Thursday, june 23, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Nigeria’s Q1 oil earnings down 34.1% to N396.47bn Tony Chukwunyem and Adeola Yusuf

he Nigeria's crude earnings and Petroleum Profit Tax and Royalties suffered

a 34.1 per cent decline to N396.47 billion (currently $1.4 billion), from N601.52 billion ($2.15 billion) in the last quarter of 2015. The slide in revenue came hours after the nai-

ra strengthened to about N282 to a dollar on the third day of trading on the interbank spot market yesterday, as against the N284.83 at which it closed on Tuesday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which revealed this in a data released yesterday, maintained that the drop in receipts from oil and gas exports contributed to the

decline in oil revenue. In the bank’s Economic Report for the First Quarter of 2016, the nation earned N396.47 billion as opposed to N601.52 billion in the last quarter of 2015.

The CBN report said that the drop in receipts from oil and gas exports contributed to the decline in oil revenue. The decrease in exports was due CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Buhari cancels dinner with Senators, Reps Kalu

Kanu

Obama

Adeyi

…says I won’t stop fighting graft lSenate suspends ambassadorial screening lLawmakers to President: Probe APC campaign funds }2

The stone that caused the tanker accident and some burnt vehicles at the scene of the accident at Kara-Ibafo, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway…yesterday

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THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari cancels dinner with Senators, Reps

Chukwu David and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he faceoff between the executive and the federal legislature deepened yesterday, with the Presidency cancelling a dinner session earlier proposed between President Muhammadu Buhari and principal officers of the National Assembly. No reason was given for the cancellation of the dinner. An aide of the president confirmed the scheduled dinner but could not explain the cancellation. “Yes, there was a planned dinner with the principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives, but I don’t know why the president called it off,” a source told

New Telegraph. A senator told our correspondent that the leadership of the Senate was “not even ready to have a dinner with a hostile president.” The president had, on Monday, hosted service chiefs including the outgone Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to a dinner. Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) took their turn on Tuesday with the National Assembly members scheduled for Wednesday and the judiciary for Thursday. New Telegraph learnt that the Presidency had, in a letter dated Monday June 20, 2016, invited the two chambers to a dinner with the president yesterday. The letter was submitted to the Senate on Tuesday earlier in the day. It was, however, learnt

that the Presidency brought another letter later that same Tuesday, postponing the dinner indefinitely. Investigations carried out by New Telegraph indicated that the indefinite postponement was not unconnected with the deepening rift between the Presidency and the National Assembly, particularly the Senate. The executive arm has been battling to unseat the leadership of the Senate following the emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate, contrary to the wishes of the president and the governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) who preferred Senator Ahmad Lawan. A source close to the Senate leadership, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the

recent forgery charges prevailed against Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, had deteriorated the frosty relationship between the two arms of government. The source further posited that the Presidency was suspicious and apprehensive that the aggrieved National Assembly members might decide to rubbish Buhari by turning down the dinner invitation or hostile during the breaking of fast, and therefore, resolved to put it off. Although the letter putting off the dinner did not say it had been cancelled but rather postponed, it is obvious that, unless the two warring parties come to a rapprochement, such arrangement might not be in a hurry. It will be recalled that the conflict between the executive and the Nation-

L-R: Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Australian Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary (Africa Branch), Matthew Neuhaus and Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Angela Tierney, during a meeting with Fayemi, in Abuja...yesterday

Senators to President: Probe APC campaign funds Chukwu David Abuja

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus, yesterday, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the campaign funds of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2015 general elections. The challenge came in the face of sustained probe of campaign funds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The 44 PDP senators also accused the Buhariled administration of embarking on a selective war against corruption, tasking the government to fight the corruption battle with sincerity and not the kind of politics going on at the moment. The caucus said that probing the campaign funds of the ruling party would prove to the world that he was not only out to

witch-hunt and victimise the members of the opposition party. "The war against corruption should not be selective, must be fought with sincerity and not the politics that is being played now with 'war against corruption'. "Since the war against corruption has devolved into probing campaign funds, it should be extended to all parties, APC inclusive.” The PDP senators, in a communiqué of its meeting on Tuesday which was read to the press yesterday by the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, also condemned what it considered an orchestrated plot by the APC to forcefully remove the leadership of the Senate through illegal means. It further warned that the use of instruments of the state to suppress the voice of opposition and intimidate the legislature was a great threat to the survival of democracy. "The PDP Senate Caucus condemns in totality

the orchestrated plot to remove the President of the Senate and his deputy, through an illegal means. The deployment of state instruments of coercion to intimidate an independent arm of government like the legislature is now a major threat to the survival of our democracy. "The glaring witch-hunt of perceived opposition elements in the polity is invitation to anarchy. "We, therefore, condemn in strong terms the sentiments displayed in fighting corruption e.g. freezing of account of the Ekiti State Governor, is clearly a political witch-hunt. "The PDP Senate Caucus, therefore, wishes to warn the executive arm of government to act with caution on matters that have the potency to subvert our democracy. The executive must, therefore, desist from these acts of lawlessness that are only typical in a military dictatorship,” the communiqué stated. The Caucus said that the witchhunt of perceived opposition elements in the

polity by the APC government was a glaring invitation to anarchy. The PDP lawmakers said that the freezing of account of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose was a clear case of political witchhunt. The caucus advised the APC to concentrate on the existing economic and security challenges threatening the nation's survival and not chase shadows. The senators urged the executive to address the challenges confronting the nation instead of fighting perceived enemies. "The caucus wishes to advise the APC-led government to concentrate on the existing economic and security challenges that are threatening our survival as a nation. "Finally, the PDP Caucus wishes to reiterate that we will no longer support the APC government until they cease the belligerent attitude towards PDP members,” the lawmakers said. The statement was signed by the Senate MiCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

al Assembly took a more worrisome dimension as the former charged the two presiding officers of the apex chamber to court for allegedly forging the 2015 Senate Standing Orders. The Senate, in reaction to the development, on Sunday, issued a strongly worded statement, accusing Buhari of trying to destabilise the National Assembly in order to foist a full dictatorship on the country. It also vowed not to be cowed by such moves, while assuring that it would defend the independence of the legislature and ensure the survival of democracy in Nigeria. Saraki and Ekweremadu were both served the court summons on Tuesday, and might be making their first appearance in court on Monday next week. Meanwhile, Buhari has vowed to sustain a high tempo in the war against corruption instituted by his government until he leaves office. The president said that it was only through vigorously fighting corruption that the country would make any meaningful progress. He stated this yesterday while addressing State House staff who assembled to welcome him back from his recent medical vacation from the United Kingdom. The president assured the staff that he would continue to lead the country with patriotic zeal, integrity, dedication and commitment to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians. He explained that as long as he remains the country's leader, all fraud must stop. "If they don't believe us, they should go and see those we caught red handed with public funds. This exercise will continue as long as this leadership is here. "Whoever takes anything that does not belong to him or that he is not entitled to, it will be documented and the person will be taken to court. "This is the only way I think we can bail ourselves out. I am asking you to dedicate yourselves more to your country because I said more than 30 years ago, that there is no other country, but Nigeria,” the president stressed. Buhari said those who participated in the looting of the treasury would pay

for it. "I have never in my life believed in corruption. If we make any mistake in what we are doing and compromise our integrity, the country will be further dragged back. "We’ll not touch anybody that did not touch public funds. If you behave yourself, you will sleep soundly, your children and families will enjoy respect. "But if you have shortchanged the treasury, you will be caught and you’ll have your day in court,” the president said. He lamented that it was difficult to change what people are used to over a long period of time. "It is not easy to preach change when people are used to something from 1999 till now. The change must take place because, as I said, we were used to getting $100 per barrel. This reflects on the economic predicament the country finds itself,” he noted. According to him, this has affected the morale and integrity of a lot of people who do not bother to ask what is happening to their country. He said: "The fact that you work here, no matter what level, people expect you to know and they expect you to discuss with them intelligently and show your concern for your country and what we are going to leave for our children and grandchildren. "Let’s not lose the opportunity for the future so that we can build infrastructure. Look at power, how much did we spend on power? From barbers to factories, shops, we all depend on power. "We are determined to rehabilitate our country for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. I have never in my life, from class monitor to this place, believed in corruption." The president, who thanked the staff for paying him the visit, said he was in good health after returning from the medical vacation. The staff who were drawn from about 12 departments in the villa, gathered in the fore court of the President's Office where he addressed them. Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Mohammed Arabi, presented the staff to the president alongside the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and other aides.

719m

748,800

The number of individuals using the internet in developed countries in 2007. Source: Itu.int

The total area (in sq. km) of land of Chile. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

NEWS

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate suspends ambassadorial screening, summons SGF, minister

lBuhari’ll appoint politicians as envoys – Presidency Chukwu David and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Senate has suspended the screening of 47 career officers nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as ambassador-designates over alleged irregularities in their nomination. The lawmakers, at a plenary yesterday, also summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, to explain why some states of the federation were omitted in the list of ambassadorial nominees pending confirmation in the Upper Chamber. Onyeama and Lawal are also going to make explanations to the lawmakers on perceived irregularities in the list of the nominees, including alleged selection of some junior officers in Foreign Service for ambassadorial appointment instead of their superior counterparts. The Senate made the resolutions sequel to its consideration of a point of order, raised by Senator Joshua Dariye, who came under Orders 42 and 52. While making his submissions, Dariye observed that the ambassadorial list was full of omissions and irregularities, and should therefore, be corrected before approval by the Senate. He said that in his state, Plateau, those nominated by the president were not qualified, as serving senior career officers in the Foreign Service from the state were left while their junior officers were picked. His words: "Given the important role played by ambassadors, due diligence must be given and there should be criteria to nominate qualified eminent Nigerians.” In his prayer, which was adopted by the Senate, Dariye said: "We should direct that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the SGF should appear before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain the omissions and irregularities, and the processes by which some of these names came about." Seconding the point of order, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (APC-Osun Central) called for the intervention of the Senate in view of numerous petitions, which the Senate had received in respect of the matter. He said there was a need to ensure that the right processes were followed in the selection of the nominees. “I have been approached by three different people, in-

cluding one from my state, with the grievance that there was a lot of irregularities with the way that the names emerged. "I cannot ascertain that except to say that in the case of two of these people, they are the most qualified from their own states and have been bypassed in this nomination. Their own case is that there is nothing in their service record to show that they have not been superb in the discharge of their duty. "Two of them are already on level 17 and in making the recommendations, many who are junior staff to them in experience and in status have been elevated above them.” Also supporting the point of order, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP-Ebonyi South) expressed concern that his state was not represented in the nomination, stressing that the minister and the SGF should explain the modalities in the selection. The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shehu Sani, said that the committee had begun investigation into the matter and urged all aggrieved persons to forward their petition to the committee. Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP- Taraba South) said there were laid down procedures for nominating career ambassadors. He said: "What generates

our concern is that the list is for career ambassadors and not political ambassadors. I am in agreement with the issue raised and it should be treated holistically.” In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said he had equally received petitions from lawmakers and other Nigerians on the omission in the list. He called on the Committee on Foreign Affairs to expedite action on the petitions, saying screening would be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. "A number of senators have raised this observation and I have received a lot of petitions on this matter. If we say they are career ambassadors, we must ensure that the process is

transparent, especially as they are going to be ambassadors. "It is important for the Foreign Affairs Committee to invite the minister and the SGF so that they can explain the processes that led to these names before we begin to consider the nomination,” he said. He, therefore, directed the committee to report back to Senate in one week. The president, in a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki, informed the lawmakers that the list was made up of only career civil servants in the Foreign Service. The nominees included Obinna Chukwuemeka, Salisu Umaru, Inyan UdoIyang, Okeke Vivian Nwanaku, Liman Munir, Ndem Jane Ada, Mohammed Hassan Hassan, Martin Young

Cobham, Janet Omoleegho Olisah and ItegbojeSunday. Others are, Babatunde Adesesan, Lilian Ijeukwu Onoh, Manaja Tulah Isa, Ngozi Ukaeje, Bello Kazaure Husseini, Enoch Pear Duchi, Garba Baba, Usman Bakori Aliyu, Umar Zainab Salisu, Momoh Sheidu Omeiza and Kadiri Audu. They also include, Balogun Hakeem, Inusa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isah, Bankole Adegboyega Adeoye, Ibidapo-Obe Oluwasegun, Ogundero Sikirat, Eric A. Bell-Gam, Attahiru Halliru, Rahmatu Danama, Musa Mamman and Kabiru Bala. Also on the list are Adamu Shuaibu, D.A Agev, T.K Gongulong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C Nwachukwu, Q.I Worlu, E.K Oguntuase, I.A Paragalda, L.A Gashaga, Olufemi Abikoye, Abubakar Ibrahim, Rabiu Kawu, Okeke Vivian Nwunaku, Odeka Janet Bisong

and Adekunbi Abibat. The development has been described as a sharp departure from the tradition where it was a mix of career and political diplomats. Meanwhile, the president will soon send a list of politicians as nominees to the National Assembly for confirmation as ambassadors. Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, confirmed to New Telegraph that a fresh list of ambassadorial appointees (politicians) was presently being prepared by the Federal Government. According to Shehu, "There will certainly be another list which will include politicians. "The president will forward it to the National Assembly as soon as it is ready."

L-R: Former President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and APC Chairman, Edo State chapter, Hon. Anselm Ojezua, during the inspection of ongoing project in Benin City… yesterday.

CAN election: Christian leaders to float new association Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

oncerned Christian leaders from all over the country on Sunday met in Abuja in order to find a way out of the impasse that followed the election of Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle as the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last Tuesday. A source, who does not want to be named, told New Telegraph that there are three options open to the Concerned Christians. “First, we will insist that the election is nullified or we will pursue the ongoing litigation in court. In the

$77.2m

The total pay (including salary/ winnings & endorsements) of LeBron James (Basketball) for 2016. Source: Forbes.com

£21.3m

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

alternative, we may float another Christian body,” he said. According to the source, the Northern Chapter of CAN felt short-changed by the immediate past National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for jettisoning the provision of the association’s constitution and breaching the electoral rules in order to ensure Ayokunle’s emergence. “The constitution of CAN stipulates that there should be power shift between the North and the South. This is not just an agreement, it is a constitutional provision, but the past executive trampled on it and foisted a candidate from the same zone as Oritsejafor,” the source added. He further said that the leadership of Northern CAN had earlier written a letter to the national leadership, when it got wind of its plan to make Ayokunle the president of the association. “That letter was ignored. They neither acknowledged the letter nor answered the serious is-

sues that we raised in it,” the source told our correspondent. According to him, Northern Christian leaders met again on Monday, June 13 in Kaduna and decided to write another letter, reminding the national leadership of the dangers of conducting the election without Rev. Jeremiah Dogo, the northern candidate. “The letter was handdelivered on Tuesday, June 14 and when the person that was sent got to Abuja, he discovered that the election was already going on,” the source said, alleging that Oritsejafor had brought the election forward by a day so as to prevent Dogo from contesting the election. “The election was supposed to hold on June 15, according to the circular that was sent to state chapters of CAN. Constitution Review was slated for Tuesday. But Oritsejafor hurriedly conducted the election on Tuesday in order to foist his preferred candidate on the association,” he pointed out.

As at the time of filing this report, the meeting was still going on and there are no details of the meeting’s resolution. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State chapter of CAN has distanced itself from Ayokunle’s election as National President of the association, alleging that extant rules were flouted. Speaking to the Hausa Service of BBC, which was monitored in Kaduna on Friday, the state secretary of CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Sunday Ibrahim alleged that there was a deliberate effort to deny one of the candidates to participate in the election, in order to foist a particular candidate on the association. According to him, “every association has rules and regulations and our own was not followed to the letter in the run up to the election. No matter what was done, if it is not in line with the constitution, it is not an election.” Ibrahim said that there was usually an Electoral College in CAN “where all members are free to aspire and vote, but in this case,

there was a person that was vehemently denied the right to participate without justifiable reason.” The association’s secretary further said that Oyekunle’s election will not stand, “because it has no foundation in truth and sincerity. It’s purely a selfish agenda, contrary to the rules guiding elections of the association. “From the beginning to the end, the rules of the election in CAN were never applied,” he added. Ibrahim reminded the CAN members who perpetrated the alleged electoral fraud to “fear God and remember that we will all die and give account to Almighty God. This injustice cannot stand.” The secretary called on the national leadership of CAN to organise another election because what happened last Tuesday was not an election. Ibrahim, however, did not say what the Kaduna State chapter of the association will do if the national body fails to heed his call.

NEWS

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC backs EFCC on corruption probe, prosecution

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the

probe and prosecution of corrupt Nigerians. The anti-graft agencies are facing serious criticisms over the frozen of the account of the governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose. Asking the EFCC to disregard the position of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus, APC in a statement from its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni said: “The APC urges anti-corruption agencies not to be stampeded and blackmailed by this new plot and continue to employ all legitimate

avenues in investigating and prosecuting ongoing corruption cases. "The generality of Nigerians clamour for all looters of public funds to be brought to book. The APC assures Nigerians that the political will and sincerity of purpose of the

Military formations in Lagos owe us N600m – DISCO

he Eko Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO) has disclosed that all the military formations within its licence area were indebted to the company to the tune of N600 million. It said that about 60 per cent of the debt being owed by the Army, while about 30 and 10 per cent of the debt profiles were for the Navy and Air force. Hence, the DISCO is to install bulk-prepaid meters in military and other security agencies’ barracks within its operational territory. General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos. The statement said that the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Oladele Amoda, noted that the installation of the prepaid meters would totally eliminate controversies regarding the accuracy of electricity bills in the barracks. The electricity firm ex-

8,150

The total area (in sq. km) of water of Chile. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

pressed displeasure over the harassment of the company’s staff on their legitimate duties by some military personnel. It said molesting staff that were performing their lawful duties would not augur well for the promotion of military-civil relations, which the high echelon of the military had been canvassing in recent time. Amoda said that since the distribution company

paid for energy received from the grid, no segment of customers could be allowed not to pay. According to the statement, no business can thrive when services rendered are not paid for by its patrons. It appealed to military formations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies to make payment for electricity bills a priority on the list of their

proposed expenditure. The statement expressed the hope that with the signing of the budget for the current financial year, many government establishments would offset their huge electricity bills. It also appealed to military personnel having either private or official quarters outside the barracks to pay for electricity consumed in such premises.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), presenting a plaque to the Managing Director/CEO, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, during a visit to the governor in Lagos…yesterday.

...says charge, unnecessary distraction ABUJA

he Senate President Bukola Saraki has told an Abuja High Court where charge of forgery was filed against him and three others that he has no case to answer as the proof of evidence did not, in any way, link him with the said offence. The Federal Government had filed a forgery suit against Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and the Clerk of the Senate, Benedicta Efeturi. Saraki is the 3rd defendant in the suit. The court had, on Tuesday, ordered a substituted service on the defendants

and consequently fixed June 29 for arraignment. Responding to the charge, Saraki through his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN) asked the court to set aside the charge, describing it as unnecessary distraction. In a motion on notice filed at the registry of the court yesterday, Saraki is challenging his physical appearance at the court, thereby praying for an order of court dispensing with his physical appearance and arraignment. He is also praying the court for an order setting aside the service of the Charge/Information Sheet, which was effected by substituted means on him. In addition, he is praying the court to strike out or quash the charge against him in the Charge No. CR/219/16 between

FRN v. SALISU ABUBAKAR MAIKASUWA & 3 ORS. He premised his prayer on ground that no prima facie case was established against him. Furthermore, Saraki is asking the court for an order suspending or adjourning sine die all the proceedings against him in the case. He submitted that the notice of trial and information ought to be served on him personally. He also submitted that there is no link between the proof of evidence and the allegations made against him in the charge. In his affidavit in support of motion, the defendant averred that: "The third defendant is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged of-

fences under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/15 between FRN v. DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI. "Accelerated hearing has been ordered for the prosecution of the said trial, in consequence of which the proceedings therein are being conducted on virtually day-to-day basis. "The third defendant requires adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. "The prosecution of this charge concurrently with the other one being tried at the CCT will not only work great hardship against the third defendant, but will also deny him an opportunity to a fair trial." The deponent also averred that running of the two suits concurrently would create hardship for the 3rd defendant.

anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases instead of declaring innocence on newspaper pages and other media outlets. “For the umpteenth time, the PDP and their agents do not have the luxury of dictating how the current administration and anti-corruption agencies carries out its legitimate duty of investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption as long as it conforms to the rule of law.” The PDP Senate Caucus was reported to have stated that it would withdraw its support for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the administration’s war against corruption.

Nigeria’s Q1 oil earnings down 34.1% to N396.47bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Forgery: I’ve no case to answer, Saraki tells court

Tunde Oyesina

current administration to tackle corruption remains resolute." The governing party reminded the PDP caucus of their primary responsibility of lawmaking and representation of their constituents at the National Assembly. Bunu said: "The APC advises the PDP Senate Caucus not to allow political shenanigans to becloud overall national interest. “The PDP caucus said allegations of a selective anti-corruption fight and “belligerent” stance of the current administration is hogwash and baseless. If the PDP and its agents have proof of corruption against anybody, the APC advises that they approach

to the drop in oil prices internationally, and the “shut-ins and shutdowns” at some terminals of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) due to vandalism. The report also stated that the country’s crude production, which includes condensates and natural gas liquids, was at 1.82 million barrels per day for the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the local currency’s appreciation came amid continuing intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which, for the third consecutive day since the new forex policy took off, sold dollars to the market in order to trigger trading between banks still bothered about liquidity, traders said. While Reuters reported that the naira firmed to close at N281.50 to the dollar yesterday, FMDQ and Bloomberg put the closing naira dollar exchange rate at N282.80 and N282. 50 respectively. According to Reuters, yesterday was the first day that the naira recorded its first daily gain since trading on the new interbank spot market began last Monday. The naira slumped 30 per cent on the first day of trading under the new system, despite the CBN selling $530 million at a special auction to clear $4 billion forex backlog and another $86.5 million directly on the interbank market. On Tuesday, the apex bank sold about $100 million in the interbank spot market according to its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor. “It’s our estimate that

the bulk of the backlog of orders has been met. We’re very optimistic that liquidity in the FX market will improve. Whether we decide to intervene again depends on the dynamics,” Okorafor told Bloomberg. It will be recalled that in a statement issued after the first day of trading under the new system on Monday, Okorafor said that the CBN was happy that its objectives to clear the FX demand backlog, perform its role as strictly as a market intervention participant; and re-launch a functioning and efficient inter-bank market, were being met. The CBN, had last Wednesday, issued revised guidelines for a single, "market-driven" interbank FX market, open to authorised dealers and other entities. The move was widely welcomed by financial advisory firms who had argued that the CBN's previous policy of restricting access to the official FX market and supporting the naira, rather than risk the inflationary impact of devaluation, has been hurting economic growth. The dip in Nigeria’s currency value, according to oilprice.com, indicated that Nigeria is feeling the effects that low oil prices are having on countries that produce crude oil. Low oil prices convinced the government that it could no longer continue to spend the amount of money needed to retain the fixed-rate currency policy that has been in place for several years. "Adding to the problems for Nigeria are the attacks by militants on its oil facilities. Production has reportedly been brought to a 30-year low by the attacks," the news agency reported.

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

DPR uncovers illegal oil factories in Lagos

…arrests six workers Adeola Yusuf

wo illegal factories manufacturing substandard and adulterated engine oil were uncovered in Lagos yesterday. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which revealed this, maintained that the two illegal engine oil manufacturing factories were uncovered at Ikugbayi Street, Marine Bridge and Raji Rasak Estate, FESTAC Town in Lagos. The leader of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials on the DPR team, Ajayi Olaleye, added that six workers from the first factory at Marine Bridge were arrested, while no arrest was made in FESTAC Town. The DPR team, led by Mrs. Sholabi Olanrewaju, Manager, Engineering and Standards Unit, told newsmen that they discovered the factory during a routine inspection and monitoring in the state. “We visited these places with NCSDC and met some men actually dispensing the base oil. From our investigation, they are actually retailing ordinary base oil without addictive into a

container of a well-known brand like Total. "This is an illegal operation, the environment is unsafe and they are not licensed to brand base oil," she said. Olarenwaju said that the department would ensure that they get at those illegal lubricants in Lagos metropolis. She explained that before anybody could engage in petroleum product business in Nigeria, such person must be licensed by the DPR. Manager, Retail Outlet and Marketing Department of DPR, Mr. Okechukwu Okoro, told journalists after the exercise that the clampdown was as a result of series of complaints from the public. Okoro said that the department discovered that there was high adulteration of diesel in the market. "So, we have come to see if it is true and we have found out this to be real. Many people who supply diesel at home gave them adulterated diesel, which is not from real source. "People should be wary of where they get their product from; they should ensure that they get from right source because these

people mix other products in the name of diesel,” he said. Kehinde Atande, one of the arrested workers, said that he brought oil with water to filter when he was arrested. Atanda said he didn’t know that their activities were illegal. Producers of lubricants have earlier raised

the alarm over the proliferation of adulterated and fake lubricant products in the Nigerian market, warning that the development portends danger to users and the nation’s economy and could cripple the local industry if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the disturbing trend. The lubricant producers, who spoke at the Oil Trad-

ing Logistics (OTL) conference in Lagos, expressed concern over threat to the lubricant industry by indiscriminate importation of substandard lubricants and adulteration of members’ products. They said the situation had led to economic loss to consumers of such unwholesome products, which most often result in

NEWS

breakdown of machineries, environmental pollution, as well as undue competition for local producers as they come very cheap to unsuspecting customers. Speaking at the conference, the Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc., Tunji Oyetunji, said that Nigeria’s lubricant industry remained the only vibrant sub-sector of the oil and gas industry, which is still attracting investment despite the challenges facing the downstream sector.

Senators to Buhari: Probe APC campaign funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

nority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, his deputy, Emmanuel Bwacha; the Minority Whip, Phillip Aduda, and his deputy, Biodun Olujimi. Meanwhile, Fayose has challenged the EFCC to also beam its searchlights on the funding of APC elections, especially that of President Buhari. He said: “Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalised, the international community, especially those funding EFCC, must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission. “Most importantly, Nigerians are interested in

the $60 million allegedly donated to the APC campaign by Sahara Energy, on which EFCC has been forced to suspend investigation.” In another development, the PDP has said that President Buhari was running a tyrannical government and on a mission to silence voice of opposition to his government. The party, which was reacting to Monday's freezing of bank account of Fayose by EFCC, described it as undemocratic, witchhunt and politicallymotivated. In a statement by a member of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, PDP said the action of the president and the ruling APC was the

height of desperation by the Buhari administration to cover up for its failure to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians. "This government is all out to silence any voice of the opposition," the statement noted. It observed that the events in the country, in recent times, have shown that Buhari and the APC have no agenda for nation building, but on a revenge mission. "Nigerians will also recall that one of the known opposition voices, apart from some individuals and governors of our party, that has exposed the APCled administration for running the country aground in the last one year is the former spokesman of the PDP Presidential Cam-

paign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode; and he is now standing trial for receiving campaign funds from the Director of Finance of the campaign. "President Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have introduced a dangerous trend in our polity and if this is not checked or curtailed immediately, Nigeria may be heading to an imperial rule where the leader of the nation is a supreme ruler dictating who survives at the expense of Nigerian Constitution," the statement said. The party called on all well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders in the Nigerian project to rise up to the occasion and call on the APC government to order.

NEWS | national

thursday, june 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate to amend standing rules, review committees Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

n a bid to reconcile aggrieved members, restore peace and ward off undue interference from outside its fold, the Senate may soon initiate an amendment of the controversial Senate Standing Orders to accommodate the aspirations of all members

across the political divides. The red chamber may also review the composition of its standing committees to reflect equity and fairness. These were some of the highlights of a report submitted by the Senate Peace and Reconciliation Committee and deliberated upon on Wednesday at a closed door session that lasted over one hour. The committee was set up

about eight weeks ago by the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, to mend fences with those opposed to his leadership. The nine- page report also recommended the disbandment of all factional groups particularly the Like Minded Senators ( LMS) and the Unity Forum Group ( UFG) which were formed in the build up to the election of presiding officers and in-

auguration of the Senate last year. It could be recalled that the first group championed the elections of Saraki, while the latter worked for the Senator Ahmad Lawan who failed to clinch the coveted seat. The activities of the two groups polarised the chamber, resulting in the power tussle that has lingered for over one year. The committee also

Monthly allocation up to N305.1bn in June Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

slight improvement in revenue from nonoil and mineral revenue sources in the month of May has increased monthly revenue of the three tier of government to N305.128 billion as allocation for the month of June. The amount, approved

for sharing to federal , states and local government was higher compared to N281.5 billion shared in previous month. Minster of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, confirmed the figure yesterday in Abuja, adding that statutory allocation and Value Added Tax also recorded slight improvement during the month under review. She said that, the sum

of N237.466 billion was available for statutory allocation compared to N213.817 billion realized last month, while Value Added Tax( VAT) improved slightly to N62.511 billion compared to a figure of N62.649 billion shared last month. Briefing the media after Federation Account Allocation Committee ( FAAC) meeting yesterday, Minister of

Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, announced that a gross statutory revenue of N237.566 billion was received for the month was higher than the N213.817 billion received in the previous month by N23.649 billion. "Companies Income Tax( CIT) recorded a marginal increase even as the time for companies to file their returns is yet to fall due", she said.

Some Idps in Bama Local Area of Borno State …yesterday.

recommended a number of other measures to reconcile the aggrieved parties and restore lasting peace. It has asked all aggrieved senators who had gone to court to challenge the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy have been to withdraw their suits for the sake of peace and unity. Other highlights of the report include a proposal to adjust the composition of the committees to ensure that every senator is a member of the same number of committees with each committee having a minimum of eight members and a maximum of 12 members. In the same vein, all vacant positions for Chairman and Vice Chairman of committees are to be filled up forthwith and no Senator should be Chairman or Vice Chairman of

Synagogue: DPP files additional evidence against engineers John Chikezie

PHOTO: NAN

he Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Idowu Alakija, has filed additional proof of evidence to establish a case of criminal negligence against two indicted engineers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) over the collapse of a six-story building within the premises of the church. The duo of Akinbela Fatiregun and Oladele Ogundeji were charged to court alongside the Registered Trustees of SCOAN on 111-counts of

Appolonia Adeyemi

gainst the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the safety or otherwise of consuming coffee, there is a new scientific evidence that drinking coffee protects the liver against a number of diseases. This was contained in a new report from the United Kingdom (UK), summarising all existing research on the subject so far. The 83-page report was released yesterday by the British Liver Trust, a charitable organisation in the UK which has a focus in the health of the liver. According to a report in the mailonline, the report concluded that coffee protects against fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis – all severe conditions which can be fatal. For those who already have liver disease, drinking coffee could slow its

Coffee protects liver against diseases progression, the report showed. Until recently, experts warned against having more than a few cups of coffee a day for fear it might cause cancer, but its medical rehabilitation is well under way. There are many kinds of liver diseases. Viruses cause some of them, like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Others can be the result of drugs, poisons or drinking too much alcohol. If the liver forms scar tissue because of an illness, it is called cirrhosis. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, can be one sign of liver disease. Cancer can also affect the liver. Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) withdrew its previous warnings on the link between coffee and bladder cancer, and instead

said that the drink could, in fact, help protect against certain cancers that affect the womb and liver. Reacting to the development, a liver expert at the Cambridge University Hospitals in the UK, Prof. Graeme Alexander, said: “At last, physicians have found a lifestyle habit that is good for your liver. “The evidence in this report shows that drinking coffee can protect you from developing liver disease and, in addition, reduces the risk of progressive disease for those already affected.” Recent research, however, has suggested that drinking around six espressos, or three large cappuccinos, each day could ward off non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, even among the obese. Other major causes of liver problems include

blood-borne viruses – such as hepatitis A, B and C – which can cause permanent liver damage and increase the risk of liver cancer. The World Health Organisation, which published its report in the ‘Lancet Oncology’ medical journal last week, found that the risk of liver cancer decreases 15 per cent for each cup of coffee per day. Experts are not certain why coffee seems to have such a protective impact on the liver but there is growing evidence that when caffeine enters the body, one of the molecules it is broken down into – paraxanthine – may slow the growth of tissues that damage the liver. Two other substances in coffee – kahweol and cafestol – are also thought to play a role.

more than one committee. The report also recommended that committee chairmanship positions should be shared equally to all states of the federation with a maximum of two chairmanship slots to each state. Similarly, the report said, all senators should recognize and support the presiding officers of the Senate while discriminatory actions in the choice of Senators for overseas conferences, seminars and tours should be corrected forthwith. Apparently to avoid future crisis, the report recommended that the Senate Committee on Rules and Business should be strengthened to do its job efficiently without overbearing influence and all matters not previously approved at the principal officers meeting should not be allowed on the Order Paper.

criminal conspiracy by the Lagos State Government. At yesterday's proceedings, before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court, the DPP disclosed that the additional list of evidence includes a document showing an approval of a five-storey building for the church auditorium by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and letter requesting for document from SCOAN. Others are the survey done on the collapsed building and pictures taken at the site of the incident.

300,000 young Africans to benefit from Nestlé empowerment Stanley Ihedigbo

undreds of thousands of young people in Africa would benefit from training to prepare them for work, while thousands gain apprenticeship and traineeships at Nestlé. Speaking at the Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value Forum, where business, civil society and government leaders from Africa and beyond focused on investing in sustainable development in Africa, yesterday in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Paul Bulcke, said that under the Nestlé Global Youth Initiative, more than 3,000 apprenticeships and traineeship opportunities in Africa by the end of 2018. He also said that his office would provide readiness

for work training for more than 300,000 young people over the same period. According to Bulcke at event monitored by Journalists, the training would include career advice, CV workshop and interview guidance, and would take place in Nestlé sites, career fairs and in schools and colleges across the continent. “Nestlé will also build and strengthen strategic partnerships with organisations supporting youth development”, he added. He further added that youth unemployment presents serious global social and economic challenges, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, target 8.6 aims to substantially reduce the proportion of young people not in employment, education or training by 2020.

thursday, june 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps investigate TSA proceeds Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives is to set up an ad hoc committee to ascertain the actual amount realized so far from the Treasury Singles Account (TSA) and the government's plans on its spending and a comprehensive list of abandoned projects from which such funds accrued. The decision was taken at yesterday’s plenary, following adoption of a motion on the need to ascertain the proceeds of the TSA to enhance transparency, accountability and good governance sponsored by Hon. Adamu Salame. Presenting the motion, Kamale observed that while there was no clear operational details as regards the management of

the funds accumulated in the TSA, the need for its urgent utilization to discharge governmental commitments for development and good governance may be delayed to assess the anticipated impact of the policy. He noted that the TSA is a financial policy being implemented by the government to consolidate all inflows from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) into one account maintained by the CBN with the aim of ensuring accountability of government revenues, enhance transparency and avoid misappropriation and misapplication of public funds. According to him, the introduction of the TSA has helped to improve the process of collection of revenues and engender prompt settlement of matured government commitments which may

eventually facilitate project completion and service delivery on schedule. Kamala, who applauded the implementation of the policy as a strategic device to curb corruption and enhance accountability in the management of public expenditure, suggested that the committee be mandated to liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria and any other agency of government that has official role in the implementation of the policy. Speaking further, he said despite the laudable commitment of the current administration to combating currupt practices, eliminate waste in public finance and ensure adequate fund flow that will be channeled to critical sectors of the economy to facilitate development, some establishments were still left out of the TSA platform.

national | news

Obasanjo slams govs over local govt Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday took a swipe at state governors in the country, accusing them of bastardizing local government administration. Obasanjo, who stated that local governments were supposed to be the closest to the grassroots, declared that the "encroachment" by state governments had prevented them from performing their constitutional responsibilities. He spoke when the National President of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Khaleel Ibraheem, paid

him a courtesy visit at his Presidential Hilltop Estate residence in Abeokuta. Ibraheem, who was accompanied by some top officials of NULGE, had appealed to the ex-president to use his influence and wealth of experience to prevail on governors to desist from crippling local governments in the country. But in his remarks, Obasanjo said he was helpless and wished he could reverse the injustice being meted out to the 774 local government areas in the country. He noted that until local government reforms were carried out in 1976, the local councils had no defined structure and allocation from the national purse.

The former president said it would be a negative development if the Federal Government decided to treat states the way local governments are being treated by state governments. He called on political office holders and lawmakers at both the national and state levels to intervene in the situation and ensure the sanctity and constitutionality of local governments are preserved. He said: "Sadly and very, very sad that the state authority almost, without an exemption, has encroached and bastardized local government and taken it away from where it is supposed to be. "Why this needs to be condemned in clear terms is that it will be unfair for

CNPP asks NSA, EFCC boss to resign

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called for the resignation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Mohammed Babagana

The total number of goals scored by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Niger Delta: NIS seeks assistance from ministry

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ollowing the high level of militancy in the Niger Delta area, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS has solicited for security equipment from the Ministry of Niger Delta. The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI) Muhammad Babandede, who solicited for the assistance at the Headquarters of NIS in Abuja, when the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uganu Usani paid him a visit, lamented the dearth of patrol boats to effectively monitor the creeks and rivers in the Niger Delta Area of the country. In a statement from the NIS spokesperson, Mr. King Ekpedeme, Deputy Comptroller Immigration, the CGI said that “in view of the current threat to security in the area and the availability of arms in the hands of unauthorized persons."

Monguno (rtd) over alleged shady dealings he superintended at the Presidential Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement. The group also called on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu over his indictment by the Department of State Service. According to the conference, the NSA must leave office within seven days or face nationwide protests. In a statement issued in Abuja by CNPP National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the conference noted that it was not possible that Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd), who was arrested by the DSS for alleged fraudulent deals involving top government officials, could have acted without Monguno’s involvement. The statement said that claiming ignorance of the dirty deals implied that the National Security Adviser was lax in finding out what went on under his watch, which was worse than being part of the massive theft.

L-R: Police Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kenechukwu Onwuemelie; AideDe-Camp (ADC) to the Senate President, Superintendent of Police (SP), Na’ábu Usman Dunguza and Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during the decoration of Dunguza in Abuja… yesterday.

Nigerians spend $100m on cancer treatment abroad –Reps Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives, yesterday, passed a bill that would lead to the establishment of a national cancer institute to be the nation’s principal agency for cancer research. The centre, when established is expected to coordinate a national research programme on cancer causes, prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment through

Minister pleads with Chinese TV/cinemas to show Nigerian films

Obinna Odoh Abuja

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged the Chinese authorities to facilitate the showing of Nigerian films on television and in cinemas across the Asian country. He said

it would help in efforts to strengthen the relations between the two countries. The Minister made the call in Beijing on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chinese Vice Minister of State for Radio, Television and Film, Mr. Wu Shangzhi, in his office. He also called for the

various research projects and clinical trials. The bill, which was harmonized with similar bills was co-sponsored by Hon. Sunday Karimi, Hon. Gideon Gwani, Hon. Ehionzuwa Johnson Agbonayinma and Hon. Muhammed Usman. Leading debate on the bill, Hon. Sunday Karimi, said that Nigerians spend about $100 million in the treatment of cancer abroad every year. He said that the institute would serve as the country's principal

immediate implementation of the co-production agreement signed between Nigeria and China, and the sharing of experience in combating piracy of movies. Mohammed promised that under his watch, the existing cooperation between Nigeria and China in the areas of information and culture would be strengthened while new vistas of opportunities would be opened for the benefit of both nations.

agency for the research on cancer related issues, adding that the institute would play advisory role to the ministry of health on best practices in the management of cancer in Nigeria. According to Karimi, the purpose of the bill is to minimize the rate of deaths caused by cancer in the country. The lawmaker blamed the increasing deaths caused by cancer on ignorance. "The problem is lack of awareness on the control of cancer. On daily basis, one Nigerian man losses his life because of prostate cancer. "Cancer kills more than HIV and Malaria. However, if detected early, it can be controlled but most cases escalate because of lack of knowledge." The purpose of this bill is to minimize the rate at which people lose their lives to cancer," Karimi said. Contributing, Hon. Muhammed Usman (APCKaduna) expressed worry that cancer has caused a

lot of havoc in the country. Usman pointed out that one cancer treatment machine in the country was grossly inadequate. "Nigeria has seven cancer centres and only one machine is working. "With the population of 170 million people in Nigeria, 840 machines are needed for cancer treatment. There is need to establish cancer centres in all the states in the country and properly regulate them. "These centres should also be equipped with infrastructure and adequate manpower," Usman said. Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, referred the bill to Committees on Health Institutions and Health Care Services. The House also passed for second reading a bill, which some fear may be a reincarnation of the discredited anti-social media bill that was sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn NaÁllah in the senate some months ago.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

Three die as accident locks down Lagos-Ibadan Expressway lTankers, three other vehicles burnt

Some of the survivors

Camillus Nnaji and Taiwo Jimoh

hree persons lost their lives in an accident involving four vehicles on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The accident occurred about 11p.m. on Tuesday at the Kara Market near the Prayer City Gate. Apart from the three victims, scores of motorists and commuters escaped death by a whisker when a tanker belonging to Total Oil Nigeria Plc hit a stone on the expressway and skidded off its track. The tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol fell across the Lagos-Ibadan side of the expressway and spilt its content on the road. The explosion which followed razed down five

vehicles, including the fuel tanker, while many commuters were injured. Other vehicles are a commercial bus, a space wagon and a car while another tanker with registration number KMC 839XW belonging to Oando Nigeria Plc. parked a few metres away from the accident had its cabin burnt while its tank was intact. The Assistant Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mowe Unit, Mr. Dare Ogunjobi, said the commission had not been able to ascertain the number of casualty involved in the incident. He said: “After the clearing of the traffic, we are going to visit some of the private hospitals in the neighborhood to ascertain the injured victims and the number of casualties. But as at now, we have not received any report from the Hausa community

about any casualties. As at now, no death has been reported to us officially. “After receiving a distress call about 10:22p.m. immediately our men were mobilised to the scene with the assistance of other sister agencies like Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), policemen and the Nigerian Army to prevent breakdown of law and order.” The Ogun State treasurer of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Mr. Khalifa Muhammad, said they lost three of their members while seven others were injured in the explosion on Tuesday night. He said: “When we rushed the victims – as Abdullahi Umar (22), Issa Yahaya (24), Sallah Muhammad (23) and Adam– to a private hospital in the community, the doctor

was demanding N100,000 for each of the victims before admitting them. We could only pay N130,000 for Adam while the rest were brought back home. They are now receiving treatment at their various houses.” When our correspondent visited some of the victims who live in shantytown at Kara, Ibafo, they were writhing in pains as they have burns all over their bodies. Muhammad, however, appealed to Borno and Kano state governments to come to the aid of the victims and foot their hospital bills. According to him, one of the passengers identified as Andrew, who jumped through the window of the luxury bus conveying them to Plateau State, died. He said Andrew’s body was deposited at a private

mortuary at Ibafo. It was learnt that some of those selling diesel by the roadside took advantage of the accident to scoop fuel while the motorists also compounded the situation by driving against traffic on both sides of the road. Those trapped near the tanker abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels. The explosion caused commotion as hundreds of vehicles were abandoned on the road. Movement of vehicles on both sides of the expressway was standstill for about 15 hours. Officials of the FRSC, Mowe Unit Command, the Ogun State Fire and Safety Service from Sagamu, TRACE, policemen attached to the Ibafo Police Division and the OP MESSA were on ground to check the disaster.

Head of Sagamu Fire Service, who gave his name simply as Mr. Adeyanju, said his men had emptied 16,500 litres of chemical water on the burning tanker to make sure the remaining fuel did not catch fire again. Unit Commander, Ibafo Section of TRACE, Mr. Ojuore Olushola, said no casualties were recorded but they were still being careful because of the remaining fuel in the tanker and the lock-down. Olushola called the contractors handling LagosSagamu section of the expressway to speed up work and fill up gullies and potholes on the expressway. At the peak of the lock-down, the gridlock stretched to OPIC Plaza end of the Long Bridge near Berger in Lagos while it extended to Mowe on the other side. Many residents of Mowe, Ibafo, Arepo and other communities on the expressway who work in Lagos had difficulty getting to their places of work or business. Several of they had to trek to Lagos because of the lock-down while a lot of others were stranded at different bus stops on the expressway. Commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders cached in on the situation to make brisk business. The riders charged between N500 and N1,000 per passenger to ferry people to Berger bus stop in Lagos.

Five-day-old baby killed in stampede Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

five-day-old baby boy was killed yesterday when a stampede broke out during the sharing of Ramadan food items in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State. The incident occurred on the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development when the wife of the state governor, Dr. Aisha Atiku, was distributing Ramadan food items to the

less-privileged and those living with disabilities. A witness, who is a member of the group the mother of the baby belongs to, told our correspondent that the baby was trampled to death during the scramble to collect assorted materials and food items which were distributed to the lessprivileged. It was also learnt that the distribution was in line with the Ramadan Food Bank programme of the wife of the President,

Mrs. Aisha Buhari. “This occurred while mother of the baby, Aisha, was carrying the 25kg of rice that was given to her group when the crowd that gathered on the premises suddenly rushed towards her. In the process, the baby fell from her back and was immediately trampled to death,” the witness said. According to her, the baby boy was just five-dayold and was yet to be given name when the incident occurred.

METRO

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kidnapped Catholic priest’s decomposing body recovered Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

ody of the Vicar General of Otukpo Catholic Diocese in Benue State, Very Reverend Father John Adeyi, has been discovered in a bush at Adoka community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. Adeyi was kidnapped in April. It was learnt that security operatives in Otukpo cordoned the area where the body was discovered and prevented people, including relations, from gaining access to the corpse. The Secretary of the pan-Idoma sociocultural group, Opiatoha K’Idoma, Mr. Adoka Adaji, told our correspondent that the decomposing body was discovered by some Fulani herdsmen. According to him, the herdsmen alerted the traditional ruler in the area who informed the police. Adaji condemned the security situation in the area and urged the people to always report strange people around them to law enforcement agencies for necessary action.

Adeyi

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has expressed deep sadness over the unfortunate loss. The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Godwin Akor, said Adeyi’s body was discovered on Tuesday at Otukpa, three kilometres away from the road. Ortom added that he had directed the police and medical personnel to take the body for a post-mortem examination. The governor vowed that the killers of

the reverend father would be brought to book. He said his prayer of dedication on May 30 was being answered by God and stressed that anyone who tries God would have himself to blame. Ortom said his amnesty programme was introduced because of kidnapping, assassination, armed robbery and other crimes. He explained that the over 700 weapons surrendered by over 900 persons were from criminals not communities. While urging youths in Igede and entire Idoma land to embrace the amnesty programme so that peace and security would be enhanced for investors to invest in the state, the governor announced that the end of June had been approved as date for the end of the amnesty programme from where the stick approach would be applied. The governor said he had been accused of overloading Igede nation with appointments but he had told those complaining that he might do more for the Igede because they did not look back during the 2015 governorship election in which he emerged victorious on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

NDLEA, others walk against drug abuse Juliana Francis

ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday led other stakeholders in a sensitisation road walk against drug abuse and trafficking. The walk was part of activities marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which holds on June 26. The NDLEA DirectorGeneral, Mrs. Roli BodeGeorge, who led other stakeholders during the walk in Lagos, said that it was aimed at creating awareness on the dangers of substance abuse. She said: “The agency seeks to increase the level of awareness concerning drug abuse and illicit trafficking. There are people

Participants during the road walk

who have drug abuse challenges but do not know how to get solutions. Many are dying daily while others are confined to psychiatric hospitals. The NDLEA wants to assist members of the public to live a healthy drug-free lifestyle through

public enlightenment.” The theme for the commemoration of the World Drug Day is “Listen First.” Hand bills with different messages such as “Harken to The Cry of Your Child,” “Listen First Nigeria,” “Your Child Must Not Be

the Next,” among others were distributed to members of the public during the walk. Bode-George added that parents could help save a life from illicit drug use today if only they could listen more and seek help for children before and when they got hooked on illicit drugs. Other stakeholders who participated in the walk were officials of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Civil Society Groups, Lagos State Ministry of Information, Skye Bank as well as Unity Bank.

Court remands two for defiling six-year-old girl in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded two men in prison for allegedly defiling a six-yearold minor in Kaduna at different times, pending advice from the state Ministry of Justice. The police prosecutor, Akinga Akila, told the court presided over by Naheed Abdallah that 71-year-old Yahaya Mohammed allegedly committed the offence on June 13 in an uncompleted building located in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis. Akila explained that the first accused, Mohammed, was caught after committing the act by Basira Abdullahi of No 29 A, Tudun Nupawa. According to the prosecutor, Abdullahi reported the case to the police. He said: “Mohammed was seen coming out of an uncompleted building and adjusting his trousers, which raised suspicion and the child, Safiya Mohammed, was found crying with what looked like sperm on her clothes. “When asked why she was crying, child said the man (Yahaya) had dragged her into the building and put his penis in her private part.” Akila added that Safiya also confessed that Mohammed Yusuf, 30, the second accused, had on two occasions equally used “his penis to play with her private part”. According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under sections 283 and 285 of the Penal Code.

City Briefs

Man arraigned for friend’s murder Ese Oruru testifies in camera John Chikezie

police sergeant, Kareem Sikiru, attached to Ajegunle Police Station, yesterday told Justice Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court how Mustapha Quduz, allegedly killed Taiye Iyanda by stabbing him with knife. Quduz allegedly killed Iyanda over some undisclosed amount of money given them by an unnamed politician. Twenty-year-old Quduz is facing a one-count charge of murder brought against him by the Lagos State government. Testifying before the court, Sikiru said “on March 25, 2015 about 12:10p.m. I was on duty at the station when we got information that a

young man was lying at Apo Estate way bridge, Ajekunle. “We went there and met the deceased and I took a photograph and ordered that the corpse be moved to General Hospital mortuary, Ikorodu. “I arrested three persons, Dare Ponmile, 21, Biodun Yinus, 22, and Ahmed Adewumi, 20, and the suspect. I took their statements, before transferring the file to Panti for further investigation.” Sikiru added that he saw the deceased with deep cut on his back. The prosecutor also said that in the course of investigation, he learnt that a politician gave them money and in the process of sharing it, they started fighting which led to Quduz’s death. He said: “I was not at the

scene as at the time it happened and I did not recover any weapon at the scene of the crime. I filled the necessary forms and State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) said they will continue with the investigation.” Another witness, who reported the case, Sumaila Francis, a painter, informed the court that a politician gave them money which caused a fight among them and in the process the deceased was stabbed. He added that the incident happened at the back of his house and that was why he summoned the courage to report the matter to the police. Jose adjourned the case till October 12 for continuation of trial.

Federal High Court in Yenagoa yesterday barred journalists and parents of 14-year-old Ese Oruru from witnessing her testimony in court. Ese was allegedly abducted by Yunusa Dahiru aka Yellow,

Ese

now facing a five-count charge of criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor. The prosecuting counsel, James Amate, had told the court that Ese had been delivered off a baby girl on May 26, and was available to give evidence. She was brought into the court at 3p.m. The judge, Justice Aliya Nganjiwa, took her evidence in camera, after all cases for the day were dispensed with. Nganjiwa, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ordered everybody, including Ese’s parents and journalists out of the courtroom. Kayode Olaosebekan, represented the accused while Mrs. Dise Ogbise from the Federation of Women Lawyers, appeared for Ese’s parents.

NEWS | national

thursday, june 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Safer mining practice: FG opens talks with Australia

he Federal Government has opened discussion with the Australian government on safer mining practice in the country’s minerals sector. The discussion is aimed at getting the support of the Australian government in the area of environmental safety and safety of miners, as government focuses attention on the mining sector in its economic diversification and job creation plan. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this during a meeting with the Australian Foreign Affairs Assis-

tant Secretary (African Branch), Matthew Neuhaus, in Abuja yesterday. Fayemi said whereas the ministry was working with the Ministry of Environment on environmental safety, it believed that partnering with Australia, with its hugely successful mining sector, would help the Nigerian government’s quest for safer mining practice. “The government takes the issue of environmental safety seriously, because the health and wellbeing of the people are of paramount interest to us,” he said. The Minister stated that about 80 percent of

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MARIAM ISA

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I, Amaebi Nana Esther do hereby state that my complete name is Amaebi Nana Esther and not Amaebi Nana that I was bearing. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Amaebi Nana Esther. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

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This is to notify the general public that the name Abba James Okenwa is my correct name but was wrongly written as Abba James Okena. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Abba James Okenwa. All former documents remain valid. GTB Plc, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ehis

current political dispensation.” The commander identified areas of challenges in terms of spare parts for the weapons currently in use in the theatre of operation in the North East, which he described as things robbing our troops of effective fire power in the operation, urging the DG DICON to see how the corporation could fabricate some of the needed weapons and spare parts to mitigate the challenges. “I will also like to state that your expenditure on manpower development should have no limit, in fact, this should be your drive to reposition DICON to an enviable height."

Eririogu

Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj Gen. Ahmed Mohammed (left), explaining an issue on weapon to the Director General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Maj. Gen. BamideleOgunkale, during his courtesy visit to Infantry corps Headquarters, Jaji, Kaduna State.

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Igwe

Ani

Sakiru

Udotola

that progressive-minded and visionary commanders would always generate capacity that will bring about rapid measureable changes within his domain. According to him, Ogunkale is one of such commanders, adding that he was not disappointed when he was promoted Major General judging from his antecedents right from cadetship training in the Nigerian Defence Academy. “The entire management staff of DICON should be grateful to God for giving them a visionary Director General that would surely turn things around for good under the

Uzoho

I, Elder Emeka Ochale do hereby state that Igwe Onyemaechi Aligbo is my cousin. That the said Igwe Onyemaechi Aligbo was born on August 4th 1993 at Ikwuato in Ebonyi State. That the birth of the said Igwe Onyemaechi Aligbo was not officially registered in any birth Registry, hence this solemn declaration.

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ommander, Infantry Corps, MajorGeneral Ahmed Mohammed, has lauded the Director General (DG), Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major-General Bamidele Ogunkale, for his efforts at generating capacity to make the corporation the pride of the nation. He spoke when the DG, DICON paid him a courtesy visit at the Infantry Corps Headquarters, Jaji, Kaduna, to showcase DICON’s factories’ products and fabrication capacity to him. The corps commander said some commanders might choose to adopt the position of passivity on assuming a command, but

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mining activities in the country were being carried out by artisanal miners, hence the concern of the ministry on the need to organise them, ensure their safety and the safety of the environment. “Owing to Australia’s long experience in mining, we want to share your success story,” the Minister added. Other areas of assistance, according to the Fayemi are the need to get the ministry’s laboratory the National Geosciences Research Laboratories in Kaduna certificated. He decried a situation where mineral samples from the country had to be taken to laboratories outside the country for necessary tests and certification.

Army Commander lauds DICON

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Edigin

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US deports 41 Nigerians

Wole Shadare

ess than a week after 162 Nigerians were returned from Libya into the country due to their inability to cross into Europe, another 41 Nigerians were yesterday deported from the United States of America (USA) through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for various offences.

Most of the deportees were returned to the country for criminal offences. All the 41 deportees were male. The aircraft that brought back the deportees, Miami Air International with registration number N733MA, touched down at the airport at exactly 1.20pm. Nine of the deportees were repatriated for drug-related offences, 26 for police cases while the

800 days after: BBOG laments FG's inaction on Chibok girls’abduction

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

hirty two days after Amina Nkeki Ali, one of the 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls was found and 800 days after 219 girls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists, the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) advocacy group yesterday lamented the inability of the Federal Government to rescue the remaining 218 girls. The BBOG at its 785 sit

out yesterday in Abuja bemoaned that even the rescue of Amina by the Civilian Joint Task Force could not provide the Federal Government the needed intelligence to locate the missing girls and carry out the rescue operations. Addressing journalists at the sit out, Chairperson of BBOG Strategic Team, Aisha Yesufu, wondered what information the Federal Government was still looking for after the return of one of the girls.

other six were returned for immigration offences. Meanwhile, at least 50 Nigerians will be deported today from Australia and Italy. They are expected to be brought back in New Panorama airline chartered aircraft B767, which is expected to arrive at noon. An Immigration source told New Telegraph that they would be deported for immigration and criminal offences.

Recruitment: Police arrest 19 applicants over fake results

olice in Adamawa State yesterday said 19 people seeking enlistment into the force in the ongoing nationwide recruitment had been arrested for being in possession of fake results. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Othman Abubakar, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola. Abubakar said the suspects had been charged to court.

Militancy: DHQ disbands Operation Pulo Shield Emmanuel Onani

s part of measures aimed at containing the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups in the oilrich region, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday announced the immediate disbandment of Operation Pulo Shield. A statement by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), BrigadierGeneral Rabe Abubakar, said Operation Pulo Shield has since been replaced with Operation Delta Safe. It will have its headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. Consequently, the DHQ said "the Joint Operational Areas of the new outfit have been delineated into three sectors and five operational bases covering the entire Niger Delta, Ondo and Akwa Ibom States."

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview Niger Delta struggle has been politicised, says Lori-Ogbebor

Politics Third Republic Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, believes that restructuring of Nigeria along the line of the existing six geopolitical zones will ensure the country’s unity and rapid development. He also admonishes the Muhammadu Buhari administration on the need to embrace dialogue in resolving issues as well as speaks on the recent development in the National Assembly. Felix Nwaneri reports What is your take on the demand for immunity and life pension by members of the National Assembly for their presiding officers? I do not know about immunity because they are not part of the executive arm of government. So, for me, the demand for immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly has a question mark. However, I believe that that demand for pension for the presiding officers should be subject to their serving for a defined length of time. It would be unwise for someone who becomes Senate president or speaker, House of Representatives today and impeached tomorrow to enjoy pension. But some Nigerians believe that the issue of pension for the lawmakers should not be entertained at all. Their argument is that the lawmakers cannot continue to be burden to the nation if what they earn as salaries and allowances are taken into consideration. That is a possibility also but my recommendation is that presiding officers, who serve for a minimum of two years, should be considered for pension but should not have immunity because we are talking about withdrawing immunity for

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

Tobun Lagos deserves special status, 13% derivation

13 14

Ezeife: Regional govt’ll save Nigeria from disintegration embraced it and we cannot run away from it. There are several reasons to justify why Nigeria must embrace true federalism in place of the unitary system that is presently in operation.

Ezeife

governors. President Muhammadu Buhari recently said that the report of the 2014 National Conference would go to the archives. What do you make of that statement against the backdrop of the belief that the recommendations of that confab are key to Nigeria’s survival? Buhari is just Nigeria’s president, he is not Nigeria. There are many Nigerians in addition to Buhari and I don’t think that he is one of the best brains among Nigerians. What is the way forward and how would Nigerians get the president to implement the confab report? What I suggest going forward is inevitable. We must go back to true federalism by which all those states approved by the 2014 National Conference – 18 of them should be created and added to the existing 36 unviable states and then we decide that state as a structure of government may give way for provinces, so that we

Nobody will think about leaving Nigeria if we return to regionalism

can have better live and free cultural means of expression. With the South-East as one region, we would be free to do many things. Our leaders cannot embezzle our money. The same goes for group in the North and West. We need either six or 12 geo-political zones as federating units. Having 12 zones would mean splitting of each of the existing six geo-political zones into two. How feasible is it to return regionalism after decades it was jettisoned. And given the nature of the Nigerian Constitution, how possible would be to get it amended to reflect this structure as you have proposed? Regional government is the only thing that will save Nigeria, anything else will lead to disintegration. We must go back to regionalism to survive and be able to pay salaries. People should be able identified by their culture and govern themselves the way they chose. That is what is in the offing and reasonable Nigerians from the North and South have

But there is the fear that any restructuring of the present system of government in place may lead to Nigeria’s disintegration given the level of distrust in the polity and the various agitations of self-determination. Every group, whether from the North, South, East or West knows that their long time interest is best served within the entity called Nigeria. No group wants to break away from Nigeria, not even Biafra. Remember that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was president; late Umaru Yar’adua was also president as well as Goodluck Jonathan before Buhari. No one talked about pulling out of Nigeria before now. What is responsible for the agitation for the state of Biafra at the moment is the injustice of the Buhari administration to the people of the South-East. How would a president appoint people into key positions in Nigeria, yet none of them is Igbo? What kind of thing is that? On merit, we have the best people in Nigeria and that is not boasting. On motivation, it is the same thing. If Buhari wants to ignore federal character, we are not begging him for any appointment. It is injustice that is promoting the clamour for Biafra, but we can solve the problem by having regional government. I am assuring you that nobody will think about leaving Nigeria if we return to regionalism but unfortunately those at the helm of affairs are ignorant of issues about Nigeria. I don’t want to talk about the Aburi Accord, which was reached in 1967 at a meeting attended by delegates of both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Eastern delegates led by Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The meeting was the last chance of preventing the civil war and it would be recalled that regional government was agreed by both parties before some people reneged. The Buhari administration has been in the saddle for a over a year now, how would you access its performance? I have said a lot about Buhari as a person, what I will now say is that we should go to God in prayer, so that He leads Buhari to the right path so that he will serve Nigerians, take care of their welfare and ensure peace, while doing away with the mentality of crushing because differences are resolved through dialogues and not crushing.

POLITICS

PDP to Sheriff: Stay clear of Edo Stories by Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday told the embattled former National chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to steer clear of the party

affairs in the state. Speaking to New Telegraph, Edo PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party has successfully elected Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its flag bearer in the forthcoming September 10 gubernatorial election and therefore called on the Sheriff to forget his alleged plot to conduct fresh PDP primaries in the state.

Oshiomhole rigged APC primaries – Imansuagbon Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

n All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Kenneth Imansuagbon, has alleged that the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, rigged the primaries in favour of Godwin Obaseki electronically and scientifically. Imansuagbon, who spoke to the media after meeting with the Appeal Primaries Committee in Abuja yesterday called for the cancellation of the primaries. He stated that the party should subject the ballot papers used for the election to forensic examination. The aspirant who came third in the primaries further stated that what was obtainable on the day of primaries was water-marked scientific manipulation that threw up the winner just as he called for a total review of the entire process.

Imasuagbon said this just as he was about to appear in at the Edo primaries appeal committee sitting in Abuja. His words: “What we are asking for is justice. You must let the delegates votes count. You must not subvert the will of the people by scientifically and electronically implanting and allocating marks to Obaseki. Obsaeki did not win the primaries of the APC on Saturday. It is funny and laughable when criminals commit crimes, they leave traces. “What they did was just a water-mark scientific implant and we are saying that let there be a forensic examination. Let the thumb printing of the delegates be examined by forensic experts. Where were these ballot papers printed and who took them to Benin or were they printed in Benin? This is what we are asking. Failure to do this, the Edo people will know that the whole process has been compromised.”

Market women drum support for Obaseki

undreds of market women on the Second East Circular area of Benin, Edo State capital yesterday pledged their support for the governorship standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki for the September 10 governorship election, saying he has their full support. The women and residents in their large numbers stated this when they received the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who was on inspection of the ongoing dual-carriage Second East Circular Road. Oshiomhole was accompanied on the inspection exercise by Obaseki and four of the aspirants in the primaries of the party: Prof. Ebegue Amadasun, Hon Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, Maj.-Gen Charles

Airiavbere (rtd) and Comrade Peter Esele. The market women showered praises and prayers on Governor Oshiomhole for reconstructing their road which had been abandoned for years and promised to reciprocate the gesture by casting their votes for Obaseki. One of the women, Mrs. Doris Edionsere while expressing her gratitude to the governor said: I used to come down at the junction, and I will start trekking, but now, I will come down in front of my store and just enter my store. I am enjoying it. You are a wonderful man. Indeed, you are a great governor. God will bless you. We will support your candidate. He (Obaseki) has our full support. We know that you won’t give us a bad product, so we will support him fully as we supported you.”

His words: “In the interest of our people and our party he (Sheriff) should not allow whatever differences he is having with Abuja to come to Edo State. We are determined right here in Edo State to go by the law. The provisions of the Electoral Act states that the party should give 21 days notice prior to the primaries for the election of a candidate. That was done by the party and I am not aware whether there is any other letter that missed the stipulated guidelines of 21 days no-

Obaseki

Edo DECIDES

tice to INEC by Sheriff or any other person. “Let us not mix the Abuja politics with Edo politics. I am advising his

Oshiomhole

group to stay away from what we are doing here because we are at peace with ourselves and we are satisfied with the efforts that we are putting in place to ensure that Edo State is rescued from the hands of external investors. And we will not tolerate Ali Modu Sheriff to play another role of an external investor. Edo State belongs to Edo people and we will not in any form tolerate those who want to perpetrate Northern political irredentism.” Speaking on the gov-

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ernorship race between Ize-Iyamu and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the PDP chairman said the difference is clear and that people of Edo State are anxiously waiting for an end to the APC-led government under Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The state PDP chairman maintained that members of the party were all out to elect Pastor Ize-Iyamu to bring the much needed succour to the people of the state.

Ize-Iyamu

I’ll run an inclusive govt, says Obaseki

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki yesterday promised that his government would be an all inclusive government using technology information based systems to bring down the cost of governance, if elected as governor. Speaking to newsmen in Benin, the state capital, Obaseki stated that his choice of a running mate would be a party affair, nothing that the party leadership and members are looking at the political configuration for such choice to have a balanced government under him. He promised to be the

governor of all shades of people irrespective of parties, groups, ethnic nationality and race. Obaseki said as part of his determination and the party to go to the election as one family he was already in touch with many of the aggrieved aspirants who contested with him during the last week Saturday’s governorship primary election in the state. He said the measure was to complement the move by the party leadership to guarantee peace and to unify everybody as well as bring them on board in the about to start statewide campaign ahead of the epic come September 10 this year.

“One thing I will want to do is to use technology information to run government; a smart government because we don’t have money, we don’t have the kind money we use to have so one innovation which we started with the Comrade Governor is the use of ICT. So we are going to move up to a much higher level so that we can give a lots efficiency from the little money we have,” he said. The APC governorship candidate also debunked the report in a local tabloid that he had a case with the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “I don’t have a case

with EFCC. I read the story, as you know I am in the board of several companies and this company in question is a German company and I served on their board and they had a partner who died many years ago and unfortunately. What we have been seeing in the papers is about a family having quarrels and all sorts of internal issues so they wrote to EFCC and other bodies. So if somebody owes you money, are there no courts to go, is it not a civil matter? But I didn’t manage the company. I was just a shareholder so I don’t have anything there but you know being in politics you expect everything,” he said.

Ize-Iyamu’s emergence, victory for freedom of choice – PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday said the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party’s candidate for Edo governorship election is a victory for those who cherish freedom of choice. In a statement issued yesterday, a member of the Caretaker Committee in-charge of Publicity, Prince Dayo Adeyeye,

described the primary election that produced Ize-Iyamu “as free, fair, credible, and a victory for those who cherish freedom of choice depicting the democratic culture of the PDP,” adding that “it is indeed a triumph of a popular candidate and victory for democracy.” Describing the outcome of the Edo governorship primaries as one of the best elections so far in Nigeria, the party stated that it has proved to the opposition in the state that the PDP is one united house

built on the principle of delivering power to the people and the sustenance of democracy at all levels. “The leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee commended the Electoral Committee led by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and thanked all the leaders and members of the party in Edo State, especially, the delegates and other aspirants that participated in the poll and assured

them of the support of the national headquarters to bring positive change to the people of the state through the forthcoming election,” the party stated. The PDP also charged its members in Edo State to close ranks and put behind them any diversionary politics relating to the primary election and work together for the overall success of the party in the September10 governorship election, adding that the party’s collective purpose is higher than the purpose of any individual.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chief (Mrs) Rita LoriOgbebor is an Itsekiri rights activist and the Igba of Warri Kingdom. In this interview, she urges the Federal Government to engage the right stakeholders in its plan to dialogue with the Niger Delta militants. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports What is your take on the renewed militancy in Niger Delta region? We are all aware of what is happening in the country. Some people have started bombing in the Niger Delta and this time around the bombing seems to be around Delta State, where I come from, and I don’t know the reason why they are bombing. I am worried because sometime ago, a similar thing happened in the region and some stakeholders came together to present their problems to the Federal Government. I was one of those who carried placards on the streets of Abuja. I mobilised men, women, young and old people to march on the streets of Abuja to make our presentation and at the end of the day some decisions were taken. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president at that time, set up institutions to look into the affairs of Niger Delta. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ministry of Niger Delta were set up and when late Umaru Yar’Adua became president, he also set up Amnesty Programme. The 13 per cent derivation was also approved for oil producing states. We also had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all the oil companies to intervene in the development of our areas. And majority of the people who were employed to serve in those agencies were indigenes of Niger Delta. So, one would have thought that with all the interventions, life would be better for the people. Not too long, our own son, Goodluck Jonathan became president and if anybody told me that Jonathan did not give the institutions money, then their conscience is definitely misplaced and will be misplace forever. It means they have no conscience. Money was given to those the institutions set up in Niger Delta to develop the region but some people looted the money because they have no conscience. Today some people in the region are carrying arms and doing what they did many years ago. They are now breaking pipelines again. I am afraid that history is going to repeat itself. Some stakeholders are at it again because money is not flowing as before. They are instigating the young men to take up arms as they did before. This time, they say they are taking up arms against the Federal Government. They are bursting oil pipelines. They say they are talking to Niger Delta Avengers but the truth is that what they say on the pages of newspapers are not what they say in their meetings.

Niger Delta struggle has been politicised, says Lori-Ogbebor My worry is that once these young men start and the fight gets off hand, no one knows where and when it is going to end. I am warning now that in the face of all the interventions and agencies put in place, we have no reasons to do what we are doing now because when Jonathan was in office, they never complained of funds. It is just a year Jonathan left the place, why the quarrel now? Why are we fighting? Are you insinuating that the intervention funds to the Niger Delta region were misappropriated? When the intervention funds were released, we thought that our people are there to manage the affairs of our people. I am really worried about the cry of some people that there is no money for Niger Delta. Was there no money? Where are the billions that have been pumped to the region? People like us will like to know where the money has gone. If we don’t know where billions pumped into the region have gone into, there is no way we can manage if Federal Government gives us money since we don’t know how previous money disappeared. How do we know how to manage the money? I am sure it will go the same way. What are your fears about the recent activities of militants in the Niger Delta? My fear is that the youth who are carrying ammunitions now are not the ones carrying out the attacks on their own. They are done by politicians who are avoiding probe; people who have flittered away our money. These are the people behind the bombings and not the youths who we have failed. We have failed many youths without any hope for the future. And because the politicians know that the youths are hungry, they gave them guns like what they did during the Warri crisis. History is repeating itself. How do you see the truce being brokered between the Federal Government and the militants and the dialogue with Niger Delta stakeholders? The dialogue with stakeholders in Niger Delta should not be business as usual. I am insisting that all those going to represent Niger Delta people during the dialogue must have a background check. We don’t want politicians to be involved in the negotiations. We don’t want people who will make Niger Delta their farm that when they run

out of money, they will instigate the youths who they give stipends when indeed they take away billions. We insist that those who will represent each state in Niger Delta should be true representatives of the people with economy knowledge, vision, the fear of God and power to implement whatever decisions that would be taking for the good of Niger Delta.

Those who looted the intervention funds given to institutions in Niger Delta are those inciting the youth

How do you think Niger Delta problems can be resolved? It is now clear that our own people of the so called Niger Delta have failed us. A lot of the money has been flittered away and embezzled; hence we are unable to carry out our responsibilities for which the interventions were made. We must diversify our economy from total dependence on oil. When the price of oil was very high, there was still unemployment in Niger Delta because the oil companies have limited numbers of employers. It is not all of them that can be employed by oil companies because they don’t have the capacities to employ a good numbers of people. So, we have to look within ourselves to find very urgent possibilities of getting jobs for our people otherwise there would be more problems in the Niger Delta. In Niger Delta and specifically in Delta State, where I come from, we used to be farmers. When we were in the Western Region and Mid-West, we used to contribute significantly to the economy of the region. We

used to produce palm oil, palm kernel, rubber, timber, and of course what we knew best at that time, which is fishing. When we were producing those products, there was stability in the region. Schools and colleges were built by government with proceeds from agricultural products in our region. Education was almost free then and there was no kidnapping and stealing like we are having now. God in His infinity mercy put in every ethnic area what people in those areas will eat and drink. There are lot of resources in Niger Delta region, so we must go back to those resources and tap them. I am a farmer; I am into rice and plantain farming in my state and also have a piggery farm and fish ponds. I also have a huge rubber estate, which I inherited from my father. There are also many people into farming. So, we have to go back to farming. The problem we have is that many people in that areas, especially youths are motivated by politicians driving big cars thinking that their life styles are better than their own. But if there is real accountability in the interventions government is giving to institutions in those areas, people would be careful in managing public funds. Let people know that they cannot just steal from the public treasury. In fact I will suggest that people should be made to account for all the past intervention funds pumped into Niger Delta region. Those who looted the treasury should be probed to know what happened to all the intervention funds meant for Niger Delta. Federal Government cannot turn its eyes from what is happening now to the children of the Niger Delta. We are grateful that government want to dialogue with us again but we want them to check those that will dialogue with Federal Government on behalf of the people of Niger Delta. If the Federal Government does not do background check on those that will represent us in the dialogue, I will go wild because we cannot place our lives in the hands of such people. Those who looted the intervention funds given to institutions in Niger Delta are those inciting the youths in Niger Delta to take up arms. Don’t you think it will be better for government to dialogue directly with the so called politicians, who you alleged are the brains behind the unrest? If you know a man is a thief and you know that he has gangs and you are begging the man to calm his gangs, do you have to satisfy the thief ? So, it will be a vicious circle that at every given time government also reverts to these men. They know this and that is why they always cause problems for Federal Government to pacify them. We cannot continue like that.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos deserves special status, 13% derivation – Tobun

Hon. Abiodun Tobun represents Epe I constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview, the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, speaks on importance of granting a special status to Lagos and the ongoing infrastructure facelift in the state. WALE ELEGBEDE reports What is your assessment of the infrastructural development in Lagos State over the last one year? We may not need to limit this to infrastructural development, rather we can look at the way the government has been able to fix so many things in the last one year. So far, so good, the state government has been able to fix infrastructure in the state vis-a-vis construction of new roads, building of fly over bridges across the state and completing on-going projects to ensure that life is more meaningful to our people. If you go round the state, you would see that within one year, with the power of appropriation by the state House of Assembly. The governor has been able to fix abandoned projects, for example, the Ajasa-Command road has been completed, the Ejigbo-Idimu road has been completed, the JakandeIsheri Oshun, and Ijegun road have been completed, Okota road and most other roads across the state have also been completed. The road in Oshodi has been completed. The governor is building new roads in Epe, flyover bridges in Ajah and Abule Egba areas of the state. Pedestrian bridges are being done all over the state and the governor has been working tirelessly to give the state a facelift in one year.

so far, the government just has to implement fully what we have in the budget for works and infrastructure and if we are able to generate more funds, there could be supplementary budget to cater for the infrastructural needs of our people. If you could see, 114 roads are being constructed amongst the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs in the state. The local governments would provide 40 per cent of the funds, while the state government would provide 60 per cent. So, the task of making sure that the state is well developed infrastructural wise is germane. We in the state House of Assembly would continue to do our best by performing our oversight functions effectively. The job has started in many areas, in some places, they have started piling and the state government too has ensured that it play its roles. It is two roads in each local government totalling 114. The local governments and LCDAs are 57, which is why everything is 114 roads. Most of the projects have been done up to 60 or 70 per cent and they are still working. Even, some local governments have used their money to do the roads. We expect that the projects would be completed within three years.

Looking at the budget for Works in the state in 2016, to what extent, based on your oversight functions, would you say the government has performed? I must say that the funds appropriated to Works in the 2016 budget is not sufficient, looking at the volume of work to be done. Lagos is a home to virtually all the families in the country and the pressure on our infrastructure is so enormous. In fact, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure presented a budget of about N1.3 trillion to the government, but it was cut to N6 billion, which is far below expectation. So far, the government is implementing the budget fully. It is the determination of the government that infrastructural renewal that would ensure speedy economic development of the state is given priority. Also, looking at other areas such as health, education, public transportation and a host of others, we just have to make do with what we have. But,

The governor said in his inaugural speech that he was going to establish an Employment Trust Fund for the unemployed in the state. Do you think he has kept to his words? I must sincerely commend the governor, within that one year, he has recruited 1,300 teachers into public primary schools to meet up with the challenges, and he has employed 1,200 people into the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and employed another 100 people for the state’s fire brigade. That is direct employment into the service. He provided N6.250 billion in this year’s budget to empower the youths and the men, who have projects for self employment to start businesses. He has planned to provide N25billion as loans to small scale businesses. What you just need to do is to prepare your proposal, send it to the Ministry of Job Creation and Empowerment, and they would look at it. In the normal banks, the interest rate is about 21 per cent, but he is giving out

Tobun

loans to people at three per cent rate. It is like saying go and invest the money and return it later.

If we are to go by 13 per cent derivation given to oilproducing states, then Lagos needs derivation

The state of many federal roads in Lagos is appalling. What is your committee doing to ensure that the state government work on these roads to alleviate the harrowing experiences of residents? We have met with the governor on this, so he is fully aware and the state government is on it. They are rehabilitating Apapa/Oshodi expressway, they are working on Mile 2 along Badagry expressway. We cleared the area to ensure that the roads are fixed and the people of the state have done much for the government. If we are to go by 13 per cent derivation given to oil producing states, then Lagos needs 13 per cent derivation. We have been talking to the Federal Government to give the state a special status and 13 per cent derivation from the resources they get from the state. The Federal Government has not constructed any road in the state in many years. The state government repaired parts of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway and the Public Works Corporation, owned by the state, is working on about 10 points on Mile 2/Badagry Expressway. So, the Lagos State government has been repairing federal roads in the state on a regular basis. How far has the House gone to resolve the crisis that came up over Lekki Toll Gate Project? There is no crisis; it was because some people are trying to fan the ember of discord. LCCI built the bridge that links Lekki from 1,004 Flats area in Victoria Island, while the state government built the one that links Lekki from Ikoyi Area. The Lagos State government has bought back the one from LCCI. I remember when I went to Johannesburg in South Africa and I moved from there to Blue Fountain Area by road, I met seven toll gates. They should go and cross check, so

there is nothing bad in having three toll gates in Lekki Area. If you are paying N300 as toll as a commercial vehicle and you collect about N500 or N600 from each passenger, then you are yet to spend the transport fare of a passenger. Don’t forget that these people are to maintain the roads, so they are relieving the government of the burden. What is the latest about the collapsed Lekki Gardens building? You would remember that the General Manager of Lagos State Building Cnotrol Agency (LABSCA) and others were sacked over the issue; that is one action. It means that everybody that is invloved in rules and regulations must be up and doing. Also, don’t forget that, when a building collapses, the law provides that the building must be taken over by the state government and this has been done. We are here for lawmaking, the executive is to implement the laws. We have called LABSCA, the Ministry of Housing and we told them that they must do regular checking and check the materials to be used for buildings regularly. In case of those, who are piling and reclaiming, you must give them a period that they can start the construction. But, they were not being monitored by the regulatory agencies, but now that they have seen that people have lost their jobs over dereliction of duties, everybody is now being careful. Do you agree with those who say that the governor has abandoned many projects by his predecessor, most especially school buildings? Don’t forget that as he is completing old projects, he has to do his own projects. He has been completing school projects. Most of these schools have uncompleted classrooms and we are working on them. We should also know that the recruitment of teachers by the state government is to develop the people of the state.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hon. Ifeanyi Onwe is the Special Adviser to Ebonyi Governor on Inter-Party Affairs. In this interview with UCHENNA INYA, he speaks on how the Dave Umahi administration has been able to weather the storm of economic challenges

Opposition parties in the state are not criticizing the present administration in the state unlike the past administrations. What do you think is responsible for this? The secret is understanding because Governor Dave Umahi, has repeatedly said that he is the governor of Ebonyi people and not a governor of a particular political party. A political party is just an association and the governor came into power with that mindset and he has been carrying everybody along not minding their affiliations; whether you are in party A or B. The governor’s concern is for everybody to come together and reap the dividends of democracy in his administration. He wants the best for the people of the state. When you talk about the good roads, the governor is building them. Is it only members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who will benefit from them? Is it only the PDP members that will benefit from the pipe borne water that he is providing across the state? So, Umahi is the governor of the people and what will you criticise him for when he is carrying everyone along and has made himself so open that everyone is seeing what he is doing? You will only criticise when you think that someone is keeping you in the dark and you hardly see what the person is doing. When somebody makes himself open that he doesn’t hide himself, what will you criticise him for? This is exactly the situation that we currently see ourselves and the people are happy. But the state chairman of Progressive Peoples Party (PPA) recently accused the governor of not accommodating his party in the scheme of things. I have been following activities of the party in state and the PPA chairman, I know is Chief Samuel Udeogu. Stephen Ezeali is not the party’s chairman; he used to be a member of the state executive. Ezeali accused Udeogu of embezzlement without any prove and tried to impeach him and he was doing it alone but at the end of the day, the matter ended in court. As I speak to you, they are in court over the matter and any matter that is in court, you don’t talk about it until judgement is delivered. As I speak to you, the matter is still in court, so how can Ezeali say he is the authentic chairman when the matter is still pending in court. Ezeali is not the authentic chairman of Ebonyi PPA because the person we recognize and we are working with, is Samuel

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

Umahi’s prudence explains Ebonyi’s giant strides – Onwe

you can’t back it up with a prayer, all your visions will become nothing. The people of Ebonyi are very happy because they have witnessed what they have not seen since the creation of the state. There is unprecedented development across the state under the current administration. There is also a good relationship between the government and the people because they are carried along in the scheme of things. There are many programmes to improve the living standard of the people. It has been human empowerment since the Umahi administration came to power.

Onwe

Udeogu and that is the situation. But Ezeali said there was a congress conducted recently by some national officials of the party in which he was elected the chairman. I have the record of all the registered political parties that has branches in Ebonyi State and before any party conducts any congress in the state, even my own party PDP, they will write to me and notify me of it because it is my duty to make sure that there is inter and intra-party coherence. So, we are not aware of any congress that produced Ezeali as the Ebonyi State PPA chairman. And let me ask: How can somebody carry out a congress when the matter is still in court? We are waiting for the court verdict on the matter and once that is done and we receive a circular from the national secretariat of the party that Ezeali is the chairman, then we will transfer our recognition to him and of course work with him. But for now, he is not the chairman of Ebonyi PPA. What do you think is the solution to the economic challenges the nation is passing through? The challenges in the country require divine intervention, it is beyond human and that is what our governor discovered because he came in through the Divine Mandate. We thank God for the gift of the governor. He has really touched the lives of the people. We want other states and the nation to emulate the state because it has been surviving by divine intervention and doing things with the fear of God. We have been able to adjust to suit the present economic

The governor’s concern is for everybody to come together and reap the dividends of democracy

reality and that is what life is all about. When you come in as a leader, you have to ask God to give you the enablement to serve the people and that is what God has done and it is paying-off because everything is going on well in the state. As a leader, you have to embark on programmes that will have direct bearing on the people, programmes that will affect your people positively. It should be programmes that you can sustain and it is happening in the present administration in the state and we are really celebrating the governor because he is doing well. So far, he has fulfilled many of his campaign promises. He is doing well because he has the fear of God and it is said that one with God is a majority. He has brought prayer as a compulsory thing in his administration. In the Exco, we pray before we start any programme and it is working. The people of the state are commending the governor for his developmental strides. Do you think he has actually done well? Yes! This department is saddled with the responsibility of making sure that political parties in Ebonyi State relate well and work in harmony. That is the work of the inter-party. We relate with the stakeholders; the politicians who at all times are the people that are on leadership. We look at the present situation in the country and try to juxtapose it with what is happening in Ebonyi State and we have discovered that the secret of success here is the belief of the governor in prayers and carrying everybody along. He believes that if you are a man with vision and

Ebonyi is one of the states in the federation that pay workers regularly. How has the Umahi government been able to achieve this in the face of dwindling revenue? Many states are crying that they are unable to pay workers but here in Ebonyi State, the case is different because we are not talking of non-payment of salaries. Before the 20th of every month, every worker in the state has received his or her salary. There are lots of infrastructural development also going on in the state to the extent that people are asking whether the economic meltdown that has affected the country did not affect the state. The secret is ability to manage yourself, ability to take cognizance of the situation and make do with what you have. When we talk about this economic problem, some people think things will still be going smoothly the way it used to be and they will live the way they used to live. But it can’t continue like that because if you don’t adjust to suit the reality, it will be difficult for you to survive. This is what our governor has been able to do and things are moving on well in the state. No worker is owed any month salary unlike other states where workers are owed two, three, four and even six months. You are embarking on a prayer summit in all the 13 local government areas of the state, what informed this? We see it as the number one programme of this department to make sure that we engage all the stakeholders of this government in prayer. The Bible says “first, seek the kingdom of God and everything will be added unto you.” So, this is what we have capitalised on to embark on the prayers in all the local government areas of the state. Are you impressed by the turn-out of people so far? We have been doing tremendously well; people including stakeholders have been showing up. People are happy and they have been showing it through their support to the administration. After the prayer summits in the 13 local government areas, we will have the grand finale here in the capital city. It is going to be a three-day exercise.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion 1884 Berlin Conference in retrospect Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-309-7251 (sms only)

he Berlin conference of (November 15, 1884-Febuary 26, 1885) was a continuation of the scramble for Africa, to dismantle and divide the continent amongst the European imperialist powers. It was at the request of Portugal that Otto Von Bismarck, German Chancellor, invited the Major Western powers of the world to brainstorm and negotiate questions to end the confusions over the control of Africa. The main agenda of the conference, was to redraw the map of Africa, share the component units amongst themselves without taking into consideration the ethnic, social-political considerations of the aboriginal people of the continent. The conference was also intended to reduce the tension and conflicts within the European powers. The hidden Agenda of Otto Von Bismarck in accepting to yield to the request of Portugal to convene the Berlin conference was his inordinate ambition to further expand German sphere of influence in Africa and also to play-off his colonial rivals and co-competitors against one another to the advantage of Germany. At this time, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Germany and Belgium were the key dominant imperialist players in the conference, with interest in Africa. The United States of America did not participate in the Berlin Conference because its Congress advised against it and the fact that apart from Liberia, her interest in the sharing formula of Africa was entirely minimal. Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Spain were the major

participants because they were considered to have a future role in the imperial partition of Africa. Other minor European countries who were also invited were Austria, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Turkey and Russia. It must be noted that the Berlin Conference (1884-1885) failed to invite Africans and their representatives and therefore could not contribute meaningfully to the proceedings of a deliberate attempt to balkanize them into unacceptable and meaningless units. The endproduct of the conference was the imposition of a general agreement for protection by the European powers. However, let me state with all seriousness that the African Monarchs and in some cases, powerful African Chiefs were largely stark illiterates who signed such treaties and agreements without the slightest idea of what the documents contained. The resultant effect of the Berlin conference was that king Leopold 11 of Belgium got the present day Democratic Republic of the Congo. By 1895, only settlements in Liberia, Orange Free State and Transvaal remained Independent. Abyessinia broke-off from Italy in 1896 and became the only British colony. The Boar States in South Africa were conquered by Great Britain in the Boar wars (1899-1902). Morocco was sub-divided between the French and Spanish in 1911 while Libya was conquered by Italy in 1912. The official annexation of Egypt in 1914 ended the colonial balkanization of Africa. Other beneficiaries of the Berlin conference were: France who colonized Brazzaville (now Republic of Congo); Tunisia, Guinea, Central Africa including a few other territories. Angola and Mozambique were united by co-option. The area later became Zimbabwe and Malawi. So far, this should be regarded as a brief of how the European imperialists shared Africa into pieces in the interest of those who attended and participated in the Berlin Conference. Even before the Berlin Conference, power,

It must be noted that the Berlin Conference (1884-1885) failed to invite Africans and their representatives

aggressive diplomacy, military force and Religion were all the combined factors which the colonialists adopted to embark on the conquest of the various ethnic nations of Africa. In ensuring the emergence of separate units of political administration, some ethnic groups were forcefully moved and lumped into another. The Yoruba, for instance, were separated and put into Nigeria, Republic of Benin and a little stretch to the Republic of Togo. After 1918, following the defeat of Germany during World War 1, the League of Nations divided German colony of Togoland from the North to South, a decision which divided the Ewe people among the Gold Coast (Ghana), British Togoland mandates. During the 1950s, when the Independence of Ghana was in sight. demands grew for a separate Ewe State, an idea which was rejected by Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Gold Coast Independence movement. The Hutu and Tutsi question in Burundi and Rwanda is another instance of how the post 1884 Berlin conference, by the imperialists failed to take into consideration the interests of some major ethnic nations. Rather than put together the Hutu in one country and the Tutsi in another, they fragmented the two ethnic nations into Burundi and Rwanda. Today, this single act of willful balkanization of the tribes has continued to trigger-off endless crisis between them. The European colonialists’ major interest in Africa was based on trade, land, general colonial exploration, the recognition of valuables such as Gold, timber and functional markets. No wonder, the late Walter Rodney wrote his book entitled: “How Europe under developed Africa” (1972). He was of the candid view that Africa was deliberately exploited and underdeveloped by European colonial regimes. Rodney was a prominent Guyanese historian, political activist and scholar, who was assassinated in Guyana on June 13, 1980, probably, as a result of how he exposed imperialism in Africa in the said book.

The courts and injustice to MKO Abiola (1) Afe Babalola

ustice is the will of the strong and while the strong does what he likes, the weak suffers what he must. This is the most appropriate way to describe the case of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, under the military. The military, the strong, did what it liked while MKO Abiola and indeed those who voted for him, the weak, suffered what they must. What seems to have escaped the attention of many in the political impasse that followed June 12, 1993 Presidential election is the role of the courts played in the annulment of the election by the then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and how the courts were manipulated to deny Abiola justice in the electoral matters before them shortly before and immediately after the annulment. Abiola, the Aare Ona Kakanfo: Before the 1993 Presidential election, Nigerians would recall that

there was a sensational case which involved the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and the immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, over the announcement by the Alaafin to install Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. The announcement was given the widest of publicity. A day was fixed for Abiola’s installation. Because Abiola was a popular international business man, guests from all over the world had stated arriving for the installation. But just two days before the installation, the late Ooni filed an action at an Oyo High Court, claiming that the Alaafin had no right whatsoever to install Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. He (Ooni) coupled it with a motion ex-parte asking the court to restrain the Alaafin from installing Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo. In law, an ex-parte motion is one in which one can get an order without the knowledge of the other party. Somehow, Oba Adeyemi got wind of the fact that a motion ex-parte had been filed. Hitherto, I have been Oba Adeyemi’s lawyer in the supremacy tussle

between Oba Adeyemi and Oba Sijuade. So, the Alaafin contacted me. I proceeded to the court, filed a formal application to search the court’s file from where I obtained a copy of the paper filed by the Ooni and thereafter filed a counter affidavit. This was a novel one because it has never happened like that before. The case came up a day before the installation. It was the case of the year. The court rejected Ooni’s prayers and so Abiola was installed as the Aare Ona Kakanfo the following day with pomp and pageantry. June 12, 1993 Election: It is a notorious fact that the June 12, 1993 has been adjudged as the freest, fairest and most credible election in the annals of elections in this country. All the same, it is now a well-known fact that Abiola’s electoral victory did not go down well with the military. This naturally led to many court cases filed on the matter which ended up at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna. It is important to note that two days to the election, Hon. Justice Bassey Ikpeme of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a rather bizarre manner, had delivered a nocturnal ruling

around 9.15 pm to the effect that the election could no longer continue, one of the reasons that emboldened former Military President Ibrahim Babangida to annul the election. Abiola appealed Justice Ikpeme’s decision: Before going into the nitty-gritty of the Appeal at the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, it is apposite to note that Justice Ikpeme’s ruling was patently wrong on all fronts, particularly as the enabling law had provided that the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, was the only one empowered by law, to stop the election. This was the beginning of a series of acts of omission or commission using the courts to manipulate the duplicitous annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election to the consternation of many locally and internationally. Abiola had briefed the late Chief Roimi Williams, SAN and my humble self to fight the case for him. Both on points of law and facts available, we were sure to win. •Babalola is the founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Post-UTME: Another crisis rages

he fresh hues and cries about the existence of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, fondly called post-UTME by candidates writing qualifying examinations into higher institution, as a matter of urgent consideration, should be critically examined. This, however, has become imperative, if not for anything, but for the credibility of the twin-examinations; the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Post-UTME by individual universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, for admission of students into the institutions. Precisely, two weeks ago, the Federal Government, through the Education Minister announced the scrapping of the post-UTME from the system, a development that has continued to raise dust as to legitimacy about who actually has the official seal to conduct admissions into these institutions. Is it JAMB, or do the universities have any say and at what level in the placement of students into their institutions as it is being claimed or orchestrated by the university administrators, who are bent on the conduct of post-UTME as part of the universities control over the quality of students they will admit. The Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had at the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions convened by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board expressed confidence in the UTME, arguing further that it was unnecessary for indi-

vidual institutions to conduct a separate examination (postUTME) to guarantee admissions. According to him, “as far as I am concerned, JAMB has built a level of confidence in terms of conducting the UTME, a situation where universities go and conduct other examination is unnecessary. If the universities have any complaint against JAMB, let them channel their complaints appropriately and we would address such.” But, beyond the Federal Government’s directive to halt the conduct of the exercise, there had been outcry over the years concerning the manner with which the universities in particular had been going about the conduct of the post-UTME. There is no

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nancial base, which had already depleted due to inadequate funding allocation from the government, their proprietors. The heightened disaffection generated among key stakeholders in the system in the last few days, following the government’s decision, however, suggests the need, without any further delay, to properly situate and spell out the position of the universities and JAMB in admission exercise into the institutions. If the position being expressed by the universities, especially

Holistic appraisal of the laws establishing JAMB and the universities is more relevant at this time

gain saying, therefore, that the post-UTME was a child of necessity borne out of the credibility, integrity and transparent crises already suffered by JAMB and its examinations, which hitherto had reduced admission process into higher institutions to a mere charade in which candidates’ scores absolutely failed to represent their abilities, as JAMB marks were sold and bought on cash and carry basis by highest bidders. Interestingly, the universities since the introduction of the postUTME in 2006, have seen it as an avenue to correct the lapses in the admission system on one hand, and latch on it to extort the candidates so as to shore up their fi-

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

the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the creation of JAMB in 1978, as an aberration, is anything to go by, the fact that the universities are

backed by law, while the power to admit and graduate students is vested in the Senate of the universities, should be very much in the foreground. Going by this concern and many others bothering on the need to review the statute establishing JAMB by the government, such lacuna will definitely continue to generate heated argument about the status of admission. The debilitating effects would be detrimental to the collective aspirations and quest to enthrone credible admissions into the nation’s higher institutions of learning. In fact, rather than outlawing universities from having a stake in the admission process

to determine students admitted into their institutions, the Federal Government and other concerned authorities should as a matter of deliberate policy initiate moves that will look into the documents establishing these organs, with a view to addressing any loophole in their operations. Such holistic appraisal of the laws establishing JAMB and the universities is more relevant at this time than pegging the fees charged by the universities for the conduct of the post-UTME screening exercise, since the previous attempt at such policy few years ago, failed due to the attitude of the Vice-Chancellors, who have turned the exercise to money spinning enterprise to make income for their institutions. Equally, it is high time these laws were well sieved, once and for all, in order to eliminate every shortcoming in the system for JAMB and the institutions to perform optimally, as this is the only way in which the country could be better for it. In the meantime, any attempt by the government to sweep under the carpet this reccurring controversy, resulting from age-long duplication of responsibilities, will not only augur for the system, but will further erode confidence in the system and foster more disaffection. The fact remains that if the Federal Government will be bold enough to take the bull by the horns in articulating and putting in proper perspective the duties and limits of the examination body and the universities in the process of placing students into the institutions, it will go a long way in restoring sanity in the nation’s admission process.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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A section of the bad road

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he common Igbo proverb that there is no easy road to Aro is not only a metaphorical interpretation of the almost endless journey to the ancient town but an existential reality of the deplorable state of every road to it. With the abandonment of the Abam –Arochukwu road, the town is completely cut off since the dilapidated Arochukwu-Ohafia federal road has been neglected for years. True to that proverb, to access Arochukwu kingdom, the headquarters of Arochukwu Local Government Area, has for years, remained a nightmare to motorists and road users. A journey to Arochukwu, through the Ohafia road, is a seemingly endless journey of rough and tumbles. The long distance is made worse by the deplorable state of the ArochukwuOhafia federal road with numerous hills and valleys. It is against this background that the people heaved a sigh of relief when the state government embarked on the rehabilitation of the Abam- Arochukwu road. The Abam –Arochikwu road is one of the roads in Abia North, listed for completion by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on assumption of office. The present administration inherited it as its predecessor could not complete it. When the present administration came on board, Ikpeazu not only promised to complete the 35kilometre Ozu Abam-Ndi OjiNdi Okereke –Arochukwu Road

No easy road to Arochukwu

but mobilised the contractor to site and asphalted less than 2km of the road. The contractor had done reasonable work on the road before the present administration was inaugurated. It did about 10km with stone base and needed to complete the asphalt overlay a few kilometers to Ndi Oji Abam. The people’s joy was however short lived as work stopped soon after the contractor returned to site early this year. Though government listed it as one of the on-going projects, work has since stopped there. Instead of continuing with road rehabilitation, the contractor decided to complete the bridge linking Abam with Arochukwu. As a result of the delay, the work done on the road is degraded. The Abam-Arochukwu road is the only road linking Abam with Arochukwu which is the local government headquarters. The people of Abam have to go to the local government headquarters through Ohafia, another local government area, a tortuous journey because of the deplor-

All of Abam that make up 75 per cent of the local government area are on the other side of the road

able state of the ArochukwuOhafia federal road. Even so, it is actually not a direct journey. The one travelling with a commercial transport must make a stopover at the Ebem park, then with another transport arrangement you get to Arochukwu. A journey to Arochukwu from Ebem park is not less than N500, excluding previous fare. This is the current experience of all out station or field workers of the local government in Abam. All of Abam that make up 75 per cent of the local government area are on the other side of the road. Hope for the completion of the road and the bridge was rekindled when the Commissioner for Works, Eziuche Ubani, inspected the road and the bridge in February. He gave his word that the project was dear to the government and would go on. He said the road would be rehabilitated to connect Akwa Ibom State. The contractor, Ugochukwu Ohuabunwa, assured the people that if funds were made available, at least, the bridge

would be ready by last April. Sadly, four months after the inspection, nothing has happened. The bridge has neither been completed nor work still being done on the road. The palliative work the contractor did on the bridge enabled light vehicles to ply the road to Arochukwu but true to the proverb, it has become the traveller’s nightmare with the return of the rains. The Arochukwu end of the road has not been touched at all. It is a no go area during the rains. At the speed the project is going, it is doubtful that it will be completed in Ikpeazu’s tenure. The Abam-Arochukwu road is unarguably the only easy road to Arochukwu and to delay its rehabilitation will only mean stretching the proverb beyond acceptable limits. For instance, it takes about one and half hours to travel from Umuahia to Aro on the Abam-Arochukwu road but not less than three hours on the Arochukwu-Ohafia federal road.

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assava is of different species; the white, purple, yellow species among others. But the most common species is the white one. The yellow type, which is very scarce unlike the white, contains Vitamin A. Lack of Vitamin A can impair the body’s immunity to infectious diseases and cause eye damage that can lead to blindness and even death. According to research, nearly one in three Nigerian children under five and one-quarter of all pregnant women in the country are vitamin A deficient. The need to address this problem and also strengthen farmers to cultivate cassava in large quantity, led to the mobilisation of 3,000 farmers of Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency for a three-day enlightenment and empowerment campaign on the importance of Vitamin A fortified Cassava and Maize. Addressing the farmers at Ishiagu, the headquarters of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the Program’s technical partner and Country Manager of HarvestPlus in Nigeria, Dr. Paul Ilona, who grilled the participating farmers throughout the programme, told the rural farmers that though the cassava stems he brought came from Oyo State, after the program, the cassava stems would henceforth be sourced from Ebonyi State. Ilona cited the uses of Moriga tree, which he said is powered by Vitamin A to buttress his teaching to the farmers. “The organizer of this programme wants us to leave well and that is why he is doing the program. Vitamin A is crucial to our living. The important thing is to eat nutritional food,” he stated. He explained the uses of the vitamin A Cassava in making chips, biscuits, bread, flour, Fufu, tea, among other derivatives. He noted that use of crude implements for farming will soon be over in Ebonyi State and will be replaced with mechanical farming. “A farmer is a businessman and should be conscious of that,” he said. Ilona taught them basic techniques of farming and planting the cassava for bumper harvest, such as spaces to give while planting, how to sow the stems and maintain it till maturity. He encouraged them to embrace business farming since every farm crop has value added bye products, whether in cassava, Maize, Rice or palm produce. Earlier during the opening ceremony, the initiator of the programme and member representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Linus Okorie, said that most Nigerians do not get enough micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron required to live healthy productive lives from the foods that they eat, noting that micronutrient deficiencies can lower the Intelligent Quotient, cause stunting and blindness in children, lower resistance to disease in both children and adults, and increase risks for both mothers and infants during childbirth.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cassava, maize to the rescue

Cassava is a major staple food in Nigeria. It is consumed daily by more than 100 million people in the country. In any form available, it can provide most of the body’s daily energy requirement. UCHENNA INYA in Abakaliki reports.

We have good soil for the Vitamin A cassava and maize, but the land tenure system in Igbo land may affect greater production of the crops, but we will manage to grow the crops

Cassava tubers

“It is estimated that about 1 million of the 3 million child deaths that occur each year as a result of under nutrition are due to hidden hunger. Biofortified crops, which have been bred to have higher amounts of micronutrients, can help provide these needed vitamins and minerals. They can be effective in reducing hidden hunger as part of a strategy that includes dietary diversification, supplementation, and commercial fortification, among others. “The white cassava that we have is not very nutritious and research has discovered that it is best to fortify basic crops that are consumed every day such as cassava, maize, potato, Yam. So, instead of buying Vitamin A for eyes, for growth, for healthy living, why don’t you put it in their crops and they are working with IITA, Roots Crops Research Institute Umudike and coordinated with HarvestPlus International. First is cassava and Maize. Other ones are coming,” said Okorie. He stated that the way forward was to ensure that farmers do not suffer the usual glut that has continually resulted from resurgent production of cassava over the years, adding that all participants in the workshops shall also be uploaded unto the Harvestplus e-market platform, which will integrate the participants into an anchor Programme of out growers to be supported by funding from single-digit interest rate funds from the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and related windows.

The participants, during the programme said it has opened their eyes into the benefits of hybrid Vitamin A fortified Cassava and Maize, adding that they were well educated on new techniques of farming, taking farming as serious business and have been revealed to the nutritional values of Vitamin A cassava and maize just like they learnt the derivatives of the crops. One of them, Mrs. Mary Okonkwo, from Amagu-Ishiagu, in the area said: “I learnt how to plant cassava and maize. I will do my next planting according the way we have been thought, particularly on the method of planting the cassava stem for better growth. There is difference on how we used to plant the cassava and how we have been taught to plant it now. Before, we used to plant more than four stems of cassava on one heap but we have been told to space the stems and reduce the number per heap for better yield. “Also we have been taught how to use the Vitamin A cassava to make flour, chips and all that. We are grateful. I thank the organiser because this is a new development and a new thing for us. This is something we didn’t know but he brought experts to teach us these modern techniques in farming and doing business with farm produce.” Another participant, Orji Anyim, said: “I learnt many useful things like the process of transforming a farmer to a real farmer and to become rich than remaining every year young. I’ve learnt some aspects of business

like the agro-based mechanism, how to transform the old farming practice to the new farming tactics that can give better living condition. “We have good soil for the Vitamin A cassava and maize but the land tenure system in Igbo land may affect greater production of the crops but we will manage to grow the crops’’. Chairman of All farmers Association in the state, Elder Livinus Oko, at the closing ceremony in Otika Town hall at Onicha-Igboeze said: “This is what we have been telling our brethren, that farming will make one independent, financially and otherwise.” At the end, the farmers nicknamed the new breed crop as “Linus Cassava.” And said it has opened their eyes into the benefits of hybrid Vitamin A fortified Cassava and Maize, adding that they were well educated on new techniques of farming, taking farming as serious business and have been revealed to the nutritional values of Vitamin A cassava and maize just like they learnt the derivatives of the crops. The yellow specie of cassava seeds packaged by the organiser were handed to them for farmers to begin to grow them from the present rainy season. They were also taught how to process the Vitamin A cassava into different value added products such as using the cassava to make chips, Moi Moi, custard and even tea. The maturity period for the yellow cassava specie which contains Vitamim A nutrients is between 9-15 months.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

Flood, Asaba’s annual ritual, is here It happens every year in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Once the rains come in heavily, flood would take over the city, crippling movements and grounding businesses. This year is not an exception. DOMINIC ADEWOLE, in Asaba reports on the latest incident

unday, June 12, would remain evergreen in the memory of indigenes and residents of Asaba, the Delta State capital. That is following the volume of water that entered into every hook and cranny of the metropolis and crippled commercial activities in the town. The erosion proved the avowed infrastructural development of Asaba, the Delta State capital, since the advent of democracy in 1999, by successive administrations wrong. Members of the state’s House of Assembly, who had their thanksgiving service to celebrate the first year anniversary of the sixth Assembly at the Divine Way Baptist Church, along the popular Okpanam road, one of the roads that was flooded on the evening of that day, got their fair share of the erosion violent flow. The erosion, which accompanied a heavy down pour within the metropolis, also put the report of the drafted copy of Asaba Masterplan that is currently before the Director-General of the Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), Chief Clement Ofuani, to the test. The report had revealed that between the entrance to Asaba metropolis at Okpanam, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, and the River Niger Bridge, which linked the state to its neighbouring Onitsha in Anambra State, there are 13 U-turning points that have constituted fatal motor accidents spots for decades, and stipulated major axis that needed urgent government attention before the inhabitants of the area and their houses go under the belly of erosion. The report equally described the entire capital city as a low-lying settlement that required a full complement of experts to get the desired drainage system across the metropolis to function optimally. New Telegraph’s checks, however, revealed that the inability of successive administrations in the state to get it right since 1999, have accu-

A flooded compound in Asaba

mulated to the several challenges confronting the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Many pregnant women, nursing mothers, parents and guardians, children and properties worth billions of naira have gone into extinction, owing to yearly erosion in the state capital, especially between Okpanam town and Asaba, at the popular DLA and Jesus Saves Roads, the Anwai Road, now Emmanuel Uduaghan Way, leading to Infant Jesus Avenue. Yet, the state government has spent billions of naira on contractors, trying to tackle the menace. The June 12 erosion, which crippled vehicular movement and commercial activities along the ever-busy Delta Broadcasting Station (DBS) road, running into the Delta State Police Headquarters, did not only submerge vehicles but overran some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, including the building that hosted the Ministry of Water Resources. The management of DBS suffered the worst as the erosion forced its way into the premises of the broadcasting outfit and halted every profitable proceeding in the office. The workers literarily needed a canoe to access their offices even as the thunder-storm, with its attendant lightening attempted to displace the mast and prevent the station from breaking the news of the day. Several cars, belonging to the workers of the media station, including the ‘dead’ Outside Broadcasting (OB) van and other aban-

Several cars, belonging to the workers of the station... were submerged

doned vehicles, were submerged along the DBS route and other road users were seen beseeching passersby to help them push their cars. Besides the DBS road, which hosts the Office of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro and three major hotels in the metropolis, the dual carriage road, leading to Okpanam, in Oshimili North Local Government of the state, by the Delta State Police Command, was completely cut off from the state capital. Because the water must find its natural course, the premises of the police command and the undeveloped land, reserved for car park by the command became the escape route for the erosion. Cars that were parked at ‘Owners Risk’ at the command headquarters, would need to be dry-cleaned for weeks and giving professional auto-mechanic touch before they can function appropriately again. It was double tragedy however for the broadcasting station. The erosion came on the day the media outfit was to be welcomed back on Startime 133 after several months of botched attempts during former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration to hook up to the cable category. Secondly, the thunder that accompanied the rainstorm sailed through the Thunder-Arrestor of the station and allegedly went straight to damage its Frequency Output, popularly known as the “HDMI”. But Okowa, who is currently making effort to turn the tide, has reportedly increased the tempo of work on the drainage system and dualisation of Asaba-Okpanam road by paying 70 per cent of the contract sum to

Tratrix Construction Firm with a matching order to deliver before the end of this year. Elucidating on the projection, the Communications Manager to the Director-General of the DSCTDA, Mr. Godfrey Ubaka, who waxed philosophical, said Okowa was taking the state somewhere, maintaining that the governor would not wait until the situation gets into gridlock before addressing it. According to him, since the government of the state has reiterated its preparedness to provide all necessary infrastructural support for genuine investors to thrive, the projection to end incessant erosion across the major cities of the state, especially Asaba, would run effectively. He said, “So far, there have been a wonderful support from the Government House and the state’s House of Assembly. This is despite the dwindling allocation accruing from FAAC to the state. With this strength, we have worked out modalities to make private investors troop into the state. “Through strategic urban renewal of his SMART agenda, which comprises the making of Asaba, the state capital, a commercial city, the Governor is prepared to secure the expectation of the people of the state by keeping their hope alive and sparing them the pains of being perplexed.” He explained how in recent time, Asaba ranks among the fastest growing economically viable towns in Nigeria. “Many have relocated from other parts of the country in the last two years to Asaba to make a living and to take solace in its peaceful atmospheric condition.”

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tormented by Cameroonian gendarmes Bakassi Peninsula issue.

It has been serious anguish for the people of Effiat in Mbo Local Government Ufuo’s position had earbeen raised by Uwak Area of Akwa Ibom State. They are under threat from the authorities oflier during his presentation to neighbouring Cameroon. TONY ANICHEBE, in Uyo, reports that the peoplethe House of Representatives last year. are now willing to take up a battle Ufuo recalled with sad-

Some of Bakassi residents

here is intense lamentations and tears at the moment in many villages of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. That is following the continued rape, looting and hostage taking in the creeks of Effiat communities after the illegal annexation and occupation of 16 villages in the Mbo Mangrove Island by gendarmes from Republic of Cameroon. New Telegraph gathered that the mangrove island, which hosts 16 villages of Effiat clan in Mbo council area of Akwa Ibom State, sharing common boundary with Cameroon, is currently under the administrative control of the Cameroon authorities, a sad condition which is allegedly happening as “a result of the expansionist policy of the Cameroon government”. On daily basis, some of the people of the area, according to the member, representing Mbo in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Samuel Ufuo are being killed by militants anytime they attempt to react to their predicament, while scores of others are terrorized, dehumanized, deprived of their rights and privileges as well as maltreated by the Cameroonian government security agencies. Ufuo, while presenting the situation of the hapless Mbo people during plenary over the weekend, when the report was

reread for deliberation under matters of urgent public importance, expressed worries that the affected people, who are still living in their villages established when there was no Nigeria or Cameroon as countries, would be allowed to be so humiliated. The lawmaker noted that a former member, who represented the area in the National Assembly, Mr Robinson Uwak, had in January 2015, alerted the Federal Government of the situation in Mbo, but no action has been taken since then to demarcate properly the maritime boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon as determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the settlement for the ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula in 2002. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, during a visit to the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, shortly after his inauguration as President of Nigeria, last year, assured his host that the country will continue to abide by the ruling of the ICJ on the Bakassi Peninsula. Buhari had also said his administration would ensure the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, which regulates the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. But Ufuo reiterated that the mangrove islands were not part of the territory ceded to the Cameroon government by the world court during the

The resolutions were discarded following the electioneering at the time and the subsequent end of the 7th National Assembly regime in June 2015

ness that the affected natives can no longer take care of their families because they have lost their sources of livelihood. The Mbo mangrove island is said to be blessed with numerous natural resources such as copious fishing routes and approximately 350 oil wells. This strategic economic importance, it is believed, may have brought the envy of the Cameroon government. New Telegraph gathered from the record of the votes and proceedings of Wednesday 14 January 2015, of the 7th House of Representatives, then led by Malam Aminu Tambuwal (now Governor of Sokoto state) that the House had made three resolutions on the matter which included to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate and report within 30 days (beginning from 14th January 2015). Others were to urge the Attorney General and Surveyor General of Nigeria to submit all relevant instruments being used in recent delineations by international surveyors as recommended by the United Nations, and to strongly urge the Nigeria government to re-exert its sovereignty over the troubled island with the mandate of protecting Nigerians being maltreated in the hands of the Cameroonian gendarmes. The resolutions, New Telgraph gathered, were made after the House received a report on the matter by the then member representing Oron (Oron/ Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urue Offong Oruko) Federal Constituency, Robinson Uwak, where it was not only pointed out that the disputed islands were not part of the territory ceded to the Cameroon government by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the Bakassi Peninsula issue, but also that the encroachment has led to the loss of about 350 oil wells and gas revenues which ought to accrue to Nigeria. According to Ufuo, the resolutions were discarded following the electioneering at the time and the subsequent end of the 7th National Assembly regime in June 2015. Describing the situation as pathetic, Ufuo said the people of the affected villages are still buying and selling in Mbo and other Akwa Ibom markets, including paying their taxes, boat licences and other levies to the Akwa Ibom State government. “Should this annexation by the Republic of Cameroon be allowed to continue after the ongoing demarcation by both countries, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole will lose the territory with thousands miles in our coastal water including mineral

resources. “Sad to note that as a result of the illegal occupation of the islands by the Republic of Cameroon, oil and gas revenues that should accrue to the state and the Nigeria government, employment opportunities to our teeming youths are lost to the Republic of Cameroon. “Cognizant of the 11th March 1913 Anglo-German treaties that lay this island firmly within Nigeria territory as the island lays West of the Rio Del Ray estuary which serves as the official border line between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon as reaffirmed by the ICJ judgment on the 10th October 2002. “ Also cognizant of the fact that the ICJ had ordered both Nigeria and Cameroon to withdraw sovereignty over areas they were not entitled to under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties. This resulted in Nigeria ceding over to Republic of Cameroon 32 villages from Adamawa (state) to the Lake Chad area while Cameroon is holding tight to Akwa Ibom 16 villages of Effiat clan in Mbo Local Government Area, of the mangrove island “, Ufuo’s position, as earlier presented to the house of assembly, read in part. As soon as the matter was read at the state house of assembly over the weekend preparatory for deliberation, the House dissolved into the committee of the whole to take the recommendations of the committee on security, youth and sports where it was earlier committed. But midway into the deliberations, the committee said it realised that there were current security realities which needed to be reflected in the report and recommendations. While presenting the report of the committee of the whole, Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke, said the committee considered it necessary for the entire House to go into adequate consultations as matters contained in the recommendations have security implications and which cannot be taken on the face value. The House further rescheduled the matter for deliberation in the next two sittings which, according to the Speaker, adequate inputs would, by then, be in place in order for a sound decision and judgment to be made as it concerns the recommendations of the committed on security, youth and sports. Tensed atmosphere pervades the Effiat community when our correspondent visited the area over the weekend. A resident, Mr Nduonyi Asuquo, who trades on crayfish and dry fish, said girls and women were being raped in the full glare of the public, while the perpetrators make jest of their men who watch helplessly.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight

The art of making gold Gold is precious. But turning raw gold to materials of treasure takes a tedious process, as a master goldsmith of no mean repute, Paul Oboli, JP, relates in this encounter with TONY OKUYEME

ucked within the National Commission for Museums and Monument, Onikan, Lagos, is what looks like a nondescript, cone-shaped small building that has seen years of rainfall and harsh weather conditions. For a first time visitor, it is so ordinary that you would barely give it a second thought to venture inside it, except that given its ambience and location; you could be tempted to see it as home to some traditional relics. But there is more to it; despite its small structure, it is a workshop that has seen the creation and production of priceless jewellery – gold. Inside it are the paraphernalia of a goldsmith - a metalworker who specialises in working with gold and other precious metals. Except for a wooden table at the centre, a chair and a bench, carefully placed at different corners (even though they appeared strewn around until you look closely) the house are tools of various shapes and sizes for melting gold. Call it a studio or a workshop, or even a factory; you could be stating the obvious. The man behind it is Mr. Paul Oboli JP, a celebrated goldsmith of many years of repute. But beyond this, he is one of a few craftsmen helping to preserve a traditional art and craft, in this case, the traditional method of goldsmithing – craft of working with precious gems and metals to create beautiful jewellery into various shapes and designs. Goldsmithing is the applied art of metalworking in gold. A goldsmith is essentially a metalworker whose specialty is working with precious metals like gold, silver, electrum, platinum, alloys like bronze and copper, as well as gemstones. A master goldsmith is trained in numerous types of metalworking, including the sawing, cutting, forging, melting, casting, beating, soldering, filing, engraving, embossing, enamelling and polishing of precious metals and gemstones. Traditionally, most goldsmiths either learned the craft in their fathers’ workshops, or acquired the

Oboli at work

Oboli in his workshop

skills as an apprentice to a master craftsman. It is the traditional skill or technique that Oboli and others in this field are helping to preserve and promote. When New Telegraph visited the place this bright and sunny day, Oboli was at home with his art as he recalls, sometimes with nostalgia, how he found himself

into the tough, challenging yet rewarding world of a goldsmith. Even as he picks his words with characteristic finesse of a raconteur, you cannot but also notice that adorning the walls are photographs that offer historical perspective into his career as a goldsmith. “I have been into this art for more than 40 years,” he says.

“I started as an apprentice in Ekotedo, Ibadan in 1957, for five years, and after that I had my freedom. Then I worked as a journeyman for about five years before I started working on my own; and I have been doing this for over 40 years.” When his uncle advised him to learn how to be a goldsmith, he was not quite enthusiastic. According to him, he had just completed his primary school education looking forward to getting into secondary school; then, something happened that was to redefine his life and career. “I didn’t intentionally learn it. I attended primary school in Apata, Ibadan. I was about to enter secondary school when my senior brother died, then there was nobody to take care of me as my parents had gone back to the village. So my cousin, who started taking care of me, said he could not continue to take care of my education and that the only help he could give me is if I wanted to learn how to be a goldsmith. So I said okay, I will do it. That was how I started. I was disappointed that I could not continue my education then but there was nothing I could do; I had no option. So I became an apprentice as a goldsmith.” He recalls that it was very tough CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

INSIGHT

Oboli at work in his workshop CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

at the time, because he thought there was no way there. “But gradually, I started understanding the craft, and my interest grew. Although it was lucrative, the work was so strenuous; there was no machine, everything was done manually. It even discouraged me not to teach any of my children that work then. But now, I am regretting not teaching any of my children to be a goldsmith,” he says. According to him, he has been able to get to where he is today because of hard work and perseverance. He maintains that looking back now, he has no regret. “I am so happy that I went into it by accident but I have no regret because all the places I am supposed to know through being educated, I have known them as a goldsmith, even more than that. I have been to the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel and Spain. First pay I was very happy that I had my own money. It was about two pounds. That was my gain. That is the gain in the work. So I continued and gradually things started growing and later I got married and started having children. In fact, after some years, I made up my mind that I must do this work if I want to succeed. By then, I was gradually making more money. I started looking at the future as bright if I continue to work hard. I thank God that it has grown now and I have done many things with it – got married, had children and trained them. Four of them are abroad and two others are here in Nigeria. My first trip abroad I was so excited. I was carried away; in fact I thought it was a dream. Really, I never thought of travelling abroad. That was in 1979. I went to London in the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. I went there to buy tools, know where and how they do it so that I can improve on it here. It was very impressive though I didn’t have enough money to buy the tools I needed. The things were expensive. I use local tools to do things here but when I travelled I saw many things that would consume money before you can get them to get to that stage. When I came back, I had anoth-

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Taofeek and two other apprentices with Fred Obigho, his journeyman.

Turning gold to jewellery er orientation about goldsmith. I decided that I would improve on it. It was very tough; very rough. We do everything manually. Work that should take you a day, will take you two weeks working manually. The day we heard about machine for the first time, it was surprising. We ran like from Ekotedo to Eleguse in Ibadan, about six miles, on bare foot just to see the machine. As a goldsmith, tools are very important. You buy them. When I started here, they said we should use traditional tools such as fire side, bellows, local lamp using palm oil and ordinary cotton wool as well as brass pipe for blowing. Here in the museum, you must maintain the use of traditional tools so that when foreigners come you can show them and explain to them that before the coming of the colonial masters our forefathers used this method or technique to do many things. As a goldsmith, you must learn how to melt gold; you must know the metal that is called gold. And when they bring it, you must be able to know whether it is gold or not. People can bring raw one; you will then refine it yourself to make it as pure as you want – maybe you want it to be 24 carat, 18 carat, 14 carat or nine carat, which is the least. The highest one is 24 carat, which is very rare; you don’t see it regularly or easily. But you can then refine it, alloy it yourself to 18 carat which is good for every work – rings, chains (necklaces) or earrings,

The workshop

and everything because it is very strong and it does not die.

I have no regrets being a goldsmith, but I regret not teaching any of my children

What it takes to be a goldsmith As a goldsmith, you must know about refining gold, polishing, cleaning and repairing gold. You could also be selling and buying gold as a goldsmith because gold is the metal you must use. We have a tester which is used to test if it is 24 carat, 18 carat, 14 carat or nine carat gold. If you test it with the tester and you are not satisfied, you can test it with fire. You start with melting, which could take 30 minutes, depending on the quality, and quantity of the gold, then you beat it, flat and stretch it to the level or shape that you want. Using local means, it could take about four days, but working with machine would take a day. How I came to National Museum, Onikan I worked for people. I think, when it was advertised, somebody directed them that they should go and call me in Ibadan. He showed them what I did for them when he was in the University of Ibadan. I think, that was in 1972, so I was invited to this Museum and I have been working here since then. During the civil war I was in Ibadan then, and I was still working as a goldsmith during that period. Ibadan is one area that is not like Lagos. Their own way of working is different, local way, like an indigene. But during the war, we were hiding; you don’t

know who is your enemy or friend. And since you are not from there you are anxious as you don’t know what might happen next. Also, patronage was low. But after the war, things improved. Generally, things were good; we have to thank God. When we started it was very lucrative. People were coming to do gold. But things are dwindling; it has not been easy. Grooming the young ones I have trained about six people. The seventh one is still here. One of them is an undergraduate at the Yaba College of Technology; he comes occasionally. Many people want to get white collar job; they are not interested in it. Everybody uses gold but nobody wants to know or learn how to do it. There was a woman who came here the other day; she was shocked, saying ‘this place is small and very dirty’. Many people want to work in an airconditioned office. Regrets As I said, I have no regrets being a goldsmith but I regret not teaching any of my children. I thank God because this is where I feed my family. I have six children. As I said, if I have my way I would teach my children the craft. There is money in it but patronage has been low now. There are still many goldsmiths in Lagos here but they are not popular.

One of Oboli’s apprentices at work.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business What's new Economic woes: Manufacturers adopt austerity measures

41 items ban: Not yet Uhuru for Nigeria’s manufacturing

eWorld Protecting $38bn telecoms industry

27 29

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016.................................15.6% April 2016.................................13.7% March 2016..............................13.2%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at June 17)

(Interbank as at June 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N350 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N490 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N400

l Foreign Reserves – $26.443bn as at 16/6/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

p.26

Income inequality hinders growth, say analysts

p.26

L-R: Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Ibukun Awosika; Founder/CEO Nairabet, Akin Alabi; General Manager, Uber, Ebi Atawodi; Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Shobo, at the FirstBank Tech startup conference.

CAVEAT In the event that MTN fails to pay the fee within the specified period, the telco will lose the award and forfeit the IBD

Kunle Azeez

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

ollowing its emergence as the only telecoms company that bid for six slots out of the available 14 slots in the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated MTN to pay the reserve price for the slots it bided for within 21 days. New Telegraph gathered that going by the information contained in the Information Memorandum (IM) for 2.6Ghz spectrum, MTN is to pay $86.4 million (about N24.192 billion) latest by July 3, 2016. According to a document obtained from NCC: “MTN has 21 days from the date of Provisional Award (June 13, 2016) to pay the Reserve Price less the Intention-to-Bid Deposit (IBD) it has already paid.” The regulator’s document signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, however, declared: “In the event that MTN fails to pay the fee within the specified period, MTN will lose the Award and also forfeit the IBD.” While the reserve price per each of the 14 slots is $16 million, the telecoms company is expected to

2.6Ghz: MTN to pay N24.19bn in 21 days pay, in total, $96 million for having bid for six slots. However, the actual amount MTN will pay to the government would be less 10 per cent of the IBD, which it had earlier paid to the Commission as part of prequalification criteria. Consequently, MTN would have to pay $86.4 million to the Federal Government within 21 days starting from June 13, when its announcement as an approved bidder was announced by the Commission. NCC, on March 11, 2016, published an IM, expressing its intention to auction 2x70 MHz in the 2.6GHz Frequency Band on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. At the close of submission of applications and the subsequent evaluation thereof, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) emerged as the sole approved bidder with an expressed interest to bid for 2x30 MHz of the available frequency. “Consequent upon the above and in accordance with Clause 6.5.3 of the IM l, which mandates the Commission to provisionally

N28.5 billion Being the total sum MTN is expected to pay for six slots

award licence(s) to the approved bidder(s) if the aggregate demand is less than or equal to the number of Lots on offer, the Commission is pleased to announce that MTN has been provisionally awarded 2 x 30 MHz frequency in the 2.6 GHz Band,” NCC said in the document. Meanwhile, worried by the apathy witnessed in the recent spectrum auction in the country, the Nigerian government, through its telecoms regulatory body, this newspaper had reported that the NCC was already considering relaxing the licensing conditions after due consultations with the operators to encourage them come for the remaining eight slots. The regulatory move, it was learnt, was coming on the heels of the apparent lack of interest exhibited by many operators and prospective investors during the planned auction of 2.6Ghz slated for last month. The release of the spectrum is expected to further accelerate access to high-speed Internet or broadband across the nooks and CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS |news

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Economic woes: Manufacturers adopt austerity measures TACTIC Manufacturers and SMEs operators have gone back to the drawing board to look at ways of reducing operation cost

Taiwo Hassan

iqued by the nation’s economic trials, manufacturing companies and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) have

MTN to pay N24.19bn in 21 days CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

crannies of the country. According to findings, the regulator is ready to take necessary measures towards boosting the broadband penetration in the country currently standing at 10 per cent to 30 per cent by 2018. In spite of the impressive build up to the auction by the regulator and level of awareness created around the auction, only MTN Nigeria came forward to bid for six slots out of available 14 slots in the spectrum band. For being the only operator participating, the regulator foreclosed further auction in line with the conditions laid down in the IM released on the 2.6Ghz spectrum auction process. The IM stated: “If the aggregate demand from approved bidders is less than, or equal to the number of lots on offer, the Commission will provisionally award the license to the party/ parties at the reserve price.” NCC is consulting the operators in the industry, with the intention “to be able to know their reasons, and to know in what way the regulator can come in to relax some of the conditions in the process, if this relaxation can lead to more operators going for the remaining eight,” according to Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta. He said: “I am sure the commission will be disposed to looking at the reasons that prevented other operators from coming forward to bid, except only one.” Consequently, it is believed that relaxing the current licensing conditions would encourage more operators to come for the remaining six slots in the 2.6Ghz spectrum bands with a view to accelerating broadband deployment. NCC is also working at releasing more spectrums to deepen broadband penetration in the country in the coming months. Such spectrum frequency spectrum bands include the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum; the 5.4 gigahertz spectrum band and the 70/80 gigahertz bands, the licensing of service providers in the 38 and 42GHz bands and the re-planning of the 23GHz microwave spectrum band, among others.

embarked on cost effective measures in their operations to remain afloat. The development stemmed from the drastic drop in revenue drive and scarcity of foreign exchange to source for local raw materials for production of their goods. Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium scale Group (SMESG), Jon Kachikwu, in a chat with New Telegraph, confirmed these developments. He noted that manufacturers and SMEs operators have gone back to the drawing board to look at ways of reducing cost of operation in order to remain in production, distribution and packaging business.

He explained that those that are still in business today have applied cost-effective policy in the wake of the government policies, which have severely affected their businesses. “Yes, we have introduced cost-effective measures in our businesses. We need to do this in other to remain in business since many of our members’ businesses have collapsed. “Truly, we have looked at critical areas such as power, transportation, manpower development, job cuts, production and many others.” Kachikwu explained that manufacturing companies are facing lots of challenges in their operations, stressing that if these measures were not applied, more companies would have collapsed.

On job cuts, he noted that companies have commenced sacking of workers in order to reduce overhead cost, especially salary payments of staffers. The LCCI SMESG boss also said that manufacturing companies have drastically reduced staff by as much as 57 per cent in a bid to remain in business. Specifically, he stressed that companies have reduced the numbers of staff in their marketing departments since revenue base coming into the companies’ coffers have dropped drastically. Besides, the entrepreneur stated that marketers in the many of the manufacturing companies have reduced their outings, especially those related to marketing of products.

“I can tell you that instead of a marketer going out on a daily basis for five working days, he or she will only go out for just twice in a week due to the skyrocketing cost of transportation in the country. “Also, we can no longer fuel many of our trucks and logistics vehicles we use for distribution of goods due to the hike in the fuel pump price,” he added. He, however, noted that marketers are now making more use of their phones to conduct businesses so as to reduce costs. Also, Kachikwu said that companies have reduced their spending on manpower development and training of staff. He said that this became imperative in view of the need to drastically reduce costs.

Out-going Chairman, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Momar Nguer (left), with In-Coming Chairman, Mr. S tanislas Mittelman, during a Send forth dinner for Nguer in Lagos. PHOTO: QUADRI IKUDAISI

IMPEDIMENT 40% of Nigerians live on less than $1.25 per day

Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the background of worsening macroeconomic conditions in the country, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited have warned that income inequality can impact economic growth. In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts noted that Nigeria has one of the highest levels of income inequality on the continent, pointing out that the unequal distribution of income amongst the country’s huge population “stifles growth and can lead to political and social unrest.” As the analysts put it, “the variance between Nigeria’s GDP per capita and the actual average income of the popu-

Income inequality hinders growth, say analysts lation reflects the problem of income inequality. Income inequality refers to the manner in which in-come is unequally distributed amongst the population. Nigeria has one of the highest levels of income inequality in Africa with a Gini index of 48.8, compared to the West African and sub-Saharan averages of 40.9 and 45 respectively at this level, Nigeria ranks second in West Africa, 9th in Africa and 26th in the world.” They noted that whereas research has shown that the minimum yearly income needed to sustain a living that provides the basic necessities in Nigeria stands at $1,016 per year in urban areas (N203,000 per year or N16,900 per month) and $758 per year in rural areas (N151,600 per year or N12,600 per month), 74 per cent of Nigerians actually live below this income level. Indeed, “out of this, some 40 per cent live under the pov-

erty line i.e. live on less than $1.25 per day. This translates to N7,500 per month and N91,500 per annum, 49 per cent and 48.4 per cent lower than that required as monthly and annual income respectively,” the analysts stated. Pointing out that “income inequality in Nigeria is so deeply rooted into the very mechanics of the country that many have become desensitised to the problem and lost sight of its genesis,” the experts traced the causes of the problem to factors such as a segmented labour market (into the formal and informal sector), the unavailability of jobs and the inaccessibility of credit and financing. They cited a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which shows, “a percentage increase in the share of income of the top 20 per cent will lead to a decline in growth of 0.08 per cent every five years. Alternatively, a one per cent

increase in the income of the bottom 20 per cent will spur a 0.38 per cent increase in growth every five years.” They further explained that the rationale for this development is based on the fact that the wealthy spend a smaller percentage of their income compared to the lower classes. According to the analysts, “in terms of the impact of income inequality on social and political inequality, the economic position of the upper class makes it possible for them to influence policies on labour, taxation etc. The top quintile of the income chain has the loudest voice and thus the greatest political power and capacity to produce desired results. This can create a deep dislike for the upper class, a dislike that can have dire consequences. Essentially, poverty and inequality is at the root of most of the social problems we face in Nigeria today. This includes insurgencies, kidnapping and armed robbery.”

InDUSTRY

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) unveiled a new forex policy, which still excluded the 41 items earlier blacklisted from the official forex market that had since ceased to exist under the new forex regime. Taiwo Hassan reports

ndustry stakeholders are still wary of the restricted policy placed on goods import into the country in spite of the take-off of the flexible exchange policy. This is as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) insistence that the 41 items classified as ‘Not valid for foreign exchange’ remain inadmissible in the Nigerian inter-bank foreign exchange market for the meantime. The management of the apex bank, recently, unveiled the guidelines for the new policy. But, the inability of the CBN to shift ground on the ban placed on the 41 items did not go down well with industry operators under the aegis of Organised Private Sector (OPS). The CBN’s forex policy on the 41 items remains a bone of contention among the OPS, who believe that unbanning the 41 items will stimulate growth and development in the ailing manufacturing sector of the nation’s economy. CBN’s decision on 41 items Speaking at the unveiling of the framework for the re-introduction of managed float exchange rate system, the Governor, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said that a review of the ban on the 41 items shows that the country’s economy had benefitted immensely from the introduced forex policy since its inception. According to Emefiele, the domestic production of items restricted from the forex market was picking up nationwide, thereby creating more jobs for many more Nigerians. The CBN boss said: “The 41 items classified as ‘Not valid for foreign exchange’ as detailed in a previous CBN Circular, shall remain inadmissible in the Nigerian foreign exchange market.” While shedding more light on the ban few months ago, CBN’s Director, Monetary Policy Department, Mr. Moses Tule, had said that the restrictions would only be lifted “as soon as we (CBN) build up reserves,” adding, “when you see us building reserves to $50 billion, $60 billion, $70 billion, $200 billion or more.” Tule had said: “The moment we begin to build reserves, we expect that just as these restrictions are not there, most of the restrictions will be lifted, but for now, every hand needs to be on deck. We need to earn foreign exchange. As a country, you can improve your business processes in order to export and earn foreign exchange and that is what the country is calling on patriotic Nigerian busi-

Bags of rice

41 items ban: Not yet Uhuru for Nigeria’s manufacturing nessmen to do.” CBN’s circular On June 23, 2015, the banking watchdog released a circular titled: ‘Inclusion of Some Imported Goods and Services on the List of Items Not Valid for Foreign Exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Markets’, and listed 41 items that can no longer be imported with foreign exchange sourced from the official foreign exchange market. The items included rice, cement, margarine, palm kernel/palm oil products/vegetable oils, meat and processed meat products and toothpicks. Also included are glass and glassware, kitchen utensils, tableware, vitrified and ceramic tiles and textiles among other items. The CBN clarified that they are not banned, just that importers of these items can no longer access foreign exchange from the bank and the industry it regulates. The CBN cited as its reason, the need to “encourage local production of these items,” adding, “implementation of the policy will help conserve foreign reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation.” OPS’ reactions Criticisms have trailed the apex bank’s decision to retain the 41 items banned. Industry operators believe that the timing is right for the ban to be lifted on the 41 items, since the flexible forex policy has come to stay in the country’s economy. Reacting to the apex bank’s stance on the 41 items prohibition list, the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, said there is need for more engagements between the CBN and the private sector operators on the need to review the ban. “Many critical inputs of manufacturing companies are on the list and this has crippled the operations of such companies, creating significant job and output losses,” he said.

A revisit to the policy may be a way out of the present economic doldrums

According to him, the nonaccess to forex at the inter-bank segment of the foreign exchange market by manufacturers was hindering growth and development of the real sector. He said: “The foreign exchange policy is a hot issue now in Nigeria. Manufacturers are complaining that they don’t have enough forex to buy raw materials from abroad. Some of them are even complaining that they don’t have forex to open LC. But if the CBN allows Diaspora funds and funds from abroad to come into the country, it will help to solve some of the challenges in the forex market.” The LCCI DG noted that numerous challenges in the manufacturing sector is contributing to the rise in the country’s inflation rate, adding that unbanning of the 41 items import prohibition list by the CBN was a key de facto determinant that the economy still remain stagnant in growth and development. He said the manufacturing sector’s purchasing power had drop significantly due to government’s policy summersault in the sector, especially on the foreign exchange policy. In his own submission, the National President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria

(MAN) Dr. Frank Jacobs, said that its members are still having access to forex from CBN, adding that many manufacturers outside there are having challenges in accessing forex at the banks. Jacobs explained that his association is in constant contact with the management of CBN on the forex issue confronting the country’s manufacturing sector. The MAN president stressed that manufacturers’ need availability of forex to enable them buy raw materials from abroad for production of goods. According to him, sustaining the growth and development of the real sector is an utmost priority of the stakeholders in the sector and the government, adding that everybody needs to play its role in resuscitating the country’s economy to bounce back. “We know that there is forex issue in the manufacturing sector, as some manufacturers are complaining of non-access to source for forex in the banks. Well, we know that having access to forex will enable manufacturers to import raw materials for production, but we are in constant touch with the management of the CBN on the forex issue. What I can say is that MAN members are receiving forex promptly from the CBN,” Jacobs said. Conclusion Already, manufacturing businesses are facing declining sales and are no longer as competitive as in the past due to the country’s economic woes, but a revisit to the policy may be a way out of the present economic doldrums.

‘Lagos loses N2.1bn daily to traffic congestion’

he Lagos State Government has said that the state is losing a staggering $7.5 million (N2.1billion) daily to traffic congestion, which is severely affecting her revenue drive and business operation in the state. Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said this in a paper he delivered at the Annual Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. He stated that congestion was an impediment to the state’s economic growth and this is affecting industries in the state. Mobereola spoke on ‘Explor-

ing Transportation Beyond Roads’. He noted that the concentration on road transportation and increasing presence of vehicles currently at 80 per 1000 persons and with projection to be 200 per 1000 within the next 20 years as well as the challenge of limited roads development, explain the loss to the state’s economy. He said the strategic transport master plan conceived by the Lagos State Government to address the various issues within the sector proposes to push the share of rail transportation to 21 per cent.

business \ industry

he European Union has asked Nigeria to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with attractive offers including a 6.5 billion (about N1.4 trillion) Development Programme that will enhance the capacity of Nigerian businesses. The Trade Counsellor, EU Delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Filippo Amato, said this during his presentation at an international trade conference organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said the EPA development programme had been developed to provide funding for projects linked to trade, industry, energy and transport infrastructure in the region. He added that the EPA had made provision for institutional reforms (such as tax reforms), and capacity building of relevant stakeholders. It will be recalled that manufacturers in Nigeria had rejected the EPA in 2015 on the premise that as a developing country with an industrial base facing numerous challenges, the partnership would not be healthy for Nigeria as its products would not be able to compete with those from advanced countries. The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Jacobs, had advised against the partnership, fearing that it might eventually turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for superior products from more advanced nations in the partnership. But Amato said that in order to guard against incidence of rejected goods, the National Quality Infrastructure Programme funded by the EU to the tune of 12 million Euros

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EU to Nigeria: Sign N1.4tr EPA treaty

(about N26 billion) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation supported the formulation of a national quality policy to improve the standard and quality of goods produced in Nigeria and to protect consumer rights. Other benefits offered by the EU trade envoy, according to him, were reduced tariff for partner countries; preferential trade treatment for developing nations in the partnership and very low Value Added Tax rates. He said, “Nigerian-Belgian

Chamber of Commerce together with the Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt Chambers of commerce form the Business Cooperation Centre Nigeria, a platform between Nigerian and European SMEs, linked up through powerful databases. The BCC Nigeria will share the knowledge and sourcing technologies and business partners across all network countries.” In her remarks, the President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande, noted that trade policy matters were very critical for the advancement of any economy,

adding that no country was fully self-sufficient in everything. She said, “This is why it is important for our trade policy to be consistent, transparent and sustainable. “Thus, as many countries have recorded sustainable growth and development through an export-led strategy. Effective venturing into international trade is expected to also assist Nigeria get sustained growth at the rates needed to make a visible impact on poverty reduction. “Nigeria has become an in-

vestment hub for many investors from around the world. Returns on investments in Nigeria are very high compared to what obtains in other parts of the continent. “However, for us to take full advantage of trade relations, we need to strengthen our competitiveness. We need to create the enabling environment to make businesses operating in the country competitive. We need to fix the supply side issues such as infrastructure, which is a major source of competitiveness challenge in many developing countries.”

L-R: Director, MTN Nigeria, Chief Victor Odili; first Runneroff/Students, Community Senior Secondary School, Komoleye Oluwatola and Ekpo Enenwan Gbara and Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Somoye Olusoloa, during the MTN 10th Anniversary of 21 Days of Yellow Care in Lagos. PHOTO: QUADRI IKUDAISI

BoI, Abia to empower SMEs operators with N1bn LIFELINE BoI and Abia State government will jointly contribute N1bn SME development fund that will be accessed by entrepreneurs

Taiwo Hassan

he Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Abia State government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to float a N1 billion credit facility, which will accelerate the development of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in the state. According to the MoU, the fund, as well as capacity building, will strictly be made available to qualified entrepreneurs in the state to boost their value, expand their production capacities and make more jobs available to the unemployed. Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive

Officer, BoI, Waheed Olagunju, disclosed these during the signing of the MoU at the Government House Umuahia, in Abia State. He said that the N1billion SME development fund would be jointly contributed by the bank and the state for onward lending to yearning entrepreneurs in the state, particularly those who are engaged in value addition and processing. He said, “What we are trying to do now is to accentuate the industrialisation of Abia State, particularly in the SME sector vertically and horizontally, to increase the level of entrepreneurship in the state with its attendant multiplier effects. “We need to add value to our products rather than exporting them in their crude form to countries where they are processed and sent back to us with more value and we pay heavily for that and the per capita incomes of those countries get much higher than we have here, and the quality of life and living standards are also much higher than we have

here.” According to Olagunju, the difference between the rich and the poor countries of the world is the level of industrialisation, as it is not by accident that rich countries are described as industrialised nations of the world and the poor countries as less industrialised. “By our estimation in the Bank of Industry, through every N1billion we lend, we are able to generate close to 10,000 jobs. And as resources permit, we can also increase the pool of funds. This is just a framework that we intend to start with,” he said. Olagunju noted that with the right capacity building, prospective beneficiaries stand a better chance of making best use of the assistance given to them, which will enhance their potential and also enable them to honour their repayment obligations. The BoI boss said that the bank aims to open a branch office in Umuahia, to enable it bring more of its products

and services closer to entrepreneurs in Abia State. In his remarks, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended the Federal Government’s renewed effort in trying to pick up the bits and pieces of the Nigerian economy through other vital sectors, apart from oil. He said, “This is the time to seize the opportunities that are available to us”. The governor said that his administration is resting on five pillars of development and first of these pillars is the development of small and medium scale enterprises, having identified from inception that Abians are very resilient, tough and ingenious entrepreneurs. He said, “We also discovered a cultural hedge in the way our people do business, which has prevented them from competing globally and that is the nonautomation of production processes. With automated production lines, we can be sure of consistent quality, time of delivery and consis-

tency in design. “We want to see how we can intervene by assisting them in procuring needed equipment, training and retraining and also help them in accessing markets and gaining exposure beyond Nigeria.” Ikpeazu added: “I want to assure you that every person that will benefit from the facility will give a good account of it and will be willing to pay back. The orientation is that this is the time to move forward and the economy of the nation and our state depends on their ability to seize this moment and run with it. “I want to assure the Bank of Industry that our government will cooperate with you and do everything possible to see that you succeed in setting up an office here in the state. “I’m one of the few that believe that Nigeria will rise from this low ebb and become stronger, become better, such that we can tell the story of what happened as the nudge we needed to rise from our slumber.”

eWORLD

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Protecting $38bn telecoms industry The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is retooling the telecoms sector’s corporate governance structure for greater efficiency and towards protecting the $38 billion investment in the industry. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

igeria’s telecoms industry has grown significantly in the last 15 years with investment largely driven by Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs), jumping from less than $500 million to $32 billion as at 2013. Latest information from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), however, showed that between 2013 and now, the industry had attracted additional $6 billion, swelling FDI inflow to $38 billion. Official data also indicate that active mobile subscriptions have grown from about 400,000 lines in 2001 to over 150 million in recent times while teledensity peaks at 106 per cent from less than 1 per cent in the last one and half decade. While the sector’s robust growth has been linked to sound regulatory regime, it was the view of the Commission that engendering an industryspecific corporate governance code will further put the sector on the path of consistent growth. Reviewing the Code Consequently, the NCC last week Tuesday convened an industry stakeholders forum including telecommunications operators, investors, financiers, Value Added Service (VAS) providers, and experts at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, with a view to reviewing the Code of Corporate Governance for Telecoms Industry. The Commission, in 2012 , set up a multi-stakeholder Corporate Governance Working Group (CGWG) with membership drawn from across the Nigerian telecoms industry, the Commission and Corporate Governance practitioners. The mandate of the Group was to determine the industry’s corporate governance needs and the best approach to be adopted in addressing them. The CGWG developed the Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry, which was published in 2014. The Code consists of 12 principles and was developed to protect the interest of investors and stakeholders in the

era is exactly the reason for today’s forum,” he said.

Danbatta

Teniola

industry, as well as promote timevalued principles of accountability, responsibility, transparency, integrity and ethical conduct. Need for the Code Speaking at the forum, Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu explained that for an industry currently regarded as one of the fastest growing in the world to maintain its growth momentum, the government has seen the need to strengthen corporate governance policy as a lever for driving the target. “It is our believe that the introduction of and compliance to the Code will check excessive of some big players, protect the smaller ones as well as resulting in increased confidence by the investors in the market,” he said. Also in his opening remarks, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, attributed most of the economic failures, whether at the national or corporate level, to “the absence of an effective corporate governance framework”. He said: “Without a robust corporate governance structure, corruption and arbitrariness thrive, progressively weakening the fibre and competitive edge of many organisations.” He explained that, in the face of stark and disturbing economic realities, the Federal Government is thinking outside the box, as efforts are being made to diversify the economy by developing the real and non-oil sectors as viable options to a sustainable economy, stressing that the telecoms sector is leading the pack in the Federal Government’s determined effort in this regard. Telecoms as GDP booster Already, Dambatta said the liberalisation of the telecoms industry opened investment opportunities for both local and foreign companies, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “To illustrate, in contrast to the economy as a whole which regressed to -0.36 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, the telecoms sector contributed, in progressive and

The code is declaratory in nature and implementation was initially voluntary across the industry, leading to violations

real terms, about 8.83 per cent to the GDP in the same period. This represents an increase of 0.5 per cent, relative to the growth in the last quarter of 2015,” he said. Similarly, he said apart from attracting FDIs in excess of $38 billion and reflating the economy, the telecoms value chain (formal and informal) continues to create a significant number of job opportunities for our teaming youths. “Other positive spin-offs include increasing local content and rising income per capita/per head for employees in the sector.” In spite of the growth in the sector, Danbatta said the Commission was not resting on its oars and basking in the glory of its widely documented successes. He said, “We are committed to sustaining and building on the formidable structures established over the years for the industry to thrive and outlive us. We desire an industry that will grow bigger, better and be more relevant to successive generations. “This is the real essence of our meeting today; to share our thoughts and perspectives on how to meet our commitment to the principles of inter-generational equity in the sector; how we can leave a lasting legacy of a strong and virile industry, fit for bequest to successive generations.” Extant problem While analysts believe that the Code has expanded the frontiers of accountability in the operation of companies in the sector, challenges, however, still exist. For instance, the Code is declaratory in nature and implementation was initially voluntary across the industry, leading to violations. He said, “While compliance with the provisions of the industry Code was initially made voluntary for a period of 1 year, which has since lapsed, the Commission is gradually moving towards a regime of stricter compliance. “To this end, the Commission recently carried out an industry study to assess the level of compliance with the Code. Part of the process of moving from a voluntary compliance regime to a mandatory

Switching to mandatory era Meanwhile, NCC Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye, has warned industry players that, as the industry moves from the voluntary regime to the mandatory era, the Commission will discourage the perfunctory practice of ticking the box and filling reports to beat regulatory deadlines in this regard. “We will expect strict compliance with the spirit of the Code. This, in our considered view, will move the industry forward and ensure its future,” he said. Under the new regime, Adeoye said there will be consequences for breaches, noting that the revised Code will, undoubtedly, provide sanctions for non-compliance. “However, it must be quickly pointed out that the emphasis is not on sanctions, but in entrenching an abiding culture of good corporate governance practices that will sustain the industry beyond the present generation,” he said. He, however, explained that for reason of expediency, the Commission deliberately came short of making the Code mandatory, saying that the NCC treated cautiously in order to ensure better preparations for the days ahead. Stakeholders’ reactions After all comments and questions were entertained by the NCC team from industry stakeholders and satisfactory responses provided by the Commission, participants at the forum were of the view that the code will strengthen industry investment protection. President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, said the effective compliance with the Code would drive FDIs, bring about greater sanity in the market.” Similarly, the National Coordinator of Wireless Applications Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), Mr. Chijioke Ezeh, who commended NCC for carrying the VAS providers along on the policy, said the Code will go a long way in protecting smaller players in the industry. An industry stakeholder, Mr. Adebayo Azeez, however, urged the NCC to ensure that the provisions of the Code are not in conflict with existing laws to eschew unnecessary litigations. Conclusion Meanwhile, with a view to retooling the sector corporate governance structure for greater efficiency, the industry has agreed with the NCC on the need to switch from voluntary compliance era to a mandatory compliance regime of the Code going forward.

business \ eWORLD

LEVERAGE Stakeholders say equation for success does not lie in hardwork but in leverage Kunle Azeez

takeholders in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology industry who gathered at the maiden edition of a youth empowerment-centric forum tagged Entrepreneurship Leverage (E-Leverage) in Lagos, have identified critical factors key to building a successful businesses in the Information and Communication Technology (IT) industry in Nigeria. The forum organised by Simeon’s Pivot Resources, was attended by stakeholders across public and private sector including Software developers, technology consultants, hardware engineers, tech business analysts, enterprise architect and young IT entrepreneurs. With the theme: ‘Leverage Solutions for Information Technology Sector’, speakers at the forum held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos at the weekend, explored what they considered ‘winning’ strategies for growing young IT businesses into becoming major players that will further contribute to the growth in the ICT industry. Representative of Ministry of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu at the forum, Ms Ibiye Member, said the government

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Experts identify growth strategies for IT sector was working towards developing public-private partnerships to expand ICT infrastructure, needed by young IT entrepreneurs to ride on. Member said forum would bridge the gap between technology and business, create a platform to inspire, mentor, build leadership skills and develop a sense of collaboration as winning strategies among stakeholders in the tech-

nology world. Managing Director, Precise Financial System, Mr. Yele Okeremi, who used his company as an anchor point to educate young entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses, emphasised the importance of ‘leverage’ and ‘perception’ and collaborations as ways to accelerating business goals and dreams. According to him, “The equa-

tion for success does not lies in hardwork; it lies in leverage. The word ‘Leverage’ has become very important to business. So, the solution for greatness in business will not come by following conventional methods, which give conventional results; but from new innovative thinking.” Managing Director of Simeon’s Pivot Resources, Mr. Enahoro Okhae, said as the clarion call for

L-R: Executive Director, Systemspecs Limited, Mr. Deremi Atanda; Chief Executive Officer, eMaginations, Mr. Sola Fanawopo; Director, Acceptance Development, Mastercard, Mr. Uwagbae Uzebu and Head, Acceptance Business, e-Business Group, First Bank, Mr. Bayo Olarewaju, during Ennovators Breakfast Series [EBS], orgainsed by eMaginÍations on mPOS in Lagos.

Gitex: Nigeria listed for IT startups contest

igeria and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organisers of the annual Gitex Technology Week, have exchanged notes on how to better expose the country’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) startups featuring at forthcoming global event. Nigeria’s participation at the Gitex Startup Movement is being facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at the event billed to hold in October. Following the meeting with the DWTC at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE, the NITDA officially added Nigeria as a participating country to join top contenders like Japan, France, Egypt, Morocco and Iran, among others. NITDA’s officials were led by its acting Director General Dr. Vincent Olatunji. In the delegation were acting Director of Finance, Ibrahim Umar Ede; Head of Corporate Communication, Hajia Hadiza Umar; and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Femi Adeluyi. Others are Messrs. Akande Ojo of Pinnacle Consulting International LLC and Segun Oruame of Knowhow Media International. The Nigerian startups which will be representing the country were selected following a rigorous process in which evaluators had to assess more than 369 entries from 32 states across the country. Nine

entrepreneurship continues to spread and the opportunities in IT becomes more obvious, young Nigerians would continue to grow in creativity regarding Information Technology by coming up with different innovative products. “Unfortunately there is more to running an IT business than coming up with an innovative IT products/services,” he said, stressing that “success apparatus needed by success-bound IT entrepreneurs should resolve around incorporation of mentoring, collaboration and succession plans and financial empowerment into the efforts being made by young entrepreneurs today.”

entries were received from other countries. The selection process was carried out by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE), a subsidiary of NITDA with the responsibilities to nurture, cultivate and expand ICT innovation. According to Olatunji, “Nigeria is committed to promoting startups. It has even become more strategic as the country seeks to

aggressively re-engineer its economy earn FOREX from non-oil sectors. We are participating in the GITEX STARTUP MOVEMENT to expose our own startups and see how they can leverage on the event to improve their entrepreneurship. “At NITDA, we believe that our youths have the wherewithal to excel anywhere in the world, what is needed is to build capacity in them and also give them

exposure. We are glad to be working with you to gain these benefits.” About Nigerian 16 startups will be joining over 400 startups and more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors and mentors from the global startup ecosystem. About $100, 000 will go to the winning startups while others have chance to pitch for deals from the numerous investors attending the event.

PAPDA to grow local content in IT

he largest trading group in the Lagos Computer Village, the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA,) has said it would encourage the growth of local content in the mobile device market in the country, just as it is planning to launch its online store. PAPDA made the commitment at the weekend when completed its transition programme with the election of new national executives. “We will push for more local content in the mobile devices market in the country. Before the expiration of our tenure, we will ensure that we have our local brands to compete with the existing international brands,” the re-elected president of the association, Mr. Godfry Hyke Nwosu, said in

his acceptance speech. Nwosu and the secretary of the association, Mr. Obinna Otozie, were re-elected unopposed just as most positions were not contested as contenders stepped down at the last minutes. The election, which was observed by security operatives and other trade associations in the Computer Village, was the third in the history of PAPDA. The new executives will lead the body for three years. Head, Transition Committee, Mr. Ohachusim Sunday, commended the contestants and members of the association for keeping the peace during the polls. He urged other trade associations to take a cue from PAPDA in the management of transition programme. The re-elected president,

Nwosu thanked members of the electoral committee for overseeing a credible election. “I am aware that several hours and dedication was devoted to ensure we had a rancor-free election”. While appreciating the conduct of members during the election process, he requested the members to support the “vision and leadership” of the group. Reviewing the performance of the immediate past executives, he said, “The past three years have been invested mainly in building a strong foundation for a dynamic and progressive association. We have proved that our primary objective is to protect the business interest of our members and develop a good working relationship with relevant government agencies.”

TechPlus 2016 unveils list of speakers

rganisers of this year’s TechPlus2016, Connect Marketing Limited, has unveiled a rich list of speakers expected at the event holding later next month. TechPlus 2016 will promote technology thought leadership, where leaders in business and government will exchange ideas and share expert insights on key technology issues shaping and defining the ways people live, work and play. TechPlus 2016, the second edition of Nigeria’s largest tech event will be also be a gathering of innovative technologies and provide a robust tripartite tech experience through its conference, exhibition and gaming structures while serving as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking and marketplace for consumers and businesses The speakers’ lineup parade a list of globally-recognised thought leaders, organisational heads, tech advocates, success serial entrepreneurs, innovators, policy makers and trend setters. They include Chairperson, Alliance for Affordable Internet, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah;, General Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Uber, Alon Lits; CEO, Idea Hub, Helen Anatogu; Co-Founder and Venture Partner, 500 Startups, Monique Woodard; Country Manager, OLX Nigeria, Lola Masha; Director General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz, among others.

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

News 'Children need milk to fortify brain’

Health

Interview Okegbe: 90% of psychiatric conditions are hereditary

32 33

The rising incidence of sudden and unexpected deaths is a source of worry. Regular medical checkup may avert some incidents and extend life expectancy, APPOLONIA ADEYEMI and OREOLUWA ABODERIN write

ormer Nigeria National football coach and captain, Stephen Keshi, 54 was reported to have died suddenly on Wednesday, June 8. Just as the populace was coming to terms with the shocking development, news filtered in four days later that former Nigerian Head Coach, Shuaibu Amodu has passed away at the age of 58. Many lovers of football were however taken aback due to the unexpected deaths of these two gentlemen. Going by the experience in the country in the past three decades, sudden deaths have become a recurring decimal. It is now very common to hear stories of citizens who die suddenly. Many without any apparent ailments go to bed and do not wake up the next day. Some that were hale and hearty have suddenly slumped the next day and died. One example of such death played out when Kunle Alade, a former assistant sports editor with the Nigerian Compass, a national newspaper went to bed, hale and hearty on that fateful night. He lived alone in Lagos where he worked, while his entire family - wife and children, lived in Ibadan. When Alade's neighbours did not see him rise the next morning, they smelt a rat but efforts to wake up him failed after persistent knocks on his door. Worried neighbours however broke down the door into his two bedroom apartment in a Lagos suburb and were astounded at what they saw. They found him lifeless on the bed. The sudden death of Alexander Agbasimera, 43, a petty

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

A pregnant woman getting her blood pressure taken by a doctor

PHOTO: www.wisegeekhealth.com

Putting sudden deaths at bay

trader in Ijora Badia area of Apapa Local Government about 12 years ago, also left both relations and neighbours wondering what the world was turning into. This was so because in the few days before his demise, his health was apparently in perfect shape. Those who spent time with him said he never complained of any health problem but on the fateful night that the cold hands of death snatched the father of two, members of his family that shared the same apartment with him noticed that his breathing pattern changed into a heavy and unsteady snore at about 2.30am. Subsequently, efforts to wake him up failed and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. In spite of the administration of emergency medications, Agbasimera breathed his last about 5.20am in the early hours of the same day, throwing the entire neighbourhood of Ijora Badia into fright. Today, the sudden deaths of Agbasimera, Alade and the latest exit of the two football icons may have gone, what is clear is that these pattern of deaths is now common in our clime. Confirming the trend, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Innocent Ujah, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, lamented that the number of Nigerians dying suddenly is on the rise. After observing the disturbing

For religious and cultural reasons, post mortem is not done by many Nigerians

trend, he said NIMR assembled researchers to look into what were the likely causes of these sudden deaths. “At the moment, we are doing a research on that but the results are not out. He said: “Post mortem is a procedure that is supposed to be the final determinant of the cause of death. But for religious and cultural reasons, post mortem is not done by many Nigerians, to know the cause of the death of their relations.” For instance, faithful of a major religious group in the country believe that once a member dies, burial should be conducted before sunset of the same day. If the death however occurs by the evening, the internment of the body should be done the next day. They claim this does not give room for any post mortem to be conducted. Even many members of other religious groups too, due to cultural reasons question the rationale for post mortem. “Will the result bring the dead back to life, some have asked?” For the medical community, although post mortem would not revive a dead person, it would determine causes of deaths with a view to check their recurrence. Based on this position, the director general of NIMR recommended that Nigerians should avail their relatives with post mortem services when they die because that would help the medical community to de-

termine the cause of death. “For us to be able to prevent further sudden death, Nigerians should avail themselves of post mortem when their relation dies. “That will help the medical community to determine the common causes of sudden death. People sleep and they don’t wake-up; and some just slump and die. This calls for worry. “But for effective outcome, post mortem should be done because it will tell us exactly what happened. “Unfortunately, when we walk round, we think we are well, unless you go for medical checkup you may not know that you have problems and this is a clarion call to Nigerians to go for regular check-ups, Ujah added. General medical examination is a common form of preventive medicine involving visits to a general practitioner by well feeling adults on a regular basis. This is generally yearly or less frequently. It is known under several other names, such as the periodic health evaluation, annual physical, comprehensive medical exam, general health check, or preventive health examination. Other necessary tests include Pap smears for cervical cancer, mammography, Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a test to measure the level of PSA in a man's blood, among others. He further disclosed. “I do my blood pressure regularly. It is good to know that you are well. It is not CONT INU E D ON PAGE 32

Health\News

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cancer patients denied access to treatment – Durosinmi-Etti Appolonia Adeyemi

cute shortage of radiotherapy machines have denied many Nigerians that are afflicted with cancer access to treatment. That was the submission of Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti, a professor of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the College of Medicine University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Durosinmi-Etti made this affirmation at the Inaugural Lecture of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he focused on the disease Cancer otherwise called the big ‘C’. To this end, the professor of Radiotherapy & Oncology, urged the three tier of government to make treatment facilities available. According to the professor of Radiotherapy & Oncology, overcoming cancer requires early

Flora Onwudiwe and Oreoluwa Aboderin

ealth experts have said that most mothers do not exclusively breast feed their children for six months, a factor that is blamed for the acute malnutrition of kids. This was reiterated at the FrieslandCampina WAMCO re-launch of Nigeria’s first ‘Growing –up Milk’ for children within four to six years old. ‘Food for the brain’ became a crucial topic for

Durosinmi-Etti

treatment, and availability of infrastructures which is presently lacking in Nigeria. He lamented that at every point; only two radiotherapy machines provide service to cancer patients in the country. He lamented that cancer has over taken other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in Nigeria as leading cause of deaths. Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumours are cancerous; benign

tumours do not spread to other parts of the body. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss and a change in bowel movements. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may have other causes. Over 100 cancers affect humans. In Nigeria, it is estimated that over 100,000 new cancer cases are recorded in the country, hence the advocacy to focus more on the prevention of cancers. He said, “Nigeria lacks infrastructure to treat cancer and treating cancer is expensive. To overcome cancer, there is need for us to acquire teletherapy machines because going by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommendation Nigeria needs at least 200 teletherapy machines for the 500 people per megavoltage machine.

Sickle cell: 2,000 walk over genetic compatibility Camillus Nnaji

bout 2,000 persons from different Sickle Cell non-government organisations (NGO) in Lagos, have carried genetic compatibility awareness to the public through a walk and lecture. The charity walk tagged: ‘Walk for Life’, started from the Police College in Ikeja, through Obafemi Awolowo road and ended at the Lagos Television Authority (LTV), Alausa. The event was part of the activities lined up for this year’s World Sickle Cell Day, which took place on June 19, 2016. Participants at the walk led by Star Actor and member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Desmond Elliot were seen distributing fliers and counseling the public on the need for genetic education before marriage. Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe said the coalition of NGOs aims at speaking with one voice on the plight

of sickle cell disorder victims, while at the same time educating the public on the need for genetic awareness and informed decisions during marriage. He said, the United Nation (UN) has designated June 19, every year to create awareness and proffer practical solutions in the management and treatment of the disorder. Ibekwe implored the Government to come to the aid of increasing population of sickle cell victims and formulate and implement workable treatment policies. “While the government is expected to formulate and implement workable treatment policies, the NGO’s are soliciting public and private support in the area of funding for treatment, management and care of SCD patients.” Director, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Dr. Aniette said the disorder has become a public health concern where about 150,000 children are born annually with the disorder in Nigeria.

'Children need milk to fortify brain’ mothers, especially because kids need DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid which is a major structural fat found in the brain and retina of the eyes. The discussants did not only highlight the importance of ‘growing up milk’ specially formulated for children between four to six years, they also said milk was required in every food for growth to develop the brain.

Dr. John Okeniy, nutritionist, a paediatrist, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo of the Obafemi Awolowo University, a psychiatrist, Dr. Adegboyega Oduwale of the Psychiatrist Hospital Aro Abeokuta as well as moderator, Mrs. Tolulope Owolabi, a mother, including the Marketing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Tarang Gupta were in attendance. Dr. Okeniyi said that

most mothers in Africa do not give their child breast milk and that indexes their measure of growth. It has been discovered that Nigerian Children were not getting the best nutrition and that is why some children were stunted, malnourished or dying. Okeniyi advised mothers that whenever they were given their children carbohydrate and protein they should

endeavour to add milk to every food. According to Prof. Onimawo, pregnant mothers should be sufficiently nourished to the point of delivery and that this is necessary because 70 per cent of brain development takes place within the womb, adding that breast milk was designed by God. That is why “we promote exclusive breast feeding for six months,” he said.

Medical checkup, a life-saving measure CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 3 1

good to assume that it is not your portion.” The position of Ujah has become relevant in this country considering the common development whereby some people sleep and do not wake up.. Reacting to the general cultural belief in the country to the effect that most deaths were attributed to diabolical causes, he said, “as a scientist, it is not evidence based, though in Nige ria nobody dies a natural death. Taking the blood sugar test With the behavioural change of doing check up, he said it glucose in the blood, which can would be very easy to find some occur when the pancreas does underlining medical health con- not produce enough insulin, ditions which if addressed early or due to some bodily disorder, could avert a sudden and unex- the body is unable to utilise the pected death. insulin. For the many who do According to a Consultant not know, if the condition bePhysician and Endocrinologist comes severe, the patient could at the Lagos State University lose his/her life, arising from Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), complications. Dr. Anthonia Ogbera, many According to the Internapeople who suffer diabetes, do tional Diabetic Federation (IDF), not have any symptoms. Dia- the total number of people livbetes is an unsalutory state of ing with diabetes is increasing the body provoked by an ex- by more than seven million per ceedingly high level of sugar or year. If nothing is done, the

PHOTO: biotechin.asia

global epidemic would affect over 350 million people within a generation. Available data reveals that within 20 years, 80 per cent of all people with diabetes would live in low and middle income countries including Nigeria. The disease is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputation, heart attack and stroke. It is also one of the significant causes of deaths. Many suddenly fall ill and die within one or two days after succumbing to complications of di-

abetes. Whereas, Ogbera told the New Telegraph HEALTH that if such people knew that they had diabetes, they would have introduced some controls that would have prolonged their lives. This is where the regular medical checkup recommended by Ujah becomes very relevant. An earlier checkup which finds the presence of a high sugar level in the blood could prompt medical doctor’s advice on the introduction of lifestyle changes to control the diabetes. Even diseases such as asthma have suddenly snuffed life out of some people who prior to their death were not aware that they live with the condition. Given the sudden deaths that are now common in the country, the regular medical checkup and other attitude change being suggested by the medical personnel would, without doubt help to curb some of the unexpected deaths as well as prolong lives of affected persons, provided that on their part they adopt life-saving measures that were proposed by medical personnel.

8% of body weight in the blood

cientists have estimated the volume of blood in the human body to be eight per cent of body weight, according to the American Society of Haematology. An average adult body with a weight of 150 to 180 pounds will contain about 1.2 to 1.5 gallons of blood. Meanwhile, an average child with a body weight of 80 pounds will have half the amount of blood as an adult. Hand has its own mind The ‘idle hand’ which referred to as the ‘Alien Hand Syndrom’ is an unusual neurological disorder in which the sufferer’s hand seems to take on a mind of its own. This is due to the damage in the medial motor frontal region of the brain and often occurs after a brain surgery, a stroke or an infection of the brain. The sufferer has no control over the movements of the ‘alien hand’ nor will they have any conscience idea on what that hand is doing. The person suffering from this condition can often feel disconnected with their hand, and feel as if it was not part of their body. When the suffer is unaware the alien hand can sometime act out complex movements like unbuttoning clothing, using tools or even tearing pieces of clothing. There are no know treatments or cure for ‘Alien Hand Syndrome’ however the best solution is to give this alien hand an object it can play with to keep it distracted from doing anything harmful to the sufferer. Gene determines colour of baby's eyes The colour of your eyes depends on the genes you get from your parents, but at birth most babies appear to have blue eyes. The reason behind this is the pigment melanin. The melanin in a newborn’s eyes often needs time after birth to be fully deposited or to be darkened by exposure to ultraviolet light, later revealing the baby’s true eye colour. Sunburn damages blood vessels Extensively severe sunburn damages the blood vessels extensively but how extensively? Studies have shown that it can take four to fifteen months for them to return to their normal condition. Consider that the next time you are feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.

Health\INTERVIEW

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okegbe: 90% of psychiatric conditions are hereditary Dr. Joseph Okegbe is the Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar. In this interview with CLEMENT JAMES, he discusses the myths around psychiatric ailments and how they can be tackled How would you assess the attitude of Nigerians on psychiatric health problems? The public perception of psychiatric health problems is not too encouraging because of the stigma that is associated with it. However, gradually, from empirical studies as well as observation, a lot of people are now becoming aware that if you have a breakdown, let’s say psychosis for example, that it is no more a spiritual attack. It is known now that you can actually get help in the psychiatric hospital. Psychiatric issues are many but are mainly divided into psychosis and neurosis. So much of the people who are suffering these are in the general population. Those who have neurosis just believe that it’s a minor problem and they don’t seek medical help until if by fate, they come across a psychiatrist or any medical doctor who has psychiatric knowledge. The psychosis is a little bit strange. So, you cannot blame Nigerians a lot when they say it’s a spiritual attack because no one can comprehend why a normal person will be sitting down, fully awake and be hearing very clear voices, not whispering. It is either the voice will be running commentaries on your activities, or it will be giving you command to do this or that or it will be gossiping you. That is to say that it will speak about you in the third person. Similarly, somebody may have very strange pains as if somebody is whipping you. All these are signs and symptoms of mental health breakdown. But you know, in Nigeria, we are so religious. So, when it happens, they seek spiritual help but when they realize it, they will come back to the hospital, sometimes, penniless. But when treatment is instituted early, they get better and go about their normal business. What I can tell the public is that 90 per cent of psychiatric conditions are hereditary so people should disabuse their minds that one must take cocaine or cannabis before falling into the condition. The real thing is, those who are schizophrenic, or have mood disorder, or clinical depression or personality disorders or factitious disorders basically inherit them. We still deal with a whole lot of neurological conditions. Epilepsy, for example, or any form of seizure because it is not every form of seizure that is epilepsy. Seizure can come after a severe head injury over time. Beyond that, most of the core, functional mental health problems are hereditary and that is why if you are hallucinating, or seeing strange things or hearing strange voices, at the end of the day, when you come down to take your drugs, all those symptoms will disappear. The awareness is growing in the general population. What exactly does psychosis mean? Psychosis comes when the affected people are out of touch with reality. They don’t have insight into whatever is their problem and they fall into hallucination, meaning that they can see something which others are not seeing. Now, there is what is called audi-

tory hallucination where you hear strange but clear voices, like you could hear one voice running commentary on your activities. They know that these voices are from somewhere but they cannot explain it. The same thing is with the visual hallucination where the affected can see things that others cannot see. About 10 to 20 per cent of the general population is affected. However, one per cent of people suffer from Schizophrenia which is a typical example of psychosis. Some also have delusions and they could be paranoid. This data could be gotten from the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases of Mental Health (ICD 10 version). One thing is that you don’t use one symptom or sign to make a diagnosis. You bring what is called clusters of diagnosis before you can assess who has mental health. Explain, in a layman's language, what's responsible for the strange voices in persons with psychosis. Our body is wired in an electrical form. So, if there is any affectation in that wiring, it will affect that part of the body. What keeps the brain going are tiny chemicals called neuro-transmitters; an example is Dopamine. If you have it in excess, you have a problem and if you have less, you also have a problem. The nerves in the body are from the brain. They come down and get to a certain point, and cross each other (decussation). And you know that the brain is divided into two and functions are situated on both sides. The function for speech is situated on the left side. In the brain, the body is represented upside down. So, if there is a problem at the topmost part of the brain, the upper part will be affected. And if it is the lower part of the brain, then the lower part would be affected. But psychosis that is not inherited can be prevented. For instance, if you are on drug, after keeping off for some time, the illness will go. What is the estimated number of Nigerians affected by neurosis? Studies have shown that about 30 per cent of people worldwide have one form of neurosis or the other. Sometimes, neurosis can pres-

Primary health care workers should be trained to handle some of the minor cases

ent itself as physical health. For instance, somebody cannot sleep well and the doctor will do all the examination without finding anything. Neurosis is where the practice of psychiatry is challenged in the community. The patients are in touch with reality. They have insight into their problems and they don’t have delusions. Some have generalised anxiety situation. In clinical anxiety, there are no stimuli from outside and sometimes one has what is known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) where one is obsessed and is compelled to do certain things. But what is really common now is what we call PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) because of wars and displacement. For those who are doing violent jobs like the armed forces, when they come back, a psychiatrist should debrief them. PTSD is not something that occurs immediately. It starts six months thereafter. There could be flash backs and there would be an attempt to stop it and it is called numbing. At that point, the person should see a psychiatrist. This disorder started being noticed after the second war. Could you asses Nigeria on psychiatric care and management? Unfortunately, government at all levels is not doing enough. Prior to 1995, there were only three neuropsychiatric hospitals in the country owned by the Federal Government. But by 1995, they took over five more. So, we are just eight. A place like Lagos for instance, that is heavily populated ought to have four or five neuropsychiatric hospitals. But the good thing is that most of the federal

medical centers as well as the university teaching hospitals now have psychiatry unit as a department. It was during Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu’s era as the minister of health that psychiatry was really given a boost. However, in terms of the way forward, I don’t think we have because the facilities are not really there to enable some biological research. The trend these days is to look at the biological basis of those medical conditions and we don’t have the facilities like CT scan. We can only appeal to the Federal Government to indeed, give every state a neuropsychiatric hospital. But if that is not possible because of the economic situation, some states can take it as a duty to upgrade their psychiatric hospital. For instance, in Akwa Ibom, they have a psychiatric hospital but they don’t have specialists there. The doctors manning that area are the general duty doctors and there is no way they can have such expertise, and that also includes Rivers State. Rivers State that is supposedly rich in terms of revenue that accrues to them has a psychiatric hospital but they don’t have a psychiatric ward for admission and the University of Port Harcourt Hospital is overstretched in terms of how to deal with the volume of patients. Hence, most of the time, psychiatric patients end up in Calabar. So, we can only appeal to governments at all levels to give mental health a priority. The WHO has recommended a policy that instead of concentrating patients in a hospital, primary health care workers should be trained to handle some of the minor cases at that level. I think with time, we will get there.

What strategies can individuals and families use to achieve good psychiatric care? Well, what they can do is to ask questions because I want to believe that all of us will know somebody who has a psychiatric condition, one way or the other. So, if they are able to identify any case, all they can do is to refer them and if they come, they will be given adequate attention. Unfortunately, even the parents seem to be a little bit ashamed and they will say why should I go the hospital and put myself to ridicule. They should not think about that but rather have it at the back of their minds that psychiatric illness is just like any other illness. In fact, psychiatric condition will not kill you, but diseases like hypertension and diabetes will kill you easily. So, there is no need for them to feel stigmatised. In this part of the country, we’ve done a whole lot of publicity. Every year, the WHO sets aside a day for Mental Health Day and here, we do that in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Okegbe Agency (NDLEA).

Health\News

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

UCH expands diagnostic services Sola Adeyemo

T L-R: Executive Board Member, Sebecclys Cancer Care & Support Centre, Mrs. Adetoro Omojole; Sebeccly’s Patron, Prof. Josbert Duncan; Executive Director of Sebeccly, Dr. Omolola Salako; Acting Head, Brand & Communication at Fidelity Bank, Mr. Tochukwu Ononiwu; and representative of Bristol

Sebeccly: 4,000 breast cancer patients get care

n order to reduce unnecessary deaths among indigent breast cancer patients, the Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, has provided support for over 4,000 breast cancer patients. This is made known by the Executive Director of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Dr. Omolola Salako, a radiation oncologist, recently, while announcing plans to mark the organisations 10 year anniversary. Also, the oncologist projected that within 20 years, 20,000 patients

would have got support from Sebeccly, a nongovernmental organisation. Among those present at the programme are Executive Board Member, Sebecclys Cancer Care & Support Centre, Mrs. Adetoro Omojole, Sebeccly’s Patron, Prof. Josbert Duncan, representative of Bristol Helicopter, Mr. Mayowa Babatunde, among others. According to Salako, these support is provided in the form of paying for treatment, giving counseling and information that directs the patients to the right professionals and facility,

creating breast cancer support groups from which breast cancer survivors drew succour. Going by the very high cost of cancer treatment, many poor people that are afflicted with cancer are unable to afford the cost of care, leaving them to seek funding assistance. This is one of the roles that Sebeccly plays; it is also helping to raise funds to assist needy breast cancer patients. She said, “We are looking at a situation where patients will have at least 50 per cent discount on cancer care."

he Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, yesterday disclosed that Nigerian patients no longer need to travel overseas for laboratory diagnostic tests because a state-of-the-art laboratory now exists at the hospital. Alonge disclosed this during his address at the 'Hospital-Wide Grand Round' programme organised for medical practitioners and private partners on ways to

expand medical diagnosis to encourage Nigerians who do not have confidence in the quality of medical services here, to believe they could get such quality services at the UCH. Speaking on the lecture with the theme: "Advanced Laboratory Services in Healthcare Delivery", held in Ibadan, Alonge said that through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement which the hospital embarked upon, Fidelity Bank had assisted the institution with N190 million in two tranches which had been used in procuring several

‘End stigma against albinos’ Appolonia Adeyemi

s Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2016 World Albinism Day, The Albinism Network Association (TANA) has raised the alarm over discrimination against its members in Nigeria, and urged fellow citizens to accept albinos as normal human beings. Public Relations Officer, TANA, Mr. Daniel Osonegbu urged public and private organisations to end the discrimination against albinos by reversing their non-em-

ployment policies in both the public and private sectors. His call came on the heels of the 2016 World Albinism Day, a day recognised by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about people with albinism and the harsh environment under which albinos were living. Also, Founder/CEO, TANA, Mr. Adeyemi Dada urged the three tiers of government to take note of the 2016 World Albinism Day, ‘Celebrating Diversity of People in Community of Nigeria: Promoting Inclusion of People with Albinism in Every Level of Gover-

Medicinal values of mistletoe (2) M

istletoe, the parasitic plant, is a peculiar plant. Its roots sink into the branches and trunks of other trees, instead of into the soil. The seeds need sunlight to germinate, unlike most other plants that need darkness. The leaves produce chlorophyll even in the darkness, unlike other plants that turn yellowish when there is no light. Mistletoe is well known for the treatment of the following diseases: HYPERTENSION Mistletoe not only lowers blood sugar but also helps to repair the pancreas and other diseased organs in the body. Mistletoe is one of the most effective, if not really the most potent, herbs for hypertension. No matter how serious or chronic the case may be, mistletoe always makes a difference. Follow method one or two as described above. HEART PROBLEMS Mistletoe is an excellent herb for the circulatory system. It promotes flow of blood to the brain and heart, especially in those suffering from coronary arteries and angina pectoris. Mistletoe is the safest herb for heart problems. In treating patients who have heart problems, great care must be taken to take the correct herbs or drugs, since any minor mistake could be fatal. With mistletoe, there is nothing to fear because its efficacy has been proved and confirmed.

Nature Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

Follow method one or two as described above for three months. INSOMNIA Mistletoe relaxes muscles, calms the nerves, and eases palpitations, migraine, nervousness and pains. Those who suffer from epilepsy will find mistletoe very helpful as it protects against attacks.

Soak three handfuls of dried or fresh leaves in one bottle of water for two days. Steep a napkin in the solution and place it on the painful, swollen or inflamed joints. This brings a quick relieve. INFERTILITY For fertility problems of various forms, mistletoe has proved

ARTHRITIS Mistletoe increases the production of urine and the elimination of toxic wastes from the system. Those who suffer from arthritis, rheumatism and gout have testified to the efficacy of mistletoe. Where other herbs have failed, mistletoe has proved to be a saviour. External application of mistetoe is recommended in cases of arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

Those who suffer from epilepsy will find mistletoe very helpful

laboratory equipment with which, according to him, "We have been providing rapid response to emergency for those scheduled for emergency surgery, dialysis and the like. Within three years, we were able to generate N307 million despite interruptions. We had an expansion because many patients were being referred to laboratories outside Ibadan. We therefore made another proposal to the Fidelity Bank and they recently gave us another N100 million with which we have expanded our laboratory to accommodate test of many viruses.

Mistletoe on tree

highly effective. Drinking two cups of mistletoe daily will correct gynecological problems, such as, excessive menstruation, painful menstruation, irregular menstruation, anovulation, Amenorrhea and uterine hemorrhage. For Fibroids, drink three cups of mistletoe daily for six months. For this I recommend the mistletoe on Guava. I know a lot of women who were faithful to this medication and patient enough to complete the six-month mistletoe therapy. Today they are not only free of fibroids, but are enjoying a new lease of life, for mistletoe rejuvenates.

nance.” According to Dada, a lot of myths around albinism were false as they lack scientific evidence. While urging Nigerians to break such myths including that marriage to an albino would produce children with albinism. He added that it was false, though there was a chance of that happening. “This is an opportunity to educate Nigerians that albinos are not different from normal people, even if we have disability,” Osonegbu explained, adding the disability of albinos can be used as ability.”

Artistic activity reduces stress

he benefits of art therapy have been proven scientifically once again. This is the findings of a study was published in the ‘Art Therapy journal’. American researchers have shown that regardless of age or experience, creative pursuits can significantly lower stress levels. Can colouring, drawing, modeling with clay or collage reduce the symptoms of anxiety? Researchers at Drexel University, based in the United States city of Philadelphia, attempted to find out if various types of artistic activities could bring down the level of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, in the body. For the purposes of the study, 39 adults aged between 18 and 59 took part in artistic activities for 45 minutes. Their cortisol levels were measured before and after the session through saliva samples. The participants were provided with markers and paper, modeling clay and collage materials. An art therapist was present, but deliberately let the session run as freely as possible, so that the "artists" could do what they wanted.

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Parenting

Mom&Parenting

WAPA: Many children face sexual abuse, exploitation

Mom's Alert When silence is not golden

34 34

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

ather’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognise the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. Although, it is not as common and doubly celebrated as mother’s day, it is only fair to acknowledge the immense contribution of fathers to their children. But the argument is that it is not only fathers or mothers that should be celebrated. Single parents’ especially single moms that pull double duty towards their parents should also be celebrated if not more glamorously. According to Mojolaoluwa Adediwura, single mom of two children, as much as she was not trying to take the shine out of fathers of the world, she asked that single mothers should be recognised as well. “Some single mothers are their status not by choice or self design but by fate and some ill circumstances of life. As such, the world should give us some recognition. It’s not easy at all being a single mother. We deserve to be appreciated,” she said. Adediwura added that a father is for the universe but a mother remains steadfast and compassionately committed to the children. Well, this week celebrates fatherhood and male parenting almost throughout the world. Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, many countries observe this day every third Sunday of June. On Father’s Day just like Mother’s Day, ordinarily, people should make special effort for their fathers or father figures. They ought to visit their fathers, while others give cards, flowers or other gifts, such as clothing or sporting equipment, or luxury food items. Somehow, it seems a strange culture to some people in this part of the world-Nigeria, perhaps. Most people that New Telegraph chatted with felt most indebted and grateful to their mothers than their father. For Agnes Onwuka, 23, she can’t really tell how special her father was to her. “Why should I appreciate my father? What

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

A father receiving gift from his children

photo: www.huffingtonpost.ca

Appreciate your father

really has he done for me aside making my mom to bring me to this world? Well, I salute him as other children are wishing their fathers worldwide,” she said. Onwuka’s grouse against her father was that he abandoned her and her siblings for their mom when they were at tender ages of six, four and two. “Since then, he never looked back. He went to another woman and never bothered about us. It was my mom who in thick and thin catered for us and you know what it is to be a single mother. For me, it is my mother I salute most,” she said. For Amina Zakare, a teacher, her father does not know the joy and responsibilities of raising a child. “My father, since I was born till now that I am 39 years old does not relate with me as a child, rather, we relate as strangers. My mother told me that my father was not happy because I am the third girl of his children, as such I am not a child to him. So tell me, what is there to celebrate him,” she asked. Ben Osomo, a petrol chemical engineer, remains indifferent about father’s day. He said because it is not Nigerian culture to celebrate and appreciate such, he didn’t bother to greet his father specially last Sunday(the very Father’s Day). “I believe we can never appreciate our parents enough. I love my father

very well but I don’t believe one day is enough to appreciate his efforts and contributions to my life. What I’m saying is that our old folks should be celebrated and appreciated everyday of their lives,” he said. However, while some don’t appreciate their fathers for one reason or the other, others do and even celebrated their fathers in grand style. Last Sunday at Shoprite by Alausa, Ikeja, there was jubilation in the air at the car park. An old man in his late 60s went round the car park with three of his children following him behind but at a distance. The old man was pressing a tiny car key remote in his hands as he was moving about, then suddenly by the third row of the car park, the flash lights of one of the vehicles beeped and responded to the remote in his hand. It was a Prado SUV, 2013 model! Then the children came out of their hidings and excitedly shouted, ‘Happy Father’s Day daddy!’ The old man stood speechless with tears of joy rolling freely down his cheeks. His eldest daughter told him, “Daddy, it is part of the fruit of your labour, please accept our token. We pray to come to this world again through you.” Even passersby stopped by to share in their moment of joy. At the shoprite, there were many families who brought

A tot holding on his father's hand

their fathers, grandfathers and grand parents for dinner or shopping. Celebration was in the air for mostly fathers. According to a recent study by NewsTimes, an international magazine, fathers also are tremendously important to a child’s emotional, academic and moral development. Children who maintain close relationships with loving fathers do better in school and are more likely to stay off drugs. And you don’t have to be a biological father. You can be a stepfather, grandfather and anyone who is a father figure for a child who needs him. Having a caring father is one of life’s great joys. Please call yours today to say you are thinking of him. Origin of father’s day There are some suggestions that the idea of Father's Day may originate in pagan sun worship.

photo: blog.africaimports.com

Some branches of paganism see the Sun as the father of the universe. The June solstice occurs around the same time of year as Father's Day so some people see a link between the two. The idea of a special day to honour fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. There was a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother's Day celebrations to plan a day to honour fathers. In the USA, Father's Day has been celebrated in June since 1910. The celebrations in the United Kingdom and other countries are thought to have been inspired by the American custom of Father's Day. This is in contrast to Mother's Day, which has a very different history in the United States and the United Kingdom.

36 MOM&PARENTING

THURSday, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

When a teenager is empty, he/ she lacks identity, value and character contents

Terrorists on the prowl to radicalise your children (2)

t is important to note that the terrorist groups, earlier identified in our discussion last week, recruit children from all the territories of the world, both from developed and developing countries of the world. In the news in February 2015 was the notable story of the three British teenage girls, who are said to have left their parents to travel to Syria to joins ISIS. It was reported that the three teenage finally crossed to Syria and that many other British teenagers were on the waiting list to also join ISIS. Australian Jake Bilardi 18, identified by his ISIS name Abdullah alAustrali, was reported to have blown up himself in a suicide mission in Ramadi in Iraq in 2015. He was recruited when he was a child. According to the Australian authority, around same time, teenage Australians were arrested at Sidney airport, suspected to be travelling to join ISIS. CNN reported that according to CIA sources, there were over 2,000 westerners from different countries, who have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS. On February 21, 2015, CNN aired the story of Islam Yaken, who went from a private school in Cairo but left to join ISIS. The Will, on March 4, 2015, a United States online medium, published the shocking report that one of the sons of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais had joined ISIS after moving from Nigeria with his two wives and children in order to help fight alongside ISIS. Though the son is said to be 41-year, the fact is that ISIS is already recruiting from Nigeria. If they could recruit a man with two wives and children, it goes without saying that children will be nothing but easy preys. You will also recall that CNN reported that Boko Haram is offering ISIS gateway to West Africa and the possibility of Al-Shabaab joining the unholy alliance. If this report is any-

thing to go about, it therefore means that Boko Haram, which has already perfected the art of recruiting children, may become a feeder, formidable and effective recruitment body, poised to export Nigerian children, across all social divides to Iraq and Syria. Permit me to quickly unfold the profile of the children and the social factors, which make it easy for terrorist groups to recruit: Emptiness: when a teenager is empty, he/she lacks identity, value and character contents. He/she has not been trained and disciplined to discover his/her identity, the values to represent and the character to imbibe. sustain and defend. He/she is not trained to discover and defend his/her self-worth. Such child/teenager becomes an adventure seeker in a bid to fill the emptiness within. When such child/teenager goes to the internet or social media platform, he/ she is like a city without walls, which accommodates all, the good, the bad and the ugly. When a child/teenager, who is empty, now becomes thirsty or hungry, every bitter thing becomes sweet and every rubbish becomes filling. Such teenagers are easy preys to all destructive forces like drug addiction, promiscuity, terrorism and others. Anger: when a child/teenager suffers abuse, he/she is dehumanized. He/she loses capacity for compassion and seeks carry out a revenge mission on the abuser, the society and the world, which watched unconcerned when he/she was being abused. Untrained senses: it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that the senses of their children are trained to be able to decipher between good and evil. Where this is not done, the child/teenager lacks sound sense of judgment and standards of behavior. He/she is simply gullible, believing that all that glitter is always gold and that life is a bed of roses.

WAPA: Many children face sexual abuse, exploitation Appolonia Adeyemi

agos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Lola Akande has raised the alarm over the pathetic conditions under which many children live today. Speaking at the 2016 Day of the African Child Celebration in Lagos on Friday, Akande disclosed that many children were victims of sexual abuse, forced marriages, child labour, inadequate parental care, economic exploitation, deprivation, denial of rights and lack access to good medical care as well as education. According to Akande, these were part of problems confronting children and mitigating against their growth, development and survival as members of the larger society. To this end, she reiterated that the commitment of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode’s administration to child protection, survival and development in the State. She urged all stake hold-

ers to see the year’s celebration as a clarion call for all to come together for urgent actions to protect children as the main focus. She emphasised that child protection policies has been enacted by the Ambode administration, to make life comfortable and safe for children as well as guarantee their rights to survival, protection, development and participation in issues that concerns them in other to live a dignified life. The theme of this Year’s Day of the African Child: “Conflicts and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all Children’s Rights” is a solemn look at how government and other stake holders could collectively take urgent actions to mitigate the negative effects of conflicts and war on the children.” She said current studies have shown that in many conflicts zones, children account for the majority of the casualties. Most die not from the weapons themselves, but from preventable diseases which ravages children be-

cause of the disruption of medical services and lack of parental care during the crisis. Also speaking at the occasion, the first Lady of Lagos State Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, represented by Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, said it was painful that many years after the independence of South Africa, where the incident that gave birth to the idea of the Day of the African Child took place in1976, the main issues of injustice against Africa children were still there. This includes low quality education, or outright discrimination in opportunities for good education, abysmally low education budgets of many countries, poor school environments, prioritising war over education and health, among others. She said,’’ much legislation protecting the rights of the children have been passed in many states, but the real challenge is that, we can only hold countries down to effective implementation of these instruments in an atmosphere of peace.’’

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

When silence is not golden (2)

ast week I started a dis- including changing the person’s course on the spate of will to name the abuser as bendomestic violence in Ni- eficiary, fraudulently obtaining geria and other parts of power of attorney, deprivation the world. I cited a few cases that of money or other property or resulted in deaths of the women by eviction from own home. involved, others were only lucky It is not surprising that there to escape alive. Those are only few are insufficient data on domesthat made it to the public domain, tic violence in Nigeria. This is thanks to social media; many primarily due to the stigma surmore go unreported because we rounding this issue. Fear and choose to keep silent. Domestic shame have encouraged the conviolence can be described as the tinued silence surrounding dopower misused by one adult in a mestic violence. relationship to control another However, the National Demoand the establishment of con- graphic and Health Survey in trol and fear in a relationship 2008 showed that domestic viothrough violence. lence cuts across all socio-ecoThere are other forms of abuse nomic and cultural backgrounds. in relationships and marriages 28 per cent of women, almost a such as verbal, psychological/ third of all women in Nigeria, emotional abuse, sexual and eco- have experienced physical vionomic abuse. Although there is lence, a significant number in almost always pressure to define a country of almost 160 million, domestic abuse in terms of ac- where almost half are women. tual or threatened physical vio- Surprisingly a significant numlence. A little more explanation ber of young women, including might be helpthe unmarried, beful here so we lieve that there are understand that justifications for spousal abuse is domestic violence. not only limited Domestic vioFear and shame to physical violence occurs on the have encouraged lence. grounds of matters Emotional or such as burning the the continued psychological food, arguing with silence surrounding the husband, going abuse can be verbal or nonout without asking domestic violence verbal. Its aim permission, neglectis to chip away ing the children, reat the confidence and indepen- fusal to have sexual intercourse, dence of the victim with the in- poor cooking skills, ‘inadequate’ tention of making her compliant apology for wrong doing, etc. and limiting her ability to leave. From last week’s discourse we can It includes verbal abuse such as include - not opening door/gate on yelling, name-calling, blaming time, not responding with ‘sir’, and shaming, also isolation, in- and not ‘liking’ Facebook status … timidation, threats of violence A mother of three had been and controlling behaviour. Many married for about 5 years and not abused women described the psy- able to earn a living because her chological effects of domestic husband wouldn’t let her. He cut abuse as having a more profound off her family saying they were effect on their lives- even where not welcome in their home and there have been life-threatening she had no right to go out without or disabling physical violence. his permission. He beat her at the Rape and sexual abuse occurs slightest provocation and calls when an individual is forced to her names. Whenever that happarticipate in unwanted, unsafe pened, he took away her phone or degrading sexual activity. and would not provide money for This is common in most abusive family upkeep. She and the kids relationships because a women's would have to stay hungry after right to consent is likely to be ig- they exhaust the last baby’s cenored. Research also indicates real. That’s how so easily almost that women who are raped by all forms of abuse happen in just their husbands or partners are one relationship! likely to suffer severe psychoWhy do women continue to logical affects because of the stay in marriages or relationprolonged level of fear they are ships where they are continulikely to experience. ously abused? Economical abuse this is Economic reasons. Most womwhere one intimate partner has en are not able to support themcontrol over the other’s access selves and their children and so to economic resources, which they are forced to depend on the diminishes the victim’s capacity abusive partner for support. Stereotyping and bias against to support herself and is forced to depend on the perpetrator finan- women. In a society where womcially. It also includes the control en are mostly blamed for marof someone’s present or future riage failures, women prefer to earning potential by preventing stick around than be judged by them from obtaining a job or edu- the society. cation. Financial abuse involves When children are involved, the illegal or unauthorized use women find it difficult to leave of a person’s money, property, due to fear that they could be depension book or other valuables, nied access to their children.

thursDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

Forex reforms: Investors still wary of Nigerian economy to wait out, said David, together with confirmation that the new regime is functioning properly. Once that happens, focus will shift to fundamentals such as returning the economy to growth - key for a country of 180 million where some 46 per cent live in poverty. Inflation too is running at the highest in more than six years - it hit 15.6 per cent in May already above the CBN’s 12 per cent interest rate. According to the news

Taiwo Hassan

Our role in cement funds mgt, by BOI

Devaluation will lead to a consumer recession

Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

espite declaring that they are pleased with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) adoption of a market driven exchange rate policy, most investors will stay away until the country’s economy shows signs of recovering from damage inflicted by the 16-month old exchange rate peg, Reuters reported yesterday. The apex bank last Monday finally abandoned its previous forex policy that had hurt foreign exchange markets and led to widespread capital flight resulting in the first quarterly economic contraction since the 1990s. But while investors welcomed the new forex policy as the right first step, most plan to watch Nigeria from the sidelines anticipating more pain in store. Reuters quoted emerging market specialist at

he allegation of misapplied cement funds between the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) had since been resolved and parties to the transaction have addressed the concerns raised. Acting Managing Director, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on a petition filed by the CTIN to the Presidency in November 2015, had last Monday visited the headquarters of BOI in Lagos, with a view to investigat-

ing the cement fund issue. But unfortunately, Olagunju was not around and a section of the media had reported that he absconded. Olagunju said that at

agency, the currency devaluation is likely to push inflation above 20 per cent in the second half of the year, meaning authorities will need to ramp up interest rates if they want to lure back foreign money to bond markets. “Right now you have negative real interest rates, so, investors will not be enamoured with buying Nigerian bonds given where inflation is or where it is headed,” said Kevin Daly at Aberdeen Asset Management. “You need (a yield)

the time the EFCC visited the bank, he was attending a one day stakeholder’s forum on National Automotive Industry Development Plan in Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

frica Finance Corporation (AFC) and Harith General Partners (Harith) have merged their power sector assets, expertise and experience to create a new energy entity combining both renewable and nonrenewable power generating assets in Africa.

The new joint venture has over 1,575 MW combined gross operational and under-construction capacity, and supplies power to over 30 million people, the AFC said. It includes $3.3 billion capital value portfolio of assets, including the Kpone Independent Power Project

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$47.61 US$26,445,433,756

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 22/6/2016 17/6/2016

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)

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

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

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 (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 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

He explained that the BoI Management had since resolved the matter amicably with CTIN since late February 2016 during, which it was agreed that an interest

AFC, Harith merge assets to boost Africa’s power generation

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

somewhere between 15-20 percent to make this attractive.” “It will be at least 12 months before we see any green shoots,” said Yvonne Mhango, Sub-Saharan Africa Economist at Renaissance Capital in Johannesburg. “The pain has to cut in full through the economy.” An average naira rate of 270 per dollar this year implies a fall in Nigeria’s dollar GDP to $400 billion from $481 billion in 2015, Renaissance Capital estimates.

UBS Wealth Management in Zurich, Jonas David, as saying, “It is positive, it is a more credible and flexible exchange rate regime in the long-run, you will see an external rebalancing of the economy, a fiscal adjustment and so on. But in the near term, things will get worse before they get better.” A slide into recession after the economy shrank in the first quarter of the year and a fresh spike in inflation are among issues investors will want

Concern

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

in Ghana, Azura Edo in Nigeria and Lake Turkana Wind Power in Kenya. The joint venture will merge the AFC’s interests in Cenpower, owner of the Kpone Independent Power Project under construction in Ghana, and Cabeolica, a wind farm that provides 20 per cent of Cape Verde’s energy needs, with those of the Pan Africa Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) which is managed by Harith. These include the Azura Edo IPP in Nigeria, the Lake Turkana Wind Power in Kenya, Kelvin Power Station in South Africa and the Rabai Thermal project in Kenya. Collectively this portfolio represents some of the largest projects in Africa’s energy sector. Andrew Alli, President and CEO of AFC, said, “Our new joint venture will make an invaluable contribution to improving generation capacity in countries across the length and breadth of Africa and by working together we can deliver tangible benefit for Africans, switching their lights on and stimulating positive economic growth on the continent.

All this is set to hit the local population and firms hard, but foreign companies operating in Nigeria have also suffered. Brewer Heineken for instance, reported that consumers had been shifting to cheaper brands. “(Naira devaluation) will lead to a consumer recession, a collapse in profits in companies,” said Robert MarshallLee, investment director at Newton Investment Management.

rate of eight per cent should be applied to the fund retroactively to previous releases based on which the fund grew to N12.3 billion as at December 2015.

ACCA backs CBN’s new forex policy Kunle Azeez

he Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Nigeria has expressed support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new forex policy, saying it would result in economic stability and trading transparency. ACCA said it has seen the need to communicate the thrust of the policy to its members in order for them to have a broad understanding of the implications. ACCA’s Head of Policy for Sub Saharan Africa, Jane Ohadike, said, “Part of the objective of the new framework includes the introduction of the naira to be settled over the counter (OTC) FX futures market. The aim is to encourage people to plan their future foreign exchange requirements through the use of various hedging instruments as opposed to the current situation where businesses tend to front-load or hoard FX due to uncertainty.

Lagos pledges partnership with PTAD

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has received a pledge of partnership from the Lagos State Government to provide logistics support for the verification of Lagos state pensioners with federal share to facilitate the payment of their benefits and entitlements. This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Pensions

Office, Mrs. O.A Balogun, during a visit to the Acting Director General/Executive Secretary of PTAD at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday. Mrs. Balogun according to a statement, conveyed the Lagos State government’s commitment to providing logistic support to enable PTAD conduct the verification of all pensioners with Federal share in the state.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

thursDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BULLISH GSK, Transcorp lead gainers to lift market indicators

Stories by Chris Ugwu

hares of blue chip companies quoted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday continued to react positively to the Federal Government’s new forex policy. The action has boosted share prices of some of these companies, resulting in the growth of market indices by 4.7 per cent or N466 billion during the last two trading days. Market analysts had linked the positive sentiments in stocks to investors’ renewed optimism following the new forex policy. The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the re-introduction and re-modelling of the floating single foreign exchange policy. It described the initiative as a bold and positive step, which attest to the dynamism of the apex bank in policy evolution for the greater benefit of the economy. The institute noted that the introduction of a forward market to hedge volatility in the foreign exchange market and the licensing of Foreign Exchange Primary Dealers are well commended innovations, which it believes will deepen the market. Barring systemic malfunction, CIS believes that the implementation of the new framework will boost dollar supply; and with clarity, define the exact exchange rate, ease the challenges of businesses across the board and return the economy to the path of growth. Consequently, at the close of trading yesterday, the AllShare Index gained 705.11 ba-

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

Shareholders gain N466bn in two days sis points or 2.39 per cent to close at 30.127.82 basis points as against 29,422.71 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N242 billion or 2.39 per cent to close at N10.347 trillion from N10.105 trillion, as market sentiment remained on the green zone. Meanwhile, a turnover of 541.8 million shares exchanged in 5,727deals was

recorded in the day’s trading. Banking subsector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 276.4 million shares exchanged by investors in 1,859 deals. Volume in the subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc and GTB Plc. Premium subsector boosted by activities in the shares

he Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has agreed that Union Dicon Salt Plc will replace Cargill as the core investor in the $100million Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone in Kogi State. This was the high point of the meeting of the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, with the Chief Executives of UDS Plc in Abuja. In a statement obtained from NSE’s website, Ogbeh noted that he was glad to see that a Nigerian company

of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed with a turnover of 93.2 million shares in 1.191 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 31, while decliners closed at 16. GSK Plc led the gainers’ table with a gain of 10.16 per cent to close at N18.21 per share, while Transcorp Plc followed with a gain of 9.94

$100m processing zone: Union Dicon replaces Cargill as core investor was taking over the very important project and is championing the indigenous development of agribusiness. “We are not going to engage in policy somersault, we are carrying on with the great idea of SCPZ and we are adding even greater ideas.

We are carrying on as we now produce what we call the green alternative: that alternative being agriculture, since oil and gas are unstable sources of income,” he said. Chuka Mordi and Bex Nwawudu of Union Dicon Salt Plc. who met with the Minister, thanked him for

Global stocks climb amid speculation over Brexit

lobal equities climbed while the pound pared gains amid speculation over whether the UK will vote to leave or remain in the European Union. Metal prices gained, while oil slid. According to Bloomberg News, the MSCI All-Country World Index headed for its biggest four-day gain since March as bookmakers’ odds implied there’s close to a one-in-four chance that Britons will opt to exit the EU in today’s referendum. Sterling trimmed an advance after the latest poll showed a one percentage point lead for the “Leave” camp. Biotechnology shares led the S&P 500 Index higher. Treasury yields held near a two-week high, as the market absorbed $46 billion of debt from auctions. Crude

per cent to close at N1.77 per share. Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc added 9.90 per cent to close at N1.11 per share. On the other hand, Tranex Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 9.09 per cent to close at N1.30 per share. CCNN Plc followed with 6.88 per cent to close at N7.45 per share, while Wapco Plc trailed with 5.64 per cent to close at N73.51 per share.

fell after U.S. inventories fell less than forecast. Worries that the UK would secede wiped as much as $2.7 trillion from global equities earlier this month. Odds for a “Leave” vote have dropped to about 27 per cent from 43 per cent a week ago following the murder of U.K. lawmaker Jo Cox, who favored staying in the EU. Still, opinion polls suggest the vote is too close to call, with warnings from central bankers such as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen that a victory for the “Leave” camp would destabilize financial markets. “I expect today’s trading to look much like yesterday’s in that it may have a positive bias, but I can’t envision a scenario where the markets will rally significantly,” said Mark Luschini, chief investment

strategist at Philadelphiabased Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, which manages $54 billion. “If the referendum ends up leaning towards a Brexit, those holding riskier assets would be caught.” The S&P 500 rose 0.3 per cent while the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index jumped 2 per cent. The gauge is up 1.1 per cent so far this week, after capping on a nine-day losing streak through June 17, the longest in two decades. FedEx Corp. fell the most in five months after disappointing investors by not providing more specifics on how the acquisition of Dutch shipper TNT Express will affect earnings. Adobe Systems Inc. sank 5 per cent after forecasting quarterly revenue may miss analysts’ estimates amid slowing momentum for its cloud-based products.

his support, in taking over the Alape project valued at $100 million, replacing Cargill, the US-based agro-industrial giant. With this, Union Dicon plc will be cultivating Cassava on 30,000 hectares of land in Alape, Kogi State. “It is a remarkable opportunity to develop the agribusiness space in Nigeria from a fully indigenous perspective. Union Dicon is listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange and it is a wholly Nigerian company,” Mordi said . He said, “We are grateful for the support given by the Honourable Minister, and the Agriculture Ministry, after careful consideration of our proposal. Their detailed understanding and focus on new capital investment, import substitution and job creation really impressed us and allows Union Dicon Plc to move forward confidently in a willing and positive partnership.” Nwawudu, noted that the outcome of the meeting would accelerate the progress on the Kogi State project in the next few months, expressing readiness to move very quickly to site. He thanked the minister for ensuring policy continuity as a priority, stressing the need to ensure local content.

News|SOUTH-WEST

Kashamu to Fayose: Leave Buhari’s wife out of your problem

he Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has urged Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Ayodele Fayose, “to stop the needless mudslinging against the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and face the allegations against him”. In a statement he issued in Abuja yesterday, Kashamu likened Fayose’s attempt to link Mrs. Bu-

hari with the Halliburton scandal as a “needless distraction and an amateurish shadow-boxing. “His action could be taken for a drowning man clutching at a straw”. The statement reads in part: “It is interesting that Mr. Fayose is talking about the rule of law and the need to do things within the ambit of the law. I never knew that he has ever heard of the concept of the Rule of Law. When he trampled on other

people’s rights in a bid to abrogate their tenure in office, where was the Rule of Law? Now he is crying out because he is afraid he might have to get a taste of his own medicine because a man must certainly reap whatever he sows. “Mr. Fayose is talking about the fact that he enjoys immunity under the law. If I may ask: can a governor who disobeys the law with reckless abandon seek protection under the law? You cannot say

because immunity covers you, you should not be investigated if you are suspected to have benefitted from the funds that were meant to buy arms for the protection of Nigerians. I think it is high time that we, as a people and government, address the issue of people committing crimes and hiding under the immunity clause.” The statement added that Fayose must stop chasing shadows and address the allegations against him.

L-R: Alhaji Mustapha Shinkafi; Soun of Ogbomosoland, Alayeluwa Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111, and Chairman, House Committee on Defence (Navy), Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, at the monarch’s 90th birthday celebration in Ogbomoso… recently.

Ambode to OPS: Adopt youth empowerment as CSR Muritala Ayinla

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday called on members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to deploy their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards empowering youths with relevant trainings with the ultimate goal of making them to contribute to the advancement of the Nigerian society. Speaking when he received a delegation from Total Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited on a courtesy visit, Governor Ambode urged them to key into the graduate internship scheme of the state government aimed at equipping fresh graduates with necessary skills to transform them into job creators rather than job seekers. According to the governor, such relationship could be scaled up to the optimal benefit of the society, especially by creating wealth for fresh graduates. He said: “I want our relationship on CSR to be scaled up so that we can start to have some kind of synergy between your expertise and

the graduates that we churn out from our tertiary institutions in Lagos here. “We can look at exploring new ways of creating wealth among our graduates or even in accessing training that you can afford us both locally and externally so that in the end, we will be able to do what we think is good for our new graduates, and we will be part of the success story of Total and also make our graduates to be useful to the society on their own.” While appreciating Total for its giant strides in CSR, the governor commended Total for investing heavily in Nigeria at a time when some others are running away from the country, saying the development underscores the trust and commitment of the firm to the improvement of Nigeria’s economy. He therefore reiterated his commitment to creating conducive business climate in the state, saying that it would ultimately go a long way in creating jobs. “We believe strongly that whatever it is that we can do to make Lagos safer, to make Lagos more comfortable for investors, and improve on

the business climate, we would not hesitate to do it, because at the end of the day it will create more jobs for our people; we would get more taxes and also provide infrastructure for the people. “I just want to say that this is a partnership that we will like to enhance and also try as much as possible to ensure that your corporate existence is not jeopardised

£18m

The total amount received by Stoke in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

risis is brewing in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Chairman of the party in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Mr. Ladi Lekuti, who was suspended by the state executive council of the party, has petitioned the national headquarters of the party, alleging victimisation.

and in whatever form that government can do to assist in terms of needs of specific issues that relates to your organisation, we will do it,” he said. Earlier, Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, who was accompanied by Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water District, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa and other top management staff of the company, commended Governor Ambode for his administration’s strides on security, the Light Up Lagos initiative and various infrastructural projects in the state.

$54m

The total pay from endorsements of LeBron James (Basketball) for 2016. Source: Forbes.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos seals 30 illegal pharmacies, patent medicine outlets Appolonia Adeyemi

orried by the danger posed by the activities of illegal operators of patent medicine and pharmaceutical stores in Lagos, the state government through its Taskforce on Fake, Counterfeit and Unwholesome Processed Foods, has sealed no fewer than 30 illegal pharmacies and patent medicine stores. A statement by the Director of Information in the Ministry of Health in Lagos State, Mrs. Adeola Salako, stated that the task force carted away fake drugs worth millions of naira in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government area of the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Pri-

mary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, who disclosed this yesterday while reviewing the report of the recent raid in Lagos, explained that the affected outlets were sealed off for various offences contrary to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Lagos State. The Task Force’s raid was conducted in conjunction with the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) officials, representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and officers of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad.

Hijab crisis: CAN endorses usage of Christian garment in Osun Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

embers of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the SouthWest yesterday stormed Osogbo, Osun State capital on a solidarity visit over hijab issues with a resolution that all Christian students in the state’s mission school should go ahead to wear their garments to schools if their female Muslim counterparts continues to wear hijab. The Association, which officially endorsed the use of choir robes and other forms of dresses for their children in the state public schools at a programme held at its state secretariat in Osogbo, argued that there is nothing wrong in wearing it when female Muslim students also wear their hijab. Meanwhile, the state chapter of the association yesterday filed a stay of execution on the June 3 judgment of an Osogbo High Court allowing Muslim students in all state public schools to wear hijab. The state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya disclosed this to newsmen

at the programme. In a communique made available by the leadership of the association through its Zonal Chairman, Archbishop Magnus Atilade and Rev. Alfred Aro, warned that “any attempt by Muslim students to wear hijab to school after the appeal has been filed would mean that CAN, too would ensure that all forms of garments are worn to schools in the state. “The CAN representative, however, charged the Christian body in the zone to be united to fight a common battle and be courageous to fight a good fight of faith. “We will continue to wear our own outfits also until our application is granted. We say no to hijab in Osun State secondary schools and we are battle ready to fight to a standstill all Islamic agenda set by this government to Islamise the state. “We condemn the ban of religious knowledge and history in schools for it is a ploy by government to use it as an attack on other religions and such approach, does not allow for moral training, upbringing and character moulding in our children.”

Crisis in Ogun APC over suspension of chairman There are indications that the suspension may not be unconnected with the rivalry between some chieftains of the party in the South West geo-political zone. In a letter dated June 20, 2016, and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the petitioner alleged that he was wrongly removed from office by a “pow-

erful cabal” in the state without being given the benefit of fair hearing. Lekuti, through his lawyer, Barrister Ajibola Kaka, said that his purported suspension from office was illegal as it neither followed due process nor was it in conformity with the provisions of the party’s constitution. In the said letter which was obtained by New Telegraph, the peti-

tioner urged the national leadership of the party to intervene before the crisis gets out of hand. It reads: “The party’s constitution stipulates the conditions to be met before any punishment could be passed on any erring member of the party. Article 21 clearly envisaged fair hearing and thus made provisions for it when disclaiming any member.

News|south-EAST

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kalu: I won the election in the five LGAs of Abia North Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

ormer Governor of Abia State and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate in the Abia North senatorial rerun election, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has told the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia that he won the election in all the five local government areas of the zone and not only in Bende, his home local government. Kalu, whose marathon testimony yesterday lasted seven hours, said under cross examination conducted by the 1st Respondent’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and INEC counsel, Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) that his prayer was for the Tribunal to recompute the result of the rerun election and declare him winner. He was confident that if the results were devoid of fraud, he would definitely win the rerun election. He added that the Tribunal should expunge the votes wrongfully allotted to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. According to him, he was aware that the PDP was not joined in the petition because the electoral law did not provide that the party

must be joined. The publisher and business mogul said that he was aware that his agents did not sign the result sheets where there were glaring electoral malpractices even as he added that there were wards and polling units where the results were cancelled but INEC officials smuggled them in to the result. He also said he needed no further proof of allegations of multiple thumb printing, ballot box snatching and

glaring violations of the electoral law than “the fact that the people that helped to rig the election were arrested and are undergoing trial in the courts.” Speaking with journalists outside the court room, the PPA candidate said that over 500 hoodlums were arrested during the rerun election for various criminal acts and were presently facing trial in the court of record. He said he wanted to be in senate because of his love

Awka

he Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), has petitioned the National Judicial Commission, (NJC), over the continued detention of 19 of its members, including a physically-challenged person in prison custody since April 2007. Speaking to Journalists in Awka yesterday, MASSOB leader, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said that the continued adjournment of their case at the Federal High Court, Awka since the matter commenced 2007, had

ENUGU

new pro-Biafra group, Adaka Biafra Marine Commandos (ABMC) has declared its support for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), urging them not to back down on their struggle to actualise the emergence of the Bi-

£16.15m

The amount of money received by Liverpool as merit payment for the 2015/2016 season. Source: Goal.com

affected the families of the detainees as many of them were bread winners of their families and their detention had led to their children dropping out of school. According to Madu, the affected persons who were facing charges of treason, kidnap and terrorism had never been given any chance to speak in court nor granted bail according to the law. He said: “We have appealed severally as a body on behalf of these people to be released on bail and we will produce them anytime they are wanted in court to no avail, “You can imagine what

the families of these people have been going through since 2007. Some were forced to relocate to the village because their bread winners are no longer there to cater for them while some could not afford to sustain their wards in school, hence they dropped out. It is not fair. Three judges had handled the matter, yet they had not been granted bail. Justice Peter Olayiwola started the matter and handed over to Justice Ojukwu before Justice M.I. Abubakar took over. Justice Abubakar was later transferred to Abakaliki, yet he has not allowed the new Judge in Awka to handle the matter.

NOUN seeks more study centres in Enugu

he National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN) has appealed to the Enugu State Government to encourage communities to establish study centers of the university for the acquisition of knowledge at the grassroots under the public /private partnership arrangement. Speaking during the courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House Enugu, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu said that the request for the expansion became necessary in view of the increasing number of students in its Enugu campus which were over

Biafra: New group, ABMC, backs IPOB, MASSOB Charles Onyekwere

of charge sheets for those who committed electoral offences; three newspaper reports on the election; voters register for Arochukwu, Bende, Umunneochi and Ohafia Local Government Areas and receipts of payments for certified true copy of voters register to buttress his claim.

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), receiving a souvenir from the Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, during a courtesy visit of the management team of NOUN to the governor in Government House, Enugu… yesterday

MASSOB petitions NJC over detention of members for nine years Pamela Eboh

for the people of Abia North and not for personal or selfish reasons. Kalu expressed hope that the Tribunal would give him justice in the matter even as he was satisfied with the proceedings so far. Kalu began his testimony on Tuesday and concluded yesterday, where he tendered 460 documents, including result sheets for Ohafia, Arochukwu, Umunneochi, and Bende Local Government Areas; certified true copies

afra nation. According to a release signed by the group’s Director of Information, Comrade Mkpoikanke Effiong Udo Akpan, the actualisation of the Biafra nation was a matter of time. The group also noted that it was solidly behind the Niger Delta Avengers, IPOB, MASSOB, Biafran Zionist Movement and other pro-Biafra agitators, cautioning that they should not accept hand-

outs from the Nigerian Government in form of Amnesty, NDDC, OMPADEC and other palliative measures, but to remain focus in their demand for self-autonomy. In a related development, the IPOB has condemned the Federal Government for its delay in constituting a panel of inquiry into the killing of pro-Biafra agitators on May 30, during the Biafra Day Anniversary.

The group in a statement signed by its spokesmen, Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Emma Mmezu, chided Governor Willie Obiano for describing IPOB members as hoodlums, miscreants and criminals who have the intention to destroy Anambra State. It said that was the reason for the governors ordered to security agents to kill the unarmed protesters in the state. Accusing Obiano of

19,000 in number. Adamu noted that the proposed study centers when established would be of immense benefits to the communities and the state at large as it would generate employment and empowerment for people from the areas, who were expected to provide the workforce for the centers in their various communities. Describing the Enugu Study Center as one of the most critical centers in the country, Adamu, disclosed that the university had been offering free education to prisoners in the country to give access to knowledge notwithstanding their incarceration.

masterminding the killing of pro-Biafra agitators in the state, IPOB said the governor convened a security council meeting which he (the governor) chaired along with his deputy Dr. Nkem Okeke with the state Police Commissioner Hosea Karma the Army, Navy and the DSS, in attendance. It said it was at the meeting held before the May 30 killing that Obiano gave security agents order to shoot at sight any protester sighted during the Biafra Day anniversary.

Shape in or ship out, Ugwuanyi tells teachers Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

nugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday vowed that his administration would not condone any teacher who would constitute a clog in the wheel of the state’s education system. The governor made the disclosure in Nsukka at the grand-finale of a quiz competition co-sponsored by the state, under the auspices of Ochudo Foundation, with Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. The competition which involved 32 secondary schools in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, ended with Community Secondary School, Agu Umabor emerging as champion, while Community Secondary School Ede-Oballa emerged first runners-up. Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze said his administration was passionate about education and that it would not allow any teacher to frustrate such effort.

Proprietors bemoan illegal schools Victor Mba Aba

he National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has decried activities of owners of unregistered private schools in Abia State, saying the body would soon move against the operation of such schools, to ensure that the standard and quality of education in the state were conformed with. President of the association, Prince Okey Ufomba while speaking to members in Aba said the decision of the body would pave the way for qualitative education that would ensure that the children compete favourably with others in any part of the country. The association, he continued was out to inculcate discipline into staff and children of member schools so that examination malpractices and other forms of anti-social vices were stamped out of the school system. Ufomba stated that membership of the association was mandatory for all approved private schools, adding that NAPPS had come to the conclusion that it was time the association took proper care of members of the academia and trainees of the Nigerian child.

NEWS | south-south

thursday, june 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG not serious with dialogue, says Niger Delta militants Dominic Adewole ASABA

new militant group, Ultimate Warrior, yesterday accused the Federal Government of insincerity in the ceasefire declared by it (the government) a few weeks ago. The group said the government was only paying lip service to the declaration as no concrete step had been taken by it to dialogue with the militant groups in the Niger Delta. Ultimate Warriors’ spokesman, Sibiri Taiowoh, yesterday berated the Federal Government for failing to call the roundtable dialogue that would engender peace in the region. According to Sibiri, “the Federal Government reneged in its promise after declaring two weeks of ceasefire, which means that President Muhammadu Buhari and his advisers merely paid lip service to critical issues of urgent national importance.” Sibiri went on: “Tsunami that would descend on

the country in the coming days would be severe for the government to handle. We bet you, this government wouldn't be able to handle that which would happen in the Niger Delta in the days ahead. “When it gets down, they would say the opposition is behind it, but we don't care. All over the world, militia groups emerge for a reason and we have made our reasons clear and vivid. “No roundtable dialogue has commenced, instead, government officials are quarreling over

critical issues of national important. Our patience is running out and we have decided to let the world know our grievances pure and plain again. The operations that would follow this plans are strategic and all operations would be codified as our goals have been codified in a one line mission statement.” The group, which said it has enough willing footsoldiers across the six states of the Niger Delta and have also gone ahead to recruit over 10,000 fighters and agitators from the

South-East and the Middle Belt region, hinted that it has affiliated itself with unnamed foreign militant group in a bid to form a formidable alternative to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In its conditional statement, the group said if it would ever embrace the olive branch that was dangled by the Federal Government; the dialogue process must be approached with almost transparency and sincer-

ity. “The Ultimate Warriors of the Niger Delta is asking for devolution of powers, so that the geo-political zones can become autonomous and manage the resources within their territories. “This is the kind of dialogue that we want for everlasting peace to reign, if you pacify us with crumbs, we will make you regret your decision to rule again. After we finish crumbling the oil economy, we will go after the legislators who fails to act and the institutions of

The total number of goals scored by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel; new Supretendent of Police, Udofia Titus and Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, CP Murtala Mani, during the decoration of Titus in Uyo…yesterday.

New Delta CP vows to fight crime Gabriel Efeduku

Commissioner: Akwa Ibom local councils are broke

Emmanuel sheds light on budget support fund

Uyo

Tony Anichebe

kwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Victor Antai, yesterday blamed the fall in the federal allocation to council areas and their inability to raise internally generated revenue to bolster their weak revenue base for the financial crisis in the third tier of government. He said because of this, the local government areas are broke. The commissioner, who spoke with journalists in Uyo on contentious issues in the public domain, announced for the umpteenth time that “no state governor can swindle the monies allocated to local

government.” The abandoned multibillion dollar Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project and the already approved Maritime University in Okenrenkoko, Delta State, which was allegedly scrapped, also became the object of focus in their struggle. The group urged the Federal Government to take proactive action on major Federal Government projects in the region, like expressing concern that the government was toying with major projects in thr region and allowing political jobbers to derail such for their selfish reasons. The new group urged President Buhari not to rely on ex-MEND war-

government councils. It is the easiest route for any governor who wants to go to jail. “I have been a council chairman for four years and I am now a commissioner and I can tell you that every kobo given to the local government in the federation account has a sub-head and as a result nobody can take that money to do anything else. “The problem you are seeing in the local government with money is because their allocation has dropped and what comes in cannot even pay salary bills any longer.” Giving a brief analysis of the financial difficulties being faced by the local government councils, Antai said in May 2016, like other months in the past one year, there has

been a steady decline in the amount accruing to the local governments. He said: “In May 2016, the 31 local government councils received about N74 billion and the salary bill for teachers and pensioners is way above that amount. By the time the local governments add other obligations to this, you will find that after the Joint State Account, their balances are in the negative. Last month Etinan council area had a deficit of N21 million, Abak N36 mIllion, Ikot Ekpene N47 million. If you talk about their internally generated revenue, some of them cannot even raise the money that can be used for cutting the grass around the councils, Antai said.

Uyo

kwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, yesterday explained the budget support facility offered to states by the Federal Government, saying that the facility was provided to enable states implement programmes captured in their budgets. Briefing Government House correspondents in his office in Abuja, the governor dismissed as false, insinuations that states in the federation were seeking another bailout to enable them clear arrears of salaries, pension, gratuities and other entitlements owed workers as reported by a

section of the media. He said states and the Federal Government were in a process of reconciling accounts on debts owed states through the construction of federal roads, other assets, the Paris Club, among others. According to Governor Emmanuel, the Federal Government in its magnanimity had provided a lifeline for sustainable fiscal implementation of budgets pending when the reconciliation process would be completed and the disbursement of what would be due to each state. The governor, who hinted that the facility was not compulsory, said states may choose to opt out from accessing the facility, which he explained had stringent conditions.

Ughelli

ollowing the spate of killings and violence across communities in Delta State by suspected Fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements, the new Delta State Commissioner of Police (CP), Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, yesterday vowed to put in his best to ensure the security of lives and property in the state. The CP while making the statement during a meeting with the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, in his office, warned criminals to have a change of heart and called on residents to serve as whistle blowers by reporting crimes within their environment to the police. The police boss advised the citizenry to refrain from activities that were capable of causing the breakdown of law and order in the communities.

Delta to demolish convicted kidnappers, sponsors' houses Lawmaker decries abandoned NDDC projects in N’Delta Dominic Adewole ASABA

elta State government yesterday said it will demolish houses belonging to convicted kidnappers and their sponsors to checkmate criminal activities across the state. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa disclosed this yesterday when he received the newly posted Commis-

sioner of Police (CP), Mr. Zawwa Muhammed Ibrahim in his office. The CP, who arrived the Governor’s Office in Asaba with his top team, said he was deployed to the state to declare war on kidnappers, armed robbers and curb cult activities. Okowa said the amended kidnapping law would go beyond mere jail sentencing of kidnappers as property and houses of

culpable individuals and their sponsors would be demolished to serve as deterrent to others. He said: “We will do all we can to stop kidnapping in the state. It is becoming a menace in the country. We are amending the anti-kidnapping law in the state to make sure that those involved and their collaborators will not go scot free with the proceeds of crime."

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

member representing Uhumwode and Orhionmwon federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, yesterday urged board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to always execute projects and

contracts awards within the limits of its budgetary allocation to the commission. He frowned at the high level of abandoned projects that littered across the length and breadth of the oil bearing communities in the region. Aisowieren harped on the need for appropriate mechanism to quickly address the apparent abnormalities in the system,

stressing that efforts must be made by the Federal Government to urgently intervene in this regard in order to allow contractors back to site to complete all abandoned projects. “My local government is an oil producing one and NDDC has a lot of projects in Orhionmwon and Uhumwode, which is my constituency and most of these projects are abandoned.”

north | news

thursday, june 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Niger to IGP: Police should assert itself Dan Atori MINNA

iger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that the new Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris is coming into office at a time when the police should reassert itself and operations as a vital institution in government's efforts at restoring peace and security in the country. The governor in his congratulatory message to the acting IG issued yesterday in Minna, the state capital, said as peace gradually returns to some parts of the North East, following the resounding success recorded by the military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, the police should be prepared to build on such gains to finally restore peace, se-

curity and civil life in the affected areas. The statement, signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said: "In line with world's best practices and with the breakthrough recorded by the military in quelling insurgency in the North East region, the onus is now on the police to effectively and consciously ensure that it takes its constitutional duty of maintaining peace and security in the nation. The statement reads in part: "The new acting IGP should as a matter of priority reposition the police to effectively provide efficient policing and a more proactive service to the people. The much talked about community policing should be given attention so that the force can effectively provide the much needed security."

Tambuwal parleys CBN on anchor borrowers’scheme Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

overnor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State yesterday said the state will parley with the officials of the nation’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the smooth take-off of the Federal Government Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme in the state. Participants at the special meeting, which took place at the Government House, Sokoto, the state capital, were representatives of financial banks, farmers’ associations and other key stakeholders in sector. According to Tambuwal, the state government

has made concrete arrangements to actualise the programme through the provision of 50,000 bags of high yield rice seedlings to be distributed free to farmers across the state. The governor, who disclosed that it had procured 5,000 pumping machines at the cost of N30,000 each hinted that the machines would be sold to anchor farmers at the cost of N10,000 per one. He lamented that the major problem facing the farmers was low level of awareness. He urged the participants to increase awareness among farmers on the benefits of the programme, saying officials of the scheme should do their best to ensure the success of the programme.

Bauchi chides NIC over freezing of govt accounts Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi

auchi State Government has chided the National Industrial Court for freezing the state government’s accounts, saying the garnishee order has deprived it from paying the workers’ April salaries. Governor Mohammed Abubakar, who spoke yesterday while addressing journalists at the Government House Executive Council Chamber, noted that the government had commenced payment of April salaries to the workers, but had to stop the payment in obedience to the court order. The National Indus-

trial Court, sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, had frozen the account of the state government over the N900 million debts owed the immediate past local government councilors, who served under the administration of former governors Isa Yuguda and Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu. Piqued by the action of the court, Abubakar said: "We had commenced payment of April salaries when the garnishee order was slapped on all the accounts operated by the state government by an industrial court in Jos following the claim of some councilors who served during the regime of Isa Yuguda and also Ahmed Ma'azu."

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left), with the Chairman, State’s Committee for the Revitalisation of Agriculture, Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi Dattijo, during the take-off of Anchor Borrowers' scheme… yesterday

Ortom denies borrowing N100bn in one year Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has debunked reports that his administration borrowed over N100 billion within the last one year. This was even as the governor yesterday directed the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to pay the October and November 2011 salary arrears to some local government staff, who were not paid that time. The governor, who disclosed this during separate meetings with stakeholders

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to pay the sum of N12.5 million being exemplary damages in favour of Senator Abdulaziz Nyako for unlawful frozen of his account and illegal detention. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who made the order, while delivering judgment in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, held that the applicant, Senator Nyako, son of former Governor of Adamawa State, was detained in the custody of the Commission in excess of the period prescribed by law. The judge, however, berated the anti-graft agency over what he described as "reckless tampering with the rights of citizens in the name of discharging its statutory duties." In addition, the court held that by declaring the applicant wanted without evidence of crime amounted to a breach to his fundamental human rights. Justice Kolawole also

in Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state, said he had only borrowed N53.5 billion since the inception of his administration. He maintained that all the loans his administration took were in the interest of the state and that such had been judiciously utilized. Ortom explained: “When we took office, we inherited a deficit treasury and we had to borrow N10 billion to pay May and June 2015 salaries of the workers and facilitate the take-off of the administration. The Federal Government gave the state N28 billion and N10 billion loans respectively to pay

the four months’ salary arrears at the state and local government levels as well as provide critical infrastructure. He said his administration also took a N5.5 billion loan facility to pay its counterpart fund for joint projects with development partners including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). He said the state government paid a matching fund of N3.8 billion, which amounted to a total to N7.6 billion invested into primary school system. The governor listed some of the partners to include the Sustainable Development Goals; the

United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FADAMA 1, 2 and 3, as well as others who have embarked on numerous projects in the state. On the payment of the local government workers, the governor, who gave the directive during the meeting with stakeholders from Igede in Oju Local Government Area, noted that though the arrears were not captured in the initial bailout, it would be paid from the savings of N1.4 billion made from the prudent management of the N15.5 billion loan facility.

accused the EFCC of embarking on a judicial fiat, which is unpardonable exhibition of ignorance of the law as the National Assembly never intended to give it the powers of an accuser and a judge. "The reckless tampering with the rights of citizens in the name of carrying out statutory duties is an act to subvert not only the letters, but the spirit of

the constitution," he said, even as Justice Kolawole further held that the EFCC acted illegally beyond its powers to have frozen Senator Nyako’s personal account for two years without a valid court order. "The action of the respondent (EFCC) amounted to usurping the powers of court by entering a final determination of quilt on the applicant," he stated.

He also held that the proof of guilt could only be undertaken by courts of competent jurisdiction and not by any agency including the EFCC. Justice Kolawole held: "It is only after a conviction that the court can make a final order of forfeiture as the rights of suspects are not determined by exparte application without hearing from them.

Court awards N12.5m against EFCC over detention of senator

Lawmaker distributes cash, food items at Ramadan Idris Salisu GUSAU

he senator representing Zamfara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, has distributed food items and cash worth over N56 million to the less-privileged in the senatorial district. The gesture was to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on the people of his constituency, especially during the holy

month of Ramadan. Addressing journalists shortly after the flaggingoff of the distribution exercise at Yandoton Daji, the senator’s country home on Tuesday, Chairman of the Distribution Committee, Abubakar Abdullahi, said the gesture was to assist the people of the four Local Government Areas of the constituency during the Ramadan. The food items distributed across the four local government areas of the senatorial district include

Gusau, Tsafe, Bungudu and Maru, according to Abubakar, were 1,509 bags of rice; 1,525 bags of maize and 231 cartons of milk. He said that the food items cost over N40 million, adding that due to the high cost of the food items in the country, and since the food items were not adequate to reach all the people, the senator decided to distribute N16.755 million cash to the youth and party officials, as well as others in the senatorial district.

WORLD \ NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lightning strikes leave 93 people dead in India

t least 93 people have been killed and more than 20 injured by lightning strikes in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, officials say. Most of the people who died were working on farms during

torrential rains Tuesday, reports said. Lightning strikes are common in India during heavy monsoon rains. Fifty-six people died in Bihar while 37 people were killed across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkand and Madhya Pradesh. “Many of

the victims are children and women,” Anirudh Kumar, a senior official at Bihar’s disaster management agency, told AFP news agency. One man taken to hospital in Rohtas said: “When it was raining, we immediately took shelter. It [lightning] hit

us there, and then we fell unconscious. “We could not understand what had happened. Then in the middle, when I regained consciousness, I realised that I had been hit by something.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply anguished” by the loss of life.

At least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. India receives 80 per cent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season, which runs between June and September.

Man confesses to 25 murders in Colombia

n alleged serial killer, detained over the weekend in Colombia has confessed to murdering 25 people, including his romantic partner and two children, a state prosecutor said yesterday. The man suspected of the murders in Guarne, 32 kilometres east of Medellin in western Colombia, told authorities at the public prosecutor’s office that he had killed 25 people, not 20 as he had originally claimed. Authorities believe his story could be true, because the man, 44, has revealed the location of four of the victims. Their remains have since been exhumed. “He stated that there were four bodies on the plantation where he worked as caretaker. ``This confirms

what this man is reporting,” Senior State Prosecutor, Luis Gonzalez, said, according to daily El Tiempo. Gonzalez added that DNA tests still needed to be done to confirm the identities of the two women and two children found on the property. “These individuals were strangled with a nylon cord and the first body was burnt,” he said. He said that the man was “cool and calm” when describing the details of the crime, suggesting that the suspect knew what he was doing. “We have evidence to demonstrate that this man now known as the ‘killer of Guarne’ is responsible and was fully aware and knew what he was doing when he committed the crimes.

Presidential hopeful sentenced to jail in Congo

ongolese presidential hopeful Moise Katumbi has been sentenced in absentia to 36 months in prison. The wealthy businessman, who owns one of Africa’s biggest football clubs, is currently out of Democratic Republic Congo

seeking medical treatment. The 51-year-old was found guilty of illegally selling a property in Lubumbashi, his eastern power base. He had the backing of seven opposition parties to run for the presidency in elections due to be held in November.

North Korea missiles, a serious threat –Japan

apan has warned North Korean missiles pose “a serious threat” after the country carried out new tests in defiance of international sanctions. North Korea launched two missiles within hours of each other, with one flying about 400km (250 miles) and reaching an altitude of 1,000km. A confirmed successful test would mark a step forward for North Korea after four failed launches in recent months. South Korea, the US and Nato have also expressed alarm over the latest tests. Both launches are believed to have been intermediate-range Musudan missiles, whose range of about 3,000km is enough to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific A suspected first launch failed, South Korean officials said, travelling about 150km before landing in the sea. But the second showed what Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani called “some capability”. “I believe the missiles are a serious threat to our country,”

he said. North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology. In January it conducted its fourth nuclear test, claiming it as its first use of a hydrogen bomb. Shortly after that it launched a satellite, widely seen as a test of long-range missile technology. Both launches are believed to have been intermediaterange Musudan missiles, whose range of about 3,000km is enough to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific A suspected first launch failed, South Korean officials said, travelling about 150km before landing in the sea. But the second showed what Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani called “some capability”. “I believe the missiles are a serious threat to our country,” he said. North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology.

Jeremy Corbyn and Labour’s leaders in Scotland, Wales and London united to make the positive.

EU referendum: Final push for votes on last day of campaign

oliticians have been making their last pitch for votes on the final day of campaigning before the EU referendum. David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn have told rallies in Bristol and London that a Remain vote in Thursday’s poll will mean the UK is safer and better off. But Boris Johnson said a vote to leave would show people “believe in our country” and Nigel Farage urged people to act “with their heart and soul”. More than 46 million people are eligible to vote in the referendum. The UK public are being asked to choose whether the UK should stay in the European Union or leave in the first vote on the country’s membership of the bloc for more than 40 years. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says the referendum is too close to call and the campaign has changed British politics in a number of ways. The four-month campaign is reaching a climax with last-

minute appeals to undecided voters from both sides. Mr. Cameron, who appeared alongside ex-PM Sir John Major and former Labour leader Harriet Harman in Bristol, told the BBC that Thursday decision will be irreversible and there will no coming back if the UK votes to leave. “You can’t jump out the aeroplane and then clamber back through the cockpit hatch,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today. Leaving the EU would be a “massive problem” for the UK, he said, doing “untold damage” to economic growth, jobs and family finances and hindering the opportunities and life chances of future generations. “If I had to sum up this entire campaign in a word, it would be that word ‘together’. I think together we are better able to face the challenges from terrorism and climate change, we are better able to grow our economies, better able to drive good trade deals... and I want us to get the good deals so we give

better chances to everyone in our country.” Mr. Cameron said he “did not believe there were any risks from staying” in the EU, saying the eurozone was beginning to recover economically and this would have an effect on levels of migration into the UK after what he said was an “abnormal period”. He also said he would lobby for further changes to free movement rules in the light of European Court rulings if the UK votes to remain and said the process of EU reform will “continue on Friday”, insisting that reducing net migration was “not an unrealistic ambition”. However, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, appeared to reject that option as he told reporters in Brussels “out is out”, suggesting that if there was a vote to leave “there will be no kind of renegotiation”, saying David Cameron “got the maximum he could receive” after months of talks which ended in February.

Zambia shuts down newspaper in tax dispute

ambia’s tax authorities have shut down a newspaper critical of the government, accusing it of failing to pay taxes, its managing editor said yesterday. The Post’s managing editor Joan Chirwa said Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officials had ignored a court order preventing its closure over a disputed debt of 68 million kwachas ($6 million). “We have been paying the taxes and this outstanding bill is from an old debt which is in dispute,” Chirwa said. She

said the newspaper had been closed because of its critical editorial policy. “It is not a secret that we are being targeted because of our stand,” she said. Tax agency officials were not available to comment. Lee Habasonda, president of Transparency International Zambia, said the action taken by ZRA was excessive. “We are very concerned that such a thing is happening at this time of campaigns for the August 11 elections,” he said.

In April, police briefly detained two Post journalists over a story quoting an opposition leader as saying President Edgar Lungu had used public funds to pay for a holiday. Lungu has been in power for just over a year after winning a ballot triggered by the death of his predecessor, Michael Sata, in October 2014. He faces a strong challenge from opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development at the polls.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News Visa denial: NBBF petitions FIBA, may seek compensation

Sport

Charles Ogundiya

International Sport

Reporting live

Messi relishes breaking Argentina goal record

June 22-26

46 47

Patience Okon George (right) ...yesterday. Photo: Charles Ogundiya

Yinka Ajayi

African Athletics Championships:

Nigerian athletes in different kits

Competition kits yet to arrive Durban Team Nigeria in good start

Charles Ogundiya DURBAN

igeria’s athletes to the ongoing 20th CAA African Senior Championship which started yesterday in Durban South Africa,

are competing in different kits. It was authoritatively learnt that the competition kits were yet to arrive South Africa and so the athletes were seen competing in different shades of the Nigerian colours. New Telegraph scoped that the

Athletic Federation of Nigeria advised the athletes to bring along to the event their previous competition kits. For example, two female athletes Patience Okon George and Yinka Ajayi

were in different shades and design of the g reen-whitegreen colours of Nigeria. “We are expecting the kits anytime from now. There must be a mix-up somewhere but the competition must go on and we are focused on the results,” an official of the AFN said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nigeria dominated the female 400m heats as all the three athletes registered for the event made it to the semifinals. Okon- George and Regina George finished first and second behind each other’s in their heat events while despite finishing third in her heat, Yinka Ajayi was able to scale to the semis. In the men’s event, two athletes scaled through to the semifinals while one failed to make it to the next round. The country nearly missed the competition due to lack of funds as the Ministry of Sports failed to release money to the AFN to prosecute the competition. Triple jumpers, Tosin Oke, and Olamide Olamigoke both arrived the camp of Team Nigeria on Monday while queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare was missing.

Keshi: Dalung proposes 20-man body for state burial The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

he Ministry of Youth and Sports is proposing a 20-man committee for a state burial for the late former Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi. The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, gave the hint when the children of the late coach called to officially inform and thank the Federal Government for the support given to the family of the football icon since his demise. Dalung commiserated with the children who lost both parents within six months and urged them to be strong in the Lord. “Keshi will be remem-

bered for his uncommon charisma, unrivaled leadership qualities and ability to command respect from players, peers and football enthusiasts. He was a national hero and would be given a befitting burial. In fact, Keshi belonged to the government and he will be buried by the Federal Government. This committee will ensure a hitch free burial and liaise between the government and the family to ensure that the best funeral is given to our hero”. Dalung also revealed that a memo which will suggest ways of immortalising late

Stephen Keshi and Coach Shuaibu Amodu is to be presented at the National Executive

Council meeting soon. Meanwhile, the proposed committee will comprise family members, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stakeholders including coaches, administrators, ex footballers, the media, representatives of Delta and Edo states, the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and supporters club. The committee will ensure a smooth state burial for late Keshi which is being proposed for the weekend of July 27- 29, 2016.

SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

DStv Basketball: Customs, Gombe Bulls, Kano Pillars win Olusegun Giwa

T Super Eagles defender, Stanley Amuzie (right) tackling an Egyptian player during the 2017 AFCON qualifier in Kaduna

Visa denial: NBBF petitions FIBA, may seek compensation

ollowing the denial of visas to the national U-17 women’s team for the FIBA U-17 Championship in Spain, the Nigeria Basketball Federation, has formally written basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, asking it to investigate the embarrassing development. The federation took this step because the Spanish Consul in Lagos did not only deny Nigeria its hard-earned opportunity to play in the FIBA Women’s U-17 Championship and caused the country a huge embarrassment, but also caused the players and staff of the NBBF serious emotional stress. The federation is pained because it took serious steps in filing the visa application which included writing all Nigerian authorities like the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP).

While the Customs and Immigration acknowledged the NBBF letter and pledged their support in seeing the smooth passage of the team to the championship, NAPTIP never replied. Every document for the visa application requested from the NBBF concerning the team, including affidavits of consent sworn to by the players’ parents for them to represent the country were all endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

rg anisers of Legends of basketball friendly tournament, Damola Awosika, has said the idea behind the event is to create an avenue for old stars of the game to network and sustain friendship. The former basketball player said that the event would take place on June 26-27 at the Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos. He said teams from Nigeria, Benin Republic and Ghana would feature in the two-day event. Awosika said many stakeholders including the Nigeria Basketball Federation were enthu-

Players of Gombe Bulls and Oluyole Warriors battling for the ball during their game on Wednesday

and presented to the Spanish Embassy in Lagos and despite all these, the applications were turned down without any reason till now. The NBBF, apart from requesting FIBA to investigate this matter to unravel the reason for the visa denial, is also seeking legal advice to file for compensation against the Spanish Consul for causing Nigeria embarrassment and financial losses.

Unuanel joins Enyimba’s technical crew

nyimba FC have hired coach Samson Unuanel, to strengthen their technical

crew. “I feel honoured rejoining the team I worked with six years ago,” Unuanel said in an interview. “My target is to win many laurels with them starting with Nigeria Premier League and the

Unuanel

siastic about the tournament and willing to get involved. He added that, “There is no prize money, the reason is because it’s first of its kind and there have not been any sponsors. Hopefully the next edition would be able to attract some level of sponsorship and then there would be an introduction of prizes in the tournament and some gift items.” Awosika stated that dignitaries, including the chairman of Lagos State Sport Commission, Deji Tinubu, FIFA zone three President, Sam Ahmadu, and Musa Kida were expected to grace the occasion.

CAF Champions League where I believe we still stand a good chance to reach the next stage despite losing to Zamalek.” Enyimba are set to have their second CAF Champions League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa come next Wednesday after losing 1-0 to visitors Zamalek of Egypt on Sunday.

EURO RESULTS Hungary

3-3

Portugal

Iceland

2-1

Austria

QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES Italy

Spain

Portugal

Croatia

Garmany

Slovakia

England

Iceland

CBN Tennis Open:

Veterans storm Lagos for Legend of basketball Sekinat Olaiya

he Nigeria Customs and Gombe Bulls on Wednesday won their last group games against the Niger Potters and Oluyole Warriors respectively, to qualify for the next round in the ongoing DStv Basketball playoffs at the indoor hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The Customs started their game slowly, as they made some turnovers and missed short but was able to get their composure and won the tie 5751. They trailed in the opening

quarter, which the Potters led by three points before rallying back in the second quarter to tie the game and maintained their lead till the final buzzer of the fourth quarter. It was a similar scenario for the Warriors who filtered before recapturing their rhythm from the second quarter to win the game with 73-61. Similarly, Kwara Warriors defeated Plateau Rocks 62-58 in the third match of the day while Kano Pillars outclassed Royal Hoopers by 83 to 62 points in the last match of the day.

Emmanuel, Sylvester clash in quarterfinal Ajibade Olusesan

econd seed Moses Michael will clash with veteran She-

hu Lawal in one of the top-rated quarterfinal matches of 38th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis

Tournament taking place at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. Third seed, Sylves-

Pinnick hails GTBank Masters Cup Emmanuel Tobi

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has commended Guaranty Trust Bank for its investment in youth development through the GTBank Masters Cup, a competition played by first generation and private schools in Lagos. Speaking at the final at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos Pinnick said, “The NFF is very appreciative of the huge investment by GTBank in the sponsorship of both

the Lagos Principal Cup and the Masters Cup. Our technical department has initiated a process that will help to nurture some of the talents from these competitions.” Greensprings School emerged winners of the GTBank Masters Cup Season Five final defeating St. Gregory’s College 3-1 in the final of the boys’ category. A first half brace from Bassey Charles and Ali Wale’s strike were all the Lekki-based school needed to subdue the defending champions with

Shede Victor getting the consolation for the losers . In the girls’ category, Queens College defeated Federal Science and Technology College 4-0 to win the title. Chinasa Nneji’s brace plus strikes from Dolapo Airori and Chioma Mbonu handed the girls victory in a one-sided encounter. The final was attended by Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, GTBank’s managing director Segun Agbaje as well as the leadership of the NFF.

ter Emmanuel, faces potentially tough clash against Sunday Emmanuel while fourth seed Abdulmumuni Babalola who accounted for John Otu’s ouster will wait for the the final score of the game between Nonso Madueke and Albert Bitom to know his quarter final opponent. The defending champion of the men’s singles event, Thomas Otu who defeated Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-3, 6-4 in the second round is also waiting for the winner of the second round game involving seed 10, Joseph Imeh, and seed 5 Clifford Enosoregbe to decide his next opponent.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Zika virus: Rory McIlroy withdraws from Rio Olympics

The Muyiwa Daniel Column

reland’s golfer, Rory McIlroy has announced that he will not participate at this summer’s Olympic Games due to risk of infection from the Zika virus. The world number four had been expected to represent Ireland with the Games staging a golf tournament for the first time in 112 years. However, McIlroy has followed the decision

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Pinnick’s board and heroes past!

had switched off from the domestic scene just days after the Nigeria Premier League went on its short break and gave way to risks attendant with the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) uninspiring display of the FA Cup-which it terms the Federation Cup-and where danger could have been averted if those players of Ikorodu United-rooted in the bottom of the League table- had been spared the trauma of playing an FA Cup game far away from their base. It is only an FA with a lack of vision, private sector support that goes cap-in-hand to government for as little as serving tea and biscuits at meetings only to turn around and threaten to “invite” a FIFA backlash anytime the sports ministry intervenes in affairs as dictated by Decree 101 of 1992 that gives Minister Solomon Dalong that fiat as dictated in Sections 11 and 18. For the umpteenth time let me state clearly that the Decree still exist though some are of the opinion that it has become an Act of the National Assembly. But a law which states that “ALL activities of the NFA are subject to the APPROVAL of the National Sports Commission(NSC)/Ministry of sports “ is unambiguous and clear. The same law states that the Secretary-General of the NFA IS a member of staff of the NSC seals the supremacy status of the NSC. Those clauses seal the “independence of the NFF board whose composition-as a matter of factis at the behest of various State governments who finance and run the soccer clubs in Nigeria with the exception of Mountain of Fire Ministry(MFM), Ikorodu United and Giwa FC. The various board members remain nominees of the state governments and convoking at the centre, they cannot lay claim to any “independence” and that is why the Amaju Pinnick/Giwa brouhaha has dragged to the Senate and House of Representatives where a resolution on leadership is still “a yawn away”. That crisis has dogged the path of the NPL in giving a real fillip to the domestic League which could have been tailored after the Brazilian format, reduce costs and risks-forget the fact that former international player-Dunga-bit the dust and got the sack after the unimpressive outing at the centenary of the COPA America after “Samba” got a hiding from Peru taking the early flight home from “Obamaland”. If the league had been zoned into four geo-graphical areas of the country, teams like MFM and Ikorodu United would not have travelled beyond Benin and Ilorin while Kano Pillars need not stretch beyond Minna and and Enyimba need not go farther than Uyo. That will keep the excitement upbeat while the final eight converge in Abuja or Lagos for the play-offs. That makes a lot of sense instead of us pretending that Minister Babatunde Fashola has fixed all the pot-holes on our death-traps tagged roads while his counterpart-Rotinmi Amaechi- has made our speed rails so efficient and secure of either Boko Haram or Vanguard madness for a transportation that will match the train service in France that has eased the traffic from Marseilles to Lille or Paris to Monaco where the Euro Championship may not return the crown to Ronaldo who hit the woodworks twice in as many matches for Portugal. However, I have placed on record the motions by Obinna Ogba’s Senate Committee and its counterpart in the House of Representatives as regards honouring former internationals and coaches-Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu. For the life of me I believe those Committees exposed lack of knowledge in these matters and thus remain none definitive on what kind of awards giving way to speculations that they are recommending the re-naming of the Lagos National stadium and its Abuja counterpart after the duo. I would have thought the Committees would have seized the opportunity for a motion that will enforce the institution of an Hall-Of-Fame for sports persons –past and presentin the country within the ambit of package one of the Abuja edifice facing the National Gate from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport. The efforts of our heroes past with that will not be in vain as lip service displayed by Pinnick and His Board would have been rested until reason prevail. Blessings of Ramadan!

made by some of his fellow professionals and pulled out of the competition, which is scheduled to be played in Rio de Janeiro between August 11 and August 14. In a statement, the 27-year-old said: “After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Mcllroy

Messi relishes breaking Argentina goal record L

ionel Messi has broken the Argentina all-time goalscoring record by netting in his nation’s 4-0 Copa America Centenario semi-final win over the United States on Tuesday. The Barcelona forward overtook Gabriel Batistuta’s 54-goal tally with a 25-yard free kick against the tournament’s host nation. Messi, currently on 112 caps, made his Albiceleste debut in a friendly against Hungary in 2005, where he came on as a second-half substitute and was controversially sent off within 30 seconds. “I am happy to have surpassed Batistuta’s record and I want to thank my team-mates, it’s theirs as well,” said Messi, who turns 29 on Friday. Argentina will play either Chile or Colombia in the Copa America final.

Ronaldo

Ronaldo becomes first to score at four Euros

ortugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first man to score at four European Championship finals after netting his first strike of Euro 2016. The Real Madrid superstar scored twice to ensure his side took a point from a pulsating encounter, and they

Messi

will now face Croatia in the knockout rounds after Iceland’s win Portugal played out pulsating 3-3 draw with Hungary in the final Group F game at Euro 2016 on Wednesday, as Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championship finals.

Cech considers retirement after Euro 2016 exit

Cech

zech Republic legend Petr Cech has revealed that he will take some time to decide on his future in international football after their elimination from Euro 2016 last night. Cech’s team lost 2-0 to Turkey last night in their final group stage game, meaning they finished bottom of Group D on just one point having drawn with Croatia last week. The Czech’s conceded

five goals in their three group games after losing 1-0 to Spain, drawing 2-2 with Croatia and conceding another two to Turkey on Tuesday night. That took Cech’s total of conceded goals in the tournament proper to 21 which is more than any other goalkeeper in the history of the tournament, and the 34-year-old has now claimed he’s considering his future in international football.

Argentina better than USA – Klinsmann

nited States coach Jurgen Klinsmann admitted that Argentina were the better team after his side were handed a 4-0 drubbing in the Copa America semi-finals. A brace from Gonzalo Higuain and a strike each from Ezequiel Lavezzi and the talisman-

ic Lionel Messi sealed the deal for Argentina as they ousted the hosts from the competition on Tuesday night. “You saw tonight why they are the No. 1 team in the world,” Klinsmann was quoted as saying by ESPNFC on Wednesday. “We just simply hit a

far better team tonight.” It was Lavezzi who opened the scoring and once they were in the lead, the visitors tightened their defence further which gave the US almost no chance to make a comeback. “Once they have a lead, they’re not giving that lead away,” Klinsmann said.

Klinsmann

On Marble

Everyday is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we’ve got 24 hours each.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie 1884 Berlin Conference in retrospect

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

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‘Promiscuous’ lawmakers: If Dogara acts Jesus? “Men (who cheat) do not cheat because they are dogs. They are (regarded as) dogs because they cheat.” – Mokokoma Mokhonoan

Political Musings

ome political watchers are yet to figure out what the United States of America (USA) set out to achieve in writing the Speaker of Nigeria House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara to report that three of his “Honourable” members who visited US recently did not comport themselves well, that they asked hotel attendants to help them procure prostitutes made available in American social markets. And that one of them perhaps more ‘hungry’ for it who could not wait for the prostitutes attempted raping a hotel attendant. If the Ambassador’s intention is to mock the lawmakers and indeed the country, he would discover soon that he would not record any success because this is not the type of challenge Nigeria considers serious. If his intention was to moralize to the lawmakers, the letter should have been addressed to them directly on advisory capacity. The problem in this country now is overwhelming the populace and the signs are there for everyone including the Ambassador to see and should have known that this type of issue would not jell now. Also, is America in good moral standing to raise this issue, is prostitution illegal in America? At the risk of being seen to be defending the lawmaker’s alleged immoral act, may I make it clear that all politicians including Americans are morally bankrupt and lack the discipline needed to engender the desired good governance. That perhaps explains why Napoleon Bonaparte said that “In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” But even if Nigeria chooses to pretend that the said act has embarrassed them and decides to dive into proper probing possibly to impress America, and play to the gallery, all the Speaker needed to do to actually set his colleagues free is to act Jesus. The Holy book told us Jesus during his time went to Mount Olives to pray one early morning and on coming down from the mountain and was teaching the people “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. And the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” The bible remarked that although the scribes and Pharisees were not wrongly accusing this adulterous woman, their purpose was not to justify the law, if so they would have also brought the man since it takes two to commit adultery. He had broken the law just as much as she had. The law required that both be stoned to death, (Lev. 20:10). They were simply using the woman as a trap, hoping to trick Jesus. The Romans didn’t permit the Jews to carry out their own executions, so: If Jesus had ordered her stoned they would have reported Him to the Romans.

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Dogara

If He had said she should not be stoned they would accuse Him of breaking Moses’ law. “This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.” We aren’t told what, if anything, Jesus wrote in the dust with His finger. But as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” This is a tremendous statement about being judgmental toward not only the adulterous woman, but all sinners. Jesus said that only the sinless were worthy of casting the first stone. And the Holy book said “And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.” Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” If the Speaker decides to play Jesus in his investigation and trial of these lawmakers and Americans and the House members as Scribes and Pharisees, surely the lawmakers will go free. They will go free not because they are innocent of the accusation just as the adulterous woman, but because they were brought by likewise sinners. Imagine America with all kinds of immorality trying to play saint here. A country that has legalized man marrying man and at the verge of allowing man have sex with an animal is trying to play

James F. Entwistle, US Envoy

clean that somebody tried to hire a prostitute in a hotel. Prostitution is an old immoral profession which Africa tried to kill by declaring it as abomination but the Western World led by America said it’s a free world and their right, so when has it become wrong to purchase a product you legally display in the shop? I am one of those who think that it’s necessary for the Americans to properly

understand the peculiarities of African setting so that they stop using the same standard for their country here. Their human rights agenda is having issues with Africa because of these differences in certain standards. It’s understandable that they have very little economic challenges and need to create some social and political problems to spur their brain for solution but Africa is bedevilled by problems of poverty, lack of basic things as food and water. For instance today, significant percentages of American women are single mothers, something Africa tries to discourage because of the social stigma of bringing up children without a father. So the American Ambassador should not beat his chest thinking he has done wonders reporting lawmakers trying to purchase sex made available for sale in America. The diplomat will be surprised to learn that even if his report had indicated that they actually committed the offence, their spouses who if it is in America would be rushing to court for damages, would only worry if they were not protected. We know Africa would get there because of the menacing influence of social media and global village reality where our girls would lay ambush for promiscuous men and make money out of them but we are not there yet. However after all said and done, the lawmakers should remember that Jesus did not say the adulterous woman was innocent he only admonished her to go and sin no more. Need we re-emphasis it to these play boy lawmakers? A word is enough for the wise they say. But for us the voters let us note William Simon’s remark to Americans which is applicable to us that “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote” Let us endeavour to send good people to Abuja by coming out to vote next time. God bless Nigeria.

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