Thursday, april 30, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 2 No. 435

Thursday, April 30, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Buhari seeks N'Assembly's support to reposition Nigeria

Fuel scarcity spreads to aviation sector

lAirlines seek supply in Accra, Cotonou Wole Shadare and Abdulwahab Isa

any airlines yesterday cancelled or rescheduled flight services as the fuel scarcity that has crippled

activities in many states of the federation spread to the aviation sector. The cancellations left passengers stranded at air-

ports across the country. Badly affected were Arik Air passengers whose flights in and out of the country were can-

celled. The airline carries about 45 per cent of the travelling public because of its high route network.

However, the Federal Government has taken steps to tackle the fuel scarcity as it is set to pay CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Jonathan to Buhari: I'm still in charge }2

lWarns president-elect to stop undermining administration, overheating polity

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Senate President David Mark; President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, at the eight National Assembly induction course in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

PDP govs ask Mu'azu to quit

lWhy president lost election, by Uduaghan }2, 13 Fayose withdraws anti-impeachment suit }5

Kebbi lawmakers serve gov impeachment notice}6

Quick Read

Editorial

Reducing the cost of governance }19 New Reps to challenge ranking rule in court }7

News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan to Buhari: I'm still in charge Anule Emmanuel and Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja

rom the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday came a warning to the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari: he should stop undermining the outgoing government. Jonathan also cautioned Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) against attempts to form a parallel government. He added that since government is a going concern, he is still in charge of running Nigeria's affairs until May 29 when he hands over to the President-elect. Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, in company with

his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, told State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja that attempts by Buhari to overheat the polity through certain actions and utterances were inimical to the progress of the country. Earlier, the FEC, presided over by the president, had deliberated on certain actions and utterances by Buhari. Sulaiman said through its actions and utterances, the incoming Buhari government was overheating the polity and carrying out actions to undermine the powers of Jonathan. The minister, who is also the sub-committee Chairman of the Federal Government’s Transition Committee, said the FEC rejected the terms of refer-

ence from Buhari's transition committee. Among the terms of reference of the APC transition committee include undertaking a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area The committee is also to examine the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order, as well as to suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that change will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days and after six

months of the Buhari administration taking office. Both committees of the incoming and the outgoing government have been meeting to harmonise plans and programmes for a seamless transition on May 29. But Sulaiman said the FEC, after a thorough examination of the APC transition committee's terms of reference, saw them as an attempt to undermine the Jonathan administration. "We did receive from incoming government the transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And council did agree that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains the current head of this country. The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on.

"We take exceptions to some utterances and the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated. "Council frowned on most of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government. When the incoming government takes over government, they can come out with their programmes; they can come out with their own agenda. They can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like. "This government remains resolute on the various programmes and projects it is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29," he said. The minister added that

L-R: Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Onne van der Weijde and non-Executive Director, Mr. Devarkumar Edwin, at the sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos…yesterday.

PDP govs ask Mu'azu, others to quit Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have teamed up with other stakeholders of the party to demand the sack of the party's National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, along with members of the National Working Committee (NWC). The governors, at a meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja, said Mu'azu and the NWC members, among others, were responsible for the PDP's trouncing in the just-concluded general elections and must go to allow for the reorganisation of the party. New Telegraph gath-

ered that the meeting, which was convened at the instance of the outgoing Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who chairs the PDP Governors' Forum, was also attended by Mu'azu, his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus and the party's Legal Adviser, Mr. Yusuf Kwon. It was further gathered that the governors, in their resolution, asked the NWC members to tender their resignation letters or be pushed out. They subsequently adopted the outgoing Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, to succeed Mu'azu. However, a source said the NWC members were

not happy with the governors' stance as they also contributed to the party's defeat. "This is a plan by the outgoing governors to hijack the party before new governors come in. You know, most of them failed to fulfill their senatorial ambitions; so they want to be relevant till the next election,” the source stated. He said the NWC members were set to fight back and would not resign. Instead, they want a public hearing for people to know who caused the poor performance of the party at the general elections. The source said the governors arm twisted

the NWC to ensure their candidates were fielded for various elective positions despite the opposition from other members of the party. He said: "Except the Ebonyi State governor, all the outgoing governors got the candidates they wanted. The candidates they were pushing turned out to be unpopular. That was why the party lost in most of the states. So, why blaming the NWC members?" He, however, feared that the imminent fight between the NWC and the governors would open the way for some elected members of the party to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). "That is the agenda of

the governors. The tenure of the NWC ends next year; so the best option is to allow a smooth transition," he said. Meanwhile, Mu'azu's spokesman, Mr. Tony Amadi, has denied the report in the social media that Mu'azu was "bundled" out of the PDP governors' meeting. Amadi told New Telegraph that nothing like that happened. "When has social media become source of information? This is a man who has his own security. Even if the security were not at the meeting with him, when they see scuffle, they will raise the alarm so that people will see what was happening," Amadi said.

the magnanimity of Jonathan should not be taken to be cowardice. The FEC, at its meeting, approved the establishment of two new private universities. The institutions are the Edwin Clark University in Delta State and Hezekiah University in Umudi, Imo State. Akwashiki said the request for the establishment of the new institutions was presented to council by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. According to her, the establishment of the institutions will assist in addressing the inadequate access to university education and enrolment of students. Meanwhile, Buhari yesterday inaugurated the APC transition committee that would interface with the Federal Government committee for the proper transition of government come May 29. Inaugurating the committee headed by Mallam Ahmed Joda in Abuja, Buhari charged the committee members to watch out for essentials and facts and to shun witch hunting. Other members of the committee are: Doyon Salami, Adamu Adamu, Wale Edun, Bola Adesola, Festus Odimegwu, Nike Aboderin, John OdigieOyegun, Rotimi Amechi, Audu Ogbe, Boss Mustapha, Hadi Sirika. Also in the Committee are: Ogbonaya Onu, Abubakar Malami, Lawal Jafaru Isah, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalung and Prof. Tam David West and Lai Mohammed. Buhari said: "You are all outstanding men and women of competence and experience in different fields so that this assignment onerous though it is well within your ability to accomplish. You are to assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy. "It is a simple matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. Needless to repeat that your committee and our government are not on a witch hunt or engage in fault-finding. We want the facts and nothing but the facts. What has been done cannot be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid similar errors.” In his response, Joda said the committee "are determined to do the best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish to make your country and our country.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

state gove After lawmake tain the s judge sum to come an why he s clare their and also s actions tak respect to ment of F The pla suit had a to set asi and activiti APC lawm "It is he that the st bellum as 2014 be ma ing the he terminati tion on not Chukwu r The jud dered the sue and se nating sum other pro suit on th in Ekiti St jurisdictio

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Corruption: IGP reaffirms ban on roadblocks nationwide

lSet to withdraw commissioners, others' police aides Emmanuel Onani Abuja

n a bid to end the perceived corruption in the Nigeria Police Force and engender a paradigm shift in the system, the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has reinstated the ban on police roadblocks across the country. Arase, who was appointed the 18th indigenous IGP last week by President Goodluck Jonathan, announced the ban

yesterday in Abuja, at his maiden meeting with Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police (AIGs). This is as the police chief further conveyed his decision to reconstitute and strengthen the Judges Protection Unit, to enable Magistrates, Judges and Justices adjudicate on criminal cases before them, without fear or favour. Arase noted: "While visible policing will be enhanced, I wish to, in clear terms, re-emphasise that police roadblocks remain

banned. They are public nuisances, points of corruption, and sources of police-citizens' frictions." To this end, he warned that: "The Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in whose jurisdictions illegal roadblocks are detected, will be personally or vicariously held liable, and swift disciplinary actions will be initiated against such officers. "Any police officer caught either through whistle-blowing framework or direct operations of the enforcement units

of the Force, will be appropriately dealt with, in line with established disciplinary procedure of the Force, and may additionally be prosecuted in the swiftest fashion." Apart from the ban on police check points, Arase stated that the IGP Monitoring Unit, X-Squad and Force Provost Marshal, have all been motivated and directed to "immediately embark on massive anti-corruption enforcement operations." According to the IGP, "The loss of public respect and confidence in the po-

L-R: Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Peter Adeniyi Adeyemi; Deputy President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Augustine Atafo and Chairperson, NLC, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Mr. Amarachi Lawrence, at a press conference in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Fayose withdraws anti-impeachment suit Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

overnor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday withdrew the suit seeking to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly from impeaching him and his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola. The plaintiffs, factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Joseph Olugbemi; House of Assembly, Fayose and Olusola, through their counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), had approached the court seeking to halt impeachment moves against the governor. At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs informed the court of his clients’ intention to withdraw the case. The trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, consequently struck out the case. The plaintiffs did not give any reason for the withdrawal.

However, New Telegraph gathered that the withdrawal was to allow the plaintiffs pursue a fresh suit filed before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same Federal High Court, Abuja. The court had, at the last adjourned date fixed yesterday for the defendants to come and show cause why the plaintiff request should not be granted. The fresh suit before Justice Chukwu was filed by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the House; Dele Olugbemi Joseph, Ajibola Samuel Oyedele, Israel Olowo, Alex Ade Ojo, Adeyinka Adeloye, Adunnsuupe Olayinka and Ayoka Fatunmbi. Listed as defendants are the Inspector General of Police, factional Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin and 18 APC lawmakers. Ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the plaintiffs, last Thursday, the court ordered the APC

members in the Assembly to maintain the status quo in their bid to impeach the state governor, Fayose. After ordering the lawmakers to maintain the status quo, the judge summoned them to come and show cause why he should not declare their seats vacant and also set aside all the actions taken so far with respect to the impeachment of Fayose. The plaintiffs in the suit had asked the court to set aside all actions and activities taken by the APC lawmakers. "It is hereby ordered that the status quo ante bellum as at April 23, 2014 be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Justice Chukwu ruled. The judge also ordered the plaintiffs to issue and serve the originating summons and all other processes in the suit on the defendants in Ekiti State outside the jurisdiction of the court.

lice as well as our inability to effectively tackle crimes in the most ethical and professional manner, have been widely attributed to the challenge of corruption within the policing system. "This administration intends to pursue a twoway approach in addressing the menace of corruption in the Police. The first is to develop frameworks and interventions that will address root causes of corruption. "In this regard, official factory like logistics and welfare challenges that create grounds for corrupt tendencies by police officers, will be vigorously addressed. "The second approach is to pursue a very robust anti-corruption enforcement strategy, that will leave no serving police officer and citizens under any illusion about its integrity and firm commitment to national ethical rebirth and development," he stated. Apart from his anticorruption initiative, the Police boss listed other critical policing areas to be given deserved attention in the new strategic plan, to include: Human Rights Driven Policing, Intelligence-led Investigation/Operations and Community Partnership, Case Diversion, Fast Track Trials and Restorative Justice, engagement of cuttingedge technology and best practices to all levels of police functions in Nigeria, and Human Capacity Development.

On the protection of the judicial officers, the Acting IGP said: "In order to ensure that the maximum security needed to give our Magistrates, Judges and Justices, the confidence to dispense criminal justice is attained, the Judges Protection Unit will be immediately reconstituted and specially equipped. "Any nation desirous of justice, owes its Magistrates, Judges and Justices the sacred obligation of protection." Confronted with the reality that more personnel will be needed to achieve this, Arase said: "Police security details attached to civil commissioners and other unauthorised individuals across the country, will be reduced or withdrawn, as the case may be. "The manpower drawn from this exercise, will be committed to rejuvenation of the Judges Protection Unit," he said. Arase indicated that there will be massive training of Intelligence and Crime Analysts, "as a conscious strategy of broadening the Intelligence/Crime Analysis base of the Force." He has also directed that the Nigeria Police Intelligence School in Enugu, which has been closed for over a year, be re-opened on May 4, for commencement of training activities in areas of intelligence, analysis and strategic intelligence management.

Girls rescued from Boko Haram are traumatised, says military

igeria's military has said that the 200 girls and 93 women rescued from Boko Haram extremists in the Sambisa Forest are traumatised. The military is moving them to a new location. Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, told AP that many of the rescued females are traumatised. Usman said the military is flying in medical and intelligence teams to establish their psychological and physical health. He said they started evacuating the females from the Sambisa Forest on Tuesday but would not say to where. Military operations continue in the forest where it was announced Tuesday the women and girls were rescued while troops were destroying four Boko Haram camps. An intelligence officer

and a soldier said Boko Haram used some of the women as armed human shields, a first line of defence who fired at troops. They demanded anonymity because the issue is sensitive. Nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Chibok by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in April 2014. The militants took the schoolgirls in trucks into the Sambisa Forest. Dozens escaped on their own but 219 remain missing. The plight of the schoolgirls, who have become known as "the Chibok girls," has garnered international attention and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Their kidnapping brought Boko Haram to the attention of the world, arousing outrage and even U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama got engaged, tweeting a photo-

graph of herself with the campaign sign. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has stated that the rescue is “an encouraging development but only a small step in securing the safety of the thousands of women and girls abducted by the armed group since 2014.” The organisation is also calling on the authorities to ensure that the trauma of those ‘rescued’ is not exacerbated by lengthy security screening in detention. “This development is just cause for celebration and undoubtedly an immense relief to the women, girls and their families. But this is just the tip of the iceberg; there are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys who have been abducted by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Africa Director, Research and Advocacy.

News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lawmakers serve Kebbi gov impeachment notice Abubakari Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he Kebbi State House of Assembly has served Governor Usman Saidu Dakingari impeachment notice accusing him of gross misconduct.

The newly-elected speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Aminu Habib Jega, along with 12 other members of the House signed the notice yesterday. The lawmakers gave the governor seven days to respond to the allegations. The Assembly stated that the governor violated

Section 188 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended). The development followed the impeachment of Hon. Hassan Muhammad Shala as speaker. Shala was impeached on Tuesday. The lawmakers, in

Buhari: I didn’t give instruction to bar AIT

he president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has denied knowledge of the decision to bar the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities. Buhari stated that he was neither consulted nor informed about the AIT barring, and only became aware of the matter after the public uproar it generated. Consequently, the President-elect has instructed all his staff, including the personnel attached directly to him, to steer clear of all dealings with the media and leave all media affairs to his official media team. In a statement issued by Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Garba Shehu, the President-elect aligned himself

with the pronouncement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which had earlier expressed disagreement with the temporary barring of the AIT from covering his media affairs. "I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined area of responsibility.

"The time of change has come and we must avoid making the same mistakes that the outgoing government made," Buhari said. The president-elect added that his media team should be left to deal with their media colleagues as they best knew how.

the impeachment notice, accused Governor Dakingari of obtaining N2 billion loan facility from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Support Fund set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without obtaining the necessary approval from the House of Assembly. Also, the governor was accused of corrupt practices by withdrawing N965 million for the official visits of President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, and Vice-President Namadi Sambo between November 2014 and March 2015. The lawmakers insisted that the president, vice-president and First Lady did not make any official visits to Kebbi State within said period.

In the third count, Dakingari was accused of misappropriating N1,800, 862,872 between January and April 2015 for the purposes of 2015 general elections whereas there is no provision for the expenditure in the Appropriation Law 2015. In the impeachment notice, Governor Dakingari was also accused of inflating the contract for the renovation and furnishing of the Presidential Lodge and other government lodges from the initial cost of N558,560,416 to 1,347,373,906.54. The contract sum was increased by N788, 813,490.54. The contract was said to have been awarded between September 2014 and November 2014 to an unknown con-

tractor. Also, the lawmakers stated that the governor breached the provision of section 5(1)(a) of the Kebbi State Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Bureau Law, 2008 by appointing one Barrister Aminu Usman as the chairman of the Bureau whereas a retired civil servant is supposed to head the bureau. Responding on behalf of the Kebbi State Government, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Garba Rabiu Kamba, said the lawmakers’ actions is unconstitutional. "The Kebbi State Government is awaiting the judgement of the High Court as such this action of the members is illegal," he stated.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

32o C 27oC Isolated Storms

22o C 16oC Very Cloudy

27o C 19oC Thunder Storms

41oC

21oC

Sunny

ENUGU

37oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

34oC

24oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

32o C 24oC Thunder Storms

42oC 23oC Sunny

37o C 24oC Thunder Storms

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Dan'azumi Doma; Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, at a conference in Abuja…yesterday.

Fuel scarcity: Airlines seek supply in Accra, Cotonou CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

oil marketers today N156 billion out of the N215 billion owing them due to backlog of interest and foreign exchange differentials on fuel subsidy. The planned payment confirmed New Telegraph’s exclusive story yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to raise Sovereign Debt Notes (SDN) to pay part of the debts. Oil marketers told New Telegraph yesterday that they were still awaiting the arrival of ships laden with the commodity to berth at the sea ports. Aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet A1, is the single most important component for airliners as the commodity gulps about 40 per cent of air-

lines’ revenue. Spokesman for Arik Air, Mr. Banji Ola, told New Telegraph yesterday that flight delays and cancellations were being experienced by Arik Air passengers in the last few days. Ola attributed it to the general scarcity of aviation fuel in Lagos. He said there had been short supply of the product in Lagos and this had led to rationing by the petroleum product marketers. Signs of the scarcity started manifesting on April 23 when marketers were unable to meet the demands of the airlines, especially Arik Air, which by volume of its operations requires a daily supply of between 600,000 and 800,000 litres of aviation fuel. “The scarcity has impacted negatively on Arik

Air’s operations as flights have had to be delayed or cancelled in cases where the destination airport has no airfield lighting. In some other cases, flights were diverted to other airports outside Lagos where the product was readily available,” Ola said. Just last Friday, Arik Air’s flight to Heathrow, London, had to go via Accra to refuel. Also on Saturday, the same London flight flew to Cotonou, Benin Republic, first to fuel before coming back to Lagos for the outbound flight to Heathrow. In the case of the Johannesburg flight of Friday, the aircraft had to first go to Port Harcourt where fuel was available before proceeding on the journey. On Monday, the London flight went via Kano to take fuel. Ola said flying via other stations to take fuel has

come at a great cost to Arik Air, adding that the airline has to do this to ameliorate the inconvenience the scarcity may cause its passengers. “Arik Air sincerely apologises to its esteemed guests over the inconvenience which is due to circumstances beyond the control of the airline. "The management of Arik Air appeals to its esteemed guests to bear with the airline at this critical time of fuel scarcity hoping that the situation would be back to normal in a short while”, he added. However, as part of efforts to ease the scarcity, the Federal Government will, today, pay N156 billion to oil marketers to liquidate part of oil subsidy debts. Okonjo-Iweala, while fielding questions from reporters in Abuja, said

the government would pay the money to spur oil marketers to cooperate with it to end the lingering fuel scarcity. She said: “Let me tell you, on the issue with oil marketers, we have been really working with them; we have been dialoguing with them. We paid them N350 billion in December; we paid them N31 billion as foreign exchange differential and by tomorrow (today), we will be paying them the N100 billion which we gave them as IOUs as well as their interest rate differential of N56 billion. "In this very difficult environment, where revenues are shrinking, we are doing our best; we are prioritising them because we don't want Nigerians to suffer so they too have to cooperate with government as Nigerians and be patriotic citizens."

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Speaker: New Reps to challenge ranking rule in court Philip Nyam Abuja

embers-elect for the first time to the House of Representative are set to challenge ranking members on the House Standing Order barring fresh lawmakers without legislative experience in the National Assembly from contesting for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Order II Rule 4 (a) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (Eighth Edition) requires that only members-elect with legislative experience in the National Assembly could vie for the presiding positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The rule states: "A member-elect, addressing the clerk shall propose another member-elect with legislative experience as member of the National Assembly to the House to be speaker and shall move

that such member-elect, do take the chair of the House as Speaker of the House of Representatives." This provision therefore foreclosed the possibility of a new member without legislative experience at the National Assembly to contest for speaker or deputy speaker. But member-elect for Akoko Edo federal constituency of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shuaibu, disclosed in an interview at the ongoing induction of members-elect in Abuja

that he would challenge the inclusion of that provision in the House Rules in court. Shuaibu, who is the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, described the rule as unacceptable and undemocratic insisting that it must be amended. The lawmaker said he would take the matter to court and seek that Order II 4(a) be expunged from the House Standing Orders in order to create a level playing field for all

lawmakers, adding that all members are equal and no discrimination should be entertained. According to the lawmaker, "the exclusion of fresh members from contesting for presiding positions was discriminatory, provoking, undemocratic and highly unacceptable.” He added: "Although they are lucky I am not interested in contesting for the speakership but it is wrong for anyone to include a rule in the House orders that fresh members

are not eligible to contest. "For example, I am the Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly and have been chairman, Rules and Business for eight years and one would say I do not have experience to contest for position of speaker? "At least, they should have said legislative experience at any level and not only National Assembly. As far as I am concerned, this is unacceptable and we will fight it." On whether the fresh

members were planning to upstage the old members, the lawmaker said: "We have the numbers and could have done such a thing if we wanted. But since we cannot amend the rule before the election of speaker, we will take it up immediately after the inauguration of the House. I intend to challenge it in court." There are 301 members coming to the House for the first time while only 59 are returning members in the 360-member House.

Arik suspends flights to Dubai Wole Shadare

igerian flag carrier airline, Arik Air, has suspended flights to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) operating from Lagos via Abuja with effect from May 4, 2015. The decision was taken by its Executive Board yesterday. The carrier attributed its decision to suspend the lucrative Dubai route to a challenging wider economic environment in Nigeria as well as increasingly stringent travel regulation controls in the UAE. According to the airline, "Arik Air will continue to focus its attention on developing services in Nigeria and West Africa. Our present domestic network is fully developed with flights to most parts of the country. However, we will continue to review our frequencies and fleet deployment strategy to ensure we continually match growing demand within and outside of Nigeria for air travel and also operate efficiently. "Arik Air is committed in its pursuit to meet customers’ expectations through operating and investing in state-of-the-art aircraft and puts greater emphasis on safety and reliability. "The world’s current attention on economic regeneration and development in West Africa sees Arik Air as a pivotal player in the redevelopment of the region."

L-R: Outgoing Managing Director, Chams Plc, Mr. Demola Aladekomo; Chairman, Mr. Ayo Richard; Managing Director, Mr. Olufemi Williams and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Lukmon Balogun, during the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Buhari solicits N'Assembly support to reposition Nigeria Johnchuks Onuanyim and Chukwu David Abuja

he President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday solicited for the cooperation of the National Assembly in his quest to reposition the country. Also, he emphasised a transparent oversight functions from members of the National Assembly for the success of his administration. Buhari made the requests at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, where he addressed elected legislators undergoing induction. The President-Elect reminded the legislature that any fruitful partnership could only exist in an atmosphere of a transparent oversight functions carried out by the members. He decried the decay in the system, positing that it would be difficult for his administration to carry out reconstruction and the repositioning of infrastructures. Acknowledging the importance of the legislature,

he said: "The legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance. The legislature by nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people. “As President-Elect, I recognise this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves. For a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people of the country he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government. I therefore commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance." Addressing the problems faced by the country, Buhari said: "We are all aware of the challenges our dear nation has been facing and will continue to do so in the near future. "These daunting challenges include: General

insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that may take us over a decade to rebuild across most of North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of Northwestern Nigeria; devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which must be attended to; decline in revenues due to fall in oil prices which poses a threat to government’s capacity to deliver on reconstruction of devastated areas and the new government development agenda; endemic corruption which has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades." Also on the challenges facing the country, the President-Elect said: "Unacceptably poor provision of power supply which has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy; unacceptably high level of unemployment and especially youth unemployment reaching over 40 per cent; high cost of governance that has been crowding out capital and human de-

velopment; erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education; and lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors." On the ways to tackle the problems, he said: "I see these development challenges as the mission of my presidency. I need the support of the members of National Assembly on the battle front. I need your support in many respects. First and foremost, appropriate policies need to be put in place and such policies may have to be translated into laws. "Secondly, the oversight functions of the legislature is critical in ensuring that policies are implemented effectively and transparently. Therefore, my mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented with a strong culture of transparent oversight; Thirdly, we need to collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development; and

fourthly, there is an urgent need to contain this high state of insecurity. “We need to work together to address the problems from both its roots and manifestations. The strongest mitigating forces at this point are to redress the power sector deficits, encourage investments that are job creating and focus on human development and reconstruction. We also need to deploy efforts in conflict resolution and peace building in all our communities. "I am here today, to invite you to work with the executive as partners in progress, as champions of good governance and development and as warriors for change. Together, we can make this nation great and as a role model in Africa and other emerging economies and democracies." Responding on behalf of the his colleagues, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, assured Buhari that the National Assembly would give him full support in the current quest to take Nigeria to greater height.

News

Sola Adeyemo, Adeolu Adeyemo and Deborah Olayode

remium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, yesterday sold at N100 per litre in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, as the scarcity of the product bit harder. While the NNPC mega station in Abule Egba, Mobil filling station Ogba and most of the filling stations visited in Lagos did not dispense the product, few stations that threw their gates open for motorists sold the product at N100 per litre. New Telegraph observed that Total filling station in Ogba and Fowobi station in Ota, Ogun State were selling the product at N100 per litre. Major marketers among them ConOil, MRS, Total, BOVAS, and others, were the filling stations that had been dispensing fuel in the past days at the regulated price of N87. At many independent marketing stations, a litre of fuel was selling between N90 and N100. Some marketers in Osogbo, Osun State and Ibadan, Oyo State also sold the product at N100 per litre. Scarcity of Petrol, which hit Osogbo and its neighbouring towns yesterday left hundreds of vehicle operators in long queues at different filling stations of the state. The scarcity of the product, which was no-

thursday, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Scarcity bites as fuel sells for N100 per litre in Lagos, Oyo, Osun ticed at early hours of the day in Ibadan, forced many motorists and motorcyclists to queue endlessly before they could manage to get the little they got at the filling stations. Owing to the scarcity,

transport fares have gone up at both internal and intra- state routes. Many commuters were stranded at many bus stops as many were seen trekking to their various destinations. Many of the major

filling stations even shut their gates to motorists yesterday, as they complained of shortage of supply from the depots. Speaking with New Telegraph in Ibadan, a commercial cab driver said that the Federal Gov-

ernment was to blame for the scarcity, rationalising that "if the government had fulfilled its part of the bargain with the petroleum marketers, the situation would not have arisen again. Many of our leaders love to spend money on useless ventures at the detriment of the masses. We only hope that this will

soon be over. How would we not hike our fare if we find it so difficult getting the fuel? ". He said. New Telegraph investigations into different filling stations in the state revealed that many motorists engaged themselves in free-for-all before they could manage to get what they got.

NPAN congratulates Adesina Mojeed Alabi

he Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, the umbrella body of owners of newspapers in the country, has congratulated the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina on his re-election for another two-year term. The association, in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its General Secretary, Dame Comfort Obi, described Adesina’s re-election as “a testimonial to the exemplary leadership, purposeful direction, dedication and service” rendered in his first term

in office. According to Obi, the association believes the renewed term of office would witness consolidation of the ongoing laudable programmes of the Guild, while also pledging continued support and cooperation towards raising the bar of journalism. The statement read in part; “You will recall that on your assumption of office, we had pledged to work with you and your team in raising the bar of journalism, most especially in the areas of professionalism and ethics, among others. This commitment remains today, as it was two years ago.”

United States Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins (right) and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, when the envoy visited the governor to congratulate him on his re-election in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Atiku visits Buhari, commends Indonesia: FG demands bodies of executed Nigerians military on rescue of 293 girls

he Federal Government yesterday, expressed its condolences to the families of those Nigerians that were killed in Indonesia over drug related offences. It said it has asked the Indonesian government to repatriate the remains of those executed so that they can be accorded decent burial in their various communities. It warned Nigerians against engaging in drug trafficking or other

acts that attract severe punishments in foreign countries. In a statement last night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while reacting to the hanging of four Nigerians by the Government of Indonesia on Tuesday, also condoled with the families of the affected persons. The four Nigerians, who were executed were Messrs Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Syl-

Pan-African Parliament seeks punishment for xenophobic attacks Philip Nyam Abuja

he Pan African Parliament (PAP) yesterday decried the reoccurrence of xenophobic attacks on innocent Africans and called on South Africa's government to prosecute individuals responsible for the perpetration of the crime in that country. The parliament, which expressed the need to halt the "continental embar-

rassment" said perpetrators of "the criminal and shameful" xenophobic attacks "should be made to face the full wrath of the law." President of PAP, Hon. Bethel Amadi, made this known yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the regional consultative parliamentary meeting on the promotion, ratification and domestication of African Union legal instruments for the West African region.

vester Obiekwe . the statement, signed by the Public Affairs Department of the Ministry read in part “These executions have taken place despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR and more recently Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, mni, CON, Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21st April, 2015 during the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic

Partnership (NAASP) Summit which took place in Indonesia, Jakarta. “The Federal Government seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world. “The Federal Government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances."

Jonathan charges FCC on effectiveness Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, challenged the Federal Character Commission to live up to its responsibility and prove to Nigerians the essence of its existence. The President said through effective performance of its duties, the organization would assist the country address certain imbalances and

promote unity. He stated this while swearing in two new federal commissioners for the organization and that of the Federal Civil service Commission. The two commissioners are Ambassador Toye Olofintuyi from Ekiti State, who was sworn in as Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission (FCSC), representing Ekiti, Edo and Ondo states.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday visited the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the Defence House in Abuja. Atiku, who held a closed-door meeting with Buhari, told reporters that at the venue that the meeting was private. The former Vice President, also in a statement from his media office commended the Military for rescuing 293 females from the Boko Haram den. He said, "While we rejoice in the rescue of the women and girls yesterday, we urge that our military continues steadfastly in the operations until all abducted Nigerians have been rescued and territories recaptured". He expressed his unwavering support to Nigeria's military forces in its ongoing mission to restore peace and sovereignty. Speaking to correspondents at the Defence House on his visit, he said, "We just discussed

private matters". On the zoning and the time to be resolved, he said, "That is too early. This is something the party and the leadership are handling. I believe it would be resolved before the House reconvenes". Also, the former APC presidential ticket aspirant stated that the success of APC at the polls would be managed properly. Responding to the question on whether there would be changes, Atiku said "Really changes will come; the President-elect has assured that, but it will not just come overnight. It has to be gradual. Definitely, there will be positive change in that matter, but it will be gradual". On the present situation of fuel scarcity and power outage, he said, "Well, there is nothing unusual in what is going on. That is PDP for you, corruption, inefficiency and what have you". Also the Envoys of the Spain and Turkey governments were at the Defence House to pay a courtesy call on the PresidentElect.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, april 30, 2015

News

national

Oduah: Court orders Coscharis to provide information on cars Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos, has directed Coscharis Motors Limited to release information on the documents involved in the purchase of two bullet proof cars for the former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, to a non-governmental organization, Enough is Enough(EIE), Nigeria. Delivering judgement in a suit filed by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), on behalf of the NGO against

Coscharis, Justice Yunusa declared that the FOI Act was applicable to Coscharis Motors. The judge equally threw out the argument of Coscharis Motors that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the action initiated by EIE, having exceeded 30 days after it was deemed to have been denied access and that the period was not extended by the court as provided for under the FOI Act. The court, however, did not grant any order asking the Attorney-General

of the Federation (AGF), to commence criminal proceedings against Coscharis Motors for wrongful denial of access to information. The non-government organisation specifically prayed Justice Yunusa to issue "a declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to disclose or make available to EIE the information requested in the organisation’s letter to the company dated October 28, 2013, was a violation of EIE’s right of access to information guaranteed

by Section 1(1) and Section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. "A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to give EIE a written notice that access to all or part of the information requested would not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the FOI Act upon which the company relied to deny EIE access to the information it requested amounts to a flagrant violation of the Act and is therefore wrongful. "An order of mandamus compelling Coscha-

ris Motors to disclose the information requested in EIE’s letter dated October 28, 2013, namely the invoice(s) and landing documents for the two BMW vehicles acquired by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044; and details of the payment for the vehicles, including whether they were paid for in full or hire purchased as reported by the media. "An order compelling the Attorney-General of the Federation to initi-

ate criminal proceedings against Coscharis Motors for wrongful denial of access to information to EIE under Section 7(5) of the FOI Act." However, in its argument against the suit, Coscharis Motors stated through its Secretary and Legal Adviser, Ndubuisi Chito, that it was a fully indigenous private limited liability company with no government investment in its equity, insisting that it was not funded by tax payer’s money or any other type of government subvention.

Synagogue: Coroner adopts written address June 2 Akeem Nafiu

L-R: Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Cameroon’s Director-General of Customs, Mrs. Libom Lilikena and Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, at the 20th Conference of Directors-General of Customs of the West and Central Africa Region in Abuja…yesterday

Customs boss seeks capacity building for officers Bayo Akomolafe and Abdulwahab Isah

he Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Dikko Inde Abdullahi, yesterday stressed the need for capacity building, through training and retraining of officers among the customs administrations in the West and Central Africa.

He made the statement in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the sub-regional meeting of the World Customs Organization (WCO) forum attended by the WCO Secretary General, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Vice Chairman for West and Central Africa and Head of Customs, Cameroon, Libom Li Likeng Rinette.

The comptroller general, also sought the continuing employment of talented youths and stronger collaboration and synergy amongst regional customs organizations in the West and Central Africa. He noted that the Abuja meeting initiative which recently saw Nigeria, Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger sitting and brainstorming on a col-

laborative approach of combating cross-border terrorism within the region had begun to yield positive results. Dikko noted that it was their engagement, and training that the emergence of the desired modernized Customs Service would be realized. He said: “There are talents in Nigeria who believe that successful ca-

UNILAG gives jobs to 125 U-Report targets one million reporters by 2015 First Class graduates Mojeed Alabi

he Pro-Chancellor and Gover ning Council Chairman of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, Prof. Jerry Gana, has reaffirmed the institution’s decision to offer automatic employment to its First Class graduates beginning with the 125 produced in the current 2013/2014 convocation ceremony. Gana confirmed this yesterday while deliver-

ing his speech at the second day of the weeklong ceremony where a total of 2,732 students from the Faculties of Law, Engineering, Administration, Pharmacy, among others, were admitted to their diplomas, certificates and degrees. He said the initiative was aimed at rewarding excellence and address the challenge of brain drain, which he claimed has become a major problem confronting the country’s professional circle.

Albert Esther and Chinyere Onah

he number of participants constituting UReport in Nigeria, is expected to top one million by the end of 2015. This was made known in Lagos yesterday at the launch of U-Report, an innovative SMS-based platform that empowers Nigerians by enabling them to participate and engage in policy-making and governance and access real time information on key social issues.

In the last one year, with support from Airtel, MTN, GLO and Etisalat, the number of U-reporters has rapidly grown to about 200,000 with thousands joining every month from all parts of the country. It has also attracted strategic partnerships with civil society organizations, UN agencies and government ministries, who contribute by selecting poll questions and promoting the platform to Nigerian citizens, as a tool for civic engagement and community empowerment.

reer can only be nurtured in the private sector. We need to recruit these talents, particularly, those with IT skills and retrain them, with good remuneration, obtainable in the private sector.” Dikko stressed that each organization must also focus adequately on welfare package, as a reliable tool, for ensuring improved productivity.

agistrate Oyetade Komolafe, the Coroner who is presiding over the inquest into the collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), has set aside June 2, for submission and adoption of addresses by lawyers in the matter. The date was fixed following the taking of the testimonies of the last witness from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engineer Victor Oyenuga. It would be recalled that the Lagos State government had set up the Coroner's Inquest under the state Coroner’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the cause and circumstances resulting to the death of 166 people following the building collapse of September 12, 2014. The Inquest, which began proceedings on October 13, 2014, had seen many witnesses telling the Coroner about what they knew about the incident.

AU seeks cooperation on ratification of charter at AFRIMA conference

he Chairman of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has promised that the commission will work harder to get more member countries ratify the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance, an AU policy instrument that seeks to use entertainment, arts, tourism and other cultural products as instruments for economic development in Africa. Speaking at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dlam-

ini-Zuma, who was represented by the AUC’s Commissioner of Social Affairs, His Excellency, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, said only eight of the 54 African countries have ratified the Cultural Renaissance Charter. The conference under the theme, ‘Music, Culture and Entertainment as Tools for a New Africa’ was part of a series of activities to announce details and calendar of the 2015 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which enters its second season.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Gunmen kill apprentice, steal his wallet, phone CULTISM Rampaging cult members in Lagos miss their target but vent anger on innocent residents Taiwo Jimoh

omicide detectives have launched investigation into the brutal shooting and killing of a 24-year-old apprentice at Fadeyi area of Lagos State. The deceased, Emeka Ibeneme, was killed by hoodlums who helped themselves to his wallet and phone even as he was breathing his last breath. The incident, which occurred on Ogunjobi Street, also witnessed the shooting of Mr Moruf Adebayo, who works with United Bank of Africa (UBA). Adebayo was shot in the stomach, but survived. The residents said that both men were victims of a random attack in the area. The deceased was coming from his master’s shop at Ojuelegba, when the assail- Vandalised car. Inset: The late Ibeneme ants shot him. Unmindful that Ibeneme was bleeding and gasping for breath, the Station. A resident said: “The assailants removed his wallet and phone from his pocket. gunmen were over 10. They The incident, which oc- stormed out street on motorcurred around 11pm, was re- cycles. We discovered that ported at the Alakara Police their intention was to disrupt an ongoing naming ceremony

Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government yesterday said it had partially or completely demolished about 842 buildings located on drainage channels to allow easy flow of rainwater. The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, who disclosed this while brief-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

on Fasayan Street. We learnt they were cult members and a member of a rival group was throwing the naming ceremony party.” It was gathered that the gunmen had become furi-

ous after they got to Fasanya Street, where the party was supposed to be held, but discovered it had been postponed till another day. Angry at missing their target, the bandits stormed the

streets, shooting sporadically. They vandalised vehicles and beat up innocent traders. A food vendor, identified as Tawa, was beaten mercilessly by the assailants. They even threw away her food. The hoodlums also attacked those eating at cafeterias, their stole their phones and money. The brother of the deceased, Mr Onyeka Anaezionwu, said: “I had not settled down at my apartment when I started hearing gunshots from the bus stop. When the shooting persisted, I became worried about my boy who was not yet back. My wife and I prayed for his safety. “I remained inside my apartment until the dust settled. Those who knew him later rushed to tell me that he was shot and killed. Immediately I saw his corpse, I fainted.” Alhaji Sulaimon Adebayo, the father of the banker, said: “I’m always inside my house once its 8pm. But I was surprised when some youths in the area brought my son to me unconscious. We rushed him to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), for medical attention. “As I speak with you, my son has not been able to speak nor recognised anybody. He was returning from office when he ran into the hoodlums. We were asked to deposit N200,000 for the continuation of the treatment. I don’t know where to get such an amount from.”

Lagos demolishes 842 buildings ing journalists on the activities of his ministry in the last 12 months, said the demolition was part of efforts to permanently address the problem of flooding. Bello said that the buildings were pulled down between January and December 2014 by the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department in the state Ministry of the Environment. According to him, the buildings were demolished for blocking the collector drains and tertiary drains, adding that all the owners were served notices before the demolition.

He said the affected buildings were only those that contravened the drainage alignments. The commissioner explained that some buildings’ fences were demolished while others had their parts pulled down to give way for free flow of rainwater. A breakdown of the demolished buildings across the state shows that Kosofe Local Government Area has the highest of buildings sited on the drainage alignment with 188 buildings partly or completely pulled down. This is closely followed by Ojo Local Government with 127 build-

ings that contravened the drainage alignment, 110 buildings were affected in Surulere. He said: “Some of the affected local governments are Ojo, Surulere, Alimosho, Mushin, Ikorodu, Shomolu, Ijaiye, Lagos Island, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Agege, Amuwo-Ododfin, Lagos Mainland, Oshodi-Isolo and others.” According to him, other activities of the ministry also include demolition of several structures under high tension wires, maintenance of environmental sanity in some dredging sites, especially in areas like Badagry, Aiyeteju town Ibeju-Lekki.

Bello added that in the year under review, the government also embarked on sanitisation of over 120 markets on environmental infractions. He added that that 5,250 sanitation alarms and environmental alerts notices were issued to government agencies, public institutions, and private agencies, among others. The commissioner said that the state had absorbed 913 Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officers into the state civil service, adding that 75,000 street traders had been prosecuted in the year under review.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Kidnappers demand N50m for Rivers doctor’s release Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he gunmen, who abducted a medical doctor in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday, have requested for N50 million ransom for her release. The victim, Dr Oju Onotai, was abducted on her way to work at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) by gunmen who, according to reports, trailed her from her residence. The Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapists, Dr Apollos Akumaku, said that the abductors had made contacts with the victim’s relations, and demanded N50 million for her release. Akomaku expressed sur-

File picture of suspected kidnappers arrested in Rivers State

prise at the ransom being requested and appealed for her unconditional release. He also urged security operatives in the state to do more to protect doctors.

Onotai’s abduction has created fear among doctors in the state, whose body, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) recently cried out against the incessant kid-

Man stabbed to death at funeral Eche Nwaobasi Nnewi

middle-aged man, Mr. Sunday Onuchukwu, a native of Edeke village, Isseke town in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has been stabbed to death during a funeral ceremony. Onuchukwu was allegedly killed by his kinsman, identified as Mr Chibueze Nwabueze. Sources said trouble started when Nwabueze drove his car in a dangerous manner to the funeral arena at Onuchukwu’s compound. The deceased was said to have challenged the assailant for driving recklessly. According to a source, Nwabueze, who was annoyed by Onuchukwu’s effrontery, quickly alighted from his car to confront the deceased. Witnesses said that to the surprise of mourners, the assailant gave Onuchukwu head butt. The man fell down, but as he got up to challenge Nwabueze, the assailant rushed to his car, brought out a dagger and stabbed the deceased. Onuchukwu was said to have fallen down and died on the spot. It was gathered that after this incident, there was pandemonium. In the ensuing

confusion, the assailant escaped the scene unnoticed. Confirming the incident, the divisional police officer in charge of Uli Police Station, who refused to disclose his name, said the matter had been reported to him. He added that the police had commenced preliminary investigation to track down the assailant. The DPO added that the police had declared Onuchukwu wanted. But speaking with journalists, Onuchukwu’s elder brother, Mr Chris Onuchukwu, said he had reported the case to the traditional ruler and the president general of the town’s union.

IGP, Solomon Arase

nap of its members in Rivers State. Her abduction occurred barely three days after another medical doctor, Samuel Amaechi, was kidnapped while his police orderly shot dead. In a related development, youths have rescued the secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Ojims Chukwu, from the hands of kidnappers while he was about to be whisked away. The gunmen had succeeded in dragging him into their car and were about to speed away when the youth blocked the vehicle and alerted policemen. The police responded swiftly and arrested the suspects.

Four killed as cyclists torch FRSC office Abubakari Abdul Birnin Kebbi

t least four persons, among them an official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), died during a clash between commercial motorcyclists and personnel of the commission at Argungu, Kebbi State. Witnesses said that two men ridding on motorcycle popularly called Kabukabu in the locality were flagged down by FRSC men but did not obey. The FRSC officials were said to have chase the riders with their vehicle. But in the process, they crushed the cyclists to death. Annoyed, members of the commercial motorcycle riders’ association mobilised and attacked the FRSC office. They allegedly torched the office and killed an officer in the process. The state FRSC sector commander could not be reached for comment. However, a senior officer in the command, who did not want his name in print, confirmed the incident. He said the situation had been brought under control.

Man divorces wife for not having sexual organ Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

Customary Court sitting in Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday dissolved the marriage between Mr Femi Olayiwola and his wife, Kemi, over complaints by the man that his wife did not have a vagina. The marriage, it was gathered, lasted three years. The husband had told the court presided over by Mr Olalekan Akande, that Kemi deceived him into marrying her. He also accused his wife

of engaging him in incessant fighting. According to him, the wife had no vaginal opening and consequently could not bear him a child. The complainant explained that since they got married, he had not seen his wife observe her monthly menstrual period. He added that whenever he asked her for sex, she would refuse and rather give him an excuse. Olayiwola, however, stated that his wife only confessed about the abnormal condition to him early this year and that he had to visit her parents

who subsequently confirmed her disclosure. He said: “My wife had been deceiving me. Since we got married, I have never seen her pass through menstruation. My wife does not have any vaginal opening. Anytime I ask her for sex, she would give an excuse to back up her refusal. “Meanwhile, we have been praying to God to give us children. My wife did not tell me anything about her condition before we got married, until February this year when she confessed to me that she had never experienced menstruation in her life.

“I thought she was lying, so I went to see her parents who told me it was true and that they thought their daughter explained to me before we got married.” Following the appeal of the husband, the President of the Customary Court therefore dissolved the marriage. Akande said having dissolved the marriage, either of the couple was free to remarry any person of their choice. He also ordered that the notice of the dissolution of the marriage between the coupled be sent to Kemi, who allegedly refused to appear in court despite several summons.

City Briefs 140 arrested over Ilorin mayhem Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

olice in Kwara State have arrested about 140 suspects in connection with the outbreak of violence in Ilorin, Kwara State at the weekend. The clampdown on the suspects came about 24 hours after Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed vowed that perpetrators of the mayhem would not go scot-free. About 60 people were arrested on Saturday and Sunday after the incident while another batch of 80 suspects were apprehended on Tuesday. At least three people were feared killed during the mayhem while houses and cars were either burnt or destroyed by the rampaging hoodlums protesting the busting of a hemp-smoking joint by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

NDLEA seizes illicit drugs Muhammad Kabir Kano

he Kano state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) Garba Ahmadu yesterday said the Command recorded the seizure of 1.9 tons of assorted illicit drugs, 135 arrests, 79 prosecutions, and rehabilitated 92 drugs addicts in the first quarter of 2015. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday it seized 1.9 tons of assorted illicit drugs, made 135 arrests, 79 prosecutions, and rehabilitated 92 drugs addicts in Kano State. The state NDLEA Commander, Garba Ahmadu, said everything was recorded in the first quarter of 2015. The commander disclosed that success made by the command so far was not unconnected with the consistent support it was receiving from the state government.

Glo donates 100KVA generator to NYSC

lobacom has donated a 100KVA generator to the Lagos State Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Presenting the generator on Tuesday, Globacom Business Director, Lagos State Division, Mr Kunle Akanmu, said it was to make corps members’ stay at the Orientation Camp comfortable and less stressful. According to him, Globacom places high premium on the Nigerian youth as leaders of tomorrow and will lend support to their welfare as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He said: “We are aware of the need by youths to have regular access to electricity so that they can have unrestrained access to data and voice call services. “They need to call their loved ones when they are on the mandatory one year national youth service and also be on the social media regularly. It is this knowledge that has moved us to donate this power generating set so that they can stay abreast of happenings around the globe without fear of power interruptions.” Akanmu disclosed that Globacom had resolved to take on civic and social projects that would have direct and significant positive impact on the lives of youths in various communities across the country.

News

NATIONAL

Chidoka sacks FAAN’s finance director Wole Shadare

he Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, has ordered the sack of the newly appointed Director of Finance and Account of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Tochukwu Bede Uchendu, over the protest by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) that the appointment which was at the instance of the minister was illegal. The union had in a petition to the Head of Service on March 23, 2015 claimed that Uchendu is a director in the company owned by the Minister, Consumer Investment Limited.

As a result, ATSSSAN said: “It’s obvious that he may not be able to discharge his duties without fear or favour as he would have to contend with conflict of interests because of his ownership as a board member of Consumer Investment Limited, a company which the wife of the Minister of Aviation is also a serving director.” A letter address to the sacked director, bearing the letterhead of the ministry and signed by the Director of Human Resources Management, A. A. Tsafe, asked Uchendu to vacate the office until due process is followed and a formal letter of appointment is issued to him.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Funsho Williams: Court strikes out suit against Tinubu, others Akeem Nafiu

ustice Rita OfiliAjumogobia of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out a suit filed by an initial suspect, Bashir Junaid, over the murder of a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Funsho Williams, against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and 10 others. Junaid had gone to court to seek an order

of mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police, to re-open investigations into Williams’ murder. Besides, Junaid asked the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation, to direct the appropriate organ in the Criminal Justice Administration in the country to commence Tinubu and 10 others’ prosecution over their alleged involvement in the murder of Williams. He also asked for a declaration that all defendants in the suit should pay him compensation for his il-

legal detention and the psychological trauma he suffered for a period of over one year under the unmitigated actions of the defendants both jointly and severally and for their acts of commission and omission over the said illegal detention and his unlawful incarceration over the murder of Williams. The plaintiff is consequently asking for a claim of N5 billion as both compensatory and exemplary damages against the 11 defendants for their actions or inaction over his illegal detention and dehuman-

isation over the murder of the politician. Listed as defendants in the suit are: the InspectorGeneral of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. Sunday Ehindero (former I.G.P and I.P.O. of Funsho Williams’ murder case), Attorney-General of the Federation, Mrs. Modupe Shasore and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Others are: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Muiz Banire, Mr. Babatunde Edu, Mr. Dele Alake and Henry Oladele Ajomale.

Diya tasks Buhari, Osinbajo on leadership Temitope Ogunbanke

ormer Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, has urged the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, and the vice presidentelect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to provide able leadership to build a better Nigeria. Diya, in a congratulatory message, which was made available to New Telegraph, said Buhari’s perseverance in contesting four successive presidential elections was an eloquent testimony of his determination to make the crucial difference in building a better Nigeria built on principles of social harmony, justice and

fair play. “I share with you the fervent desire to reinvent Nigeria of our collective dream – prosperous, democratic, humane and just society where everybody, irrespective of socioeconomic background, ethno-religious affiliations, gender or age has equal opportunity for selfactualisation in peaceful and harmonious environment,” he said. The former Chief of the General Staff also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his exemplary and courageous leadership that made the momentous and successful conduct of the 2015 general elections in the country.

Judge reserves sentence on Igbinedion Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

n what appears to be a power play and an intriguing drama, the Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State yesterday, reserved pronouncement of sentence on suspects in the N25 billion money laundering case involving Mr. Michael Igbinedion, the younger brother of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State and others. Justice Mohammed Liman, who reeled out his judgement for over three hours, said he reserved sentence on the suspects till today, a development that took the plaintiffs and some journalists by surprise. The case has dragged on for over three years with Justice Liman, who

after about the fourth adjournments, again yesterday reserved his sentence on the suspects. The younger Igbinedion along with five others have been standing trial on 81 counts charge of money laundering, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and abuse of office filed before the court by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC. Justice Liman, who had a 30-minute recess, failed to show up for continuation and cited fatigue in the process, which further shocked most people in the courtroom. Liman, however, found the younger Igbinedion and Mr. Eboigbodin not guilty of some of the charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

L-R: Marketing Manager, Smartphones, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Mr. Bolade Oyekanmi; Sales Manager, Mr. Shadrack Otura; Service Manager, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Ms. Nkechi Okolo; Executive Director, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo Technologies Middle East & Africa (MEA), Mr. Shashank Sharma and Sales Manager, Independent Retailers, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Mr. David Akindele, at Lenovo’s inaugural breakfast meeting with the media and introduction of the Lenovo S90, Lenovo S60 and Lenovo P70 smartphones in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Electricity: Consumers seek 12% downward cut in tariff Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Steering Committee of the Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN) is seeking for a 12 per cent downward cut in electricity tariff, especially for mega consumers. This was stated yesterday by the network at its maiden press brief-

ing on what the advocacy ought to achieve in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). It will be recalled that NERC, early this week, set up the network as a formidable national advocacy group that could hold private investors accountable in the electricity distribution chain. In his briefing, the committee Chairman, Chief Tomi Akingbo-

gun, who was reacting to the recent 50 per cent average cut for nonresidential tariff, said it resulted from organised consumer advocacies, especially from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other consumer groups. He said: “We had 84 to 94 per cent increment with the Distribution Companies (Discos) and we complained; they reduced it to 50 per cent de-

pending on the zone, but that still leaves us with up to 12.5 per cent, which we think is still high.” The group said it is putting all legal process in place to get the network activated shortly saying; “With the formation of the advocacy network, we are opening the door to all members of the public to be heard. We are going to have offices se up with officials on ground.

NIS to float microfinance bank, says CG Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Parradang, yesterday said arrangements are in top gear by the service to establish a microfinance bank as part of efforts to improve on the welfare of its staff. The CG, who disclosed

this in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the Nigeria Immigration Service Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society (NIMCOS), explained that the bank when established will complement the cooperative society as well as serve as a bank of choice for the entire immigration family in the country. According to him, the bank and the NIMCOS

are just a few of the welfare packages his administration has in stock for the staff, as he urged them to always reciprocate government’s efforts by taking their assignments seriously at all times. Commenting on the establishment of NIMCOS, the CG said the inaugural meeting was meant to establish both the legal and institution-

al frameworks for a genuine cooperative society, therefore the circulation of the bye laws for the perusal of the various commands before adoption by the meeting. He also assured them that the repeat of past experiences where many people could not make real benefit of their membership of the cooperative will never occur again.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

General elections Jonathan was misled by opportunists – Ofehe

Interview

We’ll rescue PDP – Ogor

Parliament

Gbajabiamila: The making of the eighth Speaker

Politics In the last 16 years, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has been a major player in Delta State politics. Having served as Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the medical doctor-turned politician was elected governor in 2007. In this interview with AYODELE OJO, the governor opens up on the failings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his botched senatorial ambition. Excerpts:

For 16 years, you have been in government and in few days time you will be leaving government. What has been your high and low moments in government, especially the last eight years as governor of Delta State? It has been a great opportunity to be governor of a state like Delta. My high moments are many; one has been able to reasonably achieved what we set out to achieve from the beginning. We may not have gotten to the zenith of what we thought we would be able to do but reasonably we have

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Why Jonathan lost to Buhari, by Uduaghan

Uduaghan

been able to do much, especially in the area of peace and security. In Delta today, the inter-ethnic harmony is better than what it used to be before. The inter-ethnic crisis has been reduced and in fact there is no ethnic-crisis in Delta again like we use to have. There are still some flashes of criminal activities but not as much as it used to be. In the area of infrastructure, we have also been able to put up some infrastructure, especially in terms of roads and bridges; social infrastructure, like schools, hospitals and the transport sector; the airport. And of course in terms of human capital development, we have also been able to make an impact in the education of our children and in the health sector. Don’t forget that if we are talking about human capital development, we are talking of a human being from the day of conception till the day the person enters the grave. Indeed, we have been able

People around the president believed that they had the answers and strategies to win elections

to make some impacts on the lives of our people. So, I will say those are the high moments. The low moments have been in terms of certain things we wish to do but we are not able to do them for one reason or the other. They are quite many but the major challenge has been that of funding constraint, especially in the last few years. But your state is an oil-producing state and the belief is that so much money is coming to the state and you are talking of fund challenge? That is the challenge; as an oil-producing state, people expect that the state should be buoyant. It is always like that in life; the more money you have, the more problems, challenges and expectations you have. Our wage bill, for instance, is quite high because we pay the maximum in terms of salaries, pension and others. The nature of our terrain is also another issue. We have two extreme

of terrain; we have difficulty to reach areas which are waterlog because 40 per cent of Delta is water. On the other extreme, we have a terrain that is very prone to erosion; we have a lot of erosion and in constructing roads in such terrain, you have to deal with erosion problems. This added a lot of cost to whatever we are doing. So, what it takes to construct a kilometre of road in Delta State, will take another state to construct 10 kilometres. So, we have all those challenges. And don’t forget that Delta relatively was also a new state, which had very little infrastructure. There are states that had their Government Houses and airports in place but these are not there and I have to build a new Government House, put up an airport in Asaba and do other things, which will not be a burden for the next government. So, these are some of the challenges CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Uduaghan: Impunity, arrogance responsible for PDP’s failure C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

we have. Are there things specifically that you thought you ought to have done differently but you couldn’t? There are many areas but there are four areas that affect human beings directly in terms of projects. One is issue of roads; two, issue of schools; three, issue of hospitals and clinics and the fourth one is water. There are other projects, but the four are critical to human existence. We tried to make an impact in those areas but because the challenge is so much, it was not possible for us within the available time and funds to be able to do all the projects. So, there are still areas that we need to connect to the major roads, especially farming areas. So, there are still roads that we need to complete. There are still schools that we need to touch. Delta has about 1,600 schools, so there is no way we would have been able to touch all of them. There are still hospitals that we need to rehabilitate and of course, some water projects that we need to complete. I just hope that the next person would be able to continue from where we are stopping. Before the general elections, you indicated interest in going to the Senate and in a normal situation, you wanted to produce a successor but the two didn’t work. What actually went wrong? The successor worked. How? I am sure you heard me at one time or the other saying that the next governor should come from Delta North. So, that one worked. In terms of the person, I think what people failed to understand is that there are people you wish not to take over from you and there are people you wish to take over power from you. For me, at least, one of the people I wished to take over from me is the one taking over. So, I don’t have any problem with my successor. I think what people mistake is that you just zero on one person and I believe that was the cause of some of the challenges that we had. At a point, I just had an open mind that out of the lot; one is okay by me. That is why you noticed that after the primaries; it was easy for me to put the party together. In terms of going to the Senate, I deliberately had to step down because as a governor of the state, I know some of the things that can cause crisis in the state. At least, I have been part of the management of the Niger Delta crisis from when I was Commissioner for Health and of course as Secretary to the State Government, I was in the centre of it because I was the Secretary of the State Security Council and as governor, I was directly on the driver’s seat. In all of these, I have the experience of knowing what can cause

Uduaghan

crisis and violence. Like I told you earlier, now there is inter-ethnic harmony in Delta but I know that politics is one of the things that can also cause ethnic crisis. It has happened before when houses were burnt, villages were sacked and if I had pushed my aspiration; it would have also gotten to that stage, which I don’t want. So, for me, it was weighing my aspiration with leaving Delta State again with violence. So, I said I would rather leave Delta State without violence and forgo my aspiration. And for me, going to the Senate is not a big deal. I have been governor for eight years and God has been very gracious to me. So, that is why I just left it. You mean you had to let go your ambition to give peace a chance. Let me correct one impression. You don’t have to graduate from a governor to a senator. There are other things you can do when you leave as governor; it is not automatic. In fact, people see it as more of retirement if you are going to the Senate. In 2003, 2004 or thereabout, there was the problem of selection of House of Representatives candidate for Warri federal constituency. And the slot was taken by an Itsekiri person, but of course the Ijaw said no, they should have taken it. Itsekiri said that is the only

As a party, we were just too comfortable; we became too complacent; we were full of pride, arrogance

slot they have in the National Assembly while the Ijaw said they should have taken the House of Representatives, and because there was no agreement, it got to a situation where there was a fight between the two ethnic groups and of course houses were burnt and properties destroyed. At the end of the day, the Itsekiri candidate won, but we could not bring back those people who died and some of those whose houses were burnt have not been able to recover from the crisis till date. So, that was why I said, if I push my senatorial aspiration the way the agitation was going, Itsekiri were saying, it is their turn to be in the Senate. Ijaw were saying there is nothing like that and it was now becoming an ethnic thing, not an issue of performance. That for me was very dangerous and if I pushed further, it could get to a situation where the two ethnic groups will start clashing again over a senatorial seat that should not lead to any loss of lives. And being the governor, I believe that if anything happen and that clash occurred, it would happen under my administration and it would have been a big loss for me. I am sure by now that fight would still have been going on. That is why I withdrew from the race. Your party, the PDP, has been in power for 16 years, but you lost the

status in the last March 28 and April 11 general elections. Several theories have come up. As a major player in the party, what actually went wrong for the PDP? Why did you lose the presidency and some other states? The loss by the PDP was something that occurred not just during the election but has been coming on since 2011 after the presidential election. And of course a new set of leadership came into the party and people had the impression that they should clip the wings of governors because they were becoming too powerful. They actually tried to; the then national chairman (Bamanga Tukur) was sending queries to governors and that got some governors angry and led to walking out of about seven governors from the Eagle Square. Thereafter, there was an attack on the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and of course the quarrel in the NGF was orchestrated from outside; virtually the body split and the ultimate was the five governors that left to go and join other party. The party did not recover from that loss. Even in the primaries, there was so much impunity, blackmail and the fact that people were playing god and they didn’t give opportunity to popular candidates to emerge. And of course many people left the party again; strong people left the party to join other parties, especially

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some got the ticket of the Labour Party. We moved to the election with that kind of fractions and then even at the campaign level, we did not also have a strategy. You must sit down and put up a strategy to win the election. So, everybody was just doing whatever they wanted to do and of course you don’t go to election like that. It also got to a point that the President himself has to take the bull by the horn by going round the country to campaign for himself. That was the failure of a campaign structure but at the end of the day we lost the election. Something that is also very key and important is the way some leaders were elbowed out by people who were around the president, especially some of his kinsmen, who were calling names, abusing everybody and making sure that people do not contribute what they ought to have contributed. Somebody like former President Olusegun Obasanjo for instance, being edged out of the party was a very big loss. I keep saying that, whatever it is, Obasanjo knows this country very well; in and out. It is not about his voting unit, ward or local government but about Nigeria and internationally; and he is not a man you just put aside. So, there were lots of challenges to the fortune of the PDP and which led to a loss. But there are also allegations that most of the party leaders actually worked against the interest of the president. What is your take on this? These are some of the things I was saying about people being disinterested. There is no doubt of internal sabotage. Some of the people who stood aloof didn’t do so because they wanted to stand aloof but because they were not actually given the opportunity to play a role. It can be very distressing. For me really, I was one of those who were affected by that kind of impunity, so it was either I stood aloof or I leave the party or retreat to my state and that was what I did. I had to retreat to my state and organised my state. I paid attention to my state because I was determined that we should win in that state and that was how we were able to win all the elections in the state. You said you were aware of the fate that befell the party before the elections. Did you actually made efforts to see the president or the governors to put the situation on the table? Several meetings were held; discussions were held and so many issues were raised. Somebody like Chief Tony Anenih worked till the end but he worked under a very stressful and difficult situation. On three occasions, Chief Anenih gathered prominent leaders across this nation as a strategic team to plan the president’s re-election even before the primaries. On three occasions, leaders, some governors, ministers, party officials hosted us and even opened an office. But what happened? They discouraged him and people made sure that those committees did not work. Of course, it got to a point that he too got tired. He was just doing what he can do and anywhere there was crisis, he flew there to manage the crisis. But

that was not what he wanted to do. He actually wanted to plan for the president’s election. In fact, Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, was the secretary of one of the committee. We put up subcommittees to work out strategies in various areas; detailed strategies and the documents are still available. But people around the president believed that they had the answers and strategies to win elections and this is where we are. They now know that elections are different and elections are not won by mutual or closeness to the president. With the situation, what lies ahead of the PDP? What hope do we have that PDP will bounce back? There are lots of hopes. Sometimes, until you are down, you might not realise your worth. I think we were just too comfortable. As a party, we were just too comfortable; we became too complacent; we were full of pride, arrogance and all that. There is a saying in those days: ‘Pride goes before a fall’. So, we were so proud and now we have fallen. It is now for us to pick up the pieces and build again. And I think it is possible. It doesn’t require so many people to build; it usually requires few committed persons and I believe there are still few committed persons who can build up the party. But there are calls that the present National Working Committee (NWC) should be dissolved. Do you support that call? We would take that decision at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party if there is need to do so. There are insinuations that you want to be the next national chairman of the party. No. I have not thought about being the chairman. That is not the issue now. It is not about me, it is about the party. I know I will be part of the drive to revive the

party but I don’t think anybody should be talking about who the next party chairman should be or who should be what. The first thing is for us to sit down and actually put structures on ground, assess what happened. How did we get to where we are now? And everybody agrees that, these are the reasons why we got to where we are now. How do we correct them? Then we will put up a structure to correct them. I don’t think anybody should be scheming to take anything now.

A new set of leadership... had the impression that they should clip the wings of governors because they were becoming too powerful

Do you think the party should be blamed for the loss or the campaign organisation at the presidential level? Everybody is part of the party, whether campaign organisation at the presidential level or not; we are all members of the PDP. The election was PDP Vs PDP. Most of the people in the APC, apart from few of them had their roots in the PDP. So, it was PDP Vs PDP. So you should also be blamed for the PDP’s loss? I am not absolving myself from it, but we tried to do our best. But the party did not treat some of the governors fairly. Like in Ebonyi, the man was not treated very well by the party. I don’t think you as a person too, was treated fairly and there are other instances... I think that is where it started; there was impunity, no level-playing field, people were disregarded and all that but people have different reactions to it. Some reacted by leaving, some reacted by staying but all their followers moving to another party. But my own reaction was to recoil to my state, lead my state and make sure that my state contributes to the success of the party. If you noticed, we did very well at the presidential election, governorship and the National Assembly elections. We had all the seats in the National Assembly elections. In the House of Assembly elections, we

virtually had all the seats but the one we lost to another party was due to impunity I told you about. Our primaries were free and fair for House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship but when the list got to Abuja, they made changes. I think in about six states, there were different primaries on the ground. Primaries which were done in the presence of police, Department of State Service (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials got to Abuja and they were now making changes. If you have money, you put down money and they make changes. These people now went and picked tickets of another party and of course, when they got to the main election, they won. That was how Delta PDP lost about four or five seats in the House of Assembly; if not we should have gotten the 29. You actually did well in Delta. But some of your party leaders blamed the INEC, saying that the election was a fraud and there were lots of irregularities. Do you think PDP lost the presidency as a result of irregularities on the part of INEC and APC? I think the president have said that we should not go to the tribunal. I am sure if he is actually convinced that we lost because of INEC, he would have encouraged tribunal. I think in his heart of heart, he also knows that the loss was mainly because of the PDP. There is no doubt that in the election, INEC had its challenges. With or without the challenges of INEC, if we had our hearts together, we would have won the election. So PDP was responsible for its own failure. Yes. After that defeat, has the party been able to come together to look at the election, its failure and other things? You know all the elections finished at the weekend (last weekend), and the results started coming in bits by bits but I think the final one was on Sunday. I think meetings will start earnest. I know that on Tuesday the governors would be meeting in Abuja. To do what sir? To review what has happened and of course, we would start from there. Sixteen years in government, what do you want to do next? Sixteen years in government, I believe is a lot of investment on me by the nature of Nigeria. To give opportunity to somebody to be in government at those levels for 16 years is a lot of investment and such investment should not just be washed away and I think I need to impact some knowledge on some young ones coming by trying to prepare them for governance. One of the things that I actually want to do is to create an avenue to be able to bring up young ones on leadership roles in Nigeria; like mentoring programme. That is the main thing I want to do.

Uduaghan

So you don’t want to go back to medical practice? I cannot leave the health sector entirely; but it would be more of advisory roles not as a practising medical doctor.

16 Politics Mr. Sunny Ofehe is a human rights activist and Executive Director of Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC). In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE from his base in the Netherlands, he speaks on the failed re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. Excerpts: How would you assess the March 28 presidential election? I cannot speak for Nigerians in Diaspora but I can confidently tell you that if the election was conducted in Diaspora, General Muhammadu Buhari would have won by a landslide. It was clear that the popularity of President Goodluck Jonathan plummeted to a record low after the Chibok girls were abducted. General Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, spent the last months of their campaigns addressing Nigerians and the international communities of their determination and reasons why they are the best choice for the country. They engaged in constructive and productive meetings with top international politicians, government officials, and civil society organisations. Take, for example, the much publicised Chatham House meeting in London. There are two major external factors that can influence politics in Nigeria. The first is the opinion of Nigerians outside the country about a candidate which Nigerian politicians usually undermine, thinking our voice and opinion do not count since we cannot vote and that is where they are wrong. Nigerians in the Diaspora can influence their families back home to exercise their votes in favour of their choice candidate. Remember, majority are the breadwinners in their family. When I observed that the popularity of the opposition was more than that of the president, I tried many times to raise this with some people I know in the government or close associates of the president but they ignored my warnings. Though there were tons of supporters for him but they had no sense of direction and real purpose. It was also very difficult to publicly defend the president on an international platform. Though he had some achievements to his credit but they were not properly publicised. Why do you think President Jonathan lost the election? President Jonathan was a very popular person among Nigerians and that reflected on his winning card in the 2011 presidential elections. I was one of the unpopular voices from the South-South who felt Jonathan should have allowed the North to complete the former

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan was misled by opportunists – Ofehe he has to market the image and reputation of the same party and same president he slaughtered while temporarily being on the other side of the fence? Also, their strategy to attack the opposition personally was wrong. The issue of hate campaign on Buhari’s certificate, health status and what he did and what he didn’t do as a Head of State was baseless. At a time when Nigerians were hungry and unemployed, these topics became meaningless. There is no doubt that President Jonathan despite losing his popularity took some bold steps in the economic sector. It was in his administration that Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa, the rebasing of the economy reached an unprecedented half a trillion dollars and the agricultural sector got a massive boost while at it. I was a strong supporter of the removal of fuel subsidy; his step was bold about it but the timing of the removal and the fact that Nigerians were not properly briefed on its benefit made the oil cartel hijacked it and turned it against his administration. I expected his media team to use these facts to confront his opponents and let Nigerians know of his successes and challenges.

Ofehe

President Umaru Yar’Adua term, particularly when it became controversial and led to a national debate. The president would have positioned himself in a way that his heroic antecedent would have started from bowing out to the wishes of the Northerners and position himself as the best and credible candidate from the South-South to take over the reign of affairs. If he has done that, he could have still retained his position as Vice President under any Northern President. If that had happened he would have completed his constitutionally mandated two terms in office. I think he was misled by those who saw his Presidency as an opportunity to enjoy political affluence and wealth. It was from that moment he fell out with a few powerful forces from the North and even South-West and that played a role in the overwhelming rejection he got at the polls in those areas. On the issue of corruption, President Jonathan didn’t really do much. His administration was plagued with so much corruption, whereas he was never a part of it but he never took any drastic action to convince anybody he was the answer to our quest to eradicate corruption in the country. He also made some questionable decisions that portrayed him as a president encouraging corruption. If you take a look at some of the recipients of his national award, state pardon and political appointments, you are left won-

dering about his intentions.

He was misled by those who saw his Presidency as an opportunity to enjoy political affluence

Don’t you think the issues of Boko Haram insurgency, especially the abduction of Chibok girls contributed to Jonathan’s loss at the election? The insecurity in the NorthEast caused by Boko Haram made President Jonathan very unpopular, particularly after the abduction of the Chibok girls. The way he managed the crisis contributed to his loss. It took him a long time to meet the families of the girls. He waited until few weeks to the election before he made a daring visit to Maiduguri to meet with our gallant soldiers. This is seen by many as a political gesture. Just like a friend told me, “it was a great move that came too late.” I never saw any Nigerian fallen soldier getting a heroic and national burial like what we saw in France after the terrorist attack that left four police officers dead. The Jonathan administration also lacked competent media management. In any administration, it is the public relations you maintain with your people and the international community that determines your rating. Let us look at the management of the election campaign, particularly from when Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was introduced. The choice of Fani-Kayode in the first place was a mistake because this was a man who had defected to the opposition and blasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Jonathan in public interviews. What credibility does

Buhari has contested presidential elections in Nigeria on three occasions and lost; why do you think he won this fourth time? The PDP is the biggest and most powerful political party in Nigeria until all the other political parties formed an alliance and All Progressives Congress (APC) was born. So APC became the largest opposition party in the country. That alliance gave APC the momentum and when the choice for Buhari was announced, the momentum became even stronger. The idea of Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate was a good decision because he was not controversial, so all the criticism was focused on Buhari while Prof. Osinbajo as a pastor attracted majority of Christians in the South-West. APC was also much organised during the campaign and for the first time in history took their campaign offshore. They paraded their flag bearer very well internationally, organised town hall meetings with Nigerians in the Diaspora, international community’s senior government officials and diplomats. As a lobbyist, these fora will usually give you political momentum whether you like it or not. Such meetings are where informal promises are made and allegiances are gotten. With the image of President Jonathan already damaged abroad, Buhari was certain to get the support of the West and that clearly showed from the joint warning given to the government by the United States and the United Kingdom few days to the elections that they must ensure that the elections were peaceful and fair.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

Hon. Leo Ogor is the Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives. He speaks on the engagement of the newlyelected members of the House of Representatives with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also speaks on the calls for the dissolution of the Adamu Mu’azu-led NWC. ONYEKACHI EZE reports

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership last week met with incoming members of the House of Representatives. What informed the meeting? As a party, we came together specifically those elected members that are going to be the face of the party in the National Assembly, with reference to the Green Chamber which is the House of Representatives. One of the cardinal issues that was discussed in that meeting was the ability to look at what happened, why it went this way. We decided to set up various committees that will look into the subject matter and some of the challenges. I think that is normal in every process. But unfortunately, we are also aware that there are some groups, who I want to call fifth columnists that will want to see PDP dead at all cost and they are trying to probably pass through the back door, using some group of individuals to find the means and ways of disintegrating our great political party. We believe that we are still the largest party in Africa and this hour for us as a people and a party isn’t time to ask for any unnecessary tension or create unnecessary crisis in our political party. It isn’t in the interest of our party at this particular time. We want to use all the necessary machinery to look at precisely what happened. The thing isn’t an individual issue; we are aware of some of the challenges that will emerge when these people come in and create unnecessary crisis. May I therefore, seize this opportunity to advise and insist that our party must stand united and work together and anybody that is interested in the unity of this party must support the ideology that we are now embarking on. We will look into where our faults came from and address them. But this isn’t the time to call for the resignation, or create unnecessary political rivalry within the party. It is therefore, my appeal to every PDP member to stand together with the leadership at this particular time. To all party members, I consider this our hour of challenges. It is important we realise that in every disadvantage, there is an advantage and the only way we can get to this advantage is to look at what really happened, not to come

We’ll rescue PDP – Ogor and use anybody to create unnecessary crisis. So, those asking for the resignation of the leadership should please know that they are not even helping the party but they are destroying the party and in the process they could clearly hear what APC has told them: that there is no room for them in their political party. So, the only alternative for them is, to stay behind and build their party and I think this is one of the reasons why we sat together yesterday to discuss as a family. We will definitely build this party and take it to the realm of amazing grace. When you people had what you have called a family discussion, we expect that you would have done a postmortem of why PDP lost. Of course, yes. What was the consensus on the performance of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC)? Did you all agree that they lived up to expectations of members in the discharge of their duties? Well, I wouldn’t draw that conclusion yet. I am a lawmaker and I believe in the principle of fair hearing. It doesn’t mean that it is only the NWC that can deliver the party. The party responsibility falls on every individual, down the line and you can clearly see that in some states, we had very good results; in some states, also the re-

Ogor

We have some challenges and we won’t run away from them but I assure you that we will come out stronger

sults weren’t that good. The only way we can achieve those objectives is to set up these committees that we agreed to set up, that will look at the subject matter and give the issue fair analysis and enable us to draw our conclusions, know where those faults came from and address them. It is like putting the cart before the horse. Of course, you cannot even say that these problems came from Mr. A or Mr. B. We haven’t been able to fault various individuals. Everybody may have his fault or blames in this crisis but you cannot place it in any particular doorstep at this time. Our interest like I have stated very clearly, because we are the face of the party, is to rescue the party at this particular time and do a proper investigation and through these committees that we are about setting up. The committees would come out and be able to give us report and with that report, we would be able to take salient decisions to move the party forward. If we decide to say Mr. A didn’t work well, Mr. B didn’t work well, then at the end of the day throw them away, then we would end up throwing everybody away in the party. So, I think that’s not the right step to take at the moment. So, how does the PDP reinvent itself to emerge as a strong party like the APC?

Guided by the principle of fair hearing which informed the setting up of various committees, to look at our challenges, to look at where we erred, a lot of Nigerians still have faith in us, but it is like something went wrong somewhere and if you decide to be hasty, at the end of the day you may have put the cart before the horse. So, we want to find specific ailment and then we now administer the right drug and then come out victorious. I believe that as a party we have some challenges and we won’t run away from them but I assure you that we will come out stronger, stronger in the sense that we look forward to 2019. We want to look at where we went wrong, apologise to Nigerians and be able to give them the services that they deserve. What is the duration of the committees work? The duration depends on the level of work that will come out. A committee has been set up to put up those various committees, it is going to be a committee that will contain members of the National Assembly, members of the party from various states, all over the country. So, it is going to be made up of a lot of committees. A clear paper will come out from the whole exercise which would be harnessed and we look at it together.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion See Enerhen junction, seek redemption Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

had written an alternate subject on the above topic some years ago when I was a Columnist of the Warri Mirror Magazine. At that time, the magazine was a monthly tabloid which was a-must-read in Delta State. The editorial policy was mainly anchored on community related issues including x-rays of the Government of Delta State. My Editor-In-Chief then was Comrade Alex Eyengho. The paper was too constructively critical of the Delta State Government to the extent that the editor-in-chief and his magazine was declared a personanon grata in Asaba. The chorus boys of the State Government also had nothing to do with the Warri Mirror Magazine. It was therefore starved of patronages in terms of advertisement and all which determines the survival of a Newspaper. Even at a stage, the youthful Editor was beaten black and blue by some known and unknown thugs of the ruling party in the state. However, some good Samaritans had to smuggle him out of the obituary arena. Precisely, this was during the burial ceremony of the biological father of a member, representing the Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. It was obviously clear that their evil intention was to terminate his life and dump the magazine into the dustbin of history. Infact, Alex saw it red and decided to seek redress in the Law Court. His efforts were frustrated by Governmental influence, authority and power. It was not clear to me how the attempted murder case was resolved by both parties. When I first wrote an identical article on Enerhen Junction, I received several telephone calls from persons across the board who wanted to know how I got such details. A few of them even asked if I went there for on-the-spot assessment of the situation especially at that odd time of the night. I was accused severally of being an active participant who had a taste of the Enerhen Junction unholy activities. I kept quiet to all their probing questions because I did not owe anybody any duty to explain. Enerhen junction is situated along the WarriSapele Road and close to the border between the Warri South and Uwvie Local Government Areas of Delta State. For strangers first, and several visits to the area, they will find it extremely difficult to ascertain the boundary between Effurun and Warri. Efurun, is the Headquarters of Uwvie Local

In the day, Enerhen junction is the bustling commercial nerve of the three local Government Areas, but at night, it is converted to a red-light district

Government Council while Warri Constitutes the Headquarters of the Warri South Local Government Council. Enerhen is part and parcel of Uvwie Local Government Area. Enerhen Junction is the Link between the three Local Government Areas of the Warri South, Udu and Uwvie. In the day, Enerhen junction is the bustling commercial nerve of the three local Government Areas, but at night, it is converted to a red-light district. Such commercial activities in the day, both legal and illegal include: big, medium and small shops where assorted shoes and clothes are sold; jewelries – gold and other fakes; petrol stations; illegal exchange of powerful foreign currencies; commercial banks, motor parks; gambling; the purchase and sales of the Ndokwa type of marijuana and all sorts of activities which are detrimental to decency in society. To crown it all, it is a terrible junction for traffic jams throughout the day. Consequent upon these activities, it is interesting to note that at night, the bubbling commercial zone would disappear till the next day, early in the morning. At about 9.00pm, the real sex trade will commence. It stretches to the former Halliburton Company, off Enerhen road. Along the Warri-Sapele Road, it terminates at the water Re-

sources Complex, with extended activities to the airport road junction. Of course, assorted loud music will almost declare the human ear-drums dysfunctional. The debased market cuts across ages, both men and women. Posh cars are littered all over the place to announce the arrival of the big boys who are from the adjourning cities and villages. Travelers and other visitors are also inclusive. The ready-made commodities for trade are young girls and ladies on the basis of cash and carry. The cost ranges from ten to fifteen thousand naira only, per night. However, this amount is negotiable between the vendors and purchasers. There are some dark complexioned girls and ladies including those who are thoroughly bleached from head to toe. The light complexioned ones tend to be more expensive than the darker ones. In any case, it largely depends on individual choice, black or chocolate. Let it be said for the purpose of clarity that apart from the young girls, there are other frustrated ladies and women who are almost expiring from the sex super market. They, too, litter the place for the purpose of catching the fun and money to the best of their ability. It should be noted with keen interest that matured men who are probably 55 years and above would have this category of women. The classes of men are, in most cases shy to do direct negotiation. Their options are through their personal Assistants, pimps and other hangers-on who do thorough negotiations with the harlots. Some of the young men may indicate their interest in such women who are probably of the same age bracket with their mothers and aunties. It is an indication that the sex commercial trade has no regard for age. It is also relevant to show case the ugly activities of pick–pockets who operate without any hindrance. They snatch jewelries, handbags, handsets, money and other items from gentlemen and ladies. People around watch the situation helplessly for fear of being hunted for thereafter. These hoodlums operate in the day and night. Unfortunately, the presence of policemen is not enough to deter them from committing criminal activities. This, and other factors make Enerhen junction thick. It is my wish that Government security apparatus should purge the junction in order to safe guard the interest of the innocent people. • Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

Needless call for Mu'azu's head (2) Nwachukwu Ngige CON TINUED FR O M T U ES DAY

as it Muazu that killed the party's e-membership drive intended to establish an unshakable base for internal democracy, the very factor that largely ruined the party at 2015 general elections ? Was it under Muazu that the party dispensed with five governors and other key members and turned ostrich? Was it Muazu that instituted the campaign of hate, of bombast that stretched and widened the frontiers of partisan repulse across Nigeria North of the Niger ? Was it Muazu that developed presidential campaign publicity paradigm where drivers, footballers and artisans drove the process and where a deliberately chosen blather style submerged the

numerous achievements of PDP while inadvertently celebrating the opposition candidate in the euphoria of pillory? Indeed, Mu'azu's allegory of "monkey de work , baboon de chop" during the inauguration of the presidential campaign council which some have taken as an evidence of non-commitment was rather a warning as well as an un-pretended echo of the hushed complaints of members on an aberrant reward system in the party. That was not the first time except that Muazu chose an outing where the inquisitive press was. I could recall that a senior leader of the party raised the same issue at the NEC meeting of January 2014, and President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to look into it. Whether fidelity to this promise was achieved could be answered differently depending on how one is per-

suaded. The bottom line however is that some core leaders of the party felt alienated. However, this is not to exonerate Mu'azu of blame in the party's woeful outing at the elections. His admittance of full responsibility for the disastrous results while speaking to journalists at Umuahia over the weekend is clear sign of responsible leadership. Therefore, the current blame game would neither restore the lost glory of March 28, nor will it aid in re-strategizing and re-focusing the party for the challenge of the time. Mu'azu alone could not have stopped the anti-PDP sentiments blazing like wild fire in the harmattan wind across the states of the North. Even if he had taken to the preferred attack dog style, he would still have saved very little. The matter was more fundamental. Hence, time is here for us to bother more about what

Muazu does with this great party that is now in opposition . The APC no matter the gain and sweetness of victory remains a convergence of strange bed fellows whose bonding will take decades to achieve. A well run PDP can in matter of years regain balance. The stakeholder meetings summoned just last week by Mu'azu was a reassuring salvo that the volcano is not extinct but dormant to quote the Zik of Africa . Instead of engaging in blame game therefore , let's put our ideas together and prove that staying together for seventeen years without changing our name or logo is not an accident but a time proven regenerative capacity, inbuilt in our foundation and capable of out-lasting the ephemerality of power locus. Concluded •Nwachukwu Ngige lives in Abuja.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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Reducing the cost of governance

ven before his party, the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, lost the last general elections in the country by a sensational margin, out-going Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue State sounded what has come to be referred to as the first official indication that the country’s economy was heading for the worst. The so-called first official indication that the economy was headed for the rocks was the admission by the governor that falling revenue from the statutory account was fraught with the possibility of the state government defaulting on various obligations, including workers salaries which the state government is now owing about five months arrears. The warning might not have been sufficient as excuse for the state government to redeem its obligations to workers in the state but it provided, quite aptly, a picture of what the various tiers of government might have to endure or come to terms with vis a vis the discomfitting reality of dwindling revenues triggered by falling crude oil prices in the global oil market. For years, experts warned about the tragic consequences of failing to diversify the country’s economic base which is ill-advisedly mono-product. Such

warnings included the fact that such an ugly reality, if and when it did finally arrived as it has, would include distortions in plans and projections at various levels across the country. The inability of the Benue State government, for at least five months, was one of such distortions that was predicted, with devastated accuracy. Like several other states in the nominal federation which were lulled into a false sense of comfort by easy oil money from the despoliated Niger Delta, the urge to seek alternative sources of revenue became lost in this epic indolence of over-reliance on easy oil-money. To dramatize how overwhelming this indolence became, Benue State, which is blessed with vast arable land which can conveniently feed the rest of the country, simply ignored this fantastic natural endowment, preferring to take permanent position behind others on the trending queue for federal allocation from the Federal Government. Benue was not the only state that preferred to wallow on the indolent queue for easy petrodollar from the Niger Delta than exploit their vast agricultural potentialities which some countries are not even blessed with. States in the northern part of the country that are sensation-

ally blessed with arable land, preferred to ignore this natural endowment in preference for easy oil money that has now become difficult or impossible to access because of instability in the price of crude oil on which the country’s economy depends. While several projects and programmes of the government have either been modified or altered to fit this new economic reality, others have either been put on hold or scrapped outrightly. What these modifications and alterations signify is the urgent and pressing need by the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to review all government projects and programmes to align them with this prevalent economic reality of dwindling or insufficient revenues. Suddenly, the warnings by generations of economic experts have assumed a frightening relevance which makes it even more mandatory for the incoming government to align its spending with revenues which are seriously threatened by instability in the global oil market. And because the economically unrealistic pay of federal legislators has always remained a sore point of controversy among Nigerians, this is a logical point to commence the cost-cutting, wastage-reduction process by the new administration.

This, therefore, brings us to the acknowledgement by three in-coming senators, namely Godswill Akpabio (out-going governor of Akwa Ibom), Jerry Useni (former Federal Capital Territory Minister), and Dino Melaye, that there is need to align the salaries of legislators with economic realities. According to them, there is no justification for the allegation that the salaries and allowances of Nigerian legislators far out-strip those of their counterparts in the United States of America and United Kingdom. ‘I don’t even know what the salaries are. But I was listening to people saying that their salaries are very gargantuan. I am just a mere governor and I do not receive that kind of salary. I was surprised. It was like a confession’, said Akpabio of his shock upon discovering the true salaries of legislators. Though Useni argued that reduction of the cost of governance must not be limited to legislators alone, there is unanimity in their argument that there is nevertheless merit in reducing the cost of government to align with current economic realities. We appeal to the incoming administration not to negotiate the need to reduce the obscene cost of governance, including emoluments of legislators which mock the country’s current economic situation.

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20 Politics

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gbajabiamila: The making of the eighth Speaker Alfred Omolewa

hat Femi Gbajabiamila carries himself like a true leader is not new. That he acts and talks the part is also not new. That he is a nationalist is not new as well because his antecedent speaks volume but what is new is that he’s never been the leader of the ruling party in the House of Representatives. As the House’s ‘Minority Whip’ leader, Gbajabiamila was many things.

He was the voice of the House as well as the enforcer. He pushed that democracy be practiced in Nigeria like in developed countries. For starters, let’s refresh on the role of a ‘Whip’ and how Gbajabiamila played the part. “A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party’s “enforcers,” who typically offer inducements and threaten party members to ensure that they vote

Gbajabiamila

according to the official party policy. A whip’s role

is also to ensure that the elected representatives

of their party are in attendance when important votes are taken.” In the House, Gbajabiamila held sway because of his stance against mismanagement, poor leadership and political immaturity. He vehemently kicked against the defection from one party to another, hammering on the need for Nigerian politicians to have and hold onto a set of political beliefs, ideology and philosophy. Gbajabiamila pretty much summed himself

up in his book: “Fearless: the Emergence Of A Virile And Formidable Opposition Leader (Political Memoirs of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila)”. He has prepared himself for the big stage, only that, this time he will go from opposition leader to the leader of the ruling party, a position he has prepared himself for and one that has waited for him. His panache and zest as Minority Whip was contagious and staggering. His colleagues always listened when he spoke. His oratorial prowess and his ability to convey his messages in the best possible fashion made him an item in every gathering. As Minority Leader, he pushed Nigeria and Nigerians. He pushed the ruling party, he pushed his colleagues in the opposition but above all he pushed himself even beyond his own comprehension. Why should he be the 8th Speaker of the House of Representative? As head of the ad hoc committee investigating claims by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) that N140.9 billion, which was owed by Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited and Forte Oil Plc, has been paid, Gbajabiamila did a thorough job ensuring that the House also passed Money Laundering and Terrorism Amendment Bills. That’s why BolaTinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described Gbajabiamila as “an inspiration to many of the members of the House of Representatives today who are working tirelessly to see Nigeria chart a new course and are very so committed to changes, content of the character of the country, adding a great value and commitment to national development and progress of this country.” Gbajabiamila is not one who shies away from his responsibilities and actions as a leader. To preserve the nation’s democracy, he was once forced to scale the gate of the House of Representatives. On his Facebook page, he wrote of his action: “What happened in the National Assembly yesterday will forever live in infamy. Never thought I would see the day when I would be forced to go over the assembly gates where I work to gain access into the chambers.” •Omolewa is a public affairs analyst

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

Interview

News

Ahmad: Why lawyers must put lawmakers on their toes

No record of Bamaiyi’s $330,000 fraud money, says prison official

22&24

Law R

erun elections were conducted in some states of the federation at the weekend which brought an end to the much touted 2015 general elections in the country. At the rerun elections, winner emerged and losers were also recorded. But, while winners were euphoric at their emergence of the elections, some aggrieved parties and their candidates are calling for the cancellation of the elections in some states, citing acute irregularities and rigging. Specifically, they are asking INEC to wield its powers under Sections 222, 227 and the Electoral Act and cancel the election’s result of the affected states. Does INEC have power to cancel election results especially when they have been publicly declared? Lawyers say yes, no. INEC has the power under the law to cancel any election marred by irregularities but it is very difficult for INEC to reverse itself over a result it has declared, one said. If you allow the electoral officers to cancel election, some uncertainties will creep in. Imagine a situation in Imo state, Oru East Local Government where the Returning Officer said that she was forced by some elders to sign a result that did not reflect what came from the polls, another said. Nevertheless, they agreed that grievances arising from any elections should be sorted out at the Election Petition Tribunal. For instance, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, said INEC has the power under the law to cancel any election marred by irregularities although it may be difficult for the commission to reverse itself on a result it had publicly declared. Ubani said: “When results have been declared, what the electoral body will ask contestants to do if they have any grievances is to seek remedy in the court of law. But, before the announcement of the results, if

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Jega

Mahmud, Cjn

‘Tribunal, not INEC, has power to cancel elections’ Although the general elections have ended with the rerun in some states where elections were inconclusive, aggrieved parties are warming up to ventilate their grievances at the election petitions tribunal. However, a section of Nigerians believe that it is needless to approach the tribunal since the electoral umpire-the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has enormous powers to cancel elections marred by irregularities. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report INEC discovers any irregularities, the results can be cancelled, there will be a re-run or the elections will be declared inconclusive. “Indeed, INEC has the power under the law to cancel elections but it is also very rare under the law for INEC to cancel any election it has openly declared”. Ubani was echoed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu, who said irregularities being a generic word, must be defined in the light of ‘violence’, ‘thuggery’ or any other malpractices. This, according to Awa did not deprive INEC of its power to cancel any elections under the category of such irregularities as such cancellation would only be limited to the affected areas. To Mr. Soji Toki, INEC has pow-

If you allow the electoral officers to cancel election, some uncertainties will creep in

ers to nullify any election only if the result of such election had not been announced. “If they have not declared the result, INEC can cancel the election. But once the results have been declared or announced, it is only a tribunal or the court that can do that”. Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Amaechi Nwaiwu simply said “for instance, like what happened in Imo state, where the margin is more that the total vote cast. “That is very apparent, and on that note, INEC can cancel the election. The electoral body can also cancel, if there is no election at all”. Wale Ogunade said “INEC’s power ended once election results are announced and a winner has

been declared. Sections 222 and 227 talk about the power of INEC to regulate, monitor and organise elections in the country. The power is further strengthened in the Electoral Act”. Disagreed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and titled chief, Mike Ahamba said INEC had no power to cancel an election, insisting that only the Election Petition Tribunal had the requisite powers to declare election null and void. Ahamba said: “If you allow the electoral officers to cancel election, some uncertainties will creep in. Imagine a situation in Imo state, Oru East Local Government where the Returning Officer said that she was forced by some elders to sign a result that did not reflect what came from the polls.”

22 Law | Jurist Ali Ahmad, Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice holds a Ph.D in Law. Ahmad, who recently hosted his colleagues at the Bar and members of the executive council of the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) believes the 7th Assembly exercised a measure of independence that singles it out as the best National Assembly in the last 16 years of Nigeria’s democracy. Biodun Oyeleye reports

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ahmad: Why lawyers must put lawmakers on their toes

lthough he applauded the outgoing National Assembly for its remarkable resilience, especially a measure of independence it exercised while taken some tough decisions, Dr. Ahmad said such could not be said of the states’ Houses of Assemblies as they relatively became the extension of the executive. Reminiscing on the successes recorded by the outgoing National Assembly, Ahmad said the 7th Assembly had achieved some independence that the executive arm of government could make it its appendage. He however assured his colleagues at the Bar that he would strive to raise the Bar at the state assembly once the assembly starts work. Besides, Ahmad bore his mind on the constitution amendment which President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to sign into law. Ahmad said: “We know that state legislatures across the country are no more than, in the best of time, appendages of their state governors. We have achieved some independence at the national legislative arm. “There is no President however strong can pocket the National Assembly. So, we have achieved the objectives of the framers of our Constitution for a legislature serving as checks and balances to the executive but in state assemblies, we may not be able to say the same at least for majority of states. “A lot of people believe that state assembly is another Ministry or parastatal of government. So, if at the end of four years, we are able to raise the standard of legislative arms in the state assembly to serve as checks and balances to governors then that is it. When you say checks and balances, you don’t have to be antagonistic or confrontation, you can sit down together as lawyers do, you can sit down, eat together with the governor but once you step into the chamber, concerns of the people of the state should be paramount. “In the judiciary, whatever your friendship with the Chief Judge or with the judges, once you step into their courts, it is the principles of law that prevail. So, we want to see the same standard in the legislature and once we can achieve that in Kwara State and other states, it

Ahmad

would be fine. “So we want to deepen democracy. It is a time for service. When you have served at the national level, people beckon on you to come back home, it is a honour. On why lawyers must play vital roles in the nation’s democratic process, Ahmad said he would want his colleagues to take active participation in governance. He said: “So I would place much reliance on professional groups like NBA. We should all take part in politics. As lawyers, we should take part in governance. Governance is very important. We shouldn’t leave it for politicians alone. I had a very robust relationship with the national body of the Bar. “If you see anything going on in the House, it is your House, you come in, give your suggestions so that at the end of the day, Kwara State would see good governance. NBA provides good leadership in fashioning out how to achieve the developmental goals of Kwara State Government. The legislature would provide its own support for the government to achieve its developmental goals and in the process, organisations like NBA would have to be a watchdog for all of us. “We are telling NBA to always

We are telling NBA to always call us to order where we are wrong

call us to order where we are wrong. The basic principle for every politician is that he should stay with the people, meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people within the ability of the finances of the state. Once we are sworn-in, we hit the ground running. On constitution amendment, Ahmad said “for the history of this country, we haven’t seen a constitutional document, constitutional amendment or any provision of the Constitution where the people, the man on the street had direct impact like this. It was a new approach. “Yes, the National Assembly had the power to amend the Constitution but in its wisdom, the 7th assembly said, ‘yes, we have the power but let us take it to the people, let’s see what they think on these issues’. So, they sent all of us home to our constituencies; we came back to you people. We called conferences, we gave you. We collated the responses, state by state, region by region. “Like Local Government, Kwara State said they want autonomy for local governments, Lagos state didn’t but when we collated everything, those constituencies that want autonomy for local governments were more. So, we

adopted it. We said that this one is a proposal that Nigerians want because the majority of Nigerians and that’s what happened for all those 40 sections that we amended. It was the people that spoke. “This is the first time that the ‘we’ in the Constitution would be answered by people. Now even after that, we now took it to the floor, we debated it and still scaled through. We sent it to the state, some scaled through others didn’t. “After all these troubles, it is now for Mr. President to sign, he said he would not sign it because of some reasons. I know the budget for constitution amendment in the House of Representatives is about 500 million. “So if you add it to the Senate for two, three years, you know this is something that started about three years ago, so you are looking at about N3bn or N4bn. Yes it is still a far cry from the wasted efforts of N11bn for the confab. We’ve spent about N3bn to N4bn on this constitutional document and we do not have that hope that in the 8th Assembly, that would be the priority. In fact, it shouldn’t because the incoming government is inheriting a lot of problems and CONTINUED ON PAGE24

Law

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

Igbo lawyers laud Ambode, preach tolerance support

Lawyers of Igbo extraction congratulate Lagos Governorelect, urging him to consolidate on predessor’s feat

gbo lawyers under the aegis of Otu Oka Iwu have congratulated Mr. Akinwumi Ambode on his emergence as the Governor-elect of Lagos State, describing his victory as “historic”. According to them, the Governor-elect, who “as a veteran civil servant’, would definitely take the ‘Centre of Excellence’ to

greater heights given the stellar performance of his predecessor and accomplished lawyer, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).” In a statement by their President and the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Zik Obi II and Mr. Emeka Nwadioke, the lawyers applauded Ambode’s arch political rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje for bowing to the wishes of the electorate, congratulating the Governor-elect on his victory in the hotly contested election, adding that such “sportsmanship is increasingly taking root in our political sphere.” Besides, the statement urged Ambode to “take

specific steps to reassure all Lagos residents that his administration will not engage in a deliberate policy that adversely targets any individual or groups as it has become even more pressing to take definite measures aimed at rebuilding confidence in the entire populace and assuring all that Lagos remains the ideal place to pursue the ‘Nigerian dream’ with honesty and diligence.” It went on: “We urge the Governor-elect to emulate the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari by committing to the promotion of the rule of law, just and principled governance where no-one is

oppressed due to favouritism based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status. “The Governor-elect must also sustain the exemplary law reforms of the Fashola administration and indeed take the reforms to the next level. The justice sector has been given a breath of fresh air due to these laudable reforms. However, it naturally remains a work in progress. While assuring the Governorelect of our support and cooperation, we urge him to ensure a level playing field in the area of law enforcement, such that all Nigerians are equal before the law. More

NBA set to check fake lawyers Tunde Oyesina Abuja

n its bid to rid the legal profession of fake practitioners, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has launched a “stamp” for the exclusive use by members. The issue of the stamp and seal first came up during the J.B Daudu, SAN’s presidency but was hampered by logistic reasons, hence it could not see the light of the day. At the official launch held at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed applauded the NBA, describing it as the actualization of a long held aspiration of the Bar. This, according to him deserved thumbs up and commendation by members as the profession’s image had been dented following the infamous activities of fake lawyers who had infiltrated the Bar. The prevalence of fake lawyers in the country, according to the CJN, had negatively affected the integrity of the legal profession, casting a shadow of disrepute upon ‘us all’. To him, it was always a herculean task for judges to differentiate between the genuine and the fake counsel, appearing before them just as members of the public were often left in a quandary over who they could place their trust, property and even lives in. Apparently applauding the Bar, Justice Mahmud tasked the association to be alive to its key responsibility by adequately regulating its members’ identities through various means of identification as Bar’s credibility had a direct impact on the respect for the rule of law and the independence of the courts. However, he said the event

was timely as the Judiciary had similarly introduced the greater use of information and communications technology solutions like legal email and court automation into the administration of justice in the tri-strata of our Superior Courts. He said: “Indeed, Judges find it difficult to identify which counsel appearing before them, is genuine or otherwise. Of even greater concern is the fact that members of the public are often left in a quandary on who they can place their trust, property and even lives in. “We must not forget that the credibility of the Bar has a direct impact on respect for

Alegeh

the rule of law and the independence of the courts. This is why it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the stamp is used as a veritable means of authenticating a qualified legal practitioner and the documents emanating from him. “I believe that the stamp can, if properly deployed, become a hallmark of a firm’s work and a way for prospective clients to better identify their counsel.” “The Stamp we are here to launch today has breathed life into this provision and further elevated legal practice in Nigeria to meet the challenges of an evolving society”.

Ambode

importantly, deliberate steps should be taken to curb the excesses of law enforcement agencies

promoted by the state by speedily isolating and bringing to justice the bad eggs in their midst”.

Lawyer applauds Binatone’s two-year warranty F

or a lawyer, Mr Samson Olubunmi, the launch of a two-year warranty by one of the world’s renowned appliances and electrical goods brand, Binatone, has again put the brand ahead of others in Nigeria. Olubunmi said this at the weekend during the launch of the brand’s two-year warranty in Lagos. Binatone has become a brand which takes the Nigerian market by storm, says the lawyer, insisting that its numerous products had no rival in the country. Binatone at the weekend launched its “two-year Warranty” on all its products sold in Nigeria and other West African countries following its acceptability in the country. A household brand best known for its consumer appliances, cooling technologies and power solutions, Binatone was one of the first few brands to provide product warranties to its customers in Africa. T his however, doubled as the brand provided a standard two-year Warranty on all its products, with Nigeria being amongst its first African markets to benefit from the new warranty. Binatone’s managing director and chief

executive officer, Mr. Sunil Lalvani, while dwelling on the successes so far recorded in Nigeria, said “Binatone came into existence in 1958 in the United Kingdom as a result of our desire to meet the modern lifestyle needs of customers. “Over the past 40 years, Binatone has been actively present in Africa, especially in Nigeria, and through this experience, it understands how much African customers value a product-warranty. “By doubling our warranty period, we are paying heed to our customer’s needs, all the while demonstrating the faith we have in our products. “We are seeing unprecedented changes in how people manage their work-life balance. Customers are rethinking their purchases and not spending their hard-earned money on cheap or fake products. As we intend to cater to these needs even further, we believe Nigeria is the perfect market to understand our African customers and their lifestyles better. We have a strong presence and distribution network here and this is the reason why Nigeria is amongst the first countries to get our 2 Year Warranty”.

Law | News

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Constitution amendment’ll solve interlocutory appeals’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 2

there is no money. “So you cannot bulge it down with another constitution amendment. And for God’s sake, I think we should enact a law that after this fourth amendment, nobody should amend the constitution for another 10 years. Constitution is a basic document. It is not an Act. “So, I would be pained if the 8th Assembly comes and says they want to amend the Constitution. Nigerians should resist it. Constitution is an Act, it is a fundamental document, go and try it, let the court fill the lacuna, then after another 10, 20 years, you can come back. So, this Constitution must be passed and we are very resolute in the National Assembly. If I read the mood of the House very clearly, we are ready and I am sure we would override the President’s veto. I think the President should have a rethink. “The content of the constitution amendment is unassailable, if the President still insists on not signing it, we’re bound by the

Fashola

Lawyers task Fashola on Isolo Secondary School handover Akeem Nafiu

awyers to Akaix West Africa Limited, the original owners of Metropolitan College, now comprising of Isolo Secondary School in Lagos, have made a passionate plea to Governor Babatunde Fashola, to ensure the return of the school to them before he leaves office by May 29. The lawyers, in a personal letter to Fashola signed by one of them, Malcolm Omirhobo, said they were apprehensive that the school may not be returned after May 29 due to red tape, indiscretion and inability on the part of the officials of the Ministry of Education to appraise and appreciate the expediency on the need to return the school. According to the lawyers, the return of the school became imperative owing to the need to comply with the Education Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions Repeal Law of Lagos State, which mandated the return of Private Secondary Schools in the state to their owners for effective management. Akaix West Africa had earlier dragged the state government before the Lagos High Court to challenge the refusal of government to hand over the school to it when all the private schools earlier taken-over by government were returned to their owners. The government, however, indicated its willingness for an out-of-court settlement of the dispute, a development which led to the matter being referred to the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) for arbitration. At the arbitral sitting, the issues were narrowed down by parties as follows: “That the Metropolitan College comprising of Isolo Secondary School belongs to Akaix West Africa Limited. “That Metropolitan College will be released to Akaix West Africa Limited. “That the Lagos State Ministry of

Education is insisting on retaining part of the property hosting Isolo Secondary School. “That Akaix West Africa Limited shall comply with the terms and conditions of the return of Private Secondary Schools. “That the Lagos State Government, from time to time will monitor the compliance by Akaix West Africa Limited.” However, the lawyers through their spokesperson, Omirhobo, lamented that the only disagreement was on the insistence by the Lagos State Ministry of Education to retain the Isolo Secondary School, which was against government’s restructuring of the educational system of divesting and allowing the private sector to invest in the educational system so as to provide the conditions in which students can learn to the highest standard and prepare themselves to meet their future need. Omirhobo further urged the Governor to call for the file, study it and advise the Lagos State Ministry of Education on the need to return the whole school and not part to the owners. The most important thing, according to the lawyer, is the ability of his client to effectively manage the school, and same had never been questioned, as they were capable of running the school effectively and efficiently. The school was established in 1955 with the first batch of 19 students in Surulere area of Lagos by Akaix West Africa Limited. For expansion purposes and to move away from the thickly populated residential area of Surulere, the owners acquired the present site at Ire-Akari, Isolo in 1966 and eventually moved there in 1974. In 1976, via the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College.

will of the people, these are things the people want; they want independence of the legislature, so to throw it out, you are still saying that the legislature should be appendage of the executive. “There is the issue of interlocutory appeal which is a problem of our legal system and even fighting corruption. Look at Dariye (Joshua Dariye of Plateau), he was being prosecuted for seven years, the charge was read, he appealed on the charge being read, he went to Supreme Court, then Supreme Court said, ‘go back’ after seven years. But with this constitution amendment, you can appeal all you want on charge, the prosecution goes on but we slam you to prison, your appeal is still in court, go and be appealing. “So it goes a long way to satisfy and address all these issues and one man just by a stroke of the pen (is turning it down). I think Nigerians should scream and assist the National Assembly to see that whatever should be done by this constitution amendment is done.”

Fire outbreak: NAJUC commiserates with Fagbohungbe Akeem Nafiu

he Lagos branch of the National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC) has commiserated with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, whose Mamman Kontagora law firm was gutted by fire. Fagbohungbe, who is the patron of the association, lost valuable items to the inferno which was said to have been caused by a surge from the room where the section which housed the generator powering the firm. NAJUC in a statement jointly signed by its chairman and Secretary, Tunde Opeseitan and Gbenga Soyele, commiserated with the silk and prayed God to grant him the strength to bear the painful loss. It reads: “While we thank God that no life was lost to the inferno, we are not oblivious of the fact that the fire disaster must

Fagbohungbe

have really caused the learned silk a great fortune because to set up a fully functional law chambers is really expensive. “We know that law books, case files, exhibits, general books and other valuable items must have been lost by Chief Fagbohungbe to the inferno. “We use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to be more safety conscious so as to stem the tide of frequent fire disaster and other avoidable disasters”. It was gathered that Fagbohungbe lost several files, expensive law books, general books and other valuable materials to the inferno. The Mamman Kontagora building, which owned by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), is on the Lagos Island. The senior lawyer has since relocated to 29A, Adeyemi Lawson Street, off Oyinkan Abayomi, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Law | News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, april 30, 2015

Five years after, court clears policeman of murder Akeem Nafiu

fter spending five years in custody, a 34-year-old police corporal, Paul Ogbeh, who was accused of killing two men while on police patrol, has been cleared of the alleged crime by Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Igbosere High Court. Ogbeh, whose trial began 2010, was discharged and acquitted by the judge for lack of sufficient evidence linking him with the alleged crime. Delivering judgment on the case, Justice Akinlade, while noting that the defendant was performing his lawful duty on the day of the incident said the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Akinlade said: “The prosecution did not tender any post mortem or medical report in the death of the deceased, no ballistic report was tendered by the prosecution and there was also failure by the prosecution to produce eye witnesses to the incident. “The prosecution has failed to create any direct or circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the death of the two deceased. “The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the twocount charge of murder against him”. Ogbeh was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, and charged before the court in 2010 for the murder of Abiodun Awe and Nelson Obeto, at Oshisomi Street, Ori-Okuta, Ikorodu, an outskirt of Lagos. At trial, Ogbeh and three other policemen received a distress call at about 2.30a.m on January 18, 2010 about a robbery incident at OriOkuta area of Ikorodu, Lagos. On arrival at Ikorodu, the policemen encountered a group of suspected armed robbers who fled upon sighting the police patrol team. The fleeing men however shot at the police who responded with gunshots leading to the killing of

allegation Prison official denies record of Bamayi’s swindled $330,000 Akeem Nafiu

prison officer, ACP Abdullai Garba has told Justice Lateef LawalAkapo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos that the $330,000 allegedly swindled from a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ishaya Bamaiyi, by a court registrar was not in the prison’s record. Garba claimed that contrary to prison rules

Atilade

two of the suspected robbers. Awe, a suspected member of the robbery gang, died on the spot from his injuries and was taken to a mortuary while Nelson Obeto, another alleged gang member was still conscious and taken to the General

Hospital Ikorodu, where he died two days later from his injuries. Charms, a toy gun, a locally made pistol and expended gun cartridges were allegedly found in possession of Awe and Obeto. During the trial of the police of-

ficer, Babatunde Awe, a brother of the late Abiodun Awe, testified for the prosecution. Babatunde claimed in his evidence that on the morning after the murder, he went to the police to lodge complaints about his missing brother. He also disclosed further that at the police station, he was informed of his brother’s death and was directed to the morgue of the General Hospital where he saw his brother’s body with noticeable gunshot injuries. However, the freed policeman, Ogbeh, while testifying before the court denied firing the shots that led to the death of the accused, even though he admitted in his confessional statement to exchanging gunshots with the group of suspected robbers after they fired at his patrol team. After the judgement, the 34-yearold Police Constable, Ogbeh, expressed happiness at being set free after five years in prison custody. He said: “I feel happy because I held onto my God since day one of my incarceration because this incident happened while I was performing my lawful duties. “I thank God for my release today and that in the five years I was in jail I did not die, it was the wish of my enemies that I should rot and die in prison. “On that fateful day, we were supposed to be five policemen that were supposed to respond to the armed robbery distress call. “A member of our team took permission and did not follow us. Three months later he was killed by robbers while responding to a distress call at that same area of Ikorodu.” On his future plans after his release, Ogbeh, who has been dismissed by the Nigeria Police Force stated that he has intentions to further his studies. “While I was in prison, I enrolled with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to study Criminology and Security Studies and I intend to complete my education, Ogbeh said while clutching tightly on to a copy of The Prisoner’s Bible. Also responding to Ogbeh’s freedom, his lawyer, Ataene Spurgeon hailed the decision of the court. “I and my client salute the courage of the judge to read between the lines and evaluate evidence of witnesses and come to the germane and logical conclusion that my client is Innocent,” Ataene states.

No record of Bamaiyi’s $330,000 fraud money, says prison official which require that any cash brought in by inmates be duly recorded, the $330,000 did not pass through the prison records. A court registrar, Ms Idowu Rosulu is standing trial for allegedly collecting the $330,000 from General Bamaiyi under the guise that the money was meant for his legal representation by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). Rosulu was said to have facilitated the fraud which was alleg-

edly masterminded by Fred Ajudua along with others still being sought. It will be recalled that Bamaiyi had earlier told the court that Rosulu conspired with Ajudua to defraud him, saying the court registrar came to the Kirikiri prison to collect the money from him. Corroborating Bamaiyi’s claim, ACP Garba told the court that he witnessed the $330,000 transaction between Bamaiyi, Rosulu and

Ajudua. Garba recalled that Rosulu visited Bamaiyi and Ajudua in prison three times between October and November 2004. During cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Bamidele Ogundele, the witness claimed that he was present when money exchanged hands between the trio of Bamaiyi, Ajudua and Rosulu. He said: “I was present when Rosulu visited

the prison three times in 2004. Specifically, on October 23, November 6 and 20. “On the third occasion when she visited Bamaiyi, she was accompanied by Ade Bendel and one Jonathan. I was present when the money was brought in a Ghana must go bag, and I saw thirty bundles of ten thousand dollar notes, which totaled $330,000”. Garba informed the court that Bamaiyi later

told him the money was a lawyer’s legal fees. The witness added that there was no written evidence that Rosulu visited Bamaiyi and Ajudua in prison. “I can recognise the defendant because she visited Bamaiyi thrice in the prison. Though people intending to visit special inmates like Bamaiyi are required to write applications and submit their passport photographs to be intensively verified before they can be allowed access, Rosulu somehow used the influence of Ajudua to visit Bamaiyi,” he said. Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till May 11.

26 Law | File

THURSDAY, april 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Preliminary issues Buhari must consider Buhari CONTINUED from lastweek

Wahab Shittu

eyond that however, is the need to walk the talk by

putting in place policies and programmes that would make every Nigerian to have the requisite sense of belonging which is indispensable in nation building. There is the need to reconcile entities within the nation that are severely divided including elements from the North-east and Niger Delta with prospects of instability and threats to the nation state. The war against

terror must be fought to a standstill by enlisting the cooperation of Nigerians, the international communities and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad whose cooperation is crucial to forestall illegal movements across borders and check the inflow of illegal weapons. Our security forces must also be well equipped in terms of weapons, training, logistics, funding

and collaboration to win the war of terror. Corruption which he has identified as a major stumbling block in prosecuting the war of terror must be addressed decisively as our country can no longer afford destruction of valuable lives and property including the displacement of Nigerians from their homes. Secondly, I am also impressed by the president electâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s declaration that

he is now a converted democrat alluding to the fact that having attempted the presidency three times without success and ending up in the Supreme Court rather than resorting to violence, he has demonstrated his belief in democratic tenets. The president elect is advised to continue with that spirit as dictatorship in whatever guise is no longer fashionable in any part of the world. There is also the need to fix the economy and raise the living standards of Nigerians, majority of whom are suffering and living below the poverty line. In this sense, there is the need to approach economic development within the context of a major set of problems such as poverty, inequality, population growth, environmental decay and rural stagnation including adopting a problem and policy oriented approach to governance. The present situation comprising widespread poverty, large income and asset inequalities, rapid population growth, low levels of literacy and health, high levels of urban unemployment and underemployment and chronic balance of payments and foreign/debt burdens to name a few. Nigerians must have access to food, energy, natural resources, technology, information and financial flows. The incoming administration must realize that there is a symbiotic relationship between economic, social and institutional problems of underdevelopment requiring coordinated approaches to their solution at the local, national and international levels. in summary, attempts to boost our economy must address decisively issues bordering on lower levels of human capital, higher levels of inequality and absolute poverty, higher population growth rates compared to available resources, greater social fractionalization accelerated by displacements arising from insurgency, larger rural populations but rapid rural to urban migrations, lower levels of industrializations and manufactured exports, adverse geography, underdeveloped financial and other markets, lingering colonial impacts and inadequate public and private sectors participations in driving the economy. TO BE CONTINUED

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

27 Health Living

Illicit drug use, alcohol implicated in irregular heartbeat

Health

Health News

Lagos deploys legal framework in polio war

Nature Power

Getting used to colours

Keeping the child fit Ladi Patrick Abuja

hen Aisha Bello, a full-time house wife was informed by the doctor that she was three weeks pregnant, her joy knew no bounds. She had waited for over two years after walking down the aisle with her prince charming husband. With tears of joy in her eyes, she imagined how the child would look like when he or she finally arrives, painting pictures in her mind of healthy looking children she had seen on television. However, after nine months of waiting patiently, Aisha delivered a low birth-weight baby weighing only 2kg. The baby is at higher risk of illness, delayed development and is likely to suffer from growth failure during the early critical years or even death before her fifth birthday. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy, a child’s development is highly dependent on the mother’s intake of essential vitamins and micronutrients and a malnourished woman is at greater risk of obstetric complications and delivering an underweight child. The ghost that haunts Aisha’s nightmares most as she held her baby in her arms is the night when the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists group entered their home in Gwoza village of Adamawa State, forcing her and several others to flee their homes perhaps to a more secured environment they live as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) spread in camps. This apparition according to Aisha dates back in the early

Appolonia Adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

A woman breastfeeding her baby

stage of her pregnancy, when she was waiting to share the good news with her husband but it has turned to a litany of sad tales from the horrific to the unforeseen. She now lives in Waru village, a ward in Garki, under Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), 30 minutes drive from the nation’s city centre, approximately 26km, which now serves as a temporal home for over 2,000 IDPs mostly women and children. In her words, “I was just three weeks pregnant when the terrorists entered our village and we came to this place. I never attended antenatal care because there is no healthcare facility here until this baby was delivered this baby”. Aisha was malnourished all through the period of the pregnancy as she mostly consumed carbohydrate-based food crops due to lack of access to foods rich in protein, vitamins and

PHOTO: ghanahospitals.org

Negative impact of malnutrition during this critical 1000 day period is always irreversible

minerals, thus resulting to poor nutrition outcome. That increased her chances of delivering an underweight child who without adequate intervention might end up been stunted for life or even losing its life before the second birthday. Ideally, pregnant women who attend antenatal are told to put their babies to breast in the first 30 minutes after birth and breastfed exclusively for the first six months without any other foods or liquids, not even one drop of water. Often time, expectant mothers are not well informed about appropriate feeding practices like the 1000 day window of opportunity during pregnancy and a child’s first two years to avoid malnutrition. This 1000 day period starting from the day a woman conceived until her child is two years represents a critical

window of opportunity; therefore adequate nutrition during this period can avert malnutrition. The negative impact of malnutrition during this critical 1000 day period is always irreversible. Malnutrition, according to the Department of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or absorb the right amounts and type of food and essential nutrients, thereby resulting in brain damage, growth and development problems, poorer educational performance, increased risk of developing chronic and potentially debilitating diseases. This condition remains a great challenge especially to mothers and children, accounting for about half a million deaths which translates to the death of one out of every two child in the country. It is alarming to note that one out of every five children in Nigeria are severely malnourished and are at high risk of death before they attain their second birthday. While about 11 million under-5 who survived the condition are already stunted and may never achieve their potentials in life. Dr. Chris Isokpunwu of the federal ministry of health said malnutrition accounts for 53 percent under-5 mortality in Nigeria. He added that childhood malnutrition result to stunting, a condition when children are too short for their age due to inadequate intake of required nutrients over a long period of time. According to him, “Over the last three years, the rate of malnutrition has been around 40 percent that is because in 2003 it was 43percent while in 2008 it drop to 41 percent. He said the strategies that have been put in place to reduce malnutrition to at least a minimum of 20 percent includes distinguishing maternal nutrition from that of infants and young child. This is aimed towards building the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver nutrition services. According to a research on nutrition interventions, adequate investments in nutrition especially in children and mothers can help them reach their full potentials, accelerate progress CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Health News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Healthy Living

Lagos deploys legal framework in polio war

Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Illicit drug use, alcohol implicated in irregular heartbeat Polio vaccine being administered on a child

Appolonia Adeyemi

ever before in recent times has there been such great optimism that Nigeria may very well be exiting the unenviable ‘PAN Club’ that constituted the major exporters of polio to the world including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Even as the country renews the battle to remain polio-free, stakeholders have alerted that some individuals and groups that refuse the administration of polio vaccine on their children based on their religious belief could set back the gains recorded in eradicating disease. Over the years, religious and cultural beliefs are major factors behind the rejection of vaccines mainly in the northern part of country, though such negative response to the uptake of polio vaccine, is sometimes recorded in southern Nigeria. Based on this opposition, the Federal Government has over the years invested tremendously on awareness campaign to dispel unfounded rumours that polio vaccine is deployed to achieve other purpose apart from preventing polio. Addressing a recent media conference on the April National Immunisation Plus Days (NIDPs) in Lagos State, Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina hinted that though, the practice of rejecting polio vaccine abound, Lagos State has its strategy of addressing the problem and ultimately making the belligerents toe the line by approving that the vaccine be administered on their kids aged between 0 to five years. For the Lagos Government, she said what matters is implementing scheduled polio immuniation interventions. According to Adesina who is a public health physician, though, it is acceptable for individuals to hold their religious belief and practice their chosen faith without fear or molestation, as citizens, it is equally important to cooperate with the government to ensure public health. However, she noted that infants and children, by virtue of their age not only are children of the government, they are also cared for by the same authority. Based on this, Adesina reasoned that all health interventions outlined for their growth, development and survival including immunisations must be adhered to strictly. She added, “When the issue at stake which is administering polio vaccines on children under-5, falls within the ambit of the law, the law must take its course.” She noted that the problem confronting the state not convincing such parents/guardians to key into the intervention, but how to get to numerous hard-to-reach areas to enable kids in remote places access the vaccine” The solution to polio disease is to ensure that all eligible children are

PHOTO: www.telegraph.co.uk

immunised, Adesina asserted, saying that an unimmunised child poses serious danger to others. If a child is not immunised, such a child could contract polio if the child’s food, water or hands are contaminated with the faeces (poo) of an infected person. According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) polio does not respect borders – any unimunised child is at risk. For every case of paralysis, there are between 200 and 1000 children infected without symptoms. “So, it is hard to detect polio and hard to prevent the virus from travelling.” GPEI stated that the best defense against polio importation is to eradicate the virus, Only then will all children be safe. During the house-to-house polio immunisation campaign which targeted over four million children in Lagos between April 25 to 28, Adesina said it was most important for citizens to take actions that would protect public health. That is the approach the Lagos Government explores in making opposing groups to fall in line and do the needful. Ultimately,whatever method is used – convince, cajole, among others, she said state officials always achieved its objectives of getting children from zero to five years immunised with the polio vaccine. Poliomyelitis (polio) is a serious infectious disease caused by polio virus. It invades nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death within a matter of hours. Between two and five per cent of people who develop paralytic polio will die. Half of those who survive will have permanent paralysis. Symptoms include new weakness, joint and muscle pain and fatigue can occur years after an initial bout of polio and is known as post-polio syndrome. However, the good news is that polio can be prevented with immunisation. Adesina said the responsibility of immunising children with polio vaccine is not that of parents/care givers alone. “It rests on everybody to ensure that children under-5 are fully immunised.

Dr. Adesina

Irregular heartbeat under observation

rregular heartbeats can be short term, long term or intermittent, that is comes and goes. This health condition is considered the most common problems of the heart and it increases with age but has been known to affect at least one percent of people less than 60 years old and can be seen in different forms. With the heart beating too fast (rate/ speed) or with the rhythm, if the irregularity is sustained, it might lead to problems with adequate flow of blood (pumping of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body organs for the body to use). If the speed of the heat beat is too fast, it does not give the heart enough time to pump out and refill the chambers with good blood, there by not only decreasing the quantity of blood that the other organs receive, but weakens the heart valves. Similarly, if the speed is too slow -- if the blood flow is taking a much longer time to move along, it might become stationary and cause problems. When the rhythm is irregular, with rapid uncoordinated firing of the electrical impulses in the upper chamber of the heart, in such case blood cannot be effectively pumped into the lower chambers of the heart. Normal heartbeat is 60 to 80 beats per minute (BPM). Some irregular heartbeats are benign (harmless) like mild heart palpitation. Abnormal rapid heartbeat occasioned by bad news, fear, confrontations, fight goes away after the problem at hand goes away while some irregular beats, if caused by organ damage process does not go away. Some may not appear with any other signs and symptoms and some long term consequences with irregular firing of heart beats can form blood clot. Blood clots when and if dislodges may result to death if not found on time. Some of the symptoms of irregular heart beat include palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness or

difficulty exercising. Others are chest pain that may be temporary if sustained, dizziness or fainting, fatigue and confusion. CAUSES Irregular heartbeat may be from toxins like alcohol abuse—which may be the cause in 65 percent of cases under 65 years old. Binge drinking (drinking excessive amount of alcohol at one point in time). Weekend drinking may result in sudden irregular rapid heartbeat, cocaine use, amphetamine and high caffeine use, drugs that increase the body activity including heartbeat and sleep abnormality (Apnea). Others are some medical conditions like long standing untreated hypertension, hyperthyroidism (a disease that increases the activity of the thyroid, there by increasing all the activity of all body organs) heart disease/surgery, pneumonia, among others. DIAGNOSIS The best way to have a definite diagnosis is to find out the stability of the heart. How healthy the heart is. The rhythm/speed of the heart (its electrical activity) can be assessed through an EKG, which is a noninvasive machine with electrodes attached to the chest that records the rate of the heartbeat, how smooth the heart beatings are including any blockage in the pathway An Echocardiogram—an ultra sound of the heart will assess the heart size and shape, chamber size and heart pressures, the functioning of the heart walls/valves and how effective the heart is.

Health News 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Sterling Bank wants work safety regulations harmonised Appolonia Adeyemi

L-R: Head, Health, Safety and Environment, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Benjamin Ighomereho; Group Head, Customer Experience Service Group, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs. Titi Ogundipe and Chairman, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Commander Timothy Nwaogu, during a press conference on 2015 World Day for Safety and Health at Work organised by the Bank in Lagos.

Bullied children suffer worse mental health problems

ullying adversely affects children in later life more than being maltreated, according to new research from the University of Warwick. The new study published in ‘The Lancet Psychiatry’ shows that children who have been bullied by peers suffer worse in the longer term than those who have been maltreated by adults. The research is led by Professor Dieter Wolke from Warwick’s Department of Psychology and Warwick Medical School. The study was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego on Tuesday 28 April. There is already an established link between maltreatment by adults and the mental health consequences for children. Professor Wolke and his team wanted to examine whether long-term mental health issues among victims of bullying were related to having been maltreated by adults as well. They looked at data from 4,026 participants in the UK ALSPAC study (Avon Longtitudinal Study of Parents and Children) and 1,273 participants from the U.S Great Smoky Mountain Study. For ALSPAC they looked at reports of maltreatment between the ages of eight weeks and 8.6 years; bullying at ages eight, 10 and 13; and mental

health outcomes at age 18. Data from the Great Smoky Mountain Study had reports of maltreatment and bullying between the ages of nine and 16, and mental health outcomes from 19-25 years old. Professor Wolke said: “The mental health outcomes we were looking for included anxiety, depression or suicidal tendencies. Our results showed those who were bullied were more likely to suffer from mental health problems than those who were maltreated. Being both bullied and maltreated also increased the risk of overall mental health problems, anxiety and depression in both groups.” In the ALSPAC study 8.5 percent of children reported maltreatment only, 29.7 percent reported bullying only and seven percent reported both maltreatment and bullying. In the Great Smoky Mountain Study, 15 percent reported maltreatment, 16.3 percent reported bullying and 9.8 percent reported maltreatment and bullying. Professor Wolke added: “Being bullied is not a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up; it has serious long-term consequences. It is important for schools, health services and other agencies to work together to reduce bullying and the adverse effects related to it.”

n order for get the mazimum protection of workers and their family, stakeholders have called for the harmonization of regulations governing existing security and safety laws. Group Head of Strategy & Communication at Sterling Bank, Shina Atilola who made the call in Lagos recently, also advocated for the harmonisation of the various regulations that govern health and safety in the country. He spoke at a press conference on the 2015 World Day for Safety and Health at Work which is marked globally on April 28. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It ha been observed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 2003. Sterling Bank is supporting the event to be held on May 1 to commemorate the day this year. The theme for 2015 is “Join in building a Culture of Prevention on Occupational Safety & Health”. He reasoned that while the oil and gas industry has its regulation guidelines and the manufacturing sector has its. “There should be ability to harmonise them so that every industry will be able to fall in line.” While calling on every employee and members of the society to be alive to their responsibility in the area of security and safety, he also urged them to educate and inform others about the necessity to adhere to safety tips. “The media should prioritise awareness creation to better the lots of Nigerians with regard to safety. With the help of Sterling Bank’s Health Safety & Environment (HSE) unit, the company issues a monthly release on security and safety of employees. “Bank also issues occasional one which we share with customers,” Atilola said, adding “this are the few areas we can spread this good news.” Furthermore, he noted that

the bank provides safe environment for workers who in turn do their best in the provision of service. Similarly highlighting the need for safe working environment for workers, the Chairman of Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Commander Timothy Nwaogu said although, the aim of workers is to earn a living, they have to be protected to work safely for their health status to be maintained. Hence, there is need for employers to ensure specialised set of rules to achieve the safety of workers. Based on this position, Nwaogu said ISPON with support of Sterling Bank is getting stakeholders together to discuss the way forward on attaining the security and safety of workers. On his part, the Executive Director of Safety Advocacy & Empowerment Foundation, Engr. Jamiu Badmos said lamented that existing Factory Act, the law that governs operational health and safety in Nigeria is obsolete because of some of its contents. To put things in the right perspective, he said some concerned citizens and organisations are calling on National Assembly to pass the Occupational Health and Safety Bill (OHSB 2008). “We want the government to look into the Bill and sign it because it will help the government set up health and safety in line with international best practices and it will create more employment for health and safety professionals. They will employ more people and improve on their advocacy and on their regulatory enforcement.” Badmus condemned the functional Health and Safety Law in the country and described it as a reactive law. He added that the theme of the 2015 World Day for Safety & Health at Work is focused on prevention. “It is a preventative culture and not a reactive culture,” he reasoned, adding that if the outgoing government could sign this Occupational Health and Safety Bill 2008, it is good for us.”

Adequate nutrition, key to child development CONTINUED FROM PAG E 27

on key global health targets and advance economic development of a country. Similarly, Isokpunwu also observed that nutrition interventions add value to other investments such as health, education and poverty reduction. The research noted that malnutrition among Nigerian children is a serious problem throughout the country, accounting for about one million under-5 deaths every year. “The rates of stunting in Nigeria have stagnated for more than a decade as two in every five Nigerian children is stunted with North West

having the highest proportion of 55 percent, followed by North West (42 percent ) while North Central (29 percent). However, even in the South South and South East region, which had the lowest percentage of malnourished children, almost one out of every six children is stunted. According to the most recent national survey, 37 percent of children under five is stunted (national average), while 21 percent is severely stunted. Children in the rural areas (43 percent) are more likely to be stunted than those in the urban areas (26 percent) and the pattern is similar for severe stunting children, (26 percent) for rural areas and (13 percent) for

urban areas. This is even as he also disclosed that almost 30 percent of children in Nigeria are underweight, meaning that they don’t weigh enough for their age, doubling the proportion of neighbouring Ghanaian children who are underweight. While the percentage of children in Nigeria who are wasted or too thin for their height, has steadily increased over the last decade, rising from 11 percent in 2003 to 18 percent in 2013. This is because over one million under-5 children are affected by severe acute malnutrition every year, making them to weight severely low for their height and at the

risk of death unless they are given urgent attention. Ninety percent of Nigerian children under the age six to 23 months are not properly fed based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended feeding practices which includes exclusively breastfeeding during the first six months of life, after which sufficient amount of a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables eggs and meat are added to the meal of infants and young children as complementary feeding. Isokpunwu listed parts of the strategies to combat malnutrition to include raising awareness about the silent crisis of malnutrition and ensuring that key nutrition

intervention are integrated into developmental sectors such as health, agriculture, finance, education and women affairs ministries towards an effective fight against malnutrition in the country. He added, “It is necessary to advocate for adequate and dedicated budget line for nutrition at national, state and local government levels in all the sectors, as investments in nutrition pay for themselves and produces a lifetime benefits for individuals, families and the nation at large”. According to him, “it also produce returns up to 25 times greater than the initial investment. For every N100,000 spent, we would generate N2.5 million in economic returns.”

Health News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tobacco use, physical inactivity boost NCDs, says Nestlé Esther Albert

A L-R: Director General/Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria (CIEPHM), Prince George Ayoade; Pharmacist Yinka Ilori; and Dr. Leke Pitan receiving certificate after induction as a fellow of the CIEPHM, held in Lagos at the weekend

Institute champions more allocation to public health Appolonia Adeyemi

he Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria (CIEPHM) has called for more investment in environmental conservation and public health management, saying these are prerequisites for national growth and development. Making the call, the Director General/Chief Executive of CIEPHM, Prince George Ayoade also tasked the three tiers of government to budget more allocation to public health sub-sector to bring about a healthier and happier populace that will be productive for sustainable development. He spoke in Lagos at the Annual Public Management Lecture/Induc-

tion of new members, organised by the CIEPHM at the weekend, According to him, the Institute champions the cause of environmental and public health management in Nigeria and Africa, “providing professionals with the exclusive support to further their career and setting the standard by which all environmental and public health practitioners should be measured. “The CIEPHM qualification is accepted as the major benchmark for career progression into the academia and industry, he said adding, “many leading practitioners have, at least, one CIEPHM qualification under their belt.” While reminding the new inductees that professionalism is a necessity to meeting the de-

velopmental challenges confronting the nation today, the President and Chairman of Council, CIEPHM, Elizabeth Adiukwu-Bakare urged workers in the environmental and public health sub-sector to commence the process of becoming professionals. “This mission has propelled the Institute in the direction of health management practitioners to enhance Nigeria’s strategic global advantage in today’s environment.” She therefore urged professionals in this sphere to engage in training and re-training programmes in order to acquire necessary skills, knowledge, drive and flexibility that would bring exemplary performance in their professional calling. In a lecture, “Investing

in Reduced Maternal and Child Mortality for Sustainable National Development: Issues, Challenges and Options, a former Commissioner for Health and Education in Lagos State, Dr. Leke Pitan recommended the following to reduce maternal and child deaths: compulsory health insurance to mitigate out-of-pocket expenditure for patients, the integration of traditional with modern medicine, focusing on preventive rather than curative health, effectively addressing medical quackery, among others. The former commissioner for health added, “Along with fake drugs/ consumables, medical quackery is a major contributor to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

s part of strategy to promote lifestyle changes that will prevent non communicable diseases (NCDs), Nestlé has stressed the importance of avoiding the use of tobacco products, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets. Nestlé Cameroon’s Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager, Richard Dongue disclosed this recently during a sensitisation seminar on using healthy diets to prevent diseases. Nestlé Cameroon in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and with the support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Family Promotion held the meeting to sensitise 250 women from Douala, Cameroun and the media on the role that nutrition plays in helping to prevent NCDs. Nestlé wants to be part of the solution in the fight against NCDs. We are convinced that only multi-stakeholder action can lead to behaviour change that will reverse the trend of this silent epidemic,” said RichardDongue, Nestlé Cameroon’s corporate

communication and Public Affairs Manager. NCD is a medical condition or disease that can be defined as non-infectious and non-transmissible among people. NCDs can refer to chronicdiseaseswhich last for long periods of time and progress slowly. Example of NCDs include diabetes, hypertension, cancers, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, among others. While pledging Nestlé commitment to promote healthy diets and lifestyles, Dongue said, “due to the rapidly increasing number of people suffering from NCDs, such as cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer, Nestlle enlightened women on the importance of nutrition in cubing NCDs. Similarly, Regional Delegate for Women Affairs and Family Promotion, Isabella Makota said with the aim of educating women on the preventions of NCDs “women are ready to fight NCDs as they take care of their various families’ nutrition. It is therefore important that women be trained and educated on how to prevent these diseases.”

Getting used to colours (4) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

BLUE

rojecting blue energy into the body reduces inflammation and swelling in joints and other tissues. Blue is the colour of peace, gentleness, calmness and protection. It is the colour of rest, sleep and relaxation. Have you ever noticed an office painted with dominant blue? You will notice calmness and peace. Blue does not excite, unlike red. Blue is the colour for musicians, artists, poets and preachers. Blue radiates peace, health and tranquillity. Sound, music, and water are often linked with the colour blue. Sound is linked to creation. The world came into being when God uttered the creative word. Christ often cast out devils by uttering the healing word. To the dead girl he said: Tabitha cum. To the woman caught in adultery he said: “Has no one condemned you? Go and sin no more.” Words go a long way to shape people’s feelings and sense of identity. Music and poems are advanced forms of speech. Why

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo are they so powerful? It is because they open us to a deeper level where healing can take place; a level beyond the material level of competition, greed and materialism. In times of sickness, learn to sing a meaningful song. Utter positive words while bathing, for blue is the colour of water. To chant mantra while bathing is very useful. It brings calmness and peace. It also helps to hold a glass of water in your hand and say some words like: ‘May the river of life flow through me’, or ‘may the healing rays of God radiate through me’; ‘Christ my light, wash me clean’. You can hold a glass of water in your hand and say: ‘Tabitha cum, little girl, get up’ to arouse your dormant energies and power to come to the surface. Blue is the colour for fevers, insomnia, and appendicitis, al-

lergic reactions, diabetes, cancer and other viruses like the notorious HIV virus. In families where there is tension, disagreement, blue is desirable. Wives whose Blue sea and blue sky husbands get easily irritated should try to create a blue environment. ORANGE Orange colour is derived from a combination of red and yellow. In other words, it is a combination of intellectual and reproductive energy. Orange is directly related to the large intestine and the reproductive organs. Orange helps in proper metabolism without which constipation and toxicity would result. It is an active ray. It puts emphasis on health and wellbeing through proper physical, healthy lifestyle, e.g. physical exercises, balanced diet, vegetarian diet. Orange is the colour

Blue radiated peace, wealth and tranquility

PHOTo: www.hdwallpapersnew.net

for vegetarians. In life, it is good to learn to do something physically positive. Faith without works is nothing. Orange-coloured oils, lotions and herbs are very useful for physical health. Fruit fast is capable of absolving poisons and toxins from the system. Orange colour increases oxygen, helps lungs and menstrual cramp, encourages interests and activities, releases gas, draws boils, helps in abscesses, depresses the parathyroid and stimulates the thyroid. It increases flow of milk in mothers and flow of sperm in men with scanty menses. It also helps in impotence and rigidity in women.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Industry

ICT

Stakeholders, CPC bicker over products’ registration

Telecoms: $20bn undersea cable ventures for diffusion

Business What's news

Iran mulls trade expansion in Nigeria via vehicle exports Vice-President of the Middle East’s largest car manufacturer, Iran-Khodro Company (IKCO), Ali Elmi, has announced that his company is considering exporting automobiles to Nigeria.

p.32

NNPC underreports crude lifting revenues by N374.4bn –PwC The PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC) has said that it uncovered fresh N374.4 billion ($2.34 billion) crude lifting revenues, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the reconciliation committee did not capture in their reports.

L-R: Senator Udo Udoma; Company Secretary, FBN Holding Plc, Mr. Tijani Borodo and Guest lecturer, Mr. Olusegun Ajanlekoko, at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN)’s public lecture entitled Governance: “The synergy between leadership and followership” in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Telecoms subscribers spend N168bn on calls monthly

emand for telecoms services in Nigeria continues to record sharp increase, as mobile subscribers on the networks of mobile operators currently spend an estimated N168 billion on making calls monthly, New Telegraph investigations have revealed. The figure, which represents the amount of money spent by

telecoms subscribers in Nigeria only in making calls on their respective networks, also represents the revenue generated by the telcos. The findings were arrived at, using the current active mobile subscriptions in the country and the subsisting Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for Nigeria. According to the NCC official data, there are currently 142.5 million active telephone lines on the networks of the operators, including the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks and the fixed wired/wireless players. ARPU is the financial performance benchmark in the telecoms industry that measures the average monthly revenue

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

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

CONTROL

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

GSM networks continue to dominate the market with almost over 98% share

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Kunle Azeez

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

generated by operators from telecoms subscribers. According to data obtained by industry leading operators, ARPU in Nigeria’s telecoms market is estimated at around $6 (N1,182), given the foreign exchange rate at N197. According to this paper’s findings, with an ARPU of N1,182 and subscriber base of 142.5 million, Nigeria’s telephone users now pay an estimated N168 billion monthly in accessing telecoms service, especially calls making.

142.5 million Current number of active telephone lines on the networks of operators

It was learnt that as telecoms networks record increase in their subscriber base, this also has positive implication on their bottom-line. For instance, from 139.1 million active telephone lines at the end of December, 2014, the number of data has increased to 140.8 million in January and in February, the figure was 142.5 million, which is the current industry data. This newspaper gathered that this represents an increase of additional 3.4 million active phone lines recorded on mobile networks in January and February this year. However, only Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators such as CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Apr. 24)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N219 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N238

l Foreign Reserves – $29.505bn as at 23/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Apr. 24)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N214

Business | News

BARRIERS Sanctions, exchange rate and problems in opening Letters of Credit slows business

Sunday Ojeme

ice-President of the Middle East’s largest car manufacturer, Iran-Khodro Company (IKCO), Ali Elmi, has announced that his company is considering exporting automobiles to Nigeria. Already, IKCO, according to Far News Agency (FNA) has concluded plans to export 30,000 sets of cars abroad between March 2015 and March 2016. “We had set the export target of 20,000 sets last year, however, due to sanctions, exchange rate fluctuations and problems in opening Letters of Credit, the company exported 7,000 sets only,” Ali Elmi said. “We wish to restart exporting cars to Egypt and we have discussed the conditions to export to Algeria as well. IKCO enjoys a relative advantage in the markets of Azerbaijan, Iraq and Ukraine and considers export to Nigeria and Ivory Coast as well,” claimed the IKCO deputy CEO. According to Elmi, cars with IKCO brand specify a noticeable share of the company’s export to themselves. IKCO Sam

Iran mulls trade expansion in Nigeria via vehicle exports and and IKCO Soren are already being exported to Iraq, Azerbaijan, Ivory Coast and Venezuela. Two weeks ago, Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, underlined Tehran’s determination to boost relations with the African nations, particularly Abuja. In a congratulatory message to the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, Rouhani said that enhancement of mutual

MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat, recorded the new additions, while players in the CDMA segment and fixed wired/wireless did not record more subscribers during the months of January and February. Further analysis of the 142.5 million active national subscriberbase showed that GSM networks control 140.2 million, while CDMA and fixed line networks control 2.1 million and 183,270 lines respectively. Teledensity, which is the measurement of how many telephones are available, expressed as the number of telephone lines for every 100 people in an area, also grew marginally in the two months. According to the NCC data, teledensity increased from 99.39 per cent at the end of December last year to 100.59 per cent in January and

cooperation with Abuja had always stood atop Tehran’s foreign policy agenda. “I hope that Iran-Nigeria mutual relations would be expanded in bilateral and international levels more than the past,” he added. Two years ago, Nigeria and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral trade to promote the economic relations between the two countries.

The two countries signed the agreement on Visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passport, tourism, industrial cooperation and cooperation in the field of Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgy. According to the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria takes the relations with Iran very serious, taking into cognisance the geo-

graphical importance of the country in the Middle East . She pointed out that the two countries have unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of international disputes and contributed in large measure to play stabilising roles in both regions. The minster expressed optimism that the agreement would boost the economic relations between the two countries.

She said: “The level of trade between our two countries is quite low, but issues we have deliberated upon during this session will not only further broaden and deepen our bilateral relations, but also encourage peopleto-people contact, which will serve as the needed impetus to raise the level of trade between our two countries.” Onwuliri also acknowledged that Nigeria and Iran have shared great historic and diplomatic ties for a very long time as evidence in the mutual understanding and support between the friendly countries at various multilateral engagement.

L-R: Executive Director, Small & Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Waheed Olagunju; Deputy President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs Nike Akande; Managing Director/CEO, BoI, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa; President, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello and Divisional Director, SME, BoI, Mr Ganiu Mohammed, during a courtesy visit of the executives of LCCI to BOI in Lagos.

N168bn spent monthly on calls CONTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

101.85 per cent at the end of February this year. Meanwhile, as GSM networks continue to dominate the market with almost over 98 per cent market share, the CDMA and the dormant fixed lines operators hold less than two per cent of the market. When contacted to comment on the conservative estimate of the consumer spending on phone calls, President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said that for as long as more Nigerians continue to take up and rely on telecoms services for their daily business and personal activities, telcos would continue to increase their revenues. Ogunbanjo explained that telecoms industry has become a critical sector, not only to the individual telecom consumer, but also to the economy as a whole.

NNPC underreports crude lifting revenues by N374.4bn –PwC GAP

$50.81bn, not $47bn was remitted into Federation Account

Adeola Yusuf

he PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC) has said that it uncovered fresh N374.4 billion ($2.34 billion) crude lifting revenues, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the reconciliation committee did not capture in their reports. The audit, published in full late on Monday on the orders of the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, revealed this in its Investigative Forensic audit of crude oil revenues and remittances by the corporation between January 2012 and July 2013. Jonathan commissioned the

report last year after the outspoken former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, claimed that the NNPC had withheld over $1 billion a month in revenues owed to the treasury between January 2012 and July 2013. Stating that $67 billion was the estimated revenues from crude oil liftings, as reported by the Reconciliation Committee, the PwC said that the actual total revenues on crude liftings during the period under review was $69.34 billion. The figure was arrived at after $2.34 billion was uncovered as additional revenues from PwC review. This represents the total amount of revenues from crude oil liftings not captured in the report of the reconciliation committee. The report read in part: “Based on the work conducted by our team from the commencement of this mandate up until 29 January 2015, our conclusions are as follows: ‘Total gross revenues generated from

FGN crude oil liftings was $69.34 billion and NOT $67 billion as earlier stated by the Reconciliation Committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013. “Total cash remitted into the federation accounts in relation to crude oil liftings was $50.81 billion and NOT $47 billion as earlier stated by the Reconciliation Committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013. “NNPC has provided information on the difference leading to a potential excess remittance of $0.74 billion (without considering expected remittances from NPDC). Other indirect costs of $2.81 billion, which were not part of the submission to the Senate Committee hearing, have been defrayed to arrive at this position.” PwC noted that the resulting potential excess remittance indicates that the Corporation operates an unsustainable model. Forty six per cent of proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues for the review period was spent on operations and subsidies.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

SMEs devt key to economy, says CWG p.34 BURDENED Additional registration poses regulatory challenge on the private sector Dele Alao

he last may not have been heard of the battle between manufacturers and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) over the latter’s ProServe programme. As it were, the programme mandates manufacturers of products, including service providers, to register their products and services with the CPC at some specified fees. Piqued by the development, the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), at its 2015 first quarter media briefing, expressed its members’ displeasure over the registration by CPC. President, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, said: “Our attention has been drawn to steps taken by the Consumer Protection Council to embark on the registration of products of manufacturing firms. This exercise is a duplication of what is already being done by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Compelling businesses to register with the CPC is, therefore, most unnecessary and an additional regulatory burden on the private sector. We, therefore, call on the relevant authorities to prevail on the CPC to discontinue this course of action. “It is, in fact, imperative for the incoming federal administration to undertake a comprehensive audit of the regulatory environment to identify and eliminate all areas of overlapping functions of

Industry

Stakeholders, CPC bicker over products’ registration

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

regulatory agencies,” he added. But in a chat with New Telegraph, spokesperson for CPC, Mr. Abiodun Obimuyiwa, said that there was nothing like duplication of responsibilities as alleged by the LCCI. “There is nothing like duplication. The Council’s ProServe programme is intended to cre-

DG, CPC, Dupe Atoki

Nothing like duplication of responsibilities as alleged

ate a data base of genuine products and services in Nigeria and subsequently give Nigeria its first ever Consumer Guide from which consumers can assess information on products and services in Nigeria. Also, the programme is to aid trace-ability for resolution of consumer complaints,” Obimuyiwa said.

Contrary to speculations that the ProServe was purely for financial, Obimuyiwa said that it was for the good of the country. “How can it be for financial motive? For once, let’s see things from altruistic point more often than we do now. It’s for the good of the Nigerian system,” he said. Information obtained from the CPC website on the registration fees under the ProSerbe programme indicated that Academics (universities) are to pay N20,000, academics (high school) N10,000, academics (nursery/primary) N5,000, agriculture N1,000, artisans N500, arts N1,000 and automobile services/mechanics N2,000, aviation N100,000, banking services (commercial), N250,000 and banking services (microfinance), N5,000. Further checks showed that the objectives of the listing exercise by the CPC, among others, included: to create a data matrix of genuine products and service providers in the market place, thus identifying and eliminating fake, sub-standard, defective products and poor services; publish consumer guides, both in digital and print formats from the database created; publish from time to time, list of products not approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria; educate and inform consumers of their rights and provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and utilise state of the art technology to provide value added services to manufacturers, producers and service providers.

Nigerian goods suffer setback in foreign markets Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

ack of internationally accredited laboratories in Nigeria is taking a heavy toll on products manufactured in the country, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has said. The country, as at last count, has recorded no fewer than 103 cases of product rejections abroad as against that of South Africa and other developing African countries, which have just six or seven cases. Aganga, during the recent commissioning of the newly built Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)’s headquarters in Abuja, said: “The reason we have this number of rejects is because we do not have accredited laboratories

and that is why the SON’s internationally accredited laboratories is a game changer on its own. Nigerian goods are subjected to series of rigorous tests abroad because they know Nigeria has no internationally accredited laboratory.” He added: “Today, it will be a different story as Nigeria now has two internationally accredited laboratories that cover almost all the agricultural products and we are in the process of adding more to that within the next few months.” Aganga noted that there was no way the country was going to meet its export expectation in terms revenue without the provision of quality standardisation mechanisms which is where SON comes in as Nigeria’s watchdog for standard. He said: “Everybody talks about the infrastructural deficit in the country, but the

most critical infrastructure for the economy of this country is called the National Quality Infrastructure and the only organisation in Nigeria that can make that happen is SON. If you don’t get that right, no way, no matter our agricultural yield, there is no way we are going to export and realise significant amount of money from any of these products if they do not go through accredited laboratories here.” The minister decried a situation where Nigerian exporters take their goods to United Kingdom for testing and when they are eventually rejected due to the fact that they did not meet international standard, it amounts to significant loss of money and time for them. Earlier, the Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, while reeling out the efforts of his agency in constructing and upgrading their

various laboratories across the country also hinted that all is now set for the ground breaking ceremony for the National Metrology Institute at Enugu, which will be performed by Dr. Aganga soon. While reiterating the readiness of SON to partner with other relevant government agencies in the discharge of its mandate, Odumodu said that the new SON building was completed in less than 12 months. Meanwhile, the country’s manufacturers of non-oil products have completely lost out of the provisions of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, has said in Lagos that the manufacturers had failed to be competitive. AGOA, initiated in 2000, was

meant to foster duty-free trade between the US and African countries. The NEPC boss said that the nation had not benefitted from AGOA because the country’s products were poorly packaged, adding that it needed government’s support to beat the test of time. “Our participation in AGOA has not been very good, we are not even looking at that now. We want our goods to be competitive in every way in order to benefit from it. In fact, right now, we are not putting our hopes in it, as we have been having restrictions in prices and other requirements on our exported products. Other African countries have been benefitting because they have worked on a level of competitiveness and they have more government’s support for their locally manufactured goods,” Awolowo said.

Business | Industry

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SMEs devt key to economy, says CWG EMPOWERMENT Operators to enjoy business-enabling solutions Dele Alao

he need to develop the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment in Nigeria is a key element to building a robust and resilient economy, Computer Warehouse Group Plc has said. The Information Technology solutions provider, CWG, which said this in Lagos, added that it had concluded plans to collaborate with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University to afford Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) access to business enabling solutions. This follows a visit by a delegation of EDC led by the Director, Mr. Peter Bamkole, to the corporate headquarters of

CWG in Lagos. According to Bamkole, “We are considering integrating Openeshopen and SMERP for now into our certificate in entrepreneurial management training. With this, entrepreneurs can begin to experience the viability of technology as a solution for their business efficiency, right from the classroom.” He expressed his satisfaction with the capacity of the CWG 2.0 products to sufficiently provide the leverage SMEs require to improve their business output, saying “our aim at EDC is to derisk the SME sector, so as to increase SMES access to funding.” He said: “Your solution will help entrepreneurs change their business model from costly asset acquisition to services utilisation on a subscription basis, thus making it easier and affordable.” The CWG 2.0 products feature a range of SMEs focused and Cloud-based IT solutions. They include SMERP, which is designed to address the

challenge of accounting and inventory management and financial record keeping - a requirement for accessing loans. The Diamond Yello Account (DYA) allows individuals open a bank account using the mobile phones, without having to visit the bank. POSapp is a Point of Sale (PoS) system that allows merchants receive payments, sell services and offers the unique functionality of keeping sales inventory while Openshopen is an eCommerce platform that aims at giving business owners the exposure they need to sell beyond their vicinity and guarantee increased sales and expansion. On his part, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, appraised the initiative by EDC to avail entrepreneurs with technology. He said: “The SMEs space boasts of a number of key players with quite distinct roles, in their bid to promote the growth of the sector. However, we believe that these players need

L-R Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Michael West; Commissioner of Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi; General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke; Managing Director, Tianjin, Peter Lin and Assistant Company Secretary, NLNG, Ikechukwu Eke, during an agreement signing of NLNG-funded N4.5 billion construction of Bonny Model Secondary School in Port Harcourt.

Aganga tasks manufacturers on standards

he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has advised manufacturers in the country to ensure their products meet standards to be certified fit for consumption and export. Aganga gave the advice during a facility tour of the newly commissioned Coleman Wires and Cables multi-billion naira factory at Sagamu, Ogun state He expressed delight at the facility, saying, “I wish more Nigerians could see what I’m seeing so that they would be so proud of this country and her citizens. The future of this country is very great.” He noted that Nigeria had made progress industrially, adding: “When one talks about investment in Nigeria, most people think industries cannot thrive because of electricity. But Nigerians are creatively

finding ways around it. I’m so excited it is the younger generations that are making this possible.” The minister, who noted that government had created the right atmosphere for younger generation to go into manufacturing, said: “This government has made it possible in the last four years by opening up the economy to the private sector and in the process creating the enabling environment for them to succeed; and today we have seen the results.” He added that Nigeria was once a country that exported raw materials and importdependent, which put a lot of pressure on her foreign reserves and exchange. Agangu observed that with industries like Coleman in Nigeria succeeding, it meant more tax revenue to the government.

“They are the ones that are creating jobs, not the government. All the government needed to do was to create the enabling environment,” he said. Responding, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Coleman Wires and Cables, Mr. George Onafowokan, thanked the minister for his visit. He told the minister that the principal operation of Coleman was the manufacturing of electrical wires and cables for oil industries, commercial and residential as well as specialty cables, all in good quality and high standards. He promised the minister that Coleman would never compromise standards because all their products were of acceptable standards as required by law.

to work together seamlessly. Such synergy will ensure that rather than experience arithmetic progression, we will together have quantum leaps of success. This underscores our willingness to collaborate with the EDC to provide the support that SMEs need to succeed. If each SME grows its business to the extent that it can add one additional employee, that will generate an additional 17 million jobs, given the total num-

ber of SMEs in Nigeria. This is much more than any single large employer can provide.” “The impact of the program on the success of the SME’s businesses is however, dependent upon the commitment of the entrepreneurs themselves. It is not that CWG and EDC are going to do something magical for them to grow. Rather, CWG and EDC are helping them to do something magical for themselves.”

KADCCIMA charges incoming administration on economy

aduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) has advised the incoming administration to effectively manage the nation’s economy. The President, KADCCIMA, Dr. Abdul AlimiBello, gave the advice at the opening of the 36th Kaduna International Trade Fair. “The current state of the economy is seriously affecting the real sector. People cannot access funds because the foreign exchange rate is so high, so also is the lending rate. The incoming administration should support the sector and manage the economy very well. It should try and improve security, reduce the level of corruption and review the rate of deposit so that the manufacturing sector will be perfect,” Alimi-Bello said. The KADCCIMA president identified the real sector of the economy as one of the areas he would want the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his administration to tackle in order to promote domestic production for overall economic growth.

Emphasising the theme of the fair: Promoting Domestic Production for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development, Alimi-Bello said: “We need to, as a nation, promote local production which is key to the development of any economy. It is important to get our industries working so as to promote local production and create jobs.” The KADCCIMA president noted that various innovations have been introduced to attract visitors to the fair. “We have introduced lotteries to entice participants and visitors, and we have also designated a place to display wildlife just to educate children, especially students of primary and secondary schools, who have never seen these animals in real life. At the end of this year’s fair, our aim is to show the international community that things are going well in Kaduna State, and show the people that the insecurity challenges are over. “We have to move the economy and do our work right for a greater Nigeria,” the KADCCIMA president said.

Traders to new govt: Tackle abandoned projects, others Deborah Olayode

he National Association of Nigerian traders (NANTS), has called on the incoming administration to check the prevalence of abandoned projects around the country. The National President of the Association, Ken Ukaoha, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said: “Considerable resources have been ploughed into roads and other infrastructure and social development projects. The syndrome of ‘abandoned projects’, which has been presently placed at N77 trillion has become a dominant feature of Nigeria’s political economy, especially with the advent of a new government. We have

seen with every new government, policy discontinuities and the cravings of politicians to have unfettered discretion in awarding contracts. An estimated 11,886 Federal Government projects were abandoned in the past 40 years across the country.” He added that the alarming figures were from the report of the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) set up in March 2011, by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into cases of abandoned Federal Government projects. “Traders want the incoming president to accelerate the completion of all on-going projects or at least focus on high priority ones,” he added.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

ICT

Expert wants broadcasting laws reviewed p.36 The Federal Government’s moves to create additional submarine cables’ landing points is expected to diffuse the $20 billion submarine cable investment for effective Internet access, KUNLE AZEEZ reports

Telecoms: $20bn undersea cable ventures for diffusion

he Federal Government recently okayed the building of new fibre optic cable landing points in four coastal states to ensure widespread diffusion of highcapacity internet bandwidths around the country. The new landing points creations, which is to be financed by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), would help in promoting the rapid establishment of recovery and restoration agreements among the cable companies and delivery of additional landing points for national security and resilience purposes. New landing points Besides, Lagos State, which houses international submarine optic cables from Main One Cable Company, MTN’s West Africa Cable System (WACS), SAT 3 from the NITEL and Globacom’s Glo 1 cable, government plans to encourage telecommunication operators to establish cable landing points in Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Ondo States. The landing points are the terminal areas for the international submarine cables that brought high-capacity Internet bandwidth connecting European countries through the coasting countries in Africa and eventually landed in Nigeria. According to the President of Nigeria Internet Group, Mr. Bayo Banjo, the presence of the landing cables, though concentrated in Lagos, has continued to facilitate the spread of Internet across different areas of the country while also encouraging reduction in Internet service provision to the end users, though not as faster, in terms of cost reduction, as Nigerians would have wished. According to available statistics from the Ministry of Com-

Internet infrastructure

munications Technology, from 4.7 terabytes of bandwidth capacity in-country in 2011, the coming on board of privately-owned undersea cable companies has bolstered the bandwidth capacity in-country to 11 terabytes to date. Cost reduction With Glo1, Main One cables making their entry into the market, the cost of bandwidth, which hitherto stood at between $1,700 and $1,200 in pre-2011, has reduced in post-2011, to between $700 and $500 per Mbps. Also, from $700 per Mbps of bandwidth in 2011, the cost of bandwidth has further crashed to between $400 and $300 per Mbps, representing approximately 42 per cent reduction in cost. Nigeria’s economy has recorded increase in the number of submarine cable companies, thereby increasing the level of

international bandwidth capacity in-country that can be leveraged to deepen internet penetration across the country.

Additional landing points in the country would reduce vulnerability

Fillip to last-mile connectivity However, last-mile connectivity to distribute the capacity to different parts of the country to ensure that every community is connected in the country remains a major challenge in the country. This, according to experts, has informed the need for the government to create additional landing points that would help in diffusing the undersea cable investment in Lagos to other parts of the country. This would accelerate the achievement of the 30 per cent broadband penetration target by 2018. “Additional landing points in the country would not only reduce vulnerability and risks

associated with a single point of failure but would also make it faster and cheaper to lay terrestrial cable from these points to other parts of the country. The council called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the USPF to look into the possibility of providing financial incentives to accelerate this,” said Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson. Earlier in February, the Broadband Council in a meeting in Abuja had called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the USPF to look into the possibility of providing financial incentives to submarine operators to enable them to get landing points in coastal cities other than Lagos. The Broadband Council, made up of 19 members and chaired by the minister was inaugurated on July 16, 2013. The council is charged with the responsibility of monitoring implementation modalities for the approved Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013 – 2018. The plan targets a five-fold increase in broadband penetration (from six per cent to 30 per cent) by 2018. According to the council, additional landing points will reduce the vulnerability of the submarine cables in the country, which landed in Lagos. Stakeholders’ views Commenting on the plan the approval of the new fiber optic landing points, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said it was a right action in the right direction but charged the government to tackle all challenges that could prevent deployment of cable to the new landing points. It would be recalled that the former President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, had identified the need to encourage the deployment of fibre optic cables across the country as a veritable approach towards deepening access to telecoms services in the country.

Stakeholders set for telecoms seminar

takeholders in the nation’s telecoms sector are set for an industry seminar aimed at charting the way forward in deepening the level of local innovations development in the nation’s telecoms industry. With the theme: “Engendering local innovation in the

Nigeria’s telecoms sector,” the event is scheduled to hold today, at Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, a brainchild of the Nigeria Information and Communication Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), is the maiden edition of the Quarterly Telecoms Seminar Series of the association.

Sponsored by one of the nation’s telecoms firms, Etisalat Nigeria, the event is also enjoying the supports of other players such as Visafone, MTN, Airtel, Glo, Zinox and Signal Alliance. Others are MainOne, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Teledom Group, Omatek, Nigeria Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria

(IXPN), among others. Fully endorsed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency, the seminar is backed by other industry associations such as the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (AT-

CON) and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Other supporters of this event are the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), among others.

Business | ICT

LACUNA Advancement in the ICT world is creating legal lacunas that need to be tackled Stories by Kunle Azeez

he Federal Government has been urged to take drastic measures in reviewing the country, broadcasting laws and broadband regulations. The call is coming on the heels of the ongoing convergence in the digital world, where the line between Information and Communication Technology and broadcasting sectors is getting blurred by the day. Speaking in Lagos on the development in the digital space and the role to put appropriate legal frameworks, in place, a legal expert, Mr. Olisa Agabkoba, said such a review had become necessary in order for Nigeria to be in tune with developments around the world. “With the introduction and adoption of digital television streaming all over the world and the need to drive Internet penetration in Nigeria, we need to set up a mechanism to review broadcasting laws and broadband regulations to conform to satellite communications and broadcasting requirements,” he said.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Expert to FG: Review broadcasting laws The legal luminary explained that in the digital world, it had been noted that digital advancements are always ahead of laws that should cater for such developments. “So, in all of these digital revolutions and disruptions, we must, as a country try to balance legal frameworks with the latest development in the digital space,” he said. Agbakoba, who is the Senior Partner at Olisa Agbakoba & Associates, also took a look at the issue of security in the country and how ICT should be effectively harnessed in tackling security challenges in the country through appropriate legislation. He said: “The current security change due to terrorism in Nigeria underscores the need to strengthen the nation’s satellite communication abilities through appropriate legal and institutional design. “Commercial and national defence implications re-emphasise this need. The use of the satellite feed would not just be beneficial in identifying and isolating places, where there is a viable threat, but will help in curbing it on time and even, giving exact details of what is really obtainable in an area. “The feeds/images released by National Space Research

ATCON seeks parity for telecoms players

he Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has underscored the need for government to provide a level-playing field for telecoms players. It also called on the government to tackle instances of unfair competition that currently exist between foreign and indigenous telecoms players in the country. ATCON President, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, made the calls at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos. He described as worrisome the rate at with small telecoms operators go out of business due to some unhealthy practices in the sector. The association, which draws members from telecoms operating companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), equipment vendors, infrastructure services providers, among others, described as ‘inappropriate and anti-competition’ a situation, where big operators in the country who offer wholesale services are also competing with the small and medium operators at the retail level. Some of the ATCON members, who spoke at the AGM, had, earlier, given examples of situation where some of the cable companies that sell bandwidths to Internet Service Providers are also selling megabytes of data to consum-

ers and even at prices the retailers cannot compete with. Members of the association also expressed misgivings about unfair advantages allegedly given to some foreign companies by the regulator, which, they say, jeopardise chances of survival for local enterprises, while calling for a level-playing field for local and foreign companies in the industry. But according to Ajayi, while the association was not against foreign players coming to the industry, the government has an obligation to put in place policies that ensure that the operations of big players in the industry do not strangulate the growth of indigenous players, particularly smaller operators. Ajayi, while reacting to some of the members’ complaints, said there was a need for a strong policy framework to protect the telecoms enterprises. He, however, disclosed that ATCON is planning a strategy session to articulate all the threats and challenges facing the industry with a view to presenting a well-articulated document to the government towards a favourable policy. Ajayi added that small and medium telecoms companies should be protected because they provide more jobs and add more value to the economy.

and Development Agency (NASRDA) from NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-X and NigeriaSat-2 used to decipher the damage done at Baga, Borno State between January 3 and 7, 2015 and provide comparative basis for estimation of human and social resources damage from Boko Haram invasion of the border town,” he added. Also, Agbakoba explained

that there was also a need to change the status of the Nigerian Communications Satellites Limited (NIGCOMSAT) from being a government entity to an organisation that is highly comercialised. He said: “NIGCOMSAT remains a company incorporated under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990. Analysts believe this status

weakens its viability and potentials. The question, therefore, is: What business model will bring the corporation to optimal position; privatisation and or comercialisation? It is now critical for government to determine, which legal and institutional design holds the best advantage for burgeoning enterprise with total regard to national interest.”

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Mr. Phillip Obioha; Chief Technology Officer, Mr. James Agada; Alumni Director, EDC, Mrs. Nnena Ugwu; Chief Executive Officer, CWG, Mr. Austin Okere and Director, EDC, Mr. Peter Bamkole, at a visit of the EDC delegation to CWG in Lagos.

At BoICT, NCC pledges better telecoms services

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has promised to continually implement policies, which are directed towards ensuring improved quality of service across all segments of the nation’s telecoms sector. Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, stated this after receiving the ‘Government Agency of the Year Award’ at this year’s edition of the Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Award held in Lagos last weekend. The event, according to a statement, brought together leaders in the industry to celebrate the success and achievement of individuals and organisations in the telecoms industry over the

past year. The NCC’s award was received on behalf of Juwah by the Deputy Director, Operations at NCC, Mr. Bashir Idris. “We see this award as a recognition of the good work that NCC has been doing in ensuring a strong telecoms sector, where it has continued to implement various policies to improve service delivery by the operators,” he said. He stated that the recognition is yet another encouragement for the Commission to double its effort in delivery its regulatory mandate to Nigerians. Also speaking at the BoICT Award, Head, Public Relations, NCC, Mr.

Reuben Muoka, said as the country’s telecoms regulator, NCC has put in place some key performance indicators (KPIs) on Quality of Service (QoS), which “we will continue to enforce.” Meanwhile, other telecoms players also won various categories of awards at the BoICT event. One of the awardees was Vodacom Business Nigeria, which received ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre) to its list of accolades. This year Vodacom Business Nigeria won the Cloud Services Provider of the Year and ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre) at the BoICT Award 2015.

Samsung’s first Digital Village debuts in Nigeria

n Information and Communication Technology firm, Samsung Electronics West Africa, is set to launch its first Digital Village in the Oban community in Nigeria, which is located in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the Cross River State. The project, which is part of the company’s strategic Corporate Citizenship program, will provide access to innovative healthcare and educational needs for the community, with the aim of improving health outcomes, strengthening education

delivery and increasing the economic potential of Oban. Highlighting the unique features of the solution, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, said that the Samsung Digital Village is innovative in its design due to its use of alternative energy, which remains a major challenge in Nigeria and is often an obstacle in implementing such initiatives in rural communities. “The Digital Village demonstrates our innovative approach to investing in people and their communi-

ties. This initiative offers a complete educational infrastructure, comprehensive healthcare solution and power generation capabilities that will spur the growth of small businesses and harness the energy of the sun to minimise running costs, among others,” Kim said. The Digital Village, scheduled for May 7, 2015, consists of five key integrated solutions that work together to benefit a community in the delivery of health care services, education and employment.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

SPECIAL REPORT on

The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jerimiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murrey Bruce

Peter Nwabushi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

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

Photo | News

L-R: Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laraba Florence Mallam; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, at the International summit on ‘Enhancing Legislations for the Effective Implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in West Africa at National Assembly’, in Abuja.

L-R: National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams; his wife, Mojisola; author of the book, Segun Akanni; his wife, Folashade and Chief Executive Officer, School of Aviation International, Captain Michael Adesina, at the public presentation of the book entitled “The Volunteer of the Savannah” to mark Gani’s 45th birthday anniversary in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Chairman, Governing Board, University of Lagos, Prof. Jerry Gana; First Class Graduate in Philosophy, Mr. Tijani Olusegun; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Alo, at the 2013/2014 convocation ceremony of the university in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Deputy General-Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, (NUTGTWN), Comrade Sylvester Chimeeze; Secretary-General, Comrade Issa Aremu and National Treasurer, Comrade John Adaji, at a news conference to mark World Day for Occupational Health and Safety in Kaduna.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Bauchi State, Alhaji Auwal Mashema; Chairman, Misau Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Kure; Governor Isa Yuguda and Chairman, Bauchi State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mohammed Liman, at the inauguration of Misau General Hospital.

L –R: President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba; Director, Trade Union Services, Chinedu Dike and National President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najib Yasin, at the opening session of the 9th Quadrennial National Delegates’ conference of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Olubunmi Olubanjo; Director, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Odunukwe Nkiruka; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris and Category Manager, Pestcare, Healthcare, Aircare, Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Qaiser Rashid, at the institute’s symposium in commemoration of 2015 World Malaria Day in Lagos.

Legal Practitioner, Mr. Oye Akintola (left) with Managing Director, Krestal Laurel Limited, Mr. Dideolu Falobi, at Wema Bank Plc’s 70th commemorative lecture in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Mom&Parenting

Jailed by mom and dad It is a known fact that children love to play with their mates, either in their parents’ home or outside their homes. They simply enjoy the company of one another. But some parents see it differently and under the umbrella of protection, deny their children these pleasant rights. Oluwatosin Omoniyi writes

hey are usually referred to as “omo-get-inside,” meaning children whose parents do not allow playing with other children outside the four walls of their apartments. They are easily identified in the crowd; they are not street wise. They do not know how to veer off the road when almost in collision with coming vehicles; they always look not wise in character. Anytime, Cecilia Agada comes back from work or outing and she sees her children playing outside with other children, she would bark out an order, “get inside right now before I spank you two.” That became a regular song that her neighbours turned into a mockery song. The four kids of James Idowu, have never gone out of their apartment to play with other kids in the compound. They play by themselves in their large sitting room. But that seems not to be enough as they yearn to go out to play with their peers shouting and throwing ball to themselves in the compound. “Mommy, can we join our friends outside,” they asked. Their mom would reply, “No, I don’t want you to mix with such children. They are too playful and rough.” To spite their friends who are always locked in the house, the other kids outside would scorn at them and say “you are living in prison,” At a birthday party, while other kids were struggling to get gift items from the party organiser, which is typical of kids and part of the fun, Ayomide Wahab, simply sat quietly on his chair, crying though, and watching as other kids got gifts with so much fun. Wahab, why? Inquired the aunt, who brought him to the party. He replied, “I also want the gifts but mom has warned me not to get up from my chair until it is time to go home.” Definitely, he missed out of the fun. Chidiebube Madueke, a seven year old boy got embarrassed at

Mom&Parenting Team

Oluwatosin Omoniyi Coordinator

A caged child

a birthday party when he couldn’t dance with his mates on the dancing floor. Not that he didn’t want to dance but felt shy and didn’t know the right dancing step. “I don’t know how to dance at all, and I don’t know the right step to take,” he lamented. With swollen face, Madueke sat back to watch others catch the fun. Ajoke Ibrahim got disappointed the day her car broke down. As she was examining to see what was possibly wrong with it, her three kids had wandered off, chasing after some chickens on the street. This, they did to a point of being knocked down by a coming vehicle. But for the scream of passers-by, one of the kids would have been hit. Furious, Ibrahim yelled and while she was doing that, the kids feebly and foolishly argued, “Mommy, we have never seen live chicken except the ones fried by KFC.” As they were talking, two pigs clumsily emerged from a corner of the street. Immediately, the kids left their mommy and happily ran after the pigs. To the kids, it was a moment of freedom that they had determined to enjoy most. The few cases above are usually like

PHOTO: IZISMILE.COM

Isolation is detrimental to a child’s social development

Playing with themselves

these when parents cage their children unnecessarily. They unknowingly make them social misfits, foolish and timid among their peers. Theresa Gbemisola, a guardian counselor told New Telegraph the consequence of disassociating kids from fellow peers. She termed it as Isolation which she said, is detrimental to a child’s social development. Social interaction, she emphasised, provides sensory stimulation, which leads to the creation of short- and long-term memories. “Memories are important because they reinforce behav-

PHOTO: HOOPDREAMSCAMP.ORG

iours or actions in new social situations. Sharing is an example of a child’s social development. Without prior experience, sharing, or other social development skills, is difficult to understand,” she said. Gbemisola continued that children who are often dissociated feel lonely and often experience poor peer relationships and feel excluded. “It’s a feeling that is damaging to their self-esteem. In addition, they may experience feelings of sadness, malaise, boredom, and alienation,” she said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chores for the littlest hands

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Who is a working mom?

I Kids washing clothes

e only have so many hours in the day, and the last thing we want to do with our few free minutes is clean the house. Unfortunately, living among dirt and disorder is not an option. Before hiring someone to help, consider taking advantage of those tiny, extra set of hands you gave birth to. From feeding the dog to washing the windows, see the easy ways kids can help keep the house in tip-top shape. Leah Rocketto, an international based writers highlights Clean the Dishes Whether it’s standing on stool to wash the plates or loading them into the dishwasher, this little act is a big help to moms. Feed the Pets: Put your youngster in charge of keeping the family pet’s tummy full. Help with Laundry: They may not be able to manage the detergent or even deal with the dials, but little kids can throw dirty duds into the hamper and separate the darks from the whites. Older children can fold and put things away in their perfect places. Rake the Leaves: Not only does this chore get the lawn clean, but it gets kids outside and building their tiny muscles. Sort the Recycling: If your recycling has to be separated, hand over a pair of gloves and put your child to work. Shovel the Snow: Use sledding and snowball fights as a reward for clearing the driveway. Take Out the Trash: When the bags have reached their limits, ask the tots to take them to the curb. Walk the Dog: When it’s time for the furry family member to relieve himself, have the youngster help him out with a walk around the block or a squat in the backyard. Wash the Car: When the family car is looking a little rough around the edges, ask

A young boy mowing the lawn

your little one to lend a hand with a sponge and a hose. If the inside could also use some TLC, give them a handheld vacuum to clean the seats. Wash the Windows: Since your tot is responsible for the tiny handprints, enlist their help in cleaning them up! Pick out some kidfriendly solution and hand her a washcloth for some good, clean fun. Water the Flowers: When the plants are looking a little droopy, have her give them some love in the form of water and a pitcher. Set and Clear the Table: They may be too young to prepare the dinner, but they can get the table ready for mealtime. Sweep the Floor: If your child is too small for a broom, hand her a dusting pan. Pick Up the Toys: If they aren’t already keeping their toys off the floor and tables, then get them to start. Weed the Garden: After a quick tutorial, your kids can be in charge of beautifying your garden.

Living in parent’s prison CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 9

According to Oyetunde Odewunmi, a social welfare worker, Peer relations matter to children, and lonely children place as much importance on them as do other children. She added that alienated children may also be extremely shy, inhibited, and anxious, and they may lack self-confidence. “Children who possess adequate social skills but are reluctant to use them can be given opportunities for doing so by being paired with younger children. This experience gives the older child an opportunity to practice skills and boost self-confidence,” she explained. Odewunmi further explained that children

have opportunities to lead through self-initiated and self-directed learning via interaction with one another. She believes that children do not develop in isolation, but rather in a social matrix. This social matrix is formed by the interconnection of social relationships and interactions between the children. They are shaped by the social organisation of the society as a whole in which children exist. “Above all, peer interactions play an important role in your child’s development. Friendships with peers can help him learn about sharing and taking turns, cooperation and conflict resolution, fairness or aggression-all skills he will need later in school and life,” she said.

have heard women when introducing themselves say something like: “I am Ms. XYZ, a working mom…” and I wondered if the answer to the question “What do you do?” Shouldn’t be “I am Ms. XYZ, I am a …. (you say what your profession or business is)? We don’t get to hear men saying “I am Mr. ABC, a working dad” ever, so why women? I have often wondered what really is the motive behind it. It seems all moms with the exception of a few are Working Moms! And with that came all manner of terms for the sake of those who don’t quite fit in, like Stay-At- Home-Moms (SAHM), Work-At-Home-Moms (WAHM), and then moms in business, career mom, mompreneur, and many more to come(I guess). Who really is a Working Mom? What do you tell people you do? How do you define yourself ? With confidence, or with a lack of it? Here’s what a few moms had to say: “Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I guess, SAHM is just easy for most moms to identify with, though it almost gives an idea that you are just at home - not working. When I worked full time, I never said I was a working mom I responded with my profession. Now that I work only a few hours out of the home, I don’t know how to respond. Usually, I just joke and make something up.” “You know I never really thought about it. However, now you have me thinking. I guess I will need some more time to think about it.” “Just a mom? I can’t stand it when people say, “You’re JUST a Mom” Yes, I’m a mom and a damn good one. That makes me an alarm clock, cook, maid, waitress, teacher, nurse, referee, handyman, security officer, counselor, chauffeur, event planner, hairdresser, PA, ATM and I scare the boogie man away. I don’t get paid holidays, sick pay or get days off. I work day and night. I’m on call 24/7 for the rest of my life. That’s just BEING A MOM! I may not be anything, but I’m everything to someone.” The last response sounds like the mom was frustrated at being called just a ‘Mom’ and with all she has to do in a typical day? Maybe the title ‘Working Mom’ would have made her feel a little better don’t you think? And we ask what is in a name? A look at the definition of ‘work’ - to do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. We all know the definition of ‘mom’ don’t we? Just in case - a mom is female parent, a person who performs the act of mothering - nurturing, protecting, and caring for her child. So, a working mom is a female parent engaged in physical or mental activity to do a specific task while nurturing, protecting

and caring for her child. But that is really not the definition we are all used to, right? Working Mom, as a label, refers to a woman who is a mother and who works outside the home for income in addition to the work she performs at home in raising her children. ‘Working Mom’ has over time been accepted as a woman with children working outside the home and earning a living. That is to say a woman with children working at home (basically taking care of the home) and not earning any money is NOT regarded as a Working Mom even with all her hard work and no pay. Imagine for a minute that your child was asked at school what his mommy does, and when he comes home the first question he asks is, “Mommy, what do you do?” For moms working at a job or doing business, it’s not a big deal, but for a ‘stay-at-home-mom’ it’s a hell of a question! Well, you could just say whatever comes to mind, but if you find that you are totally lost, just borrow this job title from Susan Heid:

JOB DESCRIPTION • Oversee the most important organization in the world where hundreds of decisions are made daily • Where property and resources are managed • Where health and nutrition needs are determined • Where finances and future are discussed and debated • Where projects are planned and events are arranged • Where transportation and scheduling are critical Where team building is a priority • Where careers begin and end. POSITION: I am a family manager! To be honest, it probably doesn’t matter in day to day life, but it does when it comes to respect, equality and evolving in the 21st century. You don’t have to cram Susan’s job description ready to burst out at the next person who asks you what you do, it is there just to give you a sense of worth in what you do as a mom, which no one has described quite so nicely. You are a Family Manager, a Working Mom, SAHM, WAHM whatever you choose, but the confidence and pride with which you say it is what really matters. Grace Essen is the author of Successful Working Mom, president and founder Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

Business | Money Line 41

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

SUCCESSFUL

Debut Eurobond attracted $4.7 billion in bids

Tony Chukwunyem

he Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has issued a five-year debut $750 million Eurobond at 4.375 per cent, which attracted $4.7 billion in bids from institutional investors in Asia, Europe and the United States, Reuters reported yesterday.

Heavy demand for AFC’s debut $750m Eurobond The Corporation said the notes, which mature in April 2020, will be the first issue under a $3 billion global medium term note programme. The AFC was established in 2007 during Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a multilateral development finance institution to drive infrastructure development on

the continent. The Corporations’ shareholders include various African financial institutions (47.6 percent), the CBN (42.5 percent), and several industrial and corporate shareholders (9.8 percent). The CBN provided the anchor capital for the corporation’s start-up in 2007 and has helped solidify partnership with AFC’s host government. It

holds considerable shareholding in trust for other African investors. Last December, the Corporation announced the completion of a $300 million dual tranche (2Year and 3-Year) club facility arranged by six Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers (IMLA) such as the Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ, Ltd; Citibank N.A; Deutsche Bank AG; FirstRand

MasterCard acquires Applied Predictive Technologies

asterCard said that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) for $600 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. Applied Predictive Technologies according to a statement, is a leading cloud-based analytics provider. APT’s Test & Learn® platform helps companies tailor investments and maximise bottom-line impact by harnessing analytics to design, measure and calibrate marketing, merchandising, operations

and capital initiatives. According to statement by the firm, “This acquisition advances MasterCard’s agenda to deliver differentiated services to merchants, complementing its recent acquisition of 5One, a London-based retail consulting and analytics firm. As part of the company’s services portfolio, Applied Predictive Technologies will now have access to MasterCard’s analytics suite, consulting capabilities, marketing services and global footprint that will expand its reach and value.”

“In today’s competitive business climate, companies need analytics that are easy to use and drive action,” said Kevin Stanton, president of MasterCard Advisors. “APT’s world-class talent, technology and Test & Learn platform, matched with MasterCard’s analytics, will give our customers the advantage of enhanced and actionable decision making.” “MasterCard is uniquely positioned, with its corporate footprint and analytics expertise, to help us expand our business,

working with even more clients around the globe and evolving our product capabilities,” said Anthony Bruce, CEO, Applied Predictive Technologies. “We’re thrilled to join the MasterCard family.” MasterCard Advisors according to the statement, is the professional services arm of MasterCard and combines these offerings with payments expertise to provide financial institutions and merchants actionable insights and solutions that lead to improved value and experiences for consumers.

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

N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$29,512,462,564

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 28/4/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Bank Limited; Standard Bank of South Africa Limited; Standard Chartered Bank. Each of the IMLAs committed funding of US$50 million to the facility. Subsequent to the initial funding, a secondary market syn-

dication of the facility was arranged. The secondary market syndication witnessed a strong demand for the credit, with new commitments of US$336.5 million obtained from 16 lenders across various geographies such as Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The AFC reported a 31 per cent growth in total comprehensive income from $ 87.3 million to $ 113.9 million for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Union Bank predicts 40% loan growth in 2015

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc, in which Robert Diamond’s Atlas Mara Ltd. holds a 30 percent stake, expects its loans to grow by more than 40 percent this year as business confidence rises following the March presidential election. The bank’s lending book, which totaled N313 billion at the end of 2014, will expand “significantly in a variety of segments,” including companies producing oil and gas and consumer goods such as drinks and snacks, said Chief Executive Officer Emeka Emuwa. Loans grew 18 percent in the first quarter, the bank said in a filing at the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE). Bloomberg quoted him as saying that, “everyone was concerned about what would happen on the political side. No one is concerned about that any longer. It means people will get back to business more quickly. Some businesses have already started getting more active.” Nigerian assets soared after President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat

to former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari on March 31, soothing investor fears about a disputed result in a country with a history of election-related violence. Atlas Mara, founded by Diamond and Ugandan entrepreneur Ashish Thakkar, is a Londonlisted investment vehicle, which also has holdings in banks based in Botswana and Rwanda. It bought an extra 21 percent in Union Bank for about $250 million in December. Emuwa wouldn’t comment on Diamond’s involvement with Union Bank or whether Atlas Mara would buy more of the lender. While Union Bank is adequately capitalised, it may seek to arrange loans with from groups of banks or sell Eurobonds to fund the expansion of its dollar loans, Emuwa said. “When the timing is right, we’ll see what the best options are,” he said. Reduced political tension “gives us scope to push more on the lending and then, if the markets are stable, we’ll look at getting incremental dollar funding.”

African countries fail to make top 25 investment destinations

one of the African and Middle Eastern countries made it to the Top 25 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destinations this year, according to this year’s FDI Confidence Index. “Investors are shifting their capital into markets that are seen to be more stable and safe – like the EU and the US,” Paul Laudicina, the founder of FDI Confidence Index and chairperson of AT Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council, said. He noted that emerging markets looked more challenging than the developed markets. African economic growth was actually pushed by resource invest-

ments. However, with the current lower commodity prices, investments in oil, gas and mining in emerging markets have become less attractive, Laudicina said. African countries that were part of the survey included Angola, Algeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Sudan. South Africa was ranked 13th last year but was not in the Top 25 this year. Incessant labour action in the country and the recent xenophobic attacks that started in Durban and later spread to Johannesburg have been seen as being problematic by global investors, according to the survey.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

29-Apr-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

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

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

1.30 2.00 2.24 2.34 3.09 4.17 4.49 4.79 6.75 8.87 13.58 14.06 14.56 15.23 19.22

13.96 13.96 13.97 13.98 14.01 14.04 14.05 14.05 14.04 14.05 16.69 17.08 17.52 15.47 14.04

13.83 13.87 13.89 13.89 13.88 13.94 13.94 13.97 13.97 13.99 16.63 17.01 17.43 15.40 13.99

98.90 101.93 92.24 91.01 91.91 105.98 77.11 105.00 109.99 100.69 91.00 75.79 52.96 68.25 87.46

99.05 102.08 92.39 91.16 92.21 106.28 77.41 105.30 110.29 100.99 91.30 76.09 53.26 68.55 87.76

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,238.32

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.07 1.05 1.61 1.97 2.19

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.69 2.85

13.26 16.48 15.97 16.65 16.82

99.05 100.77 99.99 100.19 96.50

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.05

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.34

4.44

16.32

98.68

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.42

3.23

15.75

98.87

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.69

4.46

18.02

97.46

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.70

3.48

17.05

98.97

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.97

1.31

15.27

91.29

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.24

1.00

15.11

98.50

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.67

1.79

15.78

96.18

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.05

1.80

15.76

97.06

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

14.96

98.34

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.05

1.00

14.96

99.19

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.05

4.78

18.74

92.54

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.24

1.00

14.97

100.87

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.67 4.57 2.64

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.99 15.05 14.99

101.00 98.19 99.49

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.18

1.00

15.01

99.37

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.58

1.00

15.05

94.26

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.67

1.00

15.05

99.76

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.33

1.44

15.46

97.64

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.36

1.00

15.02

99.89

99.21

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 437.93

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.30

1.00

12.61

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.36

1.00

13.06

99.61

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.44

2.63

15.33

99.45

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.42

1.00

15.01

97.48

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.49

1.34

15.31

98.63

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.42

1.00

14.98

96.07

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.44

1.88

15.88

103.34

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.70

1.00

14.96

101.45

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.86

1.00

14.96

104.57

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.86

1.00

14.96

101.53

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.40

3.00

17.02

92.40

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.97

2.29

16.25

99.17

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.05

6.11

20.07

96.78

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.67

2.16

16.15

99.65

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.55

2.76

16.81

94.49

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.67

1.13

15.18

105.15

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.42

1.00

15.31

83.39

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.42

1.00

15.31

89.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

157.60

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.79

1.00

14.99

89.35

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

15.05

85.54

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.80

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.38

5.19

106.66

107.67

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.31

4.02

102.40

103.29

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.63

5.48

104.81

105.83

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,569.35

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.50

4.12

100.99

103.41

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.34

99.80

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.10

9.45

89.42

93.38

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.43

6.89

95.65

97.27

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.98

97.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.81

10.17

93.38

95.38

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

8.73 10.74 9.06

8.73 10.27 9.06

97.21 93.43 94.15

97.21 95.44 94.15

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.07

9.84

93.10

94.09

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,501.08

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 8 15 22 36 43 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 4.30 8.37 10.30 10.64 10.28 11.77 11.66 10.25

Offer Discount (%) 4.05 8.12 10.05 10.39 10.03 11.52 11.41 10.00

Bid Yield (%) 4.30 8.39 10.36 10.75 10.41 11.99 11.90 10.46

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.1267 12.4771 13.6331 14.7405

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

8.58

O/N Tenor Call 1M

9.33

REPO

Rate (%) 10.00 11.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.45 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.55 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

FMBN ***LCRM

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.05

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

1.05 1.61 1.97 2.19

2.27 2.00 2.69 2.85

16.48 15.97 16.65 16.82

100.77 99.99 100.19 96.50

31-Aug-15

0.34

4.44

16.32

98.68

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.42

3.23

15.75

98.87

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.69

4.46

18.02

97.46

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 BBB+/Agusto *BENUE

Business | Financial Market News

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.70

3.48

17.05

98.97

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.97

1.31

15.27

91.29

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.24

1.00

15.11

98.50

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.67

1.79

15.78

96.18

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.05

1.80

15.76

97.06

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

14.96

98.34

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.05

1.00

14.96

99.19

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.05

4.78

18.74

92.54

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.24

1.00

14.97

100.87

SELL OFF

Bearish trading persists at stock market

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†wealth *EKITI Investors’ Bb-/Agusto *NIGER ‡ /Agusto; by A-/GCR down N27billion*ONDO

Share Index 15.50 dipped 02-Oct-12 GOMBE78.96 02-OCT-2019of the financial services 22-Nov-12 basis points14.50 orLAGOS 0.2322-NOV-2019 per sector was the most active 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 cent to close at 34,050.92 as (measured by turnover Stories by Chris Ugwu 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 against 34,129.88 recorded volume) with 96.5 million 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto;he BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00day KOGI, 31-DEC-2020 in the previous while shares worth N.14 billion Nigerian equity 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto market yesterday *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 exchanged by investors the market capitalisation in 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 tumbled for the of equities depreciated 1,348 deals. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Volume in the banking fifth consecutive by N27 billion or 0.23 per TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION trading day, producing 22 cent as market sentiment sub-sector was largely Corporate Bonds remained in the red zone. driven by activities in the gainers and 28 losers. 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC Meanwhile, a turnover shares of Access Bank Plc Bargain hunters have 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS of 287.9 million shares and UBA Plc. continued to leverage 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS in 4,302 Also, the other finanonA+/Agusto; gainsA-/GCR recorded in NAHCO the worth N3.2 billion 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 29-Sep-11 14.25 FSDH in 25-OCT-2016 deals was recorded the cial sub-sector of the fiprevious weeks to take A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 nancial services sector, A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA day’s trading. profits. 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING in The banking sub-sector boosted by activities Consequently, the AllMPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

the shares Plc, 15.50 of FCMB 15.09 14.50with a turnover 80.00 followed 14.75 25.70 of 45 million shares val14.75 10.78 ued at13.50 N262.8 million 87.50 in 15.00 5.00 2,485 deals. 14.50 of African4.55 Shares Pru15.00 4.56 dence Registrars Plc and 452.88 GSK Plc led the gainers 437.93 chart, appreciating by five per cent each to close 10.00 at N2.94 and N56.122.50per 12.00 18.75 share respectively . UACN 14.00 0.42 Plc followed with a15.00 gain 13.00 of 4.7514.25 per cent to close 5.53 at N41.9013.00 per share. 20.00 18.00 0.64 On the flip side, shares

*GOMBE LAGOS

T Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00

5.40

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Apr-11

Mansard Insurance promises owners more value M AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

#{r}

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

ansard Insurance Plc

creased to N17.40 billion from N13.59 billion posted in the erstsustainable value to its while year, indicating 28 per cent Supranational Bond shareholders. growth. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB underThe Chairman of the He added that net premium inTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE written firm, Mr. Victor Osibodu, come (NPI) grew by 20 per cent TOTAL MARKET who gave this CAPITALISATION assurance at the to N9.05 billion from the N7.54 company’s 23rd annual general billion. Issuer meetingRating/Agency (AGM). “It is necessary toDescription recall that we He said that there were sigenjoyed a tax write-back in 2013. FGN Eurobonds nificant improvements in mea- Insurance contracts are typically 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; periods and sures of B+/S&P the organisational’s key written for one-year BB-/Fitch; performance and in its overall the significant increase in our FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P stability ratio that would ensure non-life unearned premium sugBB-/Fitch; 6.38full JUL 12, 2023 sustainable value in the bottom- gest that part of the impact on BB-/S&P line of the companyVALUE . profits of our 2014 growth will be TOTAL OUTSTANDING Osibodu said the insurance seen in 2015,” he said. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION company has the appropriate Osibodu disclosed that AXA CorporatetoEurobonds capacity protect and safeguard Group acquired 100 per cent eq7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I the interests of its depositors uity in Assur Africa Holdings 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P BANK PLC (AAH), which originally and shareholders at allACCESS times. held 77 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC per cent stake in 6.88 Mansard. He noted that the company’s 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC profit before tax roseZENITH by 2BANK per He explained that the acquisi6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P PLC cent from N1.98 billion in 2013 tion translated to AXA becom8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC toB-/Fitch; N2.02B/S&P billion in 2014.FIRST BANK PLC ing the beneficial owners of 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; ACCESS BANK PLC IIMansard. 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 Also,B/S&P gross premium written 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 FIRST BANK LTD forB-/Fitch; the B/S&P period under review in“In December 2014, AXA TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION has promised to deliver

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

group in a bid to actualise its 161.53 sub-Saharan African expansion 157.60 ambitions acquired 100 per cent equity 11-Feb-13 in Assur Africa10.20 Holdings 12.00 11.25 (AAH);10-Jul-14 AAH holds a 77 per cent 12.95 stake in Mansard Insurance 24.95 Plc., thereby making AXA the 21.80 beneficial owners of Mansard,” Outstanding Value Coupon (%) he said.Issue Date ($mm) The chairman said the company would benefit from the lim07-Oct-11to global resources, 6.75 500.00 itless access capacity development, stronger 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 global brand recognition and 12-Jul-13 6.38 staff cross posting; having been 500.00 recognised as the number one 1,500.00 brand worldwide for the 6th con- 1,569.35 secutive year. On the dividend, the chair19-May-11 7.50 man said that the company did 500.00 25-Jul-12dividend due 7.25 to the 350.00 not propose 09-May-13 investments made in6.88Penman 300.00 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 Pensions limited as well as the 500.00 22-Apr-14 6.25 revamp21-May-14 and upgrade of 8.75technol200.00 ogy infrastructure, which was 300.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 financed from the company’s 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 working capital. 14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

cent to 14.99 close at 101.00 N1.05, 15.05 98.19 while Cadbury Nigeria 14.99 99.49 Plc dropped five per cent 1.00 15.01 99.37 to close at N39.90 1.00 15.05 94.26 per 1.00share. 15.05 99.76 1.00 1.00 1.00

31-Dec-20

3.33

1.44

15.46

97.64

06-Jan-21

3.36

1.00

15.02

99.89

17-Aug-15

0.30

1.00

12.61

99.21

09-Dec-15

0.36

1.00

13.06

99.61

14-Aug-21

10.07

9.84

93.10

94.09

Dangote Sugar Q1 pre-tax profit falls 52%

angote Sugar Plc 2.63contraction, we believe, 06-Jan-16 0.44 15.33 99.45 not to the 97.48 extent has posted1.42 51.89 per 1.00though 15.01 29-Sep-16 had anticipated. cent drop in 25-Oct-16 1.49pre-tax 1.34that we 15.31 98.63 30-Sep-17 14.98we await 96.07 profit for the first2.42 quarter 1.00Therefore, man30-Nov-17 1.88 15.88 103.34 ended March 31,1.44 2015. agement’s comments for 09-Apr-18 1.70 1.00 14.96 101.45 The company in a filfurther clarification.” 09-Sep-18 1.86 1.00 14.96 104.57 ing09-Sep-18 with the Nigerian They14.96 noted that 1.86 Stock 1.00 101.53 the 22-Sep-18 (NSE)3.40 in sales on92.40 a y/y Exchange said its 3.00decline 17.02 1.97 99.17 unsurprising as first18-Oct-18 quarter pretax profit 2.29basis is 16.25 17-Feb-19 2.05 6.11 20.07 96.78 cross-border trade and dropped 51.89 per cent to 01-Apr-19 2.67 2.16 16.15 99.65 N3.798 billion compared northern Nigeria 14-Nov-20 5.55 2.76sales in 16.81 94.49 with N5.769 recorded the 1.13continue15.18 to suffer from 30-Dec-21 6.67 105.15 the 30-Sep-24 9.42 . 1.00insecurity 15.31 in the region, 83.39 same period last year 30-Sep-24 15.31 Revenue also fell9.42 to N22.52 1.00similar to Q4 2014. 89.88 billion compared with N25.88 The experts said: “We billion last year, accounting continue to believe the for a drop of 15 per cent. negative impact of disturThe sugar maker had 1.00bances in 11-Feb-18 2.79 14.99the north-east 89.35 01-Feb-21 4.75 85.54 for posted a 9.3 per cent drop 1.00is a key 15.05 business risk in pre-tax profit for the nine DSR in 2015. Sequentially, month ended September 30, while sales grew by 7 per 2014. cent q/q, PBT increased Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Bid Price Price Its pre-tax profit fell Offer to Yield by(%)192 per cent q/qOffer primarN13.971 billion down 9.3 per Prices ily as a result of a much & Yields cent from N14.949 billion a stronger gross margin, 28-Jan-21 5.38 5.19 106.66 107.67 which expanded by 1.6x year ago. Turnover of the sugar req/q”. 12-Jul-18 4.31 4.02 102.40 103.29 finer also dropped to N73.796 “Management had 12-Jul-23 104.81week that 105.83 unbillion during the5.63 period to 5.48stated last September 30, compared predictable gas supply had with N77.701 billion recorded led to a switch to Low-Pour during the comparable year Oil Fuel (LPFO) towards of 2013. the end of the year, which 19-May-16 6.50 posted 4.12increased 100.99 The company had its cost 103.41 of pro99.80 we 9.8225-Jul-17 per cent loss in7.34 net earn- 7.34duction.99.80For now, 02-May-18 that gas 93.38 supply ings during the 11.10 half year 9.45assume 89.42 08-Nov-18 7.43 6.89 95.65 97.27 ended June 2014. might have steadied given 22-Apr-19 6.98 6.98 97.50 97.50 Analysts at FBN Capithe expansion in margins 21-May-19 10.81 10.17 93.38 95.38 tal 07-Aug-20 said: “The 8.73 devalua- 8.73and that97.21 it accounts 97.21 for 10.74 20/30% of95.44 input tion24-Jun-21 of naira had a major 10.27around 93.43 94.15 role23-Jul-21 to play in the9.06margin 9.06costs.” 94.15

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

of Unity 02-Oct-19 Bank Plc 2.67led the 22-Nov-19 4.57of 9.51 losers with a loss 2.64 per12-Dec-19 cent to close at N4.09 10-Oct-20 3.18 per27-Nov-20 share. AIICO 5.58 Insur31-Dec-20 5.677.9 per ance Plc plunged

29-Apr-15

3,501.08

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS Money Market & Forwards) professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information isOffer accurate; however, theBid Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” Tenor basis and may Rate not be accurateForeign or up toExchange date. We(Spot do not guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Discount (%) Yield (%) (%) NIBOR the accuracy, timeliness, completeness,7-May-15 performance or fitness for4.30 a particular purpose of4.05 any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 8 4.30

15 22 36 FGN Bonds 43 57 64 Rating/Agency 71 78 85 92 99 106 120 127 134 148 NA 155 169 218 232 253 267 281 295 309 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 323 330 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 344

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

8.37 10.30 10.64 10.28 11.77 11.66 Description 10.25 11.31 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.46 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.41 9.35 31-AUG-2017 11.42 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.19 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 11.44 12.13 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.11 15.54 13-FEB-2020 11.47 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.26 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.03 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.79 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.92 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.05 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.12 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.00 13.16 12.39 12.81 12.95

Rating/Agency Issuer *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration #

8.12 10.05 10.39 10.03 11.52 11.41 Issue Date 10.00 11.06 16-Aug-13 10.21 27-Apr-12 10.50 27-Jul-07 11.16 31-Aug-07 11.17 30-May-08 11.94 29-Jun-12 11.19 11.88 23-Oct-09 11.86 13-Feb-15 11.22 27-Jan-12 12.01 14-Mar-14 12.78 28-Nov-08 12.54 22-May-09 12.67 20-Nov-09 12.80 23-Jul-10 12.87 18-Jul-14 12.75 12.91 12.14 12.56 12.70

Description

8.39 10.36 10.75 10.41 11.99 11.90 (%) Coupon 10.46 11.59 13.05 10.72 15.10 11.04 9.85 11.77 9.35 11.81 10.70 12.70 16.00 11.91 12.70 7.00 12.73 15.54 12.06 16.39 13.00 14.20 14.13 15.00 13.92 12.49 14.19 8.50 14.43 10.00 14.59 12.1493 14.53 14.81 13.92 14.48 14.75

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Bonds

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Rate (%) 9.1267 12.4771 13.6331 14.7405

OBB

8.58

O/N

9.33

REPO

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 NITTY 476.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.7474 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 11.9369 300.00 30-May-18 3M 12.3245 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 12.5921 9M 13.1833 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 14.4458 98.31 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 524.68 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 75.00 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 BID($/N)200.00 199.0000 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 279.50 18-Jul-34

Tenor Call TTM (Yrs) 1M 3M 1.30 6M

Rate (%)

Bid 10.00 Yield (%) 11.00 12.00 13.96 13.00

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer Yield 2M (%) 3M 6M 13.83 1Y

2.00 13.96 13.87 2.24 13.97 13.89 NOTE: 2.34 13.98 13.89 3.09 14.01 13.88 :Benchmarks 4.17 Bond 14.04 13.94 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.49 Bond 14.05 13.94 AMCON: Asset Corporation of Nigeria 4.79 Management 14.05 13.97 FGN: Federal Nigeria 6.75 Government of14.04 13.97 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 8.87 14.05 13.99 IFC: International Finance Corporation 13.58 16.69 16.63 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 17.08 Company17.01 NAHCO: 14.06 Nigerian Aviation Handling 14.56 17.52 17.43 O/N: Overnight 15.23 15.47 Company 15.40 UPDC: UAC Property Development 19.22 Africa Portland14.04 13.99 WAPCO:West Cement Company

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

197.45 197.55 201.81 201.93 Price 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer Price 205.60 207.21 206.28 213.47 98.90 99.05 220.29 226.27

101.93 102.08 92.24 92.39 91.01 91.16 92.21 NA :Not91.91 Applicable 105.98 106.28 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating 77.11Rate Bond 77.41 ***: Deferred 105.00 coupon bonds 105.30 109.99 110.29 ‡ : Bond rating under review 100.69 100.99 †: Bond rating expired 91.00 91.30 N/A :Not Available 75.79 {r} :Issuer in receivership76.09 52.96 53.26 68.25 68.55 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 87.46 Bank for Africa 87.76 UBA: United

4,582.44 4,238.32

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.07 1.05 1.61 1.97 2.19

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.69 2.85

13.26 16.48 15.97 16.65 16.82

99.05 100.77 99.99 100.19 96.50

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Agency Bonds **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

FMDQ

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 FGN BOND 0.00/16.50

Weighting by Mkt Value

24.56 2.40 112.22 INDEX116.70 66.49

322.38

Bucket Weighting

320.05

1,409.48

42.01

1,099.68

32.78 31-Aug-10 25.22 30-Sep-10 100.00 30-Jun-11

13.00

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.70

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.97

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.24

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.67

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.05

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.05

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.05

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

3<5 >5 Market

1,433.30

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

1,163.06 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 626.32 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 3,222.67 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

846.07 3,355.23

44.48 12.50 14.00

36.09 19.43 100.00

8.50 2.16 4.86

0.42

19.88

13.99

104.4138

1,169.85

5.5962

0.33

38.44 31-Aug-15 41.68 30-Sep-15 100.00 30-Jun-16

14.04 0.34 14.94 0.42 14.41 0.69

109.0208 4.44 77.0921 3.23 99.0342 4.46 3.48 1.31 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78

1,087.82 16.32 1,083.53 15.75 1,119.08 18.02

7.4314 98.68 7.5986 98.87 6.0553 97.46

0.25 1.00

17.05

98.97

15.27

91.29

15.11

98.50

15.78

96.18

15.76

97.06

14.96

98.34

14.96

99.19

18.74

92.54

Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015

Business | Capital Market

Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 29, 2015

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 2 27 27 56

Current Price 0.50 26.11 27.30

Quantity Traded 25,000 395,960 113,083 534,043

Value Traded 12,500.00 10,413,120.09 3,149,346.45 13,574,966.54

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 2.31

Quantity Traded 56,500 56,500

Value Traded 136,730.00 136,730.00

590,543

13,711,696.54

Quantity Traded 346,872 5,000 85,891,555 874,746 87,118,173

Value Traded 566,313.74 4,500.00 274,647,614.15 35,414,020.43 310,632,448.32

87,118,173

310,632,448.32

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as ofHOLT 29/04/2015 JOHN PLC. Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020 CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

65 Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 13 3 192 60 268

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.63 0.94 3.20 41.90

268

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Page

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 0.91

Quantity Traded 754,623 754,623

Value Traded 688,548.93 688,548.93

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 51.70

Quantity Traded 66,673 66,673

Value Traded 3,411,694.40 3,411,694.40

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 11.21

Quantity Traded 159,218 159,218

Value Traded 1,787,450.15 1,787,450.15

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 200,000 200,000

Value Traded 2,000,000.00 2,000,000.00

1,180,514

7,887,693.48

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL Activity Summary on BREWERIES Board EQTYPLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS

58 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 2,500.00 2,500.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 44 43 10

Current Price 7.39 164.00 21.49

Quantity Traded 708,148 690,024 18,755

Value Traded 4,978,760.70 113,132,759.24 394,259.10

Daily Summary (Equities) CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW

Page

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Symbol NB PREMBREW

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals

Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 Food Products--Diversified Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 111 2 210

Current Price 151.18 3.61

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 16 16

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UNIONDICON Symbol CADBURY NESTLE Symbol Daily VITAFOAM VONO

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Current Price 170.00

Quantity Traded 31,038 31,038

Value Traded 5,275,422.35 5,275,422.35

No. of Deals 48 86 90 16 43 1 284

Current Price 4.89 6.43 36.25 3.28 8.45 11.84

Quantity Traded 866,362 2,238,853 1,877,935 238,120 784,100 50 6,005,420

Value Traded 4,100,391.36 14,612,400.63 66,696,874.58 781,790.42 6,719,966.82 562.50 92,911,986.31

No. of Deals 41 50 91

Current Price 39.90 940.00

Quantity Traded 283,502 153,036 436,538

Value Traded 11,329,127.30 142,756,537.59 154,085,664.89

Quantity Traded 1,135,467 5,000

Value Traded 5,011,970.42 4,900.00

Summary (Equities) No. of Deals Current Price 25 2

4.49 1.03

Page

Symbol Symbol PZ UNILEVER

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Printed 29/04/2015 UNITY 14:48:20.020 KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks

NPFSummary MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Activity on Board EQTY

Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock © CUSTODIAN ANDExchange ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS LASACO LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM SOVRENINS UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Current Price 28.50 40.30

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 5 19 335 1,348

Current Price 4.09 0.94 20.90

Value Traded 888.50

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol CWG NCR

No. of Deals Current Price 1 4.00 2 12.19 3

Quantity Traded 50 9,500 9,550

Value Traded 190.00 114,095.00 114,285.00

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals Current Price 2 0.50 2

Quantity Traded 1,885 1,885

Value Traded 942.50 942.50

13,212

116,116.00

Quantity Traded 24,865 72,511 28,209 275,836 845,177 59,700 3,745,236 5,051,534

Value Traded 497,418.43 670,222.19 1,046,967.00 2,925,858.46 148,848,959.18 228,991.00 352,725,666.65 506,944,082.91

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Daily Summary as and of 29/04/2015 Electronic Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers

No. of Deals 106 10 2 9 1 20 6 22 1 1 1 39 218

Value Traded 14,597,889.56 267,090.82 137,550.00 610,142.00 450.00 626,517.50 46,963.76 2,666,120.77 50.00 225.00 993,819.50 1,165,895.92 21,112,714.83

No. of Deals 43 43

Current Price 1.26

Quantity Traded 3,173,944 3,173,944

Value Traded 4,121,227.12 4,121,227.12

No. of Deals 63 12 625 86 6 20 64 876

Current Price 2.94 4.10 9.93 3.34 0.55 29.26 1.50

No. of Deals 1 5 55 12 2 75

Current Price 1.99 3.04 56.12 1.63 1.08

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,612,452 Page 185,276 17,694,076 22,864,421 1,095,014 91,832 1,495,763 45,038,834

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Value Traded OIL AND GAS 5,016,870.42 Exploration and Production

Exploration and Production Totals Value Traded 10,259,976.77 OIL AND GAS Totals 17,836,483.15 SERVICES 28,096,459.92

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers 610,373,529.62 R T BRISCOE PLC.

Page

1,437,062,310.86

Quantity Traded 100,000 406,681 1,061,456 276,575 84,101 1,928,813

Value Traded 190,000.00 1,236,310.24 59,083,762.81 453,365.00 90,152.11 61,053,590.16

1,928,813

61,053,590.16

Quantity Traded 1,777

Value Traded 888.50 of

Value Traded Courier/Freight/Delivery 178,016,757.00 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 3,535,052.22 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals 69,275,281.29 15,751,266.31 Employment Solutions 369,127,401.22 C & I LEASING PLC. 5,589,478.08 Employment Solutions Totals 432,394.90 96,978,940.93 Hotels/Lodging 19,397,512.18 IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

Hotels/Lodging Totals

Value Traded 4,731,364.92 5 of 12 762,705.76 176,723,415.35 75,078,769.79 601,182.01 2,675,179.18 2,263,649.26 262,836,266.27

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.74

Quantity Traded 81,084 81,084

Value Traded 140,209.12 140,209.12

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 3

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC 12 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Printing/Publishing Printing/Publishing Totals of

Current Price 30.00

Quantity Traded 108,801 108,801

Value Traded 3,264,030.00 3,264,030.00

5,241,419

510,348,322.03

170 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 51,100 51,100

Value Traded 25,550.00 25,550.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 228 228

Current Price 17.96

Quantity Traded 6,088,317 6,088,317

Value Traded 110,901,889.08 110,901,889.08

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 21 10 62 12 2 9 116

Current Price 36.21 2.80 187.00 150.03 50.54 155.50

Quantity Traded 57,806 60,948 151,024 31,734 60 12,437 314,009

Value Traded 2,063,048.36 167,180.65 28,375,302.12 4,793,355.30 2,881.20 1,998,369.90 37,400,137.53

Current Price 377.00

Quantity Traded 155,231

Value Traded 58,561,761.81

No. of Deals Current Price 11

Quantity Traded 155,231

Value Traded 58,561,761.81

6,608,657

206,889,338.42

169,575,428

Page

Symbol CUTIX

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded 29,160,973 787,799 3,379,418 8,265,067 12,909,638 2,198,886 195,442 18,992,484 1,847,705

Quantity Traded 13,836,028 301,338 275,100 1,213,914 900 1,253,035 14,426 3,753,610 100 450 1,987,639 2,215,246 24,851,786

Page

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 359,930 441,681 801,611

Current Price 1.05 0.89 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.11 0.72 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54

No. of Deals Current Price 9 19.95 13 9.50 11 35.66 32 11.59 35 176.00 2 3.83 59 94.01 161

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 286,449.25 204,445.09 390,397,124.17 1,148,992,102.64

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PORTPAINT WAPCO

Daily Summary (Equities)

11,214,817 Current Price 6.13 4.51 20.50 1.87 28.30 2.51 2.21 5.11 10.22

Quantity Traded 1,140,467

Quantity Traded 69,991 215,787 18,487,674 96,510,864

75 Symbol COURTVILLE

Quantity Traded 1,777

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

No. of Deals 186 29 74 75 256 62 10 254 43

2,485

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC

No. of Deals 41 44 85

Daily Summary (Equities)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Current Price

714

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Symbol ACCESS BANK PLC. ACCESS DIAMOND BANK PLC DIAMONDBNK Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED ETI Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020 FIDELITY BANK PLC FIDELITYBK GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. GUARANTY SKYE BANK PLC SKYEBANK STERLING BANK PLC. STERLNBANK Daily Summary (Equities) UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UBA UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UBN Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 27

No. of Deals Current Price 1

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020 Building Materials Totals

Value Traded 206,427,396.69 51,450.00 324,984,625.73

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Quantity Traded 1,362,816 15,000 2,794,743

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables Household Durables Totals

Symbol

ICT Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

CONSUMER Daily Summary as ofGOODS 29/04/2015 Automobiles/Auto Parts Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

ICT Computer Based Systems Computer Based Systems Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals SEPLAT

Page

Symbol

358

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals Current Price 1 1.01 1

Quantity Traded 25,000 25,000

Value Traded 24,000.00 24,000.00

Symbol TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals Current Price 3 1.22 3

Quantity Traded 13,765 13,765

Value Traded 16,578.00 16,578.00

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals Current Price 12 0.52 12

Quantity Traded 1,669,105 1,669,105

Value Traded 888,021.60 888,021.60

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals Current Price 1 3.86 1 3.51 1 9.63 3

Quantity Traded 28,516 100 500 29,116

Value Traded 110,071.76 334.00 5,000.00 115,405.76

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 5 1.43 2 4.60

Quantity Traded 57,650 51,512

Value Traded 82,474.50 236,879.60

DailyLEARNAFRCA Summary (Equities) UPL

Page

Symbol

No. of Deals 7

Current Price

Quantity Traded 109,162

Value Traded 319,354.10

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 148,660 148,660

Value Traded 89,091.00 89,091.00

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 1 66 67

Current Price 2.20 6.60

Quantity Traded 500 2,343,343 2,343,843

Value Traded 1,100.00 16,380,312.47 16,381,412.47

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 3.00

Quantity Traded 97,289 97,289

Value Traded 292,253.25 292,253.25

103

4,435,940

18,126,116.18

EQTY Board Totals

4,302

287,907,516

3,176,201,161.61

Equity Activity Totals

4,302

287,907,516

3,176,201,161.61

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary as of 29/04/2015 Printed 29/04/2015 14:48:20.020

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

Published byNEWGOLD The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FUND (ETF) EXCHANGE TRADED VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Current Price 10.63 2,322.00 15.63

Quantity Traded 10 Page 23 10 43

Value Traded 106.30 of 12 53,406.00 156.30 53,668.60

ETF Board Totals

53,668.60

ETP Activity Totals

53,668.60

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Features

Traders and the rumbling bulldozer Traders bemoan their

losses as bulldozer reduces Alayabiagba Market Lagos to rubble, FLORA ONWUDIWE writes

aturday April 18 was a day traders at the popular Alayabiagba Market at Suru Alaba area of Lagos State would wish not to remember. It was a day many of them lost their means of livelihood. Many sat on the ground while several others were struggling to salvage their goods as a bulldozer was busy bringing down shops at the market one after the other. Yet, others were scurrying away from the path of the rampaging bulldozer. Shoppers were speechless. Some stood with hands akimbo, watching as policemen and soldiers patrolled the place looking for those who may foment trouble. The traders, men and women, young and old gathered in group under a canopy in front of Folashade Tinubu Ojo Ultra-Modern Shopping Complex. They were discussing the misfortune which befell them. A butcher, Alhaji Ganiyu Ishola spoke on how the market was moved from the old Alayabiagba Market formerly sited at Boundary at Ajegunle. Ishola said that the new Alayabiagba Market came to be after fire gutted the old Alayabiagba Market. According to him, the late Iya Oloja General, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, played a prominent role in bringing the market from Boundary to Alaba Suru on November 11, 1980. He said: “Baba Owoyemi was the leader of the market who led us from the old Alayabiagba to the new Alayabiagba Market. He became the General Chairman and ruled us for seven years before he was appointed as the Chief Imam of the new Ayabiagba Market. “He relinquished the office of the General Chairman to Baba Fijabi who led us for 11 years and handed over to Waheed Alao who was in office for 12 years. “We had new executives where a woman was the Iya Oloja but she died shortly after. Her deputy, Simiatu Adekunle, became the Iya Oloja.” According to him, the problem which led to the recent demolition of

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Some traders trying to salvage their goods after the demolition

the market started with the crisis under the leadership of Adekunle. Ishola said many traders were dissatisfied with her leadership and were shopping for another leader. According to him, the then administration of Governor Lateef Jakande in Lagos State wanted to give the market a face lift. Ishola added that market was later handed over to a contractor who now decided to rebuild it. He said: “The executives and the contractor took the case to Ajeromi/ Ifelodun Local Government Area, now under Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Alhaja Mogaji summoned them to her office at Ikeja where the council chairman and the market executive signed papers. But the rest of the traders refused to sign. “In February 2013, over 50 armed mobile and regular policemen stormed the market and drove all the marketers away. Some lost their shops. And because they were not compensated, they developed high blood pressure and died while some others relocated. “The marketers who did not want Adekunle as Iya Oloja accused her of embezzling money. But when it was investigated, it was discovered that they were eyeing her office. “But Alhaja Mogaji told them that no one can replace Iya Oloja while she is alive until she dies - that is the only way a new Iya Oloja can emerge. For peace to reign, the new Alayabiagba Market was divided into two phases with two different Iya Olojas.” On the demolition of the market, Ishola said “the contractor will redevelop the new Alayabiagba Market, manage it and release the market after 30 years”. According to him, at the completion of Phase I of the new Alayabiagba Market, the Iya Oloja General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, was there to

commission the market before the shops were hired out to traders. Ishola appealed to the contractor on behalf of other marketers. He said: “The developer should consider some of us who have children that are still in school. Shops at Phase I are too expensive for us. We discovered many new faces that were not part of us were the ones hiring the shops. “As he is embarking on Phase II, he should make it an open space that can accommodate our wares. He should think of the poor people.” A trader, Mr. Joe Okafor, said that different associations were asked to compile the names of the legitimate owners of the shops in Phase II so that they could be re-allocated 4x4 space in Phase I. He said: “We were told that a new developer has taken over the market. They also said he will demolish the market in phases. The developer had completed Phase I and he is now on Phase II.” Okafor, who sells fairly-used clothes otherwise called Okrika, said “the arrangement was that those who own shops in Phase II will be re-allocated shops in Phase I but they reneged. We are asked to pay N700,000 to get a new shop. “Phase I is for the rich and not for the poor. Some shops are sold for N1 million, N2 million or more depending on the size of the shop. As it is now, the poor cannot own a shop in Phase I and that is why we cannot move to Phase I. “The market union told us on Friday that the developer will come early in the morning that everybody should be here to pack his or her wares. But this morning, they brought a bulldozer with police and soldiers to parade the market.” The Chairlady of the Caretaker Committee, Mrs Osawe, said the developer had been paid to develop the

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

market. She said: “He told us that he will come on Friday to demolish Phase II and re-allocate legitimate shop owners in Phase I. But the new place he gave us is very small and the number is not sufficient. He did not re-allocate as he promised. He started destroying the whole place and now people are stranded.” Another trader, who did not want his name mentioned, said the developer wanted to demolish the market last December. He said: “We pleaded with the developer and reminded him of the election. We even appealed to him when it was a week to the election. “What we did was to collect N3,500 for the new small space of 4x4. The money was for security. The N10,000 and N20,000 we heard that they are collecting for the 4x4 space is the handiwork of those working for the developer. What we are collecting from marketers is N3,500.” A widow selling pots, who gave her name simply as Mulikatu, was weeping. The woman said she had five shops in Phase II which had been demolished. She said: “I have four grandchildren. After my daughter passed on, I was taking the responsibility of taking care of my grandchildren. I also have another daughter who graduated last year without a job. The school is resuming, where will I start from? I am looking for a place to sell and feed my children.” Madam Christiana, a widow from Delta State, said she had paid for a shop in Phase I. She said: “They did not tell me that they were given me a shop upstairs. I am an old woman, I have arthritis, I cannot climb the staircase. I complained to them but they said I should sell it. I sell plastics, how can I sell my plastics upstairs.”

News

Babatope Okeowo Akure

he pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday threatened to go back to the trenches if the incoming All Progressive Congress (APC) government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, refuses to implement the report of the 2014 national conference. The group said their support for the failed President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, was on the premise that he would implement the confab report within one year if re-elected as president and not because of any pecuniary gains just as it said it took similar position in 2007 when it supported Buhari because of the same promise. Afenifere made its position known in a communiqué issued yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital after the end of its monthly meeting chaired by its leader, Chief Reuben

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Afenifere tasks Buhari, APC on confab report Fasoranti. Among the leaders present were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Mr. Sina Kawonise, Chief Femi Aluko, Chief Korede Duyile and other leaders of the group from Yoruba speaking parts of the country. The communiqué read after the meeting by Chief Duyile, urged the incoming Buhari’s government, not to be selective in its fight against corruption, saying that the issue of corruption was so evident and pervasive in Nigeria that it needed to be seriously addressed if the country must move forward. Congratulating Buhari on his victory in the just concluded general elections, Afenifere, called on the President-elect to implement the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference or face the wrath of the Yoruba people. The group in the com-

muniqué said, “In our view, devolution of power is the panacea to issues of corruption, generation of electricity, qualitative education, issues of security and other policies that will ensure a fair society.” According to the communique, the leaders acknowledged President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of results of the last polls, describing it as a patriotic action that saved the country of a needless

crisis that would probably have ensued. The group, which said it was fully aware of the misunderstanding of its position in supporting President Jonathan in the 2015 election, added that the position was taken in the overall interest of the Yoruba race and the country. Their words “For the avoidance of doubt, the Prrsident-elect, General Buhari (Rtd) himself would attest to our not being induced

in supporting him in 2007. We were certainly not induced to support President Goodluck Jonathan. “Our decision was based on our age long commitment to support a presidential candidate committed to restructuring of Nigeria. “Afenifere supported Buhari in 2007 when he agreed with Afenifere that he would restructure Nigeria and President Jonathan in 2015 because

of his support for the National Conference and devolution of power. “We would continue to make representation to the President-elect, to implement the 2014 conference resolutions, particularly with regards to restructuring and reduction of recurrent expenditure. “We call on Yoruba people irrespective of their political leanings to continue to pursue the implementation of the report.”

Rainstorm destroys buildings in Akure Babatope Okeowo Akure

any residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital were rendered homeless while property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the aftermath of a rainstorm that wreaked havoc on the town on Tuesday. Similar incident happened in Ikare-Akoko and Arigidi- Akoko, in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state, when no fewer than 50 houses in the two communities were destroyed by rainstorm which lasted for just an hour. The rainstorm that started around 6pm in Akure, the state capital removed many roofs in parts of the town while many electric poles were destroyed during the stormy downpour, leaving major

parts of the town without power supply for most part of yesterday. In some parts of the state capital, removed roofs of some houses fell on the cars parked by their owners outside their homes. The erosion that occurred also made some people to abandon their homes in Isinkan, Okeogba and OkeIjebu area of the town. No life was, however, lost during the over one hour rainstorm. The rain storm in Ikare and Arigidi Akoko, according to sources lasted between 7.00pm and 8.00 on Monday, rendering many residents of the two communities homeless. School buildings and commercial facilities, including shops, were also affected by the rainstorm and the victims of the incident are still counting their losses.

L-R: First Vice-President, Institute of Directors (IoD), Mr. Yemi Akeju; President, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi and guest speaker, Sir Remi Omotosho, at the institute’s new members’ evening in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE.

Osun APC assures workers on payment of salaries Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun yesterday assured the state Nigerian Labour Congress and civil servants that in no distant time, all their unpaid salaries would be attended to by the state government. The party, in a statement released by its Directorate of Publicity in Osogbo, however, charged

civil servants to exercise patience over the current economic crisis in the state because a solution was less than 60 days away. According to the party, the new APC Federal Government has given assurances that it would look into the federal allocation to the states to reduce months of unpaid salaries, as soon as the new government gets underway on May 29, 2015. ‘However, whatever is within the capacity of the

OAU releases 2014/2015 16-year-old emerges 2015 Lagos academic calendar he authorities of the university, Mr. Abiodun one-day governor Obafemi Awolowo Olarewaju, in a stateT State Secretariat, Alau- University (OAU), Ile-Ife, ment, said the university

Mojeed Alabi and Rachael Aiyeyemi

he winner of this year’s edition of Lagos State Spelling Bee competition, who would act as the one-day-governor of the state has emerged. He is 16- yearold Master Idowu Sonoiki of Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun. Sonoiki, who emerged after a keenly contested competition, held yesterday at the Adeyemi Bero Hall of the Lagos

sa, Ikeja, beat 55 other pupils from the state’s six education districts, who had also reached the stage right from the local and regional stages. Sonoiki, an SS3 student and indigene of Kwara State, will take over the baton from the winner of the 2014 edition, Olabanji Edun of Army Children School, Ikeja, who also graced the award presentation ceremony yesterday.

have released a new academic calendar for the 2014/2015 academic session for both new and returning students. In the new dates announced by the school, the academic session would commence on Sunday, May 17, with the resumption of new students, while returning students undergraduates are expected to resume on Sunday, May 31. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the

has concluded all arrangements and put in place all necessary facilities for the smooth commencement of lectures for the Harmattan Semester, which begins on Monday, June 1, 2015 The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, in the statement, enjoined students to make judicious use of their time and shun any act or behaviour that could disrupt the calendar and unduly prolong the session.

state government to do before then would certainly be done to ease workers’ plight as a result of nonpayment of salaries.’ The APC said, ‘the long and difficult battle to defeat the forces of evil that have squandered the nation’s wealth has just been won comprehensively. “This has now paved the way for a new, progressive and responsible APC government to take over the affairs of the country and end the suffering

which PDP’s corruption, mismanagement and treasury looting have brought on Nigerians, including workers in the state of Osun. “This is a pleasant transition moment that requires sober, intelligent and calculating responses from all stakeholders in the state of Osun, so that we do not turn victory into sorrow by engaging in actions that will create more problems than solutions’, the APC said.

Fayose felicitates with Adesina over NGE presidency Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has congratulated Mr. Femi Adesina on his re-election as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), saying his exemplary leadership of the Guild has been compensated by his emergence for a second term. In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said Adesina’s re-election was not only a vote of confidence on his leader-

ship, but an endorsement of his sterling qualities. “Mr Femi Adesina has distinguished himself as thoroughbred journalist and as a reputable editor. His running of The Sun Newspapers is commendable and the paper ranks among the best in the country. “I am not only wishing him an eventful tenure, I also give the assurance that our government will ensure that the cordial relationship between us and the Guild as well as those in the journalism profession is maintained,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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Ebonyi commissioner faces EFCC over contract scam Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

here are strong indications that a supervising commissioner in Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi’s cabinet, Hon. Donatus Ajah, may soon be a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, over alleged manipulation of contracts. Ajah, who is the Commissioner for Environ-

ment in the state, has been accused of manipulating contracts which he used in financing the Labour Party campaigns in the state in the just-concluded general elections. New Telegraph checks revealed that after the reports of some shady activities by some contractors handling the execution of waste in the state capital, the commissioner announced the termination of the job by 10 different contractors.

Findings by New Telegraph showed that the ministry subsequently advertised for submission of tenders for re-awarding the contracts, a directive that was followed. It was learnt that the same day after the opening of the tenders, the commissioner issued a directive to the PRS to publish alleged premeditated list of contractors, giving no room for the Due Process Committee to play their role. New Telegraph also

gathered that in that list, those who never bided for the job were selected to do it. In a petition which was obtained by New Telegraph, it was indicated that Alpha Ark Engineering and Construction Limited had the contract of managing the disposal of wastes from a section of the Abakaliki metropolis. The company also alleged a twist, which it said was introduced into the subsisting arrangement

at a meeting convened by the ministry, where the company was represented by one Mr. Ifeanyi Chike, the company’s Group Administration Officer. The ministry was said to have allegedly terminated the contract. The company, however, expressed surprise that they were invited to a meeting by the commissioner, who verbally informed its director that the said contract agreement has been terminated without recourse to clause 6, 9 and

12, which is the fact that speaks for itself. The company, in the petition, also demanded the immediate payment of 1, 107, 750, 00, which was the amount due to the client for the job executed in the month of January 2015, saying that the contract agreement entered with the client still subsists as the client has not in any way breached any of the terms contained in the agreement which is the modus operandi to terminate the said contract.

Imo Assembly approves N23.7bn 2014 supplementary budget Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

L-R: Charles Ani; winner of LED Television set, Chinedu Okonkwo and ace comedian, De Don, during the Legend Taste and Tell Activation, at the Cofi Premuim Lounge, Awka, Anambra State

Crisis rocks Abia NLC as SEC rejects elections Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State took a new dimension yesterday as five contestants to the chairmanship position of the union in the April 23, 2015 state congress have demanded the immediate cancellation of the election pending the reconciliation of all parties to the crisis. Addressing journalists on the development yesterday, NLC Chairman, Comrade Silvanus Eyeh, said the aggrieved contestants, including himself,

Comrades Chris Okoro of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Chizobem Akparanta of the NUT and Eze Idima of NULGE, decided to call for the cancellation because the congress did not follow due process nor did it comply with the guideline for the congress. Eyeh and Okoro, who represented their colleagues from the NUT and NULGE at the briefing, said their grouse included that the election was conducted in disregard to a court injunction against one of the factional chairmen, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe. They alleged that the In-

dustrial Arbitration Court had ruled that the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Abia State, Comrade Christopher Ezekiel, should continue as the chairman of the union, but Uchenna Obigwe continued to parade himself as the chairman. According to them, he even brought a letter from the national secretariat of the union that he should be allowed to contest the election against the decision of the State Executive Council (SEC), which had directed the duo to stay away from NLC meetings

Ebonyi crisis: Normalcy returns to Ezza-Ezzilo community Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

ormalcy yesterday returned to Ezillo community in Ishielu Local Government area of Ebonyi State after report of fresh hostilities in the area last weekend. There had been tension in the area since last week when human and vehicular movements were halted for three days with the popular Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway blocked by irate youths while motorists diverted to alternative roads to continue

their journey. Some of the detainees from the community, who have been in prison custody for over one year and who were released last week, allegedly returned to the disputed land where they had lived for decades as settlers, leading to a fresh crisis. As tension mounted in the community, the state government through the Deputy Governor and the Governorelect, Chief Dave Umahi, summoned the stakeholders of both Ezza and Ezillo to an emergency meeting in his office at the Government

House, Abakaliki, which ended last night. In a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day meeting signed by ‘leaders of thought’ of the two communities and read by Secretary to the State Government, Chief Boniface Chima and made available to newsmen, the stakeholders ordered that status quo should be maintained in the disputed land and directed that anyone staying in the disputed land should vacate within 24 hours, warning that defaulters would be treated as criminals.

and congresses pending the resolution of the crisis. They further alleged that the election committee/returning officers from the NLC headquarters had a predetermined mindset and a script written for them to act out in Abia State, saying that they refused to listen to Silvanus Eyeh as chairman on the state of the union before the congress, nor did they read the letter written by Chris Okoro, in which he stated that he withdrew from the chairmanship race to run as vice-chairman to Eyeh, a situation they said confused the delegates who did not know what to do.

he Imo State House of Assembly yesterday approved a re-ordered supplementary budget of N23,752,610,557 for the year ended 2014. Raising the motion on the floor of the House, the Majority Leader, Hon. Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma implored members of the Assembly to give accelerated passage to the supplementary budget as this would accord the executive the necessary support in carrying out its duties in the interest of the good people of the state. The House also amended the law establishing

the proposed Imo Turkish University and re-named it Imo State Claretian University, Onuimo-Okigwe. The member representing Isu constituency, Hon. Ikenna Emeh, had in his contribution to the bill, told his colleagues that the amendment in the name of the proposed institution became necessary following an alleged noncommitment of the Turkish stakeholders, who were supposed partners with the state in the establishment of the institution, adding that the order of the Claretian missionary has shown enough interest in partnering with the government towards ensuring that the university is established.

Abia election tribunal receives 10 petitions Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Election Petition Tribunal in Abia State has received no fewer than 10 petitions emanating from the March 28 National Assembly elections in the state. The tribunal will conduct its sittings at the Federal High Court, Umuahia. Those who are seeking redress in the elections include the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate for Abia North

senatorial district, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and his counterpart in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief David Ogba Onuoha. They are challenging the election of the PDP candidate, Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa. Also, Ahamdi Emmanuel Nweke of APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia Central, Hon. Acho Obioma, are challenging the election of Governor Theodore Orji of the PDP as Abia Central senator.

CAN: God answered our prayers on Ugwuanyi Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he Enugu State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday said the victory of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the April 11 governorship election in the state was the will of God made possible by prayers of its members for peace and development to continue to subsist in the area. The Governor-elect himself has reiterated his resolve to work hard to ful-

fill the promises he made to the people during his campaigns that took him to all the parts of the state. The group made the claim in Enugu during a solidarity visit to the Governor-elect to thank God for his victory, congratulating him and offering special prayers for him and the Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo. CAN Chairman in the state, Bishop Christian C. Obiefuna, who spoke for the delegation, said ‘God has shown love for the people of the state by the gift

of Ugwuanyi,” pointing out that “his humble background, vision and physical and spiritual commitment to the things of God, which he revealed was the secret behind his popularity and acceptance by the people.” He said: “Ceaseless prayersfor God togiveEnugu State a leader that will have a listening ear, fear him, cater for the common man and strive to bring meaningful development to the state in all strata of governance, was answered in the emergence of Ugwuanyi as the next governor of the state.

News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Anxiety as INEC withholds two Delta Assembly-elects certificates Dominic Adewole ASABA

L-R: Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Austin Opara; Rivers Governor-elect, Mr. Nyesom Wike and Deputy Governor/Chairman, Transition Committee, Mr Tele Ikuru, during the inauguration of the committee in Port Harcourt …yesterday

A’ Ibom APC chiefs adjudge elections credible Tony Anichebe uyo

kwa Ibom State chapter Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and stakeholders of the party have adjudged the just-concluded general elections in the state as credible. Similarly, the APC chieftains have congratulated the Governor- elect of the state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on his victory at the polls and have enjoined the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Umana, to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan’s exemplary good sportsmanship spirit to concede defeat and join hands with the

incoming governor to develop the state. In a media briefing, the APC chapter chairmen, numbering 17, along other stakeholders of the party told journalists that they were confident that the outcome of both the presidential and state governorship elections were the decision of God. The spokesman for the group and APC chapter chairman for Ini Local Government Area, Mr. Uwem Ikamanyin Udo, said, “Let us put it on record that we in APC came into the elections with the conviction to win the hearts of Akwa Ibom people and to emerge victorious. That was why we engaged in several electioneering campaigns across all the local government

UNIDO, Giorgio Armani, FIIRO, others partner Delta on multi-billion factory Dominic Adewole ASABA

oreign investors have indicated interest in partnering the multi-billion naira entrepreneur skill acquisition and manufacturing factory project at IsseleUku, Aniocha North Local Government Area in Delta State. Partners to the factory project include, the Clark of England, Giorgio Armani, FIIRO, M.I.T, Massachusetts, and Cambridge University, among others. Speaking yesterday when Governor Emmnauel Uduaghan, led members of the State Executive Council on a tour to the factory’s premises, the governor said the international and local investors have shown interest in partnering with the centre in leather works, palmwine brewing, garri processing and akwu-ocha production.

He said, “You have seen a lot of machines that will be used in the production of leather works and akwuocha. These will be used for both training and production of leather works. Our products will be used both locally and internationally as a lot of local and foreign investors have indicated interest in the products from this factory.” Uduaghan explained that the centre was one of the gains of his Delta Beyond Oil initiative and would enable some of the beneficiaries of the state micro-credit scheme to become small and medium enterpreneurs. He endorsed the productionof agro-producelikegarri aspartof thefactory,maintaining that the centre will breach the gap between the farmer and the end users as it will take care of the excess supply, encourage price stability and more production to take care of the factory export needs.

areas of the state. In their response, the people have not spoken the way we wanted, but they have spoken all the same and we believe in the popular Roman aphorism, “Vox populi, vox Dei” (the voice of the people, is the voice of God).” The APC Chapter Chairmen noted, “election is not a do or die affair. We immediately advise Mr. Umana Okon Umana, to immediately follow the wind of politics without bitterness and commit himself to work with the Governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to make our state a better place”. They also congratulated Governor Godswill Akpabio, on his meritorious service to the state and for emerging as the Senator-elect for

Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. And similarly congratulated all the elected members of the National and State Assemblies and charged them to work hard to justify the confidence of the electorate. Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate for the April 11 election in the state, Mr Okon Umana, is expected to file his petition against the election of Udom Emmanuel as the governor of the state at the election tribunal sitting in Uyo. The PDP and INEC, would be joined as co- defendants. Umana’s legal team would led by Chief Wole Olanipekun. Four other Senior Advocates and 24 lawyers would work with him in the case.

wo of Delta State House of Assembly-elects were yesterday denied their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the incident brought about some anxiety about the fate of the affected politicians. The two elected House of Assembly members won their elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The affected House of Assembly-elects; Hon. Monday Igbuya, representing Sapele constitutency and Hon. Johnson Erijo, representing Isoko South II, were allegedly being investigaed for their involvement in the irregularities that characterised their re-election bid in the April 11 House of Assembly election. Their supporters, who stormed the commission’s

headquarters in Asaba as early as 8a.m to celebrate with them, were said to have left in disappointment. Both Erijo and Igbuya are returning to the House for the third time. Checks revealed that while Igbuya’s certificate was not signed by the national chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that of Erijo was withheld for undisclosed reason. New Telegraph, however, gathered that the returning officer of Erijo’s constituency had earlier petitioned INEC, complaining about the fraud that characterized the exercise in the area and attested that he signed the result sheet under duress. Igbuya, said to be eyeing the Speaker position, was said to have incurred the wrath of the powers-thatbe in the state when he attempted to slap a serving commissioner during the build up to the elections. He was also accused of ballotbox snatching.

Tribunal orders INEC to allow AD access to election materials Chris Ejim Yenagoa

he National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the Alliance for Democracy (AD) access to election materials to enable it substantiate its claims that the House of Assembly did not hold and and that the results were rigged. Justice C. A. Ononeze

Madu, gave the order yesterday while ruling on the election petition number EPT/BY/SH/M001/2015, filed by the State House of Assembly candidate of the AD, Hon.Victor-Ben Eredei. The presiding Chairperson of the tribunal, Justice C. A. Ononeze Madu, in her ruling on the expatiate motion moved by the applicant counsel, M.J Numa, ordered that the INEC should release polling materials including ballot papers, copies of the EC8 series, electronic

Shell commences cleaning at Kolo creek fields spillage site

he management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has commenced a cleanup exercise and recovery of spilled crude following leakage from its Kolo Creek Manifol. According to Shell, the leakage within the Kolo creek oil field operated SPDC in Bayelsa State, discharged some 27 barrels of Shell’s crude blend into the environment when the incident occurred on April 15.

A visit to the oil spillage site on Tuesday showed that oil spill response team were on site while oil recovery activities were ongoing at the Kolo Creek Manifold at Otuasega in Ogbia LGA. The oil workers were seen collecting the mopped up oil with plastic containers and pouring the oil into large plastic tanks from where the crude is pumped into vacuum trucks and evacuated for

re-processing. Several pools where crude are collected were sighted within the oil fields while the vegetation in the area had wilted. A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) conducted by officials of the SPDC, Bayelsa Ministry of Environment, community representatives and oil industry regulators, on April 16, concluded that the spillage was caused by sabotage. “Report of the Joint In-

vestigation Visit (JIV) at the Kolo Creek Manifold spill which occurred on April 15, 2015 has attributed the leak to sabotage of the facility. “The investigation team, which visited the site on April 16, found that unknown persons had cut out a section of the metal protection to the manifold, removed components of the pressure control system and opened the isolation valves.

PENGASSAN Warri office shut over leadership tussle Joe Obende Warri

he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), PTI Warri, Delta State, branch has been shut down, following the leadership tussle between its outgoing chairman, Mr. Emma Ojugbana and some members over

his tenure of office. Findings by New Telegraph revealed that trouble started when some members told Ojugbana to step down as chairman of the body after his retirement, prompting some members to call for the arrest of members of the executives led by Ojugbana. It was learnt that the police, however, advised that

the union members were advised to go and resolve its issues as there was no criminal angle to the matter. Ojugbana was accused of agreeing to retire earlier this year and the Warri zonal meeting of the union deleted his name from the membership list, only for him to recant on his retirement. Ojugbana, on his part, insisted that since he has

taken up another job in the oil and gas industry, he has not breached any portion of the Nigerian Constitution. Members calling for the removal of Ojugbana, had also reported the case to the Central Working Committee to alert it of the recalcitrant attitude of Ojugbana, but got a shocker when they discovered that the CWC was aligning with Ojugbana.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, april 30, 2015

Tarzoor challenges Ortom’s victory at election tribunal Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 11 governorship election in Benue State, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor, yesterday defied the directive of Governor Gabriel Suswam and the PDP not to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorelect, Dr. Samuel Ortom,

in court by heading to the tribunal to seek redress. Lead counsel to Tarzoor, Mr. Titus Ihyundu, who filed the case at the tribunal, told the journalists that his client is challenging the election of the Governor-elect on the grounds that he (Ortom) was not qualified to contest the election. Tarzoor, according to Ihyundu, is praying the tribunal to declare that the winner of the governorship election was not validly qualified to contest

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the election since his party, the APC, did not conduct a primary election. He is also asking the tribunal to declare all the votes obtained by Ortom as invalid and the candidate as a runner up in the election; declare him (Tarzoor) as the winner of the election and ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him with a certificate of return. Ihundu, who quoted copiously Section 138 of the Electoral Act and Section

177 of 1999 Constitution, as amended, to buttress his prayers, said his client was not aware of the promise by Governor Suswam not to challenge the election at the tribunal. He maintained that 'the national secretariat of the PDP had directed all its aggrieved members over the outcome of the general elections to proceed to the tribunal to seek redress.' New Telegraph recalls that Suswam had called the governor-elect shortly

after INEC declared him the winner of the election to congratulate him over his victory, while Tarzoor also put a call to Ortom same day, conceding defeat to him. But, the lead counsel to Benue APC in the case between the party and Hon. Emmanuel Jime and Senator JKN Waku, who are also challenging the APC candidate, Sabastian Hon, expressed confidence that in spite of the fact that the Federal High Court had yesterday struck out their motion, they will still emerge victorious. He hinted that talks and persuasions are ongoing to prevail on Jime and Waku to withdraw the case for an out of court settlement.

L-R: Managing Director, Bauchi State Radio Corporation, Alhaji Mohammed Khanna; Governor Isa Yuguda; District Head of Madara, Alhaji Lele Muktar and Chairman, Board of Directors, Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), Prof. Dauda Bagari, inaugurating BRC Azare in Katagum LGA…yesterday

May Day: Aliyu hails workers, harps on accountability development Governor ask workers to fasttrack Nigeria's development Dan Atori MINNA

he outgoing Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday called on Nigerian workers to mark the workers’ day celebration reflecting more on what they can do to fast-track the collective developmental aspiration of Nigeria. Aliyu, who is the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), while making this known yesterday through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Israel A. Ebije, said workers in the country must be

innovative, must exhibit high moral standard in the area of accountability and must place the interest of the country before theirs. The governor said the role of workers in the development of the country is sacrosanct, adding that more is expected from the Nigerian labour as the country is prepared to savour the change of government following the outcome of the general elections. “Let me salute the resilience of the Nigerian worker in the face of daunting challenges. As a labour leader in the 1980s, I am aware of the challenges of Nigerian workers. I am indeed happy Nigerian workers are capable of working under any situation and that is why we will always show appreciation by marking a day set aside for workers,” the governor said.

Tor Tiv decries attacks on subjects Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor-Tiv, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, yesterday expressed worry over the renewed attacks on Tiv and Agatu people of Benue State by armed Fulani insurgents. The monarch said the killings in Guma, his homestead, as well as in Agatu, Logo, Buruku and Kwande Local Government areas of the state respectively by suspected herdsmen as well as the destruction of property worth millions of naira, is disturbing. In a statement by his Press Secretary, Godwin Ber, the traditional ruler condemned the killings in some parts of Benue and other neighbouring states such as Taraba and Nasarawa. Torkula said over the years, the people have continued to be hunted by Fulani armed men, especially at the period when they are preparing for farming activities in order to contribute their quota to food production and economic development of the country. The paramount ruler, who appealed for calm on the side of the Tiv farmers, also appealed to federal and state governments to intensify effort at bringing the lingering crisis to an end.

Nigerians urged to pray for president-elect Alhassan Yusuf Bauchi

igerians were yesterday asked to support the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, with prayers for him to succeed as he takes charge of the country’s

leadership from May 29. The call was made yesterday by Muhammad S. Buba, an Islamic cleric, who said the country has continued to witness some changes since the President-elect was declared winner of the March 28 presidential election.

Water scarcity hits Bauchi Alhassan Yusuf Bauchi

esidents of the city of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State, were yesterday hit by water scarcity, making the people to decry the poor water supply in the metropolis. One of the residents, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim, said for over a month and a half now, there has been water shortage in the city. He complained that

his family had to go out in search of water to cook, wash and for other domestic uses, adding that water is essential to human life and should not be toyed with. Ibrahim added that the supply was limited and could not satisfy the people. “We have to go the wells to fetch water for our daily use, because water does not run in our taps, in fact we don’t know exactly what is wrong with the authorities.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue to pray for all political office holders, especially those elected to take over on May 29. He said: “Prayer is the key to the President-elect performing, although every Nigerian knows who Buhari is, because he is a good leader, very un-

biased. Buhari is a man with integrity and the zeal to work for others.” Buba said: “There is also the need for those elected into the various offices to emulate the qualities of the President-elect, because Nigerians are expecting the best from them,” he said.

Buhari urged to end insurgency in North-East Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

45-year-old Borno State indigene based in Kaduna State, Mallam Adamu Abdullahi, yesterday urged the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to as soon as possible, put an end to the insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country. He said he would not mind trekking from Mai-

duguri to Abuja to plead with the President-elect to bring an end to the crisis that has been rocking the region for some time now. Abdullahi, who arrived in Maiduguri from Kaduna with the aim of embarking on the journey vowed to trek from Maiduguri by 6.00am today to Abuja to congratulate Buhari for his victory in the March 28 poll and also to appeal to him to address the security challenges facing the

WORLD | News

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Togo opposition rejects presidential election results

ogo’s main opposition party yesterday rejected official presidential election results declaring victory for incumbent Faure Gnassingbe with 58.75 percent of the vote, and instead claimed a win for its candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre. “CAP 2015 (Combat for Political Change) and its candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre

categorically reject the fraudulent results which bear no resemblance to those compiled from reports collected in polling stations by its representatives,” said coalition campaign director Patrick Lawson-Banku. The party “is pleased about the victory of JeanPierre Fabre”, he told a news conference. Fabre said

he considered himself to be the West African nation’s new president-elect. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced Tuesday evening that Gnassingbe had won with 58.75 percent with his main opponent Fabre picking up 34.95 percent of votes. The results were provisional and subject to confirmation

by the Constitutional Court, it added. Lawson-Banku called on people to turn out in force “using all legal means to ensure that this latest takeover fails”. The campaign director was asked whether he was calling for civilians in the tiny West African country to take to the street. “The right to protest is prescribed by law. There

is no need for permission to demonstrate,” he said. Fabre had hoped to oust Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005 and was seeking a third term of office, as well as bring to an end to nearly 50 years of rule by the president’s family. Gnassingbe’s father, Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled Togo with an iron fist for 38 years after seizing power in a coup.

Protests in Burundi as court examines president’s third term bid

Prince Salman, left, speaking with his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman as they wait for Gulf Arab leaders ahead of the opening of a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi King announces new heirs

audi King Salman appointed a new heir and made his young son second in line to rule yesterday, a major shift in power toward two princes who have overseen a more assertive stance at a time of almost unprecedented regional turmoil. By making Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, crown prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman, 30, deputy crown prince, King Salman has effectively decided the line of succession for decades to come in the world’s top oil exporter. The appointments signal a tougher foreign policy, particularly toward regional foe Iran, but little change to a firm hand against dissent at home, where Riyadh this week said it had detained 93 suspected Islamic State militants. Almost all powers under the

king are now concentrated in the hands of the pair, who each chair committees determining all security and economic development issues in Saudi Arabia, and have led Riyadh’s monthold campaign of air strikes in Yemen. In another big shift, Salman replaced veteran Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who had served in the role since October 1975, with the kingdom’s Washington ambassador Adel al-Jubeir, the first non-royal to hold the post. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who replaces Prince Muqrin, the successor chosen by the late King Abdullah before his death in January, enjoys closer personal ties with U.S. officials than almost any other senior royal, diplomats have said. The changes come as Saudi Arabia navigates the messy aftermath of the Arab spring and worries

that its strategic partner Washington is disengaging from the region. It has broken with decades of backroom politics by bombing Yemen. The Yemen move, closely associated with both heirs, is seen by analysts as indicative of a more confrontational foreign policy under Salman and his ruling team, who have worked to build a coalition of Sunni allies against Iran. Riyadh appears increasingly determined to counter Tehran’s allies, including in Syria, where Saudi-backed rebels against President Bashar al-Assad have recently made gains. “I think we’re going to see a more confrontational policy, faster decision-making and more long-term thinking. A leadership that won’t hesitate from any confrontation,” said Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi security analyst with close ties to the kingdom’s Interior Ministry.

Indonesia executions: Australia recalls ambassador

ustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said yesterday that the executions were “cruel and unnecessary”, adding that Chan and Sukumaran had been “fully rehabilitated” while in prison. “We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual,” he said. This is the first time Australia has

recalled an ambassador from Indonesia, and its first-ever recall over the execution of one of its citizens abroad. Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo defended the executions, saying his country was fighting a “war” on drugs. Indonesia is an important country to Australia, the BBC’s Jon Donnison says, with the two working closely together on asylum seekers

and terrorism issues. Meanwhile, Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s president, has publicly declared a war on drugs and said he will refuse all clemency applications from convicted drug traffickers - a stance that could prove legally problematic given that the very point of a presidential clemency is to evaluate each individual on a case-by-case basis.

rotest hit Burundi yesterday took the controversial question of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term bid to the constitutional court but opposition supporters dismissed the move and said demonstrations would go on. At least five people have died since unrest broke out at the weekend, when the ruling CNDD-FDD party designated Nkurunziza its candidate for the presidential election to be held in the central African nation on June 26. Demonstrators and police faced off in the capital Bujumbura yesterday, but the city was far quieter than in previous days, with some shops reopening and a heavy police deployment on the streets. The authorities cut mobile access to several social networks and messaging applications including Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, which have been used to coordinate protests. “All the roads are blocked by police but the protests will not stop until he gives up the third term,” said Thierry, a demonstrator. Opposition figures and rights groups say Nkurunziza’s attempt to stand for a third con-

secutive term goes against the constitution as well as the peace deal that ended a civil war in 2006. The Senate has submitted a motion has to the constitutional court seeking interpretation of the issue. But opposition leaders such as lawmaker Jean Minani were dismissive of what they said was a court loyal to the president. “It is as if the Senate had asked Nkurunziza himself to interpret the constitution,” Minani told AFP. “The opposition will continue to say no to the third term.” But Nkurunziza has remained defiant: his communication chief has insisted it was “out of the question” that he would back down on his bid for a third term. Amid international concern, UN chief Ban Ki-moon dispatched his envoy Said Djinnit to Burundi, urging “all sides to reject violence” and hate speech. US Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights Tom Malinowski was also due in Bujumbura. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the 13 year civil war, which divided the country along ethnic lines, between the Hutu majority and Tutsi people.

Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads

epali villagers blocked trucks carrying supplies for earthquake victims yesterday, demanding the government do more to help after last week’s disaster left more than 5,000 people dead and tens of thousands homeless and short of food and water. In the capital Kathmandu, about 200 people protested outside parliament, asking for more buses to go to their homes in remote parts of the Himalayan nation and to hasten the distribution of aid that has flooded into the country but been slow to reach those in need. In Sangachowk village in one of the worst-hit districts, about three hours by road from the capital, scores of angry villagers blocked the road with tires. They stopped two trucks headed for the district capital

with rice, noodles and biscuits. Later they blocked a convoy of three army trucks with relief supplies, leading to a tense standoff with armed soldiers. “We have been given no food by the government,” said Udhav Giri, 34. “Trucks carrying rice go past and don’t stop. The district headquarters is getting all the food.” The government was struggling to fully assess the devastation wrought by Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude quake. “This is a disaster on an unprecedented scale. There have been some weaknesses in managing the relief operation,” Nepal’s Communication Minister Minendra Rijal said late Tuesday. An official from Nepal’s home ministry said the number of confirmed deaths had risen to 5,006. Almost 10,000 were injured in Nepal, and more than 80 were also killed in India and Tibet.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

Mourinho: Arsenal need four signings to be strong

News

World Relay: Team Nigeria target $50,000 prize money

Sport News

The Big Fight

International Sport

Roach confident Pacquiao will win on points

Sport

Zenith Bank Basketball League: Dolphins, Deepwater maintain dominance

Did you know? That American basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most points in an NBA game when he scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.

THE BIG FIGHT May 3 (Sunday 3:00am)

You don’t earn enough! • Mayweather taunts Pacquiao ahead of Las Vegas bout

loyd Mayweather taunted Manny Pacquiao ahead of their eagerly-anticipated super-fight on Saturday, telling him he should be earning more money. The fight is the richest in history, with the fighters sharing around £150m, although the exact figure is unknown. However, the purse split is 60-40 in Mayweather’s favour and the American legend said his Filipino rival had not been looked after properly. “If he’d have worked with us, he’d have made $100m (£90m),” said Mayweather. “Financially, he hasn’t been treated right for this fight. And [this fight] is all about the money. “Saturday is just work, I’ll just do what I do. But I’ll make upwards of $200m for this fight, which is $50m apiece for my kids. So it was a smart move.” Five-weight world champion Mayweather, nicknamed ‘Money’, came face to face with six-

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

weight world champion Pacquaio for the first time at a Miami Heat basketball game in January. The 38-year-old American said he instigated the initial meeting in Pacquiao’s Miami hotel suite - which Mayweather said was not up to his exacting standards. Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights, explained: “I went over to Manny and said: ‘I don’t know what [Pacquiao’s promoter] Bob Arum is saying to you, but it’s not true. “When Manny Pacquiao said he had signed paperwork to fight me, he must have been signing half of his money away. He hadn’t signed to fight me. “I told him that if we agree to drugs testing and we’re on a level playing field, we can make the fight happen. The fight came about because of me. “But why did they have him staying in that type of hotel? It wasn’t right.” Mayweather also reiterated his intention to retire after one more fight in September, even though two more victories would leave him equal with heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-fight unbeaten record. “People ask me about Rocky Marciano’s record but it’s time for me to walk away. And I won’t miss boxing,” said Mayweather.

Mayweather and pacquiao

I enjoy underdog status – Pacquiao M anny Pacquiao has revealed he is enjoying his status as the underdog for the forthcoming big fight against Floyd Mayweather. American legend Mayweather, 38, and Filipino great Pacquiao, 36, are meeting for the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles. It will be the richest fight in history, with the two protagonists set to split in the region of £150m. “Don’t get nervous,” Pacquiao told his fans. “I’m the one fighting, so relax.”

Mayweather has never been beaten in 47 fights since turning pro in 1996, whereas Pacquiao has lost five of his 64 bouts. Pacquiao added: “I’m very excited and my confidence is 100%. “Any time I am the underdog, I like that. It means my killer instinct and focus is fully there. This is the moment I believe he will experience his first loss.” Five-weight world champion Mayfeather responded: “I’m more calculated, I’m the smarter fighter. He would be a better fighter if he wasn’t so reckless. “He’s won a lot of fights by be-

ing reckless but you can be reckless and get knocked out. Just compare our fights against Juan Manuel Marquez - I beat Marquez and Marquez knocked him out.” Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, revealed that Pacquiao had helped devise a strategy for a fight for the first time since they started working together 14 years ago. “We have a very good gameplan to win this fight,” Roach told BBC Sport. “If a knockout comes, we’ll be thrilled. But at welterweight, Manny’s really not that big a puncher.

“But his speed will overwhelm Floyd, that’s what we’re counting on. It will be very difficult for Floyd to win this fight just by running and at some point he will have to exchange. “We’ve been working on throwing flurries of punches - because Floyd doesn’t throw on the counter until you’re done - before getting out of the pocket real quick. “I’ve never seen Manny better than this, he’s risen to the occasion. He knows the whole world is going to be watching and he knows he has to win this fight.”

Sport

THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Give me Mayweather, just like Muhammad Ali

rigo Egbegi remains a respected journalist. He has remained an encyclopedia when it comes to reporting boxing while at the Daily Times group of newspapers. He went on to become the group sports editor at the Concord newspapers before taking time out of reportorial duties. Trigo was still firm with boxing but this time with its administration as Secretary-general of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) following in the footsteps of Emmanuel Adeleye and broadcasters -Walter Batowei and Walter Oyatogunthe duo who still make you recall the glory days of Nigerian boxing as put together by the Presidency of Chief Ralph Ogunbufunmi. In those days the amateur ranks in Nigeria never lacked the supply link for the professional trade especially through the production line annually put together by the Eagle Oil Championship at the famous Club in Surulere, Lagos area, where the Eagle Belt produced the winners of Michael Andrews, Abayomi Adeyemi, Joe Mensah, Isaac Ikhuoria, Dele Jonathan, Ray Amao, Fatai Ayinla Eddie Ndukwu, Billy Savage and Billy Famous, Obisia Nwakpa, Anthony and Davidson Andeh, Ngozika Ekwelum, Joe Lasisi, Hogan Jimoh ,Mohammed Sabo, Christopher Ossai, William Anazor, Rowland Omoruyi, Anthony and

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only) Peter Konyegwachie, Adewole Adegbusi, Ovwigho Mba, Lat Darassin, Jerry Okorodudu, Kayim Armah, Liasu Braimoh, Loveday Omoruyi and the one I describe as “ageless” Abraham Tonica. Egbegi- who has now retired home to Yenogoa in President Goodluck Jonathan’s Bayelsa State- never left anyone in doubt in the recall of the exploits of these boxers and more on the domestic scene after pouring through files for details of the successors of “omoloja” Nojim Maiyegun, Hogan Bassey, Dick Tiger. The trio who rocked the world of boxing in the amateur and professional ranks. Egbegi is to super-intend the growth of the sport in the riverine state and achieve a kick for the revolution of the pugilist game through a visionary paper prepared for the Amateur Boxing Association of Nigeria now headed by Army Chief, Kenneth Minimah, and to whose credit is the stateof-the-art boxing gymnasium and hostel that now sit near the Brai Ayonote hostel at the

Lagos National Stadium. What I guess had been lost by the Lagos crowd with Trigo’s “defection” to Bayelsa just like my friend of Raypower Radio, Wiston Akpabio, is Saturday’s early morning delight of the highest paid bout in history featuring Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio. From the four hundred million dollars total earnings from tickets, pay-per-view, advertisements, endorsements and with deductions for tax, insurance and others, Mayweather, the man called Moneyman- is guaranteed $160million (one hundred and sixty million US dollars) while the legislator from the Phillipines, Pacquiao, is guaranteed $100million US dollars for the night’s stand. The hard-hitting fighter whose nutritionist earns one thousand US dollars($1,000) for preparing each meal for the Moneyman ahead this fight has recently got boxing buffs on the edge of their library seats when he reportedly declared that from sparring sessions he retires to his

room for lessons taken from the fight dubbed- “Rumblein-the-jungle”- that pitched Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in 1974 as Africa hosted its first world heavyweight title fight in Zaire when President Mobutu Sesse-Seko practically emptied the country’s treasury to host that fight where Ali “floated like a butterfly and stung like the Bee” against a man whose fists could send an elephant to sleep. That bout got the whole world glued to Africa and I can remember keeping eyes open at the giant screen that was fixed across the Lagos National Library on Yakubu Gowon (then Broad ) Street to watch the fight. We were in tears as Ali, the man who turned muslim as he refused to join the military draft in the US as Cassius Clay learned on the ropes as Foreman pounded shots into the body but manager, Angelo Dundee, kept the script on. We all thought the manager was mad in making Ali go through the punishment. And undeservedly too. We were wrong. Even Ali who wanted to change tactics was wrong in round five. Dundee kept on the script and when it was time for the move, it was at a time Foreman had punched himself out. Seven solid blows from Ali pushed the “giant” back

and two more solid ones to the chin and it was “goodnight” for the bulky fighter and it was all over. Alli had won the biggest bout in history and in the bowel of the African continent. That dogfest reminded one of the bout between Customsman Joe Lasisi and Olympian Jerry Okorodudu at the Sports Hall of the Lagos National Stadium. Okorodudu, a loquacious boxer in the mode of the champions produced from long line chain of the Afuze training camp put together in the Mid-western Region of then Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia was his usual mouthy self. Lasisi was unperturbed. At the fight, Jerry was so beaten that his corner practically rushed into the ring with the towel. He was later to recall that he was “confronted” with seven Joe Lasisis in the ring. That has now become history as both are together for the revival of the sport at the amateur ranks. Back to Saturday’s fight and it can promise one thing. The betting shops will be stormed. Forever legendary promoter, Don King, who has refused to “retire” but has been out paid by modern business despite heavyweight, Vitaly Klitscko, fighting same night, says it will be Mayweather. I think, I agree!

THE BIG FIGHT May 3 (Sunday 3:00am)

Roach confident Pacquiao will win on points

reddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao has been more focused than ever in training for his fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas and has tipped the Filipino to win on points. Roach has trained Pacquiao since 2001 and overseen his rise to boxing legend, yet he insists he has never been more impressed by the 36-year-old than over the past few weeks. He said: “Manny took me into his room many times to dissect tape on Mayweather and how he fights against certain people. This is the first time he has ever asked me to watch film with him. I liked what he showed me on the tape and I think that we are perfect for this fight.

“From the first day this fight was announced, I have seen a different attitude in Manny. He has really taken his training to a new level. He is very motivated and I love what I see every day. “I think we can win a decision. We can outpoint him, no problem.” He added: “I believe we have better power than he has and we are using that. I don’t think Floyd’s legs are there anymore and he can’t run for 12 rounds because we will catch him on the way. We’re ready to go 12 hard rounds and that’s what we train for. “I learned a lot from Floyd’s fight with Oscar De La Hoya. I thought he won the first six rounds and then lost track of the strategy.

We learned a lot about how Floyd sets traps and Manny recognises how he sets traps. He won’t fall into it ever and Manny knows exactly what to do in every situation.”

Roach

I’ll be too quick for Floyd – Manny

Pacquiao

anny Pacquiao says he will use his speed to end Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten streak in Las Vegas. “I’m different to the 47 opponents he has fought before. I’m faster than them and I’m content for the fight. I believe this is the moment he will experience his first loss,” Pacquiao said. “I can’t say Mayweather is the most dangerous opponent of my career because I’ve fought guys like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel

Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez and other boxers. “He’s a difficult opponent but my confidence is different for this fight. This is one of the most important fights for my boxing legacy.” Pacquiao was speaking at a gathering of more than 1,000 fans at the Mandalay Bay resort after organising his own ‘welcome to Vegas’ event rather than join Mayweather at the official Grand Arrival event a few hundred yards down the Strip.

Pacquiao can’t beat me, says Mayweather

loyd Mayweather says his mindset of being undefeated will be a huge asset in this weekend’s mouth-watering clash with ‘reckless’ Manny Pacquiao. “I’ve never been defeated. I don’t know what it means or feels like to lose. But once a boxer experiences that the doubt will always be in his mind,” Mayweather said. “Everything I do is calculated. Even keeping the world waiting for this fight, which would only have been worth about $60m if we’d done it five years ago. “The way I fight my body hasn’t taken too much hurt or damage. “But Pacquiao is reckless. He’s been in a lot of wars. I like to excite the fans, too, but if I’d been reckless I’d have been washed up by now. And when you risk getting knocked out as brutally as he was there will be repercussions later in life, after your career ends.” But Mayweather, despite the long-time

Mayweather

rivalry and countless failed attempts to agree the fight, is still full of respect for Pacquiao. “I don’t regret being flash and brash when I was young. But now I’m getting very close to the big 4-0 [he is 38] I can be more mature,” he added. “For example, I’ve got nothing negative to say about Manny Pacquiao. He’s a good fighter. I can’t say if he will be the best I’ve faced until we fight on Saturday night (Sunday morning Nigerian time). Members of our teams say things but not us. We will just fight, do our business.”

Intertional Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

Mourinho: Arsenal need four signings to be strong

ose Mourinho believes Arsenal could emulate their ‘Invincibles’ side with four top-class signings. Mourinho’s Chelsea drew 0-0 with the Gunners on Sunday to all but secure the Premier League title. But despite Arsenal’s struggles in breaking down his defence, the Blues boss reckons investment in key areas would make Arsene Wenger’s men unbeatable. Arsenal went 49 games

without defeat under Wenger, including the entire 2003/04 season. And Mourinho gave a tongue-in-cheek answer referencing the ‘Invincibles’ when asked if his champions-elect could go on to dominate the Premier League. “It’s even more difficult to dominate than before,” he said. “How can you speak about domination when everyone knows what will happen next summer? Give to Arsenal four top-class players

and I think they will again be the Invincibles. “Man United have a phenomenal squad. They will invest hugely again in the summer. City have done phenomenally, winning two titles in three years, and people say they will invest hugely. Liverpool have been fighting for the title for many years. Next year it will be even more difficult for everyone. At this moment, it’s very difficult in the Premier League for a team to be dominant.”

Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud (left) battling for the ball with Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas.

Real Madrid deny transfer ban reports

R Robben

Robben out till next season, Lewandowski hurt

ayern Munich’s Champions League hopes suffered a major blow on Wednesday when it was confirmed star winger Arjen Robben will miss the rest of the season with a calf problem while striker Robert Lewandowski is also facing a spell on the sidelines. Both players were injured during Bayern’s DFB-Pokal penalty shoot-out defeat to Borussia Dortmund - Robben limping off just 16 minutes into a comeback from an abdominal injury which kept him out for five weeks while Lewandowski sustained a broken jaw and nose after being clattered by visiting goalkeeper Mitch Langerak.

Djokovic

orld No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Mutua Madrid Open, it has been announced on Tuesday. Djokovic reportedly pulled out of the event in order to rest ahead of Roland Garros; the only Grand Slam he is yet to win. The 27-year-old said he was “exhausted after [his] exertions so far this season and has decided to lighten [his] schedule.”

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola confirmed after the final whistle that Robben had suffered a calf injury and his worst fears were confirmed following the Dutchman’s visit to Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt on Wednesday morning. Lewandowski suffered his injury deep into extra-time when he was caught by Langerak’s hand in an aerial challenge. He managed to complete the 120 minutes - Bayern had already used their three substitutions - but appeared groggy and played little part in the action. He was also not considered for the shoot-out which Dortmund won following misses from Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Mario Gotze and Manuel Neuer.

eal Madrid have denied that they are set to be served with a transfer ban by FIFA over their activity at youth level. Reports on Tuesday had claimed that Real and city rivals Atletico Madrid were both in FIFA’s sights as football’s governing body continues a clamp-down on practices employed to sign up-and-coming talent. Barcelona are currently

Federation has spoken to different media outlets to refute the claims that Real Madrid are implicated in any kind of irregular activity when it comes to signing minors. “Real Madrid reiterates that the club has always scrupulously adhered to the FIFA regulations, as was explained in detail in the official announcement dated January 26 2015.

Barcelona pratically unstoppable, says Enrique

arcelona boss Luis Enrique believes his side is “practically unstoppable” when the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar play as they did during the 6-0 hammering of Getafe. The three now have a combined 102 goals between them in all competitions this season after Messi and Suarez each scored

twice, while Neymar and Xavi also found the net to move the Catalans five points clear of Real Madrid (before their Wednesday’s match) at the top of La Liga. “It is another day to congratulate the team because these types of games can easily become difficult and we needed to start in the way we did today,” Enrique said.

Enrique

Bolt to run at Golden Spike

Djokovic withdraws from Madrid Open Djokovic has enjoyed a stellar season to date, which has included becoming the first player to win the opening three Masters 1000 events in a season: Indian Wells, Miami and MonteCarlo. By winning these titles, he is consequently enjoying an 18-match winning streak and he has not lost a match since going down against Roger Federer in the Dubai final in late February.

serving an embargo for similar offences and will be unable to sign any players until next year. Official response is yet to come from Vicente Calderon, but Real chiefs do not expect any punishment to land on their doorstep, claiming in a statement: “The club would like to state that the said information is completely false, as demonstrated by the fact that the Spanish Football

Bolt

sain Bolt will compete again at the Golden Spike in the Czech city of Ostrava in May. Organisers say the Jamaican great will run the 200m on May 26, at the meet, which is part of the IAAF world challenge series. They say it will be his only European meet in the first part of the season. The six-time Olympic champion will race for the seventh time at the meet, and returns after a two-year break. Bolt says: “I look forward to the race and coming back to run in the new stadium for the first time.” Bolt previously said his goal still was to break his own 200m world record of 19.19 seconds he set in 2009. Bolt has publicly said he will race in the Diamond League meets in New York in June, and in Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland, the next month.

Moyes criticises ‘worst ever’ Premier League season

avid Moyes believes the current Premier League season is the worst in recent memory, but insists that he will eventually return to England’s top-flight. Moyes departed Manchester United last April and has since taken the reins at struggling La Liga side Real Sociedad.

However, the Scot has kept a watching brief on the Premier League, and has expressed his surprise at the lack of competitiveness in the division. “It’s as poor a Premier League as I’ve seen for... maybe since the start of the Premier League,” he told BT Sport. “When you think of the

great players who have graced the Premier League and the teams... I look at this year, and I look back, and I say ‘Well I don’t see that’. “I see good teams, very good teams, and some great players, but I just don’t see the competition the way it was in years gone by.”

54 Sport

THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

World Relay: Team Nigeria target $50,000 prize money

TRACK & FIELD WITH CHARLES OGUNDIYA

• As Okagbare joins team today

eam Nigeria will be targeting the $50,000 prize money at the second edition of the IAAF World Relays holding in Bahamas on May 2 and 3. The IAAF will pay a total prize purse of $1.4 million for the men and women’s races. The winner of any of the events will pocket $50,000, while the second position attract ($30,000). Third position gets $20,000, fourth ($12,000), fifth position ($10,000), sixth position ($8,000), seventh position ($6,000) and the eighth place will pocket $4,000. In addition, the IAAF has put aside the sum of $50,000

bonus for any team that breaks a world record in the Bahamas 2015 World Relays. Speaking with our correspondent from the team’s base in the United States, one of the official said the athletes were in good spirit and ready to go. Meanwhile, reigning African track queen, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguenor, is expected to arrive Team Nigeria’s camp in Philadelphia, USA, today (Thursday) ahead of the championship. The Nigerian team will depart Philadelphia for Bahamas today, where the country will compete in three events, namely 4x100m, 4x200m and the 4x400m for men and women.

Athletes arrive with tale of woes

igerian athletes that represented the country at the recently concluded African Youth Athletics Championship in Mauritius arrived the country like orphans on Tuesday afternoon after their third place finish at the competition. On arrival, some of the athletes expressed disatisfaction with the way they were treated by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and National Sports Commission. Recalling their experience prior to the competition and

UK Olympian drums up support for Yakmut Comfort Chukwu

s sports stakeholders in Nigeria continue to applaud the appointment of Al-Hassan Yakmut as the Ag. Director General of the National Sports Commission, a Great Britain Olympian, Dalton Grant, has applauded the Nigerian government for the appointment. He stated that Yakmut’s appointment

would attract more foreign partnership to Nigeria. Grant who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone said Nigerian government is moving in the right direction in sports especially with the appointment of a technocrat, Yakmut, who has seen it all in sports as a former athlete and a seasoned sports administrator, into the highest position in the commission.

Grant who was a board director of the London 2012 Olympic bid team, said that Yakmut’s many years of experience in grass roots sports development and his passion for sports would be added advantage for him in his quest to raise the game in Nigeria. He added that his appointment will lift the face of Nigeria sports in the international scene.

I’m proud of my nursing degree – Ibarguen T riple jump world champion Caterine Ibarguen leapt to fifth on the world all-time list last year with her stunning jump of 15.31m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco. In this interview with the IAAF website, the Colombian, who also won the 2014 Diamond Race in her event, offers her take on some aspects of her life.

years ago.

My best achievement in athletics For sure, it was my silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012 (Ibarguen jumped 14.80m to finish 18cm behind Kazakhstan’s gold medallist Olga Rypakova). Winning a medal at the Olympic Games has always been my biggest dream.

The best track venue I love the track in Monaco because this is the place where I jumped my personal best of 15.31m last year. (Ibarguen also won in her only other appearance in Monaco, jumping 14.85m in 2012).

My greatest disappointment This is also my silver medal at the London Olympics. I worked so hard for it yet I was dreaming of the gold medal in London. My greatest rival It is me, because I always want to get the best out of myself and to better myself. My best friend in athletics Eliecit Palacios, the sprinter from Colombia and 2012 Olympian, because we have been together since we started out on our athletics career many

The best piece of advice The best advice was from my coach (Ubaldo Duany, from Cuba) who suggested I change disciplines from the high jump to the triple jump. This move has changed my whole life. Now we are writing history for my country Colombia.

The best athlete I have ever seen Sanya Richards-Ross (2012 Olympic 400m gold medallist) of the USA for me is not only a great athlete, but she is also very humble and down-toearth. My biggest regret I don’t have any regrets because you learn from everything you do and learn from your mistakes. It’s all about learning in athletics. My greatest achievement outside of athletics I am proud of my university degree, I studied nursing in Puerto Rico.

I don’t have any regrets because you learn from everything

during the meet proper, the athletes said they had a hard time. “Before we travelled for the competition, it was tough and terrible for all of us,” one of athletes said. “We were at the airport for hours not even sure if we will be travelling because there was no adequate plan for the trip. “We later travelled in the night with the assurance that we were getting to Mauritius at 4.50am the following day, not knowing that it was just a ruse. We spent hours in Dubai in a stopover and we arrived Mauritius so late in the evening and missed all day one events.” Some of the athletes were converted from their natural events to others, for example, the 100m girls were registered to compete in the long jump, while the 400m boys were asked to feature in hurdles. The athletes also revealed to our correspondent that they were given N2000 each as transport fare back to their home without any other allowances in foreign currency since the competition was outside Nigeria.

Interview 55

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

Tombim Abuja ITF Futures: Dolphins, Deepwater Atseye, Enosoregbe out, Moses in maintain dominance Zenith Bank Basketball League

Ajibade Olusesan

Ifeanyi Ibeh

atience Okpe scored a team high 19 points as Dolphins maintained their unbeaten run in the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League with a 92-29 victory over Coalcity Queens of Enugu. With a commanding start from the opening tipoff, the 2014 league runners-up led by double digits in each of the four quarters to send signals of their intentions to claim this season’s title. Speaking after the match, Okpe, who also had four rebounds to go with her gameleading 19 points, said: “Our

aspiration this season is to go a step further than we did last year, which is getting the title.” She added: “Our team is built on hard work and determination and we are taught to play without any inhibitions. Also on Wednesday, First Deepwater maintained their perfect start to the Opening Phase of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League with a 77-16 victory over the Taraba Hurricanes. Benue Princess also defeated Immigration 33-31; Plateau Rocks defeated AHIP Queens 39-29, while Zamfara Babes suffered an embarrassing 65-8 loss to Delta Force.

igeria’s top players, Henry Atseye and Clifford Enosoregbe, on Wednesday, crashed out of the on-going Tombim Abuja ITF Futures, but youngster Michael Moses progressed to the quarterfinals of the singles event. Enosoregbe lost to Deiton Baughman 6-2, 6-4 in one of the second round matches while Atseye succumbed to 6-3, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Evan Song. Another Nigerian, Christian Paul, was defeated by Nedunchezhiyan Jeevan 6-2, 6-4 while Albert Bikom was outplayed by Crowley KeithPatrick 7-6 (1), 6-1. Thomas Otu fought hard against number two seed, Tucker Vorster, but lost 6-4, 7-6 (5). However, Moses rallied to defeat number eight seed, Alcaraz Cortes, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2, to the delight of the home fans. The 2014 abridged Governor’s Cup winner will now come up against number four seed, Matija Pecotic, in one of the quarterfinal games to be decided on Thursday. Moses, speaking to journalists after the game, said: “I just kept up with the game, I did not think of losing since he could win the first set, I was certain of overcoming

Atseye

him in the second set and I did just that. “I hope I can continue with this pace and get to the semis. This is the least target I have set for myself in this competition. I was not happy when I heard that my friends had lost out in their matches. That made me fight more in order

Okpekpe indigenes in high spirit ahead of race Charles Ogundiya

Action from the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League

Lead City Indoor Hockey flicks-off in Ibadan Dapo Sotuminu

he fifth edition of the Lead City Indoor Five-A-Side Hockey Championship will flickoff in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, today, with 25 teams vying for honours. The event which is the first in the series of competitions in the 2015 calendar of the Nigeria Hockey Federation, would witness action in the male and female categories. The Tournament Director, Mrs. Lade Aloba, promised a world class event that would be run strictly on the rules of world indoor hockey. She also assured all participants of quality officiating as only top class hockey umpires would be allowed to officiate matches. She stressed that, one-time Nigeria’s

best umpire, Mr. Salisu Jabbo, would be on ground as umpires judge and coordinator. Aloba, a former Nigerian hockey international, noted that, all the teams would enjoy adequate security to be provided by the management of the Lead City University. “Aside from this, the management of the school would as usual offer scholarships to brilliant players in the competition. We have mouth-watering prizes that would be taken home by winners. And the main attraction of this year’s event is the individual awards donated by former Nigeria international star, United Kingdombased Sanjo Jones. These awards would be presented to deserving players.

wing to the enthusiasm that now heralds the hosting of the Okpekpe 10 km Road Race, most of the indigenes are in high spirit ahead of the May 16 competition. In other to witness the event, some of the indigenes that usually visit home during the Easter celebrations forfeited their holidays this year. The National President, Okpekpe Clan Development Union, Sir Ellams Umogane, disclosed this to our reporter on the telephone on Wednesday. He noted that since the tournament started in 2013,

so many indigenes and nonindigenes have vowed to come and see things for themselves this time around. “To some people, the advertorials on the television, newspapers stories seem unreal in view of the fact that such places and events are not easy to come by in Nigeria,” Umogane said. “Some of them deliberately refused to travel home for Easter because they want to be part of this year’s history making event.” Some youths said the OCDU boss has long commenced training in order to clinch some of the attractive prizes for the Edo indigenes category.

Eagles to commence camping in May

igeria head coach Stephen Keshi says he will start calling up national team players to a training camp next month as he begins preparations for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The tactician is keen to get an early start on assembling the Super Eagles, having failed to lead them to this year’s AFCON finals in Equatorial Guinea - a shortcoming which almost cost him his job. And, with the AFCON 2017 qualifiers set to kick off in June, where Eagles will face

Chad in Abuja, Keshi - who was re-appointed as head coach this month - is hopeful of getting an early start on his preparations. “We need to start camping next month because time is not on our side since the fixtures for the AFCON 2017 qualifiers have been released by CAF,” Keshi was quoted as saying in an interview with Goal.com. He added: “We will definitely start off with the players based here in Nigeria and move on until the required time the overseas clubs can release our players.”

to come out tops in the game. I am really happy to have won.” He added: “There is an injury to my right wrist and it affected me when I was playing. I could not hit balls that came to my backhand properly but I still managed to win. I truly thank God for this victory.”

Oriwu, Birrel in GTBank Principal’s Cup final Charles Ogundiya

riwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu and Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo, on Wednesday secured their places in the final of the Season 6 of the annual GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup. The first semifinal match in the girl’s category between Oriwu and CMS Girls Senior Secondary School, Bariga, saw the former winning the encounter 4-3 on penalty after both sides had played out a goalless draw at the end of regulation time. The game saw CMS missing a penalty kick towards the end of regulation time that would had given them victory. Despite losing the game, Edemekop Ndiana, who led CMS’ forward line, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Oriwu will now await the winner of Thursday’s semifinal encounter between Ikotun Senior High School and Government Senior College, Agege. In the boy’s category, Birrel Avenue Senior High School, came from behind to defeat Ikorodu Senior High School 2-1 in a thrilling encounter and will await the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between Keke High School, Ijaye, and Ifako Comprehensive High School. Speaking at Wednesday’s semifinal games, Jide Sipe, Head Events and Media Mangement, GTBank, said the bank was satisfied with the standard exhibited by the competing schools. “It’s been a wonderful season this year. Every year we try to build on the success of the previous year,” he said. “I want to assure you that this year is not going to be an exception because we are going to make the final something to look forward to.”

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Gladiators who destroyed PDP: Readers reaction

ast week in this space I took critical historical look at some of the variables that led to the unfortunate descent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the envious height of a ruling party to an opposition status just after 16 years of its projected 60 year rule. The debate as to what happened continues to rage with views expectantly divergent although there is a near consensus of opinion from all contributors that PDP indeed dug the pitch that swallowed it.

Political Musings IKE ABONYI

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 08024024029 (sms only)

The crushing defeat of the party in the last general elections continues to dominate debate in the nation’s political arena today, hence my decision to extend the discourse by presenting the reader’s views on this very touchy political development. With the conclusion of the supplementary election in Imo, Abia and Taraba states last saturday, April 11, 2015, the PDP now controls 13 states, APC 22 and APGA 1, a showing that clearly underscores the demolition of the PDP. Here are the readers views.

Outstanding narrative but I think you failed to find space for the mindless arrogance and corruption of imposed party leaders. Internal democracy was alien to PDP and the blame was not just limited to elected government executives but the party as well. They system gradually rotted from inside out and PDP became a victim of its own contradictions. But you have started an xray..go on, do a mammogram and then a CT scan..It wasn’t broken bones, it may have been a tumour.

Well assembled. The flow of the narrative derives from the truth that informed it. We owe Ike Abonyi some thanks for this historically accurate chronicle of events. Udo dirigi.

Okwesilieze Nwodo

Jonathan

Nwodo

Ike, your write up is good but you failed to address the critical issue, who was carrying the 16 year old baby when he died? Was it not Jonathan, so why drag in Obasanjo and Abudulsami Abubakar into it. Jonathan killed the party, period.

Adeniyi K. Raymond

Nature has it, that nothing lasts for ever. Your piece is well articulated. PDP is the proverbial AKERE, in Yoruba.

Anthony Idehi

I cant agree less with your piece but PDP politicians should have gotten it right eightyears after Obasanjo left office.

Akachukwu Eze

Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu

That is the dialectics of political power... Thesis, anti-thesis and then, synthesis. PDP Governors Forum did it. I recall my 2010 article titled ‘’The Arrogance Of Power’’ In that article, I argued that PDP was approaching its anti-thesis with the arrogance displayed by its governors. Five SE governors, three of PDP one from APGA and one from PPA, sat back and arrogantly alluded themselves the powers to ban every Igbo man of SE from contesting the 2011 presidential election. In the same manner, all of them including members of NASS from the zone, met in Enugu and resolved that Okwy Nwodo MUST be removed as PDP chairman for having the guts to seek reforms in the party. El rufai, Masari and a horde of others

Ike, your analysis of PDP problems was brilliant, You wrote from an inside Knowledge, congratulations.

Musa Mohammed

Ike Abonyi, what about the President’s wife, Patience? You didn’t discuss her role in bringing down her husband. As far as I am concerned she played an ignoble role too. Or what do you think?

Ike Abonyi thank you sir. I have been cowardly to say that President Goodluck Jonathan is a weak person. His DNA surely contains strains of leadership ineptitude. The only thing he had had in good measure is luck. Luck led him this far to the highest seat in the West African sub region. Did he understand the import? Ever since he accepted defeat I had under kitchen Parliament maintained that he was frightened into concession. Silence may not always mean acquiescence. His meant...No vision, no mission. When I first attacked him before the campaign began my friends and colleague on facebook called my attention to possible undue persecution. I, like a snail, withdrew into my shell to shield my job. I joined the bandwagon and called him a king. But that he could not sequester OBJ or cage in the governors showed gross flap on his grip on power. May I not get down a beaten path for you did a good job in your analysis. Nnam deeje.

Deep chronicles characteristic of Ike Abonyi’s intellectual prowess. Well done. I also agree with everyone who has made comments on the issues in Ike’s scholarship. Speaking about PDP’s fall, I want to add that the hijack of the party from the originators - the Alex Ekwueme’s PDM elements- caused the party a big deal. Then the absence of a rally leader like Tinubu is to AD, AC, ACN and APC could also be a factor because obviously there was no one to ‘stand’ for the party against the perceived personal interests of those who came to just benefit from the party.

Clem Clement

Kanayo Esinulo

Fred Chukwuelobe

founding fathers of the party.

Lere Ojedokun

Kayode G

The greedy behaviour of PDP leaders made Obasanjo a hero. One had thought that politicians should have made Obasanjo irrelevant after the failed third term agenda, but they played into his hand and made him the most important politician in the country at the moment. Obasanjo

Mu’azu

were members of the PDP Reform Group but their vision was cut short by the very powerful PDP governors who were nicknamed Princes of the Party. The king does not ever see the wrong his prince does.

superior economic thought - economic democracy

Tivlumun Nyitse

Ike this is well written. It couldn’t have been done any better. I have a first hand experience of the PDP puddle-paddle politics. Thanks my brother for stating the facts most won’t stand up to it considering your role in TAN.

Anslem Okonkwor

How powerful was the Governors’ Forum or how much of its now assumed influence did it exert during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration?

Ndu Paul Eke

Ike, well done. I can’t agree less. There may be other contributory factors but you covered the main ones. Obasanjo’s intervention drained democratic tendencies from the party. PDP needs very deep reforms and more clarity as an alternative. Their nationalist posture has been replicated in APC so they must find a new niche. If you ask me, it should be in

Uzo Nwokwu

Good job, Ike. I salute your memory. But I am a bit surprised that you did not mention T.Y Danjuma, the man who swore to go into exile in 1999 if Obasanjo failed to emerge President. I also expected to hear you mention former V.P, Atiku Abubakar, former Chairman, Col. Ahmadu Ali rtd, as well as the role of the party’s rotation formula for the presidency. I find it interesting that everyone else but the SE who identified with PDP right from day one rode on the back of the party to the Presidency only to abandon it when it mattered most, including the SW who in the 16 years in question jumped from APP, ANPP, AD, ACN, PDP and now APC. Finally, I agree with you that the poison that destroyed the PDP came largely from inside, not the list the party’s generous rehabilitation of ritualists, 419ners, murderers and all sorts of criminals. You have really raised a very important debate which I appreciate the APC on one hand for breaking the PDP rotational presidency formula which had become badly twisted from the vision of the

Chinyere Ikenyi

The gladiators that destroyed PDP are not limited to only the persons you mentioned in your beautiful write up, and you did not say much on the effect of corruption in the collapse of PDP.

Muyiwa Gbenga Ojodu

What is the solution?, you did not dwell much on the way out. I don’t have hope that this APC thing will last, so PDP should reorganize to return, soon you will see what I mean.

Omenma Titus

Beautiful write up as usual but you did not tell us what to do if we return to the labour room how to revive the child for the new challenge.

Shehu Ibrahim

Good article but PDP just needed this hard lesson to sit up, they were taking us for granted, the impunity was much and the arrogance was unbearable, why for any reason should PDP lose Plateau and Benue states, why? their collapse should be a lesson for all including the APC, the bride of the moment whose marriage with Nigerians may not last 16 years as PDP.

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