Thursday, april 21, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Forex scarcity: Foreign airlines place restriction on tickets lUnions ground Arik Air over N12.5bn debt lAirline's losses put at over N300m

Wole Shadare

fresh crisis looms in the aviation industry as some

foreign airlines have concluded plans to quote and receive payment for tickets only in the United States dollars.

The situation is as a result of their inability to repatriate funds out of the country due to scarcity of the US currency.

Over $2 billion of foreign airlines’ debts have been trapped in the country since October last year, a situation that has affected

their operations. The airlines hinted that the new policy on forex by Nigeria could hinder them from transferring their

salaries to their respective home countries. A growing challenge for international airlines opCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Thursday, April 21, 2016

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Olonisakin

Artisans clone Ambode's phone to dupe Lagos of N50m }9

N150

The alleged fraudsters

We’ll stand with Saraki until convicted –Senate lSenate President to court: I can’t get justice under CCT chair lEFCC clears CCT Chairman of N10m bribery allegation }4 1

1. A woman searching for fuel in Lekki, Lagos.

2. Fuel queue on Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday. 3. Hawkers at the central business district in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTOs: SULEIMAN HUSAINI & NAN

PDP leaders move to stop Sheriff Govs’meeting stalemated Zoning committee meets next week Treatment breakthrough offers hope for skin cancer patients }10

NEWS

PDP leaders move to stop Sheriff Geoffrey Ekenna

eaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) all over the country are now in fresh moves to ensure that the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, leaves the office by May 21, when the national convention of the party is expected to hold. The fresh move, which New Telegraph gathered, has been code-named “Operation sack SARS”, is spurred by the bold moves of the chairman, who was brought in about two months ago to complete the tenure of the former chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, to elongate his tenure towards the 2019 general elections. It is believed that Sheriff has his eyes on the presidency and is hoping to leverage on the chairmanship of the party to push his way through. A former national leader of the party insisted yesterday that what Sheriff wants to do was akin to a coup on the PDP. “He was brought in as a midwife to ensure the delivery of the new PDP in 2019 that will win the presidency. He is not okay with being the midwife now. He wants to be the midwife as well as the child at the same time. We must show him that the PDP is not like the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party that could be linked to an individual. It is a national party that has the vision set out by the founding fathers,” the party leader told New Telegraph. It was learnt that the leaders of the party were not only worried that the zoning committee, set up by Sheriff and chaired by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has zoned the chairmanship of the party to the North-East, where Sheriff comes from; they are more worried by the audacity of the national chairman to paint a vehicle in his campaign colours and bring out leaflets campaigning for the position. As soon as the report hit the newsstands, informed sources said that leaders of the party were aghast at the development. They were said to have made several phone calls to different leaders across the country, wondering what exactly went wrong with the chairman and the committee. As a prelude to the groundswell of opposition expected to mount against Sheriff in the next few days, leaders of the party in the South-West, would gather today in Lagos, to reject the move by the chairman to extend his tenure.

The meeting is expected to have in attendance, those referred to as the real leaders of the party in the zone. The PDP leaders in the South-West are expected to issue a communiqué at the end of the meeting where they would renounce the position of another group led by the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, who had sold the idea of the North holding on to the chairmanship to Sheriff. The South-West meeting is expected to be followed with those of former PDP ministers, former party officials and leaders of the party from other zones who are expected to reject the zoning formula of the Emmanuel-led committee and ensure that the chairmanship of the party remained in the south going into the 2019 election. By the laid down rules of the PDP, when the presidency is zoned to the north, the chairmanship of the party, the Vice President, the Speaker and the party chairman would come from the south. While the Senate President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) would come from

the North. One of the grouses of the party’s leaders against the succession plan of the national chairman is that there is the feeling that Sheriff might indeed be working secretly for President Muhammadu Buhari to have no opposition in 2019 should he decide to run again. Sheriff is said to be an in-law to the president. A leader of the party expressed concerns over the

unfolding development in the PDP. “That was how we lost the presidency in 2015. When some people in the party insisted that only Goodluck Jonathan was good enough for the presidency, we watched them and the result is very clear now. If the south allows Sheriff to stay as the chairman beyond May, it does not mean the north would not produce the candidate of the party for

the presidency in 2019. The party has already accepted the recommendation that the presidency would come from the north. But be sure that most leaders in the north are against this chairmanship thing unfolding now.” Yesterday, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, told New Telegraph that Sheriff should maintain his word that he would leave on May 21.

THURSday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

“All the people now are up in arms that if we don’t get it right now, we would end up with a bloody nose in 2019. That is why all the arguments about Buhari’s government now, I am not interested. Let’s remove the logs in our eyes before we start looking at specs in the eyes of the Buhari government,” he said. George insisted that it is the wish of the SouthWest to have the national chairmanship of the party, since it was the only zone that has not tasted the seat since 1999. He said that was the only way justice could be done by the party.

L-R: Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Usani Uguru; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

PDP crisis deepens as govs’ meeting is stalemated lMimiko, Fayose, Dankwambo’s ambitions tear Govs’Forum apart lCommittee reschedules another meeting next week Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

fresh crisis appears to be brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the recommendations made by the party's ad hoc committee on zoning headed by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. A meeting of the governors elected on the PDP platform was on Tuesday night called off. Personal interests and horse trading have continued to trail the recommendations of the committee. This has put the chances of the party's national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on the line.

71m

The number of fixed (wired)broadband subscriptions of developing countries in 2005. Source: Itu.int

N925.59m

The IGR realized from other revenue sources of Zamfara State in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

The committee has retained the National Chairmanship position to the North-East, Deputy National Chairman to the South-South and National Secretary to South-West. It, however, zoned the office of the National Organising Secretary to the South-East, National Publicity Secretary to the South-West, the National Treasurer to the NorthCentral and National Woman Leader to the North-West. But this did not go down well with some party elders and other stakeholders who believe that it was a ploy to extend the tenure of the current National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Since then, party leaders have been engaged in high level meetings to reverse the zoning arrangement proposed by the committee. A national officer of the party confided in New Telegraph that the committee was under intense pressure to reverse the zoning arrangement. He said if allowed to stand, it could lead to parallel national conventions, and it might pave the way for mass defection of

members, including some serving governors and members of the National Assembly. "What most people expected was for the position of the National Chairman to go to either the SouthWest or South-South, and not North-East," he stated. Governors Nysom Wike of Rivers State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, are said to be backing Sheriff to continue as National Chairman. Fayose whose second tenure in office ends in 2018 is said to be interested in vice presidential ticket in 2019. PDP has already zoned its presidential ticket in 2019 to the north. However, the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who led the other governors to mediate when some organs of the party rejected Sheriff's emergence as National Chairman in February, is leading the onslaught against the return of Sheriff after the national convention. Mimiko is also said to be interested in the vice president position but is rooting for the Gombe State gover-

nor, Hassan Dankwambo. Sheriff's chairmanship will shut the Gombe governor out of the race even as it will throw up a North-West presidential candidate. It was gathered that the zoning committee met with some PDP governors in Abuja on Tuesday but was unable to reach a consensus. The meeting, which initially held at Transcorp Hilton later shifted to Ondo State Lodge. Those in attendance were Governors Mimiko, Ben Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) who incidentally is the chairman of the PDP zoning committee. Former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, was also present at the meeting. A governor who confided in New Telegraph said that Sheriff 's chairmanship might put the party in jeopardy and efforts were being made to shift the party's number one position to other zone. ''Sheriff can't be our chairman, most National Assembly members are already threatening to quit

the party, so we are making efforts to rezone the chairmanship to the North-West while North-East produces the president. Senate President can go to South-West while the South-East retains what was zoned to it earlier, that is, the vice president. ''For the speaker, we are looking at the South-South while other offices will be rotated to other zones because we have to win come next presidential election,'' he said. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, however, disclosed that the zoning committee will meet again in Uyo next week. He said that the governors and National Assembly members are in consultations to ensure that the committee arrives at a zoning arrangement that will be acceptable and beneficial to all the six geopolitical zones. Meanwhile, PDP has shifted this weekend's ward congress by one week. In a statement signed by Metuh on Wednesday, the party said the ward congress will now hold on April 30 while the local government congress will hold on May 5. The date for the national convention still remain on May 21.

THURSday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

THURSday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’ll stand by Saraki until convicted – Senate

Chukwu David Abuja

enators yesterday vowed to stand by the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, until he is convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Saraki is currently standing trial at the CCT for alleged false declaration of assets; an offence he allegedly committed between 2003 and 2011 when he was Governor of Kwara State. "We agreed that this Senate should stand by the Senate President in his trial until proven guilty

by the court, in accordance with our Constitution and democratic practices all over the world, including South Africa, Brazil and Russia,” Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said. Also, the Senate yesterday made a reconciliatory move by resolving to suspend further considerations on the contentious Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Amendment Bill, 2016, which is currently before it. The Upper Chamber also resolved to suspend consideration on the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and

Public Petitions on Senator Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central). It further agreed that all pending court cases from aggrieved members should be withdrawn in the current effort to reunite the rancorous Eighth Senate in the best interest of Nigeria. The apex legislative chamber also set up a 12-member reconciliation committee to tackle all pending issues that have been causing division amongst the lawmakers, to ensure a stable and productive Senate. The committee is made up of two senators from each of the six geopolitical

zones of the country. From the South-South, Senators Godswill Akpabio and James Manager are the representatives while North-West is represented by Sani Yerima and Suleiman Hunkunyi. North-East has Buka Abba and Joshua Lidani, and South-East has former Governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, and Hope Uzodinma as representatives. In the North-Central, Barnabas Gemade and Abdullahi Adamu were chosen to represent the zone while Monsurat Sumonu and Gbenga Ashafa represent the North-West. These resolutions were

Senate President Bukola Saraki during his trial on false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, in Abuja...yesterday

the outcome of a two and half hours closed-door session held by the Senate and presided over by Ekweremadu. The Senate, which commenced plenary at 10:57a.m., had quickly passed the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day before going into the executive session. Ekweremadu had called on Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, to move a motion for the adoption of the last votes and proceedings. Curiously, the presiding officer also nominated Marafa, who has been prime antagonist of the leadership of the Eighth Senate, to second the motion. There was however, some level of apprehension because it was not certain whether Marafa would accept to carry out that parliamentary function since he was known in previous times, to have left the Chamber whenever Ekweremadu presided over plenary. When he stood to second the motion, Marafa comically asked: "Who moved the motion?" which triggered laughter among the senators. Without ado, he seconded the motion and it was adopted.

I can’t get justice under CCT chair, Senate President tells court Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is standing trial on asset declaration charges yesterday filed fresh application seeking the disqualification of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar. Saraki accused Umar of bias and insisted that he cannot get justice under his chairmanship. In a motion he filed against Umar, Saraki prayed that the CCT boss disqualify himself from further participating in his trial on the alleged falsification of assets. In the motion on notice filed by Saraki’s counsel, Raphael Oluyede, it was contended that the continued presence of Umar on the panel of Tribunal offended the provisions of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitutional provision prescribes that “In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing

within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.” The applicant claimed that the unfolding events and the ways and manners his trial is being conducted by Umar, there is likelihood of bias from the chairman and, as such, he should withdraw himself from further prosecuting him. The motion on notice was brought pursuant to section 36(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the common law rule on likelihood of bias and the rules of natural justice. The defendants in the motion on notice are Danladi Yakubu Umar and the second member of the tribunal, Agwadza Williams Atedze. In a 20-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, the deponent averred that the applicant had sought to enforce his fundamental right in suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/905/2015 before a Federal High Court in Abuja on the ground that the independence and impartiality of the CCT cannot be guaranteed while Umar presides over the trial of

the applicant. It also averred that Saraki is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that Umar, as chairman of CCT, is an object of investigation by the same EFCC on corrupt practices. The affidavit also claimed that by his conduct in the proceedings, the CCT boss had allegedly proved to be a willing tool in the hand of the executive arm of the government, which was responsible for his appointment and particularly as he (Umar) was himself under investigation for corruption by the EFCC. The affidavit deposed to by Paul Akase claimed that neither the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) nor the EFCC or Umar has ever denied that the CCT boss was under investigation. It also claimed that by the 1999 Constitution, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, the power to investigate complaints of breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers is the exclusive preserve of the CCB and not the EFCC. The affidavit further stated that the EFCC’s usurpation of the CCB’s power had been admitted

by the AGF in previous court action instituted by Saraki against the AGF, EFCC, Umar and other defendants. It, therefore, stated that the interest of justice would be served if Umar excuses or disqualifies himself from sitting in the panel of the tribunal to hear and determine the charges being prosecuted against the applicant. No date has been fixed for hearing of the motion. Meanwhile, the Prosecution Witness and an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Micheal Wetkas, at the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday admitted before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that he did not investigate Saraki on assets declaration. The witness further admitted that Saraki was only investigated through his bank account on money laundering. Wetkas, who was cross examined by a lawyer in the defence team, Paul Usoro (SAN) also told the tribunal that although he investigated Saraki over operating of foreign accounts, but that he never had the opening package and financial statement of

the alleged foreign account. The witness also said that although he led the team that investigated Saraki, he, however, admitted that he never met Saraki for interrogation or obtained statement from him. Wetkas was cross-examined based on count 11 of the charge, which bothers on foreign account operation when Saraki was the governor of Kwara State. He admitted that count 11 does not bother on asset declaration, but money laundering. Answering questions on the alleged transfer of funds into foreign account by Saraki, the witness said that some documents and telex relating to the transfer of funds from Saraki's GTB account to foreign banks were burnt.

$5m

The total amount of endorsements of Sergio Aguero (Soccer) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

4,479

The total number of incidence of terrorist violence in 1995. Source: Satp.org

It was at that point that Uzodimma (PDP, Imo-west) raised a point of order, citing Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) to make a personal explanation. He said that he was being bombarded by his constituents and other Nigerians pertaining to certain issues perceived wrongly by the public about the Senate, urging that there was need for the Chamber to meet in a closed-door session to address those issues. Noting that some of the issues he alluded to were in the day's Order Paper, Uzodimma called on the Senate to go into executive session in order to trash out the issues and proffer ways forward. Ekweremadu, who did not argue on the motion of his colleague, immediately called for the executive session, which started at 11:10a.m. and ended at 1:40 p.m. At the end of the meeting, the Senate resumed plenary, where the Deputy President of the Senate declared the resolutions CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

EFCC clears CCT Chairman of N10m bribery allegation

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has conveyed a letter to the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, exonerating him of alleged N10 million bribe by one AbdulRashid Owolabi. This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Tribunal, Ibraheem Al-hassan, on Wednesday in Abuja. He said that the letter was addressed to the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), captioned ‘‘RE: Investigation Report RE: N10 million Bribery Allegation Against the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja.” He stated that: “The EFCC position with regards to this matter as earlier communicated to you, on allegations levelled against Justice Danladi Umar were mere suspicious and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence. “Today’s clearance letter is second to the previous one sent on March 5, 2015 during last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan through the office of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.''

NEWS

THURSday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

10,000mw electricity target by 2019 achievable – FG ….says fuel queues to end next week ….denies currency swap deal with China Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Federal Government has assured that its target of achieving 10,000 megawatts of electricity generation and distribution in the country by 2019 was still achievable despite the current power outages. Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this yesterday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja said he had briefed the council on the causes of power outages across the country and steps being taken by his ministry to address them. He said the current drop in electricity supply was principally as a result of shortage of gas supply to power stations from the Forcados where repairs

are ongoing to restore petroleum gas lines. Fashola, who briefed alongside the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of Communication Technology, Adebayo Shittu, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, explained that “as a result of this, our power production has dropped from 5,000 megawatts to about 3,000, 3,200 megawatts depending on other collateral problems. What was not enough at 5,000 is even now much more difficult to share at

30.5

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

3,000.” “We are confident we can meet the target of 10,000 megawatts set by Mr. President by 2019,” he said. Speaking on the lingering fuel queues across the country, Kachikwu said “our intervention today was to give a brief update on the petroleum distribution position and the whole fuel queues crisis that has been in this country for weeks. “What we have tried to do in the last one month is to try and flood the market with product, we are in the position to say between now and October, we have cargo in excess of what we should need, so we have addressed the supply issue.

71.66%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Canada in 2005. Source: Itu.int

“Last week, we had about 11 cargoes in. This week, we had about 10 cargoes in. For the month of April collectively, we had 38 cargoes. This is the first in the history of this country,” he said. “The queues are as a result of sabotage. Some people, rather than sell products, send them into hinterlands where they can sell at ridiculous prices and so, you are having these price distortions where people are making a lot of money. Some are internal and some are external, but a lot of it is marketers trying to make quick returns on their investments wrongly. “As at today, we are delivering about 1,200 trucks, by weekend we should be delivering same number of trucks. I hope by the end of next week with the refineries helping us to stay on course, every part of

the country will get fuel,” he said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyama, has denied any currency swap deal with the Republic of China. The minister said: “It's not really a swap. What it takes is that as the Chinese economy goes strong, there is some pressure on them from the trading partners, international financial institutions. They agreed that the money should be internationalised. “So, they started that for a while, they were protecting it also. They did not allow it to be fully exchangeable. But now, their economy is fully strong, they are looking for a way to internationalise the currency. Now, they were saying essentially that they wanted to segment it. “For Southern Africa, South Africa is going to be the sort of a hub for the

FEC approves timetable for 2017 budget

L-R: Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki; Chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and Director, Mr. Dennis Okoro, during a visit of MTN Foundation to the minister in Abuja...yesterday

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, approved a timetable for the preparation of 2017 budget. The idea is to ensure that the country does not experience delay in the passage of future budgets, particularly that of next

Reps query FIRS over unpaid N7.5bn tax refund Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives’ Ad hoc Committee on the accounting procedures of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has questioned the decision of the agency to withhold tax refund due to some companies who were victims of multiple taxation, even though the sum of N7.5 billion was approved and released by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF). The committee chairman, Hon. Michael Enyom, in raising the queries, said: "In the case of tax refund, the N7.5 billion released on December 19, 2014, report arising from the committee's investigation reveals that some of the said approved cases were not implemented as monies received were not paid to

currency. So, they are going to be the focal point for the Chinese to make that available for trade in that area. “In West Africa, they are looking for a hub. Ghana is interested in being the hub for the currency to circulate it for those who want to use it. It is not compulsory. But Nigeria is a bigger country with bigger economy. So that does make sense. “And they became a kind of attracted to Nigeria to be the hub. So, for us, the benefit is that it gives us small flexibility. So, if Nigeria is buying Chinese goods, for instance, it will be in our interest to use the Yuan because we know there is a lot of squeeze for the dollar.” The Federal Government also said yesterday that it has not commenced any negotiations with MTN on a recent fine of $5.2 billion levied against the South African firm for violating sim card registration.

all those who were listed in the request." Responding, the executive chairman of the FIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler said not all the monies were paid to those who made the request because there were criteria used for consideration and payment in order to avoid paying an erring company. Fowler said he would have to look into the matter to see what exactly happened. "There's an ongoing internal reorganisation focusing on staff training and retraining. We are also deploying a system where all outstanding taxes owed by companies are recalled using automated platform. Right now, many companies on the basis of that are doing self-assessment and have promised to remit all outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) owed for a couple of months,” he said. On the non-compliance of the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with the issue of tax return, the FIRS boss tied all unresolved matters to the conclusion of ongoing audit exercises. He said: "On the taxable profits of companies, I cannot give any specific information regarding the amount until the audit report for last year is ready for assessment." On that basis, the committee summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to appear before it at its next week sitting. On why companies were involved in oil trading businesses in the country for over a decade without paying taxes, the FIRS boss told the committee that the information regarding that could only be gotten from the Customs Service which handles import and export duty collection. Fowler told the lawmakers that his agency was never part of the decision to grant tax waiv-

ers to companies doing business in Nigeria. Concerning indiscriminate granting of waiver, which is partly responsible for the present cash crunch threatening to ground economic growth in Nigeria, Mr. D. B. Oruagu, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Customs, told the committee that the service only acted on a presidential directive to waive taxes on petroleum products. "Based on the mandate given to Customs to scrutinise all import making entries into Nigeria, and as far as Customs is concerned, all petroleum products imported into this country is duty free. We do not have authorisation to collect duty on them," he said. He maintained that it's a presidential directive, which was communicated via a memo, which he could present before the committee upon request. Also yesterday, the House invited the Minis-

ter of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello, to appear before its committee on the FCT to explain why he engaged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collect tax on behalf of the FCT instead of the FCT Inland Revenue Services. The decision to invite the minister was taken after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas (APC, Adamawa). In his lead debate, Namdas informed the House that the minister has signed a comprehensive agreement with the FIRS to collect taxes for the FCT, saying the action was in breach of the existing law. He noted that the House in the 6th Assembly had passed a bill for an Act establishing the FCT Inland Revenue Service and its management board, in concurrence with the Senate.

year away from the current delays. The approval is coming despite the non-assent to the 2016 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari. The two chambers of the National Assembly passed the 2016 budget two weeks ago and forwarded the details to the president for assent. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, while briefing state house correspondents after the FEC meeting at the presidential villa, said that the executive arm of government was still discussing with the leadership of the National Assembly on gray areas that have prompted the president’s withdrawal of assent to the document. He explained that the document has not been returned to the National Assembly as being speculated in some section of the media. Udoma said FEC also approved a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that will track full implementation of the 2016 budget when finally signed by the president. “On the expectation that we will soon have a budget, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism is to make sure that the budget delivers what it promises. That mechanism was looked at by the Federal Executive Council and approved. “To make sure that 2017 budget is done on time, a timetable was approved for the 2017 budget,” Udoma added.

…

NEWS

THURSday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

DISCOs, BPE meet over govt’s stake in power sector Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

o deal with the funding constraint in power sector, the

chief executive officers of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) have reached out to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to secure more investment from the Federal

Government. Their demands include financing of the 40 per cent equity stake held in trust by the BPE for the Federal Government. The CEOs canvassed

the position at an interactive session initiated at the instance of the BPE to review teething challenges in the power sector. Speaking on behalf of the successor companies,

Agony as unions ground Arik over N12.5bn debt

lAirline losses put at over N300m to suspension Wole Shadare

or six hours, aviation unions, under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), yesterday ensured that the plan to ground Arik Air over alleged N12.5 billion debt owed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was effective. The unions’ action lasted from 6:30 a.m. to noon. Although the airline’s loss to the crisis is yet to be computed, experts, however, put it conservatively in the region of over N300 million. The unions, who still barricaded the airlines’ premises as at the time of filing this report, have vowed that they will not be leaving the airline’s work post anytime soon. Speaking on the issue, the President of ATSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said: “We will be continuing this picketing tomorrow

until Arik reconciles and starts paying off their debts. There are other debtors, but they have all been reconciling and paying, but Arik is doing neither, instead heading to court. “Overland owes N7 billion, others too owe FAAN, but have reached a middle point.” While the action lasted, thousands of passengers already booked on the carrier’s over 125 daily flights, were left stranded across the country. The carrier controls about 30 per cent of traffic. The unions, as early as 6:30 am, had besieged the premises, singing solidarity songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions such as, “Arik pay your debt, enough is enough,” “Arik Air must pay its debt to FAAN for peace to reign,” “Arik pay your N12.5 billion debt,” “FAAN can no longer pay salaries, pension, staff claims due to your debt,” “Debtors pay all you owe FAAN now,” “Arik if you

We’ll stand by Saraki until convicted – Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

of the Chamber. He said: "The Senate, in a closed-door session, discussed a number of issues affecting the smooth working of the Senate, and I am happy to announce to our colleagues and the entire nation that after exhaustive deliberations, and being sincere to ourselves, we decided to put behind us all things that have divided us since the inception of the Eighth Senate and work as a united Senate in the best interest of our country. "We also agreed to suspend the discussion of the Committee on Ethics report on Senator Marafa. We agreed to suspend further deliberations on the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and the Criminal Administration of Justice Act. "We also agreed to set up a committee, two from each geopolitical zone to address all remaining issues. "And as part of the reconciliation, those in court should consider withdrawing the cases. Further to

the agreement to set up the committees, the geopolitical zones have sent names of their representatives.” The Senate has been in serious turmoil since its inauguration on June 9, 2015, following the controversial emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate, contrary to the decision of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). The rift brought intense division in the Chamber, as two blocks emerged along the lines of pro and antiSaraki senators. Those against him have been operating under the umbrella of Senate Unity Forum while those standing behind him work under the auspices of Like Minds Senators. It is believed that the unending tussle for the leadership of the Senate, which involves Saraki and other political titans in the APC led to his current trial. It is not certain if the reconciliatory resolutions of the lawmakers yesterday will bring any respite to the crisis in the Senate, and Saraki's trial in particular.

can’t pay don’t fly,” among others. The union members stated that they decided to shut down the airline after negotiation between the airline and FAAN broke down. The negotiations, they said, had been ongoing over the years. Scores of passengers, who had planned to travel with Arik Air, were seen stranded and struggling to catch up with other airlines in order not to miss their appointments. Workers of the airline were prevented by the unions from gaining access to their duty posts, thereby disrupting the day’s operations. But spokesman of the airline, Ola Banji, said the

claims by the unions could not be substantiated. “The action by the workers’ union is connected with the long-standing and unsubstantiated claim by FAAN of spurious indebtedness of the airline to the agency, which is now before a Federal High Court in Lagos at the instance of FAAN. “For several months, the managements of Arik Air and FAAN have been meeting to reconcile payment details between the two institutions. The reconciliation process is still ongoing until the latest actions by the union. “This is not the first time that FAAN workers’ union will be taking the laws into their hands by disrupting operations of Arik Air,” he said.

the Managing Director of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBDEC), Mr. John Donnachie, while acknowledging Federal Government's efforts at managing the issues militating against the sector, called for additional support. He said DISCOs and GENCOs had benefited from such efforts through the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) and the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN)’s N213 billion intervention fund. He, therefore, called for additional intervention through the Bureau to secure more investment from government by financing the 40 per cent equity held in trust by BPE for the Federal Government. BPE confirmed the interactive session yesterday in a statement by its spokesperson, Alex Okoh. Earlier in the course of interaction, the Acting Director-General of

4.83m

The total surface area (in sq. km) of South Western Asia in 2012. Source: Un.org

BPE, Dr. Vincent Onome Akpotaire, underscored the need for continuous interactions between DISCOs and the government, which, he said, was critical to resolving the emerging challenges in the sector. He called for an enhanced synergy between the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Bureau to boost efforts towards actualising the full objectives of the power sector privatisation. He enjoined the DISCOs to improve on their efforts to honour the performance agreement in the privatisation arrangement, stressing that “I am optimistic that with the required synergy, periodic reviews with stakeholders and commitment to the performance agreement, the objectives for the nation's power sector would be achieved.”

L-R: Chairman, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Acting Group Managing Director, Mr. Abdullahi Sule and Director, Sani Dangote, at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos … yesterday

Forex scarcity: Foreign airlines place restriction on tickets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

erating in Nigeria is the repatriation of funds. Given Nigeria’s acute foreign exchange shortage, airlines have struggled to repatriate their sales proceeds to their home countries. According to stakeholders, a weekly clearance plan for the blocked funds was put in place by the authorities. This, they said, has had very limited impact on the backlog of funds trapped in the country. Consequently, some of the airlines’ booking and payment platforms, particularly, that of Delta and United Airlines’ could not be accessed as intending passengers could only pay directly in the airline’s offices or pay outside the shores of Nigeria. Travel Management Companies (TMCs) were shocked with the discov-

eries as passengers, who usually patronise them for their travel needs, called endlessly for assistance. For instance, passengers in Nigeria, who intended to travel to New York via Delta Air, made frantic efforts to make payment, but all to no avail. The situation prompted serious crisis as they thought of alternative carriers to America, a situation that could be compounded as European carriers have equally concluded plans to follow suit. Managing Director of Ashton Dave Travels and Tours, Mr. Abiola Lawal, told New Telegraph that the situation portended serious crisis for the travel industry in Nigeria, adding that what was playing out would limit choices for travellers. The situation, he said, was counterproductive

for the sector, noting, “It is not good for all across the value chain. It is not good for airlines and it gives bad image to the country when all these are happening. It affects our reputation as Nigerians.” Lawal stated the need for a stakeholders’ meeting on how to resolve the problem, which has seriously affected them, culminating in sharp drop of load factor by the carriers. His words: “This situation has a lot of implications for Nigeria and one that affects the value chain. When I look at the Global Distribution System (GDS), everything reads zero down. All the discounted fares have been taken off.” He disclosed that there was no economy that develops well where there is no free movement of people and services.

“It is not good when tickets are being restricted. This is a very strategic industry and we have no choice than to make it better,” he added. There are indications that over $2 billion of tickets sold by foreign airlines is yet to be repatriated by foreign airlines in the country between October 2015 and April 2016, just as the amount in blocked funds for the carriers is a little below $600 million at the beginning of April 2016. These figures further reinforce the argument that the Nigerian route is very lucrative for foreign carriers who scramble, and lobby to increase their frequencies. Their fares are also said to be the most expensive when put side by side other African countries with the same equidistance.

national | news

thursday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Malabu oil deals: EFCC to quiz Agip MD, re-invites Shell MD Adeola Yusuf

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday furthered its investigation into the $1.3 billion Malabu oil deals. It has concluded plans to quiz the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (NAE). A source at the commission, who confirmed this maintained that that would be a continuation of the interrogation of Managing Director of its subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Lim-

ited (SNEPCO), Mr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, over the where-about of N218.4 billion paid SNEPCo into an escrow account. The SNEPCo boss, he said, has been re-invited for “further questioning at a later date pending the outcome of the quizzing of the Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) boss.” NAE could not be reached for confirmation of the MD’s invitation but Shell confirmed the invitation and questioning of Mr. Ojulari to New Telegraph on Wednesday. “We can confirm that Mr. Bayo Ojulari, Man-

Chibok girls: Service Chiefs shun Senate ●As only Arase, Daura appeared Chukwu David Abuja

he Service Chiefs yesterday shunned the invitation of the Senate to appear and brief it on efforts of the government to rescue the Chibok school, girls abducted two years ago. Only the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, were in attendance. There was however, no official explanation with respect to the absence of the security chiefs from the meeting with the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate tasked the Service Chiefs to rescue the abducted girls of over 219 Federal Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State. The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided

over the session, said the Senate was briefed by the DG, DSS and the IGP on the efforts at rescuing the abducted Chibok girls for the past two years. Ekweremadu said: "The senate was briefed by the Director-General, State Security Service and the Inspector General of Police on the abduction of the Chibok school girls and efforts to rescue them in the last two years. "We urged them to continue and should leave no stone unturned to achieve to rescue the Chibok girls. Thereafter they answered questions bothering under topical national security issues from very distinguished senators." It would be recalled that the Senate on Thursday last week summoned the Service Chiefs to appear before it on the ongoing anti-terror fight in the North-east and rescuing of the abducted school girls abducted on April 14, 2014.

aging Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), was invited for an interview by the EFCC,” the company said in a terse statement sent by its spokesperson, Precious Okolobo, to this newspaper late yesterday evening. “He was subsequently released on the understanding that he would be available to respond to further questions if required,’ the statement noted. The EFCC had on Tuesday quizzed the Ojulari over the controversial Malabu oil block (OPL 245) deal. The anti-graft agency is beaming its searchlight on whereabouts of N218.4 billion ($1,092 billion) al-

Abuja

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday stated that his party would not compromise the Senate President seat at the National Assembly. Oyegun, who spoke at the National Secretariat of APC, gave the clarification in response to his earlier position in an interview with an on-

line portal that the party could sacrifice the seat of the Senate President for a change should the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT remove the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. The opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, has threatened to take over the leadership of the Senate should Saraki resign as the Senate President as a result of his trial. In the interview with Oyegun on whether as

Hon. Minister of Finance; NAE Vice Chairman and Managing Director; NAE Company Secretary; SNUD Director; SNEPCO Director; NNPC Group Managing Director and Company Secretary. “The SNUD Resolution Agreement was signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Petroleum Resources; SNUD Director, SNUD Secretary; SNEPCO Director and SNEPCO Secretary,” he was quoted to have said. The signatories to the terms of settlement were Mr. Chikelu Onyejekwe, Mutiu Sunmonu and Rasky Gbinigie for SNUD, SPDC and Malabu. “The escrow agree-

ment was signed by Muhammed Bello Adoke for the Federal Government, Ciro A. Pagano for NAE and Olujimi Lawal for SNEPCO. Escrow terms and conditions form part of the Escrow Agreement “By the terms of Block 245 Resolution Agreement, SNUD agreed to the release of the outstanding Signature Bonus of $207,960,000 and to appoint an escrow agent for the purpose of paying to FGN a sum of $1,092,040billion.” Officials of Shell, the multi-national oil firm at the heart of one of the largest oil heist in Nigeria, were on March 30, questioned by Dutch investigators for their roles in the deal. L-R: Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; Director General of DSS, Lawal Daura and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Hon. Suleiman Kawu, at the National Assembly to brief Senate on Chibok School Girls' abduction in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

FG to carry out forensic audit of railway sector Philip Nyam Abuja

he Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of the Railway sector and all the agencies under his ministry to enable him have firsthand information on

Oyegun: APC cannot compromise Senate presidency Johnchuks Onuanyim

legedly paid by SNEPCO and Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) into an escrow account. The key area of investigation was to determine where the money was diverted to by uncovering the account in which it was lodged. Ojulari had said that there were two agreements on Malabu Oil Block deal – Block 245 Resolution Agreement and the SNUD Resolution Agreement. “The signatories to Block 245 Resolution Agreement were: The Hon. Minister of Petroleum Resources( Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke), the Attorney- General of the Federation( Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke) ;the

the national chairman of APC he would be bothered if an opposition party takes over the seat of the Senate President, he said, "Well, I don’t think we will lose that position. But sometimes, for change to take place there is price you have to pay. So losing the position may be sacrifice for change". But yesterday, the APC national chairman recanted his position, providing a clarification of what he said to the online portal.

their operations. Amaechi disclosed this when he appeared before the Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma led -adhoc committee of the House of Representatives, investigating the Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC and the defunct Sure-P over contracts awarded between 2010 and 2014. He told the panel that he was not the minister of transport when all

the contracts in question were awarded but had written to the President Muhammadu Buhari for his express permission to carry out the exercise. "I was not the Minister of Transport when all the contracts were awarded and executed, but I have written to the Mr. President to permit me to conduct a forensic audit of the railway sector and all the agencies under me", he insisted.

Boko Haram now lures butchers, others with loans –DHQ Emmanuel Onani

he Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday, said that in a desperate membership drive, the extremist group, Boko Haram, has resorted to offering loans as baits to butchers, tailors and other artisans. The DHQ, in a statement by the Acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen Rabe Abubakar, said once the said vulnerable class falls to the inducement, they are forced to either join the sect, or risk being

killed. "It has come to the knowledge of the Defence Headquarters that Boko Haram terrorists have now devised another means of recruiting unsuspecting youths into their fold. In this clandestine dispensation, Boko Haram terrorists have resorted to providing loans to young entrepreneurs and artisans in the North East as a way of inducing them for recruitment. "The major targets of the unholy business engagement are youths in the North East."

National Assembly gets new Clerk Chukwu David Abuja

he National Assembly Commission yesterday appointed the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori, as the new Acting Clerk of the National Assembly. Sani-Omolori is replacing the outgoing CNA, Salisu Maikasuwa, who will proceed on terminal leave on May 14. However, the appointment of Sani-Omolori as Maikasuwa's successor puzzled most people in the system as it only showed the politics of bureaucracy which often plays out in the National Assembly. Maikasuwa was expected to be succeeded by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly (DCNA), Mr. Benedict Efeturi, in acting capacity until August when he is expected to proceed on his own terminal leave. But a source told our correspondent yesterday that the appointment of Sani-Omolori might lead to a clash of operations between the DCNA and the acting clerk.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO ‘I invested N20m stolen from bank in cocaine’

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Taiwo Jimoh and Dare Akinwoye

graduate of the University of Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdulhameed Ibrahim, yesterday said that money he made from stealing in banks was used in buying cocaine. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspect used to steal from unsuspecting cashiers in banking halls. But the 27-year-old Ibrahim angrily retorted that he wasn’t a robber. According to him, he only steals from careless banks and cashiers. After his arrest, police recovered money, scissors, Ipad and three different brands of phones from Ibrahim. The suspect confessed to have made over N20 million stealing in banking halls. But, according to him, he invested the money on cocaine. He said: “I have made over N20 million since I started stealing in banks. I used the money I got from the bank to buy cocaine. I sell the cocaine in Abuja. I made double the price I bought the drug. I started the operation last month when I came to Lagos from Plateau State. Before I went into the bank, I have a friend called Segun; he used to prepare the ground for me with the assistance of an insider in the bank.” According to Owoseni, in one of his exploits, Ibrahim stole N1.5 million at a new generation bank, located at Ogudu. The commissioner that

the suspect had served various prison terms in Plateau and Kaduna states for similar offence. Owoseni said that Ibrahim was arrested with the assistance of CCTV footage in the bank. He was traced to a hotel where he lodged and arrested. Revealing his modus operandi, Ibrahim said: “I’m not an armed robber. I went into the bank to deposit money in the bulk room. When I got there, I discovered some amount of money was carelessly placed on the counter. I smartly took it without the female cashier seeing me. She was engrossed in a novel she was reading. I got home and counted the money; it was N1.5 million. “I walked out of the bulk

Ibrahim with items recovered from him

room and nobody stopped me. The personnel of the internal security of that bank just don’t understand their job. The bank where I stole the money is careless. They display their money without minding who comes into the banking hall. I have studied those at the bank; if I had another opportunity, I would love to go to the same

bank branch to steal. They are carelessness.” The suspect said that after his graduation, he worked with Saudi Embassy, where he started trafficking in drugs. He was found out and deported to Nigeria in 2011. He added: “I love hard drugs. Since I came back to Nigeria, I’ve been into this act of steal-

ing to sustain my drug life. Police in Lagos have stopped my activities. I was called through the hotel intercom that I have a visitor. When the policeman spoke to me through the intercom, I immediately sensed he was a policeman. I came out and surrendered myself. I knew I had come to the end of the road.”

‘We faked street fights to rob hotels, guests’

The suspects

Taiwo Jimoh and Dare Akinwoye

our suspected cult members, belonging to Eiye Confraternity, yesterday said they used to fake street fights in order to attack hotels in Lagos State. According to the police, the

suspects, Rahmon Sanusi (25), Muftau Jinadu (22), Kareem Idris (22) and Fuad Azeez (25), used to pose as guests in hotels before they swoop on genuine lodgers, to rob them. Recovered from them were one locally-made pistol, two live cartridges, machetes and assorted charms.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects were also cultists who used to carry out series of fight at Oyingbo and its environs. According to Owoseni, the suspects who belong to Eiye Confraternity, were arrested on Tuesday but confessed to have robbed and killed someone at Evans Square and also attacked One Point Hotel, Moonshine Hotel and Minister Excellence Hotel all in Ebute-Meta area. Idris, who is the kingpin of the gang, said that they intentionally caused street fight in order to destabilise the peace of the community.

The suspect said that once they had caused street fights, during the created panic and confusion, they would invade and rob hotels. According to him, guests in such hotel were never spared as the gang would dispossess them of all their valuables. He added: “We used machetes and locally-made guns for operations. After robbing the hotels, we have buyers always ready to buy the items who took from guests in the hotels. Normally, we don’t harm the guests, but when they don’t cooperate, we hit them. Today, as I stand here, I regret my actions. Given another chance, I will not go back to robbery.”

METRO

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Millions of naira lost as fire guts Ladipo market Camillus Nnaji

ire broke out yesterday at the Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Mushin, Lagos and destroyed goods estimated to worth several millions of naira. The inferno, which started about 3a.m., burnt about 50 shops at the Ladipo/Osoro section of the market where traders sell brand new vehicle spare parts. Some of the traders blamed the fire disaster on fallen cable at Osoro junction area in the market. It was learnt that a high-tension cable supplying electricity to the community fell on the shops and ignited the fire. The Chairman, Osoro section of the market, Mr. Felix Okoro, said no casualty was recorded but goods valued at millions of naira were consumed by the fire. Also, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said his men responded promptly upon reception of distress call. Fadipe said they combated the inferno till about 10a.m. before putting it out completely. Meanwhile, businesses were going on at other sections of the market, while the Osoro section traders were crying over what has befallen them. One of the traders, identified simply as Mr. Uche, was being consoled by other traders as he was crying profusely. A trainee trader said he did not hear about the incident until he got to the market.

The scene of the fire

N50m fraud: Artisans arraigned for cloning Ambode’s phone number Muritala Ayinla

epartment of State Security (DSS) yesterday arraigned two artisans before an Isolo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly cloning the mobile line of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. The suspects, Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole who claimed to be a cocoa dealer, allegedly used the governor’s cloned phone line to send a text message to the Accountant General of the State requesting for transfer of N50 million. They were said to have attempted to perfect a N50 million transfer when they were nabbed by the DSS. The prosecuting counsel from the DSS, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun, told Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo that the suspects were arrested after using the cloned mobile line to send the text message of N50 million request to the Accountant General. He said the suspects conspired with others now at large to commit the crime on Febru-

ary 10, about 10:02 hours. After the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty, while the prosecutor suggested they be kept in protective custody pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in view of

Taiwo Jimoh

Lagos State High Court sitting at Epe in Lagos State has ordered Toll Systems Development Company Limited to take possession of 1,561 hectares of land at Lakowe village, Ibeju-Lekki. Justice Mufutau Olokoba made the order in suit number LD/4320/2014 pursuant to an application for possession entered by the firm against the defendant, an ‘unknown person’. The application was supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit and a seven-paragraph further affidavit filed and deposed to by Mr. Adewale Odutola of 1, Mekunwen Road, off Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi.

Pastor’s sons defile sisters inside church ABAKALIKI

wo brothers, Chiemerie Nnamani and Nnaemeka Nnamani, have allegedly defiled two sisters - Favour (7) and Uloma (9) (sur name withheld) at Kafuso Ogwu area of Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The men are sons of a pastor of the Assemblies of God Church in the area. A resident of the area, Igwe Moses, said the suspects lured the minors to a corner of the church and had carnal knowledge of them. He said: “This is very bad. How would someone whose father has been preaching against such un-

She, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each and two sureties in the like sum. Adedayo ruled that one of the sureties must be a religious or community leader within the jurisdiction of the court, and that the accused must provide five years’ tax clearance certificates. She ordered the accused to be remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending the perfection of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till May 10.

Jamiu and Oyewole

Court orders firm to take possession of land

City Briefs

Uchenna Inya

the fact that their lives could be endangered by other suspects now on the run. But Adedayo overruled Okerinmodun. The chief magistrate said since their offence was bailable, she was inclined to admit the accused to bail.

godly acts not lear n anything good? “This is discretion of the church. It is not just defiling these children, they have committed a sacrilege. They have sinned against God and man for defiling these innocent children.” When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP George Okafor, confirmed the defilement. Okafor said a medical report showed that the two children were defiled and the matter was already in court. According to him, the children’s parents are living around the church where the father of the suspects currently serves as a pastor.

The applicant averred that Toll Systems Development Co. Ltd. was the genuine owner of the 1,561 hectares by virtue of a Certificate of Occupancy No: 17/7/2003T dated October 27, 2003. Counsel to the claimant, Mr. Ola Faro, urged the court to grant the firm possession “from any person who occupies the lands without the consent or permission of the claimant”. Upholding the firm’s application, Olokoba held the claimant has shown that he is entitled to possession. Olokoba also held that the unknown persons who are the defendants were served with the originating summons but they failed or refused to attend or file any process.

Consequently, the judge ruled that the claimant had established that the defendants had been occupying the land “without the consent or permission of the claimant”. He said: “I am therefore satisfied that this is a proper occasion for the exercise of the court’s power to grant the order of possession sought. “It is hereby ordered that the claimant herein do recover possession of the parcel of land measuring 1,561.20 hectares covered by a Certificate of Occupancy. “Registered as No 17 page 17 in vol. 2003T situates at Lakowe village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, from any person who occupies the lands without the consent or permission of the claimant.”

LUTH blames patient’s death on drug overdose Oreoluwa Aboderin

agos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, has absolved itself of culpability in the death of a patient, Mrs. Ngozi Udebu. In a statement, its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Kelechi Otuneme, blamed Udebu’s death on the overdose of Piroxicam, known to be associated with side effects of inflammation or ulceration of the

LUTH

stomach even at a regular dosage. Piroxicam is a prescription drug used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis among others. According to the PRO, Udebu was a patient in LUTH, having been admitted on March 26 and died about 51 hours later. He said: “Udebue had presented with abdominal pain from her monthly menstrual periods shortly after 40 days of religious fast. She had taken an overdose of Piroxicam (50mg thrice daily for two days) a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killer, which is known to be associated with side effects of inflammation or ulceration of the stomach even at a regular dose. “Following this development, she was brought to the tertiary hospital, admitted and seen by the medical team including an experienced consultant physician. “She was placed on medications for peptic ulcers or dyspepsia after ultrasound scans and other tests. “She was admitted to the medical

News|NATIONAL

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps probe police’s N10bn Boko Haram fund Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to conduct a holistic investigation into

the utilisation of the sum of N10 billion and N8 billion released to the Nigeria Police to fight insecurity and for recruitment of personnel into the force. The resolution was arrived at following the adoption of a motion of urgent public impor-

Metuh's trial politically motivated – Witness Tunde Oyesina Abuja

defence witness in the ongoing trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Metuh's trial is politically-motivated. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on January 15, 2016 arraigned Metuh and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, before Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a seven-count charge of money laundering involving $2 million. The witness, Ike Abonyi, told the court during cross examination by counsel to the second defendant, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) that Metuh's ordeals were as a result of his role as the spokesman for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him,

"Many of us, committed members of the PDP, believed that Metuh got into trouble because of the role he played as the spokesman for an opposition party. "There had been lot of apprehension even before he was arrested in January this year to the extent that he called a press conference to tell the world that the ruling party could come for him any day." Abonyi, however, said the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, paid Metuh to launder his image and that of the party in the build up to the 2015 general elections. Earlier, Onwugbufor had brought an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court. He hinged his prayers on Section 396 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. He argued that the constitution supersedes any other law and the issue of jurisdiction can be raised at any point of trial.

tance sponsored by Hon. John Bull Skekarau (PDP, Plateau), informing the House of the need to find out what the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, did with the monies in question. He said the IGP at a recent interactive session with the House Committee on Police Affairs, claimed that more equipment, including surveillance cameras, had been procured and deployed across the country. But, he was astonished that “the rate of kidnapping, high profile mur-

ders and other crimes in Nigeria were presently on the increase,” adding that information available to him shows that there were inadequate facilities to facilitate the arrest of kidnappers. According to him, despite the N8 billion, which was released for the recruitment of police personnel, the police training colleges were still dilapidated and infested with rodents. “Concerned that the Police Service Commission (PSC), whose jurisdiction it is to organise the recruitment, have

new breakthrough in the treatment of skin cancer has offered hope for patients of the health condition. The breakthrough shows that nearly a quarter of patients with advanced skin cancer saw their tumours completely wiped out after taking the treatment. This dramatic result, revealed on Sunday at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in New Orleans, United States, has given hope of an effective treatment for people diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Melanoma is usually, but not always, a cancer of the skin. It begins in melanocytes - the cells that produce the pigment melanin that colors the skin, hair and eyes. Advanced melanoma means that the melanoma has spread from the area of

the skin where it started to another part of the body. It is also called stage four melanoma. Patients with advanced melanoma - a form of skin cancer - are usually expected to live just a few months and would often be described as having ‘terminal’ cancer. However, the mailonline reported that 69 per cent of patients given a combination of the two immunotherapy drugs - nivolumab and ipilimumab - survived for two years, according to the new trial of 142 patients. The result, to scientists’ surprise, is that 22 per cent of participants had no detectable tumours remaining after the treatment. Both treatments harness the body’s own immune system and use it to attack the cancer. On their own, both drugs are remarkably effective, but fewer than half of the pa-

The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Hon. Lawal Abubakar Garba (APC, Adamawa) calling for the attention of the House in the alleged misappropriation of pension fund by the PTAD. Leading debate on the motion, Garba said the PTAD has recorded some achievements like the removal of ghost pensioners from the system, re-enrolling over 4,000 genuine pensioners, who were unjustly removed and minimising loopholes in the payment to its barest minimum.

Protest by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), over Arik Air's indebtedness to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), at the GAT, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

The total number of goals scored by Argentina at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

0.47

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

Treatment breakthrough offers hope for skin cancer patients Appolonia Adeyemi

commenced the process without corresponding preparations by the Nigeria Police Force.” Also, yesterday, the House directed its committee to investigate the activities of the Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in managing the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) since inception. The committee is to also determine the level of compliance by the PTAD with the Pension Reform Act, 2014 in the execution of its mandate and report back to the House in six weeks.

tients respond to each drug. Combined together, the drugs seem to create a far more powerful ‘twin attack’ and they work for a greater number of patients. But the international team of researchers in the presentation warned that a double dose also increases the risk of side effects. The treatments are each already available on the National Health Service (NHS) individually.

The manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, has submitted an application for a safety licence to the European Medicines Agency, with a decision expected in June. Dr. Stephen Hodi, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the United States, who led the trial said: “These data contribute to our growing understanding of this aggressive cancer and are promising news for advanced melanoma patients.”

‘Dishonourable Nigerians to be stripped of national honours’ Ebere Ameh

n line with the stand of the current administration to fight corruption and for the national honours award to retain its prestige, recipients who conduct themselves in any dishonorable manner would henceforth be stripped of such national honours. This was disclosed yesterday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, while inaugurating the newly reconstituted Committee on National Honours Award in his office. In a release signed by

EFCC disowns anti-corruption award to Ekweremadu Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dissociated itself from the "Anti-Corruption Ambassador" award bestowed on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The anti-graft agency yesterday described the

action of its National Assembly Liaison Officer, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, as highly unprofessional. Bakari bestowed the award on Ekweremadu. The EFCC, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said its attention was drawn to some publications (New Telegraph not included) yesterday, wherein the Special Ad-

viser to Ekweremadu, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, had quoted Bakari to have said: "On behalf of my acting chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, I decorate you as an Anti- Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office

the Director, Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, the SGF said national awards has two purposes, which are to recognise and honour citizens and friends of Nigeria, who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours and contributed immensely to the development of the nation. He added that the recognition is also intended to serve as motivation for all Nigerians to emulate the exemplary conduct and services of those being honoured and inspire them for such national recognition. and as a symbol of the institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly." But, the anti-graft agency has maintained that its officer at the National Assembly overstepped his bound, as the only constitutional mandate vested on the commission, is that of fighting and prosecuting economic and financial crimes in the country; it does not award titles to individuals.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Governance Agents of corruption still in the system – Fagge

Politics Chief Olabode George is a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). In this interview, he speaks on the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party and the state of the nation. WALE ELEGBEDE brings the excerpts There are insinuations that you’re going to run for the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if zoned to the South-West…. On the issue of national chairman, like I said and I mean it, I have no plan, no ambition, blighted or straightforward looking for it. I know a lot of my friends and elders have been saying that ‘if it is zoned to the South-West, we are going to push you.’ You know we are in opposition and there is no Villa anymore, no president to decide for the party, thus, the management of the party must be different. It has to be serious strategic thinking and network with the people for you to take decisions. I worked under President Muhammadu Buhari and he is not an easy man to deal with. You must have superior arguments that will appeal to the hearts and mind of Nigerians towards 2019. It is not time for jobs for the boys. This is serious management time for the party, serious thinking, strategic and experience. We are all watching. What is your take on the position of some stakeholders in the South-West over the zoning of the party’s chairmanship seat to the North-East? When I read about some of our people from the South-West who went to see the national chairman and said they didn’t want the party’s chairmanship to come to the South-West, my initial reaction was of anger. When we started the journey to rebuild the PDP in the South-West, none of those people was a member. How can anybody in a family go out and wash your

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

Interview Oshiomhole right with Obaseki’s choice – Idahosa

13 14

PDP chairmanship not job for the boys – George

the economy? Do you think the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government is doing enough? The present government has a mandate of four years, Nigerians gave them four years. We are all watching so that we can be better in our approach to resolving the problem of this country. It is not a matter of hurling them down; they have a four year mandate. The beauty of it is that Nigerians are no fools, they are all watching. It is not the time to start firing salvo, it is our nation, don’t let us join to pull it down, I beg you, it is our country.

George

dirty linen in the market? But I want to assure them that I have no luster, it’s not a matter of life and death to come and serve. I was distressed but the outing was a disgraceful thing. A lot of my friends from the North called and said that we heard some of your people are saying no to the chairmanship, but they said that they have accepted that the presidential candidate would come from the North and that is what they stand on. Expectations are high on the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party. What do you envisage? Our National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has a very significant role to play in this crucial transitional process as we move towards our congresses and the national convention. His task is very daunting and challenging. I wish him God’s guidance as he maneuvers carefully in re-establishing a solid foundation for our party. I implore him to be faithful to his words and his promise in the processes of giving our party a new strong and firm foundation. I want to believe the chairman is an honourable man. He must honour his word to handover to an elected chairman at the national convention on May 21. This is the only way that he will be on the positive side of history. Some of our former ministers and majority of our lawmakers

have been very resolute and sincere in their relentless crusade for fairness and equity especially as it relates to the zoning of the party offices. This is indeed a very delicate issue. The zoning must be predicated on justice and equitable balance to ensure the continuity and the democratic pedigree of our party. The eyes of our people are upon us all. We must be strong and resolute. We must rededicate ourselves to the new horizon. We must put the interest of our party far above any parochial position.

Zoning must be predicated on justice and equitable balance

Could it be said that the parochial interest you mentioned was responsible for the party’s defeat during the 2015 general elections? We lost the last general election not because the opposition party at that time was better than us. We lost the election because there was no unity. We lost the election because we harboured some agent provocateurs whose goals and visions were not about our collective victory but about what they can get for themselves. If we want to prevail in future, if we are really serious about the complete overhaul of our great party, we must never again allow such fifth columnists to gain any position of influence and relevance in our party. We must be very critical and prudent in choosing those who should lead us. What is your take on the state of

How can the PDP reinvent itself as the party prepares for the 2019 election? To rebuild our party, to re-establish ourselves in fresh and determined vigour, we must weed out the decaying roots that can bear no good fruits. We must eliminate through the process of sifting and sorting and discard the poisonous seeds that can endanger the healthy growth of our party. We can never again harbour insidious elements who would plant one foot in PDP in day time and another foot in APC at night. What is now at stake is not about party in-fighting and the desperate tussle for position. What is important now is genuine service and commitment. We must all rededicate ourselves to work as a solid, formidable team. We must first devote ourselves to the path of hard work and absolute selflessness. We must be resolute about sacrifice and the sincerity of purpose. We must be determined about quality leadership and the pursuit of excellence. Our resolve now is not about personal pursuit. Our focus should be predicated on the summative good and the glory of our party. We must now move away from the dubious recourse to personal agenda. This party is greater than all of us. The unity of this nation is more treasurable than the narrow self-seeking individual advantages. The goal and the vision of our party should be about the greater glory of our nation. We must work and speak as a united body. We must deliberately seek out the best and the brightest among us to occupy positions of leadership. We must immediately discard personal biases and narrow prejudices in our search for credible leadership. We must never again mortgage the collective destiny of our party because of immediate material gains or because of petty animosity against individuals. We are entering a very crucial and critical phase in the remolding and the restructuring process of our great party. There cannot be any mistakes or missteps.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

Dr. Isa Nasir Fagge is the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In this interview with MOJEED ALABI, he expresses concern on the lingering fuel scarcity, challenges in the education sector and the present nation’s leadership

What is your assessment of the present state of the nation? It will be difficult to assess the present leadership without taking a look at the past, because the present is a product of the past. Nigeria for a long time had been mortgaged by the reckless ruling class, which had milked the people dry. Their agents are everywhere but I do not blame them but Nigerians who allowed themselves to be taken for granted for a long time. Today, the long queues for fuel are still there just as we have always experienced it. More than 70 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line and these stories have not changed in a long time. But are there efforts to rewrite the history, I want to strongly believe there are. But we must not forget the fact that the agents of corruption are still everywhere within the system. For instance, I strongly hold the view that this current fuel scarcity is part of the sabotage by people who used to benefit from the rot in our system. They are so used to been allowed to steal the resources of this country. And that is why if you say you are not going to pay subsidy, you are going to face a real war. But my own thinking is that before a government takes up a thing like that, it must have envisaged the likely problems and provided solutions. You don’t subject the people to hardship without looking at all the opportunities, ensuring that people don’t get into the hardship without remedies. That is why for me, I am looking at these people who are coming to say something today and tomorrow they will say something different. And then the next day they will say something entirely different. I don’t think that a serious government should operate like this. Before you talk about an issue, you have to be sure of your facts and be sure that no matter the pressure you going to be subjected to, you have carried out your own analysis of the issue. That is how a leader should behave. In other countries where governance is a serious business, a leader does not come out to talk on an issue until and unless he has all the facts and have taken a position that is acceptable to everybody in government. And as an agent of government, you have to

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agents of corruption

Fagge

come out to take a position, highlighting how you are going to address the problem and you assure the people that within a stipulated time, they would smile again. But that is not the case here. When a leader is challenged, rather than sticking to his words, he recoils and says something else. That cannot be it. It is in Nigeria that we keep having same scenario being repeated, every now and then. This problem of fuel scarcity has always been there since the days of General Sani Abacha, yet people will come out to say in so so days, they will address it and the day would pass and the problem would still persist. That cannot be the way of a government to be taken serious. Such a government cannot be taken for its words. So, this administration needs to be more consistent and reliable. Beyond these criticisms, what could the universities do to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges? I need to let you know that virtually every new government that comes power in Nigeria, ASUU makes a presentation to address Nigeria’s challenges. For instance,

This current fuel scarcity is part of the sabotage by people who used to benefit from the rot in our system

our undue overdependence on crude oil as our major source of income is a source of worry to us and we have consistently suggested solutions but we have consistently been ignored. When Umar Yar’Adua was the president, we made presentations and we did same for the former President Goodluck Jonathan. We have requested for audience with the current president and we are also going to make a presentation to him. We are convinced that one way of diversifying our economy is a sound investment in our university education which will attract foreign students. The capital flight from Nigerians to other countries is in billions of dollars. If we can encourage our foreign students to remain and pursue their education here in Nigeria, once we have good universities with state-of-the art facilities to conduct cutting-edge researches that will compete effectively at the international arena. This was the rationale behind our meeting with the government that we should revitalise our universities by pumping a total of N1.5 trillion to the then 24 federal universities and the government said it

could not do that for three years but that it would only give N1.3 trillion for six years for about 82 institutions (both federal and state institutions). If that was implemented, we would have addressed the rots and decay in our public universities. We would have attracted not just the best brains but also reverse the brain drain in the system. And from this, we would have been generating huge resources which would be more than what oil has been generating for the country. We will make this case again to the current president, because we believe that it will address a number of problems. I do tell my colleagues that I am optimistic that we can change this country, but the challenge is not for ASUU but for all well-meaning Nigerians to help us move this country conscientiously towards development. Nigeria can only move her 70 per cent population living below poverty line through sound and qualitative education. If we can give as many Nigerians quality education, so that they do not graduate to be job seekers but job providers, within 10 years, we would be at par with powerful countries

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

still in the system – Fagge tuals and we have professionals in every field you can think of. Once the leader of ASUU is willing to do the right thing, it is not a difficult responsibility. And I will have to confess to you that most of the things that we have done in the position of leadership in the last four years, are things that are products of effective consultations.

like Brazil, China, and India. So, we are saying sound and quality education will help us to solve many of our multiple problems in this country. As it is now, people still look down on our country but individually we command respect wherever we find ourselves because we compete and overcome. You will be rounding off your tenure of office soon. How has it been leading the union of workers in one of the nation’s most troubled sectors – the education sector? We cannot say it is easy or not easy, but the fact is that leadership at every level is not easy. It is usually challenging because once the people give you the mandate, you have a responsibility to deliver on that mandate. The situation is worse if you hold a position of authority in this country because things are not normal here. It is only when we acknowledge this that we will begin to address the abnormalities and eventually have a sane society where we can compete effectively with other societies across the globe. It’s easy on the other hand because ASUU is a union of intellec-

You will be handing over very soon, are there targets you had set out to achieve that are still pending till date? There are many issues that are yet to be resolved. The first is the non-implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement and another is the NEEDS Assessment Report. What we agreed with the government on the implementation of the recommendations in the NEEDS Assessment Report was that commencing from 2014, the government should make available, adequate fund for the revitalisation of public universities. The sum of N200 billion was to be provided in 2013 and then N220 billion each year from 2014 to 2018, making a total sum of N1.2 trillion. But as at today, the evidence we have is that apart from the N200 billion paid into the account in 2013, we are not sure a penny has been added. Though the Budget Office is claiming another N100 million was added sometimes ago, but not yet confirmed and until the report of the account harmonisation is released, we may not have such fact. The Ministry of Finance is going to give us the current statement of account soon, which will enable us to determine the current situation. That is really a serious challenge because if it is true that the only amount credited is N200 billion, it means that there is a shortfall of about N495 billion, because like I said earlier, at the commencement of each quarter, from the end of 2014, government was meant to make available N55 billion for each quarter making a sum of N220 billion per annum, we are in arrears now for two years, 2014 and 2015, and we have already rounded off the first quarter of 2016. If they had credited the additional N100 billion, then we will be talking about N395 billion deficit. Also, there was an understanding we had with the government on the funding of academic allowance before we suspended the last national strike that government was going to fund the academic allowance of the agreement. Today, the outstanding so far is up to the tune of N150 billion. There is also the issue of the violation of the university autonomy as we are experiencing with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. If stakeholders are hailing the implementation of TSA policy for plugging loopholes in the country’s financial system, why is ASUU moving against it? The university system is a peculiar institution different from other agencies of government. They are institutions that do not give room for the usual government bureaucracy because anywhere researches are done, there

One way of diversifying our economy is a sound investment in our university education

must be constant electricity, water and other municipal facilities. I am sure you are aware that with the introduction of the TSA, the universities now find it difficult to recruit or retain staff in critical areas of need. What is happening now is that you will see somebody, who is very good in the field but because they have not been able to assure him of payment of remunerations, it becomes difficult to retain such a person. Today, universities are underpaid in terms of their allocations, and the internally generated revenues are also mopped up and saved in the TSA. What about endowments and scholarships funds? Now, provision of basic facilities on the campuses has become very difficult and that is why you have protests here and there. While we support accountability, we also believe there should be other means of checking financial excesses on the campuses rather than stifling them of funding. Today, as lecturers, we university lecturers are overburdened with works because many lecturers are leaving the system. They are being poached by private universities and foreign institutions because they are too good to suffer. Most of the new public and private universities now depend on the existing staff of public institutions to build their system. Things do not work that way because the new universities don’t have effective staff development programmes and by this, the intellectual community is being overworked. That is why many of our members have now found themselves sick, while others have died. Since 2013 when the N200 billion was paid as the revitalisation fund, what has been the state of facilities on the campuses? I have participated in the monitoring process of the NEEDS Assessment initiative and I have seen what the universities have done with their own share of the first tranche of N200 billion. Today, if you take a trip to some of these universities, you will see that the terrain is really changing. Many of those institutions I visited really used the fund judiciously, maybe because they are aware the monitoring process is in place. So, we can see that the NEEDS Assessment programme is addressing the multitude of problems in our universities, and we are convinced that the continuation of that programme will help these universities to compete on the global scene. Also, the FGN-ASUU 2009 Agreement should have ordinarily been renegotiated in 2012, because the agreement was to be a three-year running plan for the public university system in the country, and we expected that the government should have set machinery in motion to review it. We hope that before this year runs out, we should have an agreement in place, which would be a product of collective bargaining between government and ASUU. These are major issues really but I am confident that ASUU can get the government to address the is-

sues. It involves all of us, because as Nigerians, we all have a stake to ensure that the government is doing the right thing. What do you have to say about the private universities in Nigeria? Are they living up to the standard? There is an accreditation body in the country, that is, the National Universities Commission (NUC). I don’t know what the body is doing to ascertain whether the private universities are up to standard, but one thing I know is that the private universities are not operating in tune with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitution provides for every citizens right to freedom of association, but the private universities, many of them deny staff that fundamental right, and I think it is wrong. We have to challenge it, our union is willing to challenge it and ensure that we get it addressed in favour of the workers in the private universities. But I also know that the private universities rely to a large extent on the manpower that was developed, using public resources, most of them do not have effective staff development programmes and as such there is a drought of intellectuals in the private universities. They rely on the public universities for manpower. I think NUC should not be granting licenses to universities until and unless they provide adequate evidence that they have effective staff development programmes and be willing to follow them to the letter, so that they don’t parasite on the manpower that has been developed by public universities. ASUU is demanding for TETFund intervention. What is your position on this demand? It is laughable that private universities want to also benefit from TETFund. Have they forgotten that the fund is public money? I don’t see where somebody will establish a private business and then expect public money to be pumped into that private business. I don’t see the rationale behind that. The fact of the matter is that the private universities were actually designed to see if they could help in killing public universities. They had initially thought the private universities could take over the public ones. And since that was not forthcoming, they have been facing the realities, they don’t have the wherewithal to ensure capacity building and most of them are just moving on, collecting money, commercialising education and then giving to students what they do not merit. In most private universities, how many first-class candidates are produced annually compared to the public counterparts? That in itself will show you whether things are being done correctly. Out of the country, I know before you become a first class candidate in some universities, even when you qualify on paper, they still subject you to interview to make sure you are able to defend the first class degree anywhere you go to in the world. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

Hon. Charles Idahosa is the Political Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. In this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA, he speaks on the forthcoming governorship in the state

The alleged backing of the governorship ambition of Mr. Godwin Obaseki by Governor Adams Oshiomhole is creating tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC). Are you not worried that this might cause problems for the party as it goes into the election? It is so strange that many of the aspirants are talking the way they are talking because many of them are old in this business of politics and they know how this thing is done. There is no way a governor of a state will not have an interest about who succeeds him, particularly when you talk about Edo State that was dead when Oshiomhole came in. Today we know how Edo State looks like, Oshiomhole has worked so hard whether anybody likes his face or not, there is nothing you can do about that. He has worked very hard and he must be very concerned about who takes over from him. And let me tell you, I have gone through this road before. I contested for governorship against Oshiomhole, I have ran for Senate in this state before. In the senatorial race then in the PDP, there was no primary, they took us to the residence of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and decided that it was Daisy Danjuma, who should fly the party’s flag and the world did not come to an end. In the governorship election, the same thing happened. And it may interest you to know that in 2006-2007, Osagie Ize-Iyamu was interested in running for governorship and I was equally interested but Lucky Igbinedion called us to his house and said all of us should get out of the race and he warned Ize-Iyamu that ‘the fact that I exposed you for appointment does not mean I was preparing you to take over from me.’ And I remember Ize-Iyamu denying, saying that it was Sam Iredia that was spreading such rumour. That was the power of incumbency. Igbinedion told everybody that he will decide who takes over from him. So, if Oshiomhole comes out now to say ‘I have worked with all these people and it is Obaseki I feel should take over from me,’ I don’t see why the hue and cry. I am the only living person in Edo State today, who contested the primaries of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with Oshiomhole, he won and I accepted to be his Political Adviser. I deliberately disqualified myself from running for the governorship because I know that the era of going to Abuja to collect allocation is over. Governorship is more scientific now. I was one of the few people Oshiomhole gave reasons why he feels it should be Obaseki and in fact, I was happy the governor was only thinking of Edo

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Oshiomhole right with Obaseki’s choice – Idahosa

and they used money through the churches preaching that Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim. That was why PDP won here in the National Assembly election. But you saw that two weeks later, APC cleared the House of Assembly seats because Edo people knew that PDP will want to impeach Oshiomhole and they don’t want that. What will the PDP campaign with? They only seek relevance on the pages of newspaper and not on the streets of Edo State.

Idahosa

with him. So, what do we do now? Do we now allow PDP members to become delegates in APC election? Some are dead, some have moved to PDP, some travelled. So, these are the areas we are looking at and we told the national leadership to check and make the necessary amendments. We cannot allow Edebiri or Ize-Iyamu’s delegates who are now in PDP to come and vote in APC governorship primaries. Yet you see some people who declared for APC yesterday saying we will use 2014 delegates list even when a lot of things have happened since then.

State not his personal self. If he was thinking of himself I don’t think Obaseki will be the one. Oshiomhole has spoken and I think he has his reasons and every right thinking Edo man should go along with him. But I remember the day he told me about his preference I told him there must be primaries and he agreed that we will work hard for the person we are supporting. Some of the aspirants are also alleging plans to change the delegate list by the governor, how true is this? The issue of delegate lists, which those lazy aspirants are complaining about is a storm in a tea cup. It does not make any sense. I can tell you that Obaseki has worked harder than any of the aspirants; he has covered the state ward by ward. He has met all the delegates in each ward in Edo South, Central and North. These people are not working; they sit down here and boast how they will frustrate the governor, which will not work. Nobody is changing any list. Let me start with Uhumnwonde my own local government. When we changed to APC, one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Solomon Edebiri, who came from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), out of respect, was allowed to choose the executive from his ward. He is from Isi, the same place with our leader, Senator Owie. But when he decamped, the executive left with him but their names are still the names in Abuja but they are now PDP members. Ize-Iyamu, who was in the APC then was virtually the sole administrator in the party in most local governments in Edo South. When he left for the PDP, his people left

Oshiomhole has spoken and I think he has his reasons and every right thinking Edo man should go along with him

So, you think Obaseki has an edge over other candidates? I am convinced about what the governor said about Obaseki and I believe him because he is very passionate about the Edo project. Where these people who are making noise got it wrong is that their calculation is that I will oppose the governor when he said this is his candidate. This time around, I said I will not be used to destroy the progress of this state. A lot of people are deceiving themselves, whoever the APC picks will beat the candidate of PDP hands down. People are using the National Assembly election to say it may be different. Edo people know what Oshiomhole has done for them. I play my politics in the rural area, and what people ask is: Where is Oshiomhole’s party before they vote. They don’t ask of Charles Idahosa’s party even though I am the leader in that area. You will ask yourself what has happened that will make Edo people say let’s go back to Egypt. We will beat PDP silly, the beating of 2012 will be a child’s play. PDP spent so much money on the day of the National Assembly election

Are you not worried about the rumour that the Binis may not want an Obaseki as governor? Godwin Obaseki’s father was not even born when the matter some people are referring to happened. There is none of the people saying it now that witnessed what happened. Agho Obaseki was the man they accused. It was the Oba that nominated Agho Obaseki as a representative of the Binis. He was the one negotiating on our behalf. When Oba Ovonranwe died in Calabar, it was the same Agho Obaseki that advised that the son of the Oba should be crowned and Oba Eweka became King. Let’s even forget that, I am Idahosa, my great grandfather was one of those people they took with Ovonranwe to Calabar, he spent 14 years there before they released him. That was how we ended up in Ehor. Our area in Ehor is called Ologbosere’s camp; we are from the line of General Ologbosere who killed those white people. That was why we ran from Benin to stay there and it took them five years to come and capture him there. As we speak, we have seven to eight Obaseki’s who are chiefs today in the palace of the Oba. The grandson of Agho Obaseki became the Iyase of Benin, the number one chieftaincy title. The Agho Obaseki they are calling a traitor was Iyase of Benin and Omo N’Oba Erediauwa has now turned Obaseki title to a hereditary title. So, does that in any way tell you that the palace hates the Obasekis? Because of political reasons, some lazy politicians want to re-write history. Can the Oba make his enemies chiefs in his palace? This is just a weak way of running somebody down. How optimistic are you that the APC primaries will be free and fair? We are going to conduct a free and fair primaries. Our strategy is to canvass for votes from the delegates and that is what the governor will do, not to impose anybody. People are already crying wolf because they know they cannot win, so they want to create this impression so that if they lose, they will say the governor rigged the primaries. Nobody is going to rig the primaries; we are going to have a free and fair primaries. But I hope they should accept defeat after the primaries and work for the party because I accepted defeat after Oshiomhole defeated me in the election and today I am his Political Adviser, that is true loyalty.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senator Ali Wakili representing Bauchi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly believes that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration has tackled the problem of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. He speaks with NANKPAH BWAKAN

Nigerians are expressing worry over the misuse of the social media, what do you think the National Assembly can do to check its abuse? I will like to use this opportunity to address two things. First, I want to use this platform to sensitise our youths against distraction tendencies. The time and energy they expend on the social media should be used in doing something positive that can even generate money for them and their families. Lately, if you go on social media, especially in Bauchi State, you will see some misguided youths opening and operating Facebook accounts with the names of some of prominent politicians and they use the accounts to abuse leaders in the state, which is not good for the state as it has tendencies of overheating the polity. I have directed all my supporters, admirers and social media handlers not to denigrate any leader under the guise of being my supporter or my handler and I will personally deal with such supporters. I want to warn those who think that because they are supporters of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State, they have the right to go on social media and send invectives, wrong information, abuse my personality and denigrate me, I will not take it lightly as I will ensure that the law takes its full course. The cyber crime law is very explicit. Sections 24 and 25 have remedies for some of these problems and I am complaining because I am trying to strike a balance by telling my supporters that they should not abuse anybody. What is your take on the state of the nation? Don’t you think with the current economic situation, which Nigerians are facing under your party could hand the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) an opportunity to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections? I am just hearing that the PDP is still alive from you. I know they are bedeviled with leadership crisis. They have gone to take a person that has the lowest credibility and integrity to be their leader. You have seen how some of them are protesting against the person. Here in Bauchi, you saw how

Buhari has effectively tackled Boko Haram – Wakili

Wakili

some of them were chased out of the state and you are still talking about PDP. I think it will be a dream for anybody to think that whatever crisis that bedevils Nigeria, PDP will capitalise on that stage another return to power in this country. They dragged us into the present mess that we are in. Even though APC inherited the problem, I can assure Nigerians that our party will address these problems very soon but I urge all of us to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari. We all know about the issue of Boko Haram very well but like the APC led administration under President Buhari has tackled the problem almost 99 per cent, and today people from Adamawa,

Today, people from Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states are sleeping with their eyes closed

Yobe, Borno States are sleeping with their eyes closed unlike before that they don’t even sleep. The PDP inflicted poverty of the mind and poverty of the pocket on us. They gave us hunger and made us to be sycophants. The problems that people are complaining about were brought to us by PDP and after losing the election, they resorted to blackmailing people through the social media. Have you ever attended a funeral where after putting the deceased in the grave, bid him farewell and prayed for him and he resurrected? As the Chairman of Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, What are the measures your party is putting

in place to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians? What assurance do you want better than the one given by President Buhari? You will recall that he apologised to Nigerians. He knows that Nigerians are living under hardship but that it will be temporary and if you look at the speedy measures we took in handling the 2016 budget, you will realize that we are committed to alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. You have seen where Mr. President himself has set aside N500 billion to address some of these social welfare gaps and we graciously, in carrying out our constitutional responsibility, approved it. I have sensitised my constituents to form cooperatives, especially the women, artisans and youths so that they can benefit from the scheme. We have said that 500 youths will be employed under the Feed Nigeria Programme. They will receive N27,000 monthly during the programme. They will be sent to rural areas to teach others, so that we can have a very good foundation of our educational system. We are also trying to employ another set of youths to be placed under certain stipends of not less than N10, 000 after talking certain training. We have what is called Conditional Cash Transfer through which close to N3.8 million Nigerians will be fed. Primary school pupils from one to six will also benefit from the programme, so that parents can send their children to school. The sum of N65 billion will be given to farmers and they will be trained to have access to free interest loans. The Bank of Industry Programme will also empower the youth and it will be a continuous programme. We are trying to ensure that entrepreneurship is enhanced, remember that through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, some of them are given the chance to benefit from their entrepreneurial scheme where some get between N5 to N10 million, depending on their capability and the proposals they submit. All these will address the issue of poverty.

Agents of corruption still in the system – Fagge C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

For some private universities’ graduates, when they come out and you engage them in interviews, you don’t understand how these people got the qualifications. We had proposed the review of the NUC Act. It won’t be enough to grant licenses to universities, it must also ensure that they qualify for the licenses, including staff development and workers’ right as enshrined in the constitution. It must also ensure that the person to receive the licenses have the capacity to deliver on the mandate of universities. What is your take on the call for

cancellation of UTME as entrance examination to the universities? In the first instance, that examination is not in tune with the National Policy on education. We are talking of different levels of manpower; medium level manpower, and then high level manpower and then we will bring all of them irrespective of their interests and irrespective of the professionalism associated with what they are going to undertake after the JAMB exam. You now bring all of them together to sit for the same examination, there may be somebody who is very good, that even doesn’t want to be in the university, polytechnics or

monotechnics, but you are forcing him to go into the university. That is not his future, forget about all the issue of choice, but it is expected that whoever performs very high should just go into the university, whether he is interested in the university or not, we faulted the UTME in that light, and in several other lights, at the National Assembly, I wrote the presentation on behalf of the union at the National Assembly but they still looked at it and said we should allow them to continue because they came with all kinds of issues. Now, because the UTME jumbled out as it is, is becoming problematic, and the universi-

ties have people coming in without interest in university education. I am sure of this because there are incidences that are indicating that some people come with very nice results and they don’t need to subject them to the nitti gritty of class room works, lectures, but you find out that at the end of the year, many of these categories of students fall into zero points because they could not score the minimum CGPA. Based on this, the university really doesn’t have an option rather than to introduce another checks and balance in the form of what we now call Post-utme.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Totalitarian governments and house arrests Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-309-7251 (sms only)

n legal term, house arrest or home confinement, home detention or electronic monitoring is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to a certain residence. Travels by the victim of house arrest are usually not allowed or approved. House arrest is an alternative to prison detention. This unjust instrument is invoked by totalitarian government with which to punish their real or imagined political enemies. At this stage, it is instructive to do a random sampling of global house arrests detainees for the purpose of clarity. In 1965, Ahmed Ben Bella, President of Algeria was deposed by Houari Boumedienne. He was sent on exile in 1980. Jorge Videla, President of Argentina was placed under house arrest. Derryn Hinch, a controversial Melbourne based New Zealand media personality was confined to his home for a period of five months. His offence was that he breached gag orders by naming two sex offenders. In Myanmar, Aung San Suukyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel peace prize and leader of her country’s pro-democracy movement has been under house arrest for almost 20 years. The lady of substance was first placed under house arrest in July 1999 and was freed six years later. In the year 2000, she was again restricted to her house and two years later Suu Kyi was released. She was placed under house arrest a third time after the infamous Depayin massacre in 2003. The lady has been on and off detention which drew

the attention of the United Nations. The UN declared that all of her periods under house arrest and detention were arbitrary. She was again released on November 13, 2010. Today, her pro-democracy political party won an overwhelming majority during the last election in which she is playing a prominent role in government to the military junta who constantly placed her under house arrest and imprisonment. Ne Win, former Military Commander of Burma from 1962 was believed to be behind the coup de tat of 1988. The exArmy Commander was also put under house arrest in 2001 until his death in 2002. Pol Pot, premier of Cambodia was deposed and detained when Vietnam was attacked in 1978 by the latter. And on January 5, 2005, former dictator, Augusto Pinochet, was deposed and placed under house arrest by orders of the Supreme Court of Chile. In China, the authoritarian government removed Zhao Ziyang who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party. He was arrested and confined to his house for sixteen years after the Tiananmen square protests and disaster of 1989. His movement to play golf within the country had to be approved by Communist Party of China. Jiang Yanyong, who revealed SARS incident in China was placed under house arrest because he requested the government to investigate the June 4, Tiananmen square massacre. In 1011, Ibn al-Haytham, an Iraqi scientist who worked in Egypt was put out of circulation because he feigned madness. He was however released after the death of the Caliph in 1021. Muhammed Naguib, former President of Egypt led a military coup in 1953 and deposed King Farouk. He was in-turn deposed by Gamal Nasser in 1954 and kept under house arrest. The last Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani had her prison sentence commuted to imprisonment until she was released in 1896. Mohammad Mosaddegh, premier

Shehu Shagari, President of the Federal Republic was put under house arrest

of Iran was deposed in a coup in 1953 and was imprisoned for three years before being placed under house arrest until his death. Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali from 1997-2003. Mehdi Karroubi, an influential Iranian reformist politician, democracy activist, chairman of the National Trust Party, Chairman of the parliament (19891992) and (2000-2004) and a presidential candidate in 2005 and 2009 presidential elections is under house arrest with effect from February, 2011. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, also an Iranian reformist politician, painter and architect, served as the 79th and last Prime Minister (1981-1989). He was a presidential candidate in 2009 and he has been under house arrest since February, 2011. On March 24, 1944, Enrich Priebke, former SS Captain, was condemned to life imprisonment for war crimes during the Ardeatine massacre which led to the death of about 335 Italian civilians. Infact, the Nazi forces of occupation carried-out the killings. Eric spent the other part of his life under house arrest (1998-2013). He died at the age of 100 years. In Nigeria, Shehu Shagari, President of the Federal Republic was put under house arrest on December 31, 1983 following a military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari. Alhaji Shagari was removed from office by the coup plotters while on August 27, 1985, Buhari himself was sacked from office as the Head of State and placed under house arrest by the coup plotters led by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief Moshood Abiola, was also placed under the same condition as Muhammadu Buhari and Babangida. This was as a result of his declaration that he was rightfully the presidential candidate who won the 1993. From the house arrest of some of the high profile politicians and other activists, it is abundantly clear that fascist government practice the concept which is a negation of democracy and the rule of law.

Onwere: Good bye my friend, my colleague John Okon

t was Tuesday’s April 12, i just remembered that my friend and colleague, Mrs. Esajere, of The Sun Newspapars, who was in Aba the previous day (Monday) for a brief meeting with the Distributors and Agents in Aba, in respect of the new cover price of The Sun titles, was supposed to be at Onitsha at that time 1-2pm in continuation of her tour of the Eastern zone, so I put a call to her (Just Wanted To Find Out How It Was Going) ‘Hello Madam, How are you and how is it going? ‘Ah, am not fine o, I have not gone to Onitsha yet o, I was called and told that Mr. Andy Onwere was involved in an accident on his was to Onitsha, am right now in a hospital in Nnewi, where they were rushed to. Ah, an accident?, Andy?, How did it happen? How is he?,Where

did this happen? and so on. Ah, Mr. Okon, it’s a very fatal accident o, infact, it involved four persons, that were inside Keke at Oba Junction. They were run over by a Jeep. Madam said. She continued. It is very serious o, in fact. The Enugu bureau Chief is here too and we have contacted the MD, who ordered that we find a means and move him to a better facility in Enugu, for proper attention. We are making arrangement with an ambulance that will take him(Andy) to Enugu, she added. Ah, then it must be serious, I said. Yes o, they even said his Left Leg is badly affected and may be cut off. Madam added. Oh my God! May the Good Lord perform His miracle on my friend. Andy with One Leg? I said to no one in particular. And so my friend Andy was moved from Nnewi Hospital to The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, after he was stabilized by the doctors on duty in (Nnewi),

where it is believed have some of the best Orhopedic doctors around. My prayers for my friend continue as he arrived Enugu. On Friday I called a brother of his who is with The Sun Awka office, and he told me that he was at the Hospital in Enugu, I then ask ed him how my friend (Andy) was responding to treatment, he said that he was conscious and that he was speaking with them. My joy knew no bound, as I encouraged him to encourage the wife (Andy’s Wife) to be prayerful and hope for a speedy recovery. I also, same day called the Bureau chief to know more about my friend’s response to treatment. Ah, Okon, don’t worry about the Leg o, that one is now less worrisome, he had internal bleeding, as a result, he is presently on Life Support machine. It is that bad o. The chief added. Oh my God. Please see my friend through, that was all I continued

to say to no one in particular. Then. Alas, 7-25am. Monday I got a call that shocked me to my bones. My friend Andy was unable to make it. He passed on early that Monday morning. What a way to die. How could death choose such a day and way to take my friend? I know everybody will die one day, but, how? is the big question. What can I say, Andy, his family, and friends we all can do nothing about this. The one who created has decided to take back his Creation, but I am very sure the creator did not design it this way, but it has happened and there is absolutely nothing anyone of us can do. All we owe him ( Andy) is prayer that the good Lord will repose his soul and give his family and friends the fortitude to bear this great loss. Adieu my friend. Till we meet to part no more. • Okon wrote in from Aba.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies. The Nigeria Labour Congress, backed by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the affiliate unions, had to resort to picketing IE after their 7-day ultimatum to the company to recall the disengaged workers expired. For the three days that the picketing lasted, workers gathered every morning at the company’s premises, singing solidarity songs and disrupting the activities of the power distributing company. Apart from protesting the disengagement of workers, some of Labour’s

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The company said continuing in the talks would be an exercise in futility. Speaking through its Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, the DISCO said rather than engage in an objective and constructive review of the whole appraisal process which is tailored in line with global best practices, Labour preferred an arbitrary review in which reduced criteria would be applied to certain selected employees who are members of the union.

In all of this, some points are salient: Labour has undeniable A responsible Labour an right to protest leadership should any action that they deem unstrive for equity savoury to its and progress members, especially when their members are not well treated. However, in grouses include poor condition of fighting for their members’ rights, service; casualization; no structured career path progression; poor the leadership should be mindful not to trample on other people’s remuneration; harassment and rights. The leadership of Labour intimidation of workers; setting of should not engage in any irresponunrealizable target for staff by the company, among others. sible mission that could harm milThe siege on the company was, lions of Nigerians, their means of however, suspended when IE and livelihood and the country’s econLabour reached an agreement to omy. The leadership should also be set up a committee to review the flexible in negotiations. performance appraisal and compeIkeja Electric’s management, on the other hand, has a duty to tence process. reposition the company and change Ikeja Electric, last week, anthe battered image of corruption nounced it had pulled out of the and ineptitude it inherited from the agreement, citing Labour’s deterNational Electric Power Authority mination to stick to a position that (NEPA) days. Labour should realise the review process was flawed.

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Dispute resolution amid outage

lectricity consumers, under the Ikeja Elecricity Distribution Company, woke up on Monday, March 7 to hear the disheartening news of the company being shut down by Labour. And, for three days, (March 7-9), without any notice, electricity supply to about 12 local government areas and 17 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State was cut off. The implication of this is better imagined than experienced. Economic and social activities were brought to a halt in these areas as a result of the fight of the two elephants – Labour and Ikeja Electric. And, of course, the land (customers) had to suffer the consequences of this action. Millions of artisans who depend on electricity for their daily bread bore the brunt. Companies were not spared. Economic activities in Nigeria’s industrial hub, Ikeja and its environs were brought to a standstill. What compounded the situation was the lingering fuel scarcity. No power, no fuel, no money. Electricity consumers in these areas were literarily brought down to their knees. Asides barricading the entrance to the Alausa, Ikeja headquarters of Ikeja Electric, Labour also shut down and sealed 14 transmission stations and 57 injection sub-stations of the company from where power is being distributed to its customers. Labour’s fury was stoked by the sacking of 229 (Labour puts the figure at 400) workers of the company who were also members of

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that gone are the days when the company was owned by government and the staff would engage in corruption and ineptitude with impunity. Ikeja Electric has been privatized. The onus now is on the company’s management to tweak its workforce to promote efficiency and excellent service which have long been denied the consumers. A responsible Labour leadership should strive for equity and progress. It should be objective, transparent and mature in tackling conflicts and, most importantly, not hold the whole nation to ransom in trying to solve the problem of a few. Most importantly, the consumers, who were shortchanged by the 3-day blackout, should come out of this better in the aftermath of all these. The management of Ikeja Electric should know that their performance rating with the public is at its lowest now. They should shake this off with better performance by providing 24-hour power to their customers. The company should also look into Labour’s grievances and address them without much prompting as a responsive and responsible company. Paying consumers should not be made to suffer unnecessarily for what could be solved by talks. Power is not a sector that should be joked with. Consumers who have had to pay through their noses for sevices not rendered by DISCOS deserve better treatment. Anything short of this is not acceptable.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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21 News Business with the wrong man

ight from his primary school days, Nwafor has demonstrated his ingenuity and creativity in the world of Science and Technology. That was when he constructed prototype of a tipper lorry and electric table fan and crowned his talent with an aircraft. He, thus, became the first Ebonyi man to construct an aircraft. This endeared him to the then Ebonyi State government under the leadership of Military Administrator and Commissioner of Police, Simeon Oduoye, who used the occasion of the 1997 cultural carnival to offer him N10, 000 to enable Nwafor complete his education at Government Technical College, Enugu. His creativity came into limelight during an educational programme tagged ‘’Mobilization of schools for Agriculture and Industry’’ (MOSAI) instituted by the Col. Robert Akonobi’s administration of the then Anambra State, which gave young stars the opportunity to showcase their talents. He is now an HND holder in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Management and Technology, (IMT) Enugu, which was made possible by the Oduoye administration. Speaking to New Telegraph, he said “I have read up to HND in Mechanical Engineering at IMT, but along the line, the scholarship given to me by the former administration in the state met bottlenecks due to bureaucracy arising from the government and some agents concerned. “It’s as if the matter has been forgotten for years now. That is why I want to remind the government that I need to learn further, because as it stands now, Nigeria needs technology to create impact in the world of today.” He said that he did not fold his hands and waited for manna to fall

Who’ll help Nwafor fulfill his dreams?

The aircraft . Inset: Nwafor

Godwin Nwafor is a native of Ikwuato Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He is a talented young man who has carved a niche for himself in the world of science and technology. But lack of funds has adversely affected him to fully exploit his potential. UCHENNA INYA in ABAKALIKI writes.

from heaven, as he made efforts as far back as 1997 to get the attention of the Federal Government, stressing that as at then, ‘’the Lagos State Ministry of Education recommended me to so many secondary schools, especially in Ikorodu, where I toured all secondary schools in the area and after assessing my work, they gave me a letter of recommendation as well as some financial support.’’ According to him , five years ago, it would have cost N7million to train him as aircraft engineer but he narrated that with the current economic situation, it could take up to N10million to train him in that course. Asked how the state will benefit if given the assistance he is looking for, he said: “I will be able to train others in the same field and it will go a long way to creating employment’’ He said his area of focus is aircraft maintenance services. Having a father as a blacksmith, Nwafor said that he learnt a lot and

was inspired to do more than just being a local blacksmith, having worked alongside the father to produce so many things. “I posses the ability to drive my father’s profession as a blacksmith.” he stated. On how he constructed an aircraft, Nwafor pointed out that he was motivated to construct the aircraft after watching the showcase of all aircrafts that participated in the war between Iraq and Kuwait and ‘’I came to like one of the aircrafts which made me to start experimenting my knowledge and I lifted some ideas from that aircraft. But it took me two years to finish that my ‘aircraft’. “I went to places like Kaduna airport and Shell, where I watched the mechanism of aircraft, especially helicopter. More to it was that I know the principle behind lifting. I know the degree the fan will get and it will conquer the force of gravity and when such happens, the object will begin to lift. “I brought some of the ideas from my father who has been a blacksmith,

and as it stands now, I have acquired more ideas, it’s just that I have not been encouraged.” “My major concern is for the state government to project me. Let the governor link me up with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. Secondly, they should empower me financially to enable me render services to my state and country.’’ ‘’For the scholarship, I still want to continue if there is need for that. It pains me that I have stayed for so many years after graduating from IMT since 2008 without putting my talent into adequate use. I want to make my state proud. I want people to know that Ebonyi is a state to contend with in terms of technology. I want to serve my state. I had invitations from other states, but I insisted that I will stay back in my state’’. Nwafor has received several certificates and recommendation letters and participated in the 17th Lagos International Trade Fair in November 1997, Enugu State Festival of Arts and Culture (ESFESTAC) 1993 (first class) among others.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tough times in Imo

For residents of Imo State, tough times have taken over. Owing to the acute fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply and the non-payment of salaries to workers in the state, living has become unbearable. While workers gnash their teeth in agony, the ordinary citizens is in quandary on what life has become. STEVE UZOECHI reports from OWERRI

ess than a year into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians seem to have been plunged, so speedily, into the worst level of socio-economic hardship experienced in recent history. All empirical indices spell doom and the saddest point of note is the reality of no concrete solution in sight as policy makers and core managers of the economy seem at a loss as to what next to do. There is no clear cut intervention effort deployed except for the prevailing guessing game. Essentially, a consumer economy with comparatively little capacity in the production industry, Nigeria depends largely on imported goods, imported technology, imported vehicles and even imported fuel to thrive. With a very poor exchange rate for the naira, even importation has become a Herculean task. While the Naira has sustained its free fall, with price of fuel probing space, Nigerians from all walks of life feel the pain. The politically aligned and the non-aligned; the activists and the conformists, all seem to be gradually finding a common ground in the mutual and widespread hardship facing the populace. Kissinger Ikeokwu, a lawyer notes, “Nigeria operates a ‘generator’ economy where every family and business premises must own a power generator to access power supply. In the last dispensation, power generation was upwards of

5,000 mega watts but since the administration of President Buhari and in spite of their loud claims of fixing power in six months, power generation in Nigeria has continued to dwindle to the point that it has become an embarrassment for government to even voice available mega watt for distribution.” Continuing, he said: “In recent times, there have been hints to power generation hitting an all time low of nearly zero mega watt. In spite of the woeful power generation, government in a worst display of insensitivity increased power tariff by more than 45 per cent. Yet same government has succeeded in supplying more of ‘darkness’ than electric power, thus forcing the despairing public to rely solely on generators for power supply in the face of widespread scarcity of fuel.” Our correspondent reports that price of fuel in Imo State for instance increases progressively by the day. If fuel sells for N170 in the morning, by evening, it will sell for N190 and by the next morning, it is selling for N200. Presently, the product is selling for N240 and there seems to be no government authority or agency in charge of regulating the price of the product. Government seems to have abdicated their duty to the people and have abandoned the already exasperated public to the whims and caprices of shylock petroleum marketers, who solely decide at what rate the product sells.” According to Achara Ejike, a state civil servant, “Even the major

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

here is no doubt that Anambra State has the highest number of gully erosions threatening virtually all the 177 communities in the state. That is even as the menace cuts across other south eastern states. Some of these communities have been cut-off from their immediate neighbours while farmlands and economic trees are collapsing on daily basis. Ezira Community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State is one of such communities in the state that is currently in ruins and agony over the devastating state of gully erosion in the area. The community, which is one of the agrarian communities is made up of three villages- Ubaha, Obotu and Umuo-

Vehicles queue at a filling station

marketers in the state prefer to shut down and divert their products to the independent marketers who can sell as they will without any government interference or regulations. At least, that is what it seems presently.” He lamented that, “the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Imo State for one seems to have no job or responsibility in the prevailing situation. While they perambulate the city of Owerri, as they do for convenience, fuel merchants continue to exploit the public with iniquitous price regime unchallenged in all the outskirts of the state capital and suburbs. In Imo, fuel price is unregulated, dispensing meters at filling stations are all unregulated and nobody cares, thus fostering a system that is economically strangulating.” Mrs. Debby Ibezim, a proprietress of a business service centre affirms that, “most homes are in darkness, most big businesses struggle to keep their power generators running while small businesses have partially shut down while waiting for a better condition that has taken quite too long in coming.” People are indeed passing through excruciating conditions in Imo State, especially government workers, who as at the time of filing this report, were paid last in January with most of the parastatals yet to get January salary. This is April and those paid in January were paid only 70 per cent of their full salaries. Evidently, cost

of food products, goods and services have gone off the roof. Needless to mention that school fees have to be paid, accommodations have to be renewed and people still need to transport from place to place in spite of the more than 100 per cent hike in transportation cost across the state. Living is tough in Owerri and the people are desperate. There seems to be nobody watching or willing to attend to their cries. The faith of the people in government has been strained, almost irreparably, while their faith in God has been stretched. The common line in Owerri today has become, “If not for God…” It is that bad. For Mrs. Joyce Iroakazi, an optometrist, “What could anybody do in a system where salaries are not being paid and cost of living has increased by almost 300 per cent in much the same way fuel price has been hiked by nearly 400 per cent. It is even more exasperating to think that government has done absolutely nothing visible to cushion the harsh impact of their poor policies or apparent helplessness in the face of large scale recession. This is the perfect scenario for chaos and public outrage.” With no palliative measure in sight, the quiet groaning of Nigerians is gradually but steadily building up; and the country, if nothing is done to mitigate the situation, is heading towards a massive upheaval. To say the least, pandemonium looms large.

Ezira awaits Obiano’s promise hia/Oki and specializes in production of yam, cassava, beans, plantain, Okro and other vegetables. But a lack of access road to evacuate these farm produce to major cities in the state has been its major drawback. A visit to the community revealed that the seven kilometre road that spans from Eke Ezira market to Uga and Ekwulobia through Onne, Agbudu, Umuchu and Achina communities is not motorable as the two major bridges (Aghommili and Omumu bridges) that linked the road had recently collapsed. The Chairman of Ubaha Ezira Community, Mr. Jude Umunna, said the community had sent a Save-Our-Soul call to the state government but no help had come so far until recently when the community decided to apply palliative

measures on the road. He explained that the community was able to commence work on the road through the help of an Umuchu born philanthropist, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, who he said donated the sum of N500,000. “It’s now the rainy season and tropical rains will continue to dump on the road till September or October, digging more ditches and causing more harm to the community. “Our greatest regret is that our governor flagged off the road in March last year during the House of Assembly election. He brought in Caterpillars and bulldozers which motivated our people to vote massively for his party, APGA. “Now, look at the problem we are facing to evacuate our farm produce and Ezira is one of the food baskets of the

state. We are therefore appealing to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to mobilize the contractor handling the road project to commence construction. Another community leader, Ichie Christopher Mbah, regretted that “before now, people come from far and near to buy farm produce from Ezira, which is no more so today due to poor network of roads. Mrs. Nwano Roseline and Susan Okeke said access road and palliative measure in controlling the gully erosion are the basic needs of the community while commending their community leader, Jude Umunnakwe for attracting assistance from government and some public philanthropists like Ezeemo, who donated money to the community.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

Music stops for female singer mysteriously

She was a female gospel singer. He is a pastor. Both had an interface on the social media, leading to an appointment in a hotel in Benin City. Wham! The corpse of the lady was discovered in the hotel by the police. What happened is the riddle the police is trying to unravel. CAJETAN MMUTA reports from Benin

The late Yvonne

or the family of Mr. Odion Omoarebokhae, the world seems to have suddenly collapsed and the centre can no longer hold. They are presently at the crossroads with millions of questions to which answers are not coming from no one at the moment. Omoarebokhae is daily in tears and pleading for help with the world that often abandons its own. It has failed to offer help over the mystery surrounding the sudden death of his heartthrob. Not that he could have stopped the cold hands of death if he had seen it coming even in his matrimonial home but the twists and turns that has continued to trail the death of his wife, Mrs Yvonne Omoarebokhae’s in a hotel room is driving him nuts. While tongues are wagging and tears continue to roll amongst friends, associates, fans and family members of the deceased, the hubby, Omoarebokhae is locked in somewhat irreconcilable chess game with forces of the Nigerian police, the suspect, Apostle Psalm Okpe, a Lagos based Pastor of the Fresh Oil Ministry as well as the former lawmaker in Edo State House of Assembly, who is also the owner of the hotel where the wife had died last two weeks.

For Mrs. Yvonne Omoarebokhae and Apostle Psalm Okpe of the Fresh Oil Ministry, the several months of speculative secret social media romance in the minds of some inquisitive public, if ever, the Christian brother-sister tie and such Godknows which business the two had before now which the world also is yet to be told and come to terms with, had last week Friday turned sour. It was an awry scenario when news filtered the air that the young Yvonne Omoarebokhae, a gospel singer whose popularity had gained ground among fans, various families and peers, was suddenly found stone dead in a hotel room in the ancient capital ton of Benin, Edo State. She was reported to have had a gospel musical contract deal with her face book friend and the Lagos based pastor, Apostle Okpe. The “man of God”, who is presently cooling his heels at the state police command was said to have invited the woman to the hotel located on highbrow Government Reservation Area on Thursday to seal the contract deal for her to perform at unspecified venues for the Christian crusades slated for Warri and Asaba respectively, although, details of the musical deals were yet to be made public by both the deceased family and the police in the state. The

shocking and dramatic death of the woman had attracted the ire of family members and friends, who stormed the hotel with entreaties about the ugly development. The husband of the deceased, Odion, disclosed that his wife had met Apostle Psalm on facebook after several months of chatting with him. The arrival of the strange guest, whose encounter with the gospel singer and mother of a child had been on social media, into the air conditioned room and warm embrace of brother and sister in the Lord mysteriously became bleak with many webbed theories in the process. According to Mr. Odion , Yvonne’s body was found in a hotel owned by a former lawmaker in the state House of Assembly (name withheld). He said Apostle Psalm had claimed to have Christian crusade programme in Warri and Asaba respectively where his wife was to perform. The now widower explained further that his wife had called him at about 10am last Friday that she would be home soon and that same day “at about 9:30pm, the police used my wife’s phone to call and invited me to report at the Airport Road police station”. But curiously and stunned at what was amiss while at the divisional police station, he stated that, “I waited for more than two hours at the police station until the police asked me to go home but I insisted on knowing the whereabouts of my wife”. He pointed out that, “The DPO later told me that my wife was picked at a hotel in the GRA and rushed to the Benin Central hospital where she was confirmed dead”. The distraught husband said: “I am yet to see the corpse of my wife to know what happened and who is responsible for her death”. Mrs. Omoarebokhae had a three year old child for her husband before death stopped her and music career. We have a three-year old baby at home”, the husband stated. While Apostle Okpe is helping police with useful facts in their investigations, the social media is abuzz with truths, half-truths and gossips as well as speculations as to what may have led to the death of the gospel singer. The owner of the popular hotel where the woman had died was reported to have also denied any knowledge of such sad occurrence in his tourists’ centre glaringly located within the densely populated GRA. The state commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who confirmed the death of the gospel singer to newsmen, said the matter was being investigated

and a post mortem will be carried out by police pathological doctor, an exercise, he said, would be conducted in the presence of both parties. Ezike stated that a post mortem examination will confirm the cause of death of the victim. He said, “It is under investigation. The man is married and the woman is married. Not until a post mortem is conducted, we cannot conclude what happened. I have asked the matter to be transferred to the State CID.” He added that, “The matter is under investigation and if you are investigating a matter that has to do with death, a post mortem must be carried out by a pathologist and all parties to the matter will be availed the opportunity to even bring their own pathologists so that it is not shrouded in any controversy. As soon as we are ready with that we will get that performed”. Aside, critics are raising questions on what the singer, mother and housewife was out for in a hotel room till such an hour alone with another man whom she met on social media and why was she was not with her husband as at the time of discussion for the musical programme which only God knows whether its desginated performance venues were true or not and why would her husband from whose mouth it was revealed that his wife was chatting with the strange guest not be bold to question such exercise and what was the chats all about? On the fate of the owner of the hotel, the police commissioner said; “What happens to the houses where people die every day? If you are a landlord and a tenant dies in your house, what will happen to you; arrest will be made of the landlord. It depends on what you are investigating. What I am investigating is sudden and unnatural death. I am not told anybody was shot. I am not told anybody was matcheted. I did not recover any bottle or thing that suggested something was swallowed. So, not until a post mortem is done, we will not know the cause of death. Matters are situated before you do anything.” As at now, the embattled man of God at the centre of the woman’s demise has dramatically deleted his face boo account in order to dodge the raging controversies. Apostle Psalm Okpe until the ugly incident, was seen by both his church members and admirers as an international minister of word of God. He also has depth and inspiring messages that changed the lives of many. According to online media, the Fresh Oil Ministry ministry was established in Nigeria and South Africa with the General Overseer’s penetrating daily television broadcast on MBI and ACBN, with target on millions of audience across the nation and other African countries. With the Fresh Oil Media, Havilah Bible Institute and the Fresh Oil International Ministries with Headquarters in Lagos, and World Apostolic Fire Network that spans over 12 nations around the globe, the Apostle for now remains the focus in a world that is haunted by sex, gay, crime and all forms of criminality including kidnapping, prostitution, divorce and terrorism.

south-south

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business with the wrong man

or more than two months after her abduction, the whereabouts of Ms. Eunice Eno Udo, has remained a mystery to the family, raising anxiety that she may have been killed. Udoh, a former contract staff with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), hails from Atibe community, Afaha Eket in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The victim, 34, according to the family, was allegedly seized and taken to an unknown destination on February 4, 2016 by a business associate, one Chigozie Chidiebelu Chinweuba. The suspect, who has since been arrested, it was gathered, is currently undergoing interrogation at the Zone 6 Headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, where the case had been transferred to. Worried by the slow pace of the investigation and prosecution of the matter, the family has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, demanding justice. The two-paragraph petition entitled: Re-Case of Abduction of Eunice Eno Udo by Chigozie Chidiebelu Chinweuba, stated that the suspect abducted her in the process of transacting a business deal with her. Narrating their ordeal, the elder brother to the victim, Akpan Eno Udo, presumed her sister may have been killed, but urged the IGP to use his good office to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the woman, whom he said “was our bread winner”. He recalled that when her sister was dropped as a contract staff of Mobil, she took some of her vehicles, including a bus to the car stands in Uyo, for sale, but ran into the suspect, who offered to buy the vehicle. The suspect, who hails from Omuogba in Onyigbo Local Government Area of River State, was said to have been connected to the business by another suspect, one Obasi, who is still at large. According to Mr Akpan Eno Udo, the suspect was taken to the stand along Ikot Ekpene Road to see the vehicle before the transaction. The sister was said to have driven to the stand with her private car from her residence at Nnung Obio Enang area along Idoro Road, Uyo, for negotiation before disposing the bus after reaching agreement. “After the agreement to sell the bus had been reached by both parties, my sister parked her car at the stand and was driven in the bus by the suspect to pick the vehicle documents in her house. After fetching the particulars, the suspect drove my sister with the bus to an unknown destination”, he lamented. The following day, the suspect, according to him, disguised in Navy kits, went to the stand, picked his sister’s car and drove to the house, where he ransacked and carted away other vital documents of lands and vehicles. A Hausa man, the security manning the gate to the victim’s

She had put up her vehicle for sale. She got a ‘customer’, who reached a bargain with her. The only thing that remained was the exchange of documents of the bus from the seller to the buyer. The snag! The buyer kidnapped the seller. Two months on, Eunice Eno Udo has not been seen by her family. TONY ANICHEBE reports from Uyo

Missing Eno Udo

house, it was gathered, had revealed that the suspect had earlier made phone call in Hausa language to alert some people that he was bringing the person.

“When he (the suspect) made the conversation on phone to intimate his accomplice that he was bringing somebody to them, he did not know the gateman was a Hausa man, who

also understood the language. This revelation forced us to report the matter at Itam Police Station. “The case was later moved to the State Headquarters before we made effort for the matter to be transferred to Zone 6, Calabar, because of shoddy handling of the case”, Mr. Udo explained. Heavily traumatized, her father, Chief Eno Udo Unanaowo, lamented that her daughter was the major bread winner in the family and urged the Police to expedite action in the matter. “Her seven year-old daughter has been in tears since her mother was abducted since February 4, 2016”, he disclosed, adding that only her rescue would save the child from the traumatic life without the mother’s warmth. “Due to the shoddy investigation process at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, we wrote a petition for the case to be transferred to Zone 6, Calabar, for proper investigation and prosecution of the culprit. “We therefore appeal to you sir, to use your good office to prevail on the AIG Zone 6, to carry out a thorough investigation that can lead to discovering the whereabouts of Ms Eunice Udo, as the whole family is in turmoil since her abduction. We sincerely believe that with your zero tolerance for criminals of this kind, justice will surely prevail”, part of the petition read.

First Lady, 155 widows in holy land Tony Anichebe uyo

ith a firm conviction in the power of prayers of widows, the Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel, has taken the nagging issues confronting the state and Nigeria to God through the knees of 155 widows. Drawn from the 31 local government areas of the state, with five from each of the local government areas, the widows were expected to offer prayers for deliverance of the land at some strategic locations Jesus Christ himself prayed while on earth. Worried about issues currently afflicting Nigeria and Nigerians, Mrs Emmanuel holds strong view that widows, as vulnerable ones in the society, have special bond with God, hence their prayers are very likely to ascend faster and touch God for immediate approval and action. Therefore, to tackle ongoing economic crisis and terrorism in the country, Emmanuel said there was need for the knees of widows to go down in prayers to God right in the Holy Land (Jerusalem) as

the strongest weapons against adversity. Her belief is that however difficult the situation may be, heartfelt prayers of widows can move mountains. Apart from the decision to expose the widows to opportunities to contribute to nation building with their prayers, the First Lady said she was further moved by strong desire to give the women a sense of belonging, warmth and love to enable them put behind their sadness and think out positive ways to contribute to the growth and development of the state and country. Taken through various places hitherto read from the Bible, the Governor’s wife believes the women would return to the country and state, better Christians, spiritually equipped to make positive impact on the lives of their neighbours, fellow men, and be transformed to be better citizens of the country. “I sincerely believe you will be going back with blessings, for the fact that you are here. You have personally come to see pictures of what transpired when Christ was here. Because you are here, whatever the enemies may be planning to put you down, you will escape if you have faith and believe in our

Lord Jesus Christ”. “Reflect on the significance of all the places we visited. From Jesus’ example, we are convinced that if we practice what God expect from us, our state and country would be better places to enjoy. We are here to pray for our nation and self. As you go back, go back as transformed and refined christians”. “Tell the people that Jesus is real. We have seen all the places he went through. Our characters must change. We have to be peace makers. It is on our knees that we would conquer Boko Haram. It is on our knees that peace will reign in Nigeria. We are one, irrespective of class, tribe or political party. We are one Nigeria. God answers the prayers of widows. That was why we came with 95 per cent of them”. She said. In company with the 155 widows who went to the Holy Land in the first lady’s entourage were Dr. Glory Edet, Commissioner for Women Affairs; State Coordinator of FEYRep. Mrs. Ime Ephraim Inyang; Wife of the Commissioner for Works, Pastor Utibeimabasi John; Entourage Chaplain,

THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

eWorld

Business What's news Telecoms: Mobile porting rebounds after January slump p.28

LCCI: Dearth of raw materials, forex cut non-oil export

p.28

Regulator upbeat on 2.6Ghz band auction

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

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

Kunle Azeez

Ayodele Aminu

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at April 1)

(Interbank as at April 1)

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

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

Source: CBN

L-R Director, Integrated Produce City Limited, Prof. Pat Utomi; Group Managing Director, African Industries, Mr. Alor Gupta; Chairman, Vigeo Power Limited/Chairman, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mr. Victor Osibodu; Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu and Executive Director, Mr. Abu Ejoor, during the signing of MoU on embedded generation of 100MW electric power in Benin, held in Lagos. PHOTO: Suleima HUSAIN

Regulatory sanction awaits licensee who violates rollout obligations

Deputy Editor (Business)

EXCHANGE RATE

l Foreign Reserves – $27.864bn as at 31/3/2016

SANCTION

The Business Desk

s global and local investors warm up for the forthcoming 2.6-gigahertz (Ghz) frequency spectrum auction in Nigeria’s telecoms industry, government is prepared to enforce use-it-or-lose-it rule on the winners of the auction licences, New Telegraph has learnt. It was gathered that the measure, if adequately enforced by government, would put the bidding companies on their toes to immediately put the licence into use to provide services for the consumers to achieve deeper telecoms access across the nooks and crannies of the country. “If it has been happening before, it is time to stop it from happening again,” Director, Spectrum Administration at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Austin Nwaulune, said in an interaction in Lagos. “The era of an operator keeping a won spectrum licence is gone as Nigerians are in need of seeing the spectrum being deployed to provide much-needed telecoms services.” Already, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has fixed next month for the spectrum band auction, whose licensing, in

2.6Ghz auction: FG to adopt ‘use it or lose it’ rule conjunction with existing spectrum licences, is expected to accelerate broadband penetration in the country. According to industry report, with broadband penetration in the telecoms sector currently standing at 10 per cent, the regulator said it was committed to achieving the 30 per cent target by 2018. The plan to auction the new spectrum is consequent upon increasing demand by players in the industry for more spectrum bands to be released by the telecoms regulator with a view to accelerating pervasive deployment of broadband infrastructure in the country. In the impending spectrum auction, the Commission intends to strictly enforce the ‘use it-or-lose it’ obligation as contained in Section 24 of Appendix F of the Information Memorandum (IM) on the frequency spectrum. The Information Memorandum (IM) defines the process for the licensing of paired Spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band by the NCC. According to the Appendix F of the IM document obtained by this newspaper, the launch of commercial services on the spectrum by the winners shall be no later than 12 months from the effective date of the operational licence.

N44 billion

Being proceeds government expects from the planned auction

Also, it was gathered that the Licensee shall be required, upon award of the operational license, to comply with the following rollout, coverage and service obligation: During Phase I (year 2 and 3), at least, two state capitals in each of the six geo-political zones. For Phase II (year 4 and 5), it is expected that additional two state capitals in each of the six geo-political zones, while in Phase III (year 6 and 7), the remaining 13 state capitals across the six geopolitical zones are expected to be covered. The document stated that within six months from the award of licence, the licensee shall convey to the Commission the schedule of states that will be covered according to the numbers stated above. “For the purpose of this licence, roll-out shall be understood to mean that a service signal is available to at least one-third of the population of each state capital as appropriate. “Where the licensee fails to deploy services as specified, the Commission shall impose such sanctions on the licensee as it may determine. “Such sanction shall include the strict enforcement of the Useit-or-lose-it provision in which case the licensee will forfeit to the comCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

business |NEWS

TRACTION Though slowly, more subscribers are opting for porting services

Kunle Azeez

igeria’s mobile number portability (MNP) space witnessed traction in outgoing ported lines last February after a bearish trend recorded in January, New Telegraph has gathered. According to the latest industry report obtained from telecoms umpire, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), outgoing ported telephone lines were 16,845 in February, having declined to 14,867 in January, this year. However, of the 16, 845 outgoing ported telephone lines from different networks, only 1,312 eventually re-settled on new preferred networks. The number of monthly porting subscribers had reached 17,742 last December but dropped to 14,648 in January, according to the MNP status report. The month-on-month growth

2.6Ghz auction: FG to adopt ‘use it or lose it’ rule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

mission the spectrum assigned to it for the area in respect of which the rollout obligation has not been fulfilled,” the Commission added. Government is projecting, at least, N44 billion ($224 million) as proceeds from the planned auction and would be licensing 14 lots in the 2.6Gigahertz spectrum band to telecommunication operating companies in an auction exercise expected to begin from May 16 in Abuja. The spectrum is offered by NCC on a technology neutral basis and can be used to provide any telecommunications services. For rollout of services, NCC intends to follow the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation setting aside spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced wireless broadband services. Speaking on the sideline of a special reception organised by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) for the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garbar Dambatta, restated the Commission’s commitment to meeting the 30 per cent broadband penetration target in the next three years. According to Danbatta who was represented at the forum by the Director Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, the commission was in a race against time and, as such, was doing all it could to achieve the 30 per cent target as contained in the NBP notwithstanding the current 10 per cent penetration.

THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms: Mobile porting rebounds after January slump Hits 13% monthly growth recorded in outgoing porting in February over the January figure, thus, represents an increase of 1, 978 ported lines equivalent to 13 per cent increment in monthly porting activities. MNP service provides the freedom for subscribers to move from one network to another while retaining their original lines. The service, which is only available on Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications operators including MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Airtel, is available to the current over 152 million subscribers in the country. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and fixed line (network) are not part of the operators offering MNP services currently in the country. Adoption of MNP is needbased, as subscribers only migrate from one network to

another when the quality of service on their existing network is not satisfactory. According to reports, since 2013, the monthly porting on mobile networks has been witnessing bullish and bearish trends and so far, 461,543 subscribers have availed themselves of the service. According to analysts, adoption of MNP is need-based, as subscribers only migrate from one network to another when the quality of service on their existing network is not satisfactory. As such, analysts say the decline in the number subscriber that ported last January is attributable to the seeming improvement in the quality of service on their existing network. Meanwhile, the introduction of MNP in 2013 has widened telecoms consumers’ choices, as subscribers

are able to migrate from one network to another without changing their lines. Following the launch of the service in 2013, telecoms networks in June, July, August, September, recorded 5,802; 6,753, 12,039 and 13,072-ported lines respectively. In October, November and December 2013, the monthly figure also increased to 14,296, 7,830 and 5,850 in that order. The number of subscribers porting their telephone lines also continued in the upward swing in 2014. As at January last year, the number of ported lines were 6,880; 7,080 in February; 13,383 in March; 14,183 in April; 9,365 in May; 10,325 in June and July, 2014, the figure stood at 11,110. By the end of August 2014, the total number of monthly ported telephone lines was 13,878; 18,980 in September; 16,697 in October; 13,578 in November and 10,539 in December.

By January, this year, the monthly ported lines stood at 14,330; 14,801 in February; 14,718 in March; 15,357 in April and in May, the figure stood at 18,071. In June, July, August, September, October, November and December, the figure seated at 21,152; 28,712; 19, 453; 20, 370; 16,579; 18, 258 and 17,558 respectively. In January and February this year, the numbers of monthly ported lines were 14,867 and 16,845 respectively. According to the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, porting service is a need-based value-added service for willing subscribers. He said, “MNP is not a compulsory service that people must subscribe to. If a subscriber sees a need for it, he or she may switch from his or her current network to another and if not, he or she remains on its current network.

L-R: Director, Management System Certification, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Oluremi Ayeni; Director, Metrology, Mr. Obiora Manafa and Acting Director General/ CEO, Dr. Paul Angya, during the organisation’s Maritime Stakeholder awareness forum, in Lagos. photo: godwin irekhe

LCCI: Dearth of raw materials, forex cut non-oil export DECLINE Forex and scarcity of local raw materials have opened up smuggling in the country Taiwo Hassan

he scarcity of local raw materials has resulted to a further slide in Nigeria’s non-oil export, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said. The Chamber said the only alternative to the continued slide was for the Federal Government to create a special foreign exchange window to enable local manufacturers have access to their export proceeds and forex allocation from commercial banks. Chairman, LCCI Small and Medium scale Enterprise

Group (SMEG), Jon Kachikwu, in a chat with New Telegraph, disclosed that manufacturers in the country’s export market were finding it difficult to access forex for importation as scarcity of local raw materials persists. Kachikwu also said that exporters in agro-allied and food sectors were now reluctant to export their local produce from Nigeria due to the foreign exchange crisis. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, is facing its worst crisis in decades, as the falling price of oil has slashed revenues, prompting the central bank to peg the currency and introduce curbs to protect foreign exchange reserves, which have fallen to 11-year lows. Kachikwu said the country’s exchange rate policy needs to be reversed, especially for those in food and agroallied sector, adding that manufacturers in the country were facing difficulties in accessing

export proceeds in banks. His words: “As at last week, the export of finished semi processed food from Nigeria has drop to 65 per cent. Two or three months ago, it was 48.50 per cent but now 65 per cent. You can see that the income from Nigeria’s non-oil export has dropped to 65 per cent. The statistics I read when I was in the United States was that our earnings for 2015 were $1.6 billion from non-oil export. In 2014, it was over $10 billion. This year, I doubt if non-oil export can make it up to a billion dollar because government is not supporting exporters enough. “How can you tell me as an exporter of goods that I won’t have access to my dollars when it is not government that gave me the money or, maybe, grant for export. In addition, government is not giving Nigerian exporters grant anymore. So, on what grounds should the bank

hold on to my money and tell me to sell dollar at N200, when I am still going back to the same market to buy goods already priced at N300 or N350 to the dollar. Are you encouraging me as a manufacturer or exporter of goods? The answer is no.” He explained that this is the reason why the country’s non-oil export has declined to 65 per cent, stressing that it is going to drop more because many people are not ready to export goods out of Nigeria because government gave forex to the banks that are not encouraging export. On the multiplier effect of reluctance to export, the LCCI SMEG chairman said: “Exporters are reluctant to export because of the scarcity of raw materials and forex challenges. Of course, they would rather go through Cotonou in Benin Republic or other neighbouring countries to export their goods and make their monies.

THURSDAY, april 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

InVESTMENT

Gains of Enugu economic summit CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the gains of the just-concluded first international investment summit recently held in the Coal City of Enugu State

he much-publicised first international investment summit in Enugu may have come and gone, but the excitement generated by its expected gains still linger. The summit, the first of its kind in the history of Enugu State, was organised by the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyiled administration to showcase the potential of the state. The three-day economic investment summit held at the Michael Okpara Square, which was tagged: “Oganiru Enugu Economic Investment Summit 2016, had as its theme: ‘’Beyond Oil; Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development.”

Enugu ripe for investment Speaking at the event, Ugwuanyi said that the state government had put in place necessary legislations, institutional frameworks, favourable tax system and special incentives that would make it easier and more convenient for the operation of businesses in Enugu. He stressed that the state is now ripe and ready for business. He recalled that the city of Enugu and many other towns under the old Eastern region were developed with money sourced from the non-oil sector by past leaders of the region, adding that the present administration in the state was out to consolidate on the socio-infrastructural development of the state through exploration of its other economic potential. He stated: “It was therefore instantly clear to us that we needed to think outside the box if we must survive just like our founding fathers in the old Eastern Region who developed and relied on palm and other agricultural produce to build key infrastructure and other social amenities in the region. ‘’We knew that we only needed to view the current situation as another great opportunity to look inwards and harness those potentials, which free oil money had blinded us from exploiting all the while.” According to Ugwuanyi, “the Enugu Economic Investment Summit offers an opportunity for investors from all over the world to come to Enugu State and observe the potentials that we canvass in very clear details. We are boldly and proudly presenting to the world, the overflowing potentials and resources of Enugu State existing in agriculture

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

Ugwuanyi

and agro-allied enterprises with the vast expanse of fertile lands spanning the elevations of Nsukka, the farmlands of Nkanuland and the mountains of Udi and Awgu.” Besides, he said: ‘‘We are talking of opportunities in solid minerals, power generation and distribution, oil and gas, transportation, real estate development, ICT, healthcare services, education, entertainment, tourism and many more. ‘‘The establishment of a Free Trade Zone at the 9th Mile Corner, the existence of an international airport in Enugu and the extensive urban and rural development initiatives of the government, have also helped to open new vistas of investment opportunities in virtually all sectors of the economy.” Protecting local investors In his speech at the event, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, represented by Mr. Ayo Gbaleye, extolled the efforts of Enugu State government in diversifying the state’s economy through investments in the non-oil sector. Fashola, who is the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, urged Enugu State government to emulate the Lagos State example, which initially generated about N6 billion monthly, as it’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but through the provision of enabling environment that enabled the private sector to thrive, was able to diversify and enrich it’s economy, which now generates billions as IGR. Fashola stated that in as much as foreign investors should be welcomed, the interest of local investors must be adequately protected, stating that the local investors are always there to sustain the economy. Another Guest Speaker,

The state government had listed over 17 of its potentially lucrative companies for privatisation

Chief Tony Elumelu, while commending the efforts of the state government in defining a new direction for Enugu State economy, urged it to collaborate with other administrations of the South-East zone, in pursuing a common economic agenda for the development of the region. He listed Nnewi and Onitsha in Anambra State, Aba in Abia State, Enugu, Owerri, Abakaliki and others, as potential towns for various industrial clusters that collectively can redefine the economy of the South- East zone. Also praising the state government for organising the summit, Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, commended the vision of Governor Ugwuanyi in charting a new economic agenda for the state and gave assurance of maximum security to investors on their investments. 17 firms for privatisation Significantly, Governor Ugwuanyi also disclosed at the summit that the state government had listed over 17 of its potentially lucrative companies for privatisation. He said one of the expected key outcomes from the summit would include opportunities for joint venture or outright acquisition through publicprivate-partnership, privatisation and commercialisation of some state-owned enterprises. “Indeed, as I speak, over 17 potentially lucrative state -owned companies and industries dealing in diverse areas of business and production, have already been listed for commercialisation or privatisation,” Ugwuanyi said. The governor recalled that he made a firm promise in his inaugural address, to do whatever would be necessary and within the means of his government, to turn the present economic challenges facing the

nation into huge blessings for Enugu State. To this end, he said that the administration set up a committee consisting “of the very best of the best professionals that Enugu State can boast of and their contributions so far can only be described in superlative terms.” He noted that as a prelude to the summit, members of the committee embarked on a successful investment mission to Ireland that has started yielding positive results. Ugwuanyi said he was indeed proud that the historic event was happening under his watch as the governor of the state and with less than five months to the Silver Jubilee of the state. He expressed the belief that the event would provoke a reordering of the investment priorities and preferences of financial institutions and business organisations around the world in favour of Enugu State in the light of the tremendous benefits that was bound to accrue from the state. He said: “As we intensify our efforts to restore the status and glory of Enugu as the political, administrative and cultural capital of the south eastern part of Nigeria, we are also committed to the mission of transforming the state into an economic power house and a preferred destination for investment in the country. “It is for this reason that we have continued to invest heavily in all areas that will help to sustain a suitable environment for business to thrive. These include security, infrastructural development, environmental improvement, expansion and regularisation of social services and amenities and skills development, among others.”

business \ industr

THURSDAY, APRil 21 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Firm plans to explore packaging industry OPTIMISM The food and consumer goods market will grow by $40 billion in Nigeria in 2010 Taiwo Hassan

igeria remains a key market for the packaging industry considering the fact that almost 50 per cent population of the people are living in urban areas, Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics Limited has said.

According to the company, it is estimated that between now and 2020, the food and consumer goods market will grow by $40 billion in Nigeria, which is expected to be the largest level of growth in Africa. During a consumers’ retreat in Lagos, the Managing Director, Dow West Africa, Tony Groosman, according to a statement, said the company had implemented a growth strategy to support the increasing demand for high performance packaging in response to the regional and global trends. His words: “In growth re-

gions like West Africa, it is events like these that provide ideal platforms to encourage and strengthen dialogue with customers to ultimately further understand market needs and explore new ways in which we can collaborate and capture more opportunities together. It also allows us to further demonstrate our commitment to West Africa and the importance of this growth region for Dow.” The managing director stressed that lifestyles were changing due to a globalised economy, increased urbanisation, population growth, affluence and mobility.

He added that today, consumers required packaging, which provides enhanced functionality, versatility and safety. Also speaking at the event, the Sales Director, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Sami Mainich, said that the event was meant to showcase Dow’s leading products and solutions for the West African packaging market as well as information on the Sadara petrochemical project – Dow’s joint venture with Saudi Aramco – which began production start-up with its first polyethylene unit at the

L-R: General Manager TNT Associates AMEA Region, Mr. Tim Steel; Managing Director, Courierplus Services Ltd, Mrs. Adetutu Sanni and President, Superflux Group, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, at the 2015 Associates Sales Challenge Global award dinner held in Lagos.

ACCI to FG: Co-opt experts in mgt of economy Amadi Nnamdi, Abuja

he Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called on the Federal Government to co-opt economic experts into the management of the nation’s economy. The President of ACCI, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, who stated this in Abuja, lamented that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) were suffering and losing millions daily due to the prevalent economic crises especially with the fuel scarcity. The ACCI boss said: “In the face of the Nigeria economic crises, there is an urgent need to lend the hands of economic experts in the management of the nation’s economic problem. “There are specific groups in advanced countries saddled with the responsibility of making sure that government economic policies are strictly implemented.” According to him, there are groups such as German Economic Team in Germany, White House National Eco-

nomic Council in the U.S and the UK Government Economic Services that handle such tasks in those countries. He said: “This set of individuals also ensures that the government planned agenda are incorporated in the policy implementation. “We believe that the government can evaluate this model, which in our opinion can yield plausible results”. According to Ejinkeonye, innovation and start-ups are the ultimate job creators starting with ingenious ideas, take risks and create value for the Nigerian consumers. He said that the government should institute policy actions that would encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. His words: “Especially in our current economic downturn, it is crucial that we pursue national policies that promote innovation to ensure that there will be enough prosperity to carry on into the next generation. “SMEs having been identified as the engine of growth for any economy, there is need to pay more attention on domestic-oriented industries for the nation’s economic growth.”

end of 2015. While speaking on Sadara project, the sales director explained that Sadara was the largest petrochemical complex in Jubail, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ever built in a single phase and an integral part of the growth strategy. He said that Sadara would provide 1.3 million tons of high performance plastic products from four state-of-the-art polyethylene units supported by a high-tech cracker facility. Mainich added that these extra volumes would enable Dow to increase participation in West Africa and add greater access to a more secure supply to serve fast growing markets across the wider African continent, Turkey, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, and certain regions of the Middle East. His words: “The West African region presents a wealth of opportunities for our customers and Dow P&SP is working hand-in-hand with members of the value chain to ensure this promising future becomes a reality. Dow is taking serious steps to support its next generation of growth and products in emerging geographies. “We are a growth business in a growing region. In 2012, Dow opened its first West African office in Ghana, followed by the office in Nigeria in 2015. Now with Sadara in motion, we will further enhance our collaboration with customers throughout West Africa, bringing additional capacity to the region and providing more access to our global expertise through our teams on the ground.”

LCCI holds commerce, industry awards in Lagos

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has disclosed plans to honour excellence and ethical business practices at its 2016 Commerce and Industry awards. According to LCCI in a statement, the awards are meant to recognise private and public institutions that have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. Commenting on the awards, the Director-General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf, said: “The objective of

the annual awards is to recognise, celebrate and promote private and public institutions that have exhibited the core values of best business practices, growth through innovations, business sustainability and impacted positively on the society. “The LCCI’s commerce and industry awards prides itself as a highly credible platfor m where winners emerge through a painstaking selection process from hundreds of entries supported by robust research and market intelligence.”

Yusuf listed the awards categories to include Banking, Pension, Insurance, Hotel and Hospitality, Power and Energy, Health Care and Manufacturing. Others are Construction, Automobiles, Aviation, Phar maceuticals, Education, Media and Broadcasting among others. “We will be celebrating deserving corporate organisations and public institutions that have made remarkable contribution to the development of commerce and industry, and the economy at large,” Yusuf added.

Firm unveils new 315ml pack Hollandia Yoghurt

hi Limited, producers of fruit juices and yoghurt drinks, has launched a new 315ml ‘Grab ‘n’ Go mixology pack for Hollandia Yoghurt. The product, which is available in Plain Sweetened, Pure ‘N’ Plain and Strawberry flavours, is already in the Nigerian market, a statement from the company said. Commenting on the new product, Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy,

said the new drinks would gladden consumers who love to mix drinks, adding that the smooth texture and taste of Hollandia Yoghurt go well with one’s chosen beverage. He said: “We are committed to ensuring that our loyal consumers continue to get value and satisfaction from our products. “Our customers are being offered great value with the new Hollandia Mixology Grab ‘n’ Go packs, which pro-

vide them a tasty and nourishing option to mix with other beverages.” Deepanjan said that the Hollandia Mixology Grab ‘n’ Go Packs were light and handy, with a specially designed prismatic shape and an attractive screw cap, adding that the products were currently available in traffic, road kiosks, supermarkets, Chi Shops, departmental stores and neighborhood shops across Nigeria.

THURSDAY, april 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

eWORLD

Regulator upbeat on 2.6Ghz band auction The nation’s telecoms regulator’s team stormed Lagos last week to provide detailed explanations on the Information Memorandum (IM) recently released on the forthcoming 2.6 gigahertz spectrum auction slated for next month. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

urrently, the telecoms industry, with over 150 million active telephone lines and close to 100 million mobile Internet users in the country, contributes about 11 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Also, teledensity has increased from less than one per cent in 2001, following the licensing of Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication operators, to over 107 per cent, according to the latest official figure. According to experts, the growth has been fueled largely by the good regulatory regime featuring a level-playing ground created by the regulator to have attracted over $32 billion with efforts being made to attract further investment to develop broadband market. New spectrum auction The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is upbeat to drop some of the regulatory mandates that will further provide the needed fertile ground for accelerating broadband revolution in the nation’s telecommunication industry reputed as the fastest growing in the world. The new drop is the commitment by the Commission to auction the 2.6 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum, a new ‘tonic’ that will help in deepening access to broadband services across the country. Already, the Commission has announced that the auction of the spectrum would be conducted starting from May 17. This development is, however, coming after earlier planned auctions of the spectrum had failed since 2014. It has, therefore, released the Information Memorandum (IM) for the 2.5Ghz spectrum, which provides detailed information on what potential bidders needed to know to be part of the auction exercise, in addition to two appendix documents E and F, providing information on the spectrum band operational licence and band spectrum licence respectively. One of the steps being taken by the regulator to truly drive broadband market is the impending auction of the 2.6Ghz frequency spectrum, which is a booster to the nation’s telecoms industry growth. Globally, over 108 networks

Broadband cables. Inset: Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta

have rolled out on 2.6Ghz while about 408 have rolled out on Long Term Evolution (LTE). Consequently, a team of top officials, led by the Director, Spectrum Administration at the Commission, Mr. Austine Nwaulune, was in Lagos last week to interact with the media, drawing attention to key areas in the IM while providing explanation on grey areas in order to better inform industry stakeholders on the IM. 2.6Ghz spectrum Technically, the NCC said the 2.6GHz Spectrum has 14 slots expected to fetch the government a minimum of for $224 million. The Generic Reserved Price for a slot of the spectrum was $16 million. While a bidder can bid for minimum of four slots, the maximum is eight slots, according to the NCC Spectrum director. He said: “It is a capacity spectrum. The whole essence is to ensure that broadband is available in every part of the nation. This spectrum is considered to be a valuable national resource for which commercial opportunities exist. “The relevance of the 2.6GHz spectrum is that it has global harmonisation that will reduce cost because of the availability of the equipment.” He said that the commission on a technology-neutral basis, offered the spectrum, adding that it could be used to provide any telecommunication service. On the rollout of services,

Nwaulune said the commission intended to follow the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation setting aside spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for provision of advanced wireless broadband services.

The era of an operator not putting a won spectrum licence into use as specified by the licensing conditions is gone

The IM According to Nwaulune, the IM defines the process that the Commission has decided to adopt for the licensing of 2 X 70 MHz paired Spectrum available in the 2.6 GHz band. It provides information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the Spectrum to be made available, the prequalification process, the Auction process and indicative timetable. “Since year 2000, the Nigerian telecommunications market has witnessed major increase in competition driven by government’s liberalisation policies. The development of competition has, in turn led to increased growth in the number of connections and improved services for subscribers as anticipated,” he said. Motive for auction According to Nwaulune who noted that while the planned auction was not driven by the motive to boost government coffer, “the proposed licensing of 2.6 GHz spectrum has been influenced by the need to open up the space for the delivery of present and future generations of broadband services to subscribers in consonance with the Nigerian National Broadband Plan of 2013.”

Prequalification criteria Speaking on prequalification for potential bidders, the director said that for an applicant to bid in the auction, he or she would have to be a licensed network operator in Nigeria and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He said that apart from being registered with CAC, interested parties would be subjected to other set of pre-qualification criteria, adding that only parties that met the criteria would be allowed to take part in the auction. Nwaulune, therefore, urged applicants to transfer an Intentionto-Bid Deposit corresponding to the number of lots they wished to bid for into the designated account in clear funds while stressing that, bidders must not have a relationship with another bidder and not expected to make any public statement during the whole process. “Any bidder found in anticompetitive manner will be penalised,” he said. Use-it-or-lose-it rule to apply While noting that winners of the spectrum licence would have to rollout within a year or forfeit the licence, Anwaulune said that the country was in need of broadband deployment and not for the broadband to be kept. “The commission expects every bidder to develop a business plan that will ensure it meets the rollout obligations stipulated, which will be strictly enforced,’’ he said. According to him, “the era of an operator not putting a won spectrum licence into use as specified by the licensing conditions is gone as Nigerians are in need of seeing the spectrum being deployed to provide much-needed telecoms services”. He warned: “The last one that happened is the last. If delay in putting a won spectrum into use has been happening before, it is time to stop it from happening again.” Conclusion Though the NCC said it had not “checked in” to find out if anybody has applied and the number of applicants that may have been recorded, industry analysts say the 2.6Ghz spectrum would attract investors from within and outside the country, as the spectrum is ‘highly juicy’ and sought-after for deploying high-speed broadband services that contribute to economic development and good return on investment for the eventual winner.

ICT can accelerate devt goals -Report

new report released by Ericsson has indicated that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can accelerate sustainable development goals of any nation. In its 23rd annual Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report, Ericsson details the company’s performance in 2015 in three areas such as re-

sponsible business; energy, environment and climate change and communication for all. The report also highlights how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can enable all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and even has the potential to accelerate their achievement. President and Chief Execu-

tive Officer, Ericsson, Mr. Hans Vestberg, said: “The SDGs lay out a clear path to a more sustainable world, and ICT is a powerful lever to make that happen. We intend to build on our momentum from 2015 so everyone can benefit from the opportunities afforded by the Networked Society.” According to Ericsson research, ICT solutions can help

reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 15 per cent by 2030, more than the current carbon footprint of the European Union (EU) and United States (US) combined. In 2015, Ericsson met the target to offset twice the amount of carbon dioxide from its own carbon footprint with solutions such as smart grids and intelligent transport.

business \ eWORLD

THURSDAY, APRil 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bitflux begins push for 30% broadband access BOOST The commencement of operations by the company is expected to accelerate pervasive high-speed Internet penetration Stories Kunle Azeez

fter over two years of hiatus, Nigeria’s broadband company, Bitflux has finally commenced operations, a move expected to contribute to efforts at deepening broadband penetration in the country, New Telegraph has learnt. The much-awaited commencement of the company’s operations is expected to accelerate broadband penetration, which currently stands at 10 per cent, but targeted to reach 30 per cent by 2018. Bitflux, a consortium of three companies including VDT, BitCom and Superflex, had won the licence after offering bid price of N23.2 million, above $23 million offered by Globacom, the second bidder, in a national spectrum auction, executed by the NCC in February 2014. The auction of the Wholesale Wireless Access (WWA) 2.3Ghz spectrum followed an

approval by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) to the telecoms regulator to license the spectrum band for accelerating the deployment of broadband services across the country. The NCC as a long-term sustainable solution, adopted the concept of Wholesale Wireless Access License (WWASL) to the availability of broadband services and a key component toward achieving the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.

Communications Limited, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, said: “The licence empowers Bitflux to construct, maintain, operate and use a network consisting of a Mobile Communication System, a Fixed Wireless Access Telecommunications System, or a combination of any of these systems deployed for the purpose of providing point-to-point or switched/unswitched point to multipoint communications for the conveyance of voice, data, video or any kind of message.”

According to him, given the unique and novel nature of the wholesale licence in Nigeria and Bitflux’s desire to provide user experience that is unique to its environment, the company engaged the services of KPMG locally and two international telecoms consulting firms, India-based Fairwave Convergence International Pvt Ltd and Dubai-based QTM International Ltd, with specialisation in the subject to undertake the a number of assignments.

L-R: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Executive Director, Resourcery Plc, Mr. Uzo Obi; Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Minister of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu and Chief Executive Officer, Telecel, Mr. Aimable Mpore, at the opening ceremony of Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016 in Abuja… yesterday

How to leverage IT for devt, by Smile igeria’s Information and Communication Technology firm, Smile Communications, has suggested the strategy that could be adopted by Nigeria in leveraging Information Technology (IT) for accelerating its economic development. Chief Executive Officer, Smile Communications Limited, Mr. Michiel Buitelaar, said the way to leverage IT development is for government to create a significant IT industry to serve the growing population of technology savvy Nigerians. “Nigeria has good number of university graduates with lots of IT skills. You need to have a decent infrastructure, as well as common and reliable access to Internet connectivity. Nigeria needs human skill and infrastructure. The economy requires people that can move into e-business,” Buitelaar said. He explained that the introduction of Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) on the company’s 4G LTE network would give Nigerians the needed speed in voice and data connectivity towards contributing to economic development. Buitelaar, who spoke in Lagos recently, said Smile Communications was keen on making another impressive mark with voice as a new complement to the entire package, which it has for the rapidly growing Nigerian market. He said the service would offer

In line with laid-down procedure for licence issuance, NCC announced guidelines and conducted the auction of 30MHz in the 2.3GHz spectrum band. Pursuant to Biflux’s participation in the 2.3GHz spectrum auction, the company won the 30MHz of spectrum on offer and was issued a WWASL. The first and only one of its kind in Nigeria. Speaking on the commencement of services by the company, Director of Bitflux

voice clarity and call reliability. “We are a bit more advanced in our operations than a good number of our competitors in all the market segments. The market is moving much faster in the broadband direction and we want Nigerians to embrace the broadband as the place to be. “There are a lot of quality issues in the Nigerian market and there are a lot of opportunities for those that provide real quality, like breaking one’s call and getting immediate value from the network. The quality of our voice will definitely beat the existing benchmark in the Nigerian market,” he said. The Smile boss explained that the focus of the company was to continue to function as a broadband provider of choice that can take people away from low-speed and low-quality service in a new world that craves for speed. He said the issue of quality must be upper-most in the company’s strategic plans because of the fact that there are lots of small trading outfits in Nigeria that desire very fast ways of getting to their clients before others. According to Buitelaar, the provision of huge digital speed could offers his company the leeway and the added leverage to reach their destination where people can enjoy data speed and talk with voice clarity and confidence.

‘Enugu could become Nigeria’s digital capital’

nugu State has the potential of earning the status of the digital capital of Nigeria, Chairman, Zinox Group, one of Africa’s integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerates, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, has said. He disclosed that the status could also extend to other West African countries by taking advantage of the limitless opportunities, which abound to create digital wealth. Speaking at this year’s first-ever Enugu State Investment Summit tagged: ‘Oganiru 2016’, which held at the Michael Okpara Square, Ekeh said that what

was required is for the state government to enhance the profile of the numerous resources it already possesses and the comparative advantage it enjoys in certain areas. The Zinox Group boss said: “Enugu enjoys a rare privilege of being an established cosmopolitan city and remotely developed rural areas with minimum infrastructure. It is therefore easier for government to take ownership. “The state presently has the largest concentration of ambitious tertiary institutions in the country, you have fiber optic cables laid all over the state, you enjoy cheaper rental cost for qual-

ity accommodation, good roads and the general cost of living is less than 50 per cent of most cities in Nigeria. “The only thing holding you back is the political will and electric power infrastructure, which you can provide temporarily with generators before partnering to build power plants and you will see this state transform into a haven for digital wealth creation as well as smart and quality lifestyle in the 21st century.” Ekeh decried the nonchalant attitude of some South East governors who, according to him, had near zero investment on infrastructure for digital wealth creation in the 21st century.

NCS inaugurates LOC for 2016 confab

he multi-stakeholder Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) 26th National Conference has been inaugurated in Abuja. Themed: “Information Technology for National Safety and Development,” the 26th National Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) will hold from July 19 to 21, 2016, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja. According to a statement made available to New Telegraph, the annual confab is one of the most important

means by which NCS pursues its goal of facilitating the development of an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria through information technology. Comprising NCS Abuja chapter executives as well as representatives of private and public sector stakeholders, the LOC is expected to make effective local conference arrangements in Abuja, to facilitate the hosting of a successful conference based on the values and vision of NCS. In his goodwill message, the Acting Director General

of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commended NCS for its consistency in addressing issues that are critical to the growth of the tech sector through the annual conference. The LOC was inaugurated by the Chairman of the NCS Conferences Committee, Mr. Jide Awe, who informed the committee that the public sector ICT showcase and the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship platform are new features, among others, of the NCS conference.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Health Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. But access to antenatal care and quality care during childbirth could avert unnecessary deaths, reports APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

tinuke Oluwalana’s pregnancy for her first baby was a smooth and easy ride. As the pregnancy approched 12 weeks, she began her ante-natal clinic and fortunately, she was hale and hearty throughout until the eight month, when Oluwalana started experiencing persistent headache and fever. This development prompted her husband, Mr. Cooker Oluwalana to rush her to the Lagos University Teaching hospital (LUTH) where she attended her ante-natal. On taking Mrs Oluwalana’s blood pressure reading, the nurse was alarmed – it was 220/180. Without a second thought, the nurse alerted the doctor on duty that Oluwalana’s case was an emergency. After the doctor’s examination, she was promptly admitted in the hospital for further observation. By the second day, the doctor leading the health team taking care of her informed her husband that since the blood pressure was not reducing the possibility of a ceasarean operation as a quick intervention. The doctor added that the increasing blood pressure could pose danger to both mother and the unborn baby. By the time the blood pressure was checked at 11pm on that fateful day and it was confirmed that despite having been placed on blood pressure control medication, it continued to rise, the health team decided that a caesarean surgery as earlier hinted should be the next move to save both mother and baby. Within minutes, the information was passed to the couple and

APPOLONIA ADEYEMI HEALTH EDITOR

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

Consumption of local foods cut cancer

Coping with stress

When your pregnancy induces high BP around the world every day. “By the end of 2015, roughly 303,000 women will have died during pregnancy and childbirth. Ninetynine per cent of all these maternal deaths occur in developing countries including Nigeria.” In Nigeria, maternal mortality rate in the country is 576 per 100,000 live births (lb). It is estimated that the number of maternal deaths in Nigeria is 40,000 amually the life-time risk of dying from pregnancy or child-bearing related causes is one in 13. What this means is that out of every 13 pregnancies one of the pregnant woman faces the risk of losing her life from pregnancy-related causes. The International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics has identified hypertensive diseases as one of the leading cause of maternal death. A WHO response to addressing maternal death due to not only high blood pressure, but also severe bleeding, infections, complications from delivery, unsafe abortion, among others is hinged mostly on prevention. According to the world body, health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known: “all women need access to antenatal care in pregnancy, A pregnant woman. PHOTO www.drugfree.org skilled care during childbirth, with their support Mrs Oluwalaand care and support in the weeks na was moved into the theatre for after childbirth”. So far, many women fail to acthe surgery. The medical team cess care from skilled attendants. conducting the surgery moved in and by 1.30 am, a baby boy had For instance it is estimated that been delivered, all to the joy of the the percentage of births taken family and the medical team that by skilled health personnel in Nisaved the day. geria is 38.1 per cent. What this In another scenario which octranslates to is that over 50 per curred in a private hospital in cent of deliveries in the country Abuja two years ago, a pregnant are taken by unskilled birth atwoman, Mrs Ogechi Mba who tendants. If this is not reversed was seven and half month pregto pave way for the intervention nant experienced excessive high of more skilled birth attendants blood pressure but because she to take deliveries, targets set to reduce maternal deaths in the had not been attending ante-natal, her condition was not detected. A care worker takes blood pressure reading. Sustainable Development Goals However, following the se- (SDGs) by 2030 may not be achievPHOTO respiratory-guide.azurewebsites.net vere fever that ensured, she was able, according to Mrs Titilope gestational hypertension or preg- Gbemisola Akosa of the Centre rushed to the Abuja hospital. Although, medical team on nancy-induced hypertension is for 21st Century Issues, a nonground moved in and carried out the development of new hyperten- governmental organisation. a quick surgery on the woman, sion in a pregnant woman after 20 In spite of wide publicity by the while the baby was delivered safe, weeks gestation. Hypertension is three tiers of governments, agenthe mother could not make it. Her defined as having a blood pressure cies, civil society groups and nonPercentage of death however shocked her husgreater than 140/90 mm Hg. government organisations in Niband, friends and relations. It is worthy to mention that geria calling on pregnant women births taken by it may sound unbelievable that to seek ante-natal care, many do Most people that heard about skilled health that the death of mrs Mba did many pregnant women have lost not bother to attend ante-natal not believe that high blood prestheir lives as a result of hyperten- clinics based on the experience personnel in that some women deliver natusure could result to such a death. sion during pregnancy. According to the World Health Despite their unbelief however, it rally without any complications. Nigeria is 38.1 was real that mrs Mba was not as Organisation (WHO), about 830 Even many deliver at home with lucky as the mrs Oluwalana. women die from pregnancy- or per cent CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 According to medical experts, childbirth-related complications

HEALTH \ FEATURES

‘Nigeria now third largest exporter of medical tourism to India’ Taiwo Hassan

igeria has been rated as the third largest exporter of medical tourism in the world to India as millions of dollars was spent on medical bills by government officials and Nigerian elites, which made a positive impact on Indian economy last year. Consequently, this rating pushed India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to close at 7.5 per cent,

while her economy also grew at 7.3 per cent in the financial year ended 2015. Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima said that Nigeria was the third largest exporter of medical tourism to India, after Iran and Afganistan last year. He decried the reason why millions of dollars was spent on medical bills abroad by government officials and eminent Nigerians. The governor added that such monies could

have been properly used to develop the nation’s health sector at a period the country was looking at various options to diversify her economy due to the ongoing economic woe. Shettima said that government officials and Nigerian elites should know that these monies that were spent offshore inform of medical tourism are supposed to be meant to develop the Nigeria’s economy, rather than, other countries’

economies. Specifically, the governor noted that the reason behind the medical tourism was due to the lack of infrastructural facility in the country. His words: “Nigerians spend millions of dollars on medical travels every year on medical tourism. Apart from Iran and Afghanistan, we are the third largest exporter of medical tourism to India last year. I see no reason why this money was taken away from

L-R: Mrs Tola Ajayi of Nordica; a Supermodel from Tanzania, Millen Magase; Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi; a former Miss Nigeria, Nike Osinowo and Dr. John Dulemba at the Endometriosis Fund Raising & Gala Night which held in Lagos recently

our country in the first “place to develop other countries’ economies all in the name of medical trip abroad. I know that one among the best eight medical doctors in United States is from Nigeria. Also, some of the best medical doctors in United Kingdom hailed from Nigeria. So, I see no reason why we shouldn’t harness our resources and build stateof-the-art- medical facility in the country that can urgently take care of the medical bills of our people that are going to India, Egypt and others countries for medical treatments. It is shocking to also note that some Nigerians are even going to places like Ghana to access medical care.” Speaking in the same vein, the Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Remi Ogunmefun, also admitted that Nigeria was one of the countries in world that boosted Indian economy last year in the service sector. According to him, India was generating huge revenue in her service sector as lots of monies were repatriated back home last year to boost their economy and strengthening their foreign exchange.

Osibajo advocates quality living for women Appolonia Adeyemi

ife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osibajo has backed the call to improve quality of life for women living with endometriosis in Nigeria. Making the call at a Gala Night of Fun & Fundraising for Endometriosis/Awards in Lagos recently, Osibajo also challenged Nigerian medical experts to find a cure for endometriosis as a strategy to end unnecessary suffering for women that experience the condition. The event which was organised by the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN) attracted important dignitaries including a former Beauty Queen, Nike Osinowo who is also living with endometriosis; a Supermodel from Tanzania, Millen Magase; an ace musician, Sir Sina Peters, among others. Endometriosis is a disorder in which the tissue that forms the lin-

ing of your uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity. The lining of theuterus is called the endometrium. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium grows the your ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining your pelvis. Although, endometriosis if not diagnosed early, causes excruciating pain and may result to infertility, Mrs Osibajo urged medical experts to help improve the qual-

ity of life of women and girls living with the condition. “It is scary and disturbing to me that millions of women and girls are living with this condition without diagnosis and more sad that several are misdiagnosed and heartbreaking to think that as we speak, so many are suffering because of the condition,” she stated. Osinbajo observed that endometriosis is one more threat and obstacle

for women and girls to contend with at a time violence against women and girls is higher than ever before. “We must not let mothers become extinct; we should care for women and girls,” she said adding it is based on this reason that she a added her voice to the call by the ESGN in raising awareness about this condition.” On her part, Chief Nike Osinowo, who is the Global Brand Ambassa-

dor for Endometriosis called on the three tiers of government to equip hospitals appropriately and train doctors and other health workers with a view to equip them with needed skills to properly diagnose and manage endometriosis. Oshinowo, who has lived with the condition since the age of 11, called for policies that would stimulate research into the causes and possible cures for the condition.

Burden of pregnancy-induced high BP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

the assistance of traditional birth attendants. Confirming this trend, a Family Physician, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo admitted that although, some women would deliver their babies naturally without any complications some deliveries would also lead to complications.

He therefore advised pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinics as recommended by the WHO as this measure could forestall conditions that would pose risk to them. He said during pregnancy blood pressure of pregnant women is checked at every antenatal appointment. This is because a rise in blood pressure can be the first

sign of pre-eclampsia, often called ‘pregnancyinduced hypertension’ (PIH) or ‘pre-eclamptic toxaemia’ (PET). For instance, if Mrs Mba whose case is highlighted in this report, had been attending antenatal, there could have been a medical intervention that could have saved her life. The WHO stated that

maternal health and newborn health are closely linked. Approximately 2.7 million newborn babies die globally every year, and an additional 2.6 million are stillborn. “It is particularly important that all births are attended by skilled health professionals, as timely management and treatment can make the difference between life and

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

human hair, grows

he average human head has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20 individual hairs during a person’s lifetime. Blonds average 146,000 follicles. People with black hair tend to have about 110,000 follicles, while those with brown hair are right on. Number of sperms for conception A single human sperm contains the 37.5mb of male DNA required to create a human child. That means an average ejaculation sees the transfer of 1,500 terabytes of information. Equating consumed water with blood You need to consume a quart of water each day for four months to equate to the amount of blood your heart pumps in one hour. What love does to human body When in cartilage in your spine slowly compresses, the brain releases the same cocktail of neurotransmitters and hormones that are released by amphetamines, leading to increased heart rate, loss of appetite and sleep, and intense feelings of excitement. Regulatory activities of hormones The human body contains 30 amazing hormones, which regulates activities like sleep, body temperature, hunger, and managing stress in times of crisis and so on. Diabetes’ Burden Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure in the world. Besides this every year it is responsible for five per cent or five million blindness in adults and one million limb amputations. Role of larges human artery Except the heart and lungs, all other parts of the body receive their blood supply from the largest artery of the body, the aorta. Impact of cartilage, spine compression You’ll be about 1cm shorter when you go to bed at night compared to when you wake up in the morning. Your cartilage in your spine slowly compresses throughout the day.

HEALTH \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ifeoma Okoye is a Professor of Radiography and Founder of Breast Without spot (BWS), a non-governmental organisation.In this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, she speaks on cancer prevention strategies and necessary medical checks to detect cancers early What can be done to make more people become interested in screening for cancers? For early cancer detection, we all know how we take our cars for services as at when due. Do we love our cars more than our body? Our body is an engine house. As you stay here some metabolic processes are going on in your body and producing certain materials called free radicals. From the environment because of the pollution we are getting free radicals as well. That load has to be brought down by anti-oxidants which we can get from fruits and vegetable, eating right, hydrating and exercising. So, we need to take our bodies for services just as we do for cars as at when due. Above 40 years every six months and bellow 40 years you do yearly check. Now there are specific examinations you need to do for specific cancers. From head to toe you can have cancer; childhood to old age you can have cancer; and male or female you can have cancer. There are over 200 types of cancers affecting every part of the body except the tissues that are already dead like your finger nails and your hair. Once there is blood supply in that particular part of the body you can have cancer. So what are we saying? We are now advising that there are certain very common ones like breast, cervical which I have now told you that they have a vaccines against it which can prevent them. For early detection method you can start doing at the age of 26 and above. You do the first test and if it is negative till about 40 years you can do it just every three years; after 40 years you do yearly cervical cancer screening. For breast there is breast selfexamination you do yourself. A girl child should be taught that as soon as their breast boxes appear. Breast box appear from the ages of nine to 14 depending on how early the puberty begin changes. So, you teach them how to selfexamine every month close to their menstrual period. After their period you count 10 days from day one of their period, between the 12th and 13th day the person does the examination of her breast. Spouses should learn how to examine their wives and remind them. Children should remind their mothers. Mothers should teach their daughters. Daughters if they learn before their mothers should teach their mothers So, monthly after the age of 20 you should do clinical examination which is the one that you can go to a doctor or a healthcare provider that knows how to examine

Consumption of local foods cut cancer –Okoye

Okoye

the breast and this is once a year and we advise that it starts taking place at the age of 20. Why are you saying that? In our country the black population the breast cancer is tending to happen in an earlier age group, from 25 to 35 years and there is another peak from 35 to 50/55 years. Abroad they tell you start worrying about cancer from 50 years and above but that’s not the case here. Here we need to worry about it. We need to do something about it. Apart from the clinical breast examination, if you have a history of a mother, a cousin, a sister or an aunt that has had breast cancer, you are at a slightly higher risk for breast cancer. It’s not imperative that you will have it, but you are at a slightly increased risk for that. What should these people that are at a higher risk of coming down with cancer do? They should try and come to the hospital between the ages of 20 to 40. They can do mammography and what is called the ultra sound of the breast. The screening could also be done with an MRI (mammography resonance imaging). From the age of 25 and above you can do ultra sound of the breast up to the age of 40 and from 40 and above every woman start doing mammography, darker the region you can see it now that’s for breast. In the case of prostate in men, what should men do concerning screening? For prostate, men should start checking their prostate from 40

Men should start checking their prostate from 40 years and above

years and above. Black men are 60 per cent more liable to have prostate cancer than their Caucasian counterpart. So, we advocate that a lot of men don’t even know where the position of the prostate is in their body. They don’t even know that there is prostate cancer because we are always talking about cervical cancer. They think this cancer belongs to women. Actually because of the lifestyle of men they are actually beginning to have more cancers. However, the ratio of cancer incidence compared to men is in the range of 30 to 60, where men have 30 and women 60. Prostate cancer is another cancer you can detect early and that can be cured. These are the three most common cancers in Nigeria declared by the Ministry of Health and of which they are paying a lot of attention to. Also we need to pay attention to HIV related cancer and also what we call Colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer will not be a problem to us in this environment if only we can stick to our local food but everybody is embracing western culture. A World Health Organisation (WHO) director said in 2009 that the main reason for increasing incidence of cancer in developing nations is because of embracement of western culture. You ask yourself what is that western culture? It’s our food and our habits. We are now becoming more sedentary, and not active. We are getting a lot of environmental pollution from industrilisation. Of which we have not made any effort to put together structures for us to be able to curb the amount of environmental pollution that we are

generating. Look at generators. Everywhere you are you in this country, you see generators. The fumes are just filling up our space, and we even young people inhale the smoke. On smoking, you know in secondary smoking you get about 60 per cent of the effect, even if you are not smoking. What are our young people doing? From the ages of about 16 and above they are in night clubs. Some of them club till 40 years. At least, once or twice in a week they are in a club for between five to six hours and even though the National Assembly has passed a bill on nonsmoking in public places it’s not being observed at all. So, we need you, the journalists to pass this information. We need you to work with us. We are just people who are concerned. Maybe it is because what we see on daily basis and we know that that there is something we can do to reduce the number of people that are dying from cancers. A lot of schools in Lagos and elsewhere don’t have playground for children. What does that mean for fight against cancer? You know in the past it was mandatory that school field must be there for the children to run around, and then parents themselves also knew it was important for their children to run around. Then what is happening now? Everybody is hooked up on electronic devices. From the school into the car, there is no walking home anymore, even if you want your child to walk because you realise exercise is good for him, the safety issue is there, so they are carried from the doorstep of the school to the doorstep of the house and once they get home remote control is handed to them. They go and stay in front of the television the whole day; there is no going to run around. In the past when you come back from school you go out and run around, your mother is preparing lunch and when the lunch is ready you go and have your lunch and go and sleep to have rest. When you wake up again you run around then come and do lesson. That was the routine. Children were healthier, I’m sure that the children in the rural communities are healthier than children in the urban communities. We are even having childhood obesity and it is said that the fat you laid down in childhood now is actually a precursor for you to have cardiac disease and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) later on in life. Again, a child that suffers from malnutrition from poverty issues also is a candidate. It’s a huge burden on Africa. It is imperative for us to educate; it’s imperative for us to vaccinate; it’s imperative for us to do early detection and then to improve infrastructure for management. The health minister has already said that he is going to put 14 new centers for the management of cancer in the country, but management of cancer in the country should not be left for government alone and the organised private sector. It is actually an economically viable business to invest in cancer treatment and management.

HEALTH \ NEWS

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bereaved woman denied Rape victims: Ita-Giwa backs Mirabel access to husband’s corpse Centre over government support the blood was borrowed,”she said. She decried the poor services he authority of the General rendered in the emergency unit of Hospital, Igando, Lagos State the hospital, saying her husband has denied a patient identi- who was placed on oxygen died fied as Esther Solomon access to five minutes after power outage her husband’s corpse, asking her in the ward. to make a payment of #15,000, beShe said,”immidiately the light ing the cost of blood transfused to went off it was not up to five minhim while on treatment. utes before I discovered that my The bereaved and distraust husband who had been placed on woman said while her husband, oxygen had stopped breathing and who was placed on oxygen at the when I shook him I was convinced Emergency Unit of the hospital, that he was dead.” An eye witness who identified was receiving treatment last week, a pint of blood was transfused in herself simply as Blessing and him. whose mother is also a patient in Narrating her ordeal in the the ward confirmed this. hands of the hospital staff, she She said,”when we brought my said, “I paid #4,500 before they mother to the hospital I rushed to brought the blood and transfused the emergency unit to alert the it in my husband and I was told the nurses of our arrival so that my money was made for the process- mother would be taken into the ing of the blood. ward. “But they said we should bring “Now my husband is dead and they said Ishould pay #15,000 for the her in by ourselves and there was blood or bring someone who will do- no way only I and my brother nate the blood to the hospital because could carry her into the emergency unit. “We had to look for a wheel chair by ourselves before we could bring in my mother into the ward. “Even when the power outage occurred in the health facility, Ithought they would switch on the generator immediately but it took about thirty minutes before power was restored in the ward. “ I had to start fanning my mother who was also placed on oxygen, using a hand fan pending when the light would be Commissional for Health in Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris restored.”

Eleazar Nwanti

enator Florence Ita-Giwa has pledged her support for Mirabel Centre, Lagos a non -government organisation (NGO), providing free medical and psychosocial services for sexual assault and rape victims in Lagos. Ita-Giwa who disclosed this following the expiration of the Centre’s three years sponsorship deal with the UK’s Department For International Development (DFID) in March 2016 called on the government and Nigerians to come to the aid of the Centre because of the important roles it plays in the

lives of rape victims. Senator Ita-Giwa, a guest at an event tagged: “Magenta and Black, Art and Fashion for Charity,” aimed at raising funds through public support and auction of art works donated by friends and partners of the Mirabel Centre in Lagos got emotional during a presentation by the Founder of Mirabel Centre, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba on some of the experiences of rape victims, particularly the story of 14year old girl who was raped severally by her father but was saved and treated free at Mirabel Centre. She expressed her sup-

A Naval Medical Personnel, Mrs Akunyemi Lolade attending to some people at Kebbe Local Government Area, at the Nigerian Navy Medical Rhapsody 2016 Outreach in Sokoto State …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Walnuts benefit brain, heart health

Coping with stress

nique among nuts, walnuts contain the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid, the plant-based omega-3 essential fatty acid. As one of the best plant food source of omega-3s, a 1-oz serving of walnuts provides 2.5 grams of ALA. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates these omega3s provide benefits to the brain and heart while tempering inflammation throughout the body. An ounce of walnuts (about seven shelled or 14 halves) is brimming with nutrients that are essential for optimal health. In addition to essential ALA/omega-3 fatty acids, a serving provides a one-two punch of protein (4 grams) and fiber (2 grams), nutrients known to increase satiety or feelings of fullness.

owadays we have a lot of forces to contend with. We have the forces of nature, viruses, bacteria and parasites. The air we breathe contains so many unseen viruses, but not enough to overpower the immune system of the body. Our immune system is able to cope with these billions of unseen viruses and bacteria. However, by our own device, we have systematically weakened our immune system, and exposed ourselves to hitherto unknown ailments. The electromagnetic energy spectrum radiates through nature: the seas, mountains, plants, earth and rocks. By living close to the land and nature, we receive this energy into our own energy fields and so are energised. However, as we build more highways, manufacture steel cars, build bridges, and make electronic gadgets, all of which absolve a great percentage of the universal energy field, we become prone to hitherto unknown and strange illnesses. While our bodies vibrate at a frequency as low as 35 or 40Hz, the electrical gadgets we use have a frequency as high as250Hz. It is no wonder then that we are physi-

port for the Centre and urged the government and Nigerians to support the initiative to keep it alive. “The Mirabel Centre is a wonderful idea. The management should continue with the laudable initiative; they have my support. I do hope the government will come in and give their support,” Senator Ita-Giwa stated. According to Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, the Mirabel Centre which is located at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) , Ikeja has provided free medical and psychosocial services for over 1,300 clients in the last three years.

cally weaker than our ancestors. Over the last ten years, I have been fully involved in treating people with different illnesses. I notice a tendency towards more subtle illnesses. As human beings become more complicated and adopt a so-called modem, sophisticated

A young woman suffering stress

mode of life, so also do our illnesses become more complicated. I have noticed a tendency towards strange illnesses like: Persistent headaches that defy all medication, prolonged arthritis, nervous disorder, character disorder, persistent weakness and tiredness, low sperm count

PHOTO princessinthetower.org

in men and general infertility in men and women. I have been amazed at the huge number of infertile couples in our society today. By my own estimation, two out of every five marriages in Nigeria in the last ten years have problem with conception. Other complaints are: eating in dreams, having sex in dreams, waking up to find bloody marks on the body. Psychologists might dismiss these as mere psychosomatic reactions. But what does psychology really know about the mystery of the human person? Let’s face it, we have a big challenge before us. The easy way out is to dismiss the whole thing as lack of enlightenment or superstition. I challenge African thinkers and Theologians to wake up and reflect about this phenomenon. It is true that many of us studied in Europe and have degrees in courses that seem irrelevant to the African situation. But that is no excuse for indifference in the face of issues vital to the mindsets of our people. •To be Continued next week

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mom&Parenting

Parenting

Mom’s Alert

Sex or sexuality: Which is the hot cake?

Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Parents Beware

Woman’s instinct:

That fleeting thought A popular adage says that “never underestimate the power of a woman’s instinct” it is her secret weapon. How else would one describe a woman’s instinct? It is sharp, concise and based on the spur of the moment. It is as sharp as a needle. In a short word, it is her survival instinct, hence, can’t be toyed with. OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI writes.

t is her God-given power and foresight. Simply put, it is their mind’s eye or vision. To some, it is advantageous, while it is destructive for some. Dare Oshodi, a blogger, would never forget the day his wife’s instinct almost ruined their union of 14 years. He went to Brazil for a conference and thought of playing a fast one, typical of men particularly African men. Somehow, the lady he had a fling with fell deeply in love with him and thought of a unique way to express it so that it would be an indelible memory for the lover man. She snapped herself, nakedly with the man’s phone. That way, she believed, she is ever present with the man. The lover man was happy with it and tucked it somewhere inside his phone that no other person (he believed) except a phone technician would be able to access. Well, the cat was let out of the bag almost immediately on arrival. As he was settling down for a sumptuous meal prepared by his wife the very day he

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

arrived Nigeria, playfully, his wife took his phone. “Darling, I trust you took wonderful pictures of interesting places at the conference venue. Let me see what Brazil looks like,” his wife said. Alas! After fiddling with the phone for about 10 seconds, his wife ran into the ‘indelible memory naked pictures!’ Call it telepathy or instinct; she caught him right on spot and it took the intervention of church elders and some family members to save the situation. Similarly, Itunu Ademigoke, an Ondo based business man and assistant pastor of his church’s parish, had a ‘wonderful’ trip to and fro Lagos. On arrival too, as the wife was unpacking his luggage, the first thing she picked was where the packet of condom was kept. As if she kept it there, she went straight to the side of the purse and brought out her hand. Alas! It was a used packet of condom. What followed was tirade of defense from the husband. “As for me, my instinct has always guided me. It has never failed me for once. It is mostly useful regarding my children,” Sunmisola Agbede, a civil servant in Lagos said. She narrated an example where her teenage daughter was preparing to go to school. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t have bothered because she goes and comes back with school bus. But more out of her instinct, she gave her daughter a pepper spray she bought the previous day and for the first time,

Trusting her instinct

taught her sex education and how to prevent unwanted sex. She added that she instructed her daughter to always keep the pepper spray inside her school bag. “My goodness, that was the same day, devil struck; for the school bus driver is the very devil. He made an attempt to rape my daughter!” she said. She explained that the man told her daughter he had to drop every other child before her because the road to her house was traffic heavy. He did that more because of the ulterior motive up his sleeves, according to her. After dropping off every other child, he drove to a corner that was less frequented by passers-by and tried to molest her. “Luckily, the pepper spray was with my daughter. She stylishly made for it in her bag and sprayed it mercilessly into the man’s eyes. Then, she started shouting for help inside the locked bus. She was lucky to attract two passers-by, who forced the door open,” she said. For Amarachi Ikedua, her instinct saved her children from death. “I don’t know what came over me. I just took excuse from my boss that I have to rush home that day. My boss disagreed but I took off that day damming the consequence. It was as if I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t place my fingers on it. Something in me was terribly disturbed and shaken. I didn’t know it but all that kept running in my head was go home,” she said. Even inside the one hour traffic to Ikorodu, she was driving like a mad woman. On getting home,

PHOTO: www.forharriet.com

the answer to her agitation was right before her face. Her 10-year old asthmatic son was writhing on the floor, gasping for breath and his twin sister was also lying almost lifeless on the floor of the sitting room. The girl, she said, was shocked by a naked wire near the fan’s switch by the wall while rushing about the house looking for inhaler for her twin brother. “I did not know how I gathered the strength but with the help of neighbours, I managed my children to the hospital. I am happy because I didn’t lose them but I learnt a bitter lesson from the incident,” she said. Well, Ikedua not only learnt a lesson, she also gave up her job to nurture her children to maturity. Ibidun Ayilara was also saved from an agony through her instinct. She said her son was hale and hearty as at the evening when she got home. She played with him and did his home work together before he went into bed. Instinctively at night, she got up to go straight to the boy’s room. She was shocked to find her son convulsing. “The temperature was extremely high that I was thrown off balance as to what to do immediately. Luckily, there was a hospital opposite my house. My husband and I rushed him there that midnight. I thank God he is well now,” she said. For Caroline Obaseki, a single mother of one, she became a single-mother by not respecting her instinct when she wanted to marry.

“Honestly, if I had respected my instinct, I wouldn’t have been in this mess of my life,” she said, adding that, “a woman’s instinct is her directive and her vision. A complete and a sane minded woman would not dare toy with it. As women, we don’t need to visit pastors for direction. All we need do is look inward, listen to our instinct and be discerning.” Obaseki explained that she had a strong feeling not to continue with the relationship at the initial stage but she didn’t listen because she was infatuated, thinking it was love. A month to the wedding, the feeling came back again, this time strongly, “I told myself that won’t it be better to remain single and be happy than getting into the bondage of marriage,” she said. But thinking of the culture and the value of African society, she went straight into the marriage and barely six months into it, she couldn’t just cope. She and her husband discovered that they were not compatible, hence went their separate ways. The question is, does culture and society play a role or negate the value of a woman’s instinct in Africa? Yes, it does. According to an Abuja based psychologist, who pleaded anonymity, a woman’s instinct in Africa, no matter how great, can never be harnessed. “It is rather suppressed, exploited and buried. But in the western world, it is mostly relied upon and well harnessed.

Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

Our children seem to know everything about SEX

Sex or sexuality: Which is the hot cake?

y concern today is that children’s knowledge of SEX far outweighs their knowledge of their SEXUALITY. In fact, I make bold to say that our children seem to know everything about SEX and almost nothing about their SEXUALITY. Recently, we were dealing with the case of a 3(three) old boy who was climbing girl children in his class. The other day I was invited by a school to deal with the issue of a 12-yearold boy in Junior Secondary school, who derived pleasure from touching the breasts of female students and running away…It became a very rampant habit the necessitated sending him on suspension after several warnings and meeting with his parents. The school was amazed that upon resumption, the child resumed the habit. The school was on the verge of expelling the child, as his case seemed irredeemable… SEXUALITY IS BIGGER THAN SEX SEXUALITY is far bigger than SEX… I make bold to say that SEX is a minute part of SEXUALITY, where SEX is properly defined as the legitimate, intimate, covenant-based and above all divinelyordained exercise between a man and a woman, who are married. SEX AS PROMOTED TO OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN TODAY Please note that the perverted SEX to which our children are exposed to today is far-apart different from the one defined above. SEX, as it is presented and vigorously promoted to our children today speaks of an uncontrollable heat of sexual passion, which possesses children, young people and unmarried couples

of opposite sex or same to engage in all forms of sexual relationships, from foreplay, oral sex to sexual intercourse. Besides, our children are being told that there are other sexual orientations or sexes other than the 2(male and female), which God ordained. At my last count, we are told that there are over 58(fifty-eight) genders and this is widely promoted by the social media platforms, where most our children now spend most of their time and life uncensored. For example, Facebook has 3 columns for GENDER, namely, MALE, FEMALE and CUSTOM. Under CUSTOM, there are 58(fifty-eight) genders listed. You are also asked, ‘what pronoun do you prefer?’ The options are: MALE: him, FEMALE: her and NEUTRAL: them…The social media platform provides opportunity for users to select more than one gender. Research has shown that there are over 20 million children on Facebook, the social media platform’s terms of service having require users to be at least 13 years old… Of the 20 million children, 7.5 million are below age 13, while 5 million are age 10 and below, who didn’t properly represent their real age. As at 2013 statistics reveal that there are 11 million Facebook users in Nigeria and the most popular age group are Nigerians under 25 years old. SEXUALITY: MY WORKING UNDERSTANDING SEXUALITY here refers to the ESSENCE of a person’s gender and his/her attitude to same. SEXUALITY speaks to the physiological and psychological specifications of the male and female genders, their functions and differences.

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

Mama… Irreplaceable! Nothing can replace your heart to heart love That one which softens the strongest of all stones Free lunch, cool breakfast, and yummy dinner Fact files of natural care all from my noble mum Everything from your end means love all through Mama… the hallowed being that solo dad’s high tempo From the beginning of life you gave all to test in stress Letting us see the different of manmade and God made Of the most high, I feel your love that none can quench Of the love world, I feel yours here from the most high Of the parenting tag, you are for the world best award Mama… the only diamond that possess an invaluable value Here I cry day in, day out, wishing you live forever I see the moon out on a ferry of the river bank I feel the trembling pains cracking the back, day of delivery I feel, see, know that sweet/sour labour experience in the child labour- inexpressible! The joy of your sagging breast while breastfeeding is nothing compared to the tiny bundle of joy in your arms Mama… an edge you display in that sack race of mothers Shoulder to shoulder with able farm men to inspire your child You surprised us by appearing to the call of mothers You surprised us by winning with the spirit on the hold

You surprised us by standing higher among all in view Even the so call father of the world marvel by your steps What can we compare to your care that is irreplaceable? What will be the judgment of your daily stress of all time? What will make the world to see the light from your room? What can I say, when all I see is the love that witness no end? What will replace that funky life when you are off here? What! What! What! Nothing but praise to my irreplaceable… Time for the market, she smiles on to get the kitchen things Time for cooking things, she mixed and turn for the best of meal Time for daddy’s call, she give herself out to the call of nature Time for the pregnant stress, she gives all to bring us here Time for the delivery in check, she pushed and cried in pain At all time of her existence, she work all day to serve the world Mothers of life, I wish the Everest stand firm for your reward Mothers of life, I hope for a feast to celebrate you at all time Mothers of ours, I pray for a reward that pays for a work-stress Mothers of ours, I wish the heaven open to sing your praise Mothers of ours, I wish your judgment will be for paradise Mothers for real, I know all this will surely be for your world Mama… your heart is the haven of all goodies of life Mama… the irreplaceable diamond that move our world Mama… our alma mata that matters Mama… simply the irreplaceable diamond

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Comprehensive sexuality education: Parents beware

igerian youths like their pictures of naked boys and girls peers elsewhere in the at different stages of development. world require information, There’s even a page taken from a education and communication on child’s sex-ed program with picsexuality, body changes, gender ture encouraging masturbation. and psychosocial development. Pupils as low as 9 year old, are But due to our culture whereby taught how to wear condoms, the talking about sex is considered ‘ta- girls on a male plastic genitalia boo’ by many parents and teachers and boys on female plastic genitaalike, when it comes to issues re- lia. A book called Healthy Happy, garding sex young people are usu- and Hot for young people living ally left in the dark. And so, they with HIV is purported to teach that turn to peer or even the media for they may choose not to disclose information. their HIV status to their partners About a week or so ago, my at- if they feel uncomfortable, and tention was called to a video on they may also choose not to wear social media which opened with a condom if they so wish. The overthese words: “This is definitely all conclusion is that CSE, with its an attack, it will affect your child graphic content and sexual-rightsrearing, it will affect your educa- based approach is assaulting the tion systems…” I got curious. It health and innocence of children was the beginning of a 10 minute by sexualizing and radicalizing documentary on Child Sexuality them from an early age. Parents need to know that some Education. I watched the video schools are no longer to the end and providing traditional went online to find out more. sex education; inIf you’re a stead, their children parent who’s are being targeted Parents need to been told that with graphic sexuknow that some your child’s ality education proschools are no sex-ed program grams intended to at school is comsexualize and radicallonger providing prehensive eviize them. The moral traditional sex denced-based, and psychological education damage inflicted age-appropriate, and that it proon children by such motes healthy programs would be relationships, then you, and every “hard to even quantify.” With CSE other parent who’s been sold the same encouraging children to experimessage, have essentially been lied to. ment sexually, this can set them That is, according to a powerful new up for early pregnancy, contractdocumentary that’s exposing what ing STDs, including HIV. In addition, it only takes a fracproducers say is a “deceptive agenda” behind sex-ed programs being pushed tion of a second for a pornographic not only in schools across the globe, image to be imprinted on the brain but also by multiple United Nations permanently; and, since many CSE entities and government bodies. programs use materials that are so Sharon Slater, president of Family graphic as to be considered pornoWatch International and the creator graphic, CSE can prime kids for of the documentary in an interview pornography addiction. Also, most she granted LifeSiteNews said the CSE programs encourage children comprehensive sexuality education to question their own gender or en(CSE) agenda is very deceptive. Ac- courage children in their gender cording to her, those who promote confusion, which can set children CSE claim it will delay sexual debut, up for a lifetime of confusion. prevent teen pregnancy, prevent HIV, Comprehensive sexuality edulift people out of poverty, promote cation is usually disguised with gender equality and much more. harmless sounding names like Yet it does the opposite. CSE en- human rights education, gender courages children to engage in sex- equality education, or sexual and ual experimentation and high-risk reproductive health education or insexual behaviors, often instructing formation. For example some CSE children without the knowledge or programs are called “abstinence plus” programs when they have consent of their parents. The full version of the docu- little or no focus on abstinence and mentary, a 35 minute video, takes largely focus on sexual pleasure. a detailed look at the overall ap- Just because a program is not speproach of sex-ed programs from cifically labeled “comprehensive around the world while interview- sexuality education” does not mean ing experts in the fields of child it is not CSE. So programs called “sexual edpsychology, health, and wellness. Among the experts consulted is a ucation,” “sexuality education,” Nigerian, Dr. Theresa Okafor, Di- ”sex education,” or a number of rector of the Foundation for Afri- other things, can still be CSE if can Cultural Heritage. they have many of the harmful elSome of the pictures were not ements of CSE regardless of how appropriate to be shown in the it is labeled. CSE is typically taught news, yet they are in books pro- to children at the youngest of ages, vided for young children in schools often without the knowledge or conas CSE materials! Some even show sent of their parents.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Guns of different makes on display at the event

Salala: Hunters’ colourful rituals

he weather was hot. The scorching sun bit with a lot of intensity. It was the opening day of hunters’ oath-taking ritual. Aisha Bakari Gombi, a female hunter, wielding a tiny stick in one hand and a dane gun in the other, pointed out a bright droplet of blood splashed across a yellow maple leaf. “She went off the trail again,” Gombi, who is referred to as Sarauniyar Sarkin Baka, muttered, hunched over and rested her palms on

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Over 10,000 local hunters stormed Mayo-Belwa in Adamawa State to participate in the annual Salala ritual during which animal sacrifice is usually made for protection and spiritual healing, reports IBRAHIM ABDUL her knees. “No wonder we didn’t find blood where we’ve been looking.” She and others were hunting in a forest near Fol-Waya, venue of the annual hunters’ event. They were tracking a whitetail doe which they earlier hit with an arrow on opening day of hunters’ oath-taking ritual known as Salala. Apart from ‘on-the-field-hunting,’ Salala is an ancient art; the conscientious hunter prides himself in his ability to make a clean and swift kill. But things sometimes go wrong, and there he was, growing more anxious and desperate to find the deer or any animal by the minute. Dressed in black hunting regalia, the hunters drawn from north-eastern states, comprising Adamawa, Taraba, Borno and Gombe states and the

It also reminds us of our cultural heritage now threatened by cultural invasion

neighbouring Cameroon Republic, were present to participate in the annual purification otherwise called Salala to seek spiritual power. It was a gathering of who is who among the hunters. It did not preclude anyone men, women and children; all dressed in their traditional hunting uniform. The event also attracted spectators from every segment of the social strata from far and near. Everyone was there to see the hunters display their hunting ability. The cacophony of the sounds of guns rent the air as hunters tried to outdo one another while displaying their prowess. The venue was Folwaya hamlet on Mayo-Belwa Road, the choice of the venue was unanimously endorsed by

hunters’ chiefs called “Sarkin Baka.” Traditionally the hunters are mobile. They move their portable shelters wherever there is game. They claim to have been imbued with supernatural power to protect them from spiritual attacks. The hunters believe that the earth belongs to the gods. So, if they want to hunt or harvest, they must inform the gods. Hence, it is said that they respect the nature. Insiders also said that they also believe that ancestral spirits have the power to grant blessing or bring catastrophe. They believe that violation of ancestral wishes will result in punishment. “Those who adhere to the ancestral regulations will be blessed. Hence, we focus on the rituals of our ancestors. The rituals to ancestral spirits take place prior to hunting and all ritual ceremonies,’’ Mrs. Rose Demsa, another female hunter, said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

FEATURES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Witchery is prevalent in the hunting of game. Spiritual mediums are in charge of performing various rituals, getting rid of evil spirits and curing illness. Witchery in hunting is so pronounced that it even scares non-hunters. It is believed that hunters also use witchery and divination prior to hunting, rituals and wars to plan their activities and predict outcome of such ventures. Today, things have, however, changed. The spiritual mediums have been replaced by Islamic and Christian religious teachings which prohibit some of the practices. “To us, hunting, the stalking and killing of animals, has been a tradition probably since the muchtalked about Stone Age when food became scarce. Today it exists as a sport,” said Hammadu Dangol, a hunter who came all the way from Gombe State for the event. These people not only engage in hunting but strongly defend it as their right. With an arsenal of rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, bows and arrows, the hunters kept dancing the marvellous and fascinating Garaya tunes rendered by the popular Garaya singer, Jibrin Mai Garaya, among others. Earlier in his welcome address, the state Chairman of the local hunters, Alhaji Muhammad Tola, recalled that hunting has been African tradition which, according to him, needs to be harnessed and preserved. Today, it exists as a sport and hobby, he added. According to Tola, hobbies differ like tastes. He said: “If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste, you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. That is why we choose hunting as hobby as it also reminds us of our cultural heritage now threatened by cultural invasion.’’ The chairman stressed the need for government to recognise local hunters in the scheme of things, particularly in the area of fighting crime. According to him, as vigilantes, hunters also have a role to play in ensuring that they help the police in doing their job. He said: “The police need the support of the immediate community to succeed in ridding the society of criminals. Hunters also have a role to play in the fight against armed robbery and other criminal activities by giving the police information and advice.’’ Speaking on the festival, Tola said that among others, the event was to serve as a forum for hunters in Adamawa State and the neighbouring states to share ideas and pray for peace in the country and protection of members. To this end, he appealed to government, individuals and corporate organisations to assist in sponsoring future editions of the festival to promote culture and tourism. Enumerating successes and challenges faced by the hunters, the state Secretary of the association, Mr. James Ngurore, said that unlike in other states, hunters in Adamawa State were not given due recognition. Ngurore, who had led a team of hunters to Yobe State in the

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dance of the archers and shooters

Female hunters displaying their ‘tools’

Young hunters

A cross section of the hunters

Hunters during a parade

fight against Boko Haram terrorists, said hunters needed to be encouraged by the state and local government areas, considering the current security challenges facing the country. He said: “You need to go to neighbouring states to see the type of support our members are getting from their respective state governments to appreciate my lamentation. “For instance, in those states, our members are provided with patrol vans, uniforms, arms and allowances to serve as vigilantes who assist police and other security agencies in combating crime.” Ngurore also said that criminals were arrested and handed over to the police by hunters in Adamawa State. He added that they could do more if given the necessary support. The secretary lauded the cordial relationship between the hunters and other security agents. Such cooperation, he said, was necessary to combat criminals.

Also, the traditional ruler of Mayo-Belwa, Ardo Muhammadu Bamanga, said hunters had been supportive, understanding, reliable and wonderful. According to him, they have effectively aided the police, hence the need to assist them. “Their assistance in crime fighting is marvellous and therefore there is the need to assist them with working apparatus and other logistics,’’ the royal father added. Hunters and love for animals Why don’t hunters just buy meat from stores without hurting game? Does it taste differently? Those were some of the questions asked Malama Hadiza, one of the great female hunters at the event. But her response is shocking. “Hunters also help to control the population of animals. Without hunters, the ratio of animals to available space and available food would be too high. This would cause animals to slowly starve to death, especially during the winter, owing to overcrowding,” the

hunter said. On whether she and her colleagues have sympathy for an animal which slowly and painfully starves to death because of a large population of animals, Hadiza said it was more than sympathy. “I think a quick death by gunshot sure beats dying slowly through starvation,” she retorted. Some hunters say hunting with a bow and arrow to kill an animal is better than the use of high-tech equipment which may make it an unfair chase. But to Habu Manu, one of the local hunters who participated at the event, bow hunting is one of the cruellest forms of hunting because primitive archery equipment wounds more animals than it kills. Scientific studies indicate that bow hunting yields more than 50 per cent increase in the number of crippled animals. For every animal dragged from the woods, at least one animal is left wounded to suffer, either to bleed to death or to become infested with parasites and diseases.

THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

Foreign reserves drop by $200m in one week DECLINE Reserves fall to $27.34 billion Stores by Tony Chukwunyem

igeria’s foreign reserves continued their downward slide, falling by $200 million in the last one week, data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) website yesterday showed. According to the data, the reserves, which stood at $27.54billion as at April 11 2016, had fallen to $27.34billion by April 19, 2016. The banking watchdog’s website shows that the reserves stood at $27.858 billion on April 1. As the reserves continued

their downward slide, the amount of dollars the CBN allocates to commercial and merchant banks dropped to $177,876,814 compared with the $189,489,057 it allocated in the preceding week. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently announced that International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria had agreed to provide about $200 million to help fund fuel imports as part of measures to end fuel shortage across the country. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, was quoted by agency reports as saying, “I have been able to convince the upstream oil companies to provide foreign exchange buffers over the next one year for those who’re bringing in products.” Total SA and Exxon Mobil

Corp. will provide dollars to their local retails units, Total Nigeria Plc and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, while Royal Dutch Shell Plc has been paired with local oil importer Conoil Plc and Eni SpA with Oando Plc, said Kachikwu. Companies importing fuel in Nigeria have been hindered by lack of access to foreign exchange, following the plunge in the price of oil, the main foreign income earner in Africa’s largest oil exporter. Also, in a move, which some analysts believe will help reduce the pressure on the dollar in the forex market, the CBN and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC), the world’s biggest lender, signed a deal on Yuan transactions during President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s trip to China last week. “It means that the renminbi

Rising inflation: Treasury bills yields to rise

ields were expected to rise at Nigeria’s local currency denominated treasury bills auction on Wednesday in tandem with a higher inflation figure for March and possible increase in interest rates by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at its meeting next month, Reuters stated yesterday. The CBN planned to raise N167.51 billion in treasury bills with maturities ranging between 3-month and 1-year yesterday. “The expectation is that

yields will be higher following the March inflation figure and policy direction from the central bank governor about proposed higher benchmark rates,” local unit of Citibank said in a note to clients on Wednesday. Nigeria’s annual inflation rose to a near four year high of 12.8 per cent in March from 11.4 per cent in February, driven by a rise in food prices. Last month, the CBN’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised its

benchmark interest rate to 12 per cent from 11 per cent with indications that interest rate may be hiked again at the next MPC meeting on May 24. The apex bank sold the 3-month bill at 6.10 per cent at its last auction on April 6, the 6-month fetched 8.69 per cent while the one-year paper fetched 9.48 per cent. At the secondary market, the 3-month paper closed at 7.25 per cent, 6-month traded at 8.99 per cent, while the 1-year bill closed at 10.46 per cent.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 12.8 12 10.77 US$42.41 US$27,341,318,567

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Feb, 2016 28/03/2016 Mar 2015 20/4/2016 19/4/2016

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

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

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

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Spot($/N)

Offer 198.55

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

Money Market

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

197.00

NDIC seeks re-establishment of National Savings Bank

he Managing Director/ Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, has called for the re-establishment of Nigeria Savings Bank to expand the frontiers of the country’s banking system. Responding to a question at a lecture titled: “NDIC and Engendering Confidence in the Financial Services Sector for Poverty Reduction and Economic empowerment” for participants of Executive Course No 38, 2016 at National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies Kuru, Jos, Alhaji Ibrahim, said that the desire to effectively use post offices and leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate financial intermediation would not only mobilise savings but also give access to credits. A statement made available to New Telegraph said he drew the attention of the audience to Britain, which in the last decade transformed its post offices into elegant avenues of harnessing savings and credits creation, adding: “Since we are talking of poverty alleviation, we can revisit the issue of National Savings Bank.” The NDIC CEO disclosed

Kunle Azeez

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) Change (%) 7.90 8.06 0.26 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 12.67 0.00 ↔ 30-Jun-16 8.15 8.32 0.26 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.71 8.46 8.82 0.46 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 13.75 0.42 ▲ 9.10 0.46 ▲ 9.06 9.92 0.00 ↔ 16-Mar-17 9.31 10.22 0.00 ↔ Bid 198.45

foreign ministry, told reporters. The CBN has said it plans to diversify its foreign exchange reserves away from the dollar by switching a stockpile into Yuan. It converted up to a tenth of its reserves into Yuan five years ago.

that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Ministry of Communication had been discussing the modalities for effective transformation of post offices so as to serve as bank agents. Speaking on how the NDIC engenders confidence in the financial system towards poverty reduction and economic empowerment, Alhaji Ibrahim emphasised that being a part of the financial safety net, the Corporation contributed to poverty reduction, as it focused on deposit guarantee and protection of depositors’ interest. He disclosed that as at December, 2015, the Corporation’s insurance coverage was over 90 per cent of the 67 million depositors in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) whose deposit liabilities amounted to N17.5 trillion, while the total sum of N165.5 billion belonging to 8.4 million depositors of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and N73.71 billion belonging to 0.73 million depositors of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) were also covered by over 95per cent. The NDIC CEO also said that the Corporation was contemplating the introduction of e-deposit payment system towards facilitating depositor payout within the shortest possible time.

ACCA expects hiring freeze in Nigeria, others

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

(Yuan) is free to flow among different banks in Nigeria, and the renminbi has been included in the foreign exchange reserves of Nigeria,” Lin Songtian, Director General of the African Affairs Department of China’s

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

igeria and other countries around that world may soon witness a hiring freeze, as economic confidence plummets among employers, a new report has revealed. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business (IMA) conducted the latest Global Economic Conditions Survey. The report released last Monday found that more than half of firms are either cutting or freezing employment, while only 14 per cent are increasing investment in staff. Responding to the findings, Country Head, ACCA Nigeria, Mrs. Toyin Ademola, said: “Take North America out of the equation and the economic picture painted by this survey isn’t a pretty one. “Emerging markets are besieged. Revenues for commodities firms have collapsed since mid-2014. And business confidence in China has fallen to its lowest level since our records began.” According to her, “Almost

half of businesses reported a drop in income in Q1. As a result, every region except North America saw a jump in the number of businesses cutting capital expenditure. “With emerging economies continuing to struggle with low commodity prices and many businesses on a spending lock down, the outlook for the global economy is becoming increasingly gloomy.” However, Ademola identified sub-Saharan Africa as an area showing particular economic concern. “China’s investment slowdown and the resulting collapse in commodity prices have hit business confidence in Africa hard. In Q1, 55 per cent of businesses said they had become less confident about the outlook – well above the global average of 48 per cent. “More firms in Africa than anywhere else were cutting investment in capital projects, and the continent is also the region where businesses have the biggest problems with rising costs and foreign-exchange movements, with many of the region’s economies suffering sharp falls in their currencies in recent quarters.”

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

20-Apr-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 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

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 18-Mar-16

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 12.4000

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 576.93 605.31 719.99 266.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 80.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,407.46

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,392.56

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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 18-Mar-36

0.32 1.02 1.27 1.36 2.11 3.19 3.51 3.81 5.77 7.90 9.76 12.61 13.09 13.58 14.26 18.24 19.91

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

7.50 11.32 11.24 11.34 11.71 12.10 12.44 12.78 12.64 12.75 13.01 12.99 12.99 12.99 12.98 12.96 13.09

7.05 11.17 11.11 11.22 11.63 11.99 12.32 12.68 12.58 12.69 12.95 12.95 12.94 12.93 12.93 12.92 13.05

101.70 103.54 98.36 97.52 98.13 110.02 84.90 108.09 114.96 107.05 97.20 112.26 96.87 71.69 80.81 94.32 95.11

101.85 103.69 98.51 97.67 98.28 110.32 85.20 108.39 115.26 107.35 97.50 112.56 97.17 71.99 81.11 94.62 95.41

6362.457269

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.20

03-Apr-17

0.53

2.94

12.23

102.50

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

0.20 0.20 1.00 0.72 1.70 1.51 1.52 1.49 1.49 1.68 2.10 3.59 2.06 4.60 4.70 2.73 2.76 3.97 3.54 3.57 4.03 6.46 3.66

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

9.95 8.97 11.93 15.66 14.78 12.50 12.50 15.30 15.05 12.56 13.73 14.47 12.70 14.02 16.48 15.70 12.95 13.82 16.13 13.48 15.08 14.45 15.58

100.69 101.17 98.23 98.71 98.81 101.95 101.97 98.95 98.64 104.17 103.03 100.03 103.55 98.23 95.23 97.48 104.40 104.12 100.84 107.93 106.34 109.94 103.59

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

0.44 0.51 0.63 1.00 1.21 1.44 0.90 1.22 1.39 1.39 2.44 1.50 1.58 1.70 2.30 4.57 3.07 5.58 5.69 6.06 4.23 8.44 8.44 9.57

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 5.37 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.51 1.00 1.00 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

9.64 10.58 10.66 17.89 17.58 13.79 12.46 14.34 17.72 12.37 13.00 16.86 17.63 14.85 16.25 13.73 15.64 15.17 13.66 13.66 15.52 13.83 13.83 13.98

101.39 101.79 103.15 98.78 98.78 98.97 105.28 101.75 100.22 104.35 102.01 98.59 100.42 101.61 97.81 105.02 99.63 96.57 110.74 111.35 101.39 112.03 97.16 104.58

10-Oct-20

2.59

3.37

15.25

98.97

Agency Bonds Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.20

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.23

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 23.44 4.22 10.98 8.14 21.68 12.55 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

446.12 448.59

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 3.60 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.50 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.90

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

538.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

546.22

Sukuk BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

10-Oct-13

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

14.75

9.40

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

9.40

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

9.31

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.81

1.00

10.90

98.84

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.03

1.00

11.78

98.69

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 24.64 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

7.28

7.04

97.87

98.83

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.35

4.89

99.53

100.47

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.60

7.41

93.30

94.28

100.41

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,453.46

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

15.29

1.37

99.45

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

9.56

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

20.30

19.12

78.45

80.08

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

8.22

95.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.68

91.25

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

16.45

15.85

81.94

83.18

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

13.65 13.85 14.49

82.25 83.00 76.00

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 Rating/Agency

08-Nov-18

8.22

3,523.41 3,080.35 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

7.75

7.72

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

2.77

29-Jul-16

100

6.18

13.22

12.76

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.00

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 8 15 29 36 43 50 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 28-Apr-16 5-May-16 19-May-16 26-May-16 2-Jun-16 9-Jun-16 16-Jun-16 23-Jun-16 30-Jun-16

Bid Discount (%) 2.74 2.97 2.71 2.65 5.31 6.04 6.14 6.16 6.19

Offer Discount (%) 2.49 2.72 2.46 2.40 5.06 5.79 5.89 5.91 5.94

Bid Yield (%) 2.74 2.97 2.72 2.66 5.34 6.09 6.20 6.22 6.27

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 7.2508 9.1990 11.1563 12.8207

Rate (%)

OBB

6.83

O/N

7.25

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 7.33 7.67 8.17

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M

199.05 199.27 199.55 200.23 201.54 202.93 207.10

199.15 199.79 200.11 200.93 202.45 204.17 209.09

^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 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

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 18-Mar-16

16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493 12.4000

351.30 233.90 576.93 605.31 719.99 266.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 80.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issuer

Agency Bonds

Equities advance on sustained bargain hunting

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

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

Stories by Chris Ugwu

11.99 12.32 12.68 12.58 12.69 12.95 12.95 12.94 12.93 12.93 12.92 13.05

he local bourse yesterday trudged along, driven by sustained bargain hunting ac-

110.32 85.20 108.39 115.26 107.35 97.50 112.56 97.17 71.99 81.11 94.62 95.41

6362.457269

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.20

03-Apr-17

0.53

2.94

12.23

102.50

17.25

1.20 1.23

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 tivities, which lifted the Ni15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 gerian Stock Exchange (NSE) 30-JUN-2017 ASI 13.75 andBAYELSA market 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017capitalisation 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 by 0.5 per cent. 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 Specifically, the All-Share 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Index gained basis 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019125.78 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 points or 0.5 per cent to close 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 at 24.784.95 index points, as 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 against 24,659.17 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 recorded the 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

30-Jun-11 14.00 previous day , while the15.50 mar30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 10.00 ket capitalisation of equities 30-Jun-10 13.75 appreciated31-Dec-10 by N43 billion 14.00 or 30-Sep-11 14.00 0.5 per cent04-Oct-11 to close at N8.525 14.00 09-Dec-11 14.50 trillion from N8.482 trillion. 12-Dec-13 14.00 Meanwhile, a turnover 14-Feb-12 15.50 of 02-Oct-12 15.50 159.2 million shares exchanged 22-Nov-12 14.50 12-Dec-12 14.75 in in 2,698 deals was recorded 27-Nov-13 13.50 the day’s trading. 31-Dec-13 15.00 31-Dec-13 14.50 Banking 06-Jan-14 services subsector 15.00 09-Dec-14 15.50 of the financial services sector 17-Feb-15 16.50 was the most active (measured 27-Feb-15 16.50 17.50 by turnover30-Mar-15 volume); with 67.4 01-Apr-15 17.00 27-May-15 17.00 by million shares exchanged investors in 969 deals.

EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 OYO 16-FEB-2022 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

SEC to boost agriculture through commodities exchanges TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Corporate Bonds

n a bid to boost agriculture that to Nigeria’s com13.00boost NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 NAHCO 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 FSDH and promote commodity petitiveness, a thriving com0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 ***LCRM the 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 exchange in Nigeria, modities trading ecosystem 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 30-SEP-2017 Securities and Exchange must 13.00 be UBA developed. UBA 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 LEASING Commission (SEC) *C is& Iset to The DG said: “We believe MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 *DANA MPR+7.00 9-SEP-2018 *TOWER roll out various initiatives to this can be TOWER achieved by impleMPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 *TOWER provide an enabling UBA environ- menting the following strate14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 *LA CASERA ment for commodities trad- gic initiatives: Build a supportMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 *CHELLARAMS 16.00 functional DANA II 1-APR-2019 ecosystem ing in the country. *DANA ing and 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 *FCMB trading. Already, the Commission is for commodities 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 NAHCO 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 *TRANSCORP reviewing the Warehouse Re-HOTELS PLC“Others are: Build Centre 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 *FCMB ceipt Bill currently before the of Excellence in areas of com16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 UBA 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 National Assembly FIDELITY and has parative advantage such as for 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 182D T.bills+1.20 IA 30-SEP-2024 IBTC given assurance thatSTANBIC it would oil & gas, cocoa,STANBIC etc. Develop ef13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 IBTC actively advocate its STANBIC passage. ficient commodities exchang14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030 *NMRC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE This is in support of the es and trading platforms, TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION policy thrust of the Federal sponsor legislation to ensure Government to encourage in- Nigeria’s crude oil sales are Sukuk vestments in the agricultural traded onOSUN local exchanges and BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 II 10-OCT-2020 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE and solid minerals sectors in build capacity in commodities CAPITALISATION aTOTAL bid MARKET to ensure economic di- trading at the SEC and among Supranational Bond and deepen camarket operators”. versification IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC He10.20 said that as Nigeria purpacity across the agricultural 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P *AfDB value chain. sues policies aimed at diversifyTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Director General of SEC, ing the economy, creating jobs Mounir Gwarzo said these and hastening socioeconomic Description Rating/Agency Issuer while delivering a keynote development, it is becoming FGN Eurobonds address at a training semi- increasingly clear that Com6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P nar organised by Africa Ex- modities Exchanges can play a BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P change Holdings (AFEX) on crucial role in actualising these BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 Commodity Trading and Risk lofty objectives as a detailed BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING Management inVALUE Abuja. empirical study by the United TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION He said the 10-year capital Nation’s Conference on Trade Corporate Eurobonds market master plan, which and Development (UNCTAD) 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I the market is currently im- analysed the impact of com7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC plementing is the blueprint on devel6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC modities exchanges NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC for the growth and GTBANK developopment in emerging6.00 markets. 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC ment of the market DIAMOND over the Gwarzo said countries 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC that were part of 8.25 theAUGstudy next decade and acknowledg9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANKas LTD es commodities exchanges, are also emerging countries 8.75 AUG 14, 2021 B-/S&P NIG. LTD critical for enablingECOBANK investwith the most vibrant comTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ment diversification, modities markets such as TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION risk management, price discovery India, Brazil, China, MalayRating/Agency Issuer and transactional efficiency . sia and South Africa.Description Among the many insights in study’s He expressed strong belief Commercial Papers 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

110.02 84.90 108.09 114.96 107.05 97.20 112.26 96.87 71.69 80.81 94.32 95.11

Stock market extends gain with N43bn Description

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

12.10 12.44 12.78 12.64 12.75 13.01 12.99 12.99 12.99 12.98 12.96 13.09

6,392.56

Rating/Agency

BULLISH

3.19 3.51 3.81 5.77 7.90 9.76 12.61 13.09 13.58 14.26 18.24 19.91

6,407.46

TOTAL MARKETApril CAPITALISATION THURSDAY, 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nil

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 18-Mar-36

#{r}

4.46 9.95 100.69 while Eterna Oil Plc101.17 followed 3.48 8.97 1.00 11.93 of 9.41 per 98.23 with a gain cent to 5.71 15.66 98.71 close at N1.86 per share. UAC 3.21 14.78 98.81 1.00 12.50 101.95 Property Plc added five per 1.00 12.50 101.97 3.82 15.30 at N4.20 per 98.95 share. cent to close 3.56 15.05 98.64 other hand, 1.00On the 12.56 104.17 Skye 2.02 13.73 103.03 Bank Plc led the price losers’ 1.98 14.47 100.03 1.00 12.70 table, dropping 5.88 103.55 per cent 1.30 14.02 98.23 to 96 kobo per 3.76 close at 16.48 95.23share. 3.76 15.70 97.48 Air Service Plc trailed with 1.00 12.95 104.40 1.52 13.82 five per cent to close104.12 at N1.90 3.67 16.13 100.84 per while Custodian and 1.00 share,13.48 107.93 2.52 15.08 106.34 Allied Insurance Plc followed 1.79 14.45 109.94 3.04 15.58of 4.87 per 103.59 with a loss cent to close at N3.71 per share.

Union Bank reports 96% growth in Q12016 PAT

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

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc has announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended 31st March 2016, recording a growth of 95 per cent in net earnings. In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the group’s profit after tax grew to ₦4.719 billion during the first quarter 2016 from ₦2.404 billion reported a year earlier. Gross earnings was however, ₦26.6 billion as against ₦29 billion in Q1 2015; excluding gain on sale of 10-Oct-13 subsidiaries,14.75 at par with prior year at ₦26.6 billion. Interest income was up five per cent to ₦21 billion from ₦20 billion in 11-Feb-13 Q1 2015, as a10.20 result 10-Jul-14 11.25 of improvement in asset yield

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.46 3.60 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.50 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.90

0.44 0.51 0.63 1.00 1.21 1.44 0.90 1.22 1.39 1.39 2.44 1.50 1.58 1.70 2.30 4.57 3.07 5.58 5.69 6.06 4.23 8.44 8.44 9.57

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 5.37 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.51 1.00 1.00 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

9.64 10.58 10.66 17.89 17.58 13.79 12.46 14.34 17.72 12.37 13.00 16.86 17.63 14.85 16.25 13.73 15.64 15.17 13.66 13.66 15.52 13.83 13.83 13.98

101.39 101.79 103.15 98.78 98.78 98.97 105.28 101.75 100.22 104.35 102.01 98.59 100.42 101.61 97.81 105.02 99.63 96.57 110.74 111.35 101.39 112.03 97.16 104.58

Bid Price

Offer Price

cent to ₦4.7 billion compared to ₦2.5 billion in the same quarter last year. With the sale of non-banking subsidiaries near completion, the bank is now focused on growing and delivering results through its core banking business. “Customer deposits grew 9 per cent in the year to March 2016, compared to March 2015, reflecting increased customer confidence in our service channels, new product offerings and a re-energised brand identity. to98.97 sustain 3.37 “Our priorities 15.25 growth in 2016 remain focused on growing our deposit base and new customer acquisi1.00 10.90 98.84 tions, as well as driving gains 1.00 11.78 98.69 in transactional income.”

from 14.36 per cent in Q1 2015 to 15.65 per cent in Q1 2016. Interest expense went down 16 per cent to ₦6.6 billion compared with ₦7.9 billion in Q1 2015, which according to the bank, was driven by a deliberate effort to manage funding costs, resulting in a reduction in primary cost of funds from 6.07 per cent in Q1 2015 to 4.73 per cent in Q1 2016. 538.53 Commenting on the bank’s 546.22 first quarter results, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emeka Emuwa said:10-Oct-20 “Our first2.59 quar9.40 9.40 results reflect steady ter 9.31 progress on the execution of our strategic priorities. The 12.00 bank’s core11-Feb-18 PBT in Q11.81 2016 12.95 01-Feb-21 3.03 is24.95 up significantly by 85 per 24.64

GTBank reports N25bn Q12016 profit Issue Date

Coupon (%)

07-Oct-11

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

6.75

Maturity Date

500.00

28-Jan-21

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

7.28

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

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

Prices & Yields

7.04

uaranty Trust Bank the greater decline in PAT 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.35 (GTB) Plc has reported stemmed from a significant loss 12-Jul-13 billion 6.38 12-Jul-23on the 7.60 N25.614 profit of500.00 –N5.3 billion other 1,500.00 after tax for the first quar- comprehensive income (OCI) 1,453.46 ter ended March 31, 2016 as line, driven by fair value loss against N26.563 billion posted on available for sale securities. 19-May-11 7.50 373.41 the previous year. “Although19-May-16 this may be 15.29 linked 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 9.56 The bank in a filing with to300.00 yields having inched 20.30 up on 09-May-13 6.88 the 02-May-18 08-Nov-13 400.00 8.22 Nigerian Stock Exchange6.00 (NSE), fixed income08-Nov-18 securities in Q1, 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 9.68 also said its21-May-14 Q1 2016 Pretax8.75profit the magnitude suggests that 200.00 21-May-19 16.45 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 13.65 stood at N30.675 billion in 2016 some other explanation is13.85 prob24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-14 450.00behind this 23-Jul-21 14.49 from N32.652 billion in8.002015, ably loss. Returning 14-Aug-14 8.75 250.00 14-Aug-21 12.23 while Interest income grew to to the PBT line, although both 3,523.41 N55.833 billion compared with loan loss provisions (-4 per cent 3,080.35 N54.951 billion the previous year. y/y) and operating expenses Outstanding Value DTM Issue Yield @ Issue (%) Reacting toDate the development, (-2(₦’bn) per centMaturity y/y) Date both declined, analysts at the FBN Quest said these were not material relative

Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.30 30-Jun-16 0.20 Volume in30-Jun-16 the sub-sector 2.05 0.20 57.00 19-Apr-17 1.00 was largely driven by activi16.45 30-Jun-17 0.72 ties25.00in the shares 31-Dec-17 of GTB 1.70 Plc 23.44 30-Sep-18 1.51 and4.22Wema Bank Plc. 04-Oct-18 1.52 10.98 09-Dec-18 1.49 Premium sub-sector boosted 8.14 12-Dec-18 1.49 by 21.68 activities 14-Feb-19 in the shares 1.68 of 12.55 02-Oct-19 2.10 Zenith Bank Plc followed with 80.00 22-Nov-19 3.59 21.65 12-Dec-19 2.06 a turnover of 45.3 million 87.50 27-Nov-20 4.60 shares traded31-Dec-20 in 511 deals. 5.00 4.70 4.03 31-Dec-20 2.73 The number of gainers at 4.04 06-Jan-21 2.76 09-Dec-21 session 3.97 the14.37 close of trading was 4.39 16-Feb-22 3.54 23, 4.53 while decliners at 11. 27-Feb-22 closed3.57 27.10 30-Mar-22 4.03 Tiger Branded Goods Plc led 3.00 31-Mar-22 6.46 27-May-22 3.66per the7.68 gainers’ table with 9.96 446.12 cent to close at N2.65 per share, 448.59

97.87

98.83

to a -4.1 per cent y/y decline in 4.89 99.53 100.47 profit before provisions. As to 7.41 93.30behind the 94.28 the drivers latter, it was really non-interest income of N19 billion that weighed on the result, coming in -18 per 1.37 99.45 100.41 cent below the Q1 2015 figure. 9.56 97.31 97.31 net interest in19.12 “In contrast, 78.45 80.08 8.22 95.00 come grew by 4.2 per95.00 cent y/y 9.68 91.25 91.25 to N40.8 billion. On a83.18 sequen15.85 81.94 13.65 82.25 82.25 tial basis,83.00 the OCI loss was re13.85 83.00 14.49 sponsible76.00 for the PAT76.00 showing 11.76 86.63 a decline84.88 of -12 per cent q/q. However, PBT grew by 7.1 per cent q/q, reflecting growth of Risk Valuation Yield Discount Rate (%) Premium 8.6 per cent (%) q/q in profit before (%) provisions,” they noted. #

7.23

04-May-16

6.03

7.75

7.72

2.77

29-Jul-16

100

6.18

13.22

12.76

20-Apr-16

10.00

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 Money “Information”). not constitute professional, financial or **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS Market The Information does 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 8 28-Apr-16 2.74 2.49 2.74 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 6.83 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 15 29 36 FGN Bonds 43 50 57 64 Rating/Agency 71 85 92 99 106 113 120 134 141 155 169 176 183 NA 190 197 211 225 239 260 274 288 302 316 330 337 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 351

VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

5-May-16 19-May-16 26-May-16 2-Jun-16 9-Jun-16 16-Jun-16 23-Jun-16 Issuer 30-Jun-16 14-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 28-Jul-16 4-Aug-16 11-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 1-Sep-16 8-Sep-16 22-Sep-16 6-Oct-16 13-Oct-16 20-Oct-16 NA 27-Oct-16 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 5-Jan-17 19-Jan-17 2-Feb-17 16-Feb-17 2-Mar-17 16-Mar-17 23-Mar-17 6-Apr-17

2.97 2.71 2.65 5.31 6.04 6.14 6.16 Description 6.19 5.74 13.05 16-AUG-2016 6.71 ^15.10 27-APR-20177.15 7.16 9.85 27-JUL-2017 7.68 9.35 31-AUG-2017 7.76 10.70 30-MAY-2018 8.45 8.65 ^16.00 29-JUN-20198.61 7.00 23-OCT-2019 8.61 ^15.54 13-FEB-20208.84 8.79 ^16.39 27-JAN-20228.50 ^14.20 14-MAR-20248.56 ^12.50 22-JAN-20269.18 8.46 15.00 28-NOV-2028 8.69 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.81 8.50 20-NOV-2029 9.20 ^10.00 23-JUL-20309.45 9.55 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 9.51 ^12.40 18-MAR-20369.58 9.54 9.41

2.72 2.46 2.40 5.06 5.79 5.89 5.91 Issue Date 5.94 5.49 6.46 16-Aug-13 6.90 27-Apr-12 6.91 27-Jul-07 7.43 7.51 31-Aug-07 8.20 30-May-08 8.40 29-Jun-12 8.36 23-Oct-09 8.36 8.59 13-Feb-15 8.54 27-Jan-12 8.25 14-Mar-14 8.31 8.93 22-Jan-16 8.21 28-Nov-08 8.44 22-May-09 8.56 8.95 20-Nov-09 9.20 23-Jul-10 9.30 18-Jul-14 9.26 18-Mar-16 9.33 9.29 9.16

2.97 2.72 2.66 5.34 6.09 6.20 6.22 Coupon (%) 6.27 5.81 6.83 13.05 7.29 15.10 7.31 9.85 7.86 7.96 9.35 8.72 10.70 8.94 16.00 8.94 7.00 8.96 9.24 15.54 9.19 16.39 8.89 14.20 8.97 9.70 12.50 8.92 15.00 9.22 12.49 9.40 9.88 8.50 10.22 10.00 10.37 12.1493 10.36 12.4000 10.49 10.46 10.34

Bonds

*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

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Agency Bonds Nil

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

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

<3 3<5 >5 Market

03-Apr-12

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn)

Rate (%) 7.2508 9.1990 11.1563 12.8207

988.47 1,466.60 1,492.80 3,947.87

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Volume

908.23 1,325.30 1,667.49 3,901.02

23.28 33.97 42.74 30-Jun-11 100.00

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

O/N Tenor Call

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 2.9916 27-Apr-17 6.1763 27-Jul-17 6.4806 9.0862 31-Aug-17 9.3870 30-May-18 10.2243

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 576.93 NIFEX 13-Feb-20 605.31 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 14-Mar-24 BID($/N) 719.99 199.0000 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 266.02 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 80.00 18-Mar-36

7.25

REPO

1M TTM (Yrs) 3M 6M

Rate (%) 7.33

Bid7.67 Yield (%) 8.17 8.67

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

0.32 7.50 7.05 1.02 11.32 11.17 1.27 11.24 11.11 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 1.36Bond 11.34 11.22 µ :Convertible 2.11Bond 11.71 11.63 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 3.19 12.10 11.99 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 3.51Mortgage Bank 12.44 12.32 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 3.81 Finance Corporation 12.78 12.68 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 5.77 12.64 12.58 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 7.90 12.75 12.69 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC9.76 Property Development Company 13.01 12.95 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 12.61 12.99 12.95 13.09 12.99 12.94 13.58 12.99 12.93 14.26 12.98 12.93 18.24 12.96 12.92 19.91 13.09 13.05 NOTE:

6,407.46

199.05 199.27 199.55 200.23 201.54 202.93 Bid Price 207.10 215.68

101.70 103.54

199.15 199.79

Price200.11 200.93

202.45 204.17 Offer Price 209.09 221.14

101.85 103.69

98.36 98.51 NA :Not Applicable ^ : Market97.52 Prices 97.67 # : Floating Rate Bond 98.13 98.28 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 110.02 110.32 DTM: Days-To-Maturity 84.90 85.20 TTM: Term-To-Maturity ‡ : Bond 108.09 rating under review 108.39 †: Bond rating expired 114.96 115.26 N/A :Not Available 107.05 107.35 {r} :Issuer in receivership NGC: Nigeria-German Company 97.50 97.20 UBA: United Bank for Africa 112.26 96.87 71.69 80.81 94.32 95.11

112.56 97.17 71.99 81.11 94.62 95.41

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

6362.457269

6,392.56 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

17.25

Weighting by Mkt Value

25.04 37.15 37.81 14.00 100.00

15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

Maturity Date

1.20

03-Apr-17

1.20

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Bucket Weighting

1.23

0.23 0.34 0.43 1.30 1.00

2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 23.44 4.22 10.98 8.14 21.68

12.48 29.28 58.24 30-Jun-16 100.00

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

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.53 Implied Yield

12.54 12.71 12.97 0.20 12.84

0.20 1.00 0.72 1.70 1.51 1.52 1.49 1.49 1.68

Risk Premium (%) 2.94 Implied Portfolio Price

135.6028 150.1567 114.5319 4.46 131.5405

3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00

12.23 INDEX

1,233.67 1,301.77 1,380.80 9.95 1,252.61

8.97 11.93 15.66 14.78 12.50 12.50 15.30 15.05 12.56

102.50 YTD Return (%)

11.3573 28.5607 37.1180 100.69 18.7101

101.17 98.23 98.71 98.81 101.95 101.97 98.95 98.64 104.17

NEWS | south-west

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

12%

The percentage by which the value of Nigeria’s import trade at the end of Q4, 2014 rose more than the Q4, 2013. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Sodomy: Police absence stalls trial Foluso Ogunmodede

The scene of an accident that involved four cars and a bus at Oshodi Oke, Lagos…yesterday

Court fines DSS N5m over illegal detention of Ekiti lawmaker Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

Federal High Court in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay Hon. Afolabi Akanni N5 million for what it described as "illegal arrest and continued detention for 18 harrowing, excruciating and brain cudgeling days without access to his lawyers and family members”. Akanni, who is representing Efon Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly was on March 4, cornered and whisked away by the DSS when it allegedly invaded the Assembly complex. The lawmaker was, however, released soon after his colleagues in the Assembly circulated a rumour about his death, forcing the DSS to parade him after which he was taken to an Abuja hospital where he was eventually allowed home. Akanni’s lawyer, Obafemi Adewale, apologised for his client’s absence, explaining that his cli-

ent was still in a hospital outside the state where he was receiving treatment. In a ruling, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, said the DSS had failed to either admit or deny facts as contained in the applicant’s allegations. Justice Taiwo said: "There is no basis for the court to believe that all that the applicant had alleged against the DSS were not true. Akanni's fundamental rights as a citizen of Nigeria, as specified by the principles of the Rule of Law and the African Charter on the Rights of individuals, had been violated by the DSS in illegally arresting and continually detaining him for 18 days.” However, the court further granted three of the four reliefs sought by the applicant, including "whether the applicant's unlawful arrest and detention is justified, whether the said intimidation, torture and continued detention is not a violation of his fundamental human rights and a violation of the Rule of Law, and whether the applicant's is not entitled to damages.”

Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Kola Oluwawole, in a reaction, hailed the judgment which he described as “vindicating the House's position that DSS' alleged invasion, arrest and detention of its members were illegal and against the democratic principles of the country," he said.

Court sacks Lagos monarch

ustice Iyabo Kasali of the Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere yesterday ordered Chief Micheal Gbadebo Onakoya to stop parading himself as the traditional ruler and Orijeru of Igboye in the Epe Local Government Area of the state. The court which sacked Onakoya also declared that his previous nomination to the stool of Orijeru of Igboye as illegal and of no effect. She said this in a judgment in a suit filed by the representatives of Ewade Ruling House who were contesting the nomination and crowning of Onakoya.

BEDC, Ondo sign pact to reconnect 100 communities T wenty months after towns and communities in Ondo South senatorial district were disconnected from the power grid, an agreement between the Ondo State government and the Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) was yesterday signed to reconnect affected communities. This was contained in a statement issued by BEDC yesterday. Secretary to the Ondo State government (SSG), Dr Aderotimi Adelola, signed on behalf of the Ondo State government, while the Chief state head,

Ondo and Ekiti states of the BEDC, Mr. Ernest Edgar, signed on behalf of the BEDC at a ceremony held in the SSG’s office at the Alagbaka Government House, Akure. Speaking shortly before the ceremony, Adelola said the signing was the first step in ensuring that power was restored to hundreds of affected communities in the southern part of the state, assuring that the state government would fulfill its part of the agreement with the BEDC. He described the day as a new dawn in the lives of the people of Ondo South,

Oluwawole said: "The judgment is a vindication of our position that the DSS' invasion of the House on March 4 was an aberration. We cried to the world over this. The opponents were giving excuses and the DSS were not even helping the matter, but the judgement has shown that the DSS' action was illegal."

ollowing the inability of the police to bring its witness to a Lagos court, trial of leaders of the Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo over an alleged torture of Julian Agoma and two other was stalled yesterday. The market leaders are facing criminal prosecution over allegations of torture, attempted murder, and sodomy of three women at the Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb, in February 2013. Their victims, however, include Ajoke Agoma and Nike Salami . At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr. Akin George, informed the court presided by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye that his witness, Adejuwon Olabisi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was not in court. George told the court that ASP Adejuwon was involved in another matter holding in Benin, Edo

appealing to BEDC’s management not to renege on the terms of the agreement by restoring power to the communities as soon as possible. Edgar, however, assured the government of BEDC’s preparedness to restore power to the area starting with Odigbo Local Government Area in April and the remaining local government areas in the months to come. He expressed satisfaction that over the resolution of the problems that led to the disconnection such as a debt of about N1.9 billion.

The claimants in the suit are Alhaji M.A. Quadri, Chief Dauda Kadiri and Mrs. Oladipe Otunowo for themselves and as representatives of Osekelu branch of Ewade Ruling House. Others are Chief Gbenro Otunowo, Mr. Yemisi Adegboyega and Mrs. Adeleke Ogunnubi, for themselves and as representatives of Okuyemi/ Okuboyejo branch of Ewade Ruling House. The defendants apart from the sacked monarch are the Head of the Ewade Ruling House, Otunba Abdulwasiu Musa-Adebamowo, Lagos State Government and the AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State.

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday affirmed his administration’s readiness to boost agriculture and make the state a force to reckoned with globally especially in the area of forestry development. Aregbesola made the assurance at the opening session of a public hearing on report of illegal entry and farming on Shasha forest by an InterMinisterial Committee in Ile-Ife at the Local Government Service Commission Hall in Abeere,

Justice Kasali however dismissed the 35 point averrements of Onakoya contained in his amended statement of defence and counter-claims filed through his counsel, Babatunnde Oshilaja. She declared that the second defendant (Micheal Gbadebo Onakoya) who was not a member of the Ewade Ruling House of Igboye was not entitled to be nominated to the stool of the Orijeru of Igboye. The court granted, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Onakoya from parading himself as a member of the Ewade Ruling House of the said Ig-

State. He however asked the court to grant a short adjournment by invalidating dates already fixed for trial. Justice Ipaye granted the request of the prosecution and vacated the dates earlier fixed for trial. She thereafter adjourned the matter till May 26 and May 31 for continuation of trial. Lagos government had charged 10 persons for alleged torture, attempted murder, and sodomy of three women at the Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb, in February 2013. Those standing trial include the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, 61; Buhari Yusuf, 22; Abdullahi Haruna, 20 and Saheed Adisa, 29 Others are the woman leader of the market, Oloruntoyin Dauda, 46; Lateef Tijani, 37; Ahmed Adisa, 65; Azeez Akinosun, 36; Jimoh Busari, 50; and Adekunle Adenuga, 38. boye or presenting himself for the stool of Orijeru of Igboye on the platform of Ewade Ruling House”. The judge also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the other defendants from recognising Onakoya as a member of Ewade Ruling House of Igboye”. Beside, she described as fraudulent documents used by the deposed monarch for his nomination, selection and subsequent recognition by government for the stool of Orijeru of Igboyeland, adding that the claimants were not aware of or participated in the meetings purportedly held by the Ewade Ruling House in August, 1991 which culminated in his unlawful nomination.

Aregbesola reiterates commitment to boost agriculture, forestry

Osogbo. He said: "The commitment of my administration to agriculture and forestry development for the attainment of self-sufficiency in the production of stable commodities will be outstanding. "The importance of agriculture and forestry to national economy cannot be over-emphasised, adding that the two sectors are veritable sources of food, shelter, life sustaining drugs and raw materials for the industries. "A responsible gov-

ernment in a developing economy like Osun must give agriculture and forestry prominence in its development plan. "Considering the global standard prescribed by Food and Agricultural Organisation, 35 per cent of any nation's land mass must be forested. In order to achieve this objective, our administration has among other things raised 2.5 million seedlings of Teak and Gmelina Arborea (Igi-Iye) for free distribution in the state in 2014."

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim, yesterday announced the indefinite suspension of three members on what he described as 'unsavoury conduct' they are Hon. Obinna Egu (PDP, Ngor-Okpala), Hon. Lawman Duruji

News|SOTUH-EAST

Imo Assembly suspends three lawmakers

(APC, Ehime Mbano) and Hon (Mrs) Ngozi Obiefule (APC, Isu) state constituencies respectively. Making the disclosure on the floor of the House, the Speaker regretted that the image and integrity of the House had been severely ridiculed by the

unsavoury conduct of the suspended members. According to Mr. Ben Ilochonwu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, “Mr. Speaker stated that a disciplinary committee would be constituted to investigate the matter, stressing that the

House leadership can no longer fold its arms and watch some members tarnish the hard-earned name of the Assembly and the state government.” A dependable House of Assembly source, however, confided in our corre-

ome ex-Niger-Delta militants have threatened to carry out mass destruction of oil facilities if they were not accommodated in the third phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, billed to commence soon. That was also as two policemen; a corporal and a sergeant on official assignment at the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) nipping point at Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State were shot dead by gunmen on Tuesday. The gunmen who attacked the policemen at about 1.30am disarmed the policemen before shooting them and fleeing with their

THE REDEEMER’S GOSPEL CHURCH

The Trustees are: 1. Daramola Stephen Adegboyega (G.O) 2. Deacon Babatunde Bamidele Paul (Gen. Sec) 3. Idowu Samuel Olumide (Financial Sec) 4. Adeniran John Ayorinde ( Clergy) 5. Adekanmbi Solomon Oluwadamilare AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Bringing men unto the original plan and purpose of God through the spoken word of peace, hope and comfort in accordance with Biblical injuction. 3. To plant churches and engage in Christian missionary activities 4. To train believers in the Bible based Christian life. 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: TRUSTEES

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

guns. The spokesman of the Imo State Police Command, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, had confirmed the incident, adding that investigations had also commenced to unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Meanwhile, militants operating under the aegis of the Niger-Delta Ex-Militants (NDEM), Imo State chapter yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital disclosed their intention to resume hostilities if their demands were notmet. The Commander General of the group, Uzoma Bobby Chukuwma yesterday led members of the group to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Bureau for Niger-Delta Affairs to submit a copy of their protest letter He said: "Please let them

not force us, we are prepared to die in our struggle. It is unfortunate that after surrendering our arms since last year our means of survival, we are still not accommodated in the amnesty programne." Chukwuma while lamenting their non-inclusion in the second phase of the Amnesty Programme, appealed to the Special Adviser, Bureau for Niger-Delta Affairs, Hon. Justus Ojika to use his good office to redress the situation. They appealed to him to ensure their enlistment in the program to avert a possible breakdown of peace in the oil communities of Imo State. Addressing the group, the Special Adviser commended them for being law abiding by laying down their arms and conveying their grievances through a petition.

Herdsmen free auditor after N700,000 ransom payment he Enugu State auditor ing at Ukpabi community. area; while at the junction, He reportedly ran into a the kidnappers directed us T Mr. Ogbobe Stephen, who was kidnapped by road block mounted by the to move to Ogbede junction suspected Fulani herdsmen along Nsukka- Adani Highway on Saturday, has regained his freedom. He was said to have been freed after depositing N700,000 ransom agreed with his abductors in Amokwu community, Udi Local Government Area of the state, after been held hostage for four days by his abductors. Ogbobe, was kidnapped by herdsmen while returning from a town hall meet-

The letter which was read at the plenary session by the Speaker, announced that the member for Ahiazu Mbaise, Hon. Kenneth Agbim takes over from Egu, as the new Minority Leader, while Hon Emma Orie replaces Hon. Mike Iheanetu as the new Minority Whip.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Two policemen killed as ex-milit ants threaten violence OWERRI

spondent that the suspension of Egu of the PDP was rather dramatic, as he was the Minority Leader in the Assembly but surprisingly was deposed by a ‘mysterious letter’ written by minority floor members, which our source maintains was against House procedures.

PUBLIC NOTICE

L-R: Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; School Monitor, Progressive Primary School, Awba-Ofemili, Nnacheta Anslem Nnamdi; School Manager, Fr. Coleman Onuegbu and Headmaster, Mr. John Ozuah, during the presentation of One Million naira cheque by Obi for the rehabilitation of the school.. yesterday.

Steve Uzoechi

Fulani herdsmen around 4pm, from where he was dragged into the bush. His abductors opened discussion with the family, demanding N5 million ransom, which was later reduced to N1.5m. However, when the family could not meet the demand, they settled for N700,000. According to a family source, “they initially directed us to drop the ransom at Opi-junction in Nsukka local government

in Igbo-Etiti local government area. “On getting to Ogbede junction, the kidnappers instructed us to proceed to Amokwu Affa junction, in Udi local government area, close to a primary school, where two Fulani herdsmen emerged with pump action guns and collected the ransom. “They asked us to move quickly while the man was released at a different location.”

Group petitions CP over harassment Okegwo kenechukwu Onitsha

ollowing allegations of illegal extortion, arrest, detention and impounding of tricycles by the policemen from the Okpoko police division, in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, a human rights group, Fundamental Rights League International (FRLI), yesterday petitioned the state Commissioner of police Mr. Karma Horsea. The group asked the police Commissioner to intervene in the matter. The leader of the group comrade Mike Umezulike Umezulike who exonerated the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) in charge of the division, accused policemen of incessant harassment. He said inhuman acts were being perpetrated in spite of the Commissioner of police warning to all police divisions during his familiarization tour that they should not be involved in any illegal revenue drive. In the petition which FRLI wrote through its counsel, C.L. Ezeonwuka to CP titled, “Use of Police as illegal revenue collectors, illegal arrest, detention and impounding of tricycles; it called for urgent intervention of the CP.

Okeke: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozurumba Onyinye Juliana now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeke Onyinye Juliana. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Anjiishi

I wish to confirm that Mrs. Jumoke Funmilola Shomide and Mrs. Jumoke Funmilayo Abdullahi refers to one and same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Kate Terdoo Anjiishi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Sylvanus

I formerly known and addressed as Omeje Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as Omeje Sylvanus. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Bolarinwa

I formerly known and addressed as Mr Bolarinwa Olalekan Mutiu now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Bolarinwa Olalekan Abiola. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and the general public please take note.

Iniruo

I formerly known and addressed as Amieba Sounpre now wish to be known and addressed as Iniruo Sounpre. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Eguridu

I formally known as Miss Emakpose Blessing, I now wish to be known address as Mrs. Eguridu Blessing. SUBEB and General Public should please take note.

PEACE

I, formely known and addressed as Ajuri Obari Olloo wish to be known and address as Peace Obari Olloo. All formal document remain valid eco bank and general public take note.

Hellen

I formerly known as Ilesanmi Bose Jumoke now wish to be known and addressed as. Ilesanmi Bose Hellen. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DENNIS

I formerly known as Dennis April now wish to be known and addressed as Dennis John. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Momodu

I formerly known and addressed as Momoh Farouk Tunde now wish to be known and addressed as Momodu Farouk Tunde. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Shomide

I wish to confirm that Kate Tyopuusu Anjiishi and Kate Terdoo Anjiishi refers to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jumoke Funmilola Shomide. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Nworgu

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kalu Gift Chinyere now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nworgu Gift Chinyere. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Amandi

I formerly known and addressed as Okoro Amandianaeze now wish to be known and addressed as Okoro Chita Amandi. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, UBA bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Andou

I formerly known and addressed as Bunmi Festus now wish to be known and addressed as Juliet Andou. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc, Keystone bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

NWANKWO

I, formerly known as Miss. Nwankwo Chinyere Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udogu Chnyere Blessing. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

AFOLABI

I formerly known as Olajumoke Awawu Abiola now wish to be known and addressed as. Mrs Afolabi Olajumoke Hawau Abiola. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

SOLOMON

I formerly known as Freeman Peremobowei now wish to be known and addressed as Solomon Pere Amos. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NEWS | south-south

APC leaders meet with Sylva, Alaibe, others over crisis

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday met with the governorship candidate of the party in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibi and other APC stakeholders from Bayelsa State, over the crisis rocking the party in the state. The closed-door meet-

ing had in attendance the APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Segun Oni, National ViceChairman, South-South, Prince Hilliard Eta and members of APC from Bayelsa State. It would be recalled that the state APC executive, led by Chief Tiwie Timipa Orunmighe, had petitioned the Presidency and the national leadership of APC on the activities of Sylva on the slots of federal appointments meant for the state. Also, the state executive had suspended Sylva and four other party chieftains for what they considered anti-party activities.

Also at the party’s national secretariat yesterday were ward chairmen of APC in Bayelsa State, who protested against Sylva. They carried placards with various inscriptions like; "Lokpobiri says APC is Boko Haram," "Bayelsa APC says in Tiwei we trust," "Lokpobiri must go," among others. However, they were not allowed into the party’s secretariat. While addressing newsmen yesterday, Chairman of wards’ chairmen, Jephta Iyekuruwe said: "We are here for a simple project; we are not here to fight our leader, the APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa

state. "Five executive chances were given to APC Bayelsa State in order to strengthen the party, because for now, we don't have a governor to take care of the party and by the special grace of God, the Presidency through the national secretariat, gave this five executive chances to Bayelsa State, but at the end of the day our candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva cornered all of them, use his own letter headed paper and sent five names without consulting the state executive, led by Chief Timipa Tiwe's administration.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Host communities protest diversion of N600m development fund Dominic Adewole ASABA

ost communities in the oil and gas sector, yesterday besieged the Delta State House of Assembly complex in Asaba, the state capital, protesting against an alleged plan by the state to divert their N600 million security votes. The money, according to the protesters, who were mainly youths from Itshekiri ethnic nationality, was their largesse from the 13 per cent oil derivation fund. The youths, chanting songs of rejection in their mother tongues and displaying placards of various inscriptions, threatened

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, with Area Manager, Hartland Nigeria Limited, Mr. Paulo Pistolesi, during the inspection of the underground drain at Upper Sokponba, Benin City…yesterday.

to wreak havoc should the state government continue with the proposed plan. Led by their Chairman, Benjamin Ewetan, the youths, numbering 200, wondered why the state government, supported by their representatives in the House, embarked on such fraudulent act. According to them, if proactive action was not taken by the host communities, the money would dovetail into the corruption pipeline. “What we are saying is that the N600 million meant for the development of the oil and gas producing communities should not be used as security vote. This protest is to register our displeasure over the attempt. Any attempt to divert the money will cause disorder in the state,” said Ewetan. Ewetan, who described himself as an Itshekiri leader, said the N600 million should be given to the host communities to empower their women by way of micro-credit allowance, engage jobless youths meaningfully by way of job and wealth creation and set up cottage industries to accommodate school leavers.

The total number of penalty goals scored by Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

igerians working with Dresser-Rand, a subsidiary of Siemens, a multinational telecommunications company, have carried out a peaceful protest against their planned sack by the company. While protesting yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, they alleged that the company plans to reduce by 70 percent of its workforce and that Nigerians are the target. The protesters, who converged under the auspices of Dresser-Rand Workers Association and the Coalition for the Protection of

Nigerian workers in Siemens protest planned mass sack Workers in Niger Delta, carried placards some of which read thus; "We say no to workers discrimination;" "Racism is a crime against humanity;" "Save us from white slavery;" We need 100% entitlements for workers in Dresser-Rand," among others. The company's management had barred its Nigerian staff from participating in union activities, thereby restraining them from enlisting as members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)

and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (PENGASSAN). Counsel to the aggrieved workers told journalists during the protest that the company was planning to unlawfully sack workers, who had sacrificed their all for the company. He said: "We find it unjustifiable for DresserRand to invite its workers to a hotel room to discuss their termination from the company, rather than have a worthwhile discussion with

them at its corporate office, at Kilometer 16, along Port Harcourt-Aba Road "We have a case against Dresser-Rand at the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. But we were surprised when we were informed on Friday, April 15, 2016, that one Daniel Taylor, directed that staff should 'remove all their personal belongings from the premises of the company, ostensibly in preparation for their disengagement and forced eviction from the premises.

Navy impounds hi-speed boats in Warri Joe Obende Warri

etermined to rid the waterways of Delta State and mainland of oil theft, illegal oil refining, piracy and other coastal crimes, the Nigerian Navy has commenced the enforcement of the ban on the use of 200 horsepower and above outboard engines on boats. In an initial outing by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta at various jetties and take-

off points in Warri yesterday, some 26 speed boats, fitted with 200 or more horsepower engines were impounded and docked at the Warri Naval Base. Parading the boats and advancing reasons for the base's action, the Base Operations Officer (BOO), Commander Shehu Tasiu, who spoke on behalf of the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, said the move became imperative as a result of the rise in criminal activities in the waterways.

Commissioner: Akwa Ibom’ll complete housing project Uproar over 60 years retirement age in Delta Tony Anichebe Uyo

kwa Ibom State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Prince Enobong Uwah, yesterday said the state government would complete its housing project embarked upon since 2010. He said by this, the government would put

an end to the protracted problem associated with housing in the state. Making this known during an interactive session with resource persons and stakeholders involved in the project in Uyo yesterday, Uwah said Governor Udom Emmanuel, was concerned about the state of affairs regarding the project, which was initiated by the immediate past administration.

Uwah said the governor had approved the sale of the housing units in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts located at Idu in Uruan and ikot Ekpene respectively. According to him, this decision was arrived at because some of the houses had been completed while others were in various stages of completion, while others were outrightly abandoned.

Dominic Adewole ASABA

he Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Education (COEASU), Agbor, Delta State chapter, is set for a showdown with the state government over the proposed 60 years retirement age for its members by the government. The union, which rose

from an emergency congress at the College of Education, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, confirmed yesterday that the government had already issued retirement notice to some academic staff. Chairman of the union, Dr. Great Ossai, said the union was already working towards ensuring that such notices were withdrawn, but

that if government refused to retract such, the union would be left with no option than to take the next line of action. He, however, called on members to remain calm as he was confident that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would not openly violate the College Edict and Condition of Service or the NCCE policy on retirement of academic staff.

north | news

thursday, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Shiites more dangerous than Boko Haram –SCSN scribe Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

he Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiite Islamic sect, poses greater danger to Nigeria than the Boko Haram terrorists, the Secretary General of Supreme Council for Sharia, Malam Nafiu Baba Ahmed has said. Ahmed, who stated this while testifying before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that is probing the clash between Shiites and soldiers last December, said the failure of government to deal decisively with the alleged excesses of the Shi'ites may be catastrophic for the country. The Secretary General

also revealed that the late leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf had some relationship with the Shi'ites prior to forming his own group, adding that both him and the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky had similar attitudes which are contrary to Islamic principles. According to Ahmed, the Shi'ites had recently started adopting Boko Haram strategy of intimidating and eliminating Ulamas who were opposed to their doctrines, adding that many of the victims have refrained from testifying before the commission for fear of the unknown. The SCSN scribe who lamented the initial handling of Boko Haram by government, noted that small fires have a tendency to become

huge conflagrations if not tackled in an effective and timely manner. Ahmed urged the government to learn from its experience in dealing with Boko Haram by dealing decisively with the Shi'ites, added that "Failure to act will spell catastrophe for Nigeria" The SCSN Secretary General also emphasised the need for the society to be involved in checkmating the Shi'ites, pointing out that government decisions are usually dictated by "political expediency" which may not always reflect the best interest of the people. According to him, the Shiite leader was attending Kaduna State Government Security Council meetings during the ad-

ministration of former Governor Ahmed Makarfi because the former governor regarded El-Zakzaky's participation as politically expedient due to his large followership. Baba Ahmed attributed the alleged disregard to constituted authorities by the Shi'ites to the policy of "appeasement and complicity" adopted towards them by successive administrations in Kaduna State with the exception of Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) who did not condone their activities.

1,161

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 1995. Source: Satp.org

Police confirm outbreak of violence in Plateau

lateau State police command yesterday confirmed that there was an outbreak of violence in Kanke Local GGovernment of the state which led to the destruction of 24 shops, seven homes razed as well as four motorcycle and a car burned down by youths. Addressing journalists at the state police headquartres, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekunle Oladunjoye, said the violence broke out 17th April between the People of Kudu village and Dawaki, all in Kanke Local Government Area of the state during a Traditional festival. The CP also said following the gradual setting in of the raining season and farming season,

there has been growing apprehension among the civil population of possible attacks in the state, particularly within some areas, by unknown criminal elements. According to him, the Police command has strategised and beefed up security within Jos metropolis and its environs, and also paraded 27 suspected criminals. "Policemen from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on stop and search along Riyom/ Ganawuri road accosted seven youths, and 504 rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition, three motorcycles suspected to be stolen, four locality constructed AK 47 butts and nine handsets were recovered from them.

Group cautions lawmakers on Kogi Assembly crisis Muhammad Bashir LOKOJA

L-R: Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Head of Social Welfare Department, Jacco's Charity International, Miss Ada Omezue and President, Miss Jodie Frank, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Lokoja … yesterday

he lawmaker representing Kogi Local Government in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Zakari Mohammed has been advised to steer clear of illegality and impunity currently rocking the assembly. The warning to the lawmaker was contained in a statement issued in

Lokoja on Wednesday, by a socio-political group, Kogi Youth Network. The statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Hon. Abubakar Babohi called on the Lawmaker not to associate himself with the activities of the five members of the assembly who participated in the illegal impeachment of the Speaker and other principal officers of the house.

Crisis rocks UNILORIN ASUU

Kwara APC berates Oyegun over Saraki's trial Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

eaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State yesterday expressed shock over a recent statement credited to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, on the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and its effect on the National Assembly. A statement signed by state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, condemned Oyegun's stance on Saraki's trial lamenting that just when the national chairman had an opportunity to speak for the APC, "he chose to speak for a cabal". Oyegun had been reported in the media as saying that the party was ready to sacrifice the senate presidency in the wake of the CCT trial as part of the change promised by the party. But the Kwara

State chapter said Saraki's trial had to do more with internal wrangling than a fight against corruption. The statement reads in part: "Having waited endlessly for Mr. chairman to deny comments credited to him that our party is ready to sacrifice Saraki and his office, it is necessary to make the underlisted observations and declarations. "To be mild, the outburst of Mr. Chairman is unfortunate, shocking and regrettable. If anyone is still in

doubt about the propriety of our expressed opinion that the travails of the Senate President was orchestrated by some forces within the APC, recent outbursts by Mr. Chairman have cleared such doubts. "When Mr. chairman is expected to stand forthright and firm to protest the political persecution of his party member and leader of a critical arm of government, he portrays the image of an uncaring leader. "Obviously, those reck-

less outbursts were either Mr. Chairman's personal views or the agenda of the cabal he belongs. "However, irrespective of what he says, Mr. Chairman and his cabal cannot play God on the fate of the Senate President. “Even though, it is needless to remind Mr. Chairman the unquantifiable contributions of the Senate President in the transformation of the APC from an opposition party to a ruling party."

Police arrest seven herdsmen with ammunition Musa Pam Jos

he Plateau State police command has arrested some armed Fulani men suspected to be herdsmen preparing to launch attacks on some innocent citizens in Jos south, Riyom and Barkin Ladi local governments. According to the state Police Commissioner Adekunle Oladunjoye, who

parade the suspects at the police headquater Jos, yesterday, "the arrest was a result of intelligent work of the police following serious apprehension over possible clash between farmers and herdsmen in the named local governments" There have been perennial violent attacks and clash between Berom farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the three local governments at the beginning of every rain-

ing season since 2010. Clash between farmers and grazers in the areas have resulted to the death of thousands of residence and destruction of properties worth hundreds of million naira. The police boss said: "Now that another rain is setting, the apprehension of another round of violent clash between farmers and herdsmen are being envisaged within the troubled communities."

Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

here was tension yesterday at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) following an alleged attempts by some lecturers to elect a factional leadership into the executive council of the university’s branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The lecturers said to number about seven and belonging to the remnants of the UNILORIN 49, whose sack was reversed by the Supreme Court few years back, were alleged to have invited their colleagues

from about 20 other universities to be part of the election. It was gathered that the seven remnants of UNILORIN 49 were not favourably disposed to the outcome of a recent election conducted by the institution's ASUU which produced an executive council led by Dr Usman Adebimpe AbdulRaheem. The development made the university’s management to beef up security in and around the campus particularly in the early hours of the day. Motorists as well as pedestrians were made to undergo vigorous search before they could pass through the university's gate.

Gunmen kill 13 in Zamfara Idris Salisu GUSAU

bout 23 gunmen on motorbikes invaded and killed 13 farmers who were busy clearing their farms in preparations for oncoming season farming in Magama village, DanSadau town and 'YarTsaba of Maru local government council in Zamfara state.

The attack, according to eyewitnesses who all narrowly escaped, was launched at 12:30pm last Sunday when some farmers were preparing their farmlands for the farming season activities, noting that, "It was terrible and quite a bad sight when we saw about 23 armed bandits shooting randomly as they approached the farmlands".

NEWS

WORLD \ NEWS

IPOB, MASSOB, herdsmen our major challenges – Anambra CP Pamela Eboh Awka

nambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma yesterday said that the greatest challenge faced by the state police command are the activities of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), the Independent People of Biafra, (IPOB), and the Fulani herdsmen. Karma who disclosed this when he addressed members of the State House of Assembly committee on police affairs and security, who visited

him in his office, said the combined activities of the three groups had led to increased murder cases in the state. According to him, no fewer than 36 persons were gruesomely murdered in the state between January and April this year, adding that nine were murdered in January, five in February, 15 in March while seven had already been recorded in April. The CP, said that some of the murder cases involved brother-killingbrother, son-killing- father, mother or sister, among other family issues. “These murders are giving us sleepless nights,

especially as they started happening after we had arrested the problems of armed robbery, kidnapping and cult- related activities in this state, the Anambra police boss said. But we are not going to allow it to continue as our men are equal to the task.” He said that while the police was battling with IPOB and MASSOB, the issue of herdsmen reared its ugly head, adding that it was these developments that prompted Governor Willie Obiano to set up a special committee headed by the CP, with personnel from the Army, the Department of State Service, DSS, and the civil defence as members.

Nigerians suffering under Buhari, says NUJ Mojeed Alabi

he Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said that Nigerians under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government are experiencing untold hardship due the the harsh economic atmosphere. It said its review of the 11-month-old administration had revealed unending queues at fuel stations, impasse over

passage of budget leading to stagnation in national economy, among other numerous challenges facing the people. The union, which rose from the first 2016 edition of its quarterly national executive council meeting held in Lagos last weekend, also took positions on various other pertinent issues including the war against corruption, Boko Ha-

ram insurgency and the abducted Chibok school girls, and the welfare of members and civil servants nationwide. On the anti-corruption war, the union commended the efforts of the Federal Government to redefine the nation’s image, and advised media to be part of the crusade by ensuring that no corrupt person enjoys media protection.

FG to conduct forensic audit of railways Philip Nyam Abuja

inister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government plans to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of the railway sub-sector and all the agencies under his ministry to know the true situation of the transportation sector. Amaechi disclosed this when he appeared before the Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma led -adhoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the ministry of transport,

the Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC) and the defunct Sure-P over contracts awarded between 2010 and 2014. He told the panel that he was not the Minister of Transport when all the contracts in question were awarded but had written to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his express permission to carry out the exercise. Meanwhile, a representative of the Office of Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Mrs. Oluremi Odutola in her testimony before the committee indicted the management of the NRC, over

its refusal to recover several billions of naira from various contractors on jobs not done to the treasury of the Federal Government. Odutola, a director in the OAGF, specifically frowned at a contract initially awarded for the sum of N5.6 billion which within months moved up to N10.3 billion without any document to back it up and which the NRC was asked to recover the difference and pay back to the treasury He said the order was yet to be carried out till today while there was another N19bn contract which could not be accounted for till today.

Govt to involve mental health experts in health delivery Appolonia Adeyemi

he Federal Ministry of Health has said it would draft mental health experts from the Neuro – psychiatric hospital, Kaduna to assist in the management of victims of emotional trauma in the North East. According to a statement from the Director, Media and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Mrs. Boade Akinola, the Minister of State, Health,

Dr. Osagie Ehanire made this known yesterday during his official visit to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) headquarters in Abuja. Ehanire said that his visit was part of effort to consult with all agencies involved in emergency response and disaster management for collaboration to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure effective deployment of assets. He maintained that his visit would afford

Federal Ministry of Health the opportunity to interact with NEMA which he described as a major player in emergency response with the hope of identifying possible areas of collaboration. The minister noted that health Ministry would render counselling on emotional issues, collaborate with local government authorities, encourage secondary health care givers and work closely with NEMA in terms of funding health services.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obama meets Saudi king

S President Barack Obama met Saudi Arabia’s King Salman yesterday to seek joint action on security threats including Iran and Islamic State, but his visit is overshadowed by Gulf Arab exasperation with his approach to the region. The American president has come to the world’s top oil exporter for a fourth and likely last time, hoping to reassure Salman and other Gulf leaders, whom he is schedule to meet today. Most of the Gulf Arab monarchies have in private been sorely disappointed by Obama’s presidency, regarding it as a period in which the United States has pulled back from the region,

giving more space to their arch rival Iran to expand its influence. For his part, Obama has spoken of his desire to persuade Gulf states to arrive at a “cold peace” with Iran that would douse sectarian tensions and allow all sides to focus on what he sees as a greater threat emanating from Islamic State. After a low-key arrival in Riyadh, which unlike some previous visits was not shown live on Saudi television, Obama met Salman and a group of top princes and officials at the Erga palace for a twohour meeting. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan were among Obama’s entourage, demonstrating the focus on

security in the president’s agenda with his Gulf counterparts. Today, he will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group of monarchies comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Apart from Oman, they are ruled by Sunni Muslim dynasties who see revolutionary, Shi’ite Iran as a threat to their security and say its involvement in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen has fuelled conflict and deepened sectarian divisions. That tension surfaced again on Wednesday when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei attacked Riyadh’s attempts to isolate its ally, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, in a series of fiery Tweets.

US President Barack Obama and Saudi King Salman after a meeting at Erga Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia... yesterday

Rhodes University students arrested over protests

number of students have been arrested at South Africa’s Rhodes University following protests that allegations of rape on campus are not taken seriously. Police have used pepper spray and stun guns on the third day of protests to try to disperse students, some of whom demonstrated topless two days ago. A list of

alleged campus rapists was leaked on social media on Sunday by a student group angered by assaults. The university has suspended lectures and set up a task team to investigate. The hashtags #RUReferencelist - referring to the 11 alleged rapists named on Facebook - and #nakedprotest have been trending on Twitter for a number of days in South

Africa. Police in the Eastern Cape Province have not commented on the list of alleged rapists or made any arrests. The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in South Africa says students can report rapes directly to the police but if an assault occurs on campus, they should report it to the university authorities, who then bring in the police to investigate.

Ecuador disaster toll hits 500, new quake shakes coast

magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook Ecuador’s already devastated Pacific coast before dawn on yesterday, terrifying residents and hindering rescuers searching for survivors of an even bigger quake at the weekend which killed more than 500 people. The latest big tremor, which followed several hundred aftershocks from Saturday’s 7.8 quake, hit 25

km (15 miles) off the island of Muisne on the northwest coast at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), the US Geological Survey said. That was near the epicenter of Saturday’s major quake, which leveled a long swath of the coastline and dealt a major blow to the oil-producing nation’s already fragile economy. Two strong tremors of about 30 seconds each woke people up and sent them running into the

street. “You can’t imagine what a fright it was. ‘Not again!,’ I thought,” said Maria Quinones in Pedernales, which bore the brunt of Saturday’s disaster. On a highway outside town, children sat holding placards saying “food, please”. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of deaths or major new damage. Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute said there were 17 aftershocks.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CAF Champ League: Enyimba qualify!

Sport

Goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokai was the hero on Wednesday after saving three penalties to earn Enyimba a ticket to the group stage of the CAF Champions League at the expense of Etoile of Tunisia. The host won 3-0 at full time to level Enyimba’s first leg advantage but the Peoples Elephant won 4-3 on penalties.

Sport News Foreign coach waste of funds, says Ugbade

Top countries shun Eagles over NFF crisis Nigeria secure Mali, Luxemburg friendlies

Emmanuel Tobi

he leadership tussle in the Nigeria Football Federation has continued to affect the country’s image as top footballing nations are declining to engage the Super Eagles in friendly matches. The NFF managed to secure two matches for the Super Eagles who are billed to play the Eagles of Mali and lowly-rated Red Lions of Luxembourg in Europe during the next FIFA windows. A source told New Telegraph that the Amaju Pinnick ledboard’s efforts are being thwarted by the Chris Giwa’s faction who dragged the NFF to a Jos court, a move that had affected Nigeria’s international relationship with top footballing countries. “Most of the countries don’t want to do business with a country with leadership crisis. Moreso, most of the countries have outlined their programme but a few of the European nations es-

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

pecially those who didn’t qualify for Euro 2016 declined Nigeria’s invitations,” sources informed New Telegraph. Nigeria will take on Mali, ranked 63rd in the world and 13th in Africa at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, May 27, 2016. The Eagles of Mali who already qualified for the 2017 AFCON finished as runnersup at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972, and took bronze medals at the finals in 2012 and 2013. NFF’s FIFA Match Agent Jairo Pachon revealed that the Super Eagles would then play Luxembourg on Wednesday, June 1 at a yet-to-be-finalised venue. The tiny European country which shares boarder with Belgium, France and Germany are ranked 145th in the April FIFA Rankings and have never qualified for any major tournament despite participating in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship since 1934 and 1964 respectively. Luxemburg last win was 1-0 victory over Greece on November 13, 2015 and have not won in their last three friendly matches losing 2-0 to Portugal on November 17, 2015 before falling 2-0 to Albania on March 29 and 3-0 to Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 25 same year.

Kalu backs NFF over foreign coach Charles Ogundiya

Nigeria defender, Efe Ambrose (left)

former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, on Wednesday threw his weight behind the Nigeria Football Federation over the issue of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles. Kalu told Brila FM during an early morning programme that it was clear already that a Nigerian cannot save the Super Eagles at least for now. He argued that Nigerian coaches had been given enough opportunity to excel with the national team over a period of time. Kalu said: “Many Nigerian coaches have tried and failed. There was a time I also advocated for Stephen Keshi and Samson Siasia to take charge but as it is, they have both had their time. “If I am in charge of the NFF, I will go for a foreign coach. I will get the money anyhow just to get it right because we have quality players who can make the country proud with their talents.” He also called on the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, to urgently resolve the ongoing NFF crisis. “The minister should do the right thing without looking at faces. He should call all those involved and take a decisive action to bring peace. We cannot achieve results in this situation,” Kalu added.

SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Foreign coach waste of funds, says Ugbade

Prince Obiaku

x-inter national Nduka Ugbade, has slammed those clamoring for the appointment of a foreign coach for the Super Eagles saying we can’t continue to degrade Nigerian coaches by bringing in a foreigner who receives millions and manages the team from abroad. Speaking with New Telegraph, the former Flying Eagles assistant coach expressed his support for a Nigerian tacti-

cian to be appointed as a permanent successor to Sunday Oliseh who resigned in February. “How many coaches in Portugal, Germany, France, England, and the rest have won the European championship for their nations? How long will we continue to degrade our own coaches? We can’t continue to owe our own coaches while we bring in foreigners and give them millions while they stay in their countries and coach our team,” he said. “We should invest the millions and give our

own people the opportunity to develop instead of spending the money on a foreign coaches,’’ he lamented. The Former Eagles defender said Nigeria was blessed with many good coaches adding that, “I, Ugbade can win Nigeria the African Cup of Nations. I will build a team to beat every side in Africa. “I can qualify Nigeria for the World Cup and not only compete but perform to the highest level. I have all it takes to do the best job for this country and revolutionalise football in the national team.”

Friendlies: Salisu Yusuf to lead Eagles

uper Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf will lead the country for the two

friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg. Nigeria will face Mali in Paris on May

Dalung commissions NRCSF facilities Charles Ogundiya

he Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, will on Thursday (today) commission 20 Canoe/Kayat boats donated to the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation, by Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC under the leadership of Admiral Festus Porbeni (RTD). The event which will

start by 10:00am at 20b, Wole Olateju Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos is expected to be chaired by the minister according to the Secretary of the Federation, Olubunmi Ola-Oluode. According to plans, the event will also witness the demonstration of the sport immediately after the official commissioning at the same venue.

Iwobi draws inspiration from Kanu Ajibade Olusesan

igeria and Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi has revealed what Gunners legend Nwankwo Kanu told him regarding his rapid rise in the Gunners team. Iwobi has scored two goals, assisting a further two in nine EPL games, having forced his way into the starting eleven in early March. “As a kid, especially playing at Arsenal, I did look up to him [Kanu]. He was just a classy player and I have spoken to him a few times as well,” Iwobi told the club’s website. “We have had conversations about Nigeria, about myself and what I need to do. [He says] to just be relaxed and he congratulated me and told me I was doing well. “To hear that [praise] from such a player like him is crazy and I just have to prove him right. I don’t feel pressure, it is just a privilege to hear that.”

27 and Luxembourg on June 1. Both matches are to prepare the Eagles for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, which begin in October. The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation rose from its meeting on Wednesday in Abuja and recommended Yusuf to lead the Eagles for the two matches. He will be assisted by two coaches from the Nigeria Premier League. Yusuf, who recently visited Scotland to understudy the coach of Hearts FC, has been an assistant to Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and was also involved with the recent ar rangements led by caretaker coach Samson Siasia. He has coached Enyimba and Kano Pillars.

Wrestling federation eyes more Olympics slots

he Nigeria Wrestling Federation on Wednesday announced that Blessing Onyebuchi would represent the country at the forthcoming Olympic qualifiers in Istanbul, Turkey. The competition is scheduled to take place from May 6 to May 8. The NWF Secretary-General, Segun Oguntade, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the qualifiers would likely increase the

Odunayo Adekuruoye

number of wrestlers to attend the Games, if she performed well at the competition. The Olympics are scheduled to run from August 7 to 21 in Rio, Brazil. Oguntade said he was optimistic of Onyebuchi’s chances of doing well at the qualifiers. ``She is a fantastic wrestler. I am sure that she will clinch the slot for the Olympics. She has what it takes to conquer her contemporaries,” he said. The qualified wrestlers for the quadrennial global sports fiesta comprised two men and five women. The men are Amas Daniel and Soso Tamarau, while the women are Odunayo Adekuruoye, Hannah Reuben, Mercy Genesis, Blessing Oborududu and Aminat Adeniyi.

Giwa faction names dead ref for league game Charles Ogundiya

he crisis affecting the Nigeria Football Federation took a new twist on Wednesday when the factional group led by Chris Giwa appointed match officials for the Nigeria Professional Football League Matchday 13 games, and ironically, one of the referees appointed Wale Akin-

sanya is late. The late Akinsanya from Oyo state who died at the beginning of the year during a fitness test was named as the centre referee for the game involving Warri Wolves and Giwa FC in Warri on Sunday. According to a release signed by Adama Yahaya, and addressed to the Chief Operating Officer of the League Manage-

ment Company, Salihu Abubakar, officials were named for all the weekend matches starting from the Friday match between Rangers and Nasarawa in Enugu. Officials were also named for the rescheduled game between Warri Wolves and Abia Warriors on Wednesday while there were 10 match commissioners for the weekend games.

ITF lists Nigeria U-14 Boys for world qualifiers Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

T Iwobi

Nigeria’s Aminu Umaru (left) battling for the ball with an Egyptian player

he International Tennis Federation has listed the country’s Boys’ and 14 under team for the World Team Cup African qualifiers coming up from June 3 to 8 in Tunisia following the country impressive performance in the last under age championship in South Africa recently. According to a mail sent to the NTF by the General Manager of the Confederation of African Tennis, the qualifiers which

will be played on clay courts will see Nigerian teenagers jostling for honours alongside their counterparts from Seychelles, Mauritius and hosts Tunisia for the sole ticket of the main tournament billed for Spain later in the year. South Africa and Kenya are the alternate teams in order of priority. “The listing of our junior teams is a reflection of the growth that Nigerian tennis has made at the junior level in recent years and we can only get better if all hands are on deck” the NTF president, Sani Ndanusa said, while appealing to corporate and

individual support for tennis in Nigeria. It came after the country was listed as Africa’s first alternate ahead of Kenya for the Junior Davis Cup for the Boys’ 16 and under which was as a result of Nigeria’s best outing in the history of the tournament. South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritius and Tunisia are listed for the qualifiers. Michael Osewa was Nigeria’s star performer at the 11-day tournament where he reached the final, losing the boys’ 14& under title match to Damien Laporte of Seychelles.

SPECIAL FEATURES

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Inconclusive National Electoral Commission (INEC)’

‘T

he people who cast the votes don’t decide an election, the people who count the votes do’.-Joseph Stalin  The title of this piece is a coinage that is not original to me. I picked it up on the social media where an aggrieved Nigerian citizen was ridiculously seeking for a change of name for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to now be Inconclusive National Electoral Commission (INEC).  According to the social media adherent joker, such new name would aptly reflect the current status of the nation’s electoral body. His argument derives from the fact that the new INEC has not been able to conduct one election conclusively since its inception.  There are numerous issues to be concerned about in this country since the All Progressives Congress (APC) entered the nation’s political horizon brandishing answers to every problems. Ten months into the driver’s seat, the story of the party is far from being a palatable one.  Today, the musing is going to center on a deficient area of this administration that is very critical to the sustenance of democracy in the land. World over in any democratic setting, the act of voting is the defining moment and in all, it’s usually the votes that count.  When Nigeria was globally placed on top of democratic ladder in 2015, enjoying all the accolades, it was because it conducted a credible election that saw the defeat of an incumbent political party through a free and fair poll. That landmark poll produced a new President in Muhammedu Buhari and a new ruling party in the APC. That election was certainly the country’s defining moment in its democratic evolution.  But ten months hence into the new government, the electoral commission that achieved that feat has remained only in name and certainly not in character and honour. The ruling government itself has not helped matters as it has been unable to produce an enabling environment that could allow the electoral body demonstrate its independence as enshrined in the status that established it. The fallout is the fact of the commission having records of questionable performance that warranted fun seeking social media activists baptizing it with such humorous label to suit its current weakness.  Why not? With some disturbing empirical evidence to show. From 1999 under the watch of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC recorded steady progress up till 2015, but with APC administration, the electoral body is now on the path of regression and a shadow of its enviable, trustworthy commission under Professor Attahiru Jega – even though Jega was not perfect. INEC at the moment appears to have been presently constituted with untested hands whose neophyte status is being compounded by a ruling party that cannot let its independence be.  The image of the current INEC can be measured in this joke making the round in the social media, that the acronym INEC now means, Inconclusive National Electoral Commission of Nigeria. The joke stands because it fits in adequately

Political Musings IKE ABONYI igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only)

Mahmood

Justice Mahmud Mohammed, CJN

tions which also fell far below the minimum standard; recording another inconclusiveness, this time with an indefinite postponement of the polls.  Not even a mere local Government election in a more sophisticated environment like the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on April 9th 2016, could make INEC produce a more credible election. Rather the nation for the umpteenth time witnessed another inconclusive elections. The question is, should we not worry that an electoral body that is expected to conduct an integrity proof election nationwide in a general election is unable to conduct a conclusive election in as small as isolated gubernatorial or local Council polls?  What assurance is this INEC giving democratic watchers that it would be able to conduct a credible general election? If an examiner cannot conduct credible class text, how do we expect such a teacher to do well at bigger and more complex public examination; or what kind of performance are we expecting from a football referee who cannot do good officiating at a local match? Do we in all honesty expect such a referee to do justice to a much bigger tournament?  The nervous perfor mance of INEC under the watch of Prof Mahmood Yakubu should worry any lover of democracy, especially against the backdrop of the global mileage the country recorded in 2015 general election.  The importance of credible election in a democracy cannot be overemphasised hence the concern of democratic watchers and analysts at the low rating of the current INEC. Can an unsteady electoral body make votes count and meet up the assertion of the 36th President of the United States of America, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who in a speech, after signing the voting rights bill in 1965 said “the vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men!” Whither Nigeria! God bless Nigeria.

56 cheers to OUK Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike

and those behind it have verifiable evidence to support their position.  For instance, on November 21, 2015 at the Kogi State gubernatorial election, INEC failed to conclusively conduct the election. We are all witnesses to the political mess Kogi state is thrown into which has its root in the failure of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections. An anomaly that is followed by illogical and provocative constitutional interpretation of the legal logjam in the state, consequent upon which the state is still embattled.  Following from this, on December 5, 2015, Nigerians had expected that lessons learnt from Kogi state gubernatorial election would equip INEC to do a better job in the Bayelsa gubernatorial election; but what did we see? Another inconclusive, messier situation, all avoidable if INEC had been on top of their game,

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello

ditto Rivers state on March 19, 2016 State and National Assembly elec-

Today former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is 56 years having been born on April 21, 1960. A man of many firsts whose contributions to the socio- political and economic development of the country is legendary. Congratulations and Happy birthday to a boss and a good friend.

Kalu, the Trojan @ 56 CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

highly cerebral and arduous “journalist”/writer whose regular interventions catalyse my work)—wish you many more fruitful years in service to humanity! Oga, your boys are grumbling, as they are not “feeling” you! I have been quelling their planned insurrection, mutinous thoughts and anticipatory combustible rebellion! I have assured them that their despondency, restiveness and restlessness over lolly end today as we celebrate your especial day! Henceforth, they can now bank on you convertibly!

Once again, happy birthday, sir, from all of us in the media team, as we celebrate robustly and profoundly to the toast of your continued good health, prosperity and long life. My own personal birthday wish to you is with the memorable words of Thomas Jefferson: “If you would have a happy life, remember two things: in matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.” Mmiri riri enyi, it is well with you whether any envious tribe likes it or not! •Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.

On Marble

For unity to be meaningful it has to be creative, not the unity of Jonah in the whale but the unity of holy matrimony. The first can only lead to defecation, the second to procreation.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie Totalitarian governments and house arrests

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Odumegwu Emeka Ojukwu

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016

N150

}16

OUK, the Trojan, @ 56 Ebere Wabara

ust in case you did not surprisingly know, ‘OUK’ stands for Orji Uzor Kalu who needs no introduction except to reaffirm that he was the “Action Governor” of Abia State, according to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, between 1999 and 2007. The only governor ever so described in such a laudatory phraselogy by a serving president in the country’s history. Hurrah, OUK, the irrepressible Trojan and humanist, is 56 years old today! His supersonic impact on the country’s politico-economic profile is such that you will think he was already 70. He has done superlative things in life at home and abroad that some of his peers and elders have never dreamt of let alone actualizing. Dr. Kalu is simply an enigma who has all his fingers on every imaginable pie. His visage symbolizes bursting youthfulness, if not mature exuberance. This celebrator deserves all the honours and recognition that would be outpoured today in various parts of the world as his teeming admirers, associates, friends, well-wishers, acquaintances and family at home and overseas commemorate his birthday in grandiloquent dimensions in architectural environments resplendent of Romanesque typicality. In his palatial homes in Washington, Igbere, Abuja and Lagos, the flora and fauna that inhabit these places will know that it is a celebratory day in the life of one of Nigeria’s most loved and most popular personalities. In line with his Forbes’ rating as one of 50 Africa’s richest men, his quintessential philanthropy is borderless and boundless to the point of superfluity and satiety. Ironically and in contradistinction, while outsiders who benefit from his overflowing beneficence are almost innumerable, a few of us who work directly with and for him are subsisting on poverty, quietude and taciturnity! Perhaps, our recompense is in heaven as we continue to suffer and smile because we believe in him which is most critical and important—our inexplicable deprivation and seeming pauperization notwithstanding. This could explain why his perception, public reputation and pedigree of famousness are bursting at the seams. A veritable icon of human existentialism, Dr. Kalu is a rare, uncommon, legend in virtually all spheres of life. What he marginally lacks in formal scholastic enterprise he makes up with high intelligence quotient, knowledge and wisdom such that even those with professorial attainments cannot intimidate him. Dr. Kalu indisputably knows his onions. Our celebrator’s sterling leadership characterization is almost inimitable. Most people acknowledge his political sagacity, entrepreneurial wizardry and economic ambassadorship all of which explain why he is a household name in the Nigerian firmament and a referential personage in international commerce. His industry knows no bounds. You cannot but be baffled by his versatility, acumen and prodiguous commitment to investment issues. He has a passionate drive for mega-businesses that border on

Kalu

industrialization and optimal human capital utility. Even most people with the finest of education cannot compete with this naturally endowed investor of global repute. His illimitable contributions to the socio-economic and political transformation of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. A leader of leaders, we in your media team felicitate with you for inspiring most of our fellow countrymen and women beyond their wildest imaginations. You have touched and continue to touch more and more lives, using innumerable instrumentalities and platforms, particularly your unparalleled philanthropic stamp and cosummate compassion for the less-privileged members of the society. On one of our trips from Owerri Airport to Abuja Airport on a chartered flight, you spent not less than N5 million on all manner of airport staff in both locations. I witnessed the naira rain and took mental note of the N1000 bundles as you dished out from the bag of one of your orderlies. In fact, one of his close aides, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, intimated to me much later that it was a routine! No matter the level of hardship in the country, you still put smiles on people’s faces. I recollect one day during a convoy bus ride en route to Igbere from Enugu where we had made a whistling stop to see Prince Arthur Eze and you mused that you only get debit alerts on your handset and wondered aloud when credit alerts will start popping up! Your own credit alert comes from heavenly realms as God pilots your ways and finances— not earthly sources! Your amiability and dynamism are humongous. Your testament to diligence, integrity, honesty of purpose and service to people all over the world is confirmatory of an exemplary life. Well-meaning Nigerians will continue to extol your virtues, recognise your immense contributions to the country and the world and continue to appreci-

ate you despite vanishing pockets of oppositional forces and malcontents who are peeved by your soar-away accomplishments in spite of the thorns strewn on your way by detractors and jealous clans of hate domiciled especially in Abia State. There is no doubt that you are resoundingly exceptional in copious ways as an achiever in multifarious aspects of life. The only minus in Dr. Kalu’s political trajectory is unilaterally foisting his successor in office, T. A. Orji, on Abians. The celebrator has profusely apologized to the people of Abia State for that misadventure adamantly engineered by him. First among equals and his peers, Dr. Kalu has brought creativity to business and politics. This novelty has made him to be a master-strategist in whatever he does, especially in entrepreneurship and politics. In the process, he has had to ruffle feathers and moved on magisterially, not allowing any concommitant drawback arising from economic or political miscalculations to derail him. He is never deterred by failure— as he is always resolute on what the future holds in store for him. Attributes that distinguish our subject today include courage, determination, vision, focus, forthrightness, empathy, astuteness, fear of God, hardwork, kindness, love, candour, thoughtfulness and pan-nationalism. These are some of the motivating factors that keep OUK on as he strives for the betterment of his environment and humanity, irrespective of one’s ethnic group or language. For him, humanity is universal and should not be bogged by mundane and divisive elements. A devout Catholic, Dr. Kalu does not indulge in excesses as is typical of most moneybags. He enjoys the company of friends and staff more than any other thing. In ardent subscription to this lifestyle, he spends long hours holding courts amid dining and wining with various groups and individuals all day long. For him, there is no time for perishable/worthless engagements. There are no airs of superiority or haughtiness around him whatsoever. He sits at the table for meals with commoners without anyone knowing who the master is. Timidity puts him off. For him, boldness is a great source of joy and happiness. In the same breath, he does not flaunt his wealth or live the life of aristocracy. You know great men by the way they treat people of lower rungs. Dr. Kalu, the Aba boy of yesterday, has grown to become a global citizen. Indeed, the young chap of no spectacular beginning has come of age and overflowing wealth. With business portfolios and tentacles spanning four continents and still counting, he is now the grandmaster of investments. By dint of diligence and God’s blessings, he has become a household name that there is hardly any hamlet in Nigeria where his name does not ring a bell and even opens doors. The name Kalu is now synonymous with dynamism, accomplishments and vision. The superfluity of goodwill he attracts is so confounding that one wonders what the magic wand is. He is at home everywhere in Nigeria. People’s love for

him surpasses that of a mother for her child! Only very few Nigerians have this kind of cross-border personage and overwhelming acceptability. His passion for sports is so legendary that it does not require rehashing. The only point to underscore here is that under his tutleage, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba became consecutive winners of the biggest elusive title on the continent, the CAF Champion League trophy. Dr. Kalu has gone ahead to become the Pillar of Sports in Africa after the late Chief Moshood Abiola. Dr. Kalu’s pan-Nigerianism is unprecedented so much that virtually all his companies are headed by non-Igbo. I hear it is a deliberate policy—not just a happenstance. Only few entrepreneurs can entrust their conglomerates in the hands of people outside their geopolity. I know the murmurings among my Ndigbo brothers about this externalization of our “right” and “entitlement” in the Nigerian thinking! Of course, our oga at the top is unapologetic on this. In corroboration of this intriguing philosophy, most of his domestic staff in Nigeria and worldwide are not from the South East! Somewhat, there is obviously God’s hand in the fortunes of the man we are all toasting today. Despite his human frailties and occasional misjudgments, everything seems to work in his favour. The only setback he has probably suffered in life is electoral banditry, but with time, he should be vindicated by the revalidation of his latest senatorial victory. The bandits and other hypercritics of this Adonis helplessly and haplessly appreciate his large heart and sportsmanship in politics and holistic attitudinal disposition to life. Some of them confide in me. Dr. Kalu has just done the first leg of a tripodal journey on earth. The second eminent leg begins tomorrow and the last lap will commence 56 years thence— in other words another 56 years from now! We all in your global media team— including blue-blooded, charming and humble Prince Kunle (an untrained but CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

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