New telegraph tuesday, march 15, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Fayemi to speak at New Telegraph Economic Summit

he Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has confirmed his participation at this week's New Telegraph Economic Summit. Fayemi, a former

governor of Ekiti State, would also be speaking at the Summit on the topic, Digging Deeper for New Wealth: Opportunities in Solid Mineral Resources. He thus joins a stellar

cast of speakers at the Summit scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, March 17. The Summit would be declared open by the

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and features speakers like Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh; and the former di-

rector-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. GodCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Fayemi

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

UBA records N68bn profit in 2015 }41

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 755

Oduoza

Obas' ranking: I'm superior to Awujale –Alake }8

Oba Gbadebo

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

Building collapse: Ambode fires GM, three others }43

Ambode

N150

Cultists behead two Abia varsity students }43

Ikpeazu

Fani-Kayode, Falae, Udenwa, Nenadi in N3.145bn scandal lEx-minister: Money paid for campaign purposes }4

Fani-Kayode

N840m

Falae

N100m

Udenwa

Onwuliri

N350m

Usman

N36.9m

FG indicts NNPC over N3.3trn unremitted fund lAuditor General: NSA spent N36bn on dams lNational Assembly paid N9.5bn without vouchers Diabetes increases Staphyloccus infection }5

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

D a i ly T e l e g r a p h P u b l i s h i n g Co m pa ny Ltd. Presents

ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2016

Theme:

Nigeria: Beyond the Oil Economy

Keynote Speaker:

Special Guest of Honour:

Mr. Godwin Emefiele

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Executive Governor, Lagos State.

SPEAKERS:

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

Chief Audu Ogbeh

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Otunba Segun Runsewe

Executive Governor, Edo State

Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals

Ex-Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)

DATE:

March 17, 2016

TIME:

10:00am prompt

VENUE: Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

R S V P: Laurence Ani 0802 310 3360

Taiwo Ahmed 0803 304 2915

Yemi Ajayi 0802 314 2833

Supported by:

Lagos State Government

Edo State Government

Dangote Group

NEWS

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG indicts NNPC over N3.3trn unremitted fund

Chukwu David Abuja

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of N3,234577,666,791.35, being unremitted fund to the Federation Account from domestic crude oil sales in 2014 alone. The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while presenting the 2014 Annual Audit Report of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. The audit report, which also captured embassies and foreign missions for onward submission to the Senate and the House of Representatives, gave highlights of how monies were diverted or spent by MDAs during the period under review. According to the AGF, NNPC did not remit N3,234577,666,791.35 to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which was held in January, 2014. Also, sales of gas to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to the tune of $235,685,861 was not paid to the federation account, instead, it was transferred to some undisclosed Escrow accounts. In this regard, the AGF noted that “Relevant documents were not made available for verification.” “From the examination of NNPC mandates to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on domestic crude

oil sales and reconciliation statement of Technical Sub-Committee, FAAC amount not remitted was N3.2 trillion. “Also, $235 million sale of gas to NLNG was not paid to the federation account but transferred to some undisclosed Escrow Accounts. “Another $346.2 million was stated to have been paid and received by the federation account, through NGL Funding Account as Gas Export Sales, yet no document was available to confirm this,” he said. Ukura implored the FAAC to investigate the funds and ensure their recovery to the federation's coffer. The report further showed that acquisition and payment for property totalling N3,630,000,000 was made without a Certificate of Occupancy. The report also disclosed that a total payment, amounting to

50.22m

ABUJA

embers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday took their protest over the invasion by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) on

Fayemi to speak at New Telegraph Economic Summit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

pended the whole amount on sundry expenses. The audit report also indicted the leadership of the Nigerian Prisons Service. The report noted that Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax of N2,036,758,176.75 was deducted and said to be remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), but there was no evidence of remittance and nothing was produced for audit confirmation. Also speaking on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPS), the Auditor-General said that the embarrassing syndrome of ghost workers would continue in Nigeria if the current management of the system was not immediately checked by the appropriate authorities. Ukura alleged that unidentified staff of Soft Alliance Limited, the software developers, had unhindered access to the database and usually set up new users and change

live data from time to time. Speaking with journalists after presenting his report to the Clerk, he said that the password controls for access to IPPIS were not adequate, because the database could be accessed remotely through the Internet. The AGF pointed out that the password to access the IPPIS database did not expire after 90 days, thereby making it possible for retired government officers to use their password after leaving office. He also expressed concern that some user names and passwords were shared by several users and that most of them used words like ‘consultant’ or ‘technical’ with no restriction on the number of sign-in attempts. He said: “The audit trail for the IPPIS has not been enabled and, as a result, it is not always possible to trace which user made particular inputs CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

DSS invasion: Ekiti lawmakers protest at US, UK embassies Tunde Oyesina

win Emefiele, would give the keynote address at the Summit whose theme, fittingly, is Nigeria: Beyond the Oil Economy. Speakers at the event would be exploring non-oil revenue sources that could be viable alternatives to oil whose prices have been on a consistent fall on the international market. The Summit, the first in the series, is a platform

fund. No evidence of these lines of expenditure in the 2014 Appropriation Act.” In another stunning revelation, the report posited that the management of the National Assembly made payments of N9,514,568,222.62, without raising payment vouchers. According to the AGF, the management of the National Assembly violated the nation’s financial regulation. Also, within the period under review, personal advances were granted to 112 staff of the National Assembly from recurrent votes and 50 members of staff from general service votes from July to December, 2014, for various purposes, all amounting to N1,162,009,305.00. The report further revealed how the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, United States of America, raked in $3,705,428 as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between 2012 and March 2015, but ex-

Members of Ekiti State House of Assembly protesting over the arrest of some of their colleagues by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the United States of America Embassy in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

The life expectancy of women at age 60 years of Costa Rica in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

The number of fixed-telephone subscription of Germany in 2000. Source: Itu.int.

N73,547,759,436 was made, contrary to established purpose of the funds. It reads: “The sum of N36,432,423,968.73 was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the rehabilitation and construction of dams instead of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. “The sum of N2,894,531250.00 was spent for the procurement of hand sanitizers for schools and critical public places. “The sum of N31,324,952,239.87 was payment of subsidy on fertilizer and youth employment in agricultural programmes. “The sum of N2,395,851,978.00 was payment for Group Life Assurance Premium for Armed Forces budget in 2013, but not backed. The sum of N500,000,000 was made as payment for agricultural programmes. “These were variances with the purpose of the

to lend perspectives to the ongoing debate on how the grim economic realities confronting Nigeria should be tackled. Some of the papers for discourse are Nigerian States: Beyond the Mono-Product Economy; Our Heritage, Our Destinations in a New Economy; and Back to Land: Nigeria's Boundless Prospects in Agriculture.

the House of Assembly complex and abduction of four of the lawmakers to the embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom in Abuja. The lawmakers, however, called on the international community to intervene and save democracy in Nigeria from imminent collapse. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, who led 18 others, submitted a letter titled: “Re; Political Intolerance in Ekiti State,” and the resolution passed at its sitting of Wednesday, March 9 in which the lawmakers stated expressly that they were solidly behind Governor Ayodele Fayose and can never be coerced or induced to sign any impeachment notice against him. Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the lawmakers said: “We

want to state here categorically that no amount of intimidation, harassment and oppression will make us impeach our leader and benefactor, Governor Ayodele Fayose. The DSS should, therefore, know that the 2006 theory they are working on will not work this time around.” Some of the inscriptions on the placards further read: “DSS harassment is about 2018, we won’t be cowed,” “DSS, this impunity must stop! This is democracy, not dictatorship,” “DSS, don’t destroy our democracy, respect rule of law,” “Fayose remains our leader, we won’t impeach him,” “Nigerians need change, not chains,” “Buhari, face economy and security, not opposition,” and “DSS, free Ekiti lawmakers; we are legislators, not criminals.” The lawmakers alleged

that they were being harassed, with some of their houses being visited by men who claimed to be DSS officials. They contended that the process of abduction of the four assembly members was illegal, crude, uncivilized and barbaric because the DSS neither formally informed the Speaker nor the state governor of their intention to arrest any member of the House of Assembly or Ekiti State Government. The protest letter reads in part: “…The Federal Government is bent on scuttling the election of Governor Ayodele Fayose through diabolical means. “After the failure of the military panel to achieve its desired objective, another plot is now being hatched. The APC-led Federal Government has orchestrated a wave of

arrest and intimidation of members of the House of Assembly and cabinet members of the present administration in Ekiti State. “The intention is to cripple the voice of opposition, which Governor Fayose has become and coerce the House of Assembly to impeach the governor in the manner of the 2006 scenario which the Supreme Court has declared illegal, null and void… “The international community is, therefore, being alerted of the worrisome political situation in Ekiti State. We are calling on the international community to prevail on the Federal Government to allow peace to continue to reign in Ekiti by allowing our popularly elected Governor, Ayodele Fayose to fulfill his electioneering promises to the people.”

NEWS

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fani-Kayode, Falae, Udenwa, Nenadi, Onwuliri in N3.145bn scandal

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a N3.145 fraud involving some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Those indicted in the latest scandal are a former Minister of Aviation and Director of Media and Publicity for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; former Sec-

retary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae; a former Finance of Minister, Mrs. Nenadi Usman; former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa; former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri and Okey Ezenwa Sources at the EFCC said last night that fresh evidence showed that the prominent politicians allegedly shared the N3.145 billion in the build up to the last presidential elections. According to the source, who pleaded anonymity,

the money was paid by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) into the account of Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was moved into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. “It was from the Joint Dimension’s account with Zenith Bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organisations for purposes that are not stated,” the source said. He further said that investigators found out Fani-Kayode “was the chief beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received a whooping

N840 million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721.” He continued: “The first tranche of payment involving N350 million hit the account on February 19, 2015. Another N250 million was also paid into the account on February19, 2015 while N240 million was similarly credited to the account a month later; precisely, March 19, 2015.” But the source added that the balance on the account as at December 31, 2015 was N189,402.72 The source also said that the Goodluck Support Group allegedly received

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, during the opening session of the 6th congress of the African Petroleum Producers Association in Abuja …yesterday

N3.9b fraud: Badeh drops lawyer, engages ex-AGF

lFG files additional proof of evidence Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), who is standing trial over alleged diversion of N3.9 billion fund before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday dropped his former counsel, Samuel Zibiri (SAN). Consequently, he has engaged the services of a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN). The Federal Government had, last Monday, arraigned Badeh over 10-count charge bothering on illegal diversion of funds to the tune of over N3.9 billion, belonging to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF). Badeh had pleaded not guilty to the charge. His former counsel, Zibiri had argued his bail application and was consequently admitted to bail in the sum

of N2 billion and two sureties in the sum of N1 billion each. Badeh who is still remanded in Kuje Prison is yet to perfect his bail condition. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, had fixed yesterday for commencement of trial. When the matter came up yesterday, Olujinmi announced appearance for Badeh and told the court that he had just been engaged by the accused person to defend him. Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the court that he had filed additional proof of evidence against the defendants and that same had been served on them. Responding, Olujinmi prayed the court for a short adjournment in order to get full briefing from his client and also to study and respond to the additional proof of evidence served on the defendant. Jacobs, however, opposed the prayer for adjournment, on ground that the business of the

day was commencement of trial and that some of prosecution witnesses were in court. In a short ruling, Justice Abang refused the prayer on ground that Olujinmi is just appearing for the defendant. He, however, granted adjournment on ground that the prosecution just filed and served additional proof of evidence on the defendant. Justice Abang held that the court is expected to maintain a balance between the prosecution and the defendant. It was on that note that he adjourned till March 16 to enable the defendants to study and respond to the additional proof of evidence served them. New Telegraph recalls that Justice Abang, while granting Badeh bail in the sum of N2 billion, ordered him to produce two sureties in the sum of N1 billion each. The court further held that the two sureties must reside in Abuja and should be owners of landed prop-

erties with Certificate of Occupancy. In addition, the court held that the registrar of the court would confirm the genuineness of the landed papers, so also the EFCC should do so within 24 hours that the papers are brought. He added that the sureties should present three years tax clearance and also depose to affidavit of means. The court held that submission of the prosecution is speculative and the security agency knows what to do in the event such happened. He further held that Badeh is presumed innocent until it is proved otherwise by the court, adding that the prosecution is saddled with burden of proof. He, however, noted that the court is expected to balance the rights of the defendant and the fear of the prosecution that the defendant will jump bail. Justice Abang held that his ruling was to balance the justice on both sides.

N320 million while Falae allegedly received N100 million through Marreco Limited, a company where he is chairman. “The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc. account No.1000627022 on March 25, 2014,” the source stated. Both Udenwa and Onwuliri got N350 million in two tranches. The first tranche of N150 million was paid into their joint account with Zenith Bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200 million was credited into their account with Diamond bank. “Nenadi Usman took her own share through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna,” the source said. The former minister was credited with N36.9 million while Ezenwa got N100million. It was gathered that the EFCC is still investigating what was the motive for the sharing of the money. The source added: “But as things stand, the fact that most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential elections leaves very little to the imagination.

“Yet, one knotty question that confronts the investigators is the figure behind Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited, the account where the fund was warehoused before being wired to sundry beneficiaries. The shadowy figure could help unravel the mystery shrouding the payments, once the veil is lifted.” But contacted last night, Fani-Kayode insisted that the money paid into his account was for the presidential campaign sourced from private sources not public fund. “I was asked to open an account for the Directorate of Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation. The Director of Finance of the campaign paid money into my account for me to run my directorate for the campaign. “I asked where the money came from. I was told that the money came from private sources and that no public funds were involved. The company that sent the money into my account was a private company operated by the Director of Finance of the campaign, Mrs. Nenadi Usman,” Fani-Kayode told New Telegraph.

£26.9m

The life expectancy of men at age 60 years of Costa Rica in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

The amount of money spent by Leicester City in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com.

National Assembly paid N9.5bn without vouchers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

or changes. For example, fraudulent transactions cannot be traced to a particular user. “Application controls have not been activated in IPPIS to ensure that gross pay is input from salary and allowance tables, rather than the actual amounts being input directly. “Completeness checks are not activated to ensure that all necessary data, like the bank account number, grade level, and job title, have been entered. “Duplicate checks to determine that the bank account numbers or employee numbers are not used by more than one payee. “Reasonableness checks not activated so that an officer’s age less than 18 years can still be paid while user profiles are not adequately restricted, hence an officer in one MDA can amend the payroll data for other

MDAs. “The ability to create new users on the system is not adequately protected and restricted to a few ‘super users.’” Ukura lamented that his office had, as a result of the anomalies, discovered that about N330 million was paid without following approved salary scale, while double payments of about N30 million was paid within three months. He added that the imperfections in the IPPIS system had made the country to lose huge sums of money with the payment of N12 million each to 40 members of staff who were not included in the payroll of the relevant MDAs. Ukura also explained that 152 officers on IPPIS did not have personnel files in their MDAs while N193 million was paid to unidentified persons.

national | news

tuesday, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari phones Quattara, condemns Côte D'Ivoire terror attacks Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday put a telephone call across to President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire, condemning Sunday’s terror attacks on the Grand Bassam Resort in Cote D'Ivoire. The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government and Nigerians to the people of Cote D'Ivoire as they mourn their compatriots and foreign visitors who lost their lives in the attack. Buhari, who condemned the attacks in strong terms, assured his Ivorian counterpart of Nigeria's full solidarity and support as his country grapples with the consequences of the heinous attack and strives to overcome the new security challenges posed by the terrorist incursion. The President, who said that terrorism now transcends all national boundaries, restated his call for greater international cooperation against terrorists and their sponsors. "They have attacked a hotel in Mali, leaving 21 people dead. They killed over 130 people in attacks on Paris and they murdered 28 persons in Burkina Faso.

Adeola Yusuf

Kampala, Uganda

igeria will not get the support of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia to freeze crude output in the over-supplied global market this month. The country's hope of output freeze in March has been dashed as the meeting, where this will be agreed on will not hold again this month. Nigeria has been at forefront of push to freeze oil production levels. The country is suffering from the fall in oil prices, which have taken a considerable hit on government revenues and weakened the naira currency. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, is excited that the push for a global agreement to freeze the level of oil production, has led to a planned meeting between OPEC members and non-OPEC oil producing countries like Russia on March 20. Three OPEC sources declared on Monday that the oil producer meeting on output freeze, championed by Nigeria, is likely to be in mid-April, dashing hope by Nigeria to get the output freeze this month. An earlier plan was to meet on March 20 in Russia, but “the sources familiar with the matter said this was unlikely to take place,” a report on Reuters showed. “OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers are likely to hold their next meeting on a plan to freeze output

Nigeria’s hope for oil output freeze in March dashed ●OPEC cancels March 20 meeting with Russia

levels in a bid to support prices in mid-April in Doha, three OPEC sources said on Monday,” the report added. Earlier, Kachikwu revealed that discussions on freezing production levels were ongoing ahead of the extraordinary summit of the OPEC expected to be held soon. “I have been in the forefront of driving that

£6.5m

The amount of money received by Leicester City in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

Chukwu David Abuja

resident of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, stressed that the repositioning of the economy of the country to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st century was a major priority of the 8th Senate. Saraki gave this assurance while declaring open a one-day public hearing on a bill to repeal and re-

The President of the Senate noted that the Upper Chamber was conscious of the fact that it had become imperative for the Parliament to look into the bankruptcy laws in order to strengthen the business environment. He said that Nigeria Senate had resolved to revolutionize the nation's body of laws in order to reposition the country to embrace the global best practices in all spheres of human endeavour.

Agatu killings: Bring perpetrators to justice, Fani-Kayode tells Buhari Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ormer Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring Fulani herdsmen and militants, who allegedly attacked and killed over 300 Agatu people of Benue State, to justice.

About nine Agatu villages were said to have been sacked by the herdsmen, who have taken control of the land and towns, forcing the survivors to take refuge in neighbouring villages and displaced camps. Fani-Kayode said President Buhari should put a stop to the carnage and protect the people from the senseless at-

change and I’m glad that we are making progress,” Kachikwu said in response to a question on what he thinks of the call for a production freeze by OPEC to drive up crude prices. “If we do get a consensus … I think it will be very dramatic in terms of its impact on the price of crude,” Kachikwu said. Crude prices, which have fallen more than 60

9.45%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Algeria in 2007. Source: Itu.int.

percent since June 2014 because of a large supply surplus, have picked up since mid-February over a proposal by leading producers Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as Qatar and Venezuela, to agree to freeze their output at January levels to stem falling prices. Since then speculation has also emerged over a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC producers at the end of March. Many OPEC members have indicated support for the output freeze. Kuwait, for instance, said that it would freeze its crude production levels if all the big producers, in-

cluding Iran, did the same. Kachikwu, however said that there were ongoing moves to build consensus on the production freeze ahead of the OPEC meeting despite the reluctance of Iraq and Iran to commit themselves to specific volumes. “I wouldn’t worry about that if two out of about 40 which includes non-OPEC members decides to scale out, perhaps we can still achieve the effect that we want,” Kachikwu said. The price of oil has surged over $40 per barrel for the first time this year, as shifting sentiment raises hopes that a 20-month price rout is finally coming to an end. L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Mr. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Ambassador of Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea, Mr Adadu Echi, at the Malabo International Airport as President Buhari arrives in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea for a two-day State visit for talks on Maritime Security …yesterday

Repositioning economy is priority of 8th Senate –Saraki enact the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of 1979, organized by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, in Abuja. He pointed out that the Senate had prioritized business environment reform that would create more jobs and opportunities for the youths, promote and sustain domestic entrepreneurs, as well as to attract new investors into the country.

tacks. "I am speaking for those that do not have a voice and the victims of these barbaric acts. Buhari must protect the Nigerian people. "He must call the perpetrators of these diabolical acts to order and he must punish them. He must wage war against them and bring them to justice," he added.

Diabetes increases Staphylococcus infection Appolonia Adeyemi

eople with diabetes may be significantly more likely to develop potentially deadly "staph" blood infections than those without diabetes, a new study suggests. This is the outcome of a study published on March 10 in the European Journal of Endocrinology. As the Danish researchers explained, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria live on the skin and are normally harmless. However, the germs can cause dangerous infections if they enter the bloodstream. Staph infections may cause disease due to direct infection or due to the production of toxins by the bacteria. Boils, impetigo, food poisoning, cellulitis, and toxic shock syndrome are all examples of diseases that can be caused by Staphylococcus. Staph infections can turn deadly if the bac-

teria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. In fact, the 30-day death rate from such infections is 20 per cent to 30 per cent, according to the research team from Aalborg University Hospital and Aarhus University Hospital. In their new study, the researchers tracked the medical records of 30,000 people in Denmark over 12 years. Overall, they found that people with any form of diabetes were almost three times more likely to acquire a staph blood infection outside of a hospital, compared to those without diabetes. The risk jumped to more than seven times higher among people with type 1 diabetes, and almost three times higher for those with type 2 diabetes. About 95 per cent of people with diabetes have

the type 2 form of the disease, which is often (but not always) linked to obesity and involves a dysfunction in the body's ability to use insulin. About five per cent of diabetes is type 1, where the body has lost its ability to produce insulin, the hormone that converts blood sugar to energy for cells. The new study also found that the combination of diabetes and related kidney problems boosted the odds for staph blood infection by more than fourfold, compared to people without these conditions. People with other diabetes-linked complications, such as heart and circulation problems and diabetic ulcers, were also at increased risk. "It has long been a common clinical belief that diabetes increases the risk of S. aureus infection, but until now this has been supported by scant evidence," study author Jesper Smit said.

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

News|south-west

Obas’ranking: Alake insists on superiority over Awujale lStop making inciting statements, Akiolu tells monarchs

Kunle Olayeni and Wale Elegbede

he Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday replied the Awujale of Ijebuland, over the latter’s criticism on the categorisation of traditional rulers in Yorubaland. The monarch, whose chiefs reacted at a press conference held at Alake Palace, Abeokuta, said he stood by his earlier position on the ranking which, he insisted, was supported by documentary evidence. It will be recalled that the Awujale, last Thursday, berated the Egba monarch for categorising himself among the five top monarchs in Yorubaland. The Ijebu monarch, who spoke in Lagos during a fundraiser for a professorial chair insti-

tuted in his honour by the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, had said the Alake was a junior monarch in Yorubaland. “The Alake, while receiving the Ooni in his palace, said Yoruba Obas (the ‘Big Five’ so to say) had been categorised with the Ooni in the first position followed by the Alaafin, the Oba of Benin, with the Alake coming fourth and the Awujale occupying the fifth spot in that order. He went further to quote wrongly from a 1903 Gazette, to support all the fallacies in his statement,” Oba Adetona had said. But yesterday, concerned Egba chiefs rose in defence of the Alake, saying that they felt compelled to put the records straight against the Awujale’s allegations. Led by the Baaroyin of Egbaland and Alake’s Chief Adviser on Media,

Chief Lai Labode, the chiefs said the Alake was comparable with the Awujale “even now that they are both paramount rulers and rotational chairmen of Ogun State Traditional Council of Obas.” Labode said: “Our concern is predicated on the self-indulgence of our respected monarch (Awujale) to churn out outright historical falsehoods in the presence of knowledgeable Nigerians. He flayed the Awujale’s advice that the Alake should contact former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for proper education, describing it as “uncalled for and neither civil nor decent.” He, however, argued that the controversy between the Awujale and Alake would not scuttle the peace moves initiated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ad-

eyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, among Yoruba traditional rulers. He added that by Lord Lugard’s grading and salaries of Obas in the defunct southern provinces, the Alake ranked above the Awujale as the former earned £2,250 while the latter earned £1,700. Meanwhile, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, has urged traditional rulers in Yoruba land to desist from making statements capable of causing hostility among the various traditional institutions in the country, calling for improved fostering of peaceful coexistence. Speaking yesterday at his palace in Lagos when the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, paid him a courtesy visit, Akiolu said traditional rulers were not expected to be making statements that could lead to disharmony in the community.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos warns against fuel storage Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government through the state fire service yesterday warned the general public particularly motorists to desist from indiscriminate storage of fuel inside residential buildings as a way of avoiding unwarranted fire disasters. The agency said that most residents were guilty of keeping the inflammable content in inappropriate places, which it said, contributed to the 78 fire calls recorded in the state

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Seigha: I, formerly known and addressed as Samuel Ebierinyo now wish to be known and addressed as Seigha Samuel. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Oyoyo

This is to confirm that Oyoyo Joseph Emeka was wrongly written as Joshua Emeka Oyoyo. Henceforth wish to bear and addressed as Oyoyo Joseph Emeka. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public note.

Egga

I formerly known as Miss Mercy Ayikpo Enoch now wish to be known as addressed as Mrs. Mercy Ayikpo Amfani Onyoung Egga. The general public to please take note.

Onyeka

I, formerly known and addressed as Ali Mary Stanley .O. now wish to be known and addressed as Ali Stanley Onyeka. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, during a walking visit to the Ondo State command of the Nigeria Prison Service in Akure… yesterday

Mimiko signs 2016 budget into law Babatope Okeowo Akure

ollowing the approval of the state House of Assembly, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday signed the 2016 appropriation bill of N123.72 billioninto law. The budget sum showed about N5 billion increase from the original bill of N118.9billion originally

presented to the Assembly by the governor about three weeks ago. The House, led by the Speaker, Hon. Jumoke Akindele, had last week passed the bill into law after the House Committee chairman on Finance and Appropriation Mr. Ade Adeniyi, submitted the report to the lawmakers. A total sum of N118.99 billion was budgeted for

2016 fiscal year with N68 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure while the rest N50.99 billion, goes for capital project. But Governor Mimiko said the 2016 budget has a total estimates of over N123.72 billion only. He said the amount comprised a recurrent estimate of a little over N69.19 billion, representing 55.93 per cent and a capital ex-

penditure of N54.52 billion, representing 44.07 per cent of the estimates. Mimiko along with his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo and other members of his cabinet told the lawmakers led by the embattled speaker, Hon Jumoke Akindele, that the budget would be the last that would be fully implemented by his administration.

Eko DISCO blames outage on Egbin power line trips Adeola Yusuf

line trip from Egbin Power Station has plunged parts of Lagos into further outages, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has declared. The company, which confirmed that the power outage was being experienced in some areas within its operational territory since Sunday, the 13th of March, 2016, maintained that concert-

ed efforts were already being made by generation and transmission technical personnel to clear the fault and restore supply in record time. A statement by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia in Lagos, noted that the line trip had made it impossible for customers being serviced from Ajah, Lekki and Alagbon transmission injection

sub-stations to receive power supply. Areas listed to have been affected by the outage include Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju and their environs. The EKEDC’s statement further attributed the outage to a line trip from Egbin Power Station. “Concerted efforts are already being made by generation and transmission technical personnel

to clear the fault and restore supply in record time,” Idemudia said.

160,000 The total number of the population of men in Belize in 2012. Source: Un.org

£20.4m

The net amount of money spent/ received by Leicester City in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com.

in the last 13 days. The state Director of Fire service, Chief Rasak Fadipe, noted that since the advent of the fuel scarcity some people have devised various means of storing petro, which according to him was dangerous. Fadipe said that the state government places high premium on safety of lives and property, stating that the poor attitude of the public to basic safety of lives and property was of great concern to the government.

Ugwuoke

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odo Charity Ngozi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ugwuoke Charity Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, First bank Plc and the general public should take note.

Johnson

I, formerly known and addressed as Martins Olakunle Ogunsina now wish to be known and addressed as Martins Olakunle Johnson. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Prince

I, formerly known and addressed as Mienperegha Ebiarede now wish to be known and addressed as Mienperegha Ebiarede Prince. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ime

I, formerly known and addressed as Basil Akpan now wish to be known and addressed as Akpan Ime. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ofong

I formerly known and addressed as Ngozi Euharia Ezuma now wish to be known and addressed as Ngozi Eucharia Ofong. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Zakari

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omolara Olayinka Ogunde known wish to be known and addressed as Omolara Olayinka Zakari. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

Sohnan

I, formerly known as Vincient Lohnap, now wish to be known and addressed as Sohnan Lohnap. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

Okwudili

I, formerly known and addressed as Egwuagu Anthony now wish to be known and addressed as Egwuagu Okwudili .V. All former documents remain valid. Local Govt. Service Commission and the general public should take note.

Ikwulono

I, formerly known and addressed as Isaiah Adakonye now wish to be known and addressed as Ikwulono Adakonye. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Union bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Tobi

I, formerly known and addressed as Izon Ninetree now wish to be known and addressed as Tobi Sinizibe Justin. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Zenith bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Inola

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elkanah Ebinyu Ajara Asanu Aneri now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Inola Janet Ebinyu. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CEMENT DEALERS ASSOCIATION, IKIRE, OSUN STATE The general public is hereby informed that the above named organization has applied for the registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Odewale Olatunde Osuolale 2. Mrs. Oyelade Abisade Badirat 3. Mr. Ajani Olalekan Akanmu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To foster business relationship between members 2. To protect the interest of the members in respect of buying and selling of cement in Ikire and its environ 3. To promote the social and economic welfare of members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED : S.A. OYESOMI ESQ S.A OYESOMI & CO, COURAGE CHAMBERS, IKIRE, OSUN STATE

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kwankwasiyya Movement Things fall apart in Kano

Politics

Abia North How INEC fell short of values

12 16

Amaechi, Wike in fresh verbal war EMMANUEL MASHA reports that this weekend’s rerun elections in Rivers State, have intensified the verbal war between a former governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi and his successor, Nyesom Wike

he supremacy battle between the immediate past governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi and his successor, Nyesom Wike, will come to the fore again this weekend when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts rerun state and national assemblies’ elections across the state's senatorial districts and its 23 local government areas. The elections were ordered by the Court of Appeal following the nullification of the 2015 elections that produced occupiers of the affected positions but some observers say it is the battle for 2019, hence the need for early preparations by the key political gladiators in the state. Those who hold this view argue that there is no better time than now for serious planning ahead, making subtle moves to deflate the opponent's strength, and have the upper hand when the chips are down. In the past few days the comments from Wike and Amaechi have clearly proved a deep desire of both camps to control the majority of lawmakers in the state Assembly as well as those who represent the state in Abuja. Before now, the two men and their aides used to throw allegations through press statements, but all that changed when both Wike and Ameachi took to a very popular radio station based in Port Harcourt to hit at each other over

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Amaechi

the security situation in the state, killings in Ogoni and matters relating to politics. It turned dramatic last Saturday when Amaechi spoke against the deteriorating state of security, which he blamed squarely on alleged misgovernance by Wike. He also alleged that the governor and his lieutenants were fuelling insecurity with the strong backing of the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, who he accused of collecting money from Wike, and resolved to be a bystander in the face of gruesome murders, kidnapping and gross insecurity. He said: "Wike is helping to kill people. Over 50 people have been killed and the police cannot arrest anybody. The governor took an oath of office to protect lives and properties. Anywhere you see the army, the police have failed. Musa Limo has failed. There is Solomon Ndigbara who is killing people. He killed one innocent NigerianCanadian....He is a tool for politics. He opened fire on soldiers.” He also accused the governor of leading a corrupt and inept government that lacks initiative on project execution and how to tackle the state's security challenges. Wike's men, who reacted to the allegations, accused Amaechi of sponsoring kidnappings, killings and putting the blame on Wike in order to tarnish the governor's image so as to score a cheap political point. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Austin TamGeorge, who condemned the comments Amaechi made, noted that he did not provide any evidence to support his allegations.

Wike

We have had enough problems here, and it is time to allow Rivers to thrive

His words: "Amaech accused the state government and the Rivers State Police Command of abetting and supporting criminals, and blamed both for the recent killings in some areas in Rivers State. Throughout his rambling interview during which he appeared mostly confused and inebriated, Amaechi provided no shred of evidence to support his bizarre allegations. "Governor Nyesom Wike has given unprecedented financial and logistical support to the police and other security agencies in the state since he assumed office eight months ago. Within two months in office, Governor Wike released over 60 security-fitted vehicles to the police in the state. He also released over 30 vehicles to the joint security forces. "Amaechi should have used the opportunity of the live interview to give account of his disastrous and visionless administration. "Despite receiving over N3 trillion in revenue in eight years, Rotimi Amaechi left the most abandoned projects in the history of Rivers State, since 1967.” The state PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, said "threats and unguarded utterances of Amaechi have unmasked him as the sole sponsor of the skirmishes in parts of the state.” Expectedly, Amaechi reacted the next day at a rally in Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. He reiterated his position that Wike lacks the capacity to govern the state. He said: “Wike lacks capacity to govern. Somebody who just knows how to steal money is a bushman. Wike said I am corrupt; he should

bring evidence to show. I will bring evidence to show that Wike is corrupt. "When I was the governor, one thing that I kept thinking of was how to chase these criminals away but under Wike, he meets with them. If Wike does not secure you people, the federal government will secure you. "If he doesn’t want to be ignored he should go and secure you people because federal government will no longer tolerate these killings in Rivers State. “Saturday is your day, come out and vote. They will no longer have the police they had, they will no longer have the army they had, we pray that INEC should be neutral, your job is to match out and vote for All Progressives Congress (APC), we will not write results like Wike , so go back to your wards and do door-to-door” Amaechi also visited Omoku, on a condolence visit to the family of Frankline Obi, the late APC chairman of Ward 4, who was beheaded by unknown gunmen alongside his pregnant wife and son. He told the people of the area that the President is fully aware of the situation and would do everything possible to ensure their safety. But some observers, who disagree with Amaechi, argue that the issue of insecurity was being over flogged, especially the issue of kidnapping and armed robbery. A candidate of the PDP contesting next Saturday's rerun for Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Hon. Ken Chikere, said that politicians were paying bloggers, comedians and columnist to cast Rivers State in bad light. He specifically faulted Amaechi's comment that he has mobilised soldiers for the rerun election. "At times I feel so ashamed to have served in Amaechi’s government as Attorney General. Is he bringing in soldiers to kill the people he once governed? I strongly abhor violence in politics, but we should not allow our personal ambition to override the interest of the people of the state. "We have had enough problems here, and it is time to allow Rivers to thrive. They are taking our businesses away. They are making us to appear as if we are killing ourselves. The police and armyshould maintain law and order. We want a free and fair election, and we expect Amaechi to support law and order." No doubt the rerun elections has rekindled the rivalry between Amaechi and Wike, but the consensus is that the common good of the people of Rivers State should not be sacrificed on the altar of political ambition.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court orders EFCC, army to release Dasuki's ex-aide

Anambra re-run: Obi, PDP will fail , says Umeh

Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

n Abuja High Court yesterday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army to release Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd). The order of the court was sequel to a suit filed by Ashinze seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights to personal liberty. The EFCC had detained Ashinze since December 23, 2015, in relation to the ongoing investigation into alleged diversion of funds meant for arms procurement under the past administration. Ruling in the application, the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, held that Ashinze’s detention for over three months

without trial, was illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constituted a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant. He, however, ordered the immediate release of documents and items the antigraft agency seized from the house of the applicant. The court noted that fundamental human rights enforcement proceedings were not meant to be an escape route for suspects of crimes but rather it is to help in containing the excesses of government agencies. The trial judge, however, refused to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and other respondents from further arresting the applicant. The judge also refused to grant the N500 million sought by Ashinze as compensation for his unlawful detention. “The EFCC is a creation of the law. The court will not allow it to act as

if it is above the law. It is remarkable to note that the motto of the EFCC is that nobody is above the law, yet they are acting as if they are above the law. “The EFCC Act is not superior to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The respondents in this matter have not behaved as if we are in a civilised society. They have behaved as if we are in a military dictatorship where they arrest and release persons at will. “The respondents, I must be bold to say – the EFCC and the Army – have behaved like illiterates," the court held. The court also held that by virtue of section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, an accused person was deemed innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of law. “Why has the 1st respondent kept the applicant without bringing him to court? Why was the applicant, being a serv-

ing military officer, who could be easily reached, not granted administrative bail? Or is it that the applicant has been found guilty and already serving his jail term. “Nobody should be subjected to the whims and caprices of the EFCC. The essence of the rule of law and constitutional provisions is to ensure a just balance between the ruler and the ruled, between the powerful and the weak. “Though the EFCC has the responsibility to investigate financial crime, it must however conduct its operations in accordance with the rule of law. “The court is empowered to guard against improper use of power by any member of the society or agency, EFCC inclusive. “The detention of the applicant, for all intent and purposes, is not just unfair but unfortunate," the court held.

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Senatorial candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone election, Chief Victor Umeh, has said he would not trample upon the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to achieve his political ambition. He also announced that he had completed arrangement with his legal team to appeal against the judgment of an Abuja High Court, which allowed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in which the former Governor, Mr. Peter Obi is hinging his hope to contest against him on

INEC shifts FCT Area Council elections by three weeks Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, Godfrey Emiko (left) with Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, during the monarch's visit to the governor yesterday.

S'South PDP vows to sack APC in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he leadership and members of the South-South zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, declared their resolve to engage the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in a fierce battle to ensure the reclamation of the soul of Edo State in the governorship contest fixed by INEC on September 10 this year. They vowed that the oil rich zone and Edo State cannot be left in the hands of the APC, having subjected the nation and her citizens to untold hardship in the guise of change. The party further

said that the country has not had such ugly economic woes as presently experienced by her people since her independence. Besides, the state new leadership of the PDP, also yesterday, raised the alarm over alleged secret plot by the state Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to lodge the World Bank’s $75m into a private account in one of the commercial banks, so that it can yield huge interest estimated at about N10bn to enable the state government prosecute the forthcoming gubernatorial election in favour of an anointed candidate. But the state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, in reaction, lashed out at the Dan

Orbih-led executive over their ignorance at the workings of World Bank, government and governance of the state. He said: “If Orbih were not a complete dunce, he would have known that World Bank is not like Ogbona Community Bank, where you can abuse financial procedures. He has just shown the reckless financial orientation of the PDP and their brigandage and voodoo economics. Otherwise, he would not even contemplate that a world bank would carry money in sacks and hand over to state government.” Prince Afegbua added that, “We have repeatedly said it that the PDP has no answer to the challenges of governance.

The empty-headedness of their state chairman further compounds their problem. How on earth would a man talk about World Bank in such reckless manner. What a pity? Please I recommend for Dan Orbih a refresher course for him to learn the ropes in modern World Bank financial transaction instead of exhibiting manifest ignorance that tends to put Edo people to shame”. The leadership of the PDP stated while addressing delegates during the state congress which saw the return of Chief Dan Orbih as chairman of new executive members to pilot the affairs of the party in the next four years in the state.

the platform of PDP. Umeh also said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a body met and rejected the judgment on the ground that the same Judge had given three contradicting judgments on the same matter, vowing that the judgment would not survive in the Appeal Court. He reiterated that the Supreme Court had decided that in a quashed election only those who took part in the earlier election would participate in the subsequent one. “PDP will not contest election in Anambra State Central re-run, not because they will win or because we are afraid but as I said I am in this election to ensure that due process is followed” Umeh said.

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the Area Council elections in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by three weeks. The elections, which were earlier scheduled for March 19, will now hold on April 9. FCT’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Professor Jacob Jatau, who announced this in Abuja yesterday, blamed this on the inability of the commission to recruit adequate ad hoc staff to conduct the elections. "There is a challenge currently as the commission has not been able to get the required number of corps members for

the elections scheduled for March 19th, 2016," he stated. The REC disclosed that following the consultations with stakeholders, "the commission has decided to shift the elections by three weeks. "Given this challenge, the commission began consultations with the authorities of the University of Abuja to get the balance of the required number of the ad-hoc workers. By today, that the number was received. It is not possible to adequately train and deploy them for the exercise." The Commission then called "for understanding and support since the new date is still within the time allowed by law". The tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors will expire on May 17 this year.

Sokoto PDP rejects LG polls Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sokoto State chapter, has rejected the last Saturday's local government election in the state and described it as a a sham. The party said the election was marred by irregularities in spite of assurance of free and fair election by the His Excellency, Governor of Sokoto state and other organs handling the exercise. "The election should be cancelled and announce a new date for a fresh, free and fair election devoid

with rancour". The position was contained in a statement signed by the party Secretary, Malam Kabir A Aliyu, made available to newsmen in Sokoto yesterday. The statement also described the exercise as highly disappointing as the election was characterised by “massive rigging, ballot box snatching, use of soldiers and other apparatus of state security to intimidate, arrest and molest our party agents, supporters and unleashing of area boys to attack our party accredited supervisors during their assignment.”

national | news

tuesday, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Amnesty seeks justice for 640 men 'killed' by military Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN) has called for investigation into the killings of 640 men and boys allegedly killed two years ago by men of Nigerian Army in Borno State. The international organisation, in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, lamented that two years after at least 640 recaptured detainees were slaughtered by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, the authorities have failed to conduct an effective, impartial and independent investigation into the killings.

The detainees – men and boys, according to AIN, were arbitrarily arrested in mass screening operations and killed after they fled the barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State on 14 March 2014 following a Boko Haram attack. The majority were shot. To mark the anniversary of the massacre, Amnesty International said its campaigners will be gathering outside Nigerian embassies around the world to call for independent investigations and prosecutions. “It is shocking that two years after these horrific killings, there has been no justice for the victims and their relatives,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty

International's Research and Advocacy Director for Africa. “The lack of an independent investigation has meant that no one has been held to account for the killings, strengthening an already pervasive culture of impunity within the military.” Amnesty International said it has extensively documented the events of 14 March 2014, interviewing dozens of witnesses, verifying video evidence of the killings and their aftermath and confirming the locations of mass graves through satellite imagery. In June 2015, Amnesty International published extensive evidence of war crimes and possible

crimes against humanity committed by the Nigerian military. "The report found that the military extra-judicially executed at least 1,200 men and boys, and almost certainly many more, between 2012 and 2014. A further 7,000 detainees died in military detention as a result of starvation, thirst, disease, torture and a lack of medical attention. “Torture is routinely and systematically used by security forces in Nigeria, both during arrest and in detention. Soldiers arbitrarily arrested more than 20,000 suspects since 2011 and detained the overwhelming majority of them without access to their

L-R: Director, Human Capital and Infrastructure Group of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs. Maryam Bayi; immediate past Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Dr. Hamadoun Toure, and Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain… recently.

Calabar

he recent hike in electricity tariff is being protested vehemently by consumers in some states of the federation. Yesterday in Calabar, consumers walked out on the management of Port Harcourt Distribution Company, PHEDC, at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the com-

1,464

UTME candidates to protest in Lagos today Mojeed Alabi

pany. The forum, which was organised to drum up support for the new tariff in Cross River State, ended in a stalemate as the consumers insisted that the distribution company had no right to continue collecting the new rate after the Senate had ordered for the suspension of the new tariff. Trouble started midway into discussion which was facilitated by the Manager of Cor-

porate Communication of the distribution company, Mr. Jonah Iboma, who had attempted to persuade consumers to accept the increase. This attempt infuriated consumers, who argued that the company ought to have called a stakeholders’ meeting prior to the increase. Some of the consumers, who narrated their ordeal with the sudden rise in the cost of power supply, charged the com-

pany, to improve its services to the Cross River community before seeking support for a new tariff. One of the consumers, who identified himself as Mallam Obuh, said that the PHEDC should have called a Stakeholders’ forum prior to implementing the new tariff regime rather than distribute the February bills to customers before calling for the meeting.

Emefiele visits CBN Calabar, gas Varsity to confer Sultan,Tinubu, explosion victims others with degrees

he Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, visited the Calabar branch of the bank that was rocked by gas explosion on Friday. The governor, who refused to speak with journalists, also visited the victims of the blast at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Emefiele inspected the site of the blast before leaving the bank’s premis-

to be held in military detention without access to their lawyers or families, without charge and without being brought before a judge. “After more than nine months in office, President Buhari must take urgent action to provide justice for the conflict’s thousands of victims and prevent such violations occurring again. “In the two years since the Giwa killings, the pattern of unjustified use of lethal force by the military has continued with no one held accountable,” said Belay. “From Giwa to Zaria, from the north east to the south east, the time has come to break the cycle of impunity that has gripped Nigeria. This should start with justice for the Giwa 640.” It said

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

Kwara, Cross River electricity consumers angry over tariff Clement James

families or lawyers, without formal charges and without ever bringing them to court." The statement said Amnesty International said it has repeatedly called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to initiate independent and effective investigations into its evidence of crimes under international law and to implement critical safeguards against human rights violations. "Yet, despite repeated promises by President Muhammadu Buhari and his government that Amnesty International’s report would be looked into, no concrete steps have been taken to begin independent investigations. Many safeguards remain absent. For example, suspects continue

es immediately for Abuja. Four persons were reporteddeadintheblast,while several others were injured. Journalists were not allowed in when the CBN governor visited the victims in the hospital. Our correspondent also learnt that arrangements had been concluded for those who were in severe conditions to be transferred to other health facilities within or outside country where necessary.

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Vice Chancellor, Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Professor Abdullahi Zuru, said yesterday that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and four other Nigerians who excelled in their various discipline are to be conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees on Saturday March 19 by the

University. They include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, Alhaji Daura Lawal,the Executive Director Public sector First Bank of Nigeria; Lt.Gen.T.Y. Danjuma and Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwanu Akiolu. He said that the event will be conducted during the combined 32, 33 and 34 convocation ceremony of the University scheduled to take place on Saturday.

uman and vehicular movements around major roads in Lagos are likely to be disrupted this morning as candidates in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are billed to stage a mass protest. The protest, which is in response to the alleged massive irregularities in the examination, is billed to commence at the Maryland Area of the city and move to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, where they intend to submit a letter of complaint, demanding for the removal of the

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde. Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that many parents and civil societies groups, including the leadership of Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO), have declared their support for the protest, saying it would be their contribution towards protecting the future of their wards and the integrity of the examination body. According to the President of ATSO, Mr. Oludotun Sodunke, the protest became necessary because the future of the candidates was being toyed with by JAMB. He queried the rationale behind the alleged award of 40 bonus marks to candidates.

Card reader: Senate to amend Electoral Act, says lawmaker

he Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, says the senate is set to amend the Electoral Act to end the challenges of Card Readers Omoworare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that amendment of the Act would also take care of unforeseen situations. According to him, the senate was committed to passing a bill to ensure that subsequent elections

are devoid of conflicting interpretations, particularly by the judiciary. “There is a private member bill on that position and there is another private member bill on some other salient issues that will solve the quagmire we find ourselves in Kogi State. “The Electoral Act has provided for what happens before an election if a candidate dies and the constitution provides for what happens after, which is the Atiku Abubakar, Boni Haruna template.

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MUHAMMAD KABIR reports on how a condolence visit by the immediate past governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, to his former deputy and successor, Umar Ganduje, had set members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state on a collision course

POLITICS

Things fall apart in Kano

he feud between Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State and his predecessor and founder of Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over the latter’s visit to the home of Ganduje with his supporters to condole him over the death of his mother, did not come to many as a surprise.This is because the duo have before the incident been managing their relationship. Ganduje was bereaved some two weeks ago, and the unfortunate death of his mother occurred in the morning of Friday, which explained why the burial was shifted to 2.pm to allow people far and near to participate. The decision paid off as it afforded the Federal Government delegation comprising of four ministers; some state governors and traditional rulers the opportunity of bidding the governor’s mother farewell. But many in the state were surprised that former Governor Kwankwaso who handed over power to Ganduje (his deputy), some nine months ago, was absent at the burial. It was not until after three days that Kwankwaso, who now represents Kano Central in the Senate stormed Governor Ganduje’s home town with his supporters to sympathise with him. The “friendly visit” later turned sour as the former governor was alleged to have deliberately turned it to a violent rally to cause mayhem in the state. This has earned Kwankwaso the wrath of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State as the party has threatened to suspend him from its fold. Addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, the state chairman of the party, Umar Doguwa, said Kwankwaso had exhibited “acts of indiscipline which should not be allowed to go unpunished.” The APC chairman said when other dignitaries from all walks of life – including those from the opposition party – came to condole with the governor, none of them made their visits violent. He added that despite the fact that the funeral rites of the governor’s mother were conducted with decorum, humility, civility and decency in keeping with religious and cultural values of the

Kwankwaso and Ganduje when the going was good.

people, Kwankwaso dishonoured the dead by holding a “violent rally.” “During the senator’s visit, there was a violent rally and open show of thuggery as his supporters were seen openly wielding machetes, swords and other dangerous weapons,” he said. Consequently, Doguwa said the party’s leadership and elders had approved the constitution of a disciplinary committee to penalise Kwankwaso. According to him, the condolence visit was deliberately turned to a violent rally to cause mayhem in the state, abuse the governor and President Muhammadu Buhari. His words: “Very many people visited Governor Ganduje in a peaceful manner but the only unfortunate incident is the one associated with the visit of Kwankwaso, and what specifically made the visit a misdemeanor to our party was the fact that it was rather purely political against the mission of condolence.” Doguwa maintained that the party and its leadership hierarchy, as enshrined in the APC constitution, must be respected at all times by party members in respective of their positions. “The party leader today in Kano is nobody but Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, who also must be respected by every person. The party would leave no stone unturned in ensuring discipline, orderliness and loyalty as prescribed by the constitution of the APC. “Such case of party indiscipline committed by Senator Kwankwaso will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with in accordance with the constitution of the party,” he said. The party chairman also al-

Such case of party indiscipline committed by Senator Kwankwaso will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with

leged that the senator hired a crowd that crossed over the perimeter fence of the Kano airport and damaged some installations. He said: “When the hired crowd was denied access to the airport premises, they climbed over fences, breaking the iron barriers and destroying the Security scanners. All the pictures are available for confirmation. Also, the hired thugs were busy distributing presidential campaign posters, car stickers reading ‘Kwankwassiya 2019, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for President, among others.” Reacting through a statement signed by his aide, Yunusa Dangwanu, Kwankwaso said it is appalling that his good gesture has been mischievously interpreted wrongly. He added that it was also disheartening that few hours after the death of the state deputy chairman of the party, Alhaji Isa Ali Danmaraya, the government was busy coercing and misleading some party leadership into addressing a press conference that will only culminate in splitting the APC in Kano. He said he refrained from visiting the state since May 29, 2015, when he left government, so as not to interfere with the state’s affairs, adding that he had given his successor space and time to settle down and consolidate on his successful programmes and projects that resulted into 100 per cent APC’s success in the 2014 local government and 2015 general elections respectively. The statement also said Senator Kwankwaso found it pertinent to visit his successor and condole with him over the death of his mother. It said there had been close

ties between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, being his former deputy for eight years and also his former Special Adviser when Mr. Kwankwaso served as Minister of Defence. The statement read in part: “Kwankwaso deliberately gave short notice for the condolence visit, but was pleasantly surprised by the turnout of the good people of Kano who came to receive him at the Malam Aminu Kano Airport and escorted him to Ganduje village. “By the time Mr. Kwankwaso’s convoy arrived Ganduje town, we were surprised that some local people brandished local weapons, not minding the sombre occasion. It is unfortunate that they could not be chided, thus we left them with their weapons at Ganduje. “It is therefore appalling and rather unfortunate that the good gesture of Senator Kwankwaso has been mischievously interpreted wrongly. It is also disheartening that a few hours after the death of our state Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Isa Ali Danmaraya, government was busy coercing and misleading some party leaders into addressing a press conference that will only culminate in splitting the APC in Kano.” Kwankwaso warned Ganduje to desist from dragging the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to cover for his administration’s “obvious weaknesses” but “strive to concentrate on facing the enormous challenges of governance such that, perhaps, he may also be revered and respected by the good people of Kano State.” But in a twist less than 24 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Discussing Africa and Africans Adewale Kupoluyi

fricans living on the continent and in the Diaspora were offered a unique opportunity to reflect over a number of germane issues. Most of the socioeconomic and political discourse were centred on the challenges facing Africa and Africans, identifying the problems and proffering practical solutions. The first event was the Economic Justice Institute (EJI), which was jointly organised by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) and was themed: “Economic Justice in Africa: Globalisation, the State and Civil Society.” It was attended by scholars, researchers, practitioners and civil society activists working in the areas of social and economic justice, resource governance, property rights, commodification and extension of markets, climate justice, agriculture and other areas of interest in the broad area of sustainable development. Topics covered at the EJI include development and sustainability, power, control and access to resources, rule of law, gender and the evolving African state, its location in global political economies and the challenges of representation, accountability, political mobilisation, environment, climate change and prospects for continental transformative change. The second event was the World Social Science Forum (WSSF), which had as its theme, “Transforming Global Relations for a Just World”. The forum, a flagship activity of the International Social Science Council (ISSC), was hosted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in conjunction with CODESRIA. It spotlighted on the nature and dimensions of inequality, including the impact of inequality in terms of patterns of production and consumption on sustainability; the extent and consequences of income and asset inequalities; the impact of gender inequalities, as manifested in unequal access to resources, employment and other social benefits; generational inequalities with a focus on the youth; as well as wage inequalities and labour unrest. It

is interesting to note that both the EJI and WSSF were held in the historic city of Durban, South Africa. Highly versatile resource persons and participants took part in both events that elicited academic and brainstorming moments during the general and plenary sessions. Apart from being a laureate at the EJI, I was also opportune to be the rapporteur during the discourse on, “Race, Caste, Class and Gender Issues in Africa Today”. The session was chaired by Dr. Emmanuel Nuesiri, a scholar, whose research interests cover global transformations, environmental governance and social justice. Dr. Nuesiri had been involved in the Responsive Forest Governance Initiative (RFGI) project, which focused on the relationship between democracy, political representation, forest governance and climate change mitigation while the speaker at the particular session was Dr. Diallo Diop, a brilliant and renowned Senegalese Biologist, who had been the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Party, National Democratic Rally (RND), and a Pan-Africanist to the core. Dr. Diop disclosed that he was discussing the topic at the Economic Justice Institute just the way he did during the 1st World Social Forum, held in Tunis, Tunisia and hence, it was like an extension of the earlier discourse. He traced the history of racism in many societies, noting that racism had negative connotations and is associated with injustice. He stressed that the issue of race was pivotal to our globalized world, which is highly classified in the lines of hierarchy of top-bottom, white-black and rich-poor in which the Europeans were unfairly ranked at the top, Africans were put below while the Asians were fixed in-between. The three recommended books, which the resource person reflected upon while making his presentation were: De l’égalité des Races Humaines (Of the Equality of Human Races: A Positivist Anthropology) by Anterior Firmin (Published in 1885); The Racial Contract by Charles W. Mills (Cornell University Press, 1997); and The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander (The New Press, 2010). In the first book, Firmin delves into the two bases of existing theories on black inferiority in an effort to critique Gobineau’s De l’Inégalité des Races Humaines (aka Of the Inequality of Human Races). On one hand, Firmin challenges the idea

There is need to fight for a new social order that would bring about equality and better life for all using the nondiscriminatory African model

of brain size or cephalic index as a yardstick for human intelligence and on the other, he re-affirms the presence of African Blacks in the Pharaonic Egypt. He equally x-rayed the significance of the Haitian Revolution of 1804 and the ensuing achievements of Haitians. He disclosed that the book, De l’égalité des Races Humaines (Of the Equality of Human Races: A Positivist Anthropology) by Firmin, was ‘buried’ from the 20th Century African scholars so as to limit their knowledge. He added that racism was borne-out of the social perception by the people and that there was no rational justification to suggest that Africans were inferior to other races. Dr. Diop noted that this assertion of inferiority was unfounded because landmark achievements could be traced to Africa and Africans. He debunked the insinuation that African feats were never documented because the first mode of writing called hieroglyphics could be traced to the ingenuity of the Libyans and Egyptians. While acknowledging and identifying other forms of cultural and gender discrimination, Dr. Diop said that the inequality among human beings could be seen manifesting in the prejudice of the minority against the majority as well as between male and female persons, noting that it is a reality that people have to deal with each other on the basis of their phenotype. Matriarchy, according to him, was a social characteristic of the African society, even though females in Africa were mothers in their house-holds. He expressed displeasure over the fact that human beings discriminate against each other without any logical reasons. Dr. Diop observed that gender problems in a typical African society had caused many injustices while the caste system was still prevalent in West Africa. Drawing strengths from the inspiring messages central to the recommended books, the PanAfricanist insisted that there is need to fight for a new social order that would bring about equality and better life for all using the non-discriminatory African model as against the European model that is highly discriminatory and naturally geared towards profit-making. He pointed out that conflict is classless and could happen to any society. •Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk,@AdewaleKupoluyi

Saraki must resign as Senate President Taiwo Kehinde

onsequent upon the Supreme Court declaration that Dr. Bukola Saraki must appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to face the alleged false declaration of assets and money laundering charges against him by the Code of Conduct bureau (CCB), the embattled Senate president must resign from the exalted office to preserve the integrity of the office of the Senate president and the legislature as a whole. It would amount to dragging the office of the Senate president in the mud by allowing Saraki to be docked as a sitting president of the Senate in his on going trial of Saraki at the CCT. Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi, recently described call for Saraki’s resignation by Senator Kabiru Marafa as premature, unwarranted and unneces-

sary. Senator Abdullahi who that Saraki trial was a case of political vendatta, based on the belief of pro-Saraki senators that the time lag between 2003 to 2011 when the offense was allegedly committed and 2015 when the trial was initiated was misconceived and not known to law. Every good and and bad deeds must be recalled irrespective of the time of occurrence. The current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari just recently brought up the case of over 30 years ago of the Under 17 Golden Eaglets who won the world cup in 1985. President Muhammadu Buhari compensated them with an apology for keeping them waiting for so long. Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on a man, Mr. Taiwo Akinwunmi, who designed Nigerian’s flag and placed him on a life salary of special assistant after 55 years. If those good deeds could be remembered, there is nothing wrong in remembering any alleged

bad deeds done in the past. Senator Abdullahi, in his speech said: “Since the fundamental principles in our legal system is that a defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty, we have decided to patiently observe the proceedings until the case runs its full circle in the nation’s judicial forum.” This statement credited to Senator Abdullahi is quite unfortunate and shameful. Every law recognises the fact that all accused persons are innocent until proven otherwise, but it is also a global practice to resign from sensitive public offices on moral ground when accused of an offence. Having accepted to prove his innocence at the CCT, Dr. Bukola Saraki must resign as president of the Senate. Its a global standard practice of morality to preserve and protect the sanctity of the office. The late Chuba Okadigbo and Adulphus Wabara resigned as Senate president when indicted. Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) President, Sepp

Blatter, resigned when indicted around the time he was seeking re- election and many others. I understand the fear of Senator Aliyu Abdullahi and others, the fear of loosing the juicy positions at the Senate might have caused their refusal to allow Saraki resign, but we should not allow our selfish interest to overshadow our sense of reasoning. I appeal to all the 109 senators to allow the sense of reasoning prevail on Dr. Bukola Saraki to resign from the office of Senate president to allow him concentrate on his trial at the CCT. The Senate should also work together to elected its president and not to engage in any controversy that can lead to confrontation. The memory of the chairman of house committee on health in the House of Representative Hon. Aminu Safara, who lost his life in 2007 during the Ettehgate is too fresh for a repeat. Dr. Bukola Saraki must resign now. A word is enough for a wise. • Kehinde wrote in from Loburo, Ogun State.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Stemming the road carnage

unday, March 6, 2016 was a black day for Nigeria as it lost a cabinet member, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), who until his death was the Minister of State for Labour and Employment. The minister died in an auto crash on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. Not only did Ocholi die; he died alongside his wife, Blessing, and first son, Joshua. While Nigerians were still mourning Ocholi and his family members, they were jolted by the death of a top military officer who had fought gallantly to defend Nigeria against the Boko Haram insurgency. That top military officer, Major General Yushau Mahmood Abubakar, died in an auto crash on Maiduguri-Damaturu Road. Until his deployment to the Army Headquarters in Abuja as Chief of Training and Operations, the late Abubakar was the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, a special counterterrorism squad set up to fight Boko Haram in the North-East. However, the army did not give details of the accident. In the Ocholi case, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) identified excessive speed, burst tyre and sudden application of brake as factors responsible for the auto crash, which claimed the lives of the minister, his wife and son. The vehicle summersaulted several times. But it is believed that the poor state of the nation’s roads con-

tributed to the crash. The Ocholis and Abubakar have been added to the grim statistics of people killed on the Nigerian road. Among other prominent Nigerians killed on the roads are former Minister of Works and Housing, Major-General Abdulkareem Adisa, who was involved in an auto accident on February 25, 2005. He died in a London hospital following multiple injuries he sustained in the auto crash on his way from Kogi State. One of the nation’s foremost industrialists, Chief Rufus Giwa, also died in an auto crash on March 26, 2003 on the LagosIbadan Expressway. Giwa, a char-

mer President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Festus Iyayi, died in a motor accident while on his way to Kano State to attend an ASUU NEC meeting in the wake of a strike embarked upon by the union. Apart from important personalities, scores of hapless Nigerians are daily involved in accidents caused by deplorable state of the roads, human errors or mechanical faults or a combination of these factors.

tered accountant and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Nigeria Plc as well as a two-term President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), died when his car somersaulted. In September 2005, two activists, Chima Ubani and Tunji Oyeleru, died in an auto crash at Potiskum, on their way to Abuja after a rally against deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum sector at Maiduguri, organised by the Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO). Also on November 12, 2013, for-

crashes in terms of goods and valuables destroyed as well as wasted man-hour. About 5,000 Nigerians die in auto accidents in the country annually. According to the FRSC annual report for 2013, 6,450 Nigerians lost their lives on the roads in that year. The breakdown shows that 4,552 men, 1,398 women, 299 boys and 201 girls died in the crashes. The figure could be more, given the fact that many of the accidents and the number of casualties are not always reported; and

It is time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on the nation’s roads

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Many of these Nigerians have either lost their lives or sustained permanent disabilities. Several billions of naira have also been lost to auto

therefore, could not be accounted for. There is no gainsaying that most of the nation’s roads have become death traps. It is often said that driving or travelling on Nigerian roads is like a suicide mission. For instance, many lives have been lost on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway this year. In fact, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway no longer qualifies to be called a road. That also goes for so many other highways and roads nationwide. It is time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on the nation’s roads. In the interim, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, which supervises the roads, must come up with immediate palliative measures to put the roads in proper shape. The FRSC and other monitoring agencies should also step up efforts to monitor drivers in a bid to curtail over speeding and ensure only vehicles in road worthy conditions are allowed to ply the nation’s highways. That is the only way to reduce the carnage on the roads to the barest minimum. It is not enough to have roadworthy vehicles; it is equally important to have ‘vehicle worthy’ roads. The importance of good roads to a floundering economy like Nigeria’s can never be overemphasised. It is sine qua non to the country’s economic prosperity. That is why the Federal Government should pay more attention to the roads.

POLITICS

Izuoma Ibe

s enshrined in the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 15, part 1 and Section 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is vested with the responsibility to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a state, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation. No doubt, INEC has handled this duty since 1998 with rapt commitment but it has become a show of shame that the electoral umpire is hastily falling to the whims and caprices of political parties as it is nonchalantly disregarding its values which includes carrying out all of its functions independently, free from external control and influence. The independence of INEC should depict that the commission should only be a referee, giving no sides in an election as all political parties are expected to be equal and treated with utmost transparency. How transparent was INEC in the conduct of the rerun election in Abia North senatorial district when the umpire dribbled other political parties in the guise of announcing an election inconclusive then leaving for Umuahia (as they claimed) only to return and announce the candidate of the Peoples Democartic Party (PDP) winner when the other political parties had trusted the decision of the nation’s electoral commission which has the final say in any election at that level? How has electoral body lived up to its mission statement which states that “the mission of INEC is to serve as an independent and

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abia North: How INEC fell short of values

Yakubu

effective Election Management Body (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria, if it should disenfranchise a good percentage of the people of Abia North by not including their votes in the result they declared in favour of their tune caller, PDP? How has INEC created a level playing field for all political parties as it is stated as their fifth value that INEC shall ensure the

The independence of INEC should depict that it should only be a referee

creation of a level playing field for all political actors? It is an amazement that the commission has really created a hollow in the electoral process in Nigeria as it is now evident that upcoming elections in Nigeria may bring about shoddy scenarios should the reverse of this trending anomaly is not duly addressed, especially in this case of Abia North senatorial rerun where the Resident Electoral Officer is saying that he had to announce

the said result which gave the underserved victory to PDP under duress. Where is the credibility of INEC as it is also embedded in its values to ensure that no action or activity is taken in support of any candidate or political party? If a selected few can dilute the decision of INEC, does that show its credibility? Which international standard was met by that action? INEC should be at best position to address its issues. It has become an aberration that INEC personnel shall in two occasions be mandated to declare a candidate winner through frivolous means. It was this same issue which led to the cancellation and the call for rerun of this same election. How is INEC embracing its aspiration to be one of the best election management bodies in the world that meets the aspirations of the Nigerian people when it would declare an election inconclusive, calling for a rerun in some affected polling units and later reverse its decision and declare the same result? Why would such result stand when there were irregularities in the said election to the tone that chieftains of a particular political party sponsored thugs who used arms to intimidate voters during the election? By extension, is it constitutional for such suspects to be allowed to go free by the orders of the state governor? By all standards in cognizance with the Abia North Senatorial rerun, INEC fail short of its values. •Ibe wrote from Umuahia, Abia State

Things fall apart in Kwankwasiyya Movement C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

hours after he came down hard on Kwankwaso, the Kano APC chairman made a detour, saying he signed the statement under duress. Doguwa, who called for another press conference, denied himself, saying: “In my capacity as party chairman, the previous press statement read and signed by me was not written and made by my humble self, and I neither participated in its drafting but rather I was coerced to sign under duress and close marking by the state apparatus. According to him, “the fact remains that the executive arm of government has confused a purely social event with politics, because the visit by Kwankwaso was politicised out of proportion. “I hereby withdraw the statement and disassociate myself from it,” he said, adding that the comments were ” a product of warped and mischievous elements in the government whose position and antics are to cause confusion and disunity among the rank and file of our party.” Doguwa’s denial added another twist to the drama as few minutes after he addressed the media, the Central Working

Committee of the party countered him, saying, the denial made by Doguwa was “nothing but a selfish interest and that of his mentor Kwankwaso.” The secretary of the party in the state, Abbas Sani, who read the position paper of the Central Working Committee position paper, said they are fully behind moves to prosecute Kwankwaso on his action of recruiting thugs who accompanied him to Governor Ganduje home town in the guise of a condolence visit. Sani said the u-turn by Doguwa was unfortunate and would be investigated. “The APC state working committee disassociates itself from the chairman’s rather sad twisted position and the action is nothing but a betrayal of trust shouldered on him,” he said. He added: “The chairman’s remarks are his personal opinion and that of his mentor which will not change the earlier position of investigating the action of Kwankwaso and bring him to book.” Sani reaffirmed his total loyalty and that of the APC working committee to Governor Ganduje and the party’s constitution and urged party members in the state to disregard the statement made by Doguwa, saying they are

“baseless and unfounded.” While the last has not been heard of the matter, the fact remains that many in the state never believed in the relationship between Kwankwaso and Ganduje because they were only seen as persons coming together to protect personal interests. Second Republic governor of the state, late Abubakar Rimi, once said that “it is an open knowledge that all is not well with the two because of many things” while responding to a question on the political relationship between Kwankwaso and Ganduje. Rimi noted that “when I was trying to reconcile Dauda Dangalan with Kwankwaso because of their misunderstanding, I personally called for a meeting, and when Kwankwaso came, he was alone and I asked him about his friend (Ganduje). He replied: Don’t you know I’m only managing that guy because if I allow him to go on his own he might harm me.” This aside, even when they were governor and deputy, respectively, reports kept circulating that all was not in good shape in their relationship but because of the maturity they exhibited, many thought everything was alright.

But signs that all was not well emerged shortly Kwankwaso handed over to Ganduje. Despite the fact the change of baton was between leaders of the same political party – APC, the new man (Ganduje) went to town with the tale of huge debt. The Transition Committee set up by Ganduje had disclosed before the inauguration that Kwankwaso, not only left an empty treasury but additional liability of N379 billion although Ganduje later came out to defend his former boss, declaring that the huge liabilities he inherited was not a crime. His words: “I am part and parcel of the Kwankwaso’s administration and whatever must have happened; we all should take the responsibility. It is correct that we have huge liabilities, but that does not mean that it is a crime, we planned everything together but unfortunately, what we envisaged did not work as the price of oil came down.” This defence, notwithstanding, some analysts had reasoned then that it was a matter of time the Pandora Box is opened. Now that the battle has started, political observers in the ancient town are wondering if the party in the Kwankwasiyya Movement is over.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Karmo market: 'Bend down select' boutiques

Inside Abuja

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

unday March 6 is a day the family of late Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Enojo Ocholi (SAN), would not forget in a hurry. It is also a day none of them wish to ever experience again. As Christians, they had obeyed the Biblical injunction to respect the holy day. They had all gone to Church to worship God. While their parents alongside their eldest son had gone to Kaduna to worship the Lord, the rest did their own fellowship at home. No one had an inkling of what fate had in stock for the family until that afternoon when a call that would change the destiny of the entire family came. If anyone had told Ojone Ocholi, that her mother, Blessing, and brother, Joshua, with whom she took pictures a few

Onwuka NzeshI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

News Hard times: Construction workers down tools in Abuja

Ocholi’s son to mourners:

18 20

Senate President Bukola Saraki (middle), commiserating with the children of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi in Abuja.

We’re not hopeless days before would be no more in a matter of days, she would definitely not have believed. Ojone took picture with her dad, mum and late brother as if she had a premonition of what was going to happen. Alas: daddy, mummy and their elder son were involved in an accident on Kilometre 57 along Kaduna-Abuja express way. "Daddy and Joshua are dead". That was the next message. Pandemonium broke out in the once calm and peaceful house. Like a wildfire, the news was everywhere: social media was awash with the breaking news of a minister and his son's death in a road accident and before the end of the day, his wife was also pronounced dead. Friends, families, politicians and associates thronged the No 6 Dagash Street, Kado Estate residence of the Ocholi's to confirm the sad news. Situated on off Alex Ekwueme Way, Kado Estate, Abuja, the late minister's home became a beehive of activities causing traffic snarl on the main road with men of the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) providing security and controlling traffic simultaneously.

We are not hopeless, we are really proud of the man he was. We continue to pray to God to comfort us. We will not feel dejected

But the news was true. The minister and his son were dead and after some hours, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir ElRufai confirmed the death of his wife at Doka Hospital where she was rushed to after the accident. It was confirmed that the late minister had gone to Kaduna for a church service. his close friend, Tokunbo Obayan said: "He went for a church service in Kaduna; he has been involved in Christian activities for a very long time and that was actually how we met. There is a bond between the two of us because of our love for God.” “Even his coming into politics was to bring a dimension of cleanliness and most people will not understand if I tell you that Ocholi entered into politics because he had a call. I was the first person that he told," a distraught Obayan told Inside Abuja. While sympathizers trooped to his house the following morning to mourn and also condole with the remaining children left behind, his picture, his wife, Fatima and that of their son, Joshua were already on display with each having a condolence register. Chairs and canopies were al-

ready provided for sympathisers outside the house as the living room of the family house was always choked up with people. And it was a visit of who's who in the country: from ministers to governors, lawmakers, legal practitioners, religious personalities, families, friends, politicians and host of others. Gloom and forlorn were the words to describe faces at Ocholi's house. While some wailed like babies, many who could hold their emotions were speechless. Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Ahmadu Ali, who was at the place could only describe the incident as a "catastrophe to the Igala Kingdom and Nigeria." Wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajia Mairo Al-Makura, was all tears when she came out of the house in the company of her husband, Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura. One of the late minister's cousins, Isaac Agbanwu, a surveyor said: “We were not expecting this. We were together on Thursday, our discussion was about a trip he was going to make officially and I was to meet him CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Inside ABUJA | SLUMS

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ike the Kantangua market along Abule Egba Road in Lagos State, the Karmo market, Abuja is daily gaining recognition and influence among residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The market, which is a few minutes drive from the popular Berger Roundabout, is located along the Life Camp/Idu/ Gwagwalada/ Deidei road but attracts buyers and sellers from all over Abuja and beyond. It operates twice every week (Tuesday and Friday) and has become a destination for fairly used or second hand goods. These include clothes, shoes, furniture, electronics, electrical appliances and other commodities. Curiously, the patronage for these goods have defied class and status as both the high and low, rich and poor besiege the market to shop for these fairly used goods, also known as tokunbo or okrika in our local parlance. Here in Karmo, it is an open air affair except for the makeshift sheds erected by the traders to shield themselves and their wares from the rain or sunshine. The display of fairly used goods has become a trend in Nigerian markets for several decades and there is no indication that it would change any time soon. The reasons for this phenomenon are obvious. Among the populace, there is this belief that most 'second hand' commodities are imported from abroad and even though the products may be old, they are usually of high quality. In addition, these commodities come fairly cheap and one is not likely to have them in brand new stocks in Nigeria. Most of the items in the "bend down and select" boutiques come in bales and those conversant with the trade say that they also come in different grades. If one is lucky and stumbles on a top grade bale of clothes, they would be as good as brand new wears from Dubai. This is why even the rich and fairly comfortable men and women in Abuja would not mind patronising these goods. On Tuesdays, the market is open

Customers at Karmo market, Abuja

Traders at Karmo market, Abuja

Karmo market: 'Bend down select' boutiques to all kinds of products including foodstuff and attracts sellers from as far as Kano and Kaduna, while on Fridays, the market is specifically meant for second hand clothes, shoes and baby wears. A visit to the market on any of these days might bring you a surprise as you are likely to find the classy lady in your office among those bending down to select choice wears. Even the young man in your neighbourhood whose wears you once admired and thought was the latest arrival from London might just be standing next to you at the bend down boutique. However, the lure of going to

On Fridays, the market is specifically meant for second hand clothes, shoes and baby wears

Karmo might soon come to an end as the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says its location is illegal and constitutes a nuisance to the environment. The market, Inside Abuja gathered, is situated on a stretch of illegal plots of land along the road and causes a lot of gridlock, as those driving through the Idu, Gwagwa, Deidei spend hours to get to their destinations. In addition, the owners of the plots have started developing their plots. One of the traders at the market, who gave his name as Okechukwu was not convinced about the illegality tag on the market. He urged the government to leave

the market on its present location, adding that rather than shutting down the market, they should revoke the original allocations given to the developers. He argued that under the Land Use Act, the people would derive greater benefit from the place when used as a market than when it is left to individuals. According to him, the multiplying effect of the market is far greater on the economy than what it would yield to individual home owners. Similarly, Blessing, who sells baby wears kicked against the planned shut down of the market particularly when the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) seems to have no alternative location for it. She said the market has been her source of income as she earns enough from it to train two of her children who are undergraduates in one of the universities. She described the plans by the AMAC as insensitive and urged the government to have serious consideration for the masses. According to her, there were several shopping malls in Abuja but their rents remain beyond the reach of the poor traders. "Not everybody can afford to pay millions of Naira to rent or buy a shop in the shopping complexes you find in the city. This is why some of us are here. They should consider this issue very well and leave us alone because all fingers are not equal," she pleaded. Today, the average trader in Karmo market is apprehensive. The buyers are also afraid that their source of cheap fairly used items might soon be demolished. However, both groups still look forward to meeting at the market every Tuesdays and Fridays under the rain or the sun.

Inside ABUJA

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Memories of Nyanya bomb blasts Amadi Nnamdi ABUJA

yanya, a quiet border town between the Federal Capital Territory and Nassarawa State, recently became “famous” following a series of fatal bomb blasts that occurred within its vicinity in the last two years. Nyanya witnessed its first bomb blast on April 14, 2014 about 6:45a.m., inside the crowded ElRufai Park, located beside the Nyanya flyover bridge. It was a twin blast that killed about a hundred people, leaving more than 200 others seriously injured and many maimed for life. Six days after the incident, Boko Haram, the dreaded terrorist group operating in the country, claimed responsibility for the attack. The impact of the blast was overwhelming, considering the location and its proximity to the seat of power. Despite the assurance of then President Goodluck Jonathan who visited the blast scene and described the ugly incidence as a “distraction which the country would surely get over,” the perpetrators of the dastardly act did not relent in their resolve to foist more terror on the residents of Nyanya. On May 1, 2014, the terrorists struck again. This time, it occurred at about 200 meters (650ft) away from the scene of the previous one. This second blast, though not as fatal as the previous one surely left a large number of casualties. About 19 people were killed on the spot while no fewer than 60 others were reportedly injured. As in the previous incident, several cars around the ever busy motor park were destroyed. As if these were not gory enough, a third blast was recorded in Nyanya on October 2, 2015. It occurred about 9:35p.m. and left several people dead and 21 injured. The blast occurred at the road junction opposite the site of the last bomb attack. After these series of attacks, the peaceful and carefree ambience of Nyanya was shattered. Many children were orphaned as a result of the sudden death of either one or both of their parents. Properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed. Economic activities were disrupted and many residents relocated from the community. People lived in fear as no one knew when the next explosion might occur. In response, the Federal Government deployed hordes of security operatives to the area. This massive deployment resulted in a security clampdown with soldiers mounting road blocks on the highway and conducting stop and search operations. This even created panic among residents and travellers alike even as soldiers barricaded the interchange on the bridge leading to the converted El-Rufai bus station (site of the first blast) into a makeshift military camp. The ever busy Abuja-Keffi expressway known for its notorious gridlock, was not left out of the ripple effects of these blasts, as all the commercial buses, taxis,

…Residents appeal for technology-driven security

The Nyanya bomb blast scene

a civil engineer, said that it was doubtful if the bridge was still strong enough to carry the weight of traffic which it bears on a daily basis. "In civilized climes, once a strong blast occurs, structures close by are subjected to an integrity test by officials of government. This of course is to ascertain the strength and perhaps the level of damage on the structures. It’s all about safety precautions," he said. Akobude urged the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of people around the area by conducting the relevant checks to ascertain that the bridge was still strong enough to withstand the pressure on it.

The scene of the bomb blast

Traders at the market in Nyanya

tricycles and motorcycles which hitherto converged at the El-Rufai park to pick passengers now line up along the road to carry out their operations, hence worsening the traffic logjam on the road. Aftermath of the blasts Sequel to the blasts, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCDA) demolished some structures located around the vicinity of the blasts, causing many petty traders to lose their source of livelihood. However, several months after the last bomb attack in Nyanya, economic activities have resumed at the site of the blast, but same cannot be said of the El-Rufai park where the first

blast occurred, as the park has remained cordoned off and used by soldiers as an observation base. In the place of the high capacity buses that once dominated the park, were military vans while armed soldiers could be spotted behind their machine guns mounted on sand bags. Integrity of the Nyanya bridge Many residents of the area have raised concerns about the integrity of the Nyanya bridge, which had experienced severe shock waves on account of the high calibre bomb that exploded around it three consecutive times. Expressing this concern to Inside Abuja, Joseph Akobude,

Close Circuit Cameras In view of the recent challenges faced by motorists and commuters, many residents have appealed to the Federal Government to restore normalcy to the area by opening the closed bus station. They also want the FCDA to install Closed Circuit Cameras and other the necessary security facilities to monitor movement of people and general activities in the hot spot. They argue that with the application of modern technology, the ever busy Nyanya neighbourhood could be made safer even without the physical presence of security operatives. Michael Ande argued that the bus park should not be opened for commercial use again, but rather, a cenotaph should be built there in memory of all the victims of the serial bomb blasts that occurred around it. He therefore urged government to quickly construct a modern park at another location far removed from the busy highway. This opinion was re-echoed by Mr. Ukwa Ide, another resident of Nyanya who lamented the continued blockade of a section of the road by fierce looking armed soldiers several months after the last blast.

INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hard times: Construction workers down tools in Abuja Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

s the economic hardship in Nigeria bites harder, employees of construction firms have embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands for increased wages and better conditions of service. The strike embarked upon by the workers left most project sites deserted, even as the unions said they were prepared to meet with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nigige, who had indicated interest to wade into the matter. Inside Abuja reliably

gathered that the economic recession arising from the crash in the price of crude oil, the Federal Government has been unable to meet its contractual obligations to most of the construction firms handling major government projects. Some of the firms are owed huge amount running into billions of naira and have also been facing difficult times meeting their obligations to their employees. Majority of construction firms including the big players such as Julius Berger Plc., Setraco, Strabag, Dantat & Sawoe and Bullet International have laid off half of their staff in addition to suspend-

ing operation on some of their sites. Chairman, National Union of Construction Workers (NUCW) in the Federal Capital Territory, Comrade Yakubu Shehu, said the strike was not limited to Abuja and that all construction sites across the country would remain shut down until an amicable resolution of the dispute was reached. Shehu, an employee of Bullet International Construction firm, said that the demand for a raise in the salaries and allowance of construction workers was a legitimate request enshrined in the National Joint Industrial Council ( NJIC) agreement which stipulates that an annual

increase in allowances be made to the emoluments of construction workers. He explained that the association had engaged the management of construction firms in several meetings on the need to implement the agreement but to no avail, noting that the leadership of the union had no choice but to order its members to proceed on an indefinite strike effective from last Tuesday. "There is a binding agreement that employees of construction firms are to be paid specific allowances every three years. Among these are, increment in leave allowance, hazard allowance, long service allowances

and others. These allowances were due for review last year October but the management bluntly said they don't have money to pay. In fact, they met and said they can no longer sustain it and they have resolved to stop it. They met with union leadership recently and could not make any headway," a source said. Public Relations Adviser to Julius Berger Plc., Mr. Moses Duku, was not available to comment but his assistant, Martins Affah, told our correspondent on phone that the issue was an industry wide matter and not restricted to Julius Berger. Also speaking, the union chairman of Arab Contractors Limited, Sal-

isu Aminu, confirmed that all workers of construction firms were on strike. "There is what we called National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC). This council meets periodically with the management of construction firms to trash out issues pertaining to allowances and their reviews. NJIC was due to meet last year October but the management of these firms have deliberately refused the meeting and all efforts to convey the meeting failed. They said they don't have funds citing recession in economy. We are not asking for too much at least let's meet to discuss these things but they would not accede", he said.

FG, ICAN train civil servants on forensic investigation Ebere Ameh ABUJA Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (right), receiving a souvenir from the South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Mosiviwe MapisaNoakula, during a courtesy visit to the minister in Abuja.

PHOTO: NAN

FCTA to retrieve government lands Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed that any government landed property illegally encroached upon by any person or corporate organisation would be retrieved and returned to the government intact. Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made this

vow during an unscheduled visit to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Dump Site in Gosa, Sewer Treatment Plant, Wupa and the proposed Waste Transfer Station at Mpape. Bello insisted that such land would have to be retrieved and returned to the government for its original uses in line with the Abuja Master Plan. "Any government property or government land encroached in Abu-

ja will be taken back and given to the government and that is the easiest of our jobs because it’s government that gives people land. “If somebody encroaches on government land, it’s very easy for government to take back its land because nobody can take government’s land and get away with it," he said. Bello disclosed that in the coming months, all the departments of the Abuja Environmental Protection

Board would be strengthened to ensure that liquid and solid wastes are well managed and disposed off in the FCT. According to him, the strengthening of the board would involve some massive re-organisation of its personnel and responsibilities, the rehabilitation of existing facilities and the creation of new ones to ensure these infrastructure were adequate for the fast growing of the city.

he Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to train Civil Servants in forensic investigation to ensure accountability and efficient service delivery. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred OyoIta, made this disclosure recently in Abuja when the President and Members of the governing council of (ICAN) visited her in her office. Oyo-Ita said that time has come for the inculcation of new innovations and proactive attitude to improve the skills of civil servants thereby enhancing their capacity to deliver better service to Nigerians. She further stated that training of civil servants in forensic investigation will not only restore integrity and dignity of the service, which the present administration hopes

to achieve, it will also help the civil servants to be Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred (EPIC). She added that accuracy and integrity place the Accounting profession above board in the discharge of their duties which is in consonance with the newly adopted International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), an accrual-based standard used for the preparation of general purpose financial statements by government and other public sector entities to enhance the quality, consistency and transparency of public sector financial reporting world -wide. Earlier, the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Femi Deru, expressed confidence that civil servants would perform optimally if the present administration will explore possible ways to equip them with relevant skills and materials especially in this era of Information Communication Technology.

Man, 45, in court for touching customer’s breast Police commission Dog Breeding Centre Yekeen Nurudeen

BRIEFLY

Abuja

45-year-old trader, Sunny Onugu, has appeared before the Kado Grade 1 Area Court for allegedly touching a woman’s breast without her consent. Onugu, who resides in Utako, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the twocount charge of gross indecency and assault. The magistrate, Malam Abubakar Sadiq, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Sadiq said that the surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of Grade Level 6. Prosecutor, Salisu Khaleel, had told the court that Adeyemi Rafatu of the same address reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on February 29, 2016. Khaleel said that the defendant touched Rafatu on the breast without her consent while she was paying for a candle she bought at his shop. The prosecutor said that when the woman protested over the assault, the defendant slapped her on the face. Khaleel said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 265 of the Penal Code.

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he dream of the Nigeria Police to produce indigenous sniffer dogs was actualised last Thursday, with the commissioning of Dog Breeding Centre in Abuja. Also commissioned on Thursday, was the Ultra Modern Mounted Troop Stable in Garki. Both projects are designed to complement the crime-fighting efforts of police personnel as well as the performance of ceremonial duties. At the commissioning ceremony,

which was attended by the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, among other dignitaries, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, had disclosed that the Nigeria Police spent over N600 million in the last few years, to procure dogs from foreign countries. "The initiative was also designed to, in the long-term, support the operational dog requirements of sister law enforcement organisations and the Armed Forces as well as breeding of friendly puppies for the civilian population on commercial basis,” he added.

INSIDE ABUJA \ Diplomatic Drive

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Onwuka Nzeshi and Amadi Nnamdi

he High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has conducted oneweek long training programme on the effective investigation and management of complex and serious criminal incidents for officers of the Nigerian Police. The Canadian Police College and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police delivered the courses to Nigerian investigators to improve their capacity for major case and crime-scene management, evidence collection and preservation, kidnapping investigations as well as interviewing techniques and statement analysis. The High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Mr. Perry Calderwood, stated at the closing ceremony that the programme was an opportunity for law enforcement officials to learn and apply internationally recognised methods for major case and crime-scene management. The direct result, he said, will be an increase in their capacity to investigate serious offenses, obtain and analyse evidence that will bear judicial scrutiny in the prosecution of offenders. This cooperation builds upon the commitment made by Canada via the Bi-National Commission, established with Nigeria in 2012, to assist Nigerian security forces in combat-

Canada trains security officials on mgt of criminal incidents

Canadian High Commissioner, Perry Calderwood in a handshake with a police officer

ting terrorism. It is also in response to a request from the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police Force, Mr. Solomon Arase, seeking specialised training in these areas, and builds upon other training initiatives that Canada has implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Police Force in recent times. German Embassy hosts evening of book reading The Embassy of the Republic of Germany has hosted the diplomatic community and lovers of literature to a session of book reading in Abuja.

The event which took place at the Thought Pyramid Arts Centre, saw Mr. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, a young promising Nigerian writer and journalist reading from his first novel, "Season of Crimson Blossoms" - a story about life in northern Nigeria. The book throws up new perspectives on contemporary issues such as child marriage and the fusion of culture, tradition and religion in the life of the people. The German Ambassador in Nigeria, Michael Zenner, who was the chief host, expressed delight at the literary works of

Abubakar whose debut literary work, a collection of short stories titled "The Whispering Trees", was long listed for the inaugural edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature in 2014. The reading session was laced with break periods of discussions, contributions and questions as the audience tried to explore the plot and themes of the novel in relation to contemporary issues in a typical community in northern Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea seeks business opportunities The Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria, Mr. Job

N3.9bn fraud: N2bn bail for Badeh

he Federal Government last week arraigned a former Chief of Defence Chief (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh over alleged diversion of fund to the tune of N3.9 billion. Badeh, however, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that he is not guilty of the alleged N3.9 billion fraud he was accused of by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency arraigned the former CDS on a 10-count charge bothering on alleged diversion of fund belonging to the Nigerian Air Force. When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts and expressed desire to stand trial. His counsel, Samuel Zibiri (SAN) however brought a bail application. The court admitted Badeh to bail in the sum of N2 billion, with two sureties in the sum of N1 billion each. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that the two sureties must residence in Abuja and owners of landed properties with Certificate of Occupancy, which is valued at N1 billion. The court further held that the registrar of the

court will confirm the genuineness of the landed papers, so also the EFCC should do so within 24 hours that the papers are brought. He added that surety should present three years tax clearance, and also depose to an affidavit of means. The sureties are also to submit their recent passports and also tell the court the means by which they will pay the bail sum if in the event they are called to do so. The court also instructed the EFCC to get the location of the sureties'

residents in Abuja.

Saraki files fresh application to stop trial The trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before the CCT over alleged false assets declaration was last week stalled due to fresh application brought by the Saraki challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter. The Federal Government had filed a 13-count charge bordering on false assets declaration against the Senate president. At the resumed trial yesterday, prosecution

counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had announced to the court that the business of the day was hearing and that his witnesses were in court. Defense counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) who led other 66 lawyers informed the court that he had filed an application challenging the authority of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to initiate a criminal proceedings and also jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the matter. Court to Metuh: You must face trial The Federal High Court

Metuh (left) with Badeh, during their arraignment, at the Federal High Court, in Abuja…last week.

Inside

Mbengono, has expressed great optimism in the business prospects of both countries, saying Nigeria has the potential to boost its trade volume with his country. Mbengono stated this during a meeting with officials of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (ACCI) in Abuja. “Nigeria is a giant nation in the region. We know about the potential of Nigeria. The businesses that we have are more from European and American countries, but we will like to do business with African countries too and there is no better country to invest than Nigeria," he said. The President of ACCI, Mr. Tony Ejinkoye, pledged the chamber’s readiness to assist Equatorial Guinea to identify areas of investment interest in Nigeria. Slovenia partners Nigeria business community The Slovenian–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (SNCC) and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ltd (ACCI) have agreed to work together to increase the bilateral trade between both countries. President of SNCC, Mr. Fred Uduma, stated this when he led delegation of Slovenian business community to ACCI in Abuja. Uduma said that SNCC was determined to deepen the partnership with ACCI to facilitate trade investment and promote business opportunities in both countries.

ABUJA

COURTS

with Tunde Oyesina

sitting in Abuja last week told the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, that he has a case to answer, as a prima facie case had been established against him by the Federal Government. The court also dismissed the enforcement of fundamental right suit filed by Metuh. The Federal Government is prosecuting Metuh and his company over alleged diversion of N400 million, part of the fund which was meant for the purchase of arms. The fund was alleged to have been collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). After the EFCC had presented all its witnesses, Metuh filed a no case submission. He submitted in his application that the prosecution has not establish any case against him, and therefore he has no defence to make. Reprieve for Orubebe? The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja last week struck out charges bordering on the acceptance of N70 million

bribe filed by the Federal Government against a former Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe. The striking out was sequel to the withdrawal of the counts which relate to such charge by the Federal Government. In the amendment, the earlier four-count charge was reduced to one. The prosecution in the new charge had eliminated the counts bordering on the acceptance of N70 million bribe by the ex-minister. The only count in the amended charge borders on false assets declaration. Biafra: Kanu accuses judge of bias For the second time, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial alongside two others over alleged treason and maintaining unlawful society, among other last week accused Justice John Tsoho of bias. Speaking through one of his lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu stated that he was sure that he cannot get fair hearing before the judge.

Inside ABUJA

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

and then discuss with him before he travelled and I went, we discussed and I left his office on Thursday. “I was expecting that by Saturday, he would have travelled; I was not expecting him around, let alone hearing of his death. I also travelled to the village, it was on my way to the village that I was informed about his death, I had no option than to turn back immediately. It is bad news to us. “He has a son who is already a graduate, called to the bar. We are making him to understand that he should see it as a reality and not a drama. He was a humble man, an accessible man, a man that has the comfort of people as his agenda before himself. He wouldn’t want to hurt anybody, he was always focused on heaven and did not want to be derailed.” Each and every sympathizer took turn to talk to the children, led by the eldest, Aaron Ocholi, a Law graduate who would have also been involved in the auto crash. The 25 year-old Aaron, who is the only surviving son of Ocholi, had sustained an injury in an ankle during a football training and escaped being on the fateful trip to Kaduna. While Aaron told sympathizers that he and other siblings would not feel dejected and hopeless with the death of their parents and brother, they were also fed with words of encouragement and comfort. “We are not hopeless, we are really proud of the man he was. We continue to pray to God to comfort us. We will not feel dejected. The First Lady also came here yesterday and assured us we are not alone," he said. He expressed the gratitude of his family, particularly his siblings to President Muhammadu Buhari, his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the entire nation for the show of love and support they have received since the demise of their father. The sympathizers also took time to fill the condolence registers where some of the most touching words were left in memory of the late minister, his wife and son. When Vice-President Osinbajo visited, he paid glowing tributes to Ocholi, saying "we have lost someone we held in high esteem". He noted that the sacrifice he made in the merger of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when he took the position of Deputy National Legal Adviser even when the National Adviser was not a lawyer would not be in vain. "We have lost someone we held in high esteem. It is incredible that this happened. You really have to seek God's comfort. “My brother learned and spiritual, your memorial will live on and will be source of pride and joy to us all. May the Lord comfort these young children and give us cause to rejoice in them. Amen," he said. Also, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who led other members of the Senate on condolence visit to the house wrote in the condolence register opened for the late minister: “I'm here leading a delegation of my colleagues in the Senate to commiserate and

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ocholi: How death turned a warm home to mourning

Scene of the accident

A condolence register for the Minister of Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, during special session of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

condole with the family of James Ocholi, particularly the children who suddenly lost their parents. “James Ocholi was a very committed party man and his loss is a tragic. May Almighty God grant him, his wife and son eternal peace. Also, give you all strength to bear this loss" Those who accompanied the Senate President on the visit were Senators Bala Ibn Na Allah, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Philip Aduda. Governor Al-Makura who led members of his cabinet also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late minister. His words: "It is a serious loss to this country. It is a personal loss to me because we have come a long way. Among all the governorship candidates in the last election, he was my closest friend. He is someone with a

We have lost someone we held in high esteem. It is incredible that this happened

sound legal influence in this administration. “We have been so close, even when I have events, I don't need to invite him before he attends my functions. We were together two weeks ago. I feel pained. We would continue to pray for the family because it is a devastating loss or a tragic. We feel for the children but we know that the Almighty God will continue to be with you. Though you lost your biological father, you have a lot of fathers in us." In his tribute to Ocholi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the demise of the minister has created a vacuum in their long standing political family. "We remain in pains but with greater submission to our Lord in whose abode we pray for your rest in peace. Our tears keep flowing despite consolation of the loved ones. Rest in peace Ocholi," he said In the condolence register, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, wrote: "My dear brother, I received this tremble news with great shock. We were together just last week Thursday. The short time we spent together in the cabinet, I saw you as a perfect gentleman, a consummate professional, truly patriotic and loyal to our principal and this great nation. “We cannot question God. He alone knows why. I promise you and your darling wife and son that your children shall never be alone. Rest in perfect peace. Amen." Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, was among the early callers at

his residence. Ngige said the Federal Government might immortalise the late minister. He stated this after signing the condolence register. He added that President Muhammadu Buhari had been duly notified and that Ocholi might be immortalised by the Federal Government because he died in active service. His words: “Yes! The Federal Government will work out something. I have written officially to notify Mr. President about his transition and I believe the Federal Government will work out something because he died in active service. “This is the second time the country is losing a minister of state, I think in 1982, the country lost a minister of state who went to São Tomé.” He said the ministry will take care of the remaining members of Ocholi’s family and the staff of the ministry who sustained various degrees of injury in the accident. In a condolence message signed by the minister, he said: “My brother and comrade in the struggle for a better Nigeria, you left us suddenly and without a word. “I’m still shocked. We are consoled that in the brief period we worked as compatriots, you have shown you are a true Nigerian and one who desires the maximum good for the common man. Adieu.” While Nigerians wait for the interment of the minister, his wife and son, the family house of the Ocholi has continued to play host to visitors who go there to condole his children and pay tribute to the departed souls.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy Another look at NNPC’s restructuring

Business What's news Foreign airlines’ dominance hurts Nigerian carriers p.24

E-payments boost Nigeria’s GDP by N128bn – Report p.24

Aviation Nigeria’s clean bill on audit despite glaring defects

25 29

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE January 2016.............................9.6% December 2015........................9.6% November 2015........................9.4%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at Feb 25)

(Interbank as at Feb 25)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N450 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N370

l Foreign Reserves – $27.807bn as at 25/2/2016

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

Source: CBN

L-R: Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu; his Special Assistant, Technical, Abdullah Binuyo; Regional Executive, West Africa, MainOne, Kazeem Oladepo and Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, during the minister’s courtesy visit to MainOne’s Data Center subsidiary, MDXI’s Lekki Data Centre, in Lagos.

Nigeria’s oil, gas investment deficit hits N12trn

Firms restructure N5trn non-performing loans RECOVERY The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

FG keeps mum on alleged legal action against IOCs over $12 billion in missing oil revenue

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

Adeola Yusuf

he investment draught in the oil and gas industry has hit N12 trillion ($60 billion), New Telegraph has learnt. This investment deficit, according to a Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) document sighted by New Telegraph, would take at least six years to meet. Nigeria, the article stated, would require this N12 trillion ($60 billion) in investments in the oil and gas industry before it could unleash the potential in the sector. Stating that the country “required the amount in six years for the development of the critical sector of the economy, the document revealed that the draught was worsened by the price rout at the global market and the government’s inability to get the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) puzzle solved.

Besides, the document noted that the transport sector needed $33 billion investments. To modernise the Nigerian transport system, investments of about $33 billion will be required in six years for road and rail development; to undertake the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Nigerian railway and the construction of new road networks across the country. Meanwhile, the non-performing loans given to oil and gas companies have continued to soar. The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, in a report, decried the build-up of Non-Performing Loans. The corporation maintained that the price routs rocking the global oil industry has continued to dampen hope for quick repayment of the loans, which increased from N286.09 billion in 2012 to N354.84 in 2014, and further to N546.02 billion as at March 2015. NDIC said that its examination of lenders in the country showed increased loan concentration in some sectors, such as power, oil and gas, state governments, many of which owe workers’ salaries for many months. Meanwhile, the Federal Govern-

$33 billion Being the total investments needed by the transport sector in the next six years for road and rail development

ment has kept quite over alleged civil actions it was said to have instituted against some International Oil Companies (IOCs). Shell, Chevron, Agip and other prominent oil companies, some online media reported, were allegedly faced with the civil action by the government to recover over N2 trillion in missing revenues from over 57 million barrels of crude oil shipments that were either not declared or under-declared between the period 2011 and 2014. In suits filed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by a team of lawyers against the oil giants, government is praying the Federal High Court to direct the defendants to pay into the Federal Government of Nigeria’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the sums of over $0.6 Billion (USD 51,033,180, USD 462,681,780, and USD 145, 848, 551, being the value of missing revenues accruable to the government of Nigeria from the shortfall/ undeclared/ under-declared crude oil shipments made by the defendants. The significant crude oil theft takes the form of accounting fraud, non-declaration or under CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

IGNOMINY African airlines collectively fly only 20 per cent of the air passenger traffic Wole Shadare

mid stiff competition, European airlines are outdoing each other and deploying numerous strategies to gain dominance in Nigeria’s juicy air travel market. Currently, over 26 foreign airlines operate in Nigeria’s travel market, which for a long time, has been dominated by European carriers, especially the early comers into the country. In the last five years, however, there has been a paradigm shift in the market with the coming of Middle East and American carriers into the Nigerian market. Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales for British Airways and responsible for these markets, Paolo De Renzis, told New Telegraph that

Foreign airlines’ dominance hurts Nigerian carriers in Africa, European airlines have a very strong position in particular in Nigeria. He said: “Africa is one of the most important markets; particularly South Africa and Nigeria are some of the biggest markets. “Everywhere is challenging. The fact that you have competition is challenging. As far as you deal with some common issues, it is challenging. What we are trying to do is to as a company, is to rise above the challenges by making our operations safe and successful. If we have been there for 80 years, it means we can master challenges.” The dominance of foreign carriers in Africa and the Nigerian market has seriously affected the growth of the continent’s carriers and the hardest hit are Nigerian airlines that do not have the capacity to compete with their

foreign counterparts. Equally worrisome is the signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) with other nations at a time the nation’s carriers are not ready to compete. The coming of the Middle East airlines, particularly Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways, has led to a major ‘slice’ of the market share, formerly dominated by European carriers such as British Airways, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa. Other European carriers operating into Nigeria include Iberia Airlines, Alitalia, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The development has also caused a sharp drop in both market share and revenue of the European carriers. To aviation experts who spoke to New Telegraph, stated that the air transport situation in Nigeria is becoming very

interesting. They said that from a few foreign carriers that were flying into Nigeria a few years ago, the number continues to increase by the day. To them, unfortunately, the foreign carriers have taken over the domestic market, stressing that the development has been accelerated by the unfavourable aviation policies being signed by the government with other foreign countries a policy that grants them (foreign airlines) multiple entry points into Nigeria. This, to them, is detrimental to the growth and development of the domestic arm of the industry. Former Secretary General of African Airlines Association, Nick Fadugba, recently said African airlines collectively carry only 20 per cent of the air passenger traffic to and from Africa. He noted that Nigeria

has the largest economy in Africa and the most vibrant air transport market on the continent. He said: “It is hard to rationalise and justify why Nigerian airlines have such a small share of their own market. But the fact remains that Nigeria is a signatory to the Abuja Treaty of 2004 under which the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999, liberalising African skies, is legally-binding. I believe that Nigeria should stand by the Yamoussoukro Accord and honour the Abuja Treaty.” The global aviation consultant reiterated that the fact that a few local airlines are in a position to respond to the competitive challenge posed by Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and others. He noted: “For example, Arik Air has traffic rights between Lagos and Addis but the Nigerian passenger traffic is

L-R: Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, CocaCola Company, Alex Cummings; Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Ben Langat; Chief Executive Officer, Bintas Enterprises, Alhaja Bintas Kabiru and Group Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Dimitris Lois, during a trade visit to NBC/Coca-Cola dealers in Lagos.

normally going beyond Addis. Most Nigerian travellers are not going to Addis Ababa; they are going to Dubai and to China. “I would have wished that when Arik Air entered into that agreement they had negotiated traffic rights beyond Addis Ababa or formed a partnership to feed traffic to Ethiopian Airlines and vice-versa.”

Oil, gas investment deficit hits N12trn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

declaration of crude and gas cargoes. The cases reveal instances where an oil tanker declares that it loaded about 50,000 barrels at Nigeria’s port, but the same vessel on arrival at a port in the USA, would discharge over 60,000 barrels of crude oil. It is the differences that account for the losses running into billions of dollars in lost revenues. The new spokesperson for NNPC, Mohammad Garba could not be reached when this newspaper called to confirm the suit allegedly filed against the IOCs, but a source at the Group Public Affairs Division of the corporation said that the NNPC would prefer to mute on the issue. “This is simply because the NNPC has sufficient respect for the judiciary and because you said the matter is in court, it will not get any official response from us,” he said.

E-payments boost Nigeria’s GDP by N128bn – Report POLICY Greater economic growth and job creation can be achieved through right policy Kunle Azeez

ncreased electronic payment usage has added N128 billion ($640 million) to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created an average of 84,400 new jobs for the country in the past five years, according to a 2016 study released by

Create 84,400 jobs Visa Incorporation. The report obtained by New Telegraph was commissioned by Visa, conducted by Moody’s Analytics. It analysed the impact of electronic payments on economic growth across the 70 countries, including Nigeria, between 2011 and 2015. Regional highlights of the study revealed that Nigeria and other African countries experienced, on average a 0.05 per cent increase in GDP due to increased card penetration. According to the study, many African countries are in the early stages of

developing their financial systems with appropriate infrastructure to support electronic payments. It is estimated that in the coming years, the increase in the use of mobile phone technologies to make payments is expected to increase electronic payments penetration. On contribution to jobs, the study found that African countries had the second lowest average number of jobs added per year from increased card usage (8,000), which is not surprising given the region’s low usage rates and developing financial

infrastructure to facilitate electronic payments. “Increased electronic payment usage created the equivalent to an average of 16,880 jobs in Nigeria per year between 2011 and 2015,” it said. Globally, the migration from cash-based economy to electronic payments regime in the 70 countries studied has resulted in growing the countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by nearly $300 billion, the study said. The report found that increased use of electronic payment products, including credit, debit and prepaid cards, added $296 billion to GDP, while raising household con-

sumption of goods and services by an average of 0.18 per cent per year. In addition, Moody’s economists estimate that the equivalent to 2.6 million new jobs was created on average per year over the five-year period as a result of increased use of electronic payments. The 70 countries in the study make up almost 95 per cent of global GDP. Commenting on the study, Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics, Mr. Mark Zandi, said electronic payments are a major contributor to consumption, increased production, economic growth and employment creation. “Those countries,

which saw large increases in card usage also saw larger contributions to overall growth in their economies,” he said. Findings from the report were shared in a study entitled: ‘The Impact of Electronic Payments on Economic Growth,’ which also indicated that the electronification of payments benefited governments and contributed to a more stable and open business environment. Additionally, the study also found that electronic payments helped to minimise what is commonly referred to as the grey economy, an economic activity that is often cash-based and goes unreported.

TUESDAY, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

NNPC Headquarters.

Another look at NNPC’s restructuring The Federal Government stirred the hornet’s net with the rearrangement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last week. ADEOLA YUSUF takes a look at the twists of event after the move

ithin the 24-hours that the industrial action embarked upon by workers at the NNPC lasted, the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) rocking the country was aggravated, forcing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe kachikwu, to declare that he was misquoted on the issue of the alleged unbundling of the corporation. Kachikwu, who had earlier been quoted to have said last Wednesday that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the unbundling of NNPC into seven, declared on Thursday that what was ignored in his statement about the new structure of the NNPC was that there will be “subsets.” The subset, according to him, is what the media reported as the unbundling. “It is not a direct unbundling of NNPC into 30. It means that the subsets of NNPC are being unbundled into smaller numbers of companies. It is totally a different thing and the press got it wrong, please,” he said. Even though the industrial action has been suspended, it opened a tough chapter in the polity of fuel scarcity in Nigeria.

The agony Businesses and commercial activities in Nigeria’s small-scale industry nationwide were, last Thursday, grounded as the record fall in power supply was worsened by the crash in the supply of PMS. While the NNPC workers’ strike induced drop in electricity generation to an all-time low of 1,580.6 Megawatt (MW) continued, millions of Nigerians were subjected to darkness, just as the shutdown of facilities of NNPC by oil workers aggravated the agony caused by the fuel scarcity currently rocking the country. The oil workers however, called off the two-day old strike last Thursday. But the electricity workers were said to have also inflicted partial system collapse on the national grid. The small-scale business owners and consumers continued to groan under intense heat while their businesses are nose-diving. “I have been looking for fuel since 5a.m. I got here and have been on a queue at this filling station since 6:30 a.m. Up till 11a.m., we have not been able to get fuel to power generator at my shop,” a welder who simply identified himself as Waheed told New Telegraph at Rakab filling station in Lafenwa, Ayobo, Lagos State. His views were corroborated by Mrs. Iyabo Adelamo, who had to buy fuel at N200 per litre from the black market in Iyana -Ipaja for her petty pepper-grinding machine. “I could not work at all yesterday. Today, I have to buy petrol at Iyana- Ipaja at the rate of N200 per litre,” she said. “We were told that electricity and oil workers were on strike, no light, no fuel and no money because our businesses are the worst hit by this situation,” she added. Manufacturers groan The organised private sector (OPS), in a reaction to the strike

The NNPC workers’ strike induced drop in electricity generation to an all-time low of 1,580.6 Megawatt

and resultant effects, pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene in the incessant industrial and other economic crisis in the country. They said that the crisis over fuel and energy is taking 65 per cent of their profits every year. National President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Frank Jacobs, told this newspaper that manufacturers operating in the country are passing through tough times due to the harsh economic environment. He said that the amount of money spent on Automotive Gas Oil runs into billions of naira due to the irregular power supply in the country. “Erratic power supply and billions spend on AGO are not acceptable, as they are impeding growth of business,” the MAN president said. Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Group (SMEG), John Kachikwu, in a chat with this newspaper, said that manufacturers were spending billions of naira on AGO to power their generating sets. He said that many manufacturers were experiencing difficulties in their businesses due to the harsh operating environment caused by government’s economic policies. Kachikwu said: “It is a bit of a terrible situation now for manufacturers operating in Nigeria, because in the short run, we are going to retrench staff soon. “We are going to flush out a lot of people because the economic issue, especially power and fuel, is becoming unbearable. We don’t have fuel to operate. We are going to definitely have to review the workforce. We are not making money anymore.” Kachikwu’s justification Defending the restructuring of NNPC, the minister stated: “We have so much property in Nigeria that sometimes we don’t even know where they are.

In some cases, we found out that some property had been encumbered and nobody followed up on them. This was because it wasn’t a business, it was just an allocation to do an office, which didn’t happen and so, it was just there. “Shell, for example, recently passed back to us a huge complex in Warri, which used to be their headquarters.” When asked if the steps he was taking won’t conflict with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the NNPC boss said he was liaising with members of the National Assembly and that the restructuring agreed with the PIB, in principle. “What we are doing is in anticipation of the PIB. We are tailoring it towards the PIB because we are in conversation with the legislators,” he stated. Labour and reason for strike After a mid-Wednesday meeting with the minister of state for petroleum resources, members of the NNPCs arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), called off their strike with an assurance from government to review NNPC restructuring and guarantee their job security. NNPC announced the suspension of the strike action embarked upon by the oil workers, maintaining that the strike action was called off after an extensive session presided over by Kachikwu with the leadership of the unions led by the National Presidents, Comrades Igwe Achese and Francis Johnson of NUPENG and PENGASSAN respectively at the NNPC Towers, Abuja. The Corporation said that the in-house unions reviewed their stance after a decision was reached to set up a committee CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Energy

AWARD The prize is for the 2016 edition of the exclusive Wealth Of Nations scheme on reporting Illicit Trade Stories by Adeola Yusuf

he Thomson Reuters Foundation, United Kingdom (UK) has nominated New Telegraph’s energy editor, Adeola Yusuf, for the 2016 edition of the exclusive Wealth Of Nations (WON) scheme on reporting Illicit Trade in Africa. Yusuf, who is the current winner of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) prize for energy reporter of the year, 2015, is one of the two journalists nominated from Nigeria for the scheme. The second Nigerian is Mr. Nicholas Ibekwe, a journalist with Premium Times. The project assistant at Thomson Reuters Foundation, Helen Reeve, who announced this, said that the nomination is followed by a training organised by the foundation in collaboration with Africa Centre for Media Excel-

New Telegraph wins Reuters nomination lence (ACME), which will take place in Kampala, Uganda, between March 14 and 18, 2016. After his selection among the few journalists in Nigeria, based on his stories bordering on investigations in oil and gas sector, Yusuf succeeded in the second stage of nomination when he passed an online exami-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

with representatives from the unions and NNPC management to look into the new NNPC structure with a view to considering any suggested amendment where necessary. The corporation noted that consensus was reached on other outstanding issues bordering on pension matters, job security as well as staff performance and appraisal. The Senate The Senate, which reprimanded Kachikwu for not consulting with the upper chambers prior to the announcement of government’s proposed plan to restructure NNPC, however, threw its weight behind the Federal Government’s unbundling of the corporation, saying that government did not breach the law establishing the corporation. The lawmakers also asked Nigerians to support the minister to succeed in solving the problems currently affecting Nigeria as a country. They added that the support became imperative because they discovered after the session with him that the staff would not be shortchanged or sacked. According to the Senate, the minister, having apologised for failing to consult with them, decided to sheath their swords and work with him for the interest of the country. It said from the figure given to them by NNPC, the organisation was making about N30 billion

nation bordering on his knowledge of illicit trade and business reporting. “This is to introduce to you Mr. Yusuf Adeola Mudasiru, who has been invited to Uganda as a participant in a training workshop for journalists on “Reporting Illicit Trade and Finance in Africa.” The objective of the course is to develop

the journalists ‘ability to report on illicit finance and tax abuse in Africa,” Thomson Reuters Foundation said in a letter. “The 5-day workshop will take place at the African Centre for Media Excellence in Bunga, Kampala from March 14 to March 18, 2016,” the foundation said. The workshop is or-

ganised by the Londonbased Thomson Reuters Foundation in collaboration with the African Centre for Media Excellence. Other journalists who won the nomination are Elie Kaboré, a citizen of Burkina Faso; Riana Randrianarisoa from Madagascar; Catherine Aimée Biloa, a citizen of Cameroon and Saidou

Arji from Niger. Also included are Tlotlo Lemmenyane from Botswana; Susan Comrie from South Africa; Nozintombi Miya from South Africa; Julius Mnganga from Tanzania; Mona Diaa from Egypt; Abdelkader Ramadan from Egypt; Mariam Taidi from Morocco and Osama Hassan Abdelhay from Sudan.

Oil rig

A look at NNPC’s restructuring loss every month before the reorganisation, which had now been reduced to only $3 billion. The shakeup in NNPC Meanwhile, after the storm generated by the workers’ strike, the management of NNPC, last Thursday, formally announced the appointment of new Group Executive Directors (GEDs) for its restructured divisions. The corporation also redeployed or seconded top officials to key positions in the corporation. Top among those affected was former Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division (GPAD), Ohi Alegbe, who was redeployed to the Corporate Social Responsibility unit in the Group Managing Director’s office as Group General Manager. Mohammed Garba, who until his appointment, was the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, replaced Alegbe. The new GEDs/Chief Operating Officers for the two service divisions include Isiaka Abdulrazaq for Finance & Accounts and Isa Inuwa for Corporate Services divisions. The GEDs/COOs of five business-focused divisions announced last Tuesday by Kachikwu, include Bello Rabiu, who would be in charge of the Upstream division of the petroleum industry; Henry Ikem-Obih (Downstream); Ani-

bor Kragba (Refineries); Saidu Mohammed (Gas & Power) and Ventures (Babatunde Adeniran). Other appointments include Ugochukwu Afamefuna Vitalis (Refineries); Yusuf Matashi (Gas & Power) and Ladipo Fagbola (Ventures). Ahmadu Sambo was named GGM for Finance & Accounts, while Modupe Bammake was named for Corporate Services division. Also appointed as GGM in charge of Downstream Division was Surajdeen Afolabi, who was suspended in October 2015 over the controversial multi-billion naira SAP Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) project. Mr. Afolabi would support the GED Downstream with the strategy in the execution of projects. Similarly, the heads of the strategic business units, SBUs include Roland Ewubare as the managing director of Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) under the Upstream division, while Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, formerly managing director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), was appointed new MD of NNPC Retail under Downstream division. Former Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Farouk Ahmed, was appointed MD of the newly-created Nigeria Petroleum Marketing, while Dalhatu Makama would the GGM in charge of Marine Logistics in

the downstream division. Under the refineries division, Bafred Enjugu, Adewale Ladenegan and Idi Mukhtar were appointed MDs for Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively. The MD Gas & Power Investments was named as Samuel Ndukwe, while Mazadu Bako was appointed MD of the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) and Babatunde Bakare as MD NGPIC. The MDs for Properties, Shipping, Nigerian Engineering & Technical Company, NETCO, and NOFS are Danny George; Saidu Abubakar; Aliyu Sikiru and Lawrencia Ndupu respectively. Rabiu Sulaiman was named as the GGM RED/Frontier Exploration services, and Oyetunde Oyekan as GGM Medicals. Those on secondment to the exploration & production division include Minti Baru as Technical Adviser, Gas, in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Abubakar Sadeeq, formerly MD Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, to the Nigeria LNG deputy managing director, while Nnamdi Ajulu was named consultant Refinery & Infrastructure to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Those appointed in Corporate Services division include Inuwa Danladi as GGM ITD; Adekemi Akitoye as GGM Human Resources; Farouk Sa’id as GGM ETD; Sophia Mbakwe

as GM SCM; Sam Otoboeze as GM. Group Security; Maduebo Mbakwe as GM, Health, Safety and Environment, HSE. Inuwa Waya would serve MD Trading in the Group Managing Director, GMD’s office, while Mele Kyari was retained as GGM Crude Oil Marketing Division, COMD. Under the corporate services divisions, Dapo Segun was appointed GGM Treasury; Mike Bakami was appointed financial controller, while the new GGM Liabilities Management was Godwin Okonkwo. NNPC also named Aliyu Sambo as MD of NNPC Capital; Danbella Ndaadiyale - Managing Director, Pensions, while Izien Okosun was appointed MD Insurance. GM Group Admin Services was named as Eziaha Uchendu and GGM NNPC Leadership Academy is Ayatode Oyinlola. The GGM for National Petroleum Investments Management Services, NAPIMs is Dafe Sejebor, while GGM Government & Labour Relations is Ndu Aghumadu and GGM Efficiency Unit is Bala Wunti, with Chidi Momah as GGM OSLD. Conclusion The restructuring of NNPC is a good step that must be supported by all Nigerian. However, government needs to carry its relevant arm along so as to save the nation’s cash cow from imminent bankruptcy.

TUESDAY, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Building collapse in Lagos has become a recurring situation. But last week’s incident has left stakeholders speechless, DAYO AYEYEMI reports

Homes&Property

Lekki Gardens disaster: One collapse too many

t was a big blow to professionals in the built environment last week when a five-storey building under construction belonging to Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, developer of Lekki Gardens, caved in and killed scores of people. While a few of them escaped death with severe injuries, many were trapped for long hours and later died. Last week’s incident happened exactly one and half years after more than 120 people were killed when a six-storey guest house owed by Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Ikotun area of Lagos. In the latest incident, it took the quick response of rescue teams from the National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Building Control Authority (LASBCA), Lagos Safety Commission, Red Cross, Nigerian Police and Nigerian Civil Defence Corps to recover the bodies of those trapped in the rubble. As at last weekend, 40 people were reported to have lost their lives. Most of the victims were said to be foreigners, who were brought in from Benin Republic and Togo. Since the incident, which occurred on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi, Lekki area of Lagos State around 4.10 am, built environment experts are yet to recover from the shock Experts’ views Some of them, who spoke with New Telegraph, blamed the unfortunate incident on lack of monitoring by the government and wrong use of materials by construction workers. A member of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Chukwura Godfrey, said that the building came down due to a major structural failure. Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Building, Lagos Chapter, Mr Adelaja Adekanbi, identified other adjoining buildings within Lekki Gardens that have shown signs of collapse, urging the Lagos Building Control Agency to wade in. Based on observation, he said the five-storey building collapsed due to several reasons ranging from non-involvement of professionals, shoddy pile foundation work, wrong mix of building materials and poor workmanship. He noted that all the identified factors are noticeable in other properties around the collapsed building. Specifically, he said these buildings have developed cracks. Besides, Adekambi pointed

Scene of the collapsed building in Lekki Gardens, Lagos

out that the location was swampy and poorly sand filled, adding that the developer failed to engage professionals to supervise the construction work right from the foundation. Managing Director of Interstate Architects Limited, Segun Ladega, said the absence of the National Building Code (NBC) was not the reason for the incessant building collapse being experienced across the country but failure of enforcing regulations. He believes that when there is enforcement by the regulatory bodies assigned to monitor these developments, the incidences of collapse would be greatly reduced to the barest minimum. A source in government circle, which did not want his name in print, stated that the regulations and standards for the new building control system in Lagos State had not been in existence six years after its establishment by law. He urged urban planners to be in the forefront of advocacy to protect the physical environment. Another source said: “There is need to strengthen the capacity for monitoring building under construction at stage by stage and ensure compliance of developers and contractors’ use of building materials to approved engineering standards. “Urban planners should be on top of LASBCA and make it accountable for adequate reporting of its findings whether development are in default of approved standard materials.

“Collapse of structures will continue as long as we continue to deceive ourselves with our selfish and self-centered dispositions. We must indeed confront our fears, those selfish and selfcentered dispositions. Not just about talking, which I am tired of, but acting.”

Lagos has the highest number of building collapse cases in the country

Past incidents So far, Lagos has the highest number of building collapse cases in the country. From the report of Building Collapse Tribunal Panel set up to unravel some of the causes of structural failure in Lagos, there were 130 reported cases of building collapse between 2007 and 2013. The tribunal, which was constituted on May 20, 2013, was chaired by a former Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mrs Abimbola Ajayi. The panel, at the end of its sitting, recommended short, medium and long-term solutions, which it believed, would be beneficial in checking incessant building collapse. Already, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested the contractor handling the collapsed five-storey building. The Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Oladapo Badmus, gave the contractor’s name as Odofin Taiwo, who is currently under investigation. Government’s action The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the state government, based on preliminary reports and investigation, served the owner of the

building a contravention notice when it was discovered that, he was exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed the place. He added that it had also been discovered that, in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, which has led to loss of lives. The statement added that the state government would no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control, thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians. The state government has consequently directed the suspension of work at the site and ordered the Lagos State Police Command to cordon it, as it is now a crime scene. Government also directed that further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project currently being handled by Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited in the interest of public safety. Conclusion This is not the best time to trade blames but a period to reflect on the existing physical planning laws in the state and roll out modalities to ensure proper enforcement and compliant by developers with building control regulations.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | Homes & Property

MORTGAGE FINANCE: NMRC initiates Housing Trust Fund Caleb Onwe Abuja

etermined to reduce the 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria, stakeholders and experts from the organised private sector have begun to chart a new course targeted at proffering a lasting solution to the perennial problems in the sector. The experts gathered in Abuja last weekend to appraise their achievements and review the challenges of the sector. The two-day workshop, themed: “Real Estate Value Chain Enhancement for Increased Growth Inclusiveness and Employment Generation,” organised by the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), provided an ample opportunity for major players in the industry to brainstorm in defining the objectives that will propel the required transformation urgently needed in the industry. Speaking at the workshop, the President of REDAN who is also the Chairman, Enugu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Rev.Ugochukwu Chime, enumerated a number of challenges, which have continued to inhibit the operations of estate developers in Nigeria. He chided members of his organisation for deviating from their guiding principles, which has resulted in entrenching some of the challenges facing the industry.

How to tackle housing deficits, by stakeholders Chime also bemoaned the harsh economic climate prevalent in the country, which, he said, had not only frustrated the efforts of members of their association but has also knocked many out of business. He also flayed inconsistent government policies as the main reason for lack of enabling environment for investment in real estate business in Nigeria. He also said that, over the years, governments at various levels had not shown enough sincerity in implementing any sustainable hous-

Fashola

ing programme that is peopleoriented. The REDAN boss accused the government of luring estate developers to key into mass housing schemes that brought untold hardship to them. He called for a review of the extant laws that established the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in order to reposition it to achieve its mandate. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) has opened a window of opportunity for a possible partnership with REDAN to-

Chime

FESTAC land: FHA urges for calm, appeals judgement Dayo Ayeyemi

he Federal Housing Authority has urged its land allottees in FESTAC Phase II, Festival Town, Lagos to maintain the peace and refrain from joining issues with the Kuje-Amuwo community, which recently secured a court judgment against the authority over a disputed portion of the area. The indigenes, relying on a Federal High Court, Lagos’ judgment, had embarked on harassment of allottees and demolition of the property of residents of FESTAC Phase II in a bid to enforce the judgment delivered by Justice Okon Effreti Abang on February 29, 2016. FHA, in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, decried the resort to selfhelp by the plaintiff in the case even as the copies of the judgment were yet to be obtained. The Authority, which said it had proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the Federal High Court in the case, warned Kuje Amuwo community to desist from

further harassment and intimidation of law-abiding citizens and the willful destruction of property. Noting that only court bailiffs, sheriffs and the police were empowered to enforce court judgments under the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act, the FHA said the wanton destruction of property and the demolition of the ongoing FHA approved projects in FESTAC Phase II, including projects of the Federal Government concessionaire for the reclamation and sand filling of the area, amounted to self-help and a blatant breach of the law. It appealed to the Kuje Amuwo community to give peace a chance by ensuring the sustenance of the rule of law in the process of ascertaining their rights on the disputed portion of land. The authority also said it had invited the law enforcement agencies to protect the lives and property of citizens in the FESTAC Phase II area. The Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo, Oba Isaac Owolabi, and three others had instituted a suit against the FHA, claiming that about 4.017 hect-

wards providing affordable housing in Nigeria. The Managing Director of NMRC, Prof. Charles Inyangete, represented by its Executive Director, Policy Strategy and Planning, Dr. Chii Akporji, said that members of REDAN and other stakeholders in the industry should stand by the initiatives of NMRC geared towards removing some of the obstacles that have hindered the desired breakthrough in real estate developing. Some of the obstacles, according to him, are the bottle-

ares being a portion of land in the Phase II of Festival Town belong to the Amuwo community and were not properly acquired. By the Federal Government Gazettes No 54 of November 6, 1975 and No 45 of September 9, 1976, the government acquired about 2,024.60 hectares of land along Badagry Expressway and lying between Amuwo Odofin Scheme, International Trade Fair Complex and the Military Cantonment and referred to as Festival Town in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Lagos State Government, on May 11, 1988, granted an indenture covering the Federal Government Acquisition to the Federal Housing Authority. The tenor of the grant is in perpetuity for as long as the Federal Government or the Federal Housing Authority requires the land. The judgment against a federal land duly acquired after payment of compensation and partially developed since 1977 as Festac Phase 1, is perverse and an abuse of court process.

neck involved in registering property deeds with various agencies of government, enforcement of mortgage property and access to serviced land. Inyangete disclosed that NMRC had initiated a Housing Trust Fund as part of the organisation’s effort to making up for the 17million housing deficit. He therefore asked all stakeholders to support the initiative and other innovations introduced to reduce the obstacles on the way of genuine developers in Nigeria.

Inyangete

S’Africa mulls construction of 88-storey building

outh African city of Durban plans to construct the tallest building in Southern Hemisphere if the ambitious proposal for a R6 billion project presented to the city’s economic development and planning committee is effected. The kwini Municipal spokesperson, Tozi Mthethwa , said in a statement, that a proposal for the 88-storey building had been presented to the municipality‘s Economic and Development Planning Committee by the Durban Tower Development Company. He was, however, quick to clarify that this is just a proposal at this stage awaiting final decision from the relevant stakeholders. “No final decision has been made regarding the development and it is still in the proposal phase,” Mthethwa said. If the proposal is adopted, this skyscraper will be constructed to a tune of R6 billion and will be ready for occupation in 2021. This building will be multi-functional and will host retail, commercial, parking, hotel and residential facilities. If adopted, the building

would be 370 metres above ground and would be the tallest building in Africa as well as the Southern Hemisphere a status that is currently held by Carlton centre located in Johannesburg. The building is proposed to be built on the site of the Durban Country Club and within the premises of the Natal Mounted Rifle (NMR). This is a strategic location, as it will place it directly opposite Kings Park Rugby Stadium that hosts the Sharks rugby franchise and the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium. This land belongs to the municipality but currently on lease to Durban Country Club and NMR. According to the statement, consultations with communities and other parties involved are due to start in a week’s time before the proposals tabling for approval. This master piece is the latest in a series of catalytic projects set to be rolled out by the city with the Mabhida stadium already in the precinct. Metopole Architect Directors Nigel Tarbon and Tyrone Reardon according to the statement, presented the bold plans to the committee on behalf of the Durban Tower Development (DTDC).

TUESDAY, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

Lagos airport

Despite scaling through the stiffest international aviation tests, stakeholders have urged government not to gloss over serious security challenges at Nigerian airports. WOLE SHADARE writes

ith the ease at which Nigeria passes some of the stiffest tests by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the one conducted by the United States of America’s apex aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), one would think that all is well with the country’s aviation sector. Kudos must, however, be given to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for working in synergy to save the country’s face. The scaling of these hurdles since over seven years has helped to strengthen the faith in the sector in Nigeria and engender confidence despite some not too pleasant issues of graft and lack of very important facilities to aid air safety. The irony Some view it as an irony of some sorts, that the country continuously passes these tests even when certain things are lacking and not in place. Some would want to argue that not all nations have all the requirements for safe operation. To them, what any nation needs are the basic facilities for airplanes to land and take-off. That is subject to debate. Penultimate week, a four-man team from the Transportation Se-

Nigeria’s clean bill on audit despite glaring defects curity Administration (TSA) of the USA visited Nigeria to carry out a security audit of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The team led by a Transportation Security Specialist (TSS) is expected to observe the implementation of aviation security measures put in place at the airport. Members will also exchange technical expertise in line with ICAO Annex 17 and international aviation security standard and best practices. Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman who met the team in his office, told newsmen that the team would conduct inspections on the implementation of TSA security procedures of Arik Airline being the only Nigerian carrier that operates direct flight to the United States and that of Delta Airline and United Airline that currently operate flights in and out of Nigeria. Vote of confidence The team, however, passed a vote of confidence on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos following the conclusion of a five-day security assessment of the facility. Spokesman for the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye in a statement said that the team, “expressed satisfaction with the Corrective Action Plans put in place by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria in respect of few opened items found at the airport”. He said, “They praised the Authority’s consistency and methodology in the implementation of TSAapplicable security procedures, which were of ICAO standards. “They also noted that the accomplishment was a reflection of

Some view it as irony of some sorts, that the country passes these tests even when certain things are lacking

the sufficient training provided for the staff and the effective regulatory oversight of the industry by the NCAA”. Areas and operations of the Lagos airport examined in the course of the assessment included airport operations and standards, quality control, access control point, passenger and baggage screening, screening equipment, airport contingency plan and airport security programme. The team also conducted inspection of the implementation of TSA security procedures of some airlines that operate flights to and from the United States. To further improve aviation security in the country, aviation security apparatus shares intelligence reports with foreign countries particularly those that may hamper the security of aircraft. Paradigm shift It would be recalled that the incident of 9/11, which changed the face of aviation globally brought about the restriction on sharp objects, liquid, solid or powder substance and explosive materials on board the aircraft. In the aftermath of Abdulmutalab debacle, security at the airports and its environs was heightened. Full Body Scanners and Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) were introduced and enforced in all the aircraft especially those going to America due to previous incidences. The Aviation Security Portal (AVSEC Portal) is an avenue to disseminate information to facilitate appropriate response and closure when Open Items are communicated. To forestall any security threat, NCAA AVSEC mandates

all airlines to review their security programme regularly so as to ensure safe operations. Consequently, Nigeria initiated 100 per cent pat down screening during this period of Boko Haram, which include primary and secondary screening for both passengers and non- passengers to foster security at the airport. According to the NCAA, the aviation security department has commenced outstation schedule inspection on airlines so as to ensure compliance on security procedures according to NCAA guidelines. As a result, NCAA operates a uniform security system for both domestic and International airlines in the area of training, creating awareness and other security programmes with the assistance of EU and IATA. Issues that emanated in the last three months do not rekindle hope in aviation security around many Nigerian airports. The many examples The suspension of three top officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria [FAAN] at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport ,Abuja, recently, by the minister of state, aviation following a serious safety breach at the airport, should not come as a surprise to Nigerians because of the serious security and safety challenges in many of Nigeria’s airports. What should be of interest to Nigerians and what will surprise many will be what the Federal Ministry of Aviation would do with the final report when submitted. The suspension of the three top officials of the NAI Airport CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | AVIATION

‘NCAA should shut airport without gangway’ ADVICE The financial sanction to NCAA ran into millions of naira Wole Shadare

resident, Av i a t i o n Round Table (ART), Mr. Gbenga Olowo, has called on the Nigerian Civil

Aviation Authority (NCAA), to immediately shut down any airline that does not comply with safety and security standards in their operations, especially those without effective gangways. Speaking to New Telegraph on the usage of ladder rather than gangway to disembark passengers by Aero Contractors last December, Olowo described the act as an eyesore.

He however, noted that the country required a strong Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to work on nation’ airports, as they currently do on operational airlines. It would be recalled that NCAA had immediately sanctioned Aero Contractors over the usage of ladder to disembark passengers, but didn’t impose any sanction on the management of

the Bauchi Airport, which was supposed to provide the equipment to the airline. NCAA had said that it imposed an applicable sanction on the airline in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs. The financial sanction according to NCAA, ran into millions of naira. Olowo emphasised that instead of disembarking the passengers with ladder

Gangway to an aircraft. Credit: shutterstock.com

Clean bill on audit despite defects CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 29

followed a bizarre incident at the airport in Abuja recently when some passengers bulldozed their ways unto the tarmac and prevented a Turkish Aircraft from taking off in gross breach of safety regulations. Reason? The airline brought the passengers without their luggage, an action that provoked them into taking the law into their hands. Preventing an aircraft from taking off on schedule, or any unlawful seizure of an aircraft by any person or group is a gross breach of airport security. The action is also illegal, and a serious violation of international aviation protocol as stipulated by ICAO standard. The conduct of the passengers resembles a typical local motor park mentality, and must not be allowed to repeat itself. This serious incident should be instructive to many decent Nigerians for several reasons. First, it raises a serious question about the issue of security in Nigerian airports. This strange occurrence in Nigeria’s capital city is a repeat of other strange incidents across the country. In early July 2005, an Air France with 196 passengers on board ran into stray cows

on the runway of the Port Harcourt International Airport. The Airbus 330 flew in from France. Luckily, there was no loss of life or any injury. Much of the injury was on the image of Nigeria. It took officials FAAN three hours to round up the surviving cows, and clear the runway of debris of the seven cows killed following the collision. In reaction, the federal government then directed the perimeter fencing of the airports. Several years after this directive was given, some of the airports are still not fully fenced and remained porous. Shortcomings Also, some Nigerian airports still harbour touts who hang around and perpetrate one dubious deal or the other, or hawk foods that are not properly preserved. This is unacceptable, especially in view of the fact that the aviation sector remains one of the prime targets of terrorists worldwide. So, allowing people to loiter around airports without proper clearance is a blueprint for disaster. Experts, who spoke to New Telegraph said the issue of perimeter must be implemented as a matter of urgency in all local and

international airports, adding that this will be a wise and proactive move because a stitch in time saves nine. Aviation Security Consultant, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said perimeter fencing would also ensure that unauthorised persons especially insurgents and terrorists are kept away from runways and restricted operational areas. The head of security at the NAI Airport, before he was suspended, in his preliminary response to the incident where passengers prevented a Turkish airline from taking off, complained of inadequate staff. He said there were only 192 security men taking care of the entire airport, so, the irate passengers overpowered the few security men on duty. Conclusion Airlines, especially foreign ones, must be compelled to treat Nigerian- bound passengers with respect and accord them all the privilege that other international passengers enjoy. That includes ensuring that luggage are properly cleared and shipped on the appropriate flights. In litigation conscious societies, the Turkish airlines will dare not carry a passenger without his luggage.

when the gangway was unavailable, the airline could have diverted to other airport with adequate equipment for disembarking of passengers. He said: “Any airport that uses ladder to disembark passengers should be shut down immediately. We need a strong CAA that works on the airports, as they do on the airlines. “Both the airline and the airport owner should be punished. First, how can an airline go to an airport with a particular kind of an aeroplane and you know service is not available. If service is not available for a push back for an aeroplane, then, don’t go there. “And you know the emergency step of the aircraft is not functional, then, you don’ t go there and not use a ladder. The airline could have diver ted to another airport where your passenger could easily disembark. What happened with Aero was the biggest eyesore that ever happened in my 43 years of experience in this industry. What a bad disgrace to aviation?” Olowo also canvassed for the privatisation of airports in the country. He opined that when the airports are privatised, they would boost competition in the system and increase revenues.

New pact, airports completion to boost traffic in Q4 –FAAN

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has predicted a significant upsurge in passenger, cargo and aircraft traffic by last quarter of this year. The expected traffic is also going to be boosted when most of the terminal and other related projects at these airports would have been completed and commissioned. Spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati, stated that with improvements in terminal and airside facilities at these airports, a number of local airlines in the country have already started expanding their route network, some extending to the West Coast of Africa. He disclosed that some foreign airlines with Lagos as their only destination have also begun to show interest in operating into Mallam Aminu Kano and Port Harcourt International Airports, adding that Qatar Air is one of such airlines, following the recent signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Qatar. “Significant increase in passenger, aircraft and cargo traffic at Nigerian airports, especially those managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, became notice-

able towards the end of last year. In September, the figure for passenger movements in all the airports was 316, 680. The figure grew steadily to 318, 503 in October, 328,652 in November and 336,652 in December, 2015.” Dati noted that during the same period in 2015, cargo movements grew steadily from 13, 504, 252 in September, 15, 435, 842 in October, 16, 102, 686 and 16, 267, 208 in December. Other factors likely to influence the growth of passenger and cargo traffic this year include the completion of cargo terminals at designated airports across the country.

Saleh Dunoma

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview I’m here to restore LASU’s old glories – VC, Fagbohun

Education

Campus SSG, corps members advocate pupils’ interest in sciences

33 35

BUDGET INADEQUACY

Despite the recommendation of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO’s) 26 per cent of a nation’s fiscal budget be allocated to the education sector to address the needs of the sector, the federal and state governments’ budgetary allocation is still a far cry.

Our Correspondents

alpable underfunding of the education sector, following age-long neglect by successive governments has consistently remained the bane of the system, resulting, therefore, in the poor quality of education in the country. Today, acute shortage of quality teachers; rising profile of out-of-school children; dearth of instructional materials and facilities ranging from inadequate classrooms, in which students learn under trees and sheds in dust infested floors; poor teachers’ welfare; decayed infrastructure; lack of functional libraries to the dearth of laboratory equipment. Given the level of rot in the sector due to paucity of funds at all levels of government and the urgent need to address the education issues globally, especially in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, to reduce poverty, strife, poor health issues and the general development of the people, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), at its World Education Forum tagged Dakar Framework, held between April 26 and 28, 2000, recommended that at least 26 per cent of developing nations’ annual budget be voted to education. The budgetary allocation, if sustained, based on UNESCO, is expected to address the increasing figure of out-of-school children, shortage of quality teachers, dearth of facilities and poor welfare of teachers confronting the countries, especially Nigeria with about 10.5 million out-of-school children, the largest globally. But, despite the 26 per cent recommendation, the country’s education budget at the federal and

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

A classroom session under the tree.

Education budget, still a far cry state government levels is still a far cry from the UNESCO benchmark, suggesting the failure of the government to fulfill its obligation to the sector. Since 1999, what the Federal Government has set aside to the sector in the annual national budget, is between six and 13 per cent, which is not only far below the United Nations’ minimum standard, but also grossly inadequate to raise the sector above its collapse. However, agitations being championed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other critical unions in the education sector over the years to ensure that government raise its expenditure profile to education are yet to yield fruitful results. Investigations by New Telegraph indicated that none of the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the Federal Government, as the case may be, has demonstrated genuine commitment to education funding. In fact, if the sector, as the bedrock of technology and industrial development, is to be revived and positioned to meet the challenges of the 21st Century in terms of adequate infrastructure, quality teaching and learning, the highest budgetary allocation to education sector should not only be sus-

...Despite the 26 per cent recommended, the country’s education budget at the federal and state government levels is still a far cry...

tained, it should also take 26 per cent of annual national budget. Meanwhile, conscious efforts by the Federal Government in recent times to raise budgetary allocation to education sector, could be traced to the last two years, when unlike in the previous budgetary allocations that used to place education behind Defence and others, in 2015 and 2016, the sector has the highest allocation ahead of Defence. For instance, in 2014 the Federal Government allocated N493.45 billion representing about 10 per cent; while in 2015, N392.31 (13 per cent) and in the 2016, it voted 369 billion of its fiscal budget to the sector. However, the states have neither fared better in this direction, like the Federal Government, their allocations have continued to fluctuate or dwindle. Kwara State, for instance, which in 2014 posted a total budget of N124, 525,957 billion, however allocated N15, 003,723 billion, representing 12.04 per cent to education; while in 2015, of the total budget of N119, 850, 892 billion, education got N24, 173, 351 billion (20.16 per cent) and in 2016, the state’s total budget stood at N116, 164,643 billion in which education got N16, 024,765 billion, representing 13.7 per cent. Between 2014 and 2016, the Lagos State Government in its budgetary allocation has earmarked

N272 billion to the sector. The government, in the 2016 Appropriation Bill, budgeted N113.3 billion, representing 17.11 per cent of the budget for education, which covers the All Progressive Congress’ flagship programmes including A-Meal-A-Day initiative, partly sponsored by the Federal Government, ‘Ibile’ tablets for Secondary Schools as well as the development of the E-Curriculum initiative among other numerous programmes. In 2015, the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration voted N82.114 billion, which was 16 per cent of the total budget estimate of N489.690 billion; while in 2014, the state budget for education stood at N77.4bn for education, representing 15.81 per cent of the total budget of N489.690 billion for the year. According to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the budget would be faithfully implemented in line with the determination of his administration’s commitment to make Lagos work for all. On the initiatives to improve education sector, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who also supervises the state’s Education Ministry, said the state government was poised to improving existing and build modern learnCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

education

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

ing facilities that would facilitate the task of transforming teaching and learning. The FCT budget for education has continued to dwindle over the years. In 2014, of the total budget of N271billion, education took a meager N5 billion behind transport that got N31 billion and security with N6 billion, and in 2013, out of the N259.650 billion total budget, N612.465 million was earmarked for education. But, the story is a bit different in Ogun State, which in the last few years has consistently voted 20 per cent of its yearly budget to education. Though unable to meet the acclaimed UNESCO target, the state government, for instance, in 2014 approved N210.2 billion out of which education got the lion’s share of N43.99 billion, representing 21 per cent. However, in the following year (2015), the state posted N210.354 total budget, and allocated N42.57 billion, representing 20 per cent to education; while for 2016 fiscal year, the state presented N200.3 billion budget of which education sector received N40.1billion, representing 20.06 per cent. The state, which could boast of having the highest number of education institutions in the country, according to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has consequently made education an important and integral part of the government’s focal intervention. Following the unsavoury indifference of Imo State Government to education, the sector has also fared far below UNESCO standard in education funding. Of a total budget of N141.2 billion in 2015, the government allocated N8.112 billion, with a breakdown of N2 billion to primary and secondary unit and N6.112 to tertiary/technology unit, which is 5.73 per cent of the state budget. In the 2016 Appropriation Bill presented to the House of Assembly the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led administration, out of a total budget estimate of N102.2 billion, a paltry N2.22 billion, representing a meagre 2.15 per cent far below last year’s allocation, was earmarked to education. Meanwhile, it is the same story of low budgetary allocation to education in Edo State, where the sector has continued to suffer a great deal from the 26 per cent benchmark recommended. From the available statistics, the state in 2014 with an Appropriation Bill of N160.1billion, education received N15 billion, representing about 9.4 per cent; while in the state’s fiscal budget for 2015 that stands at N156.551 billion, education also got N18.1 billion, representing 11.6 percent; and in the current year, Edo State earmarked N14 billion (12.56 per cent) to education sector out of a total budget of N111.5 billion for the year. Despite the lean budget allocation to education, the government, led by Governor Adams Oshiomhiole is said to have in the last eight years ensured the provision of quality and improved learning environment for students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state. Similarly, Oyo State’s education budget has been on a skewed curve, a development blamed on the unstable Federal Allocation to the state. In 2014, Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration sectoral allocation to education was 30 per cent of a total budget of N188.9 billion, in which he said: “We decided to give 30 per cent allocation to education because for us, education is what drives the world. It is what makes the difference from one generation to the other.” While the allocation showed some compliance with the UNESCO regulation, the situation was different in 2015, the election year, as there was a sharp fall in the education allocation from the state’s total budget of N141.8bn.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG, states fail UNESCO’s benchmark Education Budget Allocation from 2014 to 2016 2014

2015

2016

493.45bn

392.31bn

369bn

Kwara

15.004bn

12.04

24.173bn

20.16

16.025bn

13.7

Lagos

77.4bn

15.81

82.114bn

113.3bn

17.11

FCT

5bn

Ogun

43.99bn

42.57bn

40.1bn

20.06

Imo

8.11bn

5.7

2.22bn

2.15

Edo

15bn

9.4

18.1bn

11.6

14bn

12.56

Oyo

Osun

35.584bn

15.18

Delta

10.1bn

2.3

Niger

5.14bn

9.98

3.03bn

Kaduna

20.569bn

9.71

27.548bn

15.54

Borno

27bn

17.4

Yobe

9.678bn

19.1

16.556bn

20.5

18.676bn

Plateau

19.986bn

13.9

18.928bn

15.39

12.432bn

15.6.

A classroom section in aLagos school

Ahmed, Kwara State

In 2016 budget, tagged: “Budget of Reformation, Transformation and Repositioning,” the state appropriated a total of N165.5 billion, which is a bit higher than that of 2015, but there is noting to write home about concerning the allocation to education. Ironically, the government, which in the last two years failed to be categorical in the breakdown of the budget to the sectors, however, blamed the 11 per cent reduction in the statutory allocation from the Federal Government on the dwindling allocation. Faced with the funding challenge, the government pledged: “With respect to education, all on-going projects such as construction and furnishing of classrooms and model schools will be completed in 2016. We shall lay more emphasis on technical and vocational training, quality assurance, while monitoring and evaluation will be intensified. This will enhance quality of education and improved students’ performance in internal and external examinations.”

But, to Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, the state government has been faithful in contributing substantial percentage of its yearly budget to education. However, the trend of budgetary allocation of the state to education is still short of UNESCO standard. For instance, between 2012 and 2014 the government set aside N34.615 billion (23.06 per cent); N38.301 billion (15.74 per cent) and N35.584 billion, representing 15.18 per cent of the undisclosed total budget figure to education, while those of 2015 and 2016 were not given. In Delta State also, the government has failed to comply with the UNESCO benchmark in its budgetary allocation to education, the critical sector and supposed fulcrum of development. In the 2016 current year, of a total budget of N266 billion, under its “Budget of Renewed Hope and Inclusive Development,” education sector allocation stands at N10.1 billion, representing about 2.3 per cent of the budget. In Niger State, of a total budget of N98.8 billion in 2014, the government voted N5.14 billion, representing 9.98 per cent to education, out of which the then governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu set aside N800 million for scholarship and bursary for students both in the country and overseas. But, in 2015, there was a slide in the budget, which dropped significantly to N80.8 billion with N3.03 billion allocated to education. However, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hajia Fatima Madugu, refused to comment on the failure of the state to comply with the UNESCO’s stipulated 26 per cent allocation to education. For Kaduna State, Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero in 2015 budgeted N203.701 billion for the fiscal year, in which the

education sector significantly got the second highest allocation of N20.569 billion, represents just 9.71 per cent. In the N171.7 billion budgeted for the year 2016, by the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, education received N27.548 billion, representing 15.54 per cent. While reacting to the inability of the state to meet the UNESCO benchmark, a senior government official, however, told New Telegraph that education is a top priority of the Rufai’s administration, saying it hoped to meet the UNESCO target as the state’s revenue improved. Confronted by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, in the 2016 budget allocation, earmarked N27 billion to the education sector, which represents 17.4 per cent of the total N155 billion appropriation bill. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Mustapha Aminami, who recalled that the state education sector is worst hit by the activities of insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country, the hotbed of Boko Haram, noted that the sector got the lion’s share of the allocation for the reconstruction of schools. Over the last two years, schools have been shut, following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok and continued activities of the terrorist group on schools in the state. Under Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe State in its 2016 Appropriation Bills, tagged: “Result Based Budget for Consolidation, Reconstruction and SelfReliance,” had a total budget of N88.933 billion, out of which the education sector got the lion’s share with N18.676 billion, representing 21 per cent. In the breakdown of the state’s budget in the last three years, the Education Commissioner, Muhammed Lami, said in 2014, the total budget of Yobe State was N102.899 billion, while N19.678 billion, representing 19.1 per cent was set aside for education. Indeed, in 2015, from the state’s total budget of N806 billion, education sector received N16.556 billion, translating to 20.5 per cent of the budget. The state, which is also facing the challenge of Boko Haram, following massive destruction of its schools, according to the governor, will ensure that the schools which were razed by the insurgents are rebuilt as soon as possible. Like its other contemporaries, education sector budget in Plateau State is still a far cry from the UNESCO standard of 26 per cent of the budget. Statistics available to New Telegraph indicated that in the state’s 2014 budget, education sector was allocated N 19, 986 billion, representing 13.9 per cent of the total budgetary allocation of N228.743 billion for the fiscal year. Also, the Jonah David Jang administration in the 2015 posted a total budget of N215.466 billion, in which education got N18.928 billion, representing 15.39 of the total fiscal budget for that year, primarily to take care of the renovation of secondary schools across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. Meanwhile, Governor Simon Lalong, the incumbent governor, who took over from Jang in the 2016 budget estimate of N 154.073 billion, voted N12.432 billion, representing 15.6 per cent to the education sector. According to the governor, the education sector allocation, among other state projects, is for the renovation and construction of secondary schools, provision of infrastructural facilities at the Plateau State University, college of art, science and remedial studies, and the other tertiary institutions in the state.

vc’s forum | education

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’m here to restore LASU’s old glories – VC, Fagbohun Your appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of LASU is coming at a time the university is going through a lot of challenges. How do you feel taking up this job? Well, I must tell you that anyone that follows the history of the Lagos State University (LASU) will definitely know that this university is a great university. So, it is a big privilege to be appointed the vice-chancellor of a big brand like LASU that is very much endowed, especially in terms of human capital resources. My hope and prayer is that we will all be used to achieve the vision of the founding fathers of the university.

His appointment barely three months ago, as the eighth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is not without a caveat: to fix the state university. The Professor of Environmental Law and former Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos, Lanre Fagbohun, in this interview with MOJEED ALABI, says his mission is to stabilise LASU’s academic calendar, restore peace and bring back the old glories.

Whenever a new vice-chancellor is appointed for LASU, the atmosphere is usually expectant. How has it been since you assumed office? I will tell you that since I came on board, it has been very warm reception. I have been able to interact with the different stakeholders in the system including the workers’ unions, students, registry and bursary, among others, and the reception has been very warm. And, in fact, everyone is prepared and desirous to move the university forward. I can tell you that there is robust energy flowing within the Lagos State University at this moment and I don’t think there is anything to hold us back in this our collective vision. We are the university to beat in all ramifications the way things are going with us. What are your plans for the university? My plan is that by the time I am through with my tenure here in LASU, we would have been able to institutionalise excellence. Indeed, after my tenure, LASU will be very conducive for both academic and administrative activities because peace will have been restored and continued to reign. The situation we are building here will be that every graduate of LASU will be able to raise their heads and say “I am a proud holder of this certificate.” LASU truly is a citadel of academic excellence that must be let out of its present bondage. I, therefore, invite all stakeholders in the LASU project to join hands with me in the task of putting it back on the front row of academic excellence where it rightly belongs. Beyond funding, what are the major challenges you envisage? Well, beyond funding, I believe strongly that what is critical for us is what we are already doing which includes the quality assurance summit we just organised and the walk we recently had. My appeal is that all of us should key into this vision and nobody should fall back. This is because the moment they fall back, it will affect the team work. One of the things that have always been in the system is mutual suspicion and distrust. But,

I cannot go into the specifics of the programmes where we are having challenges currently, as we are busy looking into all our issues thoroughly. So, I may not be able to give you the off-the-cuff details of the situation right now. But, one thing I can assure you is the commitment of the NUC to support our drive and passion for reform. What about hostel accommodation. The state government has promised to come in. What is the next stage? That is something that will allow for a wide consultation. Now, we actually have a committee that will focus only on that, and will consider all options available to us, whether through the public-private partnership initiative or other systems. All these issues will be considered, because it is not what Fagbohun wants, but what the entire university community decides to have; which they consider will be beneficial to the people. There are usually crises with the university’s host communities. Have you reached out to them? Yes, of course. We have met with our traditional rulers and they are very supportive of us. They are eager to see us succeed and we are sure that God will take us to the Promised Land.

Fagbohun

the moment we all share information, the moment we work together, it will strengthen the system and we will be able to move the university forward. A retreat such as that of the quality assurance forum you initiated is somehow common in the country, but implementation is usually the problem. Where do you go from here? That is a very good question. The one we are doing now is the base. The moment we are through with this, the next stage for us is to have the monitoring process of our resolutions in the various service delivery units. We will have a directorate of quality assurance that will ensure that we keep to whatever we have in our manuals. We will be monitoring from unit to unit, department to department and faculty to faculty. The moment it becomes a culture, we will then sit down and ask ourselves about the next stage and it

will be implemented.

It is an open door policy and we shall encourage everyone to practice same

To be able to measure your performance in the next one or two years, what is the current status of LASU in terms of accreditation, research, staff strength and enrolment, among others? I will say that the Lagos State University at the moment is on the average, but we can do better and there is room to do better. In terms of accreditation, we have challenges with one or two academic programmes, but we have had interactions with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and clearly they are willing and ready to support us and move with us in our new direction. What is the accreditation status of LASU’s Law programme? Yes, we have full accreditation for our Law programme and our students are still doing excellently well, in spite of the challenges.

The host communities’ support, is it because you are from this part of the state? Not necessarily because of that. I think it is because they have also seen the fact that the entire university is willing to move forward. And they are also willing to move forward with us. The problem we have always had with the host communities was due to lack of information. But now that we always share information almost on daily basis through our bulletin, they are at peace with us. In today’s LASU, I want to say that nothing will be shrouded in mystery in the running and management of the university. It is an open door policy and we shall encourage everyone to practice same. We must commend the journalists for promoting this university. You are helping us to rewrite our history by exposing the new dawn in LASU to the outside world. We thank you and commend the good work you are doing. We promise that this time we will never let you down. When are you finally moving into your office? I will tell you that I have already moved. And I can tell you that there is a new Senate Building that the Lagos State Government is building for us, which I believe will be ready in the next couple of months. So, we are going to move in to this new office once and for all. There is no point moving from one temporary office to the other.

education | public discourse Irregularities in UTME’s conduct

Kuye: Award of 40 marks to candidates is unwarranted ‘Lanre Kuye is the Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is an organisation that cannot afford to make mistakes; this is because all its actions and inactions will affect someone. So, all its conduct must be near per-

Mr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu is the immediate past Registrar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and currently on sabbatical at the National Universities Commission (NUC)

fect, especially the conduct of the examinations, particularly the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The so-called mistakes that warranted the award of 40 marks randomly to the candidates should not stand. I mean 40 marks bonus should not stand and

Shodimu: JAMB should be more responsible

ne basic thing we have to note is that the Nigeria’s information technology environment is not developed enough for what we are requesting or expecting from the UTME candidates. How many of them really have access to internet? So, we have to be sensitive and responsive

Mr. Oludotun Sodunke is the National President of the Association of Private Tutorial Operators

his year’s UTME has only exposed the hypocrisy of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Our students have gone through hell just in their efforts to secure their future. If you could remember, we have earlier warned of the conspiracy between JAMB and some private universi-

it is unacceptable. The affected candidates may have perhaps performed better or otherwise. The examination body should cancel such candidates’ results and reschedule them for another examination, if JAMB is to keep its reputation intact.

and look at it in terms of the Nigerian environment. There are some examinations abroad where once a deadline for registration is closed, it is closed forever,

and late registration attracts penalty. In our days, three months to WAEC, registration is closed, but today you can register in the day of the examination and get the examination done. Some countries are celebrating no power failure, but Nigeria cannot boast of uninterrupted power supply for 48 hours. Another thing that we need to give consideration to is locality factor. Candidates’ environment must be taken into consideration.

ties. You could recollect that we had warned of the redistribution of candidates by JAMB last year, but since that attempt failed, it is the new resolve of the examination body to make the candidates fail so that private universities could also have candidates. We can tell you that some of the candidates sitting for this year’s UTME with only 179 marks are al-

ready being invited for post-UTME screening by some private universities including the Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Why should candidates be awarded two different results? Why the bonus of 40 marks? The irregularities are just too many. For instance, one of the students at my centre scored 345, and his parents rushed to church to give testimony.

Niyi Bada is a Lagos-based legal practitioner, with Rose of Sharon Chambers, Ikeja, Lagos. he conduct of this year’s UTME examination by JAMB left much to be desired. The reports one is getting across the country give the impression that JAMB is not ready to conduct a computer-basedexamination mode. There seems to be the dearth of computer centres that are well-equipped with modern computer system as well as adequate data speed for the examina-

Cowbell supports girl-child education Kayode Olanrewaju

s the stage is set this week for the first stage examination of this year’s edition of the Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show, billed for March 19 across the country, the organisers have said the goals of this edition is to encourage the girl-child education and give them more opportunities. According to the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, the sponsor of the yearly competition, which was instituted 20 years ago, Mr. Olivier Thiry, the decision is to stimulate the interests of more female students in this year’s competition. Under the deliberate policy, each mixed secondary school is to select a minimum of two female students to represent them in each of the categories (junior and senior) of the competition. “This is our own little way of encouraging the girl-child to take interest in education especially Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics

(STEM) courses.” he said. Thiry added: “All these improvements are to underscore Promasidor’s effort at providing a credible platform that discovers, recognises and rewards excellence in Mathematics, a critical component of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria. This is in addition to the quality nutrition that is provided by the Cowbell brand for the nourishment of the Nigerian populace especially children.” The United Nations Children Educational, Scientific Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Jean Gough, who was represented by Mr. Charles Nzuki at the finals of the last year’s edition of the competition, noted that girl-child education needed to accorded higher priority and more investment from government and other stakeholders. According to him, evidence has shown globally that the most marginalised child is a girl coming from the poorest, living in rural areas and with ethnic or linguistic

Sodunke: Nigeria is not ripe enough for CBT mode

Bada: JAMB needs to do its homework well T

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

tion. There is need for JAMB to conduct a country-wide survey of computer centres adequately equipped with modern computers to handle its examinations before embarking in such an embarrassing national assignment. Secondly, such computer centres must also have fast internet connection and data speed that will enable candidates to access the questions time-

ously and be able to submit their answers after they are done. We heard the story of a centre in Ibadan where the computers were too old and the data traffic was so slow that several candidates were unable to submit their answers.

background. He reiterated UNICEF’s support for increased access and improved quality in education in Nigeria through the Girls Education Project, Female Teachers Training, Early Grade Reading and Nomadic Education. Winners of the competition will receive N1 million, while the first and second runners-up will get N750,000 and N500,000 respectively. The prizes were raised from N750,000; N500,000 and N250,000 for the first, second and third place winners respectively for the last year’s edition to draw more attention to the competition and encourage the students to develop more interest in the subject. In fact, the teachers of the first, second and third winners will receive N400,000; N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. In a related development, the company, as part of the build-up to the competition has developed a multi-level mobile app that will allow students to practise Mathematics questions everywhere with fun.

The NSE officials, members of staff and students of the school during the ceremony.

NSE donates textbooks to school

ducation intervention programmes, aimed at enhancing the development schools and promote education has been initiated by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja branch. Under the interventionist project, the society has donated over 600 science textbooks of different titles and subjects to the pupils of Government Secondary School, Kabusa, a suburb of Abuja. Handing over the materials to the school, the Chairman of Abuja NSE branch, Mr. Israel Abraham, an engineer, said the association’s decision to intervene through the distribution of science textbooks to students in secondary school, was borne out the need to encourage and boost learn-

ing of science subjects. This is as he pointed out that the intervention project covers subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Further Mathematics, saying these are core subjects required by science students to advance or attain their academic pursuit at the university or polytechnic. While expressing gratitude to NSE, the Principal of the school, Abubakar Rilwanu assured the donors that the books will be judiciously used to improve the academic performance of the students. He note: ‘The performance of the school has improved significantly in the last few years, and that the timely intervention by the NSE will go a long way in accelerating the effort of the school

in its quest to provide qualitative education as well as improve the learning of science among the students. The principal recalled that the school was adjudged the third best school in Abuja based on the performance of its students in the 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The NSE Project Manager, Mr. Cosmas Okosun, added that other schools within Abuja and its environs would benefit from the society’s initiative in the year, even as he lauded the effort of the Project Manager, Oladipo Agboola and other members of the Abuja branch of the society for their support in advancing the course of education in the country.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

campus

EKSU gets Faculty of Management Science complex

kiti State University (EKSU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele, has taken delivery of an ultra-modern Faculty of Management Sciences building complex. The keys to the building were handed over to him by the contractor handling the project, Oladeji Olajubu, an engineer, during the handing over ceremony. The Coordinator of the Physical Planning Directorate of the university, Mr. Ebenezer Abulefon said that the construction project was done to specification and completed even before the deadline. Abulefon, while briefing the vice-chancellor said that construction work, which began November 24, 2014 and took a period of 58 weeks to complete. Olajubu, however, noted that the company adhered strictly to the specifications and completed the project before deadline. In his remarks, the vice-chancellor commended the contractor and the Physical Planning Directorate as well as the Consultant overseeing the project for a job well done. Bandele expressed delight over what he described as timely completion of the project, as well as the magnificent edifice, which he said will in the future serve the purpose of the university Business School. While handing the keys to the building to the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. P.O. Oladele, vice-chancellor congratulated the dean and his team as well as the entire university community, even as he later commissioned the faculty library.

Bandele Vc

Ezekiel Efeobhokhan UNIBEN

orship is an essential part of Christian life and experience. This was brought to the fore last week during a revival and worship organised by the National Fellowship of Christian Pharmacy Students (NFCPS), University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter. The event, which took place at the Lecture Theatre III of the department, was presided over by the Head of Department of the Pharmaceutical Technology, Dr. Mathew Arewoh. Speaking at the event, the President of Fellowship, Timo-

SSG, corps members advocate pupils’ interest in sciences Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

econdary school pupils have been advised to pay more attention to the learning of science as core subjects that assist in solving the foundation level of science and technology in the country. The advice was given by corps members of the ‘Batch ‘A of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abakaliki during a quiz competition organised for senior secondary schools in Ebonyi State. The quiz competition, which

is the first of its kind in the state, was organised by the corps members as part of their Community Development Service (CDS). Addressing the participants at the competition, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ben Odoh, who was represented by the Personal Assistant, Mr. Boniface Owoh called on students to take science subjects more seriously, even as he described sciences as essential subjects which are critical to national development. On his part, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubochi Ekeh, who expressed delight over the competition, however lauded the corps mem-

bers for the initiative. Ekeh said the questions drafted by the corps members are of standard, adding that it will go a long way in assisting the state to prepare well for a national science quiz competition slated to hold later in the year in Abuja. This is as he advised students to shun cultism, examination malpractice and other anti-social vices which he said were capable of truncating their future. Earlier, the Coordinator of the quiz competition, tagged: “Obamedy Olympiad,) Dr. Charles Adewole, said the competition was to assist the

The corps members at the event

science students to actualise their dream. He said the competition will assist in solving the problem of science and technology in the country, saying “if the foundation of science and technology is right the nation will be better.” At the end of the exercise, Government College, Afikpo came first, while Agubia High School, Ikwo placed second, and Community Secondary School, Okposhi Eheku came third respectively. The students were quizzed in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Geography, Biology, Agriculture and Economics.

UNIZIK student emerges best campus radio presenter Franklin Onwubiko UNIZIK

his is cheering news to the authorities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the management of UNIZIK 84.1 FM Radio, as one of the students has been crowned as the Best Campus Radio Presenter of the Year 2015 in the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Award (NBMA). The award is aimed at encouraging and recognising Nigerian broadcasters for their

immense contributions and development to broadcasting in the country. The presentation ceremony took place at the Grand Ballroom of Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, amid pomp and pageantry. With the award, Hyginius Ezeamadi, a news presenter and final year student of Mass Communication Department, did not only fly the flag of the university high, he also made UNIZIK proud. He was said to have defeated12 other contenders to clinch the award. The event was attracted

Students’fellowship holds revival, ministration thy Okooboh, noted that worship is necessary to get the attention of God Almighty, the creator of the heaven and earth, but how such worship is carried out is also very important. “Your worship will only be acceptable if it is coming from a Christian heart. You have to be purged out of your sins to offer an acceptable worship to God. That is the essence of this service tagged: “Revival in worship.”

media professionals and other dignitaries from all walks of life as well as practitioners in various radio and television houses. Speaking on the award, Ezeamadi expressed his profound gratitude to God and the university management, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku for bringing him this far. Ezemadi said: “I am happy about this award because at first, I was not expecting it. This is an award some people will want to die for and God gave it to me without expecting it. I believe this award will

go a long way in contribution immensely and greatly to my career as a broadcaster. I see the award as another way of saying continue with the hard work and I will continue since the reward for hard work is more work.” However, the duo of the Director of the campus radio station, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, and the Station Manager, Mrs. Ify Obi commended the students for making the station and the entire university community proud for his doggedness as a volunteer worker, in which they urged him not to relent.

While admonishing the students, Arewoh hinted that worship is not limited to singing of songs, saying: “Worship can be done by doing the right things and saying the right words, while anything that gives glory to God or glorify His name is regarded as worship.” The event was climaxed when the Law Student Choir thrilled the gathering with their song ministration, as well Pharmacy choir’s ministration during the event as drama presentation.

education

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Education is key to national development’ Kayode Olanrewaju

rovision of qualitative education has been described as the only panacea and key success factor in the nation’s quest for greatness, in view of the unprecedented economic challenges and the current slip in the global economy. For the country to move forward and position itself for the challenges of the 21st Century and to be globally competitive there is the urgent need to prioritise education and set it right. These were part of the concerns expressed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State, Prince Bimbo Olashore, during a strategic education round table, especially the role of the school in the delivery of quality education. Olashore, who noted that school has been repositioned to produce the benchmark for quality education, exposed the school and students to international best practices in education delivery, said the school has invested greatly on the students in order to build human capacity for the country. While bemoaning the alarming slide of the Naira and its underbelly of the socio-economic structure in the country, he said this could only be corrected on the long-term by a workforce that is strong and well-rounded

educationally.” “Education is not only vital to economic growth, but also crucial to development of broad spectrum of the nation,” he added, saying a better educated citizenry can better confront the challenges and opportunities created by greater economic integration. Thus, Olashore pointed out that investment in education is not only pro-growth, but it also offers developing countries a route out of poverty and educational inequality.” The chairman, who stressed the need for greater need to invest more in education, specifically noted that countries that paid priority attention to education have been able to create a steady stream of human capital.” “It is only through a sound education system that quality leadership as well as a productive workforce could be developed, since we are operating in a new knowledge economy where the factory is moving away from physical buildings and large infrastructure to the brain as the location of the new age factory,” Olashore said. To this end, he explained that “the guiding principle of education in the country is the equipping of every citizen with knowledge, skills, vocation, attitudes and values to enable them to drive the economy and contribute meaningfully to the development society. In his presentation on: “21st Century Leaders, 21st

Century Learners,” the Principal of the school, Mr. Derek Smith, explained that the school is at the forefront of educational thinking of the country, as well as raising leaders and nurturing children to their full potentials while equipping students with composite knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. “At Olashore International School, we believe in learning beyond classroom so that students could fit into the society,” he said, adding that for over 20 years of its establishment, the school has been setting the standard in terms of quality education, curriculum development boarding accommodation and sporting facilities.” He recalled that the school, last year, emerged one of the top 10 schools in the country, and one of the best international schools in Africa. Besides, Smith noted that this year, the school won the British Council’s International School Award, which Olashore attributed to the focus and determination to offer the very best education and leadership development to the students. Under the leadership model in relation to the 21st century, he said the school’s focus on leadership is about concerned for change, collaboration and process, as well as value-based, anchored on service which is a powerful vehicle for developing leadership skill.

Mr. D. K. Smith (left) and Prince Abimbola Olashore displaying the ISA award won by the school

Research institutes protest exclusion from TETFund largesse Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has flayed the exclusion of research institutes from benefiting from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions, particularly in the area of research grant. Addressing a press conference in Abuja after a protest by members of the association, the Vice President of the association, Dr. Nnamdi Onunka, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to improve funding to research institutes as well as their allied colleges.

He, particularly, called for an immediate review of the TETFund Act to extend the scope of intervention of the overflowing fund to research institutes. Onunka said the government should muster the political will to confront any opposition and do what is fair, just and exigent, regarding research funding which is sine qua non to averting the economic collapse of the country. He explained that the motive behind the protest and press conference was to call the attention of the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria to the urgent need to stem the abject neglect of funding of research institutions, colleges of agriculture and colleges

of forestry in order to avert the imminent collapse of the nation’s economic. “Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has become one of the most controversial issues in the Nigerian media today... We decry and condemn the exclusion of research institutes, colleges of agriculture and colleges of forestry from TETFund allocation that the public universities and polytechnics are enjoying. On his part, the Secretary of the association, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku berated those criticising the standard of researches from Nigerian institutes, noting that such researches are of high standard and are being exported.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Dada’s magic wand

he story of the spectacular success of the academic genius, Ayodele Dada, was almost buried in the rubble of the usual media chatter. The bread sellerturned-celebrity for doing nothing, Olajumoke Orisaguna, got all the attention while the real miracle of the century is made to suffer relative obscurity. It is as if her story is better than the story of the University record breaker. For the starters, Mr Dada graduated recently from the University of Lagos with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0. Through the achievement, this academic super-duper has achieved what no one has ever achieved, as far as I know, in the Nigerian university system. It was phenomenal. For all his talents, during the convocation, he was acknowledged and rewarded. He won several prizes and went home with some N1.1 million, courtesy of the University and its alumni body. Though he deserves much more from the country, if we were to take education seriously, the fact still remains that he has etched his name in gold. But what factor accounted for Dada’s epoch-making achievement? According to the young man, he was a regular student on campus, not much of a bookworm without a social life. “I was a social person throughout school. I attended birthday parties, cinemas, I had so many movies on my laptop and I was sharing them with my colleagues, as I was sharing notes as well…I was working and schooling,” the graduate of psychology said. The above submission is not more than the school profile of any average undergraduate student with an average result: Second Class Lower Division. If this was his profile, what then accounted for his spectacular success? Why did he achieve what others cannot achieve? What was his magic wand? His magic wand was focus or target. This focus was undergirded by the principle of avoidance. According to Dada, “I have fond memories. I was the head of my final year planning committee for dinners, symposium, and was involved in a lot of other things. But I didn’t have a girlfriend.” His advice: “You don’t have to be a genius to get the results of a genius. Just target excellence always.” It appears that part of what contributed to Dada’s success is the avoidance of campus relationship. Campus relationship has ruined many potential high performers. For the crowd, it is as if not having a boyfriend or girlfriend is a sin. It has got so bad that even fresh students are not exempted. At the end of the

It was unbelievable that every single girl interviewed said she had multiple boyfriends

day, valuable time that would have been spent on study is lost to useless tittle-tattle both online and offline. Besides time, the emotional investment put into campus relationships is usually without any return. Lust is usually mistaken for love and like smoke, such relationships, more often than not, disappears into the thin air. The emotional scars remain with one of the parties to contend with thereafter and concentration is affected. If I may repeat myself, I recently saw a clip where an interviewer asked undergraduate students how many boyfriends they had. It was unbelievable that every single girl interviewed said she had multiple boyfriends, the “justification” for which was given to be financial, social, romantic and sundry needs. Some students pursue relationships on campus like their major courses. Little wonder that failure rates seem to be soaring in many schools and universities. It is often said that nothing goes for nothing. Excellence requires sacrifice and Dada’s sacrifice was campus relationship. If like an eagle on the prey, every student focuses keenly on the primary assignment of being in school, more Dadas will be produced by our universities. But in a situation where students consider universities as places of debauchery because of the touted freedom, failure rates will not abate. I read that Mr. Dada is being wooed by multinational companies and currently serves as an intern in one of them. This is unacceptable. If the University of Lagos is not taking the lead by granting the genius an automatic employment and immediate sponsorship to higher degrees anywhere he wants, other universities, especially the University of Ilorin, should consider the merit of doing so. Such a genius is needed to inspire generations of students to higher academic attainments as he can easily tell them, “If I could do it, you too can!” This is the way to go.

TUESday, March 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A4 BUSINESS | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

14-Mar-16

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 531.93 605.31 719.99 95.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.42 1.12 1.37 1.46 2.21 3.29 3.61 3.92 5.87 8.00 9.86 12.71 13.19 13.69 14.36 18.34

7.58 9.56 9.63 9.73 10.08 10.48 11.04 11.28 11.58 11.88 11.85 12.25 12.28 12.31 12.00 12.14

7.22 9.42 9.51 9.61 10.00 10.38 10.93 11.19 11.52 11.82 11.79 12.21 12.23 12.25 11.95 12.10

102.23 105.72 100.25 99.49 101.18 115.00 88.23 113.16 120.03 111.78 103.71 117.46 101.33 75.06 86.41 100.02

102.38 105.87 100.40 99.64 101.33 115.30 88.53 113.46 120.33 112.08 104.01 117.76 101.63 75.36 86.71 100.32

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,112.28

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,361.68

6067.277269

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.50

03-Apr-17

0.50

2.94

11.00

103.01

30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.30 0.30 1.10 0.82 1.80 1.39 1.41 1.59 1.59 1.78 2.00 3.69 2.16 4.70 4.80 2.83 2.86 3.97 3.64 3.67 4.03 6.46 3.76

4.46 3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00 2.02 1.98 4.35 1.30 3.76 3.76 1.00 1.52 3.67 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

11.27 10.29 10.35 14.52 13.10 10.65 10.67 13.62 13.37 10.89 12.00 13.12 14.40 12.96 15.43 14.12 11.37 12.35 14.75 12.12 13.57 13.67 14.28

100.69 101.41 99.63 99.37 101.34 104.11 104.12 101.12 100.80 107.11 105.83 103.87 100.61 101.81 98.50 100.77 108.31 108.19 104.54 112.18 110.40 113.38 107.26

29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

0.54 0.61 0.73 1.10 1.31 1.55 1.00 1.07 1.49 1.49 2.55 1.35 1.68 1.80 2.40 4.67 3.17 5.69 5.79 6.16 4.33 8.55 8.55 9.62

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 5.27 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.14 1.00 3.90 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

9.15 9.66 9.61 16.31 15.98 12.14 11.12 12.47 16.10 10.75 11.40 14.88 15.95 13.17 14.63 12.65 14.14 13.96 12.84 15.80 14.37 13.19 13.19 13.12

101.98 102.65 104.39 100.13 100.52 101.16 107.02 103.33 102.33 106.90 105.60 100.93 102.82 104.27 100.65 108.90 103.24 101.06 114.39 102.55 104.89 115.61 100.30 109.16

10-Oct-20

2.59

3.37

13.62

102.32

Agency Bonds Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.50

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.55

Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

1.30 2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 27.25 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68 13.87 80.00 21.65 87.50 5.00 4.03 4.04 14.37 4.39 4.53 27.10 3.00 7.68

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

451.93 466.66

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

NAHCO FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r} *FCMB NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15 20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

13.00 14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.25 15.50 14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.46 4.50 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.80 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.94

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

539.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

555.66

Sukuk BBB-/Agusto

10-Oct-13

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

*OSUN

14.75

9.77

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

9.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

9.99

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.91

1.00

9.12

101.84

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.13

1.00

10.65

101.53

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 25.37 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Coupon (%)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

8.02

7.76

94.96

95.95

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.15

5.71

97.80

98.73

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

8.20

8.01

90.07

91.08

99.31

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,414.18

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

373.41

19-May-16

11.31

99.31

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

9.40

97.31

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

19.50

18.25

78.66

80.49

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

9.49

92.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.78

90.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

14.51

13.33

85.68

88.41

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

14.77 13.82 15.36

14.77 13.42 15.36

79.00 83.05 73.25

79.00 84.37 73.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

DTM

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,523.41 3,051.53 #

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Commercial Papers Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

7.23

04-May-16

6.03

12.11

11.91

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

2.77

29-Jul-16

137

6.18

13.46

12.82

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.00

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 66

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 24-Mar-16 31-Mar-16 7-Apr-16 14-Apr-16 21-Apr-16 28-Apr-16 5-May-16 19-May-16

Bid Discount (%) 5.94 6.08 6.09 5.76 5.61 5.82 5.82 5.68

Offer Discount (%) 5.69 5.83 5.84 5.51 5.36 5.57 5.57 5.43

Bid Yield (%) 5.95 6.10 6.11 5.79 5.64 5.86 5.86 5.73

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 7.4483 9.2875 10.6500 12.2233

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

7.38

O/N

7.92

REPO Tenor Call 1M

Rate (%) 8.50 7.50

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

199.11 199.50 200.18 202.00 202.34 210.21

199.21 199.60 200.28 202.10 202.44 210.31

9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

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

9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 531.93 605.31 719.99 95.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

1.46 2.21 3.29 3.61 3.92 5.87 8.00 9.86 12.71 13.19 13.69 14.36 18.34

9.73 10.08 10.48 11.04 11.28 11.58 11.88 11.85 12.25 12.28 12.31 12.00 12.14

6,112.28

9.61 10.00 10.38 10.93 11.19 11.52 11.82 11.79 12.21 12.23 12.25 11.95 12.10

99.49 101.18 115.00 88.23 113.16 120.03 111.78 103.71 117.46 101.33 75.06 86.41 100.02

99.64 101.33 115.30 88.53 113.46 120.33 112.08 104.01 117.76 101.63 75.36 86.71 100.32

6067.277269

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION NEW TELEGRAPH

6,361.68

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.50

03-Apr-17

0.50

2.94

11.00

103.01

Stock market begins week on negative tract Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Agency Bonds

Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.50

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.55

Sub-National Bonds

30-Jun-11 14.00 1.30 30-Jun-16 0.30 4.46 11.27 100.69 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 cording to14.00 market watch- 16 stocks appreciated, while 15.50 Tiger Branded Sterling Bank0.30 Plc shed shares of UBA101.41 Plc and 30-Jun-09 2.05 30-Jun-16 3.48 10.29 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 19-Apr-10 Goods Plc 10.00 followed57.00 19-Apr-17 1.00 99.63 LAGOS per cent 1.10 to close at ers was 10.00 due to19-APR-2017 profit while 23 others constiwith 4.71 GTB10.35 Plc. 30-Jun-10 13.75 16.45 30-Jun-17 0.82 5.71 14.52 99.37 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 takings by market spec- tuted the losers’ table. 31-Dec-10 9.85 per14.00 cent to close N1.62 per share. The premium 25.00 at 31-Dec-17 1.80 UBN Plc 3.21 13.10 101.34 sub14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 Market closes 30-Sep-11 14.00 27.25 30-Sep-18 1.39 1.00 10.65 104.11 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 Consequently, the AllN3.01 per share. UACN ulators following apprefollowed with 4.68 per cent sector boosted by the ac04-Oct-11 14.00 4.91 04-Oct-18 1.41 1.00 10.67 104.12 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 downward with loss 14.504.96 per cent 10.98 to 3.82 13.62 on the shares 101.12 14.50by EKITIsome 09-DEC-2018 ciable gains blue Share Index dropped 09-Dec-11 by Plc added to 09-Dec-18 close at N5.701.59per share. tivities of 12-Dec-13 14.00 8.14 12-Dec-18 1.59 3.56 13.37 100.80 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 N20.95 per share. chip companies recently. 134.82 basis points or 0.51 On the activity chart, Zenith followed of N46 billion 14-Feb-12 close at 15.50 21.68 14-Feb-19 1.78 1.00 10.89 Bank Plc107.11 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 02-Oct-12 15.50 13.87 02-Oct-19 2.00 2.02 105.83 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 On the flip side, Seven The twin market per- per cent, from 25,988.40 banking sub-sector secwith12.00 31.08 million units, 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 14.50 80.00 22-Nov-19 3.69 1.98 13.12 103.87 12-Dec-12 Up Plc 14.75 21.65 4.35 14.40 N373.3 billion 100.61 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 formance14.75 measures, the index points last Friday and Honeywell tor12-Dec-19 dominated2.16 in volume worth in 27-Nov-13 13.50 87.50 27-Nov-20 4.70 1.30 12.96 101.81 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 NSE All15.00 Share Index to close at 25,853.58, while terms 705 deals. 31-Dec-13 Flour Plc 15.00led the losers’ 5.00 31-Dec-20with 76.4 4.80 million 3.76 15.43 98.50 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 31-Dec-13 14.50 4.03 31-Dec-20 2.83 3.76 14.12 100.77 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 market capi- the market capitalisation chart with a drop of4.04 five shares worth N532.3 milIn11.37 all, investors ex06-Jan-14 15.00 06-Jan-21 2.86 1.00 108.31 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 Stories by Chris Ugwu (ASI) and15.00 09-Dec-14 per cent 15.50 14.37 at 09-Dec-21 3.97 1.52 12.35 15.50 dropped BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 talization, by of equities depreciated changed a total108.19 of 174.5 each to close lion in 1,188 deals. The 17-Feb-15 16.50 4.39 16-Feb-22 3.64 3.67 14.75 104.54 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 and N1.714.53per sub rading activi- 0.51 per cent on the back by N46 billion or 0.51 per sector was3.67 enhanced million at 27-Feb-15 N153.4316.50 27-Feb-22 1.00 12.12 shares valued 112.18 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 30-Mar-15 17.50 27.10 30-Mar-22 4.03 2.52 13.57 110.40 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 companies. cent from N8.939 trillion ties on the floor of blue chip share respectively , while by the activities in the N1.4 billion in 3,632 deals. 01-Apr-15 17.00 3.00 31-Mar-22 6.46 1.79 13.67 113.38 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 27-May-15 17.00 7.68 27-May-22 3.76 3.04 14.28 107.26 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022 to N8.893 trillion. of the Nigerian According to analysts, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 451.93 stock market the worries about the Further analysis of 466.66 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION yesterday, opened the Asian economy that trig- the day’s trading showed Corporate Bonds week the red after re- gered a stock-market rout that Conoil Plc topped the 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto;in A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 0.54 1.00 9.15 101.98 NAHCO 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 0.61 1.34 9.66 102.65 FSDH cording impressive perhave continued to cause day’s gainers’ table with 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Nil 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 112.22 08-Dec-16 0.73 1.00 9.61 104.39 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 Nil 0.00/16.50 116.70 19-Apr-17 1.10 6.96 16.31 100.13 formance last week.***LCRM ripples around the world. 10.14 per cent each 20-Apr-12 to 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Nil 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49 06-Jul-17 1.31 6.41 15.98 100.52 13.00 UBA A/GCR 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 1.55 2.36 12.14 101.16 The downswingUBAacAt the close of30-SEP-2017 trading, close at N18.24 per share, 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.46 30-Nov-17 1.00 1.88 11.12 107.02 *C & I LEASING otal assets “SEC is 1.07 determined said the SEC has impleMPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Nil 09-Apr-11 16.00 4.50under 09-Apr-18 3.15 12.47 103.33 *DANA MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR 09-Sep-11 18.00 1.82 09-Sep-18 1.49 6.35 16.10 102.33 *TOWER management in to unlock this potential mented a number of MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.50 09-Sep-18 1.49 1.00 10.75 106.90 *TOWER 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 of the Nigerian Capital the global Islam- 30-Sep-18 reforms aimed105.60 at deepA+/Agusto; A/GCR 30-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 2.55 1.17 11.40 UBA 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† 18-Oct-13 15.75 1.80 18-Oct-18 5.27 14.88 100.93 *LA CASERA ic finance industry had 17-Feb-19 Market. In1.35 particular, ening the non-interest MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.27 1.68 6.11 15.95 102.82 *CHELLARAMS 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil 01-Apr-14 16.00 1.80 13.17 104.27 *DANA we are aware of 3.28 the capital surpassed $2 4.50 trillion 01-Apr-19 market. For ex15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 A-/GCR 06-Nov-15 15.00 23.19 06-Nov-20 2.40 4.47 14.63 100.65 *FCMB (N394 by the 14-Nov-20 need to deepen the nonample, he said 108.90 the Com15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 15.25 trillion)2.05 4.67 1.00 12.65 NAHCO 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR 04-Dec-15 15.50 9.76 04-Dec-20 3.17 3.55 14.14 103.24 *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC end14.25 of 2014, Directorinterest capital market mission focused on the 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 BBB/GCR 20-Nov-14 26.00 20-Nov-21 5.69 2.14 13.96 101.06 *FCMB 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR 30-Dec-14 16.45 30.50 30-Dec-21 1.00 12.84 114.39 UBA General, Securities space. This5.79 is to enable regulatory framework, 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 BBB/GCR 13-May-15 16.48 30.00 13-May-22 6.16 3.90 15.80 102.55 FIDELITY at Trust The bank’s balance and16.00 Exchange Commismillions of4.33Nigerians reviewing the rules and 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 interim dividend paid26-Oct-15 Bbb/Agusto;uaranty A-/GCR 10.00 26-Oct-22 2.77 14.37 104.89 *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 16.29 0.10 30-Sep-24 8.55 1.00 13.19 115.61 STANBIC IBTCsheet remained strong half year 2015). and people of faith to Bank Plc has postsion (SEC), Mr Mounir introducing new ones. 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 30-Sep-24 8.55 1.00 13.19 100.30 STANBIC IBTC Gwarzo, has said “In particular, tax with 7.2 per cent29-JUL-2030 growth Commenting on the invest savings 14.90 NMRC AAA/GCR ed profit before 29-Jul-15 14.90 7.94 29-Jul-30 9.62 ethically 1.00 . 13.12 109.16 we is*NMRC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 539.77 of N120.695 billion for in total assets, from financial results, the He disclosed this Investors worldwide are sued rules on Islamic TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 555.66 the financial year ended N2.36 trillion in 2014 to Managing Director/CEO yesterday at the second increasingly allocating Fund Management and December 31, 2015. N2.52trillion in the year of Guaranty Trust Bank, Regional Roundtable their resources into Sukuk issuance. Sukuk 10-Oct-13 14.75 9.77 2.59 3.37 13.62 102.32 legal 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 BBB-/Agusto Islamic finance prodThe group in a*OSUN fil- under review. Loans Mr. Segun Agbaje, said on Non-Interest Capital 10-Oct-20 “These two TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 9.77 ing with the Nigerian to customers grew by frameworks have enthat the bank’s financial Market in Sokoto. ucts,’’ Gwarzo said. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 9.99 Stock Exchange (NSE) 7.5 per cent to close performance in 2015 is The global sukuk The SEC DG noted couraged Islamic prodSupranational Bond at N1.37trillion from an indication, “we have market continues to 11-Feb-18 said its full year pre-tax that last year is widely uct9.12 innovation101.84 with the 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 1.91 1.00 witness remarkable considered3.13 a landmark profit rose 3.70 per *AfDB cent N1.28trillion in 1-FEB-2021 2014. earned the loyalty of our registration of 5 ethi11.25 AFDB Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 1.00 10.65 101.53 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEfrom 24.95 2008 growth after the to N120.695 billion, Despite the implemen- customers and an attestayear for Islamic finance, cal/shariah compliant TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 25.37 N116.386 billion a year tation of the Treasury tion of the hardwork and global financial crisis, especially with the de- funds and the issuance Outstanding Value Single Account (TSA)Description earlier.Rating/Agency dedication of our staff, asCoupon annual issuances butDate sukuk by(%) ofBidNigeria’s first Price Offer Price ever Issuer Issue Date (%) Maturity Bid issuances Yield (%) Offer Yield ($’mm) have grown from $15 countries such as the Prices sub-national Ijara SuIts net earnings grew by the FGN, customer management and Board. FGN Eurobonds & Yields remained The Group has delivered UK, Hong 8.02 Kong, Sento N99.437 billion during deposits billion in 2008 to almost 28-Jan-21 kuk by the Osun State 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 7.76 94.96 95.95 relatively stable with 5.13 a JULa12, respectable the period under review, FGN profit be$120 billion in 2014. egal, South Africa, and government in 2013, BB-/Fitch; 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 6.15 5.71 97.80 98.73 BB-/S&P marginal year-on-year Gwarzo said that the which was oversubfrom N94.434 billion fore tax of N120.7billion Luxemburg. Besides, he BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 8.20 8.01 90.07 91.08 BB-/S&P focus of the roundtable said that the year also scribed. We are also recorded in 2014, repre- decline of 0.49 per cent despite an extremely TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 1,500.00 senting an increase of from N1.62trillion in 2014 challenging business enwas on ’Sukuk’ - one witnessed continued considering modalities TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 1,414.18 vironment in 2015”. 5.29 per cent. to N1.61trillion in 2015. of the most important strong interest from for setting up a Sharia Corporate Eurobonds He added: “As a Bank, Gross earnings GTBANK also PLC I The bank’s Non-Percomponents of373.41 the Is- 19-May-16 key markets of MalayAdvisory Council as 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P 19-May-11 7.50 11.31 11.31 99.31 99.31 rose a body of experts to Loans (NPL) rawill continue to aclamic system. 25-Jul-17 sia, Saudi 9.40 Arabia and 7.25 JULwe 25, 2017 B+/S&P to N301.851 billion ACCESS BANKforming PLC 25-Jul-12 7.25 financial350.00 9.40 97.31 97.31 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 19.50 18.25 78.66 80.49 advise SEC and the tively partner with our compared with N278.521 tio remained low at 3.21 He said that while the United Arab Emir6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 9.49 9.49 92.00 92.00 most identify 22-Apr-19 billion previous and grow our ates (UAE)9.78 and emergmarket on non-interest 6.25 APRcustomers 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&Pthe ZENITH BANK per PLC cent; up slightly from 22-Apr-14 6.25 people 500.00 9.78 90.75 90.75 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 14.51 13.33 85.68 88.41 capital markets as an 07-Aug-20 year, accounting for an 3.15 per cent in the combusiness in a sustainable ing markets14.77 like Turkey product and their appli8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 14.77 79.00 79.00 USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P of 8.37 per cent. ACCESS BANKparative PLC II 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 13.82 13.42 83.05 84.37 important source of 24-Jun-21 period of9.25/6M 2014. increase manner that is not only and Indonesia. There is cations” he said. 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 15.36 15.36 73.25 73.25 medium-to-long term 14-Aug-21 In terms of valueECOBANK cre- NIG. LTDAgainst this backdrop The director-general driven by profit objective, no doubt that the sukuk 8.75 AUG 14, 2021 B-/S&P 14-Aug-14 8.75 250.00 12.23 11.76 84.88 86.63 ation for its shareholdof strong financial showbut with an increased focapital, few realise the market is emerging on a said that state governTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 3,523.41 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 3,051.53 ers, the Bank recorded ing, the bank is propos- cus on empowering our amazing potential of global scale as a viable ments could leverage on the pre-tax ROAE of 31.0 per ing total-year dividendDescription customers with a view to capital markets to serve alternativeDTMsourceRisk of Valuation Outstanding Value YieldSukuk market Rating/Agency Issuer Issue Date Yield @ Issue (%) Maturity Date Discount Rate (%) Premium (₦’bn) (%) cent and ROAA of 5.0 per of N1.77kobo per share growing Nigerian econas a catalyst for finan- funding. to raise funds for devel(%) Commercial Papers cent respectively . (inclusive of the 25 kobo omy.” cial inclusion. In Nigeria, Gwarzo opmental projects.

BEARISH

BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

Global Islamic Finance assets hit $2trn – Gwarzo

#{r}

GTB reports N120.6bn FY2015 pre-tax profit #

#{r}

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

7.23

04-May-16

6.03

12.11

11.91

2.77

29-Jul-16

137

6.18

13.46

12.82

10.00

14-Mar-16

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). not constitute professional, financial or Money MarketThe Information does **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) investment advice. Information is accurate; however, the (%) Information is provided “AS IS” (%) and on an Bid “ASYield AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance DTM We attempt to ensure the Maturity Bid Discount Offer Discount (%) TenorWe do not guarantee Rate (%) NIBOR 10 24-Mar-16 5.94 5.69 5.95 or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. OBB 7.38 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 17 31-Mar-16 6.08 24 7-Apr-16 6.09 31 14-Apr-16 5.76 38 21-Apr-16 5.61 FGN Bonds 45 28-Apr-16 5.82 52 5-May-16 5.82 66 19-May-16 5.68 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 73 26-May-16 5.62 80 2-Jun-16 6.15 87 9-Jun-16 13.05 16-AUG-2016 6.24 94 16-Jun-16 6.39 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 101 23-Jun-16 6.19 9.85 27-JUL-2017 6.32 108 30-Jun-16 122 14-Jul-16 9.35 31-AUG-2017 6.58 129 21-Jul-16 7.41 10.70 30-MAY-2018 7.07 136 28-Jul-16 ^16.00 29-JUN-20197.66 143 4-Aug-16 150 11-Aug-16 7.00 23-OCT-2019 7.73 157 18-Aug-16 ^15.54 13-FEB-20207.29 171 1-Sep-16 7.85 NA NA ^16.39 27-JAN-20227.71 178 8-Sep-16 192 22-Sep-16 7.68 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 206 6-Oct-16 ^12.50 22-JAN-20267.82 213 13-Oct-16 7.57 15.00 28-NOV-2028 7.66 220 20-Oct-16 234 3-Nov-16 12.49 22-MAY-2029 7.99 262 1-Dec-16 8.50 20-NOV-2029 7.72 276 15-Dec-16 7.68 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 297 5-Jan-17 7.92 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 311 19-Jan-17 8.07 325 2-Feb-17 7.90 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 339 16-Feb-17 8.19 353 CAPITALISATION 2-Mar-17 8.58 TOTAL MARKET *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the TTM # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

5.83 5.84 5.51 5.36 5.57 5.57 5.43 Issue 5.37Date 5.90 5.99 16-Aug-13 6.14 27-Apr-12 5.94 27-Jul-07 6.07 6.33 31-Aug-07 7.16 30-May-08 6.82 29-Jun-12 7.41 7.48 23-Oct-09 7.04 13-Feb-15 7.60 27-Jan-12 7.46 7.43 14-Mar-14 7.57 22-Jan-16 7.32 28-Nov-08 7.41 7.74 22-May-09 7.47 20-Nov-09 7.43 23-Jul-10 7.67 18-Jul-14 7.82 7.65 7.94 8.33

Issue Date

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 7.4483 9.2875 10.6500 12.2233

O/N Tenor Call 1M

Outstanding Value Maturity Date (₦’bn) NITTY Tenor 581.39 1M 480.13 2M 20.00 3M 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 5.3534 27-Apr-17 5.5956 27-Jul-17 6.2046 7.6308 31-Aug-17 8.0921 30-May-18 9.2782

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 531.93 NIFEX 13-Feb-20 605.31 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) BID($/N) 719.99 199.0000 14-Mar-24 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 95.84 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34

7.92

REPO

TTM 3M (Yrs) 6M

Rate (%) 8.50 7.50

Bid8.25 Yield (%) 9.00

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

0.42 7.58 7.22 1.12 9.56 9.42 1.37 9.63 9.51 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 1.46Bond 9.73 9.61 µ :Convertible Bond 2.21 10.08 10.00 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 3.29 10.48 10.38 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 3.61 Mortgage Bank11.04 10.93 IFC: International Finance Corporation 3.92 11.28 11.19 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 5.87 11.58 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 11.52 O/N: Overnight 8.00 11.88 11.82 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 9.86 11.85 11.79 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 12.71 12.25 12.21 13.19 12.28 12.23 13.69 12.31 12.25 14.36 12.00 11.95 18.34 12.14 12.10

NOTE:

6,112.28

199.11 199.50 200.18 202.00 202.34 210.21 Bid Price 222.90 228.60

199.21 199.60 200.28

Price 202.10 202.44 210.31

Offer 223.00Price 228.70

102.23 102.38 105.72 105.87 100.40 NA :Not 100.25 Applicable ^ : Market Prices 99.49 99.64 # : Floating Rate Bond 101.18 101.33 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 115.00 115.30 DTM: Days-To-Maturity TTM: Term-To-Maturity 88.23 88.53 ‡ : Bond rating under review 113.16 113.46 †: Bond rating expired 120.03 120.33 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 111.78 112.08 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 103.71 104.01 UBA: United Bank for Africa 117.46 117.76 101.33 101.63 75.06 75.36 86.41 86.71 100.02 100.32

6067.277269

6,361.68 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

Bonds

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds Nil

6.10 6.11 5.79 5.64 5.86 5.86 5.73 Coupon 5.68 (%) 6.23 6.33 13.05 6.50 15.10 6.30 9.85 6.44 6.72 9.35 7.61 10.70 7.27 16.00 7.89 7.99 7.00 7.53 15.54 8.15 16.39 8.01 8.00 14.20 8.18 12.50 7.92 15.00 8.03 8.42 12.49 8.17 8.50 8.15 10.00 8.47 12.1493 8.66 8.50 8.86 9.36

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS

<3 3<5 >5 Market

03-Apr-12

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn)

1,005.91 1,531.37 1,587.29 4,124.57

17.25

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Volume

Weighting by Mkt Value

883.23 1,325.30 1,667.49 3,876.02

22.79 34.19 43.02 30-Jun-11 100.00

24.39 37.13 38.48 14.00 100.00

30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12

15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50

1.50

1.50 Bucket Weighting 1.55

03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration

0.50 Implied Yield

0.23 0.34 0.43 1.30 1.00

12.18 29.09 58.73 30-Jun-16 100.00

10.99 11.76 12.10 0.30 11.86

2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 27.25 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68 13.87 80.00

30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19

0.30 1.10 0.82 1.80 1.39 1.41 1.59 1.59 1.78 2.00 3.69

2.94 Implied Portfolio Price

139.1891 153.3441 118.9434 4.46 135.3192

3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00 2.02 1.98

11.00 INDEX

1,266.30 1,329.40 1,433.98 11.27 1,288.59

10.29 10.35 14.52 13.10 10.65 10.67 13.62 13.37 10.89 12.00 13.12

103.01 YTD Return (%)

14.3024 31.2896 42.3995 100.69 22.1202

101.41 99.63 99.37 101.34 104.11 104.12 101.12 100.80 107.11 105.83 103.87

NEWS | north

Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the clash between Shiites and the Nigerian Army in December 2015 in Zaria, yesterday threatened to commence proceedings without the leader of the group, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky. The commission said it will no longer wait for the Islamic group to submit its memorandum to it, having given the body ample opportunities to do so without success. The commission, which adjourned again yesterday for the fifth time till March 21, 2016, gave counsel to the Islamic group another opportunity to get access to the group's leader as demanded by the counsel right from the inaugural sitting of the panel about four weeks ago. While adjourning yesterday, Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, said the commission was running out of the six weeks allotted to it by the Kaduna State government, stressing that yesterday's adjournment

Shiite: Commission to start proceedings T without el-Zakzaky

tuesday, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Commissioner debunks rumour on Taraba gov’s health

Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

will be the last, whether the Shiites has access to its leader or not. Justice Garba urged the group’s counsel to submit their memorandum on or before March 21, as the commission would go ahead on that day to hear the Army’s side of the memorandum. Earlier, one of the lead counsel to the commission, Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), informed the commission that all efforts made to get access to the leader of the Islamic movement had proved abortive. Usman said to ensure that Zakzaky was seen and met before yesterday’s sitting, the Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Amina DyerisSijuwade, was contacted. She in turn contacted

the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, to ease access to the Shiites leader, to no avail. The commission's counsel therefore appealed to Justice Garba to give another opportunity

817

The total number of goals scored in the NPFL matches in 2014/15 season. Source: Goal.com.

to the group by adjourning to another date to see if the Shiites lawyers will meet Zakzaky. Counsel to the Army and IMN, Mr. Biola Oyebanji and Maxwell Kyon, respectively supported the application for the adjournment.

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

araba State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Anthony Danburam, has debunked the rumour making the rounds in the state that Governor Darius Ishaku was not in good health condition. It will be recalled that there was widespread rumour in the state that the governor was sick while some even said he has passed on. But speaking with reporters yesterday in Jalingo, the commissioner described the rumour as untrue, adding that such was concocted and circulated by some rumour mongers in the state. "Why are people wish-

ing our governor illhealth?" he asked. Danburam, who confirmed that Ishaku was in sound health, said the propagandists were trying to jeopardise the lives of the people, who are set to enjoy the democracy dividends being provided by the governor. He said: “He is very well and healthy, our governor doesn't have even headache.” "In fact, he has climbed the Mambila Plateau to carry out some functions, and everybody knows the weather of Gembu, if you are not well, you cannot reach Gashaka," he added. Danburam further admonished the people to desist from such acts of spreading falsehood, stressing that no religion allows that.

Pupils desert Kaduna after free meals aduna State govern- home until closing hours, ment yesterday ex- ‘otherwise the aim of the K pressed concern over the programme would be dedesertion of schools by primary school pupils after taking the free meal offered them by the government. The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Adamu, told newsmen in Kaduna, the state capital, that the government was disturbed by the situation. Adamu said a report on the programme indicated that the pupils have developed the habit of leaving school immediately after the meal under the guise of going to drink water. He appealed to parents to ensure that their children remain in school after taking their meals, so as not to jeopardise the programme. The commissioner said parents must also ensure that no child returned

feated.’ He said the programme was introduced to encourage school enrolment, attendance and retention. “The main goal of the school feeding programme is to attract out-of-school children to school and keep them in class for them to acquire education and better their lives. “We will not allow a situation where children will just come to school and leave the moment they finished eating their meals; if it is about water, we have already asked parents to provide water for their children. “Therefore, parents have a responsibility of ensuring that the children do not only come to school on time, but remain in school till closing hours,” he said.

L-R: Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Aminu Masari (Katsina) during the North-West Governors' meeting in Katsina …on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN

Agatu killings: Minister urges IGP to fish out culprits Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

inister of Interior, retired Lt.General Abdulrahman Dambazau, has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, to fish out and prosecute the perpetrators of the recent killings in Agatu, Benue State. Dambazau made the appeal in a statement issued on his behalf by his Press Secretary, Mr.

Zamfara, Kano to partner on land administration

amfara State government yesterday said it will collaborate with its Kano State counterpart to set up its own land administration system. This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Town Planning, Mr. Balarabe

Abdullahi. The statement was made available to newsmen in Kano. It quoted the state Commissioner for Housing, Land and Town Planning, Alhaji Ahmed Anka, as stating this when the Committee on Land Administration paid a one-day working visit to Kano. The commissioner

noted that the Kano State government had made appreciable progress in land administration techniques. He said the committee was in the state to consult with the Kano State government on the modalities it followed in setting up the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS).

Osaigbovo Ehisienmen and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday. He decried the incessant attacks on innocent citizens in Agatu and other communities in Benue State by gunmen, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter. “The perpetrators of this dastardly act are unwittingly testing the will and capabilities of government security apparatus,” he said. Dambazau expressed the government’s condolence to the government and people of Benue State over the incident and pledged government’s resolve to ensure the security of lives and property in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that incessant clashes between suspected herdsmen and communities in Agatu had led to the killing of innocent Nigerians and destruction of property.

Meanwhile, the Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria yesterday demanded that the Federal Government takes decisive action against the crisis in Benue State and all other religious-related issues across the country. In a peaceful protest held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the group condemned the wanton killings in Agatu and all other parts of the state even as it debunked the claim that the crisis was over grazing rights. Addressing the protesters, leader of the group, Okpokwu Ogenyi, asked the Federal Government to institute a probe into the killings and why the herdsmen involved in the crisis were allowed to traverse freely with sophisticated weapons against the law. While also lamenting the scale of destruction witnessed, Ogenyi described the crisis as an ethnic cleansing exercise labelled Fulani-Agatu

crisis to desensitise the national consciousness. He said: "The on-going ethnic cleansing has been mischievously labelled Fulani-Agatu crisis in circumstances that are, at best, efforts to desensitise the national consciousness to the enormity of the scale on which Benue State people are being wiped out on a daily basis," Okpokwu said. The group, which accused the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of instigating violence in the region as part of its campaign of proliferation, demanded that the government must come out with a definite policy to curtail extremism. "Individuals fingered in the Shiite crisis and those threatening the state as clearly seen in the published videos must be arrested and prosecuted. Government must then come out with a definite policy to curtail any form of extremism," he stated.

BUSINESS |Money Line

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Naira volatility: Analysts predict higher inflation for February

RISING Consumer Price index to hit 10.1%

per cent from January’s 9.6 per cent, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, have predicted. The analysts who made the forecast in the firm’s, “Economic Bulletin”

Tony Chukwunyem

he prevailing exchange rate turmoil is expected to push February inflation above 10

made available to New Telegraph, said that they hoped that the significant increase in the inflation rate will, “be a wake-up call for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) who meet on March 21 to take a

hard look at the exchange rate, inflation rate and exchange rate holy trinity of monetary policy. It will also send a clear signal to President Buhari’s economic team that time is running out and now is

UBA records N68bn FY2015 profit 40 kobo per share. This brings to 60 kobo the total dividend for the 2015 financial year. UBA had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20 kobo per share, following the audit of its 2015 half year results. Commenting on the result, the GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said “our 2015 profit is a new high, reflecting the hard work and discipline of our Board, Management and Staff in creating value for all stakeholders. We remain committed to growing in a responsible manner that aligns with our vision of building an enduring institution”. He said the bank’s resilient business model, geographic diversification, proactive strategies, and strong governance created an edge for it through the year. “We will continue to invest in our

Chris Ugwu

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) has reported 24.52 per cent growth in profit after tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. The company in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said its full year net earnings grew to N60 billion during the period under review, from N47.907 billion recorded in 2014, representing an increase of 24.52 per cent. Its pre-tax profit rose 21.80 per cent to N68.454 billion, from N56.200 billion a year earlier. Gross earnings also rose to N314.830 billion compared with N286.624 billion the previous year, accounting for an increase of 10 per cent. Following the performance, the board is proposing a final dividend of

future whilst managing cost tightly to generate strong returns to shareholders” he assured. Also speaking on UBA’s financial performance and position, the Group Chief Finance Officer (GCFO), Mr. Ugo Nwaghodoh said “amidst macroeconomic volatilities, we leveraged efficiency gains in our business development and operations to grow earnings. We improved on our balance sheet management and pricing, thus ensuring a strong 19 per cent growth in interest income as well as an enhanced net interest margin of 6.3 per cent. Our improved service delivery and customized offerings helped in growing transaction banking volume, with attendant fee income. Whilst we were exposed to some external cost pressure, we managed to

keep our cost growth at 5 per cent (below the average inflation rate of 9 per cent in Nigeria; our core market which represents three-quarter of our operations)”. He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the bank’s Africa operations, particularly in synergy extraction and pursuit of scale economics to achieve market share and earnings targets. “Precisely, UBA Africa contributed 24 per cent of our Group’s profit before tax in the 2015, despite the impact of cross-currency depreciation in some of our markets. Whilst our cautious stance on lending in Nigeria moderated the loan book, we recorded a collective 14 per cent loan growth in UBA Africa, as we deepen market penetration and our share of customers’ wallet,” he stated.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9.6 11 10.77 US$39.02 US$27,876,163,559

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Jan, 2016 24/01/2016 Mar 2015 14/3/2016 11/3/2016

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) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 105.72 115.00 113.16 120.03 111.78 103.71 86.41 100.02

1.12 3.29 3.92 5.87 8.00 9.86 14.36 18.34

NIBOR

Rate (%) 7.4483 9.2875 10.6500 12.2233

Bid Yield 9.56 10.48 11.28 11.58 11.88 11.85 12.00 12.14

Change (%) 2.14 ▲ 1.50 ▲ 1.57 ▲ 1.25 ▲

Change (%) 0.25 ▲ 0.18 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.08 ▲ 0.10 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.02 ▲ -0.02 ▼

Price 105.87 115.30 113.46 120.33 112.08 104.01 86.71 100.32

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) 0.25 ▲ 0.18 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.08 ▲ 0.10 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.02 ▲ -0.02 ▼

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.3534 5.5956 6.2046 7.6308 8.0921 9.2782

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 9.42 10.38 11.19 11.52 11.82 11.79 11.95 12.10

Change (%) 0.13 ▲ 0.19 ▲ 0.58 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 6.14 6.24 0.73 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 7.38 16-Jun-16 6.39 6.50 0.73 ▲ 8-Sep-16 7.71 7.46 7.74 0.00 ↔ Overnight (O/N) 7.92 8.01 -0.01 ▼ 2-Mar-17 8.58 9.36 0.19 ▲ 8.33 9.06 0.19 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.11

Offer 199.21

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

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 (%) 2.29 ▲ 2.33 ▲

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

the time for action.” The FDC analysts said, “We are projecting the YoY headline inflation rate for February 2016 to spike to 10.1 per cent. This is the first time the price level has reached double digits since 2012. We are deviating from the usual practice of a single inflation projection by examining extenuating circumstances that led to such a significant increase in prices, and thereby providing an alternative scenario. February was a unique month because of an aberration in the forex market. The month of February can be divided into two parts with respect to the impact of foreign exchange on consumer price levels. The first half (February 1 to 13) could be described as the “pre-exchange rate calm” when prices were not affected by any unusual

exchange rate movement fuelled by uncertainty. The second half (February 14 to 29) that can be called the “exchange rate frenzy period” when the naira depreciated to as low N395/$ at the parallel market due to heightened uncertainty about forex availability for educational and medical purposes. If not for the extreme volatility of the naira, headline inflation rate would have remained at 9.8 per cent.” The analysts, however, said that they expected the passage of the 2016 budget to lead to a normalisation of inflation in March. As they put it, “In March we expect the 2016 budget to pass and spending commence. The impact of the increased spending and its multiplier impact on money supply are expected to feed into the price level.”

Aborted Fraud: CBN clarifies on suspended personnel

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made clarifications on the suspension of some of its personnel following the fraud uncovered and aborted by the Bank last week in Abuja. Answering questions from journalists in Abuja, yesterday the Bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, explained that the affected personnel suspended by the Bank’s management had to undergo that administrative procedure because they handled the routine processing of the said payment. Mr. Okorafor, who reiterated that preliminary investigations so far had not

revealed any accomplice within the Bank, noted that management had to suspend the officers in order to allow unfettered investigation into the matter. It will be recalled that the CBN in a statement last week stated that the bank had uncovered and aborted a highly sophisticated plot to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by some criminal minded elements. The statement, which was also signed by Okorafor disclosed that the CBN management decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension and had reported the matter to relevant authorities.

PTAD strategises for better service

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) recently held a three day organizational strategy planning session in Abuja to set the direction for the agency’s medium to long term objectives. According to a statement issued by the agency, “Over the last two years of its existence, PTAD had focused on consolidating the pension payment of the Police, Customs, Immigration and Prisons, Civil service and Parastatals pensions which it inherited from legacy schemes and has been cleaning

up the payrolls of these groups. The clean-up of these payrolls has seen PTAD embark on the on-going verification exercise which has enable the agency identify unqualified pensioners, areas of over-payment and underpayment and the update of records of Next of Kin (NOK) of deceased pensioners.” The statement added that with the sanitization of the payroll under way, the agency thought it timely to set a new agenda for improving and sustaining the excellent service delivery it has come to be known for.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Some of the suspects being paraded

Ex-soldier kills girlfriend over text messages Musa Pam Jos

former soldier, Sunday Umaru, has reportedly stabbed his girlfriend to death when he saw several text messages from other men on her handset. Umaru, who was paraded yesterday by the police in Plateau State, served in the 3rd Armoured Division and was attached to Sector 7 of Operation Save Haven Jos (OPSH) deployed to restore law and order. The suspect, a private, al-

legedly stabbed Miss Charity Thomas in the stomach in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The attack led to the lady’s death. Parading the suspect before journalists in Jos, the state Police Commissioner, Adekunle Oladunjoye, said Umaru invited the victim from Kaduna to stay with him but killed her on the allegation that he saw several text messages from other men on her handset. Also paraded was Mr. Dabung Dele, who reportedly strangled to death Miss Nanchi Zakariya,

a Psychology student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS). Dele was apprehended by the police detectives attached to Nassarawa Gwong Police Station. “The suspect, during interrogation, owned up to the crime,” Oladunjoye said. Also, the police boss said the February 23, Mr. Mambur Vongtau, the husband of Hauwa Bali, went to his father-inlaw’s house, lured Hauwa out and stabbed her in the right rib with a knife. Thereafter, Vongtau allegedly used an axe to off

her two hands. The commissioner said: “The suspect was later arrested. He has confessed to the crime and the suspect will soon appear in court when the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) investigating the case completes investigation. “Similarly, on January 28, 2016, police detectives from the SCID arrested Godwin Banchir of Bassa Local Government Area, aged 34 years, who hit his mother, Saratu Banchir, on the head to death over a disagreement between them. The case

has been charged to court.” Oladunjoye also said policemen from Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) on regular routine patrol within Barkin Ladi and Bokkos areas apprehended 12 notorious armed robbers who always terrorise the residents. According to him, two locally-made revolver long guns with three life cartridges, one locally-made pistol, two locally-made revolver pistols, one locally-made double-barrelled pistol, one locally-made doublebarrelled pistol and one AK47 rifle with 13 rounds of 6.72mm ammunition were recovered from them. Similarly on March 4, policemen attached to Laranto Division, acting on information that a certain syndicate had distributed substantial amount of counterfeit currency notes within Jos metropolis and its environs, arrested Mary Bassey of Angwan Ceto, Zaira Road and Solomon Sunday of Buyo village in Bassa Local Government Area in connection with the incident. During investigation, the suspects, according to the commissioner, confessed that they were given the fake currency notes of different denominations by Muhammed Jaafar of Isheme Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who was subsequently arrested. Oladunjoye called on the public to be careful as the fake currency notes had already been circulated by the criminals. Also paraded were four suspected kidnappers and a notorious car-snatcher identified as Aqwan Moses. Four cars were recovered from the suspected thief.

City Briefs

Striking workers attack Police, community partner to fight crime Ogun lawmaker Taiwo Jimoh Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olayiwola Ojodu, yesterday escaped being lynched by striking workers. The lawmaker, who showed up at the state secretariat of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, where aggrieved civil servants had gathered, was pelted with stones and sachet water. In the ensuing melee, the windscreen of the lawmaker’s car was smashed by some of the workers. It was learnt that Ojodu, representing Abeokuta North state constituency, had come to the NLC secretariat to deliver a letter of appreciation in furtherance of earlier meetings between the House of Assembly and the leadership of the striking workers.

olice in Ogun State Police and community leaders in AdoOdo-Ota Local Government Area have entered into partnership to fight crime. The Area Commander Sango-Ota Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Fayoade Adegoke, said the partnership would reduce crime in the community and also foster good relationship between the police and the residents. The ACP said that information given by members of Ota community to the police had led to the arrest of more than 20 suspected armed robbers and 10 cult members in the last three months. Adegoke said this at the weekend during the second Security Town

Hall meeting held at Connect Event Centre, Ijako-Ota. He said: “Based on the outcome of the first meeting, the community participation in policing has yielded result that led to arrest of some criminals and thereby making Ota more habitable for the residents.” Adegoke highlighted some of his achievements to include a plan by suspected cultists to kill a man on his wedding day, which he foiled Three of the suspects were arrested with different weapons recovered. He added that, the cultists would have succeeded but for the information given by some Good Samaritans who saw them where they gathered for their operation and then reported it to the police. The area commander also said that the common crimes in the area

when he took over included kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, cultism and clash emanating from land matters. He noted that with the support of the residents and strategies adopted by the command, different crimes were put under check.

Cross section of traditional rulers at the event

METRO

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cultists behead two Abia varsity students Prosecution wants Ese’s

evidence taken in secret

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

Pauline Onyibe

ampaging cult members have beheaded two 300-level students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), to avenge last week’s killing of their leader. A third victim of the attack is said to be in critical condition at the hospital. The incident occurred on Saturday. The students of the university are currently sitting for their first semester examination. When our correspondent visited the institution yesterday, neither the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Uche Ikonne, nor the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Acho Elendu, could be reached for comments as they were said to be in a crucial management meeting. But one of the security chiefs, who preferred anonymity, said that the incident occurred in one of the off campus private hostels on Uturu-Afikpo Road. He said: “It was a clash between rival cult groups which is common in Nigerian higher institutions. But because it happened outside the campus, the university security cannot be responsible for the development.” A source in the university said that one of the victims, Nwigbo Chukwuebuka, was a 300-level

Yenagoa

The hostel where the student were killed

student of Estate Management, while the other, Samuel Ethelbert, was a 300-level Political Science student. Another source said that the clash was between two rival gangs, Burkina Faso and Mafia. He said that the Burkina Faso group was on a reprisal mission because their leader, Collins Agwu aka Biggy, was killed last week at ABSU gate. The attack, according to the source, took place at CHIDOO Hostel which is about four kilometres from the university gate. The assailants stormed the hostel on Saturday night after the burial of their chief believed to be murdered by the Mafia group. He said: “His men came on a reprisal attack at the

isolated hostel where the two victims were living. But when they arrived the hostel about 9p.m. on Saturday, as the victims were preparing to cook, they saw a third person believed to be a visitor. They inflicted deep machete cuts on the visitor before overpowering their targets and beheading them. The third victim is said to be in critical condition in one of the hospitals in town. “They took the victims’ heads in a ‘Ghana-MustGo’ bag to the university football field close to the gate and fixed them on the ground as goal posts.” When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onyeke Udeviotu, confirmed the incident. He said the Commissioner of Police had

Tributes as Sir Obasi goes home Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

t was an outpouring of emotions at Dim-Na-Nume Isu in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State at the weekend, as the remains Sir Sidney Nmasi Obasi were laid to rest. Obasi, the father of the Managing Editor, Publications and Operations, New Telegraph, Mr. Emeka Obasi, was a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC).

He was a revered scholar, two-time local government chairman, a community and political leader of note who distinguished himself through selfless service to his people. The deceased was a role model and a consummate gentleman who was passionately drawn to efforts to develop his people. In his condolence message, Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara, described Obasi as a man of all climes. He wrote: “Sir Sidney Nmasi Oba-

directed the homicide department of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigation into the matter. Udeviotu, however, said that no arrest had been made in connection with the killing. The PPRO said that the killing was suspected to be a reprisal attack from a rival cult group. He said that the third victim, Samuel Chigozirim, also a 300-level Political Science student, was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Udeviotu also gave the name of the second victim as Samuel Ethelbert. He said the victims’ bodies had been deposited in a morgue. When our correspondent visited the hostel, the place was deserted.

si was a classical model for younger generations in the unending conflict between personal interest and public good.” Members of the Imo State House of Assembly, Dr. Alex Otti, Council of Knights, National Assembly members, corporate organisations were unanimous in their conviction that Obasi lived a good and fulfilled life and left behind shining legacies. In his tribute, Emeka Obasi wrote: “Special people are made in Heaven and to Heaven they return.” Sir Obasi, famed orator and an auctioneer extraordinaire, died on December 1, 2015 at the age of 85 years.

rosecutors of Yunusa Dahiru aka Yellow, the alleged abductor of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, yesterday appealed to a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to take the victim’s evidence behind closed doors. Dahiru was arraigned on March 8 for the abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation of the minor. But he pleaded not guilty. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kenneth Dika, told the trial judge, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, that the victim was a minor and deserved the court’s protection. But Dahiru’s counsel, Mr. Kayode Olaoshebikan, opposed the oral application. He urged

Yunusa and Ese

LAUTECH student needs N7.5m for kidney transplant

Building collapse: Ambode fires LASBCA GM, three others Muritala Ayinla

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday ordered the dismissal of the General Manager of the Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Adeigbe Olushola (an engineer), in connection with the collapse of a building at Lekki in which about 34 people died. The governor also ordered the dismissal of the Head of Inspection and Quality Control in the agency, Adeoye Adeyemi and the Zonal District Officer, Dosunmu Gbadebo, while the Zonal Head of Eti-Osa West of the agency, Mrs. Sherifat Akinde, was compulsorily retired from the civil service.

Ambode

The governor, in a statement signed by the State Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, said the affected officers were dismissed having been indicted of negligence.

According to the statement, negligence is an act of misconduct under the Public Service Rule 040401. The Head of Service said the disciplinary measure was the outcome of the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board to Ambode. Ademola also warned public officials, private building owners or contractors who violate or subvert building regulations that it would no longer be business as usual,. She said: “It is also a clarion call to them to be alive to their responsibilities as any act of negligence will face sanctions, while hardworking officers will be rewarded appropriately.”

the court to rule on his application for bail filed since March 8. However, Dika opposed the defence counsel application for bail. According to him, the defendant, who does not reside within the court’s jurisdiction, may jump bail. He said the Muslim community even refused the police access to the accused earlier. This, according to Dika, may equally be the case if the defendant is granted bail. Nganjiwa adjourned the case till March 21 to enable counsel to provide the authorities for their argument and remanded the defendant in prison custody. In an interview after the court sitting, Olaoshebikan said he would not subscribe to taking Ese’s evidence in secret.

Abosede on the hospital bed

400-level female student of Mechanical Engineering, Ladoke Akinola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Babatunde Janet Abosede, is appealing to kind-spirited and well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to save her from imminent death. The 23-year-old student is lying critical ill at the General Hospital Ogbo-

moso, where she is battling with kidney problem. Abosede, who hails from Osogbo, Osun State requires N7.5 million for kidney transplant, to be done in India for her to live a normal life once again. “Please help in a way you can to save my life,” she said on her sick bed. Her brother, Babatunde Joshua, said Abosede was taken to the hospital in January where she was diagnosed with kidney problem. According to him, she will require N7.5 million for a transplant in India, which the family cannot afford. He said: “The illness came suddenly and we watch our sister, who is the third child of a family of four, on her sick bed with hopelessness as the family could not afford the medical assistance. The hospital said she should be taken to India on time in order to save her life.” Those who want to help Abosede can contact the editor.

NEWS | south-south

south-east

tuesday, march 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tinubu, Atiku, Igbinedion S’East petroleum marketers task govs on allocation to zone eulogise late Ibru Mojeed Alabi and Cajetan Mmuta

ore eminent Nigerians yesterday continued to mourn the late former Governor of Delta State and business mogul, Senator Felix Ibru, who died at the weekend. He was described by many as one of the rare breed of Nigerians who received so much and also gave back to the country in good measure. Former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who said he received the news of Ibru’s death with a deep sense loss, in a statement issued by his media office yesterday, said the

deceased had excelled both in private and public spheres. He said: “He belonged to a rare breed of Nigerians who defined success not by what they earned for themselves, but for their fellow citizens. He also was at the top of a business conglomerate that not only flourished, but became a nexus of commerce in the country. Ibru succeeded in the old-fashioned way with hard work, imagination and persistence.” Also, a former VicePresident and an APC chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, expressed sadness and profound shock at the death of the former Delta State governor. Atiku described the former governor and senator as a gentleman of high standing and a

democracy icon, who risked his life, property and personal comfort to fight for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria by standing up to military dictatorship. The Turaki Adamawa recalled that as a scion of the Ibru family, the deceased was an epitome of honesty, decency, philanthropy and entrepreneurship, qualities for which the family is well known, through which they touched the lives of many Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion. Meanwhile, former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, yesterday condoled with the Ibru family and the entire people of Delta State over the demise of the first executive governor of the state.

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

mo State Petroleum Marketers Association has called on governors of the SouthEast geopolitical zone of the country to investigate the issue of the petroleum product allocation politics across the country, which has affected the zone negatively.

14,492

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Senegal at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com.

Ebonyi bans vigilante groups, masquerades in villages Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

L –R: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa State, Mr. John Ebipre Ndiomu and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Mr. Tari Dounana, during a meeting with labour leaders in the state at the Government House, Yenagoa…yesterday

Army seeks partnership in improving national security Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Nigerian Army has stressed the need for journalists and media practitioners in the country to pay serious attention to national security in their news coverage, especially issues that border on the fight against terror. The army said this can be achieved if media practitioners fully understand what is expected of them in covering defence and

security-related issues, hence the need for them and the army to work together. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, who made the call yesterday while delivering a lecture at the First Quarter 2016 Study Period and Media Workshop, at 2 Brigade Port Harcourt, noted that the country stands to benefit immensely from such collaboration. Attahiru, whose lec-

ture was titled; "Media Reports of Nigerian Army Activities: Implications of Nigerian Security," argued that the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the media has been that of 'we versus them.' The army chief said the media portray the Nigerian Army in bad light, portraying it as an institution that takes delight in violating the rights of the citizens and as an occupational army, rather than informing and educating the public.

Crisis rocks Ubulu-Uku kingship succession Dominic Adewole ASABA

arely three weeks after the emergence of a new monarch in UbuluUku Kingdom, Agbogidi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, a fresh crisis of succession is now rock-

ing the land. The monarch, a 15-yearold, succeeded his father, late Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, who was gruesomely murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who kidnapped and killed him two months ago. The Onishe, the head of the kingmakers of the kingdom, Chief Emma Ejiofor, has disowned the

new king, describing him as a “government appointed self-styled king” and his late father as ‘usurper.’ The chieftain, who spoke with journalists in Asaba yesterday, wondered who crowned him, adding that the political manipulation that backfired against the late monarch would soon catch up with the embattled monarch (Noah).

bonyi State Government yesterday announced that all the vigilante groups operating in villages in the state have been banned. The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting last week. He said cultists were hiding under the cloak of local vigilantes to perpetrate crime in the state. He noted that only the government recognized security outfits would be allowed to operate and warned that government would deal with any group who operate without government permission in the state.

This is even as the body called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to allocate more petrol under its ‘Special Petroleum Intervention Quota’ to Imo. Chairman of the association Chief Christopher Amadi, made the call while interacting with newsmen in Owerri yesterday. Amadi, equally said that the low allocations to Imo State, and other South-Eastern States like Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra, had compounded petrol scarcity in the zone. According to Amadi, “while other states receive more than 10 million litres under the NNPC petrol intervention, no state in the zone has received above 2 million litres, and this low alloca-

tion is reason for the price hike and scarcity of fuel in the area”, he said. He appealed to the governors of the South-East to show a lot more interest and commitment to preferring solution to problem of the scarcity of fuel in the region by assisting the marketers to overcome the problem of low allocations of the product to the zone. Most filling stations in Imo sell petrol at between N130 and N150 per litre as against the officials pump price of N86.50. Amadi explained that marketers were experiencing difficulties in sourcing products, adding that “we only source products from private tank farms in Lagos, Calabar, and Port Harcourt at relatively high prices”.

MASSOB demands release of missing, dead members Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

he Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), yesterday demanded the release of their members allegedly still being held as well as those killed by security agents. The groups accused the Anambra State Police command of killing about 20 of its members. Making the disclosure in Onitsha, the regional administrator, Anambra, Wilfred Aninze, said most of the members killed were those caught with Biafra insignia and motorcycle plate numbers. Arinze said: “The secret killing came to limelight when one of our members, Okechukwu

Joseph, was reported missing by his wife”. “Early this year 10 of our members were declared missing and from the report we got they were secretly arrested to be killed without anybody knowing it”, he hinted. “We learnt that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, had meeting with all the States Commissioners of Police, and in the meeting it was resolved that MASSOB/BIM members would be secretly caught and killed”, he added further. “By the end of February the number of those declared missing which we suspected to have secretly been killed stood at 20”. “We demand that Okechukwu and others declared missing or killed should be handed over to us dead or alive”

Group to Okorocha: Your Chatham House visit, irrelevant Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

group, Imo Bilie Initiative for Social Justice has decried the visit of Governor Rochas Okorocha, to Chatham House, London, describing it as an inconsequential ego trip. In a press statement signed by the national coordinator and General Secretary of the organization, Comrade Aku Obidinma and Emperor Onyekah respectively, the group frowned at the governor’s visit and dis-

missed it as a wasteful, irrelevant pursuit of ego and undeserved fame. The group expressed worry that the trip has no derivable benefit for Imo people, who are currently undergoing severe economic hardship. The statement read in part, “It is unbelievable that the governor would waste our scarce resources to massage his ego at a time when he has literally ran the state aground, with evident difficulty in the payment of salaries of workers and pensioners in a state.” The group accused the governor of blindly

imitating President Muhammadu Buhari, who addressed Chatham House before becoming the President of Nigeria. The group, however, condemned Okorocha for failing to follow the President’s method saying, “Buhari was invited to Chatham House and went with less than 10 officials to address an international audience while Governor Rochas Okorocha in his characteristic showmanship, went with about 50 officials from Nigeria to address a hall largely occupied by members of the governor’s delegation.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Sport Eagles will counter Pharaohs’ tactics - Siasia Did you know?

Flores banks on Ighalo for FA Cup trophy

That Arsenal are the first English team to beat Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena and AC Milan at San Siro

International Man City can win the Champions League - Hart

46 47

11 days to go

Adekunle Salami

uper Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia, is already thinking about tactics for the forthcoming back-to-back match between Nigeria and Egypt. The Eagles will host Pharaohs on March 25 in Kaduna while the reverse fixture is billed for Alexandria on March 29 in continuation of the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifiers. Egypt are currently top on the table in Group G with six points from two matches while the Eagles are second with four points from same number of games. Siasia told New Telegraph on Monday that he was aware

of the tactics the Egyptians easily use to get goals and the Eagles would be all out with counter-tactics. He said: “We have been working hard in many areas not only on the pitch. I cannot disclose the details of the tactics but we also know they have antics. “For example, I have warned my defenders to avoid set pieces in vital areas. We know how dangerous they could be with that. “Our area of strength will also be worked on just for us to win the match in Kaduna then we switch to the next agenda for the away encounter.” The coach said he was particularly excited that foreignbased players have been call-

France’s midfielder Paul Pogba (right) challenging Nigeria’s midfielder Mikel Obi during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

ing him on their readiness for the big match. Home-based players who went to their clubs for league

I’m ready for Egypt, says Ighalo lQuashes injury fear, relishes FA Cup win Emmanuel Tobi

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

uper Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has declared his readiness to lead Super Eagles’ attack against the Egypt on March 25 in Kaduna despite suffering a knock during Sunday’s win over Arsenal in the English FA Cup. Ighalo who scored Watford’s first goal in the 50th minute limped off the game in the 82nd minutes, despite regaining his scoring form against FA Cup holders Arsenal inspire his team to knock out the Gunners in the quarterfinal of the competition. “I’m ready for the Egypt challenge. It’s a crucial game for us and I hope to give my best for the Eagles. I got a slight knock against Arsenal but I hope to be

back in our next game against Stoke City,” he told New Telegraph from his England base. He added that, “It is be a dream come true for me to play at Wembley. Not only to play there but to win and play in the final would be great. “Goals always give confidence to strikers and I’m happy to be back,” he added.

Ighalo

games at the weekend returned to camp last night to begin intensive work for the encounter slated for

next week. Their colleagues based abroad are expected to join them from Sunday.

Egypt invite five foreign pros for Eagles Emmanuel Tobi

head of the crucial Nations Cup qualifiers against Nigeria, Egypt’s coach Hector Cuper has called up five foreign-based players, including Roma winger Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny. The seven-time African champions will face Nigeria on March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna before playing the reverse fixture four days later in Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria. Also included is winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’

Hassan who is on loan from Anderlecht, he will replace injured winger Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, who plays for Saudi side Ahly Jeddah, in the Pharaohs squad. Other foreign-based players are Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Sporting Braga- Portugal), and Amr Warda (Panetolikos - Greek). The Pharaohs full squad including local based players will be released on Tuesday (today). Egypt’s national team will start a closed camping on March 20, three days before traveling to Nigeria.

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Watford boss banks on Ighalo for FA Cup Oluwasegun Giwa

W Keshi

Keshi faults lawmakers’ invitation of Oliseh

ormer Super Eagles Manager, Stephen Keshi has said calling another former coach Sunday Oliseh to a hearing by the National Assembly through the House of Representatives Committee on Sports will not help the growth of Nigerian football and sports. Speaking through his manager, Emmanuel Addo, Keshi said it would be unfair to all the former managers of the national team, who have been fired to be called and asked why they were booted out. Most of the coaches in the past, were fired but Oliseh chose to resign, so why the special interest on him”, Keshi reasoned.

Keshi said he would like to be called for a meeting on why he was asked out of the national team, and from his former coach Adegboyega Onigbinde, through Christian Chukwu, Shuaibu Amodu and Austin Eguavoen, all should be invited to account for their stay in the national team. “I might be mourning the exit of my life partner but the fact remains that Nigerian football is being unduely distracted and the only way to get it back on track is to ask the real stakeholders to come together and talk. Whether they are coaches, ex-internationals or sports politicians, its about time to discuss,” he said

atford boss Quique Sanchez has expressed confidence in the partnership of Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo and his captain Troy Deeney to win the FA Cup after their victory over Arsenal at the Emirates. Flores likened the link-up between Deeney and Ighalo to “telepathy” after his strike partnership inspired a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over the defending champions on Sunday. His men absorbed sustained first-half pressure before Ighalo pounced on Deeney’s 50th-minute knockdown to open the scoring. Captain Deeney was also the provider for Adlene Guedioura’s

thunderbolt second and, despite Danny Welbeck’s 88th-minute goal prompting a frantic finale, Watford held on to secure a Wembley semifinal berth. “The telepathy between the players, when Deeney touches it, Ighalo knows where the ball is going - they are an amazing couple for us,” Flores told BBC Sport, before also lauding Algeria international Guedioura. “He [Guedioura] represents the behaviour of our players very well,” the Spaniard added. “He has not played a lot, but he kept working hard and now has the prize. “We have a very strong unit, and sometimes we need to remember we are a squad and doing something impor-

Sanches

tant this year. “I feel fantastic, I’m really happy for the players and the fans. They follow us and it is an amazing prize for them.”

Ajose, Ekundayo donate boxing equipment

world title challenger, Segun Ajose, and the current undefeated African Champion, Larry Ekundayo, donated boxing equipment to some aspiring boxers in Lagos. Both boxers, who are British-based Nigerian professionals, explained that the donation was part of their effort at giving back to the society.

Speaking after a workout session with some of the home-based boxers, Ekundayo, a welterweight champion, said he felt more fulfilled at engaging in such a project. “The ability of these children are unbelievable and if we can have government and the private sector like Arik Air, Union Bank and Bullet

Dstv B’ball: Warriors, Islanders, Union Bank out lAs league dunks off Friday

Grace Adewara

he 2016 Dstv Basketball Premier League dunks off on Friday March 18, 2016 with only five teams in the Atlantic Conference instead of the eight featuring in the Savannah Conference the Nigeria Basketball Federation, has said. Chairman of the technical committee, Agboola Pinheiro, who released the revised fixtures for the commencement of the league which was delayed by one week said this followed the suspension of three teams namely Lagos Islanders, Union Bank and Dodan Warriors who opted to play in the illegal African Basketball League. “The league can go on without the three teams in the Atlantic Conference. With only five teams playing ev-

ery week, one side will be on standby,” he said, adding that the Savannah Conference will go on with the usual eight teams registered for the season. As a result, each team in the Atlantic Confer-

ence will play two games each every week with Nigeria Customs hosting newly promoted Royal Hoopers first on Friday and another game on Sunday while Oluyole Warriors host Kwara Falcons in Ibadan first on Friday and then again on Sunday.

Ekudayo (second Left) and Ajose (4th left) with kid boxers

support them like they did to me, the sky will be their limit. “But for these companies that identified with my talent, I could not have been a champion today. “We need more of those sponsors to support boxing and others sports. We need to support our own, toward achieving their dreams,’’ Ekundayo said. Ajose, a light welterweight pugilist said that, “This is what I love to do, imparting knowledge on these children. My presence and that of Ekundayo here can motivate and inspire them.” The team is expected to make a presentation to the National Assembly in Abuja on March 15. The boxers will also be appointed as Investment Representatives for the country.

MFM players, officials, applaud management P Charles Ogundiya

have poured encomium on their push for laurels this sealayers and officials of Ni- the management of the club son. geria Professional Foot- for making sure they lack MFM gained promotion to ball League side, MFM, nothing as they continue play in the NPFL last season, and according to the players, they have been enjoying tremendous support from the management. “We lack nothing as a team,” striker Ifeanyi Ifeanyi said. “Since the beginning of the season, we have been receiving our salary and match bonus as at when due which has helped us to focus on our.” MFM on Sunday moved to the top of the league table after a 3-1 home victory against Football action between MFM and El-Kanemi at the El-Kanemi Warriors as they agege stadium

increased their points haul to 13 from six matches. In his own words, the coach of the team, Fidelis Ilechukwu, said the support from the management had eased his work because the players were already motivated to give their best. Ilechukwu said: “The players are giving their best on the field of play because the management has done its part which has really reduced my work as a coach. “I just want to use this opportunity to appreciate the management and assure our fans that we are going to give our best to make them happy.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

WORLD \ NEWS

Ivory Coast soldiers patrol beaches after al-Qaeda attack kills 18

Man City can win the Champions League –Hart I

oe Hart has ordered Manchester City to believe they can win the Champions League. Manuel Pellegrini’s men face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16, second leg at the Etihad on Tuesday looking to book their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in history.

The Premier League giants have a 3-1 lead from the first tie in Kiev and are strong favourites to go through. But Hart is setting his sights much higher than a place in the last eight and reckons his side should target becoming European champions.

The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich remain formidable opponents but the England goalkeeper said believe City has a chance. “We’ve put ourselves in good positions in the past but haven’t managed to go through,” Hart said.

Man City’s Sterling (left) tracking Dynamo Kiev’s Derlis Gonzalez in the first leg played two weeks ago

UCL FIXTURES

Tuesday Man City vs D’ Kiev 8:45pm Athletico vs PSV 8:45pm

Costa

English FA charges Costa with improper conduct

helsea striker Diego Costa has been charged with improper conduct over his behaviour after being sent off in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Everton. Costa spent much of the 2-0 loss in a running battle with Gareth Barry, who was also dismissed at Goodison Park. The Spain striker earned two yellow cards in squabbles with the former England man - the second following a confrontation that initially prompted suspicions Costa had bitten Barry. However, Costa’s furious reaction to referee Michael Oliver brandishing the subsequent red card has landed him in trouble, with an FA statement reading: “It is alleged his behaviour, after being shown a second yellow card in the game, amounted to improper conduct.” Television cameras also caught Costa aiming a rude gesture at Everton supporters at half-time, for which the Chelsea man has been asked to “provide his observations.”

Atletico aim at PSV

ith nine goals in their last three matches, Atletico Madrid will aim to take that goalscoring form into the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. PSV played for more than 20 minutes with 10 men in the first leg but held on for a goalless draw against Diego Simeone’s side, who romped to a 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and are getting goals from everywhere. “We’re scoring from different parts of the pitch, which shows we are creating more chances,” Simeone said. Antoine Griezmann has scored in four league matches in a row and Atletico’s top marksman took his league tally to 16 against Deportivo. Simeone said while Griezmann’s striker partner Luciano Vietto had not been among the scorers lately he was still making an important contribution.

Nadal to sue minister over doping accusation

panish tennis great Rafael Nadal plans to sue an ex-French government minister who alleged his seven-month absence in 2012 was “probably due to a positive doping test”. The comments were made by France’s former Minister for Health and Sport Roselyne Bachelot who was in the chair from 2007 until 2010 in the Nicolas Sarkozy government. Last week, she made the accusations relating to Nadal while speaking about Russian star Maria Sharapova’s failed drugs test. “When you see a tennis player stopping for months, it’s because there’s been a positive control,” the French politician had said. Nadal

vory Coast soldiers armed with assault rifles patrolled the deserted beaches of a resort town yesterday; a day after gunmen from al Qaeda’s North African branch killed 18 people, the third major al Qaeda attack in West Africa in four months. President Alassane Ouattara declared three days of mourning for the country, which has never before been hit by al Qaeda. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it was responsible for storming the beach hotels in Grand Bassam, a weekend retreat popular with Ivorians and westerners about 40 km (25 miles) east of the commercial capital Abidjan. The al Qaeda branch, which has spread across the Sahara from Al-

geria and now operates in much of western and northern Africa, has also claimed responsibility for attacks that killed dozens of people in Burkina Faso and Mali since November. Fifteen civilians and three members of the special forces were killed and 33 people were wounded in Sunday’s attack, said Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko. He said 26 of the wounded were still receiving medical attention. Three militants also died in the attack on the resort town, a sleepy UNESCO heritage site of decaying colonial-era buildings. Christian Eddy, who works at a bar near one of the places that was attacked, said four men arrived in a Ford saloon car and went into his bar to order drinks before starting the attack.

Latest sanctions on North Korea starting to bite –US envoy

he United States is concerned about North Korea’s investment in nuclear weapons, but there are signs that fresh UN sanctions are starting to hurt Pyongyang, the US envoy for human rights in North Korea told Reuters yesterday. Ambassador Robert King called for resuming six-party talks on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) that would be aimed at decentralization, but conceded that in the current climate of regional tensions, that would be “pretty hard”. “The concern clearly is the North Koreans have money that they are putting into military resources and proliferation of nuclear weapons, and

we’re anxious to make sure their ability in those areas is limited,” King said in an interview. The UN Security Council unanimously agreed new UN sanctions this month to starve Pyongyang of money for its nuclear weapons program, in a resolution drafted by the United States and Pyongyang’s ally China. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea last Thursday in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, as South Korean and US forces conducted massive war games. They followed its latest nuclear test in January and a rocket launch in February that Washington and its allies said used banned ballistic missile technology.

Turkish warplanes strike Iraq after Ankara bombing

urkish war planes str uck ag ainst Kurdish militant camps in norther n Iraq yesterday, a day after 37 people were killed in an Ankara car bombing that security officials said involved two fighters - one female - from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Sunday’s attack, tearing through a crowded transport hub a few hundred meters (yards) from the Justice and Interior Ministries, was the second such strike at the administrative heart of the Turkish capital in under a month. No one has claimed respon-

sibility for the latest attack. However, security officials told Reuters a female member of the outlawed PKK, which has fought a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey’s southeast, was one of suspected perpetrators. A police source said her severed hand had been found 300 meters from the blast site. Evidence had been obtained that suggested she was born in 1992, was from the eastern city of Kars near the Armenian border, and had joined the militant group in 2013, they said.

Trump and Islam CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

ago when he said that all Muslims should be banned from coming to the United States of America. This created a major storm all over the world coupled with a deep sense of fear, trepidation and outrage from millions of Muslims. Yet sadly, he did not stop there. During the GOP presidential candidates’ debate, which was aired live by CNN on 10th of March, he said: “Islam hates us’’, meaning that all Muslims hate America and the rest of the non-Muslim world. This assertion is divisive and deeply offensive. It is also blatantly false and I don’t have to be a Muslim to say or know it. It is true that radical Islam ‘’hates us’’. It is true that the Islamic fundamentalists ‘’hate us’’. It is true that the Islamists ‘’hate us’’. It is true that the Jihadists ‘’hate us’’ but

it is not true that “Islam hates us”. ISIL, Al Qaeda, Al Shabab, Hamas, Boko Haram, the Taliban, Islamic Jihad, the Fulani militants/herdsmen, the Al Nusra Front and all the other terrorists and terror groups in the world ‘’hate us’’ but the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not and neither do they indulge in acts of terror. As pained and concerned as we are about what is going on in the world today and about the barbarous atrocities that the terrorists are committing on a daily basis, we must learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. If we do not make this distinction very clear and emphasize the fact that not all Muslims are filled with hate and are terrorists, we run the risk of alienating millions of decent God-fearing Muslims from all over the world who hate the jihadists and terrorists just as much as we do and who also deplore their actions.

On Marble It is the apathetic person that

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sees the cause while the charitable person sees the need.

Harold Stassen was later best known for being a perennial candidate for the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States, seeking it nine times between 1944 and 1992 without winning.

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Trump and Islam

merican politics and politicians fascinate me in the same way that their history does. From the days of their great men of faith and vision like the Pilgrim Fathers, the Founding Fathers and the Patriots, right through to the times of deeply courageous men who were blessed with a powerful intellect and huge moral suasion like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin, this is indeed a blessed land with an extraordinary and rich heritage and history. From the heady days of their struggle for independence from the British, right up to the tumultuous times of Abraham Lincoln and John Brown and their bitter struggle against slavery, the civil war and so much more, the American story is littered with heroes and heroic acts and presents us with compelling evidence of the fact that ultimately good always triumphs over evil. From the beginning right up until modern times and indeed today, their history, with all its twists and turns, is not only inspiring but also a great testimony to the power of the Living God. Yet today America is at a crossroads and in the next few weeks and months she will decide who President Barack Obama will pass the baton of leadership to. That choice is critical because it will determine whether the self-styled “land of the free and home of the brave” will, once again be transformed into a great and major power with the strength and immense moral authority that she once enjoyed on the world stage or whether she will gradually lose her mystique and prestige and recede into a divided, conflicted, pitiful, isolated, intellectually weak, economically crippled, greatly diminished and morally bankrupt spent force. All this in a world that is witnessing and experiencing the growing power and strength of an increasingly assertive Russia and China. There is no gainsaying that the race for the White House this year is probably the most important in recent times because the consequences of the choice that the American people will eventually make will affect the entire world for either good or bad. Needless to say, the stakes are high. Given this, I am delighted that my preferred candidate and fellow evangelical Christian, the brilliant African-American neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, finally recognize the warning sign and dropped out of the race for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party. I am also thrilled that he has thrown his support behind Mr. Donald Trump who I believe is a simply remarkable man that is blessed with immense potential and promise. Dr. Carson is the second presidential candidate in the Republican Party that has dropped out of the race and endorsed Mr. Trump, the first being Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey. These are indeed good times for the colorful billionaire. He has done exceptionally well regardless of the numerous conspiracies

Crossfire FEMI FANI-KAYODE ffk2011@aol.com

Trump

within the leadership of his own party to stop him and regardless of the controversies that appear to trail him. Yet Mr. Trump has had his own fair share of challenges, trials and tribulations. The ugly affair at his Chicago rally on March 11 being one of them. The disruption of that rally and the suppression of freedom of speech by a large crowd of violent and threatening anti-Trump protesters at the event were appalling and unacceptable. They show us the level to which those that wish to oppose him are prepared to go. This was an organised and premeditated effort to disrupt the rally and as Mr. Marco Rubio , another contender for the GOP presidential nomination told CNN, it was ‘’a clear violation of Mr. Trump’s first amendment rights”. The suppression of free speech for any reason is unacceptable and the protesters that shut down Mr. Trumps rally were an utter disgrace. The truth is that that sort of behaviour will not deter Mr. Trump or his supporters and such lawlessness will only swell the ranks of those who believe in him and his cause. It will also embolden and enlarge his support base. I hope and believe that he will win the GOP presidential nomination comfortably and after that, despite his numerous eccentricities and idiosyncrasies, I believe that he will go on to give Secretary Hillary Clinton a damn good fight in the November presidential election. The truth is that if any of the American presidential candidates energises and excites me, it is Mr. Trump. This is because he is tough, fearless, strong, quick off the mark, sharp, charming,

witty and refreshing. He also offers a genuine hope of restoration and a safe return to traditional American conservative, and I daresay, Christian values. For example, he is against same-sex marriage and he is strongly pro-life. He also believes passionately in building up the American Armed Forces and renewing their strength and glory and in the implementation of a strong and virile foreign policy. He is the only American presidential candidate that has publicly admitted that removing Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gadhafi from power in Iraq and Libya respectively was a grave error, which has led to nothing but chaos. Unlike President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton and instead rather like President Putin and the Russians, Mr. Trump recognises evil for what it is and he is committed to fighting Islamic fundamentalism and Islamist terror with everything that he has got. Consequently, he has pledged to send 30,000 ground troops into Iraq and Syria to take on ISIL. That is like music to my ears. He is pro-Israel and he seems to understand the dangers that the antisecularist forces in the Middle East and

the ethos and philosophy of the Salifists and Wahhabists of Saudi Arabia pose to world peace far better than any other American politician. Most important of all he is prepared to speak his mind and say what he believes about any issue no matter whose ox is gored. With Trump, what you see is what you get. That is a rare quality among politicians from anywhere in the world and it ought to be encouraged. By nature, politicians have to compromise on everything otherwise they cannot get elected and they very rarely say what they mean or mean what they say. They must always be seen to be politically correct. It is for this very reason that I do not regard myself as being a politician in the true sense of the word. Unlike most, I will never compromise with what or who I consider to be incompetent, questionable, insincere, malicious. ill-motivated, bloodthirsty, bigoted or evil. Like Mr. Trump, I will always call a spade a spade. Like Mr. Trump, I will never see darkness and call it light or see light and call it darkness. And like U.S. President Harry Truman said many years ago, “I never give them hell: I just speak the truth and they think that they are in hell”. Yet despite my fondness and respect for Mr. Trump, there is one area in which I believe that he is getting it badly wrong and that is in his expression of thoughts about members of the Muslim faith. He fired the first salvo a couple of weeks CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

(C.) Olulana Kayode

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