Thursday, july 28, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

CBN to banks: Provide for foreign currency loans

lLenders to raise capital Tony Chukwunyem

anks in the country are set to go on capital raising exercis-

es, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed them to immediately make

full provisions for un-provisioned portions of all foreign currency-denominated loans and advances on their books.

In a letter to the banks by the Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, posted on its website yesterday, the

banking watchdog also ordered lenders to review all their foreign currency-denominated loans and make adequate provisioning on

Don't tamper with N5.3trn pension funds, TUC warns govt }4

all delinquent ones in line with the prudential guidelines for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) issued on July 1, 2010. With the naira losing CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Idris

Budget padding:

Tomorrow in New Telegraph: 50 years after July 29, 1966 coup

Special E dition

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Jibrin dares Dogara UED ON PAGE 2

Ex-committee chair: We’ll meet in EFCC, ICPC Speaker: Withdraw allegations within seven days }3 & 4 Anti-Dogara Reps call for independent probe SERAP drags House to UN Oshiomhole, Mimiko on campaign train

Governor Adams Oshiomhole at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Egor Local Government Area of Edo State…yesterday

Governor Olusegun Mimiko addressing non indigenes of Ondo State in Akure…on Tuesday.

Army mobilises troops against N'Delta militants lDickson: Force can't solve crisis lAvengers to Buhari: Your drones'll fail }2 Tatoo inks increase cancer risk –Study }10

NEWS

Thursday, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Army mobilises troops against N'Delta militants

Anule Emmanuel, Emmanuel Onani, Dominic Adewole and Ahmed Miringa

he Nigerian Army will, this weekend, commence amphibious training exercise for its Special Forces and other units. The aim of the exercise is to mobilise the troops against Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and other groups in the oil-rich region, who have literally brought the economy of the nation to its knees. The disclosure was made last night by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman. The exercise, codenamed "Exercise Crocodile Smile", will be conducted at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, as well as parts of 2 Division Areas of Responsibility (AORs). "The Nigerian Army will, from this weekend, commence another training exercise code named “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in 82 Division and part of 2 Division areas of responsibility traversing the South-South geopolitical region. "The aim of the exercise is to practice our Special Forces and other units of the Nigerian Army in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine environment and also check criminal activities like kidnapping, militancy and piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority. "The general public is please requested not to panic on the sight of unusual movement of large number of troops, heavy military weapons and equipment in these areas," Usman said. Also, the Joint Military Force deployed to the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, has restated its preparedness to deal with the renewed violence by militants in the oil-rich region. Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, Commander of the operation, made this known at a news conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, yesterday. Okojie said that the mil-

974m

The number of individuals using the internet in developing countries in 2009. Source: Itu.int

56%

The estimated percentage of the antiretroviral therapy coverage (range) of Caribbean in December 2009. Source: Who.int

itary had capacity to flush out militants, but were compelled to respect the dialogue option adopted by the Federal Government. The Defence Headquarters had scaled down military option and declared a ceasefire to pave way for dialogue with the militants. President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that the Federal Government was in talks with the Niger Delta militants. Okojie, who said that the operation enjoyed the support of the military top brass and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, had been effectively curtailing collateral damage to oil infrastructure in the region. But Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has warned that the plan by the military to use maximum force in solving the crisis in the Niger Delta will not end militancy in the oil-rich region. The governor stated this yesterday after holding a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja. He said rather than deploying military option, government should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to discuss how best the crisis could be resolved once and for all. "I have said that the issues in the Niger Delta, the terrain, the historic nature of the issues and challenges are such that military solution may not be the way forward," Dickson stressed. According to the governor, "For us who are

products of political system who are at this level, we have a duty to mobilise communal and local leadership; we have a duty to support the work of intelligence and security agencies are doing; we have a duty to ensure that issues are better appreciated and that we fill the communication gap. "And where there are issues, those issues need be addressed and it is also our duty to network like I'm doing to ensure that problems that are identified as the root cause of some of these challenges are looked into." Dickson emphasised that as far as he was concerned, using the military was not the best decision that government would take at this critical time. The governor, who confirmed that there were negotiations going on between the Federal Govern-

ment and militants in the region, said: "The military solution, as I have always maintained, is not the right option. "We are hopeful that the ongoing discussions will yield the desired result. I have always been in support of negotiations, of dialogue as the sustainable way forward. "Dialogue will bring out the issues and then we will all unite around these common issues to move our country forward.” The Bayelsa State governor also disclosed that he was at the presidential villa to engage the president on issues bothering on insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, the Avengers yesterday asked President Buhari to start searching for oil wells in the Northern part of the country. The group said with

the current intelligence gathering of their agency, instead for them to bow to military pressure, the president must be prepared to kill innocent people of the region over their natural endowment. The group maintained that the Federal Government was only using the proposed peace talks with militants in the region as a delay tactic to await the delivery of drones it intends to unleash on the region. But the NDA advised the president to step up oil exploration in the Lake Chad basin, because “you will not be able to export one litre of crude in the Niger Delta" in few days to come.” NDA spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, in a statement he tagged, “Your Drones Won't Stop Us", which alleged that the Federal Government had been us-

ing his botched dialogue as a subterfuge, assured him that his drones from Europe and the United States of America (USA) would fail him. “The NDA intelligence agency gathered that the said peace talk or dialogue by the Federal Government is a delay tactic employed by the Federal Government to enable their purchased drones that are being expected by end of August from the United States. "Also note that you will not be able to export one litre of crude in the Niger Delta, just intensify the oil exploration in the NorthEast. As for the ones in the Niger Delta, forget about it because the Nigerian government won’t export a drop from our land," the statement read. While querying the avowed unity of the NiCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (left) and President Muhammadu Buhari during Dickson's visit to the president in Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: Timothy Ikuomenisan

CBN to banks: Provide for foreign currency loans CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

over 50 per cent of its initial exchange rate (N197 per dollar) following the devaluation of the currency and now trading at about N300 to a dollar, this means that lenders would have to make provisions for the translation cost (the difference in the exchange rate based on the new valuation). Price of crude oil has fallen from about $110 per barrel to around $47 per barrel and Nigeria, which relies on oil for more than 70 per cent of her revenue, has not translated into big investments, and infrastructure to support local manufacturers doesn’t exist yet. But the apex bank said yesterday’s directive was in view of its recent circular on the revised guidelines for operations of the interbank foreign exchange market, which liberalised the forex market. It noted that one of the effects of the new forex

policy was that it would lead to an increase in balances on foreign currencydenominated loans and advances on the books of banks, especially facilities that had been fully provided for under the previous exchange rate regime, but were yet to be written off, in accordance with existing regulations. The CBN stated: “Consequently, to ensure adequate and proper provisioning, banks are by this circular, required to ensure that the un-provisioned portion on all such facilities are fully provided for immediately in the income statements and evidence of the additional provisions forwarded to the Director of Banking Supervision within one week of the date of this circular.” The statement recalled that the CBN issued the Revised Guidelines for the Operations of the Nigerian interbank foreign exchange market on June 15 to enhance efficiency in

the market. “In continuation of its efforts to enhance efficiency, facilitate liquidity and transparency in the foreign exchange market, the CBN issued the Revised Guidelines for the Operations of the Nigerian Interbank forex market. “One of the effects of the guidelines which liberalised the foreign exchange market, is the increase in balances on foreign currency-denominated loans and advances in the books of banks.” It said the exercise included facilities that had been fully provided for under the previous exchange rate regime, but were yet to be written off per extant regulation under Section 3.21(a) of the Prudential Guidelines. It will be recalled that global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, had said in a note that Nigerian banks were sufficiently well capitalised to absorb the impact of the 40 per cent devalu-

ation of the naira occasioned by the new forex policy. The agency explained that currency devaluation affects banks’ capital ratios mainly because total riskweighted assets are inflated when foreign currency (FC) assets are translated back into naira, while capital is denominated in local currency. However, it stated that if the naira continues to weaken, buffers between minimum and reported Capital Adequacy Ratios (CARs) may decline to a level, which heightens ratings’ sensitivity. The agency said: “Fitchrated banks report CARs ranging from 14 per cent to 21 per cent. The devaluation will impact ratios in different ways across rated banks, depending on the level of their FC risk-weighted assets and the size of their net open FC positions. “On average, 45 per cent of net lending in the

Nigerian banking sector is extended in FC, almost entirely US dollars. Balance sheets tend to be reasonably well hedged, although CARs are primarily affected by the revaluation of their FC risk-weighted assets into naira. “Loan loss cover is adequate for most banks, but expect impaired loan ratios to rise in the wake of the naira devaluation. This is because some Nigerian corporates are not adequately hedged by FC income streams and may find it more difficult to service their FC loans. Most major Nigerian corporates are well hedged.” According to Fitch, the success of the forex move in attracting portfolio inflows and foreign direct investment has yet to be tested. But if successful and FC supply rises, FC liquidity for banks will ease, which would allow them to meet FC demand, and meet their internal and external FC obligations.

NEWS

Thursday, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Budget padding: Jibrin dares Dogara

Philip Nyam Abuja

he crisis rocking the House of Representatives over padding of the 2016 Budget yesterday got messier as Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin locked horns. While Dogara gave a seven-day ultimatum to Jibrin to tender an unreserved apology to him and retract all allegations made against him or face legal action, the former chairman of Appropriation Committee insisted that Dogara and his 'cabal' are corrupt. Jibrin said he would never apologise to the Speaker over allegations of padded budget. The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said his lawyers had approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences

Commission (ICPC) as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to submit his petition against Dogara and others. “I will not and will never apologise to a shameless fraud in high office who has glaringly abused public trust like Speaker Dogara and three others,” Jibrin wrote on his twitter account, @AbdulAbmJ. A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Mr. Turaki Hassan, stated that the demand for a retraction was contained in a letter written and addressed to Jibrin by counsel to Dogara, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co. The letter, entitled, 'Request for a retraction and an apology of a libelous press statement issued by you on Monday, 25th July 2016', noted that the claims of the former Appropriation Chairman, who was

removed for alleged padding of the budget and other actions, that the speaker is corrupt and abuses his office is aimed at tarnishing his image at home and abroad and is a clear case of libel. Jibrin had accused the speaker, his deputy, Yussuff Lasun, Majority Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor of fraudulently padding the budget. He referred to them as a ‘cabal’. Jibrin stated that the Speaker frequently abuses his office, amounting to conflict of interest by soliciting for inappropriate favours from agencies and multinational companies. “He forced an agency to grant loans and a construction company blackmailed to do some work at his Asokoro plot,” he alleged. “These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to

cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40 billion out of the N100 billion allocated to the entire National Assembly. "The four of them met and took that decision, in addition to billions of wasteful projects running to over N20 billion they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean. My inability to admit into the budget almost N30 billion personal requests from Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers, also became an issue.” Hence, Dogara’s counsel stated that: "The personal references are obviously directed at our client and amount to a very serious libel. "By the said publication and without putting to the public any shred of evidence, our client is portrayed as a criminal, corrupt, dishonest, fraudulent, dishonourable and

L-R: Marketing Services Manager, FBN Holdings Plc., Mr. Tunde Lawanson; Brand Strategy, FirstBank, Olayide Tikolo; Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBN Insurance, Elizabeth Agugoh; Head, Media and External Relations, FirstBank, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki; Managing Editor, Business and Strategy, New Telegraph Newspapers, Mr. Yemi Ajayi; Managing Editor, Publication and Operations, Mr. Emeka Obasi and Editor, Sunday Telegraph, Mrs. Juliet Bumah, during FBN team's visit to the Corporate Head Office of the newspapers in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Kalu tasks Buhari on economy F oremost entrepreneur and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has expressed confidence in the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. Kalu stated that in the long run, Nigerians will appreciate the state of the nation at the expiration of Mr. President's tenure of office. He explained that the current administration is faced with multifaceted challenges, and as such, should be given more time to actualise its vision of building a prosperous Nigeria. According to Kalu, the economy of Nigeria will improve in the nearest future, if only Nigerians collectively join hands with government at all levels in correcting the anomalies that have, over the years,

killed the Nigerian economy. He noted that the only way out of the current economic woes is for Nigerians to embrace other sectors of the economy, in particular agriculture, and also drop their taste for foreign products. Speaking with a cross section of African Students of Military Academy, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom after a dinner in his honour at The Dorchester Hotel yesterday, Kalu said: "Despite the current economic situation, Nigeria is still one of the largest investment destinations in Africa owing to her vast human and natural resources. “Before independence, Nigerians earned foreign exchange in large sums from the solid minerals and agricultural sectors. Unfortunately, with the discovery of oil in com-

mercial quantities, Nigerians dumped the lucrative agricultural value chain and now that the oil price is down and coupled with the bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta, the economic indices of the nation are unfavourable and calls for immediate remedy. “I am aware that Mr. President has rolled out several initiatives to support the diversification of the Nigerian economic base to recover us from the wounds of overdependence on oil. The N500 billion budgetary allocation (2016) for social investment programmes will go a long way in alleviating poverty. “However, government must look beyond its nose by identifying experts in the field of economics and finance to exchange ideas with business people in order to chart the course of rebuilding and reviving the ailing Nigerian economy.

“In addition, the composition of an independent body with members drawn from the organised private sector, government, civil society organisations, development partners and key stakeholders to serve in an advisory capacity for the purpose of putting in place pragmatic strategies to stimulate local economy will also yield positive results.” The former governor took the opportunity to call on the Niger Delta Avengers and other aggrieved interest groups to cease fire and dialogue with the Federal Government in the spirit of patriotism. He added that the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria should be seen as an advantage, pointing out that the future of the country lies in the hands of Nigerians regardless of religious, political and ethnic differences.

unfit to hold the position of Speaker of House of Representatives. "Our client’s reputation has further been brought down in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and he has been thrown into public opprobrium, odium, scorn and ridicule. "Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libelous, but made in bad faith; an act of vendetta owing to your recent removal as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation. "The said publication is also aimed at causing disaffection between Nigerians and members of the House of Representatives. "Sequel to the above, we have to request you to submit immediately to us a clear and unqualified apology and retraction of the publication in an equally conspicuous position in all the print and electronic media where the publication appeared. "Take notice that in the event of your failure/ refusal to comply with the above mentioned demands within seven days of your receipt of this letter, we have further instructions to institute a suit against you in a court of law. “If we have to pursue this course, we shall be claiming aggravated and exemplary damages.” But in a defiant reaction, Jibrin dismissed the speaker’s ultimatum to retract the allegations, insisting that Dogara and the three accused lawmakers be made to pay for their sins. "Speaker Dogara has threatened legal action on me. Quite predictable. I know he will rush to court in order to invoke the House rules that matter in court cannot be heard on the floor. "He failed to realise that the law is not intended to protect corrupt people. It is such a shame. I have responded to their allegations. Rather than respond to mine, he is rushing to court. I stand by my allegations and I will not withdraw them! "I am happy to announce that my lawyers have officially approached the EFCC and the ICPC towards working out a date for me to personally submit my petition against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leo Ogor. "I believe once a date is agreed with the anti-corruption agencies, we would have begun the process of making these characters pay for abusing their office,” Jibrin stated in a statement. Meanwhile, a group of

lawmakers under the aegis of 'Transparency Group' called for independent investigation into the allegations of budget padding against Dogara and three principal officers. The Transparency Group, at a press briefing in Abuja addressed by Hon. Mohammed Musa Soba (APC Kaduna), said that it is hypocritical for anybody to insinuate that the presiding officers and principal officers are immune from such complaints, allegations and subsequent investigation. He said the House spokesman, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, does not have the mandate of the entire House to speak on its behalf on the allegations against the speaker and three other principal officers. Soba said that they are worried about the recent media allegations and counter-allegations between Jibrin and some principal officers of the House over the padding of the 2016 Budget. He said lawmakers who are at the centre of the controversy should answer to the allegations made against them individually and collectively in line with legislative and criminal justice system. He said the group condemned budget padding and considers it an abuse of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as it relates to chapter 2 under fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy. His words: "We condemn the padding of the budget in its entirety. We will continue to consult on how best to bring sanity into the green chamber. "The House principal officers who are being accused of the budget padding allegation should answer to the issues and not drag the entire House into it. "One of its member raised the issue of padding of the budget in an executive session of the House, but the speaker suppressed the move by the group.” Another member of the group, Hon. Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC, Bauchi) in his contribution, said that what happened with the 2016 Budget by all definition is padding.

£43.2m

The net amount of money spent/ received by Manchester United in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

10%

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years of French Polynesia in 2012. Source: Un.org

NEWS

Thursday, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

TUC to govt: Don't tamper with N5.3trn pension funds

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he President, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, yesterday warned government functionaries to desist from tampering with the contributory pension funds of Nigerian workers. Kaigama, who disclosed that the contributory pension funds have now accumulated to N5.3 trillion, asked government at all levels to look elsewhere to raise fund for their projects rather than toying with workers' future. He said this in his address at the third Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The TUC president stressed the need to protect workers' contributory pension funds, saying it is purely workers’ money meant to be used to offset their terminal benefits when they retire. He said: "Our officials need to understand that the pension funds are not idle funds, but are funds invested mainly in safe instruments like money and bonds markets. "We make bold to say

that our country is not yet ripe for utilizing pension funds for building infrastructure. This is because of the very weak institutions that underpin the Nigerian economy. "Our federal, states and local governments are corrupt and incompetent in recovering public funds. We, therefore, strongly advise government to look elsewhere to raise funds for their projects. Contributory pension is a no-go-area and workers and their unions are more than prepared to fight with everything they have to resist pressures to touch and toy with workers’ future." Kaigama, who is also the National President of ASCSN, expressed concern over what he described as precarious position of salary payment in many states of the federation. He argued that state governors do not have any excuse to justify the non-payment of salaries and allowances of their respective workers. He said: "In some cases, workers are owed up to nine months’ salaries and our governors are moving freely as if nothing is happening. We have never had it so bad. "We make bold to say that a lot of mismanagement of resources is the

major cause of the inability of many of the states to pay salaries to workers. Many of our governors are guilty of massive looting of the treasury, thereby heaping miseries in their wake." Kaigama noted that the patience of workers has been overstretched, adding that total showdown with governors who are affected

will not be ruled out in the next coming weeks. Kaigama also raised the alarm over the unemployment rate in the country, which, he said, had reached "a boiling point and canvassed urgent measures to arrest the ugly trend. "As we speak, more than 70 million able-bodied youths are without any job.

process of spending recovered looted funds on the rebuilding of the country's decaying infrastructure in order to lift the country out of parlous state. At the event, Governor Ibikunle Amosun solicited the support of workers towards actualising the programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Budget padding: SERAP drags Reps to UN Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday dragged the House of Representatives before the United Nations over alleged padding of the 2016 budget. The group, in a petition addressed to Professor Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, prayed him to urgently request the leadership of the House to explain the alleged deliberate padding of the 2016 budget with N481 billion, removal of critical projects and replacement of such projects with constituency projects. The group went further

to state that such did not only undermine the fight against corruption in the country, but also exacerbated extreme poverty and violations of internationally recognised human rights. The petition, dated July 27 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, considers the alleged budget padding, diversion of public funds and abuse of office by the leadership of the House of Representatives as amounting to a deliberate retrogressive action. The group also wants the UN to put pressure on the leadership of the House of Representatives to allow for independent and transparent investigation of the allegations of budget padding, diversion of public funds and

JFO International School celebrates six years of excellence Mojeed Alabi

he management of JFO International School, Agbado Station Area of Ogun State, has given grace to God for sustaining the school, which it claimed was established about six years ago with about seven students, but has now grown as an academic institution of substance. According to its Principal, Mr. Johnson Ojolola, the school which began as a free coaching ground for secondary school pupils with 83 students, three teaching and three nonteaching staff, formally kicked off as a full-fledged high school on Monday, September 9, 2011, with seven students and additional four members of teaching and non-teaching staff. He said; “We established this school to be one of the leading internationally recognised schools built on the solid rock of Christ transforming lives and producing the needed human capacity for nation building. “Today, we have achieved a lot both in the academic and extra-curricular sectors, and we are now one of the leading schools in the state having consistently won trophies

There is no gainsaying the fact that unemployment situation has created a breeding ground for largely unengaged youths to serve as willing tools for perpetrators of political and economic violence which is spreading across the country," he added. The labour leader advised the Federal Government to quickly begin the

Graduating students of the school

abuse of office, and not to victimize Mr. Abdulmumini Jubrin for blowing the whistle on the allegations of corruption in the House. It also wants the UN to make sure that alleged corruption in the House of Representatives is not allowed to undermine the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to advance human rights and address extreme poverty. It also wants the UN to urge the National Assembly, in particular the House of Representatives, to promote in its legislative duties transparency and accountability and observe human rights principles, and that the exercise of its legislative power complies with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and commitments. The petition further reads in part: “We are concerned that the alleged corrupt budget process in the House of Representatives in the context of an economy already weakened by years of large scale corruption will jeopardise sustainable development and hurt ordinary Nigerians who rely on the government to provide basic necessities of life such as water, good roads and electricity. “SERAP is seriously concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability of the National Assembly, which is not consistent with the behaviour of an institution that is constitutionally mandated to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Nigeria. This lack of accountability partly explains why ordinary Nigerians do not

$170m

The net worth of Akshay Kumar in 2016. Source: Fropky.com

$52.8m

The total pay (including salary/ winnings & endorsements) of Jordan Spieth (Golf) for 2016. Source: Forbes.com

trust the National Assembly, and its ability to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Nigeria, and to curb corruption within its systems. “SERAP is concerned that the longstanding practice of constituency projects by the National Assembly of Nigeria and the corresponding alleged diversion of public funds have continued to systematically drain the country’s “maximum available resources”, precipitating poverty, and economic crisis which inevitably magnify dispossession, hunger, disease, illiteracy, and insecurity. “Alleged budget padding and abuse of office by the leadership of the House of Representatives, in particular and the National Assembly in general, also have uneven consequences against the vulnerable groups of the society, including the poor, women and children, perpetrating and institutionalising discrimination. By allegedly exploiting public funds for the personal gain of leaders rather than socio-economic development of the country, constituency projects jeopardize the needs and well-being of future generations as well.”

Anti-Dogara Reps call for independent probe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Some students of JFO International School

in various competitions.” The principal, therefore, commended both the staff and students for doing the school proud, adding that efforts were being intensified to position it for the challenges of the 21st Cen-

tury. “We are proud today that with fully air-conditioned classrooms; ICT-compliant environment including free internet facilities, soundproofed power generating machine, well equipped

library, good boarding facilities and effective transportation system, oversea university placement, among others, we are positioned to offer the best to our students,” the principal added.

geria, the group said, "This whole thing makes us to wonder what kind of country this is. We can all see that President Buhari-led government is a fraud. They are not serious about any dialogue and made it seem the Niger Delta Avengers are the ones not ready for dialogue.

“Mr. President, you can purchase all the drones in Europe and the United States, it will not stop the Niger Delta Avengers from bringing the country’s economy to zero. The worst you can do is to kill poor innocent people which the military is good at, but know that the Nigerian economy will suffer,” the militants stated.

national | news

thursday, july 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms: Why Danjuma took over as ntel chairman –Sources Kunle Azeez

igeria’s former Minister of Defence, Gen. TY Danjuma(rtd) has taken over as the new chairman of ntel, the successor company of Nigeria’s pioneer national operator, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). Already, insider sources told New Telegraph yesterday that the new restructuring of the board of the telecommunications company on account of Danjuma’s “significant investment” in the company after the former chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayeni reduced his investment in ntel, following ‘financial servicing troubles’ Ayeni has been allegedly going through at Syke Bank. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, on July 4, sacked the board and management of Skye Bank led by Ayeni over the rising bad loans in the bank. According to reports, Ayeni, who had been ntel chairman since inception, had borrowed heavily

from the bank and at the time of his exit was allegedly indebted to the lender to the tune of N30 billion. Confirming the new change in board of the telecoms company in a statement yesterday, ntel’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kamar Abass, said that “the new Chairman succeeds Ayeni, the prime mover behind the purchase of NITEL using the investment vehicle of NatCom Development and Investment Limited “NatCom” (now trading as ntel).” Abass also restated the telecoms company’s commitment to have invested in telecoms upgrade and expansion projects totalling over $1billion by 2020. The ntel CEO did not disclose the volume of stakes bought in the telecoms company, ntel, by Danjuma, but said that, “as our new chairman, and as a shareholder, we welcome his support as we add momentum to our growth and development in Nigeria’s telecoms industry.” Danjuma chaired the inaugural board meeting of ntel yesterday, amid the

telecoms company’s plans to begin network services in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by early fourth quarter 2016. According to the ntel CEO, with the entry of Danjuma as ntel Board Chairman, former chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, now becomes Vice Chairman. Other members of the board include Captain Idahosa Okunbo, Abiola Ayeni, Kasheem Shettima, Philip Chukwu, Kola Adesina, John Darlington, Dan Kunle, Babatunde Omotoba and Kamar Abass. Danjuma, fondly known as ‘the green general’ on account of his environmental activism, has interests in oil and gas, banking and shipping. A respected environmentalist and philanthropist, he was Chairman of Abuja Green Society and through his own Danjuma Foundation, established in 2009, passionately supports poverty alleviation, education and medical aid initiatives across Nigeria, according to the company statement.

Senate screens 34 ambassadorial nominees Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate committee on Foreign Affairs has screened 34 ambassadorial nominees. The Committee had screened 15 on Tuesday and 19 yesterday. The 19 nominees that were screened include: Sunday Itegboye from Edo State; Iliyasu . A. Paragalda from Adamawa State, Iyang Udoh-Inyang from Akwa-Ibom State; Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba from Abia State, and Martins Nyong Cobham from Cross River state. Others are: Ngozi Ukaeje from Imo State; Rahma-

tu Dunama from Taraba State, Nonye Esther Udo from Anambra; Munir Liman from Bauchi, Odeka Janet Bisong from Cross River; Umaru Zainab-Salisu from Kebbi; Momoh Saidu Omeiza from Kogi ; and Kabiru Bala from Zamfara state. Also screened are: Queen Nworlu from Edo; Abibat Sonaike from Ogun, Michael Femi Abikoye from Kwara ; Musa Saban Maman from Yobe , Bello Kazaure from Jigawa and Adesesan Olatunde from Ekiti state. The screening of the remaining 13 nominees will be continued today. The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the

Drug trafficking: Six Nigerians face execution in Indonesia this week Ndubuisi Ugah

arring any last minute change of plan, six Nigerians alongside 14 prison inmates are expected to face the firing squad this weekend in Indonesia for alleged drug trafficking offences. It would be recalled that four Nigerians alongside four other foreign nationals were also executed for similar offences in April 2015 in Indonesia. The 14 “convicted” inmates comprising four Indonesians and 10 foreign nationals, according to reports, had their death verdicts already ratified

and would be executed at Nusakambangan prison island. It was also gathered that the prisoners have been notified of the plans for their executions, in accordance with Indonesian law, and could be put to death as early as Friday. While the names of the 14 drug convicts are being kept secret by Indonesian authorities, a group of lawyers from the Community Legal Aid Institute (CLAI) had leaked the list dominated by Nigerians but also featuring two other Africans: Seck Osmane of Senegal and Frederick Luttar of Zimbabwe.

President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, expressed appreciation to the Committee members for their commitment and sacrifice, in screening the nominees during their annual recess period. An ambassadorial nominee, Ngozi Ukaeje, yesterday, advocated the need for Nigeria to review its foreign policy in order to attain a more rapid development.

Gowon charges Buhari on economy Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, yesterday charged President Mohammadu Buhari to do his best in revamping the battered economy of the country. He also maintained that government should not allow anyone found guilty of budget padding to go scot free. "If it is true that anybody is doing that, the person should be checked and stopped to ensure that such does not occur in the future." The former Head of State said these at Ile Ife free health caravan, for hepatitis test and vaccination organised under the auspices of SHEAM health care foundation in the palace of the Ooni.

NEWS | national

Police arrest suspected J killer of ex-envoy

thursday, july 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court to rule on NBA e-voting elections tomorrow

John Chikezie

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he outgoing Commissioner of Police (CP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Mr. Alkali Usman, yesterday announced the arrest of a suspected killer of former Nigeria's Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Sunday Yusuf. Usman, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, at a handover ceremony to his succes-

sor, Mr. Muhammed Mustapha, at the Command Headquarters in Abuja. This was as he also noted that the Command had yet to "break through" with the case of the murder of a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Abuja, Deaconess Eunice Olawale. "As for the murder of Deaconess Eunice, we are also on it; we have not been able to break through on the case. "I just want to mention that we are on and will continue to be on until we able to arrest these culprits and bring them

to book,”he said. In his response, the new FCT CP called for collaboration between the Police and media, for effective crime prevention. He said: "There is need to collaborate, for the media has an important role to play in the area of security. "We are going to seek your cooperation to move the security of the FCT forward.

€39.6m

The estimated transfer value of Sadio Mane of Southampton in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com

ustice Olukayode Adeniyi of an Abuja High Court has reserved ruling in a suit filed by a lawyer, Mr. John Unachukwu, against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the adoption of e-voting for its election billed for Saturday. Unachukwu, in the suit instituted against the registered Trustees of the NBA, asked the court to stop e-voting for the election, describing it as a violation of a delegate voting method stipulated in the NBA constitution. Unachukwu also challenged his disqualification from contesting for the association’s post of National Publicity Secretary. Included in the suit are

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma with the Vice President of EXIM Bank of China, Mr Yuan Xinyong, at the bank's headquarters in Beijing, China… yesterday

FBN Holdings lauds New Telegraph, seeks partnership Mojeed Alabi

he management of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings has declared support for New Telegraph Newspapers, describing it as a forward-looking media platform deserving of strong partnerships with leading global brands. Conveying the company’s message to New Telegraph yesterday, the Head of the financial institution’s Media and External Relations, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, said it was heart warming to note that New Telegraph as a young newspaper has recorded many achievements. These achievements he noted have placed it among the nation’s top-rated media platforms. Lasaki, who led the bank’s team to New Telegraph’s headquarters in Lagos yesterday, said despite being the nation’s oldest financial institution, it is a brand that is managed by young professionals and is always proud to associate with any other brand that is as ambitious and professional like its brands.

He said; “Because of the long years of existence, people associate with us any thing that is old. As an old financial institution, First Bank has produced globally recognized leaders who have contributed significantly to the socio-political and economic development of the world. “A former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Major, was a branch manager of the bank in Jos, Plateau State. So, having identified you as one of the nation’s leading newspapers, we are here to say thank you for your support so far, and to also seek further support and cooperation.” In his response, New Telegraph’s Managing Editor, Business and Strategy, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, thanked the team for finding the paper worthy of partnership. He boasted that as a young newspaper, New Telegraph has carved a niche for itself as a leading newspaper reporting Business and politics. He added that the newspaper has strategically created its audience

among the elite, and with series of merit awards won in various competitions, it has become a paper to be reckoned with. Ajayi said; “Our brand has grown astronomically in figures within the last couple of months, because we have kept re-engineering it to serve our readers with exclusively fresh reports. And because we print simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Aba, we ensure arriving early in the market, and this has

endeared us to our readers.” The Holdings team, which also had the bank’s Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Elizabeth Agugoh; Head, Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing, Olayinka Ijabiyi, and Manager, Marketing Services, Tunde Lawanson, among others, pledged further mutually beneficial relationships between the bank and New Telegraph newspaper.

NAKOSS commends Bello on resolution of ASUU/govt crisis Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

he National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS) has commended the Governor Yahaya Bello for intervening in the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Kogi State University. President of the indigenous student union, Comrade Ibrahim Amadu Akiti, stated this yesterday in Lokoja at a press

briefing. The students lauded the amicable resolutions of the crisis which made the university to re-open, stating that the step taken by the governor to resolve the impasse was very commendable. "We are particularly delighted with the step taken by the governor to end the industrial crisis in the state higher institution and as students will do our best to promote peace on the university campus." he stated.

the association’s outgoing President, Mr Augustine Alegeh, SAN; Mr Ken Mozia, SAN, NBA chairman, electoral committee, Grace Infotech Limited, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN and Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN as co-respondents. However, Justice Adeniyi had during the hearing of the matter struck out a notice of discontinuance against the 6th defendant, Mr. Mahmoud, maintaining that he could not grant the application against the 6th defendant in a matter he was a party. “I have considered the notice of discontinuance. I hereby strike it out and order that the suit should proceed,” he ruled. Unachukwu’s counsel,

Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN) urged the court to restrain the NBA from conducting the elections by e-voting pending the determination of the suit as the NBA Electoral Committee had already scheduled the 2016 general elections for Saturday July 30 and Sunday July 31. Besides, he said that his client had expressed interest to contest and actually emerged sole candidate for the office of the National Publicity Secretary only to be disqualified by the committee. Unachukwu, who is an associate of J-K Gadzama Law Firm was called to Bar in 2004, and has been in the private sector and in private law practice.

Udoma discusses funding of critical projects with China he Minister of Budget Bank of China, Yuan T and National Plan- Xingyong, at the bank’s ning, Senator Udoma headquarters in Beijing, Udo Udoma, yesterday commenced follow-up discussions with the management of the Chinese EXIM Bank in Beijing, China, that will lead to the implementation of the various projects discussed during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to China. Buhari, during a state visit in April this year, reached various agreements with the Chinese government on development assistance, particularly the funding of some critical infrastructure in the country. The visit by the President further bolstered Nigeria’s participation in the 10 critical areas under the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Udoma is in China to attend the FOCAC Coordinators meeting. In the meeting with the Vice President of EXIM

Udoma said that Nigeria would appreciate the financial assistance from the Bank to enable it execute some of the basic infrastructure projects that will drive growth, develop the economy of Nigeria and increase business partnership with its global business allies. Udoma said his visit was to exchange views with the management of the bank and to see how Nigeria can deepen the bilateral cooperation already existing between it and China. “Our relationship with China is very important to us, which was why our President led a big delegation on a State visit to China in April this year. We are quite impressed with the infrastructural development in China and believe that China has a lot to teach us in Nigeria."

Lagos PDP endorses George as party’s National Chairman he Lagos State ExecuIt also fixed August 11 T tives of the Peoples for the National ConvenDemocratic Party (PDP), tion. yesterday declared its support for the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, to be the National Chairman. The State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Moshood Salvador, made the declaration at a news conference on the forthcoming National Convention at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Alhaji Ahmed Markafi led- Caretaker Committee had zoned the National Chairmanship position to the South and Presidency to the North.

``The overall successes of the PDP Local Government, State, National Assembly and 2019 Presidential elections are predicated upon the perfect organisation and repositioning of the party. One of the most important aspects of which is the proper and excellent restructuring of the party’s organs, the wards, from the local government to the national level. “We support and appreciate the efforts of the Markarfi Caretaker Committee; we also appreciate the work done by the zoning committee, ’’ Salvador said.

NEWS

Thursday, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sheriff, Oladipo, Metuh move to stop PDP convention Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

n Abuja High Court yesterday refused an application brought by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to stop Justice Okon Abang from hearing a suit filed by the factional chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and eight others. Sheriff and eight others in a suit filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja are seeking to stop the party's national convention. The convention is scheduled to hold on August 17 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Sequel to Sheriff’s suit, the party had through its counsel, K.C.O Njemanze yesterday brought a fundamental right suit via an ex-parte application before the court. In the suit, the party joined the Chief Judge of

the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Okon Abang as first and second respondents. The motion was brought pursuant to Order 2, Rules 1 and 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and Section 36 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The plaintiff wants the court to restrain Justice Abang from adjudicating over Sheriff ’s suit having shown real likelihood to breach and violate the fundamental right of the applicant to fair hearing particularly as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution. The plaintiff also wants the court to restrain the Chief Judge from assigning the Sheriff’s case to Justice Abang over alleged likelihood of breach of fundamental rights of the party. The party also wants the court to compel the Chief Judge to recall all PDP cases being adjudicated on by Jus-

tice Abang. The trial judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi in a short ruling refused the application for lacking in merit. He held that the applicant is not a natural person and as such not entitled to fundamental human rights. Sheriff and eight others are asking the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC and PDP from conducting the national convention slated for August 17. Justice Okon had on Tuesday granted the applicants leave to have the application heard during the court’s long vacation. The applicants in the suit alongside Sheriff are Prof. Wale Oladapo (National Secretary), Dennis Alonge-Niyi (Deputy National Youth Leader), Alhaji Bashir Maidugu (Deputy National Legal Adviser), Mrs. Hanatu Ulam (Deputy National Women Leader), Alhaji Lawa Dutsima Anchi (Deputy National Audi-

tor), Chief Okey Nnadozie (Deputy National Organising Secretary) and Chief Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary). Joined as respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP. The applicants argued that the interlocutory injunction is intended to preserve the res pending the determination of a substantive suit they filed on July 4 in which they argued among others, that by virtue of the PDP Constitution, their tenure expires in 2018. The applicants further noted that they have filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/464/2016 for themselves and on behalf of the Executive Committee/National Working Committee of the PDP. The Sheriff faction filed the interlocutory application on July 20 shortly after the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction announced August 17 for the party’s national convention.

L-R: Wife of the outgoing Group Managing Director, UBA Plc., Mrs. Jumai Oduoza; outgoing Group Managing Director, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Managing Director, African Foundries, Mr. Aloik Gupta and Chairman, UBA Plc., Mr. Tony Elumelu, during the launch of a book in honour of Oduoza, in Lagos...yesterday.

They specifically want the court to stop the party from going ahead with the planned national convention pending the determination of their substantive suit. The plaintiffs also want an order restraining PDP from presenting anybody or sponsoring any person for election into its offices pending determination of the suit. In addition, they want the court to give an order directing the Nigerian Police to enforce the orders of the court until all applications are disposed off. Hearing in the matter comes up today. Justice Auta had in a memo dated July 8 and addressed to all judges of the court directed judges han-

dling PDP leadership tussle cases to stop further action on the matters pending the outcome of the appeals already pending before the Court of Appeal. The memo which has its heading ‘Re: PDP leadership tussle and orders of the court’ reads in part: “All Honourable Judges handling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership tussle cases are hereby directed to stop further action on the matters pending the outcome of the appeals already pending before the Court of Appeals. “Honourable Judges are also directed to be wary of any other actions that may be filed in their divisions on the same subject matter by the parties. This directive is for immediate compliance.”

FG deports three Koreans Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

ederal Government yesterday deported three foreigners from Korea for immigration related offenses. The deported persons are: Lee Yoo Song, Lee Byeung Woo and Moon Een Soo. The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambuzau signed the letter of deportation on behalf of the government. According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Ekpedeme King, the deported persons would not be eligible to enter Nigeria again through any port in the next 10 years.

The statement reads in part: “The Federal Government of Nigeria had on the 20th of July, 2016 deported three Koreans namely: Lee Yoo Song, Lee Byeung Woo and Moon Een Soo for Immigration related offences. The Hon. Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambuzau Rtd, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 45(2) and (3) and 44(1e) of the Immigration Act 2015, signed the Deportation Order. “Without prejudice to the Foreign Investment Drive of Government, the Comptroller–General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, wishes to use this opportunity to caution all expatriates and their employers in Nigeria to respect the laws of the country.”

Tax debt: FIRS shuts more firms in Lagos, Abuja Nigeria has no alternative to Buhari – Lai Mohammed

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) continued its tax compliance exercise in Abuja and Lagos yesterday, shutting the premises of defaulting companies. In Abuja, the FIRS team, led by Mr. Chinazor Edeh, shut down the office of Taleveras, an energy firm operating from the Maitaima area of the city. A warrant presented by the team indicated that the company owes over N667 million in tax liabilities. Before sealing off the company, Edeh told its chief security officer, the highest ranking official available, that the firm has failed to pay the balance of its tax liabilities after it paid N50 million, following the sealing off of its premises in May. Edeh explained that the FIRS was not interested in sealing off the company, but to ensure that the tax is paid.

But the officer said the company is incapable of defraying the liabilities, as it has not been able to pay salaries. Consequently, the enforcement team ordered the staff to vacate the premises and proceeded to seal off the company. Also sealed by the enforcement team is Jardin Nigeria Limited, a landscaping/project management company, with an office at Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The company owes over N129 million in taxes. An official of the company, who identified himself simply as Mr. Olu, admitted that the company owes, but argued that some state governments owe the company over N2 billion. Edeh advised the company to pay 50 per cent of its tax liabilities and reach agreement with FIRS on a structured payment of the balance. In Lagos, two compa-

nies were shut in the Ikeja area by the FIRS team, led by Anita Erinne. First to be shut was Guarantee Petroleum Company, located at 21 Salvation Road, off Opebi Road. Though the company was open for business at the time the FIRS team got to the office, none of its officials attended to the FIRS team, which shut the premises over a tax debt of $13.26 million. Also, Capital Oil Plc., at 43, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, was sealed over a tax debt of N81.8 million.

£2.29bn

The total value of Manchester United in 2016. Source: Goal.com

24%

The percentage of the population under 15 years of French Polynesia in 2012. Source: Un.org

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration is on the right track and there is no alternative to what it is doing. The minister stated this at a meeting with the members of staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, Spain. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was on the sideline of the minister's two-day official visit to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). “I believe that we are on the right track, there will be some pains, but there is no alternative to what we are doing,” he said. Mohammed said that the administration had fulfilled its campaign promises to address insecurity, fix the economy and fight

corruption. In the area of security, the minister said that when Buhari came on board, 14 of the 20 local government areas of Borno, four in Adamawa and three in Yobe were under the sovereign authority of Boko Haram. He said that with proactive measures and soft diplomacy with neighbouring African countries, the U.S., France and the G-8 had helped the country to “decisively deal with Book Haram.” “Today, all the major highways leading to Maiduguri are opened and about two months ago, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) played a league match in Maiduguri stadium,” he said. On the renewed agitations in the Niger Delta and parts of the South-East, the minister reassured that the government would not marginalise any part of the country, and assured

that economic development would go round to everyone. According to the minister, the present administration is implementing fiscal discipline and other measures to address the messed up economy it inherited from its predecessors. He said with the temporarily painful measures, the government would turn around the adversity to gains and ensure that never again would the nation run a corrupt, clueless and an oil-dependent economy. The minister said that the administration had been unfairly accused of placing too much emphasis on the fight against corruption at the expense of addressing fundamental economic issues. He stressed that no amount of economic reforms put in place could work unless the “monster of corruption is successfully dealt with.”

THURSDAY, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Militants shoot DPO, DCO, others in Lagos

Policemen and residents in the community

Taiwo Jimoh and Tobi Ayinde

ivisional Police Officer (DPO), Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), and four other policemen at Igando Police Division, Lagos, have been reportedly hospitalised following gunshot wounds they received during an encounter with militants. The militants had on Tuesday invaded Akesan, a coastal community in Igando area of Lagos State, and unleashed terror on the residents. A police officer, who plead-

ed anonymity, told our correspondent yesterday that the DPO was shot in the back, while the DCO sustained gunshot injury when they were being chased by the militants. He said the DPO and the DCO were shot when they tried to enter the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) brought to the community to quell the clash. According to him, some policemen also sustained various degrees of injury when they were trying to repel the militants who were advancing towards the Ewedogbon bus stop. It was learnt that militants returned to the community

yesterday on a reprisal attack. They were shooting sporadically in the creek, which lasted for a few hours. “A combined team of mobile policemen, Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) and OPMESA were immediately drafted to the river bank to prevent further breakdown of laws and order in the community,” the officer said. The gunmen, numbering about eight, all dressed in white shirts and trousers, were said to have invaded the community about 8a.m. on Tuesday. They were shooting sporadically to scare away residents. But the militants were lat-

er confronted by members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a combined team of policemen and soldiers who chased the militants to the river bank. The militants escaped through the creek. Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested five persons in connection with the attacks on the community. The suspects were arrested after another exchange of gun fire between the police and the militants. It was learnt that the militants struck again shortly after the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, and his team visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment. Policemen, who were imme-

diately deployed to the area, repelled the gunmen. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, denied the attack on the DPO, DCO and four others from the Igando Police Division. Badmos also debunked claims that Owoseni was attacked yesterday when he visited the community. According to her, police have regained control of the area. She said: “The commissioner of police was there to see our men deployed there and to see to their welfare. He also went there for an on-the-spot assessment. “He met with the residents and we opened up investigation channels. We discovered that the militants live within the community. What happened is that these criminals are enjoying the natural habitat because the waterways are filled with thick foliage so it is easier for them to access since they know the terrain more than we do. “Given what we saw there, the command will put up our operational strategy to ensure they don’t continue to take advantage of the thick foliage to perpetrate crime. “We have arrested five suspects and we are using them to get information. We are still investigating to discover their culpability. “However, our preliminary investigations revealed that these gunmen live in the community but are actually displaced pipeline vandals whose source of livelihood has been taken away, so they resorted to this.”

City Briefs

Akarigbo’ll get befitting burial, Ogun promises Unresolved murders: FG must appoint cended the throne on July 14, behalf of the council when special investigators –Expert Kunle Olayeni 1990. its members visited Amosun, Abeokuta

gun State government yesterday formally announced the demise of the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo. Government made the announcement after the Remo Traditional Council formally informed the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration of the monarch’s death. Oba Sonariwo, until he died on July 23 in United Kingdom, was the chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas. The late paramount ruler, who died at the age of 80, as-

In a statement issued yesterday, government promised to support the people of Remoland towards giving the late Akarigbo a befitting burial. The Elepe of Epe, Oba Adewale Osiberu, spoke on

Oba Sonariwo

who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga. Also present at the meeting were the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Dayo Adeneye, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko. The statement partly reads: “The governor, in his response, said the news was a rude shock to the government and described the demise of the monarch as a great loss to Remoland in particular and Ogun State in general.

Isioma Madike

security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has advised the Federal Government to set up a high-powered Special Board of Inquiry (SBOI) to effectively investigate high profile murder and assassination cases in the country. Ekhomu said SBOI should be given wide powers to summon witnesses, police investigators, experts and political actors who could shed light on the cases. He said: “The image of Nigeria will be greatly improved if the government matched its pronouncement about reopening and resolving cold cases with resolute action.

“Unresolved assassination of Chief Bola Ige, Funsho Williams, Dr. Harry Marshall, Pa Alfred Rewane, among others was a poor commentary on the capability and commitment of Nigeria to redress the human rights of persons murdered in the country. “Aside from the rights of the victims, solving these cold cases will give comfort to the families of the victims. It will also reduce the pervasive culture of impunity in the country,” he added. Ekhomu, who is a Professional Certified Investigator, also recommended that the already over-burdened and under-equipped police agency should not be appointed to lead the investigations.

METRO

THURSDAY, July 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Save us from rapists, robbers, community cries out

Divorce court

Muritala Ayinla

esidents of Ibeshe town in Ikorodu area of Lagos State yesterday took to the streets to protest incessant robbery attacks and raping of women in the area. The protesters also called on government and security agencies to save them. They said their lives were constantly being threatened by cult members and militants, even as they said some people had fled their houses. The protesters said that the community had not known peace in the last two years. Speaking during the protest to the state House of Assembly, the Chairman, Ibesheland Joint Community Development Association, Pastor Fred Olanipekun, said their community had been under the siege of cultists for a long time. Olanipekun, who led the protest, called on the Lagos State government to come to their aid and restore peace in the community, He said a cult group leader known as ‘Badoo’ had wreaked havoc on the community. Badoo, according to him, goes on raping spree, kidnaps and maims people in the community. He said: “For the past two years, we have been experiencing incessant rape of widows, single mothers, young and old women

‘My husband can’t take decisions’ A The protesters

and ladies.” Narrating their ordeal, Olanipekun said that last month, cultists, who operated individually, attacked a Ghanaian lady, simply identified as Grace, raped and removed all her teeth. According to him, because of the brutal attacks unleashed on women, many women have run away from Okeota community, a suburb of in Ibeshe town. He said: “Therefore, because of the incessant attacks, brutalisation and rape of women, many women have moved out of Okeota community.” While recalling violence against women, Mrs. Oluwaseun Osundairo said women

in the community were afraid and decided to flee. According to her, some men have also fled and left their wives and children in the community. She said: “We have been on this issue, made reports to the police but no result. That is why we are here to beg the governor to come to our aid.” Addressing the protesters, Mr. Segun Senuoye, from the Office of Civil Engagement, assured them that government would provide adequate security for them and restore peace in their community.

Five arraigned for oil theft

The suspects

Abiodun Bello

ive suspected oil thieves, Sokari Iminabo, Segun Olagunju, Uche Emmanuel, Obinna Ezinne and Tiny Patience, were yesterday arraigned before Justice I. J. Watilla of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a two-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products. The suspects, being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were arrested on April 26 at Anyako waterside in Sama community, Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State by troops of the 130 Battalion of the Nigerian Army. At the point of arrest, the suspects were in possession of a locally constructed metal tank, housed in a Man Diesel truck with registration number Sokoto XA 614 BDN to convey illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) concealed in poultry feeds. The Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. In view of their pleas, prosecu-

tion counsel, J. N. Dogonyaro, asked for a trial date. However, the defence counsel, C. I. Akpudi, M. O. Nkwocha, Greg Okenili and H. N. Emiremi, moved different applications for the bail of the accused.

Watilla admitted them to bail on the following conditions: 1st defendant was granted bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. The 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants were also granted bail in the sum of N2 million each and two sureties each in like sum; each surety must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and one of the sureties must be a civil servant on grade level 10 and above. The 4th defendant was also granted bail in the sum of N4 million and a surety in like sum. The defendant must deposit his international passport with the court and report every Monday to sign attendance at the court’s registry. The judge ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison custody until they meet their bail conditions and adjourned the matter to September 14 for hearing.

Kidnappers, car snatchers, armed robbers held in Bauchi Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi

olice in Bauchi State yesterday said they had arrested suspected kidnappers, rustlers, car snatchers, armed robbers and recovered arms and ammunition. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mahmood Mohammed, said in order to stem the tide of kidnapping, robbery and rustling in the state, the police carryout a series of operations which led to several arrests and recoveries. Mohammed said in a statement that members of the syn-

dicate behind a series of car-snatching and house-breaking cases in Bauchi metropolis had been arrested. He said: “So far, three suspects have been arrested and they are assisting the police to arrest other fleeing accomplices. Exhibits recovered include one Barreta pistol, one Macrov pistol, one dark blue Toyota Highlander ‘Jeep,’ one Toyota Corolla car with registration number YGJ 133 AA, one fabricated master key, six rounds of 0.6mm live ammunition and two cartridges.” In another development, Mohammed said the command arrested

Umaru Mairakumi, who he described as a notorious rustling/kidnapping gang leader who is wanted in connection with over 17 kidnapping/ armed robbery and rustling cases in which over 20 victims were kidnapped for ransom ranging from N1 million to N2 million and over 200 cows rustled by the same gang. He said: “Some of their victims include Saleh Isah of Zidi village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State who was shot sometimes in September 2015 on his lower abdomen with AK47 rifle and his 45 cows, 85 sheep carted away by the bandits.”

n Igando Customary Court, Lagos, presided over by Mr. Adegboyega Omilola yesterday dissolved a 19-yearold marriage between Mr. Ikechukwu Oshomagbe (48) Mrs. Ejiro Oshomagbe (45), over the husband’s inability to take decision on his own. In his judgement, Omilola, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rocks. He said: “Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes. Since the petitioner had produced the affidavit of service to prove the respondent’s absent, the court had no other choice than to dissolve the marriage. “The court pronounced the marriage between Ejiro Oshomogbe and Ikechukwu Oshomagbe as hereby dissolved from today, both parties henceforth ceased to be husband and wife. Both parties are free to marry any partner of their choice, without any hindrance and molestation.” Earlier, the petitioner, Ejiro, a trader, had urged the court to dissolve her marriage to Ikechukwu, because his extended family controlled her home. She said: “My husband could not take decisions on his own, his mother and his six brothers are controlling our home. If we discuss anything, my husband will first go to his family to consult with them, what they say will be my husband’s final decision. “I am just like a maid, my decision is always rejected. In fact, I don’t have a say in my matrimonial home.” Ejiro also told the court that her husband was a drunk.

My wife’s food always tasteless –Husband

n Igando Customary Court, Lagos, yesterday dissolved 21-year-old marriage between Mrs. Aisha Abiodun (46) and Mr. Ashimiyu Abiodun over poor cooking. Delivering his judgement, the President of the court, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, said the petitioner was adamant despite all mediations from the court and family intervention to safe the marriage. He said: “Since the petitioner has insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union despite the wife’s claim that she still loves her husband. “The court pronounced the marriage between Ashimiyu Abiodun and Aisha Abiodun dissolved today; both parties, henceforth, ceased to be husband and wife. Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance or molestation.” Earlier, the petitioner, Abiodun (54), according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had approached the court and asked it to dissolve his 21-year-old marriage over his wife’s alleged poor cooking. He said: “My wife did not know how to cook, her food was always tasteless. Anytime she cooked and I complained about her food, she would tell me to cook myself. And I started cooking my food because if I had continued eating her food, I might have fallen sick. “My wife was very dirty; she would not wash or sweep the house, everywhere in the house used to smell. She kept packing used plates for four days or more without washing them and I was always doing the cleaning.

10 News|NATIONAL

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian businessman killed in South Africa Mike Mbonye

he Nigerian Union in South Africa yesterday confirmed the killing of a Nigerian businessman in Limpopo Province of South

Africa. Secretary of the Union in Limpopo, Mr. Collins Mgbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Polokwane, Limpopo Province, that Ikejiaku Chinedu, 35, was killed by guards of a private security firm

at about 8pm on Tuesday. He said the deceased was an indigene of Ogwa, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State and was married with three children. “One of our members here, Ikejiaku Chinedu, was killed on the out-

NGE: Muslim group congratulates New Telegraph MD Mojeed Alabi

he leadership of an Islamic group, Ahmadyyah Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, has felicitated with the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, over her appointment as the Acting President of the Nigerian

IBITOYEH

Guild of Editors (NGE). The organisation, which is celebrating its centenary anniversary in the country, described the appointment as a welldeserved honour, adding that it would be a thing of interest to have Mrs. Egbemode as the second elected female President of the guild, after the late Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo. In a statement issued yesterday by the group and signed by its National President, Dr. Mashhud Fashola, the group prayed for greater heights for the Acting President and promised to pay her a courtesy visit soon. The statement reads in part; “To us, the elevation is well-deserved for a woman of impeccable integrity and a gifted writer of note.”

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Ibitoye Toyin Ruth now wish to be known and addressed as Ibitoyeh Toyin Sarah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Charles

I, formerly known and addressed as Victor Obinna Nnadi now wish to be known and addressed as Victor Obinna Charles. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. JAMB,WAEC and general public please take note.

Pitan

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abimbola Akiwowo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abimbola Pitan. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Agwu

This is to notify that the name Mr. Uzor Chidiebere Agwu was wrongly written as Mr. Uzor Chidiebere Egwu. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Uzor Chidiebere Agwu which is my correct name. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc, Skye bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Iyede

I, formerly known and addressed as Werepere Bishop now wish to be known and addressed as Iyede Werepere. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Daubrumu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gbanaibolou Faith Cynthia Bipelegha now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Daubrumu Azilo Gbanaibolou Faith Cynthia. All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Post Primary Schools Board and the general public should please take note.

Paul

I, formerly known and addressed as Waridonghe Okele, now wish to be known and addressed as Okele Abubakar Paul. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Akinlade

I, formerly known and addressed As Miss Ademola Adejoke Olamide, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Akinlade Adejoke Olamide. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Ataria

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Egbe, Christiana Itua now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ataria, Christiana Itua. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Eneware

I, formerly known and addressed as Bufumoh Isaac Chris now wish to be known and addressed as Eneware Wealth Isaac. All former documents remain valid. Sterling bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, Diamond bank Plc and the general public should take note.

Unyinperere

I, formerly known and addressed as Perere Bidi now wish to be known and addressed as Unyinperere Bidi. All former documents remain valid. Union bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Adou

I, formerly known and addressed as Adou Ogoloma and Adou Comfort now wish to be known and addressed as Adou Ogoloma Comfort. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOURISM AMBASSADORS CLUB OF NIGERIA

The above named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1990. The Trustees are: 1. Ariyo Olayiwola (Cordinator) 2. Arigbede Olajumoke (Secretary) 3. Fatoyinbo Akinola (Member) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Exploring Tourism Potentials in Nigeria. 2. Education on Tourism 3. Enlightenment on Tourism. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Secretary

Wuruke

I, formerly known and addressed as Laderegha Ebimene Deeluck, now wish to be known and addressed as Wuruke Laderegha. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Afolabi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mayomi Adenike Taiwo, now/ wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Mayomi Adenike Afolabi, All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Maduka

This is to confirm that the names Ekechi Augustine Maduka and Ekechi Augustine Marcellinus refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ekechi Augustine Maduka. All former documents remain valid. UBA bank Plc, Sub-Treasury Onueke Pension Board, Abakaliki and the general public take note.

Ndubuisi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejefo Nonye Emmanuela now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ndubuisi Nonye Emmanuela. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Udogu

This is to notify that the names Udogu Nwabuike Nicholas and Nwabuike Udogu refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Udogu Nwabuike Nicholas. Also my date of birth was wrongly written as January 1, 1982 instead of February 5, 1995. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc and general public note.

Wilberforce

I, formerly known and addressed as Ebieriumene Rufus now wish to be known and addressed as Wilberforce Ebieriumene Fortune. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Chukwuka

I, formerly known and addressed as Helenah Ogus Ndih now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwuka Chisom Jane. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Animoire

This is to confirm that Mosugu Grace Animoire is the same person as Mosugu Grace Nola which appears in one of my First bank account. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Mosugu Grace Animoire. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ebiden-Ere

I, formerly known and addressed as Baguo Ebi now wish to be known and addressed as Offe Ebiden-Ere. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

skirts of Polokwane, Limpopo Province of South Africa. “Information available to us showed that guards of the security company chased and arrested him, he was beaten. “The autopsy result we have showed that there were bruises all over his body, showing that he was beaten to death or suffocated,” he said. Mgbo said the union had reported the incident

to the South African police for investigation. “The South African police assured us of thorough investigation to ensure that justice is done. “We have also reported this incident to the national secretariat of our union in Pretoria,” he said. President of the Union, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, said it had received report of the incident.

“We have received report of this sad incident. We call on the South African police to investigate this matter and bring the culprits to book,” he said. Anyene said that 15 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa since the beginning of the year. He added that the union would send the report to the Nigerian Consulate for necessary action.

USAID flays FG, states over fight against HIV/AIDS Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID), yesterday berated federal and state governments in the country for paying lip service to the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in parts of the country. It said in spite of the injection of an annual estimated $400,000 to tackle the deadly disease, not much had been done to stem the tide. USAID Director in Nigeria, Michael Harvey, who lamented the poor attitude of both levels of government during the launch

Appolonia Adeyemi

ome inks used for tattoos have been found to contain agents that increase health hazards, including cancer. According to a report in the Metro, an online news portal, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), has warned that some tattoo inks may cause allergies, itching and even a risk of cancer. To this end, ECHA has alerted people who etch tattoos on their bodies to beware so as to prevent the use of harmful inks. Tatoos involve scratching, etching, burning/ branding or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification. In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or

change OF NAME

Okafor

I, formerly known and addressed as Okolie Charity Chika now wish to be known and addressed as Okafor Charity Chika. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Olise

This is to confirm that Alexandra Majekodunmi Olise and Alexandra Olise refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

of a $1million programme to support HIV/AIDS for affected children and families at a ceremony in Benin, the Edo State, said his home government had 10 years commitment to assist the nation’s government and states as well as the people to deal with the problem. He said: “Right now, the United States Government is committing $400,000 a year just to deal with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. While we are very proud of our work and the commitment being given due to the consequences of HIV/AIDS, the reality is that Nigeria is not winning the fight against HIV. “We have three million Nigerians affected with HIV, but only about half are

receiving treatment while an entire 1.5 million people are not receiving the antiretroviral drugs being provided by the United States government.” The event was attended by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvhere, United States Consul General, F. John Bray, while the Edo State Governor’s wife, Mrs. lara Oshiomhole, was represented by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Aenena Jemitola-Ojo. According to Harvey, the programme we were implementing in Edo and three other states of Kogi, Benue Nassarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was part of our HIV/AIDS Programme.”

‘Tatoo inks increase cancer risk’

branding the skin by varying methods - sometimes using further sequential aggravating wound healing methods at timed intervals, like irritation, to purposely influence wound healing to scar more and not scar less. Reacting to the development, President of the United Kingdom Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union, Rick Stevens, blamed cheap new Chinese inks for the problems harmful inks pose to health hazard, saying “There is no

system for checking what is in these inks.” Based on some tattoo inks that ‘can cause cancer,’ Stevens advised consumers so pick their colours carefully. “Before you decide to get yourself inked, you might want to think about what you are actually putting into your body,” he added. Cancer is a group of disease involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

Victims of Sokoto market inferno get N30m lifeline Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

ormer Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, has provided a N30 million lifeline to victims of the Sokoto Old Market inferno. It will be recalled that the multi-million naira Sokoto Old Market was gutted by fire on Sunday. Bafarawa, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state visited the victims of the fire incidents on Tuesday and pledged to assist the displaced traders. The former governor, who was represented by the

PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim MilGoma, urged the victims to consider the gesture as his support to them in their hour of need. Bafarawa, who is also the former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), sympathised with the victims and advised them to consider the accident in good faith and make the best use of the assistance they would receive to improve their businesses. Bafarawa explained that N20 million would be shared among all the victims of the disaster while N10 million is for the ship-owners, Malam Mu’azu Dan-Jabalu.

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Babandede Unauthorised holders of diplomatic passports’ll serve jail term

Politics

Obaseki I’ll build on Oshiomhole’s achievements

13 14

Saraki: APC’ll tackle Nigeria’s problems Senate President Bukola Saraki was in Ilorin recently and took a few questions on national issues from journalists, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is committed to tackling the challenges the country is facing. BIODUN OYELEYE reports What is the Senate doing to help the people over the current hardship in the country? We all know that we have been experiencing tough time in the country. Even here in Kwara State, I have been talking to all our people that it has been a very difficult period for all of us not only in Nigeria but all over the world. We as leaders are taking the responsibilities and challenges. This is a challenge and we must think out of the box. We must work hard and that is what we are doing. That is why the Senate summoned the Minister of Finance and challenged her for a while. We had passed a resolution since May that both the minister and governor of Central Bank must come and tell us what they are doing about the economy. I am sure part of this our shout has led to significant improvement in this month’s federal allocation to the states and I am confident that with that almost all the local government areas should be able to pay full salaries to the workers. So, the message is now to ensure true oversight functions that will hold the executive to ensure that all revenues due to the government do come in. There are other challenges too that we must admit. The challenges that are ongoing in the Niger Delta area must be addressed. It is important that we must dialogue and seek peace. We had this challenge before and it was resolved and I think whoever can bring that peace, we must sit down with him or her because the impact in one part affects the

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

Saraki

entire country. But I want to assure all that it is not by design that the challenges came, but we are capable and able to meet them. Many are saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is not sincere with Nigerians, what is your take on that? The difference between the APC government and others, I keep on saying is that there is serious commitment to address challenges facing the country. There is sincerity of purpose. The challenges are bigger, yes, but we will address them and I believe as from next month, we should begin to see some succour in the local government areas. What is the way out of the recurrent non-payment of teachers’ salaries? Before the Senate went on recess, we spent a day discussing the non-payment of primary school teachers’ salaries across the nation. This is an area that should not be left in the hands of the local government areas. The matter now is beyond local councils. It is even beyond the states. My view and that of the Senate is that the issue should be a national matter. We cannot be putting funds to Universal Basic Education Board (UBE) for building of classrooms,

There is serious commitment to address challenges facing the country

science equipment or even to tertiary institutions, when teachers at the foundation level – primary schools are not being paid. Who is going to go to the classrooms that we are building? So, we must address that as a national issue and that is our plan at the Senate that during the recess and when we resume from recess, to engage with the executive arm and see how we can come together. I believe that payment of teachers should not be on recurrent because it is key to the foundation of education and it is key to capital investment. There is no point putting investment in classrooms, where there is no teacher that will turn up when they have not paid him or her. We moved a resolution last time to address it and we are going to follow it up. I want to reassure teachers across the country that definitely something is going to be done to address this. Why inspection of Kamaldeen university? It is in my interest and the interest of all of us to see to the development of our tertiary education. The proposed Sheikh Muhammed Kamaldeen University has been in the process for a while and I think it is our responsibility to bring it

to fruition, so that it can become a full-fledged university. It is for me to get first hand information about the challenges the owners are facing and see whether it is possible to mobilise enough resources within our state and from our friends and friends of Ilorin and Kwara State in general. We are also here to see what we can do about regulatory and institutional issues are see what we can do about that; so that for the sake of the students the university fully takes off. Being here, I believe that we will do our best and come here very soon to see that the dream of Sheikh Kamaldeen comes to reality. What is your message to Kwarans in these trying times? I use this opportunity to appeal to our people in Kwara State that this tough time will come and pass; that it is already passing. Don’t let us lose hope. As they say in live ‘there are ups and downs.’ This is one of those challenges, but we have people like us that will not sleep until these things are addressed and we will ensure that we sustain that. After that the only problem we will have is how to deal with the arrears. This is not a government that will deceive people it is a government that care for the masses.

POLITICS

do State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an anti-worker party which purged the public service of over 7,000 workers in one fell swoop, without paying their pensions and gratuities. Speaking at a gubernatorial rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday at the Olua Primary School in Egor Local Government Area, Oshiomhole said the PDP has a deep-seated hatred for workers and teachers as they were shabbily treated in the ten years they were in the saddle. Also, the governor has assured the workers in Egor Local Government which was omitted from the recent bailout for other Local Governments in

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhole: PDP is anti-worker lObaseki promises N5,000 monthly stipend for the poor the state that their arrears will be paid this week. According to him, “the choice is between two political parties, one which in seven and half years has redefined governance and another which in ten years treated workers shabbily. “When Nigeria was doing well and PDP was in government in Edo State, don’t forget, the first thing PDP did with Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to Government was to dismiss about 7,000 civil servants. They sacked them, because according to them, they wanted to reduce labour cost, when actually they wanted to take the money

PDP leaders, Oshiomhole disagree over ban on campaign venues Cajetan Mmuta Benin

he battle between Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and leaders of the opposition, People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state ahead of the September 10 governorship election took a new twist yesterday as campaign rally of the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, slated for Egor Local Government Area was nearly aborted. The development was based on alleged directive by the state government to cancel its earlier approval for Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his campaign organisation to use the premises of Olua Primary School in Uselu community. It was gathered that organisers of the rally had put in place logistics and materials such as canopies, chairs, stage and sound system needed for the take-off of the campaign rally but were shocked to receive last minutes words from the school authorities that they were directed to cancel the approval given for the use of the school field. The organisers of the rally were later asked to come for a refund of the money they had paid late Tuesday night. The ugly development was said to have put the party’s leadership in confusion but the situation was quickly saved with a fresh arrangement. The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Chris Nehikhare in a telephone text (SMS) accused Governor Oshimhole of denying the PDP the opportunity of using public property for campaigns. “The Egor LGA rally that

was to hold at Olua Primary School on yesterday (Wednesday, July 27) will now hold at Timber Shed along Uselu/Lagos Road. Oshiomhole told them not to allow PDP use the primary school which is public property,” he stated. Nehikhare also accused the state government of alleged continued denial of use of public places by the PDP in the state for campaigns. He recalled that the PDP was denied the use of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for its campaign flag off early this month while the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been using public schools for its campaign. But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua when said he was not aware of the development in Egor council. He stated that the state government would not have stopped the PDP from using the school if the proper thing was done. “There are procedures for securing public places for events. If they fulfil the requirements, nobody will stop them. We are however, conscious of campaigns when schools are in session. If the schools were not renovated, will they go there to campaign?” he asked.

and privatise it. “That is not all they did, when they dismissed the workers, they didn’t pay them their pension, they did not pay them their gratuity. So I need our pensioners to remember that the PDP carried out retrenchments, but we never carried out retrenchments, I never carried out mass dismissals in our public service. “When PDP were here, they issued a circular to the Head of Service, banning employment into the public service; they stopped employment into the State Health Management Board. When I came in, I lifted the ban, recruited Civil servants and employed over 1,000 teachers. “When the PDP were here, in four months, five months, six months, Nigerian Union of Teachers will remember, with Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to Government, they were

Edo DECIDES

not paying salaries and the teachers had to alternate on which days to attend classes to make ends meet, the classrooms were leaking with potholes inside the classrooms. So many male teachers left, leaving only the women who were hoping that one day God will intervene and God intervened and APC came “Today, I am proud to say of the 36 states in the federation, the Edo teacher is the first to be paid and we are up to date in the payment of teachers’

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday announced the appointment of Senator Matthew Urhoghide as his Director-General of his campaign organization. He also named the Edo State PDP chair-

they said it’s a May Day joke, but we are already paying it, even those on Level 17. And by the way, the highest level for an Edo public servant was Level 16, today they can go up to Level 17 like their federal counterparts, because for me, the Edo worker is not inferior to their federal counterparts.” On his part, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Mr Godwin Obaseki said his government will focus on human capital development, adding that to achieve this, industrialisation, technology and largescale agric farms will be established to provide jobs for the youths. He said Edo state will plug into the Federal Government scheme where the poorest in the society will get a N5,000 succour monthly. He assured the women that they will get soft loans to empower women which will grow the economy.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) and Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Mr. Anselm Ojezua (left) introducing the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki during the gubernatorial campaign at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area... yesterday.

Obaseki family to Pedro: Apologise or face ancestor’s wrath Cajetan Mmuta Benin

or daring the position of elders in the Obaseki family, the Ohen of Benin Kingdom, Chief Osayuki Obaseki, yesterday asked Don Pedro Obaseki, to immediately tender apologies to the family over his com-

ments that people should vote for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu rather than his cousin, Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Ohen urged the embattled Don Pedro to retrace his footsteps else the family would hand

Ize-Iyamu constitutes campaign team

salaries, whether primary school, or Junior Secondary School or Senior Secondary School. I am proud to say that in Edo State, teachers are the most prominent to be paid and we will continue to pay them, no going back. “In Edo State, we see the worker, not as a cause agent, we see the worker as the engine of growth if properly managed and that is why even this week, if you are in the employment of Edo State government, you are already getting alert, so God win! “So, even the one omission, when Egor was omitted, I’m happy to say that this week, not next, those Egor Local Government workers will be paid. So I believe in the worker. “When they said the minimum wage was too high, I said No, it is too small and we increased it from N18,000 to N25,000,

man, Chief Dan Orbih as chairman of the Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation while Chief Tom Ikimi is the chairman of the sub-committee on strategy. A former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadomhe will head the contact committee while

the chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is expected to head the publicity committee of the campaign organisation. Ize-Iyamu named himself chairman of the canvassers committee while Senator Yisa Braimah is the chairman of the logistics committee.

him over to God rather than invoke a curse on him for disobedience and toeing a dissident path in his sojourn to “political harlotry,” describing it as a shame. Speaking during a press conference in Benin on behalf of the family, Chief Obaseki declared that he “will not want to hand over Pedro to our ancestors because I don’t want him dead. But I will appeal to Don Pedro to retrace his steps, come back to the family and tender an unreserved apology and retract his statement that people should vote for Ize-Iyamu instead of Obaseki”. According to him, “I do not know if I should say Pedro is one of my children because I am afraid of him now. I want to correct the unfortunate im-

pression he created. I do not know if he is in any political party because he could not have been in APC today, tomorrow Accord party and you are ending up in PDP. That is political harlotry which is a big shame. “I want the world to know that no true son of Obaseki, born by an Obaseki with Obaseki blood will ever vote IzeIyamu. The whole Obaseki length and breadth, we are all supporting Godwin our son. Yes, we all cannot put our eggs in one basket, there are some radicals who can go to the other group but don’t insult our son Godwin. Because he is very knowledgeable, he knows what he is doing, he has been in the Stock Exchange for years and that is the power house of Nigeria’s economy.”

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Unauthorised holders of diplomatic passports’ll serve jail term – Babandede

Mohammed Babandede was appointed Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service two months ago at a time when the service was enmeshed in crisis of employment and posting of officers. In this interview, he promises to reposition the service for effective service delivery and outlined things he has done to put the service in its stead. JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM reports Staff welfare and productivity I introduced so many things to solve staff problems. We instituted a compulsory one month briefing involving every command. We gave the staff the immunity that allowed them to say anything they want to say without molestation. We have issued circular to the noncooperating command to allow the staff to unburden their minds because it will reduce the volume of rumours and leaking of information to the media about the service. I have tried to reduce tension at both commands and headquarters with that approach. In terms of staff, I have also introduced the idea of not collecting money or what they call returns from the staff that went on field work. I made it clear that I don’t want such money coming from bottom to the top. If the subordinates are not under pressure to bring returns to the seniors, we have solved 50 per cent of the problems. We also share the little money we are getting for the headquarters to fuel their official vehicles. We cannot give people vehicles to patrol the border without fuelling them. I have tried my best in the war against corruption in the service. We cannot eliminate it entirely but we have reduced it to an insignificant level. In terms of staff promotions, I have written to the board that promotions should now be online real time. We want to adopt ICT method of writing promotion examinations. We are computerising the promotion examination. We also use it in determining seniority in the service. We want to reduce the tension that comes with the promotion examination and the bribery for promotion. I am also tackling the issue of posting which has been a major problem. I have officers that have spent nine years particularly in what they call ‘lucrative posting’. There is no justice and fairness in that and they do it because they know people or can bribe their way to remain in such juicy posting, leaving others in a posting considered punishment, like training school. I have already set up a committee that will submit report next week. The posting policy will be in circular form for cadre officers like Assistant Superintended and Superintended cadres. Anyone who

spends two years in Passport office will be redeployed to the border for another two years, then another two years at the visa. All of them must go through the cycle to know them. No matter the pressure from most big men in the country, the posting regime must be followed religiously. Many well-meaning Nigerians have tried to talk to me but I have made them to understand the posting regime. Dealing with these novice causing lots of havocs in Nigeria is not easy. Service delivery for passport I made a promise to Nigerians to deliver certain things within two months especially as it concerns women that want to change their names due to marriage, divorce, widowhood or other reasons will have to do it at their state of origin or residence instead of coming to the Abuja headquarters. We have also developed a system for the lost case and I have issued directives to do it even manually. We have decentralized the system and the comptrollers are happy because they have little power and it will make the headquarters less attractive. Some people will die to stay in the headquarters but now that there is no business, they will now run away. Nigeria borders The border problem is much. I am not ruling out people coming from outside to do this job what I am working out is a machine that will register every non-Nigerian in every local-government. I have also drafted a legislation which the legal adviser is working on to make a regulation that will mandate every person who is not a citizen of Nigeria who is staying for a period more than 90days to register in the local government of his residence. I mean wherever he sleeps, whether it is a hotel or a factory, and it is also compulsory for the person who gave you the accommodation to report to immigration. I want to have the biometrics of everyone who is not a Nigerian. When you come to the border we will take your biometrics. There are three points of control in immigration. Control before entry, control on entry, and control after entry. Control before entry is the visa you issue to people before they come to the border, control at entry are at the borders if people

Babandede

escape the border you get them after they have entered. If we make our borders attractive with good high ways, roads and check points, petrol stations and shops no one will want to follow desert. If the government roads are bad it is better to pass through the desert. I listened to presentation where you could put things on the sand and close it and if people pass you will see the alert, but after seeing the alert where is the vehicle to go and catch them. Next year I may put that item as a priority and it will take all of us to do this job. Welfare matters, when somebody has nowhere to sleep you tell him to catch somebody he will collect money from the person and let him go. These are the issues which I am trying to address before I can go to the bigger areas.

We have already said don’t cross our border with diplomatic passport, else we will collect it

Illegal holding of diplomatic passports When I started I had a lot of reaction. I had a lot of friends because I was ACG Passport and then became DCG Operations. I was receiving lots of calls but I made them to understand that if they are no longer ministers or governments officials they don’t need to hold on to the passports. I wrote a memo to my minister and I got the approval from him to write to state and federal governments to let official and diplomatic passports be part of the things to be returned before retirement, benefits and pension can be paid. I am already sending the circular out. Secondly we have already said don’t cross our border with diplomatic passport else we will collect it. If possible I will make a photocopy to attest I have seized it. We are also telling state governments and parastatals that if they come to get a renewal for a governor, I will tell them that renewal is subject to the deputy governor who didn’t return his diplomatic passport. For civil servants, it will be more serious that they have to return it. The next step is that I will go to their houses. Some people are

asking why I didn’t deactivate it. If you deactivate it, it is a problem because they can use it in countries where they don’t read the passport. I need the physical passport collected from them. It is an offense to hold onto the passport when you don’t deserve it, once we catch you with it because you had refused to return it, you will serve two years jail term. A lot of people have started returning it by themselves. I go for private trips with my private passports. If I am going for an official assignment then I can go with my official passport. They are using their diplomatic passport to carry money and God’s willing I will be able to give statistics of the diplomatic passport collected. Recruitment The recruits came around protesting I told them three important things and I stand by it that the last recruitment done was illegal but it is not their fault they are victims of circumstances. I am committed to finding a solution that is why I invited their representatives for a meeting in our office with the permission of the minister they came. Why their recruitment was illegal the reason is very simple the then President set a committee under the secretary to the government of the federation to assist immigration, prisons, civil defence Board to look at what happened. The term was to assist but that committee assisted and recruited by themselves. They went ahead made a memo, created a website, collected a lot of money and did recruitment without allowing the board to participate legally. It remains illegal but what do you do to Nigerians who are looking for jobs? Do you know that the board refused to even talk to the committee only immigration at that time under Paradang directed them to issue letter to them but there are no records to that effect; letters were just issued and when a person who has no authority gives you a document, it is illegal.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’ll build on Oshiomhole’s The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was the Chairman of the state Economic Team before he joined the race for the September 10 governorship election. He speaks in this interview on his vision for the state and the chances of his party in the poll. FELIX NWANERI reports

What message are you sending to the people of Edo State in this electioneering? It is a message of hope; that an All Progressives Congress (APC) government of continuity is the best for Edo State. We have engaged the people during the campaigns. We have been very strategic. We started with the primaries. We had a party primary that was hotly contested. Realistically, I have been campaigning in the last 16 weeks. But, talking about the September election, we have been campaigning for two weeks. We had a rally at Ogbe Stadium, where we affirmed the supremacy and dominance of the APC in Edo State. All the APC governors attended the event to show their presence and support. They all accompanied me to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Edaiken Uselu; to present me as the candidate of the party. We then came to the stadium. It was an epochmaking campaign. No fewer than 20, 000 people attended. Despite the massive rain, they stayed throughout the campaign. So far, the campaign has been smooth. But, we are now planning to take the campaign to the grassroots; to meet our people where they live. We are not a party that plays its politics on the podium. We are taking it to where the people live. We will go door-to-door; to explain to them what is going on in our economy, that they need to persevere and that with the reforms being embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari, stabilising the security of the country and stopping the bleeding and corruption in the system, and begin to inject new life and blood into the economy. We need to go to the grassroots to give them a message of hope and tell them that we need to build infrastructure, re-engineer the state to build accountability, provide food for their stomach. We know what Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done. What is your plan for the state? We want to assure that we are continuing on our projects. The first thing was to recover the state from a group of political brigands, who have taken over the state and pillage the state. Having done that by ensuring that we have a govern-

ment that has a sense of accountability; accountable to its people, we have been able to put in place a plan for development. We have built infrastructure in the state. But, having not built infrastructure in the past, what we have done in the last seven years was like a tip of the ice bag. There is so much more infrastructure we need to build, particularly roads. Our core goal this time around is to begin to rebuild the economy, put food on the table of our people and galvanise our women to be more productive, ensure that the education we give to our children is one that will give them employment and self-sufficiency. So, what Comrade Oshiomhole has done is to, in a sense, build a solid foundation; foundation that can carry a sky scrapper. My role now is to build on the foundation and take it to the first level, so that the beauty of the house will begin to unfold. What I am going to do is to focus on the economy. The greatest challenge and the most urgent duty today is economic growth. We have to create sustainable jobs. How is that going to happen? First, the downturn in the upstream sector has created an opportunity for the country. We don’t have the foreign exchange to import the $30 billion worth of goods and services which we consume in Nigeria. But knowing this; our role is to ensure that these goods and services, which we consume are done in Edo State. That will require creating an enabling environment for investors to come in and produce here. What are those things we consume? The first thing we consume most is food. We spend $15 billion every year to import food items. We spend about $500 million every year importing fish and chickens. We spend about two billion dollars importing rice. These are things we can start producing in a state like Edo. It takes a government that understands; a governor who has been in the productive sector, somebody who understands how investors make decisions, to attract them, nurture them, support them and motivate them to participate, so that they can produce. Another key area is building materials; cement, iron rods, steel. By the grace of God, because of our unique location and the opportunities we have, Edo is one of the states today, where you have the lowest energy cost because we have gas. We have a transmission capacity; a lot of electricity is transmitted into the network, which is resident in Edo State. That is why Chinese companies are beginning to look at Edo because we have the raw materials, the electricity and the closeness to their market exists here. We are looking at the area of services and education. We are rebuilding our primary and secondary schools infrastructure. We are now focusing on technical education, both in terms of infrastructure and quality, so that we can begin to train the young men and women, who will be attached to these industries and investors. We will have adequate training and manpower. So, for us, it is about moving development to the next level. We have built some

Obaseki

of the infrastructure. We will build more, especially roads. We want to attract investors because we have infrastructure; we are going to build more; and the market for the goods and services exists in Edo.

The struggle today is that the same cabal that dragged Edo into the pit wants to come back and reclaim the state

Could you shed light on your plan to create the 200,000 jobs you promised? When we say we will create 200,000 jobs; that is the minimum. It is our starting point. We want to take the youth out of the streets. We want to put them into productive work. How do we intend to do that? We have just given out hectres of land to private investors to undertake commercial farming. We also do processing. We are working closely with them, so that within the next few months, they will begin productive activities. They are doing their area mapping and soil analysis. And we are actively monitoring and supporting them. So, we hope in the next few months, these people will bring tractors and other earth moving equipment to clear the land. For every hectre of land, you need about two people to work at the minimum. If you give out 150 hectres for cultivation over a period of time, it gives you an idea of how much work would be generated. We have to set up agric centres. People have to be trained to man the tractors, service the tractors and other equipment that will be required. These investors are

not going to do the farming themselves. They are going to create small, pieces of farms given to people to grow crops. These are opportunities. But, we need a government and a governor who has the knowledge and the experience to support private businesses for these to happen. You have somebody who has the administrative capacity and who understands how government works to re-engineer government and to ensure that these policies take root. That is the unique advantage I currently have. In the last seven years, what has Governor Oshiomhole done to justify the push for power retention and continuity by the APC in Edo State? Before Oshiomhole, what was the power arrangement in Edo State and how did the ordinary man benefit from that power arrangement? If you look at it from that angle, you will understand and appreciate the significant changes we have made in the power structure. A group of chieftains cannot sit down and decide who should have power and retain power in the state anymore. The decision in a democracy has to be made by the people. So, we pursued aggressively the whole concept of one man, one vote. The people’s participation in politics is the first change we brought. Having done that, we ensured that people who have power are accountable to the people who gave them the power by reporting to them what

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

achievements – Obaseki they have done with power, which has translated into the infrastructure we have built in the education system, in the health care system. But, it is still work in progress. The struggle today is that the same cabal that dragged Edo into the pit wants to come back and reclaim the state. So, there is the need for the sustenance of continuity in that political arrangement. The danger of not doing it is high and the price will be too high for us to pay. If you kill a snake and you don’t cut off its head, it will come back to attack you viciously with its venom. What experience qualifies you for the role you aspire to play in the life of Edo State? I have had over 34 years of working experience, most of it in the private sector. I have worked in established companies. I have set up my own company which has been successful. But, specifically, in terms of public service, in the last seven years of the Oshiomhole administration, I have been an integral part of the administration; integral in the sense that I was one of those who convinced Comrade Oshiomhole to even come to Edo State. Having done that, I have been with him and supported the administration from day one. Immediately after the swearing in, before the commissioners and other political appointees were hired, I was with him. I served with him, to interview the first set of commissioners that were appointed seven and half years ago. Since then, I have been an integral part of his policy arrangements and frameworks. The Economic Team has been an integral part of the policy formulation and implementation of policies and programmes in the last seven and half years in Edo State. There is nobody who I don’t know in the entire political arrangement in Edo State. And I did not do this for money. I told the governor from the beginning that I, Godwin Obaseki wanted to pay to serve and not to be paid. I was keen to know how government works, and why despite the resources we have in this country, we have continued to lag behind. So, the motivation was to come in, bring in my private sector experience, try and understand what is going on and see how I could support and help policy formulation and implementation with the experience I have garnered from the private sector. So, to answer your question specifically, I think today, the experience I have from the private sector, and particularly in the public sector in the last seven years, more than, qualifies me to understand and deal with the challenges of governance that Edo and Nigeria face today. The challenge of governance in Nigeria today will not only require political dexterity, it will require an understanding of development, how to make things work, how to execute policies and programmes, experience on how to source for investments, how to attract public and private investment to grow our economy. In the light of the above, how would you assess yourself as a core tech-

nocrat in relation to your opponent, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is perceived as a core politician? I don’t understand what you mean by a core politician because I don’t see what he has done that we have not accomplished since we got into this race. I won my primary. Ize-Iyamu has never contested any election before, so both of us contested elections at the same time. I don’t know how they run their own party. But, the whole world saw how we ran our own primary. So, for me, I don’t think his political skills surpass mine as we have demonstrated them in this race. But, what I have over and above him is that he doesn’t have a fraction of the experience that I have. In terms of his personal development, I don’t think he is at par with the type of experience I have. But, even in governance, if you compare both of us, he had the opportunity of spending much time and wielding much influence in the government of Lucky Igbinedion. And we are all living witnesses to the disaster they brought to the people of Edo State. He was the engine that drove the Igbinedion administration and they drove us into a ditch. I am on the other hand the engine that has driven this current administration. And see where we are. So, in terms of comparison, we are poles apart and we will test it out on September 10. From what I know, I don’t think they have anything to offer us. We have tested them before and we regretted ever doing that and we will not repeat the mistake. The PDP has alleged that the governor swung the pendulum of victory towards your direction at the primary so that his successor could cover up for him after leaving office... That is propaganda. That is what they are good at. For them, it is about cries, innuendos, ly-

Obaseki

What we have focused on is continuity and to take Edo from where we are to a higher level

ing. I am doing everything I can; focusing on the people. They are very good in propaganda. I wish they could have the skill to assist in the development of the state but they have negative skills. The current administration has nothing to cover. Don’t forget, we were an opposition state for seven and with the PDP in government at the centre; they sent not less than 12 EFCC teams here to investigate us so that they could find something to nail the administration of Oshiomhole. To date, they have not been able to substantiate any allegation they have made in the last seven and half years. The truth is that we have been working for the people. The records are there. We have nothing to hide. The process of governance is transparent. The way we have spend public fund is obvious in the output process. We have absolutely nothing to hide. If we had anything to hide, when they were in power, they would have found it. They couldn’t find anything up to a year ago. For us, it is sheer propaganda. We have nothing to cover up. What we have focused on is continuity and to take Edo from where we are to a higher level. That is why I am in the race. I believe having worked with the governor in the last seven and half years, I deserved to be supported by the governor.

Now that the revenue allocation from the Federation Account is dwindling, how do you intend to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Edo State? We thank God that when the other PDP states were sleeping and hoping that they will continue to get their largess from the centre, progressive states like Lagos and Edo took the bull by the horn. It was a very difficult decision but today, our IGR is what is sustaining us. In the last six months, the allocation from Abuja has progressively gone down. In the last three months, our IGR has been in excess of our allocation from Abuja. And we expect that much is not going to change radically. But, we have been able to pay salaries. We have continued to pay our contractors on site. We have cut down on other important expenditures. We focus on critical expenditure. We spend prudently. To grow our IGR, we are now focusing on attracting private investment because the larger component of the IGR is Pay As You Earn (PAYE). So, the more people that come in, locate and employ your citizens, the more PAYE we will get. So, with the present steps we have taken to attract investors, we will be able to get more PAYE. We have done well in terms of taxation. But, only a limited number of Edo citizens currently pay tax. The total number of people in our tax net is less than 150,000 out of the population of almost three million. What we will do is to make the tax system fairer to get people, who benefit from government services to pay something to sustain the government. So, we will continue to work on a fairer tax system, so that the tax system is not burdensome on the people and so, we will be able to get more people to pay their taxes. As they

contribute, they will ask questions on how their money is being spent. We in this administration have been able to answer that. The PDP government has not been able to answer questions on how it spent public money. How united is the Edo APC? Edo APC is very united. I am very happy to be a member of the APC. Yes, we fought a very difficult and tough primary. I can assure you today that I and all my co-aspirants are now working together. Almost all of them have nominated their people, coordinators, to work in my campaign organisation. That tells you how united we have become. We were at the stadium during the flag off of the rally. The deputy governor was there. Chris Ogienwonyi couldn’t make it because he had to travel to the United States. So, we have healed the wounds. We will build an inclusive and large party and there will be a place for everybody to continue to participate. How did your running mate emerge, because there are indications that some people are against his emergence? We had to look at political reality. We even had to look at the issue of loyalty to a course. There are few of us who started this with Comrade Oshiomhole, from the days of struggle in 2006, and Philip Shuaibu is one of them. There are two sides of the same coin. While I was thinking about stabilising government, thinking through policies and the economic sustenance, they held the political levers. He was in the House of Assembly as the Majority Leader and you know what he did for us to dislodge the PDP from the House of Assembly for us to have dominance. If we are talking about continuity, political issues still dodge us. We still have to deal with those issues while focusing on delivering the goods to our people. Philip is somebody I have always worked with in this administration. We have always worked together pursuing a common objective, working with the Comrade Governor. So, he is not a stranger. Apart from that, he comes from a constituency that has a very large population in terms of voting. The Etsako in Edo North is significant. Don’t forget, it has about 55 per cent of the voting population. Edo South has another 30 or 35 per cent. And the Central has the remaining. So, in terms of the political calculation, there is a huge political advantage in getting someone from that district to run with me. But, that is not to say that there are no good candidates from other zones. The political structure and apparatus is quite comfortable with Philip. I am comfortable with him. He brings a lot of value and youthful energy into our campaign. Whether we like it or not, the political landscape is changing. We will continue to refresh and open up that space. I and Philip running for the governor and deputy governor of Edo State should inspire other people, even if they have not spent 40 years in politics. That kind of freshness is what we hope our candidacy will engender.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion New occupant of 10 Downing street Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-3097-251 (sms only)

he exit of David Cameron as Prime Minister of Britain obviously created the golden opportunity for the emergence of a new person, who is now the latest occupant of No. 10, Downing Street, London. She is, the Right Honourable Theresa Mary May. The circumstances, which led to David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister were consequent upon the Brexit referendum which was conducted in the country, on whether, Britain should continue with her membership of the European Union (EU), or quit. The result of the said referendum, conducted on June 23, 2016, was a clear rejection of the continuation of the British membership of the European Union. It was a victory of 52 per cent to 48 per cent in favour of those who no longer have faith in the EU. it is further interesting to note that the referendum’s turnout was 71.8 per cent, with more than 30 million people who voted. It was the highest turnout in a United Kingdom’s vote since the 1992 general election. For the purpose of clarity, the European Union is an economic and political partnership with 28 European countries. It was a PostWorld War 11 creation. The main objective is to foster economic and political co-operation, premised on the fact that countries who are involved in trading activities together and politically united, would definitely avoid an ugly situation whereby they have to go to war to resolve their conflict(s) in case of any slight disagreement. All along, the Union has grown

to become a “Single Market”; an EU border free zone; with the Euro as common currency which is already being used by 19 of the member countries. The EU has its parliament in Brussels, which now sets its rules in a wide range of areas such as environment, transport, consumer rights charges on mobile phones and so on. David Cameron, who was the British Prime Minister, was also the Chief Apostle among those who wanted their country’s continuation of the membership of the EU. The referendum, should nevertheless been seen as a vote of confidence or otherwise on his government, in which, he was the Headt. As long as the British electorate rejected his pro-European Union’s position on the matter, the only option left for him as Head of Government, was to vacate his office, as Prime Minister. This, to a large extent, is a constitutional convention in British Parliamentary politics. David Cameron, did the needful, rather than await the British people to clamour and pressurize him to resign before vacating his exalted office. His resignation on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, was, however not surprising. This constitutional convention is a character of British politicians, including the resignation of David Cameron, which enhances the maturity and stability of the British democracy Theresa Mary May, formally assumed office as Prime Minister of Britain with effect from the aforementioned date. She is also the leader of the British Conservative Party. The new British Prime Minister was born on October 1, 1956, in Eastbourne, Sussex and the only child of her parents. Hubert Brasier, her father, was a clergyman in the Church of England, as a Vicar of Enstone with Heythrop and finally, of St Mary’s at Wheatley at the East of Oxford. Theresa attended both the State and Roman Catholic Institutions during her early ages. At the age of 13, she attended the Wheatley Park Comprehensive School. May also attended

She is married to Philip May, a very distinguished banker

the University of Oxford, where she studied Geography at the St. Hugh’s College, graduating with a second class Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in 1977. Thereafter, she worked with the Bank of England (1977-1983); as financial consultant and senior Adviser in International Affairs at the Association for payment and clearing services (1985-1997). In 1981, her father died in a ghastly motor accident and later, her mother Zaidee Mary, died of multiple sclerosis, after one year. She is married to Philip May, a very distinguished banker. Unfortunately, however, they have been married for 36 years without a child. The new Prime Minister is diabetic. Her political career included: as Councilor, London Borough of Merton (1986-1994); parliamentary candidate N.W. Durham (1992); parliamentary candidate in the Barking bye election (1994), member of parliament (1997-present); shadow education secretary (1999-2001); shadow transport (2001-2004); Conservative Party Chairman (2002-2003); shadow culture media and sports (2004-2005). Theresa was also a Shadow Leader of the House of Commons (2005-2009); shadow works and pensions (2009-2010); Home secretary (2010-2016), before becoming a Prime Minister. In the immediate past, she held the position of Minister for Women and equality and was dropped as a result of the opposition mounted against her by members of the Rights movement. Maria Miller was eventually appointed to replace her. Theresa’s ideological construct favours liberal conservatism, although, the Financial Times, defined her, as a “non-ideological politician, same with Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany. Rebecca Glover, of the Independent Media claimed that the Prime Minister is: “staunchly more anti-immigration, more conservative and more isolationists. The future will tell on what the Prime Minister intends to do with power and governance before 2020.

Fashola’s defence of new tariffs Tunji Aderibigbe

t sounded unbelievable when I first read the news that Power Minister Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN told the House of Representatives Committee that asked him to come and explain the blackout all over the nation, that the government had legally sold its ownership of PHCN before the distribution companies bought in. And that the new tariffs announced early this year would eventually benefit the Nigerian consumer of electricity in the immediate or foreseeable future. As a Nigerian very interested in seeing the nation get out of the doldrums of constant power failure and its dire and negative consequences on our economic development and the welfare of Nigerians I had heard many things on the issue of privatization and the emergence of the distribution companies saddled with delivery of electricity after the Reform of Power sector during the Obasanjo regime. Notably I had heard what the legislators told the Honourable Minister, a Senior Advocate of Ni-

geria and I was pleasantly surprised by his blunt rebuttal of the mistaken notion of the lawmakers on the privatization involving the discos . And of course, the Minister, being a legal luminary in his own right, his utterances lent immense gravitas and credibility to his position on the subject. Similarly the impression one had on the new tariffs as peddled by the trade unions who mixed it up with the new fuel price of 145 naira in the last failed strike was that the discos were guilty sharks fishing in Nigerian power waters illegally and milking Nigerians dry with high tariffs without supplying the expected electricity. Now the Minister of Power has come out to defend the new electricity tariffs as cost reflective and structured to create liquidity for the industry and make the discos viable as going concerns, able to recoup their. huge investment at a given and monitored time, while guaranteeing customer satisfaction for the Nigerian consumer. In effect the Power Minster is telling us that the days of suffering of Nigerians on constant and perennial power

failure are numbered and there is really some light at the end of the tunnel on availability of power in this country. That to me is quite cheering news although there are still some obstacles in the way in spite of the bold and patriotic posture of the Minister supporting both the legality of the discos, power privatization, as well as the legality of the new tariffs and their technical cost reflective nature . The first obstacle which the Minster should confront is the suspension by the Nigerian Senate of the new tariffs approved for the discos by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission – NERC –the regulator of the electricity industry in Nigeria. The Minister has stated now that the tariffs are correct and legal and he should impress that on the Nigerian senate so that the law making body sticks to its lawful duties of making laws for the Nigerian people so that electricity can be regulated by the institution empowered by law to regulate it, which is the NERC. In this regard the Minister should have the support of all right thinking Nigerians who know what led to

the wrong decision of the Senate on the new tariffs. The senate was hoodwinked by the trade unions which said then that the discos were just taking Nigerians for a ride with the new tariffs and that the discos did not have the requisite capital and skills to deliver electricity when they came aboard through privatization of the PHCN then. Unfortunately the Minister made a half hearted and feeble defence of the discos then, but later withdrew into his shell. Now that the Minister, a SAN has recovered his voice and is throwing the weight of the law as well as his office behind the legitimacy of the discos as well as the legality and desirability of the new tariffs, the Senate should just retrace its steps and rescind its illegal stoppage of the new tariffs. This is more so because NERC the legal regulator for electricity in Nigeria has already taken the Senate to court on the matter. That is the path of honour and the only way to make electricity work in Nigeria as the Power Minister has already shown both in word and deed. •Aderibigbe, an engineer, wrote in from Ilorin.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Standing in awkward unity

nited we stand, divided we fall.” This is a common refrain in Nigeria. But has there ever been proof of unity in diversity? Outside its myriads of problems, particularly the economic and political challenges, Nigeria is facing real dangers of secession. After the 1967 to 1970 Civil War, this is probably the first time the threats by sections of the country to pull out of Nigeria have become more real than ever before. Although there have been pockets of agitations mainly sponsored by politicians trying desperately to cling to power or those who want to return to mainstream politics. However, the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu with his Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on the firmament of the agitation gave fillip to the cause of g roups seeking separate republics. It changed the traditional approach employed by groups such as Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and others. The IPOB agitation, which appeared at the outset as a flash in the pan, has unfortunately become a thorn in the flesh of Nigeria’s unity. Several people have been killed in the fresh phase of the agitation for the Biafra Republic. In the last couple of weeks, more daring associations such as the Niger Delta Avengers, Biafra Avengers, etc, have

emerged with g reat consequences on the nation’s fragile economy. The groups have vowed to ground the nation’s economy unless they are allowed to form the Biafra Republic. Nigeria has not always being a country. It became a country through the amalgamation of the Norther n and Southern Protectorates in 1914 due to the efforts of Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, who became the country’s first governor general. Since the people of the g e o g r ap h i c a l entity which is today called Nigeria had no choice in the fo r c e d m a rr i a g e wh i ch brought about the country, they ought to have the right to deter mine

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kanisation of the country. Pulling out of any region will depend on the outcome of the referendum, which in its own is dependent on several variable factors. In recent history, a classical example is the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. European Union (EU) membership, currency which an independent Scotland would use, public expenditure and North Sea oil were some of the important issues raised

In Nigeria, lessons can be learnt from the Scottish example

their continued stay together. Unfortunately, referendum is not expressly stated as part of the provisions of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution. If democracy is borrowed, it ought to have been lifted with all its tenets. Instead of trying to create a comfort zone for themselves by making fruitless efforts to entrench immunity and pensions for themselves in the constitution, the National Assembly members ought to make provision for the inclusion of referendum in the nation’s constitution. Holding a referendum does not suggest an automatic bal-

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during the referendum. It was not only just about independence. At the end, those who wanted Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom won by 55.3

per cent as against 44.7 per cent who voted for independence. But there were underlining factors which produced the result at the referendum. Compromises were reached as more rights and other fringe benefits were promised the Scots before the referendum was held. In Nigeria, lessons can be learnt from the Scottish example. Those who want to go should be allowed to go; if it will not hurt the rest of the country, otherwise concessions could be given to the agitators. It is often said that those who make peaceful change im-

possible make violent change inevitable. Nigerian political leaders must not wait for the former Yugoslavia experience in the country. From 1991 to 2001, wars, which sprang up from ethnic skirmishes, were fought inside the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The wars eventually led to the breakup of the country into different republics. The Yugoslav government attempted to forcibly halt the backanisation which led to the wars and the ultimate disinteg ration of Yugoslavia into six countries and later seven republics. But from reactions to the agitation for a separate republic in Nigeria, it can easily be deduced that those who want to gain political millage are behind the move. Every segment of Nigeria is dependent on the other. There are mutual benefits for all the regions or geo-political zones. However if there is a break up through referendum, who says the door of reconciliation and reunification will be permanently shut? Germany today is a united nation. But at a time there was Ger man Democr atic Republic (GDR) otherwise called East Germany and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) or West Germany. Although the Germans did not vote to break up, in fact, they had no say or choice in the split, the two ‘countries’ later came back as a nation. The world stood in awe when Berlin Wall was pulled down, then the city became one and the two countries were united again.

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight

Seized second hand clothes at Idiroko border, Ogun State.

Different shades of crimes in Nigerian borders Poor land border control and management are the daunting challenges facing the Federal Government. Despite various efforts to ensure effective security, the land borders are still the nucleus of human trafficking, smuggling and other illegal activities in the country, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

various people despite the presence of security operatives. Travellers along Seme-Badagry in Lagos and Idiroko-Sango in Ogun State are bound to see no fewer than 17 checkpoints at different intervals, mounted by the officials of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), police, soldiers and joint border patrol security team. While the borders in Seme in Lagos State and Idiroko in Ogun State are one of the most vibrant and commercially active, Jibiya and Kongolam in Katsina borders

igerian land borders are prone to crime of different shades. They spark the themes of frontier of lawlessness, insurgence, illegal trade and rebellion against government policies. Armed attacks, smuggling, human trafficking, prostitution, currency trafficking and extortion at both legal and illegal border routes, along the Benin-Nigeria corridor in West Africa have become a flourishing business for

Seized vehicles at Customs office, Ikeja Lagos.

The service required an annual recruitment of 5,000 personnel

have established several clusters of markets along the border corridors. The story is the same in other border routes and communities. For instance, villages in Nigeria-Niger borders and NigeriaChad borders, which are reputed for cloth weaving, have become the beehives for smugglers and robbers. People from Niger, Chad and Cameroon, which share borders with Nigeria, pretending to be nomads, are entering the country unhindered as they are being

assisted by the locals, police and immigration from one guide to another along the way. However, the situation has changed in Borno and Taraba states because of the activities of the insurgent groups. It was learnt that the locals, not associated with smuggling networks, often provide information or act as guides or to enable the illegal migrants to cross on a contract basis. This attitude, it was learnt, has increased the wave of cross-border armed robbery for over a decade in the country. Inadequate personnel Former Comptroller General of NIS, David Parradang, at a National Conference Committee on Immigration had complained to the government that the service required an annual recruitment of 5,000 personnel for a period of five years to carry out its duties effectively. He added that the current 22,300 immigration officers were grossly inadequate to carry out the serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate. Apart from the shortage of manpower, the former comptroller general said that the service was contending with other challenges such as non-demarcated poorly-marked borders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This makes people at the border community to interrelate to the extent that stringent control

INSIGHT

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Seized fake drugs at Customs’ Federal Operation Unit at Ikeja, Lagos.

Rice intercepted in the creek, Ogun State.

Seized motorcycles used by smugglers in the border communities

Customs officers intercept some vehicles at illegal routes in Ogun State.

is apparently difficult,” Parradang added. Complicity Study has shown that some of the border communities share the same culture, speak the same dialects and languages. In some cases, it is difficult to identify which community belongs to Nigeria or Benin, in the west or Niger Republic in the north, Chad in the northeast which share a 75-kilometre border on Lake Chad and Cameroon in the east. For instance, Zinder, the second biggest city in Niger, was part of the old Nigerian Borno Empire with the Beriberi tribe, a detachment of the Kanuri. So also is the Benin Republic in the defunct Oyo Empire. A Customs officer, who spoke with New Telegraph in Apapa, said this was one of the challenges they faced when he was serving at Idiroko Border and Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘A,’ respectively. He said: “In Benin, you see vehicles with Nigerian number plates being used at the border area for smuggling. Because they are members of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), citizens of the countries enjoy freedom of movement.” Economic losses According to the Managing Partner, Olisan Agbakoba Legal, Priscilla Ogwemoh, average of two million vehicles are being smuggled every year into the country. Also, the World Bank report has shown that the country lost about N600 billion owing to the prohibited goods which enter Nigeria’s market unofficially from Cotonou alone. The figure represents up to 15 per cent of Nigeria’s annual imports.

The bank report explained that the long list of banned goods had provided strong incentive for fraud and corruption. It added that 13 per cent of Cotonou Port traffic was destined for Nigeria, while 75 per cent of containers at the Cotonou Port were transported to Nigeria unofficially. It noted smuggled frozen poultry valued at $2.75 billion entered the country illegally yearly. Also, a report released by Chatham House, a Royal Institute of International Affairs in London in 2015 entitled; “Nigeria’s booming borders: The drivers and consequences of unrecorded trade,” revealed that Nigeria was losing billions of naira to cross-border trade daily, through informal trade across the borders occasioned by the harsh business environment in the country. It said: “Nigeria’s context of booming unrecorded trade flows, the networks that operate them and the financial flows that underpin them are, in fact, a response to the obstacles and complications that impede trading through formal, monitored channels.” It was learnt that every day, illegal business and crimes flourish through the key economic corridors between Nigeria and its neighbours in the land borders. The report said that tens of thousands of unofficial payments were made, none of which was destined for government coffers. According to the report, unrecorded or informal activity at the borders could account for as much as 64 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Human trafficking As part of efforts to bring an end to human trafficking within Nigerian borders, the Federal Government passed into law the

Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act 2003. Also, last year, government signed another law, Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 to end the scourge of human trafficking having realised that women and children were usually the most vulnerable when the issue of trafficking arises. But today, the country has become a hub for human trafficking to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon and Guinea.

People use motorcycle to carry one or two bags of rice from Igholo to Idiroko without any problem

Illegal routes According to NIS, Nigeria has 1,497 illegal migration points. Though, the government is said to be investing millions to secure the border, however, it appears the needed results is yet to be seen. It was revealed that drugs, human trafficking, textile materials, vehicles, rice, vegetable oil, tin tomatoes among others are going daily through the country’s borders. The service explained that the illegal routes were not properly manned by the security operatives. The number of illegal routes, according to NIS, is 100 times more than the number of approved routes. It was learnt that the routes, including major border highways, had become rich sources of revenue for illegal patronage networks for government agencies, as some of the manned borders were less good than illegal routes. In Adamawa State for instance, there are five control posts but findings have shown that the state hosts 80 illegal routes through which people come into the country from Cameroon. Also, Ogun State has 83 illegal routes and this

goes round the country. A visit to Idiroko Border last week by our correspondent revealed some illegalities around the border communities. For instance, Ajilete, Ilase, Idiroko and Igholo in Benin have become the hub of smuggling and human trafficking. A Nigerian, residing at Idiroko, said some people around the border were doing different kinds of business (smuggling) within the Benin and Nigeria communities. He said: “Trading in imported rice and vehicles are the major business activities flourishing here. Some of our people are married to the Benin people. There is no barrier crossing from the border, because we know ourselves, we understand our languages and we have shops in Benin. There are some business associations here and once you don’t belong to one, then you cannot succeed in your business.” Also, he explained that border communities were overlapped in terms of land scope. He said: “This is why it is easy for smuggled vehicles from Benin to get into Nigeria without problem. People use motorcycle to carry one or two bags of rice from Igholo to Idiroko without any problem but when you are going far to Owode and Sango, you have no option than to tip police and Customs officials. “Apart from the major road from Sango to Idiroko, there are many routes which are not known to the security operatives. But those doing the real business operate mostly in the night, in order to beat checkpoints. In some critical situations, traders often prefer to use illegal routes, where they will less be disturbed and pay fewer CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

INSIGHT

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, Benin partner to fight crimes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

bribes.” Speaking on human trafficking at Igholo, a border community at Idiroko, a trader, Madam Obeni, said: that people from Ogun State and Lagos often “use our girls for housemaids”. She said: “Children are released as housemaids to those we know. They must know where you are living before you can take your any child away from this community and their monthly salaries must be sent to their parents. In some cases they send them to school once their master is nice to them.” On how they reach their destination, she said that it was easy to travel with the girls on Saturday. According to her, operators, using locally-made fabricated commercial tricycles, assist illegal immigrants entering and leaving the border for quick crossing after paying illegal fees. “They dressed well as if they were going for a party in another community. Nobody will disturb them because some of us can speak Yoruba language fluently. But our major problem is Immigration; they will delay you, once you refused to tip them with N200 or N500. The drivers use to do this on behalf of the girls,” Obeni said. On the activities of smugglers in Ogun State, Customs Area Controller of Ogun Command, Comptroller Waindu Multafu, said that the command was doing what was expected from officers and men. He decried the unpatriotic attitude of smugglers who persisted in making rice smuggling a matter of life and death. Multafu explained that there were many creeks around the borders used by smugglers with canoes to transport rice across rivers. The commander explained that rice was the most smuggled commodity in the state because of the financial benefits accruing to smugglers. According to him, people smuggle rice to avoid payment of Customs duty. He added: “There is no place in our warehouse to put rice again. We are making efforts to dispose the ones we have seized. We made seizures of vehicles and motorcycles on a daily basis. We have intercepted a lot of motorcycles used in smuggling. They use the kind of vehicles that can transport at least 80 bags of rice.” Multafu also noted that because of the current exchange rate, it was no longer profitable to smuggle vehicles in the area. However, according to her, smugglers still float vehicles across rivers on wooden planks. He noted that officers had been attacked and brutally killed in the state. He added: “Once in a while, if it happens that we are on the defensive, we have to use our guns. Idiroko is the most notorious of all border posts in West Africa. I cannot say how many of our officers were killed right from Seme to Idiroko and Imeko. “The land is accessible to any would-be smuggler. The terrain is another obstacle to smooth operation because everywhere is road.”

Customs Federal Operation Unit, Ikeja intercepts rice worth over N56 million

Some poultry products seized at Idiroko, Ogun State.

The controller said that Ohunbe, Oke Odan and Ilase were some of the notorious places located on the road to Ajilete. He explained that there were three major entrances - Idiroko, Ohunbe and Imeko. Multafu said the command also had outstations like Ijoun, Ifoyintedo and Ijofin to curtail any smuggling on foot, machines or through the waterways. Reacting to the activities of smugglers at Seme and Idiroko borders, the spokesman for the NIS Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ in Lagos, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, said that the Anti-Smuggling Unit had been imbibing the philosophy of change to tackle illegal trade at Seme and Idiroko border communities.

Checkpoint at Idiroko road.

We made seizures of vehicles and motorcycles on a daily basis

Ejesieme, who spoke on behalf of the Controller of the AntiSmuggling Unit, Mohammed Dahiru, said the unit was the logistics command of NCS saddled with the responsibility of suppressing smuggling in the country. He said: “We are not oblivious of the magnitude and peculiar nature of this axis; this is why we have resolved to deal frontally with the issue of illegal trade in the borders. Ejesieme added that the comptroller of the unit had summoned all the anti-smuggling team leaders. He noted that the essence was to rejig the unit’s operational tools in line with the change agenda of the Federal Government. “We began with the customscommunity relations. The essence

was to educate the communities on implication of smuggling to the nation’s economy and also the effect of the illegal trade on their various communities. We have begun to get positive response from the community leaders. “Smuggling is global phenomenon. We are not saying that we have all the answers but the good news is that we are on course and we have been humiliating the smugglers with the quantity of seizures we made. Customs warehouses are filled to the brim with over 616 seizures, which is the key performance indicator of our anti-smuggling activities. Our comptroller has zero tolerance for smuggling and he doesn’t give room for complacency,” he added. Ejesieme explained that 34 smugglers were arrested in the first quarter of the year and had been charged to court. He said: “We have donated five patrol vehicles, 15 Hilux vehicles and 100 motorcycles to Benin Customs to cement our relationship. This is also in line with the bilateral trade agreement Nigeria had with the country. It was agreed that every vehicle imported through Seme and Idiroko routes must be escorted to the point where Nigeria Customs will subject them to Customs protocols in terms of payment of duties and appropriate taxes. If the relationship is sustained, smuggling will reduce. “Apart from the bilateral trade agreement, the Federal Government has so far purchased 60 patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, increased control posts from 84 to 114 and border patrol bases from 45 to 72. “Also, NCS has taken delivery of its new Cessna Citation CJ4 (5N-DIA) surveillance jet, ordered by the Federal Government in May 2012. Besides, it operates two Bell 427s.” It has also partnered with NIS and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to monitor Oyo/Osun, Ogun, Ondo/ Ekiti and Seme commands. Government efforts Early this year, the Federal Government resolved to commence effective policing of the country’s land borders to curb criminal activities. In 2012, Nigeria and Niger Republic made similar efforts when the two countries agreed to begin a joint border patrol along some unspecified portions of the 930 kilometres border covering their areas. The agreement was signed at the end of the sixth session of the High Authority of the NigeriaNiger Joint Commission for Cooperation, held in Niamey, the capital of Republic of Niger, to curb the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria. Similar decision was taken in 2014 when an emergency meeting aimed at the establishment of a joint border patrol involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin Republic took place in Abuja. However, despite all these achievements, there is need for government to intensify efforts in tackling criminal activities at the nation’s land borders in order to protect the lives of its people and the nation’s economy.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus South South Focus Bedlam on Asaba-Onitsha expressway

23 News Between Fashola and Delta government

Some of the victims’ widows

When herdsmen’s rumour scuttled Mbaka’s visit to Nimbo He was scheduled to visit the beleaguered community on a condolence visit. But on the morning of fiery Catholic priest, Rev, Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s visit, the town was agog with rumours of another attack by herdsmen on Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. The town received only gifts from the priest and are still waiting for him. Charles Onyekwerereports from Enugu

planned visit by fiery Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, of the Enugu Adoration Catholic Ministry to families of victims of Nimbo, over the April 25th 2016 massacre in the community was allegedly scuttled by cries of fresh early morning attack on a woman who had gone to the farm to gather small grains, vegetables to prepare

Mbaka

food for her children. That was before Fr. Mbaka could arrive the community, earlier announced for that faithful day. The attacked woman, simply identified as Mrs Ogbobe Monica (a.ka Mama Ejima) was said to have gone to the farm alone to gather vegetables and was allegedly accosted by one Fulani man, who was said to have beckoned on her to come close for an alleged sexual intercourse but the woman nodded in total refusal to the amorous approach, raised her machete in self defence, only for the Fulani man to pull his sharp machete and slice the shoulder of the woman, who managed to return back, wailing on top of her voice that

she has been attacked at the farmland by Fulani. New Telegraph gathered that the shouting and cries of the attacked woman caused a scare as people scampered for safety, carrying ‘Ghana must go’ bags and polythene bags to flee the community on the grounds that the herdsmen have unleashed another barbaric attack in the community that were still licking the wounds of April 25th mayhem. Over 13 indigenes of the community were slaughtered, buried enmass and several others injured badly and are still receiving treatment at both UNTH and Orthopedic hospitals in Enugu. Investigations revealed that security report allegedly signaled that the community was not safe enough for the visit of the Enugu Catholic cleric as earlier announced on the previous Sunday in the church as people had fled in their numbers to neighbouring towns and villages in fear of yet another invasion of the community by Fulani herdsmen. It took several hours to calm down the heightened tension before the few that summoned courage could move to the church scheduled for the visit of Mbaka to celebrate a Holy Mass in commemoration of the massacre in the community. A villager from the community, who pleaded anonymity with New

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Telegraph disclosed that Nimbo people have been living in fear for the past two weeks as there have been alleged heated noise that the herdsmen had sent text messages of another showdown at Nimbo, Abbi Ugbene and Nrobo communities which sent cold shivers while families without further inquiry took to their heels for fear of the unknown in the hands of the herdsmen who were normally seen around the farmlands at intervals. “The community had earlier warned people not to go the farmlands alone but in pairs and groups for avoidance of doubts. Mrs Ogbobe was allegedly attacked as she went to the farm early alone to gather grain before Fr. Mbaka could arrive for the scheduled commemorative visit. She is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the neighbourhood of the community’’ he noted. Despite the sudden change of the scheduled visit of Mbaka to the community, the commemoration mass service was however celebrated by the parish priest of St. Francis Parish Ogurugu, Rev. Fr. Aaron Okeogu, who in his homily, urged the community to brace up and face whatever challenge that arises in the community rather than fleeing the community at intervals on slightest alarm of the presence of the herdsmen, pointing out that women of the Nimbo should rise up for total cleansing of the blood of the innocent souls killed by the herdsmen, copying what happened in Inyi community which propelled women to rise and sanity returned. Okeogu noted that the town union, corporate bodies and stakeholders should fuse together to reengineer the attention of the community rather than fleeing at all times that the herdsmen cock crows, noting that prayer remains the only solution to conquer the situation in Nimbo and its environs. The parish priest of the Catholic Church in Nimbo, Rev.Obetta Okeke, said that the entire community was aware that the herdsmen have fully returned to the farmlands of Nimbo and as such, people go to farm in groups to pick crops and return back the same way, pointing out that an Abbi indigene recently went to farm alone and had his legs shattered by the herdsmen while the people of Nimbo on hearing the incident at Abbi took to heels in their numbers. “Mama Ejima went to the farm alone and when a Fulani man sighted her, dropped his gun to show her that he was not ready to attack but to have an intercourse, Mama Ejima’s refusal to amorous advance, compelled her to first attack the man with cutlass. Then, the Fulani man told her to run before attacking with his own cutlass. The policemen have been on ground together with fortified neighbourhood watch by UzoUwani Local Government Council. “We should always run to the police for protection than raising false alarm that cause stampede and confusion in the community.”

south-east

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Roadside food vendors to the rescue joining. She said that the business is helping her a lot in training her children in primary and tertiary institutions as her husband is a retired civil servant. Aside from beans, roasted yam and plantain, another road side food helping residents of Enugu is “Abacha” or tapioca, usually nicknamed “African salad”. It is made from cassava tubers. Yo The cassava tubers are cooked, cut into long tiny pieces and soaked in water for about 24 hours and are ready to be consumed. The food vendors add local condiments, including “Ugba”(oil bean), crayfish, pepper and palmoil etc. They also serve fried fish to go with it depending on the consumer. A plate of “Abacha” goes from N100 to N300, again depending on the combination. Some of the “Abacha” vendors move around

Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

all it backward integration, you are right. Gone are the days when the craze for foreign food was the order of the day. Nowadays, people are going back to the good-old-days of natural African foods. The local foods are believed to be healthier and even cheaper in the light of current economic realities in the country. Some women in Enugu, who are into food vending business have identified this gap and are filling it in Enugu metropolis. Although, the local food vending business is not new in the city, the biting economic hardship has forced more patronage and consequently led to more women going into the business. The most popular roadside local food business booming in town now include roasted yam and plantain, with a mixture of beans. There are two kinds of beans, the normal soft white beans and the hard brown bean-like seed, which some people call Guinea beans or fio fio. All of them are from the same beans family-Phasoelus. Beans, according to nutritionists are high in starch, protein and dietary fibre, and is an excellent source of iron, potassium, selenium, molybdenum, thiamine, vitamin B6 and foliate. Mrs. Felicia Nnaji, a local food vendor along Edinburgh Street Enugu, told our reporter that the cost of the food stuff had gone up exponentially. She said that a bag of Fiofio (guinea beans) sold for N20, 000 in April is now sold for N50, 000; while a bag of normal beans sold for N18, 000 in April is now sold for N35, 000. According to her, they have to maintain the price of a plate of food because if they increased the price, they may lose their customers. So, what they do instead is to reduce the size of the food par plate. A plate of the roasted yam/plantain and beans goes from N150 to N300 depending on the combination. One can also eat fiofio and cooked yam with “Utazi” vegetable for just N150. Nnaji told our reporter that she has been in the business for many years now, even as more women are

in wheel barrow while some are stationary. A resident of Enugu, Mr. Nnaemeka Agbo, who confirmed that he patronizes the food vendors, said that aside from the health consideration, he was forced to patronize the food vendors due to the current harsh economic realities. Most students of the tertiary institutions in Enugu State, including Enugu State University (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), Our Saviour Institute of Science and Technology (OSISATECH) and Enugu State College of Education, are huge fans of the local food vendors as they are seen at various street corners buying takeaways. Other artisans, civil servants, and even bankers and high profile individuals patronize the

Roasted yam and plantain on display

A road side vendor

A helping hand to Abia communities Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

food vendors. That is why they now buy loads of disposable takeaway packs to service such class of customers. Another resident of Enugu, the coal city state, Boniface Oke, told our reporter that he has been a longstanding consumer of “Abacha” delicacy, noting that he likes to eat the “African salad” because he likes the natural taste and the combination of delicacies. He said he usually enjoy the dish with fried fish and sliced garden eggs to complement it. Oke, who works as an advert executive, stated that has equally conducted research on the health benefits of the local traditional foods and discovered that they are healthier and more affordable. He said that most packed or canned foods imported into the country are cancer prone according to his research.

odu and Lohum are sister communities in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. Like most rural communities, they have suffered neglect and the absence of modern social amenities, including modern health facility and potable water for years. That was until a son of the area, Chief Daniel Ogbonnaya, last week gave them a new lease of life by providing a modern Eye Centre and five water borehole points. It is against this background that the communities rolled out the drums to celebrate the gesture at a colourful event that witnessed the handing over of the facilities to the communities. It was joy and celebration as the two communities, which had hitherto trekked long distances to fetch from a

surface stream, ended years of search for potable water and the absence of modern health facility. The ultra modern eye centre, located at Lohum is fully equipped with modern medical facilities and eye experts even as the water borehole projects are located at different parts of Lodu. These were among other projects and scholarship programs the Sweden-based businessman provided for the benefit of the communities and students. The medical facility named GOK Eye Centre, located at Lohum junction by Leper Colony Road, Lohum, was completed and equipped with modern facilities and qualified eye experts drawn from different hospitals in Nigeria, including the Federal Medical Centre FMC, Umuahia. Ogbonnaya, in conjunction with Bohus Biotech Medical group of Sweden, also provided quality drugs used in the

treatment and management of Arthritis and skin problems at the Centre. Speaking at the event, the sponsor of the projects, Ogbonnaya, said the projects were to complement government’s efforts, saying that government alone could not provide everything for all the communities. He explained that it was a way of giving back to the society and called on other well-to-do individuals and organizations to follow suit. Ogbonnaya, represented by his brother and a staff of the eye clinic, Mr Tony Ogbonnaya, said the water projects have helped to ameliorate the suffering of the people in search of drinking water. Ogbonnaya, who conducted newsmen round the projects, revealed that his brother was touched by the plight of his people, who had been fetching drinking water from surface stream over the years and had suffered health challenges because of

Preparation in progress

the absence of modern medical facility in the area. He disclosed that the eye centre, which now serves people from Ohafia, Igbere, Item, Isukwuato, Ozu Abam, Alayi, Nkporo, Nkpa, Akara and even Umuahia, the state capital, also subsidizes the medical bill for the elderly. In his remark, the elated traditional ruler of Lodu Imenyi autonomous community, Eze Jeremiah Nworisara, said the community is blessed to have a large hearted son and honoured him with the chieftaincy title of Aku ruo Ulor 1 (True wealth is the one at home). The traditional ruler disclosed that the honour was to spur him to do more and challenged other well-to-do individuals and organizations to use their wealth to impact the lives of their people. Sharing her mood with newsmen, an indigene of the area, a middle-aged woman, who simply gave her name as Grace, commended the efforts of the philanthropist in developing the community.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

Vehicles trapped in traffic on the road

Bedlam on AsabaOnitsha expressway

A trip from Lagos and other parts of Nigeria to the South-East and South-South becomes a nightmare once one approaches Asaba towards Onitsha. What started as a mere pothole has now turned into a gully on the AsabaOnitsha expressway, turning an otherwise smooth journey to anger and anguish. Dominic Adewole reports from Asaba

he woes on the ever-busy Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway has worsened in the last one year. That is no thanks to the commotion that has been rocking the failed portion of the dual carriageway, which assumed a dangerous dimension last week in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The situation forced the state gov-

ernment to break its silence on the woes and unveiled to Nigerians, and indeed, the world, that ‘the Federal Government’s set of white teeth was not an assurance of a pure heart’. Adjacent the defunct headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), around the General Hospital, Okwe axis of Asaba, Delta state, is situated a deep pot hole, which has caused crisis, hindered vehicular movement for close to a year and killed innocent Nigerians. While the government of Edo State had kept mum over the two noticeable death-traps along their own portion of the Expressway, Delta State government, on Friday, July 22, took the bull by the horn and boldly called the dog a bad name, exonerating itself from the ‘insensitivity’ blames that the road had generated in the past six months. Now, motorists and other road users are aggrieved that men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), customs officers and squads of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have abandoned their legitimate duties and turned the bad spots to their check-points, collect gratification, thereby worsening the traffic jams along the busy expressway. The Delta State government, in an official statement, categorically heaped the blames on the current national government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The oil-rich state told the SouthEastern people of the country and their counterparts in the South-West, and indeed, angry motorists and other road users, who constitute 95 per cent of those plying the route, to ask the President’s Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to explain why he had to politicise a controversial road maintenance work, especially the one he ran into when he came through Asaba metropolis to inspect the ongoing works on the 2nd River Niger Bridge in, Anambra State, two months ago. The state did not end at that. It went ahead to accuse the minister of ‘disrupting’ the commencement of work on the spot with his ‘political statement’. The Governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who said his administration had given continued priority to state and federal roads since he assumed office over a year ago, was obviously shocked that the minister could not be faithful in little construction work, lamenting the unpalatable stigma he placed on his budding administration and the nightmare it had constituted to Nigerians, especially motorists, who ply the route on daily basis, with his visit. The governor, in a signed statement by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, did not only share in the pains of Nigerians,

who had suffered loss of man-power, precious time, resources and others on the expressway but flayed the floodgate of insinuations that his government was unperturbed about the welfare of residents of the state, who move to and fro to Onitsha, almost on daily basis, for business engagements, hence his poor disposition to the failed portion since he assumed office. Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has joined issues with the minister, wondering why he deliberately made empty promises to fix the spot with immediate effect, tagging it as a ploy to portray the PDP-led administration in the state in a bad light. The statement read, “On noticing the condition of the spot, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa immediately ordered the Delta State Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to mobilise to the site and do the needful. But when the minister came through Asaba to inspect ongoing works on the 2nd River Niger Bridge in Onitsha, he got in touch with Engineers from Julius Berger (the contracting firm handling the aforementioned bridge) to move to the site (spot) and remedy the situation since it is a Federal road. “Following this directive that Julius Berger’s Engineers should take over the process of rehabilitating the spot, Engineers from DLA (Direct Labour Agency) who had already commenced work as directed by the governor, stopped”. The governor explained that since Delta State government had in the past rehabilitated and maintained Federal roads across the state, such as the Benin -Warri Expressway and it is currently dualizing the AsabaUghelli-Warri Federal road, and will continue to do so, the failed portion of the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha dual carriageway around the General Hospital, Okwe, axis of Asaba, would not have been a problem, if not that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

south-south

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Between Fashola and Delta government

A bad portion on the road

Another bad spot

Another section C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

minister politically hijacked the process. While travellers from Benin, the Edo State capital to Delta and businessmen and women from the South-West geo political zone of the country have continued to suffer hectic time to cross the River Niger Bridge, even as commuters have resorted to trekking from Asaba to Onitsha in order to meet up with their appointments and other engagements, the governor appealed to motorists and other road users of that portion of the expressway to exercise little patience as the state government is not unmindful of the pains they go through on daily basis, maintaining that he had started liaising with the appropriate authorities to ensure speedy repairs of the road, and end the heavy traffic jam that had continued to cause sleepless nights along the expressway. Meanwhile, a senior staff of Julius Berger, who did not want his names in the print, explained why the construction firm ignored the Minister, wondering how a big time construction firm of Julius Berger calibre, would

move to site without a properly documented arrangement and mobilisation fees. “That portion of the expressway requires special expertise. It is not as easy to repair as the minister thought. If at all the minister wants to engage us for the repairs and effect other maintenance, he should follow due process. It is not a phone call business”, the source said. It would be recalled vividly that the deep pot-hole metamorphosed from a minor road failure to its highly deplorable state in the last three months when the rain sets in. Hell was however let loose on Thursday, July 21, when the expressway nosedived into a dangerous error and road got blocked. The officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who gallantly defiled the heavy downpour on the fateful day by racing to the spot, suffered loss of time, before resigning to fate. The logjam that ensued thereafter forced the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Zanna Muhammed, to leave the comfort of his office to the troubled spot. When the Commissioner

We had moved our equipment to site, commenced work and started sandfilling before we were told to leave the place; that the Federal Government had taken over the job

saw the commotion, he had no other choice that to turn to a traffic warden. He did that for hours but to no avail. The Director-General of DLA, Engr. Frank Enekorogha, who corroborated his boss, wondered why the minister reneged on its promise of fixing the portion with immediate effect. He said: “We had moved our equipment to site, commenced work and started sand-filling before we were told to leave the place; that the Federal Government had taken up the job.” A chieftain of the National Union Road Transport Workers NURTW, who identified himself as Ifeanyi, lambasted the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for failing to act up to the law setting it up. “We have complained and complained to their office in Asaba but to no avail. Unfortunately, officials of the agency and other top government officials both at the Federal and state levels ply the expressway on daily basis but blind their eyes to the road failure. Only God can alleviate the sufferings of the poor in this country”, If-

eanyi lamented. Another member of the union, Chinedu Obeta, said FERMA in the state have turned deaf ears to all entreaties from members of the union over the failed portion. He said a staff of the agency complained that ‘besides the bureaucracy that is involved in accessing funds, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) regime of President Buhari has tied their hands.’ Chinedu lamented that it was around the very spot that a fully loaded truck, belonging to a popular cement factory in Nigeria crushed three commercial Mitsubishi buses about a month ago and killed 15 persons. He pointed also to another failed portion of the dual carriageway at the popular Hausa Market Stop-Over, along the popular Bye-Pass in Benin, wondering why nothing was done by the Government of Edo State to put the cement trucks of a notable business mogul where they belong but allowing them to park recklessly along the road and damaging the expressway. “Besides the Hausa Bye-Pass failed spot, there is another death trap at Ikhuen axis of the state (Edo). That portion is an eyesore. It has been in bad shape since a year ago also. Instead of reporting to the appropriate authorities that these portions failed and have greatly increased road carnage, the state partnered the major destroyer of the road and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the management of the factory to locate a branch in the state, even as men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), customs officers and policemen have turned the bad spots to their checking-points, thereby causing traffic hold-up along the busy expressway”, Chinedu lamented. FERMA however proved the Delta State Government, Ifeanyi, Chinedu and other road users right when the New Telegraph visited their district office, along the Delta Broadcasting Station (DBS) road in Asaba, to get their reaction on the accusations as workers of the agency aborted the frantic effort made to speak with the District Head.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business WHAT'S NEW Hotel devts rise by 30% in Nigeria, others –Report p.26

FG rues $5bn spending on food importation p.26

Recession: Manufacturing sector endangered

eWorld Boosting national safety through IT

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

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N377 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N500 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N409

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N310 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N386 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N322

Source: CBN

L-R: Head, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communications, Union Bank Plc, Mrs. Ogochukwu EkezieEkaidem; Lead Camp 2016 Beneficiary, Miss Moriam Tijani; Executive Director, Ja Nigeria, Mrs Efua Edeh and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Foundation, Mrs Zouera Youssoufou, at the gradution of Lead Camp 2016 for 50 girls, in Lagos. PHOTO: NAN

Kunle Azeez

Ayodele Aminu

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel Market as at July 22)

l Foreign Reserves – $26.347bn as at 22/7/2016

Some telecoms firms are deploying advanced 4G LTE networks to deliver highspeed services

Deputy Editor (Business)

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7% March 2016..............................12.8%

SPEED

The Business Desk

our major telecoms companies in Nigeria are currently leading the pack in the deployment of latest technology platforms to accelerate the achievement of the country’s targeted 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, New Telegraph has learnt. With the global telecommunications industry fast bracing up for more technologically-advanced Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) networks, Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem is brewing with a heated competition between third generation (3G) and operators taking the lead in 4G LTE service provisioning. MTN, Glo, Airtel, Etisalat and other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been 3G service providers, but MTN has recently emerged to be the first 4G LTE provider among other three GSM companies. According to experts, the aggressive launch of 4G LTE services by the merged entity of MTN and Visafone is expected to drive the broadband penetration in the country from under 10 per cent presently, to the targeted 30 per cent by 2018, as per the national broadband plan of the Federal Government and help meet

Broadband: MTN, others to fast-track 30% target the national broadband plan targets. According to an industry analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo, “as Nigerian telecoms service providers offering 4G LTE technology cast their dragnet to capture more subscribers, brandishing fast speed Internet, data, voice and video services, there is bound to be simmering battle between the 4G and 3G mobile operators even as we expect to see deeper broadband accessibility and a change in subscribers’ taste to networks that offer higher speed and service efficiency.” It was learnt that apart from MTN, other smaller operators with promise of 4GLTE networks are Ntel (formerly Mtel), Smile Communications Nigeria Ltd as well as Intercellular Nigeria, all of which are projecting higher speed video and data services for Nigerians. While some operators have claimed to be offering 4G LTE services to the over 93 million Internet users in the country, available records from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that only MTN, Ntel, Smile and Intercellular have the approval and spectrum to provide true 4G services in the country till date. “Any operator can advertise anything to subscribers and lay claims to the fact that they are offering 4G services, maybe because their Internet speed on their networks is compa-

N18.96 billion Being the amount paid by MTN to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the purchase of the 2.6 Ghz spectrum lots

rable to the speed of a 4G networks, but not all the players in the industry have the approval to offer 4G services yet,” Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr, Tony Ojobo, told this newspaper at a forum in Lagos. Reacting to the misleading claims often made by some operators that they are offering 4G LTE services, when they do not have the regulatory approval and platforms to offer such services to their subscribers, President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, cautioned operators without approval and facility to offer 4G services to desist from deceiving unsuspecting subscribers. He said: “I implore Nigerian subscribers to seek information before being hoodwinked into believing that some operators are offering 4G LTE services when, in actual fact; they do not have the technological platforms to offer such services. MTN and other players such as Ntel, Smile and Intercellular are the operators with facility to offer 4G LTE currently in the country.” As part of measures to deepen broadband services in the country, MTN, apart from acquiring the 800Mhz 4G spectrum now owned through Visafone, recently acquired six slots out of the available 14 slots CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS |NEWS

PROMISING Hotel development projects in Nigeria account for 16 per cent of the total pipeline in Africa in 2016 Dayo Ayeyemi

espite the harsh business environment in Africa, new hotel development in Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Nigeria and Egypt have begun to pick up, the annual W Hospitality Group Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey has revealed. According to the study released recently, the number of new hotels in Africa is increasing significantly.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hotel projects rise by 30% in Nigeria, others –Report

Besides, the survey revealed that the number of hotel rooms planned for construction in 2016 in Africa has soared to 64,000 in 365 hotels, adding that this has shown an increase of 30 per cent than development activity last year and more than double the development pipeline in 2009. The new hotel development, the survey stated, has been noted in major countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Angola and Egypt, which have really begun to pick up. The report said that new hotels in the development pipeline in Nigeria are up 20 per cent from last year’s figure, adding that about 61 hotels are to be built in Nigeria in 2016 with a total number of 10,222 rooms.

The hotel development projects in Nigeria account for 16 per cent of the total pipeline in Africa in 2016. The study provides data on hotel development across the continent. More than 64,000 rooms are in the continent’s pipeline in 2016 from 36 hotel chains and 86 brands The cause of a surge in the number of new hotels in Africa, according to the report, was majorly due to the strong growth in the sub-Saharan Africa, which was up 42.1 per cent in 2015 and is significantly outstripping North Africa that accomplished only a modest 7.5 per cent pipeline increase this

year. Also, in the latest rankings by country, Angola was listed among the top 10 for the first time, pushing Egypt out of second place, due to a major contract that was signed by AccorHotels. Managing Director of conference organizer for Bench Events, Matthew Weihs said: “For business, trade and capital investment, Africa remains as an attractive proposition, which continues to lead for demand for accommodation and other hospitality services.” In Kenya, for example, City Lodge Hotels pointed out that it was yet to construct a 169-ho-

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Len Deacon and Associates (Pty). Limited, South Africa, Mr. Len Deacon; President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr. Gabriel Foluso Fasoto and Chairman of the occasion, Ahmed Yakasai, during the APBN 2016 Summit, held in Abuja. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Broadband: MTN, others to fast-track 30% target CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

in the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band recently licensed by the NCC. “A sum of N18.96 billion is paid by MTN to NCC for the purchase of the 2.6 Ghz spectrum lots as part of our vision to deliver improved data and voice services for Nigeria,” said MTN’s Executive, Amina Oyagbola. According to GSMA, the global association of GSM service providers, 4G LTE is the fastest developing system in the history of mobile communications. In its first year, LTE usage soared from zero to 150 million people and today about 1.3 billion people benefit from this technology. LTE not only provides superfast connectivity to millions of users, but can also act as enterprise network connectivity enabler. Today, 4G mobile technology makes the speed of the current third generation (3G) technology a child’s play. LTE is a mobile network technology that is being deployed by mobile operators on both the GSM and the CDMA technology paths. Depending on the spectrum available, live LTE networks can deliver very fast data speeds of up to 100Mbps in the downlink and 50Mbps in the uplink. Designed to be backwardscompatible with GSM and HSPA, LTE incorporates Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) technology, the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) air interface in the downlink and Single Carrier FDMA in the uplink. According to the GSM Association, “this combination provides high levels of spectral efficiency and network performance, coupled with high network capacity and low latency. LTE will support spectrum channel bandwidths from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz and can operate in both paired spectrum (in FDD mode) and unpaired spectrum (in TDD mode).” Although both LTE and WiMax use the OFDMA air in-

terface, LTE’s compatibility with existing GSM and HSPA networks enables mobile operators to continue to provide a seamless service across LTE and existing deployed networks. According to industry analysts, the best way to continue to increase network capacity, especially in city areas, is not by continuing to try and build more towers closer and closer together, but by having additional spectrum. There is no additional 3G spectrum available in Nigeria to be licensed by the NCC. For the city areas, the only solution is to make available spectrum in a different band. Meanwhile, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has promised to auction more to increase broadband access and make Internet pervasive in Nigeria. He said the availability of Digital Spectrum would also herald additional 4G mobile operators. 4G LTE has some inherent advantages over 3G mobile communications, which makes it suitable for connectivity for enterprises, says an engineer, Mr. Rotimi Abioye. Also speaking on the importance of 4G LTE and broadband to economic growth, the Chief Executive Officer of Intercellular, Mr. Emad Sukker, said there are many surveys globally that have indicated that there is a positive correlation between a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and broadband penetration. “We believe that for Nigeria, the pervasive penetration of broadband will strengthen activities of individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s) enabling them to expand their craft and services to a global audience. “As a corporate citizen of Nigeria, Intercellular will continue to invest in advanced technologies that will empower Nigerians in their quest to achieve their aspirations and dreams,” he said.

tel room in Nairobi, which is projected to be operational in the second quarter of next year. Upcoming hotels in Nairobi also includes Tune hotel. The Financial Director of the hotelier, Mr. Andrew Widegger, confirmed the reports, saying that construction of the group’s hotels in Dar es Salaam, Maputo, and Windhoek was expected to commence this year during the current quarter. Their primary client is the business traveler. W Hospitality Group is the Proud Winners of the Ai Tourism Investor Award - “Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year.”

FG rues $5bn spending on food importation EMPLOYMENT Agriculture Transformation Agenda created 3.5 million jobs in 2015s

Taiwo Hassan

he Federal Government has lamented the huge foreign exchange being chaneled into food importation, saying that Nigeria still imports between $3 billion and $5 billion worth of food yearly. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, revealed this in a document; Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) (2016 – 2020), which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja recently. A copy of the new agric policy obtained by New Telegraph quoted the minister as saying that it was meant to build on the successes of the former policy - Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) - by closing key gaps in the industry. He said Nigeria was facing two key gaps in agriculture today: inability to meet domestic food requirements and inability to export at quality levels required for market success. He added that despite former

President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s adoption of ATA, it was shocking to note that food import still peaked. He noted that such a profile could no longer be sustained by the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari because of the reduction in government’s accrued revenue from crude oil proceeds. According to him, the administration discovered that ATA faced a lot of challenges and did not deliver on all the targets identified in the agric value chains. This, he said, prompted the need for the ministry to come out with a new policy for the industry, which primary focus will be on closing the demand – supply gaps between crop and livestock production. He added that the gap closing will also include tackling related input, financing, storage, transport and market access issues present in key value chains. He said: “The ATA was a good platform to re-engage key stakeholders in Nigerian agriculture to shift focus towards how a self-sustaining agribusiness focused economy could be built. “The ATA focused on how to make Nigeria’s agriculture more productive, efficient and effective. It set a target of creating 3.5 million jobs by 2015;

generating foreign exchange and reducing spending on food imports. “Among its key achievements was a restructuring of the federal fertiliser procurement system. He added: “ATA, however, also faced challenges and did not deliver on all the targets identified. For example, Nigeria still imports about $3 billion to $5 billion worth of food annually, especially wheat, rice, fish and sundry items, including fresh fruits. “As a result, Nigeria is not food secure. Wastage levels remain high in production areas, reducing supply of feedstock to processing factories, requiring them to keep importing supplies. “The net effect is limited job growth across the agricultural value chain from input production to market systems, and continued use of limited foreign currency earnings to import vast quantity of food.” Ogbeh noted that from 2010 to 2011, the Federal Government, after years of neglect, began to reform the agriculture sector. He said to refocus the sector, government implemented ATA. The minister added that from 2011 to 2016, the focus has been on rebuilding a sector whose relevance had shrunk dramatically.

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

InDUSTRY

Dangote’s Obajana cement factory

Recent confirmation by the Federal Government that the economy was in recession has, as expected, created anxiety among members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS). TAIWO HASSAN reports

ast week, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, confirmed that the Nigerian economy had gone into recession. Adeosun, who appeared before the Senate, also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration inherited negative reserves from the immediate past administration, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government owed contractors N390 billion, while outstanding cash call debt was $5 billion. She said although the government is concerned about the state of the economy, but expressed optimism that Nigeria would get out of her precarious predicament. Her words: “Nigeria is in one of the toughest economic times we have faced in living memory. We are very confident that the strategies that we are deploying will get us out of the problems that we have inherited; and those fiscal strategies are around; being very disciplined about government spending; to reduce wastage and leakages; to ensure that we invest in infrastructure that is needed to create jobs and growth in this economy. “Technically, in economic terms, if you have two periods of negative growth, you are technically in a recession. But I don’t think we should spend too much time on this. Wheth-

Recession: Manufacturing sector endangered er you call it recession or not, we are in a tough place, but the most important thing is that we are going to get out of it.” Fate of manufacturers For many private sector operators, manufacturers and Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) owners, the survival of the sector has remained the utmost concern at this period of recession since the fall in oil price, which has impaired the economic growth of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). However, in Nigeria’s context, it has been a very tough time for the industrial sector, as stakeholders have been groaning under harsh economic and business environment. For them, government’s admission of recession in the economy will bring further uncertainties in the sector, which is near comatose and struggling to contribute its stake to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Specifically, the OPS had enumerated that the conditions that characterised economic slowdown in the two quarters of this year were uncertainty around economic policies, adverse external environment, security challenges in some parts of the country affecting production and distribution of agricultural produce, low electricity supply, fuel shortages and foreign exchange crisis. However, since the government has admitted that the country was in recession, the aftermath effect will also spill on the foreign exchange crisis, which has remained the largest risk to the inflation outlook despite the introduction of flexible forex into the system by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The news about the reces-

sion has been a huge concern to industry players as patronage, turnover and profit margins outlooks become weaker at the expense of growth expectations.

Recession occured after monthly oil revenues dipped from $1.2 billion earlier in the year to $500 million

In addition, the unusual combination of slow growth and rising inflation present a difficult policy challenge for the Buhari-led administration to rescue the dying economy from further declining. Experts’ views Speaking with New Telegraph, Director-General, Lagos Chamber Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, said that the country’s economic index revelations from the National Bureau of Statistics and CBN showed that the country would experience recession. His words: “Well, the position of the National Bureau of Statistics is correct because you have a situation whereby productivity is declining, cost of production is going up and purchasing power is also declining, and in addition, we also have the issue of state governors not being able to pay salaries of their workers for months. This also has adverse implication for aggregate demand in the country. “All these factors led to a situation where we had contractions in the economy in the first quarter of this year. And if we have continued contractions in the economy, of course, that will mean recession is in the pipeline. “The fear expressed by the NBS and CBN was real and if we don’t do something urgently to reverse the fortunes of the country’s economy, we may actually end up in recession in the second half of this

year.” The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said that Nigeria’s economy was already inching towards recession after monthly oil revenues dipped from $1.2 billion earlier in the year to $500 million. He added that the development could trigger an external balance of payment crisis. The market cannot afford any further delays and procrastination on the exchange rate, as this could make a bad situation worse, he stated in his Economic Report for June. He said the risk of a policy reversal and ideological backsliding was now looming with possible devastating consequences. Rewane pointed out that a recession occurs after two consecutive quarters of negative growth (-0.36 per cent) while second quarter estimate was (-1.5 per cent), a result that would put the economy in recession. He said the last time Nigeria was in recession was in 2004, adding that oil price decline of 56.39 per cent from 2014’s peak, sharp oil production drop by 26.3 per cent, under investment over foreign exchange policies and repercussions from Niger Delta Avengers’ agitation, were largely responsible for the ongoing economic woes in the country. Conclusion It is the belief of industry players that Nigeria could still get out the woods given some of the positive policies being rolled out, among which is the signing of the budget, review of the foreign exchange policy and the deregulation of the downstream sector.

business \ industry

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria imported 1m bottles of wine in 2015 –Report PROSPECT Sub-Saharan Africa has become the target market for varieties of wine and spirit makers globally

Storis by Taiwo Hassan

nvestigations have revealed that the economic impasse in the country has affected the consumption of exotic wine among Nigerians as 1.1 million bottles of wine was consumed in the country last year. A report monitored on the International Wine and Spirits Research website revealed that Nigeria was second to France among the countries in the world that popped expensive wine bottles – just as she was rated the 22nd biggest consumer of wine in the world. However, the study revealed that despite the consumption slowdown last year, Nigeria’s wine market still showed potential for growth and was expected to increase at an average of 12 per cent in the next half-adecade or so. The report described Nigerians as high spenders “who don’t spare anything than to splash their oil-money on luxury goods from private jets to champagne.” But a commodity rout that affected Nigeria’s main export of oil in 2015 has seen the economy shrink. This has affected several sectors including wine consumption. The report noted that the glut in the economy resulted to people consuming less wine in 2015 compared to the last few years when import of the fizzy drinks more than doubled. The study added that there was also going to be a steady rise in the number of new wine bars and retailers opening up in major cities in the country,

confirming the growing appetite by consumers despite the gloomy economic outlook. “We’ve had the income growth – Nigeria’s GDP growth – over the last decade has been much stronger and as the population grows older they (tend) to drink wine rather than other drinks,” Victor Ajibola, an analyst with Euromonitor International, said while speaking with International Wine and Spirits Research. According to a new report by Just-drinks, which named Nigeria as the next boom market for drinks, the presence of a relatively youthful consumer base that are earning a good income and moving to urban areas could be the main reason for the rise in consumption. “Economic and demographic factors are expanding the personal income of increasingly large sections of the population, who are also urbanising in search of work, thus becoming more exposed to international trends and products,” the report said. As a region, sub-Saharan Africa has become the target market for many wine and spirit companies and investors due to its young population that is quickly entering the middle class. While alcohol consumption

has declined in developed nations like the United States and China, Africa has been the fastestgrowing market for beer and other

fizzy drinks. Wine consumption in Africa is rising five times faster than the global average, according to

Incoming Managing Director, Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah, with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, during a visit to Saraki.

Economy compels Flour Mills to restructure

he management of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has disclosed that harsh business environment has forced the company to embark on a further restructuring of its operations. Group Managing Director of the company, Paul Gbededo, in a statement, said the strong economic headwinds and tough business environment, devaluation of the naira and unrest in the North East have in one way or the other affected the company’s operations but not its revenue generation. He said that despite the economic impasse in the country, the company posted an impres-

sive growth in revenue, attributing this to the management’s robust policy implementation to sustain growth and business profile. “The good news is that management is determined to further restructure our operations, streamline our business operations to focus on core businesses and constantly monitor and manage our costs optimally to hedge against further economic challenges, which might evolve,” he said. Gbededo noted that the company experienced currency shocks with the new flexible foreign exchange policy announced by the Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN), adding that FMN was able to offset the impact of the currency shocks on its businesses. His words: “Cost of sales was impacted by higher cost of foreign currency due to foreign market deregulation, resulting in closing blended exchange rate of N295 to $1 as against CBN rate of N197.50. “The company was able to offset the impact of the foregoing on its bottom-line only by gradual increases in selling prices of its products.” He added that the strong improvement in revenue and profitability was primarily driven by volume growth and

Manufacturers to explore emerging automotive market

riginal Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) intend to expand their clients’ base and establish automotive manufacturing facilities in emerging market economies, owing to the current saturation in European and United States’ automotive markets, KPMG has said. KPMG Industrial and Automotive Markets Head, Fred von Eckardstein, said this at an industry forum in Johannesburgh, South Africa. He said that the pedestrian growth in traditional automotive markets had prompted OEMs to enter markets in developing and emerging economies – specifically China and India – which have the fastestgrowing automotive markets globally.

a study of 24 sub-Saharan African countries released last year by British wine consultancy, IWSR.

He added that Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries were particularly important to OEMs, primarily because BRICS countries were ahead of other emerging economies in terms of established infrastructure, and are suitable for hosting vehicle manufacturing facilities. Other destinations of interest to OEMs include Argentina, Nigeria and Egypt, which offer increasingly attractive investment opportunities. Eckardstein pointed out that owing to a lack of affordability, car ownership was not regarded as an essential need to many citizens in the BRICS countries; nevertheless, needs do not necessarily correlate with wants, and the large majority of the population still aspires to own-

ing a car. Despite increased access to integrated public transport and the advent of new mobility solutions, such as application-based taxi service, Uber, the desire to own a car has not diminished, which Eckardstein attributed to the associated status and convenience. “Cars are still regarded as status symbols. They are somewhat synonymous with personal success. “Further, even with new solutions like Uber, car ownership still offers the most convenient way of travelling – perhaps not in peak hour, but during one’s free time – on weekends, during holidays or after work,” he noted. Further, BRICS countries also have comparatively resil-

ient economies – particularly China and India – which is advantageous for OEMs. Eckardstein pointed out that a strong economy would always contribute positively to newcar and second-hand car sales. Despite the slowdown in China, the country is still expecting a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate above six per cent for 2016, he adds, with India’s 2016 GDP growth forecast at 7.9 per cent. The healthy GDP growth rates have led to these countries experiencing automotive market booms. Although the South African economy is lagging behind its BRICS counterparts, Eckardstein noted that the slump had stimulated growth in secondhand car sales.

efficiency gains, while benefits arising from the sale of investment in the associate company– UNICEM-helped to improve the bottom line. On the way forward, Gbededo stressed: “Our confidence in the future prospect of our company is demonstrated by the fact that despite daunting economic challenges to our business, our directors are proposing to our shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) a declaration of a total of N2.62 billion (2015- N5.5 billion), representing dividend payment of N1.00 (2015 – N2.10) per ordinary share of 50 kobo each subject to Withholding Tax at appropriate rate. “We wish to assure our esteemed shareholders of our commitment to delivering superior shareholder value.” FMN noted that there was an increase in investment in its agro allied businesses where it now grows and processes maize, soy beans, sorghum, sugar cane, palm oil, rice, cassava and poultry and dominant supply of fertiliser and agri sacks to the Nigerian market. The company’s GMD said that FMN would continue to be one of the major promoters of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government with its ongoing agro-allied investments. He said FMN’s goal is to be involved in all stages of the food value chain where a profitable and sustainable agro allied platform of cultivating and processing locally produced raw materials will ensure the growth and success of the food business.

THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Stakeholders from public and private sectors converged on Abuja last week at this year’s national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society to chart the way forward on how strategic deployment of Information Technology tools could be used in improving the country’s national security. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

29 cial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have resulted in significant savings and elimination of waste in governance.”

IT-led approach NCS President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, in his address at the event, said the protection of life and property is the major function and responsibility of any government. However, he said, all over the world, no nation is excluded from the challenges of insecurity, as cases of murder, armed robbery, terrorism, cultism and other crimes abound despite the best efforts of security and law enforcements agencies. He, therefore, expressed the determination of IT profeshe spate of insecurity sionals in the country to work Aderounmu Shittu and threat to public with government towards desafety in Nigeria has beveloping a “more proactive come alarming in recent IT-led approach to combating terrorism and insurgency.” years, as the country continues to grapple with evolving appropriHe added that this year’s ate measures to combat the trends. conference by NCS was cruFrom the Boko Haram terrorcial for discussion considerism in the north, the Niger Delta ing the various safety and Avengers to the rising wave of cysecurity challenges facing bercrimes and all other forms Nigeria as a nation. Also, Acting Director Genof electronic frauds, the Nigerian economy is facing a maeral of NITDA, Dr. Vincent jor challenge to its economic Olatunji, said the role of IT in growth and development. curbing security challenges Realising that without safein the country has become a ty and security, growth in any growth and development. and other security challenges in national imperative, which reeconomy is impossible, the NiHe maintained that threats the country. quired a multi-stakeholders’ gerian Computer Society (NCS) emanate from local and global approach to tackle. Financial insecurity has devoted its annual national terrorism, which strikes fear conference this year to prefer- and shatters the much needed Beyond military might, Shittu Collaborations Speaking at the forum, Air ring Information Technology national peace and security. said financial crimes and corrupEffective use tion are added burden to the na- Vice Marshal Udoh Tommy (IT) solutions to solving the naAccording to him, “Nobody, tion’s insecurity. no organisation can perform tional security challenges that Victor, said, “The governof IT tools The three-day conference, optimally under a cloud of threaten the very existence and ment will work with the IT and solutions held at the NAF Conference fear,” stressing that uncertaindevelopment of the nation. professionals and academia Centre in Abuja last week, ties and raised anxieties strain While noting that national to engage in research and dewould enwith the theme: “Information the economy and society. safety and security further en- velop and develop IT solutions hance military Technology for National Safety While acknowledging succompasses securing the nation’s locally that can help us succeed operations to- cyber space, the Minister said more in our counter-insurgenand Security”, aligned with the cesses recorded so far, in the currently loses about cy efforts.” national safety and security fight to keep Nigeria secure, wards tackling Nigeria N127 billion, which is 0.08 per priority of the administration Shittu noted, “Though the NiHe said the security agencies insurgency of President Muhammadu Bu- gerian Army is already using cent of the country’s Gross Do- plan to effectively leverage Geohari. some technology platforms, mestic Products (GDP), yearly to graphic Information System and improving there may be some requiring cybercrime. (GIS) and other digital tools to safety of lives Insecurity as threats close attention,” Shittu, however, stated, “In address Niger Delta militancy Speaking at the forum, Minpublic finance, the electronic and terrorism in the North. He said the CommunicaAccording to him, using GIS ister of Communications, Mr. tion ministry is also engaging platforms used by the Nigerian Adebayo Shittu, said securing with the Nigerian army on posgovernment such as the Trea- and other IT tools, the Nigerilives and properties is both an sible technology collaboration to sury Single Account (TSA), the an security forces can achieve enabler and an imperative for tackle the activities of insurgents Government Integrated Finan- more efficiency and successes in their operations to protect lives and property in the country. He said: “Obviously, IT and he Jalingo City’s of Nigerians displaced form project teams or “Ac- cil, IDEA Hub, Land Gate intelligence are used to enSmart IDP Tracking in Jalingo, Taraba State tion Clusters” in order to Consultancy and a host of hance counter-insurgency and and Monitoring proj- with a medium to long- work on groundbreaking telecommunications comI can tell you that significant ect, designed and imple- term plan to implement Internet of Things appli- panies in Nigeria. victories recorded against termented under the tutelage the solution throughout cations within the smart Since formation, the rorism by the security agencies project has completed of the National Informa- the North Eastern region. city environment. in recent time underscores the tion Technology DevelopThe project will also Across the country the Geographic Informafact that effective intelligence ment Agency’s (NITDA’s) provide more accurate GCTC Action Clusters tion System Mapping of and IT is required to curb inNigeria Smart City Ini- data to the government are working to address Jalingo Local Government surgency.” tiatives has won a global agencies and support the country’s most press- to identify areas without Conclusion recognition. groups as well as enable ing problems in the areas mobile network coverage. The scheme accord- citizens receive quicker of transportation, public More features on the drawFollowing elaborate deliberaing to a statement, was and better quality re- safety, health, education, ing board include a mobile tions and discussions at differawarded the Global City sponse before, during and waste management, inter- application for receiving ent panel sessions held at the Teams Challenge (GCTC) after displacements. nal revenue collection and and sending messages and three-day conference, stakeThe Global City Teams so much more. a $10,000 Leadership Prize clearing house for data holders unanimously agreed at the just- concluded Challenge (GCTC) is a colThe Jalingo IoT based analytics. that effective use of IT tools and Smart City Innovation laborative platform en- IDP Tracking and MoniThe project also includes solutions would enhance miliSummit in Austin, Texas, abling local governments, toring System Action a social infrastructure tary operations towards tackUnited States. nonprofits, academic in- Cluster consists of the component, which covers ling insurgency and improving The Internet of Things stitutions, technologists NITDA, Hope Afresh Foun- education and skill develsafety of lives and property for (IoT)-based solution of- and private corporations dation Jalingo, Jalingo opment for children and engendering increased economfers hope to thousands from all over the world to Local Government Coun- other vulnerable groups. ic growth in the country.

Boosting national safety through IT

NITDA’s Jalingo IoT project hits global attention

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THURSDAY, JUly 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria begins plans for ITU World 2016 FOCUS NCC will lead other industry stakeholders to further deepen digital Nigeria

L-R: Head, e-Government, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr. Bernard Ewah; Director of IoT Smart City Strategy and Market Development for Intel Corporation, Susan Tauzer and Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of US Ignite, Dr. Glenn Ricart, during a cheque presentation to Jalingo Internet of Things (IoT)-based Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Tracking and Monitoring project at the Global City Team Challenge Expo in Austin, Texas, United States recently.

Kunle Azeez

igeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is kicking off major activities that will earn the country a befitting participation at the forthcoming International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecom World 2016. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) innovators, industry players and stakeholders are among the large number of delegates to this year’s ITU conference, holding in Bangkok, Thailand. Holding from November 14 - 17, 2016, the event will provide participants the opportunity to network, showcase their innovations and tap new business models in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Terrain. Participants will explore importance of collaboration in the digital economy through best approaches, business mod-

els and technologies to forge flourishing inclusive ecosystem. Speaking with New Telegraph on the forthcoming event, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said Nigeria has adopted a theme: “Smart Communities: the key to a digital Nigeria.” He said that the theme underscores the importance Nigeria attaches to the ITU Telecom World 2016. The general theme for ITU Telecom World 2016 is “ Collabo-

ration in the Digital Economy” and this will signpost collaborative regulation, the connected car, smart sustainable cities, fostering SME innovation, new roles for the satellite industry and digital financial services. This year’s theme will feature compelling formats ranging from top-level CEO/Ministerial round tables to frank, open dialogues between the governments and small and medium business leaders and interactive panel debates.

Ojobo explained that Nigerian industry players, regulator, NCC, satellite player, Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), e-government service provider, Galaxy Backbone, the postal sector led by NIPOST and Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will have the opportunity to participate in different sessions. The sessions, he said, will bring together expert speakers and an influential global audi-

How to advance Nigeria’s tech devt, by experts

echnology stakeholders in Nigeria have suggested various concrete measures that can be taken by Nigeria to further advance the frontier of its Information and Communication Technology industry to boost its digital economy. The stakeholders spoke at this year’s Techplus 2016 attended by over 10,000 participants and notable technology thought leaders both within and outside the country. Speaking at the conference, Chairperson of Alliance for Affordable Internet (AAI), Dr. Omobola Johnson, and other tech experts highlighted Nigeria’s key role in Africa’s highly anticipated technology revolution. According to Johnson, developments in technology are fundamentally altering the way people live, connect, communicate and transact. These developments, in her view, have had profound effects on economic development in Nigeria and Africa at large. According to her, to promote tech advancement, developing countries should invest in quality education for youth, continuous skills training for workers and managers for all stakeholders to understand the importance of the continuous revolution. Also speaking at the event, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation/ Youth Employment, Mr. Afolabi Imuokhuede, who represented the Vice President, noted that

access and application of technology has become quite critical in today’s society. He stressed that service and technology are the differentiators between countries that are able to tackle poverty effectively by growing and developing their economies, and those that cannot. He said that the extent to which

developing economies emerge as economic powerhouses depends on their ability to grasp and apply insights from science and technology and use them creatively. “Innovation is the primary driver of technological growth and drives higher living standards. As an engine of growth, the potential of technology is endless,” he

German tech firm mulls assembly plant in Nigeria

fter more than 80 years of operating through its distributors and dealers in Nigeria, the German technology and tools manufacturer, Bosch Group, has revealed plan to set up its manufacturing firm in Nigeria. The disclosure was made in Lagos at a conference organised for stakeholders’ interaction with the company, where it was stated that Research and Development for the proposed Nigerian manufacturing firm was on-going. According to the Regional Sales Director, Benjamin Ofori, Africa offered great potential for our business with Nigeria leading the pack as the biggest economy on the continent. “With more than 170 million people and an emerging middle class, doing business with Nigeria is a step in the right direction for us at Bosch Group,” he said. He further stated that, Bosch was growing increasing interest in key markets by strengthening its presence in the Africa, and that of the global 200 million

Euro turnover the company has projected for 2020, 7.5 per cent, that is N15 millions Euro of it would come from its Nigerian market While the company is still mulling starting its manufacturing in Nigeria to cater for the Sub-Saharan and beyond, Ofori said, its effort in converting hand tools to power tools was gaining traction, saying it sold over 50 million power tools in 2015. Bosch Group also restated determination to establish its four segments of Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, Energy and Building Technology in Nigeria, with local offices already established in Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Mozambique and Tunisia. “The Power Tools Division stands for customer focus and great engineering progress and has recorded significant successes in innovation of power tools, power tool accessories and measuring tools,” Ofori said.

added. Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, Linda Saint-Nwafor, highlighted the importance of the Techplus conference to technology promotion and adoption in Nigeria’s ecosystem. “It’s a gathering to debate, interact and share ideas that will benefit everyone. As a technology company, we are always at the forefront of promoting any idea that supports technology discussion and its merits to business at all level,” she said.

ence drawn from the governments, key ICT players, international organisations, high growth SMEs, consultants, academia, the media, among others. According to Ojobo, a leadership summit of global leaders from public and private sectors will open the forum with an exploration of why working together is critical for growth in the digital economy and how it can best be achieved. He said the global conference has a line-up of topics for discussions to drive forward the frontiers of ICT development in the world. “The discussions include new approaches to connectivity: re-imagining the satellite industry: how demand for always-on connectivity is leading to innovative connectivity solutions, new players and new markets for the satellite industry. “The connected car: freeway to the future or highway to hell?: exploring the status and future of vehicle communications and automated driving from the perspectives of business, technology, and regulation.

Glo’s 32m subscribers get DND service

igeria’s indigenous telecoms company, Globacom, has implemented Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s directive on Do Not Disturb (DND) service for its over 32 million subscribers. The DND service provides a short code that enables Gobacom subscribers to reject unsolicited text messages and calls on its network and makes it possible for subscribers to choose messages or calls they wish to entertain or block. Globacom, in a statement, in Lagos, said that the DND self-service platform for subscribers also empowers customers to manage all automatic promotional messages

received on their lines with the option of either opting in or out. According to the company, subscribers wishing to use the service are to text ‘help’ to a short code ‘2442’ to receive a list of fields from which they want to receive or block unsolicited network messages. “To receive information on banking, insurance and Financial products for instance, subscribers can send 1 to 2442, while they are required to send 2 to 2442 to receive information on real estate.” Customers can also opt out of any of the services by sending “STOP” to the same short code 2442.

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview Spousal dialogue, key to increased contraceptive use

Health

News 'Nigeria loses over 9,000 women to cervical cancer annually'

33 34

Tackling the quackery scourge From the mid 1990s, medical quackery has become a booming business in Nigeria and today, it has assumed an epidemic proportion. Experts are calling for implementations of laws to check deaths and diseases arising from the scourge, APPOLONIA ADEYEMI reports

man clutching a suitcase filled with lenses and other medical equipment used by ophthalmologists, the branch of medicine dealing with the eye, moved from house to house in rural Umudi in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State. On arrival in a particular community, news that the eye doctor was in town was quickly disseminated and people with all forms of eye impairment came out to be examined by the man without any formal training or skill in this area of medicine. By the time he was through with as many as the clients in that community, he had sold numerous ‘medicated glasses’, and prescribed ‘treatment’ and medications to unsuspecting consumers of health. In another front in an urban centre in Onigbongbo area of Ikeja, Lagos, a team of six people moved into the community with what they claimed to be digital medical equipment The men and women that constitute the team have no training in medical practice but they fooled the clients who swarmed them, seeking medical care. They further claimed that the equipment could test and analyse all ailments and produce medical results that presented in incomprehensible ‘digital jargons’ which appeared on the screens of

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

Many operators of patent medicine stores in Nigeria administer injections on some consumers of healthcare

the computerised equipment. Thereafter, the leader of the team who claimed to be a ‘medical doctor’ prescribed drugs and the prescription was handed down to the client that was examined. Some of the patients who could afford to pay for the prescribed drugs quickly moved to a member of the team in charge of sale of drugs and procured the medications while those who did not have sufficient money left with a print out of the medical condition diagnosed. The scenario highlighted above are very common in the Nigerian environment, but not surprisingly many Nigerians are patronising the ‘so called sellers of healthcare’ who, though appear to be assisting mankind tackle diseases and bring succour to afflicted persons, but in real terms are clearly quacks that make existing ailments worse. With increasing difficult times especially in today’s bad economic conditions currently plaguing the in the nation, Dr. Leke Osunniyi, managing director of Multishield HMO, said more people would take to quackery to survive. Besides, as being presently witnessed, more consumers of healthcare patronise quacks on the basis of poverty, ignorance and because of the problem of paying out-of-pocket in both public and private facilities. Osunniyi spoke at a seminar on ‘The Impact of Medical Quackery on the Health of Nigerians and How to Tackle the Scourge’, which was organised by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch in Lagos recently. Going by what has played out in the country from the mid 1990s up till the present day, he said medical quackery has reached epidemic proportions, resulting in preventable deaths and debilitating diseases among many Nigerians. Osunniyi added that this should be tackled headlong in order to sa-

PHOTO: www.youtube.com

Dr. Ojo

Intra-sector quackery’ is now very common in medical practice

nitise the system. Relating his experience with some Nigerians seeking healthcare from those quacks, Osunniyi said, “although, the so called medical results issued by the quack doctors were astonishing, “it was a very difficult task convincing some clients patronising quacks that what was dished out to them in the name of medical care was indeed fake.” A Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatrist Hospital Yaba and and 2nd vice chairman of the NMA in Lagos State, Dr. Olusegun Akinwotu affairmed that these counterfeits being provided by quacks was detrimental to the health of Nigerians and “it is in a bid to protect Nigerians that the NMA embarked on the awareness campaign aimed to alert the people of the presence of many unscrupulous Nigerians that lack skill for medical practice yet venture into that area. Akinwotu said, “Anyone can fall a victim to this problem. It could be a friend, a relation; it could also be a doctor in the case of one that was travelling and was involved in an accident and ended up with sympatisers taking him to a quack hospital.

According to him, “there were some children that were delivered by incompetent nurses in some specialist centres and they developed cerebral palsy as a result; this is avoidable. “What this means is that many Nigerians are at risk of this medical menace.” In his presentation, Osunniyi described quacks as those without any medical training that practice in the right way. They also include people with medical training practicing in the wrong way. Explaining how quackery has eaten deep into medical practice the Chairman of the NMA in Lagos, Dr. Tope Ojo who is a consultant obstetrics and gynaecologist lamented that ‘intra sector quackery’ is now very common in medical practice. Highlighting the example of how this plays out, Ojo cited the example of someone who was not a neurosurgeon that was performing brain surgery. “That was a kind of quackery’” he said. Another example is that of someone who is not a psychiatrist prescribing surgery for a medical CONT INU E D ON PAGE 32

Health\News

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos set for bio-safety-4 laboratory Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

s part of efforts to ensure that Nigeria is prepared to tackle highly pathogenic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EID) threatening the West African Sub-Region, plans are underway to establish a Bio-Banking Facility and a Bio-Safety Level 4 Laboratory at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba where cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) were treated when it broke some years back in the country. The Commissioner of Health in Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris who disclosed this said global health experts would converge in Lagos to discuss the production of Ebola vaccine and effective treatment strategy for other highly pathogenic diseases including the Zika, Dengue, among others. According to Idris, the essence of the 2nd African Conference on Emerging Infectious Disease scheduled to hold in Lagos between July 27 and 29, was to take proactive steps against highly pathogenic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EID) threatening the West African

Sub-Region. The conference being organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET), the West African Task Force for Emerging and ReEmerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks (WATER), African Gong and the Global Partnership Programme (GPP), Canada, would help develop the African continent’s own strategic intervention and response mechanisms to increasing outbreak of EID and biological terrorism threats. “This will prepare us to be ready while policies will be developed and in case of any outbreak, we would not be caught unawares on tackling the health problems,” he added. Underscoring the importance of the conference with the theme , ‘Strengthening African Health System –Building Resilience And Capacity To Tackle Epidemic Threats : Bio-Security and Infrastructure’, he said the conference was carefully designed to address the sub-optimal of infrastructure and technical capacity for an indigenous response to contain biological threats from highly infectious pathogens.

Your sexy bits

M Chairman, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei; Adewole; Ayebae; Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) Mr. Okey Akpa and Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe during the Minister of Health's familiarisation visit to Fidson's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sango Ota, Ogun State recently

he Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has re-affirmed the support of the Federal Government for local drug production. Speaking during his familiarisation visit to Fidson Healthcare Plc’s newly constructed multi-billion naira stateof-the-art manufacturing factory located in Sango Ota, Ogun State recently, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said that part of the support would also be in the area of importation of raw materials. “We will get the Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority to

Minister re-affirms FG support for local drug production witness this so that there can be support in terms of getting on board more raw materials needed for drug manufacturing.” “We have discussed with the Minister of Trade and Investment asking for a reversal of the policy on the high tariff on imported raw materials. My visit to this new factory is another reminder in that regard,” he said. In his remark, the Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc,

Dr. Fidelis Ayebae expressed optimism that government’s support would boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, transform the country’s pharmaceutical industry and the economy at large. Dr. Ayebae said the present position of the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing business requires such transformational investment as the new Fidson plant, to meet future healthcare demands of Nigerians.

Stopping the quackery challenge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

condition that does not require one. “Some of these things are based on some high level of specialisaton ,” he said, adding that in medical education, a medical doctor studies further for another six years before he becomes a specialist in a particular area of medicine such as cardiology, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) physician, obstetric and gynaecologist, among others. “Being a doctor does not confer on an obstetrics and gynaecologist with that capability to handle a purely cardio-vascular chronic condition or a to manage a patient with chronic kidney condition,” said the chairman of the NMA in Lagos. He added that some of these malpractices however go on in the Nigerian setting, with dare consequences on the patients. “These amplifies the gravity of quackery in the system,” ojo added. Speaking further, he lamented that a lot of quackery was going on in patent medicine stores where people without knowledge/ skill of medical practice prescribe medicines for consumers of health, administer injections and some take delivery of newborns. Ojo blamed the three tiers of governments and

Dr. Osunnniyi

regulatory agencies for the lack of political will to tackle the scourge. Osunniyi pointed out that more people would join medical quackery due to difficult times. “Today, in Nigeria, almost all professional in the health se ctor prescribe medicines, which going by best practices is meant to be done by medical and dental practioners.” According to him, it was alarming that sharp practices was going on in several health facilities with bogus personnel perpetuating the re-use of some instruments a practice that is against best practices and at the detriment of patients. Osunniyi said tackling the scourge of quackery should therefore involve the application of evidencebased medicine, which is

Dr. Akinwotu

using the approach of scientific method. He called on the Federal Government to empower regulatory agencies including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Agency for Food and Drug Adminstration and Control (NAFDAC) so as to enable them do their work efficiently. Once it could be proved that facilities were involved in quackery, Osunniyi said, “the law permits regulatory agencies to shut them down,” just as is being sometimes done by the Health Facility Accreditation and Monitoring Agency (HEFAMAA) in Lagos State. Speaking further on the impact of quackery, he noted that apart from causing damage to the health of Nigerians, Osunniyi said

it has lead to massive loss of revenue to the medical profession. “We need to do something about quackery which is happening at several levels. "Every one (professionals in the health sector should have their demarcated boundaries,” suggesting that in and outside public settings, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical doctors, should limit their practice to what each had been trained to do." He said the status books have lots of sanctionsfines and even imprisonment against quacks, but “these were not often implemented because of the gray areas.” Where does one transform from an alternative practitioner to quack, He asked. "There are a lot of gray areas which need to be inter-

preted by the law. "I think our laws are perhaps not sufficiently clear on the boarders between alternative medical practices and quackery. “People need to be more alive to their responsibilities as citizens and as practitioners. If you notice that people are mal-practicing or practicing quackery, then you should report to the appropriate authorities. “In too many cases we are too laid back as a people. We feel it is not our business but someone else’s business. I think such things are everyone’s business. “The world is a much more security conscious place and I think health is also a security issue. So, more consciousness and advocacy will be the solution.” “Twenty years ago if you wanted to find the meaning of a word like signanometer , even a ”know all” dictionary would not have told you, but now all you need to do is to go to your phone and google it. So, almost everyone now has access to the world of information. "I think people should make the effort to inform themselves about anything they have a question about. Information… information…information; we are living in an information age.”

en and women have more in common “down there” than you might think. This is because the sex organs of a fetus don’t develop until about five months into development, males and females have remnants of the opposite sexual organs — and some are more useful than others. While the penis is basically an enlarged version of a lady’s clitoris, the male remnant of the lower vagina is less useful. The skin and bacteria If your skin — and some of the “friendly” bacteria living there — didn’t secrete natural antibacterial compounds, you could wake up in the morning coated in microbial slime. As it is, though, most of the pathogens that land on you die quickly. Some microorganisms are useful Not that all microorganisms are bad. You have between two and five pounds of bacteria living inside you, much of it in the intestines. As scientists have begun to understand what that microbial life is up to, it has become clear that your internal “microbiome” is a big part of what keeps you healthy. We all were once a cell Every human alive today spent about 30 minutes at the start as a single cell. Now, however, your body is making 25 million new cells every day, and you shed and re-grow all of your outer skin cells about every 27 days. Usefulness of saliva Besides being a digestive kick-starter, saliva prevents tooth decay and keeps your throat and mouth from drying out. It may not feel like it, but those six little glands make nearly half a gallon. Compositionof human sperm A single human sperm contains the 37.5mb of male DNA required to create a human child. That means an average ejaculation sees the transfer of 1,500 terabytes of information. Humans have more sense organs Along with the five traditional senses of sound, sight, touch, smell and taste; humans have 15 “other senses." These include balance, temperature, pain and time as well as internal senses for suffocation, thirst, and fullness.

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Adewale Haastrup is the programme officer of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI). In this interview, he discusses strategies to make modern contraceptives use acceptable by wider population.He spoke with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

Health\INTERVIEW

'Spousal dialogue, key to increased contraceptive use'

How will you assess the use of family planning commodities in Lagos State? From what we have seen, as at the last count, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was less than 30 per cent. That is about 26.4 per cent and Lagos State itself is saying that by 2018, it wanted to achieve as much as 46 per cent CPR. So, right now it is still low but the truth is, it has been static for the past four to five years. How do we actually achieve progress in the number of people using family planning commodities? One of the key thing is partnering with the media because I am sure that the more the media are disseminating information about it, the more information on this will get to the grassroots. Another thing is ensuring that the facilities are well equipped. We are going to partner with Lagos State. We are going to be working in 50 health facilities in Lagos State. In all of these areas. We are going to ensure that we assist in rehabilitating those facilities and putting basic equipment that they will need. Once these are available, of course it is going to help a lot of people to put great confidence in them that I can go to these facilities because the providers are well trained or they have been re-trained and then the facilities also can provide the services that are required. Some men do not allow their wives to assess family planning commodities. Some women sneak out to access family planning treatment. What is your message to the men? I am a man and I am also very proud to say my wife uses family planning method; I am proud to say that my wife is on intrauterine device (IUD or Coil), which is a small contraceptive device. IUD. Why did we adopt this? It is because we know that we want a family that we can manage effectively and that is one of the key things why we also encourage men. I am a happy man because the little money I am making can take care of my family. Secondly, a lot of men have spoken about promiscuity. Using a family planning method does not make a woman promiscuous. If the woman is promiscuous, it means that she may contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and possibly HIV. This is not what we want using contraceptives does not make the woman promiscuous in any way. So, men should support their wives because women need the support of their spouse in making some decisions. Many women will only make that decision after they have discussed it with their husbands. One of the key things

Haastrup

we are preaching is that there is need for families to discuss; there is need for what we call the couple or the spousal communication. So that as we plan, if want to have any ceremony, we plan for it. So, why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we plan how we want to live our lives. In the next 10 to 20 years how many children do we want to have within these pace of period; what kind of education do we want to give to them. These are the things we are talking about; it is not that families should not have children, but they should plan well to be able to take care of them effectively. If you are a man and your wife uses family planning commodities without your knowledge. What will you do when you know about it? That is why I spoke about communication because if you find out: why did the woman use it? is it because the woman did not talk to you about it before, or possibly the woman had tried to talk to you about it and you did not give the woman the opportunity to talk to you about it. It is also possible that the woman needs this family planning because she wants to support the man in taking care of the family. For example, women actually bear the brunt of whatever comes to a family. Even as I am making small money, my wife ends up spending a lot of money. If I give her N10 for the month, she has to augment to manage that N10. The woman is actually the one that takes care of the family. For me as a man, if my wife has

Using contraceptives does not make a woman promiscuous

gone ahead to do family planning without my knowledge, the first thing I will find out is: why did she do it. It is not about telling her to go and remove it. I will want to know why she did it: is it because she does not want to have more children? If a couple does a family planning, the wife and the husband will be able to enjoy themselves more. We have stories of couples who will have to sleep on different beds because they are afraid that if they sleep on the same bed, the woman might be pregnant. At times, if they have only one room, the man will decide to use the sitting room while the woman and the children use the bedroom because he feels that getting close to the woman she might get pregnant. Of course, she is your wife and the husband has every right to meet with his wife every time. These are some of the reasons why women will just decide to go for this family planning method so that they can also enjoy their husbands. People say that allowing, young girls particularly teenagers to access contraceptives could make them become promiscuous. What is your take on this? I will answer this with another question. Is it good for that young teenager to go ahead to procure abortion? Is it better for that young girl to die as a result of what we call unwanted pregnancy? Is it good for that teenager to lose her right to education because she got pregnant and can no longer further her education? These are the

questions we should ask ourselves. In Lagos here, some research have shown that a lot of abortions take place a lot. This is not because of anything but because some of the young girls feel that they cannot afford to get pregnant now, but because they have a lot of vision. They feel that having this baby now might shatter the dreams and distract them from their plans. Once a woman is sexually active, whether she is a teenager or not, the right thing is to adopt a family planning method because if you do not, at the end of the day it is going to cut short the dream of that person and that is what we do not want. We want our females to have good life and be successful. We want them to become presidents. Hilary Clinton, the Presidential presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party in the United States (U.S), is most likely to become the president of America. So, why can`t our women in Nigeria aspire to become presidents, too here in our country. These are the things that we are talking about. It is not about the moral of being too young. The teenagers are already engaging in sexual activities. Is it not better for us to say since she is already active and do not want to stop now then let us do something that will not destroy her womb. We have seen cases of women after getting pregnant; go to quacks and then their wombs are destroyed while some end up losing their lives. So, these are things we need to guide against. For a woman whose husband for instance resists that she cannot go for any family planning method, what chance does she have to take advantage of the family planning. Dialogue is very important. NUHRI will not support any woman going ahead to do things that the husband does not want because we do not want to separate families. What we want is bonding in families. Dialogue matters in this thing. What does your husband think and say about it? How does your husband want to relate with you on this issue? You must find a way of discussing with your husband, discussing with him so as to bring him to the same level on which the woman is so that they can both be on the same page. You talked about NUHRI`s aim to increase the uptake of CPR. Could you expatiate on this? One key thing NUHRI is talking about is not just about increasing the uptake of CPR but to make family planning a society norm in the sense that at each homes, at our meetings, at our work place and anywhere we find ourselves, we should talk easily and conveniently about family planning. That is the key aim of NURHIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programme. Of course, we want to support the Lagos State Government by contributing at least 12.5 per cent increase in people that are using modern contraceptives.

Health\News

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Moderate beer consumption cuts abdominal fat

'Nigeria loses over 9,000 women to cervical cancer annually'

Appolonia Adeyemi

n estimated 14,550 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in Nigeria, many of them presenting at an advanced stage, making it difficult to save them. Out of this figure, 9,659 women die yearly, a situation that is preventable. Programme Director on Cervical Cancer at the Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Dr. Kehinde Okunade who disclosed this said although cervical cancer is preventable, anyone who has ever had sex was at risk of acquiring the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer. These were contained in his presentation at a free medical checkup organised by the Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre for staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lagos last week when almost 200 staff of NOA accessed free medi-

L-R: Assistant Director, Administration, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos, Mrs Ronke Jacobs; Acting Head of Programmes, Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Mrs. Tina Ometu; Executive Director, Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Dr. (Mrs.) Omolola Salako; and the Director, NOA, Lagos, Mr. Waheed Ishola at the free health checks organised by Sebeccly for the staff of NOA in Lagos recently

cal checkup including cervical cancer and BMI screening. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection with most sexually active men and women being exposed to the virus at some point during their lifetime. HPV infection appears to be involved in the development of more than 90 per cent of cases, but most people who have had HPV infections, however, do not develop cervical cancer. Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes over 10 to 20 years. Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells

that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. To limit one’s risk of contracting the HPV, Kehinde urged Nigerians to limit the number of their sex partners, choose a sex partner who has had no or few prior sex partners, avoid smoking cigarettes and keep a healthy diet and lifestyle. Similarly, he said they must use condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity, get regular screening (Pap smear) and follow up, if necessary, and ensure the HPV vaccination for those aged nine to 26 years. Reacting to the development, the Director, NOA

in Lagos State, Waheed Ishola said cancer was not a death sentence. “If we take the necessary precaution and do cancerscreening test on time and if cancer was discovered on time or not left for later stage, the cancer could be cured. “Our people should cultivate the habit of living healthily; and ensure that they go for medical tests from time to time, especially the womenfolk,” he added. Ishola described the screening programme as collaboration between Sebeccly and the NOA with the aim to propagate anti-cancer message to the generality of the people.

good percentage of women that drink beer overestimate the calorie content of beer. They believe that beer is responsible for abdominal fat or what is known locally as “beer belly.” A nutritionist has maintained that beer does not contain fat and in fact, has fewer calories than wine. In a society such as ours, there are different perceptions about the widely consumed white foamy liquid – beer While some of this perception might have dated back decades, it doesn’t necessarily make them true. As a matter of fact, recent studies from around the world were presenting arguments to counter these perceptions Research has shown that beer alone cannot be responsible for this occurrence. ‘Beer belly’ is caused by too many calories in an individual’s diet (from over-eating, sugary food and beverages, etc) and a sedentary lifestyle. More calories are ingested than what is burned. The excess is stored in the body as fat. Fat is stored more in the belly by men, hence the prevalence of ‘beer belly’ in men. According to Professor Tola Atinmo, a Professor of Human Nutrition and former President of the

Boost your health with guava I Nature n several studies Guava showed significant antibacterial activity against such common diarrhoea-causing bacteria as Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Bacillus, E. coli, Clostridium, and Pseudomonas. For this reason, we recommend the use of Guava leaves in the treatment of typhoid and staphylococcus. Simply soak five fresh leaves of guava in a small jug (half liter) of boiling water. Cover it and allow to cool before drinking. Repeat the process twice daily for one week. In a 2003 study with guinea pigs Brazilian, researchers reported that guava leaf extracts have numerous effects on the cardiovascular system which might be beneficial in treating irregular heart beat (arrhythmia). Previous research indicated guava leaf provided antioxidant effects beneficial to the heart, and improved myocardial (heart) function. In two randomised human studies, the consumption of guava fruit for 12 weeks was shown to reduce blood pressure by 10 per cent, decrease total cholesterol levels by nine per cent, decrease triglycerides by almost eight per cent, and increase "the good" HDL cholesterol by eight per cent. The effects were attributed to the high potassium and soluble fiber content of the fruit. In other animal studies, Guava leaf extracts showed evidence of analgesic, sedative, and central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity, as well as cough suppressant actions. The fruit or fruit juice has been

Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

documented to lower blood sugar levels in normal and diabetic animals and humans. Most of these studies confirm the plant's many uses in tropical herbal medicine systems. An intake of guava can also help those patients who suffer from diabetes. The high level of dietary fiber in guava helps to regulate the absorption of sugar by the body, which decreases the chances of major spikes and drops in insulin and glucose in the body. Studies have shown that consuming guava can help prevent the appearance of type-2 diabetes. Guavas are extremely good sources of vitamin-A, which is well known as a booster for vision health. It can help slow down the appearance of cataracts, macular degeneration and improve general health of the eyes. One of the most celebrated and important benefits of adding guava to your diet are its ability to inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancerous cells. There

Guavas are a good source for copper, which is an important part of regulating thyroid

have been numerous studies done in recent years on guava’s effects primarily on prostate cancer, breast cancer and oral cancers. Guava leaf oil is extremely successful as an anti-proliferative substance, and has actually been shown to be more effective than some leading modern medicines in reducing cancerous growth. Guavas are also rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to be wildly successful in reducing prostate cancer risk. That same antioxidant has also shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Guavas outdo many other fruits,

Guava fruits

including orange and other citrus fruits, in terms of its concentration of Vitamin-C. The high levels of Vitamin-C in guavas, which are four times higher than that of oranges, provides the immune system a huge boost in antioxidants. Antioxidants are the major lines of defense against the proliferation of free radicals in the body, which are one of the main causes of serious conditions like cancer and heart disease. Therefore, adding guava to your diet has numerous ways in which it helps you stay healthy and cancer-free. Guavas are a good source for copper, which is an important part of regulating thyroid metabolism by helping to control hormone production and absorption. The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in the body for regulating hormones and organ system function, so guava can help.

PHOTO: amorettiblog.com

Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), anyone blaming beer for causing ‘beer’ belly should blame other attitudes in their lives than beer. “Moderate consumption of beer can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Beer has a relatively low calorie value compared to other alcoholic drinks. “Moderate beer consumption does not lead to weight gain or abdominal fatness. The perception that drinking beer results in a ‘beer belly’ is not scientifically supported,” he added. Beer has also been proven to enhance a healthy hydration process, as 92 per cent of beer is made up of water (though you should never substitute beer for water.), beer aids in stress relief even for women. Research has also further shown that there is a low risk of kidney stones in beer drinkers. As a rough guide, The World Health Organisation suggests that 60 grams of alcohol per day should be a maximum. For a beer of five per cent alcohol by volume, which equates to approximately four per cent alcohol by weight, this means 1.5 litres or two bottles. Two to three units for women a day and three to four units for men a day.

Cinnamon, IQ booster

Chicago research has found that cinnamon turns poor learners into good ones —at least in studies involving mice. This is the findings of a study published in the ‘Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology’. Lead researcher Dr. Kalipada Pahan with Rush University and the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago, said the study offered evidence that the spice might also boost human intelligence, as well. "The increase in learning in poor-learning mice after cinnamon treatment was significant," said Pahan. "For example, poorlearning mice took about 150 seconds to find the right hole in the Barnes maze test. On the other hand, after one month of cinnamon treatment, poor-learning mice were finding the right hole within 60 seconds." Pahan's research shows that the effect appears to be due to sodium benzoate — a chemical produced as cinnamon breaks down in the body. Food makers use a synthetic form of the chemical as a preservative. It is also a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug used to treat hyperammonemia — too much ammonia in the blood.

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Parenting

Mom&Parenting

Women of faith

Mom's Alert Motherhood: Giving vs sacrificing

34 34

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (eighth right); Representative of Hope For Women in Nigeria Initiative, (HOFOWEM), Ms Oyefunke O. Adeleke (6th left); Mrs. Olayinka Oladujoye (6th right); LAHA Chairman, House Committee of Health, Hon. Segun Olulade (5th right); Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf (3rd right); SA. Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga (8th left); Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (2nd right); Honourable Commissioner for LG., Hon. Muslim Folami (4th left); and beneficiaries, during the “Hope for Expectant Mothers” support programme, organised by HOFOWEM

uccor finally came the way of some pregnant women last week when wife the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Ambode rekindled the hope of about 230 pregnant women by distributing maternity packs to them to reduce the burden on their families, particularly those who can't afford them. Muritala Ayinla reports It’s becoming an embarrassing trend for most pregnant mothers in Lagos, to go to labour rooms without the necessary maternity pack due to economic situation of the country. Of course, it is not their wish but the sudden economic hardship met with the formation of nature in their womb. At a time when many car owners now abandoned their vehicles at home when they can no longer afford the fuel price. At a time when babies of less

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

Putting smiles on their faces than a month are rented out to beggars by their mothers for as low as N1,500 due to poverty and economic hardship. In the season when stories of father using one of his children as collateral for a tin of rice, bought on credit are flying like wildfire and when most expectant mothers are going to the labour wards without maternity packs due to economic hardship. Last Thursday was indeed memorable for some pregnant women in Lagos when the would-be-mothers in the state got bounty maternity packs. As early as 9am, the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Lagos State Secretariat, venue of the event was filled to capacity as pregnant women drawn from the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs. Speaking before distributing 230 maternity packs to the beneficiaries, Mrs.Ambode said the gesture was to assist many pregnant women who are finding it difficult to buy the baby care kits. She described the event tagged: "Hope for Expectant Mothers" and organised by Hope for Women Foundation (HOFOWEN), as gesture borne out of her passion for women and children. The Governor's wife

explained that her vision was to transform their lives, put smiles on their faces, give them hope and make life more meaningful for them in spite of the economic situation. She said: "This event is significant for me as a mother, a parent and as a Nigerian. The programme is not just about supporting good hygiene and healthy habits during pregnancy and after delivery, but it is also about safeguarding the future of our children right from infancy." She added that in few years, the State had witnessed significant reduction in maternal and child mortality rate, attributing same to adequate ante and post natal care and the State Government's continuous improvement on health facilities, constant retraining of medical personnel and provision of modern equipment including the regular supply of mosquito nets. According to her, HOFOWEM is a foundation established with the intention of uplifting the welfare of widows, children and aged women, describing the distribution of the baby care kits as ways of reducing the burden of procuring the item for the expectant mothers and their families.

The Governor's wife added that often times infants are at risk of infections, diarrhea, poor growth and many common diseases associated with unhygienic habits, and as such expectant mothers must make hygienic living a habit such as simple washing of hands constantly. On his part, the state commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, urged the pregnant women to adopt all the safety tips given by the health workers such as abstinence from prescribed drugs, smoking and alcohol during pregnancy. The commissioner said that study have shown that nursing mothers who adopted exclusive breast feeding will have lower chance of having breast cancer. He warned them to desist from unplanned pregnancy for the own healthy living. Idris, who commended the gesture, said that Mrs. Ambode would be at the fore front of the crusade to reduce maternal mortality in the state. However, Items in the delivery packs included baby and mother beds, sanitary pad, towel, beverages, thermometer, shawl, diapers, breastfeeding net, traveling bed, sanitizers, among others. Earlier, HOFOWEM Coordinator, Ms Oyefunke

Adeleke thanked Mrs. Ambode for being a permanent fountain of kindness to women and children in the State, adding that the programme was one of the numerous initiatives aimed at significantly helping women and children. At the event lectures were held for the pregnant women, where they were told on dangers of taking unprescribed drugs during and after pregnancy. The would-be mother were also sensitised on the consequences of unplanned pregnancy. Speaking with New Telegraph, one of the beneficiaries who was so excited with the delivery packs, thanked Mrs. Ambode for considering the expectant mothers in the programme. "We can't but appreciate the wife of our Governor, Mrs. Ambode for these gifts. Things are very expensive for now, not all of us can really afford this on our own. This will surely go a long way to reduce the burden on most families here today. We thank her immensely,” she said. Present at the event were the members of the state Executive Council, members of the Lagos State House Assembly, senior officials of the state's Ministry of Health, staff of Vita Foam Limited and pharmaceutical companies among others.

36 MOM&PARENTING

THURSday, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

Every child has responsibilities towards his family and society

Between the child’s rights act, 2003 and summer school curriculum

t is said the ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ I think this saying underscores the importance of the right of the child to play. This explains why, I believe many children look forward to holidays from school. I also want to believe the favourite of all the holidays to our children is the long vacation. It affords some of them the opportunity of summer outside the country and those whose parents cannot afford it send them to Summer Schools in the country. I do not believe that the Summer School should be another platform to load young people with concentrated academics exercises. I believe the environment should provide them with fun and if they must learn the strategy to employ should be a combination of education and entertainment as pioneered by the likes of Ron Clark. It is known as EDUTAINMENT. The Summer School could make it one of its responsibilities to employ the strategy of EDU-TAINMENT to teach them some of their responsibilities. It is called Personal Social Responsibility. The Child’s Rights Act, 2003 provides a credible template for us to teach our children responsibilities. I want to recommend it as a necessary curriculum for the Summer School. Having worked with young people for more than nineteen years and through research, it has been found that children, particularly teenagers have the tendency

of thinking the world and everything in it exist only for their benefits. Therefore, if parents and other custodians of the mind of the child focus only on teaching the child his rights, it will fuel the child’s tendency to be selfish. The foregoing will neither be in the best interest of the child nor the society. One of the characters of modern society is that every member of society, young and old should be responsible for the well-being of the state. A Yoruba adage says, ‘the birth of Ife town is attributable to both the wisdom of the young and the old.’ One painful truth in our society today is that we are raising children, who are not aware of their civic responsibilities. The major challenge is that we as adults are so beaten down by the state of the nation that the rat race of survival has consumed all of our attention. We are fast gravitating towards a state of everyone to himself and God for us all. Fast, we are transferring same spirit to our children. The truth is children do not do what we say, they do what we do. Section 19 of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 reads:‘every child has responsibilities towards his family and society, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other legally recognized communities, nationally and internationally. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

WOMEN OF FAITH Through the touch of divine thought to life she lives Like java plus in cable supplying gigs in bit she gives Wondering in fun like the Pretoria hen in relieves Guiding of our world with faith in heart she believes Take one of her as a woman, you will not be deceive Here I meet the woman of faith and I feel so relieved Save the world of calamity and worrisome, her watchword Let the family stand in her way, she is of life and good hold Like crowning the queen with the king, it a turn of good fold She will say, for the palace for peace, let the truth be told Those in this lane feel less of pain even in hot or time of cold As a woman of faith, the man of hers stay around with firm hold Embrace the world of virtues mum, they are of trust and faith Like the rabbit goes gently for peace, peace and nothing more

Catch the reindeer off guide, but feel the real life of the gentle The mum behind our smiles is of divine thought, her way is prayer Even when in the Eden of life, she touch not of the forbidden fruit She will say, our first mother’s mistake means we should learn to live Guide my Angel of life, guide our angels on earth called mothers The first love of all human take this or leave it, mothers are angels She put the food and our dinning and will say please let us pray Divinely pushed all days, she wakes at night for the peace of all Next to God on earth, mothers are better and best by far than all Prayer warrior like the prophet gone for days on a mountain trip At her own point of thought we have the best of life She gives, pray even in the rain, she goes on drained Mothers are full of the drive we use in climbing heaven From the spiritual book the love for parents is paramount

Cogent in fact that our parent serve as the ladder to life Mothers’ takes all she make the house with divine spirit From Kumasi to Abuja, Washington to end the world road Women of faith takes the stage for world peace to stand More fragile is woman but in spirit, most highly inclined For every bit of her word speaks peace for the world Women are to be honored says the word from God Honor your parent for peace here and end of the world Great is for my wura, iyaaladura, iyaniiyaOluwatosin… Of all creatures, let’s give an applaud to the purposely divined Our mothers make things happen in the house at all time Kind hearted as the garden egg good to go on the yam food Never underrate the prayer from the hood of mothers God! Give the guide of good thought to mothers for all

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Motherhood: Giving vs sacrificing

hen we become moms too. a lot change about us. How does the other person get First it starts from with- sacrificed when we sacrifice ourin and then on the out- selves? side. We become aware of our role When we sacrifice ourselves it in bringing a life into the world and always leads to frustration, resentwe consciously and unconsciously ment and inevitably, selfishness. We begin to prepare for the most amaz- eventually grow angry, the feeling is: ing experience ever. “I never get enough sleep. I never get The first antenatal visit and we to rest. I’m tired!” “I left my job to are given a whole list of ‘dos’ and stay home with the kids and no one ‘don’ts’ and from that moment we appreciates that!” “Who is looking know our lives would never be the out for me? Nobody! I give and give same. We begin to think of not just and give until I’m totally drained! ourselves and our comfort but also Now I’m left with nothing!” We’ve of the baby on the way too. And that all been there, haven’t we? Truth is we did that to ourselves. is where it all starts; motherhood to us becomes synonymous to sacri- We chose to sacrifice ourselves and fice. And we believe that we must we end up getting angry at the other make sacrifices to be a ‘good mom.’ person for something that we have From sacrificing time and sleep to done to ourselves. When we sacritake care of baby, to our appearance fice ourselves, we eventually feel sacrificed, and then and career. we blame the other We give and person for “making give and give, us feel” that way! thinking we If we sacrifice ourmust be doing the “right” thing, beselves, then there is While it is ing devoted to the no escaping the negawonderful to be ones who need us tive feelings that are most but also sebound to follow. Ever truly devoted cretly hoping that heard, “when momwe will receive a my is not happy, no as a mom, it is reward for our one is?” important not to acts of “service” Motherhood desometime in the mands all of us to the lose ourselves. This extent we neglect our future. Unfortunately, when own needs without is where healthy we continue to even realizing it. But if we would be totalgive this way, the boundaries come sense of receiving ly sincere we would into play doesn’t come, we agree that our sacriburn out. fices didn’t make us We often conbetter moms, they fuse giving with sacrifice. If we made us bitter moms. The desire are “giving” without the sense of to be there for our children, our simultaneously receiving, then it is spouses and loved ones often lead actually called sacrifice. Sacrifice is us to a place where our boundargiving up, usually for the sake of an- ies begin to disappear. We forget to other or a better cause. It often sug- check in with ourselves about our gests limitation, restriction, lack, needs or wants before we say ‘yes’ and not-enough. When we heard the to everyone else’s demand. word ‘sacrifice’ what came to mind Were there times when your was a religious term that referred spouse wanted to go out on a Friday to an act of offering a gift to a de- night to have fun, and you felt you ity, today the sacrifice we all speak needed a quiet evening at home to of is the one that cuts things out of rest, relax, and nurture yourself ? our life. Have you ever had to choose beWhy do are we sacrifice and not tween your kid’s school event and give? somewhere else you would rather When we believe that we are not be at the same time? good enough to begin with, we tend While it is wonderful to be truly to give more than we feel comfort- devoted as a mom, it is important able with. It’s like saying, “here’s not to lose ourselves. This is where a little extra, to make up for what I healthy boundaries come into play. might be lacking,” or “here’s a little We love and cherish those moments extra, I hope I’m being a good mom.” we have with our kids and loved It’s all coming from the part of us ones, being there for them anytime that feels incomplete and feels like they need us and helping them it needs to give more. This is our ego. achieve their dreams. But I have There is no doubt that the inten- also learnt to remind myself that I tion behind wanting to make sacri- am still Grace before I am someone’s fices for our loved ones is born out mom, and that I do not have to comof love. But I was shocked when I pletely lose myself by being a mom. The question is how do we navigot confronted with this: When you sacrifice yourself, you sacrifice the gate this delicate balance? How do other. There is no such thing as you we set boundaries and still be there sacrificing yourself for the good of for the ones we love so much? Let’s the other; they always get sacrificed continue next week.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Naira plunges further despite interest rate hike

DEPRECIATION Local currency falls to N330.12/$

that investors were pushing the currency lower to test the limit of how far it can fall, given a spread of almost 12 per cent between the official and parallel market naira rates. Reuters quoted a trader as saying, “If we have more people trying to buy the naira then it should strengthen. I think we will keep seeing the trickles ... I don’t think we will see large inflows until the fundamentals of the economy improves.” The CBN’s rate setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its meeting last Tuesday hiked the benchmark interest rate-the Monetary Policy rate (MPR)- by

Tony Chukwunyem

espite the interest rate hike by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last Tuesday to try to lure foreign investors into boosting liquidity in the interbank market, the naira yesterday continued its decline against the dollar, weakening to N330.12 to the greenback. Traders said that $10 million was traded on the interbank market yesterday, attributing the local currency’s weakness to the fact

200 basis points to 14 per cent. Most local analysts, citing data showing that the economy is entering a recession, had predicted that MPC would leave the rate unchanged. However, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who announced the decision of the MPC, said that in taking the decision to increase the MPR, members of the com-

s part of efforts to enhance capacity of reporting the new foreign exchange structure, the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) has concluded plans to organise series of training sessions for its members. The first edition

mittee noted that the negative real interest rate was not helping the foreign exchange market, as foreign investors had remained lukewarm and were unwilling to bring in new capital. He said the decision to raise interest rate would in addition to curbing inflation, boost liquidity of the foreign exchange market and ensure its sustainability.

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks in the country to make their branches available for the Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration of farmers under its Anchors Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). In a circular posted on its website, the apex bank stated that the anchors borrowers’ programme was aimed at giving loans to farmers a single interest rate, thereby boosting employment and reducing poverty. According to the circular, “One of the requirements for accessing this loan is

of the series of programme on the foreign exchange market is expected to hold this Saturday, July 30th, at the FICAN secretariat in Onipanu, Lagos. A financial market analyst at Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olakunle Ezun will be the facilitator of the programme.

the BVN registration of the farmers. In view of this, you are required to make all your branches available as BVN registration centres. “Kindly note that a farmer can enroll for the BVN at any bank branch including the nearest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

he Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), represented by Mr. Jaseem Ahmed, Secretary-General and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), represented by

As at Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 26/07/2016 Mar 2015 30/6/2016 29/6/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 30-Jun-16 7.92 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

197.00

cision would lead to an increase in borrowing cost for the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), it was a tactical move to attract the much-needed foreign capital into the economy. Similarly, analysts at Renaissance Capital, said the firm backed the decision, as it would help the CBN to solve the key problem of attracting dollars into the economy.

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

branch.” The CBN in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee launched the BVN project on February 14 2014, as unique identifier, to complement the cashless policy and reduce fraudulent transactions in the banking industry. It would be recalled

that the deadline for BVN registration was initially June 30, 2015, but the CBN extended it to the end of October last year following widespread complaints by bank customers that they were not able to register because enough time was not given.

IFSB, AMF sign MoU to boost Islamic finance

Economic Indicators N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 14 10.77 US$43.63 US$26,247,547,920

The CBN boss also said members were of the opinion that the liquidity of the foreign exchange market would boost manufacturing and industrial output, thereby stimulating the much needed growth. Reacting to the rate hike, the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said although the de-

BVN: CBN directs banks to begin farmers’ registration

FICAN to train members on forex reforms

M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Dr. Abdulrahman. Al Hamidy, Director General and Chairman of the Board have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an initial period of three years, to establish and implement a nonexclusive framework for the cooperation and collaboration to promote programmes and initiatives that foster the development of the Islamic finance sector. In line with their strategic plans for the coming years, the established mutual cooperation aims to strengthen the AMF and the IFSB efforts to leverage their respective core competencies and comparative advantages to promote programmes and initiatives that drive ways to expand Islamic financial and banking sector, with a view to fostering financial stability and promoting increased access to Islamic financial services. Speaking at the event, Dr. Hamidy stressed the importance of the MoU in increasing capacitybuilding, promoting k n ow l e d g e - s h a r i n g and supporting greater sustainable access to finance across AMF members’ countries, “Providing assistance to the development of the Islamic finance industry and supporting capacity development in the region has always been among our

top priorities, and we look forward to pursuing and intensifying this effort to better tackle the needs of Arab region to building up innovative, robust and competitive financial systems at both domestic and regional levels. Our ongoing cooperation with the IFSB has always been successful and we are glad that today it’s being reinforced and strengthened.” Mr. Jaseem Ahmed said, “The IFSB welcomes the formalisation of our cooperation with the AMF. This MoU provides an excellent platform for the IFSB to engage and build relationships with its members in the Arabic speaking jurisdictions. It is an opportunity to benefit from both institutions’ expertise, especially for enhancing the outreach to member countries for awareness building, exchange of information and knowledge-sharing. Other than conducting joint workshops and training programmes to create awareness on Islamic finance and support the implementation of IFSB Standards, I also look forward to joint research with the AMF on stability and macroprudential supervision of the Islamic finance sector, as well as issues related to financial inclusion in member countries”.

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUOYANCY Investors gain N90bn

Stories: Chris Ugwu

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) extended its gaining streak for the second trading day, as overall performance gauges, NSE ASI and market capitalisation, increased by 0.93 per cent even as most sectored gauge closed in the green, save for consumer goods index and oil/gas index. Market watchers attributed the resurgence of bulls to investors taking position on low prices of stocks. Consequently, the All-

Stock market advances on resumed bargain hunting Share Index grew by 260.6 basis points or 0.93 per cent to close at 28,205.62 index points as against 27,945.02 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N90 billion or 0.93 per cent. Meanwhile, a turnover of 488.8 million shares in 4,713 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 328.8 billion shares exchanged by investors in 1.896 deals. Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and Access Bank Plc.

British envoy promises stronger trade ties with Nigeria

nited Kingdom (UK ) Prime Minister’s Trade and Investment Envoy to Nigeria, John Howell has pledged to strengthen trade ties with Nigeria just as he noted that the British government was ready to invest more in the Nigerian market.

Howell spoke during the ‘Bell ringing ceremony ‘ at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos yesterday. He said that the Nigerian market has a lot of untapped business potential, stressing the need for more trade collaboration between the two counties. He noted that the recent Brexit vote in UK was a major opportunity for Nigeria and other African countries to get more involved in the UK economy. “It is also good opportunity for Nigerian companies to get involved in the UK market and we have to look at the increased prosperity in both sides as being one great thing that I will want to achieve.”

“The first thing UK government has done is to appoint me as the trade envoy to Nigeria and that shows the importance that the UK government has for Nigeria and not all countries in the world that has trade envoy,” he said. Howell, who stated that there is a dedicated department in the UK that helps to galvanise business relationship between UK and other trade partners, urged the government to leverage opportunities in the capital market to grow the economy. On the issue of insurgency in Nigeria, Howell gave assurance that UK government would continue to collaborate with Nigeria in tackling the problem of incessant militants attack in both North East and Niger Delta region. “What you will see is greater focus on the need to make the best of the opportunities that exist here. The assistance Nigeria is getting in fighting corruption and insecurity will continue,” he noted.

Also, the premium subsector, boosted by activities in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc and FBNH Plc followed with a turnover of 83.7 million shares transacted in 812 deals. Shares of Okomu Oil Plc led the gainers with 10.22 per

cent to close at N34.73 per share. MRS Plc rose by 10.21 per cent to close at N35.19 per share, while the AXA-Mansard Insurance Plc added 9.81 per cent to close at N2.35 per share. On the flip side, shares of

Skye Bank Plc led the losers with a loss of five per cent to close at 76 kobo per share. Red Star Express Plc plunged 4.94 per cent to close at N4.23 per share, while UCAP Plc dropped 4.76 per cent to close at N2.40 per share.

Union Bank reports 36% HY2016 PAT growth

nion Bank Nigeria Plc has recorded a 35.66 per cent growth in profit after tax for the half year ended June 30, 2016. The group in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said its profit after tax stood at N8.761 billion from N6.458 billion posted in 2015, accounting for an increase of 35.55 per cent. Its profit before tax stood at N8.925 billion during the review period from N6.613 billion reported a year earlier, representing a growth of 34.96 per cent. Gross earnings firmed up by 8.4 per cent from N55.389 billion in 2015 to N60.069 billion in 2016. Commenting on the Bank’s half year results, Chief Executive Officer Emeka Emuwa said: “Our sustained focus on executing Union Bank’s strategic transformation objectives during the first half of 2016 has delivered growth in our core business, notwith-

standing a difficult economic environment. “The Bank recorded 9 per cent year-on-year growth in core gross earnings, driven primarily by balance sheet optimisation. With the combination of an improved retail portfolio of product and service offerings, securities trading and efficient cost management, the Bank was able to deliver N8.2 billion in core PBT, up 23 per cent when compared to N6.7 billion in the same period in 2015. “Our core business remains resilient in these challenging times and we maintain our commitment to delivering value to all our stakeholders. We also remain confident that our profit retention strategy will adequately support the Bank’s medium term growth objectives, and continue to strengthen our risk management to mitigate risk and losses.” Speaking further on the

Bank numbers, Chief Financial Officer, Oyinkan Adewale said: “We are pleased that our focus on building the business fundamentals is yielding significant value across the Bank. With increasing consumer confidence in our products and services, we have increased our low cost deposits, making us less reliant on more expensive alternative funding sources. This has led to a 20 per cent reduction in cost of funds year-on-year. We are also seeing impact on noninterest revenue, which grew during the period. Excluding one-time gains on sale of subsidiaries, non-interest revenue is up by 27 per cent to N14.9bn in H1 2016 compared to H1 2015. “Notwithstanding an inflationary environment, our operating costs remain in line with expectations, as our investments in technology continue to yield improved efficiency across the Bank.”

NIDF to pay 37th coupon to investors

nvestors in the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF) – an NSE listed mutual fund that invests in fixed income securities of Federal and State Governments - will get N3.32 per note as the Fund Managers, Afrinvest Asset Management Limited (AAML), commence payment of the interim coupon for the 2016 financial year. This represents the 37th coupon since the creation of the Fund in 1997. According to Managing

Director of AAML, Mr. Ola Belgore, “NIDF is consistent in dividend payment and it is declaring the sum of N18,610,753.79 as interim coupon to be distributed amongst subscribers in the register of the Fund as at June 30, 2016 at N3.32 per note. This is in line with the structure of the NIDF, which is designed to pay coupons twice a year. The fund closed at N212.24 as at 30 June 2016”. Belgore noted that NIDF offers investors safety, capital

preservation, steady returns, diversification and value, and has a consistent dividend history making it quite attractive for both individual and institutional investors such as Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), insurance companies, asset managers and gratuity funds. “ In 2015, the NIDF was rated ‘A’ by Global Credit Rating Company (GCR). This rating by one of the leading global rating agencies is among the best for mutual funds in the market today,” he said.

NEWS | south-west

Lagos to partner Niger on food production Muritala Ayinla

etermined to boost food production and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Lagos State government yesterday opened partnership discussions with Niger State on how to develop agricbusiness. New Telegraph gathered that the discussion on the partnership, which is still at the preliminary stage, is the second of its kind under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's government. Speaking with journalists after paying a courtesy visit on Governor Ambode at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the discussion basically centered on how to explore the comparative advantage of the two states to the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria. According to him, "It was a private discussion. It was just to say hello to him (Governor Ambode) and we did not discuss much. Part of our conversation centred on agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large."

thursday, july 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osun spends N91.6bn on capital, recurrent expenditure

Stop ‘demonising’ northern appointees –Yoruba group

Osogbo

Adeolu Adeyemo

sun State government yesterday said that it has expended N91.6billion on both capital and recurrent expenditure for the year 2014 while that of 2015 was in progress. The state Auditor-General, Alhaji Folorunsho Adesina, who made this known at an audit forum held in Osogbo, also revealed that the state had generated N86.4 billion from all sources of revenue accrued to it. He said: " A sum of 36,161,401,369.83 repre-

senting 42percent was received as statutory allocation to the state, Excess Crude Oil N15,483,131.64 representing 0percent; Value Added Tax (VAT) N8,462,390,580.46 representing 10 percent and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) N11,290,953,507.23 representing 13percent were received. The auditor general stated also that, other cash receipts includes capital receipt amounting to N8,389.903.657.82, representing 10percent, Exchange Rate Gains N34,284,226.53 representing 0percent; Internal loan N17,751,365,735.28 rep-

resenting 20percent and other incomes amounting to N4,244,515,212.74 representing 5percent. "Bulk of the state earnings for the year were expended on recurrent expenditure worth N68, 041,170,137.15 while N23, 567,991,486.83 was spent on capital expenditure. "Expenses on economic sector of N5,407,940,186.92 representing 23percent includes construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state, community rural electrification projects, construction of 120 metric tonnes capacity warehouse and establishment of processing mill for yam."

Wale Elegbede Yoruba group, Oduduwa United Frontiers (OUF), has hailed the choice of appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari, just as it cautions political leaders from heating up the polity over the appointments. In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos and signed by the group’s National President, Kolawole Abe, OUF said it was worried by the drums of war by some leaders in the South-West over appointments by the president, stating that the trend of criminalizing and demonizing northern public of-

L-R: Chief of Staff to Niger State Governor, Hon. Mikhail Bmitosahi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; his Niger State counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and Niger State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, during a courtesy visit by Niger State Governor, in Lagos … yesterday.

Why private schools’registration in Lagos is mandatory –Deputy governor Mojeed Alabi

agos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, has offered reasons why proprietors operating primary and secondary schools in the state must register their schools afresh. Adebule, who doubles as Commissioner for Education said it was necessary to identify the

number of private schools being operated in the state contrary to insinuations that such decision was to generate revenue. This, she said was neither targeted at the proprietors nor to shut down any of the schools but to identify each of the schools for adequate planning and coordination as the development was far from generating revenues.

Ondo guber race: SDP pegs gov’s form at N2m

Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

he Social Democratic Party (SDP) has pegged its expression of interest and nomination forms for the Ondo State governorship election at N2 million. This was contained in a statement signed yesterday in Abuja by the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdul Isiaq Ahmed, after a special audience with a group of politicians from Taraba State, who visited the party headquarters to express their intention

to join SDP. According to the statement, while the sale of the form commenced on Monday July 25, the returning of the forms shall be on or before August 3. The statement reads: “Similarly, the screening of the aspirants will take place on Wednesday while the governorship primary election shall be held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State on August 8, 2016. Earlier, the Deputy National Chairman had expressed the party’s delight at the resolve of the visiting Taraba politicians to join the SDP.

Adebule noted that as a responsible government it was important to identify where the children, regarded as the nation’s future were being trained and the kind of contents being imparted to them. She said the registration, which commenced formally yesterday, was mandatory for every private school regardless of their current accredita-

tion status. According to her, the state government would acknowledge contributions of private sector to the development of education in the state and the nation, urging the school operators to provide their services in line with the guidelines and quality assurance regulations provided by the state. Besides, Adebule al-

layed any possible fear by some school owners that the government may want to use the exercise to close down illegal or substandard schools, saying the exercise was not to close down any school, saying until schools had record with the government that they would be appropriately guided to meet set standards as applicable in other developed countries.

fice holders to the point where the President may be forced to drop them. “Yoruba is one of the many ethnic configurations in the country just as the South West is one of the six geo-political zones in the nation. It was therefore impossible that we will have all the position available for occupation simply because we were pivotal to the government’s emergence. “The other geo-political zones, even the ones that opposed the government are equally deserving of having political appointees in the spirit of federal character, which is of course tempered by competence. “It is therefore frightening that some of our political leaders in the South West, and surprisingly from the APC, have since launched and sustained a quiet war of attrition against our compatriots in public office from the north. “The accusations against these otherwise excellent Nigerians have been made to look like they are evil men. As the northern public officers being so accused continually shake of such trumped up allegations, it is President Buhari’s administration that is increasingly looking bad from attacks launched against his aides from within his own political party. “From what we understand, these our south west leaders want to criminalised and demonise northern public office holders to the point where Mr President is forced to drop them and pave the way for them to send in their own loyalists."

8.76m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Argentina in 2004.

Lasun flags off N2.7bn road project in Osun

Aregbesola lauds EU for reducing infant mortality

Adeolu Adeyemo

Osogbo

eputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, yesterday flagged off a -57kilometer road valued at N2.7 billion in Osogbo, the Osun state capital. The road linking Osogbo, Ilobu, Ifon to Ilajue of Oyo State will be completed in record time. Already, engineers who will work on the project had commenced work while residents were in wild jubilation, applauding Yusuf ’s gesture to rehabilitate the

abandoned road by successive governments. Speaking on the project, Yusuf, who is representing Irepodun/ Orolu/Osogbo/Olorunda at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, said the project was part of his constituency project works and assured residents of the areas that they would not be disappointed as far as the project was concerned. According to him, the road project would not only open up commercial activities in the affected areas but also boost its economic activity.

Osogbo

or reducing infant mortality in Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday lauded the European Union (EU) for rescuing the state from infant mortality through its Technical Assistant, Dr. Godwin Olawale. EU had partnered the state through a series of activities especially its use of vaccines to halt deaths of children. Governor Aregbesola particularly singled out EU and the Lions Clubs International Foundation

for commendation following what he described as the efforts at advancing the cause of health sector in the state. Aregbesola in a statement in Osogbo yesterday commended EU through its effort aimed at checking infant mortality with the use of vaccines while praising Lion Clubs for building a N50million diabetes treatment center in Ede General Hospital to promote sound health in the state. He said: "All tiers of government need the help of corporate organizations and well -meaning individuals to deliver standard health-care".

News|south-EAST

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ugwuanyi promises rapid development G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has emphasized his administration’s commitment to providing developmental projects in every council area in the state, once the economic situation in the country had improved. The governor while speaking through the Chairman of the state Urban Renewal Committee, Chris Offor, during an inspection tour of the ongoing construction works in the state, said that his administration had carefully designed a blueprint of development strategy that would ensure the execution of projects in all the communities in the state. He regretted that the present economic challenges in the country had slowed down the vision. Offor said that

Ugwuanyi still maintained his vision to give every council area in the state a sense of belonging, as that the administration was on the verge of awarding contracts for the construction of 25 roads, including bridges, across the 17 local government areas of the state. He called on communities that were yet to feel the impact of the administration to exercise patience and continue to offer special prayers for a positive turnaround in the nation’s economy. The chairman disclosed that the tremendous achievements the governor had been able to record so far were in keeping with his promises as contained in his inaugural address, assuring that rapid development would be extended to other areas.

Panic in Imo over terror alert Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

voice message in circulation on various online platforms has alerted residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital of a planned terror attack on some locations in the city between the end of July and first week of August. The recording which was obtained by our correspondent listed specific locations to be attacked with a warning that bombs already planted in these areas will soon go off. Locations marked for attack as mentioned in the

22%

recording include World Banks Road, Ama Hausa, Relief Market and Douglas Road. In the message, it was alleged that arms are being stockpiled in the mosque beside the Imo Government House. Residents were also urged to rise up in protest and demand police search on the mosque. It was gathered that residents within and outside the state were already sending the voice recording to their loved ones to alert them. Reacting to the issue, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, through his spokesman,

The percentage of the population under 15 years of Guadeloupe in 2011. Source: Un.org

said the audio message was politically motivated. Similarly, the media aide to the APC Candidate in Thursday’s make-up Senatorial Election in Imo North, Mr. Emeka Ahaneku, dismissed the recording, describing it as a ploy by the opposition to distract and keep the police busy while they rig the supplementary poll. The Imo State police command, said it was leaving nothing to chance just it refused to confirm that the threat is politically motivated until it had substantial proof to that effect. Police spokesman in the state, DSP Andrew Enwerem, while describing

£21.3m

The amount of money spent by Stoke City in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

the initiator of the recording as a ‘faceless whistle blower’, said “based on the information, the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, has directed that security be beefed up around the state. The CP has deployed both overt and covert operatives while the Bomb Disposal Unit has been directed to sweep the aforementioned areas to avert any breakdown of law and order.” He urged the general public to go about their lawful businesses without panic, assuring that security agencies were already doing everything possible to identify the faceless whistle blower.

60%

The estimated percentage of the antiretroviral therapy coverage (range) of Latin America and the Caribbean Africa in December 2009. Source: Who.int

Executive, legislature responsible for budget padding – Don Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr. Aaron Agbo has said that both the executive and the legislative arms of government should be held responsible for whatever padding discovered in the 2016 budget. Aaron told journalists in Nsukka yesterday that since the executive signed the 2016 budget into law, it cannot claim to be ignorant of budget padding, if allegations by the former Chairman House of Representative Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin against the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and others were true. He said: “The business of budget preparation, presentation, consider-

ation, passage and signing into law is the constitutional obligations of the executive and legislature. If there is anything smuggled or figures falsified in the budget that was not there when Mr. President laid the budget on the floor of the National Assembly, the executive saw it before signing the budget into law. Therefore both the executive and legislature should be held responsible for whatever padding that was discovered in the 2016 budget.” “Both the executive and legislature should explain to Nigerian what they mean by budget padding so that Nigerians will understand it better. Jibrin remembers now that he was forced to pad the 2016 budget by the speaker and other principal officers because he was sacked as committee chairman on appropriation.”

Present your children for immunisation, Umahi urges parents Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, has flagged-off the first round of 2016 maternal new born and child health week. Flagging off the weeklong programme yesterday at Ishiaka, the headquarters of Ivo Local Government Area, Umahi, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children between

ages 0 and five were immunized. He said pregnant women and women of child bearing age would also benefit from the immunization packages, as it was aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rate. He said the exercise will take place in different health centres in the state. He said: “The maternal newborn and child health programme is a bi-annual week-long event of accelerated actions to promote and substantially contribute to improving maternal and child health in Nigeria. It offers additional routine services that extends to adults.

Indigenes of Oraukwu Community in Idemili North Council Area, protesting over alleged state government’s plan to install unpopular traditional ruler in Oraukwu, Anambra …yesterday

Monarchs protest government’s verdict on market leadership Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

raditional rulers of Nkpoghoro, Ugwuegu and Ohaisu autonomous communities in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday protested government verdict on the leadership of Eke Ukwu Market in the area. The monarchs are: Ichie

Onya Okenku, Ichie Oyari Idam, Ichie Dominic Oko Aluu, Ichie Iglatus Awara, Ichie Christopher Ogbuu, Ichie Christopher Abagha Egwu, Ichie Mathew Out Nnam and Essa Christian Oko. They expressed displeasure over the decision by the state Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga, that their spokesperson position

should be rotational. The traditional rulers maintained that the position had always been alter nated between Ohaisu and Ugwuegu autonomous communities. According to them, “Since the establishment of Essa Traditional Council before 1920, there has been Peace and Orderliness with the existing structure. It is pertinent to note that the position

of the spokesperson which is the bone of contention has always been alternated between Ohaisu and Ugwuegu Autonomous Communities and the people of Ohaisu and Ugwuegu are the founder of Eke Ukwu Market.” They however sought Governor Dave Umahi’s immediate intervention in the matter in order to forestall any break down of law and order in the area.

Imo North: Ohakim alleges plan by Okorocha to impose candidate

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

head of tomorrow’s supplementary polls in Imo North Senatorial District, immediate past Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has condemned the level of intimidation and armed brigandage that marked last Saturday’s rerun election for the constituency. Ohakim, who voted in the election held Governor

Rochas Okorocha largely responsible for the alleged subversion of the wishes of his people. He said: “The incumbent Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, did not leave anyone in doubt about his desperation to impose his party’s candidates on the people during the elections, as he deployed state resources to the areas affected by this rerun election and took steps to stampede ordinary citizens who are perceived

not to be supportive of his party’s candidates. “The governor in his public broadcasts and actions made it clear that he did not bother about the wishes of majority of the voters, but was strictly interested in pursuing an ego battle between him and some perceived and real political rivals in the state.” He accused the police of complicity in the inconclusive election which was characterized by massive

manipulation of poll results, snatching of ballot materials at gun point and other crude and stone-age styled electoral malpractices. “Security personnel, especially the police and the army or those impersonating them, were found to be shamefully involved in the criminal act of snatching electoral materials, stuffing of ballot boxes and intimidating innocent electorates”, he said.

News|SOUTh-SOUTH

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo guber race: Oshiomhole takes ‘war’ to Igbinedion’s doorstep Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

over norship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his campaign train yesterday stormed Okada community, the country home of popular business magnate, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, in Ovia North East Local

Government Area of the state, where over 1, 500 people, including a cousin to the Esama, Mr. Ewemade, defected to the APC. Speaking at the rally, Governor Adams Oshiomhole vowed to retrieve all the hectares of land illegality acquired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Igbinedion and hand them over to investors. Oshiomhole told the mammoth crowd that his

£14.77m

The amount of money received by Everton as facility fees for the 2015/2016 season. Source: Goal.com

administration had granted waivers to investors to encourage them in the industrialisation process of the state. The governor further declared his resolve to stop any Benin chief with intends to take the position of the Oba of Benin, pointing out that Oba’s position which cannot be faked, must be respected as a divine institution. According to Oshiomhole; “I will stop any Benin

17%

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years in 2012. Source: Un.org

chief, who wants to take the position of the Oba of Benin. I am aware that I have had cause to revoke some landed property illegally acquired by Chief Igbinedion, I will revoke more and give to investors.” He said: “We granted waivers to investors in order to encourage investors to set up companies in the state, with Godwin as the next governor, you will have nothing to fear,

$2.9m

The total amount of salary/winnings of Phil Mickelson (Golf) for 2016. Source: Forbes.com

we will build more roads, schools and bring more investors to the state. “PDP wants to come through the back door to power because they want to continue to use your money to feed the godfathers and we must stop them.” The APC governorship candidate, Obaseki said Oshiomhole had laid the foundation for growth and development in the state. He said: “My job is to

Dickson: My victory’s for democracy, Bayelsa people Chris Ejim Yenagoa

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday applauded the judgement of the state’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, which upheld his victory in the December 5, 2016 governorship election, describing it ‘as victory for democracy and Bayelsans.’ The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also commended the judiciary ‘for upholding our nation’s democracy and once again

Ambassadorial nominee, Inyang Udo-Inyang (right), briefing other nominees after his screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs at the National Assembly in Abuja …yesterday. With him is the Senior Special Adviser to President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enag PHOTO: NAN

Okowa laments sharp drop in federal allocation Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday lamented the negative impact of the resumed hostility in the Niger Delta region on his administration. The governor attributed the sharp drop in federal allocation to the state to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militia group that threatened last week to ‘fight dirty soon,’ should the Fed-

eral Government fail to engage them in genuine negotiation. Owing to the bombardment, federal allocation to the state for June dropped from N7 billion to N3 billion, which made the governor pay only workers on Grade Levels 01 to 12, leaving out those on Grade Levels 13 to 16. Lamenting his dilemma to the Commander of Operation, Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, who led top officers of the multi-service task force to him in Asaba yesterday, the gover-

nor urged the team to tackle insecurity in the region through intelligence gathering. According to him, the activities of NDA in the creeks had not only affected the revenue accruing to the federation account, but the state in particular. He said: “We are the worst hit by the present activities in the creeks. We pray that these activities of militants will stop so that we can maintain oil production without breaches as our revenue has dropped drastically.

“Unless security threats are tackled, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices, investors will be skeptical about doing business in the country.” While the governor, who acknowledged that sea piracy has reduced on the waterways, mentioned kidnapping among the prime crimes bedeviling the state, he stressed the need for close collaboration among security agencies to end the menace before it assumed a dangerous dimension.

Political parties reject postponement of Rivers rerun polls Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ivers State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), an association of political parties in the state, except the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the postponement of the rerun elections in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They expressed dis-

appointment that INEC postponed the rerun election without any justifiable reason, stressing that the state had been peaceful as voters were ready to exercise their franchise only for the postponement. IPAC Chairman, Felix Obuah, who is the Chairman of the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who spoke on behalf of the parties at a briefing in Port Harcourt, said de-

mocracy in the state had come under threat, just as he alleged that INEC was biased. Obuah also alleged that the fire at the INEC office in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state, was a plot by the APC and its agents to pave the way for INEC to postpone the election. He said: “We members of registered political parties under the aegis of Rivers State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have

just received, but with grave disappointment, news of the suspension of the rerun elections in the state scheduled to hold Saturday, July 30, 2016. “It’s indeed shocking that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could arbitrarily suspend the elections without consulting concerned political parties and inundating us as to why the elections should not go on as planned.

raise the house upstairs because the foundation will carry skyscrapers. We will continue to build on infrastructure, build more roads in the local governments, build more schools and recruit more teachers.” He said when elected as governor, he would “put more money into Usen Polytechnic to improve the standard of teaching in the school so it can be one of the best in Nigeria.

acquitting itself as the bastion of our democracy.’ The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the election, Timipre Sylva, had challenged Dickson’s election, seeking a reversal of the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declared him as the valid winner of the election. But in a unanimous decision, the three-man tribunal, led by Justice Kazeem Alogba, said the APC failed woefully to prove its case. The tribunal consequently dismissed Sylva’s petition and upheld Dickson’s election as earlier declared by INEC.

Controversy trails late Ibru’s burial place Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

ontroversy yesterday continued to trail the burial place of the late former governor of Delta State, late Chief Felix Ibru, as the Okpame family of Agbarha-Otor community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state embarked on a peaceful protest concerning his burial place. The Okpame family insisted that the said land where he was to be buried had been in dispute since 2014 at the Ughelli

High Court with suit no. UHC/708/2014 and that the Ibru family would be violating the law by building a tomb on the disputed land when the case had not been decided, which they said would amount to a violation of court process. The family also said that the land in dispute was never sold or leased as it was given to Chief Michael Ibru for the purpose of building a plastic industry for the development of the community as he requested and not a place for burial or a cemetery.

Zainab, Asari-Dokubu’s first wife dies Chris Ejim Yenagoa

lhaja Zainab Asari Dokubo, the first wife of Mujahid Dokubo Asari, is dead. She was said to have died alongside a friend in a motor accident on her way to Ibadan. In a statement signed by Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, chairman Oyo state Muslim community, said Zainab was already a Muslim years before she married Dokubo. He said that Zainab, who

lived in Ibadan had to relocate to Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa when she was appointed Secretary of the Muslims Pilgrims Board. “Even then, there was hardly any month she was not in Ibadan for one Islamic programme or the other. She was a member of many Islamic organisations in Ibadan including Oluyole Muslim community under the Imamship of Imam Mudashir Bada. “It is interesting she was coming to her preferred town Ibadan when she met her destiny.

News|north

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kaduna sets up panel on Army-Shiites clash Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

s part of a move to unveil the immediate and remote causes, and to forestall future occurrence of the December 2015 Nigerian Army/Shiites clash in Zaria, Kaduna State, which claimed scores of lives, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, has set up a nine-member committee to produce a white paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash. This was contained in a statement issued by Media Aide to the governor, Mr. Samuel Aruwan in Kaduna yesterday. According to the governor, the committee

which had two weeks to submit the draft of the white paper, would commence work immediately. This as the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) said the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, was going blind due to his prolonged incarceration. The committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Adamu Mansur, has as part of its terms of reference, would make other recommendations that would assist the government in addressing issues raised in the report. Other members of the committee are the Permanent Secretaries in the Min-

istries of Environment and Natural Resources; Works, Housing and Transport; Local Government; Cabinet Affairs and Special Services; as well as the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Justice; Civil Service Commission; Mr. M. Aliyu of the Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Alexander Sule of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Meanwhile, the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (the Shiite) yesterday alleged that their leader, Sheikh Zakzaky, who had been in detention since December 2015 was going blind and crippled. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday,

leader of the forum, Shuaibu Isa Ahmad said they were deeply concerned and worried about the present health condition of their leader who he said needed urgent medical attention. The forum said: “Constitutionally, it is mandatory for the Nigerian nation and those holding Sheikh Zakzaky to release him urgently and unconditional to enable him seek proper medical care in any place of his choice. “Since he has not committed any crime, he should be freed from this illegal detention, holding him hostage is unconstitutional and it is a clear violation of his basic fundamental rights and therefore unacceptable.” He, therefore, called on Nigerians and the international community to join the Islamic Movement to stand for the truth, justice and fairness, adding that Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife and the other 91 innocent citizens should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Adamawa LG workers reject verification report IbrahimAbdul Yola

ollowing the hardship Local Government Council workers in Adamawa State are passing through over non-payment of their salaries, the Coalition of Local Government Civil Servants in the state has urged Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow to disregard the Maurice Vunobolki Staff Verification Committee report. The report was said to have claimed that over

12,000 ghost workers were uncovered during the staff verification exercise. The coalition, in a statement in Yola, the state capital, and signed by representatives from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, noted that the controversy surrounding the report after its presentation indicated that 80 per cent of the report was questionable. They lauded the State House of Assembly for passing a resolution suspending the implementation of the committee’s report, even as

the statement said that the first sign of problem in the committee’s reports was the omission of names of many workers in the e-payment salary voucher prepared, using the report while many unidentified names also appeared. “Governor Bindow need to probe this development as well as the report in Girei and Gombi Local Government Areas where there was an increment in funds in excess of between N700,000 and N2 million,” the coalition insisted.

The statement queried the over 12,000 figure of ghost workers identified by the committee, pointing out that the committee should have listed the dead and retired workers, including those killed and still missing in areas affected by insurgency in its list. “If the committee’s claim of identifying 12,000 ghost workers is true how comes they did not save enough money to pay teachers and health workers in the local government councils,” the statement queried.

Kebbi NLC removes chairman Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he Executive Council of Kebbi State wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday removed its state Chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman and immediately replaced him with Comrade Umar Halidu Alhssan. His removal was followed by a resolution reached yesterday by the State Executive Council (SEC) of the union in which majority of the members of the SEC supported his removal. Addressing newsmen on the development, the ViceChairman of the union,

Comrade Tasiu Lawal stated that the embattled Chairman had since been sacked from work since July, last year, by his employer, The Kaduna Electric. Based on his sack, the union insisted that Usman ought to have resigned his position as Chairman of the organised labour union and vacates the office for his deputy in council to take over. But, in a swift reaction about his removal, the state Treasurer of NLC, Comrade Muhammad Salisu Umar told newsmen that the removal of Usman was biased and lacked proper procedures of removing an incumbent chairman.

Plateau Assembly decries poor revenue from mining

awmakers in the Plateau House of Assembly yesterday decried what they described as low revenue accruing to the state from mining activities, saying it is unacceptable. The House disclosed this when the Committee on Mining and Mineral Development raised by the state government, presented its interim findings to the House in Jos, the state capital. It was gathered that the House in February constituted a 12-member committee to investigate the activities of the mining companies in the state. Presenting the report,

Chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, said more than 23 mining companies were operating in six Local Government Areas of the state, lamenting that some of the companies were discovered to be operating illegally. He said: “We have discovered that most of the companies did not actually register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and they do not pay anything to the Plateau State Government while this clearly shows that the state does not get the required revenue from the mining sector.”

DSS nabs10 suspects for kidnapping in Kogi Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

O Wife of the late former Chief Judge of Plateau State, Mrs Agness Oluko and other members of the family during a condolence visit of the North Central Judges to Late Justice George Uloko’s Residence in Abuja.…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

peratives of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) in Kogi State, yesterday arrested 10 suspects for alleged involvement in wanton kidnapping in the state. Meanwhile, six of the suspects had been arraigned in court, while the other four who operated in full military camouflage uniforms were paraded and arraigned yesterday. Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, the Director of the DSS Command, Mr. Joseph Okpo, disclosed that the command ar-

rested four members of the six-man gang who had been operating and terrorizing innocent citizens along Abuja-Lokoja Highway last week. He listed the suspects to include Haruna Saleh, Kabiru Shuaibu, Mumuni Adamu and Tukur Shuaibu, adding that the gang specialised in robbery and kidnapping along the major roads. According to him, the suspects had confessed to the crime and their involvement in some robbery operations along Maraba-Jos Road, Malufashi along Zaria-Kaduna and JajiZaria Roads in military uniform.

Kebbi reopens school, warns truant teachers Yobe Emirate suspends two village heads for diverting IDPs’ food

he Kebbi State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Aliero has warned public school teachers in the state against absenteeism from their duty posts and indolence. The Commissioner gave the warning while reopening Government Day Secondary School, Tiggi in

Augie Local Government Area of the state, allegedly shut by the government on the heels of nonchalant attitude of the teachers towards work. Aliero, who expressed concern that during his visit to the school six months ago, only 36 of the over 400 students were present, while the teach-

ers were absent, however, warned the teachers against laxity, saying the state government would no longer tolerate indolence on the part of the teachers. He urged them to be more dedicated to their responsibilities and duties for the enhancement and development of the state.

Hassan Jirgi DAMATURU

nternally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe State have raised the alarm over the shortage of drugs and food items at the various IDPs camps across Damaturu, the state capital, as well as in Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area

of the state. This is coming weeks after the allegation that some traditional rulers in the Local Government Area were diverting the IDPs food item for personal use. But in swift reaction, Gujba Emirate Council of the state has suspended two village heads and one of the leaders of Fulani over the alleged diversion of IDPs’

food items in Buni Yadi for distribution to the victims of the Boko Haram insurgence in the state. In the suspension letters of July 22, signed by the Secretary of the Emirate council, Mohammed Ali Yusuf, the affected village heads are Lawan Hassan of Hausari; Lawan Ngawari of Ngomari, and while the Fulani leader in Alhaji Haro.

WORLD \ NEWS

ardinal George Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic cleric and a key figure in the Vatican under Pope Francis, is being investigated by police over child sex abuse allegations, a media report said yesterday. It said that a special police task force had been looking into the allegations for nearly a year but has now referred the case to the Office of Public Prosecutions for advice. According to the report, Pell strongly denied the allegations when asked about it.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Top Vatican cardinal being investigated for child sex abuse –Report Report says Cardinal Pell is the man chosen by the pope to lead financial reform efforts. “As the head of the Secretariat of the Economy, he is the Vatican’s de-facto economy minister. “The Cardinal does not wish to cause any distress to any victim of abuse. “However, claims

that he has sexually abused anyone, in any place, at any time in his life are totally untrue and completely wrong,’’ the report said. Pell accused media, especially, ABC broadcaster of a “scandalous smear campaign” against him. Meanwhile, the ABC broadcaster said that police

and prosecutors can decide whether the allegations warrant charges being filed against the cardinal. The allegations went back to the 1970s, when Pell was a priest in the northern Victorian town of Ballarat. Two men claimed on the programme that they had

been molested in a swimming pool by Pell in the 1970s when they were young boys. Also, another man alleged that he had seen Pell expose himself to young boys in a beach changing room in the 1980s. However, the men said they had made statements to police.

Thousands of Zimbabweans rally for Mugabe after war veteran’s rebuke

T Representatives from France’s major group were at the Elysee Palace meeting

French church attack: Faith leaders call for more security

rench religious leaders have called for more security at places of worship following the murder of an elderly priest in Normandy two days ago. Representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist faiths spoke after meeting President Hollande. Father Jacques Hamel was killed while conducting morning mass in his church in SaintEtienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen. The killing came 12 days after the attack in Nice in which 84 people died. Only one of the two attackers has been named. Adel Kermiche, 19, had twice tried to reach Syria to fight with the self-styled Islamic State group (IS). Muslim leader Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris’s Grand Mosque, said the leaders “deep-

ly desire that our places of worship are the subject of greater [security] focus, a sustained focus”, as even “the most humble place of worship” can be subject to an attack. Mr. Boubakeur expressed “profound sorrow” on behalf of French Muslims at the attack, which he described as a “blasphemous sacrilege”. The Archbishop of Paris, Andre Vingt-Trois, praised the harmonious relations between France’s religions. “We must not let ourselves get pulled in to Daesh’s political games,” he said, using a pejorative term for IS, saying it wanted “to set children of the same family against each other”. President Francois Hollande has also been chairing meetings of his security and defence council and his cabinet. Two days ago, Mr. Hollande appealed

for “unity” as he warned that the war against terrorism “will be long”. “Our democracy is the target, and it will be our shield. Let us stand together. We will win this war,” he said. According to Le Monde (in French), the prosecutor’s office had asked for Kermiche to remain in detention but this was overruled by a judge. She ordered that he be released to house arrest with an electronic tag ensuring that he remained at home, except on weekday mornings. This meant that on Tuesday morning he was free to leave the family home and head to the church. He and his fellow attacker slit Father Hamel’s throat before being killed by police. One of four people taken hostage suffered severe knife wounds, prosecutor Francois Molins said.

Morocco to retry 24 jailed over Western Sahara clashes

orocco will retry 24 civilians convicted of killing members of the security forces during clashes in Western Sahara in 2010, a victory for human rights campaigners who say allegations they were forced to confess were never addressed. The cassation court yesterday ordered a retrial in a civilian court for the defendants who were jailed for between 20 years and life by a military court in 2013, Mohamed Sebbar, head of the National Human Rights Council, said. Morocco outlawed military trials for civilians in 2014. Two lawyers confirmed the news,

which comes as Morocco negotiates with the United Nations about the return of members of its Western Sahara mission expelled from the country after UNchief Ban Ki-moon described Morocco’s 1975 annexation of the territory as an “occupation”. Moroccan authorities say 13 people were killed, 10 security officers, a firefighter and two civilians and dozens injured on Nov. 8, 2010 when authorities dismantled a camp where thousands of Western Saharans, known as Sahrawis, were protesting. The camp had been set up to protest against unemployment. Morocco annexed

Western Sahara in 1975, when former colonial power Spain withdrew and says the territory should come under its sovereignty, while the exiled Polisario Front says Western Sahara is an independent state. US-based Human Rights Watch has said the defendants, who include several advocates of human rights and independence for Western Sahara, had been jailed by the military without any investigation into allegations their confessions were extracted under torture. Western Sahara is a sparsely populated tract of desert about the size of Britain, with rich fishing grounds off its coast and reserves of phosphates.

housands of Zimbabweans rallied in support of President Robert Mugabe yesterday, days after war veterans called the 92-year-old a corrupt dictator, highlighting maneuvering over the ZANU-PF leader’s succession and anger over growing hardships. Supporters dressed in ZANUPF colors, some holding portraits of Mugabe, sang and danced at the party headquarters in response to a call to demonstrate their unwavering support. “Gushungo forever and ever,” said James Mushonga, 58, referring to Mugabe by his clan name. “Mugabe is our hero and those who are criticizing him from our ranks are sellouts who must be

banished. In my view Mugabe should be allowed to die in office.” Mugabe was expected to address the rally later in the day. The veterans, who fought against white minority rule in former Rhodesia, turned on their commander last week, saying he had “devoured” the values of the liberation struggle. Zimbabwe’s government said their statement amounted to treason and they would be punished. As senior members of the ruling ZANU-PF party maneuver for advantage in a post-Mugabe era, two factions have emerged, one linked to Mugabe’s wife Grace and one for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, backed by the powerful war veterans.

Turkey detains more journalists in clampdown on cleric’s followers

urkey ordered another 47 journalists detained yesterday, part of a large-scale crackdown on suspected supporters of USbased Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of masterminding a failed military coup. Interior Minister Efkan Ala said more than 15,000 people, including about 10,000 soldiers, had been detained so far over the July 15-16 coup attempt, CNN Turk broadcaster reported. Of those, more than 8,000 were formally arrested pending trial. Tens of thousands of others suspected of having links to the Gulen movement, including police, judges and teachers, have been suspended or placed under investigation since the coup, which was staged by a

faction within the military. Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania but whose movement has a wide following in Turkey where it runs a large network of schools, has denied any involvement in the failed coup. Western governments and human rights groups, while condemning the abortive coup in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured, have expressed concern over the extent of the crackdown, suggesting President Tayyip Erdogan may be using it to stifle dissent and tighten his grip on power. Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death on the night of the coup, denies the crackdown has wider aims and says the Gulen movement threatened democracy by building a “parallel state”.

Catalan govt calls for confidence vote

he leader of Spain’s Catalonia region announced yesterday its parliament would hold a vote of confidence in his pro-independence government in September, a step aimed at drumming up support for its separatist drive. Carles Puigdemont of the “Junts pel Si” (Together for Yes) party said this was needed after his legislative partners from the anti-austerity CUP group rejected the proposed 2017 budget. A Sept. 28 vote would give time for a calm debate, he

said. The Catalan parliament voted yesterday to continue with its plans to detach the wealthy north-eastern region from Spain, despite a ruling by the Spanish Constitutional Court annulling its resolution to form an independent state. Under the separatists’ 18-month “roadmap,” Catalan authorities are due to approve their own constitution and begin founding the necessary institutions for an independent state such as armed forces, a central bank and a legal system.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Sport News

Sport Siasia: U-23 players are

American swimmer, Michael Phelps, won the highest number of gold medals (eight) in one edition of the games by any athlete at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

New Telegraph battle Complete Sports for S’final ticket

International Sport Zidane hints Madrid’s Pogba move

46 47

Siasia

suffering

Head coach, others owed five months salaries Players yet to receive allowances for months

Adekunle Salami

ational U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia, has again decried the poor welfare condition of Nigeria’s Rio Olympic Games– bound Football team. The former international said it was indeed regrettable that the players Nigerians were banking on to excel in the football event of the forthcoming Olympic

U-23 Eagles midfielder,Oghenekaro Etebo (right)

Games were subjected to sufferings ahead of the tour nament. Siasia on Wednesday said the Nigeria Football Federation was owing him and other technical crew members five months salaries arrears. “It is unthinkable! Five months coaches’ salaries not paid; no allowances for players; not one naira for anybody. That’s not the way to prepare a team. “We are not fighting anybody or

protesting. We are appealing to all those concerned to pay these players and provide all we need for the competition. “On our part, we are working hard but there are many logistics problem hindering our preparations. The boys are not well-motivated, they feel neglected. We are humans.” Siasia expressed fears that the outstanding salaries and allowances might not be

paid again after the Olympic Games. “The fear is that after the Olympics, we might not get it again because in our country, anything can happen. Let us do things the right way at least for once,” the coach said. He added that the tickets for the team’s trip to Rio for the games were not ready yet and it was unclear when the team would leave Atlanta, USA.

Udo-Obong: Don’t expect miracle from Team Nigeria in Rio Ogunkoya berates athletes’ eating habit The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya

lympic Games gold medallist, Enefiok Udo-Obong, has said Nigerians should not expect anything from the country’s contingent to the Rio Olympic Games. Speaking during the Editors’ Forum organised by Hotsports Media Group UdoObong, said the inability of the athletes to prepare very for the Games due to paucity of funds showed that nothing good would come from Brazil. “I have said it countless

time that when you fail to prepare, you have already prepared to fail,” he said. “While other countries have been preparing since the end of last games in London, we continued to

Falilat

embark on fire-brigade approach which cannot take us anywhere. “Even the fire-brigade approach is not there again because no money to prepare the team for anything. Nobody should just blame the athletes if they failed to achieve anything.” The Federal Government released N600m recently with 11 days to the start of games leaving no opportunity for training tour as it used to be in the past. Meanwhile, Falilat Ogunkoya, Olympics silver medalist in women’s 400m, has berated the country’s

athletes, especially the homebased, on their eating habits. The Athletic Federation of Nigeria board member said the athletes sometimes eat what would affect their performance. She said: “When you see some of them eating, you will think they are there for eating competition. Even when you try to advise them as a former athlete, they will not listen. “What they don’t understand is your diet as an athlete is very important so that you can be fit during your race. “There is need for these athletes to control what they eat, the type of food and quantity. They should go for balance diet that will nourish their body and not just to fill their stomach.”

SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Siasia to drop defender for Ndidi H

GROUP B MEDIA

P W D L GF GA GD PTS

1. Voice of Nigeria

4 2 2 - 5 0

2. New Telegraph

4 2 2 - 4 0 +4 8

3. News Agency of Nigeria 4 2 1 4. Radio Nigeria (FRCN) 4 1 5. SuperSport

1 4 3 +1

2 1

4 - -

1 1

ead coach of the Nigeria U-23 Eagles Samson Siasia may have to drop one player from his final 18-man list for the male football event of the Rio 2016 Olympics following the shock arrival of Genk of Belgium midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. Media officer of the team Timi Ebikagboro confirmed Owngoalnigeria.com leaks when he posted on his twitter handle the arrival of the

+5 8

7 5

4 0 12 -12 0

NT Strikers’ Tobi Ayinde (middle)challenging a player of Voice of Nigeria team with NT Strikers’ Isaac Okpora (left) watching during Wednesday’s Lagos SWAN Cup match at the National Stadium, Lagos.

ssss

SWAN Cup

New Telegraph battle Complete Sports for S’final

…beat NAN, draw VON to reach quarterfinal Ajibade Olusesan

ew Telegraph Strikers proved doubters wrong by booking their place in the quarterfinal of the 2016 Lagos SWAN Cup and will now face Complete Sports as they bid for a semifinal slot.

The NT Strikers placed second in Group B with eight points behind Voice of Nigeria who had same number of points but a better goal difference. The team opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over SuperSports and followed that up with a goalless draw in the clash against Radio Nigeria. They beat News Agency

Delta ready for Keshi’s burial Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State Government has set the ball rolling for the funeral of late Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. Keshi died on June 7, 2016 in Benin City, Edo State, at the age of 54. Keshi began his final journey on Wednesday with series of activities lined up to herald his interment in Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Thursday. At the deceased’s Ukpologwu Quarters in Illah yesterday, the entire compound had worn a new look after renovation touches had been effected in readiness for his burial. The preparedness was the same at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Illah, where a requiem mass would end the service of songs/vigil mass that kicked off on Wednesday. “As a titled chief in Illah, his body will stop briefly at the palace of the traditional

ruler of the town on Thursday for traditional rites “ said his eldest brother, Mr. Sylvester Keshi.” According to a nephew, Mr. Eboka Ofuonyehis, “Work on the tomb, where his remains will rest had since been completed.” At the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, finishing touches were being put in place to receive the numerous persons that will besiege the state to pay their last respect to the fallen hero during the lying in state. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ulah, said “Delta is ready for the burial.”

Keshi

of courtesy of a brilliant goal by England-based pro, Henry Esebunefe Nigeria on Wednesday and were held by to another goalless draw by VON. The Emmanuel Tobitutored side will today (Thursday) confront the winners of Group A Complete Sports in a potential cracker at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Lagos.

player whose goal was voted as the best in Belgium last season. Ndidi was earlier stopped from the Nigeria Olympic team by his Belgian clubside but the 19-year-old breezed into the team’s camp in Atlanta yesterday evening throwing the coach into the dilemma of needing to drop one player from his list of selected players to make room for the highly-rated defender.

Mr. Taye Ige, Chairman, CEO HS Media Group (2nd Left) and Cross River State Sports Commissioner, Comrade Asu Okang (3rd Left) and his entourage at HS Media Group Hqtrs on Monday in Lagos.

Sports Festival: Cross River State shops for N1.6bn

ross River State Governor, Benedict Ayade is shopping for N1.6 billion to complete the construction and upgrading of facilities needed for the twicepostponed National Sports Festival, which has now been slated for November 8 – 21 this year. Comrade Asu Okang, the Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who disclosed this to HotSports when he paid a visit to Mr. Taye Ige – the Chairman/CEO HS Media Group, on Monday to consolidate on the marketing drive for the Festival, said it had become expedient for the state, as the host, to speed up the completion of the facilities so that the national competition will not suffer further postponement. Comrade Okang said the state government had embarked on aggressive market-

ing drive to raise the funds because in the past three months, the state had received zero allocation from the Federal Government, but because Governor Ayade had given his word to retain the hosting right, they were bent on fulfilling that promise despite the cash crunch. He said the colossal amount was only to complete the facilities that have been undergoing various stages of renovations and facelifts. “Cross River State was never the problem for the postponement of the Sports Festival twice. Of course there was plethora of reasons ranging from the election campaign year in 2014 and the election year in 2015, which was not the best of time to host such events even though it is a biannual game,” he said

Fed Cup: Holders Akwa United, Wikki crash out Charles Ogundiya

kwa United have failed to defend their Federation Cup title as they lost 4-2 on penalties to Nasarawa United after fulltime scores stood at goalless. Nigeria league leaders Wikki Tourists were also upstaged by lower league side Crown FC 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw in regulation time.

Crown gave as much as they got against Wikki and then steadied their nerves to also go through to the last four of the competition. Nasarawa scorers in the penalty shootout against Akwa United were skipper Emmanuel Makama, Esosa Igbinoba, Thomas Zenke and Seun Sogbeso. Akwa penalty goals came from Ubong Friday and Chigozie Emmanuel.

The quarterfinal between Warri Wolves and FC IfeanyiUbah in Ijebu-Ode was abandoned on Wolves walked out in protest on 55 minutes, when what they believed was a deserved equaliser was chalked off for offside. The star quarterfinal between Enyimba and Rivers United, which was rained off, will resume by 9am today (Thursday) after a goalless first half in Ibadan.

Amokachi’s twins on trial with Besiktas

ormer captain and assistant coach of the Super Eagles Daniel Amokachi, has announced via his facebook page that his twin sons Kalim and Nazim will train with Turkish side Besiktas. Now 18, they will be hoping to take after their father who made a name for himself playing for Besiktas in Turkey, although only one of them plays same role as him during his playing days. One who predominantly plays with his right foot is a forward while the other a

left footer plays as a winger. Amokachi played for Besiktas from 1996 to 1999 scoring a total of 19 goals for the Turkish giants in 77 games which made him a firm fan favorite at the club and it appears his legendary status has worked in his sons’ favour. The identical twins also spent time on trials with Amokachi’s former side Everton in 2009 training with the U-13 of the team but were reportedly not offered deals by the club. 43-year-old Amokachi is

presently the head coach of Finnish second division side JS Hercules.

Amokachi

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Guardiola bans overweight players

anchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that ‘danger’s coming’ for footballers who are overweight amid claims that players will be banned from training if they are not fit enough. Left-back Gael Clichy has revealed that the team’s new boss has prohibited the squad from eating junk food, and some players have not been allowed to train with their teammates because they are not at the correct weight. The 31-year-old described the strict regime, which Guardiola implemented at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as “refreshing”. “If your weight is too high, you’re not training with the team,” Clichy told reporters. “You hear it a lot but, for my part, it’s the first time any manager has really done it, and we have a few players who are not training with the team yet.”

Guardiola

Countdown

Mane admits turning down Man United

Zidane hints Madrid’s Pogba move R

Pogba (left)

eal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has suggested that the club are still interested in signing Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Manchester United emerged as the frontrunners for the 23-year-old’s signature following reports that Madrid had pulled out of contention. It was claimed that the Spanish giants refused to meet Juve’s hefty asking price, which is believed to be close to £100m. Since then, United have been in negotiations with the Italian giants, but despite reports that personal terms have been agreed between the club and the player,

Charles Ogundiya

igeria Olympic Committee is not privy to the announcement of Chelsea star Mikel Obi, as the captain of Team Nigeria to Rio Olympic Games. Secretary of the committee, Tunde Popoola, said although it was the responsibility of the NOC to name Team Nigeria captain, he was surprised the Minister of Sports took the decision “The athletes are with us for now and it is for us to make such announcement,” Popoola said. “It’s the NOC’s duty to make the announcement of who will be leading the team because President Muhammed Buhari already handed the team over to the NOC, so from us the team does not have a captain yet.” He however said they were working on resolving the issue between the NOC and the sports ministry but reaffirmed their position that Mikel and Funke Oshoinake (the purported captain and assistant) were for now not leading Team Nigeria to Brazil. Mikel, one of the three overaged players in the national U-23 football team for the games, who is making his debut appearance at the Olympic Games, after he turned down the opportunity to be part of the football squad – which lost to Argentina in the final – at the Beijing 2008 Games and 40-year-old table tennis star Oshonaike, who will be making her sixth appearance at the games after her debut appearance

Jose Mourinho’s side failed with an initial £85m offer. “In this moment we are still working [on a move for Pogba], and I cannot say anything more,” Goal.com quotes Zidane as saying. “Until August 31 anything can happen, but today he is not a Real Madrid player and I cannot talk about what will happen. “I always say how things are, but now is not the time to talk about this. A lot of clubs are interested in Pogba. Real Madrid always want the best players, but we owe Juventus respect, and I can’t say Mane anything more out of respect.”

Olympics NOC: We’re not aware of Mikel’s captaincy at Atlanta ’96, were named captain and assistant team captain. According to a statement by the Media Assistant to the Minister of Sports, Nneka Anibeze:

Days to Go

U-23 Eagles cancel friendly against Honduras

“Mikel and Oshonaike were chosen because of their consistency, patriotism and dedication to national assignments.”

…issues Zika virus guidelines

s the zero hour approaches swiftly for the 2016 Summer Olympics which begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21 and the Paralympic Games scheduled for September 7 to18, the Nigeria Olympic Committee Medical and Scientific Commission has issued out guidelines to athletes and officials to prevent the spread of Zika virus pre and post Rio 2016. Chairman of NOC Medical and Scientific Commission, Dr Akin Amao said that following the guidelines issued by WHO to prevent the spread of Zika virus in the context of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has become important for every Nigerian going to Brazil to embrace the guidelines to ‘’help you stay safe and healthy’’. Some preventive measures: • Pregnant women are advised not to travel to Brazil. •At the games, travellers should prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and protective clothing. •Practice safer sex, including

the consistent and correct use of condoms, or abstain from sex during their stay in Brazil. •After the Games, women who discover they are pregnant during their travel or shortly after returning from Brazil should contact their healthcare providers for counselling about Zika virus risks and pregnancy management. •After the Games, all travellers should practice safer sex, including the correct and consistent use of condoms, or abstain from sex for at least eight weeks after their return.

adio Mane has revealed that he rejected a move to Manchester United in order to join Liverpool. The 24-year-old completed a move to Anfield from Southampton last month for a fee in the region of £30m. The Senegal international, who is the Reds’ most expensive signing of the summer so far, has admitted that Jose Mourinho’s club expressed an interest, but he is confident that he made the “right move” in joining Liverpool. “[United’s interest] was true,” Mane told the Liverpool Echo. “There was interest from a lot of clubs, not just Manchester United, but as soon as I knew Liverpool were interested I just felt it was the right club with the right coach. It was right for me to come here. “Liverpool are a massive club with a big history that has won many trophies over the years and as soon as I was told of the possibility to come here and I knew the manager wanted me I said yes.”

Mikel

igeria U-23 Eagles team’s final warm-up game against Honduras has been cancelled. Officials would not give any reasons for the cancellation but it may not be unconnected with the poor arrangement that has attended the team’s preparation for the Rio Olympics. A Nigerian based in the United States of America agreed to foot the bills of the team for t h e i r first 10 days in Atlanta, before the Nigeria Football F e d - eration (NFF) came through for the squard after the sports minister publicly announced he was unaware of the team’s whereabouts. Coach Samson Siasia’s team lost 1-0 to Olympic defending champions Mexico in their first test game overseas, before they defeated local side Charlton Battery FC 2-0 in another friendly. They will now depart for Brazil from Miami on Friday. African champions Nigeria are drawn against Asian champions Japan, European champions Sweden and Colombia in the first round of the football event of the Rio Olympics.

On Marble

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie New occupant of 10 Downing street

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Edmund Burke

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016

N150

}16

The good in Buhari “We don’t go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers” -Helen Thomas

very week I get reactions from my readers on their views on issues discussed in this space. Expectedly it has been mixed reactions but I chose not to publish them because most of them are either not publishable because of the indecorous languages used or that they are so agreeable with my view that it would be an over kill. The choice of topic for this week’s musing is derived from a reaction from one Inusa Mohammed Musa from Minna, Niger state who said that he has been reading me every week and liked the writing but wondered if I don’t see anything good in Buhari. He actually requested that he would love to read from me something good about Buhari. I am one of those who believe that nothing is so bad that you cannot find something good. This week’s musing therefore would centre on positives noticed in the polity since President Muhammedu Buhari took over the affairs of this great country. In doing this am persuaded by the civil language used by Musa in making his request, he was not abusive and did not display any fanaticism like most others who in accusing me of bigotry end up displaying same. For instance one nameless reader (08080643080) in an SMS to me a fortnight ago wrote “You’re a very ugly man with ugly tendentious twist facts in your column to suit your bigoted fantasy. Shame on you Frankenstein!” My journalism career long taught me that whatever you write, note that just as it pleases some, it irritates others depending on where each stands at a time. Equipped with this reality and added to the fact that its selfish to flog a child and stop him from crying, I give it to him that if the musings have been angering him, he was free to vent his anger but should have been in a more civilized manner. Since he talked about my being ugly which is not my making I had to reply him saying “God has his reason for creating ugly people like me to occupy the same space with fine persons like you. Blame God if you can” Before listing Buhari’s positives in response to Musa’s request, let me explain especially for the benefit of those who always misconstrue the role of a journalist. The role of a journalist is not to bring a black kettle and paint it white just to please some persons in authority or some readers, a journalist’s role is to look at the fault in the painting and highlight it for either the painter to make correction or change the colour. The work of doing the painting or choosing colour is left for public relations persons hired purposely for that. They could be journalists or public relations experts. For President Buhari and the federal Government they are loaded with personnel for that purpose. In the Presidency two invaluable senior journalists, in-

Political Musings IKE ABONYI igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only) fact the duo had led the nation’s Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu are doing the job. In my early days in journalism I worked very closely with Mallam Garba in Kano and I can vouch for his professional prowess any day. Adesina was a delight to read in his column days. So the President to me is in a good hands but the challenge is obviously enormous. On the federal Government side you have the irrepressible former APC propaganda machine Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information leading inhouse journalists in the Ministry. Also added to them are the personnel of the National Orientation Agency NOA. All these plus barrage of jobbers now called consultants who are all there to tackle the image of the President and the Government. This explanation is necessary to disabuse the minds of some members of the public especially friends of government who think journalists should be singing praises of establishments. ( Note the quote of American Journalist Helen Thomas above) It’s not their role, infact the profession always identifies with the under dogs who in this case are the down trodden who are at the receiving end of bad or inadequacies in governance. In fact Peter McWilliams captured it aptly when he said that “The news media are, for the most part, the bringers of bad news... and it’s not entirely the media’s fault, bad news gets higher ratings and sells more papers than good news.” Now the issue at hand, what are the goods found in Buhari’s administration in the last one year? One is the fact that he has successfully tamed the arrogance of the elites who have been lording it over on the rest of the populace. No matter the shortfall in the anticorruption fight, and damage done to it by the deliberate asymmetry in appointments which on its own is corruption, something good is still coming out of it. If as it seems that it is selective, at least fact remains that most of those caught so far actually stole public fund and are returning it. Who knows, he may still get to the crooks around him. For me Buhari’s anti-corruption fight is going well although it could be better with less of media trials and more thorough investigations. The situation in the North East where Boko Haram appear to have been boxed into the Sambisa corner is also a plus. If it all came through better weaponry or commanding, credit goes to the obviously no nonsense Commander in Chief. Another good noticed in the administration of Buhari in the last one year is the halt in the extravagant living of

Buhari

public officers. In the past public officers would use stolen public funds and flaunt it in such irritating manner. We now hear less of the thank God. It’s Friday TGIF club who wet most top hotels in Abuja with costly champagne and other customized wines. All such

indiscipline have withered down drastically. I also welcome and appreciates the President’s recent climb down from his known self to be pleading with the restive youths of Niger Delta region, a stance that gladdens the heart of many Nigerians who had argued against use of force as a no good option. Even if critics may say that the President has no choice, but truth remains that credit must be given to him for yielding to public opinion. One expects him to walk the talk by further bringing down the tensed atmosphere in the land by releasing the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu after some reproach the way a hard dad would do to a naughty son. Another thing I have come to admire about President Buhari is his sincerity to issues even if the matter is unpopular. He does not pretend like most politicians who try to fabricate lies while doing the opposite. If the President does not like you, he does not pretend. South East can confirm this. For instance when the heat was on him for appointing mostly northerners he told BBC Hausa service “If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situation, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?” That’s vintage Buhari in his political innocence which could also go as arrogance, or apolitical but the truth is that with him, you don’t deceive yourself that you have a friend who is not. I hope I tried to meet Musa’s desire, if I did not say anything about economy, education, power or health sectors etc it is not unlikely that there is nothing technically good to say in those areas yet. Truth is Nigerians are groaning. God bless Nigeria.

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