Friday, may 8, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 443

Friday, May 8, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Supreme Court stops constitution amendment NEW TELEGR

Music

APH FRIDAY,

MAY 8, 2015

Music, comed y, fashion herald Igbo movie channel

Senate passes Oil and Gas Free Zones, AMCON bills Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate yesterday passed the Oil and Gas Export Free Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

It also passed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2014, after a clause-by-clause consideration. The Oil and Gas Bill, which was sponsored by Senator Odion Ugbesia (PDP-Edo Central), provides for the designation

and establishment of oil free zones and sub-zones, which will act as catalysts for economic growth. Ogbesia, who reacted to the passage of the bill, said it would provide strong legislative background for the authority of the oil and gas industry

to function properly and legally for better results. He said that the bill, when signed into law, would make it compulsory for the appointment of the board chairman to be subjected to the Senate approval. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

N150

Idol

Ayoka, Model e, Nigerian Idol Prime leave 5

Entertainme nt

Ososa aglow silver jubilee for Ogunde’s O Stories by Sony

neme

sosa, home town of Hubert Ogun Ogun State de, in came alive last as celebr weekend ated artist of who were es his studen most verged to ts concelebrate his 25 years anniversary . The occasi the grand on was memorial atre guru of who reigne the thecolossus d like until he passed a in a Londo away n hospital 4, 1990. on April The event also witnes unveiling of ‘A Living sed the Museum’ Historic in were artisti his honour. There c performance different theatr s by ing the Assoc e groups includ iation of Nigeri Theatre Practi an tioners (ANTP and newly ) both trying formed TAMPAN, other as theyto outshine one anand works re-enacted the life of the pionee tor of the r direcNation Nigeria. Expec al Troupe of lots of drama tedly there were presentation music and s, more. Apart from colourful tivities lined acmemorable up to make it a tors spoke outing, leading acPa Ogund on the legacy that e left behin to speak was Anter d. First who descri Laniyan fountain bed late Ogunde as through which the modern day draws from. theatre in Nigeria the late ogunde His words : Pa Ogund fountain. e is a He starte d commer- despite piracy.” cial theate r. For Karee from there. And we continued m Adepo ju and legendary Without Ogunde’s Prince Jide Kosok wont be pathfinder role, we was a perfectioniso, Pa Ogunde where we in this lucrat are today sosko captured t. Prince Kohis thoug thus: “He ive indus fore now ht is a man entertainme try. Be- emula te.” Odule we want to restricted nt was to royals, but the homes of the 1944 you will see said, “Since that we have nomic senseOgunde made eco- benefited from what baba startmercializin out of it as by comed. That is why Today entertg the profession. rolled out drum entertainers s to spice ainers are day well and earnin the living to ,” with Yomi Duro costumed g good incom make the audience e, on d see baba stage. Not only ner, Ogund a theatre practitiocian, compoe was a great musiwhose relentser and social critic less fights injustice against and oppre ssion recorded in 95 sound were sony neme compiled tracks Editor, EntErt into ter his death. 13 audio CDs afainmEnt sony.neme@newt elegraphonline.c Amid encom om iums by tors, actres © Daily Telegrap ach Publishing ficials and ses, government ofCompany Limited the Ogund traditional rulers , e missioned museum was comwith promi ses by

New Bantu drops AFROPUNK single

the Ogun State partner privat government to developmen e investors in the antu has t of touris culture. While kicked off m with a brand 2015 commissionand the museu ing m, the rich titled ‘Afropun new single heritage cultural k’. The cussion heavy of on display Ososa people was fast paced perfeatures a with cultur tune rich and including al groups fined sound highly demasquerades and style taining guests enterdeviating without from the Ososa people . Indeed, for the musical curiosity and , it playfu was gettable day an lness that always been and for theunforBantu’s tradem has dren of Ogund chilNever in ark. a of their patria e, the memory hurry trends, New to follow Telegraph remain indeli rch will foreve ably gather r reliSpeaking ble. ensemble ed that the 13-piec e has been family, Ogundon behalf of the working on a sonic diligently Victoria Olorue’s daughter, Mrs. tation of ntegbi their musicrepresenthe impor composing, al vision, tance of thee, stressed which she museum, and fine-tu writing, arranging in cemen said was inevitable ideas with ning their musical ting Hubert Ogund the memory of come out a determination to with somet Her words e. dent, hing confidefiant and : “Suffi that the uplifting. “Afropunk film equip ce it to say works of is a testim ment and Ogunde are ony intact, it perfectly Contin UEd is on PaGE here that pertinent to state 28 the museu gathered m we are here to comm the person ission is al bert Ogund apartment of Huwhere he e. It is the building spent the last of his life. With all the 10 years tion, arrang compilaements and es were borne expensby the Ogund family. This e is a dream true and come a promise as pledge fulfilled d membranceduring his 20th reanniversary museum . The house works includ s all Ogunde’s ing songs phlets of , pamhis oJB drums, dramaplays, costumes, equipment, personal and effects. She furthe the fact that r said, “Despite any will, he our father never left ment, integrleft us with conten tlove towar ity, hard work and ds each other. has made wo wives This the one with unprefamily to remai Okungbowa,of Babatunde n ceden prolific music bonds. We ted producer, appreciate strong better honour to Jezreel, have known as OJB and give abandoned and those our late mothers The forem him. that ost music all of whom are still living who had , a kidney producer, immensely have contributed transplant last year in assets to theand have been great down with India, is critically success we ebrating today again at the kidney problem are celhospital. .” On the Huber The two Village, which t Ogunde Film Korede, Newwomen, Amar and Telegr is now lying low, Oloru aph reliab learnt, have fally ntegbie that the projec lamented pital to see not been to the hostheir he was admit husband since Her words t is in ruins. a 30-acres : “The film village ago. Sourc ted about a week , land e reveals Ogunde familydonated by the only the first that it is and people of has been seen wife, Mabel that Ososa whichthe good be the envy he was admit to his needs, since used to of all and ted sundry, The produ at the hospital. hind the succescer has been beContin UEd on PaGE s of popula sician 26 r mus such Ruggedman as Tuface Idibia , and others .

four pages of }25 entertainment The film village , a 30-acre-lan d donated by the Ogunde family and the good people of Ososa which used to be the envy of all, is now in ruins

OJB’s wives abandon him T

APC to Jonathan: Call your men to order }5

lIncoming govt accuses outgoing one of overheating polity

Quick Read

Editorial

Nigeria Air Force at 51 }19 NEPC: We've no business managing N220bn }9 SME fund

L-R: Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode and Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, during the bank’s 26th Annual General Meeting in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Acute power outage hits N'Assembly Philip Nyam and Chukwu David

roceedings on the floor of the Senate and the House of

Representatives were disrupted yesterday due to cut in power supply. The outage, which occurred four times during the proceedings, began at

12:15p.m. forcing the lawmakers to adjourn sitting. After about 20 minutes, the power was restored. Twenty minutes later, the National Assembly

was plunged into darkness again. In the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over

the plenary, had to resort to cracking jokes to calm down lawmakers. He told them that they are patriotic Nigerians; CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

News

FRIDAY, May 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG owes N15bn on Abuja airport road Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Federal Government is owing Julius Berger Nigeria Limited N15 billion for handling the expansion

of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road project to 10 lanes. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, said yesterday while inspecting three key projects in the nation’s capital

with President Goodluck Jonathan that work on the road had attained 98 per cent completion rate. The projects are the 10lane airport road, Kubwa Express Road and the Abuja light rail project. The Abuja Airport

Expressway project was awarded in 2009 by the Federal Government under the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua at the cost of N257 billion. Bala said the roads had reduced traffic from the city centre.

But while inspecting the airport road project, Jonathan urged the incoming government to ensure the completion of the road, saying that it serves as a gateway to the city of Abuja. The president, who cor-

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Ngozi Chukwuka; Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Monday Uko and Governor Godswill Akpabio, during the swearing-in of Batch A of corps members in Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area…yesterday.

roborated that the project was 98 percent completed, added that there was 30 kilometres of telecommunication on the road, which has now changed the face of Abuja. He said: "It is the plan of this government to replicate this in all the state capitals. I hope the new government will replicate it in other state capitals." Jonathan commended the FCT minister for an effective supervision of the project and the contractors for executing the projects on behalf of the government. While inspecting the light rail project at Idu, Director of Transport, FCT Transport Secretariat, Mr. Alex Usuma, told the president that the official date of completion of the rail project, which has attained 61 per cent completion rate, remains December 2015. According to him, the FCT administration is working on lot 1A and 3 at the moment because of financial constraints.

Fashola seeks forgiveness from Lagosians Workers allege shady deal in sale of oil assets Muritala Ayinla

overnor Babatunde Fashola has appealed to Lagos residents to forgive him if he had offended them with his policies in the past eight years. He said his decisions were taken in the best interest of the state. Delivering a speech to mark his 2,900 days in office yesterday, Fashola said he took some decisions based on the facts presented to him. He admitted that some of his decisions might be wrong. Fashola said: "To those that I might have offended, I apologise. For 2,900 days, I was called to make decisions every hour. I made decisions through treating millions of files on issues affecting residents of Lagos. I took those decisions in the best interest of the state. And they were taken based on the facts as presented to me. “I couldn’t have got all the decisions right. It is impossible. To those that we haven’t reached, please bear with us, the work will never finish. And I am sure that our new governor will continue from where I stopped." The governor blamed the crisis rocking the Lagos State University on those hell-bent at becoming the varsity’s Vice-Chancellor. Fashola said that no

amount of pressure would make him suspend the Vice-Chancellor. He said: "The crisis that is affecting the institution was that some people are demanding that they want to decide when to remove and replace the VC. And that isn’t their prerogative. Their responsibility was to educate our children and not to choose the VC. And this happens whenever the tenure of the VC of the institution was about to come to an end; that is when the crisis starts. "And people have told me that I should change the rules on the tenure of the VC to make them spend one term. And I said that the law that I met allows me to have a VC for two terms. Why should I remove a VC after his first term? If he turns out that he is a good VC, why should he not spend the second term? "Why should I throw away someone who is good because you are in a hurry to become a VC? That is part of the problem. After a VC completes his first term, his post will be advertised. After we have gotten the CV of interested applicants, we conduct an exam for them. And if it happens that he become the best among them, he will be given the job. But if he get someone better than him, we will employ him. “But no one can sit down and say that after one term,

he must go. That will not work; that is not what the work envisages. The union should sheathe their sword and be part of the solution rather than been part of the problem." Meanwhile, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has commended Governor Fashola for not attempting to hijack the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure from his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu. He also threatened to expose those who worked against General Muhammadu Buhari as APC presidential candidate at the party’s primaries. Akiolu, who spoke in Yoruba language, said: "What is left for us in Lagos now is to pray for the progress of the state. The efforts of Tinubu, myself, traditional and religious leaders shouldn't be in vain. What is on ground now is that some people have been going to say a lot of things to the President-elect. I have made it a date with Awujale. I have said whoever labour for the course of anything must reap the fruit of his labour. “Some of those who are now trying to dictate to Buhari are all traitors and sycophants. They were those who initially opposed Buhari to be picked as APC presidential candidate. They all know themselves. I will expose them when the time come."

Adeola Yusuf and Cajetan Mmuta

orkers of the Nigeria Petroleum D e ve l o p m e n t Company (NPDC) have accused the company's management in connivance with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources of underhand dealings in the sale of some oil assets. The aggrieved members of staff, yesterday in Benin gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the alleged sale of the oil assets, including an oil block, OML 42, to some individuals in the country. They have threatened to shut down the entire flow stations in the country should the government ignore their demand. The workers, last Monday, staged a protest within the premises of the NPDC to press home their demand. They were, however, dispersed by armed policemen deployed to quell the crisis. It was learnt that some NPDC management staff had threatened the workers with sack over the protest. The workers were also said to have received a memo to stop interfering in the transaction. The oil assets were uncovered to have been sold at giveaway price to one of the oil-servicing firms belonging to a business

mogul who had been a contractor to the company. A member of staff of the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, yesterday, blamed the Federal Government for paving the way for the shoddy business. He said: “What is happening is that first of all, the Federal Government erred by appointing a lawyer as MD of NPDC because you are bringing in somebody who does not know anything about the oil industry to head the NPDC. This shows they have a sinister motive. “Early this year, we heard a rumour that the Federal Government wants to sell off one of our biggest assets, OML 42, which they bought from Shell because all the Shell assets were handed over to NPDC and NNPC. “When we head of this rumour, we confronted the MD about it but he denied it because we told them that it is not possible. But we were shocked last week when we were told that they had hurriedly sold one of the assets because we have the Ogidi 1 and 2; EGUA, JONES CREEK and they are one of the largest oil wells in West Africa. “Just last week, we received a circular from the Minister of Petroleum asking workers to hand over to the person that bought it. So, we refused and that was how the problem started. Our argument is that the asset was not advertised so

that people would bid for it. “This was done under cover and that is illegal. Our protest started since last Thursday and we have issued them an ultimatum. If they fail to reverse the decision after seven days, we will shut down all the flow stations in the country so that Nigerians will ask questions. “What they are doing is illegal and criminal and if we allow it, they will sell more before the end of this administration. We are worried with the rush at which these things are being sold off. Now we are being threatened with sack if we don’t keep quiet, but we told the MD we will not keep quiet. The person they sold the asset to is one of our contractors, but suddenly they sold the entire asset to him,” the source said. When contacted, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, declined comment. He referred New Telegraph to the Managing Director of the NPDC, Mr. Anthony Ugonna Muoneke, who is in Houston, Texas for the Offshore Technology (OTC). "You are in Houston and the MD, NPDC is there with you. You can get across to him on this," Alegbe said. However, Muoneke could not be reached on phone.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, May 8, 2015

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 4, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 73, representing 66 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber. Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them? These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them. For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

Travel Advisory

FRIDAY, May 8, 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

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, May 8, 2015

APC to Jonathan: Call your men to order Johnchuks Onuanyim and Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to stop his aides from overheating the polity, especially on the transition of power. The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that its Transition Committee members were yet to meet with the Transition Committee members of the Federal Government. The party stated that while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be deeply traumatised by its loss in the last general elections, that should not be a reason for it to disrupt the nation's peace by displaying crab mentality. It described as provocative and ill-intentioned the statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, that the APC should talk less and plan more for the nation, and that the party (APC) is seeking to stampede the President out of office. APC said: "Prof. Alkali doesn't know what he is saying. How does he expect us to plan when the PDPled Federal Government has bluntly refused to cooperate with us in ensuring a successful transition? As we write, the Transition Committee of the Federal Government has yet to hold a single meeting with our own Transition Com-

mittee, neither have they given us a line of handover note. “As a matter of fact, the Jonathan administration has said the handover notes will not be ready until the third week of May, meaning just a week before the handover. What time then do we have to scrutinise the handover notes? How can we plan when we don't even know which projects they have, which ones they have completed and which ones are outstanding? How can we plan when we don't even know how many barrels of oil are sold per day?”

The party said the fact that Alkali does not know the difference between Inauguration Committee and Transition Committee is a reflection of mediocrity that permeates the Jonathan administration and led to its downfall. “While their Inauguration Committee has been meeting with ours, their Transitional Committee has yet to even meet with ours. How then can Prof. Alkali justify his statement that the Jonathan administration has been in a 'transition mode'? “Is it part of their transition mode that President

Jonathan has been engaged in a rash of feverish last-minute appointments that, though may not have breached any known law, are patently in bad faith, morally repugnant and indecorous. They say they are in office until May 29th, but pray, are appointments the only function of a government? Are there no problems crying for attention, such as the intractable fuel scarcity, the worsening power situation, the grounded economy and the missing Chibok girls? “Is it part of their transition mode that Jonathan's Minister of Power

has virtually been reading the riot act to the incoming government, condescendingly warning it not to even consider reversing the power sector privatisation because its gains are ''very obvious?'' Do they understand the implication of their gratuitous and unsolicited advice? If their power sector reforms have been so successful, would Nigeria's power situation have hit perhaps its lowest point in a long time as we have it now?” it queried. APC said in as much as the Jonathan administration is bent on provoking the incoming administra-

tion, creating confusion and even sabotaging the transition, the party has decided not to fall for their antics in the interest of peace. The party reiterated its earlier advice to the PDP to shake off the trauma of defeat and gear up for the challenging task of being in opposition. “They must however realise that being in opposition is not a walk in the park but like running a marathon in the desert where there are no oases or shades. The sooner they realise that the better for them,” it said.

President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (eighth left) with a delegation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo during a visit by the group in Abuja...yesterday.

Mu’azu mocks Fayose Acute power outage hits National Assembly Wale Elegbede

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has challenged the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to provide evidence that he (Mu’azu) was involved in “underhand dealings” with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last presidential election. The embattled PDP chairman, who is presently out of the country, responded to the threat of Fayose that he would release details of Mu’azu’s deals with the APC via his twitter handle @Muazuaa. Mu’azu had played down the calls demanding his resignation and that of other members of the National Working Committee of the party, following the heavy defeat suffered by

the party in the March 28 and April 11 poll. Mu’azu taunted the Ekiti controversial governor, querying if the governor’s “evidence” against him would not be like his “evidence” during the presidential campaign, when Fayose said he was sure that the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, was dying in a London hospital. His tweets: “We challenge Governor Fayose to come out with the evidence that shows National Chairman worked for APC during the elections. “We hope it’s not the kind of evidence he once said he had that Buhari was dying.” “The National chairman campaigned for Governor Fayose, defended him & was at his inauguration & will continue to support him & Ekiti people.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and that they can work without air-conditioning. While these soothing words appeared to calm the lawmakers who continued the plenary without complaints, the power outage occurred again barely 20 minutes of resumption of plenary and the proceedings had to be suspended for the second time. For almost two months now, power supply to the National Assembly complex has been erratic. Once it's 5p.m., light is cut off till the next day. In October last year, the PHCN disconnected the National Assembly complex over an alleged N8 million electricity debt. A senior staff of the National Assembly, who spoke to New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said that the management of the Assembly

gave the directive for light to be put off in the complex between 6p.m. and 9p.m. daily to save cost of diesel. He explained that they had no option than to put off the generator at intervals in order to save diesel because the Assembly could no longer get power supply from the government source due to huge indebtedness. "It was the management which gave the instruction that the plant which supplies light to the complex be put off at intervals so that they can economise diesel because it is the management that funds the filling of the generator,” he said. On why the management preferred to run on generators, the source said: "The PHCN cannot give them light because they are owing and they cannot pay. I am aware

that the management is owing PHCN a huge amount of money. "That is what we are talking about corruption in the system. What they do is immediately allocation comes to the National Assembly, the management, I mean all the directors and the entire leadership, will just gather, share the money and everybody goes his way. "Now you have seen what it has resulted into. I have never seen this in the past, and I hope that the incoming administration will be courageous to deal with this problem of corruption which is crippling the system." The source said that electricity bills and others, such as Internet, maintenance and other sundry bills were said to be over N1 billion, leaving the service providers with

no option than to disrupt services. According to the source, the construction giant, Julius Berger, recently pulled out of the maintenance arrangement it had with the National Assembly due to accumulated debts. Apart from the issue of electricity, some elevators in the complex have been faulty for many months. Attempts to get the Clerk of the National Assembly to shed light on the development did not yield result as his telephone was unavailable and text messages were not delivered. This is not the first time the National Assembly is experiencing frequent power outage. During one of the budget presentations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there was a power cut that temporarily disrupted his address.

News

FRIDAY, May 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Supreme Court stops constitution amendment

lBars National Assembly from overriding Jonathan's veto Tunde Oyesina and Chukwu David Abuja

he Supreme Court yesterday suspended further attempts at amending the 1999 Constitution. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, who presided over the hearing of a suit filed by the Federal Government on the matter, stopped the National Assembly from overriding President Goodluck Jonathan's veto on amending the constitution. He also warned the parties not to do anything that will affect the subject matter of the suit. The court consequently adjourned the suit until June 18 when a new government will have come on board and the legislative session of the present National Assembly would have ended. The Federal Government had, through the Attorney General of the Federation, asked the apex court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmakers from taking any further

step towards passing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act, 2015 into law pending the final determination of the suit. The application for restraint, which was filed by the counsel to the AGF, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), was brought pursuant to Order 3, Rule 14 of the Supreme Court Rules. The Federal Government premised the application on the grounds, among others, that the National Assembly was determined to proceed with passing the bill into law by overriding the presidential veto despite the fundamental nature of the issues raised in letters to the Senate and the House of Assembly by the president. When the case came up yesterday, the CJN sought clarification on whether the suit was properly instituted, saying that the president should have filed the suit by himself and not through the AGF.

According to him, since the dispute is not between the Federal Government and the federating units, the proper person to file the suit should be the president. However, Ojo said the suit was properly filed. The court also sought to know whether it was right not to make state legislatures parties since they participated in the process that resulted in the amendments. The court, therefore, adjourned the suit until June 18 for Ojo to address the court on whether the case was properly constituted. But before the adjournment, the CJN stated that parties should not do anything that will affect the subject matter of the suit. The Federal Government had approached the court seeking an order to declare the amendments to the constitution proposed by the lawmakers as unconstitutional. Its claim was that the purported Fourth Al-

teration Act 2015 was not passed with the mandatory requirement of four-fifths majority of members of the National Assembly and the mandatory due process provided for under the relevant sections of the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. In an originating summons, the Federal Government asked the apex court to make an order nullifying and setting aside Sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 purportedly passed by the lawmakers. However, senators yesterday refused to make comments on the Supreme Court order. Reacting to the court ruling, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said they would wait to be served with the order before making any pronouncement. "I am not aware. Court processes are not broadcast on networks. We have to be served with the processes so that we know

the exact terms of the order or orders made. And to the best of my knowledge, the National Assembly has not been served with any order. "Until we are served, I cannot speculate, it will be academic to begin to speculate. Supposing we are not served at all? Supposing the information is wrong? Supposing it is right? And we don't know the terms of the order. We have to wait to be served with the order so that we look at the terms before making any pronouncement on it," Ndoma-Egba stated. Similarly, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, said it would not be appropriate for anybody to make comments on the issue when the National Assembly had not received a notice of the court order. "As at now, I have not seen the court order to know the parties, the prayers before the court, and the details of the or-

der and on whom it was directed. So, I will reserve all comments until we are served with the court order, and we know the content of the order, and the effect of it on legislative process," he said. Enang, who declined to comment on the meeting of the Joint Committee on Constitution Review on Wednesday, however, added that there were no pending bills with Jonathan as alleged by some members of the Parliament. Jonathan had withheld his assent to the amendments to the constitution on the grounds that the lawmakers did not satisfy the strict requirements of Section 9(3) of the constitution on how to alter the document. Jonathan, in a sevenpage letter to Senate President David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, queried the decision of the National Assembly to whittle down some executive powers of the president.

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42oC 22oC Sunny L-R: Wife of the Vice-President-elect, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, at the seventh international conference of African Women in Leadership Organisation in Lagos…yesterday.

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Senate passes Oil and Gas Free Zones, AMCON bills CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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He said: “The main feature is that the appointment of the chairman of the board must be subjected to Senate approval. “The other feature is that tax holidays will be enjoyed fully by the operators of oil and gas in the industry because free zones all over the world observe tax holidays. This, in itself, provides the opportunity for free zones to contribute to the growth of the economy. It is to encourage indus-

trial development in the country." He expressed concern that the oil and gas industry has been negating the global best practices in its operations over the years. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said that the passage of the bill was a major milestone in the quest to improve the oil and gas industry. “We know that the oil and gas is a major contributor to our economy

and as a responsible legislative house, we will continue to partner government and on behalf of our people improve the governance of this very vital sector. “What we have done today is essentially a discharge of this commitment and I want to thank you all for ensuring that this bill is passed,” he said. The AMCON (Amendment) Bill 2015, which was sponsored by Senator Bassey Otu (PDP-Cross

River South), was also passed. The amendment bill clarifies the scope of AMCON’s powers to achieve intended objectives without unnecessary interference with its ability to do so. The bill will also enable the organisation to purchase non-performing loans from Deposit Money Banks (DMPs) and recapitalise technically insolvent banks. It will equally enhance availability of credit to

critical sectors of the economy. Commenting on the passage of the bill, Ekweremadu said the commitment of the Senate to the passage of the bill was to sustain a stable economic system. “Today, we finally finetuned the AMCON Bill to make it more operational and to add value to the work they are doing. We believe we have covered all the lapses existing in the AMCON Bill with this amendment," he stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

News

friday, may 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Fuel scarcity: Cracks as FG divides marketers Adeola Yusuf

Houston, Texas

crack allegedly caused by the federal government yesterday occurred among marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, as some independent marketers abandoned the majors in fuel loading technical strike. The technical strike, which began last Wednesday by all marketers, was used to halt fuel loading in Apapa, a move, which a government source said, was "expected to worsen the fuel shortage if not quickly checked." The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) had last week issued a two weeks ultimatum to government to pay the balance of the subsidy debts. But some independent marketers, who considered the decision to embark on a strike before the expiration of a two-week ultimatum "too harsh and uneconomic" started loading products yesterday. The source told New Telegraph that officials of the federal government had since yesterday been talking to some marketers to consider the pains,

which the strike had inflicted on Nigerians and work together with government. "It is true that we have been talking to them but the decision by some independents to begin loading should be seen as personal," the source said by phone. Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its downstream subsid-

iary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), have disclosed that they have 1.2 billion litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) in stock. The figure translates to 31 days sufficiency going by the 40 million daily consumption of the product in the country. The Managing Director of PPMC, Prince Haruna Momoh made the disclo-

sure in Abuja in a statement. He said that 21 additional vessels laden with petroleum products are offshore Lagos waiting to berth. He said the NNPC had made adequate arrangements to ensure energy sufficiency in the country and reassured motorists that the noticeable queues at the filling stations would thin out in

the days ahead. Momoh noted that the NNPC has 21 days sufficiency of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise known as diesel and 18 days sufficiency of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) otherwise known as kerosene. He announced that as part of efforts to ensure petroleum products sufficiency and distribution, the NNPC embarked on

MultiChoice commended for investing in education

L-R: Executive Secretary, Small and Medium Scale Industries, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Director, Chief Lawrence Osayemi; Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa and Chairman, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, during the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

IGP directs CPs to set up judges' protection units Emmanuel Onani Abuja

n a bid to enhance the security of judges nationwide, to enable them dispense justice without fear or favour, the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to immediately set up Judges Protection Units (JPU).

aggressive Reception Depots rehabilitation in 2011 adding: “As at today, 18 depots out of the 23 depots have been fully recovered with the exception of Makurdi, Yola and Maiduguri due to the activities of pipeline vandals”. The PPMC MD disclosed that the Corporation suffered petroleum products losses worth N40.8bn through pipeline vandalism in 2014 stressing that no business could survive such a loss and still remain a going concern.

The JPU is an addition to such units as the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) as well as the Special Protection Unit (SPU). The IGP's directive was contained in a statement signed in Abuja yesterday, by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police. Arase further directed the CPs to saddle Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) in charge of training and develop-

ment in their respective commands, with the responsibility of conducting proper training and orientation exercise for personnel that will constitute the special unit. Consequently, the number of police aides attached to "Civil Commissioners nationwide" will be reduced. The statement reads: "The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Solomon Arase has directed Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) to immediately

set up Judges Protection Units (JPU) for Judges and courts within their areas of responsibilities. This is in a bid to ensure that the Judiciary has adequate security to carry-out their duties. "The IGP further directed Command CPs to assign Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) in charge of Training and Development to conduct proper training and orientation exercise for personnel constituting JPU. He emphasized that personnel designated for this assignment

must exhibit high sense of professionalism, courage, integrity, discipline and respect for human rights. "The IGP has also directed the reduction in the number of Police aides attached to Civil Commissioners nationwide. "The Police High Command equally enjoins members of the public not to relent in their collaborative efforts at reporting any suspicious criminal element in their area at the nearest Police Station for prompt action."

ultiChoice Nigeria has received praises from teachers and students for its investment in the public secondary school system through the MultiChoice Research Centre (MRC) Project. Through the MRC Project, the company's flagship Corporate Social Investment initiative, MultiChoice has provided teaching and learning aids to many schools across the country. The MRC is a project aimed at integrating audiovisual learning technologies in public schools via digital satellite television and other equipment such as DStv High Definition decoder and educational content. It was conceived to ensure that beneficiary schools have access to the MultiChoice Education Bouquet, integrating the programmes into their curriculum in order to enhance the teaching process and learning experience. Uche Otuagha, an MRC coordinator in King's College Annex, Lagos, said the Resource Centre has been an immense source for teaching materials for most teachers in his school.

Budget: Reps accuse committee Osun guber race: Supreme Court fixes Minister laments facility decay at airports schedule despite the elecMay 27 for appeal against Aregbesola Wole Shadare of ineptitude tioneering campaign and Philip Nyam Abuja

n a rare resolution, the House of Representatives yesterday indicted its standing committee on finance for failing to attend to the capital expenditure budget rollover bill of 2012, three years after it was committed to it. The House consequently reassigned the bill to the committee of the whole for reconsideration. Hon. Abdulmumin

Jibril, representing Bebeji/ Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano and a speakership contestant is the chairman of the committee. The deputy chairman is Hon. Michael Yomi Ogunnusi, representing Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency of Lagos State. The decision of the House to withdraw the bill from finance committee and reassign it was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Sunday. Karimi (PDP, Kogi).

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Supreme Court yesterday fixed May 27 to decide on the appeal filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the decision of Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which affirmed the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. The apex court reserved judgement after

counsel to the parties had adopted their briefs of arguments and addressed the court on the merit of their cases. Counsel to the appellant, Dr Alex Izinyon, (SAN), told the court to set aside the concurrent judgements of Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal and Court of Appeal, Akure as there were no concurrent findings. He also prayed the court to nullify the August 9, 2014 governorship for its irregularities.

he Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has taken a swipe at the massive infrastructural and equipment decay in the country’s aviation industry, adding that urgent steps were needed to correct the anomalies. That is coming as he equally expressed disappointment with poor service delivery by airlines and the disruption and flight delays which he said has done incalculable damage to air travel. He singled out First Nation Airways for maintaining a good, unbroken

scarcity of JET A1, which he blamed for the disrupted flight schedule. Chidoka also emphasised that there was lack of adequate and accurate data in the industry between the airlines and agencies in the sector. The minister stated this yesterday at the commissioning of the Common User Passenger Processing System, CUPPS, by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two, MMA2, Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

News

NATIONAL

I won’t discriminate against South-East –Buhari

lSays experience at Supreme Court good for political studies Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

resident-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he would not discriminate against any part of Nigeria, when he assumes office on May 29 this year. Buhari stated this yesterday when he received a delegation of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee, led by Prof. Ralph Obioha in Abuja. The presidentelect, who said that Nigeria was his constituency, also pledged to look into the demands of the South East caucus of the All Progressives Congress(APC) hand-

ed to him recently . Other members of the delegation were former Anambra State Governor, Sen. Chris Ngige, former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries , Eze Festus Odimegwu , Chief Onwuka Ukwa , Osita Okechukwu, Anike Nwoga . He dismissed fears that his administration may work against sections of the country that didn’t vote for him in the last polls. Buhari said that he will keep to the promise he made during the campaign to treat every Nigerian equally. He commended some South East leaders who he said stood for the truth and ensured that residents

of the area were fed with the truth. In his address , Obioha thanked Gen Buhari for his promise to run a competent and corruption free government. He described as false, claims that south east did not vote for the APC presidential candidate. According to him, “if the card reader was allowed to work in the zone , Nigerians would have known that the zone supported the APC . The Ohanaeze caretaker committee boss singled Onu, Ngige and Rochas Okorocha for praise describing the trio as wise men. Apart from the three, Obioha listed prominent

Igbo leaders like former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Festus Odinegwu as those that worked for the APC candidate. He said: “We are only a representative delegation and on behalf of the whole house we wish to mention the outstanding ,extra efforts and contribution of H.E Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Ken Nnamani, Chief Emeka Okwosa, Eze Festus Odimegwu , Chief Enechi Onyia , Senator Offia Nwali and Chief Onwuka Ukwa . Meanwhile, Buhari, yesterday stated that his Supreme Court cases as Presidential candidate of political parties should

NEPC: We’ve no business managing N220bn SME fund

he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said that it has no business with the management of the N220 billion special fund created by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) . The N220 billion special fund was established under the CBN Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS) to develop and promote the activities

of SMEs in Nigeria. The council in a statement by its Head, Media and Publicity, Joe Itah, to clarify a report on the matter, said: “The position of NEPC regarding the said fund is only that the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, in the Council’s effort to grow then on-oil export sector using the SMEs, as a key driver, has proposed to the CBN to release a take-off grant of

N5 billion to kick-start NEPC’s Export Development Fund (EDF), from the CBN’s five per cent grant allocation from the N220bn. “The reasoning is premised on the strong need to diversity he nation’s productive base from oil to non-oil given the dwindling oil revenue occasioned by the recent fall in crude oil price.” The Council added that it was of the view

Court strikes out lawmakers’ suit against Fayose Akeem Nafiu

suit filed by the 19 Lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the Ekiti State House of Assembly against Governor Ayodele Fayose and 13 others was struck out yesterday by Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos. The striking out of the suit was as a result of an application filed by the lawmakers to withdraw the suit. The judge, after striking out the suit, also awarded a

cost of N100,000 against the 19 APC lawmakers in favour of the respondents. The suit marked, FHC/L/CS/1823/14, was filed last year December following the impeachment of Adewale Omirin and Adetunji Orisalade as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State Assembly respectively by seven PDP members of the House. In his arguments before the court at yesterday’s proceedings, plaintiffs’ lawyer, Onyeka Ofoegbu, urged the court to strike the suit out as prayed by his clients.

However, the defence lawyer, Kayode Olufale, while opposing the request, disclosed that since the respondents had already joined issues with the plaintiffs, the proper thing for the court to do was to dismiss rather than striking it out. According to him, if a suit is dismissed rather than struck out by the court, it could no longer be filed or re-presented in future time. Olufale urged the court not to only dismiss the suit but to also award a substantial cost against the plaintiffs in favour of the respondents.

Senate presidency: APC Senators will obey party’s decision –Adamu Chukwu David Abuja

ormer Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday posited that Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not negate party decision on zoning of principal offices in the National Assembly including the Senate Presidency.

Adamu made the statement in an interview with journalists in Abuja, while reacting to media reports credited to a former Zamfara State Governor and chieftain of the APC, Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, who reportedly said on Tuesday at an interview session with the News Agency Of Nigeria ( NAN), that, if the APC leadership mishandles the zoning arrangement

for the leadership positions of the 8th National Assembly, APC senators and by extension, their counterparts in the House of Representatives, might re-enact the “Tambuwal scenario of 2011”. Senator Adamu said APC leadership and its federal lawmakers would not allow such a scenario to play out in the coming 8th National Assembly and in particular, 8th Senate.

that “with adequate financial support for SMEs, the fund could be deployed in some of the Council’s intervention projects and programmes aimed at building capacity for SME exporters as well as providing incentives through EDF to cushion the challenges of exporting in the international market.”

form good materials for those undertaken political development studies in the country. Buhari, who spoke before the All Progressives Congress Akwa Ibom State delegation at the Defence House in Abuja, also commended the APC members who are approaching the courts to seek redress on their mandates. Narrating his Supreme Court experiences, he stat-

ed that the problem with Nigeria was not ethnicity, but corruption. According to him, those that denied him judgment at the Supreme Court could be said to be his Muslim brothers from the North. Buhari said: “I am glad that you have gone to court too because you believe in the system as the right place to fight for your right and the right of the people you represent.”

Boko Haram: Air Force to establish FOBs in Bama, Monguno EmmanuelOnani Abuja

s part of measures to effectively monitor activities of Boko Haram around Nigeria’s borders in the North East, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has concluded plans to establish what it calls Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) in Bama and Monguno towns in Borno State. The move is aimed at positioning attack helicopters in the areas, to contain the sect. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, gave the indication yesterday in Abuja, at an

event to mark NAF’s 51st anniversary. Answering questions on NAF’s complementary efforts against the Boko Haram insurgency, Amosu said: “About Boko-Haram, we have already established some forward operation bases. To complement the maritime end, we have one FOB in Badagry, we have one in Mubi, we are still going to construct additional in Monguno and Bama, “These FOBs will help us to be able to position attack helicopters in those locations for effective border patrol. The maritime area is important because those equipment they could be smuggling in to fight in the North, may come from sea,” he said.

WANTED URGENTLY Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, requires the services of: Copy Editors: Must be graduates of English Language with a minimum of Bachelor's Degree (Second Class Upper). Applicants must have calm personality; be good writers with eyes for details and must be able to infuse life into 'dead' copies. He/she must have at least eight years post-qualification experience either in the media or the publishing industry. Legal Officer: with LLB (minimum of Second Class Lower). Should possess at least 4 years post-call experience. Must be able to provide assistance in preparing, drafting and vetting all agreements as well as rendering accurate legal opinion. Eligible applicants should submit their applications within two weeks to: Head, Administration Department, 1A, Ajimobi Street, off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos or newjobstoday2015@gmail.com

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro Customs arrest three

Chinese, seize N20bn goods

Pamela Eboh Awka

SMUGGLING Three Chinese are now in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service for importing textile materials illegally Muhammad Kabir Kano

igeria Customs Service (NCS) has sealed over 20 warehouses and seized illegal textile materials worth over N20 billion in Kano. The operation was coordinated by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Muhammad Diko Inde. The operation, the Deputy Controller of the Customs in charge of Anti-Smuggling Task Force, Hassan Shalangwu, said was undertaken strictly under the directives of the CGC, who had been monitoring movements of the smugglers who were mainly Chinese. At a stage, the CGC sent a team led by Shalangwu, who conducted undercover operation to locate and discover the actual number of illegal ware-

Police arrest trafficker, rescue 30 kids

The suspects

houses in Kano State being operated by foreigners with the support of unpatriotic Nigerians. Shalangwu added that during its investigation, the Customs team discovered over 20 warehouses fully loaded with printed textile materials ready for transportation to various markets in the country. According to him, the team arrested three Chinese.

He listed the suspects’ names as Gao Gnuxu, Li Yang and Zhon Showmin. Shalangwu warned that the NCS under Inde would not relent in its efforts to rid the country of the menace of smuggling. According to him, activities of the smugglers have hampered the smooth growth of the domestic firms. He said: “We have seized the printed illegal materials

and sealed over 20 warehouses whose value worth N20 billion. “We are doing this in our effort to make Nigeria free of all illegal businesses, imports and actions capable of totally crippling the country.” Shalangwu promised that wherever smugglers and other illegal importers were, they would soon be fished out and made to face the full wrath of law.

o fewer than 30 children from the northern part of the country were yesterday rescued by the police in Onitsha, Anambra State while being ferried to Benin by a trafficker. The children, whose ages range between six and 10 years, were rescued by during a check at Upper-Iweka while on transit to Benin for what the trafficker described as better life and education from affluent members of the society they would stay with. The minors, who were alleged to have been taken from their homes in Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states, looked unkempt when our correspondent visited the Inland Town Police Station, Onitsha, where they were kept. The suspected trafficker, who claimed to be a pastor and a law student in one of the nation’s universities, was with the victims when he was arrested. Investigation indicated that the suspect had travelled with the children overnight from the North to Onitsha with the hope of boarding another vehicle to Benin, when he was arrested. At Inland Town Police Station, the children looked physically drained and oblivious of their challenge while their travelling bags were beside them. While some were eating others were dozing.

Delta PDP treasurer dies in hotel room Why I stabbed my friend Dominic Adewole ASABA

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Dr Brown Anderson, slumped and died in his hotel room in Asaba, the state capital. Officials of the Special Squad from the Homicide Department of the police have begun investigation into the death. Anderson, who was the state

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

PDP treasurer, had been pencilled down for appointment as the commissioner for health. He was reportedly found dead at the popular Hotel Valerie located on Direct Labour Agency Road, Asaba, barely a few hours after he checked into the hotel room. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestine Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said police investigation had already begun into Anderson’s death. The deceased, who resided in Warri with his family, had arrived Asaba to partake in his inauguration as a member of End of Tenure Committee constituted by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan when he died. Anderson was reportedly driven to the hotel on his request to have a moment of rest ahead of the ceremony. But the driver became apprehensive when his boss who had told him about the inauguration period did not come out.

The driver’s efforts to reach his boss through phone calls did not yield result. This, according to sources, prompted the driver to request the hotel management for the spare key to the room where Anderson was discovered dead. At the state police headquarters, a group of detectives, it was learnt, had been assembled to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. The circumstances of his death were further compounded by speculations that he might have dead after a marathon sex with a female partner while another said he collapsed and died when he was hinted that his name had been dropped as commissioner for health in the proposed cabinet of the in-coming government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. Already, the body had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.

to death –Suspect

Taiwo Jimoh

omicide detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, have arrested a 33-yearold truck driver who allegedly killed his best friend. The suspect, Tunde Azeez, apparently still in shock, said he never meant to kill Lukmon Ayedun. Azeez was said to have stabbed Ayedun to death on Monday night, with a broken bottle at Amuwo Odofin area of the state. He said the death of his friend was a mistake, adding that he deeply regretted his action. Trouble started after Azeez bought food from a vendor and woke his friend who was fast asleep to eat with him. Apparently angry for being woken up from his sleep, Ayedun was said to have punched Azeez. A

Azeez

shocked Azeez immediately retaliated, which led to a fisticuff. “I never meant to kill him. On that fateful day, after I bought the food, I woke him up. I wanted us to eat the food together. But he was angry and punched me. I was surprised. I asked him why. As if that was not enough, he broke a bottle and stabbed me on my left hand. Immediately, I grabbed the broken bottle from him and stabbed him on his head,” Azeez said.

METRO 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Ogun newspaper agent dies three months after abduction Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

arely three months after she regained her freedom from kidnappers, a popular newspaper agent in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Mrs Funlayo Ajayi, has died. Ajayi reportedly slumped and died at 9p.m. on Tuesday in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The deceased, a mother of five, has been the sole distributor of newspapers and magazines with her outlet known as Joke News Agency at the Lagos ‘Garage’ area in

The late Ajayi

Ijebu-Ode. It was gathered that the late newspaper agent, who had been in the business for about 40 years, would have

NDLEA official arraigned for allegedly importing cocaine

celebrated her 59th birthday on July 7. A source said Ajayi slumped on her way from bathroom on Tuesday night and died before she could be taken to the hospital. It was learnt that the woman died at her younger brother’s residence in Ikorodu, where she had relocated since she regained her freedom from the kidnappers. “The woman was nice and hard-working and had helped a lot of people. She had been in the business for 40 years. July 7 is her birthday; she was preparing for the 59th birthday celebration before the cold hands of death snatched

‘General overseer dupes suspect’s family of N5m’ Juliana Francis

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade

n official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Adeogun Olajide, and a civilian, Adams Michael, were yesterday arraigned for allegedly importing 2.692 kilograms of cocaine. The accused were arraigned at a Federal High Court in Lagos, on a fourcount charge bordering on conspiracy and importation of narcotic drugs. However, the accused, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), denied committing the offence. The prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu, also an NDLEA official, told the court that the accused committed the offences between January and March 8. He said that the offences were committed at the International Mail Processing Centre of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. According to the prosecutor, the narcotic drugs were brought into Nigeria at different times and in varying quantities. He said: “The accused had on February 24 imported 2.092 kilograms of cocaine. “They also imported 600

kilograms of this same substance on or before March 8 without lawful authority.’’ Nwagu said the accused, by their alleged act, had contravened sections 11 (a) (b) and 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation 2004. The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in the NDLEA’s remand facility pending the time investigation would be concluded. But counsel to the accused, Mr Benson Ndakara, urged the court to admit his clients to bail. He told the court that the accused had been in detention since March and that it would be appropriate and fair to release them on bail. The accused could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted of the charges. Justice Saliu Saidu, however, ordered that the accused should be remanded in the NDLEA facility for seven days. He said: “But if the NDLEA fails to conclude its investigation within seven days, I will entertain the bail applications of the accused.” The judge adjourned the case till May 14.

her away. “She had even disclosed her plan to quit the business when she clocks 60 and would go to Jerusalem for holy pilgrimage,” one of her business associates told our correspondent. Ajayi was kidnapped by four gunmen on February 2, but was released two days later. The kidnappers reportedly dropped her off close to Muslim Comprehensive High School, Imepe, Ijebu-Ode, around 9pm. An undisclosed amount of money was said to have been paid as ransom, which eventually led to her release.

he Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has urged the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to investigate a general overseer, whose church is located at Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State, for allegedly collecting N5 million from a detainee’s family in order to get his bail. NOPRIN National Coordinator, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguman, urged the IG to ascertain the information the organisation received from the family of the detainee that one Prophet Babalola had so far deceitfully and fraudulently obtained from them over N5 million, ostensibly to assist them to ‘settle some top management police officers in Abuja’ and secure the release of the suspect. According to Nwanguman, the detainee, Afam Nriezedi, was arrested on January 17, by officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos. He said that SARS denied Nriezedi’s family members and legal representative access to him. One of the policemen, Abdurrahman, allegedly told Nriezedi’s family members that their brother was wanted for being in possession of four AK47 rifles belonging to the police. About two weeks later, they read in some national dailies that Nriezedi was an informant to a kidnap gang which allegedly abducted two prominent oil dealers in Lagos. The family members said they were perplexed because the initial information the police gave them was that their brother was wanted allegedly for being in possession of four AK 47 rifles belonging to the police. Nwanguman said: “Nriezedi’s family members have not been allowed, despite several

efforts, to see him, ask him some questions and hear his response to the allegations levelled against him. They said they seriously doubted the allegation by the police because they are not aware of their brother’s involvement in any criminal act, let alone one involving the use of firearms.” When NOPRIN received the case on April 27, Nwanguman said he called the Officer in Charge of SARS, Ikeja, Mr Abba Kyari, and inquired from him about it. The O/C SARS replied through a text message: “My brother, he is a member of a kidnapping gang that kidnapped Mr. Ademola owner of Dapsy Oil and Alh Fashola owner of Kings Oil. The arrest of Afam Nriezedi; Chukwube, Kelvin and etc was celebrated all over the newspapers and television. We are still making serious efforts to arrest Ikechukwu and two others before they will form new gang to kidnap innocent citizens again. Thanks.” Nwanguman said: “Curiously, on May 3, one Prophet Babalola, a self-styled general overseer at Ogba, called one of the accused person’s sisters, Mrs Ngozi Nriezedi, who worships in his church and informed her that some police officers from Abuja had come to Lagos to pick up a file relating to the case from SARS, Ikeja. “The ‘man of God’ told her that the officers would like to meet with any member of their family. Mrs Ngozi Nriezedi went to see the ‘man of God’ in his church and he gave her one of his workers who took her to a hotel in Ikeja where she met a man who claimed to be Police Officer Patrick and who claimed that he was a member of the police team from Abuja.”

City Briefs 25 escape death in Lagos auto crash Camillus Nnaji

bout 25 people yesterday escaped death when a trailer rammed into four vehicles on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The accident occurred about 9am on ‘Otedola Bridge’ in front of Otedola Estate near the Lagos State Secretariat, Ikeja. The affected vehicles are a Toyota ‘Hummer’ bus with registration number AKC 711 YU belonging to Peace Mass Transit Company going from Ojuelegba in Lagos to Enugu, a Toyota Lexus ‘Jeep’ marked JJ 223 AL, a Honda Accord car with registration number APP 121 AD and a Honda Odyssey marked GGE 216 AA. Two of the occupants of the affected vehicles, who were injured, were taken to the Lagos State Accident Emergency Centre at Ojota by men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). The leader of the FRSC team from Ojota unit, Mr A. A. Haladu, told our correspondent at the scene of the crash that the trailer had a brake failure while descending the bridge. He said: “We thank God there is no casualty because of the nature of this crash. It is only two persons seating in front of the ‘Hummer’ bus were trapped and injured. We have rushed them to Lagos State Accident Emergency Centre at Ojota for treatment. “About 25 persons were in the vehicles including the drivers, but the driver of the MAC trailer ran away.” The crash caused a gridlock on the expressway as it took over an hour for the FRSC officials and policemen to evacuate the wreckage of vehicles.

I’ll defend my actions during polls –Mbu Juliana Francis

he controversial Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, said he and his policemen were ready to testify and defend their actions and conducts during the general election at the tribunal. Mbu spoke while receiving the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Hall of Fame Award for conducting violence-free elections in Ogun and Lagos states. The AIG said that some individuals and political parties had accused the police of aiding their opponents to win the general election. According to him, the commands under his watch were not partisans. He said: “We conducted elections in Lagos and Ogun states and it turned out to be the best of its kind. I thank all my Commissioners, Area Commanders, DPOs, senior and junior officers for an excellent job. I have also written to these policemen to thank them for their conducts during the elections. “After the elections, nobody, not even the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called us to say thank you. They are still accusing us of bias. APC said we supported PDP and PDP said we supported APC, but we are ready to testify that we conducted the best elections in Lagos and Ogun states.

12 News

friday, may 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south-west

Gunmen abduct nurse, shoot one dead Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

L-R: Past President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Foluso Fasoto; President, Chief Mark Dike; Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Innocent Ohagwa; Doyen of Taxation, Chief Ajibola Olorunleke and Vice-President, CITN, Dr. Teju Somorin, at the inauguration of TAX PROFESSIONALS’ HOUSE in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

APC, Fayose bicker over MDG funds Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday engaged in verbal war over the disbursement of the conditional cash transfer funds by the Millenium Development Goals office to beneficiaries in the state. The APC, in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, accused the state government of shortchanging the beneficiaries to the tune of N70, 000 each. The APC alleged that instead of the N100, 000 that each beneficiary

change of nameS

NZE

I formerly known as Mr. Okereafor Barnabas Ezechi now wish to be known as Mr Nze Barnabas Ezechi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEYINKA

I formerly known as Miss Esther Ogunbowale now wish to be known as Mrs. Esther Adeyinka. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PRINZ ETIM

I formerly known as Miss Ima-Obong Asuquo Essien now wish to be known as Mrs Ima-Obong Prinz Etim. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NKATTA-IBEH

I formerly known as Chioma Joy Nkatta now wish to be known as Chioma Joy Nkatta-Ibeh. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University Ekpoma, Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

AKINBAMBO

I formerly known as Yusuph Bola Medinat now wish to be known as Akinbambo Bola Medinat. All former documents remain valid. Federal University of Technology Minna and general public take note.

were entitled to, they were being paid N30,000 per person. "The beneficiaries were paid N30, 000 by Governor Fayose instead of the statutory N100, 000, approved for them and already paid into the bank by the MDGs Office at the Federal level. "The last stage of the programme is for them to be paid N100, 000 each as exit fund to start their businesses, but Mr. Fayose has decided to pay

them only N30, 000 while helping himself with the remaining N70, 000," Olatubosun explained. However, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, said the APC was only twisting the truth for cheap political reasons. Anisulowo, whose office oversees MDG activities, wondered when APC would stop peddling lies all in the name of politics. "As we speak, nobody

has been paid a kobo by the government. The APC should bring to the public anybody who has been paid and how much the person has been paid. "The programme is a Federal Government programme with support from the state government in counterpart funding. It has been on for years and for the current set of people, nobody has been paid a kobo," he said.

Osun poll: Tribunal receives 16 petitions Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

ew weeks after the conduct of the senatorial and House of representatives elections in Osun State, the state election petition tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, has received 16 petitions in connection with the exercise. Aggrieved and dissatisfied candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Francis Fadahunsi, who contested for the senatorial position in Ife East constituency of the state and Barrister Kayode Oduoye, the party's candidate for the House Of Representatives in Ifelodun/Boripe/Okuku Federal constituency in the state have approached the tribunal to grant their requests for the inspection of all election materials. Also seeking justice is the APC House of Representatives candidate for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of the state, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade, who also in a petition

to the tribunal claimed that Hon. Oluwole Oke of the PDP did not defeat him in the election. Prince Fadahunsi of the PDP has equally dragged the APC candidate in the poll, Senator Jide Omoworare, who was declared winner in the election before the tribunal. Also joined in the suit were the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Fadahunsi, in the application filed against the APC candidate and the INEC, alleged that the last National Assembly election in his senatorial district was characterized with massive fraud and irregularities, seeking the reverse of the result. The PDP candidate, who described the victory given to the APC candidate at the poll by the INEC as daylight robbery, insisted that he would reclaim his mandate from Omoworare. The tribunal has, however granted Fadahunsi's application to inspect materials used for the poll.

In the application filed by his counsel before Justice H. Kanyip-led panel, Chief Nathaniel Oke, SAN, said all efforts would be made to redress the matter before the tribunal. Oke added that, his client had served both the APC and INEC and maintained that "my client was forced to approach the tribunal for order for substituted service on Omoworare because efforts to serve him in person proved futile." The relief being sought before the court to serve Omoworare by pasting the notice on the wall of his residence has however been granted.. Also, Barrister Kayode Oduoye, is challenging the victory of Hon, Yinka Ajayi, of the APC in the election, describing the outcome of the exercise as manipulation, while Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade of the APC also dragged PDP candidate in Obokun/ Oriade Federal constituency to the court saying he was the one that won the election.

senior nurse with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Mrs. Margaret Aladenika, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Ido-Ipere Road, while a yet to be identified man was shot dead in the process. This was just as the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Lawrence Ayodele, raised the alarm over the safety of his staff members. Briefing journalists in Ido yesterday, Ayodele also decried the manner with which some youths invaded the hospital on Wednesday, demanding immediate employment

of 100 persons. The CMD said Aladenika, who was in a car with her husband and a family friend were in search of petrol for their vehicle when the abductors struck. "The man that was shot dead reportedly hailed from Ido and was probably killed because he could identify the kidnappers. The woman has been taken away since and her husband is on admission here because his blood pressure rose up sharply," he said. When contacted on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Alberto Adeyemi, said on the phone that he was yet to be briefed on the development.

APC challenges PDP victory in Ogun assembly seats Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has filed petitions at the election tribunal against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in nine state constituencies won by the opposition party during the House of Assembly election. The constituencies where the APC is challenging its defeat include Ijebu North-East, IjebuOde, Imeko-Afon, Egbado South, Ijebu North, Ipokia, Sagamu II, Ijebu East and Egbado North II. In the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections, the APC won 17 seats in the 26-member state legislature.

The party won in Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta South I, Ewekoro, Odeda, Remo North, Abeokuta South II, Abeokuta North, Ikenne, Ifo I, Ifo II, Odogbolu, Ado-Odo/Ota I, AdoOdo/Ota II, Ijebu North II, Sagamu I, Ogun Waterside and Egbado North I state constituencies. Also, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and its candidate in Egbado South State Constituency, Mr. Olayinka Olaofe, have filed a petition against the election of PDP candidate, Mrs. Julianah Akintayo, in the April 11 House of Assembly election. In a copy of the petition obtained by our correspondent, the petitioners stated that the UPN's name and logo were conspicuously missing from the ballot papers during the poll.

UNILAG postpones exam by one week Mojeed Alabi

he demand by students of the University of Lagos that the school authority must postpone their first semester examination scheduled to begin next week, by one week has been granted as the management of the institution announced yesterday that it has postponed the commencement of the examination by one week. The postponement, which was the issue of the protest staged by the students on Wednesday by the students, according to the university authority was aimed at addressing all the issues raised by the students

during the protest. In a telephone interview with the Deputy Registrar in charge of information, Mr. Oke Olagoke, he said the power and water crises on the campus were being addressed and everything will soon be resolved so that the conducive environment required for the conduct of examination is provided. He said, “Exams have been moved to commence on Monday, May 18 instead of the next week Monday, May 11 earlier scheduled. The shift is as a result of the effects of the convocation ceremonies as well as issues with power and other allied services.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Appointments Olajide: I don’t anticipate any crisis

Open Forum

Okechukwu: Jonathan’s last appointments in bad faith

Governance

Fallout

Okorie: Buhari has right to review appointments

PDP’s search for scapegoats

Politics

Jonathan’s twilight antics

FELIX NWANERI writes on the gale of sacks and appointments that have characterised the twilight of the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan administration

t is season of sacks and appointments by President Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration gradually winds down ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari. The outgoing president, who made history as Nigeria’s first incumbent president to lose a re-election bid was defeated by Buhari, a former Head of State, who flew the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 presidential election by 15.4 million votes to 12.8 million. But in a rare show of statesmanship, the president quickly conceded defeat and congratulated Buhari on his victory. He also pledged a smooth transition of power to the opposition party. He followed this up by setting up a Transition Committee charged with the responsibility of drawing up programmes of activities for the inauguration ceremony. The committee is headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Just as the president’s gesture was being commended by many Nigerians and the international community, a twist unfolded in the polity with gale of sacks of key government officials and their replacement by persons believed to be the president’s loyalists. The APC, which is taking over from the Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) govern-

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Jonathan ment, is decrying the president’s actions of late, accusing him of lacing the path of the incoming Buhari government with banana peels that may pitch it against the people. According to the party, the various sacks and appointments of officials of key government agencies, parastatals and boards is not only a booby trap, but a grand plot to ensure a rough road to the Villa for the President-elect as any attempt to reverse them will heat up the polity given Nigeria’s ethnoreligious politics. Among the various sacks and appointments by the president at the twilight of his administration include the firing of the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and his replacement by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; removal of the chairman of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa and appointment of former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in his stead. Others are confirmation of the appointment of Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as Director-General of the commission; sacking of Ex-

President Jonathan has been engaged in a rash of feverish lastminute appointments... are patently in bad faith

ecutive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Femi Thomas and appointment of Olufemi Akingbade as the acting Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer; removal of Mallam Habib Abdullahi as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), who was replaced by Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, eldest son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. The list has continued to grow by the day. Only on May 1, the Federal Government appointed Chairman of Governing Councils for 12 new Federal Universities and four new Federal Polytechnics. Some of those appointed are former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Kashere, Gombe State; co-founder of Newswatch Magazine and a former ProChancellor of ABU Zaria, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed was appointed as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi was appointed as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal Polytechnic for Oil and Gas, Bonny, Rivers State.

Another beneficiary of the appointment spree is Mrs. Asabe Asmau, current Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF). She takes over from Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali, who has been Executive Secretary of PEF since 2007. The President also approved the appointment of Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Management Development Board (NCDMB). Besides APC’s worry over the appointments, the party has alleged last-minute looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and rushed privatisation of key financial institutions by the Jonathan administration and governance in the country. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke on the issue, said while the Jonathan government remains in office till midnight of May 28, it is incumbent on it not to tie the new government’s hands through suspicious actions. His words: “The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which is headed by the Vice President, has just approved the financial bid opening for transaction advisers for the privatisation of the three Development Finance Institutions in the country – the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nigeria Commodity Exchange. The question is: What is the rationale for rushing this exercise with just weeks left for this administration? “Also, there have been reports, yet unrefuted, of a planned hurried recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, after a previous attempt ended in a national tragedy and the fleecing of innocent job seekers by mindless Federal Government officials.” Mohammed added: “President Jonathan has been engaged in a rash of feverish last-minute appointments that, though may not have breached any known law, are patently in bad faith, morally repugnant and indecorous. They say they are in office until May 29th, but pray, are appointments the only function of a government?” For Buhari’s camp, while the sacks and appointments will not get it bogged down, all actions taken since the result of the March 28 presidential election was announced will come under the searchlight.

Politics

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM

...last-minute appointmentS

Olajide: I don’t anticipate any crisis Dr. Kunle Olajide is the National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF)

believe President Goodluck Jonathan must be acting in the belief and knowledge that his government expires on May 29, and he could still go on performing his duties. But as it is done all over the world, once a new president has been chosen, the current president becomes a lame-duck president; just winding up and doing what is regarded as mopping up exercises and preparing to hand over. The business of government does not stop, so I think it is a matter of personal discretion. One would ordinarily have thought that fresh appointments

by President Jonathan in this very late hour, particularly when those being appointed are not likely to work with him for long, should have been suspended, but again, he has a strong point saying that government is still working. So, I think it is neither here nor there. Let us wait and see the attitude of the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari to it. And perhaps, they have discussed it; I wouldn’t know. I believe there are different types of political appointments. There are some which are constitutionally-backed; that are in the constitution by status. It might be difficult for the incoming president to revisit those ones. But the ones that are not backed by status are just a principle of hire and fire. So, the decision by Buhari to retain or sack those appointed by President Jonathan will depend on the rapport between the current President and the President-elect. So, it will be difficult for us to comment from outside because we don’t know what is happening between them. They have demonstrated to the public, a very

Olajide

warm relationship and as such, I imagine that they will be communicating and it is not impossible that the President has discussed some of the appointments with the President-elects. But again, the President-elect, when he is sworn in has a responsibility to steer the ship of the state and in

Once a new president has been chosen, the current president becomes a lame-duck president; just winding up

that respect, he will do what he considers best while not breaching the constitution. I am sure the President-elect is an experienced leader. And as a former Head of State, he will know how to balance all the odds. I don’t anticipate any crisis at all over the last-minute appointments by President Jonathan. I think the President-elect will manage the situation very well. I have no fear or anxiety at all over the matter. Government is a continuous exercise. So, Buhari may take a good look at the recent appointments and so on; where he finds a square peg in a square hole, I have no doubt in my mind that he will leave the appointee there. But on the other hand, where he considers a square peg in a round hole, he may decide to relieve such a person of his appointment. The President-elect as a matured elder statesman in his own right will consider each case on its merit while not forgetting what we call federal character, quota system and so on. We can only wish them well in this transition. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Ikedife: Appointments are artificial, unrealistic Dr. Dozie Ikedife is an elder statesman and former PresidentGeneral of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo

n recent times, President Goodluck Jonathan has been carrying last-minute appointments, this shows desperation of some sort. People have the right to make appointments and right to fire people but there are certain ones that look suspicious as if the motive is not totally

Alhaji Yerima Shettima is the president, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF)

Shettima

Since Jonathan can appoint and sack as a president, Buhari also has the same right to sack or retain those appointed by President Jonathan

alright. These appointments look very artificial and unrealistic and one wonders the motives behind this latest move, other than sheer bad belly. I am of the view that the lastminute appointments by President Jonathan will have effects on the incoming General Muhammadu Buhari-led administration because some of the appointments by the outgoing president are key appointments to sensitive positions. I don’t understand what President Jonathan is trying to do with the lastminute appointments. I believe what goes up must come down. But in today’s physics, we know that many things go up and they don’t come down again. Since Jonathan can appoint

and sack as a president, Buhari also has the same right to sack or retain those appointed by President Jonathan but it is going to be a little bit tricky because some of the appointments are statutory; that is when you are appointed, you are expected to serve for four or five years before your tenure expires. If you are removed earlier, you can go to court. I can’t understand the motives behind all these last-minute appointments. The matter is a little bit delicate because it has some legal implications, which must be properly looked into before anybody could make any statement that can be regarded as a serious statement from a responsible person. Ikedife

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Shettima: Buhari should reverse all last-minute appointments C learly, the president still has the right to make any appointment or remove anyone he wishes, but the question is in whose interest are those things being done. How many days will the appointees get to resume and adapt themselves to the system? For us in the civil society, we are looking at it as being another way of encouraging corruption because anybody who finds himself in such appointments has a timeline and the only thing left when he comes in is to look through the purse, pick his own and run away. Do we now begin to assume that it is now part of the com-

It is an injury time appointment and it is simply job for the boys

pensation by the government to those who work for him during the election and removal of those who didn’t? What kind of appointment are you giving to someone that won’t last for more than one month? It is an injury time appointment and it is simply job for the boys so that the boys will not go back again and start to witch-hunt the hunter. The civil society couldn’t act on this because they respect and are products of rule of law. It is better to allow it phase away than creating more confusion. On a gentleman ground, he shouldn’t have done it be-

cause there was no reason for the appointments. In fact, he should have instructed them to submit their handover reports rather than handling them sack letters. The president-elect should reverse all those appointments and choose those he wants to work with, that is the constitutional right of the president. General Muhammadu Buhari should look across the country and pick Nigerians with repute and commitment to serve in his government; he doesn’t need to borrow from Jonathan. Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

OPEN FORUM Osita Okechukwu is the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP)

...last-minute appointmentS

Okechukwu: Jonathan’s last appointments in bad faith

actually feel that notwithstanding the offence those people committed that there is what we call in politics, lame duck president. Lame duck doesn’t mean you are no longer serving your tenure, but it is a time that a president ceases to carry out some functions in order not to distract the in-coming person. But this is in bad faith. The appointments and sacks the president is making are in bad faith. In fact, the American presidential system that we borrowed from, one year to the end of the president’s tenure, the president remains a lame duck. Here, the election have been held and the result declared. Any further action along that line is in bad faith. It was not meant to advance his name; it was not meant to create harmony. It is actually meant to distract the incoming administration. I think it is in bad faith. There is no urgency in dismissing the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Whatever the wrong he has done, you leave that. The best you can is that in your handover note, you can record that this is what he did and to the best of your knowledge he was wrong. That should be your recommendation so that you do

It is actually meant to distract the incoming administration. I think it is in bad faith Okechukwu

not distract the in-coming administration. So, I think it is unethical. It is not against the law but it is unethical. On whether the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan would be reviewed by the in-coming

president; I cannot speak on behalf of the in-coming Presidentelect but all I am saying is that in the past weeks, the actions of the president were wrong. Looking at somebody like Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State,

why should you because you are a friend to Obi, you just go and give him a slot that is very vital in determining the economic policy of the new regime? It is not done in a sane country and that is why I said it is unethical and in bad faith. So, there is no way you can give Peter Obi such an important parastatal, Chairman, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is not job for the boys. If you want to give jobs to the boys, you can look for another thing and give to them. Obi is a business man and you can promote his business by other means. I would not speak on behalf of the President-elect on what to do. It would be bad for me to speak for him but all I am saying is that it is unethical, in bad faith and it is not done in sane countries of the world. Whether Jonathan likes it or not, he is a lame duck president as of today. Look at them going ahead to say they want to recruit for Immigration. What is the moral grounds in recruiting people for Immigration? This is an exercise that they failed woefully and led to the death of over 10 applicants. They collected money from them and did not employ them and they never refunded their N1, 000. So, the activities are in bad faith. Interview by johnchuks onuanyim

Aborishade: Appointments to arm-twist incoming administration Femi Aborishade, a lawyer and politician, is the founding National Secretary of the National Conscience Party (NCP)

he recent appointments by President Goodluck Jonathan are immoral and all those sacks and appointments were done fairly in bad faith. For example, the sack of the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sulaiman Abba, suggests to the public that President Jonathan sacked the IGP because he didn’t carry out the directives of the Presidency to rig the general elections in his favour. Otherwise, it appears no serious justification can be found for all the sacks and new appointments being made by the president when he has only few weeks to leave office. It is an attempt to arm-twist the incoming administration to accept such new appointments. It is clearly wrong, done in bad fate and it is improper. No incoming administration should be held bound by such appointments made at the 11th

hour of an outgoing administration. I don’t even think those who are appointed will take their appointments serious because it was done in bad faith and there is no way the appointments could have followed due process they ought to follow. The new appointments should not be binding on the incoming administration. The incoming administration should do a thorough screening on the background of the appointees to know if they are competent for the positions. If the Presidentelect finds them okay; he could retain them; otherwise he should objectively either accept or reject them. The new administration should not be bound just because they have been appointed, particularly on the basis of the manner of their appointments. They should conduct investigations into their background and competence for the job. For example, the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari is supporting the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina for the position of President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) because of his performance and competence. General Buhari is not saying that because Adesina was nominated during the Jonathan administration, he would reject but on the basis of

No serious justification can be found for all the sacks and new appointments... when he has only few weeks to leave office

Aborishade

the minister’s competence, performance and qualifications, the President-elect is giving him full backing. Few days ago, former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and Adesina just came back from South Africa on the basis of the support being given by the President-elect for a minister in the current administration. The

point I am making is that based on the support of the Presidentelect for Adesina, it does not mean that he should reject all the new appointments willingly. He should do thorough investigations on the backgrounds, track records, experience and competence of various appointees. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM Chief Chekwas Okorie is the National Chairman and candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the March 28 presidential election

...last-minute appointmentS

Okorie: Buhari has right to review appointments

he row between the incoming and outgoing governments over the transition is not a healthy one because Nigerians and the rest of the world have been praising the maturity of President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari over the way they have cooperated up till this time. The presidential election has come and gone, someone won and some people lost. I am one of those who lost, so I think the President should maintain the high profile statesmanship, which he has well established. He shouldn’t allow the hawks around him to make him believe that his well-established maturity and statesmanship is a sign of weakness. That impression may make him to begin to sound combative.

Onyekachi Ubani is a former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch

Okorie

To me, it is too late in the day to begin to do that. My advice therefore is that he should continue to husband the transition in the way and manner that he accepted the outcome of the election’s result until he bows out

Interview by FELIX NWANERI

Ubani: It’s a booby-trap for new govt

he president of the country remains the president till May 29 when he will handover. He is under the law to do certain things allowed by the law but in carrying out his duties as the president, he must take into cognizance the issue of national interest and the fact that his administration is going even though government is a continuum. It will be wrong for the president to at this juncture foist on the incoming government certain appointments that may not necessarily be in tandem with the perception of the incoming administration. They have their programmes and manifesto that they want to pursue and if you tie their hands with some late key appointments, then you are creating crisis. When the new administration comes in, they will review all those appointments and all those actions that were taken, and if it is not done in the overall national interest then they have the right to terminate, review and reverse their decision and this won’t be too good for those who you’ve set up as they are already basking in the euphoria of getting those appointments. I think the government must exercise discretionary power in whatever appointment they are making at this point because this is the twilight of their administration and they are already on their way out. So, if you are

gloriously and gracefully. The way I look at the recent appointments is that the president is still the president until May 29, and the incoming president, who will assume all presidential powers from then, including that

If PDP loyalists are being appointed to sensitive positions, they should be removed because they can sabotage his government

of the Commander in Chief, has the right to review every action taken by his predecessor, including those he thinks were done in bad fate. Luckily, there would be a brand new National Assembly with more than 70 per cent of its members having no primordial loyalty. So, Buhari will have it easy with any appointment that needs to be shut down to allow people who will help him fulfil his campaign promises. No one should break anyone’s head because of what the president is doing in his last days. He has a good argument in insisting that he remains the president until he hands over. The incoming government should just wait, and I can tell you that I will support any review that will make Buhari have less distraction. If PDP loyalists are being appointed to sensitive positions, they should be removed because they can sabotage his government.

Nobody doubts he is still in power till May 29, but we must be very careful, conscious and lace our decisions with wisdom

making major appointments and decisions that will now bind the incoming government, you are creating a recipe for crisis. Nobody doubts he is still in power till May 29, but we must be very careful, conscious and lace our decisions with wisdom. These are things he has not been doing since he was there for many years; he now suddenly woke up to begin to exercise his executive power as the president, then something is wrong and people should query the rationale for the appointments and removals. Whatever he wants to do now, he must be conscious that he is on his way out. The incoming government should review all these appointments and contracts. You are making new appointments and awarding contracts despite the cries that there is no money. So, people can now question the rationale and motive of this government and they will ask if the government means well or they only want to create crisis for the incoming government or lay a booby trap for the administration. It is important that every action has to now be considered on its own merit. There is no two ways about it, some of these appointments are meant to compensate some people. I even heard that they have promoted Marylyn Ogah in the Department of State Service (DSS). We are also aware that he brought in former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman and removed someone that his tenure

has not expired. That is illegal. The man was not even told; he only got the information of his removal on television. He now brought someone that we know worked for him during the election; you know Obi was all over the country canvassing votes for him. So, he is now compensating Obi for working for him. Why didn’t he make him minister when there was vacancy? We should know that this particular institution is a sensitive one, it is the institution in charge of our Capital Market and that sector thrives on information and you are bringing in such a person. Are you sure the incoming administration wants to work with

Ubani

him? You don’t create unnecessary crisis and I see a lot of bad motive in all these appointments and the president needs to show good sportsmanship even though he has conceded defeat and we praised him for that. But most of his actions of late are a bit vindictive and I think the incoming government has the right to review every decision that has been taken especially the contracts that are being awarded, the appointments and removals that are being made in order to make sure they are in tandem with the policy of the administration. Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Mu’azu

Uduaghan

Akpabio

Ohakim

PDP’s search for scapegoats It is a season of bulk passing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Everybody was responsible in the abysmal performance of the party in the justconcluded general elections but nobody is ready to own up, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

his loss of the 2015 presidential elections, especially the presidency by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is one fact most members of the party have refused to accept. Perhaps, it was lately that the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and few other members of the party come to understand the dynamic of change and the reality that PDP, which has formed the government at the centre since 1999 will soon lead opposition parties in Nigeria in the next four years. Since the abysmal performance of the party in the justconcluded general elections, it has been accusations and counter-accusations among party members in a bid to find scapegoats for the colossal loss. While party members were busy blaming one another, little attention was paid on how to stop the steady defections of PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is expected to form the government at the centre from May 29. But for the cold reception given to those who left by the APC leadership, PDP which boasts to be the largest party in Africa would have been an empty house by now. What cost the PDP the presidential election, which in January 2014 when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2015 general elections, was confident of winning? The APC then had kicked against the order of the elections because of the likely bandwagon effect. But PDP saw nothing

wrong in the presidential election coming before the other elections. It had worked for it in the previous elections, and the party had been able to steadily increase the number of states under its control. This time, however, PDP was at the receiving end. There has been pointing of accusing fingers in different directions on who caused the misfortune of the party at the general elections. And until three weeks’ time when Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led PDP Post-Election Assessment Committee submits its report, the blame game will continue. For those following the trend of events in PDP since March 28 presidential election, the blame on why the party lost was heaped at the door step of the national leadership of the party. Uduaghan’s theory Outgoing governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan belonged to this group. Uduaghan said that there have been mutual suspicions between the party leadership and the governors since 2011. According to him, the leadership of the party felt governors elected on the platform of the PDP were getting too powerful and therefore needed to be checkmated. “I can say that was the beginning of our problems and it was unfortunate that even the National Assembly members backed them against the governors,” he added. Uduaghan equally blamed “characters that surrounded” President Jonathan at presidency for PDP loss. These people,

he said, had a field day with the death of former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and the health complications suffered by late Oronto Douglas who was the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation. Of course, the Delta State governor is not alone in blaming the PDP national leadership for the loss of the party. His colleagues in PDP Governors’ Forum, who are calling for the sack of the entire National Working Committee (NWC) members after their meeting last week, believe the NWC was responsible for the PDP’s misfortune.

With a style of leadership that defied any known tenets in party administration, Mu’azu frustrated several party leaders across the country

Ohakim’s treatise on PDP’s failure Former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, is also blaming the PDP leadership for the loss. Ohakim said the blame of what happened to the PDP lies squarely at the door of its national leadership. He took a critical look at the circumstances that led to the exit of five former governors of the party to APC in 2013 and concluded that “the fellow (Mu’azu) who was brought in to run the affairs of the party thereafter failed even more abysmally than his predecessor in addressing the issues that eventually led to the defeat of the party.... “The national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, did not help matters. With a style of leadership that defied any known tenets in party administration, Mu’azu frustrated several party leaders across the country who genuinely wanted to make inputs on how to save the party. The national chairman was incommunicado most of the times. He neither accepted telephone calls nor returned. He never replied to letters or memos from well-meaning party leaders. For example, none of the petitions written to the NWC, which he leads, on the governorship and National Assembly primaries in the states were treated. “Malam Adamu Mu’azu never addressed any of the issues that were causing discomfiture in

the state chapters; but resorted to a style that saw him pick and choose friends from among party leaders and chieftains across the country.” Ohakim described the trend of events that later led to PDP loss as a conspiracy theory. He traced this to the breaches of the party’s zoning principle, which led to the denial of the SouthWest geo-political zone the opportunity to produce Speaker of House of Representatives in 2011 as well as the decision of President Jonathan to run for another term in office instead of ceding the ticket to the North as promised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he was campaigning for Jonathan’s election in 2011. According to him, “the conspiracy entailed, among other things, the sacking of Bamanga Tukur, the recruitment of Mua’zu as well as the recruitment of some elements, especially contractors, to block people who would have offered the president better advice on the matter and other vital issues.” Among the issues former Imo State governor hold against Mu’azu’s NWC were its failure to address the issues that led to the exit of five governors of the PDP extraction in one single swoop, the poor handling of the crisis rising from the December 2014 party primaries, the imposition of candidates on the party among others. “List of delegates was changed several times to suit the whims of aspirants who claimed to have the ears of the national chairman. The party primaries were a bazaar. Aspirants were milked by party officials at all levels.... “The result of that was witnessed during the presidential and governorship elections in the form of the apparent apathy of former aspirants and their supporters. The refrain was, ‘it serves them right.’ As it is today, the party faithful can no longer wait for the sack of the leadership of the party at the national CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Dressing Diezani in dingy dungarees Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

ne lesson from the United States invasion of Iraq in the last leg of the George Bush ,Jnr. administration, is that we must not believe all we hear from individuals, no matter how highly placed. Those of us from the South-East are very much at home with the saying, that a rattle snake seen by one person, could become a python in his eyes. As Gen. Muhammadu Buhari prepares to move into Aso Villa, he has been fed with a lot of stories. I am not in a position to give him more information than I know. He is an elder by all standards, what so many expect from him is a true display of statesmanship. It is not going to be an easy job. He should also not be in a hurry to act. There are so many interests in the economy now that it will take the wisdom of Solomon to separate all the terminological inexactitudes from fact. In the next couple of years, the Presidentelect will find out that some of those who are organizing congratulatory visits, are worse than wolf in sheep’s clothing. The corruption in high places today is higher than the Empire State building. When Gen. Buhari was Petroleum minister, Nigeria was still a sane environment. As Head –ofState, corruption was a toddler. Today, he should be prepared to weep. Yes, cry for his beloved country. Subsequent governments after him, hit a large gold mine through oil. If we really want to clear the mess, we have to go back, look back, to past decades. That is why Gen. Buhari must be careful with the stories being peddled about, especially, concerning Petroleum minister , Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke. There is a group bent on punishing her for things she did that ran contrary to their interest. Chants of crucify her, crucify her, are not coming because these traducers love the nation. Some of these flak are meant to intimidate her, for knowing too much and standing firm. Mrs. Madueke cannot say she has no sin. She , like so many of us, is human. But a peep into her background will help understand why there is clamour to nail her to the cross at Aso Rock. For someone who rose to the position of

There are so many interests in the economy now that it will take the wisdom of Solomon to separate all the terminological inexactitudes from fact Director in Shell Petroleum Development Corporation[SPDC], she knew so much about oil politics before she assumed office as minister. Most of the dirty games played in the corridors of oil she understands, not from a distance. She even loathed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation before she found herself as chief superintendent. Some of these oil chess games which made the Nigerian economy the pawn of some smart dealers, have had their rules changed by the minister, to the advantage of the country. You know, here, when one blocks a drain pipe, it is like stepping on powerful toes. That is the plight of the woman . Give it to Diezani, she is no pushover. When she became the first female Petroleum minister, many players in the industry thought she was going to be easy meat. She turned out to be the exact opposite of what they expected. Behind the outward facial beauty, here is a madam with the heart of steel, ready to act like a beast, in pursuit of some of those who have milked our oil wells dry. Every day, you hear stories about her. And we may be fooled to believe all that is written. Let us take the case of Prof. Tam David West. I remember we heard about tea and wristwatch when he was in the same ministry. Today, does he not stand tall? Gen. Buhari should know Admiral Alison Amechi Madueke so well. The man was recalled from the Nigerian Embassy in the United States in 1984 to serve as Military governor of Anambra state. He was sworn in by the President-elect. That is Diezani’s husband. If Madueke was seen as corrupt, he would not have lasted in the Buhari ad-

ministration. I do recall that a fellow naval officer, Captain Edet Archibong was dropped as governor of Cross River state, because of issues relating to the Naval Dockyard in Lagos. The petroleum minister was not married to Madueke at the time, though, but she has fitted into the Madueke family that you would not know the difference between her children and those of the late first wife. And you will see the minister, with her family in British airways flight while the grapevine says she has bought all the Bombardier private jets in the skies of Nigeria. She was not the first minister to use NNPC aircraft. Yet it is all over the air that she has spent all the oil revenue on private jets. It makes no sense that you send a policeman to go and arrest a drug baron and at the same time, ask him to join the suspect’s limousine to his palatial mansion. That was what Mrs Madueke fought against when she stopped using jets provided by multi national corporations to go and monitor their activities. That brings me to the missing NNPC billions and the forensic audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Emir of Kano, blew the whistle with allegations that the NNPC failed to remit about 49.8 billion dollars accruing from crude oil sales to the Federation account. He shifted to 12 billion dollars, then moved again to 10.8 billion before arriving at 20 billion. Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was governor of Central Bank at the time. We should believe him. But the conflicting figures said so much about fact. Government eventually invited the reputable firm to audit NNPC account, something that past governments were unable to do. What was not really remitted turned out to be 1.48 billion dollars. The minister ordered the needful to be done thereafter. Now Gen. Buhari has said he is going to revisit the allegations. That is fine. Then he must not just start from the present minister, Nigerians want him to fight corruption head long. The Petroleum ministry should be probed ,from 1985 to 2015. Anything short of that, will be like, because a certain person from a certain zone that did not vote for someone must be punished while others who served in dual capacity as president and minister, remain untouchable. And it must go round. All ministries, parastatals, government agencies. State and local governments will not be spared. If there is war against corruption, let us advance. No retreat, no surrender. And it must not be selective.

Post-election violence, NYSC and me (2) C O N T I N U E D F R O M W E D N E S D AY

Omowunmi Adeniyi and Olaboludele Simoyan

s they carried me away some of the irate youth resisted and struggled, tugging my body and hoping to tear me away from them. My rescuers managed to get me away from the scene and placed me on a motorbike and sped off to a village far away from the crisis area. I was hidden in a hut where I bled severely for hours. I was told to endure the pain till evening when I would be taken to the hospital for treatment. They couldn’t take me to the hospital during the day for fear that the angry youth will see them and attack them and me. So I had to wait bleeding and in pain till nightfall. How I survived was a miracle!

My case was reported to the Emir by my two rescuers after which he sent his secretary to take me to the hospital where I met some of my colleagues and fellow corpers who were severely injured as well. It was indeed a very barbaric, traumatic and painful experience. Thank God for sparing my life. However, I later discovered that seven of my fellow youth corpers were beaten, axed and massacred to death in Giade Local Government where I served. And my friend Tomisin Teidi (who I was cooking beans with in the morning) was one of the seven. I was dumbfounded! I was traumatized even more! I had lost a dear friend. My friend Tomisin (and six other youth corpers in our local government) didn’t make it! I kept thinking - How could that be? This is just not fair! What did they ever do to deserve death at this time? What

was their offence? Was their offence serving in Bauchi during an election year? How will their parents take this awful news? What did we do wrong to attract the ire of the Giade youth? I wish those seven friends of mine got people to rescue them so they could have survived the pain to tell their stories. In 2011, seven NYSC members were killed in Giade Local government area and nobody was charged for their murder! Over 800 Nigerians died and nobody has been charged for their murder! Irate youths in Bauchi State set ablaze a police station and nobody was apprehended for the offense! Twelve of us got seriously injured in the postelection violence and nobody was held responsible! As a people what value do we place on Nigerian lives? Going forward, there are questions we need to ask ourselves as Nigerians. How can NYSC members be

protected (no matter where they are serving in Nigeria)? How can the perpetrators of post-election violence be punished? How do we prevent Nigerians from being killed in post-election violence? What kind of public enlightenment can be done before and after elections to bring post-election violence to zero tolerance level? What can political parties do to prevent their supporters from getting violent? Can there be punitive measures put in place by INEC for any political party (or their supporters) that cause political and electoral violence? How can we keep alive the memory of the NYSC members (and the other Nigerians) that died in the 2011 post-election violence? What can we do to make sure their death was not in vain? Concluded • Adeniyi and Simoyan, survived the attack in Giade.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

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Nigeria Air Force at 51

ithin the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Air Force is regarded as the last of three children, following its establishment in 1964, many years after the Army and Navy. While the older forces looked up to colonial Britain, the youngest relied on Germany in its formative years. The first Chief of Staff was a German , Col. Gerhard Kahtz who stayed until 1965. Among the first set of Nigerian officers were George Kurubo, Jacob Esuene and Musa Usman. All were seconded from the army. Much later, Emeka Omeruah would join that group, after the Civil War. One notable airman who later moved is Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar. He was in the airforce before secondment to the army where he would not only rise to the position of a Four-Star general, he eventually became Head- of- State and Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces. Kudos must go to the air force for their role in the war against insurgency. Although overall credit goes to the military, special mention must be made of the jet fighters and

bombers which were deployed in the air to smoke Boko Haram out of the Sambisa forest. And this was achieved with limited air capability. The handicap began after the 1985 plot which was the very first time a putsch would have been carried out with the active participation of so many air force officers. The January 1966 coup involved an air force brass Maj. Chude Sokei, who later became the first chief of the Biafra Air Force. But he was not in the country when the other army majors struck. Although the 1985 plot was nipped in the bud, it cost the air force so much. Four officers, Wing Commanders Adamu Sakaba, Ben Ekele and Squadron Leaders Martin Luther and Ahura paid the supreme price. Some others were either retired or sent to jail. Martin Luther was of the Presidential fleet and the story then was that they planned to strike the President in the air. Alpha jets from Kainji and fighters from the Tactical Air Command, Makurdi were alleged to be ready for action. Ekele was said to be one of the best fighter pilots in the world , following spectacular showings in various courses

abroad. There were also stories that the German air force felt so infuriated with his execution. The air force has not recovered from that attempted coup. In order to keep them in check, the General Ibrahim Babangida regime subtly neutralized the Makurdi TAC. It is also likely that a concerted attempt was made not keep the airforce too strong. Modern warfare is all about air power. The years when the Royal Navy ruled the seas are over. The Americans are on top of the war game because of their ability to dictate the pace through the air. The Nigeria air force copied the ranks of the Americans until the Murtala Mohammed/ Olusegun Obasanjo years. Esuene retired as a One-Star general but was never called an Air Commodore. He was a Brigadier. Even the first three Nigerian air chiefs, Kurubo, Shittu Alao and Emmanuel Ikwue wore American style ranks. It was during the tenure of John Nmadu Yisa Doko that they adopted the British ranks. Doko became air chief in 1975, as Col. By the time he retired in 1980, he had become Air Vice Marshall. There are a lot of peculiar things about the air force. They have had two Alfas with the

same first initials as chiefs. Ibrahim Alfa [83-90] and Isaac Alfa much later. They had their first Four-Star general in Paul Dike not too long ago and only got a first female pilot in Blessing Liman, on December 9, 2011. The air force has also fought battles outside our shores. Squadron leader John Ikokwu Chukwu saw battle in Angola during their liberation struggle, Ekele and Luther fought in Chad and Jubril Yusuf, whose father later became an air chief, died fighting in Chad under the command of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. And that is why the general, as President –elect, must bring back the power of the air-force. They need modern fighter jets and bombers to defend our territorial integrity. The officers and men also deserve the needed boost to keep their heads high. Zimbabwean airforce pilots came to Nigeria to receive training in the 1980s. Junior officers from Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda also looked up to our force for training. We must go back to those good years of yore. We salute the brave air men and women as they celebrate. And we urge government to make them ,once again, the pride of Africa.

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Politics

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Accusations, counter-accusations over PDP’s loss CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

level and some state executives,” Ohakim added. Misplaced anger But the NWC members believe that the anger was misplaced. According to them, the governors and PDP presidential campaign team headed by Senator Ahmadu Alli, and not the party leadership should be held responsible for the loss. For the governors, the party leadership alleged they arm twisted them to get their preferred candidates fielded as gov-

ernorship candidates in the states. “Except the Ebonyi State governor, all the outgoing governors got the candidates they wanted. The candidates they were pushing turned out to be unpopular. That was why the party lost in most of the states. So, why blaming the NWC members?” a source at the PDP National Secretariat who is sympathetic to the NWC asked. He contended that “this is a plan by the outgoing governors to hijack the party before new governors come in.

You know most of them failed to win their senatorial ambitions, so they want to be relevant till the next election.” Why PDP failed The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, equally claimed that the NWC members were not carried along during the electioneering and therefore should not be held accountable for the loss. According to him, “Our advice and suggestions were ignored. We cannot be held responsible for the failure.

“In a situation where the NWC had been preoccupied with the success of our gubernatorial candidates and House of Assembly candidates and we spent more than 90 per cent of our monies on them, how can you say that this NWC is not concerned about the success of our candidates? “For me as the National Publicity Secretary of the party, I make bold to say that I delivered my home state. Apart from what I did in Anambra, I was in every single state in the South-East. And everybody knows that

the presence and moral support that we gave to Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu ensured success in those areas. I have acquitted myself very well and am very happy about it, same with other members of the NWC.” He, however, attributed the inability of the party`s Northern leaders to garner support for their candidates in the region to the hate campaigns embarked upon by some of its officials prior to the elections. “While we are not holding any excuse for them, we cannot be held

accountable for issues that were generated that worked against our candidates in the North. All Nigerians know what happened,” he said. According to him, if the PDP presidential campaign in 2003 and 2007 had ran hate campaign against Odumegu Ojukwu from the SouthEast who contested the presidency against former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, respectively, the South-East would have voted against the PDP. Post-election trauma Not many Nigerians were surprised at the recent posturing of PDP stakeholders. Even the party itself described it as “post-election trauma” arising from its first ever defeat in an election. The defeat to them, was therefore, unexpected and that was why party members reacted the way they did. In other climes – America and Britain – the failure of party in power to win a reelection is an opportunity for re-assessment, a soul searching to find out what actually went wrong. That was what the PDP later realised with the setting up of Ekweremadu Post-election Review Committee. Perhaps, the report of the committee may help PDP know the truth of why it actually lost the elections. With terms of reference that included “to identify the remote and immediate causes of the relatively poor performance of the PDP in the 2015 general elections; trace the origin and process of the seeming decline of the party in its electoral performance; take a critical look at the preparations and build-up of the PDP to the general elections and determine its adequacies and lapses; ascertain the degree of anti-party activities, compromises and outright sabotage that may have contributed to the misfortunes of our party at the elections; look at the funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were properly done,” among others, the party may be able to get information about what actually went wrong. One will, however, hope that the report of the committee may not throw up another round of crisis in the PDP.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Media

Tourism

Overcoming challenges of photography business

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

upils of Samflo School, Ikorodu, Lagos, feted audience to a rich display of performances – dance, drama, song renditions, colourful costumes and news casting in indigenous language – that again brought to the fore the beauty in diversity of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. The event was the yearly Culture Day programme organized by the school to showcase and celebrate Nigerian cultural heritage. It brought together parents, guardian, culture enthusiasts and friends of the school. The enthusiastic pupils all dressed in different culture attires from different parts of the country, were eager to showcase their talents. The management and staff were not left out in the cultural parade as they were also adorned in traditional attires. Held in the school compound, the event featured drama, dancedrama, cultural dances from the various parts of the country), fashion parade showcasing our different culture, cooking and display of traditional food from the various ethnic groups in the country. Oriki of different ethnic groups were recited taking back most of the distinguished audience back to their biological route. Parents were not left out; some of them had volunteered to cook different cultural delicacies, which were all displayed at the event. Some of the delicacies displayed iclude, ikokore from the Ijebus, oha from the igbos, gbegiri and ewedu from the Yoruba, Tuwo from the Hausas, Afang from the Efik in Cross River State. The school which was founded on September 26,2010, celebrated this year’s culture day in a grand style as part of the activities lined up for the school’s 5th Anniversary. The school which is located at Radio off Awolowo way Oke-

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Tourism as an alternative to oil

CULTURE

Pupils showcase cultural values, beauty in diversity Otaona, Ikorodu, had taught the pupils different aspects of culture, and these were beautifully displayed through, dance, songs, recitations, and drama. “SAMFLO School with passion for greatness offers different aspects of art, e.g. fine art, art and craft, music, to help harness the hidden potentials in every child,” Mrs. Florence Tolu Akinfala, the proprietress of the school, said, adding that the idea behind the Culture Day is to “encourage our rich cultural heritage”. According to her, children should be proud of where they come from, they should be taught how to speak their local dialects and cook their food. “We found out that, as Nigerians, so many of our children don’t know their culture or the various cultures of the country. When you even ask some of them which state they are from they don’t know, not to talk of even the food from their place; the dress they wear. “So we have to lay more emphasis on Nigeria’s cultural heritage. That is why, dedicating a special day as Culture Day is very important to know the food we eat; to know where we come from, and appreciate our rich cultural heritage as Nigerians. A day like this enables people, especially children, to know more about their culture. That is why the pupils are all dressed in their traditional attires. The Day is to celebrate our culture. In this school, we have the Igbo drama group; the Yoruba drama group; and the Hausa drama group. We also have cultural dances from the various parts of the country. “The school was established in 2010, and we have since then seen tremendous progress. We had the first edition last year. I am appealing to everybody to let us embrace our culture it. It goes a long way to enhance our values; and to actually train our children more on our culture and tradition,” Akinfala said. “At Samflo Schools, we teach other aspects of art such as music, craft. Also among the numerous subjects taught, Yoruba language is compulsory for all pupils in basic classes. All these and more will help to achieve the motto of the school which is Passion for Greatness,” Mrs. Akinfala said.

Pupils of Samflo School in performance during the school’s Culture Day

From elderly couple, what real foster caring is like

his book intrigued me because the last thing I expected from a tale of how a retired man and his wife became foster carers in their mid-sixties was to be made to laugh on almost every page. David and Marsha Learmont are an admirable couple, she with her kind heart and he with his “heart of stone” - also his wit, irony, sarcasm, jaundiced outlook on life and the frailties of human nature. Lots of targets are sharply skewered and it is all done with an inspired balance between laugh-out-loud and swallow-a-lumpin-your-throat lack of sentimentality. I could only admire these two “foster heroes” as David calls them, and it is heartening that there are people willing to pour so much energy and commitment into taking on troubled children and helping them. Neither does the author spare the negligent parents, and the book provides fascinating insights as to what real foster caring is like, as opposed to it as sometimes rather goody-goody image. (It’s on Amazon Kindle and Nook books as well as in paperback.)

Book title: The Foster Factory Author: David Learmont Publisher: Andrews UK Year of publication: 2015 Format: eBook Reviewer: Jane Robertson

Arts

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sony Neme

he recent public outcry against movie piracy may have triggered a resurgence of interest in the protection of intellectual property among film makers across the country who turned out in large numbers at the stakeholders’ sensitization fora organised recently by Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) in Asaba, Delta State capital, and the ancient city of Benin, Edo State respectively. It would be recalled that following its approval by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in November 2014 as the nation’s sole Collective Management Organization for audio-visual works, AVRS had kick-started its enlightenment campaign activities in February 2015 with Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos to inform stakeholders in the film industry on the purpose, nature and operations of AVRS, as well as their rights and obligations to the Society, with a view to establishing cordial working relationships with various stakeholders in the industry. Chosen for their reputation as vibrant movie production hubs in the South East and South-South axis, the Asaba Forum attracted film makers from Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Umuahia and Aba, while Benin had participants from Agbor, Warri, Ekpoma and Port Harcourt in attendance. Addressing the Forum at the prestigious Orchid Hotel, Asaba, the Chairman of AVRS, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun traced the long and painstaking process of the formation of AVRS and various activities leading to its approval on November 20, 2014 by the Nigerian Copyright Commission. The Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo, who graced the event, expressed happiness that despite the initial delays in its registration and approval, AVRS had finally commenced operations. He described the Society as “an idea whose time has come and the beginning of a new journey towards a greater tomorrow in the audiovisual industry”. A director of AVRS and erst-

At Asaba, Benin, film makers express support for AVRS while president of Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Mr. Emmanuel Isikaku bemoaned the apathetic disposition of some stakeholders towards embracing new ideas. He made it clear that AVRS had become, in its short period of operations, the rallying point for stakeholders in the fight against movie piracy, and enjoined everyone to support the Society to achieve her objectives. In his own remarks, Onitsha based film producer, marketer and director of AVRS, Chief Osita Okeke (Ossy Afasson) reminded his colleagues from the South-East that their failure over the years to come out and participate fully in the activities of the movie industry had given their counterparts in Lagos an edge, making the industry appear more like a Lagos affair. He appealed to them to have a change of attitude or lose their benefits, as their laid-back posture would not stop initiatives like AVRS from thriving. Other directors of AVRS who spoke in similar manner were Mr. Andy Amenechi and Mr. Patrick Doyle who anchored the event. General Manager of AVRS, Eme Akiba-Eyo, stressed the need for stakeholders to become registered members and assignees of the Society. Displaying samples of the AVRS membership application form, work declaration form and deed of assignment, she made it clear that ownership of audio-visual content or rights did not confer automatic membership of AVRS on any stakeholder. In her words, “It is very important for a right owner to fill the membership application form which is free, the works declaration form which serves as a proof of content ownership, and the deed of assignment which empowers the Society to represent you, protect your intellectual property rights and ensure that your royalties get to

Ali-Balogun

you as and when due”. In Benin, the Forum which held on April 23rd, 2015 at the exclusive Prestige Hotel, took a similar pattern. The interactive sessions at both meetings provided stakeholders with the opportunity to express their support for the Society, voice their concerns, and seek clarifications from the directors on all grey areas. Chief Peddy Okao, a director of AVRS who coordinated the Benin

Last Slave enters market Olushola Ricketts

he highly rated movie, Last Slave, will be released in the market today. The movie is centered on human trafficking. The producer and director of the movie, Henry Ozuluonye, in a chat with New Telegraph, insisted that human trafficking still exists in this modern age. “When people get missing with no trace, it is possible they’ve been sold into trafficking. The message in the movie is for everyone to join hand and eradicate human trafficking. The movie is aimed at fighting human trafficking,” he explained. He disclosed that there were numerous challenges in the making of the movie, not-

ing that managing 120 casts and crew members wasn’t easy too. His words: “We were attacked by armed robbers on the first day, but God intervened and rescued us through Nigeria Police Force. We suffered plenty hazards due to the location, which was in a tick forest somewhere in Enugu.” Ozuluonye said the movie took 25 days and over six months of editing and VFX Effect, adding that the budget was around $200,000. He admitted that Last Slave was his biggest effort so far. “I shot the movie after few workshops in the United States. I came back and I exercised those skills on the movie. The scenes are so emo-

tional that one might want to cry and it was shot with my company’s latest equipment. We plan to release it on Friday but it has been premiered in Houston, Texas. It features the likes of Francis Duru, Zulu Adigwe, Joyce Kalu, Patrick Onyeocha and Nuella Njubigbo. Everything used in the movie was made for the purpose of it.” The Nollywood director, however, called on the government to concentrate on piracy because it was killing the creative industry. “Before you even release the movie, it would have been pirated. The government should work adequately to check piracy. They should also make sure that necessary support is given for Nollywood to grow,” he stated.

forum, enjoined every stakeholder present to take advantage and see the establishment of AVRS as additional revenue stream source. He opined that AVRS will use every means at its disposal to collect and distribute to its members revenue that had been hitherto inaccessible by right owners. The interactive sessions at both meetings provided stakeholders with the opportunity to express their support for AVRS, voice their concerns and seek clarifications from the directors in areas such as assignment of rights, licensing and reciprocal agreements. The stakeholders expressed total support for AVRS and thanked the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Nigerian Film Corporation, World Intellectual Property Organization and the Norwegian Copyright Development Organisation for the roles they played towards the establishment of the Society. The Asaba and Benin meetings recorded remarkable participation by members of relevant Nollywood guilds and associations including the Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria. With more than 350 persons in attendance, prominent Nollywood personalities present at both meetings included Kenneth Izuogu, Chief Fabian Dim, Iyke Odife, Jerry Amillio, George Edmond, Ugezu J. Ugezu, Henry Legema, Ifeanyi Azodo, Iyen Agbonifo, Young Emiko, Dom Onu, Leo Ewuzie, Chimdi Chiama, Osagie Ezekiel, Emma Odeli, Akachukwu Ibe, Emeka Iwemba and Ogonna Mbonu. Others are Baba Cliff, West Osasuyi, Eunice Omoregie, Amen Imasuen and Democracy Omoregie. With the Lagos, Asaba and Benin Stakeholders’ Fora concluded, it is expected that the AVRS sensitization train would be heading to Kano, Abuja, Jos and other significant movie production hubs across the country.

There is need for sustainability of our cultural heritage, says Chikada

lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) Mr. Daniel Chikada has called for the sustenance of our cultural heritage for future generation. Chikada, who is a visiting lecturer with NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, made this known at a lecture he delivered to the NICO Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration students on last week at the Institute’s Headquarters in Abuja. He asserted that the determination to effectively save and repackage the country’s cultural heritage will go a long way in preserving it from generations to generations.

While giving an overview on Nigerian Peoples and Cultures, Chidaka said that most of the challenges faced by our progenitors in the colonial era would have been avoided if they were to attain the level of education that is obtainable today. He therefore stressed that the place of education in the society was paramount and necessary to meet up with the ever-increasing challenges in order to bring about national development, adding that cultural administrators in contemporary times should endeavour to improve on the maintenance of their most treasured artefacts, oral traditions and other aspects of culture for posterity.

Media 23

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

NiPHEC pre-conference: Overcoming challenges of photography business The Nigerian Photography Expo and Conference (NiPHEC) is about a month away. To build up more awareness for the conference, the organisers are touring nine cities in Nigeria, taking photographers on ‘Overcoming the Challenges of a Photography Business’. EBERE AMEH had a chat with the convener, Oluwaseun Akinsanmi, where among other things, he disclosed his plans to place Nigerian photography on the world map through NiPHEC.

he advent of digital photography has resulted in a boom in the industry, transforming it into a multi-million naira business in Nigeria. With digitalisation, opportunities are infinite and the sky is just a stepping stone for talented and creative Nigerian photographers who now charge millions of naira for high profile projects and take part in exhibitions and auctions in different parts of the world. Despite the opportunities, the average Nigerian photographer is still having a raw deal because of lack of training and frustrating protocols and outright denial of visas for the few who can afford to train or participate in photography activities in developed countries outside Nigeria. It was a shoddy treatment meted to Oluwaseun Akinsanmi when he wanted to travel for a photography event in Europe that gave rise to NiPHEC. “In 2012, I applied for visa to go for a photography conference in Germany, but the way they treated us, denying me the visa made me so upset. I was so angry and made up my mind there and then that I will also do something that will bring them to Nigeria. That was my first motive. The second was that I saw that many of us, Nigerian photographers didn’t study photography in school. We needed an opportunity to learn. So I thought, ‘I have travelled widely and have read many books and I have a very good knowledge of photography, why don’t I invite other photographers to do something here’. 2013 was our maiden edition and we are waxing stronger by the year,” Akinsanmi explained. The Nigeria Photography Expo and Conference, NIPHEC, he said, is an annual photography event for professionals, students, educators and advanced amateurs interested in the photography and digital imaging industries such as commercial, editorial, advertising, wedding, portrait and art photography, among others. The conference includes photography classes, seminars, lectures and workshops taught by some of the finest photography instructors and speakers on subjects such as lighting and posing, wedding photography, business and marketing, social media, software and workflow, and video and multimedia. Now the largest photography and imaging show in West Afri-

ca, participants have the opportunity of exploring photographyrelated products from different exhibitors, network with worldclass photographers, attend conference seminars, keynote presentations, special events & much more. Since inception, NiPHEC has been able to bring world-class photographers to Nigeria with Nikon, the acclaimed camera maker sponsoring the first two editions. Akinsanmi said the aim of the conference is to place Nigerian photography on the world map. “If Nigeria is not the third largest economy in 2025, photography will lead us there. Our goal is to change people’s perception of photography,” he said, adding that many do not value themselves enough and so do not know their worth. “That is why our slogan is building a complete photographer. To build the average person to have a good esteem, not just for the photographer alone but even the client. Nigerian photographers, I can assure you, will soon become the envy of even outsiders.” With NiPHEC a few weeks away, taking place between the 13th and 20th of June 2015 to be precise, preparations are on top gear with a pre-conference seminar on ‘Overcoming the Challenges of Running a Photography Business’ taking place in nine cities across Nigeria. There was a free pre NiPHEC seminar for students that took place on the 5th of April 2015 at UNILAG where students had the opportunity to network with professionals in the industry, explore photography and related products and possibly develop their photography potential?. “I think we are doing very well. So well that I don’t need to do the talking, people who attend the conference are full of praises for the conference.” NiPHEC, which is organised by Elo Photos Academy, is not without its own fair share of challenges. The major challenge, according to Akinsanmi, who is also the CEO of Elo Photos, is getting the support of some photographers in the industry. “Photography is like politics. Many of them say ‘Who is Seun? When did he start that he is convening such a huge conference? In fact, someone actually called and asked me; ‘How can you use the word ‘Nigerian’ I naming your conference?’ The person said that if I had to use the title,

Cross section of participants at the conference

I should call all the top Nigerian photographers to liaise with them. “Most of the support I have gotten has not been from the older generation and it is sad because a lot of what I am doing, I think it’s the older generation of photographers that should create that kind of platform,” he explained. Despite lack of sponsors at the moment, this is the first time NiPHEC is taking place in two cities – Lagos and Abuja, with a preconference seminar covering nine cities of Lagos, Abuja, Jos, PortHarcourt, Enugu, Illorin, Kaduna, Warri and Ibadan. Besides that, three companies from the UK will be coming to exhibit at the conference while three photographers from the West will be teaching the participants through video conferencing to cut cost. “In an attempt to be cost effective, we are inviting about three foreigners, but we shall be doing a live video conferencing. We are not flying them down to the country because that will cost millions of naira. In addition to them, we have about 35 facilitators that will be teaching on different aspects. About 30 are Nigerians, five are foreigners. In this edition, we are doing it for the first time in Abuja and Lagos. The first two days will be in Abuja and subsequent days will be in Lagos.” NiPHEC is all about training and retraining of Nigerian photographers as well as providing opportunities for networking and learning. “About ten photographers we have shortlisted will have an exhibition at the conference. But

that will be like a side attraction. A blind photographer trained by Elo Photo Academy will be one of those exhibiting her works at the event. There will also be exhibition for people who want to sell stuffs related to photography. “Though the event is a couple of weeks away, we have kicked off with seminars that we have organised in nine cities with the theme, ‘Overcoming the Challenges of Running a Photography Business’. Since many of us do not have formal photography training, we find it difficult to succeed in photography. Many of the questions people ask me are indications of their poor foundation and the level of the challenges that they are facing. So, in an attempt to create more awareness for the conference, we are doing this pre-conference seminar in nine different cities. It is an opportunity to preach the gospel of photography and get the people to know the right way to do it. People should not wait until they have a camera, they can start building on their people-relationship skills. We shall elaborate on all that we are doing in the seminar at the conference. Many have been doing photography for donkey years but doing it the wrong way. NiPHEC is an opportunity to get it right. “We are expecting over 2000 people at the conference –photographers, enthusiasts, students etcetera. Some secondary schools will be sending their students and their class is free. Theirs is a kind of career guidance class for those of them who may like photography and choose it as a career or hobby,” Akinsanmi explained.

Tourism

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tourism as an alternative to oil I n a recent presentation, entitled: “Diversifying the Nigerian Economy: The tourism option”, the former President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and Managing Director of Kadunabased tourism outfit, Grandtrack Tours Limited, Mr. Kabir Malan, posited that tourism is a global phenomenon, which serves as a viable option from which the market economy can expand and flourish. “It is the provider of jobs for all. Tourism means jobs for the skilled and unskilled, poor and rich, young and old, men and women, cities and villages. Tourism is therefore an effective vehicle for development in rural, urban, state and federal levels. It fosters economic growth through foreign exchange earnings, increases in the nation’s revenue and improves the quality of people’s lives.” Looking into the Nigeria situation, he advises that, “as General Muhammadu Buhari administration takes over, there is absolute need to plan for a directional shift from perishable oil economy to a more viable alternative to oil, which is tourism”. According to him, “Nigeria is uniquely blessed as the largest concentration of the black race. It is equally endowed with clusters of attractive tourism sites which extend to abundant wildlife in their natural habitat and manmade, tropical beaches, resorts and unparalleled and beautiful landscapes”. Malan also drew attention to some of the various steps taken in the past to bring tourism alive, these include the priority status granted it by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida as reflected in the Decree Number 81 of 1992, the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the production of tourism master plan for the country, which was officially launched on October 19, 2007. However, he lamented the failure recorded as a result of the feeble efforts, ‘‘sadly not much has been achieved to utilise this important sector in Nigeria. The mono - cultural economy, from proceeds of oil, has rather neglected other sectors of the economy, including tourism. This has placed us in a distant position in a comity of tourism nations of the world. ‘‘The incoming administration of Buhari must make deliberate and concerted efforts to position our country as top tourism destination in the world. This can be achieved through a carefully thought out plans, political will and commitment. Tourism should be developed as a matter of deliberate policy. It must not be allowed to develop by itself because of the unpleasant and negative consequences. Tourism has the capacity of transforming our economy to be among the topmost economies of the world, in the nearest future that is if handled right,’’ he said. Malan advocated that the way forward lies in devising ‘‘a sustainable tourism policy thrust by capitalising on the heritage diversity as the basis for promoting domestic and international tourism, adding that, ‘‘there is the need to identify strategic tourism sites and assets and improve on

With the falling oil price and dwindling revenue to the Federation Account and as the President – elect, Muhammadu Buhari, looks to take over the rein of the federal government on May 29, the Managing Director of Grandtrack Tours Limited, Kaduna, Mr. Kabir Malan and member of the Nigerian Tourism Board, has posited that there is urgent need for the country to diversify its economy, using the tourism option. They insist that the desirability of harnessing the country’s tourism and cultural endowments to diversify the economy is now germaine more than any other time before, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

them to make them comparable to international standards. According to him, to have the desired buy in, the policy thrust should be all embracing, ‘‘the policy should define the rules of the game and provide guidance for all tourism stakeholders. We need the political will to implement the Tourism Development Master Plan. That plan has identified areas of priority and also recommended implementation plan in a chronological order. It identified our problems and recommended solutions to them.’’ Another critical angle to developing a tourism economy, he said is hinge the policy on domestic tourism. ‘‘The population of Nigeria with its diverse settings has made it advantageous to make domestic tourism a cornerstone of our tourism policy. We need to include in the policy thrust, ways and means of developing domestic tourism to help build tourism assets before the international visitors. To ensure the success of the domestic tourism thrust, Malan suggested the following – that; students should be encouraged to travel round Nigeria at highly subsidized rates; tourist camps should be established in each state of the federation to provide cheap and secured accommodation; and encourage a national holiday period built around any of the existing long public holidays in the country. This will aid a culture of family holiday and traveling within Nigeria thereby boosting domestic tourism. It should be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo actually decreed a national holiday for the country for the period between November and January, with the creation of the Abuja Carnival as one of the activities to drive the national holiday period. But this was never pursued while the Abuja Carnival is observed in the breach and as a souless carnival. To administer the new agenda, Malan who is also a board member of the Nigerian Tourism Develop-

Nigeria art and craft on display

ment Corporation (NTDC), called for a proper overhauling of the body, which is charged with the development, promotion and marketing of the Nigerian tourism, in accord with the Steve Oronsanye report on the harmonization of Federal Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals, as approved by the Federal Government. Therefore, Malan insisted that ‘‘the two establishments in the tourism sector, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) should be merged, as was the case before. Separating them has not added any value to the sector but rather created unhealthy rivalry inimical to the sector. NIHOTOUR should revert to its former status quo, a department in the NTDC, as outlined in the recommendations of the tourism master plan.’’ He also recommended to Buhari to ensure that his appointment of personnel into key positions in tourism is spot on by ‘‘putting a square peg in a square hole. A professional

Malan

should be scouted and saddled with the responsibility of heading the apex tourism body. And concluded thus: ‘‘It is therefore my firm conviction that through conscientious collective and collaborative efforts, tourism can grow substantially and sustainably so as to become a panacea to many ills bedeviling our dear nation, Nigeria.

British Airways, Nigeriatravelmart.com offer London tickets

ritish Airways has entered into partnership agreement offering free tickets to members of the travelling public on Abuja – London route through a competition that started last month and is expected to close on May 23. Interested members of the public who want to take part in the quiz – based competition are to log unto: www.nigeriatravelsmart.com for participation in the quiz event (Also like the page on Facebook and

follow it on Twitter), which is focused on facts related to British Airways operation in Nigeria. The winners are to be selected through a raffle draw at a date to be announced by the organsiers. According to the Country Manager of British Airways in Nigeria, Mr. Kola Olayinka, the competition is the airline’s way of rewarding its customers: “This is our way of giving back to our customers. We want our customers to have a feel of the

world class B747- 400 aircraft recently added to our exotic fleet. “We are investing into new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground for our customers in Nigeria. This affirms our commitment to the Nigerian market.” The daily service from Abuja to London which is operated on British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft departs Abuja daily at 08:00am,

arriving into London at 14:30pm. The returning flight leaves London at 22:40pm and arrives into Abuja at 04:40am. Interested customers can book their flights through the British Airways sales office at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. Nigeriatravelmart is an online travel and tourism as well as aviation based publication by one of Nigeria’s leading pr/media consulting firm.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Music

Idol

Music, comedy, fashion herald Igbo movie channel

Ayoka, Modele, Prime leave Nigerian Idol 5

Entertainment Ososa aglow for Ogunde’s silver jubilee O Stories by Sony Neme

sosa, home town of Hubert Ogunde, in Ogun State came alive last weekend as celebrated artistes most of who were his students converged to celebrate his 25 years anniversary. The occasion was the grand memorial of the theatre guru who reigned like a colossus until he passed away in a London hospital on April 4, 1990. The event also witnessed the unveiling of ‘A Living Historic Museum’ in his honour. There were artistic performances by different theatre groups including the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) and newly formed TAMPAN, both trying to outshine one another as they re-enacted the life and works of the pioneer director of the National Troupe of Nigeria. Expectedly there were lots of drama presentations, music and more. Apart from colourful activities lined up to make it a memorable outing, leading actors spoke on the legacy that Pa Ogunde left behind. First to speak was Anter Laniyan who described late Ogunde as fountain through which the modern day theatre in Nigeria draws from. His words: Pa Ogunde is a fountain. He started commercial theater. And we continued from there. Without Ogunde’s legendary pathfinder role, we wont be where we are today in this lucrative industry. Before now entertainment was restricted to the homes of the royals, but Ogunde made economic sense out of it as by commercializing the profession. Today entertainers are living well and earning good income,

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

The late Ogunde

despite piracy.” For Kareem Adepoju and Prince Jide Kosoko, Pa Ogunde was a perfectionist. Prince Kososko captured his thought thus: “He is a man we want to emulate.” Odule said, “Since 1944 you will see that we have benefited from what baba started. That is why entertainers rolled out drums to spice the day,” with Yomi Duro costumed to make the audience see baba on d stage. Not only a theatre practitioner, Ogunde was a great musician, composer and social critic whose relentless fights against injustice and oppression were recorded in 95 sound tracks compiled into 13 audio CDs after his death. Amid encomiums by actors, actresses, government officials and traditional rulers, the Ogunde museum was commissioned with promises by

The film village, a 30-acre-land donated by the Ogunde family and the good people of Ososa which used to be the envy of all, is now in ruins

the Ogun State government to partner private investors in the development of tourism and culture. While commissioning the museum, the rich cultural heritage of Ososa people was on display with cultural groups including masquerades entertaining guests. Indeed, for the Ososa people, it was an unforgettable day and for the children of Ogunde, the memory of their patriarch will forever remain indelible. Speaking on behalf of the family, Ogunde’s daughter, Mrs. Victoria Oloruntegbie, stressed the importance of the museum, which she said was inevitable in cementing the memory of Hubert Ogunde. Her words: “Suffice it to say that the film equipment and works of Ogunde are perfectly intact, it is pertinent to state here that the museum we are gathered here to commission is the personal apartment of Hubert Ogunde. It is the building where he spent the last 10 years of his life. With all the compilation, arrangements and expenses were borne by the Ogunde family. This is a dream come true and a promise fulfilled as pledged during his 20th remembrance anniversary. The museum houses all Ogunde’s works including songs, pamphlets of his plays, costumes, drums, drama equipment, and personal effects. She further said, “Despite the fact that our father never left any will, he left us with contentment, integrity, hard work and love towards each other. This has made the family to remain one with unprecedented strong bonds. We appreciate and give honour to our late mothers and those that are still living, all of whom have contributed immensely and have been great assets to the success we are celebrating today.” On the Hubert Ogunde Film Village, which is now lying fallow, Oloruntegbie lamented that the project is in ruins. Her words: “The film village, a 30-acres land donated by the Ogunde family and the good people of Ososa which used to be the envy of all and sundry, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

New Bantu drops AFROPUNK single

antu has kicked off 2015 with a brand new single titled ‘Afropunk’. The percussion heavy fast paced tune features a rich and highly defined sound and style without deviating from the musical curiosity and playfulness that has always been Bantu’s trademark. Never in a hurry to follow trends, New Telegraph reliably gathered that the 13-piece ensemble has been diligently working on a sonic representation of their musical vision, composing, writing, arranging and fine-tuning their musical ideas with a determination to come out with something confident, defiant and uplifting. “Afropunk is a testimony CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

OJB

OJB’s wives abandon him T

wo wives of Babatunde Okungbowa, prolific music producer, better known as OJB Jezreel, have abandoned him. The foremost music producer, who had a kidney transplant last year in India, is critically down with kidney problem again at the hospital. The two women, Amar and Korede, New Telegraph reliably learnt, have not been to the hospital to see their husband since he was admitted about a week ago. Source reveals that it is only the first wife, Mabel that has been seen to his needs, since he was admitted at the hospital. The producer has been behind the success of popular musicians such as Tuface Idibia, Ruggedman and others.

Entertainment

Stories by Sony Neme

ritney Spears and Iggy Azalea will hit the stage on May 17 at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in US. Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in pop history, and makes her triumphant return to national television with this special performance. This is coming as the multi-platinum, Grammy Awardwinning pop icon and Iggy Azalea release their new single ‘Pretty Girls’ this week. The track - which was written and produced by the Invisible Men (Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora, Jessie J) – shot into the Top 10 on iTunes in South Africa

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea for May 17 Billboard Music Awards following release (currently #6) and has already had early rotation on national radio. This past weekend, Britney teamed up with Uber to give lucky fans in Los Angeles the chance to hear the single before anyone else. Fans were able to request a “Bee” branded Uber

SUV and preview the song as many times as they wanted before their ride ended. Britney is the first artist to use Uber to release a single. In a little more than a decade, Spears sold nearly 100 million records worldwide, making her the fourth best-selling female artist ever

Ogunde’s anniversary C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

particularly those in the film industry, is now in ruins due to utter neglect as the family could not keep it functional. We sincerely request and plead that government should assist us to resuscitate this film village, the first of its kind in Nigeria, so as to make it a tourist centre of excellence that will promote African culture and Nigerian film industry in particular.” The Ogunde family also expressed dismay that the graveside promise of an annual award featuring a special gong and N1000 prize to be given to the best secondary school in the field of entertainment is yet to be fulfilled. Though, the family noted that the pledge was not made by the current administration in Ogun State, the family pleaded that the award be renewed, reworked and rejuvenated to meet the current status.

Britney

Ekombi, Etighi on display as Legend lights up Calabar

Emeka Mba

Emeka Mba gets Copyright Medal of Honour

he Director – General National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba, will on May 20 in Lagos be decorated with the Copyright Medal of Honour. The decoration will take place at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the approval of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings expected to hold at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. According to a news release made available to New Telegraph, “Mr. Mba was unanimously chosen by the COSON Board because of the historic role by him and his commission in resolving the over four decade raging dispute between the music and broadcasting industries in Nigeria over the payment of music copyright royalties.” The honour is the highest recognition that the music industry can give to any individual in acknowledgment of that person’s significant contribution to the promotion and defence of the rights of creative people in Nigeria.

he rich cultural heritage of the Efik people took the spotlight as the Legend Extra Stout ‘Taste and Tell’ activation was held at the Municipal Garden, Calabar, Cross River State. The highly enjoyable event saw the Ekombi Dance Troupe entertain revelers with skillful traditional Efik dance steps. The popular traditional Efik dance routine was a delight as the cultural troupe gave a flawless performance of the Ekombi and Etighi traditional dance to the admiration of the merrymakers who urged them on. However, the night did not belong to the cultural troupe alone as Hip Hop star, Iyanya who popularized the Etighi dance step with his hit song, Kukere. Etighi came alive again as the fun seekers were afforded the opportunity to show off their dexterity in a special dance competition. At the end of the show, winners of the competition were rewarded with cartons of Legend Extra Stout for their efforts The main event featured the Legend ‘Taste and Tell’ contest where consumers of Legend were put through a blind taste contest. Participants were required to correctly identify Legend Extra Stout

Iyanya

from an array of unmarked stout brands. If anything, the contest showed that the people of Calabar are well acquainted with Legend Extra Stout as all three contestants correctly identified the brand, touted as one of Nigeria’s leading beer brand. Interestingly, Calabar turned out to be the only city among the cities that have hosted the activation where none of the participants would fail the blind taste competition. The three winners, Gabriel Emmanuel, a media consultant, Peter Sunday Akpan, a civil engineer and Udeme Efrede, furniture maker. They went home with a brand new LED television, a brand new refrigerator and a power generating set respectively. In addition to the traditional dancers, the event also featured live music as Lagos-based live band, Platinum Blazers, thrilled the crowd with a medley of old school and contemporary music. Speaking on the activation, Nsikan Ekanem, Key Account Executive, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Calabar, stated that the brand organized the event to express gratitude to the people of the state for their continued support.

in America. Born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, Spears became a household name as a teenager when she released her first single, ‘Baby One More Time,’ an international hit that broke sales records with more than 27 million copies sold worldwide and is currently 14x Platinum in the U.S. Her musical career boasts countless awards and accolades, including the 2011 MTV Video Vanguard Award and Billboard’s Best-Selling Female Artist of the Decade (1998-2008). So far, Spears has earned a total of five number one debut albums and 24 Top 40 songs in her career. She has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and won Best Dance Recording in 2005. Her cutting-edge pop concert Las Vegas residency, ‘Britney: Piece of Me,’ at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino has been voted ‘Best Show in Las Vegas’ and ‘Best Bachelorette Show in Las Vegas.’ Spears also has been creating fragrances for over ten years, and recently added two new fragrances giving her a total of 15 fragrances available in 87 countries around the world.

Sunlight thrills with Alarambara

unlight 2-in-1 detergent, sponsor of the hit Yoruba radio drama, Alarambara celebrated the successful run of the series with an elegant Owambe party during the weekend. The event which took place in Ibadan, Oyo State had in attendance Sunlight consumers and fans of the series from the six South-West as well as some of the key personnel involved in the series. Category Manager, Sunlight, Doyin Abanishe, in her welcome address told guests that the Owambe was the brand’s way of appreciating loyal customers who not only use Sunlight 2-in-1 detergent, but also tune in regularly to Alarambara. According to Abanishe: “We understand our consumers, and how they would like to come together with their friends and acquaintances in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere to enjoy good food, drinks and live music. So, we decided that this Owambe would be a great way to thank you for all your loyalty and support.” The Sunlight-sponsored Alarambara is billed to run for thirteen episodes in total between February and May, 2015 and airs on selected radio stations in the South-West. The party also gave fans of Alarambara an opportunity to meet the faces behind the voices of such beloved characters as Sisi Oge (Mosun Filani), Iyawo (Omolola Kazeem) and Anike (Boluwaduro Adeseko), as well as Bisi (Emmanuella Adepoju) and Iya Alaje (Abidemi Olukuewu). The Alarambara ladies then proceeded to thrill the guests with the re-enactment of a few episodes from the series. Another highlight of the occasion was the colourful Alarambara fashion parade, where 15 guests were randomly selected to display their Owambe attires.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Music, comedy, fashion herald Igbo movie channel

t was music, comedy and fashion at its best as Africa Magic, hosted a star studded event in Enugu last weekend to celebrate the new Africa Magic Igbo channel. The official launch of Channel 159 on DStv, christened Ebe O Na Akpotu, literally meaning, the action spot, was hosted by ace comedian and Nollywood actor, Okey Bakassi, while Flavour, Phyno, Chidinma and Tony One Week, as well as eye popping fashion parades by celebrities almost brought the roof down with quality enter-

tainment Africa Magic Igbo is a 24 hour general entertainment channel featuring

the best of Igbo language content. The channel features magazine shows, movies, drama series

and sitcoms, all showcasing the best of the Igbo culture. The glamorous event

Mama G and Mr Ibu on display

held at The Dome, Independent Layout, Enugu, had in attendance major stakeholders from the Nigerian film and television industry. Among them were those who were instrumental to the industry’s foundation with early Igbo language content. In her welcome address, the Regional Director, M-Net (West), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “Africa Magic is renowned for telling the African story, and giving African entertainers a platform to show the world what they can do. We have demonstrated

CinemaWatch

(Radio/TV/Events Guide) MAY 8 — MAY 15 Highlights

this with our channels, including the indigenous language channels which has continued to promote Nigeria’s rich diverse cultures beyond the nation’s borders. And we are continuing this trend with the Africa Magic Igbo channel.” Chief Pete Edochie, who opened the event with the traditional, symbolic breaking of kolanut, hailed Africa Magic for their tenacity in making sure the Africa Magic Igbo dream came to reality. Mr. Edochie seized the opportunity to appeal to Ndigbo to provide an enabling environment and a theatre in igbo land. Edochie, who spoke entirely in Igbo, was assisted by Kenneth Okonkwo in the opening prayers and urged Igbo filmmakers to take advantage of the new channel to produce rich and enduring Igbo content.

DStv

Big Star’s Little Star premieres on ITV Choice from Saturday, May 9 at 19:05 CAT Your favourite celebrities as you’ve never seen them before, as their offspring reveal the secrets of what Mummy is really like in the morning, what Daddy’s worst habits are and what they’re really like when the cameras stop rolling. Hosted by Stephen Mulhern, the celebrities and their kids compete in a series of hilarious rounds to win money for their chosen charities. Africa Straight Up will air on BET and BET2 Africa on Sunday, May 10 at 19:40 CAT Taking a comprehensive look at the story of Africa and the African diaspora, Africa Straight Up features contributions from businessman Aliko Dangote, economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, philanthropist and entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim, entrepreneur Tony Elumelu, and musicians Lira (South Africa) and M.I. (Nigeria). Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again airs on ITV Choice on Sunday, May10 at 20:30 CAT The world’s most famous family has added another star-studded member to its cast. The Duchess of Cambridge made history when she gave birth to Prince George Alexander Louis in July 2013. A new heir to the British throne had arrived! Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again! provides a definitive guide to the next great British birth.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian music industry needs intervention

Chukwuji, CEO

Stories by Sony Neme

he General Manager, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji has called for urgent intervention on issues affecting the growth and development of Nigeria’s music industry. He made the call during this year’s celebration of World Intellectual Property Day in Abuja penultimate week. The event’s theme was ‘Get Up, Stand Up for Music’.

In a related development Vice President-elect Osibajo has acknowledged the need to invest in entertainment by protecting the industry from piracy. He made the statement at an interactive session with stakeholders in Abuja. Osibajo regretted a situation where artistes only make money from their creative efforts, only when they are engaged to perform live. His words: “It is rather unfortunate that if you are not a performing artiste that means you cannot make money from your creative

Ayoka, Modele, Prime leave Nigerian Idol 5 Edwin Usoboh

to maximize the gains provided by the platform. The third evictee, Modele, who was widely expected to stake claim to the top prize before she left the Show, could not hide her disappointment. In a related development, the three celebrity judges on the Show, Darey ‘Art’ Alade, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku, have called on the voting public to eschew sentiments and vote for the music values which the show tries to promote among the contestants.

he ancient city of Osogbo, the Osun State capital came alive as thousands of Fuji enthusiasts and upcoming artistes trooped to the White Plain Hotel, venue for Fuji music talent hunt, Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam audition. They converged to battle for the Wura 1 crown of Fuji and a cash reward, and music enthusiasts were not disappointed as they were treated to the best of music from budding talents. The audition, which was described by the judges and audience as a pace setter for other regions had past contestants like Ejire Performer, who made the final five last edition but could not win the coveted prize, and other talented Fuji artistes present to give moral support to the contestants. At the end of the thrilling and intense competition 13 contestants made it to the selection stage of the contest.

AFRIMA declares submission open from May 18

ll Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with the Africa Union Commission, AUC, will open submission of entries for this year’s edition of the continental awards on Monday, May 18, 2015. Music professionals of African origin including artistes, songwriters, video directors, music/entertainment journalists and music producers resident on the continent or abroad are eligible to enter in any of the 33 award categories and entry submission closes on Monday, July 20, 2015. Works to be submitted must be produced in the year under review –May 31, 2014 to July 20, 2015. Format of submission: Detailed information about eligibility and format of submission is available on www. afrima.org. Entries should be done by completing the registration form on AFRIMA website while a URL link of the music work on YouTube, SoundCloud, MySpace and other compatible platforms must be included in the space provided on the entry registration form.

New Bantu drops AFROPUNK single C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

he on-going season five of the Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show at the weekend recorded a major upset with the eviction of three outstanding talents in Ayoka, Modele and Prime from the show, thereby ending their hope in the multi-million naira race. The trio were the first to be sent home from the top 12 finalists unveiled recently by show franchise owners, Optima Media Group (OMG) who are in partnership with sponsors Etisalat Nigeria. Ayoka’s eviction was the most unexpected and apparently a twist of fate as she was considered one of the leading challengers after churning out impressive performances leading to her eviction. For Ayoka, the news of her eviction could not have been anything less than shock and disbelief, prompting her to break down in tears on stage. Prime described his experience on the show as ‘wonderful’ while expressing his readiness

efforts. This is much unlike what is obtainable abroad. This trend must stop as we will tackle piracy headlong.” Mr. Chukwuji bared his mind while delivering a keynote address, just as he stressed that the growth of the Nigerian music industry is dependent on the contributions of all genuine stakeholders. his words: “With the advent of the digital era and its many challenges to creativity, collaborations between the government and the private sector will go a long way in changing the face of the industry.” This is coming just as Mr. Ayo Animashaun, Chief Executive Officer of Smooth Promotions, owners of leading entertainment television channel, HipTV, has declared that HipTV will partner with COSON for the forthcoming COSON Week to provide television viewers with a never before experienced level of entertainment excitement. Mr. Animashaun made this known when a delegation from COSON led by the society’s Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji visited the organization’s head office in Lagos last week. Mr. Chukwuji stated that as a key player in the Nigerian music scene, COSON has been working tirelessly to put proper structures in place for a more vibrant music industry. He said, “In recognition of the many challenges in our industry, COSON in conjunction with the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition organized the first ever Nigerian Digital Music Licensing Summit at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The major objective of the summit is to introduce and discuss the new rules, and their implementation so that Nigeria has a sustainable and world class music industry that places value on intellectual property and ensure that all critical contributors get their fair share from such contributions.”

Osogbo rocks with Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam audition

to the new directional sound of their upcoming 5th studio album, which is due to be released in August 2015. The song was recorded live at Tasman Studios in Mushin, Lagos. It was produced and mixed at Rigmaroll Studios also inLagos by Aman Junaid, a sound engineer with a track record of production credits for artists such as TLC, George Clinton and Outkast among others,” an insider who would not want his name on print revealed. She further said, the legendary Tony Dawsey was contracted at Phantom Studios New York to master the single, resulting in a powerful anthem that has been tried and tested live at the band’s monthly Afropolitan Vibes show.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Labour

Nigeria must earn the greatness ascribed to it – TUC

Agric Adesina: Caught in the web of rice merchants?

Business What's news

Nigeria’s gas investment deficit hits $20bn The investment deficit in Nigeria’s gas sector has hit $20 billion, Vice President and Head, Energy and Natural Resources, First Bank Nigeria (FBN) Capital, Rolake Akinkugbe, has said.

p.30

Lagos launches e-building plan approval before May 29 Lagos State government may launch its electronic-building plans (e- building plan) approval/permit before Governor Babatunde Fashola hands over to the incoming administration on May 29, New Telegraph has learnt.

p.30

Former President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs. Bunmi Oke (left), presenting the CEO’s Brand Personality of the Year Award to Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa, at the Marketing Edge Awards in Lagos.

Banks lost N3.04bn to fraud in six months, says CBN POPULAR CHANNELS

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Internet and automated teller machines (ATMs) were the most popular channels for e-fraud

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

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

Tony Chukwunyem

espite the various measures put in place by lenders, fraud continues to be a major problem for the banking industry as banks lost N3.04 billion between July and the end of December 2014, according to latest data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

The apex bank’s Financial Stability Report (FSR) for December 2014, posted on the regulator’s website, stated that the cases of fraud and forgeries in the industry increased to 6,250 at the end of December 2014, from 5,197 reported in the first half of the year. The study also stated that although the total amount involved in these cases dropped to N9 billion at the end of December 2014 from N16.82 billion recorded in the first half of 2014, the actual losses from the incidents increased to N3.04 billion at the end of December 2014, from N1.72 billion in the first half of 2014. The FSR covered activities in the financial sector between

June and December, 2014. The report “observed that some of the reported cases of card fraud were perpetrated in jurisdictions with less secure payment platforms.” Despite efforts to ensure that banks adopt global best practices such as the latest version of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) certification to mitigate the cyber-threat to their

6,250

Total number of fraud cases and forgeries reported between July and end-December 2014

systems, the banking watchdog revealed last month that total losses by the nation’s lenders due to fraud-related cases had gotten to about N203 billion in the last 14 years. Stakeholders are concerned that fraudsters are so ingenious these days that they usually find ways of getting around security measures put in place to checkmate their activities. At a recent forum, the Director of Banking and Payment System, CBN and Chairman of Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF), Dipo Fatokun, stated that recent investigations have revealed that as many as 20 or 30 persons are often involved CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N332 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

l Foreign Reserves – $29.512bn as at 28/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N197 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N303 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220

Business | News

PROJECTION

Demand for gas in Nigeria to reach 8bn cubic feet (bcf) by 2020 Adeola Yusuf

Houston Texas

he investment deficit in Nigeria’s gas sector has hit $20 billion, Vice President and Head, Energy and Natural Resources, First Bank Nigeria (FBN) Capital, Rolake Akinkugbe, has

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s gas investment deficit hits $20bn said. Akinkugbe said this in a presentation at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas. She disclosed that the gap in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure would continue to widen for as long as a $20 billion worth of investment is elusive.

The expert, who spoke on “Global gas outlook and implications for Nigeria,” said that the country’s gas demand is set to reach eight billion cubic feet (bcf) by 2020, from the current two billion cubic feet. She, however, maintained that making gas readily available to ser-

vice domestic requirements would be a key challenge in the shortterm. Akinkugbe advocated a regional gas pipeline network to mitigate some of the challenges facing the country’s gas export market and investments. “If we are to consider the worst case, an apoca-

lyptic scenario where prices drop significantly, the biggest concern would be ‘how will this region (West Africa) defend its market share?’ she said. “We have to look inwards to develop our market for our oil and gas resources. Right now, there is not much of an

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, EMEL, Mr. Naresh Asnani; Regional Sales Manager, Middle East Africa Home Solution, STANLEY Security, Mr. Ganesh Prabhu; Senior Pre-sales and Technical Support Specialist, PACOM, Mr. Rodrigue Simi Djomo and Project ProposalsPre-sales Marketing Manager, STANLEY Security, Mr. Jayaprakash Radhakrisnan, during the Lagos Architects Forum. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

‘Banks lost N3.04bn to fraud’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

in most electronic fraud attempts. He noted that there is usually an insider involvement in most electronic fraud attempts. Also speaking at the event, Head, Information System Security, NIBSS, Olufemi Fadairo, said that 2014 was quite alarming in terms of fraud, as it recorded very high volume of fraudulent transactions. Fadairo said that the unreported cases were far higher than the reported cases of frauds perpetuated in the system. He also disclosed that Internet and automated teller machines (ATMs) were the most popular channels for e-fraud, adding that in 2013, the fraud cases were 855, with attempted value of N19.149 billion, while actual loss value was N485.194 million. Managing Director of NBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, also confirmed that the Bankers’ Committee was worried about the rising cases of frauds in the country. He said: “We are very worried and what gets us even more concerned is that as you execute elec-

tronic transactions, a lot more people are participating in that space and cloud. So, it is easier for the banks to invest in new technologies to protect themselves. “But now, everybody wants to create a website to sell their products and wares and some of them may not have the capacity to invest in technologies to protect themselves. And once one of them creates a point of leakage, it affects all of us. “So, one of the initiative that the Bankers’ Committee wants to implement is anti-fraud platform that payment transactions are connected to, so that when you have a transaction that is fraudulent, if flags it off immediately. It allows us to identify cards that have been reported as fraudulent; it also allows us to do analysis of a particular location or website where fraud is frequently reported so that we can check and it is not only for cards.” The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), in its 2013 annual report, had also said that banks lost N5.76 billion to fraud in 2013.

absorption capacity.” Akinkugbe pointed out that China, the go-to market for West African oil exporters, had its own shale oil deposits and this has worsened the challenges facing Nigeria’s market. As the technology continues to improve and or if oil prices reach an economical level, there is the potential for another supply glut, she said. “In 2012, the US did not import any LNG from Nigeria, though imports resumed in 2013,” the FBN Capital Vice President said. On costs, she explained that gas is unlikely to compete with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, in the short-to-medium term in Asia despite cost and environmental benefits Akinkugbe said: ‘‘But the cost of developing and extracting, transporting and distributing this gas is tremendous. Price distortions undermine gas products’ advantage over oil, particularly downstream. Implications are different for producers and consumers. “Off-take security challenges make gas less attractive for producers at upstream entry point. Infrastructure bottlenecks limit producers’ options. Producers want competitively priced gasto-power pricing, consumers naturally want cheap fuel sources,’’ she said.

Lagos launches e-building plan approval before May 29 FAST-TRACK Technology to the rescue

Dayo Ayeyemi

agos State government may launch its electronicbuilding plans (e- building plan) approval/permit before Governor Babatunde Fashola hands over to the incoming administration on May 29, New Telegraph has learnt. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, who disclosed this at the on-going Lagos Architects Forum on Wednesday, said that government was test-running the new technology to ensure smooth operation. He decried the bottleneck associated with the conventional processes of securing approval for building plans in the state. The commissioner said that with the e-building plan approval, real estate developers, individual home builders and investors can seat in the com-

fort of their homes/offices and apply for building plan permit on-line without having to meet any officer of the ministry or government agency. This, he said, would ensure seamless transactions on building plan approval in the state. He said: “The only time you may see any official of the ministry is when the final assessment has been done and you are ready to pay.” He told the audience that though he, as a commissioner, has submitted his handing over notes, but the launch of the ebuilding plan would be an addendum to what he had done before. Ayinde acknowledged that the procedure for obtaining approval for building plans is cumbersome, time-consuming and have not made an impact on mass housing development. Hence, he said that the e-planning permit is necessary. He noted that given the complaints and challenges in the present system, government has been able to inject e-building plan approval policy into the system. The commissioner, while

advising developers to obtain permit before constructing, said that this would ensure that the structure to be built would stand the test of time. The ministry, he said, had introduced pre-submission approval scheme to ensure that construction conforms to industry trend. He added that a committee had been set up to work on the reduction of building plan approval fee, adding that development permit was getting better. Built environment professionals had, before now, decried the delay in processing building plans approval by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, describing it as “the greatest obstacle to urban development in the state.” They had maintained that delays in approving building plans have adversely affected the delivery of projects to clients. Besides, they noted that the delay in processing building plans and charges demanded by the state government have slowed down development in the state’s built environment.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Labour

NCDMB mgt, staff at loggerheads p.32 EXPECTATIONS The entire world acknowledges Nigeria as a great nation whose wealth has been plundered

Nigeria must earn the greatness ascribed to it – TUC Singapore which had little or no resources succeeded in enhancing mass social welfare with well thought-out fiscal and monetary strategies that are people-oriented. There is no reason why such cannot be our portion here.” He listed priority areas for Buhari to include the economy, national security, anti-corruption war, national unity and cohesion, oil and gas industry, employment, job creation and non-retrenchment, high cost of governance, international relations, appointment of cabinet members, law reform, among others. On the economy, he pointed out that if the new administration must succeed, it must quickly reverse the present ratio between capital and recurrent expenditure, such that well over 60 per cent of the total annual revenue projections would be dedicated to the enhancement of social infrastructure and human capital development, stressing that the government must fashion effective ways of checking wastage of resources.

Sunday Ojeme

ith barely 21 days left to the change of baton in the administration of the country, the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found Workers’ Day on May 1, an appropriate day to remind the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari of the need to redress the status of Nigeria and push it to its rightful position among the comity of nations. The agenda As thousands of workers gathered across the country celebrating the day with most of them not paid for several months while some others work under deplorable conditions, the best anyone could demand from any government is to do more to ameliorate the welfare of the average Nigerian worker and the citizens in general. In line with this belief, the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, hammered on the reality that the entire world acknowledges Nigeria as a great nation but with many people losing hope due to decades of rape of the national treasury by a privileged few who have subjected the vast majority of the nation’s populace to untold hardship. Kaigama, who was with fellow unionists in Abuja for the day, reaffirmed the fact that greatness is never given but earned, and as such, Nigeria must earn the greatness ascribed to it. Journey so far In his words, “Our journey as a nation is such that we are endowed with enormous natural resources yet grope in the darkness of poverty and underdevelopment. Let this year’s celebration encourage us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of redirecting and remaking a new Nigeria. “Nigeria is in a watershed where, unlike in the past, we are effectively claiming our rightful position in the comity of nations. Upcoming generations can rejoice that they would never know postelection crisis. An Ebele Jonathan has saved them that experience. In a nutshell, what we are doing today is essentially the celebration of a new Nigeria that is set for a smooth rancour-free transition.” Linking the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, “The Working Class, Democratic Consolidation and Economic Revival: Charting a Way to National Rebirth,” to the message of transformation, he pointed out that the theme was an apt and timely one when considered in the light of the challenges over the years, and the need to

Buhari

make a paradigm shift as a nation. He recalled that great successes had been recorded by the outgoing administration, but with more grounds yet to be covered. He said: terrorism, violence, hate speeches, corruption, devaluation of the naira, casualisation of workers, outsourcing, unemployment, poor healthcare facilities and infrastructure and others are still evident and taking great toll on Nigerians. But as the present government prepares to hand over to a new one later this month, the nation sees a new vista which all, especially the working class, must crystalise to consolidate on the democratic gains and economic progress, and march on to new horizons. The TUC boss said, “We talk about our contributions yearly to remind the politicians and the rest of society of organised labour’s positive role as part and parcel of the nation’s development. The most recent of our contributions was the chat we had with the presidential candidates of the two leading political parties on the eve of the 2015 general elections. “The TUC engaged the aspirants on their plans for workers in particular and Nigerians in general. The party leaders told us their agenda and how they plan to achieve them. Our observations were noted. We frowned and warned against hate speeches, politically incited violence, waste of resources, etc. It was important we went that far because the average worker and his family bear the brunt when politicians fail to deliver. We chose that path because without our strength and muscle,

Kaigama

not a single wheel can turn. We create the wealth of the nation. Therefore we must have a strong say in how it is distributed. “The labour movement has also been involved in national conferences and committees set up by governments at various levels to fashion out ways for the growth and development of the nation. So it was at the National Conference held last year that we presented a comprehensive position paper that canvassed the views of workers on national and international issues. We are glad that the Federal Government has undertaken to implement the resolutions of the Conference to the letter. Let me use this opportunity to remind the presidency that we are earnestly looking to see this promise effected without further ado.”

As the present government prepares to hand over to a new one later this month, the nation sees a new vista

Expectations Reflecting on the change mantra adopted by the political party that produced the incoming government, and the fact that some political, economic, social commentators and even activists have warned against expecting much as some of the promises were cosmetic and not realistic, the TUC boss tasked the new government to fulfill its promises as the electorate cast their votes on the strength of those promises. He said, “Our leaders must be held accountable for their words. Magic or no magic they must deliver. The things that some persons have termed, “magic” are actually settled, commonplace reality in many other nations – some as far as Europe and others as close by as Ghana. Nations like

An end to looting He said that the massive theft of oil, the scandalous incidence of money laundering, over-invoicing and double-invoicing of contracts, dumping of foreign goods, and excessive borrowing (especially on unfavourable terms), etc. are activities that must be curtailed immediately. The amount of money that would be saved thereby, the massive infrastructural transformation that it could be used for, and the tremendous boost that all these could give to the image of Nigeria and the patriotic zeal of its people are more than enough incentives for needful steps to be taken to actualise these goals. He said: “We charge the incoming government to chart long-term goals but focus implementation efforts on short-term and medium-term goals. Thus, aside the priority areas mentioned earlier, we expect the new leadership’s focus to be on soothing the pains of Nigerians who have constantly been faced with naira devaluation, inflation, corruption, paucity of power, breach of collective agreements by employers, unfriendly policies of the Bretton Wood institutions, hike in prices of petroleum products, Boko Haram insurgency and ethno-religious violence and kidnappings, etc.” Restoration “We also anticipate that the new leadership will provide more socioeconomic infrastructure, maintain the existing refineries and build new ones so that we don’t have to import petroleum products in a country that producCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Business | Labour

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NCDMB mgt, staff at loggerheads FAILURE Some workers were denied elevation over examination failure Stories by Sunday Ojeme

mployees of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) are poised to embark on strike if the management refuses to address issues relating to staff

promotion, pension remittance and unionisation in the organisation. The workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said the inability of the NCDMB management to respond to the issues raised above necessitated the handling down of a 14 working day ultimatum, which will expire today. In the strike notice issued by the Port Harcourt Zone of PENGASSAN and dated April 24, 2015, the workers stated

that the management violated extant labour laws and practices concerning promotion, non-payment of regular allowances, allowing willing employees to join union and pension remittance. The union demanded that the management should constitute a promotion committee made up of all general managers from various directorates and divisions in the Board, adding that the demand became inevitable as a result of avoidable communication gaps that exist during promotion exercise.

According to the workers, some workers were not promoted during the last exercise due to communication gap between the board management and the management staff of the directorates and divisions that make up the NCDMB. The workers demanded that staff affected due to such lapses should be promoted without further delay. They also advised the management not to encourage selective promotion as such may cause disaffection among the staff. The workers called on the NCDMB management to cancel a promotion examination conducted for staff on level SS4 as obtainable in other government agencies and parastatals in the oil and gas sector of the economy, such as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund Monitoring Board (PEFMB) and Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), among others.

The senior staff called on the management to promote all those affected by the examination result, while urging that all promotion should be backdated based on the normal three-year promotion basis as was used in previous promotion and in other government agencies and parastatals. The workers also demanded that all senior staff of the organisation eligible to be members of the union should be allowed without interference or intimidation by the management. On pension remittance, the workers observed that in the last nine months, the management had not remitted pension deducted from staff salary into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of individual staff Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). The workers therefore condemned this as a violation of the 2004 Pension Reform Act and demanded that the management should without delay commence remittance and payment of the arrears from June 2014 till date.

‘Nigeria must earn the greatness...’ CO N TI N U E D FROM PAGE 31

L-R: Company Secretary, Wema Bank Plc, Oluwole Ajimisinmi; Chairman, Adeyinka Asekun and Managing Director, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, at the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

ITF tasks trainees on entrepreneurship, skills acquisition

rainees under the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) programmes have been urged to brace up and live up to the high academic and performance standards expected of them in order to contribute their quota towards national development. A statement made available to New Telegraph indicated that the advice became necessary even as the body restated its commitment towards its objectives of producing middle and high level skilled manpower that would drive the nation’s economy forward and eradicate unemployment, particularly among youths. According to the Director General of ITF, Dr. Mrs. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, students under its training programmes are challenged to impart knowledge provided by the fund and take charge of leading the nation and the continent into an era of sustainable economic development. She said the vision of economic leadership on the continent by the country could only be achieved when adequate commitment is shown by all stakeholders in the quest to

imbibe the nation’s youths with continuous training that can create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for them and other citizens. She observed that while Nigerian students have excelled in various technical and vocational opportunities around the world, it was important for those getting the benefits of the world class training that the Fund provides in Nigeria to make the most of it, become entrepreneurs and contribute to the development of the economy. Warning the students against external and internal influences and activities capable of derailing their goals in life, she urged the beneficiaries of the funds training opportunities to consider themselves lucky, considering that ITF’s graduates still remain “hot cakes” as far as employment, job creation and entrepreneurship in the nation’s industrial sector was concerned. According to her, the leadership of the ITF has remained focused in meeting the critical manpower needs of the country, despite the challenges and

high cost of providing vocational and technical trainings that meet world class standards. She assured students undergoing skills acquisition training that the agency remains committed to providing effective training for qualified Nigerian students, irrespective of their background, adding that excellence and high standards would continue to define the activities of the fund. Pointing out some of the challenges the fund was grappling with as inherited, the ITF DG urged some of its students that raised concerns over the elongated stay in the skills acquisition centre to remain calm, saying that the challenge of securing more equipment for the centre was already being addressed by the agency, and that the students should focus on acquiring skills that would make them employers of labour after their graduation. Arrangements for graduation of the affected students, she added, were already in place, while learning has also commenced.

es petroleum. If we refine our oil within our borders, the current slide in the global prices of oil would have less adverse effect on our economy,” he said. In the area of national security, he observed that the armed forces, the police and other security agencies must be better trained, equipped and remunerated to tackle the challenges of terrorism, insurgency and all manner of modern-day warfare and criminality with their professionalism and patriotism being at peak levels at all times. He said the anti-corruption war needs to be fought with greater vigour and commitment, saying that the best way to tackle the menace was to make the independence of the judiciary a permanent reality. In his words: “The judiciary should be placed on the firstline charge for budgetary allocations, just like the executive

and the legislature. “Furthermore, just as appointment and promotion of judicial officers by the executive is on recommendation/approval of the National Judicial Council and/or the legislature, so also should the executive have no power to sack any judicial officer without the recommendation/approval of the Council and/or the legislature. “Similar policy should apply in the case of the Inspector General of Police, the Governor of the Central Bank, chairmen of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as other public officers whose official independence need to be protected by law if they are to perform their duties conscientiously without fear or favour,” he added.

New officers emerge at CIPM

he Chartered Institute of Personnel Management has elected new officers to manage the affairs of the institute. In the new dispensation, Mr. Anthony Arabome emerged President and Chairman of Council during the 46th Annual General Meeting. Before now, he was the Vice President of the CIPM, assisted by Mr. Victor Famuyibo, who was the immediate past president. The newly elected Vice President of the institute is Mr. Udom Inoyo, who had served the institute

in many other capacities in times past. Mrs. Ifeoma Adeniyi is the National Treasurer of the institute and presently serving her second term as she was re-elected unopposed. Famuyibo, is the immediate past President CIPM, dutifully served the institute for two terms. He still remains on the CIPM Leadership Committee, as the immediate Past President. Mr. Sunday Adeyemi is the Registrar/CEO of the CIPM. His post is by appointment and not elective.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

‘Catfish farming is highly profitable’ p.34

Agric

Adesina: Caught in the web of rice merchants tives Committee on Rice Imports Quota and Duty Payments, Leo Ogor, said: “There is no alternative to it; they must pay. It is binding and the funds must be recovered and if they go beyond what they are doing, these funds must be recovered with interest.”

With a few days left to vacate office, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is facing integrity challenge over rice imports. DELE ALAO writes

his may not be the best of time for the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina. On Tuesday, the Minister appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rice Imports Quota and Duty Payments, to explain how much rice importers owe the Federal Government. Earlier, rice importers took on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over its resolve to collect the N20 billion import duties they allegedly evaded paying into the coffers of the Federal Government. Adesina has since then said that the amount owed by the rice merchants is N36.56 billion Following their reluctance to pay the money, the customs high command had issued a public notice in some national newspapers, giving the importers or their agents an ultimatum to pay on or before April 14, 2015. Two weeks after the expiration of the ultimatum as contained in the public notice, none of the importers was known to have paid. They had alleged that the minister had actually granted them waivers. The alarm The Minister seemed to have stirred the hornet’s nest when, in January this year, he raised the alarm that Olam Central Trading and Export,

Jonathan

a popular farm and mills enterprise and three other companies owed Nigerian government N36.56 billion for rice importation above their quota allocation. Adesina, who addressed the media in Lagos, said that foreign rice importers and some local ones are owing government N36.56 billion, contrary to rumours that government lost N40 billion in government revenue. He added: “Nigerians need to be aware that there is no N40 billion missing, rather, there is N36.56 billion owed government by foreign importers of rice (and a few local ones) who wish to run their own rice policy.” Who wins? As the rice merchants who have been accused of owing the Federal Government are strategising and appear to be

Adesina

“foot dragging,” the NCS has vowed to collect what the rice importers are owing. Public Relations Officer (PRO), NCS Headquarters, Abuja, Alhaji Adewale Adeniyi, who noted that the position of NCS on import duty collection had not changed, said that the NCS would not fail to apply severe sanctions if the importers failed to pay the statutory fees. “We are committed to a total recovery of the duty payable on excess importation of rice. We have the government backing on this. The president (Goodluch Jonathan) has given us the mandate to recover fully, the duty on excess importation on rice and management has no reason whatsoever to shirk its responsibility in this regard. It is revenue that is due, from any excess importation and we have President Jonathan’s

Stakeholders to assess SARD-SC project Deborah Olayode

stakeholders’ consultation workshop to review the support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) project, funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB), will hold at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, next week. It will have in attendance, partners, scientists, researchers and other stakeholders. The workshop is a sequel to

a mid-term review (MTR) of the project currently going on and which is expected to end on May 16, 2015. The AFDB officials are conducting the review to assess the progress made mid-way in the implementation of the project. Focus shall be on the achievements of the four mandate crops (rice, wheat, cassava and maize); the impact of the value chains on enhancing food and nutrition security in 20 of the Bank’s regional member countries in Africa. Two teams from AFDB

will undertake the MTR of the project. One of the teams led by Principal Agricultural Economist at AFDB, Dr. Jonas Chianu, will commence the mission at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDAs), Tunis office, Tunisia. ICARDA is the implementing centre for the wheat value chain of the project. The second bank team, led by Chief Agricultural Economist and Task Manager for the project, Dr. Ibrahim Amadou, is scheduled to visit Benin and Nigeria.

backing to make this recovery. “So, despite their foot-dragging, they cannot escape paying it. I can assure on that,” he said. Also, deputy House Leader and Chairman, House of Representa-

Eyes on the future Adesina, who is popular with his Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and also for his much-touted removal of scam in the fertiliser distribution, has, however, debunked allegations of granting waivers on rice import duties to some companies, adding that only the president could grant waivers. The minister insisted that any company which imported above the approved allocation must pay for such. “Any miller importing above the allocated quota must pay the outstanding because Nigeria is not a banana republic. “I cannot be corrupted and I cannot be bought; I do not collect money from individuals or companies; anybody who owe should pay.” As the minister aspires for the African Development Bank (AFDB) presidency with the support of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the allegation by the rice merchants, no doubt, is not a good development.

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 482-2 369-4 990-4 317.9 33.48 247-0 10.055 505-2 540-4

Change +12-6 +3-4 -1-4 -0.6 -0.12 +12-0 -0.175 +14-0 +13-2

Contract Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15

Time(ET) 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:14 13:24

Price 66.68 120.90 134.25 12.96 2955 24.40 1.3245 0.1292 2919.00 0.6586 248.60

Change -0.89 -0.65 -3.70 +0.12 -24 unch -0.0120 +0.0010 -24.00 -0.0089 +2.20

Contract Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 May 15

Time(ET) 05/06/15 05/06/15 05/06/15 05/06/15 05/06/15 05/06/15 09:27 07:39 11:01 13:20 12:39

Price 151.775 215.700 84.375

Change -1.050 -0.950 +1.375

Time(ET) 13:28 13:10 13:27

16.31

-0.04

Contract Jun 15 May 15 Jun 15 May 15

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

13:06

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

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Catfish farming is highly profitable’ Onoja Sunday Musa, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, is the Managing Director, Flourishing Centre Fish Farms, an outfit that engages in catfish farming, training and consulting, among others. Onoja, who is also the National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), bares his mind on catfish farming, the essentials of training and challenges, among other issues, in this interview with DELE ALAO What really motivated you to go into catfish farming? It was God. By the way, Flourishing Centre Fish Farms is not a company, but a ministry to empower people. What really motivated me to come in was more or less a coincidence; it was not because I wanted to go into fish farming. After my youth service in 1998, God told me not to work for anybody and in my life, I have never collected salary. In the course of time, God put me in line of what brought me into this business in the sense that after my service, I had a link at Obasanjo Farms, which we were supplying soya cake and other additives used for poultry feeds. And since I did my first degree in Yola, Adamawa State, I have link with some cereals merchants and farmers who were, by the grace of God and favour, giving me cereals. When I collect the Local Purchase Orders (IPOs), they give me cereals like corn, soya, groundnut cake and so on, to sell. And at the end, I deduct my profits and send their capital to them. And I took that advantage to start looking for other farms that might need some of these products, which brought me to Evergreen Farms and Ayodeji Farms. At Evergreen, there was a Chinese, Mr. Yoo Chang. I had been his friend, supplying the products, but one day, I came across him on the farm instead of meeting him at the warehouse. There, I was opportuned to see catfish farming for the first time. I am talking of sometime in 2003. When I saw it, I thought they were caught from the wildlife and brought in. The ideology instinct in me and my background at the university brought that interest when I saw fish in their thousands and demanded to know more about it. Chang explained that they were produced there and domesticated. I expressed my willingness to learn and he taught me after paying the prescribed dues. So, what really brought me to catfish farming was that love for aquatic beings and also to have control of my time and resources and be able to grow people. How then were you able to start catfish farming? I think I started with about N10,000, because Mr. Chang, apart from teaching me how to grow big fishes, also taught me fingerling production. By that 2003, you can even start fingerling production with just N5,000. But, as at now, you need up to N10,000 to start it. What are the challenges in catfish farming? We have two sections in this farming - the grower production and the fingerling production. In the fingerling production, the capital involved, even as at present, anybody that is really serious can still start fingerlings production with less than N15,000. With that, one can make between N50,000 and N100,000 monthly. But the truth is that the marketing aspect is a challenge. That is, getting customers to buy your fingerlings. So, one has to be

Musa

creative in order to get customers that will patronise fingerlings. In grow-out aspect, the challenge is that of capital. It is capital intensive and the Agric Bank is not really helping. Another challenge is people starting it wrongly without a formal training and then saying that the business is not good. What is the importance of training in catfish farming? Catfish farming has to do with many things. You are dealing with water beings and if the water is not well managed, automatically you are going to have a lot of mortality. So, many people don’t know what it takes to manage water. Some think that the water they are using is healthy and clean when it is not. Water can be clean and be very low in oxygen, very high in iron and can be very high in other microbiology organisms. So, there are certain types of water we need in terms of PH, salinity and turbidity, even in terms of oxygen that will make the fishes to thrive well. If one is not trained, how will the person know the type of water to keep? How do you know when to change water? In the training, you will be taught how to get good fingerling. When you are trained and you start practicing but could not continue, we can link you up with other farms that may need your expertise. Any support from government? We have never received any government support apart from the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) under this government of President Goodluck Jonathan. The grand patron of the association, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also did his best. Only that it was a short time between when the association was formed and when his tenure expired. So, his administration could not do much for us. When President Jonathan came in, through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, he helped to boost catfish farming. Under Jonathan, each farmer is given fish and feed at about 50 per cent discount and it helped production. This present administration re-

ally helped to open up this industry. As a major stakeholder, what are the potentials of catfish farming in terms of employment and income generation? If attention is given to aquaculture, which is catfish farming, it can create more jobs than ever imagined because it is what anybody can do in his house. Every home has the ability to go into this business in the sense that you don’t even need a land space. This country is so blessed that there is water under the soil in any community. Over 50 per cent of our land mass is saturated by water. Not even salty water, but clean, fresh, potable water. For this business to be successful, water is a major factor and if you have access to water, that has already created a very good platform to establish a fish farm. What I am saying is that catfish farming can create a lot of jobs and take youth away from the streets.

Catfish farming can create a lot of jobs and take youth away from the streets

What advice do you have for the in-coming government on the catfish-farming sector? We want the incoming administration to surpass the outgoing one since a good foundation has been laid by government recognising us as an association that is Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, the only recognised association for catfish farmers in the country. This outgoing administration really worked hand-in-glove with us and empowered many of our members. The incoming administration can improve on this. Not just giving us fish or reducing feeds by 50 per cent, but also creating grounds for soft loans for our members to be able to collect money at very low interest, which they can put into their production process, enlarge their production, be able to create more jobs because when somebody expands, more hands are needed. I just pray this incoming government will focus 50 per cent of its attention on agriculture. In summary, I think the incoming administration should make it easier to access funds from the agric and commercial banks, create a very good enabling market for feeds to be produced en-mass in this country so as to further crash prices of fish feed.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

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Namibia agog for Ranger Odyssey

Paul Ogbuokiri

s entries for the 2015 Ford’s Ranger Odyssey open, this third edition of the event will see a total of 20 contestants from around Africa navigating through the extremely challenging north-western region of Namibia on a 12-day expedition that will push each person to the limit. Along with tackling some extreme offroading, from desert plains to soft river beds and punishing rock trails, the contestants will witness some of the region’s most breathtaking sights. These include a crater in Palmwag that is a UNESCO heritage site, along with Brandberg which happens to be Namibia’s highest mountain at over 2 600 m. “The Ranger Odyssey is a unique event that gives dynamic individuals with a spirit for adventure the chance to see some of the most spectacular parts of Africa,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). “It will also give them the opportunity to take on some of Africa’s most rugged and remote 4x4 trails while behind the wheel of the ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger,” Delate says. While the life-changing experience is an exceptional prize in itself, there’s also the allure of the grand prize

which includes the use of an Odysseyspec Ranger for a year, along with R5 000 worth of fuel per month. The first Ranger Odyssey in 2012 had around 700 entries, while last year more than 8 000 people registered for the competition. The competitive focus of Ranger Odyssey has been stepped up for the 2015 edition, as it returns to an individual-based competition with an even stronger focus on points-scoring special challenges that will ultimately determine the overall winner. It’s not all about sheer brawn, however, as there’s an equal split between mental and physical tasks, while overall endurance in Namibia’s unforgiving environment will remain key. The process begins with the call-to-entry, and those interested in participating are required to register online at www. rangerodyssey.com by the closing date of May 24 for South Africa and neighbouring countries, and May 15 for Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique and Ivory Coast. The application requires submitting a short personal biography, followed up with a ‘selfie’ photograph taken with a n

Odyssey-branded Ranger at any Ford dealership. Dealer events are also planned to give aspirant adventurers further opportunities to enter. The Cape Town event takes place in Cape Town on May 2, followed by Durban on May 10 and Johannesburg on May 16. A selection committee will review the applications and narrow the selection down to 40 semi-finalists selected from South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who will be chosen to attend a four-day Boot Camp in the Karoo from 18-21 June. The intensive training and evaluation programme will determine who is tough enough for the 12-day Namibian adventure. Just 20 finalists will ultimately be chosen for the life-changing expedition which takes place from July 23 to August 3. Throughout the Ranger Odyssey in Namibia, the contestants will be scored each day on a wide variety of aspects, including off-road driving skills, communication, vehicle and location knowledge, as well as physical and mental endurance. There will also be several special tasks set up along the route to test the likes of vehicle recovery techniques and navigation. In a fresh new twist, the competition now in-

2015 Ford Ranger

Briscoe Academy graduates get scholarship

hree best graduating student from the Briscoe Academy, the automobile training arm of R.T. Briscoe Nigeria Plc recently got the Managing Director’s Scholarship Award to further their study at Highbury College, London, United Kingdom. The company admitted the first set of students in June last year under the apprenticeship scheme introduced by the management, and designed to train young engineers and technicians in all automobile related fields such as engineering, motor vehicle maintenance and repairs, after sales marketing among many others. The Trainee School was designed to equip the entry level hires of the organisation with the full spectrum of requisite competencies (knowledge, skills and be-

haviors), to not only excel at their jobs, but prepare them towards taking up higher responsibilities in the organisation over time. It also serves to develop the critical workplace competencies required for a successful career in the organisation by building skills, increasing knowledge and boosting confidence. The Company has over the years been experiencing difficulties in recruiting capable staff for the service workshops. According to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Seyi Onajide, “my major challenge since taking over the realms of affair of the organisation in 2010 is how to restructure the after –sales business to ensure optimum service delivery to customers and return on investment to shareholders of

the business. It was easy to replace obsolete equipment, procure more materials, review processes and procedures and inject funds for their operations. However, of all the challenges resolved, human capital has remained insurmountable due to the dearth of skilled technical manpower in the market to fill ageing gap created by retired personnel in the system, and this eventually gave birth to the Briscoe Academy Training Scheme”, he said. New Telegraph learnt that participants in the scheme are required to have a minimum of OND, NABTEB, NCE Technical or their equivalent, pass a series of occupational tests in written, oral and practical forms in addition to their sound medical examination’s report results to qualify for the scheme.

cludes two elimination stages, where the two lowest-scoring contestants will leave the group on day four, followed by another four contestants on day 10. The Ranger Odyssey website will include a leader board that will be updated daily with current scores. However, the organisers will retain an element of mystery and intrigue with the scores and ranking of the top performers remaining secret right through to the announcement of the winner on August 11. There are a total of 16 prizes, a selection of which is awarded every three days, based on the highest scores as listed on the Backseat Driver leader board, which is refreshed after each three-day period. Entrants can only win one of the interim prizes, which include four pairs of Oakley sunglasses valued at over R2 000 each, a Garmin Virb Elite Action Camera (R5 000) and 11 Garmin Nüvi GPS units (R1 600 each).

Lagos motor fair attracts manufacturers

o fewer than 60 Original Equipment Manufacturers from across the globe participated in the just concluded 10th edition of the Lagos Motor Fair and 4th edition of Autoparts Expo. Chairman of the Fair Organising Committee, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, at the closing ceremony, said the motor show remained a gathering of established brands as well as new entrants, ranging from passenger buses, cars, trucks, spare parts, accessories, lubricants and financial institutions. Agwu said, “Our target is to attract many reputable OEM of spare parts from across the globe to participate in this edition as well as in subsequent ones. “In conjunction with our foreign partners, Senexpo International Fairs Inc of Turkey, we have reached out to many of such companies and the response has been positive. We are expecting over 60 of them whom we will bring to Lagos which is the hub of automotive business in West Africa. “This is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in auto spare business to work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts.” Over 85 companies from Turkey, China, India, United Arab Emirates and Nigeria participated in the six-day event Some of the companies and agencies expected at the fair are the CFAO Group, Toyota Nigeria Limited, C&I Motors, Perfection Autos Limited, Dana Motors and Leventis Motors, PAN Nigeria, Mobil Oil Plc, CIG Motors Company Limited, Hamerstone Oil & Gas Nigeria Ltd, National Automotive Council and First Systems Refinishes Limited.

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (right), with the head of delegation, Institute of Security Studies on study tour to Ogun, Olalekan Odugbemi, during a visit to the governor in Abeokuta.

L-R: Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; The Bishop of the Diocese of Akure, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Simion Borokini; Governor Mimikoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Olukemi and Governor Olusegun Mimiko, at the consecration and dedication of Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi Retreat Home in Akure.

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Guillaume Roux; Managing Director/CEO, Ashaka Cement Plc, Mr. Leonard Palka and Chairman, Ashaka Cement Plc, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, at Ashaka Cementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

L-R: New Bayelsa State Special Adviser on Local Content Matters, Mr. Lloyd Owonaro; Governor Seriake Dickson and the new Special Adviser on Strategy, Documentation and Community Relations, Dr. Seiyifa Koroye, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

L-R: Deputy High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission, Lagos, Marcelo Difranco; Coordinator, General Studies, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Adegbite Tobalase; Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Martina Oguntuase-Atere; Country Manager, West Africa, Robotel Incorporated, Olu Babatunde and Executive Director, Yanick Demers, at the Robotel town hall meeting with stakeholders in Lagos.

L-R: Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Senior Prefect, St. Augustine Primary and Secondary School, Nkpor, Egwuatu Chigozie; school manager, Rev. Fr. Enwedo Chinedu and the Principal, Mrs. Philo Okeke, at the presentation of a cheque of N2 million to the school in Anambra State.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Head, Social Mobilisation, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Chief Chris Elemuwu; Recipient, Multiple Birth Ambassador, Mr. Akpos Anthony Dixon; Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Recipient, Multiple Birth Ambassador, Mr. Andos Andrew Dixon; Director, Mass Mobilisation, NOA, Hajiya Umar Tani and Chief Communication for Development, UNICEF, Abuja, Mr. Arthur Tweneboa-Kodua, in Abuja.

Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Godwin Kwanga (left), presenting Certificate of Return to a member-elect of the Plateau House of Assembly, Mr. Yusuf Gagdi, in Jos.

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

He proposed to me and his wife is dying QUESTION Salaam, I am an American woman in the process of converting to Islam. I met an Egyptian man who tells me he loves me very much and wants me to marry him. The problem for me is he has a wife who is dying and he tells me it is ok for us to marry. I have a bad feeling about this and wanted your opinion. I hear and see many married couples as loving each other to the end. Please help me and thank you. ANSWER In your case, you are referring to a man whose wife is dying. You stated, “I hear and see many married couples as loving each other to the end.” Yes, that is most common among “soul mate” type couples. Some men are so in love with one wife, and some couples develop such a bond on an emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual level that the man could not possibly be happy with another woman, even if she dies. Sometimes, such a man will remarry for friendship to a woman who also lost her soul mate and they have rights to each other, and understanding. This is a good love, and permissible. Not all marriages fit the soul mate category. And a man can love more than one woman. The nature and depth of a relationship is something weaved by Allah. That this man you speak of is lonely and wants to marry does not mean that he does not intend to be devoted to his first wife and attempts to meet her emotional and spiritual needs as she experiences her transition. It is his responsibility to do so, whether or not their bond fits the aforementioned description. The intelligent path for you to take is to explore why he wants a second wife. He could be very vulnerable, as he may be losing a source of comfort and he is afraid to live alone. This does not mean that marriage for this reason is wrong. What is important is that the true needs and the true nature of the relationship that he is forging comes to light for him and for his future bride. What kind of love does he have for you? What kind of relationship does he envision with you? What needs do you have? What needs does he have? Are you a match when you consider these things? Are you able to provide emotional support to a man who is watching a loved one, his first wife, die? This will be painful for him with or without a second wife. If you are the kind of woman who cannot be happy unless she finds her soul mate, and you want to weave your life, your experiences, your souls together as one, then you should hold out for that. Make sure you know what you want from marriage. Not all women are the same, not all men are the same.

Allah Almighty knows best.

E X H O RTAT I O N

19 Rajab 1436 AH

EULOGY

Muslim groups extolled the virtues of the late Imam of National Mosque Abuja, Alhaji Musa Mohammed

“TE BELIEVERS ARE NAUGHT ELSE THAN BROTHERS. THEREFORE MAKE PEACE BETWEEN YOUR BRETHREN AND OBSERVE YOUR DUTY TO ALLAH THAT HAPLY YE MAY OBTAIN MERCY.” (QURAN 49:10)

FG, NSCIA shop for new national mosque Imam

Adeola Yusuf

lCompile name of candidates

he Federal Government and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have begun to shop for a new Chief Imam for the National Mosque in Abuja, New Telegraph has gathered. The late Imam of the Mosque, Alhaji Musa Mohammed died on Saturday evening after a brief illness and a source at the Presidency told this newspaper that the government had “initiated a correspondence with the NSCIA on the need to get a replacement for the late scholar.” He said: “We have been told that a Shura committee will be

set up and I believe that it is a part of Islamic jurisprudence that the space must not be left unfilled for a time longer than necessary. “The government has opened a correspondence with the NSCIA on the need to get a candidate who will be a passionate and diligent promoter of inter-religious understanding and co-operation. Names of likely candidates are being compiled and we believe that it is this list that the Shura committee will work on.” President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier, according to the source, described the late

Chief Imam with these attributes. He also said that the government would still prefer a candidate who would promote Islamic teachings and foster inter-religious unity among Nigerians. President Jonathan also commiserated with members of the family of the late cleric who greatly inspired his followers with his exemplary lifestyle, moral conduct and teachings. He believed that Ustaz Muhammed would always be remembered as a bridge-builder and a gentleman in every circumstance. Meanwhile, Islamic organisations have continued to ex-

tol the virtues of the late Chief Imam. One of the groups, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) released a press statement through which it commiserated with the leader of all Nigerian Muslims, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The statement signed by Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola read: “In like manner, we condole the entire Nigerian Muslim community and the Abuja Muslim Jamaah whom the late Chief Imam had led and served most fervently during his lifetime.”

Nigerians, others free to participate in Makkah district polls

A cross section of the graduating students with their parents, during the 18th Walimotul Qur’an ceremony of Modrasat Nurul Yekeen Islammiy at Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Lagos

Teachers deserve to be well rewarded –Al-Ilory Taiwo Jimoh

he Mudir, Markaz Islamic and Arabic Studies, Lagos, Sheik Habeebullahi Adam Al-Ilory, has said teachers deserved to be remunerated in view of their enormous task of imparting knowledge on others. Al-Ilory, who distanced himself from the age-long adage that “teachers reward is in heaven”, said this at the ongoing graduation of the institute on Saturday. Insisting that teaching is one of the most taxing professions, he said while teachers remained in the school, some students would pass out after the completion of their education while new ones would take their places. He said: “As he (teacher) is moulding the students, he is becoming aged. While he promotes those who passed to the next class, he will remain in the same class. The students will continue to climb on his shoulders to attain

great height in life. “It is the teacher that will teach the president, governors, lawmakers, kings and all those who will later contribute to human development. If we want to appreciate those who impart knowledge in others, then teachers should be in the fore front.” Al-Ilory, who used verses of the Quran, hadiths as well as Islamic poetries to drive home his point, admonished the graduates not to be pompous. He said although they are now graduates, they should not relent and continue to seek knowledge. “Don’t be pompous; don’t assume that you now know everything. Your teachers have paved the way for you to differentiate between light and darkness. Be respectful with your knowledge, impart it on others too. If you fail to do this, you will not be different from the ignorant. If you allow others to benefit from your knowledge, I assure you that God

will also increase you in knowledge. “Don’t use your knowledge to amass worldly things particularly in a way that will make you to incur the wrath of God. Use what we have taught you to spread Islam. Rely on God rather than individuals, government t officials or even rich men in the society. “If you don’t know about your religion, you can’t contribute to the development of your religion. We have told you several times that religion matters are not an all comer’s affairs. It is the preserve of those who are vast in lslam. You need to broaden your horizon and look at issues from different angles before arriving at conclusions,” he added. He advised the graduates not to involve themselves in things that would bring shame to them and their families, adding: “put into practice what we taught you and don’t be influenced by negative things in the larger society.”

he society of residential district centres in Makkah has decided to allow expatriates from Nigeria and other countries to participate for the first time ever in the elections of 260 candidates for 17 voluntary neighbourhood councils in the holy city. Makkah Daily, which reported this quoted a society official to have said that the election by-laws have been amended to ensure the participation of three expatriate residents. Abdullah Al-Zahrani, assistant secretary general of the society, said as a first step the expatriates would be made members of the general assembly of each district centre, allowing them to cast their votes in the elections. He said participation of the expatriates in the elections for these district councils would ensure the neighbourhoods with better services in all fields. Al-Zahrani said changes were made so all residents could be involved in the election process. “Participation of the expatriates is a guarantee that consummate services will be provided to all residents regardless of nationality,” the society official said. Al-Zahrani said an electronic balloting system would enable both Saudis and expatriates to cast their votes from their homes. “Through this mechanism, which is meant to make the elections an easy process, we will ensure the participation of a large number of residents,” Al-Zahrani added.

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Omokeji: Waging war against hunger Helen Bunmi Omokeji is the founder of Talk-to-me Children Outreach, United Kingdom. A devout Christian, her heart-rending encounter with a family scavenging in the UK, moved her to the needy. From a weekday breakfast club, she started the NGO and now plans to reach out to children in Nigeria and other parts of Africa with a current bias for education. EBERE AMEH had a chat with her and writes

elson Mandela was right when he noted that ‘as long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest’. That was the state Helen Bunmi Omokeji found herself after her encounter with a family in Hackney UK, scavenging to survive. She knew no rest until she fathomed a way to help hungry families in her community. “I saw parents and a child of about 9 years picking food from the dust bin. I took pictures of them and I felt that I must do something to help my community. Contrary to common belief, most of the people in need in the United Kingdom are not of African descent. The scene kept playing in my mind as I kept pondering on the fact that these are just victims of circumstances. I knew deep down that with a little help, they could find their feet again. It was that scenario that gave birth to Breakfast Club Monday to Friday and in the evenings; I go on outreach to feed the homeless with my volunteers,” Helen explained. Though she was not the only person that saw the heartrending sight and not the richest in her community at the time, her upbringing and her father’s inspiration to help children led her to establish the breakfast club. Seeing her inclination to help when she was young, her father encouraged her.

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

“As a child I loved to help anyone in need. As a result, I was given the nickname ‘Nurse’. My late dad encouraged me so much to working to build a better future for children. I then taught in the Sunday School at Methodist Church Tinubu in 1967,” she reminisced. Even now that she is grown and out of Nigeria, she knows that a little bit of good where you are, changes the world for good. Like the axiomatic candle, she has continued to burn herself to give light to others, even outside her domain. “Considering my organization is based in the UK, it is my focus to extend the outreach program to Nigeria and other parts of Africa. We have a very high percentage of abused and displaced children in the UK and Nigeria and I sincerely believe that with proper counselling and education the number will decrease. “I attended a television program and live calls came in asking me to please bring my NGO to Nigeria. I was in Nigeria last year and I visited some NGOs. I must tell you when I left the school, I wept.” Talk To Me Children Outreach is her attempt to help children caught in the web of poverty both in the UK and very soon, Africa. Her focus is on children exposed to drugs or victims of violence, victims of trafficking and exoffenders. “These children are vulnerable. They need more support to resettle back into the community to live a normal life and be useful to themselves and the society at large. With my experience in mentoring and delivering of one on one personal development programs to young aspiring adults, I should be able to help the children overcome their numerous challenges. I am dedicated to equipping the next generation with the word of God, helping them understand Christian values and principles,” she said.

Helen c a m e a b o u t the name Talk-to-Me after realizing that children need someone to talk to about the issues that they are going through; be it domestic violence, rape, drugs or alcohol related issues, but most times are not given the opportunity to open up. An expert in education, Helen relocated to the UK in1978 for further studies. Obtaining a BA/BSC (Combined Hons) in Education and ICT from University of East London (UEL), she proceeded to acquire a Diploma in Teaching and registered with IFL professional body. She is now an A1 Assessor, an Interpreter with London Borough of Newham since 2003, Omokeji and also holds a certificate in counselling. She is also a committee member of some organizations, Hackney Independent Living team now Advance for over 10yrs, NHS committee member and NHS Eye Hospital. With such varied experience in education and counselling, Helen wants to focus more on Education. She plans to achieve the aims of the NGO by creating more awareness on the plight of under educated children through seminars with the support of government agencies, corporate organizations and individuals. Her only fear is that despite the need and the urgency to reach out to these vulnerable children, getting support from organizations and government agencies may be a challenge. She described the abduction of the Chibok girls in their school dormitory as unfortunate, calling it man’s inhumanity to man. “It is unfortunate that such incidents occur in our society and shows how cruel human beings

I was in Nigeria last year and I visited some NGOs. I must tell you when I left the school, I wept

can be to other humans. It bothers me to see that nothing has been done to get the girls back while government is somewhat insensitive to the plight of these girls. It bleeds my heart.” Inspired by Mother Teresa’s selflessness and care for humanity and late Chief Mrs. Dupe Brownlow who also worked for the good of mankind, Helen’s appreciation of the fact that the world is hungry for actions, not words, to end hunger and poverty has continued to spur her to impact her community positively. A devout Christian, her relationship with God has led her to take on these many roles in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. An intercessor, a worshipper and a repairer of bridges, Helen bagged the title of Alatunshe by her church and Majeobaje by the Nigerian community in Hackney for her role as a peace maker within the community.

Feminique

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Don’t rush into that marriage (2) L ast week, we ended with the unqualified counsellors. This week we will start with the semi qualified ones. The semis include, but are not restricted to the following - Healthcare providers, medical and paramedical staff, pastors, imams, alfas, religious organizations, NGOs etc. Their main forte is that they are educated and over the years would have gained some experience from their interactions with their followers. Their biggest drawback is that, their views and as such their advices are compromised. Mostly because of Religion, Culture, Social, Economic etc. These colour their views and subsequently their advice. Unfortunately, they don’t know their limitations and knowingly or unknowingly, give the wrong advice. This is a great pity actually. The last set are the qualified counsellors. They have gone for courses as counsellors and been certified. They have the certificates/diplomas. They can be doctors or non-doctors. The certified doctors are at the top of the ladder. This is because they are qualified to handle any challenges that might be medical in addition. So what then are the key areas to be addressed during premarital counselling? Medicals. This is very crucial and will save the couples a lot of head-

aches and heart aches, later on. A comprehensive medical checkup should be done by both of you. My advice on this is that both of you should go separately to different doctors that you like. This is to enhance privacy initially. Let your doctor know why you are there. There will be physical examination and laboratory investigations. Such investigations must include (but are not restricted) to the following. Blood group, sickle cell, Rh, hiv, stds, hepatitis etc. Reproductive system. We are talking about fertility. This is very important. You the man should get a semen analysis and an m.c.s done. That will tell us about the status of your sperms and your fertility quotient. The lady, should undergo immunoassay (hormonal profile) for your reproductive hormones. A pelvic scan should also be done to know the status of your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries amongst other things. Why are we advocating all these now? Infertility has become a very big issue in marriages today. More and more couples are having infertility issues. The sad thing is this. Many of these challenges could have been solved if medical help had been sought much earlier. Take the case of low sperm count. In most cases, this is not sudden. It is a gradual process due to infection, testicular

always beats my imagination why a couple should wait for three, four and even six years of fruit of the womb challenges before seeking medical help. Meanwhile, all sorts of witches and wizards are being blamed as the culprits. These include in-laws, mothers, fathers etc. This is where we doctors differ from the faith healers. We are not against praying and fasting. What we want is for you to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. Let the couple find out first if there are any medical challenges to solve. Then you can now focus prayers on such challenges. Rather than just assumptions. I better stop here before I get too carried away, since this is not a discussion on infertility. Part 3 will conclude the vital essentials of premarital counselling.

Fadeyi

problems etc. that could have been solved much earlier. Look also at non ovulation for the woman. Or menstrual irregularity. Or fibroids. Frankly speaking, in health issues, prevention is always better than cure. And when the challenge has occurred, a stitch in time always saves nine. It

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

George’s gift...and a kiss from Danny Ebere Ameh

have much more important works to do than go visiting George in his hotel room to pick up a gift. What stupid gift would that be? How come he remembered to pick the one for the kids but forgot mine? No matter what it is, I can afford double of it. I know where he is heading- relationship, at worse, marriage. l know he has muted that in our previous chats but I have passed that stage. If Danny were not in the picture, I would have spared him a thought. Even though Danny is still legally married to Nneka, I love him and wont trade his love for anything in the world. Talking about Danny; just when I was worrying myself sick on his status, he came with potential good news on Tuesday evening. He had gone to see a lawyer who told him that as far as the law is concerned, he married his wife under native law and so, should be annulled by the customary court. The good news there is that customary courts don’t believe in long legal processes. They can start and decide a case in weeks. He was advised to start the process at once and get it done with. As if that was not enough, there are feelers that Nneka wants out too. As a matter of fact there were rumours that she is in the country with a man he wants to introduce to her people. What a divine arrangement! My joy is that she has eventually settled for one man and has left Danny for me. If not because of the issue of the custody of the children, and the need to have the records, the elders would have settled the case amicably. Danny was all over me in celebration as we analysed the situation and made plans to make our move as fast as we could.

“Ego, even though we are yet to start the process I’m happy already that it will soon be over and it will just be us alone,” he said, cuddling and stroking my hair. “I will be the happiest man on earth,” he continued, “married to the most beautiful and understanding woman in the world,” he said, this time, looking searchingly into my eyes and kissing me severally on the forehead. “Dont be naughty Danny, I blurted out in between laughter when his peck turned to a lingering French kiss. “Ekaete or the children can come in, stop!” I whimpered pushing him lightly. “I love you sweetheart; I don’t seem to have enough of you. Let’s go to your room, lets...” he tried to continue when I covered his mouth with my fingers. “Shhh, don’t be mischievous my Sweet! In short, we need

to take all those naughtiness out of the house,” I whispered into his ears. “That will be great! Tell them you need to pick something from the supermarket or anything,” he suggested, pulling me up from the seat and starting another round of kisses when we heard a knock at the door. “I told you. We need to leave soon before they catch us in a compromising situation,” I quipped. “There will be nothing compromising, we are getting married, aren’t we?” he querried. “Until then,” I corrected making towards the door. Lo and behold, it was George, not the children. I had called him earlier with cooked up reasons why I won’t be able to pick up the present and now here he is. Danny couldn’t recognize him

until I reintroduced him as my former driver now in Port Harcourt. I remember he used to be jealous of George, warning that I was getting too close to him. He shook his hands quite alright, but with little exchange of pleasantry. In a devil may care attitude, he pulled me forward and planted a kiss on my cheeks. “Sweetheart, go get ready lets go and catch some fun out there,” he said, obviously to spike George. Bemused and almost ready to go, George handed me the gift - a beautiful Cartier wristwatch in a red velvet pack. “It’s beautiful!,” I exclaimed. “Thanks a million times.” “I’m glad you like it. I have to be on my way so I don’t miss my flight,” he said, adding that I should not bother to see him off.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Crime

In trouble for pickpocketing Juliana Francis

any people used to view pickpocketing as a minor and insignificant crime often perpetrated by men. But recent revelation by police source, revealed that maturewomen, aided by younger ladies, are now actively competing with male counterparts in the crime and getting upper hands. A police source said: “Not only are the women competing favourably well with their male counterparts, they are more focused and cleverer than the men. They are also more organised in this crime.” One of such ladies was recently arrested by policemen attached to the Oke-Odo Police Station, Ile-Epo, Lagos State. According to the detectives, the lady, Joy Daniel, 24, went to the Katangowa market, in the company of three women, with the sole aim of fleecing pockets and handbags of innocent traders, but she failed. She was arrested while her cronies bolted, mixing with the crowd in the market. Singing like a bird, Daniel, who is married and has two kids, described the three women who ran away as matured, married women, blessed with grown up kids. She, however, said she never knew they were professional pickpockets. She denied being a member of the gang, adding that after everything she witnessed, she knew the women were old hands on the job. After listening to Daniel’s repeated denial, one comes away confused. Is she guilty or not? When her husband, a hairstylist came to the police station to know what happened, he heard from the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), that his wife belonged to a gang of pickpockets and without bothering to hear her own side of the story, told her that he was through with the marriage. He ordered her to come and pack her belongings anytime she leaves the police custody. The action of her husband made

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

detectives to begin working on the theory that Daniel had been doing such before and had probably been warned by her husband. Perhaps, that day was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. On the fateful day that Daniel was arrested, three women suddenly noticed that their handbags had been brutally sliced open with blade and their wallets, purses taken. One of the women’s wallet was recovered from Daniel. Also found in her possession were a blade and small kitchen knife. These items further incriminated Daniel even as she denied being a member of the gang. Recalling how angry traders and buyers pounced on her, Daniel said with tears welling in her eyes: “The people just pounced on me. They stripped me naked and started beating me. Some people used planks to hit me. Some started taking snapshots of my nudeness; they said they would put it on the Internet. I was almost killed for a crime I didn’t commit! Bring anything, Bible or Koran and I’ll swear bt it. I didn’t steal or cut open anybody’s handbag. This cloth I’m wearing was given to me by a good Samaritan.” One of the victims, Mrs. Fatimah Fajebola, a widow, said that although she felt pretty sorry after watching the way Daniel was almost lynched alive in the market, she, however, maintained that Daniel was part of a gang of female pickpockets. Fajebola, crying too, said: “I borrowed that money. I wanted to use it to trade and refund the owner. Now, I just don’t know what to do. People apprehended her just a few minutes after I noticed that my bag had been cut open with a blade and my purse missing. When I saw people beating her, I rushed over to the scene, hoping to recover my purse and money, but I didn’t see my purse with her. Daniel The lady was beaten too much. I even started crying for her, I begged them to spare her life. She was taken to Oke-Odo Police Station. I went to narrate the incident to my pastor. He told me that Daniel was not the person that took my purse, but that she was part of the gang. She and her gang members stationed themselves in different places. They work together in an organised manner.” She recalled that she had N12, 000 inside the purse, her voter’s card, identity card and shop and home keys. She said: “I wanted to actually pay for some clothes I had bought when I noticed that my handbag had been cut open and my purse stolen.” Daniel, a National Diploma Holder, has a quick response to any question thrown at her. She explained how the blade, kitchen knife and the recovered

wallet came to be in her possession. According to her, one of the three women gave her a scarf to hold and inside the scarf, were the blade and wallet. She, however, admitted that the kitchen knife belonged to her. She explained that when she was leaving home, she had simply picked up a bag, unaware that the kitchen knife was inside it. Recounting how she landed in police custody, Daniel said: “I reside at Orile, Igamu. I sell baby wears. During the governorship election, I travelled to Cross-River to get my voter’s card. I later travelled to Aba, in Abia State to buy handbags to sell. It was there I met the women. I had already known them before that day. I used to buy clothes from them. They are three. One is Sandra and

another is Ngozi. I don’t know the third one’s name. They have stands at Aba where they sell, but used to come to Calabar during market days to sell. On that the day I went to buy the handbags, they asked why I had become scarce, I told them that I was married and now residing in Lagos. They said they would be coming to Lagos to buy goods and requested to stay with me. But I told them that my husband wouldn’t allow it.” After buying the items she wanted to resell, she left for her village. She said she was at the village when Sandra sent her a text message. “She said she wanted to find out about the goods they would be going to Lagos to buy. I returned to Lagos on Thursday and she called C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Crime

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘How I fooled rich men who wanted to get richer’ Juliana Francis

fake herbalist has revealed how he cleverly fooled different rich and greedy men who wanted to get richer. The suspect, Jimoh Akeem, did not only fool them by presenting a live, dancing snake, he also promised he could change fake dollars into genuine ones and make charms that could protect people against gunshots. He said he was shocked when he discovered that most people who fell for the ruse were already rich folks. Akeem, married to two wives and a father of two, confessed to have built a house and bought two cars; a Murano Jeep and Altima car, just fooling and playing rich, greedy folks. He said: “Yes, I’ve built a house in Iwo Road, Ibadan. I have two cars. I tell lies and always promise to make rich, greed people richer. I used fake dollars to deceive them. I stole the fake dollars from a man who asked me to change it for him. That was how I started using it.” Investigators discovered that in the course of his fraudulent activities, Akeem uses live snakes to convince victims that he was genuine. He smiled: ‘’I caught the snake from the farm when it was nothing but a baby worm. Today, it had grown to adult snake. I removed the teeth when it was small and trained it.” Akeem and his partner, Akinropo Ogunsina were initially arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command for armed robbery, but it was soon discovered that they were hardened fraudsters. According to Akeem and Ogunsina, they had made tons of money just pretending to prepare charms for people, especially rich guys, against gunshots. Ogunsina said: “In 2010, I met Jimoh Akeem. He was a 419 herbalist. We used to deceive people and collect money from them. We made a lot of money from people who wanted medicine for protection against gunshots. We also deceived people that we

Ogunsina and Akeem

could change fake dollars to genuine ones.” Ogunsina was the first to be arrested at Oshogbo, Osun State, where he fled to after escaping from his home in Ikorodu, Lagos. He had earlier evaded arrest in Ikorodu by escaping through the roof top when police stormed his residence. A police source said: “Investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a three-man gang of robbers. They are also involved in advanced fee fraud, known as 419. One of the gang members, Sunday Daniel is on the run now.” The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Kenneth Nwosu confirmed the arrest of the duo. Nwosu said: “Ogunsina had once being arrested in 2013 for armed robbery. He was charged

to court and released in 2014. It was through him that the police arrested Akeem in Osun State. One locally made gun was recovered in Akeem’s house.” Ogunsina said he used to drive tractor and forklift for Super Engineering Company in Ikorodu, a Chinese company, but left when he realised most workers who had industrial accidents were never compensated. He used his pay off money to buy a motorbike and started plying Ikorodu axis. He then met Sunday Daniel in Agbara area and his life changed. Daniel convinced him to be going with him to cut open people’s window net and rob them at nights. They mostly concentrated on stealing phones and money from homes they were able to gain entry into.

Ogunsina said: “We stole phones, jewellery, laptops and money. I’ve gone out with Sunday for robbery up to six times. We operated in Egbeda and Agbara. We used to go out for operations around 12am. I was arrested in 2013 and charged to court. I was later released on bail.” He had also gone to Lokoja to work with a gang headed by an Alhaji. He, however, left and returned to Lagos after he had a misunderstanding with his boss over a lady. He recalled: “In one of the robberies we carried out in Lokoja, we made millions. My share was over a million naira and more. I used my share to buy a Honda car. We robbed a particular rich guy. We were four that carried out that operation.”

Women pickpockets more organised –Police C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

me on Friday morning, but I refused to pick her call. I refused to pick her call because my husband was around. He said I shouldn’t be making friends. Sandra called again, this time she said they were at Katangowa Market, at IleEpo. But used to buy my goods from Yaba Market.” She said she had never visited Katagwua Market before that day, but decided to go after Sandra convinced her that baby wears were cheaper there. Daniel said that Sandra claimed that it was also her first time in Lagos and the market in particular. Sandra explained however that she knew clothes were cheaper there because one of her sisters-in-law told her so. Sandra urged her to come and know the market.

Daniel continued her narration: “I went to the market to meet them. I told my husband that I was going to Katangowa Market. I had N11, 000 with me. When I reached the main market; I saw some nice baby wears. I bought about N6, 500 worth of baby clothes from a woman. I called Sandra that I was outside the main market. The three of them came to meet me where traders sell shoes. Sandra gave me the scarf and wallet to hold for her. It appeared like she wanted to check out the baby shoes. Suddenly a woman standing close to me, turned. She said so a fine girl like you is a thief. She said the wallet was her own. She collected it from me. She called me a thief. People gathered and started beating me. I turned and couldn’t find Sandra and others. They had all ran away. My hands and legs were tied and severe beatings

were inflicted on me. I saw hell!” Daniel pulled up her clothes and presented horrifying reddish and purple bruises covering her body. She was arrested by the security guards in the market. She said that they told her not to call Sandra and others, to make apprehending them easier, but she had still gone ahead to call. She said she was desperate to make the call. “When I called Sandra, she said they were in Balogun Market, on the Lagos Island. She said they had already left Katangowa.” Daniel was bundled to Oke-Odo Police Station. She said she was there when her phone rang. The caller was Sandra. Daniel said that it appeared Sandra was laughing at her. Daniel stated: “Sandra said she had been calling me all this while with a business line, that she was

going to remove the SIM card and throw it away. She said she was going to insert her real line and call me. She said what happened to me was pay back for what my brother did to her in Cross-River. Since then, I’ve called the phone number, but it remained permanently switched off.” The suspect said that she started buying baby wears from the women since 2013. She said that after what happened to her, she knew she was set up and truly believed that aside from selling clothes, that the women do pickpocketing as another mean of sourcing for livelihood. She said: “Police should go to MTN, to find out their real identity. I don’t think the names they gave me were their real names. I’m even ready to take the police to their stands at Aba. Police should please not charge me to court. My husband had already left me.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

EVASION FAAC allocation is down by 16.7% in March Stories by Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the background of the sharp drop in the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee’s (FAAC) monthly funds to the three tiers of government, leading financial advisory firm, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), has predicted that states are likely to default on their debt bond obligations. In a presentation at the Lagos Business School executive breakfast meeting by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bismarck Rewane, the FDC emphasised that most states in the federation are in

States may default on debt bond obligations, says Rewane a tough financial situation with 35 per cent of state governments being insolvent and choked by salary arrears. As the firm put it, “Expect default on state debt bond obligations; also defaults on contractor debts and possible rescheduling. FAAC allocation is down by 16.7 per cent to N435 billion in March from N522 billion in February.” Noting the strong correlation between oil price and FAAC, the FDC said that impact of a dollar increase in oil price translate to a 0.58 per cent increase in FAAC disbursed. It added that while April FAAC was estimated at N465

CBN raises N150.6bn in treasury bills

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced that it raised N150.60 billion in Treasury bills, with yields mixed compared with the previous sale last month. The yield on the 3-month bill was stable at 10.09 percent, the same as at the April 22, auction. The CBN sold N45.17 billion in the 3-month paper. A total of N23.43 billion was

sold in the six months paper at 12.89 percent, higher than the 12.80 percent yield at the last auction, while N82 billion worth of the one-year paper was sold at 13.39 percent as against 12.99 percent last month. Investors - mostly domestic banks and pension funds - submitted bids worth a total of N329.97 billion against N669.66 billion at last month’s auction.

Apex bank’s forex strategy boosts reserves –FBN Capital

he series of measures introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) to stabilise the exchange rate were responsible for the mild decline in the country’s external reserves, analysts at FBN have said. In a note made available to New Telegraph, the analysts stated, “Data from the CBN show that official reserves decreased by just US$260million in April to US$29.6billion. This compares with an average decline of US$2.3billion in March and February, and can be linked in part to a change in strategy by the CBN since it scrapped the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) window in midFebruary. “Demand for forex for qualifying transactions at the auctions has been pushed to the interbank market. The central bank tends to intervene on a daily basis and does not meet

all bids. Indeed, the amount allocated can reportedly be as low as 5 per cent of submitted bids by banks, and is made available directly to the end users.” However, the analysts also attributed the stability in the reserves to the reduction in political risk following the successful completion of elections. “This has led in turn to a decline in outflows by offshore portfolio investors,” they noted. In addition, they cited the recent inch-up in oil prices estimated to have risen by 18 per cent over the month of April from a starting point of US$54/b. “Official reserves include the balance on the excess crude account, for which the latest figure in the public domain (from the federal minister of state for finance at the time of the FAAC announcement last month) is US$2.7 billion.”

African Pensions Funds invest in infrastructure projects

he fiber-optic cable that entrepreneur Funke Opeke laid along the Atlantic seabed from Europe has helped bring the Internet to nearly half of Nigeria’s 170 million people. It is also generating returns for the many thousands of African retirees whose money is invested in her company, MainOne. “We’re putting their money to work,” Ms. Opeke said over the hum of server towers and air conditioners at the data

center she built here to keep banks and big companies in Africa’s top economy online. African pension funds, according to Wall Street Journal, are starting to invest in infrastructure projects on their underdeveloped continent. The African Development Bank (AfDB) hopes the deepening pool of homegrown savings can fill the $45 billion hole it sees in annual infrastructure financing needed in Africa.

billion, it is expected to increase in May due to higher oil prices. Analysts point out that the financial challenges being experienced by many state governments across the country due to the shortfall in allocations from the federation account has been worsened by their huge bond repayment obligations. New Telegraph’s findings reveal that 16 states of the

federation have raised bonds totalling N520 billion in the last seven years. For instance, filings by state governments at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that as at the end of 2013, Kogi State has N5 billion bond, while Lagos State has raised a total of N187 billion. In addition, the figures showed that Osun State had raised N30 billion in-

cluding a N11.4 billion sukuk. Others include: Kwara – N17 billion, Niger – N15 billion, Kaduna – N8.5 billion, Rivers – N250 billion, Gombe – N20 billion and Edo – N25 billion. Benue, Ebonyi, Ondo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta states have also raised N13 billion, N16.5 billion, N27 billion, N25 billion N50 billion, N18.5 billion and N50 billion respectively.

FirstBank partners firm to implement ‘Pay Attitude’

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited has partnered with Unified Payments to implement Pay Attitude, a transaction innovation in the Nigerian payments terrain. According to statement issued by the bank, “Pay Attitude is a Chip and Pin enabled tagtype contactless solution that is linked to customers’ prepaid mobile wallet, enabling access to their account(s) for different payment transactions simply in a ‘tap and go’ fashion. This solution is being deployed by Unified Payments, in partnership with leading banks in Nigeria, of which FirstBank is the first to bring this innovation to the market.”

PayAttitude according to the statement, guarantees subscribers the confidence and comfort of successful mobile payment for goods and services at merchant locations at all times, notwithstanding the challenges of telecommunication or unavailability of network in the merchant’s bank or the customer’s bank. With this solution, transactions are authourised offline up to the value of the customer‘s mobile wallet subscription with the bank. To guard against fraud or unauthorised use, PayAttitude transactions are Chip and Pin enabled and holder’s unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) must be entered

on the acceptance device before transactions are approved. The PayAttitude tag is carried on the mobile phone and suits the lifestyle of mobile phone users, being convenient for retail transactions by tapping the phone against the PoS terminal. GMD/CEO, FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, said the bank is working to constantly provide dynamic and relevant solutions that will improve the lifestyle of its customers whilst ensuring the safety and security of their funds. “The PayAttitude tag card is ready to be issued in selected branches and would be deployed in all FirstBank locations in due course,” he stated.

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$29,505,155,296

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 28/4/2015 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

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

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

7-May-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

Description ^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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^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)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

1.28 1.97 2.22 2.32 3.06 4.15 4.46 4.77 6.73 8.85 13.56 14.04 14.54 15.21 19.20

13.74 13.82 13.82 13.81 13.78 13.74 13.74 13.75 13.78 13.64 17.08 17.64 18.30 15.52 13.75

13.61 13.73 13.73 13.73 13.65 13.65 13.63 13.66 13.72 13.58 17.02 17.56 18.19 15.45 13.70

99.16 102.13 92.58 91.37 92.48 106.90 78.05 106.06 111.13 102.78 89.12 73.50 50.65 68.06 89.23

99.31 102.28 92.73 91.52 92.78 107.20 78.35 106.36 111.43 103.08 89.42 73.80 50.95 68.36 89.53

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,261.57

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

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 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.05 1.03 1.59 1.95 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

14.98 16.69 15.78 16.34 16.67

99.25 100.57 100.26 101.04 97.11

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

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

321.78

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.44

99.01

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.40

3.23

14.88

99.24

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.67

4.46

17.59

97.80

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.67

3.48

16.62

99.26

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.95

1.00

14.82

92.07

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.16

98.47

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.65

1.79

15.59

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.03

1.80

15.63

97.30

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

14.83

98.57 99.43

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

96.60

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.02

1.00

14.83

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.03

4.78

18.61

92.82

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.22

1.00

14.82

101.14

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.65 4.55 2.62

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.80 14.74 14.80

101.37 99.20 99.88

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.16

1.00

14.78

99.92

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.56

1.00

14.76

95.29

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.65

1.00

14.77

100.82

‡ /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

3.31

1.44

15.21

98.24

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.34

1.00

14.77

100.50

99.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 440.79

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.28

1.00

11.73

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.34

1.00

12.19

99.91

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.42

2.63

14.46

99.82

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.40

1.00

14.92

97.63

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.47

1.34

15.15

98.83

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.40

1.00

14.81

96.42

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.42

1.88

15.76

103.46

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.67

1.00

14.79

101.68

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.84

1.00

14.81

104.75

1.84

1.00

14.81

101.74

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

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

3.38

3.00

16.77

93.03

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.95

2.29

16.11

99.39

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.03

6.11

19.94

97.01

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.65

2.16

15.96

100.04

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.52

2.76

16.52

95.49

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.65

1.13

14.91

106.30

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.86

85.35

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.86

91.94

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

158.72

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.77

1.00

14.79

89.83

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

14.75

86.21

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.94

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

5.22

5.03

107.45

108.43

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.26

3.95

102.53

103.48

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.49

5.34

105.76

106.76

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

1,578.68

Corporate Eurobonds B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.09

4.08

101.38

103.38

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.34

99.80

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.48

9.54

90.94

93.21

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.33

6.80

95.97

97.56

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.08

97.18

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.68

9.98

93.82

96.00

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

8.76 10.69 9.01

8.76 10.20 9.01

97.21 93.80 94.48

97.21 95.91 94.48

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.41

9.61

91.75

95.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,507.77

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 28 35 49 56 63 70

FIXINGS Maturity 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 4.00 8.98 11.69 10.46 10.26 10.63 10.25 10.87

Offer Discount (%) 3.75 8.73 11.44 10.21 10.01 10.38 10.00 10.62

Bid Yield (%) 4.00 9.01 11.80 10.57 10.40 10.80 10.43 11.10

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.5417 13.0188 14.2552 15.7501

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

8.92

O/N Tenor Call 1M

9.25

REPO

Rate (%) 10.00 11.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.04 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.14 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

^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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^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

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,261.57

SELL PRESSURE Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds

The bears overwhelmed FMBN the bulls ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Stories by Chris Ugwu

Sub-National Bonds

he Nigerian stock KADUNA mar*EBONYI ket yesterday dropped *BENUE further following the ‡ /Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS sell off that was re‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA corded within fourEDOdays of ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR trading this week. *DELTA Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER TheA-/GCR† bears maintained ‡ /Agusto; *EKITI their Bb-/Agusto *NIGER dominance, as trading activi‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO ties closed in a negative BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE with Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS market capitalisation falling BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN by N9 billion to close at N11.7 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR trillion, from N11.69LAGOS trillion it A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI closed . ‡ /Agusto last Wednesday *EKITI A-/GCR Similarly, the All *NASARAWA Share InTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE dex continued on the losing TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION streak, shedding 26.55 points A/Agusto

A-/Agusto

BBB+/Agusto

Corporate Bonds

1.97 2.22 2.32 3.06 4.15 4.46 4.77 6.73 8.85 13.56 14.04 14.54 15.21 19.20

13.82 13.82 13.81 13.78 13.74 13.74 13.75 13.78 13.64 17.08 17.64 18.30 15.52 13.75

13.73 13.73 13.73 13.65 13.65 13.63 13.66 13.72 13.58 17.02 17.56 18.19 15.45 13.70

102.13 92.58 91.37 92.48 106.90 78.05 106.06 111.13 102.78 89.12 73.50 50.65 68.06 89.23

Business | Financial Market News

102.28 92.73 91.52 92.78 107.20 78.35 106.36 111.43 103.08 89.42 73.80 50.95 68.36 89.53

Stock market down by N9bn Description

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

to close at 34,400.48 points from 34,427.12 basis points. Also, the NSE sector indices showed mixed performances as the12.50 Banking sector led with KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 1.4 per cent on price appre14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 ciations by ETI and 15.50recorded IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 Guaranty Trust Bank. This 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 was followed by the Industrial 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 Goods14.00 and Oil & Gas indices, 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 which14.50 added 0.6 per cent and EKITI 09-DEC-2018 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 0.4 per14.00 cent respectively . 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 Leading sector losers was 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 the Consumer Goods index, 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 which14.75 dropped by one per OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 cent against sell-offs recorded 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 in Nestle and Guinness. The 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 Insurance index trailed with 0.4 per cent loss. However, at the close of

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 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.05 1.03 1.59 1.95 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

14.98 16.69 15.78 16.34 16.67

99.25 100.57 100.26 101.04 97.11

gong, investors staked a total sum of N3.8 billion worth 330.5 million units shares in 5,328 deals. Further of the 31-Aug-10analysis 12.50 13.00 market 30-Sep-10 statistics showed that 30-Jun-11 14.00 a total of 24 stocks featured 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 on the price gainers’ table as 30-Jun-10 13.75 against 20 that recorded14.00 losses. 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 Shares of ETI Plc 14.00 led the 04-Oct-11 14.00 gainers’09-Dec-11 chart, appreciating by 14.50 10.19 per12-Dec-13 cent to close at14.00 N24.55 14-Feb-12 15.50 per share. CI Leasing15.50 Plc fol02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 14.50 lowed with a gain of 7.14 per 12-Dec-12 14.75 10-Oct-13at 60 kobo, 14.75 cent to close while 27-Nov-13 13.50 Fidson Plc gained five per cent 31-Dec-13 15.00 to close 31-Dec-13 at N3.15 per share. 14.50 06-Jan-14 15.00 On the flip side, shares of Unity Bank Plc led the losers with 9.54 per cent to close at

BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

10.00

Shareholders endorse Access Bank’s N13.7bn dividend

N2.75 per share. ABC Transport Plc plunged five per cent 322.38 to321.78 close at 57 kobo while Guin-

ness Nigeria Plc dropped 4.99 per cent to close at N160.56 per share.

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.44

99.01

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.40

3.23

14.88

99.24

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.67

4.46

17.59

97.80

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.67

3.48

16.62

99.26

Unilever Overseas opens offer to raise stakes in local unit 57.00

19-Apr-17

1.95

1.00

14.82

92.07

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.16

98.47

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.65

1.79

15.59

96.60

30-Sep-18 2.03 nilever Overseas Holdings 04-Oct-18 2.05 B.V. yesterday announced 13.73 09-Dec-18 2.02 10.20 the opening of12-Dec-18 the offer to2.03 in27.00 14-Feb-19 2.22 crease its equity stake in Uni15.09 02-Oct-19 2.65 80.00 4.55 lever Nigeria22-Nov-19 Plc from 50.10 25.70 12-Dec-19 2.62 10.78 per cent up to10-Oct-20 a maximum3.16 of 5.56 7587.50 per cent. 27-Nov-20 5.00 31-Dec-20 5.65 In a notice31-Dec-20 obtained from 4.55 3.31 3.34 the4.56company’s06-Jan-21 website, it not452.88 ed440.79 that under the terms of the offer, Unilever would acquire up2.50 to 942,215,930 shares in 0.28 the 17-Aug-15 18.75 09-Dec-15 per share 0.34 Company at N45.50 0.42 06-Jan-16 0.42 in15.00 cash. The offer will remain 29-Sep-16 1.40 5.53 for acceptance 25-Oct-16 until June 1.47 open 20.00 30-Sep-17 2.40 10,0.64 2015. 30-Nov-17 1.42 The offer price represents 5.40 09-Apr-18 1.67a 2.54 09-Sep-18 premium of 33.8 per cent to 1.84 the 0.70 09-Sep-18 1.84 company’s closing share price 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.38 18-Oct-18 1.95 on2.10 23 March 2015, the day prior 0.36 17-Feb-19 2.03 to Unilever announcing its2.65 in4.50 01-Apr-19 2.05 14-Nov-20 5.52a tention to make the offer, and 30.50 30-Dec-21 premium of 33.2 per cent to 6.65 the 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.40 15.44 month Volume 30-Sep-24 Weighted 9.40 three 161.53 Average share price as at the 158.72date. The total value of same the transaction at the intended 12.00 2.77 offer price is11-Feb-18 approximately 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.75 N42.871 billion (€192.6 million 24.95 at21.94 prevailing exchange rates). The offer provides shareOutstanding Value Yield (%) holders who Maturity wishDate to sellBid some ($mm) or all of their shares in Unilever Nigeria the opportunity5.22to 500.00 28-Jan-21 do so. The directors of Unile500.00 12-Jul-18 4.26 ver Nigeria, who have been ad500.00 by FBN Capital 12-Jul-23 5.49 vised Limited, 1,500.00 consider the terms of the offer 1,578.68 to be fair and reasonable from a financial point of view, to the other 500.00 shareholders 19-May-16 of Unile6.09 350.00 7.34 ver Nigeria. 25-Jul-17 300.00 02-May-18 The Securities and 10.48 Ex400.00 08-Nov-18 7.33 change Commission has 7.08 ap500.00 22-Apr-19 200.00 21-May-19 proved the offer and the 10.68 Ex300.00 07-Aug-20 8.76 change has been notified of 10.69 the 400.00 24-Jun-21 30.81 9.00

1.80 15.63 97.30 offer, which will be “subject to 1.00 14.83 98.57 the conditions and other99.43 terms 1.00 14.83 4.78 92.82 set out in this18.61 announcement 1.00 14.82 101.14 and1.00 to the full14.80 terms and con101.37 1.00 14.74 99.20 ditions, which will be set out 1.00 14.80 99.88 1.00 formal offer 14.78 99.92 in the document.” 1.00 14.76 95.29 Citigroup Global Markets 1.00 14.77 100.82 Limited and Chapel Hill98.24 Advi1.44 15.21 100.50 sory1.00Partners14.77 Limited are acting as financial advisers to Unilever Overseas Holdings B.V. The 1.00 company 11.73had continued 99.50 1.00bad numbers 12.19 99.91 with with a re2.63 14.46 99.82 port1.00 of 49 per 14.92 cent drop 97.63 in pre15.15 third quarter 98.83 tax 1.34 profit for the 1.00 14.81 96.42 ended September 30, 2014. Ac1.88 15.76 103.46 cording to information from 1.00 14.79 101.68 14.81 104.75 the 1.00 Exchange, the company’s 1.00 14.81 101.74 profit before tax fell to N2.546 3.00 16.77 93.03 2.29 from N5.037 16.11 99.39 in billion billion 6.11 19.94 97.01 the 2.16 same period of last year, 15.96 100.04 2.76 16.52of 49 per 95.49 indicating a loss cent. 1.13 14.91 106.30 Revenue also dropped to 1.00 14.86 85.35 1.00 14.86 91.94 N43.632 billion, compared with N45.614 billion last year, depicting a slide of four per cent. The full year 2014 financials also1.00showed 14.79 a negative89.83 rout, 1.00 14.75 86.21 as Unilever reported revenue of N55.7 billion, representing a seven per cent drop from the Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price N60 billion reported in 2013. Similarly, pre-tax profit Prices & Yields slipped by 58 per cent to N2.8 5.03 107.45 108.43 billion from N6.79 billion 3.95 102.53 103.48 posted in 2013. Top-line rev5.34and increase 105.76 106.76 enue in operating expenses for the period contributed to drop in profit. Profit after tax also dropped by 79 per N2.4 billion 4.08 cent to 101.38 103.38 for 99.80 99.80 the 7.34 year compared with N4.7 9.54 90.94 93.21 billion reported a year earlier. 6.80 95.97 97.56 Earnings per97.18 share also 7.08 97.18 fell 9.98per cent 93.82 96.00 by 49 to 64 kobo from 8.76 97.21 97.21 N1.25 posted in 2013. 10.20 93.80 95.91

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

Nil

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.01

94.48

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.41

9.61

91.75

95.25

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

29-Sep-11

13.00

16.00

CASERA 18-OCT-2018 18-Oct-13 its rev- 15.75 CASERA hareholders of *LA Access mended 15.75 for LA paying 60 kobo the bank improved MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 18.00 *CHELLARAMS Bank Plc yesterday dividend16.00 despite raising enue generation capacity, as 16.00 DANA II the 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; 14-Nov-13 NAHCO at A-/GCR their 26th annual funds through rights issue, gross earnings rose to N245 15.25 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR UBA general meeting (AGM) a decision that could make billion from 30-Dec-14 what was re- 16.45 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 11.93 STANBIC IBTC 13.25 STANBIC 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 not toIBpay divi- corded in 2013, approved a dividend of 60 while profit 13.25 STANBIC IBTC other banks TOTAL for OUTSTANDING VALUEof 50 dend at all. kobo every share before tax grew by 20 per TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION A shareholders’ activist, cent to N52 billion. kobo of the bank, amountSupranational Bond billion for Dr. Farouk Umar, also said ing for N13.73 “As we pursue our mission IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P the financial year IFC ended the bank10.20 did well despite and vision, we11-Feb-13 are confident 10.20 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 11.25 the pressure from regulaDecember 31, 2014. that the strategic direction TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TheMARKET owners of the bank tory authorities. we have chosen is sound. We TOTAL CAPITALISATION He called on the Central will maintain our strong capalso commended the manDescription Rating/Agency Issue Date Coupon (%) agement of Access Bank for IssuerBank of Nigeria (CBN) to ital and liquidity , managing keeping the lender’s nonreduce the cash reserve rarisk effectively and operating FGN Eurobonds in2021 efficiently to reduce performing loans (NPL) at tio (CRR), which was costs,” 6.75 6.75put JAN 28, BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 lower digit. place to check banks from Oyebode stated. BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 BB-/S&P They noted that the bank lending to politicians, now Managing Director of BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13Herbert 6.38 that elections were over. the bank, Mr. deserves commendation for BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING reducing its NPLVALUE from 2.7 Chairman of the bank, Wigwe while responding to TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION per cent recorded in the Mr. Gbenga Oyebode said questions at the meeting, comparable period of 2013 the bank’s ability to gener- said considering steps beCorporate Eurobonds perforto 2.2 percent in the GTBANK 2014 fitaken by the 7.50 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 ing currently19-May-11 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I ate strong financial 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 bank and the B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 nancial year under review. mance despite adverse marsuccess re- 7.25 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC Chairman, Progressive ket condition is a testament corded in the09-May-13 rights issue, 6.88 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 6.00 Shareholders Association, to the efforts of the managepay more 6.25 6.25 APR 22, 2019 the lender will B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 8.75 May 21, 2019 dividends at the B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 Mr. Boniface Okezie, said ment team. He added that end of the 8.75 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 8.25 current financial year. the bank needs to be comin the year under review, 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 9.25 BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

7-May-15

3,507.77

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial (the “Information”). 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 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 7 14-May-15 4.00 3.75 4.00 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 OBB 8.92 of the Information. Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 14 28 35 49 56 63 70 Rating/Agency 77 84 91 98 112 119 126 140 147 161 210 224 NA 245 252 259 266 273 280 287 294 301

21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 Issuer 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 NA 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16

315

17-Mar-16

FGN Bonds

322 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

8.98 11.69 10.46 10.26 10.63 10.25 10.87 Description 11.62 10.77 10.06 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.18 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.78 11.39 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.05 9.35 31-AUG-2017 11.82 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.26 11.49 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.63 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.78 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.93 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.03 13.19 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.97 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.49 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.87 13.19 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.64 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.48

^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.23

8.73 11.44 10.21 10.01 10.38 10.00 10.62 Issue 11.37Date 10.52 9.81 16-Aug-13 10.93 27-Apr-12 10.53 11.14 27-Jul-07 11.80 31-Aug-07 11.57 30-May-08 11.01 11.24 29-Jun-12 12.38 23-Oct-09 12.53 13-Feb-15 12.68 27-Jan-12 13.78 12.94 14-Mar-14 13.72 28-Nov-08 13.24 22-May-09 13.62 12.94 20-Nov-09 13.39 23-Jul-10 13.23

18-Jul-14 12.98

Bonds

12.1493 14.93

24-Mar-16

13.38

7-Apr-16

13.36

13.11

15.23

350 21-Apr-16 13.16 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.91

15.06

336

13.13

9.01 11.80 10.57 10.40 10.80 10.43 11.10 Coupon 11.91 (%) 11.05 10.32 13.05 11.52 15.10 11.15 11.82 9.85 12.57 9.35 12.38 10.70 11.79 12.10 16.00 13.62 7.00 13.87 15.54 14.16 16.39 15.53 14.55 14.20 15.55 15.00 15.00 12.49 15.52 14.72 8.50 15.32 10.00 15.17

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

15.17

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.5417 13.0188 14.2552 15.7501

O/N Tenor Call 1M TTM 3M (Yrs) 6M

Outstanding Value Maturity Date (N'bn) NITTY Tenor 581.39 1M 476.80 2M 3M 20.00 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

9.25

REPO

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 10.7087 27-Apr-17 10.7419 11.2088 27-Jul-17 12.3412 31-Aug-17 14.4658 30-May-18 14.8309

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 NIFEX 98.31 13-Feb-20 Current Price ($/N) 600.00 27-Jan-22 BID($/N) 524.68 199.0000 14-Mar-24 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 279.50 18-Jul-34

Rate (%) 10.00 11.00 Bid12.00 Yield 13.00

(%)

1.28 13.74 13.61 NOTE: 1.97 13.82 13.73 :Benchmarks 2.22 13.82 13.73 * :Amortising Bond 2.32 13.81 13.73 µ :Convertible Bond 3.06 Management Corporation 13.78 13.65 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria FGN: Federal 4.15Government of Nigeria 13.74 13.65 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 4.46 Mortgage Bank13.74 13.63 IFC: International Finance Corporation 4.77 13.75 Management 13.66 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables 6.73 Aviation Handling 13.78 Company 13.72 NAHCO: Nigerian O/N: Overnight 8.85 13.64 13.58 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 13.56Africa Portland Cement 17.08 Company17.02 WAPCO:West 14.04 17.64 17.56 14.54 18.30 18.19 15.21 15.52 15.45 19.20 13.75 13.70

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM <3

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3<5 >5 Market

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 1,438.98 1,409.48 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,206.02

1,124.68

652.05

871.07

3,297.05

3,405.23

99.16 99.31 102.13 102.28 NA :Not 92.58 Applicable 92.73 ^ : Market Prices 91.37 91.52 # : Floating Rate Bond 92.48coupon bonds 92.78 ***: Deferred 106.90 107.20 ‡ : Bond78.05 rating under review 78.35 †: Bond rating expired 106.36 N/A :Not106.06 Available 111.13 {r} :Issuer in receivership111.43 102.78 103.08 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 89.12Bank for Africa 89.42 UBA: United 73.50 73.80 50.65 50.95 68.06 68.36 89.23 89.53

4,261.57

Issue Date

Agency Bonds

198.04 198.14 201.81 201.93 202.13 202.28 Price 203.37 202.87 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21 Bid Price Offer 206.28 213.47Price 220.29 226.27

4,582.44

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M Yield Offer 6M (%) 1Y

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by 09-Dec-11 Outstanding Vol 20-Apr-12 41.39 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 43.64 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 0.41 66.49

25.58

19.78

322.380.26

100.00

321.781.00

33.03

0.00 17.25

Weighting by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value

36.58

Bucket Weighting

0.33

Maturity Date

24-May-15 03-Apr-17

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Indicative Price

19-Apr-17 19.27 06-Jul-17

0.05 1.03 1.59 1.95 13.77 2.17

13.71

111.0918

2.52 2.85

14.98 16.69 15.78 16.34 1,176.39 16.67

42.10

14.80

78.0163

1,096.52

8.8886

100.00

14.18

100.1085

1,131.22

7.2058

% Exposure_ 08-Dec-16 Mod_Duration

38.63

Implied Yield

2.63 2.27

Valuation Yield (%)

Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price

104.9976

INDEX

1,108.48

99.25 100.57

YTD Return 100.26 (%)

101.04 6.1867 97.11

9.4723

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.44

99.01

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.40

3.23

14.88

99.24

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.67

4.46

17.59

97.80

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.67

3.48

16.62

99.26

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.95

1.00

14.82

92.07

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.16

98.47

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.65

1.79

15.59

96.60

Business | Financial Market News

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033

Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015

Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 7, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 Federal Totals

Symbol FG102016S1

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 100.00

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 2,494 2494

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Value Traded 2,569,522.73 2,569,522.73

2,494

2,569,522.73

2494

2,569,522.73

Daily Summary (Equities)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 36 23 59

Current Price 28.52 29.48

Quantity Traded 305,067 990,494 1,295,561

Value Traded 8,706,350.88 29,035,297.32 37,741,648.20

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 2.40

Quantity Traded 334,943 334,943

Value Traded 808,910.74 808,910.74

1,630,504

38,550,558.94

Daily Summary (Equities)

AGRICULTURE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONGLOMERATES CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. C ONigerian A NIG.Stock PLC. Exchange © Published bySThe TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals No. of Deals 3 3 2 153 51

212

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. G CAPPA PLC Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Daily Summary as ofBERGER 07/05/2015 JULIUS NIG. PLC. Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033Construction Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Food Products INTEGRATED FOODS PLC MULTI-TREX NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015PLC. VONO PRODUCTS Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products

P Zas CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary of 07/05/2015 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 Personal/Household Products Totals

Quantity Traded Quantity 11,200 Traded 606 1,514 Page 12,505,807 1,835,235

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

14,354,362

113,872,640.50

14,354,362

113,872,640.50

No. of Deals 4 2 6

Current Price 0.82 14.46

Quantity Traded 73,348 138 73,486

Value Traded 60,145.36 1,896.12 62,041.48

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 51.70

Quantity Traded 47,850 47,850

Value Traded 2,525,858.20 2,525,858.20

No. of Deals 38 38 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 10.25

Quantity Traded 159,824 159,824

Value Traded 1,611,665.83 1,611,665.83

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 1 1

Value Traded 10.00 10.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 1 1 64

281,161 Page

IT Services Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Packaging/Containers Printed 07/05/2015 BETA 15:18:33.033 GLASS CO PLC.

Packaging/Containers Totals

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Tools and Machinery Totals

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 103,992 103,992

Value Traded 51,996.00 51,996.00

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 20 35 7 1 112 2 177

Current Price 7.31 160.56 21.49 2.02 154.00 3.61

Quantity Traded 278,732 481,608 14,451 3,080 774,640 1,109 1,553,620

Value Traded 2,057,953.32 79,170,608.45 295,173.37 5,913.60 118,065,082.69 4,003.49 199,598,734.92

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 162.00

Quantity Traded 14,227 14,227

Value Traded 2,417,123.49 2,417,123.49

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Current Price 4.60 6.40 34.06 3.79 Current Price 0.50 8.55 18.05 11.84

Quantity Traded 138,405 1,154,490 361,597 1,388,864 Quantity Traded 2,900,000 1,686,260 11,716 Page 14 7,641,346

Value Traded 638,705.90 7,405,542.63 12,657,240.26 5,241,874.41 Value Traded 1,450,000.00 14,466,677.00 3 222,018.20 of 14 157.50 42,082,215.90

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 44 89 133

Current Price 39.90 900.00

Quantity Traded 350,517 127,065 477,582

Value Traded 13,327,842.87 114,992,196.12 128,320,038.99

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 1 143 3 147

Current Price 31.82 6.40 0.98

Quantity Traded 100 3,648,881 7,000 3,655,981

Value Traded 3,023.00 23,339,549.82 6,650.00 23,349,222.82

No. of Deals 72 52 (Equities) 124

Current Price 28.00 43.04

Quantity Traded 1,465,824 14,442,542 15,908,366

Value Traded 40,875,487.28 642,350,314.18 683,225,801.46

29,355,114

1,079,045,133.58

Symbol PZ UNILEVER Daily Summary

832

Daily Summary (Equities)

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 Integrated Oil and Gas Services

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 55 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 42 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 5 Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 CONSOLIDATED HMARKINS 1 Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 4 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 1 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC LINKASSURE 6 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 6 Daily Summary (Equities) N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 10 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 1 Activity Summary on Board EQTY STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STACO 1 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE 1 FINANCIAL SERVICES WAPIC INSURANCE PLC and Services WAPIC 26 Insurance Carriers, Brokers Symbol No. of Deals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 159

Current Price 1.09 0.99 0.50 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.50 2.85 0.70 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53 Current Price

Quantity Traded 6,577,627 4,086,600 13,700 6,400 133,128 100 335,093 84,384 616,137 15,200 2,000 Page 20,000 5,039,058 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 6,928,676.68 4,050,391.00 6,850.00 3,200.00 73,220.40 50.00 167,546.50 252,208.16 431,395.93 7,600.00 1,000.00 5 of 14 10,000.00 2,671,627.50 Value Traded

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.30

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 47 18 374 60 12 49 40 600

Current Price 2.99 4.20 8.93 3.30 0.50 29.90 1.49

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

3,235

Page Quantity Traded 1,317,025 1,317,025

14,603,766.17

6 of 14 Value Traded 1,710,901.50 1,710,901.50

Quantity Traded 2,419,510 5,180,507 12,651,452 8,072,676 812,940 4,728,125 1,393,764 35,258,974

Value Traded 6,979,408.33 21,799,552.03 114,276,401.84 26,474,867.64 409,470.00 141,315,142.74 2,082,539.36 313,337,381.94

260,715,137

2,170,268,542.53

29,445,671.28

Quantity Traded 26,444 26,444

Value Traded 13,222.00 13,222.00

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.69

Quantity Traded 118 118

Value Traded 189.98 189.98

Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 25,000 25,000

Value Traded 12,500.00 12,500.00

51,562

25,911.98

CHAMS Daily Summary (Equities)

7 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 29 2 20 25 29 2 2 1 3 54 167

Current Price 20.47 9.07 39.31 10.50 178.00 0.50 0.50 1.27 3.83 96.00

Quantity Traded Page 729,209

Symbol NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 16 16

Value Traded 8.00 8.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 30.00

Quantity Traded 350 350

Value Traded 10,160.00 10,160.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 142 142

Value Traded 1,006.78 1,006.78

2,776,267

165,215,046.13

NIGROPES Daily Summary (Equities)

1,230 125,415 508,608 83,978 2,198 842 6,000 13,975 1,304,304 2,775,759

174

Value Traded 814,713,962.91 of 14 11,709.60 4,922,760.25 5,337,317.39 15,018,543.33 1,099.00 421.00 7,260.00 51,012.50 125,139,785.37 165,203,871.35

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 5.21

Page Quantity Traded 2,256 2,256

Symbol ALEX ALUMACO

No. of Deals 2 2 4

Current Price 10.43 7.75

Quantity Traded 24 6 30

Value Traded 237.84 44.22 282.06

2,286

11,449.26

9Value Traded of 14 10 11,167.20 11,167.20

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 13,000 13,000

Value Traded 6,500.00 6,500.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 192 192

Current Price 18.40

Quantity Traded 4,150,358 4,150,358

Value Traded 76,098,932.78 76,098,932.78

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO Symbol MOBIL MRS TOTAL

1 26 19 48 No. of Deals 13 21 22 150

0.50 38.02 2.80 170.15 Current150.00 Price 50.54 165.00

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 387.00

Quantity Traded 4,000 122,407 153,960 138,558 Quantity Traded 3,031 66,764 20,784 Page 509,504

Value Traded 2,000.00 4,883,756.19 436,083.50 23,656,924.18 Value Traded 438,014.67 3,046,373.68 3,282,392.91 11 of 14 35,745,545.13

Quantity Traded 66,308 66,308

Value Traded 25,709,036.80 25,709,036.80

4,739,170

137,560,014.71

380 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.01

Quantity Traded 2,008 2,008

Value Traded 1,927.68 1,927.68

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 6 7 13

Current Price 4.70 1.16

Quantity Traded 78,096 29,500 107,596

Value Traded 368,590.00 32,745.00 401,335.00

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 13,378,221 13,378,221

Value Traded 8,025,912.60 8,025,912.60

Symbol Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals No. of Deals 4 1 5

Current Price Current Price 3.86 9.63

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 14,348 12,650 Page 26,998

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 3 4 10 17

Current Price 0.96 1.33 5.50

Quantity Traded 11,020 81,540 61,948 154,508

Value Traded 10,258.40 107,294.40 356,675.70 474,228.50

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 755,973 755,973

Value Traded 432,734.61 432,734.61

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 8 37 45

Current Price 2.10 6.50

Quantity Traded 63,111 311,900 375,011

Value Traded 130,681.40 2,069,763.70 2,200,445.10

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 3.30

Quantity Traded 124,300 124,300

Value Traded 391,475.00 391,475.00

109

14,924,615

12,107,389.15

5,234

330,532,063

3,750,301,933.57

Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Courier/Freight/Delivery Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Value Traded 467,277,720.04 11,434,733.89 4 of 14 90,163,492.22 Value Traded 12,931,980.60 558,715,668.20 6,597,644.53 35,382,621.78 308,723,870.97 5,969,201.60 914,468.24 1,317,683.96 341,187,406.89 1,840,616,492.92

1,701,885 Current Price 0.50

OIL AND GAS Totals

Quantity Traded 77,850,733 2,466,205 Page 3,801,087 Quantity Traded 6,887,075 19,383,657 2,629,501 16,493,794 59,463,267 551,445 332,416 1,351,319 15,999,212 207,209,711

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC on Board EQTY Activity Summary ETERNA PLC. OIL AND GASOIL PLC. FORTE Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Current Price 5.99 4.65 24.55 Current Price 1.93 28.83 2.50 2.14 5.15 10.89 2.75 0.98 21.40

16,929,427

OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Value Traded 1,304,073.85 26,903,693.58 1,053,235.85 153,917.06 408.68 2,230.00 29,440,062.62

No. of Deals 3 3

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

No. of Deals 220 41 87 No. of Deals 82 232 47 1,228 209 43 11 17 240 2,457

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI Symbol FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Quantity Traded 422,100 501,074 616,635 145,922 68 1,000 1,698,643

Symbol COURTVILLE

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Symbol DUNLOP

19 44 66 46 No. of Deals 1 55 1 2 234

BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Electronic and Electrical Products NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

4,199,575.51 of 14

DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Symbol MULTITREX NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

Current Price 3.15 54.00 1.71 1.03 6.32 2.13

134

Activity Summary on Board EQTY ICT Totals

Value Traded Value Traded 17,248.00 545.40 6,389.08 1 of 14 40,503,974.40 73,344,483.62

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

Activity Summary onTotals Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY DIAMOND BANK PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Banking FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Current Price Current Price 1.62 0.90 4.44 3.23 40.00

212

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 26 73 19 9 1 1 132

HEALTHCARE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 PRESCO PLC Printed 07/05/2015 15:18:33.033 Crop Production Totals

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Employment Solutions Totals

SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Hotels/Lodging Totals

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 07/05/2015 Printed 07/05/2015 Support15:18:33.033 and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary EQTY Board Totalson Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 4 4

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.48

Page Quantity Traded 135,000 135,000

Value Traded Value Traded 52,957.16 126,373.50 12 179,330.66 of 14

13 of 14 Value Traded 205,200.00 205,200.00

135,000

205,200.00

ASeM Board Totals

135,000

205,200.00

Equity Activity Totals

5,238

330,667,063

3,750,507,133.57

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Current Price 10.61 2,275.00 15.81

Quantity Traded 1 25 1 27

Value Traded 10.61 56,875.00 15.81 56,901.42

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 3,242 3,242

Value Traded 5,608.66 5,608.66

ETF Board Totals

56,901.42

Symbol EVANSMED

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 1.99

Quantity Traded 11,844

Value Traded 22,503.60

ETP Activity Totals

56,901.42

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, may 8, 2015

News 47

south - east

‘Job seekers in Buhari’s govt not representing Ndigbo’ Pamela Eboh Awka

he apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo yesterday declared that any group of Igbo extraction seeking political appointment from the incoming President, Mohammadu Buhari's government were doing so on their own and not on behalf of the Igbo. Speaking at a press

briefing in Awka, the President of Ohaneze in Anambra State, Chief Chris Eluomunoh, who is also the chairman of Ohaneze state presidents’ forum for the seven Igbospeaking states, said that issues of federal appointments were constitutional obligations which every president of Nigeria, irrespective of the voting pattern of a people in an election, must oblige. He decried the move by certain people who claimed

to be representing the Igbo nation to be lobbying the President-elect for appointments for the Ndigbo. Eluemunoh said, “Igbo nation is an integral part of Nigeria and must get their due share in Nigeria, but appointing Igbo people into offices should not, in any way, be regarded as doing them any favour”. The Ohaneze chairman observed that there was nothing unusual for a group to be in opposition and called on Igbo people

not to see the defeat of Jonathan as the end of their progress in the politics of Nigeria. “It is a disgrace for any Igbo to be begging General Buhari for appointment after all Buhari and others in the South West and members of his party had been in opposition for the past 16 years and they never begged Jonathan for appointments. “As far as the politics of Nigeria is concerned, General Buhari and the incom-

ing APC government must involve the South East in the zonal arrangement. “With Buhari as the president and the South West as the vice president, the next most important appointment, which is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, must come from the South East. We don’t have to beg for it and so those who went to Buhari to beg for appointment on behalf of Igbo did not represent Igbo.”

He maintained that Igbo had no regrets voting for President Goodluck Jonathan in the just concluded general elections, saying that the circumstance of the time made the Igbo voting pattern obligatory. “Every zoning arrangement for appointment in this country must include the Igbo. So those who call themselves Ohanaeze elders, who went to beg for appointments for Ndigbo were on their own. They are not speaking for us”.

Ebonyi accuses lawmakers of embezzling constituency funds Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

L-R: Vice-President, Ndigbo Traders Association, Egbeda-Akowonjo, Lagos, Izuchukwu Emelogu; President, Goodman Ifeanyi Marcel; ex-officio member, Mazi Udoson Okpara; Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Secretary, Mr. Kevin Ogbonna, during the presentation of a congratulatory gift to Ambode in Lagos…recently

‘IFAD programme will boost food production in Ebonyi’ Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a World Bank subsidiary’s implementation support scheme programme, has been adjudged as capable of helping farmers in Ebonyi state to boost food production in the state. The body’s state Agricultural Development Programme coordinator, Sunday Ituma, made this known in Abakaliki, during a facility tour of IFAD in the state, noting that the support scheme will be implemented through proper budgeting and policy implementation. “It will assist the farmers in the provision of necessary farm input, infrastructure such as roads, bridges and culverts and

widening of market opportunities for their farm produce. According to him, the IFAD team was in the state to strengthen relevant institutions, determine modalities put in place by the state for the scheme’s implementation and issues concerning budget, logical framework for the programme and areas of weaknesses. “The team is expecting the state to institute necessary framework, programe management unit, state steering committee, among other requirements for successful implementation of the programme. He noted that the state government has fulfilled all the IFAD requirements, expressing optimistic that the programme would commence soon in the state. “We have constituted

the state steering committee, signed the memorandum of understanding which has been evaluated by the state’s attorney general and forwarded to IFAD and Federal Ministry of Agriculture while also selecting intervention areas’’. The IFAD team leader, Atsuko Toda, said that the team was satisfied with the modalities put in place by the Ebonyi State Government for the implementation of the programme. “The team was satisfied with the facilities on ground and payment of the counterpart fund by the state government, as we would commence work immediately in the state with more concentration on production and aggregation of rice clusters in Izzi, Ikwo and Afikpo South councils of the state’’, she said.

Group backs Ezea for ministerial position Eche Nwaobasi Nnewi

s lobby for political appointments is being intensified ahead of inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, a group of people from Enugu state resident in Anambra State, Enugu Concerned Citizens' Forum (ECCF), has thrown its weight behind the governorship candidate of APC in Enugu state in the last election. Chief Okey Ezea, for a ministerial ap-

pointment from Enugu State. The group noted that Ezea ranked among qualified appointees from Enugu State, in line with APC ideology for positive change in the nation’s polity. In a release made available to newsmen in Nnewi yesterday, the group noted that Ezea has contributed immensely to the building of the party in Enugu State, to earn the party’s gubernatorial ticket. It stated that apart from his personality, Ezea hailed from Nsukka zone of Enugu State.

bonyi State Government yesterday accused members of the State House of Assembly of embezzling constituency funds released to them by government. Addressing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday; the Commissioner for Information, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ifeanyi Ikeh, said the lawmakers have refused to utilize the funds for the benefits of their constituents, which he said were the reason for their election. Ikeh said, ‘’government observed with dismay that the constituency allowance usually approved for the lawmakers to initiate projects for development in their Constituencies were unjudiciously mismanaged by them. "The lawmakers have not demonstrated any level of moves to improve the lives of people in their constituencies in the past four years’’. He urged the incoming government of Chief Dave Umahi, to make good his promise of fighting corruption in the State House of Assembly, if his administration was to be fair on the war against corruption.

NCC donates books to Okpara varsity Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has received books

on Information, Communication Technolog y (ICT), donated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), towards strengthening of curriculum in the area of ICT.

The 80 ICT engineering books donation to the Institution was applauded as an initiative that would help the institution’s ICT department, to meet the challenges of the 21st century technology.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Wike accuses Amaechi of impeding transition process l We’re ready to hand over, says govt

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he transition committee put in place by the Rivers State Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, has accused Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, of hindering the transition process by refusing to cooperate with the committee. Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt yester-

day, the committee’s Secretary, Hon. Frank Owhor, alleged that Amaechi has refused to set up a transition committee despite several entreaties to ensure that there was a seamless transition on May 29. He said Amaechi’s refusal to set-up the committee only “confirms the conflict and contradiction in the character of Amaechi,” just as he said that “letters dispatched to the

governor by hand and DHL courier service were rejected and returned. He added: “In another instance, a top-ranking officer informed the transition committee that the members of staff were under instruction not to receive any correspondence from the transition committee. Mails dispatched to the governor by electronic mail and also delivered to the Secretary to the State Gov-

ernment (SSG) were not even acknowledged. “Is that the way it is going in the PDP states that are in the process of handing over to newly elected APC administrations in Benue, Niger and Kaduna States.” He described Amaechi’s uncooperative posture as “irresponsible” and an “embarrassment” to the people of the state, pointing out that the governor is bound by the

constitution to ensure a smooth and orderly transition to the in-coming government. Owhor, who also spoke on the controversy over the inauguration of the Governor-elect, occasioned by the absence of a Chief Judge in the state, said there was nothing stopping Wike from being sworn-in on May 29. He said: “Nothing can stop the swearing-in of the Governor-elect, Chief

Nyesom Wike. The provision of the constitution must be complied with. On May 29, one government must end and another one has to take over from there. He will be sworn-in,” he assured. But reacting to Owhor’s comments, the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the Amaechi government was ready to hand-over to the coming administration.

Delta election tribunal gets 40 petitions Dominic Adewole ASABA

L-R: Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Aminu Suleiman; Chairman, Board of Trustees of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State, Amb. Akporode Clark and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Mcjohn Nwobiala, during the presentation of provisional licence to two private universities, in Abuja…yesterday

he Delta State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday said it has received 40 petitions from the justconcluded general elections in the state. The newly inaugurated tribunal said it is set to hear all the petitions against the March 28 National Assembly elections and the April 11 governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in the state. The tribunal, which comprises of a chairman and two members, New Telegraph gathered, will sit at two separate courts, High Court three and five. Secretary to the tribunal, Al’sadiq Abubakar, said in Asaba yesterday that the petitions were received between April 17 and May 3, this month.

Ex-militants to Buhari: Ignore Rivers APC urges aggrieved members to stop protests calls to scrap amnesty programme Emmanuel Masha who made the appeal in a remind all aggrieved aspi- Workers’ union statement, called on them rants that APC is a party Port Harcourt nationality. to present their grievanc- founded on justice and to at war with Chris Ejim He said it was also es through appropriate assure them that we will Yenagoa management anchored on his misconhe Rivers State chap- channels as regards the never deviate from that ceived idea that the Ijaw Tter of the All Progres- local government elec- path. over imposition iger Delta ex-mil- are the major beneficia- sives Congress (APC) has tion. “However, we realise Nitants yesterday ries of the Amnesty pro- urged aggrieved members He said there was noth- that this is an imperfect of CEO called on the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ignore calls by Ayiri Emami and others to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Programme. In a statement by the agitators under the auspices of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) in Yenagoa, the ex-militants said the call was in bad faith and misguided. In the statement, the National President of the body, Reuben Clifford Wilson, described Emami’s call on Buhari to scrap the programme as one which was premised on his pathological hatred for the Ijaw

gramme, but clarified that the programme is for all Niger Delta exmilitants. “The amnesty is for all ex-militants and if the Ijaw are in the majority, it then means that they were more actively involved than any other tribe in the Niger Delta,” Wilson said. “Moreover, the Ijaw are in the majority in the Niger Delta and the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria. Therefore, it is natural for the Ijaw to dominate the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-militants in the Niger Delta, owing to their population and active involvement in the Niger Delta struggle.”

of the party, especially chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, not to cast the party in bad light through unnecessary protests. The party Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya,

ing stopping them from seeking justice, but cautioned on the need against taking actions that may be counter-productive as the May 23, 2015 council election draws near. He said: “We wish to

human system and that mistakes are bound to occur sometimes, but we wish to assure the people that necessary steps would be taken to correct every proven case of injustice.”

Communities seek govt’s intervention in rig explosion Chris Ejim Yenagoa

ommunities affected by the rig explosion at Chevron’s oilfields have called on all tiers of government to intervene and avert a looming crisis, following the adamant posture of Chevron. A community leader in Koluama, Prince George Ibobra, said the views

canvassed by Chevron as saying that there was no basis for compensation was provocative and unacceptable. He said: “It is a show of the insensitivity by Chevron to say that the rig explosion had no adverse effects on the people. In addition to distorting the ecosystem, our fishing vocation has never been the same since the explosion. “We no longer catch

fish as the fire, which lasted for over one month, wiped out the fishes even the sea weeds on the ocean floor where the fishes feed and breed, were killed. “The sea weeds contaminated by hazardous materials used to contain the blowout is what our fishermen catch instead of fishes, we call on government to call them to order to maintain the existing peace in the area.

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

orkers under the auspices of the Coalition of Trade Unions of Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) in Edo State, including the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions and the Senior Staff Association (SSA), yesterday kicked against what they described as the imposition of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the staff of the institute. The workers insisted that such appointment must be made from the pool of qualified research directors in accordance with the condition of the service.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Sambo inaugurates 330 KVA electricity project in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday inaugurated the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the National Integrated Power Project (PHCN/ NIPP of 330/132/33KV transmission sub-station in Apir, Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-President commended the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for effectively pursuing its mandate of implementing robust power projects across the country under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) with Benue inclusive. Sambo said the company has completed several thermal generating plants under the first phase of its project mandate nationwide, maintaining that the completion of 265 out of a total of 296 distribution injection sub-stations located across the country and several other power stations was to the credit of the company.

News 49

NORTH

Court stops bid to sack Aliyu Dan Atori MINNA

n a spirited effort to protect his job, the Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday got a Minna High Court interim injunction restraining the state House of Assembly from setting in motion any process that may lead to his impeachment. The suit, No: NSHC/ MN/54/2015 instituted by the governor against the Speaker of the House, Hon. Isah Kawu,

the Clerk of the House, Mohammed Kagara, the Assembly, the state Commissioner of Police and the Director, Department of State Security (DSS) in the state. Justice Idris Evuti granted the three prayers as deposed to in an affidavit by the Commissioner for Justice, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse. By that action, the executive arm yesterday recognised the leadership of Kawu, who was elected on Monday, after the impeachment of Adamu Usman and three other principal officers by 19 out of the 25-mem-

ber house. The applicant in a motion ex-parte application moved by his counsel, Rotimi Ojo, prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants, jointly and severally, from setting in motion any process of impeachment of the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. He also prayed that the defendants be restrained from impeaching and accepting any nomination of any purported candidate for the position of acting gover-

nor of Niger State. The court has fixed May 27, 2015 for hearing of the substantive case. Efforts to get Speaker Kawu failed as the Assembly was still under lock and key while the Clerk of the House, Mohammed Kagara, said he was yet to be served the court order. The governor had on Wednesday exonerated himself from the crisis ridden House of Assembly, saying that the faceoff ‘is internal.’ He also said he was not targeted for impeachment by the crisis that erupted in the as-

sembly, which led to the sacking of the House’s principal officers, including the Speaker, Adamu Usman, saying happenings in the House has nothing to do with him. The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Israel Ebije, said the speculation of the impeachment moves against him by the Assembly was false and should be treated as such. Aliyu claimed he has always been enjoying a robust relationship with the Assembly.

Labour to Bauchi govt: Pay our salaries or face strike action Alhassan Yusuf Bauchi

he Bauchi State government was yesterday called upon to intensify efforts at settling the two months’ salaries owed workers in the state or face the withdrawal of their services. Making the call yesterday was the organised labour in the state. The labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) said in a letter that the state government’s inability to settle the debts may result in a strike action by the workers. The letter reads in part: “The leadership of the organised labour in Bauchi State met today, May 6, 2015 on the above subject matter and communicated same to the state government.” “It said the payment of March and April salaries should be made on or before Tuesday, May 12, 2015. “That failure to meet this demand will lead to withdrawal of the service by the workers,” the union stated.

NYSC 2015 Batch ‘A’ corps members, during their swearing-in ceremony in Jos …yesterday

Wada’s aide disowns governorship posters Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

he Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Kogi State Governor, Nasir Yunusa, has said that those circulating governorship posters around the state capital and it’s environs, suggesting that he was interested in the governorship race, do not have his permission. Governorship posters, carrying the picture of Yunusa, were yesterday pasted all over the streets of Lokoja, the state capital. In recent times, there had been speculations making the arounds that Governor Wada’s closest

aide, the Chief of Staff, will be running for the exalted seat should his boss decide not to contest for another term. But the embattled Yunusa, in a statement yesterday in Lokoja, which was made available to journalists, said there has been no time he indicated interest or told anyone that he was interested in the race. He described the originators of the idea as wicked, callous and their action a calculated attempt to sow the seed of discord between him and his boss, whom he said he shared very cordial working relationship with. He reiterated his com-

mitment and loyalty to the governor, saying that he was prepared to serve him now and in future, even as he noted that no amount of blackmail will distract him from discharging his responsibility as the chief of staff to the governor. He said: “I am contented with my present position. I am very loyal to my boss; I have not told anyone that I have any governorship ambition now or in the future. My immediate concern is to see how I can support the vision of my boss in his quest to ensure a better Kogi State and to solidly stand by him when the time comes for his re-election.”

‘Why Makurdi market was closed’ Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ore facts emerged yesterday as to why the popular Makurdi Modern Market was shut down by the Benue State government. Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the cause of the closure arose from a disagreement between the traders and the Ministries of Commerce and Industry as well as Finance, for the hike in taxes and rent. A trader in the market, Mr. Stanislus Ibe, who spoke with New Telegraph confirmed that the traders had been asked to pay for seven more months even as most of them still had their rents running,

saying ‘we’re not due for any renewal.’ He said the tax collectors also increased their tax rates even as he complained that there was little or no maintenance in the market with the high rent rates they were paying, affirming the reason for the shutdown. Ibe, who trades in second hand shoes, further bemoaned the arbitrary increase in shop rents as according to him the present Commissioner for Commerce and Industries has the highest price hike in history. He said on assumption of office, the Commissioner, Mr. Terfa Ihindan, had increased the rent on stalls to N50, 000.00 as against the N25, 000.00 they were paying under the Alex Adum regime.

News

WORLD | News

FG to concession Nigeria Railways

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) yesterday said it is developing a roadmap to concession the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC). This was contained in a statement issued by the Head, Public Communications, Mr. Alex Okoh, in Abuja yesterday. It stated that the BPE would be developing the framework in collaboration with the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory

Facility (NIAF), which had committed to fund the project and provide free technical support. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in 2002, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had approved the concessioning of NRC to private operators to improve freight and passenger railway services. “The decision to reform the railways was borne out of the government’s desire to avoid the collapse and even-

tual shutdown of the railways. “In view of the funding challenges facing the future of rail in Nigeria, it seems the efficiency and professionalism, which the private sector can bring, will improve railway operations,’’ it stated. It stated that the railway reform, restructuring and privatisation programme, was aimed at providing the framework for private sector to grow and expand the corporation.

Unilever Overseas to increase stake in Nigeria Chris Ugwu

nilever Overseas Holdings B.V. yesterday announced the opening of the offer to increase its equity stake in Unilever Nigeria Plc from 50.10 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent. In a notice obtained from the company’s website, the company said under the terms of the offer, Unilever would acquire up to 942, 215, 930 shares in the company at 45.50 per share in cash. The offer will remain open for acceptance until June 10, 2015. The offer price repre-

sents a premium of 33.8 per cent to the company’s closing share price on March 23, 2015, the day prior to Unilever announcing its intention to make the offer and a premium of 33.2 per cent to the three-month Volume Weighted Average share price as at the same date. The total value of the transaction at the intended offer price is approximately 42.871 billion (192.6 million at prevailing exchange rates). The offer provides shareholders, who wish to sell some or all of their shares in Unilever Nigeria the opportunity to do so. The directors of Uni-

lever Nigeria, who have been advised by FBN Capital Limited, consider the terms of the offer to be fair and reasonable from a financial point of view, to the other shareholders of Unilever Nigeria. The offer has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has been notified of the offer. The offer will be subject to the conditions and other terms set out in this announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the formal offer document.

Reps pass Great Green Wall bill Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading a Bill for an Act to establish the National Agency for the Implementation of the Great Green Wall programme in Nigeria. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole House by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presided. When the bill is passed, the agency will ensure a shelter belt (a strip of trees and shrubs

of at least three parallel rows) planted to shelter communities and their land from strong winds along 11 frontline states viz Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States. Leading debate on the bill, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Mulikat AkandeAdeola, who said the Great Green Wall initiative was conceived as a cross-sectoral action and intervention purposely aimed at conserving and protecting Nigeria’s natural resources, as well as achieving some develop-

mental goals. She noted that; “It is an initiative enjoined by the United Nations through various conventions such as Convention on Biodiversity 1992, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992, UN Convention to combat desertification 1994, UN Convention on the Great Green Wall 2010. “It will provide a unique opportunity in holistically addressing the linkage between the functions and services of the ecosystem and humans, social economic and productive systems of the citizens.”

Gridlock cripples activities on Lagos roads

g ridlock arising from petrol tankers which blocked the expressway leading to Apapa petrol depot and other parts of the city, yesterday compelled commuters to trek to work or to their various businesses. The traffic jam described as the worst in Lagos, caused untold hardship to commuters and forced many to abandon their destina-

tions and return home. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development led to the arteries through which motorists could have maneuvered the traffic being blocked, leaving passengers and drivers lamenting. NAN also reports that many motorists and commuters always travelled with ease as there were usually less traffic on Thursdays,

because of the sanitation programme in the state. Some motorists also abandoned their vehicles on the roadsides and took other means to their destination in the hope that they will come back and pick them up when the traffic situation improves. Reacting, a commuter, Mrs. Blessing Eze, said the congestion had disrupted her activities for the day.

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gridlock looms in Britain

ritons voted yesterday in the tightest election for decades; one that could cause government gridlock, push the world’s fifth-largest economy closer to leaving the European Union and stoke a second attempt by Scotland to break away. Final opinion polls showed Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives and Ed Miliband’s opposition Labour Party almost in a dead heat, indicating neither will win enough seats for an outright majority in the 650-seat parliament. However, the surveys suggested

there had been some late movement toward Labour. “I’m not asking you simply to vote Labour. I’m asking you to vote to reward hard work again and to build a future for all our young people,” Miliband said on Twitter after casting his vote. “Today is the day we can change Britain.” Cameron tweeted: “Today, you can vote for a stable government and a strong economy. Don’t miss your chance.” The Conservatives portray themselves as the party of jobs and economic recovery, promising to reduce income tax for 30 million people while forcing through further

spending cuts to eliminate a budget deficit now running at 5 percent of GDP, half the level it stood at when they took office five years ago. Labour says it would cut the deficit each year, raise income tax for the highest 1 percent of earners and defend the interests of hardpressed working families and Britain’s treasured but financially stretched National Health Service. “I think Labour is best for the good of the whole country. The Conservatives have cut spending too much,” said student Abi Samuel at a polling station in Edinburgh’s well-heeled New Town.

Conservative leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha voted in the village of Spelsbury in Oxfordshire.

Three killed as Burundi’s political protests continue

rotesters searched for and assaulted people suspected to be members of the ruling party’s violent youth group yesterday as the upheaval against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term persisted with three more people reported killed. One man fled under a hail of stones and took shelter in a covered sewer until army troops arrived and dispersed the mob by firing into the air. In another neighborhood, a protester was killed in clashes with police and the Imboner-

akure youth group. One person was killed in Kinama Commune when protesters confronted a group of Imbonerakure members, caught one and burning him; and in Commune Nyakabiga, another man was killed by a mob which accused him of being a member of Imbonerakure, witnesses told journalists. Three people were killed and 13 wounded in the day’s violence, according to the Burundi Red Cross. Protesters want Nkurunziza to drop his re-election bid, saying it is illegal.

But the Constitutional Court ruled that he can seek a third term and his backers say he can seek re-election because for his first term, he was selected by Parliament and not by popular election. Burundi’s constitution says the president should be elected by universal direct suffrage for a mandate of five years, renewable one time. Protests have rocked Burundi’s capital since the ruling party announced on April 25 that it had nominated Nkurunziza as its presidential candidate.

Poland marks 70th anniversary of end of WWII

oland’s president is leading international commemorations yesterday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a gathering meant as an alternative celebration to Moscow’s Red Square parade two days later. President Bronislaw Komorowski organized the ceremonies in Gdansk in reaction to the deep divisions between the West and

Russia over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. They were meant to give Western leaders who want to avoid the Russian ceremonies a chance to pay homage to the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Though many Western leaders are boycotting the May 9 commemorations in Moscow, few have agreed to come to the Polish event. The guest list, however, does include

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Council President Donald Tusk, who returns to his home city for the event, and the presidents of Ukraine and several Central European countries. The main commemoration will take place on the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdansk, the site of some of the first shots fired by Germany against Poland at the start of the war.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

News

International Sport

Chad: Keshi opens Eagles camp May 18

Man United confirm Depay deal

Features

Messi is from another planet – Kluivert

Sport

Did you know? That Cristiano Ronaldo was expelled from school at the age of 14 after throwing a chair at his teacher for mocking his family’s financial status

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Siasia backs Manu’s F’ Eagles to break jinx Ifeanyi Ibeh

oach of Nigeria’s U-23 national team, Samson Siasia, believes the current crop of players in the Flying Eagles are capable of doing what no other Flying Eagles team has been able to do by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The best Nigeria has achieved at the FIFA U-20 World Cup has been two second-place finishes at both the 1989 and 2005 tournaments in Saudi Arabia and The Netherlands, respectively. The Flying Eagles also won a bronze medal in 1985 in the former Soviet Union. And Siasia, who was a part of that bronze-winning 1985 Flying Eagles side before coaching the team to a silver medal finish 20 years later, believes the current Flying Eagles have what it takes to conquer the world at the upcoming tournament in New Zealand.

“I really believe this team can win the World Cup,” said Siasia, in an interview with New Telegraph. “This team has been together for a very long period of time and, the way football works, the longer a team stays together the better that team has to become. “Most of these boys have been together since they were in the U-17s; some of them much earlier than that. So, they can be likened to a gang at the moment. And when a team becomes a gang, it’s tough to stop them.” The Flying Eagles will compete in Group E along with five-time former champions Brazil, North Korea and Hun-

what to expect from the Flying Eagles having worked with a couple of Manu Garba’s wards, most notably Taiwo Awoniyi, in the U-23 side during last month’s 2-1 win against Zambia in the last round of qualifiers for the 2015 All-African Games. “Those guys are still young and very down to earth,” said an excited Siasia. “They have not allowed the successes they have had in recent years to get to their heads. They are ready to listen and they want to improve. “These are players the entire country is looking up to, and as long as they continue to show a willingness to learn, they can conquer the world.”

Pacquiao

Pacquiao has surgery on injured shoulder

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

gary and will begin their campaign on June 1 with a game against the South Americans. “It’s a tough group but they have known about it for some time now and are adequately prepared. Maybe they need to include one or two players in areas the coaches feel they need to improve on but I don’t see them facing any problems in their group,” continued Siasia. “We all saw how dominant they were on their way to winning the African championship (in Senegal). So, I believe this team will do very well in New Zealand and, in all honesty, capable of going all the way and winning the World Cup.” Siasia has a fair idea of

Flying Eagles celerating a recent victory

anny Pacquiao has had surgery on the shoulder injury he blamed for his Las Vegas defeat by Floyd Mayweather. The Filipino is being sued in Nevada after he was accused of lying about the torn rotator cuff suffered pre-fight. His surgeon Dr Neal ElAttrache is “more than pleased with the results,” but the 36-yearold faces up to a year out. Pacquiao was denied a painkilling injection two hours before the bout because the Nevada Athletics Commission were not aware of the injury. The NAC is considering disciplinary action against Pacquiao for not disclosing the shoulder problem on a form the day before the fight. Undefeated Mayweather, 38, has reportedly told ESPN that he is open to a Pacquiao re-match in 12 months time, although the American has previously insisted he wanted one more fight, with Britain’s Amir Khan among the leading contenders.

Sport

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NFF abandons past heroes again

o the occupants of our proverbial “Glass House,” the nation’s renowned citadel of football administration, the second stanza of our national anthem that states “the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain,” makes little or no meaning at all to them. Rather, the opposite aptly captures their mood in the Nigeria Football Federation. This is so since, when a man dies, he’s gone forever and his legacies, no matter how good or bad, are is ever remembered and reckoned with. The litany of forgotten heroes dead or alive but retired, who had been forgotten with brazen abandonment, will beat your imagination. To the federation, you only count when your services could be accessed easily, to either promote or massage the egos of powers that be. They only think of your current value and not your future worth. There are litanies of documented exploits made by some of these great stars that dot our landscape, that have gone unappreciated. This is in their various services either as administrators, officials or footballers that ordinarily deserve to be recognised for their service to their fatherland, yet are left to wallow in their grave uncelebrated. I recall with nostalgia, the exploits of the late Thunder Baloguns, Onyeawunas, Ileri-

Around the Stadia

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07039241156 (sms only)

kas, Durus, Sunday Dankaros, Oyarekwas, Rashidi Yekini, Sam Okwaraji, POC Achebes, Sampson Emeka Omeruahs, Baba Ootus etc. The list is a mixed bag of some sort and endless. All that is required is for the federation to set up a Hall of Fame and commission a research to come up with list of those to be fully recognised annually for their past services. A well packaged induction ceremony, fully sponsored by corporate Nigeria, would not be a bad idea. Unfortunately, such concept will never see the light of the day, since our administrators who only think of their pockets, will frustrate such gesture. At this point, one begins to wonder what legacy the federation would bequeath to the younger generation, who ought to have been motivated by the level of honour accorded the nation’s past heroes. It is ironic that in their active years, particularly amongst the players, they were usually owed match bonuses and allowances at will, injuries

Chad: Keshi opens Eagles camp May 18 • Revives home-based project Ajibade Olusesan

he camp of the Super Eagles will officially open on May 18, ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifier against Chad at the Abuja National Stadium. The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Chadians comes up on June 13 in Abuja, and as expected, the Super Eagles camp will be opened by home-based players. Keshi, in the earlier stages of his stint as the Super Eagles head coach always opened the Super Eagles camp with homebased players, most times before weeks for the games, but that program was eventually discarded. And with the pressure now on him to take Nigeria to the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to do so the last time, the ‘Big Boss’ said during his signing ceremony for his present two-year contract that he would like

to resume the program. He said: “I’ve always enjoyed working with the home-based lads. It’s not something new to me because I did it earlier and haven’t deviated and I hope to continue with it. “Every time we come to camp and I see them, I’m always happy and it is a good thing that most of them have now gone on to become core members of the team and I hope to continue building on that”.

JOE BOOSTER

sustained in their active days are officially ignored. In fact, their welfare takes the back stage always. All we constantly hear is appeal for them to be patriotic, while ending up unsung. Rashidi Yekini’s pathetic story is one of the main pointers of how not to treat a hero. His crisis began after his professional career and was made a national issue due to the massive publicity given to it. Unfortunately, the federation rather than help ameliorate his plight, contributed immensely in aggravating it as his reputation was massively assailed in the tabloids. In the midst of this, no official made any concrete efforts to win his confidence by identifying with his plight. It is rather unfortunate that the legendary player who scored the nation’s first World Cup goal died in penury, what a sad commentary! All we were regaled with was how much money the player amassed but squandered during his playing career, while no mention was made

about the career crippling injuries he sustained while serving the nation. These are heroes that should be appreciated with life time awards because they succeeded in putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians with their exploits when it mattered most. Pity. The most annoying to date is the case of Sunday Dankaro, the erstwhile Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, whose forgotten name was resurrected recently, when the last Presidential Taskforce on World Cup qualification, headed by Governor Rotimi Amechi, out of the remnants of funds raised for the national team, decided to do something “unNigerian like” by channelling the funds to build a befitting edifice as Secretariat for the Federation. To all intends and purpose, the project was not abandoned but met all international standards. In the wisdom of this group, the edifice was named “SUNDAY DANKARO HOUSE”. To the chagrin of all, the federation has since abandoned the edifice on the flimsy excuse that the location was not befitting enough to promote their corporate goodwill. Consequently, the money meant for the furnishing as made available by the good spirited Governor Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has since been diverted to other uses. In other words, the memory of the past chairman

was once again abandoned. Rather than pursue the furnishing of the office complex, the federation’s bigwigs are now busy pursuing the renovation of the burnt Glass House, a property of the Federal Capital Development Authority, that was engulfed by fire in questionable circumstances. Regrettably, the report of the inquiry into the inferno has been buried in the interest of some powers that be. The question is why renovate a property that is not yours, when you have a standard property waiting for occupation? This is a subject of another day. The legacy of this board would have been enhanced if the complex was utilised for the good of the game. Ordinarily, the memory of one of the leading figures in our football administration would have been restored. This will encourage other upcoming stars to give their best, with the firm assurance that they will not be forgotten. No doubt, Nigerian football has attained some enviable heights globally, but such exploits must be matched with equal level of administrative dexterity to make us world beaters. This must be consciously nurtured through our collective will, but the federation must show leadership. Otherwise, the likes of Sunday Dankaro and others will continue to be a byword in our records.

300 athletes for Lagos taekwondo classics Emmanuel Tobi

bout 300 taekwondo athletes on Thursday registered the Lagos International Taekwondo Classics billed to take place May 7 to May 9 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. The athletes drawn from Niger Republic, Mali, Ghana and host of this year’s All Africa Games, Congo Brazzaville including Nigeria are at present jostling for honours at the classics. The taekwondo ath-

letes made up of 212 male and 88 female will be aiming for the laurels at the N3.5m prize money three-day tournament organised by the Lagos State Taekwondo Association under the auspices of the Lagos Sports Classics and sanctioned by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation. For NTF President, George Ashiru, the classics have indeed helped the country. “Through the classics, we have made some headway in the Poomsae event and we have won three

gold medals at international tournament. This became possible through the efforts made by our national coach, Jim Beom Kim and this has fetched us three international gold medals. And this year has also ignited the interest of the athletes in Poomsae and this is a major plus to the classics,” Ashiru said. The Commonwealth Taekwondo Union VicePresident explained that outstanding athletes from the classics would form the second-tier of the national team.

Kanu backs Eagles for 2017 AFCON

Joseph Yobo (right) battling for the ball with an Iranian player at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. INSET: Keshi

ormer Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu has declared Nigeria will bounce back to top reckoning soon and qualify for the 2017 African Nations Cup in style. Nigeria are now ranked 45th in the world by FIFA. And last year, the three-time African champions failed to qualify for AFCON 2015 after they won the tournament in South Africa in 2013. “In life there are ups and downs. The last few months we have faced serious trying times in our football. But right now that is in the past,” he said. “There has been no time I have lost confidence in the

Eagles. The Eagles will bounce back better than ever. “Now is time for all the stakeholders and the NFF to ensure that we rally round the team to help them succeed as the AFCON qualifiers gets underway next month. “We have the talent that can do it, but we must support them to succeed because they cannot do it alone.” Keshi has been re-appointed the country’s coach and he will begin his qualifying campaign for the 2017 AFCON in June at home against Chad. Egypt and Tanzania are the others teams in this qualifying pool.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Messi wary of Bayern backlash

arcelona striker, Lionel Messi, has warned Barcelona to expect a Bayern Munich backlash in the UEFA Champions League. Lionel Messi revelled in his match-winning performance against Bayern Munich, but warned Barcelona not to let their guard down in

Germany. The Argentina captain once again stole the show on his 100th European appearance as his double set Barca on their way to a 3-0 victory in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semi final first leg at Camp Nou. Messi’s performance ruined the homecom-

ing of Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, but the superstar forward warned that the Bundesliga champions still pose a threat in next week’s return leg at the Allianz Arena. “Germany will be a tough venue. We have got a great result, but we must now go there and we can’t drop our guard,”

Messi told reporters. Messi also explained that his jubilant celebration after his first goal was a result of Barca finally finding a way past Bayern. “It was just my happiness about what the goal meant. We hadn’t been able to score and it was an important goal in the tie,” he added.

Man United confirm Depay deal

SV and Manchester United have confirmed that they have reached an agreement over the transfer of Memphis Depay. The Netherlands international had also attracted the interest of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, but he has made the decision to continue his career at Old Trafford instead. The 21-year-old has already agreed personal terms with United and will undergo a medical in the upcoming days, with a reported 27.5 million deal to be completed once the transfer window opens in June. “PSV and Manchester United have reached an agreement over the

transfer of Memphis to the English giants,” a statement on the club’s official website reads. “Memphis (21) has agreed personal terms with Manchester United, too. “All the formalities will be taken care of in the upcoming days and the player has yet to undergo a medical.” Memphis made his official first-team debut at PSV in 2011-12 and had since developed into a key player at the Eindhoven side, making over 100 appearances in all competitions. The attacker currently leads the Eredivisie goal scoring charts with 21 goals in 28 appearances.

Nadal

Nadal into Madrid quarters

afa Nadal raced into the last eight of the Madrid Open when he brushed aside unseeded Italian Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-2 on Thursday to set up a quarter-final clash against Bulgarian 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov. Chasing a third straight title at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, and a fifth overall, third seed Nadal needed little more than an hour to see off an outclassed Bolelli, saving both break points he faced on his serve.

Depay (left) in action for PSV

The Majorcan has a good chance of claiming another Madrid crown as world number one Novak Djokovic pulled out to rest and Roger Federer, who took over from the Serb as the top seed, fell to Australian Nick Kyrgios in the second round on Wednesday. After struggles with injury and illness, Nadal is attempting to rediscover his best form on his favoured surface before he makes a bid for a record-extending 10th French Open singles title in Paris starting at the end of the month.

New Nike kits excite Flying Eagles NWWF honours Danagogo, welcomes Yakmut

he bubbling spirit in the Flying Eagles training camp in Nurnberg, Germany, has shot up after the team received a full complement of their training gear from kit sponsors Nike. The team now has their travelling bags, boots, slippers, canvas shoes, training kits and casual wears from Nike as the sponsorship agreement began on April 1, 2015. “The new kits have worked wonders on the spirit of the boys. Now,

they just want to go to New Zealand and ‘just do it’ as the Nike slogan goes,” said Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade. “I really love the travelling bag. It’s simply beautiful,” said defender Prince Izu Omego. “The wind cheater is very comfortable and comes in very handy,” added striker Saviour Godwin. The majority of the team are also happy that the kits they have received were in “Nigerian green”. The players were also

very delighted to pose for pictures in their new Nike kits. Interestingly, several of the Flying Eagles stars already have personal endorsement contracts with Nike. These players include Moses Simon, Isaac Success, Chidera Eze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya and Chidiebere Nwakali. They are to get their customised boots made for the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand from the kit sponsors.

he Nigerian Water Ski & Wakeboard Federation has honoured the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, for his commendable passion and efforts in sports development in Nigeria. The delegation of the NWWF led by its founder and president, Rachel Bakam, was received at the NSC on Tuesday by the Sports Minister in his office. The visit according to Bakam, is to further

strengthen relationship with the NSC and seek support for the advancement of the sport in Nigeria. Danagodo expressed appreciation for the award, commended the NWWF for its passion despite the absence of required funding and support. The delegation thereafter proceeded to the office of Al-Hassan Yakmut, the Acting Director General of the NSC to congratulate and wish him well in his new assignment. Coincidentally, the

visit coincided with Yakmut’s 54th birthday and the elated acting DG commended the NWWF for complimenting the Federation’s independent efforts at growing the new sport in the country. The NWWF’s officials surprised him with a congratulatory gift depicting the Federation’s goodwill wishes for his new office. Meanwhile the NWWF is preparing to visit Turkey in July this year for preliminary training on the use of facilities.

2016 Olympics: Glo charges Falcons to beat Mali

Flying Eagles unveiling the new NIKE kits

head of the first leg of the final qualifying match for the 2016 Olympic football game against the Female Eagles of Mali in Abuja on Saturday, National Telecommunications carrier, Globacom, has advised the Super Falcons to work diligently towards qualifying for the competition. In a press statement in Lagos on Thursday, Globacom exhorted the team to go for outright victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the women football event of the next Olympics in Brazil, adding that “The ticket is a

must-win for Nigeria.” “It’s a crucial encounter which the Falcons must win to make the second leg in Mali a mere formality. “The team should remain focussed ahead of the match and avoid underrating the Malians whom they defeated recently to qualify for the All African Games,” Globacom added. As the foremost corporate supporter of football in Nigeria, Globacom advised the Falcons to ensure that victory was achieved not only in Abuja but also during the second leg encounter

Okon

in Bamako in a fortnight, adding that the company is fully behind the team in their quest to make Nigeria proud.

Messi’s herioc feat

Sport

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Messi is from another planet – Kluivert

arcelona forward Lionel Messi is “a player from another dimension”, according to Ex-Holland and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert. The Argentina international, 27, scored twice in his side’s 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg victory over Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. Kluivert posted: “He really is from a different planet. Messi, even if you are supporting another team you have to admit this.” After Barcelona missed

Barca’s Lionel Messi (right) stylishly beating Bayern’s Neuer for the second goal on Wednesday

Messi the greatest

-Lineker

Match of the Day presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted: “It’s such a joy to watch Messi. The greatest!”

Messi has no rival

-Barton

QPR midfielder Joey Barton tweeted: “In any other era Cristiano [Ronaldo] would be best of his generation. In the Messi era everyone who has ever played is number two.”

One-on-one with Messi is

terrible -Huth

On-loan Leicester defender Robert Huth tweeted: “Don’t think there can be anything worse in football than running backwards, one v one with Messi.”

Neville eyes Messi, Ronaldo final

Gary Neville says “Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo deserve to be in a Champions League final together. The goalscoring record is scandalous; it’s out of this world. It wouldn’t surprise you next week if Cristiano

several opportunities in the first half, German champions Bayern were slowly starting to impress themselves on the game until Messi struck on 77 minutes, rifling the ball past Manuel Neuer from the edge of the area. Just three minutes later he skipped past Jerome Boateng before lifting the ball over Neuer. He also provided the assist for Barca’s third goal, scored by Neymar in injury time. Footballers past and present were quick to praise Messi’s two-goal performance.

took his team to the final. Messi has almost done it and it feels like the tie is over here. It was a special night and a great performance.”

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace

winger): ‘O M G Messi!!!’

Kluivert

and he is simply Breathtaking!!!! What planet is Messi on.’

Guy Mowbray (BBC football

commentator): ‘Going to watch that goal over & over again until I fall asleep. Then again at breakfast. Beautiful, genius, magical #Messi’

Franco Baresi (former AC Milan defender): ‘#Messi fenomeno @ FCBarcelona’

Piers Morgan (journalist): ‘I’d still

Ross Barkley (Everton playmaker): ‘He’s from a different planet. #Messi’

The Argentine in numbers

Kobe Bryant (NBA star): ‘#Messi #MagisterialMessi’ John Hartson (former Wales striker): ‘I’m watching a man play Football

Adejoke Olumudi

Nigeria long distance runner Best Food: Rice & Plantain Best Drink: CoCa-cola Best COLOUR: PINK Best Actress: Genevive Nnaji Best Movie: Philippines telenovelas Best City Visited: Zhouhai, China Home Town: Kabba, Kogi State Best Designer: Adidas Best Perfume: Beautiful Best Music: Gospel (Bola Are) Best Kit Maker: Adidas Best CAR: Sport cars Best Competition Ever Attended: Longview, Texas 2015 Worst Competition Ever Attended: 2014 Splash FM/ICPC 42km marathoN

rather have @Cristiano in my team than Messi.’

*Messi was playing in his 100th game in European competition and he has scored 78 goals - 77 in the Champions League and one in the Uefa Super Cup. *In those 100 games he has won three Champions League titles and two UEFA Super Cups and been the top scorer four times in the competition.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Missing $20bn: Probing the PWC Report

‘C

lear conscience’ they say ‘fears no accusation’ but when the wicked picks your case file, you can only be wrong. This is my worry on the so called fresh moves to probe the PWC report under the guise of fighting corruption. And this is often the case each time we have the fortune or misfortune of being led by military politicians. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a place where truth has taken flight; people easily forget where they were coming from and disagreeing with the policy and style of the leader is perceived as hate or confrontation. I don’t hate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and have nothing personal against him. If Gen Buhari or any of his aides calls me and wants my opinion on any issue, I will gladly respond. I don’t need to be a card carrying member of APC to have a voice on issues just like I have never been a card carrying member of PDP. As an ardent Goodluck Jonathan loyalist, I had reasons to publicly disagree with some of his politics and wrote so for posterity. For instance; I opposed the removal of oil subsidy in 2012 because the policy didn’t make sense to me then and still doesn’t make sense now. All I want the government to do is to fix our refineries and allow private ones to come on stream; I opposed the planned introduction of 5000 Naira bills as I believed it will heighten inflation. There are good reasons why the highest circulating US and UK bills are the $100 and 100 pounds denominations just like I find no sense in the 1,000,000 CFA denominations; I wasn’t happy that President Jonathan delayed the release of the PWC report; I criticized his delay in visiting Chibok and condemned the lack luster performance of EFCC and Judiciary in the fight against corruption. Come this May 29, Gen Buhari is going to be sworn in as my President irrespective of how I had voted; I stand by my commitment to always pray for him to succeed because his success will be a victory for Nigeria; I will always offer my constructive advice as the occasion may demand so as to ensure that all the mistrusts held against him are disabused. A President is as good as his advisers, so he must avoid Jonathan’s pitfall of having the worst kind of aides in Nigeria’s presidential history. There are also people he should strive to stay clear from, especially those who have ruled and wrecked this country now posing as advisers and elder statesmen. That Buhari is already getting a dose of bad advise is evident by three avoidable mistakes he made so far which informed the basis of my last week’s episode titled, ‘Demonizing Alison- Madueke’. First, was the appointment of Chief Timipre Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa State as head of his Transition Committee. Sylva has ongoing criminal cases bothering on fraud and corruption. The length of charges listed against him by EFCC is as long as the River Niger. His appointment to head such an important committee contravenes Buhari’s promise that people with corrupt tendencies and ongoing corruption cases will not serve in his government. I believe Sylva’s appointment

My Word CLEM AGUIYI

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Buhari

Alison-Madueke

Joseph Dawha, Group Managing Director of the NNPC

Sanusi

was avoidable. Second, was the ill conceived barring of AIT from covering the President-Elect on the excuse that the organization ran hate campaigns against him during the election.

Campaigns and elections can be likened to a kitchen where you have the oven and kitchen sink. Once you throw your hat into the ring you are bound to take the heat and the dirt as well. Buhari should be grateful that he won the ultimate crown in spite of the heat and the dirt. The task before him is that of meeting the high expectation of Nigerians, not the pursuit of vendetta which almost sent the wrong signal that he may be reinventing modern day Decree 4. He must learn to keep his cool amidst media bashing. On the Missing NNPC $20bn, I insist that Buhari committed political faux-pas by claiming that the allegation of missing $20bn made by Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was not investigated. As a president I do not expect Gen Buhari to be subjective in his views on sensitive issues or engage in actions suggestive of targeting his political foes. Buhari before now held, notable public offices of which there were individual fall outs. As Federal Commissioner of Petroleum he was accused by tale bearers of mismanaging

But if the incoming government insists on probe then let the probe be total and holistic and not selective and discriminatory

N2.8bn. I don’t know the origin of the story but conspiratorial theorists claimed that Field Marshal Idi Amin of Uganda seized the loot but later released it only for the money to again develop wings from Midland bank. The Justice Ayo Irikefe panel of enquiry set by the military and the Olusola Saraki Senate Committee of the Shehu Shagari administration investigated the allegation. True or false, detractors dogged him with the allegation. Buhari knows better than I do that tales of missing NNPC money didn’t start with Sanusi’s unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations. Again, Buhari’s management of PTF under Late Gen. Sani Abacha was probed by the Obasanjo led democratic government which reported that N25bn was mismanaged; Finally the IBB regime that toppled him claimed that Buhari was stubborn , rigid and uncompromising and that he claimed monopoly of knowledge. My point is that a public officer can be wrongly accused and judged based on perceptions which in fact are not reality. It is not correct for Gen Buhari to say that the allegation of missing $20bn made by Emir Sanusi was not investigated. Sanusi’s unimaginable allegation that N49.8bn was missing from January 2012 to July 2013 shocked the entire world. Sanusi as Governor of CBN had full financial data of our finances but how he got his figures wrong remains puzzling. The matter in question was probed by the Ahmed Markarfi led Senate Committee and a forensic audit commissioned by the Auditor General of the Federation was conducted. The PWC report made far reaching recommendations which I expect the incoming government to review and implement. Rather than embark on a political voodoo probe designed to witchhunt perceived political foes, the PWC report offers an opportunity for politicians to stay clear of the operation of NNPC and allow the industry professionals to run the organization in line with global best practice. The plot by the hawks around Buhari to humiliate Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke because she is from the South – South and a woman, or because she is perceived as a powerful cabinet minister under President Jonathan is not what Nigeria needs now. The mess in NNPC operation has always been there from inception and well documented by both the Senate and PWC forensic audit reports. The NNPC accounting modules and operational act are opaque and outdated, and require positive reformation. But if the incoming government insists on probe then let the probe be total and holistic and not selective and discriminatory. This is not the time to for selective justice, not a time to jail Meredith Akinloye on the perception that he owned a wine factory in France whereas the man owned nothing but four bottles of champagne bought from Harrods, London , or time to jail David West for accepting the gift of a wristwatch without compromising his office as Minister of Petroleum, or time to keep Alex Ekwueme , a mere conductor in Kirikiri prison while President Shagari the reckless bus driver was resting in the comfort of his home.

On Marble

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Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

Missing $20bn: Probing the PWC Report

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In defence of Dangote’s Arsenal bid

et me first make a confession: I’m not a good follower of football. I don’t follow or support any football club, whether Nigerian or foreign. Yes, I have a passing interest in football because the game is full of more emotion than I can handle. Of course, I can sit through a soccer game and enjoy the various moves by the skillful players. I also enjoy the arguments by fellow spectators (of course, I can’t watch a match alone!). I stopped following football closely in 2005 when the Super Eagles failed to beat Angola to qualify for the World Cup in Kano. That day, I almost collapsed from the rigour of screaming as I endured the lack-lustre performance of the Nigerian national team. However, when I read some days ago that Africa’s wealthiest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had expressed renewed interest in buying Forbes seventh most valuable teams, Arsenal FC, I was excited. This is how Telegraph of London reported it: “Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote claims he still harbours hopes of one day buying Arsenal. The Nigerian has an estimated fortune of £10.4billion and is reported to have wanted to buy into the club when former director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was selling her shares in 2010. Arsenal’s current majority shareholder is American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who remains committed to the Barclays Premier League club for the long-term. Uzbek magnate Alisher Usmanov controls around 30 per cent and has also expressed no desire to offload any of his stock. “Nevertheless Dangote, whose business interests include sugar, flour and oil, remains keen to become part of the Emirates Stadium club sometime in the future. Speaking to Bloomberg, he said: “I still hope, one day at the right price, that I will buy the team. “I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist. I know my strategy.” Dangote, though, added no imminent bid was in the pipeline. “We have $16 billion-worth of investments in the next few years. Right now I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe,” he said. Dangote, however, suggested Arsene Wenger’s side should be achieving more. He added: “(Wenger) needs to change his style a bit. They need new direction.” Expectedly, opinions have been divided as to whether Dangote made the right decision in gunning for Arsenal, which are one of UK’s biggest clubs, and are worth $1.31billion (£859million), according to Forbes. There was the school of thought that he should have actually set his sights on buying a Nigerian club and investing in the domestic league. Some even went further to say that since he makes much of his money in Nigeria, he should begin his own charity at home by investing in the local league. Good point except that I feel it does not capture the seamless nature of business investments in the

Vantage

Point

EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com 08059757248 (sms only)

Dangote

21st century. In today’s world, investors like Dangote don’t base their business decisions on sentiments. It’s all about the money. Yes, they may think of being patriotic and pushing some or much of their money into their own country’s economy. However, sentiments will not bring the expected results except they are correctly defined. No investor wants to throw money away simply because people expect him or her to spend money in his or her native country. Now, this is not to say that the Nigeria league is not profitable or viable. Far from it. My focus is on the fact that where charity begins is for the organisers of the league to make it more viable and remove obstacles and bottlenecks that impede the commercial value of football and other sports in Nigeria. I know that someone will remind me that the Nigerian Football Federation has just signed a juicy three and half year deal with Nike worth $1 million in the first year. Under the deal, any of the national teams that qualifies for a major international championships will earn other bonuses. Thus, the Super Eagles will earn up to $500,000 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. But what is the state of the domestic league? Not much to write home about. There are still complaints about governmental interference and lack of adequate encouragement from sporting authorities for the growth of the sport. No wonder young Nigerian footballers find a way to escape to foreign lands to build a career. There are also complaints about the overbearing influence of coaches on the sport in Nigeria. The

infighting in the league between stakeholders continues to make a mockery of the expectations of Nigerians for a league that is both commercially viable and world-class. A brilliant article on the website of the League Management Company describes the emergence of the UK Premiership thus: In 1992, top-flight English football clubs resigned from the Football League to operate a commercially independent league under license from the Football Association. The aim was to increase revenue accruing to the top-flight clubs (through commercial independence) and enhance their competitiveness amongst their European counterparts. Clearly, this model has worked, since the Premiership clubs in England have repeatedly recorded the highest spending ability among the top five European leagues. The Premiership is managed by a Board of Directors, comprising a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appointed by the participating clubs, but none of whom is an official of any of the clubs. This guarantees administrative independence, integrity and absence of conflict of interest. The members of the Board are usually professionals with sound business track records, appointed to manage the league. Their experience has helped the league to attract lucrative broadcast and sponsorship deals, culminating in increased revenue for the clubs to build upon. This is an example of the Independent Board governance structure.” The article, which traced the advent of the League Management Company, lists incessant power tussles as one of the major challenges of the Nigerian league. It also lists the implementation of club licensing requirements as another area where the domestic league needs some improvement. It concludes thus: The legitimacy of the LMC model is presently hinged on the licensing agreement entered into between the NFF and the LMC and the next step would be to reflect same in the statutes of the NFF. This authority given by the NFF to the LMC to organize the NPFL is compliant with definition of a League in the NFF Statues - a body that has been granted authority by the NFF to organize competition. As for the clubs, they need to embrace this new model, wake up to its positive realities and welcome the idea of ensuring that they improve technically and administratively to meet licensing requirements. The only election that the club chairmen should be talking about is that of electing their

representatives into the LMC board; the NFF (represented by its President) and the independent chairman are already signed on as the initial subscribers, awaiting the notification of those selected by the clubs as their representatives on the board. The truth is that unlike the NFL/NPL, which did not have the league clubs or their representatives as members of the company, the LMC model is actually more inclusive of clubs. In the light of the above, it is unfathomable why anyone would resist the progressive change that the LMC model represents, especially in the light of the improved sponsorship and broadcast deals already secured, which are testaments to the potential for development. All over the world, leagues and football clubs have had to review their legal structure and this has had a positive impact on not only their technical, administrative and financial capabilities. With the LMC model already on course, one is scared to imagine what it portends for the Nigerian league if the league governance model reverts to what it was under the Nigeria Premier League.” Now, with these hurdles yet to be crossed, will it make sense for Dangote to tie his money down on a Nigerian club and toy with the prospects of his investments disappearing? Another aspect is the fact that any sensible investor looks for a good terrain to put their money. As such, if Dangote, with his business experience, believes that UK is the best sporting investment ground for him, I don’t see anything wrong with it. It is for this reason that foreign investors come into the Nigerian economy with loads of cash to buy into or acquire Nigerian companies. If it is convenient for foreigners to control vital economic interests in Nigeria, why is it wrong for us to expect our billionaires not to do same? Money, afterall, does not recognise geographical boundaries or sentiments. The English Premier League is so lucrative that it rakes in billions of naira for cable TV firms every year. I believe it will help the image of Nigeria for Dangote to extend his investing streak to Europe and other big investment destinations. Nigerians must compete in the big leagues of investing worldwide so that the international community will begin to take us seriously. Past administrations made a big mistake by not supporting our big entrepreneurs to invest in foreign countries. Had it been Nigerian businessmen had pumped billions of naira into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Namibia and other nations which we spent resources helping out of bondage, we would have a solid economy today. Had the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation been run like a serious business, investing in foreign and local refineries, we would not be in a mess today. All in all, I applaud Dangote for seeking to extend his investing streak beyond Africa’s borders to other frontiers. My hope is that as time goes on, we will reorganise our local league and attract the right kind of investors, including Dangote.

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