quantity Traded 1,101,710 1,101,710

Value Traded 3,364,245.40 3,364,245.40

1,640,044

22,181,734.24

Quantity Traded 188,874 9,872 242 136 31,915,172 582,863 32,697,159

Value Traded 244,692.50 37,308.72 266.20 635.12 187,236,216.31 36,324,768.88 223,843,887.73

AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 CONGLOMERATES Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Activity Summary UA C N PLC. on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES CONGLOMERATES Totals Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE © Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Building Construction Totals

Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. G CAPPA PLC Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS PLC. Daily Summary as ofNIG 10/07/2014 Infrastructure/Heavy Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

82 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT Daily Summary SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

Current Price 1.33 3.95 1.15 4.91 5.95 62.40

546

32,697,159 Page

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals

of

14

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.30

Quantity Traded 375 375

Value Traded 2,085.00 2,085.00

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

No. of Deals 28 1 29

Current Price 1.37 14.46

Quantity Traded 565,444 249 565,693

Value Traded 741,662.88 3,421.26 745,084.14

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 9 1 10

Current Price 68.05 8.46

Quantity Traded 60,007 100 60,107

Value Traded 4,075,603.53 851.00 4,076,454.53

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 17.40

Quantity Traded 269,930 269,930

Value Traded 4,684,243.95 4,684,243.95

896,105

9,507,867.62 Value Traded Value1,252.50 Traded

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

57 Symbol DUNLOP Symbol

No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 2,505 Quantity Traded

Symbol GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 1 60 33 117 3 214

Current Price 0.71 200.00 29.50 174.50 0.77

Page Quantity Traded 87 338,806 422,680 4,667,471 52,000 5,481,044

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 102.53

Quantity Traded 181,829 181,829

Value Traded 18,855,416.92 18,855,416.92

No. of Deals 63 60 40 37 (Equities) 16 2 2 220

Current Price 8.19 9.11 78.00 4.12 11.50 19.75 0.50

Quantity Traded 183,460 431,970 112,766 1,497,363 271,500 249 846 2,498,154

Value Traded 1,494,238.91 3,944,720.15 8,656,569.51 6,179,753.98 3,093,458.05 4,905.30 423.00 23,374,068.90

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 48 39 87

Current Price 74.25 1,111.20

Quantity Traded 102,402 43,021 Page 145,423

Value Traded 7,449,324.87 48,092,081.53 3 of 14 55,541,406.40

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 4.38

Quantity Traded 284,199 284,199

Value Traded 1,240,824.62 1,240,824.62

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 Printed CONSUMER 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 GOODS Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 54 40 94

Current Price 36.75 51.50

Quantity Traded 303,714 220,010 523,724

Value Traded 10,818,517.19 11,398,938.13 22,217,455.32

9,116,878

1,015,482,852.81

Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 Food Products Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products--Diversified Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Activity Summary on Board EQTY FIDELITY BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Banking SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANKStock PLC Exchange © Published by The Nigerian WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Daily Summary NASCON NNFM UTC

668 Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) ACCESS 165 DIAMONDBNK 49 ETI 76 FIDELITYBK 129 GUARANTY 218 Symbol No. of Deals SKYEBANK 117 STERLNBANK 289 UBA 168 UBN 65 UNITYBNK 41 WEMABANK 29 ZENITHBANK 231 1,577

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GNI CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM Daily Summary NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE Activity SummaryTRUST on Board EQTY PLC STANDARD ASSURANCE STACO STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE FINANCIAL SERVICES PLC. UNIC INSURANCE UNIC Insurance Carriers,ASSURANCE Brokers andPLC Services Symbol UNITY KAPITAL UNITYKAP

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

WAPIC

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

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ABBEYBDS RESORTSAL UNHOMES

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 FBN HOLDINGS PLC Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP Daily Summary

Activity Summary on Board FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals EQTY HEALTHCARE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

1

No. of Deals 29 20 1 1 10 1 23 11 34 (Equities) 51 3 1 2 1 No. of Deals 1 93

282

Current Price 9.80 6.25 17.22 1.99 30.00 Current Price 3.27 2.30 7.81 9.70 0.50 0.96 25.30

Quantity Traded 24,061,326 1,369,657 902,198 17,710,303 6,372,135 Quantity Traded 4,720,511 4,677,162 9,184,859 725,390 67,107,801 Page 1,331,338 9,134,716 147,297,396

Current Price 0.80 1.18 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.59 0.54 0.80 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 0.50 Current Price 0.50 0.85

Quantity Traded 1,575,491 846,436 1,000 1,000 857,612 250 2,368,514 232,449 2,478,923 11,616,350 25,547 3,000 7,000 46 Quantity Traded 1,000 15,265,367

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 0.96

No. of Deals 1 2 3 6 No. of Deals 73 33 2 430 90 3 30 75 (Equities) 736

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

35,279,985 Page

1,252.50

2Value Traded of 14 64.38 67,474,142.85 12,417,979.30 814,318,641.62 41,600.00

894,252,428.15

Value Traded 235,680,492.76 8,566,781.87 15,714,463.96 35,482,744.06 191,023,097.22 Value Traded 15,455,117.50 10,748,846.47 71,890,109.43 7,035,137.08 433,553,900.50 of 14 1,277,562.28 231,069,873.64 857,498,126.77 Value Traded 1,262,210.82 981,993.98 500.00 500.00 429,206.00 125.00 5,978,698.33 125,322.46 2,015,649.29 5,809,855.00 13,028.97 1,500.00 3,500.00 23.00 Value Traded 500.00 13,041,300.82

29,663,913.67 5 of 14

Quantity Traded 598,112 598,112

Value Traded 573,253.40 573,253.40

Current Price 1.30 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 110 17,800 18,910

Value Traded 1,360.00 55.00 8,900.00 10,315.00

Current Price 3.37 3.86 0.91 16.14 4.15 0.54 27.05 2.27

Quantity Traded 1,076,505 404,750 260 29,146,709 5,764,974 53,472 3,036,241 1,834,237 41,317,148

Value Traded 3,576,138.06 1,563,495.78 226.20 468,197,238.36 23,929,061.67 27,805.44 82,131,953.80 4,195,955.73 583,621,875.04

224,511,551

1,471,367,483.88

2,614

Symbol MORISON

2,505

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.91

No. of Deals 12 12 15 22 17

Current Price 2.43 3.00 69.99 1.77 1.22

No. of Deals 3 81

Page Quantity Traded 2,012 2,012

6 of 14 Value Traded 3,661.84

Quantity Traded 171,327 198,149 51,645 303,863 179,487

Value Traded 395,765.37 594,582.00 3,438,929.70 530,815.87 220,844.04

3,661.84

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. on OF Board NORTH.NIG. Activity Summary EQTYPLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS DN MEYER PLC. Building Materials NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC.

Building Materials Totals

Current Price 1.50

Quantity Traded 2,890 907,361

Value Traded 4,440.00 5,185,376.98

909,373

5,189,038.82

83 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.58

Quantity Traded 75,000 75,000

Value Traded 42,800.00 42,800.00

Symbol NCR

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 15.20

Quantity Traded 15,870 15,870

Value Traded 241,224.00 241,224.00

90,870

284,024.00

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 ICT Totals Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050

223,843,887.73 1

Symbol PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol ARBICO

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto CONSUMER GOODS Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER Automobiles/Auto PartsPLC

No. of Deals 6 3 1 (Equities) 1 480 55 546

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

9 Symbol ASHAKACEM

No. of Deals 87 11 21 38 52 6 No. of Deals 1 1 1 4 63

Current Price 31.00 9.00 39.00 11.50 245.00 1.26 Current Price 0.50 0.50 1.40 5.40 111.01

Quantity Traded 1,640,541 30,885 91,578 555,131 270,862 418,639 Quantity Traded 3,000 117 9,000 Page 239,900 1,145,501

Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER Symbol FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

285

Value Traded 50,472,422.18 265,514.53 3,580,214.68 6,373,559.75 65,377,765.62 509,173.19 Value1,500.00 Traded 58.50 12,690.00 8 of 14 1,290,460.00 127,713,934.44

4,405,154

255,597,292.89

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

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 102,868 102,868

Value Traded 188,339.76 188,339.76

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

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 1.69 16.30

Quantity Traded 7,671 16,360 24,031

Value Traded 12,963.99 274,324.30 287,288.29

4,532,053

256,072,920.94

Quantity Traded 11,810 11,810

Value Traded 64,732.80 64,732.80

Quantity Traded 300 300

Value Traded 2,994.00 2,994.00

Page Quantity Traded 557 557

9Value Traded of 14 423.32 423.32

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 NATURAL RESOURCES Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Activity Summary Metals Totals on Board EQTY NATURAL RESOURCES Published by The NigerianProducts Stock Exchange © Paper/Forest THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Paper/Forest Products Totals

296 Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 6 6

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ALEX

Symbol THOMASWY

2 2

10.50

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.79

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050

CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on BoardProducts EQTY Distributors Totals Petroleum and Petroleum

OILExploration AND GAS and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Exploration and Production Totals

9

12,667

68,150.12

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 99 99

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 9,003,809 9,003,809

Value Traded 5,102,794.85 5,102,794.85

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 614 614

Current Price 28.00

Quantity Traded 17,343,817 17,343,817

Value Traded 485,997,725.03 485,997,725.03

No. of Deals 39 36 121 13 (Equities) 27 11 247

Current Price 65.23 4.50 220.50 133.02 63.18 171.05

Quantity Traded 337,054 842,306 244,660 18,495 21,687 19,864 1,484,066

Value Traded 21,838,432.66 3,773,690.62 53,268,533.12 2,468,705.32 1,255,006.37 3,416,420.93 86,020,789.02

No. of Deals 15 No. of Deals

Current Price Current702.00 Price

Quantity Traded 23,900 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 16,352,433.28 Value Traded

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL Daily Summary MRS TOTAL Symbol SEPLAT Symbol

15

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

OIL AND GAS Totals

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals

Current Price 5.76

23,900

Page

975

16,352,433.28

10

of

27,855,592

593,473,742.18

14

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 1.16

Quantity Traded 255,044 255,044

Value Traded 293,903.51 293,903.51

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 9 5 14

Current Price 4.70 1.97

Quantity Traded 225,730 193,933 419,663

Value Traded 1,062,667.00 382,019.66 1,444,686.66

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,427,552 1,427,552

Value Traded 713,866.00 713,866.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded 89,000 89,000

Value Traded 71,200.00 71,200.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 1 7 2 40 50

Current Price 1.71 1.74 2.40 4.45

Quantity Traded 1,000 Page 89,500 1,500 1,165,152 1,257,152

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 3,174,281 3,174,281

Value Traded 2,849,210.90 2,849,210.90

Symbol Symbol

No. of of Deals Deals No.

Current Price Price Current

Quantity Traded Traded Quantity

Value Traded Traded Value

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 52 54

Current Price 2.34 4.90

Quantity Traded 4,340 827,735 832,075

Value Traded 9,678.20 4,101,384.67 4,111,062.87

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 6.80

Quantity Traded 296,266 296,266

Value Traded 1,983,403.68 1,983,403.68

229

7,752,633

16,593,271.63

5,568

310,014,925

3,614,064,973.97

5,568

310,014,925 3,614,064,973.97 Page 12 of 14

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 EXPRESS PLC. TRANS-NATIONWIDE Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging

Activity Summary IKEJA HOTEL on PLCBoard EQTY

Hotels/Lodging Totals SERVICES Printing/Publishing Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 ACADEMY PLC. Published by The NigerianPRESS Stock Exchange © Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050 LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Road Transportation Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY Road Transportation Totals

SERVICES Specialty Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Specialty Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

INTERLINK

1 1

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary as of 10/07/2014 Equity Activity Totals Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printed 10/07/2014 14:49:50.050

4.90

600 600

Value Traded 1,710.00 of 14 154,755.00 3,420.00 4,962,757.01 5,122,642.01

11

2,796.00 2,796.00

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name

NEWGOLDTraded EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Fund VETIVA Name GRIFFIN 30 ETF

Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30 Symbol

No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals1

2

Current Price 2,086.00 Current 19.53 Price

Quantity Traded 821 1,000 Quantity Traded

1,821

Page

ETF Board Totals

2

1,821

ETP Activity Totals

2

1,821

Value Traded 1,712,606.00 19,530.00 Value Traded

1,732,136.00

13

of

1,732,136.00 1,732,136.00

14

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Orji: New tax regime in Abia will end tears and sorrow Igbeaku Orji

UMUAHIA

T

he new tax regime being put in place by the Abia State government is targeted at removing all forms of fraudulent practices that had bedevilled tax payment and collection in the past, Governor Theodore Orji has said.

The governor, who stated this yesterday at the maiden Abia State Revenue Summit held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, said it was regrettable the more than 80 per cent of the taxes, levies and revenues collected went into private pockets, saying that with the new

44

regime that would stop.

He said what the revenue agents did was to get government approval to collect levies, taxes and revenues and then adopt all kinds of draconian method to collect them.

The governor said their operations lacked human face, adding that the outcry it generated could no longer be ignored by the government.

Governor Orji said though the government has to raise funds for its operations, it however, must be done taking into consideration the feelings of the people, calling on participants at the summit to generate a tax blueprint that would be acceptable and workable.

The ratio of women per 100 men in United Arab Emirates in 2012.

Source: Un.org

“We want the taxes paid without grudging; it is not the intention of government to impose levies, but having given me your mandate, I have to ameliorate your suffering.

“When I heard the cry of Abia people, especially from Aba and Umuahia, I responded immediately by stopping all forms of taxes and levies.

“The people are right to agitate against the levies, fees and revenues, because they are too much.”

Besides, government, according to the governor, needs revenue to develop the state. He appealed to the people to discard the tradition of tax evasion, which he said was common during the

329,560

The total area (in sq. km) of Vietnam.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

colonial era, saying that the revenue would be used to develop the state for the benefit of all.

In his speech, the Finance Commissioner, Dr. Philips Nto, said g ove r n m e n t was investigating some subtreasuries in connection with revenue fraud, adding that with dwindling oil prices, gover nment could no longer depend on allocations from Abuja.

He said the summit became necessary so that stakeholders would be involved in the formulation of a workable tax policy for the state, adding that the ongoing reform also targets securing pension funds through e-payment.

624,773

The number of air travel passengers of Abuja international wing in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Plateau revenue body seals off MTN office in Jos Musa Pam

Jos

lateau State Internal RevPsealed enue Service yesterday off the North-East

regional trade marketing office of MTN in Jos, the state capital.

Head of the enforcement team, Mr. Godwin Jiwul, said the reason for their action was because of the refusal of MTN to make payment of all outstanding tax totalling N15, 914, 954.74 to the state.

According to Jiwul, MTN has consistently refused to pay their tax since 2005 and that makes it mandatory for the revenue body to seal off the office, pending the payment of the said amount to government

coffers.

New Telegraph reliably gathered that the Plateau State High Court of Justice had given the revenue body authority to carry out of their assignment.

The letter of warrant and authority obtained

by New Telegraph reads in Part: “that the Plateau State High Court of Justice in exercise of powers vested in it by section 104 of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2011, hereby authorises you to enter the business premises, shops, office, place of management of the above-named taxpayer, office of the agent, factory or representative of the taxpayer, suspected by the service of willful default in paying its tax liability.”

Iheanacho: How I intend to revamp Imo economy ne of the governorship Oform aspirants under the platof the All Progressives

Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, Emmanuel Iheanacho, yesterday said that he would aggressively implement well-defined economic policies that are aimed at revamping the ailing economy of the state, if elected governor in 2015.

The former Minister of Interior, who said this while interacting with newsmen in Owerri, promised to achieve the task by introducing certain economic and management practices that would revive key sectors of the economy.

He particularly said that he would pay attention to industrialisation and agriculture as well as restore accountability in

governance.

He said: “The major problem we have in Imo and many other states is that people are not encouraged to run a balanced economy.

What they presently do is to superintend over the distribution of resources that always come from the centre.

“They really don’t care to make the states economically viable by producing goods and services that can earn good income for further development of the states.

Having built and run very big businesses before now, I strongly believe that if some of those practices are carefully adopted in the governance of Imo State, our ailing economy will be revived.”

30m scandal: Crisis in Anambra electronic dealers’ association may continue Onah O. Onah L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Kingsize Entertainment, Mr Lanre Alabi; Oloye Lekan Alabi; Zonal Business Coordinator (West) Globacom, Mr. Dare Oyewale and Aboke of Ibadanland, Chief Ifasola Ifamapowa, after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, signalling the Globacom takeover as the major sponsor of Oke 'Badan Festival in Ibadan…yesterday

DG disowns Director over N17m service wide vote Philip Nyam

Abuja

D

irector General of the National Office of Technolo g y Acquisition and Documents Promotion (NOTAP), Alhaji Umar Bindir, yesterday disowned the agency’s Director of Finance, Mr. J. N. Useni, over the N17 million reportedly collected by the agency from the Service Wide Votes (SWV).

The drama played out at the public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Public

Accounts led by Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan.

Bindir, who was answering questions on the N39.34 million allegedly collected from the service wide votes between 2004 and 2012 said; “The application for the N17, 825, 960.000 was written to the director of Budge Office by the “DF without my consent.”

He continued: “And so, I did not sign for the money when it was released and was returned back to the Federation Accounts while a query was issued to the officials who wrote

the application without approval.”

The director of finance, however, claimed that the application for the funds was meant for the augmentation of the salary arrears of staff, but without the consent of the director general, who is the chief accounting officer of the agency.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Olamilekan, in response, expressed shock that such a huge sum of money could be released without proper documentation, directing the director general to reappear

before it with relevant documents.

He alleged that all the documents presented to the committee were fake; and were deliberately cooked up to confuse the committee.

Olamilekan consequently advised the director general to personally supervise the collation of the documents requested by the committee at the next appearance. He warned that if any shortcoming is discovered, the committee would have to carry out a holistic investigation of the financial transactions of the agency.

Onitsha

he lingering crisis rocking Ttronic the Anambra State ElecDealers’ Association,

Onitsha, may continue if the state government’s white paper on the issue is not implemented.

Members of the association have been at loggerheads over a N30 million scandal that has torn the association apart for some time now.

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the objectives behind the construction of the 3, 440 luck-up shops along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, may not be achieved in the near future, following continued court action by warring factions.

New Telegraph also learnt that though the report of the late Justice Emekwe Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the issue was released in 2010, the

matter is still pending before Onitsha High Court 4.

Anambra State government had, in the white paper, recommended among other things, that the present leadership of the association under Mr. Izuchukwu Okoye, should recover all the shops allocated to relations, friends and non-electronics dealers by the former executive, while allocating the remaining 200 shops to their owners.

The 200 shops not yet allocated, New Telegraph gathered, was paid for by members of the association before the completion of the shops, but were not allocated following allegation of fraud and mismanagement leveled against the old executive of the association.

Meanwhile, President of the market, Mr. Okoye, has appealed to the affected traders to exercise patience to allow justice takes its course.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Reps probe appointment of UniAbuja Vice Chancellor

trouble

Peace may desert the Ivory Tower following the coming of a new helmsman Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the governing council of the University of Abuja in the appointment of the new vice chancellor, Prof.

l Urge FG to resolve ASUP strike Michael Adikwu.

The ad-hoc committee is to report its findings and recommendations within seven days.

The House took the resolution following the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Pally Iriase (APC, Edo), at yesterday's plenary.

Iriase submitted that there has been a discontentment on the appoint-

ment of the new vice chancellor, which he said is fast assuming ethnoreligious coloration and may spell doom for the university.

He disclosed that the discontentment stems from “alleged injustice, discrimination and unfairness in the processes leading to the said appointment”, which caused the dropping of first and second candidates who score over 80 and 70 per-

cent respectively to pave way for a candidate who scored a little above 60 percent.

He noted that a situation where a third placed candidate was allegedly chosen in preference to the other two front runners in the competition for the post of the vice-chancellor requires convincing explanation from the university's governing council.

Iriase expressed concern that there is an

urgent need to stop the intractable problems bedevilling the Nigeria university system arising from brazen disregard for merit, fairness and justice.

"Unless steps are taken to courageously address the discontentment in the University of Abuja community, the matter may lead to avoidable unrest”, he stated.

In a related development, the House urged the federal government to resolve all issues with the Academic Staff Union

of Polytechnic (ASUP), for the immediate resumption of studies in the polytechnics.

The decision was sequel to a motion brought

by Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, (PDP Zamfara), who expressed worry over the lingering crisis that has forced polytechnics to be closed for 12 months.

He said this has affected the studies of over two million Nigerian's student who would have graduated from their classes and those that would have gotten admission.

Ekiti Police Command dismisses two for corruption Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Commissioner TState of Police (CP), Ekiti Command, Mr

L-R: Chairman, Capital Bancorp Plc; Mr. Olutola Mobolurin; Managing Director, Mr. Aigboje Higo and Head, Human Resources, Mrs. Tosin Olojo, during a press conference on the activities of the company in Lagos … yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Felix Uyanna has approved the immediate dismissal of two police constables over corrupt practices.

In a statement in AdoEkiti on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Babayemi, the CP, in accordance with Regulation 371 of the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulation 370 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, ordered the

Group tasks Nigerians over nation's indivisibility l Vows to mobilise 20m voters for Jonathan's re-election Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

A

group, the National Cooperatives and Trade Unions Network, yesterday described Nigeria as the hope of the black race, appealing therefore that everything possible must be done to sustain the country's unity, oneness and indivisibility.

The group, which specifically pleaded with Nigerians to join forces with the Federal govern-

ment in the task of curbing the ravaging spate of insecurity in the country, equally appealed to all aggrieved elements in the nation to dialogue with the government.

The National Coordinator of the Network, Comrade Bagshaw Ipalibo, who made the appeal yesterday in Abuja, pointedly said that no nation can develop under the atmosphere of fear and carnage.

"We use this medium to send passionate appeal to

all Nigerians to cooperate with the federal government to stop the ravaging spate of insecurity in the country, while also pleading with disgruntled elements to dialogue with the government.

"No country can develop under the atmosphere of fear and carnage. The youths of our great country should reject being used as agents of destruction. The future belongs to the youths. Killings and shedding of innocent blood must stop".

Accordingly, "we have a country and home called Nigeria. It is our collective duty to keep it indivisible. Nigeria is the hope of the black race. It is our manifest responsibility to keep Nigeria one.

It is our duty to cherish the sanctity of our unity.

"The destiny of the black race is in Nigeria.

Failure of project Nigeria will spell doom for the black race", the group's National Coordinator declared.

Commenting on the

2015 general elections, the group argued that President Goodluck Jonathan, in view of his various achievements so far, is the most suitable to continue the transformation agenda in the country.

The group thus vowed to mobilize 20 million people across the country, ranging from farmers, transporters, artisans, mechanics, barbers/ beauticians, motorcyclists to members of civil society groups, among others, to drum support for him.

Fayose woos Daniel back to PDP Yobe officials off to Saudi Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

s part of his effort to Aple’s reinvigorate the PeoDemocratic Party

(PDP) in the South West, the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Ayodele Fayose has pleaded with the former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel to return to the party.

To this end, Fayose has held a secret meeting with the ex-governor at the Daniel’s Asoludero residence in Sagamu.

He also held separate talks in Abeokuta with notable PDP chieftains,

including the chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of South West PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu, PDP National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, state PDP Chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, former chairman, Elder Joju Fadairo, former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs. Titi Oseni, among others.

The meeting with Daniel, which lasted about two hours, held on Wednesday night.

Daniel had dumped the PDP following his running battle with former President Olusegun

Obasanjo and some party bigwigs and defected to the Labour Party (LP) with his loyalists.

But New Telegraph reliably gathered yesterday that Fayose, who recently won the Ekiti governorship election against Governor Kayode Fayemi, met with Daniel with a view to strengthening and repositioning the Ogun PDP. A source privy to the meeting said the governorelect and the former governor discussed extensively on the crisis that rocked the party in the past and measures necessary to make it formidable again.

Bamidele Babalola Damaturu

claims that the Dtopespite State has a lean purse, officials of the Yobe

state have embarked on the yearly pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on Humra (lesser hajj).

Two weeks ago, a batch of commissioners, special advisers, senior special advisers, permanent secretaries and some other APC leaders was sponsored to the lesser hajj by the state government.

Our findings indicate that the state government has spent N150 mil-

lion on what the people of the state had dubbed wasteful pilgrimage.

Last week, the governor himself led another batch of commissioners and senior top ranking government officials among who are commissioners for rural development, Women Affairs, Higher education, Youth, Sports and some other party members including the governor's marabouts.

The speaker of Yobe state house of Assembly, Adamu Dala Dogo will be leading the 24 House members on the journey.

sack of the officers.

They were sacked after being found guilty in Orderly Room trial in accordance with the required regulations.

The affected constables are F/No. 446106 PC Famiwole Tolulope and F/No. 448477 PC Olotu Tope.

They were found guilty of corrupt practice contrary to Paragraph ‘C’ and discreditable conduct contrary to ‘E’ (I) & (II) CAP 359 of the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations 370 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

change of nameS

Ajala

Former Miss Oyewole Oyedola Falilat now Mrs. Ajala Oyedola Fadhila former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Aliyu

Former Miss Crystal Christine Moore now Mrs. Crystal Christine Aliyu.

Former documents remain valid. Nysc and general public take note.

John

Former Miss Onwubiko Abigeal Ugonnaya now Mrs. John Abigeal Ugonnaya. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Abba

Former Miss Odo Agatha Nebechi now Mrs. Abba Agatha Nebechi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Okechukwu

Former Miss Nwafor Ifeanyichukwu Favour now Okechukwu Favour Ifeanyi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Eshesimua

Former Miss Idowu Oluwakemi Lydia now Mrs. Eshesimua Oluwakemi Lydia. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

50 WORLD | NEWS

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t least 74 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive, Palestinian officials said yesterday, and militants kept up rocket attacks on Tel Aviv and other cities in warfare showing no signs of ending soon.

Eight Palestinian family members, including five children, were killed in an early morning air strike that destroyed at least two homes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the Palestinian Health ministry said. Israel’s military made no comment on what would be the deadliest strike since the offensive began yesterday.

“We have long days of fight-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Rockets all over Tel Aviv, Palestinian death toll climbs to 74 ing ahead of us,” Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said yesterday on Twitter of the offensive which began after a build-up of violence following the killing of three Jewish students last month and the murder of a Palestinian teen in a suspected revenge attack.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who briefed the Security Council on the crisis yesterday, condemned the rocket attacks and urged Israel

to show restraint. “Gaza is on a knife edge,” he told reporters.

Israeli soldiers sat atop a tank outside the central Gaza Strip yesterday. Medical officials in Hamas-dominated Gaza said at least 60 civilians, including a four-year-old girl and boy, aged 5 who were killed yesterday, were among the 74 Palestinians who have died in Israeli attacks since Tuesday.

Israel says it has struck more than 750 targets in an offensive intended to halt persistent

Egyptian Muslims sit on shared tables as they wait for the “Iftar” meal to break their day-long fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili district.

Egypt mum as Israel pounds Gaza

H

aving crushed the Muslim Brotherhood, Cairo’s new government has taken a back seat as Israel pounds Hamas, the Egyptian movement’s Islamist allies across the border in Gaza, analysts said.

Egypt, which has a peace treaty with Israel, brokered a 2012 truce between it and Hamas that favoured the militants, the Palestinian branch of now ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s Brotherhood.

With the Brotherhood now quashed, the new government in Cairo has taken a passive approach to the latest conflict, denying Hamas a truce that could see it emerge again as a winner. Morsi himself is being tried on charges of having colluded with Hamas to plot attacks inside Egypt, which has

blacklisted both the Brotherhood and Hamas.

“There doesn’t appear to be significant appetite on the Egyptian side in terms of playing a major mediating role at the moment,” said Michael Hanna, an Egypt expert with The Century Foundation think-tank in New York. The government of newly-elected Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ex-army chief who toppled Morsi last year, has responded to the Gaza conflict by demanding both sides stop the violence. Public opinion has “soured” against Hamas, Hanna said. And because of “the security establishment’s long standing antipathy to Hamas, they don’t mind seeing Hamas being beaten up, essentially,” he added. A senior

Hamas official has suggested that the movement hopes its rocket attacks on Israeli cities will force it to negotiate terms, allowing the militants to claim a victory.

Hamas demands that Israel respect the terms of the 2012 ceasefire, which relaxed a blockade on Gaza in place since 2006, when Palestinian militants kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It also wants the release of detainees freed in 2011 prisoner swap, whom Israel arrested again last month after militants kidnapped and killed three Israeli teenagers.

Israel, the Egyptians have reportedly told Hamas, is unwilling to negotiate any terms, and simply demands an end to the rocket fire. Egypt has shown little interest in trying to soften Israel’s position.

rocket fire at its own civilian population, which escalated after Israeli forces arrested hundreds of Hamas activists in the occupied West Bank following the abduction of the Jewish teenagers.

It accuses Hamas Islamists of deliberately putting innocent Palestinians in harm’s

way by placing weaponry and gunmen in residential areas.

Across the Gaza Strip, plumes of smoke and rubble marked the aftermath of Israeli attacks in the most serious outbreak of hostilities between Palestinian militants and Israel’s powerful armed forces in two years.

Kock, apartheid killer cop denies parole

T

he former head of a South African covert police unit that tortured and killed dozens of people during white minority rule was denied parole because the families of his victims were not consulted, the government said yesterday.

Eugene de Kock, who confessed to murder and other crimes and was sentenced to life in prison, has been in jail since the end of apartheid in 1994 and his previous parole requests were turned down.

De Kock’s case is particularly sensitive in a country where efforts to reconcile at the end of white rule troubled some who thought more apartheidera enforcers should have been punished.

Michael Masutha, the minister of justice and correctional services, said the law requires victims’ families to express their views about parole and he confirmed that had not happened when he met relatives on July 4 to discuss de Kock’s fate.

“It is fair and in the interests of the victims and the broader community that the families of the victims are afforded the opportunity to participate in the parole consideration process of the offender,” Masutha said at a news conference. De Kock’s case can be reviewed again within a year, instead of the usual 2-year time frame, he said.

“I’ve noted the progress he is reported to have made to improve his skills while in custody as well as the assistance Mr. de Kock is said to have provided and continued to provide” to authorities investigating missing persons cases, Masutha said.

De Kock confessed to crimes and was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms plus another 212 years. In his parole application, he said he is the only member of the former police force serving time for crimes committed on behalf of South Africa’s old order and maintains he acted on instructions from leaders who were never punished.

China, U.S. to boost security ties, but no breakthroughs

C

hina and the United States agreed yesterday to boost military ties and counterterrorism cooperation during high-level annual talks in Beijing, but there was little immediate sign of progress on thorny cyber-security or maritime issues.

The two-day talks, led by Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew for the United States and Vice Premier Wang Yang and top diplomat Yang Jiechi for China, were never expected to achieve great breakthroughs.

The Strategic and Economic Dialogue, now in its fifth year, is more about managing an increasingly complex and at times testy relationship. After discussions on topics ranging from the value of

China’s currency to North Korea, Yang said the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism, law enforcement and military-to-military relations.

U.S. Secretary of State Kerry met with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall. On two of the most sensitive issues - maritime disputes and cyber-spying - Yang largely restated Beijing’s position on both.

“The Chinese side will continue to steadfastly protect its territorial and maritime rights” in the South and East China Seas, Yang told reporters as the talks wrapped up.

“China urged the U.S. side to adopt an objective and impartial stance and abide by its promise to not take sides and play a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability.”

SPORT

51

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

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

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

friday, july 11, 2014

FIFA not to blame – Onigbinde

Onigbinde

lUrges Government to stop funding NFF

F

ormer FIFA Technical Committee member, Adegboye Onigbinde, feels the Switzerland-based football body cannot be faulted over its decision to ban Nigeria over government’s alleged involvement in the sacking of the Aminu Maigari-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation.

FIFA has disclosed that unless Maigari board is reinstated, Nigeria will be excluded from all football related events.

In order to forestall this though, Onigbinde has called on the Nigerian government to heed to FIFA’s request and restate the sacked NFF board but on the condition that they stop funding the NFF. “If FIFA insists on the sacked board being reinstated then we should do that. But, afterwards, the board should be told to go and source for the money they need to run football since FIFA says government should not interfere in their affairs,” added Onigbinde, who feels state governments should thereafter follow suit by stopping all forms of financial aid to the NFF and its affiliates at state level.

“What I expect government to tell FIFA is that they will hands off the NFF and no longer finance any of their programmes,” continued Onigbinde. “Government should also tell state governments to do likewise because all these amount to interference.

“Government should not be offended with the stance of FIFA; they should look at it from the perspective that they (FIFA) have taken a huge burden from them.

“If tomorrow, we decide to bring ourselves together to call ourselves the Nigeria Soccer Association, at least that one is not under FIFA. “And if we decide to play among ourselves FIFA will not say we cannot play our football; they only said we cannot play with other FIFA member nations. And if we decide to do that for the next three years, FIFA cannot do anything about it. And while we are on break, we should use the opportunity to begin restructuring.

“But for now, government should listen to FIFA and reinstate the board, and allow them to run football with their own money.”

Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike (left) contesting with an Argentina player at the 2014 world Cup

Amiesimaka faults suspension F Amiesimaka

ormer Nigeria international, Adokiye Amiesimaka, has expressed surprise over the recent suspension of Nigeria from international football.

“FIFA is probably not well-informed. Wasn’t it reported that Congress of the body dissolved it in accordance with FIFA-approved statutes,” Amiesimaka, a trained lawyer, was quoted as saying in a report posted

on Supersport.com.

“Regarding earlier reported court order, FIFA can’t query due obedience and compliance. After all, FIFA itself is subject to jurisdiction of Court of Arbitration for Sports which is itself subject to jurisdiction of Swiss judicial system even on sport-related matters, especially on public policy, fair hearing, and Jurisdiction.”

He further argued that Nigeria can-

not be accused of government interference “on account of supremacy of the constitution, separation of powers, and rule of law.”

He also described the suspension of Nigeria from any form of involvement in football as blackmail, but added retrospectively that the situation could act as a blessing in disguise and a catalyst to change for the good of football in Nigeria.

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

FIFA Ban Reaction

Punishment welldeserved- Erico

Government not interfering in football – Danagogo Ifeanyi Ibeh

S Erico

Ajibade Olusesan ormer Super Eagles FErico, assistant coach, Joe has said Nigeria

deserved the sanctions from FIFA ‘for not playing to the rules’.

The former national team goalkeeper said that the latest crisis was avoidable, but that power-play would not allow stakeholders to do the right thing.

He said FIFA’s rules were clear on government interference and the world football governing body will not hesitate to wield the big stick if those rules were violated.

“This is a ban well-deserved, but it is avoidable. I don’t know why we cannot play to the rules. We can set up our own football organisation and play within ourselves if we know we can-

not obey FIFA’s rules. The unfortunate thing is that FIFA warned us and we had some days to reverse what we had done, but we did not do that until FIFA finally banned us. I weep for Nigeria, I weep because we are doing things to ruin the lives of our young athletes.

Because of parochial interests we have been toying with our football, posterity will judge all of us,” he said.

Erico said the country still has time to retrace her steps, insisting that the Aminu Maigari-led board should be reinstated so that FIFA can unban us.

“We don’t have time, we have to act fast, otherwise the Falconets would not play at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. I am pleading that in the interest of the future of these girls, let us do the right thing,” he said.

ports Minister and Chairman of the National Spor ts Commission, Tamuno Danagogo, has expressed surprise over the country’s suspension by FIFA on the grounds of an alleged court order which the world football body has interpreted as government interference in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation.

According to a statement made available to New Telegraph, and signed by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Alfred Taye Akinyemi, “the said court action brought against the NFF followed an internal crisis within the football family and has nothing to do with government.”

The statement added: “While

FIFA has stated that unless the court action was withdrawn the suspension of the NFF will not be lifted, it is pertinent to state that neither the NSC nor government is involved in the court process.

“However, the NSC wishes to state that the suspension is a procedural practice by FIFA each time it feels that there is an alleged interference by government, be it the Executive or Judiciary, in the affairs of its affiliate bodies.”

As a result, the NSC called on Nigerians to remain calm as efforts are being made to ensure that the suspension is lifted as soon as possible, adding that appropriate representation has been made to FIFA to present the true situation of the crisis within the football family.

Danagogo

Chukwu throws weight behind FIFA Makinde Moyosore ormer Super Eagles coach FNigeria Christian Chukwu has said deserves the latest ban

from world football governing body FIFA. Chukwu, who captained the Eagles to their first Nations Cup victory in 1980, said that the ban was inevitable after government acted on the outcome of a court judgment sacking the Aminu Maigari-led board.

Chukwu said that FIFA frowns at external interference in the running of football in any of its member countries,

Chukwu

adding that he was not surprised that the football body wielded the axe on Nigeria.

“This ban is expected because it is not the first time such is happening in Nigerian football. No matter what the problem is, football matters cannot be taken to a civil court,” said Chukwu.

He added: “Well, FIFA found out and took their action against us.”

The former defender however, said he hoped the crisis will be resolved before the commencement of the FIFA Women’s Under 20 World Cup and the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

FIFA wrong to ban Nigeria – Sadi NFF misled world body – Fashanu ormer Super Eagles midfielder, and later reverse it is shameful.

“What FIFA used in FAssociation ormer board member suspending Nigeria was down regarding the court order and the and current President of the They have banned Tunisia and of Professional Foot- Cameroon in the past only to re- Fof the Nigeria Football correspondence from the congress” said the former England international. ballers of Nigeria (APFON), Da- verse after consultations; in a nut- Federation, John Fashahiru Sadi, has criticised FIFA’s decision to suspend Nigeria from all football related matters on account of Government interference.

“I can’t imagine FIFA saying a congress can’t sack a body they find guilty of financial misappropriation,” said Sadi. “The court case aside they were duly dissolved by a congress; same people who voted them in, decide to vote them out.

How is it a crime?”

He added: “If you are saying as a body an affiliate body can’t be suspended by the government of a country which they are citizens off and bound to it by the country’s constitution on the ground of corruption then that’s a vote in support of corruption, especially in Africa” “This same government bailed the national team during the bonus row, where was FIFA,” he queried.

Sadi also called on FIFA to seek proper consultations and do extensive investigations before suspending affiliate bodies.

“The speed with which they ban national teams especially in Africa

shell what I’m saying is they should nu, has accused the ousted do thorough investigations before board of the NFF of misslamming a ban. leading FIFA.

dissolved board of the NFF, who in my opinion lied about what truly went

We won’t receive Nigeria delegation – FIFA orld football governing Katken, and signed by FIFA is on the board of the NFF. W body, FIFA, has maintained secretary general, Jerome However, the statutes of they will refrain from any con- Valcke, the world body said the NFF, which have been tact with any persons outside the elected Nigeria Football Federation executive committee and as such will not receive the country’s delegation in Brazil to resolve the vexed issue.

The delegation is believed to include a former CAF executive, Dr Amos Adamu; several top sports ministry officials, three NFF board members and some state FA chairmen.

According to a report on Africanfootball.com, FIFA, in a letter dated July 8 and addressed to current secretary general of the NFF, Lawrence

that they “will now refrain from communicating with any other parties than the duly elected NFF officials which are the NFF President Aminu Maigari and the NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu.”

FIFA further said in the letter that decisions taken at the extraordinary congress held on Saturday, July 5, are null and void.

The government delegation is in Brazil “to give a true picture” of what is happening in Nigerian football. They argued that it was not Katken who convened the general assembly, but Effiong Johnson, who

duly endorsed by FIFA, stipulates that only the NFF president has the power to call a congress and where he fails, two-third of the congress will notify the president of the need for such a congress and if he fails to do so within 60 days, they have a right to then do so.

FIFA has demanded that the elected NFF and all their machinery be reinstated before July 15 or a replacement team for the country’s U20 female team will be named for the FIFA U20 World Cup, which kicks off in Canada on August 3.

“The court dissolved the board on account of a stakeholder’s injunction, so why not slam the person who took a football issue to a civil court as contained in their rules?

“But I guess the past board of the NFF misled FIFA by running to them with claims that government influenced their sacking which isn’t true.

“I doubt if FIFA is aware of the legality of extra ordinary congress because the past board in my opinion told FIFA it’s illegal.”

Fashanu

SPORT 53

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

News Updates Romero grateful to Dutch coach goalkeeper Ahisrgentina Sergio Romero revealed gratitude to opposition

coach, Louis van Gaal following his heroics in his side’s penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday night.

Romero was the hero for the South American giants, denying the Dutch on two occasions in the shoot-out to secure his side’s progress to the Final of this year’s global showpiece.

Yet the Sampdoria shot-stopper was quick to credit Oranje boss Louis van Gaal, who he worked under at Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar in 2007, for his memorable influence

as he made the transition from South American to European club football.

“I went to the dressing room to congratulate him,” Romero said of Van Gaal. “He helped me a lot when I arrived in Netherlands in a completely different country. He spoke Spanish and helped me a lot.

“So just as I’m grateful to Alejandro [Sabella], I’m also grateful to Van Gaal and everything he did for me. He is a person that teaches a lot to the players - how to grow. He helped me grow. I arrived when I was 20 years old and I will be forever grateful to that coach.”

Van Gaal reveals shootout fears N

etherlands coach Louis van Gaal said two of his players declined to take his side’s first penalty in the shoot-out loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals.

The Dutch were beaten 4-2 after 120 minutes of goalless football in Sao Paulo, with Ron Vlaar having their first penalty saved by goalkeeper

Sergio Romero, who also foiled an attempt by Wesley Sneijder.

“It should give Louis van Gaal (left), leads his you confidence. We players off the pitch took those penalties in an incredible way before ending up with against Costa Rica,” Van Vlaar.

“I thought he was the Gaal told a press conference. “But the issue is best player on the pitch you score the first one so should have a lot of and I asked two play- confidence. It just goes to ers to take the first ball show it’s not easy scoring

in a penalty shoot-out.

“It’s the most terrible scenario, to lose on penalties: at the very least we were equal with them, if not the better team. It’s a big disappointment.”

Argentina no match for Germany – Robben We can win Sergio Romero saving a Dutch penalty 2

D

utch winger Arjen Robben believes victorious semi-final opponents, Argentina will be no match for European

Germany went easy on Brazil – Hummels

G

er many defender Mats Hummels has revealed that his side went easy on semifinal opponents Brazil in the second half of their last four clash on Tuesday evening.

A disastrous opening 45 minutes saw the hosts go 5-0 down against the Germans, who then took their foot off the gas for the remainder of the game, according to their Borussia Dortmund centre-back.

“We just made it

A

clear that we had to stay focused and not try to humiliate them,” Hummels said, revealing what was spoken about in the half-time interval. “We said we had to stay serious and concentrate at halftime. That’s something you don’t have to show on the pitch if you are playing.

“You have to show the opponent respect and it was very important that we did this and didn’t try to show some magic or something like this. It was

star is still licking his wounds after Wednesday night’s loss in Sao Paolo, as his side succumbed to the Argentines in the dreaded lottery of penalty kicks.

“Penalties are not only a game of pure chance we’ve shown that against Costa Rica,” said Robben. “We did a very good job there, and were really successful.

“It didn’t work out (against Argentina) during the penalties. We also had some bad luck but, sadly, that’s part of football.”

Sabella sure of victory

rgentina coach Alejandro Sabella was delighted with his side’s penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday, but is already looking ahead to Sunday’s final at the iconic Maracana.

After a goalless 120 minutes of play, the game headed into the dreaded lot-

Sabella

important we played our game for 90 minutes.”

The 25-year-old said his side was not getting carried away following their 7-1 drubbing of the hosts, as they prepare for Sunday’s final at the Maracana.

“We must keep our feet on the ground, but that’s no problem for us,” he said. “We know how hard it will be on Sunday. It will be a hard fight and the only chance we have of winning is if we know that from the start.”

rivals Germany in Sunday’s final of this year’s FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands speedster was on the losing team in his side’s last four penalty shoot-out defeat to the South Americans, but feels the Albiceleste will not have what it takes to lift the trophy against a dangerous and wellorganised German outfit.

“Germany’s going to win the World Cup,” said the 30-year-old. “No doubt about that. The Argentines will not stand a chance.”

The Bayern Munich

tery of penalties, where Argentine shot-stopper Sergio Romero produced two fine saves to send his side through to their first final in 24 years.

The Argentine boss said he was proud of his players for their relentless commitment over the duration of the game.

“I’m delighted with the professionalism of the players, they’ve given us a great platform for the Final,” he said.

“We never gave up on winning tonight Wednesday and my players gave everything – every last drop of sweat.”

Argentina may be at a slight disadvantage to Final opponents Germany, having played a day later as well as an extra 30 minutes of football, yet Sabella is backing his charges to go all the way.

“Although we have one day less to recover and we’ve played 30 more minutes tonight, we’ll approach the game with hard-work and humility,” he said. “But we believe that we can win.”

Arjen Robben (left) shielding the ball from Javier Mascherano

final

– Mascherano rg entina utility Aerano player Javier Maschexpressed hope

his country can down Germany in Sunday’s World Cup Final at the Maracana.

La Albiceleste, twotime winners of the competition, Wednesday reached the last stage of the event for the first time since 1990 with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over the Netherlands - much to Mascherano’s obvious delight.

“We played a brilliant game, without any fear of anything,” Mascherano said after the cagey tie in Sao Paulo.

“We came into the game of our lives. And now we will enjoy it because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Hopefully we will be crowned champions on Sunday but, regardless of the outcome, I have no words to express how proud I am… the goal was to be in the Final.”

Susic to remain in charge of Bosnia game against Cyprus on afet Susic has signed a over Iran.

But a statement on 09.09.2014 in our counSBosnia new contract to stay as and Herzegovina nfsbih.ba read: “The try.” coach until Euro 2016, the country’s football federation (NS/FS BiH) has announced.

Susic had suggested after Bosnia’s World Cup elimination that he would leave his post, with a disappointing Group F campaign bringing defeats to Argentina and Nigeria before a consolation win

21st regular session of the executive board of the NS/FS BiH decided that Safet Susic will be the selector of the Bosnia and Herzegovina ‘A’ team for the next two years.

“The current coach is our best option in qualification for the European Championship in 2016 in France, starting with the first

Susic told reporters: “I gained the support of members of the executive board, and we decided to continue our co-operation.

“I’ve said previously that it would be hard to leave this team and that moment is yet to come.

We will do our best qualify for Euro 2016 and to achieve a better result than the one in Brazil.”

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Samba notes Khedira pushing for Arsenal move interesting reports from Brazil Some coming out of Spain with El

Compiled by Adekunle Salami

Two sides of Argentine fans On Wednesday, I encountered Argentine fans in close range. The setting of all stadia is such that you must trek a distance to enter no matter who you are. It is only close to the complex that accredited people will be separated from football fans. From the train station to the stadium, it was a ‘bumper to bumper’ human traffic leading to Arena de Sao Paulo. They are very fanatical and lively. No dull moment with them. They come to all match venues here in their thousands. Some of my colleagues had a bad experience with them in Porto Alegre and so I was careful. After the victory over the Dutch team, they were much more interesting. Again we had to move same way back to the train station. There was security all over the place as the Argentines sang and danced all over the place apparently taunting Brazilians who failed to make it to the final. I had my hotel card keys in my winter jacket with some documents picked at the media centre, but when I entered the train, all those things in my jacket were gone because my hands were in my trousers pocket protecting my phones. In the train, it was another issue entirely.

They were hitting the train and jumping such that one might fear the train could derail. Most of them left Sao Paulo that night for Rio to await the World Cup final.

Truth is the Argentine fans are very lively, fun to be with, but some of them are also rogues.

As careful as I was, I lost some items to the bad ones among them. Thank God! Brazilians still in shock Many Brazilians are yet to come to terms with the 7-1 shocking defeat suffered against Germany in the semifinal. On Wednesday, those of them that went to the Stadium praying that Argentina will lose were also disappointed as their rivals cruised to the final. Two buses were burnt shortly after the match in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza. There were protests in Rio and some places and those who operate shops are in fear and have refused to open shops.

As at Wednesday evening, some were still locked as the owners were not ready to risk having their wares looted. Many cried and cried on match day while some showed their anger by igniting fireworks and various types of ‘bangers.’ These people are not thinking about the Third Place match especially with Argentina in the final. Brazilian fans move about quietly now. No more noise.

Male ‘professionals’ Brazil is very notorious for prostitution. This is because it is a legal ‘profession’ here.

However, there are various aspects of it that are so funny. For example, how can one comprehend the fact that males are masquerading also as prostitutes in Brazil. These people disguise as women and for any man that fancies their looks and invites them for ‘business,’ it’s up to the person to do ‘man-to-man’ or forget it. Of course the contract would have been sealed before both parties enter for ‘business.’ It was learnt that some men deliberately go for the men while the unsuspecting clients who go for them would either lament and forfeit the contract money or join the gay group.

It is sad.

Lloris signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal

ottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has T committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new five-year contract that will run until

Confidencial claim that Sami Khedira is pushing to join Arsenal after rejecting a contract extension at Real Madrid.

Khedira has just entered the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu and the Mirror are citing Spanish newspaper El Confidencial as saying he has turned down a two-year extension and is now trying to secure a move to the Emirates.

2019.

The 27-year-old, who helped France reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, joined Spurs from Lyon in 2012 and quickly became the north Londoners’ No1 goalkeeper.

Lloris, who has made 64 Barclays Premier League appearances in two seasons at White Hart Lane and featured in premierleague.com’s ‘Top 10 Saves’ of last season video, says he has been impressed with head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who took charge at the club last month.

Nasri pens new Manchester City deal

Gary Medel on Inter Milan radar

I

nter Milan have admitted they want Gary Medel – and confirmed they are in talks with Cardiff City over a deal for the World Cup star.

But it is still not clear whether the Bluebirds are ready to bow to Italian pressure to accept a loan bid for the Chile midfielder.

Medel, 26, has already admitted he would be open to a move to Serie A after details of Inter’s interest emerged last week.

Morata on the verge of Juventus move

amir Nasri has signed a new five-year contract with ManS chester City.

The 27-year midfield has penned a deal that will take him through to the summer of 2019.

The former Arsenal midfielder joined the club in 2011, scoring 22 goals and winning two Premier League titles since his arrival.

‘I’m really happy to have signed this contract and to have committed my future to City,’ he told the club website.

Hajrovic joins Bremen

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erder Bremen have secured the services of Bosnia and Herzegovina forward Izet Hajrovic, who had freed himself from his contract with Galatasaray.

The 22-year-old, who represented his country at the World Cup this summer, has signed a four-year contract in Bremen after successfully passing a medical on Wednesday.

He will join his new team-mates after his holidays on July 19.

Ayew likely to sign for AC Milan

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hana World Cup star Andre Ayew may end up signing for Italian giants AC Milan, according to the Italian website Tuttomercatoweb.

AC Milan must fend off competition with Serie A campaigners Napoli who are said to have offered 10 million euros for the winger.

If the Rossoneri fail in their bid to sign him, they have lined up Torino’s Alessio Cerci as a Plan B. The 24-year-old is under contract at Olympique Marseille until June 2015 but has been highly tipped to leave the Stade Velodrome.

Wigan Athletic sign former Cardiff City midfielder

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igan Athletic have signed former Cardiff City midfielder, Don Cowie on a two-year deal.

T h e 31-year-old left the Bluebirds at the start of the month after turning down the offer of a new contract.

The Scotland international made 86 league appearances in three seasons for the Welsh side.

Chelsea launch new £15m bid for Luis

C

helsea have upped their offer for Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis by £3m.

The blues tabled an improved £15m bid after their original £12m approach was knocked back last week.

Atletico want £19m for the 28 year-old Brazilian, but the Blues are hopeful of agreeing a compromise price for Luis, 28, who is keen on the move.

eal Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is set to R have a medical with the Serie A champions, Juventus by the end of the week before signing

a four-year contract, with the move believed to be worth about €22 million (Dh110m).

Morata, behind Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese in the pecking order in Madrid’s attack, was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Wolfsburg, but he said Juventus have won the battle for his signature.

Once the deal goes through, Morata, 21, will join up with compatriot Fernando Llorente, who signed for Juventus from Athletic Bilbao last summer and scored 16 goals in the league.

Jonathan joined brother at Villarreal

Dos Santos has joined brother Jteronathan Giovani at Spanish league club Villarreal afBarcelona sold the Mexican midfielder on

Thursday.

Barcelona said the deal is worth up to €2 million and includes a buy-back clause.

Both clubs say Dos Santos must first pass a standard medical before signing the five-year deal.

Dos Santos, like his brother Giovani, came through Barcelona’s youth academy before eventually earning a spot on the first team in 2012.

But a serious knee injury forced him to miss most of last season.

Atletico target Ochoa

A

tletico Madrid are on the verge of securing the signature of in-demand Mexico goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa.

Ochoa’s performances in the World Cup for Mexico turned heads and a number of European clubs are interested in signing him this summer.

The Mexican declined to extend his contract with Ligue 2 side Ajaccio at the end of last season, thus he is available on a free transfer.

Mourinho considers taking Drogba back

helsea are considering offering C Didier Drogba a return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

The 36-year-old, who is out of contract after 18 months in Turkey with Galatasaray, scored 179 Premier League goals during an eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge and could be offered a sensational return.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho knows the striker well from his first stint in west London and said in March Drogba would one day ‘have to return’ to Chelsea in some capacity.

Brazil 2014 Semi-Final & Final Fixtures

Colombia star to join Watford

SEMI-FINALS Tuesday July

8

Wednesday July 9

Brazil V Germany

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF Saturday July 12 Netherlands V Brazil FINAL Sunday July

13

olombian Alexander Mejia is reC portedly set to join Watford on loan, having agreed a permanent

1-7 9pm EstadioMineirao, Belo Horizonte

Netherlands V Argentina 2-4(p)9pm Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

Germany V Argentina

9pm Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

8pm Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro

switch to Udinese.

The 25-year old midfielder - who has been capped eight times by his country - currently plays for Colombian Categoria Primera A champions Atletico Nacional, although, following strong displays in the World Cup, a move to a top European league has been touted.

Mejia frequently plays as a defensive midfielder, and featured in four of Colombia’s five games at the World Cup.

West Ham cancel Diarra’s contract

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est Ham United have terminated Alou Diarra’s contract by mutual consent. The Frenchman was signed by The Hammers from Marseille for £2million in 2012, but only went on to make 12 appearances in two seasons for Sam Allardyce’s side, five in the league.

During that time the 32-year-old, who has 44 caps for France, was also loaned out to French side Rennes, whilst his last appearance for West Ham came back in January in the Capital One Cup. Diarra, formerly of Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Lens, Lyon and Bordeaux, saw first team opportunities limited at Upton Park and had a year left on his contract, but is now free to move to another club for no fee.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Charles Ogundiya

A

head of the Commonwe a l t h G a m e s t a k i n g place in Glasgow, Scotland, Nigeria’s wrestling team will on Friday fly off to Bucharest, Romania for the final stage of their preparations for the championship holding from July 23 to August 3.

T he wrestlers who have been camped in Abuja for close to a month, according to the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, will be in the

Team Nigeria wrestlers depart for Romania Romanian capital for two weeks before moving to Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.

“We have been in camp for three weeks now and on Friday the athletes will be going to Bucharest on a two-week training tour,” Igali told New Telegraph.

“We would have loved to have embarked on the training tour earlier than now, but we have to

Olympic 400m champ leads Grenada to Glasgow

O

lympic 400 metres champion Kirani James will lead a Grenada contingent to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3.

James is included in a 16-member team which will participate in three sporting disciplines -- Athletics, Boxing and Swimming -- announced by the Grenada Olympic Committee.

The Grenadian quarter-miler holds the Commonwealth Youth Games’ record of 46.66 set in Pune, India in 2008.

make-do with what we have. The athletes will be competing in various categories and hopefully we will achieve our goal of winning medals,” he said.

The country’s wrestlers won 13 medals at the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, ending the competition with three gold, three silver and seven bronze medals.

James has won titles in most of the major championships including CARIFTA Games, Pan American Junior Championships, World Youth, World Junior, Commonwealth Youth Games, World Championships and Olympic Games.

His target in Glasgow will be Iwan Thomas’ 1998 400m Games record of 44.52.

Grenada’s lone Commonwealth Games medal is silver won by Alleyne Francique in the men’s 400 at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia.

James

Federation Cup: Giwa shocks Rangers owned Giwa FC Pestrivately of Jos caused the greatupset of the Federa-

tion Cup on Thursday, sending Rangers International of Enugu packing in the round of 32 of the competition with a 1-0 defeat of the Enugu side.

Defending champions, Enyimba, will be grateful for the heroic performance of Chijioke Ejiogu in goal for their progress into the round of 16 in their match against Niger Tornadoes. ‘Arugo Monkey’ saved from the pen-

alty spot after the regulation time ended 1-1 as Enyimba progressed 6-5 on penalties.

Shooting Stars of Ibadan will now be concentrating on their quest for promotion after the club’s elimination from the Federation Cup at the hands of Dynamite. 3SC lost on penalty while Crown progressed without kicking a ball, as opponent Leopard FC failed to show up for their Round of 32 game.

Bayelsa United and Bendel Insurance progressed with 2-1 and 4-3 victory against FRSC and Bobbies FC respectively.

55

Nigeria’s Talaram Mamman swings Australian Ivan Popov at the last C’Wealth Games

Top Indian gymnasts face selection issues shish Kumar created histoAwinning ry exactly four year ago by two medals in gym-

nastics for India at the Commonwealth Games. But repeating this feat looks almost impossible in Glasgow this time around as the sports ministry has not cleared the gymnastics team’s passage to the Games, citing complaints in the selection of gymnasts and coaches.

The initial inquiry set up

by Sports Authority of India

has also found substance in the complaints made by three gymnasts who were not selected in the five-member squad. This has cast serious doubts on Indian gymnasts’ participation in the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held from July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow.

According to sports ministry sources, a faction of the Gymnastics Federation of India selected five gymnasts during the selection

trials last week. The first two places went to Ashish Kumar and Rakesh Patra as expected but the controversy erupted when third ranked Ikraar Hasan of Railways, fifth ranked Sanjeev Burman of Services and Abhijit Shinde who performed well at the recent World Championships were ignored.

All the three have now made a formal complaint to the sports minister, Sarbananda Sonowal.

Scotland’s first female C’wealth Games champion dies first ever female another gold medal in the re- the tributes.

“All at the CGF are deeply Sgoldcotland’s Commonwealth Games lay.

At the 1952 Olympics in saddened to learn of the death medallist, Elenor Gordon, has died at the age of 80 on the eve of this year’s event in Glasgow, where she had been due to present a medal.

Gordon had won the 220 yards breaststroke at the 1950 Empire Games - as they were then called - in Auckland.

She also won a bronze medal in the 3x110y relay.

Four years later, in Vancouver, she retained her 220 breaststroke title and added

Charles Ogundiya

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 11, 2014

Helsinki she had won a bronze medal in the 200 metres breaststroke.

Gordon had been confined to a wheelchair in recent years due to a degenerative spinal condition, but was due to attend Glasgow 2014, where she would have awarded a medal in one of the swimming events.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), led

of Elenor Gordon, an outstanding Scottish and Commonwealth athlete,” he said.

“Elenor was due to present medals at a swimming event at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, which she was delighted by and eagerly looking forward to.

“Elenor won three golds and a bronze in swimming at the 1950 and 1954 Games, so this would have been especially appropriate.”

Liverpool, Manchester City chase Onazi S

uper Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi’s future is in the English Premier League as his representatives have opened talks with both Liverpool and Manchester City.

Sources close to the Nigeria midfield star, reveal that Onazi will not extend his contract with Serie A side Lazio when it runs out next summer.

The sources disclosed

that Onazi was on a youth contract at the Italian club and now wants out with his representatives already in talks with both Liverpool and Manchester City.

“Onazi’s future is in the

L-R: Winner, Afunanya John Chigozie; Mamah Ada; Marketing Manager, Guinness, Obinna Anyalebechi; Winner, Celestine Okeke and Assistant Brand Manager, Guinness, Dorcas Mashingil during the send forth of winners of the Guinness Fly with the Eagles Distributors’ Offer to the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, in Lagos, recently.

EPL with either Liverpool or Manchester City. His agents are working on this,” one of the sources informed.

“He will most certainly not extend his time with Lazio particularly as he has been on a youth contract with the club ever since.

“He now wants to cash in on his performance with a big-money move to England.”

Onazi has established himself in the Super Eagles since he took his chance in the first team as Nigeria went on to win a third Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year.

He also featured at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup as well as the 2014 World Cup, where his second-half exit in a round of 16 match against France due to injury clearly exposed the shortcomings in the Eagles midfield.

He is currently on holidays in Abuja.

World Record

On Marble

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

– Thomas Jefferson

The longest eyebrow hair belongs to Sumito Matsumura (Japan) and was 18.1 cm (7.1 in) when measured at Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan, on 30 June 2011.

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha FRIday, JULY 11, 2014

N150

Ekiti: A plus for lootocracy T Graffiti he people of a country, usually through the ruling class, decide on the system of governance they think suits them the best. When that is in place, through whatever established process, it becomes the official system. The system usually has tenets that characterize it, and they are adhered to for all intents and purposes.

It is not in all cases that the official system of governance is truly upheld. In societies with established checks and balances, behaviours that are at variance with the established system are resisted through criticisms, and in some far-reaching situations, through legal actions which seek to forestall any form of subversion.

In such societies, therefore, criticism is seen not just as healthy, but it is actively encouraged as part of the freedom of expression. Taking legal action is also seen as a proactive and civilized process, rather than the recourse to force which could lead to instability and possibly anarchy. The sustainability of the system is hinged on the respect for the rule of law, where the law is truly no respecter of persons.

Consequently, a system of governance defines itself by how it is perceived and by what it does in real terms. These two conditions combine to offer a tangible litmus test that can be applied at any time to evaluate the health status of an existing system.

To a large extent, the kind of people that comprise the ruling class, including their mindset and values, are critical to the success of a given system of governance.

Where most of the members of the ruling class have genuine commitment to the tenets of the system, its stability is further assured. But where the tenets are seen as obstacles to personal gains, the tendency is for such members of the leadership to act in ways that subvert and degrade the system.

Nigeria has tended to favour, in all it dalliance with civilian rule, the system of democracy. It has been a challenging learning curve at every step of the way, including the brash intrusions of the military which most times were at variance with some of the basic tenets of democracy. A legacy of military rule is the tendency for civilian leaders to behave with a military mindset.

That the Fourth Republic has lasted for 15 years is some kind of miracle, as there have been all kinds of accidental as well as intentional obstacles. The greatest danger though to the Fourth Republic is the ruling class, especially the crop that constitutes the current leadership.

On June 21, this year, a gubernatorial election held in Ekiti State and the incumbent, John Kayode Fayemi was defeated by his main challenger, Ayodele Fayose. Apart from the unexpected result, which has un-

EMMAN USMAN SHEHU prohabe@hotmail.com - 08051614969 (sms only)

derstandably been the major talking point, the other attention-grabbing highlight was the demeanour of the incumbent in defeat, despite the deliberately crafted obstacles placed in his path. Quite uncharacteristically, Fayemi conceded defeat as soon as the result was announced, and congratulated the winner in a well-thought out speech that will offer several valuable quotes in the future.

This unabashed display of respect for the democratic process, which has earned him popular acclaim as a fine democrat, however, masks a fundamental problem with the process itself which the winner and his backers would not like to be closely interrogated. A close scrutiny would be for them a spoiler.

While applauding Fayemi, there must be equal measure of concern about what the candidature of Fayose portends for the wellbeing of democracy in Nigeria.

Fayose was the governor of Ekiti State when on October 16, 2006, the House of Assembly impeached him from office. His forced removal from office followed the findings of a panel of inquiry set up in consonance with section 188 of the subsisting Nigerian Constitution, by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The panel found Fayose guilty of an assortment of crimes including embezzlement of public funds.

Further to Fayose’s removal from office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged him to court on a 51 count of money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion. Fayose’s case which is listed as FHC/ L/179C/06 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, is ongoing. It is a case deliberately lingering like those of fifteen other former governors.

It does speak volumes of the kind of subsisting democracy when a political party, and in this case the ruling party, has no qualms in aiding and abetting with all the forces at its disposal, the candidacy of a Fayose who, given his status by the laws of the land, should not be a contestant. As of June 21, when the gubernatorial election held, Fayose’s 2006 impeachment and its implications had not been overturned by any competent court.

Nebukadineze Adiele, writing in this context, made the following significant observation: “There is no way an act of impeachment/removal from office cannot have some political career disability on anyone

so subjected. It makes no sense that Ayo Fayose, who was removed from being governor for embezzlement and has criminal cases ( including a murder charge) arrayed against him should be rewarded with re-election into the office out of which he was thrown for abusing public trust. There is a consequence for impeachment/removal from office and at a minimum, it entails that the impeached never gets back into the office he was thrown out of without a legal remediation having taken place.”

While it may be argued that the EFCC has failed to convict him and therefore he is not guilty until the court proves otherwise, the same argument holds no iota of decency in the light of the 2006 impeachment. It certainly says a lot that both the Independent National Electoral Commission and the EFCC had no issues with his candidature, despite the obvious contravention of extant laws. This development only confirms the extent to which the virus of impunity is raving the system.

When a country’s leadership has no misgivings in taking actions that openly undermine the tenets of democracy, it shows that it does not believe in the established system.

Truly, nothing undermines democracy like corruption. It is no longer a conjecture that the current administration is snugly in bed with corruption. That easily explains its lack of appetite to fight corruption. That also explains why at every turn it enthrones corruption and has no hesitation to hobnob with tainted characters, as long as they are willing do to its bidding.

When the earlier mentioned litmus test is applied to the existing system in relation to all the malfeasances that have taken place on the

watch of the current leaders, the conclusion is that this is not a democracy. Evidently all thathasbeenhappeningsincetheemergence of the Fourth Republic, is a stealthy subversion through corruption. The corruption cabal has succeeded in steadily subverting the tenets of democracy and replaced them with the vile values of lootocracy.

Consistently the United States and other western countries have accused the current administration of massive corruption through looting of public funds at all levels of government. The leadership has gone on without giving a care of what the world thinks. It will not give a bother even with what it has done in Ekiti, using democracy as a smokescreen to entrench its pilfering ways.

As Remi Adekoya pertinently observed in the Guardian (London) over a year ago: “In a country where the rule of law remains a dream, Jonathan’s message is terrible: he is in effect, saying: ‘Prove to us you are strong enough to make our lives difficult and we will give you a share of the pie.’”

Sharing the pie has become an apt euphemism for looting the public treasury.Fayose’s so-called victory in Ekiti is a clear message from Jonathan, and it is a plus for lootocracy.

Those who truly care about the future of democracy in Nigeria should see what has taken place in Ekiti for what it is. It should be a wakeup call to stop the increasingly brazen imposition of lootocracy on hapless Nigerians. The 2015 elections could just be like the struggle to kick-out the military. The struggle must start with a proper awakening and rejection of the vile values the leadership is justifying without a damn.

OmoBaba

ITF TO CREATE 2 MILLION JOBS ANNUALLY - News

– Good but hope it won’t end on paper?

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