New telegraph friday, april 8, 2016 by Newtelegraphonline

CBN's forex policy killing economic growth – LCCI …wants apex bank to adopt new exchange rate regime

Taiwo Hassan

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the only way

out of the economic woes in the country is to replace the current fixed exchange rate regime with a flexible

rate, which allows the rate to reflect the fundamentals of demand and supply. While calling on the Fed-

eral Government to advise the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the change, the chamber said that sus-

Finally, Buhari receives 2016 budget details

taining the fixed rate by the apex bank had shown that the country does not have enough reserves to support the rate at N197 per dollar. The chamber said that depression set into the economy after the apex

bank came out with the current fixed regime, adding that the economy was already heading towards recession. According to LCCI, “the current framework CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Sanctity Of Truth

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

Vol. 3 No. 779

Friday, April 8, 2016

NDLEA impounds N200m heroin at airport }8

Chukwuemeka

Obasanjo: I never signed budgets without details }12

Obasanjo

Telecoms firms to increase tariff }40

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com @newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Shittu

Bankers’ C'ttee to accelerate real sector lending }37

N150

Emefiele

Fuel scarcity persists as Kachikwu’s deadline fails

FG deploys DSS operatives in stations, depots More stations get fuel Osinbajo calls for patience on fuel, power crises }2, 10 N6.8bn fraud: NAMA MD, three others remanded in prison custody

Abdulsalam

Adegorite

Mrs. Joy Adegorite

Segun

Aliche

3,000 displaced persons stranded without food, shelter lUS spends $198m to support Boko Haram victims }6

Outdoor light may cure short-sightedness in kids

}10

NEWS

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fuel scarcity persists as Kachikwu’s deadline fails

Sunday Ojeme, Adeola Yusuf, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Nnamdi Amadi

he acute shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, defied the Thursday deadline given by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. As at yesterday, the long queues were still visible at various fuel stations in Abuja, Lagos and across the states. Kachikwu, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), had while briefing the members of the National Assembly last week, stated that the fuel scarcity would ease out and the queues disappear this week. “Hopefully by today through Thursday, the fuel queues in Abuja should be over. Hopefully, the same thing will happen to Lagos and thereafter, by the weekend, we should see

Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Port Harcourt and Warri get off this state,” Kachikwu said. As at yesterday, most of the independent marketers in Abuja were not selling fuel while the NNPC outlets and some major marketers dispensed the products. Most of the stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that were selling the product had long queues of over two kilometres stretch as at noon. At the Forte Oil Station, opposite Transcorp Hilton Hotels and Conoil Station opposite NNPC Towers, Herbert Marcauley Way, in Abuja, motorists were seen queuing for fuel. However, unlike what existed last week, the queues were not as lengthy as they used to be and it took motorists an average of 20 minutes to buy and leave the fuel station. Samuel Adigun, a motorist on the fuel queue at one of the filling stations in Wuse, told New Telegraph that he believed that by Sunday, the queue would have totally disappeared

going by the number of fuel stations that were selling fuel in the metropolis. In other parts of Abuja, many fuel stations remained under lock and key, some of them due to what the fuel station attendants described as unavailability of petroleum products to dispense to the public. At the Conoil filling station, Utako, the gates of the station were locked as at 2p.m. and there was no sign of commercial activities within the premises. The situation was the same at Eterna Oil also located in Utako, but in this case, some motorists parked their cars around the fuel station with the hope that they will commence selling fuel. In the entire Utako/ Jabi District, only Mobil fuel station was selling PMS to motorists, and of course, there was a very

1,451

The number of deaths (per 100,000) due to Alzheimer’s Disease in Minnesota State in 2010. Source: Alz.org

long queue of vehicles waiting to be served when our correspondent visited the area. However, when our correspondent visited Kubwa Road, most of the fuel stations along the busy 10 lane road had PMS, but only a few of them were selling to motorists. The busiest spot was the NNPC Mega Station where a queue, stretching over two kilometres, was formed by motorists waiting to buy petrol. At Rahamanniya fuel station, pump attendants were seen selling fuel to motorists as at 2:30p.m. The same was the scenario at A.A Rano located at Asokoro District of Abuja. In Lagos, it was observed yesterday that while more filling stations got the product, others were still under lock and key for being unable to get the product.

188m

The number of fixed (wired)broadband subscriptions of developed countries in 2006. Source: Itu.int

The long queues were still noticed at the stations that were dispensing the product in Lagos yesterday. Stations in this category were Mobil filling station at Onipanu, Ota, Ogun State; Total filling station on Acme-Wempco link road, Total at Salolo on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Mobil filling station in Agege and Ascon filling station in Ogba, Lagos. Long queues were also noticed at the Total filling station and Mobil filling station on Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, the NNPC mega stations in U-turn and Casso, Oando filling station in Abule Taylor, Energy filling station, Jolaco filling station in Ijaiye, and Total filling station in Pen Cinema, Agege. Most filling stations on Ikorodu Road, Apapa, Ikorodu and Ikeja areas were selling, though there were long queues. On Ikorodu Road, vehicular movement was hindered at NIPCO station at Fadeyi and Forte Oil at Onipanu where there were long queues of vehicles.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Finally, Buhari receives 2016 budget details Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has finally received the full details of the 2016 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly. The document was presented to the president by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari. Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin had, on Wednesday, handed over details of the 1,800-page document to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, for onward transmission to the president. Senior Special Assis-

tants to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang (Senate) confirmed to State House correspondents that the document is currently with the president. "The budget details have been transmitted to His Excellency, Mr. President, today (yesterday). The constitutional process begins thereafter. "We have transmitted it to the office of the president and constitutional process of timing begins." Buhari had, recently, insisted that he would not be able to sign the 2016 appropriation bill into law because of the failure of the lawmakers to present the details. Presidency sources con-

firmed to our correspondent that the president and his team are anxious to see the document signed for project implementation to kick off. However, Buhari, while in Washington for the Nuclear Energy summit said he would critically review the document before signing it into law. The budget passed totalled N6.06 trillion following a reduction of N17 billion from the original proposal of N6.07 trillion. The highlight shows that N351 billion is for statutory transfers, N1.4 trillion for debt service, N2.6 trillion for recurrent expenditure, and N1.5 trillion as capital expenditure. The N17 billion reduc-

tion in the aggregate expenditure of the budget was taken from overhead votes component of the N2.65 trillion recurrent expenditure of the budget, which has now been reduced to N2.646 trillion. The N2.2 trillion fiscal deficit was retained. Also retained were the parameters of $38 per barrel oil price benchmark for the budget, 2.2 million barrels of oil production per day, exchange rate of N197 to a US dollar and deficit GDP of 2.14 per cent. It will be recalled that both the Senate and House passed the budget on March 23, 2016 after three months of working on it, having been presented on December 22, 2015 by Buhari.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

N6.8bn fraud: NAMA MD, three others remanded in prison custody Akeem Nafiu

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during the latter's visit to Buhari in Abuja… yesterday.

At Fatgbems filling station, Second Rainbow, Okada riders and some commercial buses locked down the road in a bid to get petrol. On Iju road, Agege, Imola filling station equally had long queues of vehicles in spite of selling a litre of petrol at N180. When New Telegraph visited Total station on Acme-Wempco link road, some of their attendants demanded for N300 bribe before they could sell the product for our reporter who had been in the queue for over six hours. They were seen selling the product for black marketers, mainly area boys with generator tanks at the rate of N120 per litre. The boys immediately emptied the tanks into waiting kegs and returned to the queues to buy the product again. This came as the Federal Government deployed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on depots in Lagos and filling stations across the states and Abuja.

ustice Babs Kuewumi of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand in prison custody of the Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, over an alleged stealing and conversion of the agency's money amounting to N6.8 billion. Also to be remanded alongside Abdulsalam are three directors of the agency, Adegorite Olumuyiwa, general manager, procurement; Agbolade Segun, general manager, finance; and Clara Aliche, director, finance. The remand order was sequel to their arraignment before the court yesterday alongside two limited liability companies; Randville investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The wife of one of the Directors, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, who is the Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, was also arraigned. In a 21-count criminal charge marked FHC/ L/145C/2016 signed by the Head of EFCC Legal services, Gbolahan Latona, and filed before the court by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, it was alleged that all the accused persons and one Nnamdi

Udoh, former managing director (still at large), between 31st January, 2013 and 3rd of September, 2015, with intent to defraud and by false pretence, conspired together to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2,847,523,975 to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd, under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the agency. The accused persons were also alleged to have converted various sums of money amounting to N4,003,532,608.90 belonging to NAMA. When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty. Consequently, the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo, while urging the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, asked the court to adjourn the case for trial. However, Mr. Ayo Olumofin, leading six other lawyers representing the accused persons, told the court that they have filed bail application on behalf of the accused persons. In his response, Oyedepo told the court that he needed time to react to the bail applications. Consequently, Justice Kuewumi adjourned the matter till April 12 for the hearing of the accused persons' bail applications. He also ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

RETURNS ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS PURCHASED FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON WEDNESDAY, 6th APRIL 2016. SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

CUSTOMER VINE OIL PRIMERO TRANSPORT SERV LTD IBAFON OIL LTD NEPAL OIL & GAS SERV LTD BULK STRATEGIC RES LTD FRESH SYNERGY BOVAS & CO LTD BOVAS & CO LTD SWIFT OIL LTD RAINOIL LTD MAINLAND OIL & GAS LTD SWIFT OIL LTD PADSON IND LTD PLURAL OIL AARTI STEEL NIG LTD SARO AGRO OSECHEM SANKIL PHARMA SANKIL PHARMA MANCHESTER IND DARSEF ENT LTD WOOLLEN AND SYNTHETIC VISION DRUGS PROMASIDOR NIG LTD MELVYN NICKSON MATECO IND POLYMER PACKAGING JUBAILI BROS BENEGINES BUZ LTD CEPLAS IND NIG NYCIL LTD GTA ENGINEERING ZANOTTI FOODS PRESERVATION LTD CREST AGRO FEMTEJ VENTURES LTD CONOIL BENTOS PHARM EMEL ENT LTD EMEL ENT LTD ANNIE PHARMA QPLAS LIMITED RITE FOODS RITE FOODS NEW HEALTHWAY INTERCORP RESC LTD UNIGROW IND UNIGROW IND OKESINA MUSILIU OKESINA MUSILIU MUSA-AGBOENI ATIEMORIA ADELEKAN ADEYEMI AKANJI ESHO OYEKUNLE OLUKUNLE OLUWADAMILOLA BODUNDE OLAOYE ABDULRASAQ SEGUN OBIECHINA HELEN NNEKASY OJO IFEDAYO OLADIPO KOLA FABIYI OLAWAMIDE OLUWATOYIN MICHAEL NWACHUKWU & CO MICHAEL NWACHUKWU & CO MICHAEL NWACHUKWU & CO EMMANUEL WATER OLUFUNKE BOLANLE OLORUNSAIYE AYO YUSUF AYODEJI OKOYA WILLIAM EBIKISE ALLOR CHEKWUBE AKIN-DEKO MODUPEOLA ORUGBO GODFREY OKWU CAROL NYEKENWO ADETUNJI OLATAYO ADEKIYA AKINWANDE RACHEL OLUMAYOWA TIJANI IYABODE SIJUOLA MR.ODOJI EJOVWO IYANDA ADEOLA AJIKE BAROS USMAN UMAR AJIBOLA CHIBUZO AUGUSTA AJIBOLA OLUKAYODE EMMANUEL ALAO OLABISI IDIAT SHOKUNBI OLAKUNLE OLUFEMI SHOKUNBI OMOTOLA OLUFUNMILAYO ADELEKE ADEJOKE FUNMILAYO

FORM M/A NUMBER MF20150032580 MF20140177693 MF20150057001 MF20150055499 MF20150080167 MF2015536354 MF20150054676 MF20150083251 MF20150094493 MF20150052549 MF20150044738 MF20150075920 MF20150143893 MF20160001242 MF20150114936 MF20160013874 MF20160021983 MF20160021206 MF20160021204 MF20160025294 MF20160019650 MF20160024124 MF20160009880 MF20160025636 MF20160025829 MF20150081282 MF20160021431 MF20160028523 MF20160026065 MF20160025178 MF20160032030 MF20160030451 MF20160026713 MF20160030646 MF20160018283 MF20160029501 MF20160023342 MF20160031338 MF20160031159 MF20160031510 MF20160034563 MF20160030020 MF20160032752 MF20160033253 MF20160019737 MF20160026679 MF20160026698 AA0537540 AA0537946 AA1506417 AA1550560 AA1675268 AA1675276 AA1675279 AA1675802 AA1725531 AA2503172 AA2503521 AA2503520 AA2503519 AA2503791 AA2561877 AA2571015 AA2571236 AA2571395 AA1675014 AA2571476 AA2790204 AA2790112 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

LC NUMBER SB/ILC150260CL SB/ILC150073U SB/ILC150354CL SB/ILC150359CL SB/ILC150454CL SB/ILC150207CL SB/ILC150370CL SB/ILC150461CL SB/ILC150494CL SB/ILC150313CL SB/ILC150352CL SB/ILC150413CL SB/ILC160242C SB/ILC160176U SB/ILC160243C SB/ILC160189U SB/ILC160221C SB/ILC160248C SB/ILC160249C SB/ILC160250C SB/ILC160224C SB/ILC160235C SB/ILC160237C SB/ILC160234C SB/ILC160246C SB/ILC160244C SB/ILC160226C SB/ILC160241C SB/ILC160236C SB/ILC160225C SB/ILC160229C SB/ILC160222C SB/ILC160245C SB/ILC160200U SB/ILC160240C SB/ILC160220C SB/ILC160239C SB/ILC160233C SB/ILC160232C SB/ILC160238C SB/ILC160247C SB/ILC160230C SB/ILC160231C SB/ILC160223C SB/ILC160251C SB/ILC160227C SB/ILC160228C INV/16/EDU/760 INV/16/EDU/759 INV/16/EDU/757 INV/16/EDU/763 INV/16/EDU/749 INV/16/EDU/761 INV/16/EDU/765 INV/16/EDU/769 INV/16/EDU/764 INV/16/EDU/751 INV/16/EDU/753 INV/16/EDU/755 INV/16/EDU/754 INV/16/EDU/752 INV/16/EDU/762 INV/16/EDU/758 INV/16/EDU/756 INV/16/EDU/768 INV/16/EDU/766 INV/16/EDU/750 INV/16/EDU/767 INV/16/EDU/748 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

ITEM OF IMPORT UNLEADED GASOLINE TRANSPORT BUSES UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE MOGAS UNLEADED GASOLINE MOTORCYCLE BASE OIL PRIME HOT ROLLED STEEL AGRICULTURAL INSECTICIDE ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES PHARMA RAW MATERIALS RAW MATERIALS FOR PHARMA MACHINERY FOR ANIMAL FEEDING RAW MATERIALS FOR EXERCISE BOOKS POLYESTER COTTEON DISPOSABLE SYRINKE WITH NEEDLES HEATSEALING FILTER PAPER INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS ETHYLENE ACETATE RAW MATERIAL LEROY SOMER ALTERNATOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY POLYPROPYLENE HOMOPOLYMER VARIOUS HOMOPASTE ANDPIGMENT TRANSFORMER OIL INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURAL DRYER CASSAVA STARCH PROCESSING PLANT CASSAVA STARCH PROCESSING PLANT BLACK PLASTIC CLOSURE PVC FILMS ONAT PLASTER OF PARIS MINERAL CEILING BOARD DRUGS AND PHARMA PRODUCTS STABILIZER FOR PVC BEEF AND CHILLI BIGI HANDLING PARTS FOR SSD BOTTLE ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL RAW MATERIALS FOR EXERCISE BOOKS METHYL ETHYL KETONE DIOCTYL ORTHO PHTHALATES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA

DATE OF FUND EXCHANGE PURCHASE EXCHANGE RATE RATE AMOUNT 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 141,710.37 6-Apr-16 197.50 304,736.86 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 550,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 300,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 450,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 300,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 63,558.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 528,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 217,500.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 120,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 95,556.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 53,750.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 60,900.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 100,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 72,930.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 56,450.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 114,280.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 151,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 22,778.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 61,160.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 12,384.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 152,824.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 87,260.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 49,980.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 21,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 26,880.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 11,750.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 64,260.60 6-Apr-16 197.50 177,712.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 116,685.44 6-Apr-16 197.50 64,978.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 53,760.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 16,474.68 6-Apr-16 197.50 39,599.06 6-Apr-16 197.50 31,265.20 6-Apr-16 197.50 170,280.23 6-Apr-16 197.50 133,088.93 6-Apr-16 197.50 28,680.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 68,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 38,007.32 6-Apr-16 197.50 47,730.12 6-Apr-16 197.50 5,832.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 5,103.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 3,350.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 6,019.13 6-Apr-16 197.50 3,061.80 6-Apr-16 197.50 4,954.93 6-Apr-16 197.50 6,226.38 6-Apr-16 197.50 7,290.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 1,834.40 6-Apr-16 197.50 5,212.35 6-Apr-16 197.50 7,686.01 6-Apr-16 197.50 7,693.58 6-Apr-16 197.50 7,686.01 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,434.34 6-Apr-16 197.50 9,046.76 6-Apr-16 197.50 9,587.81 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,916.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 4,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 7,508.70 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,916.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 9,960.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 4,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 4,000.00 6-Apr-16 197.50 2,000.00

NEWS

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATCOM stakes $1bn for service rollout in Lagos, Rivers, Abuja Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he management of NATCOM, owners of Ntel network, has invested over $1 billion (about N200 billion) to commence telephone services beginning with Lagos, Rivers and Abuja. A top official of the

company, Mr. Osondu C. Nwokoro, gave the hint in Abuja when he led the management of the firm on a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). He said the management of NATCOM, as part of its outlined post-privatisation programmes, was well positioned to justify the privatisation initiative

championed by the BPE, adding that the firm was poised to distinguish itself as the preferred choice for telecoms services. Nwokoro said significant milestones in the area of technological operating system had been achieved, noting that “NTEL network, designed for the 900 Mhz (Band 8) and 1800 Mhz (Band 3)

frequency bands, equips it to operate as the most advanced 4G LTE network in Nigeria.” “This milestone, among others, is geared towards making the dream of giving Nigerians a pure play advanced 4G LTE network offering mobile services across voice, data and video a reality,” he said. On his part, the Head,

Government Affairs for Ntel, Mr. Damian Udeh, added that the enterprise, being positioned as customer-centric, was prepared to offer unrivalled customer satisfaction by surpassing the stipulated customer service requirements by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He added that Ntel

FG deploys DSS operatives in stations, depots CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

New Telegraph gathered that the monitoring of filling stations by the DSS was to ensure that the product, which is being loaded massively at the Apapa depots to various stations in Lagos and Abuja, got to end buyers at the pump price. A management staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who hinted New Telegraph, maintained that the monitoring by DSS was done to ensure that the deadline given by the minister to end scarcity in Lagos and Abuja was met. “The government will want to do everything possible to ensure that the long queues for fuel nationwide end and we have identified sufficient moni-

toring of the product’s supply chain as being cardinal to achieving this. “While personnel of all the uniformed security agencies, including men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are involved in this, the DSS agents have also been co-opted into this. They have their strategies on how to do this, but that will be done across the supply chain,” he said. New Telegraph gathered that DSS agents on duty picked up an attendant in one of the filling stations on Oba Akran road, Ikeja, Lagos over sharp practices. The attendant was said to be selling PMS inside kegs to black marketers when the DSS officials came. “We were instructed

by our manager that we should not sell into jerry cans if we don’t want to go to jail and I do not want to go to jail,” an attendant at the Mobil filling station, Emmanuel bus stop, Agege, told New Telegraph. Oil marketers in the South-West Zone of the country have commenced loading of petrol in Apapa, Lagos as the major depots offer 24 hours service. More than 1,000 tankers were loading the product. Articulated vehicles were sighted at Capital Oil, Folawiyo, NIPCO, Aiteo, Mobil, Rahamaniya, De Jones and Integrated Oil loading points. Some of the depot owners, who preferred anonymity, disclosed that workers had been compelled to do 24-hour massive loading of petrol since

April 5 to ease the scarcity. They claimed that about four vessels bearing 33,000 metric tonnes of petrol had berthed to discharge into storage facilities under the throughput arrangement agreement with the NNPC. The depot owners said that the deadline set by the minister would not be achieved. According to them, most trucks that load in Apapa do not only serve Lagos metropolis, but also travel to other states in the South-West. “We are faced with logistics challenges in loading some of the trucks because some of the marketers who are in joint vessel allocation delay in clearing their lines. “The vessel, which was meant for three marketers,

takes longer time to discharge due to some hitches of discharging into their storage facilities. “Another challenge has to do with clearance from the Navy, PPPRA, DPR and other agencies in charge of inspection to ascertain marketers who are going to be paid on subsidy schemes. “It is easier to discharge to a marketer than joint allocation of many marketers. This is another cause of delay in loading of the product,” they said. Long queues of tankers dotted the service lanes of Apapa Oshodi expressway, from Cele Bus Stop to Ibafon jetty yesterday. Security officials had a hectic time controlling traffic to ensure that the truck drivers complied with traffic rules.

would operate on a virgin platform, thus making it free of clutter and set to deliver speed and seamless quality service to subscribers. In an earlier remark, the acting Director General of BPE, Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, tasked NATCOM on the need to come out with unique products and services, if they must make the desired in-road into the telecommunications sector. He advised the consortium to justify their emergence in the privatisation process by deploying the right technology to turn around the sector. While assuring the NATCOM team of the Bureau's dedication to its responsibilities towards achieving the set objectives of privatising NITEL/MTEL, he expressed satisfaction with the post-privatisation rollout plans. He also expressed optimism that Ntel would fill the position of a strong indigenous telecommunications service provider, stressing that the Bureau would work with the National Council for Privatisation (NCP) to resolve some outstanding issues in order to expedite the execution of the rollout plans.

RETURNS ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS PURCHASED FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON WEDNESDAY, 6th APRIL 2016. Contd.

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118

Onayemi Abiola Olufunmilayo SHUTTI TOLULOLA KAZEEM MUTALEEB AYODELE SHOBODE ADUKE OBEY FABIYI AKEKE FEYISARA OLUFUNKE ANOSIKE JUSTIN CHUKWUMA OKOYE CHIAZAM ODIA FREDERICK MATHEW UMEZUHKE EBENEZER PAYNE PETER BUKOLA SOWEMIMO OMOLARA OLUBUNMI Oyewumi Ademola Tajudeen ADIO BUKOLA ADEBISI ABUBAKAR UMAR AMINU ATOJOKO MARTIN OJONIMI ADAMU CHIBUEZE ONYEBUCHI FELICIA MARTIN ATOJOKO VIVIAN UYO UDOM BOLANLE BEATRICE NWAOKOLO ANTHONY ONYEMA NWAOKOLO NKIRUKA VIVIAN SHITTU GANIYAT ADENIKE SHITTU TAOFEEK OLAWALE SAMBO ABIMBOLA OJUOLAPE ONWUBUYA EDWARD CHUKWUEMEKA LAWSON SETH OLUWADAMILARE

AKANIMO ELIZABETH OYELEYE MORENIKE TOYIN BAKARE JUMOKE BAKARE YEKINI AKINRINADE TITILAYO ENITAN ONAOLAPO AFOLABI BABATUNDE ONAOLAPO MOROLAKE OMOLADE MERCY YESUFU Mrs Judith Osheku OLAYOMI OLUMIDE OLUWASEUN ALADE BEATRICE MODUPE COLE OLUWATOSIN AKINKUNMI KARAN RAVI

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA

197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50

2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 500.00 500.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00

NEWS

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3,000 displaced persons stranded without food, shelter Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

ver 3, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are stranded without food, water and shelter following the clearing and recapturing of Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State and its environs by the military. Kala Balge is a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon Republic and about 200km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital. The troops of the Nigerian Army had, on March 22, recaptured the town from Boko Haram insurgents. During the clearance operation, the troops killed 22 terrorists and also cleared pockets of the terrorists in Wumbi, Tunish, Tilem and Malawaji. Other areas cleared included Makaudari, Daima, Buduli, Sadigumo, Jiwe, Sidigeri and Kala villages. A source told our correspondent that after the clearance operations, over 3,000 people, mostly women and children, were left stranded in Kala Balge without food, water and other basic items.

Borno State Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Usman Zannah, in an interview, expressed concerns on the plights of the stranded victims and said that the government was making concerted efforts to providing food, water, shelter, medication and other items to the trapped civilians in Kala Balge. Zannah said: "We just received a message that more than 3,000 people, mostly women and children are stranded in Kala Balge and other surrounding villages, following the liberation of the area. We have started mobilising people, including security operatives, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials and members of the Civilian JTF to deliver relief materials to those victims as soon as possible." Also speaking on the development, the Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mallam Abdulkadir Mohammed, said necessary arrangements and assessment have been put in place by the agency to render humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons in Kala Balge. "We have received the

report that over 3,000 IDPs are at some of our satellite camps in Kala Balge, and we have finished the assessment process and very soon, we will reach out to them," the NEMA official stated. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) said about 24,117

persons are affected in Benue State as a result of communal clashes between suspected herdsmen and some locals. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Disaster Management Team of the society. The statement identi-

fied the affected four local government areas as Agatu, Guruku, Tarka and Kwande. Also, the statement estimated the number of persons affected by the crisis in Agatu at 2,874; Guruku 9,055; Tarka 6,263, and Kwande 5,925. It said the figures were

recorded between February and March. According to the statement, not less than 18,503 persons were displaced in the localities within the period under review. It added that 658 persons were displaced in Agatu; Guruku 7,330; Tarka 4,760, and Kwande 5,755.

US spends $198m to support Boko Haram victims Wale Elegbede

he United States has given over $198 million in humanitarian assistance to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Department of States made the disclosure in Washington DC on Wednesday. Responding to questions during a daily briefing session, the Department's Deputy Spokesperson, Mark C. Toner, stated that the United States is giving assistance to Nigeria in the fight against insurgency in various forms. Toner said: "The assistance takes a number of forms. One is intelligence training – one is intelligence, of course, training, advice on strategic communications, but also vic-

tim support services and assistance to those who have suffered under Boko Haram. "I think we’ve given upwards of $198 million in humanitarian assistance to the populations in Nigeria that have been affected by Boko Haram’s continued attacks and terrorist activity." According to Toner, the United States sees the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the same radar as the ISIL and the country strongly condemn their activities. "Part of the challenge in all of these is trying to build the capacity of local government and local security forces to take the fight to these terrorist groups, because that’s the ultimate solution. “And I think that requires a lot of effort, a longer period of training and

assistance, but ultimately, as I said, is the better longterm outcome – to build that capability, that capacity. And we’ve been doing that. That’s, as I said, we’ve been working with the Nigerian Government over the past years," he said. On the missing Chibok girls, Toner said it is a heart-breaking abduction, stressing that the US will continue to work on the release of the girls, nearly two years after their kidnap. "We call for all hostages, including these young women and girls who’ve been held by Boko Haram, to be released immediately without preconditions. We support Nigeria’s efforts to bring about the safe recovery of those kidnapped and we continue to advise them on their response to this, as well as on general counterterrorism

and counter-Boko Haram efforts. "But it’s a heart-breaking story, the situation of these young women who, as I said, were kidnapped. We continue to work and provide any assistance we can to obtain their eventual release. "I would say we’ve continued to ramp up efforts over the past couple of years, not only because of this incident, but because of repeated ongoing Boko Haram terrorist activity attacks on innocent civilians across Nigeria. I think, certainly, we recognise – and this terrible kidnapping was just a very vivid and heart-breaking example of it – but we realise that there’s an urgency here, that Boko Haram is exerting a terrible influence and is really a scourge on the Nigerian population," he said.

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ACCESS CHEMICALS AND ALLIED SOLUTION LTD

Mf20160005526

81 18MM X 40MM AUTO YELLOW

ACCURATE STREAMS NIGERIA LTD

MF20150077140

MACHINERIES: DISC PLOUGH, HARROW IN CKD AND SKD FORM

APEX PAINTS NIG LTD

MF20150109074

64MT OF METOXAPOL

SPECTRUM PAPERS

MF20160028892

PLAIN PRINTING AND WRITING PAPER

ATLANTIC PACKAGING LTD

MF20160007158

RAW MATERIAL FOR PRINTING INDUSTRY

BHOJSONS PLC

MF20160012406

SAFE POWER BRAND MACHINERY

CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED.

MF20160019718

POLYPROPYLENE HOMOPOLYMERE HRV140

CKS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

MF20160006227

ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS (MSG) FOR SEASONING

CUTIX PLC

MF20150117150

COPPER ROD ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR CABLE MANUFACTURING

DANSA FOODS LIMITED

MF2011665649

SIG COMBIBLOC FILLING MACHINE

DANSA FOODS LIMITED

MF2011665649

SIG COMBIBLOC FILLING MACHINE

DEZERN NIG LTD

MF20160014670

ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR RESIN PRODUCTION

DRUG AND HEALTHCARE LIMITED

MF20160018683

PHARMACY LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

FRIESLANDCAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC-GMT

MF20160004271

BUTTERMILK POWDER HS BAG

JOF NIG LTD

MF20150128875

I+G, DISODIUM 5'-INOSINATE(50%) AND DISODIUM 5'-GUANYLATE(50%)

KOLORKOTE NIG LTD

MF20150074967

ALUMINIUM PLAIN COILS

MANTRAC NIG. LTD

MF20150069634

CATERPILLAR SPARES

MANTRAC NIGERIA LIMITED

MF20150069634

CATERPILLAR SPARES

MANTRAC NIGERIA LIMITED

MF20150069634

CATERPILLAR SPARES

MANTRAC NIGERIA LIMITED

MF20150069634

CATERPILLAR SPARES

MANTRAC NIGERIA LIMITED

MF20150069634

CATERPILLAR SPARES

MATBATHS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

MF20160012309

CHEST FREEZER (IN CKD CONDITION)

MIDDLE POINT

MF20150051729

AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES

MOUKA NIG. LTD.

MF20160004756

POLYMERIC POLYOL SP42-15 AND TOLUENE DI-ISOCYANATE 80/20 TDI

OLITRACO U. NIG. LTD

MF20160015092

HIGH SPEED PLASTIC INJECTION MACHINES

PREMIUM ALUMINIUM LIMITED

MF20160009597

PLAIN ALUMINIUM COIL

PRIMA CORPORATION LTD

MF20150091511

RESIN

SOMOTEX NIG LTD

MF20150058707

SUKAM BRAND SMF BATTERY

SOMOTEX NIG LTD

MF20150091217

AIR CONDITIONERS

SONNEX PACKAGING

MF20150060015

HDPE FILM

SPRINGFIELD AGRO LTD

MF20150139178

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS: POLYMERIC POLYOL

SPRINGFIELD AGRO LTD

MF20150139836

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS:TOLUENE DI-ISOCYANATE

SPRINGFIELD AGRO LTD

MF20150143780

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS: POLYMERIC POLYOL

SPRINGFIELD AGRO LTD

MF20150140389

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS: POLYMERIC POLYOL

T & N EXIM

MF20150087980

GYPSUM ANHYDRITE

TADECO IND ENT NIG LTD

MF20150108304

UNCOATED BOND PAPER

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICAL LTD

MF20150118021

LYCADEX PF(DEXTROSE MONO, PYROGEN FREE) & PEARLITOL PF

VEEPEE INDUSTRIES LTD

MF20160010794

ETHYL ACETATE

WANDEL INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA LTD

MF20150137166

MOTORIZED TRICYCLES IN CKD - TVS BRAND

A.A RANO LTD

MF20150010917

UNLEADED GASOLINE

A.A RANO LTD

MF20150017007

UNLEADED GASOLINE

A.A RANO LTD

MF20140168733

UNLEADED GASOLINE

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC

MF20150072717

UNLEADED GASOLINE

PETROCAM TRADING NIG LTD

MF20150068432

GAS OIL

ADVANCED CHEMICALS INTERNATIONAL

MF20150054730

BASE OIL (FOR MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICANTS) - SN 100; SN 400/500 AND SN 900

BLUEFIN ENERGY LTD

MF20150124364

UNLEADED GASOLINE

MATRIX ENERGY LTD

MF20150109581

UNLEADED GASOLINE

PETROCAM TRADING NIG LTD

MF20150062836

GAS OIL

DANIUM ENERGY LTD

MF20150094127

GASOIL

FATGBEMS PET CO. LTD

MF20150098550

GASOLINE

AWONUSI EDILEOLA MOTUNRAYO

AA1734369

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

IGASHI IBRAHIM SABO

AA2786020

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

MOHAMMED SHARU NDAKO

AA2441020

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OCHECHE OSCAR OKPE

AA1327939

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OFANA ISAIAH ODEY

AA2794032

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OKE FLORENCE

AA2786288

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OKONOFUA SYLVESTER IRIA

AA1565799

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OKOYE NENE

AA2797467

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

SALAMI FAUSAT BOLANLE

AA2797456

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

UGUZO SUNNY OKEMINI

AA2434504

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

UKOROMI AND SONS NIG LTD(OGBUJI FRANCIS)

AA2773671

INVISIBLE TRADES

SCHOOL FEES

OGUNTUYO OLUWASEUN

AA2794394

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ABOLADE JEGEDE

AA2794394

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ADEGOKE ADEYEMI NOFISAT

AA2797458

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ADENIFUJA OLAWALE YUSUF

AA1233775

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ASHIRU OLADIPUPO

AA2706010

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ASHIRU BLESSING NWAUGO

AA2706009

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

KOLADE OLUMIDE TOPE

AA1074648

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

KOLADE KATE OLUWASEUN

AA1074648

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

ADEBIYI ADE YINKA

AA2797270

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

NWANKWO NDUBUISI NICHOLAS

AA2624343

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

NWANKWO RACHEAL OMOSUZI

AA2624344

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

AGBOOLA ADENIKE RACHEAL

AA1878164

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

OKPONGETE JOSEPH SETSHELE

AA2823621

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

FADAHUNSI TEMITOPE TOBI

AA2823350

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

CHUKWUMA CHISOM

AA2745920

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

FOWOWE OLASUNBO BASIRAT

AA2823570

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

OLADAPO OLAYEMI OMOJIDE

AA2815139

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

AKWASHIKI PATMLLA NAOMI

AA2589197

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

AFOLABI MICHAEL POPOOLA TEMITOPE

AA1327108

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

OLUWATOSIN OLADAPO

AA2815139

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

HASSANA MUSA YARO BICHI

A04866693

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

HUSSAIN MUSA YARO BICHI

A05897358

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

MUSA BABA BICHI

A50114029

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

YARO BICHI HASSAN MUSA

A05897357

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

HUSSAINA YARO BICHI MUSA

A04866694

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

HADONU KEHINDE BABATUNDE

AA2823704

INVISIBLE TRADES

PTA

6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16 6-Apr-16

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

50,000.00

197.50

50,000.00

197.50

36,570.00

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

266,560.00

197.50

58,365.00

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

94,660.85

197.50

39,311.13

197.50

67,840.00

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

111,142.00

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

16,393.84

197.50

7,573.27

197.50

7,958.77

197.50

18,053.84

197.50

18,597.31

197.50

50,000.00

197.50

117,848.05

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

90,000.00

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

150,000.00

197.50

20,349.63

197.50

22,319.82

197.50

54,245.73

197.50

44,000.00

197.50

328,612.00

197.50

302,993.48

197.50

324,494.48

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

100,284.45

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

75,000.00

197.50

100,000.00

197.50

500,000.00

197.50

500,000.00

197.50

500,000.00

197.50

1,509,945.66

197.50

990,054.34

197.50

500,000.00

197.20

500,000.00

197.20

500,000.00

197.50

500,000.00

197.50

500,000.00

197.50

468,673.84

197.50

7,498.00

197.50

8,730.65

197.50

8,623.56

197.50

3,200.00

197.50

6,630.00

197.50

3,754.00

197.50

3,550.00

197.50

5,000.00

197.50

5,000.00

197.50

3,045.00

197.50

10,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

2,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

4,000.00

197.50

2,000.00

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

NDLEA arrests two, impounds N200m heroin

Juliana Francis

he National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 10.6kg of high grade heroin worth N200 million at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. The agency also arrested two men at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos for concealing illicit drugs in boxers. According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, the two suspects, Afube Henry (27), an automobile parts dealer and Chijioke Raphael (36), a Dubai-based factory worker, were arrested MMIA Lagos. Revealing how the N200 million worth of heroin were discovered, NDLEA Kano Airport Commander, Mr. Ambrose Omoru, said the substance was intercepted on April 1, during an inward examination and clearance of luggage of Ethiopian Airline flight. Omoru said the exhibit which originated from Moputo, Mozambiwue en route Addis Ababa to Kano, was concealed in eight submersible water pump machines inside two cartoons wrapped with Vodacom transparent cellophane leather. He noted that drug merchants had devised new means of sending illegal narcotic drugs through unaccompanied luggage. According to him, the consignor had checked in the luggage in Maputo Airport

Chukwuemeka

and declined to board a connecting flight in Addis Ababa to Kano. He restated the commitment of the agency to fighting drug trafficking in the country. According to him, the drug was concealed in cartons of pressing irons mixed with hair attachments and slippers destined for Moputo, Mozambique. Omoru said the clearing agent that brought the consignment to the airport disappeared after sensing that the operatives of the command had discovered the illegal drugs. He added: “We will continue to trail the movement of the clearing agent no matter how long it will take, until he is

City Briefs

‘Prevent bloodletting in Lekki-Ajah’ Juliana Francis

traditional ruler, Oniwerekun of Iwerekunland, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, has called on Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to do everything possible to check bloodletting at Ibeju-Lekki area. Elemoro said if proper security measures were not put in place over a parcel of land at Ibeju-Lekki, there might be a bloodbath. The monarch told journalists that some unscrupulous persons had invaded the land, which is under litigation. He described the invasion as a contempt of court. Elemoro urged Ambode and Owoseni to urgently step into the matter and call the erring party to order. The monarch claimed that the parcel of land, situated at Oke-Odo Elemoro village (Parcel B), Ibeju-Le-

kki, had been a subject of litigation between himself and others. According to him, the case is before Justice K. O. Alogba of the state High Court. He said: “This is a violation of the law. I can’t imagine a law-abiding person invading a land under litigation without respect for the law of the land.”

Police warn abandoned vehicle owners

olice in Lagos have warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at Area ‘G’ Ogba police station to remove them within 21 days. According to the police, at the end of the ultimatum, the vehicles would be auctioned to the public. The vehicles are Honda CRV Jeep with registration number BDG970AR and Mercedes Benz marked AP800LSD.

Some of the drugs

finally arrested and prosecuted.” Speaking further on the success recorded at MMIA, Ofoyeju said that 28 packs of Tramadol, weighing 21.99kgs, were found inside a DJ Rack box and 1.8kgs of cocaine in boxer shorts. The Tramadol, which was hidden among camera items, was intercepted during pre-shipment inspection. The consignment was destined for Congo Brazzaville in central Africa. NDLEA commander at the airport,

Ahmed Garba, said: “Afube Henry, who deals in automobile parts, was arrested for attempting to export 21.99kgs of Tramadol hidden inside a DJ rack box meant for export to Congo Brazzaville. “Chijioke Raphael, a Dubai-based factory worker, was arrested with 1.8kgs of cocaine packed inside socks and concealed in his boxer shorts during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight from Dubai.”

Man remanded for murder Babatope Okeowo Akure

Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday remanded a 30-year-old man, Sunkanmi Gabriel, at Olokuta prison for allegedly stabbing his friend, Ojo Akintoye (25), to death with a broken bottle during a brawl. Gabriel, according to the prosecution, committed the offence about 6a.m. at Oloko junction, Akure Magisterial District, on March 4. The offence, according to the police prosecutor, Inspector Matins Olowofeso contravened sections 316 (1) and 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006. The plea of the accused person, who was represented by Mr. Adelanke Akinrata, was, however, not taken. Olowofeso urged the court to ad-

journ the case to enable him to send the duplicate file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. He prayed the court to remand the accused in Olokuta prison custody pending DPP’s advice. The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Victoria Bob-Manuel, ordered the accused to be remanded in Olokuta prison pending the outcome of legal advice from the DPP.

METRO

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Scores escape death as fuel tankers crash Man defiles girl, 10, in

uncompleted building

Taiwo Jimoh

cores of motorists and commuters yesterday escaped death when two trucks carrying fuel and diesel crashed and spilled their flammable contents on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Witnesses said the driver of the truck carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol lost control and rammed into another truck loaded with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly called diesel. The accident occurred at Asese village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. However, despite the danger associated with the combustible products, residents of the community trooped out to scoop. The accident, which occurred about 6a.m., caused gridlock on the expressway. Witnesses said the petrol tanker also rammed into vehicles which were

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

Scene of the accident

held in traffic caused by the long queue for fuel. It was learnt that immediately the tankers spilled their contents on the road, some residents came out with jerrycans to scoop fuel. However, they were later dispersed by policemen from Mowe Division. The gridlock on both sides of the road made some of the residents of the area going to work to trek for a long distance before getting buss to their

various destinations. A motorist, Mrs. Rebecca Adekunle, said she got to the scene of the incident a minute after the accident. She said: “I have an appointment with someone at Mowe and I left home as early as 5:30a.m only to get stock in the gridlock. I paid a motorcycle rider N1,000 to convey me to Mowe.” When our correspondent visited the scene, firefighters from Ogun State where on ground

to prevent fire outbreak, while the product were been loaded into other trucks. An official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at the scene blamed the crash on brake failure and over speeding. The official, who craved anonymity, added that no casualty was recorded. Police and other security agencies were also on ground to control the traffic.

Policemen brutalise lawyer, injure his eye

Elimihe

Juliana Francis

42-year-old lawyer has become partially blind and landed in hospital after policemen from Onipanu Police Station gave him the

beating of his life yesterday. The victim, Sunday Elimihe, speaking from his hospital bed at Shomolu General Hospital, alleged that the policemen, after beating him black and blue, took his N150,000 from his car’s pigeon hole. He said: “The corporal pushed me into the cell and another policeman came inside the cell, locked it and beat me for 30 minutes. I see this as intimidation of the highest order, not because I am a lawyer, but because I am an average Nigerian. I was humiliated like a common criminal. This is oppression. “One of my eyes is partially blind. I have been vom-

iting blood since yesterday. It was the intervention of a good policeman in the station who warned them not to kill me. I would have been dead by now.” Remembering how the incident started, Elimihe said he was returning from Lekki, driving through Onipanu Police Station road, by Apata, when a police corporal flagged him down. He said: “Immediately I drove into the street close to the station, one Corporal Alonge stopped me. He demanded to see my vehicle particulars. I gave them to him, and then he demanded my driving licence, which I also gave him. When he

discovered I did not commit any offence, he asked for my tinted glass permit which I gave him.” He told me I was using a forged tinted glass permit. I told him I could not have forged a police document as a lawyer. He became furious and said he was going to arrest me. “He jumped into my vehicle and insisted I must give him N1,000 to bail myself. I said I was not going to give him any money since I have not committed any offence. He pounced on me and cocked his gun, threatening to shoot me if I make a move. Another policewoman who sighted us came and snatched the gun from him.”

Counterfeit products: NAFDAC shuts six shops Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ational Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday sealed six shops at the popular Agbeni Market, Ibadan, Oyo State, for selling counterfeit drugs, wines and other goods. The team led by Chief Regulatory Officer, NAFDAC Investigation Directorate, Mr. Paul Ake, sealed the six shops, three of which were patent medicine stores. Other shop owners were dealing in counterfeit and controlled drugs, fake wines, while one trader was nabbed for selling unregistered vegetable oil. Among the shops sealed were AroBoston Medicine Store, Yah Lateef Medicine Stores, Oland Ventures, Kenyem Wine Store and

Acting DG, NAFDAC, Yetunde Oni

Kunle Wine Store. Speaking after displaying a series of brands of wines seized, among them fake Red Label and Andre, Ake told journalists that the team was in the market to conduct investigation on drugs, food and drinks with regard to the health of the people.

He said: “We have sealed up six shops at Agbeni Market. Some of these shops, who were patent medicine stores, were sealed for dealing in counterfeits, unregistered and controlled drugs. It was the same for others who were selling wines and food items.” Establishing the counterfeit status of one of the drugs seized, Ake said NAFDAC did not register drugs with obscene pictures like the ‘Boonfitdrugs’ found in one of the shops. He added: “Some patent medicine stores were selling infusion and injections, which ought to be sold by registered pharmaceutical stores. We have sealed the shops of these offenders, and we have asked them to report at our office for us to track down those supplying them the counterfeit products.”

20-year-old man, Wahab Abdul-Aziz, has been arrested by the police in Ogun State for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl. The suspect, who resided at Sparklight Estate, Isheri-Olofin in Ifo Local Government Area, was said to have lured the girl into an abandoned building on Monday. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta. Adejobi said the girl was sent on errand by her mother when she was lured into the abandoned building in Ojodu Abiodun area of the state. He added: “The mother of the victim reported the incident to the police, hence the arrest of the suspect who has confessed to the crime.” The PPRO said police operatives attached to Ojodu Abiodun Division arrested AbdulAziz. He said the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, had already

Abdul-Aziz

ordered that the case be transferred to the state headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta. According to him, Ali has directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ojodu Abiodun to transfer the case to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Eleweran, Abeokuta for proper investigation and prosecution. He said: “The commissioner of police has, however, advised residents of Ogun State to always encourage owners of abandoned or isolated structures to work on them or make them clean always so as to debar hoodlums from using them to perpetrate evil acts of this nature.” Adejobi advised the public to cooperate with the police in fighting crimes and social vices.

We didn’t kill anyone over fuel crisis –NSCDC Taiwo Jimoh

igerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has denied responsibility for the killing on Wednesday of a motorcyclist at Festac area of Lagos State. The state NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Emmanuel Okey, said preliminary investigation indicated that the officials never fired a shot at the Forte Oil gas station. Okey blamed the killing a motorcyclist identified simply as Dijo on hoodlums, who, according to him, have taken over fuel stations in the metropolis. The PRO said the

NSDSC Commandant, Tajudeen Balogun

NSCDC members were in the neighbourhood to ensure orderliness and wade off fuel racketeers. Okey disclosed that three hoodlums had been arrested in connection with the shootings that killed one and left two people injured. He said: “We have commenced investigation and so far we have discovered that our men did not shoot at the station. They did not shoot anyone. They went there to control the situation. “We are appealing to Lagosians to be patient, queue up properly and buy petrol. We are also discouraging the issue of black marketers and that we have been doing everywhere. “Investigations in the matter are ongoing and some hoodlums have already been arrested in connection with the shootings. Three persons have been arrested and we will give further information at the end of the day.”

NEWS | national

friday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osinbajo calls for patience on power, oil crisis Kunle Azeez

igerians should not expect new road projects in the country for the next 12 months, Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed. Osinbajo disclosed this

yesterday at the ongoing economy forum being organised by The Nation newspapers, even as he urged Nigerians to exercise patience as the government tries to tackle the lingering power and oil scarcity challenges facing the economy. The Vice President,

27.4

The annual mortality rate (per 100,000) due to Alzheimer’s Disease in Minnesota State in 2010. Source: Alz.org

Electricity tariff: FG begs NLC against strike

he Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), not to go on its proposed warning strike over hike in electricity tariff. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the call on yesterday in Abuja at the Third Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC). The Conference has as its theme: “Government and Labour Relations Towards Sustainable Growth and Expansion of the Power Sector in Nigeria.''

On Wednesday, the NLC during its Central Working Committee meeting declared a oneday national warning strike over the refusal of the Federal Government to reduce electricity tariff. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the strike was aimed at putting pressure on the government to reverse the 45 per cent tariff hike. Ngige said the issue of the hike in electricity tariff was before the National Assembly and the court. He said: “The current state of electricity supply has become very worrisome in the country."

NYSC remains INEC’s most committed partner, says Yakubu Mojeed Alabi

ollowing the death of a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, Samuel Okonta, during the last rerun elections in Rivers State, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has described the corps members as the most patriotic and passionate election duty staff of the commission. He added that INEC’s

partnership with NYSC remained the best ever in the country. Yakubu, who stated this yesterday while appearing at a programme on Channels Television, said the electoral body was already considering the review of its memorandum of understanding and rules of engagement of the corps members during elections as demanded by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Bamidele Olawumi.

ECOWAS Court to rule on Dasuki case April 11

he Economic Community Of West Africa, ECOWAS, Court of Justice, says it will on April 11 rule on whether it has the jurisdiction to entertain a case brought before it by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. This was contained in a statement issued by the court in Abuja yesterday. The case filed with the suit number ECW/CCJ/ APP/01/16 was brought before the Court on No-

vember. 5, 2015, against the Federal Government. According to the statement, the court's decision to rule on the case followed a preliminary objection by the counsel to the defendant, Mr T. A. Gadzali. In the objection raised, Gadzali urged the court not to hear the substantive suit filed by the applicant as the subject of the suit was based on contempt of the order of Nigerian courts.

who discussed the various economic policies being embarked upon by the current administration, said while building transport infrastructure has been identified as critical to the nation’s economic reformation, the government has decided to complete existing road projects rather than awarding contracts for fresh, new roads. “Our priority critical infrastructures are roads, rails and power. Already, we have decided not to build new roads but to embark on rehabilitation and completion of existing ongoing or abandoned road projects. “Roads, in particular will be extremely important to our economy strategy. We are not building new roads projects. There is no need to award new

projects. “The strategy is to ensure that we are able to complete all roads that have highly strategic economic values. “Consequently, 31 major road projects across the country have been identified and this is what we are focusing on as economic imperative in line our decision to ensure continuity in service delivery to Nigerians. Lagos-Ibadan Express road is one of those road projects, whose completion is critical to the nation’s economic growth,” he said. Similarly, while noting that the power generation has dropped drastically in recent time, Osinbajo said one of the major challenges was the inability to transmit gas to power plants.

“We intend to stabilise power supply and one of the steps we are taking is to get gas to power plants. We have noted that aside vandalism, there are several gas-to-power projects that have been abandoned over the years and we are trying to complete them. The power is in the West while gas is in the East. So, transmitting the gas to the power plants in the West is a task” he said. On the rail system, the Osinbajo explained that the government would complete two of the rail projects which are considered highly critical to the nation. He said President Muhammadu Buahri will be in China shortly to tie up deals with the Chinese government with a view to completing the Lagos-

Kano rail road and LagosCalabar coastal rail road. While explaining that the government has identified 33 priority actions to be taken, including achieving foreign exchange regime that aligns with the country’s fiscal policy; attraction of single-digit lending rate to the road and agricultural sectors; efficient public financial management reforms, as part of effort to sanitise the economy of ghost worker syndrome and other forms of corruption in public services. “For instance, through our financial management reforms in the ministries, departments and agencies. We have been able to flush 23,000 ghost workers out of the system. There is huge number of ghost workers in the system."

L-R: Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, The Nation newspapers, Mr. Wale Edun and Bimbo Ashiru, at the newspaper’s first national forum on the economy in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Outdoor light may cure short-sightedness in kids Appolonia Adeyemi

ncreasing exposure to outdoor light is the key to reducing the myopia (short-sightedness) epidemic in children, according to a ground-breaking research by Australian optometrists. This was contained in a global study, published by the Brien Holden Vision Institute, an Australian nongovernment organisation. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error, which means that the eye does not bend or refract light properly to a single fo-

cus to see images clearly. In myopia, close objects look clear but distant objects appear blurred. In February, it was announced that half the world's population will be short-sighted by 2050 with many at risk of blindness. Optometrist and lead researcher on the project, Associate Professor, Scott Read, who is the director of research at QUT's School of Optometry and Vision Science, said children need to spend more than an hour and preferably, at least, two hours a day outside to help prevent myopia from developing

and progressing. Speaking at the Australian Vision Convention in Queensland at the weekend, Professor Read said it was not 'near work' on computer and other screens causing myopia, but a lack of adequate outdoor light. "While screens are contributing to children spending more time indoors than in previous years, the research shows they were not the direct cause of the increased incidence of myopia," he said. "Optometrists need to make their patients aware that less than 60 minutes' exposure to light outdoors

Panama leaks: Mark denies involvement Chukwu David Abuja

ormer President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday broke silence on the Panama Papers, which alleged that he operated eight offshore companies, claiming that his name was never enlisted in the database of Mossack Fonseca. In a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Paul Mumeh, the lawmaker

challenged those behind the information to come up with empirical evidence, proving that Mark’s name was on the list. He therefore, maintained that he was not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by Mossack Fonseca law firm. The statement noted that Mark’s Media team had carried out independent search of the Mossack Fonseca database and

found no statement, item or any connection to the politician or his family. It noted that similar propaganda came up in 2007 when Mark indicated interest to contest for the office of President of the Senate in order to stop him. Describing the allegation as a mischievous propaganda, the former President of the Senate said that he would not treat the matter with levity, pointing out that his legal team would seek redress.

per day is a risk factor for myopia. "It looks like even for those with myopia already, increasing time outside is likely to reduce progression." Optometry Australia president, Kate Gifford, said "this new finding is of significant importance in our endeavour to mitigate the growing rate of myopia in children." The global study, published by the Brien Holden Vision Institute, forecasts that 10 per cent of the world's population will be at risk of blindness by 2050 if steps were not taken to stop myopia turning into high myopia (requiring glasses with a prescription of minus five or stronger). The QUT study measured children's eye growth via study participants wearing wristwatch light sensors to record light exposure and physical activity for a fortnight during warmer then colder months to give an overall measurement of their typical light exposure. "Children exposed to the least outdoor light had faster eye growth and hence faster myopia progression," Professor Read said.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Open Forum Olugbemi: Aluko willingly accepted to reconcile with Fayose

Politics Fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the call by some members of the party for the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to succeed himself, ONYEKACHI EZE reports

Osoba Trills and frills of APC reconciliation

Rumblings in PDP

nother crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This time, it is the alleged planned tenure elongation by the party's National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Perhaps, Sheriff has no ambition to succeed himself after his tenure elapses on May 21. He was elected National Chairman in February to serve out the tenure of the North-East geo-political zone which began in March 2012. But if there is any intention to seek tenure extension by the National Chairman, it was activated by the South-West chapter of the party. A group led by the senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, while on a courtesy visit to Sheriff, canvassed for the North to retain the national chairmanship position of the party. The South-West PDP argued that the party would look like a regional party should the chairmanship to go to the South. "In the South East, the PDP has three governors; we have five governors out of the six states in the South-South; in the South-West, we have two governors. “In the whole of the North, we have only two governors. We need to strengthen the North. If not, the PDP will be branded as a regional party if we go ahead to pick the national chairman from the South,” the group noted in its position paper. The PDP has already decided to pick its presidential candidate in 2019 from the North. This means that the national chairmanship position will go to the South. And again, the party's outgoing national chairman is from the North. The South-West PDP is perhaps, pre-empting the special commit-

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Sheriff

tee set up by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to decide the zoning formula of national officers. The committee led by Governor Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom) was inaugurated on April 5, and is yet to submit its report. The North's continued retention of the chairmanship position will go against the zoning principle of the party since the same region will produce the presidential candidate. The South-West is however the only zone out of the country’s six geo-political zones that has so far adopted this stand. But even within the zone, there are some dissenting voices. Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George is among party leaders from the South-West who have denied the group. George, who is allegedly nursing a chairmanship ambition, described those who visited Sheriff as political upstarts and overnight leaders, who do not know the history of PDP. He wondered who they consulted before embarking on the visit. His words: "The PDP is about justice, fairness and equity. Of all the zones in Nigeria, it only the South-West that has not produced the chairman of the party since 1999. "When we were running around in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 and even 2007 when the PDP was untouchable in the South-West, where were they? We built the party to an Iroko such that we swept the South-West in 2003, where were they then? "If there was no yesterday, there won't be today and tomorrow. Have

Jibrin

Sheriff should follow the path of honour and integrity by simply taking a bow in May

they checked the history of the party and vision of the founding fathers? When Sheriff was coming and we had to calm nerves in Borno and North-East, where were these characters? The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) kicked against any plan for Sheriff to succeed himself. Acting Chairman of the board, Senator Walid Jibrin, said those asking Sheriff to stay in office beyond the three months approved by various organs of the party do not mean well for the PDP. "The recent courtesy calls to the national chairman and the presentations being made, especially calling him to continue beyond the stipulated three months tenure is an invitation to trouble, anarchy and the return of impunity in PDP," Jubrin said. He added that the various organs of the party unanimously approved that the tenure of the national chairman and other National Working Committee (NWC) would terminate on May 21. "The present NWC received an overwhelming ovation and admiration at the meeting of the national caucus, BoT and NEC by overlooking their 2017 tenure in support of the three months approval of the respected organs of the party which should strictly be complied with. "Instead of listening to the praise singers, Modu Sheriff should follow the path of honour and integrity by simply taking a bow in May after the national convention," Jubrin added. PDP is rebuilding since it lost the 2015 general elections. It based

13 16

its rebuilding process on the recommendations of the Post-Election Committee headed by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The committee recommended among other things, that there should be no imposition of candidates for any election. It also recommended that the next presidential candidate of the party should come from the North. It is against this backdrop that the party's BoT warned of the dangers of not adhering to the committee's recommendations. According to Jibrin, "anyone who tries to reverse this position by changing it with another position will ever remain an enemy to the North, a mercenary and killer of PDP.” He added: "The BoT strongly advises Sherif to respect his oath and acceptance of the powerful organs of the PDP that he will stay for only three months, and allow his name to be written in gold by honourably leaving the scene in May after the convention," he added. Despite the warning, SouthWest PDP leaders, after their meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State last week, maintained their stand that the North should retain the chairmanship position. They however said the call did not necessarily mean that Sheriff should elongate his tenure. PDP National Vice Chairman, South West, Makanjuola Ogundipe, explained that the region shared the fears of some northern elders that PDP is losing its national appeal. According to him, the party controls 10 of the 17 states in the South, with 10 governors, 32 senators and 96 members of the House of Representatives while in the North, it has only two governors, 15 senators and about 30 members of the House of Representatives. “It is unfair to the masses of the South-West for anyone to insulate that our position in canvassing that the national chairman of our great party should come from the North amounts to pushing away good things coming to the region,” he said. The South-West has an eye on the national chairmanship but Ogundipe said the region should make concession for the interest of the party. “It should be noted that the South-West had the Presidency for eight years as well as Speaker of the House of Representatives for four years; these positions are more influential than the chairmanship of the party, which some now argue must be given to the South-West because no one from the region has ever served as national chairman,” he added. While the debate rages, the committee set up by the party is expected to resolve the impasse when it comes out with a zoning arrangement for the party's national offices so that the former ruling party would avoid crisis as it rebuilds for the next general elections.

12 NEWS

FRIday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obasanjo: I never signed budgets without details …meets Buhari in Aso Rock

ormer President Olusegun Obasajo has denied ever signing national budget during his administration without receiving full details of the document from the National Assembly.

The former president stated this yesterday at the presidential villa after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting between the two leaders came shortly after Buhari received details of the 2016 appropriation bill from the parliament. Chairman, House Representatives’ Committee

0.81

N5.85m

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bangladesh in 2007. Source: Itu.int

The amount of prize money received by Sunshine in the 2014/15 season. Source: Goal.com

on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin had recently told reporters in Abuja that budgets under the former president were signed without the details. “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo assented to the budget during his administration without the details,” Jubrin had said in response to Buhari’s position that he would not sign the budget unless he saw the details. Speaking to State House Correspondents, Obasanjo expressed shock that his administration was being

referenced in the process of budget signing. He said: “Eh en? I signed budget without details? Anybody who told you that, go and ask him again.” Asked to comment on the budget that was received by the president, Obasanjo explained that he would have to read through the fiscal document before speaking on it. “Before I will be able to tell you something about the budget, I have to read it and know what it contains and know what to talk about,” he said. On the delay in signing the budget, the former

president noted that “the constitution allows you to continue with the budget, provided you did not go beyond the previous year. That can be done up to the middle of the year.” Speaking on the purpose of his visit to the presidential villa, Obasanjo said that “you know that not too long ago, I was out there. I have come to share some of my experiences with him.” On the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the former president simply said: “Eh en, Senate President? Eh en? What is wrong with

him?” Obasanjo arrived the villa at 12:13p.m. in a tinted black Toyota Jeep marked ABJ 425 PY. Upon alighting from the vehicle, he exchanged pleasantries with reporters who cracked jokes with him on his “dancing steps” last week at Ebonyi State during the burial of the late mother of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi. Reminded that “your dancing steps last week were great,” the former president asked: “So you don’t want me to dance?” as he beamed smiles and entered inside the building.

CBN's forex policy killing economic growth – LCCI CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

adopted by the CBN is a fixed exchange rate regime. This model is better suited for a country that has adequate reserves to support fixed rate. In Nigeria’s case, there are no reserves to support the current rate at N197 per dollar.” Speaking on the state of the economy in Lagos yesterday, the President of LCCI, Chief Nike Akande, said that the recent sharp depreciation of the naira at the parallel market was a cause for concern for private sector operators in the country. She said that it was a trend that should not have been allowed to continue by the CBN, adding that it was time the apex bank adopted a flexible exchange rate regime to stem the slide and volatility in the foreign exchange market. “What we are saying is that it is better to allow a flexible exchange rate regime as against the fixed exchange rate regime. We are saying that the fixed exchange rate regime is not sustainable in the country’s economy now because we don’t have the reserves to support the exchange rate at N197. And that is why there is a serious liquidity crisis in the foreign exchange market. That is why demands are not being met at the foreign exchange market. So, the proposition here is that, rather than have a fixed exchange regime, we should have a flexible exchange rate regime. “And the beauty of the exchange rate regime is that it allows the exchange rate to reflect the fundamentals of demand and supply. That is the proposal that is being made here,” Akande added. She explained that the foreign exchange policy had become a critical policy for the CBN to take a closer look at it once again,

adding that reviewing the policy was in the best interest of the nation. “It is as much of an issue to consumers as it is to producers and other stakeholders that create value in the economy. It calls for an urgent review of the current foreign exchange policy. “It is important to clarify some conceptual issues in this conversation. The discussion at this time should not be about devaluation of the naira. It should be about a pricing mechanism that is sustainable, predictable and transparent. It is about a policy regime that would reduce uncertainty and inspire the confidence of investors. “It is about a policy framework that would minimise discretion and arbitrage in the foreign exchange allocation mechanism,” she noted. On the importance of flexible exchange rate, the LCCI boss said that a flexible exchange rate regime was often adopted to cope with changing demand and supply conditions in the forex market. She listed the benefits of this approach to include enhancement of liquidity in the foreign exchange market, reduction of uncertainty in the foreign exchange and, therefore, enhancing confidence in investors as well as promoting transparency as a mechanism for forex allocation. Akande insisted that if the apex bank continued to adopt the fixed exchange rate regime, the ongoing economic crisis in the country would remain, adding that the consequences were already manifesting in the widening gap between the official and parallel market rates to an unprecedented level of over 60 per cent, among other factors.

L-R: Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf; President, Dr. Nike Akande and Deputy President, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, at a news conference on the state of the economy in Lagos…yesterday

Assets declaration: FG opens case against Orubebe Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday opened its case against a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who is standing trial over a one-count of false asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja. At the resumed trial yesterday, the prosecution presented its first witness, Samuel Madojemu, an official of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). While testifying, Madojemu told the tribunal that Orubebe failed to declare his property at Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja, as a minister between 2007 and 2011. He added that Orubebe submitted five asset declaration forms to the bureau between 2007 and 2011 within the period he served as minister. He also stated that Orubebe submitted the five forms to the CCB first as Minister of Special Duties under the administration of the late President Umar Yar’adua, and later as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs up till 2011 under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Madojemu also said that the Certificate of Occupancy for the property obtained from the land registry of the Federal Capital Territory Administration showed that it was issued to Orubebe on April 10, 2011, but that the former minister failed to declare it as at the time of leaving office on May 29, 2011. The witness, who was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Diri, said Orubebe refused to honour invitation by the bureau during the investigation of an intelligence report obtained concerning him. "The defendant declared his assets to the bureau by virtue of his position as a public officer and as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "I was instructed to invite him to the bureau for the purpose of obtaining his statement on the allegations and intelligence report that was being handled by the bureau concerning him. "I invited him. He promised to respond by sending his legal team. He also promised that he might decide to come in person, but he did not come. "My Lord, the bureau issued him with Form CCB 1 which is the bureau’s as-

set declaration form and he made his declaration between 2007 and 2011 – the period under investigation. “The Code of Conduct Bureau issued the defendant the Form CCB 1 five times. For those five times, he made his asset declaration to the bureau. “My Lord, after we received the form, we examined the form as part of our procedures to ascertain if there was over-declaration or under-declaration. “We conducted intelligence assessment on the declaration made by the defendant. We discovered that there were some other plots or properties that were traced to the defendant, Godsday Orubebe. “We conducted record examination by writing a letter to the Federal Capital Territory’s Department of Land Administration. “My Lord, in their response, which was in writing, it was indicated that Plot 2057 Asokoro District, for which the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on April 10, 2011, belonged to the defendant. “We, thereafter, compared the information arising from response from the FCT land administration department with the information on asset declaration forms submitted to the

bureau between 2007 and 2011 and discovered that Plot 2057, Asokoro District, belonging to the defendant was not declared even as at May 29, 2011 when he left office. “Apart from the letter from FCT land administration registry, we also received Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Occupancy in respect of Plot 2057 issued to the defendant. “We also received the CTC of the Right of Occupancy for that same Plot 2057 issued to the defendant. “Also received from the FCT land administration registry, was a letter of authority, given to one Engr. Rodney by the defendant to collect the Certificate of Occupancy and the Right of Occupancy from the FCT land registry. It was supported by the (international passport) page of the defendant," he stated. He, however, told the court that the reason for inviting Orubebe was to ask him why he failed to declare the asset, which he acquired about one month to the expiration of his tenure. After the chief examination in chief, the Chairman of the tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, adjourned till April 14 for cross-examination.

POLITICS

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM

... EKITIGATE

Aluko: Accepting invitation was a tactical error

Dr. Tope Aluko is the former Secretary of Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

n unfortunate incidence happened on Sunday April 3. I received a call from two senior members of the party; one of them is a serving senator and one, a former governor. I was told to come to Eko Hotel to meet with them and I went in the company of my wife. We were half way into the discussions which they tagged as “a Peace Parley.” It should be noted that no reference was made to the 2014 governorship election and the aftermath including my revelation to the public about the way the election was manipulated/rigged in favour of Ayo Fayose. I was shocked to see Governor Fayose walked into the meeting at this point. It is worthy of note that it was at this point that my wife badged into the meeting to inform me that he noticed the presence of pressmen downstairs and said “there is a problem” but it was Fayose that interrupted her and said “madam, there is no problem” but my wife insisted and said she overheard them saying that they were called back with an SMS from Governor Fayose “because T. K. Aluko is around.” At that point I became enraged and decided to leave the place but I noticed Governor Fayose rushing after me downstairs in a Gestapo manner. My wife was already

All that transpired on that faithful day was an organised propaganda/drama to stain my image and malign my personal integrity

fidgeting and almost crying and suddenly I could not find her around me. I immediately realised that I need to oblige to his (Governor Fayose) instruction of facing the press because of the safety of my family. A lot has been said about the arranged interview within the media, especially the purported reconciliation which we both said ‘is ongoing albeit under duress due to the circumstance I found myself. One fact remains clear, there is nowhere that I, Temitope Aluko, refuted anything I have earlier said before Nigerians and the whole world about the manipulations that characterised the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. You will also notice the several counter allegations by Fayose

and his media team that none of them has refuted all I have said; rather the attack has been on the messenger and not the message. I will like to apologise to all Nigerians that perhaps, accepting the invitation was a tactical error. However, I wouldn’t have accepted to attend the meeting in the first place if I had known that Ayo Fayose will be in attendance. I only chose to attend in order to honour the party leader’s invitation. I will also like you to know that I am dealing with a master fraudster who is always full of mischief. You will all recollect how he announced the purported death of Hon. Afolabi Akanni; the purported arrest of four members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly that later resurfaced; the invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly that never took place; the unfounded $1 million bribe offer by Department of State Services (DSS) and recently his announcement that I brought in policemen from Abuja to Ekiti State to unleash mayhem. Finally, I need to emphasize that all that transpired at Eko Hotel on that faithful day was an organised propaganda/drama to stain my image and malign my personal integrity and I believe it would be a good script for Nollywood act. I thank God that this incidence is about misinformation of the public and not about taking my life.

Olugbemi: Aluko willingly accepted to reconcile with Fayose

Hon. Dele Olugbemi is the former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly

he existing cordial relationship between Aluko and myself brought us to a discussion that eventually led to the last Sunday’s meeting. Before we agreed to meet in Lagos, I first suggested that the meeting should take place in Ekiti State Government House after the wedding of the niece of Governor Fayose but Aluko said he was not too comfortable with the arrangement because of fear that he might be arrested. He said if the meeting is about reconciliation, it should hold elsewhere and not the governor’s residence. I pleaded with the governor that the meeting should hold elsewhere as demanded by Aluko, which the governor obliged. All these I did because I wanted the crisis to be totally resolved. Immediately we were told of a new venue for the meeting, Aluko left my hotel room for Victoria Island and promised to come back at 7pm. At 7.45pm, he came back to meet me at my Magodo hotel. At 9.pm, I called the governor to inform him of Aluko’s ar-

When the governor told him to sit down, he prostrated... to beg the governor for total forgiveness

rival. The governor asked if I was sure Aluko was with me and I said yes. The governor told to us to come to Eko Hotel and his friend will welcome us and that he would join us later. We drove in Aluko’s car and got to the Eko Hotel at 9.50pm. We were taken to the Hotel’s waiting room. Myself, Aluko, the governor’s ADC and his friend entered the same lift to the fourth floor of the hotel. Inside the hotel room, we prayed and I opened the floor for discussion as agreed

by Aluko. In my submission, I pleaded with the governor to forgive and forget about the previous comments and allegations made by Aluko against him since he is father to us all. Aluko interjected and said that I should allow him to lead the talk, even when the governor told him to sit down, he prostrated and I also prostrated along with him to beg the governor for total forgiveness. Aluko promised the governor to dismantle all the structures he had put in place to attack the governor. The governor said he had forgiven him totally and that he should go and sin no more. The governor told Aluko that he would call soon and that he would need to study him very well within two weeks because he could go out of the meeting and say something different. The governor also said it was better to let the press know that he had reconciled with Aluko to which he initially disagreed and later agreed to meet the press.

Olatunbosun: Peace meeting won't change anything T

Taiwo Olatunbosun is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State

he reported meeting between Fayose and Aluko brokered by PDP leaders has proven conclusively that the latter is a full member of PDP. It is that recognition by PDP that made its leaders to invite the duo to a peace meeting, and contrary to insinuation, it is on record that Aluko had always insisted that his revelation at the probe panel was in response to APC’s petition against him on the controversial election in which he had to make restitution through confession to clear his conscience. It is mischievous to insinuate that Aluko’s reconciliation with Fayose will hurt the credibility of the probe panel. We must note that Aluko swore to an oath before making his testimony at the probe panel, and so his statement remains sacrosanct till the last is heard on the matter to ensure justice in the resolution of the

It is mischievous to insinuate that Aluko’s reconciliation with Fayose will hurt the credibility of the probe panel Ekitigate. The military top echelons are not fools to dismiss the affected officers on mere lies. They must have had their facts after presentation of documentary evidence and the affected officers defended them-

selves before they could arrive at the conclusion to sack the indicted officers. The military high command must note that the trick of criminals all over the world is to blackmail in order to curry undeserved sympathy. It is on this note that we urge the Army Council to release the full report of the probe panel to the public so that the military high command does not fall victim to these characters in Ekiti state, who are determined to discredit the military and the entire investigation process in the Ekiti state poll fraud. Governor Fayose as a master of stunts can continue to entertain himself till eternity. Just as his military accomplices have met their comeuppance, so shall Fayose and his accomplices meet their waterloo at the conclusion of this battle between him and the Nigerian law.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Fuel fury follows April fool Emissary EMEKA OBASI emobas2003@yahoo.com 0809-445-7557 (sms only)

othing is news anymore in our country. We are accustomed to the good, the bad the ugly. It is only here that someone who did not have food on his table yesterday will wake up and brandish an automobile worth 22 million Naira without the luck of lottery. Bad leadership has turned this nation upside down. Anyone who preaches I love Nigeria is either part of the loot or part of the rot. You do not force love on people. It is so natural that you do not even know how to explain it. Things have become so bad in a country flowing with milk and honey that even Jesus Christ will be weeping for us all. If those who lead this nation were created by God, I do not think they should be able to catch even a nap. I wonder God’s mood the day certain people came into this world. They say the LORD neither sleeps no slumbles. There is a passage in the Holy Bible , yes, the shortest verse-Jesus wept. I am sure it is because of the love the Master has for some of us that he has not slept off. The kind of things that happen here could make the Messiah miss his steps. Many of us know about April Fool, the first day of April is regarded as Fool’s Day. The first week of this month has been hectic. A country that is one of the leading oil producing nations does not have fuel to power the lives of its citizens. Please someone should explain

this. Something that God gave us with all his love naturally in abundance we are unable to manage. We may all be fools afterall. You mean so many of us have abandoned our homes, relocated to the filling stations, stand in the sun, moan, groan, gnash our teeth and expect Angel Gabriel to fall from heaven and perform a fuel miracle. Life has become so unbearable and we only complain , not ready to do anything. We just fold our hands blaming from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan . The same explanations government gave us yesterday, they will give tomorrow and the media will celebrate such lame excuses. We are prepared to suffer, yes we have suffered for so long and what the people expected is a New Deal. Going from bad to worse is not part of the bargain. Only fools will go through what we experience here and stay cool. Government is about the people, if there are no citizens, there will be no country. Methinks my people love to suffer and they deserve what they are getting from our leaders. We have been through fuel crises especially when there is crisis. The June 12 Weeks were bloody. That we could understand. When Jonathan gave us a bad New Year gift in 2012, there was resistance, so all knew something must give in. Today, there is no crisis. The government of Change has a blank cheque, the goodwill of the people ushered in this administration and here we are getting the worst fuel crisis in time of peace. And nobody is talking. So far., I have been able to identify three voices out of the millions that are going through pain. Governor Ayodele Fayose is a known critic

Only fools will go through what we experience here and stay cool

of the Buhari government, not simply because he belongs to the opposition. The man does not hate the President, that I know because all his strictures are to make the administration sit up. In a country where all the citizens hail the president, there is danger. A Peter Ayo Fayose is the tonic that this government needs to remain strong. Mr. Femi Fani Kayode has been consistent lately in attacking Abuja. For a man who also benefitted from Aso Villa in the past, it does not sound like ‘bad belle’. He has historical facts and figures to back many of his interventions. Love him , hate him but just make out time to read him. In his own way ,he has made the administration look at some of the things that disturb the polity. Governor General of Nigerian politics, the Jagaban himself, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has also come out to speak the mind of compatriots. As the man behind the APC, many were surprised that he could even speak out. His statesmanship is commendable because the crisis has gone beyond party affiliation. The other high profile critics of government have suddenly gone to bed. They were asleep while the rush for fuel lasted. As hunger and darkness tormented all of us, they sat back saying nothing , doing nothing. The little things that brought out the fire in them in the past have become too large for even the masses to bear. Yet they have tied their tongue with silence. We have been fooled for long. After this April Fool that made fuel scarcity real, Nigerians must not continue to wallow in foolishness. Suffering and smiling should not be our identity, Fela’s song should remain just that. This country must move forward. Let all stand as men and say no to bad leadership.

Of NEPC conundrum and our public institutions Khadijat Abaji

ost times, Nigerians display their innate penchant to act in strange ways. What appears even more degrading to our national dignity and collective pride is the wanton advertisement of tendencies antithetical to progress and the propagation of parochial sentiments and interests even in national service. Promoters of this malfeasance often arm themselves with sermons of marginalization, unfair treatment and abuse of federal character principle, religious affiliation or some other hype about nepotism. They seldom question themselves about their personal competence, commitment or contribution to national productivity. The only and single preoccupation of these antagonists is how to contrive and perfect antics of ruining or heating the polity in any organization they find themselves. Currently, there is palpable tension and so much inexplicable heat at the headquarters of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Abuja. It takes a stranger less than 30 minutes of loafing within the premises to acquaint with everything about some kind of drummed crisis in the establishment. In offices, staffers speak about it in hushed tones; in nearby food joints and relaxation

spots, the gist is relived with glee. It’s about nothing, but everything to do with the next day’s possible sack of NEPC’s Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (ED/CEO), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo. Disappointingly, listening to some of the comments or narratives of the pool of discussants on the matter at every point exposes the real national dilemma staring Nigeria in the face. A discerning mind immediately decodes and understands a clear lack of grasp of the issues eliciting the excitement of the idlers. But what constantly excites them is the vague possibility that Awolowo might possibly get sacked. They speak glowingly with thumped balls of amala and ewedu soup in the mouth or jollof rice or any delicacy of their choice, about a petition some staff of the NEPC have written to the Ministry that is causing ripples. Some even shamelessly refer to the recipient of the petition as the Federal Government. They might be right, but not in the strict sense of it. A little digression is necessary here. The Nigerian Public Service is governed (or should be governed) by the Public Service Rules (PSR), 2009 (as amended). The document which is widely circulated and readily available both online and even at various newsstands is very clear on the causes and remedies as well as procedures for any public (civil) servant to redress grievances as well as protect

rights and privileges as at when necessary. Most of the time, public (civil) servants have issues in matters of recruitment, promotion, emoluments and increments, discipline, Annual Performance Evaluation Reports (APER) and Certificate of Service, etc. Chapter 9 – Petitions and Appeals - of the PSR, provisions No 090204, 090201, 090203, 090204, 090206, 090208, inter alia clearly states the following, “A petition must be submitted through the proper departmental channels, namely through the petitioner’s immediate superior officer and the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office, who will forward the petition with his/her comments and recommendations to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission or the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in accordance with administrative instructions in force at the time. It is in the petitioner’s interest that the above-mentioned rule concerning the routing of a petition should be strictly observed in order that the petition will be duly verified and reported on before it reaches the final destination.” Yet, in total and flagrant contravention of the above rules, aggrieved staffers of various MDAs have both drafted and sent out petitions against their supervisors and superior officers to external government departments. Also, at numerous occasions, confidential documents against

public institutions have been leaked to outsiders to the detriment of the public interest and against the rules of the PSR. Petitions have been sent directly to Directorate of State Services (DSS), Federal Character Commission (FCC), supervising Ministries, National Assembly (both Chambers), Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Secretary to the Government of the Federation etc. and most bizarrely, to the media. That these other agencies of government, which should be the umpires for the implementation of the provisions of the PSR, could even entertain the uncharted allegations from the petitioners gives any well-meaning Nigerian a cause to ponder. Secondly, if the petitioners have confidence in any of these government institutions, why would they also, as we have often seen, leak the content of the same petition to the media? Without more, these could have qualifiedly attracted some express sanctions on the erring petitioning staffers in accordance with Rule 030402 (b), (c), (f), (r), and (w) of the PSR which provides sanctions for - ‘Acts unbecoming of a Public Officer’. This should have been the proper response from the agencies of government that receive these brazen reports and often anonymous petitions to punish and serve as a deterrence for those that take the laws of the land despicably. • Abaji is a staff of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EDITORIAL

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

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

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Keeping schools safe from criminals

he spate of insecurity challenge, which has been on the increase in recent times, especially as it now grips our schools, is raising concern across the length and breadth of the country. More worrisome is the abduction of three female students of the Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS), AgunfoyeLugbusi Village, Ikorodu, Lagos, who were rescued after six days in the bandits’ dungeon or hideouts. The schoolgirls, who are science students in the Senior Secondary School (SS III), were reading in a classroom at the School of Science Block, when the abductors swooped on the school around 8pm, armed with guns, machetes, charms and cudgels, and disappeared with the three girls. The men of the underworld gained access to the school by breaking the fence, and capitalising on the insecurity lapses in the school. Indeed, Nigerians and the rest of the world are yet to recover from the April 2014 invasion of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents, who set the school ablaze and abducted over 300 schoolgirls, who were then writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). However, lamentable, the whereabouts of about 267 of the

schoolgirls since their abduction, despite the barrage of global outcry, have remained perpetually unknown, while their abductors have refused to release them to their parents. It is worth stating, just as it is necessary of condemnation, that the trauma the young schoolgirls have gone through or are still going through in the hands of their abductors is better imagined than experienced. Significantly, what the current practice of laying siege on our schools by hoodlums and bandits to kidnap or abduct innocent young children either for a ransom

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor, Group Head, Newsroom n Geoffrey Ekenna

Kidnapping and abduction of whatever form or disguise should be outlawed

or for any other reason for that matter, presupposes the extent of insecurity and threat to the well-being of the people, as well as breach of their rights to life, especially with the school children as the targets. Though, commendable is the swiftness of the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police in responding to the abduction of the three female students, which advertently led to their rescue six day later. This is a demonstration of the seriousness the Lagos State Government and its security agencies put into the security and protection of life and property of the

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creative n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

citizenry. If government at all levels could respond swiftly to a crisis situations, especially as it affects the security of life of the people, the country will not only be better off, but the wave of crime will drastically reduce since the bandits would realise that there is no hiding place for them to carry out their criminal activities, because they already know that they will definitely be apprehended to face the law. Worse still, the practice of invading primary and secondary schools with the aim of abducting or kidnapping

innocent young school children for ransom is not only sad and condemnable, but it is indicative of the level of decadence in our society, where the lust for money or ill-gotten wealth has taken precedence over decency. It is on this note that this insanity must stop. As a matter of urgency, the government should not only come up with stiff penalties and appropriate laws that will decisively deal with these criminalities, but such laws should also be enforced to make them effective. Kidnapping and abduction of whatever form or disguise should be outlawed, while death penalty

if necessary should be invoked, as part of measures to discourage the practice and those who might want to engage in it for their meal ticket. To a large extent, the government, be it federal or state has pivotal roles to play in terms of timely response to emergencies and security challenges of Nigerians, if it is to be taken seriously in discharging its Constitutional duties and legitimate responsibilities to the people. Specifically, the school owners and administrators should as a matter of exigency provide adequate security arrangements in their schools in order to ensure the safety and security of the students entrusted into their care. Similarly, the schools, either public or private, should as a matter of deliberate policy engage the services of trained security personnel or registered local vigilante groups, who will be armed to guard and mount 24-hour surveillance on the schools to forestall any form of attacks or aggression. Again, this should be done in a manner that the security personnel will not out of sheer overzealousness turn their weapons against the students they are supposed to protect. A situation in which our schools are left without adequate security measures to protect the children and their teachers will no longer be accepted and tolerated.

POLITICS

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Trills and frills of APC reconciliation Temitope Ogunbanke writes on the reconciliation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw the return of former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, to the fold

unday April 3, will remain a remarkable day in the political history of the politics of the South-West geo-political zone as ex-Governor Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State, mend fence with his former political associates by announcing his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he was one its founding members in 2013. Osoba’s return to APC was announced to journalists at his residence in Bourdillon road, Ikoyi, Lagos State by Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, after a closedoor meeting of South-West APC leaders, which lasted for about five hours. The reconciliation meeting, which finalised the return of Osoba to APC was attended by APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Aregbesola (Osun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Chief Pius Akinyelure; Lagos State deputy governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who represented Governor Akinwumi Ambode; former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, former Ogun State deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun and Senator Gbenga Obadara, among others. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Aregbesola said the leadership of progressive politics is united and Osoba is back in the leadership of the Yoruba race. His words: “A time was when Osoba switched to another party. He was a foundation member of the APC and he was in the APC throughout my election. Yes, he was for a time with the SDP, but with what we have just done today (Sunday), Akinrogun Osoba, the Aremo himself is back with the progressive leadership of the Yoruba race. “The progressives in the western part of the country have resolved all the differences within the leadership completely and as such we are happy to tell the world that the leadership of progressive politics is united. “We are ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for growth, purposeful leadership, development, good governance for the western part of Nigeria and we are committed to doing that for the entire nation. We have also resolved to support the effort at the national to revive the economy and put the people of Nigeria in a better stead than we met it when our party came to power.” Osoba, who was happy about the new development could not

L-R: Akande, Osoba, Tinubu, Adebayo and others at the South-West APC reconciliation meeting in Lagos, at the weekend.

hide his joy as he was seen welcoming his guests with warm embrace and taking pictures with each of the APC leaders as they arrived. Coming out of the meeting with Tinubu, Akande and others standing beside him, the former Ogun State governor announced his return to APC to journalists with a Yoruba Christian song and late Obafemi Awolowo’s anthem, which translates to: “There is no more quarrel. There is no more war.” He added that his disagreement with APC leadership is over and he is back to the progressives’ camp. He also expressed his readiness to create an atmosphere for peace and unity in the party. Tinubu, who was so excited about Osoba’s return to APC said; “Aremo Osoba is back in the progressives’ leadership. He is fully back. What is very crucial is forging one front and for us to remain progressive in our party. I am an apologetic progressive and I will remain a progressive. And that is the only philosophy and principle I believe. So, wherever the progressives must unite with their vision, I am for it.” When asked why Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, who was the main actor in the crisis that pitched Osoba against the APC leaders was absent at the reconciliation meeting, Tinubu said the governor is aware of the reconciliation embark upon by the South-West APC leaders and he is going to abide by the leaders decision. “The governor of Ogun State is with us. We have four governors and three governors were here; so what is your arithmetic? We can excuse people. The governor of Ogun State was elected on the platform of the APC; he remains APC and he is for APC and we can vouch for that. This is not a leaderless revolution. Leaders are defined and identified and it is clear that we are all one including the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun.” Apart from the Sunday’s meeting in Lagos, New Telegraph also

We are ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for growth, purposeful leadership, development and good governance

gathered from a reliable source that Osoba and Amosun also had a close-door meeting with Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, last Wednesday. The meeting, which lasted for about four hours at the Awujale’s palace in Ijebu-Ode, according to the source, was convened to settle the feud between the governor, Osoba and other founding members of APC. No doubt, the public declaration of Osoba to APC has finally laid to rest the speculations surrounding his return to the progressives’ camp in the last few months. The former governor is believed to be back to APC with all his supporters, who dumped the ruling party with him. It would be recalled that Osoba, a founding member of APC and member of the party’s Constitution Committee during the formative stage of the party, defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by a former Secretary to Government of the Federation and Afenifere chieftain, Chief Olu Falae, shortly before last year’s general elections along with his supporters and associates when he lost control of the party’s structures in Ogun State to Governor Amosun. Those who left with Osoba were the then deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun; Senators Obadara, Gbenga Kaka and Akin Odunsi; Osoba’s son, Olumide, then a member of the House of Representatives and other members of the Matagbamola Group. But the outcome of 2015 general elections was not favourable to Osoba and his associates who joined the SDP as all sitting members of the National Assembly from Ogun State House and members of the state Assembly, who contested on the new platform, performed woefully and lost their re-election bids. Osoba, a renowned journalist and politician is not a novice in South-West politics, especially among the progressives camp. He governed Ogun State on the platform of the Social Democratic

Party (SDP) between January 1992 and November 1993 and played an active role during the aborted Third Republic and June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment struggle. He was also a founding member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and governed Ogun State from 1999 to 2003. He lost his re-election to Otunba Gbenga Daniel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2003 elections and since then has been in the camp of progressives in South-West. He was a founding member of the Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the parties that dissolved into APC. If the position of Tinubu and other APC leaders is anything to go by, Osoba is back to the progressives camp but a political school of thought is of the view that the reconciliation may not have achieved what was expected, considering the absence of Governor Amosun, his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and other top officials of Ogun State government at the meeting held in Osoba’s house. Another political school opined that the reconciliation is about 2019 and the need to strengthen the progressives’ camp in its quest to have a firm grip of the South-West, while there is another view that the return of the former governor to APC will make or mar the ruling party in Ogun State in next elections. According to those who hold the latter view, Osoba and Amosun are likely to flex muscles again over control of APC’s structures in the state the way they did in 2014 if the reconciliation is not properly managed. The questions against this backdrop are: Is the reconciliation going to yield positive results as expected in APC’s quest to bring peace to Ogun state chapter of the party? Will Osoba and Amosun work together in next election? How will Amosun accommodate Osoba and his supporters in the scheme of things? No doubt, only time will provide answers to these puzzles.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

CULTURE

COE students stage Ayakoroma’s Dance On His Grave in Akwanga

Cultural tourism’ll boost Nigerian economy –Ooni

Babatope Okeowo, AKURE

oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has advocated cultural tourism as an integral part of the nation’s economy with direct positive impact on the people. Consequently, the monarch advised all tiers of government to invest in tourism as one of the means to shore up the revenue base of the governments. He lamented that relying only on funds from federation account by states would not bring development just as he said relying on oil by the Federal Government would not help the economy. Oba Ogunwusi who was speaking during the inauguration of MYDAS Hotel and Conference Hall in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, said cultural tourism would serve as an alternative source of revenue in the face of the dwindling oil price at the international market and economic challenges facing the country.

We have the richest culture in the world, but the challenge is for the people to come and fact-find our cultural heritage for us The monarch noted that the country economy is built around oil while there are other sectors like cultural tourism if when properly exploited can be used to create wealth, empower the people and generate employment. Oba Ogunwusi said Nigeria is blessed with many tourist attractions which have been suffering from neglect but said investing in this sector will further showcase the cultural heritage of the country to the world and will also boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The monarch who was flanked by other monarchs including the Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade OlateruOlagbegi, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo among others said tourism is an everlasting product that serves as alternative source of revenue and discourages over-dependence on perishable and exhaustible products like oil. It is, also, an alternative source of income. He said, “Cultural tourism is just to showcase our heri-

per cent private sector. Let private sector comes in. “We have the richest culture in the world, but the challenge is for the people to come and fact find our cultural heritage for us. The major impediment is comfort, that is, where they would stay in the entire land. “All over the world, private sector is the engine room of any economy. So as a result, w h e n private sector

Oba Ogunwusi

tage and our culture to the world. Our people depend so much on government for everything. Private sector should take the lead. Look at what happened here today, 100

starts, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultureal Organisation (UNESCO) and government can come to support. My belief is that we don’t need to depend on gov-

ernment for everything. “If you go to South Africa, their economy is driven by tourism, Gambia don’t have crude oil, the entire France don’t have crude oil and if you go to all the Caribbean island, they don’t have crude oil and their GDP is even better than our own in Nigeria that we have crude oil. “If we have more places like this, both in the North, South, West and the East, people will be moving from one point to the other. This will even boost our GDP... we always travel out of the country to go and do the similar thing. Why should we do that? Let us encourage ourselves.” The proprietor of the Mydas Hotel and Conference Centre, Prince Rotimi Ibidapo said he embarked on the project in order to provide comfort for tourists who want to visit the state either for pleasure or adventure The N11 billion project, Ibidapo said when completed would have golf course, Olympic size swimming poll, biological garden that would house zoo apart from the five star hotel and Conference Centre. According to Ibidapo, tourism is one of the biggest means of foreign exchange earner to both state and federal governments. He however lamented that getting good hotels to stay for tourists has been a great challenge. He said the five star hotel located in Owo would bring the world to the town just as he advised other well to do individuals not to rely only on politics before they can bring development to the grassroots.

Veteran filmmaker, Ugbomah, gets Life Achievement Award Tony Okuyeme

ome Sunday April 24, veteran filmmaker and former chairman of Nigerian Film Corporation, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, will be honoured with the life achievement award, at an event that will bring together the crème de la crème in the society. The show will hold at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. For the past 23 years, Ugbomah has been honoured

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

with awards, in recognition of his contributions to not just the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, but also the entertainment industry generally. However, as the proverb says, “a prophet is never known in his town”. Here in Lagos Ugbomah is called ‘Kobokobo’. He was born in Obalende, grew up in Lafaiji so how can he be called kobokobo? Ugbomah asked a question that which of the Lagos past and present governors is more Lagosian than him. Now that the Silver bird group has found it good to add more feather to the hat of Ugbomah, according to some practitioners, this becomes a challenge to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa the Executive Governor of Delta State to honour, celebrate and appreciate this illustrious son of Delta State. He said: “The bitter aspect of government liaising with the Nigerian artistes is that they have always doublecrossed themselves. Recent meeting the Nigerian artistes

had with the Minister of Information, the man was very sad that less than one year he has received 52 petitions. Recently, some Delta stars organised a visit to the governor who told them about the ongoing plan for a Film Village and Arts Academy. If the artistes don’t stop tribalism and back biting they can never make it. “Past governors of the state, including James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, have for the past 23 years celebrated people from their locality, clans, and tribes, I ask once again is it fair? In 2005 when I was given OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger) by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, there were others with MON that their governors gave them car, cash and choice land.” Other stakeholders who commented on the issue, called on Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to appreciate Ugbomah.

Ugbomah

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa please do not give us the economic excuses, celebrate, honour and appreciate Chief Eddie Ugbomah (OON) a film producer, director, writer, actor,

and activist. We must learn to celebrate our living icon, not all the useless eulogies and praises when they are dead and not around to eat all the rice and cow now,” one of them said.

ART

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osakioduwa, Coker host The Voice Nigeria

Stories by Tony Okuyeme

op Nigerian radio and television on air personalities Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa a.k.a Ik and Stephanie Coker have been announced as the presenters for M-Net/Africa Magic The Voice Nigeria. The Voice Nigeria which will begin airing on Sunday April 10, on Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 and Africa Magic Urban channel 153, at 8:00pm CAT, is sponsored by Airtel in association with Coca Cola. As host, Ik will work his effortless magic and connect the contestants and coaches with the audience; while Stephanie’s infectious energy will spark up social media engagement. Her key role will be to engage with viewers and talents in the show, as the fans at home send in live tweets and messages during the live shows. A great way to catch up with The Voice Nigeria, is through the recently launched; “The Voice Nigeria” social media application, which can be downloaded on the iOS and Google Play stores. The Voice Nigeria App grants access to videos, news, weekly games and more as the show progresses. Speaking on this new development, the Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said, “the show holds a lot of potential for the discovery of new musical talents, and also promises to be an exhilarating ride, as we kick off with our amazing

Stephanie Coker

presenters. “We are very excited to be bringing The Voice Nigeria to your screens. We have no doubt that the next great talents, who will do Nigeria proud, are about to be discovered”. Since its original launch in 2010, “The Voice” has won audiences in countries like the US, Australia, South Africa and the

Osakioduwa

UK, where other renowned artistes have occupied the show’s famous red chairs as coaches. “The Voice Nigeria” employs the same format including two presenters playing separate roles. The presenters will work as a bridge connecting all active angles of the show. Also Mr. Ahmad Mohkles, the Chief Commercial Officer of Air-

tel Nigeria, said: “The sponsorship of The Voice Nigeria is yet another example of Airtel’s commitment to empowering young and talented Nigerians. As Nigeria’s smartphone network, we are always excited to enter partnerships that connect the Nigerian youth to their dreams and we are very excited about the opportunities that The Voice Nigeria presents.”

COE students stage Ayakoroma’s Dance On His Grave in Akwanga

heatre Arts students of the College of Education (COE), Akwanga, Nasarawa State, last week, staged Barclays Ayakoroma’s play, Dance on his Grave, drawing the school management’s commitment towards equipping the department to meet up global standards. While commending the students for what he called, “an excellent production”, Deputy Provost (Academics), Mr. Raymond Wakayi, said he will do everything possible in his capacity to ensure that Management approved the department’s requests for materials that will give the theatre a facelift. He commended the students of theatre arts for coming up with “this very important play”. He said: “With this kind of production, I am highly convinced that the department is very much current; and in my capacity, I promise to do my best to ensure your requests for materials or anything that will uplift the department is approved. “This is not the first time the department is organising plays like this; and anytime there is

Cast of Dance on his Grave

such production, I always feel at home because we have a theatre department that is not only growing so fast, but has also helped in reducing the cost of hiring play groups from outside. “You have a prosperous future. Anytime I am invited to witness your plays, I always try to honour the invitation because I always feel at home when I come to watch your presentations; and without mincing words, I can say that in the near future, you will feature in national competitions.” Wakayi therefore urged the students to see the play production as an opportunity to showcase and express their proficiency, stressing that there are several opportunities and openings out there for them just as he expressed the hope that the students will continue to do put in their best. Responding, the Executive

Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and visiting Associate Professor at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who witnessed the production, commended the students, saying he will not access the students based on his standards, as NCE 2 students, since they are not familiar with the cultural background of the play and may not have deep understanding of many aspects. He therefore encouraged them, saying, “As an artist, you have two instruments which are your body and your voice. So, if you are talking and the person out there has not heard you, then you have not sold yourself nor communicated. Next, you need your voice. You have to be distinct and that is why we say as an actor, you need to have an audience’s ear to hear yourself and audience’s eye to see how you appear on stage so that you can help yourself. “I want to encourage you because I believe you were not forced to read theatre arts. You came because of the prospects in the discipline, especially now that Nollywood has opened doors for theatre arts. Now, parents are not fighting their children because they want to go and read theatre arts; everybody wants his or her child to read theatre arts so that they can be stars tomorrow; and I see some stars

amongst you. “Unfortunately, you could see that other departments are reading but you are on stage but that is the work of a theatre artist; and I want to encourage you to ensure that you are always studious, no matter the performances on stage. Let people not say that theatre artist is only known to dance and sing because you still have literary work to do. “I see prospects in many of you and I want you to know that the success achieved in the theatre is a collective work. If the person who was changing the back drop did not do the right thing, you will not get the right result. So, just put in your best and whatever play you have performed, know it is your repertory. Ayakoroma then pledged a donation of NICO book publications to the theatre arts department to enhance its library, as the department prepares for the next round of accreditation by the National Council on Colleges of Education (NCCE). Other dignitaries present at event were the Dean, School of Secondary Education, Arts and Social Sciences Programme, Mr. Musa Akwe, the Head, Theatre Arts Department, Mr. Mohammed Adamu Danjuma, as well as the Course Lecturer, Mr. Jack Julius Sheria, amongst others.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sex and Marriage Counselor

Feminique

Things Nigerian women do that destroy their marriage

Diary of a dating mom I was caught up in a summer romance with a younger man

20 20

Why infant, maternal mortality are on the rise, by Nwalema Adaugo Nwalema is the founder and CEO of Hope Alive Child Care Initiative, a social enterprise that is out to eradicate child and maternal mortality. In this chat with EBERE AMEH, she speaks on the prevalence of infant and maternal mortality

legant and vivacious, Adaugo Nwalema is a delight to be with. She starts her day with dance aerobics and dances intermittently during the day to Nigerian Jamz, her favourite brand of music. Ever happy and always smiling, there is no dull moment with her. However, behind the smiles and the dance is a heart that is hurting. Adaugo had stillbirths for two consecutive times due to the lackadaisical attitude and carelessness of the Nigerian doctors that attended to her in Lagos. Her only surviving children are those she had in Europe, and she wonders, what would happen to those who have no money to travel out for their deliveries? It was that experience that rattled her concern for the women and children of Nigeria. She established the Hope Alive Child Care Initiative to help stem the tide of avoidable infant and maternal mortality in Nigeria. “Coming from a country, where getting quality health care is only for the rich, Hope Alive Child Care Initiative (HACCI) was born out of experience having lost two children in Nigeria to careless medical practitioners who are only interested in charging huge sums of money and offering little health care service. We decided to start HACCI to strengthen our health systems. “My experience is such that I wouldn’t want even my enemy to go through it. To go through a grueling nine months gestation and lose the baby, twice, is an experience that is better appreciated if experienced, than described. So you won’t understand. But that is why I am poised to work for the eradication of infant and

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

maternal mortality through advocacy and awareness creation.” Speaking further, Adaugo said that a typical Nigerian is at the mercy of the doctors. “The average Nigerian does not know his rights as far as medical services are concerned. Hence some practitioners, both in private and government hospitals have ignored the patient and his rights and taken liberties to exploit patients through careless handling, exorbitant medical bills, wrong diagnosis and wrong prescriptions. Even when the patients manage to go to court, our slow and frustrating legal system does not help matters. So, we are advocating for patients’ rights in Nigeria. We have started educating women on their rights and things they should know before seeing any doctor,” she explained. Hope Alive Child Care Initiative (HACCI) was established in July 2012. In addition to helping to stem the tide of infant and maternal mortality, it is also on a mission to cater for suffering children - to provide them with a productive and more conducive life so as to beat the World Health Organization’s (W.H.O) 2015 millennium development goal on sustainable health. “We have the mandate to focus on curbing the looming issues that negatively affect mothers and children, which pose a threat to their development, leading to deaths in most cases. I saw a need to strengthen our Health system - Maternal/Reproductive Health, Neonatal health, including pre and post natal complications, deformation, child health, especially those with terminal illnesses, most of which can be avoided through adequate grass root awareness and sensitization.” HACCI collaborates with health institutions in the UK, who come to the Nigeria with their expertise, personnel and equipment to help in in curbing the menace of infant and maternal mortality in Nigeria. One of such programme is the women’s forum tagged “The Nigerian Child in a Medically Deteriorating Society,” which the organization will be hosting in November. “The programme is meant to empower the rural Mothers and care givers with relevant information necessary for them to take adequate care of themselves when pregnant and give proper care to their children, especially when they are ill,” the Theatre graduate, now turned health activist expounded.

Graduating from the University of Port Harcourt with a degree in Theatre and Theatre Arts Management, Adaugo proceeded to the University of Lagos, where she bagged a Master’s degree in Business Management. She retired as the Manager, Union Homes Savings and Loans plc, to focus on HACCI, a project she is very passionate about. Widely travelled and passionate about change, Adaugo who is already partnering with some international organizations is also calling on wellmeaning Nigerians to help HACCI in its bid to shake off every nasty practice from the Nigerian healthcare system. “HACCI is not just an NGO, it is a movement. I want as many as can, to come on board so we can salvage our future and that of our children. We are already discussing with people who want to

use the HACCI franchise to work independently in different states. That is how most big foundations like the Ford Foundation are run. We shall encourage them by providing the necessary international connections and joining in their programmes. The important thing to me is that lives are touched and hopes are restored.” “So far, we have had several rallies on ending preventable child death. We have educated a lot of women in the rural areas on what they should know about health matters and assisted some indigent children living with cancer.” Though Adaugo envisages that HACCI will become the most efficient NGO that offers reliable practical support to mother and child health care needs, contributing immensely to the MDGs’ goals on the growth and development of the children, its main challenge is lack of funds. However, despite the challenges, Adaugo is optimistic and so, she continues to smile, and she continues to dance because for her, happiness is a decision. “I chose to be happy. Life threw a lemon at me and I have decided to make lemonade out of it. Having a society with the lowest child and maternal mortality will make me the happiest person on earth,” Adaugo noted.

Adaugo

FEMINIQUE

ast week, I talked about things we men do that destroy our marriages. I got a lot of responses from both men and women who wanted to know the opposite. Here we go. Picking the wrong man. There are so many ways you can pick the wrong man. Sadly, one of the most common, if not the most common, is marrying a rich man. You want a man who has everything or almost everything materially. You are looking for a man who the Yoruba call Olorunsogo (God’s readymade), instead of Surulere (patience has its virtues). So because of this, you are blinded to his numerous faulty characters. Or worse still, you believe you can change him after marriage. That my dear is a very big mistake. Leopards don’t change their spots. Withholding sex and affection. I have said this so many times and will continue to say it. Sex is an integral part of marriage. Women (married or not) should not use sex as a weapon. Don’t deny your husband of sex either to punish him, or because you want something from him. Men and women are wired differently sex wise. For men, sex is a form of physical release from

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Things Nigerian women do that destroy their marriages tension etc. That is why call girls will always be around and prostitution will always be lucrative. Women need emotional release and closeness/affection. We men on the other hand need physical release and closeness/affection. When you deny your husband of sex, you are making a very formidable statement. You are effectively saying you do not care for him or respect his needs. Tongue lashing. We are all aware that words can build and destroy. The pen indeed is much mightier than the sword. All women know this. If you have been unfortunate enough to be tongue lashed by a woman (rightly or wrongly), then you know what I am talking about. And as men, we just can’t match you. You have acquired this experience over a very long time. Some people even believe that you women are born with it. Do you know that although we men are stronger physically,

Sex and Marriage Counselor drtaiwofadeyi@gmail.com

08033148899

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi an average woman will beat the strongest man hands down when it comes to tongue lashing. Statistically, an average woman talks about thrice as much as a man on any given day. Whilst men average about 7000 words daily (except those with diarrhea mouth), women do more than 20,000 words daily. Even on a bad day. Words are like eggs. Once spoken (broken), no amount of apologies afterward will wipe the slate clean. So women, be very careful about how you use that powerful weapon of yours so as not to destroy your marriage.

Peer Pressure/Over demanding. Don’t expect too much from your marriage. Remember that the grass is always greener in the other compound until you actually get there. Don’t always want to be like the joneses. Bad Friends/Groups. This is very crucial. Most marriages are destroyed by advice from bad friends. You women are emotional and easily carried away by moonlight tales from your friends. I once had a counselling case. Mrs. A felt that her husband was putting down too little

money for house allowance. N40k monthly to be precise. He also still brought some things and foodstuff home regularly outside the allowance. This was because her friend Mrs. B claimed she was getting N60k monthly, minus other expenses. So Mrs. A kept on making life difficult for her husband. She eventually packed out from her matrimonial home. Also on the advice of her friend. About a week later, she went to Mrs. B’s house to tell her the good news. She met Mr. and Mrs. B having serious roforofo fight. Mr. B now called Mrs. A to talk to her friend Mrs. B, despite Mrs. B’s objections. Mr. B was insisting that he could not afford to give her more than N30k monthly as house allowance. After all he had just increased it from N25k two months ago. Mrs. A just quietly worked out of the house and started running around to repair her marriage.

‘I was caught up in a summer romance with a younger man’

t was almost a year ago to the day that I sat in this same booth overlooking the river and the city waiting for his arrival. I remembered which beer he liked and ordered it along with my drink. Memories of last year flooded back quickly and how nervous I was then to finally meet the man I’d been talking to and texting for several weeks. Our conversations were fun, meaningful and had just crossed over to flirty before our first date. The excitement to meet each other grew because I had to postpone our first date a few times. Unfortunately, the chaos that was my life a year ago made it difficult for me to get away. When I finally did, we had a great time, had a couple more fun dates, but not as much as he would have liked. He wanted to spend more time together and he began to grow impatient. It ultimately became the end of “us” last year. His life moved forward and so did mine. I witnessed his new relationship unfold and evolve on Facebook last year. I felt some moments of sadness and regret seeing his life move forward with a cute divorcee. As the months went on, my life improved drastically and I had a summer for the record books, happy and free. I was caught up in a summer romance with a younger man I met and had a goofy grin planted on my face through most of the heat of the season. My heart was light and I let go of any “what if ’s” I accumulated. He and I had remained distant friends, and I was saddened to receive his call just before the holidays that his relationship had ended abruptly. The woman he dated had a mean streak that she had kept under the surface and she lashed out at him, breaking his heart. I was genuinely saddened for him and shocked that things ended so badly for them. Tonight, as I sipped on my drink and waited for him, I wondered how this evening would go, would he try to rekindle our feelings or

Happy couple

was I playing the part of compassionate friend? I didn’t know what to expect but I did know I was excited to see him again. We had a comfort and could be ourselves with each other from the moment we met and I looked forward to catching up with him. I kept my expectations realistic and was just happy to catch up with him. He found me and greeted me like he always did, he said “hello pretty lady” as he swept his arms around me tightly. He held me close, planted a kiss on my cheek and smiled knowingly at the cold Heineken waiting for him. As he began to speak, there was a sadness in his dark eyes and he reached across the table holding my hands while fighting back tears. He asked about my children, new job and we caught up on the past year. My questions to him were careful, and he began to share his heartbreak with me. He went on to tell me about how his happiness suddenly unraveled and also how the relationship with his children had eroded beyond repair.

Photo: singlemothers.us

He choked back tears as he spoke but the sadness was obvious in his eyes. His hands gripped mine tightly as he confided in me that although he hadn’t made his final decision yet, he was probably moving back to his home country to be near his family. I listened objectively and tried to persuade him to heal the broken relationship with his children. Now, I was the one fighting back tears because this reminded me of my distant relationship with my father. I pleaded with him to stay here and mend this brokenness. I was honest and spoke candidly about his situation. We both enjoyed the conversation although it was a difficult one, we could be authentic with each other. The comfort that we felt was obvious and talking with him felt familiar and safe. As the evening slipped away, we paid our check and left the restaurant. The evening’s winter chill jolted us as we stepped outside and as if on cue, snowflakes began to lightly fall from the sky. The trees were lit with white twinkly lights and the flakes of snow seemed to dance in the air as they fell. He slipped his hand in mine as he

guided me safely to my car. Once we found my car we lingered over our goodbyes. I told him that I would miss him and that I hoped he found happiness. Our eyes met as he grabbed my face and pulled it towards his own as his mouth found mine. As our kiss ended, my tears began to fall softly down my cheeks. My face was dotted with melting snowflakes and tears as I struggled to find the right words to encourage him to do whatever he felt was right. He wiped away my tears and felt guilty for being the reason for them. His arms held me tighter as I buried my face into his chest and vowed to myself to not cry anymore in front of him. He planted a tender kiss on my forehead as I searched my pocket for my keys. I left with a wave and a promise to let him know I made it home safely. I chose a long route home to see more of the river and to think. Inside the privacy of my car and the darkness, I started to cry again. Crying and driving in silence, fortunately somehow my car seemed to navigate itself through downtown. As I crossed the bridge, I couldn’t help but think about how things could have been different and how unfair it all was. I was sure that this man and I would have loved each other if we’d had the chance. The timing of everything seemed so cruel, so unfair and although I tried, I couldn’t help but feel bitter about it. Everything was so different a year ago and although we both had feelings for each other, we’d never know what could have been. This heartbreak changed him and I know it will be a long time before he can be vulnerable again. Like the time that passed, he was slipping through my fingers and there wasn’t a damned thing I can do about it. Finding love can sometimes be like catching lightning in a bottle, you can have every possible variable in place, yet if the timing is off, it’s impossible to capture it. It’s just past the tips of your fingers - no matter how far you stretch to reach for it. Love can be as fragile and precious as a perfect snowflake but no matter how much you ache for its beauty to last, it just can’t. • Culled from thesinglemomsdatingdiary.blogspot.com

friday, april 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Engagement

Rob Kardashian blindsided family with Blac Chyna engagement

Birthday

Doris Simon celebrates son’s 8th birthday in rival’s custody

Entertainment Biodun Okeowo scrambles with generator for fuel

I still love my ex-husband, Toyin Aimakhu confesses

Davido signs Dremo to HKN Gang

LANRE ODUKOYA COORDINATOR

lanreodukoya@gmail.com

TIMI DAKOLO

I miss Jonathan

Nigerian king of soul, Timi Dakolo, is like an old wine that gets better with age. The vocal powerhouse, in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, speaks about his journey to stardom, family and career. Exactly eight years ago, at the West African Idol show, your whole story changed after you won. How has life been since then? Life has been very fair to me if I must sum things up in all honesty. It has had its ups and downs, but there’d been more ups than downs. The fact that I got married, I have children and I have been doing music the way I want to do it. And these things have been paying off in a lot of ways. I would not say that I’m where I want to be yet, but I’m not also where I used to be. Is it true that back in your days at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State you sold recharge cards to survive? I didn’t really sell recharge cards as a vendor, but you know when you’re broke in school and someone sends you recharge cards from wherever they are, if the person sends you like N1,500 recharge cards when you’re flat broke, why would you load it? You’d sell it for like N1,300 or N1,400 and use the money to survive. There were times like that, but to God be the glory. Did you feel threatened by Omawumi Magbele’s presence in the debut edition of the West African Idol in 2007 because she was equally the audience’ toast? Well, it was a competition and sincerely everybody C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 2

was a threat at a point because there was something unique in everyone. But when we got to a particular level, I knew for sure that Omawumi Magbele was going to give me problems. So, I was watching her performance than anybody else. What’s your current relationship with her now? We still talk, we’re cool and I even visit her at home some time. After the Sony BMG recording deal when you won the competition, did you continue any other deal with them? I don’t have any relationship with them other than the first one.

entertainment

friday, april 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Omawumi was once a threat’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

Sometimes, you sound like Michael Bolton and, at other times, like John Legend. Did these foreign acts influence your music in any way? I listen to a lot of music and I think as a person, that’s one of the best ways of gathering information. Whether I sound like them or not, I don’t even know. It has always depended on the kind of song I want to sing. I don’t fashion my singing style after anybody, but I also think that it’s a great honour to be compared to these acts. Do you get this kind of remarks from other people? Yes, I get that a lot and it humbles me. You stormed the stage with a full band and a cast to perform Iyawo Mi, with your wife at The Headies in 2014. Did you do that because you knew you were going to win an award? It was a performance and you had to bring your best team forward; that was what I simply did. Everybody that mattered in the industry was there and I couldn’t deliver less. What is worth doing is worth doing well. But your wife confessed on a TV interview that you hardly sing for her as you make the world believe… (Chuckles) Don’t mind her o, I still sing. But it’s just that it doesn’t work again after these kids. I still sing for her, it just that somehow, it doesn’t work the magic like before. You bonded with former President Goodluck Jonathan. Do you have anything you are missing about him? Of course, I miss him. I keep telling people that the man is a good man with good intentions, but a lot of people misunderstood him. A lot of things might not have gone the way he planned, but God knows best. This country is ours and there’s nowhere else we can run to. All we want is a better country for our children and our children’s children, no matter what happens. How do you feel when other commercial singers make the millions and they get brand endorsements while only those who appreciate the art celebrate you and sing your praises? If only people know that I’m doing very well and making my cool money. I go for events that are not even announced- most of the birthday

and wedding gigs I perform at, people don’t even know about them. It’s not that I sit back home and just do songs without getting invitation to events at the mainstream. The kind of music I do is the kind I want to do. I love where I am and everybody cannot be giving Nigeria the kind of songs you have here all over today.

You’ve done a couple of works with Cobhams Asuquo and there’s quite a synergy between both of you, how did your paths cross and how would you describe him? We met after the West African Idol show and started talking as friends, but right now, we’re more than friends, we’re brothers. Some singers say that their songs are mainly inspired by the beats, is that the same way you get your music done? No, I write my songs first, all of them. The beat doesn’t come first; sometimes it’s the melody that comes first. You were at the Nigerian Idol show to tutor the contestants, how did it make you feel, knowing you were once like them? It felt great and it reminded me of how far I’ve come. I’ve been on both sides of the table. It’s like a mighty leap - first I came here wanting to win this show and now I’m here to mentor contestants. We might not know where the road leads, but it does lead somewhere and that was what crept into my mind when I was with the contestants. Which of your many songs do you frequently sing when you’re happy and during those downtimes? The song that get me excited is the one I’m writing at any point in time. It’s never the one I’ve written. Once I’ve written a song and listened to it, I move on. It’s only the next one that I’m working on that fascinates me because I can sing it all day. What are you currently working on? I’m shooting the video of the song, Wish Me Well. And I’m also preparing for my album titled Love and Consequences. The album will have songs like Iyawo Mi, Wish Me Well, Great Nation and so on.

Fans berate Wizkid, Linda Ikeji over dirty social media war

Linda

ans of the popular gossip blogger, Linda Ikeji and sensational musician Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as `Wizkid’ have condemned the ugly social media battle between the two. The fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) in Abuja expressed disappointment at the actions of the two personalities. The dispute which heated up on Sunday and has kept social media platforms buzzing began when Wizkid used vulgar words in reacting to a post by the blogger.

The blogger had alleged in a report that Wizkid’s purported Lekki home was not his, but rented and he had been served with an eviction notice. The musician fired back, bragged about his achievements at 25 and alleged that, Ikeji, a publicly known celibate blogger, have been sexual-

ly involved with his manager. Ikeji denied the allegation and went further to say that Wizkid lie about his age and his Porsche car was on hire purchase. Samuel Johnson, a fan of Ikeji said: “I am disappointed that an influential person like Ikeji can descend so low by engaging in war of words with a younger Wizkid. “I can’t believe that an older and respected woman like Linda Ikeji can stoop so low to give that child the time of the day. “I have lost a bit of respect for her,” she added. Andrew Lawal said he had lost his respect for the duo and it would require them to compete for his respect. “I don’t know why they are displaying ignorance and acting immature,” he said. Ruth Jimba, a dedicated

Wizkid fan expressed her contempt, stating that both parties needed a reality check. “Both of them are just displaying an act of foolishness and it is amazing how ignorant they are and I am really disappointed.

Wizkid

entertainment

friday, april 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I still love my ex-husband, Toyin Aimakhu confesses

Davido signs Dremo to HKN Gang

D A

ctress Toyin Aimakhu has opened up and confirmed people’s fear over her love for her ex-husband, Adeniyi Johnson. The controversial Yoruba actress made a shocking revelation that she still loves the dark, handsome young man, but she can’t see herself going back into his arms. She made the revelation in her recent episode of her reality TV series Keeping Up With Toyin Aimakhu (KUWTA) on April 4. Toyin said this about her ex-husband via her KUWTA reality show: “I got married to a Yoruba guy, but I packed my load away because he loves girls too much. I still love him, but can’t marry him again, never.” Toyin, whose marriage with Johnson was disturbed by infidelity rumours, later got into a relationship with the C.E.O. of Ebony Films and Records Production International, Seun Egbegbe, but their relationship didn’t last long before the actress disassociated herself from him on the social media.

avido has signed a new artist called Dremo on his record label, HKN gang, while also confirming the deal with Mayor Kun who he signed some weeks back. The pop star shared this via Instagram on April 5th, 2016. Going ahead to confirm the deal, he says, “New HKN Boys!!!! Signed And Sealed!! HKN/Davido Music Worldwide. Dremo is a recording artiste/songwriter, record producer and a performing artist. True to his roots, Dremo’s music is a unique fusion of Afrobeat & Afro pop with a unique blend of urban tunes. Dremo is a top fresh, young and urban new school Nigerian artiste who

consistently delivers exciting punch lines & catchy hooks. The Afrobeat act started music production (songwriting & production) at 12 years old, but signed his first professional contract to APPE Music Entertainment in 2013. A.P.P.E “Absolute - Passion – Powers - Everything” is the perfect acronym definition to describe Dremo’s attitude, motivation and dedication towards his art. Dremo has worked with producers like D-Tunes, Shizzy, TeeBeeO, amongst others, with plans to work with Legendury Beatz, Maleek Berry, Sarz and Don Jazzy. The ‘Aye’ singer also went ahead to disclose that new music and new vid-

Dremo

eo from Mayor Kun will be dropping on Friday April 8 (today). Davido had earlier signed Mayor Kun on March 3, unveiling the act at an interactive session with the media. The singer was signed off the back of an Instagram performance, which caught Davido’s attention, and led him down this path. The new signings, Dremo and Mayor Kun, add up to already signed acts such as producer Shizzi, B-red, Danagog and Sina Rambo. Dremo recently released a tribute song dedicated to Fela Kuti, titled Fela, with the track’s instrumentation sampled from Panda by Kanye West’s artiste Desiigner. Other songs from the rapper include his debut hit single, Oluwa Baba nla turn up dropped in July 2015, which met good reviews, a freestyle cypher titledDremo vs Drake, Motto mix (O.Y.O.Y.O), and ‘Normal levelz’ amongst others.

Comedian, AY’s soliloquy on haters Biodun Okeowo scrambles with generator for fuel

ollywood actress, Biodun Okeowo, better known as Omobutty, is not happy, as her business has been nose-diving recently due to the current power and fuel challenges currently faced in the country. The actress stated that she has been on the queue for about four hours just to get fuel and it got so bad that she had to go with her generator. A brief video shows how

the actress’ generator was being fueled by the petrol attendants while they laughed at the struggle of many Nigerians. Her lamentation read; “Which way Nigeria? Spent over four hours on the queue just to get fuel. Seriously affecting my business. Can’t work because no fuel to power the generator. Chai, God please have mercy and bless Nigeria, touch the heart of our leaders, Amen.”

amous comedian and entrepreneur, Ayo Makun, a.k.a. AY hasn’t still found answers to questions bothering him about why and how people just choose to hate others. His tolerance of this mess reached a critical level recently, hence his soliloquy. “Why is it that some people around you just think you don’t deserve most of the things that God has blessed you with? Why do they always look at things at the surface level? How come it’s always so easy for them to say you are not worthy of your fame, your popularity, your friends, your career and other good things of life? “Why can’t they just pay attention to the hard work you had put in behind the scenes — your sacrifices, your worries, your fears and the pains you’d gone through? “When are they going to stop seeing life as some kind of unnecessary competition? When and how would haters deal with their feelings of inadequacy and inferiority? #OnlyGodcanjudge”

entertainment

friday, april 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rob Kardashian blindsided family with Blac Chyna engagement L ittle wonder the Kardashian Klan hasn’t congratulated Rob and Blac Chyna on their engagement on April 5 – they didn’t even know Rob was going to propose. A new report claims the family was totally blindsided by the news. Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian and the gang had no clue that Rob Kardashian was planning to propose to his girlfriend of about four months, Blac Chyna, so they were totally stunned when they heard the news, according to a report. Not only did they not know it was happening, but Rob actually planned it to be when they were out of town. This is just savage! TMZ reported on April 5 that the Kardashian family had no idea that Rob was planning to propose to Blac. What’s worse: he didn’t simply forget to tell them; he intentionally waited until they were

out of town on a family vacation to do it. It was only a couple of hours after their departure for Vail, CO that he popped the question. Ouch. A source told TMZ that Rob went out of his way to keep the big night “aggressively on the QT.” Maybe that’s why the girls aren’t rushing to social media to wish the newly engaged couple the best in their lifelong adventure. Despite being slighted, Kris is still supporting her son. A source told HollywoodLife.com that she just wants him to be happy. However, she’s having a tough time keeping the other girls on board. “Kim’s been doing a lot of eye rolling and thinks Rob‘s out of his mind. Kylie lives on social media and her phone is blowing up with Rob and Blac alerts and she’s upset. There’s just so much going on right now.”

Amber Rose supports Kim Kardashian on posting naked selfies J ust when you thought everyone was attacking Kim Kardashian over her nude photo controversy, her once archrival, Amber Rose, stepped up to the plate to support her. It has appeared that Kim Kardashian definitely has a friend in Amber Rose. When Kim came under fire for her latest nude photo post on IG, no one thought much of it. I assumed this was just typical Kim hate that would blow over in a few hours. Never did one expect for the likes of Bette Midler, Chloe Grace Moretz and Pink to get involved, but in this digital age, anything is possible. Then, just when many thought things couldn’t be anymore unexpected, Amber blew us away by publicly defending Kim and it’s why people are so impressed. Kim has been unfairly targeted. What was meant to be a “Monday Motivation” throwback post to help Kim continue to buckle down and lose her baby weight turned into a global debate as to what Kim should be using her fame for. Kim has always stayed true to who she is: a reality star, media mogul, mom-of-two, devoted wife, trendsetter and a woman who loves her curves. Posting a pic of herself naked wasn’t out of the norm for Kim and actually, was very welcomed by her over 41 million Twitter followers. That’s why when the likes of Bette, Chloe and Pink (her nontarget audience) got involved, some were scratching their heads and thinking, “well, if you don’t want to see it, then why go on her page in the first place?” When Amber stepped up to the occasion and defended Kim, fans were very impressed because she too had been unfairly criticized for being proud of her sexuality. “I don’t know you well, but I saw you speak about slut shaming and, as you know, I’m an activist feminist, so it spoke to me. Being slut shamed and ridiculed is not fun, it’s hurtful and mean,” Amber said in defence of Kim’s open letter she penned to her haters. “Women deal with it every day and I’m happy you can speak openly

on this now because if anyone knows what it’s like to be slut shamed it’s you! Live it Kim! Make a difference and speak on it! Not only when it’s convenient for you, but when you can help others.” This just warms the hearts of many, because some believe women really should stick together. And Madeleine Albright‘s quote that Taylor Swift recited after Tina Fey and Amy Poehler made fun of her at the 2013 Golden Globes aptly captures this, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” How about everyone jump off the hate Kim bandwagon and just accept the fact that she’s here to stay. You might not like her, agree with her or want to follow her on Twitter, but she’s a force to be reckoned with. How about instead of saying Kim isn’t doing anything positive with her enormous fame, point out that she gives curvy girls all over the world confidence? Or how about the fact that she’s a fabulous mom and wife? Why not mention that she tirelessly works to promote her brand and work for her family business?

Drake surprises fans, drops 2 hot new singles

urprise! Drake dropped not one, but two brand new songs on April 5, and they’re both next-level amazing. You’ve got to listen to his smooth crooning in One Dance and his rhymes with Kanye West and Jay Z (AKA ‘The Throne’). Drake fans, this is not a drill! The 29-year-old rapper dropped two surprise jams on April 5, and they’re both going to seriously amplify up your day. One Dance has all of the soft singing and groove you need to dance, while “Pop Style” brings Kanye West, 38, and Jay Z, 46, on board to spit some serious bars. Okay, we couldn’t have asked for a better surprise. The new Drake songs are fire, and we can’t stop listening. Fans were shocked when the rapper released not one, but two songs on April 5, and we can already tell they’re both about to take over the airwaves. First, let’s chat about One Dance. Drake sets aside his rhymes and sings for the entire song and he sounds velvety smooth and amazing. His voice perfectly complimented by WizKid (yes Nigeria’s WizKid) and Kyla, who are featured on the track. We’re going to go ahead and say his time working on Work with Rihanna definitely inspired this song, which has a similar tropical, chill dance vibe.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agric FG, AFDB pledge N59.7bn grant for youths’ agric scheme

Business What's news Investors to FG: Overhaul institutions to boost FDI

Environment Watch Experts to FG: Guard against aquatic challenges

28 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE March 2016...............................11.4% February 2016...........................11.4% January 2016............................9.6%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at April 4)

(Interbank as at April 4)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N322 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N457 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N360

l Foreign Reserves – $27.872bn as at 24/3/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

p.28

9 vessels berth with N18.7bn fuel at Lagos jetties

p.28

L-R: President, Computer Professionals’ Registration Council, Prof. Vincent Asor; Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and representative of the VicePresident, Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, at the 2016 Cyber Security Threats and Countermeasures held in Abuja. PHOTO: NAN

CHALLENGE Nigerian Domain Name System (DNS) industry is till at the lowest ebb

Kunle Azeez

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

espite over 97 million Nigerians online, Nigeria continues to lose out significantly in the $1.7 trillion global Internet domain system (DNS) market of the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, New Telegraphhas gathered. According to findings, Nigeria is losing an estimated N600 million capital flight in the DNS segment of its ICT industry. The development, findings show, is largely because most of the domain names in the country are either foreign or local ones hosted abroad. It was learnt the situation is further complicated by the wrong perception by Nigerians towards patronising the nation’s Internet domain market. Nigeria’s digital signature also called the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) system is .ng, which is administered by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) being funded by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The .ng domain name is, therefore, the country’s identity on the

Nigeria struggles in $1.7trn global Internet market Loses N600m to capital flight yearly world wide web (WWW). Globally, the Internet domain market is a bourgeoning market valued $1.7 trillion with countries around the world in a quest to promote their respective domain system to retain substantial part of Internet expenditure in-country. However, the continuous patronage of foreign domain names such as .com, .uk, .az among others by individuals and businesses in Nigeria, has negatively impacted uptake of .ng domain name, resulting in capital flight in the economy. “The Internet market, which is a sub-sector of ICT, is worth $1.7 trillion globally. However, only 60,000 domain names are registered with the .ng domain name, which is the country’s identity on the web,” said President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Sunday Folayan. He said: “Of the 60,000, only one per cent is domesticated in Nigeria, leaving the remaining 99 per cent hosted abroad, resulting in huge capital flight”. Domain name is a unique name that identifies an Internet resource, such as a website. It is an identifica-

97 million Number of Nigerians that are online

tion string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control on the Internet. Such domain names include .com for United States; .uk for United Kingdom; .au for South Africa and .ng for Nigeria, among others. According to reports, approximately 250 different international domains containing their own twoletter country code extension exist in the world and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) controls this. Also speaking on phone with this newspaper, immediate past President of NIRA, Mrs. Mary Uduma, noted: “Our Internet economy and e-commerce have not started; our Domain Name System (DNS) industry is till at the lowest ebb. Internet access is a challenge and the few using the Internet are using foreign domain names and for that reason, we are losing a lot of money, which we would have retained”. She said that Nigerians, especially the private sector operators, needed to connect to the .ng domain to stem capital flight to other counCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

business |NEWS

Nigeria gropes in $1.7trn global Internet market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

tries, whose domain names Nigerians patronise and pay huge sums for. Uduma said: “Let me give you a statistics; if there are 1,000 registered domain names in Nigeria, only 10 will be on .ng, 990 will be on .com and if they all pay N1, 000 that is one million naira. “So while N990, 000 will go abroad, only N10,000 will be in Nigeria, so, we are losing money because people are not taking the .ng as their domain name”. Meanwhile, Afolayan has said that NIRA was increasing public awareness on the importance of using .ng domain names. “What we are doing is that we are sensitising Nigerians that just as naira is our currency, .ng is our currency on the cyberspace; we should take .ng as our string on the cyberspace instead of using .com or .uk and so on. “We are working with NITDA, our over 40 registrars, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to make sure there is an intervention for people to be online as soon as they take the .ng domain name,” he said. Also speaking, former Vice President of Nigeria Internet Group, Mr. Destiny Amana, said, “The value of using .ng to individuals, businesses and governments is huge. In the first place, the local content policy of Federal Government starts with .ng. So, if you are a Nigerian and you want to promote the local content, you should be on .ng registry. That is the first thing”. Secondly, the NIRA President said that the policy of the federal government is also promoting local content for businesses to be online and preferably on .ng. “The more people find a business online these days, the better it is for the business owner and that is even where the world is going: ecommerce,” she added. She also said that .ng provides a good visibility and progress for business, urging businesses and individuals to bring their businesses online by opening such online presence in .ng. From macro perspective, Uduma said that the money realised from the sales of .ng domain names is retained in Nigeria and used to develop the local economy as well as create jobs to address the unemployment situation in the country. Also explaining the benefits of .ng, Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, said that technically, a domain like the .ng domain, which is hosted locally can be more easily accessed when Internet users are surfing the web than those hosted abroad.

INVESTMENT Nigerians in the Diaspora and foreigners are willing to take advantage of the market

Taiwo Hassan

oreign investors eyeing Nigeria’s economy have advised the Federal Government to overhaul its agencies and parastatals to allow inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. They also believe that restructuring the agencies will allow Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to benefit immensely from the FDI. Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Small and Medium scale Enterprise Group (SMEG), Jon Kachikwu, said these were some of the submissions of group of foreign investors who converged on an investors’ forum on investments in Africa and the way forward for the continent in Michigan, United States. He said that investors in the Diaspora were willing to take advantage of the Nigerian market.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Investors to FG: Overhaul institutions to boost FDI Kachikwu however, said that the only bottleneck was the lack of functional dedicated institutions that will protect their investments and allow genuine growth in the country. According to him, the government institutions such as the ministries, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Controls and others, need to be restructured for best service delivery. His words: “The truth is that I went for an international business conference and I met different investors from Cambodia, China, Australia, United Kingdom and others in Michigan, U.S.A. And the focus of the conference is investments in Africa and the way forward. And we came to the conclusion, especially the investors who are actually willing to come to Nigeria, that what we lack here is misplaced government agencies and ministries. “It is now left for the Feder-

al Government to strengthen the institutions because that is where they have challenges with their investments. They know that Nigeria has the market. They know that the money is there. But the problem is how they will come into the country for business when they would not be frustrated out along the line by these socalled government institutions at the end of the day. “They said if the Federal Government could strengthen these institutions then the sky would be the limit for Nigerian investment climate.” According to him, the foreign investors are wary of the falling economy, and to them, the country shouldn’t have been in this economic situation based on the fact that Nigeria has the market and population. The LCCI helmsman added that until these things were in place, genuine investors might not be willing to come over. Specifically, he pointed out that most of the Asians investors that flooded the Nigerian markets had different motives

for their coming. “It is only government that can do this and obviously, SMEs will benefit if government can strengthen these institutions because a lot of people will be employed. SMEs will thrive and so many things will go for the good of the SMEs. Once you have more and more foreign investors, obviously the SMEs will benefit. They will become their distributors, suppliers. And that is what we are talking about,” he added. Kachikwu berated policymakers for allowing the country’s economy to decline to this extent. “Nigerians are supposed to be comfortable but today we don’t even have middle class; it is either you are poor or you are rich because of the negative policies of the government. So, the policymakers are not great thinkers and that is what the foreign investors have come to realise that we don’t really show love. Our policymakers do not show enough commitments and love for this country, they rather work for themselves,” he added.

L-R: Members, Disciplinary Tribunal of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Oluwole Adeosun; Mr. Muritala Olushekun; Chairman, Disciplinary Tribunal, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe; Legal Assessor to the Disciplinary Tribunal, Justice George Oguntade and another member, Mr. Mike Itegboje, during the sitting of the Disciplinary Tribunal of CIS in Lagos.

PARADOX Nigeria, which exports crude oil, will rely on petrol importation throughout this year Bayo Akomolafe

ine merchant tankers have arrived the Lagos pilotage district with 216,768, 679 million litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N18, 750,490,734. A litre is sold at N85.50 at the current official rate. It was learnt that the imported fuel would last for only five days, as the nation consumes 40 million litres daily. The vessels are expected to discharge the products at the Lagos jetties. Already, Oceana and Mal-

9 vessels berth with N18.7bn fuel at Lagos jetties bec have been moored at Atlas Cove Jetty (ACJ) and Single Bouy Mooring (SBM) respectively since last Tuesday. Also, Alizea Daddo with 17, 000metric tons landed at Petroleum Wharf Apapa (PWP) jetty and Hinde Bluesea with 8, 000 metric tons at Ijora jetty. Expected in other docks are MSK Meddittrean, laden with 37,990.679 metric tons; Malbec, 30, 698 metric tons; Torm Trinity, 30,000 metric tons; Cumbria, 10,282 metric tons; Champion, 23,000 metric tons; Oceana, 24,000 metric tons and Sti Milaukee, 35798metric tons. The bulk of the fuel came from Asian countries.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had hinted last December, that the country may depend on 75 per cent fuel importation throughout this year. In the last one year, data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the country spent N1.539 trillion on importation of PMS alone. The amount was N37 billion higher than what the country spent in 2014, when it imported N1.202 trillion. The 2015 figure was 367.55 per cent more than the 2013 fuel imports figure of N264.85 billion. A breakdown also indicated that in the first quarter of 2015,

the country spent N288.871 billion on petrol importation, second quarter, N389.257 billion; third quarter, N250.329 billion and fourth quarter, N310.866 billion. The data noted that between January and June 2015, the country took delivery N49.2 billion, N105.973 billion, N133.697 billion, N139.237 billion, N133.793 billion and N116.227 billion respectively of fuel at the various jetties. Also between July and December, N134.14 billion, N85.451 billion, N30.737 billion, N68.083 billion, N120.519 billion and N122.263 billion respectively were spent on the importation of petrol alone.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

labour

Nigeria’s unemployment rate highest in Africa–TUC RANKING Country in the same group with Somalia, Chad and Niger Taiwo Hassan

rganised Labour Union is in talks with President Muhammadu Buhari on ways to resolve the lingering economic crisis in the country, especially the increasing unemployment rate, which has placed Nigeria as one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, said that labour activists in the country were wary of the impasse in the economy, as it was worsening the high unemployment rate in the country. In a statement, the TUC boss said it was alarming to note that the country’s high unemployment rate had placed Nigeria in the same group with other African countries such as Somalia, Chad and Niger. The government he said needs to address the appalling economic woes in the country to bring back public confidence amongst Nigerians. His words: “Yes. We have drawn the attention of President Buhari to the parlous state of the nation. We are concerned that despite all the effort your government has made at strategic government levels to comprehensively address the ever-burgeoning employment crisis that has become our lot in recent years,

A cross-section of some suspended immigration officers recruited under the past Presidential Committee, demanding justice over their suspension in Abuja… recently... PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI.

the problem has persisted. “This is because our rate of unemployment is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and this is a grouping where you have countries like Somalia, Chad, and Niger, yet, we have never been so blessed in terms of revenue from oil wealth at this rate in history. This, we believe is a paradox and must be quickly addressed”. The TUC president noted that Nigerians were suffering and wanted to see positive effect of the ‘change mantra’ in their lives, especially in physical infrastructure development.

He said: “We speak of job driven economic growth. Nigerian workers and its people want to feel the impact of all the growth reeled out periodically by relevant governmental agencies. Nigerians want to see it translated into more qualitative and quantitative food on the table; better education; better social and physi-

Group decries Tata’s disclaimer on staff

he national secretariat of Automobile, Boatyards, Transport, Equipment and Allied Senior staff Association’s has berated the management of TaTa Africa Services Nigeria for publishing a disclaimer in respect of one Ogunyemi Ojo Joseph. The union, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said the automobile firm took the action because of Joseph’s position on anti-labour and in human practices of the new management. The union said that it was a case of victimization and calling a dog a bad name in order to kill it. In the statement signed by the General Secretary, AUTOBATE, Comrade Sola Olorunfemi, the union stated categorically that Ogunyemi’s sin had to do with his forthrightness in leading the defense of workers’ inalienable rights and welfare since 2010, two years after he was employed as Assistant Manager, Service Network of the company. The group said: “We cannot continue to treat silence so golden because while we are still exhausting all avenues to peacefully resolve the matter with the regional headquarters of the company in South Africa and arbitration at the Federal Ministry of Labour

& Employment, the Mrs. Esther Obhiojeifor’s led Human Resource department has gone without recourse to the mass media. Olorunfemi said:“The victimisation of Comrade Ogunyemi dates back to the year 2010 after he spearheaded the struggle for Employees’ Handbook /Manual, and staff gratuity, which was won just in January 2016. It is also on record that AUTOBATE is at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment since 2014 to consistently challenge victimisation of Comrade Ogunyemi who has been issued several queries. “That apart, he was later transferred to Port Harcourt in 2014 just to cripple his activism as then AUTOBATE Tata branch chairman. A memorandum of understanding was eventually signed between Tata and AUTOBATE at the Federal Ministry of Labour on June 23 2015, where the company agreed never to witch-hunt workers any longer”. It alleged that having failed to withhold workers’ gratuity, Tata’s management wittingly launched another onslaught by enlisting Comrade Joseph, who has never been found wanting at work and character, among those to be sacked.

cal infrastructure; they want to work in decent environment and they want their efforts towards nation building to be adequately recognised and rewarded. “Nigeria is today, for instance, one of ILO’s model countries for the decent work country programme and advanced work has been done

concerning its actualization,” Kaigama added. “The findings have been that of huge deficits in decent work targets. We therefore call for concerted action from Mr. President to address the various identified gaps with a view of making the Nigerian worker the key element in all our employment policies”.

Why we halted talks with labour –Ikeja Electric

he management of Ikeja Electric has restated reason why it had to cut off further discussions with labour the termination of some workers’ appointments. The power distribution company had engaged in discussions with the National Union of Electricity Workers (NUEE) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) about three weeks ago to put an end to the picketing of its premises by union members. However, Ikeja Electric in a statement said it discontinued the talks, stressing that the negotiation was tending towards a proposition that would jeopardise transparency, employee performance and service excellence to customers. Last month, Labour had picketed the electricity distribution company for three days over the disengagement of workers who failed to meet the company’s performance objectives and were deemed to be performing below standard. However, the picketing was suspended after Ikeja Electric reached an agreement with NUEE and NLC to set up a committee to review the performance

appraisal and competency assessment process. Citing the reason for its action, Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, explained that the company had to discontinue due to a clear determination by representatives of labour to stick to a preconceived and irreversible position that the process was flawed. Therefore, the review process was an exercise in futility. Rather than engage in an objective and constructive review of the whole appraisal process, which is tailored in line with global best practices as Ofulue pointed out, labour preferred an arbitrary review in which reduced criteria would be applied to certain selected employees who are members of the union. He said: “The performance review process was classified into four stages, clearly detailing steps to be taken at each stage. However, Labour, without taking any of these steps into consideration and any justifiable rationale, insisted the process was flawed and demanded that Ikeja Electric must recall all disengaged staff. “While we remain com-

mitted to upholding best human capital processes and stakeholder engagement in fostering excellence in the workplace, there are indications that the propositions of certain actors in the negotiation process are against our resolve to provide improved services to our customers and are fixated on jeopardising our overall interest to move the industry forward, so, we had no choice but to withdraw in the interest of our consumers”. Ofulue noted that the electricity sector had suffered great setback over several decades of mismanagement and stressed that it was time to focus on applying quality human capital to salvage the situation. Calling for restraint, the Ikeja Electric spokesman pointed out that Labour was morally bound to protect the overall wellbeing of the masses, and not the interests of a select few. He cited the last picketing exercise, which caused great distress to the general public and cautioned against saboteurs and detractors who were bent on scuttling the negotiation process for selfish reasons.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

agric

FG, AFDB pledge N59.7bn grant for youths’ agric scheme JOB CREATION The programme is to encourage youths into agriculture, increase food sufficiency and reduce unemployment Taiwo Hassan

he Federal Government, in partnership with African Development Bank (AfDB), is set to launch a Youth-In-Scheme valued at N59.7 billion in September to enhance agric development in the country. The Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nteranya Sanginga, disclosed this in Ibadan, Oyo state. He said that the IITA would train those enrolled in the scheme, adding that beneficiaries would be taught how to make agriculture a business with good networking. “The programme tagged “Enable Youth Empowerment Agribusiness programme”, will engage youths in agribusiness for 18 months to enable them learn how to make agric business plan. Each will be given between $25,000 and $300,000 as loan to start a business. The programme started by IITA in 2012,

Farmers at work

was taken over by the Federal Government and AFDB to create employment in agric sector. “To support this objective, the programme will be extended to 36 states and Abuja in September. After the programme, we expect the youth to become chief executive officers of factories, companies and creators of jobs rather than job seekers,” he said. The IITA boss, therefore, urged the youths to develop positive mindset in agriculture and be serious with the train-

ing. “They should be serious with the training because at the end of it, only those who did well will be rewarded,” he said. Recently, the Federal Government and AfDB had pledged to spend about $300 million (N78 billion) on the Enable Youth Empowerment Agribusiness Programme designed for future entrepreneur farmers in Nigeria. Speaking at the launch of the scheme, AfDB Director of Agricultural and Agro- Allied Industries, Dr. Chudi Ojukwu said

Nigerian textile producers support Monsanto agric

embers of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association have thrown their weights behind the application of Monsanto agriculture in Nigeria. They have also called on the National Biosafety Management Agency to consider environmental release and placing in market of genetically modified insect-protected (Bt) cotton. The body said in a statement, said Genetically Modified insect protected (Bt) Cotton can play an immense role in restoring attraction to cotton farming as well as reviving and repositioning the textile sector in the country. Acting Director General of the association, Hamma Kwajafa, explained that lack of confidence by participants across the cotton value chain over the years restricted the much-needed investment. He added that one of the root causes of this is tied tightly to the most

important input in the industry, the cotton crop. His words: “Cotton farming in Nigeria over the years has suffered because the opportunity cost of planting cotton has remained high. Cotton does not compete favourably against other lower risk crops and this has led to dwindling the fortunes of farmers involved in cultivating the crop over time. He said: “In addition, seed quality remains a problem affecting yield and by implication farmers’ income and motivation to cultivate. The prevalence of pests, which leads to increased expenses in pesticides, unnecessarily hiking cost of inputs upwards, is also another contributing factor.” Kwajafa noted that with the various challenges affecting cotton farming in the country, “It is no surprise that attraction to the business is on the decline. “Scarcity, poor quality or unattractive pricing of this raw material has

direct consequences on our industry, causing it to contract with every passing year and stunting its ability to take its place as a potential key contributor to the economy especially now that the government of the day is exploring non-oil revenue options to boost public finance”. He said that explained why they are throwing their weight behind the recent submission of an application for the environmental release and placing in market of Genetically Modified insect protected (Bt) Cotton by Monsanto agriculture Nigeria. He said: “This protection is expected to improve cotton lint quality and farmers will benefit increase yields due to reduced insect-pest damage,” Kwafaja said. According to him, the commencement of review process of the Monsanto’s application by the recently established National Biosafety Management Agency is a welcomed development.

that the agency agreed that the project was to be implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within 18 months. He said the three-year project would enable training and funding of young graduates, who are interested in farming across the country. According to him, the programme was expected to encourage youths into agriculture, with the aim of increasing food sufficiency, reducing un-

employment. He however, said that each recipient is to benefit $75, 000 from the credit scheme. His words: “A total of $300 million would be accessed to cover the three year project, which would bring young graduates together and train them for 18 months as entrepreneur farmers. The project would cover the 36 states including the FCT, while the Agricultural transformation Agenda (ATA) would be expanded through the processing zones”.

Nigeria is world’s largest cassava producer–Lokpobiri Taiwo Hassan

T This protection is expected to improve cotton lint quality

he Federal Government has said the country is now the largest producer of cassava in the world with an annual output of 45 million metric tons. Minister of State of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, who represented the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made the remark. He spoke at the sideline of the official launch of the State Partnership for Agriculture, organised by Synergos in Nigeria in collaboration with the Ministry and Bill and Melinda Foundation (BMGF), in Abuja. He said that more than 35 improved varieties of cassava had been developed and registered in Nigeria. His words: “These varieties had increased the production of cassava to make Nigeria the largest producer of cassava in the world with an annual output of 45 million metric tons.” According to him, flour

mills are being encouraged to substitute at least 10 per cent high quality cassava flour for wheat flour. He commended Master Bakers for their positive response to government’s policy towards this direction. Lokpobiri said that Federal Government would sustain its demand for inclusion of high quality cassava flour in bread in the country. Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is collaborating with the Federal Government to train major service providers in key cocoa producing states on vegetative propagation, to address the dearth of planting materials. The industry is faced with low productivity at less than 350 tonnes/hectare, and needs cocoa seedlings to cultivate much-needed new cocoa plantations. According to experts, investments in new plantations are required to replace and expand existing cocoa estates, most of which were cultivated in the pre-independence era.

businesS \ agric

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PRODUCTIVITY Unleashing a rice revolution has produced 1.8 million metric tonnes of rice paddy within two years Taiwo Hassan

igerian far mers have recorded an estimated $200 million (N39.4 billion) in net incomes in the past two years from rice. The development has created wealth for the farmers and their communities, according to a policy expert and Coordinator of Africa Regional Climate Change Programme under the United Nations Environment Programme, Dr. Richard Munang. He believes that diversifying into other sectors such as an optimised agro-sector, services and manufacturing will help boost growth in the sector. Munang spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of the Nigerian chapter of Ecosystem-based Adaptation

Over 70 exhibitors for Agrofood trade fair in Lagos

ore than 70 exhibitors from 19 countries are expected to showcase their latest agricultural technologies at this year’s second Agrofood and Plastprintpack trade fair in Lagos. According to the organisers, the AHK-Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, NigerianGermany Business Association and IOPN-Institute of Packaging Nigeria are planning the fair. The event will take place from 26th to 28th of this month at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island Annex in Lagos. The fair will see exhibitors from Austria, Benin, China, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland and South Africa. Others are Spain, Thailand, Togo,Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and United States of America. The three-day seminar will also see more than 1,300 visitors. “Agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria supports the Nigerian agrofood industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creating an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products”, says Martin März, Managing Director of the German trade show specialists’ fairtrade. “It is all about technological exchange and cooperation between Nigerian food and drink producers and international specialists for food ingredients and food and packaging technology.”

Nigerian farmers realise $200m income from rice scheme for Food Security Assembly, with the theme, ‘Reshaping Nigeria’s food security and climate resilience through EBAFOSA.’ At the event, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, was represented by the Director of Administration in the ministry, Chris Ezeilo. He said EBAFOSA, which seeks to combat food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems

degradation and poverty in Africa, using innovative approach, now had a membership of 2,000 in Nigeria. Munang said that although Africa held 65 per cent of the world’s arable land, 10 per cent of internal renewable fresh water sources and a projected agro-value chain worth $1trillion by 2030, the reality on the ground was appalling. While quoting the World Bank reports that in Africa,

a 10 per cent increase in crop yields translates into approximately a seven per cent reduction in poverty, the policy expert said Nigeria was already demonstrating high potential of an optimised agro-sector. He said: “Unleashing a rice revolution has produced 1.8 million metric tonnes of rice paddy within two years and created 460,000 jobs, especially for the youth. In addition, farmers’ net incomes

increased by an estimated $200 million, creating wealth for farmers and their communities. This is only a fraction of the potential Nigeria can realise. “Distinguished guests, when Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds. Nigeria holds about one-fifth of the continents population. If empowered, this will be the largest consolidated market in the continent.”

L-R: Director of Rural Community Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Oyo State, Pastor Yode Ayanlowo; Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigerian Foundation (BATNF), Mrs. Oluwaseyi Ashade; the Aare of Ago-Are, Oba (Dr.) Abodunrin Kofoworola; General Manager, BATNF, Abimbola Okoya; and the Chairman, Management Committee of Ago-Are cassava cottage industry, Chief Adedigba Josiah, during the commissioning of the rehabilitated cassava processing cottage industry, in ATISBO LGA of Oyo State, recently.

Firm revamps cassava processing cottage Taiwo Hassan

he British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) said it had rehabilitated the cassava processing cottage at Ago-Are, in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State. Executive Director, BATNF, Oluwaseyi Ashade, said that the rehabilitation became necessary as part of the company’s effort to expand the cassava value-chain enterprise in the country. Ashade in a statement said: “The rehabilitated cassava processing cottage industry was initially commissioned and handed over to the community on December 3, 2004. But due to the expansion of agricultural activities, especially the cassava valuechain enterprise, the Ago Are agrarian community made a request for facility expansion to increase cassava processing into various derivatives, in 2015, which the Foundation honoured. “Our work in supporting smallholder farmers in rural communities in Nigeria is our answer to the challenge

of poverty and our approach to transforming the society to self-sufficient people who can feed themselves, earn an income from their farms through processing and feed the larger population. So far, the Foundation has established community development projects in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, some of which have resulted in wealth creation and food security.” According to Ashade, the rehabilitation of Ago-Are cassava processing cottage signposts the Foundation’s commitment to supporting efforts targeted at alleviating poverty among smallholder farmers. While urging the smallholder farmers to take advantage of this initiative to enhance their livelihood, Ashade said: “With the handing over of these facilities, it is our belief that the beneficiaries and the community at large will put the equipment into proper use in order to increase their productivity and income, thereby making life more meaningful to them, their household and the social-economic life of the community.”

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

Price 473-0 356-6 904-2 268.7 33.99 189-4 9.820 472-2 523-0

Change -6-2 unch -1-0 -0.5 -0.11 unch -0.030 -7-2 -4-6

Contract May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16

Time(ET) 06:27 06:27 06:27 06:26 06:24 05:44 03:16 06:23 05:56

Price 58.85 144.00 121.45 14.70 2883 292.50 0.0000 0.1477 2851.00 0.0000

Change -0.06 -0.45 -0.25 -0.01 -19 -3.90 -0.0190 unch +11.00 -0.0006

Contract May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16 May 16

Time(ET) 06:27 04/05/16 06:27 06:27 06:27 04/05/16 04/05/16 04/05/16 04/05/16 04/05/16

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Lumber CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2

Meats Commodity

Price

Change

Contract

Time(ET)

Live Cattle

133.250

-2.525

Apr 16

03/29/16

Feeder Cattle

156.225

-4.050

Apr 16

03/29/16

Lean Hogs

75.000

-0.100

Apr 16

03/29/16

Class III Milk

13.70

-0.03

Apr 16

05:29

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

Environment Watch

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A dry coast due the EI Nino Phenomenon

Experts to FG: Guard against aquatic challenges THREAT Adverse weather conditions may increase water temperature and reduce fishing yield Stories Dayo Ayeyemi

elevant gover nment agencies have been urged to adopt policies aimed at restoring the coastal marine ecosystem to check possible reduction in fishing yield caused by the effects of El Nino, a phenomenon that brings about changes in the atmospheric system. Besides, the experts also advised the government to restore the ecosystem along the coastal areas in Southern Nigeria through tree planting. This, they said, would go a long way in securing the region from the devastating impact of El Nino. El Niño can lead to heavy rain and drier-than-normal conditions. Associate Professor of Environmental Planning and Head, Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University in Keffi, Dr Nasiru Idris, said that such changes in atmospheric system usually occurs at the transition period between dry season and rainy season. He said most of them cause an increase in water temperature, which drives fishes away, thus presenting a difficult period for fishermen. He pointed out that others cause extreme drought, which either delays agricultural activities or dry up farmlands. Similarly, a scientist with Community Conservation and Development Initiatives (CCDI), Ako Amadi, said that El Nino was already remotely

impacting the nation. According to him, the impact is that it puts the weather into uncertainties. “You may be having heavier rains and you don’t know that part of it relates to El-Niño that is going on in all parts of the world. Where warmer waters are coming to the surface instead of colder waters and, with that, that sort of adds to global warming and all of that disrupts atmospheric circulation,” said Amadi. According to UN bodies, international aid agencies and governments, severe droughts and floods triggered by one of the strongest El Niño weather events ever recorded since the beginning of this year, have left nearly 100 million people in southern Africa, Asia and Latin America facing food and water shortages and vulnerable to diseases including Zika. New figures from the UN’s World Food Programme say 40 million people in rural areas and nine million in urban centres, who live in the droughtaffected parts of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland, will need food assistance in the next year. In addition, 10 million people are said by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) to need food in Ethiopia, and 2.8 million need assistance in Guatemala and Honduras. Idris warned that one of the measures that the nation needed to take was to identify the people’s means of livelihood and find ways of securing them at the Southern part of Nigeria. “For farming, we need to plant trees that will help to stablise the soil. The trees will also assist in fighting

drought,” he added. He pointed out that measures should also be put in place to check possible flooding that could follow rise in sea level during El Nino. Amadi said: “It is having a global impact when you have what we call upwelling if you look at the marine environment, usually all those conti-

nents, North, South, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. On the west side of the continents, there’s a phenomenon called upwelling; which means that seasonally cold waters below 200 metres well up to the surface. These cold waters are rich in nutrient, mainly phytoplankton, which are eaten by plankton.”

Nigeria, others to spend $200bn on water supply

ith the current water demand, Nigeria and other governments around the world may be forced to spend $200 billion per year on upstream water supply, as against the historic averages of $40 billion to $45 billion, New Telegraph has learnt. According to a new report from the International Resource Panel (IRP), this has become imperative in order to increase water supply to people and save half of the world’s population from severe water stress by 2030. Justifying the need for the huge spending on water, the IRP, which is made up of a consortium of 27 internationally renowned scientists, 33 national governments and other groups, pointed out that water demand is expected to rise by 283 per cent over 2005 levels by 2030 in sub-Saharan Africa, a region struggling to cope with the impacts of climate change and poverty. The study entitled: “Policy Options for Decoupling Economic Growth from Water Use and Water Pollution, noted that would be dramatically increased in future demand for water due to rising global population, increased urbanisation, climate change and a shift in how food is consumed. “Under current trends, demand for water will exceed supply by 40 per cent in 2030, forcing governments to spend $200 billion per year on upstream water supply, as demand outstrips cheaper forms of supply – up from historic averages of $40 to $45 billion,” the IRP

report said. Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, said that reliable access to clean water remained a cornerstone of sustainable development. He said: “When clean water is consistently unavailable, the world’s poorest must spend much of their disposable income buying it, or a large amount of time transporting it, which limits development. And since only half of one per cent of the world’s freshwater is available for the needs of both humanity and ecosystems, we will need to do more and better with less if we are to ensure healthy ecosystems, healthy populations and economic development. The UNEP boss added that if the world were to stave off the looming crisis, efforts to decouple water use from economic growth would need to be strengthened. Some countries have already proven that decoupling water use from economic growth is possible. For example, in Australia, water consumption declined by 40 per cent between 2001 and 2009, while the economy grew by more than 30 per cent. The report lists a number of factors that will increase demand for water in the future and presents tools and policy recommendations that can improve the situation.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AutoBeat

Barbedos plans Mercedes-Benz club I Paul Ogbuokiri

n a bid to bring all Mercedes Benz owners under one umbrella for a beneficial relationship, Barbedos Cars Limited has concluded plans to launch a Mercedes-Benz Owners Club in Nigeria. The Managing Director of Barbedos Cars Limited, Mr. Shiju Sasi disclosed this

at Abuja penultimate week in an exclusive interview with Motoring World International Mr. Shiju, who revealed his passion for automobiles said: “I am very excited about life. I like organizing and being with people. As a way of doing that, we are intending to have Barbedos Mercedes Club. It is going to be a unique club that will

have a yearly meeting.” According to him, once a Mercedes-Benz car owner subscribes to be a member he or she would automatically be entitled to one year car maintenance. ”We will take care of your cars maintenance,” he stressed. “Not only that, we will engage in a pure off-road driving for Mercedes Benz cars.” Mr. Shiju explained that club members would be oppor tune to en-

gage in a lot of off road driving. ”We are going to be doing training on off road driving,” he explained, adding, “We want to teach people how to use their car to the optimum. This is going to be the first time we are doing such a thing in Nigeria. That is something exciting we are going to do this year.”

Mercedes-Benz CLS-class

Here comes all-new Volkswagen Tiguan

T 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible

Hyundai Elantra named best in class Paul Ogbuokiri

yundai’s sixth generation Elantra has been named as the best new Sedan at the prestigious Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) awards for 2016. Selected by jury of 12 leading motoring writers from across the GCC and Levant, the MECOTY awards are the most comprehensive, independent awards for carmakers in the Middle East. The Elantra was named ahead of joint-finalist in the Sedan category, the VW Jetta, while the Hyundai Tucson was among the finalists for Small SUV.

The MECOTY awards were announced during a gala event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on March 31. “This is a great achievement for Hyundai, recognizing the excellence of our products among our peers,” said Jin (James) Kim, Vice-President and Head of Hyundai Africa and Middle East. “Hyundai models lead their segments in several Middle East markets, with customers consistently making us their first choice for quality, service and value. To win at these awards,

which are exclusively for cars sold in the Middle East, and judged by experts based in the Middle East, is an honour both for Hyundai as a company, and for the distributors who have worked so hard in building our success.” First held in 2014, the MECOTY awards reflect the distinct preferences of Middle East buyers, with an emphasis on sedan and SUV models – the two body styles most popular with customers in the region – across a range of sizes. Hyundai has seen considerable success in the

Hyundai Elentra

MECOTY programme’s first three years, with the Sonata named as best Midsize Sedan in 2015. This year’s winner from Hyundai is the latest version of a long-running and successful nameplate for the Korean carmaker. The original Elantra went on sale in 1990, with the new sixth generation released in February this year. “Hyundai and Elantra are both names that buyers have trusted for many years, known for providing reliable, enjoyable, and safe motoring,” said Jin (James) Kim. “Maintaining a commitment to a model over successive generations is a demonstration of faith in our products. We have great confidence in the experience we offer to customers and our positive reputation among car buyers. We are pleased and humbled that the MECOTY judges share that confidence.”

he all-new Volkswagen Tiguan has gone on sale. The SUV is available from £22,500 and can be specified with petrol or diesel engines, with two-wheel or four-wheel drive. UK deliveries are expected to start in the summer. The Tiguan is built on the same modular platform as the Golf and gets a noticeable increase in dimensions; stretching 30mm wider and 60mm longer than the outgoing model. The ride height has also been lowered, while standard safety kit has been improved to include autonomous city braking, automatic post-collision braking and lane assistance. This is also more bootspace than the old model, with a maximum of 1655 litres - 145 litres more than before. With the rear bench in place the Tiguan's boot will provide 615 litres of space – a gain of 145 and some powertrains will be capable of towing a braked 2500kg.

The engine range has been reworked with new four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, with outputs varying from 125PS to 180PS. However, only the 2.0 petrol with 180PS and 2.0-litre diesel with 150PS will be available from the summer launch. The 180PS petrol – linked to fourwheel drive – will return a claimed 38.2mpg and 170g/km of CO2. The 150PS 2.0-litre diesels will make up the majority of sales and provide an official 125g/km and 58.9mpg when specified with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. All-wheel drive versions will provide 49.5mpg and 146g.km of CO2. All of the diesels will use AdBlue additives. The Tiguan will be offered in five trim levels - S, SE, SE Navigation, SEL and R-Line - but Volkswagen hasn't released any UK specs yet, so it is not yet clear what equipment comes as standard.

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EXHORTATION “AND YOUR LORD HAS DECREED THAT YOU WORSHIP NONE BUT HIM. AND THAT YOU BE DUTIFUL TO YOUR PARENTS. IF ONE OF THEM OR BOTH OF THEM ATTAIN OLD AGE IN YOUR LIFE, SAY NOT TO THEM A WORD OF DISRESPECT, NOR SHOUT AT THEM BUT ADDRESS THEM IN TERMS OF HONOUR.” (QURAN 17:23)

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH Relating with messengers, gatemen in Islam QUESTION How can we treat those under us the Prophet’s way? ANSWER “Every person starts his day as a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or causing its ruin.” Muslim “If someone has his brother under his authority, he should feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears and not burden him with anything that will be too much for him. If you burden him with what may be too much form him, then help him” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Man finds himself in either of the two situations, with authority or under authority and in any of these he’s expected to have certain excellent behavioral qualities and good mannerism. This pertinent requirement was aptly emphasised by the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) 1400 years ago when he was molding the best of generations, and if that was the case with those of high spiritual awareness then this generation is most deserving to inculcate this excellent virtue of kindness and humility. In the second hadith referenced above, the Prophet (pbuh) was admonishing a renowned Companion, Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (RA), on how to treat those under our authority (servants, maids, guards etc). That we treat them (those under us) as our brothers, our equals, not to insult them, not to overburden them, not to make them inferior. That we have others under our authority as guards, gardeners, housemaids, drivers does not make us any better. It’s a test from Allah (SWT). There are two categories of people either pious or wretched. These could be found among those with authority and those under authority. Hence, the need to be kind and nice to those under our authority. Ibn Hajar (RA) said all the Prophets of Allah (AS) have the salient feature of humbleness, they were never arrogant nor proud. In another hadith the Prophet (Pbuh) said, “Help the worker in his work. He that works for Allah (i.e. the servant) will not be disappointed.” What an excellent Prophet we have, teaching the Muslims to help those under their authority when executing tasks given to them. Agreed, you are paying the housemaid, gardener to trim the flowers, mason and the labourer, but the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) said it’s good to help them out sometimes in carrying out their work. Shamusu bint Nu’man al-Ansariya (RA) said the Prophet (Pbuh) carried stones that were used to build the first masjid at Quba by himself. Reference to Hadith by at-Tabarani. Undoubtedly, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the most honourable of all Allah’s creatures, yet he didn’t find it below his dignity to carry blocks or to help out in the construction of masjidul Quba. The Companions (RA) would see the Prophet (pbuh) lifting stone for building Masjid Quba and they will come to help and instead he will ask them to go and carry a similar stone and that was how the masjid was built.

30 Jumada Al-Akhirah, 1437

Nigeria presses for better deals as metrologists forecast hotter 2016 Hajj season ENHANCEMENT

Saudi Arabian authorities promise to replace 4000 buses mostly used by Nigerian pilgrims ahead of the year 2016 Hajj exercise. Adeola Yusuf

he metrologists have forecasted that the 2016 Hajj season would take place during high temperature seasons, the federal government has said, maintaining that it had secured assurance from authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to improve the cooling

system in the tents and camps for the Hajj rites. The chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mohammed, who said this when he hosted a delegation of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, stated that about 4000 buses mostly used by Nigerian pilgrims would be replaced by Saudi Arabia authorities ahead of the year 2016 hajj exercise. “Due to the prediction that hajj seasons will take place during high temperature seasons for some years from now, the Saudi Arabia government,” he said, “would improve the cooling system in the tents and extend it to the camps too.” 18,909 pilgrims from Nigeria were in Saudi Arabia for 2015

hajj operations. The visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other measures put in place by the commission, he said, led to better deals for Nigerian pilgrims to the country. “Saudi authorities have assured of better accommodation arrangements for Nigerian pilgrims on Mina tent city. “The Saudi Arabia authorities have assured us that only buses from 2008 models would be used by our pilgrims and that about 4000 of the existing buses would be withdrawn and replaced with new ones. “The visit of President Muhammadu Buhari also led to the Saudi government assuring us that there would be change in

the location of Nigerian tent in Mina to be closer to the Jamrat (for the symbolic stoning of the devils rite),” Mr. Mohammed said. The NAHCON chairman also said due to the prediction that hajj seasons will take place during high temperature seasons for some years from now, the Saudi Arabia government would improve the cooling system in the tents and extend it to the camps too. He also commiserated with the visitors over the death of a journalist, Bilkisu Yusuf, who was among the casualties in the Mina stampede during last year’s hajj, saying she died while serving female pilgrims as an official of the commission.

Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawuud Akinola (left); Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu; and Baba Adinni of Egbaland, Navy Capt. Rasheed Raji (retd), at the 82nd anniversary and launch of an appeal fund for the Mosque of Alasalatu Society of Nigeria and West Africa (ASONWA) in Abeokuta, recently.

Alake, Aare Musulumi, Bankole charge Muslim women on self-rediscovery Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawuud Akinola, and father of former House of Representatives Speaker, Chief Alani Bankole, have urged Muslim women in the country to rediscover themselves. The trio of Gbadebo, Akinola and Bankole said self-rediscovery was needed for Muslim women to appreciate their value in Islam towards ensuring the propagation of the religion.

They spoke at the 82nd anniversary and launch of an appeal fund for the structural renovation and redesign of the mosque of Alasalatu Society of Nigeria and West Africa (ASONWA) held at the Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta, Ogun State. A renowned Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muhyideen Bello, was the guest speaker at the event with theme: "The role of women in Islamic propagation." The Alake, who was represented on the occasion by Alhaji Usman Obamewa, said the importance of women in

nation-building cannot be overemphasized. On his part, the Aare Musulumi said though he was not satisfied yet with the level of involvement of Nigerian women in the propagation of Islam, he advised them to continue to strive. Akinola also urged women to provide adequate education to their wards, noting that the prevalent social vices were consequences of parental failings. "If you don't train your children in the religious way, you can't get what you want from such children because they can go astray and that is going to af-

fect their future," he said. Corroborating him, Bankole submitted that Muslim women have vital role to play in moving the nation forward. He said, "Historically, the wife of Prophet Muhammad spent all her life and wealth to support her husband to develop Islam and the women of today have major role to play in the development of the home. However, how many of our women today understand their role in Islam, at home and to the society? "So, it is my advice that our women should rediscover themselves to play the vital role God has given to them in the development of humanity. The problems we have in the society today can be traced mostly to the activities of our women, who are not doing the job God has allotted to them."

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Death

Crime

Family accuses police of cover up in MOPOL’s death

Justice How gangsters shot my two legs, crippled me –Widow

Divorce ‘She told people my mother flies at night’

35 36

A cross section of students and pupils during the career talk

Taiwo Jimoh

s the 2016 Police Week came to an end last week, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, felt one of the activities to complete the week would be for students in some selected schools be given career talk on what it takes to be a policeman or woman. The students were however brimming with questions on that fateful March 31, 2016. When opportunities were given for questions, they attacked with myriad of astonishing questions. One of them, Okere Emmanuel, a Senior Secondary 2 student from State Senior High School, Oba Akinjobi, Ikeja, asked Owoseni, “Sir, why do policemen take bribe and harass innocent citizens?” As the question dropped, the POWA Event Centre, GRA, Ikeja, where the career talk was held, suddenly went quite. All eyes focused on Owoseni. But like a seasoned officer, who had warred on many fronts and conquered many foes, Owoseni smiled and said: “It’s prohibited

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

Why do policemen take bribe, students ask CP for any police officer to take bribe. But if any policeman is caught taking bribe from members of the public, such a person will be dealt with according to police law. There’s no reason for a policeman to collect bribe. If you see any policeman collecting or demanding bribe, don’t hesitate to call the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Dolapo Badmos.” Owoseni immediately ordered Badmos to make her phone number available to the students. Explaining why the career talk was part of 2016 Police Week in Lagos, Owoseni said: “We want to use students in their various schools. We want them to be the vanguard of change in the society.” The career talk was given to pupils from different Nursery, Primary schools and students from Secondary Schools in Lagos. While attempting to tell the students why they should consider policing as a profession, the discussion further explored the theme; ‘Police is your Friend.’ Owoseni continued, “We want Nigerians to change their misconceptions about the police. The police strive to protect lives and property. There’s always a need to talk to students about careers because some may decide to become police officers tomorrow. I know in Nigeria people have misconceptions about the police. But by the time you are through with

If you see any policeman collecting or demanding bribe, don’t hesitate to call the Police Public Relations Officer

the programme today, you’ll realise that police is your friend.” Owoseni further explained: “The Police are trained and disciplined Nigerians and that is why we are doing this to catch you young and train you as good Nigerian Police. Police help you when you’re oppressed. Police are rendering services to humanity; tell your friends and parents to call the police when they are in distress and we will be there.” He urged the students to be of good conduct and face their studies in order for them to be good citizens of Nigeria. An SS 2 student from Chosen International Secondary School, Eyo Exodus, said: “I wanted to study medicine at the university, so that I can save lives, but I never knew that a medical doctor can also work with Nigeria Police Force. Now, I have a change of mind. I would like to be a police officer and still save lives. Today, we have been made to realize that police are not bad people.” Sarah Onyeka, a Primary 6 pupil from the Brains School, Amuwo Odofin, said: “I like police uniform, but I don’t want to be a police officer. My plan is to be a medical doctor.” The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Festac Police Station, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika, who anchored the career talk, gave

the students a brief history of the Nigeria Police Force. Agbonika said: “This discussion is to aid you all in your career decisions and also encourage patriotism. When you look at the requirements in the Nigeria Police and the activities, you’ll realise there are things you cannot just do except you love Nigeria. It’s good for you as a student to know that crime does not pay, because those that get involved in crime end up in bad situations. They are either killed in the process or got caught and sentenced to jail.” The students were also told that they have rights as citizens of Nigeria. They were enlightened on requirements for the different points of entries for the Nigeria Police and various ranks of the officers. The students were cautioned to avoid illicit drugs and cultism. The chairman planning committee, Mrs. Folasade Adams, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said: “We’re using the celebration to sell police to the students. They need to know about policing as a profession. Nigerians should know that police is their friend. It’s only when they know this, they can encourage their children to enlist into the force. The police cannot work effectively without the assistant of members of the public. They need CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Crime

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Juliana Francis

r. Raymond Michael, resident in Calabar, Cross River State, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to constitute an investigation into the suspicious death of his late father, Inspector Michael Udoh Idiong. Raymond, who was apparently perturbed by the manner his father died, accused the Ebonyi Police Command, of cover up where his father’s death was concern. According to him and his mother, there was more to the death of Michael than meet eyes. They felt the police were being economical with the truth. The young man further approached the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a non governmental organisation to assist them in ensuring that this investigation was carried out. Raymond explained that on February 19, 2016, around 6am, he saw a missed call from his father’s phone number. He didn’t immediately call back, thinking his dad would call back. He said: “Shortly after, my mother called and told me that someone had also called her with my dad’s phone number.

Family accuses police of cover up in MOPOL’s death She said the caller informed her that my dad had an accident the previous night. The caller wanted to know if there was anyone in Ebonyi who could come and stay with my dad at the hospital. The caller said he wanted to leave the hospital.” Mrs. Michael immediately left Calabar for Ebonyi that same moment. She made calls to the number, but the caller didn’t pick. On getting to the police station, where Michael used to work before the accident, Mrs. Michael was taken to Maria Ines Hospital, Umuzoke - Ezillo Abakaliki. She met Michael unconscious, with plasters on his head and a deep cut on his hand. She inquired to know what happened to her husband and how it happened, but she was told ‘you should even thank your God you met him alive.’ Recounting what his mother told him, Raymond said:

The late Michael

The family finds it curious how an accident with a lorry could cause deep cuts on the head and hand

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Ishielu Police Station, Mr. Amah Bethel, later told my mum that my dad had an accident involving a 911 Lorry. The DPO however failed to offer any explanation on how the accident happened. My dad later regained consciousness, but couldn’t say what happened to him; he only managed to mumble a few, incomprehensible words. The words were however not connected to what happened to him.” Mrs. Michael said she saw her husband’s two phones on a table in the hospital ward, and noted both were in perfect condition; and also his police uniform was stained with blood. On February 22, 2016, when the plaster on his head was removed to dress the wound, she discovered that her husband had a stitched deep cut on the head. It was the deep cut that made her to doubt the story that Michael was involved in any accident. She said that all these while, Michael was placed on drip, and mostly asleep. The doctor said he needed to be allowed to rest. Mrs. Michael deposited N5, 000 and the police said they had previously deposited N5, 000 for Michael’s treatment before his wife’s arrival. Raymond said: “The DPO later came to the hospital with a man whom he introduced to my mum as the brother of the lorry driver, who hit my dad. The man gave her N20, 000, while the DPO added another N3000. “The DPO told my mum that the lorry driver was detained at the police station awaiting arraignment in court. My dad was referred to Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki on February, 26, over the former hospital lack of Oxygen. The police made a deposit at the Teaching Hospital and left, and my dad was left at the hospital corridor without being allocated a bed space, even as his case was very critical.” Michael’s sons ran around from one section of the hospital to another to get doctors to attend to their father; but he remained at that corridor, unattended to, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. before he was eventually taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The doctors said Michael needed a CT scan to ascertain if there was blood in his brain, but the Teaching Hospital didn’t have the CT scanner, and complained that he should have been brought earlier so that he could be stabilised and taken to Enugu for the scan. “My dad opened his eyes again on February 28, but still unable to talk. He eventually died later that evening,” said Raymond. Michael’s wife requested the police to make the police ambulance available for her to con-

vey her husband’s corpse home to Calabar, but the police said the police ambulance was not in order. Michael’s children rallied and got an ambulance for N30, 000 to convey the remains, and the DPO gave the woman the sum of N10, 000. He however refused the woman’s request for a police escort to convey the corpse home. She had to accompany her husband’s corpse alone. The police also refused to carry out an autopsy on the body of Michael who had served the Police Force for 33 years. Michael was awaiting a promotion to the next rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) between March and April 2016 before his death. Neither the DPO nor any family member of the supposed lorry driver had called Mrs. Michael or sent any delegation to the family since they conveyed the corpse home. NOPRIN national coordinator, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged the IGP to order an investigation to establish the actual cause of death. He stated: “The injuries on the deceased Inspector’s head and hand were deep cuts, not bruises and were both stitched. The family finds it curious how an accident with a lorry could cause deep cuts on the head and hand. The police are yet to give the family any detailed, convincing and satisfactory explanation about the so-called accident that resulted in the death of their father. “The family learnt that Michael was on night duty with his colleagues on that fateful night when the ‘accident’ happened. Before the Inspector’s corpse was conveyed from Ebonyi to Calabar, the DPO had on February 29, told the Inspector’s wife that the lorry driver had been charged to court, although the family never had the opportunity to see him and ask him questions or to even hear from any of the other officers who were on duty with the Inspector. “On March 23, the DPO called one of the deceased Inspector’s relatives and asked him if they had fixed a date for the burial. The family is wondering why the DPO was more interested in having the deceased buried even as he had not talked about an autopsy being carried out to establish the actual cause of the injuries and death of the Inspector. Nwanguma continued: “The IG should ascertained the role of the lorry driver, the man presented as his ‘brother’ and why the DPO did not ensure an autopsy, but was more interested in seeing that the deceased is hurriedly buried. The other officers who were said to have been on duty with Michael when the ‘accident’ happened should also be compelled to say what they know.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

How gangsters shot my two legs, crippled me –Widow

Crime

Taiwo Jimoh

here was wild jubilation on March 29, 2016, at Mushin area of Lagos State, after detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, arrested one Oloriesho, described as a notorious gangster and killer. Oloriesho is said to be one of the gangsters, who used to terrorise Mushin areas. There are people in the community who had nightmarish stories to narrate of the horror Oloriesho and his gang members put them through. Many of them had scars to show for his reign of terror in the community. One of such people is Mrs. Awawu Ajelora, a widow. She was one of those that jubilated over the arrest of Oloriesho. The lady said she was shot on her two legs by Oloriesho over allegation that she was an informant to a rival gang and the police. Today, she uses crutches. On the day Oloriesho was arrested, four rifles were allegedly recovered from him. Police said they also recovered sledgehammer and machetes. When the policemen went to Oloriesho’s residence to arrest him, some of his boys attacked and prevent the policemen from taking him away. It was only after police reinforcement came from Alakara Police Division that the policemen were able to whisk Oloriesho away. The suspects arrest was made possible by one of his gang members earlier arrested by the police. Oloriesho was said to be untouchable in the community and apparently above the law because he allegedly works for one ‘Babalando,’ a land speculator. The Babalando is said to be rich and highly connected. Relieving the horror of her encounter with Oloriesho, Ajelora, a mother of four, said: “I’ll never forget that day for as long as I live. I was one of the victims of the hoodlums and his boys. They damaged my two legs. I and Oloriesho used to live in the same compound at Idi- Oro, Mushin. In fact, I used to give his three kids food sometimes. We were good neighbours. “I didn’t know why he started being hostile towards me. One fateful day, I was in my apartment, discussing with my elder sister when he and his boys stormed into my home. Without any explanation, they dragged me out and shot my two legs.” Ajelora, who recalled that Oloriesho came with six other men, said she lost consciousness after the hoodlums shot her with their Dane guns. When she regained consciousness, she was told that her elder sister and some members of the community rushed her to hospital. Doctors extracted 24 pellets from her legs.

Mrs. Ajelora

When she was beginning to get well, she put a call across to Oloriesho. She said: “I just didn’t understand it. We were co-tenants until he started being hostile. He moved out of the compound, to get accommodation elsewhere. He returned almost a month later to carry out his savage attack on me. Three days after I regained consciousness, I called and asked why he shot me. He said I was informant to a rival gang group and to the police. He said the shooting was to teach me a lesson. I didn’t know what he was talking about. I wasn’t informant to anyone.” Ajelora later went to Alakara Police Division to report the shooting. The matter was transferred to the SCID for further investigation. The woman said all she wanted in the case was for justice to be done. Another victim is Mr. Adebiyi Kolade, whose left hand was amputated due to gunshot injuries sustained after Oloriesho and gang members shot him. Kolade said his troubles started after the gang invited him to join their gang in Mushin. He turned down their offer, explaining that he wasn’t interested in gangsters, but in focusing on his furniture business. He didn’t know his rejection left a festering anger. Then they attacked when he was least expecting it. He said: “They started threatening me anytime they had opportunity. They said they would

Kolade

Without any explanation, they dragged me out and shot my two legs

kill me or make me disappear. They said my people would search for me and wouldn’t find me. If not that I have juju planted on my body, I would have been a dead man by now. Almost everyone residing in Mushin uses juju. Mushin is a war zone. But I don’t live there. I live at Isolo.” One day, he was going home, already on a motorbike when he noticed two motorbikes tailing his own. Each of the motorbike had two people; the rider and passenger. He recognized them as his tormentors at Mushin. A few minutes after they rode to Oke-Afa area of Isolo, the men started shouting thief ! Thief ! He knew they were shouting at him, he quickly jumped down from his own motorbike, paid and told the rider to go. He started running, while the four men pursued him. Passers-bye, who heard shouts of thief, joined in chasing after Kolade. Kolade recounted: “Some of the passers-bye were the first set of people to catch up with me. They started beating me. I tried to explain to them what was going on, but they refused

to listen. They later handed me over to Oloriesho and his friends; it was like sending me to my grave. They carried me on their motorbike back to Mushin. They took me to an unknown place and chained me. When it was almost 9pm, they unchained me; they took me to another place and ordered me to enter the gutter and lie-faced down. They started shooting me. They shot me several times, but the most hit was my arm. If not because I had cooked myself with charms, I would have die. “I pretended I was dead. I heard them saying I was dead. When they left, I struggled out of the gutter and called on some passersby for help. People heard me; they rushed me to hospital. I was taken first to a private hospital, but I was rejected. I was taken to another private hospital, where a sort of First Aid was given to me. They referred me to Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, where I spent a year before I was discharged. It was there my arm was amputated. I wasn’t born one-handed, but Oloriesho and his gang made one a one-handed man.”

‘Avoid cultism, drugs’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

to give police information and assist in crime fighting and control.” Some of the schools in attendance were Chosen International School, Festac, Police Children

School Festac, Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja, Bello Memorial Nursery, Primary School Maryland, Lora Narrow Way Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu, and State Senior High School, Oba Akinjobi, Ikeja.

Divorce Court

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘She told people my mother flies at night’

r. Morufu Ajao has implored an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, to terminate his threeyear-old marriage to his wife, Abosede, because she used to beat his mother and told people the woman flies at night.

Morufu, 33, an herbal practitioner, told the court, “My wife beats up my mother and tore her clothes to rags; she’s always cursing and abusing my mother. She calls my mother a witch and told people my mother always flies at night.” Morufu described his wife as a violent and aggressive woman. He added: “My wife is a violent woman, she used to hit me any time we had a misunderstanding, and that always prompted me to beat her up.’’ Morufu further told the court that he gave Abosede money to terminate her pregnancy, but she refused to carry out the abortion. He said: “I gave my wife money to abort her pregnancy because she used to leave home without my con-

sent to unknown destinations. She would come back after 21 or 30 days. Sometimes she tells me she was going to her parent’s place, but, after some days, I would call her parents, they would tell me they hadn’t seen her. When she came back home and told me that she was pregnant, I doubted it. I gave her N7, 000 to terminate it. She collected the money, lied to me that she had done it, but never did it.’’ He equally told the court that Abosede was fetish. He noted that on three occasions, he returned from work, to find salt sprinkled all over the house. Abosede, 30, a mother of two, however, denied all the allegations. She explained that the misunderstanding between her and her husband was due to her refusal to terminate her second pregnancy. Her words: “My husband gave me money to abort my baby; I collected the money, but used it for another thing. When he discovered I didn’t carry out the abortion, he

started beating me. He moved my belongings into the kitchen. He later left the house to an unknown destination. It was my neighbours that gave me money to feed till I gave birth.’’ Abosede denied either beating or tearing her mother-in-law’s clothes. She pleaded with the court not to grant her husband’s request for the dissolution of their marriage, saying, “I am still in love with my husband.’’ The president of the court, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, said he was convinced that the couple could no longer live together. Omilola said that despite several attempts to reconcile the couple, Morufu insisted on divorce. Omilola said: “The court has no choice than to dissolve the union. In spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband, the petitioner insisted on getting a divorce. Both parties are no longer husband and wife, as the marriage has broken down totally! They are free to go their separate ways.’’

‘He starved me of sex, barred me from bedroom’

r s. O ko m e Obasare 41 has prayed an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to terminate her 14-year-old marriage because her husband had denied her sex for three years, barred her from their bedroom and always used to beat her. Okome, a mother of three, also accused her husband, Ese, 59, a civil servant, of dating their church woman leader. She said he once brought the woman home to spend the night. Okome added: “When

he chased me out of his house in 2013, that very day the woman packed in. After evicting me from the house, he told my children that I was dead and that they will never see me again.” Okome said she had lost two pregnancies because of constant beating by her husband. Okome recounted: “My husband always beats me with wire and on two occasions, I bled and lost my pregnancy and after that he gave me money for Dilation and Curettage. He stopped me

from working and locks me inside the house. He’ll not allow me to go out. He beats me anytime he sees me outside or a visitor comes to visit me.” Okome said she was no longer interested in the marriage, begging the court to allow her have custody of their children. Ese however denied all the allegations. He said his wife did not lose any pregnancy. His words: “My wife did not lose any pregnancy; she always gives birth to a baby anytime she is

pregnant. My wife always disobeys my orders. She’s disrespectful, goes out at will and come back at will.” He further said that he didn’t chase Okome out of his house, stressing that she left on her own. He told the court to grant his wife’s divorce wish, adding that he too was no longer interested in the union. The President of the court, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the estranged couple, adjourned the case till May 24 for judgment.

My husband brings his mistresses home, wife tells court

Mapo Customary Court, Ibadan, has dissolved a 20-yearold marriage, after a housewife told the court that her husband used to bring his mistresses to their matrimonial home. The petitioner, a businesswoman, Omoniyi, said that the most painful was that she built the house with her own money. Omoniyi had told the court that her husband, Olulayo Fatola, was always sleeping with his mistresses in their matrimonial home, in the house she built with her sweat. Omoniyi said: “Fatola not only womanises, but he also does it by frequently bringing his numerous concubines to the apartment I built with my hard-earned money. I caught him times without number doing this. In fact, what he is supposed to be using to cater for his children and is what he has been spending fruitlessly outside. He abandoned his children and me to wallow in penury. He also doesn’t take care of the kids’ education.” Fatola denied the allegations, but didn’t object to dissolution of the mar-

riage. He said: “It is because Omoniyi no longer loves me that warranted all the allegations she leveled against me and she can now move on. I have been to her parents to get the matter resolved, but they were unwilling to listen to me.” President of the court, Mr. Ademola Odunade, said the couple’s marriage is dissolved on account of womanising and irresponsibility on the part of the husband. Odunade said that ingredients vital for lasting relationship, were now absent in the marriage, hence the dissolution. “Fatola has done little or nothing since the last day of adjournment for settlement from the findings of the court. The marriage is hereby dissolved. Custody of the three children produced by the union is hereby granted to Omoniyi. Fatola shall pay a monthly feeding allowance of N4, 000 for each of the three children as well as be responsible for their education and welfare,’’ Odunade ruled. He added that the court went for the option of putting an end to the union in the interest of peace. httplaughingcolours. comwifeand-husband-5619. html

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

VISION CBN disburses N16.4bn to farmers Tony Chukwunyem

s part of efforts aimed at boosting the Federal Government’s economic diversification programme, the Bankers’ Committee has resolved to speed up lending to the real sector of the economy. To this end, the Committee is putting modalities in place to ensure that it immediately implements the refund that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) via the reduction in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) in November. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo,

business \ money line

Bankers’ Committee to accelerate real sector lending stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the Committee’s meeting in Lagos yesterday. He disclosed that the Committee focused on economic development and agreed that it has to speed up measure to boost economic diversification. According to him, “You will recall that at the second to last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, when the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) was reduced by 5 per cent, the intention then was to release this 5 per cent to banks to enable them avail loans to real sector borrowers. So we discussed around that today and agreed that the CBN will work

out modalities and take action towards releasing this 5 per cent drop in CRR to the banks so that they can lend it to the real sector at single digit interest. We are looking forward to making that real.” Also speaking at the press briefing, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, disclosed that the CBN has so far disbursed a total sum of N16.4billion to 78,000 farmers under its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). According to her, the sum of N210,000 was disbursed to each of the 78,000 farmers that enrolled for the pi-

lot phase of scheme in Kebbi State. She stated that with the approach of the rainy season, the apex bank was making plans to extend the scheme to other States such as Ebonyi and Anambra. In her remarks, the “CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, stated that the Committee discussed the apex bank’s recent appointment of two Super Agents to drive its financial inclusion programme. According to her, the Committee believes that the appointment of the agents will help to reduce the cost of boosting access to financial services.

She dismissed concerns about the rising level of Non Performing Loans (NPLS) in the banking industry, stressing that lenders in the country are conscious of the threat and are taking steps to preserve capital. Also, addressing journalists at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank(GTB), Mr. Segun Agbaje, said the prevailing forex scarcity in the system was an opportunity for corporates to embark on import subsititution. He said, “ The reality is that we are coming from $115 oil price to $37 oil price. Everybody has to make adjustments.

What we have in Nigeria today is a supply problem and the way you deal with a supply problem is that you have to cut back on demand, you have to develop import substitution so that at some point you will be able to meet the type of demand you have. “From own perspective, the good news is that oil prices are moving up, from $27 dollars we are averaging about $37- $40. As oil price moves up so will the supply. So maybe as a nation while we are working on demand management we should also pray for an increase in the price of oil so that thighs start to get better.

Infrastructure devt, key to economic growth- Report

Naira to weaken on budget signing

Taiwo Hassan

new report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has identified infrastructure, education, health, governance, and civil society as areas that require immediate attention, and outlined the root causes of these challenges and a series of actions that can drive meaningful progress. The report stated that the most critical area that the Federal Government should focus on is Nigeria’s weak infrastructure, adding that doing so will enable the country to make muchneeded progress in the other key areas and diversify sources of foreign exchange. Senior Partner and Chairman of BCG’s Lagos office and a coauthor of the report, Luis Gravito, who stated this at the unveiling of the BCG report on Nigeria’s economy in Lagos, said that Federal Government must pay attention to infrastructural growth in Nigeria His words: “Economic pressure, including low oil prices, a possible recession, and a declining naira, make it imperative that the country move quickly to address major gaps—and infrastructure should be priority one. Swift and disciplined action will allow Nigeria to fully harness its vast resources and potential, most notably its vibrant and entrepreneurial population.” Speaking on the theme ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Path to Well-

Being,’ Gravito said that the value of Nigeria’s infrastructure stock was about 35 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, compared with an average of about 70 per cent for large economies. He explained that a key reason for the shortfall is that Nigeria invested just $664 per capita (adjusted for purchasingpower parity) in infrastructure annually from 2009 to 2013, or 3 per cent of GDP, compared with an average of $3,060, or 5 per cent of GDP, for several peer countries. The financial expert said that without decisive intervention, that gap is likely to widen. Also speaking, a Principal in the Lagos office and a coauthor of the report, Dr. Wiebe Boer, said it was critical for government to address the challenges in the Nigeria’s infrastructure. His words: “Nigeria must address major gaps, from the power generation, transmission and distribution network, to roads and railway, sanitation systems, and technology infrastructure. These issues have major ripple effects, including impacts on health and on the country’s ability to diversify its economy, expand its pool of tradable goods, and create badly needed jobs.” However, the report outlined five concrete actions to address the infrastructure issues: .Establishment of a central body empowered to oversee and direct the entire life cycle of infrastructure investments; .

Tony Chukwunyem he naira is expected to weaken slightly against the dollar on the parallel market next week asbusinesses await the signing of the 2016 budget by President Mohammadu Buhari. The naira has been trading flat at N320 to the

dollar on the parallel market in recent days, while at the official window the local currency was trading around the peg rate of 197 to the dollar. Reuters quoted a forex trader as saying that, “There is presently a lull in the forex market because of the non release of the 2016 budget by the

government, but we see transactions picking up as soon as the government reveal its economic direction through the budget next week.” Analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited had a fortnight ago predicted that the passage of the 2016 budget will boost

demand for dollars. The analysts said, “The passing of the Budget is expected to boost spending and increase economic activity. However, its implementation will increase pressure on the naira as contractors demand forex needed to import raw materials.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 11.4 12 10.77 US$36.92 US$27,707,692,115

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Feb, 2016 24/3/2016 Mar 2015 07/4/2016 6/4/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) O/N 1M 3M 6M

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

Change (%) 2.17 ▲ 0.20 ▲ 0.24 ▲ 0.22 ▲

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

NITTY

1M 2M 3M 6M 9M 12 M

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04▲ 0.04 ▲ Change (%) -0.25 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.29 ▲ 0.60 ▲ 0.45 ▲ -0.44 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) Change (%) 7.90 8.06 0.26 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 12.67 0.00 ↔ 23-Jun-16 8.15 8.32 0.26 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.71 8.46 8.82 0.46 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 13.75 0.42 ▲ 9.10 0.46 ▲ 16-Mar-17 9.31 9.06 9.92 0.00 ↔ 10.22 0.00 ↔

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

Offer 198.55

Change (%) -0.14 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

businesS \ Financial Market News

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

businesS \ Financial Market News

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market down by N30bn NEGATIVE Equities drained as sell pressure dominates activities

Stories by Chris Ugwu

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday slipped back to the red territory as sell pressure returned after two days of bullish rally. Transactions on the stock

market had recorded marginal gains the previous day, showing signs that the local bourse may return bearish. Consequently, the AllShare Index dipped 86.17 basis points or 0.34 per cent to close at 25,369 index points as against 25,455.69 recorded the previous day while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N30 billion or 0.34 per cent from N8.756 trillion the previous day to N8.726 trillion. Meanwhile, a turnover of 264.6 billion shares exchanged

in 3,033 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. The banking sub-sector was the most active during the day (measured by turnover volume); with 108.3 million shares exchanged by investors in 1,389 deals. Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Fidelity Bank Plc and GTB Plc. The insurance sub-sector, also of the financial services sector, boosted by the activities in the shares of Equity Assurance Plc, followed with a turn-

Berger Paints reports 122% growth in profit

erger Paints Plc has recorded 122 per cent growth in net earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the firm posted a profit after tax of N330.316 million as against N148.808 million recorded during the comparable period of 2014, representing a growth of 122 per cent. Similarly, profit before tax grew from N249.258 million posted the previous year to N565.212 million during the year under review, accounting for an increase of 127 per cent. The company’s revenue, however, dropped marginally by two per cent to N3.022 billion in the review period of 2015 from N3.082 billion in the corresponding period of 2014. Berger Paints recently embarked on the outsourcing of all its depots and intends to appoint franchisees in other locations of the country where the company does not have presence. The company said in a notice to the Exchange that the initiative became necessary as part of its strategy to enhance accessibility and visibility of its products.

It noted that the strategic move served to enhance the efficiency of the company and improve its bottom line. “In addition, it will enhance proximity of its products and help to ensure the availability of genuine Berger Paints products countrywide. “The company’s plans to build the first automated paint manufacturing plant in sub-Saharan Africa are ongoing and the plant has been scheduled for commissioning in 2016,” the management noted. Addressing the Exchange’s management recently, Berger Paint’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Folikwe, said the company acquired new machinery adjudged to be one of the best in sub-Saharan Africa. According to him, the new machine, which runs into millions of dollars, was designed to produce top quality and innovative products at reasonable prices. He noted that the automated machine is expected to reduce inefficiency, increase the company’s turnover and market share. Folikwe stated that the company had acquired the machine to ensure innovative products

at competitive prices. He explained that Berger Paints had embarked on other growth strategies such as strengthening its managerial capacity, restructuring of sales, distribution, marketing and upgrade of plants in order to boost the top and bottom lines for enhanced shareholder value. “Specifically, we are on the track to build the first automated paint manufacturing plant in sub-Sahara Africa. When completed, it will revolutionise our production and distribution processes, enhance product quality and delivery and reinforce our competitive edge. “As a stakeholder in the stock market, Berger Paints identifies with all the efforts being made by the Exchange to attract more investors both retail and institutions to participate in the market. In no distant time, the Exchange would celebrate more listing of blue chip companies. As a proud winner of the prestigious Annual President’s Merit Award of the Exchange several times in the past, Berger Paints shall continue to uphold the sanctity of the post listing requirements, which place premium on full disclosure at all time,” he said.

over of 80.7 million shares in 89 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 20 while decliners closed at 16. Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that AG Leventis Plc topped the gainers’ table with five per cent to close at 84 kobo per share while Axa-Mansard Plc and Okomu Oil Plc followed with 4.97 per cent each to close at N1.90 and

N29.77 per share respectively. e-Transact Plc trailed with a gain of 4.95 per cent to close at N3.39 per share. On the flip side, May and Baker Plc led the losers’ chart with a drop of five per cent to close at 95 kobo per share. Oando Plc followed with a loss of 4.91 per cent to close atN4.07 per share while Fidson Healthcare Plc dropped by 4.88 per cent to close at N2.34 per share.

CCNN posts 37% drop in profit

ement Company of Nor ther n Nig eria (CCNN) Plc’s full year 2015 profit after tax fell by 37 per cent to N1.201 billion from N1.918 billion recorded a year earlier. In a filing from the Nig erian Stock Exchang e (NSE), the company’s pretax profit equally dropped by 37 per cent from N2.476 billion the previous year to N1.549 billion during the period under review. The company’s revenue also shed 14 per cent from N15.119 billion in 2014 to N13.037 billion during the financial year 2015. The Chair man of the company, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, while addressing shareholders recently, expressed optimism that the energy challenge facing cement industry would be overcome as local refineries begin operations. Rabiu said: “The market as you know is quite challenging but we are quite hopeful. You know Sokoto cement uses fuel, the LPO and diesel, to power the plants. It is a big issue for us, but having said that, it is promising to note that some of the refineries have started working. We believe that the cost of our energy consumption is going to come down

and we are very optimistic that, with the new plant we are putting, which should be ready by next year, what you have seen today is just the beginning of good things to come. By next year, we are going to be commissioning our 1.5 million line in Sokoto. This will include the coal which will power the entire plant.” He said the firm experienced a longer maintenance stop for a planned replacement of a new kiln shell segment during the year under review, adding that “the production stop together with a somewhat weaker demand for cement in the second half of the year caused a small reduction in the sales volume compared to the previous year.” On Okpella Cement in Edo state, which the g roup c o m p a ny, BUA , a c q u i red a controlling stake, the chair man told shareholders that the plant had commenced production. “We have commenced production this week. It is looking good, we started with about 2000 tonnes a day and is progressing. We are expecting to be producing about 8,000 tonnes a day by end of this month. Okpella is a success story,” he said.

NEWS | national

friday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms firms may L increase tariff

Dangote begins construction of cement plant in Cote d’Ivoire

Kunle Azeez

elecoms operators in Nigeria have threatened to increase the cost service delivery to their over 152 million telecoms consumers if the current proposal under consideration by the National Assembly to establish a nine per cent Communication Service Tax in a bill was not stopped by the government. This warning was contained in a letter jointly signed yesterday by the Director Africa, GSMA, Mortimer Hope; President, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo; Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajari and the National

Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo. The letter, dated March 30, 2016, with the title: “Objection to the Proposed Bill for the Establishment of a Tax on Electronic Communication Services in Nigeria” was sent to Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu and copied to the Nigerian Communications Commission and key members of National Assembly. In the letter obtained by New Telegraph, the industry advocacy groups expressed their grave concerns regarding the bill, which seeks a nine per cent service tax to be levied on charges payable by a user of an electronic communication service,

including the short messaging service (SMS), voice calls, multimedia messages (MMS) ad data usage supplied by service providers. According to them, “If introduced, such tax will result in an increase in prices for consumers, have adverse impact on the adoption of mobile services and industry investment, and be counter-productive to the longer term national digital strategy objectives set by the Government of Nigeria.” The groups claimed that the introduction of such a bill would result in increased affordability barriers to the uptake of mobile, have negative impact of such a bill on the long-term development of the digital economy and negative impact on mobile industry investment.

eading Cement manufacturer, the Dangote Cement Plc, is deepening its pan African expansion drive with the commencement of construction of a new three million metric ton per annum capacity cement grinding plant in Cote D’ivoire. The new project is coming just as the Company announced the ground breaking of a new six mil-

lion metric tonne per annum Greenfield cement plant in Okpella, Edo State and commencement of works on a Six million mtpa capacity plant in Itori, Ogun State . Dangote Group Executive Director, Strategy, Projects and Portfolio Management, Mr. Devakumar Edwin while making the disclosure in Lagos, said the Cote D’Iviore project

would cost the company $200m and would be completed in 18 months. The project, which the Director said has aroused a lot of interest from both the government and people of Cote d Ivoire, is sitting on over 60 hectares of land, next to the New Industrial Park in Yongbon, a city just outside of Abidjan, the nation's capital.

NASS orders oil companies to pay 3% NDDC duties Chukwu David Abuja

oncerned by the refusal of oil companies to remit part of its three per cent annual budget statutory duties to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the

6.01

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bolivia in 2000. Source: Itu.int

Joint National Assembly Committee on NDDC, yesterday ordered the companies to comply with the law of the land The Committee further, in line with the Act establishing the Commission, ordered the oil companies to pay their arrears owed to the Commission or face severe sanctions. The Committee in a session with the oil companies and the NDDC at the National Assembly complex, also warned that it would not fail to shut down any defaulting

oil company that did not comply with the NDCC Act. It would be recalled that the NDDC Act mandated the oil companies to remit three per cent of its annual budget to the NDDC. The joint National Assembly Committee invited the oil companies alongside the Nigerian National Petroleum sequel to a petition by the NDDC, which petitioned it over the non-compliance of the NDDC Act by the companies.

Alleged forgery: Ekweremadu asks court to dismiss anti-Saraki suit Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Deputy of the Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday challenged the competence of a suit instituted by five senators challenging the legality of the election of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Ekweremadu as his deputy before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The plaintiff in the fresh suit argued that five aggrieved senators erred in law by filing the action vide originating summons. He further claimed that since the case of the aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) senators was predicated on alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order, they ought to have brought the action to court through a writ of summons instead of originating summons. In a motion on notice filed by his counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), Ekweremadu prayed Justice E.S Chukwu to order that the case of the aggrieved senators was inappropriate for determination vide the originating summons procedure. The Deputy Senate President also asked the judge to order that the case be transferred for hearing under the general cause list and that the parties in the suit be directed to file and exchange pleadings

and witness statements on oath for hearing and determination of the suit. The grounds of Ekweremadu’s motion was that when a case is transferred to another court to be commenced de novo (afresh), it is trite law that the suit be heard anew and that all findings of the previous court cannot be adopted or built upon by the new court. He argued that the suit filed by originating summons of July 27, 2015 was anchored on alleged falsification of the standing order of the Senate. In an 18-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Ekweremadu claimed that the allegation of contriving or concocting the Senate Standing Orders 2015 amounted to falsification, forgery or fraud and that by the nature, the suit cannot be decided by originating summon, but by the writ of summon where evidence can be adduced orally. “I have vehemently asserted in my counter affidavit to the Originating

Gridlock resulting from a fallen tanker on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos… yesterday

Armsgate: ONSA paid N300m to Bello's account Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Prosecution Witness 2, Stella George, in the ongoing trial of Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that, there was an inflow N300mil-

lion from the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA, to the account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by the accused person. George, who is a relationship manager with Sterling Bank, while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, stated that, on March 18, 2015 a sum of N137, 200,000 was transferred to Kumu Golo Lim-

FCT Councils poll: FG assures of peaceful exercise Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

head of Saturday April 9 Area Councils elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Federal Government has said it has put all mechanism in

place to ensure a peaceful conduct of the polls. FCT Minister, Malam Muahammad Musa Bello, stated this yesterday during a special stakeholders’ meeting on the forthcoming FCT Area Councils’ election. The Minister emphasized that the government would do everything with-

in its powers to ensure that peace reigns in the Territory as the residents go to the polls to elect their representatives. Bello remarked that the security agencies have been directed to deal decisively with all troublemakers who might want to disrupt the process.

ited and another transfer of N178,800,000 was made to North Polo Global Services same day. According to her, the Certified True Copies (CTC) of account opening package, mandate card and statement of account from January 2015 to date of BAM Projects and Property Limited, as well as copies of instruments used for inflow and outflow from the account were all made available to EFCC on request. Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Solomon Umoh, SAN, George said that, although she was obliged to know her customers, especially the account owner but, she did not know anything about the companies who received the money under reference. Bello alongside his son

and company are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. New Telegraph recalls that, the first prosecution witness (PW1) Rouqayya Ibrahim, an operative of the Commission, had in his evidence on February 16 stated that a payment of N300m was made in two tranches to the accused company’s account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited from the funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA. The trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed later adjourned to May 18 for continuation of trial.

south-west | news

friday, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fayose tackles INEC chair over electoral tribunal Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to treat political parties and aspirants equally to end electoral violence. Fayose alleged that INEC's partisanship against a party while favouring another had fueled electoral violence in the country. The governor urged INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to "purge the electoral commission under him of partisanship and

election manipulations before seeking the establishment of Electoral Offences Tribunal", adding “INEC under the present dispensation is the number one electoral offender and that electoral reform without INEC neutrality is a mirage.” According to him, "any Electoral Offences Tribunal established under the current administration would only be used against opposition parties as the Department of States Services, Police, Armed forces and other agencies of the Federal Government were used during the Bayelsa and Rivers States elections." The governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,

quoted the governor as saying “even though establishment of Electoral Offences Tribunal is not entirely a bad idea, but INEC as presently constituted does not encourage free, fair and violence free election and it should worry Prof Yakubu that INEC as at today, is being referred to as Inconclusive National Electoral Commission because of the commission’s partisanship.” Fayose, who described electoral violence as a product of electoral injustice, alleged that "even

38.4%

The percentage of the urban population of Niue in 2012. Source: Un.org

President Buhari himself admitted his failure to conduct any free, fair and credible election since he assumed office." Fayose went on: “During the Rivers State rerun elections that INEC has been unable to conclude, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was missing on result sheets of over 230 polling units and up till now, all what INEC has been able to tell Nigerians was that the criminal omission of PDP in the result sheets was due to printer’s error. Was that not enough to cause violence? “The day President Buhari interfered with the internal administration of INEC by appointing Madam Amina Zakari, a National Commissioner,

INEC Electoral Commissioner deployed for the Osun State by-election inspecting materials for the exercise with security personnel… yesterday

Mojeed Alabi

or the second day running, students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, have again stormed the streets to protest epileptic power and water supply, blaming the university management for not producing sachet water while it banned suppliers from selling on the campus. This is as about eight police vans from Sabo, Denton, Surulere, Bariga and Orile divisions, mounted surveillance at the institution's gate to maintain law and order. The students, who were in their hundreds gathered at the Akoka gate of the campus, locked the

Police invade UNILAG as students protest poor water, power supply

gate and prevented free human and vehicular flow of traffic. They also prevented media from covering the protest, saying it was an internal problem which should not be used to portray the university in bad light. The students had commenced the protest on Wednesday as they almost disrupted the 2016 edition of the Nigeria National Merit Award lecture held at the university's auditorium. Led by their President, Muhammed Olaniyan, they flooded the building to see the Vice-Chancellor,

Prof. Rahman Bello, who was taking part at the event but were dispersed by the security operatives. One of the protesters, who spoke to New Telegraph, Taiwo Bangbose, said he had not taken his bath in the last three days due to the acute shortage of water. "If we go to canteen to eat, there is no water to drink. We are asked to buy soft drinks. But apart from the fact that these drinks don't quench thirst, how many of us can afford to buy drinks every time we eat?

Appeal Court releases Fiberesima on N2m bail pending appeal Akeem Nafiu and Lanre Odukoya

he Court of Appeal, Lagos division has allowed home on bail a star actress and beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima pending the hearing and final determination of her appeal at the Supreme Court. over a 5-year jail sentence hanging on her neck for kill-

ing a medical doctor, Dr. Giwa Suraj a few years ago. Fiberesimi was convicted and jailed for five years by a High Court in Lagos for killing a medical doctor, Dr. Giwa Suraj with her car a few years ago. However, the Lagos Court of Appeal upheld the five years prison term handed down to

her by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court after she was found guilty of killing the doctor with her car. A few weeks after the appellate court upheld the lower court’s verdict, Fiberesima returned to the court and asked it allow her home on bail pending the determination of her appeal at the Supreme Court.

"The university is claiming light is rationed but help us ask them how many minutes of light. Once it is flashed, before you plug your phone to be charged, it is gone again. We need to know why we are being subjected to this hardship," Bangbose explained. Another student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the protest was also not unconnected with the fast approaching examination and the difficulty being experienced by the students in their preparation.

as Acting Chairperson of the commission, a title and position unknown to the Constitution, INEC under the Buhari’s APC government lost its independence and its credibility was eroded. “The reality that INEC itself must therefore face is that members of President Buhari’s party, APC have become so emboldened to unleash violence on Nigerians during elec-

tions because they know that the president won’t lift a finger provided his party members are the ones perpetrating evil. “INEC must therefore seek to regain its lost independence and credibility before talking about punishing electoral offenders because as it is now, INEC is the number one electoral offender and promoter of electoral violence.”

Osun PDP commends doctors for suspending strike Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday described the decision taken by the medical doctors in the state to call off their seven month-old strike as a rare sacrifice that could only be done by those with respect for humanity. Although the party, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Prince Diran Odeyemi in Osogbo, commended the medical doctors for calling off the strike, it tasked the Rauf Aregbesola-led government to fulfill part of the bargain to ensure overall optimal performance.

It reads: "The loss of lives and materials witnessed during the strike cannot be quantified. We know members of the public have been at the receiving end and suffered untold hardships during the period. "That is why we are pleading with Governor Aregbesola to ensure he keeps to promises made to the doctors before they suspended the strike. Osun cannot afford to be losing lives to cheap deaths. "We also commend some stakeholders for their intervention in the industrial logjam and we urge them not to relent but to continue to work towards pulling Osun out of its present quagmire.

Aregbesola inaugurates take-off committees on LCDAs Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday inaugurated three committees to oversee proper take-off of the newly created councils in the state. The committees, according to the governor, would be headed by two Justices- Kudirat Akano, Justice Akinwale Oladimeji and a technocrat, Mr. Lanre Balogun. They Asset and Liability Sharing, Boundary Adjustment and Take-Off for Local Governments and the newly created Local Council Devel-

opment Areas, Area Offices and Administrative Offices in the state. For instance, Justice Akano would chair a seven-man committee on Asset and Liability Sharing, Justice Oladimeji to head Boundary Adjustment Committee while Balogun, a former Ilesa East Local Government’s scribe, would head the Take-Off Committee. Aregbesola however implored residents to strive more for the development of the state, urging the newly created councils to manage whatever asset that would be ceded to them as their starting point for development.

Legal Aid Council handled 3,399 cases in 40 years Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Legal Aid Council of Nigeria yesterday said it has handled a total of 3,399 free legal services on behalf of indigent and vulnerable people in Ogun State in the last 40 years. The state Coordinator, Mrs. Muslimat Abdulrah-

man disclosed this during a sensitization awareness programme held at Ita-Oshin motor park in Abeokuta. Abdulrahman, who noted that the agency was established by the Federal Government in 1976, said the free legal assistance provided in the state covered both criminal and civil cases. According to her, the

council received 3,141 criminal cases between 1976 and March 2016 but completed 2,841 cases with only 300 still pending. She explained that the agency started handling civil cases in 1990 and had completed 239 of the 258 civil cases handled so far, saying only 19 civil cases were pending as at February 2016.

News|SOUTH-EAST

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Community protests alleged Chief’s police harassment Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he people of Abaomege in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest to the Government House Abakaliki over alleged intimidation and harassment by a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Nwele who hails from the area. The people in their hundreds made up of elderly men, women and youths who carried placards with various inscriptions such as ’John Nwele should stop terrorizing us at Abaomege’, ‘John Nwele is a terror’, ‘Nwele, allow our council

chairman to do her work’ among others, warned that there may be crisis in the community if the retired police chief was not called to order. Addressing reporters during the protest, the President General of Abaomege Town Union, Mr. Umoke Joshua Chinasa, alleged that the retired DCP had turned the community into a battle ground and appeared he had just begun his police career afresh in the community. Nwele, according to him has continuously opposed the state government’s policies and programs, branding anyone who opposed him as armed robbers or breeder of criminals.

Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere (right), with the World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, shortly after a RAMP meeting at the World Bank Office, Abuja, … yesterday

MASSOB withdraws security Farm settlement’ll ease unemployment – Council chair from Ebonyi rice mill

Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Chairman of the caretaker committee of Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr. frank Ugwu, has said that the council would embark on the establishment of farm settlements in the area to reduce youths unemployment. Ugwu who disclosed this yesterday in a chat with journalists, said the farm settlement would be provided with basic amenities so that workers would live and work in the farmyard. He said some of the council workers with no job content would also be moved to the farm settlement in order to make

them productive as well as justify their monthly salary. He said: “I inherited a workforce of 980 council workers and 50 adhoc staff, some of these workers have no job content, there is nothing they are doing but at the end of the month they expect to get paid. The council will move this excess manpower to the settlement where they will be productive to the council.“ The council has acquired large acres of land for the project, he said. The caretaker committee chairman said the council would involve private partnership in the project since the LG would not be able to fund the project alone.

Ugwuanyi’s commissioner-nominee scales Assembly’s screening Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

embers of the Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday screened and confirmed a commissioner nominee sent to them by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The Commissioner designate, Mr. Ernest Ikechukwu Ezeoha, was presented to the House since March 15. He was to be screened on March 17 but was shelved for undisclosed reasons. His confirmation followed a rigorous drilling, from questions posed by the members who wanted to ascertain his competence if made

a commissioner. The speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi, while commenting on the screening exercise on the floor of the Assembly, said the nominee had been confirmed. Meanwhile, two bills were read on the floor of the House for the first time. The bills were the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Bill (HB.6) 2016 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill (HB.7) 2016 sponsored by the leader of the House, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, representing Udenu constituency.

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), yesterday withdrew its men who were providing security for the Abakaliki Rice Mill following the alleged plan by the new leadership of the firm to replace the group’s security outfit with its preferred security outfit. Announcing the withdrawal of its personnel from the industry, the Eb-

onyi North zonal leader of the group, John Nwifuru, said the action was to make the public aware that its members were no longer in charge of security at the rice mill. Nwifuru alleged that the new leadership in the company had concluded plans to engage members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN) as new security oufit for the company against the earlier agreement between MASSOB and the leadership of the company in the provision of security.

Nwifuru said: “MASSOB has been in charge of security in the rice mill since November 2014 and ever since we took over the internal security of the firm, our men have arrested robbers over six times and successfully handed them over to the police. ‘’We also succeeded in making sure there were no more crises in the market like the last one where somebody’s lorry was burnt resulting to destruction of property. Now the new leadership of the market told us that the state

government is no longer comfortable with our presence and that is why I have ordered the withdrawal of my men from the Abakaliki rice mill.” He said MASSOB had been in charge of internal security of the place, in line with the determination of the group’s decision to protect lives and property of Ndigbo. This, he said led them to take over the security job of the rice mill. He however called on the chairman of the company to pay the arrears of salary owed the group.

Abia to seek N1bn agric loan from CBN A

bia State Government has said it was going ahead with efforts to secure a N1 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to boost agriculture in the state, which had become one of the pillars of its developmental policy. Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu made this known while briefing journalists on the high points of the administration in the last 300 days, stating that the governor had remained consistent both in

service and performance. He said that the agricultural loan being sourced for, would be used to give real meaning to the agricultural revolution policy of the Ikpeazu administration, which was already gathering steam. “This loan will be disbursed purely to genuine farmers and not for political patronage,” he said. The governor’s spokesman said that government had indeed given serious attention to the agric sector and has launched the return

Enugu set to privatise 17 moribund firms

nugu State Government has said that its forthcoming investment summit scheduled to hold from April 12 to 14, would be the pathway to commence the privatisation of about 17 moribund companies in the state. Director-General of ‘Oganiru,’ the brand name for the summit, Mr. Ike Chioke, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos. According to Chioke, the

companies to be privatised include five agricultural firms, three hotels, a transport company, marketing company, among others. Chioke said the move would help revive the commercial and economic base of the state. He said the state which used to be very strong in agriculture needs to take

to farming and women in fish farming initiative to create employment and boost food production. He explained that “the initiative was aimed at empowering the youths and women by setting up farming cooperatives which would help drive key government policy as regards agriculture,” adding that government would make land, finance and training accessible to farmers. Adindu noted that the overall objective of the agric revolution policy of the

steps to revive the sector. “Once upon a time, we had a vegetable oil processing in the state, which used to process palm oil from palm kernel coming out of United Palm products, which used to be another huge palm plantation. It had palm trees going as far as over 10 hectares of land. “It used to be a very

Abia government was to make agriculture a major “support base” of the state economy as government aims to make the economy less dependent on oil money from federal allocation. He also said that the state had adopted a new approach to rural development with the formation of the Abia State Rural Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASTRIDE) aimed at providing at least one project in each of the 184 INEC wards across the 17 local governments.

beautiful place. We had Premier Cashew, Ada Rice and the state was sustainable. As at that time, there was nothing like oil and we were just an agrarian based state. In addition, the state was privileged to have been the capital of eastern Nigeria and had hospitality as part of its business.

News|SOUTH-SOUTH 43

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rivers rerun: Accept your loss, Wike tells Amaechi, APC Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised the former governor of the state and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the fact that his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost the rerun elections in the state.

The governor also accused the minister of failing to effectively utilise the N3 trillion that accrued to the state while he was governor. Wike, who spoke yesterday while declaring open a retreat for top government officials at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre, pledged to correct the mistakes made by the Amaechi administration. He said: “I call on the

The current deployment of electricity (TWh/year) in the total hydro market area of Middle East in 1995. Source: Unesco.org

former governor and leader of the APC in the state to accept the reality that the rerun elections have woefully been lost by his party and that Rivers people have, again, overwhelmingly re-affirm their confidence, trust and preference for the PDP. “Therefore, spare us the agony of unnecessary hostility and allow Rivers State to move forward in peace and secu-

£55,509

The daily salary of Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

rity. We expect you to use your high office and connections to attract meaningful development to the state as I did during my time; not senseless and unpatriotic distractions. Enough is enough. “All of us are aware of the sorry state of things in Rivers State before May 29, 2015. Between October 25 2007 and May 28 2015 over N3 trillion accrued to the state.

17,324

The total number of subscribers of Multilinks Telkom as at December 2014. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

L-R: First son of the deceased, Mr. Tombara Alamieyeseigha; Deputy Governor, Gboribiogha John Jonah; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, during a public lecture organised in honour of late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as part of activities to mark the late former governor’s burial ceremony in Yenagoa…yesterday

BENIN

olice in Edo State yesterday said they are determined to flush out cultists and other armed gangs in the state as such groups have become a menace to the society. The police said the activities of these groups have led to the upsurge in kidnapping and armed robbery attacks in parts of the state.

ASABA

he Delta State government has called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to wade into the boundary disputes rocking its towns and villages and the neigbouring Edo and Ondo states. Delta State, which was

Calabar

he Federal Government has been urged to look for alternative sources of providing electricity for Nigerians in view of the epileptic power supply in the country. The call was made by the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTC) at the end of a three-day special delegate conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The association said the Federal Government should consider exploring the possibilities of using solar energy, wind and thermal energy, adding that the current situation where Nigerians suffer for lack of electricity was unacceptable. In a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the association

urged the Federal Government to encourage the establishment of private refineries to complement existing ones with a view to stopping the importation of the product. The communiqué, which was signed by the President and General Secretary of SSACTC, Muhammad Yunusa and Chike Ekeke respectively, decried the deplorable and near collapse of electricity generation and supply in the country. It reads in part; “Electricity generation and supply has led many companies and entrepreneurs to fold up and relocate to other countries. To remedy the situation, the government must explore other available sources of power generation that may be realisable from the combination of solar, wind and thermal energy to lift Nigeria out of the current worsening power situation.”

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

Favour

I, formerly known and addressed as Omoko Martha Iruoghene now wish to be known and addressed as Omoko Favour. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Chinaza

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyechere Chizoba Goodness now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyinyechi Goodness Chinaza. Also, that my correct date of birth is 18th December 1987. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, stated this when the leadership of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairman, Sir Roland Osakwe, paid him a courtesy visit at the command headquarters in Benin, the state capital. Ezike stressed the importance for effective collaboration among vigilante group members in community policing and the involvement of those he described as strategic

partners as well as other stakeholders towards nipping crime in the bud. According to him, Edo State police command has focused on rooting out cultists and cultism from the state so as to reduce the cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state. He noted that cultism has constituted a major breeding ground for most of the criminal elements in the state as they belong to various cult groups that carry out criminal

activities. Ezike, however, commended the media for their support, especially in the last seven months when he assumed office at the command. He said: “Cultism is real and it is the driving force of all crimes; some people will be wondering why we are after cultists, kidnapping is going down, armed robbery is going down, there is no crime free society, but we are doing our best to bring them down.

Delta tasks NBC on boundary disputes with Edo, Ondo Dominic Adewole

Clement James

Shobogun: I, formerly known and addressed as Halimah Olaide Lateef now wish to be known and addressed as Shobogun Halimah Olaide. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Edo police commissioner vows to flush out cultists, armed gangs Cajetan Mmuta

FG urged to consider alternative sources of electricity

carved out of the defunct Bendel State over 25 years ago, urged the commission to ensure that all boundary disputes are resolved amicably to prevent incessant loss of lives and property. Gover nor Ifeanyi Okowa made the appeal when the Director General of the commission, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed, led

officials of the Edo and Delta State Boundary Committee to his office. Receiving the delegation on behalf of his boss in Asaba, the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, who described the bond between Edo and Delta as ‘indivisible,’ called on the commission to ensure justice in the resolution of all land re-

sources, especially those prone to conflict in border towns and villages. The deputy governor, who noted that the already tensed situation over boundary issues along the Abraka/Eku/Umutu axis has since assumed a dangerous dimension, sued for a lasting solution to sustain peace between the two sister states.

Mgboh

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odike Ujunwa Tessy now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mgboh Ujunwa Jessy. All former documents remain valid. UNN and the general public should please take note.

Akpoyi

I, formerly known and addressed as Igbanibo Ernext now wish to be known and addressed as Akpoyi Alexander Eladouebi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Prince

I formerly known and addressed as Joseph Akpan now wish to be known and addressed as Akpan Prince. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank, Union Bank Plc and general public please take note.

Oney

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Onukaogu Maureen Favour now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oney Maureen Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NYAMADI

I, formerly known and addressed as OKPAKU, Ruth Chinenye now wish to be known and addressed as Nyamadi, Ruth Chinenye All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MELLY

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Nweze Pius Chukwudi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Nweze Pius Melly. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

Samuel

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekoya Morayo Bernice now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Samuel Morayo Bernice. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Eke

I, formerly known and addressed as Uloku Faith Omesan now wish to be known and addressed as Eke Faith Omesan. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ike

I, formerly known and addressed as Eze Malachy Ikechukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Eze Malachy Ike. All former documents remain valid. First bank and the general public should please take note.

Tobiloba

I, formerly known and addressed as John Oluwatobiloba Oluwafemi now wish to be known and addressed as John Tobiloba .A. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Kufre

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkwa Effang Henshaw now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkwa Henshaw Kufre. Federal Road Maintenance Agency FERMA and general public please take note.

ATIKU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patshinya Joshua Atiku now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Patshinya Gandafa Atiku All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJANI

I, formerly known and addressed as Adetutu Titilope Ogunsoto now wish to be known and addressed as Adetutu Titilope Ajani. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Oyeleke

This is to notify the general public that Oyeleke John Oluwaseun and James Temidayo refer to one and the same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Oyeleke John Oluwaseun All former remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria and general public take note.

News|north

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fuel scarcity: NSCDC clamps down on black marketers in Benue lAs fuel price hits N220 per litre

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

uthorities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in Benue State yesterday ordered its men to embark on a total clampdown on fuel black marketers and arrest any filling station operators that indulge in sharp practices at the filling stations. State Commandant of the corps, Mr. Ogumba Andrew, who gave the order in a statement, also or-

60%

dered the immediate stoppage of illegal sale of fuel and other sharp practices currently being perpetrated by some members of the public in connivance with petrol station operators in the state. Ogumba said the command of the NSCDC has dispatched armed patrol team to monitor activities at all filling stations across the state to curb the menace of black marketers in order to ensure the smooth sale of petroleum products to the public.

The estimated percentage of the antiretroviral therapy coverage (range) of Caribbean in December 2010. Source: Who.int

The commandant urged members of the public to report any person found wanting in this regard to the command for necessary action. Meanwhile, prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, has continued to skyrocket in Benue State, following the acute shortage of the product at filling stations, causing untold hardship to motorists. Officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in the state have since the commence-

67.89

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Canada in 2000. Source: Itu.int

ment of the fuel scarcity, been adamant and have allegedly been accused of complicity in the crisis. When New Telegraph went to town to monitor the situation yesterday, it was gathered that at Golden Ecstasy and Kyabiz fillings stations respectively, were selling at between N210 to N215 per litre, while others were completely shut down over claims of non-availability of the product. Filling stations, where motorists suspected, had fuel, had long queues of

127.61m

The total number of active lines of Nigeria in December 2013. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

vehicles where owners waited patiently for days to buy only to be told the commodity was not in stock. Some private and commercial vehicle owners were also cited at the NNPC mega station located along the Makurdi-Otukpo road, but were not dispensing fuel, just as motorcyclists and others who wanted to buy in generators were forced to resort to black marketers, who were selling at between N270 and N300 per litre. A motorist who parked his vehicle at the

Why I expanded my free medical outreach, by Dogara Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday said he expanded his annual free medical outreach to cover the 20 local government areas of the state to help those who could not afford hospital bills. Senior Special Assistant to the Speaker, Mr. illiya Habila, at end of

Dr. Altine Shehu (right), examining the ear of a patient during the visit of the wife of Bauchi State Deputy Governor to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (Atbuth), Bauchi … yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Gusau

he Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Monday Joshua, has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) for improving the standard of tertiary educaton in the country. Making the commenda-

a two-week medical outreach, said the exercise was successful as the doctors gave all equal attention. Habila said the exercise ended with the last set of cataract surgeries of 42 patients at the eye clinic and over 20, 000 patients were attended to by over 100 health personnel of the Doctors on the Move Africa, a nonprofit organisation and volunteer health personnel of ATBUTH, Bauchi.

Jang debunks imposition of PDP chairmanship candidate

NCCE boss lauds TETfund for uplifting tertiary education Idris Salisu

NNPC mega station, told New Telegraph that he kept his car there since Tuesday last week with the hope that the station will be opened for normal sale of petrol, but to no avail, saying he will continue to remain on queue until he gets the commodity since he cannot afford to patronise black marketers. New Telegraph learnt that as a result of the recalcitrant increase in fuel prices, transport fares and prices of food items have also increased drastically.

tion yesterday during a oneday working visit to College of Education (COE), Maru, Zamfara State, Joshua said the Federal Government must be commended following the introduction of TETfund, which had resulted in the development of all the tertiary institutions in the country. He said: “When I entered this college today, I was very happy the way I saw infrastructural de-

velopment projects everywhere, I was even thinking if we should call this school TETfund College of Education. “If you look at the way TETfund improved human development in our colleges of education, universities, polytechnics in this country through scholarship both within and outside the country, seminars workshops for capacity building, it is very

encouraging,” he said. The NCCE boss further said that he led a team of officials from the national secretariat of the commission to Zamfara College of Education to supervise the Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPDP) and Teacher Development Project (TDP) in the college to see their commitments towards ensuring the implementation of the programme.

Musa Pam Jos

he senator representing Plateau North senatorial district in the National Assembly and former Governor of Plateau State, David Jang, yesterday debunked reports that he has imposed the former Minister of Sports, Damishi Sango, as the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate ahead of the party’s congresses slated for May.

Jang in a statement signed by his aide, Mr. Clinton Garuba and made available to journalists yesterday in Jos, said he has made it clear that he does not have a preferred candidate and that he will work with anyone who emerges. “It has become imperative to make this release in order to set the records straight and avoid the antics of a few people, who wish to use falsehoods, half-truths and all manners of deception to sway the minds of unassuming loyal party members.”

We need technology to check Ex-House Leader defends Saraki over pension border crime – Comptroller General Biodun Oyeleye Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Martins Kure Abeshi, yesterday said the service requires high technology equipment to effectively detect criminal elements 60 to 100 kilometres away from the nation’s borders. He stated this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the opening of the 2016 Comptroller General Annual

Conference in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. According to him, for the nation to compete with her Western counterparts in migration management and to effectively tackle border crime, there was the need for the service to move away from analog to digital service with the use of sophisticated technology to detect criminal elements 60 to 100 kilometres on the nation’s borders. The Comptrollers General said more personnel have undergone various forms of capacity build-

ing exercises to effectively man operations of the service, which he said must be intelligence driven. Abeshi explained that the conference was organised to fashion out ways of managing migration in conformity with global best practices. He commended President Muhammdu Buhar’s zeal in fighting terrorism and corruption and urged Nigerians to support the efforts of Mr. President to bring stability in the nation’s political and economy.

Ilorin

hairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, yesterday cleared the air over allegation that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was drawing salaries from the state government since the expiration of his tenure in 2011. Balogun- Fulani while addressing newsmen in Ilorin said Saraki was only drawing the pen-

sion constitutionally approved for him and his erstwhile deputy. The APC chairman said he anchored the bill on the approval of pension and gratuity for former governors and their deputies in the state as the majority leader of its sixth legislature. He said the bill went thorough legislative debate and public hearing before it was passed into law. According to the fo r m e r l aw m a ke r, the initiation and the eventual passage of

the bill followed the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) on pension and gratuity for former governors and their deputies. He said: “The payment of these entitlements is not peculiar to Kwara State; it’s applicable in other states of the federation. “In most states, both former governors and their deputies are enjoying retirement pension and gratuity as applicable to Saraki and his deputy in Kwara State.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport

That Claude LeRoy is handling his sixth African country (Cameroon, Senegal, DR Congo, Ghana, Congo and Togo) and has participated in eight AFCON tournaments.

Sport News Enyimba, Etoile rekindle rivalry

Egypt’s Marwan Mohsen (right) challenging Nigeria’s Victor Moses

Russia 2018

Nigeria may face Egypt again

Africa’s Top 15 1st Algeria (33) 2nd Ivory Coast (34) 3rd Ghana (38) 4th Senegal (43) 5th Egypt (44) 6th Cape Verde (47) 7th Tunisia (47) 8th DR Congo (51) 9th Guinea (58) 10th Congo (59), 11th Cameroon (63) 12th Morocco (64) 13th Mali (65) 14th Nigeria (67) 15th South Africa (70)

Algeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire also on the cards Nigeria drops in FIFA rankings Emmanuel Tobi

Nigeria were ranked 11th and 62nd in Africa and world in the month of February but the nation’s poor outing in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations back-to-back matches against the Pharaohs of Egypt may have contributed to the further fall down the ladder. The draw for the third round will be held on June 24 2016 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt with the qualified teams being ordered based on the FIFA World Rankings before the June draws. CAF is expected to announce other seeding criteria in due course. By this implication, Nigeria will face any of Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal or Egypt

igeria’s quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is hanging in the balance as the Super Eagles may face the Pharaohs of Egypt again in the draw to be conducted in June due to the dismal performance of the team in recent times which has also affected the country’s rankings. The Eagles, who lost the 2017 AFCON slot to Egypt, dropped five spots in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday at world football governing body headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The three-time African champions are now ranked 67th in the world and 14th on the continent.

in Pot 1 and any of Cape Verde, Tunisia, DR Congo, Guinea, Congo in Pot 2 thereby making the World Cup qualification race a tough hurdle. A total of 20 teams which advanced from the second round will be drawn into five groups of four teams to play homeand-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group will qualify for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The third round of CAF matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification will be played from October 3 2016 to November 14 2017. Meanwhile, Algeria after moving up four steps place 33th in the world to lead the continent while African

World’s Top 10 1. Argentina 2. Belgium 3. Chile 4. Colombia 5. Germany 6. Spain 7. Brazil 8. Portugal 9. Uruguay, 10. England champions, Ivory Coast, maintain its second spot ahead of Ghana, Senegal and Egypt, which climbed nine positions to 34. Argentina jumped to the number one spot in the world after former leaders, Belgium, dropped to the second position. The next FIFA ranking is expected to come out on May 5.

Eagles grumble over naira payment

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Get N.5m each for draw against Egypt in Kaduna Adekunle Salami

uper Eagles players have expressed disappointment over the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to pay their bonuses in naira shortly after the Nations Cup qualifier in Kaduna on March 25. The Eagles under coach Samson Siasia conceded a late goal to draw the match 1-1 and were eligible to get a bonus of $2,500 each.

Investigations however revealed that the players were all paid in naira and the naira payment was effected with Central Bank rate of N200 to a dollar rather than the about N320 to a dollar in the open market. The players initially did not talk due to their inability to win the match and Nigeria’s consequent ouster from the AFCON 2017 race. It was the first time the Eagle will be paid in naira.

Though the federation proposed it during the tenure of Oliseh but because the code of Conduct was not signed it was not effected. “We are not happy about the situation because it is a way of making money with our bonuses. They collected the money at the rate of $2,500 at open market and we got ours in CBN rate. Its not encouraging at all,” one of the players said. Another player said: “The

whole thing does not show transparency but because of the mood, we are going to wait for the appropriate time.” Each player was paid N500,000 for the 1-1 draw and it is expected that the naira payment will continue henceforth. “It is no big deal. The payment was made in line with the directive of the current regime,” a board member of the NFF said on Thursday.

Envoy backs Falcons to beat Senegal

}46

SPORT NEWS

Envoy backs Falcons to beat Senegal

Grace Adewara

he Minister in charge of the embassy in Dakar, Lot Egopija, has backed the Super Falcons to defeat the Terenga Lioness of Senegal when both teams battle today in the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifying match billed for Dakar. Egopija told thenff. com when he visited the Super Falcons at their Al Afifa hotel in Dakar on Wednesday that the em-

bassy had been mobilising Nigerians based in Dakar and environs to troop to the Stade Demba Diop on Friday evening to support the African champions. He said: “It is our duty to mobilise and also to inform the Nigeria community of the arrival of the team, and the match date and time. We have been doing that. Since we got the notice from the NFF, we have started through the informal method in informing fellow Nigerians here to

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kick off 6pm

come out and cheer the team to victory. “This is not the first time Nigerians in Dakar will be hosting a national team. We did that during the African Youth Championship and during the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, and we all are aware of the results. We went back to Nigeria with the trophies. So, Dakar has always been a victory ground for Nigeria. We are assuring everyone back home that this won’t be an exception.”

Court rules on Giwa’s case against NFF today Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

Jos High Court will t o d ay give ruling on whether the proprietor of Giwa FC, Chris Giwas can continue with the struggle to regain the Nigeria Football Federation Presidential seat. Giwa is contesting the elections that brought in current NFF boss Amaju Pinnick as illegal and null and void following a court order stopping it. The case would have been heard during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan but the former Head of Government persuaded Giwa to sheath the swords with the conviction that he would be given another responsibility. What however further re-ignite the new

Giwa

feud was the total hijack of the running of the Premier League by the present board with the 2nd Vice Chairman, Sheu Dikko also presiding over the League Management Company (LMC).

Giwa felt it is a case of reaping from where they did not sow. Efforts by the current Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, to douse the issue almost resulted in fist cuff by both parties.

Dalung meets sports federations April 11

meeting of sports federations presidents and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung on the forthcoming Rio Olympic Games will hold April 11. The Secretary-General, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tunde Popoola, announced the meeting in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos. “We are all working in a synergy but it involves collective idea sharing. No individual can take decisions when it comes to Olympics. “We will sit to discuss and look at policies and programmes that can work for us as Nigerians,’’ Popoola told NAN, noting that the meeting was a positive course. The secretary-general said that specific training programmes would be made available to each sport in a specific training institution. ``The athletes must

define reasons for going. This is to ensure that it’s for better performance. “When we look at wrestling, we know Cuba is one of the best places for training because they have superb facilities. “For table tennis, it is Japan/China with the best facilities. We must also ensure that the best handlers handle the Olympics-bound athletes. “We have embarked on strategic planning for

hun were not intimidated by the home crowd in their 3-0 bashing of Algeria. The match which served as the decider to determine the team that will qualify for the semifinal round of the competition became a one-sided encounter with Nigeria dominating from the start to the end. With this win, Nigeria has joined the trio of Tunisia, Egypt and Congo Brazzaville in the semi-

utmost result,’’ he said. He added that the seven centres that Nigerian contingent would use had been identified. “What is left is inspection and final ratification for approval for athletes to make use of them,’’ he said. NAN reports that Nigeria will feature in seven sports -- table tennis, wrestling, basketball, athletics, canoe slalom, rowing and football.

Come to Barca, Neymer tells Pogba

razillian star Neymar has told Chelsea and Manchester City target Paul Pogba to snub interest from the Premier League - as “he would fit well at Barcelona”. The midfielder is wanted by all of Europe’s elite clubs and could leave Juventus this summer if a big bid comes in. Both Chelsea and City are keen on the former Manchester United man, while Paris Saint-Germain believe they can lure the Frenchman to his boyhood club. “He is young, and I like

Nigeria closer to World Junior tennis tourney igeria’s junior boys’ and girls’ teams are one match away from securing their places in the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship after beating host – Algeria in the quarterfinal match of the team event at the ongoing ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship holding in Algiers. In the boys quarterfinal tie, the trio of Amadi Omeh, Azeez Solanke and Abayomi Animasa-

United States’ Megan Rapinoe struggling for the ball with Nigeria Ngozi Ebere (left) and Esther Sunday during the 2015 World Cup in Canada

final stage of the championship. For the semifinal pairing, Nigeria will battle against Tunisia while Egypt will face Congo Brazzaville for places in the final. The girls’ team made up of Ajoke Ojomu, Esther Oribamise and Nimota Aregbesola had to dig deep to overcome their Tunisian counterparts 3-2 to berth in the last four of the tournament.

Pogba (left) and Neymar

how he plays,” Neymar told La Liga’s official website. “I like how he does things. I would love to swap shirts with him, and I think he would fit well at Barcelona.” MFM’s Stephen Ode (right) vying for the ball with Rangers’ Papic Ousmane during a NPFL game on Wednesday in Lagos PHOTOS: TONY EGUAYE

Enyimba, Etoile rekindle rivalry

wo-time winners Enyimba will be facing a familiar foe when it trades tackles with Tunisian giants, Etoile Sportive du Sahel over two legs for a place at the lucrative pool stages of the CAF Champions League. The history of both clubs in the competition is legendary and the 2004 edition readily comes to mind when the ‘Peoples Elephant’ as Enyimba are nicknamed braved the odds to defeat Etoile on penalties after a 3-3 tie on aggregate. Enyimba, the only surviving Nigerian club in the continental club championship this year, will be banking on the goal scoring prowess of Mfon Udoh who is the all-time top marksman in the domestic league, a record he inscribed two seasons ago with 23 goals, to be complemented with the likes of Joseph Osadiaye, Stephen Chukwude, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Leonard Ugochukwu, Christian Pyagbara, Nzube Anaezemba and a host of other top quality performers available for coach Paul Aigbogun to select from. “We are going to give the game more than a 100 per cent in both legs and I’m very optimistic we shall qualify for the group stage. We are not shot of quality players to achieve our lofty aims,” Aigbogun said. Udoh who already has four goals to his name in this year’s campaign added: “I know that the higher we go the tougher the competition, but to be champion, we have to beat all and the team is poised to do just that. Etoile is a strong side but I believe we are stronger. We have been playing as a team and against the Tunisians, it won’t be different. Sure, there will be goals but I don’t how many.”

SPORT

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Around the Stadia

WORLD \ NEWS

Winnie loses bid to inherit Mandela’s home

N joebooster391@yahoo.com

07039241156 (sms only)

JOE BOOSTER

Pinnick, the game is over T he lizard that has swallowed a bee is deceiving itself that it’s nodding is normal; it obviously is nodding out of madness induced by the bee’s sting. Just some days after the back-toback ouster of the Super Eagles from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigerian Football Federation board rose from its meeting held in Abuja to unanimously express loyalty to; and absolute confidence in the leadership of Amaju Pinnick - the embattled president of federation. With that, the body seemed to have thwarted the expectations of millions of Nigerians calling for the resignation of Pinnick in the face of glaring high handedness and retrogressive incompetence. The pain here is that no one appears to be telling the truth and the conspiracy of silence has suddenly enveloped the nation in a bizarre fashion that is better left to the imagination. Stakeholders are not talking. But alas, a voice rose from the unchartered heavens to tell Nigerians and indeed the world that things are not getting better with the country’s football. I was amazed by the courage exhibited by no other person than Nwankwo Kanu, who hardly make public comments on football issues. His lamentation clearly shows the general dissatisfaction of most Nigerians towards the system that might lead to possible implosion sooner than later. “I’m not blasting the NFF. If the head is not good, other parts of the body will not function properly” were the words Kanu. Kanu played football under some of the best coaches the world can offer. He was the one that scored the golden goal that ended the quest of Brazil for the soccer glory at the Atlanta 96 Olympics. It is normal to respect his views and act swiftly. Therefore with Kanu having spoken against the oddities that currently bedevil the Nigerian football, albeit the NFF, he has no doubt called for the golden rule - “do unto others as you would that others do unto you.” Pinnick and his bunch of incompetent executive committee sacked Coach Stephen Keshi on grounds that he was incompetent. Isn’t it therefore a golden rule that whoever that does not cherish “incompetence” should not be found incompetent? While Pinnick’s band of executive committee cannot fire their master and ringleader, Nigerians must therefore pull their football out from fire by calling for the resignation of Pinnick. The game is over! Ironically, since the exit from the 2017 AFCON fiesta, no one has bothered to tell the nation certain undercurrents that shocked the team out

of their bearing: Primarily, that the team’s bonuses were paid in naira in Kaduna on the guise that President Buhari had directed the board to do so in the spirit of change. Apart from paying them in naira, the players were paid at N200 per dollar official rate, for pulling a draw in Kaduna. Instead of $2500 USD, the players got N500, 000 each which had never happened before. What therefore could be more de-motivating and demoralising? A responsible federation would have honoured their words and pay the players what was agreed right from the onset. It is also on good authority that Rwanda bonuses are yet to be paid up till now. Apart from engaging the coaches in free for all fight over technical issues where they lack knowledge about, non-payment of salaries or meeting contractual obligations has remained the order of the day since this board mounted the saddle. It got to a level where some select board members took Pinnick hostage over their non-appointment to head juicy committees. Consequently, this same group aligned with a clandestine group made up of loyalists of the erstwhile chairman of the federation, A m i n u Maigari to plot the impeachment of the incumbent, with the thinking that Shehu Dikko would be better placed to lead the nation’s football. Dikko has been waiting on the fringes for any possible slip to take over from Pinnick, but the recent vote of confidence by the executive committee leaves the scenario fussy. The confusion posed by the series and the overbearing debt profile bequeathed by Pinnick’s godfather, running into billions of naira have crippled whatever aspiration of the current board to take the game to higher heights. The truth as I write this piece is that Pinnick is still acting like a puppet that cannot speak, think or act on his own without clearance from Bauchi, where his power base is domiciled. This is not the kind of football administration Nigeria deserves. The board is currently busy looking for who would develop a programme for it, as it does not have any since its inception, thus the incessant recourse to foreign coach, which is just diversionary and a fine attempt to blindfold Nigerians from asking questions. I am therefore amazed with the news that the sports minister has fallen prey to the ploy which I consider a big shame. After all, what are the antecedents of Coach Le Guen they are clamouring to engage? Where did he leave Cameroon? Food for thought!

elson Mandela’s ex-wife has lost her legal bid for ownership of the former president’s rural home in South Africa. A High Court dismissed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s application and ordered her to pay all legal costs. She argued that the house in Qunu village belonged to her under customary law. Mr Mandela, who became

South Africa’s first black president in 1994, bequeathed the property to his family when he died in 2013 aged 95. The government opposed Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s bid to inherit the home after she launched court action in 2014. Mr. Mandela divorced Ms. Madikizela-Mandela in 1996 after a 38-year marriage, and left her out of his will. They were South Africa’s most celebrated political cou-

ple until their marriage collapsed unexpectedly, some six years after his release from 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid, which legalised discrimination against black people in the country. Mr. Mandela stepped down as president after one term in 1999. South Africans regarded him as the “father of the nation”, and his death, following a series of hospital visits, led to an outpouring of emotions.

Vietnam elects Prime Minister amid big challenges

Vietnam’s Prime Minister sworn in by lawmakers

ietnam’s parliament approved Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the communist country’s new prime minister yesterday, handing him a five-year term and a range of tough challenges from domestic economic reforms to a simmering maritime dispute with China. Phuc, a former deputy prime minister, was the only candidate nominated for the position by party officials earlier this year and won 90.26 percent of the votes in the rubber stamp parliament, according to state-run VTV. “I will do my best to serve the country and people,” said the 61-yearold, whose election marks the completion of a five-

yearly reshuffle of the Communist Party’s top brass. Phuc takes over from former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, a charismatic leader who championed a reformist pro-business agenda and talked tough to Beijing over a territorial dispute in the contested South China Sea. Dung lost out in internal party elections in January, which analysts called a move back towards more consensusbased rule by the party’s conservative wing. “Dung was an individualist working within a conservative system of collective leadership. His demise is evidence that Vietnam is not yet ready for a modern, world

savvy, prime minister,” Vietnam expert Carl Thayer told AFP. Authoritarian Vietnam is run by the Communist Party and officially led by a triumvirate of the party secretary general, president, and prime minister, with key decisions being made by the 19-member politburo. Top communist leader Nguyen Phu Trong was reelected in January as party secretary general in a victory for the party’s old guard. Saturday, the National Assembly approved a top police general, Tran Dai Quang, as president -- a key if largely ceremonial role. New Prime Minister Phuc is “a competent technocrat” and will stick to the party line, Thayer said.

Iceland swears in new government afterPanama Papers

celand’s new rightwing gover nment took office yesterday, under fire from the start as the opposition sought a vote of no confidence and stuck to its call for swift elections. New prime minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson replaces Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, who quit Tuesday amid mass protests over a hidden offshore account revealed in the “Panama Papers” leak of millions of financial records. Johannsson, a 53-year-old former veterinarian, has already

announced new legislative elections will be held in “the autumn”, about six months ahead of the scheduled April 2017 vote. But protesters have demonstrated outside parliament for three days in succession, throwing eggs and yoghurt at the building. They have called for the ouster of the coalition comprising Johannsson’s centre-right Progressive Party and their junior partners, the Independence Party, and demanded elections be held sooner. Johannsson was

sworn in by President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson at the presidential residence in Reykjavik. Earlier, as Gunnlaugsson handed in his resignation to the president, he was met by angry protesters who brandished red cards at him and chanting: “Elections immediately, we want to vote!” Birgitta Jonsdottir, founder of the libertarian Pirate Party that has surged in the polls in the current crisis, has said people want more than a cabinet reshuffle.

On Marble

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”

Sanctity of Truth

Emeka Obasi Fuel fury follows April fool

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

— Jane Austen

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

}14

N150

Darling, I’ve a headache

heard when wives do not want their husbands to touch them these days, they simply tell the men to keep their hands to themselves. It’s no longer done the good old fashioned way with ‘ dear, I have a headache’. Expect multiple explosions will follow, of course. The man in frustration will raise the roof and swear like a drunken ‘molue’ driver trying to meet his daily target. A man with a swollen third leg is a man you can’t reason with. Even when the headache thing was working and in vogue, it was always advisable to let the poor guy’s torture run its course. A wise woman is the one who keeps a safe distance after denying her man of his conjugal right. If you told a man last night he could not access his oil rig, it is only logical that you expect him to keep his nose in the air (only wives know that expression in its true format). You do not expect him to commend your breakfast if he bothers to eat it at all. If you greet him and he grunts, you are blessed. He is not expected to respond at all. You are not his favourite person the morning after the ‘headache thing’ , so don’t push your luck. Don’t ask for an increase in your house keeping allowance. Don’t remind him that he hasn’t paid the monthly insurance premium or even tell him about the ‘ check airbag’ alert on your car’s dashboard. Just let him be. But according to my friend, Ojuolape (Lape, for short), ‘ the headache thing’ is no longer in vogue. You tell the guy the way it is or the way it isn’t. Sure, it would put him in a foul mood but since when did bad mood become a male monopoly? If I’m tired, I’m tired. If I am pissed , I’m pissed. I don’t see what the pretext is about. If I’m crossed with my husband he will have to cross and uncross his legs until he falls asleep or take a cold shower or something.’ My poor friend is so frustrated she’s determined to make her point. And her husband was so fed up ‘crossing and uncrossing his legs.’ The intimacy process is different with women. For a man, he can get it up even when he’s ill, broke or right after a fight with his wife. A woman can’t get in the mood if the man has just been mean to her. She can’t just work up the juice right after the man has told her she’s a bad housekeeper and a poor mum. But men are wired differently. Their workstation is located outside the main building and has a different source of power supply. Even when there is total blackout in the main house, the work station is well lit. A woman is totally mono-base. Once there is power outage in the house, everywhere is in the dark. Now, I am the first to admit that this sermon is one you can only preach to a man when his workstation is in ‘hibernate’. Perhaps I should start from the beginning. I wrote years ago that it is tough living with a man who is broke . A man who is broke is a mean SOB most of the time. He is a misunderstood, traumatised man but he gets

Adam’s Apple

FUNKE EGBEMODE egbemode3@gmail.com 0805-506-9066 (sms only) my vote all the time. Why? Because God created men to be rich and lords of their manors. They are not wired to play second fiddle but that is not a matter for today. For now, let’s concentrate on the misunderstood woman and her headache. An unhappy woman cannot make a man happy in bed. Once her antenna is not receiving the right signal from her heart, there will be no network. No network means no performance and it does not matter how many times you restart a phone whose problem is from the service provider, the best you will get is ‘SOS Calls only’. In other words, a woman’s feelings are from her heart and the heart is the service provider. A man will get full signals from his woman if her heart is on the same page with his. Yes, money makes a woman happy but it is just an ingredient and you can’t put a good dish together with just one ingredient. So, is your woman facing the wall every night? Has she stopped coming to bed in her ‘birthday suit’? If she is constantly telling you she is not in the mood, she has had a tough day at work and or her head is forever pounding like it is going to crack wide open, you need to check what you are not doing. It could also be what you are doing wrong. For my friend, Lape, she just got tired of being taken for granted by Kola, her husband of 11 years. ‘He treats me like a stray cat. He

The head is not aching. Just switched off PHOTO: blog.jiji.ng

waits for the bills to pile up and decides which ones he wants to pay. I end up playing his role. I work my fingers to the bone and all he does is complain that I have no time for him and the children. If I play sexy wife and devoted mum, who will play the supportive wife? He pays rent and ignores school

fees. When he pays tuition, I pay for school bus. He buys rice s, I make the soups. If I do not have a good job, won’t I be screaming for ‘chop-money’ like an illiterate? To make ends meet, I work extra hours, volunteer for every trip so I can make extra to support him. Yet all I get is how I’m less of a woman. He thinks manhood is about how many times he can get it up per week. I drive through at least four hours of traffic daily and now he has sent away the maid, just to frustrate me. Well, I do not want to die young, I need to sleep to drive every day. If he won’t get me a driver and I can’t have a maid, then he can’t have his wife. I’m simply fed up. I’ve made my point. He’s the head of the family but I have taken a decision not to die young. I’ll cook when I can and make love when I can. Simplicita.’ Men, it is true you are the licensed owner but if your car won’t start every morning, you will have to do something better than flaunt your ‘particulars’. You will have to check why the wife who couldn’t get enough of you two years ago now has headache every time you run your fingers down her back. If she now brings work into the bedroom and does not shut down her laptop until you start snoring, your marriage is leaking brake fluid o. You need to plug it before you lose total control. All the paraphernalia of your office as head of the family such as ego will have to go into the closet while you sort this out. As they say in Lagos, the human nose is made of plastic. You need to be careful. Yeah, if it is only part payment you paid to her parents, you still have a right to want to eat what you bought with your two-and-a-half kobo. But if you frown, grunt, refuse to eat at home and she is still calling your bluff, you need to examine your ways. And don’t you dare think getting a spare tire is the solution. As a sensible big boy, you should know that that is a game two can play. Spare tires are quick fixes and they expire too quickly. Just sit her down and get to the bottom of it. Pacify her and you will be able to restart your work station.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.