Thursday, february 12, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 358

Thursday, February 12, 2015

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N150

Jonathan, service chiefs, others sued over poll shift }8

Foreign airlines raise fares on naira's depreciation lForex dealers halt trading as dollar goes for N204.25

Ayodele Aminu and Wole Shadare

hrinking prices of crude oil, which has debilitated the naira

by about 40 per cent since June last year, has compelled airlines that ply international routes to adjust their fares by between 40 per cent and 100 per cent,

New Telegraph has learnt. The naira, which traded at the official market at N155 to $1, was devalued to N168 per dollar last November, while the rate at

interbank market, where banks buy from one another to cover their positions, moved from N160 to N204.25 per dollar at the start of trading yesterday

before settling at N202.50 per dollar. Investigation by New Telegraph yesterday at some travel agencies in CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

44 days to go... Nigeria Nigeria votes votes

2015

15 20}14 & 15

Jega won't be fired lPresident dismisses plot to sack INEC chair

Quick Read Editorial

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (third left), with President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Bishop Ignasuis Kiagama, during an interaction with Catholic Bishops in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śon Tuesday.

Military pledges not to truncate democracy

Curbing mass failure in school }19 system

Emmanuel Onani

PDP: Jega conniving with APC to rig polls }8

Abuja

he Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has again reassured the public and the interna-

tional community that the Nigerian Armed Forces have no plan to derail democracy. It also reaffirmed the military's loyalty to the constitution, as well as constituted authority.

The reassurances were contained in a statement yesterday by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, which was issued against the backdrop of an alleged plot

to draft the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, to head an interim government in the event of a stalemate in the presidential election. The military has also CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

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

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

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

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

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

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

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

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

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

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

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

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

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

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

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

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

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

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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

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

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

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

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

President dismisses plot to sack Jega Anule Emmanuel, Temitope Ogunbanke, Wale Elegbede and Mojeed Alabi

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday dismissed speculations over an alleged plot by his administration to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, from office. According to him, those raising issues on the possibility of sacking the INEC boss were doing so to cause unnecessary confusion in the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections. Jonathan, while featuring questions from a panel of interviewers at a special edition of the Presidential Media Chat, broadcast on national television, said Jega, national electoral commissioners and resident electoral commissioners were his appointees and he had not told anyone that he had the intention of removing any of them. The speculation over a plot to oust Jega has gained traction following the postponement of the general elections from February 14 to March 28. The president, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the military have been accused of orchestrating plans to rig the election by forcing out Jega, before the expiration of his tenure in June. But Jonathan during the programme that lasted for nearly two hours, reassured Nigerians and the international community that he was committed to supervising the conduct of free and fair elections and as such, he would not tamper with the electoral process. He also said he would be ready to vacate office on May 29 and hand over to a newly-elected president, should he lose his re-election bid. Jonathan said: " Let me assured Nigerians that elections will be conducted in this country and a new government would be inaugurated on May 29 this year. I also want to tell Nigerians that the story spreading around that Mr. President wants to send Jega on terminal leave and appoint somebody that will manipulate election for me is not true. "How I wish Jega was here. I could have asked him to answer that question (on if there is a plot to remove him). One thing about politics or leadership generally is that when you are a leader, you have your members who support you, but you don't

know what they do or say. "And if you ask Jega, he will tell you I appointed all the commissioners and resident electoral commissioners in INEC. They are my appointees. So, if I feel that Jega is not good enough for obvious reasons, then I can, by that provision of the constitution that gives the person who appoints him the power to remove him, do so. But I have not told anybody that I am going to remove Jega." The president who expressed worry over the desperation of some politicians, also denied report that the poll shift was part of a plot for him to cling to power. According to him, in 2011 for instance, INEC shifted elections by two weeks even without discussing with him. He said he had travelled

to Otueke, his hometown in Bayelsa State, to vote when Jega announced the postponement of the 2011 general elections. "In Nigeria, the law is very clear about when elections should be conducted, not less than 30 days to the inauguration of the new government and not more than 150 days before the inauguration of the new government. "Within this period, election can be conducted so that it does not affect the inauguration of the new government. But within that period, if there are issues that could require the electoral body to adjust the date, there is enough time to do so," he stated. Jonathan said security chiefs who advised INEC to extend the polls considering the fact that they were yet to contain the insurgents in the North-East

did not also clear the matter with him. "INEC works with security services because they must provide protection for the election materials and staff and for the country. So, there are a lot of security implications for conducting elections in Africa generally. "The security services did not consult me. If they should tell INEC probably for one reason or the other to adjust within this period, ordinarily for me, it is not supposed to be an issue. "But this time, we make anything looks big. Election is like a tournament or soccer match. If FIFA says they will play match in March, April or May, the winning team will still win. So I don't see a big deal about it. "If in 2011, I said that I would conduct free and fair elections and if I lose,

I will happily go home and it should be recorded and as at that time no African sitting president has lost an election but within this period a lot of sitting presidents have lost elections. "But I said I want to create the history to be the first African president to lose election but let the world know that the elections are free and fair. "This nation is more important than anybody and I still maintain if anybody who wants to hold this office of the president or any office at all and feel that he is more important than the nation that is not quite right. "As at that time, I said that I was ready to conduct free and fair election and if I lose, I will go; not to talk about now that Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four full years.

"So, if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government. There is no way I will say if I lose I will not hand over." On the what his administration is doing for the recovery of the Chibok girls, Jonathan said he was optimistic that they would soon be reunited with their families in view of the newly-formed regional alliance to fight Boko Haram. He, however, urged Nigerians to be patient. He said: "We only need some time. We will recover them alive. Unfortunately, they have been in the hands of the criminals for a long time. "I am more hopeful now than before in combing up the crisis area. Some people even insinuate that I created Boko Haram and this baffles me."

L-R: Deputy Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Bernard Otti; Group Managing Director, Mr. Joseph Dawha and Director, Corporate Planning, Dr. Tim Okam, at a press briefing on the recent forensic audit report on NNPC accounts in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Military pledges not to truncate democracy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

been criticised by a crosssection of Nigerians for allegedly interfering in the electoral process by forcing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delay by six weeks the general elections because it could not provide security for electoral officials and materials. The statement noted that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and other service chiefs being beneficiaries of the nation's democratic experience, would do everything to help in its sustenance. It added that the con-

sciousness of its constitutional responsibilities of defending the country against external aggression and internal insurrection, and of "providing support in aid of civil authority such as the need to provide complementary security arrangement to protect our electoral process, will remain its driving force.” It, therefore, charged its personnel to remain committed to their service oath, warning against engaging in any act of omission or commission during the elections. The statement said: "The Defence Headquarters has noted the palpable tension being generated

in certain quarters with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities and recent developments, especially in relation to the electioneering programmes in the country. “Accordingly, it has become necessary to reassure all citizens that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to its duty in working to ensure the sustenance of peace, law, order and stability in the country before, during and after the forthcoming elections. It is also important to reassure Nigerians that the military will while working with all security agencies and stakeholders in the process, remain

professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations or activities related to this crucial exercise. "The Armed Forces of Nigeria are quite conscious of the fact that apart from their primary constitutional role of defending the country from external aggression and internal insurrection, they also have the responsibility of providing support in aid of civil authority such as the need to provide complementary security arrangement to protect our electoral process. “It is on record that the military has successfully lived up to its responsibility while discharging this duty during previous elec-

tions without equivocation. "In this instance, all military personnel have been reminded and warned to remain ever conscious of their service oath and solemn commitment to protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even while remaining loyal to constituted authorities in the country. No excuse will be acceptable for any act of commission or omission that tends to compromise the law or the electoral process as well as decent conduct or judgement on the part of any service personnel while discharging duties related to elections in any part of the country."

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari to Catholic bishops: l have no religious agenda Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ll Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has taken his campaign to the Catholic Church as he assured bishops of the neutrality of his administration, if elected, in religious matters. He dismissed allegations of religious bigotry levelled against him by his opponents, saying if elected, he will not promote any faith above the other. Buhari, a Muslim that has been accused of a plot to make Nigeria an Islamic nation if elected, told the Catholic bishops at a meeting in Abuja that he would not inhibit Nigerians' freedom to practise their faith. A statement yesterday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted the presidential candidate as re-affirming his commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria remains a multi-religious state where every individual is free to practice his or her religion. Speaking at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria's “Episcopal” Town Hall conversation with representatives of the Catholic bishops, Buhari stated that although he had been severally and consistently vilified and maligned, he had no personal religious agenda and neither would he support any moves by anybody or group of persons to either Christianise or Islamise Nigeria. In his speech titled “One Nation bound in Freedom, Peace, Unity and Love”, Buhari, who was accompanied by his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and other members of the party's PCC, stressed he "will not condone any initiative that seeks to promote one religion over the other." Earlier, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, who is also the Archbishop of Jos, said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria believed in the unity and progress of this country and regretted the wide communication gap between the leaders and the people. He hoped that the conversation was an indication of the willingness to establish a sustainable communication platform. The bishops variously expressed their concern with the falling education standards in Nigeria, widespread corruption, violence

in the polity, insurgency and the worrisome security situation in the country, amongst others. Reacting to their concerns, Buhari traced the cause of these challenges to unemployment. He said: “In a country where a large percentage of the younger generation is unemployed and where no immediate respite is in sight, these challenges are prone to abound. Give them self-improvement opportunities; offer them a view of a greater tomorrow and all these will be in the past.” Buhari assured the bishops that his government will pursue a well-planned agricultural programme as well as focus on the development of the rural areas in order to exploit the mul-

tiplier benefits of agriculture, empower citizens and curtail rural-urban drift. He also stated that the solid mineral exploration and exploitation would be given a boost to generate employment. Besides, institutions to fight corruption would be strengthened, he added. “We already have laws and institutions empowered to fight against corrupt practices. All we need is the will to activate these structures and utilise them appropriately,” Buhari stated. Meanwhile, the United Nation (UN), European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) have commended Buhari for the maturity he has shown on the postponement of the general elections.

The organisations at their separate meetings with Buhari in Abuja, said the maturity he exhibited despite the agony of the election postponement was worthy of commendation. They also urged Nigerians to respect the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the general elections. Speaking during a visit to Buhari, special representative of the United Nation in West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, told journalists that "Nigeria's stakeholders have accepted the fact that there's a postponement and they are working in that context. All we need to be mindful of now is the constitutional limit for the elections and this should be respected.

"We have commended General Buhari, just like yesterday we had the opportunity to do same with President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the PDP. Both parties and their leaders have acted with great sense of maturity and we are very pleased with what we have seen. "We want Nigeria to continue to surprise the world and to come out of this election to set a high standard which will give Nigeria a moral authority that will enable it to continue to lead and be regarded as genuine and natural leader in West Africa and Africa." Responding, the APC presidential candidate told the delegation that after the signing of the Abuja accord, he had told

his supporters to respect the law, saying, "that is where we stand" He said INEC had played its last card and that there would be no room constitutionally for further postponement. The UN representative, who came in company of the representative of African Union Commission on Political Affairs, Aisha Abdullah, also expressed deep concern over the postponement of the elections. He commended all Nigerians for not resorting to mayhem, in protesting the decision. He tasked the presidential candidates to adhere to the Abuja accord recently signed, adding that the eyes of the whole world are on Nigeria.

L-R: Ogun State Chairman, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Mr. Yinka Folarin; Lagos State Chairman, Mr. Olaitan Buna; President, Centre for the Rule of Law, Mr. Olasupo Ojo; United States Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, during a Black History Month programme on nonviolent democratic change in Lagos… yesterday

Eligibility: Court strikes out suit against Jonathan Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday struck out one of the suits challenging the eligibility of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to re-contest in the March 28 presidential election. The striking out was sequel to the notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Mr. Razak Adeosun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu had, last week, through their counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), approached the court seeking to restrain President Jonathan from contesting the office of the President

of Nigeria in the general elections. The court at the last adjourned date had fixed yesterday for accelerated hearing of the matter. But the matter took a different dimension at the resumed hearing when counsel to the plaintiffs, Alex Akoja moved an application for the discontinuance of the suit. Counsel to the defendant, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) did not oppose the application for discontinuance. In a short ruling, the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed held that in law, cost follows action. "The plaintiffs in this matter have filed an application to discontinue. The party who took out process against another and eventually withdraw it must be ready for some sanction.

"I hereby award the sum of N50,000 against the plaintiffs. The suit is hereby struck out," the court held. With the striking out of one of the suits, about three other suits are still pending, challenging the eligibility of Jonathan. Though the plaintiffs did not give any reason for withdrawing the suit before the Federal High Court, but New Telegraph reliably gathered that the withdrawal was to enable the plaintiffs file a fresh suit before an Abuja High Court. According to a source who prefers anonymity, "the plaintiffs withdrew the suit to avoid an abuse of court process as a fresh suit is to be filed at the Abuja High Court." In the suit that was struck out, the plaintiffs are contending that by the

provisions of Sections 135 and 145 of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is not eligible to contest for the election having taken oath of office as president more than twice. Relying on Sections 135 to 146 of the 1999 Constitution, the plaintiffs contended that Jonathan cannot take the oath of office more than twice as president. They also submitted that under the constitution, any president of Nigeria cannot be in office beyond eight years of two terms. They argued that if Jonathan is allowed to contest and is sworn in as president, he would be spending 10 years in office contrary to the spirit and intention of the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiffs asked the court whether hav-

ing regards to the intention and general scheme of the Constitution, especially the provisions of sections 1 (1) &(2), 135 (1)& (2), 137(1)(b), 140 (1) &(2),142 (1)&(2) and 146(1) (3)(b)(c) thereof, it is constitutional, lawful, legal and permissible for a person to occupy the office of the president for a cumulative and or aggregate period of more than eight years. The plaintiffs, however, want a declaration that having regards to the provisions of the constitution, it is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and not permissible for any person to occupy the office of the president for more than a cumulative and or aggregate period of eight years when the country is not at war and it is practicable to hold election into the office of President.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NERC, BPE: N213bn electricity stabilisation fund not largesse lCBN disburses N39.5bn to Gencos, Discos Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, has said that the N213 billion electricity stabilisation facility fund is neither a windfall nor a largess for the beneficiary power firms. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) also clarified that the intervention released by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) to power generation and distribution firms is a loan to enable investors improve on electricity in-

frastructure and not grant “To the Gencos and Discos, CBN has said clearly this is a business and the one year grace given is towards unleashing the market and the support essentially is to bring improved performance in delivery of power. This is not windfall or largesse. Any of the firms, Discos or Gencos that doses not perform will be penalised. The fund is to enable us enter the market guarantee with efficiency. “The fund is not a protocol support gift from the ruling political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Amadi stated.

He gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at the disbursement of second tranche of N39, 527,272,805.46 electricity stabilisation facility to additional 10 distribution and generation power firms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Yesterday’s disbursement came barely a week after CBN disbursed N18.261 billion to five power firms to boost power supply. The four distribution power firms that benefitted from N24.519 billion loan are: Eko Disco (N43,313,060.07), Enugu Disco

Forex dealers halt trading as dollar goes for N204.25 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Lagos and airline offices at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, showed that fares on international routes are quoted in dollars. While the dollar has remained stable, the naira has continued to slide to current exchange rate at N210 to $1 at the parallel market. Consequently, Nigerians are paying more for journey to destinations such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Europe, the United States and Middle East. For instance, the least fare on booking made for March 15, 2015 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airways is N231, 715 as against about N128, 000, being the cost of the same trip last year. This fare is regarded as the minimum as fares are charged based on different parameters. For business class seats, the fares could be as high as N800, 000. Despite high fares, Nigerians travel in luxury, making the Nigerian route one of the most lucrative in the world. Fares to Nairobi have equally gone up to N184, 990 for economy class. The same class ticket cost less than that last year. Premium airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, KLM, Delta, Emirates and Qatar Airways plying European and Middle East routes, have also jacked up their fares. For instance, a flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to the Heathrow Airport in London costs about N810,000 for a business class ticket, while the same ticket from Accra, Ghana, which is about the same distance, costs N720,000, which is about N96,000 less than the fare from Nigeria. A flight from Lagos to

London will take six hours and 35 minutes on the average, while a flight from Accra to London will last for about six hours and 20 minutes, a difference of about 15 minutes. For instance, Virgin Atlantic fares from Lagos to London has also gone up. For passengers who are booked for March 2 for an economy class seat, the least fare is N245, 000 compared with N178, 354 that a passenger (name withheld) paid same period last year. Virgin Atlantic charges Nigerians $4,173 and $2,956 for its Lagos-London premium economy and economy tickets respectively; while fliers from Accra pay $1,826 and $1,563 for the same categories of tickets on Accra-London haul. Lufthansa's rate for Abuja-Frankfurt Economy class ticket is $2,761, whereas Accra-Frankfurt on the same class of ticket is $1,550. For KLM, an economy ticket from Abuja to Amsterdam costs $3,502, while the same class of ticket from Accra to Amsterdam cost $2,181. A travel management expert, Mrs. Uloma Egbuna, attributed the hike in air fares to the depreciation of the naira, saying while the dollar remains stable; the naira has continued to slide to an alltime low. In that situation, Egbuna said Nigerian travellers would continue to chase fewer dollars with plenty of naira, which she said is not easy to come by. Before now, stakeholders had accused foreign airlines of fare disparity resulting in Nigerians paying higher fares than passengers in Ghana. A top official in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) lamented that despite the depreciation of the country’s currency, foreign airlines have taken advantage of the country’s lack of national carrier to impose

astronomical fares on Nigerians. Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, told this newspaper that the issue of price fixing by international airline operators and the apparent disparity in ticket costs levied on Nigerians compared with that of other continental destinations would be addressed. Experts noted that the major causes of the disparity in the fares were multiple taxes that airline operators had to pay in the country, high operational costs and inadequate infrastructure. An airline source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue, said if air fares could be as high as this in low season, he imagined what it could be in summer when a lot of people travel. Low season in aviation is a period when demand for air travel is low. It is usually winter period. Airlines try as much as possible to reduce fares because of low traffic. Meanwhile, deploying for the first time a 'circuitbreaker' agreed among themselves last month, leading banks in Lagos yesterday halted trade after the naira dropped more than two per cent to close weaker at N202.50, an alltime closing low. The rout has been driven by the combination of a tumbling oil price and a rise in political risk, which worsened last Saturday when authorities pushed delayed the February 14 presidential election by six weeks. "There is panic because of the postponement of elections. Uncertainty caused by the delay has been priced in the value of the naira and it is causing further depreciating of the currency," one dealer said.

(N10,256,627,841.96), Kano Disco (N7,638,44,123.46) while Port-Harcourt got (N6,581,172,298.51). The six Gencos are: Jebba (N2,380,906,072.94), Kainji (N684,441,790.19), Shiroro (N1,978,132,820.17), Transcorp/Delta (N3,918,247,006.79); Egbin (N5,106,995,965.73) and Geregu (N938,991,825.63) totalling N15,007,715,481.45 being allocated to Gencos. Amadi warned beneficiaries firms comprising four Dicos and six Gencos to utilise the fund strictly for the purposes it was meant. Earlier, CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, recalled that the second tranche disbursement was a continuation of a process started last week whereby the sum of N18.261 billion was disbursed to five electricity companies. Emefiele said that with the disbursements to Gencos and Discos concluded, the next loan beneficiaries are gas suppliers. He promised to make the disbursement an open and transparent process to the public. According to the CBN governor, “This facility is meant to catalyse the pow-

er sector to enable firms procure metering and other spare parts they need to improve power supply so that other areas of losses can be reduced.” The CBN’s Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF) initiated last year was conceived to improve power supply nationwide. Meanwhile, Director General of the BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, during a radio programme said that from conception of the power sector reforms in Nigeria, it was calculated that 40-60% of power generated was lost due to technical faults and inefficiencies in transmission and distribution occasioned by inadequate investment and poor maintenance culture. “These losses that no private sector investors will bear were made good by government via subsidies over an initial threeyear-period to give private sector investors time to make the necessary investments to improve the distribution network. Due to revenue challenges, the government could not meet the obligation; hence the CBN decided to inter-

vene and grant a loan to the power sector market,” BPE boss said. He said the fund is a loan to the power market to enable investors to improve infrastructure, saying “The CBN, BPE and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) would monitor the utilisation to ensure that the power infrastructure improvement was achieved within the next five years, and that the loan is repayable by the market over a period of ten years. The DG noted that the greatest challenge facing power generation in the country is gas, adding that previous administrations did not make investment in gas infrastructure until the Goodluck Jonathan administration came to salvage the situation. On NITEL/MTEL, the DG expressed confidence that NATCOM, the consortium that bought the enterprises, would turn around the moribund companies. He dismissed claims that NITEL/MTEL was undervalued, stressing that the transaction went through a transparent bidding process.

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT KEBBI STATE ADVERTISEMENT FOR REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ) FOR SUPPLY AND OR INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIFICATION MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS This is to request for quotation (PFQ) from electrical engineering films S/NO PROJECT 1 ELECTRIFICATION OF TUNGAR GAYYA, TUNGAR ILLO, DANJERE, TUNGAR FARU, TUNGAR HABIBU, GWARGWABE, TUNGAR TUWO FROM BESSE 33KV ALL IN KOKO/ BESSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA 2 ELECTRIFICATION OF DABIRE TOWN AND EXTENSION OF INDIRE AND DANGARSO ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT IN ARGUNGU L/GOVT AREA 3 EXTENSION OF ZANGA (NEW MARKET AREA) ARMY BARRACKS AND EXTENSION OF AMANAWA ALL IN ZURU LOCAL GOVT AREA 4 REHABILITATION AND EXTENSION OF RAHA TOWN ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN SHANGA LOCAL GOVT AREA 2. SCOPE OF WORKS The scope of work for the projects shall include the following: i. Site clearance, survey and pegging. ii. Digging of holes for HT & LT poles, dressing and stringing of aluminium conductor. iii. Construction of substation fencing and plinth, installation of transformers and other electrical materials. iv. Connection to the national grid. v. 500KVA/11KV, 300KVA/11KV transformers. vi. 100mm (aluminium conductor steel re-enforced (ACSR). vii. 70mm aluminuim conductor. viii. Civil works Only registered companies currently resident in the state and currently executing similar projects are invited to submit quotations. 3. QUALIFICATION OF FIRMS RESPONDING TO THE RFQ Electrical engineering firms, representative of Manufacturer’s of electrical materials etc. in presenting quotation must show clear evidence of: (a) Payment of corporate taxes, PAYE, VAT etc. (b) Tenders board registration certification (c) Letters of confirmation by applicant’s bankers on having financial capacity to execute the contract.

CONTRACT NUMBER KBSTB/RED/ MWRRD/005/2015 KBSTB/RED/ MWRRD/020/2015 KBSTB/RED/ MWRRD/021/2015 KBSTB/RED/ MWRRD/022/2015

(d) Certification of incorporation for companies/ consulting firms (e) Memorandum and articles of association (f) Registration with professional/regulatory bodies as would be applicable. (g) List of company/consulting firms personnel including qualification and years of experience in the field. (h) List of the company/consulting firm’s machineries, equipment and instruments. (i) List of previous works/service executed and evidence of performance. 4. DEADLINE FOR SUMMSION OF QUOTATIONS Electrical engineering firms, representatives of manufacturers of electric materials etc are to submit their quotations for the project at 2.00pm, one week after publication. The Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development and General Manager Rural Electricity Board Kebbi State, Birnin KEBBI reserves the right to reject any quotation that does not meet its requirements. SIGNED DR ABDULLAHI S. GOBIR Permanent Secretary For Honorable Commissioner

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan, service chiefs, others sued over poll shift Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan and all service chiefs were yesterday dragged before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over poll shift. The plaintiff, Hope Democratic Party (HDP), has approached the court challenging the legality of the defendants’ powers to effect a postponement of elections already scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Joined as co-defendants are the Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC. In the originating summons by counsel to the party, Okechukwu Ehogwu, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare that the purported postponement of the scheduled February 14 presidential election was not in conformity with the provisions of the law since there was no natural disaster or natural emergency. The party also contended that the letter the Chief of Defence Staff and the National Security

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INEC, as an electoral umpire, is at liberty to arrange any security arrangement or regional co-operation from within or outside the country to ensure a hitchfree election at scheduled general elections. HDP, therefore, prays for an order of court restraining the Chief of Defence Staff, NSA, President Jonathan and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from further interfering in the party’s right to participate in an election and to also stop the usurpation of powers of INEC

under any guise. The plaintiff also asked for the court order to compel the AGF to direct the due provisions of adequate securities by the civil authorities and other civil defence agencies with responsibilities of providing internal securities for the conduct of elections by INEC. In an 18-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summon, deposed to by one Anderson Chike, the plaintiff averred that the grounds of postponing the February 14 elections

by INEC were not cogent and verifiable reasons as required by law which stipulates only natural disaster and natural emergencies. It also averred that the internal security including that of election duties are undertaken by police and other civil authorities and not the military whose roles in elections are limited and complimentary in the event of major internal crisis. It further averred that the involvement of the Chief of Defence Staff and NSA in purely civil duties

is wrong and reasons so adduced only exposes INEC to future vulnerability of mischief and abuse of military and intelligential powers in favour of themselves and their benefactors. The plaintiff, however, contended that INEC is required only to stick strictly to the constitutional and electoral laws to avoid intended obvious mischief and truncation of the nascent democracy. No date has yet been fixed for hearing of the suit.

L-R: Member, Nigerian Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP), Mrs. Stella Okoli; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; President, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Falabi; Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Jalo Waziri and member, NAIP, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, during the association's visit to the NSE in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

PDP: Jega conniving with APC to rig polls

lWe don't take issue with politicians, says INEC chairman lAPC denies secret meeting with commission's chair

Onyekachi Eze and Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

Storm

KANO

Adviser dated February 3, addressed to INEC on their inability and failure to guarantee security for Nigerians does not qualify as a natural disaster or emergency that could warrant election postponement. The plaintiff, however, asked the court for declaration that INEC was not under any duty or bound to obey or comply with any unverified or cogent reasons to postpone scheduled elections in the absence of a natural disaster. Besides, the plaintiff urged the court to hold that

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forthcoming general elections. According to the ruling party, Jega has been holding meetings with APC stalwarts in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate and other unnamed cities in to perfect plans to disenfranchise 23 million eligible voters by not giving them their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs). But while the APC rebutted the allegations, Jega, through his spokesman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, declined comments. Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential

Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, at a press conference yesterday, said Jega did not disclose to Nigerians the reasons behind the rescheduling of the elections. "The matter is that INEC has failed in its responsibility to produce and distribute PVCs to about 34 per cent of registered voters who would require the cards to vote in the elections. This brings us to the issue of statistics of PVC distribution and collection, which we believe Professor Jega, as a person, acting in concert with some forces of retrogression, is playing games with", he stated. He said Jega might have decided to aid APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs, adding that emerging trends have shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the PDP presidential

candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, of their PVCs whilst the parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the APC presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, had got their PVCs. He added that the PVC collection statistics for states and geopolitical zones before the postponement of the elections buttressed the fact that Jega had allegedly contrived grand conspiratorial alliance with APC to fraudulently secure victory in the elections. He wondered why the PVC collection rate in the North-Central, SouthSouth, South-West and South-East was much lower with the highest being 57 per cent whereas the North-West zone which includes Katsina (Buhari’s home state) has the highest collection rate of 80 per cent. He challenged Jega to explain to Nigerians that

despite the fact that Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina, which were slated for Phase three of the collection of PVCs achieved a PVC collection rate of between 75 and 80 per cent, while many states slated for phases one and two and even some others in phase three have a collection rate of between 40 and 50 per cent. According to him, the PVCs that Nigerians are scrambling for are not in Nigeria and will not arrive before the elections as they are still in China. He accused Jega of delaying their arrival to suit his electioneering permutations. On the adoption of Buhari by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Fani-Kayode said he was entitled to his views, adding "it is about one man one vote. It is unfortunate that Obasanjo knows who Buhari is and still endorse him. We wish him well." However, when New

Telegraph Jega's reaction to the allegations levelled against him, Idowu said it was not the tradition of INEC to take issue with political parties so as not to undermine its status as an umpire. But the APC denied allegations of clandestine meeting with Jega and wondered how the party could have done that when its leaders have been busy with campaigns. According to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, there is no reason to meet with anybody. " Who is the APC leadership that has been meeting with him (Jega)? I am here, Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) is here, Oyegun is here, Bisi Akande is here, all our governors are here. Who is the leadership that he is meeting with in Dubai, tell me? We are all meeting tonight. Then, if all these people are here, who is the leadership of the party that Jega is meeting with?"

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSday, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Standard & Poor affirms BB negative watch on economy Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Standard & Poor has affirmed Nigeria's sovereign rating at BB- with negative watch in its latest assessment released last night. The international ratings agency adjusted its rating slightly by placing the country on negative watch because of the pressure of falling oil prices on the economy, as well as political risk.

In its previous assessment, it placed Nigeria on BB- with a negative outlook. A statement issued last night by Special Adviser on Media to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabiukwu, clarified that "Nigeria has NOT been downgraded but the country clearly needs to work harder to actualize its recently announced policy response to the current economic challenges". Other oil producing

$35.4m

News

national

countries, like Saudi Arabia, have also been put on negative watch, while a number of others, including Kazakhstan, Bahrain and Oman were downgraded outright. "It is important to note that in spite of the serious challenges arising from the sharp fall in oil prices, Nigeria is doing quite well compared to some other oil producing countries. For example, while the economies of Russia and Venezuela are projected to contract and experience negative

21.4m

growth this year, Nigeria's GDP has been projected by the IMF to grow by 4.8 per cent, which is quite robust by global standards", Nwabuikwu explained. Explaining the economic implication of the assessment, Nwabuikwu said: "Overall, there are two broad implications. First, the economy, despite many challenges, retains key strengths. Second, we have to keep working harder to continue to turn these strengths into real value for the country and its citizens."

The total pay (including salary/winnings & The total population of Romania in 2012. The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the endorsements) of Radamel Falcao (Football) for 2014. Source: Un.org 60+ age group of France in 2012. Source: Forbes.com Source: Un.org

APC wants NASS to investigate rigging allegation in Ekiti Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress yesterday called on the National Assembly to investigate allegations of election rigging in the last governorship election in Ekiti State that was held on June 21 last year. The party made the call in Lagos at a press briefing. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that the party had earlier warned against the rigging of the election by the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abuja

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja.

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday, insisted that no money was missing, giving the forensic audit carried out on its books by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) According to the Group Managing Director, Dr. Joseph Dawha, at a media briefing in Abuja, the audit report did not indict the Corporation in anyway but rather absolved it of culpability on all counts. The GMD, who gave a highlight of the PWC forensic audit report, expressed joy at the successful completion of the forensic audit exercise to lay to rest the 15-month long controversy over the allegation of missing

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Forensic audit report: No money missing, says NNPC $49.8billion. He stated that the report “has clearly vindicated our long held position that the alleged unremitted crude oil revenue was a farce from day one”. Speaking on the issue of the outstanding $1.48bn which made some sections of the media to claim that NNPC was indicted, the GMD explained that the amount was actually the balance of the book value of the divested assets that were transferred to NNPC upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), excluding taxes and royalties. He said: “This does not constitute indictment; rather this value is still

being reconciled with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). It is pertinent to note that the $1.48bn was not part of the alleged unremitted revenues from crude oil sales”. Explaining further, the GMD stated that what the DPR sent to NNPC as the estimated value of the assets was $1.847bn, out of which the Corporation paid over $300m as a token to indicate its commitment to acquiring the assets pending resolution and reconciliation by NNPC and DPR. On remittances of proceeds from crude oil sales into the Federation Account in the period from 1 January, 2012 to 31 July,

2013, the NNPC Chief Executive Officer explained that the PwC Forensic Audit report was clear that NNPC remitted $50.81bn out of a total of $69.34bn, adding that the report acknowledged that the balance was spent on petrol and kerosene subsidy as well as the Corporation’s operation costs. He explained that both the Senate Finance Committee probe report and the PwC forensic audit report corroborated the Corporation’s position that subsidy on kerosene was still in force as the Presidential directive of 19th October, 2009, was not gazetted in line with the provisions of Section 6, Subsection 1 of the Petroleum Act of 1969.

Mohammed, who showed the clips of the rigging conversation said, "As you must be aware by now, a secretly-recorded audio tape of a meeting in Ado-Ekiti of some officials of the PDP, the Jonathan Administration and the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, on the eve of the June 21st governorship election in Ekiti State, is now in the public domain. "Also in the public domain is a video interview, with Sahara Reporters, of Capt. Sagir Koli, the Intelligence Officer of the 32 Artillery Brigade, who secretly recorded the details of the meeting."

Boko Haram: 800 children under psycho-therapy in Adamawa Johnchuks Onuanyim

L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide; Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Laraba Malam; Minister of State for Health, Khaliru Alhassan and Minister of Solid Minerals, Mohammed S’ada, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, in Abuja….yesterday.

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday, insisted that no money was missing, giving the forensic audit carried out on its books by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). According to the Group Managing Director, Dr. Joseph Dawha, at a media briefing in Abuja, the audit report did not indict the Corporation in anyway but rather absolved it of culpability on all counts. The GMD, who gave a highlight of the PWC forensic audit report, expressed joy at the

successful completion of the forensic audit exercise to lay to rest the 15-month long controversy over the allegation of missing $49.8billion. He stated that the report “has clearly vindicated our long held position that the alleged unremitted crude oil revenue was a farce from day one.” Speaking on the issue of the outstanding $1.48bn which made some sections of the media to claim that NNPC was indicted, the GMD explained that the amount was actually the balance of the book value of the divested assets that were transferred to NNPC upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Shell optimistic of FID on $12.5 bn Bonga project Adeola Yusuf

he Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) yesterday declared that it was "optimistic for a Final Investment Decision" on the 225,000 barrels of oil per day capacity Bonga South West/ Aparo (BSWA) project "in the 2015/2016.” Vice-President, Nigeria & Gabon Shell Upstream International, Markus Droll, had earlier said at 2014 edition of the Nigeria oil and gas conference in Abuja that the company planned to take the FID on the large-

scale deepwater project by December 2014. “In deepwater, we are pushing forward to have the world-scale Bonga South West project FID ready by the end of 2014. We continue with a strong suite of infill drilling projects on the original Bonga FPSO, so that we can keep this facility fully generating returns for partners and government alike,” Droll said. The company, however maintained in a statement on Wednesday that it envisaged a "Final Investment Decision in the 2015/16 timeframe under the right conditions."

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro MAYHEM

Once again, armed men suspected to be of Fulani extraction, invade Benue State villages, including Governor Gabriel Suswam’s community, killing, maiming and torching houses Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

t least 10 persons were reported killed while thousands of others were rendered homeless in fresh attacks on Vaase communities in Ukum and Agatu local government areas of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Vaase is one of the communities ravaged during the 2001 military invasion of ZakiBiam where scores of people were killed and major settlements reduced to rubble. The attacks came barely 24 hours after the herdsmen sacked over 24 communities and villages in Anyiin, the home of Governor Gabriel Suswam, and killed 18 people. A witness said the armed men, numbering over 50, stormed Vaase community in

10 killed as herdsmen ravage Benue communities the wee hours of Tuesday and started shooting sporadically. According to him, five persons were killed while many houses were burnt. It was gathered that in Agatu, the local government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship running mate, Mr John Ngbede, the bandits besieged the villages about 5am the same day. They also burnt houses and killed at least five farmers. The Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Mr Teryima Nguher, confirmed the attacks on the communities, but could not ascertain the exact number of casualties. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent (DSP) John Bako, also confirmed the Vaase killings but said he was yet to receive briefs on the Agatu attack. He promised to give journalists details after he was adequately briefed.

File picture of Suswam inspecting some villages attacked by herdsmen

The herdsmen had in the last few days launched attacks on most of the communities in the areas bordering Nasarawa

State on the banks of River Benue before invading the governor’s local government. The attack forced Suswam

to pay an unscheduled visit to the area. It is seen as a desperate move to check an escalation of the crisis.

Gunmen kill apprentice in Lagos Taiwo Jimoh

unmen, yet-to-be-identified, have shot dead a 20-year-old apprentice at Oworonshoki area of Lagos State. The incident occurred on Monday. A witness said the assailants, who rode to the area on a motorcycle, had been lurking around the street before they shot the victim. The victim, identified as Sharafudeen Ajao, was said to be inside the fashion designer’s shop at No, 2 Odugbemi Street, when shot him. “The deceased just came back from the mosque where he went to pray about 8pm. He was inside relaxing when the assailants came and opened fire into the

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

shop. The bullets hit deceased on his chest and abdomen. “When we heard the sound of the gunshots, everybody on the street locked up their shops hurriedly and left for fear of being attacked by the gunmen. “It was after the dust had settled that we came out and saw the deceased in a pool of blood. We rushed him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), only for us to be told by the doctor that he had died of excessive blood wastage. The deceased was later buried the following day according to Islamic rite.” It was gathered that the assailants had been told by their informant that their target was inside the designer’s shop. They just shot into the shop. “Unfortunately they missed their target; it was Ajao who just came back from the mosque that was hit by the bullets of the gunmen,” another witness said. It was also gathered that the gunmen had shot one person to death at LNK, another street in the community, before going to Odugbemi Street. A resident of the area, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that the deceased was an easy going person. The victim’s elder brother, Mr

Abdurask Ajao, described it as a big shock to him and his siblings. He said: “I asked him to learn fashion designing before sitting for his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) because I did not want him to be idle. I never knew that was where my brother would be killed. “I was at home when someone came to call me that my brother had been shot at their shop. When I got there, I saw a large crowd outside the shop trying to take him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. “We lost our mother last year, now I have lost our last

The street where Ajao was murdered

born. But there is nothing I can do as Muslim, we pray Allah to grant him eternal rest.

Immediately after the incident, we reported the matter at Alonge Police Station.”

Student bags six months jail for drug offences Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a 30-year-old polytechnic student, Nwokeoma Adimoha, to six months’ imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs. The accused, a resident of Satellite Town, Lagos, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge

bordering on the offence. Following his plea, the judge sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment beginning from the date of his arrest. He said: “Having pleaded guilty to the charge before this honourable court, the accused is hereby convicted as charged. “He is accordingly sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, which term shall start running from the date of his arrest.” Idris also ordered that the drug exhibits be returned to

the office of the NDLEA for destruction. Earlier on, the prosecutor, Mr Orji Kalu, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on October 10, 2014. He said Adimoha was arrested by surveillance of the NDLEA, at an uncompleted building in Satelite Town, Lagos, with about 2.40 kilograms of cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp. The offence is said to contravene the provisions of sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Religious clash claims four in Jos Buhari Bello Jos

t least four persons were killed while 10 houses were burnt when Christians and Muslims clashed at Babale village in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The peace, hitherto enjoyed in the area despite crisis which engulfed Jos, the state capital, was disrupted on Tuesday when a car trying to avoid a ditch ran over a motorcycle and killed the two persons. The mayhem which followed spilled over to yesterday. It was gathered that the car, a Peugeot 406 wagon, driven by one Samsudeen Mohammad Umar of Number 6, Rikkos New Layout, was on top of speed on the Jos-Bauchi Road when the driver noticed the ditch in front of a church and tried to avoid it. But in the process, the vehicle knocked down the motorcycle with the two persons on it. The victims were Christians and residents of the village. This made the villagers to rush out. Some of them said that the ditch dug by the church must be closed up. The ditch was part of the

safety measures put in place by the church to force drivers plying the Jos-Bauchi Road to slow down and avoid knocking down its members. While some villagers insisted that the ditch must be closed up, especially since it has caused many accidents, the church members were against the move. They blamed the accident on carelessness and over speeding on the part of the driver. This led to the clash between the Christians and Muslims. As the news was spreading so were the two groups taking up arms against each other. In less than two hours, not less than 10 houses had been torched while two more persons were killed. At press time, fighting was still going on in the village while policemen had been drafted to the area to maintain peace. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Emmanuel Abu, who confirmed the incident, blamed the youth for the rampage. He said they became violent and started destroying property. Abu said two persons had been arrested in connection with the incident while investigation was still going on.

Some of the suspects

Jailbreak escapees arrested for robbery Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

wo of the inmates who escaped from the Federal Prisons, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on November 30 last year during a jailbreak have been arrested for robbery. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, disclosed this yesterday in AdoEkiti while parading some suspects arrested for various offences. One of the jailbirds, Adegboye Sunday, allegedly attempted to rob one Aking-

binsola Feyi, a resident of Ori Apata area of Ado-Ekiti about 10.25pm on December 5 last year. The runaway prisoner reportedly led three others, armed with cutlasses, to attack the victims who were cooking in preparation for a wedding ceremony. Another escapee, Ajimoko Kayode, was arrested after he allegedly led a gang of four on a robbery operation at Olokemeji area of Ado-Ekiti on January 20. Lakanu said that almost 40 robbery suspects who were recently apprehended were now

in the custody of the police, expressing dismay with the congestion of the cells where the suspects were being kept. He said: “Close to 40 armed robbery suspects are with us but they have not been charged to court because of the ongoing judiciary workers’ strike. “Our cells are congested and you know those arrested for capital offences cannot be released. “Some of those arrested are among those who escaped from prisons, so we urge the general public to volunteer information to assist us to nip crime in the bud.”

Assemblies of God Church pastor beheaded Clement James Calabar

File picture of a scene of violent attack in Plateau State

ndications have emerged that the Assemblies of God Church pastor, who was reported missing while on his way to preach outside his station on Sunday at Mkpani, Cross River State, was actually kidnapped and murdered. New Telegraph had reported yesterday that the pastor, whose name could not been ascertained, had gone missing with one Ani Mgbele, who conveyed him on a motorcycle

while on their way to a branch of the church at Usumutong. But fresh facts emerged yesterday that the pastor and his companion were actually accosted about 10am on Sunday by the Ediba people while on their way to Usumutong for service. The pastor, an indigene of Ochon in Obubra Local Government Area, was until his death, the resident minister of the Assemblies of God Church, Aduma at Mkpani area of Yakurr Local Government Area in the Central Senatorial District of the state. One Hossana said the people

kidnapped the pastor and his companion at Ediba. He said: “They ordered them to kneel down and asked them their mission in the area that morning. The pastor told them they were on their way to Usumutong Assemblies of God Church on a ‘pulpit exchange’ and called the phone number of the pastor of the church at Ediba who was at Nko for the same purpose but the people did not let them go.” According to him, the two men were dragged into the bush and beheaded by their captors.

Airline sues employees for N30m fraud Five die in cult gangs’ clash Camillus Nnaji

ed-view Airline Limited, Lagos is prosecuting four of its employees - Bankole Babatunde, 38, Gbadamosi Mutiu, 42, Uboh Godfrey Effiom, 51, and Shittu Mufutaau, 60 - for allegedly defrauding the company N30 million. The company’s spokesman, who doubles as Head of Engineering Department, Mr Lookman Animasaun (an engineer), said the fraud was committed by four persons in the Cargo and Handling Department. Animasaun added that they connived with some customs agents to defraud not only the company but the state.

He said: “We found out there was stealing after conducting auditing. The company set up an investigating committee, some of them confessed to the fraud while some of them also made some payments back. “But the company wanted an undertaking from them on how they are going to pay everything they stole. Because they were not able to come up with that, the company had to arrest them and take the matter to court. This will also serve as deterrent to any of our staff who is thinking of stealing.” Meanwhile, the four on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, presided by Mrs S. Komolafe.

According to a combined charge sheet for the four with reference no: MIK/11/11/2015, Babatunde, Mutiu, Effiom and Mufutaau between January 2013 and July 2014 at No. 21 Olowu Street, Ikeja, in Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit stealing and there-by committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law No 11, Vol 44, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Erasmus Nnanonu, told the court that the four persons were accused of defrauding the company, Med-view Airlines Nigeria of different sums.

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ult members yesterday went on the rampage at Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. They killed five persons among them a notorious cult leader popularly called “Last Kobo”. According to an eyewitness, the killing of one cult member earlier in the day by the gang provoked reprisal attack by the rival group. It was gathered that the killings instilled fear in the residents most of who restricted their movement to avoid attacks. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP John

IG, Suleiman Abba

Bako, who confirmed the incident, said policemen were swiftly drafted to the area when they got news of the secret cult activities. Bako said the police had so far recovered two locally-made pistols, adding that investigation into the matter was in progress.

News

NATIONAL

THURSday, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo PDP to Buhari, Tinubu: Purge yourselves of corruption Cajetan Mmuta Benin

do State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC), its national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party’s presidential flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari, to purge themselves first of

INEC distributes 835, 154 PVCs in Kwara

corruption before taking the anti-graft war to citizens of the country. The party said APC and General Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign ahead of the nation’s general election cannot stand the test of time as they are the protagonists of corruption that dates back to history. Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, stated this when he and other chieftains

of the party received Hon. Faustines Ovienrioba, the former Executive Director, Community Development to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to the PDP during a campaign rally held in Ovia North East council of the state. Orbih asked the APC presidential candidate and Tinubu to stop pointing accusing fingers at some persons over corrupt allegations, when they themselves are not

clean of the same sins. He said the two APC chieftains must, as a matter of necessity, apologise to Edo people for remaining silent since the opposition party accused them of alleged involvement in the depletion of the state’s resources. The chairman added that the state government spent huge sums of money to host them during their last visit to commission hospital and

€21.54m

road projects executed by the government of Adams Oshiomhole. The party’s leadership also raised the alarm over the discovery of another N11, 602, 250 million allegedly spent on drinks to host the duo of Buhari and Tinubu and wondered how such huge sum could be spent during the visits of the APC top shots who are known Moslems and abhor anything alcohol drinks.

5.25%

The percentage of the population of women The total salary and extra winnings made by The percentage of individuals using the above 60 years in American Samoa in 2012. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari (Racing) in 2013-2014. internet in Armenia in 2005. Source: Un.org Source: Financenews24.com Source: Itu.int

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State yesterday said it has distributed 835, 154 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), representing 71 per cent of expected collection. The figure represents an increase of about 123, 234 from the January figures released by the commission out of the 1, 032, 970 PVCs received in the state. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, who made the disclosure in Ilorin while speaking at a workshop on the “Nigeria Media Code of Election Coverage,” organised by the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the commission had performed “outstandingly” in terms of preparation for the next election due to the cooperation received from journalists. The REC, however, tasked media workers to continue to see themselves as umpires towards ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election, adding that they are allowed to witness the entire process of election. He said: “You are allowed to witness the entire process of election, move around as long as your movement does not interfere with the process of election. You can interview presiding officers or other authorised officials but with their consent.” The state Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Felix Olowookere, appealed to journalists and media owners to be nationalistic and patriotic by ensuring that the code of conduct was strictly followed.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Vodacom Business, Africa, Mr Douglas Craigie-Stevenson; Vice-Chairman, Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje and Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke, at the signing of Vodacom Business Nigeria to the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) in Lagos.

Don’t turn Nigeria to banana republic, Afenifere warns Muritala Ayinla

orried by the current speculation that the Nigerian democracy is on the verge of collapse, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, the Afenifere Renewal Group, yesterday warned politicians in the country not to turn Nigeria into a banana republic. The group said the Yoruba nation will not opt out of Nigeria if the current democratic dispensation fails, by whatever reason. It also warned against alleged scheming by some to make Nigeria a banana and undemocratic republic, with the muzzling of its democratic institutions as demonstrated by the recent postponement of the general election, saying that the Yoruba would wish to be part of a democratic, well-governed and truly federal Nigeria, in all intents and purposes. This position was contained in the communiqué released yesterday as the outcome of the social discourse organised by the group to “sensitise and

mobilise Yoruba voters” for the forthcoming general election. The communiqué, signed by the group’s National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, said: “Yoruba people would wish, as we are now, to be part of a democratic, well-governed and truly federal Nigeria, in all intents and purposes. “However, we warn that if for any reason, Nigeria were schemed to become a banana and undemocratic republic, with the muzzling of its democratic institutions as demonstrated by this polls shift, and/or if Nigeria were to be divided in any manner, we would as a people opt out to become a democratic nation as would be acceptable by our people.” The warning, New Telegraph learnt, was in response to “suspicious sinister motives” which according to the group, led to the postponement of the general election. The group added in the communiqué: “The recent election shift is certainly not just about elections.

We suspect that the postponement is about something more sinister, the first being that it might be grounds to prepare a soft surface for a sympathetic group within the armed forces to take over the reins of power, since in character and content there is little to distinguish the present rudderless government from the one that ruled in the

Second Republic between 1979 and 1983. “Also, anyone who is thinking that the balkanisation of the country on the premises of North and South could be a way out should better think deeply. The Yoruba people would not be part of any such balkanised unit; it is definitely not one we would demand as a change.”

Buhari’s wife in Adamawa, donates drugs to IDPs Ibrahim Abdul Yola

here was celebration and fanfare in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, yesterday when the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, visited the state to donate drugs worth over N135 million to Boko Haram affected Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Others in her entourage include the former Plateau State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Mrs. Judith Ameachi, Mrs. Mairo Al-Makura, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and the former Women Affairs Minister, Hajiya Hajjo Sani. At Damare, the most populous IDPs’ camp in the state capital, Hajiya Buhari regrets that thousands of families were displaced by Boko Haram insurgents, attributing it to “lack of good leadership in the country.”

According to Orbih, “For some weeks now, we have been reading the anti-corruption campaign of Buhari and the APC. I was expecting that after the publication of the vouchers that the governor used in signing N142 million to Buhari and Tinubu on their visit to Edo State, I was expecting Buhari to come out publicly to apologise to Edo people for that huge sum of money that was taken away from our treasury by the governor of Edo state. “I was also expecting Buhari to condemn Adams Oshiomhole for spending that kind of money just for him to cut tape.” He added that; “What we must guard against is having people who are pointing accusing fingers at others when they are guilty of the same offence. In APC, what they do by the day is to take taxpayers money, they have continued to steal our money and when they are criticising others they forget to tell the people how much. But let me tell you, Buhari is a Moslem, you know Tinubu, he is also a Moslem.”

20 more millionaires emerge in Glo promo

he usually hyperactive Yaba, a suburb of Lagos, came to a standstill on Tuesday, when Globacom, the nation’s second national carrier, presented N1 million cheque each to another set of 20 winners in the N120m Glo Overload Reloaded promo. An animated crowd comprising market women and men, drivers, shoppers, motor park workers and youths cheered on as each of the subscribers stepped up to collect their cheque from the company’s senior executives and brand ambassadors, which included MI, Ego and Chee the Voice. This brings the total number of millionaires produced in the promo so far to 40. Glo had last month presented N1 million cheques to the first batch of 20 winners. Eighty more millionaires are expected to emerge by the end of the promotion. The latest winners of the promo are a Lagosbased electrician, Francis Oshin; a nurse, Tawakalitu Ayedun; a civil servant, Atolagbe Folake; a Naval Officer, Bassey Victor Elesiok and a fish seller, Rukayat Tijani.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 12, 2015

Handover date

Poll shift

Governorship poll

Promo 17

May 29 must remain sacrosanct, says Ozekhome

FG summons foreign diplomats

Lagos: Standing with Ambode

Buhari not in control of APC, says Ahamba

Politics Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs and represents Ebonyi Central Senatorial District. In this interview with CHUKWU DAVID, he spoke on why he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party and the general elections. Excerpts:

You defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Labour Party (LP) because you lost your bid for the Ebonyi State governorship ticket. Does it means that you don’t care about principles? There is nothing wrong in defecting from one party to another if it is done on the basis of principle. I can assure you that I left the PDP for LP on principle not on the basis of self-aggrandisement as you think. That is where the difference lies. There are people who move from one party to another perhaps because they are looking for positions or money or for whatever reason. There are people who look for positions on principle. Mine is to use it to provide service for the people of Ebonyi. Ebonyi needs this because after 18 years of creation, we have remained where we were before the creation. Are they saying that we should all keep quiet so that people will continue to triumph over the state? I will not keep quiet for people to continue to triumph over the state. They have also made development difficult for us. So, nothing has jeopardized the ideology which we hold under the PDP. What is the prospect of LP in Ebonyi in the forthcoming governorship

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Nwagu: Govt should prosecute troublemakers

challenges in this country. He has been able to open up our transportation system especially the railway and roads. Within three and half years of his tenure he has been able to drive the vision he has for this country. So, I believe that if he is given the chance he will do better in the next four years. No doubt, Nigeria needs a change; perhaps it may not be a change of the captain of leadership; it may be a change of attitude, those who are in government who lead this country to enter into boardroom of corruption. Perhaps, if those things are addressed, I don’t see why Jonathan should not win the next election. So, on March 28, Ebonyi people will vote for President Jonathan, and on April 11, they will vote for the governorship candidate of Labour Party.

Nwagu election? Well, it may interest you to know that what makes a party is not the name; what makes a party is the people. It is the credibility, the acceptability of those people that make up the party that determine how the party performs or behaves. In the present situation, you recall the crisis that took place in Ebonyi. The moment Onyebuchi Chukwu was rejected based on the way and procedure in which he emerged as Governor Martin Elechi’s choice candidate for the PDP, a lot of people were not happy at what followed. The man who has the ticket of the PDP manipulated the entire process; got the support of a few individuals in Abuja and threw Ebonyi into confusion and a lot of people were not happy. Before the events that led to your defection to the LP, you were having a frosty relationship with the state governor, Martin Elechi; how is your relationship with him now? For your information, I never had issues with Governor Elechi. He is a man I respect as an elder statesman, as a father. Perhaps what happened was that we misunderstood each other at the political level, which is normal in politics and in democracy in particular. You know that governors and president are like people in

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

What government should do is to take care of some of these people who are making pronouncements that make people to move from one place to another

prison; they are imprisoned by their aides, who can only see what their aides want them to see and say what their aides want them to say. But immediately the veil falls from their face and they sit down and recall what transpired, they begin to regret some of their actions and that is why you see them reversing some of the decisions they have taken because some of them were taken in error. So, at the political level, I only had a disagreement with Governor Elechi but I have never had anything personal with him. Now that you have joined LP and the party has no presidential candidate, who will you mobilise your followers to vote for between President Goodluck Jonathnan and Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC? LP has no presidential candidate and the party has said that they will support President Goodluck Jonathan because we have all seen the innovations he brought to bear in governance in Nigeria. We believe that despite the challenges, despite the fact that people are accusing him of weakness and to be clueless and all that, he has been compassionate; he has some passion for this country, he has interest in building Nigeria and democracy. Within the limit of his capacity, he has faced the security

There is so much apprehension in the polity because of threats by some people, especially politicians over the general elections. What is your take on this? Those threats are unfounded; they are actually unnecessary. I think it is just the media that is magnifying it and making people to panic. I think the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adopted enough measures to ensure smooth conduct of all the elections. There is no point for families to move from one part of the country to another because individuals are threatening fire and brimstone. I think what government should do is to take care of some of these people who are making pronouncements that make people to move from one place to another. Such people should be arrested and prosecuted. I want to advise Nigerians to remain wherever they are and express their franchise anywhere in this country, and it will produce the same result. Those who registered in the Northern part of Nigeria and they want to vote there should remain there and vote. If they want to vote for a particular presidential candidate, they are free to do so. When you have a good leader, whatever he does affects everybody positively. I do not see why people should move from one end of the country to another. Government should put measures in place to avoid crisis during the elections. Any form of rigging will be void because the system put in place by the INEC will frustrate that.

Politics

THURSDAY, February 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari: Don’t judge me by my past actions Felix Nwaneri and Camillus Nnaji

ormer Head of State and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday said it would be harsh for anyone to judge him by the action he took as Nigeria’s military leader. Buhari, who stated this last night in an interview with CNN’s Christine Amanpour, said though his regime suspended some aspects of the constitution when it came on board, he would be judged unfairly if what happened during a military regime is extended to a democratic government. His words: “When the military under my leadership came on board, we suspended those aspect of the constitution that we felt will make it diffi-

cult for us to operate. So, I think I would be judged harshly with what happened during that military administration, or to extend what happened during a military administration to a democratic government.” Speaking on his endorsement for the 2015 presidential election by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said the “endorsement will certainly bring more supporters to us and restore confidence to those who were sitting on the fence before now because General Obasanjo is highly respected, and as far as the Nigerian nation is concerned, there is no serious issue that would be discussed without people seeking for his opinion.” On the Boko Haram insurgency, the APC presidential candidate assured Nigerians that his party will bring the activities of the group to an end if

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

elected to power, though he blamed the inability of the military to combating the sect on misappropriation of funds. His words: “The issue was made much clear when the National Assembly attempted hearings after soldiers were granting interviews to the foreign media about being sent to the fronts without proper weapons, but the hearings were scuttled. This shows misapplication of the budget and misappropriation of funds meant for the military and explains why the military has not been able to defeat Boko Haram.

“We know how Boko Haram started. Certainly the Nigerian military has built a reputation for effectiveness, but it is a great embarrassment to the country that the military cannot guarantee the security of the country’s 774 local government areas. However, I believe that it will not be difficult for an APC government to deal with Boko Haram because we know that the Nigerian military is competent. What we will do is to make sure that funds voted for equipment and training are properly utilised.” Buhari, who said he was disappointed with the recent postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), advised his supporters to remain calm because the shift is within the law. He also assured that his administration will stamp out corruption. “We have to root out

L-R: Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Akin Odunsi; his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Prince Gboyega Isiaka and Ogun State deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, after a public debate organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abeokuta...yesterday. PHOTO: KUNLE OLAYENI

Kalu to opponents: Focus on issue-based campaign

ouse of Representatives candidate for Aba North and South on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Mascot Kalu, has called on politicians to desist from cheap blackmail as a way of discrediting their rivals. Kalu gave the charge during an interactive forum with Aba residents on Tuesday. The investment-banker turned politician debunked the allegation by Hon. Uzo Azubuike, the incumbent member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, that the duo of Dr. Orji Kalu and Hon. Nnanna Kalu had no records of achievement while they held sway as governor and House of Representatives member (Aba North and

South) respectively. He said: “It is rather unfortunate that in this era, politicians can still be using mere blackmail to score political points. The achievements of Dr. Orji Kalu, as governor are unprecedented and the records are there. The same goes for Hon. Nnanna Kalu, who is well loved and accepted for the people-oriented projects executed while he held sway as a federal legislator. I would not lose sleep over the desperate and crude actions of my opponents in tarnishing the image of my family members.” The aspirant explained that he was in the race following the clarion call by his people to throw his hat into the ring. His words: “I see this as an opportunity to correct the imbalances and

suffering that has been meted out to our people due to poor representation at the National Assembly. The bad state of infrastructure, high rate of youth unemployment and social unrest shows that we need change. “After all, Abia State is 100 per cent Peoples Democratic Party-controlled coupled with a PDP-led Federal Government. One wonders why Uzo couldn’t manage to draw the attention of government to the bad state of Aba, rather he is enriching himself with the allocated constituency allowance. We can no longer condone the neglect of Aba, which used to be the commercial hub of the state. If I am elected, Aba will regain its lost glory.” The former Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State added that the

outburst of Uzo is a testimony to his inconsistent character. According to him, “in the past Hon. Uzo sang praises of Dr. Orji Kalu and today he is singing another song. He should remember he cannot write his life history without giving special thanks to Dr. Orji Kalu. The same man he is abusing today gave him the opportunity to serve as Aba North Local Government Secretary, not only paid for his House of Assembly nomination form but ensured his emergence as Deputy Speaker, Abia House of Assembly. Uzo has benefitted massively for the large heart of the Kalu family.” Kalu urged the electorate to resist any form of intimidation and rigging in the general elections.

corruption because there is a senior citizen of our country who said that ‘unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.’ This is best illustrated by the hearings conducted by the National Assembly on the

pension fund, power and petroleum sector, which the country depends on for about 95 per cent of its external earnings. The National Assembly conducted the hearings in the last 18 months but the reports are there gathering dust.”

May 29 must remain sacrosanct, says Ozekhome Temitope Ogunbanke

ollowing the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has warned that Nigerians will not accept any further postponement of the polls for any reason. In a statement made available to New Telegraph, Ozekhome said May 29 handing over date must remain sacrosanct, adding that it will be illegal under Section 135 (2) (a) & (b) and 180 (a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution, to extend the tenure of office of the president and governors beyond May 29, after four years in office. “Our democracy has been hard-earned. The labours of our heroes past must never be allowed to be in vain. We fought for and won the present fledgling democracy, not on a platter of gold, but literally wrenched from the military with pains, pangs, sweat sorrow and blood. “I was one of the few brave and courageous ones who confronted successive military juntas, putting our youthful lives on the line, for the enthronement of democracy, good governance, and the advancement of human rights and rule of law. I will therefore not sit

down, idly and watch our political elite fritter away our hard-earned democracy, or clog its space with human made spikes, rather than deepen, strengthen and widen it,” he said. Ozekhome stressed the need for peaceful general elections, warning that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must never give Nigerians the impression that it is desperate to cling to power at all cost, nor should All Progressives Congress (APC) behave as if it intends to seize power unconstitutionally, by all and any method. “The presidency and security agencies must show the will power and strength of character to allow INEC perform its constitutional and lawful duties without hindrances or undue interference. The flip flop that INEC has so far exhibited as regards its readiness for the elections must stop forthwith, before we become laughing stock in the comity of nations. “For the avoidance of doubt, let no one play around such funny and phony concepts as ‘Interim Government,’ ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ or that May 29 is no longer realisable. I am not convinced that Nigerians will strenuously revolt against such perfidy or opportunism. Let peace, justice, fairness, equity and fear of God reign supreme in these trying moments,” he advised.

Commissioner laments inability to get PVC he Commissioner for in Akure, the state capital, Information in Ondo yesterday submitted that T State, Hon. Kayode Akin- he and others who have made, has decried the inability of a good number of the populace in the state to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Akinmade stated that he would have also been unable to vote had the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) insisted on the February 14 and 28 dates for the general elections were originally billed to hold. Akinmade while speaking with newsmen

been unable to collect their PVCs would have been disenfranchised. “I have made spirited efforts to get the card but to no avail,” he lamented. Akinmade, who applauded the electoral body for postponing the election, said apart from the PVC issue, there are a number of other grey areas which the body should look into and make amends before the elections hold next month.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 12, 2015

Poll shift: FG summons foreign diplomats Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

he Federal Government yesterday summoned foreign diplomats serving in Nigeria over the recent postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and cautioned them against making unguarded statements on the issue. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, who met with the

envoys, expressed displeasure at the varied interpretations the shift in the polls had received within the Diplomatic community and warned that Nigeria would no longer tolerate a situation where some heads of missions tend to dabble into what was otherwise an internal affair of their host country. Wali explained that whereas INEC, the election management body in Nigeria, had given reasons for its action, some foreign missions had cho-

sen to make statements that appeared judgmental. He said that apart from the security concern, there were enough evidence to show that INEC was not fully prepared to conduct the elections on the earlier scheduled dates. The minister said that some of the comments already made by some friends and partners of Nigeria on the poll shift were unwarranted and unexpected of diplomats representing neutral institutions and countries.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to express the strong displeasure of the Federal Government with the conduct of some Heads of Mission who have continued to behave in an imperial manner and in clear breach of the channel of the diplomatic communication. “ A situation where a Head of Mission takes on the role of a government, seeking to impose the views and perspectives of his government and making unguarded utterances on matters that

are strictly within the domestic jurisdiction of the host country is totally unacceptable. “It is only in this country that I have noticed some envoys who have taken it upon themselves and without recourse to the government, to embark on social causes and political advocacy that are totally unrelated to conventional diplomacy and representational duties of ambassadors. Certainly, Nigerian envoys abroad do not behave in this manner,” he said. Wali described as unacceptable, a situation where some envoys abused their privileges and immunities, and cautioned them to oper-

ate within the acceptable norms of diplomatic relations. He assured the international community of Nigeria’s commitment to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, stressing that the shift in the dates should not be misconstrued as a cancelation of the polls or violation of the Electoral Act 2010. On allegations that Nigeria had denied the international media access to cover the elections, Wali explained that the Federal Government had already issued over 300 visas to foreign journalists who indicated interest to cover the general elections.

Ita-Giwa, Bakassi people laud poll postponement Wale Elegbede

Revd. Moris Kwairanga (right) receiving Hajiya Aishatu Buhari (first left), the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, and others, during the presentation of drugs to Internally Displaced Persons in Adamawa...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Immigration faults APC’s claims on PVC seizure Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday faulted the claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) of its members in the North were being seized by the Service. NIS said it has only seized 191 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from foreigners as part of efforts to ensure that non-Nigerians do not participate in the general elections. The Public Relations Officer of NIS, Mr. Chukwuemeka Obua, made the

disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday. Obua stated that other national documents were seized from the Immigrants. He posited that it is against the law of the land for foreigners to possess documents like national identity card, PVC, International Passport of the country, etc. He said: “The Comptroller General of Immigration Service, David Shikfu Parradang, has announced the seizure of some voters’ cards and National Identity Cards from some foreigners in a renewed crackdown on irregular migrants across the country ahead of the forthcom-

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ing general elections.” He gave the break down as follows: PVCs recovered from irregular migrants 191; Temporary Voters’ Cards seized, 57; Old National Identity Cards recovered, 367; Old Temporary ID Card slips recovered, 11; New National Identity Cards, 68; Birth Certificates, 10;

Gada LG Community Tax Cards, 6; NIS Registration Certificates, 3; Driver’s License, 2 Nigerian Army Identity Card for occupants in the Barracks, 1; Primary school certificate, 1 and Data page of Nigeria Passport, 1 He said: “The above vital security documents were recovered in Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara states following an ongoing nation-wide mop-up operation against irregular migrants across the country ahead of the forthcoming general elections.” The APC had alleged that the Immigration Service was confiscating the PVCs from the party’s stronghold in the North.

Osinbajo: Poll shift fuels speculation on Jega’s sack Babatope Okeowo Akure

ice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has hinged the talks on the forced resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on the

postponement of the general election. Osibanjo, who was in Ondo for a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening, said if Jega was forced to resign as being said in many quarters, it would justify the fears of Nigerians that the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government postponed the elections because it was ready to manipulate the forthcoming election.

His words: “We all know that the Federal Government has a devious plan with the postponement of the elections by INEC. We don’t know whether the plan include the sacking of INEC chairman. “The people of this country want a change, they want a peaceful change and they want a change by the ballot box. The president came in by the ballot box and the right

thing to do is to subject himself to election in the way that he came in. It is wrong for him now to try and prevent election by all sorts of subterfuge under the laws of Nigeria.” Although Osinbajo agreed that a public officer has the right to proceed on three months terminal leave, he however said such leave should not be made compulsory but voluntary.

ormer Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, and the Bakassi people have described the change in election dates as an act of God which will enable them to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and elect their preferred leaders in Dayspring Island of Cross River State where they registered. In a statement issued yesterday, Ita-Giwa opined that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had gone ahead with the earlier dates, her people would have been disenfranchised because over 70 per cent have not col-

lected their PVCs. The statement reads: “The poll postponement is a blessing because it will now afford my people the opportunity of voting on March 28 and on April 11. The few who have collected theirs are those that are in the refugee camp and their neighbours. “Thousands from the Southern part of Bakassi who left for Cameroon just to earn income since they are all fishermen registered at Dayspring and they are willing to return to get their PVCs and vote at Dayspring. Now, that the borders are open and the sea is sailable, I have started arranging boats to convey them so they can come and collect their PVCs. Over 5,000 of us cannot and should not be disenfranchised.”

Agbaje promises to create additional LCDAs Wale Elegbede

overnorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje has said that if elected governor on April 11, he will create more local governments in addition to the current 57 in the state. Speaking yesterday at Kosofe Local Government Area, on the last day of his party’s campaign across the 20 local governments in the state, Agbaje debunked insinuations by detractors that he intend to scrap the new 37 Local Council development Areas (LCDAs). He said: “The lie they are spreading now is that we are against the existing 57 councils. That is

not true. In fact, we are already considering the possibility of increasing the local governments beyond the present 57,” he told a crowd of supporters at Ogudu G.R.A. Agbaje, who also took his rally to Shomolu Local Government Area, urged supporters to eschew violence, adding that the ruling party in the state had rolled out policies that were inimical to the interests of market men and women, school children and commercial transporters. “I have always said it everywhere I go and I will say it again here: We are winning this election. So, there is absolutely no reason why PDP supporters should succumb to perpetrating violence,” he said.

16 Politics

THURSDAY, February 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos: Standing with Ambode The groundswell of support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode increased recently when an extraordinary coalition of professionals, civil society advocacy groups, artisans and market people under the auspices of “We Stand for Lagos”, raised their banner of support for the former AccountantGeneral of Lagos, writes WALE ELEGBEDE

he 2015 general elections may have been rescheduled but the support base of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, continues to ascend as the days go by. The latest pack of support for the APC flag bearer is the unusual coalition of professionals, civil society advocacy groups, artisans and market men and women, who came together on the platform of “We Stand for Lagos”, to champion support for Ambode ahead of the April 11 election. For the coalition, no vision could be more appropriate in its projected support for Ambode than to see the deepening of a Lagos that truly works as a Centre of Excellence in all ramifications, and which keeps supporting the purposes and legitimate aspirations of its people to the fullness of their potential. Backing its vision with a mission to work along with relevant stakeholders and institutions for the continued attainment of a Lagos hinged upon good governance, accountability, effective leadership, service delivery, and the promotion of opportunity for all, the coalition averred that the collective was formed to champion informed and issues-based dialogue, conversation in Nigeria, and – importantly – Lagos State, particularly at this period of the jostle for political offices in the country. Speaking on behalf of the coalition after its meeting recently, Chairman, Editorial Board, Enterprise Africa Magazine, Jide Ayobolu, said the forum thoughtfully came to the decision to stand up for and endorse Ambode, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, due to the fact that “people might be swayed to vote for the wrong reasons.” Hence, he stressed that, We Stand for Lagos has decided to assist many other Lagosians in making evidence based choice, and realising that our commonwealth is best protected and collective welfare best guaranteed by a tradition of truly tested and trusted leader-

L-R: Secretary General Eastern Professionals Forum, Mr. Nerus Ekezie; member, Association of Vulcanizers, Ajeromi/Ifelodun LG, Mr. Azeez Busari; Chairman Editorial Board, Enterprise Africa Magazine, Mr. Jide Ayobolu and Coordinator, Campaign Against Impunity, Mr. Shina Loremikan at the We Stand for Lagos media briefing

ship. As such, our decision is to speak up and defend what we are convinced is in the best interest of most stakeholders in Lagos State.” Giving a picture of the type of leadership that can safely sail the ship of Lagos, Ayobolu said: “Lagos needs a leader who knows his onion and will hit the ground running, not a person who will first waste time in understanding what the system truly entails before struggling to match his plans with the reality on the ground. Effective leadership is not about showmanship or oration, otherwise comic merchants would have risen to statesmen.” Urging for the continuation of the Lagos success story through the election of Ambode, the coalition opine that, “at We Stand for Lagos, we are calling for a deepening of the Lagos success story by voting for continuity in the governance of our city-state. It has been a success story for professionals, as over a decade of purposeful governance has led to the development of physical infrastructure, which is the backbone of modern enterprise. “We Stand for Lagos believe that continuity is what is necessary to transform our city-state by the lagoon to a Promised Land, as the paradigm of social and economic revolution unleashed in its space since 1999 has led to a renaissance in which Lagos has not only become the economic pivot of West Africa, but accounts for up to 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign trade flows, contributes over 30 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is responsible for 70 per cent of all industrial investments in Nigeria, while equally generating over 50 per cent of the national port revenues,” the coalition submit. To them, Ambode is the best option for Lagos State having garnered enough experience as the Accountant General of the state in a career that spanned over 27 years. Lending his voice to the growing support of Ambode is another member of the group and Secretary General, Eastern Professional Forum, Nerus Ekezie, who appealed to Lagosians to use their votes wisely, urging that their vot-

Ambode

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Effective leadership is not about showmanship or oration, otherwise comic merchants would have risen to statesmen

ers’ cards are an instrument of determining their fate and ratifying the best possible choice and taking a stand on the direction of their future in the long run, and within the next four years, on the short haul. Ekezie further stressed his belief in the continuity of progressive governance, represented by APC in the state, as the best option for Africa’s rainbow ‘nation’ and sixth largest economy. In the words of the coalition, “We stand for a Lagos that has been growing steadily and progressively since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999; a Lagos in which a succession of good administration and leadership has tipped the human development index upwards, promoted an increase in jobs and livelihoods, offered opportunities and rewards for the keen and steadfast; and a Lagos that continues to guarantee the security, peace and well-being of its people, while advancing on their qualities-of-life and safeguarding their continuous prosperity.” Also the coalition’s “vision is to see the deepening of a Lagos that truly works as a Centre of Excellence in all respects, and which keeps supporting the legitimate aspirations of people and businesses to the fullness of their potential. And we are prepared to

achieve this through partnership with all relevant stakeholders and institutions, for the continuous attainment of a Lagos hinged on good governance, accountability, effective leadership, service delivery, and equal opportunities for all.” Similarly, the Coordinator, Campaign against Impunity, Shina Loremikan, who is a member of the collective, described the group’s support for Ambode of the APC, noting that “by their fruits they are known. He is part of those who enabled the progressive template of government that has taken Lagos this far, as a seasoned and entrusted erstwhile Accountant General of the State.” “Our resolution to support the continuity of APC administrations in Lagos is borne of its observation of good governance at close quarters, because “if 16 years of governance have taken Lagos out of the rot and woods of three decades to become one of the six largest and steadily growing economies on the African continent, with a huge educated and skilled citizenry, one of the highest school completion rates in Nigeria, an expanding mean household income, as well as an enlarging middle class, in addition to many other positives, then we are convinced that the consolidation of this progressive governance cycle can only deepen the success story in a fundamental way.” With a spectrum of support from all cadres of people to form the coalition, the drivers of We Stand for Lagos, have been able to bridge societal and educational gaps among people of different professions and businesses through the Ambode’s brand, and for them, this is what the candidature of the APC candidate represents – One, United Lagos. And for their last line, their commitment is, “We shall never go back to the days of the corruption and pillaging of state resources by untrustworthy state actors – our money will keep working for us in Lagos. We Stand for Lagos and shall never see rot return to our communities because we have decided to vote for stability, continuity and consolidation.”

Politics | Interview 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 12, 2015

Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) speaks on why he parted ways with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Abuja Peace Accord, Boko Haram insurgency and the general elections. EMMANUEL ONANI reports

What is your take on the Abuja peace accord by the leading presidential candidates and the violence that has characterised the campaigns so far? There is something about political parties. These people, who are signing the peace pact, may be serious and honest, but there are some of their supporters, who benefit from the destabilisation situation. If it is too peaceful, there are people, who feel they will lose, because that is their own period of benefit. The more acrimonious it is, the more they are relevant. But, I think it was a very good idea, that they came out to say ‘we agree there should be no violence’. Now, let me tell you, it will be difficult to hold election anywhere, without violence. I don’t think it can happen in the greatest democracies. There are one or two flash points, where things will happen. In Africa, at our stage of development, there is too much suspicion; there will be some elements of disagreement of some people, who don’t know any other way to resolve it, except muscles are slugged out. We pray that wherever it happens, security operatives will be firm and if they are, it’s nothing very unusual. You were at time a close ally of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Why did you part ways? I was a very close associate of Buhari. I don’t think anybody ranked publicly than I ranked highly privately. In the public domain, I think I ranked highest to the point that even if his relations wanted to talk with him, they talked to me. I was advising him politically, and in the main, I was his lawyer; I did the 2003 petition for him, I did the 2007 petition for him. I left him because of irreconcilable differences. He is a principled man, I’m a principled man. We parted our ways, assuring ourselves that we are not going to quarrel, and we are not quarrelling. What is your assessment of the ongoing campaigns by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC?

Buhari not in control of APC, says Ahamba eral Buhari is not in charge of APC; he is just a figure head being used because of his natural popularity by some other persons, who are dangerous to the Nigerian democracy. I was a member of the APC; you have to ask me why I left. How do you as a party, programme a party with 60 per cent advantage to incumbent governors? Imagine a situation where you are running a 100-metre race, and somebody is placed at the 60-metre point, and others are put at the starting block. That is the foundation on which the APC was built. You cannot run away from that foundation, because that is the fundamental attitude of the party. They were asked why they were giving the governors all the advantage, they said they are the people, who have the money to run the election.

Ahamba

I believe that in some cases, there have been excesses, and the excesses have been more on one side; that is on the side of APC. The APC is on the ground now, so it is struggling more to carry out extreme campaigns. The PDP has also committed in some areas. By and large, I will want to see more of the issues come out. It is not enough to say, ‘vote for us, these people are bad people’. If you want to remove a person, who is in government, you have to tell us what that person is doing, which you will do in a different way, and tell us how your different way will be, so that we can compare your different way and the status quo. It’s not enough to tell us change, without defining that change. Now, what is it that the people in power are doing, which you will do differently? To talk about change without definition, is a dangerous thing. Because, change can be for worse, it can be for better. So, let the APC people define the context of their change. If you watch the debates in America; this man says he can create jobs, the other man says he can create jobs, but the people decide who can create jobs. Tell us what you are changing from, particularly, when some statements have been made about some common things, like Boko Haram. I remember the APC at a point, was of the opinion that

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

General Buhari is not in charge of APC; he is just a figure head being used because of his natural popularity by some other persons, who are dangerous to the Nigerian democracy

President Jonathan was sending troops to the North-East, in order to destroy the North. Now that they are saying they are going to wipe out Boko Haram three months after coming to power, they should tell us whether they will not send troops. And if they are going to send troops, what is the difference between the troops they are sending, and the ones sent by President Jonathan. If they are not going to send troops, they are going to tell us the method they will use to stop Boko Haram in the North-East, without deploying troops. If deployment of troops by Jonathan was to destroy the North, will they not destroy the North by deploying troops? If you are not going to use troops, then we need further and better particulars as to whether there is a relationship. I have not made any allegation, but I’m just discussing circumstances of the moment, which every rational Nigerian must ask himself, because this is a very crucial election; we are doing an election in the course of a war, and there are no sentiments about it. Being a former member of the APC, does the party have the capacity to midwife the change it has been professing? I want to advise Nigerians to warn themselves, that Gen-

There is the clamour for postponement of the elections. Will it hurt the polity, if the elections are shifted forward? I don’t think we should postpone it (election). They should go on with this election, because other countries in which you have these Islamist fundamentalists occupying areas have held elections. I think we can go ahead and do these elections. Remember that the validity of elections, depends on 24 states. So, if we have 33 states functional, there is no reason why an election in Nigeria, cannot be held, with the others held after. After all, elections have been held by bye-election system. When we chase away these people, it can be done. Postponing the elections because of Boko Haram, is to concede that Boko Haram has won. This is my personal opinion, because their purpose is to destabilise this country, and they can be no better destabilisation than their stopping us from holding our election. Will it not create a legitimacy crisis if the three states (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa) are left out? The Electoral Act is there. Where it is not possible to hold election, you won’t stop the whole country; that impossibility affects the area involved. If an election is inconclusive, won’t it be repeated? So, if you cannot hold election in some local governments in Borno State, and some local governments in Adamawa State, that does not mean you should not hold election in the remaining more than 700 local governments. Because, they can claim victory after; they may force you into creating an anarchy in the country, which is all that they want. Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted before the postponement of the general elections.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Discovering NNPC’s missing millions

Chialuka Obioma

t last the nation can heave a sigh of relief, following the submission of the forensic audit report set up to look into the books of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC]. It all began in 2013, when Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi alleged that the NNPC had sliced the huge sum of 20 Billion dollars from the Federation Account. He later claimed that the figure was 49 Billion dollars, an amount far higher than what was initially quoted. Sanusi’s weighty allegations were too hard on the government especially when compatriots felt that as one of the big oil producing nations, Nigeria had no reason to be offering citizens hard economic measures while a few fed fat on the wealth accruing therefrom. In March 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan hearkened to the voice of the people when he announced that a reputable firm would be saddled with the responsibility of auditing NNPC Accounts. Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala followed it up in April when she disclosed that PriceWaterHouseCoopers had been appointed to do a thorough job on NNPC Accounts. The examination was to end in September. However, for a perfect job to come out of it, the auditing firm was able to submit their report this year. While the auditors worked, a lot of politics was at play. In the first place, Sanusi became more of an opposition party member than the head of our apex bank. He ended up wearing the toga of Emir of Kano after his suspension as CBN boss. His emergence defied some of the known reticence associated with royalty as all his actions were predictable even by newspaper columnists

All those who had an axe to grind with the government relied solely on Sanusi’s unsubstantiated claims to harangue the President, the Finance Minister and even the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke All those who had an axe to grind with the government relied solely on Sanusi’s unsubstantiated claims to harangue the President, the Finance Minister and even the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. Even Sanusi’s predecessor, the learned Professor of Economics Charles Soludo later emerged with his own figure which ran into trillions. And as Soludo released his thesis, the auditors were done with their findings. Among so many other details, the report laid to rest all perceived and bandied figures and came up with the whole truth. According to the report, total revenue generated [including additional revenue upon investigation] stood at 69.34 United States dollars. Actual remittance was 50.81 dollars while unremitted revenues stood at 5.11 billion dollars. PMS Aand DPK Subsidy gulped 8.70 dollars, costs attributable to domestic crude was 2.65Billion dollars. Other costs not directly related to domestic crude oil operations was 2.81 Billion while salaries and benefits took 1.52 Billion dollars. Monthly operations accounted for 0.48 Billion dollars, other third party payments [including training

course fees and other vendor payments] stood at 0.81 Billion and NPDC Signature Bonus grabbed 1.75 Billion dollars. Then there was NPDC Taxes and Royalties at 0.47 Billion dollars. The Report was clear on what was actually supposed to be paid by the NNPC. It said,” hence the net amount attributable to the Federation Account following the above is 1.48 Billion dollars.” Note that the auditors also advised that based on current regulations, the NNPC would continue to maintain the status quo except a few alterations were made. So while the NNPC is expected to remit the 1.48 dollars accruable to government, it’s officials were not in any way indicted. And that should at least reassure Nigerians that no money was stolen from the Federation Account as being bandied by uninformed critics. In receiving the report, President Jonathan also expressed relief that at least the truth will come out. “There has been so much of controversy over this NNPC and leakages or no leakages. I remember the Senate has also looked into it, it is also good that you professionals have also looked into it. ‘ What happens in the papers and the speculation is also very high. The figures that I cannot even imagine the country will make are being bandied in the newspapers. So I am quite pleased that you have taken the forensic audit and I believe it will help us to move things forward and set things right. I promise we will handle it decisively. “I assure you that this is a precious document that the Accountant-General will keep and I will have my own copy, because even if you leave office, maybe, when I write my memoirs, I will use part of it. But the kind of figure people bandied in the papers look so ridiculous, Jonathan said.” For now the polity is calm, sure a lot of critics will be disappointed but the truth has come afloat. Nobody stole from our commonwealth. • Obioma wrote in from Umunede, Delta State.

Despots in global history Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

n Global History, mankind has experienced and seen the sudden emergence of despots, dictators, totalitarians, fascists and demonic regimes in Empires, Kingdoms and even in contemporary nation states. It is my intention to do this piece on the basis of random sampling in order to ensure that they are summarized to the benefit of readers. Further, I will endeavour to relate it to the Nigerian scenario and pin-point at those leaders who were fascists in their individual approaches to governance. However, I wish to kick-start it with Benito Mussolini of Italy. Benito Mussolini was born in 1883. He was a consummate politician. In 1919, Mussolini and his followers formed the Fascist Party whose membership expanded to about 300,000. In 1922, he made his bid for power. Speaking at the grand political rally, he said: “Either they give us the Government or we shall take it by descending on Rome”. A few days later, his fascist followers marched on Rome and established a dictatorship Government because Mussolini himself was of the opinion that democracy was weak and ineffective. His fascist party commenced to rule Italy with all cruel means to stampout the opposition and its leaders. Adolf Hitler was born on April 20,

1889 in Austria. He quit school at the age of 16. He welcomed the outbreak of World War I and volunteered to serve in the German Army. While in Munich, after the 1st World War, Hitler joined a small nationalist group (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) whose name was later changed to the Nazi Party. Hitler rose to become leader of the Party. In 1923, he embarked on a failed coup to overthrow the Government of the German State of Bavaria. He was found guilty and imprisoned. Hitler was later released from jail and he contested the Chancellorship position and won due to his populist ideology. It is on record that he banned the freedom of speech and of the press, banned all trade unions; set-up courts for secret trials; proscribed all political parties except the Nazi Party. In 1934, he arrested and shot about 1,000 Army officers for disloyalty. During World War II, Hitler also killed six million Jews in gas chambers. Some medical Professors of German origin were executed because they declared him as been insane. However, he committed suicide by gunshot on April 30, 1945 in Berlin. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 on the Island of Corsica. He attended a military school in France and became an officer. In 1798, Napoleon embarked in an aborted military expedition in an attempt to invade Egypt. In 1799, he sacked the French

Parliament and overthrew the Government of France. The French Revolution also sacked the Monarchical Institution of the bourbons. While Napoleon was in favour of the social reforms of the French revolution, he ignored some of the individual freedoms and did not believe in political liberty or free elections. Newspapers who dared to oppose him were shutdown and disloyal citizens of France were imprisoned unjustly without due process of the law. Jean-Claude Duvalier aka “Baby Doc” of Haiti, was born on July 3, 1951. He was the World’s youngest President in 1971 at the age of 19. “Baby Doc” took-over power from his ruthless father, President Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) who had terrorized Haiti for about 15 years. In 1986, Baby Doc fled into exile after a popular uprising. After 25 years in exile in France, he returned to Haiti in 2011 and was briefly detained. During his regime, hundreds of politicians were imprisoned. Most of them died as a result of torture or extra-judicial killings. All opposition newspapers, radio stations were closed down. Journalists were beaten and even forced to leave Haiti. On October 4, 2014, Baby Doc died of heart attack. In view of the limitation of space at this point, I can only mention briefly a few other dictators. Vladimir Lenin (1870 – 1924) was ideologically a communist and leader of the Proletariat who seized power dur-

ing the Bolshevik revolution in the Soviet Union in 1919. Joseph Stalin (1878 – 1953) and Alexei Kosygin (1904 – 1980) including Lenin were all deft dictators in the defunct Soviet Union. Some of the African dictators include: Jean Bedel Bokassa (1921 – 1966) of Central African Republic; Muammar Gadaffi of Libya was killed in his bid to sustain power; Charles Taylor (1948 till date), has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Others are: Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana, Sanni Abacha, Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, all of Nigeria. Of the aforementioned despots, Jerry John Rawlings who executed his Predecessors for corruption later contested and won the Presidential election in Ghana as a civilian. If Buhari, an aggressive despot and after losing three previous presidential elections could still be hopeful to contest and win the presidency a fourth time, it is my considered opinion that he ought to learn from the experience of Rawlings. I don’t have to be a Pastor T. B. Joshua to predict his defeat, once again, based on his rugged antecedent as a military dictator and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1983-1985). As far as I am concerned, this ambition is a mission impossible. • Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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Curbing mass failure in school system

he steady decline in the performance of Nigerian students, especially at the secondary school level, with its attendant mass failure in external examinations, is an indication that all is not well with the nation’s education system. In fact, the danger this unhealthy development portends for a country aspiring for socioeconomic emancipation and technological development, is that the system is somehow feeble to transform the country to the next level of growth. Already, the effects on the overall development of the country are grossly disturbing. Hence, for the federal, state and local governments there is more to be done in the sector, if the country is to make any head way or appreciable impact in its quest for development, and pride itself among the comity of successful nations that have deployed education to advance their transformation leap. The results of the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) recently released by the examination bodies, or those of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) released last week, are alarmingly

embarrassing considering the failure rate. Also lamentable is the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which its results are staggering realities of the woes betiding the country’s education sector, and this would continue to raise serious concern until it is addressed. Just last year, in the statistics of the May/June 2014 WASSCE results released, it showed that of the 1,692,435 candidates that sat for the examination, only 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28 per cent obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. The depressing trend is not different in the November/December diet of the same examination in the past three years in which the Council recorded 29.37 per cent pass in 2014, 26.97 per cent in 2013 and 34.84 per cent in 2012. The National Examination Council (NECO) in its June/July 2014 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) recorded that 52.29 per cent of the candidates passed at credit level in five subjects, including English Language and mathematics. Also in the NABTEB 2014 November/December National Business Certificate/National Technical Certificate and the Advanced

National Business Certificate/Advanced National Technical Certificate examinations results released last week, the board recorded 67.01 per cent pass, against the 36.64 per cent recorded in May/June of the same examinations. It is worrisome that an examination in which less than 50 per cent of candidates passed could not he said to be an improvement, if the consistent outrageous and disgraceful failure rate is anything to go by. The mass failure in the secondary school examinations and widespread cheating have dovetailed to a regular feature in the academic calendar of higher institutions of learning, where most of the graduates are only parading bundles of Resume, without being employable. Much as this trend has become a source of more concern and worry to the country, key players in the education sector and policy makers should rise to the challenges of fixing the sector, since a faulty foundation would only bring about a faulty building that will not stand the test of time. However, it is mind boggling that the government has failed in its responsibility to the people to bequeath qualitative education. But as far as the starting point should be the injection of more funds and resources into the school system, it should however

not end there, as there must be conscious and deliberate efforts on the part of the government at all levels, since education is on the Concurrent List, at rejigging the school curricula with a view to making it more functional. While critiquing the current school curricula, the belief of a section of stakeholders is that the curricula do not have enough bite to take the country to the dream land, especially as they spotted lopsidedness in the composition and content delivery of the document. As important as teachers are in the educational setting and since there is no education that could rise above its teachers, teachers should be well-remunerated and adequately equipped with the right teaching qualifications to function in the 21st Century school environment, without which the country may be blinking in the dark. It is in view of this that proper attention must be paid to the crisis of dearth of facilities ravaging our schools, most of which could not boast of functional laboratories, library and furniture for both teachers and students. Nevertheless, the issue of free education, as socially responsible and lofty as the policy may be, the concept of its delivery in states where it is being practised worrisome, and hence it should be given a critical re-examination.

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20 Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, February 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan deserves re-election, says Orubebe Ebis Orubebe is the Director General, Jonathan Youth Vanguard. He speaks on the forthcoming general elections. WALE ELEGBEDE reports Are you not worried about the recent endorsement of the All Progressives Congress presidential can-

didate, Muhammadu Buhari, by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)? We at Jonathan Youth Vanguard, our main aim is to mobilise Nigerian youths and women in support of Mr. President’s transformation agenda and his re-election come March 28. It’s also a platform we have been using to build friendship amongst the youth of Nigeria since 2010. We have a very strong network; I can say well over 10 million youths and women

all over the country as at today. President Jonathan’s numerous achievements in key sectors of the economy will surely re-elect him for a second term in office particularly in the areas of youths and women empowerment, agricultural and improved education. Therefore, for us, the endorsement of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari by MEND, is inconsequential. Mr. President has done very well to be re-elected by Nigerians. Any violent group can adopt Buhari

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Orubebe

including Boko Haram, we are not going to lose sleep

over that. Mr. President is working assiduously to transform critical sectors of our economy. Nigerians are seeing the transformation of their nation, democracy and economy.

The APC has anchored its manifesto on the areas Nigerians believe the president did not do well, like security and corruption. Won’t this affect Jonathan’s chances? Which manifesto by the opposition party are you talking about? I am yet to see any clear-cut manifestos by the opposition party. All we hear them say is they will fight corruption and insurgency if their party wins, even though most of those opposition elements calling the PDP corrupt are the same known corrupt people in this country. If they have the wherewithal to fight insurgency let them tell us how they are going to handle it. Terrorism today is a global issue. Most countries in the world are having their fair share. So, it is not just peculiar to us. Mr. President to the best of my understanding is doing his best in the fight against corruption and insurgency. He is equipping our military with modern hardwares as well as training the personnel for the current security challenges facing us. Do you think the Jonathanled administration has done well enough to deserve re-election? For me, Mr. President deserves a second term to consolidate all the wonderful projects and programmes he has initiated to the benefit of Nigeria and all Nigerians. Take maternal healthcare for instance, our pregnant women are now receiving free treatments courtesy of the Millenium Development Goal (MDG). We have YouWin and other SURE-P programmes that are positively affecting Nigerian youths and women. Is it the graduate intensive scheme or Federal Government scholarship for first class graduates to study in any 25 best universities of the world. There is agricultural revolution going on now, our farmers are smiling to their banks, our roads are getting better by the day, trains are now moving in some parts of this country providing cheaper means of transportation of goods and human beings. We no longer sleep in our filling stations before we buy fuel. Mr. President has been able to open up the democratic space for every Nigerian to express his or her self. He is fighting corruption scientifically. He is fighting terrorism with all sense of responsibility. Under President Jonathan, Nigeria’s economy is the biggest in Africa. I can go on and on.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 12, 2015

Interview

News

Akinlaja: INEC lacks power to shift election date

NBA backs INEC over poll shift

LawDiscordant tunes over call for Should the Federal Government establish electoral offences tribunal? Lawyers say yes, no. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report

electoral offences tribunal

pparently anticipating violence and irregularities during elections especially the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to delay by six weeks the much anticipated February 14 elections, a section of Nigerians are pushing for the establishment of the electoral offences tribunal. According to them since the shift in the elections by the electoral body had eroded trust in its ability to conduct a free and fair election, the need to have a body that would tackle violence and irregularities during elections become desirable. Such body, according to them would be autonomous and a kind of ad hoc body. Leading the call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal is a Lagos lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana. But his colleagues in the Inner Bar believe such call was unnecessary. Falana had said at the weekend that there was need to have an autonomous body to tackle violence and irregularities during elections with a view to putting an end to ‘official endorsement of politically motivated violence in the country. To Falana, it was time President Goodluck Jonathan set up the tribunal having signed the non-violence accord with the presidential candidates of other political parties. Accordingly, the Senior Advocate insisted that INEC should invoke its powers under Section 150 of the Electoral

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Ahamba

Act to prosecute electoral offenders should the President refuse to set up the Electoral Offences Tribunal. He said: But since the INEC lacks the capacity to discharge the onerous statutory duty, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should take up the task of prosecuting electoral offenders throughout the country. Unless electoral offenders are punished as envisaged by the Electoral Act and the Constitution, the subversion of the democratic process would continue unabated”. Falana was echoed by another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike, who expressed his support for the establishment of a body to tackle violence and irregularities during election. The body, according to Nwobike would go a long way to rid the nation of irregularities if it was given a trial. He said: “The reason is that if a dedicated tribunal is established to deal with electoral offences on an ad-hoc basis, I believe that it will serve as an additional impetus in the fight against electoral offences in general and in particular, it will enhance the quality of democratic practices in the

Jega

If a dedicated tribunal is established to deal with electoral offences on an ad-hoc basis, I believe that it will serve as an additional impetus in the fight against electoral offences

country. So, I welcome the idea. I also say that while establishing the tribunal, a special electoral offences tribunal criminal procedure law should also be put in place so that we don’t have to apply our normal criminal procedure laws which are infected with a lot of petitions that support unnecessary delays in the prosecution of electoral offences. Scion of the Gani Fawehinmi’s law dynasty, Mohammed Fawehinmi was not different. He said: “Most of the time when judges are being drafted to take charge of the election petitions tribunal from the Federal and States jurisdictions, most of the cases they left behind suffers. But if we have permanent judges in those areas, they will be able to handle it with better concentration and will also give it their best within the shortest possible time. So, I am in support of the establishment of electoral offences tribunal. The next thing we are waiting for is the independence of the judiciary.” Festus Keyamo said whether the electoral offences tribunal was established or not, what should be done was to ensure

that there was a special role for the tribunal members to ensure justice was delivered on time. He said: “Whether you take the offenders to the tribunal or the regular court is irrelevant here, the relevant thing is that the rules should allow for quick dispensation of justice. The only thing I support is that electoral offenders must be brought to justice and the most important thing to make the rules of trial allow for a quick dispensation of justice’’. But Chiefs Mike Ahamba, Godwin Obla, and Malam Yusuf Ali, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria differ. To them, the call for the electoral offences tribunal was unnecessary in the circunmstance. To the trio, calling for electoral offences tribunal would not be in the nation’s interest. Ahamba said: “Prior to the Electoral Act 2010, no references were made for prosecution. Come 2010 Electoral Act, prosecution was removed from the AGF to INEC. “The question is how can INEC prosecute itself ? That is the status quo. Existing law beCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

22 Law | Interview Mr. Dayo Akinlaja is a former Ekiti State Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General. Akinlaja speaks on the Independent National Electoral Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power to shift election date, Section 26 of the 2010 Electoral Act and sundry issues. BABATOPE OKEOWO met him

There have been arguments for and against the postponement of the February 14 election, what is the position of law about this? Does it the INEC has the right to postpone election? By virtue of Section 26 of the 2010 Electoral Act, INEC has the right to postpone the conduct of election in areas where it is believed that holding of elections would not be feasible by reason of violence or natural disaster. But it would appear to my mind that what is envisaged under this section of the Electoral Act is not a whole scale or holistic postponement of elections. When this is brought down to the situation we have on ground in the country as at today, I would want to say it will be legitimate and justifiable if INEC for whatever reasons out of conviction decides to postpone election in the areas of the country that is presently ravaged by insurgency and terrorism. Under Section 26 of the Electoral Act, I would say there is no basis for INEC to say that it wants to postpone the conduct of the election throughout the country. In another vein by virtue of Sections 64 and 135 of the Constitution, the President is given the power to call for the postponement of election where the country is at war, where the territory of Nigeria is physically involved. And again if the President considers it not practicable to hold election, the President working in concert with the National Assembly can call for the postponement of the election but that would strictly be on the basis that the country is at war and the territory of the country is physically involved and that in the genuine conviction of the President, it is not practicable to hold election. Under such a scenario, it is open to the President to communicate this to the National Assembly which by a resolution can ratify the postponement of the election for a period not exceeding six months at a time. The question to ask ourselves is that: is Nigeria really at war? Can it be said that what we are witnessing in the northeast of the country; incessant attacks at the behest of Boko Haram terrorists is

THURSDAY, february 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akinlaja: INEC lacks power to shift election date

Akinlaja

war? What definition should we place on what is happening in the northeast? But whichever way it is viewed, I think it is logical to believe that what is being witnessed in the northeast does not affect the generality of this country. Virtually other parts of this country are free of any profound measure of violence let alone war. In essence, I would say there is absolutely no basis for anybody to think of postponing election in the whole of the country but if for whatever reason, INEC is convinced that for reason of violence, it would not be able to conduct election in the northeast; that Section 26 of the Electoral Act may be the basis for INEC to call for the postponement of the election in that section of the country. Any legal implications if election is postponed in that part of the country especially when such election is supposed to produce a national President? It is interesting to note that the answer to this can easily be found in the Electoral Act and the Constitution. As you are aware, it is not sufficient for a presidential candidate to have majority of lawful vote cast in an election. For a president to be validly elected, he must satisfy the condition of having a percentage of votes in number of states in the country. So, there is need to satisfy the issue of geographical spread. The point is that if INEC conducts elections in the rest of the country and at the end of the day, it is of the view that the election will not be substantially affected by votes

expected from the area where election has been postponed, then it will not affect the issue of geographical spread under the Constitution and the Electoral Act. It will be of no moment, the election will hold and INEC will declare the result and the candidate who has satisfied the requirement of the geographical spread and majority of the votes cast.

Under Section 26 of the Electoral Act, I would say there is no basis for INEC to say that it wants to postpone the conduct of the election throughout the country

Shift in the election has been majorly predicated on the hitch occasioned by the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). Is this enough for the call for the postponement of the election? I certainly do not share such a view because under the law, there is no basis for the postponement of the election on the premise that people have not been able to collect their PVC. The question is that has there been any election in this country in which all eligible voters participated and cast votes? I strongly believe that there is no basis whatsoever that election should be postponed because some people are yet to collect PVC, I believe that between now and February 14 when we are expected to have the first set of elections, there is sufficient time for people to go and collect their PVC, otherwise there will not be end to the thing because how do we compel people who are not interested in collecting the cards at the first place to go and collect? Where is the assurance that these cards are not there for the mere asking? The argument of some lawyers is that the only date that is sacrosanct is May 29 and that

the election can be held 30 days before the handover date. Why should INEC not be allowed to postpone the election to accommodate more people to collect their PVC? The interesting thing is that the Constitution has provided for these things and the Electoral Act which I am conversant with says INEC shall not later than 90 days before the day appointed for holding and election give notice of stating the date of election. If this is taken into consideration, there is no way election would not have to be conducted minimum of 90 days before the expected handing over day of May 29. If Electoral Act says notice must be given at least 90 days before the election and it is expected that we are going to have a transition to another round of government at the federal and state levels; that means before May 29 there must be a minimum of 90 days. But if the election is postponed by 30 days, the 90 days provided for under the Constitution and the Electoral Act will still be available. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you share this view? Again you have to take into consideration the election petition which is expected to be decided within 180 days after the declaration of results and return of candidates in elections. This is to ensure that time is given for election to be conducted and petition against it concluded before the handover date. What I am saying is that there is genuine cause for election to be concluded well ahead of 30 days before the expected date of handing over.

Law |

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 12, 2015

Police arraign two for forgery of NAFDAC’s documents Akeem Nafiu

wo men were yesterday arraigned at an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, over an alleged falsification of importation documents of the National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The duo of Kunle Agboola and Ikechukwu Oha-

zurume were arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on the alleged offence. They however pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor, Shamaki Umar, told the court that the accused were apprehended at the long room in Apapa port, for falsifying NAFDAC’s document for the clearance of a 40ft container containing calcium carbonate.

The offence was allegedly committed on February 4, 2015. According to the prosecutor, the accused persons falsified the import document with which they fraudulently brought in the products. The offence is said to contravene the provisions of sections 361 (a) and (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mr. Patrick Adekomaya, however, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. Adekomaya added that the sureties must be employees of a reputable company in Lagos. In a related development, another accused, Mr Kenneth Nnadi, was also arraigned before the

court over alleged falsification of NAFDAC payment advice. The prosecutor said the accused committed the offence on January 8, 2015, at No 4, Sele close, Coka, Orile, Lagos. He said that the accused falsified payment advice for finished products, purporting same to be original payment advice of NAFDAC.

The offence is said to contravene the provisions of 361 (1) (a) and (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The accused also pleaded not guilty to the charge while the Magistrate admitted him to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. Both cases have since been adjourned till April 2, for mention.

faces at a two-day seminar organised by the oyo nba in ibadan

L-R: Chief Folake Sholanke SAN, Key note Speaker; Mr. George Etomi, Chairman Sterlin Bank PLC and Chairman of the occasion; Mr. Asue Ighodalo and the Chairman Bi-courteny Nigeria Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin

Dr. Apko Mudiaga-Odje and Ms Toyin Bashorun

Babalakin and Sholanke

photos: sola adeyemo

Explosion: Lawyers warn of threat to judges’ lives in Rivers alarm

Lawyers raise the alarm over lives of judges in Rivers State following explosion rocking the courts

Foluso Ogunmodede

awyers under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday rose from an emergency at the weekend, condemning the bombing of the Rivers State’s High Court by unknown men. They however asked the government to provide adequate security for the nation’s judges to enable them perform optimally. Specifically, the lawyers

called for the resignation of the Rivers State Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General, Mr. Worgu Boms following his alleged refusal to counsel his boss, Governor Rotimi Amaechi ‘to give the requisite commitment to comply with the constitutional provisions, to honourably resign from his position as Attorney General. It was at the association’s National Executive Committee Meeting held at the National Judicial Institute (Mohammed Bello Centre), Abuja where lawyers brainstormed on several challenges bedeviling the nation. Top on agenda was the explosion which rocked three High Courts in Isiokpo, Degema and Port-Harcourt, all in Rivers State, causing severe damage to

judiciary infrastructure in the oil rich state. Besides, they brainstormed on the continuing onslaught on innocent Nigerians in the north-east by the dreaded Boko Haram and concluded that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government must rid the north-east of Boko Haram insurgency before the new date fixed for the general elections. In a communiqué, the lawyers resolved the followings: *NEC reviewed the recent bombing of three High Courts in Rivers State in the Isiokpo, Degema and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions which caused severe damaged to judiciary infrastructure. NEC noted that this happened a few days after the State chapter of JUSUN

announced that it had called off its almost yearlong strike action in Rivers State. *NEC strongly condemned the attacks on the High Court of Rivers State and resolved that Judges must be given adequate protection to enable them function and perform their sacred role in the society. NEC further resolved that all forms of violence targeted at the Judiciary must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. *NEC finally called on the Nigerian Police Force and other security bodies to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous acts are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. * NEC noted that JUSUN embarked on the

nationwide strike action to protest against the noncompliance by the Federal and State Governments with the Constitutional provisions on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary. *NEC regretted that the strike action succeeded in paralyzing and shutting down of activities in all courts across the Federation for several weeks. *NEC commended the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association for helping to facilitate several meetings with the Leadership of JUSUN and other Stakeholders which led to the suspension of the strike action in Federal Courts based on the assurances by the Federal Government to comply with the extant provisions of the Constitution on the

financial autonomy of the Judiciary. *NEC noted with displeasure that despite the agreement that the strike will be called off in the States upon confirmation by NBA and JUSUN of the commitment of the State Government to comply with the provisions of Section 121[3] of CFRN on the financial autonomy, only Kano, Rivers, Jigawa and Lagos States have given such commitments to the JUSUN and the strike action in those States have been called off. *NEC therefore called on the various AttorneysGeneral of the other States to prevail on their State Governors to make similar commitments to JUSUN to enable Courts to be reopened for full judicial activities in the States.

Law | File

Akin Oyebode Introduction umankind has been experiencing unprecedented change at a frenetic pace in recent times. Whether we are contemplating societal structure or organization, management, science and technology, the arts or even sports, everything seems to point to the fact that we are living in an era of unprecedented transition where old ideas, assumptions and perspectives are yielding to change which we all have to grapple with if we are not to be left behind or become disoriented and diffident in the face of new, unfamiliar scenarios. From analogue broadcasting and old-fashioned communications systems, the world has since moved to the age of information communication technology revolution just as mechanical engineering and aircraft technology had attained incredible heights such that traditional modes of transportation suddenly seem so old-fashioned with the development of fast electric planes and supersonic airplanes which have further shrunken distances within an already globalized village. Improved agricultural methods and genetically modified seedlings and other scientific breakthroughs hold incredible promise for the world’s population, whether rich or down-trodden, weak and famished. Although human advancement remains very much a work in progress, as there are quite a number of ailments still ravaging the sick and poor for which medical science is yet to furnish cures, it has to be admitted that tremendous gains have been recorded as a result of considerable investment by governments and the industry of innovators, researchers and other elements of the contemporary knowledge economy who herald the brave new world that humanity now inhabits. It is against this most interesting leitmotif that we wish to approach the theme of this presentation. Accordingly, it is intended to situate the state of affairs in the country within the rubric of change, be it political, social or economic before zeroing-in on the role of good governance in relation to the much-trumpeted transformation agenda of the present administration. Finally, we shall interrogate the scope of law as a framework for bringing about the much-desired change in our fortunes. The imperative of change in Nigeria and its spin-off in Africa and the black world It is axiomatic that change is imminent in nature, man and society. It is, therefore, quite understandable that the ancient Greeks had to conceive of an entire branch of philosophy—dialektika—in a bid to get to grips with the phenomenon of change. Indeed when Frederick de Klerk admonished his white supremacist compatriots in apartheid South Africa to either adapt or die, he was merely echoing the eternal and universal truth concerning the inevitability of change. Any society bereft of the awareness of the inexorability of change and the necessity to harness change to its benefit is

THURSDAY, february 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Institutional capacity as pathway to good governance

Oyebode

doomed to become a victim of forces it can neither understand nor control. It is largely on account of this that societies send their off-springs to school in order to arm and equip them with the facts of life and prepare them to survive in an inevitably uncertain future. For, knowledge is power as Francis Bacon once observed so much so that ignorance could be very expensive indeed as knowledge would surely rule over ignorance. If our forefathers had better awareness of the world they would most probably have been less trusting of their enslavers and escaped their fate of becoming casualties of the machinations of their conquerors. This explains why we just cannot afford to fall into self-indulgence and smug self-satisfaction like our forefathers did. We need to apprehend the nature of the times we are living in and make adequate preparations and adjustments for the future. It seems to me that we should proceed from an awareness of Nigeria’s manifest destiny to show the light to our neighbours, the rest of the continent and indeed, the entire black race. It was not for nothing that Providence had endowed us with humongous resources in terms of the bounties of nature as well as human capital. Indeed it would be a great disservice to the Creator if Nigeria fails to harness these resources to the benefit and for the service of the black race. Accordingly, our people have to jettison all superstition, diffidence and self-defeat and embrace requisite self-confidence, tenacity of purpose and keen focus in order to lift the country up from the morass of incompetence, selfdoubt and ineffectual mismanagement into which it had sunken. The need for a re-calibration of our national priorities and emplacement of round pegs in round holes is self-evident if Nigeria is to occupy its rightful place among the nations of the world and be opportune to discharge its histori-

Nigerians, like people all over the world, yearn for democracy and good governance. For far too long have our people been hoodwinked and shortchanged by all manner of fake democrats masquerading as messiahs of the people’s cause

cal duty to Africa and the black world. However, it should be emphasized that the change envisaged here would not occur automatically. The framework that would facilitate this must be envisioned and put in place by an enlightened leadership. This task would, ultimately, be entrusted to the law which has been universally acknowledged as the most viable instrument of social engineering. However, before evaluating the role of law in this endeavour, it is apposite to consider the scope of improved service delivery in relation to democracy dividends as postulated especially, by proponents of transformation under the current dispensation. Good Governance as a Special Delivery Vehicle for Transformation in Nigeria Nigerians, like people all over the world, yearn for democracy and good governance. For far too long have our people been hoodwinked and shortchanged by all manner of fake democrats masquerading as messiahs of the people’s cause. To aver that the preponderant majority of Nigerians endure manifold privation in terms of basic needs of life such as food, clothing, housing, health and education amounts to a gross understatement. This explains why the people look up to government to deliver them from poverty, ignorance, hunger, squalor and disease and other debilitating indices of their deplorable existence. It needs be understood that the right to democracy and good governance has since become a fundamental right under contemporary international law. This means that the people are perfectly entitled to expect to be well governed by public office-holders installed, by and large, through their ballots in a free, fair, credible and transparent process. Nevertheless, what is not frequently stressed is that governance operates via a two-way traffic. Just as the electorate supposedly put the government in

power, of greater importance is the role of the electorate to put the government on its toes by checking the excesses of those in power. The government must be responsible and accountable to the people who must be ready, willing and able to protest arbitrariness and misrule and ultimately kick out oppressive and ineffective governments. A docile people who are amenable to dictatorial tendencies of those in power forfeit their right to democracy and good governance. The admonition of Joseph de Maistre rings true that a people get the government that they deserve. Therefore, if the people allow the government to ride roughshod on them, they are stopped from complaining about the situation as they make their beds, so shall they lie on them. Thus, true and effective transformation implies that the people become empowered and are able to challenge and confront their niggardly circumstances. For, any transformation that fails to put food on the tables of the people or ensure that they are provided with employment, affordable housing, adequate health and education for their kids should be seen for what it really is-- an empty charade or subterfuge aimed at taking the people for a ride and rendering them impotent and irrelevant onlookers in the scheme of things. Sovereignty belongs to the people and transient power-wielders should realize that they are not masters but servants who should be ministering to the betterment of the lives of the people. Shorn of this ideal, democracy cannot be considered as delivering good governance. Accordingly, it is not enough to trumpet neo-classical human rights while the people go to bed hungry and are bereft of the wherewithal for a meaningful existence. It is only when the people are shielded from the vagaries of life that they can be considered as beneficiaries of good governance or what is now popularly known as ”democratic dividends” or “stomach infrastructure.” The extent to which a framework can be established which is capable of ensuring political and socio-economic transformation is the next issue that would be examined. Re-thinking Law as an instrument of social engineering American pragmatism, it is well-known, gave rise to sociological jurisprudence which extols the role of law as an instrument of social engineering and social change in contradistinction to the fossilized conceptualization of law as merely the command of a sovereign addressed to a people who obey such commands because of fear of punishment. However, for law to perform effectively as the mechanism of social change there has to be a consensus on the jural postulates or the ends to which law is employed or envisaged to perform. to be continued

Law | File

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 12, 2015

Electoral offences tribunal split lawyers C O NTINUED F R O M PA G E 2 1

fore the 2010 which empowers the AGF to prosecute offenders has not been faulted. “The tribunal never recommended anybody to them. If you now establish this commission which will prosecute, you only create a market for horse trading. “We are fond of looking at effects and never looking at the cause. The creation will not stop the problem of electoral offences”. To Obla, who queried the need for the creation of such a commission, simply said “we just like piling up several organizations. When an offence is committed, it should be referred to the body which will investigate and the body is the police. It is the police that should have a department like the Special Anti-Robbery Squad that will investigate electoral offenders”. Obla went on: “Elections come once in four years to create a commission is a complete waste because members of the commission will just be idle for four years and they will be collecting salary for no job done. “If we develop our electoral process very well, electoral offences will be re-

Falana

Jonathan

duced to the barest minimum. “If we design the electronic ways of voting at the end of the day, we will minimize the possibility of rigging election

and electoral offences will reduce”. Ali said there was no reason for the creation of any special court or commission to try electoral offenders.

He said: “As a matter of policy, I always oppose creation of special courts to try certain cases even as the ordinary courts we have are inadequately funded. “There is no offence created by the Electoral Act that cannot be tried at the Magistrate’s or High Courts. When you create a special court, equip it when ordinary courts are not properly maintained. “I never support the establishment of special court for anything. If people have committed electoral offences, they should be taken to the regular court. As far as I know, nobody has been tried for electoral offences. “Creation of a special commission is a waste in terms of finances. Government should equip the regular courts so that they can do their work”. Another lawyer, Mr. Abass Agbaje was not different. He said that it was needless to create any commission to try electoral offenders, saying calling for the establishment of the tribunal amounted to duplication of duties and responsibilities. Such, he said must not be encouraged in any way as regular courts, if they were properly maintained, could entertain any litigation emanating from electoral offences.

Secondary school certificate not a mandatory requirement for election continued from last week

hile it may well be that production of a Certificate is evidence which proves (b), it is not the only mode of proving (b). Testimonials, Reference Letters and Affidavits are legitimate vehicles of proof that a candidate has been “educated up to Secondary School Certificate level. “ As a matter of fact, the (d) part of the above definition is much more elastic and accommodating. It recognizes “any other qualification acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission” as a qualification to contest election to the office of President and other elective posts. It suffices to state that a candidate who relies on (c) must also produce his/her primary school leaving certificate The provision of Section 318(1) was construed by the Court of Appeal in the case of Bayo v. Njidda (2004) 8 NWLR (Pt. 876) pages 544 at 629H-630D, where Ogbuagu, J.C.A (as he then was) held: “The above provisions are conjunctive and they qualify or mean “school certificate or its equivalent.” So, if any one of them is not present/ available, then, the candidate is out. Therefore, even if (i), (ii), (iii) and (d) are acceptable by or satisfactory to INEC and therefore, cannot be questioned in a tribunal as being final, the absence of (c), also disqualifies the candidate. I wish to point that unlike the provision in (b)-i.e. “(b) Education up to secondary school certificate level,” or, in (c), it must be the obtaining or possession of a primary six school leaving certificate or its equivalent. It could be observed that in (b) there is no “or its equivalent”. In other words, as regards a secondary school certificate level one does not have to pass the secondary school certificate examination. It is enough, in my view, that one

Osipitan

attended a Secondary school and read up to secondary school certificate level i.e. without passing and obtaining the certificate. But in the case of (c), one must have passed and obtained the primary six school leaving certificate. It could be seen that the draftsman of these provisions, carefully chose the words.” Nzeako, J.C.A (as she then was) held at page 619 pares. G-H, in the above case, thus: “In effect a person seeking to become a candidate for an election to the House of Assembly of any state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria must possess at least one of the qualifications set out in (a) or (b) or (c) (supra) In the case of (c), he must in the first instance possess primary six school leaving certificate or its equivalent, (in some states there used to be primary 7 as the final class in Primary school), and in addition evidence of (i), (ii) and (iii) above all together. It follows that a person who

A person who is not educated up to school certificate or its equivalent, may still qualify for election to the House of Assembly of a state

is not educated up to school certificate or its equivalent, may still qualify for election to the House of Assembly of a state if he has primary six school leaving certificate plus evidence or fulfilling every one of the conditions in (i), (ii) and (iii). If the person possesses primary six certificates but fails to provide evidence of any of the above (i), (ii) or (iii), he does not qualify. In Chukwu .v. Icheonwo (1999), 4 NWLR (Pt.600) page 587 at 596 paragraph B-F, the Court of Appeal was faced with the interpretation of provisions of Section 99(1) of the Local Government (Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 36 of 1998 which contained similar definition of school certificate or its equivalent. In answer to the question, whether a candidate must possess/produce school certificate, in order to satisfy requirement of being educated to the minimum level of school certificate or its equivalent, the court held thus: “It is erroneous to hold as learned counsel has argued that to satisfy the condition of educational qualification, the candidate must possess a Secondary School Certificate. The interpretation given by the tribunal on this issue of educational qualification is unassailable. I agree that since there is evidence that the 2nd respondent sat for the School Certificate examinations in May/June 1975, this is sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Section 10(c) of the Decree. While acquisition of sound education may be desirable to enable one discharge the functions of Chairman of a Local Government Council, it is not absolutely necessary that such person must possess a Certificate to enable him function effectively.” The definition Section (Section 318(1)) also vests INEC with powers to determine a candidate’s literacy level. Under Paragraph (b), the capacity in which a candidate served in the private or public sec-

tor must be acceptable to INEC. The courses and training attended by a candidate must also be in Institutions acceptable to INEC. Finally, a candidate’s ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language must also be to the satisfaction of INEC. The key words in the definition Section are “acceptable” to and “satisfaction” of INEC. These words are subjective in the sense that where INEC is satisfied with a candidate’s training and qualifications or where the qualifications of a candidate are acceptable to INEC, it is doubtful if the decision of INEC can be challenged successfully by a candidate’s opponent. The words “to the satisfaction of ” and “acceptable to”, in their ordinary grammatical meanings, acknowledge subjectivity on the part of INEC. The word acceptable is synonymous with being in agreement with, approval, not very good but good enough, welcoming, pleasing, satisfactory, adequate or worth accepting. Satisfaction means a state of being satisfied, that which satisfies, content or pleasing. From the angle of Law of Estoppel, where INEC has previously been satisfied with or accepted a candidate’s educational qualifications in previous elections, and allows such a candidate to contest election(s) the same INEC would be estopped from disqualifying the same candidate in future elections on the ground of lack of educational qualification. Estoppel prevents a person from blowing hot and cold, approbating and reprobating on an issue. Therefore, where a person makes a representation expecting it to be acted upon, and another person acts on that representation, the former is estopped from resiling from his/ her representation. The above principles of law have been judicially endorsed in the following authoritative legal decisions.

26 Law

support

INEC’s decision to delay elections by six weeks enjoy constitutional backing, says NBA

Foluso Ogunmodede

arele 120 hours after outrage trailed the electoral umpire- the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to delay by six weeks the general elections, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has risen in defence of

THURSDAY, february 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NBA backs INEC over poll shift the electoral body. NBA, the lawyers’ umbrella body described the shift in the election time table by INEC as the best that could be done in the circumstance as the body had not option other than to comply with the ‘security advisory’ handed over to it by the security agencies. Instead, the NBA counseled INEC to address whatever challenges bedeviling it with a view to resolving it before the new date. Condemnation had

trailed INEC’s decision to delay by six weeks the general elections billed for Saturday. But in a statement by the NBA and signed by its President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, a Senior Advocate said the decision by INEC to shift the elections was in order as the body could not do otherwise in the face of challenges bedeviling the electoral body. The statement reads: “The Nigerian Bar Association notes the decision of INEC to postpone

the 2015 general elections by six weeks in the light of the security advisory received from the security agencies that the required security personnel are engaged in a military operation against Boko Haram and will not be available to protect electoral materials and staff if the elections were held on 14th and 28th February, 2015 as originally scheduled. “The security advisory left INEC with no other option than to postpone the elections.

INEC can certainly not be expected to proceed with the elections without the required security support. The new dates of 28th March and 11th April, 2015 fixed by INEC fall within the timeline provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 [as amended] CFRN. “We advise INEC to utilize the said six week period to resolve the challenges surrounding the issuance of Permanent Voter’s Cards [PVCs]. There are still

about 20 million PVCs yet to be collected by voters while some PVCs are still being produced and/or awaiting delivery at this time. “We restate our call on INEC, to request the Federal Government of Nigeria [FGN] to declare a minimum of two [2] work free days to enable voters collect their PVCs from their polling stations. “INEC should also ensure that PVCs are produced for all voters whose names appear in the Voters’ Register. PVCs are central to the success of the 2015 general elections and INEC must apply its best endeavours to ensure that all problems in respect of PVCs are resolved well before the 28th of March, 2015. “Our entire democratic experience depends on the success of the 2015 general elections and INEC must ensure that everything necessary is put in place for a successful 2015 general elections. “The NBA also notes that the security advisory relied upon by INEC in postponing the 2015 general elections indicate that Nigerian security forces are aggressively combating the Boko Haram insurgency and expect to totally eliminate the insurgents and secure the north eastern states of Nigeria, that have taken the brunt of the insurgents’ attacks, in the next six weeks. “The NBA hopes that this security advisory is not just to provide basis for postponing the elections as is being suggested in certain quarters, but represents the true and correct position of our security forces in their efforts to rid our country of the Boko Haram insurgency. “We await a positive and successful outcome of the security forces onslaught against Boko Haram as indicated in the security advisory. Our security agencies must understand the disappointment of several groups who have expressed their reservations on the postponement of the elections as a result of the security advisory. The task before our security forces now is to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency to resolve any lingering doubts about the good faith of the security advisory. If indeed the Boko Haram menace is routed in the next six weeks all Nigerians will then appreciate and celebrate our security forces”.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Health Living

27 Healthy Interview

Health News

STDs cause boils on lower vagina walls

‘Flushing of blocked fallopian tube, dangerous’

Red wine could boost the metabolism – Study

Health

Survivors recount ordeal, high cost of cancer care

Appolonia Adeyemi

arely six months after Ekaete Akpan, 29, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, Akpan, a Secretarial Studies student of the Lagos State Polytechnic commenced initial treatment, undergoing mastectomy and prescribed courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She completed the treatment and doctors from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba, Lagos handling her treatment declared her all right. Last year, the cancer recurred and a new set of treatment to save her commenced in that tertiary hospital. With the recurrence, Akpan who hitherto was vibrant and full of life could no longer walk without a walking stick. Within months, pain in her bone especially her legs became very severe. Relating her ordeal, she said, “I returned to LUTH with the aid of a walking stick. It was so serious that I could not walk unaided because of the unbearable pain in my bone.” Furthermore, medical tests revealed that her breast cancer has spread to the bone and to prevent her from being crippled, the doctor prescribed Zoledronic, a cancer drug that strengthens the bone. A packet of Zoledronic is N60,000. So far, six packets of this drug which costs N360,000 have been administered on her. In addition, her doctors prescribed chemotherapy which is N200,000 per course. “My church paid for all those drugs,” she said,

Appolonia Adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

A woman undergoing treatment under a radiotherapy machine

adding that although her consultant has prescribed more drugs, there is no money to purchase them, weeping as she relates her trauma. Akpan is not alone. Thirty-four year old Victoria Ache, another breast cancer survivor also needs financial assistance to fund the purchase of her life-saving drugs. Before now, Ache who has survived breast cancer for six years, had benefitted a N1.5 million donation which she got from fund raiser, ‘1k for Cancer ‘ of the popular Wana Udobang done in partnership with Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre. “Every dime from that N1.5 million sponsorship was expended on cancer drugs to keep me alive; yet the burden remains,” she lamented. Akpan’s breast cancer is the aggressive type, her doctor explained. Thereafter, she was again taken through additional 17 courses of chemotherapy, which cost N448,000 each. However, this time around, the drug has a higher dosage. “My church spent almost N8 million for this particular treat-

Every dime from that N1.5 million sponsorship was expended on cancer drugs to keep me alive, yet the burden remains

PHOTO: www.dailymail.co.uk

ment,” said the young lady whose fiancé took to his heels when the trouble became too unbearable for the relationship to be sustained. “Initially, when there was no money, I carried on without the needed drugs but I thank God that my church which I cried to for assistance came to my rescue by giving me money to pay for the 17 courses. “The assistance of the church has been awesome. Without that gesture, probably, I would have been a dead person now,” Ache said. “That chemo was administered on me for one year after which my doctors declared me okay healthwise,” she added. Sadly, Ache who hitherto was a petty trader and can no longer continue with the business due to this illness lamented that pain induced by her breast cancer is back again. This time around, it re-surges with severity, she said. According to her, she began to experience the latest pain since February 2014. “The excruciating pain in my chest gets more severe by the day. I don’t have money for

further medication; neither did I get any offer of assistance despite reaching out to some individuals and groups. “Actually, I have resigned myself to fate,” she lamented as tears rained down her cheeks, revealing the trauma she was going through. “Without money, there is nothing I can do,” said Ache, adding, “If death strikes now, I am ready.” With continued pain, she resumed hospital consultations again, seeking a way out of the discomfort of the cancer. After another review by her doctors involving medical tests and CT-scan, in the latest prescription, Ache will be taking six courses of chemotherapy at N200,000 per course. In addition, six packets of Zoometa drugs which costs N60,000 per packet has also been prescribed for her. Ache and Akpan are just two of the two million cancer cases that has been recorded in Nigeria. According to a Professor of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the College of Medicine University of Lagos, Aderemi Ajekigbe, Nigeria records over 100,000 new cancer cases annually. Consequently, cancer care advocates have been raising awareness on cancer preventive measures and on strategies to make treatment accessible to those afflicted with the condition. They reason that this will increase life expectancy for survivors as well as pave the way for resumption of normal and quality life. However, major challenges of access to care include the high cost of cancer medication as highlighted above. Sadly, existing health care system in the country puts the burden of treatment on cancer patients and survivors. Therefore, the way out for many poor and under-priviledged Nigerians that are afflicted with cancer is to go cap in hand, seeking financial assistance to fund treatment. One of the organisations advocating breast awareness, early CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Health News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fashola lifts cancer survivors Healthy

Living

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

STDs cause boils on lower vagina walls External urethral orifice

Vestibule Duct of Bartholin’s gland

L-R: Miss Mariam Bamgbola; Dr. Salako; Mrs Fashola; Tina Oseiwe; and mrs Sidikat Gbadamosi during Sebeccly’s courtesy call to wife of the Lagos State Governor held in Lagos recently CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

detection of breast cancer as well as supports treatment, care and advocacy is the Sebeccy Cancer Care and Support Centre, a non-profit organisation. Efforts of Sebeccly paid off last October during the 2014 World Breast Cancer Month, when the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Emmanuella Fashola intervened, providing funding to the organisation to finance breast cancer treatment for survivors. Being the life patron of Sebeccly’s ‘Light Lagos Pink’ programme which was organised to mark 2014 October Breast Cancer Month, Fashola’s donation was handy considering the lineup of survivors on Sebeccly’s queue awaiting the availability of fund to continue abandoned treatments. It is not surprising, that the donation has again raised hope of survivors in the Sebeccly’s Breast Cancer Support Group. Already, the names of both Ache and Akpan have been penciled down to benefit from the Fashola donation. According to the Founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Dr. Omolola Salako, Sebeccly will pay for Ache’s prescibed six courses of chemotherapy at N200,000 per course from that donation. Added to this is six packets of zoometa, another cancer drug which costs N60,000 per packet. Similarly, Salako who is a consultant, clinical and radiation oncologist, assured that Sebeccly will also fund the treatment of Akpan which had been delayed due to lack of fund. “Apart from paying for her six courses of zoometa at N60,000 per course and Filgastrin at N15,000 per course, Sebeccly will also refer her to the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in Lagos State to acquire empowerment skills. For another breast cancer survivor and 30-year-old Blessing Aneni, a native of Esan in Edo State and single mother of two girls aged 10 and two years, Fashola’s donation came at the nick of time. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she paid for two out of the four courses of chemotherapy prescribed for her from her meager savings which was generated from trading in office wears. Thereafter her business friends and relations contributed N60,000 to pay for the remaining two courses of chemo. After that, she suspended further treatment due to lack of fund. “It was at this point of hopelessness and desperation that some doctors in LUTH referred me to Sebeccly for assistance,” disclosed Aneni whose husband abandoned her since the breast cancer ailment attacked her. “Following a review of my treatment, radiotherapy drugs worth about N150,000 was prescribed but I could not afford it, hence I waited patiently for Sebeccly’s call,” she added. During the over three months of waiting, “I had a medical emergency in which I was bleeding from my breast as well as experiencing persistent and severe headache. “I was under that condition when I got a surprise telephone call from Sebeccly a few days to 2014 Christmas

and I embarked on a subsequent trip to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State for treatment, courtesy of Sebeccly. Based on the donation from Fashola, Sebeccly funded the emergency treatment of Aneni at the UBTH. Giving the detail, she disclosed that during the December 2014 hospitalisation in Benin, she accessed N75,000 radiotherapy treatment, while her accommodation, transportation from Lagos to Benin and feeding allowance there cost N50,000. In addition, N45,000 was expended on blood transfusion. AnenitoldNT Healththatalthough,sheisbackinLagos, a nurse currently visits her daily in her home to dress the breast cancer wound as well as administer her medications. TherearemorebeneficiarieswhoincludeMrsTawaAdio and Mrs Kehinde Gbajabiamila. A total of N160,000 will be expended on Adio’s medications. As for Gbajabiamila whose treatment was abandoned for over one year due to lack of funds, Sebeccly will pay for her affinitor, a cancer drug for 12 months at N500,000 monthly, Salako disclosed. The founder of Sebeccly added that the NGO will also pay for an additional drug, aromatase inhibitor, which costs N25,000 monthly. Going by the prescription, this drug will be administered on the lady who is also a single mother for 24 months. Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has projected that cancer death rate will rise in developing countries including Nigeria over the next two decades. Medical experts and other stakeholders are therefore concerned over the need for early cancer detection, quick diagnosis and treatment. Undoubtedly, the treatment of cancer remains largely conservative and based mostly on out-of-pocket expenditure which ultimately exposes millions of affected persons to avoidable risks.

Bartholin’s gland

PHOTO: aafp.org

he bartholin glands are the mucus secreting glands situated at the 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions of the vagina, which help lubricate the vagina. At puberty, they begin to function, providing moisture. Bartholin abscesses are common problems in women of reproductive age and is most common in adult women under 30 years, with incidence rate of two percent. It occurs when there is obstruction occuring in the labia majora (the larger fat pad of the vagina). Causes Obstruction of the bartholin duct may result in the retention of secretions with resultant dilation of the duct and formation of a cyst which becomes infected and may develop into an abscess. Major cause is by bacteria. Similarly, sexually transmitted diseases are common cause, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea as well. Other types of bacteria can also cause an abscess. Signs and symptoms The swelling makes walking, sitting or sexual intercourse very painful. However, it should be differentiated from post-menopausal vaginal/vulva growth or lesion that might signify cancer. Treatment Most abscesses require drainage unless there is a spontaneous rupture. Although, incision and drainage provide immediate relief, the definitive treatment involves word catheter placement for both cysts and abscesses, but recurrence is likely. When that occurs surgical excisions becomes necessary, especially in patients that do not respond to conservative attempts.

JUTH gets N8m dialysis facility donation Musa Pam Jos

ollowing the pathetic condition of People living with renal failure in the country, the family of former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Late Chief Micheal Bot-Mang has donated a dialysis machine worth N8 million to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). The donation recently was part of the activities to mark the first anniversary of the former Deputy Governor who passed on January

18 last year following complications from diabetes. A Special Church service in honour of the former number two citizen also held recently in Jos, the state capital. Speaking during the presentation of the equipment to the hospital, Wife of the former Deputy Governor, Ngo Lydia Bot-Mang said the gesture was aimed to honour the spirit of her late husband whom she described as selfless and compassionate when he was alive. She noted that the dialysis ma-

chine was secured through the support of the people and was used to sustain her husband until the day he eventually passed on. According to her “Before, he died, I asked him what we should do with the machine but he said that we should rather take the decision when he is no more. We believe that many will benefit from the use of the machine. At the same time, we don’t hope any should get diabetes and that is why everyone should be watchful of what he eats and it will be well with us.”

Health Interview 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

‘Flushing of blocked fallopian tube dangerous’ Dr. Adayomi Ajayi is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he discusses the impact of flushing blocked fallopian tubes and strategies to sanitise Nigerian healthcare system As a long as standing medical practitioner in Nigeria, what changes would you like to see in the health sector? Things that characterise Nigerian health sector are now changing. For example, we have one of the highest mortality in the world. Until this mortality changes, when we have proper facility to manage everybody, take care of our health care, then, those of us who are doctors can’t really appreciate ourselves to say that we have done nice work in the hospital. So, I foresee Nigeria installing world class facilities in Nigeria so that the healthcare system would be remedied. What does fertility medicine entail? It is about getting the people who are facing the challenges of fertility and trying to help them achieve their dreams of becoming parents. So, everything that is involved in this, starts from using drugs to surgery to IVF. Previously, you mentioned that people should take decision that would not give them babies. So, who will not go for IVF treatment? No, I do not mean that some cannot go for it. What I meant when I said that is when you are doing your IVF, you will be taking decisions that would suit the treatment for you in order to have babies. For instance, if you are supposed to be using donor’s eggs for IVF and you insist on using your own eggs, you might not have a baby. Sometimes, no matter how many cycle you have done, you might not likely achieve pregnancy because the changes of eggs giving babies decreases with age. Even when you get pregnant, the chances of losing the pregnancy through miscarriage are there. That is what I meant. Sometimes you need to use donor sperm because your own sperm is very bad. So, in decision making, you need to understand that the outcome you get is dependent on the raw materials used. Sometimes, the raw materials are to be changed, if not, it might be difficult for you to achieve pregnancy. Is there any person who would not achieve pregnancy after these treatments? There are different kinds of them. IVF is not a shelf item. It depends on what the problem is. Now in 2015, there are different methods of achieving pregnancy. So, you just have to use the one most suitable for you. For instance, if a woman’s uterus has been damaged, then, surrogacy will be there. But if such person doesn’t want to

take surrogacy, because of third party reproduction, she may use another person’s sperm, egg or uterus of another person. These are very emotive decisions. Sometimes, the couples involved feel that they have failed to achieve babies on their own. This is an emotive decision, it takes a lot of courage from couples to come to terms with the reality. So, it’s not as if they can’t do it, probably, using a method that will not give them result. So, they have to go back and seek the help of a professional counselor, who would counsel them to take make right decisions. Is there is any of these methods that guarantee 80 per cent success? I wish but there is none. May be, about 60 per cent, if screening of the embryo is done. If the patient is young and we choose the embryos that would be suitable for her, looking at the genes of the embryo to discover that the embryo is normal and you could have about 60 per cent possibilities, but not 80 yet. Multiple births have been the greatest risk of IVF, how does it apply and could there be a way out of this situation? Well, because we are not God, the human body is structured in a way that it would naturally release only one egg in a month but because doctors are not God, they cannot play with one egg. They tend to have many eggs and that is why we give drugs to the patient to produce more egg than would normally be produced. And this also means that we will end up with more than one embryo. In many parts of the world, they transfer more than one embryo. To do this, it means you have more than one baby and that is why the rate of having more babies is high in IVF but we know that usually, there is one baby in the uterus and therefore, when there are more babies in the uterus there is likely to be problems. What are the likely problems? There are a number of them. The mother could develop hypertension and the babies come prematurely because of overcrowding in the uterus. Prematurity is one of the biggest problems one could encounter in the case of such IVF babies. They come very early and the cost of taking care of those children in the developed countries is very high. Then, think of Nigeria, where some of these facilities are not there, many of them will die, if they come too early.

Ajayi

The babies come prematurely because of overcrowding in the uterus. Prematurity is one of the biggest problems one could encounter in the case of such IVF babies

Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one of the deadliest problems resulting from IVF treatment. How do ensure that your patients don’t get to this stage? First of all, the condition means that the ovary is over reacting to your drugs. The first thing to observe is whether the risk factors are there. Usually, the young women are more at risk, especially those with polycentric ovaries, which produce many eggs normally. The most important thing is for the doctors to be aware of these risk factors. Those are the things to look out for when you have such people. Recently, there are some drugs you can use to stop OHSS. But sometimes, when you have them, you know how to prevent it. You can do coasting in which you give the drugs and monitor the hormones and how fast it’s rising. Then, you can trigger it without the normal drug we use in doing that. That’s why I said there are protocol to prevent it for the people, who are at risk of OHSS and alternative drugs. Sometimes, you can harvest but don’t transfer, because if you don’t transfer, it will die a natural death because of progesterone. You can do the transfer in the next cycle. That was why it is high in pregnancy. I learnt it kills fast, what is the survival rate of the OHSS? Yes, it can kill. Like I said, don’t let your patient go into it. Prevent it because when your patients go into it, you really cannot predict the outcome of it. The

best is to prevent it. Blockage of fallopian tube is another situation that prevents pregnancy and in some cases, doctors flush. Is the procedure still necessary in this current time? We don’t flush. It is barbaric in this century because flushing is a dangerous procedure. It was stopped 20-30 years ago. This means that you are putting a liquid in a blocked tube, sometimes, it balloons and it can even burst. This also implies that there is the possibility of one introducing disease into internal parts of the patient because when there is blockage, it means there is an infection. So, if the tube is blocked and there is accumulation of fluid in it, and you put your fluid in it, if you succeeded in puncturing the tube you are going to splash the contaminated water to the abdomen. I don’t think anybody flushes again. What method is predominantly in use now? When there is IVF, why do you flush? Nobody flushes anymore. What is your take on flushing which would allow the couples to have the baby naturally? But that is silly because the tube is diseased and that’s why it’s blocked. Why do you want to flush if is blocked? It islike having a sink that is blocked at home and you continue to put water into it. It depends on what blocks it, if it is oil, you can put hot water and it goes out. But if it is bone, put all the water in the world, it will not open.

Health News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Red wine could boost body metabolism – Study

Red wine

Environmental cleanliness, best option to fight malaria Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

ommissioner for Health in Abia State, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah has identified environmental cleanliness as the best option for eliminating malaria. Ogah made this assertion when the Federal Government launched the distribution of 1.9 million long lasting insecticidal nets in Abia State recently, said the environment is a breeding ground for mosquitoes which are the major causes of the disease. The net distribution programme is aimed at giving all households in the 17 local government areas in the state at least four nets. Ogah who lamented that malaria had killed more people in

Nigeria than HIV/ AIDS and accidents put together, said that the economic cost of managing malaria was so enormous that no amount spent on its control or elimination was too big. Ogah however noted that the state had made noticeable progress in the war against malaria which he said had risen from four percent in 2007 to 47 percent in 2012. Leader of the team and desk officer of the National Malaria Elimination Programme in charge of the exercise, Mr. Ogbonna Nwokocha said adequate mechanism had been put in place to ensure every household was covered. Nwokocha also said that each political ward in the state would have a minimum of three and a maximum of four distribution

points for effective coverage. He added that only women and boys below 10 years are permitted to collect the nets at the distribution points. The team leader further advised beneficiaries to make sure they spread the nets under shade for at least 24 hours before they start using them even as he disclosed that the efficacy of each treated net could last for at least three years. He further explained that the nets could be washed with mild soap for about five minutes up to three times in a year. He decried the effects of malaria in the country saying that Nigeria accounts for 110 million clinically diagnosed cases every year and called for support for the programme as a means to fight the disease.

ed wine or even the juice from red grapes could induce fat burning when consumed in moderation, according to a new study at Oregon State University in the United States (U.S). The findings suggest this could be the basis of a useful dietary supplement for those who are overweight and could help individuals to manage metabolic disorders including fatty liver. In the study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the research team exposed laboratory-grown human liver and fat cells to extracts of four chemicals that occur naturally in dark-red Muscadine grapes. Of the chemicals, the most potent was ellagic acid, which

sharply stunted the growth of existing fat cells and prevented new ones from forming. It also revved up the metabolism of liver cells, kicking fatty acids into action. “We didn’t find, and we didn’t expect to, that these compounds would improve body weight,” said lead author Neil Shay, a biochemist and molecular biologist at OSU, explaining that red wine shouldn’t be looked upon as a miracle weight loss drug. However, its fat-burning capabilities could improve liver function in overweight people, he said. “If we could develop a dietary strategy for reducing the harmful accumulation of fat in the liver, using common foods like grapes,” Shay said, “that would be good news.”

‘Partnerships, capacity building key to managing post-traumatic stress’

articipants at the national workshop, organised to discuss the management of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs) in Nigeria, have recommended strategic partnerships among stakeholders, improved capacity building and increased funding as key to delivering efficient post traumatic response to victims of natural and man-made disasters in the country. The participants of the one-day workshop, organised by Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) in partnership the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),

lamented that the existing Draft National Guidelines for the Management of PostTraumatic Stress Disorders in Nigeria is outdated and not robust enough to capture the needs of the victims of disasters in Nigeria. A Consultant and Mental Health Specialist for National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Shehu who presented the National Guideline, noted that the guidelines emphasised the identification of PTSDs, basic psychological intervention appropriate to competence and referral pathway.

Arthritis is curable with herbs (2) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

2.Rheumatoid Arthritis The second type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. It is an inflammation of the same joints on the two sides of the body. For example, the same pain experienced on say the right knee, or shoulder is also experienced on the left. The symptoms tend to come and go. Rheumatoid arthritis is very common these days of processed and artificial food and drinks. It affects both the young and old, even infants. It is more common between the ages of 25 and 55. Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis There is no uniform agreement about the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. Below are some of the possible causes, over and above the ones already mentioned. 1. Viruses: Some scientists have proposed that rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by some kind of infection by

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo viruses, leading to an inflammation of the joints. These viruses are peculiar and live in the body for a long time undetected before their influence is felt. 2. Immuno-deficiency Syn-

drome: This refers to a condition whereby the anti-bodies that are meant to fight against foreign agents in the body begin to attack the tissues of the joint as well, causing inflammation and pain.

Symptoms: Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins with pain and stiffness in one or two joints, mostly the hands and feet. Initially the pain comes and goes. It is often worse on waking up in the morning, but wears off during the day. Gradually the pain becomes intense with constant swelling and inflammation in the joints. Moving or touching the joints becomes painful. The arthritis may soon spread to other parts of the body such as the elbows, knees, hips, waist, ankles, shoulders and neck. The person affected feels generally weak, tired, feverish and pale. The eyes become dry due to a reduction of tears. The mouth also becomes dry due to a reduction of salivary fluid, leading to a lack of appetite, followed by weight loss.

Managing Arthritis In treating arthritis, the Pineapple peels are used to produce arthritis medication aims are: PHOTO: laylita.com 1. To strengthen the bones

2. Repair damaged joint tissues 3. Strengthen the weak joint tissues 4. Strengthen the immune system against bacteria and viruses 5. Eradicate the symptoms. To achieve these aims, diet is very important. Processed or refined food and drinks like sugar, biscuits and ice-cream must be avoided. Stop taking coffee. Smoking and alcohol of all kinds must be avoided. Take plenty of water, especially on rising daily. Try to take nothing except water and fruits for breakfast. EFFECTIVE ARTHRITIS FORMULA Materials: A. 6 handfuls Pineapple peel B. 6 handfuls Lemon peel C. 6 handfuls Peel of unripe pawpaw. D. 10 bottles of water Recipe: Bring A, B and C to boil in D. Dosage: 1 glass 3ice daily.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Industry

ICT

Taiwan, Nigeria’s trade volume drops to $800m

Bandwidth: Nigeria records 42% price crash

Business What's news

Nigeria’s inactive phone lines rise to 49.9m The total number of inactive telephone lines in Nigeria has further increased to 49.9 million, according to the latest industry data released by the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

Electronic funds monthly transactions hit N2.9trn T PARADIGM SHIFT

Kunle Azeez

Consumers spending habits shifting towards the use of alternative e-payment channels aside the ATM

he value of electronic fund transactions executed on the Nigerian Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Instant Payment (NIP) platforms have

reached N2.9 trillion monthly, New Telegraph has learnt. The valuation was arrived at based on the latest electronic payment industry status obtained from NIBSS by our correspondent. The NIBSS’s report was for the transactions carried out

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

L-R: Prof. Eric Metima of the University of Nairobi, Kenya; Director, Laboratory Services, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC), Mrs. Stella Denloye and NAFDAC’s Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii, at a press conference to announce the partnership between NAFDAC and International Atomic Energy Agency to create an Africa Regional designated Centre for the training of Africa Laboratory Scientist in the area of Food Safety in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Manufacturers still groan under multiple taxes anufacturers across the country still suffer the burden of multiple taxation despite assurances by the Federal Government and many state governments to address the issue. In a chat with New Tele-

graph, the Executive Secretary, Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rahman Maku, stated that the issue of multiple taxation is a general issue in the country and a source of worry to business owners. He said that the Ogun State government has been able to

INFLATION RATE December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1%

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

Dele Alao

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

convince the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that efforts are ongoing to address the issue. “The government has made OPS in the state to understand that effort is ongoing on the harmonisation policy that CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

as at November 2014, which is the latest data in the e-payment sector. According to the report, while the electronic fund transfers achieved by individual account holders, corporate and government’s ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) on NIP stood at N1.8 trillion, the NEFT transaction value was N1.1 trillion. Also, the transaction volumes performed monthly to achieve the current value were over four million and 2.2 million for NIP and NEFT respectively. As at January, last year, value and volume on NEFT stood at N1.3 trillion and 2.1 million respectively, while N1.4 trillion 2.3 million transactions were recorded on NIP platform. This newspaper gathered that more account holders in the country are opting for online banking, using NEFT and NIP as two major online platforms to transfer funds in real time to beneficiaries. The uptake of online fund transfers, it was further learnt, is bringing a lot ease into banking transactions as account holders can do online fund transfers within the comfort of their offices and homes without necessary visiting the banking halls. The new banking style, which is a fall-out of the ongoing cashless economic scheme introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has transformed the way banking transactions are carried out with more ease and less risks. NIP has been described as the most innovative and revolutionary e-payment solution designed by NIBSS to service the banking industry. It is the first and only pointCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel as at Feb. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N209 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N310 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N237

l Foreign Reserves – $34.09bn as at 02/02/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official as at Feb. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.46 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N191.69

Business | News

LOSSES Inactive telephone lines potentially have negative impact on operators’ revenues Kunle Azeez

he total number of inactive telephone lines in Nigeria has further increased to 49.9 million, according to the latest industry data released by the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC). The figure represents the combined inactive telephone lines on all the telecoms networks, including the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operators, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks and fixed wired/wireless players. According to the latest data obtained by New Telegraph, while the total connected telephone lines in the country stood at 186.5 million, as at the end of November last year, only 136.6 million were active, leaving over 49.9 lines inactive.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s inactive phone lines rise to 49.9m Meanwhile, from the total active telephone lines, GSM companies, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat, control 134 million; CDMA segment has 2.4 million, while fixed lines networks pool 183,555 lines. “The multi-SIMing nature of the Nigerian telecoms market, where a subscriber carries multiple phone lines, can also easily lead to a situation where subscribers jettison some of their phone lines, leave them unused in preference for others. What happens, consequently, is that the unused ones, over time, become inactive, once the subscribers don’t load airtime credit on them again,” Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, had said. The new industry status report by the regulator also showed that the four GSM operators currently control 98.07 per cent of the total telecoms market in Africa’s largest

economy. The major operators - MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat - have a combined subscriber base of well over 134 million of the total 136.6 million active mobile subscriptions in the country. However, CDMA and the fixed wired/wireless segment control 1.79 per cent and 0.14 per cent market shares respectively. According to the NCC latest data, while MTN has a total of 58.3 million subscribers, Globacom controls over 26 million;

followed by Airtel with over 26 million subscribers, while Etisalat has 19.8 million mobile subscriptions on its network as at the third quarter of last year. This represents about 44 per cent, 21 per cent, 20 per cent and 15 per cent market shares for MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat respectively. Industry analysts observed that the dominance of GSM operators in a country where over 90 per cent of services is deployed through wireless/

mobile means, smaller operators, mostly in the CDMA and fixed markets, which have been facing dwindling fortune, continue to face dim future. “It is not that other operators in the CDMA and fixed line segments have any limitation in their technology, but with the look of things, Nigerians have developed penchant for GSM services in the past years and neglected CDMA and fixed line services, especially with regards to voice service provisioning,” said Chief

Executive Officer, Teledom International, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. Another industry analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo, added that the dominance of GSM networks might have created a scenario, where it becomes very difficult for any fixed network or CDMA network to match the level of competition in the sector. “Though competition is good in the sector, but I can tell you that what we see today is such that the bigger operators are getting bigger everyday and the smaller ones are getting smaller by the day, while some have even run out of business,” Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr, Gbenga Adebayo, said in telephone interview.

Manufacturers groan under multiple taxes CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

will put a stop to multiple taxation. Our hope is that the formulation and the implementation of the policy would be done as soon as possible so that businesses can be relieved from the groaning conditions under the present tax regime,” Maku said. Also, the Director General, Enugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emeka Okereke, said that the OPS in the state has made representation to government on the issue, but explained that the response from government was slow. He said: “The state government has been contacted on the matter. But the response is slow in many areas.” One of such areas, the director general noted, was the tax imposed on tricycles riders by local governments. Also, president, Owerri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kelvin Mbawuike, said that like most other states, the multiple taxation as been like a recurring decimal for a long time in the state. He, however, noted that the state government had streamlined the process of tax collec-

tions but the malaise still exist in the state.” Early in the year, the Federal Government stated that it was ready to amend the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection of Taxes and Levies) Cap T2 LTN, 2004 in a bid to harmonise taxes and abolish multiple taxation of citizens across the country. It also directed the Inspector General of Police to dismantle all roadblocks “mounted on the highways for revenue collection as they are illegal.” The proposed amendment followed Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe’s report on complaints by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), that most states, especially Anambra, Lagos and Rivers over-taxed their residents through duplication of taxes or levies on the same item or services. The report stated that although only 20 forms of levies or taxes were approved by the Taxes and Levies Act, there were multiple taxation of citizens in most of the states across the country with Rivers, Lagos and Anambra topping the 17 states and Abuja, which were listed.

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Olufemi Taiwo; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Samuel Akande and Guest Speaker, Dr. Augustine Osigwe, at a seminar on “Crude oil and economic performance in nigeria, a sectoral approach” in Ibadan. PHOTO-NAN CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

to-point funds transfer service that guarantees instant value to the beneficiary. Nigeria is the only country in Africa and, essentially the world, to have deployed such a solution. The service is majorly offered via bank’s Internet banking platforms for corporates and individuals as well as through the banks’ branch network. NEFT, on the other hand, is an irrevocable fund transfer instruction, where a bank simply captures its customer’s funds transfer instructions electronically. However, the bank will first debit the customer’s account to ensure that the funds are set aside after which such a bank customer’s instruction (along with other customers instructions) are sent to NIBSS as an electronic file for onward processing. Meanwhile, the latest NIBSS report also indicates that Point of Sales (PoS) transactions value and volume have reached monthly N28.7 billion and over two million transactions respectively, while mo-

Electronic funds monthly transactions hit N2.9trn bile payment has also reached N2.3 million and 57,693 transactions. E-Billspay, which was started in March 2014, with 9,653-transaction volume, also increased to N9.8 million transaction values from 109,368 transactions as at the end of November, last year. However, the NIBSS report indicated that cheque payment is witnessing a gradual decline as many opt for online fund transactions approach rather than issuing cheque for settlements. In January 2014, the number of cheque issued was 1.2 million with transaction value totaling N634.3 million. But these figures have since reduced to 1.1 million transactions to N534.4 million, according to the report. Commenting on the latest report, the Managing Director, Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Ade Sonubi,

said: “Since January 2014, NIBSS has seen tremendous growth in electronic payments trends on its platforms as consumers spending habits increasingly shift towards the use of alternative e-payment channels aside the Automated Teller Machines (ATM), which are generally used to retrieve cash to pay for goods and services.” He noted that in July 2014, NIBSS, for the first time since its history, recorded over 10 million e-payment transactions on its platform during the month. “This trend is not only indicative of the potential for electronic payments in Nigeria, but also the need for greater attention and investments towards enhancing the infrastructure required to create greater efficiency in the epayments space, which would ultimately support the rising level of its adoption in Nigeria,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CARI contributes $3.3m to rice production p.34

Industry

Stakeholders seek extension of NAC policy p.34

Taiwan, Nigeria’s trade volume drops to $800m DISAPPOINTING Both countries seek to increase trade volume Stories by Dele Alao

rade volume between Nigeria and Taiwan has dropped to $800 million as at 2014 as against $1.6 billion recorded in 2013. The Representative and Head of Mission of Taiwan in Nigeria, Mr. Morgan Chao, said this during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, in Abuja.

Chao, noted that Nigeria was a strategic trading partner to Taiwan, given Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources. He said: “In 2012, the trade volume between Nigeria and Taiwan was $1.6 billion, in 2013, it was $1.2 billion, but last year, it was $800 million only. This shows that the trade volume between Nigeria and Taiwan is decreasing. Therefore, we need to do more to be able to increase the bilateral trade volume between Nigeria and Taiwan. We are known for our cutting edge manufacturing and industrial products while, on the other hand, Nigeria is renowned for its abundant raw materials and natural re-

Aganga lauds EDC, others over entrepreneurship development

n arm of the Pan Atlantic University, the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), has been commended for leading the way in entrepreneurial development in Nigeria and Africa. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, gave this commendation at the formal inauguration of the EDC’s purpose-built learning complex located behind the Lagos Business School in Ajah, Lagos. The minister, who was the guest of honour at the event, said that by focusing on developing the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), the EDC is helping to build the foundations for sustainable economic development for Nigeria. He commended the institution’s tradition of excellence and service, which he said earned it recognition and

confidence among international institutions and development agencies. The minister acknowledged that the EDC’s giant strides over the past 12 years could not have been possible without the generous support by its longstanding partners, especially Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and Diamond Bank Plc. He noted that both organisations have always stood out for their impactful contributions to entrepreneurship development and that it was not surprising that they were among the sponsors of the new EDC building. In a goodwill message at the event, the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adeola Adetunji, commended the faculty and staff of the EDC for the remarkable achievements of the institution in its 12-year history.

SMEs can create 2.4m jobs –BoI

ith adequate supports, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has the capacity to create about 2.5 million jobs, the Executive Director, SMEs, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju, has said. Olagunju said this at a workshop for selected Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) in Lagos and Abuja. “If many of our resources go to the SMEs, we will be able to create about 2.4 million jobs because of the multiplying effect of this sector along the value chain. However, we are bent on reversing the trend within a very short time,” he said. According to him, 30 per cent of the bank’s risk assets will be focused on SMEs in order to touch and impact more positively to improve the standard of living of the citizenry.

“We have designed more products to help SMES in the country because we believe a lot more can be done in terms of development for small businesses rather than large businesses,” he said. He noted that the BDSPs were generalists but BOI wanted them to be specialists on what the bank is looking for in applications so that they can meet the institution’s expectations. “We want to increase our impact to SMEs and take them from constituting about five per cent of our risk assets to about 30 per cent by 2020,” he said. Olagunju advised SME operators to concentrate on areas where they have comparative advantages in their locality and engage in processing activities that would add value to raw materials.

sources such as crude oil and agricultural products. “So, if both countries cooperate and work together to increase our trade volume, it will be a win-win situation for us. And as the Representative and Head of Taiwan’s Trade Mission in Nigeria, I want to promote increased bilateral economic, trade and investment relationship between Nigeria and Taiwan. Also, I will persuade my government on the need to buy more goods, especially crude oil and gas-related products from Nigeria. The current decline in the price of crude oil in the global market is having a negative impact on the Nigerian economy, and Taiwan, being a good friend of Nigeria, will like to lend our support to Nigeria at this auspicious moment.” In his response, Aganga said that Nigeria had adopted a strategic approach in its trade and economic relationship with its

foreign trading partners. The minister explained that such strategic approach involved encouraging its trading partners to invest in the establishment of manufacturing plants in Nigeria and utilise the country’s local raw materials in order to create jobs and generate wealth for Nigerians. He said: “Nigeria-Taiwan trade relations are anchored on the Memorandum of Understanding on trade signed by both countries in November 1990. The MOU desired to complement and facilitate the private sector initiatives towards promoting trade and development of greater and enduring economic ties between Nigeria and Taiwan. “As a country, we have adopted a strategic approach towards increasing our trade volume with our trading partners, including Taiwan. In order to achieve this, we are encouraging our trading part-

ners who want to increase their economic ties with Nigeria to come and invest in establishment of manufacturing plants which will add value to our raw materials, create more jobs and generate wealth for our people.” “Due to the new Nigeria that President Goodluck Jonathan is building, we have become more strategic by seeking to build symbiotic and sustainable economic relationship that promotes inflow of investment and technical knowhow into our country.” Aganga added. Taiwan’s imports from Nigeria include natural gas, motor spirit, frozen crabs, sesame seeds, cocoa butter, fat and oil, and wood charcoal, among others. On the hand, Nigeria’s imports from Taiwan includes air-conditioners, aerials and reflectors, acetic acid, industrial air compressors and milking machines, among other things.

L–R: Programme Manager, Dawn In The Creeks, Adewale Ajadi; Board member, Andre Blaze Henshaw and US Consul General in Nigeria, Ambassador Jeff Hawkins, at the formal launch of Season 2 of the Dawn In The Creeks TV series in Lagos recently.

NAC spends N11bn on 30 firms EXPENDITURE N2.5bn set aside for a Nigeria vehicle purchase scheme

ot less than 30 companies have so far benefited from the N11 billion for industrial projects under the supervision of the National Automotive Council (NAC), which was established in 2005. The Director General, NAC, Aminu Jalal, who said this during the closing ceremony of SURE-P/NAC/ SMEDAN auto workers

training in Kaduna, noted that between 2011 and 2014, nine projects were provided with loans worth N3.5 billion through the Bank of Industry (BoI). He added that N2.5 billion was set aside for a Nigeria Vehicle Purchase scheme, to increase patronage of the local automotive industry. The NAC boss said that agreement had been concluded with Westbank, South Africa on driving the Vehicle Credit Purchase Scheme in Nigeria, to boost patronage of locally assembled automobiles. Similarly, he said that the N1 billion had been set

aside for mechanics equipment loan scheme while over five hundred mechanics have been funded to reequip their workshops. The three-week training programme, which was put together by SUREP, NAC and SMEDAN for auto workers in Nigeria, had about 1002 auto technicians drawn from the 36 states and the FCT. About 1004 technicians were also trained last year in a similar exercise, which is aimed at equipping auto technicians with necessary skills to repair modern generation vehicles to retain their jobs.

Business | Industry

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CARI contributes $3.3m to rice production BOOST Small-scale rice farmers empowered in SubSaharan African Stories by Dele Alao

he Competitive African Rice Initiative programme (CARI) has said it expended $3.3

million on the production of rice in Nigeria, which is 40 per cent of the implementation cost agreed with the private sector of Nigerian partner that will contribute the remaining 60 per cent of the implementation cost. Head of Programmes CARI, Stefan Kachelriess Matthess, who noted that the funding was part of CARI implementation agenda to empower small scale rice farmers in sub-Saharan African, said this at a one-day

stakeholder’s forum on the establishment of the Nigeria/ ECOWAS rice sector policy and regulation advocacy platform held in Abuja. On her part, Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, (NEPAD) and African Peer Review Mechanism, (APRM), Ambassador Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, said that Nigeria loses N1 billion daily to rice importation.

Njeze added that due to the importation of rice, Nigeria has been exporting jobs and financial resources meant for the transformation of the domestic rice sector in the country. While commending CARI for organising the event, she said the effort would compliment government efforts to end rice importation into the country. The project is implemented by GIZ, Technoserve, the John Kufuor Foundation and Kilimo Trust among other parners and aimed at resolving the importation of rice into Nigeria and West African sub-region, which is close to 50 per cent of rice from foreign countries outside the shores of the African continent. Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Kingsley Olusola

Olurinde, noted that the major constraint in the production of rice in the country was low productivity and poor quality of milled rice as the demand for rice in Nigeria is about five million tones yearly, and the domestic production is less than three million tones which makes the importation of rice into the country more than two million tones. He stated the need to improve the quality of locally made rice to international standard, adding that the introduction of dry season production will see rice being produced twice in a year and the introduction of lowland and irrigated rice will see the production of rice increase to six tones/hectare as compared to upland rice, which is two tones/hectare.

Stakeholders seek six months extension of NAC policy

S L-R: Vefa Sariogilu, Berattin Dinc from Turkey; Group Managing Director, Chemstar Paints Industry Nig. Ltd, Aderemi Awode and leader of Sam Deco Paints, Turkey, Samir Babaskishiyev, during a painting training programme at the company’s head office in Lagos

Chemstar Paints trains 5,000 local painters

anufacturers of Fine Coat range of paints, Chemstar Paints Limited, has commenced the training of no fewer than 5,000 local painters. The training, which kicked off at the company’s head office in Lagos recently, attracted experts from San Deco in Turkey. According to the company’s General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Fola Laguda, the training was embarked upon to acquaint local painters on how best to handle special effects paints. The special effect paints are new range of paints on the stable of the paint manu-

facturers under the license of San Deco. “We are looking at well over 5, 000 regions in which we sell our products,” Laguda said. He added: “We have a new product, special effect paints, and we are trying to give Nigerian painters an opportunity to learn how to apply this special effect paint. Beneficiaries of the training are painters that are working with us. Of course, we have done quite a lot of training. This is a refresher course, we have invited them to come and learn more. So we are also calling them to come and learn more so

that we can also give to the market what we have on ground.” A team leader from Sam Deco Paints, Samir Babaskishiyev, said that the team was in the country to support Chemstar Paints by training the local painters. Babaskishivev, who noted that the country was a good destination to invest, said that his company would not hesitate to set up a factory in Nigeria anytime the situation arises.. For now, he said San Deco, is still trying to push its latest products into the market and make it the first choice of customers.

Bervidson, Turkish firm to expand W/African market

training and consultancy group in West Africa and convener of the Retail Leaders Conferences, Nigeria, Bervidson International Limited, has signed a global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Turkish training and consultancy company, Mia Organizasyon Restorasyon Yayıncılık Ltd. to drive the growth of retail businesses in the country. The purpose of the agreement is to define the basis for cooperation between Turkish firm and Bervidson in the area of business development promotions of both parties for consultancy

services with the aim of expanding Turkish companies in Nigeria and other African countries. The agreement also provides for Bervidson to link business interests in Nigeria and other West Africa countries with Turkey and Turkish businessmen who are interested in establishing business presence in Nigeria, and other African countries. The Principle of the agreement will ensure that Bervidson facilitates the process of engagement of Nigerian companies and senior individuals with Turkish

companies seeking to establish their presence in retail and retail related industries in Nigeria and other African countries through partnership or franchising, as well as facilitate the process of direct investment of Turkish companies in retail and retail related industries in Nigeria and other African countries. Furthermore, the Turkey-based firm will facilitate introduction of companies and senior individuals within the retail sector, through its long established network of retail and retail related industries.

takeholders under the umbrella body of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to grant a further six months extension to the full implementation of the national automotive policy in Nigeria and also seek a 70 per cent waiver on the over four thousand commuters vehicles including high capacity buses that will be imported into the country as part of the transport scheme. The union also said it hopes to create about 45, 000 jobs through its nationwide mass transport scheme. The union said though it supports the Federal Government’s auto policy, which seeks to encourage local manufacturing of cars, the reality on ground shows that local manufacturers can’t meet the production demand of Nigerians at the moment. President, RTEAN, Chief Musa Shehu Isiwele, said: “We are running a nationwide mass

transit scheme in which most of the vehicles will be dedicated to students, workers, disabled and the less privileged at a low price in order to support the transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the benefit of the good people of Nigeria and this will help in reducing the hardship in vehicular movement of commuters and boost the economy of Nigeria transport system.” “Although, the initiative is coming at a time that the Federal Government is discouraging importation of vehicles and encouraging local manufacturing of vehicles, we support the government automotive policy. But we are still appealing that local manufacturers can’t meet the demand of our nation at the moment. The scheme, when fully implemented, will generate employment opportunity for over 45,000 young Nigerians who are in the labour market. An additional 10,000 layoff mechanics, technicians and artisan engineers will be recalled,” he added.

AP invests N15bn in equipment

ne of the country’s leading book publishing firms, Academic Press, has invested about N15 billion in acquiring new equipment. Managing Director, Academy Press Plc, Gbenga Ladipo, said this at the 2015 Academy Press Plc Customers’ Forum held in Lagos. Ladipo, who noted that the company would mark its 50th anniversary this year, added: “We have followed the trend of retooling and modernising the facilities. Recently, the company acquired new equipment worth over N15 billion.” Also, the Chairman, Academy Press, Simeon Olusola Oguntimehin, said that the government at all levels must create an enabling environment that would make its local industry to thrive as no nation

would sacrifice its own industries for foreign interest and expect to grow its economy or be truly independent of foreign domination. “A country should consistently strive to make its local establishment to be more efficient by continuous practice as only through such process that an organisation can rise to world class standard,” Oguntimehin said. On his part, the President, Booksellers Association of Nigeria and Member, Board of Directors, Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Olusoji Popoola, said that there was a need to create a template where all stakeholders could come together periodically and form a coalition to ensure social economic and financial stability in the industry.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

ICT

Report highlights trends shaping telecoms p.36 Nigeria has recorded about 42 per cent crash in the cost of megabit per second of bandwidth. However, stakeholders said that further decline in cost would determine how effectively government could tackle the obstacles to lastmile fibre connectivity in the country, writes KUNLE AZEEZ

35 Nigeria needs 17m PoS terminals, says CWG p.37

Bandwidth: Nigeria records 42% price crash

ver the last four years, Nigeria’s economy has recorded increase in the number of submarine cable companies, thereby increasing the level of international bandwidth capacity in the country that can be leveraged to deepen internet penetration across the country. Today, the country boasts of undersea cable infrastructures such as MainOne, Glo 1, West Africa Cable System (WACS), sponsored by MTN consortium and the ACE. Their entry into the nation’s telecoms sector has increased the level of competition among the players, resulting in gradual decline in the cost of Internet bandwidth, albeit not without teething challenges that still need to be tackled by the government to ensure a more favourable competition exists. Bandwidth cost It is instructive that the need to improve operating environment and engender rapid growth in the nation’s telecoms sector has led to increased market potentials for submarine cables. Consequently, fresh findings by New Telegraph revealed that the country has recorded over 42 per cent reduction in the cost of bandwidth in megabit per second (Mbps) for the provision of Internet services in the last four years. As at 2011, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL)owned SAT-3 cable was the major submarine fibre optic cable providing bandwidth to Nigerian economy with international connectivity. From 4.7 terabytes of bandwidth capacity in-country in 2011, the coming on board of privately-owned undersea cable companies has bolstered the bandwidth capacity in-country to 11 terabytes to date. With Glo1, Main One cables making their entry into the market, the bandwidth cost, hitherto standing at between $1,700 and $1,200 in pre-2011, came down post-2011 to between $700 and $500 per Mbps. Current checks across industry verticals, further revealed from $700 per Mbps of bandwidth

Johnson

in 2011, the cost of bandwidth has further reduced to between $400 and $300 per Mbps, representing approximately 42 per cent reduction in cost. “The remarkable reduction in the cost of bandwidth in the last four years could be traced to increased competition among cable companies, boosted by the landings in Nigeria of the West African Cable System (WACS) and the ACE, in addition to SAT-3, MainOne and Glo 1,” said a telecoms industry analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo. Akinbo, who is the chief executive officer of AAA Infotek Limited, said, “Effective regulation by the regulatory body has also helped to reduce the cost of Internet bandwidth, though we expect this to further reduce.” He noted that though, broadband penetration in the country had increased from 3 per cent in the last three years to 6 per cent currently, “Implementing all the activities contained in the country’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) would help in achieving the much-desired 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018.” Challenges Though, many telecoms users still complain about unsatisfactory Internet services delivery in the country, this has been relatable to a number of challenges facing submarine cables’ deployment for last-mile connectivity. New Telegraph gathered that the concentration of the entire submarine cables in Lagos have posed challenges of last-mile connectivity, as factors such as multiple taxation, multiple regulations, delays in getting Right of Way

Juwah

The challenge has always been around how do we take the bandwidth capacity we have on the shore in Lagos to the nooks and crannies of the country

(RoW) permits to deploy the fibre cable across the country continue to hamper accelerated intra and inter-city fibre deployment. The NBP document stated, “Challenges common to operators in telecoms sector have been identified as: high costs of RoW resulting in the high cost of leasing transmission infrastructure; long delays in processing of permits; multiple taxation at federal, state and local governments levels.” Other identified challenges, as identified by the document, include “having to deal with multiple regulatory bodies; damage to existing fibre infrastructure as a result of cable theft, road words and other operations; and the lack of reliable, clean grid electricity supply.” Still suggesting that the challenges are still not over for the operators, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said that “the cost of fibre deployment has been a major problem.” He explained: “The challenge has always been around how do we take the bandwidth capacity we have on the shore in Lagos to the nooks and crannies of the country?” Alternative option Though all the submarine cables have their landing points along Lagos coastal lines, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at a recent event in Lagos, disclosed plans by the government to create an alternative landing points along other coastal regions of the country to facilitate broadband penetration.

The minister said that without doubt, Lagos was the most penetrated location in Nigeria in terms of Internet access infrastructure. “This is because all the submarine cables in the country currently have their landing points in Lagos and that is why, to ensure diverse cable routings, an alternative landing point outside Lagos has become imperative for future cable landings,” Johnson said. The ministry had, in 2014, commenced ‘Smart State Initiative’, aimed at educating state governments on the need to remove all deployment barriers for telecoms companies so as at accelerate rollout of services in the each state. Through the initiative, the state governments that embrace the idea have the propensity to transform into a smart state, where access to deeper broadband and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and services can be encouraged to increase the economic lot of the states, and especially boosting the Gross Domestic Product (PGD) of the states. As the available official records show that ICT sector currently contributes over 9.58 per cent to the national GDP, the National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, insisted that removing all the identified barriers being faced by telecoms networks, would further position ICT sector as an enabler of overall economic development, as it impacts other sectors in the country. He addes: “This will also make it possible for the over 75 million Internet users in the country to enjoy better services while those not yet connected will begin to come on board by deploying affordable broadband services, brought about by further decline in the cost of bandwidth, which ultimately improve economic activities. This will result in raising the bar of the country’s competitiveness index,” said President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS).” Going forward While the Federal Government has been taking initiatives, in collaboration with industry players, to accelerate widespread broadband access in the country through such efforts as the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) and issuing of new spectrum licences in 2014, industry stakeholders have also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the licensees to work in tandem towards achieving 50 per cent 3G penetration this year; 70 per cent in 2017 and 80 per cent by 2018 as set in the NBP.

Business | ICT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBO invests N8.8bn in IT firms, others SUPPORT Three IT entrepreneurs are latest beneficiaries of such investment Stories by Kunle Azeez

he management of CBO Investment Management said it has, so far, invested over $49 million (N8.8 billion) in various starts-up, including Information Technology (IT) companies and returned over $70 million to investors. The company also said that it recently provided seed funding worth $2,500 (about N450,000) to three Information Technology entrepreneurs. The latest financial support was part of the company’s vision to provide funding and growth capital for small businesses in Nigeria, and West Africa. The entrepreneurs emerged as winners and finalists at the Entrepreneurs Pitching Contest organised as part of the recently held British Council Creative Industries Expo in Lagos. Speaking during the presentation of the cheques to the finalists, the Director, CBO Investment Management, Mr Chuka Mordi, said: “The early stages

of any business are absolutely crucial for entrepreneurs. By supporting these start-ups during their formative years, we are relieving them of the financial concerns, so they can focus on other key areas that contribute to the overall success and growth of their businesses.” Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Creative, Mr. Said Nkiru Asika, said: “We included a pitching contest for the first time this year in order to showcase the hidden talent among Nigeria’s creative and digital entrepreneurs and bring them to the attention of potential financiers, mentors and partners. We are delighted that CBO Investment Management recognised the value in this program and stepped up to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.” Enterprise Creative is Nigeria’s leading development agency for the creative industries and the producers of the British Council Expo. The event witnessed the finalists giving live demonstrations of their sites and online portals, and taking questions, comments and investment advice from the CBO Investment Management team. Sulaiman Teslim Olalekan, founder of Shopinfo.com.ng, a mobile application that helps

Report highlights six trends shaping telecoms

new study by the management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, Accenture, has underscored six trends that will continue to shape the telecoms sector in Nigeria and beyond. The trends, which emerged from a recent study by Accenture, were highlighted in a presentation titled ‘The Changing Dynamics of the Telecommunications Industry’ by the Senior Manager, Accenture Nigeria, Mr Tolu Akinluyi. Discussing the six trends, Akinluyi said that the first of the trends was the commoditisation of core products. “The initial products and services, which built up the industry continue to decline and will continue to contribute less to telecoms operators’ profits. In other words, there will be a continued migration from wireline to wireless telecommunications,” he said. According to Akinluyi, between 2011 and 2016, the projected compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) globally of fixed line revenues was projected to be only 2 per cent. The second trend, he said, was the replacement of voice traffic with data. “Data usage continues to drive growth in network traffic, and this trend will only continue as technological advances help improve the quality of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephony. In the

near future, Cisco predicts that voice will make up less than 10 per cent of total mobile traffic,” he said. He explained that the third trend would revolve around the evolving demands of “alwaysconnected” customers. He added: “Telecoms subscribers now have much higher expectations from their providers, and telecoms operators will have to provide differentiated customer service to address the needs of their subscribers, or risk losing them to rivals especially now that technology has reduced the hurdles of switching between telecoms providers.” The fourth trend shaping the industry is disruptive competition, according to AKinluyi. He noted that telecoms operators were facing rapid changes in the competitive landscape due to new, non-traditional players entering the industry with lower entry costs and global reach. Akinluyi explained that the rise of over the top (OTT) players such as Skype, poses a significant challenge to existing telecoms operators. “For example, the total number of mobile VoIP minutes is expected to grow from 15 billion in 2010 to 471 billion in 2015, according to Juniper Research. Operators will therefore need to find other revenue streams to survive,” he said.

shoppers source goods in local shops, check stock availability and compare prices, was the overall winner at the contest. The two runners-up were David Ugoagbara of Priceleakers.com, an online marketplace for building materials, and Ayodele Elegba of Comicpanel.org, an online hub for comics and related industries. Fielding questions from the entrepreneurs and providing business advice to them, Director at CBO Investment, Mr Bex Nwawudu, said: “The first lesson that entrepreneurs must learn is that having a bright idea is not enough. They must

learn to innovate, monetise and build those ideas into sustainable businesses that positively impact the Nigerian and African economy.” According to Nwawudu, “At CBO Investment Management, we are committed to continue raising funding for businesses such as these, because the growth of small businesses is truly the only way that we can develop Africa.” CBO Investment Management is a West Africa focused Investment Manager that advises on investments, and manages funds on behalf of institutions, private clients,

and African diaspora and retail investors. The company claimed it had invested over $49 million and returned over $70 million to investors. The company is focused on recycling ‘African Funding for African Business’ and using such to generate further foreign direct investment. In line with this mission, CBO said that it was actively investing and raising a $150 million Growth PE Fund that is focused on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) investments within the West African sub region.

L-R: Senior Supervisor, Banking & Payment System, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Amir Adamu; Assistant Manager, Banking & Payment System, CBN, Mr. Sadiku Yakubu and Chief Technology Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. James Agada, during the Payment Terminal service providers’ licence audit in Lagos.

Oil slum: Zinox boss advocates alternative energy

hairman of Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, has said that the present economic crunch, occasioned by the fall in crude oil prices and depreciating value of the local currency, requires Nigerians to embrace a smarter approach to managing rising costs of living and doing business. Speaking at a telecoms conference in Lagos, Ekeh, who commended the ongoing reforms in the energy sector, pointed out that the issue of power supply remained a major source of expenditure for homes and businesses. He urged Nigerians to

consider more reliable and cheaper sources of alternative energy. He explained: “Falling oil prices and the sliding value of the naira means less revenue for the government and reduced public spending. This is a period of pocket-tightening as the luxury of the times cannot continue. As the economy alters, we must also adjust by applying smart, common-sense survival tips. “One major area that comes to mind is energy cost. You cannot run a business without power. Our homes too require constant electricity but if you do the

math, you will realise that a lot of Nigerians incur huge monthly expenses for electricity which an alternative energy source can deliver more efficiently and at a significantly lesser cost.” While explaining that he had been able to leverage on alternative energy through iPowerPlus, comprising certified inverters, batteries and smart Solar, to cut his monthly energy bill of over N850,000 by 50 per cent, Ekeh decried the wasteful culture of some Nigerians while emphasising the need to explore prudent and ingenuous ways of navigating the current economic crunch.

VDT clinches ISO 20000 certification

n Information and Communication Technology company and promoter of the Bitflux’s 2.3gigahertz spectrum licence, VDT Communications Limited, has received the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 200001:2011 Certification. This followed the fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the certification, thereby emerging as the first telecom company in

West Africa to earn the Certification. The company, in a statement signed by its Marketing Communications Manager, Mr. David Ese, said that it embarked on the quest for the ISO 20000 certification, owing to its specialised nature for Information Technology service industry. It is also a natural followup to entrenching the benefits of our ISO 9000-1:2008 quality management sys-

tems certification. According to Ese, “The main focus of ISO 9000:2008 certification was to create premium quality management system for VDT. ISO 20000-1:2011 certification focuses primarily on finetuning the IT management capability of VDT. Key among these processes include service delivery, control, complaints resolution and relationship management.”

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Nigeria needs 17m PoS terminals – CWG GAP Only 125,000 PoS terminals have been deployed in Nigeria as at June last year Stories by Kunle Azeez

igeria requires a minimum of 17 million Point of Sales (PoS) terminals that can be used by the 17 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, the Chief Technology Officer of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Mr. James Agada, has said. He said this on the sideline of the issuance of Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) licence to CWG by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deploy PoS terminals in Nigeria.

Agada said that his company would fast-track the deployment of PoS terminals as an integral part of its new business module, christened ‘CWG 2.0’. “The deployment of our POS terminals is inclusive of our business package for SMEs. We believe that there should be 17million terminals if there are over 17 million existing SMEs in the country. This would aid in the growth of smaller businesses and consolidate the cashless economy initiative of the government.. “Our terminals are going to be tailored to suite the specific peculiarities of SMEs. It can work anywhere. It will also allow merchants do more since it has multiple payment option. This means that a merchant can receive payments for bills, sell Jamb pins, airtime and importantly, keep inventory of sales using the same PoS ter-

minal. This will be our quota to enabling inclusive growth in the economy,” he added. The issuance of the PTSP licence to CWG Plc followed a visit by a delegation of the apex bank to the company late last year to assess the company’s preparedness and ensure that the company has fulfilled all conditions necessary for the award of the licence. In a letter, signed by Mr. Dipo Fatokun, the Director, Banking and Payment Systems Department, CBN noted that CWG “had successfully passed through the various stages of evaluation. These include an inspection of the company’s facility and processes, an allowance of a test period, during which the company’s products were carefully examined for quality and standard. CWG is “hereby licensed to

perform the activities PTSP for PoS in Nigeria,” CBN said in the letter. The PTSP licence certifies that a company has the infrastructure to competently deploy, maintain and provide support for PoS terminals in Nigeria. According to the CBN, “A PTSP shall offer services to acquirers covering all aspects relating to terminal management support, including but not limited to purchase and replacement of spare parts, provision of connectivity, training, repairs, and development of value added services, amongst other things.” Reacting to the development, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. Austin Okere, noted that the licence was a testimony to the capability of CWG Plc “to competently deploy functional

PoS terminals to the market at a time when CBN is vigorously pursuing the ideal of making the Nigerian business clime a cashless model.” Although, the number of PoS terminals increased to about 125,000 as at June last year and the value of PoS transactions increased to about N138 billion during the same period, statistics from the apex bank indicate that about 46 per cent of adult Nigerians have no access to financial services. Okere said: “Our track record in the financial services sector as indicated in the deployment of our Finacle core banking application to foremost banks in Nigeria, our technical platforms for Firstmonie and Diamond Yello account, are pointers to our capacity to be instrumental to the actualisation of a truly cashless economy.”

NiRA inaugurates Kalu Foundation

L-R: Vice Chairman, Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje; Executive Director, Mr. Soji Apampa; Group Managing Director, Vodacom Business Africa, Mr. Douglas Craigie-Stevenson and Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke, at the signing ceremony of Vodacom Business Nigeria to the Convention in Lagos.

Vandalism: Airtel invests in network protection

rising from the increased cases of vandalism to telecoms infrastructure across the country, one of the Nigeria’s telecoms services provider, Airtel, has taken strategic move to further improved protection of its fibre transmission network. Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, disclosed this at an exclusive forum organised for the telco’s corporate customers. He said that Airtel had just completed an Automatic Optical Switching Network (ASON), which would provide multi-path protection on Airtel’s fibre transmission network. Ogunsanya said: “We have also launched a new trouble ticketing tool and a Network Operating Centre for its Enterprise customers.” He noted that the scaling up of the company’s investments in its enterprise network infrastructure in

a renewed drive to deepen its network quality and provide innovative solutions to its enterprise customers. According to him, the new investments demonstrated the company’s commitment to providing exceptional and highly innovative services and solutions to its customers, assuring the customers that Airtel wwould continue to partner with them and would continuously promote a win-win partnership based on trust. He said: “As part of our commitment to offering you good service at all times, we have invested heavily in technology, capacity building and created a vista of opportunities for our stakeholders most especially our customers. “We design our products and services with you in mind and incorporate the values of sustainable growth, innovation, flexibility and unparalleled qual-

ity of service. Whatever the size of your business, we will deliver value to you at every stage.” While announcing that new collaboration services and connectivity offerings were being developed for corporate customers across the country, Ogunsanya also noted that “customers in the enterprise segment can take advantage of its current offerings, which include bespoke solutions such as Enterprise MPLS Network, Web Services, Close User Group Fusion, ALWAYS ON, Data Plus and Web Services, among others. The forum, which was attended by Airtel’s corporate customers, telecom and ICT experts, entrepreneurs and partners had the theme: “Let’s Build a Better Partnership” and it featured, as its main highlight, a panel discussion on the topic, ‘IT & Telecom: A Revenue Enabler or Cost Centre.’

he management of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has inaugurated the Board of Trustees (BoT) for the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation. The inauguration took place at the NIRA Office Complex in Suru-Lere, Lagos recently. The late Ndukwe Kalu was the pioneer NiRA President, who passed on in active service in September 2009. At the time of his burial, NiRA had promised the family that the name of the pioneer President, Ndukwe Kalu, would be immortalised. “This promise was finally fulfilled by inaugurating the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation on Wednesday, January 28, 2015,” said NiRA President, Mrs. Mary Uduma. According to him, the aims of the Foundation were to promote knowledge in Information and Communication

Technology (ICT) among the citizenry, especially the youths; encourage the proper use of the Internet and discourage the negative trend of cyber-crime and related vices. The inauguration of the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation had in attendance NiRA Board of Trustees (BoT), NiRA Executive Board of Directors (EBOD), members of the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation Board of Trustees BoT, as well as the wife of the Late Ndukwe Kalu, Mrs. Nnenna Ndukwe-Kalu, amongst others. The Chairman, NiRA BOT, Mr. Chima Onyekwere, and other notable stakeholders in the Nigeria’s Internet community, hailed the late Kalu for his passion for work and the Internet world. They added that the late Kalu contributed immensely to laying the foundation for NiRA and the eventual growth of the association.

Vodacom moves to boost service value

ne of Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology firms, Vodacom Business Nigeria, has signed a strategic partnership with the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi). The company, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said that the signing of the deal reinforced Vodacom’s undertaking to observe the values of the Code of Business Integrity both within the company and dealings with customers and partners. The company, represented by the Managing Director, Vodacom Business Africa, Mr Douglas Craigie–Stevenson and the Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr Guy Clarke signed documents to formalise the company’s membership of CBi in

Lagos this week. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Craigie-Stevenson said that the company had maintained the highest level of integrity in its business operations. “Joining the Convention on Business Integrity shows our commitment to conducting all our business affairs with honesty and professionalism,” he added. Clarke also explained that by signing into CBi, “we have pledged to abide by its code and collectively we will gradually change the perception of doing business in Nigeria, especially on the international stage.” The Executive Director of the CBi, Mr Soji Apampa, commended Vodacom Business Nigeria for its role in the nation’s ICT industry.

Photo | News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor (left), with Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, during the presentation of reports on the recruitment of teachers in Benin city.

L-R: Former Registrar, University of Ibadan (UI), Mrs. Mojisola Ladipo; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole; immediate past Bursar, Alhaji Jimoh Bankole and Bursar, Mr. Olaniyi Aponmade, at a retreat organised for Directors of Institutes/Units and Heads of Departments/Units of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Plateau State Command, Mr. Raymond Akra-Jaja (left), with the representative of INEC Resident Commissioner, Mr. Osaretin Imahiyereobo, at a sensitisation seminar on National Security Imperatives and Foreign Nationals in Jos. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Minister for Music & Multimedia, Yaba Baptist Church, Revd. Femi Afolabi; Moderator, Gideon II Baptist Association, Revd. Dr Bayo Aremu; President, Lagos East Baptist Conference, Revd. Emmanuel Awotunde; Consultant, Gideon II Baptist Association, Revd G.B Ololade and Chairman, Mission and Evangelism, Gideon II Baptist Association, Revd. Israel Abolade, during the presentation of the Divine Mercy Baptist Church’s Officers in Lagos.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Olanipekun Ojo; National Treasurer, Mr. Emmanuel Efuntayo; Board member, Dr. Mary Ade-Fosudo; National President, Chief Olabintan Famutimi; Vice President, Alhaji Abayomi Adigun and Chairman Sponsorship and Award, Chief Kingsley Ozobia, after a press conference to announce the activities for the 2015 edition of the Chamber’s US Trade Mission, in Lagos.

Chairman, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BGPG), Mr. Kunle Awobodu (left), with Chief Peter Omoijiade of the International Centre for Corporate Governance, during the 9th Beko Memorial Public Lecture on: “WHICH WAY NIGERIA’’ in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Member, National Consensus Movement (NCM), Mr. Emaidu Shehu; founder, Purple Heart Foundation, Borno State, Dr. Fatima Gang; President, NCM, Mr. Solomon Dalung and Vice President, Mr. Ibrahim Garba, at a press conference in Abuja.

Chairman, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad-Daudawa (right), presenting educational materials provided by the Council to Leader, Da’awa Group, Malam Haruna Adamu-Yaro for preaching on peaceful coexistence and other Islamic education in Faskari. PHOTO-NAN

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Mom&Parenting Saving your marriage from your kids

uring the pre-kids phase of marriage, the focus of your relationship is on a party of two, and if you’re lucky, it’s pretty blissful. But once your duo becomes a trio or more it’s all too easy to lose sight of the importance of that core partnership. While adults are (hopefully!) reasonably self-sufficient, babies and beyond require a whole lot of care, and that can be taxing on even the strongest of relationships. How you make it work is really up to you and your partner, but we’re most certain that putting any or all of these eight tips into practice will give your marriage the post-kiddos boost it craves! Make Time For One Another . . . It may be obvious, it may be cliche, but it’s crucial! If all of your time together is spent with kids, chances are, you’ll lose sight of the things that made you fall in love in the first place. Make date nights a priority, however and whenever they fit into your schedule. But also for yourself “Me time” is the easiest thing for a busy mom to cut out of her schedule. It usually falls to the bottom of the priority ranking of family, relationship, work, and friendships. But carving out even an hour a week to do the things you love to do on your own will make you a happier, more satisfied spouse. Don’t Play Martyr If you feel like you bear the brunt of the household chores and familial responsibility and have any sort of resentment about it, stop playing martyr immediately. Your spouse may be completely oblivious to the situation and is probably more than willing to hear you out. Let your spouse know that you’re overwhelmed, and come up with a solution instead of offering passiveaggressive jabs. You Still Need Your Girlfriends You’ll always need your girlfriends! While girls’ nights probably

Mom&Parenting Team

Oluwatosin Omoniyi Coordinator

Couple bonding

happen far less frequently now that you’re a mom, don’t underestimate the women in your life. Being able to share experiences, frustrations, and laughs with people whose company you truly enjoy will make you a happier individual and can in turn take some of the pressure off your partner from being your sole adult sounding board. Keep Up Traditions for the Two of You If an annual weekend getaway or monthly dinner and a movie were part of your pre-kids life together, make an effort to stick with these traditions for two. While we typically associate family traditions with holidays and rituals that everyone is in, remember that it’s OK to carve out some adults-only time too. Don’t Play Familial Favorites It’s impossible to feel the same way about your in-laws as you do your own family (for better or for worse), but there’s no surer way to create a divide between yourself and your spouse than playing favorites in front of your kids. Find the good in both sides of the family, and play up the positive in front of your children. If you need to vent or complain, do so when you and your partner are

PHOTO: utahmarriage.usu.edu

Having a swell time together

alone (or, better yet, do so with those fab girlfriends mentioned above!). Present a United Front Is there anything worse than taking a firm stance on a parenting position only to have your partner play “good cop” in front of the kids? Whether it’s a silly request or a serious issue, form a united front to present to your kids, and stick to it both of you.

PHOTO: momitforward.com

Take a Night Off If you can swing it, once a year (or more!), be sure to take a night off all the way off for yourselves. Whether the kids go to sleep over at grandma and grandpa’s, mom and dad check into a hotel or it’s a full-blown weekend getaway, having a full 24-hour respite will do you a world of good! Culled from popsugar of www. circle of moms

40 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

When love conquered all T here is just something about love that keeps everyone guessing most of the time. Once ignited, the fire of affection is hard to put off. That was the story as Chigbo Frank Obasi, son of Sir Sidney and Lady Josephine Obasi, took Chizaram Amarauche Chukwu, daughter of Prof. and Mrs Amarauche Chukwu to the altar recently. The wedding which took place at the Cathedral of Our Lord[CATOL] Anglican Church, Owerri drew a large crowd of family, friends and well wishers to the Eastern Heartland, far from the Abuja abode of the couple. It was a wedding delayed, not denied, as

the clement weather configured emotional bouts of excitement, splashing love in the air and drowning guests in a sea of resplendence. The guest list included Chief Kelechi Akwiwu of Shell, who chaired the reception, Chief Eddie Enwere, a retired Director of the DSS, Prof. Adaobi Obasi, Imo state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr.Anayo Uchegbu,CEO Kenford Industries, Chief Chijioke Nkwapara APC chieftain, Col. Paul Izukanne[rtd],Mrs Adaure Chukwumerije and Sir Victor Anorue of Mobil among so many others.

The couple, Frank and Chizaram Obasi, flanked left by Mr. Uchechi Obasi and Mr. Emeka Obasi

Couple flanked from left by Mrs. Chinwe Anorue, Mrs. May Obasi, Mrs. Wendy Ada Alaribe, Lady Josephine, Mrs. Ezii Ijeomah and Mrs. Chinyelu Obasi

Couple flanked by bride’s parents, Prof. and Mrs. Amarauche Chukwu

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

The kitchen is not our portion

igerians have been thrilled to no end lately by the electioneering campaigns of all political parties across the nation. Some come with such pomp and fanfare, with a parade of Nollywood stars and music artistes, holding the crowd totally spellbound. One of such was the colourful PDP presidential campaign in Delta State last week where the crowd cheered and danced to the music, and nodded to the endless promises of a better future. The first lady, dame Patience Jonathan was present to address the crowd, and as has been the case in recent times, she reacted to the statement by the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari to scrap the office of the first lady if elected to power. Her words: “…that when you come into power you will make sure the office of the first lady is abolished, that women should go back to the kitchen, we have reject(ed) it, the kitchen is not our portion…” Seriously? The kitchen is not our portion? If the kitchen is not our portion whose portion is it? Have the men taken over? Or our domestic staff ? Where I come from ‘a woman’s kitchen’ is almost if not synonymous to her ‘place’ in the household. Have things changed so drastically (in the 21st century)? The statement by General Muhammadu Buhari has received severe attacks from women groups and individuals across Nigeria and beyond; recently from Chioma Ikejiani a Canada based women rights campaigner in a full page advertorial in Sun newspaper of February 4th 2015 titled: Letter To The Nigerian Woman reads in part: “…Anyone who promises to do away with an office that represents and galvanizes 60% of the population to positive developmental action, ought not to be a leader in the 21st century. The era is far in the past and need not be revisited. Nigerian women have a stake in democracy and the office of the first lady means a lot to them….” Yes, the office of the first lady means a lot to us, and we will not welcome anyone ‘scrapping’ it. But let’s look beyond the words of the General and focus for a minute on what might be the reasons behind it - the major one is that the office of the first lady is unconstitutional and allegedly a conduit pipe for stealing public funds. Think of the number of times Nigerians including women have cried out due to untold hardship they had to endure when the first lady passed

by to greet some people in their cities. I was trapped during one of such visits for hours; I could not stop thinking what a pregnant woman in labour would do in such situation. How about the continued call on the president to call his wife to order for breaking protocols, lack of decorum, and for what someone termed ‘Mrs Jonathan’s meddlesomeness’? Those might be enough for someone to call for the scrapping of the office. But then I ask: Is the office the problem? The first lady mounts the podium, and tells us the kitchen is not our portion. Let’s just imagine that one of the women at the rally decides to follows what she said to the letter. She goes home and tells her husband the first lady said the kitchen is not her portion, what do you think would happen in that home? Some have said General Buhari’s statement poses a threat to the place of women in our democracy; Mrs. Patient Jonathan’s statement also poses a threat to the home. None is better than the other, if you ask me. It is possible the first lady did not mean we should abandon our kitchens in that sense, but then every word uttered by a leader or anyone occupying any public office in the land, constitutional or not, should be with some caution. We all know that at campaigns politicians say things just to excite their audience and win their votes without really meaning what they say. The office of the first lady should mean a lot not just to the Nigerian women but also to whoever occupies it. Her position is that of the ‘mother of the nation.’ She must command respect, she must be exemplary in her conduct and in leadership, build and not tear apart, and should look beyond the party she or her husband belongs to, and act in the interest of the nation. I believe that women have much more to offer beyond cooking in the kitchen, and every woman should be given the opportunity to use her potentials to the fullest in other areas she feels called to. But not by abandoning her kitchen, no woman can say she has succeeded in her duties if her kitchen lies in ruins. Without a doubt, managing the home and building a career or business is the biggest challenge facing today’s woman, but God has made available to her the grace and the ability to hold both ends together, and effectively too. Grace Essen is the author of ‘Successful Working Mom’, president and founder Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

Business | Money Line 41

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

FBN Capital predicts further naira devaluation before elections

UNCERTAINTY

Poll shift creates uncertainty in the markets Anthony Chiedu

iting uncertainty created by the postponement of the general elections, FBN Capital Research has predicted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will likely devalue the naira before the new date fixed for the polls. The firm’s position contradicts earlier forecasts by analysts that the apex bank would delay any further devaluation of the local currency until after the elections. Analysts at FBN Capital said in a note issued yesterday that the shift in the date of the elections has created uncertainty in the markets and resulted in more weakening of the naira. The naira, which traded at the official market at N155 was devalued to N168 per dollar last November (8.3 percent depreciation), while the rate at interbank market –where banks buy from one another to cover their positions, moved from N160 to N204.25 per dollar at the start of trad-

ing yesterday before settling at N202.50 per dollar (8.3 percent depreciation). This had compelled dealers to pull the plug on electronic trading in the naira currency after it slid past the key level of N200 to the dollar on fears the postponement of this week’s election could trigger a constitutional crisis. At the parallel market otherwise known as the black market, where the naira fell from N170 to N210 per dollar, the naira has lost 31 per cent of its value between June last year and yesterday. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had at the weekend shifted the date of the elections from the earlier scheduled dates of February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11 because of what it claimed was the failure of the Military to guarantee security for the process. Commenting on the development, FBN Capital said, “The next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) now falls in the week of the elections. We are

aware of the theory that the committee is a pawn of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and would not possibly devalue a second time before the elections. “Our take is different. The rate to track has become the interbank because of the restrictions on access to the auction

system imposed by the CBN. Whenever the committee devalues, it will be following, not driving the market. As in November, we expect that it will set a new midpoint where the top of the new corridor broadly coincides with the then interbank rate. The MPC may devalue at its next meeting or at a

Dayo Ayeyemi

orried by the biting economic crunch, which is already affecting real estate investments, experts in the sector are pushing for the establishment of a construction bank with the mandate to make funds available for the sector. The creation of a special purpose driving construction bank they said, has become necessary given the peculiarities of the sector, which requires long-term funding to drive the industry. The Nigerian construction sector especially the housing sector, has been declared globally as one of

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

the sectors with very high returns on investment. Clamouring for a special bank for the construction industry, former President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Chucks Omeife, said that investment in real estate sector is capital intensive and requires a dedicated bank with long-term funding. He said the government would do well to look into establishing a construction bank in order to empower local sector stakeholders and exploit the great opportunity of job creation. The expert noted that construction industry had been identified as one of the major sectors that can absorb a large number of unemployed Nigerian both skilled and unskilled. He said: “Construction sector has the potential of providing opportunity for skill acquisition for new entrants into the sector and training and retraining of artisans and craftsmen for quality work delivery in the sector.”

He noted that the government would do well by making funds available through the construction bank to assist young and upcoming entrepreneurs in the sector to start up building materials manufacturing and fabrication. “The bank can also be a ready source of fund for local stakeholders to raise funds for construction contract execution with minimum interest rate and also provide the bulk of the funds necessary for housing development,” he said. The former NIOB boss explained that the issue of funds for housing development had been a major problem in the ability and capacity of the nation to bridge the growing housing deficit gap in the country. President of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, had explained that the sector required a construction bank to fund various developmental projects such as roads, bridges and housing across the country.

SEC, NAICOM unite to punish erring insurance firms

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

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

at $50 per barrel. The uncertainty triggered by the polls’ shift was reported to have led to the naira slumping to a record low of N204.25 to a dollar yesterday, bringing trading on the interbank market to a halt as market operators engaged a circuit breaker to allow the market cool off.

Experts iterate need for construction bank

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

special session. The timing will be governed by the weight of interbank market pressures.” According to the firm, although the aim of the CBN is exchange stability and a strong naira, the regulator would have no choice but to devalue the naira if the price of oil remains consistently

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will collaborate to strengthen enforcement actions against insurance companies that misuse funds raised from the capital market. Acting Director General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said this while hosted the Management of NAICOM on a courtesy visit to his office yesterday in Abuja, the commission said in a statement. Deputy Commissioner of Insurance (Technical), NAICOM, Mr. Muhammad Kari, had highlighted some cases currently being investigated by Commission where funds were raised from the capital market and applied for other use by some insurance com-

panies. He said such cases necessitate the involvement of SEC as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market with the responsibility of protecting investors. Responding, Mr. Gwarzo suggested closer cooperation between the two regulatory bodies to ensure erring persons or institutions are swiftly brought to book. “We are ready to work closely with NAICOM to resolve these cases” Mr. Gwarzo said. Currently, collaboration between the two institutions happens within the framework of the Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee (FSRCC). However, Mr. Gwarzo believes the collaboration could be even stronger and more result oriented if the two regulatory bodies were to set up an interagency committee for speedy resolution of the issues.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

11-Feb-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 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 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 434.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 206.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,855.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,307.27

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.19 1.51 2.21 2.46 2.55 3.30 4.38 4.70 6.96 9.09 13.79 14.27 14.77 15.44 19.43

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.90 15.77 15.84 15.89 15.89 15.88 15.84 15.85 15.73 15.58 16.74 16.91 17.10 16.24 16.20

13.11 15.65 15.75 15.81 15.81 15.75 15.74 15.73 15.66 15.52 16.68 16.84 17.01 16.16 16.13

98.09 96.45 98.60 88.07 86.71 87.04 100.45 71.43 102.70 93.35 90.68 76.37 54.11 65.00 76.20

98.24 96.60 98.75 88.22 86.86 87.34 100.75 71.73 103.00 93.65 90.98 76.67 54.41 65.30 76.50

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.28 1.14 1.82 2.18 2.40

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.46 18.15 17.87 16.89 16.89

95.54 99.16 97.12 96.45 93.11

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

309.60

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.55

4.44

17.67

97.37

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.39

3.23

16.61

98.68

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.91

4.46

19.79

95.42

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.91

3.48

18.82

97.32

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.18

1.00

16.89

87.79

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.45

1.00

16.86

96.19

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.89

1.79

17.67

91.91

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.06

1.80

17.68

94.09

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

16.88

95.31

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.26

1.00

16.89

95.77

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.26

4.78

20.67

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.45

1.00

16.89

97.39

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.69 4.78 2.75

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.89 16.84 18.63

97.20 92.45 92.21

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

88.88

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.30

1.00

16.88

94.95

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.79

1.00

16.78

88.09

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.89

1.94

17.71

90.28

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.55

1.44

17.31

93.09

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.58

1.95

17.82

93.08

97.85

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 424.47

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

5.00

17-Aug-15

0.27

4.88

18.79

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.57

1.00

14.34

98.72

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.66

2.63

16.46

98.55

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.63

1.00

16.86

94.65

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.70

1.34

17.20

95.73

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.63

1.00

16.89

91.95

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.65

1.88

17.74

101.04

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.66

3.48

19.34

95.62

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.82

5.20

21.07

95.82

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.82

5.06

20.93

93.27

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.61

1.00

16.87

92.41

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.93

2.29

18.17

96.34

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.02

6.11

21.99

94.18

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.88

2.16

18.04

95.56

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.76

2.76

18.54

88.57

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

16.57

77.99

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

16.57

84.26

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

135.24

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

126.14

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.00

1.00

16.88

84.76

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

16.84

82.80

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 20.89

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.50

7.20

96.44

97.84

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.56

6.18

95.66

96.79

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.75

7.54

91.61

92.83

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,418.57

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

184.46

33.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.96

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.31

91.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

14.02

13.14

81.93

83.92

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

11.29

9.83

84.22

88.24

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.40

40.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

10.87

84.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.99

14.60

78.14

81.84

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

13.38

80.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

24.25 14.53 13.85

24.25 14.10 13.85

46.50 78.63 75.00

46.50 80.13 75.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.81

10.35

89.88

91.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,542.37

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 50

FIXINGS Maturity 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15

Bid Discount (%) 13.37 13.80 13.35 13.20 13.25 13.35 14.20

Offer Discount (%) 13.12 13.55 13.10 12.95 13.00 13.10 13.95

Bid Yield (%) 13.41 13.88 13.46 13.34 13.43 13.56 14.48

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 15.4167 14.8133 15.7368 16.4946

Rate (%)

OBB

11.58

O/N

12.13

Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 11.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

200.05 202.81 203.13 203.88 205.25

200.15 202.93 203.29 204.38 206.33

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

309.60

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.55

4.44

17.67

97.37

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.39

3.23

16.61

98.68

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.91

4.46

19.79

95.42

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.91

3.48

18.82

97.32

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.18

1.00

16.89

87.79

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 201514.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 ‡ /Agusto EDO

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.45

1.00

16.86

96.19

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.89

1.79

17.67

91.91

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.06

1.80

17.68

94.09

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

16.88

95.31

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.26

1.00

16.89

95.77

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.26

4.78

20.67

88.88

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.45

1.00

16.89

97.39

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.69 4.78 2.75

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.89 16.84 18.63

97.20 92.45 92.21

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.30

1.00

16.88

94.95

16.00

4.50

OFFLOADING

Risks scare investors *OSUN ‡ /Agusto *OSUN out of Nigeria ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS equities A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

Investors lose N421bn in three days

Market13.50 watchers 27-Nov-13 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020Mills Plc. 31-Dec-13 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 have attributed the susContinuous bargain 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 in tenance of 14.50 bearish trend activities witnessed 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 Fito the upset in financial the Conglomerates, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE sector arising from drop nancial Services, HealthTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Stories by Chris Ugwu in oil prices and 2015 elec- care, Industrial Goods tions tensions, which and Services sectors, Corporate Bonds 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 to the he bears yesterconsequential effect was also contributed 17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto *UPDC 12.00 FLOURMILLS BBB-/Agusto day maintained *FLOURMILLSa loss of N421 billion 9-DEC-2015 or outlook recorded. 09-Dec-10 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS their stronghold 4.3 per cent within the Specifically, at the 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO on the Nigerian three days of trading in close of trading yester14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH Stock Exchange (NSE) the value of equities. day, the NSE All-Share 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA Index depreciated by as major blue chip *C combenchmark C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 & I LEASING The key18.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 404.42 points or 1.4 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA#{r} indices MPR+7.00 maintained panies joined the league per # MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR taking hits cent to close at 28,721.27 of losers, causing *TOWER mar- downtrend, MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER# mainly from blue chip ket capitalisation and from 29,125.69 recorded 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA byLA CASERA Ashaka the All-Share Index to stocks led15.75 the previous day 18-Oct-13 while 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA # Cement Plc and Flour market capitalisation remain on the red zone. MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS

T Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

Lender seeks SMEs listing on NSE

Business | Financial Market News

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

iamond Bank Plc has called for the listing of companies within the Supranational Bond Micro, Small and Medium scale AAA/S&P IFC Enterprises Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P(MSMEs) AfDB subsector onOUTSTANDING the Nigerian Stock ExTOTAL VALUE change (NSE) so as to boost TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION their capital base. Speaking at a forum recently, Rating/Agency Issuer the Chairman, Board of DirecFGN tors,Eurobonds Diamond Bank, Dr. Chris Ogbechie, BB-/Fitch; B+/S&Psaid this became necessary to enhance the viability BB-/Fitch; FGN of the stock market. BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; Ogbechie said the bank BB-/S&P had distinguished itself as TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE a lender strongly committed TOTAL CAPITALISATION to theMARKET growth of MSMEs and had made significant investCorporate Eurobonds ments in building capacity B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I in the sector as well as givB+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I ing them access toACCESS markets. B+/S&P BANK PLC HeB/S&P said, “FromFIDELITY our BANK deep B/Fitch; PLC experience in the MSMEs B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC sector, we realiseAFREN that B/Fitch PLC this II B+/Fitch; BB-/S&Pvibrant segment ZENITH BANK PLC is a very of B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND PLC the economy, which canBANK conB-/Fitch; B/S&Pup to as much FIRST BANK tribute asPLC60 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III per cent of the national GDP B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II if properly harnessed. B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANKDiaLTD mond Bank has made B-/S&P ECOBANK huge NIG. LTD TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

investments in building capacity within the sector through training, seminars, enterprise development ini10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 tiates increased access 11.25 and AFDB 1-FEB-2021 to funding.” Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, speaking in the same vein, Description said that listing MSMEs on the Exchange would boost the viability 6.75 of JAN the market, 28, 2021 which currently has 200 com5.13 JUL 12, 2018 panies registered on it. Dozie, who noted 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 that this number may be insufficient given the size of the Nigerian economy, said: “At Diamond Bank we do not see investing11.50 inFEB the MSMEs 01, 2016 subsector as7.50 merely corpoMAY 19, 2016 rate social responsibility be7.25 JUL 25, 2017 cause we recognise the huge 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 impact the sector 6.00 NOV 08,can 2018 have on the national economy if 10.25 APR 08, 2019 6.25 APR 2019 well-managed. We22, have be8.75 May 21, 2019 gun encouraging small and 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 to get medium scale businesses 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 registered on the exchange dur9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 ing our 8.00/2Y various engagements USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 with them. 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

11-Feb-13 10-Jul-14

Issue Date

07-Oct-11 12-Jul-13 12-Jul-13

01-Feb-11 19-May-11 25-Jul-12 09-May-13 08-Nov-13 08-Apr-12 22-Apr-14 21-May-14 07-Aug-13 09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14 14-Aug-14

of equities declined 13.50 87.50 to 15.00 N9.583 trillion from5.009.718 14.50 representing 4.55 trillion, a 4.56 drop 15.00 of N135 billion or 460.61 1.4 per cent as market 424.47 sentiment remained negative. At 10.00 the close of 5.00 trans12.00 11 stocks 18.75 actions, appre0.42 ciated14.00 in price as against 13.00 15.00 28 that depreciated in 14.25 5.53 value.13.00 20.00 Beta 18.00 Glass led 0.64 the 16.00 6.30 gainers’ table with a 2.90 to gain 18.00 of 4.90 per cent 0.80 close 16.00 at N30.00 per35.00 share 14.00 while15.75 Julius Berger Plc 2.40 followed 18.00 with a gain 0.41 of

4.10 per cent to5.79close at 1.00 Further 27-Nov-20 16.78 analysis 88.09 of 31-Dec-20 per share. 5.89 17.71 showed 90.28that N44.40 Air 1.94 the trading 31-Dec-20 Plc added 3.55 a gain 1.44 the banking 17.31 93.09 Service subsector of 06-Jan-21 3.91 per cent3.58to close 1.95 of the 17.82 financial 93.08 servicat N1.86 among other es sector remained the price gainers. most active during the On the other hand, day (measured by turn17-Aug-15 Cement 0.27 Nige- 4.88 over volume); 18.79 97.85 Ashaka with 160.8 ria09-Dec-15 Plc led the 0.57 price los- 1.00 million14.34shares 98.72 worth 06-Jan-16 0.66 16.46 98.55 exchanged ers’ table, dropping by 2.63 N1.4 billion 29-Sep-16 1.63 1.00 16.86 94.65 by investors in 1,197 4.99 per cent to close at 25-Oct-16 1.70 1.34 17.20 95.73 N18.28 per share while deals. 30-Sep-17 2.63 1.00 16.89 91.95 Flour Mills Nigeria Plc 1.88 Volume bank30-Nov-17 1.65 17.74 in the 101.04 09-Apr-18 19.34 followed with 1.66 a loss of 3.48 ing subsector was95.62 large09-Sep-18 21.07 by activities 95.82 4.98 per cent to1.82close at 5.20 ly driven 09-Sep-18 20.93 N30.51. Nascon1.82 Plc lost 5.06 in the shares of 93.27 Access 22-Sep-18 3.61 1.00 16.87 92.41 4.97 per cent to close at Bank Plc and Zenith 18-Oct-18 1.93 2.29 18.17 96.34 N6.50 per share. 17-Feb-19 2.02 6.11 Bank Plc. 21.99 94.18 01-Apr-19

2.88

2.16

18.04

95.56

14-Nov-20

5.76

2.76

18.54

88.57

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

16.57

77.99

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

16.57

84.26

Heineken raises dividend

2.05 eineken NV , the 11.93 0.10 world’s third-larg13.25 15.44 est brewer, has 135.24 forecast slowing sales 126.14 in and margin growth 2015, after a year marked by emerging market 10.20 12.00 expansion 11.25 and the soccer 12.95 World Cup allowed 24.95 a sharp dividend hike. 20.89 The Dutch brewer, top Outstanding Value seller in(%) Europe with Coupon ($mm) brands including Amstel, Sol and Cruzcampo as well name, 6.75as its own 500.00 benefited from increased 5.13 500.00 beer sales in Africa, the Americas and Asia. 6.38 500.00 Consolidated operat1,500.00 ing profit before one-off 1,418.57 items rose 6.4 per cent to 3.13 billion euros ($3.5 billion), just above the 11.50 450.00 average of 3.11 billion 7.50 500.00 in a Reuters poll of nine 7.25 350.00 analysts. 6.88 300.00 According to Reuters, 6.00 400.00 the company said300.00 it had 10.25 6.25 to increase 500.00 its decided 8.75 payout ratio 200.00 to dividend 8.25 30 and 40 300.00per between 6.63 cent of net profit360.00 from 9.25 400.00 30 to 35 pro8.00per cent. Its 450.00 posed8.75 total dividend 250.00 of 15.25

Sees slower growth

1.10 euros was well above would take a 25 basis the11-Feb-18 0.95 euro expected. 3.00 1.00 point hit 16.88from the 84.76sale “It’s 14 per cent packaging 01-Feb-21 4.75 ahead. 1.00 of its Mexican 16.84 82.80 When investors are business, meaning marfloundering around for gin expansion would be ideas for income, that below its 40 point annual rates said target. ItPrice grew byOffer 90Price basis Maturityas Date good,” Bid Yield (%) SoOffer Yield (%) Bid ciete Generale analyst, points in 2014. PricesMargin & Yields expansion was Andrew Holland. Heineken shares were greatest in Mexico, Nige28-Jan-21 7.50 7.20 96.44 97.84 up 1.4 per cent at 65.49 ria, Brazil and Vietnam. 12-Jul-18 6.56 95.66 96.79 euros, not far from a re- 6.18 Heineken said, all things being equal, it cord 67.28 set earlier this 12-Jul-23 7.75 7.54 91.61 92.83 month and outperform- could gain 130 million ing peers in the Europe- euros in operating profit an sector. this year from the weaker Heineken, in which euro. However, exports to Mexico’s Femsa is a184.46the United States33.50 would 01-Feb-16 184.46 33.50 major shareholder and only show benefits from 19-May-16 6.96 6.96 100.63 100.63 which competes11.31 with the11.31the stronger dollar from 25-Jul-17 91.50 91.50 2016 because of hedging. likes of SABMiller and 02-May-18 14.02 13.14 81.93 83.92 AB08-Nov-18 Inbev, said it11.29 expected 9.83 Nigeria could 84.22 88.24 feel of security revenue in 2015,41.40the impact 08-Apr-19 to grow 41.40 40.50 40.50 22-Apr-19 10.87expan- 10.87concerns 84.75 and lower 84.75 oil but with slower 21-May-19 15.99 than 14.60prices, though 78.14 81.84 Exsion of beer sales Chief 80.00 in07-Aug-20 2014, partly13.38 because13.38ecutive80.00Jean-Francois 46.50 46.50 said the the09-Dec-20 first half of24.25 last year24.25Van Boxmeer 24-Jun-21 14.53 14.10 78.63 80.13 was so strong. company could weather 23-Jul-21 13.85 13.85 75.00 75.00 For 2015, it10.81said it10.35shocks 89.88 there. 14-Aug-21 91.88

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,542.37

11-Feb-15

The DQL Bills contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial The Information does not constitute **Treasury FIXINGS Moneymarket Market(the “Information”). Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) professional, ensure the (%) InformationOffer is accurate; however, the is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and mayRate not(%) be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee DTMfinancial or investment advice. Maturity We attempt to Bid Discount Discount (%) BidInformation Yield (%) Tenor NIBOR 8 timeliness, completeness, 19-Feb-15 13.41 neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, performance or fitness 13.37 for a particular purpose13.12 of any of the Information, OBB 11.58 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 15 26-Feb-15 22 5-Mar-15 29 12-Mar-15 FGN Bonds 36 19-Mar-15 43 26-Mar-15 50 2-Apr-15 Rating/Agency Issuer 57 9-Apr-15 64 16-Apr-15 71 23-Apr-15 78 30-Apr-15 85 7-May-15 92 14-May-15 99 21-May-15 113 4-Jun-15 120 11-Jun-15 NA 134NA 25-Jun-15 141 2-Jul-15 155 16-Jul-15 162 23-Jul-15 169 30-Jul-15 176 6-Aug-15 204 3-Sep-15 295 3-Dec-15 309 17-Dec-15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 7-Jan-16 330 344 21-Jan-16 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION4-Feb-16 358

13.80 13.35 13.20 13.25 13.35 14.20 Description 13.95 14.00 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.40 13.05 16-AUG-2016 14.05 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.80 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.30 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.30 10.70 30-MAY-2018 14.45 16.00 29-JUN-2019 14.25 7.00 23-OCT-2019 14.45 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.40 12.80 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14.30 15.00 28-NOV-2028 14.35 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.05 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.50 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.00 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 12.65 13.70 14.00 14.20

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Rating/Agency Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk andIssuer liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills #

13.55 13.10 12.95 13.00 13.10 13.95 Date Issue 13.70 13.75 23-Apr-10 13.15 16-Aug-13 13.80 27-Apr-12 12.55 27-Jul-07 13.05 31-Aug-07 13.05 30-May-08 14.20 29-Jun-12 14.00 23-Oct-09 14.20 27-Jan-12 14.15 12.55 14-Mar-14 14.05 28-Nov-08 14.10 22-May-09 11.80 20-Nov-09 13.25 23-Jul-10 11.75 18-Jul-14 12.40 13.45 13.75 13.95

Description

13.88 13.46 13.34 13.43 13.56 14.48 (%) Coupon 14.26 14.35 4.00 13.76 13.05 14.48 15.10 13.19 9.85 13.76 9.35 13.80 10.70 15.13 16.00 14.95 7.00 15.26 16.39 15.25 13.54 14.20 15.27 15.00 15.37 12.49 12.79 8.50 14.60 10.00 13.29 12.1493 14.17 15.64 16.13 16.50

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Rate (%) 15.4167 14.8133 15.7368 16.4946

O/N Tenor

Call (Yrs) TTM

Maturity Date

535.00 NITTY 23-Apr-15 581.39 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 476.80 27-Apr-17 1M 13.1869 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 14.3645 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 14.3838 300.00 30-May-18 6M 14.4273 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.4489 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 17.6389 600.00 27-Jan-22 434.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N)20-Nov-29 200.00 BID($/N) 204.0000 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 204.1000 206.00 18-Jul-34

4,855.63

12.13

REPO

1M 3M 0.19 6M

Rate (%)

Bid11.00 Yield (%) 11.50 12.00 13.90 12.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer 2M Yield (%) 3M 6M 13.11 1Y

1.51 15.77 15.65 2.21 15.84 15.75 NOTE: 2.46 15.89 15.81 2.55 15.89 15.81 :Benchmarks 3.30Bond 15.88 15.75 * :Amortising 4.38Bond 15.84 15.74 µ :Convertible 4.70 Management Corporation 15.85 15.73 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 6.96 15.73 15.66 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 9.09 Mortgage Bank15.58 15.52 IFC: International 13.79 Finance Corporation 16.74 16.68 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.27 16.91 16.84 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 14.77 17.10 17.01 O/N: Overnight 15.44 16.24 16.16 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 19.43 16.20 16.13 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

200.05 200.15 202.81 202.93 Price 203.29 203.13 203.88 204.38 205.25 206.33 Bid Price Offer Price 206.62 208.24 211.33 214.53 98.09 98.24 221.38 227.39

96.45 96.60 98.60 98.75 88.07 88.22 86.86 NA :Not 86.71 Applicable 87.04 # :Floating Rate Bond 87.34 100.45coupon bonds 100.75 ***: Deferred 71.43 71.73 103.00 ‡ : Bond102.70 rating under review †: Bond 93.35 rating expired 93.65 N/A :Not90.68 Available 90.98 {r} :Issuer in receivership 76.37 76.67 54.11 54.41 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 65.00 65.30 UBA: United Bank for Africa 76.20 76.50

4,307.27

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.28 1.14 1.82 2.18 2.40

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.46 18.15 17.87 16.89 16.89

95.54 99.16 97.12 96.45 93.11

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

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

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

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

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

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

Weighting by Mkt Value

24.56 2.70 INDEX 112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket322.68 Weighting

309.60

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

1,030.87

1,058.18

32.64

34.98

0.33

13.10

15.81

117.7742

1,118.61

3<5

1,374.86

1,385.98

42.75

46.65

0.43

46.34

15.70

119.5697

1,012.47 -

0.0099

541.49

797.57

24.60 31-Aug-10

12.5018.37

8.50 0.25

40.56 31-Aug-15

16.23 0.55

81.7999 4.44

956.38 17.67

5.0278 97.37 95.42

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI2,947.21 30-SEP-2015

3,241.73

100.00 30-Sep-15

15.93 0.39

109.6910 3.23

1,047.45 16.61

0.9718

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI Market

100.00 30-Sep-10

100.00 13.00

4.18 1.00

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.91

4.46

19.79

0.7326 98.68

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.91

3.48

18.82

97.32

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.18

1.00

16.89

87.79

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.45

1.00

16.86

96.19

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.89

1.79

17.67

91.91

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.06

1.80

17.68

94.09

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

16.88

95.31

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.26

1.00

16.89

95.77

Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015

Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059

Business | Capital Market

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015 Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 11, 2015

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 14 9 23

Current Price 27.50 30.45

Quantity Traded 107,838 86,725 194,563

Value Traded 2,889,987.74 2,651,950.25 5,541,937.99

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 2.20

Quantity Traded 10,700 10,700

Value Traded 22,453.00 22,453.00

205,263

5,564,390.99

Quantity Traded 35,523 230 30,237,122 788,307 31,061,182

Value Traded 42,535.62 211.60 76,855,338.15 28,831,709.18 105,729,794.55

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES

Diversified Industries Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059 JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

26 Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 7 1 149 41 Daily Summary (Equities) 198

CONGLOMERATES Totals

198

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other

Current Price 1.20 0.96 2.54 36.50

31,061,182

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

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

105,729,794.55

Page Quantity Traded 115,305 115,305

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals Current Price 17 44.40 17

Quantity Traded 2,017,123 2,017,123

Value Traded 89,169,661.99 89,169,661.99

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals Current Price 8 11.94 8

Quantity Traded 20,176 20,176

Value Traded 228,997.60 228,997.60

2,152,604

89,479,373.09

No. of Deals Current Price 5 0.50 5

Quantity Traded 3,407,435 3,407,435

Value Traded 1,703,717.50 1,703,717.50

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price CHAMPION 7 6.25 GOLDBREW 3 0.93 GUINNESS 32 125.00 INTBREW 6 19.41 Daily Summary (Equities) NB 154 131.80 202

Quantity Traded 77,763 23,973 50,822 15,200 17,951,666 18,119,424

Value Traded 486,018.75 22,841.81 6,167,022.52 280,324.00 2,369,479,039.17 2,376,435,246.25

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015 CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059

GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

33 Symbol DUNLOP

Page

1 of 11 Value Traded

80,713.50 80,713.50

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 25 25

Current Price 157.00

Quantity Traded 132,182 132,182

Value Traded 20,747,200.00 20,747,200.00

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 23 31 109 20 25 2 1 211

Current Price 3.97 6.80 30.51 3.15 6.50 18.05 13.11

Quantity Traded 387,564 725,157 976,686 250,500 451,286 5,445 100 2,796,738

Value Traded 1,541,718.97 4,935,076.64 29,884,933.04 788,358.46 2,933,359.00 93,381.75 1,299.00 40,178,126.86

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 15 74 89

Current Price 39.00 764.75

Quantity Traded 30,829 1,586,479 1,617,308

Value Traded 1,135,020.85 1,213,285,954.12 1,214,420,974.97

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 18 5 23

Current Price 3.42 0.97

Quantity Traded 299,350 50,520 349,870

Value Traded 1,020,800.50 46,994.00 1,067,794.50

No. of Deals 29

Current Price 26.99

Quantity Traded 218,106

Value Traded 5,800,514.56

No. of Deals Current Price 19 35.00 48

Quantity Traded 86,110 304,216

Value Traded 2,882,357.66 8,682,872.22

26,727,173

3,663,235,932.30

Quantity Traded 65,385,076 9,141,182 4,754,639 1,695,743 8,036,280 6,161,108 494,023 21,030,509 305,150 1,039,505

Value Traded 390,910,544.60 34,570,437.05 80,801,614.47 1,957,659.37 152,140,976.53 11,449,834.22 1,145,902.90 64,993,150.41 2,746,558.05 938,943.42

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Totals Daily Summary asProducts--Diversified of 11/02/2015

Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059 Household Durables

VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol PZ

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Personal/Household Products UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary of 11/02/2015 SKYEasBANK PLC Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059 STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. WEMA BANK PLC.

603 Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN WEMABANK

No. of Deals Current Price 95 5.88 77 3.80 49 17.00 59 1.18 206 18.91 63 1.83 7 2.32 253 3.03 37 9.00 26 0.93

Daily Summary (Equities)

1,928,516,904.90

Quantity Traded 773 517,065 93,793 102,570 8,160 722,361

Value Traded 1,584.65 1,593,838.40 3,762,471.52 143,476.60 5,793.60 5,507,164.77

722,361

5,507,164.77

Quantity Traded 122,130 5,009 529,338 744,057 139,320 446,023

Value Traded 2,242,260.40 187,260.47 5,024,823.23 114,381,664.20 211,244.00 37,555,801.02

Page

No. of Deals 172

Current Price

Quantity Traded 1,985,877

Value Traded 159,603,053.32

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 1.54

Quantity Traded 71,000 71,000

Value Traded 110,060.00 110,060.00

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 4 1 5

Current Price 30.00 12.08

Quantity Traded 141,931 2,300 144,231

Value Traded 4,246,610.00 26,404.00 4,273,014.00

2,201,108

163,986,127.32

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Daily Summary as of Oil 11/02/2015 Integrated and Gas Services Totals Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC.

181 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,600 3,600

Value Traded 1,800.00 1,800.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 174 174

Current Price 13.99

Quantity Traded 4,310,331 4,310,331

Value Traded 60,342,156.63 60,342,156.63

Symbol No. of Deals CONOIL 17 ETERNA 10 Daily FO Summary (Equities) 66

Current Price 32.60 2.64 200.00

Quantity Traded 29,015 143,700 161,330

Value Traded 905,209.28 369,335.00 32,218,172.92

Page

Published by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © Activity on Board EQTY OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015 SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059 Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers

Symbol MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 8 6 107

Current Price 150.00 144.50

Quantity Traded 6,548 3,060 343,653

Value Traded 976,352.50 428,596.00 34,897,665.70

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 368.20

Quantity Traded 123,766 123,766

Value Traded 47,130,833.95 47,130,833.95

4,781,350

142,372,456.28

OIL AND GAS Totals

312

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.88

Quantity Traded 30,880 30,880

Value Traded 25,939.20 25,939.20

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 2 6 8

Current Price 3.90 0.91

Quantity Traded 55,000 344,532 399,532

Value Traded 214,500.00 313,969.44 528,469.44

Hotels/Lodging

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.17

Quantity Traded 155,000 Page 155,000

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 23,000 23,000

Value Traded 11,500.00 11,500.00

Printing/Publishing

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 1 2 4

Current Price 1.18 1.21 3.89

Quantity Traded 13,000 2,000 1,000 16,000

Value Traded 15,080.00 2,520.00 3,700.00 21,300.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 53.00 53.00

Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Daily Summary as of AFRICA 11/02/2015 LEARN PLC Printed 11/02/2015 15:10:59.059 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) ABCTRANS

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 37 0.80 10 0.86 2 2.96 1 0.50 6 0.55 3 0.50 1 0.50 1 0.50 24 0.50 85

Quantity Traded Page 3,973,933 192,600 3,000 2,000 153,439 55,000 2,000 2,000 1,022,261 5,406,233

4Value Traded of 11 3,298,162.99 158,183.00 8,848.32 1,000.00 84,591.45 27,500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 511,130.50 4,091,416.26

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals Current Price 15 0.82 15

Quantity Traded 542,050 542,050

Value Traded 447,581.50 447,581.50

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC.

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX

No. of Deals Current Price 18 2.77 12 3.96 603 6.97 85 2.09 3 0.51

Quantity Traded 119,068 5,527,408 53,594,842 43,593,004 94,026

Value Traded 335,765.75 21,337,149.24 372,489,692.90 88,545,670.63 48,093.26

Value Traded 491,350.00 of 11 491,350.00

Page

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 7 16 23

Current Price 1.86 4.65

Quantity Traded 173,800 59,705 233,505

Value Traded 324,306.00 270,253.60 594,559.60

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 2.90

Quantity Traded 1,750 1,750

Value Traded 5,075.00 5,075.00

859,767

1,678,246.24

EQTY Board Totals

3,512

339,451,447

6,106,070,390.44

Equity Activity Totals

3,512

339,451,447

6,106,070,390.44

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

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE SOVRENINS UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ASHAKACEM 10 18.28 CAP 7 38.75 CCNN 39 9.36 DANGCEM 67 152.00 PAINTCOM 8 1.50 Daily Summary (Equities) WAPCO 41 83.00

270,740,639

Symbol

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Value Traded 684,743,279.58 1,426,398,900.60

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded 42,816,768 160,859,983

Page

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC Daily Summary as of 11/02/2015 CAP 15:10:59.059 PLC Printed 11/02/2015 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Building Materials Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 325 15.94 1,197

No. of Deals Current Price 1 2.15 12 3.08 13 40.10 4 1.42 3 0.74 33

Value Traded 14,202,691.32 619,943.44 497,579,006.54

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol ZENITHBANK

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

Quantity Traded 579,822 424,203 103,932,373

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

2,071

HEALTHCARE Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 8 0.73 8

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 28 24.70 25 1.46 774

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

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

Symbol STANBIC UBCAP

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 2 1 4 7

Current Price 9.40 2,407.00 12.89

Quantity Traded 10 49 2,120 2,179

Page

Value Traded 94.00 117,943.00 27,643.30 145,680.30

Daily Summary (ETP)

ETF Board Totals

2,179

145,680.30

ETP Activity Totals

2,179

145,680.30

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Features A

s Nigerians were heaving the sigh of relief over the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), another viral disease, bird flu, came calling. Within two weeks after the outbreak in Lagos and Kano states, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, announced that avian influenza otherwise called bird flu has spread to 11 states. According to him, the scale of mortality of affected poultry products occasioned by the disease is monumental. Akinwunmi disclosed that as at January 21, 139,505 birds had been exposed to the disease with 22,173 mortality recorded. He said: “As at January 27, 232,385 were exposed and 51, 444 mortality recorded.” The high number of deaths recorded has left many wondering what could be amiss. Why are chickens and turkeys dying en masse? Why are the deaths spreading to other poultries like a wildfire in the harmattan? The poultry products have been hit by avian influenza, a respiratory disease of birds caused by the influenza A type virus. It is an infectious disease. On January 15, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement that there had been an increasing number of deaths of animals in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Lagos and Kano. Test conducted on the dead birds at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State showed that they were infected with H5 Strain of Avian Influenza virus. According to a Professor of Virology, Oyewale Tomori, the high pathogenic type currently ravaging poultries in the country is a more serious and devastating disease that causes very high mortality rate in affected birds. The disease is present in wild waterfowl species and many common species of poultry, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants and quail, as well as in a variety of other birds like parrots, cockatoos, and parakeets. Some species are more resistant to infection and can serve as asymptomatic transmitters of the disease. Reacting to the outbreak, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, advised the public to be vigilant. He said: “Report any person, dead or alive with a history of having been in direct or indirect contact with dead poultry or confirmed case of the disease to the health and agriculture departments of the nearest local government area office or the directorate of disease control in the state Ministry of Health.”

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

From Ebola to bird flu Weeks after the outbreak of Ebola in the country, Nigerians now face challenges of combating avian influenza, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

A poultry farm

hand-washing as one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. Speaking on how those handling eggs, poultry feeds, bird products such as chickens, turkeys for cooking in domestic/commercial environment can protect themselves, Tomori, who is also the president of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), said, “by maintaining strict rules of hygiene, and wearing gloves, they can prevent direct contact with raw materials – blood, faeces, etc of potentially infected birds. The danger is in direct contact with infected poultry products.”

Idris

Similarly, Idris urged poultry farmers to report high death rates among poultry to the Ministry of Agriculture. In an alert he issued recently, the commissioner also advised the public to avoid contact with chickens, ducks or other birds including their feathers, faeces and other wastes in areas where bird flu is known to exist. Idris urged the public to cook all chicken and related products thoroughly before eating. “The process of our type of cooking will kill most viruses in bird products,” he said. According to medical experts, cooking chicken and other related products for at least 20 minutes before eating is enough to kill any virus that may have been in the meat. Idris added that the virus is found in the faeces of infected birds and in

Tomori

secretions from their noses, mouths and eyes. The virus can spread into domestic flocks kept outdoors through faecal contamination from wild birds, whereas infection among indoor flocks is spread via secretions and faeces. Although, Nigeria reported one human case of H5N1 in 2007, no human case has been recorded in the present outbreak, said Tomori. Hence, based on the possibility of animal to human transmission, the issue of maintaining hygiene is paramount. The washing of hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, particularly after touching any poultry - chicken, turkey, eggs or other bird meat - is an imperative. Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommend

Signs and symptoms The signs and symptoms of bird flu in poultry products include sudden deaths without any signs, diarrhoea, swelling of the comb and eyelids, coughing and sneezing, nasal discharge, discolouration of the combs, wattles and legs, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs and decreased egg production. Spread When laboratory test confirms the outbreak of HPAI such as the type that is ravaging poultries in the country now, Tomori said affected farms should be quarantined – nothing gets out and nothing comes in. He said: “There should be an immediate disposal or culling of infected and contact flocks, proper disposal and disinfection of all infected materials, a thorough surveillance of farms in surrounding areas to detect other affected farms, very strict regulation of movements (poultry and products), and proper management of live bird markets.”

News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Unions sue Ado Poly governing council SOLIDARITY

For suspending their activities, unions call for Governing Council chairman’s sack Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

ll the three trade unions at the Federal Po ly t e ch n i c, Ado-Ekiti, have dragged the Governing Council and the management of the institution before a

•Demand chairman, rector’s sack Federal High Court, AdoEkiti, over the suspension of union activities in the school. The unions; the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP); the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU), at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, called for the sack of the Chairman of the school’s governing Council, Mr Victor Ebomoyi,

for acting contrary to extant laws regulating union activities. Ebomoyi, had last Friday, issued a statement suspending all the workers’ unions as well as Student Union Government. Speaking on the development, the Chairman of ASUP, Mr Tunji Owoeye, accused the council of conniving with the Rector, Dr. Theresa Akande, to run the institution like her personal estates. “The Governing Coun-

cil went on air last Friday to announce the suspension of union activities and only gave us letters to that effect on Tuesday. We have gone to court to challenge that. Our unions were duly registered and no failed politician would be allowed to wake up from the wrong side of the bed to talk nonsense,” he said. Owoeye, said the Governing Council Chairman, Ebomoyi, breached civil service rules and

procedures by laying claim to the headship of the council. “While serving in the council, he did not resign his appointment as legally demanded before seeking Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for Edo South Senatorial District. He lost his bid and returned to the council, this is illegal,” he noted. Corroborating Owoeye’s position, the Chairman of SSANIP, Dr Oluwole Ayeni, the Secretary of NASU, Mr Tope Ajayi, alleged that Akande, owed workers

nearly N400 million in cooperative deductions. They also accused the rector of deducting outrageous amounts as pensions, from full time and casual workers, contrary to the provisions of pensions laws. “When we chorused that we needed one of us as the rector, we never knew we were courting trouble. We got one and she has since been whipping us with scorpions. She is claiming all is well with the institution, how many students have resumed now?

Accord tackles Ajimobi on teachers’ leave bonus ccord party has con- employed over 700 mediA demned the inability cal doctors when records of the Governor Abiola at the State Health Man-

L-R: Promo winners, Francis Oshin; Bassey Elesiok; Aladesanmi Ojo; Tawakalitu Ayedun; Glo Ambassador, MI Abaga; promo winners, Otulupe Okolo; Clement Dopamu; Folake Atolagbe and others, during the presentation of N1m cheque each to 20 customers in the ongoing N120m Glo Overload Promo at Yaba Market, Lagos…on Tuesday

Ajimobi’s, led administration in Oyo State, to pay teachers’ leave bonus in the past one year, as well as the stoppage of subvention to all parastatals’ including the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, saying the development has left hundreds of staff without salary since December. In a statement signed by the party’s director of public analysis Prince Dotun Oyelade, Governor Ajimobi, was accused of being economical lavish with the truth, with his claim on a live debate on Premier FM two weeks ago, that his administration has

agement Board, shows that there were only 223 medical doctors in Oyo State, as at this month of February. Accord, also pleaded with Governor Ajimobi, to refrain from cordoning the secretariat flyover from public use, for easy access to all parts of the State capital, which would also boost business in the city, to personnel at the secretariat and other motorists, stating that a situation where even the deputy governor and members of cabinet cannot access the flyover portrays the government as being draconian.

Kashamu: PDP ‘ll restore development in Ogun Ekiti, NEVMA Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has said that his party would restore development to the rural areas of the state. Kashamu, who spoke in Ogun Waterside local government area of the state during his senatorial campaign tour, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in the state, had

abandoned the grassroots in the scheme of things. He stated that he was in the senatorial race to attract massive development to the zone and particularly the rural areas. Kashamu, who is also the Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of South West PDP, said the party was prepared to win the general election at all levels. He promised that if President Goodluck Jonathan was re-elected at the presidential poll, the Ogun Waterside area,

would witness monumental economic growth. “I am in this race to bring development to the grassroots. Our party is unlike the APC which is full of propaganda in its approach to governance. APC government is only interested in awarding contracts in the urban areas without considering the people at the grassroots. When I’m elected, I shall concentrate more on the rural areas,” he added. Kashamu, contended that the turnout at the rally was an indication that

the grassroots was ready to cast their votes for PDP in the coming elections. Also speaking at the event, the PDP governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, described Ogun Waterside as a major local government with economic prospects. Isiaka said the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration failed to explore the economic value of the zone, adding that all the state government did was to concentrate development projects in urban areas.

APC alleges fraud in cars’ seizure Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ayo Fayose, of alleged unwholesomeness in the seizure of official vehicles belonging to government functionaries under former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The party also accused the governor of plans to use cronies from Ibadan to buy up the seized cars and later deposit them at his newly-refurbished car showroom in Ibadan for sale to the public. APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, that it has confirmed that the governor has

a hidden agenda to buy up the seized cars in a contrived auctioning arrangement with his cronies, who would later surrender the cars to the governor’s newly-refurbished car showroom in Ibadan for onward sale to the public. “To give the impression that the auctioning is transparent, some Ekiti people will be given

auction forms to fill and actually participate in the auctioning session. Another set of people from Ibadan will also participate in the auction, but they will be the prime beneficiaries of the auction in the ratio of 90 to 10 percent in favour of Ibadan cronies, who are buying up the cars on behalf of the governor,” Olatubosun said.

collaborate on bird flu Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State branch of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NEVMA), has distributed biosecurity materials worth several thousands of naira to live poultry entrepreneurs , as part of steps to prevent the spread of the Avian lnfluenza disease to the state. The association Chairman, Dr. Odunayo Alo, who supervised the distribution of the materials, which included disinfectants and sprayers among others in Ado-Ekiti, charged the beneficiaries to ensure the efficient use of the products to ensure that human and live poultry, were not exposed to the Avian Influenza virus. Alo, who affirmed that the gesture became imperative based on the notification by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the federation that the Nigerian poultry industry, which according to him is worth

about N700 billion, was under the threat of Avian Influenza, said those who deal in poultry and other related products needed to be sensitised and assisted to ensure the disease is kept at bay. “We must be proactive in our approach to the issue of Avian Influenza. Though no outbreak of the disease has been recorded in this state, yet, we think it is necessary to give these important items to these stakeholders so that they can ensure the upkeep of their poultry and the pen environment. “lf the poultry industry is contributing N700 billion to the nation’s economy, you can imagine the proportional economic gains it gives to the economy.”, he stated.

change of nameS

Ajayi

I formerly known and addressed as Salawu Olushola Damola now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Olushola Damola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Lawmakers probe Elechi’s financial dealings Uchenna Inya and Charles Onyekwere

I’m not a thief, says gov

bonyi State House of Assembly, yesterday commenced investigation into the financial dealings of Governor Martin Elechi with a view to unraveling alleged cases of corruption presently rocking his administration. The House, which noted with dismay, the level of corruption being perpetuated by both state

and local government officials for quite some time now, summoned the state Accountant-General, Mr. Edwin Igbele, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Chief Timothy Odaah, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Celestine Nwali and the Auditor-General, Boniface Ezeagu. Also summoned were

121m

The total number of active mobile (GSM) lines of Nigeria in November 2013. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Heads of Personnel Management (HPM) and treasurers of the 13 local government areas of the state to appear before it during the next plenary session. The House further threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on any government official who failed to appear before it. As part of its resolution, the House further declared the seats of its members who decamped

542m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of developed countries in 2011. Source: Itu.int

to another political party ahead of the 2015 general election vacant. Those affected were Hon. Helen Nwobashi, representing Abakaliki South constituency, Hon. Eni Uduma, representing Afikpo South West, Hon. Mabel Aleke, representing Ohaukwu South constituency and Hon. Sam Nwali, representing Ikwo North state constituency. Reacting to the declaration by the state House of Assembly, the four affected lawmakers represented

17.9m

The total population of Australia and New Zealand in 1980. Source: Un.org

by Hon. Eni Uduma, argued that the resolution of the House was illegal, unconstitutional and an effort in futility. “The resolution of the House today has declared the end of the 4th House Assembly, because with those allegedly affected; the House can no longer seat constitutionally as it contravened section 91 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.” Meanwhile, Ebonyi State governor, Martin Elechi, yesterday called

Uzodimma: No plan to leave PDP Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

L-R: Chairman, Centre for Corporate Governance/Second Vice-President, Institute of Directors (IoD), Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Mohammed; Acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo and former President, IoD/member of the centre, Mr. Chike Nwanze, during a courtesy visit to the centre in Abuja….on Tuesday

on the anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to examine the state’s financial expenditure closely and tell him where he has stolen government funds. Elechi spoke yesterday while inaugurating the Oferekpe mega-water scheme, which became operational following the completion of the project.

he Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has debunked media reports that he was planning to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the speculation was intended to destroy his reputation and ridicule him before his constituents. In a statement signed by him, which was also made available to our correspondent, Uzodimma described as untrue the speculation that he may dump the party for the APC because two of his associates recently resigned from the ruling party. He said it was farfetched, the imputation that he might jump ship simply because the erstwhile director-general of his campaign organisation and another associ-

ate had dumped the PDP for personal reasons. “How can I, the senatorial candidate of the PDP, abandon the ship for a sinking boat like APC? Would that not be tantamount to madness?,” he asked. “I have kept PDP alive both in Orlu zone and Imo State; others have acknowledged me as the pillar of the party, so why would I dump the party?” Uzodimma, who accused his political detractors of fuelling the speculation to cause confusion among his supporters, said they were looking for a name to market APC because Orlu people had rejected the party. “APC has been roundly rejected in Imo State. Maybe since they know that PDP with me as the candidate will win the election, they needed a prop and at the same time, they wanted to confuse the voters,” he said.

Outrage as PDP, APGA berate Okorocha over attack on widows Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ndignation has continued to trail the attack on widows by thugs allegedly supervised by commissioners and aides of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday in Owerri.

The clashes, which also led to a brutal attack on a journalist, Etuk Eric, of the Nigerian Television Authority, has been widely condemned by stakeholders and political parties, who view same as an assault on the entire women population in the state. While Gover nor

Poll shift thrills Otti Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he Alex Otti Campaign Organisation yesterday said the shift in the election timetable by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) will give it more time to cover the entire state to ensure total victory against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State. Reacting to the postponement yesterday at the

Library Avenue campaign office, Director of Special Duties, Chief Nwaka Inem, said with the shift in the date, APGA would extend its victory from five to ten goals to nothing against the PDP even as it would give more people time to collect their permanent voters’ card. He said the Abia State government by its antics against APGA candidate was clearly afraid of the rising popularity of Dr. Alex Otti.

Okorocha has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding the protest that led to the crisis, the PDP has responded through its spokesman, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, who said there was no longer a guarantee of the security of lives and property of the people under the

Okorocha administration with such brazen attack. He said: “We condemn this violence on Imo people opposed to the APC administration. Most regrettable is the fact that these thugs are kept and trained with tax-payers money at ICAPS on Egbu Road.

“Peaceful demonstration is a democratic right of Nigerians and to use thugs to attack such peaceful protesters is barbaric,” Onuegbu said. The United Progressives Party (UPP) Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Chidi Emeagi, in his reaction, described it as an unfortunate situa-

tion that may be a sign of what is to come in the elections. He said: “The culture of intolerance that has crept into our politics is alien to our people and should serve as a red flag to voters to be circumspect as they vote. Our politics is pervaded by fraud and rented crowd.”

Jonathan’s men rally Ufomba promises to clear Abia salary arrears Enugu electorate for PDP Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he arrears of salaries and pensions owed workers in the Abia State public service, including local government council workers, has become a campaign issue among politicians in the state even as the APGA factional gover-

norship candidate, Chief Reagan Ufomba, assured the workers that he would clear the arrears if elected governor. Also, he said there would be a boarding school in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, which would help to mould the characters of the children and imbue them with the virtues of discipline.

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

ormer Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Nigerian ambassador to Uganda and one time minority whip in the House of Representatives, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, as well as the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani,

yesterday rallied round the electorate in Enugu State as they campaigned for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The three PDP leaders in the state said nothing would be left undone within this period of the polls’ shift to deliver all the candidates of the party during the general election.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC boycotts Delta peace pact signing AWOL APC flagbearer O’tega Emerhor shuns peace deal in Asaba Dominic Adewole ASABA

he Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday boycotted the peace treaty meeting convened for all registered political parties in the state, towards a violence-free elections.

While the party’s decision was indicated by the absence of its governorship candidate, Chief O’tega Emerhor, the party did not give any reason for its non-representation at the event. There was, however, a mild drama at the event, as two candidates laid claim to the House of Representatives’ ticket of the Accord Party (AP). But shortly after the tension generated by the parallel candidacy issue simmered down, the governorship flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sena-

tor Ifeanyi Okowa and his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Chief Great Ogboru, signed a peace pact to ensure that peace reigns before, during and after the election in the State. In their separate remarks at the occasion, the rival candidates agreed not only to move against anything that would lead to spilling of blood, but to also ensure that violence was not recorded before, during and after the exercise. They both agreed to immediately commence their crusade against violence through their campaigns.

The deal, put together in Asaba yesterday by the State Police Command, was witnessed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was also a signatory to the pact, supervised by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Musa Daura, Zone ‘B’ Benin and the State Commissioner of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, who urged political players in State to conduct themselves in good manner. The peace pact signing was a success with candidates appending their signatures to the peace pact.

Daura specifically cautioned the three governorship candidates of the PDP, APC and Labour parties, to prevail on their supporters to embrace peace, warning that the Police was ready to deal decisively with any politician or their supporters caught fomenting trouble. In his response, Ogboru, described the treaty as a welcome development, calling on those he described as trouble makers, to be wary of going ahead of plans to forment trouble with the signing of the peace pact.

Mr. Charles Emetulu (left) and Sir. Tony Obuh, talking oath of office as honourable commissioners in the Delta State Executive Council at the Government House, Asaba… yesterday.

Emetitiri faults poll shift Gabriel Choba Ughelli

member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Isaac Emetitiri, has said the postponement of the presidential and governorship elections was a deliberate plot by the ruling People’s Democratic Party PDP to frustrate the resolve of Nigerians to vote against the present government. Emetitiri, at a briefing yesterday, also appealed to members of

Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

ollowing a gun duel between opposing political thugs, on Thursday February 5th, 2015 at Ugono-Orogun community, Ughelli North Local Government, the Delta Central Labour Party, LP Senatorial candidate, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege and the Ughelli constituency 1 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate,

the APC and Nigerians not to compromise their desire for change, urging them to patiently wait to vote PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan out of office on March 28. He also stated that by the Uvwiamughe declaration made by the entire Urhobo nation, the one million votes of Urhobo would go to General Mohammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate and Chief Otega Emerhor, APC governorship candidate in Delta state, as sole candidates of Urhobo nation.

Uduaghan swears in Obuh as Commissioner Dominic Adewole ASABA

former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state, Sir Tony Obuh, was yesterday sworn-in as a Commissioner by the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Obuh, who had put in 32 years in the State’s civil service, resigned as the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, to contest the governorship seat of the State. Obuh lost in the December 8, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, with Governor Uduaghan believed to have influenced his withdrawal for the party’s governorship candidate. While Uduaghan has not announced the new Commissioner’s portfolio, New Telegragh, however, gathered that he may emerge as the State’s Commissioner of Finance. The position has been vacant since Chief Bernard Okumagba, resigned from the governor’s cabinet over two year ago. Since then, the office had been merged with the Commssioner for Economic Planning portfolio, headed by Chief Kenneth Okpara.

Okrika people to Jonathan: Call your wife to order Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he people of Okrika and Ogu Bolo, areas of Rivers, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, to prevail on his wife to allow the police to provide security for the All Progressives Congress, APC campaign rallies in the local government area, alleging that she has, by her actions, been exposing the party’s loyalist to the danger of attack through her undue influence.

The people of the local government areas had alleged that the President’s wife has made it very difficult for the APC rally to hold in the area by visiting Okrika, the rally’s venue whenever the party had finalized arrangement for it to hold. Their spokesman, Tamuno Willaims, the APC campaign director in Okrika, who protested the non protection of the party’s members at the APC campaign secretariat in Port Harcourt with other party faithful in the areas, shortly after meeting with

the Rivers State Police Command, told newsmen that the people of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo are Nigerians, who have the constitutional right to be protected. Tamuno, along Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner for Information, and the Director of Communications of Dr. Dakuku Peterside Cmapiagn Organization, described the inability of the police to provide security as ‘’a sad day for democracy.’’ “The President should call his wife to order by performing his duties as the Commander in

Chief by ensuring there is security for the APC in Okrika,” said Willams, adding that the First Lady’s arrival to Port Harcourt yesterday, was what led the police to tell them not to hold the rally today, because they cannot provide security. Citing the bombing of the APC headquarters in Okrika on January 9, the shootings and destructions at the venue of its campaign, that was never held, Williams, said the APC was being threatened and intimidated in Okrika.

Omo-Agege, Mariere bicker Court set to hear case against INEC While granting the adINEC, was dragged to over gun attack on supporters Joe Obende journment on Tuesday court by Mr. Felix OnMr. Samuel Mariere, have accused each other’s camps of being responsible for the arms attack on their supporters. In a petition to the Ughelli Police Command through his counsel, Oderohwo alleged that Mariere, ordered his thugs to open fire on his supporters, at a gathering of resi-

dents, who were awaiting the LP’s campaign train scheduled to visit the area on the same day. Mariere, however, debunked the allegation, in a petition to the State Police Commissioner, saying it was his campaign train that was attacked by thugs loyal to the LP senatorial candidate.

Warri

Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has adjourned till February 24, 2015, hearing on the case of ‘’committal proceeding’’ in a suit filed against the nation’s election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

in Warri, Justice Shittu Abubakar, said it was to enable service of the necessary notices on INEC, promising to give the case an accelerated hearing. Counsel to INEC, Mr Olufemi Adeyemi, had told the court that his client (INEC), was not served the notice as claimed by the plaintiff.

owakpo and Mr John Ewenede, for its refusal to execute the October 31, 2014 court judgement. The court had, on October 31, 2014, ordered INEC to restore forthwith, Ughelli South 1 and Isoko North 1 constituencies of Delta State, which were suppressed by INEC in 1998.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSday, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

News 49

north

2015: We will defend ourselves, says PDP SELF HELP Party complains of attacks from hoodlums, vows to secure members Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said its members will defend

themselves if security agents fail to provide them with adequate security during campaigns. The state Chairman of the party, Chief Abubakar Haruna, who made this known yesterday during a peace meeting, said his party has suffered from attacks by hoodlums who are suspected to be APC members. Key members of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties signed a peace

accord at the Police Officers Mess in the city of Kaduna yesterday. Speaking at the event, Haruna said: “Our posters and billboards are being destroyed on daily basis, wherever we go out on campaign, they pelted us with stones and other dangerous objects.” “The painful aspect is that sometime these things happen in the presence of security agents, who are hindered by order to react. This cannot continue as we will be forced to provide

our own security before the situation deteriorates,” he added. Patrick Dokumor, who convened the meeting which was tagged ‘Kaduna State Peace Accord,’ vowed to prosecute perpetrators of the violence no matter how highly placed they are. Addressing the gathering, Governor Murkhtar Ramaln Yero, who said the peace pact is in the interest of the people, appealed to other parties to warn their members against destroying his

posters. According to him, “I will like to register here that APC has finished its campaign, but we still have four local governments to cover in our statewide campaign. “We are aware of the tactics they have been using against us. But we should respect what we have come here to do. We will replace our posters and we do not expect anybody to remove them. Addressing newsmen shortly after signing the peace pact document,

APC gubernatorial candidate, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, described the initiative as a welcome development. He promised to play his own role to ensure peaceful conduct of campaigns and elections. The former FCT Minister, however, warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against any attempt to further extend the reschedule election date even by one day. According to him, doing so may trigger violence in the country.

North East CAN wants northern region to win presidency

Kwara State Governor Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), receiving plaque of honour from the Chairman, Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Association of Nigeria, (RANAO), Capt. Ibrahim Ahmed, during a courtesy call on the governor in Ilorin.

Plateau APC threatens to withdraw from peace pact Musa Pam Jos

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has threatened to withdraw from the peace pact it recently signed with other parties in the state if the allegation that some political parties are buying off Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC’s) of citizens in exchange for money and food items is not investigated. Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Latep Dabang, stated this yesterday in Jos during a courtesy call on the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Godwin Kwanga. He accused the PDP of underhand tactics, especially in the purchase of PVCs in the wake of the recent postponement of the general election. He said: “We in the

APC are aware that there are plans by the PDP to rig the governorship election in the state.” Dabang called on APC members and supporters in particular and Nigerians in general, not to sell their PVCs under any guise, saying that is the only power they have to effect a meaningful change that can ensure the delivery of democratic dividends to them. “Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP councillors in Plateau State have been collecting PVCs in exchange for money, we saw people queuing to collect bags of rice and fertilizer in exchange for their PVCs,” he alleged. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Godwin Kwanga, promised a level-playing ground for all the political parties contesting for positions in the 2015 general election.

hristians and Muslims in the north have been urged to join forces to ensure that the leadership of the country returned to the north in the forthcoming elections. Chairman, North East zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Shu’aibu Byal, made the call when members of the Arewa Citizens Action for Change (ACAC), paid him a courtesy call in Bauchi yesterday. He said: “In the north, we have a challenge, our parents and great grand parents have left a bad legacy that has not helped our youths, and they have not promoted our young people. “Our forefathers have not been able to put a

super-structure that will move the Muslims and Christians in the region towards togetherness and I pray for the north and its unity,” Byal said. He, however, contended that the north cannot rule itself alone as it must also partner with the south to be able to have one government for the good of the society. The chairman said the adherents of the two religions are tired of being used by politicians that often left them in problems and advised the youths to avoid politicians who were out to spoil their future. “I blame our youths for what we have lost in the past and also blame our elites for not helping matters.”

Group holds summit on violence-free elections Musa Pam Jos

non-governmental organisation, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, yesterday organised a peace summit on the need for a violence free election in the country. The summit, which was held in Jos, was in collaboration with the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria

(CCFN) and was supported by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). Speaking on the topic; “Strategies of promoting violence free elections in 2015,” Prof. Dung Pam, of the University of Jos, said peace is a major prerequisite toward achieving any meaningful development by countries. Pam, who is the Director, Research and Development of the institution, added that

conducting credible, violence free and fair election was one of the ways to achieve peace by any nation. “Peace remains sacrosanct and it plays a key role for any nation that wants to achieve meaningful development. Without peace, there can’t be development. “Electoral violence, whether before, during or after, will always distort the needed peace that will be the catalyst for the desired growth

and development of a nation,” he said. The don explained that Nigerian politicians would usually not play the game according to stipulated rules, taking it to be a ‘do or die affair,’ which could breed electoral violence. Pam, who categorised rigging during election into three primitive, modern and postmodern - said it has remained the bane of conducting a violence free elections in the country.

15, 000 Zamfara farmers to benefit from agric initiative Idris Salisu Gusau

he National Agricultural Payment Initiative (NAPI) that was meant to give farmers financial inclusion in the e-wallet programme, has captured 15, 000 farmers in its registration

exercise in Zamfara State. Speaking during the formal presentation of awards to stakeholders that contributed to the development of the programme, the Programme Representative, Abdullahi Nakwada, said there were several services under the NAPI platform that

farmers would enjoy, ranging from agricultural inputs, tractors and agricultural insurance. Nakwada, who said the farmers would benefit from agricultural cashless financial inclusion, said the award presented to the recipients includes, best agro merchant award,

won by Malam Salisu Mainasara, best agent award, which goes to Kabir Muhammad and the best farmer, which was won by Malam Lawal Maidoki. “We have recorded tremendous success in the programme even as we virtually have little or no challenge to overcome."

News

WORLD | News

Downpour forces airlines to divert flights Wole Shadare

oor visibility forced domestic airlines to make diversions to Abuja and other airports as they could not land in Lagos. The incident was caused by heavy downpour as aircraft on approach, could not take the risk to land due to poor visibility as they were said to have diverted their equipment to other aerodromes. The heavy rain which started at 3pm yesterday,

reduced the visibility below the prescribed 1,800 meters weather minima by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The aviation regulatory body had warned pilots not to take the risk to land their aircraft when there is poor visibility. The NCAA regards it as a serious offence to engage in such exercise that they said could endanger lives. At the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, scores of passengers waited for several hours for their flights to be rescheduled,

occasioned by the delay in the arrival of the other flights. Airlines had to combine their flights on some destinations to enable them meet up with the backlog of passengers at the terminal. Mostly affected were flights into Lagos from Abuja as well as into South Eastern routes of Owerri, Enugu and Asaba. The regulatory agency had earlier issued a weather alert to all Pilots indicating hazards associated with unfavourable in flight operations.

Oshiomhole decries Nigeria’s harsh economy Cajetan Mmuta Benin

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday admitted that things were tough in the country now with the crash in the price of crude oil in the international market. He, however, said the state government will not relent in the provision of infrastructure to the people, in spite of the economic challenges facing the nation, as the state government has the will to weather the storm.  Speaking to reporters during an inspection of roads being reconstructed within the Government Reservation Areas in Benin City, the gover-

nor said: “Leadership is about ordering your priorities; where you choose to put the little you have is a reflection of your values and for me, we will never have all the resources that we need but when we have identified critical areas that need to be addressed that will deliver happiness to majority of our people, we put money there.”  He said while some states prefer to build state-of-the-art Government Houses, stateof-the-art Governor’s Lodge and state-of-theart Presidential Houses, “we want to be able to say we have fixed the roads, fixed hospitals, and fixed schools. To be honest, things are very tough

but like they say, tough times don’t last. We are toughened by the challenges we see. “We are doing something which is designed to last and which will provide relief for all those who live in this part of the city. We are working on Adesuwa Road, Ihama Road, Boundary Road and several others. We are also going to work on Erediauwa, St. Saviour and a number of other roads. We will try and do as many of these roads as we can before the rains start but certainly we can’t finish all the roads within the few months of the dry season that we are currently enjoying but we will do the best we can.

FEC approves eight bills to boost transport sector  Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved eight new bills which will soon be sent to the National Assembly for the establishment of federal agencies and authorities to boost the efficiency of the transport sector. Yesterday’s council meeting, which was the second for the year and presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, devoted much time to discussing the bills.  FEC also approved a National Policy

on Staple Crops Processing Zones, and a National Agency for the Great Green Wall Bill for the agriculture and environment sectors.  The transport sector Bills are the National Transport Commission Bill (2015); National Roads Fund Bill; and the Federal Roads Authority Bill and the Nigeria Ports and Harbour Authority Bill (2015). Others approved are the National Inland Waterways Authority Bill (2015); and Nigeria Railway Authority Bill (2015) as well as

the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill; Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state, who has already pioneered the setting up of a staple crops processing zone in Alape, Kabba Bunu local council area of the state, along with the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, briefed State House correspondents on the food processing bill.  He said that he had earmarked 15 hectares of land for the project, which was expected to provide job opportunities to people of the state.

Obi condoles with Obinna, IG

former Governor of Anambra State and the Deputy Director General of the PDP National Campaign Council, Mr. Peter Obi, has commiserated with the Archbishop of Owerri Most Rev Dr. Anthony Obinna on the death of the Catholic Bishop of Aba Dicoese, Most Rev. Dr. Vincent Ezeonyia.

Obi, who said that his death came to him as a surprise, prayed to the Almighty God to reward him for his dutifulness in shepherding his flock at Aba and other places he worked during his Apostolate. Recalling his encounters with the late Ezeonyia, Obi described his death as a great loss, not only to Aba Diocese and

the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, but to the Universal Church. In the same vein, Obi also commiserated with the Inspector General of Police, IG, Suleiman Abba on the death of AIG Ibrahim Maishanu. Obi, who said he was saddened by his demise, prayed to God for the repose of his soul.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Boko Haram militants attack Chad’s troops

oko Haram militants yesterday attacked Chadian army positions in Gambaru, a town in northeastern Nigeria, yesterday, and were beaten back, Chadian military sources said. Chadian troops are in Gambaru as part of a regional offensive against Boko Haram, whose militants have staged several cross-border attacks over the past week as part of its campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate. “We knew they were going to

attack us. We were waiting. The battle didn’t last long. They fled,” one military source told Reuters. The source said eight Chadian soldiers were wounded, three out of 14 Boko Haram vehicles were destroyed, and one was seized. There was no word on whether any Boko Haram fighters had been killed or wounded. Hundreds of people have been killed in recent fighting in Cameroon, Niger and Chad as well as in Nigeria, according to military sources from the dif-

ferent countries. There is no independent verification of the casualty toll. Mortars and machinegun fire were heard in N’Guigmi on Niger’s border with Nigeria late Tuesday as fighting raged, apparently between Boko Haram and the army, a Niger military source said. The town lies near Lake Chad, around 100 km (60 miles) east of Diffa. Niger’s parliament has unanimously approved sending troops to northern Nigeria as part of the offensive.

President of Libya’s General National,Nouri Abusah main in a meeting with United Nations Special Envoy to Libya,Bernardino Leon.

Rival Libya parliaments in UN-led peace talks

elegates from Libya’s rival parliaments gathered for the first time Wednesday for talks aimed at ending months of instability in the violence-plagued country, the UN mission said. “Participants arrive in #Ghadames for round of political dialogue aimed at ending #Libya’s crisis,” the United Nations Support Mission in Libya said on Twitter. UNSMIL head Bernadino Leon was also attending the talks in the southern Libyan oasis town of Ghadames, a source with the mission told AFP. The

United Nations had said a meeting in Libya would take place this week but without giving a venue, date or the participants, apparently for security reasons. Libya, which is awash with weapons and armed factions following the toppling and death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, has two rival governments and parliaments. Rival militias are also battling for control of its cities and oil wealth.The source said both representatives of Libya’s internationally recognised government and of its rival General National Con-

gress (GNC) were at the meeting. A round of peace talks between warring factions in Geneva late last month ended in a “positive atmosphere,” the UN has said. Participants at the two-day talks included a range of groups and representatives of civil society, who stressed the need to fast-track dialogue on forming a unity government. The GNC, the outgoing parliament which resumed operations under the leadership of the Islamist Fajr Libya militia, boycotted the Geneva meeting, demanding it be held in Libya.

Bloody battles rage ahead of Ukraine peace summit

krainian forces battled pro-Russian rebels for territory yesterday on one of the bloodiest days in the 10-month war ahead of a pivotal peace summit on the conflict. The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany are to meet shortly in Minsk for what the EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini said would be a “turning point for good or bad”. Dozens of people were reported killed in the run-up to the summit,

the climax of a frantic diplomatic push to prevent the worst East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War from escalating. Germany said the meeting, the most intensive international push for an end to the bloodshed in the east of the former Soviet state, offered a “glimmer of hope, nothing more”. But Russia accused by the West of fomenting the conflict by pouring troops and weapons across the border -- voiced op-

timism. “Experts are working, there is noticeable progress,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, although he signalled there would be no flexibility on Ukraine’s demand that it be given back control of its border with Russia. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned he could introduce martial law throughout the country if the Minsk talks failed to stop the war that has already claimed more than 5,400 lives.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

International Sport

Track & Field

AFCON: Ivorian players get house,€ 46,000 each

AFN gives reasons for fewer events in 2015

Sports News

Erico backs Keshi for Eagles job return

Sport

Did you know? That Fernando Torres at ₤50m is the highest transfer between English clubs

Falcons cry out over neglect

Emmanuel Tobi

layers of Nigeria’s women national team, the Super Falcons, have warned Nigerians not to expect anything from the team at the 2015 FIFA World Cup billed for June in Canada following the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation to fashion out a concrete preparation for the team. At the World Cup, which runs from June 6 to July 5, the Super Falcons will be up against

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

l Lament poor preparations, indict NFF of focusing on Eagles ers. l Say : “We can’t perform magic in Canada” Similarly, one of the foreign-

Australia on June 12 at the Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg, four days after opening tie against Sweden at the same venue. Nigeria’s last game against the United States of America will take place in Vancouver on June 16. In separate interviews with New Telegraph, the players who pleaded anonymity revealed that they were in the dark over the team’s preparations for the World Cup, as they bemoaned their neglect by the NFF. “It’s a big shame that less than three months to the World Cup, the NFF is yet to come out with a

concrete programme for us. No friendly matches in place, no camp venue or camping dates, just nothing about the Falcons and they want us to perform magic in Canada,” queried a defender. According to another player, “The NFF leadership is busy planning and arranging friendly matches for the Super Eagles which failed to qualify for the AFCON but the federation is not concerned about the Falcons. The Secretary General (Musa Amadu) said on Television that the Eagles would play two matches in March. Our op-

ponents who are tougher have been playing friendly matches and preparing for the World Cup, yet the NFF wants us to defeat them by magic. It is sad.” The neglect by the NFF according to the players is having a psychological effect on them. “It is sad to know that the male U-17 and U-20 teams are getting more attention than the Super Falcons. Even the U-23 side has been playing local and international friendlies since last year. We won the African Women Championship and we have nothing to show for it,” rued one of the play-

Glasgow, Birmingham to share Grand Prix hosting

lasgow and Birmingham will share the hosting of the Indoor Grand Prix between 2016 and 2020. The Emirates Arena in Glasgow will stage the athletics event in 2016, 2018 and 2020. And Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena will host in 2017 and 2019, with the Midlands venue also hosting the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2018. This year’s Indoor Grand Prix will take place in Birmingham on 21 February,

with live coverage across the BBC. As one of the bidding cities, Glasgow is also a possible host for the 2019 European Indoor Championships. British Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos said: “Following the construction of the Emirates Arena in Glasgow and the extensive redevelopment of the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, we are in the fortunate position of having two genuinely world-class indoor athletics venues capable of hosting

events on this scale.” Great Britain middle-distance runner Laura Muir welcomed the event being staged in her Scottish homeland. “The Commonwealth Games were such a success last year and the facility is great for hosting indoor events,” she told BBC Scotland. “It is one of the best indoor meets in the world, so to have it here would be great. “It is always good to have home support, whether it is down south or up in Scotland.”

based players in the team said, “It’s so unfortunate that we have been neglected since we won the African Women Championship in October 2014 but what can we do? I’m tired of complaining, any time they want us, I will give my best, but I can’t kill myself for those who don’t have us in their plans.” Four-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award, Perpetua Nkwocha, speaking in a recent interview with FIFA.com, warned that only good preparation could make the team excel in Canada. “We have huge talents at the youth level, but we need to properly harness them as they graduate into the senior team. With good preparation, our team will surely excel. We have the players and experience to do well in Canada,” she said. Nigeria’s second group opponent, Australia, launched their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup build-up with a 1-1 draw with New Zealand last Sunday and complemented it with a 2-1 win over DPR Korea in Auckland on Monday, while the Swedish team has also intensified preparations. The U.S. Women’s National Team on February 8 fell 2-0 to France at Stade du Moustoir. In January, they were in Brazil where they played a series of tune-up matches against Brazil, China and Argentina.

SPORT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

…And the timber merchant bows out!

t is quite unfortunate that the Sports Information Centre which late Sports Minister and the then Nigeria Football Association Chairman, Air Commodore Tony Ikhazoboh, championed was buried - by civil servants - even before the Bisi Lawrence- led group could hit from the starting block at its interim secretariat within the bowels of the National Associations building in the Lagos National Stadium. I should know. I, alongside colleague -Ikeddy Iziguzo of the Vanguard- were members of the committee drawing, or was it, hoping to draw, from the experience of Lawrence and another veteran- Group Sports Editor of the Daily Times- Solomon Babatunde Oshuntolu- ESBEE- amongst others. If that centre had existed, we will not by now be paying eulogies to the memory of Chief Alexander Molade Okoya-Thomas as simply a business guru, philanthropist and socialite. “Oloye”(Chief) – as he and Kwara Political giant – Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Saraki- were fondly referred to by those Court One faithful of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club at Onikan, Lagos. The group included former marble magnate -Chief Olatunji Ajisomo Alabi -“Lord Rumens” who brought

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only) the world’s tennis best for honours at the Centre Court, former Nigeria Olympic Committee – President -Alhaji Raheem Adejumo- also dubbed “Nigeria’s Mr Tennis”, “Baba Eto of Lagos” – former Super Permanent Secretary-Chief Folarin Coker, Alhaji L.S. Balogun, “Allibey” Herbert Omokhaye-former soccer star, football administrator per excellence who later became NFA SecretaryGeneral, Commodore David Ikpeme (rtd), Chief Anthony Obi and journalist cum table tennis star – Demola “Fireman” Alli amongst others. Molade shot to national sports prominence in form two at the famous Baptist Academy on Ikorodu Road when as a member of the quartet smashed the 4 x 400yrds (not meters) national record. His father, who was in the thriving timber trade with French conglomerate, presented him with a brand new Volkswagen Beetle. From then, he was dubbed “The Timber Merchant” by admirers. The silver spoon

continued through higher education and on return, he became the Deputy Managing Director of the SCOA group. He passed on as Chairman. At 29, Molade became the recipient of the title – AsojuOba (The King’s eye) of LagosAdeyinka Oyekan and then he plunged into a singular sports sponsorship that remains the singular, longest running table tennis competition for the next forty-six (46) years. It was a competition that featured stars like Alli, Babatunde Obisanya, Lassey Wilson, Orukotan, Atanda Musa, Yomi Bankole, the Ekun Brothers, Sunday Eboh, Segun Toriola, Ethel Jacks, Toun Engore, Cecelia Arinye, Olawunmi Majekodunmi , Kuburat Owolabi and Cecelia Udoh amongst others as winners. Perhaps the foremost alltime greats are Olasumbo Dele“Malawi”, Iyabo Akanmu and Funke Oshonaike. Asoju-Oba not only produced them in droves from junior, intermediate, senior categories and later administrators and sportswriters categories dominated by International Table

TRACK & FIELD WITH CHARLES OGUNDIYA

AFN gives reasons for fewer events in 2015

he Technical Director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Omatseye Nesiama, has said Nigerian athletes will be competing in fewer competitions in 2015 to enable them to prepare better for major meets. Nesiama said the federation have realised that athletes perform well in trials leading to Nesiama a major competitions

only to fail during competition proper. “We have developed a different strategy to manage our athletes. We have decided to minimise the number of competitions that our athletes would be competing for. “The federation will make sure that the athletes compete in competitions that are meaningful, competitions that

Beijing 2015 ticket sales begin

he Local Organising Committee of the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 has announced that tickets sales are now open to the general public. General public tickets sales involve two phases. The first phase is to reserve tickets and then the second phase is purchase.

Details in both English and Chinese language can be obtained from the IAAF website, www.iaaf.org. Until midnight of March 30 (Beijing time), the general public can pre-order tickets by downloading the General Public Tickets Reservation Order Form along with the Seating Bowl

with Price Categories and The Competition Schedule and Ticket Price Table. A lottery will be organized on April 1 to allocate the ordered tickets. A confirmation letter will then be sent by the LOC to inform successful applicants they have their tickets and should be paid for.

Tennis Federation top umpire -Ranti Lajide- and still counting because as at last December’s event, Molade re-affirmed… “As Long as God keeps me alive-the competition goes on”. Twice he spiced the competition with an automobile gift as Musa and Bankole enflamed the Sports Hall of the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos while the other was the last but one at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Sports Hall. That edition had the crèmede-la-crème of government functionaries led by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), traditional white cap chiefs-who had never been absent in all the years. The 6.30am mass team of the Holy Cross Catholic Church where Molade in his final years, served as a catholic and became a Papal Knight adding to his numerous traditional titles from Ife and Remo to the national honours – OON and MFR- to the L’egion D’honour from France. It was always interesting when Molade and Adejumo wanted to keep the Court One “squad,” who were a team to the four Grand Slam events, Australian, French and US Open plus Wimbledon where they were guaranteed State Box reception, in the dark. They switch to flawless French in conversation and Saraki often retorted “Oloye” I will learn”. The razzmatazz of the 45th edition gave an insight, now in retrospect. Apart from the branded T-shirts, Molade

will be focusing on performance so that at the right time they will be peaking. “We want to avoid the situation we experienced in recent year when athletes perform very well during trials but failed to replicate such performance during competitions proper. Our programme this year is performance focused so that we can record success,” he said. On the fast approaching Africa Junior Championships billed for Ethiopia, the Technical Director said 30 athletes would be selected from those that participated in the D.K Olukoya meet for immediate camping. Omatseye however said he was confident that the strong team that would be selected by the AFN Coaches would go on to represent Nigeria well at this year’s AJC.

was unusually bubbly. Not long after, “Fireman” Alli departed for Aljannah and Molade- truly a friend- gave him a befitting farewell just as he honoured the late Sports Editor of the Punch-Owolabi “Owoblow” Ilori and ESBEE Oshuntolu when they both passed on. Last year’s event was quite low. A testimony that “Timber Merchant” had paid his dues? Apart from table tennis and tennis, Molade headed a committee on National Sports Policy- a document that may just be gathering dust somewhere just like that of Samson Omeruah and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. He put his legs in the sands of time at the Island and Metropolitan Clubs apart from the LLTC. I saw Molade weep twice. At Ilori’s funeral dirge held at the Island Club and later when as Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council, he faced the Chief J.K. Agbaje probe panel pleading for reconciliation between Director of Sports, Abdulfatai Folawiyo and his assistant, Taju Adedeji Shinaba. If that had worked, Lagos would have been coasting on the home stretch by now. It didn’t happen. Well, Molade - “Timber Merchant”- has an epitaph. Well written in people’s minds – FOREVER! Rest-in-Peace. May the LORD take ALL THE GLORY!

Odugbesan cherishes gold

t was a moment of joy for 17- year-old Odugbesan Isaac, after winning the Shot Put event of the Dr. D.K. Olukoya Athletics Championship, in Lagos at the weekend. Odugbesan few days earlier lost the gold medal at the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games. He said winning at the national trial was a big compensation for him. “I feel happy because the gold has compensated me for the Ibile Games loss. I would have felt bad to win at the Ibile Games and fails at the national trial,” he said. On what motivated him to go for the gold despite failing just two

days earlier, the Senior Secondary three student said disappointment had been his biggest motivating factor. “When I lose, it motivates me to perform better. What I am targeting now is to be part of Team Nigeria to the Africa Junior Championship in Ethiopia in March,” he said. He however said he would be going back to school now in preparation for his exams, WAEC and JAMB as his goal was to be successful in academics and athletics. With his father watching, Odegbesan won the trial with a throw of 15.15m in the 5kg weight of the competition.

Isinbayeva targets return for Rio Games

ole vault world-record holder Yelena Isinbayeva is planning to make a comeback ahead of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has not competed since winning her third world championship title in Moscow in 2013, taking time out to have her first child. Her daughter was born in June 2014. On Tuesday, Moscow’s

Isinbayeva

CSKA athletics club celebrated “the return of an Olympic champion,”

adding that Isinbayeva would compete for the club and work as an “instructor.” In comments reported by the Tass agency, Isinbayeva said she would focus on fitness training for the rest of 2015 before starting to vault next year, with the aim of competing at her fourth Olympics. Isinbayeva vaulted a world record 5.06m in 2009.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

AFCON: Each Ivorian player gets house,€ 46,000

ôte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara hosted the 2015 Africa champions at his Presidential Palace in Abidjan on Tuesday, to reward their successful continental campaign. Each player was given a house with a value of €46,000 as well as the same amount in cash, while Elephants’ coach Hervé Renard

received more than €114,000 for leading the country to African glory. “You managed to rebuild a strong team working as one towards one goal– winning and winning more. It’s a lesson in rallying people together,” President Ouattara told the Frenchman. Furthermore, the entire squad was made

Knight of the National Order, with veterans Copa Barry, Siaka Tiéné, Kolo and Yaya Touré and coach Renard being elevated to the rank of Officer of the National Order. As for the Ivoirian Football Federation, they were granted €380,000, while the Elephants’ technical and administrative staff got €460,000 to share.

Ribery itching for action Ribery

ranck Ribery is confident he will be fit enough to finally get going in 2015 when Bayern Munich face Hamburg on Saturday. The former France winger is yet to feature for Bayern this year after suffering a thigh injury shortly before the season resumed with a crushing 4-1 defeat at Wolfsburg. However, a return to training this week has bolstered Pep Guardiola’s options, and Ribery is keen to hit the

Ivorians welcoming the football team after their AFCON success

Laureus award: Serena, Ronaldo make final shortlist

eal Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and 19-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams are in contention for the 2015 Laureus sportsman and sportswoman of the year awards, respectively. The organisers revealed the nominations for the prestigious awards on Wednesday. The awards will be declared April 15 after a ballot by the world’s media. Striker Ronaldo, who helped Real Madrid capture the Champions League title, will be up against some ferocious contenders. Last year he was beaten by Sebastian Vettel. This time the Portugal football team captain faces Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, talismanic golfer Rory McIlroy, tennis World No 1 Novak Djokovic, Spain’s World MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and pole vault world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France. In the sportswoman of the year category, retired Chinese tennis queen Li Na and current World No.1 Serena have been nominated. Among the other nominees in this category are Winter Olympic gold medallists Tina Maze and Marit Bjorgen. The impact of the FIFA World Cup is felt in the

Breakthrough of the Year category where Germany’s Mario Gotze and Colombia’s James Rodriguez will vie for the honour. Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning football

Serena

Balotelli backed to hit scoring form

team is pitted against European champions Real iverpool legend Ian Rush hopes Madrid and the Swiss DaMario Balotelli’s match-winvis Cup team in the best team category for the 2015 ner against Tottenham on TuesLaureus awards, officials day night will be the first of many goals the striker scores between said. now and the end of the season. It was the striker’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool since his £16m switch from AC Milan last summer and Rush hopes Balotelli can build on Tuesday’s performance. “He’s been patient, Brendan has played him at the right times so I’m pleased for him to get the winner,” Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer told Sky Sports News. “The crowd have always been behind him so I think we need just need to get behind him. Even after he scored the goal he was running around and closing down and he seemed to have an extra spring in his step. “Hopefully that’s the start of many more to come from him.” Despite notching his first league goal for the Reds, Balotelli did not

Diamond League: Bolt to race in Paris

amaican sprint star Usain Bolt will run the 100 metres at the Paris meet of the Diamond League series. The Diamond League website said that world and Olympic champion Bolt had confirmed his July 4 participation to French organisers. Bolt is the 100m world record holder, winner of the

ground running at the Allianz Arena. “The whole of last week we worked hard indoors on strength exercises,” he told the club’s YouTube channel. “I really hope I can be part of the team against Hamburg; I must say I’m very confident because everything has gone well so far. “It was a disappointment to feel this injury just two days before the Wolfsburg match but at least it wasn’t something more serious.”

100m gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and has won world titles at this event in 2009 and 2013. He holds the Paris 100m meeting record with 9.79, which he clocked in 2009. It completes some unfinished business for the Jamaican. Last year, he had committed to run the 100m in the French capital but

had to withdraw because of a foot injury. This year will be the fifth occasion that Bolt has competed in the Paris meeting. In 2009, he won the 100m in 9.79; in 2010, he again won the 100m, this time in 9.84; in 2011 he won over 200m in 20.03; in 2013, he contested the longer sprint again and won in 19.73.

celebrate his goal and was one of the first players to leave the pitch at the final whistle. However, the former Manchester City striker later posted a message on his Instagram account. “Great game guys!!! This smile is ONLY for those that always believe and support me.

Sport Trending

TWITTER |@NTelegraphSport

Mario Balotelli Great game guys!!! This smile is ONLY for those that always Believe and support me. Thank you and Forza Liverpool. But now head down and keep working hard. @FinallyMario Tony Parker Great night for the Spurs especially for coach pop 1000 wins congrats!! Spurs nation. @tonyparker Stanislas Wawrinka Good to be back on a tennis court! @stanwawrinka Serena Williams So proud of my team. Great job ladies. All of you and Captain Mary Joe. Way to hold me up and help me when I’m down! Love you guys #TeamUSA @serenawilliams Ekene Ibekwe Thanks for the support we’ve received all year! If you haven’t done so, you can purchase tickets at http:// breakernation.co.nz @Ebeks25 Klay Thompson Thanks for all the birthday love. I’m thankful to be 25 years young doing what I love with great people around me! #feelingblessed @KlayThompson Festus Ezeli So I guess 40 is the new 25pts in the NBA @fezzyfel

SPORT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Erico backs Keshi for Eagles job return Ajibade Olusesan

or mer Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, has hailed the decision of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation to recommend the retention of Coach Stephen Keshi as the handler of the national team. The committee rose from a meeting on Tuesday in Abuja and declared that it had recommended to the Executive Committee of the NFF that Keshi be offered a new contract. Erico, in his reaction, said that the committee had taken the right decision, “To save our country from embar rassment, the right thing

to do is to allow Keshi to continue because he is not a bad coach. He failed to qualify the team for the Nations Cup but we have to look at why he failed. We are talking about a coach who won the tour nament just two years ago. We have to remove those things that affected his job.” It is unclear whether Keshi will continue on his N5m salary or it will be reviewed either upward or downward as that has reportedly been one of the g rey areas during the negotiations. But Erico said there should not be any issue concer ning the coach’s salary. He said that his pay should match what the country would offer

an expatriate. “As a national team coach you are a representative of the people and if your pay is as high as that of senators or an expatriate there is nothing wrong about that. I think we should have grown beyond this issue of salary; as a coach when you are coming in you should know what you are ear ning without much problem,” he said.

Taekwondo federation uncovers visa racketeering group l As Qatar revokes impersonators’ visas

EmmanuelTobi

s part of efforts aimed at sanitising the game in Nigeria, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has warned that it will prosecute any fraudsters who tarnish the image of the body after uncovering a visa racketeering group on Wednesday. NTF President, Goerge Ashiru, revealed that the Qatar Taekwondo Federation on Wednesday revoked issued visas

AFCON: Morocco FA rejects CAF sanctions

orocco has rejected the sanctions imposed on them by the Confederation of African Football for not hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations. CAF banned Morocco from the next two Nations Cups, while fining its football federation US$1m (£650,000) and claiming 8m euros (£5.9m) in damages. The Royal Federation of Moroccan Football said it “rejects all of these sports and financial sanctions”. It added that it believes there is “no regulatory basis” for the punishments. The 2015 finals, which finished on Sunday, were relocated to Equatorial Guinea after CAF turned down Morocco’s plea to postpone the tournament over the country’s fears

about the potential spread of Ebola. The FMRF said on its website: “The executive committee is said to be greatly surprised by the decisions taken by CAF. “They do not correspond in any way to the conclusions of the first meeting in Cairo with the president of CAF.” After that January meeting with CAF president, Issa Hayatou, the president of the Royal Federation of Moroccan Football, Faouzi Lakjaa, said the penalty would only be financial. The FRMF added that it would “take all necessary measures to uphold the rights and interests of Moroccan football and provisions”.

Quadri out of Kuwait Open

Quadri

Ajibade Olusesan

igeria’s Aruna Quadri’s nightmarish experience in the International Table Tennis Federation Pro-tour continued yesterday after he lost to Geraldo Joan of Portugal in the round of 64 of the on-going Kuwait Open. The ITTF Star Player of the

Year has not made it into the main draw of the ITTF World Tour Super Series and there were hopes that he could break the jinx in Kuwait as the 2015 edition begins. But the Nigerian was eliminated by the Portuguese who beat him 4-3 in their round of 64 match. The three other Nigerians who entered for the tournament, Kazeem Makanjuola, Ojo Onaolapo and Omotayo Olajide were walked over after they all failed to show up for their round 128 matches yesterday. However, Quadri can finally break the jinx when Qatar Open gets underway next week.

Ighodaro Osaguona in action for Nigeria

of 16 persons who fraudulently obtained the visas by posing as members of the Taekwondo Team billed to attend the 1st Qatar International Taekwondo Opens scheduled for March 6 to 9 in Qatar. “The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation is a very active, progressive and well-connected organisation that uses the sport of Taekwondo to positively impact the lives of Nigerians and build career paths for hardworking Nigerian sportsmen and women,” Ashiru said.

“The illegal activities by these dubious elements tend to harm the chances and careers of thousands of upcoming and current Taekwondo practitioners in Nigeria.” The former African champion stressed that regular routine check by the NTF helped revealed that 16 persons illegally applied for the visas and coincidentally, some members of the actual Nigeria National Taekwondo Team that won medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games were also billed to compete for Nigeria at the event.

Hazard, Willian Chelsea’s most skilful players –Mikel when you do, he’s gone. Mikel added that, “Hazard doesn’t run around much in training, but you just give him the ball and let him do what he does. What you can do sometimes is just kick them!” Hazard has scored nine times for the Blues this season while Willian has found the net just once. But the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace has established himself as a regular in Jose Mourinho’s side after a disappointing maiden campaign last season.

Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, has listed the duo of Eden Hazard and Willian as Chelsea’s most skilful players. Hazard and Willian have been key men in Chelsea’s march to the Premier League summit with their pace and trickery proving too much for opposition defences time and time again this season. And Mikel can’t decide whether the Belgian or the Brazilian is more skilful. “I’ll go for Willian and Eden

Mikel

Hazard,” he said. “They’re both very quick and technical. It’s very difficult to get the ball off them. Willian is just too quick, he has quick feet. He waits for you to make the first move and

U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles may face Brazil

he Flying Eagles of Nigeria may face Brazil in Group E of the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand if the team wins the African Youth Championship in Senegal. It is a likely scenarion giving the brilliance of the team so far in all the pre-tournament matches they’ve played. The draw for the World Cup in Auckland on Monday placed the African champions in the same group as Brazil alongside North Korea and Hungary. The AYC will be decided at the continent’s finals in Senegal from March 8 to 22. The Under-20 World Cup has helped create new stars, including Ghana’s Michael Essien, Argentine’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian Ronaldinho. Mali’s Seydou Keita and South Africa’s Benni McCarthy are two other big-name Africans to have played at the tournament. As well as Brazil, the African champions will face North Korea and Hungary in Group E of the tournament, which will be played from 30 May to 20 June.

Draw at a glance Group A:

New Zealand, Ukraine, United States, Myanmar.

Group B:

Argentina, Panama, Africa’s third-placed team, Australia.

Group C:

Qatar, Colombia, Portugal, Africa’s fourth-placed team

Group D:

Mexico, Africa’s second-placed team, Uruguay, Serbia.

Group E:

African champion, Brazil, North Korea, Hungary.

Group F:

Germany, Fiji, Uzbekistan, Honduras.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Our march to Golgotha Thursday with Yemi YEMI AJAYI 0807 991 0957 (sms only) yemiajayi3010@yahoo.com

o matter who wins the March 28 presidential election between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the stage has already being set for perhaps the most controversial poll in Nigeria’s annals with Saturday’s sixweek delay in voting. With the modest outing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) achieved in the conduct of the 2011 general elections, a landmark departure from previous polls held since the rebirth of democracy in 1999, Nigerians and the global community were looking forward to the electoral umpire bettering the last exercise this year. It is a testimony to the success of the 2011 elections that for the first time since the advent of the extant Fourth Republic, the number of election petitions dropped. According to a report in the Saturday edition of THISDAY, published on May 21, 2011, there were only 400 petitions filed against the general elections compared to 560 in 2003 and 1,250 in 2007. However, given Saturday’s controversial decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delay voting by six weeks, Nigeria is in for one of the most litigious general elections it has ever conducted. Announcing the change of date in the elections, whose first stanza would have begun on Saturday with the conduct of the presidential and national legislative polls, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had said his commission took the decision based on a letter from the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), that the military would not be available to provide security for electoral officials and materials, especially in the northeast corridor ravaged by insurgency. The military, going by the NSA letter Jega cited, would need six weeks to clear the corridor wherein lies Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe states of Boko Haram militants who have since 2009 unleashed an orgy of violence on the nation. Before the Saturday announcement, Jega had vowed to uphold the inviolability of the February 14 election date. He had on many occasions reiterated the commitment of the commission to keep to the electoral timeline despite orchestrated campaign by agents of the Federal Government, including Sambo, for a poll shift. However, what started as what some pundits have described as the mere ranting of political jobbers, took a new life when Sambo joined in the campaign. The NSA told the august gathering at the Chatham House, London last January that it would be foolhardy for INEC to go ahead with the elections in view of the hiccups in the distribution of electronic voting cards and the insurgency in the

Now it is becoming glaring that there is more to the vote delay than the reason cited by Jega. It is obvious that between Jega and the Federal Government somebody is taking the nation for a ride

North-East. Even in the face of Sambo’s ill-advised statement, Jega maintained his stand: INEC is ready for elections. But after the Council of State meeting, where the surreptitious campaign for a vote delay failed to receive the expected official endorsement, Jega bowed to pressure and deferred a nation’s hope for another six weeks. A mischievous headline, ‘Boko Haram Wins as Nigeria Postpones National Elections’ in Huffington Post, a United States-based newspaper, succinctly captures the perception of the global community, and perhaps that of many Nigerians, about the vote delay. Many have been wondering what newfound magic wand the military now possesses to end insurgency that it has been battling with for the past six years in six weeks. Sambo tried to answer that poser on Monday when he told AFP that Boko Haram fighters who forced the vote delay would be crushed within the coming six weeks while the elections would no longer be delayed. According to him, the military will achieve the feat in view of a new regional cooperation agreed two weeks ago with neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The multi-lateral effort would pressure the insurgents from all sides and close their escape routes, he explained. But there is cold comfort in his assurances because he did not take into consideration the possibility of the anti-terror campaign going wrong again. What if Boko Haram, which has suffered some setbacks in the last few weeks as a result of the regionalisation of the insurgency war, was able to regroup and retool to devastating effect? We have seen the terror group doing that before, especially in the wake of the phantom ceasefire

brokered by Chad which the Federal Government deceitfully announced to Nigerians. Will the military now seek further extension that could again compel INEC to shift the election? Mercifully, the commission has used its last window of opportunity for poll delay as permitted by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. Now it is becoming glaring that there is more to the vote delay than the reason cited by Jega. It is obvious that between Jega and the Federal Government somebody is taking the nation for a ride and is not properly gauging the mood of the nation for a speedy conclusion of the general elections so that the knife-edged tension prevailing nationwide over how the exercise will turn out can be eased. Although Jega cited security reason for the six-week poll shift, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign machinery has gone into overdrive in the aftermath of the commission’s announcement to cast doubt on the readiness of INEC for the crucial polls. The party has been making serious efforts to discredit Jega’s preparations for the elections and barely holding itself back to say he lied about the content of the NSA letter. The party is saying the commission is faced with monumental challenges that could have impaired the outcome of the elections if INEC had gone ahead as scheduled. However, there is cold comfort in the fact that this disclosure, which is the anchor of a media campaign currently running, is coming from a ruling party with its fetish commitment to free and fair elections. This campaign, which is also pushing for Jega’s ouster, taken together with

Jega

Dasuki

the call on the INEC chair to resign or be sacked by acolytes of the president says a lot about the frosty relationship between the party and the commission. It is also an indication that the testy relationship between the ruling party and the electoral umpire is perhaps in furtherance of other interests than the desire for free and credible polls. The PDP’s efforts to discredit INEC’s preparations for the elections and the NSA role in actualising the agenda for a poll shift have introduced a dangerous dimension to the power struggle in the country. So far, there is nothing in the conduct of the two main contending parties that shows that they are not ready to burn down the house in their bid to either retain or take over power. The two parties are going for the broke and sparing no efforts to ensure one edges out the other. However, nothing threatens the smooth conduct of any election than a ruling party that appears desperate. The opposition is not different, but the difference is that unlike the ruling party, the opposition does not control legitimate instrument of coercion to actualise its agenda. For the first time since its inception in 1998, the PDP is campaigning as if it is the opposition party. There is just no go-area for the party in its quest to retain power. Despite mouthing issuebased campaign, the PDP has spent more time and resources denigrating the opposition and its helmsmen than in selling itself to the electorate. Instruments of state are being pressed to service in the party’s quest to retain power in fulfilment of its boast that it will rule Nigeria for 60 years. It gives one more concern that the ruling party has extended its deleterious campaign to INEC as if preparing the grounds for questioning the validity of whatever the result of the elections may turn out to be. This taken together with the involvement of the military in partisan politics gives many lovers of Nigeria a truckload of worries. What started as a test case in Ekiti State, where military personnel were used to hound the opposition in a bid to ensure the victory of PDP is now being adopted as a manual for the conduct of the general elections with ominous implication for the country. Just this week, the military launched a psychological warfare against APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as they began a surveillance of his home. Although military authorities have denied that soldiers were patrolling the frontage of his house for three days running, residents of the area confirmed sighting their presence since Sunday. Since being economical with the truth is the signature of security agencies all over the world, it is better to hedge a bet on the side of the residents on who to believe in this contradicting narrative. Now with an administration whose commitment to the conduct of the general elections is suspect, going by various tales in the public domain and an opposition that sees every sudden twist in the electoral process as an attempt to deny it of its perceived impending victory, the stage is set for another crisis of immense proportion. We have been through this road before and survived; but can we still continue to indulge ourselves in such hope? That is where the worry lies.

On Marble

Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs. – Farrah Gray

Yemi Ajayi

Sanctity of Truth

Our march to Golgotha

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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Was Jega fair to the military?

rom whatever angle you stand to watch this near conundrum currently playing out as democracy in Nigeria, it would be obvious to you that all is not well and that there is a real threat facing it. We all should therefore move beyond pretence and come to this incontrovertible fact if this 16 year old baby must see the statutory adult age of 18 . Need I add that all hands must be on deck ? Nothing but survival should be of more concern to all lovers of this form of government which Wikipedia defined as a form of government where citizens choose and replace the government through free and fair elections. Perhaps the most durable definition of democracy came from the famous American President, Abraham Lincoln who described it as the government of the people, by the people, for the people and went further to detail its modus operandi when he said “ as I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy” Sixteen years ago, Nigeria began a journey it then thought was going to bring hope and progress to the nation, Why not, on paper sweet things have been said of democracy by great minds While Plato saw “democracy as a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike”, Aristotle agreed that “if liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost” If Harry Enerson Fosdick noted that democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people, Winston Churchill arrogantly remarked that it is the worst form of government except that it still remains the best of all. Apparently carried away by all these and the fact that military dictatorship was then about to end, Nigerians did not care to study some caveats inherent in democratic form of government. Very few reckoned the warning by Thomas Curran that “the moment our democracy ceases to respect God, it will cease to respect your value as an individual and the moment it ceases to respect your value, it ceases to be democracy”. None or perhaps saw reason in words of an American writer and producer, Jack Kenny that “democracy without morality is impossible”. Sixteen years after, how can Nigerians define democracy amidst the cacophony in our polity? In summary, can we realistically claim to be observing these principle in our practice of democracy? On Saturday night, the ombudsman of our democracy, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, a former University activist, Prof Attahiru Jega stunned the nation when he gave a late night press conference to authenticate talks that had existed in the rumour mill since the National Security Adviser retired Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) suggested at an international forum in London that the

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Jega

election should be shifted. The NSA’s reason for the suggestion was anchored on the fact that the INEC does not appear ready for the poll as millions of voters across the country are yet to receive their voting power, the Permanent Voters cards otherwise called PVC. At the council of states meeting last Thursday where the final decision was to be taken, Jega in his progress report continued to insist that the commission was ready even as he acknowledged that over 20 million voters were yet to get their PVCs. He was told by the council of states to consult widely and take final decision since the decision is his to take and not any one else. Possibly fearing that Jega was trying to go ahead amidst his apparent unpreparedness, the option of security came in. But rather than take it as a handy point, Jega cleverly playing to the gallery, told the civil society groups, the political parties and the Resident a Electoral Commissioners that the Commission was ready but for the military. At his press conference announcing the rescheduled date Jega said inter alia “Last Wednesday, which was a day before the Council of State meeting, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to the Commission, drawing attention to recent developments in four North-east states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing the challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that security could not be guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general elections.

“This advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations cannot be guaranteed, and that the Security Services needed at least six weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the Northeast; and that during this operation, the military will be concentrating its attention in the theatre of operations such that they may not be able to provide the traditional support they render to the Police and other agencies during elections. “Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the 2015general elections thus: the national elections (i.e. Presidential andNational Assembly) are now to hold on March 28th, 2015; while the state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) are to hold on April 11th, 2015. It should be noted that this rescheduling falls within the constitutional framework for the conduct of the elections, notably, Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2). See also Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended). “For the avoidance of doubt, we will under no circumstances approve an arrangement that is not in line with the provisions of our laws. Our hope is that with this rescheduling, the security services will do their best to ensure that the security environment needed for safe and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections is rapidly put in place. “We in INEC reassure all Nigerians and indeed the international community of our commitment to do everything within the law and to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. We call on the security agencies to honour their commitment to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to take place within the period of extension. We also call onNigerians, political parties, candidates and all other stakeholders to accept this decision in good faith and ensure the maintenance of peace. “As for us in INEC we’ll endeavour to use the period of the extension to keep on perfecting our systems and processes for conducting the best elections in Nigeria’s history. In particular, we believe that we would resolve all outstanding issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which agitate the minds of many Nigerians” In that press conference, Prof Jega was certainly not sincere in painting a picture of a holy, saintly Commission that if not for security issues raised by the agencies his commission was ready. But the question is how ready was the commission when one week to election it has met barely 50% of the prerequisite preparatory statutory requirements. Rather than be courageous and sincere to admit

that his commission was not ready for the February 14 date, Jega chose to shift the fault to the military The truth which is verifiable is that INEC was nowhere near being ready to hold the elections in February even if security situation was right. This point needed to be underscored so that INEC does not work away thinking that it has successfully played on the intelligence of the people by transferring the blame to one sector. The veracity of Jega’s “we are ready “ claim need to be ascertained and to effectively do that, we need to raise questions on how far the commission has gone with some legal stipulations, to what extent is its operatives conversant with its biometric registry and machinereadable permanent voter cards (PVCs) which is being introduced to minimize fraud and duplicate registrations. By Jega’s own account out of 68.8 million registered voters, the commission only Printed and Delivered – 66.3 million with 1.3 million yet to be delivered and 1.1 million stolen but yet to be replaced. From Jega’s own account still 45.09 million voters cards were collected by prospective voters representing 65.8 per cent of registered voters and 23.71 million voters card about 34.2 per cent were yet to collect one week to election. So how ready was Jega and his team going by the above data from him. Even the card reader INEC has been talking about, how much of it is known to the commission staff not to talk of the public. How much of enlightenment has Jega and his team really done in the recruitment, training and retraining of adhoc and permanent staff one week to the polls.? Against this backdrop therefore, was Jega fair and credible in attributing the cause of the election shift to the military alone ? Lucky, him, the media and a section of the public instead of having a discerning view of it has now turned the heat on the military and government. If Jega had had 100 percent PVC distribution and all the staff recruited and trained, would the military write any letter or if they do would it not be disregarded? Did Jega not create the lacuna that the military latched on? Military operation that would last two weeks would have waited for the one day or two for the poll to come and pass if INEC was really ready. I strongly believe that Jega owes the military some apologies for portraying them before the national and international community as clog in the wheel of democracy. It may be necessary to stress here that the only way to make the new date of March 28 sacrosanct is for Jega and his team to be glaringly ready, only that way would we not be playing into anybody’s hand. Unknown to many political watchers, Jega by his action has unwittingly dragged the military into the fray that portends grave danger for our democracy. We are witnessing trying times in our polity and certainly not the best for democracy.

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