Thursday, august 11, 2016 binder1

N156bn debt: Blackout looms as GENCOs threaten shutdown lDemand fresh tariff hike over forex drought, lenders' apathy Adeola Yusuf

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nationwide black out looms as six biggest power generating companies, known as

GENCOs, have threatened to shut down electricity generation in Nigeria over a debt of N156 billion ($485

million), which Ministries, Department sand Agencies (MDAs) of government are owing.

In a joint statement yesterday, the generating companies also disclosed that banks were recalling

el-rufai: CBN policy leads to job losses}37

loans made to them due to the harsh economic situation and drought of foreign exchange in the country, which they said have made fresh hike in electricity tar-

iff to be desirable.

The government has earlier paid arrears of N186.7 billion.

The Central Bank of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

FG begins audit of NNPC, IOCs over tax evasion

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Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Sheriff demands suspension of PDP convention

Vol. 3 No. 904

Okowa bows to lepers, approves entitlements }8

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

15 escape in Nsukka jailbreak }8

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

South Africa overtakes Nigeria as Africa’s biggest economy }2

N150

20 soldiers face trial }2

Sheriff

Okowa

Ugwuanyi

Adeosun

…for murder, arms stealing Three policemen held for stripping girl }2 & 9

The four officers and 16 soldiers during the inauguration of the General Court Martial in Maiduguri, Borno State... yesterday PHOTO: Ahmed Miringa

Chevron evacuates staff as protesters ground operations

lMilitants bomb oil installations lShell declares force majeure on gas supply }4 ‘WHO's recommended exercise level too low to beat disease’ }7

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NEWS

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

20 soldiers face trial for murder, arms stealing, rights abuses

Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

T

he 16 soldiers and four officers of the Nigerian Army are to face trial for various offences including selling of arms, murder and indiscipline.

The Army yesterday inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) to try the accused found wanting within the Operation Lafiya Dole Theater Command in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, inaugurated the GCM at a ceremony in Maiduguri yesterday.

The GOC said that the soldiers are being prosecuted for illegal sales of arms and abuse of human rights.

“Some of them have committed offences that have to do with stealing and selling of ammunition.

Also, some of the accused have committed offences that are contrary to the ethics of professional soldiers.

In fact, there are cases of murder that are going to be tried,” Ezugwu said.

Ezugwu said that the action followed an order from

the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja.

“Following the directives from Army Headquarters that a standing GCM be set up for the Operation Lafiya Dole to try offence committed by personnel within the Theatre of Operation.

“I issued a convening order for the GCM on August 5, and members were directed to assemble today for formal inauguration.

As you are aware, discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men there must be justice, because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved,'' he said.

Ezugwu said that four officers and 16 soldiers would face trial at the GCM. “Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules regulations and procedures.

“The GCM is, therefore, convened to try a total of four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have commit-

South Africa overtakes Nigeria as Africa’s biggest economy Tony Chukwunyem

S

outh Africa is once again the biggest economy on the African continent, a position it reclaims from Nigeria, thanks to a surging rand.

Using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of 2015 published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bloomberg reported that the size of South Africa’s economy is $301 billion at the rand’s current exchange rate, while Nigeria’s GDP is $296 billion.

Bloomberg noted that the rand has gained more than 16 per cent against the US dollar since the start of 2016, while in contrast, Nigeria’s naira has lost more than a third of its value.

In afternoon trade on Wednesday, the rand firmed by more than a per cent against the dollar, to R13.29.

The news agency pointed out that both Nigeria and South Africa are facing the risk of recession, having contracted in the first quarter of the year.

Nigeria’s economy shrank by 0.4 per cent,

while South Africa’s GDP contracted by 0.2 percent.

Nigeria has suffered amid low oil prices, while South Africa is sensitive to shifts in the commodity cycle.

“More than the growth outlook, in the short term the ranking of these economies is likely to be determined by exchange rate movements,” Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners LLP, told Bloomberg.

He said that although Nigeria is unlikely to be unseated as Africa’s largest economy in the long run, “the momentum that took it there in the first place is now long gone.”

While the results of the recent municipal elections is feeding positive sentiment back into the markets, the South African Reserve Bank forecasts zero growth for 2016, while unemployment still remains above 26 per cent.

In July, South Africa stepped past Egypt as the continents’ second largest economy in dollar terms, having dropped behind the North African country earlier in the year.

740,000 361,000

The total population of Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Source: Un.org

The total population of women of Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Source: Un.org

ted various offences within the Theater,” he said.

Ezugwu also said that the aim of a GCM was to ensure quick dispensation of justice to the accused persons.

“It must be stated at this juncture that one of the aims of a court martial is to achieve timely and quick dispensation of justice within the framework provided in relation to statue books.

“Therefore, it is important that both the prosecutors and the accused persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to unnec-

essary delays in the trials processes.

“It is often said in the legal parlance that justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

Ezugwu added: “For the president and members of the GCM, I enjoin you all to dispense this all-important assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws.

“Also, you must ensure that your opinions and decisions on all the cases brought before you is not in any way beclouded with bias, external pressure by extraneous factors.

“The outcome of the GCM must, therefore, be based on careful appreciation of the whole facts of

each and evidence placed before you in the course of trial of these accused persons.

“Finally, you are to ensure that the judgement you pass on the accused persons will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all that of the Almighty creator.

“For the accused, be assured that you are all presumed innocent until this honourable court finds otherwise. I wish to further state that your rights to fair hearing and other fundamental human rights will be adhered to throughout this trial.”

The President of the GCM, Brig.-Gen. Segun Adeniyi, who is the com-

mander of 37 Artillery Brigade, addressed the court shortly after taking oath of administration with a promise to be fair and just to the accused in the conduct of the trial.

“The accused persons have nothing to fear because it is an open court guided by the constitution and other legal instruments. We will ensure that we give fair hearing and justice must be done,” Adeniyi said.

According to him, the accused persons will be defended by legal practitioners. He called on the prosecutor and defendants not to cause unnecessary delay through frivolous adjournments.

L-R: Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Abiodun Aina; Executive Chairman, Mr. Tunde Fowler; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, at the inauguration of the national tax policy review in Abuja.…yesterday.

Sheriff demands suspension of PDP convention Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

F

actional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Tuesday, said for peace to return to the party, the proposed national convention scheduled for August 17 in Port Harcourt should be put off and a new date fixed by party stakeholders.

Sheriff, who met for about three hours with members of the reconciliation committee set up by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to reconcile aggrieved party members, also insisted that the National Caretaker Committee, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, should be disbanded as such is alien to the PDP constitution.

The reconciliation committee, headed by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, was inaugurated last Monday by the BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, to find political solution to the lingering crisis.

The committee met with the factional chairman at his office in Mai-

tama, Abuja, on Tuesday night, and rose about 12a.m. yesterday morning.

Apart from Gana, other reconciliation committee members present at the meeting were former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido; his Enugu State counterpart, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi; former Senate Whip, Mrs. Stella Omu; former Minister of Aviation, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze; former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Inna Ciroma; and AVM Dan Suleiman (rtd), among others.

On Sheriff's side were former PDP Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Senator Hope Uzodinma and former Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, among others.

A source at the meeting further revealed that Sheriff agreed to make concession, but only in accordance with the PDP constitution.

According to the source, Sheriff is also against the venue of the convention and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State heading the national conven-

tion planning committee, adding that he insisted that the ward, local government and state congresses already concluded and approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) must stand.

The factional chairman had, at the opening session, accused party leaders, including some members of the panel, for being responsible for the leadership crisis.

According to him, the crisis would not have arisen if leaders were alive to their responsibilities.

"If our leaders have taken their responsibilities, we would never have had most of the problems we are facing today. When a leader refused to stand up to his responsibilities, there will be problem.

"Why am I saying this?

Some of our leaders are party to our problem. The moment we want to use one impunity to address another, it will not work," he said.

At a joint press briefing with the committee chairman at the end of the meeting, Gana and Sheriff noted that the BoT was now better informed on the crisis.

"All that was discussed today (Tuesday) was the problems. They will go back to the BoT that sent them. I am sure that in the next meeting, they come back with recommendations that will bring lasting solutions and peace to the party," Sheriff said.

He commended the effort of the BoT towards resolving the crisis.

Gana on his part said the committee had taken serious note of analysis of problems causing disaffection within the party.

He said: "We are delighted that there has been a clear resolution on the determination and the desire that the problems been resolved, unity be reestablished and for PDP to move forward."

He assured PDP members that efforts were ongoing to resolve the party crisis, adding, "Nigerians are waiting for PDP; they are missing the PDP, they are crying and yearning for PDP because the 16 years of democracy cannot be wasted away."

The committee later met yesterday to review the issues raised at the meeting with the factional chairman.

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEWS

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chevron evacuates staff as protesters ground operations Adeola Yusuf and Joe Obende Warri

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nited States major oil company, Chevron, yesterday evacuated workers from its Escravos tank farm in Delta State as protesters grounded operations at the farm.

The protesters, from Ugborodo in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, occupied the installation located in their community, which is also a major source of gas supply to some power generation firms.

The protest occurred on the same day that Royal Dutch Shell Plc shut a one billion standard cubic feet per day capacity major gas production pipeline on its Oil Mining Lease (OML) 23.

At the Escravos tank farm, the oil workers were airlifted from the barricaded premises by choppers, which ran several trips between Ugborodo and Warri.

The protest, which commenced on Tuesday evening, led protesters to set bonfires in and around the company with bold signs indicating highly inflammable substances.

Speaking on the devel-

opment, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of the company, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said on telephone that the company was in touch with the protesters.

He expressed optimism for a truce as the company was planning to engage them.

The protesters, made of mostly women, children, youths and elders, however, paralysed activities at the tank farm.

They accused the company of discriminating against them even as the host community.

They also alleged that the management of Chev-

ron hardly considered them in matters of employment and contract awards in addition to general neglect of Ugborodo community as regards development.

New Telegraph observed yesterday that with the main gate barricaded, access to the company was denied those outside the premises while those within were not allowed to move out.

This was not the first time the tank farm had been occupied by Itsekiri protesters.

Security agencies in the tank farm calmed the protesters with an appeal to them to vacate the area, which they refused.

Speaking on the siege, the community’s Youth President, Mr. Ofe Nene, said the company had been breaching aspects of the Local Content Policy (LCP) put in place by government to regulate operations of oil companies with their host communities.

He said there was also an agreement for a New Town project in Ugborodo because of the enormous Chevron project in the area that has been impacting on the people, but the company has decided to abandon the project because it believes the people do not

Militants bomb oil installations Dominic Adewole ASABA

B

arely 24 hours after a new militia group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, gave a 48-hour ultimatum to oil firms to vacate upland axis of Delta State, the group yesterday blew up a major trunk/delivery line in Isoko axis of Delta State.

The major trunk/delivery line takes oil from Isoko to the Eriemu Manifold in Urhobo land, belonging to the NPDC/Shoreline Resources.

The group had, on Tuesday, urged the world to watch out for "what the eyes have not seen" in the upland axis of the oil-rich Niger Delta.

The group also warned oil workers in the upland axis of the state to vacate

the region for their own safety because all entreaties to the Federal Government to proffer answers to the Niger Delta questions have failed.

In the "Operation zero-one down, countless more to go" declared by the group, the Central Operations Command of the group yesterday announced the commencement of demolition and evacuation of oil firms in the uplands of the state.

"This is to correct the wrongs that have afflicted our people for years, seek justice for the perpetually cheated and protect the identities of our people, who are co-owners of the wealth which Nigeria has forever misappropriated," the group’s statement, signed by its spokesman, Gen. Aldo Agbalaja, read.

The statement further stated that the oil installa-

tion was brought down "as a mark of our seriousness and to prove we are people of our words."

Continuing, the statement said, "We would also want to use this medium to give a very strong warning to the operatives of the asset NPDC/Shorelines not to commence repairs pending when they get signals from us. Otherwise, the inevitable may occur to their personnel as we have earlier warned them to begin evacuating the uplands.

The group warned that the bombing was just "a glimpse of what is to come,” maintaining that "there are several assets already penned down for destruction.

This line of action has been made inevitable by an unjust system, which only responds to the violent, to the detriment of the peaceful and law abiding."

Adeola Yusuf

I

n a move to recoup over $1 trillion in unpaid taxes by oil multinationals, Nigerian National

Stanley Ihedigbo

A

Pupils of Bripet International School at the graduation and prize giving ceremony in Mushin, Lagos...recently

develop good study habits, moral values, reflective abilities, self-discipline and the basic learning skills.

“We all know that early years’ foundation is very important; what you do not teach a child between the ages of six months and six years, the child will find it difficult to acquire it later,” she advised.

On his part, the Direc-

tor of the school, Dr. Peter Enoma, said the Bripet International School, is well determined to ensure that pupils get best education by availing a balanced international and Nigerian curriculum and a professional learning environment, adding that the school uses modern equipment in teaching and learning such as inter-

The number of pregnant women living with HIV receiving the most effective antiretroviral regiments (excluding single-dose nevirapine) for preventing mother-to-child transmission of Sub-Saharan African in 2010.

Source: Who.int

know their rights and cannot speak.

Nene said the action was also partly about doing turnaround maintenance (TAM) that usually engages some locals, but that "for about two months that we complained in a letter to them that they are not carrying us along, they have been deceiving us.

"We are in Ugborodo, but they will invite us to a meeting in Warri, when we get to Warri, they will either tell us that the date is not feasible or that so and so management official was not available,” he said.

"Chevron has not fulfilled many of its promises," said Collins Edema, a youth and protest leader in the Ugborodo Itsekiri community.

Edema insisted that the farm had been blocked.

He added the U.S. oil major had previously promised to create jobs for young people from the impoverished area and also provide new accom-

modation after housing next to the tank farm was destroyed due to Chevron's activities.

"Our protest will continue until Chevron listens to our demands. We at Ugborodo are urging other Itsekiri communities to follow suit and shut down Chevron activities in our communities," he said.

Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, yesterday, shut a one billion standard cubic feet per day capacity major gas production pipeline on its Oil Mining Lease (OML) 23 as it declared force majeure, inability to meet contractual agreements, on supplies to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas plant in a major threat to gas export.

The company, which revealed this from its London head office, maintained through its spokeswoman, Natasha Obank, that the Eastern Gas Gathering System, or EGGS-1 pipeline, which supplies the bulk of Shell’s gas to the Nigeria LNG plant on Bonny Island, was shut down because of a leak.

Any reduction in LNG exports means a blow to the country’s already suffering economy due to low oil prices and militant attacks.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

FG begins audit of NNPC, IOCs over tax evasion

Bripet Int’l School embraces ICT for learning s part of the efforts to promote learning, Bripet International School, Mushin, Lagos, has introduced Information Communication and Technology (ICT) to its pupils.

Speaking with New Telegraph at the graduation and prize giving ceremony of the school recently, the school’s Proprietress, Mrs. Bridget Enoma, said that the introduction of ICT was to avail the pupils opportunity for early acquisition of computer skills.

According to her, a detailed early childhood education was crucial in bringing out the best from children.

She noted the importance of the early childhood education to the future of a country, saying it is the stage when kids

674,000

active board.

“We have built excellence in our pupils and as a result of this parents have started withdrawing their kids from different schools to enroll them here. We give glory to God almighty for His mercy,” Enoma said.

He commended the teachers and staff of the school for impacting positively on his kids.

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its Joint Ventures partners, the Federal Government has begun a tax audit of the corporation and international oil companies (IOCs).

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which confirmed the tax audit yesterday, maintained that the NNPC had already subjected itself and its books for the audit.

NNPC, in a statement yesterday, quoted the Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler, as disclosing that his agency had received part of the needed documents from the corporation and also commended it for subjecting itself to tax audit as a responsible corporate citizen.

He gave the commendation when he received the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru and his management team at the FIRS Revenue House in Abuja.

The Federal Government had earlier said that it lost over $1 trillion revenue to tax evasion by multinational companies over a period of time.

Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State

House correspondents last Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

He said the FEC approved a memo for Multilateral Competence Agreement and the Exchange of Country by Country Report in order to give the government a better grip on its tax laws and prevent tax evasion by multinational companies.

Fowler also thanked the NNPC for the cooperation it has extended to FIRS on tax matters over the years, stressing that the two organisations were children of the same father committed to generating revenue for the Federal Government.

Responding, Baru expressed NNPC’s readiness to collaborate with the FIRS, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other government agencies to generate revenue for the Federal Government.

He suggested the setting up of a committee between the NNPC and FIRS to update the corporation’s tax obligation up to 2015, assuring that all its joint venture partners would align themselves in order to ensure that the right taxes are paid.

NEWS

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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SEC ends physical issuance of dividend warrant certificates

…gives June 30, 2017 deadline Chris Ugwu

I

n a bid to attract more investors into its edividend platform, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given June 2017 deadline to end physical issuance of dividend warrant certificates to shareholders of companies quoted on the Nigerian capital market.

E-dividend is an online payment system whereby

dividends are wired to investors’ bank accounts.

SEC, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), in July last year, launched the e-payment platform.

Announcing the deadline at the Second Quarter Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting yesterday in Lagos, the Director General, SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said: “At CMC, we

have resolved that by June 30, 2017 no registrar will issue dividend warrant any longer, the market has agreed and we are going to implement it.”

Gwarzo noted that the deadline was the only way to encourage people to embrace e-dividend system of payment, adding that once there is no deadline; people would be reluctant to key into the system.

He said that the commission was committed

to addressing the issue of unclaimed dividend, particularly those that have spent 12 years and above and statute barred.

Gwarzo expressed worries over slow pace on the part of investors to key into the platform.

He said: “We are still having issues with respect to e-dividend. The report NIBSS gave us was very discouraging; about 6,000 Nigerians have, so far, registered for the e-dividend.

SEC has been in the vanguard of advocating people

FEC gives matching orders on migration to digital broadcasting Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given a final directive to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to move swiftly into action as the June 2017 deadline for global migration to digital broadcasting approaches.

Government, yesterday, said despite the downturn in the nation’s economy, it would leave no stone unturned in beating the deadline to provide quality signals to Nigerians.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, said that the migration policy fell under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) directive that all countries comply by exiting from analogue to digital broadcast mode on or before June 2017.

FEC’s decision is coming amidst concerns that majority of Nigerians are currently facing hardship

as a result of the nation’s dwindling economy.

According to the Information Minister, the Federal Government in April this year had already deployed some set-up boxes in Jos, Plateau State as part of its pilot scheme towards the digitalisation process.

Over N34 billion has been earmarked for programme to procure digital spectrum necessary for the migration policy.

The Information Minister told reporters that beyond the inauguration of four special advisers and permanent secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who took oath of office respectively, the only memo considered was the broadcast migration policy.

He said the migration programme was essential to enable Nigerians continue to receive television signals after the deadline.

Mohammed, who cautioned that Nigeria might be cut off from the world if it failed to meet up with the deadline by next year, noted that the project held the prospect of totally eliminating piracy from

Shell declares force majeure on gas supply CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

The NLNG project has a capacity to process 22 million metric tons a year of the liquefied fuel, or seven per cent of world supply, as well as five million tons of natural gas liquids, according to Shell website.

The militant attacks on energy infrastructure are already hurting exports.

“The pipeline has been shut down for a joint investigation visit into the cause of the leak and repairs,” Shell said.

To end attacks on pipeline infrastructure in the oil-rich Niger Delta, the Federal Government has resumed payments of stipends to former militants and also attempting to establish talks with others as part of solution to halt attacks on oil facilities that has damped crude production to almost a 30year low.

Minister of State for

Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Kachikwu, had said earlier this month that output had fallen to 1.4 million barrels a day.

While Shell has declared force majeure on supplies, “alternative sources of gas supply have enabled Nigeria LNG to continue production and loading” at its plant on Bonny Island, Charles Okon, a spokesman, said yesterday in an e-mailed response to questions.

NLNG, set up 16 years ago to export gas, is owned

by NNPC, Shell, Total and Eni. It has long-term supply contracts with Italy's Enel, Shell, France's Engie SA and Portugal's Galp, among others. It also sells on the spot market.

While NNPC holds a 49 per cent share of the project, Shell has 25.6 per cent, Total SA 15 per cent and Eni SpA 10.4 per cent.

the system.

In this regard, he explained that FEC approved a directive that all government agencies involved in the project are made to do follow-up to ensure success of the programme.

He also said that the funds for the project are available and contracts have been awarded for the supply of the digital set-up boxes at affordable prices to Nigerians.

It is expected that as part of the new digital migration policy, signal distributors will, henceforth,

be solely responsible for sending out broadcast signals to the public consumers while broadcast content will be the responsibility of station owners.

"As you are aware, the ITU gave a deadline to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting by June 2017.

"Already, the pilot scheme in Jos was successfully deployed at the end of April and it is working very well and today, those who are in possession of our setup boxes can view 15 channels with clarity in Jos.

to go and register for the edividend.

“There seems to be misunderstanding between the bank and investors, which has been resolved, now the investors can go back.

“We have resolved that now each bank will have an e-dividend champion and also for registrar companies to ensure a smooth process. We have achieved a lot of progress and we will continue the advocacy and public enlightenment on e-dividend.

“Our expectation last year was that by now, we will have up to 500,000 to one million Nigerians that have registered for the edividend, but the number of 6,000 plus is very low.”

Gwarzo noted that the commission was writing to all the stockbrokers and registrars for it to have data of certificates that are not in the system.

“We can now devise ways and means to address those certificates. As at today, we are talking about

£89m

The transfer cost of Paul Pogba to Manchester United in 2016.

Source: Goal.com

achieving 97.4 per cent of dematerialisation. Since the inception of CSCS in 1985, up to June last year, we were able to dematerialise 40 per cent. But when we sat down with CSCS by the end of September last year, we have achieved 87 per cent. Within two months, we have achieved over 50 per cent,” he said.

Gwarzo, who disclosed that the 150 days the commission promised to underwrite e-dividend registration expenses would expire September this year, noted that since the regulator did not have enough people registered, the free process would now end in December.

While advising stakeholders to increase awareness of the process, he noted that the extension would allow more people key into the process free of charge.

He also commended CBN’s directive mandating banks to accept dividend warrants into the savings account of investors.

128,964

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bahamas in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

Cross River State Governor, Prof.

Ben Ayade (left), and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadezia Bala Usman, during a visit to the governor in Calabar … yesterday

N156bn debt: Blackout looms as GENCOs threaten shutdown CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Nigeria (CBN) has also stepped in with a N213 billion loan, paid in batches to keep the system afloat and allow the power firms to access credit.

The GENCOs, however, claimed in the statement that more is needed as the oil price slump pressures Nigeria's currency.

Chronic power shortages are one of the biggest constraints on investment and growth in Africa's largest economy.

Producing less than 4,000 megawatts, Nigeria's requires 10 times the amount it currently produces to guarantee power to its 170 million people.

The power generation companies, which include Transcorp's power subsidiary and Forte Oil's power

unit, said they struggled to repair their networks because importation of spare parts had become too expensive due to naira devaluation.

"In 2013, exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today, it is N310. How can we repair, equip, acquire new turbines at this rate of N310 per dollar and yet still operate with an old tariff ?" the companies asked, adding that "a shutdown is indeed imminent."

These largest electricity companies, the statement continued, would shut down power supplies unless the government pays the longstanding bills it owes them and improves gas supplies.

In 2013, Nigeria, famous for blackouts, started selling parts of its moribund

state electricity firm, in a privatisation that was meant to improve power supplies and attract billions of dollars in new investments.

If the companies make good their threat, most industries and residential homes will be in darkness, except for those that rely on expensive diesel generators.

The naira has lost 40 per cent of its value since Nigeria ditched its 16-monthold peg of N197 to the dollar in June in a bid to lure back foreign investors who fled both the equities and bond markets after the plunge in crude prices.

After the privatisation, the government pledged to review tariffs as more power is generated and upgrade the transmission network to give more

people access to the grid.

But tariff reviews have not kept pace with rising cost, worsened now by the naira devaluation, analysts say.

In February, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased tariffs by 45 per cent, triggering protest from consumers, already under pressure from rising inflation, which hit a 10-year high in June. But the tariff increase was not enough to cover their cost, generating companies say.

As of July, the generating firms have received only 28.6 per cent of their April invoices, they said.

However, the generating firms are holding off on expansion. Generating companies have around 5,000 megawatts of spare capacity, which has no access to gas, they say.

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News|NATIONAL

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ogor: We‘ll resist attempt to remove Dogara Philip Nyam Abuja

M

i n o r i t y Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, has expressed his readiness to present himself for investigation on the allegations of budget padding by former Appropriation Committee Chairman,

75

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Ogor, who spoke yesterday in Abuja said “I’m ready to confront Hon. Abdulmunin Jibrin in the presence of security agencies and expose the atrocities he committed while working on our budget.”

The minority leader said he was surprised that Jibrin mentioned him in the budget pad-

The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the 60+ age group of El Salvador in 2012.

Source: Un.org

ding scandal.

He said:”I don’t know why he’s dragging me into the mess he deliberately created without due consultation as I was at no time a member of his committee or the expanded harmonisation committee of both legislative Houses.”

Commenting on the alleged plot to remove Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Ogor said “we members

$23.2m

The total pay (including salary/winnings & endorsements) of Usain Bolt (Track) for 2014.

Source: Forbes.com

of the PDP family will resist it with the last drop of blood from our veins.

“You can’t sack a man for performing his legislative duties. Dogara has done nothing wrong. So, why should anybody contemplate sacking him.

“Like I told you earlier, I’m ready to face our security agencies on this padding matter as I want them to extend the invitation to me to give the ac-

1,651

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving terrorists in 1994.

Source: Satp.org

F

ollowing reports that the Shiite sect in Nigeria also known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) are planning to trek from Kaduna to Abuja to demand the release of their leader, Ibrahim ElZakzakky, who has been in detention after a clash with the army last December, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has promised that the Police would take actions to ensure that there was

no breach of security by members of the sect.

The IGP gave the assurance when a religious inter-faith group, the Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) led a peaceful protest to the Force headquarters Abuja to draw the attention of the Police authorities to the intention of the Shiite sect.

The IGP, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of police (DIG), Habila Joshack, reiterated that the laws of the country had respect for religious rights of every citi-

zen, but emphasised that such rights should not be abused.

Joshack, who addressed the protesters at the Force headquarters, said the Police would apply the law appropriately, saying the laws of the country had made provision for sanctions.

“I thank you for finding the police a worthy institution that you think stands for peace and security of the nation. I also thank you for recognising the huge time and resources that has been invested in search of peace in this country under

Niger deaths: NICReL wants Senator investigated Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL), has called for the investigation of a Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, over comments that the group was sympathetic to gun runners who killed Nigerian troops in Niger State recently.

Eleven soldiers of the

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contractors, especially those involved in road construction works in order to bring back their workers.

The statement explained that tax holidays and free lands should be given to genuine investors to help them put the economy on track.

“There should be an efficient tax regime that will ensure that businesses are adequately taxed, as most of them explore the loopholes in the system to dodge payment of taxes,’’ it added.

The union advised the government to tackle economic challenges facing the country through partnership with the private sector and diversification to the mineral and agricultural areas.

NIPR seeks collaboration with the media

Zakzakky: IGP insists Police won’t compromise Abuja

N26billion and Jibrin unilaterally reduced it to N21bn and nobody till date could trace where he kept the N5bn he removed.

“As for those who said I mutilated the NDDC budget, how is that possible when I was never at anytime involved at both the harmonisation committee level or the appropriation committee level?”

NUPENG calls on FG to pay JVF to oil companies he Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has called on the Federal Government to pay its Joint Ventures Funds to oil companies to help stimulate the sector.

This appeal was contained in a statement signed by the NUPENG President, Mr Igwe Achese and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

The statement also stated that the oil and gas sector must not continue to experience the current redundancy, which had become the order of the day.

It urged the government to use part of the recovered looted funds to pay verified

Group photograph of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR) National Executive members and New Telegraph newspapers management team during a courtesy visit to the New Telegraph Corporate Head office by NIPR in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Yekeen Nurudeen

curate account of what actually transpired”.

“The legislator has nothing to hide in this regard as everything is in black and white.

“You journalists are not doing enough investigative journalism because you would have discovered by now that Jibrin has no case at all.

“Take for instance, the NDDC budget which the committee appropriated

31 Field Artillery Brigade were killed in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State by people the military authorities had described as gun runners.

Umaru, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, sparked off controversy when he said the people who attacked and killed the soldiers during the military operations were his peace loving constituents.

NICReL Coordinator,

Rev Stephen Onwu, said in Abuja yesterday that Senator Umaru’s comments must be investigated to establish if there was a connection between him and the gang that was fabricating and hoarding caches of arms in Niger State.

“Gun runners, even if merely alleged so, should not get support from senior government officials and for a Senator to place himself at their disposal as their official spokesperson is pure brigandage.”

President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I am also happy that you are part of those who watch your environment and gather information that is translated into intelligence by putting us on the alert that some group of people who are likely to March from Kaduna to the FCT. “And that is likely to impede on the existing security. We are going to provide a lot of robust security. We are going to do lot of analysis of this information that we will turn into intelligence,” he said.

Eleazar Nwanti

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he president of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Dr Rotimi Oladele, has stated the need for a synergy between journalism and Public Relation (PR) in the quest for development.

He stated this yesterday when a team of NIPR officials paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the New Telegraph in Lagos.

Emphasising the need for the collaboration, he said, “we must allow ourselves to know a little bit of our profession, do more roles of collaboration in

building the economy”.

Oladele was of the view that journalism needed to go beyond newspaper production as there must be an occasional platform where people were brought together which to evaluate measurement into how far the nation had gone in a particular area.

He said: “The majority of people who are making laws for us are “green leaves,” who don’t have what it takes to make good laws and good policies. There are some who are good and experienced but when we have these “green leaves”. The only balance can be obtained from the media.

Dara: APC, a misadventure to Nigerians Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

F

ormer presidential aspirant of the National Transformation Party (NTP), Dr. John Dara, has described the ruling All Progressives Congress as a misadventure to Nigerians.

Dara, who is an aspirant to the position of the National Publicity Secretary (NPS) in the August

17 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the APC was better at opposition.

“APC is good as a gadfly which should only be restricted to the opposition role to guarantee balance in the system,” he said.

Dara, who picked his nomination form yesterday, promised to bring passion and professionalism into the office if elected.

He said the time had

come for the party to be counted for excellence, and described the microzoning principle being contemplated by the party as a means of relegating excellence in favour of mediocrity.

According to him, the leaders of the party in the past became presumptuous and took the people for granted while appropriating power to a cabal which led to the loss of the 2015 presidential election.

thursday, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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our years after its adoption , the Federal Government, yesterday raised a nine member committee to review the National Tax Policy( NTP) with a view to enthroning effective tax policy system in the country.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who performed the inauguration in Abuja, recalled that, "history was made in 2012 with the introduction of the National Tax Policy which contains a set of fundamental principles, which should serve as guide or barometer in determining what legislative and administrative action the tax system may require.

The Policy builds on the set of principles espoused by Adam Smith in his Wealth of Nations viz: Equity, Certainty, Convenience, and Administra-

FG constitutes committee on national tax policy

Retrenchment in banks: FG, financial unions open talks

tive Efficiency".

However, Adeosun observed that, "It is over four years now since the document was finalized, without any additional updates and it is yet to be fully implemented. In a rapidly changing commercial environment with new business models, tax avoidance and evasion strategies among other activities, a tax policy cannot be static".

The minister underscored the determination of the present administration to diversity sources of its revenue away from oil, as according to her, oil which was 13 per cent of its economy base accounts for 70 per cent of its entire revenue.

Adeosun said: “As you are all no doubt aware, this administration is com-

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mitted to diversifying the sources of government revenues away from oil.

Oil is just 13 per cent of our economy but accounts for 70 per cent of government revenue. Our challenge is to ensure that the other 87 per cent of economic activity makes its own contribution to government revenue. An effective tax system is key to this and such a system must be underpinned by an effective and appropriate tax policy. Nigeria has one of the lowest tax to GDP ratios in the world at just 5 per cent. There is clearly a

5.91%

The dividend yield for the 52-week period of the Nigerian Stock Exchange ending December 31, 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

pressing need for an overhaul of our tax policy and this is a key function of the Ministry of Finance."

"Businesses react to tax policy and we are determined to ensure that ours send the right message being that Nigeria is open for business and is encouraging businesses with a tax system that is easy to understand and comply with.

Areas of our tax code and laws that are in need of review will be addressed as part of this exercise as will modalities for simplifying our processes and reducing the tax burden on small businesses", she added..

The Committee chaired

by Dr. Adeola Sanni of University of Lagos, has four weeks to complete its assignment.

L-R: General Manager, Operations Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), Benson Lawal; Managing Director, NASD OTC, Bola Ajomale; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo; , Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema; Managing Direcctor/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Bola Koko Onadele, and Country Manager, AFEX Commodity Exchange ,Ayodeji Balogun, during the Second Quarter 2016 CMC meeting in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

‘WHO's recommended exercise level too low to beat disease’ Appolonia Adeyemi

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n order to reduce the risk of five common chronic diseases, researchers from the United States (U.S) and Canada have urged the world community to engage in higher levels of physical activities far above the recommended levels by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to a report in the Guardian, an online news publication, when the level of total physical activity per week is five to seven times the minimum level recommended by the WHO, there would be a lower risk of stroke and of contracting breast and bowel cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Chronic diseases are long-term medical conditions that are generally progressive. Some examples of chronic diseases include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and chronic respiratory problems. At present, these are the major causes of disability and

national | news

death globally.

In effect, the study findings show that higher levels of physical activity can achieve bigger reductions in the risk of the five highlighted common chronic diseases, but only if people engage in levels far above the recommended minimum exertion.

An analysis of 174 studies found that gardening, household chores and more strenuous activities, when done in sufficient quantities, were strongly associated with a lower risk of stroke and of contracting breast and bowel cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

At present, the WHO recommends that people conduct at least 600 metabolic equivalent minutes (MET minutes) of physical activity – the equivalent of 150 minutes each week of brisk walking or 75 minutes of running. But the new study suggested most health gains were achieved at 3,000 to 4,000 MET minutes per week.

Reacting, the lead author, Hmwe Kyu, from the University of Wash-

ington, said: “Major gains occurred at lower levels of activity. The decrease in risk was minimal at levels higher than 3,000 to 4,000 MET minutes per week.

“A person can achieve 3,000 MET minutes per week by incorporating different types of physical activity into the daily routine – for example, climbing stairs 10 minutes, vacuuming 15 minutes, gardening 20 minutes, running 20 minutes, and walking or cycling for transportation 25 minutes on a daily basis would together achieve about 3,000 MET minutes a week.

Analysing studies published between 1980 and 2016, the researchers found the pattern highlighted was most prominent for ischemic heart disease and diabetes and least prominent for breast cancer. For example, individuals with a total activity level of 600 MET minutes per week had a two per cent lower risk of diabetes compared with those reporting no physical activity.

An increase from 600

to 3,600 MET minutes reduced the risk by an additional 19 per cent. The same amount of increase yielded much smaller returns at higher levels of activity.

“With population ageing, and an increasing number of cardiovascular and diabetes deaths since 1990, greater attention and investments in interventions to promote physical activity in the general public is required,” they wrote.

“More studies using the detailed quantification of total physical activity will help to find a more precise estimate for different levels of physical activity.”

In a linked editorial, researchers at the University of Strathclyde and the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon, France, write that the study has importance for the prevention of chronic diseases but point out: “It cannot tell us whether risk reductions would be different with short duration intense physical activity or longer duration light physical activity.”

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

owards resolving the lingering retrenchment and other major labour issues in the banking and financial institutions, the Federal Government yesterday opened talks with the sector’s organised labour unions.

The unions include National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) and Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFE).

The meeting, according to a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, was the first of the three-stage meetings with the sector’s stakeholders.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who declared the meeting opened, said that “banks and their employees must be ready to operate within the provisions of the Nigerian laws.”

“Today, our journey towards the resolution of the industrial disputes in the banking and financial sector begins in earnest.

“You may recall the series of petitions from the organised unions in banks and financial institutions and individuals complaining of unfair labour practices which include illegal termination of appointments, forced resigna-

tions, unpaid exit emoluments and entitlements, non-remittance of union check-off dues, prolonged casualisation, contract staffing and redundancy,” Ngige said.

The minister recalled that he was compelled to intervene and declare status quo ante-bellum on May 30, directing banks to reverse all terminations within the previous four months while the unions were restrained from picketing the banks, pending the outcome of negotiations.

Ngige expressed displeasure with the skewed observance of the laws of the land by the financial institutions and warned that the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) cannot be the only law banks will comply with, to the exclusion of the laws of the country.

“Banks are not only to obey the Banks and Financial Institutions Act; they must also obey the all-encompassing laws of Nigeria, especially the labour laws, because the banks cannot function without human beings.

“So, both the banks and the unions, the umbrella for the workers, must conform to the laws of the land that guide employer/ employee relationship,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government was conscious of the nation’s steep economic indices, hence, the emphasis on saving the jobs where government was constrained to create new ones.

El-Rufai vows to jail parents over compulsory schooling Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

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he Kaduna State Government has vowed to send parents, who ignore directive to send their children to school to jail.

That is when the House of Assembly passes the Executive Bill which would give access to children nine years of free and compulsory education, as from September.

Governor Nasir El Rufai said the government has invested massively in the education sector so that " all children, the teenage girl inclusive, will have the right to a proper academic foundation to develop their potentials fully, thereby empowering her to live a fulfilled life."

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Arch. Yusuf Bala Bantex, made this known at this year’s World Population Day under the

7

United Nations Population Fund UNFPA 7th programme assistance.

According to El-Rufai, the World Population Day has been set aside by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to draw the attention of governments and developmental agencies on population issues affecting developing societies .

The governor disclosed that Kaduna State had received $21million as grant from the World Bank about two months ago, adding that the government was working tirelessly to increase access to healthcare services to all children through comprehensive healthcare programmes.

He said: “Through this intervention, we are equipping primary healthcare facilities in all the 255 wards in the state and stocking them with drugs and medical equipment to increase access to quality healthcare."

8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Driver steals master’s ATM card, withdraws N2.7m lI spent it on women, says suspect

Taiwo Jimoh, Tobi Ayinde and Farida Muhammed

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29-year-old driver, Mr. Mayowa Alabi, has told journalists in Lagos how he stole his master’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and withdrew N2.7 million.

Alabi, who was paraded yesterday at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, said he only bought a Black Berry phone from the money while the remaining was spent on women and clubbing.

The suspect was arrested along with his friends, Jeremiah Ibitoye (26) and Opeoluwa John (18).

The state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said during the parade that Alabi’s boss had been complaining about his misplaced ATM card for some days. But when Alabi saw it, instead

of returning it, he kept it to himself.

He said: “The driver deactivated the ATM card and sim card of his boss and changed the pin of the card, which barred the owner from receiving alert and even calls.

After a while, the real owner discovered that calls and messages were not coming through his phone.

“He then contacted the service provider who told him that his line had been deactivated from receiving calls and messages. Immediately, he reported to the police who swung into action and discovered that it was his driver and his (Alabi’s) friends who hacked into his account and phone line.”

But Alabi said it was greed which pushed him into what he did.

He said: “My boss is a nice person. I just wanted to practise what I learnt from the computer training I went for.

I am earning N30,000 monthly salary. All I bought from the stolen money was a Black Berry, another phone, wristwatches and laptop. I spent the remaining money to party in club and on women.

“I regret my action. I beg my parents to forgive me for bringing shame and disgrace to them. I promise to pay the money with my salary if I get out the problem.”

John, who is a generator mechanic, said Alabi gave him the ATM card to buy phones, laptops and some other items at a popular mall.

He said: “I do not know anything about the card cloning.

I agreed to go on the errand because he used to help me whenever I needed his assistance. I just left secondary school last year.

“My parents are not aware that I am in the custody of the police. I feel very bad finding myself in this situation.

I hope I will get out of here

Alabi (left), John and Ibitoye Photo: Tobi Ayinde

soon because my mates are in the university and I desire to join them there.”

Ibitoye also denied knowing anything about the cloning of the ATM card.

He said: “Alabi only called

me to take John to the ATM to withdraw money and buy things for himself.”

Owoseni, however, said the suspects would be arraigned after completion of the investigation.

City Briefs Lepers’ protest: Okowa bows, approves payment 15 escape from Nsukka prison Dominic Adewole ASABA

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overnor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State yesterday approved the payment of two months’ entitlements for lepers from Eku settlement in Ethiope West Local Government Area.

This came on the heels of a two-day protest by the lepers.

The People Affected with Leprosy (PAL) crippled duties at the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Social and Community Development, and forced the workers to abandon their duty posts for fear of possible infection.

They were angry that the governor reduced their daily meals from three to two and cut their monthly stipend from N6,000 to N3,900.

They caused embarrassment to government on the popular Anwai Road, which leads to the Government House, Asaba and from there to Abuja. Besides, government was also owing them seven months arrears.

Ministry sources said Okowa responded promptly

Okowa

because they were constituting nuisance to commuters and other road users, and vowed not to leave the premises of the ministry, where they slept till the following day.

The governor, who was in Abuja, was shocked to hear that physically-challenged persons were protesting round the state and calling his administration different names.

He promptly approved the payment of two months stipends to them and gave them N120,000 for transportation back to their colony.

The Chairman of the group, Mr. Lucky Egbo, however, commended the gesture.

But he vowed that they would not relent until their demands were met and their stipend increased to N15,000.

Kenneth Ofoma and Charles Onyekwere

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t least 15 inmates were said to have escaped from Nsukka Prison in Enugu State on Tuesday night after they opened the cell gate and scaled the prison fence.

The Controller of Nsukka Prisons, Mr. Lawrence Okonkwo, who confirmed the jailbreak to journalists, gave no further insight into how the prisoners escaped.

He said: “Yes there was jailbreak last night (Tuesday) in Nsukka prisons but I am not in position to say how many prisoners escaped.

“We are expecting the Enugu State Prisons Controller, Mr. Isaiah Amariri in Nsukka prisons so that we briefed him on what happened.

“He will be the one to tell

the public the number of inmates that escaped, re-arrested ones and efforts put in place to arrest those still on the run.”

Our correspondent, however, gathered that two of the escaped inmates were re-arrested yesterday morning by security agents.

A prison official, who pleaded anonymity, gave an account of how the prisoners escaped.

He said: “The inmates carefully opened their cells and scaled the prison wall. Before prison officials on night duty knew what was happening, about 15 inmates have escaped.”

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the Nsukka prison, at the moment, is accommodating about 500 inmates instead of 180, its original capacity.

METRO

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Divorce court

Father of five ‘defiles’ 18-month-old baby

‘My wife fetish, sent killers after me’ A

52-year-old businessman, Lateef Oteshile, approached an Igando Customary Court yesterday in Lagos to dissolve his 24-year-old marriage over his wife’s alleged fetish acts.

Oteshile told the court that his wife, Ayoka, with whom he had four children, had been visiting different herbalists.

He said: “There is no herbalist my wife does not know; she travels regularly and comes back with different charms.

“I used to see salt, red oil, blood and other substances sprinkled in my compound. I fear for my life because I don't know what she wanted to achieve with her charms.”

The petitioner, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), also alleged that his wife invited armed robbers to rob his junior wife.

He added: “Ayoka invited robbers to attack my junior wife when she just returned with goods from Dubai; about N15 million worth of jewellery and other goods were stolen.

“One of the jewellery that was stolen was later found on Ayoka’s neck a few months after the robbery.”

Oteshile said that his wife was even threatening his life.

“Ayoka hired assassins to kill me, but they failed; when she was confronted she said she only wanted them to beat me in order to teach me a lesson,” he said.

Oteshile begged the court to dissolve the 24-year-old marriage because his life was at risk and that he was no longer in love.

Mahbatie PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Taiwo Jimoh, Tobi Ayinde and Farida Muhammed

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48-year-old bricklayer, Mr. Emmanuel Mahbatie, is now in custody of the police in Lagos for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 18-month-old baby.

The incident occurred on August 3, at Adebayo Street, Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspect and others before journalists yesterday at command headquarters, Ikeja, said the baby girl went to play

with the bricklayer’s children in their apartment when he allegedly inserted his fingers into her private part.

Owoseni said the baby was referred to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where it was confirmed she was violated.

Mahbatie, however, denied the accusation.

The father of five said he was only playing with the baby and that he could not do such a thing to her.

He said: “The baby always comes into my apartment to play with my children. She was still with my children when suddenly her mother rushed into my apartment that she

ABAKALIKI

E Nigerian woman faces fraud trial in UK Taiwo Jimoh

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29-year-old Nigerian woman, Fausat Abolore, yesterday appeared before Inner London Crown Court for allegedly paying a man £1,000 to pose as her newborn baby’s father in order to avoid deportation.

Standard Evening said the police found out about Abolore’s fraudulent act through online pictures of the real father cuddling his son at a naming ceremony.

The accused reportedly hired 44-year-old Anthony Ezekpo in a bid to gain British citizenship, using his name on the baby’s birth certificate and a subsequent passport application.

The woman claimed that she lived with Ezekpo and also provided a fake address to the United Kingdom (UK) authorities.

But the UK police said the baby’s real father, Peter Gentry, was a Nigerian and was photographed at the naming ceremony, on September 15, 2014.

The police also told the court yesterday that Abolore wired £1,000 to Ezekpo’s bank account the day her baby’s birth certificate was signed and that she entered England illegally.

“He was enlisted as part of a fraudulent scheme to get British citizenship for her to remain in the UK. A man turned up with her at council offices in Greenwich to register the birth and get a birth certificate. The man putting himself forward as the father was not Mr. Gentry but Mr. Ezekpo, and they both said they lived together,” said police prosecutor, Adam Gardner.

heard her cry and that was why she came to pick her.

“A few minutes later, the girl’s mother came back screaming that her daughter could not urinate properly again. She said that I have inserted my finger into her private part. That was how some of the residents who were with her tried to lynch me.

“Before I knew what was happening, policemen from Owotu Division had come to arrest me for the offence I knew nothing about. I begged the policemen that I could not do such a thing to a minor like that.”

Mahbatie said the mother of the baby accused him of placing the baby on his bed before inserting his finger into her private part.

He added: “My children were also with me on the bed that fateful day.

How can I do such a thing like that when I have a wife? I want the case investigated properly because I don’t want to suffer for what I do not know anything about.”

Mahbatie said he showed the baby’s mother his fingers.

He said: “How can my fingers enter the private part of that small girl? I don’t know what I have done to the woman to punish me with this kind of allegation.”

Owoseni, however, said the suspect would be arraigned after completion of investigation.

The commissioner urged parents and guardians to watch over their children and wards and be mindful of who they leave their children with.

Three Policemen, held for stripping girl Uchenna Inya

Abolore

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bonyi State Police Command yesterday began orderly room trial of three of its men indicted in the stripping and battering of a 15-yearold girl, Uzoamaka Chukwu, at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Uzoamaka was allegedly stripped naked and battered with cables and canes by some persons in the area with the picture and video posted on Ogbonnaya flanked the social media. by other suspects Briefing journalists in Abakaliki on the matter and the breakthrough been arrested in connection with the recorded by the police, the Commis- case.

The commissioner promised that sioner of Police, Ibekwe Abdallah, the incident would be properly invessaid after the orderly room trial, the three policemen would be prosecuted. tigated and that justice would be done She disclosed that the Coordinator in the matter.

Abdallah said her men also arrestof Ohaozara Development Centre, Ene ed members of a notorious syndicate Ogbonnaya, and two others had also

who specialised in child stealing and trafficking.

She said: “On July 16, at Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, members of a notorious syndicate who specialised in child stealing/trafficking came to Uburu with a Toyota Camry car with registration number BEN 173 AU to unleash their nefarious act on the people. Their names are: Anthonia Okeke, Chukwuka Muonye and Raphael Kanwei.

“In the course of investigation, Esther Agbowo of Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area in company with her father reported that she was lured with her two children to Delta State by Ekene who claimed to be a pastor in the guise of marriage after introduction rites to her people.

“While she was with him at Asaba, she was abandoned by the man and her two kids were taken away from her and sold off.”

Woman held for fake LPO, N38m dud cheque Camillus Nnaji

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olice in Zone 2, Lagos have arrested a 39-year-old woman, Mrs. Oluwatobi Obogo, for allegedly defrauding people by presenting a Local Purchase Order (LPO) and issuing dud cheques.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Abdulmajid Ali, yesterday paraded Obogo and other suspects at the zonal command headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.

Obogo allegedly issued a dud cheque to Mr. Kennenna Nwosu, who bankrolled an LPO presented by the suspect to the tune of N38 million.

On July 16 and 17, the suspect allegedly collected the amount and issued a dud cheque to mature in 12 working days The LPO was for the lifting of 300,000

litres of diesel valued N38 million. She reportedly offered to pay the amount plus interest of about N3 million to Nwosu at the completion of the supply order in two weeks.

But Ali said Obogo disappeared into the thin air after the transactions until she was arrested by policemen attached to Area ‘E’ FESTAC Command.

It was learnt that apart from the said transaction, she reportedly used similar tricks on many innocent Nigerians who she gave false LPOs and post-dated dud cheques.

Ali urged the public to properly check individuals they are involved in transactions with.

According to him, Obogo is not alone in the crime.

But Obogo denied having any inten-

Obogo

tion to defraud Nwosu. She said she had collected LPOs and sourced financiers more than 20 times at Apapa depot.

She said: “I am not a fraudster; I gave him a building as collateral for his money. Someone introduced him to me before the transaction took place.”

10

NEWS | national

Buhari swears in economic adviser, four others

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resident Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday sworn in Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, as his Special

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Olusegun: I, formerly known and addressed as Adenijo Michael now wish be known and addressed as Adenijo Michael Olusegun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Nnamuchi

This is to confirm and certify that Okeke Oguchukwu Emmanuel and Nnamuchi Emmanuel, refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as Nnamuchi Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AHMED

I, formerly known and addressed as Nasiru Alhaji Sule now wish to be known and addressed as Shafi'u Ahmed. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

Achimugu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Grace Ogbeh now wish be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Achimugu. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

OGUNBOWALE

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Ogunbowale ismail dray now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ogunbowale Ismail Oluwadamilare. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. First Bank and general public should please take note.

ANINURE

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Abdulbasit Abdulrahman now wish to be known, called and addressed as Aninure Abdulbasit Abdulrahman, that my correct date of birth is November 27, 1991.

All documents bearing my former names remain valid. KEYSTONE BANK, ECOBANK and the general public should take note.

Miguel

I, formerly known and addressed as Arungwa Chibuzo now wish to be known and addressed as Arungwa Chibuzo Miguel. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Access bank Plc, Diamond bank Plc, GT bank Plc, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana and the general public should please take note.

Anyasodike

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Anyasodike Juliet Love and Anyasodike Juliet Obianuju refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Anyasodike Juliet Obianuju. All documents bearing the above mentioned names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Izibeya

This is to confirm that Nicholas Yeritubo with which my Skye bank/BVN was registered is the same person as Yeritubo Nicholas Izibeya and Yeritubo Nicholas Joseph which appears on my First bank and most of my documents.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Yeritubo Nicholas Izibeya. All former documents remain valid. Skye bank Plc, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

ABDUL

I, formerly known and addressed as Abudu Olalere Matthew now wish to be known and addressed as Abdul Olalere Matthew. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities, government officials, Banks and general public take note.

SEIDU

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Abuh Amina and Victoria Monday now wish to be known, called and addressed as Seidu Amina. All other documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Godfrey

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aririguzo Angelica Chinasa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Godfrey Angelica Chinasa Aririguzo. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public please take note.

Offor

I, formerly known as Santius Nnamdi now wish to be known and addressed as Offor Santus N. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, banks and general public take note.

INAWOLE

I, formerly known, called and addressed As Inawole Adeleke Oluwatimilehin now wish to be known, called and addressed as Inawole Adeleke Albert.

All documents bearing my former names remain valid. FIRST BANK and general public should please take note.

Amah

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okam Munachiso Roseline now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amah Munachiso Roseline. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc, Zenith bank Plc, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana and the general public should please take note.

Alonge

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Alonge Toyin Abidemi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alonge Toyin. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should please take note.

Mike

I, formerly known and addressed as Terry Ezerebo Ewhofe now wish to be known and addressed as Terry Ezerebo Mike. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AKINDASA

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr Adegbola Ezekiel now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Akindasa Adegbola Samuel. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities, government officials, Banks and general public should note.

SAFIRAT

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Titilayo Akindasa now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Safirat Titilayo Akindasa. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities, government officials, Banks and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Youth Leadership for Development Equality Initiative

The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under part C of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Victor Chinedu 2. Oludare Rashidi 3. Toyin Ajao 4. Anthony Orugbo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To advocate for socio economic equality for all Nigerians regardless of status.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Victor Chinedu Ogbodo

Adviser on Economic Matters.

He is to serve in place of a Chief Economist to the President as was previously arranged in the last administration.

Dipeolu was administered oath of office and allegiance alongside four other special advisers and a permanent secretary inside the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by the President.

Before his appointment in February, Dipeolu worked as a director in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The economic adviser

has since been working with the President's economic management team headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari’s economic team includes the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

Other members of the team are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and the DirectorGeneral of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The composition of the team is not static as Agriculture Minister, Audu Ogbe and the Information

Minister, Lai Mohammed, as well as relevant permanent secretaries, have also been involved.

President Buhari also inaugurated other presidential aides which include the Special Adviser on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; Special Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Special Adviser on Planning, Tijani Abdullahi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rafiu Enikanolaye.

While Uwais, Ojudu and Dipeolu have since been deployed to the Office of the Vice-President, Abdullahi is to serve in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

USAID to tackle food shortage in Nigeria with N11.58bn Bayo Akomolafe

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he United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday said that it would provide N11.58 billion ($37 million) in additional humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict and severe food shortage in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.

The agency in a statement obtained by New Telegraph, said the Boko Haram menace had triggered a humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and surrounding countries in the Lake Chad region.

It added that families had been driven from their homes, while millions were left without enough to eat and human rights abuses had been widespread.

The agency said despite

the gradually improving security conditions, the humanitarian situation still remains dire.

USAID said: “Throughout the region, approximately five million people need emergency food assistance and 2.5 million people are displaced. This new funding to United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisation partners will help tens of thousands of people receive critically needed humanitarian assistance, including food, water, shelter and services to address acute hygiene, protection and nutritional needs.”

The agency explained that food assistance would be delivered to conflict-affected communities in the Diffa Region of Niger, including populations who fled their homes following recent attacks in Bosso.

It added that the new

food assistance would be coordinated with the humanitarian community in Nigeria to scale up the overall regional food response.

The agency said that three senior USAID officials, Nigeria’s Mission Director, Michael T. Harvey, United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Director, Jeremy Konyndyk and Office of Food for Peace Deputy Director, Matt Nims, made the announcement following a trip to the country’s North-East, where the humanitarian needs are the most acute.

According to USAID, “With this announcement, the United States is providing more than $318 million in humanitarian assistance since FY 2015 to the Lake Chad region and continues to be the single largest humanitarian donor to the region."

Kalu admonishes youths against social vices

E

minent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday called on government at all levels to integrate the youth in their policies and programmes, noting that young people were not only future leaders, but valuable assets that would be ignored in the building of a prosperous nation.

Kalu also acknowledged the pivotal role played by the youth in promoting sustainable development, adding that integrating the youth socially, economically and politically would go a long way in curbing social vices in the society.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “As we celebrate the 2016 International Youth

Day, it is important for government to appraise its youth initiatives with the aim of strengthening the engagement and participation of youths in the Nigerian project.

"Considering the percentage of the world’s population dominated by the youth, it is obvious that the young generation cannot be undermined in global development.

"As government cannot do it alone, the private sector, including civil society organisations, the media and development partners, have dominant roles to play in sensitising the younger generation to the positive ways of life."

Kalu used the opportunity to urge parents and guardians to live by example, adding that the family remained a foundation unit for instilling

good virtues and moral values in a child, pointing out that most of the youth that engage in thuggery, violence, robbery, kidnapping and other immoral acts are products of poor family background.

The frontline politician also advised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to appoint youths into key government positions, noting that the gesture would give the young generation a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project.

The former governor, while congratulating youths globally, urged them to demonstrate high moral standards in their endeavours, stressing that the future was bright if only the youth would remain focused, committed, patriotic and diligent.

thursday, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

UK launches 24-hour visa service in Nigeria

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he United Kingdom has launched Super Priority Visa Service in Nigeria to allow customers process their applications within 24 hours.

The British High Commission, in its website, said the new service was to particularly meet the needs of those who required urgent service to travel.

The high commission quoted the British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright, as welcoming the introduction of the Super Priority Visa service in Nigeria.

“I am pleased to see the Super Priority Visa service being launched in Nigeria.

“This comes with an additional cost, but is designed to give greater flexibility to our customers and underlines our strong commitment to make improvements to the visa services we offer.

“We expect this new service to be particularly useful for business. We understand that business opportunities and urgent requirements can arise at very short notice.

“We recognise this and want to facilitate such travel to the UK with this new super-fast service,” Arkwright said.

Amnesty International to investigate Bayelsa guber poll’s violence Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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mnesty International (AI) yesterday said that it would conduct an investigation into the electoral violence that characterised the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, which led to loss of lives and which also forced 600 persons into the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Southern Ijaw.

AI representative in the country, Attah Ikide, at a presentation of a report carried out by the Save Ijaw Nation Group entitled; "Unreported Cases of Human Rights Abuses and 2015/2016 Bayelsa Governorship Election Violence, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday.

This report was coming eight months after the election was conducted and Governor Seriake Dickson, was declared winner.

"I have not gone through this report, but if like he said, some of the pictures that we saw on the Internet are the pictures in this report, then this is something that Amnesty International will take seriously.

11

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ossy Jibrin single-handedly destroyed 2016 Budget

Politics

Iriase Edo won’t go back to PDP

13 14

Okechukwu: PDP responsibile for Nigeria’s woes

call my party, the APC, because actually it is like a factory that produces a product. The behavior of the product in the market is an issue just like the environment that owns the product.

We have never had a budget that was implemented. If you notice, from 1999, part of the problem has been defective implementation of the budget. Anytime the budget is fully implemented according to the amount of money on ground, we will get to the next level. When they tell you about the Lagos -Kano rail line, it has been in the budget since 2001. That is 15 solid years, same with LagosIbadan expressway and the rest of them. The budget is holistic, if well implemented; it will increase prosperity and improve the standard of living of Nigerians. So, the bourgeois in the National Assembly should make budget implementation and budget articulation more transparent.

Osita Okechukwu is the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Johnchuks Onuanyim, he speaks on the budget padding crisis rocking the House of Representatives, insisting that the revelations emanating have exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari.

Excerpts

What is your take on the allegation of budget padding leveled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Let me start by saying that on the budget padding allegation; it is the Nigerian people, President Muhammadu Buhari and our party at the national level that would be the greatest beneficiaries of the row because as they say in social sciences, when there is an antithesis, there has to be synthesis. I think in as much as the publicity and the image crisis this may have on the institution or the image of the Nigerian state, at the end of the day, the beneficiaries will be Mr. President, the Federal Government and the Nigerian people. The emerging budget padding allegation and counter allegations have vindicated Mr. President. There was a time he said ‘take this back, this is not what I presented,’ some people shouted

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okechukwu

and accused the President of delaying the budget and started asking what is he talking about.

The President has not only been vindicated, he has drawn a red line on the issue of anybody manipulating the budget process in Nigeria. You can now stand up during the budget negotiations between the legislature and the executive to say this is not what is needed and canvass it on the superiority of argument. The budget is a voluminous document; it took the dexterity and carefulness of Mr. President and our team to discover the padded items. Padding has been the normal practice in the past and if you are not diligent enough, you wouldn’t know. What is happening now is a wake-up call to the executive to itemise one by one, number by number, to know the sub heads of every item in the budget and also for the legislature in fulfilling its own mandate as contained in the constitution.

They should negotiate and criticize directly. It is not a question of working away when the execu-

No minister today can negotiate with contractors for 10 per cent of funds awarded for the execution of contracts

tive goes back, you go to one hotel room to doctor what was presented not only to you but the whole House. That era is gone. What is happening now is not negative, in the fullness of time, it is very advantageous. I don’t want to go to backyard bush war between the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and Abdulmumin Jibrin. The only thing I can comment on is the collective advantages this connotes for the country because that is what is very relevant to me.

What is your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), doing on this issue as the embarrassment is not only on the government?

I didn’t say embarrassment actually, what I said was that it did caused a stir to the image of Nigerian state. What I am saying is that if we were in the United Kingdom and you are in the British Parliament and you heard that they are fighting in Abuja over budget; that will not give you a good picture, not in particular of Mr. President but the Nigerian state. I didn’t

Many believe if this was the situation with the PDP, they would have resolved this in a family way. How involved is the APC in this issue?

I understand your perspective.

With what you call settlement between 1999 and 2015 when the PDP handed over, was the living standard of Nigeria better than it was in 1998 when Genral Sani Abacha was in charge and we had lesser fund? At a certain point in his regime, a barrel of crude oil was selling between $9 and $15 but between 1999 and 2015, the same oil, the main stay of our economy, the sole provider of our foreign exchange, sold at $145 per barrel, and yet nothing was done from it.

The kind of settlement you are talking about, it is the settlement that has brought us where we are, the settlement of unemployment.

That is why no university in Nigeria is ranked amongst the best 1,000 universities in the world.

You don’t settle such matters in a family way. That is the difference between the Buhari government and the past and that is why Nigerians voted for him. You can’t call him into a tango tree of bribery because you are a member of APC. No minister today can negotiate with contractors for 10 per cent of funds awarded for the execution of contracts. What you call settlement is impunity and diversion of public fund, which is why there is hunger today. That is why there is unemployment, no electricity.

If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had done so well, why did the bubble burst? Yes they have CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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POLITICS

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC assures on girl-child education Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, pledged that he will focus on girl-child education if elected governor in the September 10 election.

Obaseki, who made the

promise while hosting Edo State APC women, who are based in Abuja, said: “If you look at the structure of our state, easily you could see that about 57 per cent of our population are women.

It just follows common sense and logic to say that if you put fewer resources for that segment that is the majority, you will not get optimum result.

“So the issue should

be how to put more investment in our major resources, women of our country. When we talk about women issues, we tend to restrict them to maternal and child care and leave it at that. It is not good enough anymore, we must extend it beyond that. The issue of girl-child is something we must focus on because for me, I know that what shaped my life is the influ-

ence of my grandmother.”

“She had no male but she sent all the five girls abroad. For me, if that did not happen, who knows I may not be running for governor today. So, you can imagine what we will benefit if we empower meaningfully, majority of our women. Women issues must go beyond maternal and child issues, we must now think about girl-child education and

L-R: National Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Hon Hailmary Aipoh; APC gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Edo APC Woman Leader, Golda Osikhena, and Obaseki’s wife, Betty, during the presentation of campaign materials from Hajia Aisha Buhari to Mrs. Obaseki in Benin City…

KOWA promises to curb rural-urban migration Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he governorship candidate of KOWA party in Edo State, Mr. Thompson Osadolor, has said that he would stop rural-urban migration in the state if elected as governor the September 10 election.

Osadolor, who stated this during the part party’s campaign flag-off in Benin, the state capital, said job creation, health and education would be the priorities of his government, noting that these would be achieved though provision of infrastructural facilities in rural communities of the state.

He listed these facilities

to include construction of low-cost housing estates across the communities, rural electrification and provision of soft loans at a single digit interest rate to farmer and artisans.

The governorship candidate said the multiplier effect of this would be the development of the agricultural sector, emergence of new cities and reduction of youth restiveness.

He also promised to make agriculture more attractive, such that the government would buy produce from the farmers at attractive prices for export or sell directly to industries.

On health, he said primary health centers would be equipped with

INEC releases list of candidates today Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today, publish names of governorship candidates for the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo State.

The commission also said official register of voters for the election would be published.

About 19 political parties are participating in the election but one of the parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is fielding two governorship candidates.

INEC has however, said it will accord recognition to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was produced by Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.

But the factional National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff said he has obtained court order directing INEC to honour the list of his own candidate.

The commission explained that it is being guided by Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which provides that the list of nominated candidates shall be published not less than 30 days before an election.

modern facilities to meet the health needs of rural communities, while new ones would be built where needed.

“We are also going to re-equipped and restructure all our hospitals, not only to prevent avoidable deaths, but stop medical tourism,” he said.

While promising to link all public schools in the state with internet connectivity, he said staff quarters would be built in schools across the state.

Assessing other contenders in the governorship race, he said: “I acknowledge that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has tried, but his candidate cannot be him and as such, he cannot be trusted with the responsibility of leading the state.”

Also speaking at the rally, the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Mrs. Florence Okundaye, said women would have course to smile with KOWA in government.

Edo DECIDES

one of the things we are insisting on in Edo State is to train more female science teachers and send them to schools particularly in the rural areas.

“It is not just enough to say we have settled women, we must equip

them to live and compete in today’s world. In America, it is not uncommon in an engineering class to have more females than males, but here, it is like an anathema.”

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent empowerment of small and medium scale businesses across the states of the federation, Obaseki stated that Edo State got N2 billion and the fund has been disbursed with almost 70 per cent of women as beneficiaries. He promised to increase the empowerment fund because he has seen what it has done in transforming lives.

Obaseki honoured for peace role Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he management of Independent Television and Radio (ITV), yesterday, honoured the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 10 election, Godwin Obaseki, with the Distinguished Peace Ambassador Award in appreciation of his efforts towards promoting peace and unity in the state.

The Media Plus Communication & Special Events Committee of ITV presented the award to Obaseki when the team visited him at his campaign office in Benin City.

Leader of the delegation, Sunny Duke-Okosun, in his remark said: The Distinguished Peace Ambassador Award is in special recognition of individuals and organisations that, through their work, have fostered an

environment of peace, which is a pre-requisite for sustainable development of any society.

“Godwin Obaseki has distinguished himself not only in private enterprise but also in public service as Pioneer Chairman of the Economy and Strategy Team in Edo State over the last seven and half years. His achievements are truly outstanding and worthy of emulation and this is why the voting public have deemed him a worthy recipient of the award.”

Receiving the award, Obaseki said: “This award is very dear to my heart because I have always been an advocate of peaceful co-existence upon which the realization of our full potential as a state is hinged.

When we all work together, in peace and unity, only then can we be able to build the Edo State and the Nigeria of our dreams.”

Abia guber: Ogah’s kinsmen appeal for calm Malcom Enefe

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s tension heightens in Abia State following Tuesday’s decision by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to reserve its judgment on the appeal challenging the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of from office over alleged tax fraud, a group, Uturu Development Association (UDA), Lagos Branch, has called enjoined the people of the state to remain calm, while waiting for the decision of the court on the matter.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Kenneth Nwaro, who made the plea in a chat with New Telegraph, said, that Abians as peaceful are hoping that the justice would be

done on the matter as the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

He said: “Our expectation is that justice would be done on the matter. We are not violent people, so all Abians should be law abiding as the appellate court has entertained the various appeals over the judgement of the Federal High Court, which removed Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State and reserved its judgement.”

Members of the group, who are kinsmen to Ikpeazu’s opponent, Dr. Uche Ogah, had earlier embarked on a praying and fasting session asking for God’s guidance and protection on their kinsman, who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a Cer-

tificate of Return as the governor of Abia State.

Nwaro, who spoke on the exercise, said it was informed by provocative and inciting statements by the Ikpeazu camp since the nullification of the governor’s election by a Federal High Court presided by Justice Okon Abang.

He said: “Since the nullification of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu ‘s election as the governor of Abia State by Justice Okon Abang of the Feral High Court, Abuja on June 27, some Abians, particularly those from Ikpeazu’s camp have been making provocative and inciting statements against the said judgment .

“However, we appeal to our members and

Abians in general to be law abiding as they go about their day to day activities as our union has implicit confidence in the Nigerian judiciary. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man though God is the final arbiter as he is the author and finisher of everything under the earth. So, we hope that God will use the judiciary to fulfill his purpose in Abia State.

“We believe in the rule of law and that is why we are hopeful that at the end of the day, Dr. Ogah would be sworn in as the governor of the state. His coming into power will liberate the state from the clutches of godfatherism, infrastructural decay and economic quagmire.”

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Prestige Ossy C.E.O Ossy, is a member of the Appropriation Committee.

In this interview with Philip Nyam, he speaks on the allegations of budget padding and bribing of some members by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara. Excerpts:

As a member of the House Appropriation Committee, what do you make of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin’s allegations against the House leadership and how true are they?

I want to state here that the former chairman of the Appropriation committee, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin is just looking for something to hang unto and get people to drown with him. From the very first day he was appointed chairman of the committee, I had over 50 members coming to tell me that we are in for hard times. The said when Jibrin was chairman of Finance committee in 7th Assembly, was involved in one controversy to another and that the committee never knew peace until the end of the Assembly. I took these complaints to him when we had our inaugural meeting and he promised to carry everybody along. We started the committee meetings and they were moving well but when Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) submitted their estimates, Jibrin absconded with the entire budget.

He was incommunicado for three weeks. He never took his calls, he even extended non-taking of calls to the appropriation staff in National Assembly. He relocated the committee to his private home and never allowed anybody access to what he was doing. At the last meeting we had before the Easter break, he charged all members not to go home for the Easter holidays; that we will all be busy, but we never sat for once. Throughout the Easter period, we were just milling around. We will come to the office from morning till night without seeing Jibrin.

Was there any effort by other members of the committee to halt this?

I convened a meeting in the office of one of our members to express our disdain over the manner he was going about the budget without involving any of us. He single-handedly did everything behind us. The House reopened after the Easter break on a Tuesday and in the morning of that day, I went to the speaker to complain that

13

Jibrin single-handedly destroyed 2016 Budget – Ossy

Ossy

we will not continue with Jibrin as chairman of the Appropriation committee but the speaker pleaded with us that he would call him to resolve the matter. After the complaint, we asked him to bring the budget, so that we can see what he has done with it. He continued to dodge us until the budget was submitted to the President and he rejected it.

The feelers we got was that he had over N4.9 billion worth of projects in the budget. We went back to the speaker and queried him on how Jibrin had such huge amount while some of us had as low as N12 million. The speaker again begged us, saying he was looking into it.

Again, the budget was sent back to the President and he refused signing and we went to speaker again insisting that Jibrin must go, that we can’t work with him.

They went again and most of his projects were still retained whereas most of us could not get up projects worth up to N18 million. This was why we went to speaker that we can’t work with such a member who could never say the truth.

He kept telling us that he takes responsibility for whatever comes out of the budget. If he has been removed for his fraudulent handling of the budget, why is he running from pillar to post looking for who to rope in? Why didn’t he tell us then that the speaker and the principal officers he is mentioning now injected certain things into the budget? Now, he is the only honest person when we know that he has over 1,001 funny things he put in the budget. We were totally excluded from the process of the budget. This is a 40-member committee and 39 of us were excluded

by Jibrin. He single-handedly went

aground with a national budget and did all he wanted to do with the budget.

This fight is just about what Jibrin is going to lose from what he has injected in the budget

He also accused the nine of you that addressed the media to disown him to have collected bribe to the tune of $20,000 from the speaker. How much did the speaker paid you to speak against Jibrin?

He said we were paid $20,000 to address the press and lie against him. We know what happened and I want Jibrin to come out and tell us how the money was shared. Who gave the money? At what point did the speaker give us the money? If he is actually a repentant Jibrin, he should prove it. I want my name to be cleared. I wasn’t given any money neither did I receive any money. My constituents have been calling me, having seen me on the screen addressing the press and Jibrin coming up with this allegation. If he does not prove these allegations, I will go to court for him to prove how and where I was given $20,000.

It is just because we are on holidays, if not all the members would come here and say the same thing.

But he said the speaker’s deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum shared the money.

As a matter of fact, this is just a figment of his imagination.

He said there were 10 committee chairmen who made insertions in the budget, but was able to mention only seven, so, he left the other three, so that he could fix the names of those who may make any comment against him and he has started doing that. I met Hon. Maduabum some months ago; and as chief of staff to the speaker, there is no harm in meeting him.

I am a member of the House and I have somethings to do with the speaker. So, meeting his chief of staff should not be a reason for bribery allegations. I have never collected a dime from Maduabum.

He has never given me N1 in my life; he has never taken me out for lunch. I am saying this before God. I want Jibrin to know that if there are those who can be bought over, I am not part of them.

He has already gone to the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), so he should allow the law to take its course. If he is now born again, he should seek for forgiveness and tell Nigerians I had been stealing from you and now I want to stop.

He should apologise to the people.

On the day he was removed, he told the media that he resigned voluntarily, why did he lie to the media?

Why didn’t he mention names that day? It is also curious that out of 10 principal officers, he is mentioning only four. But from the budget that we have, all the 10 principal officers have projects, so why is his allegations against only four persons?

In fact, there is no principal officer that got anything less than N1 billion and members are even grumbling that they never got anything up to N100 million. So, why are his allegations against a chosen people? Some are saying that he has started canvassing for people to take over from Dogara.

To me, it doesn’t make any sense. If Jibrin is sincere, he should indict all the principal officers. But to exclude some, he is playing a script, which Nigerians will get to know sooner or later.

Don’t you think he was working with the speaker as he failed to question him when he disappeared with the budget and you could not access him?

From the little I know, I am not saying he did not see the speaker, I am not saying the speaker did not make input into the budget. But my worry is why exclude other principal officers? I am very sure that every principal officer made inputs into that budget. Let him tell Nigerians if it were only four principal officers that made inputs.

Let him come up with the facts. Let us know what every principal officer got. We need to get these things clearer, so that people will know that he is not after anybody.

Can you give details of what Jibrin injected into the budget?

I can’t give you details but they are much. From the last count, we saw almost N4.9 billion. One of those projects is the Kano film village, which he named after President Muhammadu Buhari. It is about N1.5 billion. There are so many things that he inserted in the budget for himself. Did he insert these things alongside the speaker, the deputy speaker or the chief whip or the minority leader? Let him tell Nigerians what he has in the budget. We want him to confess his sins. And I can always speak for myself that what I got is not for CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iriase: Edo won’t go back to PDP argument was that it was against the law. They said no. I said, secondly, it will be penny wise, pounds foolish because, at the end of it all, they will still have to pay gratuity and pension to the people that were being retired. They said ‘who told you we will?’ I was shocked. But that is what they did.

Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives and member representing Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Pally Iriase, believes that Edo people will not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 10 governorship election in the state. Temitope Ogunbanke reports

How prepared is your party, All Progressives Congress (APC), for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State and what are the chances of your party’s candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as he confronts Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was once a member of the APC? Let me tell you straight away that we are for Godwin Obaseki for very good reasons, and I believe that he will win the election and it would be the best for Edo to have him as governor after Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. I say this because Governor Oshiomhole has described Obaseki as the brain box of his government following his wonderful performance as Chairman of the Economic Team over the past seven and a half years.

As pioneer Secretary to the Government (SSG) of the Oshiomhole administration, I know that the governor knows what he is talking about and I know Godwin and what he brought to the table. When he came around, I was not too sure of what he was bringing to the table. But when he settled in with the Economic Team, I was like ‘wow, so we have this kind of brain.’ The man is very cerebral, he is a gogetter; he has the passion to take Edo to the next level in terms of development. He has what it takes to make Edo a developed state within a developing country like Nigeria.

What I am saying is something we need to take seriously and allow Edo people to know.

On the other hand, Pastor IzeIyamu is my friend. We have come a long way and I believe he has his own positive aspect. He is a great mobiliser but in terms of good governance, his pedigree and track record do not seem to score him very high. I am a very straight forward person. I like to speak from the heart. You will recall that at the advent of this dispensation of democratic governance in Edo, in 1999, he was the Chief of Staff to Governor Lucky Igbinedion, a very influential position in that PDP government. And in the second term of Igbinedion, he was elevated to the position of SSG. That he occupied those two powerful positions means that government relied very heavily on his person.

Meanwhile, the PDP ran this state very poorly and there is no way anybody who was that influential will be exempted in the perception

Iriase

of the people.

But the PDP is also accusing the APC government of destroying the state civil service…

They are certain things I heard recently, which I would have loved to engage my friend on, so that they either remove them from their campaign or state the facts as they are. I heard Ize-Iyamu is accusing the Oshiomhole government of destroying the civil service. Nothing could be further from the truth, nothing could be worse than an attempt to stand the truth on its head or to re-write history. It was the PDP government that nearly annihilated the civil in Edo. Another point he has made is that this government is to be held responsible for running down the educational system. That is also a lie. Now, talking about the civil service issue, there is no way that we can forget that, in 2001, the then PDP government, in which Ize-Iyamu was very influential, decided that the best way to handle paucity of funds and inability to pay salaries was not only to down size but to also tinker with the Pension Act to reduce civil servants retirement age until recently when it was raised to 60 years.

That happened in 2001, with a lot of us arguing against it because I led the House delegation, as the Deputy Speaker, to a meeting with Igbinedion and those involved know themselves. They include Samson Ekhabafe, the late powerful Attorney General. Ize-Iyamu was there too. We had come to complain that the planned compulsory retirement of several Edo people, under the new decision of retiring those who have done 53 years of age or 28 years in service instead of 55 years of age or 35 years in service, was counter - productive.

How can we forget? The PDP government sent people prematurely away from the civil service. My

Edo cannot go back to that selfish system of PDP. Our best bet is to stick with Obaseki, knowing what he is bringing to the table

Are you saying that the PDP is trying to pass the bulk of its inactions to the the APC? I need to refresh the minds of Edo people. If I am lying they should tell me. And Ize-Iyamu was involved in all of all these against our people. I was Deputy Speaker then. So I know what I am saying.

What could be more destructive to the civil service than the best brains being sent home unceremoniously and empty handed? Those civil servants were retired without their gratuity and that was the beginning of this intractable problem of pensioners. What PDP simply did was to increase the backlog and the Oshiomhole government came and started tackling the payment of pension and gratuity head on and reducing it systematically to where we are today. So how can you now turn history and make it look as if the APC government did it.

On the educational system, during the PDP administration, our schools were so dilapidated and were fit for only reptiles, rodents.

Nobody can deny the fact that the Oshiomhole government has done so well in revamping and upgrading the infrastructural facilities in the educational system. If you talk about not having enough teachers, it is easily solvable but the kind of money you need to fix schools the way Oshiomhole has done is more demanding and if he didn’t have the political will to do it, it would have been a disaster. So our educational system is much better today. The PDP destroyed our education sector to the point that it was nothing to talk about until Oshiomhole came.

I believe that we ought not to carry personal animosity too far because this election will not be based on sentiment, that is not what is going to determine the behaviour of the electorate. What is going to determine the behaviour of the electorate is that they will remember that in spite of the bad economy that Nigeria is suffering from right now, because of the drastic drop of crude oil price and the PDP- induced criminality in the Niger Delta, what do you find in Edo? The state is among the few states that are able to pay workers as and when due. Our workers, in most cases, by the 25th, every month, they have received their salaries. And Edo is not stopping at that.

What exactly is Obaseki bringing to the table?

What the people want to hear is what you can do for them and that is where Obaseki has an edge over Ize-Iyamu. Obaseki scores very high because you have not heard him go personal in his campaign. He is only telling Edo people how he intends to develop the state through agriculture. He is telling them how he will create jobs, industrialise the state.

Edo cannot go back to that selfish

system of PDP. Our best bet is to stick with Obaseki, knowing what he is bringing to the table. And we have since started seeing signs of that because if your state is growing well, giant investors will be attracted. There is no bank that is not established in Edo because they see the state as a thriving economy. Only recently Dangote Group went to lay the foundation stone for a giant cement factory in Edo. Who is going to work there?

Edo indigenes! Obaseki is in the fore front of this. And there are going to be many more.

Obaseki has the blue print on how to turn our economy around through the solid minerals that we have in abundance in Edo North.

He also has the blue print on how to partner with world class investors to turn Edo into an agrarian state, a state that will not only feed the nation but also earn good revenue to keep our economy buoyant.

I know this and won’t go into the sentiment of personal friendship of supporting Ize Iyamu to succeed Oshiomhole because God is watching us; we need the best for Edo and that best is Obaseki, not Ize-Iyamu.

What do you make of the allegation of marginalising Edo Central in the scheme of things in the state?

Oshiomhole is not marginalising Edo Central. Edo Central has had the highest number of ministers, Uromi in particular. The question is: What have they done for their people? There is no deliberate attempt on the part of Oshiomhole to marginalize Esan people.

It is just that the demographics did not support our party at this time to pick an Esan governorship candidate. And if you want to be good for Esan people, you will rather encourage them to wait for the appropriate time so that we all will now join hands and give it to them. Under the PDP, Esan land was completely forgotten except for the rehabilitation of the road to Ilushi, and the road has gone bad again.

But in contrast, under Oshiomhole’s government, IruaShugbenu-Ugbegu Road has been constructed to world standard and not a pot hole has developed there several years after. If you have ever been to Ugbegun-Ebudin road, people in that area were given the impression by the PDP that it was not possible to construct road for them. Today we have Ebudin-Ujogba-Igueben Road. As we speak, the road from Igueben through Ewatto to Ohodua to Emu, except for the bridge which contract has just been awarded, is a delight to the people of Esan land. All these are things in Esan land and there are various schools that have now been cleaned up. What about the world class hospital at Ewohimi?

One thing that the elite that tell lies will suffer at the polls, if there is no rigging machinery, is that they will be saying one thing and the electorate will be saying another with their vote. So, like I said earlier, Obaseki will beat Ize-Iyamu silly at the polls. All the propaganda PDP is doing will not work. We all know ourselves and you will see the result come September 10.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

15

Budget padding crisis has exonerated Buhari – Okechukwu C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

been accumulating but in the social synthesis of events, it exploded. What you should ask yourself is why did PDP lose? We cannot refer to PDP as a good example without being immodest because the whirlwind they generated is what we are suffering today. No matter how effective President Buhari could be, unless Nigerian people give him support to engage more of foreign direct investment, we cannot recover from what the PDP did because they allowed all the social and physical infrastructures to collapse and they say they settled fast. Settled what fast? To bring us into a big ditch!

If President Buhari did not win the election, the whole world would have abandoned Nigeria because we would have been more exposed.

Today that we are hungry under, nobody wants to look back why?

If you say PDP would have managed the crisis and wouldn’t have allowed Jibrin and the speaker to quarrel, for God sake, the quarrel is beneficial. Nigerians will harvest the goodies of such quarrels. We don’t need to settle something that would put Nigeria into a big mess.

Are you saying that APC has no business in intervening in such matters?

Mr. President knows that the bush war is being fought by the same people. What he is looking at is that in the 2017 presentation, nobody will do that. He was the first person that discovered it (padding) in the first place but nobody believed him. What we are saying is that there are few men on earth that can put the whole cards on the table, and one of them is President Buhari. When he said that the first document he presented was not what was eventually given and he told them to take it back, they started wasting time, asking when the budget would be implemented.

Could it be said that the Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF) had an intuition of this when he said the Federal Government cannot implement constituency projects?

What the SGF meant is that Mr. President and his vice are the only Nigerian who are in public office today that were elected by all Nigerians. Nobody should take it for granted that he or she knows Nigeria more than the Federal Government of Nigeria.

If Mr. President says there should be Calabar-Lagos rail line, please take it as what he said he can implement in that region now. If he says I will do Onistha or PortHarcourt to Enugu, you are not expected to add your own and call it constituency project. What you should do is that while the debate is going on, you can say you are putting for example Kano-Lagos rail line. That should be on the

floor of the House and not when you are at home, you begin to add billions that favours the community where you can boast and call it constituency project.

Is there any economic policy of this government that will save Nigerians from excruciating hunger. Secondly, immediately after the election, it went viral that President Buhari said the South-East didn’t vote for him, Enugu - Onitsha road is completely damaged, same as Enugu-PortHarcourt Road, are there hopes that the present APC led government will attend to all of these?

Let me start by saying what I know for instance is that EnuguOnistha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Second Niger Bridge are all in 2015 budget. A senator from Enugu was the Chairman of Works Committee, an Enugu State indigene was also chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Works. I am not saying they were partial about Enugu but they were also partial about the North. Why in the six years of Jonathan’s regime, the East-West road that cut across the Niger Delta region remained uncompleted. Though he was not in charge when the project was started but at the same time during his regime, they sold oil for $145 dollars per barrel. So, what we are suffering today is what they call the evils of our ancestors.

The issue now is that President Buhari has found it worthwhile with the paucity of fund; he found it valid and it has been advertised, given to companies and they have mobilized, waiting for the end of the raining season. So, compare it, this is the same man they did not

Okechukwu

Padding has been the normal practice in the past and if you are not diligent enough, you wouldn’t know

vote for because they said he will bring Boko Haram, he will convert us to Islam. One year down the line, has President Buhari converted anyone to Islam? The propaganda was that this man was going to convert everyone to Islam and our people did not vote for him but despite the fact that they didn’t vote for him, his budget is reflective of the federal character.

It is good that we have to be enlightened; the drawback of our hunger is our inheritance of unbridled and pervasive corruption of the past years. Second, is the drop in oil price, the only source of our fund. Thirdly and most importantly, yes Nigerians are hungry, but sections 81, 82, and 88 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria is very specific.

It says that you cannot take money that is not appropriated. For the fact that the money must be ap-

propriated, you have to wait for the budget process otherwise the same people who accusing Buhari would be the same who will go to market place and say that Osita Okechukwu is trying to revamp VON without budget approval.

This is the danger that we face.

So, l will urge Nigerians to understand that democracy is not a revolution; democratic practice is not speedy, it is evolutionary because the rule of law requires that there should be checks and balances. It is not immediate effect. If it was immediate effect, for God’s sake, with the money collected under the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Mr. President could have started some projects. But he is looking at the rule of law because if he starts doing it the way he wants, the same people who are complaining today will be the that first to condemn him.

How Jibrin destroyed 2016 Budget, by Ossy C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

personal gains but for my constituency. I have gone to my constituents to tell them what has been allocated to them and I will go back when the contracts are awarded for them to know the contractors.

I know where we have problem is the execution because those responsible for the execution are in most cases not ready to deliver. They have understanding with some of the members and the projects are often executed on paper with nothing on ground.

I want to dare him to tell Nigerians what he had in the budget in the 7th Assembly for his constituency and whether they were executed. For example, I took the budget to Aba and showed my constituents what is in it for them. The whole essence of this fight is because at the end of the day, 90 per cent of these projects would not be executed because if you are doing this for your constituents, you will know the limit you will go. But if it is for personal gains, you can go to any length to even kill yourself.

I just came back from empowering my people. Most of the items that were used were items in the 2015 budget and I insisted despite all pressure that those materials

must be procured. Even one of the contractors told me that I am deviating from the norm. That the norm is if you have 22 tricycles, you buy three and called those who have tricycle in your area and you give them like N5,000 and take pictures that those things have been procured and shared to the constituents. But I told him that I will never be part of that fraud. I can’t be here with all privileges given members and still take the little meant for my constituents. So, this fight is just about what Jibrin is going to lose from what he has injected in the budget.

Based on this, won’t you agree thata there is corruption in the House as Jibrin alleged?

There is corruption everywhere even among members the executive who execute these projects? They do it in collaboration with members of the executive. If I had wanted to divert the tricycles, it would have been in connivance with the executive. So, corruption is not only in National Assembly. I am not exonerating every member of the National Assembly but I am saying not all of us are corrupt; not every lawmaker in National Assembly is corrupt. But we need to address this issue because if the

executive is not corrupt, there is no way the National Assembly can do it alone.

Jibrin has also accused the speaker of bribing members with $25,000 to sign a confidence vote register? Did you collect any money or have you been approached with any money?

The speaker does not need to give anybody any kobo to sign a confidence register. As at today, he is the speaker of the House. In my own assessment, Dogara has been able to do his best; to manage the situation in the House. Nobody has given me anything and nobody had approached me. The speaker has not given me anything. I am not aware of what Jibrin is saying. Nobody can approach me to sign such a register for Mr. Speaker.

Like I told you before, if the speaker had not managed this issue well, it would have scattered this House because I started complaining about Jibrin’s secret way of handling the budget in March. If Jibrin will tell himself the truth; in the last three weeks before we went on recess, each time he wanted to speak on the floor, members will be shouting ‘’ole’ ole, thief, thief, barawo, barawo.” So, if a man like that lost confidence of his colleagues, what can he tell Nigerians?

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Opinion Ortega names wife as vice Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-3097-251 (sms only)

T

he Republic of Nicaragua is located in Latin America. The name Nicaragua was derived from Nicarao, the name of a local chief, who was head of the most populous ethnic group, after its Spanish conquest in 1954. Its population consists of Mestizo (mixed European and other coloured people) 69 per cent; Whites 17 per cent; Blacks of mainly Jamaican aborigine 9 per cent and the indigenous people, 5 per cent. The people of Nicaragua constitute the 12th largest population in the United States.

It has a population of six million people, which is a direct equivalent of the population of Kaduna State, in Nigeria.

Nicaragua is bounded in the West and South West by Honduras, Costa Rica in the South and the East by the Caribbean Sea. The country broke away from Spain and asserted her independence status on September 15, 1821, but was officially recognized, thirty one years later, on July 25, 1852, by Spain and other members of the Comity of Nations. Managua, is its Capital and the third largest City in Central America.

The 1960s and 1970s, were full of dictatorship in Nicaragua, although the totalitarian regime actually started from President Anastasio Somoza Garcia, an Army General, who seized power, in 1936. Officially, he became President (January 1, 1937-May 1, 1947), and from (May 21, 1950 until his assassination on September 29, 1956), in Acon, Panama.

Nicaragua’s political instability had a head-

way, when Jose Daniel Saavedra Ortega became President with effect from January 10, 2007. He became the first co-ordinator of the Junta of National Reconstruction (1979-1985), and later as its President (1985-1990). He later became the leader of the Socialist Sandinista National Liberation front (FSLN). Ortega was born on November 11, 1945 and he is about 71 years old.

He was trained as a guerilla fighter in Cuba by the Fidel Castro’s Marxist Lenin Government. His reforms were characterized by the nationalization of land, wealth redistribution and the literacy enforcement of his people.

Five million acres of land were redistributed to 100,000 families. There was also a radical reform in the health sector. Ortega had rough cordial relations with the United States due to its support for Anastasio Somoza, his predecessor in office. This strain in relationship was without due regards to the support of the American Government, worth millions of Dollars in economic aid during the post revolutionary period.

In 1987, the Reagan Government brokered a peace package with Nicaragua. Five Central American Heads of State were in attendance.

The peace Agreement resolved the United States and Nicaragua conflict. The accord led to the 1990 presidential election, in which, Ortega was roundly defeated by Violeta Chamoro. In 1996 and 2001, he failed in his ambitious bid to become president. However, he won the 2006 presidential contest. Ortega made Alliances with some Latin American Socialists.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was one of them. He was a great influence on Nicaragua, which made the country to join the “Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, despite its membership of the Organization of American States” (OAS).

When Ortega was 15 years old, he was

Added to this avowed impunity, his wife is the Nation’s First Lady and the Minister of Communication

arrested for political activities. He was later found guilty, and jailed for participating in the robbery of the Bank of America in Managua.

Ortega was released from prison in late, 1974.

Other Sandinista prisoners were also released.

He was exiled to Cuba, from where he moved to Costa Rica in 1979.

Daniel Ortega, who became President in 2007, embarked on the policy of conscription of men between the ages of 17-35 into the Nicaragua Armed Forces. Oppositions to the Sandinista Government was fiercely resisted and dealt with. On February 21 1981, the Sandinista attacked and killed seven Miskito Indians with 17 wounded. 10,000 persons were moved from the country in 1982, while thousands of Indian refugees fled to Honduras. In addition, 14,000 Indians were imprisoned in Nicaragua.

The Sandinista revolution (1990-2006) cannot be called a revolution but a clear attempt to install a brutal regime, led by Daniel Ortega. On August 3, 2016, Ortega picked his wife, Rosario Murillo Ortega, as his vice-presidential candidate, ahead of the presidential election already slated for November, 2016. As a citizen of Nicaragua, nothing in law disqualifies her from contesting an elective post. The fact that she has been picked by her husband, who is also the incumbent President, defies all moral questions and answers. It is simply illogical and very difficult to explain. It would seem that other Nicaraguans are incompetent or not qualified enough to be Ortega’s running mate.

The action of Ortega in this regard is completely absurd, ridiculous and an inglorious abuse of office and political power. Added to this avowed impunity, his wife is the Nation’s First Lady and the Minister of Communication, at the moment.

The two positions would have been enough for Rosario Murillo Ortega. Perhaps, Nicaragua is still a banana republic, where a President would pick his spouse as a vice-presidential candidate.

This cannot happen, anywhere on the globe.

Abia: Metaphor of the fast lane Godwin Adindu

Y

ou know the fast lane; the extreme corner of the road where drivers throw caution to the wind and challenge the speedometer of their automobiles. The fast lane, beyond the expressway, is also a metaphor of action and behavior. It has transformed into a social construct, with meanings that signify a man and a woman in a hurry and in desperation. Uche Ogah, the President of the Masters Energy Group and the protagonist in the failed Abia civilian coup, has suddenly thrown himself into the fast lane. I doubt if he will come out without regrets.

The fast lane, precisely, is a stereotype that conjures negative imageries. Therefore, it is hardly a compliment for one to be described to be on the fast lane. An unassuming gentleman, Ogah was never known for the fast lane. Ogah has never been identified or associated with the fast lane of life. Until two weeks ago, his reputation spoke of a man who carried himself with so much respectability.

For instance, after he lost out in the December 2014 PDP Primary Election, he walked away gently and later made a donation of N5

million to the Okezuo Abia Campaign team. He enjoys a soaring reputation in Abia as a philanthropist. And in his Uturu community, he transformed an otherwise rural clan into a modern estate with boulevards and landscaping. On one or two occasions when I met Ogah, I felt in love with his calm demeanour and humility and saw a future leader in him. Given the compatibility of his humanely nature and his wealth, I was convinced he will be able to display the rare attribute of combining remorse with powerthe hallmark of leadership.

But, all these propositions shattered last two weeks when Ogah suddenly jumped unto the fast lane.

Why has he suddenly developed a desperation to become governor ?

Why has he chosen the path of infamy in his pursuit of power? It is very unfortunate to imagine the harm that has been inflicted on Ogah by those who led him on this dangerous part. Those who urged him on this mission have deliberately ruined a very promising political career and damaged a very great reputation that was ahead of this kind gentleman.

There is what the Igbos call aruruala. I do not know how to translate it in English and capture the disguised treachery in a seeming

goodness. This is the harm that has been inflicted on Ogah by those who led him on this desperate ambition.

It will take only a few insightful people to understand and appreciate my drift.

Only a precious few with a discerning spirit will look beyond the veil to see the enormity of the harm inflicted on Ogah. In few months to come, when the spell of inordinate ambition would have cleared, Ogah would look back to understand he had been deceived and sabotaged by the people who seemed to mean good to him. In a deep moment of introspection when the wool had left his eyes and the aphrodisiac evaporates, he will be able to see clearly the harm that has been done to his future political prospects.

Why do I argue thus? I say so because among the top political gladiators in Abia North today none can match Ogah in terms of goodwill across the state. None can match his general acceptability across board.

None can match his wealth, both in cash and in emotional investment.

He has not stepped on toes and has no liabilities of political traducers.

He is coming to the stage clean and unbridled. And, above all, he has age going for him and belongs to the new dispensation. Thus, by the appointed time when power returns to

Abia North, Uche Ogah would have, indisputably, been the best and most popular choice.

Ogah would have had friends and followers across the length and breadth of the state. But, today, he has hurt a large segment of the state, a strong homogeneous bloc, the Ukwa Ngwas who are having their first shot in power since the creation of earth. He has also disappointed many good men of conscience from the other parts of the state who believe in equity and social justice.

By attempting to distort the Abia Charter of Equity upon which framework, the PDP zoned the governorship slot to Abia South, Ogah has also transgressed against the party. And because justice is of God, he has also transgressed against God and contravened the cosmic laws of cause and effect. He has broken a very formidable reputation and a broken skull heels faster than a broken reputation.

Indeed, this is the tragedy of the fast lane. It is an underground lifestyle that keep you perpetually in anxiety and under the prying eyes of the law and make you an unwanted guest to the men of the Intelligence Bureau.

•Adindu is the President-general of the Abia Renaissance Movement.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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That ban on street hawking

he mayhem caused by the killing of a hawker who was trying to evade arrest by officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) on Wednesday, June 29 in Lagos must have forced the state government to start the enforcement of the law against street hawking and trading as well as illegal markets enacted since 2003.

Hell was let loose at the Maryland area of the popular Ikorodu road, Lagos that day, when a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus crushed a hawker who ran into an on-coming BRT bus while fleeing from KAI officials. Hoodlums used the confusion to rob motorists and unsuspecting public, dispossessing them of their valuables, as well as destroying 49 BRT buses in the process. According to Governor Akinwumi Ambode, it will cost the Lagos State Government N139 million to put the buses, which serve Lagosians daily, back on the road again.

And with that, the state government decided to wield the big stick on hawkers from Friday, July 1. According to the street trading law, anyone found selling or buying in the traffic would be liable to six months jail term or a fine of N90,000. Ambode warned: “We will be watching out for buyers and sellers and all we need is just scapegoats.”

The governor said aside environmental hazards associated with the activities of street traders and hawkers, they also pose great security and health risks. Echoing his principal’s words, Lagos State Information Commissioner, Steve Ayorinde, explained that the state had to enforce the law so as to “have La-

gos work according to the laws that determine what you are allowed to do in the metropolis, particularly on the highways.

Failure to do that would be failure of the government in terms of urban renewal and development.”

Ayorinde further explained that the state government’s intention is not to take bread out of people’s mouth, but to make sure that a megacity like Lagos does not allow the level of degeneration presently operating on highways through Okada, street hawking or illegal trading.

Casualties are recorded dail y fro m street hawkers getting knocked down by vehicles and commercial buses when these hawkers dash

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state government should have provided a sensible alternative fbefore enforcing the ban on street hawking, adding that the state does not have any moral right to ban them as it would amount to an oppression of poor people. Speaking through its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, the body suggested that government provides spots off the highways with barriers where street traders can be patronized.

The body said that available markets built by government

Residents are entitled to earn a living in Lagos, but within the ambit of the law

across busy highways trying to sell their wares. One can imagine the trauma such drivers go through.

It has also been established that robbers mingle with hawkers to rob motorists in traffic.

Aside this, hawkers are alleged to be responsible for destruction of public assets. Recently rehabilitated roads, especially in high density areas, are known to have mysteriously developed fresh potholes due to suspected hawkers digging fresh potholes in the night to create traffic just for them to sell sausage rolls, satchet water etc.

Rising in the defence of hawkers, a body, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders argued that the

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

in Lagos are not within the reach of the poor hawkers. It said the markets are also not situated in convenient places for people. Adeniran argued that g over nment

should have provided employment opportunities for its teeming population instead of the threat of six months jail or a fine of N90, 000. “If those involved in street trading could afford to pay N90, 000, they will not be on the road to sell their wares.”

In all these, we believe residents are entitled to earn a living in Lagos, but within the ambit of the law. We also believe nobody sets out to be a nuisance, which the street hawkers have turned out to be in Lagos mega city.

A pro-active government like Governor Ambode’s owes residents a duty to protect their lives and property, even if some residents would want to stare death in the face in the course of

searching for their daily bread.

As the chief security officer of the state, it is the duty of the governor to make sure new or existing laws are enforced.

Since Nigerians like to shop on the go, the state government should also look more into modifying trading in traffic like the example of the ultra modern park it built at the Oworonsoki end of the Third Mainland Bridge where commuters, hawkers and motorists can interact with each other.

More of this park can be built all over the state to curb street hawking.

The Federal Government cannot afford to abandon Lagos as a former federal capital as it has done since the seat of government moved to Abuja in 1991. Lagos still remains the commercial and economic capital of Nigeria and deserves a special status from the Federal Government.

The Federal Government should compliment the efforts of the state government by encouraging industrialization in the state thereby providing employment opportunities for the state’s population, which keeps increasing everyday.

Lagos is a choice destination for all as it provides opportunities. If all these are put in place, we believe street hawking will be reduced tremendously; pressure on and destruction of public utilities as well as insecurity would have been addressed together.

Also, the teeming population of would-be prisoners, that are expected to be convicted of hawking or patronizing hawkers and fed free by the state daily would also have been reduced.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus South South Focus Rage of council workers

21 News I’m won’t bear LGs’ burden, says Oshiomhole

22 To keep body and soul together, some women in Ebonyi State have taken to jobs often regarded as men’s job as in the society. UCHENNA INYA writes

Oluchi in her tricycle

I

n the wake of unemployment and economic challenges in the country, women are now involved in men’s job just as men also do with women’s jobs too.

The women are increasing in their large numbers in the men’s job on daily basis backing the aphorism that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do even better’.

Juliet at work In Ebonyi State, these women have continued to display their skills in the men’s businesses with many of them getting more customers than their male counterpart, thereby making business competitive.

Some of the men’s jobs these women engage include barbing, tricycle operation, mason, cell phone repairs, block moulding, among others.

Speaking to New Telegraph, a barber, Mrs Juliet Lawrence, said that she ventured into area to be unique in the society.

She explained that she started the business as a unmarried lady and met a man who has good knowledge of the business and they got married, running the business together.

“I started as a single lady but now, I am married. When I was doing this business, I met a man who is skillful in the hair cutting business. He used to assist me in some areas and he was doing that without collecting any money.

“I developed interest in him. He also did same on me and we agreed to marry. Since we married, this business has continued to grow from strength to strength. This is my 13 years in the business.

“In most cases, some men do prefer my service to that of my hus-

him to be riding by myself since I have little knowledge on how to drive it and by God’s grace, I am now driving it well. Men always like to patronize me. At times, they will not even ask me how much I collect to a particular destination and when they alight, they give me amount twice bigger than the normal amount for the destination.

“They always pity me, especially those that know me very well. Men are mostly my customers but the problem I have is that the tricycle is become old and developing series of problems’’ she said. She therefore appealed to government to provide her with any job in accordance Onyinyechi attending with her National Certificate in to her male customer Education(NCE).

On her part, Miss Onyinyechi Nwogu, who repairs cell phones, described the business as interesting. She said her personal contact with the male repairers, passion for the job and its lucrative nature drew her to the business.

“For the past two years I have been into this business, I have been handling the job very well such that none of my customers has ever complained of treated unimpressively or poorly. It has given me fame that people do come to me from far places.

“I can assure you that beside my on weekly as agreed. boss and few others, I have all it takes She disclosed that since April last to compete favourably with other year when she started operating the men. In short, the job is source of tricycle herself, she has been cater- joy to me’’. ing for her family despite the difShe noted that some men do unficulties she passes through in the dermine her service and doubt her business. efficiency and cited example of a She lamented that the tricycle man who reluctantly gave her a job is ageing and has been developing in the time past but as at now, that faults and that she has no money to same man has introduced to her buy another one. more than five more persons includ“Since my husband died, I have ing friends and his colleagues. been battling to provide for my famNwogu called on people to stop ily. I have to bring back the tricycle looking down on women in any huthat a man was riding for him be- man endeavour and advised other cause the man refused to give me women both married and unmarried account as he entered in agreement not to be idling at home as there are with my husband. many opportunities to tap in the so“I have to collect the keke from ciety.

Struggling with men for skills band. In few exceptional cases, some do underrate my performance’’, she said. She encouraged housewives to sit up and take up any job with determination, adding that her perseverance paid off in the business. Lawrence enumerated her challenges to include, incessant power outage and multiple taxation by government.

Another woman, Mrs. Oluchi Ogbonna, a tricycle operator, said that the sudden death of her husband pushed her into the business. She also said she was lured into it because of the person that was ridding the tricycle on the agreement with her late husband and that the man could not maintain the tricycle and give account to her

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Burden of flood in Awka

Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, is reeling under the yoke of flood. Residents are crying while some of them are probably the cause. Pamela Eboh in Awka, reports

T

he city of Awka, the capital of Anambra State, created in 2001, is still a growing capital in the south east of Nigeria with different challenges still flogging its existence.

Rain, despite being a nature’s call is currently ravaging the entire city with uncontrollable flood as every record of rain brings with it different level of flow. Areas mostly affected include Udoka Housing estate, Obinagu road, Arthur Eze Avenue, Amikwo, Umuogbunu, Zik Avenue, Enugu/Onitsha expressway amongst others.

Amidst the storm of ravaging flood, inhabitants of the these areas have tried in their various ways to weather the storm by applying some temporary measures to curtail the menace.

This includes using bags of sand to hunk some areas or putting heavy woods. Despite the measures, remedy appears farfetched as the flood keeps increasing with every downpour. Apart from the flood, there is also the issue of all manner of thrash flowing with the flood which includes packs of sachet water, cans of water and mineral, weave-on packets, empty cartons, etc.

On investigation, it was discovered that most shop owners as well inhabitants of the state capital see every heavy downpour as an opportunity to discard all waste materials in their possession instead of going to the central refuse dump.

For example, in Udoka Housing Estate, a super market owner was seen during a heavy downpour throwing spoilt bread, empty cartons and empty rubber cans into the flowing flood and the items flowed freely with the flood till it got to a gutter where it all sank and got stuck by the edge

A compound affected by flooding

We have made several representations to the appropriate quarters for intervention as well as sustained palliatives on the road, but the recent rains had defied every of our efforts

of the block.

For the man in his forties, Emeka Ubajia, throwing used stuff or spoilt bread into the flood is not an offence.

He said, “There is nothing wrong with throwing spoilt bread and empty cans into the flood. The flood makes it easy because it will carry it away”.

On the question of the thrash causing filth on the roads after the rain, he said the road sweepers can take care of it. The increase in flooding within the state capital is beginning to cause more harm as most roads during any heavy downpour are impassable with filth deposits flowing with it while erosion is already beginning to rear its ugly pang in some areas.

After the heavy downpour on Saturday, August, 6, most pedestrians that went through the Akwata area, linking works road and Ufoka estate were forced to remove their shoes and work on bare foot in order to cross over to the other side that leads to Udoka estate.

Mrs. Charity Nwune, who was returning from a burial ceremony, said that the pain was not working through the flood but having to work through a filth infested flood.

“It was so disgusting that I almost puked. The trash pit was filled up and the heavy rain pushed some of it into the

flood. So, avoiding it was impossible. That could cause infection to someone’s feet. The flood was too massive”.

Same heavy flooding was recorded in the major road leading into Udoka Estate. During heavy downpour, the middle of the major road in Udoka Estate becomes flooded because all the flood from the upper section of the estate flows to that direction, thereby causing restriction of movement until the rain reduces.

The fence of a house located behind a hospital along the road had some time ago caved in because of the weight of the flood.

At the moment, the flood’s impact is beginning to cause erosions at the road sides while the roads are not spared of different depth of dishes.

In Obinagu road, the residents are already screaming for the intervention of the state government as flood is beginning to enter some of the compounds and houses located along the road.

One of the compounds is said to be heavily flooded anytime it rains while the farm close to the compound has the crops submerged in flood. Some tenants found in the compound said that they face terror each time rain falls.

Mr. Obi Okafor, who lives on the ground floor said that flood entered his apartment during

the last rain.

“You can see how filthy the entire compound is. We have been battling this issue for years and we are calling on Governor Willie Obiano to do something”.

However, it was observed that the problem of flooding in that area is majorly caused by lack of two gutter ways while the only gutter constructed is blocked with trash.

Nwune may not be alone in the ugly experience as motorists also have their fair share of ugly experience with the flood menace.

Some motorists within the city, especially those riding on smaller cars are forced to swim the flood while some either get stuck in the flood and end up paying boys hanging around for such brisk business to help in pushing the car out of the water or end up in mechanic workshop.

Also, late last year, people living in Orogbu Street, Umuogbunu Village, Awka, sent a Save Our Soul message to the state government to come to their aid following the menace caused by flooding in the area which hitherto led to heavy erosion.

The call was made because of the amount of destruction that was recorded after a torrential rainfall which ran into millions of naira.

In the course of visiting the area, New Telegraph observed that the only access route to the street situated adjacent to the NIPOST office, along Ziks Avenue, Awka had been cut off with deep gullies developing at various points.

Going further down the street, occupants of the area both residents and traders were seen busy cleaning up as a result of the damages done to their property; while some residents whose cars were stuck were also seen doing palliatives to enable them remove their vehicles to a safer place.

A medical doctor, whose hospital was affected by the disaster then, Dr Cliff Okafor, revealed that the negative development which had lasted for about five years was caused by improper termination of flood water coming from the Ziks Avenue.

He said, “We have made several representations to the appropriate quarters for intervention as well as sustained palliatives on the road, but the recent rains had defied every of our efforts”.

For a barber, Mr. Chibueze Eneh, whose shop was entirely cut off by the disaster, “The ugly development has crippled every commercial activity in the area as customers can no longer get to this place. With the level of increased flooding experienced not just in the capital city of Awka but also in other parts of the state during heavy downpour, driving along some roads and streets pose a danger as the flood would not allow the driver to see or know where there is a ditch to avoid it hence, accidents occur while heavy traffic are also experienced along the major roads of the fast emerging mega city.

Until something is done to curb the menace of flood in the city, it may end up an emergency disaster zone.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

L

ike an earthquake, the walls and precincts of the ancient City of Benin, the Edo State capital were shaken amid cries, condemnations, criticisms, mixed feelings and test of supremacy for power.

It was a gruelling battle between forces of the ruling All Progressives Congress,APC, workers under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Local Govenment Emloyees (NULGE) and members of the civil society groups. Indeed, it was as if hell was set loose as social-economic activities collapsed for almost the whole of Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

Markets, movement of people and vehicles, shops and business centres were on hold. The national leadership and members of NULGE in the state had taken the state by storm as they declared total all day protest against the government of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in what was seen as a means to force the government of the day on its knees.

The workers drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state adorned with placards of various inscriptions and black mourning clothes had rolled out their war tanks in anger and like swam of bees and wasps taken over all known major roads linking the popular Kings Square, otherwise known as Ring Road, to other adjoining towns and states and in the process blocked the routes. Commuters and private vehicle owners made quick detours to other escape routes while passengers remained helpless and stranded for several hours. People were compelled to trek in endless sweat from their houses for kilometres as long as their strength could allow them. The scenario was better experienced than imagined. The aggrieved council workers, in their thousands, carried out the protest from diverse directions of Five Junctions area, Ikpoba Hill, Sapele road, Upper Sakonba and Mission roads and all ended at the City centre, where they finally deployed the union buses to barricade all the entry and exit points, making it impossible for all forms of movement to take place. While the protest, laced with curses, jeers and scorn against the state government lasted, one of the protesters, identified as Mr Peter Iwoye, from Esan North East council and in his 50s, slumped and died during the exercise, thereby raising serious concerns among observers and stakeholders in the state. Efforts by the union members and some good Samaritans to revive the frail looking victim failed at which point he was rushed to near Central Hospital Benin where doctors confirmed him dead.

The aggrieved workers bitterly complained that they took to the streets and major roads to express their anger against the

Workers protesting in Benin

Rage of council workers All is not well with workers in the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State. Last week Wednesday, the aggrieved workers, under the umbrella of National Union of the Local Government Employees, NULGE, rolled out tanks to engage in mass protests. They are being owed salary arrears running into 18 months. Governor Adams Oshiomhole insists that it was the duty of councils to pay their workers. CAJETAN MMUTA reports from Benin state government over alleged insensitivity and inhuman treatment by the Oshiomhole-led administration after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum which they had issued to it.

They decried their pitiable plights, which according to them, had gross negative effects on their health, their wards and families respectively.

Sadly, a meeting between Oshiomhole and members of the National Executive Council (NEC) led by Comarade Ibrahim Alkhaleel, in conjunction with the SEC of NULGE, at the Government House, Benin the same day, was deadlocked even as the governor took a swipe at the local government council union leaders for allowing themselves to be a tool in the hands of politicians to embarrass him.

The NULGE leaders, out of anger, left the seat of power to join their members on the streets in defiance to all entreaties by emissaries of government not to continue in the fray.

But the workers undeterred as ever, vowed to sustain the protest which according to them would be reignited on Tuesday this week. Besides, the national leadership of the body resolved to hold the state by the jugular by relocating its national headquarters, including joining forces with the top echelon of the Ni-

They decried their pitiable plights, which, according to them, had gross negative effects on their health, their wards and families respectively

geria Labour Congress (NLC) towards making the fight a worthwhile venture in the interest of the council workers in the state. No doubt, it was a frontal battle for the outgoing Oshiomhole to contend with, given the closeness of the much expect governorship election fixed for next month September 10 by the INEC. It poses a ripe opportunity and serious danger too if the opposition cashes in on the ugly development to rubbish the good works of the present government.

The President of the union in the state, Comrade Young Ilenakhina, said, “Some few minutes ago, we received a message that one of our Comrades slumped and passed on in the struggle.

We all must continue in the struggle. Today is just the beginning. Some are alleging that politicians are using us. All we need is our salary...On Tuesday (this week) we are going to come out like this again. The child that does not want its mother to sleep, will also not sleep. We should not be tired. If it is only one man standing protest for the interest of local government workers.”

Ilenakhina added, “This protest is to tell the state government that you cannot undermine local government

workers. We are not asking for anything. We are only asking for our salaries, nothing more.

There is nobody in Edo State that is being owed except local government workers. If there is anybody like that, let him join us in the protest. So, it is inhuman for anybody to think that local government should go; some are alleging we don’t work, well that is for them to tell their own story. A debtor will always have stories to tell. As far as we are concerned, we are the responsibility of the state.

They cannot dodge that responsibility.”

They also took their protest to the secretariat complex of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State council where they lodged their bitter complaints and sad experiences before the leadership and members of the body under its chairman, Sir Roland Osakwe.

The workers accused Oshiomhole of disappointing them as former labour leader, whom they stated is expected to lead by example by addressing urgently the present challenge of the workers most of whose wards have been thrown out of school due to paucity of funds to meet their daily needs.

New Telegraph’s interview with some of the protesting council workers revealed that they are being owed between six, eight, 10 and 18 months salary arrears respectively with Esan North East and Egor councils topping the list with 10 and 18 months each.

Akhaleel, who addressed the workers during the protest said, “None of the local government workers employed himself into the services of the local government. Due proCONTINUED ON PAGE22

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhole: I won’t bear LGs’ burden C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

cesses were followed and if there is any breached business there, I believe it is the responsibility of the state government to do it, not the union and we are giving it back to the governor to live up to his responsibility as governor and address the issue of payment of salaries of workers.”

Akhaleel, who is also the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declared that the leadership of the workers umbrella body would be fully mobilized to the state to join in the struggle aimed at addressing the ugly plight of the council workers in the state as “an injury to one, is an injury to all.”

He described as saddening the incident that led to the death of one of the protesters, assuring the workers however that the national body of NULGE would participate actively in the burial of the deceased and therefore called on the workers not to be discouraged nor ruffled in the struggle.

A minute silence was later observed in honour of the departed council worker. According to Akhaleel, “what we need now is more of focus, more courage, more mobilization and articulation towards realizing the desired target in the protest.”

But Oshiomhole, in a swift reaction, said the All Progressives Congress-led state government under him was not responsible for the failure of local government authorities to pay their workers.

He explained that he meets the monthly wage obligation to workers in the state civil service and therefore it was expected that local government workers must be paid by their respective Local Governments and not by the state government.

Speaking when he received the National leadership of NULGE same Wednesday of the protest at the government house, Oshiomhole said, “I want to say it clearly that Edo State Government does not have the responsibility of paying the salaries of Local governments. I am not, and I will not collect taxes from people to pay local government workers. I don’t know what they do in other states, but in Edo State, we respect the full autonomy of Local Governments and this autonomy goes with responsibility. I challenge your union leaders to show any evidence to the contrary.”

The governor pointed out that, “Under the previous administration, the revenue of Local Governments was being spent on their behalf by the state government. They even bought second-hand tractors at an inflated prices and distributed to Local Governments and deducted the money from Local Government funds. That is what the PDP was doing. The union in Edo State did not raise a voice. Just last week, the traditional rulers in Esan land said the best the then government did for them was to give them a loan of five hundred thousand to buy cars at that time and they deducted the money from Local Governments. The Union leaders did not raise a voice,” he

Another set of protesters

said.

He argued that, “What have I done since I came in, first I discovered that during the tenure of my predecessors, Local Governments in Edo State had a tradition of collecting a percentage of their money and paying to the previous government before they got their allocation. I said no, this government will not touch Local Government money.

Local Government money will be managed by them for the benefit of the people in your localities.

So, I challenge your union to prove anything to the contrary. I have not done any procurement for Local Governments; I have not done employment for Local Government. I have not sat down to make any transfers for Local Governments. I have not in any way interfered in the funds of Local Governments. Therefore, if Local Governments cannot manage their money, they only have themselves to blame. Number two, and I speak with every sense of responsibility and I challenge NULGE (National Union of Local Government Employees), Edo State to prove to the contrary.

When they had this kind of situation in 2010 or 2011 when the tenure of the Local Governments expired, they asked their own fellow members who are Heads of Service — and next time you don’t call a meeting like this without inviting those responsible for managing the Local Government.

I am not going to take panadol for another man’s headache — on that occasion we appointed Heads of Personnel in the respective Local Governments, not appointed by us, we met them on the job, and we asked them to manage those Local Governments instead of appointing politicians.” Continuing he said, “And I stopped them from awarding any contract, I stopped them paying any money, I even stopped them from paying the Police, Traditional rulers and so on. Mr President, I am proud to say that we saved over N6 billion for the Local Governments because I directed the Heads of Personnel not to spend the money, and as a result, the arrears of salaries that were being owed the LGs were paid in full’” he stated.

Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole explained further that, “This last Local Government that their tenure expired over two months ago inherited over N6 billion. I don’t know any state government that will save money for Local Governments.

As we speak today, the amount that is allocated to each Local Government is stated right from Abuja. It is not repartitioned in Edo State. I insist that no matter the situation, Local Governments must at least perform one of their most basic responsibilities, namely the payment of teachers’ salaries. If Local Governments cannot pay teachers’ salaries, then we should abolish them.”

According to him, “They were not created because they wanted to pay Local Government employees. If they are not involved in cleaning market and they not; they are not involved in grading roads and they are not; they are not involved in sanitation work which they are supposed to be doing and all they want is meeting once every month and sharing money, that is unacceptable to Edo State government. I cannot carry my headache and carry their headache. I am not here to pay salaries. I am here to work for Edo people.”

The governor maintained that, “Everybody must put on his thinking cap. There is no more free money to distribute. I read a communiqué in which they

They were not created because they wanted to pay local government employees

accused me of saying Edo State workers are being paid, correct.

Edo State Government workers are paid. Local Government workers are not Edo State Government workers. They are Local Government Workers.”.

He stated that, “Once I don’t touch your money, you cannot hold me responsible for your woes. You are there as Union leaders. You see your money being diverted.

So, you have a responsibility to watch and ensure that the money of Local Governments is managed judiciously for the benefit of Local Governments.”

On the salaries of Egor Local Government, Oshiomhole said “due to the incompetence of the Local Government workers themselves, the treasurer, the Head of Personnel, etc, they did not make their claim when others were making their own. The Federal Government approved for those whose names were on the list. But the good news is I have intervened.

I have made a case. I have shown that the Local Government was omitted due to their own fault.

The good news is that the Federal Government has approved, having seen that they were actually omitted. I believe we have secured the money for Egor Local Government, and once it is released, it will be paid to the workers of Egor. But there is no other bailout for Local Governments to the best of my knowledge.”

Earlier, the President of NULGE had told Oshiomhole that they were in the state because of their members in Edo State. He stated that, “The national leadership is sincerely not very happy and we find it very difficult to remain in Abuja while our members do not get their salaries some up to 18 months. We could not stay back because we feel that we are part of this government and being part of this government we equally find it very shameful to leave the situation of Edo while we are battling other issues in other states. So, we decided that we must come to join the state leadership who are already on ground protesting nonpayment of salaries. Our members are angry. Our members are hungry and you know a hungry man is an angry man,” he said.

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THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight

Imo Modern Poultry:

Legacy lying waste Despite the foresight of the late Governor Sam Mbakwe in establishing a modern poultry in Imo State, successive administrations have abandoned the employment-generating farm, writes STEVE UZOECHI

N

o matter the political divide, anyone who sets foot in Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State will begin to see Chief Sam Mbakwe, former governor of the state, in a whole new way.

A striking reality which dawns on anybody who steps into the massive farm is the fact that the enterprise, which was built more than three decades ago, till date, continues to outclass all industrial complexes or factories built by all successive administrations since 1999, put together.

Not even those who have heard the fame of Mbakwe and are conversant with his many developmental exploits would visit Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu and not be utterly awed by the sheer size, sophistication, futuristic and visionary leadership which gave birth to the largest poultry farm in West Africa.

Built some 32 years ago, the facilities at the farm boast of incredible functionality despite having been abandoned and left to waste by successive administrations.

In the last general election, one of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s campaign points, sold to the Imo State electorate to renew his mandate, was the “resuscitation” of the Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu.

The governor and his handlers literally put a massive show on the road in a bid to convey to a hapless public, the “revitalisation” of the moribund company founded by the legendary Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe.

The media blitz given to the said “revival” of the poultry was persuasive and pervading to the extent that not a few swallowed hook, line and sinker, the hype that the largest poultry in West Africa had sprung back to life.

But a visit to the multi-billion

Imo Poultry Limited, Avutu Obowo

naira poultry turned out to be a different story altogether. Virtually all the facilities and sections of the company are overgrown with weeds. The facility was in a terrible state of disrepair and begging for attention.

From the main gate, the air of abandonment, dilapidation and utter decay was pervading; with ramshackle sights suggesting a facility that is now in a very poor state.

All the tarred inner ring roads have over the years been eroded for lack of care and maintenance.

Its hatchery is burnt down. Some hoodlums, it was learnt, swooped on it when it was functional and set it ablaze after stealing from the facility. This happened some 20 years ago and the hatchery has remained in that state unattended

One of the old layer sections

to by the state or even the local government.

Surprisingly, the Staff Quarters and Accounts Department had a fresh coat of paint. But it was learnt that the Okorocha administration had splashed the paint on the offices before bringing in a stock of about 40,000 birds into the poultry last year.

It was the birds which were aired on television to convince the public that the poultry has come alive again. But the question on the lips of many residents is ‘where are the birds today?’

The Chief Security Officer (CSO), Godwin Diho, who conducted journalists round the poultry, told them that the 40,000 birds were fed to maturity at the poultry, processed at the cold room and sold out. These were the only

birds that had been processed at the poultry that hitherto housed upwards of 2.5 million birds.

Kick-off the sales of the first batch of about 10,000 chickens raised in the farm, the governor, who was represented by the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajimogu, expressed joy that the Avutu Poultry had come back to life.

Uwajimogu, who also spoke in his own capacity, noted that the farm had the capacity to house over 2.5 million birds as well as provide investment in other areas like fisheries, livestock, feed production, processing and packaging of frozen chicken. He, therefore, called on investors to take advantage of the opportunities CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Imo Modern Poultry: Legacy lying waste CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

available in the project.

Diho, however, expressed surprise that the cold room functioned despite its abandonment over the years. The cold room has multi-functional sections.

It has the section which brings in the birds live, another section which slaughters them, removes the feathers and dresses them before the processed chickens are transferred to the freezing and preservation compartment.

The CSO said the staff were, however, grateful to the Okorocha administration for, at least, looking in the direction of the poultry unlike its predecessors who, he claimed, did not give the poultry a glance.

He recalled that Governor Achike Udenwa’s administration privatided the company but his successor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, recovered it.

Diho is not entirely pleased with Ohakim, who is a son of Okigwe zone where the poultry is sited. According to him, Ohakim did not go beyond recovering the facility. The CSO believes that if there was any governor to resuscitate the company, it should have been Ohakim.

He said: “This is why we are grateful to Okorocha for the little he had done and plead with him to do more.”

But a prominent indigene of Obowo Local Government Area, who anonymity, said Okorocha did not deserve any commendation for the little he did.

“He only succeeded in deceiving the people. He showed on television that the poultry had been revived when the reality on ground does not support such claim. The country should move away from governance by deception,” the man said.

The old layer section of the poultry has five buildings.

According to Diho, each building housed 25,000 birds and employed 50,000 workers when the poultry was functioning at its installed capacity. He explained that the workers worked in shifts of morning, afternoon and evening.

Examining the technology deployed at the poultry, one cannot but marvel at the sophistication of the Israeli-built facility. And despite the long years of abandonment and neglect, the iron rods and zinc used at the poultry are still standing strong without rust

Staircase to the old layer section

Central stores

Eggs sorting department

Feed mill

Transformer serving the poultry

or evident degradation.

This, Diho said, had not gone without notice by miscreants who, according to him, have continued to cannibalise them for sale to ready buyers. But the CSO noted that some of the thieves were standing trial in court after being caught.

He displayed some of the iron rods recovered from thieves and stored close to the Maintenance Section of the poultry.

Close to the Maintenance Section is the Plant Room with three giant generators which, according to Diho, are still functional and serviceable despite the long years they have been out of use. Like the workers, he said the generators also worked in three shifts.

It is on record that during its operational days, Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu, had the largest feed-mill in the West African subregion. Besides producing feeds, the mill also produced wheat.

The poultry farm also has sections for piggery, snailery and fisheries. All of these have gone moribund. The now bushy surrounding of the poultry has made walking round the facility a dangerous exercise.

As Diho took the crew to the

Virtually all the facilities and sections of the company are overgrown with weeds

Transformer serving the poultry

Staff quarters

cold room section, he remembered he did not bear any gun. The gun was necessary to kill any crocodile which might show up from the abandoned ponds in the area.

According to him, crocodiles and some dangerous reptiles now have a run of the premises of the poultry owing to its bushy terrain and surrounding rivers.

The SCO recalled with nostalgia when the staff canteen was functional.

“When you go there to eat, you will be given a big chicken and two heavy balls of fufu (cassava meal) with a fresh juice to wash it down.

The white man knows how to treat his workers. All these stopped immediately Nigerian managers took over the running of the poultry,” he recalled regrettably.

Diho attributed the collapse of the poultry to change in management.

He added: “If the white people had continued managing it, the facility would have still remained.”

The SCO regretted that Nigerians chased away the Israelis and took over only to run the company aground.

According to former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sir Frank Ibezim,

Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu, is the largest poultry South Saharan Africa located on about 177 hectares of land with 45 poultry houses of 2.5 million birds capacity.

He said the farm had a feed mill of 3,000 metric tons silo as well as hatcheries, a layer capacity of 235,000 birds and about 100-ton cold room for preservation of processed chickens. Ibezim pointed out that during his tenure as commissioner, government worked in collaboration with a South African agricultural investment company, Whawna Crux, to rehabilitate the poultry and make it function to full capacity.

However, a visit to the poultry indicates that there is nothing in the farm to suggest there was such massive rehabilitation to guarantee full operations. Community sources told our correspondent that while the Avutu Poultry, as it was called then, was in full operations, customers used to come from as far as Ghana, Cameroun and other West African countries.

A resident, Ebuka Diomoji, said that despite the long abandonment, facilities and equipment at the poultry farm were still serviceable.

He added: “All that we need is a sincere leadership that is committed to developing and bringing prosperity to the state. Imo Modern Poultry is a viable investment that can fast-track development and further consolidate our food security if given the attention it deserves.

“Most people in Avutu community and other neighbouring communities, as was the case in the past, will have no business going to the big cities while they have gainful employment available in their domain.

“In Avutu at the time, secondary school students were given shifts and part-time jobs to complement what their parents spent on their education. It was a glorious era in our land which anyone who witnessed, would long to experience again.”

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business What's new Traffic falls as fear grips airlines over loan default 26

NACCIMA: Charting way forward for real sector’s growth

eWorld Divergent views over local roaming service

27 29

Telecoms operators target N31trn mobile ad industry

45% gas price hike: OPS, oil firms clash 26

L-R: Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu; Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe and Head, Digital Factory and Innovation, Gbenga Agbola, at the launch of ‘Paywithcapture’ in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

REVENUE Nigeria’s mobile network operators (MNOs) to monetise all their mobile channels to boost revenue Kunle Azeez

F

aced with increased capital expenditure and high operational cost, telecoms companies in Nigeria are being offered the opportunity to leverage an alternative revenue source, as they target mobile advertising industry globally valued at $100 billion (about N31 trillion).

New Telegraph learnt that, audio advertising channels are being “increasingly touted” as the veritable options that could be deployed by Nigerian telecoms firms to scale up their dwindling revenues.

According to information, with telecoms regulator, the

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Nigerian Communications Commission, wading into the Value Added Service (VAS) market, where short messaging service (SMS) is used as primary means of sending uncontrolled advert messages to subscribers, operators are planning to divert attention on ring-back tunes to carry more advert messages.

Telecoms subscribers are losing N350 billion annually to cases of unsolicited text messages, where cases of automatic subscriptions, airtime deletion, among others, have reigned for many years in the industry, according to the President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo.

With over 148 million active telephone subscribers in the country, analysts say Nigeria has great potential for audio advertising revenue accruable to key players in the value chain of VAS market of the nation’s telecoms market.

Nigeria’s VAS market is valued at N40 billion annually with close to 200 players already licensed by the telecoms industry regulator.

Revenues from the rapidly-growing mobile advertising industry seem exclusively reserved for over the top (OTT) publishers, leaving mobile network operators (MNOs) the role of that of a carrier only, said Chief Executive Officer of AdVoice, Mr. Dennis Oudejans.

According to Oudejans, AdVoice,

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

which is on the eve of launching Nigeria’s most effective audio advertising channel, his company offers MNOs inclusion into a $100 billion mobile advert industry by becoming member of world’s first and largest MNO Ad Network.

AdVoice provides brands innovative ways to target audiences in realtime by leveraging untapped mobile channels in a similar fashion to digital advertising.

Also, it offers Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s) inclusion into a $100 billion mobile ad industry.

Oudejans explained that AdVoice’s Demand Side Platform (DSP) is positioned as a complementary and alternative offering to OTT advertising. “In doing so, MNOs could be monetising data, assets, channels and inventories that are truly theirs.”

He said one such channel is the unutilised ring back tone. “By serving Audio Ads to calling parties, MNOs tap into a global market that generates a potential 12 billion ad impressions daily. This is three times the number of Internet searches.

“By replacing the ring back tone with highly targeted advertising messages, AdVoice unlocks 10-15 seconds of consumers’ undivided attention from a pool of over 140 million active mobile phone users in Nigeria. Subscribers will be rewarded for exposing callers to relevant ads and offers.

“Serving ads over the ring back

N350 billion Being the value of cash lost by telecoms subscribers annually to cases of unsolicited text messages

tone has a wider reach than any other medium. The advertiser benefits include measurability, zero wastage, advanced targeting, captive audiences and lead generating capabilities as callers can express product interest by pressing a key.”

Also commenting, Country Manager of AdVoice Nigeria, Mr. Opeoluwa Filani, added that ad sales have started and the launch AdVoices in Nigeria is set for September 8, 2016.

“We strongly believe in this first step of our roadmap that eventually includes the monetisation of all mobile operator channels as a means of generating new revenues, rewarding subscribers and offering highly targeted new digital advertising solutions to brands,” he said.

AdVoice offers end-to-end mobile advertising services and the company undertakes to handle the advertising sales, invoicing and payment collection and has developed strong relationships with MNO’s and media agencies globally.

“AdVoice is marketed by ChannelVAS, a leading Mobile Value Added Services company and the world’s largest provider of Airtime Credit Services. ChannelVAS is a member of the Channel IT Group,” Filani added.

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2016 ..............................16.5% May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel Market as at August 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N398 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N510 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N415

l Foreign Reserves – $26.001bn as at 4/8/2016

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at August 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N311 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N414 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N347

26

BUSINESS |news

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Traffic falls as fear grips airlines over loan default BEST DEALS Ethiopian Airways has been praised for offering one of the best international travel deals

Wole Shadare

T

he tough economic reality faced by the country has reduced capacity on routes, as fourth quarter 2015 saw air traffic decline by -nine per cent.

And with the recent hike in air fares, Nigerian airlines may default on loans obligation, according to Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane.

Rewane, who made this disclosure in his monthly economic news and views, said that the global airline share prices dropped by 11.6 per cent, the worst since 2008 recession, coupled with terrorist attacks that increased negative sentiments to airline stocks.

He noted that the premium fares (First Class and Business Class) are the buffer for airline profitability, adding that domestic airlines want to raise air fares by 45 per cent because of Naira weakness, leading to higher operating costs.

His words: “The International Air Transport Association (IATA) rate of exchange is now flexible. Dollar scarcity still a fundamental problem with backlog beginning to creep up again after nine months of using N200/$, it is currently N312/$.”

Rewane was equally worried about the skyrocketing of Jet A1, as fuel spikes 100

MELTDOWN Manufacturing companies’ cost of operations have gone up astronomically

Taiwo Hassan

T

he organised private sector (OPS) is at loggerheads with oil firms operating in the nation’s gas sector over the sudden hike in the price of domestic gas by 45 per cent.

OPS alleged that the oil companies have jettisoned the Federal Government’s Purchasing Order Agreement (POA) it entered with them in 2010 on domestic gas pricing regime.

The private sector group insist that they cannot afford to pay for gas at between N1,000

L-R: Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Ndubueze Ukwuomah; Director, Corporate Planning, Mr. Timothy Zalanga; Assistant Director, Track, Mr. Ayeni Adekunle and Assistant Director, Rail Planning and Development, FMOT, Mr. Moji Dimka, during the official opening screening of bidders document 2016 capital project

by NRC, in Lagos.

per cent to N240 per litre from 2015, stressing that maintenance costs have also gone up coupled with flight delays while cancellations have done incalculable damage to airline operations in the country.

Rewane listed other factor affecting domestic airlines to include weaker Naira and declining purchasing power, cutting back on international travel, current connectivity within Africa that he considered very poor and state governments’ fiscal imbalance as they slash travel costs.

He lauded Ethiopian Airways for offering the best deals, explaining that Lagos-Newark via Lome, Togo on a Dreamliner goes for N400,000 while on other carriers, it goes for between N750,000 and N900,000.

While fares have gone up by as high as between 60 and 70 per cent on international routes and 25 per cent on the domestic route, the low patronage of passengers occasioned by recession

has made it very difficult for carriers to break-even and be profitable.

This would in turn make it practically impossible to service their debts, as virtually all Nigerian airlines are heavily indebted to local and foreign financial institutions to the tune of over $10 billion.

Two of the airlines are currently under receivership of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Just last week, airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) were piqued by the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel.

They called on the Federal Government to urgently help to address the problem, which has been inflicting untold hardship on airlines and passengers.

The operators said JET A1 scarcity has led to airlines experiencing acute shortage in recent times, not-

ing that they are at the mercy of the oil marketers, lamenting that many times their hands are tied such that they are left with no other option than to cancel flights.

Till April this year, airlines bought Jet A1 fuel for N105 a litre. About a month ago, the price jumped to N145. Two weeks later, it rose to about N200 a litre. Currently, the price has risen to N240 a litre. This has greatly increased their operational cost.

For instance, considering that the cost of fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of the operational cost of most airlines, the colossal rise in price of the product by over 100 per cent has equally increased the operational cost astronomically.

In the light of this, their feasibility studies and financial projections are greatly threatened, thereby putting the airlines in a dangerous and difficult financial position.

45% gas price hike: OPS, oil firms clash and N1,500 per standard cubic feet (scf) or its dollar equivalent for 10,000 scf and 1,500 (scf) at a period the industry and the country’s economies are experiencing recession.

Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Remi Ogunmefun, in a chat with New Telegraph, disclosed that the hike in the price of gas is fuelling economic instability in the industry.

He noted that most of the manufacturers’ operating costs have gone up astronomically.

Ogunmefun said since the lingering gas pricing regime continued unabated, the group has petitioned the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to wade into the indiscriminate hike in the price of domestic gas being charged by gas companies operating in the country to salvage the maufacturing industry.

Specifically, the new flexible forex exchange policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which saw the naira weakening from N197 to N310 per

dollar at the inter exchange market, was responsible for the gas price hike. But the OPS based its compliant on the premise that the gas agreement states that the Federal Government should be informed of any review of gas pricing regime when the need arises.

Also linked to the gas hike were the recent militants’ attacks on the country’s two biggest oil and gas facilities - the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC’s) Forcados export pipelines and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL’s) Escravos-Lagos links and the Federal Government’s directive on gas supply to the power stations.

The MAN DG said contrary to the belief in the industry that domestic gas is still been sold to manufacturers at N197 per (scf ), the latter now pays between N1,000 and N1,500 per (scf) or its dollar equivalent for 10,000 scf and 1,500 (scf), which is not in tandem with the purchasing order agreement the Federal Government and manufacturers had

with the oil companies in 2010 for domestic gas pricing.

He said the hike in domestic gas price was disincentive to local industries that rely mostly on gas to run their manufacturing businesses, adding that uptake of domestic gas being used for production by local industries is between 10,000 scf and 1,500 (scf).

He said that local manufacturers operating in the country are currently shutting down their factories, as they could not cope with the hike in the price of gas and also, acute shortage, which has raised the price of gas to between N1,000 and N1,500 per scf in the market.

A source in Chevron Nigeria Limited, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, however, said that manufacturers’ complaints of paying for the price of gas in dollars was not true.

He admitted that the new flexible forex policy introduced by the apex bank was responsible for the hike in the price of gas in the country.

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) scored the nation’s economic performance low in the first half of the year.

The chamber believes that only an aggressive policy regeneration can revive the economy speedily.

TAIWO HASSAN reports

A

s the country’s economy groans over recession, stagnation and inflation, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the economic team of the Federal Government to review the monetary and fiscal policies and come up with programmes and activities that will take the country out of the woods.

NACCIMA noted that business operators and the Nigerian citizens are patiently looking forward to the “change” that will bring about economic turnaround in the country.

Economic performance At the NACCIMA state-of -the -nation economy and its perspective on the trending socio-economic challenges in the country, last week, the economic crisis in the country was at the front burner, as the private sector gathered to review the country’s economic performance in the last six months of the year.

Speaking at the event, the National President, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, said that in the last six months, January – June 2016, the outlook of the economy was bleak.

He said that the rate of inflation had almost doubled, electricity generation reduced by almost 50 per cent, and the price of petroleum products doubled.

Edem added that foreign exchange earnings had drop significantly due to reduction in output caused primarily by the vandalisation of infrastructure and low crude oil prices in the global market.

Although he acknowledged the effort of the Federal Government in addressing these economic issues, he, however, added that the efforts had not translated into measurable positive indicators, as the current recession has become a thing of worry to private sector operators.

Macro-economic indicators Available statistics with regard to macro-economic indicators and variables indicate that in the last six months, the economy had been faced with certain challenges that are slowing down growth.

At the beginning of the year, a fixed exchange rate policy of N197

InDUSTRY

27

Containers at the gateways

NACCIMA: Charting way forward for real sector’s growth to the USD was implemented in the official market from January to June 2016; and the naira hovered between N300 and N330 to the US dollar in the parallel market.

However, with the introduction of the flexible exchange rate policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last June, the official exchange rate hovered between N280 and N310 to the dollar with the parallel market rate hovering around N360 – N375.

The general outlook has also led to inflation, as it had doubled since the beginning of the year from 9.55 per cent to 16.45 per cent, the highest point since 2005.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in the first quarter of 2016 was minus 0.36 per cent. In comparison, the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 2.11 per cent, while the growth rate in the first quarter of 2015 was 3.96 per cent.

At the same time, external reserves decreased from $28.02 billion as at February 4, 2016 to $26.35 billion as at July 21, 2016. Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) had also been increased to 14 per cent from 11 per cent as at February 2016.

Interest rate maintained a double digit figure, with the Prime Lending Rate at 16.13 per cent and Maximum Lending Rate of 26.73 per cent.

NACCIMA disclosed that CBN’s estimated capacity utilisation in the Industrial Sector at 52.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, indicated a one per cent decrease from the estimated level in the fourth quarter of 2015.

It added that the apex bank attributed this development to poor power supply, exchange rate challenges and squeezed cash flow, which impacted on business confidence, thereby hindering activities in the sector.

The current economic situation is harsh as the rising inflation has greatly reduced the real income and the purchasing power of the average Nigerian

Interest rate increase With respect to the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN to raise the Monetary Policy Rate from 12 per cent to 14 per cent by July 2016, the NACCIMA president noted that the OPS acknowledged and understood the decision of the Committee as crucial to tackling the rising inflation.

He also acknowledged the assertion by the Committee that most of the factors contributing to the rise in inflation rate, such high cost of electricity, transportation, low industrial activities, and high prices of both domestic and imported food products, were outside the direct purview of monetary policy.

“As we lend our voice to calls by the Committee for urgent diversification of the economy from oil to manufacturing, agriculture and services, we would like to point out that a call for stakeholders to increase investment in these select sectors of the economy should be followed by lower interest rates, as the current rates are too high to stimulate the much needed growth to lift the economy out of its current phase,” Edem stated.

these challenges.

He said that it was about time that the government considered decentralising power transmission in the country.

Besides, he said it is also important to note the need for investors in the power sector to ensure that consumers enjoy a satisfactory value on power supplied while efforts are intensified on the distribution of prepaid meters.

While speaking on the recent signing of power purchase agreement by the Federal Government and 14 solar energy firms, Edem said: “It is a welcome development, we counsel that the government should ensure that the timeline in the agreement is strictly adhered to, so that within the shortest possible period there would be an improvement in power supply all around the country while they continue to work towards achieving the 30,000MW target to meet the needs of every sector of the Nigerian economy.”

The chamber’s president explained that the interest rate, which has hovered between 17 per cent and 28 per cent, remained unchanged despite its continued calls on the government to devise strategies that will bring the interest rate down to a single digit.

Unemployment According to Edem, available statistics from the NBS showed an unemployment rate of 12.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, an increase from 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2016.

“We commend and acknowledge the plans and activities of the Federal Government to correct this trend through the N-Power ProPower supply grammes recently launched by the The chamber’s helmsman said Federal Government, the Youth that the positive outlook of ener- Entrepreneurship Support Progy generated in the early part of gramme by the Bank of Industry, the year could not be sustained as and the Youth Innovative Entreprepower generation has continued to neurship Development Programme drop in the last three months. This by the Central Bank of Nigeria has made access to power frustrat- (CBN),” he stated. ing to the business operators.

He said that the private sector Conclusion group acknowledged with dismay From the foregoing, the OPS the sad occurrences of vandalisa- and other investing operators have tion of gas pipelines, which has acknowledged that the current hampered the supply of gas to the economic situation is harsh, as the power plants. rising inflation has greatly reduced Edem added that the chamber the real income and the purchasing would like to counsel government power of the average Nigerian. It to put more effort into alternative is, therefore, left for government to and renewable energy sources for urgently put in place the right dypower generation to overcome namics to revive the economy.

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business \ industry

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osinbajo, OPS meet over forex, others ASSURANCE Government is not passive about the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector

Taiwo Hassan

W

orried by the plight of manufacturers that have continued to groan over the weak naira exchange rate, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is expected to lead a high powered Federal Government’s economic team to meet with the organised private sector (OPS) today.

Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium scale Group (SMESG), Jon Kachikwu, disclosed this to New Telegraph in Lagos.

He said that the vice-president is billed to attend the LCCI Presidential dialogue session with the private sector group at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, with a view to discussing government’s economic plans to ease ways of doing business in the country.

Kachikwu said that the prevalence economic challenges in the country prompted the vice-president to summon a meeting with the OPS in order to find a solution to the problems and also reassure the investing public on government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors.

He said: “There is going to be a stakeholders meeting on the Nigeria’s economy with the Vice-President today at Eko Hotel and Suites. We (OPS) are hoping to hear from the Federal Government, what they have in stock for us - manufacturers, exporters, private sector operators and Small and Medium scale Enterprises. The meeting with the VP borders strictly on our economy and the way forward for the country. The VP is coming with high powered government officials to the meeting, especially the

Kunle Azeez

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layers in the manufacturing industry in Nigeria have been urged to effectively adopt Information Technology (IT) tools to boost their operational efficiency and drive job creation.

President of Programos Foundation, a Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation, Mr. Amos Emmanuel, said this at the 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, in Sango-otta.

Emmanuel, who spoke as a guest lecturer on the topic: ‘Industries and the economy: problems, prospects and the

ministers and other relevant agencies’ representatives in the Federal Government’s Economic Team.”

According to him, those expected to be in the VP entourage at the meeting include Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udo Udoma; Minister of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah; representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and others in the Federal Government’s economic team.

The LCCI SMEG chair noted that top on the agenda of the meeting are high interest rate, high inflation rate, proposed 10 per cent Valued Added Tax, foreign exchange policy and unstable Naira.

Others are the nationwide low capacity utilisation as well as infrastructure deficiency especially in poor energy supply,

poor access to modern technology, unfair competition and multiple taxation, revision of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme and Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC).

Speaking with the private sector group in Lagos, the Minister of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, had said that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government was ready to take resolutions

and recommendations from industry stakeholders on the revival of the dwindling economy for positive action.

He said that the Federal Government had set up a Presidential Inter-Ministerial Council headed by Vice President, adding that the task given to the Council was to identify the stumbling blocks to the nation’s industrialisation in line with the economic diversification agenda of the Buhari administration.

L-R: Deputy Rector (Academics), Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Innocent Akhuemonkhan; Execution Excellence Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Eno Martin-Eyo; Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Margaret Ladipo and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Chinwe Odigboegwu, during the MoU signing ceremony between NBC and Yaba College of Technology for the Coca-Cola Bottle Competition, in Lagos.

Envoy to manufacturers: Maximise opportunities Taiwo Hassan

A

s the manufacturing sector in Nigeria contends with various challenges, the British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, John Howell, has urged manufacturing companies to stay on course and maximise the opportunities that abound in the country.

Howell made this call during a courtesy visit to Guinness Nigeria Plc’s brewery in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking after his 4-day tour of the country, the envoy said: “I have been very impressed with the energy that I have seen in this country, particularly in and around Lagos.

The way forward is to channel these creative energies in a positive way for the benefit of the country. I have also been impressed by the size of the opportunities and the scale of the ambitions here, they are very absolutely fantastic.”

The British trade envoy also commended Guinness Nigeria for being an example of possibilities and driving an inno-

vative culture in the Nigerian business environment.

“The experience that I have had during my tour of the facilities at Guinness Nigeria and listening to the presentation by its key management has shown me how things can be done efficiently. Guinness is a thriving business that is responding to the market with lots of innovation and I think that is the secret to winning in the Nigerian market,” Howell enthused.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness

How to boost operations, by NGO way forward’, said it is only IT that can be used to address most of the challenges bedeviling the manufacturing industry.

He noted that though the challenges facing the manufacturing industry are not peculiar, the deployment of IT tools has proven to boost output and ultimately increase revenue for manufacturers.

As an expert for the United Nations World Summit Awards, he said that the manufacturing industries play pivotal roles in any economy, engendering rapid growth,

jobs and wealth creation.

While emphasising that leveraging on technology was key to meeting the demands of the manufacturing industry, he said by playing the pivotal roles, manufacturers would contribute to improving standard of living of people.

“It is a known fact that our world is technologydriven and any country with the necessary technological knowhow leads directly or indirectly in the committee of nations. As a country striving to become more industrialised, a new breed of

technologists must come onboard to meet the demands of the manufacturing industry, a situation that will then position us in our desired status among our peers,” Emmanuel said.

According to Emmanuel, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Programos Software Group, an indigenous capital market software provider and designers of CloudIntegra Investment Trading Solutions, studies have shown a strong correlation between level of IT deployment by manufacturers and level of efficiency.

Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa, expressed the company’s delight at the visit, which he said had afforded the company a platform to showcase its strategic commitment to the economic development of Nigeria.

Ndegwa stressed that in the course of the company’s 66 years as an incorporated company in Nigeria, it has developed a strong reputation for supporting Nigeria’s developmental aspiration, maintained a strong focus on impactful projects across its host communities, be it in the area of health, water provision, environmental protection and road safety and profiled as the largest British company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Our commitment to quality is visible via our people, products and processes. We remain strongly committed to strengthening the country’s manufacturing base, employment creation, manpower development and fuelling overall economic growth by strengthening our business through significant investments in manufacturing processes, driving local content development via our target to source over 80 per cent of our raw materials locally in the coming years, and continued product innovation and cutting-edge technology,” Ndegwa said.

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

29

eWORLD

Divergent views over local roaming service Industry stakeholders are divided over the desirability of making the national roaming service mandatory on Nigeria’s telecoms networks. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

Other cardinal issues discussed Aside whether or not the framework should be made compulsory for MNOs, other issues, which formed the fulcrum of discussion at the stakeholders forum, according to the report obtained by New Telegraph, included the viability of inter-operator NR in Nigeria; possibility of having NR on a non-reciprocal basis; cost of implementing NR; billing system; impact of NR on quality of service (QoS), MNP, roll-out obligations of operators and investment in the telecoms sector, among others.

T

elecoms stakeholders have expressed divergent views on whether or not the telecoms regulator; the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should make it compulsory for mobile operators in the nation’s $38 billion telecoms market to roll out national roaming (NR) service.

The differing views of the stakeholders were contained in a report of the June 9, 2016 consultative forum on NR services in Nigeria organised by the telecoms industry regulator recently.

One of the cardinal issues raised at the event was whether the Commission should mandate the national mobile roaming or leave it to the market force; and whether if left to the market force, the operators will voluntarily implement roaming between their networks.

Divergent reactions Chronicling the various views expressed by stakeholders at the forum, the report notes that while some stakeholders supported making the policy mandatory by the regulator on the mobile network operators (MNOs), others disagreed, saying it should be made voluntary.

Explaining the views of the proponents of mandatory implementation of the national roaming framework, the report says: “In this regard, existing mobile licensees should be mandated to allow roaming on their networks for the new entrants at reasonable rates and to the extent that is technically feasible.

“In mandating NR, the Commission should take the following into consideration: clear pricing model, a start and end date for NR, time limits by which negotiations should take place with a clear determination procedure, penalties for default and billing standards.”

According to the report, if NR is not mandated, established MNOs will not voluntarily implement roaming since their competitors may not have incurred the same costs but would benefit from the MNO who has invested.

“In view of this, a subsidiary legislation that will promote/ compel compliance should be de-

those areas.

While noting that Condition 36 of the Unified Access Service (UAS) Licence makes provisions for national mobile roaming, Maska said, “There is need to put in place an appropriate legal and regulatory framework to ensure that operators implement concise and clear roaming arrangements between them without room for ambiguity.”

Telecoms equipment; Inset: Danbatta

veloped,” it said.

However, those who opposed mandatory implementation of the roaming service said the NR should be driven by market forces and not mandated on telcos.

According to them, “MNOs will voluntarily implement roaming between their networks based on mutual agreement and commercial considerations.”

National Roaming National Roaming refers to the ability of a cellular subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including data services, when travelling outside the coverage area of the home network, by means of using a visited network.

It is a type of service or facility, which enables the subscriber of one operator to utilise the facilities of another operator with whom the subscriber has no direct preexisting service or contractual relationship to place an outgoing call or receive an incoming call. NR, which is a form of infrastructure sharing, reduces duplication of networks in less populated/remote areas.

Adducing reason for NR Speaking at the forum attended by the staff of the Commission and over 40 industry stakeholders, representing telecommunications operators, interested stakeholders and the media, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr. Ubale Maska, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof.

Umar Danbatta, maintained that the Commission expected that NR will further promote seamless communication of subscribers, as they will be able to roam on the network of other service

Source:www.itnewsafrica.com

The NR should be driven by market forces and not mandated on telcos

providers where their own service provider is unavailable or has limited network coverage.

This expectation, notwithstanding, he noted that the Commission is mindful of the possible negative impact national roaming may have on Quality of service (QoS), Mobile Number Portability (MNP), issues of fair competition, billing and reconciliation and appropriate roaming agreements.

According to him, other issues that might arise if NR is allowed such as the extent of regulation required and the possibility that operators may relax in their efforts to rollout infrastructure in underpopulated areas in anticipation that another operator will do so and provide roaming services in

International roaming status It is instructive that what is hitherto common in Nigeria’s telecoms market is international roaming service and till date, Nigerian telecoms operators have recorded an annual record of 66 million minutes of international mobile roaming calls.

Major operators, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat recorded this annual international roaming figure in a report released by NCC for 2015 activities in the industry.

Going forward Meanwhile, stakeholders have appealed that in implementing the NR, there should be a level playing field for roaming tariffs and pricing, there should be no QoS complications while the termination rate and pricing regime to be approved by the Commission should not place the subscribers on such a network at a disadvantage compared to visiting subscribers on the network, among others.

‘Low ICT investment bane of NIPOST’ Kunle Azeez

M

inister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has identified low level of investment, especially in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and obsolete infrastructure, as some of the key challenges facing effective operation of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

Shittu stated this while inaugurating the newly-appointed Post Master General (PMG) and Chief Executive Officer, NIPOST, Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi in Abuja.

Shittu noted: “NIPOST is, today, faced with a myriad of challenges, including an inefficient management structure, low level of investment, especially in ICT, vast but obsolete infrastructure and facilities and poorly-motivated workforce, particularly the junior staff and unredeemed pension payments.”

Other such challenges, which

the new PMG would need to confront headlong, according to him, are occasional loss and violation of mail items, intense competition from alternative courier service providers, unenviable public image, as well as a dysfunctional internal system.

“These foregoing challenges therefore, make reform urgent and inevitable to deliver on our promises for a new and efficient NIPOST in order to restore the public confidence in the country’s postal system as well as ensure that NIPOST delivers on its statutory obligations,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that by working closely with the new management of NIPOST- which will be further restructured in the coming days, “the ongoing reform activities by the Ministry of Communications will ensure that postal services are available to all citizens of the country no matter where they are at affordable cost and in a timely and efficient manner.”

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business \ eWORLD

COLLABORATION Agencies jettison rivalry to embrace collaboration to achieve greater industry growth

THURSDAY, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NCC, NITDA to drive ICT devt L-R: Country Manager, InnJoo Mobile, Mr. Rakesh Rocque; Co-founder, TecSync Technology Co. Limited and makers of InnJoo Mobile, Mr. Tim Chen; Special Guest of Honour and former Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communication Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; President, TecSync Technology, Mr. Jack Lee and chairman of the occasion, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh at the official launch of the InnJoo Max 3 smartphones in Lagos.

Stories Kunle Azeez

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have set up a joint committee to design a framework for collaboration to optimise development efforts for the telecommunications and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.

The decision for collaboration, according to a statement, formed one of the major outcomes of the interactions between the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, when the Acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olagunju and his team paid a courtesy visit to the NCC headquarters in Abuja recently.

With the entire ICT industry currently contributing about 8.5 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the two agencies said they would collaborate to fur-

ther accelerate the frontiers of ICT development in the country.

Both agencies under the Ministry of Communications, agreed that a new era of interagency collaboration, especially within the sister ICT agencies ,would bring about desirable results, in line with global best practices.

The joint committee, chaired by a director at NITDA, Dr. Agu Collins Agu, is expected to provide detailed areas of collaboration and terms of reference, which will be initialed by the two organisations in due course.

Danbatta said the initiative will prove to the world that “sister agencies in our clime can work together in the interest of the nation,” charging the committee members to work assiduously to ensure that the objective of the collaboration is realised.

“We must concentrate on those things that we know that with the right investments and involvement of our human capital resources, we would realise things that we can show the world about the giant strides that are being made in this

country, especially in the area of Information and Communications Technology”, he said.

According to Professor Danbatta, the agreement to collaborate is consistent with the mandates of the two entities to ensure pervasive penetration of ICTs. In the same vein, Olatunji said, “there should be no rivalry in ways that the two organisations operate these days because it is all about common vision and common goals, which are tied together for the future of our nation.”

Sterling Bank, firm partner on computer education

S

terling Bank Plc., in partnership with Audax Solutions Limited, an education technology solutions company, is flagging off a computer education initiative towards boosting e learning in Nigeria.

The Computer Science Education (CSE) programme tagged: ‘Audax Code School’ is in line with the bank’s One Education initiative aimed at consolidating its strategic focus on education and its commitment to youth empowerment and development in Nigeria.

The initiative according to a statement, is aimed at bridging the digital skills gap in Nigeria, empower children and teachers in both rural and urban areas, foster creativity and creative thinking skills through information and communications technology learning and encourage careers of underprivileged youth through Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education.

The training programme, which is aimed at also deepening awareness of Computer Science Education among children and youth will cover Summer Code School, Africa Code Week, Computer Science Education Week, Hour of Code Week, and Train the Trainer Sessions.

Sterling Bank commended Audax Solutions for initiating the programme, noting that participants, who took part in previous programme, raised “our hope that we still have in Nigeria.

“A crop of children with potentials to be among the best in the world in the area of computer education, if given the right exposure and encouragement.”

It stressed that this has informed the reason for the support of the 2016 edition.

The partnership with Audax Solutions, according to the bank,

was informed by the belief that teaching children programming skills is essential to developing their problem solving, creative and communication skills, helping to foster an interest in technology that can result in profitable and rewarding careers.

Audax is an education technology solutions company that had

invested and continues to invest immensely in technology training and development in Nigeria.

The company has a fully equipped comfortable centre that sits 150 people. Its centre holds over 400 laptops, projectors, and sound equipment that is available for trainings, seminars and computer based tests.

Lenovo hits 21.2% market share in Q2

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global information technology firm, Lenovo, has maintained its position as the world’s leading personal computer (PC) company with 21.2 per cent market share.

This was contained in the worldwide PC market share rankings for the 2nd quarter of 2016 released by International Data Corporation (IDC) and Gartner, two leading research firms.

Lenovo is a $46 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology.

The company continued to outgrow the global PC market, with particularly strong double-digit shipment growth in North America.

Commenting, President and Chief Operating Officer, Lenovo, Gianfranco Lanci, said, “Our PC business continues to be solid, balancing high market share with strong profitability.

“The latest quarterly results are a testament to the continued success of our Yoga con-

vertibles, ThinkPad X1 family, detachables and Y series gaming portfolio.

“But we won’t rest on our laurels. Through customer-centric innovation and breakthrough products, we are focused on our 30 percent worldwide PC market

share goal.”

The company’s portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs, workstations, servers, storage, smart televisions and a family of mobile products like smartphones, tablets and apps.

Telco offers new deal

N

igeria’s telecoms network, Airtel, has introduced SmartConnect 2.0, which offers prepaid customers six times the value of every recharge.

According to Airtel, the new deal is specifically designed to give more value and enrich the lives of telecoms consumers, while empowering them to do much more in their personal and professional endeavours.

“The new offering is specially created for new prepaid customers joining the Airtel network.

Nigerians who desire to enjoy the benefits of the newly introduced package will need to buy a new Airtel SIM card, register it and recharge to enjoy six times the value of every recharge,” the telecoms firm said.

Commenting on the service, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Mokhles, said the product reaffirms Airtel’s commitment to offer a unique telecommunication experience and amazing opportunities to new customers on the network.

He noted customers could enjoy extensive hours of calls and browsing on the new package.

Mokhles further explained that, as the name implies, Smart Connect 2.0 gives smart connectivity and choice to customers on the network to keep everyone connected to their families, friends and loved ones.

“As Nigeria’s leading network in innovation, Airtel is committed to exploring new opportunities that will enrich the lives of telecoms consumers and empower them to do so much more in their professional and personal lives,” Mokhles said.

‘StarTimes changing Pay-TV landscape’

D

igital television companies, StarTimes has said that pay-television landscape in Nigeria and other African countries is witnessing a transformation with StartTimes at the forefront of the revolution.

The company stated this while announcing the launch of a two-in-one combo decoder in Nigeria, in an unprecedented move to change the Pay TV landscape in Africa and offer surplus entertainment access to subscribers.

Marketing Director, StarTimes Nigeria, Mr. Oludare Kafar, in a statement, said the new product was equipped with world’s latest decoder technology to combine ef-

fectively the features of both digital terrestrial (DTT) and digital satellite (DTH) digital television technologies on a single device.

“The two-in-one combo decoder is a game changing product from StarTimes and it was deliberately designed with latest global technology to lavish subscribers with unprecedented access to digital television and entertainment.

“Interestingly, this new combo decoder works with both antenna and dish and offers channels on both for the price of one. It also grants our esteemed customers access to over 100 channels across the genres with an enhanced high definition (HD) picture qual-

ity,” he said.

Kafar noted that the digital television company’s desire was to “offer multiple access to subscribers to enjoy both digital terrestrial and digital satellite television channels and offerings on the same decoder and grant ease of access to switch between the options conveniently because our customers deserve utmost comfort and convenience.”

He said the company would continually strive to ensure that, with a single decoder, “customer enjoys access to all digital television channels and contents available and this new decoder is expected to replace the traditional single decoder model.”

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THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

News JOHESU, AHPA seek urgent intervention in health sector

Health

Interview Idris: Local funding will stimulate research culture

Some stakeholders have been agitated over the years on the introduction of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods in Nigeria. With the Federal Government’s inaction on the call for their outright ban in the country, new concerns have emerged on the labeling of products to give consumers a choice, reports APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

A

gainst recent pronouncements by the United States (U.S) Senate directing American food companies to label genetically modified organisms (GMO) foods, some consumers that are agitated about health impact of these category of products, have also raised concerns.

Although, some studies linking GMOs to negative health impact are inconclusive, another potential risk factor from GMOs which appear to be emerging is the intake of certain herbicides used on common genetically modified crops.

GMOs are plants or animals that have undergone a process wherein scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of living organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides.

GMO stands for “genetically modified organisms,” and this particular kind of biotechnology (genetic engineering) has been applied to common food crops, such as corn and soybeans.

In fact, the vast majority of corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. are now genetically engineered. It is not only in the U.S that genetically modified foods are produced. Often, food and nutrition companies have been mute ON labeling that informs consumers about what exactly they are eating. Based on the new development, some human rights activists in Nigeria are of the view that GMO foods should be labeled to give consumers the choice of whether or not to con-

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

GMO foods

PHOTO: lifehealthandbeauty.com

Furore over GMO food products

sume them.

According to medical experts, the purpose of genetically engineered crops include increasing crop yields, producing foods that were resistant to mold, creating crops that could thrive on salt water irrigation, and allowing for the growth of agricultural plants that were resistant to herbicides, so that weeds might be easily killed without affecting desired plants.

A number of scientists, public health experts, and physicians have raised concerns in recent years regarding GMOs, according to ‘verywell’, an online health news website.

Some of these concerns are the potential for GMO foods to produce new and unanticipated allergens that would lead to new food allergies. Another concern is the possibility of potential nutritional alterations in the quality of the food produced using this method of production.

Some of the most alarming scientific evidence that raises concerns about GMOs have to do with the kind of herbicides that are used on GMO crops.

Corn and soybeans that were genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) were first made available in the mid-1990s, and these GMO crops now comprise more than 90 per cent of the corn and soybeans planted in the U.S. The big problem with glyphosate is that the International

Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has stated that it is a “probable human carcinogen”—and this is the herbicide most commonly and widely used on GMO crops.

Glyphosate is the primary ingredient of Monsanto’s best-selling weed killer. Naturally, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) came forward and report-

32 33

ed that glyphosate was a probable carcinogen — the corporate giant refuted their assertion by claiming their research was clearly “biased and inaccurate.” Fortunately, there is no shortage of evidence to show the dangers of glyphosate, claimed Monsato. This means that the most commonly used herbicide on most of the corn and soybeans sold and consumed in the U.S.—not to mention other genetically modified foods that are increasing in number—is likely to cause cancer.

A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Health Promotion and Education at the University College Hospital (UCH), in Ibadan, Dr. Oyediran Oyewole confirmed that presently there is no conclusive study showing any side effects of GMO foods.

“Although, they do not produce any side effects now is not a guarantee that such side effects may not arise in the future,” he said.

On the basis of scientific advancement that has improved the world population and the benefits derivable from food security, which GMOs are there to provide, Oyewole reasoned that these were some of the considerations for their continued use especially in African region where hunger is largely blamed for untold hardship.

Since, the world community is not yet sure of the repercussions of GMOs, he recommended that they should be labeled because GMO foods are found in shopping outlets in Nigeria. “While those that are opposed to it could keep away from it, others who do not see any problem with their consumption could go ahead and eat them,” Oyewole added.

According to the Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency, Rufus Ebegba, the National Biosafety Management Act CONT INU E D ON PAGE 32

National Biosafety Management Act makes it mandatory for GMO foods in Nigeria to be labeled

Consumers should know what they are eating

PHOTO:www.vegetariantimes.com

32

Health\News

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

JOHESU, AHPA seek urgent intervention in health sector Eleazar Nwanti

T

he Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals (AHPA) have called for urgent intervention to address the abnormalities in health system.

The unions made this known in a letter addressed to President, Muhamadu Buhari.

JOHESU/AHPA is made up of 90 per cent the health workforce in the country except the medical and dental care practitioners.

In a letter signed by the presidents of the unions that make up the unions, a number of issues affecting the smooth running of health services in Nigeria were outlined.

The body expressed their disappointment over the disposition of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health which led to the 7-day warning strike in June.

The letter states, “ The body language of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has always revealed their unwillingness to realistically solve the problems inherent in giving us a sense of fairness and justice in the scheme of things.”

JOHESU regretted the refusal by the Federal Government to address the welfare demands of health workers across

the country which has been lingering since the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“These agreements and resolutions had also been earmarked for immediate implementation after we met Jonathan twice in February and March, 2015. These promises were never kept before his eventual exit,” the letter stated.

The demands of the unions include; the adjustment of Consoli- Some members of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) and Assistant Programme dated Health Salary Manager, Sebeccy Cancer Care and Support Centre, Mrs Tina Ometu (3rd right); Salako (2nd right); Structure (CONHESS), and Okunade (right) at the free cervical cancer screening held recently in Lagos double and padded remuneration for honorary consultants, extension of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, implementation of agreement signed with Federal Govs part of efforts treatment of pre-cancer- cervical cancer. ernment since 2009, lopto reduce cervical ous lesions remained the She advised that a cancer among Ni- best possible protection woman could reduce the sided composition of the board of management, gerian women, Sebeccly against cancer of the risk of cervical cancer by delaying age of first prompt implementation Cancer Care and Sup- cervix. of circular on promotion port Centre in partnerSalako described Cer- sexual experience, avoid from CONHESS 14 to 15, ship with Health Writers vical Cancer as the most multiple sexual partners, among others.

Association of Nigeria, common female cancer alcohol and smoking.

HEWAN, recently con- among women in NigeThe unions called for Also speaking, Dr immediate commenceducted free screening ria after breast cancer, Kehinde Okunade, a for women and girls as caused by the Human Consultant obstretics ment of reshuffling of the ministers in charge part of Sebeccly ‘1K Cer- Papilloma Virus (HPV) and gynaecologist at the of Federal Ministry of vix Campaign’ to screen transmitted through sex, Lagos University TeachHealth and Federal Min1000 women for breast and it could cause an in- ing Hospital (LUTH) said istry of Labour and Emand cervical cancers. fection in the cervix (the that no fewer than 9,000 ployment, adding that Speaking at the free neck of the womb).

Nigerian women die She said that it would yearly as a result of certhe ministers found it difscreening held during a take 10 to 15 years for the vical cancer and cervical ficult to rise to the status monthly programme of of statesmen and responHEWAN, tagged” Meet cells of the cervix to grow cancer. Okunade who is sible arbiters who can enHealth Writers Forum”. abnormal and become also a Director, Sebeccly. sure as well as guarantee Chief Executive Officer cancerous.

Cancer Care and Support According to her, this Centre, said that cervical the liberties of all stakeof Sebeccly Cancer Care holders in healthcare irand Support Centre, Dr. window period is when cancer was killing more respective of their proOmolola Salako insisted screening is done to de- people worldwide than fessional or other related that early detection tect any abnormality in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, through screening and the cervix and prevent and malaria put together. background.

HEWAN, Sebeccly collaborate on cervical cancer screening

A

New partnership on anti-AIDS TV content debuts

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NAIDS and StarTimes are in extensive discussions over a robust collaboration roadmap targeted at delivering anti-HIV/AIDS TV content for increased awareness and positive reorientation to Africans through StarTimes network across Africa.

UNAIDS Executive Director under SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé

on Wednesday said UNAIDS expects to establish partnership with StarTimes to build a new bridge between Africa and China during a meeting with ChinaAfrica Business Council in Beijing.

Sidibé said: “I can just confess that all the interventions were so pertinent and so relevant. Collaborating with StarTimes is also for me

very important because what we are going to project is a new vision, which is to reach more people and create social reorientation which will also ensure that everybody can benefit from the digital revolution.

StarTimes technologies, innovations, creativity and international stature can help expand access to information and aid Africans to live healthier.”

The UNAIDS Executive Director added: “For me, this is the only way to build a new bridge between Africa and China, through our partnership for the future to come.”

UNAIDS Director for Communications and Global Advocacy, Annemarie Hou also at the meeting said that UNAIDS and StarTimes can work together to deliver anti-HIV/AIDS TV

content to Africans.

“We are working now with OAFLA (the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/ AIDS) and First Ladies and we are doing an excellent work on content, and they are also asking for more TV content. So if we can work together, let’s think about things that will really help their message to be delivered to everyone in Africa.”

Furore over GMO foods products CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

makes it mandatory for GMO foods in Nigeria to be labeled for consumer choice.

On the extent of GMO foods in the country, Ebegba told the ‘New Telegraph HEALTH’ that for now, official, there was no GMO foods in the country. However, considering that Nigeria imports foods from the U.S, Canada and a couple of countries that produce GMO foods,

“there is like hood of importing GMO foods into the country as some may have found their way into Nigeria,” he noted.

Similarly, he confirmed that some GMO products that were officially in the country were for experimental purposes. “On going plans to have GMO cottons in the country for commercial purposes may however not be ready until about two years away from now,” he said.

Monsanto Company is a

publicly traded American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation headquartered in Creve Coeur, Greater St. Louis, Missouri. It is a leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed and Roundup, a glyphosatebased herbicide.

Monsanto’s role in agricultural changes, biotechnology products, and lobbying of government agencies, along with its history as a chemical com-

pany have made the company controversial.

Some countries require GMO labeling to identify for consumers which foods are or contain GMOs. However, a number of countries and regions, ranging from countries in the European Union (EU) to Saudi Arabia to Thailand and the Philippines, have banned some or all GMOs. In the U.S, a number of non-governmental organisations, such as

the Non-GMO Project, have added their voices to those of public health experts raising a number of serious concerns about GMOs. Monsanto was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell, as one of four groups announcing the introduction of genes into plants in 1983,and was among the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops, which it did in 1987.

Eye for details

I

f the human eye are a digital camera, it would have 576 megapixels. An eye can distinguish about 10 million different colours.

Sunburn damages blood vessels Extensively severe sunburn damages the blood vessels extensively but how extensively?

Studies have shown that it can take four to fifteen months for them to return to their normal condition.

Consider that the next time you are feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.

Miles to go If uncoiled, the DNA in all the cells from the human body would stretch up to 10 billion miles.

That is the distance from earth to Pluto and back or 6,000 trips from earth to the moon.

Long-term storage space Your brain’s long-term memory, which develops until the age of 40, can hold as many as one quadrillion (one million billion) separate bits of information in a lifetime.

Human body contains gold There is 0.2 milligrams of gold in your body, most of which is in your blood. The human body contains gold, but itis not enough to strike it rich. The body contains approximately 0.2 milligrams of gold that is most diffused with the blood. However, you would need to bleed 40,000 people dry just to collect enough blood to make an 8-gram souvenir.

Tasty treats Your mouth contains around 10,000 taste buds, most of which are located on and around the tiny bumps on your tongue.

However, the sense of smell is necessary for taste, too.

Colour of bones Did you know the colour of the human bones actually range from beige to light brown? The bones you see in museums are white in colour because they have been boiled and cleaned.

Long arteries If your arteries, veins and capillaries were laid out end to end, they would measure 62,137 miles (100,000 kilometers). That is nearly enough to stretch two and a half times around the planet!

Health\INTERVIEW

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dr. Jide Idris is the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State.

In this interview, he discusses response strategies to tackle highly pathogenic infectious diseases in West Africa.

APPOLONIA ADEYEMI reports

What is being done to control mosquitoes given their role in the high prevalence of malaria, dengue and now Zika diseases?

Efforts will be made to reduce the population of mosquitoes and we are doing that very well. As Lagos State Government, we initiated malaria control programme. One major aspect of that is reducing mosquitoes through the use of indoor residual spraying.

We are doing larvyciding and these are part of strategies to reduce mosquitoes from biting people so that they do not contract infections.

More importantly, is also letting the public know what they should do with regard to mosquito control and when they have malaria attacks. In addition, we let the populace know where to go so that proper diagnosis can be made. These are things the government are trying to enlighten the public about.

You will recall that presently, a particular country in Africa, Angola has high cases of Yellow Fever. All of us here should be on alert. For our children, let us give them the vaccine when it is appropriate and when it is time again for a new shot. Similarly, when we are going to places where populations are at risk of specific infections we should remember to carry all those protective commodities.

Would you expantiate on the case of dengue which was reported recently in Lagos Luckily dengue is not as virulent as the other infectious diseases like the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the Zika Virus. The Dengue infection does not spread as quickly as others. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes.

The patient that was affected by dengue came from across the border, outside Nigeria in Benin Republic. The fellow had gone to a hospital in Badagry some time back and it was quickly detected as a case of dengue, though the patient died eventually. But, the suspicion was there that is why the need for them to make that diagnosis.

Why Establish Bio Safety-4 Laboratory in Lagos Creating the Bio safety-4

33

Idris: Local funding will stimulate research culture Laboratory is very expensive.

In Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories are designed to prevent microbes from being released into the environment and to provide maximum safety for scientists. When a laboratory is designated BSL4, that means the highest possible containment measures are in place.

This laboratory requires specific human resource and working there requires specific gowning and protocols. We cannot set it up without the assistance of people who have the expertise.

Our experiences in this country show that we should have a BSL-4 laboratory here and that is what we are pursuing in the context of what has happened during Ebola outbreak and the fact that anything could happen that could expose our population to danger. It is essential that we should have such a laboratory here. That is what we are pursuing. We probably might have support from the Canadian Government in starting Bio-banking facility as well.

We are taking proactive steps against highly pathogenic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

Experiences from the 2nd African Conference on Emerging Infectious Disease which held in Lagos in July With this conference, we are taking proactive steps against highly pathogenic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EID) threatening the West African Sub-Region.

Among such diseases are the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Dengue, Zika, among others.

The conference was organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET), the West African Task Force for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks (WATER), African Gong and the Global Partnership Programme (GPP), People with different experiences and knowledge on emerging infectious diseases were on ground for the programme. The essence was to share knowledge and present experiences of researchers.

Given the pool of scientists present at the conference, pool activities can be used in case we have epidemic or infectious disease outbreak. We don’t necessarily have to wait until help comes from outside of this country before we can intervene. That is to say that we have to take care of ourselves here locally.

Role of Lagos State to encourage funding for research?

Going by the progress made so far from research in advanced nations, whether we like it or not, any rightthinking government or country must encourage research,

Idris

something that the Lagos State Government has tried to do.

If you recollect even the last administration in Lagos State established a research fund. It is going to be continued again.

It is going to stimulate the culture of research.

Over there in advanced nations, it is the private establishments that fund a lot of research but again we have to start somewhere. That is why we are stimulating this and trying to get people to get used to that.

On ideas to advance the country In this country we have shortage of manpower. There are some aspects of the system that we don’t have resources for. I will give you an example.

With regard to Ebola, how many virologists do we have?

Even concerning virologists, they have different aspects and different sub specialties.

So, if we have people who have experience in those areas that

we do not have resources and those who have experience in what we want to establish, it is easier for us to establish such.

They will train us; they will show us the right way. That is what we need.

Similarly, if we have people who are keen on investing in such things, we know where to talk to them so that they can provide us support on how best to do these things. We can use them for training; we can use them for establishing things.

They could be engineers; they could be bio-engineers that are experienced in bio-security. The essence is that our benchmark is not local. As a Mega City, there are levels of standard that we should meet and that is what we are trying to meet.

What are other benefits of the conference to Lagos and Nigeria By the time we do this conference again, it is going to strengthen our health system in many different ways.

34

Health\News

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fidson supports breastfeeding

F

idson Healthcare Plc has thrown its weight behind breastfeeding as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children, which is the cornerstone for a child’s healthy growth as well as a country’s development.

The leading pharmaceutical company called on Nigerian women to embrace breastfeeding of their babies to avoid diseases and infections to the child’s health.

The advice came on the heel of the company’s concern for the health and well-being of the Nigerian mother and child, in commemoration of the world breastfeeding week which commenced on the 1st of August, 2016.

World Health Organisation (WHO)’s report tied the increasing child mortality rate to lack of adequate breastfeeding. WHO’s report estimated that 3.1 million child deaths annually or 45 per cent of all child deaths are caused by undernutrition and that over 800 000 children’s lives could be saved every year among children under 5, if all children 0–23 months were optimally breastfed.

The Marketing Manager, Fidson, Mr Friday Enaholo said breast milk is an essential source of energy and nutrients for children

aged six to 23 months as it can provide more than half of a child’s energy needs between the ages of six and 12 months, and one third of energy needs between 12 and 24 months. He stressed that breast milk is also a critical source of nourishment during illness, and reduces child mortality.

He also noted that supporting breastfeeding is one of the viable health investments any country’s government can make, especially in preventing child mortality, improving maternal and child health. He therefore advised all concerned to

support breastfeeding, especially for working mothers.

“The World Breastfeeding Week is intended to draw attention to and raise awareness of this natural responsibility of a mother.

There is the need to drum support for the working class mother who is nursing a baby; and to call on employers and policy makers to spare a thought for the hard-working, lactating mother when developing labour related policies that have to do with the workplace. A happy mother is a productive employee,” he said.

I

n a bid to assist Nigerians in the north east, who continue to face constant attacks of Boko haram, Nestlé Nigeria has donated products worth N2 million to support IDPs whom are victims of these crisis.

According to the UN OCHA, there are approximately 14.8 million people directly affected with hunger and malnutrition challenges; and over seven million people are in need of humanitarian activities.

Following the request for urgent support from UN OCHA, stating urgent need of help to these displaced people who suffer on a daily basis from severe

Nestlé donates to IDPs acute malnutrition, lack of accommodation and livelihood, hunger and violation of human rights, Nestlé Nigeria responded with a swift action by donating 759 cases of Milo beverage and Golden Morn cereal worth N2 million naira Speaking at the ceremony formally presenting the food products to the UN OCHA and Directors of NEMA in Abuja, the MD/CEO Nestlé Nigeria, Chief Dharnesh Gordhon expressed how pleased he was to be part of the humanitarian service as he represented Nestlé,

the world’s leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company that is deeply committed to alleviating malnutrition in Nigeria.

Receiving the items on behalf of the DG of NEMA Mr. Mohammed Sani Sidi, Mr. Aliyu Sambo Bafale expressed his gratitude on behalf of all, including the IDPs; giving his word to ensure that the products get to the beneficiaries.

Chief Dharnesh also beckoned on other leading organisations in the country to continue to join efforts and render help to the displaced persons.

Adamu takes over at Health Ministry

F

ollowing the recent redeployment of Permanent Secretaries by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Mrs. Amina Shamaki has been deployed to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Similarly, Mrs. Binta Adamu Bello, the permanent secretary from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was deployed to the FMOH. According to a statement from the Director, Media and Public Relations

at the FMOH, Mrs Boade Akinola, these culminated in the official handing over and taking over of mantles of leadership on Friday August 5 at the FMOH in Abuja.

Speaking at the occasion, the incoming Permanent Secretary appealed for cooperation from the management and staff of Health Ministry to move the health sector to greater heights.

“I am here to work for you, for Nigerian men and women, young and old, physically challenged and the unborn babies. I want to tell you that my

door is open, I am ready to cooperate and listen to your honest pieces of advice.”Binta said.

She also said that she was a team player who believed in team work. ‘I can’t do it alone, I assure you that together, we would work to increase the health indices of our country.”

Earlier, the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr. Amina Shamaki said that the Ministry had been meeting with health sector stakeholders in the bid to solve the lingering crises in the health sector.

Adamu (l) collecting hand-over notes from Shamaki (r) at a ceremony in Abuja last week

Healing powers of waterleaf (2) W Nature aterleaf, (Talinum triangulare), is one of those underrated and undervalued plants in Nigeria. Some even regard waterleaf as a nuisance weed that grows all year, though it flourished more during the rainy season.

Like the grasses in the fields, we match over them, piss over them, and uproot them from our Gardens in preference to other plants which we consider more important. But the more we weed them out, the more they grow again, as if in defiance. If you are one of those who care for your health, who is not satisfied with just being alive but being well, then you should read this write-up carefully.

I make bold to say that waterleaf is one of the most valuable healing herbs in nature’s pharmacy.

As is usually the case, the best and most valuable things in nature, are cheap, available and accessible.

Waterleaf is also a good remedy for insomnia (sleeping disorder). Water leaf contains more proteins than cashew nuts, more pectin (a food fiber that helps digestion) than apples, and also have high level of vitamin B, essential amino acids, omega3fatty acids, resins, iron, calcium, copper, lead, manganese and zinc. It is also a rich source of carotenoids, vitamin C, A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, alpha and beta tocopherols.

The pounded waterleaf is applied to soothe inflammations.

An infusion of the leaves is taken as a diuretic. For prostate en-

Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

largement, the roots are boiled.

The dosage is half a glass twice daily. Waterleaf is good and safe for pregnant women and growing children, as it boosts their blood levels.

Eating waterleaf regularly as soup helps to regulate hypertension and diabetes.

While waterleaf is very beneficial when it is taken as vegetable, dried herbs and infusion.

However, juicing is the way to go if you want the best out of waterleaf. What is juicing? Juicing is a process whereby you extract vitamins, minerals and liquids from fruits and vegetables.

This is usually done with an electric blender or juice extracrtor. There are lots of such blenders in the market, but ask advice from a knowledgeable technician about the right blender for your need.

To juice waterleaf, simply chop waterleaf, both stem and

Waterleaf is also a good remedy for insomnia (sleeping disorder)

leaves, into pieces, in the same way as you do if you want to cook it. Then put two or three handfuls in the blender and add one liter of water. Blend in same way as you blend your tomato or fruit.

Sieve out the chaff and you will be left with a dark green liquid, packed with vitamins and minerals.

Ensure you drink and finish the whole drink within 10 min-

Waterleaf

utes. This is one big mistake many people make. They blend fruits and vegetables and then store then in the freezer for days. If you do that, you have already lost 60 per cent of the active ingredients in the juice.

So if you want to get a 100 per cent benefit from your waterleaf juice, drink it within 10 minutes.

Do you feel tired and weak every time? Are you battling with diabetes, hypertension and arthritis? Are you prone to frequent bouts of malaria? Have you been diagnosed with cancer or you want to prevent it?

You want a glowing and youthful skin? I strongly recommend you take waterleaf juice twice a week. A trail will convince you.

photo: foodstantly.com

Cutting sugar boosts heart health

C

utting dietary sugar results in heart health improvements in as little as nine days.

This is the findings of a study of obese children who cut sweets from their meals, published in the journal ‘Atherosclerosis’.

The research is based on an analysis of 37 children ages nine to 18 years, who were at high risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

The NewsmaxHealth reported that the children were given food and drinks totaling the same number of calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates as their typical diets. But the researchers replaced foods high in added sugars, like pastries and sweetened yogurts, with bagels and pizza. This lowered dietary sugar from 28 percent to 10 per cent, and fructose from 12 percent to four per cent of total calories.

After nine days, the researchers found a 33 per cent drop in triglycerides, tied to heart disease; a 49 per cent reduction in a protein called apoC-III linked to high triglyceride levels; and reductions in small, dense LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.

35

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mom’s Alert

Mom&Parenting

The right way to praise children

Parenting Winning with love

36 36

Flora Onwudiwe

T

hat Nigeria has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in Africa is no longer news but has become a course for worry for so many especially as it’s increasing on daily basis. This is why Nigerian Association of Women journalists (NAWOJ) is joining forces in kicking against domestic violence among women and teenage girls in Nigeria.

During their annual breastfeeding week Themed; Domestic Violence: Task for all, which took place at the Combo hall of Lagos Television (LTV) in Ikeja, the women spotting their branded shirts which have inscriptions like; “ Lagos Women Journalists, say no to domestic violence.

“Do not stay in abusive relationship.” “Lagos Women Journalists, say no to teenage pregnancy.” “Lagos Women Journalists say no to sexual harassment.”

The Lagos state Deputy governor, Dr. Idiat Adewole represented by Mrs. Yetunde Odeyayi, per manent secretary to the office of the deputy governor, berated the rate at which domestic violence cases is on the increase in Nigeria, “It is disheartening to note that we wake up daily to read or hear of pathetic stories of domestic violence in our homes. Many of us are aware that Domestic Violence is a deliberate and persistent maltreatment form of abuse of anyone in the home, distress or injury. Domestic Violence may be experienced either by the men or women and it can be against children available statistics shows that women and girl child are both vulnerable.”

The deputy gover nor emphasised the need to amplify efforts on domestic violence so that the menace is nip at the bud on time!

“We need more of public enlightenment programme and aggressive sensitisation

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

L-R: Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Banire, Odeyayi Lawal and Akande

Kicking against domestic violence which should be taken to our homes, market places, hospitals, mosques and at the social events, we must involve our religious leaders, traditional rulers and community development and associations also parents guardians and all other stakeholders to join hands with the government to end this unacceptable act.”

In her admonition, the deputy governor further said, “Parents and guardians are advised to be more vigilant in protecting their children; we should not allow this act to be swept under the carpet.

If the perpetrators are not prosecuted, they will not stop the inhuman act. Most parents of rape victims are always afraid to report such incidents because of the fear that the police will expose the identity of the victim which may bring about stigmatisation. We all desire to stop the ugly trend, those involved must be exposed and brought to book, there is tendency of such offenders to commit more rape but prosecuting them will serve as deterrent to others,” she explained.

Speaking at the event, the National Legal adviser of APC, Dr. Muiz Banire strongly condemned the activity, “we condemned all the Domestic Violence in all ramifications

and advised that it is such a thing that we must discourage and try to eliminate. But as we are doing so, we must not endanger a misbalance by having all injuries of Domestic Violence by way of enforcement in court, we believe that mediation we get from counseling, educational and enlightenment will help the situation.

The C o m m i s s i o n e r, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Honourable Lola Akande expressed concerns on the spate at which domestic violence is rising in Nigeria, blaming the bad state of the economy which has resulted to a lot of men becoming frustrated because so many people are out of jobs now.

“Domestic Violence is sexual violence, psychological emotional, physical violence anything that inflict injury on one another is Domestic Violence, and is becoming very rampant.

She continued by imploring those in emotional distress to seek medical help rather than take it on their spouses or subordinates in the home. She further revealed the efforts her ministry is making in curbing the menace. “Our ministries go out sensitising people through advocacy on radio and television, this is done

to encourage them to come out, we have a home and we mediate, we are thinking of having centers in all over the states. In Finland they have home where they attend to victims, therapy home, they talk about their problems and we intend to have this in five divisions in Lagos State,” she said.

The organizers of the p ro g r a m m e, N at i o n a l Women Journalists, NAWOJ through the Chairperson, Alhaja Sekinah Lawal expressed concern over the unrestrained trend and the reason they decided to rise up to the occasion why women need to get out of abusive relationships, “But for this year we feel that because of the rampant cases of domestic Violence, we deemed it fit as women or as mothers and as women in the media to sensitise people on what they need to do, some people are going through all these abuses in their marriages.

“Some psychological, some mental emotional stress but they are there tolerating all these, but within these days a lot of cases of death as a result of domestic violence, we feel that we should sensitise people to let them know that it is not a do or die affair.

“If something is going on in their marriages, they

really need to check it, they don’t have to stay in it and die, they don’t have to tolerate it, before it get out of hand, we also deemed it fit that , this thing is what we need to look at holistically.

According to her, everyone hands must be on deck if domestic violence would be curbed. She said parents, teachers and those in the medical profession who are professionals re garding women issues and who could guess the next line of actions (when a teenager is impregnated) should all get involved.

She further blamed some of the issues affecting women in Nigeria on societal norms, a woman is compelled to stay in an abusive marriage for the fear of being judged as a failure by the society, “when a woman is emotionally going through problems in her marriage, parents should not reject their daughters if they decided to come back home. Unfortunately, most people look at single parents as bad and wayward persons which is not supposed to be so. These are some of the societal norms that are contributing to issues of domestic violence.”

The members of NAWOJ who were branded in Cowbell Chocolate T. Shirts displayed their placards in scripted.

36 MOM&PARENTING

THURSday, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

Last moments are the most critical and important moments of person’s life

Mohammed Ali’s last moments, lessons thereof

A

s a Legal and Child Protection Practitioner of 19(nineteen) years standing, it is my conclusion today that there are four rings of protection, namely, family, community, state and international community. It is also my professional conclusion that it is the number responsibility of the family to protect the child and that it is the primary responsibilities of the community, state and international community to empower the family to effectively play the role of the protecting the child.

It is in the light of the foregoing that in the next two weeks, I will share with you the departure of Mohammed Ali and his disposition toward family.

CNN reported on Saturday, June 4, 2016 as follows: ‘Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer who proclaimed himself “The Greatest” and was among the most famous and beloved athletes on the planet, died Friday in Arizona, a family spokesman said.’

There are so many great thoughts to share about the exceptional life of the legendary Mohammed Ali both in and out of the ring.

There is no argument that he dominated the boxing ring and the civil rights movement.

He surely made immense contribution to our world, which our world will forever be grateful for.

The purpose of this very short Piece is not to lay out Ali’s life in full details. Methink that this is a task that must be left to biographers and historian, who are more eminently qualified to capture Ali’s life, its essence and undeniably palpable ingredients of his multidimensional greatness.

I write today to draw attention to part of the

reporting, which matters to me most in my sojourn as a Family Strengthening, Child Protection and Childhood Preservation apologist.

CNN reports, ‘Champ’s Last Moments, Surrounded by Family.’ This is very instructive. Last moments are the most critical and important moments of person’s life. These are moments when nothing else matters and mortals takes quick stocks of their lives and delights to be in the presence of those who they love and who love them. These are moments when every emotion counts, when every word count, when every memory is cherished and weights more than gold in value both to the departing and those he/she leaves behind. These are moments of invaluable farewells and unforgettable memories.

I daresay, they are the most priceless and memorable moments for all mortals great and lesser. Thus the conscious and unconscious chroniclers of a man’s life lead discussions with his/her last moments: last meal, last place of visit, last words/wishes.

Above all, these are moments when nothing matters to the departing soul except being in the arms of who they love and those who love them. As matter of fact, many departing, particularly old people are reported to send for their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and few friends as they experience their last moments.

I remember how Wikipedia captured the death of Nelson Mandela: ‘On 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa elected in a fully representative democratic election, died at the age of 95 Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family.’

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

I

dowu Ogunade popularly known as ID Cabasa was a year older last week, August 4 precisely but he didn’t mark it the usual way- wining and dining. Rather, he chose to mark it with the less privileged children at the Special correctional centre for boys, Oregun, Ikeja Lagos state.

The popular music producer who has worked with the likes of 9ice, Olamide, Wizkid, Ajasa, Seriki and many others chose to celebrate his day away from the glitz and glamour associated with the entertainment industry, he used it to admonish the youth not to see their environment but their innermost self to motivate them. “Change your mindset, believe in yourself.

Explore your God-given talent and utilise it to the maximum.”

He berated some of the parent not doing well enough for their children, thereby forcing them to be on the streets. Speaking from experience, on when he was on the street, and being a former strong cultist, “I know I am a street- wise person, I am a hustler. Being on the street means surviving against all odds.” He encouraged them

L-R: Idowu Ogunade,a.k.a ID -CABASA; Vice chairman, CodedTunes, Marvellous Imabeh; Afro-fusion artiste, Gaise Ibuoye,and ICT instructor of Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun, Oluwafunsho Olowogbemi, during the presentation of gift items to the children

Winning with love to purge themselves of their street antics and rather use their mindset, which he feels is where their destinies lay.

He further urged them to “take this correctional home as a passage” to their “destinies”.

The Vice Chairman of Coded Tunes Africa, the I.D Cabassa Company, Marvellous Imabeh further encouraged the children that they can be what they want to be, asking them to feel free to be themselves and to see beyond the limitations surrounding them. She said they should also use it as stepping

stone to reach their desired destinations.

Ibuoye Akinade aka Gaise Baba, one of the artists that ID Cabassa is working on also used the opportunity to entertain the children with his latest release.

Some of the children who were thrilled during the forum expressed their appreciation to ID Cabasa and his crew for remembering them on his special day. They reiterated their belief in their God-given talent and their willingness to use it to the maximum.

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

The right way to praise children

E

veryone loves to be praised, clude that they cannot trust you.” even children. Just turn Praise based on ability is better. around and give the next Suppose your daughter has a knack person you see some praise for drawing. Naturally, you want to - could be just for a good colour com- praise her for this, which will motibination of his/her outfit, and you see vate her to hone her skill even more. just how they break into a smile. Some- But there can be a drawback. Praise times they say, “Oh really…?” You focused on talent alone could cause know that pretense to appear modest? your child to think that the only I have often watched parents skills worth pursuing are those that praise their children for practically come easily. She may even shy away everything they do, or don’t do (in from new challenges, fearing that some cases), particularly grand- she will fail. ‘If something takes efparents. A child does something fort,’ she reasons, ‘I must not be cut out for it-so why try?’ he doesn’t even consider worthy of any special attention and there goes Effort-based praise is best. Chilan outpouring of praise like he just dren who are praised for their hard won an Olympic gold medal. A close work and perseverance rather than observation will reveal that even the simply for their talents come to realchild is surprised, but well, he goes ize a vital truth—that acquiring skill ahead and soaks up all the praise, requires patience and effort. Knowafter all who wouldn’t love that. ing that, “they put in the work needBut is that right? Should we so ed to achieve the desired result,” says lavishly shower the book Letting Go praise our chilWith Love and Condren like it is fidence. “Even when something they they come up short, need in order they don’t view themto live? At what selves as failures, but When you praise point should we as learners.” effort, you teach What you can do instead offer constructive feedPraise effort, not your child that just talent. Telling back when we know they have ability can improve your child, “I can not measured up see that you put a lot with practice and need to put of thought into your in more effort? drawing,” may do Flashing a smile more good than sayand giving a pat ing, “You’re a natural on the back almost all the time (even artist.” Both statements offer praise, when we don’t mean it), makes it but the second one could unwittingly that any other person who tries to imply that inborn skills are the only correct that child is perceived (espe- ones your child will be good at. cially by the child) as being hateful.

When you praise effort, you teach I faced this challenge when my chil- your child that ability can improve dren were much younger and spent with practice. Your child might then a lot of time with their grandma. In- take on new challenges more confistilling discipline and putting firm dently.

Help your child deal with failure. boundaries were often misinterpreted as lack of, or not enough love. Even good people make mistakes, This piece tilted How to Praise perhaps repeatedly. But after each Children I have adapted from jw.org. misstep, they get up, learn from the I found in it very useful ideas on how experience, and move on. How can we can praise our children the right you help your child to cultivate that way: positive approach?

“Some people say that it is imAgain, focus on effort. Consider possible to give your child too much an example: Suppose you often tell praise. Others claim that constant your daughter, “You’re a natural at praise will spoil your child and make math,” but then she fails a math test. him feel entitled, as if the world She might conclude that she has lost owed him something. her knack, so why try to improve?

Besides how much you praise When you focus on effort, howyour child, you also have to consider ever, you foster resilience. You help the kind of praise you offer. Which your daughter to view a setback as type will encourage your child? just that, and not as a disaster. So Which type might hinder him? How rather than give up, she may try can you offer praise that will have another approach or simply work the best outcome? harder.

Not all praise is equal. Consider Give constructive criticism. the following.

When given in the right manner, Too much praise can be harmful. negative feedback will help a child, Some parents dole out undeserved not crush his spirit. Also, if you praise in an attempt to boost their regularly give appropriate praise, children’s self-esteem. But young likely your child will welcome feedones “are smart enough to see back on how he can further improve. through the exaggeration and con- Then his achievements will become clude that you do not really mean a source of satisfaction both to him what you say,” warns Dr. David and to you.”

Please share your thoughts with Walsh. “They know that they did not deserve [the praise] and may con- me. Thank you!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

Analysts predict further rise in bond yields

Rising CBN intensifies mop-up activities

lion, and the bond auction of about N120 billion.

“At the NTBs auction, average yields increased significantly across the various tenors in July 2016, compared with June 2016. The average 91-day NTB yield stood at 12.45 per cent in July, up from 8.86 per cent in June. The average 182-day NTB yield closed at 14.91 per cent, up from 10.80 per cent in June. The aver-

Tony Chukwunyem

T

he increase in bond and treasury yields recorded in recent weeks, is expected to continue this month due to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s mop-up activities through Open Market Operations (OMO) as well as the apex bank’s efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment(FDI), analysts at First Security Discount House (FSDH) Group have predicted.

In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts pointed out that yields on bonds and treasury bills increased significantly last July because of the CBN’s desire to achieve positive real yields on fixed income securities in the market.

They said: “The fixed income market analysis for July 2016 shows a net inflow of about N134billion, compared with a net inflow of about N32billion in June 2016. The major outflows in July 2016 were the Open Market Operations (OMO) and Repurchase Bills (REPO) of N397 billion, Primary Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) of about N275 bil-

age 364-day NTB yield closed at 18.67 per cent, up from 14.58 per cent in June 2016. The average 30-day Nigeria Interbank Offered rate (NIBOR) closed at 15.10 per cent in July 2016, up from 10.83 per cent in June 2016. The average 90-day NIBOR increased to 16.54 per cent, from 13.24 per cent in the preceding month. The yields on the FGN Bonds monitored closed higher

in July 2016, compared with June 2016.”

The experts noted that the rising yields on fixed income securities could have a negative impact on the equity market this month, adding that longterm investors should take strategic position in stocks with strong fundamentals.

They said: “We recommend staggered investments between treasury

T

he naira weakened significantly against the dollar on the interbank forex market yesterday, closing at N320 against the US currency, according to data on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website.

The FMDQ platform, however, showed naira closing at N317 to the dollar.

On Tuesday, the apex bank intervened on the interbank foreign exchange market to help support the naira after it hit an all-time low of N350 to the dollar in thin volume, traders said.

Naira, however, closed at 310.50 to the dollar following the bank’s intervention. A single trade of $100,000 was carried out at 350 to the dollar. A total of $6.86 million traded on Tuesday.

The naira has been under pressure since the central bank floated the currency in June to allow it trade freely on the interbank market. The currency has been hit by a plunge in oil prices, Nigeria’s economic mainstay, which caused foreign investors to flee bond and equities markets.

The banking watchdog last month told international money transfer operators to pay dollar proceeds from customer transfers into local commercial banks in naira, while selling the dollars themselves to bureaux de change (BDC) outlets.

On Tuesday the bank pegged the dollar transactions, which banks can carry out with BDCs at $30,000 per week and set a margin for the banks

to sell dollar to currency outlets at not more than 1.5 per cent over the rate at which they bought.

It hopes the move will help narrow the gulf between the official and black market rates and boost dollar liquidity, traders say.

The apex bank set a margin of two per cent over the rate at which BDCs sourced dollars from banks as resale premium to customers and pegged BDC disbursement at $5,000 per transaction to cover travel allowance, medical bills and school fees.

Naira hit 400 against the dollar on the parallel market last week, weakened partly by dollar demand from individuals travelling abroad for their summer holidays

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 16.5 14 10.77 US$42.33 US$25,918,622,055

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 June, 2016 26/07/2016 Mar 2015 10/8/2016 8/8/2016

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

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

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

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

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

Money Market

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

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

FX

Offer 198.55

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

poor state of the Nigerian economy.

“The long-term stability in the foreign exchange rate depends on the ability to grow our export base and attract both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). The policies to drive these growths lie outside monetary policy and more towards fiscal policy,” the analysts stated.

197.00

capital inflows Kunle Azeez

N

igeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), a government agency mandated to attract and facilitate foreign investment into Nigeria, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oxford Business Group (OBG) for the publishing firm’s 2016 report on the country with a view to promoting capital inflows.

Under the MoU, the Commission continues to work with OBG to compile and produce The Report: Nigeria 2016, inside, which initiatives to boost state coffers in the wake of low oil prices will be given wide-ranging analysis.

The Report: Nigeria 2016 will look at the impact of recent moves by the apex bank to increase access of hard currency to players in the economy relying on imported goods for their business.

There will also be de-

tailed coverage of the importance of collaboration among public and private sectors to carry out largescale projects.

In addition, OBG’s report will also look at the outcome of the current administration’s budget to stimulate the economy through increased spending, setting the stage for inclusive growth.

Speaking in a statement, Acting Executive Secretary of NIPC, Hajiya Ladi Katagum, said that even though the country is experiencing a downturn in revenue from the oil sector, heightened activity outside the oil sector indicated opportunities for growth.

“We expect our partnership with Oxford Business Group in the coming months to concentrate on ensuring that investors eyeing the country as a destination are given the latest updates on on-going reforms as well as sectors that are ripe for development, such as agriculture and mining,” she said.

CBN’s policy destroys jobs –El-Rufai

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

bills and long dated FGN bonds in order to minimise the impact of reinvestment risk.”

The FSDH analysts argued that tightening measures adopted by the CBN to attract Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and FDI in order to boost liquidity in the interbank forex market may not yield the desired result because foreign investors are still worried about the

Naira closes at N320 to dollar on interbank market NIPC targets increased

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

37

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

T

he Kaduna State Governor, Nasir elRufai, on Wednesday, decried the Central Bank’s prevailing fiscal regime, saying the bank’s 14 per cent monetary policy rate has led to massive job losses in the country.

El-Rufai said the CBN risked losing its power to set lending rates for commercial banks unless it immediately addressed the situation, adding that only unscrupulous elements could successfully operate under the current fiscal policy atmosphere.

“We have a Central Bank that has an MPR at —what?— 14 per cent and banks lending at 20 per cent. Only traders and drug dealers can make money at this interest rate.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it again, unless the Central Bank and the banking system make a conscious decision to bring interest rate

down, one day we would legislate it,” El-Rufai said.

The governor’s comments were delivered at a special edition roundtable organised by Women in Business, a non-profit women advocacy organisation, in Abuja.

Mr. El-Rufai dismissed CBN’s perennial reasons for high interest rate, and used the “B” word to express his disgust.

“The rate of inflation in the UK is not 2 per cent or 1 per cent. It is 7-8 per cent. But lending rate is at what one percent. I think they cut the interest rate last week.

“All these theories that the rate of interest must be above the rate of inflation is economic [expletive],” Mr. El-Rufai said.

“We must decide that businesses should be able to borrow at the rate interest that makes sense and politically lower rates to that level.”

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

10-Aug-16

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

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 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

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

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493 12.4000

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 30.00 605.31 719.99 361.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 210.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,691.96

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,073.22

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Nil

Description

Issuer

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.02 0.71 0.96 1.06 1.80 2.88 3.20 3.51 4.93 5.46 7.59 9.45 12.30 12.78 13.28 13.95 17.94 19.60

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.49 19.26 18.86 18.68 17.08 14.77 14.85 14.93 14.84 14.81 15.02 15.29 15.26 15.25 15.25 15.24 15.20 15.29

5.92 19.02 18.68 18.51 16.97 14.71 14.72 14.82 14.76 14.73 14.95 15.22 15.20 15.19 15.17 15.17 15.14 15.23

99.96 97.26 92.38 91.38 90.38 102.75 80.51 101.61 98.80 105.76 96.31 86.27 98.51 84.59 61.99 70.02 81.35 82.11

100.11 97.41 92.53 91.53 90.53 102.90 80.81 101.91 99.10 106.06 96.61 86.57 98.81 84.89 62.29 70.32 81.65 82.41

6646.957269

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.90

03-Apr-17

0.35

2.94

21.22

98.66

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.90

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.89

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

A-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA EDO

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*DELTA *NIGER

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto

*EKITI *NIGER

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

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

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

LAGOS KOGI

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

A-/Agusto

*BAUCHI

15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021

A-/Agusto

*OYO

16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022

Bbb-/Agusto

*BENUE

16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022

Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

0.69

1.00

20.29

93.60

30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10

13.75 14.00

11.33 25.00

30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17

0.65 1.39

5.71 2.39

25.07 20.36

93.60 92.57

30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11

14.00 14.00

23.44 4.22

30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18

1.21 1.22

1.00 1.00

19.37 19.34

94.59 94.56

09-Dec-11

14.50

9.45

09-Dec-18

1.40

3.82

21.77

91.79

12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12

14.00 15.50

7.01 21.68

12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19

1.41 1.37

3.56 3.82

21.50 21.84

91.49 93.16

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

12.55 80.00 20.55

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

1.79 3.28 1.86

2.02 2.01 1.00

19.13 16.89 17.96

94.86 94.10 95.20

27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13

13.50 15.00 14.50

87.50 5.00 3.74

27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20

4.30 4.39 2.62

1.30 3.76 2.53

16.18 18.64 17.93

91.85 89.35 93.31

06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14

15.00 15.50

3.76 14.37

06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21

2.64 3.20

1.00 1.52

16.36 16.37

97.23 97.92

17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15

16.50 16.50

4.39 4.53

16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22

3.23 3.26

4.01 1.00

18.87 15.87

94.77 101.45

30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15

17.50 17.00

27.10 3.00

30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22

3.38 6.46

2.52 1.79

17.42 16.62

100.11 101.30

27-May-15

17.00

7.34

27-May-22

3.52

3.04

17.97

97.59

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

432.95 407.43

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

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

NAHCO

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} #

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER *TOWER UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR

Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

UBA

BBB/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020

*FCMB

*FCMB

A/GCR

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

#{r}

A-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

#

16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022

FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022

STANBIC IBTC

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

STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

0.14

1.00

16.99

99.36

25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10

14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17

0.21 0.33 0.69 0.90 1.14

1.34 1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88

18.23 19.10 22.84 24.21 20.39

99.05 98.88 96.04 93.98 92.75

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.36

30-Nov-17

0.82

1.88

20.97

98.58

09-Apr-11

16.00

3.60

09-Apr-18

0.91

3.15

22.09

95.24

09-Sep-11

18.00

1.82

09-Sep-18

1.08

6.35

24.98

93.91

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.50

09-Sep-18

1.08

1.00

19.63

96.66

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

2.14

1.17

17.54

93.85

18-Oct-13

15.75

1.50

18-Oct-18

1.19

4.42

22.82

93.14

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.27

17-Feb-19

1.27

6.11

24.34

93.80

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

1.39

3.28

21.25

94.14

06-Nov-15

15.00

20.87

06-Nov-20

2.24

4.47

20.62

90.78

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

4.26

1.00

15.89

98.01

04-Dec-15

15.50

9.76

04-Dec-20

2.76

3.55

18.73

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

5.28

2.51

17.33

89.53

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

5.39

1.00

15.82

102.18

13-May-15

102.28

93.42

16.48

30.00

13-May-22

5.75

1.00

15.84

26-Oct-15

16.00

10.00

26-Oct-22

3.93

2.77

17.68

95.52

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

8.14

1.00

16.10

100.78

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

8.14

1.00

16.10

87.26

29-Jul-15

14.90

7.86

29-Jul-30

9.32

1.00

16.26

93.90

10-Oct-20

2.38

3.37

19.22

92.00

536.07

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

514.88

Sukuk BBB-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

*OSUN

10-Oct-13

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

14.75

9.02

9.02

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

8.30

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.51

1.00

16.36

92.07

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

2.73

1.00

14.05

93.97

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

24.95 23.22

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Coupon (%)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.43

6.23

101.23

102.00

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.79

4.36

100.61

101.39

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.65

6.47

98.50

99.47

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,501.64

Corporate Eurobonds B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.26

6.26

100.90

100.90

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

21.41

20.12

79.79

81.34

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.30

6.30

99.38

99.38

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.71

7.71

96.50

96.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

20.63

20.63

75.75

75.75

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

16.12 15.22 16.10

16.12 14.54 16.10

77.00 79.51 72.50

77.00 81.50 72.50

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,150.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

2,711.46 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

18-Apr-16

11.00

16.80

18-Oct-16

69

2.03

18.68

18.05

Commercial Papers Bb-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC

UPDC CP 18-OCT-16

16.80

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 8 22 29 43 57 64 71 78

FIXINGS Maturity 18-Aug-16 1-Sep-16 8-Sep-16 22-Sep-16 6-Oct-16 13-Oct-16 20-Oct-16 27-Oct-16

Bid Discount (%) 11.02 15.06 14.62 14.89 16.21 14.17 14.06 14.17

Offer Discount (%) 10.77 14.81 14.37 14.64 15.96 13.92 13.81 13.92

Bid Yield (%) 11.05 15.19 14.79 15.16 16.63 14.53 14.46 14.61

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 19.0000 17.5784 18.9998 21.5103

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

18.17

Tenor

Closing Rate ($/N)

O/N

20.08

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

317.00 312.00 313.00 315.00 315.45 316.00

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 20.17 19.33

NA

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 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

NA

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

UPBEAT Rating/Agency Issuer Renewed bargain hunting Agency Bonds halts three days losing TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION streak FMBN

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto

LAGOS *BAYELSA

A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR

EDO *DELTA

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR†

*NIGER *EKITI

A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*NIGER *ONDO

Stories: Chris Ugwu

A

ctivities on*GOMBE the NigeLAGOS rian Stock Exchange BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS (NSE) yesterday Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI closed on a*EKITI positive A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR *NASARAWA note, driven by renewed barA-/Agusto *BAUCHI A-/Agusto *OYO which gain hunting activities, Bbb-/Agusto *BENUE lifted the NSE ASI and market Bbb+/Agusto *PLATEAU Bbb+/Agusto KOGI capitalisation by 0.55 per cent.

A-/GCR *CROSS RIVER BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

Halting three days losing streak, all sectored gauges 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 closed in the green – NSE 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 Banking Index rose by 0.79 per 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 cent,14.00 NSE Consumer Goods 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00increased NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Index by 0.70 per 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 cent,15.50 while Oil/Gas Index GOMBENSE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 revved by 0.24 per cent.

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 Consequently , the All-Share 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Index by 149.69 basis 14.50 grew EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 points or 0.55 per cent from 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 27,272.14 index points the pre16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 vious day to 30-MAR-2022 close at 27,421.83, 17.50 PLATEAU 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 while the market capitalisa17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

19.02 18.68 18.51 16.97 14.71 14.72 14.82 14.76 14.73 14.95 15.22 15.20 15.19 15.17 15.17 15.14 15.23

97.26 92.38 91.38 90.38 102.75 80.51 101.61 98.80 105.76 96.31 86.27 98.51 84.59 61.99 70.02 81.35 82.11

97.41 92.53 91.53 90.53 102.90 80.81 101.91 99.10 106.06 96.61 86.57 98.81 84.89 62.29 70.32 81.65 82.41

6646.957269

39

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.90

03-Apr-17

0.35

2.94

21.22

98.66

***LCRM

maceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline, gained 93.60 N11.00, 1.00 20.29 5.71 25.07and N0.5093.60 N5.32, N0.90 to close 2.39 20.36 92.57 at1.00N247.00,19.37 N174.99, N18.95 and 94.59 1.00 19.34 94.56 N18.50respectively .

3.82 21.77 91.79 3.56 21.50 , shares of 91.49 Conversely major 3.82 21.84 93.16 bottling company , 7UP 94.86 Bottling 2.02 19.13 2.01 94.10 Company ,16.89 petroleum products 1.00 17.96 95.20 1.30 16.18 marketer, MRS Oil 91.85 Nigeria 3.76 18.64 89.35 2.53 building 17.93 materials 93.31 and manu1.00 16.36 97.23 facturer, Dangote Cement, lost 1.52 16.37 97.92 4.01 18.87 94.77 N5.97, N1.91 and N1.00101.45 to close 1.00 15.87 at2.52N113.53,17.42 N36.66 and100.11 N178.00 1.79 16.62 101.30 respectively .

3.04 17.97 97.59

Emerging market advance on weaken dollar forecasts 29-Sep-11

E

25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

0.14

1.00

16.99

99.36

14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17

0.21 0.33 0.69 0.90 1.14

1.34 1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88

18.23 19.10 22.84 24.21 20.39

99.05 98.88

2.03

18.68

merging-market curren“Emerging-market senti- er oil and some steady 96.04 price 93.98 cies and bonds rallied, as ment has really turned posi- action in iron ore, platinum 92.75 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.36 30-Nov-17 0.82 1.88 20.97 98.58 traders pushed back estitive and now a lot of people and even gold,” Costa said in 09-Apr-11 16.00 3.60 09-Apr-18 0.91 3.15 22.09 95.24 mates09-Sep-11 for when the18.00 Federal Re- 1.82 are betting on a strong ,” 6.35 an interview yesterday 09-Sep-18 1.08rally 24.98 93.91 with 0.50 09-Sep-18 1.08 19.63 96.66 serve09-Sep-11 will increase 16.00 US interest 35.00 said Guillaume Tresca, a se- 1.00 Bloomberg TV. 30-Sep-11 14.00 30-Sep-18 2.14 1.17 17.54 93.85 15.75 18-Oct-18 at Credit 1.19 Agri- 4.42 Turkey’s 22.82 lira climbed 93.14 for a rates,18-Oct-13 bolstering demand for 1.50 nior strategist 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.27 17-Feb-19 1.27 6.11 24.34 93.80 cole CIB in Paris, who1.39 recom- 3.28 higher-yielding assets. fifth day,21.25 gaining 0.5 94.14 per cent 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-15 15.00 20.87 06-Nov-20 2.24 4.47 20.62 90.78 mends buying the Hungarian According to Bloomberg to the highest level in three 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 4.26 1.00 15.89 98.01 04-Dec-15 15.50 9.76 18.73 93.42 News, most developing-naforint and04-Dec-20 Polish zloty2.76 . “With 3.55 weeks. Turkish President Re20-Nov-14 14.25 26.00 20-Nov-21 5.28 2.51 17.33 89.53 tion currencies strengthened low volatility , the environment cep Tayyip Erdogan102.18 and his 30-Dec-14 16.45 30.50 30-Dec-21 5.39 1.00 15.82 13-May-15 5.75 102.28 Russian15.84 counterpart Vladiagainst the dollar,16.48 led by the 30.00 is good for13-May-22 carry trades, which 1.00 26-Oct-15 16.00 10.00 26-Oct-22 3.93 2.77 17.68 95.52 South Korean won and Ma- 0.10 is why the30-Sep-24 South African mir Putin deepen 30-Sep-14 16.29 8.14 rand 1.00 16.10 agreed to 100.78 30-Sep-14 13.25 30-Sep-24 8.14 1.00 16.10 87.26 and Turkish lira are performlaysian ringgit. South Africa’s 15.44 economic cooperation during 29-Jul-15 14.90 7.86 29-Jul-30 9.32 1.00 16.26 93.90 ing strongly.” rand gained for a third day. 536.07 a meeting last Tuesday, as they China’s yuan rose the most 514.88 Traders who borrow in dol- seek to restore ties that soured in two weeks. Government lars to invest in debt of higher- after a deadly encounter bebonds10-Oct-13 rallied, with14.75 Polish and 9.02 yielding currencies have taken 3.37 tween their air forces 92.00 last year.

10-Oct-20 2.38 19.22 South African 10-year yields 9.02 home 9.1 per cent from South The yuan strengthened dropping to the lowest level 8.30 Africa in the past month, the 0.3 per cent on bets China’s this year. The rate on similar- most worldwide. policy makers are focusing on 11-Feb-13 11-Feb-18 1.51 16.36 92.07 exchange-rate stability , as the maturity Indian 10.20 notes was 12.00 The MSCI Emerging Mar- 1.00 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 2.73 1.00 14.05 93.97 set for the lowest close since 24.95 kets Currency Index rose 0.6 economy shows increasing 2009. Emerging market stocks 23.22 per cent in New York, extend- signs of a recovery. The won ing a rally in the past five days appreciated 1.1 per cent after climbed to the highest in more Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price ($’mm) than a year. to 2 per cent. The equity bench- S&P Global Ratings raised Prices & Yields Korea’s credit rating With average bond yields mark gained 0.3 per cent, head- South 6.43 101.23 102.00 one level on Monday to AA, above07-Oct-11 four per cent,6.75emerging 500.00 ing for its28-Jan-21 highest close since 6.23 12-Jul-13 5.13 a refuge 500.00 4.79 4.36 100.61 101.39 the third-highest investment markets have become July 2015. 12-Jul-18 12-Jul-13 6.38 an alter- 500.00 The South 12-Jul-23 African 6.65 rand 6.47 for investors seeking grade. 98.50 99.47 advanced 0.7 per cent to the The dollar dropped against native to near-zero rates in1,500.00 much of the developed world.1,501.64 strongest level against the dol- its major counterparts for a Continued loose monetary pol- lar since October 16. Moody’s second day, retreating 0.8 per 25-Jul-12 7.25 25-Jul-17 6.26 100.90 lowest since 100.90 June icy from the European Central 350.00 Investors02-May-18 Service said on 6.26 cent to the 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 21.41 20.12 79.79 81.34 Bank08-Nov-13 and US Federal Reserve Monday results munici- 6.30 23.

6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 from 6.30 99.38 99.38 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 7.71 96.50 10-year bonds 96.50 will ensure emerging-market pal elections may create the 7.71 Poland’s ad21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 20.63 20.63 75.75 75.75 opportunity for the country assets07-Aug-13 continue to be vanced for 8.25 support- 300.00 07-Aug-20 16.12 16.12 77.00 a second day 77.00 , with 24-Jun-14 9.25 81.50 to escape24-Jun-21 from low 15.22 growth. 14.54 ed, Goldman Sachs money 400.00 the yield79.51 dropping two basis 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 16.10 16.10 72.50 72.50 14-Aug-14Owi Ruivivar 8.75 manager said 250.00 points to 2.68 per cent, the Citigroup14-Aug-21 Inc Strategist Luis 12.23 11.76 84.88 86.63 in an interview. Traders have3,150.00 Costa said cheaper commod- lowest level since December 2.

2,711.46 trimmed the probability of a ity prices are also supporting The rate on similar-maturity Risk Outstanding Valuation the rand.

Fed increase by the end of the South African bonds fell nine DTM Issue Date Yield @ Issue (%) Maturity Date Discount Rate (%) Premium Value (₦’bn) Yield (%) “There is a nice mix going (%)basis points to 8.45 per cent, year to 42 per cent, from 47 per on for the rand of slightly low- the least since November 24. cent on August 5.

ortis Microfinance Plc’s previous year to N882.521 milUBA C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 *C &for I LEASING profit after tax the lion 18.00 during the period under MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Nil *DANA MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 second quarter ended review.

A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR *TOWER MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR June 30, 2016, grew by*TOWER 14.42 per Fortis’s gross income 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 A+/Agusto; A/GCR UBA 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† grew by 8.56 per cent from cent to N267.996 million from *LA CASERA MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS N234.225 million recorded a N3.361billion in 2014 to N3.649 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil *DANA 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 A-/GCR *FCMB year earlier. billion during the financial 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR In a filing with the*TRANSCORP Nigerian year15.50 2015.

HOTELS PLC 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 BBB/GCR *FCMB Stock Exchange (NSE), the miThe bank was 16.45microfinance UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR UBA 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 BBB/GCR FIDELITY granted a national licrofinance institution’s pre-tax last year 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR HOTELS PLC profit equally grew by*TRANSCORP 14.42IBTC per cence the STANBIC Central Bank of 182Dby T.bills+1.20 IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC cent from N334.608 million the Nigeria (CBN).

14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030 AAA/GCR *NMRC previous year to N382.851 milWith the license, Fortis MiTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTALduring MARKET CAPITALISATION lion the period under crofinance Bank can now operreview. ate as a national mircofinace Sukuk bank14.75 with the opportunity to Fortis’s interest income rose BBB-/Agusto *OSUN OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE by 37.73 per cent from N1.304 open shops across the country.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION billion in 2015 to N1.796 billion The bank’s Chairman Mr. during theBond financial year 2016.

Felix Achibiri announced the Supranational IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC Its first quarter ended March new10.20 statutes of the bank to the 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P *AfDB shareholders at the 2nd annual 31, 2016, profit after tax had fell TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET by 55.31 per CAPITALISATION cent to N71.910 mil- general meeting of the bank lion from N160.933 million re- held in Abuja recently .

Description Rating/Agency Issuer corded a year earlier.

He said the lender would repFGN Eurobonds Pre-tax profit equally licate its success story in Abuja JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P dropped by 55.31per cent from and in the northern6.75parts of NiBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 of JUL 12, 2018 N102.728 million the previous geria in other states the fedBB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, there.

2023 year to N229.904 million during eration when they launch BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING the period underVALUE review.

Fortis Microfinance, which TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Fortis’s interest income grew is the second microfinance by 17.89Eurobonds per cent from N566.429 bank in Nigeria to be listed on Corporate 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC million in 2015 to N667.774 milthe Exchange, is also the only 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC lion during the financial year microfinance bank 6.00in NOVNigeria 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 2016. to be issued a Mobile Payment 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC license by the apex8.25bank.

It B/S&P reported 13.46 FIRST perBANK cent AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; PLC USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II drop in full year 2015 finanAccording9.25/6M to the chairman 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD AUG 14, 2021oncials from of the bank, Fortis8.75 from the B-/S&P to N583.703 million ECOBANK NIG. LTD TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE N674.512 million recorded a set was clear that it would build TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION year earlier. a world-class bank of Nigerian origin and with the Description right workTheRating/Agency microfinance bank’s preIssuer tax profit also dropped by 17.52 force that places customers at Commercial Papers per cent from N1.070 billion the the heart of all its activities.

UACN PROPERTY BBB-/GCR

#{r}

# #

#

#{r}

DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC

0.89

by the activities on the shares of 57.00 Wapic Insurance Plc0.69 and 19-Apr-17 11.33 Insurance 30-Jun-17 0.65 AIICO Plc followed 25.00 31-Dec-17 1.39 with 94.4 million units traded 23.44 30-Sep-18 1.21 4.22 04-Oct-18 1.22 in 284 deals. 09-Dec-18 9.45 1.40 7.01all, investors 12-Dec-18 exchanged 1.41 In 21.68 14-Feb-19 1.37 a total million shares 12.55 of 391.3 02-Oct-19 1.79 80.00 22-Nov-19 3.28 traded in 3,103 deals.

20.55 12-Dec-19 1.86 87.50 27-Nov-20 4.30 On the gainers’ chart, shares 5.00 31-Dec-20 4.39 3.74 31-Dec-20 2.62 of petroleum products mar3.76 06-Jan-21 2.64 keters, Total 09-Dec-21 Oil Nigeria3.20 and 14.37 4.39 16-Feb-22 3.23 Mobil Oil Nigeria, brewer of 4.53 27-Feb-22 3.26 27.10 30-Mar-22 3.38 beer and malted drinks, Inter3.00 31-Mar-22 6.46 national Breweries, and phar7.34 27-May-22 3.52 432.95 407.43

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

FSDH

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

19.26 18.86 18.68 17.08 14.77 14.85 14.93 14.84 14.81 15.02 15.29 15.26 15.25 15.25 15.24 15.20 15.29

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

tion of equities appreciated

by N52 billion or 0.55 per10.00 cent 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 trillion13.75 to close at N9.418 from 31-Dec-10 14.00 N9.366 trillion.

30-Sep-11 14.00 04-Oct-11 14.00 On the activity chart, bank09-Dec-11 14.50 12-Dec-13 14.00 ing subsector of the financial 14-Feb-12 15.50 services sector dominated 02-Oct-12 15.50 in 22-Nov-12 14.50 volume terms with 181.80 mil12-Dec-12 14.75 27-Nov-13 13.50 lion shares31-Dec-13 exchanged in 897 15.00 31-Dec-13 14.50endeals. The sub sector was 06-Jan-14 15.00 hanced by the activities in 09-Dec-14 15.50the 17-Feb-15 16.50 shares of GTB Plc and UBA 27-Feb-15 16.50 30-Mar-15 17.50 Plc. 01-Apr-15 17.00 Insurance27-May-15 subsector boosted 17.00

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

NAHCO

Bb-/Agusto

0.71 0.96 1.06 1.80 2.88 3.20 3.51 4.93 5.46 7.59 9.45 12.30 12.78 13.28 13.95 17.94 19.60

0.90

Corporate Bonds

F

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

Stock market recovers N52bn Description

Fortis MFB HY 2016 PAT up 14% A-/Agusto; A-/GCR Nil Nil Nil A/GCR

480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 30.00 605.31 719.99 361.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 210.00

6,073.22

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493 12.4000

6,691.96

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Nil

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

#

UPDC CP 18-OCT-16

18-Apr-16

11.00

16.80

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

18-Oct-16

69

18.05

10-Aug-16

16.80

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 **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS 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.Money We doMarket not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) DTM Maturity Discount Discount (%) Bid Yield (%)on the basis of the Information.

Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information,Bid neither do (%) we accept liabilityOffer for the results of any action taken 8 22 29 FGN Bonds 43 57 64 71 Rating/Agency 78 85 99 113 120 127 141 148 162 176 190 NA 204 218 225 239 253 267 274 295 309 330 337 344 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 351

VALUE

TOTAL MARKET 358 CAPITALISATION

18-Aug-16 1-Sep-16 8-Sep-16 22-Sep-16 6-Oct-16 13-Oct-16 Issuer 20-Oct-16 27-Oct-16 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 29-Dec-16 5-Jan-17 19-Jan-17 2-Feb-17 16-Feb-17 NA 2-Mar-17 16-Mar-17 23-Mar-17 6-Apr-17 20-Apr-17 4-May-17 11-May-17 1-Jun-17 15-Jun-17 6-Jul-17 13-Jul-17 20-Jul-17 27-Jul-17

11.02 15.06 14.62 14.89 16.21 14.17 Description 14.06 14.17 13.05 16-AUG-201616.21 15.10 27-APR-2017 14.01 9.85 27-JUL-2017 17.36 15.35 9.35 31-AUG-2017 14.90 10.70 30-MAY-201815.47 ^16.00 29-JUN-201917.98 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.36 ^15.54 13-FEB-202017.90 14.50 15-JUL-2021 15.62 18.17 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 16.65 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 17.25 ^12.50 22-JAN-202618.44 15.00 28-NOV-202816.25 12.49 22-MAY-202918.26 8.50 20-NOV-2029 16.40 18.41 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 16.49 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 15.82 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036 16.32 16.35 16.52

3-Aug-17

16.51

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the TTM Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity Rating/Agency Issuer risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Agency Bonds

15.16 16.63 14.53 14.46 (%) Coupon 14.61 16.85 13.05 14.56 15.10 18.35 9.85 16.17 9.35 15.71 10.70 16.45 16.00 19.39 16.48 7.00 19.60 15.54 17.00 14.50 20.23 16.39 18.49 14.20 19.30 12.50 20.97 18.31 15.00 21.08 12.49 18.70 8.50 21.63 10.00 19.16 12.1493 18.46 12.4000 19.22 19.33 19.64

16.26

19.70

6,073.22

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Description

#

Nil

10.77 14.81 14.37 14.64 15.96 13.92 13.81 Issue Date 13.92 15.96 16-Aug-13 13.76 27-Apr-12 17.11 27-Jul-07 15.10 31-Aug-07 14.65 30-May-08 15.22 29-Jun-12 17.73 15.11 23-Oct-09 17.65 13-Feb-15 15.37 13-Jul-16 17.92 27-Jan-12 16.40 14-Mar-14 17.00 22-Jan-16 18.19 16.00 28-Nov-08 18.01 22-May-09 16.15 20-Nov-09 18.16 23-Jul-10 16.24 18-Jul-14 15.57 18-Mar-16 16.07 16.10 16.27

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Modified Duration Buckets

Sub-National Bonds

<3

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn)

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto

LAGOS *BAYELSA

A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

EDO *DELTA *NIGER

A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto

*EKITI *NIGER

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

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

*ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

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

*OSUN LAGOS KOGI

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

A/Agusto‡

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

3<5 >5 Market

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Rate (%) 19.0000 17.5784 18.9998 21.5103

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 NITTY 480.13 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 14.9964 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 16.1434 300.00 30-May-18 3M 16.7157 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 18.8681 9M 20.0125 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 22.4530 606.43 13-Feb-20 30.00 15-Jul-21 605.31 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 719.99 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 361.02 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX Rate 320.2500 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34 210.00 18-Mar-36

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

960.10

957.73

1,333.57

1,325.30

1,289.44

1,667.49

3,583.11

3,950.52

Weighting by Outstanding Volume

24.24 19-Apr-10 33.55 30-Jun-10 42.21 31-Dec-10 100.00 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13

OBB

18.17

Tenor

O/N

20.08

Spot 7D 14D Offer1M Yield 2M (%) 3M 6M 5.92 1Y 19.02

Tenor

REPO

TTMCall (Yrs) 1M 3M 0.02 6M 0.71

Rate (%)

20.17 (%) Bid Yield 19.33 20.00 14.49 21.33 19.26

0.96 18.86 18.68 NOTE: 1.06 18.68 18.51 1.80 17.08 16.97 :Benchmarks 2.88 14.77 14.71 * :Amortising Bond µ :Convertible 3.20 Bond 14.85 14.72 AMCON: 3.51 Asset Management14.93 Corporation of Nigeria 14.82 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.93 14.84 14.76 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 5.46 14.81 14.73 IFC: International Finance Corporation 7.59 Contractors Receivables 15.02 14.95 LCRM: Local Management 9.45 15.29 Company15.22 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling 12.30 15.26 15.20 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development 12.78 15.25 Company 15.19 WAPCO:West Cement Company 13.28 Africa Portland 15.25 15.17 13.95 15.24 15.17 17.94 15.20 15.14 19.60 15.29 15.23

6,691.96

Weighting by Mkt Value

10.00

26.80

37.22 13.75 35.99 14.00 100.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00

Closing Rate ($/N)

Bid Price

317.00 312.00 Price 313.00 315.00 315.45Offer Price 316.00 318.50 100.11 320.70

99.96 97.26 97.41 92.38 92.53 91.38 91.53 90.38 90.53 NA :Not Applicable 102.75 102.90 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating 80.51 Rate Bond 80.81 ***: Deferred 101.61 coupon bonds 101.91 DTM: Days-To-Maturity 98.80 99.10 TTM: Term-To-Maturity 105.76 106.06 ‡ : Bond rating under review 96.31 96.61 †: Bond rating expired 86.27 86.57 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer 98.51in receivership 98.81 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 84.59 84.89 UBA: United 61.99 Bank for Africa 62.29 70.02 70.32 81.35 81.65 82.11 82.41

6646.957269

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.90

03-Apr-17

0.35

2.94

21.22

98.66

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

11.05

15.19 Bonds 14.79

0.90 0.89

Bucket Weighting

0.34 11.33 0.42 25.00 1.00 23.44 4.22 9.45 7.01

12.67 19-Apr-17 29.20 30-Jun-17 58.13 31-Dec-17 100.00 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18

15.56 0.69 14.93 0.65 15.21 1.39 15.18 1.21 1.22 1.40 1.41

57.00

0.24

14-Feb-12

15.50

21.68

14-Feb-19

1.37

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

12.55 80.00 20.55

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

1.79 3.28 1.86

27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13

13.50 15.00 14.50

87.50 5.00 3.74

27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20

4.30 4.39 2.62

132.0063 1.00 145.6783 5.71 106.4072 2.39 125.7877 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53

1,200.95 20.29 1,262.94 25.07 1,282.85 20.36 1,197.83 19.37 19.34 21.77 21.50

93.60

8.4038

24.7263 93.60 27.3910 92.57 13.5184 94.59 94.56 91.79 91.49

21.84

93.16

19.13 16.89 17.96

94.86 94.10 95.20

16.18 18.64 17.93

91.85 89.35 93.31

40

News|SOUtH-WEST

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekiti monarchs, stakeholders back bill to criminalise 'free' grazing

Ogun doctors reject half salaries, embark on strike

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

T

M

embers of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, yesterday justified their indefinite strike. They said they were protesting against an alleged nonimplementation of the skipping of Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors.

Besides,they said their strike was to protest the continued payment of half salaries by the hospital management in defiance of the directive by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole.

In a statement jointly signed by the ARD President, Dr. Walter Nzeakah, Dr. Sewanu Awhangansi (General Secretary) and Dr, Mojisola Adeniji (Public Relations Officer), the doctors said they were only getting a fraction of their salaries with the non-implementation.

34

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 2011.

Source: Satp.org

Mr. Eyitayo Jegede receiving his nomination form in Abuja

Why I want to be Ondo governor, by Jegede

F

oremost People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ondo state, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN yesterday said he was in the race to the Alagbaka Government House “because the current challenging times in Nigeria require people with extraordinary ideas.’

This, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said had put him in better stead to transform the state’s economy.

Jegede who is the im-

£1,332

The daily salary of Cuauhtemoc Blanco of Lobos BUAP in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

Ashafa petitions IGP over fleeing Ikorodu landlords, residents Muritala Ayinla

W

orried by the plight of fleeing property owners and innocent residents of the Igbo-olomu, Agbede, Elepete Ikorodu axis of Lagos state, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has petitioned the Acting Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, urging him to intensify security surveillance of the area.

New Telegraph gathered that hundreds of property owners and their landlords, who fled the communities following frequent attacks by robbers, kidnappers and militants are yet to return to their houses for fear of reprisal attack by the militants.

It was also learnt that some of the landlords were contemplating selling their property due to security challenge in the area.

But the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Ashafa, who commended the state government and the

joint military actions on the militants, said the efforts still needed to be intensified to win the full confidence of the fleeing residents.

He said:" I wrote a petition on this issue to the IGP to further press home our demand for enhanced security here in these communities so that those who have been displaced from their homes can immediately return to their residence and businesses.

mediate past AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in the state stated this in Lagos yesterday in an interactive session with journalists.

He said: "I came into the Mimiko government from the inception in 2009 up till when I resigned in July and with all sense of decency, I was actively involved in the achievements of the government.

“As a result, I am in a better position to continue with our attainment in the health sector, education, agriculture, social services and many more, and even raise the bar if I'm eventually elected the governor of the sunshine state.

“My priority if elected will be the economy. Dr. Mimiko has done so well in the areas of healthcare delivery, urban renewal and education. So, I will

sustain that momentum and at the same time concentrate on revamping the economy of the state without necessarily overburdening the people.”

While dismissing insinuations that he is Mimiko’s stooge, Jegede said such was the handiwork of his opponents who were already scared of his acceptability across the state.

Also, he faulted claims that his ambition would disrupt the zoning arrangement among the three zones; North, Central and South in the state since he was from the same Central Senatorial Zone as the incumbent, saying zoning had never been a consideration for electing governors in the state.

He said: “Election in Ondo state is never won on the basis of zoning but on merit. Argument

about zoning is being planted and spread by small people who don’t believe in merit, it is an argument that is deceptive and should be discountenanced by those who want the best for the state. Competence, efficiency and integrity should be the requirements and those are what I am offering.

“My governorship ambition is not an ethnic agenda, it is Ondo state agenda. The real voters don’t know zoning; it is a contraption of some politicians who are afraid of merit. I see myself basically as somebody from Ondo state, somebody interested to serve. The argument against me is that I come from the Central zone and that I am not a politician. But rather than be a minus, those are my strength because integrity and merit are going to count."

Aregbesola upbraids PDP over WAEC ratings Adeolu Adeyemo

O

sun State Government yesterday carpeted the rival Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) call for the resignation of Governor Rauf Aregbesola over poor performance of students in this year’s West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), describing it as

naïve.

It insisted that the state had indeed improved in its education sector just as it described those behind the call for the governor’s resignation, as not only ignorant of available statistic but naïve and ‘usual lack of knowledge of performance charts.’

PDP had blamed Aregbesola for the woeful re-

sult handed over to Osun state’s students in this year’s WAEC, saying it was disappointed that the state could be rated as 29th position behind Kogi and Benue states despite the governor’s avowed investment in education sector.

It however asked the governor to urgently re-evaluate his education policy and programme if he must

Amosun, Adeola's loyalists hold parallel primaries Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

F

resh crisis yesterday hit the Ogun state All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party held parallel primaries to pick chairmanship candidate for the October 8 local government’s election.

The parallel primaries held in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state was between the camps of Governor Ibi-

he Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday held a 'public hearing' on the proposed Prohibition of Cattle Grazing Bill 2016 in its bid to make free grazing a criminal offence in the state.

In attendance were stakeholders including Security agencies, traditional rulers, officials of the state ministries of Justice and Environment, the Fulani Community, Civil Society Organisations and cattle herdmen.

Fayose had after the May 20 invasion of Oke Ako, in Ikole Local Government in which two persons died, promised to ensure the enactment of a law that would prohibit free and unrestricted grazing in the state.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon Segun Adewumi, who presided over the session clarified incidences of frequent bloody clashes between the farmers and the herdsmen which had attracted government’s attention, noting that the situation had called for a law to halt the trend.

He explained the bill when passed into law, would protect the lives and property of Ekiti residents, as the public hearing was important being a reliable way of assessing the views of critical stakeholders in the matter.

kunle Amosun and Senator representing Lagos West, Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi.

While faction loyal to Amosun held its primary election at the local government secretariat in Ilaro, the pro-Yayi group conducted its primaries at Oba Kehinde Olugbenle Pavilion in the town.

New Telegraph gathered that there has been disquiet in the party since a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Os-

oba returned to the party from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Osoba is believed to be disposed to the 2019 Adeola’s governorship ambition, who hails from Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that the APC chairman in the local government, Tunji Idowu, led loyalists of the Senator at the primaries while other members of the executive converged on the party's secretariat.

At the end of the parallel primaries, the proAmosun group produced Jimoh Taiwo as the chairmanship candidate while Mrs Bola Ajayi emerged from Adeola's camp.

Speaking with reporters, however, Taiwo, who emerged among the governor's loyalists, faulted the primaries organised by the APC chairman in the local government, saying the exercise did not have the backings of the state leadership of APC.

‘arrest’ the downward slide in the state’s WAEC ratings.

"Structures are being erected and noise is reaching heaven because of this, is 29th position among 36 plus FCT states a good advert for all the razzmatazz over learning tablet "opon imo" and other educational policies introduced by Aregbesola? PDP said.

But in swift Aregbesola described the PDP’s view as naïve and lacking in knowledge ‘of performance charts’.

In a statement released by his Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said PDP was ignorant of students’ record and statistics in the past years, which had shown that there was significant improvement in percentage of overall results, saying a mere look at the position of the student in a class was not as important as the percentage of total scores.

News|SOUTH-EAST

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

41

Uwazuruike: Neglect, marginalisation gave birth to MASSOB

L

eader of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has said that the marginalisation of Ndigbo gave rise to the formation of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASOB).

He stated this in a statement released yesterday as part of the activities marking the Biafran anniversary.

Uwazurike recalled how the absence of Igbos in the key political appointments made by a former Nigerian military Heads of State and

Lawmakers put commissioner on hot seat over alleged disrespect Pamela Eboh AWKA

M

embers of the Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday subjected the state Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Market and Wealth Creation, Mrs. Uzoamaka Ilobi, on hot seat for allegedly insulting the legislature.

Ilobi was said to have ordered the majority leader of the house, Mr. Victor Jideofor out of her office when the lawmaker went to clarify certain official issues.

When the majority leader reported the incident to his colleagues, the commissioner was summoned to the House to explain what transpired between her and the lawmaker who, it was gathered, was officially sent to her office for the clarification, but she allegedly called the bluff of the House.

Angered by the development, the matter was tabled at the plenary session, with the lawmakers threatening to recommend to the governor,

Chief Willie Obiano, her removal from office should she fail to appear before them.

Following the threat, the commissioner appear before the lawmakers, during which they kept her standing while rebuking her.

The legislators, who spoke during her appearance, condemned the development and warned political appointees and the public to refrain from any act of disrespect to the legislative arm of government, which they noted, was becoming unbridled.

According to them, the situation was capable of dragging the image of the legislature to the mud if not checked.

On his part, a member representing Aguata 2 Constituency, Mr. Ikem Uzoezi, said the commissioner forgot that the legislature confirmed her appointment, and wondered why she had the temerity to insult the state legislature, adding that summoning her to the house was simply to call her to order.

presidents, led him to float the movement, vowing that there would be no retreat nor surrender till the dream was actualised.

He also recalled how, on August 7, 1999, when he was serving as the president, Igbo National Council Of Chiefs, he made public the communique of the National Delegates Conference of the Ndigbo National Council Of Chiefs that was mandated to work out the modalities and pursue the immediate actualisation of sovereign state of Biafra based on the principle of “non-violence” adopted by the Indian people in their

struggle for independence.

According to a press statement signed by a member, Biafra Elders-incouncil of BIM, Mazi Chris Mocha, the communiqué called on Igbo leaders, who for any reason were indisposed to lend support to this cause, to stay out of it, warning that any attempt by any Igbo leader to sabotage the objective of actualisation of Biafra as an independent State would incur the wrath of Ndigbo as they have resolved that Ndigbo would no longer continue like this.

He noted that the executives of the Igbo national council of chiefs

ENUGU

M

embers of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu and Professor Herbert Ekwekwe have expressed joy that their leaders successfully pushed for the recognition of Biafra in the combat genocide association in the world.

In a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said Biafra had been confirmed and was listed among the countries

around the globe where genocide were committed.

It reads: "This shows that the IPOB under Kanu is not like any other pro-Biafra group. Once we focus on a particular mission we accomplish it.

"A renowned genocide record filing Combat Genocide Association recently recognised the Biafran Genocide and listed it among other recognized genocides in the world’s history till date. The only thing missing is who has been prosecuted for this genocide?

The genocide took the lives of 3.5 million Biaf-

£202,500

The monthly salary of Nigel de Jong of AC Milan in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

577,000

The total population of men of Cyprus in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

T

he South East National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, yesterday disqualified 15 contractors that failed the standards for execution of contracts advertised

EEDC staff protest alleged anti-labour policy Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

rans through starvation and blockage; the Biafra/ Nigeria war 1966-1970 that ended with ‘no victor no vanquish’.

"In May 1967 the Biafran people seceded from Nigeria and declared the establishment of the Republic of Biafra. The Nigerian government decided to set up a land and sea blockade of Biafra in order to starve its population. Between 1966 and 1970 more than two million Biafra people were murdered in Biafraland.”

IPOB further noted that at the time Nigeria gained

NOFIC disqualifies 15 contractors for failing job standards by the centre.

The centre expressed dismay that of over 20 contractors that bided for the jobs in the hospital, only about seven of them met the Procurement Act. Medical Director of the Centre, Prof Sunday Adeoye, while addressing the contractors during their technical screening at the

it had become clear that the hatred of Ndigbo in Nigeria was natural and would not be changed by their patriotism or good statesmanship because, according to him, every Igbo man has a duty to their children and the future generation.

"We also hope you feel concerned about the unabating humiliation of Ndigbo in terms of office sharing in Nigeria. It was no more news that no Igbo man can be president of Nigeria. And in future Igbos would be stopped from holding any public office,” Uwazuruike told the SouthEast legislators and House of Representatives.

Suspected child traffickers being paraded by the police

IPOB happy as Combat Genocide Association recognises Biafra Charles Onyekwere

conveyed a meeting during president Obasanjo's administration, with the intention of the Eastern Nigeria, which existed for three years between 1967 and 1970, to form an independent nation under the name and title ‘Republic of Biafra’, to re-actualize itself as a sovereign independent nation.

He added that it was based on the mandate given to him as the coordinator of the council on August 16, 1999, that he wrote the members of the Nigerian National Assembly from South East and intimated them of the desire of MASSOB to actualize Biafra, as

centre, said most of them failed to attach relevant documents, including court affidavit in their applications.

He also disclosed that most of the contractors could not submit their up-to-date tax clearance certificates, which was one of the bases for selection of the bidders.

its independence in 1960, there were about 60 million inhabitants from over 250 ethnic groups, and that “the north was primarily inhabited by the Muslim Hausa- Fulani tribe; the south-west by the half-Muslim, half-Christian Yoruba tribe; and the South-East by the Christian Biafra.

"In 1965, vast amounts of oil were discovered in Oloibiri in the Niger River Delta, a region inhabited

by Biafrans. One year later, a successful military coup placed Nigeria under the rule of Aguiyi Ironsi an officer from Biafra extraction."

S

taff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Enugu over alleged anti-labour policies and insensitivity to staff's welfare by management of the company.

The demonstration was held simultaneously in other four capitals of the states that make up the Southeast Geo-political zone. They are Awka, Abakaliki, Umuahia and Owerri.

At least three persons were reported to have been arrested by the police in Nnewi, Anambra State, over the protest.

It was observed that

the protesters marched through the major streets of Enugu metropolis before moving to the headquarters of EEDC along Okpara Avenue, where they were prevented from entering the premises of the company by security operatives.

A detachment of police, DSS and army were seen manning the main entrance of the EEDC as at the time of the demonstration, apparently to prevent the protest from escalating into destruction of the company’s equipment by miscreants.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Emeka Offor give EEDC workers freedom”, “EEDC stop sacking workers arbitrarily,” “EEDC why rejecting Loans from Transmission Companies?”

Group flays Mbaka over political comments Victor Mba ABA

R

ev. Ejike Mbaka of Adoration Ministry Enugu has come under attack by a pro-Biafra organization, Biafran Music and Film Authority (OBMFA), over his political comments.

The director of the or-

ganisation, David Chinedu Obosom stated that the fiery priest’s frequent comments on political issues had not only baffled Christians but thrown mud on his revered ministry.

“We are worried the way he berates political leaders, calling them all sorts of names instead of towing the biblical injunc-

tions that says spiritual leaders must at all time pray for leaders,” the group stated.

It noted that the frequent visit of Rev. Mbaka to Aso Rock and his comments have drastically reduced the image of the priest that brought vibrancy to the Adoration Ministry.

42

News|SOUTh-SOUTH

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alleged misconduct: DELSU recommends 5 lecturers for dismissal

F

ive lecturers of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, have been recommended for sack by a disciplinary committee of the institution for various offences.

The offences, report said, include sexual harassment of female students and financial extor-

£34.6m

tion for marks.

The recommendation by the committee was coming 13 months after the institution dismissed three lecturers for alleged professional misconduct, including a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, who was caught with examination scripts in the room of a 400 Lev-

The amount of money spent by West Ham in the summer 2015 transfer window.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

el female student in the same department.

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that one of the lecturers of the Department of Primary/ Nursery Education (names withheld), was caught in a hotel room in Abraka and detained for two days at the Abraka police station while try-

$8m

The total pay from endorsements of Eli Manning (Football) for 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

ing to have his way with a female student who had pretended to succumb to his sexual advances only for her to hint the police of his actions.

A former Head of Basic Medical Sciences Department was also recommended for dismissal for alleged sexual harassment and collection of

3

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Hungary at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

various sums of money from his students in a bid to pass them in their exams.

Though the management of the institution was yet to issue a statement on the matter, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Edward Agbure, when contacted said the fate

Chairman denies militants’ attack on C’River council Clement James Calabar

C

hair man of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Dr. Patrick Ene Okon, denied any militant’s attack on the local government.

He said those spreading the rumour that his local government area had been taken over by Bakassi militants were deluding themselves, adding that ‘there is no such thing’ in his council.

Speaking to journalists in Calabar yesterday, Okon said although there was ‘an infraction’ by some people who were said to be Bakassi militants, the situation was immediately brought

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Tesoma Turner; Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson and HRH. King A. J. Turner, shortly after the swearing-in at the Government House, Yenagoa

Tony Anichebe Uyo

M

embers of a political group in Akwa Ibom State, the G-22, were yesterday divided over the emergence of Nsima Ekere as the managing director designate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

A member of the group, Asuquo Okpo, alleged to be the brain behind the many sponsored attacks on Ekere and who was vehemently against his appointment, described the recent reunion meeting of the group as a gather-

A’Ibom group divided over Ekere’s emergence as NDDC boss ing that lacks merit and agenda. Ekere was the leader of the G-22.

But Okpo, who was earlier touted to be appointed ahead of other possible contenders for the post, said in an interview that “the G-22 was a group formed by aggrieved aspirants in the 2015 elections.

“That election is over and some of the members are in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some are in the Labour Party while some are still in the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP).

“I do not know what the agenda of the meeting was and who called it. So, my absence at the meeting has nothing to do with Nsima Ekere’s appointment, it is personal,” he said.

On the connection between his absence at the meeting and his opposition to Ekere’s appointment, Okpo said there was no such connection.

According to him, “Whatever my view on the NDDC appointment

is, you guys will soon know. But, injustice done against one anywhere is injustice against all everywhere. Let us join hands and fight for justice.”

But a reliable source that is also a relation of Okpo said: “We have perfected plans to sponsor litigations against the Federal Government over Nsima Ekere’s appointment, which is the height of insensitivity towards the Oron nation that deserves the appointment in the first place.”

of the lecturers was anchored on the decision of DELSU’s Governing Council.

Agbure said the recommendation by the committee was in the ambits of the university’s governing council, which would either uphold the recommendation or reject it.

under control by security operatives and normalcy had since returned to the area.

“What happened in the local government area was an infraction by some people who called themselves militants and the situation was immediately handled and since then normalcy has been restored,” he said.

The chairman said it was wrong for anybody to describe his local government as having been overtaken by militants as there was no activities that could be traced to militants in the area and that he was always in his office along with all the councilors.

Shareholders task Bayelsa govt on NHIS Pauline Onyibe Yenagoa

M

ajoy stakeholders in Bayelsa state yesterday urged the state government to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable it provide affordable and qualitative healthcare for civil servants and their families.

NHIS Coordinator in the state, Raymond Uyi Ohonba, gave the advice at the NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa, during its stakeholders’ forum. The coordinator decried the poor enrolment

of people into the NHIS, explaining that the stakeholders’ forum was organised to enlighten the public on the need to take advantage of the scheme.

He said the NHIS in the state was working hard to ensure that employers and employees of the various organisations in the state are sensitised on the importance of the scheme.

Giving instances of the magnitude of cases being handled, Ohomba said NHIS handled secondary issues, adding that they had three kidney transplants last year.

Rivers PDP: Security operatives know Avengers sponsors Delta PDP women urged to Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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ivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday absolved Governor Nyesom Wike of any link with the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), declaring that security operatives in the state knew who NDA’s sponsors were.

The party said Wike worked round the clock with security operatives to tackle criminality in the state and had no business with any militant

group, wondering why anybody would link him with the deadly group.

Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Samuel Nwanosike, who stated this in Port Harcourt yesterday, said those linking Wike with the militant group were intimidated by the governor’s rising profile.

He said the governor’s alleged link to the Niger Delta Avengers was aimed at ridiculing him and tarnishing his image.

He said: “A few days ago, we read reports which went viral in the social media that Gov-

ernor Wike is one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. Our governor has no relationship with that group. The security operatives have details of all governors in the country.

“Wike is working with security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.

He has provided gadgets and vehicles for the police. The governor has fought insecurity in the state. Those behind the story want to tarnish the image of the state.

“Those behind this concocted story should desist from such and join hands

with the governor to build a strong and peaceful Rivers State. The governor has no relationship with such group in the past, present and future.

“Security operatives in Nigeria have details of those behind the Avengers and should act accordingly.

“Wike is working hands in glove with the security agents to make sure that the fight against criminality succeeds. He has taken the battle to their hideout by demolishing their houses and shanties,” Nwanosike said.

mobilise for 2019 victory

Ola James Warri

D

elta State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kingsley Esiso, yesterday appealed to members of a group in the party, the PDP Patriotic Ladies, to help mobilise the citizens ahead of the 2019 general elections in the state.

Esiso, who made the appeal during a meeting with the women during their visit to his office, expressed happiness over the visit, assuring them

of the party’s readiness to work with them.

He advised the women to work with the state women leader of the party as she was the head of all the women in the party. “As you all know, the party has a state women leader and I believe that whatever you are doing is for her support,” he said.

Earlier, President of the PDP Patriotic Ladies, Hon. Esther Abrakata, said the familiarisation visit was to create an avenue to work directly with the PDP, as working for the party has always been their desire.

north | news

thursday, august 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nasarawa mourns late Accountant General Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

N

asarawa State was yesterday thrown into mourning following the death of the state’s Accountant General, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Dardau.

Dardau, who until his demise doubled as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, died after a brief illness.

His corpse had since been buried at a public cemetery at Angwan Doka in Lafia yesterday afternoon according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, sympathisers have been trooping to the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I to register their condolences over the loss.

A high power Nasarawa State Government delegation, led by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Silas Agara and members of the state Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries and other top government functionaries were the first to pay condolence visit to the Emir of Lafia.

S

okoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has raised the alarm over likely influx of bandits and cattle rustlers, following their dislodgment from neighbouring Zamfara and Kebbi States by the Nigerian Army.

Speaking in Sokoto on yesterday while receiving the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 10, Yakubu Usman and the Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Muhammed newly deployed to the

Tambuwal raises concern over influx of bandits, cattle rustlers state, Tambuwal urged the security chiefs to double their surveillance activities especially in border Local Government Areas of the state.

Tambuwal said: “As you are aware, the massive operation embarked upon by the Nigerian Army in our neighbouring states is achieving success. Many

of those bandits have been killed in action or arrested, but many ran away, and we suspect that their first port of call would be neighbouring towns and villages in the conflict areas.

“We appeal to you and other sister security agencies to double surveillance in such areas and ensure

MINNA

Birnin Kebbi

N

iger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed that the suspects arrested in connection with the clash involving the military and communities in Lunko/ Kopa villages of Bosso Local Government Area of the state should be transferred from the custody of the military to the police for thorough investigation without further delay.

Bello gave the directive yesterday in Minna,

the state capital, during the state Security Council meeting, which took place in his office.

So far, about 60 people were said to have been arrested by the military in the villages at the wake clash which occurred at the early hours of Thursday last week that led to the death of 11 soldiers and seven villagers, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

However, the governor directed that buses should be made available to convey the suspects from the

military barracks to the Police Headquarters in Dutsen Kura area of the state capital.

The meeting, New Telegraph gathered also reviewed the preliminary report of the three-man ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the fracas and the wanton destruction of lives and property that followed.

The Security Council also took far reaching decisions on the clash and mapped out strategies to forestall future occurrence of such incident.

S

okoto State Government yesterday unfolded plans to ban street begging in the state.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal disclosed this while inaugurating the distribution of zakkat and endowment to the needy in the state under the auspices of the State Zakkat and Endowment Committee.

He said all the physically-challenged across the state, who were currently enjoying the monthly gesture of N6,500, per head would continue to enjoy such legacy, while all those yet to benefit from

Abubakar Abdul

D

etermined to complement the efforts of the Kebbi State Government towards promoting the education sector and youth empowerment, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Halima Yombe's Gender Empowerment Initiative, yesterday flagged-off its empowerment programmes in the state.

Under the gender empowerment initiative, the organisation donated

books, beds, chairs and other writing materials to secondary schools across the 21 Local Governments Area of the state.

Presenting the items during the flagging off ceremony of the programme at Yauri, the wife of the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Hajiya Halima Yombe, the initiator and director of the Programme said that the initiative was set out to support the activities of the government, especially in education sector and in the development of young entrepreneurs.

I remain committed to Audu/Faleke mandate –Audu's Son Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

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Sokoto to ban streetthebegging 29 cows drown in Plateau gesture would be regyesterday in Jos, the state

Sokoto

to support the Federal Government’s efforts in enhancing security and tackling corruption in the country.

“Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States are fully behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to rid our country of insecurity and corruption. We will work together to ensure your success in this Zone," he added.

NGO flags off educational programme in Kebbi

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal (right), with the AIG Zone 10, Yakubu Usman, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Sokoto … yesterday

Umar Abdullahi

that lives and property are adequately protected.

Sokoto is one of the most peaceful states, if not the most peaceful in the country. So we encourage you to sustain that peace for the benefit of the people.”

The governor, who pledged the support of the three states which make up Zone 10 for the AIG, however, added that the states had also resolved

Military/villagers’clash: Bello tells army to transfer suspects to police Dan Atori

43

istered in order to enjoy it.

Tambuwal noted that the state government will collaborate with the various Islamic clerics with a view to discussing the possibility of banning street begging or otherwise.

He noted that the act of street begging was against the tenets of Islam, even as the governor argued that street begging denigrated the individual, as well as the image and integrity of Islam.

Tambuwal, therefore, assured the people that the state government would remain committed to improving the lives of the people, in spite of the current financial difficulties.

Musa Pam Jos

N

o fewer than 29 cows yesterday drowned in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State following a heavy downpour that ravaged the community on Tuesday evening.

New Telegraph also gathered that several farmlands and bridges linking the area to the Headquarters of the local government council were also destroyed by the flood which ravaged the areas.

A member, representing Jos East Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Joshua Madaki, while briefing newsmen

capital, said the heavy rainfall, which lasted several hours, wreaked havoc on the council secretariat, forcing residents of the area to go through Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State before they could get to the council headquarters.

Disturbed by the level of devastation by the flood, Madaki solicited the intervention of the state government and other spirited individuals to assist the affected communities.

603,700

The total area (in sq. km) of land of Ukraine.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures

ine after the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Party (APC) governorship candidate in the November 21, 2015 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, his eldest son, Muhammed, has reaffirmed his loyalty to his father's running mate, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.

This was as he insisted that he was very much committed to recover the stolen mandate, given to Governor Yahaya Bello.

There had been publications in some media (not New Telegraph) that the family of late Prince Audu had dumped Faleke for some unconfirmed political reasons.

The report had also alleged that the Audu family was forming a platform under which Muhammed intended to run for governor should the Supreme Court call for fresh election in Kogi State.

The newspaper was said to have alleged that Muhammed had chosen someone from the Kogi West Senatorial District as his running mate.

NDLEA seizes 1,126.9kg of cannabis worth N5m in Kogi Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

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he Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday said it had arrested a truck driver, Ismaila Abdullahi with 1,126.9kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) valued over N5 million.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Alhaji Idris Bello, who disclosed this while parading the suspect and three others in Lokoja, the state capital, said the illicit drug, was concealed in

100 big bags.

Bello said that the driver, who claimed to be conveying 100 bags of the illicit drug from Uromi in Edo State to Kaduna for one Ibrahim, was arrested in the early hours of yesterday near KaabaJunction on Lokoja-Abuja Highway.

The driver, according to Bello, attracted the attention of NDLEA patrol team when he took a UTurn on the highway in a bid to escape with the drugs having been tipped by a Volkswagen Sharon space bus ahead of him.

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WORLD \ NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

US election:Trump blames media for ‘gun threat’row

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epublican Donald Trump has blamed the media after being accused of urging supporters to kill his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton. He told Fox News “dishonest” reporters had twisted his remarks, which appeared to suggest that gun rights advocates could stop Mrs. Clinton if elected.

The businessmanturned-politician denied

incitement and said he was exhorting his supporters to vote.

The comments on Tuesday afternoon sparked a firestorm of criticism.

Some interpreted his comments as a dark suggestion that gun owners could take up arms against Mrs Clinton, while others said they were at the very least irresponsible remarks that could have violent consequences. The highestranked Republican, House

Speaker Paul Ryan, said it was an inappropriate joke.

And Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said it was a death threat by a “pathetic coward” who was sore because he was trailing in the polls to a woman.

The controversial remarks were made at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, and refer to a future president’s power to nominate a judge to fill a vacancy on the US Supreme Court.

The Republican presi-

dential nominee said of his Democratic opponent: “Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment, by the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. “But the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”

The Second Amendment enshrines the right to bear arms in the US Constitution, and there is no evidence that Mrs. Clinton wants to abolish it,

although she does want to tighten some restrictions.

Within minutes of him uttering the words, the criticism began to mount and Mr. Trump issued a statement saying he was referring to the political power of gun rights advocates.

Hours later, Fox News host Sean Hannity told him the media had been “spinning it” differently.

Mr. Trump answered by saying there could be no other interpretation of

his words other than the one he had given. “Even reporters have told me, I mean give me a break. But they’re dishonest people.

“What it is is there’s a tremendous power behind the Second Amendment.

“It’s a political power, and there are few things so powerful, I have to say, in terms of politics.” Mr. Trump’s remarks come after eight days of negative headlines and falling poll numbers.

Brazil’s Senate indicts Rousseff, opens impeachment trial

B President of Brazil’s Supreme Court,Ricardo Lewandowski and Brazil’s Senate President Renan Calheiros speak ingduring a discussion before the senate voted on whether suspended President Dilma Rousseff should stand trial for impeachment, in Brasila, Brazil

razil’s Senate voted early yesterday to indict President Dilma Rousseff on charges of breaking budget laws and put her on trial in an impeachment process that has stalled Brazilian politics since January.

With the eyes of the world on the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, senators in the capital Brasilia voted 59-21 against the suspended leftist leader in a raucous, 20-hour session

presided over by Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. A conviction would definitively remove Rousseff from office, ending 13 years of leftist rule by her Workers Party, and confirm that interim President Michel Temer will serve out the rest of her term through 2018.

Rousseff ’s opponents needed only a simple majority in the 81-seat Senate to put her on trial for manipulating government accounts and spending without congressional

approval, which they say helped her win re-election in 2014.

A verdict is expected at the end of the month and will need the votes of two-thirds of the Senate to convict Rousseff, five votes less than her opponents mustered yesterday.

The vote showed the movement to oust Rousseff has gained strength in the Senate, which had voted 55-22 in May to take up the impeachment proceedings initiated in the lower house in December.

Russia accuses Ukraine of attempted Crimea incursions

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ussia has accused Ukraine of trying to carry out armed incursions into Crimea - the territory seized and annexed by Russia in 2014. The FSB intelligence agency said two attempted incursions had taken place over the weekend and a Russian soldier and an FSB employee had been killed.

President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had engaged in “stupid and criminal” actions and Russia would take “further security measures” in Crimea. Ukraine has rejected the accusations.

“This is fake information,” a spokesman for Ukrainian defence intelligence said. Another official, Yuriy Tandit, an aide to the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, was quoted by the InterfaxUkraine news agency as saying: “Ukraine does not seize and does not recover by force its territory, and will not do it.”

The agency quoted other officials accusing Russia of building up its military forces in Crimea near the territory’s de facto border with Ukraine, which “could mean Moscow’s preparing for offen-

sive operations”.

In the murky world of modern Russian-Ukrainian relations there are few definitive facts about what happened in Crimea at the weekend.

We know that on Saturday the Russian authorities temporarily closed a main checkpoint linking the territory to mainland Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials then claimed that Russia had shifted a significant amount of military hardware and troops into Crimea, near to the dividing line with the mainland.

UN: Ethiopia must allow in observers after killings

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he UN human rights chief urged Ethiopia yesterday to allow international observers into restive regions where residents and opposition officials say 90 protesters were shot dead by security forces at the weekend.

In his first comments on the incident, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that allegations of excessive use of force across the Oromiya and Amhara regions must be investi-

gated and that his office was in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.

Since January, when he said the killings of protesters first began, his office had “not seen seen any genuine attempt at investigation and accountability”.

“The use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromiya and Amhara, the towns there of course would be a very serious concern for us,” Zeid told Reuters in an interview in Geneva.

Unrest flared in Oromiya

for several months until early this year over plans to allocate farmland surrounding the regional capital for development.

Authorities in the Horn of Africa state scrapped the scheme in January, but protests flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

At the weekend, protesters chanted antigovernment slogans and waved dissident flags.

Some demanded the release of jailed opposition politicians.

45

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport News Mikel rues not carrying Nigerian flag

Sport Rohr banks on Siasia’s boys for new Eagles

That Olympic Motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” expresses the message of the IOC to all who belong to the Olympic Movement, telling them to excel in accordance with Olympic spirit.

To revive home-based project

Emmanuel Tobi

N

ewly-appointed Super Eagles Manager Gernot Rohr has expressed his desire to build a new team around the current national U-23 team participating in the football event of the ongoing Olympics Games in Rio, Brazil.

Rohr, a former Gabon, Burkina Faso and Niger Coach sealed a twoyear contract with the Nigeria Football Federation and was officially unveiled on Tuesday.

New Telegraph learnt that the German was favourably disposed to working with the Samson Siasiatutored team as well as the Flying Eagles that failed to qualify for the CAF U-20 AFCON. “Rohr is impressed with the U-23 Eagles’ performance so far at the Olympics and expressed

his readiness to build his team around Siasia’s boys. He is so impressed with the performance of the quartet of Oghenekaro Etebo, Sodiq Umar, Imoh Ezekiel and William Troost-Ekong,”a source in the NFF informed New Telegraph.

Rohr

International Sport Serena crashes out

46 47

Ezekiel (right)

It was further learnt that the 63-year-old former defender who is already in Spain to watch the NPPL All Star team, was ready to revive the home-based project which was instrumental to Nigeria’s winning the 2013 AFCON. “The home-based and the Flying Eagles are in his plans because he followed Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON triumph and the 2013 set of the Golden Eaglets which produced Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success and Musa Mohammed,” the source added.

Nigeria are in group B of the qualifiers alongside Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

Eagles’ group opener will be away to Zambia to face the Chipolopolo on October 3.

Rohr’s immediate outing will however be against Tanzania in a dead rubber AFCON 2017 qualifier in September; both teams are no longer in contention for a ticket to Gabon and the gaffer

will be using the match to gauge his charges ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

Etebo

Quadri: Rio 2016, best event of my career Adekunle Salami

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

A

frica’s number one table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, has described the ongoing 2016 Olympic Games as the best ever tournament so far in his career.

Quadri lost 4-0 to world number one table tennis player, Ma Long, in the quarterfinal of the men’s singles event in the early hours of Wednesday but the promising star took positives from the exit.

“It was a tough match

because Long is a very good player that has answers to almost every situation. I gave my best but he was obviously better,” he said.

The Africa’s number one player however noted that he was fulfilled with his performance at the games.

Quadri said: “I have to thank God for giving me the strength to be in the last eight of the competition. I am satisfied with my performance in this competition.

“To beat number seven and number 13 seeds is not easy. I did

all of that and played in the quarterfinals. I can also say this is my best competition ever. It has really been wonderful here.

“The fans in Brazil are also very nice. I cannot understand how they came to appreciate me. The support I enjoyed at this competition is as if I was playing at home in Nigeria.”

The ongoing Rio Games is the second Olympics appearance of the 28-year-old ping ponger who first attended the games at London 2012.

Quadri

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SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mikel rues not carrying Nigerian flag

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helsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said he was disappointed for not carring the Nigerian flag at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony as the captain of the 85-man Nigerian contingent due to logistical problems.

Mikel revealed in a column he wrote for the Evening Standard: “Unfortunately, I didn’t end up carrying the Nigerian flag at the opening ceremony as expected.

“Our first two games were in Manaus and we arrived so late, we didn’t have the time to arrange for me to fly to Rio straight after the Japan match and then

come back again to face Sweden.

“We decided it was going to be too much for me as it takes four hours each way.

“It was obviously disappointing.

“I watched some of the ceremony but then I got a bit too emotional and had to switch off because I knew I was supposed to be there.”

Female table tennis star Funke Oshinaike, who is attending her sixth Olympics, carried the Nigerian flag.

Mikel said after all the drama surrounding the Nigeria Olympic team, “winning the gold medal is the only thing on my mind”.

Relief for wrestlers as training partners hit camp

Nigeria’s captain, John Mikel Obi dribbles past two Sweden players

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reseident of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, has expressed his joy that at last, training partners have been approved to join his wrestlers as the team prepare for Olympic glory at the Rio Games.

He however noted that the distraction of not allowing the training partners to travel with the team was unhealthy for the common goal of Team Nigeria. ‘’They’ve met me half way not approving all the training partners I requested for the team. As it is, we are still going to manage switching the partners for both male and female. I am happy that they finally gave

No flight for Eaglets Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

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he Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are still stranded in Abuja despite the move to relocate the team to Sokoto for the return leg of the CAF U-17 AFCON qualifier.

The team was expected to prepare and acclimatise for the return leg in Niamey.

One of the other reasons for choosing Sokoto was for state government to bankroll the expenses to Niger as sources said the NFF was broke.

The team, according to our source, will

depart by road from Sokoto which shares border with Niger.

Inside source in the team said the boys were not happy with the arrangements which were contrary to the initial plans.

Instead of the earlier arrangement after the match, another round of warm up ties have been lined up for the team in Abuja.

The engaged in a friendly a selected side from Nasarawa State Wednesday evening to keep form.

“Even the 1-0 victory over Niger in the first leg was rewarded with no dime,” our source revealed.

consent for them to join us. Initially, it was a blunt cancellation for them to come. Like they say, half bread is better than nothing. I am happy,’’ Igali who is also the technical director of federation said.

One other grey area that Igali frowned at was the transport arrangements. ‘’It’s frustrating for me to be doing two hours from my hotel to join my athletes at the Games Village to train. It takes a toll on me but we see that as a sacrifice that we all make to serve our fatherland. But, it could have been better ensuring smooth transport arrangements for all those who have key roles to play in the Olympics,” he said.

CAF appoints Algerian refs for Eagles, Tanzania Prayer can’t win medals, Okon tells athletes Bassey, Udoh also in action A T he Confederation of African Football has appointed Algerian Mehdi Abid Charef as referee for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

Fellow Algerians Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee) will accompany Charef to the encounter billed

for the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, September 3.

The match commissioner is Mr. Inyangi Bokinda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Also on the same weekend, top Nigerian official Paul Bassey will serve as match commissioner for the Cup of Nations qualifier between the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Lone Star of Liberia, scheduled for Monastir, Tunisia.

CAF also appointed Nigerian referees to take charge of the Group K encounter between Niger Republic and Burundi, billed for Niamey. Ferdinand Udoh will be referee, with Abel Baba (first assistant), Samuel Pwadutakam (second assistant) and Benjamin Odey (reserve referee) joining him. They will work with Germain Didier Simplice Nguiamba from the Central African Republic, who is match commissioner.

Basketball: Lithuania compounds Nigeria’s woes Emmanuel Tobi

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igeria’s senior male basketball team, D’Tigers, early Wednesday morning suffered their second defeat at the ongoing 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil after losing to European giants, Lithuania.

The D’Tigers were understrength but they gave as good as they got against powerhouse Lithuania, only for the Baltic side to ride a strong third quarter to an 89-80 victory.

With Jonas Maciulis rising to the occasion and scoring 13 of his 21 points in the third period when Lithuania outscored the AfroBasket 2015 winners 29-13, the Euro-

pean team went from trailing by 5 at half-time to leading 65-54 heading into the final frame.

Nigeria, who lost big man Shane Lawal to injury in Sunday’s defeat to Argentina and Michael Gbinije to illness, continued to play well on the offensive end but could not get enough stops on defense and fell to their second defeat.

Captain Ike Diogu led Nigeria with 19 points and seven rebounds while Michael Umeh added 17.

Lithuania, will now face Argentina while Nigeria meet fellow winless side Spain, the Group B preliminary round favourites before stumbling against Croatia and Brazil.

s the athletics events considered as the powerhouse of the Olympics begin, one of Team Nigeria’s coaches, Gabriel Okon, has sounded a warning to athletes to be focused instead of turning to prayer warriors hoping for a miracle to win medals.

Okon himself a former athlete of repute said that all Nigerian athletes needed was to be focused in their events and not be distracted

‘’Hardwork, preparation, mental alertness and your quick response to the sound of the gun are some of the things that athletes require. To a large extent, luck. Yes, you need luck too but not totally dependent on prayer.

Other athletes are praying as well as working hard too. They should learn not to add unnecessary pressure on themselves,” he said.

Quadri gets $2500 cash reward, tips Africa for medal Ajibade Olusesan

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private organisation, Frot Group, on Wednesday rewarded Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri with a cash of $2500 for his heroic feat of setting a new African record at the

Lithuania’s Mantas Kalnietis (R) trying to pass Nigeria’s Al-Farouq Aminu during their men’s Group B basketball match

Olympics.

The President of Frot Group, Frank Momoh, said the performance of Quadri had shown that with more support, table tennis has the capacity to bring more laurels to Nigeria.

“Despite the loss of Quadri to Ma Long, the team needs our commendation, especially as Quadri has set a new African record as the first African to reach an Olympic quarter final in table tennis,” Momoh said.

After losing his quarterfinal tie against China’s Ma Long, Brazilian fans honoured him by singing a befitting birthday song for him after turning 28 on August 9 during the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

The 2014 ITTF Star Player also believes his performance has boosted the chance of African players in their quest to win Olympics medals.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Spice Route launches sports bar Saturday

Enyimba will shock Zamalek in Egypt – Aigbogun

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pice Route Company has concluded plans to launch its ultramodern sports bar on the second floor of the restaurant as the English Premier League kicks off on Saturday August 13.

The lush restaurant that also serves as a nightclub hang out spot has over time created innovative activities to entertain customers.

Located at Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island in Lagos, the launching event is expected to host on air sport personalities and football fanatics Live matches of the football season will be shown on a massive HD screen while fans will be treated to discounts on moreish meals and dainty cocktails.

RESULTS Olympics Men Algeria

1-1

Portugal

Argentina

1-1

Honduras

Olympics Women China

0 - 0 Sweden

South Africa

0 - 0 Brazil Fixtures

Club Friendlies Mainz 05

v

FC Cologne

Karabukspor

v

Konyaspor

Genclerbirligi

v

Adanaspor

E

nyimba Head Coach Paul Aigbogun believes that his side can win Sunday’s CAF Champions League game against Egyptian side, Zamalek.

The People’s Elephant currently at the bottom of Group B of the of the tournament with no points after losing their first two games.

They lost the reverse fixture 1-0 to Zamalek in Port Harcourt, but Aigbogun is drawing from lessons in that game to mastermind an unlikely success at the Petro Sport Stadium in Cairo.

“The pitch (at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt) was waterlogged when we played against Zamalek (on June 19).

“We dominated the game and the goal they scored was from something you cannot even refer to as a goalscoring opportunity.

“Our objective is to win on Sunday to get our campaign back on track and I believe we can do it,” he told supersport.com.

Honduras’ Allans Vargas, (center) and Argentina’s Jonathan Calleri, right, fight for the ball

Rio Football: Argentina, Algeria crash out

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rgentina has been eliminated from the Olympic soccer tournament after a 1-1 draw against Honduras, which advanced to the quarterfinals along with Portugal.

Two-time Olympic champion Argentina needed to win to reach the knockout round, but it wasn’t able to defeat

Honduras in Brasilia on Wednesday.

Antony Lozano scored for Honduras in the 75th and Mauricio Martinez for Argentina in injury time.

Both teams missed penalties when the match was scoreless.

Honduras captain Bryan Acosta had his shot saved

by Argentina goalkeeper

Geronimo Rulli before halftime, while Argentina playmaker Angel Correa hit the post from the spot in the 55th.

Portugal drew 1-1 against Algeria in Belo Horizonte to finish first in the group with seven points. Honduras and Argentina ended with four points, with Honduras ahead on goal differential.

Olympics

Judo medallist beaten, robbed

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wenty-one Olympic gold medals, more than twice as many as anyone else in history, maybe more to come.

With Michael Phelps it can all seem so simple, so pre-ordained. A swimmer defined by victory, a man who has always come through.

Except there has been nothing straightforward about the ‘Fifth Act of Michael Phelps’. His 200m butterfly triumph in Rio’s Aquatic Centre deep into Tuesday night may even have been miraculous.

For this is a hero who had lost all sense of himself, an obsessive who had long ago begun to hate the gift that defined him.

The first three acts offered little to indicate the fall that would follow.

The 2000 Olympics, as The Kid - 15 years old yet finishing fifth in the 200m butterfly final, the boy with ADHD who had found his perfect focus, a world record holder before his 16th birthday.

Act Two, as The Freak - a 10,000-calories-a-day diet, a wingspan of 2.08 metres, hypermobile ankles, lungs twice the size of the average adult male.

Aigbogun

Olympics

Miraculous fifth act of historic Phelps

Phelps

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D

Serena

D

Serena crashes out

efending champion Serena Williams is out of the Olympics after losing to Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the third round of the women’s singles.

Williams lost 6-4 6-3 to Svitolina, ranked 20th in the world.

The world number one’s struggles were highlighted by five double faults in the seventh game of the second set.

“It didn’t work out the way I wanted it to but at least I was able to make it to Rio - that was one of my goals,” Williams said.

“The better player today won but I know next time is going to be a really good match and I look forward to it.”

Williams and sister Venus were knocked out of the women’s dou-

bles on Sunday by Czech Republic pair Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova.

Svitolina, who will face the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals, said: “It’s an unreal feeling for me. This is just a perfect moment.”

Williams follows men’s top seed Novak Djokovic inexiting the Olympics after he was defeated in both singles and doubles.

The 34-year-old’s exit means Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys are the only top-eight seeds remaining of what had appeared a very strong field.

Kerber faces Britain’s Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals after both won their matches earlier on Tuesday.

irk Van Tichelt probably didn’t envision one of the greatest days of his life ending in the hospital. But that’s exactly where the Belgian judoka found himself Monday night hours after winning his first-ever Olympic medal.

Van Tichelt won bronze in the 73-kg judo competition on Monday. Naturally, he went off to Copacabana Beach that night to celebrate the achievement. And that’s where things went awry.

Van Tichelt was reportedly assaulted by a thief on the famous beach, and was struck in the face. He was taken to the hospital after the incident.

The thief, who was reportedly Brazilian, came away with a cellphone, but, crucially, not with Van Tichelt’s bronze medal.

The Belgian Olympic Committee released a statement confirming the details, and saying that Van Tichelt didn’t require treatment at the hospital. He appeared at a media event the next day with a black eye, and, undoubtedly, a smile on his face.

Van Tichelt now has more than just a medal to commemorate his Olympic success.

Tichelt

On Marble

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie Ortega names wife as vice

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Winston Churchill

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

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Dogara, Jibrin padding hullabaloo –A perspective “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks” – Winston Churchill

Political Musings

t would be hard for Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to convince discerning minds that he is a sincere and genuine whistle-blower on corruption in the parliament. Reports from the House allege that he was selfish and brash when he held sway as boss of the appropriation committee and this fact was underscored in the applause that greeted the announcement of his removal at the chamber.

There is no known history of him as a stoolpigeon or an anti-corruption crusader, so for him to start it soon after his removal as Chairman of Appropriation Committee has not bestowed on him a genuine advocate even though he has been making spirited effort to wear the unfitting garb.

He may have fed the media and some anti Dogara group with what they want to hear but his efforts never measured up to qualify him as a patriotic person.

Rather he has glaringly portrayed himself well as one on a pull down mission and luckily enough for him he found himself in gullible environment like Nigeria where anything negative about the other person is good. I personally do not think that Hon. Jibrin is the type American President Barack Obama had in mind when he said that “Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled. We need to empower federal employees as watchdogs of wrongdoing and partners in performance.”

Certainly the lawmaker does not fit in here because he does not yet qualify as a watchdog of wrong doing rather as his own evidences have shown, he suits more as a partner in wrong performance. When an armed robber disagrees with his team during loot sharing and rushes to the Police, his robbery DNA is not deleted as a result he has only succeeded in establishing two things, that he is not a team player and probably a greedier person than his colleagues in crime. But Hon. Jibrin’s scruffy records notwithstanding, musing this week will centre on fallouts from his actions no matter how dubious it is. Some political watchers have been wondering why Jibrin wants to drag the image of the entire parliament down but rational minds know as Upton Sinclair once said that “It’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

Where we not living witnesses of how Senator Kabiru Marafa from the Senate chamber in the same parliament after spending one year in the Senate fighting and dragging the Senate down

IKE ABONYI

I

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only) in the name of politics against Senate President Bukola Saraki quickly made 360 degree turn to describe him as his senior and to declare unequivocally that the peace which he has been at forefront chasing away in the red chamber can now return just because they gave him the all lucrative Petroleum Upstream committee to chair.? What of the Senators Melaye/ Tinubu fracas that was almost going international but suddenly died down because Madam migrated from Women Affairs Committee to Environment? It’s all about interests. Need we stress that the foundation of this 8th National Assembly is laid on a quicksand and therefore not designed to have conducive legislative reflections.

Are the presiding and principal officers of the National Assembly feigning ignorance of this fact that its house is seated on a bomb to have threaded more carefully. Jibrin as Chairman of Appropriation undoubtedly was a strategic figure in the Dogara rebellious camp and a huge insider in the system. Shouldn’t a wise leader have been more careful in managing such distraught ally knowing as it were that enemies are around waiting to either recruit or strike. There is an Igbo maxim that says the person who is surrounded by his enemies should be on permanent red alert because he knows what follows on a slight slip. When the Idoma born former Army General, Senator David Mark successfully presided over the Nigerian Senate for eight years enjoying peace, does it mean there was no Marafa or Jibrin in his time, he only applied Solomon’s wisdom to navigate his way to make history as the longest serving Senate President in our history.

All these talk about legislative independence is like marriage privacy. Husband and wife stop enjoying privacy of their marriage the day their fight reaches alarm level that can attract neighbours. Again husband and wife that know that they do not have wise and unbiased parents in this case APC and the Presidency should have been as shrewd as an orphan. Nigerians and other parliamentary watchers are almost unanimous that this 8th National Assembly is dead on arrival given the process that brought tit into being. The acrimony that opened their inauguration June 9th, 2015 has refused to leave the arena thirteen months after because both the executive and the ruling political party, the platform through which the combatants came, all have “no mercy” or no forgiveness’’ in their political lexicon. For them it’s their pound of flesh or nothing, irrespective of the consequences of such action to the polity.

Americans say that when you are in a hole you should stop digging. That is sensible because the more you dig the more you enter the hole and the more

Dogara

you need a helper to come out. Retaining Jibrin in the appropriation committee until when a general reshuffle is carried out would have saved the House all the embarrassment if only somebody

was tortoise like and less egoistic. Speaker Dogora and his team may be bracing up to return and deal with.

Jibrin but that may not be the solution. That may be another way to empower the enemy in the process. It took Saraki 13 months of battle to have peace because he sacrificed two juicy committees to two pesky but strategic enemies.

What if he had done before now? Going all out against Jibrin may not be the solution as such may just be the opening of more flanks for the opponents.

Similarly, discerning minds are counselling President Muhammedu Buhari to reduce his battle fronts so as to have a cool head and focus for our troubled economy. Trying to punish un cooperating members in the parliament has never been easy, the only Principal officer who successfully punished a member and got away with it was Senator Pius Anyim of the 4th Senate when the nuisance of Senator Arthur Nzeribe became much and he was suspended and never returned until the end of that Assembly.

Anyim was able to achieve his desire because he had a united ruling PDP who respected separation of power and a President Olusegun Obasanjo who wouldn’t mind doing away with an irritant Nzeribe. Agreed that enormous powers are usually given to leaders in our constitution but what makes a difference is how you use them. When elders advice that those living in a glass house should not throw stones, it’s because they foresaw the consequences of such action and are also familiar with Winston Churchill’s great counsel, “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks” A word is enough for Saraki and Dogara. God bless Nigeria.

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