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Vol. 2 No. 352

Friday, February 6, 2015

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N150

ICC threatens to prosecute promoters of violence }8

Auditors ask NNPC to refund $1.48bn

lIt's not an indictment, says oil corporation Adeola Yusuf, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Yusuf Shuaib

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to refund $1.48 billion to the Federation Account for

various ‘unreconciled and questionable transactions,’ the forensic audit report submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan has

revealed.

The audit conducted by the inventory firm of PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of the

Federal Government was based on the alleged shoddy deals in the operations of the corporation, leading CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

8 days to go...

Nigeria votes

2015

ria Nige

s vote

2015

}14 & 15

Jega: Feb 14 stands

lAfter a heated Council of State meeting, the longest in recent }6 time, Feb 14 presidential poll to go on as scheduled

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, after the Council of State meeting in Abuja... yesterday. (More pictures on page 41)

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

FG alleges Boko Haram plot to bomb voting centres

lWhy I won't vote for Jonathan, by Soyinka Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights }50

Tony Okuyeme and Emmanuel Onani

T

he Federal Government has uncovered a

plot by Boko Haram to use female suicide bombers to attack voting centres during the forthcoming general elections.

It said at a press conference yesterday in Abuja that it had intelligence reports that Boko Haram had concluded plans to

obtain, buy or steal Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) of female voters, with a view to surrendering them CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Quick Read Editorial

Okoya-Thomas: Exit of a colossus }19 Tribunal verdict: Security beefed up in Osun }46

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

IC NT T N LA FRO T A O ATER K E : UE CH) W N E V A E B (BAR . .M P 0 7:0 Follow the movement: @www.akinwunmiambodeforgovernor .com

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

UNDER GOODLUCK THERE’S NOW A FEDERAL UNIVERSITY IN EVERY STATE. Let’s keep going forwards. Vote Goodluck

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

LET’S NOT GO BACKWARDS TO THE DAYS WHEN THE NUMBER OF KIDS BEING EDUCATED HALVED. Let’s keep going forwards. Vote Goodluck

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News

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Poll: February 14 stands, says Jega Anule Emmanuel

T

he plot to get the Council of State to extend the general elections timetable fell through yesterday as it asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take the final decision on the polls.

The Council of State after a meeting in Abuja that lasted for about seven hours, the longest in recent time, said INEC should go ahead to carry out its statutory responsibility.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had briefed the meeting,

presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, on his preparations for the elections and assured members that despite the challenges such as hiccups in the distribution of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs), among others, the commission was ready for the elections, beginning from February 14.

However, service chiefs and other heads of security agencies who also briefed the council had warned against holding the elections as scheduled in view of the security threats posed by Boko Haram, which is waging an unrelenting terror campaign in the North-East.

Yesterday's meeting was foreshadowed by plots for the extension of the elections, amidst allegations that INEC was not ready for the election.

The campaign for the poll shift, which became accentuated after a call by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), had caused tension in the polity, especially with the All Progressives Congress (APC) kicking against any bid to extend the election timetable.

Some members of the party who are Council of State members, such as APC presidential candidate, Major General

Muhammadu Buhari, attended the meeting for the first time in recent years.

Membership of the council comprises former heads of state and government, governors of the 36 states of the federation, vice-resident, Chief Justice of Nigeria, the service chiefs, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Attorney General of the Federation.

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, who was mandated to brief State House correspondents after the meeting, said the INEC chairman assured them that his commission was prepared

more than it was in 2011 to conduct the 2015 elections.

However, the explanation by Okorocha and his Ondo State counterpart, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the press briefing revealed disagreements along party lines during the council meeting.

While Mimiko painted a picture that the council was in favour of possible shift in the February polls considering issues of distribution of PVCs, card readers and security concerns as raised by the service chiefs, Okorocha stressed that the meeting advised INEC to only proceed with its civic duty in line with its conviction.

Federal Government of Nigeria budget,” the report stated.

However, the oil corporation has denied report that the forensic audit report indicted it over alleged missing $20 billion unremitted oil revenue.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, the corporation said the release of the forensic audit report had finally laid to rest the controversy surrounding allegations of “missing oil revenue” or non-remittance to the Federation Account.

NNPC said it was not true that it was indicted in the forensic audit report as being speculated in some quarters as the $1.48 billion that the audit firm recommended the corporation

Okorocha who was not satisfied with Mimiko's explanation told reporters that council never took any decision regarding change of date for the election or its postponement.

He said: "There is no decision as to change of date or postponement at all.

But the council has asked INEC to go and perform its responsibility.

"NCS advised INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree; it was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready. But because of concern of security agencies in some few local governments, the council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibility, which is the conduct of elections."

Asked whether there was any decision on the use of temporary voters' card, the Imo State governor explained that the "temporary voters' cards are being exchanged for the new ones and once you have given out your temporary voters cards, that means you don't have any more.

"They are going for the permanent voters' card, and the PVCs would be assumed to have been distributed before Sunday that was essence of the whole exercise. Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011."

Okorocha said there were disagreements at the meeting, as usual with politics at the national level, but they resolved all contentious issues in national interest.

"As usual, we will not be on the same page on any issues of this nature.

It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the constitution of Nigeria that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement. The constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the whole nation's policies," he stated.

On whether the APC expects to see elections hold on February 14 despite the council meeting, Okorocha said: "That is what we are expecting definitely."

On his part, Mimiko said INEC had the benefit of input from council members and security chiefs and security agencies at the meeting.

He said: "Based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC is constitutionally

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L-R: SBG Head, Public Sector Group, UBA Plc., Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, during the visit of the bank's executives to the emir in Kano...on Wednesday

It's not an indictment, says oil corporation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to the alleged disappearance of $20 billion.

The report, according to highlights released yesterday in Abuja by the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, indicted the management of the national oil company for various questionable transactions.

Part of the recommendations, according to Ukura, include that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream subsidiary of the NNPC should refund about $1.48 billion to the Federation Account for various reconciled transactions.

“Within the $69.34 billion, $28.22 billion was the value of domestic crude oil allocated to NNPC,” Tyonongo added.

Also based on the work conducted by the PwC, the

total amount spent as subsidy on petrol amounted to $5.32 billion, just as the amount spent as unauthorised kerosene subsidy amounted to $3.38 billion; while total other third party financing arrangement, and equity crude oil processing costs amounted to $1.19 billion.

"Total cash remitted into the Federation Account in relation to crude oil lifting was $59.81 billion and not $47 billion as earlier stated by the Senate Reconciliation Committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013,” he stated.

The auditor general said he was only asked to announce the highlights, adding that the PwC’s report was centred on three key areas, which include NNPC costs.

"The corporation operates an unsustainable mod-

el. Forty six per cent (46%) of proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues for the review period was spent on operations and subsidies.

The corporation is unable to sustain monthly remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and also meet its operational costs entirely from the proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues, and have had to incur third party liabilities to bridge the funding gap,” he said.

The PwC also stated that NPDC former Managing Director’s (Mr. Victor Briggs) submission to the Senate Committee hearing on the subject matter for the period covered by the audit showed that NPDC generated $5.11 billion, net of royalties and petroleum profit tax paid.

PwC also determined from the information ob-

tained from Petroleum Product Pricing Regulation Agency (PPPRA) that $3.38 billion spent on subsidy was incurred by the NNPC for the review period.

During the auditing, PwC obtained a letter dated October 19, 2009 written by the principal secretary to the president to the National Security Adviser, confirming a presidential directive on June 15, 2009 instructing that subsidy on kerosene be stopped.

PwC also obtained a letter dated December 16, 2010 from the executive secretary of the PPPRA to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor clarifying that PPPRA has ceased granting subsidy on kerosene since the presidential directive.

“Furthermore, kerosene was not appropriated for in the 2013 and 2013

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

7

Southern leaders demand Jega’s sack, arrest

lSay INEC chair, Northern leaders to rig elections Tunde Oyesina and Onyekachi Eze

T

he Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) yesterday called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to immediately resign his appointment as the head of

the electoral body.

The group premised its demand on ground that Jega has lost the requisite moral rectitude to organise a credible election devoid of shenanigans of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and their cohorts.

The forum has former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme as its Co-ordinating chairman, Chief Edwin Clark (leader of

South-South) and Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu (leader, South-West).

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Assembly through Senator Femi Okurounmu called for the immediate postponement of February 14 elections to allow for the re-constitution, repositioning and reprocessing of INEC to discharge its responsibility of conduct-

ing an impartial election.

In addition, the Assembly called for the immediate arrest of Jega for criminally masterminding the procurement of PVCs for under-aged pupils in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010.

Okunroumu said:

"Prof. Jega should and must resign his appointment as the chairman of INEC because he has lost the requisite moral rectitude to organise a credible election devoid of the shenanigans of the Northern Elders and their cohorts.

"We call for the immediate arrest of Prof. Jega for criminally masterminding the procurement of PVCs for under-aged

L–R: Head, Corporate Services Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Bola Adeeko; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, at the bank's Facts Behind the Offer in Lagos...yesterday.

Why I won't vote for Jonathan, by Soyinka CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to female suicide bombers who will blow themselves up at polling centres.

Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, at the press briefing, said in view of the intelligence report, the Federal Government was calling for vigilance among the electorate during the elections.

The report came just as Boko Haram killed 90 people and injured 500 others during a clash with Cameroonian soldiers at a border town near Nigeria.

"Recent intelligence reports indicate that some unscrupulous Nigerians have perfected plans to surreptitiously collect, buy or steal the Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) of female voters, hand over same to female suicide bombers and create access for them into polling centres where they will detonate bombs and kill unsuspecting voters.

"By this information, therefore, Nigerians, especially female voters, are warned to remain vigilant and also jealously guard and preserve their PVCs to avoid the possibility of

their being lost to these bad elements who will put them to untoward uses," Omeri stated.

Yesterday's alarm was the second by the Federal Government in one week on plots by Boko Haram to disrupt the elections.

Last week, it had warned of plots by Boko Haram to use itinerant shoemakers and livestock to attack crowded places such as churches, mosques, markets and campaign rallies.

Despite the efforts to tame it, Boko Haram has sustained its attack on border towns as it killed about 90 civilians and wounded 500 in ongoing fighting in a Cameroonian border town near Nigeria.

Some 800 Islamic extremists attacking the town of Fotokol have "bur ned churches, mosques and villages and slaughtered youth who resisted joining them to fight Cameroonian forces," the country's Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari, said yesterday.

The insurgents from Nigeria also looted livestock and food in the fighting that began Wednesday and was continuing yesterday, Bakari told The Associated Press (AP).

Boko Haram is using

civilians as shields, making it difficult to confront them although reinforcements have arrived in Fotokol, according to military spokesman, Col. Didier Badjeck.

Hundreds of insurgents were killed Wednesday compared to the loss of 13 Chadian and 6 Cameroonian troops, Defense Minister Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo said.

At least 91 civilians have been killed and more than 500 wounded people cannot be immediately taken to the hospitals, he said.

The fighters are believed to have crossed into Cameroon from nearby Gamboru, a Nigerian border town that had been an extremist stronghold since November.

Gamboru was retaken earlier this week and the fighters driven out by Chadian and Nigerian air strikes supported by Chadian ground troops.

Also yesterday, France's President Francois Hollande said his country would provide support with weapons, logistics and operations for the multinational effort.

He said at a news conference in Paris that his country was also providing logistical and opera-

tion support, including by delivering fuel and munitions to countries fighting Boko Haram.

However, he said France could not be expected to get involved in every crisis around the world and accused other major powers of inaction in Africa.

"This is a message to the international community and the biggest countries.

Do your work! Stop giving lessons and take action!"

Hollande said.

"In Africa, we have to help the Africans a lot more to fight terrorism, because if we do not then other countries will be destabilised," he said.

France has also sent military advisers to Niger's southern border with Nigeria to help coordinate military action by regional powers fighting the Islamist group Boko Haram, a French army official said on yesterday.

The deployment was announced as warplanes pounded Boko Haram positions just over the border in Nigeria, a resident in the Niger town of Bosso said, and hundreds of Chadian troops massed at the frontier to prepare an attack.

A French army official told Reuters a detachment of about 10 military per-

sonnel had been stationed in Diffa at the request of Niger, its former colony.

"It is there to coordinate the armies on the ground in the fight against Boko Haram," the official said.

A source close to the Niger government said the parliament in Niamey would vote Monday to send its troops to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday stated that he would not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan on February 14.

He said Nigeria was in a parlous state due to the failure of leadership and he would not vote or encourage anyone to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president candidate.

He, however, advised Nigerians to search their conscience and be objective about their expectations in the coming elections.

Soyinka spoke in Lagos at a press briefing and the unveiling of the finalists for the 2015 edition of Vision of the Child (VOTC), the children/student segment of the yearly Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF).

The theme for the VOTC was “The Road to Sambisa”.

In clear reference to the kidnapped Chibok girls,

pupils in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2000."

The Assembly, however, noted that in the event that the Federal Government should fail to take decisive action on the issue, it shall employ and mobilise that there is no election in any part of the Southern Nigeria.

"We shall employ and mobilise with all ounce of energy at our disposal to ensure that there is no election in any part of Southern Nigeria.

Earlier, the Assembly said it discovered that Jega is in conspiracy with Northern elders with the sole desire of enthroning a president of Northern extraction at all cost in the February 14 presidential election.

The group also noted that as part of grand design, Jega agreed to create astronomical number of additional polling units in the North, over and above what is desirable to ensure the election of a Northern presidential candidate that would emerge from party primaries, in the general elections.

Soyinka said: “It is impossible to think of today’s election without thinking of what happened to your colleagues, your siblings, your peers in the village called Chibok. It’s not possible to think of the future of this nation, its sense of responsibility, without that albatross called Chibok coming to the fore of our contemplation.

“This festival doesn’t involve itself, collectively, in political affairs. I am telling you now as a consultant to this festival, that I have at least 60 reasons for not voting for a continuation of this present government. And those reasons are here, that at least 60 reasons why I will not vote or encourage anyone to vote for the continuation of this present government, simply because your colleagues, numbering over 200, were kidnapped. We sent them on a mission – education, enlightenment – take their examination to rub minds with their peers, and they disappeared. And the government of this nation failed to show leadership.

So, anybody who says that after that event I would vote or cast my vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime must be living in Sambisa forest," he said.

News

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ICC threatens to prosecute promoters of electoral violence Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he International Criminal Court (ICC) has threatened to prosecute politicians and their followers who incite people into violence.

It also stated that war crimes which fell under the jurisdiction of the court have been committed by Boko Haram in the North-East.

ICC’s Director of Jurisdiction, Complimentary and Cooperation Division, Phakiso Mochochoko, stated this in Abuja yesterday.

Mochochoko said the team was in Nigeria to find out whether the Federal Government was willing and able to prosecute those who perpetuated war crimes.

He added that it was only when the court come to a conclusion that the authorities in Nigeria were unwilling and unable to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes that the ICC would step in to investigate and identify those who perpetuated the crimes.

He explained that ICC usually allowed the gov-

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ernment of a country to fulfil its responsibility to its citizens by prosecuting those who have committed crimes.

"War crimes have been committed in Nigeria by Boko Haram. We are now trying to find out if Nigeria is prosecuting these crimes. If we see that Nigeria is not prosecuting we will step in," he stated.

He further stated that the team was in Nigeria to inform politicians and their followers that the ICC Prosecutor would not hesitate to prosecute "anyone who incites or engages in acts of violence and in the worst case scenarios, even trigger the commission of mass crimes that shock the conscience of humanity."

Mochochoko noted that at present, the ICC did not have any evidence to prove that the government was unwilling and unable to prosecute those perpetuating war crimes.

According to him, "We refer to government and give government the benefit of the doubt. The assessment is ongoing.

"At the moment we are

not collecting evidence but we are collecting information. It is the information we collect that will determine whether we will go into investigation or not.

It is at that stage that we will collect evidence.

"After investigation, we will determine who to be held accountable. We have not identified anyone who is involved. What we are

doing now is talking to government, NGOs and other stakeholders.

"We don't do government's responsibility.

Currently, there is no indication that government is unwilling unable. At the moment, we don't have evidence. It is an ongoing engagement. The crimes are grave and takes time to investigate."

L-R: Director, Corporate Communications, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah; President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Charles Chijide; Director, Customer Services Delivery, Airtel Nigeria, Ajay Bakshi and President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Mr. John Ehiguese, at the fourth CEO Breakfast Forum of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in Lagos

It's not an indictment, says oil corporation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

to remit to the Federation Account was not part of the alleged unremitted revenues from crude lifting.

It added that the $1.48 billion was never in dispute as it comprised statutory payments such as signature bonus, taxes and royalties which are statutory payments that come with assets acquisition.

It stated also that the delay in payment was due to the reconciliation processes between the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the NNPC. The statement also said the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had di-

rected the NNPC to defray the signature bonuses, taxes and royalties in line with the recommendation of the forensic audit report.

The Federal Government had ordered a forensic auditing of the NNPC's accounts following allegations in 2013 by immediate past Governor of the CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that about $20 billion oil money was missing from the NNPC. Sanusi who had earlier said that as much as $49 billion was diverted by the state oil company, later reviewed the amount to $20 billion, and called for investigations after writing to Jonathan.

He was sacked after this allegation by the Jonathan administration, which in return accused him of “financial recklessness as the CBN governor.”

To put the record straight, the presidency on March 12, 2014 announced the engagement of reputable international firms to carry out the forensic audit of the accounts of the NNPC. In April 2014, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, announced the appointment of the accounting firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC), to conduct a detailed inves-

tigation into the accounts and activities of NNPC. Okonjo-Iweala said that the investigation, under the supervision of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, would take about 16 weeks, which was September 2014.

The report, which was, however, delayed for six months, was submitted on Monday to Jonathan.

Meanwhile, oil rose towards $56 a barrel yesterday, recovering from part of the previous session's drop, although traders and analysts said the prospect of a further sustained rally from near six-year lows looked weak.

Crude, according Re-

uters, snapped a four-day winning streak on Wednesday when the United States said crude inventories increased by 6.3 million barrels, rising for a fourth consecutive week to hit a record high.

While the global market has more than enough crude, a collapse in Libyan production and a raid on an oilfield by gunmen, plus an attack on a tanker off Nigeria renewed concern about threats to supply.

Brent crude rose $1.57 to $55.73 a barrel by 1443 GMT, having fallen more than a dollar intra-day earlier and settling 5.5 percent lower on Wednesday. US crude added $1.20 to $49.65.

Poll: February 14 stands, says Jega CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

empowered with the basis of discussions to brief the nation and then the news will be communicated to you.

"Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not INEC chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had.

INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision that they will brief the nation soon.

"Mr. President in his wisdom has invited INEC

to brief us on the state of preparedness based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC." It was gathered that that Jega would between today meet with national electoral commissioners to brief them about the Council of State meeting.

He is also expected to meet tomorrow with resident electoral commissioners to assess the distribution

of PVCs in their states.

However, the APC in a statement yesterday lauded the decision of the council to reject the proposal to postpone the elections.

In a statement by Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Malam Garba Shehu, the campaign said the position of the Council of State tallied with that of many Nigerians who are ready and keen on the elections.

The statement said upholding the February 14

date and other scheduled dates for the election, confirmed the sacrosanct nature of those dates as well as the May 29, 2015 handover date.

"We are heartened that a major crisis of political and constitutional nature has been averted which would have made Nigeria the laughing stock of the civilised world.

"The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has always said it is ready for the polls, likewise all the security

and intelligence agencies and more importantly, the Nigerian people, who are the voters. It would have been a terrible disservice if on the basis of personal interest the elections were postponed.

"No nation learns all the lessons of democracy at once thus it is the belief of our campaign that INEC, the electoral umpire still has the chance and is indeed determined and ready to organise credible polls next week and thereafter," the party said.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

News

national

9

Jonathan launches three new security strategic plans Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has launched three national security documents that would serve as a comprehensive plan

FG denies halving 2015 capital expenditure Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Federal Government has refuted reports that it had more than halved its capital expenditure to less than 10 per cent of 2015 spending due to slump in oil price.

It also restated earlier assertion that the $65 oil benchmark for 2015 budget is subject to review.

Special Adviser (media) to the Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance, Paul Nwabiukwu gave the clarification yesterday in apparent response to report in the media( not New Telegraph) that government has halved its 2015 capital budget due to the slump in oil price .

The statement clarified that the media outfit misrepresented explanation by the Director General of Budget on reasons for the seeming decline in capital expenditure.

"The DG Budget had explained the reason within the context of proper sequencing of adjustment measures in an economy that has experienced a revenue shock of this scale.

In arriving at the wrong figure of N387bn, the reporter had left out other components of capital expenditure", explained the statement.

Kidnappers free newspaper distributor in Ogun Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A

major newspaper distributor in IjebuOde, Ogun State, Mrs. Funlayo Ajayi, who was abducted by suspected kidnappers, has regained her freedom.

Ajayi, popularly known as Mama Joke, was said to have been released by her abductors on Wednesday, two days after her abduction.

New Telegraph gathered that the suspected kidnappers dropped the newspaper distributor close to Muslim Comprehensive High School, Imepe, Ijebu-Ode around 9pm.

to assist the Federal Government in bringing to an end the current security challenges in the country.

While unveiling the documents known as National Security Strategy; Counter Terrorism Strategy; and Cyber Security Plan and Strategy at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan advised all security agencies to adopt the principles enshrined in the documents.

President Jonathan launched the document in the presence of members of the National Council of State, com-

prising former heads of states and governors of the 36 states as well as service chiefs before the commencement of their meeting.

He said: "Today, the foremost threat facing us is clearly the terrorism perpetrated by the Boko Harram, the radical Islamic sect, in its bid to further its misguided cause.

"This cowardly group has continued in wanton disruption of lives and property particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

"Boko Haram has systematically targeted the poor and the wealthy; it has employed violence to intimidate and instil fear to the general populace and media propaganda to manipulate the minds of our people.

"The sect, its supporters and allies, seek to undermine our national security. They neither believe in our country nor the sanctity of human lives.

"The counter-terrorism strategy document is a major contribution to our determined national

efforts to effectively and comprehensively deal with the challenges posed

by Boko Haram and other insurgency groups," Jonathan said.

According to the President, the document on cybercrime strategy is aimed at identifying forensic measures to address the nation’s cyber space exposure and risks.

Jonathan stressed that public private sector partnership, multi stakeholder engagement and international cooperation as three key approaches to a successful national cy-

ber security programme.

He called for cooperation among stakeholders to eliminate the security threats.

The president added that the three publications would be of immense benefits to the business community and all in communication.

"These documents will no doubt contribute immensely to our collective efforts at finding solutions to the security challenges that posed threats to our progress and development efforts" the president noted.

change of nameS

AKEREDOLU

I formerly known as Miss Aminu Omowumi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akeredolun Esther Omowumi.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UDOH

I formerly known as Ikwo Emma Ating, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Udoh Ikwo, Ating, All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALABI-AROH

I formerly known as Victoria Anayimi Alabi, now wish to be known and addressed as Victoria Anayimi Alabi- Aroh. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NSIDIBE

L-R: General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN Business, Mr. Ladipo Nylander, Chief Executive Officer, InTarget Mobile Advertising, Mr. Lazarus Muchenje, Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN, Mr. 'Tsola Barrow and General Manager, Enterprise Sales, Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, during MTN Mobile Advertising Forum in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NCAA to sanction 22 private airlines for engaging in commercial services Wole Shadare

T

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has invited 22 charter airline operators to a meeting on Monday next week. The meeting is ostensibly to inform them of plans to suspend them should they continue to engage in operations totally different from what their Air Operator Certificate entails.

According to a public notice issued by the authority, “The public is hereby notified of the list of foreign registered privately operated aircraft that have been issued with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight

Operations Clearance Certificate (FOCC) and Maintenance Clearance Certificate (MCC) whereby the owners are authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for Private Operation Only and not for hire or reward (Not For Commercial Purpose) according to Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 8.2.1.9.t.”.

The airlines’ that risk stoppage of operations are Air First, ANAP Business Jets, ATT Aviation Support Limited, AVJET Corporation, BUA Group Limited, Chrome Air owned by businessman, Sir Emeka Offor; Delmon Aviation C&K, Dominion Air owned by Bishop David Oyedepo, EAN Aviation Limited,

Executive Jets, Ferry Aviation Services Limited, Gitto Construzioni, Grenfact Ventures Limited, NAMCO Nig. Limited, Orlean Invest West Africa; Gyro Air limited, which formerly belonged to the Presidential Air Fleet was re-sprayed at Lanseria.

The aircraft is registered to Gyro Air. Others are Prime Air, Project Eagle Air Ltd, Southern Air, SWAT Technology Ltd, Tag Aviation Ltd, and Toucan Aviation Support.

The aviation regulatory body stated that the use of these operators’ aircraft for Commercial Operations is in violation of the Nig. CARs 9.1.1.4(a)(b) and will attract appropriate sanctions by the Authority.

IGP orders tight security around critical infrastructure

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he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has directed zonal Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs), to ensure adequate security for all citizens, including pub-

lic assets, as the nation prepares for the general elections.

This is as the police in Abuja yesterday, successfully quelled a protest by tricycle operators at Gudu district, popularly called Keke NAPEP.

Abba, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, also warned police personnel against misconduct during the forthcoming election.

I formerly known as Esit Kiet Nka, now wish to be known and addressed as Nsidibe Eyo Sambo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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GLOBAL GOOD CITIZENS FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Niyi Shoyebi 2. Lolade Sunmonu 3. Godwin Eruriere 4. Yahaya Musa 5. Ibukun Shoyebi AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To build a forum that will enlighten the citizens on the need to maintain a peaceful and egalitarian society.

Any objections to this registration should be forward to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 194, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

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The Trustees are: 1. Abass Adewumi Joy 2. Adekanola Comfort Iyabo 3. Olugbadebo Olusola Samuel 4. Subulade Oluwatosin Sogo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To assist the less priviledged.

Any objections to this registration should be forward to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 194, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Metro Miscreants scramble FREE MEAT

Some hungry street urchins popularly called area boys feast on carcasses of cows involved in an accident

for dead cows in Akure

Babatope Okeowo Akure

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oodlums yesterday scrambled to have a share of cows killed by a luxury bus on Ilesa-Akure-Owo Expressway in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The bus coming from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja had crushed 11 cows to death on Akure-Owo Expressway in the wee hours of the day.

Immediately the news filtered into the Akure metropolis, miscreants mobilised themselves and removed the cows before daybreak. They hijacked buses and other vehicles plying the road to convey the dead cows to hidden places where they shared them.

However, a fight broke out among the miscreants over how many of them would share the dead cows and who should take which part.

It was learnt that the luxury bus marked Anambra KPP 158 XA was on its way to Lagos when the accident occurred at Sebi Petrol Station in Akure.

The Fulani herdsmen were said to have fled into the bush after the crash for fear that they could be lynched.

Also, the driver and the passengers in the bus fled the scene, thinking that the herdsmen might mobilise to attack them.

It was gathered that the driver saw the cows crossing the road he thought it was an armed robbery attack.

He was said to have tried to manoeuvre the bus but the cows were too many. That explains the number of cows killed in the accident.

The sound of the crash attracted people living along the expressway.

Many of the cows were reportedly dragged off the expressway by motorists and other travellers.

At the scene of the accident, miscreants with knives and

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

The luxury bus

cutlasses were arguing where it would be safer for them to take the dead cows to for sharing.

It was later agreed that it should be 12 people to a cow.

A crowd gathers around a dead cow being conveyed in a truck

Within few minutes, the miscreants had divided themselves into groups while each group hijacked a vehicle to convey the cow.

Thugs beat politician, his 82-year-old mother Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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re-election violence reared its ugly head in Igede-Ekiti on Wednesday night when some suspected political thugs attacked the immediate past Caretaker Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Alhaji Azeez Awolokun.

Awolokun, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, alleged that the thugs were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the thugs, who were armed to the teeth, came in two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a PDP branded bus with the portrait of a House of Representatives candidate and that they terrorised the entire Ilamoye area of Igede.

Awolokun added that the thugs did not spare his 82-yearold mother who they beat to a state of stupor after they had beaten him and other members of the household.

Innocent passers-by, according to him, were not spared by the hoodlums who threw the entire neighbourhood into chaos.

He said: “My house was attacked by these thugs and it was God that saved me, my household and my 82-year-old mother, Madam Omorin Awolokun, from the thugs who did not even care that she is an old woman.

“They were shooting guns.

They also destroyed all banners and posters in my house at Igede. They destroyed my DSTV dish and cord; all the cartridges of their guns are with me. They dragged my mother at gunpoint.

“If something like this is happening before election, I wonder what will happen on the day of election. In fact, we have the information that some of us have been pencilled down for arrest before the election day and any moment from now, they will be picking us one after the other.”

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the attack.

He said: “The case was reported at Igede Police Station but has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation.”

The miscreants also attacked journalists who thronged the scene to take photographs of the accident and the sharing of the animals.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo, said he was not aware of the crash at press time.

Senator gives constituents N50m items Babatope Okeowo Akure

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he lawmaker representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Ondo State, at the National Assembly, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, has donated items worth N50 million to his constituents.

The items included dryers, clippers for barbers, generators, deep freezers, grinding machines and wheelchairs.

Kunlere, who had earlier donated 13 patrol vehicles to police stations in the district, promised to continue to perform his constitutional duties to the people.

The senator said he had within his three and half years in the Senate provided blocks of classrooms, potable water, computer centres for schools, solar street lights and also helped in restoring Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) centres to the district.

Speaking after presenting the items to 500 beneficiaries at Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Kunlere, who was denied a second term ticket by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP), said he was not desperate about his ambition to return to the Senate.

The legislator said only politicians who had no other profession than politics would be desperate to remain in power.

He said he was among the 40 senators President Goodluck Jonathan directed should be given automatic tickets but prevented by some powerful forces in the state, he still did not believe in politics of do-or-die affairs.

Kunlere noted that as a lawyer, a farmer and a community leader, he would be glad to return to his professions.

He said: “I am glad that my people appreciate my contribution in my three and half years as a senator because we are in a society where blackmail and falsehood are freely used to destroy people.

“I am also glad that I am alive because not all my colleagues that we are in the Senate are still alive till today.

They made several attempts on my life, particularly in December last year at Ijapo in Akure but failed. If I have been killed, will I be talking about ticket?”

News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Why I hid drugs in my friend’s luggage –Suspect Juliana Francis

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suspected drug trafficker told the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) she planted drugs in her friend’s luggage because of a promised free visa.

The suspect, Sandra Ohakwe Ebere, said she hid cannabis in Maureen Ugochukwu Obidike’s luggage because her travel agent promised to give her free visa if she could help traffic drugs out of Nigeria.

Obidike said she never knew Ebere could set her up.

She said: “My friend did not tell me she had drugs in the luggage she checked in on my name. She told me that it was all foodstuffs but it turned out to be cannabis. I feel very sad.”

The drugs, weighing 19.8kg, were about to be exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirate

Abductors threatened to kill me for ritual –Victim Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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major newspaper distributor in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Mrs Funlayo Ajayi, who was abducted by suspected kidnappers, has regained her freedom.

Ajayi, popularly known as Mama Joke, was said to have been released on Wednesday, two days after her abduction.

It was gathered that the kidnappers dropped the Ajayi near Muslim Comprehensive High School, Imepe, Ijebu-Ode around 9pm.

It was also learnt that an undisclosed sum of money was paid as ransom in the afternoon, which eventually led to her release later.

She is currently under medical observation at an undisclosed hospital in Ijebu-Ode. When contacted on the telephone yesterday, Ajayi confirmed that a ransom was paid by her family members.

She, however, declined to disclose the amount paid to her abductors.

Narrating her ordeal, Ajayi said her abductors threatened to behead her and remove her vital organs for ritual.

She said: “I am grateful to God that I returned alive. For the two days I was in their enclave, inside the bush, I was blindfolded.

“In the morning, they would take me uphill and later they will bring me downhill.

Some of them will say I am good mama, they should not maltreat me. Some of them would use cutlasses to scratch the ground threatening that they will cut off my head and other vital parts for ritual.”

Ajayi, who disclosed that she was kept in a forest, said she never ate the food offered her by the suspected kidnappers.

(UAE) when the ladies were arrested.

The arrest took place at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos during the screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

The drugs were concealed in foodstuff and local alcoholic beverage called Alomo Bitters.

The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, confirmed the arrest.

He said that the case was under investigation.

Umar, however, added that 78 parcels of dried weeds were discovered in Obidike’s luggage.

Ebere, who lives and sells foodstuff in Dubai, said her travel agent told her to smuggle cannabis in exchange for her visa.

She said: “I used to export foodstuff to Dubai since 2012.

Each time I go to Dubai, I stay

Ebere

Obidike

for two months and come back because I have no permanent visa. I came to Nigeria in December 2014 to spend the Christmas and New Year at home.

“While I was preparing to go back, my travel agent in Dubai called me that some-

body will give me a parcel to take to him. My first question was that I hope it is not cocaine, and he said that it was not cocaine but weeds and that it was not something serious.

He also promised me that if I could take it to him; he would

prepare my next visa for free.

I agreed to take it.”

Ebere, a 2010 graduate of Economics from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, also confessed that she implicated her friend.

She said: “Maureen (Obidike) is my friend. We met in Port Harcourt and had been chatting always. She told me she would like to visit Dubai to buy clothes because she sells female clothes. We concluded that we would both travel to Dubai when I’m returning in January 2015. Since she had only hand luggage, I decided to check in some of my luggage in her name because I had 80kg and did not want to pay the excess charge.

“Unfortunately, NDLEA discovered drugs in the luggage I checked in her name and we were both arrested. I regret accepting to take the drugs.”

Save us from attacks, APC members beg Fashola Taiwo Jimoh

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pparently sick of the incessant political killings on the Lagos Island, the youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest.

The youth, bearing different placards and chanting songs of solidarity, marched to the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, to register their displeasure.

The leader of the group, called Iron Lady, said: “Political thugs, from opposition party are killing us on the Lagos Island on a daily basis. We decided to stage this protest to the doorstep of Governor Babatunde Fashola because our leaders on the Lagos Island are not doing anything to protect party supporters.

“As I speak with you, I was also a victim of the opposition brutality on the Island. They are threatening to kill anybody

Gbemisola Oyedepo

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enowned security expert, Dr Ona Ekhomu, has called for the establishment of Special Anti-Election Violence Investigation (SAEVI) Units within the police to curb election violence and ensure credible polls.

Ekhomu said the units should form part of the existing State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs) of the police in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said: “A supervisory SAEVI unit should also be established in the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to coordinate the work in all the state and FCT commands.”

The security expert said that Nigerians were truly concerned and scared about violence and prospects of further violence that might

who dares to wear or put on APC wrist band or T-shirt. We want the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, to come to our rescue.”

Another set of protesters from the Alismosho Local Government Area also besieged the Governor’s Office.

They were protesting alleged threats on the life of Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, vying for the Senate on the APC platform.

The leader of the group, Comrade Alani Babatunde, noted that many of their supporters could not sleep any longer as some political thugs had taken over Alimosho.

He said: “We are tired of these political thugs and their harassment. This is why we are here to let the governor know what we are passing through in our constituency. We do not want to take laws into our hands. This is why we choose this avenue.”

A mild drama ensued when the protesters got to the Gover-

nor’s Office and some policemen threatened to shoot them. This angered the youth who called the policemen unprintable names.

A few minutes later, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, came out and addressed the protesters.

The commissioner urged

them to be patient, stressing that the matter would be investigated.

He said: “The Lagos State Government will not condone any act of violence in any form in the state. Anybody who had been injured should know right now that the government will foot their medical bills.”

The protesters

Ekundayo for burial Security expert seeks anti-election violence units R occur during the elections.

Ekhomu noted that the primary crime control agency of the government, the police, should immediately set up structures and processes to address this problem.

He said: “We have witnessed overt violence acts during the campaigns. There are signs to show that violence may occur in the forthcoming elections despite the signing of the pact of non-aggression by political parties. Consequently, establishing SAEVI is a cognitive imperative.”

The security expert asked the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to formulate and sign a force order creating the unit so that it could go to work and protect Nigerians by arrest-

ing and prosecuting violent politicians, their supporters and hired thugs.

He also called for the creation of a Special AntiElection Violence Squad to investigate election violence and prosecute violators.

Ekhomu argued that election violence was prevalent in Nigeria because of the inability and unwillingness of the police to investigate and prosecute purveyors of election violence. This, according to him, is because the organisational structure and processes are not in place.

He said: “The police must exhibit the organic principle of infinite variability and adapt to solve important existential security problems such as election violence.”

ites of passage for Mrs Olufunke Ekundayo, wife of former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Ekiti State, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, begin on Monday.

There will be a service of songs at the residence of the deceased, 12A, Joe Akonobi Street, River Valley Estate, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, by 5pm.

According to the burial arrangement by the family, the funeral service will hold on February 12 at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Ise-Ekiti by 10am while interment follows immediately.

Mrs Ekundayo, 56, a senior education officer with the Lagos State Government, died on January 31.

The late Ekundayo

12

News

FG: Opposition using foreign media to smear Nigeria’s image Comfort Chukwu

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he Federal Ministry of Information has described as false, media reports claiming that the Federal Government is denying accreditation to foreign journalists to come into Nigeria for the coverage of this year’s general elections.

The Ministry, in a press release made available to journalists in Abuja, said it views the claim as a deliberate ploy by some politicians to smear the image of the Federal Government ahead of the elections.

It said in line with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Information to create media access to report on the activities of the Federal Government, it has so far processed 300 applications from foreign journalists to secure visa and come into the country for the elections.

“Hundreds of other applications received by the ministry are being processed at the moment.

“Those who could not secure their visas from Nigerian embassies abroad probably did not follow the due process to secure the accreditation” said Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretary, of the Federal Ministry of Information.

Caretaker committee rallies to invalidate Ohanaeze’s endorsement of Jonathan Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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orty-eight hours after the Chief Gary Igariweyled Ohanaeze Ndigbo executive purportedly sacked by its Elders Council, endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the February 14 Presidential election, the organization’s caretaker committee led by Chief Ralph Obioha has again, rejected the endorsement.

Yesterday, leaders of

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he Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has refuted the claim that it bribed politicians including the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, especially to ensure the smooth passage of its budget. The agency described the report as mischievous, unfounded, and an attempt to dent the image of the commission.

In a press statement issued yesterday by the Commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs Department, Toyue Abosede, a copy of which was made available to New Telegraph, the Commission said it was responding to a report credited to Sahara Reporters, an online media platform, accusing it of bribery and inability to pay its workers.

Abosede said; “Management hereby rebuts such allegations as unfounded, untrue and sadly fabricated to dent the good image and new

the Elders Council led by Chief Mbazulike Amechi and the Obioha executive rallied in Enugu and insisted that it would be counter-productive to herd Ndigbo into the hands of one presidential candidate in these hazy political climate in the nation.

So, the group endorsed neither President Jonathan nor his main challenger and the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for next week’s presidential election.

Obioha and Dr Zed Chukwujama as chairman and secretary of the Ohanaeze Caretaker Committee respectively and Amaechi, the chairman of the organisation’s Elders’ Council, asked the Igbo at home and those residing in various parts of the country to vote according to their conscience.

The leaders expressed dismay that until now, none of the two major presidential candidates, has entered into any form of agreement with

Ndigbo on the four cardinal issues they have outlined, a reason for the rejection of endorsement.

The issues they have raised are security of lives and property of Ndigbo, infrastructural development in Igbo land, Reparation for atrocities and war crimes against Ndigbo at least, at the level recommended in the Oputa Panel Report, as well as what would become of Ndigbo after the tenure of the would-be president by 2019.

They spoke further: “Of the two candidates,

only one sent a high level delegation to us and we told them that we must see the candidate himself because whatever agreements to be reached will be implemented by him, if he wins and becomes president. We have not seen the candidate as at this date. The other presidential candidate has not made any contact with the committee, which is the authentic legal organ of Ohanaeze. If his beliefs in some other area or persons to gather the Igbo nation into one basket, we can only wish them goodluck.

L-R: Risk and Quality Leader, Africa and Partner, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh; Auditor-General the Federation, Mr. Ukura Samuel and Director of Audit, Mr. Matanmi Adebisi, at a news conference on the forensic Audit Report on NNPC in Abuja …yesterday

NDDC denies bribing First Lady Mojeed Alabi

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

reputation of the Commission. To say that the Commission is unable to pay salaries is not only laughable but very misleading and perhaps aimed at dragging the Commission into the political battleground.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has never given money to the First Lady or anybody for that matter for the passage of our annual budget, neither has NDDC ever failed to pay the salaries of its staff as at when due. The Commission, therefore, wishes to appeal to politicians and their agents in the media, to steer clear of NDDC and allow the Commission to focus on its mandate of providing a lasting solution to the socioeconomic difficulties of Niger Delta Region.”

The statement added that the Commission, within the last one year or thereabout, that its leadership has changed, has been committed to completing abandoned projects by previous administration.

SEC threatens NSE, CSCS over IST funding Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) have failed to comply with remittance of 10 per cent of their secondary market income to the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) five months after re-

ceiving directives.

SEC said the recently promulgated Rule 6(4) of its Rules and Regulations stipulate the remittance of such funds within five working days but that despite several letters to the two institutions by SEC, both SEC and CSCS have deliberately refused to comply with the directive.

SEC said, in a letter to the two institutions directing compliance, that fail-

ure to do so would attract enforcement action which the Commission said was in line with the resolve of the Acting Director SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, to ensure discipline in the market and that all participants adhered to the provisions of the relevant rules and regulations.

The Investment and Securities Tribunal was established by Section 274 of the Investments and Se-

curities Act (IST) 2007 and has jurisdiction to hear and determine any question of law or dispute involving capital market participants.

Some of the roles it plays in resolving disputes include dispute between capital market operators and securities exchanges or capital trade point, dispute between capital market operators and dispute between capital market operators and their clients.

203 reporters improve skills on investigative journalism

‘We can’t take attacks on minority groups again’

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Yekeen Nurudeen

total of 203 reporters were trained during the pilot edition of the Pro-Engage: House-toHouse project conceived by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and executed through funding partnership with the British High Commission.

The initiative, which held from Monday 19 to Friday, 30 January 2015, took advocacy for investigative reporting from

one media house in Nigeria to the other.

It provided capacity support for the creation and or improvement of investigative reporting desks in eight selected media houses in Lagos and Abuja.

The media houses trained are The New Telegraph, Media Trust, The Leadership, The Nation, The Guardian, The Premium Times, The News and Television Continental.

Abuja

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he Convener of the exNiger Delta Militants Revolutionary Front, General JohnBosco Caterpillar, has declared that Nigeria may disintegrate if the current trend and wave of violence on the nation’s minorities is not checked.

The former militant, who spoke with journal-

ists yesterday in Abuja, condemned the continuous attacks by the Boko Haram, which according to him, have displaced many minorities, resident in the northern part of the country, whose businesses and livelihood have been cut short.

Caterpillar said the recent wave of attacks by the Boko Haram group was a plan to destabilise the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

PVCs

Presidential election

Governorship race

February 14 20

PDP accuses INEC, APC of electoral fraud

Votes, not campaign crowd, will determine poll result – TAN

Issues trailing Enugu guber campaigns

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Buhari vs Jonathan: How both will fare at the ballot

Politics

10 parties reject poll postponement Onyekachi Eze

lSay proponents trying to re-enact June 12 saga

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rumoured plan to postpone the elections, describing it as undemocratic.

The 16 parties and four presidential candidates had cited the current security situation in the North-East zone and the challenge being faced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), as reasons that informed their demand for postponement.

But their counterparts expressed shock at their conduct, noting that they “have joined the infamous campaign to scuttle Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy by calling for the postponement of the general elections barely a week before the election is to commence.”

“We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, this underhand and undemocratic tactic meant to plunge our country into anarchy, on top of the debilitating state of insecurity which has become pervasive in the land,” the coalition said.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of the group, said: “This is not the first time desperate and undesirable elements come together to scuttle our democracy for their selfish ends.

“We remember June 12, 1993 and the role played by these elements to scuttle

Abuja

arely two days after 16 registered political parties called for the postponement of the general elections, 10 other political parties yesterday kicked against any attempt to postpone the polls, describing their colleagues as characters that truncated the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Nigeria has 26 registered political parties.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is also against the postponement.

Also yesterday, a group of people demonstrated at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja against the rumoured postponement, few hours after the National Council of State meeting commenced in the nation’s capital.

All living former heads of government, with the exception of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, attended the meeting.

The 10 political parties – the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), African Peoples Alliance (APA), KOWA Party, Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), United Progressives Party (UPP), and Accord Party – at a press conference condemned the

Nigeria’s democracy and the chain of events which ensued. It is not surprising that the same characters are again at work.

“If Nigerians would look closely, they will realise these characters are still around and have coalesced in the same political party, which is now leading this charge to postpone the elections without credible and acceptable explanation other than the fear of losing power for the first time.”

He said the call for the postponement of the gen-

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© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

stakeholders, especially well-meaning political parties and their presidential candidates and the National Assembly as well as all the security agencies in the country to stand together to ensure that the 2015 general elections are conducted as scheduled.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

INEC: Oduah, Uba, Ekwunife not senatorial candidates Awka

AYODELE OJO

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Members of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians protesting against the plot to postpone the general elections in Abuja…yesterday.

Tony Okafor

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS

eral elections has nothing to do with the challenge of INEC to conduct the election or the pace of distribution and collection of PVCs. According to him, governors and citizens of the states under attack by insurgents had not complained either to INEC or the executive and legislative arms of government that their citizens would be disenfranchised if elections were held in their states.

The group accused one of the political parties of orchestrating the call for the postponement out of

fear of losing power for the first time since 1999, adding that the nation’s democracy had come of age and that Nigerians were ready for change.

“We will not allow desperation and power-mongering to scuttle it and will do whatever is necessary to defend it and ensure that the general elections hold as scheduled,” the group added.

The parties called on INEC not to be intimidated by desperate elements and to proceed with its preparations for the general elections as scheduled.

They urged all major

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resolved the impasse over multiple senatorial candidature trailing Anambra State, declaring that Hon. Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South), Princess Stella Oduah (Anambra North) are not candidates of any political party known to the commission.

Anambra State Resident

Electoral Commissioner (REC), Engr. Edwin Nwatalari, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ forum yesterday.

In the INEC list, Chris Uba is the candidate for Anambra South; John Emeka for Anambra North, while Annie Okonkwo is the candidate for Anambra Central.

He said it was unfortunate that INEC was being dragged into the issue of multiple candidacy of some political parties, noting that “it’s only political parties and courts that could determine who the

candidates of political parties are and not INEC.” The REC said with the amendment of the Electoral Act, INEC was disarmed from disqualifying any candidate of any political party for purposes of election.

He said with the situation in the state, the commission would continue to recognise only candidates it had published, subject to any superior court.

He said: “If tomorrow the court orders us to recognise a cow and not a goat as the candidate of any party, we

will have no option than to comply,” the INEC boss stated.

When contacted, Ekwunife maintained that she was still in the race. She said that at no time did the REC say that she was not in the race.

The House of Representatives member said that there was a case pending at the Appeal Court, which would clear all the misconceptions by Monday. “All the forces of APGA in the state are jittery about me.

They are looking for ways to pull me out of the race so that Chief Victor Umeh can win.

It will not happen,” she said.

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Politics

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NLC, youths endorse Ladoja

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he Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has endorsed Senator Rashidi Ladoja as their candidate for the February 28 governorship poll.

The endorsement came at a parley between the former governor and representatives of the various cadres that made up the union.

Ladoja, a former governor of the state, is a governorship candidate of the Accord Party.

In his remark, Ladoja promised to ensure that the civil service is made more effective, stating that they are the hands that move government policies.

Also, the Ibadan Council of Youth, the umbrella body of all youth associations in Ibadanland, has endorsed Ladoja.

In a statement signed

by Popoola Opeyemi, the president of the youth group, he noted that the endorsement was done after a thorough assessment of all other governorship candidates in the state.

He said the former governor was chosen because of his experience, record and laudable policies in the area of rural-urban renewal which will enhance agricultural activities, transformation, employment opportunities and empowerment of people.

Presidential candidate yet to get PVC Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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head of the February 14 election, the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Senator Tunde Anifowose-Kelani, said he is yet to obtain his Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC).

The presidential candidate, who is one of those asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the election, has petitioned the commission for not receiving his PVC. In the letter addressed to the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, dated

February 3 and titled: “Passionate appeal for the release of my PVC,” he said: “I hereby appeal passionately for the release of my Permanent Voters’ Card for me to perform my civic right and participate in the 2015 elections fully as the National Chairman of Action Alliance and majorly as a presidential candidate in the 2015 general elections.”

Explaining the efforts made in the past to obtain the PVC, he said: “I have made frantic efforts by going to my ward No. 8 Ibadan Boys High School, Oke-Bola, Ibadan to collect the PVC but INEC officials could not give it to me.”

PVCs: PDP accuses INEC, APC of electoral fraud Onyekachi Eze Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the alleged denial of non-indigenes of Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) by some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in some states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a crime against the electoral process.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said it has received overwhelming evidence from citizens in APC states following its earlier alarm

that non-indigenes who form the bulk of PDP supporters in Lagos State were being denied their PVCs. The party said apart from Lagos, its supporters in other APC-controlled states including Kano were also denied their PVC. “Since our alert in Lagos State, we have continued to receive calls and comments from citizens from local governments and wards in APC states confirming that the collaboration between some INEC officials and the APC to shut out non-indigenes in the states, made up mainly of our supporters, is deeper than earlier thought.

“Indeed, this inexcusable misconduct is also

being perpetrated in Kano, Edo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Kwara among other APC-controlled states where fraudulent INEC officials and the APC are orchestrating hitches to disenfranchise non-indigenes.

“Evidence of this crime abounds in Alimosho and Amuwo-Odofin local governments of Lagos State; Nasarawa Local Government and Sabon Gari area of Kano State as well as other strategic places where PVCs belonging to non-indigenes are even burnt to ensure that they did not get to their rightful owners.

“We know that the aim is to deny the PDP of its well-deserved victory in

APC states since over 90 per cent of these non-indigenes are supporters of the PDP and will vote en masse for President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of our great party at the elections.

We are aware of a script already prepared to rationalise the eventual non-participation of the non-indigenes by attributing it to voter apathy,” the party said.

While urging its supporters in the affected states to remain calm and law-abiding as usual, the PDP charged the leadership of INEC to take immediate steps to halt the trend and ensure that its officials involved in this crime are arrested and prosecuted.

PDP distributes free kerosene Wale Elegbede

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esidents of Ajegunle in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State trooped out yesterday to benefit from a kerosene distribution gesture of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a rally.

The distribution which was strictly meant for women saw lots of residents queue to partake in the bounty, which according to the party was meant to support households in the area.

Addressing the rally, Archbishop Sampson

Mustapha Benjamin of the Resurrection Praise Ministry who was a special guest of the party at the rally and who also donated the kerosene, urged the people to ensure they vote come February 14 and 28.

In his speech, the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, expressed sadness over the condition of living in the area.

“I feel your pains at being part of a state with so much money, yet so neglected by the system. I want to assure you that if elected, I will ensure massive infrastructural development of this area,” he said.

Group to Jega: Remain non-partisan Temitope Ogunbanke

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group, Connect for Change (C4C), has urged the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to remain non-partisan in the discharge of his duties in this month general elections.

The group in a communiqué signed by his Convener, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting of

past and present students’ leaders of all tertiary institutions in Lagos yesterday on the platform of Connect for Change, said it will embark on mass action to ensure that the general elections hold on the stated dates under free and fair atmosphere.

The group resolved to participate actively in the current electioneering activities and placed premium on working for the success of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

A cross section of people queuing to collect their PVCs in Minna, Niger State…yesterday.

Votes, not campaign crowd, will determine poll result – TAN Onyekachi Eze and Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

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he outcome of the February 14 presidential election will be determined by votes of eligible Nigerians and not by crowd present at rallies.

Director of Operations, Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN), Mr. Ben Chuks Nwosu, stated this at a media chart with journalists in Abuja yesterday.

He said most people who are always present at rallies do not have Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

Nwosu, who said he has attended the presidential rallies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) especially in the North, said people of the region are rooting for President

Goodluck Jonathan.

He predicted that President Jonathan will win by a landslide in the North-Central, SouthSouth and South-East and at the same time secure students, women, and business groups bloc votes.

“I think that statistics and bloc votes will determine this election, not euphoria or crowd at campaign grounds. The truth is that whatever figure that is placed on the table on the day of the election is what will determine the winner of the election and not the number of people that have collected their PVCs,” he said.

Nwosu, a former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, predicated his assertion on the achievements of President Jonathan in the last four years.

He said the achieve-

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

ments of the president are well-pronounced in the areas of agriculture, transport, aviation, water resources, education, and economy.

“Even the blind can see what the president has done to transform these sectors.

“We are convinced that General Muhammadu Buhari and the All progressives Congress (APC) cannot win the election with only their organised crowd at campaign grounds. I can assure you that the organised labour, women, youths, transport

workers and others will give Mr. President their bloc votes,” Nwosu added.

According to him, the zonal rallies which TAN organised before the campaigns has watered the ground for a smooth sail by the president, adding that what TAN has done was to publicise and sell the achievements of President Jonathan.

He added that despite the claims that the PVCs were distributed more in the North where it is believed that APC has stronghold than in any other parts of the country, President Jonathan’s achievements in his first term is good enough to earn him a second term.

“I believe this election may be close, but we are convinced that Mr. President will win his second term mandate because he has a record of performance,” Nwosu noted.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Issues trailing Enugu guber campaigns UWAKWE ABUGU reports that the governorship campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been a mixed bag of issues, challenges and surprises

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hen the director of the campaign organisation of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Charles Egumgbe, a lawyer and pioneer state chairman of the party, announced the flag off of the party’s campaign tours to newsmen in Enugu on January 18, he also announced a novel strategy for vote-catching across the 17 local government areas of the state.

He told journalists at the party’s campaign office that a prize was being instituted for the local government area that would cast the highest number of votes in the general elections. The 16-day tour of the 17 local government areas began on January 19 at Ikem, the headquarters of IsiUzo local council.

Also on that occasion, Egumgbe’s attention was drawn to the threat of alleged daunting challenge from the camp of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) whose governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea, has perennially been a challenger to the ruling party in the state, for over a decade. And to this, the campaign director had retorted: “The APC candidate you referred to is not a stranger in this race.

We are not avoiding him. We have done it with him before, but we will meet him in his ward and as we have done it before, we may record more votes from his ward, if you judge from the volume of support our own candidate is getting from every stratum of the society.”

From Isi-Uzo where the PDP expectedly recorded a very massive turnout of people, shutting down all other activities in the area, the party’s candidate and three-time member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, fired an outstanding salvo.

He had announced to the people that if elected governor in February, they will see actions more than ever before. Ugwuanyi unfolded his action plans for the people. On the following day at another campaign held in Enugu East Local Government headquarters, he specifically announced that if elected governor, his administration will create 10,000 jobs within its first six months in office.

He drew deafening applause

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

L-R: Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; PDP state chairman, Chief Ikeje Asogwa; Governor Sullivan Chime; PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Enugu State deputy governor, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo at a rally.

Ugwuanyi (third left) presents his running mate, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (second left) and others at a rally in Udi Local Government Area.

from the mammoth crowd at Nkwo Nike. And they seemed to believe him, perhaps because of his outstanding philanthropic mien and his aversion to publicising his good gestures.

APC challenge and lure of verbal war While the people who were addressed by Ugwuanyi took him serious as he announced the outlets for the ambitious job creation programme couched in a four-pronged approach of investment promotion, agriculture, provision of critical public utilities and infrastructure as well as skills enhancement scheme, the APC candidate, Ezea, promptly countered him.

Ezea doubted the feasibility or otherwise of his opponent’s proposition. So, on January 22, Ezea declared that Ugwuanyi’s promise of 10,000 jobs in six months was a huge joke, and that his PDP counterpart should tell that to the marines. Yet, he also went on to enumerate his own job creation agenda to also include agriculture.

The APC candidate explained that he would establish agrobased industries that would create labour intensive activities so as to create jobs for the unemployed. But unlike Ugwuanyi who was specific on the number of jobs and time for their creation, Ezea did not state how many jobs he would create, nor the timeframe.

Ugwuanyi refused to be drawn into any altercation with his APC challenger. He has so far not made any mention of the opposition parties, or any of their candidates after visiting six local governments and recording in all, largely intimidating massive turnouts. He has visited IsiUzo, Enugu East, Aninri, Awgu, Oji River and Udi local government areas. And his usual message to the electorate has centred on his theme of continuity and consolidation, encapsulated in a four-point agenda. Therein are employment generation, social services and good governance, rural development, security and justice.

While the people who were addressed

by Ugwuanyi took him serious as he announced... the ambitious job creation programme...

Ezea doubted the feasibility

Ambitious proposals At Oji River council area last Monday, an area that falls within the constituency of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Ugwuanyi pooled together with the senator and Governor Chime to strike a deal with the people. Ekweremadu had proposed that he and leaders of the area would do a master plan for the development of the senatorial district, and that the document would be handed over to the gubernatorial candidate when he would have been elected governor, a proposition the PDP candidate literally received with both hands.

Yet, in his blueprint now making the rounds and gaining popularity among the people, Ugwuanyi, under his employment generation scheme, proposes “development of at least one serviced industrial estate in each senatorial zone of the state, the first of the estates to be inaugurated during the first year of my administration.”

He also plans to revolutionise industrialisation in the state by privatising government-owned companies and by “deliberate targeting and lobbying of manufacturing companies to establish plants in the industrial estates to be created.” This, he explained, is one of the ways to create jobs and fight unemployment, especially among the youths.

Eloquence, bag of humour and surprises Ugwuanyi’s baritone voice, capped with an astounding eloquence has remained a surprise to most people who have been on his campaign trail. The element of surprise invoked by his speeches is caused by the fact that this is a man who is known to have spoken very little, or maintained a controlled silence, in most public functions he has attended in the past years.

Added to his eloquence is his metaphoric bag of humour with which he has continued to excite and ginger the crowd into exhilarations all through the campaign tours so far. At Udi, while he made his speech after Chime had introduced him to the people, he sang and danced and embarked on rib-cracking diversionary jokes.

“You see that my wife would be by my side, and now, I have a female running mate, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, so, I need your prayers to remain in their midst,” he said. It was a hilarious reaction of laughter that rented the air as he ended his speech on that note.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Pooh-poohing Tompolo’s poll polarity

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

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he polity is heated enough, this is time for those we see as statesmen to live up to their name. Those who want us to shiver at their words do not need to remind us of the past.

Silence what we demand. Nigeria can do without their jaundiced contributions.

There is no smoke without fire. Some people do not like to hear the voice of the oppressed. People cannot remain vassals when they also have what it takes to keep tormentors away, if not bring others under their control.

Government Ekpemupolo is a free Nigerian citizen.

He does not belong to the lower class. He may not be your idea of a hero, but he fought for a cause and is ever ready to die defending the ashes of his forebears.

Dokubo Asari is a muslim, from the riverine South.

Bearded, he may not exactly be a fundamentalist. He stands for something which he does not hide. The days of relegating the Izon to the background are definitely over.

A few Nigerians from the North had in the recent past made inflammatory statements. They threatened the peace of our country, all because President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan does not want to run away from Aso Villa so that the wealth of this nation which is being redistributed will be squandered like before.

General Theophilus Danjuma does not shy away from battle. He is a trained infantry officer whose war experience could have started in his native Takum but expanded to the Congo and blossomed in Northern Igboland during the Civil war.

General Danjuma is always in the news. The reasons may not always be right. And that was exactly what happened when he took on the duo of Ekpemupolo [Tompolo] and Dokubo recently over their outburst that heaven will fall if President Jonathan did not return as President.

Danjuma called for their arrest for daring to make such bold statement . Danjuma, if he were still the Chief of Army staff, would have detained them. His spleen

was that far.

I do not recall Danjuma calling those from the other side of the divide to order when they attacked Dr. Jonathan for not planning to relinquish power soonest. While those from the Upper part of the federation called Jonathan unprintable names and insurgents were troubling the nation, the retired general made out time to acquire chieftaincy titles.

Boys will be boys. At times you need the roaring tide of the River to check the stormy winds from the desert.

In International Relations, it is called balance of terror.

It goes to show that the President is not an orphan that fell from the boabab tree. If we cannot balance power, then we can balance terror.

Tompolo and Dokubo may not be graduates of West Point and Sandhurst, but they have enough experience to navigate their kinsman out of unnecessary threat.

And it does not just take western military academies to make good warriors.

Danjuma’s threat could be read wrongly. Dr. Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari are getting set for electoral war. And we know that Danjuma and Buhari have a lot in common. The latter was a student of Provincial Secondary School , Katsina after the former. Both were trained at the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom.

Tompolo and Dokubo may indeed be following Danjuma’s footsteps. After the first military coup of January 15, 1966, which many Northern officers alleged was an Igbo plot, the Northerners reacted on July 29, 1966.

Infact, Danjuma moved to Ibadan from Lagos to lead the troops that murdered Gen. Thomas Aguiyi- Ironsi and Col. Adekunle Fajuyi. Senator Garba Dada Paiko knows the story better even if we cannot account for Tijanni Maiduguri, Useni Fagge, Clement Dabang and Ibrahim Rabo now.

And we must not forget that in defending Jonathan, these Izon men would not cause NIgeria greater pains than the promotion of Danjuma from One-Star general to Three- star by Gen. Murtala Mohammed in 1976.

It was said that Gen. Iliya Bisalla could not come to terms with the fact that Danjuma, who was his junior in the army, having enlisted in 1960, turned out to be his senior, just a few years after serving as his subordinate during the Biafra War. Murtala chose his senior, Olusegun Obasanjo as

Chief-of-Staff Supreme Headquarters[Vice President equivalent],picked Danjuma as Chief of Army staff and offered Bisalla the position of Defence minister. In a democracy, the service chief should report to the minister.

Under maximum dictatorship,the reverse is the case.

What it meant was that Murtala promoted Obasanjo and Danjuma from Brigadier to Lt. General while Bisalla climbed just one step up to Maj. General. The import was that Danjuma, General Staff Officer [GSO] One when Bisalla was General Officer Commanding[GOC] One Division during the Civil war had moved ahead of his former boss.

Danjuma’s course mates were men like Alani Akinrinade, Godwin Alabi-Isama, Martin Adamu, Simeon Uwakwe and Sule Apollo.Akinrinade and Adamu became Two-Star generals and GOCs in the new regime.

Bisalla was part of Intake 27, 1959-1961 of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst alongside Murtala, Ibrahim Haruna and Mohammed Shuwa. All four were colonels and GOCs during the Biafra war. Bisalla had even served as Army chief briefly during the years of uncertainity.

Danjuma’s rise to the top caused Bisalla a lot of pain and also led eventually to the plot that ousted Murtala on February 13.,1976. And we all are not in a hurry to forget the pain this country went through after that coup.

While Nigeria mourned, Danjuma emerged as hero following the flushing out of Lt. Col Bukar Suka Dimka from Radio Nigeria Ikoyi by Lt. Col Chris Ugokwe, Buhari’s course mate.

However, recent revelations by Alabi-Isama show that while Obasanjo took refuge [maybe] in Chief S. B. Bakare’s Lagos home, Danjuma actually wanted to assume office as Head-of-State. That is a far cry from the widely held opinion that he was not ambitious.

Danjuma is from Taraba, he is neither a Petroleum engineer nor a geologist. But he is stupendously rich. Thanks to oil from the Niger Delta, the home of Tompolo and Dokubo.

When we talk of arresting people who heat up the policy, only God knows what will happen to those who made free money from the oil wells and fields of the Niger Delta.

Those who attack Jonathan and promise to make the country ungovernable are just being reminded that his kith and kin are not slaves. They can also bark from the creeks of Amakalakala, to Abuja’s Three Arms zone. Remember P Square and their track, Do me I do you man no go vex.

Jonathan, Buhari and their fiery backers Vincent Eboigbe

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y fly was down already and I had moved near the fence, but something, call it instinct, told me to look over my shoulders and I found myself staring at some stern-faced men inside a vehicle on whose entire side was emblazoned the legend: War Against Indiscipline.

I quickly ‘tucked’ my ‘offending’ member inside and zipped up. The driver of the vehicle, who apparently had slowed down on entering the street and sighting me about to take a ‘leak’ simply said: Na God save you! I can never forget that and the way he spat it out.

I laid into the friend I was with but his defence was that the occupants of the vehicle had warned him not to alert me to the danger. That was my closest encounter with Muhammadu Buhari and his agencies, and certainly my most enduring impression. And the impression of an impressionable high school kid tends to be forever.

I have always believed that Nigeria needs a strong-willed person to lead it out of the sorry pass it had been stranded in for decades, and it is widely believed that Buhari is a strong-willed

man. Howbeit, a man who has a longterm ambition to rule must endeavour, at all times, to be circumspect; he can’t afford to be divisive or be seen to be so in any way. Utterances made, actions taken have to be accounted for so as to allay the fears of the people, and there is so much fear in the land today, more than four years ago for instance and certainly more than over 20 years ago when MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe ran on the SDP ticket.

Certain actions of the General had in the past and may yet again be his Chappaquidick in this his apparently last attempt to rule Nigeria again. Teddy Kennedy aspired but could never inspire Americans, unlike his brother John did or Bobby was going to before he too was killed, to entrust him with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue because of Chappaquidick. Ted had left his companion to die after the car they were travelling in crashed into a pond on Chappaquidick Island. He managed to crawl out of the wreckage but left the young woman behind and to make matters worse he didn’t report the incident immediately. That effectively sealed Ted’s dreams of occupying the White House.

We must find a way to hold our leaders to account for utterances and

actions, not only now but at all times; this would not only help in excluding those Immanuel Kant has described as the ‘crooked timber of humanity’ but it would also ensure that leaders are more circumspect in their words and deeds knowing full well that a day of reckoning was inevitable.

Voting the crowning glory of elections is an emotive issue at some level; you must be able to connect with a candidate at some point to be able to vote for them. The connection, for some, can be something as ephemeral and seemingly inconsequential as the looks of the contestants.

I couldn’t vote for Olusegun Obasanjo and it had nothing to do with his appearance. Apart from being decisive or strong-willed and all that, there are other equally compelling elements in the leadership mix. I also couldn’t vote in a certain way the last time in 2011 even though the tide was high in that direction.

A former Eagles star once related an experience to me when the team was in search of a captain. The players finally settled for one of the most experienced in the team, but the guy declined the offer.

His reason: I no sabi grammar! That is a seemingly simple and innocuous statement but it contains a deep fundamental

truth.

Is it not also a dilemma that someone like Babatunde Fashola may not be able to rule this country someday?

He couldn’t even be accommodated in the current arrangement for the Vice Presidential position because of certain geo-politico-religious calculations.

Yet in this instance can that be faulted?

People have a right to support whoever they want but it is unfortunate the way these Facebook firebrands are tearing themselves to shreds.

It is interesting because those who are really ‘involved’ for both Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari are making a killing from the whole enterprise; they are in it more for the pecuniary advantages.

In the last analysis who you vote for is your business, your right, don’t attempt to ram your preferences down the throat of others because truth be told the arguments for both candidates don’t cut any ice. These guys are not fantastic.

The hope is that we are able to manage our realities well and long enough for us to still have a country…where those limiting geo-politico-religious calculations would no longer be necessary, where we would be able to put our best people forward at all times.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Okoya-Thomas: Exit of a colossus

he Nigerian sports family was on Monday, June 2, 2015, thrown into mourning when the family of the country’s foremost sports philanthropist and business mogul, Chief Alexandria Molade Okoya-Thomas, announced to the world that, the Asoju-Oba of Lagos had gone to meet his ancestors as he lost the battle against Insulin-Induced Diabetes.

When the news broke and it became a reality that, the man who singlehandedly sponsored an international table tennis championship for 46 years and was a father figure to sportsmen and women in other sports in Nigeria, was no more, athletes openly broke down in tears at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba, where the All Lagos State Sports Competition tagged the IBILE Games was on.

Coaches and sports administrators wailed openly and other sympathizers who knew him shook their heads in disbelief as they except, ‘this cannot be true, but we saw him some months back and he was looking healthy. That good man shouldn’t have died just like that; table tennis and sports generally will suffer.’

Mrs. Modupe Tella, a hockey coach with the Lagos State Sports Council and wife of the late chief coach of the victorious 2007

Golden Eaglets, Theophilus Tella, clutched her fist and stamped her legs on the floor as she said: “Baba Oloye was a good man, he had been very sick but we didn’t know that he would die so soon.

Nigerian athletes would miss him badly. He was the athletes’ delight as they swarm on him at international competitions and he never failed to give them foreign currency mostly British Pounds at a time most of the athletes were used to collecting American dollars from the Sports Ministry as camp allowance.”

With the Asoju Oba Cup, Okoya-Thomas made table tennis a popular sport in Nigeria as it competed favourably with the almighty football. As Nigerians thronged to the National Stadium, Lagos main bowl to watch their darling Green Eagles play, another group of compatriots who had developed passion for table tennis courtesy of Baba Oloye’s sponsored competition spent their valuable time watching ‘The Hawk’ against ‘Mansa Musa’ at the Rowe Park. This was the era of Atanda Musa and Yomi Bankole. Spectators rushed to the Rowe Park as if they were going to the stadium to watch a game between the Green Eagles and the Black Stars whenever the Hawk and Mansa Musa clashed.

The Asoju-Oba also made history as the first sports competi-

tion to give out a car as star prize in Nigeria. Atanda Musa won his first car in life, a Peugeot 504 in 1984 when he defeated Bankole in the final of that year’s edition of the Asoju Oba Cup. Musa went on to become a household name in African tennis. This was the same competition that propelled the likes of Titus Omotara, Bose Kaffo, Funke Oshonaike and Segun Toriola to international stardom. Older players like Kasali Lasisi, Lateef Sunmolsa, Babatunde Obisanya, late Demola Alli ‘Fireman’, and Waheed Ekun among others all got their nationwide popularity playing in the Asoju Oba Cup. All these players went on to become African and Commonwealth Games champions, and also accomplished Olympians.

Molade Okoya Thomas reintroduced the car gifts for the male and female winners of the AsojuOba Cup two years ago as if he knew time to go was approaching.

He was himself an active sportsman in his youth. He was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder in the 4 x 220 yards relay race, while at Baptist Academy Lagos.

As a philanthropist he similarly served as vice-chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Chairman 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman National Appeal Fund for

Sports Development and Chairman Sports Trust Fund where he honourably put in his resignation when he discovered that some people were engaged in financial misappropriation.

Molade Alexandria OkoyaThomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009.

He was a prominent member of the fund raising committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere which hosted matches of the 2009 FIFA Under-!7 World Cup finals.

The facility today is one of the best in the country and it had for four consecutive times hosted the Nigeria Federation Cup finals.

He openly declared his none involvement in politics seven years ago at the finals of the Asoju-Oba Cup, when he stated that: “All those who have been coming to me trying to convince me to join politics should stop wasting their time as I will never be involved. My mother told me never to be a politician. I will live and die as a philanthropist.” And he truly died as a philanthropist on Monday February 2, 2015 after a long battle with Insulin-Induced Diabetes.

He was a recipient of the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, the highest national honour given by the French to a foreigner.

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Politics

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari vs Jonathan: How both will fare at the ballot Femi Ayelabowo

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hen a relatively unknown retired Army Signals Corps officer from Ondo State was appointed President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief of Staff almost a year ago, very few people rightly identified the move as a nod to the South-West ahead of the 2015 presidential elections. BrigadierGeneral Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa’s appointment was a deft manoeuvre by Jonathan, which signalled that he appreciated the

pivotal role the South-West would play in the forthcoming elections.

President Jonathan followed that up later in the year by mounting the podium in Ekiti State to support the gubernatorial comeback aspiration of Ayodele Fayose, enfant terrible of South-West politics. At that time, Fayose was dismissed and given no chance of winning the seat he was kicked out of during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s days of strongarm politics. As we all know, Fayose not only won the election, he also did so

with such an overwhelming margin that the then incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) quickly conceded defeat.

Now here we are again with an uncannily similar situation, at least as far as the online community is concerned. In online poll, whether rigged or not, the presidential candidate of the APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has been favoured to win the February 14 presidential election. So far, no online poll has given President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) any chance of winning the election. Is it possible that we’re in for a déjà vu?

Away from the rather dubious online environment, let us examine how February 14 election may likely play out in reality by beginning with the NorthWest, which has the largest number of states of the six geopolitical zones.

There are seven states in the North-West, namely: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states. Other than Kaduna which may go either way, Buhari is certain

to win the North-West.

The North-East, which has received the brunt of Boko Haram attacks, comprises six states, namely: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe. Even though Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba are PDP states, there is a strong likelihood that the ruling party may lose its grip on the zone. Adamawa and Taraba appear relatively safe for PDP. But Bauchi and Gombe are less so. One out of the two, or even both, may go to the APC. So, on the basis of this fluid probability, the

best bet is to assume that the two major parties are evenly matched in the North East Zone.

For the North-Central, comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger and Plateau states, the PDP also holds sway. Benue, Kogi, Niger and Plateau are PDP states, but the APC may yet again take a state or two in the zone. So, as with the North-East, the two parties have equal chances in the North-Central.

As for the South-South, comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, the PDP is too well-entrenched to be dethroned. Despite the fact that APC governors are in charge in Edo and Rivers states, the PDP will almost certainly win the presidential election in all the six states of the South-South Zone.

The South-East, which has the least number of states, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, is equally almost guaranteed to go to the PDP. Even Imo State, where an APC is the incumbent, may slip to any other party at the gubernatorial poll of February 28. But, assuredly, in the presidential elections, the PDP will sweep the entire South-East.

That leaves the SouthWest as the beautiful bride of this election season. The zone comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Peopled by some of Nigeria’s savviest voters, the South-West is also the most unpredictable this election season. While the enfant terrible will surely mobilise his supporters to vote the PDP in his home state of Ekiti, Governor Olusegun Mimiko will do same in Ondo State, the remaining four states appear to be up for grabs, though the PDP has traditionally done well in the zone in past presidential elections. Indeed, the PDP took all the states of the South-West except Osun in the 2011 presidential poll.

While the 2011 presidential elections may not be a pointer, Jonathan knew where the battleground for 2015 will be and acted accordingly. A look at the geo-political projections we’ve made shows that Jonathan may likely win in a total of 19-21 states.

On the other hand, Buhari may likely win in a total of 15-17 states. So, clearly, the odds still favour the incumbent party, the PDP. As for the online polls, the trouncing of Fayemi (whom the online community had tipped to beat Fayose) and the APC during the Ekiti election is a clear indication that they simply cannot be relied upon.

•Ayelabowo contributed this piece from Ibadan

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Culture

Media

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Culture erosion, falling education standards resonate at Durodola’s book presentation

Rajis-Okpara commends NICO Cultural Troupe

Arts

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Torism

Grand Express Tours Centre opens, eyes domestic tour packages

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CULTURE

Four Obas of Benin kingdom from 1888 till date: Oba Ovoranmwen (1888-1914), his son, Oba Eweka 11 (1914-1933), his grandson Oba Akenzua 11 (1933-1978), also the great grandson, Omo-N-Oba Erediawa Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba of Benin kingdom, (1979 till date).

Why government must support the art, build museums, by Ogbonna “I

Bronze carving showing an Oba or war Chief with attendants

believe that art is a form, of culture and an extension of the mind and reasoning of the spirit. I am an advocate for the customs and traditions of Africans, and I am convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history as recorded by their own people in their own language,” Ogbonna says.

If he has his way, one of the biggest and best museums in the world would be in Nigeria.

He believes strongly that the country is so blessed with rich arts and cultural heritage that are not being given due attention. Indeed, one of the things that have continued to surprise him is why government, especially the governors are paying lip service to Nigeria’s art and culture?

“It is a shame that most of the states in Nigeria, despite

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Chief Solomon Ogbonna is a Lagos-based art collector and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aguene Art Foundation. His house in the Ajah area of Lagos, is home to hundreds of art works across various media. In this interview with New Telegraph, he decries lack of support from government and poor art appreciation in Nigeria. He also calls for the building of standard museums in the country, writes TONY OKUYEME.

the rich cultural heritage and artifacts in them, the country cannot boast of any standard museum that can showcase their ancient or modern arts or compete favourably with museums in other parts of the world. Rather, our sons and daughters travel to the western countries and are proud to flaunt it that they saw one, two or more art works of their tribes that are on display in various museums abroad, that are raking in money for these western countries in the process. It is a known fact that Nigerian art works do not serve decorative purposes alone, apart from being priceless, they also convey important messages to the people, especially bronze, copper and wood works, which have been rated in the world as the best and most valuable African art.”

According to him, “Our lead-

ers should know that setting up a standard museum that will attract tourists from all over the world is not about a certificate or how educated one is. It is also not about appointing a friend or relation who has no interest or knowledge in, or love and passion for art and tradition as a Commissioner or Minister.

It is also pertinent know that no one can govern his people without having a clear knowledge of their art, culture and tradition,” Ogbonna said.

He recalled that the preservation of art, culture and the tradition of the people is a passion in his family. He said that the Aguene Art Foundation which he established is a product of his love for art. “We launched the foundation about two years ago, specifically, on August 21, 2013. I want to use this foundation to help young artists who are talented but do

not have the material to showcase and expose their talent to the world because of lack of resources. The foundation will help them with their creativity and make them independent, and also serve as a medium to empower students who are talented – in primary and secondary schools and also in higher institutions.

“I have over 6700 arts works including modern and ancient arts, bronze, beadworks, word carvings, paintings, batiks, ceramics, fibre glass works, some of them dates to 200 years ago. I have some terracotta (Nok Culture) works that are about 2000 years old.”

So, is he just collecting art works just for its appreciation and documentation or is he also thinking of making money from them?

“For the modern works, yes,” he said. “I can commis-

Ogbonna

sion specific works for people to buy. For such work I also personally supervise them to make it special, make it different. What I do with most modern works that I commission, I don’t use one artist.

Sometimes one artist could do a work to a particular stage and I will tell the artist to stop so that someone else will touch it. So you cannot claim the work, also you cannot copy the work.”

“I hope to hold the first exhibition of most modern works I have collected for over two years. The exhibition will hold here in my house in April this year. The works for the exhibition will be limited to those I collected from two years ago till date,” he said, adding, however, that the works are not for sale. “The works are just for people to see.”

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Arts

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rajis-Okpara commends NICO Cultural Troupe

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or its sense of commitment to promoting the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria through its scintillating performances, the Cultural Troupe of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, fondly called, “NICO Troupe,” has been commended.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Singapore, Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara, who gave the commendation at the 2nd edition of Infiniti Africa Magazine Awards, “I AM Awards 2014,” held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, on Sunday, February 1, 2015, promised that the troupe would be slated to perform during this year’s Nigerian Event organised by the High Commission in Singapore.

Delivering her speech on, “The Importance of Peace in Nigeria,” as the Mother of the Day at the event, Rajis-Okpara stressed that peace was a facilitator, which made it easier for workers to produce, business to succeed/thrive, entrepreneurs and scientists to innovate, and governments to regulate.

According to her, the solution to the challenges facing Nigeria was for all to embrace peace, an indispensible requisite that creates the optimum environment in which other activities that contribute to human growth can take place.

The High Commissioner congratulated NICO’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma for the Institute’s relentless effort in promoting and preserving Nigerian culture. “The Executive Secretary, I want to congratulate you for what you do; because culture is who we are.

Every nation that celebrates its nation is its culture that it is celebrating. I might be booking your group/troupe for the next Nigerian event in Singapore. I believe in culture. I am a typical Nigerian woman and in Singapore, as much as we can, we try to exhibit Nigerian culture,” she said.

Earlier, Dr. Ayakoroma, had expatiated

Ayakoroma

on culture and its importance as it relates to communal life in the past, decrying that modernization has eroded some of these cherished cultural values, namely, dress sense, indigenous language, food, brotherhood, and dance in Nigeria.

He added that, if Nigerians can apply the patriotic zeal they attached to food culture (especially when they leave the shores of the country) to different aspects of our culture, Nigeria will be better for it.

The Chairman of the Occasion and Group Managing Director of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power 105.5 FM Radio, Mr. Tony

Akiotu, while delivering his address, highlighted the uniqueness of the awards as one that aims at celebrating the laudable efforts of our people, encouraging the creative potentials in youths, women and children, positioning role models for mentoring of the young generation, celebrating the fourth estate of the realm (the media), and creating a night annually where individuals can relay and network with various other individuals for the benefit of our future generation.

Mr. Akiotu also congratulated the organizers of the event, Fantagold Promotions Limited, the publisher, Mrs. Kambili Osadolor-Ehima of the AIT Family, and her team for the high level of commitment they had exhibited in packaging the programme.

The climax of the event was the presentation of the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie’s Secondary Education Awards to deserving students in Abuja, the Federal Capital Terrotory.

Miss Somto Onyekwere of Regina Pacis Secondary School Garki, carted away the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) for the Overall Best Student in the FCT; Miss Deborah Olademehin of the Ladela Secondary School, Wuse, was the 1st Runner-up witha cash prize of seventy thousand naira (N70,000.00) , while the 2nd Runner-up with a cash prize of fifty thousand naira (50,000.00) was won by Miss Fatima Shehu Bustani of Alrhamaan International Schools, Asokoro.

The “Diva of the Year” star

award, aimed at encouraging women, especially mothers to shed weight and make healthy food choices through nutritional and physical exercise, was won

by Mrs. Chinyere Oppiah, as she was the first to arrive at the Body Mass Index (BMI) stipulated for the context.

In her closing remark, the Publisher, an On-Air Personality with DAAR Communications Plc, Mrs. Kambili Osadolor-Ehima, explained the reason for organising the award, which was borne out of the passion for qualitative education among the youths, expressing her deep appreciation to all for honouring the invitation.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion were the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Jubril; Representative of the Executive Secretary of National University Commission (NUC), Dr. S.B. Ramon-Yusuf; NICO’s Director of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie; Media Assistant to the ESNICO, Mr. James Gillowei; and the Confidential Secretary to the Executive Secretary, NUC, Miss Ulonna Inyama, among others.

It would be recalled that NICO Cultural Troupe performed during the 1st edition of the Infiniti Africa Magazine Awards in 2013 at the same venue and the Troupe’s energetic cultural performance (steps from the major ethnic groups in Nigeria interwoven into a 5-minutes unity dance) attracted the invitation of the Ambassador to perform in Singapore later this year.

I want to use Gospel music to change the world, says Owoade blend my own music with the Yoruba local language, English and pidgin English.

Taiwo Moshood

O

lusegun Gideon Owoade is one of the up-and-coming gospel music artiste in Nigeria. He is the leader of the wavemaking gospel group, Anointed Golden Voices (AGV) Crew, which he started 12 years ago. In this interview, he talks on the gospel music industry, his aspirations, among other issues.

Why did you decide to go into gospel music?

I love Gospel Music since I was young. I see gospel music as a tool to relax. As a result, I want to contribute my own quota to the development of the gospel music industry. Those who are there have been doing their best, but their best is not yet noticed in the industry.

Those in the secular music industry are making waves in the society because they have done a lot to improve it.

I have had passion for gospel song right from when I was young.

I could remember how my father would wake us up early in the morning for prayers. Before praying, he would lead the praise and worship in Yoruba language. Those were the solid foundations that have shaped me to the staunch Christian I am today.

How would you describe your kind of

What challenges do gospel musicians face in Nigeria?

In the entertainment industry so far, the challenge that I have always talked about is keeping yourself, your brand and music relevant in the industry because the Nigerian entertainment industry is very competitive. If you sleep and wake up tomorrow, there’s a new song and a new artiste. So, my biggest challenge is staying relevant in what I do. That is the biggest problem, but God is helping me.

What is your take on the Gospel music industry?

It has definitely improved from what it used to be. There is more structure to-it now. There are new talents. In fact, I’m very happy that a lot of younger people who did not believe or think they should use their talent for God or become gospel artistes are having a change of mind. So, we have a lot of young boys and girls who have taken up gospel music. Gospel music appeals to a whole lot of people now than before. But I still believe the best is still yet to come.

Owoade

music?

The kind of Gospel Music I play is not what other gospel artist play.

Whatever I am doing that pleases my fans is what I would continue to do.

What distinguishes you from other Gospel Artists?

There were numerous Gospel artists in the market singing gospel songs. As a new entrant, I want to

What are you working on now?

I am already working with some gospel singers to stage a concert. I also want to use the opportunity to launch my album.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Arts

23

Culture erosion, falling education standards resonate at Durodola’s book presentation tor and Proprietress of Estarport Schools Gbagada, Lagos, Mrs Biola Awote, the author’s parents, Retired Major and Mrs Isaac Akintoye were also there to savour the moment and thank God for the accomplishments of their daughter.

The Special Guests of Honour, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel K. Uche, Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria was on time to join in the unveiling of the book, which was coordinated by Mr Ike Okere. Many dignitaries, especially from the broadcast industry were on hand to encourage one of their own.

Unveiling of the book Memories of Grandma

Ebere Ameh

M

any Nigerians have long concluded that the standard of education, both formal and informal, in Nigeria has fallen. While it is common knowledge that many young Nigerians cannot defend their certificates, it is even more worrisome that a good number of them cannot say much about their culture. The need for a revamp of the sector and the revival of our culture, experts insist, is long overdue.

Perhaps, one individual who has put the anomaly into proper perspective is the erudite scholar, ace broadcaster, media trainer, and accomplished civil servant, Mrs Funke Treasure Durodola.

Worried by the ugly trend, she decided to contribute her own quota in righting the wrong through her book, Memories of Grandma. The book jolts every advanced reader back in time and fills the young with positive curiosity. It is a memoir, reminiscent of the good old days when the extended family was well appreciated and children were taught good morals.

At the presentation of the book, which took place at the Freedom Park on Friday, journalists, educationists, politicians, academics and even the clergy, lent their voices on the need for a cultural revival and the publication of more books that will remind us of our treasured traditions that are fast going into extinction.

In his review, literary giant and Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Professor Aderemi Raji, among other things, said: “I am one of those village boys who had trepidation in their heart, when they want to come to Lagos. …the experience presented in this book is what a typical Lagosian boy or girl will want to refer to as fiction. But this is not fiction. This is something very autobiographi-

Grandma (A Childhood Memoir),” Abu said. cal, and we must thank Durodola Represented by Mrs Helen Odelfor giving us this. It is also about geography because it explores the eye, Abu eulogised the author, deThe experience flora and founa and vegetation of scribing her as a broadcaster after a section of the Nigerian nation. her heart, who has followed in the presented in this book is It is also sociology because it tells footsteps of her forebears. what a typical Lagosian us about family, relations; and for “Funke Treasure Durodola is a me, most importantly, is the linbroadcaster after my heart, followboy or girl will want guistic competence of someone ing in the footsteps of her forebears, to refer to as fiction. who claims to be writing her first drinking deep of the wisdom of her book. This book cannot be a first mentors and becoming herself a But this is not fiction. book. Funke must have been writformidable product of an incredible This is something very ing other books that she didn’t let Nigerian Broadcast Tradition. …I us read, because this is a very marecommend this book to everyone,” autobiographical, and we ture work.”

Abu said. must thank Durodola for Earlier at the event, one of the Representing the Director Gennieces of the author, Miss Iniolueral, Federal Radio Corporation giving us this of Nigeria, Alhaji Ladan Saihu, waniyi Akintoye, read a portion from chapter 14 of the book, titled a director with the Federal Radio The Twins, to the admiration of Corporation of Nigeria, Lagos, Mr. all present. Her excellent reading Ken Ike Okere also noted that Duand rendition of the songs conrodola has continued with writing tained therein, brought to the fore excellence of which her forebears the dying reading culture among in Radio Nigeria were known. Obchildren and the need to encourserving that children will find it inage them through positive and teresting, he calls on the Ministry of Education to consider taking it educative literature like Memories up for schools. of Grandma.

The Director General of the NiWhile the event was chaired by a gerian institute of International former Minister of Housing and UrAffairs, Professor Bola Akinterban Development, Hon. Chief Mrs inwa was also at the event and Mobolaji Osomo, who was ably repcommended Durodola for the good resented by her daughter, the Direcjob. On his part, he read excerpts from page 24 of the book and said; “Looking at this, I see there is one who does not want our culture to die and she has done it by writing Memories of Grandma.” Congratulating the author, he encouraged all to buy the book.

In her congratulatory message, the Executive Director Programmes, Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs Eugenia Abu also commended Durodola for a job well done.

“As a broadcaster she breaks the bank to bring it time and again, as a trainer, she believes it’s the best thing, to impart, impact and show by example, now as an author, she brings us all to tears with her Durodola (right) holding the mic for Miss Inioluwaniyi Akintoye, as she read a portion from chapter 14 of the book new beguiling book, Memories of

24

Tourism

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mustapha

Golden Tulip Warri Airport Hotel

Grand Express Tours Centre opens, eyes domestic tour packages Andrew Iro Okungbowa

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F there is one area where the Nigerian tourism industry has continued to suffer lack it is in having professionally driven travel management company or destination management company with focus on promoting and marketing Nigeria.

Stepping into that gap is Grand Express Tours Centre (GETCentre), which has just opened its doors for business in the Opebi area of Lagos, with the promise to offer professionally driven and customer satisfactory service, all geared at marketing Nigerian tourism to the global market.

The tour operating firm, which is not entirely new to the scene started out in 2007 as Touchdown Travels Limited (TTL) but rebranded and changed its name to GETCENTRE in 2014. At the media/introductory cocktail event to formally welcome the rebranded firm to the market, the Managing Director, Bolaji Mustapha, who is one of the most travelled and experienced tour operators in the country, said that the firm is strategically positioned in Lagos to offer customised tour and travel packages for business and leisure across the globe.

With international tourist arrivals growing at over 4% as 1.138 billion was recorded last year, she informed that it is time that Nigeria brace up to have her share of the global figure with admonition

to the government to pay more attention to the sector by improving on infrastructure, creating the enabling environment for investors to invest in building tourism attractions and facilities and promotion of the industry, therefore making it easily for the operators to operator.

According to her, GETCentre is poised to lead the vanguard, as it has always done in the past but with renewed vigour in ensuring that Nigeria is properly positioned to attract tourists and even investors to the industry. “The target customers of GETCentre are high net worth individuals, telecoms, financial institutions, oil and gas personnel, federal ministries, departments, parastatals and other government agencies. These have constituted our clientele base in the market in the last seven years of operation,’’ said the managing director of the market focus of her firm, adding that, ‘‘its business objectives flow from an intense passion to deliver valueadded business travel and tour services, which open up infinite possibilities for her clients’ success and satisfaction,” she said.

GETCentre’s business offering, according to her, is tagged ‘Complete Tour Package’ and it entails tour travel packages for leisure like holiday/vacation, conference, exhibition and business clients across Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia and

The target customers of GETCentre are high net worth individuals, telecoms, financial institutions, oil and gas personnel, federal ministries, departments, parastatals and other government agencies

across the world. Each all-in-one package comprises flight booking, hotel reservation, unique tours, transfers, Visa application and added values like sky diving, scuba diving, binge jump and boat cruise.

The vision of her company, Mustapha said is to be the best and biggest travel management company in Nigeria and Africa: ‘‘To be the biggest and best travel and tour company in Africa,’’ adding that ‘‘to be among the top rated tour operators in the world,’’ while insisting that ‘‘my

Focus on leisure spots as Lovers’ Day beckons

T

HE world will on February 14 celebrate the yearly Valentine’s Day, which has otherwise been tagged lovers’ day as many people use the occasion to celebrate love and host their loved ones and dates to enticing and fulfilling moment as various leisure and entertainment spots providing the hunting grounds for the day.

While the world eagerly awaits the day, here in Nigeria, the focus would be on the presidential and national assembly elections slated for the day.

However, a number of leisure homes and lovers still look ahead to having a frolicking moment with some eyeing either a pre or post Valentine’s Day celebration. … Sheraton Lagos Hotel At Sheraton Lagos Hotel, the month has been tagged lovers’ month

with a number of events outlined for the period: Romantic ‘Love Photo Booth’ for memorable picturesque moments; Champagne glass on arrival; Deluxe sumptuous buffet at the Crockpot Restaurant; Unlimited soft drinks, selected beverages and wines as well as non-stop live entertainment.

Other attractions are, special song request, red velvet fresh rose and complimentary cakes with a raffle draw prize at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort while specially dedicated room offers are on from the 12th – 15th February ranging from Sheraton couples room, complimentary bottle of wine, couples breakfast and free access to swimming pool and fitness centre. … Kenya Airways spe-

cial offers Kenya Airways is one of the airlines promoting Valentine’s Day packages to some of the destinations it operates into with some of the packages extending even beyond the period. These destinations include: Zanzibar with a three night all inconclusive package on offer; David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa – Zambia with special three nights package; The Oyster Box Hotel, Durban offering two – four nights package; Seychelles three nights offer; Mauritius flying three – four nights package; Severin Safari Camp Valentine weekend offer of two nights package; and Diani Sea Resort and Diani Sea Lodge three nights packages.

All these offer are for sale at it Victoria Island, Lagos office.

staff members are very supportive and well trained to deliver on the promise to the public.’’

The objectives of the firm, she said include: To provide affordable pre-arranged unforgetable value-rich tours and business travel packages above the competion for its customers; Maintain effective easyto-use means of booking and managing trips for customers using cutting edge internet based technology; Target 10% annual growth rate; Ensure Grand Express Tour Centre achieves 20% of its total sales from the online technology; and Develop GETCentre.com brand to be amongst top three (3) online booking portals within the industry.

While speaking of the need to encourage Nigerians to take holiday and also to imbibe the culture of saving towards it, even as she informed that a number of Nigerians now appreciate the need for packaged tours and saved towards it. But more Nigeria, need to buy into this growing culture, as she said that: ‘‘Nigerians now appreciate tour packages and a lot of them go on holidays, few Nigerians now also budget towards it, especially with their children now being exposed to educational tours across and outside the country,’’ adding that it is good to plan holiday ahead because if you don’t then you buy very expensive packages but when you plan ahead you pay less.’’

She revealed that a major focus of the company henceforth would be on developing local (domestic) packages for Nigerians and others to patronise. To start with, she pledged commitment to promoting Lagos city tour with tour packages to such places as Epe, Badagary and Lekki town among others.

She informed that the company has created a platform or travel portal towards this effect, which she said is user friendly and very detailed with all the packages on sale by the firm. She implored the public to patronise the company and make use of it portal or visit it office, which she said is dedicated to host as many clients as possible and fitted with the necessary facilities to aid them in exploring and buying any package of their choice.

According to her, competition in the industry is still but the strength and uniqueness of GETCentre is the first class services that it offered with professionalized and personalized touch, which she said have continued to earn the company more referrals and win clients royalty and patronage even as she promised that the company would continue to provide luxury and excellent services.

Le Meridien Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt gets new general manager

Duncan

L

e Meridien Ogeyi Place Port Harcourt has appointed Mr. Chris Duncan as the general manager of the Rivers State – based hotel under the portfolio of Starwood Hotels Nigeria.

Duncan was the resident

operations manager for the Cape Manor Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, a position he held since May 2013.

He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has filled various management positions in South Africa.

He is expected to bring to bear his vast knowledge of the industry in transforming the hotel. Le Meridien Ogeyi Place, a renowned hospitality industry, has been recognized for commitment towards Community Development (March 2008), Commitment, Support and contribution towards the growth and progress of Art (Oct 2008), Gold Standard Award for Environment Health and Safety (Dec 2011), Profitability Award (2012) and the Starwood President’s Award (2013).

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Music

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Audition

Sony Music weekly radio delivery

Etisalat Nigerian Idol auditions train in Ibadan

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Entertainment February is African Music/Film Month

Startimes resolves copyright tango with COSON

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Bob Marley

Sister Fa

S

ub-Saharan Africa Broadcast will this month serenade its audience with African Music Film Month. The event is being organized in conjunction with BUSARA 2015 to celebrate the diverse music and culture of Africa and the diaspora with a month-long film-festival on your screen presented by AfriDocs.

Presented in conjunction with Zanzibar’s annual Sauti za Busara Music Festival, taking place from Feb 12th – 15th, this month long musical extravaganza celebrates the music of Africa and its diaspora – discover the music and culture of Kenya, Zanzibar, Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Senegal, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ghana, Angola and beyond only on DStv 190 ED channel and GO TV. During the month of February, AfriDocs’ two weekly documentary slots – now on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, at 8pm Central African time (GMT + 2), and weekend

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

schedules will feature some of Africa’s most loved musical talents – both historical and contemporary.

According to the organisers, “Never before has such a collection of documentary films about African music been available to audiences across the continent.” they further stated that, “From Morocco to South Africa, Cape Verde to Madagascar will be documentaries featuring, Bob Marley, Salif Keita, Cesaria Evora, Bi Kidude, Abdullah Ibrahim, Oliver Mtukudzi, Omar Sosa, Sister Fa, Spoek Mathambo, as well as stories from the Malian Festival Au Desert, and Paul Simon’s Graceland, to the history of punk in Africa”.

Below is a breakdown of activities, date and time of events that bega since on February 3 with ‘Under African Skies’ that paraded Joe Berlinger of South Africa’s 2012 efforts in 89 min. it captured Paul Simon as he returns to South Africa to explore the journey of his Graceland album, including the political backlash he received for allegedly breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime.

Yesterday was a 76 minutes of ‘Future Sounds of Msanzi’ featuring Lebogang Rasethaba and Nthato Mokgata (Spoek Mathambo) also of South Africa in 2014.The film explored the past, present and future of the electronic music scene

Fela

Never before has such a collection of documentary films about African music been available to audiences across the continent

and its multiple sub-genres in South Africa. The mission was simple: to meet up with some of their heroes, colleagues, competitors, and co-conspirators…an ever-potent gang of electronic music pioneers sculpting The Future Sound of Mzansi.

There was also another 28 minutes documentary of ‘Afripedia Angola’ on Teddy Goitom. The 2014 It was a welcome to Angola, home of heavy electro music known as kuduro. it was a trail across the pulsating city of Luanda as they delve into the kuduro evolution and meet the people that are charting its course.

Tuesday, February 10 Last Song Before the War Kiley Kraskouskas | Mali | 2013 | 74 min | The story of the most remote music festival in the world, Festival Au Desert, and the battle to make it happen.

Two hours from Timbuktu, staged since 2000 at the Essakane oasis, the festival was a symbol of peace between the Tuareg nomads and the Malinese - until Islamic militants and Tuareg rebels ban music and silence the festival.

t last the legal tussle between NTA-Star TV Network Ltd, owners of Startimes, pay TV platform and Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, Nigeria’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings, has been resolved.

The resolution followed a recent meeting held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja between the management of NTA –Star TV Network and the leadership of COSON. We reliably gathered that at the meeting were the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, Executive Director of Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Olaleye; representatives of the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission ,NCC, Mr. John Asein and Mr. Michael Akpan. Also present was Mrs. Bunmi Cole of the NBC. COSON was represented by both the Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji and General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji while Mr. Max Loko, Managing Director, NTA Enterprises and Mr. Justin Zhang, General Manager, Star Times represented NTA-Star TV Network, while The discussions and negotiations were moderated by Mr. Mac Emakpore who was assisted by Alhaji Bola Agboola.

According to an insider, “The management of Startimes were informed that the broadcast industry in Nigeria has entered a period of zero tolerance of copyright infringement, and that the duty of every broadcast platform, to pay for the rights in the music and sound recordings broadcast by it is no longer in question”.

She further explained that, “The copyright fees payable CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Thursday, February 12 As Old as my Tongue Andy Jones | Zanzibar | 2006 | 66 mins | A portrait of Bi Kidude, a living legend on her home island of Zanzibar. She has CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Tony Okoroji

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Grammy Award winner, Kelly Clarkson, track listing for Piece By Piece

Kelly Clarkson

G

rammy Award winner, Kelly Clarkson, has released her first single, “Heartbeat Song” from her upcoming 6th studio album Piece By Piece.

The single, which is making a steady climbe up the SA charts: entered Top 30 on the South Africa Airplay Top 100, just as it is charting across stations!

Meanwhile, critics are raving about the high-energy Heartbeat Song that serves as a sonic defibrillator, starting with a jolt of melody, its rhythms shifting a couple times before finally settling into its steady pulse. This has made it ‘Song of the week’ as Heartbeat Song’ becomes the first great pop anthem of 2015 It is a thumping anthem that lives up to the singer’s fiercest hits. It has all the trappings of a good, if not great, pop tune: It’s anthemic, upbeat, a little bit synthy, and anchored by a catchy, easy to sing-along-with chorus. The most welcome facet of Clarkson’s return to new music is the singer’s voice. She handles a crescendo like few others can, and anchors the poppy, busy production backing with remarkable control over her instrument.”

For starters, Kelly Clarkson has released five studio albums (Thankful, Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted, Stronger), one greatest hits album, and a holiday album; and has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

She boasts of10 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

She is also the recipient of the Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards, as well as Academy of Country Music Awards, one CMA Award and 12 Billboard Music Awards.

Clarkson’s last studio effort, Stronger, which was certified platinum, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and produced the smash singles, “Mr. Know It All” and “Stron-

Clarkson’s last studio effort, Stronger, which was certified platinum, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and produced the smash singles, “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger, which marks her 9th and 10th top 10 hit. ger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which marks her 9th and 10th top 10 hit.

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for two consecutive weeks (three weeks total) marking her third on number one on the Hot 100 chart. Last year, Kelly released her very first Christmas album Wrapped In Red, which debuted at number three, marking the biggest holiday album debut for a female since 2010 and is certified platinum.

Below is piece by piece track list 1. Heartbeat Song 2. Invincible 3. Someone 4. Take You High 5. Piece By Piece 6. Run Run Run featuring John Legend 7. I Had A Dream 8. Let Your Tears Fall 9. Tightrope 10. War Paint 11. Dance With Me 12. Nostalgic 13. Good Goes The Bye Deluxe Edition Will Also Include 14. Bad Reputation 15. In The Blue 16. Second Wind

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

I

mo State based controversial comedian, Uche Ogbuagu has released his much-anticipated comical work, titled ‘Ka O Puo’ with an English language version, ‘Leaders of Next Tomorrow’. The album, which is a political satire of sort, is a hilarious and philosophical outburst of his response to the ‘deceived and oppressed’.

The efforts by Ogbuagu who doubles a media executive in the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is exclusively distributed by Remmy Jes Productions Limited, in its outlets nationwide.

In an interactive session with journalists, the entertainer said that the three-track album x-rays the true position of the average Nigerian youth in today’s politics. He also said that, “A track, titled “Igaa Aghota” (You won’t understand), was coined to expose the deplorable decay creeping into the Igbo culture byf politicians, religious leaders and top socialites.”

Ogbuagu who said that his effort is a promise fulfilled, also revealed that, “Not even threat from agents of government who hijacked the first 100,000 copies from the distributor could stop it, as we

Ogbuagu

Ogbuagu finally drops album have since increased the production to 600,000 copies.”

He further disclosed that before recording the album (Ka O Puo), which he said, is for everyone desirous of truth, he had embarked on research that took him years after his 2011 album titled ‘Oku Di Over.

He, however, pleaded that those the album may have offended should please bear with him, as he meant no harm. The video is expected to hit the street in two weeks, and available on YouTube within a week of release.

Interestingly, the angry outbursts from the state government, commentators have described

Ogbuagu’s recent effort as courageous and daring.

Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, a social commentator has this to say: “We are all aware of what is happening in Imo today. What we have as a government has been a huge joke and it is appropriate and commendable to reflect same in such comical masterpiece. The truth is that not many people in government would like him for this”.

Ogbuagua had at bte media briefing also hinted that next on line are two albums ‘Nigeria Dey Pregnant’ by Elder Ken and ‘Onye Chimere Eze’

by Chief Goddy Ibeawuchi both Imo State born artistes’ efforts were produced by Ogbuagu .

AFRIMA holds soiree for creative industry

Efe

W

eeks after ending 2014 in a grand style last December, the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, organisers have hosted their collaborators, partners and friends from the creative industry in Nigeria to an evening event tagged ‘Soiree with AFRIMA’. The event took place penultimate week at the Amber Residence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

The function also doubled a forum for the International Committee of AFRIMA to receive feedback from the invitees on 2014 edition of the award ceremony, in Lagos.

With the AFRIMA International Committee at the

party were the 2014 AFRIMA technical team, media and corporate partners, and other invited guests.

The Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada used the opportunity to appreciate the self-sacrifice displayed by everyone in contributing to the success of the 2014 edition of the award ceremony.

He also revealed that the African Union Commission, AUC, will be hosting all the 2014 awards winners at the headquarters of the AUC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at a date to be announced soon.

Most of those present applauded the AFRIMA organizing committee for putting together a spectacular

first edition.

Suggestions towards a memorable hosting of AFRIMA 2015 came from the CEO, Now Muzik, Mr. Efe Omorogbe who said; “Despite the postponement of the awards ceremony from November 9 to December 27, a peak season of activity for entertainment artistes, it still turned out a great show for a maiden edition of an awards ceremony of such magnitude”.

Omoregbe further stressed that, “The report is out there and the interesting thing is that I actually learn one or two lessons from the awards ceremony that will be useful when next I am organizing a show”.

AFRIMA Co-Producer and Country Director, Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley James applauded the commitment and the turnout of participants while encouraging their full involvement for the success of the 2015 All Africa Music Awards. Guests were subsequently treated to a sumptuous buffet, wine and good music at the poolside of Amber Residence.

Other guests in attendance were Mr. Dele Esan of Primetime/Kennis Music, MD, Rods & Cones Limited, John Aduloju, and Mr. Olusola Adeyefa of ValuaTech Marketing Limited among others.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

GOtv

FEB. 6 — FEB. 13 Highlights

Sony Music weekly radio delivery

S

ony Music has again released week six radio delivery. Those that made it this week are Kygo ft.

Conrad in Firestone, Goldfish – with Away Game (Deepfish mix), and Calvin Harris ft.

Haim in Pray To God. There is also Morgan James in Call My Name while Dej Loaf made the fifth on the list with Try Me Kygo’s effort, which was composed by Conrad Sewell, has Copyright Control as its publishers.

According to a release made available to New Telegraph, the Norwegian producer is reputed to have taken the electronic dance music world by storm with his ambient melodies and original sound.

The reality is that after gaining notoriety for his remix of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’, Kygo has seeped his way into the speakers of music lovers across the world.

“He has replaced Avicii on the Main Stage at TomorrowWorld, began his first ever North American Tour, and serves as the official anthem for Ultra Music Festival, then signs a record deal with Sony Music,” they posited.

Sony Music explained that Goldfish whose ‘Away Game’ (Deepfish mix), was composed

by David A. Poole and Dominic C. Peters, has his work published by Goldfish Music Publishing.

According to our source, “He had an incredible 2014, which included touring the world and having big hit sin-

Zee World

Calvin Harris

Dej Loaf

gles with ‘Moonwalk Away’, which was a South African radio smash, and the guys are back this year with a brand new single set to achieve the same level of success.”

‘Away Game (Deepfish Mix)’ opened at #1 on iTunes last week.

On the his part, Calvin Harris‘ latest album, Motion is jam-packed with star features, and one of the highlights is the producer’s collaboration with Haim, titled ‘Pray To God’.

The trio of sisters provides chilling harmonies over luxurious drum patterns and warm synths. The outcome is a discoflecked groove that is bound to become a future club favorite.

Morgan James is not left out as his ‘Call My Name’, composed by Prince, reveals a soulful songbird who recently starred as Teena Marie in Broadway’s ‘Motown the Musical’. And she is now signed

to Epic Records.

This is what Sony Music said about her: “We are proud to premiere her stunning cover of Prince’s ‘Call My Name’ which gives us a taste of her beautiful vocals and unique style. Originally from Idaho and trained as an Opera singer at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City, this powerhouse vocalist released her debut album ‘Hunter’ earlier this summer.”

Dej Loaf ’s ‘Try Me’, is described as another bubbling record seemingly launched from the void by a Drake cosign. “It is a sleek, left-field pop-rap record from heretofore unknown 23-year-old Detroit MC Dej Loaf,” explained Sony Music contact, who added that, “Dej’s rise comes from a series of cosigns, beginning with IamSu, followed by Ty Dolla $ign, Kevin Durant, Wiz Khalifa, and ultimately Drake”.

Genesis Cinema, Play Zone for Onikan, Lagos

M

ovie and Game buffs who reside on the Lagos Island and its environs may just be in for more exciting times as Genesis Cinemas, a leading Nigerian cinema brand, and Play Zone, set to open shops at the renovated City Mall, Onikan, Lagos.

This was announced last week by Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo & Company, Mr. Emmanuel Efuntayo, the managers of The City Mall, during the contract signing ceremony with the two new tenants.

The managements of Genesis Cinemas and Play Zone, a fast growing family entertain-

ment brand, expressed their joy and excitement at the prospect of coming into Mall, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations.

According to the General Manager, Genesis Group, Opeyemi Ajayi, Genesis Cinemas is coming based on their conviction that the Mall is about to become a vibrant location once again, given the huge efforts by the current managers at repositioning it.

Ajayi said: “We believe in the plans and efforts of the City Mall management to turn the place to a vibrant location for the people on the Island. We bought into that plan because

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

Startimes resolves copyright tango

by NTA-Star TV Network, the schedule of payment and legal fees recoverable by COSON were agreed and attested to.

Based on that agreement, the parties agreed to withdraw their actions in court.”

It would be recalled that in reaction to an action brought by the operators of Startimes, COSON had in October 2014 filed an application at the Federal High Court, Lagos requesting the court to issue an order of interlocutory

Tony Okoroji

usually malls need cinemas and we think it is a good business opportunity to partner with the new City Mall.”

He also assured, “Our current and potential patrons should expect the same interesting movie experience that Genesis offers.

As movies are released around the world they would be released here, just the way it is in other Genesis Cinemas”.

Dr. Akinyemi, Chief Operating Officer, Play Zone, in his reaction, explained that malls around the world are fast becoming entertainment centres and that the new City Mall has the potentials and facilities to serve their customers well.

injunction restraining NTA-Star TV Network Ltd, owners of Startimes, whether by themselves or their officials, privies, servants, agents or howsoever called from broadcasting, rebroadcasting or communicating to the public on any channel on its platform any musical work and/or sound recording belonging to COSON, its members or affiliates pending the determination of the issues in Suit No. FHC/CS/1149/14.

Awards season is well underway and GOtv continues to roll out the red carpet. This month we celebrate great on screen talent at the 87th Academy Awards and at the 57 Grammy Awards, music’s biggest stars will be honoured. If you want to know who wore it best, make sure you stay tuned to E! Entertainment. For those not quite into the fashion, we have loads of sporting action, as the AFCON tournament reaches its peak. This month GOtv extends its entertainment offering with the launch of Zee World, a great general entertainment channel filled with top shows from India. GOtv is Entertaining Africa.

E! Season Finale: Kourtney and Khloeé Take the Hampton on 8 February at 21:00 The first season comes to an end but not without all the drama that has become synonyms with the reality series.

Catch the two Kardashian sisters, Kourtney and Khloé, along with Kourtney’s boyfriend Scott Disick as they continue to heat things up in the highclass Hamptons. There is new love interests and plenty of drama as the girls stir things up in a major way – whether they intend to or not!

ZEE World ( New channel on GOtv Plus, channel 24) Married Again Married Again takes a glimpse at contemporary and modern India, where a second marriage for a woman is still not easily accepted. Watch how Yash & Aarti steer through the complications of a second marriage.

Also on Zee World, take a journey with Saloni as she inspires woman to find their inner beauty and strength.

The brave Laali will radiate her inner light into your lives.

And watch how three sisters who have lost everything find the strength to start all over in The Promise Monday – Friday from 5pm – 8pm on Zee World channel 24 SONY ENTERTAINMENT Stand By Me Based on the novella-The Body by Stephen King, Stand

by Me is a special film about friendship and the unforgettable experience of growing up.

The film tells the story of four boys who go on a hike across the countryside to find the dead body of a missing child.

Wanting to be heroes in each other’s and their hometown’s eyes, they set out on an unforgettable two-day trek that turns into a journey of selfdiscovery.

On Sony Entertainment Television, channel 20 at 7pm on 12 February SONY MAX Jungle Fever Flipper Purify is a successfully married African American man who works at an architectural firm in New York City. After his firm hires an Italian American woman named Angela “Angie” Tucci as a temporary secretary Flipper finds himself having an affair with her. This is to the disapproval of his friends and family. Starring Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciora, Spike Lee, Halle Berry and Samuel. L Jackson.

On Sony Max, channel 21 at 8pm on 09 February Jim Jam Heroes of the City follows a cute and colourful town’s heroic rescue vehicles as they work together to solve problems and have fun! Meet Paulie Police Car, Fiona Fire Engine, Alice Alarm and Digsy Digger as they embark upon exciting adventures on their rescue missions. Heroes of the City introduces a variety of themes including friendship, selfless acts, courage, problem solving and working together through a range of positive messages delivered via fascinating stories and simple but warm dialogue.

Every day at 5:37pm AFRICA MAGIC FAMILY Mary Slessor Mary Slessor is the story of an eighteenth century Scottish woman who gave her life to the development of the people of Calabar in Nigeria. She stopped the killing of twins which at that time the people regarded as evil.

It stars UK’s East ender’s star, Alison Pargeter as well as several A-List Nigerian actors.

Mondays -Thursdays at 20:00 & 03:00 CAT 04-Feb-15 Orange Africa Cup of Nations Semi Final 1: DR Congo vs Ivory Coast 6:30pm on Select 1 Live

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Etisalat Nigerian Idol auditions train in Ibadan

I

t was an atmosphere of excitement over the weekend at the Kakanfo Inn & Conference Centre, Ibadan, as Nigerian youths auditioned for a spot in the on-going EtisalatSponsored Nigerian Idol Season 5.

The auditions train, which has been to Abuja, Benin and Port-Harcourt, had an overflow of anxious and expectant youths in Ibadan all eager to meet with Yinka Davies, Darey Art-Alade and Dede Mabiaku.

An excited Manager, Sponsorships Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu, said the massive turnout at the Kankanfo centre, attests to the widely held notion in the music industry that the industry is set for a boom.

His words, “I must confess that Ibadan didn’t disappoint the Nigerian Idol team, despite the fact that this is our first time of coming to audition in the city since the beginning of the show in 2010. I can foresee that this year’s edition will witness an elevated contest, because we have seen great talents ready to participate in this season’s audition.”

One of the participants who got a golden ticket from the judges, Somtochukwu Obinna, a graduate of Business Administration from the Oduduwa

l Starts Cliqfest 2015 at UNIZIK

Dede

Yinka

University, expressed his joy thus: “I am happy at this opportunity and I am ready to take it as an opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming the next music superstar in African.”

The last leg of the auditions is scheduled to take place at the Dream Studio, Omole Phase 1, Lagos, from 7th – 9th February, 2015.

In a related development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State went agog last weekend as it hosted the first Etisalat Cliqfest pro-

gram for 2015. It is a youthcentric education and entertainment initiative of Etisalat Nigeria.

The two-day programme featured an inspirational session with renowned motivational speaker, Niyi Adesanya; a novelty football match and an exciting concert headlined by nonconformist hip-hop artiste, Kiss Daniel. Also oin hand to entertain were popular hip hop stars such as Mr Raw, Terry G and the winner of the 4th season of Etisalat-Sponsored Nigerian Idol, Evelle Zibili.

Brain starts the year with Gaara

2

014 was quite an eventful year for fast rising Nigerian hip-hop act, Brain. The talented artiste had earned two nominations at two major music awards, Nigerian Entertainment Awards in the Most Promising Act To Watch category, as well as at the Nigerian Music Video Awards in the Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video slot.

Same year, the young act also dropped a rap single titled, ‘Salute’, which gave props to top African rappers and a song that put him on the spotlight courtesy of generous airplay the musical video enjoyed on several mainstream television channels.

In continuation of

where he stopped from last year, Brain is back with another club banger, titled ‘Gaara’, a single off his forth-coming EP ‘The Statement’. The song is a fusion of dancehall, Afropop and Reggae produced

by Skill P and mixed and mastered by Seanz Beatz.

According to information reaching New Telegraph, he poised to with “Gaara”, as he plans to it back to the era of Konto and Suo, which originated from Africa’s most popular ghetto, Ajegunle.

“Gaara” (street slang for posing or an expensive item) is a song of praise to almighty God for His blessings, and is surely going to be a hit record that will rock the year 2015.

The Antique hits cinemas February 13

D

arasen Richards Films have in a letter of cinema release and media promotion campaign announced the cinema release date of the Africa Movie Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAS nominated blockbuster ‘The Antique’ on Friday, February 13.

The Antique tells the story of a troubled Godo Kingdom as the only heir to the throne lies at

death’s door. Therefore, an innocent girl must journey to a land where mortals are forbidden, in search of an antique. But will she return? Critics say the movie is the beginning of a new age of moviemaking in Africa.

‘The Antique’ , a thriller adventure and directed

by Darasen Richards and DJ TEE promises to be a box office record breaking epic.

Ola Balogun and friends at Yaba today

R

espected film maker and owner of Iroko Band, high music makers, Ola Balogun is set to party with friends in Lagos today. In a message sent to the New Telegraph on Wednesday, he enjoined his numerous friends and fans to join him at The AP club at Alagomeji, Yaba. But please ensure you are going there with your wallet as you will enjoy at your own expense.

Music by juju maestro Lanre and his melody makers Balogun message reads thus: “Hi! I am planning to go out for a drink on the evening of Friday February 6, with friends to celebrate the fact that I am still around, and still able to celebrate... After all, life is for the living to enjoy!”

The message continued thus: “You are welcome to join if you are free. Venue is The AP Club at Alagomeji, Yaba. At the angle of Murtala way and Petigrave street, Petigrave being the next street after Hughes avenue when driving towards Ebute Metta from Yaba bus stop on Murtala Mohammed way. Time from 7pm till whenever!

The caveat is, “Entrance free, but every guest pays for their own drinks and snacks. Music by juju maestro Lanre and his melody makers. Everybody to bring their dancing shoes or risk arrest by EFCC commando force with a special mandate to carry away lazy non-dancers for interrogation! Look forward to seeing you.

Ola Balogun.”

African Music/Film Month CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

beguiled audiences around the world on her wide and varied travels.

Filmed over three years in Zanzibar and on tour with Bi Kidude.

Saturday, February 14 Salif Keita, A Man with a Message Jean-Pierre Limosin | Mali | 1996 | 52 min | We join Salif Keita in Bamako to learn about his sources of inspiration - his family, the intermarriage of musical influences, and his affirmation of African identity.

Reve Kakudji Ibbe Daniëls, Koen Vidal| DRC | 2013 | 64 min | The moment Serge Kakudji saw an opera singer for the very first time as a young boy on Congolese television, he immediately fell in love with opera music.

He decided to become a celebrated countertenor.

Despite the many doubts of his family, he is determined to make it to the top of the classical opera world.

Marley Kevin Macdonald | Jamaica | 2012 | 139 min | Bob Marley’s univer-

sal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. This is definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom.

Afripedia Kenya Teddy Goitom | Kenya | 2014 | 28 min | Afripedia is about the generation of Africa’s rising creative talents.

In Nairobi, the urban culture scene and its leading personalities and stars lead us to a filmmaker, a visual artist and an Afrofuturis­tic pop band.

Homegrown: HipLife in Ghana Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi | Ghana | 2008 | 58 min | West Africa has a longstanding tradition of traveling storytellers known as Griots, who combine poetry, music, and oral history. In Ghana, a group of young Africans are continuing this legacy and here Hip-Hop music has merged with High-Life, the traditional music of West Africa, and this fusion has led to the birth of a new musical genre called HipLife.

Showbits

Listed below are issues from the entertainment industry that is trending • A Nigerian politician unknowingly paid N500,000 to a Tiwa Savage impersonator. According to reports, Segun Adewale thought he had booked the real Tiwa to perform at his event.

• Dr. Dre has signed Justin Mohrle to Aftermath Records.

• .It is nobody’s Business that I am not arried, says Waje • Sammie, wife of Sir Shina Peter survives cancer • Daddy Showkey showers praise on Harry Song • Nigerian Yoruba actor Funso Adeolu loses his father • Runtown drops new single.

• Everything on the king kong video is real, says Vector • Ludacris has been awarded primary physical custody of his one year old daughter, Cai, according to a new report.

• Samklef To Drop Single On His Birthday february 5th • Shakira has given birth to a baby boy • A member of boy group Jagged Edge which was very popular back in the 2000’s was allegedly arrested for brutally assaulting his fiance and making her swallow her

Olamide

engagement ring.

• Lady Gaga Billed To Perform At The 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

• Lil Wayne sues birdman.

• Grammy Award winning singer Justin Timberlake and Hollywood actress wife Jessica Biel are expecting their first baby soon.

• Novak Djokovic Wins 8th Grand Slam Title.

• Rapper Olamide Welcomes Baby Boy with his Girlfriend.

• Michael Jackson’s home soon to be converted to a rehab.

• I have been expecting my baby boy for a long time, says Olamide • Peter and Lola Okoye legally tie the knot.

Psquare set to bury dad on Friday.

• Rapper Reminisce shares photo of his daughters online.

• Boss Olamide launches new clothing line Badoo wears.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Agric

Labour

Strike: Bearing the brunt of JOHESU, NMA’s rivalry

Govt begins livestock enumeration

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Business Fraudulent importers target What's news

Growth: OkonjoIweala hinges confidence on emerging markets

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has projected better performance from emerging markets than developed countries, saying that emerging markets have provided over half of the global growth at some points during the time of the financial crisis.

p.30

Pirates hijack ship off Nigerian waters, kill deputy commander A crude oil tanker, MT Kalamos, has been hijacked off Nigeria waters by pirates operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Nigeria with expired products DANGER Importers now bring hazardous food to Nigeria

Bayo Akomolafe

A

s the nation’s economy continues to take a drastic toll on businesses and investments, dubious and fraudulent importers have resorted to bringing all manners of deadly products into the country through the sea ports and any available channel.

About two weeks ago, the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) seized a container-load of substandard sex enhancing products that were smuggled into the country and meant to be sold to unsuspecting members of the public.

Within the week, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service again seized over 600 cartons of expired imported supermarket and food items at the Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited in Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

The seized items include UTZ Jumbo snacks pack, Kelloggs corn flakes, Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise and Natural animal crackers, among others.

Comptroller of the command, Mrs. Talatu Isa, explained that the container came in from Europe but the port of origin was not specified.

Isa who handed over the goods to the National, Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s Deputy Director, Ports Inspection, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwosu, said that the

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

expired goods were discovered during the 100 per cent examination.

She explained that the contraband were discovered from a 40-feet container marked GCNU 46394/5 during examined and found to contain 1,268 cartons and 899 packages of supermarket/food items.

Also, the comptroller added that a white DAF Truck was examined and found to contain two pallets of body lotion of 752 pieces with neither manufacturing nor expiry date.

Isa said that the seizure was made considering the danger posed by the activities of the syndicates who were more inter-

ested in what comes into their pockets rather than the health implications to Nigerians.

She said that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, had directed the heads of commands not to allow such dangerous goods to pass through the seaports and borders.

L-R: Group Country Director, Jeff & O’ Brien, Pascal Odibo; Executive Director, Heritage Bank, Mary Akpobome and keynote speaker, John Berry, at the 2015 Quarter 1 roundtable of Jeff & O’Brien entitled: ‘The Future of Retail Banking in Africa,’ in Lagos.

Law to regulate 78m Nigerian Internet users underway Kunle Azeez

O

ver 78 million Nigerians online may soon be held more responsible for whatever contents they put on the Internet if a bill currently being proposed is passed into

law, New Telegraph has learnt.

While Internet freedom is now being enjoyed by Nigerians, “it is also important that the responsibility of any material put on the internet be checked by relevant laws in Nigeria,” Minister of Com-

munication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said.

The minister disclosed in an interview in Lagos that her ministry would partner with the Paradigm Initiative NigeCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel as at Jan. 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N205 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N298 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N229

l Foreign Reserves – $34.337bn as at 29/01/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official as at Jan. 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.46 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N195.57

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Business | News

INCENTIVES

Agriculture, technology and population form the bases for quick development Sunday Ojeme

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he Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has projected better performance from emerging markets than developed countries, saying that emerging markets have provided over half of the global growth at some points during the time of the financial crisis.

Iweala, who disclosed this in an interview with Johannesburg-based McKinsey journal, said in the whole story of emerging markets, the African story should not be forgotten, because many middle-income countries on the continent were doing relatively well.

She said: “You have Nigeria, which is growing now at 6.5 per cent, has been growing at seven per cent on average. I think that will continue.

Some other countries, like Angola, are also doing well. So, in all, if you look at the growth story for the African continent, and you add that to what we expect to be new growth stories emerging out of some of the other emerging-market countries, the prospects are

Growth: Okonjo-Iweala hinges confidence on emerging markets a little more optimistic than one would expect.”

The minister also affirmed that with the young population that would be one of the largest in the world, Africa stands a very good chance of turning this into a demographic dividend.

“As you know, if we do not create the job opportunities for the young people, then it could be a nightmare. We would need to make sure that we provide the means for productivity to rise within the continent, basically focusing on infrastructure. Because I think it is on the back of that that we will be able to drive the private sector into creating the types of jobs that can absorb the young people.

“You can’t afford to have a young population not gainfully employed.

We all have seen what happened with the Arab Spring. And that absolutely has to be avoided so that we don’t have causes of instability within the continent. But I think that working on sectors like agriculture, for instance, which generates a lot of labour all along the value chain -changing the concept of agriculture to one of a business.

“A n d running through the whole value chain, as well as creat-

Fraudulent importers target Nigeria with expired products CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ria (PIN) to come up with laws that stresses Internet responsibility.

PIN, a social and youth-centric techno-preneurship ‎entity, is currently consulting with stakeholders to develop a bill that guarantees more internet freedom.

“We want the ministry to partner with us in order to develop a bill that widens the scope of Internet freedom by Nigerians,” Chief Operating Officer of PIN, Mrs. Tope Ogundipem said in a telephone interview.

However, Johnson insisted that the focus of such a bill, being worked on by PIN, should be to strengthen Internet responsibility and not just Internet freedom.

“As we all know, every freedom must come with responsibility. So, we should be looking at how people would be more responsible for whatever

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

they put online in this digital era,” the minister said.

Explaining what PIN has been doing towards ensuring sanity in the use of Internet, Ogundipe said: “2015 began on a high note with the Digital Rights & Freedom Bill working group meeting which held on the January 7.”

According to her, “draft committee met and made significant observation/improvement on the proposed Bill’s content.

“On January 14, 2015, there was an advocacy visit to top media houses cutting across the print and broadcast media in Abuja to drum up support for the speedy passage of the Cybercrime Bill 2014 currently before the House of Representatives.

“The Bill, when finally assented, will be the single most important piece of legislation in Nigeria’s ICT and e-Commerce sector.”

ing the right infrastructure: looking for how to improve education, focusing on technology and skills - to be able to really equip our young people to work in the modern world. Communications technologies will be critical - access to the Internet. All of these things, I think, are areas that the continent will need to work on to avoid these risks.”

She noted that Nigeria had a two-track story, which the McKinsey report had captured exceedingly well.

She, however, said

that the track that was not so familiar is the track of opportunity as well as the track of performance.

According to her, “the track where this country, over the past decade, has grown at about seven per cent per annum and is set - as the largest economy in Africa now with an even larger base - to continue to grow at better than six per cent.

“That performance the creation of a rising middle class and the opportunities offered for a growth driven by internal consumption,

a growth driven by the nonoil sector but really by services, by manufacturing, by agriculture that story is the one that we look to for the future that is going to provide sustainable economic development for this country.

“On the other hand, the second track is where we need to improve. It is certainly true that the type of growth, the quality of growth we’ve had in the past, needs to be radically improved because it has resulted in rising inequality. And that is not a sustainable

situation for the future.

“So we must look to greater job-creating growth to balance out this inequality equation.

And we’re certainly doing that. I believe that by focusing on agriculture and housing - which is a non-tradable sector but is very important in job creation - and all these areas, we’ll be able to provide better inclusion than we have. In addition, I think that we need to construct a social safety net to catch those at the bottom of the ladder who may not even have the skills.”

L-R: Director, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Mrs. Ayo Otaigbe; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe and Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria, Prof. Olu Akinyanju, during the presentation of a new Toyota Avanza to the foundation.

Pirates hijack ship off Nigerian waters, kill deputy commander SEA ROBBERY

Nigeria has become the epicentre of piracy in Africa Bayo Akomolafe

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crude oil tanker, MT Kalamos, has been hijacked off Nigeria waters by pirates operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Malta-flagged vessel was anchored and awaiting fresh cargo from Qua Iboe, an oil terminal in Nigeria’s South Eastern region operated by ExxonMobil, when it was boarded on Tuesday.

The Greek coastguard disclosed that the vessel’s deputy commander, a Greek, was killed while three crew members were taken hostage.

It was learnt that two

of the three hostages were Greek while Greeks make up 10 out of the total 23 crew, a spokeswoman for the coastguard told AFP. The hijacking of the 15-year-old tanker occured in the Gulf of Guinea, which experts have said was the new epicentre of piracy in Africa.

Between January and September last year, the area recorded 33 incidents of piracy and armed robbery, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

IMB said that the pirates operating off the coast of Nigeria, Togo and Benin are heavily armed and violent and often hold crews hostage for several days.

In October last year, a Denmark-based Risk Intelligence disclosed that 71 per cent of all piracy-related incidents in the Gulf of Guinea were directly related to Nigerian

crime, while even more were originating in Nigeria.

Managing Director of the firm, Hans Tino Hansen, said: “Up to the elections in February 2015, there is a risk of a relatively high level of kidnap and ransom cases.

“In the Horn of Africa, it was believed that 2015 will look a lot like 2014 with a very low level of pirate activity, but beyond 2015, it is not known if the decrease in naval operations combined with a reduction of measures implemented by the shipping industry may result in higher levels of piracy again as the capability, intent and opportunity is still in place.

“Two ‘mother ships’ belonging to pirates are currently located just south of Nigeria and five seafarers are known to be held hostage onshore.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

31

Labour

Shell, steel workers resume talks amid biggest oil strike p.32

ANAN moves to boost financial reporting through training p.32

Strike: Bearing the brunt of JOHESU, NMA’s rivalry tants to only medical doctors.

It would be recalled that while government was negotiating with the medical doctors to return to work immediately as it was prepared to meet their demands, JOHESU immediately wrote to the Ministry of Health of its plan to embark on another strike action if the government conceded to the demands of the doctors.

PAINS Patients, families take the pains whenever medical workers down tools Sunday Ojeme

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arly in the week, the Nigerian health sector that had hitherto been in coma for weeks, witnessed some of activities as the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) finally called off its threemonth old strike.

The hospitals eventually came alive a day after the leadership of the union agreed to suspend the strike which grounded the health sector throughout the period the industrial dispute lasted.

While the conflict was on, everybody believed it was strictly a battle between the workers and the Federal Government as the demands from the workers were meant for the government to handle.

The dispute The union had on November 12, 2014, embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demands including non-implementation of welfare agreement with the Federal Government.

Other demands bordered on non-recognition of health workers as consultants within the hospital, promotion of officers and increase in retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years.

The National Chairperson of the union, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said President Goodluck Jonathan, pleaded for time to review their demands with a promise to implement them.

As sensitive as the sector is to the well-being of citizens, doctors and paramedical staff often find it easy embarking on strike without considering the consequences on lives.

The fear that hangs in the air each time either of the health workers goes on strike is usually that of the situation degenerating and subsequently giving prominence to quackery and avoidable deaths.

Conflict of interest However, reading in between the lines, it has become clearer that as usual the dispute has more to do with supremacy rivalries between the medical doctors and other health workers.

This much was highlighted again during the strike when the Deputy Secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter, Peter Ogunnunbi, said that the strike was driven by rivalry with medical doctors.

In his words, “their action can only be described as biased, unjust and not serving anybody’s interest, but theirs.

“The health workers are unashamedly contesting for equality with the medical doctors.

Wabba

“Their self-centred demands obviously discourage international best practices, professionalism and patient self-centred care in the health sector.

“With their self-serving demands, quackery is going to be the order in the health sector and you will be unable to distinguish between doctors and support health staff.”

In the course of the supremacy battle that has raged for years, patients, like the proverbial grass that suffers when two elephants fight, are always the victims.

Ogunnubi’s view on the situation reflected the supremacy of the doctors in the scheme of things when he pointed out that they played the pivotal role in healthcare delivery since they are the ones that people actually go to whenever they fell sick.

According to him, “Healthcare delivery is critical to the well-being of any society and with this understanding JOHESU should put the interest of Nigerians topmost in their demands.

“However, the health workers should know that they can’t cripple the hospitals; doctors are whom patients go to see in the hospitals.

“Anywhere in the world, without doctors, there is no hospital.”

Government intervention Even the intervention of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led Presidential Committee of Experts on Inter-Professional Relationship in the Public Health Sector has not been enough to cement the relationship between the doctors and the complementary workers as the latter see the committee’s recommendation as more favourable to the doctors.

While Ogunduni sees the recommendations as a means to promote best international practices and should be embraced by all, the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institution (SSAUTHRAI), Kehinde

Obembe

Any professional who claims he is able to deliver health service alone is a quack, because western medicine is a teamwork and the focus of the team is the patient

Adegoke, believes the recommendation is lopsided to favour one side of the profession in the health sector more than others.

“It was a report we clamoured for, but we were disappointed when we saw the report.

“We are rejecting the recommendations because we can see clearly that everything has been upturned by the committee members to serve the interest of the doctors only,” Adegoke said.

He said peace would reign in the health sector if doctors could stop treating other professionals in the sector as second class citizens.

In his words, “There is no peace in the health sector because of lack of team spirit and the doctors refused to work with us as team members.

“It is not the generic right of any professional group to claim perpetual leadership.

“Any professional who claims he is able to deliver health service alone is a quack, because western medicine is a teamwork and the focus of the team is the patient.

“Since medical doctors started administering hospitals, they interpret circulars purely to favour their interest; that is injustice.”

Prior to the latest spat, the Federal Government had in the past nursed the idea of banning the two unions over the groups’ involvement in frequent industrial disputes.

Doctors’ grouse Sometime in 2014, the NMA embarked on an indefinite strike action while demanding among 24 things the payment of N13 billion wage demands for 2014, reserving the position of Chief Medical Director to only medical doctors, appointment of Surgeon General of the Federation, passage of National Health Bill, providing security for doctors, increase in duty hazard and specialist allowances, as well as budget for residency training programme, reintegration of its members into the IPPIS platform, and reserving the title of consul-

Nurses and midwives Just as NMA accused JOHESU of being self-centred in the latest strike, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) had equally described the 2014 strike by the NMA as selfish, unethical and illegal, alleging that the strike was a well calculated and orchestrated plan by the doctors to divert patients to their private clinics to milk them of their hard earned resources.

An official of NANNM, Yusuf Badmus, advised the government to have a rethink on the undue attention they give the doctors.

“The government should revert to the era when administrators administered the hospitals/health facilities while health professionals, including doctors do their professional duties that they are being paid for.

“The difference should be entry/exit points and professional/ peculiar allowances of the different cadres of workers.

“This will go a long way towards checking and preventing unhealthy rivalry and end the incessant strike action, which leaves the innocent patient to suffer,” Badmus stated.

NMA’s position The NMA President, Kayode Obembe, however, believes there is never rivalry between the doctors and paramedical staff, saying that such a thing does not exist.

Obembe said, “We are not fighting over superiority. And nobody is contending over our superiority. That’s not the language. We’ve always expressed this to the public: all the issues of superiority, leadership and harmony, in fact, don’t exist.

“It is some people fabricating that. All we have in the health sector are people who have been trained to do certain jobs. For example, as a medical doctor, one can receive training as a gynaecologist, obstetrician, radiologist and others. I cannot go and do the work of a nurse, or a medical laboratory scientist.

“It is not a question of superiority. It is not a question of one being bigger than the other. Therefore, everybody needs to work according to his profession and according to what he’s been trained for.

We’re not attaching any priority or superiority and nobody is challenging us about our superiority – our leadership. There is nobody we’re referring to as being inferior; there’s no inferiority complex we’re ascribing to anybody.”

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Project Aquila: NARTO, PEF resolve conflict TRAINING Petroleum body perfects training for transport owners on e-loading Stories by Sunday Ojeme

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he disagreement between members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund over operation of the Project Aquila has been resolved. The resolution is also coming with a commitment from PEF to enlighten NARTO members as a way of consolidating the payment of petroleum products bridging.

A communiqué issued at a reconciliatory meeting called by the Executive Secretary of PEF, Mrs. Adefunke Kasali, said all the issues raised by NARTO had been addressed especially their grouse over Project Aquila.

The communiqué noted that payments for marketers claim for transportation of refined petroleum products were being carried out on a constant and continuous basis, adding that due diligence had been concluded on all manual claims and those found not to have met the minimum requirements for processing payment were yet to be returned to the concerned marketers.

She said claims that passed the minimum requirement tests had been processed and paid just as she stressed the need for sustained dialogue between PEF and NARTO with a view to striking a cordial working alliance.

A few weeks ago, NARTO gave the Federal Government a 10-day ultimatum to rectify some issues with PEF on Project Aquila or risk seeing members head for another round of strike.

The association executive said that it was under pressure from its members to suspend

its operations of distributing petroleum products all over the country pending when the issues would be resolved.

According to the President of the association, Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, NARTO was compelled to issue the ultimatum over some challenges its members were confronted with as a result of the implementation of Project Aquila by the Board of the PEF. Project Aquila, introduced

by PEF in 2011, is an electronic business solution meant to help monitor the loading, transportation and delivery of petroleum products at all depots. During the launch, the management of PEF had said that cases of illegal transactions in the downstream sector of the petroleum sector would be largely curtailed with Project Aquila.

The e-loading process is aimed at ensuring that products loaded are not diverted by the truck drivers. The objective of the project is to guarantee delivery of products to

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo; General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Etienne Gailliez and Executive Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Okaima Ohizua, at a reception hosted at Transcorp Hilton Abuja in honour of the Hotel’s GM for winning the Hilton Worldwide 2014 MEA President’s Award

ANAN moves to boost financial reporting through training

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he Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) has finalised plans to offer training on financial statements to the benefits of those in the private and public sectors.

The body of accountants is partnering IASeminars to deliver on the project, according to a statement made available

by ANAN. The statement affirmed that the financial topics would include courses

on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), adding that the courses would be offered in Nigeria and in other countries.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had announced that Nigeria would adopt the provisions of IFRS and IPSAS in the private and public sectors, organisations across the country have been busy implementing these bench-

marks of global best practices, otherwise expected to do so in the near future.

This has generated the need for high-quality training on these complex international rules which ANAN and IASeminars are well-placed to provide.

The President and Chairman of the Council of ANAN, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode said, “ANAN is pleased to work with IASeminars on this important project.

designated depots, thereby helping ascertain actual consumption levels of various petroleum products for planning purposes.

During the launch, PEF said it would ensure errorfree documentation and processing of transactions; enhance faster processing and payment of claims; eliminate human interferences and enthrone transparency and full accountability in the board’s activities. It also affirmed that the board would be making history as the first agency in the downstream sector to implement such an electronic loading solution to monitor loading and delivery of petroleum products.

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Shell, steel workers resume talks amid biggest oil strike oyal Dutch Shell Plc and known as the out-of-pocket R United Steelworkers lead- maximum, he said. ers met on Tuesday to disFisher said in an e-mailed cuss a new three-year labor contract as U.S. oil workers extended the biggest refinery strike since 1980 into a third day.

Shell, negotiating the contract on behalf of oil companies, and the United Steelworkers resumed talks on Tuesday after an initial meeting late Monday, company and union spokesmen said. The USW, representing employees at more than 200 refineries, terminals, pipelines and chemical plants, began a strike at nine sites on Sunday after negotiations broke down.

The plants on strike account for 10 percent of US refinery capacity. One site has curbed production and a full walkout of USW workers would threaten to disrupt as much as 64 percent of U.S. fuel output. Union leaders haven’t called a strike nationally since 1980, when a stoppage lasted three months. Shell and union officials began negotiations on Jan. 21 amid the biggest collapse in oil prices since 2008.

“There’s no guarantee that if we can’t get back to bargaining we won’t increase the number of refineries” on strike, USW international president Leo Gerard said in a phone interview from Pittsburgh on Monday.

All nine sites remain on strike, Lynne Hancock, a USW spokeswoman in Nashville, Tennessee, said by phone on Tuesday.

The union has rejected five offers made by Shell on behalf of companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp.

The USW has been asking employers for better healthcare benefits and measures to prevent fatigue and keep union workers rather than contract employees on the job, Gerard said. The company refused to discuss lowering the $7,500 that workers must pay annually before health insurance kicks in 100 percent,

response late Monday that Shell is “committed to providing competitive pay and benefits.”

The refineries on strike can produce 1.82 million barrels of fuel a day, data compiled by Bloomberg show. They span the U.S., from Tesoro’s plants in Martinez and Carson, California; and Anacortes, Washington, to Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Catlettsburg complex in Kentucky to three sites in Texas, according to the USW’s statement.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil jumped $3.48 a barrel to settle at $53.05 a barrel Tuesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gasoline for March delivery added 5.67 cents to $1.6013 a gallon, and the diesel contract for the same month gained 8.9 cents to $1.8465.

In Texas, Shell’s Deer Park complex, Marathon’s Galveston Bay plant and LyondellBasell Industries NV’s Houston facility are affected, according to the union.

United Steelworkers members do everything from operating units to performing maintenance to testing and analyzing samples in labs at U.S. refineries, Hancock said by phone Monday.

Lyondell, Marathon, Shell and Tesoro have contingency plans in place to keep refineries operating, company statements show. The walkout also includes Marathon’s Houston Green cogeneration plant in Texas and Shell’s Deer Park chemical plant.

Tesoro said on Tuesday that it was shutting process units at the Golden Eagle refinery near Martinez, California, since half of its processing capacity was already offline for maintenance. Its Anacortes and Carson refineries are operating, Tina Barbee, a spokeswoman at the company’s headquarters in San Antonio, said by e-mail.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

FG trains women on improving cassava value chain p.34 PLANNING Scheme becomes imperative as it is long overdue

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he Federal Government has concluded plans to conduct a census of livestock in the country. The exercise will include all domesticated animals nationwide.

Notable livestock listed for enumeration include cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, poultry, guinea fowl, pigeon, geeze, pigs, giant rats, snails, horses and camels, among others.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja where the final input for the livestock enumeration exercise plan was x-rayed,

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Agric

NVMA allays fear over bird flu p.35

Govt begins livestock enumeration the Team Leader, Poultry Value Chain of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Funsho Sonaiya, explained that the scheme had become necessary because it was long overdue.

He called for the cooperation of farmers to ensure the success of the programme.

He assured the farmers that the livestock census was not about tax computation, hence the need to be sincere and not hide some of the animals from the enumerators when they come around.

Sonaiya further explained that the exercise would help the Federal Government with accurate data for planning and

better policy formulation.

Relying on information from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Sonaiya said that livestock products account for half of the total value of agricultural gross output in industrialised countries and about a third in developing nations.

He said: “Livestock products contribute substantially to national economies. Animal products such as meat, milk and eggs help to enhance human nutrition. Animal products lead to the establishment of industries on cotton and clothes (animal furs); diary products (milk, egg, cheese among others); leather prod-

ucts (hides and skin); pharmaceutical products; ornamentals; bio-diversity and many others along the value chain.

“Livestock production leads to improved rural livelihood.

It provides an alternative to the landless farmer and diversification for landed farmer. It embodies savings and reserves against emergencies and has a good return on investment.”

The forum was attended by the Director of the newly established Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ademola Raji, Provost of the College of Agriculture, heads of animal

Livestock

Kebbi boosts agric exports with new airport he Sir Ahmadu Bello In- agriculture and investment T ternational Airport (SA- potential of the state.”

BIA), Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi Kebbi exports farm proState, has been described as a good avenue to boost agricultural exports potentials of the state.

Built by the Alhaji Usman Saidu Dakingari-led administration, the airport is also described as a product for economic development.

Its director-general, Mr Abubakar Muhammad, said: “Kebbi State is an agrarian society that focuses on agriculture. The presence of the facility means that the raw materials from agriculture and the processed one, as the case maybe, can be exported easily to any part of the world.

We have also developed this airport to the standard that we believe that it would attract international cargo and passenger airlines in the near future, considering the huge

duce like onions, maize and rice to North African countries, Asia and local markets in Lagos, Kano, the South East and South South. It is the largest onion and rice producer in the country.

Muhammad said that to empower the farmers economically, the state government had realised that exporting the produce from an airport in the state would be cost saving, more profitable and less rigorous.

He said that government was building an agricultural conditioning centre where farm produce would be preserved for export, adding that the state government expanded the existing airport due to the need to accommodate large body aircraft to operate into the state.

research institutes, veterinary research centres, leaders of various livestock associations and representatives of the supporting international organisations.

The planned census was scripted to establish and enhance the database of resources within the economy for more effective planning under the present administration’s economic diversification agenda.

At the moment, the country does not have a reliable data of its livestock population. The last time the nation conducted a random survey of livestock in selected states was in 1990, which even failed to produce a dependable data that could guide formulators on proper policy planning and framework development for the sub-sector.

FAO had prescribed headcounts for livestock in every economy at least once in every decade.

Essentially, the census is expected to determine the contribution of livestock within the context of the agriculture sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Specifically, the exercise is expected to help in proper planning and policy for the development of the livestock industry; determine the type of technical and financial assistance for industry operators; give farmers opportunity of contributing to decisions that affect them; reduce poverty by promoting the employment and enhancing the income of the farmers; and assist investors’ decision on type, volume and location of projects.

Insurgency: 60,000 farmers abandon farmland Dele Alao

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o fewer than 60,000 farmers are said to have abandoned their farms following the insurgence in some parts of the Northern states, with over 30,800 acres of rice farmlands left unattended to.

An agricultural science lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Abba Gambo, said: “No one can move a kilometre due to fear in the Borno State capital. Most of them have fled their homes.

“There is looming food insecurity and, definitely, prices will go up because supply will fall,” Gambo added.

A farmer, Mala Duguri, who noted that most of the farmers grew onions, watermelons, wheat, rice and cowpeas, said: “The soil is very fertile, but, unfortunately, we are in a state of fear.”

A fish seller in Maiduguri, Mohammed Sani, said: “Before this Boko Haram insurgency,

we used to load 40 trucks with fish to the south every week on market days. But now, it has reduced to five trucks; maximum seven a week.”

Reports said that over 1.5 million people, mostly farmers, have been forced to flee their homes as Boko Haram intensified its insurgency in the past year.

The worst hit states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa produce such staple foods as cowpeas, rice, millet, sorghum, corn and yam, as well as tomatoes, onion, fish and livestock.

But, the president of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, in an interview with the New Telegraph, said that the insurgency would not in any way affect food security, but the implementation of the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme. The Federal Government, under the GES scheme, offers farm

inputs across agricultural value chains to farmers.

The AFAN president noted that the GES scheme was not having the desired effects as most farmers complain of not getting the inputs on time or getting it at prices beyond their reaches.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, at the Agric Festival Celebration held a few weeks ago, said: “Today, we have top leaders of the business sector who are investing massively in agriculture.

With the fall in the price of crude oil, agriculture has become the new oil for Nigeria. In the last three years, over 14 million farmers have received their subsidised seeds and fertilizers via e-wallets under the GES programme. Many of them are women, who never used to get subsidised fertilizers and seeds from government.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG trains women on improving cassava value chain EMPOWERMENT Participants learn about the production, processing and income generation Stories by Dele Alao

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five-day training programme for girls and women in cassava processing, packaging and marketing has commenced in Abia State.

It is part of efforts of the Federal Government to empower women that play vital roles in agriculture and fight against marginalisation of the female gender.

The programme, which is holding at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, was organised by the

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with Growing Girls and Women (G- WIN) in Nigeria Initiative.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from Akwa Ibom, Imo, Lagos, Edo and Abia, the host state.

The emphasis is on cassava production, processing and how to make income out of the business, otherwise known as value addition, using the female gender.

The Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Hilary Edeoga, while declaring the workshop open, pointed out that the introduction of value addition into cassava would reduce waste and convert it to other uses.

In their separate speeches, the Acting Director, Centre for

he farm machinery group and the maker of Fendt and Massey Ferguson equipment, Agco, has cautioned of a further deterioration in the farm equipment market and in its own sales and profits, after an accelerating decline in earnings last year.

It said: “Lower commodity prices” this year would dent farm income, “pressuring industry demand cross the developed agricultural equipment markets.”

Industry tractor sales will drop five to 10 per cent in Western Europe and North America in 2015, after declines of nine per cent and two per cent respectively last year.

The firm’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Martin Richenhagen, said: “We expect weaker end market demand and currency headwinds to make 2015 more challenging than 2014.

“We expect the (negative) trends to continue, resulting in softer demand in all major farm equipment markets.”

The decline will depress Agco’s net sales to a fiveyear low of $8.1 billion - 8.3 billion, down at least 15 per cent on the 2014 result.

Underlying earnings per share will be $3.00, also a five-year low and down from the $4.70 per share achieved last year.

Nonetheless, Agco shares jumped over five per cent to a four-month high of

$47.10 in early deals in New York, before easing back to $46.30, a gain of 3.6 per cent on the day.

The group’s earningsper-share forecast for 2015 was marginally above the figure Wall Street has pencilled in, and its results for October-to-December quarter deteriorated less markedly than investors had expected.

Revenues of $2.49 billion for the quarter, while down 13.1 per cent year-on-year, beat market expectations by some $70 million.

Underlying earnings per share of $1.18 trounced forecasts of a $0.67 per-share result, if falling behind the $1.40 per share achieved a year before.

The better-than-expected result reflected moves

by Agco to cut production and costs in reaction to the market downturn.

“Despite softening market demand in the fourth quarter, we made solid progress with both inventory reduction and our expense savings programme,” Richenhagen said, flagging a 20 per cent drop in output in the latest quarter, and cost cutting which is on track to hit targets for this year.

“Through a combination of layoffs, temporary furloughs, and the dismissal of temporary employees, we lowered our workforce by over nine per cent from year-ago levels.”

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains

Agency facilitates agro-tourism for farmers, others

I

T

Gender and Child Development of the institution, Mrs. Georgina Edeoga and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Echono, said that the workshop would enhance comprehension, quick understanding and retention of key production concepts that would facilitate speedy and effective establishment of private cassava processing enterprises in the localities of the graduate trainees.

While delivering a paper on ‘cassava processing, packaging and marketing, value addition to cassava,’ the Professor of Human Nutrition Dietetics, Ada Uwaegbute, said that some of the initiatives that could add value and impact positively on nutrition include selective breeding of nutrient rich cassava and complementation with other crops.

Cassava tubers

n a bid to improve the income of farmers and unlock the potentials in the agricultural sector, an international tour operator, Hadur Travel and Tours, is facilitating agro-tourism for farmers and agribusiness investors.

The need for wealth and job creation in agribusiness ventures through agro-tourism brought together farmers and entrepreneurs under the platform of Hadur Travel and Tours, recently in Lagos.

Agro tourism is the practice of utilising the art and science of producing crops and animals for aesthetics and pleasure. It could take people, including farmers, to attraction centres like game reserves, dams, festivals/exhibitions and farm sites/structures, among others.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Hadur Travel and Tours, Olufunke

Agco warns 2015’ll be more challenging

Taiwo, agro-tourism holds a lot of prospects for the economy.

“Agro-tourism is a potential money spinner as it leads to creation of agribusiness ventures; it is a source of wealth, using agriculture as reference point,” the CEO said.

She added that acquiring knowledge in an environment that was suited to the environment in Nigeria and other African countries, which utilises the latest cutting-edge, but simple technologies was available on the African soil at the Songhai Centre, in Port Novo, Benin Republic.

“Therefore, for about three years, Hadur Travel and Tours, pioneer of agrotourism in Nigeria, has been at the fore-front of taking knowledge-seeking tourists to this centre and other places to acquire agribusiness knowledge. At the centre, the intricacies

of farming are practised with latest easy-to-utilise technologies. The centre was founded by Godfery Nzamujo, a Dominican reverend father, in 1985,” she said.

The CEO noted that when agro-tourists or trainees come to the Songhai Centre, they choose which aspects of the production they could adopt.

Also, speaking at the forum, Head, Forest Iinformation Technology, Lagos Ministry of Agriculture, Adewunmi Adeyemi, said: “agro-tourism will afford you the opportunity to diversify your goals. The downward crash of oil the country is experiencing is the effect of building the economy around crude oil.

It is what people can see to relax with so they can learn from it.”

Participants were taught on how to start, grow and improve their businesses.

Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 521-6 388-2 990-2 343.4 30.99 289-6 10.545 564-6 580-0

Change -1-2 -2-6 -16-0 -9.2 +0.03 +4-0 -0.155 +1-2 -5-0

Contract Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15

Time(ET) 11:34 11:34 11:34 11:34 11:34 11:30 11:28 11:33 11:34

Price 61.70 140.40 167.00 14.69 2778 24.80 1.6075 0.1437 2724.00 0.6145 315.30

Change +0.04 -1.65 +4.75 -0.08 +33 -0.15 -0.0170 -0.0010 +33.00 +0.0156 -3.80

Contract Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15

Time(ET) 11:34 11:34 11:34 11:34 11:34 02/03/15 02/03/15 08:52 10:56 02/03/15 11:32

Price 154.775 200.575 66.425 15.91

Change -0.100 -1.550 -1.675 -0.12

Contract Feb 15 Mar 15 Feb 15 Feb 15

Time(ET) 11:34 11:34 11:33 11:23

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Sugar #16 CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2 Lumber

Meats Commodity Live Cattle Feeder Cattle Lean Hogs Class III Milk

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

Business | Agric

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NVMA allays fear over bird flu SUCCESS

Farms screens across the state Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has allayed the fears of Oyo State residents over the recently reported outbreak of Avian Influenza, otherwise called ‘Bird flu,’ saying that it had been contained.

Its President, Dr. Edgar Amos, thanked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Devel-

opment, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina “for his zeal, commitment and creativity in the steps so far taken to curb the spread of the disease.”

He said that the association had worked in concert with poultry association operators in screening the birds, while advising the people to cook all poultry products very well before eating.

“Once such is done, any infection in them would have died and not capable of affecting humans,” he said.

Corroborating Edgar’s claim, the Oyo State chapter Chairman of the association, Dr. Ibrahim Adekunle, told New Telegraph that there were some pockets of the bird flu incidences in certain parts

of the state.

“But it has been contained lest it spread to other parts of the state. We have been working with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to screen their farms across the state,” he said.

The duo, however, expressed worry at the dearth of veterinary experts in government employment, a factor said to be inimical to quick arrest of any animal diseases.

Edgar therefore called on the federal and state governments to give priority to employment of more veterinarians to prevent spread of animal diseases and its future occurrence.

According to him, Nigeria could not afford to lose animal

protein, which is essential for healthy living, more so that “such portends grim implications for our country’s economy, especially in the wake of the oil price slump in the international market.”

Confirming the shortage of personnel in Oyo State, Adekunle said that only 16 veterinarians are in the employ of the state government to service its 33 local governments, a situation he described as unacceptable considering the fact that “health of animals is the health of human beings.”

With the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ambali Hammed, represented by an Assistant Director Dr. Segun Oriade, Oba Kamarudeen San-

35

si (the Esure Of Ijebu Mushin, Ogun State) and others in attendance, Adekunle, said that of the 16 veterinarians in Oyo State government’s employ, “six are senior officers working in the offices, while only ten attend to the animal needs and abattoirs in the whole state.”

He said that animals being slaughtered at the Bodija Abattoir were not being inspected by veterinary doctors as expected. He advised Governor Abiola Ajimobi to stand his ground on ensuring that butchers at Bodija be moved to the newly-commissioned ultramodern abattoir at Akinyele where adequate care can be taken to have wholesome meat supplied to the markets.

IITA trains youths from six countries

O

ver 60 youth from six African countries are attending the business training “Empowering Agripreneurs on Agripreneural and Business Management.”

The training, which is ending today, takes place at the headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State.

In his address at the opening session of business training for young entrepreneurs in agriculture, the Regional Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Lekan Quadri, who represented the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, noted that youths in agriculture provide biggest potential for mass job creation in Africa The creation of business opportunities for unemployed youth in the agricultural sector is at the center stage of an African-wide initiative led by the IITA. The Director General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, said that the IITA Youth Agripreneurs was a landmark programme that provided youth from diverse disciplines training and opportunities to engage in agricultural business or entrepreneurship. During the opening programme, he urged participants to proactively seek synergies for answering needs in the development of youth and agriculture.

“The African Development Bank (ADB) has declared a big interest in partnership engagement for youth and agriculture, the reason why I call upon you for your ideas and support,” he said.

The director general, who noted that he did not see a development in Africa without unemployed youth engaging in agriculture, explained that inclusive growth of the continent could be achieved through the joint implementation of mech-

anisms in agribusiness, which would work for both farmers and consumers.

“A young ‘agripreneur’ coming from a communication background is working with fish now. First, you might think communication and fish - where is the link?, but when you start understanding how sales figures of fish products can increase throughout value chains by involving young people coming from different sectors, such as communication or marketing, it might become an eye-opener for you in engaging in new partnership opportunities,” Sanginga said.

Guests at the opening included representatives from the private sector, including Ekimiks Nigeria Limited, Durante Fish Industry, Skretting Nutreco Company, the University of Ibadan (UI) and FMARD. A former Registrar of UI, Chief Moji Ladipo, spoke on the importance of being prepared for opportunities.

Ladipo encouraged participants to be passionate about what they do.

The Chief Executive Officer, Ekimiks Nigeria Limited and sponsor of the workshop, Mr. Ekiyor Tope Miriki, said that the programme was designed to not only create opportunities, but to also help young people exit the unemployment cycle. “With the business survival rate being less than 50 per cent, a business in agriculture is even more demanding due to the economics involved in the process,” he said.

IITA-established Youth Agripreneurs scheme, is piloting an approach that consists of young women and men focusing on promoting agriculture among other young people through training and demonstration on agricultural best practices and the value chain in Nigeria. The scheme also supports initiatives in Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya, and Mozambique.

Poultry birds

World Bank, FG to plant 1,000 hectares of cassava in Kogi

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he World Bank, in conjunction with the Federal Government, will soon commence the planting of 1,000 hectares of cassava in Kogi State under the Fadama III additional financing programme.

World Bank Task Team Leader for Fadama III in Nigeria, Dr. Abimbola Adubi, said this during inspection visits to Ogale and Ire-Suare cassava farms in Ijumu and Adavi local government areas of the state.

Adubi said that the bank had been able to experiment with 100 hectares of cassava farms in the state on a 25-hectare per location in Ogale, Ire-Suare, Alape and Magongo, using smallholder farmers.

He said: “I am impressed with what I have seen. We are thinking of planting about 1,000 hectares of cassava, using small hold-

er farmers. What we have been able to do is to start with 100 hectares, using cluster farmer groups. Fadama III was able to assist the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government.”

Adubi urged the farmers to view agriculture from the perspective of business, which they could use to train their children, build houses and live comfortably, just like those who are working for government and other institutions.

On the possibility of a market for the cassava being produced, he said that there would be a staple crop-processing zone in the area with Cagyl and some other manufacturing factories coming to Kogi.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Smallholder Cluster Farmers at Ire-Suare 25-hectare cassava farm, Mallam Sadiku Otaru, said

that though the cassava stem cuttings for planting were of good specie, the supplier brought the third batch in December when the soil no longer had moisture.

Also at Ogale, Chairman of the 25-member farmers’ association, Chief Vincent Adesina, said though the fertilizers and agro-chemicals came early, last batch of the cuttings came late resulting in cumulative loss of two hectares.

The traditional ruler of Ogale, Michael Otitoju, said that farmers in the area have no problem with Fulani herdsmen as some of them were members of the farmers’ association and commended the Federal Government and World Bank for the project.

The team was on the second Joint World Bank/FGN supervision mission on the implementation of Fadama III additional financing project in the state.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

36

Auto Beat

AFCON: Nissan stakes Qashqai in ‘Goal of the Tournament Competition’

N

issan is bringing the Goal of the Tournament competition to the 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament and giving fans and players the chance to win big. Goal of the Tournament gives fans across Africa the opportunity to vote on Orange AFCON 2015’s best and most exciting goals. By voting, they stand to win a Nissan Qashqai at the end of the tournament.

Roel de-Vries, Corporate Vice President, Global Head of Marketing, Communications & Brand Strategy – Nissan, explains, “The Goal of the Tournament competition gives football fans the chance to interact with the Orange AFCON tournament in a way that translates the excitement of the pitch directly onto their computer screens and into their lives. This is all part of our Engineers of Excitement programme, which aims to enhance the experience of football fans.”

Nissan has partnered with SuperSport to further enhance this experience. Football fans will be able to vote once a day for their favourite goals on Nissan’s Goal of the Tournament competition page onsupersport. com – available on the web and via mobile. Voting started once the first tournament goal was scored and remain open until the end of the final game. Goals will be added to the entry form within five to 15 minutes after being scored. In addition, fans will be able to view all goals again, with clips being loaded onto the webpage within 15 minutes after the end of each game.

At the end of Orange AFCON 2015, CAF will select the best goal of the tournament, and all fan votes cast for this goal will go into a draw, with the winning fan being randomly selected

after the final match on 8 February 2015.

The lucky winner will drive away in a brand new Nissan Qashqai.

The player who scores the winning goal in Goal of the Tournament will also be presented with a trophy at the final to celebrate their performance in the Orange AFCON tournament. Renowned British jeweler and luxury goods house, Asprey, famed for its sporting trophy design and manufacture, most notably for Wimbledon and the Barclay’s English Premier League, created the one-ofa-kind trophy.

Loren Craig, Head of Marketing Communications at Asprey, explains, “Asprey’s in-house designers have worked to ensure the style line and aesthetic of the Goal of the Tournament trophy is in keeping with the main competition trophy. The sterling silver trophy has been created by Asprey’s skilled artisans in our silver workshops, using a

range of traditional silversmithing techniques.”

Nissan is the official automotive sponsor of Orange AFCON – another example of its dedication to exciting sports which already includes the brand’s proud sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Olympic Teams GB and Mexico, NCAA Football, Heisman Trophy, Canadian Football League and GT-R ambassador Usain Bolt – a renowned football fan.

The interior of the Nissan Quashqai

The Nissan Quashqai

Global auto sales to hit 88.6m in 2015 Paul Ogbuokiri

F

ueled by growth in North America and China, global light vehicle sales are expected to reach 88.6 million in 2015, according to research by IHS Automotive.

That would be a 2.4-per cent increase compared with 2014 and would continue the industry’s recovery in the wake of the global economic meltdown. While IHS expects continued expansion this year in key markets, growth is slowing worldwide amid uncertainty in Russia and South America.

IHS predicts North American sales will increase 2.5 per cent to 20 million units this year spurred by continued strength in the US market, which could reach 16.9 million sales. The IHS findings mirror research from other firms,

including Morgan Stanley and TrueCar, which are calling for around 17 million sales in the United States as fuel prices remain low, consumer confidence is strong and financing is readily available.

China, meanwhile, is forecast to grow seven per cent to 25.2 million vehicles this year, as consumers get better access to financing, dealership networks expand and the government supports scrappage programmes designed to spur sales. Premium vehicles are expected to show strength and account for more than two million sales this year, increasing 15 per cent over 2014. The SUV sector is also expanding to secure 28 per cent of the market, a slight upturn from last year as drivers look to the segment to meet their changing needs, said Lin Huaibin, IHS Automotive manager for its China light vehicle sales forecast.

Still, IHS is tempering its growth projections due to uncertainty in Russia, which could affect other markets in Europe. Russia, which is in a deep recession, dealing with volatile currency and facing broader war in Ukraine, is expected to see its vehicle sales dwindle to just 1.8 million units, a drop of 27 per cent from last year and a 40-per cent collapse compared with 2012 sales, IHS says.

Conversely, auto sales in Western European nations are expected to increase three per cent this year, following a fivepercent leap in 2014. India is also seen as stabilizing, IHS says, and is expected to swing into a growth period after two down years.

IHC says auto sales would also increase slightly by two per cent in Nigeria inspite of the slowing growth of the economy in 2015 occasioned by declin-

ing revenue from oil. Nigeria imported 400,000 vehicles last years. Out of that number, 100,000 were new vehicles while the rest were used.

IHS also sees a weakening auto sector in South America, as its largest market, Brazil, slips to 3.25 million sales amid weak job generation, tighter financing and an increase in the industry tax.

Meanwhile, the auto industry kept up the pace in January as demand for trucks and sport-utility vehicles continued to lift sales.

Automakers seemed to carry momentum into a traditionally slow month for the industry. Sales in December were much stronger than anticipated, annual sales reached their highest level since 2006.

Sales are expected to post another year of growth, but at a slower rate, in 2015.

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

37

Though I am the proprietress, I teach in a class, says Estaport boss An educationist of note, Biola Awote, the proprietress of Estaport Schools has transformed the school to one of the best international schools in Lagos. She inherited it from her mother, a former Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Mobolaji Adekunle Osomo. A great philanthropist with bias for children, she had a chat with EBERE AMEH where she disclosed, among other things, her love for sports. Excerpts

T

hough she is the Director and Proprietress of Estaport Schools, one of the best international schools in Lagos, Biola Awote still teaches in class and she is enjoying it. She believes strongly that leaders should lead by example and it is working for her. What with her highly dedicated teachers and a flourishing school?

“I strongly believe that people should lead by example. That is when you make the most impact. Though I am the director and proprietress of the school, I don’t do office work, I teach in a class and I enjoy doing it. I just love children. I facilitate training for teachers in many places too,” Biola explained.

Even as she advocates that people should lead by example, she also maintains that people in every field should get qualitative training and know their onions as one cannot give what one doesn’t have.

“I am able to confidently train teachers because I am trained. I go for training everywhere - South Africa, United States, United Kingdom, everywhere, and I found that they’ve gone so far in terms of technology. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, it is the private schools that are striving to meet up.

So in contributing my own quota to the strengthening of education in Nigeria, I gather schools in my area and train them. I teach the teachers how to become effective teachers, how to use their iPad in class to teach, how to use the interactive board, and so many ways they can better impart knowledge smartly to the children.”

Bemoaning the falling standard of education in Nigeria, Biola, who passed her A Levels at St. Andrews College, Cambridge, despite attending a public school in Nigeria says she is certain that if the right person is made to manage education in Nigeria, there will be more positive results.

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Biola Awote

“I really think we need the right people to manage education in Nigeria, People who have passion for education. I don’t think it is right to put an engineer to run education in Nigeria. We need round pegs in round holes. They can put a former head of school to man that office.

He or she will know the wants and the needs of the schools and work hard to provide them. When the right person is put at the top, he or she will see the need of our public schools and ensure that they are at par with schools in other parts of the world.”

One may be tempted to think that Biola is a nerd going by her passion for education, but no. She has other interests too but only believes that anything and everything that is worth doing is worth doing well. She is a sport enthusiast – a taekwondo black belt holder, President of Boys Scout, Bariga, Lagos, who also swims and plays football. Little wonder she is full

of energy and simply in excellent shape.

Outside education and sports, Biola is an impenitent philanthropist and confesses her love for children. Though she is ever out to support other charities, she does not have a plan of establishing one herself.

“I am a matron in the red cross and I am into other charity organizations. I love anything that has to do with orphanages. I just love children. Because we are much older, I think the children should have people to care for them, people they could look up to. As for establishing a charity organization, I don’t have that plan. What I do is I support other charities. There are so many charities and everybody must not establish a charity. Let us support the ones that are already there.”

Despite her numerous engagements, Biola, who is married to an Engineer, whom she described as a good friend, very understanding

husband and God fearing father to his lovely kids; still juggles work and family well. Underscoring the need for planning, she thanked God for the teaching profession, which gives teachers ample time to care for their families.

“My work starts at 7:15am and ends at 4:30 pm. My kids are with me in the school, so I’m always with them. We go in the morning and go home together.

When we get home, the role of a mother and wife take over. Luckily, I have a husband who is very caring and understanding. For us teachers, we have more on our sides because of holidays.

At every holiday, we spend it with our families; we get fantastic holidays than any profession and our weekends are our weekends, only if we have training.

That gives me a lot of opportunity to take care of my family.

It’s been wonderful. I have been in the teaching profession since 1996 and I’m happy I came here because it gives me room to do other things.”

Biola obtained a degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Keele, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

She took over the running of Estaport Schools, which was established by her mother, when she relocated from England to Nigeria in 1996.

Talking about life as a Minister’s daughter, Biola, who wanted to be a diplomat said it has advantages and disadvantages.

“My mom has always been in the limelight ever since I was eight years old. I grew up in Ondo State, Akure, to be precise. I was still young when she became a commissioner under Governor Adekunle Ajasin. It has it’s advantages and its disadvantages. People look at you and feel that you should exceed your parents in greatness. That you should excel much more than them. Those are very big shoes for one to wear. But on the other hand, you get to meet people, it opens doors.”

Amid all her numerous engagements, the top-notch educationist, sport enthusiast and philanthropist of note, who said she is fulfilled, relaxes by reading and travelling.

38

Feminique

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Safe sex is not just about pregnancy

W

henever we talk about safe sex, the impression is usually that we are talking about how to prevent pregnancy. This is far from the truth.

Safe sex is also about sexually transmitted diseases. This is the topic we shall focus on today.

Sometime in the future we shall discuss the different methods of family planning.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or infection, (STI) are infections transmitted from one person to an other through sexual contact.

Whilst it is true that sexually transmitted diseases affect both men and women but women generally have bigger and more serious medical challenges when infected.

Although I will be using the phrase STD in this write up, it is not quite interchangeable with STI. The difference is quite simple. STI refers to the infections and STD refers to the diseases. You must have the infection before progressing to the disease. A lot of people harbor the infection for a long time without coming down

Ebere Ameh

D

anny called later to apologise for his wife’s rudeness. He had to leave the house to make the call to me. From what he got from her, after they settled, it was those their friends we bumped into a couple of times that innocently revealed to Nneka about our relationship. They thought she had moved on but when they told her about him, she got green with envy and decided to deal with him.

“I shrugged it off but, was jolted to that nasty action when I got wind of your Christmas escapade. I vowed to deal with her ruthlessly for taking my husband,” she told him.

“Are you still her husband? But she jilted you,” I asked Danny, desperate to know my fate. Did she expect you to remain celibate all your life? What about the man you said she was dating? Why does she want you back?”

I’m coming there to show her the stuff I’m made of. Nobody takes my man with such impunity,” I boasted to him.

“Calm down Ego, I’ll get it all sorted out. You just have to be patient with me,” he said calmly.

“Patient! Patient you say, when...”

I was still ‘boiling’ and talking when he interrupted with what I consider a bigger blow.

“I’m asking for your patience because I may need to go back with her next week and see the kids. Hopefully, we shall get everything sorted out and I’ll come for you. Please don’t come here yet.”

Those last lines hit me like a thunderbolt. ‘Go back with her?’, ‘Sort things out?’ ‘Don’t come here yet?’

Can you imagine that? I just switched off the phone. Though he tried calling back and I refused to pick his call.

I don’t blame him. I blame myself.

He was good in every way. I loved him, nay, i still do, but can I force him to be mine? He was caring, endearing but careful with his words. He was careful not to propose. I think I was stupid to

with the disease. But they can still infect other people. A very typical example is the HIV infection and then the AIDS disease. Hence the phrase HIV/AIDS. So what are these STDs? As at today, STDs are caused by over 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites.

They are spread primarily during sex. This includes oral sex, anal sex and vaginal sex. Many of these STDs can also be spread through non sexual routes. The most common ones are blood products such as blood transfusion and sharing of injection needles. This is common with drug addicts. I have also heard about some unscrupulous healthcare providers who recycle needles or use the same needle for different patients. Please, before you allow yourself to be given an injection, inform the injector, that you want a new needle and syringe.

It is a right and not a privilege. It is also your life, which has no duplicate as we say. I used the word injector deliberately. The reason is this. By law, only doctors paramedics and nurses are trained to give injections because

if wrongly given, complications can occur. And some of them are irreversible. Such complications include injection abscess and paralysis of the leg. But in Nigeria as usual, anything goes. Nigerians love being given injections.

They even boast about it. It is not unusual to hear people say with pride that when they were ill, they were given 15 injections in each buttock.

Others will tell you they had some ninu isan owo. Meaning the veins of the hand. So the bottom line is that every Tunde, Danladi and Okafor gives injections and rips off the gullible and ignorant ones. Now back to STIs and STDs.Currently, eight of the over 30 identified pathogens have been linked to serious medical challenges. Out of the eight infections, four are currently curable. These are, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis. The remaining four are viral in origin. They are not curable now but can be properly managed. These are Hepatitis B, Herpes, HIV and HPV. Make no joke about it.

Incidences of STI and STD are in-

Fadeyi

creasing yearly in leaps and bounds.

Ignorance, gullibility, promiscuity and decreasing health standards are some of the main culprits. See you next week when we shall go deeper into some of them and then the almighty HIV/AIDS. Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship.

He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom After rain comes sunshine

fall so helplessly for him. Yes I was. Its painful. The void he has left, nobody can fill. Yes, I will never allow anybody to fill.

I am not jinxed, no, I have just been serially stupid.

“Mom, are you okay?” Tosin asked when she yanked the door open and met me lost in thought. “You didn’t hear my knock? Your eyes are red,” she asked with so much concern.

Are you crying mom, are you tired, should I make food for you?, she queried, jumping on my bed, grabbing me from the back and rocking me, as if to force words out of my mouth.

Suddenly, Tobi came in, ball in hand and sweat all over. I knew I was in for more trouble if I didn’t do something fast.

“Ok, Tosin, you can cook for me, but I will supervise. Tobi

shall we go out? See how sweaty you are” Yuppie! I’m making dinner for everybody today, yes! Tosin exclaimed and jumped up to give me a thank you kiss before zooming out possibly to tell Ekaete.

Tobi was not to be bothered about what Tosin and I were talking about. With worry written all over his face, he managed to get a chance to talk when Tosin ran out.

Mom! mom! He called, tugging at my skirt and panting.

Mom, Ikenna stumbled at the playground and there is blood on his leg.”

“Hei! Where is he?

We ran out to see the little boy crying on top of his voice. Thank God, it was just a scratch. But there is blood

anyway.

“Its Ok Ikenna, I’Il clean you up and you’ll be well. But if you don’t stop crying, I will have to get iodine.”

“Noo, I won’t cry again ma,” he said, crying all the more.

With the first aid box in hand, I got transfixed at the sight of Danny. Immediately, I asked Ekaete to continue and ran inside.

I thought he would run after me, but he later confessed that he was confused.

He bent down and treated the bruised leg and asked Ekaete to take them in and give them something to eat.

I was torn between getting angry, getting emotional, or being happy that he came. But as soon as he stepped into my room, his first time ever, I started crying. I didn’t want to cry and I told him, but I couldn’t help it.

“It’s ok to cry. Ego, I’m indeed sorry for the embarrassment she caused you.

Believe me, I am. All these while it’s you I think about. Believe me when I say it’s over between me and her. I am concerned only about my children and I am ready to end it all. As I told you earlier, I will go with her to see the children and see how we can end all these drama but i will come back to you. It’s you I love and I won’t allow any Whore to come between us.”

He said, all the while holding my hands and looking straight into my eyes with with indescribable love and passion.

“You are so handsome,” I said in between sobs. I have gotten tired of crying when after two days I didn’t hear from you. I had vowed never to love again. But Danny, that was in the past now, I will always love you.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (left), with President Goodluck Jonathan, during the President’s visit to Gen. Babangida, before the presidential campaign in Minna, Niger State.

Dean of Studies, Community Bible Institute and Seminary International (CBI&S), Dr. Michael Adelusi (middle), with some lecturers and granduands, during the 27th annual graduation ceremony of the school in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Photo | News

39

L-R: Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi; former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; Chief Medical Director of U.C.H, Prof. Temitope Alonge and the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, at a forum with the UCH management in Ibadan.

L-R: Member, Steering Committee of giving tide of Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (Nigeria- CECP), Alfred Ohiani; Convener, Adetutu Adenike; Managing Director/CEO, Arabel Group of Companies, Sherifat Andu and Chairman, Nigeria- CECP, Prof. Pat Utomi, at the World Cancer Day press conference in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien; Governor Godswill Akpabio and the State’s PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, during the presentation of Akpabio as the PDP flag bearer for Ikot Ekpene during the PDP campaign rally in Ini Local Government Area.

L-R: National President, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro; President, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri; Secretary-General, Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Rights Organisation of Africa, Mr. Alfred Ilenre; Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and President, Coalition for Yoruba Autonomous, Evangelist Kunle Adeshokwu, at the Inter-Ethnic Nationalities Consultative Conference entitled; Sustaining Transformational Democratic Norms by the Oodua Democratic Coalition, in Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office of the Presidency, Danjuma Kaze; representative of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Bulus Dabin and representative of the Secretary to Plateau Government, Mr. Habila Dung, during the sensitisation workshop for election stakeholders on security consciousness, peace and violence-free election in Jos. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonaya Onu and National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, during the APC press conference on rejection of postponement of election in Abuja.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

40

Islam

E X H O RTAT I O N

17 Rabi Al-Thani 1436 AH

“O MANKIND! WE CREATED YOU FROM A MALE AND A FEMALE AND MADE YOU INTO NATIONS AND TRIBES THAT YOU MAY KNOW AND HONOR EACH OTHER (NOT THAT YOU SHOULD DESPISE ONE ANOTHER). INDEED THE MOST HONORABLE OF YOU IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS THE MOST RIGHTEOUS.” (QUR’AN 49, VERSE 13)

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Marrying a non-Muslim Man QUESTION

Is it wrong for me to marry a non-Muslim man?

ANSWER

Salam Dear Sister, Thank you for your question.

It is a complicated question; we cannot give a quick answer to it. We have to start with the classic distinction in Islamic law between the people of the book and other non-Muslims with the people of book.

It says that a man can marry the women of the people of the book. So a Muslim man can marry a Jewish, a Christian lady or some other person of the book. But it did not give the same permission for a woman to marry a man of the people of the book.

And that properly was due to the circumstances of the time when men were usually in control and it was not feasible for women to marry outside the religion. I wasn’t her right still to practice her religion and to bring her children up according to her own religion.

So things have changed now and in general it does not seem to me that we need to retain the same prohibition from a realistic point of view although of course there are practical problems arising from mixed marriage when Muslims desire to bring their children up within the Islamic faith.

So practically what would you advise both Muslim men and women in respect of marrying outside their faith?

Well I would advise them to narrow the choices within the faith but also select partners who are compatible with them. Choose partners who will help them raise their children along Muslim lines.

And of course, that would mean you want to select somebody who is already enthused with the religion or somebody who will learn the religion with you together, but that is your goal and objective.

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

A cross-section of Muslim Women at a prayer session for the nation in Ibadan.

PHOTO-NAN

Ignore hate campaign against Islam, MURIC appeals to Muslims PROSECUTION Group demands assessment of alleged hate preaching by two Christian clerics Adeola Yusuf

T

he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to Muslim faithful in Nigeria to ignore the alleged provocations by two Christian clerics and remain peaceful, law-abiding, yet vigilant.

MURIC, which said that it was aware of tension that the alleged hate preaching is causing among adherents of Islam

and Christianity, also appealed to all Nigerians “to sink their differences and continue to tolerate and love one another regardless of religious and ethnic backgrounds” Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola said during a press conference at the groups’ national headquarters in Lagos that the group is in possession of video clips of the hate preaching against Muslims and Islam by one Pastor Bosun Emmanuel and Pastor David Oyedepo, calling on Christian organisations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and individual Christian dignitaries who are keen on keeping this country united and peaceful to call the clerics to order.

Oyedepo’s church has, however, denied the allegation, saying that its General Overseer never made such a hate statement.

But Akintola insisted that he had the cleric preaching against Muslims on tape, noting: “We love our Christian neighbours and we are prepared to co-exist peacefully together, in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Fate has brought all of us together and there is nothing we can do about it unless we want to cause pandemonium.

“This country is for all of us and nobody is going to leave for others. Even if we start a Christian-Muslim war today, no group can wipe out the other. It will be a prolonged war of attrition capable of causing prolonged

suffering, hunger, disease and a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportion. It is, therefore, necessary for us to realise that our only hope of survival is by loving and sharing.

“We call on all Christian organizations, including CAN and individual Christian dignitaries who are keen on keeping this country united and peaceful to respond to our statement.

It is an invitation to love.”

Appealing to all Nigerians to “sink their differences and continue to tolerate and love one another regardless of religious and ethnic backgrounds,” the group “appealed to Nigerians to ignore the attempt by these two pastors to bring religious sentiment into the 2015 electioneering campaign.”

Students task INEC on free, fair elections Muritala Ayinla

A

s the much expected general elections approach, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain neutrality, fairness and ensure impartial distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) for the coming elections.

The group also called on the politicians to ensure peace and tranquility in the country, before, during and after the elections, saying that is the only way for the nation to move forward.

Speaking at the transition con-

ference held at FESTAC Town, Lagos, the president of MSSN, Lagos Chapter, AbdurRashyd Aliu, called on the federal government to, as matter of urgency, embark on massive training and provision of tools for Nigerian youths to enable them become employer of labour.

This, he said, would propel their economic wherewithal and curb the spate idleness among the youths which in turn engenders insecurity.

He said: “That in view of the current dwindling income from Nigeria’s mono economic standing represented by the petroleum, a veritable and effective agricultural policy

should be quickly put in place by the federal and state governments to engage millions of Nigerian youths in agricultural activities as a way of curbing unnecessary restiveness among those youths.”

Aliu who expressed the group’s support for the Muslim Ummah of the Southwest Nigeria, MUSWEN’s position on the state of the nation, however condemned the bloody and destructive activities of Boko Haram insurgents who are masquerading under the garb of Islam to perpetrate unprecedented atrocities in some parts of the country.

While urging the federal

government to quickly devise a means of addressing the fundamental causes of insecurity in the land, he described the atrocities as antithetical to the tenet of islam, describing the perpetrators as renegades.

The group charged the federal government to speed up efforts at rescuing the Chibok grils criminally abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.

On his part, the Deputy Registrar, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Alhaji Muhyideen AbdulQodri, appealed to the incoming executive of the MSSN to do preper analysis of their role in the society.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Photo News 41

The Council of State meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, held yesterday in Abuja. Here are faces at the meeting

L-R: Governors of Edo, Jigawa, Bayelsa and Imo States, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Alhaji Sule Lamido; Seriake Dickson and Rochas Okorocha, at the meeting.

L-R: Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako; Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) and General Mohammed Buhari.

L-R: Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson.

L-R: Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke and Governor of Zamfara State, AbdullahiYari.

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zana Umar Mustafa discussing.

L-R: Governors Aliyu Magatakada Wamako of Sokoto, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and Dr. Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

L-R: Kano State Governor, Musa Kwakwanso; Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Minister of Justice, Adoke Mohammed.

PHOTOS: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

42

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Crime

The other side of Mbu Juliana Francis

A

fter an hour of listening to the lecture of the new Assistant Inspector General (AIG), in charge of Zone II, Onikan, Lagos State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, dubbed as ‘controversial policeman,’ by most people, another word came to mind, ‘a disciplinarian.’

Mbu became a controversial policeman after his repeated head butts with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Buttressing his disciplinary nature, Mbu who was touring the Zone, comprising; Lagos and Ogun states, programmed to meet and lecture his men on Wednesday at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

The event was slated for 10:30am, but he was there before most policemen.

Those who thought it was ‘African time,’ as usual, were shocked to meet the event in progress.

The theme of his lecture was simply for the policemen to be prepared for the forthcoming elections. He wanted it to be the freest and fairest, void of violence and he knew he could not do it alone.

In his speech, Mbu described himself as a meek and harmless person, but repeatedly showed flashes of his claws.

He regaled his policemen with anecdotes of his life as a young police officer, causing them to laugh. The laughter, however, quickly ceased when he warned them to stop clapping for him anytime he made a statement.

He also showed his claws when he ordered journalists to unceremoniously vacate the event because he wanted to have tete-a-tete with his men.

He even threatened to smash video cameras of some journalists who were still filming after he ordered them to stop because he wanted to make a statement which he didn’t wished to be televised.

While noting that he knew his policemen in the zones were jittery after they heard about his posting to head Zone II, Mbu said he was happy about their being nervous, adding that such speculations would make the men alert.

He advised them not to fear, but respect him. He said: “I’m here before you.

Mbu

I’m as meek and harmless as anything.”

He, however, hinted that they should not take his meekness for granted.

His words: “Most times when you see lions, they lie down and appear gentle.

It’s the same thing with Alsatians dogs.

They walk around big and gentle. They appear calm, but they’re not! What I’m trying to say, is that a policeman should have confidence and be courageous. If a sheep heads a herd of lion, the lions would be like sheep. If a lion heads sheep, the sheep would be like a lion.”

He said that among all the security agencies in the country, the police was the number one, stressing that the men

should always hold their heads high and never allow anybody to humiliate them. “Brace yourselves high because you know your pedigree,” he said. “The police officer is invested with power.”

He urged them to cultivate the habit of jettisoning money and to carry out their duties diligently. His words: “You’re struggling too much for money instead of doing your job. Read your books and study hard and nobody will mess you. Don’t allow anybody to mess you because of some money you collected or want to collect from him. Don’t sell your conscience and soul!”

Mbu advised the police to be alert

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

“I was baffled and got deluded for anyone to say that N30 trillion got lost. I think we just have to look at what we earn as a country and what our budget had been in these few years and see how possible it is. If everything we earned is not up to that within the period she has been the minister, which is about three to four years, then we need to be careful.” Former chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – Malam Nuhu Ribadu

and serious; especially at polling booths they were assigned. He said that any of them not given his/her election allowances should petition. This was even as he threatened to deal with anyone for dereliction of duty.

Recalling an election he once monitored, Mbu said: “I was a mobile police officer back then. I paid all the men that went on that election double of their pay and fueled their patrol vehicles. I still returned the balance of the money to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar. We should lead by example.”

While instructing Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to be in charge of their men, he said that they should not forget that he was the overall driver of both commands.

“I’m the driver of Lagos and Ogun states. The CPs and others are passengers, Agberos! Don’t allow yourselves to be controlled by the passengers in your bus. Nobody can intimidate you. I am your father! Police is the symbol of authority. The police are like the elephant that covers the nation.”

He noted that corrupt DPOs breed corrupt officers.

He warned that he no longer wanted to see armed policemen in mufti; neither would he take kindly to any of them wearing bathroom slippers or sandals while on official duty.

Mbu thundered: “A police officer is like gold. Dress and look well. Be neat in your uniforms. Don’t put on bathroom slippers. No more carrying of guns when you’re wearing mufti. As an officer, learn to discipline policemen under you. I also don’t want to see traffic policemen sitting and gossiping when they should be controlling traffic. If you’re tired, let somebody else take over.”

Fielding questions on the incessant attacks on policemen at polling booths during election period for no reason, Mbu said: “I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, don’t always attack my policemen! People always leave the subject matter to attack my policemen. Anyone who attacks my policemen violently, we would retaliate violently! I’ve called for massive onslaught. We are going to station heavily armed policemen, with teargas in certain areas. We are going to fix trackers on all police vehicles. If we get calls, we’ll ensure we go to those places.

If we respond to calls, we’ll smoke the place and arrest everybody. The whole world is watching. We as police are the leading agency in this election, we must lead by example.”

Mbu’s sudden transfer to Zone II, just days before elections sparked speculations and debate. Many alleged that he came to rig election for the ruling party.

But after his lecture, people changed their songs, saying he may have come to stop a particular political party from rigging. But whatever happens, this election will either make or mar Mbu’s police career.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

FOCUS Orange is less interested in Bharti’s assets in English-speaking African countries Kunle Azeez

F

rench telecoms group, Orange, has explored purchasing some assets in Africa including the ones owned by India’s top mobile phone carrier, Bharti Airtel, as the company seeks

Orange eyes Airtel’s African assets to create ‘Orange Africa’ to strengthen its business in Africa, Bloomberg reported yesteday, citing people familiar with the matter.

While no deal is imminent, Orange may consider merging its African assets with those of Bharti’s, thereby completing the creation of “Orange Africa” - a new entity that will

Pan-African banks expansion risky, says IMF Proposes Furusawa as DMD

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday that the expansion of pan-African banks has posed some regulatory challenges that, if not addressed, may increase spillover risks.

IMF, in its report, specifically said that rushed growth and poor governance at panAfrican lender, Ecobank, posed serious concerns.

The Fund said that expansion of cross-border banking in Africa in recent years was benefiting financial development, but supervision is constrained in some countries.

It noted that pan-African banks have a systemic presence in around 36 countries and were now more important than the continent’s longestablished European and American banks.

According to the report, there has been a rapid expansion of pan-African banks (PABs) in recent years, with seven major PABs having a presence in at least 10 African countries. Three of them are headquartered in Morocco, two in Togo, and one each in Nigeria and South Africa.

Additional banks, primarily from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, have a regional presence with operations in at least five countries.

The PABs are now much more important in Africa than the long- established European and American banks, IMF said.

However, the report highlights that supervisory capacity is constrained and underresourced in most of Africa, adding that although progress is being made in several areas, efforts to strengthen oversight in some cases need to be intensified.

The report said a renewed impetus for regional integration, coupled with the success of mobile payments in Kenya was propitious to the expansion of Kenyan banks in east Africa.

It said the rise of pan-African banks also opened new channels for transmission of macro-financial risks and other spillovers across home and host countries.

43

“As these groups develop in reach and complexity, significant supervision gaps, governance issues, and questions about cross- border resolution have emerged,” the report said.

The expansion has created a network of systemically important banks, whose financial health in some cases is not fully known due to gaps in consolidated supervision, it added.

In a related development, the Fund said Ecobank Nigeria’s “relatively weak capital position remains a concern” and that rapid loan growth at the bank, which is a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), raises suspicion of reckless lending.

A bank spokesman said that much of what the report said about Ecobank appeared to refer to events of last year, when the bank fired its chief executive, Thierry Tanoh, after months of turmoil over corporate governance.

Meanwhile, the IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, announced yesterday that she intends to appoint Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, as Deputy Managing Director.

Mr. Furusawa, who has most recently served the Government of Japan as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Finance, is expected to commence work on March 2.

He will take up the position vacated by Naoyuki Shinohara, who leaves the IMF at the end of February.

Furusawa studied Law at the University of Tokyo, and also graduated from France’s Ecole Nationale d’Administration. His roles in Japan’s public service have focused largely on international finance and budget in the Ministry of Finance, where he was appointed Vice Minister for International Affairs. In the diplomatic service, he has served in France and also in the US.A, where he held the rank of Minister (Finance) at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. He has also held positions in tax administration and regional government.

raise up to $2 billion.

Orange and Bharti Airtel could not immediately be reached for comments outside regular business hours.

Bharti Airtel had posted a better than expected quarterly profit by adding more subscribers, boosting data and voice call traffic.

The company, which operates in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, reported last Wednesday that it made a net profit of 14.37 billion rupees ($232 million) in the final three months of 2014, its financial third quarter, more than double the 6.12 billion rupees it made in the same period of 2013.

Analysts on average were expecting Bharti to post a profit of 13.81 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters

group all its emerging market operations into a single unit, Bloomberg said.

However, Orange is less interested in Bharti’s assets in English-speaking African countries, the website said.

The Paris-based company is also eyeing certain African assets owned by Millicom International Cellular although they may be less lucrative for the company, Bloomberg said.

Orange is considering many options for its Africa and Middle East phone assets including takeovers, partnerships with other operators and an initial public offering.

Last year, Bharti Airtel said it would sell about 3,100 telecoms towers in four African countries to Helios Towers Africa, in keeping with plans to sell most of its transmitter towers in Africa to

data.

Top Indian mobile phone operators have been able in the past two years to increase voice call prices, their main revenue generator, as smaller rivals have gone out of business, making it easier for them to get new customers.

Airtel added 1.76 million customers last December alone, second only to Idea, which added 2.58 million.

Furthermore, a growing use of smartphones has boosted data traffic.

Last week, rival Idea Cellular (IDEA.NS) posted a 64 per cent rise in quarterly profit.

Last Wednesday, Bharti Airtel said third-quarter net sales came in at 232.17 billion rupees, up from the 219.39 billion rupees in the same period of 2013.

FG raises N192bn in Treasury bills T

10.98 per cent at an auction on Wednesday, 0.22 percentage points lower than 11.20 percent fetched at the last auction on Jan. 21.

The yield on the six-month paper fell 0.29 percent to 13.9 per cent against 14.19 per cent at the previous auction, while the one-year paper fetched 14.30 per cent, 0.26 percentage

he Federal Government sold N192.39 billion ($1 billion) worth of treasury bills with maturities of between three months and one year at lower yields compared with its previous auction, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday.

It said yields on the threemonth tenor paper attracted

point lower than 14.56 per cent at the Jan. 21 auction.

Total subscription fell to N461.91 billion compared with N611.2 billion demanded by investors at the last auction. The DMO sold N45.17 billion in the three-month paper, N30 billion in the six-month note and N117.22 billion in 1-year bills.

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

Business | Financial Market News

44

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

5-Feb-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 434.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 206.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,855.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,389.76

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.21 1.53 2.22 2.47 2.57 3.31 4.39 4.71 6.98 9.10 13.81 14.29 14.79 15.46 19.45

10.99 15.00 15.28 15.32 15.33 15.32 15.29 15.32 15.27 15.25 15.93 16.02 16.12 15.63 15.53

10.26 14.89 15.20 15.24 15.25 15.19 15.20 15.20 15.20 15.18 15.88 15.96 16.04 15.55 15.47

98.53 97.40 99.60 89.06 87.69 88.28 102.15 72.76 104.70 94.90 94.79 80.33 57.46 67.50 79.40

98.68 97.55 99.75 89.21 87.84 88.58 102.45 73.06 105.00 95.20 95.09 80.63 57.76 67.80 79.70

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.30 1.16 1.84 2.20 2.41

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

13.82 17.52 17.17 16.27 16.31

96.02 99.77 98.15 97.28 93.96

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

312.43

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.57

4.44

18.37

96.94

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.41

3.23

15.73

98.94

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.92

4.46

19.55

95.53

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.93

3.48

18.57

97.47

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.20

1.00

16.27

88.73

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.47

1.00

16.06

97.11

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.90

1.79

17.11

93.06

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.07

1.80

17.04

95.03

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.09

1.00

16.24

96.28

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.27

1.00

16.28

96.79

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.28

4.78

20.06

89.74

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.47

1.00

16.32

98.43

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.71 4.79 2.77

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.33 16.31 18.06

98.29 94.05 93.24

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.32

1.00

16.32

96.21

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.81

1.00

16.30

89.69

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.90

1.94

17.23

91.88

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.56

1.44

16.76

94.36

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.59

1.95

17.27

94.35

98.47

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 429.90

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

5.00

17-Aug-15

0.28

4.88

15.81

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.59

1.00

14.99

98.33

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.67

2.63

16.89

98.26

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.65

1.00

16.10

95.62

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.72

1.34

16.47

96.73

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.65

1.00

16.33

93.02

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.67

1.88

16.99

102.09

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.67

3.48

18.59

96.54

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.84

5.20

20.37

96.72

#

1.84

5.06

20.23

94.13

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.63

1.00

16.32

93.78

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.95

2.29

17.50

97.29

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.03

6.11

21.34

95.03

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.90

2.16

17.48

96.71

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.77

2.76

18.06

90.11

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.65

1.00

16.30

79.03

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.65

1.00

16.30

85.36

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

135.24

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

127.37

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.02

1.00

16.32

85.85

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

16.32

84.45

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.24

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.93

6.70

99.11

100.26

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.76

5.40

98.04

99.15

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.16

6.99

95.10

96.14

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,461.26

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

177.49

177.49

33.50

33.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.97

6.97

100.63

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.30

11.30

91.50

91.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

13.73

12.78

82.49

84.67

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

10.39

9.74

86.62

88.46

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.28

41.28

40.50

40.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

10.69

10.69

85.25

85.25

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.33

14.38

79.84

82.40

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

13.33

13.33

80.00

80.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

25.63 13.52 12.67

25.63 13.03 12.67

43.98 82.00 79.06

43.98 83.83 79.06

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.75

10.53

89.97

90.90

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,582.55

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.99 10.97 11.95 12.40 12.52 11.85 12.31 13.05

Offer Discount (%) 10.74 10.72 11.70 12.15 12.27 11.60 12.06 12.80

Bid Yield (%) 11.01 11.02 12.03 12.52 12.67 12.01 12.52 13.32

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 16.4667 14.7779 15.2000 16.6751

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

16.08

O/N Tenor Call 1M

16.58

REPO

Rate (%) 16.00 17.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

192.50 192.85 193.15 193.86 195.17 196.47

192.60 192.96 193.30 194.33 196.19 198.01

12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

150.00 200.00 591.57 206.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,855.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,389.76

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

14.29 14.79 15.46 19.45

16.02 16.12 15.63 15.53

15.96 16.04 15.55 15.47

80.33 57.46 67.50 79.40

80.63 57.76 67.80 79.70

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

Agency Bonds

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 FMBN

***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Business | Financial Market News 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.30 1.16 1.84 2.20 2.41

31-Aug-15

0.57

45

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

13.82 17.52 17.17 16.27 16.31

96.02 99.77 98.15 97.28 93.96

4.44

18.37

96.94

OML 53: Seplat closes 40% Chevron stakes’ acquisition TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

312.43

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

CAVEAT

LAGOS Transaction includes *BAYELSA ‡ /Agusto EDO a deferred payment of ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER $18.75m contingent on ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI ‡ /Agusto *NIGER $90/bbl oil prices ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

‡ /Agusto

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

Adeola Yusuf ‡ /Agusto

N

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

31-Aug-10

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

*OSUN LAGOS

igerian indigenous oil A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI ‡ /Agusto *EKITI and gas company , SeA-/GCR *NASARAWA plat Petroleum DevelTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE opment Company Plc, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION yesterday announced that it had Corporate Bonds completed the acquisition of a ‡ /Agusto *UPDC 40 per cent working interest in BBB-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS

12.50

8.50

30-Sep-10 13.00 lion paid at completion.

30-Jun-11 14.00 He said: “In particular, 30-Jun-09 15.50 this 19-Apr-10 10.00 with transaction fits neatly 30-Jun-10 13.75 our strategy of securing, 30-Dec-10 14.00 com30-Sep-11 and monetising 14.00 mercialising 04-Oct-11 14.00 natural 09-Dec-11 gas in the Niger Delta 14.50 with a view 12-Dec-13to supplying 14.00 the 15.50 rapidly 14-Feb-12 growing and evolving 02-Oct-12 15.50 domestic market.

22-Nov-12 14.50 12-Dec-12 to the large 14.75 scale “In addition 10-Oct-13 14.75 discovered, but undeveloped 27-Nov-13 13.50 gas and31-Dec-13 condensate resources 15.00 that are31-Dec-13 yet to be fully14.50 classi06-Jan-14 15.00 fied through detailed technical work, there are near term opportunities to increase and optimise17-Aug-10 oil production10.00 significantly above current levels.”

09-Dec-10 12.00

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 Oil Mining Lease (OML) 53, on14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 shore north 15.50 IMOeastern 30-JUN-2016Niger Delta 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 from Chevron Nigeria Limited 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 (“CNL”).

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 NNPC holds the remaining NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 60 per 14.00 cent interest in OML 53.

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 Chief Officer of 14.00 Executive NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO listed 14-FEB-2019 the company on both the 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 and London Stock Exchange OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 (LSE),14.75 Austin Avuru, made this 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 announcement in a statement.

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 He said that the up front ac15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 quisition cost to Seplat, after adjustments, was $254.6 million, of which $69.0 million had previously been paid as a 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 deposit inFLOURMILLS 2013 and $185.6 mil12.00 9-DEC-2015

15.73 98.94 the3.23 next five years.

4.46 19.55 95.53 The company estimates 3.48 18.57 97.47 net 1.00 16.27 88.73 recoverable hydrocarbon vol1.00 16.06 97.11 umes to its 40.00 1.79 attributable 17.11 93.06 1.80 17.04 interest 95.03 percent working to be 1.00 16.24 96.28 approximately 51 MMbbls of oil 1.00 16.28 96.79 and4.78 condensate and 611 Bscf 20.06 89.74 of 16.32 98.43 gas1.00 (total 151 MMboe).

1.00 16.33 98.29 SEPLAT has been desig1.00 16.31 94.05 2.74 as operator 18.06 93.24 nated of OML 53 1.00 16.32 96.21 pursuant to the Joint Oper1.00 16.30 89.69 ating approved 91.88 by the 1.94 model 17.23 1.44 16.76 94.36 Honourable Nigerian Minister 1.95 17.27 94.35 of Petroleum Resources.

OML 53 covers an area of approximately 1,585km2 and is located onshore in the98.47 north 4.88 15.81 eastern Niger14.99 Delta.

1.00 98.33

30-Sep-15 0.41 He continued: “We very much 4.86 30-Jun-16 0.92 look forward to working with 5.73 30-Jun-16 0.93 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.20 NNPC and leveraging our techni25.73 30-Jun-17 1.47 cal25.00 and commercial as 31-Dec-17expertise 2.90 34.14 30-Sep-18 2.07 operator to realise the full poten9.00 04-Oct-18 2.09 tial of this high grade acreage.”

13.73 09-Dec-18 2.27 The up front acquisition cost 10.20 12-Dec-18 2.28 14-Feb-19 2.47is to27.00 Seplat, after adjustments, 16.23 02-Oct-19 2.71 $254.6 million, of which $69.0 80.00 22-Nov-19 4.79 26.62 12-Dec-19 2.77 million had previously been paid 11.10 10-Oct-20 3.32 as87.50 a deposit in 2013 and $185.6 27-Nov-20 5.81 million paid at31-Dec-20 completion. 5.90 5.00 4.55 31-Dec-20 The adjustments to the 3.56 up4.56 06-Jan-21 3.59 front acquisition cost include 460.61 a429.90 deferred payment of $18.75 million contingent on oil prices 5.00 averaging 17-Aug-15 $90/bbl or above 0.28 for18.75 12 consecutive months over 09-Dec-15 0.59 4.18

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.67

2.63

16.89

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.65

1.00

16.10

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

to include price discovery slightly 09-Sep-18 1.84 5.20This figure 20.37 96.72 ex09-Sep-18 1.84 5.06 94.13 solutions, website applicaceeded the 20.23 analysts’ estimate 22-Sep-11 14.00 22-Sep-18 1.00 16.32 93.78 s part of its focus area35.00 tions and solutions,3.63trad- of N100 trillion published on 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.40 18-Oct-18 1.95 2.29 17.50 97.29 for 2015 financial year, ing and quotation systems, September 4, 2013, based 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.03 6.11 21.34 95.03 on 01-Apr-14 16.00 over-the-4.50 collateral 01-Apr-19 2.90 sys2.16 growth 17.48 the Nigerian management its projections96.71 of the 5.77 2.76 18.06 90.11 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 counter (OTC) market for nation’s OTC market followtem, systems integration to 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.65 1.00 16.30 79.03 Foreign Exchange (FX),15.44 achieve30-Sep-24 straight-throughing 30-Sep-14 13.25 9.65 1.00 the launch 16.30 of FMDQ 85.36OTC Treasury Bills (T. Bills), processing, among others.

Plc (FMDQ) onto the finan135.24 Bonds, Money and DerivaThe company also noted cial market landscape.

127.37 tives, said it is working in that it was growing memberFMDQ was officially conjunction with to improve network launched in November 11-Feb-13 10.20 its stake12.00 ship base 11-Feb-18 3.02 1.00 16.32 85.852013 10-Jul-14 11.25 4.75 1.00 16.32 84.45with holders to introduce tech-12.95 effects in01-Feb-21 the OTC Exchange with a mandate to work 24.95 and by extension, the finannology solutions to improve stakeholders to develop the 21.24 cial market. market transparency and Nigerian OTC market and in efficiency.

The Nigerian over-the- the course of just over a year, Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price ($mm) counter (OTC) market has engaged in a number of FMDQ in a statement Prices & Yields made available to New Tele- achieved an overall turnover initiatives to deliver on this graph, listed the circa N104 trillion. mandate.

07-Oct-11 6.75 solutions 500.00 in 2014 of 28-Jan-21 6.93 6.70 99.11 100.26

Flour Mills, Tranex lead stock market fall

B-/S&P

09-Apr-11

Chris Ugwu

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

#{r}

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

16.00

25-Oct-16

1.72

1.34

16.47

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.65

1.00

16.33

93.02

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.67

1.88

16.99

102.09

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.67

3.48

18.59

96.54

5.40

98.04

99.15

6.99

95.10

96.14

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.76

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.16

A

Academy Press records N110.3m loss 2013.

1,500.00

Chris Ugwu

1,461.26 However, the company’s cademy Press Plc has revenue grew by 4.4 per cent recorded11.50a loss of450.00 to N1.589 billion during the 01-Feb-11 01-Feb-16 177.49 N110.297 million in net review period from N1.519 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 6.97 earnings during 25-Jul-12 7.25 the period 350.00 billion posted 25-Jul-17 in 2013.

11.30 09-May-13 6.88 31, 2014. 300.00 02-May-18Press had 13.73 reended December Academy 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 The company in a filing ported 08-Nov-18 revenue of 10.39 N2.34 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 41.28 with Nigerian Stock Exbillion in its 2014 financial 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 10.69 change s(NSE)8.75said it postresult showed 21-May-14 200.00 year. The 21-May-19 15.33that 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 the revenue 07-Aug-20increased 13.33 by ed a loss as against a profit 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 25.63 of N54.103 million during N60 million when compared 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 13.52 the comparable period of with N2.28 billion achieved 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 12.67

A

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.75

96.73

in the preceding year.

The company’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) stood at N82.6 million, compared 177.49 33.50 33.50 with N83.3 million100.63 posted 6.97 100.63 in 2013, representing a drop 11.30 91.50 91.50 12.78N700 million.

82.49 84.67 of 9.74 88.46 Besides,86.62 the company’s 41.28 40.50 40.50 shareholders approved a 10.69 85.25 85.25 dividend of eight kobo 14.38 79.84 82.40 per 13.33share due 80.00to every 80.00 50 inves25.63 43.98 43.98 tor of the company for the 13.03 82.00 83.83 2014 12.67 financial 79.06 year. 79.06 10.53

89.97

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

95.62

FMDQ plans technology solutions for market transparency

N3.9 billion inCHELLARAMS 4,417 deals was MPR+5.00 II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Chris Ugwu 16.00 1-APR-2019 Nil *DANA recorded inDANA theIIday’s trading.

NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO he Nigerian stock marThe 15.25 banking sub sector 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC on of the financial 13.25 STANBICservices IB 30-SEP-2024secA/GCR ket yesterday closed STANBIC IBTC negativeVALUE trajectory tor was the most active durTOTALthe OUTSTANDING as activities the shares of ing (measured by turnover TOTAL MARKETon CAPITALISATION Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc volume); with 280.2 million Supranational Bond and Tranex Plc led other los- shares worth N2.5 billion ex10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 1-FEB-2021 in 1,495 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P ers to send the bullsAfDB back to changed11.25 byAFDB investors TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE trenches after some days of deals.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION gain.

Volume in the sub-sector This was due to profit tak- was largely driven by activiDescription Rating/Agency Issuer ing by investors in the wake ties in the shares of Access FGN Eurobonds of the cautious optimism that Bank Plc and ETI Plc. had prevailed in the market Also, other financial 6.75 JAN 28, ser2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P in the recent time following vices, boosted by activities BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P the drop in oil price and build in the shares of FBNH Plc BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 up to 2015 general elections. followed with a turnover of BB-/S&P Consequently, the All- 113.5 million shares valued at TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Share Index shed 416.99 basis N751.9 million in 1,067 deals.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION points or 1.3 per cent to close Further analysis of the Corporate Eurobonds day’s trading showed that at 30,200.97 basis points as 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I Plc against 30,617.96 recorded the Champion Breweries 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I previous day, while the martopped the day’s gainers’ ta7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 6.88 MAY 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC ket capitalisation of FIDELITY equities ble with 10.03 per cent to09, close 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC depreciated

by N122GTBANK billion at N6.91, while Dangote Flour 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II or 1.3 per cent to close lower Mills followed with 10.00 per 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC at N10.076 against cent to close at 8.75 N3.63 per May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P trillion asDIAMOND BANK PLC AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC share. Ikeja Hotels8.25 N10.198 trillion.

Plc trailed 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III Meanwhile, a turnover of with 9.08 per cent6.63 toDEC close at 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II N3.67 per share.

477.5 billion shares worth 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD

T

98.26

90.90

5-Feb-15

3,582.55

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS Moneymarket Market(the “Information”).

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) professional,DTM financial or investment advice.

We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; theBidInformation is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Tenor basis and mayRate not(%) be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discounthowever, (%) Yield (%) NIBOR 12-Feb-15 10.74 11.01neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, 7timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for10.99 a particular purpose of any of the Information, OBB 16.08 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) FGN

14 21 28 Bonds 35 42 49 56 Rating/Agency 63 70 77 84 91 98 105 119 126 140 147 NA 161 168 175 182 210 301 315 336 350

19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 Issuer 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 NA 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16

10.97 11.95 12.40 12.52 11.85 12.31 13.05 Description 13.15 13.00 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.85 13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.05 12.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.85 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 14.15 16.00 29-JUN-2019 14.10 14.15 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.20 16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.85 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.95 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.85 13.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.45 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.55 10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.70 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.80

10.72 11.70 12.15 12.27 11.60 12.06 12.80Date Issue 12.90 12.75 23-Apr-10 12.60 16-Aug-13 12.75 27-Apr-12 9.80 11.75 27-Jul-07 12.60 31-Aug-07 13.65 30-May-08 13.90 29-Jun-12 13.85 13.90 23-Oct-09 12.95 27-Jan-12 13.60 14-Mar-14 13.70 28-Nov-08 12.60 13.15 22-May-09 13.20 20-Nov-09 13.30 23-Jul-10 13.45 18-Jul-14 13.55

11.02 12.03 12.52 12.67 12.01 12.52 13.32 (%) Coupon 13.46 13.33 4.00 13.21 13.05 13.40 15.10 10.31 12.40 9.85 13.34 9.35 14.56 10.70 14.88 16.00 14.91 15.01 7.00 14.02 16.39 14.79 14.20 14.95 15.00 13.73 14.52 12.49 15.13 8.50 15.34 10.00 15.68 12.1493 15.90

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 16.4667 14.7779 15.2000 16.6751

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 535.00

4,855.63

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,389.76

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

23-Apr-15

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 12.4263 27-Apr-17 13.3805 13.6217 27-Jul-17 14.4273 31-Aug-17 14.8060 30-May-18 16.3759

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 NIFEX 27-Jan-22 434.68 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 28-Nov-28 BID($/N) 75.00 193.6200 OFFER ($/N) 193.7200 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 206.00 18-Jul-34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Coupon (%)

16.58

REPO

Tenor Call 1M (Yrs) TTM 3M 6M

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 581.39 1M 476.80 2M 3M 20.00 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

O/N

Rate (%) 16.00 17.00 Bid Yield 17.25 18.00

(%)

0.21 10.99 10.26 1.53 15.00 14.89 2.22 15.28 15.20 :Benchmarks 2.47 15.32 15.24 * :Amortising Bond 2.57 15.33 15.25 µ :Convertible Bond 3.31 Management Corporation 15.32 15.19 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.39 15.29 15.20 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 4.71 Mortgage Bank15.32 15.20 IFC: International 6.98 Finance Corporation 15.27 15.20 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 9.10 15.25 15.18 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 13.81 15.93 15.88 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.29 16.02Company 15.96 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 14.79 16.12 Company16.04 15.46 15.63 15.55 19.45 15.53 15.47 NOTE:

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds FMBN Buckets Modified Duration <3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

>5 Market

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Total Outstanding Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 1,041.16 1,058.18 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 1,399.57 1,385.98 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

562.87

797.57

3,003.60

3,241.73

24-May-12 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 03-Apr-12

09-Dec-11 32.64 20-Apr-12 42.75 06-Jul-12 24.60

100.00

0.00 Weighting

by Mkt Value 17.25

0.00/16.00 34.66 0.00/16.50 46.60 0.00/16.50 18.74

100.00

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.700.33 66.49 0.43

Bucket Weighting

0.25

322.68

1.00

312.43

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Offer Yield 3M 6M(%) 1Y

24-May-15 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 03-Apr-17

# Risk Premium (%)

192.50 192.60 192.85 192.96 193.15 Price 193.30 193.86 194.33 195.17 196.19 196.47 198.01Price Bid Price Offer 200.95 203.99 210.50 216.22

98.53 98.68 97.40 97.55 99.60 99.75 NA :Not Applicable 89.06 89.21 # :Floating Rate Bond 87.69 87.84 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 88.28 88.58 102.45 ‡ : Bond102.15 rating under review †: Bond rating 72.76 expired 73.06 N/A :Not104.70 Available 105.00 {r} :Issuer in receivership 94.90 95.20 94.79 95.09 NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa 80.33 80.63 57.46 57.76 67.50 67.80 79.40 79.70

Valuation Yield (%)

08-Dec-16 13.03 19-Apr-17 45.98 06-Jul-17

0.30 1.16 1.84 15.15 2.20 15.27 2.41

2.63 Implied Portfolio Price 2.27 121.0140 1.00

13.82 17.52 17.17 1,125.04 16.27 1,024.70 16.31

100.00

15.39

111.1310

1,061.20

40.99

Implied Yield

15.60

2.00

118.4504 1.00 84.2456

INDEX

984.98 -

Indicative Price

96.02 YTD Return (%) 99.77 98.15

1.5515 97.28

1.1979 93.96 2.1883

0.5706

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.57

4.44

18.37

96.94

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.41

3.23

15.73

98.94

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.92

4.46

19.55

95.53

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.93

3.48

18.57

97.47

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.20

1.00

16.27

88.73

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.47

1.00

16.06

97.11

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.90

1.79

17.11

93.06

46

News

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Osun verdict: Security beefed up to forestall violence Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

A

combined team of mobile and c o nve n t i o n a l policemen have been placed on the alert in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, ahead of today’s election petition tribunal judgement by the panel, over the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, against Governor

Rauf Aregbesola’s victory at the August 2014 polls in the state.

Also sighted around the towns, were plain cloth security men and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who have taken position at strategic locations in the state, in different vehicles.

Sources close to security agents in the State, who preffered anonymity told the New Telegraph, that enough combatant men were on the ground to ensure that the delivery of today’s judgement, was not followed the disturbance by political miscreants.

The source said further that, security agents would

be fully on ground within and around the premises of the court, to ensure that normalcy reigns before and during the delivery of the judgement, while those who have no business with the exercise would be not be allowed entrance into the court.

Also speaking on the development, the Pub-

lic Relations Officer Of the Civil Defence Corps, Babawale Afolabi, told newsmen in Osogbo, that his men would be on ground as early as possible, to make sure that peace is maintained throughout the exercise.

He hinted that they were working in togetherness with other sister para-

military organisations in the state to see that thugs were discouraged during the judgement period.

Findings, revealed that men of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), in the State, are fully prepared to see that orderliness reigned during and after the judgement.

PVC: Lagos declares Friday work free day Muritala Ayinla

G

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday declared today work free day for public servants in the state to enable those who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards to do so.

Fashola who spoke through the state Commissioner State for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, also urged private organisations in the state to emulate the state government to enable their workforce take part in their civic responsibility.

Speaking with New Telegraph on the telephone, Ibirogba said the holiday would afford the civil servants who have not been able to get their PVCs the opportunity to do so, adding that the voter’ s card would be available at various polling units across the state today.

Ibirogba said:”They should go all out and get their PVCs at the various polling units in the state. Their PVCs is their power to vote for the candidates of their choice during election. The only power Nigerians have for now to enable them vote in the coming elections is their PVC. That’s why our government want to ensure that nobody is disenfranchised by not having the time to collect their PVCs.

L-R: Head of Service, Ogun State, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali, during the governor’s interactive session with labour leaders in Abeokuta…yesterday

Temitope Ogunbanke and Muritala Ayinla

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said that he would consolidate on the achievements of the State incumbent Governor, Babatunde Fashola, if elected the governor of the state in the February 28 polls.

Speaking yesterday at the ongoing APC governorship campaign in Yaba, Ambode promised to provide jobs and create conducive environment for the youths in Yaba Local Government Area and other parts of the state to keep them off

INEC distributes ‘I’ll consolidate on Fashola’s achievements’ 499,301 PVCs in Ekiti the streets and enable residents to succeed in their chosen vocations.

The APC’s flag bearer promised to make Yaba, a crime- free community through empowerment of youths and establishment various recreation centers, if elected as the governor Ambode, who said that he grew up in Yaba and knows what the residents want, assured Lagosians, that his government would improve on the standard of security in the entire state by the present government.

He said, “I will consolidate on what Governor

Fashola has done. I will complete all the ongoing projects, especially those that cannot be completed by this administration, and I will also introduce new ones. We have made Lagos to be safer in the last eight years and we will make it more secured so that you can have a 24 hour economy.

“Yaba used to be a hub of entertainment, it is full of youths and I know that we need more jobs. If you vote for APC, more jobs will be created. I promise to work with the youths to ensure a better life.

Jonathan, best president ever, says Akinjide Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

M

inister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide has described President Goodluck Jonathan as the best President to have ruled Nigeria.

Highlighting the various achievements of the Jonathan- led adminis-

tration in the last four years, Akinjide said the efforts of the President has transformed all sectors of the Nigerian nation than any other person that had occupied the office before him, while addressing the management and staff of the University College Hospital in Ibadan yesterday.

Informing the hos-

pital community of her plans for the hospital in 2015, the minister said the electoral process has been buoyed and enhanced with the sustenace of credible and fair elections in Nigeria which had deepened our hard -earned democracy and earned global respect and credibility for the nation’s country.

She said: “the freest

and fairest elections in Nigeria held under President Jonathan. Between 2011 and now, we have had five bye-elections out of which the opposition parties won four and PDP only won one in Ekiti state. President Jonathan believes in rule of law and sanctity of the Nigerian constitution.

He does not use power arbitrarily”, she said.

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State, said it has distributed 499,301 permanent voters’ cards in the state as at February 2, 2015, just as it is getting set for the conduct of the general elections.

The commission, which gave the figure at a stakeholders’ forum in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, it also announced that it had taken delivery of all the electronic card readers it would use for the conduct of the coming general elections in the state in the entire 2,311 voting points.

According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Sam Olumekun, a total of 2,653 card readers had been deployed in Ekiti State, while the commission had made ready 9,244 poll officials for the general elections.

Olumekun announced that the commission was still expecting the list of political parties’ agents in the state and pointed out that the parties had

up till Friday (today) to submit the list of their agents as prescribed by the Electoral Law. While thanking the people of the state for their cooperation in the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state which, he said, “contributed immensely to our success,” the REC added, “We shall remain appreciative of the good working relationship with a view to improving on the set standard come 2015 general elections.”

The meeting, which had in attendance representatives of political parties, civil society groups, women groups, people living with disability, market women, youth groups and sundry stakeholders, also had security agencies warning Nigerians to exercise their civic responsibility as good citizens and avoid rancour.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Ekiti State Command, Mr Ania Casmir, warned trouble makers to think twice before delving into unlawful acts.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

News 47

south - east

FG distributes fertiliser to 3,600 farmers in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

T

he Federal Government yesterday flagged- off the distribution of NPK fertilizer to 3,600 female farmers in Ebonyi State, under the millennium development goals (MDGs) programme free of charge to boost food production.

Performing the exercise in Abakaliki, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said the beneficiaries are those involved in dry season farming across the state.

Adesina, who was represented at the event

by Ebonyi State Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Anselem

Okpara, said the exercise was part of Federal Government's agricultural transformation Agenda.

According to him, under the scheme, farm inputs are provided to registered farmers at 50 per cent subsidy to help advance farmers' effort at increased food production. ‘’In 2014, a total of 105,252 farmers redeemed 210,504 bags of fertilizer in the state, with each farmer receiving 12.5 Kg of rice or maize seeds through the e-wallet (telephone) system. The system guarantees that inputs get directly to farmers in the most transparent manner thereby eliminating all forms of corruption’’, he said.

Umahi: How Elechi attempted to impeach me Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

E

bonyi State Deputy Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Chief Dave Umahi, has revealed how he survived attempts to impeach him nine times, stating that his principal, (Elechi), wanted him impeached with the collaboration of other people, describing the governor’s seven and half year's administration as a huge waste.

Umahi also alleged that Governor Elechi runs the state unilaterally, stating that most of the policies of government were not in the interest of Ebonyi people but were pushed through, despite protests against them.

The PDP governorship flag bearer made the revelation yesterday during a visit on the Ebonyi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Unwu Ekumenyi a body that joins all the people in Abakaliki bloc to solicit for their support for the forth coming election.

In his reaction to the claim of the incumbent governor that he, (Umahi) wanted to annex the state, for personal gains, the governorship candidate dismissed the claim as total falsehood.

"What of the crippling of Nigercem by this administration, one of his foot soldiers Comrade Chinedu Ogar, the National President of Ebonyi Youth Assembly collected 850million from Ibeto Group is that not high level of corruption?"

Anambra to set up ADR courts Tony Okafor Awka

T

he Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, yesterday assured that the state would soon set up courts for Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) to facilitate quick justice dispensation.

Umeadi, who stated this in Awka while interacting with a group of Certified Arbitrators who paid him a courtesy visit, also directed that specialised court halls for ADR be included in the ongoing construction of new judiciary headquarters in Awka South Council area of Anambra State.

The delegation, led by their State Chairman, Mr. Damian Okoli, paid a

courtesy visit to the Chief Judge to discuss modalities of establishing arbitration courts, as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) panels to fast track the justice delivery system in the state.

Addressing the delegation, Justice Umeadi charged the arbitrators to take advantage of the increased volume of criminal and civil cases emanating from business transactions so as to take the practice of the ADR to a higher level.

“I had, many times, openly questioned why the aspect of the dispute resolution which we spent time studying is not being felt as a concomitant part of our justice delivery system, rather, before now, it had been relegated to the background."

Former Anambra State Governor, Virgy Etiaba (left), with the wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, during the campaign tour for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at Ihiala and Ekwusigo LGs of Anambra State.

Anxiety in Enugu over voters’ inability to collect PVCs frustration Attempts at collecting PVCs by prospective voters are frustrated despite INEC's assurances

Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

W

ith Just one week to the February 14 presidential election in the country, many prospective voters in Enugu State are worried over the inability to obtain their permanent voters' cards, despite the assurances given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that from the Amechi area in the Enugu South Local Council Area, to Igbo-Eze North, in the far northern part of the state, prospective registered voters have expressed their disappointment at securing their PVCs, with most of them claiming their names were not among the eligible voters card brought to the state, following the voters' registration exercise conducted across the country last year.

INEC’s public relations officer in Enugu, Mr. Bassey, told our reporter in a telephone interview that the Commission's state office has taken delivery of

Ekweremadu attracts N986m water project

T

he Federal Government has awarded a N986 Million contract for the construction of the Greater Oji River Water Project to supply water to every home in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

This was made known by the Deputy President of the Senate and Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, during a project inspection and campaign tour of Oji River LGA. Addressing his constituents, Ekweremadu said he attracted the Water Project to help address the needs of the people permanently, noting that it was regrettable that Oji River, which was the source of water for Enugu township had no portable water of their own.

He explained: “We have done many boreholes, but we believe that boreholes cannot solve the water challenge in Oji River.

We, therefore, came up with a new project called Greater Oji River Water Project, which will provide water everywhere in Oji River and environ.

The project has been designed and awarded; and we believe that the work will start very soon”.

Also inspecting the ongoing work at the multi-million naira Youth Development Centre at Achi, the Deputy President of the Senate disclosed that he had already concluded plans with an Italian firm to run the facilities at the Centre and similar ones he attracted in Awgu, Aninri, Udi and Ezeagu LGAs.

1,416,504 PVCs and that "distribution was on-going.

However, he did not give details of the distribution exercise as to how many of this number have been issued to their owners and how many of the PVCs were still left to be distributed. He equally didn’t state whether more PVCs would be delivered to the state office of the Commission from its national headquarters.

Narrating the state of affairs in Olido/ Imufu electoral ward, the People's Democratic Party(PDP) Chairman for the area, Mr. Fidel Eze, stated that there were many registered voters, whose PVCs have not been found among those

received in the ward.

He lamented the development, stating that what it means was that some people may not be able to vote during next week's Presidential election as well as the governorship and State Assembly elections coming up on February 28, urging INEC to do something urgently to reverse the situation.

At the Amechi Area in Enugu South Local Government Area, one of the affected a prospective voter who claimed to have registered last year, Mrs. Anukworji, said she has not been able to obtain her PVC despite having visited the distribution center at her polling station on various occasions.

Abia: Otti raises the alarm over threat to life Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State Dr. Alex Otti, has raised the alarm over assassination attempts to his life, declaring that politicians in the state have become more desperate to win the election by all means.

Addressing journalists yesterday at his campaign office in Umuahia, Otti revealed, “Last night, at 10:58pm, some men, numbering 14 and dressed in military uniform invaded my country home at Umuru Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South lo-

cal government area of Abia state.”

He said some soldiers were accosted by a mobile policeman, whom he said identified himself as an Army Captain and said they wanted to confirm if there were soldiers in his compound. He expressed concern over who sent the ‘soldiers’ to his house at such time and for what purpose just 24 hours after the state government alleged that he was habouring some fake uniform men.

The APGA candidate, denied working with unapproved security operatives even as he said it was unthinkable that he would use the men to intimidate and harass people.

48

News

Imoke: Hausa community in Cross River safe Clement James Calabar

T

he Cross River State government yesterday assured the Hausa community in the state that it has made adequate arrangement for their security and that they have no need to panic during the coming elections.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, Eyo Okpo-Ene, gave this assurance in Calabar yesterday while refuting claims that northerners were moving out of the state for fear of crisis during the elections.

Okpo-Ene said government has always protected all such communities in the state, especially the Hausa and there was no need for them to fear.

“I am really not aware of the exodus of the northerners, because they know that they have always been safe in the state. I have a good relationship with the Hausa community and we have always protected their interests,” he said.

He assured that the country will not break, “but that there may be isolated skir mishes here and there,” adding that such skirmishes should be expected as this election would be the most keenly contested in recent history.

Oshiomhole: PDP can’t power Nigeria Cajetan Mmut BENIN

E

do State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said it was a shame that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government budgeted a billion naira for the purchase of diesel to fuel generators in the Presidential Villa.

He said the develop-

BENIN

S

peaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe, yesterday dismissed as the handiwork of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the call by a socio-cultural and political group in the state, the Concerned People of Oredo that he should be part of an ongoing debate organised by a private television station in the state.

Igbe, who was reacting to the call in an interview with New Telegraph, said he shunned the debate because of the money the television asked the candidates to pay before they can participate in the debate.

He said the television station had asked him to pay N150, 000 even when the organisers are known workers of the media outfit with partisan interest.

ment shows that the Federal Government has given up and has no clue on how to fix the problem in the power sector.

Governor Oshiomhole said the fact that the Federal Government has to use generators to power the nation’s seat of power, indicates that the common man has no hope of getting uninterrupted power supply from the distribution companies and should

11.87

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Mexico in 2000.

Source: Itu.int

therefore punish the inefficiency of the Federal Government by voting them out in the February 14 general election.

Speaking yesterday at the various campaign rallies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ibillo in Akoko Edo Local Government and Otuo in Owan East Local Government, Oshiomhole said: “When PDP took over in 1999, they promised to fix Nigeria’s power chal-

178,038

The total number of active fixed wired or wireless lines of Nigeria in May 2014.

Source: National bureau of Statistics

lenge in six months. Now it is 16 years, yet we have no light.

“In the Presidential Villa in Abuja, one billion naira was budgeted for the purchase of diesel. So it is obvious that the PDP government cannot give us power. With PDP there is no hope.

“All we can do for you is to buy transformers and extend cables, but whether you get light or not is not in the hand of

73.4%

The percentage of the urban population of Czech Republic in 2012.

Source: Un.org

the state government.

It is in the hands of the PDP-led Federal Government. Even in Government House, there is no light. Even in Edo, Delta and Ondo States, electricity has been sold to private individuals. It is these individuals that bring bills for light not provided.”

Oshiomhole continued: “The issue of darkness is everywhere in the country.

232,287

The total number of male circumcisions done in Kenya in 2009-2010.

Source: Who.int

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and his wife, Elima, at the party’s governorship campaign rally at Emohua Local Government area, Rivers State

Edo speaker faults call for participation in debate Cajetan Mmuta

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

The debate is being organised by the Independent Television (ITV), a private outfit owned by a popular business mogul and top shot of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Igbe said he would rather be the guest of a more credible media organisation than one with the veil of the PDP in all its activities.

According to Igbe, “First of all, the so-called debate that was held on ITV, I assumed, was a debate for all political parties contesting the election, not just the APC and the PDP. “I am not aware that any other person went for that debate apart from the PDP candidates. So, is that to say that the other candidates have something to hide? I was told that for me to come for the debate I was to pay N150, 000 and I decided that I rather spend my money on better things than to give it to ITV that is more skewed towards the PDP.”

APC disowns Tilije, says he is suspect Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disowned its former governorship aspirant in Delta State, Chief Fidelis Tilije.

The state chapter of the party categorically said Tilije, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during President Goodluck Jonathan’s rally in Asaba on Wednesday, has been on

its suspicion list since he lost the governorship primary election.

Tilije lost to Chief O’tega Emerhor, who is now the flag-bearer of the party in the state.

Briefing journalists at the party’s headquarters in Asaba yesterday, the running mate to Emerhor, Vander-Puye Osoloka, said the APC has brought a change that would end what he described as PDP’s 16 years of ‘catastrophic government.’

While he said the par-

ty is unperturbed that Tilije returned to his collaborators, he expressed confidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct free and credible election.

He said: “Dedicated members of the APC have been screened while the dubious ones have been shown the way out. The one that defected recently has been on the party’s suspicion list after he failed to win his ward during the last primaries.

“Since the commission has been sensitising the people on the collection and usage of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and the lapses suffered in the last general election are being blocked, there is no doubt that INEC will conduct a generally accepted election this month.”

Osoloka said the party has put up machineries in motion to stop the rigging prowess of the PDP across the country, especially in Delta State.

Amaechi to collaborate with military on elections Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

R

ivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday restated the state’s commitment to work with the Nigerian Navy to ensure the safety of lives and property on the waterways.

He said his administration would support the

Nigerian Navy, the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) codenamed ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ as well as the marine police and other security agencies to safeguard the lives of sea travelers during the elections.

Speaking when the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, paid him a courtesy visit at the

Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru, said such collaboration remains necessary to maintain security on the waterways.

“Years ago, security on our waterways was a difficult task, but with the help of the navy, the situation was tamed,” he said.

Earlier, Babalola assured the governor that

the movement of people during the election would not cause any security threat.

He said he was currently on a familiarisation tour of all units under his command to know how they are ready for the elections as well as their operational efficiency in tackling security challenges, especially in the Gulf of Guinea.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

News 49

NORTH

Suswam: February polls sacrosanct Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

B

enue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, yesterday said the February general election was sacrosanct, describing it as the most critical elec-

59

tion in the history of the country’s democracy.

To this end, he advised the people to elect credible leaders that will turn round the state rather than those that will propel the state to a level of despair.

Suswam, who stated this in Jato Aka, the

The life expectancy of women at birth in Togo in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

home country of second republic Minister of Steel, Chief Paul Iorpuu Unongo, in Kwande Local Government, in continuation of his state-wide campaign for the Benue North East senatorial district election, also stressed the need for the people to vote President Goodluck Jona-

2m

The number of people dying from AIDS-related causes worldwide in 2008.

Source: Who.int

than and other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the overall development of the country.

He regretted the attacks on the people of Kwande by armed Fulani insurgents, appealing to them to elect President Jonathan during the February

N900,919

The total capital importation value of the Agriculture sector in 2009.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

14 poll, who he said has the people of the state at heart.

Suswam thanked the people for their support in the last seven-and-a-halfyears, appealing to them to support his senatorial ambition, promising that, if elected, he will legislate on matters that will attract development to the area.

36.4%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Turkey in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

L-R: District Head, Mangu, Mr John Hirse; President, Mwaghvul Development Association (MDA), Dr Stephen Hirse; Zonal Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Bulus Dabit and representative of the Chairman, Mangu Local Government, Mr. Yale Abed Nego, at the distribution of relief materials to victims of communal clash in the local government... yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

PDP condoles with APC over Niger’s rally disaster Dan Atori MINNA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State yesterday condoled with the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the death of its

supporters at a rally in Kawu village, Mashegu Local Government area of the state.

It will be recalled that at least two APC supporters died on Wednesday, when an articulated truck lost control and crashed into a rally procession.

‘Kano lost 70% of its economic potential to insecurity’ Muhammad Kabir Kano

T

he Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) governorship candidate in Kano State, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, yesterday said the state has lost 70 per cent of its economic potential to insecurity in the last few years.

He said such devastating state of affairs, which he said was characterised by bombings and attacks, was responsible for investors’ absence and is making existing ones wary of staying in the state. He spoke while addressing

journalists yesterday in Kano.

Bashir said: Kano State has so far lost over 70 percent of its economic viability, while many industries were closed down for lack of power supply.

He expressed worry that today as a result of global oil price drop, many governments can’t run their economy effectively, a reason he said he was coming up with a blue print on agriculture development.

Similarly, he said he will reintroduce marketing boards where grains and other farm produce could be easily sold and exported as the case may be.

Many at the rally also sustained injuries.

In a press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the party, Hon. Hassan Saba, the PDP described the incidence as unfortunate and regrettable, while praying God to grant

them eternal rest.

“We are saddened by the death of some supporters of the APC, who lost their lives in a road mishap at a rally in Mashegu. The deceased died in their prime and that is indeed a loss to the state and the country.

Pwajok: 800, 000 PVCs yet to be collected Musa Pam Jos

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State, Senator Gyang Pwajok, has expressed concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s inability to distribute over 800 thousand PVCs in Plateau State.

Speaking yesterday in Jos on INEC’S seeming inability to get Nigerians and particularly Plateau people their PVCs, the PDP gubernatorial candidate said “a situation

where up to 800, 000 people are yet to collect their PVCs, it is also a possible reflection of apathy building up ahead of the general election.”

He added that the extension of the dates for the collection of PVCs by INEC is a step in the right direction.

Pwajok, whose chances in the February 28 election looks brighter and better with every campaign is, however, expressing concern that out of the 36 states of the federation, only about 57 per cent of Plateau’s registered voters claim to have collected their cards so far.

“The leadership of the APC must also learn from this tragic experience to educate their loyalists on the need to apply caution during elections. As much as possible the roads must be avoided to prevent unnecessary deaths during the electioneering.”

Mark charges Benue, Nasarawa govs on Fulani invasion Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

S

enate President, David Mark, has urged the Benue and Nasarawa State governments to do something urgent to end the intractable ethnic crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Benue farmers.

Mark stated this while addressing the people of Agatu and Apa Local Government areas of Benue State in continuation of his senatorial campaign in the nine local government areas of the state.

He acknowledged the misery the people of Benue South went through during the invasion of the area by Fulani insurgents, when scores of people were killed, expressing optimism that the efforts of the two governors would yield fruitful results.

The senate president said the crises bedeviling the two states were a source of concern to the Federal Government and pledged government's commitment towards ensuring sustainable peace among citizens of the country.

He assured the people that all federal projects in the state, including the Oweto-Loko Bridge, which work has reached 60 percent completion, will be completed soon.

Mark charged the people to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to enable them exercise their franchise by voting for President Jonathan, himself and other PDP candidates in the general election.

Saraki asks kinsmen to reject PDP governorship candidate Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, has asked communities in Ekiti Local Government to reject Senator Simon Ajibola, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the February 28 election, who hails from the area.

He also asked voters in the council area not to be deceived in believing the opposition on issues of state/local government joint funding of projects,

adding that low level of work on projects by the government was caused by dwindling federal allocation accruable to the state.

He asked them to vote the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari on February 14, saying it would bring an end to the paucity of funds being experienced by many states and attract Federal Government presence into the state.

Saraki at separate meetings with traditional rulers in the area said it would be impossible for Ajibola to win the election even if only one local government decides to back him during the poll.

50

Travel Advisory

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

51

Sport News

International Sport

Sport News

Ighalo for Championship player of the month award

Serena to return to Indian Wells

Nkwocha, Okon tip Oshoala to shine at World Cup

52

53

54

Sport

Did you know?

That Man Utd won the first EPL title with 84 points

Sailing water pollution concern for Rio 2016

O

rganisers of the Rio 2016 Olympics admit they are “concerned” about water pollution in the sailing venue, but say the Games will be delivered “on time.”

About 48% of sewage pumped into the Guanabara Bay is untreated, while

Charles Ogundiya

T

he first Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, has said the main target of the current board of the NFF is to create a strong structure for Nigerian football to thrive.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, the chairman of the Lagos State FA said people should not hasten to judge the federation as the board has commenced work to achieve its objectives.

He said: “It was unfortunate that we failed to be part of the Africa Cup of Nations going on in Equatorial Guinea, but I can assure you that we are coming back with a bang.

“The NFF is working on a structure that people can trust and invest in. People are watching what we are doing and when they see that we are doing the right thing, they will definitely want to identify with it.

“There are so many companies willing to support the federation and all what they are waiting for is the proper

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

illegal dumping is a big problem.

Last month government officials stated they would miss their target of an 80% reduction in water pollution by the start of the Olympics next August.

“There is a huge problem with garbage,” Mario

Andrada told the BBC Sport.

The Rio 2016 director of communications continued; “It [the state of the sailing venue] is a concern because the water is not fully clean, but it will be safe for the Olympics.”

Last year, International Olympic Committee vice-

president John Coates claimed Rio was the “worst” prepared host city he had ever seen.

Olympic sailors also complained about floating debris and even dead animals found in the water when they competed in the Rio test event last August, and drug-resistant

“super-bacteria” were found in December.

However, Andrada insists the IOC is pleased by their progress and that significant improvements have and will continue to be made regarding the condition of the Rio waters.

“People ask ‘why don’t we moved the venue?’. If we don’t clean the bay now then it never will be and this is a legacy commitment to Rio,” he said

NFF targets strong structure structure that would accommodate their investment, all what we need to do is to encourage them.”

Citing example of the now prosperous entertainment industry in Nigeria which only a few initially believed in, Akinwunmi called on Nigerians to be patient with the board in its quest to take Nigerian football to the next level.

Speaking further, Akinwunmi said all Nigerian teams were very important and everything would be done to make sure they all excel at their various competitions in the year.

Reacting to the preparations of the U-17, U-20 and U-23 national teams for their various continental competitions, Akinwunmi said the federation’s ambition is to see the three teams emerging victorious in their respective tournaments their competitions.

According to him, the recently concluded Super Four competition in Abuja was an eye opener on what to expect from the U-20 and U-23 teams.

The national U-20 team preparing for the African Youth Championship holding in Senegal won the Super Four in Abuja, defeating all the league clubs participating in the competition.

The VP said: “We are Nigerians and we believe we are the best on the continent, the most important thing is to prepare the teams very well ahead of all these com-

petitions, which is what we are doing now.

“I will want people to give us a chance. The most important thing is to produce results; I want Nigerians to judge us with our results over a period of time.”

Emmanuel Emenike (left) in action for Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lulu’s lone voice and the missing N2.8bn

he Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is a kingdom that rises against itself once every four years – after the World Cup - the time the hyenas in the glasshouse bare their fangs for blood-money. It is therefore surprising, but cheering that an NFF Stakeholder in the person of Sani Lulu has chosen to unsettle the status quo, asking that searchlight be beamed into the past to unravel the mystery surrounding the N2.8bn he left behind, prior to his outster. Whether anyone is listening could only be a guess.

It is rather unfortunate that in Nigeria these days, truth and facts appear to be used interchangeably without adequate attention to their various details. Not that their difference is so wide, but it has telling effects, when not properly established.

Available facts sometimes may contradict an established truth as it depends to a large extent on the side of the Prism one views from. Perspective therefore determines to a large extent what constitutes facts, and by extension the truth one holds dear. Holy Scriptures nevertheless point to the fact that it does not necessarily take a multitude to affirm a truth. Truth is universal and constant.

The Holy Scripture says “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The eternal intendment of the foregoing assertion is not to make anyone feel good, but to affirm

that no matter what obtains, truth is incontrovertible. Truth is not fleeting like time. No man however can get all the facts on a single issue; however, substantial amount of fact on an issue has the capacity to influence one’s position on an issue. This is precisely what guides most of our judges in the course of dispensing justice in the court of law. The emphasis is usually on facts and not on truth.

Establishing the truth is always an enervating adventure, thus, men twist facts to arrive at different versions of truth, their truth, inverted truth. Honour is thrown to the dogs whenever truth is subverted and more travesties are cooked up to further sustain the falsehood.

The quest for the truth in the almighty Nigerian football house hit a crescendo recently, when its former helmsman, Alhaji Sani Lulu, who was forced out of the Federation in a questionable circumstance, called for a full-fledged investigation into the finances of the football house, particularly the sum of N2.8 billion he (Sani) left behind. The money in question is not a small but huge amount of money that is capable of turning the fortunes of the nation’s football around for the better. But instead of relevant authorities to look into the issues, there is a contrived but deafening silence everywhere. Why is nobody interested in recovering the said money?

Here is a Federation that is perennially broke, begging for financial support from every angle,

Around the Stadia

joebooster391@yahoo.com

Establishing the truth is always an enervating adventure, thus, men twist facts to arrive at different versions of truth, their truth, inverted truth

seeming uninterested in Lulu’s call to unravel certain financial malfeasance committed by those who forced him out of the Glasshouse, as his continued stay in office was going to hinder their nefarious plot.

Lulu’s credibility is not in doubt. He is not making empty allegations that cannot be substantiated. His facts are clear and unadulterated. What the board of the NFF only needs is

IghaloforChampionshipplayerof the month award

JOE BOOSTER

to glean the facts and establish the truth, the N2.8bn truth, sorry, missing funds.

Although, some might argue that “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” since Lulu and some of his top lieutenants at the Federation are currently before a high court to defend themselves against some financial infractions leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Could his recent revelation put paid to the fact that his ordeal in the hands of the EFCC was overly orchestrated to silence what is now in public domain? Is Lulu who is yet to be convicted of any wrongdoing by a court of law statute-barred to share the truth he knows about the N2.8bn sleaze?

From the look of things, this allegation has hit a brick wall as neither the old nor new Federations board found anything worth looking into. It is obvious that the allegations were not made out of malice and vindictiveness. Ordinarily, such a call is to give people the opportunity to clarify issues in

Egwuekwe takes a break

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uper Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe is back to Nigeria after failing to sign with West Ham United and Hapoel Tel-Aviv in England and Israel respectively, and says he will be taking a break from football.

The Warri Wolves defender was linked with several European clubs last month and travelled to London where he almost signed with English Premier League side, West Ham United.

He was also in Israel, where he was reported to have signed with Hapoel Tel-Aviv, even though he later denied signing for the Ligat Ha’Al side.

And speaking in a radio interview with Brila FM, Egwuekwe says he is back home, and is taking some time out to be with his family.

“I’m back home to see my family, and I am not thinking about any football at the moment. I am taking

Emmanuel Tobi

F

ormer U-23 Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, tops the names of players listed for January’s Player of the Month award in the English Championship.

The Watford’s in-form striker who is favoured for the award, enjoyed a spectacular month of goalscoring for the Hornets - rattling in no fewer than seven that included a four-goal master class in the remarkable 7-2 victory over Blackpool at Vicarage Road.

The 25-year-old who struck every 37 minutes he was on the pitch during League games in January, is up against Luke Murphy of Leeds United, Richard Stearman of Wolves and Lee Tomlin of Middlesbrough.

Murphy scored twice for Leeds United midfielder - in- Ighalo cluding the winner against leaders Bournemouth with Lee Tomlin scoring three goals in four matches for highflying Middlesbrough, while a string of solid defensive performances from Wolverhampton Wanderers’s Richard Stearman gives the centre-back a chance of winning the award.

The managers’ shortlist is comprised of Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka, Derby’s Steve McClaren, Leeds’ Neil Redfearn and Mark Warburton of Brentford.

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a more transparent way. The missing cash belongs to no individual. It is the nation’s earnings from football, and refunds from transfers and incidentals deposited with FIFA account in Zurich. This money accrued during the reign of Sani Lulu at the Glass House, but unfortunately, was never accessed because FIFA insisted on appropriate processes being followed in accessing it.

Every Nigerian has a right to join the call for proper accountability and demand to know how the said money was spent. The nation’s football has suffered greatly from lack of corporate sponsorship due to the dark veil that has perennially hovered over the Glass House.

It is time this veil was removed in other to boost the confidence of would-be partners.

With the same vehemence and subterfuge to conceal information, distort fact and concoct certain truths, the football house was enguifed by fire in a questionable circumstance last year in the midst of the leadership crisis. Till date nothing has been heard about the outcome, or any possible investigation.

Instead of the new leadership instituting a high powered investigation into these allegations on assumption of office at least to reassure Nigerians that there is no skeleton in their cupboard, Amaju Pinnick and his men are rather playing the ostrich. I certainly know that time will tell.

a break to be with my family.

“I have a seven-month-old daughter that I have to take care of and I have to be with her for a while so I am not thinking about football now,” he said.

The 25-year old however posited that he is still a player of Warri Wolves, but adds that he is unsure of when he will rejoin the club.

“I am still a Warri Wolves player and I have not said I won’t join them but for now I don’t know when that will be.”

Egwuekwe

Five schools battle for Kandaval T’Tennis Cup

F

ive schools in Lagos are scheduled to battle for honours at the 2015 edition of the Kandaval Inter-school Table Tennis Championship tagged Kandaval Cup billed for Isheri Grammar School, Ojodu Berger.

The five schools which qualified from the several zones across the state will

battle for top prize in the boys and girls categories.

They include hosts Isheri Grammar School, Ojodu, Wesley Girls Secondary School, Yaba, St. Finbarr’s College, Yaba, Sanya Grammar School, Ijeshatedo and Jubril Martins Grammar School, Iponri.

According to the Managing Director of Kan-

daval, Tony Obot, the competition is aimed at unearthing new talents for the country while top national coaches will be on ground to help identify talents at the event.

He added that his company has donated table tennis boards, bats, balls and other accessories to help the participating

schools and participants to tune up for the competition.

Guests expected are for mer Nigerian pingpong king, Babatunde Obisanya, Tony Ubani of the Nigeria Olympic Committee among other top dignitaries from the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Equatorial Guinea 2015 AFCON

Renard unhappy despite final berth I vory Coast coach Herve Renard was unhappy despite his team’s 3-1 demolition of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

Coach Renard moved closer to a second Africa Cup of Nations triumph. He is hoping to become only the

third coach after Ghanaian Charles Gyafmi and Egyptian Hassan Shehata to win the Afcon tournament more than once.

Renard led outsiders Zambia to glory three years ago with a penalty shootout final victory over his current employers. Despite the convincing victory, the Frenchman feels the team

didn’t follow his instructions.

“To be fair with you, I didn’t like the game. I think we didn’t do all the things we learnt. We were sometimes too early. Maybe we didn’t respect sometime the opponent. I always said this team came back from behind against Congo Brazaville.”

Tunisia face ban after refusing to apologise

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unisia face being banned from the next Africa Cup of Nations after refusing to apologise for accusing the Confederation of African Football of cheating.

They made the allegations after conceding a controversial stoppage-time penalty in a 2-1 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals.

The game’s referee has been banned for six months for “poor performance”.

Tunisia had until Thursday to say sorry or face a ban from the 2017 edition.

After a meeting on Wednesday, the Tunisian FA refused to apologise with a spokesman saying the team had “suffered scandalous injustice from referees”.

Caf, which fined Tunisia after players confronted referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn after the final whistle, had wanted the 2004 champions to apologise for “insin-

uations of bias and lack of ethics against Caf and its officials, or to present irrefutable evidence to substantiate the accusations”.

African football’s governing body said it had been sent two letters by the Tunisian FA after the match, with the second asking for an investig ation and suggesting Caf and its of ficials “were questionable and biased against Tunisia in general”.

Ivoiry Coast’s Serge Aurier (left) and DR Congo’s Yannick Bolasie during Semifinal match between DR Congo and Ivory Coast

Serena to return to Indian Wells

professional victory, in a doubles match with Venus in 1997, but revealed l14 years after suffering racist abuse ever that she now felt ready to go back and

S

erena Williams is ending her Indian Wells boycott in a spirit of “forgiveness” 14 years after suffering racist abuse at the Californian resort’s showpiece tennis tournament.

Back in 2001, age 19, she lifted her second Indian Wells trophy by beating Kim Clijsters -- but she and her family were racially abused by some members of the

crowd after sister Venus withdrew from their semifinal with an injury.

That sparked accusations from some that their father, Richard, was “fixing” games between the two. He later said the abuse the family had suffered during the final “shamed America.”

She instantly vowed never to return to the scene of her first-

compete in the BNP Paribas Open, being played in March.

“I’m fortunate to be at a point in my career where I have nothing to prove,” Williams explained. “I’m still as driven as ever, but I play for the love of the game.

“It is with that love in mind, and a new understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness, that I will proudly return to Indian Wells in 2015.”

Messi is one of my heroes,says Neymar N

eymar believes a better understanding with one of his heroes and Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is the primary reason for their free-scoring form so far this season.

After scoring 15 times last season, Neymar has netted 22 goals in 26 appearances this term, with Argentina superstar Messi on target on 32 occasions.

And Neymar is delighted with the progress they have made in 2014-15.

“I feel very happy. It’s been easy to play alongside Leo and he is one of my heroes,” Neymar said at a promotional event in Qatar.

“Our understanding on the pitch just keeps getting better and better.”

Serena

Yakubu in good shape, says Reading boss

Neymar (left) and Messi

Yakubu (right)

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eading boss Steve Clarke says new signing Yakubu is in “decent shape”.

The Royals sprung a surprise on transfer deadline day when they snapped up the 32-year-old former Everton and Portsmouth striker on a free transfer.

Having completed pre-season training with his previous club in Qatar, Yakubu could even be in contention for an immediate debut against Wolves on Saturday.

Clarke said: “He’s had a bit of football lately in the form of friendly matches.

“He’s come in a done some training with us and looks in decent shape. I don’t think it will take too long to get him up to speed and hopefully he can give us that little bit extra that we’re looking for.

“I’ve been looking at our games recently where we’ve had a lot of possession in forward areas and couldn’t find the killer touch. Until Monday, you’re searching the world markets for someone that can do that and then suddenly I got a call saying Yakubu was available.

“The most important thing for us is that we get him quickly integrated into the group and that he starts to make a contribution to us as soon as possible.”

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SPORT | INTERVIEW

Two Olympic dreams I’m training for the Olympics in two sports, but chances are you’ve never heard of me. There aren’t a lot of Africans in contention for both the Summer Olympics in swimming and the Winter Olympics in skeleton, the high-speed, high-risk cold weather sport invented in Switzerland.

In fact, no athlete has ever represented Nigeria — my birth country — at any Winter Olympics, let alone at backto-back Summer and Winter Games. Over the next three years, it’s my dream to change that.

If you’re running for president, everything is about 2016. If you’re an Olympic hopeful like me, it’s no different — except your horizon is the 2016 Games in Rio. That’s fewer than 500 days from today. Then the 2018 Winter Games in Seoul are looming after that.

Right about now you might be thinking, Is this guy crazy, or just naive?

Probably a little of both.

Dreams always start out that way.

On how he plans to attain his goals Here’s how qualifying works. To represent Nigeria in swimming at Rio, I need to make the Olympic “B” qualifying time in the 50 metre freestyle. That magic

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ranked in the top 60 in the world — as well as be the top ranked skeleton athlete from Africa. Considering there are only about 100 male skeleton athletes in the world and only one guy from Africa that means that I need to beat roughly one-third of the field.

It is doable, but not as easy as it sounds.

Skeleton takes a long time to master. Most Olympians have trained for at least eight years.

I don’t have that kind of time, so I have to be strategic. Over the next three years, I’ll train on three tracks in North America — Lake Placid, Salt Lake City and Calgary — and get to know them really well. When the qualifying races come to these tracks in the 2017-2018 skeleton season, I can pick up as many points as possible.

Cancer survivor, Adebiyi, eyes gold medals for Nigeria In September 2009, Nigerian-born swimmer, Seun Adebiyi, was diagnosed with two rare and aggressive forms of blood cancer but survived by sheer providence. He speaks with ThePlayersTribune on his plans to win two gold medals for Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Seoul 2018 Winter Olympics. nine heats in the 50 metre freestyle. Even at the ripe age of 31, I feel pretty good about my odds.

Skeleton has a different qualification process. It’s all about rankings. Points are awarded based on the level of competition — the four major skeleton competitions are the European Cup, North American Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and World Cup — and your finish position. To qualify for Seoul, I need to be

number is 23.05 seconds, which is 0.76 seconds faster than my best time.

I’m confident I can beat that time. If I don’t make the B cut, I can still go to Rio if I’m the fastest Nigerian swimmer in 2016 because every nation is guaranteed two spots in the swimming events at the Olympics. At the London Games in 2012, there was no swimmer from Nigeria. If I had been there, my best time would have won four out of the

Relationship with Nigerian Olympic Committee The hardest part of training for the Olympics actually lies outside of the skeleton track and the pool. Try convincing the Olympic Committee of a country that has never seen a snowflake to create its first Winter Olympic sports federation. That’s what I had to do. Somehow I persuaded them, but I’m on my own. I’m the coach, athlete, sponsor,

trainer, administrative guy — a one-man Olympic team. The cool part is, if I make it in 2018, I’ll carry the flag for an entire nation.

Battle with cancer Not all the barriers to the Olympics are athletic or bureaucratic.

Chance plays a big role.

Six months before the 2010 Olympics, I was diagnosed with two rare and aggressive blood cancers.

Doctors told me that in order to survive, I would need a bone marrow or umbilical cord blood donor. And soon. Then, more bad news: I learned that black patients are underrepresented in the bone marrow registry, which means many die before they can find a match. I was fortunate. A Nigerian mother gave birth to a healthy baby in the US and donated the umbilical cord, which happened to match me. What are the odds?

I have my work cut out for me as a dual Olympic hopeful. But cancer patients — especially those who live in poverty in America and abroad — face even tougher odds. Their struggles for a chance to survive would put any Olympic trial to shame. That’s why, when I’m not training, I spend my time working for the American Cancer Society.

Nkwocha, Okon tip Oshoala to shine at World Cup Emmanuel Tobi

F

our-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award, Perpetua Nkwocha, and Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, have backed Liverpool new signing, Asisat Oshoala, to shine at the 2015 three FIFA Women’s World Cup billed for June in Canada. “[Oshoala] is a genius.

She is a brilliant team player who is willing to carry the responsibility of the team on her shoulders. I have not seen any weaknesses in her game. If there is any advice that I could give, it is to remain focused,” Nkwocha told

FIFA.com.

According to Okon, Oshoala’s versality will play a big impact for Nigeria at the World Cup adding: “I could even use her in defence, she is that good, but I use her mainly as a striker.”

Oshoala however revealed that Nkwocha who also won the African Championships four times and participated at three FIFA Women’s World Cups, is her role model.

“She is a very good person and a very good player and has encouraged me a lot. She helped my game.

I have tried to emulate her style of play, but it is not only on the field that I have learned from her, it’s also off the pitch. I look at

her character and see that it is something that young people can aspire to,” she said.

Speaking on Nigeria’s chances at the Women’s World Cup the Liverpool striker added: “I am confident that this year we will see Nigeria doing well. We have the players and many of them have already played together at youth level.”

Sharing the same view, Nkwocha added: “We have huge number of talents at the youth level, but we need to properly harness them as they graduate to the senior team. But with good preparation surely our team will excel. We have the players and experience to do well in Canada.”

Obafemi scores as Eneramo relishes brace

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igeria striker Obafemi Martins scored as his MLS side Seattle Sounders defeated University of Carlifonia, Los Angeles 5-0 on Wednesday in their first pre-season game in Walnut.

Martins opened the scoring for his side in the 39th minutes, Lamar Neagle added the second goal on the stroke of half time.

Chad Barrett, Kenny Cooper

and Micheal Azira scored the remaining goals in the second half to complete the demolition.

Martins scored 17 goals last season and has been doing well in training since he rejoined the rest of the squad.

The Sounders will conclude the Southern California portion of their pre-season with a rematch of the Western Conference finals against the Galaxy on Friday.

Meanwhile, Nigeria striker Michael Eneramo has expressed satisfaction with his two goals and overall performance for Sivasspor in Wednesday’s Turkish cup 3-0 win over Tuzlaspor.

He said: “The goals were fantastic and I have a good performance in the game. I am dedicating both goals to my family because they are always there for me. The goals are also for God.”

Oshoala (right) in action for Nigeria

2015: Ibile Games ends today Charles Ogundiya

A

fter two weeks of competition, the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival, tagged Ibile Games 2015, is expected to end today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Enitan Oshodi; his counterpart in the Education Ministry, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye and a host of others are expected to grace the epic event which will hold between 2pm and 5pm.

Comic act, Baba Ajasco will also entertain the students

while there will be district by district march past and callisthenic display.

However, the Main Organising Ministry, of the tournament said Thursday that the gate of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will be thrown open as early as 10am on Friday.

Finals of some sprint events are expected to add glamour to the closing ceremony. These are 100m in both JSS and SSS boys and girls, 100m (deaf) boys and girls, 4 x 100m in both JSS/ SSS boys and girls.

The best athletes in the competition in boys and girls (JSS/ SSS) as well as the overall best school will be awarded during the ceremony.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Before we crucify Jega!

Vantage

Point

EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com 08059757248 (sms only)

E

ver since I got to understand the meaning and essence of elections as a young Nigerian, none has got me as interested as the 2015 elections, holding on February 14 and 28.

All things being equal, Nigerians will go to the polls on both days to elect new leaders. Since the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the race open, it’s been an interesting time for watchers of Nigeria’s political scene. Not even Nollywood can script a movie with all the elements of the Nigerian political system. There is never a dull moment in Nigerian politics.

However, with the way things have gone in the last few days, there is much cause for worry. There is an African saying that elders don’t sit at home and allow a female goat to give birth on a leash. That was what came to mind yesterday when I read a news flash about how the Souther n Nigerian Peoples Assembly headed by Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, called for the arrest of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for refusing to postpone the elections.

He was supported in this bizarre call by a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Chief Femi Okunroumu; a former Minister of Information, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro; a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and an erstwhile Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Chief Whisky Ayakeme, at a

Jega

press conference in Abuja.

My first reaction was that these elders have come again. Why would they make such an extreme call without gauging the mood of Nigerians? None of these elders has come out to demand the arrest and prosecution of any government official for the regular strikes in different sectors. None of these men has ever come out to call for the arrest and prosecution of security officials for allowing the state of insecurity to rise to a frightening level. This group of elders has simply constituted themselves into a threat to INEC, accusing Jega of one plot or the other. At the height of the hoopla over the 30,000 additional polling units proposed by INEC some months ago, this same group came down hard on Jega. Its members thought nothing of the damage their smear campaign was capable of doing to Jega’s integrity but simply raised unverified allegations against the INEC chairman. It’s unfortunate that Nigerian leaders usually resort to name-calling and smear campaigns whenever their interests are threatened. It’s never about the interest of the Nigerian people. Yesterday’s call was taking the matter of the calls for postponement of the elections too far, as they also threatened to prevent people from voting in the South. I dare say that these men lack any coercive or persuasive clout to prevent anyone

Those seeking to burn down the country because of a periodic affair should ask themselves whether in the next four years, they will be able to justify their actions.

May we not use our hands to pull down our hard-won democracy

from voting in their communities.

It’s so disheartening to note that their call was akin to calling for an insurrection. If anything is treasonable, it is such an unnecessary threat. I don’t see what they stand to gain from such threats. There is so much tension everywhere that every effort should be made to cool things down. We can’t afford to make things worse because of our personal interests. I wonder why elections must always push us to the extreme. Reggardless of who wins between President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in a matter of four years, a fresh presidential election will be due. So, why should people threaten to burn down the nation because they want INEC to do their bidding?

I urge Jega to call their bluff and do his job as a thoroughbred professional. We should steer away from the path of threats and move onto informed and issue-driven debates.

Last week, this writer expressed worry over an alleged plot to scuttle the presidential election because of fears that it may go a certain way. This writer learnt that people were being mobilised to carry out protests at INEC’s headquarters, in order to force the electoral body to postpone the elections. Before I proceed, let me remind those seeking to smear Jega’s hard-earned credibility to remember that last month, President Jonathan described him as a man of unimpeachable integrity. Speaking at a presidential campaign rally in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State last month, Jonathan had said: “We appreciate the people of Kebbi State so much. We have confidence in you and that is why we are talking about elections. We selected a son of Kebbi State, Prof.

Jega, to be the number one umpire in this country. It is because of the confidence we have in him to be an unbiased umpire.”

When Jonathan was to appoint Jega as INEC chairman, he spoke along the same lines. Jega is no stranger to the workings of INEC, having participated in some of the commission’s activities as a consultant while Prof. Maurice Iwu was the chairman. Jega has also infused much credibility and confidence in the electoral process since he be-

came INEC boss. It is to his credit that Nigerians are gaining confidence in the electoral process, a radical departure from the past when the results of elections were generally known before they were even held.

Jega doesn’t deserve to be vilified or demonised. Politicians should not carry their personal issues with any candidate to the level of pulling patriotic Nigerians down. We will only be hurting ourselves if we remain in that primordial state of running people down simply because their style of doing things does not accord with ours. God Almighty created us as separate human beings. All we have to do is to find common ground on issues we disagree over and not for us to tear ourselves down and spread lies, fear and hate. These were the things that led to the 30-month civil war, in which over one million Igbos died. Do we want a repeat of such a sad episode in our nation’s history? I can’t understand the desperation of some interest groups to get the elections postponed. None of them called for the postponement of the Ekiti and Osun elections because millions of Nigerians had not collected their Permanent Voter cards. Why the sudden call for the elections to be put on hold until INEC has achieved 100 per cent collection of PVCs? By the way, has Nigeria ever recorded 100 per cent turnout at any election?

Not even the June 12, 1993 presidential election recorded 100% turnout.

So, why the threats? Some Nigerians have even claimed that Jega is colluding with the All Progressives Congress to rig Jonathan out of office.

What manner of allegation is that?

It’s a pity that we have not been able to elevate public discourse beyond the level of name-calling, threats, insults and falsehood. Everything must be played like politics. Even in politics, there must be some level of decency. We should stop making ourselves the butt of jokes in the international community by the way we handle issues. It won’t do us any good. Not even the image of Judiciary or the Nigerian Armed Forces has been spared this ugly spectre of name-calling. Currently, there are allegations that some interests groups are looking for a pliable judge to scuttle the elections. In fact, the name of a Federal High Court judge from the South-West is being bandied around as the one who has been paid heavily to scuttle the elections. The gist is that he has been instructed to stop the elections and travel out of the country to Dubai till things cool off.

Then, there is the claim that some top members of the Nigerian military have been penciled down to run an interim government in the event of the postponement of the elections.

It’s the integrity of professionals who have worked hard for decades to build a name that is being dragged in the mud. It’s up to the Judiciary to make sure that it does not lend credence to the allegation that it being lobbied to re-enact the scuttling of the June 12 presidential poll by the late Justice Bassey Ikpeme. Nigeria is greater than any election, political party or politician. Those seeking to burn down the country because of a periodic affair should ask themselves whether in the next four years, they will be able to justify their actions.

May we not use our hands to pull down our hard-won democracy.

On Marble A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.

Emeka Madunagu

Sanctity of Truth

Before we crucify Jega!

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– Anne Roiphe

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Investing in younger generation GUEST COLUMNIST Nathaniel Abara

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s Nigeria consolidates its economic dominance in Africa and presses to attain the projected 12th position in the global economy by the year 2050, we need to see that the present decline in revenues due to the slump in world oil prices does not deflect our trajectory to the mid-century target date.

A major driver of global competitiveness is the higher education attainment of the productive population. For Nigeria, the unfolding austere conditions threaten the pursuit of this goal. Therefore, if we are to realize our global destiny, we need to bring new ideas to bear on investing in Nigeria’s younger generation, our future leaders and builders. In this way, we avoid poor attainment and stem dropout in higher education. We need to explore extrabudgetary resources to deliver as student financial support. We should aim to distribute such assistance to the doorsteps of Nigerian households with greater focus on young people in the lower socioeconomic groups, especially the women. In this way we democratize access to higher education and strengthen our competitiveness.

In this discuss, we do not address issues of capital investments that enlarge holding capacity in our higher institutions, nor financing for administration and research. These forms while important benefit all students both rich and poor. These are matters for another day. We therefore limit ourselves to direct financing that ends up in the student’s wallet to cover tuition fees, books, accommodation, travels, meals, personal care, among others. While the rich can conveniently afford these, poor youths and their parents are hard pressed to do so. The latter groups are the focus of this intervention.

What then are the directions we should chart in our bid to accomplish these goals?

From work we did in 2012 – 2013, evidence from emerging economies of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) showed that an average of about 20 percent of their productive populations had attained higher education. For Nigeria the attainment rate was about 8 – 10 percent leaving an enrollment gap estimated at about two million to be bridged by the year 2020.

Currently, South Korea leads the world with over 60 percent higher education attainment of their young adult population. Earlier, America was ahead. And when President Barack Obama took office in his first term, he committed America to the goal of restoring its leadership in graduate attainment by the year 2020.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Accordingly, he strengthened America’s student finance system to raise the levels of enrolment and attainment for young university graduates.

It is therefore crucial that Nigeria takes a cue and the concerted measures to raise enrolment and attainment, bridge the gap and build the momentum for competitiveness.

Apart from the higher education of the productive population, another variable in the global competitiveness equation is knowledge driven leadership. As the industrial revolution ebbs, and the knowledge revolution unfolds, leading nations are taking vantage positions in the knowledge spaces in order to maintain dominance, infusing doses of knowledge leadership in all spheres of governance. For example in politics, leadership is no longer a matter of dexterity in wheeling and dealing. Rather, forward looking nations increasingly turn to and present the best from higher education systems all over the world.

Modern Singapore started its journey many years ago when Lee Kuan Yew, its extraordinary founding father with two first class degrees at Cambridge University, took over the headship of the small nation and transformed it from a third to the first world.

Other leading nations have done the same. In the United Kingdom, we had Margaret Thatcher of Oxford, a research scientist. Also, Tony Blair and now David Cameron are of Oxford. In America we had Bill Clinton, an alumnus of Oxford and Yale and a former professor. Under him America witnessed its longest period of economic prosperity in history and fiscal surpluses for four years running.

Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji

Now they have Obama of Harvard and a former senior lecturer at Columbia.

Even in global governance, knowledge leadership is reaffirmed. We have the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, product of Harvard. At the World Bank, we have as the President, Dr Jim Yong Kim also of Harvard. Incidentally both have roots in South Korea, a world leader in higher education attainment.

Of particular interest, the current World Bank president is a medical doctor who worked at the highest levels in higher education governance and in global civic sector development. As a result and for the first time a president, who does not come from a political or financial background, now steers a rebranded ‘knowledge’ and ‘solutions’ institution for a balanced pursuit of human and social development in health and education, among others, and economic goals.

The foregoing leadership choices reflect the global impact of the unfolding knowledge revolution fueled partly through the expanding access to higher education worldwide to produce quality higher level human capital of knowledge and skills. In this new revolution, knowledge is the primary factor of production, just as land was to the agricultural age and machines to the industrial revolution.

In summary, global competitiveness is a function in part of the quantum and quality of the productive population and leadership, both drawn from the higher education systems of the emerging knowledge societies.

In Nigeria, we should align with

these unfolding scenarios. Our citizens and governments at all levels need to see to it that we invest heavily in our younger generation to enhance our global competitiveness and leadership position. The key is the democratization of higher education access through student financing targeted as safety nets for the vast majority of our young men and women residing at the lower strata of the society. It should aim at the strategic goal of at least a graduate in every home in Nigeria by the year 2030. The building of this high level human infrastructure should complement the physical infrastructure of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, 2014 – 2043.

This challenge is surmountable.

All it demands is the political will.

It needs emphasis that in investing in our younger generation we do our youths no favour. We are only discharging the abounding duty of grooming the heads that lie uneasy to bear the heavy burdens of leadership and nation building for a future Nigeria.

In this regard, we would like to draw attention to a flagship programme, the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development for first class graduates now spread across the leading 25 universities of the world. As part of a more comprehensive national student finance initiative, this scheme should be sustained as a nest, a breeding ground for future leadership for nation building for Nigeria.

• Abara (etdcls@gmail.com) is a public interest advocate, a former investment banker and economic advisor to government.

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