Thursday, february 19, 2015 binder2

A media partner of Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 365

Thursday, February 19, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

FG to cut budget, review oil benchmark

Central bank devalues naira lCurrency closes at N197 to $1 as official forex market is scrapped Ayodele Aminu and Tony Chukwunyem

A

fter several months of propping up the naira,

the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday finally succumbed to market forces by subtly devaluing the naira by N29.

This, it executed with the unification of the nation’s foreign exchange markets by scrapping its bi-weekly currency auc-

tion, otherwise known as the official market.

Effective from yesterday, the central bank said all demands for forex

should be channelled to the interbank foreign exchange market where the naira closed at N197 to $1.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

N150

}6

37 days to go...

Nigeria Nigeria s votes vote

2015

2015

}14 & 15

Jega: March 28 polls depend on security

lRejects temporary voters' cards, insists on card readers }2

Quick Read Editorial

Nigeria must return to agriculture }19 Jonathan, Buhari, Onaiyekan sue for peace at Lent }8

Vehicles and boxes of ammunition seized from Boko Haram fighters after a battle with the military in Borno State...yesterday.

PHOTO: DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS

Troops kill 300 Boko Haram

lLiberate 13 Borno towns lShekau threatens elections Emmanuel Onani Abuja

S

ome 300 Boko Haram fighters have been killed by troops during an intensive opera-

tion to liberate 13 towns in Borno State, which were overran by the group.

The Defence Head-

quarters (DHQ), in a statement yesterday, listed the 13 communiCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights }4

2

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jega: March 28 polls depend on security Chukwu David Abuja

D

espite reiterating its readiness to conduct the rescheduled general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said whether or not the March 28 polls would hold would depend on security situation in the country.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, told senators during an appearance before the Senate in Abuja that the commission had done its bit to hold the elections, but since it did not have control over the security situation in the country, it could not guarantee if the polls would hold.

He, therefore, urged the Senate to extract a commitment from the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies that they would provide the conducive atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair and credible polls.

Jega, who was summoned yesterday by the Senate to brief it on the circumstances that led to the postponement of the elections earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28, also rejected calls for the use of temporary voters' cards (TVCs) for the forthcoming general elections.

The INEC chairman, while announcing the postponement of the elections about two weeks ago, had said the commission was forced to take the decision based on a letter from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) that the service chiefs would not be able to provide security for the elections as troops would be engaged in an operation to clear the North-East corridor of Boko Haram and the exercise would last six weeks.

Jega also told the senators that any further postponement of the general elections would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution.

He also dismissed the attempts to pressurise the commission not to use card readers for the elections, saying it will be an offence on the part of any INEC official not to use the machine.

Jega said although the commission was ready to conduct the elections as rescheduled, it could not give the nation assurance on the security because it is outside its responsibility.

He said: "The question of security, I will leave it. I don't think I am competent to answer it sufficiently but I must say that every

Nigerian knows that we want elections to hold within the constitutional timeframe. We should be fair also to the military.

Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians. Let us give them the benefit of doubts.

I don't see how anybody will contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks. There are no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that. It will only have to be unconstitutional. I don't see how anybody will contemplate any unconstitutional means.

“For us, we work by the constitution, by the law and as far as we are concerned, that is what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the nation at heart."

Jega explained that the Electoral Act 2010 stipulates a 30-day period under which elections must be conducted before the swearing-in date of the new government.

He added that about one million permanent voters' cards (PVCs) were being produced in China, which had not been collected for

distribution.

According to him, although not all PVCs are available, 75.94 per cent have been collected nationwide.

Jega also painstakingly demonstrated to the lawmakers how the card readers would be used for the accreditation of voters and expressed confidence that both card readers and the PVCs would drastically eliminate electoral fraud in the forthcoming polls.

"The use of the card readers for the purpose of accreditation of voters

is one of the innovation introduced by the commission to improve the credibility of the electoral process, in particular, the accreditation process. It is not offensive to the Electoral Act or to the constitution. It adds value to the desires of Nigerians to have a credible election in line with international best practice," he stated.

He said the machine could only read a card of a voter registered by INEC at a designated polling unit of its configuration and also that it would help

the commission to do statistical analysis of voters based on demographic factors of age and sex.

"Using the card readers has enormous advantages, first, once the card reader is configured, it can only read PVCs issued by INEC at the polling unit that it has been configured. Second, it reads the embedded chip card not the back code. Third, it enables authentication of the identity of the voter by matching his or her fingerprints with that code on CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

L-R: President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Kadre Ovedraogo; Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Suleiman and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, at a meeting with Buhari on the forthcoming general elections in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Currency closes at N197 to $1 as official forex market is scrapped CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The is coming less than two-and-a-half months after the CBN devalued the currency by 8.3 per cent or N13 by moving the midpoint of the official window of the foreign exchange market from N155/ $1 to N168/$1.

Checks by New Telegraph yesterday revealed that the CBN, which had been meeting only 10 per cent of the forex demands at the official market, bought the greenback at N196 per dollar at the interbank market and resold to banks at N197 per dollar.

A statement from the CBN announcing the closure of the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS)/ Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) foreign exchange window said the closure of the RDAS window became imperative in order to forestall the emergence of a multiple rate regime and to preserve the nation’s foreign reserves, which stood at $32.66 as at February 16.

The RDAS is a window

through which the CBN allocates foreign exchange at subsidised rates to meet legitimate needs through authorised banks.

The CBN explained that it had to dump the managed float exchange regime because the oil price slump and its attendant impact on the country’s foreign exchange earnings had led to a widening of the margin between the rates in the interbank and the RDAS window.

This, according to the CBN, is “engendering undesirable practices including round-tripping, speculative demand, rentseeking, spurious demand and inefficient use of scarce foreign exchange resources by economic agents.”

All these, it said, had put pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, a development, which had to be checked.

The CBN, however, stressed that it will continue to intervene in the interbank foreign market.

Stakeholders have

hailed this development, saying it a step in the right direction.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane, said the scrapping of the official forex market was the best decision that the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had taken since his assumption of office.

Rewane, who had always criticised the overvaluation of the naira, said the currency was now priced at a fair value.

“The action of the CBN is appropriate and excellent. In fact, this is the best decision Emefiele has ever taken since he came into office.

“Although, this will lead to initial inflation, it will eliminate round-tripping and reduce the demand for the dollar, especially speculative ones; increase revenue for the government and stop the hawking on dollar on the streets by people who are not adding any value to economic activity,” he stated.

Similarly, Managing Director, Global Research, Standard Chartered, Razia Khan, said the markets had anticipated eventual unification of the different exchange rates given the nation’s foreign reserves that had been under pressure as a result of weaker oil prices.

She said: “Following the announcement in February that presidential and parliamentary elections would be postponed to March 28, Nigerian markets were subject to greater volatility. Naira losses were frequently large enough to trigger a daily shutdown of Nigeria’s forex market.

“With foreign reserves under pressure, and amid growing concern that a wide RDAS-interbank spread would encourage ‘round-tripping’, the CBN will now stop RDAS auctions, effectively discontinuing its forex subsidy for certain categories of demand. This is positive news, and should help create more transparency in the Nigerian market.

“However, with oil prices currently at levels where foreign reserves will be difficult to replenish, the CBN’s appetite for continued support of the interbank foreign exchange rate will be closely monitored.”

However, reacting to the CBN’s announcement, foreign exchange dealers told the New Telegraph that it did come as a surprise to them. They said the signs had been there all along that the CBN was planning another devaluation of the naira as it had been finding it increasingly difficult in recent weeks to meet demand for foreign exchange.

The Managing Director of a Lagos-based Bureaux De Change (BDC), Mr. Matthew Oshioma, said, “The announcement did not come as a surprise to me because it was clear in the last few weeks that something like this was in the offing. For instance, during its recent interventions in the market, the CBN sold dollars outside the official rate of N168 to the dollar.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

3

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Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 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 19, 2015

5

Why govt can’t build new refineries, by Alison-Madueke

M

inister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday put paid to expectations of government funding new refineries, with the affirmation that it should be left to the private sector.

Madueke, who spoke in Abuja during a media chat, said the only way out was to give more Nigerians the opportunity to invest

in the oil industry since government was no more ready to plough money into the ailing refineries in the guise of Turn Around Maintenance [TAM].

The minister described as wasteful, any further attempt to restore the refineries, as according to her, efforts to bring in experts from outside the country achieved virtually no concrete results.

She said: "When I as-

sumed office, that was one issue that gave me sleepless nights and we were out to tackle it. We invited experts from Japan, they came over and, at the end, nothing came out of the deal. I guess, maybe the equipment are far behind what modern technology can handle.

"There is no way those who built the refineries can come to terms with what they will see today.

We talked about privatising the refineries. Government's intentions were genuine. We had worked out a scheme that would also benefit the workers.

However, the workers did not see the plan from our own perspective."

Alison-Madueke added that prominent Nigerians, like the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim

Ovia expressed interest in the privatisation drive, with firm commitment towards building new refineries.

She also spoke on the controversial purchase of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for both her personal and official use, stressing that those who were opposed to her reforms spearheaded the allegations of spending a

Director General, National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Chris Onyemenam and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, during the presentation of national identity card to Tambuwal in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO ELIJAH OLALUYI

INEC rejects temporary voters' cards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the chip of the card. Four, it keeps a tally of all cards read and all cards verified or authenticated with all their details, including the time when this was done.

"Five, this information can be sent to a central server, using an SMS. Six, the stored information on the server will enable INEC to audit results from polling units as well as do arrangement of statistical analysis of the demographics of voting, something INEC has never been able to do effectively. Seven, the ward collation officer can use this information to audit polling unit result sheets and to determine whether accreditation figures have been altered, a common feature of electoral fraud in our jurisdiction," Jega said.

He defended the commission's insistence on using the card readers, saying it is empowered by section 16 subsection 4 of the Electoral Act to use card readers for the election, clarifying that the card readers would not be used for voting, but for accreditation.

"Whereas section 52 of the Electoral Act prohibits the use of electronic voting, the card reader is not a voting machine and it is not used for voting, it is merely an electronic device introduced to improve the integrity of the voting process. It should be remembered that sections 78 and 118 of the constitution grant INEC powers to register voters and to conduct elections in Nigeria.

"The decision of the commission to replace the temporary voters' cards (TVCs) with PVCs was in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, as amended. An election is said to be validly conducted if it meets certain basic requirements, including accreditation of voters. An election cannot be said to be properly conducted if the steps provided by section 49 of the Electoral Act 2010 are not complied with.

"This section requires that anybody intending to vote shall present himself with his voter's card to a presiding officer who shall certify him or herself that the person is on the register of voters before issuing

such a person with a ballot paper," he added.

Most of the senators, however, expressed reservations about the effective functioning of the card readers and sought further clarifications from the INEC leadership.

Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the machine might be slow and fail to accredit some registered voters at the polls.

"This is a very practical thing. From what we have seen here today, it means that it will take about one minute to accredit a person.

"You said that the device is programmed to work for five hours daily.

Let's assume that you commenced accreditation by 8a.m., you will finish by 1p.m., like you said. If that is the case and from what we have seen here today, it means that you will only accredit 60 voters in one hour by one person per minute. It also means that only 300 voters will be accredited between the accreditation hours of 8a.m. and 1p.m.

"We all know that most

polling booths have more than 300 registered voters.

Now, if this is the case, the rest of the registered voters would be disenfranchised for the election," Abaribe stated.

But Jega tried to allay the fears of the senators, assuring them that the machine will be faster than they expected.

In his remarks, Senate President David Mark said the Senate had a constitutional responsibility to assist INEC conduct a free and fair election to facilitate smooth transition to another civilian, democratic government.

"It is for us to assist you to conduct a free, fair and credible election and whatever we can do between now and the date that you have chosen for us to go for the election, please don't hesitate to come back to us. I believe that you benefited from this interaction; we have also benefited. A number of issues have been raised and they are pointers to the way you want to look at the administrative and technical issues that have also been raised," he added.

whopping N10 billion on aircraft hire.

"On assumption of office, the NNPC aircraft I met was in terrible condition. In fact, I was advised

by Mr. Odein Ajumogobia to avoid it, if I valued my life, based on his experience as a Minister of State.

He said there was a day, the helicopter almost dropped from the sky. I was also advised that it was more cost effective to lease planes than to buy new ones.

“Based on that, we considered it more appropriate to be leasing than to go for outright purchase.

From the concocted N10 billion, I should have been able to buy two brand new aircraft and still add one fairly used to the NNPC fleet. I don't know how they arrived at that huge amount. This is ridiculous," she explained.

On oil theft, the minister expressed disappointment that despite government's efforts, sabotage in form of pipeline vandalism, was yet to abate.

"While oil theft is going down, it is disturbing that the oil pipelines are being vandalised, we now see all forms of sabotage, which again is a major mystery to us, as to why anybody would want to come in to vandalise our crude, and again, gas pipelines, for no other reason, but to disrupt production and discredit government," she said.

Jonathan faces fresh eligibility suit Tunde Oyesina

A

suit challenging the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek for a re-election in the March 28 presidential poll which was earlier withdrawn before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja have now been re-filed before an Abuja High Court.

The trial judge, Justice Ishak Bello, had however fixed February 22 for hearing.

The plaintiffs, Prof.

Tunde Samuel, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mr. Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu had earlier withdrew the suit before the Federal High Court and it was consequently struck out by the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed.

In the fresh suit, the plaintiffs cited President Jonathan as the sole defendant.

In their originating summons filed through their counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), the plaintiffs insisted that Jonathan is not legally fit to contest the impending presidential election.

They contended that allowing him to participate in the election would amount to giving him the

opportunity to spend more than eight years in office, contrary to the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

They, however, want the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of the constitution it was “unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and not permissible for any person to occupy the office of the president of Nigeria for more than a cumulative and aggregate period of eight years when the country was not at war.”

The plaintiffs contended that should Jonathan win another term of four years from 2015, he would have been permitted to occupy the office of president for more than eight years.

They, therefore, prayed the court to declare that in computing the period already spent in office as president by Jonathan, the period from May 6, 2010 to May 28, 2011 should be considered.

In addition, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that having spent a period of more than four years in office as president since May 6, 2010, Jonathan no longer had the “competence, authority or entitlement to contest the same office for another term of four years.”

News

6

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG to cut budget, review oil benchmark

lSlashes GDP forecast to 4.8 per cent Ayodele Aminu

T

he Federal Government will consider further cuts to the 2015 budget and adjust its $65 benchmark oil price downward, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

The N4.3 trillion 2015 budget has experienced three oil benchmark reviews due to the persistent slump in oil prices. From an initial proposal of $78, it was reviewed down to $73 and finally to $65 benchmark before it was sent to the national Assembly for passage.

The Federal Government has also cut Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) forecast from 5.5 per cent to between 4.5 and 4.8 per cent this year.

The minister, who was speaking against a backdrop of turmoil on Nigerian financial markets triggered by uncertainty over postponed national elections and concern about the impact of the depressed world price for oil, told the Financial Times in a report published yesterday that on the longer term, Nigeria must sharply reduce its

dependency on oil and increase revenue collection from other sectors.

"We talk too much about oil. We have a diversified economic base. But we have not so far been able to tap that base to diversify revenues," she said.

Improvements in tax collection helped Nigeria raise an extra $600 million in non-oil earnings last year and this would nearly double in 2015, she added.

In coming years, however, Nigeria must reduce the proportion of revenues it gets from crude exports more drastically from 70 to 40 per cent.

"We need to flip it to become more like Mexico

over the next decade . . .

The big story about Nigeria has to do with other sectors of the economy," she said.

In December, the government halved its projected capital expenditure to $2 billion after adjusting the 2015 budget to take account of falling oil prices.

A string of new levies on luxury and other goods was also introduced. The next round of savings would have to come from recurrent expenditure, Okonjo-Iweala implied, insisting however, that there were no plans to lay off civil servants.

"On the fiscal side, we need to bring in a realis-

tic benchmark oil price, which we are planning to do. I think you will see us in the coming week agree with the National Assembly on that.

"All classes of society will have to contribute at this difficult time. You can't ask the Nigerian public to pay more taxes if you are not going to cut the cost of government," Okonjo-Iweala added.

In a previous incarnation as finance minister 10 years ago, Okonjo-Iweala was the architect of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), where the state accumulated more than $20 billion of savings above the budgeted price of crude

money that helped Nigeria weather the last collapse in oil prices in 2009.

In the tense run-up to general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan's administration has come under fire for having squandered the proceeds of the more recent boom, with just $2 billion left in the ECA today.

It was unfair to blame the Federal Government for this, she said, adding that the 36 states of the federation insisted that the windfalls be shared among the federating unit.

"When I said we must save for a rainy day they said it was already raining and we have to spend

the money now," she said of the states.

The minster finds it frustrating that perceptions of Nigeria are still so shaped by the oil industry, given the boom that has taken place in other sectors and progress in areas such as pension reform.

Nigeria now has $27billion in pension funds.

"We have been defined by this resource curse.

People refuse to think of Nigeria in any other way," she said. "If I was bleating every day about oil and left all the other sectors that are going to drive this economy, what kind of finance minister would I be?"

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31oC

26oC

Storms

ABUJA

35oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

26oC

18oC

Storms

KANO

36oC

17oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

35o C 25oC Very Cloudy

IBADAN

29o C 23oC Thunder Storms

CALABAR

31oC

23oC

Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

37oC 18oC Partially Cloudy

34o C 25oC Thunder Storms

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Alhaji Hakeem Bello, at a news conference on Lagos' 2014 budget performance in Lagos…yesterday.

Troops kill 300 Boko Haram, liberate 13 Borno towns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ties to include Monguno, Marte, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa and Bosso Wanti.

The statement came just as Boko Haram’s selfacclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau, threatened in a new video to stop the forthcoming general elections.

The statement by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said the troops who killed the insurgents after a two-day mop-up operation, also destroyed five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, six Toyota Hilux vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns and 300 motorcycles, among others.

Other items recovered during the operation were an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs,

eight different types of machine guns, five rocketpropelled grenades, 49 boxes of various calibres of ammunition.

Olukolade added that two soldiers were killed in the operation while 10 others sustained injuries.

Some fighters were also captured.

"Mopping-up operation of some of the communities where terrorists have been cleared in the course of ongoing air and land operations against terrorists has indicated massive casualty inflicted on them within the last two days of the counter terrorist operations. Over 300 terrorists were killed while a few were also captured.

Several weapons and equipment were also captured and some destroyed.

"The cordon and search operations are continuing along with aggressive patrols by troops who

are now dominating the cleared communities such as Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Zuntur, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul.

The various phases of the highly coordinated air and land operations are also ongoing in the designated theatres being handled by contingents involved in the renewed counter terrorism campaign in and outside Nigeria," DHQ stated.

Despite the onslaught against the terror group, it has intensified its propaganda against the Nigerian state with a threat to disrupt the forthcoming general elections.

Shekau vowed in a video released on Tuesday that Boko Haram could do all within its power to stop the polls.

"This election will not be held even if we are dead. Even if we are not

alive Allah will never allow you to do it," Shekau said in Hausa.

According to a report yesterday by Agence France Presse (AFP), the video appeared to be the first message released by the group on Twitter; a sign of its changing media tactics after previous messages were distributed to journalists on DVD. Shekau was shown in unusual clarity in front of a solid blue background, dressed in black and with an automatic weapon resting to his right.

He also claimed a weekend attack in Gombe, which the military said was repelled.

The Islamist leader, declared a global terrorist by the United States and sanctioned by the United Nations, disputed the military's account of the Gombe clashes, claiming that his fighters overran

troops and freed insurgents from prison.

Despite Shekau's threat, experts doubt that the Islamist rebels have the capacity to disrupt voting nationwide, although election officials have conceded that voting could prove impossible in parts of the North-East.

Shekau also threatened to attack Chad and Niger for joining the fight against the Islamists.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said many Boko Haram fighters who infiltrated some Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in the wake of the military operation in the North-East, have been arrested by security operatives.

The government also commended the United States for joining the fight against Boko Haram, while urging Nigerians CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Reps, Okonjo-Iweala to meet over falling oil price Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday constituted a special committee to meet the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, over the falling oil price at the international market.

The House, which took the decision at an executive session that lasted for three hours, said the special committee would iron out the grey areas about the budget together with the Finance Minister, as well as the Budget Office.

Announcing the decision after the closed-door meeting, Speaker Aminu Waizri Tambuwal said: “During the closed-door

session, we took time to discuss the 2015 budget, MTEF and all the parameters that are related to the budget.

"We agreed that we should set up a special committee to meet with Ministry of Finance on the issues related to that."

The special committee is headed by the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. John Enoh (PDP, Cross Rivers) with the Finance Committee Chairman, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibril (APC, Kano) as member.

Other members are Yinka Ajayi, Bimbo Daramola, Jerry Manwe, Linus Okorie, Ibrahim Babangida and Yakubu Dogara.

The rest are Tajudeen Yusuf, Nnenna Ukeje, Pat Asadu, Ossai Nicholas Os-

sai, Babatunde Adajare, Seconte Davis, Isa Gusau, Abubakar Momoh and Dan Akpan.

It will be recalled that Okonjo-Iweala had, on December 17, 2014, presented a slashed estimate of N4.357 trillion from the earlier proposed N4.661 trillion in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), when oil price was pegged at $73 per barrel.

A revised MTEF was, however, sent to the lawmakers a day before the presentation of the budget, which pegged the oil price at $65 per barrel.

Presently, the international crude price stands a little above $52 per barrel, representing a difference of $13 in the pegged oil price as contained in the MTEF.

Police, DSS to investigate Okrika shooting Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the shooting incident that disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship rally in Okrika, Rivers State on Tuesday.

Accordingly, Abba has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Johnson Tunde Ogunshakin, to take over the investigation.

This is as the Department of State Services (DSS) has also disclosed that investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, have already begun.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police,

said all those found culpable, should be prosecuted.

The statement reads: "The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has ordered a fullscale investigation into the shooting incident on February 17, at the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Okrika, Rivers State, during which three policemen were injured and one killed.

“He has directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Tunde Ogunshakin to take over the investigation and promptly bring to book all the perpetrators, conspirators and sponsors. He further directed a judicious prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with violence across the country.

"The IGP also noted with grave concern that despite serious warnings, advices and interfaces with political actors to avoid acts

of violence in the ongoing electoral process, such acts have continued.

"However, the IGP restated the resolve and commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, and in line with its constitutional and statutory mandate, to continue to provide an impartial level playing ground for all political parties to sell their manifestoes and woo the electorate.”

In the same light, the DSS said the Okrika incident will be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking at the regular briefing by the National Information Centre (DSS), the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, said: "We are investigating, and of course, more and far beyond that, there is profiling of those whose presence in a particular area, cannot be easily explained.

"Whatever has happened will not be covered," she stated.

Troops kill 300 Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

to emulate the show of solidarity by Nigeriens for their troops.

Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said the bombardment of Boko Haram's hideouts has forced the fighters to seek new locations.

He urged residents of relatively peaceful communities around the North-East to be more vigi-

lant and report suspicious movements of visitors to security agencies.

Omeri also deplored the heightened level of intolerance and violence among citizens and called on Nigerians to immediately end the trend.

In another development, 30 civilians were killed when an unidentified airplane dropped a bomb on a Nigerian border village.

A report yesterday by Reuters quoted two military officials in Bosso, where soldiers from Chad

and Niger are massed in preparation for operations against Boko Haram, as saying that the incident occurred in a village across the border in the Abadam area of Borno State.

"We don't know whose plane it was. We understand that the victims are residents who were gathered for a ceremony, but who were mistaken for terrorists," said a military source.” About 30 people perished."

A second military source in Bosso confirmed details of the incident.

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Anule Emmanuel, Onyekachi Eze, Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has enjoined Christians in the country to use the period of Lent in praying for the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan yesterday called on Nigerians to focus on a peaceful society throughout the period and after.

In separate messages sent to Christians yesterday, they also harped on the need for a peaceful election in the country.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, felicitated with all Christians as they begin the observance of Lent for the year 2015.

He said: "As they undergo the rites of the 40-day Lenten season which runs from today, Ash Wednesday, to Easter Sunday, with constant prayers, penitence, fasting and self-denial, President Jonathan urges Christians in Nigeria to pray fervently for peaceful,

BoI gives out N57m to 13 entrepreneurs Clem Khena-Ogbena

T

he Bank of Industry has disbursed a lifeline of N57.24 million to 13 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kogi State. The fund, which was given out as soft loans under the Kogi State-Bank of Industry N2billion MSMEs Development Fund Scheme, is meant to facilitate the growth of the nation’s manufacturing sector, enhance business expansion and boost production capacity of the beneficiaries.

While handing over the cheques to the beneficiaries in Lokoja, the state capital, yesterday, BoI Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, enjoined the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, to pay the outstanding sum N750million matching fund.

Olaoluwa, who was represented at the event by the Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, pointed out that proper funding would enable current and potential entrepreneurs in the state benefit from the bank’s ongoing efforts.

THURsday, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Jonathan, Buhari, Onaiyekan sue for peace at Lent violence-free and successful general elections in the country on March 28 and April 11, 2015.

President Jonathan also seized the opportunity of the commencement of Lent to call on all political leaders in the country, Christians and non-Christians alike, to rededicate themselves to the commitment they have made to peaceful, non-violent campaigns and elections,

74

and do their utmost best to ensure that their supporters across the country uphold that commitment.

The PDP particularly charged Nigerians to use the period to pray for the peaceful conduct of next month's general election.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, also told them that only peaceloving persons get elected during the elections.

The life expectancy of men at birth in Kuwait in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

"We must use this year’s Lent to reaffirm values that bind us together as a people. The fact that the March 28th Presidential and National Assembly elections fall within this solemn period, which is universally dedicated to fasting, prayers, penance and charity, is of great significance, even as it provides us an ample opportunity to re-commit our democracy and dear

72.87%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Austria in 2008.

Source: Itu.int

nation to the Almighty God", the statement said The party further charged Nigerians to allow their thoughts and actions to be divinely directed, and urged them to use the fasting period to strengthen their resistance to evil machinations that may present themselves against the success of the elections by shunning all forms of violence.

€19.85m

The total salary and extra winnings made by Tony Romo of Dallas Cowboys (NFL) in 2013-2014.

Source: Financenews24.com

Catholic Catechist of the St.Peter and Paul Parish, Nyanya, Ifeanyi Christian (right), administering ash on members to mark this year’s Ash Wednesday in Abuja …yesterday.

Kwara takes FG to S’Court over $58.4m refund Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Kwara State Gover nment has asked the Supreme Court to compel the Federal Government to pay it the sum of $58,505,759 collected on the state behalf from a foreign company since 1993.

The state accused the Federal Government of non- release of the money which was an over-

T

he Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr David Parradang, has said that Globacom is aiding national security by facilitating free flow of communication from anywhere in the country with the newly inaugurated Glo Immigration Closed User Group (CUG).

He added that the network, through the facility, has also provided a welfare package for the

payment of a foreign loan obtained by Kwara and guaranteed by the Federal Government.

The state through its counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN) had instituted the legal action with No SC1/2015 against the Federal Government.

Cited as the only respondent is the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on behalf of the Federal Government.

In the statement of claim, the plaintiff stat-

ed that sometime in 1983, it was a beneficiary of an external loan negotiated by the Federal Government on its behalf through the Paris Club assessed through Danski Eksporte Finanser Ingsfond (A Danish Export Finance Corporation).

It further stated that it was granted a loan of DKK 603,203,562 with interest in the sum of DKK 213,711,237.54, bringing the total involved in the loan to DKK 816, 914,799.09.

The plaintiff also

stated that the loan which was obtained with the backing of the Federal Government was meant and used for the establishment of hospital projects all over the state.

It claimed that the agreement between the parties was that the loan was repayable in 16 equal instalments with the first instalment payable on or before March 31, 1986 and that last instalment was paid on September 30, 1993.

Glo joins Immigration to secure borders rank and file of the Immigration Service and their families.

While launching the CUG in the Office of the Comptroller General of Immigration in Abuja, the Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration (Ops and Passport), Mr. Muhammad Babandede, who represented Parradang, stated that it was always difficult

to communicate when resources were scarce and that situations that could have been salvaged got worse.

The package comes with very cost-effective and convenient facilities that will see men and officers of the Service, making calls free of charge with fellow officers and with their families.

The package, which is ultimately for the entire staff of Immigration Service, commences with an initial 5,000 units to be spread across all formations and departments of the Immigration Service around the country, including in the remote areas of the North East, where officers are deployed to secure the borders.

Minister berates APC over calls for his removal Wale Elegbede

M

inister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan, yesterday described the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as an association of bad losers, who thrive on lies and propaganda.

Reacting to the call for his removal by the APC over the alleged Ekiti rigging audio clip, the minister said through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, that rather than call for his removal, the party should have told the whole world how they intended to subvert the people's will in Ekiti before they were resisted by the good people of the state.

Adesiyan reiterated that he wouldn't have dignified APC with any more comments on the issue but for the purpose of history and to put the record straight.

According to him: "Ordinarily, I wouldn't have dignified APC with any comment on this issue any more, but because the APC whose stock-in-trade are lies and propaganda can easily explore their propaganda machineries to turn black into white for people to take black as white. I would have also ignored their ranting and hallucinating tendencies."

ING unknown to constitution – Ex-ministers Onyekachi Eze Abuja

S

ome former federal ministers, yesterday,said those advocating for Interim National Government (ING) were trying to subvert the 1999 constitution, as amended.

The group, which operates under the aegis, of the National Solidarity Alliance (NASA) also includes Mohammed Abacha, son of the former Head of State, General Sani Abacha and other democrats.

It described ING as a ploy to stop the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

At a press conference addressed on its behalf by former Minister for Environment, Mr. John Odey, the group noted that there was no provision for Interim National Government in the constitution and called on Nigerians to resist any attempt to subvert democracy.

Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate, yesterday, ratified the Fourth Alteration Bill (2014) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for onward transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan for his assent.

This followed a motion brought to the floor by the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, which was co-sponsored by 48 others.

The motion read:

News

Constitution: Senate ratifies Fourth Alteration Bill for presidential assent

Arik debunks claim of workers theft of aviation fuel

“aware that Section 9(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended provides that an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution can be passed only when it is supported by 2/3 majority of members of the Senate, and the House of Representatives, and approved by 2/3 majority of State Houses of Assembly; “Recall that the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill, 2014 was passed

in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 15th October, 2014; and the National Assembly transmitted same on Tuesday 28th October, 2014 to the State Houses of Assembly to fulfil the requirement of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution; “Acknowledge that the thirty-six State Houses of Assembly – Abia, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross-

River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, have forwarded their resolution on the provisions of the Bill.

“Observe that from the 71 Sections and Schedules of the 1999 Constitution altered by the National Assembly in the Bill, the following have been approved

by the state houses of Assembly in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the Constitution as required for their passage– Sections: 4, 8, 9, Chapter III, Section 25, 26, 34, 35, 39, 42, New Sections 45A-45D, New Section 50A, Section 58, 59, 65, 66, 67, 68, 81, 82, 84, New Section 84A-84F, Section 89, New Section 92A, Section 100, 106, 107, 109, 121, 122, 124(b), 129, 131, 134, 150, 153, 155, 174, New Section 174A-174L, among others.

L-R: Member, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mrs. Obey Victoria; Chief Operating Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Odubiyi; President, NAPPS, Chief Yomi Otubela and Group Head, Strategy and Communication, Mr. Shina Arilola, after a media briefing on the forthcoming NAPPS retreat programme and uni PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI fied examination in collaboration with the bank in Lagos…yesterday.

Nyako accuses court of frustrating impeachment suit Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

F

ormer Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), yesterday accused the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta of frustrating his case challenging the legality of his impeachment.

He accused the judge of withdrawing the case file from the Adamawa division of the court.

Justice Auta was alleged to have withdrawn the case file few days to the delivery of judgement by the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu.

Nyako, through his counsel, Olukoya Ogunbele, at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, appealed to Justice Auta to immediately release the case file to Yola division of the Federal High Court so that the trial judge can deliver judgement in the interest of justice.

Ogunbele said that

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NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

withdrawing a case file few days to judgement date by any judicial officer is in bad taste and should not be condoned.

However, in a swift reaction to the allegation of case file withdrawal, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mrs. Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie, dismissed the allegation, stating that it was not true.

She stated that a counsel in the suit, Festus Keyamo, representing the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ishaya Banu, had petitioned Justice Bilikisu Aliyu on ground of denial of fair hearing and forwarded same to the CJ. Oghoghorie added that as a tradition, Justice Auta had to call for the case file to ascertain the veracity of the allegation of denial of fair hearing and also forwarded a copy of the petition to the trial judge for her response.

She, however, added that up till date, the trial judge was yet to respond to the petition against her

and that the CJ was still awaiting the response.

In a similar development, Nyako has dragged the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ishaya Banu, before the National Judicial Council, NJC, for disciplinary action over alleged miscarriage of justice in a suit challenging the legality of his (Nyako) impeachment.

In a petition to the NJC dated February 10, Nyako alleged that Justice Banu frustrated his legal action by delaying proceedings in the matter assigned to himself, thereby, subverting the cause of justice.

The petition signed by Director of Media to the former governor, Ahmad Sajoh, further alleged that throughout the period the case was with Justice Banu, no substantial progress was made as he allegedly used every ploy to delay the case, to the extent of deliberately refusing to return from Abuja to Yola when the case was slated for hearing.

Wole Shadare

A

rik Airline has debunked claims by Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka that three workers of the airline were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for siphoning fuel from an aircraft.

The Minister was said to have posted on his Facebook account, allegations that three workers of the airline were nabbed for stealing fuel from one of the organisation’s aircraft.

But spokesman for Arik Air, Banji Ola, in a statement yesterday, said investigations revealed that the three people caught at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in the early hours of Sunday were siphoning JET A1 (aviation fuel) from a fuel truck but were not staff of the airline.

Ola disclosed that the airline does not have an aircraft with registration number 5N MID in its fleet, adding that the suspects were arrested by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel after illegally draining fuel from the truck belonging to one of the major oil marketers at the ramp.

Reps to debate Ekiti election video today Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives will today debate the alleged rigging of Ekiti gubernatorial election and the legality or otherwise of the deployment of military during elections in the country.

This resolution was taken following a motion by the Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) calling for extensive debates.

While presenting the motion, Gbajabiamila cited video and audio evidence reportedly exposing the planning and rigging of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State by top government officials and the military, saying it was imperative to discuss the matter.

He said: “It is a matter that is very important.

It is a matter that this House has to address to determine whether the military has a role to play in our elections.”

Gbajabiamila said.

It would be recalled that last August, INEC backed an amendment of the Electoral Act which constitutionally limits the role of the Nigerian Armed Forces in elections.

The Commission, in a position paper presented by its chairman, Attahiru Jega, backed the amendment of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act which inserts a new paragraph(b) that limits the role of the military to “securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials”.

N1.5bn fraud: Ex-NIMASA DG asks court to stay proceedings Akeem Nafiu

A

former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Raymond Omatseye, has asked Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court in Lagos to stay further proceedings in his trial over his alleged involvement in N1.5 billion contract scam.

However, the ex-NIMASA DG asked the court to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal he initiated to challenge the dismissal of his no case application by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Justice Ajumogobia had dismissed Omatseye’s application over his failure to discredit the evidence adduced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the case.

Specifically, Justice

Ajumogobia declared that she did not find any difficulty in agreeing with the prosecution that the counts in question were properly drafted in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA).

But Omatseye disagreed with the judge, hence, he lodged an appeal at the appellate court, asking that the decision of the lower court be set aside.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Metro FRAUD

Some illegal aliens arrested by the Immigration Service say their plan was to use PVCs for money Juliana Francis

S

ome Nigeriens among 82 illegal immigrants arrested in different parts of Lagos State for being in possession of voter cards, in a dramatic confession, said they wanted to make money with the cards.

The state Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs Justina Ahmadu, said the foreigners would be repatriated immediately.

The arrest and recovery of the cards by immigration officers occurred as many Nigerians are insisting that they were yet to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

According to the foreigners, they had succeeded in registering for voter cards, but were yet to get their PVCs before their arrest.

According to them, they pretended to be Nigerians from the North to get the cards. Although their spoken English was halting, one of them, Mohammed, boldly expressed himself.

Elijah Samuel

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fficials of officials of Lagos State Ministry of Environment yesterday supervised the demolition of the fence of St. Peters Claver Catholic Church, Ajao-Estate.

The demolition, which is to give way for the construction of an ongoing road project, followed months of disagreement between officials of the ministry and church.

The fence which, was pulled down, created a wide opening linking Benson Onwe Close which shares boundary with the church on its eastern flank.

Apparently, the ongoing construction on Baale Shekoni Street, which is on the western flank, is intended to be linked with Benson Onwe Close.

Speaking of the develop-

We want to make money from PVCs, foreigners confess He said: “I have been in Lagos for close to four years.

I came into the country in a truck conveying cows. My job in Nigeria is to supply water to the residents who do not have access to boreholes.

“Many of us have temporary voter cards. We posed as northerners because our names sound like theirs.

Some of our friends said we should get the cards, that we could be given money during elections. We were unable to get our PVCs because we were afraid to visit the designated points due to regular visits of Immigration officers there.”

They further confessed to live under bridges and shanties in different parts of Lagos.

Ahmadu warned all foreigners residing in Lagos to stay away from the country’s election, saying that it was strictly for Nigerians.

The comptroller implored Nigerians to give information that would lead to the arrest of illegal immigrants, adding that security

The illegal aliens

was the responsibility of all.

She said: “I appeal to those employing them, to ensure they have their valid travel document the moment they

employ them. They should make sure they procure their resident cards for them in order to qualify them to stay legally in the country.

Lagos demolishes Catholic Church’s fence ment, Rev Father Hyginus Nwanze, the priest of the church, urged the government, through its relevant agencies and ministries to do what was right and fair.

He said: “The issue is that they said a road is coming through here. Fine, nobody is saying the road should not be constructed but what the people are saying is that they must not encroach on the church’s land.

“We are not saying they should not construct the road but they should be fair by taking what is theirs and leave what is ours.

“The officers left when we came out and challenged them on what authority and measurement they have come to do what they are doing. They showed us our own Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) which I’m sure they are not working with

FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Dominic Adewole ASABA

F

ive suspected criminals, Owite Solomon, Vwhire Enabimi, Dase Kpegbaje, Goddowell Akpede, and

IG’s task force recovers 51 stolen vehicles Emmanuel Onani

A

The demolished fence

otherwise they would not be doing what they are doing.

“It is clear that Benson Onwe Close which they are trying to link up with the ongoing road construction on Baale Shekoni Street is a close, ordi-

narily a major road is not supposed to go through a close.”

Attempts to get the response of the ministry were not successful as phone calls to relevant officials were not answered.

Five held for robbery in Delta ABIODUN BELLO

“All foreigners residing in Lagos should also know that the forthcoming election is Nigerians’ affair and as such, they should not meddle into it.”

Tobore Shalom, are now cooling their feet in police cell in Delta State.

While the first four were members of the same gang, Shalom was apprehended while attempting to rob a house.

Solomon, 24, Enabimi,

25, Kpegbaje, 20, and Akpede, 20), waylaid one Sunday Efe, and snatched his Toyota Corolla car with registration number AKD 14 CL, before detectives attached to Abraka Division swooped on them.

Special Task Force set up by the Inspector General of Police (IG) to fight “heinous crimes,” said it had recovered 51 vehicles, after busting a notorious criminal gang, which specialised in snatching vehicles across the country.

In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, enjoined victims of car snatching, to check at the IG Special Task Force on Heinous Crimes offices in Abuja, Kaduna State and Onitsha in Anambra State.

Four suspects linked with the act, have been arrested.

The statement reads: “In a major operation in response to a series of reports of stolen vehicles from across the country, the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Heinous Crimes, has busted a notorious criminal gang that specialises in snatching of vehicles at different points across the country.

“Four suspects linked with these criminal activities have been arrested and 51 vehicles of different makes recovered from them.

“The recovered vehicles are currently on safe keeping at the IG Special Task Force on Heinous Crime facilities in Abuja, Kaduna and Onitsha, with contact phone number: 08035557676.”

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Banker allegedly steals N25m from depositors’ accounts Juliana Francis

T

Yahaya

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a banker for stealing money from depositors’ accounts to the tune of N25, 350,000.

It was gathered that the banker, formerly a marketing officer with Fidelity Bank, allegedly dipped his hands into nine accounts of different customers. But the worst-hit victim lost N21,710,000 to him.

The accused, Friday Yahaya

alias Peter Arikhan, was arraigned before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Ikeja, on a 16-count charge bordering on stealing, impersonation and forgery.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Yahaya, a former marketing ‘staff’ of Fidelity Bank, Balogun Business Association branch, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, allegedly defrauded nine customers of the bank through diversion of their deposits into his personal

account with the bank.”

One of the charges reads: “Friday Yahaya (Peter Arikhan) sometime between the months of February and November 2013, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being a staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, stole the sum of N21,710,000 from account number 6050729408 maintained by Ifeanyi Okoye, property of Fidelity Bank Plc.” Akapo adjourned the matter till March 11 for hearing of defence bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison.

We won’t abolish death penalty –Lagos Muritala Ayinla

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agos State Government yesterday said that it would not abolish capital punishment in its criminal laws, despite campaigns and international advocacy against execution of criminals on death row.

The government said despite being the pace-setter in justice sector reforms, the State Executive Council considered retention of the death penalty based on the empirical research carried out among the residents in the state on whether they believe the death penalty currently deters violent crime.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, who made the disclosure, said the survey was undertaken in two categories

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

O

gun State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested 50 illegal immigrants at different locations in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

The illegal immigrants comprised of 29 Benin nationals, 11 Nigeriens and 10 Togolese.

The state NIS Comptroller, Mrs Victoria Isang, who briefed journalists on the arrest in Abeokuta yesterday, said the illegal nationals would be repatriated to their various countries within 24 hours.

She disclosed that no fewer than 69 Togolese, who entered Nigeria illegally, were also repatriated on February 6.

Isang added that the feat was achieved due to the command’s zero tolerance for illegal entry into the country.

The comptroller, who noted that illegal immigrants often flocked the state through the expansive borderlines, warned Nigerians against engaging the services of foreign nationals because of cheap labour.

She said: “As part of efforts at maintaining zero tolerance for illegal entry, the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service ensures that the border lines of the

- public survey and the experts’ survey of people with close contact with the criminal justice process and systems.

He said: “Over half of the respondents (51.1 per cent) advised Lagos State Government to execute convicts on death row while only 38.5 per cent maintained otherwise; 9.7 per cent were undecided while 0.8 per cent did not proffer any opinion.

“While 61.9 per cent of the respondents believed that the death penalty is a necessary retributive tool, as much as 59 per cent opined that the death penalty does not bring a sense of happiness to the family of the victim(s). A majority of the respondents (67.2 per cent), however, recommended that Lagos State should retain the death penalty.”

Ipaye added that the study

found that gender, age and religion played important roles in understanding the orientation of Lagos residents on the issue of capital punishment, saying that majority of the people supported death penalty across the socio-demographics.

He said: “Majority of the respondents surveyed supported the use of the death penalty in Lagos State. The survey also revealed that over 54 per cent of the respondents advised the Lagos State Government to ex- Ipaye ecute convicts on death row.

“A large number of respon“In the light of the results of dents also believed that the the perceptions and expert surdeath penalty is a necessary vey, the Lagos State Executive retributive tool and a major- Council adopted the position ity of the respondents recom- that the death penalty should be mended that the state should retained in the Criminal Law of retain death penalty because it Lagos State to serve as deterrence serves positive retributive and against violent crimes, such as deterrence purposes. murder and armed robbery.”

50 illegal aliens apprehended in Ogun state with the Republic of Benin is placed under 24 hours surveillance and that only foreigners with valid travel documents are allowed entry into the country.

“Being mindful of the expansive nature of our border lines, the command conducts regular raids on hideouts of illegal immigrants and all those arrested are promptly repatriated to their countries or origin.”

The NIS boss also revealed that no fewer than 147 illegal immigrants, comprising Beninoise, Nigeriens, Indians, Irish, Togolese, Egyptians, Kenyans, Ghanaians, South Africans, Filipinio, Jordanian, French and Chinese, were repatriated in 2014.

Isang warned foreigners in the state to steer clear of vot-

Monarch launches autobiography to mark 70th birthday Tony Okuyeme and Mojeed Alabi

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agos will today host royal fathers, culture administrators, artistes, scholars and writers as the Fadesewa of Simawa, Ogun State, Oba, ‘Gbenga Gbadebo Sonuga, marks his 70th birthday.

The event will also feature the launch of Oba Sonuga’s autobiography and discussions on the history of Nigerian art.

The monarch, who was once the Director of Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, said at a pre-event media briefing yesterday, held at the Ajibulu Moniya, Surulere, Lagos, that the celebration would hold at Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

The book, entitled; “Deep as the Ocean: An Auto-PhotoBiography in Three Cycles,” according to Sonuga, is a rich diary of his life from the cradle to royalty, and specifically touching on his roles within the country’s art industry.

Regretting the dwindling fortunes of the country’s art and tourism industry, especially the state of the National Theatre at Iganmu, Lagos, the monarch traced the challenge of the national monument to the bureaucracy associated with the civil service in Nigeria.

He also bemoaned the neglect of History as a subject of study in the nation’s schools, describing it as both regrettable and unacceptable.

Fadeyi, primate, United Church of C&S, dies

P

Isang parading the illegal Immigrants

ing during the rescheduled general election, stressing that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the laws of the land.

She said: “Any foreigner who under false declaration

is found in possession of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) or Nigerian national identity card with a view to partaking in the election process shall be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.”

rimate of the United Church of Cherubim and Seraphim Organisation Worldwide, Archbishop Samuel Aderinsoye Fadeyi, is dead.

According to a statement issued by his children, Fadeyi died on February 10 at the age of 85 years.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Burial plan will be announced later.

One dies as trailer crushes motorcycle Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

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young man yesterday lost his life when a trailer with registration number XM296AKD and crushed a motorcycle marked AEK507 QB on Atani-Ogwuikpele-Port

Harcourt Road in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The accident, according to a witness, occurred about 2.35pm.

According to the witness, the motorcycle, carrying two persons, was coming from Atani to Onitsha-Enugu Expressway when accident occurred.

He added that motorcycle

was trying to overtake a vehicle not knowing that a trailer carrying goods was coming.

The witness said that the ‘passenger’ on the motorcycle was injured in the accident and was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he was confirmed dead a few minutes later.

The late Fadeyi

12

News

Temitope Ogunbanke

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ational Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, has expressed confidence of his party’s victory in next general elections, boasting that “APC has won the elections, except they rig on the other side.”

Speaking yesterday during an APC stakeholders meeting at the party’s secretariat in Lagos, Tinubu said May 29 was sacrosanct and that no amount of intimida-

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

APC has won elections, except PDP rigs –Tinubu tion and threats from the presidency and the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) would shake APC ahead of the elections.

His words: “We are ready for the elections.

They think they are wise by postponing the elections, but they are not.

APC has won this election except they rig on the other side. All their intimidation will amount to nothing during the elections.

They tried to intimidate us during last year’s Osun State governorship elec-

tion but they failed. We will be on the street waiting for them. Since they brought soldiers to my house, I have been sleeping very well because I am not afraid of them.

“We have been working hard in Abuja. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must use the card readers whether they like it or not. PDP doesn’t want it but we are going to resist their plan. They cannot rig us out. March 28 is sacrosanct but be-

fore then, we are going to ensure we get highest of our voters Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

“This is the time for unity and understanding.

Nigeria is going through challenges and we want to change Nigeria for the interest of the masses. So, this is the time for change.

We should also tell our Igbo brothers that we are one for the same economy.

The exchange rate rose from N95 to N210 in Jonathan’s hands and he will continue to give us excus-

es. We must change him.”

The APC National Leader also accused the PDP of attempting to depopulate the number of registered voters in Lagos State by buying people voters’ cards to prevent them from voting in next general elections to reduce APC votes since they know Lagosians will not vote for them.

While expressing his displeasure to the 62 per cent collection of PVCs in Lagos, according to INEC recent report, Tinubu

appealed to the party members to canvass for registered voters in their neighbourhood to collect their PVCs to increase the number of registered voters in the state.

He said Lagos, as the headquarter of progressivism and economic capital of Nigeria, must not take the back seat in collection of PVCs for the forthcoming elections, adding that all hands must be on deck in ensuring that Lagos has almost 100 per cent in the collection of the PVCs.

Niger Assembly sacks defectors Dan Atori MINNA

T

L-R: Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration, Gender and Welfare, Juline Fariko; Deputy Comptroller-General, Passport and Operations, Muhammad Babandede; Deputy Comptroller-General, Investigation and Enforcement, Joseph Olaitan; Comptroller, Gender, Abimbola Abiodun-Ojo; Head, Public Sector, Globacom, Babatunde Amunikoro and National Sales Coordinator, Public Sector Department, Monsur Opakunle, after the launched of a 5,000-line Close User Group project for officers and men of the Nigerian Immigration Service pan Nigeria in Abuja…on Tuesday

NLC apologises to Nigerians over election debacle

O

utgoing President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, yesterday apologised to Nigerians over the crisis that disrupted its election last week. The election also witnessed aggrieved members of the Congress smashing ballot boxes and tearing ballot papers at its 11th Delegates’ Conference meant to usher in new leadership for the labour body.

Addressing members of the Congress after a marathon National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which lasted over six hours at the Pascal Bafyau Labour House, Abuja, Omar pleaded with Nigerians for forgiveness over the conduct of members of the Congress last Thursday.

While announcing the new date for the botched election, the NLC President said the development was not about the leadership of Labour umbrella body or the workers but about the stability of the nation

even as he added that NLC cannot afford to let Nigerians down.

He disclosed that the NEC has fixed March 12 as the new date for the conference to complete the election, while the Screening Committee was also re-constituted.

His words: “The entire Nigerian workers express our profound apology to the entire Nigerian nation over what they experienced. I’m sure they never experienced that before. Nigerian Labour Congress, it is not only about us but it is about the stability of the nation. We cannot afford to let Nigerians down. That is why we are sending our apology. It will never happen again. It has come and gone. We pledge from all the stakeholders that this will never happen again.

“What happened last week resulted in summoning the National Executive Council meeting today. When we came here, we have to go into closed door meeting with

the major stakeholders and our leaders.

That meeting has definitely yielded good results, not only for us in this hall, but for the entire workers in Nigeria and indeed for entire Nigeria because we have reached a resolution, very amicable.

Speaking at the NEC meeting, which was attended by representatives of all affiliate unions of NLC, the first President of NLC Comrade Sunmonu Hassan commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other labour veterans for their effort in resolving the crisis.

He gave the assurance that the conference, when it reconvenes on March 12, would be devoid of rancour, noting that workers should work to achieve unity and solidarity.

Oshiomhole also emphasised the need for workers to be united and have a common voice, noting that the credibility of the union was not in doubt.

he Niger State House of Assembly yesterday made vacant, the seats of two of its members.

They are Bashir Abdullahi Isa Lokogoma representing Wushishi constituency and Nazeer Abdullahi representing RIJAU constituency.

The measure by the State Assembly followed the adoption of a letter from the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to that effect.

The Speaker, Adamu Usman, a lawyer, said the action of the lawmakers was in compliance with Section

109, subsection 2 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

He directed the Clerk of the House to write officially to INEC on the resolution of the State House of Assembly and to conduct election within 90 days.

In its letter to the assembly, the PDP said the two lawmakers were elected on the platform of the party in 2011 and defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The party said its state working committee has investigated and found out that their defection was true, adding that the action of the two were taken without due recourse to 1999 constitution.

Alleged murder: Judge tells DPO to defend self or go to jail Akeem Nafiu

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ustice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, has threatened to send a dismissed Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Segun Fabunmi, who was accused of killing a protester during the January 2012 fuel hike protests back to prison should his lawyer fail to file his final written addresses on the next adjourned date.

Fabunmi, a dismissed DPO of Pen Cinema police station, Agege, Lagos, who was alleged to have killed a protester,

Tony Okafor Awka

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he Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Advisory Committee and first republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, yesterday directed Ndigbo to vote according to their individual consciences in the March 28 polls, stressing that Ndigbo have no preferred presidential candidate for the purposes

Ademola Daramola, at Yaya Abatan, Ogba, Lagos, during the fuel subsidy crisis, is standing trial over an alleged murder.

The Judge threatened to revoke the policeman’s bail and send him back to prison over the conduct of his lawyer.

According to the judge, the accused lawyer, T.J Odeshola, is taking the court for granted because his client has been granted bail.

Justice Akinlade, while addressing the accused lawyer yesterday, said, “It is because Fabunmi is on bail. That

is why you are taking the court for granted.

If you needed the court proceedings, you would have come for it on time because this matter was adjourned since November 19 2014, and you only came yesterday (Tuesday) when the matter is for today (Wednesday).”

“You are treating this matter with levity. I will send him back to the prison, you are not serious I won’t take it”, she also said.

The Judge accused the lawyer of not taking any reasonable step since November 2014.

Buhari, Jonathan not Igbo’s choice, says Ohanaeze chief of of the general elections.

Amechi addressed newsmen for this purpose at his Ukpor country home, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Amechi, who is among Igbo elders challenging the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan

by Chief Enwo Igariwei

–led Ohaneze Ndigbo, said the advice to Igbo voters was because the two leading presidential candidates, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress( APC,) had failed to reckon with the Igbo nation.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 19, 2015

Sokoto guber:

General elections

PVCs

Lagos 15

Legal battle to stop Tambuwal begins

Buhari assures ECOWAS of peaceful polls

Amosun: INEC plotting to disenfranchise 800,000 voters

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15

13

Igbo leaders shun PDP, endorse Buhari, Ambode others

Politics President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, February 11, held a presidential media chat, where he spoke on the postponement of general elections, Boko Haram insurgency, Chibok schoolgirls, his definition of corruption, allegation of his trying to cling to power and other salient issues.

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE brings the excerpts

Opening speech The issue of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) interest me most because we want to ensure that Nigerians decide who govern them across all levels, to ensure the concept of one-man-onevote, one-woman-one-vote and one-youth-one-vote in the 2015 elections. Nigerians are now interested in having their voters’ cards but at the same time, one thing that I have noticed, that is a bit worrisome is that some politicians are doing very well but few people are doing things, which to me is not the best. I always say it that, when you are coming for an election and whatever office you want to hold, either the president of the country or that of governor of a state, there must be a nation before whatever you think you want to do. If you want to develop the people, there must be people before you can develop them. If you want to fight corruption, there must be people before you fight corruption. So, whatever mission you have, you must have people.

So, we must not destroy Nigeria because of one person’s interest.

What was the real reason for the change of the dates of the general elections because, before the change, the opposition was of the opinion that the postponement is not

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

My cross as Nigeria’s president, by Jonathan lJega was not ready for elections

Are you saying that the real reason why the election was postponed was the reason INEC gave?

I was not consulted and I don’t want to be consulted. In 2011, INEC did not consult me. If they had informed me, I wouldn’t have wasted my time and government resources because for any trip I make, I know what government spends for me to move from one place to the other. If I am going somewhere, my advance team will go there first, so a lot of cost is involved. So, there is no way I would have travelled home if I know about the postponement of the election.

Jonathan in the nation interest but is another political gimmick by the sitting government.

People are not being fair to me on the issue of rescheduling of elections. I sympathise with the international community because in Africa there are a lot of cases where government rescheduled elections to extend tenure. So, whenever you talk about rescheduling elections, there is apprehension that there is an attempt by the sitting president to extend his tenure. But this is not the case in Nigeria. In Nigeria the law makes it very clear that there is space of time that elections should be conducted; elections should be conducted not less than 30 days to the inauguration of a new government and not more than 150 days to the inauguration of the government. Election should be conducted within that period so that it does not affect the inauguration of a new government but within that period if there are issues that will require the electoral body to

consult me before telling INEC that probably for one reason or the other, they should adjust within this period. Ordinarily for me, it is supposed not to be an issue but this is the period where we make everything look canal. Honestly, election is like a tournament or let us say two countries want to play a soccer match. If FIFA says they will play it in March, April or May, the winning team will still win.

So, I don’t see the big deal about the postponement but why people decide to make white look like black and make black look like red baffles me.

When you talk about mudslinging, I think the garbage that is being poured on me is much more than the one being poured on Buhari

adjust the date, it is not something they cannot adjust.

You will recall that in 2011, during the first election, I was already in my village in Bayelsa State on the eve of the election before I was told that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced suspension of the election by two weeks and I came back.

INEC did not discuss with me. I don’t decide the date for elections; INEC decides the date for elections but INEC works with security services because they must provide protection. The security agents help INEC to carry their materials; the Air Force and Navy help in carrying INEC materials and of course the military help to protect the staff of INEC and ensure peace and security in the country.

You will also remember that in 2011, when nobody even expected crisis, many people were slaughtered. So, there are lots of security implications in conducting elections in Africa generally.

So, the service chiefs did not

I think the main reasons why Nigerians were worried about the postponement of the elections was that the postponement was necessitated by the fact that the military are busy fighting the insurgency in the NorthEast and so, they will not be able to handle the elections. The military asked for six weeks and Nigerians are saying how can a war that could not be won in three years be won within six weeks? So, people are suspecting that there must be hidden agenda in the postponement idea.

I am not the Chief of Defence Staff who wrote the letter. I am the Chief Security Officer of the Federation and I should have some ideas. There are two things to this because during the last Council of State meeting, the issue of security was emphasised and there is no way security chiefs would disclose all the details to everybody but they disclosed some things to me which they did not mention to others, which I will also not mention. There are two aspects to the issue of insecurity. The first is

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Politics

THURSDAY, February 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sokoto guber: Legal battle to stop Tambuwal begins lCourt fixes Feb 23 for hearing Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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egal moves to stop the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from contesting for the governorship seat of Sokoto State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) began yesterday at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The plaintiffs, Senator Umaru Dahiru and Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, had through their counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN) approached the court asking it to direct the All Progressives Congress (APC) to withdraw the nomination of Tambuwal as its gubernatorial candidate and to hold another governorship pri-

maries in Sokoto State.

The plaintiffs hinged their prayer on the ground that the governorship primaries conducted by APC on December 4, 2014 was grossly non-compliance with the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010, the APC 2014 Guidelines for nomination of candidates for public office.

Joined as defendants are APC, Tambuwal and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Listing the misconduct, the plaintiffs argued that despite the fact that they are bonafide cardcarrying members of APC, the party breached its guidelines in relation to the nomination of candidates for public office as well as other relevant provisions of the Elector-

al Act, 2010 (as amended).

The plaintiffs further submitted that the screening of delegates on the day of the primaries was not done between the stipulated hours of 8a.m. and 12noon, and that the list of the delegates as issued by the National Secretariat of APC was not used in the conduct of the said election of December 4, 2014.

Other ground on which the plaintiffs are seeking redress is that on the very day of election, members of the Sokoto State and Local Government as well as members of the state House of Assembly openly canvassed for votes of Tambuwal.

They also submitted that there were instances of delegates engaged in multiple voting to favour Tambuwal, and instead of just a single ballot box

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

required at the election, 23 boxes were provided in order to perpetrate the alleged irregularities.

Plaintiffs alleged that voting was also done in a very rowdy scenario, adding that this gave rise to a ‘free for all voting’ in favour of Tambuwal.

Delegates, according to the plaintiffs, were intimidated and threatened with the loss of their seats as members of executive in their respective capacities at ward, local government and state levels, should they vote for any other person than

Tambuwal.

The plaintiffs are therefore praying the court for an order directing INEC to expunge Tambuwal’s name from its register of governorship candidates for the April 11 governorship election pending the fresh holding of a gubernatorial primaries in Sokoto State by the APC. They also asked for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC from placing Tambuwal’s name on the ballot paper for the governorship election pending the holding of a gubernatorial primaries by APC. The plaintiffs alleged that it was unlawful for INEC to act on a candidate

Buhari assures ECOWAS of peaceful polls Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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L- R: Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the APC strategic meeting in Lagos...yesterday.

Obasanjo is a bad actor – Group Wale Elegbede

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group, Move on Nigeria, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a bad actor who thinks Nigerians are dimwits.

The group said that there are plot by Obasanjo and some persons within and outside the country to undermine the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement signed in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, the group said it remains a puzzle why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tolerated Obasanjo to this point.

Aguiyi said: “We find the false claims and allegations reportedly made against President Jonathan by Chief Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta very repugnant. It is

unfortunate that Chief Obasanjo has made up his mind to mislead the nation with unfounded lies. While we hope Nigeria survives his sinister interventions, we seize this opportunity to urge him to tell the truth for once before he dies.

“It is most regrettable indeed that a man like Chief Obasanjo, who should know better, chooses to repeatedly, wantonly, and maliciously lie against a sitting president of his country for the primary purpose of achieving self-promotion.

It is also important to note that the man Obasanjo as President will not stomach the rubbish he is giving to President Jonathan.”

The group noted further that: “It is obvious from Obasanjo’s vituperations against President Jonathan who is do-

ing his best to positively transform Nigeria for the benefit of all of its people that Obasanjo’s singular reason is for self-promotion hence he has wilfully chosen to close his eyes to the good works and noble intentions of the Jonathan administration. For reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his mind on regime change by fair or foul means hence he has continued to incite the citizens and the military against the government.”

While alleging that Obasanjo is plotting with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Government, the group said the plans of the former president to return to power through the backdoor will fail woefully.

“The 2015 election is

therefore not about Jonathan but about Nigeria moving forward and moving backward. Obasanjo it was in 2007 who told Nigerians that Buhari is too old to lead, that he is religious bigot and a tyrant not fit for civilized leadership. What has changed?

“It is evident that Buhari who has refused to apologise for his ugly past; he has neither changed nor improved.

It is therefore worrying sign that Obasanjo and past dictators who took up arms to overthrow Buhari military government 33 years ago having accused him of being rigid , uncompromising and dictatorial are today in their twilight and exit from the planet are trying to shove Buhari down our throat.

Nigerians are not fooled by the antics of these bad actors,” the group said.

nominated by the APC when such a candidate was elected in violation of the Electoral Act 2010, and the electoral guidelines established by the APC. The plaintiffs had earlier asked the court to determine whether the procedure for the nomination and/or sponsorship of candidates for the elective offices recognised by the Electoral Acts 2010 and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is within the exclusive domain of Section 87 of the said Electoral Act. The trial judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu, however fixed February 23 for hearing of the suit.

he presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) of peaceful polls.

Buhari gave the assurance when the delegation of ECOWAS led by its President, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo visited him in Abuja.

He said: “On our part, even before the Abuja accord which Kofi Annan presided over, we read several statements to our supporters that we do not expect our supporters to be rude, not even to take up arms against anybody.

We said that several times even before that accord.

Of course, after the accord, we continued to ask our supporters to

show restraint under any provocation and we have successfully toured 35 out of the 36 states. We have also conducted town hall meetings.

“So, be rest assured that we are extremely concerned about this system and we are going to do our best to make sure that elections hold and hold peacefully.

“Mr. President has made very encouraging commitments or comments that he will hand over and swear in whoever wins the elections and this statement is very, very encouraging.”

Speaking earlier, Ouedraogo told the APC presidential candidate that the Commission had deployed 250 election monitors for the polls.

Also, he stated that the chairman of the Commission and the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama will visit Nigeria before the polls.

Atiku: Nigeria’s democracy on trial

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ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria’s democracy is on trial, calling on Nigerians to be calm following Tuesday’s bombings in the country.

In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain stated that no matter what efforts were applied to the contrary, Nigerians should never give up their desire for change.

“Nigerian democracy can and must withstand terror,” Atiku said.

“Whether the terror is from insurgents or from desperate politicians, in

the end, democracy must prevail.”

The former vice president called for a strong bipartisan signal or approach against those who are willing to sacrifice the nation for political gain.

“Our political elders must lift up their voices against violent desperados within their parties, and anyone found guilty should be punished severely and openly,” he said.

Atiku urged Nigerians to continue to remain vigilant especially around this election period, and to report any suspicious people or activities to the relevant authorities.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 19, 2015

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

O

gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly plotting to disenfranchise 800,000 eligible voters in the state in the rescheduled general elections.

Amosun, who levelled the allegation at the INEC office in Magbon, Abeokuta, also raised the alarm over 600,000 “strange” Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), which he said, had surfaced in the state.

Speaking with reporters shortly after emerging from a meeting with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chief Timothy Ibitoye, the governor expressed dissatisfaction over the shoddy distribution of PVCs in the state.

He said out of 1.9 mil-

Amosun: INEC plotting to disenfranchise 800,000 voters lSays 600,000 strange PVCs surface in Ogun lion registered voters in the state, no fewer than 639,000 PVCs representing 40 per cent have so far been distributed by INEC. He added that of the 450,000 eligible voters who re-registered in November 2014, only 150,000 voters’ cards were produced and distributed by the electoral body.

Amosun stated that some local government areas, including IjebuOde, Ado-Odo/Ota, Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Odogbolu and Sagamu, were lacking in voters’ cards, pointing out that the development was an attempt to disenfranchise teeming voters in the state.

While alluding to the fact that some unknown people were manipulating the electoral body in Abuja, Amosun also kicked against the distribution of the PVCs in piecemeal in the state.

The governor explained that the state government failed to declare work-free day for eligible voters to access their PVCs due to the commission’s failure to deliver the cards.

He said: “It is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise us because how can you bring cards that do not belong to Ogun State? All other states have collected their own,

why are they not releasing our own?

“We want to vote in Ogun State and perform our civic responsibility.

INEC should put their house in order and sort us out. In Ogun State, only about 40 per cent of cards have been distributed.

“I have been interfacing with INEC and I have had cause to write a letter to the chairman of INEC on December 19, 2014 and I enumerated all that have been happening as Ogun State is concerned in the run to this election. Let me tell you; somebody somewhere probably do not want us to vote in Ogun State.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, addressing newsmen shortly after a session with senators on the postponement of general elections in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Igbo leaders shun PDP, endorse Buhari, Ambode others Felix Nwaneri and Temitope Ogunbanke

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gbo leaders in Lagos yesterday unanimously endorsed the various candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections, dismissing the purported endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, by a faction of Igbo leadership,.

At an event held at the palace of the Eze Ndigbo, Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba, the Igbo leadership, comprising of Ndi Eze Igbo in the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State, agreed to support APC candidates in the state and the presidential election.

Eze Dimgba, who spoke on behalf of the royal fathers, said: “Ndigbo in Lagos and their leaders have unanimously agreed that

15

they will support the APC in the state in the general elections. We agreed to support the party because the APC-led government in the state has given us the opportunity to live and do business in Lagos.

“We must reciprocate this gesture by showing solidarity to the APC and vote for the various candidates of the party in the coming elections, because it will amount to sabotage if we work against the ruling party and government in our host state. More importantly, our continuous support for the APC will ensure peaceful coexistence between Ndigbo and our Yoruba brothers as well as empowerment of our people in Lagos.”

Dimgba also charged Ndigbo “to join the moving train, which is the APC, as any vote for the PDP in the state is one wasted,” adding that Lagos, being Nigeria’s centre of commerce justifies

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

why Ndigbo must chart a new political cause to avoid being relegated to the background.

Also speaking at the event, Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, admonished Ndigbo to align with other sections of the country and support the APC, which is sure of victory in the elections.

Igbokwe, an indigene of the South-East, informed his kinsmen that the people of the SouthWest have resolved to vote out the PDP from their zone and the centre, advising that it would be

dangerous if Ndigbo in Lagos allow themselves to be used by those who want PDP in the state.

“I also urge our people to back the presidential ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari because it is quite clear that he will win the election,” he said, adding that it is regrettable that Ndigbo are being misled by those who have refused to sit up years after the civil war.

The member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. James Faleke, in his remarks admonished Ndigbo to avoid playing second fiddle in the politics of Lagos State.

According to him, Ndigbo have contributed immensely to the development of the state and should seize the opportunity of the coming elections to reposition their stand on Lagos affairs by supporting the APC.

“I am appealing to INEC; why are they bringing our cards in piecemeal? They have been bringing them in little batches. Why can’t they bring everything?

“We didn’t support the postponement because INEC has promised they will sort out themselves and we are appealing to them to quickly sort out

themselves. They should send our cards.

“With what they are doing now, maybe we will have at best one million, out of about 1.9 million which means about 800, 000 have been removed cleverly from exercising their franchise. They should do the needful and from Monday, they should give us our cards.”

Agbakoba to Nigerians: Don’t allow politicians to manipulate polls Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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ormer president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), yesterday urged Nigerians not to allow politicians to manipulate the forthcoming elections.

He noted that there is already palpable fear amidst a clash of hate campaign by politicians about the elections.

Agbakoba, who made the call in a statement, warned of the looming dangers and the need to avoid the potential cataclysmic eclipse.

“Our politicians are exploiting our diversities to satisfy their lust for power. We encourage Nigerians to disregard their greed and lust for power and do all to ensure the preservation of Nigeria. We are inspired by the recent statement of Omar Bagure, a patriotic Sierra Leonean, who has a warning to Nigerians, based on lessons drawn from the 11-year-old civil war of his country.

“We can only do so at our peril. To avoid the looming eclipse means that we must denounce hate speech, hate conduct and violence by our politicians.

“Civil society must exert pressure on law enforcement institutions to contain electoral violence.

The media is called upon to play a stronger role by refusing to carry negative campaign and hate speech,” he added.

He advised the elite, middle class, traditional rulers, leaders of industries, church leaders, labour movement, among others not to stand idly by and watch Nigeria go over the precipice.

“It would be a terrible fall if this should happen.

Let all be warned that the so-called international community would not come to our aid if anything were to go wrong.

Our charge to all Nigerians is to be fully alert and not allow politicians manipulate us,” he said.

“However, we want to cast our vote, we must be allowed to cast it in peace,” he stated.

Political parties to sign peace accord, says Enugu REC

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State yesterday on Wednesday said all political parties in the state would sign peace agreement to avoid violence during and after the elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Commission in the state, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, made this known in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the readiness of the Commission to ensure free and credible elections in the state.

Onukaogu said the agreement would also be signed by politicians in violence-prone areas mapped out by the Com-

mission.

He said: “We will provide level playing ground for all political parties to operate before, during and after the elections.

“We will surely on our part, deliver a violence-free election. In Anambra State where I conducted the last elections, we had five political parties represented at the state House of Assembly.

“I have not changed and you cannot change me. The one who made me is supreme. When you vote, the votes will be counted and the counted votes will count.”

He said INEC had distributed 77 per cent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the state.

16 Politics

THURSDAY, February 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stoning of president is treasonable offence – Jonathan

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

Boko Haram and the second is the threat factor to the country.

When INEC came up with the dates for elections, there was no much threat until we started the campaign and it created a lot of red alerts. So, it was important for the security chiefs to review the security architecture, otherwise the country would go up in flames. In elections, a lot of problems are involved and unfortunate when the issue of PVCs was being branded as a problem. So, INEC, from what Jega mentioned that day, clearly was not ready for the elections.

They said they were ready but to me they were not.

After the 2011 elections, so many Nigerians were so interested in having their PVCs for them to vote with their PVCs. The day we held that meeting that led to this adjustment of dates, in Lagos for example, only about 38 per cent of the registered voters had their PVCs. That means if we conduct elections in Lagos, 62 per cent of people who want to vote will not vote. Don’t you think there are security implications in that arrangement? Some other states had slightly above 30 per cent collection while some had 50 per cent and there were some states that had up to 40 to 50 per cent. So, the intelligent report of the security agencies highlighted some certain security implications of holding the elections but ordinary people might not see it that way.

In terms of the Boko Haram, we are very hopeful that in the next weeks the movement would be faster. We found it difficult then to really curtail the Boko Haram the way we ought to have done because we did not get the required equipment and platforms we needed, mostly for the Army and the Air Force. Luckily we have gotten some quantity of the weapons now. One of the key problems is that our neighbours are not so committed.

For example, I had several meetings with the President of Chad, who was also willing to send troops but he felt that before he sent troops, African Union (AU) or United Nations must key in, so that whatever he is doing is legal and acceptable.

So, we are on that until AU met and passed that resolution for it to be legal and that is why Chad has moved in now; Cameroon has also moved in now. So, there is no hidden place for Boko Haram again.

In places like Adamawa, before this time, we had about seven local governments that were taken

by Boko Haram and some of the councils have been taken back from Boko Haram and we will make sure that we regained the remaining areas. Before the general elections, we will also ensure that we move all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) back to their communities. If the community has been burnt down by Boko Haram, we will rebuild the community so that people will leave within their communities and vote within their communities.

lNo big deal in postponement of elections In Yobe State, two local governments have been captured by Boko Haram and in the next couple of weeks, we will take over some of the local governments and we will also move the IDPs back to their communities. For Borno State, where we have about 10 to 12 local governments taken over by Boko Haram, we will also ensure that in couple of weeks, we take those areas back from Boko Haram. So, even in terms of the Boko Haram, what will happen in the next one week or so, Nigerians will know that the security people are doing something serious. But the issue of security is beyond Boko Haram because within this certain period, there is either some instigation, which I believe politicians are dictating to some young people to act in a way that is not acceptable. I campaigned across this country in 2011; both North and South and even in states and local governments that didn’t vote for me, people comport themselves but during 2014 and 2015 we are seeing some very dangerous traces and signals; and no security chief will take it lightly.

Many people, especially those who are close to you have come out to accuse INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, of taking side with the opposition and have called for his sack. Do you have confidence in Jega conducting the 2015 general elections?

I wish Jega was here, I would have asked him to answer the question about whether I have confidence in him. One thing about politics and leadership generally anywhere is that a leader, for example, a governor of a state, have a number of people who supports you but you don’t even know what they do and what they say. May be somebody have been making statements to advance your course and

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

So, there is no hidden place for Boko Haram again.

In places like Adamawa, before this time, we had about seven local governments that were taken by Boko Haram and some of the councils have been taken back from Boko Haram

expressed his support for you but you may not know the person.

There are so many sponsored messages that go out and sometime I don’t even know those who are sponsoring the messages. More than 80 per cent of those who sponsor messages on our behalf, we don’t even know them. Somebody can wake up to say 10 reasons why President Jonathan should continue and another person would wake up and say 1,000 reasons why Jonathan should continue.

We don’t even know them. So, it is not what somebody says whether that person is a fan of Jonathan or he has been defending Jonathan; it is different from Jonathan.

If you ask Jega, he will tell you, I appointed members of INEC. According to the constitution, it is Mr. President who appoints every commissioner in INEC, both the National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are my appointees. So, if I feel that Jega is not good for obvious reasons, then I can by the provisions of the constitution that gives the person who appoints, the power to remove and I have not told anybody that I am going to remove Jega.

So, I think some of these things are creation by people for one interest or the other. I have seen that a lot of people using the issue of the rescheduling of the elections as opportunity to misinform Nigerians and to create confusion in the country. People are saying different things in the media to confuse people. I am also surprised to see certain people, who are knowledgeable; university professors and senior people making statements out of ignorance. When some professors say something, you wonder whether they are real professors. People are just spreading false information. I do watch

some television programmes in the morning and I am surprised by the level of misinformation that go to the public, especially the young people.

Are you not worried about the high level of hate campaign ahead of the general elections?

The level of misinformation, especially from young people is high.

Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence. The president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. Why will people try to stone the president? The President is the only office holder that is guided by soldiers and every other person, including the vice president is guided by police. The idea is that attempt on the president is treason and the person could be killed. People probably get carried away and even some of us who want to hold some of the elected offices have been making some provocative statements and I believe some people are already being carried away by some interest and the stakes are higher. I don’t know what is making the stake higher because the President of Nigeria is the President of Nigeria.

In 2007, I contested as vice presidential candidate and contested as presidential candidate in 2011 and 2015, the stakes are still the same.

It is just that there are different actors between then and now and the characteristics of the actors matter so much.

If you look at the two key parties; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the key actors around Major General Muhammadu Buhari in 2014 and 2015 are different from those behind him in 2003, 2007 and 2011 and Buhari is still the same Buhari. So, some of these excesses are because of the behaviours of the key actors

L-R: Ibanga Isine of Premium Times, Adesuwa Onyenokwe of Today’s Woman Magazine (TW), President Goodluck Jonathan, Deji Badmus of China Central Television (CCTV) and Ibrahim Sheme of Blueprint Newspaper at the presidential media chat.

Politics | Interview 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, February 19, 2015

around the principals. The difference between me and another candidate is that I am a sitting president. As a sitting president, whatever happens in the country is my concern. So, my own position is the interest and not just looking at that office, but I must also protect the state and the citizens. Some other people may not care about what happens to the country, but it is my responsibility to ensure peace in Nigeria.

How do you feel about the statement by some ex-militants that if you are not returned as President they will go to war with Nigeria?

Those statements come from both sides, but I have told you that these are statements that are not vet. You are journalists and you should know more than me. We will make sure that things are done in a way that nobody goes to war; Nigeria will remain Nigeria.

We have a country and we must protect this country. We can’t destroy the country and we cannot encourage anybody who wants to destroy the country. Sometimes, there are pressures on journalists to report negative or positive things, but my view is that without Nigeria, there won’t be president and without Nigeria, there won’t be President Jonathan. I am not going to be president of another country. I am relevant at ECOWAS and African Union levels and the global level; first and foremost it is because I am the President of Nigeria. So, we must protect this country and whoever that wants to be a president cannot destroy the country and their supporters must also tread with caution.

You have been going to different pastors and churches for prayers, when are you going to mosques?

As a politician, people invite me for all programmes and, of course, I am a Christian. So, I received invitation almost on a daily basis. I may not go to Islamic ceremonies if you don’t invite me just like Christians hardly invites the vice president and that is why the arrangement is that between the president and vice president, one person has to be a Christian and the other person a Muslim.

The general elections have been postponed for six weeks, what will happen if there is still insurgency and the war is not won after the six weeks? Should we expect another postponement?

In 2011, when the elections were conducted, we had Boko Haram. Boko Haram started before 2007, but became a major problem when their leader, Yusuf, was killed in 2009. As at that time, they were still operating in Borno area; they didn’t spread that much. But from 2009 when their leader was killed in one way or the other, they became cancerous. Fortunately, when we conducted elections in 2011, we had Boko Haram issues. Nobody is saying that they must wipe out Boko Haram completely before we can conduct elections in this country.

We are only saying that security wise; there are certain things that the security personnel need so that they will be able to get enough manpower to configure the security architecture to make sure that we can conduct elections.

Definitely, in the next six weeks or so, serious advancements will be made, but I am not saying that we will wipe out Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is not regular forces.

same young man ole (thief), and see what will happen to him. They will stone him to death. Our people hate thieves more than those who are corrupt. What is happening is that most times, we use corruption to cover the lapses of government functionaries. Somebody who cannot do his work very well, you say it is because of corruption. A thief should be called a thief and treated as such.

In my village in the olden days, when we are there, when an adult steals a goat or anything, they strip him naked, humiliate him and his family, but if you say this man is corrupt, they won’t know what you are talking about. We are using corruption to cover up government functionaries. So, let us communicate properly. I quoted Musdapher who examined some corruption cases and saw that they were just cases of stealing. So, we have really abused the word corruption and it is no longer making sense. For me, thief must be called thief.

Jonathan

At best, you can take over all their territories, but taking over their territories does not mean you have wiped out Boko Haram. When they first started, they had no territories they were holding. They were just going to markets and using suicide bombers to kill people. So, we are not saying that we must wipe out Boko Haram before the elections.

But definitely, give us some time to configure the security architecture. So, the elections will be done on given dates and I don’t see why we continue to doubt that elections will not hold. Elections will hold and inauguration of next President would take place on May 29.

Nigerians are really worried about the long delay in the rescue of the Chibok girls, which were kidnapped last year

by Boko Haram. What is the state of the Chibok girls now?

I believe now that we are working with Chad and Cameroon, in the next few weeks the story of the Chibok girls will be better. In the next few weeks, some of them might come. I cannot give you a specific time range, so that you will not say the President said so.

I don’t want to be quoted. I cannot give you specific time, but give us some time. We are working with our neighbours and combing the whole area, just give us some time.

The case with the Chibok girls is very unfortunate. That is the difference between the current challenges and crisis we face in Nigeria and that of other countries when they had issues of terror. Many nations have experienced terror, even the US has. We know that France experienced terror not too long ago. Other countries, when they have this issue of terror, political boundaries collapse and people work together and the interest of the country is paramount. But in this case, we have terror situation and some Nigerians think the best thing is to go to US, UK, France and television to express themselves.

Is that the way to bring back those girls? Nigerians imitate Americans a lot. When there was 9/11 in the US, how many Americans went round the world attacking their government? It is collective responsibility and you must be dedicated to your country. Is it by carrying flags and singing around the world

that we will bring those girls back?

I expected that those with international connections would help the country and not the other way round.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence. The president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. Why will people try to stone the president?

Is there any plan to bring them back alive?

We will recover the girls alive.

We are hopeful. These girls have been in the hands of kidnappers for a long time. I believe we should be able to rescue some of them. But I don’t want to be quoted; I don’t want you to say the President said so, that in two weeks time or in four weeks time, I cannot say that because the disappearance of those girls has taken quite some time. But we have mapped out strategies, we are working with our neighbours and we will comb all the areas. So, just give us some time. I am now more hopeful than before because we are combing the whole area now and we are getting maximum cooperation from other areas, which was never there before.

In similar event like this in the past, you remarked that stealing is not corruption and the issue has generated a lot of controversies and it has become what everybody is talking about. Can you clarify what you mean by that statement?

Many people have been saying that the president said stealing is not corruption but the good thing is that those who are making that statement have not said the president said stealing is good. You see that is why a philosopher says that the primary reason for disagreement is that people use same word to explain different things and different things to explain same thing and that is why there are lots of confusion gap. I made that statement because I quoted the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher. At a point, the CJN, Musdapher because of the so much noise about the issue of corruption decided to take a look at the files that dealt with corruption and discovered that more than 80 per cent of them are cases of stealing. But people use corruption to cover all.

For example, if you go to SouthWest and go to a typical community and they look at you and say this young man is corrupt; people will just be looking at him. But call that

Ahead of the presidential elections, some people are saying that if you lose the election and the other party wins, you will not hand over. There are also insinuations that you don’t want to relinquish power if the elections did not come your way. Can you explain this?

Even in 2011, I said that I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose, I will happily go home and it should be recorded. As at that time, no African sitting president had lost election. But within this period, a lot of African sitting presidents have lost election. But I said I want to create the history to be the first African President that will lose election, but let the world know that the elections are free and fair. Then, I just concluded the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure; I was just a president for about a year after acting for some months and I said I will be happy to go if I lose. I said this nation is more important than any human being and I still maintain it. Anybody who wants to hold the office of the President and any other offices and feel that he is more important than the nation is not quite right.

So, if as of 2011, I made a commitment that I was ready to conduct a free and fair election and that if I lose I will go; not to talk about now that Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for full four 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. The rumours that I will not hand over or that I am scheming to prolong my tenure are insinuations; they are not true. Those are insinuations and it is quite unfortunate that a lot of wrong information is floating in the system.

The general elections have been postponed by six weeks. What would you be doing between now and then?

We are yet to go to Yobe State and we are yet to do the Abuja rally.

Somehow, the key political parties, I think the APC too are yet to go to some places because I had a conversation with Buhari during the last Council of State meeting.

Is it for obvious reasons?

Not for obvious reasons. We were to go to Yobe on Saturday, but we couldn’t go because of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Preserving the values of the NYSC scheme

Susan Olije

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n view of the various ethnic and tribal entities that constitute the Nigerian federation, lack of unity has always been a major impediment to nation building in the country. Consequently, one major challenge that succeeding administrations in the country have had to grapple with has been disunity. Therefore, from independence till date, successive governments have devised various policies and programmes with the primary goal of surmounting the various complications posed by the country’s mixed population.

Possibly, one of such policies and programmes particularly conceptualised to foster unity among the populace is the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. The programme, a brainchild of the General Yakubu Gowon’s (rtd.) military administration, was conceived in 1973 as a way to address the major fallouts of the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970). Having fought a bitter civil war that further exposed the precarious nature of the county’s federation, the NYSC programme was put in place as a policy that could enhance the unity of the country. The core aspect of the programme, through which this could be achieved, is that which involves the posting of fresh graduates to various parts of the country for a mandatory one-year national service programme.

Among the major core values of the NYSC are dedication and loyalty to the service of one’s fatherland. In adherence to this, many Corp members have remained true to this cause by giving out their best in their various Places Primary Assignment, PPAs. There is, however, urgent need to tidy up certain loose ends in respect of the NYSC programme in order to preserve its values.

A recent survey shows that Corp members meet with various challenges in the process of carrying out their assignments. Prominent among these challenges are security, low allowance and rejection of Corp members by some organisations. Also, the working environment in certain locations in the country is not actually conducive for Corp members to give out their best. Equally, Corp members are sometimes overburdened with so

much work and still get very little remuneration.

Inadequate accommodation is also a serious challenge that confronts Corp members across the country. This is particularly frustrating, especially for Corp members who are posted to places where they are complete strangers. In Lagos, for instance, Corp members often complain that their various PPAs do not provide them with accommodation. This has forced most of them to search for accommodation on their own. This, obviously, could be very wearisome in a metropolitan neighborhood like Lagos. Closely related to this is the issue of transportation. In major cities in Nigeria, it is usually difficult and very expensive navigating through one’s way because of the huge cost of transportation.

The result is that Corp members serving in most of the cities often end up spending fortunes on transportation.

Ironically, the meager monthly allowance is usually expended on transportation thereby compounding the frustrations of the corpers. At the end of the month, there is little or nothing left for corpers to feed and use on other essential expenses.

Added to this is the fact that many employers don’t really treat Corp members fairly as they are often used as beasts of burden that should do all the dirty works and yet without being duly compensated. This is particularly the case with Corp members who serve with the private sector where they are expected to face the same task as given to permanent staff. In most cases, when the Corpers try to complain they are threatened with non -signing of their clearance letters. And if this threat is actually carried out, the Corp member might get punished through the extension of their service year without pay. Sadly, a large number of corpers do not get retained by their employers in-spite of all the sacrifices they have made. This tends to dampen the morale of most of them in addition to giving them a wrong mindset about the country.

When, however, compared to insecurity, all the aforementioned challenges are child-plays. It is common knowledge in the country today that we are battling with several security challenges. No one is even sure of what could happen the next moment. Everywhere seems unsafe. The northern part of the country is

particularly tense and perilous at the moment. No thanks to the incessant and seemingly uncontrollable insurgent upheaval. Sending corps members to certain parts of the country is, therefore, like sending them on a suicide mission. How do you convince parents that have spent all their life savings to send their children to school to be in agreement with such a plan?

Every other thing that is lost in life can be recovered, except life. Once it is lost, life is irreplaceable. If the security operatives, with all the human and material resources at their disposal, could not guarantee us of a safe election, definitely Corp members who are posted to troubled spots in the country are, undoubtedly, endangered species.

Besides our peculiar security plight, the poor state of roads across the country equally jeopardizes the safety of Corp members. There have been countless instances of Corp members losing their lives through tragic motor accidents. Recently, over six Corp members of the batch C were involved in a motor accident on their way to Port-Harcourt while trying to locate their camps. Several deaths were also recounted in various areas across the country. In Ekiti state, for instance, two Corp members lost their lives to an armed robbery incident while the batch C 2014 corpers were leaving camp for their various PPAs. These are just a few of the deaths and accident cases involving Corp members in recent times.

Despite the challenges stated above, Corp members have continued to heed and obey the clarion call of service to their fatherland by diligently carrying out their various tasks in whatever capacity they are given.

Hence they have continued to exhibit the core values that anchor the NYSC scheme. Like all government’s policies and programmes, despite its various shortcomings, the NYSC scheme has over the years succeeded, in its own little way, in fostering unity in the country.

There is, however, an urgent need to look into the various challenging bedeviling the scheme with a view to preserving its major values. God bless Nigeria.

• Olije, a Youth Corp member, is serving with the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Oshiomhole’s demolition of UNIBEN Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

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he prestigious University of Benin, Benin City, was established by the Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia military Government in 1970. The Institution is in partnership with the University of Mississippi, United States of America.

At its foundation level, the school was initially known as the Mid-West Institute of Technology which kicked-off at Iyaro, before its relocation to Ekenwan Campus and finally to Ugbowo. However, Ekenwan campus is still being retained as a campus of the University.

In 2010, it had a total enrolment of 40,000 students. As at today, it has a student population of about 70,000 with staff strength of 20,000. The University of Benin is one of the six first generation Universities in Nigeria and the sixth University to be established. Great Uniben, is obviously one of the largest Institutions in Nigeria.

About 45 years ago, 18 residential houses, the University and other properties were handed-over to the Federal Government by the Ogbemudia’s military regime in accordance with the dictates of General Yakubu Gowon, Military Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The recent face-off between the University and Edo State Government led by Governor Oshiomhole specifically has to do with the 18 residential houses where senior staffs

including professors are quartered. The University Authority is of the view that the 18 buildings were legally handed-over to them by Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, 45 years ago. On the other hand, the Comrade Governor claimed that the buildings belong to the Edo State Government. He anchored his position on the premise that there was no documentary evidence of the said hand-over.

The Scenario has led to Court litigation between the University of Benin and Edo State Government, to the extent that Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia testified in Court that he handed-over the 18 houses to the Institution in 1970 on the directive of General Yakubu Gowon, the then Nigeria Military Head of State. On December 15, 2014, a State High Court Judge, in his wisdom, ruled that the 18 buildings belong to the Edo State Government. On this note, the University of Benin gave a Notice of Appeal and relevant papers were filed with the State High Court and infact got a stay of execution.

At this stage, it ought to be clear that both parties in the litigation should exercise constrain and wait for the process of law to be fully exhausted and thereafter abide by the court’s verdict. Nigeria, at the moment, is practicing Democracy and in my strong view it will amount to “area boys rascality” for any Agency or Institution of Government, elected or appointed office holders to take any primitive action in a case which is yet to fully determine by

any Court of competent jurisdiction. This pending case on Appeal to a superior court ought not to be an exception.

However, this was ignored by the Comrade Governor of Edo State. Like some known despots in History, Oshiomhole moved his destructive unit to demolish the 18 buildings whose occupants are some of the brightest intellectuals in the country.

That the Governor is totally opposed to the Abuja seat of power was not enough for him to embark on the gradual demolition of the 18 houses. The differences between the APC Government in Edo State and the PDP led National Government should not be tactically introduced by Oshiomhole to destroy the University of Benin. Does the Governor even understand the definition and might of the Federal Government?

If the Federal Government was prepared to protect and secure her property at the University of Benin, will the Comrade Governor summon enough Agbero and crude temerity to embark on his ugly action.

I am sure that the Comrade Governor’s disrespectful attitude to superior intellect and his inability to appreciate the relevance of the University of Benin, may have propelled him to behave like a motor park tout. If the 18 houses were to belong to the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, owned by the state, will the Governor demolish such houses? Alternatively, if such houses had belonged to other ministate owned Higher Instructions in Edo, will Oshiomhole execute his village ideas

and destroy such houses. Still, if the czarist Governor was privileged to have attended and graduated from the institution, will he honestly embark on the outright demolition of the institution’s building?

The attention of the Governor should also be drawn to the fact that those he untimely ejected from the demolished buildings are seasoned administrators and erudite scholars who may have at one time or the other taught some of his relations in the institution. The Governor went too far and his action was a function of his limited exposure to the Western Education.

As a product of the University of Benin, it is difficult for me to understand how a merely elected Governor can take a satanic action leading to the willful destruction of the University. Perhaps he is yet to understand that his betters in academics were once Governors of Edo State before his sudden emergence. As a labour Aristocrat, he should not equate himself with former Governors of the State who had no reason to be dragged to court for certificate inconsistency. It appears to me that the Comrade Governor is not aware that he is not the first Governor of Edo State and will never be the last. The labour unionist should not allow his village mentality to becloud his sense of judgment. University of Benin as a citadel of learning takes precedence over and above Governor Oshiomhole and it will continue to be so without fail.

• Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

19

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Nigeria must return to agriculture

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ecause there is neither accident nor oversight in creation, it is incumbent on policy makers in the country to heed the call by concerned Nigerians urging the country to retrace her steps and re-embrace agriculture as the main foreign exchange earner, instead of depending on crude oil whose price collapse in the international market brought a rude awakening that should have arrived earlier than now.

This argument, which has even been bought into by corporate citizens like Coca Cola and others, incorporates deployment of media popular with especially young folks, including the burgeoning entertainment industry, to endear the message that self-sufficiency in agricultural production is the only guarantee of sustainable development for developing nations.

The aggressive rehabilitation of the road network in the North by the Federal Government appears to be practical demonstration of President Jonathan’s conviction regarding the a nexus between efficient road network and agricultural revival in most African countries where bad roads routinely hamper smooth evacuation of agricultural produce from hinterlands to urban

centres as attested to here by Fidelis, a Kenyan subsistence farmer.

‘We have the resources to grow lots of food but we import it. Build a proper road from my village and I will sell my produce in the next town’, he said.

As provided by creation, it was providential that instability in the global oil market, in the past two or so years, threw spanners into this country’s elaborate fiscal plans, invariably rubbishing budgets that were predicated on unrealistic bench marks for oil over which Nigeria has no control.

Both prominent and ordinary Nigerians have joined in this trending campaign for the country which has oscillated from a net exporter of agricultural produce to a net importer of even items she hitherto exported to other countries. Governor Fatai Ahmed of Kwara State is an example of one prominent citizen has never been shy to seize every available opportunity to hammer on the need for this national self re-assessment.

For example, at the inauguration of a forum introduced by the Arewa Consultative Forum with theme ‘Northern Nigeria Economy Free of Oil Revenue’ recently, Governor Ahmed urged Northerners to stop depending on oil, saying this dependence was

responsible for severe distortions and dislocations in the socio-economic and political ecosystem.

Stressing that return to agriculture would re-position the former Northern region to return to the path of glory and development as witnessed under the administration of late premier, Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Ahmed urged his compatriots from the region to look beyond regular hand-outs from the centre which is a derisive reference to failing monthly federal allocations to states from Abuja.

Also speaking at the same forum, a former presidential aspirant and publisher of Leadership newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, said what the region needed to emerge from this veritable crisis is the emergence are leaders who are willing and ready to think outside the box.

‘Northern Nigeria needs thinking leaders. Northern Nigeria needs bold and courageous leaders. One of the first acts of courage the North must show is to work and amend the constitution for states to control the resources on and under their land. I don’t see why some people oppose this. If we do that, there will be competition among states in the North and consequently, Nigeria would become a wealthy region or nation. We must support this re-structuring in our own enlight-

ened self-interest’.

This apparent volte-face by the region which hitherto was an implacable opponent of resource control as propagated by oil-producing states is instructive and a definite fall-out of enlightened self-interest. Evidently, having learnt from the frustrations of oil-producing states, especially the sensational injustice spurned by the unilateral abrogation of the principle of derivation from the constitution by a vindictive military, the region wants to take steps to safeguard against this in the event that agriculture eventually returns as the main stay of the economy.

No doubt, there is inherent wisdom in the suggestion that the region must think outside the box so as to escape the derisive appellation that is a leech that never contributes but is forever sucking on others who produce the wealth of the nation. Only strategic thinking can facilitate a speedy deviation from this uncomplimentary stereotype.

Blessed with vast landmass, which some nations do not even have, it is shameful that either out of fear of the unknown or irrational fascination with free and easy oil money, the North abandoned its formidable agricultural potentials that require only strategic thinking to translate into reality.

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20 Politics | Interview CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Council of State meeting and the shifting of the elections date. The remaining campaign is likely to take place close to the election date. Election is not about open rallies. Open rallies are more like ceremonies, but all the political key actors are going round; going to different programmes and meeting different individuals. Those conversations are going on. I believe that close to the elections some people will still do some few rallies.

What is your personal assessment of General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate?

THURSDAY, February 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘We’ll bring Chibok schoolgirls alive’ If I should assess Buhari under the condition which we are contesting for the same position, I don’t think I will be fair to Nigerians and myself.

You are not also being fair to me by asking me that question. When you talk about mudslinging, I think the garbage that is being poured on me is much more than the one being poured on Buhari. A lot of things are being written about me on the social media and other platforms. I see them as the cross a leader has to carry.

I know certain things that happened and the kind of effects they had on me. So many people don’t know that, but I know.

In my open statement, I told you some of the things that I observed. Buhari contested in 2003 against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he did so in 2007 against late President Yar’Adua, during which I ran as a vice presidential candidate and contested against me in 2011. Even in 2011, which is the closest; the environment was different from the past. The

characters around us have changed, but there is no change in the principals.

APC started its campaign before me and I think they visited almost four states before PDP started presidential campaign. I watched some of the APC rallies and if you listen to the way I spoke in Lagos at my presidential flag-off, you will realise that I was a little bit aggressive.

We have seen how so much money have been spent on campaign train. Are you not worried about the amount

being spent on campaign?

The amount of money being spent on campaign is regulated by Electoral Law. But the pressure on anybody conducting election, either as a local government councillor, chairman of council, state assembly seat and up to presidency is quite hard.

Pressure from where, Sir? Pressure from the people because I have been in politics from 1998/1999 when I ran as a deputy governor, so there are so much pressures from those

who want to contest. If you talk about my party raising money, the money that PDP raised through their fund raising was meant for the building of the PDP secretariat. It was not money for election alone and what was mentioned as N21bilion was “mere pledges, some of which have not been redeemed.

Do you have confidence that INEC as being presently constituted will conduct free, fair and credible elections?

I appointed everybody in INEC. I appointed the chairman of INEC, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC). I appointed them and they will do the work.

What is your closing statement to Nigerians?

Let me assure Nigerians that elections will be conducted in this country and 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 a three-month terminal leave and bring in somebody that will manipulate election for me is not true. The stories belong to the garbage world.

Let me assure Nigerians that it is better for INEC to conduct elections that we all believe is free and fair. The postponement of the election is more painful for those of us who are politicians, because it will create more tension, sleepless nights and endless meeting. But even at that, it is better that elections are done in a way that Nigerians are pleased that the elections are credible. For example, before the postponement of the elections, the report we have from some states is that about 60 per cent of registered voters in Lagos were yet to collect their PVCs but the report I am hearing now is encouraging. So, it is better that Nigerians are given opportunities to vote. And unfortunately, we are coming from a culture where people don’t care about how people get into offices; whether people manipulate electoral processes.

We are coming from a culture where people don’t really vote and all kind of things happen to a culture that people want to vote. I want a situation where every Nigerian must vote. That is my commitment. INEC may be facing some challenges but at least, even if they cannot distribute the PVCs 100 per cent, the percentage should be fairly high so that Nigerians would believe in the process.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 19, 2015

21

Interview

Jurist

Okunnu: Judges’ appointment should be lawyers’ affair

Okoye: Only police cannot provide security during election

22

23

Law

Lawyers: We’ll resist interim govt

Is the raging insurgency in the north-east enough for Mr. President to invoke Section 135(3) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 25 (2) and 26 (1-3) of the Electoral Act? Lawyers say no.

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE, TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report

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LTHOUGH they were unanimous that the 1999 Constitution does not create a room for a transitional government as being pursued in political circle, lawyers yesterday vowed that they would resist the moves by some powerful politicians to settle for a transition government in whatever form. Elections must hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), they said.

INEC had last week shifted the much touted February 14 elections to March 28 and April 11 following a security advice that the required security personnel involved in a military operation against the Boko Haram insurgency would not be available to protect electoral materials and staff should the election hold on February 14 and 28. This, however left INEC with no other option than to postpone the elections.

But the shift in the poll by INEC did not go down with Nigerians as it sparked of controversy as to the sincerity and the readiness of the electoral umpire to conduct a free and fair election especially as there were allegations and counter allegations that the Federal Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had begun a clandestine moves to ensuring

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@newtelegraphonline. com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Ozekhome

that an Interim Government was in place come May 29 as canvassed some few months ago by the fiery Lagos Pastor, Tunde Bakare.

Pastor Bakare had proposed a transitionat government as alternative to what he described as ‘looming constitutional and legal crisis’.

Bakare said: “The constitutional provisions for election into the office of the president as articulated in Section 132 of the 1999 Constitution provides a window for challenging the validity of any presidential election if elections cannot be held in some parts of the country as might be the case if the security situation is not addressed before the elections. Section 132(4) provides that: For the purpose of an election to the office of President, the whole of the Federation shall be regarded as one constituency.

Section 47 of the Electoral Act 2010 further provides that: Voting in any particular election under this Act shall take place on the same day and time throughout the Federation.

“By these provisions, it is clear that any presidential election that excludes certain parts of the nation will result in constitutional crisis and legal battles that may further heighten sectional tensions.

“What I have said in the past to our nation and our leaders, I will

Jonathan

A transitional government is a total aberration, a complete anathema and something that should never be comprehended or conjectured or considered

repeat here once more. To avoid the gathering storms, the following steps should be taken: Activate the constitutional provisions for the suspension of elections. Section 135(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides as follows: “If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.

The argument against this would be the notion that the country is not at war. If indeed the country is not at war, how can one explain the invasion and annexation of Nigerian territory by insurgents launching attacks from our borders and neighbouring countries? Let us not forget that on May 14, 2013, while declaring a state of emergency in three states, President Goodluck Jonathan said of the activities of terrorists: “These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten its territorial integrity.

As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this”.

“In suspending the elections, to gain the support of all stake-

holders, the President must not act with the intention to seek reelection. Rather, he should, within the period, commit himself to building a non-partisan coalition comprised of major stakeholders and competent statesmen from each geopolitical zone. This coalition, headed by the president, will constitute a combined force that will tackle terrorism and address what I have earlier referred to as the fundamentals, within a time frame of two years or less”.

Following Bakare’s position, the Federal Government may have begun a subtle campaign to lobby emirs, opinion leaders and other powerful Nigerians to accept an Interim Government.

But lawyers insisted that they were going to resist whatever moves by the Federal Government to embark on the Interim Government project as there was no alternative to the provisions of the Constitution especially as it does not enjoy the backings of the Constitution. ‘May 29, 2015 is sacrosanct, being the terminal date for President Goodluck Jonathan administration’, they said.

For instance, Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria described proponents of transitional government as embarking on illegal voyage just as he blamed a section of Nigerians for misunderstanding the military’s involvement in the circumstance.

He said: “My problem with this country is that nobody is reading between the lines again because of politics. If you read between the lines, what the military is saying is that the Boko Haram insurgency would have been contained in such a way that elections can hold on the rescheduled dates.

They did not say that by that date, Boko Haram would have ended.

“There is no provision for an interim or transition government in the Nigerian Constitution as amended. A transitional government is a total aberration, a complete anathema and something that should never be comprehended or conjectured or considered.’’

“Also, the issue of doctrine of necessity never comes in. Under the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, the tenure of the Federal Government terminates on May 29. On that date, Governors and the President must be sworn-in. So, it then means that if for any reasons, elections cannot hold in about three or four states of the federation or in some local CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

22 Law | Interview

THURSDAY, february 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okunnu: Judges’ appointment should be lawyers’ affair Mr. Yomi Okunnu plies his Law trade in Lagos. Okunnu speaks on the 2015 budget, general elections, judiciary, electoral offences tribunal and sundry issues.

CHIJIOKE IREMEKA met him How would you look at the 2015 budget wherein the Federal Government is planning to raise $23bn through tax on luxury goods? Of what consequence would it have on the dwindling oil revenue?

I wonder what amount of money would be realized by taxes on the luxury goods though taxes on luxury goods would be an additional source of revenue. But I’m not sure whether the receipts would amount to anything as the fragment of Nigerians that make use of luxury Yachts, jets and vehicles are limited, waivers notwithstanding.

There is lack of seriousness and preparedness on the side of the government, especially in the year we are expecting change in the government. You can’t generate this money in one year. So, we need to do something about it.

Tax regime on luxury goods would be a scratch on the skin. When you talk about luxury goods what is the population of Nigeria that has luxury goods? Even, those few people indulge can afford these taxes. The government is not attending to the issue.

One year will not have effect on this. We are all tax defaulters. Those who are deployed to do it, are not working, if not the IGR on tax alone would have done the state a lot of good.

It’s not working.

Nigerian customs and immigrations are everywhere, but all borders are open. No tax collected. So, the kangaroo one you push cannot do anything, not even with the distractions of the election.

If we have depleted our reserve and we are not replacing it, we will get to the point that I wouldn’t want to imagine for any reason.

Unless the government wakes up to veer all other sources of revenues, including agriculture, which cannot be done overnight, there will be a big problem for the economy.

The lack of seriousness is seen in the devaluation of naira due fall in the oil price.

It’s unimaginable that dollar will cross N190 mark. We don’t produce and in a time like this, we should be talking about cushioning the effect with the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

We need to balance up our receipts with our expenditure. For Nigeria to move forward in election and budgetary periods like this, we have to sit up. Oil bench mark should have gone down more than this so that we will be able to cope with the effects.

A lot of money is allegedly allocated to INEC and the presidential campaign, is this constitutionally right?

In an election year, money would be spent but mark you, the money that supposed to be spent is not government money. In a civilised environment, political parties organize their own funding and not government funding.

When you have a budget, which is meant for government, it has to be applied to government projects and activities. However, INEC as a body is entitled to funding constitutionally. So, if INEC is meant to have much money, so be it, but let it be used for that purpose.

Also, we should realize that in the midst of insecurity in the country, we need to have extra budget for security. If there is no provision for security and there is for INEC, it will amount to wastage because the fear of insecurity would scare people from voting.

But when we are able to generate such revenue for security and election, there is no doubt that the election will go freely because the government had funded the right apparatus, the INEC and Security, therefore, there will be no need to deplete government funds.

But if these are not rightly funded, there will be a need for the government personnel to deep their hands into government’s purse to do, either what the political parties would have done or what other interested parties would have done. $1billion missing fund, which Finance Minister said was used for the service of petroleum marketers’ debt was said to have been cornered for presidential campaign, how true is this?

I have no view about that because in Nigeria, no missing fund has ever been recovered.

So, I don’t even want to imagine where and how the money went, if it went truly. I also, don’t want to subscribe to the fact that the money was diverted for elections. I think it went the ways of other missing funds in the country.

Okunnu

There are a number of issues with the country’s 2015 budget, what are the changes you would like to see in the budget?

Is there any need? It’s too late. The budget has been presented, meaning it has been prepared. So, as a professional, the only thing that I’m looking forward to seeing is that the National Assembly would do a thorough job.

If they do a thorough job, they will be able to identify necessary from unnecessary and by so doing; there will be a commitment towards achieving, at least, something good for Nigeria in this electioneering period.

You see, we are talking of election that is based on test. Now, the bench mark has fallen steeply, if the NASS is not careful, everything that has been budgeted for the country would disappear.

So, if no attention is paid to the budget, you discover that after election and a change of government in May, there will be nothing to run the country with.

For constitutional lawyers, election tribunal will soon be on, how prepared is the judiciary to evacuate election petitions before the swearing in ceremonies?

Lawyers are always prepared. Election period are always jamboree for frivolous petitions and applications but I tell you, with the move in the judiciary, especially with the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), I believe that frivolities would be reduced.

The electoral law has made it clear, the duration of hearing application. So, anybody that wants to go into that will do it within the electoral law and the judges have been appealed to give a decisive judgment and not hanging judgments.

I will appeal to my learned colleagues too to show some level of commitment to justice.

You see, if an application is bad, is bad. Trying to do otherwise is unnecessary. We will get to a stage to be happy when somebody gains or losses in an election. Then, we can move on.

Our inability to move on after election has caused us more damage than anything good.

So, I believe in judiciary because it has a new

posture of being active, proactive and decisive. So, I believe that the lawyers are also equal to the task.

Where judges are appointed by colleagues and people that know them, they do better.

Political influences on appointment will give us monsters

The statement that it caused more damage than good, how do you mean?

Going back to the history of election in Nigeria, after every election, there is always a fault finding. The fault finding does not allow for progress. Instead of preparing for another election, we start chasing shadows, and after wasting such time, they are unsettled.

My idea is that after the election, there will be a time limit for petitions to go in. The petitions will be heard and discharged before the government is sworn in. The moment they are sworn in, all the electoral processes would have been over.

It has become a norm that we can’t have a new government without arguing about legality. It has not allowed for much progress in this country. We spent so much energy fighting what has been concluded. Fighting what could have been prevented.

For election, there is eligibility. If the party is not eligible to contest, it would have been dealt with before the election. After election, you now begin what you should have done earlier on. It amounts to wastage of time and resources.

Such moves were made earlier to ensure that all electoral matters are concluded before swearing in of a new government. What has become the outcome of that debate or it’s the same old story?

I’m aware that there have been some cases, where lawyers pointed out such. There has been a lot of argument from the Bar on that for the need to conclude all matter before swearing in.

By conclusion, it means that every result must have been defined. So, when you have election in February, and swearing in May, you discover you have over three months to do that and the electoral law made a provision for time limit which application must be filed C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 4

Law |

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 19, 2015

HE is an activist lawyer and former member, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Capital Territory Election Monitoring and Observation. Mr. Festus Okoye, an alumnus of the University of Jos speaks on the role of the military in an election and concluded that the police alone cannot guarantee security of lives and property during elections. TUNDE OYESINA reports

Okoye: Only police cannot provide security during election

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ontrary to arguments in some quarters that the military should not be involved in elections monitoring, an activist lawyer and former INEC member election monitoring, Mr. Festus Okoye has thrown his weight behind the involvement of the military in the next month’s general elections, insisting that only the police could not provide security during elections.

Apparently reviewing the nation’s peculiarity, Okoye said although its involvement in elections was not a constitutional one, the military had a duty to complement the police during elections as it was obvious that the police alone could not protect the over 150,000 poling units in the country.

He however analysed the roles by the security agents and concluded that there was the need to involve other security agents with a view to conducting a free and fair election in the country.

Okoye said: “Because of our peculiar circumstances and history with elections and electoral environment, it has become a tradition for the Nigeria Police Force with a civil authority to use its constitutional and legal power to maintain law and order during an election period. So, constitutionally and statutorily, it is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to maintain law and order but because of the history of our elections, we have evolved a mechanism whereby other security agencies are also involved in one way or the other in our elections.

“The strength of our police force is not sufficient to provide the type of security Nigeria needs in over 150,000 polling units. That is why, during an election period, you will see officers from immigration, customs, civil defence, Federal Road Safety Commission, assisting in providing security during elections.

“In order to streamline some of these things, the Independent National Electoral Commission establishes what is called an Inter -Agency Consultative Committee on security. It is this consultative committee that meets regularly to make a determination on the quantum of security that should

23

Okoye

be provided in a state.

But all the security agencies that should be at the polling units are supposed to be unarmed officers, in order not to scare the voters. For purposes of the military, what the military does, in our electoral process is, one: the Air Force assist the electoral body with the movement of electoral materials to difficult terrains.

Secondly, the Navy deploys their internal mechanism to move election materials and personnel to the riverine areas. The military try to make sure that our roads are safe for the movement of election materials and also to protect and guide public institution. So, strictly speaking, the military is not supposed to get involved in the electoral process, they are only coming to assist civil authority in the maintenance of law and order when called upon to do so.

Although he described the shift in the scheduled general elections as an after-thought, Okoye said the nation’s security challenge in the north-east was not enough for the six weeks delay by INEC for the much anticipated February general elections.

He said: “To be very honest, in the Chartam House lecture delivered by the National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki and in the question and answer that followed, the only reason he gave for the postponement of the election was the difficulty in the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards because he said that it will not be credible to proceed with an election where over 30 million have not collected their PVC. “He did not give the insurgency as a reason for calling for the postponement of the election. Secondly, a day before the meeting of the Council of state, the interparty

The strength of our police force is not sufficient to provide the type of security Nigeria needs in over 150,000 polling units

consultation committee on elections security met and they never gave any indication that security was an issue in the elections.

The other issue is that the commanding officers of one of the brigades in Owerri stated very clearly that the military was ready for the elections. So, for me the issue of security that was given as a reason for the postponement of the election is an after-thought. If Nigeria is at war and I agree that Nigeria is at war because as at today, the military is engaged in internal security operation in 32 states of the federation. Also, it is true that we have serious cases on insurgency in the north-east, but the government, has never said it is impossible to conduct election in the Local Government that does not have one insurgency or the other. I agree that we have serious security challenges, but those security challenges are not enough for us not to hold elections.

It would have been irresponsible for INEC to have gone ahead with the election despite the warning by the security chiefs.

On INEC’s readiness for the elections, Okoye said “remember Jega had told Nigerians that at their level, they are comfortable to go ahead with the elections.

But you and I will know that there problems with the distribution and collection of the PVCs and a lot of Nigerians have complained that they do not have their PVCS. So, I think there are logistic challenges with the electoral management body in the conduct of the elections.

“I am sure they will overcome this before March 28. If there will be another logistic problem, it will not be the issue of PVC and it will not have anything to do with INEC capacity to conduct this election.

However, Okoye dismissed the

alleged audio clip linking some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to ‘a high –wired rigging in the Ekiti governorship polls’, insisting that he stood by his statement that the election that brought in Governor Ayodele Afayose substantially reflected people’s voting pattern.

He said: “I was in Ekiti and observed the elections. I was part of the situation room that said that the results that came out of Ekiti substantially reflected the voting pattern in that particular election.

I was part of the Situation Room that called on the incumbent governor to concede defeat in relation to that particular election.

“And for me, I stand by the statement we issued and by the reports we got from all our observers. It is possible that there were attempts to corrupt the elections or rig it but from the reports of all our observers on the field, reflected the eventual return made by INEC. Asked whether there was an imminent constitutional crisis, Okoye simply said “if Nigeria is at war, especially if it is physically attacked, the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces can approach the National Assembly for an extension of the four-year period by a period of six months in the first instance”.

He went on: “In the next few weeks, foreign troops will enter Nigeria to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, Section 64(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended clearly states that “if Nigeria is at war, in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in subsection (1) of this section from time to time but not beyond a period of six months at any one time.

“So, there is a possibility that if the Boko Haram insurgency escalates, the President and the National Assembly may likely use that particular power to shift the elections. In other words, the March 28 presidential elections may not hold.

The second issue is that the people who are now canvassing that we should return to the use of TVC, instead of PVC may escalate a certain form of crisis that will make it impossible for the elections not to hold and if elections are not held, it may result into a civil unrest that may affect the timing of the elections.

“If you look at the Constitution, any election that is conducted outside the 30 days to the terminal period of this regime is unconstitutional, null and void and illegal.

If that happens, the National Assembly may give us a contraption, Interim Government which is not constitutional but there is a precedent to it. These are very serious challenges that Nigeria is facing, but all these challenges are not sufficient enough to prevent us from stopping this election because the C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 5

24

Law | File

THURSDAY, february 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Institutional capacity as pathway to good governance CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Akin Oyebode

W

ithout this agreement on the goals or purposes of law, it becomes highly problematic to apprehend the role of law in bringing about social transformation.

What is called for here is an assembly of the multiplicity of competing wants, demands or interests in society at any given point in time, with a view to synthesizing these interests and extrapolating from same the most optimal among these, giving rise thereby to a scheme of interests which would form the basis of identifying and accepting any new interests pressing for recognition. As postulated by the great American jurist, Roscoe Pound, the jural postulates in the society become the touchstone for recognizing the parameters of law as an instrument of transformation in the society. Thus, it needs be emphasized that jural postulates are not postulates of law, stricto sensu, but postulates for law or what an aggregation of members of the society want the law to do for them.

For Nigeria, an avid follower of Pound, Dr T.O. Elias had, way back in 1972, formulated four critical ends to be performed by law, viz., to promote economic growth and social well-being, to elevate man’s moral nature, to unify the several ethnic communities into a Nigerian society, and to evolve a common law for the country out of the existing bodies of law.

Yet, we must admit that the jury is still out on a common vision or mission in this country as each seems to be pursuing his or her interests while the nation continues to dither and differ regarding its destination.

To some, Nigeria’s jural postulates are located in Chapter II of both the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions, that is to say, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy which can be said to be the ideological underpinnings of Nigeria’s basic or fundamental law, more especially as the said provisions of the Constitutions had been rendered non-justiciable which, therefore, make them postulates for law and not postulates of law in conformity with the enunciation by Pound.

However, it must be immediately stated that there has been considerable misgiving among some commentators regarding the propriety and necessity of a paper tiger such as Chapter II in the country’s Constitution which encompasses issues that are most germane to the existential conditions of the preponderant majority of the population. This explains the wide demands being made even till today for a re-location of the provisions of Chapter II to Chapter IV which deals with human rights and for which relief could be sought in the courts in case of infraction as provided by the Constitution. This criticism, it should be noted, is without prejudice to the beauty and relevance of the conceptualization of the law as a tool of social engineering as propounded under the Poundian thesis that said, we can now proceed to explore the possibilities of law to exert influence on goings-on in Nigeria, if not, in fact, the nation’s destiny.

Towards a New Nigeria: What role for

Law? If it is agreed that law is very much about how to do things with rules, to borrow the memorable language of William Twining, then it goes without saying that law provides the inescapable framework for any meaningful discourse on the enhancement of institutional capacities towards good governance. Not only is law the ultimate means of attaining societal goals, where and when there is scant regard for the rule of law, equality before the law, certainty of sanction for infraction of the law, independence of the judiciary and other appurtenances of due process of the law, society as we know is, simply put, set on the road to perdition and extinction. For, law and society are, in fact, two sides of a coin and it is well-nigh impossible to have one without the other.

In a situation of threatened state’s failure, massive corruption, impunity and rising incidence of self-help, enlightened self-interest warrant recognition by all concerned of veritable threats to individual freedom and national survival which need to be met by the adoption of requisite, well-considered measures to salvage the situation. It is hardly an exaggeration to aver that the times call for a re-dedication to the tested approach of “subjecting human conduct to the governance of rules”, to use the language of my old teacher, Lon Lavois Fuller, late Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence at the Harvard Law School.

Admittedly, the law is not a cure-all for the afflictions of the polity but it exercises considerable prophylactic and curative value or influence which can be harnessed to great profit in these precarious and troubled times.

It can be a soothing balm to frayed nerves and act as a catalyst to nationbuilding by arresting the traumatic challenges confronting the country.

The destiny of Nigeria must never be abandoned to the whims and caprices of enemies of the open society and fidelity to law and due process. We all should recognise the necessity to subject all activities and actions under the superintendence of law, or else, we open the flood-gates to chaos and disintegration. Reliance on law in all things is the panacea to the multifarious problems confronting the polity and the earlier this fact is brought home to all concerned the better for the future of the fatherland.

Conclusion Let me end this presentation by saluting the initiative of the organizers of this Conference in recognizing the need to ventilate the critical role of law in institutional capacity-building towards good governance. It is hoped that the powers-that-be would recognize the import of law in the scheme of things and utilize that knowledge in employing law as an important element of the matrix of transformation of Nigeria from its current situation of under-performance and generally low productivity and regress to a higher pedestal enabling individual and collective optimization and actualization of our dreams and aspirations.

Oyebode is UNILAG’s Law and Chair, office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects.

‘Leave judges’ appointment in lawyers’ hands’

Okunnu C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 2

and determine.

So, if lawyers will avoid frivolity, that is, unnecessary applications, adjustment and judges debar and decisive, then all issues, pertaining to the election will be dealt expeditiously.

When this happens, the issue of continuing litigation will outlive and people will be able to have sportsman spirit, where you go for a context that everybody cannot win. Somebody must win and when you lose you congratulate the other party and you move on.

Nothing stops you from teaming up with that person, sharing your ideas to make progress in the nation. If I contest with you and you win, I should be able to sell my ideas to you. After all, both of us wanted to use it for the same society. Once you can do that the potential risk in the country is destroyed.

What were the greatest challenges in the judiciary in 2014 that you wouldn’t like to see in 2015?

I think as a lawyer the challenges we saw, I supposed, have been overcome in the recent time, and that is the independence of judiciary. I’m aware that courts were on strike, which I know that is all about the money. But if the judiciary is fully independent, it would determine the mode of payment of its staff and there will be less strike.

Thank God for the new Chief Justice of Nigeria. What I will like to see in this year is fast and direct judgment under this regime.

We have instances where CJN in the past gave different judgments, thereby creating confusion in the judiciary.

Though the confusion was not intended but the non-flowing of decision created the confusion. If three judges sitting in Lagos come to a conclusion in a matter, there must be a way that those judgments will flow within that scope of judiciary.

Not a situation where you have four parallel judgments from the same court and you don’t know the one to follow. We saw a lot of this situation in the previous time and more importantly within this political era. Of course, it affects the judiciary adversely.

We should be able to have judgments that other courts and judges would be bound by. If a Court of Ap-

peal issues a judgment, and another court issues its own, there shouldn’t be an odious burden of choosing which judgment to follow or not.

Would you rather advocate appointment of judges to the Bench from the Bar? Of course and above all, the appointment of judges for heaven’s sake should be left to the lawyers, the Bench and the Bar. Where judges are appointed by colleagues and people that know them they do better. Political influences on appointment will give us monsters.

Great monsters because if someone was screen by lawyers and judges, it will be hard to see that he comes and turns out bad, but where somebody who is not on the list of screened persons is appointed, he or she will go in there and be doing their magic and we complain because they didn’t go through the process.

So, what I’m saying in effect is, let us follow process. Due process is not a short cut but will cut off all the distractions. If you are qualified, apply, if not, stay away from that. This would make it easy for the ones, who want to make decisions.

I have a dream that this country is so great and big to grow if only we allow things to work well.

JUSUN are back on their duty posts after weeks of strike, how would you quantify the cost of this judicial strike?

It’s unquantifiable and avoidable. Unquantifiable in the sense that, scores of different things go into bail on regular basis. There are people who are unlawfully detained, waiting to be granted bail, they had lost that opportunity.

There are some, who needed to restrain something, but could not do that. There were others, whether land matter or the other, who delved into transaction and needed justice from the law but could not get it.

So, you see, this implies that everything is put on hold and the cost is unimaginable. So, many financial transactions had been lost now.

It’s regrettable. What is dialogue?

When there are issues, put them on the table and look at them very well to see how to solve it and reach an agreement.

We have been having discussion with the government and other things, why they have not got judgment, I do not know. It’s unfortunate.

Law | News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, february 19, 2015

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

government areas, there will be a constitutional crisis as to what constitutes 25 per cent of two-thirds of 36 states. Will it be 25 per cent of 33 states? But all these questions can be easily answered through the Election Petition Tribunal, the court of first instance, which is the Court of Appeal, after a winner has emerged. In other words, a winner must emerge on March 28 and a winner must be swornin on May 29.

Whoever is dissatisfied has only one option, that is, the election petition tribunal, which is the Court of Appeal. The matter can further be taken to the Supreme Court, which is the final court of the land.

“So, there is no question of interim government at all. It is sacrilegious, abominable, unacceptable and can never be condoned under the present constitutional dispensation.

So, adherents or kite fliers or proponents or protagonists of an interim government should drop the idea immediately like a piece of hot yam.”

Ozekhome was echoed by another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, who simply said there must be an election and a handover.

He said: “What the Constitution recognises is that there are two levels of election postponement. The first one is the President working together with the National Assembly pursuant to Section 135(3) while the other is in relation to Sections 25(2) and 26(1-3) of the Electoral Act “If you juxtapose the two legislations together, what you find is that in relation to Section 135(3), for instance, the President, in the event that he envisages that Nigeria is at war and the territory of the country is physically at war, he will approach the National Assembly to extend his tenure, in the first instance, by six months because elections cannot be organised.

In other words, there should be an election and a hand over of C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

alternative is very grave. The economy is wobbling because of these challenges, people are relocating because there is a fear in their heart and everybody is nervous. The international community has issued an advisory that people should not come to Nigeria at this particular period. Make no mistake about, politicians have done a whole lot of damage to the frontline of Nigeria. They activated the issue of ethnicity, religion to a very ridiculous extent. We therefore need a legitimate government that will heal the hearts that are broken.

On whether multiple cases in court against the two major presidential contenders, President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari would not constitute a stumbling block to the March 28 elections, Okoye said “at this point in time, our plea is that the judiciary should be circumspect in handling some of these cases

25

‘Transitional govt, an aberration’ power to a new government or the incumbent continues. But all these could not happen because the country is at war. So, if the National Assembly indeed find out that the country is at war, it will extend the President’s tenure for a period not exceeding six months. If the situation does not improve, the President’s tenure will further be extended by another six months.

“In relation to Sections 25(2) and 26(1-3) of the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can postpone an election but the reason to be given might be that the country is experiencing a natural disaster like an earthquake, or in a state of emergency. If all these variables or facts are happening, INEC will then not hold elections in areas affected but it can do so subsequently.

“So, there is no provision in the Constitution for the formation of an interim national government. It’s unconstitutional to suggest that.”

The National Co-ordinator of Voters Awareness, Mr. Wale Ogunade, said “the Constitution is clear, particularly in Sections

131 to 134 concerning elections and how any person can emerge as President of the country. It is two-thirds of the states in the country and 20 per cent votes cast in the states. There are 36 states in the country and if we are talking of two-thirds, that is 24 states and we only have issues with Boko Haram in three states in Nigeria. There is nowhere in the Constitution that there is room for Interim Government.

The Interim Government we had before was because we were in a military regime. It was an aberration then too. It was an attempt to scuttle democracy as Interim Government is not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution.

“The Constitution only provided for a situation whereby if a candidate cannot get a clear lead, there will be a runoff between him and the next person. You see, my problem with Nigeria and all these government functionaries is that they want to turn the country into a banana republic to make sure that things does not work the way it should work and we can’t grow institutions and de-

mocracy that way at all.”

To Olu Awolowo, “proposing the formation of an Interim Government is definitely not envisaged by the Constitution.

Provisions have been made clearly for the processes of handing over and the tenure of public officers. So, anything outside this is basically unconstitutional.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami said “transitional government has no room at all in the constitutional arrangement of our nation.

“Above all, there is no further accommodation of time in the conduct of the election because the time available constitutionally will have been exhausted by the expiration of the six weeks period. So, there are no two ways about it. Interim Government is an aberration, a constitutional breach and does not have any basis constitutionally.

“Military as an establishment has no constitutional power within the context of election.

So, it is just an issue of conducting the election irrespective of the outcome of the military’s

Quakers

Raji

Ahamba

‘Nigerians must resist TVC’ that have political undertone”.

He went on: “Our plea is also that those of us who are legal practitioners should put the national interest above our commercial and personal interest. This is because, if with the state of preparedness of the candidates and their political parties, if any of the candidates is disqualified now, we are going to have serious problems of breakdown of law and order.

But, the truth of the matter is that a candidate must satisfy the constitutional and legal requirements before he can be qualified. But if the court makes a determination that Jonathan is not eligible to contest, he must step down from the race.

On the issue of Buhari, Section 32 of the Electoral Act is very clear. If court finds out that indeed Buhari had lied, he can also be disqualified. In a constitutional democracy, we must

have fidelity with the Constitution; we must pay attention to the Constitution and also pay attention to constitutional requirements to contest election. If with due process, without cohesion, without bribery, or any other form of under hand tactic, the court comes to a determination that either Buhari or Jonathan is not qualified to run this election, Nigerians must accept it in good fate and see it as the price we have to pay as having fidelity to the constitution and the law.

On Permanent Voter Cards’ collection in the troubled northeast, he said “Jega does not distribute PVCs for each state of the federation as there is an electoral commissioner for each local government.

“There is an electoral officer that handles some of these things. Our plea and what Nigerians are asking for is that, everybody who has registered

as a voter should have an opportunity to collect his PVC. The collection is a personal thing, if I have a TVC and I refuse to collect my PVC, there is nothing Jega can do to force me to collect it. Now, if you look at the demography of collection, you will see that people are looking at the data selectively; they are looking at the data that suits them or support their own interest and then refusing to look at the data that does not support their own interest. I am confident that as we are getting closer to the elections, we are going to achieve at least eighty per cent of PVC collection in all states but make no mistakes about it, there are still some useless name on the voters register; there are people who registered when they were students and have graduated and left the place they registered. There are also people who have moved

effort. There is no further opportunity for extension.

The President of Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), Abdul Mahmud said that transitional government could not have been an option as such was not provided for by the Constitution.

He said: “The Constitution does not envisage an interim government. So, those people calling for a transitional government should have a rethink.

Under a military regime, all sorts of contraption can be created like we have in 1999 but we are in a civilian democratic regime where every individual must be guided by the Constitution.”

Also an activist lawyer and former governorship aspirant in Ondo state under the Action Congress of Nigeria, Dr. Tunji Abayomi said transitional government could not be an option on ground that the act of government must be based on the law or the Constitution.

He said: “Democracy is based purely on election. It is possible that in some areas, election may not be possible but the Constitution makes provision for such uncertainties.

“What will happen is that election will still have to be conducted. The two-third as well as the majority of votes which the Constitution provides will be that of the states where election takes place.”

“It also likely that elections will be conducted in such states, but it may not get the required number of voters because of the security situation but constitutionally, election must hold because there is provision for transitional government.

“The tenure of the President will cease and there will be no basis for him to continually stay in office.”

To Ahmed Raji, SAN transitional government could not be an option. away from their original habitat to other places. Those people their PVC will not be collected, it will be useless.

“Politicians will also make attempt to use the PVC of the people they register for, believing that electoral body can be intimidated to using the TVC for the conduct of the election. Why they are afraid is that the card readers will domicile you to your polling unit and individuality. But a temporary voter card can be used in multiple places and there won’t be any records.

We are going to resist going back to the TVC. “We are going to use the PVC for this election. So, those who are calling for his resignation are not being honest with themselves, not rational and they are not looking at the national interest. I believe that with the PVC, we may likely achieve at least, eighty to ninety per cent success, there may be challenges, but INEC has told Nigerians that they are ready for those challenges.

26 Law | News

THURSDAY, february 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps’ Minority Whip loses N620bn suit against CBN VERDICT Court strikes out Gbajabiamila’s N620bn suit against CBN Stories by Akeem Nafiu

J

ustice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a suit filed by the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to challenge the injection of N620 billion into the banking sector by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2009.

The defendants in the suit are the CBN, its Governor and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Gbajabiamila initiated the suit following the decision of the immediate past

Primaries: Aspirant sues APC, INEC

J

ustice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on February 19, hear a suit filed by a former secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, against his party and two others over alleged substitution of his name as candidate for the State House of Assembly.

The applicant who was also a former chairman of Lagos Island Local Government joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and one, Hakeem Masha, as respondents in the suit.

In the suit filed by Sanni’s lawyer, Wahab Shittu, the applicant is asking the court to determine whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of Sections 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Electoral Act 2010, the respondents (APC and INEC) were lawfully entitled to substitute his name with the name of Masha, having won the majority lawful votes in the primaries conducted by the party.

Sanni is also asking the court for a declaration that the respondent (Masha) having lost the primaries of the party with respect to Lagos Island Constituency 1 to him woefully and the applicant having not withdrawn his nomination, Masha is not entitled to be nominated to INEC

by APC as the candidate of the party for Lagos Island Constituency 1 in the forthcoming House of Assembly election.

CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, to rescue eight under-capitalised banks in the country, by granting them loan or bailout.

Gbajabiamila had through his lawyer, Seni Adio, asked the court to determine, among others, whether the Constitution empowered the defendants to raise about N620 billion by printing without obtaining the approval of the National Assembly.

The lawmaker had sought a declaration that

the defendants did not have the constitutional authority to raise and unilaterally spend funds without first securing the approval of the National Assembly.

It would be recalled that the case, which had earlier been decided in favour of the CBN by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako, was transferred to Justice Ibrahim Buba, after the appellate Court ordered a re-trial.

Delivering his ruling on the case, Justice Buba

held that the defendants had been able to effectively refute the claims by the plaintiffs.

He added that such denial had rendered the prayers of the plaintiff hypothetical.

“This court is of the firm view that the counter-affidavits of the first and second defendants are not only as solid as a rock, but the plaintiff has also not been able to refute the averments.

“This court is of the firm view that those aver-

ments, in the absence of any valid denial, have put the rock off the feet of the plaintiff.

“Consequently, the questions for determination have become hypothetical and therefore not grantable”, Justice Buba ruled.

The judge therefore resolved all the issues raised in favour of the defendants and struck out the suit.

Gbajabiamila had in his supporting affidavit deposed to by one, Adeteju Ajimotokan, averred that

sometimes between July and August 2009, the CBN audited 10 commercial banks in the country.

He averred that the CBN found out that five of them lacked adequate liquidity ratios compared to their obligations.

According to Ajimotokan, following the discovery, the then CBN Governor had sacked the executive and managing directors of the five banks said to be under-capitalised and decided to infuse N420bn into each of the banks.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Health Living

Factors behind infertility in men, women

28

Health

27 Health News

Focusing on fiber may help in weight loss

Nature Power

Many uses of plantain

30

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Tomori: Poor diagnostic equipment, challenge to bird flu fight

So far, avian influenza virus, also known as bird flu, has spread to 11 states of the federation. A topmost Virologist and President of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), Prof. Oyewale Tomori, in this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, discusses various challenges of bird flu containment including inability to handle diagnostic laboratory services to confirm cases, poor disease surveillance, farmers’ reluctance to report suspected cases and inadequate quarantine and control. Excerpts: What specific measures can be taken to check further spread of the avian influenza virus which is behind disease in livestock?

When you have laboratory test confirmed outbreaks of high pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), affected farms should be quarantined – nothing gets out and nothing comes in! There should be an immediate and human 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 .

There should be prompt reporting to the appropriate veterinary authorities and sharing of data on location of farms, number of birds affected, etc. When the outbreak is widespread, in addition to above measures, the public health sector should continue to provide consistent exposure and risk reduction messages to the public, with the aim of preventing panic and providing biosecurity.

Which animal or bird products are endangered as a result of the virus?

There is evidence that the following are affected by HPAI: wild waterfowl species, common species of poultry, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants and quail, as well as a variety of other birds like par-

Appolonia Adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

a report of any human case this year, an information that must be taken with a “pinch of salt” given the poor laboratory diagnostic facility we have in Nigeria and the lack of collaboration between the human and veterinary services.

Tomori

rots, cockatoos, and parakeets.

Since the discovery of HPAI, with millions of chickens dying, there have been a little over 350 human deaths due to H5N1 reported in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. Nigeria reported one human case of H5N1 in 2007.

What’s the danger the virus poses to poultry products?

The virus is found in the faeces of infected birds and in secretions from their noses, mouths and eyes.

Similarly, the virus can spread to domestic flocks kept outdoors

Therefore, poultry workers and those who come in direct contact with droppings and raw carcass of infected poultry are in danger of contracting the disease

through faecal contamination from wild birds, whereas infection among indoor flocks is spread via airborne secretions and faeces.

Therefore, poultry workers and those who come in direct contact with droppings and raw carcase of infected poultry are in danger of contracting the disease.

Human infection comes through direct contact with infected poultry and contaminated products.

There has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission Remember Nigeria had a confirmed human bird flu case in 2007 in Lagos.

However, we have not yet had

What are the challenges Nigeria faces in checking this virus and what’s the way out?

With poor disease surveillance, a reluctance to report cases and an inadequate quarantine and control measure, we are likely to see more avian influenza outbreaks in more farms and in more states as time goes on.

There appears to be a concerted effort by both government and the poultry industry to downplay the seriousness of the current outbreak, which has been reported.

The government, was a bit tardy in declaring that we had an outbreak, despite the fact that the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom in Plateau State confirmed the outbreak onJanuary 8 and informed the World Health Organiation (WHO) for animal health (OIE) on January 9, obviously after informing our government.

Our dear government waited for another week (January 15) before informing Nigerians of the outbreak, thereby wasting precious time and delaying the time for appropriate control measures to have been taken. Meanwhile the outbreak had a field day as it spreads; expect more states to be infected.

What preventive measures can be taken to protect these workers?

Workers should wear protective equipment - gloves, face masks, boots, etc.

Are people trading in life chickens, turkeys, etc./frozen types, in any way exposed to the virus?

Yes, especially where you have “unscrupulous” farmers who CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

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Health News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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

Excessive heat, toxic chemicals behind infertility

Fruits are rich in Fibre

PHOTO: en.wikipedia.org

Dietary fibre helps in weight loss Esther Albert

P

eople who only focused on eating 30 grams of fibre per day lost almost as much weight as those who followed a more complicated diet, according to a new yearlong study.

A “per missive” dietary plan, like focusing on increasing fibre, may produce more beneficial effects than a “restrictive” plan, like reducing saturated fat, said lead author Dr. Yunsheng Ma of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, England.

“We chose dietary fibre because it exerts clinical benefits on several components of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, glucose and lipid homeostasis, and insulin control, in addition to body weight and regulation of certain inflammatory markers,” Ma stated.

For the new study, Ma and his coauthors divided 240 obese adults with metabolic syndrome into two groups. One group followed the American Heart Association (AHA) diet plan and the other aimed to eat at least 30 grams of fibre per day.

About 25 percent of adults worldwide have metabolic syndrome, which includes

symptoms like a large waistline, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of HDL cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The American Heart Association Eating Plan recommends that adults consume 25 to 30 grams of fibre daily from foods, such as vegetables, legumes or whole grains, although the average American only eats about 15 grams per day.

The AHA diet calls for increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grain or high fibre foods and lean proteins, minimising sugar, sodium, alcohol, saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol, and eating fish twice weekly. People on the AHA diet were given individualised calorie and saturated fat goals.

After one year, people in both groups had lost weight and improved their blood pressure, dietary quality, and insulin resistance, according to the results online February 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

But the high-fibre group had lost an average of about four and a half pounds, compared to nearly six pounds in the AHA diet group. Also, seven people in the fibre group developed

diabetes over the yearlong study, compared to only one in the AHA group.

The high fibre diet still showed positive results and was easy to follow, which often leads to more successful diet compliance, according to Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic who works closely with the department of preventive cardiology.

High fibre intake is one of the most important aspects of the AHA diet, she stated.

“Fibre fills you up, expands in your stomach, fibre also keeps you fuller longer,” said Zumpano who was not part of the new study.

However, it may need to be limited for people with any kind of bowel issues or a history of diarrhea, she noted, and the other aspects of the AHA diet do have benefits as well.

Americans in general have a lot of room for improvement with fibre intake, Ma said.

Legumes, barley and other whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables are all fibre sources.

“However, we ask not to rely on fibre supplements or any one food to increase daily fibre, but rather to obtain fibre from a variety of foods in their diet as suited to individual tastes and preferences,” he said.

Sperms

Question: Why are couples infertile when doctors could not find anything wrong?

Answer: Infertility can be defined as failure to achieve pregnancy during one year of frequent unprotected intercourse. Generally, it begins after 12 months but in women over 35 years, it can be defined as no conception in six months.

We will be discussing causes of infertility in men/women but not treatment.

Infertility is prevalent in over 15 percent of couples, with one-third caused by male factors while 45 percent of the causes are unknown. While ovarian problems cause 21 percent of infertility problems, tubal problems cause 14 percent and others are blamed for 13 percent.

The problem can be primary infertility--in those that have never been pregnant and secondary-- those who have had prior pregnancies.

The overall factor is age in partners, previous pregnancies and number of months attempting to conceive.

MALE INFERTILITY: Fifty percent of the cause of male infertility is unknown, but primarily the failure of the testicle to effectively deliver a quality sperm to be able to impregnate a female, may have been caused by damage to the testicle.

However, other diseases that can cause infertility include varicocele, medications, exposure to excessive heat, toxic chemicals and pesticides, injury/surgery to the testicles, effects of undescended testes and birth defects.

Others are exposure to chemotherapy and radiation, some diseases like mumps especially in post puberty stage, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexual practices, previous fertility, among others.

Obstructive problems can be in form of altered transport of the sperm (10 to 20 percent).

Examples are erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation (reverse ejaculation due to structural defects, abnormal positions of the nerves in the testes, and in rare cases problems with the brain dysfunction, with release of hormone.

Some medical conditions that affect the

A female reproductive organ

balance of hormones like uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

The first assessment for infertility for men is sperm/semen analysis, which is done two times, two weeks apart.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), semen analysis is done with five variables, the volume of the sperm, concerntration (thickness) total sperm count, sperm mobility ( how fast it can move , the shape, having low volume, low sperm count, abnormal shape or slow sperm-- all these affect the ability of the man to successfully impregnate a woman.

FEMALE INFERTILITY CAUSES STRUCTURAL- Problems affecting the structure of the female reproductive organ can be: INFECTION-- Pelvic inflammatory diseases, STD, complicated abortion, endometritis, pelvic tuberculosis SURGICAL PROBLEMS: Previous D&C, untreated ruptured appendicitis, endometriosis and uterine fibroids CONCEPTION AND PREGNANCY ISSUES: Prior IUD used to prevent pregnancies-- intrauterine device, exposure to DES medication while in the womb, Ectopic pregnancy, habitual abortion and menstral irregularities HORMONAL/OVULATORY FACTORS: Secondary amenorrhea (cessation of menses after having it for at least six months), abnormal uterine bleeding, premenstrual tension, premature ovarian failure, thyroid problems, kidney problems, polycystic ovarian syndrome (the ovary having too many cyst leading to abnormal functioning, and medications.

Assessing tubal patency by either trans-vaginal ultrasound/laproscopy helps in the initial stages if all lab tests come back normal to rule out any scars along the tube that will block sperm from smoothing sliding through.

Even after treatment, overall fertility rate is about 50 percent and predictors for lower success rate are tubal causes, severe endometriosis, longer duration of infertility, no prior fertility history and women over age 30 to 35 years.

Health Interview 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

‘Nigeria lacks resources to monitor bird flu’ CONTINUED FROM PAG E 27

may sell off infected, but not yet sick birds.

How can those handling eggs, feeds, bird products such as chickens, turkeys for cooking in domestic/ commercial environment, protect themselves?

By maintaining strict rules of hygiene, and wearing gloves to prevent direct contact with raw materials – blood, faeces, etc of potentially infected birds.

The danger is in direct contact with infected poultry products. The process of our type of cooking will kill most viruses. Especially during this current outbreak, and in future, any contact with raw animal products should be with the objective of protecting humans from contact and contamination with pathogens that may be in the blood, faeces, and other discharges of animals and birds, whether sick or apparently healthy.

It is now common to hear people say they don’t want to eat chicken and other products affected by bird flu.

What’s your advice to the public on this?

In the event that avian flu virus contaminated birds and bird products get into the market, those handling or preparing such products should wear protective gloves and coats, and properly disinfect such clothing after use. The danger is with the raw material not with cooked products What’s your message to the government/poultry owners and managers on poultries on containment of this virus?

This is a serious outbreak, with possible devastating effects on the poultry industry and the economic growth of the country.

The government and the concerned poultry association must tackle the outbreak as we did the Ebola outbreak. Indeed, avian flu can be described as the “Ebola” of chickens. Measures to combat avian flu cannot be less rigorous and combative as we did for Ebola. We have to be more serious and more aggressive in the way we tackle this outbreak, otherwise the disease will spread like wild fire in harmattan season and become endemic in Nigeria. Currently, we have a policy of quarantine, depopulation and decontamination of affected farms. We cannot afford to do less.

What’s your message concerning rearing bird products within home environment?

I will say slow down for now, until the country is declared free.

It is easy to spread the disease through uncontrolled movement of infected poultry and poultry products by a largely undisciplined population that has little respect for law and regulations.

We do not have enough resources – human and material – to monitor the disease in every street and backyard poultry farm. We are likely to compound an already serious issue.

Could you give any other message that is necessary?

Our government, together with the poultry association, is making strenuous efforts to convince us that all is well, that there is no panic. That is Okay, but the efforts should be more on controlling the outbreak which has already been reported in and preventing further spread to the remaining states of the federation.

By now all infected farms should be identified and quaran-

Tomori

Measures to combat avian flu cannot be less rigorous and combative as we did for Ebola

UNTH, KHF partner on open heart surgery Camillus Nnaji

T

he management of Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) has said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH) on open heart surgery.

In a statement issued by the KHF Coordinator of KHF, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia on Monday in Lagos, the idea is to save more lives of the long list of children and adults with heart defects who keep knocking at the foundation’s doors on daily basis.

Abia said the move has become very necessary with the increasing record of cases, many of who are indigent. He stated that in 2003, a team of doctors from the United States (U.S), invited

by KHF performed 13 open heart surgery on children with heart conditions, while 11 were successful, two of them were lost.” This gave us hope that given the right atmosphere, with good facilities and professional cardiac

tined, with strict measures taken to ensure that products from infected farms are not moved around indiscriminately, that workers – veterinarians, poultry attendants, feed manufacturers, egg sellers collecting eggs from different farms and others who have any association with poultry farms obey the strict rules of cleanliness, disinfection, etc as required and as they move from

FG partners Nestlé on adequate nutrition Appolonia Adeyemi

T Kanu and some of the kids from Kanu Heart Foundation

experts, we can do so in Nigeria.”

Abia disclosed that given the state of the art cardiac equipment and the quality experts trained by UNTH, the foundation can enter into this partnership to save more lives.

“Before the the value of the American dollar rose, an average capital flight in terms of medical bills, airfare and reservation for a single patient traveling to India for surgery was N2.5 million. What of now the dollar is on the increase.

What about these children, many of whom are from very poor families. I want to let you

know that the foundation has over 300 cases on waiting list.

We have to involve a mix of indigenous and foreign experts to reduce this list” In a letter signed by Dr. Christopher Arma, Chief Medical Director, UNTH, dated January, 25, medical bill for open heart surgery has been reduced.

Children are to pay N500,000. Adults without valve cases will pay N750,00 while those with valve cases will pay N1,000,000. Abia said this is a far more considerable rate compared to over N2.5 million charged by foreign hospitals.

one farm to another.

Our field surveillance staff should be on the field, especially in states that have not yet reported outbreaks. Government should set in motion steps to improve and increase our national capacity to provide laboratory diagnosis of the infection, as we only have the NVRI laboratory in Plateau State with such capacity.

he Federal Ministry of Health has said it would partner with Nestlé Nutrition Institute of Africa (NNIA) to address problems of non-communicable diseases in the country.

This is disclosed by the ministry’s Director of Policy and Monitoring Directorate, Dr. Zakaria at a nutrition symposium which held in Accra, Ghana recently.

“We need to continually educate health workers on science-based nutrition because science is dynamic,” Zakaria added.

The NNIA held a Paediatric Nutrition Symposium for healthcare professionals in Accra to address the importance and relevance of protein in child health and nutrition.

NNIA is a multidisciplinary, educational organisation dedicated to the science of nutrition in Africa. It provides healthcare professionals with information on the latest sci-

ence and developments in early childhood nutrition through publications, workshops, scientific conferences and digital media.

The organisation is supported by a multidisciplinary scientific board drawn from various countries in Africa.

Professor James Renner, Executive Board Member of the NNIA, presented on the theme “Shaping the future: Proteins in Paediatrics”.

The importance of protein in infant nutrition, ‘The First 1000 Days of a Child’s Lfe’, which covers pre-pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life, is a crucial period for healthy growth and development in terms of immunity and brain development.

The right feeding practices in early childhood support the establishment of healthy eating habits. Early nutrition also impacts a child’s risk of becoming overweight or obese and developing related health problems later in life.

30

Health News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Medical tourism : Indian hospital , OJB foundation build dialysis centre Camillus Nnaji

K

L-R: Assistant Brand Manager, Dettol, Tolulope Olaoye, Nollywood Actress and Brand Ambassador, Dettol, Patience Ozokwor (Mama G); Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Sport, Otunba Kayode Bankole; PTA Chairman, Chrisland School, Opebi, Mr. Chiedu Ajoku with pupils of Chrisland School, Opebi during the Dettol School, Hygiene Programme at Chrisland Inter-house sport competition.

Dettol champions school hygiene awareness

I

n furtherance of efforts to promote healthier lifestyle and reduce abstention of pupils from school owing to sicknesses, Dettol, the leading anti-germ health and hygiene brand from the stables of Reckitt Benckiser has commenced fresh rounds of visit to schools to educate pupils and teachers on the benefits of hand hygiene.

The school visits, a key component of the Dettol School Hygiene Programme (SHP) initiative, is targeted at driving home the key message of proper hand-washing culture as the most cost-effective strategy to reduce potential deathcausing illnesses such as diarrhea and other respiratory diseases often caused by germs and poor hygiene.

Recently in Lagos, the SHP train berthed at Chrisland School, Ikeja during the school’s interhouse sports competition with Dettol Brand Ambassador and veteran Nollywood actress, Pa-

tience Ozokwor popularly known as Mama G, leading the highly interactive campaign.

Through the deployment of audio-visual kits and memorable sing-along songs, the students fully participated in the do-it-yourself six steps of effective handwashing, and they commended Dettol for the initiative.

While encouraging the students, parents and teachers to imbibe the culture of regular handwashing in order to live healthy and be active, Ozokwor reminded them that germs posed serious danger to human health and they could cause illnesses such as diarrhea, flu, fever, cough and catarrh in addition to avoidable death.

In his remark, Chairman of the occasion, Architect Olatunde Babalola-Smith advised parents to rise up to the present day challenges of parenting, “these days the internet and other gadgets are

now available for children to operate and they (children) get exposed to different things through these gadgets”.

Speaking on the significance of the Dettol School Hygiene Programme, the Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, enjoined Nigerians to embrace standard solutions such as regular handwashing as one of the cost-effective ways to protect themselves and loved ones against illnesscausing germs.

Commenting on the initiative, the Sectional Head, Gopherwood School, Lagos, Mr. Michael Dairo, commended Reckitt Benckiser for being innovative. “Dettol visits our school often and this has really enlightened the pupils on how to wash their hands.

Whenever they go to the toilet or after playing on the ground, you see them rush to the tap to wash their hands.

idney patients in Nigeria will soon have a sigh of relief as OJB Kidney Foundation and Vikram Hospital India have collaborated on building an ultra –modern dialysis center in Nigeria.

Health care consultants to the hospital in Nigeria, Dr. N. Shetty stated this in Lagos on Monday.

Shetty said having worked in Nigeria for a long time for the hospital, it is time to float a kidney dialysis center in Nigeria to save from the high cost of treatment in India and European countries.

He said: “the objective of this partnership with OJB foundation is to make medical treatment for renal patients, very

affordable, while making the best of facilities and expert specialists in that field.”

He said though traveling to India has been much affordable to Nigerians than the USA and UK, when the center is stationed in Lagos, it makes travelling much easier with affordable medical bills.

“At the moment the best facilities in technology, and expert hands are available in India, Our objective is to transfer this expertise to Nigeria in phaselike manner” On the modalities for seeing this project through, Shetty said that it has started with regular and local dialysis through regular visit by experts from Vikram hospitals conducting medical camps in Nigeria with indigenous Doctors.

MD FMC, Umuahia proffers solution to health sector challenges Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

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or Nigeria to effectively grapple with the numerous challenges in the health sector, a systemic reevaluation and re-strategising needs to be undertaken by stakeholders, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Dr. Abali Chuku has said.

He told NT Health that a situation in which the sector is not centrally controlled or monitored has created more problems than could be solved, saying the inconsistency of policy between the

state and the federal government was responsible for the problem.

“And that system is not really working, it has to be looked into again, because it is like you have a cake and a good portion of that cake is not under your control. Of course, it is going to affect the performance of the indices we have.

According to the Ophthalmologist, another issue that needs to be addressed is the provision of gadgets and training for the personnel. He said they are consultants who are willing to excel but lack the requisite training and equipment.

Many uses of plantain P

lantain, musa paradaisica is n household plant. Both adults and children alike know it. Even though people are familiar with the plantain plant and enjoy its fruit, they do not pay attention to its other uses. When plantain is roasted, it is called ‘boole’ in Yoruba.

When fried it is called ‘dodo’.

The plantain plant, which is rich in inulin, alkaloids and noradrenaline, is a beauty to behold.

The leaves are evergreen.

The trunk is soft and contains a lot of fluid. The Yorubas call it ‘Ogede nla’ or ‘Ogede agbagba’, Ethnic Binis call it ‘Ogheda’ or ‘Oghede’, and Hausas call it ‘Ayaba’. In Igbo speaking areas, there are varieties of names for plantain: ‘Ogadejioke’, ‘ojioko’, and ‘abereka’.

The green leaf of plantain is very useful for treating diabetes. Simply boil the fresh leaves in water and drink a glassful twice daily.

However, pregnant women should not take this preparation, as it is capable of stimulating the uterus, thus promoting

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo miscarriage.

The whitish fluid that shows when plantain leaf is cut is very effective for treating wounds, especially fresh wounds. The juice stops the flow of blood very quickly.

Perhaps the most medicinal part of plantain is the sap. The sap is present in every part of the plant. By piercing any part of the plant, especially the trunk, one can collect the sap.

How to collect plantain sap Cut the trunk of a plantain into pieces. Pound the pieces in a mortar. Then, squeeze out the juice. What you have is a potent herbal juice that can be used for varieties of illnesses. Mix one bottle of the juice with half bottle of honey. Henceforth, this preparation will be referred to as plantain solution [PS].

This knowledge is one of the hidden treasures, which many of our knowledgeable fathers and mothers keep close to their chests. The simplest things in nature are often the most important. How often do you see a banana tree and pass by without even taken a second look? So often, we are so busy pursuing one material thing or the other, forgetting that happiness consists in opening ourselves to the hidden wisdom in nature. Human beings are busy pursuing happiness and beauty. Yet, right there in front of them is paradise. Wake up from your slumber oh man and woman and stop taking things for granted. Let the beauty of nature permeate your being and reflect through you!

The juice of plantain can be used for the following illnesses:

Plantain

Cut the trunk of a plantain into pieces.

Pound the pieces in a mortar. Then, squeeze out the juice. What you have is a potent herbal juice that can be used for varieties of illnesses

PHOTO: imgarcade.com

1. NERVOUSNESS: PS offers quick relief for nervousness and even hysteria. It calms the system and promotes sleep. Drink two dessertspoons of PS twice daily.

2. EPILEPSY: PS offers great hope for those suffering from epilepsy. It effectively hinders electric discharge in the brain, thus preventing epileptic fits. The dosage is two dessertspoons of PS thrice daily.

3. DYSENTERY: Drinking two dessertspoons of PS twice daily will bring relief to those suffering from dysentery as well as diarrhea, constipation and indigestion.

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Industry

31

ICT

SON faces court action over firm closure

NIGCOMSAT’s privatisation on course

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35

Business What's news

Nigeria, others’ e-commerce revenue to hit $75bn by 2025’ Nigeria would be a key player in the e-commerce space in Africa, where revenue from e-commerce activities is predicted to hit $75 billion by 20105, Fortunes has reported.

$32bn telecoms investments’ growth threatened – Investigation DISINCENTIVE

Kunle Azeez

Insecurity situation in some parts of the country discourages telecoms investments in such areas

P

lans by telecoms companies in Nigeria to embark on continuous infrastructure investment in the North-Eastern part of the country that

would further increase the $32 billion telecoms investment in the country, has been suffering ‘serious setbacks’, according to New Telegraph’s investigation.

Key officials of major telecoms operators who spoke with this newspaper on condition of

p.32

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, Arik Air, Ola Adebanji; Deputy Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi and Station Manager, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Mrs. Margaret Ayomike, during the inaugural flight of Arik Air to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Naira depreciation: Low import volume hits port terminals Bayo Akomolafe mportation of consumer goods into the country is being adversely affected by the depreciating value of the Nigerian currency, the naira.

The currency, which had been hit by fall in the prices

of crude at the international market, has lost about 26 per cent of its value this year at the interbank market where banks buy foreign exchange to meet their immediate needs.

A dollar as at last Tuesday, exchanged for N168 at the official market, but traded at the interbank and parallel markets at

INFLATION RATE January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9%

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

I

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

N194 and N214 respectively.

Although, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had depreciated the naira by eight per cent last November, the apex bank has been intervening and selling outside its own target band of N160-N176 to the dollar set in CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

anonymity in Lagos, said that their operations have been facing some challenges due to the insurgency.

“In our case, I can tell you that some of our site engineers have found it extremely difficult to carry out their normal routines on base stations located in some remote areas of the towns and cities in the North-East,” one of the officials of the four Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) communication system said.

He explained that “maintenance activities are also being encumbered by the volatile situations in the insurgency-ridden areas, resulting in service outages on base stations and other telecoms infrastructures for hours or days.”

The official stated: “The development is also robbing us several millions of naira in potential revenue.”

A top official source in another GSM company said: “What I know is that my company has been facing challenges in carrying out major infrastructure deployment project and our roadmap for this project for a location like the North-Eastern part of the country. The security problem there has been a cog in the wheel of our progress.”

Telecoms sector has attracted over $32 billion in the last 14 years of telecoms deregulation.

Industry analysts, however, feared that the crisis in the North-East is capable of forestalling investment targeted at the North-Eastern parts of the country.

“We cannot pretend that all is well with us as telecoms operators whose physical asset is susceptible to all forms of assaults by anybody,” said National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms OperaCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel as at Feb. 13)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N213 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N315 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N337

l Foreign Reserves – $32.237bn as at 12/02/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official as at Feb. 13)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N258.77 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N191.59

32

Business | News

CONTEST

Competition among e-commerce players to increase Kunle Azeez

N

igeria would be a key player in the e-commerce space in Africa, where revenue from e-commerce activities is predicted to hit $75 billion by 20105, Fortunes has reported.

Citing McKinsey’s Global Institute’s report, it stated that due to a decade of rapid economic growth in Africa, consumer spending is estimated to exceed $1 trillion annually by 2020.

McKinsey noted that with the e-commerce sector in Nigeria currently worth $400 billion, the country is already playing a role in the estimated revenue in the next 10 years.

“Meeting the demands of these newly-empowered shoppers, whose wants are outpacing Africa’s traditional marketplaces, will generate some $75 billion in ecommerce revenue by 2025,” McKinsey estimates.

Many e-commerce startups are currently focusing on Nigeria with the likes of Jumia and Konga trying to master the maiden market with digital platforms that could scale to Africa’s rising consumers.

Also, Mall for Africa, an e-commerce startup that sells American products to Nigeria’s growing middle and upper class

Nigeria, others’ e-commerce revenue to hit $75bn by 2025’ consumers, is planning to make entry into the country.

Founded by Nigerianborn brothers, Chris and Tope Folayan, in 2011, Mall for Africa racked up $17 million in sales in 2014, partnering with United States retailers such as Barney’s, Bloomingdales, and Best Buy BBY. Collectively backed by over $300 million in venture capital (VC) funding, the Mall for Africa that overcomes Nigeria’s business challenges and brings in big sales could create the continent’s first big tech headlines.

“The energy is already out there. Africa does not lack an abundance of people to buy things, sell things, or move them around. What Africa lacks is a 21st century operating system to make it all work,” said Chief Executive Officer of Konga, Sim Shagaya.

Coincidentally, Konga, Mall for Africa and Jumia’s roots weave paths through the United States and Europe before circling back to Africa.

While Mall for Africa caters to a niche digital market, the contest for e-commerce scale is occurring between Konga and Jumia.

Jumia has received $200 million in funding; it operates in eight countries. Konga is not far behind, with $100 million in

Telecoms investments’ growth threatened CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

tors of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo.

He recalled that in 2012, telecoms services were disrupted in Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Kano states following the bombing of telecoms base stations by suspected terrorists.

Telecoms base stations belonging to MTN, Globacom and Airtel were all affected in the multiple attacks that jolted Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states.

Meanwhile, Adebayo has described the 2012 attacks, where close to 30 base stations were blown up, as detrimental to telecoms’ growth in the country.

Besides cases of terror attacks on telecoms base stations, it was learnt that operators still face other challenges such as theft of equipment, willful

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

damage by unscrupulous elements and indiscriminate shutdown of base stations by government agencies over tax default.

Adebayo called on the Federal Government to work on the security situation in the country in order to ensure unhindered flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the nation’s telecoms sector.

“This is why we have been calling on the passage into law of Critical National Security Infrastructure Bill for Telecoms Sector, which, will believe, by becoming law, will criminalise any form of damage or attack against telecoms infrastructure,” he stressed.

President, National Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Lanre Ajayi, has also urged lawmakers to accelerate passage of telecoms protection bill.

VC funding and plans to expand outside of Nigeria this year.

Jumia and Konga CEOs play down suggestions they are in competition, though they both bill their companies as “Number one” and “Largest Online Mall” in ads.

“They are clearly competing,” says editor of TechCabal, a site that covers the African tech sec-

tor, Bankole Oluwafemi.

Given the nascence of Nigeria’s tech sector, it is hard to say which company is dominating.

For online traffic, Jumia ranks sixth and Konga seventh in a list of top-visited Nigerian sites.

Konga has yet to release financials but claims revenues grew 450 per cent in 2014. Per Rocket Internet’s 2014 public listing, Jumia

had $28 million in net revenues, with $32 million in losses.

“Everyone talks about profitability, but these guys are in the very early innings,” said Eghosa Omoigui, Founding Partner of EchoVC, a Silicon Valley fund investing in African startups.

“For now, Konga and Jumia need to build their digital marketplace infra-

structure, master their logistics, and establish compelling brand value.

It’s going to be expensive and take time. Whoever’s recurrently generating the highest gross merchandise value will lead.”

While Jumia and Konga share mass-market product offerings and geographic scope (Nigeria to broader Africa), differences in business models are evident.

Jumia’s management is strongly linked to stakeholder Rocket Internet through parent Africa Internet Group, a Rocket subsidiary overseeing Africa investments.

L-R: Head, Special Projects, Globacom, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro; Head, Gloworld, Mrs Titi Ebinisi; Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni and Brand Specialist, Ijeoma Ngodo, at the launch of the new Glo Postpaid Smart Plans at the company’s headquarters in Lagos.

Low import volume hits port terminals CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

November, prompting analyst to predict further devaluation of the battered currency.

It was learnt that all the terminals at the Lagos Port were affected.

Given these developments, as at last Friday, no ship was moored at the Apapa Bulk terminal Limited of the port.

Also affected are the terminals in Tincan Island Port. It was revealed that the volume of vehicles coming into the Ro-on Ro-in terminal concessioned to the Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited has dropped by 50 per cent.

Commercial Officer of the Lilypond Container Terminal, Mr. Kayode Daniels, said that the lull in activities had affected his terminal and the nation’s premiere port, Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

He linked the dull business activities to a drop in volume of imported cargo into the country, which he said might not be unconnected with the weakened value of the naira.

Daniels said: “Mearsk Line’s volume is 30 per cent less than what they did in 2014. Market is slow and stagnant. We

have done extensive market research with our customers and found out that market is not moving.

“Importers are complaining that their warehouses are still stocked and there was no way they could import, especially with the depreciation of the naira.

“More so, people are not spending and when people don’t spend, it will be difficult to bring in imports. So, these are the challenges that are leading to the drop in volume.”

Echoing him, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Controller, Lilypond Command, Mustapha Atiku, said that the terminal had been hard hit, noting that a very few containers have been brought into the facility since the beginning of this year.

He explained that the year started on a shaky note as the command’s revenue had taken a plunge.

Atiku declared that out of a monthly target of N1.9 billion, the command collected only N852 million in January and had so far collected N198 million in February.

He doubted the command’s ability to realise the amount of

revenue it collected in January in February.

He urged customs agents operating at the terminal to embrace genuine and honest declarations in their customs documentation so as to speed up the clearance of their consignments.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some importers now prefer to use neighbouring port because of high import charges.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), President, Mr. Remi Bello, said that the delay in processing the document had dire consequences for importers and manufacturers in areas such as the high interest charges on funds used to finance the imports and the delay experienced in the delivery of raw materials to various factories, which disrupts production time lines.

He said that high premium charges by shipping lines on Nigeria-bound vessels had made some importers to shun the nation’s seaports.

Bello added that the situation had become increasingly unbearable for importers with its attendant negative outcomes for the economy.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Dangote tasks Nigerians on production activities p.34

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Industry

MAN laments rising cost of production p.34

SON faces court action over firm closure THREAT Legal representative set to institute legal process against the agency

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he Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is in the eye of the storm again. An Information Technology firm, Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, has threatened to sue the organisation for the invasion and closure of three of its business premises located in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It would be recalled that three cement manufacturing companies, Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ashaka Cement and Unicem, had, in 2014, instituted different suits against the organisation over its pronouncement and plan to implement a new Mandatory Industrial Standard Order for cement manufacturing, distribution and usage in the country.

Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, said that since the ‘illegal’ closure of the branches, the company is losing sales to the tune of several millions of naira.

He alleged that since there was no inspection carried out on its products, the management of the company is now worried about the motive behind the closure.

Joseph said: “On Thursday, February 12, 2015, about 1pm, about eight officials of Standard

L-R: Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe, Gabriel Eretchabor and wife, Eseinone, and Public Relations Manager, DStv, Caroline Oghuma, during the presentation of a brand new Kia Rio to the couple at Ikeja City Mall.

Organisation of Nigeria escorted by heavily armed policemen and men of the press invaded and sealed three branches of our company without reasons.

“This illegal invasion violates the provision of Section 17 of SON Act which urged the Director General of the agency to apply to the magistrate court for an order to seal any company. In a clear violation of this provision and abuse of public office, the compliance and enforcement team failed to provide the said order issued by a magistrate court.”

Joseph stated that his firm

Anambra, Bukham partner on N100bn project T

he Anambra State government and a firm of real estate developers, Bukham Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of not less than 20,000 units of shops at the Anambra International Trade Centre, Oba, near Onitsha, estimated at N100 billion.

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and Chairman of the group, Mr. Bukham Hassan, signed the agreement.

Under the MoU, Bukham Group would build 20,000 shops, including 2,000 warehouses and hotels.

The group would also build a primary school, a cinema house, police post, health centre and a fire station in the projects, which are expected to be completed in five years.

Represented at the signing by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Commerce, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, Obiano said that government would build access roads to the centre from Onitsha-Owerri road and Oba.

He noted that the centre would attract infrastructure, boost the economy and continue to generate employment for the community and its environs.

“Trade and commerce development is one of the core pillars of our administration and what we have done speaks volume of the strong desire to make the state a major commercial hub in Africa. Government has agreed to fence the market centre, connect it with electricity as well as ensure adequate security. With this agreement, the developer (Bukham Group) has assured that the market centre will be inaugurated in March with 1,700 shops placed on offer for the public,’’ Obiano said.

The governor said that N3 billion had been set aside for infrastructure development at the centre.

Chairman of the group said that the phase 1 of the project was nearing completion and would be inaugurated next month.

was informed that the order to seal up its premises came from Lagos, adding that it should find out its from Lagos office.

He said: “At this point, we categorically state that no inspection was carried out on our products by SON and we have not been indicted by any investigation carried out by SON or any other regulatory agency for that matter. In reference to the dictates of the principles of the rule of law, we are of the opinion that SON cannot be accuser, prosecutor and the judge in the same case.”

“We are not superstitious

people but we believe that this might be connected to a matter of fraud which is presently before the Lagos State High Court and investigated by the Special Fraud Unit before it was transferred to the Department of Criminal, Intelligence and Investigation, perpetrated against our company by a syndicate of powerful and highly placed Nigerians who had threatened to fight our business with the help of regulatory agencies.”

Joseph added: “Our business premises have been sealed without justification amounting to an intentional and continuous

BOOST Winners will be mentored by highly successful celebrity business persons

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s part of its commitment to supporting the development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services would be awarding N3.5million to five Nigerians with brilliant business ideas in its Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM activation, tagged from ‘Passion to Empire.’

The activation, which began on Monday, will run till March 31.

General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West Africa, Joseph Umunakwe, said: ‘Passion to Empire’ will help young entrepreneurs push their boundaries and test the strength of their ideas.

“Running a start-up is challenging in any environment, so Microsoft wants to empower entrepreneurs in Nigeria who have great

breach of our right to do business. We find the actions of SON distasteful, especially considering that SON has failed to provide us a formal notice of crime even at the point of convicting our business and the enforcement of their judgment. It is quite discouraging that person charged with public offices in trust will turn around to abuse such trust and instead intimidate legal businesses.”

The managing director said that the company has instructed its legal representatives to institute legal process against the agency.

Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter said that the organisation acted following series of complaints from customers who alleged that they bought sub-standard products from the company.

“We carried out investigations hence, the action to close down the firm,” the source said.

However, efforts to get official reaction from SON did not yield positive result, as the spokesperson of the organisation, Matthias Bassey, could not be reached as at press time.

He neither picked his calls nor responded to text messages.

The organisation in recent times has stepped up its efforts towards curbing the menace of fake and substandards products.

Only last year, the organisation promised to recruit five million Nigerians in campaign against fake products.

Microsoft offers N3.5m to entrepreneurs business ideas. ‘Passion to Empire’ will not be about a cash grant only. The winners will also be mentored by highly successful celebrity entrepreneurs — House of Tara’s Tara Fela Durotoye, Chocolate City’s Audu Maikori and Jobberman’s Opeyemi Awoyemi.

“Our amazing range of Lumia smartphones and tablets, and the Microsoft

Bill Gates

Lumia 535 Dual SIM, specifically, provide the business support every entrepreneur needs on the go,” he added.

Giving more details about the specifications of the new Lumia 535 Dual SIM Smartphone, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West Africa, Olumide Balogun, said that the new device offers five great integrated Microsoft experiences, a wideangle five megapixel front facing camera and a spacious five inch display protected with Gorilla Glass 3.

“With the new Lumia 535 Dual SIM, one can now make memorable Skype video calls likewise seamlessly switch between voice and video with built-in Skype integration; access, edit and share Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents and OneNote notebooks wherever one is, with the pre-installed Office suite,” he said.

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Business | Industry

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dangote tasks Nigerians on production ADVICE Situation is insurmountable if properly addressed

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resident of Dangote Group and Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, has called on Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the task of building the nation through production activities.

Dangote said this when a delegation of cement distributors from across the country paid a

visit to his office in Lagos.

The business mogul said that Nigeria remained the destination of choice for investments despite the economic and security challenges.

He said that though the economic downturn was ravaging most countries of the world, including Nigeria, the situation was not insurmountable if properly addressed.

Dangote added that it could also serve as stepping stone that would make the country to be more economically stronger in the future.

He explained that with good support for government of the day in the task of tackling the

challenges and the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, the current challenges would soon be a thing of the past and Nigeria would come out stronger from it.

“I have always said it that Nigeria is a good place to invest. God has given us in Nigeria what many other countries don’t have and they keep searching for it. We have got fertile land for agriculture, we have the mineral resources and we have oil. All we need to do is to harness them for our good.

“The present challenges we are facing should not deter us from growing our economy. It shouldn’t stop us from invest-

ing. It’s just a passing phases.

Other countries referred to as developed started from somewhere. They all experienced some of these challenges in the past. So I want us to see these challenges as obstacles towards attaining greatness.”

Also speaking, his honorary Adviser, Joseph Makoju, told the distributors that Dangote Cement was more than ready to meet and exceed their expectations; saying that the production capacity expansion was intended to make cement more available and subsequently bring down the price.

According to him, the Company has put in place certain processes to serve the distributors better than before.

He referred to the payment for the bonus at half year instead of yearly as one of the new steps to serve them better.

“What we are trying to do is to ensure that you grow along with us. Let us know what your problems are; we are ready to solve them immediately. With new production

lines now on board in Ibese and Obajana, you can say bye to scarcity,” Makoju said.

It would be recalled that Dangote Cement had just added two new lines to the six million metric ton capacity per annum at Ibese to shore up its capacity to 12 million while additional three million capacity line is being added to Obajana plant to bring total capacity to 13.25 million tons per annum.

Also the Dangote Group had signed an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, a deal that will see Dangote providing N165 billion for rice cultivation in five states as part of the agric revolution of the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

Earlier, Dangote had noted his readiness to ensure timely completion of his petroleum refinery in Lagos, thus making him the first private Nigerian to obtain license and commence actual construction of the refinery as many who had earlier obtained license for same had failed to commence physical preparation.

FIIRO trains 29,435 youths, women MANPOWER Trainees undergo technology transfer and entrepreneurship programmes

L-R, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN, Mrs. Funmi Onajide, winner of MTN Cash Quest Promo Kia Sportage SUV, Mrs. Blessing Nnanna and General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge, during the presentation of Cash Quest star prize, at the company’s headquarters in Falomo, Ikoyi.

Odu’a investment targets 250% turnover in five years

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du’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) has said it hopes to achieve 250 percent turnover in the next five years The Group Managing Director, Mr. Adewale Raji, stated this in Ibadan while declaring open a retreat organised for the management of one of its subsidiaries, WEMABOD Estates Limited.

“Typically, I will say the company at its inception has been maintained solely for the heritage of the Yoruba people. And what is important is that when you have a change of leadership, the company should move to the next level. Our focus is that we should get to the next level and we are in that level by bringing out new things those Yoruba sons and daughters will be proud of and also for the benefit of our people. And we are making the turnover move to 250 per cent in the next five years and that is

our target,” the Group Managing Director said.

Raji said that to achieve its target, OICL had ventured into a partnership with a Spanish construction company called Todo Construction.

He added: “This is to form a joint venture of 50-50 per cent ownership by both parties to sell, import and market in Nigeria building finishes, in terms of Ceramic, tiles, bathroom finishes as well, bath, shower, cubicles, Jacuzzi, doors, frames among others.

“The view is that we want to be able to get the branded products available for Nigerians, distributors and even private sectors. We are bringing on board, Odu’a Group with these companies. We are bringing market knowledge and at the end we want to ensure we are bringing in new innovations to building finishes in Nigeria.”

On the essence of the WEMABOD retreat, he said

that it was for its management to look back and challenge the past on what they want to do in the future.

“The situation today is that we see a lot of people participating in different sectors of real estate business in Nigeria. I believe they should be able to sharpen their focus in terms of the specific area they want to focus on. They should not focus on everything. They should sharpen their skills on the area they want to play and play there.

“At the end of the day, they should be able to build a credible ground for themselves. They must know what they want to be respected for and it has to do with the value they start creating.”

“And I do believe that this is an opportunity to re-emphasize them but also to go for a geo-metric route rather than the arithmetic way we have seen in the last five years,” the group managing director said.

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s part of the poverty alleviation and job creations efforts of the Federal Government, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has said it has trained no fewer than 29,435 Nigerian youths and women within the last four years.

They were trained during the Institute’s various technology transfer and techno-entrepreneurship development programmes.

FIIRO’s Director-General, Dr. Gloria Elemo, said that the Institute’s human capital development covered production of high quality cassava flour, fruit juice, instant pounded yam flour, cassava bread and confectioneries baking; industrial cassava starch, black soap from agro-wastes, odorless fufu flour, tomato paste & powder, kunu production and preservation, zobo production and preservation, rice process-

ing, sorghum flour, cowpea flour, full fat soya, soy flour, soy gari, plantain flour, plantain chips, soymilk, groundnut paste and vegetable oil extraction, among others.

“The Institute started aggressive technology transfer and techno-entrepreneurship training programmes in 2011 when I assumed office as its first female DG/CEO in continuation of the Institute’s efforts at ensuring the commercialisation of its research and development outputs,” Elemo said.

On the efforts of the Institute in cassava Research and Development (R & D), the FIIRO boss said: “The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) pioneered R&D work on cassava processing in Nigeria. Some of the cassava products developed by the Institute are high quality cassava flour, industrial cassava starch (including normal, detoxified, modified, food and pharmaceutical grades), Odorless fufu powder, cassava chips and pellets, cassava-based adhesives, cold water starch, cassava noodles, tapioca, mechanised gari, Soygari, Glucose syrup, Ethanol, 100 per cent cassava cake and cassava bread.”

MAN laments rising cost of production

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embers of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have said that increases in the cost of goods and services across sectors are imminent as the sector reels under the yoke of vaulting production cost, caused by the devaluation of the naira.

According to MAN, some of their ranks are already passing the burden of higher production cost to the consumers,

while many others are on the verge of following suit.

To this end, the association said it has gone into a strategy meeting to find solution to this gloom.

MAN said that its members depend largely on imported raw materials and that with the naira fast depreciating against the dollar, the natural tendency was for prices of goods and services to go up.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

35

ICT

Nigeria mulls new landing points for undersea cables p.36

Digital inclusion key to Nigeria’s growth — NCC p.37

NIGCOMSAT’s privatisation on course full commercialisation and purchase a new satellite,” she said.

The NIGCOMSAT boss, however, noted that satellite industry benchmarking analyses suggest that the most successful privatisation exercises have occurred with satellite companies that had been established for a minimum of 24 years.

“However, because of austerity measures, privatisation will be preceded by a transition phase in our own case with NIGCOMSAT,” she said.

According to her, the 2015 transition plan will focus on commercial growth and an improved financial attractiveness of the project, then privatisation is expected to be implemented by 2018.

The lingering poor performance of the country’s satellite resources manager, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), may soon be over with the current plans by government to privatise the entity, write KUNLE AZEEZ and CLEM KHENAOGBENA

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he announcement by the Federal Government to privatise the country’s satellite resources manager, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), has been described as a step in the right direction.

While making the announcement at a recent forum in Lagos, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, had said: “We have taken a decision to privatise NIGCOMSAT. We’re working to increase the commercial value before finally selling it in the next three to four years.”

She explained further that government would implement the privatisation in such a way that it would generate maximum revenue for government.

Meanwhile, industry analysts say the privatisation plan did not come as a surprise, following the company’s never-do-well status, in terms of revenue generation, since its establishment some eight years ago.

It is instructive, also, that a barrage of criticisms has continued to trail the activities of the satellite company, which is believed to have gulped “a large chunk of the country’s budget since creation.”

Poor financial records According to records, the total annual returns of NIGCOMSAT, launched on May 13, 2007, as the first Africa’s geosynchronous communication satellite with so much prospect and hope, is believed to have fallen short of expectations.

The satellite, however, started making gradual revenues from 2012, following the establishment of the Ministry of Communications Technology, which has since given the whole industry a new direction through its ICT policies harmonisation.

For instance, while reeling out the revenue profile of NIGCOMSAT, the minister had said: “In 2012, the company generated N3.6 million, though very poor, but it moved to N263.7 million in 2013 and this increased to N648.8 million in 2014. So, we are moving. But now, privatisation has

Johnson

been considered a wise option to make NIGCOMSAT contribute to the nation’s economy, especially in deepening broadband penetration.”

She, however, stated that the gradual rise in revenue through the NigComSat -1R, which is the satellite facility of NGCOMSAT built to replace an earlier NigComSat-1, which got lost in the orbit in 2008, was contrary to the widespread impression in some quarters that the company “has not been making any revenue at all.This is not true,” the minister said.

But experts say the belowaverage performance of NIGCOMSAT is particularly worrisome, given its mandate, which is principally “to take a leading role in communication satellite operation and service provision in Africa.”

In carrying out this mandate, the company is expected to explore, exploit and manage the commercial viability of the company for social and economic gains of Nigeria.

Consequently, the unsatisfactory performance of NIGCOMSAT, under government ownership, has informed the current plans to privatise the entity, whose ground infrastructure market value in Abuja and China is currently estimated at $1 billion.

Capacity It is believed that NIGCOMSAT has rich transponders that could be used to generate revenue for government as well as catapult the country as one of the leading players in the satellite technology market.

According to available data, NigComSat -1R has increased its commercial value through the generation of revenue for gov-

Alale

The current moves by government should be seen as a good move, aimed at returning NIGCOMSAT to profitability.

I think it is long overdue

ernment investment by leasing of five KU transponders, C-Band, broadband sale and the leasing of Direct to Home (DTH) platform to private strategic partner.

“In addition, ongoing projects are being designed to ensure NigComSat -1R increase revenues through the leasing of KA transponders by the first quarter of this year,” according to the minister.

Till date, NigComSat -1R has a total of 40 transponders: 14 active Ku-bands and two redundant transponders; eight active Kaband and four redundant transponders; four active C-band and two redundant transponders; and two active L-band and two redundant transponders.

Besides driving general digital revolution in Nigeria and other African countries, NIGCOMSAT is expected to be a key partner during the upcoming analogue to digital television channel broadcast migration project as the switch-over will also depend on partners such as NIGCOMSAT, but these roles have been played effectively by the satellite company.

Privatisation modalities Providing an insight into the modality for privatisation of NIGCOMSAT, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ms Abimbola Alale, said that if government chooses to increase commercialisation efforts through additional critical infrastructure investment, then, it will have the optional asset utility to generate and improve financial profiles of the company in order to attract investors.

“Nevertheless, government will require capital outlay to acquire the infrastructural needs for government to privatise after

Stakeholders’ views In recent years, private-sector stakeholders had continuously called for the privatisation of NIGCOMSAT, especially after its establishment and when it was clear that it was not making expected impact on the economy.

New Telegraph learnt that NIGCOMSAT still relies on government for financial supports annually, when it is supposed to be a commercial entity that is self-sustaining.

“One would have expected that an entity such as NIGCOMSAT, which had gulped a lot of money from government’s coffers should be making revenues in billions of naira annually, but the highest has been what was recorded last year as we were made to understand,” said an industry analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo.

Similarly, former President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who had always argued that “there is no business for government in business” and that what government needed to provide is “an enabling environment through good laws and policies,” maintained that the move to privatise NIGCOMSAT was a laudable move.

“The current moves by government should be seen as a good move, aimed at returning NIGCOMSAT to profitability. I think it is long overdue. When it is put in the hands of private sector, one expects that it will be well managed. It will be run more competitively,” he said.

Expectations It is expected that the proposed privatisation of NIGCOMSAT in the next three years, if implemented with all sincerity, will position it to play its key role in improving the relevant infrastructure in the country, with the people benefitting from its wider coverage in the area of e-learning, e-commerce, eeducation, telemedicine while improving the security of the country.

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Business | ICT

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION The country faces limited distribution of submarine cables’ capacity Stories by Kunle Azeez

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igerian government is currently planning new landing points for submarine cables across other cities with coastal areas in addition to Lagos.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, in an interview in Lagos.

Noting that all the submarine cables have their landing

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria mulls new landing points for undersea cables points along Lagos coastal lines, Omobola said: “There are plans by government to create an alternative landing points along other coastal regions of the country to facilitate broadband penetration.”

She said that without doubt, Lagos is 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.

Till date, the country boasts of undersea cable infrastructures such as MainOne, Glo 1, West Africa Cable System (WACS) sponsored by MTN consortium and the ACE. 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 cost of bandwidth, which hitherto stood at between $1, 700 and $1, 200 in pre-2011, has reduced to, in

post-2011, to between $700 and $500 per Mbps.

Also, from $700 per Mbps of bandwidth in 2011, the cost of bandwidth has further reduced to between $400 and $300 per Mbps, representing approximately 42 per cent reduction in cost.

Nigeria’s economy has recorded an increase in the number of submarine cable companies, thereby increasing the level of international bandwidth capacity in-country that can be leveraged to deepen internet penetration across the country.

However, last-mile connectivity to distribute the capacity to different parts of the country to ensure that every community is connected in the country remains a major challenge.

Earlier, the Broadband Council had, at its February meeting held in Abuja, called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and

the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)to look into the possibility of providing financial incentives to submarine operators to enable them get landing points in coastal cities other than Lagos.

The Broadband Council, made up of 19 members and chaired by the Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, was inaugurated on July16, 2013.

The council is charged with the responsibility of monitoring implementation modalities for the approved Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013 – 2018. The plan targets a fivefold increase in broadband penetration (from six per cent to 30 per cent) by 2018.

According to the council, additional landing points will reduce the vulnerability of the submarine cables in the country, which landed in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the council has acknowledged the progress made on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan in the last 18 months, especially the increased capacity rolled out by telcos and other infrastructure providers, which had resulted in a two per cent increase in broadband penetration in 2014.

Ported telephone lines slump to 14,094 monthly

T L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc., Mr. Philip Obioha; Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere and Head, Presales, Mr. Gbenga Odegbami, during the Commission’s visit to CWG’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

ITU plans more radio connectivity T

he International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has disclosed plans to develop new global standards for radio technology to extend access to broadcasting to the estimated 1.8 billion young women and men population globally.

This was one of the outcomes of this year’s World Radio Day, organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the United Nations Office in Geneva and ITU. The event, which brought attention to the theme:

“Youth and Innovation”, looked ahead to innovative means to connect the world through radio technology.

The event, which held on February 13, features a live global broadcast of panel discussions, call-ins from radio journalists covering breaking news of the day, radio features and an international concert by the UN Jazz Ensemble.

“This year’s observance of World Radio Day highlights the importance of radio to the world’s 1.8 billion young women and men,” said United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban

Ki-moon, in a message.

He said that “as the international community shapes new sustainable development goals and a new global agreement on climate change, we need to hear the voices of young women and men, loudly, strongly and urgently.”

Also speaking in the same vein, ITU SecretaryGeneral, Mr Houlin Zhao, said ITU and its partners recognised the value and importance of broadcasting, not just as a medium for news and entertainment, but as a vital communications service.

MoneyGram’s agent locations hit 25,000

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global technology-enabled money transfer company, MoneyGram, said its agent network in Africa has now reached 25,000 locations, following a strategic expansion initiative across the continent.

Recent technology advances and new agent and sub-agent signings, including an agreement with the Mauritius Post Office to of-

fer money transfer services at over 100 locations, have contributed to achieving this company milestone.

MoneyGram’s Vice President of Africa, Herve Chomel, said that the company continues to grow throughout Africa as a result of forming strategic relationships with reputable companies, including banks, post offices and re-

tailers, to bring added convenience and more choices for our customers.

“Remittances are an important part of economic development and financial inclusion throughout the region and are integral to providing household essentials, education and healthcare in many countries. We are excited to be a part of the region’s growth,” Chomel said.

he number of incoming ported telephone lines on various mobile networks in the country dropped to 14, 094 by the end of November from 19, 682 in September 2014.

This is according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s latest industry status report on Mobile Number Portability (MN) scheme in the country.

According to the report, from the incoming ported lines recorded on all the four Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators in September, Etisalat attracted 9,749; Airtel had 6,523; Globacom came third with 2,112 lines and 1,320 lines

by MTN. Also, in November, Etisalat maintained its lead in the number of ported lines it attracted to its network.

According to the data, Etisalat had 9,385 lines; Airtel recorded 2,908 lines; Globacom got 962 lines while MTN had 839 lines.

In the latest data obtained

by New Telegraph, it was apparent that though, Etisalat was the last entrant into the GSM market in Nigeria, its relative quality of service, may have continued to enjoy incoming porting with less outgoing porting on its network.

From June, 2014, Nigeria’s fourth largest telecoms network, Etisalat, has continued to lead other telecoms operators by attracting more ported lines to its network than any of its competitors.

The Mobile Number Porta-

bility (MNP), which currently runs on the networks of the four GSM operators, was launched to provide wider choices for telecoms subscribers using the over 136 million active lines in the country.

Analysts say the major factor driving the decision of subscribers to port from one network to another was the quality of service (QoS) delivery provided by the receiving network.

The NCC has set a strict Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on QoS for telecoms operators and has continued to sanction them for not meeting the QoS parameters.

According to the NCC, the MNP was launched to boost competition among the operators on the provision of quality of Service while also providing wider choices for the subscribers.

Public Affairs Director, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the MNP was a need-based service introduced by the regulator for willing subscribers.

“MNP is not a compulsory service that people must subscribe to. If a subscriber sees a need for it, he or she may switch from his or her current network to another and if not, he or she remains on its current network.

“So, you don’t expect a surge in MNP uptake since it is based on the decision of the subscribers to either port or not to port.

Yet, I believe we are having impressive uptake, coming mostly from individuals who have seen a need to migrate. The beauty of porting services is freedom of choices,” Ojobo said.

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Digital inclusion key to Nigeria’s growth — NCC

Digital TV: NBC inspects CWG’s satellite facility COLLABORATION Stakeholders strengthen ties towards meeting the digital migrations deadline

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L-R: Chairman and Founder, Mobile Monday, Mr Tomi Davies; Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chop Up, Mr Zubair Abubakar; Assistant Marketing Manager, Mr Roht Arora, and Vice President, Data Products and Services, Mr Nitin Anand, both of Airtel, during ‘Airtel Catapult-a-Startup’ prize presentation in Lagos.

ACCESS Major initiatives put in place to extend digital tools to the unserved and underserved Stories by Kunle Azeez

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he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has implemented some initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide, even as it said pervasive digital inclusion was key to the overall economic development in the country.

NCC said that in this regard, it had taken digital dividends to some institutions of higher learning in the country through its Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) and Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) schemes.

While ADAPTI is focused on empowering several of these higher institutions by donating digital centres, computer laboratories fitted with laptops and internet connectivity, generating sets, DAP ensures that teachers are empowered first to pass knowledge to the students.

According to NCC, the beneficiary schools included Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Others are University of Benin, Government Junior Secondary School, Jabi, Abuja, Katsina State College, Katsina and Government Secondary School Dan Musa, Katsina State, among others.

Disclosing the in-roads already made by the Commission, its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah,

said: “The NCC acknowledged the gap in ICT services early enough and opted to cushion these needs by taking services, equipment and infrastructure to these centres of learning.”

Juwah explained that the digital inclusion scheme was one of the ways “we can reach the unreached and serve the unserved and underserved members of the society.”

He stressed that many more institutions and schools would be covered, especially now that the broadband revolution has begun.

Also speaking, Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, explained that to continue the distribution of digital knowledge and awareness in schools and support students in acquiring knowledge of computer in their studies, the Commission recently donated ICT/ telecommunications engineering books to Ekiti State University.

During the donation of the digital tools in Ekiti, Juwah, represented by the Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, said that one of the core functions of the NCC was the implementation of programmes and plans that promote the development of the communications industry.

He added that to achieve this, the Commission had implemented several capacity building initiatives to enhance the knowledge base of participants in the telecoms industry in Nigeria.

Some of the initiatives, he said, included the establishment of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in 2004 in order to contribute to the creation of knowledge-based information society in Africa, through human resource capacity building in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

The NCC boss stated that the Commission, in 2005, also

established the NCC library for use of researchers and undergraduates students from various tertiary institutions across the country.

He explained that higher institutions in Ekiti State, which fall within South West geo-political zone, had not benefitted from the National Books Donation Initiative of the Commission since inception of the project, which is carried out in phases.

Consequently, he stressed the need to begin from the Ekiti State University.

About 87 ICT/telecom engineering books were handed over to the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Oladipo Aina, who commended NCC for the initiative.

“The Commission has also taken the ADAPTI project to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, where 110 laptops were commissioned. The ADAP for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) is one of the programmes through which the NCC strives to bridge the digital divide through the provision of computers in order to equip lecturers and also to improve the skills of students,” Juwah said.

The EVC, who was represented by the NCC Zonal Coordinator in Ibadan, Mr. Banji Ojo, stated: “The Polytechnic, Ibadan, was among the 52 beneficiaries of the ADAPTI project of the Commission in 2013 . Over 222 institutions of higher learning across the country have so far benefitted from ADAPTI since it began in 2008.”

Speaking at the event, Juwah stated that the key objectives of the programmes were to prepare the nation for a digital tomorrow and equip the youth with the necessary skills to tap into the potentials of the digital age, adding that in the case of ADAPTI, it was aimed at improving the resource persons in the process of impacting

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he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) inspected the satellite facility of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc to assess the company’s readiness for the role it plans to play in the nation’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The NBC’s delegation was led by its Director General, Mr. Emeka Mba. The visit afforded NBC the opportunity of inspecting CWG’s satellite facility that will serve as the support base for the soon to be launched SES digital TV platform.

Addressing the NBC delegation during the visit, Head, Presales, CWG Plc., Mr. Gbenga Odegbami, said that CWG is collaborating with SES Astra, a foremost global satellite company to bring the first Direct to Home digital TV as an integral part of CWG 2.0 vision. The partnership, he noted, entails SES providing space segment, using their ASTRA 2F satellite, at 28.2 degrees East, while CWG will manage the teleport services required to project the signals to viewers, using high operational standards.

Odegbami said, generally, CWG offers integrated Information and Communication Technology solutions that add value to the operations of diverse clientele, using highly skilled and well-motivated

workforce.

“At inception, CWG was basically an Information Technology infrastructure sales firm. The group has since evolved into a Pan-African ICT powerhouse, with focus on enabling businesses through strategic partnerships with world-class organisations and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs),” he said.

CWG recently launched its new business model based on subscription and cloud computing under an umbrella technology aptly tagged ‘CWG2.0.’

Explaining the business concept, Odegbami said that “CWG 2.0 is a cloud—based subscription business model birthed and driven by the quest to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grow and make notable social impact.”

This, according to him, includes “Openshopen, an e-commerce platform that allows shop owners open their own virtual stores online; and SMERP, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution built to assist business owners manage their accounting and financial record keeping.”

Explaining further on the CWG/SES Astra partnership to support the country’s switch to digital broadcasting, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, commended NBC for its efforts in ensuring that the nation moves towards beating the International Telecommunication Union June 17 deadline for migration to digital TV broadcasting.

Smile unveils new broadband product A

broadband service provider, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, has launched the new SMifi, which is a portable device, which is being offered with a 5GB data bundle and a month’s validity.

Chief Marketing Officer, Smile Communications, Mrs. Alero Ladipo, said the new product offer comes with a combination of ‘New SMifi + 5GB + 30 day validity’ at a reduced cost.

Explaining the new features, Ladipo said that the device was capable of connecting up to 10 devices simultaneously.

“It comes with the Play and Play feature, which automatically eliminates the installation of plug and drivers before usage, which, again, makes it the easiest and quickest way to connect all devices to Smile’s super-fast 4G LTE broadband,” he said.

Other features, according to Ladipo, include super-fast

internet access up to 21 Mbps when attached to Smile 4G LTE network; superior battery capacity and low on-power consumption of up to 10 hours continuous usage battery life.

The new SMifi is super lightweight, its screen display indicates connection status, signal strength bars, battery level, calendar/time, usage statistics and WiFi Key, among others.

Giving reasons for introducing the new SMifi, Ladipo said that the demand for mobile data in Nigeria is on the increase and that Smile Communications is matching the new trend of demand with its innovative products that would satisfy the needs and demands of Nigerians in the area of internet access.

“We are broadband company, our focus is to deliver internet services to our customers at cheaper rates and we will continue to do so in order to provide internet access to all Nigerians,” Ladipo said.

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Photo | News

Director, Innovation Centre, UNICEF Sharad Sapara and Managing Director /CEO, Airtel Africa, Christian de Faria, after signing the MoU in Nairobi, Dakar

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Lagos State special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina; Founder/CEO, Healthcare Group, Dr. Bola Olaosebikan; Chairman, Lagos State Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ore Falomo; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, during the presentation of Man of the Year award to Fashola at the state’s Council on Health Forum in Lagos.

L-R: Member, Take A Stand, Mr Bolaji Shenjobi; Co-ordinator, Mr Adebola Odu-Onikosi; member, Mrs Adesola Agboola and another member, Mr. Olawumi Alajiki, at a press conference on the state of the nation in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Edmond Allison Oguru; Governor Seriake Dickson and his wife, Dr Rachael, during a condolence visit to the SSG over the demise of his wife, Mrs Elizabeth, in Opolo, Yenagoa

Chief Regulatory Officer, Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr Idowu Joseph (second left), with the Public Relations Officer, Mr Amslem Okonkwo (right), showing the unregistered confectioneries product to a traders, during a raid by officials of the Agency in Ibadan Vice Chairman, Mobilization Committee, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale (left) and the party’s Governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, after an interactive session in Lagos.

L-R: Assistant Director, Training and Team Leader, NEMA, Mr Musa Zakari; Deputy Governor Of Adamawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Tahir; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Musdafa and Minister of Youths, Mr Boni Haruna, during a visit to brief Lamido on assessment and resettlement of victims of insurgency in Yola photo: nan

L-R: Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rv. Fr. Ralph Madu; Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Executive Secretary, Cartitas Nigeria, Rv. Fr. Evaristius Bassey, during the Catholic Secretariat Forum held in Abuja

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NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Mom&Parenting

When mothers prefer the knife Many women above 30 years of age go under the knife to deliver their bundles of joy. While some choose the procedure, others have the decision made for them due to complications. The stigma attached to not having a vaginal birth can range from guilt to inadequacy.

Oluwatosin Omoniyi writes

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ome mothers argue that there are many benefits to having a c-section, and even argue that the procedure is preferable.

Folashade Ireke, 38, mother of two had her first child through CS in 2006 because the baby was footling breech according to her doctor. She said she was given the option to deliver vaginally but prefer a CS, considering her age then- 34. “I wasn’t prepared to take that risk after the doctor had analysed the risk and advantage of CS, I opted for it because I feel it was medically necessary,” she said. She explained that though she had complications after the CS. Transfusion due to excessive blood loss, her scar tore open two weeks after. The doctor had to come over daily to repack it for three months, and treated infections of the open scar. “I was in pain for five months. The baby had respiratory problem at birth but survived it,” she said.

Fatimah Osagie, mother of two fully support C-section especially when it is medically indicated. Osagie, who had four c-sections said she had vowed to have all her children through C-section because of her past experiences with the two she had. She state that there was no any vaginal stitches, no sitting on a pillow, no much extra bleeding, etc. “ Interestingly, my scar is totally hidden. I had an amazing recovery! For me, it is a take and I would recommend that every woman above age 30 should not bother with vaginal birth

Mom&Parenting Team

Oluwatosin Omoniyi Coordinator

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

A mother undergoing a caesarian section

as it could endanger their lives,” she enthused. She added that she loved her c-sections and thankful that attempting to vaginally birth her first child showed that she was physically unable to do so.

“Having a c-section because of a previous c-section is technically considered “elective” but is also medically indicated,” she said.

While some women among many others are for C-section, others argued against it. They stressed that having surgery means a longer recovery and a harder time getting up from a chair, bed, and going about their normal lives.

Rita Udoh, a teacher and mother of four said she chose to have a vaginal birth with her youngest child in 2009. “I just wanted to see how possible and easy is it to have a normal birth after I had three CS birth, I found out it was actually smooth,” she said. Though she had a fourth degree tear, but she said she would rather take that over having major abdominal surgery. Comparing the pains of birth between vaginal and CS, she concluded that that vaginal birth was better. “Within two days, I was back to myself with no pain.

For Fadeke Uguru, an educationist, not everyone loves having a c-section but it is usually an emergency for most women especially when she is in labor.

She recalled that when she was pregnant with her third son, she was scheduled for a c-section but decided otherwise, she opted for a vaginal delivery. Even though she had past her expected delivery date, EDD, she went ahead with the normal delivery. Upon deliv-

PHOTO: wanderingandrewly.blogspot.com

ery, she discovered the baby was weighing 5.1 pounds! What that means according to her was she had a third degree tear. She narrated that her child had the cord wrapped around his neck but miraculously she was able to push him out safely. “So many people told me that I was crazy to have had the baby normally. But it was a beautiful experience because I had an amazing recovery,” The question on the lip of most mothers is that is a caesarean or vaginal birth the safest option?

According to doctor Omoyele Kolawole, a consultant gynecologist, with the Lagos State University Teaching hospital, LASUTH, if there are no complications with the pregnancy or labour, a vaginal birth is safer than a caesarean birth. “All operations carry some risk. A caesarean involves major surgery in your tummy and pelvic area, and complications and re-admissions into hospital afterwards do happen,” he explained.

He added that though a caesarean section, particularly if it’s planned, is a common and safe procedure. Sometimes, a caesarean birth is needed to save the life of the mother or baby. But it would be up to the patient and doctor to weigh up the risks and benefits of having a caesarean, and to decide what’s best for the mother.

The risks according to Kolawole, include pains after operation, and takes longer to recover than a vaginal birth. “You’ll probably feel pain in your wound and discomfort in your tummy for a few weeks after the operation, while your body heals. Though, you will be given drugs to reduce

A grandmom carrying her bundle of joy

A woman sewn up after the c-section

the pain, but it will affect your day-to-day activities for some time,” he said.

Infection is another part of the risk involved in C-section, according to him.

He explained that before the patient go in for surgery, she would have to take a single dose of antibiotics, to reduce the risk of infection. Despite this, he said it’s common for women to have an infection after a caesarean. But for a C-section to take place, there are factors to consider which include the Birth setting, Access to labour support, and Medical interventions during labour. He however, disclosed that there has been a gradual increase in cesarean births in the past five years. “This means that more than a quarter of pregnant women are likely to experience a cesarean delivery in the next coming years,” he said.

40 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Values you should teach your child by age five

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Screen time vs. family time

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Mother teaching her son the value of saving money

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any parents think that it’s premature to teach values to a toddler or preschooler. But that’s a misconception. Here are the values that all children should develop by their fifth birthday, and some easy ways to make them stick.

Honesty Help kids find a way to tell the truth The best way to encourage truthfulness in your child is to be a truthful person yourself.

Consider this story: Carol decided to limit the number of playdates between her 3-yearold son, Chris, and his friend Paul. The boys had been fighting a lot recently, and Carol thought they should spend some time apart.

So when Paul’s mother called one afternoon to arrange a get-together, Carol told her that Chris was sick.

Overhearing this, her son asked, “Am I sick, Mommy? What’s wrong with me?” Carol, taken aback by her son’s frightened look, told him she had only said he was sick, because she didn’t want to hurt Paul’s mother’s feelings. Carol then launched into a complicated explanation of the distinctions between the various types of lies, and Chris was confused.

All he understood was that fibbing is sometimes okay-and that, in fact, it’s what people do.

Your child takes his cues from you, so it’s important that you try to avoid any kind of deception, even a seemingly innocuous one.

(Never, for instance, say something like “Let’s not tell Daddy we got candy this afternoon.”)

Let your child hear you being truthful with other adults. Carol would have been better off saying, “This isn’t a good day for a playdate.

I’m concerned that the boys were fighting so much last week. I think they need a break.”

Another way to promote the value of honesty: Don’t overreact if your child lies to you.

Instead, help her find a way to tell the truth.

When the mother of four-year-old Janice walked into the family room one afternoon, she saw that her large potted plant had been toppled and that several branches had been snapped off. She knew right away what had happened: Once before, she had seen Janice making her Barbie dolls “climb the trees,” and she’d told her daughter at the time that the plants were off-limits. When Mom demanded an explanation, a guilty-looking Janice blamed the family dog.

Janice’s mom reacted sensibly: She interrupted her child’s story and said, “Janice, I promise I won’t yell. Think about it for a min-

PHOTO: granathsgotoafrica.blogspot.com

ute, and then tell me what really happened.”

After a moment, the child owned up to her misdeed. As a consequence, Janice had to help clean up the mess and was not allowed to watch television that afternoon, but her mom made sure to emphasize how much she appreciated her daughter’s honesty. In doing so, she taught the child an important lesson: Even if being honest isn’t always easy or comfortable, you-and other people-always feel better if you tell the truth.

Justice Insist that children make amends At a recent family gathering, Amy and Marcus, 4-year-old cousins, were making castles out of wooden blocks. Suddenly, Amy knocked over Marcus’s castle, and he started to cry.

Witnessing the scene, Amy’s father chided his daughter and ordered her to apologize. Amy dutifully said, “I’m sorry.” Then her dad took her aside and asked, “Do you know why you pushed over his blocks?” She told him that she was mad because Marcus’s castle was bigger than hers. The dad told her that though this was no excuse for destroying her cousin’s castle, he could understand her feelings. He then sent her back to play.

The father’s reaction was similar to that of many psychologically savvy parents: He wanted his daughter to identify and express her feelings and to understand why she behaved as she did. That’s okay, but it isn’t enough.

In order to help children internalize a true sense of justice, parents need to encourage them to take some action to remedy a wrong.

For example, Amy’s dad might have suggested that she help Marcus rebuild his castle or that she bring him some cookies as a gesture of apology.

Saying “I’m sorry” is pretty easy for a child, and it lets her off the hook without forcing her to think. Having a child make amends in a proactive way conveys a much stronger message. If you’re aware that your child has acted badly toward someone, help him think of a way to compensate. Maybe he can give one of his trucks to a playmate whose toy he has damaged. Perhaps he could draw a picture for his sister after teasing her all day. By encouraging your child to make such gestures, you emphasize the importance of treating people fairly-an essential value that will one day help him negotiate the complicated world of peer-group relationships.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

here’s no doubt technology is taking over family life. And that has increased drastically as the internet and social media have joined distractions from Television, (TV) cell phone and the computer. Even when we leave our homes and offices, we are greeted with huge screens on our roads, talking about advert billboards some are mobile others are stationary. Even the church these days is not spared, walk into any “happening” church today and you get to choose which screen you wish to view the preacher and if possible interpreter. Even before the preacher comes up, you would have seen a thousand and one adverts or announcements flashed on the screens, denying us the time to connect with family and friends.

Once upon a time, the family’s biggest technological nuisance was the phone ringing during dinner or late at night. Twentyfour hour TV programming, the Internet and cell phones didn’t permeate the privacy of our homes. School stayed at school, work stayed at work, and those boundaries were never crossed except in emergency which were very few and far apart. Today, between responding to e-mails during kids’ activities, texting at meals, and constant phone time while driving, we use technology almost as much as our teens who according to 2011 Nielsen statistics, send and receive around 3,700 texts a month - that’s about 125 a day!

Family dynamics have totally changed, today’s lingo is LMAO, TTYL, HBD LLNP, BRB, BFF, OMG, and L8R; and young people aren’t the only ones using them. Add Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter to the vocabulary, and the nuclear family is virtually unrecognizable.

This dynamic creates slight feelings of jealousy and distress in children since they now have to compete for both their parents’ time and attention.

The dining table or the centre table (for those who didn’t have one) used to be a haven from the outside world and a chance to reconnect. Remember how wives would not eat until their husbands come home? Dinner today is often a frenzied event where family members tend to be distracted during meal by the computer, cell phone or TV. Or they can’t wait to finish and get back to these devices.

Today, work doesn’t end just because we leave the office; in fact, organizations equip their employees with laptops and smart phones so employees are accessible 24/7, they go a step further to take subscriber plans that allow for unlimited calls at affordable rates or even free. It used to be doctors getting emer-

gency calls, these days we have all kinds of emergencies, technology emergencies, sales emergencies, accounting emergencies, and the list goes on and on.

Even schools send out messages – announcements about homework and events, so kids are not left out from getting “business” as well as social messages when they are home.

A group of children, between 4-6 years, were asked whether they would want to watch TV or hang out with their dad. Dear old dad lost out! According to an A.C. Nielsen report, 54 percent of kids preferred to spend time with the TV. It’s a sad when Ben 10 or Barney, however educational or fun, wins out over quality time with a parent.

So what can we do?

Make quality time for family; take dinning and other times spent together more seriously.

One mother insists that all family members put their electronic devices in a basket when they come through the door and retrieve them only after dinner is over. Not a bad idea.

One benefit of family is that children learn the give and take of society - how to interact with other people, and how to communicate. However, with technology becoming more deeply integrated into all facets of life, we run the risk of raising a generation who can’t relate to other people. So, if your children tend to spend most of their time on social media, texting, watching TV or playing video games, encourage them to go talk to or spend time with friends, or at least with you and other family members. It goes back to setting limits; your children’s social life won’t fall apart if they don’t reply 100 texts or watch their favourite cartoon for that day.

If you limit screen time for your children, do the same for yourself too. You don’t want to lose your job of course, but you may want to reconsider how much work you do at home because you “have to” as against what you do because you can, and your computer is right there.

Parents can manage family time much like screen time. Just like we use any given opportunity to look up our emails , reply a chat, or ‘like’ a friend’s hot photo on Facebook, we can also use every opportunity we get to close up any ‘gap’ screen time could have created in our family time.

Parenting is tougher today than ever before, with unlimited gaming, computer and TV time; but we must not allow interpersonal face-to-face interaction that binds the family together disintegrate.

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 19, 2015

Nigeria gets 50% of Africa’s FDI – AfDB

CHALLENGES

Some of the challenges include poor cross-border trade, infrastructure and weak human capacity

Stories by Tony Chukwunyem

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igeria receives about half of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that comes into the West African sub region, a report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) has said.

According to the AfDB’s West African MidTerm Review and Regional Portfolio Performance Review Paper 2011 – 2015, Nigeria attracted half of the FDI coming into the West African region with about 45 per cent in 2012.

The AfDB said that Nigeria was the West African’s largest market with great potential to be a main driver of regional integration considering its population.

According to the report, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebasing, Nigeria now has the largest economy in Africa and a great potential for its services and

manufacturing sectors.

“Nevertheless its intraregional trade has been steadily decreasing, now constituting less than one per cent of the country’s total imports and three per cent of its export.

“Informal trade networks however, are significantly larger, most notably for agricultural goods, petroleum products, and reexport trade.

“On the investment side, the role of Nigeria is certainly more prominent, with various Nigerian companies having significant impact in the regional market particularly banking services,” it said.

The report noted that goods such as cement, cassava flour and other goods from Nigerian companies served the needs of their client across West Africa.

It said that closer integration with the region would require Nigeria to open its markets to regional exports, adding that there was need for a change of perspective on the neighboring countries.

Besides, the report stressed that it is more crucial for the country to treat its regional neighbours more as partners rather than merely clients.

“Regional value chains have a real potential, particularly given the developments in regional transport and connectivity infrastructure.

“Increasing trade volumes will require improvements in regional corridors reducing frictions related to non-tariff barriers, as well as accountability and transparency in regulations, both on the national and on the regional level,” it

said.

The report identified poor cross-border trade and infrastructure, as well as the weaknesses of human capacity and national and regional institutions as some of the challenges of regional integration.

It added that fragmentation of the region’s market, multiplicity of integration architecture and insufficient involvement of private sector and civil

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terling Bank Plc has been commended for its active support for education in Lagos State.

President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Lagos Chapter, Chief Yomi Otubela, gave the commendation at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday.

He disclosed that the association decided to partner with Sterling Bank because of the lender’s proven commitment to the development of education in the country.

He cited Sterling Bank’s collaboration with NAPPS in the association’s annual retreat programme taking place later this month as well as its unified examination.

According to the NAPPS President, through Sterling Bank’s support, the association will provide training in

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

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

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

regional trade as well as exports globally.

“New waves of FDIs and the emergence of a middle class in the region are leading to the emergence of a vibrant private sector operating across countries.

“This can continue to serve as a natural catalyst for closer collaboration and integration towards the development of regional and global value chains,” it said.

Sterling Bank partners NAPSS to boost education skills such as bookkeeping and administration for its members.

In his remarks, Sterling Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, disclosed that the lender’s choice of projects to support in the education sector was deliberate, as it had conducted a research into the key issues hindering the sector.

“We realise that Nigeria will require an investment of about $1billion yearly for about 55 to 56 years to transform the education sector. Our

intervention in this sector will hopefully contribute to resolving the problem of unemployment. It will help Nigerians create their own business,” he stressed.

Atilola revealed that Sterling Bank was the first lender in the country to partner the Lagos “EKO Project” which saw it using its staff as volunteer staff to teach different subjects.

He said that the bank had also supported schools in the state with books, writing materials and textbooks.

Stanbic IBTC Bank empowers SMEs

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tanbic IBTC Bank, a member of the Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, recently organised a capacity building workshop for its clients operating in the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) sub-sector.

The key objective of the workshop, according to the bank, is to equip SME operators with financial, marketing and management skills that they can readily deploy to transform their businesses and grow their bottom lines.

“The SME sector is pivotal to the economic growth and development of any nation and Nigeria is no exception, which is why the seminar was conceived to avail SME operators exposure to modern and inno-

vative marketing, financial and management skills that are useful to their businesses and which will help them to attract the necessary funding for growth,” Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue, said.

Abajue, who was represented by the Head of Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Lloyd Onaghinon, stated that Stanbic IBTC Bank, backed by the rich heritage and know-how of the Standard Bank Group, is committed to building a strong SME base in Nigeria and one of the ways it hopes to achieve this is by empowering operators with the right business skills and adequate funding.

FirstBank Sustainability Centre boosts NGOs, firms

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Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

society in integration effort were also part of the challenges.

According to the report, illegal checkpoints, long and non-harmonised customs procedures, smuggling and corruption are important obstacles to the free movement of goods and people.

“Improving trade facilitation in ECOWAS is vital to boosting the region’s trade performance, both with regards to intra-

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited, through its sustainability programme, FirstBank Sustainability Centre in partnership with the Lagos Business School, is hosting a sustainability workshop for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and corporate organisations that will focus on modern approaches, which they can use to address social and environmental concerns of business customers, investors and the media.

In a statement, the bank said the workshop scheduled

for February 24 and 25, 2015, from 9am to 5pm daily, will hold at the Lagos Business School – Km 22, Lekki-Epe Expressway Ajah, Lagos.

It said the workshop, which has been designed to develop business partnerships between NGOs and corporate organisations to achieve widespread and lasting change in the business environment, would also provide capacity building training for NGOs who want to partner with corporate organisations on their sustainability programmes.

Business | Financial Market News

42

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

18-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

NA

NA

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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 34.00 600.00 459.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 223.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,932.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,265.91

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 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.18 1.49 2.19 2.44 2.53 3.28 4.36 4.68 4.98 6.94 9.07 13.78 14.26 14.75 15.43 19.41

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.29 16.37 16.75 16.59 16.60 16.51 16.47 16.34 16.33 16.38 16.82 18.08 18.21 18.37 17.31 16.24

13.42 16.25 16.67 16.51 16.52 16.37 16.37 16.22 16.24 16.31 16.75 18.01 18.14 18.26 17.23 16.17

98.20 95.75 97.00 86.89 85.50 85.69 98.50 70.23 97.36 100.00 88.00 84.47 71.12 50.26 61.00 76.00

98.35 95.90 97.15 87.04 85.65 85.99 98.80 70.53 97.66 100.30 88.30 84.77 71.42 50.56 61.30 76.30

#

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

0.26 1.12 1.80 2.17 2.38

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

17.57 22.63 18.35 17.53 17.58

95.56 95.02 96.44 95.63 92.13

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

307.13

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.53

4.44

20.15

96.30

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.37

3.23

18.30

98.17

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

24.70

91.99

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

23.75

93.75

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.17

1.00

17.53

86.85

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.43

1.00

17.89

95.04

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.87

1.79

18.35

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.04

1.80

18.31

93.22

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

17.51

94.39

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

90.57

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.24

1.00

17.55

94.70

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.24

4.78

21.33

87.97

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.43

1.00

17.59

96.14

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

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

2.67 4.76 2.73

1.00 1.00 2.74

17.58 17.34 19.32

95.89 90.98 90.98

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.29

1.00

17.51

93.57

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.77

1.00

17.31

86.38

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.87

1.94

18.24

88.55

‡ /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

3.53

1.44

17.91

91.75

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.56

1.95

18.42

91.76

95.43

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 418.28

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.50

4.88

20.12

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.55

1.00

16.95

97.44

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.64

2.63

19.63

96.80

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.61

1.00

17.21

94.25

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.68

1.34

17.60

95.22

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.61

1.00

17.59

90.66

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.63

1.88

18.11

100.55

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.64

3.48

19.71

95.22

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.80

5.20

21.55

95.26

#

1.80

5.06

21.41

92.74

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.59

1.00

17.46

91.00

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.91

2.29

18.72

95.58

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.24

6.11

22.66

92.59

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.87

2.16

18.72

94.21

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.74

2.76

19.07

86.94

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.61

1.00

18.21

71.89

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.61

1.00

18.21

77.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

132.70

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

121.33

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.98

1.00

17.55

83.49

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

17.34

81.23

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 20.54

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.30

7.07

97.37

98.44

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.49

6.13

95.88

96.96

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.49

7.31

93.14

94.22

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,431.94

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

130.00

130.00

45.00

45.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.95

6.95

100.63

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.34

11.34

91.50

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

14.07

13.35

81.88

83.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

11.52

10.63

83.66

86.06

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.50

41.50

40.50

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

11.36

11.36

83.38

83.38

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

16.17

14.88

77.75

81.15

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

14.10

14.10

77.75

77.75

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

27.56 14.60 13.87

27.56 13.82 13.87

41.00 78.50 75.00

41.00 81.25 75.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.94

10.13

89.38

92.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,555.80

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43

Money Market

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

Bid Discount (%) 13.82 18.00 15.00 12.94 12.99 15.35

Offer Discount (%) 13.57 17.75 14.75 12.69 12.74 15.10

Bid Yield (%) 13.86 18.13 15.14 13.07 13.16 15.63

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 21.8750 15.3283 16.3092 17.1230

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

15.33

O/N Tenor

16.08

REPO

Rate (%)

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M

196.49 197.36 197.66 198.39

196.59 197.47 197.81 198.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

307.13

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.53

4.44

20.15

96.30

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.37

3.23

18.30

98.17

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

24.70

91.99

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

23.75

93.75

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.17

1.00

17.53

86.85

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.43

1.00

17.89

95.04

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.87

1.79

18.35

90.57

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.04

1.80

18.31

93.22

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

17.51

94.39

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.24

1.00

17.55

94.70

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.24

4.78

21.33

87.97

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.43

1.00

17.59

96.14

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

2.67 4.76 2.73

1.00 1.00 2.74

17.58 17.34 19.32

95.89 90.98 90.98

95.22

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

INFRACTION

NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

Business | Financial Market News

SEC suspends Elyon Asset Management

Regulator 02-Oct-12 15.50 16.23 *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 14.50 80.00 strengthens 12-Dec-12 14.75 26.62 BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR its *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 sion was as a14.75 result the operator’s failure to carry sion would do anything 10-Oct-13 14.75 11.10 ‡ /Agusto *OSUN OSUN of II 10-OCT-2020 monitoring capacity 27-Nov-13 13.50 87.50 in ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS to compel operators operator’s breach of27-NOV-2020 ex- out its investors’ mandate BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 tant capital market rules to purchase 200,000 31-Dec-13 units 31-Dec-13 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 and regulations. of National Sports06-Jan-14 Lot15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 The Commission noted tery Plc during the comTOTALUgwu OUTSTANDING VALUE Chris that the suspension shall pany’s 2008 public offer TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION remain in force until fur- for which it collected N3.1 Corporatehe Bonds Securities and ther notice. million.

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto Exchange Com*UPDC The apex regulator The commission noted 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS had at the end of third mission (SEC) that the information was 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS quarter last year also has announced to warn intending inves13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO the suspension of Elyon suspended Maven the 14.25 FSDHAssets 25-OCT-2016 tors from engaging A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA Assets Management Management Limited, its aforementioned opera18.00sponsored C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING Limited, its Directors Directors and tors in any capital market MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA#{r} individuals from all capiand sponsored individutransaction pending the MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER# tal market activities. als from all capital marlifting of the suspension.

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER# ket activities.

SEC in a14.00 notice obThe Acting Director UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA SEC inBBB+/GCR a notice *LA obtained from15.75 itsLA CASERA official General of the SEC, Mr. 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; 18-Oct-13 CASERA # CHELLARAMS IIMounir 17-FEB-2019 Gwarzo, 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS tained from its official website saidMPR+5.00 the suspenhad DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA#{r} sion was as a16.00 website, said the suspenresult of the said that the commisA-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

T

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.64

3.48

19.71

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.80

5.20

21.55

95.26

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.80

5.06

21.41

92.74

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.59

1.00

17.46

91.00

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.91

2.29

18.72

95.58

15.75 18.00 16.00

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

M

anaging Direc& Baker 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P Nigeria Plc, IFC 11-Feb-13 Mr. 11.25 AFDB of 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's;Okafor, AAA/S&P has said AfDB Nnamdi with the issuance the to deleverage the 10-Jul-14 comTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE the company will considWHO’s current General pany’s balance sheet MARKETpartnership CAPITALISATION Manufacturing Practice through injection of erTOTAL strategic that can provide addition- (GMP) to the company. additional equity fund, Description Rating/Agency Issuer & Baker Nigeria is Date al technical competence May stressing that thisIssue new and funding to enhance one of two quoted com- equity issue would be FGN Eurobonds returns for all stakehold- panies that had received done in a way that rec6.75 JAN ognised 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 ers. the high-profile certifithe support of existing shareholders Okafor stated this cation.

BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P confirming that while According to him, over the turbulent years.

BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 some foreign investors there have been a lot “We are talking to the BB-/S&P and venture capitalists of interests in the commajor shareholders to TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE had indicated interests pany from foreign and feel their pulse and see TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION in possible acquisition Nigerian investors but when they will be ready ofCorporate strategic equity stake the company will only to take their rights and Eurobonds inB/Fitch; May & Baker. receptive to arrangeare also talking to 11.50 FEBwe 01, 2016 B-/S&P AFREN PLCbe I 01-Feb-11 Investors’ interests ments that protect the 7.50 MAY some 19, 2016 foreign investors, B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 inB+/S&P May & Baker Nigeria interests of the existing especially those that will 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 6.88 MAY also 09, 2018 bring some technishareholders and create have in recent B/Fitch;increased B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 6.00 NOV cal 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC months as the pharmasubstantial future valcompetence and08-Nov-13 skill, 10.25 APRand 08, 2019I think within B/Fitch AFREN PLCues II 08-Apr-12 ceutical company sucfor all stakeholders. this 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC cessfully completed a He noted that with the year we should be22-Apr-14 able B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 major stage of its World increasing success 8.75 of May 21, to2019 strike a good balance 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 that will ensure that evHealth Organisation the The Pharma Centre, 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 erybody is taking care of (WHO) certification and one of the main strate9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 8.00/2Y was USD SWAP+6.488 2021 ,” Okafor pre-qualification process in a JUL fair23way said.

B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANKgic LTD initiatives now 23-Jul-14 B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Stock market gains N531bn in three days

14.00

NAHCO

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

17-Feb-19

2.24

6.11

22.66

92.59

01-Apr-19

2.87

2.16

18.72

94.21

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.74

2.76

19.07

86.94

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.61

1.00

18.21

71.89

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.61

1.00

18.21

77.79

14-Aug-21

10.94

10.13

89.38

92.88

Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access espite seems to have come Bank Plc and UBA Plc. 12.00 2.98 1.00 other financial 17.55 83.49 the way of11-Feb-18 investors in Also, services 12.95 01-Feb-21Exchange 4.75 1.00 17.34 by activity 81.23 Nigerian Stock sub sector, boosted in 24.95 (NSE) as the equities market the shares of FBNH Plc, followed 20.54 gaining streaks at the extended with a turnover of 32.5 million close of trading yesterday , reshares valued at N287.6 million Outstanding Value Date billion Bid Yield (%) inOffer (%) Bid Price Offer Price sulting in a gainMaturity of N531 908Yield deals. ($mm) within three days of trading.

The number of gainers at the Prices & Yields Specifically, when the closing close of trading session was 30 7.30 98.44 gong 500.00 sounded, the28-Jan-21 All share index while7.07 decliners97.37 closed at 11. appreciated by 724.98 basis point Guaranty Trust Bank Plc led 500.00 12-Jul-18 6.49 6.13 95.88 96.96 or 2.49 per cent to close at 29,177.58 the gainers’ table with a gain of 500.0028,452.6012-Jul-23 7.49 93.14close at94.22 against recorded the 10.237.31 per cent to N20.80 previous day while the market per share while Transcorp Plc 1,500.00 capitalisation of equities equally followed with a gain of 9.02 per 1,431.94 firmed up by N242 billion or 2.49 cent to close at N2.78 per share. per cent.

Access Bank Plc added 6.13 per A 450.00 turnover of01-Feb-16 424.3 million to close at 45.00 N5.54 per share.

130.00 cent130.00 45.00 On6.95 the flip side, shares worth N3.519-May-16 billion in 4,730 500.00 6.95 100.63 International 100.63 deals350.00 was recorded during the Breweries Plc91.50 and RT Briscoe 25-Jul-17 11.34 11.34 91.50 day’s300.00 trading. led the table, drop02-May-18 14.07 13.35 price losers’ 81.88 83.50 400.00 08-Nov-18 11.52 83.66 each to 86.06 The banking sub-sector of the ping10.63 five per cent close 300.00 services08-Apr-19 41.50 41.50 40.50 financial sector was the at N18.44 and 76 kobo per40.50 share 22-Apr-19 11.36 11.36 83.38 most500.00 active during the day (mearespectively while Julius 83.38 Berger 21-May-19 16.17 14.88 77.75 81.15 sured200.00 by turnover volume); with Plc followed with a loss of 4.91 per 300.00 07-Aug-20 14.10 14.10 77.75 77.75 314.2 360.00 million shares worth N2 cent to close at N40.11 per share.

09-Dec-20 27.56 27.56 41.00 41.00 billion exchanged by investors NPF13.82 MFB shed78.50 4.71 per 81.25 cent to 400.00 24-Jun-21 14.60 in 1,859 deals. close13.87 at 81 kobo75.00 per share.75.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 13.87

R

11.25

Coupon (%)

6.75 5.13 6.38

11.50 7.50 7.25 6.88 6.00 10.25 6.25 8.75 8.25 6.63 9.25 8.00 8.75

250.00

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.36

4.50

Chris132.70 Ugwu and Deborah Olayode 121.33

10.20

14-Aug-14

1.00

16.00

16.00

Foreign investors eye May & Baker, says MD

and investigation 17.51 93.57 and 17.31 86.38 errany operator found 1.94 88.55 ing will18.24 be suspended, is1.44 17.91 91.75 sued a warning, or fined 1.95 18.42 91.76 depending on the gravity and nature of the violation. We hope that the various enforcement actions 4.88 95.43 against 20.12 erring operators, 1.00 16.95 97.44 including their suspen2.63 19.63 96.80 participating in 1.00sion from 17.21 94.25 activities, 1.34capital market 17.60 95.22 1.00will deter 17.59 90.66 other operators 1.88from breaching 18.11 100.55 rules.”

1.00

18.00

A/GCR

Supranational Bond tor, May

manner.

10-Oct-20 We are therefore 3.29 27-Nov-20 5.77 determined to eliminate 31-Dec-20 5.87 sharp practices, deter 31-Dec-20 3.53 malpractice and change 06-Jan-21 3.56 behaviours by ensuring that both the institutional and personal costs of any wrongdoing are extreme17-Aug-15 0.50 ly high.

09-Dec-15 0.55 “We will ensure high 06-Jan-16 0.64 standards in regulatory 29-Sep-16 1.61 oversight and 1.68 enforce25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 2.61 ment.

We are continuing 30-Nov-17 1.63 to strengthen inspection

15.00 5.00 the market to obey the 14.50 4.55 rules guiding it.

This, ac15.00 4.56 cording to him, informed 460.61 the decision to tighten the 418.28 noose on market infractions and other miscel10.00 2.50 laneous capital market 12.00 18.75 crimes.

14.00 0.42 He 13.00 said, “We 15.00 must implement the SEC5.53 zero 14.25 13.00 policy in20.00 tolerance a de0.64 cisive 18.00 and far-reaching

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

Chris TOTALUgwu OUTSTANDING VALUE

43

18-Feb-15

3,555.80

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute Money **Treasury Bills FIXINGS 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 andMarket may not be accurateForeign or up to date. We do not guarantee Exchange (Spot & Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount Bid Yieldneither (%) Tenor (%)of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of(%)the Information, do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on theRate basis NIBOR 8 26-Feb-15 15 5-Mar-15 22 12-Mar-15 FGN Bonds 29 19-Mar-15 36 26-Mar-15 43 2-Apr-15 Rating/Agency Issuer 50 9-Apr-15 57 16-Apr-15 64 23-Apr-15 71 30-Apr-15 78 7-May-15 85 14-May-15 92 21-May-15 106 4-Jun-15 113 11-Jun-15 127 25-Jun-15 NA NA 134 2-Jul-15 148 16-Jul-15 155 23-Jul-15 162 30-Jul-15 169 6-Aug-15 176 13-Aug-15 197 3-Sep-15 288 3-Dec-15 302 17-Dec-15 323 7-Jan-16 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 337 21-Jan-16 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 351 4-Feb-16

13.82 18.00 15.00 12.94 12.99 15.35 Description 19.50 15.70 4.00 23-APR-2015 15.20 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.20 15.10 27-APR-2017 18.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.05 9.35 31-AUG-2017 14.20 10.70 30-MAY-2018 14.90 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.15 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.50 15.54 13-FEB-2020 15.50 11.11 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.55 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14.70 15.00 28-NOV-2028 14.00 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.00 8.50 20-NOV-2029 15.50 10.00 23-JUL-2030 14.50 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 15.50 15.00 12.95 19.00

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

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

13.57 17.75 14.75 12.69 12.74 15.10Date Issue 19.25 15.45 23-Apr-10 14.95 16-Aug-13 14.95 27-Apr-12 17.75 27-Jul-07 12.80 31-Aug-07 13.95 30-May-08 14.65 29-Jun-12 14.90 23-Oct-09 15.25 13-Feb-15 15.25 10.86 27-Jan-12 14.30 14-Mar-14 14.45 28-Nov-08 13.75 22-May-09 13.75 20-Nov-09 15.25 23-Jul-10 14.25 18-Jul-14 15.25 14.75 12.70 18.75

Description

13.86 18.13 15.14 13.07 13.16 15.63 (%) Coupon 20.04 16.09 4.00 15.62 13.05 15.66 15.10 18.72 9.85 13.46 9.35 14.73 10.70 15.57 16.00 15.90 7.00 16.38 15.54 16.44 11.63 16.39 15.51 14.20 15.73 15.00 14.97 12.49 15.01 8.50 16.92 10.00 16.37 12.1493 17.78 17.30 14.71 23.25

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding Value 6M

(N'bn)

Rate (%) 21.8750 15.3283 16.3092 17.1230Date Maturity

535.00 23-Apr-15 581.39 NITTY 16-Aug-16 476.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 13.2612 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 13.8447 300.00 30-May-18 3M 14.5272 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 14.6903 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 14.8182 34.00 13-Feb-20 12M 18.3087 600.00 27-Jan-22 459.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 197.9500 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 198.0500 223.50 18-Jul-34

4,932.13

OBB

15.33

O/N

16.08

REPO

Tenor TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 0.18 3M 1.49 6M

Rate (%) (%) Bid Yield 15.00 16.00 14.29 16.50 16.37 17.00

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1M Yield (%) 2M 3M 13.42 6M 16.25 1Y

2.19 16.75 16.67 2.44 16.59 16.51 NOTE: 2.53 16.60 16.52 3.28 16.51 16.37 :Benchmarks 4.36Bond 16.47 16.37 * :Amortising 4.68 Bond 16.34 16.22 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.98 Management Corporation 16.33 16.24 FGN: Federal 6.94Government of Nigeria 16.38 16.31 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.07 16.82 16.75 IFC: International 13.78 Finance Corporation 18.08 18.01 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.26 18.21 18.14 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 14.75 18.37 18.26 O/N: Overnight 15.43 17.31 17.23 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 19.41 16.24 16.17 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

196.49 196.59 Price 197.47 197.36 197.66 197.81 198.39 198.88 Bid Price Offer Price 199.73 200.78 201.06 202.64 98.20 98.35 205.64 208.76 95.75 95.90 215.42 221.27

97.00 97.15 86.89 87.04 85.50 85.65 85.99 NA :Not85.69 Applicable 98.50 # :Floating Rate Bond 98.80 70.23coupon bonds 70.53 ***: Deferred 97.36 97.66 ‡ : Bond rating under review 100.00 100.30 †: Bond 88.00 rating expired 88.30 N/A :Not84.47 Available 84.77 {r} :Issuer in receivership 71.42 71.12 50.26 50.56 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 61.00 61.30 UBA: United Bank for Africa 76.00 76.30

4,265.91

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

0.26 1.12 1.80 2.17 2.38

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

17.57 22.63 18.35 17.53 17.58

95.56 95.02 96.44 95.63 92.13

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

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

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-11FMDQ 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

<3

1,365.20

1,409.48

43.48

47.65

3<5

982.52

1,034.68

31.92

34.29

517.42

797.57

>5 Market

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

2,865.14 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

3,241.73

24.60

31-Aug-10

12.50

18.06

24.56 2.70 INDEX112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket322.68 Weighting

307.13 8.50

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

0.43

22.67

16.53

117.1815

0.32

37.30

16.56

116.4048

16.98

79.0946 4.44

0.25

40.03

31-Aug-15

0.53

100.00 30-Sep-15

16.72 0.37

107.5630 3.23

INDEX

1,112.99 985.67 924.75 -

YTD Return (%)

0.4637 2.6565 8.1688

20.15

96.30 91.99

100.00 30-Sep-10

13.00100.00

4.18 1.00

1,027.13 18.30

2.6584 98.17

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

24.70

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

23.75

93.75

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.17

1.00

17.53

86.85

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.43

1.00

17.89

95.04

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.87

1.79

18.35

90.57

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.04

1.80

18.31

93.22

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

17.51

94.39

Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Business | Capital Market

44

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015

Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019

Symbol FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH No. of Deals 628 108 57 65 908

Current Price 7.10 2.02 24.32 1.39

Quantity Traded 28,019,797 19,568,126 1,540,960 1,585,158 52,568,996

Value Traded 203,437,390.72 38,292,472.96 37,820,205.72 2,189,969.96 287,617,403.88

377,305,673

2,298,213,042.20

Quantity Traded 30,227 354,311 352,313 520,420 1,257,271

Value Traded 61,965.35 1,006,933.47 14,795,454.27 674,437.80 16,538,790.89

1,257,271

16,538,790.89

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 18, 2015 Daily Summary (Bonds)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Symbol FG102016S1 FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 100.00 99.75

2

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 150 100 250

Value Traded 150,216.45 102,079.67 252,296.12

250

252,296.12

250

2

252,296.12

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Daily Summary asProduction of 18/02/2015 Crop Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 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 66 9 75

Current Price 30.75 28.00

Quantity Traded 2,569,622 78,849 2,648,471

Value Traded 76,619,196.25 2,264,637.42 78,883,833.67

Symbol

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 2.05

Quantity Traded 174,525 174,525

Value Traded 362,478.00 362,478.00

2,822,996

79,246,311.67

DailyLIVESTOCK Summary (Equities)

Activity SummaryTotals on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

97

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 1 1 305 41 348

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Real Estate Development Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

Real Summary Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Activity on Board EQTY

348

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Food Products Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products Food Products Totals

Quantity Traded 200 Page 126 22,448,918 1,232,815 23,682,059

Value Traded 238.00 1 of 13 473.76 60,870,789.97 41,957,491.75 102,828,993.48

23,682,059

102,828,993.48

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.76

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 3,650.00 3,650.00

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 24 1 25

Current Price 40.11 6.29

Quantity Traded 186,828 8,333 195,161

Value Traded 7,492,018.74 54,997.80 7,547,016.54

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 9.85

Quantity Traded 146,141 146,141

Value Traded 1,426,693.89 1,426,693.89

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 5,000.00 5,000.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) UPDCREIT

1 1

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Current Price 1.14 3.95 2.78 34.00

10.00

Page 346,802

56

2

of 13 8,982,360.43

Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 269,364 269,364

Value Traded 134,682.00 134,682.00

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 16 1 100 9 106 232

Current Price 5.32 0.93 124.70 18.44 132.37

Quantity Traded 407,275 1,000 325,154 145,939 1,633,073 2,512,441

Value Traded 2,175,471.00 970.00 40,014,103.50 2,691,115.16 215,601,352.46 260,483,012.12

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 156.98

Quantity Traded 12,784 12,784

Value Traded 1,974,794.31 1,974,794.31

Symbol No. of Deals DANGFLOUR 34 DANGSUGAR 44 FLOURMILL 135 HONYFLOUR 14 Daily Summary (Equities) NASCON 40 UTC 3

Current Price 3.16 6.20 29.30 2.96 6.85 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,226,235 1,116,495 2,324,185 145,526 1,108,378 20,750

Value Traded 3,820,869.52 7,002,373.08 68,246,252.54 426,140.18 7,626,641.05 10,375.00

Page Quantity Traded 5,941,569

3 of 13 Value Traded 87,132,651.37

Symbol

No. of Deals 270

Current Price

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 42 50 92

Current Price 42.98 791.17

Quantity Traded 105,457 32,207 137,664

Value Traded 4,133,406.43 26,263,815.99 30,397,222.42

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 3.42

Quantity Traded 112,802 112,802

Value Traded 367,625.05 367,625.05

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 24 29 53

Current Price 27.30 33.00

Quantity Traded 223,349 612,920 836,269

Value Traded 6,073,642.51 20,332,906.60 26,406,549.11

9,822,893

406,896,536.38 Value Traded 637,640,213.97 161,141,849.82 138,325,205.10 24,154,927.36 525,563,779.58

CONSUMER GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 FINANCIAL SERVICES Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019

Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANKEQTY PLC. Activity Summary on Board Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015

Printed 18/02/2015 FINANCIAL14:40:19.019 SERVICES Published by Banking The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks

Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019

Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC

681 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 140 DIAMONDBNK 135 Daily ETI Summary (Equities) 40 FIDELITYBK 159 GUARANTY 503

Current Price 5.54 3.56 15.85 1.20 20.80

Quantity Traded 115,133,647 45,290,346 8,648,966 20,911,469 25,763,091

Symbol SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA Daily Summary UBN UNITYBNK

No. of Deals 116 39 307 (Equities) 30 2

Current Price 1.98 2.25 3.17 8.50 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 8,927,316 2,149,758 59,634,572 204,045 17,212

No. of Deals 38 350 1,859

Current Price 0.98 17.60

Quantity Traded 11,067,386 16,406,349 314,154,157

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS SOVRENINS WAPIC

No. of Deals 20 42 1 1 1 2 2 29 2 2 6 108

Current Price 0.74 0.82 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.96 0.50 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,583,373 1,804,950 5,000 1,000 100 3,000 200 4,794,010 1,500 2,500 Page 1,072,760 10,268,393

Value Traded 1,913,535.84 1,420,390.50 2,500.00 500.00 50.00 9,000.00 100.00 2,677,435.60 750.00 1,250.00 5 of 13 536,380.00 6,561,891.94

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.81

Quantity Traded 314,127 314,127

Value Traded 254,494.87 254,494.87

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS

No. of Deals 40 10

Current Price 2.78 3.90

Quantity Traded 1,289,955 565,000

Value Traded 3,673,573.52 2,203,791.00

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity on Exchange Board EQTY Published

by The Summary Nigerian Stock © FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Page Symbol FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

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

Current Price 7.10 2.02 24.32 1.39

2,879 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

No. of Deals 628 108 57 65 908

No. of Deals 3 12 9 24 48

Current Price 2.15 2.88 42.00 1.29

48 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

4Value Traded of 13

17,836,218.16 4,841,014.16 190,195,069.79 1,788,615.80 8,606.00

of

HEALTHCARE Totals Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services

Activity SummaryWAREHOUSE on Board EQTY COMPUTER GROUP PLC ICT Published byITThe Nigerian Stock Exchange © Services IT Services Totals Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals

2,879

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

No. of Deals 3 12 9 24 48

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Building14:40:19.019 Materials Totals Printed 18/02/2015 Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS on CO Board PLC. EQTY Activity Summary Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 45,565 45,565

Value Traded 22,782.50 22,782.50

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 4.13

Quantity Traded 121

Value Traded 475.53

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 121

7Value of Traded13 475.53

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100

Daily Summary (Equities)

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MOBIL OIL NIG PLC.

MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

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

C &Summary I LEASINGon PLC. Activity Board EQTY SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Employment Solutions Employment Solutions Totals

Quantity Traded 23,887 210,050 28,323 81,492 2,472,306 1,000 280,250 3,097,308

Value Traded 424,440.29 1,795,927.50 1,031,702.78 870,058.24 382,989,761.83 1,500.00 22,456,222.32 409,569,612.96

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.47

Quantity Traded 4,000 4,000

Value Traded 6,405.00 6,405.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 28.50

Quantity Traded 130

Value Traded 3,685.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Quantity Traded 130

Value Traded 3,685.00

3,101,438

409,579,702.96

Quantity Traded 47 47

Value Traded 465.77 465.77

47

465.77

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

169 Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals 1 1

2,298,213,042.20

Quantity Traded 30,227 354,311 352,313 520,420 1,257,271

Value Traded 61,965.35 1,006,933.47 14,795,454.27 674,437.80 16,538,790.89

1,257,271

16,538,790.89

Quantity Traded 45,565 45,565

Value Traded 22,782.50 22,782.50

8

of

13

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 28,000 28,000

Value Traded 14,000.00 14,000.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 215 215

Current Price 14.00

Quantity Traded 3,695,203 3,695,203

Value Traded 53,182,654.67 53,182,654.67

Symbol CONOIL

No. of Deals 27

Current Price 32.60

Quantity Traded 35,452

Value Traded 1,057,599.01

Symbol ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 7 60 12 1 5 112

Current Price 2.64 215.06 150.00 50.54 140.00

Quantity Traded 20,450 220,903 Page 8,414 10 4,163 289,392

Value Traded 51,329.50 948,440,482.54 of 13 1,314,071.79 480.20 582,860.20 51,446,823.24

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 416.00

Quantity Traded 132,207 132,207

Value Traded 55,454,929.06 55,454,929.06

4,144,802

160,098,406.97

Daily Summary (Equities)

362 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.76

Quantity Traded 52,303 52,303

Value Traded 39,750.28 39,750.28

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 6 3 9

Current Price 3.90 0.89

Quantity Traded 3,699 101,200 104,899

Value Traded 14,133.70 90,116.00 104,249.70

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10

Value Traded 5.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CILEASING

Page Quantity Traded 10

10 of 13 Value Traded 5.00

Current Price

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 1 8 2 11

Current Price 4.28 3.32 10.00

Quantity Traded 46 411,200 10,100 421,346

Value Traded 187.22 1,362,142.00 101,000.00 1,463,329.22

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 4 4 18 26

Current Price 1.16 1.21 4.00

Quantity Traded 6,774 10,413 355,900 373,087

Value Traded 7,519.14 12,634.51 1,407,869.93 1,428,023.58

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 573,920 573,920

Value Traded 304,169.60 304,169.60

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Current Price 2.00 4.75

Quantity Traded 142,000 86,250

Value Traded 283,710.00 421,849.67

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY COMPANY PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING SERVICES

Published byTransport-Related The Nigerian StockServices Exchange ©

Transport-Related Services Totals

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

AIRSERVICE NAHCO

7 16

Symbol

No. of Deals 23

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 228,250

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 2.95

Quantity Traded 42,164 42,164

Value Traded 123,962.16 123,962.16

85

1,796,079

4,169,099.21

4,730

424,325,846

3,486,577,017.99

Quantity Traded 135 135

Value Traded 190.35 190.35

135

190.35

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

11Value of Traded13 705,559.67

Activity Summary on Board ASeM Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

Equity Activity Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Current Price 1.48

1

ASeM Board Totals

377,305,673

Current Price 10.43

1

Daily Summary as ofGOODS 18/02/2015 CONSUMER Totals Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019

Value Traded 203,437,390.72 38,292,472.96 37,820,205.72 2,189,969.96 287,617,403.88

23,308.03

No. of Deals 1

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Quantity Traded 28,019,797 19,568,126 1,540,960 1,585,158 52,568,996

50.00

45,786

Symbol

SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

13

100

4 Current Price 17.22 9.00 35.00 10.71 155.00 1.50 80.10

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 Courier/Freight/Delivery

1

No. of Deals 11 19 11 9 72 1 41 164

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Daily Summary asEquipment of 18/02/2015 Energy and Services Totals Printed 18/02/2015 14:40:19.019 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Value Traded 50.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PAINTCOM WAPCO

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

Current Price 2.15 2.88 42.00 1.29

48

ICT Totals

Daily Summary as of 18/02/2015 Specialty14:40:19.019 Printed 18/02/2015

Value Traded 10,621,448.80 291,662,302.97 2,003,779,251.51

6

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

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

1

135

190.35

4,731

424,325,981

3,486,577,208.34

No. of Deals 2 3 3 8

Current Price 9.49 2,323.00 13.16

Page Quantity Traded 6 244 95 345

12 of 13 Value Traded 56.44 566,812.00 1,219.60 568,088.04

ETF Board Totals

8

345

568,088.04

ETP Activity Totals

8

345

568,088.04

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

45

Features Crisis rocking the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) portends danger to the nation’s university administration, write KAYODE OLANREWAJU and ADEOLU ADEYEMO

UNIOSUN: Crisis in the citadel

T

his is not the best of times for the Osun State University (UNIOSUN): The university management and the Governing Council are at loggerheads.

At a time when Governing Councils and management of most Nigerian universities are redirecting their energies and efforts at repositioning their institutions as centres of academic and research excellence, the university is engulfed in a protracted crisis.

At the centre of the crisis is the suspension, a few weeks ago, of the ViceChancellor, Prof Bashir Okesina, by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Prof Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN).

The university Registrar and Bursar were also suspended along with the Vice-Chancellor.

Okesina was said to have been suspended over alleged professional cum administrative misconducts, staggering loyalty to the council, fraud, nepotism, neglect of university infrastructure, hastiness in starting distance learning programme, misuse of official car, incitement of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against the council, borehole issue, inflation of contracts and other issues relating to or tagged as abuse of power.

But ASUU has kicked against the suspension order which it described as not only controversial, but also illegal, unconstitutional and illogical, and thus demanding for its immediate reversal.

The action, which has pitched the university management against the Olawoyin-led Council, has also attracted the attention of the state Governor and Visitor to the university, Rauf Aregbesola, and other major stakeholders in the state education project.

The union noted, however, that “the law establishing UNIOSUN is very clear on discipline, termination or sack of the vice-chancellor”.

ASUU added that on the allegations of ethical or professional misconducts levelled against the vice-chancellor, it was necessary that the matter was thoroughly investigated, and which recommendations either for his sack or disengagement or otherwise should be made to the Visitor for approval or

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Aregbesola

otherwise.

The national leadership of ASUU had at a press conference held in Osogbo, the state capital, two weeks ago, said that it was unfortunate that the leadership of the Council failed to realise what to do on some university issues.

Speaking through its Zonal Coordinator for Ibadan Zone, Prof Segun Ajiboye, ASUU National President, Prof Nasir Fagge, called for immediate reversal of the suspension order on the three principal officers of the university.

He said: “The union will stand against any unlawful action against its members.”

While insisting that the pro-chancellor has no power under the law establishing the universities to suspend the vice-chancellor, the union noted that “since the establishment of university in the country in 1948, no government or council had sacked its vice-chancellor, bursar and registrar at a go”.

But, as part of moves to intervene in the crisis, the governor has inaugurated a five-man investigation panel, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Adebiyi Gregory Daramola, to unravel the issue. Other members are Prof. Jacob Laoye Ladipo; Prof. Omotoye Olorode of the Department of Plant Science and Applied Biology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; Mr. Babatunde Adebayo and Mrs. O. Kolawole, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology as the secretary.

The panel has four weeks to submit its report and recommendations. As part of its terms of reference, it is to investigate the basis of the simmering crisis in the university, as well as the miss-understanding between the management and council with a view to finding a lasting solution.

The panel is also mandated to determine the roles of individuals and groups in the crisis, recommend appropriate steps to arrest the ugly situation and prevent a reoccurrence in the future, as well as proffering solutions to address the issue of disintegration in relationship between students in the institution with special reference to Ikire Campus - “the professional student syndrome.”

It is also to investigate any other issues as identified and produce detailed

Olawoyin

Okesina

report and recommendations of its findings within the next four weeks.

Disturbed by the untoward development, Aregbesola, while inaugurating the panel at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, charged the committee to be fair and listen to all the sides, saying it should leave no stone unturned by following the truth and careless about stepping on toes.

Responding, Daramola promised that the committee would do its best in bringing out the truth without fear or favour, adding that his members would not be short of courage in the discharge their duties.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank the governor for having confidence in the panel. We will not be short of courage in getting to know the truth of what is happening at UNIOSUN. “There is something fundamentally wrong with governance in the country.

What is happening in the university is a reflection of what is going on in the country. The problem in UNIOSUN is that of governance problem.

“The commission hereby assures Mr Governor that we shall do our work to the best of our ability within the timeframe.”

The pro-chancellor’s action, which has continued to receive wide condemnation, is said to be alien to the Nigerian university system.

The council, according to investigation, is not permitted by law to suspend or remove the vice-chancellor. The council can only recommend appropriate disciplinary measures against any erring vice-chancellor.

“The indefinite suspension slammed on the vice-chancellor and other officers of the university portends a sinister agenda and a dangerous precedent in the university system and it is an aberration on the part of the council,” sources in the university said.

Further investigation, however, showed that the vice-chancellor’s suspension letter duly authored and personally signed by the pro-chancellor is illegal.

“The pro-chancellor is external to the university community and does not have the power, under any law to sign the letter of suspension of the vicechancellor,” the sources added.

According to them, the power to sign such letter belongs to the registrar/

acting registrar, who is the secretary to Governing Council.

The sources added: “It is also pertinent to state that there is an established procedure in the Nigerian university system for the appointment of an acting vice-chancellor whenever there is a compelling need for one. At the expiration of Prof. Sola Akinrinade, the pioneer vicechancellor’s tenure, for instance, Prof.

Ganiyu Olatunde was appointed as the acting vice-chancellor by the Visitor to the university, Rauf Aregbesola.

“In 2015, the same process ought to be followed. Under UNIOSUN Law 2006, it is very clear that the vice-chancellor/acting vice-chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor upon consultation with council.

This process has been violated by the Prof. Olawoyin-led council.”

According to ASUU, what the chairman of council is trying to do is to victimise the officers.

“If not, the setting up of another parallel investigative body, when the Visitor to the university and Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, had already instituted a visitation panel headed by the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Gregory Adebiyi Daramola, to investigate the matter, is uncalled for.

“It is the Visitor to the university that has the right to remove or suspend the vice-chancellor or registrar if there is any rancour between the council and the university.”

The embattled vice-chancellor, who has not spent two years in office, was said to have introduced four new programmes into the system – Education Management, Nursing Science, Public Health and Guidance and Counselling – which have been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the overall development of the university.

Apart from this, Okesina, barely a year in office, introduced the parttime programme and the IJMB programme which had already secured the NUC approval.

“Rather than support the management towards rapid development of the university, the council is waging a war against it,” the sources said.

This was as ASUU charged the panel inaugurated by the governor to investigate properly the matter with a view to finding the whole truth about the allegations levelled against Okesina by the governing council.

46

News

THURsday, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south - WEST

‘Lagos records 83% budget performance in 2014' Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said that the state recorded a significant budget performance of 83 per cent in the year 2014.

Fashola, stated this shortly after the budget review session on came to an end on Wednesday, saying that the performance rating for last quarter of the year under review stood at 77 per cent, a drop

from 84 per cent recorded in September.

He explained that the drop was not unconnected with the decline in nation’s oil revenue, which has resulted in fall in the allocations to states and reduction to Lagos State Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR) to about N18 billion monthly.

The governor stressed that budget performance was outstanding due to several innovations the state had put in place,

adding that while several states were yet to present 2015 budget, that of Lagos had already started work and targeted at completing those projects started by the current administration.

It would be recalled that the Y2015 budget size is N489, 690b, which is the same size used in Y2014.

He said, "Our budget was all about service and some of the impact of the fourth quarter performance would be seen in

the completed court buildings in Epe, Ikeja and the solar powered projects in the primary schools and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Also, progress made on Road construction across the state, in Agiliti, Isheri-Oshun and others. The Gbagada Cardiac and Renal Centre is completed and would be commissioned very soon."

The governor said further that as his administration winds down, his priority is to do more on

what had been done previously well and less of those things they haven’t done well.

"And what we will do more is to settle as many obligations as we can, in spite of the difficult financial situation to contractor, to accelerate and complete more ongoing projects like the housing scheme and road construction. We are issuing more contracts to support small businesses in the state.

Immigration arrests 50 illegal immigrants Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

T

he Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has arrested 50 illegal immigrants at different locations in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

The illegal immigrants comprised of 29 Beninoise, 11 Nigeriens and 10 Togolese.

The state NIS Comptroller, Mrs. Victoria Isang, who briefed reporters on the arrest in Abeokuta yesterday, said the illegal nationals of neighbouring countries, would be repatriated to their various countries within 24 hours.

She disclosed that no fewer than 69 Togolese nationals, who entered Nigeria illegally, were also repatriated on February 6.

She stated that the feat was achieved due to the command's zero tolerance for illegal entry into the country.

The comptroller, who noted that illegal immigrants often flocked into the state through the expansive borderlines, warned Nigerians against engaging the services of foreign nationals because of cheap labour.

Isang, said, "As part of efforts at maintaining zero tolerance for illegal entry, the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service ensures that the border lines of the state with the Republic of Benin is placed under 24 hours surveillance and that only foreigners with valid travel documents are allowed entry into the country.

"Being mindful of the expansive nature of our border lines, the command conducts regular raids on hideouts of illegal immigrants."

L-R: Jowe of Irukorogha, Oba Matthew Olasehinde; Secretary of Council, Oba Saliu Oyemola; Chairman, Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, Oba Frederick Akinruntan; Olujaani of Iyani, Oba Dawodu Sunday and Gbaluwe of Igbotu Kingdom, Oba Ajayi Adeniyi, at the committee’s meeting in Ibadan…yesterday.

Stop blackmailing military, Fayose tells APC Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to desist from what he described as the blackmail of the country’s military, stating that the main opposition party’s action was cable of perpetrate volence during the coming polls.

He also accused the opposition party of planning to unleash terror on the country, if it loses the March 28 presidential election.

The governor, who advised the APC to take its

audio/video clip alleging the use of the military to rig the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State gubernatorial election to court, said, "Nigeria cannot be governed by blackmail and propaganda, but rule of law."

In a statement issued on Wednesday in AdoEkiti by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; "It is the constitutional right of President Goodluck Jonathan to deploy soldiers to provide security anywhere in Nigeria and not even the APC allies in the judiciary can take away this right."

Governor Fayose said

the military was being blackmailed by the APC because the party had not being able to compromise the institution, adding that; "When APC people begin to blackmail an institution, it simply means that such institution has refused to be corrupted by the party.

"All the noise being made by the APC and its leaders on their purported audio/video clip was aimed at blackmailing the military into abandoning its responsibility of providing security during the election so that they can carry out their evil plot of unleashing violence on Nigerians unhindered.

"They invaded Ekiti with thugs during the June 21, 2014 governorship election but the presence of soldiers prevented the thugs from operating in the state.

"When soldiers were deployed in Edo State and the election was won by the party, Governor Adams Oshiomhole led APC leaders on a thank you visit to President Jonathan in Abuja.

"The same soldiers that provided security in Edo State where the APC won, provided security in Ondo and Ekiti State. APC lost in one the two states and Nigerians have not been allowed to rest.

Osun 2011 election: Court strikes out PDP's suit Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday struck out the application filed by the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking an order of the court to withdraw the certificate of return earlier given to the

National and State House of Assembly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Ruling on the application, Justice Babs Kuewumi, dismissed the PDP's application on the ground that the appropriate place to file such application was the election petition tribunal and not the high court.

The court, however, advised the plaintiff to

file its application at the election petition tribunal.

It can be recalled that the PDP, in its application, told the court that the respondent disobeyed the court order by participating in the April 2011election.

It noted that the court had, on March 28, 2011, ordered that INEC should restrain the former Resident Electoral Commis-

sioner in the state, Ambassador Taiwo Akeju from supervising and conducting the election, but expressed surprise that the REC went ahead with the exercise.

PDP alleged that Akeju was hob-nobbing with the APC before the 2011 election and urged the court to restrain him from participating in the conduct of the election.

Akala's achievements, threat to others in Oyo, says Olunloyo Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

F

ormer Oyo State Governor, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, yesterday said that the achievements of the Labour Party (LP’s) governorship candidate, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in the state during his tenure, has placed above other candidates, in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Stating that AlaoAkala’s achievements’ stands him out among other governorship cadidates, Olunloyo, told New Telegraph in Ibadan, that the Labour party’s candidate, performed creditably during his tenure as governor in the state, adding that he brought his experience to bear on his administration of the state, as governor.

Olunloyo, who was governor of the old Oyo State, for three months governor under the civilian government of Alhaji Sheu Shagari, faulted the claim of the Abiola Ajimobi led government, that pensioners had been paid, saying they were still being owed three months in arrears and that such was not the case during the Akala's government in the state.

'Obasanjo, Jonathan's 'war' will fizzle out' Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Conflict resolution Committee of Yoruba Obas, yesterday allayed the fears of Nigerians over the face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the crisis would soon fizzle out with time.

The monarchs said this after their meeting at the house of the Yoruba Council of Oba's Chairman, His Royal Majesty, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, at Alakia, Ibadan.

According to the monarchs, the two elder statesmen, were friends who can resolve the differences between them amicably, adding, "As traditional rulers we don't dabble into politics.

They have been friends for years. They would settle their differences."

NEW TELEGRAPH THURsday, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

News 47

south — east

Enugu REC: We’ll get 2015 elections right this time Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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he Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, yesterday gave assurances that the conduct of the general election in the state would be credible, just as he announced that the commission has distributed 77 per cent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the state.

The commission said it

57.3m

has also removed polling units said to have been stationed at locations not convenient to some electorate or those that were said to be located almost in the homes of some notable personalities, saying such has now been appropriately located.

As the REC spoke of the preparedness of his office to deliver a credible election, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DfID) speaking through its agency, SAVI, urged the REC to ensure that the repeat of the electoral impasse that bedeviled the

The total population of men in Mexico in 2012.

Source: Un.org

conduct of the Anambra 2013 polls in Idemili area would not reoccur during the coming elections.

Onukaogu was the REC during the 2013 governorship election in the state, when the conduct of the election was flawed, but he told newsmen yesterday during a briefing that some politicians have petitioned against his posting to Enugu in view of what transpired in Anambra, explaining that the Anambra episode was caused by the act of customising result sheets to tally with each polling unit without his knowledge.

49%

The percentage of global sanitation coverage in 1990.

Source: Unesco.org

Assuring the people that there is completely a different scenario now, whereby sensitive materials will be collected on Wednesday before the election would hold.

Onukaogu said the early collection of the materials would help early distribution in such a manner that as early as 8.00am on each election day, the materials would be at all polling stations.

According to him, “We will take the sensitive materials on Wednesday and as early as 5.00am, our men and all the security operatives that would provide

$33.6m

The total pay (including salary/winnings & endorsements) of Neymar (Football) for 2014.

Source: Forbes.com

Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Chris Onyemenam (left), presenting the National Identity card to the Deputy Speaker, House of Reps. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, at the National Assembly Complex, in Abuja…yesterday.

Again, Elechi alleges impeachment plot Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

E

bonyi State governor, Martin Elechi, yesterday alleged plan by politicians in the state to impeach him.

He spoke at the Government House, Abakaliki, while addressing members of Ezza Ezzekuna Youth Congress, who paid him a solidarity visit.

Elechi said politicians

have been holding steady meetings to perfect their strategy to remove him from office.

He said: “I want to bring to your notice that some politicians, who have vowed to govern this state at all cost, have been holding secret meetings on how to impeachment me. They said am a bad person and that if I continue to remain in power they will not have their way. All I can say is

that if they sack me, I will relocate to my home.”

He called on his visitors not to allow the state to be taken over by desperate politicians, who he said don’t have the interest of the youths and the state at heart.

Elechi called on them to be vigilant and resist any attempt to use them and cause crisis, which he said will not do the state any good.

Earlier, President of

Ezza Ezekuna Youth Congress, Leonard Igboke, told the governor that the youths were at the Government House to show solidarity to his administration and urged him to be firm in spite of the recent political developments in the state.

Elechi has been in the eyes of the storm in recent time, following the defection of his loyalists to the Labour Party after the PDP primaries last year.

MASSOB tasks motorists on new Biafran plate numbers Peter Osondu Aba

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he Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday tasked motorists plying its area to ensure that they get the new Biafran vehicle plate numbers now in circulation.

The new plate number was said to have been designed by one Kenneth Okwudiri.

In a release, MASSOB Commissioner for Information, Onyenuma Ignatius Ahamefule, advised motorists to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the new plate numbers and perform their civil

responsibilities to their fatherland.

“Biafrans should avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the introduction of the new plate numbers and show their love for their fatherland by performing their civil responsibilities through patronising the plate numbers and paying their taxes

regularly at the nearest MASSOB office.”

According to the release, MASSOB said information at her disposal revealed that Nigerian security agents were planning to clamp down on motorists using the new plate numbers, saying that her members were ready to counter any such action.

security would move to the polling units on March 28 and by 8.00am, we would have been ready to commence accreditation.

“That way, we would allay the fears, the apprehension and complaints that always attend to late takeoff of polling activities in the past elections. And we will conduct accreditation until the last person stand-

ing on the queue has been accredited.

“I want to assure you that having perfected on all fronts, we will not disappoint as was the case in Idemili North of Anambra State in 2013.

Remember we have corrected and perfected on these in the Ekiti and Osun elections last hear,” he explained.

Defection: Ex-speaker defends Ebonyi lawmakers’ action Charles Onyekwere Abakaliki

F

ormer Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Augustine Nwankwegu, yesterday said the recent declaration of the seats of four members of the House vacant was in order and that it met the constitutional requirements.

Members of the House had on February 11, during its last seating, declared the seats of Hon. Helen Nwobashi, representing (Abakaliki South), Hon. Eni Uduma Chima, representing (Afikpo South West), Hon. Mabel Aleke, representing (Ohaukwu South) and Hon. Sam Nwali, representing (Ikwo North) constituencies, for joining another political party.

He said the 1999 Constitution (as amended), made specific provisions in the event were a member of a state House of Assembly becomes a member of another polit-

ical party apart from the party he or she came on its platform to the House of Assembly.

Nwankwegu, a lawyer, while interacting with newsmen in Abakaliki, cited section 102 of the constitution, stated that the House of Assembly could conduct its duties not withstanding any vacancy in its membership.

On the issue of quorum for the conduct of the declaration of the four seats vacant, the former speaker made reference to section (96) sub-section (1), which provides that quorum could be formed by 1/3 of the 24 member House of Assembly, eight members being present, constitutes a quorum in a particular sitting.

Continuing, he explained that even as the formation of quorum depends on the activity in the house, 1/3 of the members of the house is appropriate for the incident of declaration of the four seats vacant,” he said.

Group condemns freezing of LG accounts Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

A

socio-political group, Greater Okposi Initiative (GOI) in Ebonyi State has condemned the alleged freezing of local government bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The group accused the anti-graft agency of turning a willing tool of political intimidation in the hands of highly placed political office holders in Abuja and the state.

In a statement signed by the President, Mr. Aja Nwani Aja, the group alleged that Ebonyi State government and Governor Martin Elechi, were being harassed for allowing supporters of the government and former aggrieved PDP members to join the Labour Party.

“We are sad to note, however, that the heavy hands of the law have been deployed to massage the egos of some political overlords both in Ebonyi and in Abuja, else we are at pains to see the justification in the recent attempts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to become a tool of political blackmail against the government and people of Ebonyi State."

“It is on record that the EFCC went outside its statutory mandate when it requested the Accountant General of the Federation to freeze the Joint Accounts of Local Governments of the state on the allegation that some funds from the account were misappropriated or misused by some functionaries of the government.

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News

THURsday, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south — south

Cross River PVCs found in Kebbi State Clement James Calabar

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oxes of permanent voters’ cards meant for Cross River State, have been found in Kebbi State, the nation’s election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said yesterday.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Sylvester Okey Ezeani, who confirmed this to our correspondent yesterday on telephone, said he was informed by the REC in Kebbi State about the presence of the PVCs in the state.

“My colleage in Kebbi called me and said they found some boxes of PVCs belonging to Cross River State in Kebbi and there were similar cases regarding some states as well. These are some of the issues plaguing INEC,” Ezeani said.

Continuing, he said; “If the elections had

Declining allocations: States device survival options Joe Obende Warri

A

s declining financial allocations from the Federal Government to the states take its toll on activities of government, some of the states are said to have resorted to other measures to keep afloat.

For instance, in Delta State, the Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration has announced that it has concluded plans to sell off the state's shares in some publicly quoted companies.

Already, the State Executive Council, has given its nod to the government to divest its interest from of the Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited and Midwestern Oil and Gas Company.

Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Chike Ogeah, said government had decided to invest for the ‘rainy day’ when it had resources to spare in the past.

That decision, he said, had paid off, following the steep decline in global oil price, which he said, had led to a huge drop in the statutory allocation accruing to the state, from the Federal Government.

been conducted last Saturday, it would have been a difficult situation for us here and, I believe, for many states because of issues like this. I don’t know what explanation I would have given. You see, if you tell people something, they think you don’t know what you are saying. The whole thing is a mess and I don’t know how we came

24

to this situation.”

Ezeani said there are mix-up in the numbering of the cards already collected by his office with respect to Local Government Areas.

“I want to give you an instance, if PVCs are for Ikom, they will mix it up and with another local government area. I don’t know if it is because those distributing may

The life expectancy of women at age 60 years in New Caledonia in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

have thought Ikom is an Hausa name. I can’t tell whether these errors came from those who printed the cards. Ordinarily, they ought to sort the cards out by their serial numbers, but that has not been the case. Thank God the election did not hold last Saturday, we would have found ourselves in a big mess,” the REC pointed out.

32.2%

The percentage of malaria prevalence among children (age 6-59 months) in South-South Nigeria.

Source: Nigeria.usembassy.gov

He, however, assured that the anomalies were corrected as the boxes meant for the state would be brought back soon.

“My operations staff is on his way and will bring back the PVCs. We are doing everything to ensure that we do we get it right and with the postponement, we are tidying up all that we need to tidy up,” he said.

342,692

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Jamaica in 2006.

Source: Itu.int

L-R: Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Ibrahim Limam; Comptroller, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Sule Wunti and Deputy Comptroller, Operation, Mr. Musa Yahun, during a press conference in Yenagoa …yesterday.

‘We‘ve spent N23.6bn on IPP, not N29bn’ elta State Government yesterday intervened in the controversy currently trailing the non-completion of the state’s Independent Power Plant (IPP), project located at Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.

Since the project was awarded in 2009, at an estimated cost of N21.5 billion before its upward review to N23.6 billion, several amounts, including N27 billion, had been

quoted as part of the money embezzled.

For instance, Chief Edwin Clark, along some prominent figures in the opposition political parties in the state, had queried the whereabouts of the missing monies, said to have been committed to the project.

The mysterious fire, which gutted the project site early this year, destroying the substantial part of the installed equipment, has also given credence to the speculation that the project was a ruse.

But at the budget defence in the state’s House

Tony Anichebe

Political parties sign peace pact in A'Ibom

Dominic Adewole Asaba

D

Uyo

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ajor political parties in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday signed a peace accord, promising to ensure peace before, during and after the forthcoming polls, as well as work within the ambit of the electoral law.

Stalwarts of political parties that signed the deal at the Police Officers’ Mess, Metro Road,

Uyo, the state capital, include governorship candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel; All Progressives Congress (APC’s) guber candidate, Mr. Umana Okon Umana; Accord Party (AP’s) candidate, Bishop Samuel Akpan and the Labour Party (LP’s) governorship candidate, Senator Helen Esuene, who was represented by her run-

of Assembly yesterday, officials of the state government said a total of N23.6 billion, including the amount paid to the contracting firm and for civil works, had been expended on the project.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Commissioner for Energy, Mrs. Gloria Okologbo, who appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, chaired

by Hon. Daniel Mayuku, said the equipment to complete the project had been procured.

According to her, the project, which has reached

ning mate, Mr. David Okpon.

At the forum presided over by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 6, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, the candidates pledged to ensure their electioneering campaigns were devoid of hate statements, blackmail and other uncomplimentary remarks against their opponents.

Besides, they promised to respect the outcome of

its advanced stage, is only awaiting installation and commissioning.

She blamed the delay in the installation on lack of access road to the project site. “Now that the road is completed, equipment will be moved to the site soon”, she said.

She appealed to the committee to jack up the funds appropriated to the ministry to procure more transformers for rural communities in the state, even as she stressed the need to resuscitate the comatose viewing centres in some parts of the state.

the polls, explaining that the state’s interests must supercede the personal interests of all political candidates and their supporters.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the PDP candidate, Udom said the PDP would abide by the non-violence accord, recalling that his campaigns which ended last Monday were conducted in a civilized manner and devoid of hate influences.

Rivers bombing: Factional Speaker threatens legal action Emmanule Masha Port Harcourt

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he factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi, has threatened to institute a law suit against the campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, for linking him to the explosions and gun attacks on the party’s campaign rally in Okrika.

Bipi said he was shocked that Dakuku could resort to blackmail just to win the minds of the electorate.

The lawmaker said it was wrong for the APC leadership to blame the PDP at every provocation.

He said: “I have instructed my team of lawyers to handle this matter and Dakuku has to come to court to prove his claim that he saw me leading a team of angry youths to attack his rally. That is the only way we can prove our innocence or culpability”, Evans said.

“I was not in Okrika, on Tuesday. Okrika is not even my constituency. I represent Ogu/Bolo state constituency in the Rivers state House of Assembly."

Akpabio swears in two new permsecs

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he Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday sworein new Permanent Secretaries in the state, with the call to them to imbibe the sacrificial spirit of his administration to serve the state with absolute commitment.

Akpabio, who admitted oath on the two newly appointed permanent secretaries at the Governor's Office, Uyo, noted, "Your elevation is, indeed, a call to higher service, but it places a demand on you because ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’.

You are expected, therefore, to imbibe the uncommon sacrificial spirit of this administration and continue to serve our fatherland with absolute determination.

"You are expected to let your knowledge and wealth of experience add value to service delivery in our state and benefit Akwa Ibom people. Let your appointment to this high office of public trust reinvigorate and strengthen our service delivery mechanism to our people", the governor declared.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015

News 49

NORTH

APC raises the alarm over PVC robbery Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State yesterday raised the alarm over a gang of gunmen robbing people believed to be APC supporters of

their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Rev. Phineas Padio, made this known yesterday in Yola while speaking to newsmen.

Padio said a gang of four armed men, on Monday night, visited the residence of a female

€21.46m

The total salary and extra winnings made by Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers (Basketball) in 2013-2014.

Source: Financenews24.com

APC campaigner, Hajiya Hauwa Liman at Jambutu Ward of Yola, asked her and others with her to surrender their PVCs at gun point.

“They also warned her against campaigning for APC with a threat that if she carries on, they will kill her.

“As a party, we have

186,668

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Iceland in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

petitioned the state Commissioner of Police and copies of the petition had been sent to the Inspector General of Police, the AIG in charge of Zone 3, the state Director of the DSS as well as INEC,” Padio said.

The publicity secretary, who described the attack as politically motivated,

2.1%

The annual population growth rate of Ethiopia in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

claimed that some people, who are worried about the popularity of APC candidates in the state, were out to frustrate their efforts at all costs.

He urged supporters of the party not to be intimidated and to remain steadfast in their commitment to vote for the party.

Kwara lawmakers suspend budget report Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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embers of the Kwara State House of Assembly yesterday suspended considerations for the final passage of the 2015 budget, following the death of the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Alhaji Suleiman Sinaboro.

The deceased was meant to present the report of his committee to the House yesterday as he was unable to do so on Tuesday due to illness.

The announcement of his demise threw the entire assembly complex into shock. The information was brought to the notice of the

L-R: Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh; Governor Isa Yuguda and Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Hamman Tukur, during Tukur’s visit to the governor in Bauchi …yesterday

PDP seeks Ortom’s disqualification in court Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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ith barely two months to the conduct of the rescheduled governorship election, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State yesterday dragged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Samuel Ortom, to the Federal High Court in Makurdi.

The PDP went to court over what it called APC’s non-qualification and

non-sponsorship of Ortom to contest the governorship election.

Also joined in the suit are the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP has said that Ortom’s quest to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state amounted to gross violation of the Electoral Act Section 87 (1) as well as Section 177 (C) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which qualifies one to contest

for the governorship of a state only if ‘he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.’

The party alleged that the former Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment is not a member of the APC as he claims and that he is not sponsored by the party to vie for the governorship election, but that he is still a card-carrying member of the PDP as he was yet to renounce his membership of the ruling party from his Nzorov coun-

cil ward in Guma Local Government, where his name still reflects in the party’s register.

Lead counsel to the PDP in the suit, Andrew Wombo, who briefed journalists at the Federal High Court premises yesterday shortly after the case was mentioned, said his client (the PDP) also raised the issue of alleged non-conduct of the APC governorship primaries in the state to produce its candidate for the governorship position as a major point against Ortom.

APC, PDP trade words over renewed violence in Borno Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State yesterday traded words over renewed violence in the state.

While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of turning the civilian JTF into political mercenaries

to attack anybody working in the interest of the PDP or President Goodluck Jonathan, the APC said the PDP is responsible for the crisis as it was doing so to ensure that election did not take place in the state on March 28.

The PDP had alleged that members of the civilian JTF, who are supposed to protect lives and property, are now being used by the APC to attack their perceived enemies.

The Imam Campaign

Organisation and the PDP, at a press conference held at the PDP headquarters in Maiduguri yesterday, said: “On Monday, February 16, we woke up into another day of violence, maiming and destruction of property by some APC supporters, who are claiming to be progressives.”

He said the civilian JTF did not stop at burning the PDP office, but went on to attack the military base, those who are

in the state to fight insurgency, attempting to set the place ablaze if not for the timely intervention of the GOC 7th Division of the Nigerian Army.

The Executive Secretary of the Muhammad Imam Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Shettima Barma, who spoke on behalf of the party, said with this incident, it means the APC is planning against the good people of Borno State ahead of the general election.

Padio urged any supporter who was not sure of the safety of his PVC to take it to the bank for safe keeping.

When contacted on the development, the Adamawa Police Command Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, said he was yet to be briefed on the PVC robbery.

lawmakers while the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Razaq Atunwa, was on his way to the floor of the House.

A visibly disturbed Atunwa immediately conveyed a meeting of the members before the lawmakers, formally took their seats. Some female legislators as well as workers in the complex were seen shedding tears as the news broke.

Addressing the plenary, Atunwa described the late Sunaboro as a committed member who exhibited diligence in his duties and never compromised on his integrity. He recalled that the deceased supervised the budget sector of the legislators’ duties admirably and was never late in submitting his reports.

Immigration arrests 280 illegal aliens in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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he Adamawa Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested 280 illegal aliens in Adamawa.

Parading the suspects in Yola, the state Comptroller, Mr Ubi Ikpi, said the arrest was part of the command’s renewed effort to rid the border state of illegal aliens and enhance security.

“It is pertinent we rid Adamawa state of miscreants because it is very possible they can compound the security

situation in the country since they neither have valid papers nor did they have identifiable places of abode”, Ikpi said.

Those arrested, he said, were from niegbouring African countries, adding that they would be documented and screened for subsequent deportation.

The comptroller urged for more support and cooperation of the public, particularly community leaders, in identifying and reporting illegal aliens and criminals in the society to the authorities.

Police warn Zamfara politicians Idris Salisu Gusau

T

he Zamfara State police command yesterday warned politicians to avoid inflammatory statements capable of sparking political violence as the command said it has intensified efforts meant to protect the lives and property of the teeming populace in the state.

This warning was given by the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in the state, Olufemi David, at the

police headquarters. He also emphasised that the command is ready to exercise its mandate to ensure the maintenance of law and order with a view to making the atmosphere under the current political era conducive.

David also urged politicians to, without hesitation, embark upon activities that would help to curb the rate of political thuggery in the state, adding that the political parties would be held responsible for any violence traced to them.

50 WORLD | News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Vatican gives Gay Catholic group VIP treatment

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prominent American Catholic gay rights group was given VIP treatment for the first time at an audience with Pope Francis yesterday, a move, members saw as a sign of change in the Roman Catholic Church. “This is a sign of movement that’s due to the Francis effect,” said Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, which ministers to homosexual Catholics and promotes gay rights in the 1.2 billion-member Church.

Gramick and executive director Francis DeBernardo led a pilgrimage of 50 homosexual Catholics to the audience in

St. Peter’s Square.

They told Reuters in an interview afterwards that when the group came to Rome on Catholic pilgrimages during the papacies of Francis’s predecessors John Paul and Benedict, “they just ignored us”. This time, a U.S. bishop and a top Vatican official backed their request and they sat in a front section with dignitaries and special Catholic groups. As the pope passed, they sang “All Are Welcome,” a hymn symbolizing their desire for a more inclusive Church. A list of participants released by the Vatican listed “a group of lay people accompanied by a sister” but did

not mention that they were a gay rights organization.

“What this says is that there is movement in our Church, movement to welcome people from the outside closer to the inside,” Gramick said in St. Peter’s Square.

Several months after his election, Francis made his now-famous remark about how he could not judge gay people who are have good

will and are seeking God. But he so far shown no sign the Church will change its teaching that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. Last October, bishops from around the world meeting in Rome to debate questions concerning family issued an interim report calling for greater acceptance of gays in the Church. That passage was watered down in the

final version of the report after conservative bishops complained. A second and final meeting on family issues is scheduled for October.

DeBernardo said Catholic gay and lesbian couples and other non-traditional families should be invited to the meeting, known as a synod, to speak to the bishops about their faith and their sexuality.

ANC chief apologises for ‘cockroach’ remark

T

he chairwoman of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress apologised yesterday for calling opposition leader Julius Malema a “cockroach” the insult used to ignite the Rwandan genocide. The unusual move in a party known for its reluctance to back down came from Baleka Mbete, who is also Speaker of Parliament and was a key figure in chaotic scenes in the national assembly last week. Mbete controversially called in security forces to forcibly evict Malema and members of his Economic Freedom Fighters after they disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address last Thursday.

Addressing an ANC provincial congress on Saturday she referred to “cockroaches like Malema roaming all over the place”. Malema responded by claiming that Mbete was

calling for his assassination. “If I am killed tomorrow people must know I was killed by Baleka and the ANC. We know what happened to people who were called cockroaches in Rwanda,” he said.

The term was used in Rwandan radio broadcasts to set Hutus against Tutsis in the 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people were killed.

“I have concluded that my remarks, all offending statements I made - were inappropriate,” Mbete said.

“I withdraw my remarks unreservedly. I apologise unconditionally, to South Africans, to Parliament and Honourable Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused.” It was a rare moment of peace-making in a week that has seen some of the most bitter political confrontations since the end of apartheid 20 years ago.

Ukrainian troops begin pullout of key city

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kraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said yesterday that government forces had withdrawn from the flashpoint town of Debaltseve, where pro-Russian rebels have been battling troops for weeks. “This morning the Ukrainian armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve. As of now we can say that 80 percent of our units have left,” Poroshenko said in an audio message released by his press service. “We are expecting another two columns (to leave),” he added.

The Ukrainian leader said he had given the order to pull out Tuesday and was now heading to the front line to “meet those who have left Debaltseve”. “These actions have confounded Russia, which only yesterday demanded that Ukrainian soldiers lay down their arms, raise the white flag and sur-

render,” Poroshenko said.

“Despite the fierce artillery bombardments, so far we have information that out of 2,000 Ukrainian troops we have 30 injured.” AFP journalists saw dozens of Ukrainian tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks carrying soldiers driving away from Debaltseve.

The vehicles, carrying haggard-looking, unshaven troops, arrived in the nearby government-held town of Artemivsk, where one soldier confirmed that they had come from Debaltseve. Ferocious fighting for the key transport hub has raged unabated despite the start of nominal ceasefire between the warring sides on Sunday, with Ukraine and the United States accusing Russia of piling in troops and weapons to spearhead the assault. Russia and the rebels said that they had surrounded up to 8,000 Ukrainian troops in the town but Kiev never officially accepted that its forces were encircled.

Pope Francis praying during a special consistory with cardinals and bishops,in the Synod hall at the Vatican.

US launches Africa military exercises

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he US military is launching its annual training exercise with armies from across Africa this week in Chad, as the countries of the region battle a growing threat from the Nigerian Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. Some 1,300 participants from 28 countries are joining in the Flintlock exercise that lasts until March 9. It includes counter-terrorism forces not only from the US but from other Western countries and a number of African militaries including several of the armies who have pledged to support Nigeria in its battle against the jihadists.

The annual exercise first began in 2006 in part to counter the rise of al-Qaida-linked

militants in the Sahel region.

Now the most imminent danger to regional security is Boko Haram, which killed at least 10,000 people in Nigeria last year and is now staging crossborder attacks in Cameroon, Niger and Chad. “We must respond to this immense security challenge, which is a major concern. You will agree that this is a difficult task, because terrorism has no face and no jurisdiction,” Chadian Gen. Brahim Seid Mahamat said at an opening ceremony Monday, according to comments published by the US military. Col. George Thiebes, commander of special operations with Command Forward-West Africa, which leads the Flintlock exercise, said one of the challenges is helping armies from

different countries to work together. While the upcoming multinational force against Boko Haram is not a specific focus of Flintlock, the training is aimed at broader themes that will apply to that mission.

“We look at how we can get the nations to work together against a common threat,” Thiebes told The Associated Press.

Among the obstacles: Disparate radio systems, harsh terrain and finding common vocabulary even when troops speak the same language, he said. Chad is the host country, though other planned stations are Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Tunisia. Thiebes said the training is going ahead despite a recent series of Boko Haram attacks on Niger and Cameroon.

Greece ‘blinks first’ on bailout crisis

G

reece played for time yesterday after a planned offer to resolve the bailout crisis by asking for a six-month loan extension got a firm preemptive “nein” from EU paymaster Germany. Athens will send a letter to Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup, today to request an extension on its European loan agreement that would sidestep the duties of a fullblown bailout, a government source said.

Government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis had initially said the letter would

be sent yesterday suggesting Athens was now scrambling to re-jig the offer before it goes to Brussels. The possible olive branch lies in the wording: Greece’s ruling Syriza party had sworn it would not apply for a bailout extension but request a bridging loan, the word bridge has now been dropped, while extension is back on the table. “Greece blinks first, sort of,” Berenberg analyst Holger Schmieding said in a note.

The Athens move “comes with a snag,” however: “It wants the money but rejects many of the strings attached

to it. That is simply a nonstarter.” And a spokesman for German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said any extension of international loans to Greece was “inextricably” linked to reforms agreed by Athens under its 240 billion euro ($270 billion) bailout. “It can’t and won’t be the case that you go for an extension without the agreed reforms,” he said. Europe and Greece are racing to reach a deal to avoid a Greek exit from the eurozone, after talks in Brussels ended in acrimony on Monday with both sides digging in their heels.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Sport News

International Sport

Liverpool can win the Europa League –Lambert

Keshi makes final three for Burkina Faso job

52

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Amuneke carpets Eaglets after draw with Guinea

Sport

That most points in an EPL season was Chelsea’s 95 points during the 2004-05 league season

l Junior athletes cry out in national camp l No electricity, kits, allowances and

poor feeding Charles Ogundiya

N

The athletes during training

According to some of the athletes, they have to trek long distances to fetch water to take their bath with the women among them complaining that the task has not been easy for them.

“As a woman, I am supposed to take my bath in the morning beCONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Ighalo’s form unsettles Watford captain Ifeanyi Ibeh

W

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

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

51

Did you know?

TALES OF WOE igerian athletes preparing for the fast approaching African Junior Championships scheduled for Addis Ababa have decried the deplorable condition of their camp base in Sagamu, Ogun State.

New Telegraph’s visit to the camp on Wednesday showed that the place has been in total darkness for the past two days with some of the athletes claiming that they have been unable to communicate with their loved ones because there was no electricity to power their telephones.

Also the condition of the hostels where the athletes sleep is deplorable especially as there is no electricity and water, which is another challenge the athletes have been faced with.

Sport News

atford FC captain, Troy Deeney, is unhappy he was made to start from the bench in last weekend’s 4-3 win at Bolton Wanderers but understands why Hornets’ manager, Slavisa Jokanovic, opted to start Odion Ighalo ahead of him.

The substitutes’ bench was an unusual position for Deeney who has been a substitute only on five occasions in Watford’s last 85 games with three of those coming during his recovery from injury earlier this season.

Jokanovic opted to start Ighalo and Matej Vydra against Bolton and both players vindicated their selection. But Deeney also highlighted his importance by coming off the bench to score the game’s winning goal off an assist from Ighalo.

Deeney said: “Obviously I am not going to be happy sitting on the bench because I am not that kind of person but everyone that came into the team did Ighalo (left) their job and added some-

thing to the game, which moving forward will only help because then you can’t have people sulking or questioning why they are not playing.”

Last season, Deeney and Vydra were Watford’s main strikers. However, in the last seven weeks it has been Ighalo who has been at the forefront of sustaining the Hornets’ promotion push with 12 goals in his last eight matches. Ighalo now has 15 for the season; three more than Deeney, and it is a point which isn’t lost on the Watford skipper.

“Ighalo is the main man and everyone knows I want to be the main man,” said Deeney. “In the vein of form he is in, everything he touches ends up in the net and it is a good thing because it makes me think ‘right he is getting away from me and I need to catch up’.

“We laugh and joke about it but the team is more important than me.

We have 25 lads and at some point someone is going to get injured or have a dip in form and then someone else needs to step up and thankfully we are doing that.”

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Between Pinnick, Keshi and Azeez!

I

had intended to recall 39 years ago last Friday as it was the memorial of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed who was felled alongside his aide-de-camp, Colonel Akintunde Akinsfehinwa, on their way to work on that fateful morning. It was two years after completion of secondary school or call it high school and the romance with journalism and sports had become manifest with correspondence with the London School of Journalism, Frisham Hermitage, in England.

Then the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Centre Court on the fateful day had as guests, black American tennis star Arthur Ashe and rival - Stan Smith within the third game of the first set and before the umpire could call the “Let” as the serve greased the white patch of the net, menacing soldiers from the neighbouring Onikan adjacent to the LLTC, marched onto the club and what followed was total bedlam as the players, umpires, judges, ball boys and spectators scampered for safety from the gun-totting men in uniform.

Unknown to all, including the top brass in the club, there was an attempted coup led by then director of Physical and Health of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Bukar Sukar Dimka. While the soldiers loyal to the Murtala Mohammed government spirited deputy – Olusegun

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only) Obasanjo – to safety and the bullets hit his look-alike Brigadier Dumuje-they felt it was time to clean the area which now serves as an infantry facility close also to the Lagos House and then State House adjacent to the then NITEL building.

Flowing Babanriga or Agbada and ties over suits flew in various directions as we all made for either the crammed toilets which had the players in safety upstairs by the conference room which also doubles for billiards board or those ones down-stairs which the soldiers had menacingly secured. Then came an order from a lieutenant which really revealed the depth of civility and discipline of members of the Nigerian Army. The soldiers gave way, making “escape” into Race Course, so easy. Frightened, everyone gave their legs the best they could as most returned more than two days later to pick their vehicles from the car lot.

Diplomats of the United States Embassy had moved like a flash and promptly secured the safety of Ashe and

Smith – first to the United States Information Service (USIS) – within a shouting distance of the Defence Headquarters, opposite the King’s College and which overlooks the Lagos General Hospital on Broad Street – and later to the US Embassy on Victoria Island Following the event was made possible because the top journalists then were present at the LLTC and while I followed, the headlines reminded one of the brilliant piece of Peter Osugo in the Daily Times where he wrote: “Police beat me and Amukpe”.

Osugo had orders to report the Challenge Cup match between Police “Machine” Team and Amukpe United at the Onikan stadium. Before gaining access to the stadium, he had been hit by a corporal’s baton as the policemen intimidated spectators. The match itself ended with the Police Team trouncing Amukpe 3-0. In this instance, it

was “ Coupists halt Ashe, Smith at LLTC”. It was the screamers for Times, Tribune, Sketch and Daily Express where my Uncle-in-law, Chief Dapo Daramola of the Spear Magazine fame was Managing Director having been “lured” by Chief Iyaniwura. Thirty-nine years had gone by and Ashe has the honours role –even in death-as the Centre Court at Flushing Meadows–venue of the US open is named after him. How about Murtala?

Well still recognise the face on the twenty naira note. And the Lagos Airport.

However, now that he has returned from duties at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2015) it is time for Amaju Pinnick to take a “soccer decision” and leave the Sports Ministry out of the mess in this affair of Stephen Keshi and Eagles job.

Pinnick still owes this nation explanations as regards the security exposure of teenagers who had to travel by road to Niger Republic at these times when Boko Haram has become more daring than ISIS militants.

Keshi -yes- won the AFCON. He qualified for the Brazil World Cup. What followed? Tons of wads of naira and other currencies, national hon-

ours, houses in Abuja and Asaba, SUVs -and lots more. Same for the players of that set. flash back to 1980 when Christian Chukwu led the Eagles to AFCON glory. After the houses in FESTAC, National Honours, 505 saloon cars and wads of naira notes led by Chief M.K.O.Abiola, players of that set literally “packed it in” and Otto Gloria took a walk.

Let Pinnick be aware that what this nation needs at these times are a set of coaches and players who want to achieve like Keshi and “his boys”.

So that they too can edge out of the poverty line.

Keshi is no longer on that roll call. And he should take a breather.

Period! That also underlines the challenge for Pinnick in affairs of Nigerian referees. New Nigeria Referees Association President – Tade Azeez –is a brother. I have been following his politics of the whistle since he had tutelage from Festus Okubule, Linus Mba and Colonel Joro Yabilsu. It was Yabilsu who predicted in 2001 that Tade will one day realise his dreams, and Pinnick can be assured of a “real” battle from men/women of the whistle. Just cannot wait…Seconds out!

Amuneke carpets Eaglets after draw with Guinea

Ifeanyi Ibeh

H

ead coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amuneke, has described his team’s first half performance in Wednesday’s one-all draw against Guinea at the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Niger as the worst since he took charge of the team almost a year ago.

The Nigerian team seemingly collapsed in the first half as the Guineans took control of the game and deservedly shot into the lead in the 11th minute from the penalty spot before Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, rescued a

Eaglets in action against Guinea

Wenger ready to release Akpom, Ajayi for Nigeria EmmanuelTobi

A

rsenal football club of England manager, Arsene Wenger, has assured officials of the Nigeria Football Federation that Nigerian-born players in the club - Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi will be released anytime their services are needed by Nigeria.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick revealed this after a meeting with the French-born coach on Tuesday at Arsenal FC’s training ground in London.

Pinnick who was accompanied by the new Special Envoy for the Federation on International Affairs, Tunde Adelakun, said: “As we had always

known, Arsene is very knowledgeable; vast in his knowledge and appreciation of Nigeria as a footballing country, and widely philosophical in his general approach, ” he said. The NFF boss added that Wenger has promised not to influence any player’s decision concerning their international future.

“He told me that he has never stopped any player from opting for whichever national team he wants. He said he always tell his players to follow their hearts and not allow people to push them. He further assured that if Nigeria extended a call-up to either or both of his players, he would have no objection if the players say they want to go.”

“Arsene told us that he would gladly

Pinnick (left) and Wenger

do what he could to assist where we want, and has already started giving encouraging signs towards the capacity building exercises for our coaches at all levels.”

point for the reigning world champions, also from the penalty spot, late in the game.

A furious Amuneke however lashed out at his team at the post-match conference, saying: “Frankly, this was our worst performance and the worst I have seen from these boys because we lost composure and the initiative and of the game to the Guineans.

“We knew that the Guineans have some good individual players in No. 8 (Abdul Karim Conte), No. 11 (Abdoulaye Jules Keita) and No. 14 (Yamodou Toure) but we expected our boys to comport themselves much better.”

He however admitted that the tactical changes he made thereafter in the second half helped the team as Ebere Osinachi and Orji Okonkwo, who respectively replaced Christian Charles and Suleiman Abdullahi, forced the Guineans to commit several fouls. The match actually saw Guinean player, Alseny Soumah, receiving a red card with six others cautioned by Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ngambo.

“Of course, I want to praise the players for their resilience in getting a draw against Guinea because this was a difficult game for them,” maintained the former African Player of the Year. “We played much better in the second half and it was good we got the equaliser.

“I’m not the referee and I think he is in a better position to know if our equaliser was a good penalty or not. We deserved what we got but we would continue to work harderfor the coming matches.”

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Blatter slams racist Chelsea fans

F

IFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at a group of Chelsea supporters, after they were filmed racially abusing a black man on the Paris Metro system.

Footage emerged on Tuesday night of a group of fans blocking a man from boarding a train, while other people can be heard singing, “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

The leader of world football’s governing body has now stepped in to have his say on the events.

Via his Twitter feed, Blatter said: “I also condemn the actions of a small group of Chelsea fans in Paris. There is no place for racism Branislav Ivanovic gives in football!”

UEFA, meanwhile, insists it is beChelsea the lead against yond its remit to take action against PSG

Liverpool can win the Europa League –Lambert

L

iverpool striker, Rickie Lambert, has insisted the club will be taking the Europa League seriously when they get their campaign underway against Besiktas on Thursday.

Amid a difficult start to the season, Brendan Rodgers’ side dropped out of the Champions League after a third-place finish in Group B, behind Real Madrid and Basel.

However, with just one defeat from their last 16 outings, Lambert feels Liverpool are currently on

an upward curve, and believes the Reds have enough quality to win the Europa League, despite it not being their primary target at the start of the season.

“We’d been waiting for so many years to get into the Champions League so we were desperate to stay in it,” Lambert told the Liverpool Echo.

“But we weren’t playing well when the Champions League was there. If we’d just managed to sneak through, who knows what we would have been able to do now.

“Like I knew we were

going to, we’re playing at our best again now. We’re in the Europa League and it’s something that we’ll be trying to win.

“You come into it at a good stage. I know it’s not the Champions League but it’s still a great competition.”

Liverpool’s improved form has seen them move up to seventh in the Premier League - four points off Southampton in fourth, and Lambert believes the Champions League spot afforded to the winners of the Europa League adds to the allure of the competition.

Nadal lifted by Bellucci win R

Nadal

afael Nadal has admitted he was relieved to get over the line and beat Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci at the Rio Open.

The Spaniard has made a slow start to 2015 but back on his favoured clay surface, he looked formidable against the home favourite in Rio de Janeiro.

Looking free of injury and illness which have plagued his form of late, Nadal got his preparations for the French Open at Roland Garros off to a positive start

with a 6-4 6-1 victory.

The ‘King of Clay’ was delighted with the win over Bellucci, as he looks ahead to the second round where he will face countryman Pablo Carreno Busta.

He said: “The important thing is play a tough match like this in the first round and win.

“And always beating someone in their home country, where he has a lot of support, is tough.

“I always have a good feeling playing on clay and I’m into the second round.”

Courtois, Chelsea’s hero, says Luiz

D

avid Luiz believes Paris SaintGermain would have beaten Chelsea on Tuesday were it not for the stellar performance of Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian shot-stopper pulled off a couple of key saves in the Champions League last 16 tie at Parc des Princes, the most crucial of which arguably came in second-half stoppage-time when he prevented a powerful Zlatan Ibrahimovic header from putting Laurent Blanc’s men ahead.

As it stands, Chelsea head into their home leg with an away-goal advantage after Branislav Ivanovic’s opener was cancelled out in the second half by Edinson Cavani.

PSG’s Luiz, who left Stamford Bridge for the Ligue 1 champions in a €50 million move last year, does not think Jose Mourinho’s men would have held on at 1-1 without Courtois coming to their rescue.

thletics global governing body is to launch a doping crackdown on elite marathon runners after scandals involving top Kenyan and Russian stars.

Organisers of the top races in London, New York, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin have agreed to finance extra testing of top runners by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The finance from World Marathon Majors means that the top 150 runners will face tougher testing after races and

Jeptoo

out of competition.

Failed tests by Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, who was the second fastest woman in

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Flying Eagles beat Ghana 2-0 Ifeanyi Ibeh

N Thibaut Courtois made a number of impressive saves to deny PSG

Marathons marked for doping crackdown A

the fans, as the incident took place away from the stadium, though it “condemns all forms of discrimination and we are appalled by the incident.

“It is a matter for the local authorities to investigate further and UEFA supports any action that is taken.”

Chelsea were quick to condemn the conduct of those involved in a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday night: “Such behaviour is abhorrent and has no place in football or society.

“We will support any criminal action against those involved, and should evidence point to involvement of Chelsea season-ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them, including banning orders.”

history, and Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, three time winner of the Boston marathon, sullied the name of one of the original Olympic disciplines.

Jeptoo – who in the past two years has achieved the Chicago/Boston double – was one of 35 Kenyan athletes suspended over the past two years for taking banned drugs.

The WMM “offered their contribution to our prog ramme,” said Thomas Capdevielle, the IAAF’s anti-doping manager, while announcing the clampdown.

igeria’s Flying Eagles, on Wednesday, made up for their earlier draw against Ghana by defeating their Ghanaian counterparts 2-0 in a friendly match played in the Ghanaian city of Tema.

Both sides, who are preparing for next month’s African Youth Championships, taking place in Senegal, had earlier on Monday played out a 2-2 draw in Accra but Wednesday saw the Nigerians grabbing two second half goals against their fierce West African rivals.

Skipper Musa Muhammed scored a penalty in the 70th minute before substitute Ifeanyi Matthew doubled the Flying Eagles lead in stoppage time.

“We had a much better second half after our pep talk at half time. It was also a better performance for my team than what we showed in the first match,” said Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba. “Ghana too are a very good team and I tip them to go past Group B at the AYC.” Manu’s Ghanaian counterpart, Silas Tetteh, said: “They are a compact team who showed very good understanding meaning they have been playing together for some time now. It was good to play against such a team.

54

SPORT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

TRACK & FIELD

TALES OF WOE

WITH CHARLES OGUNDIYA

The athletes’ hostel CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 5 1

fore training, immediately after training and later in the evening, but I find it difficult to do so because there is no water,” said one of the athletes who craved anonymity.

“I have to start looking for how to fetch water immediately after training and we are not finding it funny at all.”

The athletes revealed further that they had to resort to going to the bush to defecate due to the situation in their hostels.

Our correspondent met the athletes while they were having their breakfast. The menu was yam and stew but surprisingly they were all eating under a makeshift

shed.

When our correspondent asked about the state of feeding in the camp, some of the athletes waved aside the question, saying that they have to make-do with whatever meals they are served so as not to starve during their stay in camp.

They also revealed that they have not been paid camp allowances since last week.

The junior athletes complained of having no money to buy recharge cards to speak with their family and friends.

A visit to the training ground also revealed that no kits have not been provided for the athletes to train with and are therefore forced to go

Makeshift Cafetaria for the athletes

Provisions given to the athletes

to training in coats of many colours.

When contacted, the Coaches Coordinator, Seigha Porbeni, and the camp commandant, Falilat OgunkoyaOmotayo, provided some insight into the situation in the camp.

Porbeni said the issue of electricity was a general problem in Nigeria but that they were already trying to find a solution to the problem.

“When the president of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, and the minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, visited the athletes

on Valentine’s Day, they promised to supply us diesel and we are trying to remind them to fulfill their promise. Hopefully it will be resolved soon,” he said.

On the issue of camp allowances for the athletes, former athlete Ogunkoya, said the AFN would salvage the situation.

According to her, the visit of the minister gave the AFN officials the opportunity to express their feelings on the need to make funds available for

the athletes.

Ogunkoya said: “We have been getting food for the athletes and hopefully everything would be resolved soon.

“When the minister visited us, he was informed about our challenges because the competition must go on and the athletes must prepare. I can tell you this is the shortest camping we have ever had, that is why we have been tasking the athletes to train twice a day to cover up for the lost time.”

Keshi makes three-man shortlist for B’Faso job Emmanuel Tobi

E

mbattled Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has been shortlisted as one of the three coaches for the vacant Burkina Faso job.

In a release made available on Tuesday night, the Burkina Faso Football Federation also named ex-Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and exGabon and Niger coach

Gernot Rohr on the final list “German Rohr, Serbian Rajevac and Nigerian Keshi have been selected by the commission,” read the FBF statement.

“The FBF plans to name the successful candidate within three weeks.”

Burkina Faso are looking for a successor to the Belgian Paul Put, who left the post after a disappointing Africa Cup

of Nations campaign in Equatorial Guinea.

Keshi who failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2015 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea is currently waiting on officials of the Nigeria Football Federation who are foot-dragging on the renewal of his contract.

Rajevac steered Ghana to the final of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the last eight of the 2010 World Cup in South

Blatter welcomes NFF officials President, Sepp Blatter, in Zurich on Wednesday received and FIFA

Blatter (left) and Pinnick

held an official meeting with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation at the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Blatter, accompanied by FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, welcomed the team on arrival at the headquarters of world football, and assured the Nigerian officials that FIFA would be ready to collaborate more with the new NFF. NFF President Amaju Pinnick led the team, which also included NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, and the General Secretary, Musa Amadu.

The Nigeria delegation will return to Abuja on Thursday.

Africa.

Rohr took Gabon to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nations Cup on home soil and also managed Niger at the 2013 edition but failed to get them out of the group stage.

Runners-up in the 2013 final in South Africa, the Stallions crashed out in the group stage of this year’s tour nament, which was won by Ivory Coast.

Keshi

Eduok inspires Esperance to victory did shot from the left, his first goal for the team, and it gifted his team all three points when it appeared they were resigned to picking up just one.

Eduok joined Esperance after a protracted transfer tussle between his former team Dolphins and A&B Academy, with Sarpsborg of Norway claiming they signed him from the academy, a claim Dolphins rejected and got him transferred to Esperance.

The former Nigeria U-20 winger scored over 20 goals in the Nigerian Eduok Premier League last season and his fine form led to a call up to the senior uper Eagles striker, Emem Eduok, national team during the AFCON 2015 on Wednesday inspired his Tuni- qualifiers. sian club, Esperance, to victory after He was later called up to the U-23 scoring the only goal of the match with side but discrepancies in his age sub12 minutes to go against JS Kairoua- mitted to the Nigeria Premier League naise. organising committee led to his omisThe 22-year-old scored with a splen- sion from the team.

S

Special Features

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

55

Akobundu: Before the Senate votes

Jonathan

Ebere Wabara

O

n Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded eight names to the Senate for approval as ministerial appointees, as demanded by the Constitution. Among the nominees is Col. Austen Akobundu (retd), who, potentially, represents Abia State in the federal balancing act.

It is unfortunate that state governors are given borderless and boundless latitude in national and local issues so much so that some of them see themselves as thin gods and kingmakers. And they carry on with vaulting haughtiness and aristocratic swagger.

In the circumstance, they do not care a hoot how their emotive decisions and actions affect the collective health and wellbeing of the people that constitute their spheres of influence.

I had expected our transformative President to make wide consultations before appointing anyone as a minister and not depend on the list drawn up by governors, who, naturally, will abuse such a privilege! Even if the daunting challenges facing the country cannot allow diligent President Jonathan to embark on such a painstaking exercise, there should be Presidency operatives who can do a thorough screening and short-listing of prospects before final presidential selection and subsequent senatorial intervention.

The current practice of exclusively depending on the governor for nomination of state representatives for national assignments is fraught with subjectivity. Let us take the case of Col Akobundu (retd). He comes from the same federal constituency of Umuahia-Ikwuano just like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala and Governor Theodore Orji!

So, why must only people from this zone be representing the state which has a multitude of cerebral minds ready to redeem the castrated state?

It is because of this kind of blanket adoption of controversial names and

Orji

anaemic lists that send people wagging their tongues and lambasting hardworking President Jonathan for taking decisions based on a governor’s sentimental choice, Why should a governor be the sole determinant of major issues and appointments in a state, especially when the governor is reputed for propaganda, lies and morbid deception of humanity? For me, a governor with a reputational pedigree of delivery of good governance submitting names for federal appointments will not be a subject for public discourse because the same spirit that drives such a man to achieving credible results will also propel him into making the right representational choices for the state.

Aside Gov. Orji’s classical and referential case as the worst governor in the universe, where is the fairness, justice and equity in the nomination of Col. Akobundu to represent Abia State in the last round of President Jonathan’s ministerial swing? The person of Akobundu is not the issue,

Let us take the case of Col Akobundu (retd). He comes from the same federal constituency of UmuahiaIkwuano just like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Governor Theodore Orji!

Akobundu

but the constituency he comes from is the crux of the matter. You cannot have other constituencies in a state and only one of them will be producing “candidates” for national appointments and recognition! There must be a balance in these matters, which is even enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The way it stands now, a governor has the prerogative to nominate anyone he likes whether the person merits it or not! What counts is the formalization of such a travesty by the transmission of the name to the Presidency—except if the nominee has a criminal record or other damning antecedents. Competency, capacity and experience do not come to the fore when the governor wants to dispense with his executive perquisites. Of course, other critical attributes aforementioned are utopia to the governor.

This latest nomination is the most insensitive in the twilight of Gov. Orji’s misrule. It is an affront to the good people of Abia State and indeed mankind. How can the governor be so indifferent to the feelings of his people? Are other constituencies bereft of human capital for such vacancies? Is it because affected constituencies have been keeping quiet in the face of such provocations that the governor continues to ride roughshod over them? The time has really come for Abians to stand up for their rights—this interminable docility is the same reason Gov. Orji is almost getting away with his atrocities. And to crown it all, he has anointed Okezie Ikpeazu (yet from the same ward with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe!) to perpetuate the charade euphemistically called governance in Abia State, as he curiously “retires” to the senate, if only the god I worship sleeps! He does not sleep and cannot allow evil to triumph perpetually.

It is amazing that this brazenness has been going on for the past eight years and those who should speak up are dumb, unconcerned and compromised beyond rationalization.

President Jonathan, too, has not helped matters with his approval of

some of the inanities thrown up by Gov. Orji: he is either giving him a national award or taking him along on overseas trips as a member of his entourage, among other indulgencies!

What other endorsement does the governor need?

On the instant case of Col. Akobundu, I plead with President Jonathan to rescind his decision by dropping him and taking another person from other constituencies. Abia has a surfeit of distinguished men and women to hold public offices. It is regrettable that the system we operate awkwardly allows the determination of related affairs to the arrogance of one man.

Is it not possible to even choose one of the governorship aspirants in last year’s primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senior Abians in the academia or Abia icons in the corporate world? Anyone chosen from this tripod cannot disappoint because of the height of responsibility associated with such top echelons of our existentialism.

The worst disservice President Jonathan will do to Abians who love him beyond measure is to allow this nomination discrepancy to subsist.

I must underscore the point that the President does not need Gov. Orji’s support to win landslide in the state.

It has happened before and will be adumbrated this time round. Nobody should give President Jonathan the impression that without a certain governor there would be presidential electoral defeat for him for not succumbing to a governor’s appointive blackmail or other jaundiced demands. The Senate should ask salient questions especially the constituency of Col. Akobundu vis-à-vis other officials from that same zone before taking any confirmative step or not.

From the cases of Col. Akobundu and Ikpeazu, Gov. Orji does not give a damn where public functionaries come from and the feelings of Abians on this abusage of office! This cannot happen in other parts of the country without conflagration! Abians arise!

• Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.

On Marble

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.

– Charles Bukowski

Caravan Bridge over the river Meles in Izmir, Turkey. It was built around 850 BC, which makes it more than 2,860 years old—qualifying as the oldest functioning bridge in the world.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

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Obasanjo, Buhari and Jonathan (OBJ)

T

he three characters in the above title have been trending in the nation’s political news this week. Last week it was the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and its Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega that dominated a larger space. Book haram is no longer big news even as the Chibok girls are still in captivity.

In the search for a headline for this write up, so many thoughts came to my mind including just saying “Obasanjo,” but I didn’t think it was professionally right to have a one word headline.

On discovering that the initials of the three trending characters in the national polity this week actually could come to be acronym of the main character in this piece, I quickly jumped at it.

The last you can easily remember of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former political party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP is Monday’s dramatic tearing of his party membership card and this has been seen by majority of Nigerians as the last straw.

But I would want to take you down memory lane where Chief Obasanjo’s journey into PDP began. First was the former military Head of state, General Abdulsalmi Abubakar who released him from prison in Adamawa state where late military leader Gen Sani Abacha had quarantined him following his indictment in planned coup.

Then followed the historic and strategic visit to Obasanjo in Abeokuta by the ‘Maradona’ himself, General Ibrahim Babangida after which he made the memorable remark, “Nigeria needs leaders like him at this time.”

Babangida’s remark quickly nullified Obasanjo’s statement that he did not leave anything in the presidency and didn’t need to go back.

But Chief Obasanjo’s symbolic entry into politics and indeed into the PDP was facilitated by veteran politician, Second Republic Deputy Governor of the old Oyo State, and former Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Sunday Michael Afolabi, who was one of the very few pro- Obasanjo Yoruba elites who stood by him. It was Afolabi who took the PDP membership card to Obasanjo and lured him to join the party.

When Obasanjo became President, Afolabi and Chief Bola Ige who were the few with him, joined his government as Ministers of Education later Internal Affairs and Justice and Attorney General of the federation respectively. The duo died in office. While Chief Ige was assassinated under a controversial circumstance, Afolabi succumbed to a kidney related illness, which manifested soon after he was slammed with a criminal charge of corruption at a Federal High Court in Abuja by Obasanjo government.

Even in his grave, Chief Afolabi, a die-hard PDP man in his life time would turn round on hearing that the card he took to Obasanjo in 1998 was torn by him after serving as President for eight years using the party platform and serving as Chairman of its

Political Musings IKE ABONYI

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 08024024029 (sms only)

Jonathan

Buhari

Board of Trustees (BOT).

Monday’s tearing of the card and subsequent dumping of the party was just the peak of an ill fated drama whose curtain opened soon after President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as President in 2011. It did not take long before Obasanjo the godfather realized that Jonathan his godson was not going to play ball. With Obasnjo there is no negotiating loyalty or obedience- it must be total.

History is a witness that Obasanjo hardly supports anybody he is not controlling. In fact, there is no gov-

Obasanjo

ernment he ever supported since he handed over to a civilian government in 1979. Uncountable number of lectures or public statements from him while out of office were all targeted at scorching attacks on governments in power at the time. From Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to General Ibrahim Babangida to Gen Sani Abacha who had thin patience for him and put him behind bars. Gen Abdulsami Abubakar was understandably his hero for bringing him out of prison and clearing the way for his famous prison to presidency journey.

Late President Umaru Yar Adua was too sick to have taken any attack from Chief Obasanjo more so that his tenure was shortlived.

So with history as a witness, Obasanjo has remained himself. His attitude on Jonathan is not virgin. It is just more pronounced now because this is the first time since the government of Alhaji Shagari that a civil government in the real sense of is in power. Obasanjo still feels very strongly that he hugely facilitated the coming of Jonathan, which he has proved by his actions that was for selfish reasons. His choice of Yar Adua was also against Northern interest, knowing his health status as well as picking a visibly disinterested Jonathan at the time was more for a hidden agenda than any patriotic drive to lift the country.

Obasanjo is not the type who finds anybody to be too good for any position except himself. Even in literature where he knows almost next to nothing, Obasanjo would not concede superiority to either Chinua Achebe or Wole Soyinka. In politics, he equates himself

with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo while seeing himself as best officer, same way he believes he should be the United Nations Secretary General.

Obasanjo still see himself as the best farmer in the world. It was for the same reason of control that Obasanjo refused to support the presidential ambition of the late Chief Moshood Abiola Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar got his fingers burnt for trying to civilanise Obasanjo who likes to call himself a military democrat. Chief Audu Ogbeh could not survive as Chairman of PDP because Obasanjo was not disposed to his intellectual bent in the running of their party.

That is why I cannot agree less with the son of the famous musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Seun who wrote in his Instagram page in reaction to Obasanjo quitting the PDP that “Baba Obasanjo has blamed everyone else except himself for this bad government. You were no different. This is just escalation of your tactics. Oga take responsibility too.”

The truth is that when you see Obasanjo endorsing Buhari don’t be excited yet if you are Buhari’s supporter until you find out the behind the scene agenda. When you see Obasanjo trying to romance with his visibly known political enemy like Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wait until you see the end.

Whether as a writer, politician or mere political watcher in the country’s polity in the last one year, it is difficult, no matter how restrained one may be, not to get provoked by the orchestrated crusade of the former President against the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

If the so called “weak and clueless Jonathan” gets provoked and bursts out with some words against this supposedly elder statesman, I expect Nigerians to have a judicious and rational view of the situation.

I don’t know of any country in the world where a former President from the same political platform writes a book and brings an incumbent President from his party to the cleaners the way and manner Obasanjo has done in his recent autobiography “My Watch.”

As the man who ‘brought’ Jonathan into the national limelight where according to him he has failed, Obasanjo has not been humble enough to apologize to Nigerians for bringing him.

The question then remains, who is Obasanjo working for, Jonathan feels he is working for himself, Buhari and APC feels he is working for them. Some discerning minds feel Obasanjo has an agenda. In whose interest will such agenda be? Only time will tell.

Anyim at 54 As you read this piece this morning, a short prayer session is being concluded at the home of a friend, the secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim who is 54 years old today. A dynamic young man who has been the engine of this administration. His amiable wife Chioma marked hers yesterday as 24 hours separate their birth dates. Congratulations most distinguished.

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