Thursday, march 31, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

US: Nigeria to be among top 10 global economies Tony Chukwunyem

he United States has said that Nigeria’s estimated middle class of 50 million people will help grow the coun-

try into one of the top-ten global economies by 2050. It, however, expressed doubts that much of the billions of dollars looted from Nigeria in the last de-

cade would be recovered. The US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Linda ThomasGreenfield, stated this in Washington ahead of the

extent of Nigeria’s importance in Africa and the world… Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 400 million by 2050, overtaking the United States

meeting of the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, which took place yesterday. She said: “In case anyone has any doubts on the

Dutch investigators probe Shell’s involvement in $1.1bn oil deal }2

and becoming the third most populous country in the world. The median age in Nigeria is 18. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and Africa’s largest oil producer. The country’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Cameroon hands over suspected suicide bombers to Nigeria }3

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Vol. 3 No. 771

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Slain Army Colonel buried in Kaduna }4

Inusa

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Recovered N5m: Two bankers in police custody }9

Sergeant sleeps with colleague’s wife, dies in hotel }9

N150

Owoseni

CCT trial: Saraki hires US, Israeli experts Olonisakin

PDP senators vow to produce Senate president if… }2

Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, acknowledging cheers from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at a camp in Makurdi … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Reps to Buhari: Sign budget without details No, you must send details, says Presidency

New birth control method for MEN underway

NEWS

THURSday, March 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CCT trial: Saraki hires US, Israeli experts

Chukwu David and Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

etermined to win his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for false declaration of assets, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has brought in experts from the United States and Israel to join his lawyers led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN). New Telegraph learnt that the experts are crack investigators, forensic and handwriting specialists with the mandate to provide information on witnesses and documents presented at the tribunal by the prosecution. The experts, who reportedly arrived Lagos on Monday, would soon leave for Abuja to commence operations.

A source, who disclosed this yesterday, said the information to be provided by the experts would assist Saraki's legal team to win his battle against the Federal Government of Nigeria. "The investigators will ferret out and scrutinise thoroughly all available information on the eight prosecution witnesses, including their school records, service records from their past and present places of employment and personal information that may help the defence team in the course of the trial. “Most of the so-called witnesses will not be credible when information concerning their life is presented publicly before the Tribunal. "It is also expected that with the fear that the prosecution may present forged documents, our team needs to be vigilant

and pro-active considering the manner in which the proceedings before the tribunal is being conducted. "Our people believe that with the way properties that have nothing to do with Saraki are being put on the charge sheet, there are tendencies that documents to sustain their claims may have been forged. All these the experts will screen and help the lawyers with information that may help them," the source said. In the charge against Saraki, he was alleged to have made false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers on assumption of office as Governor of

Kwara State in 2003 by making anticipatory declaration of a property, No 15A and 15B McDonald, Ikoyi Lagos, when in actual fact the property was sold to him in 2006 in the sum of N396,150,000 by the Implementation Committee on the Federal Government Landed Properties. Saraki was also alleged to have, between October 2006 and May 2007, while he was governor, acquired a property from the Federal Government in the sum of N497,200, 000; a sum which is not fairly attributable to his income, gift or loan approved by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and which he wrongly claimed to have acquired

0.41

5.58m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Malawi in 2000. Source: Itu.int.

The total population of Eritrea in 2012. Source: Un.org.

L-R: Chief Risk Officer, Bank of Industry, Dr. Ezekiel Oseni; Acting Managing Director, Mr. Waheed Olagunju and Deputy General Manager (Incubation), National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) of India, Mr. Munib Ikram, during a visit to NSIC in New Delhi, India.

from proceeds of sale of rice and sugar commodities. In addition, Saraki was alleged to have, on June 3, 2011, made a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the end of his tenure as Governor of Kwara State in 2011 by refusing to declare Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos which he acquired between 2007 and 2008 through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for N325 million. Saraki was also alleged to be operating a foreign bank account while he was the governor of Kwara State. He was alleged to have transferred $73, 223.28 from his GTB domiciliary account No 441441953210 to the American Express Bank, New York card account No: 374588216836009. Saraki had, after pleading not guilty to the charge, was admitted to bail on self-recognizance. The CCT sitting in Abuja had, however, on March 24 refused the application filed by Saraki, seeking to quash the 13-count of false and anticipatory assets declaration preferred against him. Ruling in the application, chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, affirmed jurisdiction to entertain the case. The tribunal, with the consent of the counsel, adjourned the trial till May 5. The Federal Government had lined up eight witnesses against Saraki, among whom include de-

Dutch investigators probe Shell’s involvement in $1.1bn oil deal Adeola Yusuf

utch investigators have begun the probe of Shell’s alleged involvement in the $1.1 billion Malabu Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 scam. Shell and Eni have invested at least $1.8 billion in purchasing and developing the block, which they own 50 apiece. The block reportedly holds probable reserves of 9.23 billion barrels of oil, which if proven, would represent the equivalent of a third of Shell’s proven reserves and two-thirds of Eni’s. The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan had controversially approved the transfer of $1.092 billion from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account in London to Nigerian accounts controlled by Malabu, a company controlled by Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete. The money was paid by

global oil giants, Shell and Eni, for Africa’s richest oil bloc, OPL 245. Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said yesterday that Dutch investigators recently visited its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, in relation to an investigation into the offshore oil field. "Representatives of the Dutch Financial Intelligence and Investigation Service and the Dutch Public Prosecutor recently visited Shell at its headquarters," a spokesman said, according to Reuters. The visit, he added, “was related to OPL 245, an offshore block in Nigeria that was the subject of a series of long-standing disputes with the Federal Government of Nigeria." Shell is cooperating with the authorities and is looking into the allegations, the spokesman said. Sensing that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was yet to find its feet on international le-

gal matters, Etete had, last year, approached the British court and asked that $85 million (N17 billion) be returned to his company, Malabu. A British judge, on December 15, 2015, however, refused to release the money to Malabu. In refusing to release the money, Justice Edis of the Southwark Crown Court declared that he was not sure the administration of President Jonathan acted in Nigeria’s interest when it approved the transfer of the money to Malabu. “I cannot simply assume that the FGN, which was in power in 2011 and subsequently until 2015, rigorously defended the public interest of the people of Nigeria in all respects,” the judge ruled. The deal, shaded in various layers of corruption, has been condemned by Nigerians and international transparency advocates and is being investigated by authorities in four different

countries. The $85 million was seized at the request of Italian prosecutors, who are also investigating the deal. The money was the last part of the OPL 245 largesse not yet distributed. At a two-day hearing that started on November 23, Etete’s lawyers argued that there was no fraud in the deal and asked that the money be released to him. While Etete argued that the money be released to him, the Italian prosecutor argued that “their investigation could lead to a potential forfeiture of the money down the road.” Malabu’s lawyers told the court that freezing the money was an assault on Nigeria and questioned how the court could imagine that Messrs. Muhammed Bello Adoke, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who allegedly signed the deal, would be a party to a corrupt deal. While giving his ruling,

Justice Edis said while he could not say for certain if the deal was fraudulent pending conclusions of investigations, it would be inappropriate to release the money to Malabu. “I am not making any findings of fact about misconduct by anyone. I am simply assessing the evidence before me to determine whether a restraint order should be discharged, which was granted by way of MLA (Mutual Legal Assistance) between the UK and Italy to support an investigation by the Italian authorities,” the judge said. The judge also made reference to evidence provided by the Italian authorities that ex-President Jonathan was directly involved in the fraudulent deal. The OPL 245 deal is currently under investigation by the Public Prosecutor of Milan, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

tectives that investigated four assets declaration forms the Senate President submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Those expected to mount the witness box to give evidence that could make or break the embattled Senate President are: Yahaya Bello, Michael Wetkas, Mustapha Abubakar Musa, Nura Ali Bako, Adamu Garba, Samuel Madojemu, Abdulrahaman Bayo Dauda and Nwachukwu Amazu. Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Peter Nwaboshi, yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus would not support the emergence of an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator as the next President of the Senate if eventually Saraki lost at the CCT. He said PDP would seize the opportunity to produce the next President. The senator, while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, said: "Well, I wish APC the best of luck if they are making that wild goose chase. But I want you to mark what I’m saying. I was the first to address the press in Port Harcourt and I told them that Saraki was going to win the Senate Presidency and I gave them my reasons. Then, nobody ever thought that Saraki was going to win. People were saying that APC had decided. But it was clear to me that he was going to win and I had to address the press. "I said Saraki was going to win and that he was going to get my vote. Eventually, we went there, he won. If, (but God forbid, because we don’t see it coming), by chance Saraki is removed; I can tell you that PDP will produce the next Senate President. "We only need three and we have it. The calculation is very clear to me. The calculation is very clear for PDP. We know what it will take us. When I told them that Saraki was going to win, I did a lot of mathematical calculations based on the facts on the ground and it is even clearer to me now that the PDP will win it. We will win it. "If anybody is thinking that a PDP man is going to vote against a PDP candidate, he is telling you a lie. We have people and we know how to get the people from APC. We will win and that will be very interesting. "What is happening in America is going to happen in Nigeria. I can tell you with what’s on the ground that we will produce the next Senate President," he stressed.

NEWS

THURSday, March 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps to Buhari: Sign budget without details Philip Nyam and Chukwu David Abuja

ollowing complaints from the Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari is unable to sign the 2016 appropriation bill into law due to absence of details, the House of Representatives yesterday implored the president to assent to the bill without the details. The House confirmed that details of the passed budget will be sent to the president in two weeks’ time. Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing National Assembly correspondents, explained that budgets are normally assented to before the details are sent, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed budgets during his reign without details, so, Buhari can also do so. Jibrin said: “We have passed the budget and, at the moment, we are working on the details. In order

for the nation to move forward and avoid stagnation of administrative processes, the tradition is that the bill is passed and forwarded to the Presidency for assent, while the lawmakers continue to work on the details. “There is nothing abnormal about this practice and yet nothing abnormal about a president assenting a budget before or after seeing the details. In any case, the budget details are usually sent within a week or two after passing the budget.” He assured that: “we would take a week or two to work on the details. We are doing the final harmonisation checks here and there that should not take more than a week or two.” According to Jibrin, “we have instances of President Obasanjo signing the budget without the details; we came to President Umaru Yar'Adua who always preferred to see the details. So, if President Buhari prefers to see the details before assenting to the bill, I don't think we should make a big deal out of it. It's absolutely normal.” He explained that “in view of the inconsisten-

cies, errors, omissions and padding that characterised the 2016 Budget, it would be unpatriotic of the National Assembly to forward the budget details without being extra-careful, meticulous and cautious in discharging its duties. This is to ensure we do not make same mistake that the executive made. “The 2016 Budget is the most challenging budget the National Assembly has ever passed in its recent history. Taking into account the many controversies and omissions, particularly in NYSC, prisons, pensions, personnel shortfalls, among others, the budget failed in many respects to connect with the policy thrust of the government. “The National Assembly Appropriation Committees worked round the clock to address some of

Cameroon hands over suspected suicide bombers to Nigeria

he government of Cameroon has handed over two suspected female bombers who claimed to be among the 219 missing Chibok girls abducted in 2014 to Nigeria for proper identification. Maryam Alhaji Wakeel, 12, and Aishatu Usman, a 35-year-old mother of two, were arrested with explosives in Limani, Cameroon, but claimed to be among the abducted girls from Chibok. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, in a statement, three authorised representatives of the parents of the 219 missing Chibok girls have identified the suspects and confirmed that the girl and the woman do not fit the description of any of the missing daughters from Chibok. The trio of Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, chairman; Mr. Lawan Zana, secretary and Mrs. Yana Galang, women leader of the Chibok Girls Movement identified the pictures of the suspects but disowned

them as being part of the missing girls. The statement reads: “Nigerian government officials have informed the MMF that both Maryam Alhaji Wakeel and Aishatu Usman have been handed over to the Nigerian military this evening (Wednesday) and are currently on their way back to Nigeria. “The Nigerian government by Tuesday afternoon had already informed the MMF that the girl has clearly identified herself as Maryam Alhaji Wakeel, 12 years old, originally from Maiduguri but abducted from Bama when the town was overrun by Boko Haram a year ago. The woman has identified herself as Aishatu Usman, a 35-yearold mother of two children.” The MMF noted further that, “However the identification process was still carried out to lay to rest any claims that the girl is one of the 219 girls kidnapped from their school in Chibok on April 14, 2014. Mr. Nkeki, Mallam Zana and Mrs.Galang have confirmed that the girl and the woman do not fit the description of any of the missing daughters from Chibok.”

and start throwing stones at the National Assembly,” he said. Jibrin noted that “with all these series of challenges in the course of working on the budget, I doubt very much that the executive or Presidency, knowing fully what has transpired in the last few months, will be throwing stones at the National Assembly. “The general public should note that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2016 budget proposal came to the National Assembly very late. You will also recall that a lot of dusts were raised over different versions of the budget circulated in the National Assembly. Further, some ministers disowned the content of the budget during defence before the National Assembly. “Amidst these incon-

sistencies and discrepancies, the legislature had been deeply engrossed in perfecting the anomalies, ironing out of the wrinkles and stretching the twists inherent in the 2016 Appropriation Bill. “The appropriation committee needs to scrutinise the original proposal sent by the president vis-àvis the reports of various standing committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate to arrive at a clean copy of the budget details. This will, in no way, affect any envelop already passed or the aggregate expenditure.” It will be recalled that the Presidency had, on Tuesday, said that Buhari will not be able to sign the 2016 appropriation bill into law because of the failure of the National Assembly to send details of the budCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Gridlock on Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja occasioned by motorists queuing for petrol along the road in Lagos… yesterday.

lChibok parents disown suspects Wale Elegbede

the omissions, bring up to date allocations in the budget towards the policy direction of Mr. President, particularly issues relating to security, anti-corruption and economic diversification.” He said it will be unfair for the Presidency to accuse the National Assembly of delaying the budget. “It is, therefore, unfair for accusing fingers to be pointed at National Assembly when the Presidency defers or delays assent to the budget. Nowhere in the world that a budget is presented to the parliament, and expect it to be passed without subjecting it to the rigours of scrutiny, debate and painstaking processes and inputs of the parliament. “When all these things have taken place, we would all agree that it will be very difficult for anybody to sit

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Police seal Kogi Assembly lGovernor denies knowledge Anule Emmanuel and Muhammad Bashir

he police, yesterday, sealed Kogi State House of Assembly in compliance with the directive of the National Assembly, following the takeover of activities of the Assembly by the House of Representatives due to leadership crisis. New Telegraph observed that the main entrance to the Assembly complex was blocked by heavily armed policemen, who prevented members from accessing the complex. Another detachment of policemen barricaded the road leading to the complex, while staffs were subjected to scrutiny before they were allowed entry into the complex. An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), A. A. Adeniran, who led the police team, said their

action was based on the directive of the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, that the state House of Assembly be sealed off. Adeniran noted that only staff of the Assembly who are civil servants would be allowed access to the Assembly complex. “We were directed not to allow any Assembly member into this complex, only the staff of the Assembly are allowed to access the complex to perform their official duties,” he said. The House of Representatives had, on March 9, announced its takeover of the legislative activities of the Assembly in accordance with section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a resolution which was concurred by the Senate. The lower legislative chamber took the decision after considering and approving the report of a

10-member investigative panel headed by the Deputy House Whip, Mr. Pally Iriase, on the Kogi Assembly crisis. Five members of the state Assembly had impeached the Speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and replaced him with Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on the seal-off, deputy to the impeached speaker, Hon. Aliyu Akuh, said the crisis remained unresolved as an earlier directive by the House of Representatives for members to return to status quo was ignored by the five members. However, the factional speaker, Hon. Umar Imam, described the seal-off as illegal, as a suit is pending in court over the matter. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Ali, Imam said the action of the National Assembly was aimed at stunting the growth of the state

as all legislative businesses, especially the passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, would be affected. But, Governor Yahaya Bello has denied knowledge of the decision of the House of Representatives to take over the functions of the state House of Assembly. Bello stated this yesterday when he spoke to State House correspondents at the presidential villa, Abuja. He said: "My House (of Assembly) is sitting and we have absolute peace in Kogi State. "I am not aware of that the National Assembly is supposed to have taken over the state Assembly, the state is absolutely in peace and legislative activities are ongoing. "I am in the executive and the executive is functioning and we are doing the best we can, so legislature is their own business and they are on it. "I have a Speaker that is sitting right now so I don't know if there is any problem there."

NEWS

THURSday, March 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Slain Army Colonel buried in Kaduna

Ibraheem Musa and Emmanuel Onani

he remains of Colonel Samaila Inusa, kidnapped and killed in Kaduna by yet-to-be-identified persons, were laid to rest yesterday. Inusa, who was Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, near Kaduna State, was kidnapped at gunpoint along Refinery Junction in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday. The deceased was buried according to Islamic rites, after which he was given military honour with three gun salutes. Dressed in the national colour of the green-whitegreen, the body of Col.

Inusa arrived the old NDA cemetery around 11:45a.m. from the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna and was committed to mother earth at 12 noon. Born in 1972 in Nasarawa Local Government of Kano State, Col. Inusa attended Ramat Special Primary School in 1979-1985 and proceeded to Ahmadiyya Secondary School, Kano and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1991. The late Inusa gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1992 as a member of the 44th Regular Course and passed out in 1997 with a Bachelor of Biological Science. He was Aide-De-Camp to Sierra-Leon’s Vice- President and was promoted to the rank of Colonel

last year. His last appointment was that of a Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, near Kaduna. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has vowed to fish out the killers of Col. Inusa, to face the full wrath of the law. Buratai, who made the pledge yesterday when

£20.7m

The net amount of money spent/ received by Liverpool in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

594

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 1991. Source: Satp.org

the remains of Inusa was buried at the old Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) burial ground in Kaduna, said the Army was mourning the death of the slain senior officer who had served the country meritoriously. Represented by the Chief of Administration at the Army Headquarters, Maj-Gen. Ado Abubakar, the COAS described the late officer as a gallant and professional soldier, noting that the Army was not happy with the way and manner Inusa was killed. Also, Commander, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Major General Kasim Abdulkarim, said the late officer who served under his command, was a loyal, committed and hardworking officer who would be

fondly missed by his colleagues in the military. Gen. Abdulkarim urged officers and men of the Nigerian military to take precautionary measures for their personal security. Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the Nigerian Army may have concluded plans to beef-up security around its officers, owing to the kidnap and killing of Colonel Samaila Inusa in Kaduna on Sunday, by yet-to-beidentified persons. New Telegraph gathered from military sources that particular attention would be devoted to officers in Kaduna State, where the abduction and eventual murder of Inusa occurred.

Budget: You must send details, Presidency tells Reps CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, signing the condolence register of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite at the deceased's residence in Lagos …yesterday.

US: Nigeria to be among top 10 global economies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

middle class of roughly 50 million people is expected to help grow the country into one of the top-ten global economies by 2050.” Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of Nigeria to the world when she said: “These statistics paint the picture of a country with enormous potential and opportunities ahead of it, yet daunting challenges it must tackle in order to succeed. There is cause for cautious optimism at this juncture and the United States looks forward to doing everything we can to partner with Nigeria to seize the moment. “Why is it so important that we seize the moment? It’s simple: we need a strong, proactive Nigeria, because it’s in Nigeria’s interest, the region’s interest and it is in the world’s interest. Importantly, it is in the United States’ interest, as well. And so, the question in front of all of us today is: What can we do to

support a strong, proactive and prosperous Nigeria?” She, however, noted that despite Nigeria’s size and resources, the United Nations estimated in 2011 that 54 per cent of the country’s population lives on less than $1.25 a day and 16 per cent of children die before reaching their fifth birthday, largely as a result of preventable diseases. According to her, “Nigeria has also struggled to provide adequate and reliable power to its citizens despite its vast natural resources, with only 45 per cent of its citizens currently having access to electricity.” In addition, ThomasGreenfield stated that massive corruption has resulted in Nigeria losing billions of dollars every year, especially in the last decade alone. “Although much of this money that has been siphoned off will likely never be seen again, imagine the impact that this

money could have had on Nigeria’s infrastructure and economy,” she stated. She said that despite these challenges, the US believes there is cause to be optimistic about Nigeria’s prospects, particularly in the aftermath of last year’s elections. Thomas-Greenfield said: “Nigerians have newfound optimism and an opportunity to set their country on a path to capitalise on its nearly unlimited potential. The election was a first and major step toward Nigeria fundamentally altering its course – and the country today stands at a crossroads.” The US top official stressed that if Nigeria implements sound policies, the country has potential to regain its role as a strong and effective global player, a leader on the African continent, and an engine of economic growth throughout West Africa and the continent. Her words: “We want to partner with Nigeria –

its people and its government – to make that a reality, and we want to work with Nigeria on issues of global importance such as climate change, nuclear security, sustainable development, strengthening collaboration on global health priorities, and countering violent extremism. “We are also supporting efforts by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the judiciary to investigate and prosecute complex corruption cases. We have engaged religious communities, who are a very powerful force in Nigeria, to join in the fight against corruption. Corruption will be fought not just through technical assistance, but through widespread social change.” She said that despite these challenges, the US believes there is cause to be optimistic about Nigeria’s prospects, particularly in the aftermath of last year’s elections.

The renewed security consciousness, it was learnt, would not be limited to officers alone, as soldiers have been directed to be extra-vigilant, to avoid a repeat of the incident. This is even as the Nigerian Army is said to be deploying all available intelligence to apprehend those behind the abduction and killing of the senior officer. One of the sources, who insisted on remaining anonymous, said: "The case of kidnap and death of the officer is not being taken lightly at all. "In fact, security around our officers is being reinforced, to ensure that nothing untoward happens again."

get as passed by both chambers last week. But in a sharp reaction to the House position, the Presidency has insisted that it is waiting for the details to act on the budget. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Reps), Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu, in a statement issued in Abuja said the president will not sign the budget until the details are provided. Kawu said: “Once the president gets the budget, he and his team will look at the details of what the National Assembly has passed. If there is any observation, he will send it back to the National Assembly and if not, he will assent it. “In view of the ongoing debate about the 2016 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, I wish to use this medium to inform Nigerians that one week after the passage, the Presidency is yet to receive the budget details.” The presidential aide, who thanked the National Assembly for working tirelessly on the budget, however said: “We are waiting for the National Assembly to finish with the details and transmit same to Mr. President. “For the avoidance of doubt, the current National Assembly has not transmitted any budget details to President Muhammadu Buhari let alone for him to sign it. Thus, it is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the budget details are yet to reach the president for his scrutiny and subsequent assent.” New Telegraph observed that the Senate Committee on Appropria-

tion was still busy, putting finishing touches to the document. When one of our correspondents visited the office of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Danjuma Goje, yesterday, he was said to be busy with some other senators. Although the identities of some of the senators in his office could not be ascertained at the time of visit, the Deputy Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Sonni Ogbuoji, was at the meeting. Also, while journalists were still waiting to get the true position of the budget from Goje, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Francis Alimikhena, who is a member of the Appropriation Committee, walked into the office. Journalists, who were desperately waiting to be briefed by Goje, got disappointed when he came out and angrily queried why the newsmen gathered in his office without invitation. He said: "wa ya kira su? wa ya kira su? wa ya kira ku? (meaning: who called them? who called them? who called you?)" But Ogbuoji carpeted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for breeding up another round of controversy around the 2016 budget. He said that the APC did not know why it came to governance, pointing out that it was the party's ignorance that made it to resort to blame game. "What I can tell you is that APC does not know why it came to governance. Up till now, they are still looking for who to blame. When they are ready for governance, they will tell Nigerians", he said.

THURSday, March 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS | national

he Minister of Interior, retired Lt.Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has attributed the high number of persons awaiting trial in prisons across the country to poor investigations by the police. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that over 70 to 80 per cent of inmates across Nigerian prisons are awaiting trials. Dambazau spoke yesterday in Abuja at the 2016 Police Week Seminar and launch of a compendium, entitled: Nigeria Police Force (1861-2016). The theme of the seminar was: “International Human Rights Standards and Trends in Community-Driven Policing.” Dambazau advised the police to carry out thorough investigation before arresting suspects to avoid prison congestion.

thursday, march 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dambazau: Awaiting trial cases due to poor investigation The minister warned police officers against presuming an accused guilty of an offence before prosecution. He said that the onus of proof of committal lie squarely with the prosecutor and not the accused. “All eyes are on you because of the roles you play with both individuals and groups in the society,’’ he said. He said that a lot was expected from the police whom the public sees as the custodian of law and order. The minister urged the police to focus on training

and retraining, among others, adding “without these you cannot carry out your professional mandate.`` Earlier, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, said that policing under a democratic setting imposes a sacred and indeed, legal obligation of respect for citizens’ rights on law enforcement agents.

2.2%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Algeria in 2003. Source: Itu.int

He said that the rule of law and human rightsdriven policing approaches were critical components of his strategic policing plan on assumption of office. Arase said that the occasion was aimed at entrenching the virtues of rule of law in policing as well as recognise, ``articulate and present our rich history and policing journey.’’ Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Dean Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, in his paper, urged the police to review its recruitment process to ensure that

L-R: A Survivors of the Lekki building collapse, Babatunde Busari; his wife, Adebisi; Managing Director, Lekki Gardens, Mr. Richard Nyong and Operations Executive, Lekki Gardens, Mr. Ubong Udoh, during the Lekki Gardens visit to the Survivors at Lagos General Hospital, Marina in Lagos… yesterday.

Jamaican becomes queen in Iwo Wale Elegbede

Jamaican woman is now queen of the Iwo kingdom, Osun State, following her marriage to Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, earlier this year. The Jamaica Gleaner reports that Chanel Chin, 32, met the king in Canada, where he resided before ascending the throne. After becoming king in November last year, he took the title of the Imperial Oluwo of the Iwo Kingdom. Chanel is the daughter of Rastafarian reggae artist, Ludlow Chin, better known as Bobo Zaro, and Marion Morgan. Zaro is known for songs such as the hit single Pain, the video of which has been seen by millions of viewers in Africa via Channel O in South Africa and the Sporah TV show via SkyTV, according to the Gleaner. The new queen told The Gleaner that she is very honoured to represent Jamaica in such a big way.

qualified persons were recruited. The paper was entitled: International Human Rights Standard for the Management of Civil Disorder by the Police He also urged the police to pay more attention to the mental attributes of the recruits than the physical attributes during recruitment. Ibidapo-Obe said that there must be constant training and retraining of

Attack Buhari, not Kachikwu, Group tells Tinubu Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

civil society organisation, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy yesterday, condemned last weekend's verbal attack on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu by a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The group described the comments as misplaced. The group said that rather than blaming

Kalu: Nigerians must become better in hard times Wale Elegbede

ormer Governor of Abia State and eminent businessman, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged Nigerians to strive to become better in the midst of the current state of the economy. He stated that hard times should not be an excuse for docility. According to the twoterm governor of Abia State, “the economy of the world is no longer rose-coloured as it used to be but

things can only get worse if people refuse to learn from the bad times.” He stated that, “hard times should not be an excuse for some persons to be docile and not brave up in order to exhume their potentialities. “I’ve seen financially rich people sprout from poorhouses to become who and what they are. If such persons are where they are, anybody can. “Making wealth is like the sun that does

not know the house of the poor or the rich; it shines on everyone’s roof. But making wealth is not the limit of being successful.” The renowned businessman further admonished, “I am urging all not to be left behind because other persons may take their place if they do. People can only survive hard times when they strive to become better; therefore, the hard times will become softer.

police officers for effective discharge of their duties. He advised the police to respect the diverse culture of the people in carrying out its mandate to avoid constant clash with the people. In the same vein, Prof. Chris Ohourugo, former Dean, Faculty of Law, Benson Idahosa University, Benin, urged the police to work within the ambit of the law in carrying out its mandate.

“When things are out of place in the home, the husband and wife fight the situation to get them back. They do not sit on the chair and lavish their strength on complaint. I know that many inventions were discovered when everything plummeted out of place. This shows that life is all about light and shade or the obverse. However, I’ve known that even in paradise, some persons who are fault finders will still find fault,” he said.

Kachikwu over the lingering scarcity of petroleum products in the country, Tinubu should seek explanations from President Muhammadu Buahari , the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources on why the energy crisis was allowed to degenerate to a level where it has brought socio-economic activities across the nation to a standstill. National President, VATLAD, Comrade Odafe Igbini, said that whereas it supported the idea that President Buhari should assume the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in view of the intrigues and the high level of corruption that had pervaded the petroleum sector for so many years, it was disappointing that there has not been any significant change in the sector over the last 10 months. Igbini disclosed that though VATLAD had consistently disagreed with the policies and actions of Kachikwu on the oil sector since he assumed office as the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

NUPC condemns Buhari's trips, anti-corruption Ebola outbreak no longer poses global risk –WHO Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari's frequent trips overseas, yesterday, came under attack as the Nigerians United for Progressive Change (NUPC), a civil society group called on him to sit at home and tackle the economic challenges of unemployment and poverty confronting Nigeria. Buhari left Abuja on Wednesday for Washing-

ton DC. He is expected to join President Barack Obama and about 60 other world leaders and heads of international organisations at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit which opens today. But NUPC , which staged a peaceful protest at the gates of the National Assembly, lamented that while Nigerians were groaning in pains over the problems of acute fuel shortage, epileptic power and insecurity of lives and property, Buhari had continued to treat these

issues as though they did not matter. At the last count, it was learnt, Buhari had travelled abroad a record 20 times in the last 10 months. According to the group, the President's frequent trips abroad meant that he has not devoted enough time to facing the real challenges at home. The group described the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari as a ruse and smokescreen meant to distract Nigerians from the true state of the economy.

est Africa’s Ebola outbreak no longer constitutes a threat to international public health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday. Thus, the WHO has declared an end to a nearly 20-month emergency that has killed about 11,300 people. Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general, accepted the recommendations of a committee of independent experts, who also called for lifting any

travel and trade restrictions affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. “The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),” Chan said at WHO headquarters in Geneva. “However, a high level of vigilance and response capacity must be maintained to ensure the ability of the countries to prevent Ebola infections."

News|National

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senator empowers constituents with N75 million Chukwu David Abuja

he Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC Katsina South), has undertaken constituency projects worth N75 million, geared towards empowering his constituents in the 2016 fiscal year. The projects, according to the Senator, are in three categories of free medical eye treatment for the poor, rehabilitation of community secondary schools as well as women and youths empowerment. Marshaling out the details of the programmes at Musawa and Dandume in the southern senatorial district of the state yesterday, he said that a

total of 1,755 people made up of 1170 women and 585 youths were empowered with a total sum of N17, 550,000 million. In a statement, Ibrahim said a total of 1,100 people on the basis of 100 people from each of the 11 local governments in the zone would benefit, with 20 out of the beneficiaries from each local government, getting free medical eye glasses. He explained that an on-going rehabilitation of 11 secondary schools built by him across the local government, was also part of the programme. Ibrahim further said the launching of the women and youth empowerment Programme, was in fulfilment of his campaign promises before the 2015 elections.

El Rufai: Why we want to regulate preaching in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

overnor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has said that the emergence of a strange Islamic sect called Gausiyya around Makarfi town, necessitated the sponsorship of an executive bill to the House of Assembly, seeking to regulate preaching in the state. El Rufai, who spoke to a select group of journalists yesterday, stated that the proposed law had nothing to do with hinder-

ing people from practising their religions in the state, as widely alleged in the social media. El Rufai, who has spent 10 months since his election in 2015 as governor of Kaduna State, last Tuesday, said that the members of Gausiyya sect used to exhibit some strange behaviours, adding that they say their zuhur(afternoon) prayers by 11 am, contrary to Islamic teachings and tenets. The governor further said that there was also a woman around the same Makarfi town, who claims that Prophet

883,483 N5.5m The total number of likes on Instagram of Cristiano Ronaldo in February 2016. Source: Goal.com.

The amount of prize money received by Kano Pillars in the 2014/15 season. Source: Goal.com.

Muhammad(SAW) used to appear and speak to her. According to him, people have started trooping to seek all manner of divine intercessions and her husband used to collect N1,000 as consultancy fees. El Rufai said that that kind of eccentric behaviour starts like a joke and if care is not taken, it becomes a security problem. The governor said that although government has taken steps to contain the spread of Gaussiyya sect, the incident served as a wakeup call for the administration, adding that that was why government sponsored a Bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State Religious Preaching law of 1984. El Rufai noted that Kaduna State is one of the

Four foreign firms jostle for Bakassi Deep Seaport he Cross River State the challenges that we have Governor, Senator Ben as a country, and of course, T Ayade, has disclosed that with the meltdown in the four international companies with expertise in deep seaport are currently scrambling to invest in the Bakassi Deep Seaport being developed by the government. Briefing newsmen at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar on his return from an extensive working trip to eleven countries in Europe, Asia and South America, the governor said it was imperative that he undertook the trip as he seeks to ramp up the economy of the state. Ayade, who was received by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu and members of the state executive council, explained that "In recognizing

global economy, it is evident that only states that globalize their economy could move forward. "So what I have done is to go round the world in order to source a team of investors and bring them to Cross River State. What you are going to see in a couple of months is a team of investors arriving the state." Noting that Cross River offers special appeal as an investment destination, Ayade further disclosed that as evidence of the uniqueness of the state as an investment hub, "some teams had arrived the state during my absence to do final detailed analysis."

APC calls for Agric Minister's resignation Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State, has called for the resignation of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobori. The state executive of the party led by the chairman, Chief Timipa Orunimighe, made the call at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja yesterday. Orunimighe, while addressing journalists in Abuja called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari to stand against the sale of political appointments due for Bayelsa APC members. He alleged that the Minister of State for Agric bought his ministerial slot from the former governor of the State and APC governorship candidate in the last

election, Chief Timipre Sylva. But in a swift reaction, Sylva dismissed the allegation, stating that state party chairman was just unnecessarily angry because he was not made his running mate during the last governorship election. Sylva, speaking through the Director of Publicity of his campaign organization, Mr. Nathan Egba, in a telephone interview, stated that the allegation of selling ministerial slot was an indictment on the person of the President, Muhammadu Buhari. He said, "My reaction is very simple. First of all, with Chief Sylva the leader of the party and a father of all APC members in Bayelsa State, he would not be interested in joining issues with the state chairman of the party."

states that has suffered the most deaths and destruction of property, owing to religious preachings and intolerance, adding that that was why the bill to regulate preaching was formulated. According to him, “just about any Muslim or Christian can wake up and start being a preacher without undergoing any form of training or certification. Not that alone, anyone can just start an Islamic sect or a church and before long, he has gathered a lot of followers.” The governor narrated how one Muhammad Marwa, also known as Maitatsine, began preaching in Kano in the 1950s, where he was condemning every Muslim as an unbeliever except followers of his sect.

L-R: Inspector of Police, Solomon Arase; Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazzau; former Inspector of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero and some police management team, during a seminar to mark 11th Biennial 2016 Police Week in Abuja …yesterday

New birth control method for male underway Appolonia Adeyemi

new reversible injection birth control that provide men condom-free sex for a year, is in the making. According to findings published in the journal Basic and Clinical Andrology, researchers have found that a single injection of the new contraceptive called Vasalgel can provide males condomfree sex for a year.

Men currently have few options for reproductive control, including condoms and vasectomy. While condoms are widely available and useful in preventing diseases when used correctly, they have an 18 per cent yearly pregnancy rate in typical use. Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilisation or permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vas deferens are severed

and then tied or sealed in a manner so as to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream (ejaculate) and thereby prevent fertilization. While vasectomy is effective and considered permanent, there are no long-acting, reversible contraceptives currently available for men. Birth control is a common concern for women and men. While women have many options when

Unions set to shut down Caverton

lSee who will suffer –Caverton Wole Shadare

xcept urgent truce is reached, workers of Caverton may be on a collision course with the management of the firm over labour issues. The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) stated that having waited most patiently, maintaining peace

and harmony despite provocation, intimidation and harassment in the past, most especially in the last five months for the management of Caverton Helicopters to respect the dignity of the labour of its employees, they were constrained to draw the management’s attention to the impending shutdown of operations. In a swift reaction, the Managing Director of the airline, Josiah Choms, told

reporters that the drop in oil price affected the decision they took that workers would have to take pay reduction. “If the right thing to do is to shut down the company when they are doing their best to retain everybody, we wish them good luck. We will now see who will suffer.” He added: “One of our clients had seven aircraft. Now, they are flying three. We held a meeting and we explained to them. They made some demands which we acceded to."

choosing a birth control method, men have fewer options. Vasalgel, developed by U.S-based non-profit company, Parsemus Foundation, consists of styrenealt-maleic acid (SMA) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and could be the first long-acting, nonhormonal, potentially reversible male contraceptive to reach market, the researchers said. In the preclinical trials with rabbits, the researchers confirmed that the contraceptive effect of Vasalgel was durable over the 12 month study period. "Results from our study in rabbits were even better than expected," said lead author of the study, Donald Waller, professor at University of Illinois at Chicago in the United States (U.S). "Vasalgel produces a very rapid contraceptive effect which lasted throughout the study due to its unique hydrogel properties. These features are important considerations for a contraceptive product to be used in humans," Waller noted.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Arepo residents protest, accuse Navy of killing three M

Recovered N5m: Two bankers in police custody

Muritala Ayinla

A woman who lost his relative weeping profusely…yesterday.

Juliana Francis

esidents of Arepo in Ogun State yesterday embarked on a protest over discovery of bodies of three residents reportedly executed by naval personnel. The naval officials stationed in Arepo to check activities of petroleum pipeline vandals were said to have picked up the victims whose names were given as Biodun Mohammed, Chicago and Body, on Sunday at a beer joint. They allegedly dragged the men inside the bush at Voera Estate before executing them. Mohammed (24) was said to be a furniture maker. The acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, did not pick his calls to confirm the report. But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police had

begun investigation into the killing. Adejobi disclosed that the police were making arrangements to evacuate the bodies to the mortuary. He said: “The Ibafo division of the command got the information that three people were taken by some men at a beer parlour on Sunday around 8p.m, and they were shot dead and their corpses were floating on the high sea at Arepo. We are investigating and we are going to get the perpetrators. “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) is trying to get an ambulance and consult medical practitioners, to see how we can evacuate the corpses. Also, the Deputy Commissioner of Operations has sent enforcements to the community to assist the DPO to forestall breakdown of law and order.” But relatives and friends of the victims yesterday blocked the only entrance into Arepo to restrict movement. This

caused a gridlock which spilled into the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for several hours. Two of the victims were taken across a wooden bridge into the creek before they were executed, while flies attracted attention to the last body inside the shrub. There were bloodstains on the victims’ heads. The widow of one of the victims, Mrs. Motunrayo Mohammed, said she had confronted the naval officers when they took her husband on Sunday. She said: “On Sunday around 7p.m, the military officers numbering about seven came to the restaurant where my husband was with his friends. I can identify two of them - Jason and Ola. I asked them what his offence was, but Jason asked me to keep quiet. “He pointed his gun at me and threatened to shoot me if I moved closer. He did not allow my husband or his friend to utter a word. They took them away and since then, we had

not seen them.” Motunrayo added that she went to report at the soldiers’ base at Ebute. She said: “They told me they did not arrest my husband. But this morning, some landlords at Voera Estate, where he was killed, came to inform me that they had found his body in the bush.” Mohammed’s mother, Safura, said her son was based in Sagamu also in Ogun State. According to her, Biodun came to Arepo to celebrate Easter with his family before he was murdered. She said: “I was the one that called him on Saturday evening that he should come to Arepo to celebrate Easter with us. “When he arrived, we greeted each other. On Sunday morning, he washed his clothes and ate. In the evening, he went to the restaurant to rest when he was arrested. The soldiers took them from there and went to execute them in the forest.”

ore facts emerged yesterday in connection with the N5 million which the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit said it discovered the state House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja Sources yesterday said that two bank officials of an undisclosed bank were being detained at Alausa Police Divisional Headquarters, following the ‘missing N5 million’ since December last year. A source at the state task force headquarters, Alausa, also said that the announcement of the ‘missing money’ might have led to promotion and award of recognition for the two officers who discovered the money - Inspector Eliziekia Abiona and Ogunbiyi Agbabu. When contacted yesterday, the task force Chairman, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, refused to comment on the issue on the grounds that he was not authorised to speak to the press. He directed our correspondent to either the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Dolapo Badmos, or the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni. However, a source said: “The DPO Alausa called oga (the task force chairman) this morning (yesterday) that two bankers from the bank that owns are being detained over the money. “Our men have done a good job here by recovering the money and refused to share it. The chairman heard about the money last week when he assumed office and he ordered that the money should be announced publicly. “In fact, he commended the officers who found the money but wondered why the discovery of the money was not made publicly before he assumed office because it could boost the image of the police.” Another officer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “When such money is found, it ought to be announced that such money is in our custody because there is no way you will keep such money and the public will know.”

The money

METRO

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NSCDC arrests Agip pipeline bomber Yenagoa

Sergeant sleeps with colleague’s wife, dies in hotel Juliana Francis

Chris Ejim igeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that said it had arrested a suspected bomber of the pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The pipeline is located at Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. According to the NSCDC, the arrested bomber was one of the suspected criminals who planted dynamites which killed three oil workers on Easter Sunday. The state NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu, said the oil workers had successfully completed the repair work when the dynamites planted by the suspect and his cohorts, now at large, exploded and killed the victims. The commandant gave the name of the suspect as Seimghale Perekeyi. According to him, the fleeing accomplices are Emekoko Taribo, Pani Bulogbo, James Komo and Samuel Joyce. He said: “The NSCDC has arrested a suspected vandal by name Seimghale Perekeyi."

sergeant attached to Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Police Command, has died in a hotel room after sex with his mistress. The sergeant, a father of four, died in the hotel room located at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos. He was said to have gone to the hotel with a woman married to another policeman, when he met his untimely death. The woman and the sergeant reside in the same barracks. The lovers both know each other’s spouses. Last Saturday, during the Easter holidays, the deceased went with his mistress to the hotel to have a nice time. Moments after sleeping with the woman, the deceased went to into the bathroom and collapsed. But another version of the story said the deceased

went into the bathroom to freshen up, slipped and hit his head on the tiles. One consistent point,

however, was that the deceased collapsed and became unconscious. This prompted the mistress to

Lagos CP, Owoseni

We’ll consult oracle for Gani Adams’ replacement –OPC leaders Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

Gani-Adams

op leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) who are opposed to the leadership style of its National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, yesterday vowed to consult extensively towards ensuring the emergence of a new successor. The selection process for a new national coordinator, they said, would include the consultation of Ifa (the oracle) to get the

“right person”. Speaking with journalists at a sensitisation meeting held in Sagamu, Ogun State, the leaders, under the aegis of National Coordinating Council of OPC, restated their decision to relieve Adams of his post over alleged “anti-group/congress activities”. The organisation has been enmeshed in crisis over the campaign fund allegedly collected by its leader for the last presidential election. One of the NCC members, Morufu Salami, told journalists that Adams was no longer in charge of affairs of the Yoruba

City Briefs

Adewusi, a quintessential IG –Zik’s wife W

ife of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Uche, has paid tribute to the late former Inspector General of Police, Chief

The late Adewusi

Sunday Adewusi. Uche said Adewusi would forever be in the minds of Nigerians for his quintessential service to the country. Adewusi, whose remains will be buried on April 8 at his Ogbomoso, Oyo State home, was an Aide de Camp (ADC) to the late Azikiwe. In her tribute, she said Adewusi’s death was painful but a clear fulfilment of the biblical statement that everything that had a beginning must have an end. She said: “So the exit of Chief Sunday Adewusi from mother earth now, after a life well spent in rendering a meritorious service to Nigeria in the Police Force, is divine. “According to my hus-

band, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR, Chief Sunday Adewusi, as his ADC, was a very accomplished, dignified, committed officer and pleasant gentleman. Chief Adewusi was a quintessential officer of the Nigerian Police, who stood by him (Zik) come rain come shine. Indeed his character is worthy of emulation in the Nigerian Police Force.” She prayed God to grant Adewusi’s family the fortitude to bear his death. Meanwhile, Adewusi’s burial rites will begin on Tuesday, April 5 with a ‘Day of Tribute’ and cultural display at the MKO Abiola Hall, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

raise the alarm. The sergeant was rushed to the hospital, but was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idia-Arab, Mushin, Lagos, where he eventually died on Easter Sunday. The mistress was said to have been invited for questioning and released after her statement was taken. The sergeant, whose wife is also a policewoman, was recently transferred to FSARS from Kogi State. He was among the policemen who waged war against cross-border armed robbers recently at Seme, leading to the death of six suspected robbers. He was described as gentle, easy going and respectful. But when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, denied that the sergeant went to any hotel with his mistress. She said the sergeant died in a hospital during a brief illness.

socio-cultural group. Salami, who is the Kwara State coordinator of OPC, said the group had also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement of the campaign fund collected from former President Goodluck Jonathan. He said: “We are here today to tell the Yoruba people, Nigerians and the whole world that Gani Adams is no more in charge of OPC. We have held press conference in Ibadan on February 4, the same thing happened in Ilorin on February 14 where we told the whole world that Gani Adams is no more in charge of affairs of OPC. “After we have sacked him from national coordinator office, we now deem it fit to call our people, we should let the grassroots know what is happening in the circle of OPC.”

Sexual harassment: Panel inspects Queen’s College hostels Mojeed Alabi

embers of the panel of enquiry set up by the Federal Ministry of Education to probe the sexual harassment allegation levelled against a Biology teacher, Mr. Olaseni Osifala, yesterday arrived at Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos. The college management, which barred members of the media from gaining access to the school compound and the panelists in particular, took them round the school facilities including the Old Parent-Teacher Association Hostel, where the JSS II pupils are accommodated and where the harassment incident allegedly took place. However, it was learnt that the panel comprised six members of three male and three female,

among them the Treasurer of the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters’ unit of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), who was simply identified as Mrs. Cecilia. Meanwhile, some of the stakeholders billed to appear before the panel today include the Principal of the College, Dr. Lami Amodu, the leadership of the PTA, and that of the college’s unit of ASCSN.

Osifala

NEWS | national

thursday, march 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ASUU mulls strike overTSA policy

Mojeed Alabi

he relative peace currently being enjoyed in the nation’s university system may be short-lived if the Federal Government does not accede to the request by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to exempt the ivory towers from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. The union, however, pledged its support for the country’s ongoing war against corruption, but revealed that the university system is already being owed a whopping sum of N495 billion revitalisation fund as agreed with the union in 2013 by the Federal Government. Addressing a media briefing yesterday at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, the Lagos zone of the union, said

the TSA policy has introduced encumbrances into the functioning of the institutions and has become a burden to the system, adding that it has eroded the institutions of the autonomy the union has continued to advocate for. Joined by the National President of the union, Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, the briefing was addressed by the Chairman of the zone, Dr. Sola Nasir. In attendance were representatives of the union in the branches within the zone, including Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State; Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Ogun State; University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka; LASU, and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ogun State. The chairman said: “In recent times, one of the consequences of the fail-

Air Force, Innoson sign MoU on spare parts production

he Nigerian Air Force and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company yesterday signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) that would see the company produce spare parts for the air force fighter jets. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the move is aimed at intensifying the campaign against insurgency, especially in the North East part of the country. Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abuba-

ure to heed our union’s call has started to manifest on the system, especially in federal-owned universities. It has now become the norm for the Federal Government through its Ministry of Finance to release less than the amount needed to pay staff salaries on monthly basis. “We are at a loss on the basis for this affront on the system. This shortfall in personnel cost started in December and has remained so till date.” The union added that the universities are now unable to pay salaries while some are paying without remitting necessary deductions. “Another fundamental challenge with the universities is the frustration being encountered in the funding of researches by universities. Local research funds have been trapped while funds from international funding agencies are also rendered unavailable by certain bottlenecks created by the

policy,” the union added. In a separate interview session with journalists, the National President of the union said the nation’s universities can generate more than enough revenues for the country than what oil is presently generating, but that the sector must be properly fixed. Fagge said: “We have consistently been presenting proposals on how to diversify the national economy to the Federal Government, including the administrations of the late President Umar Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan. If we revitalise our universities, we will not only curb the present capital flight and brain drain in the sector, we will also attract foreign students, especially from the African region."

The life expectancy of women at birth of Dem. People’s Republic of Korea in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

South-West PDP backs North for national chairmanship Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West yesterday agreed with the national secretariat of the party that the national chairmanship position of the party be retained in the northern part of the country to brighten the chances of the party in the 2019 elections. Among the members and chieftains of the party who met in Ibadan, Oyo State, were leaders from Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo and Ogun States. They include the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Senator Buruji Kashamu, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Senator Ayo Adeseun, who represented Oyo Central in the previous National Assembly, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, former South West

leader, National Auditor, Prince Adewole Adeyanju, Mrs. Aduke Maina, Lagos State, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, National ViceChairman, South West, Abdulahi Inai Basira and many others. In a statement signed by Senator Buruji, leaders from the zone wanted the party to avoid the risk of shrinking into a regional party because of the decline in the electoral fortunes of the party in the north. "A north that is further weakened by being denied the position of the national chairman of the party will feel marginalised; reconciling further a disillusioned north will be an arduous task for a party in opposition. "The lack of co-operation in the South West will constitute a challenge to the national chairman from the region. We the people of the South West are good at petition writing and pull-him-down syndrome tactics." Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade (middle); his Deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, and Secretary to the State Government, Tina Bankor Agbor, during the inspection of ongoing construction work at Calabar Pharmaceutical Company shortly after the governor arrived Calabar...yesterday.

kar, who made this known to newsmen in Nnewi, Anambra State, said the MoU will help the air force keep its jet fleet running for months. Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice-Marshal James Gbum, said the MoU would further solidify the collaboration, improve local content and engineering as well as save the country a lot of foreign exchange hitherto used to import expensive spare parts.

Expatriates’pay disparity: Bristow FG to Nigerians: We’re working NUPENG: Normalcy’ll soon return pilots, engineers down tools to filling stations nationwide to relieve your pains Wole Shadare A

ircraft pilots under the umbrella of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have protested the pay disparity by Bristow Helicopters for its local and expatriate pilots. The pilots and engineers have, however, suspended their operations leading to the grounding of the airline. NAAPE has been in dispute with the management of the Bristow Group over the highly vexed issue of pay disparity in which Nigerian pilots and engineers are discriminated against in favour of foreign nationals as well as the highly inimical absence of valid conditions of service. Spokesman for NAAPE, Ocheme Aba, said all efforts by NAAPE to get the management of Bristow to ameliorate these “acts

of injustice and violation of the Constitution of Nigeria as well as the contravention of Bristow Code of Business Integrity (COBI), has failed to yield any positive result.” He said management’s proposal on the issue dated February 11, 2016 is nothing but a disingenuous mockery of all of us and undisguised insult on our collective intelligence as it offers nothing but takes away even more from us. As such the offer has been outrightly and rejected. Aba said NAAPE had since offered a proposal to the management, which has received an even more unpalatable response. He said: “Any unbiased third party will easily agree that NAAPE has bent double backwards to show maturity and good faith, and has amply demonstrated restraint and forbearance."

he Federal Government yesterday said it is keenly aware of the difficulties Nigerians are currently facing over the lingering fuel scarcity and poor power supply and that it is working round the clock to provide relief for the citizens. “As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them,” the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in Abuja yesterday. “Our message to our compatriots is that this administration, under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and that very soon, the efforts of the government will begin to

yield fruits for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said. Mohammed said the government is aware that Nigerians have started questioning the genuineness of its Change Agenda adding; “We understand the skepticism of Nigerians in questioning whether this indeed is the change they voted for, I can tell Nigerians that our Change Agenda is real, and that indeed Nigerians will get the change they voted for.” On the fuel situation, the Minister said immediate measures are being taken to end the scarcity while medium and long term solutions are being worked out to prevent a recurrence. “Petroleum supply and distribution have been ramped up across the country by the NNPC to ensure product availability in the country."

he National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) yesterday assured the nation that normalcy would soon return to filling stations across the country if the current tempo of loading at the depots continued till the weekend. The South-West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Korodo said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) commenced massive pumping of petrol to its depot at Mosinmi early this week and loading of petroleum trucks had started. “Going round some depots in Lagos, I observed that loading was going on and more filling stations

are selling the product at the control price. “Some filling stations that are selling between N130 and N150 will be forced to sell at control price when the market is flooded with petrol. “If NNPC can keep the tempo of the loading till weekend, more filling stations will have petrol and the queue of motorists at filling stations will reduce. “The corporation should ensure that it keeps on pumping petrol to both major and independent marketers’ depots to reduce the scarcity," he said. The chairman appealed to the NNPC management to ensure that it carried along all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector so that the fuel scarcity could end as promised.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dogara Why I seek international support for IDPs

Politics

Interview Akiyode-Afolabi: Gender Equalilty Bill’ll address developmental issues

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Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, speaks on preparations for the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), state of the nation’s economy and the way forward. IGBEAKU ORJI brings the excerpts

What is the position of Senate Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the party’s forthcoming national convention? We are happy with the arrangement made so far. We met with the national leadership of our party last week and we agreed that the time table so far remains sacrosanct. So, the convention will take place on May 21, of course to elect new leaders for the party. And I think it will be a normal process. We are democrats and I believe strongly that there will be no imposition, there will be no impunity. And of course, we showed that we are democrats during the general elections in 2015. We lost the presidency but we congratulated the winner and we peacefully handed over power. Today, other countries are emulating the example of the PDP. During the recent elections in Benin Republic, the loser also congratulated the winner just before the final announcement of the result. What it means is that Nigeria is becoming a beacon of hope to Africa and we have shown other African countries the example of what democracy should be. So, I will expect the same thing to happen at the PDP convention and all the congresses that will take place in the next few weeks. Do you believe the present administration has what it takes to lift the country out of economic doldrums? Well, you have seen that the economic down turn affects not

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

Akpabio

PDP convention would be devoid of imposition – Akpabio just Nigeria but the whole world; it’s a global affair. And Nigeria’s problem had been that we had depended more on one economic source and that is the crude oil. So, the volatility of crude oil price affects our economy, when the price goes up Nigeria will rejoice, when the price goes down Nigeria will groan. So, what has happened here is that with the massive failure, what we call oil glut in the market, the oil price has reduced what we expected in the last 20 years and that has automatically affected our economy. So, it has nothing to do with which administration is in power. It has something to do with resources to be able to deliver the dividends of democracy. But I think all hands should be on deck, those in opposition and those in position to work together to salvage the situation. The country belongs to all of us and if the country collapses on our heads, it means that we will bequeath nothing to our children. I will like to bequeath Nigeria to my children and that is why I said we must look at the economic situation in an apolitical manner and not point blames on any political party.

We are democrats and I believe strongly that there will be no imposition, there will be no impunity

We must work together to diversify the economy and get other sources of revenue, go into mining, go into agricultural ventures, encourage entrepreneurship ventures and at the same time bring foreign direct investment and encourage local industrialisation to enable our people to have jobs. It is not something you can depend only on revenue from crude oil to resolve. It has shown us now that it can fail us any time any day. That’s the reason I said we need time, Nigerians must be patient with government irrespective of whether it is at the federal or state levels. What is the position of PDP senators on the trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct of Tribunal (CCT)? PDP is not in charge of the trial and the PDP as a party is not in charge of the Federal Government. I think the Code of Conduct Tribunal is a federal establishment. So, if it were something particular to say Abia State, where the PDP is in charge I would have been able to make a comment. But I will rather say that the PDP has no comment.

What is your assessment of your successor, Governor Udom Emmanuel, vis-a-vis your achievement as Akwa Ibom State governor, which is still a reference point of good governance till date? Every politician should have love in his heart and then determination in his mind. If you don’t love your people you will not be able to give them the best. If you are not determined, it will be nothing because when I remember the celebrated blind Helen Keller, who was taught people how to read signs through the brail and passed at the top of her class, when she was going for the convocation, they asked her what could be worst than being blind and she said what could be worst that being blind is to have sight but no vision. So, I want to pray that every government whether state or federal level should have vision; vision to develop; vision to see through the yearnings of the people. What happened to Akwa Ibom State under my administration was that we had the enablement and we had the vision and we ensured that we exhibited the vision to the fullest and that’s my prayer for the whole Nigeria.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Don-Pedro: Amnesty programme not panacea for Niger Delta crisis Award-winning writer and environmental activist, Ibiba Don-Pedro, in this interview with PAULINE ONYIBE speaks on the Niger Delta struggle, environmental degradation in the oil-rich region, amnesty programme and the need to diversify the country’s economy

You are one of those who championed the Niger Delta struggle, how did you get involved in the campaign? The first day I got to Ogoni land, the situation I met was a land under siege. I got into a place where for the first time in my life, I didn’t even see a human being. I was there with two of my colleagues from The Guardian Newspapers then. That was in 1994 after the killing of four Ogomi chiefs and the clampdown on Ogoni land by the Sani Abacha regime. I went into communities where I did not see any creature alive. I could not believe that it was possible and I knew that I had to dig into that situation. After that period, The Guardian was unfortunately closed down by Abacha for hostile reporting. By the time the newspaper was reopened in 1995, most of Ogoni land was under siege. Ken Saro Wiwa has been killed in 1995 and the struggle has shifted to Ijaw territory. I met some brilliant Ijaw activists, Oronto Douglas, Felix Toudolo, Isaac Osuoka and Jaiye Gaskia and I was amazed. Their struggle made sense to me. And because I had the gift of language, I was able to capture them and in fact, they used to tease me that I actually glamorised the nonsense they were doing. We sat down and discussed intellectual issues about the environment, resource control, rights of women and the communities. Has the struggle been able to achieve its set goals, especially in the area of the environment? The oil companies are here primarily to make profit. They are not here to take care of our environment or develop our people. The more ignorant our people are the better for them. So, say whatever you like about oil companies, they are primarily business people. It is the duty of the Nigerian government and elites in the communities to make sure that we hold the oil companies accountable for degrading our environment. But more than anything, I think if you ask me, we are at that point where oil prices have come down as low as it has never been and we need to ask ourselves where we are going from now on because the truth

eficiaries are just the men meanwhile the major victims of the terrible things that happened are the women. They are the farmers and fisherwomen. They are the ones who get raped in the creeks and farms by soldiers and members of violent gangs. So, women in the Niger Delta need to be empowered. Why is the richest woman in Africa not from the Niger Delta?

Don-Pedro

is that in many communities, you get to discover that the only signs of development are by the oil companies and not the government. But we need to move on because whether we like it or not. Over 12 and 14 years ago, there was huge campaign about the terrible consequences of humanity’s dependence on oil and gas. The truth is that in discussions we had at conferences, the point was made and attention was drawn that most of the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries were wars fought over oil and people are still fighting over oil. Look at what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Libya. We are talking of Boko Haram today, whose eyes whether you like or not only on the North-East but the rest of Nigeria because of oil in the Niger Delta oil. So, we need to move away from oil because it has caused so much anguish to the people. Unfortunately, because oil money has come so cheap and plenty, our people have become so lazy but for you to get to a state where you control your development you must move away from overdependence on one product. So, you are of the view that Nigeria must diversify her economy in order to make progress? The resources from oil, as meager as they are now, must be effectively be utilised. There must be a clean-up of the Niger Delta environment, so that we can go back to fishing and farming. There must be an end to the pumping of those substances causing cancer among our people into our waters. I can’t imagine that things people will not tolerate in their countries are being allowed to happen here. This is where we must primarily blame the various successive governments in Nigeria and also the elites in the Niger Delta.

So, diversification has become necessary because oil is not going to be there forever whether we like it or not. The world is moving gradually from dependence on oil. People are looking for more sustainable sources of energy. People are looking at hydro and solar power. Serious nations are sending astronomers to space to look for resources so that life on earth can continue but our leaders are here spending oil money, building houses and buying cars that ordinarily they cannot afford if they were not stealing.

Amnesty should continue for now, but we must be realistic that it is not supposed to be a permanent feature

How do we diversify from oil? First of all, we must clean-up the Niger Delta and use the resources that are available now to invest in education. And the Niger Delta is not about Ogoni land. Ogoni is a small part of the Niger Delta though an important part. They have remained steadfast in the struggle for the protection of their environment and their rights to assess to the resources in their place. They stopped oil production in Ogoni land since 1993, about 23 years now. They kept the struggle going but unfortunately while that was happening, there is a lot of illegal bunkering going on in Ogoni area and this is destroying the Ogoni environment. Illegal bunkering is the most terrible thing our people are doing to themselves. Some persons are agitating for the establishment of local refineries in the Niger Delta. What is your take on that? It makes perfect sense. That should be an antidote to the terrible lecherous consequences of oil bunkering and all that. People, including women should be given licenses to build small refineries. People talk about development in the Niger Delta and the major ben-

The present government wanted to end the Amnesty Programe in December last year but made a detour after protests by stakeholders. What is your own opinion on the issue? Amnesty should continue for now but we must be realistic that it is not supposed to be a permanent feature for the development of the Niger Delta. Rather funds should be made available to train the region’s children in areas such as environmental protection, engineering, welding. People should be able to set up agriculture farms settlements. We should be able to feed ourselves. Amnesty cannot be forever. The programme was supposed respond to the reality of violence then. The fact remains that the then government of President Umaru Yar’Adua made a proclamation in 2009, granting everybody who has been involved in violent activities, amnesty because agitators in the Niger Delta were able to bring oil production to almost a zero level. It was supposed to last a few years. Nobody should keep talking of the amnesty lasting forever. That does not make sense. Not everybody was involved in violence. What is going to happen to those Niger Delta children who are today sitting down on bare floors in classrooms where there are no good teachers. The Amnesty programme will definitely have to wind up at a point but we need to get the children of the Niger Delta properly educated so that they can take control of their destiny. The focus at the local, state and federal levels of government should be on giving quality education to the children of the Niger Delta. Whether anybody admits or not, the Niger Delta is what keeps Nigeria together. Without the Niger Delta, there will be no Nigeria because there is nothing keeping Nigeria together than oil. The Federal Government recently deployed troops to the Niger Delta. How do you see that action; are you seeing another batch of militancy cropping up in the region? It is very possible and we all have to be very careful. But I think the most important thing there is that we need to treat the Niger Delta with respect. If people are involved in criminal activities, the police are there step in. We need to realise that we are no longer under military rule. There are ways things work under a democracy and we should resort to such measures. We always have a situation where even at the least trouble in the Niger Delta, soldiers are sent in. I think this should stop.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in this interview speaks on the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), among other issues. PHILIP NYAM reports

Why I seek international support for IDPs, by Dogara

What informed your decision to reach out to the Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) Wassa camp in Abuja and the donation of a mobile clinic for them? I remember specifically on January 7 when I donated relief materials to the IDPs, one rallying cry that came through was that there was no medical facility at the camp and we did promise that we were going to do something about it. Thank God, we didn’t sleep on that promise as it were in the past. As soon as we went back to town, I opened up discussion with government agencies but the response we got was that we had to wait for the budget and when the budget is released and monies voted, that is when they can intervene. You mean there was no positive response from government agencies? Yes, and because we weren’t satisfied with the response I was getting, I shared the issue with some of our friends, telling them the kind of needs we are experiencing at the various camps and gladly, Captain Hosa took it upon himself and said ‘if that is the case, then I will figure out what I am going to do. I am going to donate a facility that will in the immediate, cater for the immediate needs of the IDPs’. And I thought that was very commendable and I want to thank God that he didn’t renege on that promise. He has made this day possible and that was why I implored him to be here. He really didn’t want to be identified as the person who donated this facility for this cause but I had to pull him out for so many things. What call will you make to other wellmeaning individuals on the needs of the IDPs? I am calling on Nigerians to emulate what Capt. Hosa has done because it is only through compassion and love that we can overcome grief and misery. When you look at the faces of the IDPs to say the least, they don’t have a facility that will take care of their immediate health needs, it is a serious problem because as they say, health is wealth and where you find healthy people, they can engage in the pursuit of happiness, in the pursuit of wealth creation and generation. It is unfortunate, the events that brought them to this place but once they are here, as a community, a nation and as individuals, who are spirited, we should ensure that at least they have the facilities that can take care of their immediate needs. And that is why I am happy that through their efforts, we have put in place, this facility. The facility you commissioned isn’t that big, do you think it will cater for their health need? Someone may say it is too small and someone may feel disappoint-

Dogara

ed because he felt it was a gigantic facility that was been built but I believe it is through efforts like this, no matter how little, that more can come. And if we can put this small facility in all the camps we have in Nigeria, I am sure it will help the IDPs in no small way. I can’t recall any of the camps we have visited so far, that has a facility like this, as simple and as small as it looks. How about the medical personnel that will man this facility? We will not just put this facility here, we will discuss with relevant government agencies to ensure that they post medical personnel to this place. We are going to have a doctor who will be stationed here and we are going to have nurses. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has agreed to provide a medical doctor. Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) will as well provide medical personnel even up to the level of nurses so that deliveries at the camp, sicknesses that are not too serious can be taken of at the camp. All of us are first class witnesses to the state of the road, and if you have a woman who is caught up in labour, before that person is driven to Apo or Garki or somewhere in town, that person may have even delivered. So, this facility can cater for that and thank God we have the medical personnel that will do the job. So, I want to call on all Nigerians to borrow a leaf from this and show love to the IDPs. It is a challenge that all of us must rally to overcome. We cannot continue to depend on stipends from outside or hoping that some angels from somewhere will come and solve the problem. That is the problem we have in the country and I believe that if we rally ourselves right and through leveraging on individual energies, supplementing what government is doing for the IDPs, we will be able to bring succour to them and ensure that for the period that they are living outside of

their communities, at least their basic needs are being met. We want to thank the representative of the Victims Support Fund and the Presidential Initiative on the North-East for the work they are doing and to urge them to collaborate with private individuals to donate or do things that will further improve the living conditions of the IDPs and I know that if we collaborate, we will be able to achieve more by God’s grace.

Problems affecting us in Nigeria, if they are not well taken care of, will have an international dimension sooner than later

Are you considering doing same in other IDP camps across the country? I remember we have some outstanding visits to some IDPs as well. The next visit was going to be an IDP camp in Plateau State. Our plan in the House of Representatives is that we will visit all the IDPs that are outside the theatre of conflict in the North-East first and when we are done with that, we will take a visit to Yola and end it in Maiduguri. But we are having challenges with resources that we will take along when we visit these IDPs. But we are continuing, as soon as the resources come in, we will go to Jos, Gombe, Yola and then finally end in Maiduguri. Does that mean that government agencies can’t provide these kinds of facilities? You all well know that to tackle their needs at government level, such issues cannot be taken care of in haste due to the bureaucratic bottle-necks and the long process of budget, which have to go through legislations. Though, the hope to get government support is not dashed, our problem is the timing. Knowing how important and urgent it is for them to have a health care facility, we called on our friends who are financially capable to come to our assistance. Among the most affected for whom we took urgent action are the pregnant women, who often go through stress and complications during labour having to go long

distances to hospitals for delivery. Your delivery can now be taken here. We have been given doctors and nurses who will take care of them. We will make sure that drugs are always made available. Our big brother from the Victim Support Fund in appreciation of our efforts has just promised that his office will endeavor to connect the bore hole to the medical center for adequate water supply, he also promised to provide vehicle that will be used to always convey the medical personnel and drugs to the health center. We use this opportunity to call on all other well-meaning Nigerians to borrow a leave from what our friends who had made this huge effort and support the internally displaced persons. We will continue on part of the advocacy and encouraging others to come. We are assure all Nigerians especially the IDPs, that government is putting in all efforts in winning the war against the insurgents in the North-East, so they can return to their various homes in peace. Even though we are aware that no place is like home, we will definitely not allow them to be caught up in the fight. We therefore, plead with them to remain patient and manage the little that is available here. You have been calling for an international donor conference for the North-East, why do think is necessary? I believe it will provide the platform for us to further that discussion. But the most important thing is that it was done for Syria. It was done for Kosovo and I don’t see why the international community will not respond to this crisis that we are faced with in Nigeria. The world is a global village and increasingly problems affecting us in Nigeria, if they are not well taken care of, will have an international dimension sooner than later. The region is in dire need of assistance to address its challenges.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akiyode-Afolabi: Gender Equalilty Bill’ll address developmental issues A human rights activist and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, speaks on the Rivers State rerun elections, Gender Equality Bill and women’s participation in politics, among other issues

As an election observer, what is your take on the outcome of the recent rerun elections in Rivers State? It is very unfortunate that despite all the electoral laws, the elections in Rivers State would still go that way. This is as a result of the high political contestation in that area, where people see election as do-or-die affair. The number of deaths recorded and other things that manifested during the elections showed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other actors in our electoral process still have a long way to go to ensure more comfortability with respect to elections. What is your take on deployment of troops for elections in Nigeria, considering the violence and killings that took place in Rivers State despite deployment of about 8,000 security agents for the rerun elections? People have been talking and canvassing that we cannot continue to militarise our elections. When you militarise elections, it has a way of having impact on the people and that is what we have seen in Rivers State. Despite the militarisation of the elections, there was still violence. This means that may be it would have been better to communicate with the people than to think that the military can affirm peaceful elections. So, it is better to look at a more participatory way of addressing electoral problems. The last two governorship elections conducted by INEC in Kogi and Bayelsa states ended on inconclusive notes same with Rivers rerun elections. What does this portend for future elections? It is a major issue for us to look at ahead of future elections. But the issue is that if we don’t have effective and accountable institutions, we will continue to have inconclusive elections. So, we need to look at our electoral laws. We

need to look at our capacity to enforce and the effectiveness of our institution before we can actually get there. I think we don’t have that now. And that is why looking forward to 2019, we need to strengthen a lot of things. One of the things that we have been canvassing for is to have an electoral offence tribunal. Despite all the crises that we have been having with all our elections, you will still notice that we don’t get people who are involved in election malpractices and violence prosecuted to the extent that it can serve as precedence for other elections. And that is why I think we need to get that sorted out. We need to also look at our electoral laws because we can see a lot of things playing out in terms of money. People are being given money to foment trouble on the day of election and the fact that there was also instruction from national to state; people trying to use their positions. So, there are lots of complications around it and I think these are issues that we have to address with our laws. They are issues we have to address with more work from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), INEC and the political parties. What is your take on the Gender Equality Bill, which suffered a setback recently at the Senate? The bill is meant to address imbalances in the system but the issues being raised by the Senate will force it to suffer a setback if you look at the provisions they are referring to in the Nigerian Constitution. Some of the issues they raised are not in any way valid. What is confrontational about a widow inheriting her husband’s properties and having custody of her children or a woman having a right to freedom of movement? These are issues that are not valid and I believe won’t stand the test of time. We are going to renegotiate the bill on the basis of equity, gender equality and development of the country. During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, there were more women in elective and appointed positions at the federal and state

Akiyode-Afolabi

The bill is talking about 35 per cent affirmative action, quota system and a level playing ground for women to take active part in politics

levels but that seems not to be the situation in the present administration? How do you see women participation in politics? There are lots of issues regarding women participation in politics in Nigeria. There are several challenges that have been identified like the issue of money politics. There is also the issue of electoral violence like what happened during the rerun elections in Rivers State. That is enough to scare women away from politics. The most important is the political will of the government itself to ensure that there is a gender political space. What we can see from the present government does not show that wiliness. They talk about gender equality in paper and their manifesto but in the real sense, taking the political decision to ensure that you have more women participating is not really coming out very well. It means that the way we would engage with this government would probably be different from other one. We need to hold government accountable that they hold a duty to ensure that there are more women participating in politics. Do you think that Nigerian women have what it takes to participate in politics looking at what became of the ambition of KOWA party’s presidential candidate in the 2015 general elections, Prof. Remi Sonaiya? There are several women like that. It is just to make the terrain much more equitable and fair so that people can contest not on the basis of money but on the basis of equality. She came in to contest; she didn’t have money; she was a professor, so she believed that she has the intellect to contest

and that was why she took active part during the election. We have several women in that capacity wanting to contest for political offices but because there is no level playing field; that is why we are not seeing them coming out. One of the things we are going to do about our clamour for more women in politics is to see how we can identify such women and how women can also help in promoting them so that they would be able to come out to participate during elections. But there are still many problems with our political system. There is the problem with political parties; their laws and manifesto, and we need to address all the problems against women participation in politics as fast as possible before we can progress with women participation in politics. Do you see more women contesting for political offices in the 2019 general elections? Yes, I believe. In 2015, women didn’t get there not because we didn’t have enough women who showed interest in politics. A lot of women showed interest but at the level of political party’s primaries, some of them were dropped and that affected the final results. If women don’t emerge as candidates, there is no way they can take part in the general elections or get elected into public offices. So, we need to address the issue and that is why the Equal Opportunity Bill is very important. Some of the things the bill is talking about is the issue of 35 per cent affirmative action, quota system and a level playing ground for women to take active part in politics. What are the measures to be put in place to increase women participation in politics? In Nigeria, political participation of women has been largely through appointments rather than elections. No woman has ever being governor, president, vice president or Senate president in the history of Nigeria. There are a number of factors affecting women’s political participation in politics, among which are women’s low financial base, violence, cultural problems, character assassination, heavy domestic responsibilities as well as fear on the part of women to take risk. There are also issues of monetisation of politics and godfatherism. To solve these problems, there should adequate sensitization, political education and capacity building. There is also the need for more cross-pollination of ideas between the media, politicians, the academia and nongovernmental organisations. We also need to embark on more sensitisation on the Gender Equal Opportunity Bill for the Senate to reconsider its passage. I am also of the view that the media should support women’s political participation by publishing periodic articles and giving more spaces for women’s voices and participation in politics.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mallam Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari. In this interview with Anule Emmanuel, he speaks on why the president strongly opposes Biafra agitation and plans to speed up infrastructure development in the country

Some Nigerians still believe that President Buhari’s administration is very slow. What is your take on that? It depends on what they want to see the government doing. We have a President who came in and said one thing. Perhaps, people just chose to ignore or forget that commitment he gave. The President said he must secure the country in order to govern it well. Now, the people who say he is slow, it took Boko Haram five years to become what he met it to be and those people were not accused of being slow to tackling Boko Haram. In less than a year, the President has decimated and minimised the group to a point that the on-going operation in the North-East and the Lake Chad area is no more than a mopping activity. Boko Haram will soon be extinct. That is one of the major objectives that the President set up for himself. He has set for himself the objective of cleaning-up of the entire system of governance in the country, blocking the loopholes through which public money is stolen. He has done that and implemented the Single Treasury Account (TSA). Originally, it was an initiative of the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan but they did not have the will power to implement the policy. President Buhari has put the policy in place and by last week, TSA had saved the country more than N3 trillion. So, the President has checked corruption substantially and is recovering money this country has lost. Yes, if people want government to be about building roundabouts and raising new building, yes, we haven’t done as many buildings as would have been done or roundabouts in our cities as some Nigerians want. Contractors and those who want to be engaged for building jobs have reason to complain about our speed but this will change. But the funds from TSA are lying idle with the CBN. Why? It will soon be used, the President will not spend money without parliamentary approval and that parliamentary approval is the budget. The budget has just been approved and will soon be signed by the President. There is adequate provision in the budget for capital projects. This means there will be a lot of activities in the economy. If you look at the past budgets, the bud-

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

Shehu: Biafran issue has been resolved

get of the Jonathan administration was not more than N4 trillion each year. In the 2016, you have N3 trillion set aside as money to be spent on projects not salaries and overheads. So, in a matter of time, this country will be flooded with money because projects will come and quite unlike what you had in the past, no one will give you contracts and allow you to go and hang yourself. Government will give jobs and back it up with funds. In fact, Nigerians will be happy again in a short while. Once the budget is signed, life will take off properly with economic activities. The epileptic nature of electricity is one area of major concern to Nigerians. Why is government unable to stabilise electricity supply? The major problem in this sector is sabotage which comes with the vandalization of oil assets including pipelines. The target of saboteurs is to hamper the economy given its mono-cultural nature. They know that oil is the life wire of the economy and foreign earnings. So, government is turning its attention to tackling sabotage in that sector, especially having substantially now dealt with Boko Haram. The President will definitely pay attention as he promised to the sabotage going on in the power sector and once that is checked, pipeline transporting gas, to power stations will be secured.

Shehu

Will the President still go on with payment of N5,000 monthly to unemployed youths? It is in the 2016 budget. The party manifesto is clear on this, the policy is for the poorest of the poor. People will not be given money for doing nothing. There are reports that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House Representatives have in their employ over 200 aides. Is this in line with the policy of the present administration to cut down cost of governance? Well, I don’t have anybody’s mandate to address what is happening in the parliament. What I know is that there are conscious efforts to cut down cost of governance by the present administration. From 42 ministries, they are down to 24 and part of what is delaying the re-constitution of boards and appointment of the chief executives is to align the parastatals with the new ministerial structure. So, the President is conscious of that and he has been saving money for the country. Is the President not worried that Bola Tinubu, a strong member of the APC is criticizing his cabinet member in public? We are not in a closed society where people are not allowed to speak freely. The constitution provides citizens with their rights to free speech. Asiwaju Tinubu is equally a citizen and is entitled to his full rights as a Nigerian. President Buhari speaks against the secession move of Pro-Biafra

Biafra is for the dismemberment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is already a settled entity

supporters but supports self determination of the Saharawi people of Morocco. Why so? Remember that this country fought a civil war for 30 months in which one million people were killed. The issue of Biafra was settled at the end of that civil war, what is there again? It is people who haven’t read Nigerian history and don’t know about it that are trying to raise new dust. And for anybody to make comparison between Western Sahara and Biafra, that is a display of knowledge deficit in international politics. One, Western Sahara is a classic case of decolonization. It is the last remaining colony on the African continent and we all owe it a duty to ourselves to liberate Western Sahara. In fact, as military Head of State, President Buhari was the first to recognise Western Sahara and then the rest of Africa followed. So, he is being consistent. But Biafra is for the dismemberment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is already a settled entity. These two scenarios are clearly different. Mr. President is being mentioned as a beneficiary in an illegal employment exercise at the CBN and he is yet to comment on this? Whoever says that is being uncharitable to the President. President Buhari has done enough to show that he is not dishonest and is unprepared at all times to cover or shield shady characters. Much of what we are reading regarding these times are mere campaigns of calumny. I will not say more. The parliament is looking into all the alleged

cases and should be allowed to carry out that investigation. What will you tell Nigerians who believe that President Buhari does not obey court orders. One case is the continued detention of Colonel Sambo Dasuki by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)? Dasuki’s problem is not with President Buhari who I must say has the highest regard for the rule of law. If five courts of the land are trying different cases in which a man is involved, and one or two of those courts let the accused persons go home on bail, what happens with the other three cases? If you are a Prisons Comptroller, will you set that person free when you have three other judges directing that he be kept in detention? Colonel Dasuki faces a multiplicity of cases and sadly for him, his hand appears to be showing in more of the cases as recent revelations from the ongoing investigation in the Office of the National Security Adviser has shown. President Buhari is the best friend of the rule of law and due process this country has seen so far. The President seems not to be taking any pragmatic action against the massacre of hundreds of people by Fulani herdsmen in Agatu, Benue State. Why is this so? Haven’t you read about the deployment of the army in that area? Can anyone move troops without the say-so of the Commanderin-Chief ? If the President is not talking and he is acting, which do you prefer? Words or action?

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion There is no magic, afterall Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-309-7251 (sms only)

he political exit of Goodluck Jonathan from the centre stage of governance and the coming in of General Muhammadu Buhari as President has no doubt thrown-up some nagging issues about the competence and capability of the latter. Jonathan was simply lucky that he had to quit the political stage, involuntarily, due to the conspiracy and gang-up against him by the Northern and South West geo-political zones. Obviously, these forces were too powerful and fundamental enough to have dislodged him from the pinnacle of power. Even after his political adventure and exit from power, whatever happened thereafter, was still being placed on the shoulders of the ex-president by the Lai Mohammeds of the incumbent regime. When General Buhari took-over the mantle of leadership of the Nigerian sovereign State on May 29, 2015, some Nigerians were naïve, comprehensively, to the extent that they had already concluded that he will perform a kind of magic which would be better than his predecessor-inoffice. Such people had the erroneous impression that Buhari would consistently put food on the table of Nigerians. They equally failed to appreciate that Nigeria and its political parties do not have any resounding ideological construct. To those Nigerians who believe in possibilities, they are not even aware that this country is a raw Capitalist State and not welfarist as obtainable in

the European Union (EU). For the purpose of clarity, magic involves any art which invokes supernatural powers; an illusory feat considered magical by naïve observers. It is an act of possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers. The whole concept of magical art is therefore anchored on abracadabra, that is, “the more you look, the less you see”. President Buhari certainly does not have such magical power with which to convert negativism to positivism. He should simply be seen as human and not an avatar. It cannot be contradicted that Buhari’s tenure has been brief and not due for thorough assessment but the prevailing circumstances are enough to summarise some of the teething problems of his government. Firstly, the inaugural phase of the National Assembly triggered-off an intra class political struggle within the ruling party. It was in respect of those who will constitute the principal officers of the National Assembly such as the Senate President, his Deputy, Speakership of the House of Representatives, his Deputy and others. The APC as a political party and based on its belief in its supremacy sent a list containing names of members who had been ordained by the party to be elected as principal officers of the two Legislative Houses. Rather than act accordingly, members discountenanced, dumped the APC nominees and went ahead to elect principals officers. The ruling political party and its leadership viewed the actions of the National Assembly as a clear rebellion against the supremacy philosophy of political parties. Hence, Olusola Saraki who emerged as the Senate President is now at the receiving end of the actions of members of the Senate. Today, he is facing some allegations of wrong doings in the past and currently being tried by the Code

There is also absolute hunger and poverty in the land

of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). It is a way of trying to discipline a rascally, stubborn and recalcitrant child in a bid to teach him a bitter lesson. In addition, the appointment of cabinet ministers took a hectic period until it became too controversial to be ignored by Mr. President. The issue of the 2016 Budget almost tore the country into pieces. It was discovered by the National Assembly that the said budget was heavily padded with frivolous sums of billions of naira, multiple errors and deliberate errors. The fraudulent Budget 2016 was later withdrawn and represented by the presidency to the National Assembly. It was finally passed into law by the Legislators in the nation’s interest and to strengthen democracy. Virtually all the campaign promises of Mr. President and the APC have been jettisoned. For instance, the N5,000.00 promised the unemployed graduates has also been dumped. The feeding of school children per day is yet to be implemented. The Kaduna State Government which attempted it has fallen into a coma because the students concerned would only come to school, eat the food and disappear from the premises of their institutions. Another promise to kick-start a welfare programme for the aged Nigerian men and women died at an infant stage. There is hyper-inflationary trend in the country. Foodstuffs in the local markets have become very costly for the final consumers to contend with. The prices of other goods and services have become unbearable. There is also absolute hunger and poverty in the land. Nigerians are confused as to imagine if these circumstances are what they ought to expect in the change concept of Mr. President and his political party. The scarcity of fuel and other petroleum products are biting hard. Perhaps, the President would do the needful in due course.

Adewusi: Boss, mentor and father Adebayo Alao-Akala

how me a man whose entire life robs off on yours, leaving positive marks and I will show you a boss who was a mentor and a father who cannot be forgotten forever, that is ASIWAJU SUNDAY ADEDAYO ADEWUSI, CFR,GCON. Inspector General of Police Retired (1981-1983) and the Asiwaju of Ogbomoso Land; The best Inspector General of Police ever that lived. I was stunned in the evening of 26th January 2016 when a friend, Dr Akintunde called me on phone from Abuja to break the news of his passage. It was like a dream because it was exactly a month after we met at Chief L.A Gbadamosi’s 80th birthday celebration in Ogbomoso. I first came in contact with him in 1976 when I was transferred from Jos to FORCE CID (FORCID) Alagbon, Alagbon close, Ikoyi Lagos at a time he was about moving to “B” Department Force Headquarters. I moved with him to Force Headquarters,At that time, he was not even aware that we were both from Ogbomoso. Ever since, he took me as his brother and son. He was an inspiration to all officers who served under him . The principle of leadership, courage and dedication to duty which I learnt from him provided the sure ladder that made me accomplish effectively, all duties assigned to me and this made him appoint me as

his Personal Assistant and ADC when he eventually became the Inspector General of Police in 1981. He was a rare gem, a quintessential Police Officer, bold and fearless with an exceptionally “ can do it spirit “ . He made me to be aware that any challenge or difficulty can be overcome in one’s way if one would work and try harder. He was an incurable optimist who stopped at nothing, in making sure that seemingly impossible tasks were carried out, by supervising every bit of details that is required for every Police Operation or any job. I remember with nostalgia how he personally led us in an operation that saw to the end of “ Maitasine” in Kano in December 1980. On his way up to the peak of his career, he busted so many crimes that earned him the nickname “ SUPER COP”. He brought POLICING to enviable height, no wonder he became an Inspector General of Police at an enviable age of a little over 44 years. Indeed he was the youngest person to ever become an Inspector General of Police in the history of Nigeria Police Force,. He was also the first cadet Inspector to be the Inspector General of Police. He was endowed with many virtues, and he was always many steps ahead of his generation in his vision, thoughts, decisions, working processes and as well as his relationship with officers and men working under his supervision. He believed in people’s ability in attaining success in life. He was a

man of the people as he relished seeing people around him, even when it crept into his private resting moments. He was a genuine giver who touched many lives. A very meticulous boss whom we often saw as extreme perfectionist. He knew how to make people run by constantly throwing challenges at them in a way that will be fun, believing that they will eventually achieve their desired goal. He encouraged the subordinates and children to bring out the best in them, thereby giving them self esteem, when the best had been achieved. That was exactly what happened, when I decided to join Politics after my retirement from the Police Force in 1995. I met him and his friend, late Ambassador Tunde Oyeleke on his farm at Ilorin where he gave me invaluable pieces of advice which I eventually followed. I rose from a Local Government Chairman to become an Executive Governor of Oyo State. All through the years I have knew him, he was involved in all the major events of my life and he stood as a rock for me through happy and sad moments. He made his immediate family to believe that my family and I are his. For this, I am grateful and I do solemnly promise to keep and guard the relationship jealously. He Served his communities both birth place Mada in Nassarawa State and his ancestral home town Ogbomoso dilligently and with all his God’s given endowment. He was recongnized with the title of Garkuwan Nassarawa Egg-

on and also made the Waziri of Mada District, the town where he was born and brought up. Also he was honoured and recognized as the Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland by Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland. It is on record that he contributed immensely to the social and economic development of Nigeria , Oyo State and Ogbomoso in particular. He was a devout Christian who dedicated his life to the service of his creator. He taught his children the fear of God and love to humanity. Albeit, he was not the type that blew his trumpet, he contributed in no small measure to the growth of so many Churches. Indeed he was a perfect example to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. To Mummy, his wife Mrs Ameenat Funsho Adewusi, only the Almighty God can reward you for what you have done in the life of Asiwaju, your husband. You kept the HOME FRONTS with all resources at your disposal while he was in service and after retirement. You gave him PEACE until his demise. I promise you will not walk alone. E o so ile pe. What else can I say? I met a strong willed man, a boss, a mentor and father outside my family. Thank God I met him in my life . For me not to sound like a broken record, I will not delve into details of his professional life and life after retirement. I think the verdict is unanimous, he was a GREAT SUPER COP !!! • Akala is a former governor of Oyo State.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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substantiate his claim by using the word: “certainly.” The President said it would be wrong to assume that government officials inherited from the Jonathan’s administration would be 100 per cent loyal to his government. “People who want to be fair to us, sit and reflect, from the president to the ministers to the permanent secretaries, they were all taken over after four successive governments of those who are now in the opposition. So, we cannot assume that all of them are 100 per cent loyal to this government,” the president reportedly said. Yet again, the Federal Government blamed the prevailing

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We also recall that during his tenure, late President Umaru Yar’Adua raised a similar alarm about saboteurs frustrating his efforts aimed at repositioning the country. If three successive administrations had raised a similar alarm, then, there seems to be some element of truth in this concern. Unfortunately, each time “saboteurs” frustrated government’s efforts, the masses are usually at the receiving end. For instance, the ongoing

fuel shortage supply and the epileptic power supply We urge the have affected government to mostly the downtrodden carry out a massive especially reorganisation of the those who are daily income federal civil service earners. How long will the masses continue to power situation in the country bear the brunt of governments’ on gas failure as well as saboinefficiency under the pretext tage and vandalism of power that there are saboteurs among infrastructure. government officials? This was contained in a stateLike almost every sector of ment issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji the Nigerian economy, the civil Lai Mohammed, who also apolo- service is largely corrupt and too bureaucratic. It should be exgised to Nigerians for the prevailing power situation which pected that corrupt civil servants has brought untold hardship to will be averse to change that is them. likely to affect their old ways of The minister strongly condoing things. There is a clique in the civil service which is fond of demned the situation in which some Nigerians, under the guise holding successive governments to ransom through shady deals. of the various unions in the oil And because some of the civil and gas sector or sheer vandalservants have been in the system ism, continuously sabotage the for years, they are capable of country’s power infrastructure.

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Saboteurs in Aso Villa

n January 13, 2013, former president Goodluck Jonathan raised the alarm that some ‘saboteurs’ in his cabinet were leaking official documents to the terror goup, Boko Haram. The ex-president said this at a special interdenominational church service held to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. Jonathan called on those sabotaging his efforts of containing the menace of terrorism in some parts of the country to abstain in the interest of the country. He said, “the saboteurs in government condoning terrorism by Boko Haram, you do not love this nation. Those of you who leak secrets to Boko Haram do not love this nation. It is a crime not to love this nation. “My question to our Armed Forces and other security outfits is what, what are you building? Will what you are building build or destroy the nation? You are supposed to build the nation wherever you go to serve.” Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed doubts about the loyalty of some key members of his administration in an interview with Al-Jazeera during his recent visit to Doha, Qatar. Although, the President did not name these officials, he insisted there were saboteurs in his government when asked to

EDITORIAL

putting a spoke in the wheel of government. In view of this, we urge the government to carry out a massive reorganisation of the federal civil service. State governments should also replicate same without witch-hunting any civil servants. There is no economic sense in keeping a large number of civil servants that are no longer relevant to the system. We challenge the government to be bold enough to identify the saboteurs in the system and deal with them decisively according to the law. A situation where the government continues to lament about “saboteurs” either within or outside the government without necessarily doing anything to curtail their activities would been seen as a sign of weakness or lacking the political will to deal with the situation. There was a time in this country when economic sabotage attracted capital punishment. While we are not advocating for a return to such era now especially because we operate a democratic system of government and largely because most countries of the world are moving away from capital punishment, we urge the appropriate tier of government to review our laws on economic sabotage if the present ones are no longer in tune with today’s reality. There should be consequences for economic sabotage to serve as a deterrent to others.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

thursday, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus

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SouthSouthFocus Threatened by extinction

21 Police A policewoman’s lucky day

A section of the abattoir

The Abakaliki abattoir centre located at the heartbeat of the capital city is the oldest meat slaughtering centre in the South East. It has been in existence since 1967. But the current situation of the centre is not only an eyesore, but a danger to the human health, especially in this era of diseases outbreak. UCHENNA INYA writes.

battoir is a place where cows, goats, rams and other animals are slaughtered for sale and human consumption. It is supposed to be so conducive and hygienic that no other human activities should take place therein as seen in different parts of the country. But the Abakaliki abattoir centre is also a place where people bury their dead ones for inability to take the corpses to their places of origin due to economic and other problems. Christians, Muslims and traditionalists have their burial grounds in the centre. It is also a place where someone convicted to death by hanging and criminals killed by security agents are buried. A visit to the area will see many graves the fresh, shallow and the deep ones. Some cattle dealers, who sale

Slaughter house in burial ground cows to butchers for slaughtering, also reside in the centre to prevent their cows from being stolen. The state Director of Environment, Chief Simon Arua, told New Telegraph that the government has resolved to relocate the abattoir from the location to a conducive and better place. “I went to the abattoir with my team last week to inspect the centre and the whole place was an eyesore. We discovered that the butchers have moved very close to the cemetery to kill cows in this era of infectious diseases emerging from dirty environment. The whole place is very dirty. “So, we discovered that the same place where our cemetery is situated is the same place they are slaughtering animals for public consumption and there is possibility of outbreak of diseases. Based on that, we served them abatement notice and any moment from now, we will take them to court. “The butchers and cattle dealers have refused to relocate to a better and conducive place we have provided for them. We can’t allow them to be killing animals people are eating here because the abattoir is unhygienic and burial grounds are located where these

We are comfortable here because this place has been existing since our late forefathers

animals are slaughtered. “You can imagine a situation where meat is slaughtered when corpse of someone whose cause of death is not known in buried; at times on a shallow grave. “You will be in the abattoir buying meat and a dead body will be carried in front of you for burial and you don’t know whether the person died of some of these infectious diseases and that is why we have said no, we can’t allow this to continue. “But the butchers and cattle dealers don’t want to relocate to where we have provided for them. We built some boreholes for them and provided other facilities for them, yet they don’t want to relocate’’, he said. Corroborating Arua’s claim, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Ogodoali Nome, described the abattoir as unhygienic, adding that it was wrong for the dealers to be slaughtering animals where cemetery is located. He said by slaughtering animals in the area, the meat dealers desecrate the graves where people’s loved ones were buried. He added that their activities expose members of the public to avoidable health hazards, especially now that there are outbreaks of some epidemic in the state, including Lassa

fever and cholera. “We have warned the abattoir operators severally to relocate from the cemetery but they refused to do so and we cannot continue to allow them slaughter animals in the area because it poses health hazards to the members of the public. “We had outbreak of Lassa fever which the government has been battling to curtail by spending very much and these people are here killing animals that people will eat. “They said they have been staying here since after the civil war. But we have provided a very conducive place in another area for them to continue their business but they refused to relocate to the place’’, he said. “The problem we are having is not even those people; it is some people in government that are giving them covering fire. A commissioner is one of such people. When I wanted to move them, he said it is Agric and that it is only veterinary and the Ministry of Agriculture that can remove them. Some people in government are injecting bad blood in the matter. Nome disclosed that he has directed the Director of Environment in the Ministry, Mr. Simon Arua, to institute a legal action against the abattoir CONTINUED ON PAGE20

NEWS | South-EAST

thursday, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A group of youths at work

Racing against unemployment Pamela Eboh Awka

he Nigerian society and the world at large, have in the recent times, been enmeshed in the mud of youth unemployment and an uncertain future for the next generation. However, a lot of well meaning Nigerians and big companies are beginning to copy their counterparts abroad by keying into creation of means of employment for the millions of graduates churned out by both private and government tertiary institutions yearly. Non Governmental Organizations have also aligned with the network of salvaging the society with various types of youth empowerment. One example is the Tony Elumelu Entepreneural scheme, which has stepped into that area of charity and it is working out with very good results. Another company in the procession of helping the country reduce unemployment is SABMiller industry, makers of grand malt, beta malt, milk stout, hero beer, etc.

The company located at the commercial city of Onitsha has launched an entrepreneurial programme tagged ‘KickStart’ for youths under the ages of 18 to 35yrs. The programme, which was launched a fortnight ago, is geared towards empowering the next generation of entreprenuers in the five south eastern states of Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia. It would no doubt help a lot of youths with budding business ideas bring their dream to life. It would also help youths, who are already running a small scale business but need financial support expand their business. According to the Chairman of SabMiller industry, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, “The aim of the programme is to develop a local culture of business entrepreneurship among young people in the South East by encouraging and promoting business skills, managerial awareness and material support through training programmes, mentorship and provision of business grants as start –up capital and for expansion. “The programme would bring refreshment to people. It is part of the

It is lack of job that is driving a lot of youths into crime

company’s social corporate investment initiative towards poverty alleviation and sustainable enterprise development in its areas of operation. “The end objective is to ensure that our youths in the South East with bright business ideas, have an opportunity to turn these ideas into reality, which will in turn reduce unemployment, by engaging them meaningfully through an entrepreneurship programme that will encourage them to bring their dreams to life. “We have heard so much about the planned diversification of the Nigerian economy, wherein our over-independence on crude oil will be a thing of the past and this initiative is one sure way of diversifying the Nigerian economy. “We are not unaware that there are expectations from the communities around our areas of operations, particularly in Anambra State. We recognize that Intafact Beverages, as a major business venture in the South East, has to maintain an enduring relationship with people of the region. “In an economy weakened by the

Slaughter house in burial ground C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

dealers and threatened to use Police and DSS to sack them if they refused to relocate from the area after the one-month ultimatum he gave them to vacate. Reacting to the Ministry of Health directive to relocate from the abattoir, Alhaji Lawan Ahmed, a member of Cattle Dealers Association, said the cattle dealers and butchers are comfortable staying in area. “We are comfortable here because this place has been existing since our late forefathers. This place has been existing since the Civil War of 1967. It is the first Garrki in the South East and has been in existence since the Civil War till today. ‘’We have not been having any problem with the government and I don’t know

The Muslim cemetary

why the present government in the person of Commissioner for Environment is putting problem for us. “He wants us to leave this place. We want to fence our own Cemetery; the Muslim Cemetery, which is very close to the abattoir; the Christians have done their own but government doesn’t want us to fence ours. “We have concluded arrangements for the fencing but the Commissioner for Environment doesn’t want us to do that. We

want to fence the cemetery by ourselves and government should allow us to do that; we don’t want them to fence it for us. Fencing the cemetery will demarcate the abattoir completely from the cemetery’’, he said. The Secretary of butchers association in the centre, Mr. Emmanuel Nwokporo, said, ‘’the truth is that we don’t slaughter animals in the cemetery. Actually, the abattoir is in the same axis with the cemetery.

effects of a global slump in oil prices, the SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart not only comes as a breath of fresh air, but indeed offers strong prospects for an economic rebound for our country which is in dire need of multiple investment platforms. “There is renewed hope that this initiative will not only grow the local economy of the South East region, but will indeed, generate a paradigm shift in wealth creation as the multiplier effects will be quite impressive and far-reaching.” The programme, which will run as a yearly programme, cover all the states in the South East geopolitical zone and is billed towards recruiting hundreds of youths, who will automatically become bosses themselves and in turn, offer employment to others. With about twenty four million Nigerians currently unemployed, the SABmiller enterpreneurial programme will be a source of respite for the youths and relief to the federal and state governments which bear the bigger burden of providing for its citizens. For Mr. Emeka Chikelue, the SABmiller youth empowerment programme is a timely intervention which the youths will totally embrace. “Presently, the system is not about going to the university and the discipline studied but having something to get busy with to be able to put food on your table and fend for those that trained you in return. “I am particularly happy because the programme is coming at a time when so many youths are jobless and without enough resources to start up any business of their own. That is why you see a lot of youths looking for greener pasture abroad by going into illicit business. “Everybody knows that it is lack of job that is driving a lot of youths into crime because no youth with a good source of livelihood will indulge in any crime knowing that his life is at risk. “If individuals, as well as companies that are well to do in this country can queue to this beautiful idea of empowering the youths to get into small scale businesses and not having to wait for white collar jobs, the country will be better for it and crime will be reduced to the barest minimum”.

thursday, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus Honour for an idol Dominic Adewole ASABA

“Y

ou are worthy of emulation. We see you as an icon of hope and inspiration to South -South Youths. And, we pray that the Almighty God should envelop you with more ideas and more grace to do more in your fatherland in Jesus name. Amen.” With these words, the Chairman on the Board of the Delta State College of Health Technology, Ofuoma-Ughelli, Dr. Nelson Ejakpovi smiled home with his award as an epitome of good testimony on the world map of the South South Youth Assembly (SSYA). But the award recipient did not allow the euphoria of the day to blur the vision of glory in him as he challenged youths from the Niger Delta region, especially from the South-South zone, to look beyond oil and use education as a weapon to gain a better life for a greater tomorrow. It was an event of coat of many colours as invitees and well-wishers scampered to catch a glimse of the man of the moment. It took place at the College of Health Technology, OfuomaUghelli auditorium amidst fanfare in the presence of other members of the Governing Council of the institution, including, Hon. Sunny Tatabuzogwu, the Provost of the institution; Dr. (Mrs.) Agnes Olojoba, (Bursar), Favour Nwaokocha, among others. Ejakpovi, who maintained that the Niger Delta axis of Nigeria is a blessed region, owing to decades of oil exploration in the region and the vibrant youths therein, wondered why youths of the region have failed to equip themselves for the challenges of tomorrow by acquiring sound knowledge through education to conquer and possess the land. He said: “Education equips you for a better future. Don’t look at what you stand to gain at present but the long term benefits, which only education can give.” While assuring the youths of his continuous contribution to enable them plan for greater future, the Governing Council Chairman thanked the group for recognizing his input towards a better society by bestowing such an iconic award to him. SSYA National President, Comrade Oke Oyibo, who presented the award, tagged, Icon Of Hope And Inspiration To The South South Youths, to him for CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Main entrance of the University of Uyo

Threatened by extinction Host community for the University of Uyo is lamenting the appropriation of their land by the government. The community insists that unless something tangible was done to address the situation, some of its villages may disappear. TONY ANICHEBE reports from Uyo

he Clan Head of Offot Ukwa clan in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Etebom Sylvanus Okon, has warned that if the University of Uyo and the Offot Ukwa Clan do not meet on a round table to reach a mutually beneficial settlement in the subsisting land dispute between communities that donated land to the university and the university authorities, four villages in his clan would go completely extinct from the face of the earth. The visibly bitter Clan head made this observation while interacting with the Vice Chancel-

...The university could never exist in isolation

lor of the University of Uyo, Prof Enefiok Essien, during a courtesy visit by the Offot Ukwa Clan Council to the University. Addressing the university Vice Chancellor, Okon said that there was need for a meaningful dialogue to ensure that those villages are not completely wiped out following the acquisition of their land for the University’s permanent site project. Among villages that run the risk of being wiped out of existence are, Ikot Ntuen Offot, Ikot Anyang and Ikot Oko Idio Villages. He lamented that there had never been any society that must have to be cleared out to make way for a university project. He called on the university to sit down with the host communities to chat a more reasonable boundary with the Offot Ukwa host villages. The Clan Head, who was accompanied by members of the Offot Ukwa Clan council, also called on the university to make provisions for a special quota for the host communities in the admission policy of the University, so as to give a sense of belonging to the teaming youths of the host communities. He further urged the university to also make room for Offot Ukwa citizens in the award of contracts and supplies by the university as well as the provision of special

employment placements for the youths of the clan, whose lands had been acquired for the university project. He said that the clan was happy to host the university but that the university should also show some concerns for the plight of the people. The Offot Ukwa Clan youth president, Obong Francis Nyong, who accompanied the Monarch, stated the position of the clan youth council on the location of the university within Offot Ukwa Clan. He said that the youths were proud to host the university and committed to assuring a peaceful coexistence of the two parties. He said that he was happy with the way the new VC received the Clan Head’s entourage even in a short notice, adding that the era of mutual cooperation would yield good things for the community and the university. He reiterated the desire of the clan to drawn up a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure peaceful and beneficial coexistence. He called on the university to give urgent attention to the core requests of the clan which included employment and admission quotas, contract and supplies award considerations. In his response, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Enefiok Essien, thanked the Clan Head and his entourage for the visit. He said that the university could never exist in isolation, noting that even though the university was a federal institution, its base remains within the Offot Ukwa Clan community. The university Vice Chancellor took time to explain some of the issues that came up during the Clan Head’s briefing. On the issue of the university land, the Vice ChanCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

NEWS | South-South

thursday, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A policewoman’s lucky day

Dominic Adewole ASABA

othing seems more characteristic of the present age than its optimism, its intellectual refinement, its spirit of true enlightenment and critical engagement with which leaders of thought examine it, shape the opinions of men and mould the character of their subordinates. This analogy reflects the uncommon attitude displayed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, when he interfaced with his men in Delta state on March 23, 2016, on the parade ground of command’s headquarters in Asaba. The IGP did not only ‘embarrass’, his men with his refined swagger, but boosted their morale and treated members of the public, including media men, captains of industry, heads of government parastatals and other admiring listeners, who thronged the scene of the event to catch a glimpse of the number one man police officer in Nigeria, to an emotional tale of nostalgia, when he promoted a female police Corporal, who threw a subtle but intelligent question at him on an impediment on the police marital rules and regulation. On the memorable day, Abuchi Silvaline, number 030123, attached to Agbahor Divisional Headquaters, happened to be among the rank and file that were selected by his Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of her station to join the ramshackled police van to Asaba, probably in a waiting game of clapping and filling the seats during the reception. But little did she know that luck was waiting to smile at her. Although, she was perplexed when the IG pronounced her automatic promotion and ordered that her Corporal emblem be instantly removed and that of a police Seageant be brought for him to personally decorate her, it was, nevertheless, a day for her to secure

Abuchi being decorated by the IGP

her expectation by keeping hope alive. Her despair immediately vanished. Her salary must have swollen up after the promotion incident. Abuchi, who asked the third question at the event, sparkedoff the spirit of magnanimity in the IGP when she raised her hands up during questions and answers session, being moderated by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, and asked why police rules and regulations expressly and indiscriminately provided for a woman police to present her fiancé to top management of the force for interrogation before the marriage could be contracted? The IGP, who burst into laughter alongside his entourage and the host Commissioner of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, at the intricacy of the question, only recov-

In civil matters, apply alternative dispute resolution

ered to declare a day of favour for Abuchi. According to him, Abuchi’s question was not only exceptional but intelligent and thought provoking. He disclosed that he had been wondering as well why that law was one-sided and does not apply to male policemen. “We know of cases of some policemen who after they were posted to another station or command would abandon their original family and take up another wife, and so they do, on and on, in any station they are posted to, and before you know it, they would have raised three to four families. Still no law regulation of the force catches up with them. “But since an ignorant man cannot enforce the law he is not knowledgeable about, that is why we are now building a legal house for police in Abuja to do researches. Since we cannot read the heart of a man from the construction of

his face, we have started to look at the police regulation that are inimical to gender sensitivity and remove them”, he answered. The Inspector General of Police thereafter read the riot act to men of the command when he ordered them to fight back arms proliferation, kidnapping and cultism. He also warned them against abusing the rights of the people they were called to protect and against extra-judicial killings, which he said, “I am allergic to”. He said: “Don’t arrest people before looking for evidence, except in a purely criminal case, because that is an old style of policing. Instead, give criminals a run for their money. In civil matters, apply alternative dispute resolution. You must be mentally moral in all cases. I am allergic to extra-judicial killings and abuse of human rights. Even if you are under pressure, still apply the internationally best practices.” He explained that he eliminated road-blocks “to end bad practices by our men during their first contact with members of the public.” While he charged the rank and file in the force to henceforth conduct their affairs with swagger, he said over 40,000 policemen have been promoted since he assumed office and 320 children of the Inspectors, Sergeants and Corporals, have received scholarships to further their education. “We have started building 400 low cost houses for rank and file, those who do the bulk of the work of policing in Benin, Yola, Minna and Gombe, 100 in each of them, to end the bad perception about police.” He urged the Commissioner of Police in the state to constantly interface with members of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the traditional institution, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), captains of industry, market women and youth leaders in the task of disarming criminals across the state.

Threatened by extinction

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

cellor, who is a professor of law, said that the university had at no time carried out any survey of the land. He noted that the land was surveyed and handed over to the university by the govern-

ment and therefore, any issue arising from how much land was taken had to do with the government. He said that even though all lands in the state is vested on the governor, lands belonging to the Federal Government and its agencies are exempted from such general provision. The Vice Chancellor, however, suggested that the communities could still approach the state government with their complaints and see how best it could be resolved. He further advised that the communities must tackle the issue of indiscriminate sale of the land, noting that such sales were usually provocative. On employment, Prof Essien

regretted that the dwindling financial fortunes of the university have made it extremely impossible to engage new staff members. He said some of the services in the university have been out sourced on the orders of the Federal Government to save costs. Essien announced to the Clan council the establishment of a police/community relations unit in the university to ensure a smooth relationship between the university and her host communities. He assured the Clan Head and the people of Offot Ukwa that the university would continue to cherish the community and do everything possible to enjoy the community’s confidence.

Ejakpovi (third right), and others at the ceremony

Honour for an idol CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

his administrative prowess, said the award was based on his total commitment to “effective and quality service delivery in the health sector, undiluted passion for hard work, your dogged advocacy for peace and equality, youth empowerment strategies, community development and nation

building.” Corroborating Comrade Oyibo, Tatabuzogwu described the award as an honour well deserved for an epitome of good judgement. He urged the youths to emulate the qualities of Ejakpovi by remaining focused in their academic pursuit, shun violence and be industrious.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

News Ambode seeks increased awareness on oral hygiene

Health

Interview How temperature, other factors fuel disease outbreaks

24 25

Poverty, ignorance, obstacles to life-saving surgery – UNTH CMD •As UNTH renews treatment For a long time, performing open-heart surgery in the country has been an issue in Nigeria, resulting to patients traveling overseas for solutions. CHARLES ONYEKWERE reports the initiative of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu to address this challenge

he University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu is one of the tertiary hospitals in the country, to introduce open-heart surgery. Ten years ago, open-heart surgery in the facility was suspended following the hospital’s movement from its old site within Enugu metropolis to the permanent site at Ituku-Ozalla,a distance of about 15 minutes drive from Enugu. Due to delay in relocation to its new site, twenty-two patients who were suffering from various heart related diseases, have undergone successful open-heart surgeries in the centre recently. The UNTH open-heart surgery, which is supported by VOOM Foundation, an international medical humanitarian organisation, founded by a United States-based Nigerian, Vincent Ohaju commenced this programme in 2013. Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Dr. Christopher Amah, while speaking on the surgical procedures, said the operations

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

An open heart surgery patient at the operating theatre

on the 22 patients were the 12th edition of the hospital’s openheart surgery. According to Amah, about 120 patients including children and adults had successfully undergone open-heart surgery since the programme began. The CMD of the hospital who raised alarm that over five per cent of the nation’s population may be living with Surgically Amenable Conditions, urged governments at all levels to map out resources to arrest the situation before it degenerates to an unmanageable level. He further disclosed that on resumption of the 12th session of the programme, a total of 22 patients are expected to benefit from the UNTH open-heart surgery. Amah explained another vital facility to open heart surgery, the Cardiac Catheterisation laboratory has been acquired

and installed in the hospital with about 15 patients already benefitting from it. He noted that the hospital will carry out at least 100 open heart surgeries annually, if enabled by funding, noting that because of the huge financial involvement in carrying out the exercise coupled with the fact that most people with heart related diseases are poor, most people were yet to take advantage of the exercise in the hospital. “I can tell, you that if we have improved funding, we can even handle 200 cases per annum and this will save this country huge sum of money that ordinarily would have left the country through capital flight,” he said. He said out of the 22 patients slated to be operated upon, two persons received sponsorship from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), another patient received sponsorship from

If every state sponsors 10 patients each year, it would go a long way in reducing the number

the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, while their partners from the VOOM Foundation led by Dr. Vincent Ohaju are taking care of two indigent persons. While explaining that the new facility, the Cardiac Catheterisation Machine which came through the University of Nigeria Education Trust Fund, would help to reduce the number of people that would go through the process of open heart surgery as it helps in accurately detecting the state of hearts of patients, Amah said increased funding has become imperative. “This machine is very important for the accurate evaluation of patients before surgery. It helps to reduce number of people that would go through open heart surgery. If you have just the blockade of pulmonary artery, the machine will easily detect it and is something that can just be handled. Like I said earlier already 15 patients with various heart-related ailments have passed through the laboratory and successfully too. Indeed, the UNTH cardiac centre of excellence has come to stay,” he added. Also speaking, the Head of Cardiology Department of the Hospital, Prof. Basden Onwubere lamented that research has shown that over five per cent of Nigerians both children and adults live with surgically amenable conditions, urging urgent attention in that regard. “Five per cent of 170 million is so much, many people who have heart diseases and in need of operation are poor, they just call it rheumatic fever and the person’s valve is terribly damaged; many people are not able to do anything because of money. It costs a lot of money. Now we have the manpower; we need government funding. “Government has to sponsor people, if every state sponsors 10 patients each year, it would go a long way in reducing the number of patients. If not for our foreign collaborators, it would have been a big issue,” he lamented. He also expressed optimism that very soon; doctors from the hospital who have undergone intensive overseas training would be handling the open heart surgeries without assistance from foreign doctors.

Health \ features

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Constipation may increase colon cancer risk Oluwatosin Omoniyi

n American based bowel expert, Dr. Barbara Bolen, said that dealing with constipation on a chronic basis, or experiencing frequent bowel movements might raise risk for developing colon cancer. Prevalence rates of constipation and colon cancer Bolen said that worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 14 per cent or all people deal with constipation on a regular basis. It is more risky and goes up if the patients is a female especially those within the age range of risk of 65 (to the tune 25 per cent). “Your lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about one out of 20, making it the fourth most common type of cancer in the United

States (U.S) and worldwide. In terms of cancer related deaths, in the US, colorectal cancer comes up second on the list. Luckily, the number of people who die from colorectal cancer is decreasing year after year. This is attributed to increased screening and improved treatments,” she said. Association between constipation and cancer Researchers theorise that chronic constipation may raise one’s risk of developing colorectal cancer for two reasons: Chronic constipation may cause the number of carcinogens in the stool, (such as bile acids and other compounds), to become more concentrated. Chronic constipation may result in these carcinogens being in contact with the cells lining the large intestine and rectum for longer periods of time.

Conflicting research results Many large- and smallscaled clinical studies have been conducted to assess whether or not chronic constipation raises a person’s risk for colorectal cancer. Study results have been conflicting, with some studies concluding that there is a risk, and other studies concluding that there is no such risk. Some studies have even shown that chronic constipation can decrease the risk! Reasons Many of the studies that have found no risk are casecontrol studies - studies in which people who end up with cancer are compared to those who don’t. The problem with this type of study is that the results can be biased - in other words, people who are diagnosed with colon cancer may be biased to recall that they did

experience constipation on a regular basis. The possibility that it is not the constipation that raises the risk for cancer, but that the risk is raised due to the use of laxatives. A comprehensive metaanalysis (a study that combines data from multiple studies) concluded that studies that are not case-control studies, in other words that do not run the risk of recall bias, as a whole offer evidence that there is no increase in the rates of colon cancer in people who experience chronic constipation. There was one large study that provided some evidence that there is a connection between the severity of the constipation problem and an increased risk of colorectal cancer over time. Interestingly, this increased risk was not seen in those patients with severe constipation who had been seen by a gastroenterologist or those who

received a prescription for a laxative. The researchers conclude that perhaps efforts to directly address the problem of constipation may reduce one’s risk. Laxatives and cancer risk Research study results have been just as mixed regarding an increased risk of colon cancer in people who use laxatives on a regular basis. It is thought that some of these mixed results occur because studies do not separate out the type of laxative used. A study in which risks were assessed based on the type of laxative used found a slightly higher risk of colon cancer in individuals who used non-fiber type laxatives. Conversely, those who used “fiber laxatives”, otherwise known as bulk laxatives or fiber supplements, had a decreased risk of developing colon cancer.

L-R: Marketing Manager, Nestle Water Nigeria, Mrs. Gloria Nwabuike (first left); Corporate Communication/Public Affairs Manager, Dr. Samuel Adenekan (second left); and other children at World Water Day Celebration Organised by Nestle Nigeria Plc, held in Nestle Nigeria, Agbara in Ogun State recently

DFID seeks improved customer service in health facilities Wale Elegbede

he need to improve the quality of customer experience in public health facilities in the south west states of Nigeria has been highlighted by the Department for International Development (DFID) and health stakeholders from the states that comprise the zone. For participants at a two-day workshop organised by the DFID and GABASAWA Women and Children Initiative held in Lagos last week, a strategic shift in health care in the south west states would help in achieving better quality in health service delivery and thereby ensure the improvement of lives of the people. In his welcome address, Dr. Sina Fagbenro-Byron, said the DFID work in three thematic areas namely Human Development, Governance and Economic Growth, adding that due to failure of quality health service delivery, a large amount of the nation’s financial resources is expended on seeking medical treatment abroad.

Speaking at the workshop, a Consultant Psychiatrist and former Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile said quality improvement in healthcare services will bring greater efficiency, positive client perception, greater staff confidence, job satisfaction, as well as increased customer satisfaction. While calling for the removal of public/private dichotomy in quality rating and assessment, Dr. Olugbile said, “There is less intrusive scrutiny and less readiness to vouch for standards of practice in private facilities. Government has always felt itself responsible for the conduct and standards of healthcare practice in its facilities at the – primary, secondary, tertiary levels.” He called for the institutionalisation of quality improvement standards and structures within all registered public or private facilities including the regular measurement of such things as wound infection rates, operational outcomes, among others.

Water conservation skill for children

s Nigeria joined the rest of the global community to mark the 2016 World Water Day, Nestle Waters is taking the lead on initiatives on how to best conserve water as a way to address scarcity. This plan was unveiled at the 2016 World Water Day activities organised by Nestle Waters in Agbara, Ogun State last Tuesday. The 2016 World Water Day with the theme “Water and Jobs” was marked globally on March 22. In his speech, Country Business Manager, Nestle Waters, Mr. Jason Lambe said water scarcity is the biggest global environmental issue the world faces at the moment. “At Nestle, we want to be forward thinking and work on solutions for the scarcity of water.” According to him, the country focuses education on chil-

dren, building capacity on proper water use and conservation among children, considering that they are the leaders of tomorrow. “We are better to start with education on how to look after water than we had done in the past and it is better to start this education with children as they are key stakeholders in the future,” he said. Speaking further, he said for us at Nestle, “the most important thing is to educate the children on conservation, how to use water; how to treat it and to preserve the resource in the best possible way we can.” Maketing Manager of Nestle Waters, Mrs. Gloria Nwabuike said, “Today is an important day and we are using today to create awareness for the general public about water challenges and the need for all of us to come together to protect this natural resource that we have.”

Medical

Facts

Human body needs iron

ron helps carry oxygen to different parts of the body in the form of haemoglobin. Not having enough can lead to iron deficiency and symptoms such as weakness and fatigue. Food allergies, common among adults Around two per cent of adults and eight per cent of children suffer from some type of food allergy where the immune system makes a mistake and thinks a certain food protein is dangerous and attacks it. Well known food allergies can include unwanted reactions to gluten, seafood and peanuts. Avoid eye shadow if you have infection You could also pass the bacteria on to the eye shadow with the applicator or the finger. Also, pay attention to how those suave mall makeup artists apply their products on your face. You don’t want to get used tools. Which reminds us, never use lipstick if you have a cold sore, it will aggravate the cold sore but, more importantly, the infection will be on the lipstick and you could re-infect your mouth? One more thing, never share mascara as this is the most common way to pass on eye infections such as conjunctivitis Wart virus is very contagious The skin cells on the warts release thousands of viruses and touching the wart or skin cells on it releases the virus, which can then infect others. Protect your feet by keeping them clean and dry. Furthermore, a tiny flake of infected skin from a person with athlete’s foot can fall off whilst showering. It may then be trodden on by others who can then develop the infection. Once a small patch of infection develops it typically spreads along the skin. Viruses cause the cold, flu Common cold and flu are spread through the air in tiny droplets produced when an infected person coughs, snee zes or breathes. When you sneeze your body is getting rid of infected cells and an average snee ze will spread over 100,000 virus cells up to 30 feet.

Health \ features

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

How heat fuels disease outbreaks – Fasanmade Dr. Femi Fasanmade is an Internal medicine physician and an endocrinologist. In this interview, Fasanmade who is also the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), discusses the health implications of heat as being currently experienced in the country and strategies to mitigating its impact APPOLONIA ADEYEMI met him Is the climatic change responsible for high temperature and return of old diseases? Concerning the environmental or climatic change that has lingered since January up till now, we have a situation where the weather is very hot and dusty. This is due to harmattan and until just a few days ago when temperature in Lagos was as high as 35 degrees. When you have temperature that is very high and you have a lot of dust it is very easy for some particular medical conditions to thrive. For instance, because of the dry weather, infections such as upper respiratory tract infections are common because usually once we have the ability of dust to move very far then, a lot of such infections will thrive. This is to say that once there is a lot of dust, a lot of infections will usually happen. That is why we have plenty people having catarrh and cough. These conditions arise because of dust from the weather and because the viruses responsible for these infections thrive in heat. Another problem in some parts of the country is that when there is draught or dry weather, many of the water sources become dry so people have to go to sources outside their usual area to source for water. Hence, some rivers dry up; people get a lot of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera in such places, because streams and wells dry up. Therefore, a large number of people congregate in smaller bodies of water and this encourages disease in such situations. Similarly, particular viruses thrive well at some particular times of the year. Even malaria has seasonal variation in the time it occurs; it is not because the temperature caused the sickness or caused the fever. It is because the high temperature is associated with some changes in climatic conditions. That is the explanation for that. Usually, once the rain starts, water gets everywhere; people’s boreholes start working; and dry wells start producing water. You would find out that many of these medical conditions go down. Where you have a situation in which the weather is very hot, but there is no power supply because power generating

season or dry season everybody must have adequate vegetables and fruits. With regard to dressing, is there a particular kind of dress we should wear? Although, the weather is hot now some people out of fashion still go and put hood on their head and wear sweater because it is in vogue or trending. That is inappropriate dressing. Such a person can even have what we call heat stroke because he is not drinking enough water and he is sweating profusely as the temperature is high; he can have heat stroke.

Fasanmade

sets fail, boreholes stop pumping, people start drinking water from unusual sources. These prompt the ones who did not go to stream before now to go to stream because water corporation has not provided water. There are some places in Lagos where there is no water because there is no power. In such areas where source of water is affected, there is increased diarrhoea. This is because in areas where people cannot wash hands diarrhoea is common. So, that is the only reason for the outbreaks of some diseases; it is not that the high temperature causes fever and other ailments. It is the things that are associated with the temperature that cause fever. Even the food available changes. For instance, if there is scarcity of water many plants will not be available; many fruits will not be available as well. Again this also affects health. Although, individuals should be able to get a lot of vitamin c from the different fruits, fruits may not be available due to scarcity of water. These are some of the reason we are having change in disease pattern. What are the things people should do to avoid infections? If the place you were getting water before is no longer running and you now resort to going to a well to source water, you can simply filter the water; you can boil the water or you can do both, but people often don’t want to do it. If because of heat inside your house you are forced to sleep outside then you have to use mosquito nets. Otherwise you will develop malaria and you will be blaming

the weather for the malaria but the reason for the malaria is because you went to sleep outside. These are very simple things. If in a place a person does not have enough nutrient maybe he has not eaten enough fruits for three months because fruits are now very expensive, either you look for some vitamin supplements or you look for fruits that are available in that season and consume those ones.

Particular viruses thrive well at some particular time of the year

What are the other things one should do in such condition? If it is too hot and you want to go outside, you can rub your body with mosquito repellant; you can put on mosquito net. Those are simple things. Open all your windows, making sure you have a mosquito net to go with it, but if you go and do that and you carry your child outside because he is crying as a result of heat, you may have solved the immediate problem but exposed the child to another problem. A number of adults have resistance to malaria because of experience of long years of being exposed to malaria. Small children don’t have this experience. If you say because the child is crying from heat and you take him outside where he is exposed to mosquito bite, that child may be in trouble. On the contrary, there are many grownups that sleep outside even under the bridge; they don’t have malaria because over the years they have buildup resistance. Is there special food people should be eating this time? At any time you must eat healthy. At any time weather rainy

What is heat stroke? It’s a condition where a person losses a lot of water; the person even stops sweating then the temperature starts to go up. The person can become unconscious because normally when temperature is high the body produces sweat to cool down the temperature, but if the temperature is so high even the sweat you are producing, either the sweat is stopped because the person is not drinking enough water or despite the sweat on the body the person’s temperature still goes very high. In developed countries when the temperature goes very high they actually have water points around the town, where they will be pouring water and people will go there to play and drink so that the person does not have excessive heat. In some countries like India and some other developing countries where the temperature could go very high at some time of the day, people die from heat, just like in developed countries during winter people die. In developed countries, if young people are not well protected, they could die in winter. Similarly, the elderly people could also die in winter. In developing countries it is the opposite. If temperature is extremely high and you go and put a burnet on a new born, putting socks on the baby’s hands and legs, putting the child in the back and tying him, these could heat the child up and the baby could develop fever and even convulsion. So, people should know how to dress sensibly; many of the things we wear on our young children are meant for people in temperate countries. A good example is putting on a baby three layers of clothes including a nappy, nappy liner, socks plus burnet, and then wrapping the baby inside a woolen clothe. Inside Africa this type of dressing is inappropriate. People should know how to dress appropriately for the weather. If it is cold prepare to warm yourself up; if it is hot wear airy clothes, meaning wear a cloth that gives enough ventilation. If your house is hot and there is electric power black-out, open your windows. If you don’t have mosquito net, look for one and use it. How safe are mosquito repellant? Some of them are not safe for children but usually there are different types. You can look at the instructions before purchasing them.

Health\News

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode seeks increased awareness on oral hygiene Appolonia Adeyemi

T Dr. Oyenuga Olajumoke, Chairman, Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe and Dr. Biola Baruwa of Disease Control Unit, Lagos Ministry of Health, during a seminar held in Lagos recently

LASG to issue treatment guideline for sickle cell Camillus Nnaji

he Lagos State Government has said guideline and treatment policy for those living with sickle cell disorder would soon be finalised. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said this while addressing participants in a seminar organised by National Sickle Cell Center in collaboration with Sickle Cell Non Governmental Organisations, stakeholders and those living with sickle cell in Lagos. The aim of the seminar titled ‘Information dissemination for Sickle Cell NGOs” is to bring together all NGOs working on sickle

cell and stakeholders to have a common voice and build capacity on information management on Sickle Cell disorder. Idris who was represented by Dr. Mrs. Oyenuga Olajumoke of the SCD control Unit in the Ministry of Health, said the disorder has become an emerging health concern given the data of 300,000 to 500,000 children born with the disorder yearly in Africa. Fifty per cent of the births occur in Nigeria, being the most populous country in sub-sahara Africa. Consequently , Lagos is offering free medical treatment to children under the age of 12 years, while finalisation for the policy on treatment procedure for

all living with sickle cell is on the way. He said “while guideline for management of SCD is being finalised, machinery has been set in motion for the proposed policy on Hemoglobinopathies.” Speaking on behalf of the NGOs, Chairman, Dabama Sickle Cell Foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Ibekwe said the seminar has become necessary in order to form a coalition of one voice which will boost information gathering on the science of management of the disorder. He urged NGOs to equip themselves through continuous medical seminars and education such as this in order not to pass wrong or obsolete information on to people living with sickle cell.

he Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode has called for increase in the tempo of senitisation on proper oral hygiene. Ambode made the call at the 2016 World Oral Day activities organised by Unilever in collaboration with the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) in Lagos recently. The 2016 World Oral Day has the theme “Brush Day and Night: Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body.” According to Ambode who was represented by Dr. Jide Idris, the commissioner for health in Lagos, “the sensitisation is a way of teaching children oral hygiene which is essential to good orah health. “The mouth is an integral part of the body and if you keep it clean, the body is likely to be clean. “This is one of the ways to raise awareness of oral health; it is better to start right from children, because they will grow up with that culture in mind. “Besides, you can use children to carry your messages to different homes and schools.” The governor said one of the problems of the mouth was caries which arise from failure of brushing and keeping the teeth clean. Ambode said, “If you do not keep your teeth clean, you are going to have your teeth infected and it can cause holes (cavity) and tooth ache. “Then it (infection) can go through some blood vessels to other parts of the body. “The essential thing is to keep it healthy and the best way is to brush

twice daily and use toothpaste with flouride which helps to prevent caries.” The National President of NDA, Dr. Olabode Ijarogbe, said a lot of people in the grassroots were still cut off from dental facilities and services which was a challenge. “We use the World Oral Health Day to concentrate on reaching out to more people, particularly those in the grassroots. “To let them know that the mouth is an integral part of the body and very important to take good care of it. “And if that is not done, it will definitely affect the general body system, “ he said. Ijarogbe said that brushing twice daily, regular visits to the dentist, twice yearly and consuming wholesome diets rich in fruits and vegetables would ensure good oral hygiene. He said, “Generally, a lot of us have the habit of snacking on foods that contain refined sugar and the bacteria in our mouths tend to feed on the remnants of these foods. “This will result in a lot of damage including tooth decay and gum problems. “The diet is an important part to our oral health and whatever we eat, we should be sure it will be of immense benefit to the body.” In his contribution, the Vice President, Unilever, Mr. Robert Vreede, said that the company had reached over 1.8 million Nigerian school children since 2014 when the programme started. Vreede said that the behaviour change programme was to improve the idea of brushing day and night to improve oral health.

Healing powers of pawpaw (2) P Nature awpaw is one of God’s wonderful gifts to humanity. When one looks at the beauty and richness of nature, one cannot but burst into songs of praise to God. Pawpaw is a pharmacy in its own right. We all eat pawpaw and enjoy its sweet and pleasant taste. But how many of us know the medicinal values of this wonderful plant? Some time ago I visited a poor old man living alone in a village house. His three children are working outside the country. This old man had an old sore that refused to heal despite regular medication. The sore had gone so bad that the man’s leg was actually rotting away. “Why is no one treating you?” I asked him. He replied:“My children are all living abroad and they always send me Oyibo (Western) medicine to cure my leg, but the leg is stubborn”. My heart sank. At the back of this old man’s house are three healthy pawpaw plants. I drew his attention to the plants and showed him how to use the pawpaw fruit to treat his sore. Within three months his leg was back to normal. He was able to trek to the farm and go to church. Stomach ulcer Cut a big unripe pawpaw fruit into pieces. Do not remove the peel or seeds. Simply cut the whole fruit into cubes. Then soak in five bottles of water for four days. Sieve and take half a glass three times daily for two weeks. This is a very

Bring some pawpaw roots to boil. Take half a glass thrice daily. For cough, simply chew a tender pawpaw root and swallow the juice.

Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

good remedy for any type of intestinal ulcer. External ulcer The white milky sap of the unripe pawpaw contains a high percentage of papain, which is used for chronic wounds or ulcers. This can be obtained by making a slight cut on the unripe pawpaw fruit to allow the juice to drop. Papain is also present in the ripe pawpaw fruit.

To prevent an attack, inhale the smoke every night. Bronchitis The root of the pawpaw plant is a good remedy for respiratory problems, especially bronchitis.

Piles Pawpaw root is effective for the cure of piles. Prepare as for bronchitis. Dosage is half a glass twice daily. Impotence Cut two unripe pawpaw fruits into pieces (seeds and peel inclusive). Bring to boil in eight bottles of water. Take half a glass thrice

Convulsion The dry, brown pawpaw leaf is a good remedy for convulsion. Pick up the dry, fallen pawpaw leaves and grind into powder. Add two tablespoonfuls of the powder to half a glass of palm kernel oil. Stir well and rub all over the body. This preparation is of great help during an attack of convulsion. It quickly arrests the abnormal condition. It is also helpful in cases of high fever to bring down the body temperature. Asthma Burn dried pawpaw leaves and inhale the smoke during an attack of asthma. It brings quick relief.

Pawpaw tree

PHOTO: realnewsmagazine.net

Five common pet poisons

hocolate, gum, mints, meds, cleaning agents, and hand sanitisers are common items in many households. But they are also among the most common pet poisons that cause health emergencies for dogs and cats each year. According to officials at the Pet Poison Helpline. “Every January, we examine our records to see what toxins contributed to the most emergency calls from pet owners and veterinarians the previous 12 months,” said Ahna Brutlag, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. “We hope that by sharing these lists, more pet owners will become educated about how to avoid problems and protect their pets.” The best thing concerned pet owners can do is know the most common pet toxins, listed below, and then pet-proof their homes. If your pet accidently ingests something toxic, contact a veterinarian. Half the calls to the Pet Poison Helpline are because a pet ingested a medication lying around the house or in a handbag, book bag, or duffel bag.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry Appraising impact of FG’s N350bn on industries

Business What's news N600bn debt: FG begins selective payments to contractors p.28

NNPC, marketers rake in N28.4m on fuel daily

p.28

eWorld ‘NCC may tweak InfraCo framework’

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

Ayodele Aminu

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at March 25)

(Interbank as at March 25)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N457 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N360

l Foreign Reserves – $27.872bn as at 24/3/2016

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

Source: CBN

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; Chief Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo and representative of the Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Frank Ojadi, after a press conference on Export Management, in Lagos.

Inadequate protection for the $32 billion ICT infrastructure in the country remains a major obstacle to the industry

Deputy Editor (Business)

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE February 2016...........................11.4% January 2016.............................9.6% December 2015........................9.6%

IMPEDIMENT

The Business Desk

Telecoms shield bill may become law soon

Kunle Azeez

As operators slam service tax

trong indications have emerged that the telecommunications protection bill currently pending in the National Assembly may be passed into law in the next couple of months. Speaking in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said: “We hope that we would make headway in terms of the passage into law of the bill in the next couple of months.” He said the operators have over the years intensified engagements with the stakeholders and created adequate public awareness on the desirability of having a law that accord national security infrastructure status to telecoms and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the country. “On Telecoms National Security Infrastructure Bill, I can tell you that we are gaining more attention of government because we have engaged in significant public enlightenment; we have also had special stakeholders’ interactions with government and we are hoping that over the next couple of months, there will definitely be headway as regards this,” he said.

Adebayo said: “We have also been in the National Assembly, visited the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agents of government on several occasions to let them acknowledge the importance of telecoms to our digital life and economy and why it should be protected as critical national security and economic infrastructure.” Over the years, despite the good operating environment provided by the nation’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), industry stakeholders believe that there has not been adequate protection for the $32 billion telecoms industry. Currently, Nigeria’s telecoms industry, rated as one of the fastestgrowing in the world, has recorded massive infrastructure deployment ranging from over 30,000 base stations already built and several hundreds of kilometers of fibre optic cable laid by the telecoms firms. Telecoms operators often record cases of vandalism on their critical infrastructure such as base stations and underground fibre optic cables, theft of telecoms equipment at sites, indiscriminate closures of telecoms infrastructure over tax

N600 billion Being the amount the telecoms sector contributed to the Nigerian economy in 2014

defaults, among others. Industry experts say the current scenarios being witnessed by the telecoms companies continue to rear their ugly heads simply because the kind of critical national security and economic infrastructure status accorded public facility such as electricity and pipeline, has not been extended to the telecoms sector. Adebayo said: “Yet, ICT has become a critical index of economic development. The sector accounted for about 10 per cent of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014 with a direct contribution of around N600 billion to the economy in the same year. “Our sector accounted for over 30 per cent of the Nigerian Foreign Direct Investment since deregulation in year 2001 and well up to half of our country’s foreign direct investment in between some years since 2001. Our sector has created over 20,000 direct jobs since liberalisation and 1.5 million indirect jobs since deregulation.” Besides, he said the telecoms industry currently supports many other sectors of the economy and CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28 business |NEWS PARTIALITY Telecoms bill Local firms allege may become marginalisation law soon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

has remained in the first layer of critical infrastructure for socio-economic development and security. Consequently, Adebayo said: “Unless we have first level of protection by government, it will be difficult to continue to provide uninterrupted services with the type of vulnerability of our members and their infrastructure.” He noted that undergrounds telecoms cables buried along the roadsides frequently get damaged by the activities of construction companies, a development that costs more for telecoms companies to have a turnaround for repairs. This newspaper noted that as at 2013, MTN Nigeria reported at least 70 cases of cable cuts on a daily basis. “So, we believe that with our level of engagements with all necessary stakeholders across different arms of governments, both at federal, state and local levels, there is increasing hope that we would have the bill passed into law because all are now aware of the importance of the telecoms protection bill to the nation’s economy,” he said. Meanwhile, Adebayo has condemned the proposal of another bill in the National Assembly calling for the imposition of a nine per cent service tax on telecoms services. He said that Nigerians should reject such a bill, as it is anti-industry. According to him, the introduction of such a bill and its eventual passage into law would further widen digital divide, as it would make telecoms services expensive. He said: “What the new bill called Telecommunications Service Bill 2015 is saying is that every telecoms service, whether voice calls or data services, will not attract nine per cent tax, meaning that if a service cost N10, you will need to pay nine kobo extra on top of that as service tax and we feel that such a bill will further widen the digital gap.” He said that while the country is striving towards service accessibility and affordability, the passing into law of the bill would make the affordability difficult for people, thereby disenfranchising them from the digital revolution. “Invariably, the services would be available, but may not necessarily be affordable by the people. So, we think that to take the tax from five per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) by another nine per cent of service tax will be too high.”

Dayo Ayeyemi

he Federal Government has commenced selective payment of contractors handling various road construction projects in the country, New Telegraph has learnt. Our correspondent learnt that the payment began a few days ago following an announcement by the Federal Government indicating readiness to inject a total of N350 billion into the economy in April. An impeccable source confirmed to our correspondent that his organisation has received part-payment of what government was owing, adding that the firm may move to site anytime. Speaking exclusively with the New Telegraph, President of Federation of Construction Indus-

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

N600bn debt: FG begins selective payments to contractors try (FOCI), Mr Solomon Ogunbusola, said that government has commenced selective payment to contractors in order to get the economy running. FOCI, which is the umbrella group for building and civil engineering contractors, subcontractors and plant and equipment suppliers, is being owned N600 billion. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, alongside Minister of National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma; Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is also chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor Willi Obiano of Anambra State, had disclosed recently the release of N350 billion to revamp the economy.

The minister said part of the money will help offset the debt owed local contractors, who had laid off their workers for lack of funds. The FOCI president alleged that those that are being paid now are the multinational companies and not the indigenous ones. Some of the multinational construction companies include Messrs Julius Berger, China Construction Engineering Company (CCECC), MCC, Setraco, Cappa D’ebarto and Stabilini, among others. Ogunbusola said that government has embarked on selective payment in order to settle the multinational construction companies so that they can go back to sites, whereas no payment was made to the

indigenous firms. He appealed to the Federal Government to also make payment available to local construction companies in order to create jobs at the state and local levels. He said: “People are finding it difficult to establish companies because their capital is small and the fear that the little money they have, if spent on contracts without being paid will get them out of jobs. “Small construction companies are operating in the local areas, if you do not attend to them; you are doing Nigerians a disservice.” It would be recalled that construction companies in Nigeria had expressed concern over the high indebtedness of the Federal Government, state and local gov-

ernments to their sector, running into over N600 billion. This had made many of them to abandon construction sites and sack 70 per cent of their staff strength. The body had alleged that the former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the construction industry so much work to do without money to execute them. Ogunbusola said: “The Federal Government owes the construction industry over N600 billion. I can mention three companies that government alone owes over N200 billion: Julius Berger, N70billion; MCC, over N70 billion; Setraco, over N80 billion. Those are the ones I am sure of the exact figures, even S&M, which is a growing company, is being owed over N80 million.”

L-R: Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Sola Ladipo; Managing Director/CEO, WakaNow. Com, Mr. Obinna Ekezie and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Ralph Tamuno, during the launching of WakaNow. com new logo and signing of memorandum of understanding with the bank in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

NNPC, marketers rake in N28.4m on fuel daily SURPLUS Over recovery on fuel is now N4.84 per metric tonne and N0.71 on each of the 40 million daily consumption

Adeola Yusuf

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and fuel marketers rake in N28.4 million on premium motor spirit (PMS) also known as fuel daily. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which gave this hint in its Pricing Template, de-

clared that the over recovery on fuel is now N4.84 per metric tonne and N0.71 on each of the 40 million daily consumption. The latest Product Pricing Template, which was posted on March 20, 2016, by PPPRA, was based on Average Platts’ Prices for March 18, 2016. The template stated: “Lightering expenses (MID) is N13.78 per tonne and N2.02 per litre. The Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) expenses is N2.45 per tonne and N0.36 per litre; Financing (MID) is N2.28 per tonne and N0.33 per litre; The Jetty Depot Thru’ Put Charge is N4.08 and N0.60 per litre.” For storage charge, the PPPRA’s template revealed, “N13.61 is expected to be paid per tonne but N2.00 per litre; the Landing Cost N486.63 per tonne and N71.49 per litre.”

On the Distribution Margins, the PPPRA added, “Retailers margin is N34.04 per tonnes and N5.00 per litre; The Transporters margin is put at N20.76 per tonne and N3.05 per litre; Dealers margin is N13.27 per tonne and N1.95 per litre; Bridging Fund is N27.23 per tonne and N4.00 per litre.   Others are Marine Transport Average (MTA), which is N1.02 per tonne and N0.15 per litre; Admin Charge is N1.02 per tonne and N0.15 per litre; Subtotal Margins is N97.34 per tonne and N14.30 per litre; Highway Maintenance is N0.00 per tonne and N0.00 per litre.  The same is for Government Tax, which is N0.00 per tonne and N0.00 per litre; the Import Tax is also N0.00 per litre and N0.00 per litre; the

Fuel Tax is N0.00 per tonne and N0.00 per litre; the Subtotal Taxes is N0.00 per tonne and N 0.00 per litre. The total cost, according to PPPRA is N583.97 per tonne and N85.79 per litre; the official ex-Depot is N491.47 per tonne and N72.20 per litre; the Ex-Depot (for collection) N520.74 per tonne and N76.50 per litre.  “The under/over recovery is N-4.84 per tonne and N-0.71 per litre; retail price N588.81 per tonne and N86.50 per litre; the expected Open Market Price (OMP) (Naira/litre), which is Landing cost +Margins is N85.79,” the template showed. The conversion Rate (MT to Litres) used for the template according to the PPPRA is 1341 litres to a metric tonne; the Exchange Rate (N to $) is N197.00 per dollar.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The proposed injection of N350 billion into the economy to stimulate development in some of the ailing sectors has elicited optimistic reactions among Nigerians. TAIWO HASSAN reports

Industry

Appraising impact of FG’s N350bn on industries

o ensure that the ordinary Nigerian benefit in its plan to rejig the economy, the Federal Government has put in place a proposal to spend N350 billion in capital projects beginning from the second quarter of the year. The move is coming at a period the nation’s economy has been heavily hit by dwindling crude oil prices at the international markets, which has adversely affected livelihood of most Nigerians. For the manufacturing sector, it was such a cheering news, as the sector was the most hit in the ongoing economic crisis in the country. Obviously, the injection of such an amount signals that there is still hope for the real sector of the nation’s economy. The pledge At the last retreat in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said that the government was looking at various measures to stimulate growth and bring a lasting solution to the declining economy. She explained that the Federal Government was keen on using the 2016 budget to fast-track economic diversification in key sectors of the economy. Her words: “We are going to spend money and this will be done in a disciplined manner and in right places. “The Federal Government has a platform and system of control in place to ensure transparency. Spending will not be reckless. “We are pumping N350 billion into the economy in the next one quarter to help the economy to bounce back. That has never happened in the history of this country.” According to her, part of the money would be used to offset contractual debts incurred by contractors and businessmen/women. With this huge spending, the minister believes, “companies that had laid-off staff and those that had abandoned projects are going back to sites and the economy will bounce back.” She said the government’s priority is that the wages of workers will be paid. “We have engaged the contractors to let them know that the payment of management fees has to wait, this is how to make the money to trickle down to Nigerians,” Adeosun added. Manufacturing sector Recent happenings in the sector showed that revamping the sector remains critical to the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Hitherto, since the drop in crude oil prices at the international markets, which culminated

Factory workers

into government adopting austerity measures, there have been various economic policies that had hit the manufacturing industry. Specifically, the real sector of the economy is faced with myriad of challenges, which transcended into low impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Nigeria Bureau of Statistic (NBS) report indicated that the real growth rate of the monetary value of all goods and services produced in the country had slowed down since the third quarter of last year on the back of the low crude oil prices and decline in oil production. Expert’s view Speaking on these developments, the Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium scale Enterprise Group (SMEG), Jon Kachikwu, commended President Buhari for taking such a laudable decision on the revitalisation of the country’s economy. He said the fund would go a long way in repositioning the economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Kachikwu added that the manufacturing sector had been bedeviled by paucity of funds and this has affected the sector’s performances in recent times. He noted that the government could not be exempted from the lacuna in the sector, adding that supporting the economy with such huge fund would stimulate growth and development in many sectors of the economy. “The Federal Government’s idea to support the economy with whopping N350 billion is a welcome development to us (manufacturers) and this is even happening at a period the economy is clamouring for intervention. “We (manufacturers) are delighted with government’s decision to stimulate growth in the

economy. No doubt, bringing back the ailing economy should be everybody’s priority at this period,” Kacikwu said.

Federal Government’s N350bn intervention fund on economy is a welcome development

Infrastructure Infrastructure is the pivotal frame on which a strong national growth structure is maintained. Any nation that wishes to accomplish any significant economic development must necessarily invest more in the provision and maintenance of basic infrastructural facilities. A healthy business environment can be essential for growth and poverty reduction and a prerequisite for trade and competitiveness. Infrastructure contributes to economic development by increasing productivity and providing amenities which enhance the quality of life. The services generated as a result of a good infrastructural base automatically translate to an increase in the aggregate output for goods and services. The outputs of infrastructure to economic growth are in essence wide and far reaching. The ability to foster infrastructure development is best tackled at a strategic level from where the necessary energy to drive its implementation lies. It is common knowledge that Nigeria is facing acute shortage of infrastructural facilities, and this constitutes a negative impact on development and empowerment of the country and her people. All over the world, infrastructural development is the engine that drives the economic and technological growth in all ramifications. According to Global Competitiveness index (2012-2013), Nigeria ranked 130 out of 180 countries in overall infrastructural development. Considered as giant of Africa, it

is disheartening that countries like Mali, Ghana, and South Africa are far ahead of Nigeria in the provision of basic infrastructure. The report maintained that infrastructural development in Nigeria required radical shift in political behaviour, good governance and public protection from exploitation by private companies as well as those whose main preoccupation is exploitation. State of the economy Speaking on the state of the economy, the National President, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, said that in the last one year, it was revealed that the economic growth of the country had not perform as well as expected. He said the economy has been slow due mainly to the continuous fall in the price of crude oil and the different policies instituted by the current administration. Factors that have also accounted for the sluggishness of the economy include the electioneering activities that took the better part of the first half of the year and the scaling back of public spending due to the decline in oil prices. Edem, however, said the chamber lauded the current government’s efforts in rejuvenating the economy in spite of the huge challenges they inherited. However, Nigerians are anxiously looking forward to the change that will bring about the realistic dividends of democracy and positive impacts on the real sector of the economy and business community in general. Conclusion Since the manufacturing sector still remains the catalyst for the country’s industrial development despite the various factors that are constraining growth in the sector, it is believed that the injection of N350 billion will make the economy bounce back in no distant time.

business \ industry

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BoI earmarks N30bn for GEF scheme EMPOWERMENT Last year, the bank disbursed N5.6 bn to qualified graduates Stories Taiwo Hassan

he Bank of Industry (BoI) has restated plans to disburse N30 billion for its Graduate Empowerment Fund (GEF) scheme this year to boost job

opportunities for graduates. The move is part of the quest to stimulate entrepreneurship in order to address the high level of unemployment in the country. The Acting Managing Director of BoI, Waheed Olagunju, in a statement, said that the bank planned to roll out the funds as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sector. He said the availability of adequate funds for SMEs op-

erators and entrepreneurs would go a long way in reducing the menace of unemployment in Nigeria. Olagunju added that relevant government institutions should also develop policies that will address the country’s unemployment at this period so as to drastically reduce the menace. He stressed that it was the bank’s priority to add value to the country’s economy, adding that BoI would not leave any stone unturned to

realise its objective to raise one million new entrepreneurs in the country through its funds set aside for the scheme. His words: “At BoI, we believe that there can be no development without communication. We need to change the mindset of our people. Under our Graduate Empowerment Fund (GEF), we have received over 3,000 applications where we invited 1,000 for the capacity building where only 800 showed

L-R: Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu and Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two States on the development of commodity value chains in Lagos, recently.

Export: Benue to partner SON on products’ certification

he Governor of Benue State, Dr Sam Ortom, has expressed his administration’s commitment to partner with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure agriculture produce from the state are certified for export. The governor made this known during a standardisation campaign held in Makurdi, Benue state. He said certification of produce would boost the state’s export value and also help in checkmating the rejection of Nigerian goods in the international market. Ortom said the state was blessed with abundant natural resources that could serve as backbone for industries and for export. According to him, the state is ready to partner with relevant agencies of the Federal Government, especially the SON, towards helping in value addition and also to achieve wealth creation and jobs for Nigerians. He also commended the current SON leadership for embarking on a noble initiative of building the capacity of

operator of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), describing it as a step in the right direction given that MSMEs are the engine of growth of any economy. He equally urged other states of the federation as well as the Federal Government to key into the standardisation campaign of the SON to help achieve economic diversification. In his response, the Acting Director-General of SON, Dr Paul Angya, said the essence of the courtesy visit, which began in Nasarawa was to sensitise the MSME operators on the importance and benefits of deploying standards in their production and businesses. He said the choice of Benue state as one of the states to be visited was based on its proficiency in agriculture production. Angya said the programme also seeks to create opportunities for interaction with the state government to solicit the necessary support in the drive for standardisation of MSMEs production and business processes in the state.

up and out of 800 only 350 applied. “Last year, we had planned to disburse N15 billion, but only disbursed N5.6 billion to those who qualified. This year, we are targeting N30 billion.” Olagunju explained the urgent need to bring down the level of unemployment in the country to single digit, adding that the nation would be sitting on a time bomb of youth restiveness if nothing is done in the next two to three years to address the scourge. He said: “We at BoI also know that we need to create a high level of entrepreneurs. We need to have high number of entrepreneurs because we cannot solve the high level of unemployment in this country except we increase the number of entrepreneurs.” Speaking on other intervention schemes, the acting managing director added that Development Finance Institution (DFI) had just launched its youth empowerment programme and is expected to turn out about 1200 entrepreneurs. He stressed that Nigeria needed more than that number to create the proportionate employment opportunities for its teeming unemployed youths. He said “Under our Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) programme, we are expecting that there will be 10,000 applicants and also looking at turning out about 1200 applicants yearly.”

Customer service plays critical role in today’s business milieu’

he Vice-President, Customer Services, DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Fatima Sullivan, has projected that the prevailing tight business environment will soon make customer service experience an increasingly important differentiator for local businesses. This is in addition to also becoming one of the factors that will influence decisions of the supplier to purchase products and services. According to her, research shows consumers are willing to spend more for better customer service and with those companies that they believe provide excellent customer service. Her words: “In an environment where alternatives are rife, customer experience is rapidly becoming one of the most important elements of a business success. While price will always be important in the mind of the consumer, this becomes less so if a business offers first class customer service to support the product or service.” It is for this reason that DHL invests so heavily in a

customer-centric culture, according to her. “The customer needs to be the key focus in all activities, whether it is improvements in delivery times or query resolution processes. A good customer service department should understand the link between the way customers are managed and handled, and the company’s bottom line,” she said. Findings from the Economist Intelligence Unit: Creating a seamless customer experience report, revealed that almost 75 per cent of consumers will stop doing business with a company following bad customer service and that more than half will complain to friends and family about their experience. Sullivan said: “These figures highlight the detrimental impact of poor customer service in terms of revenue loss and reputation, and why customer service needs be a key focus area for a company.” She said that as a result of its continued efforts, divisions within DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa were recently awarded a total of

22 awards in the 10th Annual Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service. Sullivan stressed that an insanely customer-centric culture is only achieved if all employees have the same goal in mind–to delight the customer at every opportunity. She said: “We continuously thrive to ensure that every individual in the business understands the impact they can have on customer experience, and focus on the smaller details that drive quality. “Ensuring that the voice of the customer resonates throughout the organisation is also essential to great service. Initiatives such as the Net Promoter Approach (NPA) management tool, which measures promoters and detractors among your customer base and proactively sources feedback from them, can have a huge impact in identifying areas for improvement and enabling the company to make the necessary changes to enhance their offering and continually offer better ways to deliver excellence to customers.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

eWORLD

‘NCC may tweak InfraCo framework’ the committee. The committee will look at the issue of licensing for the remaining InfraCos and if it thinks there is need to open up to more players, it will put such in its recommendations. But, of course, we also look at the market in terms of the demand and contents. This is because what basically drives broadband services is content. Do we have enough contents in those regions that will provide the number of players you have to remain in the market? You will remember that today, we are still talking about the CDMA operators that many of them are not in the market. Even the last one –Visafone - has been bought over. Really, you need to look at the nature and maturity of the market and then, the ability of people to patronise this service. For instance, if you have a lot of players in a region, the question is whether they would be able to get enough demand and contents to provide services. So, as I said, a committee is looking at all of these issues to determine whether we need additional players or not. The aim and objective of the Commission is to ensure that the consumer remains satisfied at the end of the day.

Ojobo

Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, in this interview with KUNLE AZEEZ, at the recently-concluded 2016 eWorld conference, speaks on some salient issues in the nation’s telecommunications industry. Excerpts Having awarded two InfraCo licences, when is NCC awarding the remaining five? First of all, the EVC has put together a committee made up of officials of the Commission from relevant departments to look at the licences that have been issued and come up with a licensing framework for the remaining InfraCos licences that we are about to issue. Those licences will be for the remaining five regions that presently have not been awarded licence. For now, we have just done that of Lagos and the North Central, which takes care of Abuja as Federal Capital Territory and Lagos as the commercial capital. Now, the two InfraCos have not rolled out because there are still areas where we need to fine-tune the licence documents with a view to ensuring that

they deliver the kind of value that we expect them to deliver. So, we are just crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s of the licence document. By the time they take off, they would be rolling out services in line with the specified terms and conditions of their licence. We expect that the remaining five would be licensed later this year, though we don’t have the specific date yet, but a committee has been working on that, analysing the framework for the InfraCo licensing to ensure the successful licensing of the remaining five. What is NCC’s take on fears being expressed in some quarters that InfraCo model could trigger monopoly? The fear being expressed, as you have said, is also one of the issues that we actually have been discussing in the Commission, but, of course, at the time the InfraCo model was proposed to the Commission, it was based on some of the studies that had been carried out in other parts of the world where that particular open access model has been used. But, as I said, there is a committee that has been set up to look into the framework for InfraCo licensing model and the issue of concerns being raised in some quarters that the model could breed monopolistic proclivity is also one of the sections being looked at in the InfraCo model. If the committee discovers that, maybe, there might be little tweak to the model, it might be necessary to do that, but I would not want to pre-empt the work of

We should be able to meet the 30 per cent broadband penetration target by 2018 and, probably, surpass it

Previous attempts at auctioning the 2.6Ghz spectrum band have failed and now, the Commission has fixed May 16 as new auction date. How achievable is this? You know the 2.6 Ghz spectrum licence has actually been the frequency spectrum that the Commission was to license last year. But, I think some administrative things that needed to be done to have it auctioned were not finalised and the Commission wasn’t quite ready and you are aware that our auction process is actually very transparent. We consult widely, not just with Nigerians, but also with international investors who are interested in playing in this market. So, we wanted to be sure that we have all of that sorted out so that we can attract the kind of companies that will add value to what we are doing. You know, one of the things that happened in this kind of market is competition, which drives issue of quality of service, pricing and infrastructure deployment and so on. So, if you have right mix of competition, you will be sure that the consumer would enjoy the best services. That is why we have put together a team working on the licence spectrum, the terms and conditions. We have already uploaded the Information Memorandum (MI) and invited comments from stakeholders. Finally, when all of that is done, that May 16 date will be the auction day properly as all the processes are in place. Now, the 2.6Ghz spectrum is a frequency band that is very much required for the provision of wireless broadband services. Of course, you are aware that Bitflux has been licensed on 2.3Ghz spectrum before now and very soon they are going to be rolling out services. They have informed the Commission of the level of their preparedness. The 2.6Ghz is another spectrum that is being

added to what we have already and what that means is that the winner of that spectrum bid with six slots, will ultimately be providing wireless broadband services. That, in itself, will enlarge the broadband access and you are going to have more people with access to wireless broadband and it is a national licence so that winners are expected to roll out nationwide. That is where we are now. Going by the pace at which the industry is growing, would you say the 30 per cent broadband target is still feasible by 2018? Of course, you are aware that the National Broadband Plan envisages a 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018. Some are of the view that we are already behind schedule in terms of whether we are going to be able to meet up with that benchmark that has been set, but, of course, it is a work in progress and the important thing is that we already have the foundation elements. These include the InfraCos that are being licensed, coming additionally with 2.6 Ghz spectrum that is to be licensed and the 2.3 Ghz spectrum that has been licensed and will start rolling out. So, I am sure we should be able to meet the 30 per cent broadband penetration target and probably surpass it and have a more pervasive broadband services that will be provided. If what we are seeing today in e-commerce, e-medicine, e-learning is anything to go by with just 10 per cent broadband penetration, you can imagine what is going to happen by the time we have 30 per cent penetration in the next few years. So, we believe that it is going to impact very seriously and positively on businesses in Nigeria and, of course, you are aware of the popular World Bank study that has confirmed that for every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration, there is a corresponding 1.3 per cent increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So, we are going to see increase in GDP. In other words, more people are going to contribute positively to the economy because of availability of and access to wireless broadband services in hotels, schools, tourism, agriculture and in all other sectors of our economy, we are going to see tremendous impact of this broadband services in terms of the quality of life and addition to the economy. For some time now, industry stakeholders have advocated the need for secondary spectrum market in Nigeria for better utilisation of idle spectrum. Have you taken a decision on this advocacy? We are looking at the secondary spectrum market and even recently, the NCC management actually discussed it in our meeting and a committee is also looking at all of these. Indeed, the Director of Spectrum Administration in the Commission and his team have been asked to look at all of the issues around secondary spectrum market and then report back to management in the next few weeks after which the management will take a concrete decision on what to do.

business \ eWORLD

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Broadband: ntel repairs SAT-3 submarine cable BOOST The return to service of the submarine cable will catalyse pervasive broadband Internet access

Stories Kunle Azeez

igeria’s target of achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018 may have received a fillip, as the hitherto moribund South Atlantic (SAT)3 submarine cable acquired by NatCom Development & Investment Limited, has been successfully repaired. NatCom, trading in Nigeria as ntel, is Nigeria’s advanced broadband Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, which has fully returned SAT-3 submarine cable to service yet again. Experts say while the country’s current broadband penetration stands at 10 per cent, the coming to life of SAT-3, together with other submarine cables in the nation’s telecoms sector, would accelerate the achievements of a much deeper broadband access. Speaking on the successful repair and return to service of the SAT-3 cable, Chief Executive Officer of ntel, Mr. Kamar Abass, said: “The repair of SAT3 is fantastic news for data-hungry consumers and corporates

in need of superfast and abundant broadband carried over a robust fibre network with significant capacity and low latency”. He said that SAT-3’s 17 landing points and intermediate branches in-country and abroad provide for connections all the way to the Far East, a development made possible through ntel’s alliance with SAFE. He explained that potential customers of SAT-3 include Nigeria’s GSM and LTE operators, Internet service providers (ISPs), major international companies, private telecom operators and

“With the repaired system’s activation, the system’s Upgrade IV will also be implemented. This boosts its throughput capacity from 420Gbps to 920Gbps in the northern segments and from 340Gbps to 800Gbps in the southern segments,” he said. He stated that SAT-3 Nigeria is currently positioned to better address the country’s need for super-fast Internet connectivity, data-hungry applications, highquality video-on-demand and increasing social media usage, thus enhancing customer experience.

Today, submarine cable systems carry more than 98 per cent of all overseas voice, data and video traffic. According to the ntel CEO, “the return of SAT-3 is significant in many respects. First launched in 2001, it was the precursor for Internet access between Europe and West Africa and it took off where SAT-2 left off, as it reached full capacity.” He noted that SAT-2 was brought into service in the early 1990s as a replacement for the original undersea cable SAT-1 that was constructed in the 1960s.

Director, Digital Business, Etisalat Nigeria, Adia Sowho; Conference Committee Chairman, Nigeria Computer Society, Mr. Jide Awe and Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Tony Ajobo at the eWorld Forum 2016 held in Lagos.

Google, MTN, others vie for NIRA awards he technology giant, Google, MTN Nigeria, Spectranet, Etisalat and other nominee companies in different categories, are currently competing for recognition in the 2016 Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) .ng Web Awards. Already, NIRA the country’s managers of the country’s Internet real estate, has invited the Internet community to choose the best from Google, MTN Nigeria, Spectranet, Etisalat as nominees for Technology Company of the Year Award category. Other categories for which nominees have been announced and from which the best are expected to be chosen include Most Innovative Web Company/Organisation, Best Banking Website/ Portal, Best Educational Institution website/portal, Technology Startup Company of the year, Best Hosting Company, .ng Media Award, Most Valuable Youth Organisation, Best State Government and Public Sector: Star Website Award. According to the President of NIRA, Mr. Sunday Afolayan, the .ng Web Awards, which co-located with its Gala Night, will recognise the excellent achievements of members, stakeholders and the general public, “who have contributed towards building a sustainable economy using technology relevant to the Domain Name System (DNS) industry”.

content/hosting operators. It will also be useful for infomedics/infomatics operators, the judiciary for the execution of real-time on-line matters, banks and the military as well as airline operators. It was learnt that SAT-3’s repair also included the cable’s physical diversion away from shipping lanes in the approach to the port of Lagos. According to Abass, in the past, the dropping (and dragging) of anchors by such traffic had been associated with disruptions to the cable.

The domain name managers said that winners in each category would gain access to the .ng Web Award Icon, which is available in various sizes and formats for inclusion on websites and marketing collateral. Also, NiRA Presidential Awards are special awards to be presented by the President of NiRA in the following categories: Best .ng ccTLD Registrar; .ng most supporting Sponsor; NiRA Presidential Award for Youth Development; NiRA Presidential Award for Women Development; and NiRA Special Recognition Award. He said winners for each category will be determined through online voting and decisions of a CompetentAwardJuryselectedbasedon their relevance and expertise. “NIRA has invited the Internet communitytovotefortheirpreferred choiceontheassociationwebsite,”he said. Afolayan explained that based on the award criteria adopted for the 2016 .ng Web Award, the company or organisation must have been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and is doing business with a .ng domain name either at the second level or third level. “The domain name must have been registered for at least six months,” he said, noting, “For the 2016 .ng Web Awards, all qualifying websites were considered irrespective of whether they are hosted locally or not.”

Samsung’s new devices make debut

he latest smartphones from the stable of Samsung Electronic West Africa (SEWA), the Galaxy S7 Edge and S7, have made debut in Nigeria. The devices, according to a statement, were formally unveiled at a launch event held at Hard Rock Cafe, Victoria Island, Lagos, in what the company described as its commitment to developing best-in-class products to meet the ever-changing needs of its consumers. Successors to Galaxy S6 Edge and S6, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and S7 are a

blend of premium components with the most advanced Samsung technology. They are imbued with incredibly intelligent cameras, and have set a new industry standard for design, craftsmanship and performance. Addressing the audience at the launch, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Paul Lee, said that the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge highlight the most refined phone experience ever by combining the latest technology that users expect from Samsung’s Galaxy series.

Lee reiterated the company’s commitment to fulfilling its brand promise of inspiring the world and the future by bringing new and outstanding innovations to the doorstep of consumers. “Our innovative technology has adequately captured customers’ aspirations and desires,” he said. The Galaxy S7 has a 5.1inch display screen, while the Galaxy S7 Edge has a 5.5inch screen. They both feature Super AMOLED display, allowing for clearer videos and images with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 (Quad HD).

Factors key to financial inclusion, by Etisalat

ne of Nigeria’s telecoms operators, Etisalat, has identified four factors necessary for facilitating the achievement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) goal of full digitisation of the financial services sector. Director, Digital Business, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Adia Sowho, listed the four factors while speaking on Financial Inclusion & Digital Financial Services at the 2016 eWorld Forum. The confab was organised by Ajomedia, publishers of e-World Magazine in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria. The factors, according to Sowho, include interoperability of standards for money exchange across operators, agents

and products; and agent/ merchant distribution network that accepts and processes clients’ transactions. Others technology platform or avenue by which digital financial services are being provided to the target customers and product variety, which addresses key pain points and creates value in the community. Sowho, therefore, called on relevant stakeholders in the digital financial services ecosystem to evolve ways that could help them remain relevant, just as she gave assurance on the commitment of Etisalat to seeking and creating more innovative ways to create value for consumers. She also reeled out statiticics

indicating that the level of digital financial services adoption was still at its low ebbs in the country. She said: “Research results show that only 12 per cent are doing mobile banking while online banking has just 18 per cent of the population. This is a long road to our destination, and it calls for a strategic approach that involves the collaboration of all stakeholders. “There must be regulatory interventions in place to foster the right conditions for increased collaboration. The banks must see and work towards the greater need for client-centric and digital mind set to increase customer base and deposits while reducing cost to acquire and serve”.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mom&Parenting

‘The secret of childhood’

The long walk to gender parity

Parenting

Mom’s Alert

Motherhood is naturally tough, no doubt. It’s tough even in the best of times, when office work, school-homework, cooking, feeding, bathing, bedtime are all competing for her strength and attention. As the economic hardship bites on all in Nigeria, the ripple effect falls back on mothers and children. Oluwatosin Omoniyi looks at their resilient strategies Mother and children coping with a rationalised meal

s the times are hard, moms need ways to cope when tough economic times strike their family, including what they can do for themselves and their kids to learn to bounce back from adversity and or keeping moving in the face of the storm of the economic hardship. A few mothers in a chat with New Telegraph said, what is important is the resilience to keep going and snap back where and when necessary. According to Professor Oluremi Sonaiya, a former presidential candidate, she advises parents especially mothers to cut down on expensive expenses. She added that they should stop go borrowing as some have already cultivated the habit nowadays. “Let mothers stop going for non-essentials like social uniform attires (aso-ebi) and let’s allow our mind to function properly and focus on essentials necessities like foods and the children’s basic needs. In short words, let us prioritise our needs on scale of necessities and not preferences,” she advised. Prof. Sonaiya added that since government has failed its people,

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

Coping with economic hard times “we would therefore not fail ourselves but I advise that let’s get involve in governance and have a voice in politics. That way, things will generally be better for us all,” she said. Kemi Odukoya, a lecturer and mother of two emphasized that the economy of Nigeria is not friendly at all and the hardship seems to be taking its toll mostly on mother and kids. She explained that naturally women have been built to adapt to and wave through difficult situations. And that is because they are very intuitive and see far ahead of men. “They think deep. Look at it, in an extremely difficult situation, a woman knows what to do and how to go about sustaining her home without necessary losing her dignity and honour,” she said. Odukoya stated strategic ways mothers could pull through these difficult times. It include cutting down on expensive life styles, doing bulk purchase of food stuff and other necessary items, reduce social engagement that requires buying aso-ebi and throwing large parties. Explaining in details, “one can still maintain a good standard of living in a stylish and relatively affordable way. Instead of going for expensive lace materials, you can go for the cheap ones and sew it stylishly. It shouldn’t be about what people will say or think about you, it should rather be about you looking good to your satisfaction

and affordability, that way, you avoid being ridiculed,” she said. Odukoya added that carrying family members along in difficult situations help ease economic tension. “It is also necessary to look inwards on how to cut down expenses in times like this. How do I mean? Instead of hiring domestic helps who also gulp some chunk of the income, parents should train their grown up kids to do some of the house chores or fashion out time and ways of getting the chores done. They should also reduce eating out often so as to be able to do some savings,” she said. Funmi Okenla Omoniyi, an online activist advised parents to avoid living up to societal social expectations like buying latest cars, going on foreign trips or living in big houses. “They should cut their coats according to their sizes as the saying goes,” she said. An international leadership expert Jamie Woolf, a regular contributor to Working Mother magazine and founder of The Parent Leader; said that, “every mother falls apart sometimes. The question is how do we rebound and find the resources to deal with whatever life throws our way?” She pointed out a recent online survey conducted by Working Mother, which found that an astounding 91 percent of the respondents suffered some symptoms of depression. The magazine’s editor-in-chief,

Coping with the hard time photo:concern-universal.org

Community women gardening photo: stconsultant.blogspot.com

Suzanne Riss, speaking to CNN about the trend, noted how surprising it was that so many women find themselves anxious and depressed years after the expected post-partum blues should have passed. “I think this survey illuminates the stress and difficulty of working motherhood,” says Woolf. “It’s the nature of the beast. Working mothers rarely get a break, and we’re really hard on ourselves. Add economic hardship to the mix, and it can be easy to spiral

downward to a very dark place. When you have resilience, you can stop that spiral and even reverse it.” And here’s the other issue, she adds: Your children count on you to teach them the life skills they’re going to need-and resilience in uncertain times is one of the most important. “The most successful leaders and family members can help people not only survive crises but also turn them into opportunities to grow,” says Woolf. In Mom-inChief, Woolf teaches mothers how to use “best practices” from the workplace to make family life run more smoothly. Suggesting ways mothers could use to boost resilience during the economic downturn: Clarify your big picture goal or purpose: With their desired result clearly in sight, leaders focus on what they can control to move them closer to their goals. Decide what your goal is-staying out of the poorhouse? Reducing stress at home while you experience extra stress at work due to staff cutbacks? Making your kids feel emotionally secure while you’re financially insecure? Identifying your goal will help you stay on course to achieve it. Convene your support team: Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your friends, extended family, therapist, minister, or rabbi to express your feelings and worries. But be selective: Don’t call up doom-and-gloom downers and glass-half-empty cynics. Whom do you know who maintains a healthy attitude in the face of misfortune? These are the people to reach out to in challenging times. Prioritize the challenge into small and manageable steps: Focus on what you have control over and leave the forces outside your control alone. Figure out what you can cut back on. Create a budget and stick to it. If your goal is reducing your debt, commit to paying $10 more per month on each credit card, stop using credit cards for anything but absolute necessities, or, if you want to really remove temptation, cut them up. Find actions that yield quick, highimpact results. Transform crisis into opportunity: Getting your family to work as a team to get through the downturn can help take the load off you and can bring everyone closer together. The silver lining of having less disposable income to spend on going out is that you spend more time at home. Maximize that newfound family time by getting entertained the old-fashioned way: by playing board games, reading books, and watching TV together. Come up with creative ideas for outings that cost very little: hikes, picnics, walks on the beach. Deprogramming your kids from addictive consumerism is a gift that will last a lifetime.

Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

Only when we know the child’s needs can we begin to learn how to cater for them

‘The secret of childhood’

strongly believe that the number one responsibility of the primary and secondary caregivers is to protect the child. I am also of the irresistible conclusion that it is impossible to protect children without taking time to deliberately study and understand childhood. I dare say that for us to be for the child, we must learn ABOUT the child and FROM the child. I guess that is why Margaret E. Stephenson in her forward to Maria Montessori’s ‘The Secret of Childhood’ submitted as follows: ‘Dr. Montessori pointed out to us, that if we are to help life, we have to study it. Studying it means that we do not try to teach it, we learn from it instead. We learn from this living organism, the child, its needs and tendencies. Only when we know the child’s needs can we begin to learn how to cater for them.’ It is in the light of the foregoing that I invite us today to join me in doing a quick study of CHILDHOOD, particularly as secondary caregivers, who is saddled with the responsibility of protecting and educating the child. Permit me to submit that CHILDHOOD is not as simple at the child it studies. It is crucial as it’s a decider of the future of a child, his family, his community and his nation. Childhood is a phenomenon that has arrested my attention in the last 19 years. I began to study it when I received deliverance from the impact of my abused CHILDHOOD through the saving grace of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to who I am eternally grateful. Today, I have come to accept as true the inspiring and instructive words of Maria Montessori that‘the child is an enigma… He has the highest potentialities, but we do not know what he will be.’ I began by studying the wretchedness of my abused CHILDHOOD. I wanted to see its

impact on my today’s ADULTHOOD. I must tell you it is seemingly indelible. I juxtaposed my negative experiences with that of those who had blissful CHILDHOOD and the impact of same on their today’s adulthood also. I gleaned from the experiences of men like Billy Graham, who testified of his childhood thus, ‘in all the strictness of my upbringing, there was no hint of child abuse.’ I read the story of Jack Welch, who eulogizes his mother for building in him lasting confidence. I studied many others, which space will not permit me to review. Having studied myself and others in the last 19 years, I have come to the irresistible and firm conclusion that if a child must be helped to maximize his life, CHILDHOOD has mystery that must be carefully unraveled through keen study and observation by custodians. I have also concluded that any attempt to analyze ADULTHOOD without linking it to foundational CHILDHOOD will result in a woeful exercise in futility. How do you analyze the structural strength or weakness of a building without visiting the foundation? I am yet to meet a man or woman, whose foundation of his or her life was not laid in CHILDHOOD. From the president in Aso Rock, Abuja to the bus conductor in Mushin, Lagos, they are the kind of men they are today, heroes or villains by the kind of children they were yesterday. I guess the point I am trying to make is that the foundation of ADULTHOOD is laid in CHILDHOOD. Another scary fact I found is that once CHILDHOOD is damaged, it is irreparable by the men and institutions, which damaged it. It can only be redeemed by divine intervention. Ted Bundy had troubled CHILDHOOD. His paternity was uncertain. There were speculations that it was his grandfather, who impregnated his mother.

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

TODAY’S WOMAN For every love from her hood is natural That art is of those in the days of the earliest Believing much in the act of social-cultural treasure Her care in value than those at customer care service Mothers in best mode to shape us to good mood Nowadays! Dicey is mum’s care that seems far but near Today’s woman…. Helpless in doing good deeds Today’s woman…. Spending spree, more like greed Today’s woman…. When good, they are only middling Today’s woman…. Her job of advising now depreciating Today’s woman…. Like those that destroy the seed of Buddha Today’s woman…. Fundamentally in fact agrees to be diabolical. Strange from the primitive, now with honey lips Cash flow her first target in any man on the way Acting like two edged sword of the dangerous actor Simple! but could make a man go cripple She enchains man and treat him like a kid Egg hole of hers smoother when fresh than oil When talking about those of this day, let’s pray For every man will always go after one as prey Money in the bag she want from us to spray That first in step of her world before any foul play Money means more to her like the bank they say …best for real men means woman not for the gays. From this world of ours, countless is her fault One, two, third, more than the next fourth

Agility to say she is the best, she drag and fought Trying to give well as the impression in deep thought Cash flow all she need to fall for and be bought Value the future not today is what the old mum taught Elephantine mind she is mild with life luxury greed More, more, more, she clamor for as her own creed Forgetting the giver of the more for immoral in deed All she want is sweetness like the fresh cocoa seed Wanting to go after all the goodies when call to feed For today’s woman all that glitter means the gold Of different her world not like the gone days mum Her thinking she says can’t be for the stinking Everything in riches all in her mind even when singing Surulere town she rejected but embraces Olorunsogo Differently her world not as the olden day’s mothers Act like the good, end up like the faulty goose Every part of those for now means dull and frown Respect to her seems not the usual call of reciprocal In the absence of men she could be spot as chaste As elephant called the king when the lion is away Just as owl fly farther when the eagle is out of the sky Women of this day fearless, now act as spy. Today’s woman… wanting richness as the men wishes They act to be in competition with the world not the men Neglecting to offer her best job of rendering home care Turn to your way to save the house from forever tears

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

The long walk to gender parity

ast week we joined the rest of equal opportunity to be involved in the world to mark this year’s decision making even regarding isInternational Women’s Day, sues that affect them. 117 more years though we still grapple with fears, for young girls everywhere to have pains and disappointments that in equal opportunity to education, and the 21st century, women and girls probably get to choose when and to are still abused, maltreated and whom they will be married. dehumanized in our communities Must we wait that long? in the name of marriage tradition There’s a new survey from Lonand customs, and also in school and gitude Research, showing that acwork environment. celerating women’s advancement International Women’s Day is a in the workplace and creating genday set aside globally to celebrate der-balanced teams produce better the economic, political, social and outcomes and create prosperity. This cultural achievements of women. means that half of the overall talIt has been observed since the ear- ent in the world would become fully ly 1900’s. This year, the theme is: engaged and utilized, while invest‘Pledge For Parity’ with a call for ing money back into the economy, action towards accelerating gender families and savings. Here are some parity. of the highlights of recent research: Events were held all over the More equality higher GDP. world on March 8. Women, includMore equality more productivity. ing political, community, and busiBetter gender balance on boards ness leaders, as well as leading ed- better share price and financial perucators, inventors, entrepreneurs, formance. celebrities and television personaliMore gender-balanced leadership ties, spoke at various seminars, con- better all-around performance. ferences, lunMore women pocheons, dinners litical leaders more or breakfasts, prosperity. talk shows Certainly it will and marches. take time for the full Even students potential of women More genderin schools and to be embraced in other educathe workforce, in govbalanced leadership tional settings ernment, even in the better all-around society. But if it is to participated in special lessons, be, we must make it performance debates or prehappen, it won’t come sentations on a platter. Let’s ask on the role of ourselves what we women in society, their influence, will do to accelerate women’s progand issues that affect them. ress in the workplace and in the sociIn as much as we do have much ety. 117 years is far too long to wait to to celebrate, one thing is clear – the achieve gender parity and enjoy the progress towards gender parity has benefits it will offer us all. slowed in many places. We can help accelerate gender Globally, 31 million girls of pri- parity first by women working tomary school age and 32 million girls gether to help, support and mentor of lower secondary school age are fellow women and build their capacout of school, with sub-Sahara ity to fit into leadership roles - manhaving the lowest proportion of age businesses, head organizations countries with gender parity in and governments positions when education. opportunities present themselves. The World Health Organization’s Also we can reinvent gender roles, global prevalence figures show that reset norms and provide equal opabout one in three (35%) of women portunities for all. worldwide have experienced either Gender parity is not in any way a physical and/or sexual intimate call for women to stand head-to-head partner violence or non-partner with men. It is a cry to give women sexual violence in their lifetime. and girls equal opportunities and Also violence against women in access to education, jobs, positions, the home is a horrifyingly common wages, health and other necessities. occurrence in Nigeria and around In spite of challenges and limithe world. tations, women have continued to Even the representation of contribute immensely to national women in government in Nigeria development. We have women in has dropped compared to the pre- business, politics and academia vious administration of Goodluck doing amazingly well. However, we Jonathan. need more women in similar posiIn 2014, the World Economic tions. We all will be better for it. Forum in its Global Gender Gap Every one of us – men and Report predicted that it would take women, can do something to help until 2095 to achieve global gender achieve gender parity more quickly parity. Then one year later in 2015, - whether to help women and girls they said that with a slowdown in achieve their goals and ambitions, the pace of progress the gender gap call for gender-balanced leadership, wouldn’t close entirely until 2133. respect and value difference, develop That means it will take until 117 more inclusive and flexible cultures years to achieve global gender par- or root out workplace bias. Each of ity in the workplace. 117 years until us can take the lead within our own companies and governments are spheres of influence and commit to equally led by men and women.117 take pragmatic steps to accelerate more years for women to be given gender parity.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Examination with tears, blood

“M

ummy, they took my phone and beat me up inside the bus. Mummy, I don’t know where they took me to. They made me sleep and said they will kill me if I run. “Someone gave me my phone, saying I must return it before they came back. Mummy, please save me, please.” That was the chilling message a 15-year-old lady, Miss Rita Chioma Clement, sent to her guardian and aunt, Mrs. Njideka Orazulike. Any parent who receives such message would almost jump out of her skin. Disturbed and confused, Rita’s relatives stormed several police stations for help. But help is yet to come. According to the family, Clement left home on Thursday March 10 to sit for the now infamous Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Professor Dibu Ojerinde-led Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Rita had left her family home on Gboyega Kilo Street in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos in the early hours of March 10 for the UTME scheduled to hold at WAEC International Office, Plot ‘B,’ Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Lagos, but that was the last time she was seen. She was said to have left home at 5:30a.m. to board a vehicle to the centre for the examination slated for 6:30a.m. Orazulike said she got the distress SMS sent to her at 5p.m. According to her, the text confirmed the girl had been kidnapped. She said: “Rita has been with me since she was five years old. Her mother is in Enugu, but I have been catering and training her in school here in Lagos. “We want to reunite with her. I know God will do it. As for the abductors, I don’t know what they want from such a small girl.” A spokesperson for the family, who identified herself simply as Christiana, said the family had

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

The conduct of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has not only been dogged by controversies relating to shoddy arrangement, inadequate facilities, among several others; it has brought trauma to many homes while its caused others to mourn, writes ABIODUN BELLO

Clement

taken to fervent prayers. According to her, the family believes in God that the girl will soon reunite with other members of the family. She, however, said the family had contacted security agencies who were working assiduously to rescue Clement. Christiana said though family members had been distraught and emotionally distressed since Clement was abducted, they had not given up on their faith in God’s power. The matter, according to her, was reported at Ojodu Police Station at Grammar School, Area ‘F’ Police Command and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Ikeja. However, the power of God, which the family believes in, manifested in Clement’s life. About 10pm on March 23, the girl suddenly resurfaced in their house. Orazulike said: “We saw her coming back around 10p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). My husband has taken her out since morning.

The late Egemba

The power of God, which the family believes in, manifested in Clement’s life

We need a medical test to know if she was molested.” Njideka’s husband, Mr. Emeka Orazulike, who spoke on the phone, confirmed that Clement had been freed. Orazulike said the family had reported to the police that the girl had been released. The man said the girl would be taken to the hospital for treatment. Orazulike said Clement had not opened up to them on her ordeal. He said: “We need to give her time to relax and then speak to us. As at now, she has not opened up. I have reported to the police. We will then take her to the hospital for medical examination.” While Clement’s relatives are basking in the euphoria of reuniting with her, it is a different ball game in the home of Mr. Emmanuel Egemba at Odo Eran area of Sango-Ota in Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Egemba’s 20-year-old daughter, Joan, lost her life on her way to sit for the UTME scheduled to hold the National Open University of Nigeria centre at Awa Ijebu also in Ogun State. Joan, who had a National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State left, home about noon on March 3 for Awa Ijebu. The ComputerBased Test UTME was scheduled for March 4. She neither sat for the examination nor returned home. She would not return home, ever, at least not alive. Her body was discovered about a week later inside the bush behind a secondary school in IjebuIgbo. There were with cuts in her thighs, her briefs were torn, while there were bruises on her back, suggesting that she was violated. She was reportedly stabbed and strangled by suspected rapists. CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

FEATURES

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Protesting UTME candidates

Staking all for examination CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Joan was said to have got to the centre late on March 3. She, like scores of other candidates, was stranded and had nowhere to sleep. In the process of looking for a place to lay her head for the night, she was abducted, probably by those she presumed were Good Samaritans. But the men she might have perceived as noble men had no noble intention. They were beasts in human skin looking prey to satisfy their sexual urge. The monsters found that prey in an innocent young girl, who was unfortunately thrown on their path by circumstances not by her own making. On the evening of that March 3, Joan was reportedly abducted at IjebuOru Junction near the examination centre by the hoodlums with perverse sexual orientation. Her father, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Nigerian Customs, said members of his family were devastated but they had taken solace in God. Egemba said the security guard attached to the centre turned down Joan’s request to pass the night on the premises. He said if the candidates were allowed to sleep inside the school, his daughter would not have been murdered. In continuation of their protests, over 200 candidates stormed the head office of the New Telegraph Newspapers in Lagos. They described facilities at the different centres across the country as poor. The candidates, under the aegis of Alimoso Youth Development Associa-

tion, wondered why JAMB subjected them to a computer based examination despite inadequate number of computers, lack of power supply, difficulty in assessing examination centres and inadequate provision of security for candidates. The leader of the protesters, who gave his name simply as Mr. Adegoke, described the examination as a sham. He said: “JAMB has failed Nigerian candidates woefully with the implementation of the Computer Based Test (CBT). In the first instance, it has not achieved the accurate assessment of the abilities of candidates. “At the centres, which were basically unknown and inaccessible to computer institutes in the country, the computers were not adequate. Where you have 200 candidates, available computers were 100. Power supply was a big problem. Most of the centres were not equipped with good power generating facilities. “Some of these centres are owned by JAMB officials who made sure their institutes were registered as examination centres. About 1.7 million candidates across the country sat for the examination, registration forms were sold at N5,500, while another N700 was charged per student as the failed biometric capture fee.” Other candidates complained they were posted to states outside where they registered. One of them, Abiola Agbola, said she was posted to Osogbo from Lagos. Others too said they were posted from Lagos to Delta, Edo and other states where they were exposed to assault. But there were many ifs. If JAMB had made adequate arrangement con-

Ojerinde

cerning the candidates’ welfare, security, among others, may be Joan would not have died. If candidates are posted to centres closer to them, may be some of them would not have gone through unsavoury experiences. Addressing journalists in Lagos during one of the protests which dogged the examination, the President, Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO), Mr. Oludotun Sodunke, said it would be more honourable for Ojerinde to resign. According to him, this year’s examination is the worst in the history of the examination body. But reacting to the gale of pro-

tests, the Head of Media and Public Relations of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, described the protesters as sponsored blackmailers. Benjamin said in a statement that the sponsors were only trying to blackmail the examination body into submitting to their demands to have their centres registered for the CBT exams. He said: “The attention of the board has been drawn to a planned protest over the board’s activities by individuals who called themselves education consultants. JAMB has called for calm and advised candidates to always avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the board through its public complaints unit to vent their grievances and not to allow blackmailers to use them for any selfish interest. “It is surprising that these same proprietors will turn around to organise candidates to protest over our activities. We are not perfect as an organisation but working hard to ensure that Nigerian education is better than it is; we have taken the risk to do the unthinkable so as to change the paradigm.” Despite the brickbat between JAMB and parents/candidates, it has become clear that the body has failed in its responsibility. One of the reasons it was established was to centralise entrance examination into universities and much later polytechnics and mono-technics. This, it was envisaged, would reduce both the cost and risk of going to different institutions to purchase forms and sit for examination. But JAMB has failed woefully in this regard.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

VAT returns: FIRS ultimatum expires today

DEADLINE Defaulting firms risk prosecution Stores by Tony Chukwunyem

he ultimatum given by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to tax defaulting firms and individuals to file and pay their Value Added Tax (VAT)/ With Holding Tax (WHT) expires today, March 31st 2016. The FIRS had published full page adverts, entitled, “Final

Public Notice” in national dailies last week, stating that it was giving all tax defaulting companies and individuals until the end of this month to file and pay their VAT/WHT or risk being prosecuted. According to the statement, “FIRS has observed with dismay that many corporate organizations and enterprises have not been rendering their VAT/ WHT returns and pay the due taxes as and when due as specified by the relevant tax laws.

“FIRS hereby demands that all tax defaulting companies and all other taxable persons should file and pay their WHT/ VAT on or before 31st March 30, 2016. Please note that failure to file and pay all the taxes due is an offence punishable under Section (34-35) of VAT Act and Section 82 of CITA on withholding tax, as well as Section 40 of FIRS establishment act 2007.” The agency warned that it would, adopt the option of raising, “Best of Judgment/

LIRS to commence prosecution of tax defaulters

he Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has notified the public of its intention to commence the prosecution of tax evaders and offenders in Lagos State beginning from April 1, 2016. The agency said in a statement: “Under the Personal Income Tax Act, a taxable person is statutorily required to file a return of income for the preceding year within 90 days from the commencement of every year of assessment (March 31st is the deadline), whilst any employer of labour is required to file all emoluments paid to its employees for the preceding year, not later than 31st of January each year. “Therefore any taxable person or corporate organisation who fails to file their tax returns with LIRS by the stipulated date is in breach of the provisions of the law, which is a criminal offence that is pun-

ishable under the tax laws.” It noted that while many taxpayers had complied willingly by filing their returns in the last months, a large fraction of eligible taxpayers was still not complying despite efforts by the agency to encourage compliance. According to the statement, “LIRS has in the last three months embarked on massive advocacy and enlightenment programmes, taking people through a process of education on the laws bordering on tax administration and the need and benefits of paying their taxes as at when due. “Without revenue, all of those things that facilitate our progress as a civilized community will not materialize, if there are no infrastructural developments like roads to get to business sites businesses cannot thrive, if we do not have all the services that government is

compelled to offer e.g. security, education, healthcare, and law and order as it is being proffered by the court then we cannot make progress collectively.” The statement quoted the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, as saying, “We have a robust database that captures all taxable individuals and firms in Lagos State as well as transactions for the purpose of audit, so there is no hiding place for any tax evader.” The LIRS boss urged every taxable person in Lagos State to take advantage of the window on or before the March 31st deadline to ensure that his or her tax return has been duly filed. He added that the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice will through the Rapid Tax Prosecution Unit, commence prosecution of tax defaulters in Lagos State without further notice.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 11.4 12 10.77 US$37.44 US$27,870,347,538

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Feb, 2016 28/03/2016 Mar 2015 30/3/2016 29/3/2016

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 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

Change (%) 2.17 ▲ 0.20 ▲ 0.24 ▲ 0.22 ▲

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲ Change (%) 0.25 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.29 ▲ 0.60 ▲ 0.45 ▲ -0.44 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) Change (%) 7.90 8.06 0.26 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 12.67 0.00 ↔ 30-Jun-16 8.15 8.32 0.26 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.71 8.46 8.82 0.46 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 13.75 0.42 ▲ 9.10 0.46 ▲ 9.06 9.92 0.00 ↔ 16-Mar-17 9.31 10.22 0.00 ↔

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

Offer 198.55

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Administrative Assessment on the defaulting taxpayers and hold the respective principal officers of the organisation

jointly and severally liable and prosecute them accordingly at the expiration of the above stated date i.e; 31st March 2016.”

FirstBank unveils enhanced features on mobile banking app

s part of its effort to boost convenience and ease of banking as well as enhance customers’ digital banking experience, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has unveiled a set of enhanced features in its integrated lifestyle mobile banking app, FirstMobile. The lender said in a statement that the mobile banking app, which is secure and easy to use, allows customers to carry out banking transactions on the go from their mobile phones. According to the statement, “FirstBank customers can now conveniently carry out transactions such as domestic funds transfer from self-owned accounts to FirstBank accounts and other bank accounts; make quick airtime purchase for self and others on all mobile networks; bills payments; cheque services including confirm cheque and stop cheque; flight booking; and quick account services such as account balance inquiry, statement view and much more from their smartphones.” It explained that on the en-

hanced app, customers can transact without the use of token to a maximum daily limit of N50,000.00 using a user-defined transaction pin and N1 million with the use of a token which is an extra security feature. In addition, customers can also perform the following actions on the enhanced app: self-service tasks such as Change Transaction PIN, Reset Transaction PIN, Synchronize token, and change their log in pin – mPIN. The enhanced features also allow users share their experience on the app with friends and family via Facebook and Twitter using the Share this app menu. With the integrated life style app, customers can enjoy real-time mobile banking services Commenting on the development, the Head, E-Business at FirstBank, Mr. Chuma Ezirim, said, the Bank will continue to leverage evolving technologies in bringing secure, fast and convenient financial services closer to Nigerians, in line with its digital banking strategy.

CBN to raise N219bn in treasury bills

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced that it plans to raise N218.89 billion in shortdated treasury bills on April 7. The apex bank said it will sell N55.40 billion of threemonth and N33.49 billion of six-month bills and N130 billion of one-year debt, using the Dutch auction system. The results of the auction are expected to be released on

Thursday. According to the central bank’s issuing calendar for treasury bills, the same amount of bills on offer will also be due for repayment the day of the auction. Nigeria issues treasury bills as part of a borrowing plan to finance part of the government budget deficit, help manage liquidity in the banking system and curb inflationary growth.

IFC issues First Namib Bond

he International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched the first bond by a non-resident issuer in the Namibian capital markets, raising 180 million Namibia dollars - equivalent to $12 million - for private sector development in the country. The five-year bond is named “Namib” after the world’s oldest desert. Namib means “vast space” in the Nama language and gave rise to the name of the country. The bond is part of a medium term note program registered with the Namibian Stock Exchange that allows IFC to issue up to 10 billion Namibia dollars, or approximately $650 million, in bonds in the domestic market. IFC will invest the proceeds of the bond to support private sector development in Namibia. The bond yield is 9.812 per cent per annum. “Developing Namibia’s capital markets will be critical for

long-term economic development, and especially for the expansion of the infrastructure and banking sectors,” said I. W. Shiimi, Bank of Namibia Governor. “We hope that other international and domestic issuers will follow IFC and connect savings to Namibia’s private sector investment needs.” The bond is issued under IFC’s Pan-African Domestic Medium Term Note Program, which was launched in May 2012 to support capital market development in the region. Nine countries are part of the program, including Rwanda and Zambia where IFC has already issued local currency bonds. IFC supports local capital market development in Africa by working with governments, regulators and market authorities to put in place frameworks that encourage market entry by domestic and international issuers. IFC also supports African companies looking to access capital markets.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

30-Mar-16

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 12.40 18-MAR-2036

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 22-Jan-16 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14 18-Mar-16

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493 12.40

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 556.93 605.31 719.99 155.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 40.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,237.28

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6,405.02

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.38 1.08 1.32 1.42 2.17 3.25 3.56 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 12.66 13.14 13.64 14.31 18.30 19.97

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

8.78 10.09 10.15 10.18 10.36 10.57 11.19 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.85 12.83 12.81 12.43 12.41 12.44

8.39 9.95 10.02 10.06 10.28 10.47 11.07 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.81 12.78 12.75 12.38 12.37 12.40

101.53 104.96 99.61 98.91 100.61 114.56 87.95 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 113.21 97.82 72.51 83.91 98.09 99.66

101.68 105.11 99.76 99.06 100.76 114.86 88.25 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 113.51 98.12 72.81 84.21 98.39 99.96

6192.277269

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.20

03-Apr-17

0.59

2.94

12.24

102.77

30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.25 0.25 1.05 0.77 1.75 1.57 1.36 1.55 1.55 1.73 1.95 3.65 2.12 4.66 4.75 2.79 2.81 3.97 3.60 3.63 4.03 6.46 3.72

4.46 3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00 2.02 1.98 4.35 1.30 3.76 3.76 1.00 1.52 3.67 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

12.87 11.89 11.05 15.34 13.48 11.23 11.16 14.04 13.78 11.26 12.33 13.28 14.70 13.03 15.48 14.27 11.52 12.49 14.91 12.28 13.96 13.49 14.45

100.17 100.77 98.97 98.83 100.74 103.83 103.40 100.54 100.23 106.34 105.16 103.38 100.07 101.56 98.36 100.43 107.84 107.70 104.07 111.57 109.64 114.15 106.73

29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

0.50 0.57 0.69 1.05 1.27 1.50 0.95 1.03 1.45 1.45 2.50 1.30 1.63 1.76 2.35 4.63 3.13 5.64 5.75 6.12 4.29 8.50 8.50 9.63

1.00 1.34 1.00 6.96 6.41 2.36 1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 6.17 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.48 1.00 4.63 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

10.14 10.61 10.48 17.01 16.54 12.57 11.83 13.19 16.54 11.19 11.61 16.31 16.35 13.55 14.88 12.73 14.24 14.13 12.67 16.39 14.54 13.91 13.91 13.98

101.35 101.95 103.54 99.50 99.88 100.57 106.12 102.54 101.70 106.10 105.06 99.34 102.18 103.63 100.19 108.55 102.95 100.40 115.07 100.27 104.34 111.68 96.79 104.57

10-Oct-20

2.55

3.37

13.82

101.88

Agency Bonds Nil

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.20

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1.23

Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

1.30 2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 23.44 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68 13.87 80.00 21.65 87.50 5.00 4.03 4.04 14.37 4.39 4.53 27.10 3.00 7.68

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

448.12 460.48

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

NAHCO FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r} *FCMB NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15 20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

13.00 14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.25 15.50 14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.46 4.50 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.80 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.90

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

539.73

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

551.19

Sukuk BBB-/Agusto

10-Oct-13

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

*OSUN

14.75

9.77

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

9.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

9.95

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.87

1.00

9.41

101.31

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.09

1.00

10.54

101.78

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 25.34 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Coupon (%)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.71

7.45

96.19

97.20

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.85

5.42

98.46

99.36

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.91

7.72

91.60

92.62

100.84

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,431.25

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

373.41

19-May-16

7.76

0.74

99.94

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

9.46

97.31

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

19.84

18.66

78.57

80.26

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.47

91.60

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.47

14.83

83.74

85.14

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

13.29 13.82 14.67

83.10 83.00 75.28

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

08-Nov-18

8.39

94.50

3,523.41 3,085.19 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Commercial Papers Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

7.23

04-May-16

6.03

13.14

12.97

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

2.77

29-Jul-16

121

6.18

14.82

14.13

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.00

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 8 15 22 29 36 50 57 64 71

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 7-Apr-16 14-Apr-16 21-Apr-16 28-Apr-16 5-May-16 19-May-16 26-May-16 2-Jun-16 9-Jun-16

Bid Discount (%) 6.18 6.76 6.77 6.82 7.20 7.43 7.33 7.79 8.03

Offer Discount (%) 5.93 6.51 6.52 6.57 6.95 7.18 7.08 7.54 7.78

Bid Yield (%) 6.19 6.78 6.80 6.86 7.25 7.51 7.41 7.90 8.16

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

12.67

O/N

13.75

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 12.50 10.75 11.25

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M

198.45 199.27 199.53 200.23 201.54 202.93 207.10

198.55 199.79 200.11 200.93 202.45 204.17 209.09

^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 12.40 18-MAR-2036

29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 22-Jan-16 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14 18-Mar-16

16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493 12.40

351.30 233.90 556.93 605.31 719.99 155.84 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 40.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Rating/Agency

ANXIETY

Issuer

10.47 11.07 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.81 12.78 12.75 12.38 12.37 12.40

114.56 87.95 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 113.21 97.82 72.51 83.91 98.09 99.66

114.86 88.25 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 113.51 98.12 72.81 84.21 98.39 99.96

6192.277269

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

Sustained sell pressure depletes equities by N45 billion

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

*TOWER# *TOWER#

Stories by Chris Ugwu

he bears sustained grip on the activities of Nigerian equity market following disappointing Q4 financials released by some blue chip companies. Equities market losses widen to second trading day, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE as both foreign and domestic TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION investors remained on the Corporate Bonds sideline, resulting inNAHCO equities A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto FSDH sliding lower by 0. 52 per cent. Nil ***LCRM Nil Most sector gauges closed in Nil A/GCRred except the oilUBA the & gas and BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING industrial indexes. *DANA Nil #{r}

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

1.20

03-Apr-17

0.59

2.94

12.24

102.77

Stock market falls on weak results Description

Issue Date

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

1.20 1.23

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 Consequently, the All15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00Index LAGOS 19-APR-2017 Share dipped 132.01 ba13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 sis points or 0.52 per cent to 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 close at 25,145.28 basis points 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 as against 25,277.29 recorded 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 the previous day while market 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 capitalisation of equities de14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUNby 12-DEC-2019 preciated N45 billion from 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 N8.694 the previous day 15.00trillion KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 to N8.649 trillion. 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 Meanwhile, a turnover of 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 504.216.50 million shares in 3,374 deals BENUE 27-FEB-2022 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 was 17.50 recorded, as the local bourse 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS 27-MAY-2022 stocks as registered 23RIVER declining against only 15 gainers.. The banking sub sector of the 13.00 financial services sector NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 was14.25 the most active (measured 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRMvolume); II 19-APR-2017 with 167 by turnover 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017exchanged by million shares 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 investors in 948 deals. MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

30-Jun-11 14.00 Volume 30-Jun-09 in the sub-sector 15.50 10.00 was largely 19-Apr-10 driven by activities 30-Jun-10 13.75 in the shares of Sterling14.00 Bank 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 14.00 Plc and Access Bank Plc. 04-Oct-11 14.00 09-Dec-11 14.50 Also, other financial services 12-Dec-13 14.00 subsector, boosted by the activi14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 15.50 ties in the shares of UCAP Plc 22-Nov-12 14.50 12-Dec-12 14.75 of followed with a turnover 27-Nov-13 13.50 108.9 million31-Dec-13 shares in 47915.00 deals. 31-Dec-13 14.50 Further 06-Jan-14 analysis of15.00the 09-Dec-14 15.50 Viday’s trading showed that 17-Feb-15 16.50 tafoam Plc27-Feb-15 topped the 16.50 gain30-Mar-15 17.50 ers’ table with 9.53 per cent to 01-Apr-15 17.00 27-May-15 close at N5.17 per share, 17.00 while Nascon Plc followed with 7.27 per cent to close at N7.27 per share. Champion Breweries 29-Sep-11 13.00 25-Oct-13 14.25 Plc gained 4.76 per cent to close 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 at N3.08 per20-Apr-12 share. 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 led On the flip side, UBA Plc

*FCMB NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15 20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.25 15.50 14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

ransnational Corpo- flects the impact of expansion ration of Nigeria Plc projects undertaken by TransTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE has re(Transcorp) corp Hotels Plc. - specifically TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION corded a profit before tax of the upgrade of Transcorp HilN3.3billion for its audited ton Hotel Abuja and developSukuk 2015 financial results ended ments ofOSUNTranscorp Hilton 14.75 II 10-OCT-2020 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE December 31, 2015. Ikoyi and Port Harcourt. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Transcorp Group OperatTax payable stood at N1.3 Supranational ing ProfitBond went up by 11 per billion following the corporate 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC cent from N14 billion in 2014 restructuring of the Group 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P *AfDB FY toOUTSTANDING N15 billion. with the successful merger TOTAL VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION According to a statement of Transcorp Ughelli Power from the management, the (TUPL) and Ughelli Power Plc Description Rating/Agency Issuer group posted turnover of (UPP). Shareholders’ Funds FGN Eurobonds N40.8 billion and profit be- stood at N87.5billion. 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P fore tax of N3.3 billion in 2015 The Group Revenue was afBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P due to foreign exchange loss, fected by the non-implemenBB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 tation of the Multi-Year Tarwhich affected the net results BB-/S&P TOTAL VALUE and imiff Order (MYTO) 2015 in the of theOUTSTANDING power business TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION pairment of investments in Power sector and impacts of Corporate Eurobonds forex devaluation on the cost the stock market. 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I of gas and debt service. The The Group’s totalGTBANK compre7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC hensive at N1.4 Power 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P income stood FIDELITY BANK PLC merger of Transcorp 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC billion for the period under Ughelli Limited (TUPL) and 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC review. 8.75 May 21,was 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC Ughelli Power Plc (UPP) 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC The company grew its bal- successfully 9.25/6M completed and USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II USDrenamed SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD ance sheet during the year. the surviving 8.00/2Y entity AUG 14, 2021 B-/S&P NIG. LTD Total asset increasedECOBANK by N32 as Transcorp Power8.75Limited. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE billion to N202.9 billion, com- The objective of the merger TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION pared to N170.8 billion as at was to eliminate duplicated DescriptionefRating/Agency Issuer costs and ensure greater 2014 FY. Increase in Plant Property and Equipment reficiency . Commercial Papers

CMB Group Plc full year 2015 profit after tax fell 78.49 per cent to N4.760 billion from N7.768 billion recorded a year earlier. In a filing from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company’s pre-tax profit equally dropped by 67.55 per cent from N23.942 billion during the previous N7.768 10-Oct-13 year to14.75 billion during the period under review. However, the group’s rev11-Feb-13 10.20 enue grew by 2.60 per cent 10-Jul-14 11.25 from N148.637 billion in 2014

0.46 4.50 1.82 0.50 35.00 1.80 0.27 4.50 23.19 2.05 9.76 26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.90

30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

4.46 12.87 100.17 dent Dangote Group;100.77 Dr. Oba 3.48 11.89 1.00 11.05 Otudeko, Chairman,98.97 Honey5.71 15.34 98.83 well Flourmills Plc;100.74 Dr. Ray3.21 13.48 1.00 11.23 103.83 mond Obieri, Mallam103.40 Balama 1.00 11.16 3.82 14.04 100.54Alhaji Mahu, Mr. Goddy Ibru, 3.56 13.78 100.23 Aliko Mohammed, and the 1.00 11.26 106.34 2.02 12.33 105.16 incumbent president, Mr. Aig1.98 13.28 103.38 4.35 14.70 100.07 boje Aig-Imoukhuede. 1.30 13.03 101.56 gong 3.76Speaking 15.48 at the closing 98.36 3.76 14.27 100.43 ceremony at the end of the meet1.00 11.52 107.84 1.52 12.49 107.70 ing, Aig-Imoukhuede, said the 3.67 14.91 104.07 meeting became necessary to 1.00 12.28 111.57 2.52 13.96 109.64 tap from experiences of the past 1.79 13.49 114.15 3.04 14.45 presidents in tackling106.73 the current challenges in the market. He noted that the effort to demutualise the stock exchange 1.00 10.14 101.35 1.34 10.61 101.95 and make a listed entity that 1.00 10.48 103.54 6.96 been on-going 17.01 99.50 has also formed 6.41 16.54 99.88 2.36 12.57 100.57 part of the deliberation.

0.95 1.03 1.45 1.45 2.50 1.30 1.63 1.76 2.35 4.63 3.13 5.64 5.75 6.12 4.29 8.50 8.50 9.63

1.88 3.15 6.35 1.00 1.17 6.17 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55 2.48 1.00 4.63 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

11.83 13.19 16.54 11.19 11.61 16.31 16.35 13.55 14.88 12.73 14.24 14.13 12.67 16.39 14.54 13.91 13.91 13.98

106.12 102.54 101.70 106.10 105.06 99.34 102.18 103.63 100.19 108.55 102.95 100.40 115.07 100.27 104.34 111.68 96.79 104.57

to N152.507 billion during the financial year 2015. The board of director recommended a cash dividend of 10 kobo per issued and paid up share for year ended 31 December 2015. 539.73 FCMB Group had recorded 551.19 87 per cent decline in profit after tax for the third quarter ended September 9.77 10-Oct-20 30, 2015. 2.55 9.77 The group’s statement of 9.95 comprehensive income for the period ended September 12.00 11-Feb-18 1.87 showed a profit after tax of 12.95 01-Feb-21 3.09 N1.865 billion from N14.223 24.95

billion recorded a year earlier, accounting for a decline of 87 per cent. Profit before tax also decreased by 85 per cent to N2.563 billion in 2015 from N16.782 billion posted in 2014. However, the group grew revenue rose by two per cent to N109.294 billion from N106.703 billion reported in 2014. 3.37 13.82 101.88 It would be recalled that FCMB Group Plc had recently issued profit warning for its 1.00 9.41 101.31 third quarter results ending 1.00 10.54 101.78 September 30, 2015.

25.34

GCR rates Wema Bank ‘BBB’ with stable outlook Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

Prices & Yields

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.71

7.45

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP II 4-MAY-16

04-Nov-15

13.25

Nil

GUINNESS NIGERIA

GUINNESS CP III 29-JUL-16

04-Nov-15

13.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

96.19

97.20

on the Nigerian banking land5.42 98.46 scape. The Bank is on 99.36 course to 7.72 91.60 better results 92.62 deliver even by the end of 2016. And this is expected to eventually translate to upgrades in its Credit Ratings. 0.74 99.94 “Having recently 100.84 received 9.46 97.31 97.31 approval78.57 for National Autho18.66 80.26 8.39 94.50 94.50 rization, the Bank is 91.60 poised to 9.47 91.60 expand its distinct service of14.83 83.74 85.14 13.29 83.10 83.10 ferings to83.00 strategically chosen 13.82 83.00 14.67 business75.28 hubs which75.28 will add 11.76 84.88 86.63 value to the bottom line”. Wema Bank Plc had posted a 9.5 per cent growth in its Risk Valuation Yield Rate year (%) Premium gross earnings forDiscount the full (%) (%) ended December 31, 2015.

he Global Credit Rating investment grade rating will be 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.85 agency (GCR) has con- the basis to continue raising debt 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 the public, 12-Jul-23 7.91 the cluded its first rating from building on 1,500.00 of its Commercial Paper, review of Wema Bank Plc. success 1,431.25 Consequently, the lender re- issued in the second half of 2015. ceived a Long Term National “In an intensely competi19-May-11 373.41 19-May-16 rating of “BBB-“ with a7.50 stable tive industry that has 7.76 been 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 9.46 outlook and a Short term rife with profit warnings 09-May-13 6.88 rat300.00 02-May-18 19.84and 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 8.39 ing of A3.08-Nov-13 downgrades, Wema Bank re22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 9.47 A statement bank, ported sustained profitable 21-May-14from the8.75 200.00 21-May-19 15.47 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 13.29 said the rating was similar to results, which is a testament 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 13.82 23-Jul-14 8.00 23-Jul-21 14.67 the previous ratings issued by to450.00 the commitment to creating 14-Aug-14 8.75 250.00 12.23 Agusto & Co and Fitch Ratings. value for all 14-Aug-21 our stakeholders. 3,523.41 The bank noted, “This is on The Bank has instituted a stra3,085.19 the back of sustained financial tegic plan, which is responsible Outstanding Value DTM Issue Date @ Issue (%) Date performance after aYield successful for steeringMaturity the Bank’s focus to (₦’bn) turnaround of the Bank. This become the leading retail bank

Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.30 30-Jun-16 0.25 the2.05 losers’ chart with a drop of 30-Jun-16 0.25 57.00 1.05 9.27 per cent 19-Apr-17 to close at N3.23 16.45 30-Jun-17 0.77 per25.00share. UCAP 31-Dec-17 Plc trailed 1.75 23.44 30-Sep-18 1.57 with a loss of04-Oct-18 5.61 per cent to 4.91 1.36 10.98 at N1.85 09-Dec-18 1.55 close per share, while 8.14 12-Dec-18 1.55 FBNH Plc dropped 21.68 14-Feb-19 by 5.36 1.73per 13.87 02-Oct-19 1.95 cent to close at N3.00 per share. 80.00 22-Nov-19 3.65 21.65 12-Dec-19 Meanwhile, following2.12the 87.50 27-Nov-20 4.66 continuous crash in equity 5.00 31-Dec-20 4.75 4.03 31-Dec-20 2.79 prices at the Nigerian Stock 4.04 06-Jan-21 2.81 14.37 09-Dec-21 3.97 beExchange (NSE) since the 4.39 16-Feb-22 3.60 ginning of the year, past3.63 pres4.53 27-Feb-22 27.10 30-Mar-22 4.03 idents of Council of the NSE 3.00 31-Mar-22 6.46 7.68 agreed 27-May-22 3.72 to have to join forces 448.12 find possible solution to the 460.48 current challenges. Present at 29-Sep-16 the meeting0.50yes15.00 5.53 25-Oct-16 0.57 terday were the immediate 112.22 08-Dec-16 0.69 116.70 19-Apr-17 1.05 past president of the council, 66.49 06-Jul-17 1.27 20.00 1.50 Alhaji Aliko30-Sep-17 Dangote, Presi-

FCMB reports 78% drop in FY2015 profit

Transcorp posts N3.3bn 2015 pre-tax profit UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r}

10.57 11.19 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.85 12.83 12.81 12.43 12.41 12.44

6,405.02

Agency Bonds

3.25 3.56 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 12.66 13.14 13.64 14.31 18.30 19.97

6,237.28

TOTAL MARKETMARCH CAPITALISATION THURSDAY, 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nil

29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

7.23

04-May-16

6.03

13.14

12.97

2.77

29-Jul-16

121

6.18

14.82

14.13

30-Mar-16

10.00

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the Money “Information”). not constitute professional, financial or Market The Information does **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) investment advice. Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” (%) and on an Bid “ASYield AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance DTM We attempt to ensure the Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) TenorWe do not guarantee Rate (%) NIBOR 8 7-Apr-16 6.18 5.93 6.19 or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. OBB 12.67 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 15 14-Apr-16 6.76 22 21-Apr-16 6.77 29 28-Apr-16 6.82 5-May-16 7.20 FGN Bonds 36 50 19-May-16 7.43 57 26-May-16 7.33 64 2-Jun-16 7.79 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 71 9-Jun-16 8.03 78 16-Jun-16 8.04 85 23-Jun-16 13.05 16-AUG-2016 8.02 92 30-Jun-16 ^15.10 27-APR-20178.15 106 14-Jul-16 7.42 9.85 27-JUL-2017 8.23 113 21-Jul-16 120 28-Jul-16 9.35 31-AUG-2017 8.17 127 4-Aug-16 10.70 30-MAY-2018 8.66 134 11-Aug-16 9.26 ^16.00 29-JUN-20198.84 141 18-Aug-16 7.00 23-OCT-2019 8.73 155 1-Sep-16 162 8-Sep-16 ^15.54 13-FEB-20208.77 176 22-Sep-16 8.71 NA NA ^16.39 27-JAN-20228.95 190 6-Oct-16 ^14.20 14-MAR-20248.93 197 13-Oct-16 204 20-Oct-16 ^12.50 22-JAN-20268.44 218 3-Nov-16 8.78 15.00 28-NOV-2028 246 1-Dec-16 8.59 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.64 260 15-Dec-16 281 5-Jan-17 8.50 20-NOV-2029 8.92 295 19-Jan-17 ^10.00 23-JUL-20309.02 309 2-Feb-17 9.40 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 323 16-Feb-17 9.31 12.40 18-MAR-2036 9.40 337 2-Mar-17 351 16-Mar-17 9.31 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the TTM

6.51 6.52 6.57 6.95 7.18 7.08 7.54 Issue Date 7.78 7.79 7.77 16-Aug-13 7.90 27-Apr-12 7.17 27-Jul-07 7.98 7.92 31-Aug-07 8.41 30-May-08 9.01 29-Jun-12 8.59 23-Oct-09 8.48 8.52 13-Feb-15 8.46 27-Jan-12 8.70 14-Mar-14 8.68 8.19 22-Jan-16 8.53 28-Nov-08 8.34 22-May-09 8.39 8.67 20-Nov-09 8.77 23-Jul-10 9.15 18-Jul-14 9.06 18-Mar-16 9.15 9.06

6.78 6.80 6.86 7.25 7.51 7.41 7.90 Coupon (%) 8.16 8.18 8.17 13.05 8.32 15.10 7.58 9.85 8.45 8.39 9.35 8.93 10.70 9.59 16.00 9.15 7.00 9.07 9.12 15.54 9.10 16.39 9.39 14.20 9.38 8.86 12.50 9.27 15.00 9.11 12.49 9.21 9.58 8.50 9.73 10.00 10.21 12.1493 10.15 12.40 10.29 10.22

Bonds

# TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Issuer

Description

Agency Bonds Nil

Modified Duration Buckets FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds BBB+/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

O/N Tenor Call

Outstanding Value Maturity Date (₦’bn) NITTY Tenor 581.39 1M 480.13 2M 20.00 3M 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 5.4817 27-Apr-17 7.3699 27-Jul-17 7.8938 9.2453 31-Aug-17 9.3846 30-May-18 10.0913

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 556.93 NIFEX 13-Feb-20 605.31 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 14-Mar-24 BID($/N) 719.99 199.0000 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 155.84 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34 40.00 18-Mar-36

13.75

REPO

1M TTM (Yrs) 3M 6M

Rate (%) 12.50

10.75 Bid Yield (%) 11.25 12.00

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

0.38 8.78 8.39 1.08 10.09 9.95 1.32 10.15 10.02 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 1.42Bond 10.18 10.06 µ :Convertible 2.17Bond 10.36 10.28 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 3.25 10.57 10.47 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 3.56Mortgage Bank 11.19 11.07 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 3.87 Finance Corporation 11.56 11.47 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 5.83 11.46 11.40 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 7.95 12.32 12.26 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC9.81 Property Development Company 12.45 12.40 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 12.66 12.85 12.81 13.14 12.83 12.78 13.64 12.81 12.75 14.31 12.43 12.38 18.30 12.41 12.37 19.97 12.44 12.40

NOTE:

6,237.28

198.45 199.27 199.53 200.23 201.54 202.93 Bid Price 207.10 215.68

101.53 104.96

198.55 199.79

Price200.11 200.93

202.45 204.17 Offer Price 209.09 221.14

101.68 105.11

99.61 99.76 NA :Not Applicable ^ : Market98.91 Prices 99.06 # : Floating Rate Bond 100.61 100.76 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 114.56 114.86 DTM: Days-To-Maturity 87.95 88.25 TTM: Term-To-Maturity ‡ : Bond 112.10 rating under review 112.40 †: Bond rating expired 120.50 120.80 N/A :Not Available 109.35 109.65 {r} :Issuer in receivership NGC: Nigeria-German Company 100.54 100.24 UBA: United Bank for Africa 113.21 97.82 72.51 83.91 98.09 99.66

113.51 98.12 72.81 84.21 98.39 99.96

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

6192.277269

6,405.02

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

<3 3<5 >5 Market

998.70 1,516.69 1,551.78 4,067.17

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Total Outstanding Volume (₦’bn)

Weighting by 03-Apr-12 Outstanding Volume

883.23 1,325.30 1,667.49 3,876.02

22.79 34.19 43.02 100.00

30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12

Weighting by Mkt 17.25 Value

24.56 37.29 38.15 100.00

14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

Bucket Weighting 1.20

1.20

0.23

1.23 0.34 0.43 1.00

1.30 2.05 57.00 16.45 25.00 23.44 4.91 10.98 8.14 21.68

Maturity Date

% Exposure_ 03-Apr-17 Mod_Duration

12.19 29.18 58.64 100.00

30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Implied0.59 Yield

11.20 11.96 12.41 12.13

0.25 0.25 1.05 0.77 1.75 1.57 1.36 1.55 1.55 1.73

Risk Premium (%) Implied Portfolio2.94 Price

139.1121 152.9808 117.3619 134.4971

4.46 3.48 1.00 5.71 3.21 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 1.00

INDEX 12.24

1,265.60 1,326.25 1,414.92 1,280.76

12.87 11.89 11.05 15.34 13.48 11.23 11.16 14.04 13.78 11.26

YTD Return 102.77 (%)

14.2392 30.9785 40.5060 21.3782

100.17 100.77 98.97 98.83 100.74 103.83 103.40 100.54 100.23 106.34

News|SOUTH-WEST

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chibok girls concocted to sack Jonathan, says Fayose Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

arely two years after they were abducted from their school in Bornu State, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, yesterday said the Chibok girls were not missing in the true sense of it. He said the story was concocted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to sack former President Goodluck Jonathan. Fayose described their abduction as "a hoax and figment of wild imaginations of political jobbers". The girls, abducted in 2014 by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents,

had since been declared missing by the federal government. The governor spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital at a two-day workshop organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative by the renowned human rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin. Fayose said: “The cries over missing girls were just a political strategy. What could Boko Haram have used to carry those girls? Although if truly missing, they should be recovered as one thing I know is that, what is not missing you cannot get”. According to him, the story was concocted by the APC to defeat former president Goodluck Jonathan.

On how to improve women political participation, Fayose said "the real task would be performed by women themselves. You cannot take women anywhere if they are not ready to go". Continuing, he said: “It pains me that some of the human rights activists had gone underground since the advent of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. They have lost their voices. Where were they when DSS invaded assembly and arrested

a lawmaker and locked him up? Okei-Odumakin said the workshop was necessary to urge women to participate in politics in the Southwest and prepare them ahead of the future elections. “This is part of the enhancement of women political participation in the Southwest and their inclusion in decision-making process by promoting female political aspirants and appointees, also to encourage a more massive political mobilisation of women”, Odumakin said.

93,000 19.6%

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

The percentage by which actual taxes collected varied from target taxes of Nigeria in 2000. Source: Firs.gov.ng

L-R: First Lady of Ekiti State, Evang. Feyisetan Fayose; Governor Ayodele Fayose; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and CD President, Comrade Usman Bako, during a Capacity Enhancement Workshop for female political aspirants from Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday

Ajimobi seeks workers’ understanding over salary arrears Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

s the labour unions in Oyo State commenced a sevenday warning strike over non-payment of about five months salary to workers, the state government has called for understanding promising to hold a meeting, with the leadership of the labour unions today. The seven-day ultimatum was given after a meeting of the Nigeria Labour

Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) led by Comrade Waheed Olojede (the NLC Chairman), held in Ibadan, the state capital on Tuesday. The labour unions said that workers’ plight had brought them miseries, adding that their productivity, diligence and commitment would be hinged on how the workers were treated. The unions, however, threatened to down tool

should Governor Ajimobi fail to honour the agreements with the union leaders, insisting that "if government fails to meet the leadership of the labour movement in the state, we may not be able to guarantee continued industrial peace beyond the stipulated time”. But Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, called for the workers' inderstanding. He said that the government’s inability to pay was

Crisis rocks IPAC over Ondo council poll Babatope Okeowo Akure

major crisis is rocking the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ondo State, over the conduct of Local Government election as two major political parties; the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP), yesterday dissociated themselves from the election. The IPAC had listed some political parties including APGA and LP

among other 17 political parties that would participate in the local government election fixed for April 23, by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC). But yesterday, the APGA, through its Publicity Secretary, Amb SegunBabs Babayemi said the party did not submit any name to the electoral body as either chairmanship or councillorship candidates for the party. However, the party has threatened legal action over the use of its name

in the election, which it said was belated. Babayemi in a statement said: “the general public should be aware that APGA, Ondo State chapter is not presenting candidates for the local government election so it will not participate in the election. “A government that cannot pay workers salary for four months cannot be using workers sweat and pensioners unpaid money to conduct local government election that is belated."

as a result of the unfortunate situation foisted on the country by the dwindling accruals from oil, the country’s major source of revenue, describing it as a major concern to all and sundry and it is highly regrettable. Layinka said: "While the government empathises with workers and pensioners over the inability to pay salaries and other emoluments as it usually did in the past, we solicit continued understanding of the Labour over the matter."

N3.5bn debt: Appeal Court orders retrial of Ecobank's petition Akeem Nafiu

ourt of Appeal, Lagos Division has directed the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign a winding-up petition by Ecobank Nigeria Limited against Honeywell Flour Mills Plc over an alleged N3.5billion debt. Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, in a ruling yesterday, upheld an appeal by Honeywell Plc against an ex-parte order freezing its accounts by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court.

Justice Obaseki-Adejumo, in her ruling, said Justice Yunusa made the ex-parte order without notice to Honeywell in violation of rules guiding winding-up petitions. According to her, the rules state that every application in such a petition shall be by motion on notice to the person against whom the order was made. “Justice of the case demands that both sides be heard. The ruling of the Federal High Court is hereby set aside. The petition shall be assigned to another judge for necessary action."

'Missing' Ekiti lawmakers resurface at plenary Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

hree lawmakers of the Ekiti State Assembly earlier declared missing by the state government in the wake of alleged invasion of the assembly by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) three weeks ago have re-joined other members. The three lawmakers: Tadejo Anifowose, Musa Arogundade, Sina Animasaun, were present in the chambers during the last plenary. Soon after the plenary, the Assembly Speaker,

Pastor Kola Oluwawole and the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan, held a parley with journalists where the lawmakers were unveiled. Recanting its earlier position that the lawmakers were in the custody of the DSS, following their alleged abduction, the duo maintained they were forced to declare their disappearance followed the invasion of the House by the DSS. They also confirmed that the three legislators chose to stay out of the glare since March 4 after the invasion.

LASU alumni honours Arase, Olatilo, doctors today

he Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; ace broadcaster, Mr. Bisi Olatilo and doctors of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) who performed the first successful kidney transplant by an all-Nigerian medical team last November are among individuals to be celebrated today in Lagos by the LASU Alumni Association. The event, which according to the President of the Association, MajGen Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd) and the Secretary, Mr. Wale Anthony, holds at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, will

have the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Special Guest while Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole will give the keynote address. Also expected as Special Guest, is the Director of Medical Services, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Fausat Bello. The event is to be chaired by pioneer LASU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Folabi Olumide, while the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun will be the Chief Host. Dignitaries from the international health community in Nigeria and the National Assembly are also being expected.

Lagos to play role in Braithwaite’s rite of passage MuritalaAyinla

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday said that the state government would celebrate the life and times of the late frontline politician and prominent lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite. Ambode said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late political icon and lawyer at his Victoria Island, residence. He described his death as a great loss to the state. Accompanied by mem-

bers of the state’s Executive Council to commiserate with members of his family, Ambode emphasized that his demise was a major loss not just to Lagos State but also to Nigeria. He said: “On behalf of Lagos State, I want to say this is an event that touched us. We are concerned about it. We will like to take deeper part in whatever the family is going to do because this is a great loss to Lagos State. This is a great loss of a great man of Lagos State. And we intend to celebrate him in that manner. “Whatever it is that we do

even as a government or as a party, they are things that always project us. If there is any person that is on the side of the masses or the poor, this is one thing that Dr. Tunji Braithwaite believed in. He preached it; confessed it and fought it during his lifetime. “He was always thoroughbred. That is why we have come here not only to console or say just anything but we must equally point out that everything I am also doing is on the side of the poor and is on the side of the majority, which he believed in; which he confessed; which he stood for during his lifetime."

News|SOTUH-EAST

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Anambra Reps-elect accuse INEC of bias

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ouse of Repr e s e n t a t ive s members-elect from Anambra State yesterday accused the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of partisanship in the crisis that has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The members-elect who staged a protest at INEC headquarters in Abuja yesterday, called on the commission to immediately issue them with certificates of return, noting that withholding the certificates was a disobedient to court order. According to the protesters, those presently representing Anambra State in the House of Representatives were illegal occupants. The members-elect who were at INEC headquarters were Emmanuel Nweke; Benedict Obaze; Anthony Offiah; Charles Odedo; Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonwu; Uchenna Obi; Ejike Nwene and Julius Oforma.

The protesters, who were at the commission's headquarters as early as 9 am but were told that neither the commission's Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu nor any of the national commissioners had resumed work for the day. Offiah accused INEC

of bias by seeking clarification over a Supreme Court ruling, which set aside an Appeal Court ruling which had earlier upturned a Federal High Court ruling. He stated that several letters written to the commission to issue certificates of return

Umuahia

he Abia State House of Assembly has passed the state 2016 budget appropriation bill into law with an increase of over N4 billion which raised the budget total expenditure to N101. 40 billion The breakdown of the state’s total expenditures showed that recurrent expenditure stands at over N59.23 billion while capital expenditure stands at over N42.17 billion. This showed an increase of N4 billion over the previous capital expenditure of N37.8 billion and recurrent expen-

PHOTO: NAN.

diture of N58.9 billion. Governor Ikpeazu had presented a total budget estimate of N96.7 billion to the lawmakers, which he said witnessed a 22.8 percent decrease over the 2015 budget outlay of N127.5 billion. Speaking during the passage of the bill tagged Budget of Restoration, the Speaker Martins Azubuike, challenged the implementing agencies to adhere strictly to the provisions of the appropriation law with a view to ensuring democracy dividends to the people. While warning that the budget takes effect from January 1, this year, he said the 2016 budget was aimed

at ensuring efficient utilization of the scarce resources and sustenance of the overall growth of the state. The Speaker added that it will help in translating state economic growth into equitable social development as well as help in optimizing the human and natural potentials of the area for achieving rapid and sustained economy. “The 2016 budget also aims at strengthening fiscal management and laying a strong infrastructure base which will be guided by the principle of international best practices where prudent utilization of resources remains the prevailing norm."

South-East senators' caucus to broker truce between FG, IPOB

enators constituting the South-East Caucus in the National Assembly have said they were working towards ensuring that the case of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was amicably settled. Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the senators said through their leader Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central that the matter was being handled in a man-

and INEC to "recognise and deal with our party chairman and his executives in all matters pertaining to elections in the state as contained in the party's constitution. According them "only the list of candidates that emanated from the party primaries in which the

L-R: Council Member, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (Eccima), Mr Ndukwo Ogbuja; Vice President, Public Affairs, Lady Claire Asogwa and Representative of Tata Africa, Mr Charles Ofoma, during Eccima's visit to Tata stand at the ongoing 27th Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu …yesterday.

Abia Assembly passes 2016 budget, approves N4bn increase Igbeaku Orji

to them, after the Supreme Court threw away INEC's suit, were being rebuffed. Offiah who recalled that in December 5, 2014 a Federal High Court presided over by Justice E.S Chukwu gave a judgement in their favour which ordered PDP

ner that it would be settled in an amicable way devoid of rancour and acrimony. Orji said: “The Nnamdi Kanu matter despite being in court, we in the National Assembly from the South East are not keeping quiet, we are working to ensure that an amicable solution is arrived at to ensure peace in the zone.” The senator also accused security operatives of being partial with their response to the incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on defenceless people.

Orji claimed that security operatives show “signs of partiality where they should be impartial,” while handling matters regarding Fulani herdsmen. Noting that the job of security personnel was to secure lives and property, he wondered why they were been partial. The senator lamented why people who were supposed to be cattle herdsmen would be carrying sophisticated weapon like AK 47 automatic rifle to attack defenceless people.

Council boss insists ban on town unions still in force Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he 30 autonomous communities in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, have been told that the ban on the operations of town unions in lmo State still remains in force. The Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Chief Cletus Onwuegbule, made the disclosure at a meeting he held with traditional rulers in the area. According to a statement signed by Mr. Damian Anyanwu, the Area Information Officer for Ahiazu Mbaise Council Area, the chairman stated that the Community Gov-

ernment Council (CGC), has taken over the roles of town unions for rapid rural development, sustainable peace and adequate security. He warned that communities planning to hold town union elections to shelve the idea and refrain from forming parallel governments which could lead to chaos and anarchy. According to the statement, the council boss, stressed that the conduct of any form of election in any guise would be tantamount to breach of peace and vowed that the Local Government Authority would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found responsible.

executive participated in that must be recognized by both PDP and the INEC. Two assistant directors from INEC who met the protesters appealed to the protests for calm, urging that their requests would be conveyed to the leadership of the commission.

Rep backs 2016 budget to provide democratic dividends Uchenna Inya

he member representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Lazarus Ogbe, yesterday assured Nigerians that the 2016 budget proposal, would provide the desirous dividend of democracy to the citizenry. Ogbe, a member of the Peoppes Democratic Party (PDP) gave the assurance while distributing 41 motorcycles and sewing machines to some members of his constituency at the Onueke Township stadium in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He said he has made a lot of achievements as representative of his people even without the passage of budget which he said would be complimented by the budget implementation. He noted that his gesture was to complement the efforts of the state Governor, David Umahi, in uplifting the well-being of the people of the state.

137

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Ghana at the beginning of 2010.Source: Blatantworld.com.

103

The sex ratio of women to 100 men of Eritrea in 2012. Source: Un.org.

2,500 mothers to benefit from free medicare Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

total of 2,500 nursing mothers in Enugu State have benefitted from a free medical care sponsored by the state under the auspices of Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders Initiatives (CNDI). Chairman of CNDI, Dr. Muideen Owolabi Bakare, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday said the programme was slated to take place in Enugu and Lagos simultaneously. According to him, the

programme, which would take place at two designated centres at St Patrick's Hospital, Asata Enugu and Government Health Centre, Abakpa, was being supported by the Department for International Development, (DFID). Bakare, a Consultant Psychiatrist, said the programme titled "Tracking Maternal Depression and Child Growth", was focused on "identifying women with signs and symptoms of post-partum depression when they bring their children to

immunisation clinics at Primary Healthcare level." He further hinted that during the programme "interventions would be provided for women with signs and symptoms of post-partum depression identified at immunisation clinics in primary healthcare level." While calling on nursing mothers under such conditions to visit the two designated centres in Enugu State, he stressed that "untreated postpartum depression may last for many months or longer."

NEWS | SOUTH-SOUTH

thursday, march 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rivers is safe, Wike insists Woman threatens to sue Edo govt for N100m Cajetan Mmuta

Segun Edwards

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state is a safe haven for both government activities and social life. He said government is hosting national events to prove to the world that contrary to sponsored negative propaganda, the state is peaceful. Inaugurating the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2016 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike was quoted in a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media,

Simeon Nwakaudu, to have said that business interests are flourishing in the state because of its calm atmosphere. He said that the state will host the NBA National Conference in August, the PDP National Convention in May and the Federal High Court Legal Year celebration in September, adding that these events will attract thousands of visitors to the state. “We are hosting high profile conferences to attract thousands of people to the state. These people will witness the ambience, security and beauty of Port Harcourt first hand. “They will understand that the stories they are

Rivers killings: Women group demands Wike's probe Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

omen Arise for Justice has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to question the Governor of Rivers state, Chief Nyesom Wike, over the killings that took place during the just concluded re-run election in the state. The group also wants the Federal Government to probe the abduction and the eventual killing of an army Colonel, Samaila Inusa in Kaduna on Tuesday. The over 1000 women who stormed the Presidential villa in Abuja yesterday during a peaceful protest said all the deaths, abduction, intimidation and destruction of property were the product of the do or die

politics that featured during the last Rivers State re-run election. National President of the group, Jummai Samuel Pukat, who led the protest, said Governor Wike should be held responsible for all the atrocities since his body language and utterance directly constituted instruction to his political killers to deal with those not on the same side as him. “It was Governor Wike who threatened that there are areas that people from the federal level cannot access in the state. It was him who said anyone coming from outside Rivers state for the re-run must first write their will, which implies that he was confident of how to make sure federal agents do not make it out of Rivers state alive,” she said.

Fuel crisis: Tinubu should apologise to Kachikwu, Nigerians –Group Dominic Adewole ASABA

he last is yet to be heard about the blame-game that erupted between the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country. An oil monitoring group under the aegis of the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) yesterday attributed the faceoff to an unfinished oil blocs deal between them. Tinubu last week Saturday condemned comments by Kachikwu that he was not trained as a magician

and that basically Nigerians should count themselves fortunate that the NNPC under his stewardship has been able to bring in the amount of petrol it is currently enjoying, describing it as “flippancy”. The matter immediately assumed a dangerous dimension, with the National Vice Chairman of the part in the SouthSouth, Prince Hilliard Eta, calling for Kachikwu’s immediate resignation for failing to “cast off the orientation of the Peoples Democratic Party”, where according to him, “he was” before his appointment, even as the South-East axis of the party upheld his appointment, maintaining that “he has been prudent since he assumed office.”

told are false and sponsored negative propaganda. In the last few months, we hosted four international football matches with our guests enjoying the peace and beauty of the state,” he stated. The governor charged members of the Local Organising Committee to ensure that the 2016 NBA Conference turns out to be the best in the history of the association. He also urged them to put in their best in the interest of the legal profession and the state. He said as chairman of the LOC, he will act as a general supervisor to monitor the process of organisation. In his remarks, the Alternate Chairman and Attorney-General of the State, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, said that the main organising committee and the nine subcommittees have been programmed to deliver a historic national conference.

Okpanra

I, formerly known and addressed as Appolos Amagitongha Ebitmi now wish to be known and addressed as Appolos Okpanra Ebitmi. All former documents remain valid. First bank, Ecobank and the general public take note.

Obida

I do hereby confirm that my correct name is Jerome Wilson Obida but it was wrongly written as Wilson Shehu Mbullamoshat in my FCMB/BVN registration. I now wish to be known and addressed as Jerome Wilson Obida. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Chibuzo

I, formerly known and addressed as Ehirim Johnbull Timothy now wish to be known and addressed as Timothy Chibuzo Ehirim. Also, that my correct date of birth is November 22nd 1990 and not November 22nd 1986. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Freeman

BENIN

house wife in Benin, the state capital, Mrs. Oghosa Ojemai, has threatened to slam N100m suit against the Edo State Government over the loss of her seven week old pregnancy. Mrs. Ojemai, 38, stated yesterday that she would drag the government to court over alleged brutalisation by the state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe and other agents of the state government which led to miscarriage of her seven weeks old pregnancy. The woman, who was in pains yesterday, took her plight also to the state chapter of the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP). Ojemai expressed her readiness to file claim of N100 Million suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government. She alleged that the

Ishola

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Rauf Moshood Olayinka and Ishola Moshood refer to one and the same person. All documents bearing the above mentioned names remain valid. The general public should take note.

Worlu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Ogbaja now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Osondu Worlu. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Kwesi

I, formerly known and addressed as Chief Ayerite now wish to be known and addressed as Kwesi Nimiworio. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SANTURAKI

I was formally known as Shehu Alhaji Aliyu, but now wish to be called and name as Yahaya Santuraki and not Shehu Aliyu Alhaji Aliyu. All authorities concerned, fidelity Bank and First Bank should take note that I swear to this affidavit in good faith.

OBILOR

OLEFORUH

AKANU

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Victoria Eze Nnachi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Eze Oleforuh. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Ezza South Local Government Area and the general public should please take note.

ADETUTU

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss. Ndukwe, Benita Onyeyirichi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ama, Benita Akanu. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Federal Polythecnic Oko, NYSC and General Public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Akinhanmi Taiwo Adeline now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adetutu Olufunmilola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IDAHOSA

OGUNMODEDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Ani Vivian Ifesinachi now wish to be known and addressed as Idahosa Vivian Ifesinachi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKPANIBA

I, formerly known and addressed as Tom Eden Akpanibo now wish to be known and addressed as Tom Edem Akpaniba. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

She said, “I didn't know when I was rushed to the Central Hospital and after regaining my consciousness, I was told by the doctor that my seven weeks old pregnancy was no more. After I was discharged from the hospital, I reported the incident at the Oba Market Police station and thereafter, I was invited to the ministry of transport to collect my seized goods only to discover that half of them were stolen and I complained to them but nobody answered me till now. And the police I reported the matter to are not helping matters either as no action has been taken till this moment”. The woman who claimed to have graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, 12 years ago, pointed out that she resorted to petty trading to make up for the family upkeep after she had searched for job for several years without any positive result after her Youth Service.

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Odoni Okorie Freeman, Odoni Freeman and Odoni Okorie .F. refer to one and the same person. All documents bearing the above mentioned names remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Chinwe Ukoma, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS CHINWE OBILOR C. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Banks, Ezza North Development Centre, Ebonyi State and general public should please take note.

government agents led by the commissioner had on February 2, 2016 brutalised her when the ugly incident occurred. Narrating her ordeal to newsmen at the PDP Secretariat in Benin, Mrs. Ojemai explained that she was in her shop at 14 Mission Road, Benin City, where she sells beverages and other items the Transport Commissioner and his team swooped on her shop with allegations that she displayed her wares on the walkway. She stated that the taskforce team of the state government on arrival beat her blue-black and carted away her wares in the process. She added that the development led to her bleeding from her private part and was unconscious in the process. She was rushed to the hospital by sympathizers who came to her rescue. The matter was later reported to the Oba market police station in Oredo council area of the state.

I, formerly known and addressed as Lawani Oluwaponmile Esther now wish to be known and addressed as Ogunmodede Oluwaponmile Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEKE

I formerly known and addressed as Olalekan Akinnagbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Oladokun Oladayo Adeleke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KING

I, formerly known and addressed as Adegbe Love Alewo now wish to be known and addressed as Love King. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Clinton

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoba Margret now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Clinton Margret Amoni. All former documents remain valid. NDU, Wilberforce Island and the general public should take note.

Chinwa

I formerly known and addressed as Augustine Chukwudebelu Arazu now wish to be known and addressed as Augustine Chinwa Arazu. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public please take note

Onuoha

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Janet Obiaro now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Janet Onuoha. All former documents remain valid. Union bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE LIFE TRANSFORMERS ASSEMBLY INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Rev. Salami Adewale 2. Pst. Mrs. Olufunke Salami 3. Bro. Endurance Okoro 4. Joyce Egbujuoh 5. Chizorum Nyeche

-President. -Secretary. -Member. -Member. -Member.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD TO ALL MANKIND AND WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: REV. SALAMI ADEWALE (PRESIDENT)

PUBLIC NOTICE

EVANGELICAL PRAISE VINEYARD MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The Trustees are: 1. Ugbo Kingsley Nosa 2. Ugbo Osayawemwen Pamela 3. Odiase Doris Omorovbiye 4. Ugbo Oswald Osemwegie 5. Ugbo Nosayaba 6. Ugbo Kenneth Oghogho

- General Overseer - Member - Member - Member - Member - Member.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach and teach the infallible word of God to all Nations, build places of worship of God and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To establish and maintain churches and undertake missionary works. 3. To establish seminaries, mission education bodies and ordain ministers. 4. To co-operate with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and other bodies 5. To organize functions, seminars, conferences, crusades, youth camps, bible colleges, rest homes, homes for missionaries, etc. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED : TRUSTEES

News|north 43

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nasarawa uncovers 1,600 ghost workers Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

t least 1,600 ghost workers have been discovered on the payroll of the Nasarawa State government. This was disclosed in a report of a biometric exercise conducted by Skye bank Plc. on behalf of the state government. In the report presented yesterday at the Government House, Lafia, the state capital, the Executive Director of Skye Bank Plc. Mr. Idris Yakubu, said the

28.9

government would save N83.990 million annually if the recommendations of the biometric exercise were religiously implemented by government. He explained that the bank, which acted as a consultant in the biometric exercise, had to visit all the 13 local government headquarters to make it easier for workers to participate in the screening.Also, Yakubu said both pensioners and staff of the state Universal Primary Education Board were screened during the exercise that was

The annual mortality rate (per 100,000) due to Alzheimer’s Disease in Kansas State in 2010. Source: Alz.org

supposed to be carried out in four months, but lasted for one year and six months as result of security challenges. He applauded the developmental strides of the present administration in the state, saying more dividends of democracy would be provided from the savings as a result of the biometric exercise if government had the political will to implement the outcome of the report. Receiving the document, Governor Tanko Al-Makura directed the

2,468

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Azerbaijan at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

Ministry of Finance and other relevant government departments to commence immediate implementation of the report. He announced that henceforth, civil servants who failed to submit their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to the government would not receive salaries. According to him, all promotions in the state civil service would henceforth be based on passing a promotion examination which would be conducted by the state civil service.

The life expectancy of women at age 60 years of Belize in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

Buhari’s condoles with Benue over killings

said she was in the state to condole with victims of the attacks, commiserated with the victims over their plight. Buhari said Federal Government would continue to support the state to help tackle the security challenge the state was grappling with, saying as a mother, she was indeed touched by the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons, and donated some relief materials to them. While describing Benue

per cent of the budget. Masari revealed that health, agriculture, water supply and security were the other sectors that were given top priorities. He urged the people of the state to continue to pray to God to guide leaders to be able to serve them right. The governor also urged people to bear with the government

due to the decrease in the Federation Account as it was committed to improving their living condition with the meagre resources. Masari also said that his administration had so far spent about N1 billion on fighting cattle rustling in the state. He further explained that the joint security team has recovered over 11,500 cows.

Cephas Iorhemen isturbed by the attacks and killings of innocent farmers in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday condoled with the victims, the government and people of the state over the attacks. The president’s wife, who was represented by the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo,

he President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend Jeremiah Gado, has been elected to stand as the candidate into the office of the President of the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) The TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its meeting at the TEKAN headquarters in Jos yesterday, conducted its primary election into the office of the National President of CAN where Reverend. Dr. Jeremiah Gado emerged the winner. He defeated Rev. Jeremiah Madibo with 15 votes. Gado, who spoke with journalists yesterday at TEKAN headquarters

overnor Aminu Masari of Katsina State yesterday signed the 2016 appropriation bill of N114.3 billion into law. It could be recalled that the governor presented N111.4 billion before the state house of assembly for consideration.

MAKURDI

Abuja

The budget was tagged ‘’budget of restoration of hope.’’ The budget was increased by the house to N114.3 billion; with N43.3 billion as recurrent expenditure and N70.6 billion, capital expenditure. Masari said that the state government hoped to attain 90 per cent implementation. He said that education has the lion share of 23

Jos

Yekeen Nurudeen

Masari signs 2016 appropriation bill into law Katsina

Musa Pam

shortly after his election, said his chances of winning the election depended on the will of God. “My chances of winning the CAN election are with the bloc. If they work hard, it would increase my chances. They have to gather support from within and other blocs.” According to him,” the result of the election is not only in my favour, but to all contestants and the TEKAN/ECWA bloc. So we are all winners in the contest.” He, however, said that “this is the first time TEKAN/ECWA bloc is sending a candidate to contest for CAN President and according to CAN constitution, only two of the five blocs are supposed to present candidates in the election. That is TEKAN/ECWA and OAIC blocs.”

FCTA releases N1.6bn for councils’ staff salaries

L-R: Niger State Governor, Dr. Abubakar Sani Bello; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara and former CAN Chairman, Niger State, Rev. Musa Dada, at the flag-off of the state Christian Pilgrims’ trip to Jerusalem from Abuja

Ahmed Sani

CAN election: ECWA president emerges bloc candidate

State as her second home, the President’s wife said she had sleepless nights over the spate of killings going on in the state, noting that each time she thought about Benue, the first thing striking her mind was the love for the people, and enjoined the people to continue to support the government of the day to benefit from the dividends of democracy. Speaking at the occasion, Governor Samuel Ortom, lamented the level of destruction in the affect-

ed communities, which he said was more than those in the North East as most villages have been leveled down by the Fulani insurgents. The governor regretted that the attacks have come at the time farmers in the state were preparing for this year’s cropping season, adding that most of the farmlands have been taken over by the invaders and solicited the Federal Government’s continued support to douse the crisis once and for all.

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has released the sum of N1, 679,825,308.1 as bailout to the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory for the payment of two months’ salaries owed their workers. FCT Minister, Malam Muahammad Musa Bello, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in his office revealed that Kwali and Bwari Area Councils got N251, 120,125.32 and N289, 724,550.00 respectively. Others are Abaji,

Kuje, Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Councils, which received N267, 724,550.00, N295, 708,856.60, N262, 559,501.26 and N312, 987,740.12 respectively. The Minister emphasised that the money was a bailout fund released to the councils, which must be used to offset the two months’ salary arrears owed the Area Councils’ workers. Malam Bello further disclosed that the bailout to the six Area Councils would be recovered by the FCT Administration from the 10 per cent of the internally generated revenue statutorily due to the councils.

Saraki donates N5m to fire victims Muhammad Kabir KANO

enate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday donated N5 million to the Sabon Gari, Kano State fire victims. While donating the money, Saraki assured victims that the Federal Government would soon come up with responsive means of helping Kano fire victims. Making this known while visiting the site of the fire incident and the Kano State Government to condole with the people, Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, assured the people that government would soon provide relief to the victims. The senator representing Kano South senato-

rial district, said the National Assembly was determined to sponsor a motion on the floor of the Senate, seeking compensation for victims of the recent fire disaster. Speaking when he paid a sympathy visit to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Gaya said the magnitude of the disaster should be a cause of concern since Kano had suffered more than any other state in that regard. According to him, the essence of one’s representation at the National Assembly was to come up with a viable resolution that would have a direct bearing on the electorate, adding that all the senators from Kano State were deeply touched by the scale of the destruction brought about by the fire incident.

WORLD \ NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Suu Kyi’s aide sworn in as Myanmar president

yanmar entered a new era yesterday as Aung San Suu Kyi’s democracy movement took power after 50 years of military domination, with a close aide of the Nobel laureate sworn in as president. Htin Kyaw, a school friend and confidant of the democracy champion, succeeds former general Thein Sein, who ushered in reforms that transformed Myanmar from a repressive hermit state to a nation full of hope. As Htin Kyaw took the oath of office, he hinted he

would change the armyimposed constitution that has excluded his friend and mentor from the top post. Suu Kyi, 70, is barred from becoming president by the junta-scripted constitution but has declared that she will steer the government anyway. Htin Kyaw is expected to act as her proxy. The handover at the junta-built parliament in the capital Naypyidaw marks the final act of a prolonged transition since Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party swept elections last November. The NLD won 80 percent

of parliamentary seats, giving them a massive public mandate to rule. They are tasked with reviving a battered economy and a society straitjacketed by the army, which ruled with an iron fist between 1962 and the start of reforms in 2011 under Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian administration. Welcoming a new age of full civilian government, the bespectacled new president pledged to be “faithful to the people of the republic of the union of Myanmar”. “I will uphold and abide by the constitution and its laws. I will

carry out my responsibilities uprightly and to the best of my ability,” the 69-year-old told the chamber. In a later ceremony at the presidential palace, Thein Sein symbolically handed over to his successor as a smiling Suu Kyi looked on. But the army is far from leaving the political scene. The military holds a quarter of all parliamentary seats and three key posts in the cabinet. Suu Kyi, the standard-bearer of the fight for democracy, joins that same cabinet holding

Libya’s unity government leaders in Tripoli power bid

he head of a UN-brokered Libyan unity government arrived in the capital by sea yesterday with six deputies to set up a temporary seat of power in a naval base despite threats from competing factions. Western nations view the unity government as the best hope for ending Libya’s chaos and uniting all factions against an increasingly powerful Islamic State affiliate, which has seized the central city of Sirte. But factions within Libya’s two rival governments, one of which is based in Tripoli, are opposed to the UN-backed body. Fayez Serraj sailed in from neighboring Tunisia aboard a Libyan vessel, according to the unity gov-

Myanmar’s outgoing president Thein Sein (R) hands over the presidential seal to the country’s new President Htin Kyaw (L) during the handover ceremony in Naypyidaw yesterday

New CAR president vows to ‘preserve peace’

entral African Republic’s new president FaustinArchange Touadera yesterday pledged to “preserve peace” as he was sworn in following polls aimed at restoring stability in the wake of three years of turmoil. The 58-year-old former maths teacher was the surprise winner of February’s presidential election the first since the outbreak of a wave of intercommunal violence between Muslim and Christian militias that has killed thousands of people since 2013. “I pledge to wholly respect the consti-

tution... and preserve peace,” he said, promising to carry out his duties “without any ethnic bias”. He also pledged to “revamp the army into an apolitical and secular force” and launched an appeal for “national reconciliation”. The swearing-in ceremony at the main stadium in the capital Bangui was attended by regional leaders, including President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Denis Sassou Nguesso from the Republic of Congo as well as the foreign and defence ministers of former colonial

ruler France. It marks the last stage of the political transition that began with the overthrow in 2013 of Christian former president Francois Bozize by the predominantly Muslim “Seleka” rebel alliance. The crowds at the ceremony included 29-year-old engineer Igor Ali who said the day was a “great event which will allow us to finally bury the past.” Nadege, a shopkeeper who lives with her six children in a camp in Bangui for displaced people, added: “I want Touadera to disarm the militia. We have suffered too much.”

tional Card’ (BCNC) in London. The epoch-making ceremony which is backed up by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 will afford all members of Commonwealth Nations, citizens automatic British subject status. According to Protectorate Identity Commission, an agency of TCLP, some of the benefits embedded in being a holder of the British Commonwealth National Card in this 21st century includes: “The protection of the identities of the Commonwealth Citizens and Non-Commonwealth citizens and their rights of recognition

in the globalised substenance of economic relations”. Protectorate Identity Commission statement reads: “The protectorate is a new face in the culture of biometric credentials to assist in the identification of commonwealth citizens generality in the integration of information technology of the 21st century identity act. We facilitate obtainment of nationality documents for individual of the protectorate who are legitimate members of all alliance commission owned to the protectorate identity commission.

a clutch of positions including foreign minister. In a speech later in the day Htin Kyaw signalled the NLD would continue its long-stated vow to amend the constitution to bring it up to “democratic standards” no small order given that the military’s bloc in parliament gives it an effective veto on any such change. He gave no details. Expectations run high among Myanmar’s 51 million people but the new government faces a steep task.

ernment’s website, which denied reports that the officials had been brought in aboard an Italian ship. The six deputies are members of the Presidential Council, which was established based on a UNmediated deal signed by splintered groups from the two governments last year. The council formed the new unity government headed by Serraj. The officials were prevented from flying into Tripoli by a rival Islamist-backed government based in the capital. A third government is based in the east of the vast oil-rich country. Libya has been dominated by an array of militias since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Pakistani protesters refuse to end Islamabad sit-in

slamist protesters gathered in the Pakistani capital said yesterday they would not end their days-long sit-in and were “willing to die”, as armed security forces readied to clear the camp. The stand-off, which comes as Pakistan mourns more than 70 people killed in a Taliban suicide bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter Sunday in Lahore, underscores deep religious divisions fuelling the Muslim country’s long battle with extremism. Several thousand protesters marched on Islamabad Sunday, clashing with security forces before set-

ting up camp outside key government buildings along the capital’s main Constitution Avenue. The protesters who numbered some 25,000 at their peak -- had gathered in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in late February five years after he assassinated a liberal Punjab governor over his calls to reform the country’s blasphemy laws. The government gave the demonstrators an ultimatum to leave late Tuesday, but it went unheeded, prompting the government to issue a second call saying security forces would begin an operation to clear the area yesterday morning.

Paris attacks: Hollande drops UK political party unveils Commonwealth card plans to strip nationality

ope has risen for the coloured people and Commonwealth citizens from 54 Commonwealth Nations in a bid for them to have British citizenship enhancement status, protection from unlawful arrest, harassment, unlimited travel restriction in Britain and her territories, as well as possessing rights of residence in United Kingdom (UK). The Commonwealth Liberation Party (TCLP) announce this historic revelation and inspiring position during the Unveiling of British Commonwealth Na-

rench President Francois Hollande has dropped plans to change the constitution to strip militants convicted of terror attacks of their French nationality. “A compromise appears out of reach,” Mr. Hollande said after the two houses of parliament failed to agree the reforms. The proposal followed November’s Paris attacks which killed 130 people. But it ran into huge opposition and led to Justice Minister Christiane Taubira resigning in February. “I noticed that parts of the opposition have been hostile to any revision of the constitution,” Mr Hollande said after a cabinet

meeting. “I deplore this attitude, because we have to do anything we can under these serious circumstances.” But former president and leader of the opposition party, The Republicans, Nicolas Sarkozy, said Mr Hollande’s leadership was at fault. “By promising everything and the opposite of everything, in reality he condemns the country to stalemate and immobility,” he said. Meanwhile a suspect in a failed French attack plot has been charged with membership of a terrorist group, French media reports.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Sport

Did you know? That Alex Iwobi was born Lagos but moved to London at the age of four and joined Arsenal three years later

Siasia’s future splits NFF

NFF wants coach to work with expatriate after Olympics Federation seeks to convince minister on project

Ajibade Olusesan

embers of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation are not on the same page over the future of the interim coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siaisa. While some want him to stay on, many others are pushing for the employment of a foreign coach. New Telegraph reliably learnt that some NFF top shots including the President Amaju Pinnick are hellbent on hiring a foreign technical adviser. A source who is also a board member told our correspondent that Pinnick was not convinced on the amount of work Siasia and other local coaches could do, moving forward, and employing an expatriate was the only option they are considering. The source said that of one of Pinnick’s deputies is leading a group of decision-makers who felt the U-23 national team handler can do a good job if given time to work on the team. Our source said: “They believe the current technical crew under the supervision of the Technical Director, Amodu Shuaibu, can deliver if given the chance. There have been debate among members over the future of Siasia but it is like the president and some people are having an upper hand over the issue of

International Sport Valencia fire Neville

46 47

Cuper: Eagles gave us tough time Emmanuel Tobi

gypt coach Hector Cuper has praised his players for enduring the tough time they had against the Super Eagles in Tuesday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Alexandria. Radwan Sobhi struck on 65th minute with a shot from inside the box that was deflected past goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi. “We played very well in the first

half. The second half was not as good as the first, but that normally happens when you come against a tough opponent like Nigeria. “We threatened the Nigerians with many counter-attacks, but were unlucky to finish them. We also could have conceded a goal during the match,” Cuper told kingfut.com “I am very happy that we are on the verge of qualification to the African Cup of Nations. I am especially proud of managing this group of players.”

hiring a foreign coach. “Those of us who are opposed to the idea feel it is not proper to contract out a job some of our people here can do very well, we feel it is unwise to use scarce foreign exchange on one foreigner who might not ultimately give us what we want. I think in the next coming days we shall get clearer pictures of where we are going.” The top official who sought anonymity said that Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, is not convinced yet on the issue of foreign

coach but Pinnick has scheduled a meeting with him for proper briefing on the matter. He also said that Pinnick’s would also propose an idea which will see Siasia remaining as the head coach but will work under a foreign technical adviser. “We are yet to discuss that with Siasia, but it is on the cards. He is in the pictrure but I don’t think the president wants him in charge c o m pletely. We will sort all that out when we meet,” the source added. Nigeria’s Stanley Amuzie (left) strugling for the ball with Egypt’s Mohammed Salah

Pinnick shifts focus to World Cup

The Sport Team

Adeolu Johnson

Adekunle Salami

ABUJA

Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Eagles arrive Abuja quietly

Pinnick

he Nigeria Football Federation has shifted its attention to the 2018 World Cup qualifications coming up later in the year. NFF President Amaju Pinnick said two top friendly matches had been lined up for Super Eagles during the next FIFA window. “Our focus is now 100 per cent on the World Cup

and the Olympics, Samson Siasia has won silver at the games before and we are confident he can win the gold in Rio later in the year,” he said. “We are also sure Emmanuel Amuneke will take the U-20 team to the next World Youth Championship while we expect Coach Bala Nkiyu to dazzle the world at the FIFA U-17 female youth championship in Papau New Guinea later in the year.” He said the future

was bright because Nigeria had one of the youngest and most enterprising teams in the world at the moment. “Our direction is clear and a very robust future. We also have a clear-cut vision to return the Eagles to the summit of football not only in Africa but the world. “We are rather more determined and it is time for we board members to put our heads together to move forward,” he stressed.

SPORT NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Super Eagles AFCON fallouts

Eagles arrive Abuja quietly Mikel, Iheanacho, others depart

Emmanuel Tobi

layers and officials of Super Eagles returned from Cairo, Egypt early on Wednesday quietly looking so disappointed after falling 1-0 to the Pharaohs thereby failing to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon. Unlike in the past, no

official was on ground to welcome the players at the Nnamdi Azikwe Inter national Airport in Abuja as they sneaked in like orphans. England-based trio of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho flew directly to England from Alexandria after the match Tuesday night while

the duo of Umar Aminu and Azubuike Okechukwu returned to Turkey from Egypt. While most of the players could not g rant press interviews at the airport, Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, hur riedly left the team to catch up with his connecting flight to London.

NFF commends Siasia, plans June friendlies Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

he Nigeria Football Federation has com-

Siasia

mended Super Eagles coaching crew led by Samson Siasia despite the team’s failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The NFF in a statement on Wednesday promised to org anise friendly matches utilising the June FIFA window. “We want to use this medium to commend the ef forts of Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke, who took very seriously and professionally the job of preparing the Super Eagles for the matches, with only three weeks to do the games. They have shown extraordinary courage and purpose-

fulness, and the NFF will never forget their contributions to Nigerian football,” the statement said. T he NFF a d d e d t h at : “ I n p re p a r i n g f o r t h e 2 0 1 8 F I FA Wo rl d C u p q u a l i fiers starting later t h i s ye a r, t h e N F F will ensure that it utilizes all FIFA windows for inter national friendlies for the S u p e r E a gl e s, s t a r ting in June with two g ames a g ainst teams of high ranking. T he outstanding Cup of Nations qualifier a g ainst Tanzania in Se ptember would also serve as a tune –up for the World Cup qualification games.”

Eguavoen, Akpoborie disagree over Eagles coach

NFF must get it right now – Neiketien Charles Ogundiya

ing to be the same story every time. “You cannot be doing same thing all over again and expect a different result. Until we learn to take the business of the game very seriously, I don’t think we can get better as a country.” He said the technical committee of the NFF should evaluate the performance of the Samson Siasia-led technical crew and see if the coaches had done enough to continue on the job ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in June. “If we don’t want to bite our fingers again we should do the right thing now by concluding on the coach that will handle the team.”

x-international, Peter Neiketien, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to find a lasting solution to the continuous problem affecting the game in the country. The Warri Wolves coach was speaking to New Telegraph against the backdrop of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2017 AFCON slated Gabon. “We really need to put our house in order because if the head is sick, it will definitely affect the whole body,” he said. “It’s just that we are yet to learn from our past mistakes and until we do that, it is go-

Egypt played as a unit, says Amuneke

Grace Adewara

wo former internationals are sharply divided in their views on the future of the Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, after the shock ouster of the team from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Eagles lost 1-0 to Pharaohs on Tuesday in Alexandria, Egypt, to give the host team an unassailable seven points from three matches against Nigeria’s two points from same number of games with just one match remaining for both sides in Group G. Eguavoen, a former coach of the team, stated that the Eagles were unlucky not to have at least recorded a result in Alexandria. He said: “Siasia did very well within the short time. In the two matches we saw a pattern and the team was just unlucky with the two results. “I advise the Nigeria Football Federation to retain him and this crop of players. They showed so much promise.” Akpoborie however blamed Siasia for accepting the Eagles job despite his busy schedule with the U-23 team. “Olympics is around the corner, he should have rejected the job. No doubt, he did well because it was clear he impacted much to the team. “For me, I have always been an advocate of a very good foreign adviser that will stand firm on fairness and will impact modern technical input into the team,” Akpoborie stressed.

Moses Simon (Left) in action against Egypt

Amuneke

uper Eagles assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has said that the North Africans were successful against Nigeria because they played as a unit and worked hard for each other, especially in the defence and midfield. “Egyptian team played

Okpekpe race: Padmodzi, Abmayr seal agreement Grace Adewara

amodzi Sports Marketing Nigeria Limited,organisers of the annual IAAF Okpekpe 10km road race has formalised the appointment of world renowned international road race organiser, Walter Abmayr, as the Technical Organiser and Elite Athlete Manager for the race. The race is slated for Saturday May 7 in Okpekpe, near Auchi in Edo State. This followed the signing of the contractual agreement in Car-

diff at the one-day IAAF Seminar organised for labelled road races on the sidelines of the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan, said, “Pamodzi and Abmayr have for malised an ag reement that will see him assume the technical organisation of the race as well as being in-charge of the elite athletes management which includes elite athletes recruitment, their travel and accommodation in Nigeria.”

very well, and the advantage is that the players have performed as a united team, perhaps it is because they are playing for a long time with each other,”Amuneke told filgoal.com. “It is true that the Egyptian national team did not qualify for the Nations Cup

three times before now, but it is obvious that the players keep playing the same way. “All I can do now is to send congratulations to them on this good game.” Amuneke starred for Zamalek from 1991-1994 before moving to Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona.

Bassey dedicates victory to Udom, players

hortly after yesterday’s 3-1 triumph in Katsina against El-Kanemi Warriors, Chairman of Akwa United Paul Bassey, said he was dedicating the hard-earned victory to Governor Udom Emmanuel and his ‘wonderful players’ “For believing in me and

Bassey

giving me all the tools and support necessary to do my work, I dedicate this victory to my state governor, “ Paul Bassey said.” So far, we lack nothing. I thank and appreciate His Excellency” He also had kind words for his players who he said have achieved “the great feat of four points in two very difficult away matches. They deserve my thanks and appreciation. “I know that it is early days yet but this victory will propel us further and our aim is to finish in the top three, if we do not win the league. With continued support from my sportsloving governor, the dedication of the players and hard work of the technical crew, we know, we can do it.,”Bassey said

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Muyiwa Daniel Column md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

SPORT

Zidane calls for defensive forcefulness ahead El Clasico

Cockroaches, rats will mourn Z

first met Dr. Tunji Braithwaite as a fan of his bullish dressing in 1978. It was with lawyer Kanmi Ishola-Osobu, a friend of my uncle (in the Lagos Island area), who was later to be a huge influence of my journalism career-Owolabi “Ishola” Ilori-then Sports Editor at the Punch Group of Newspapers and a close friend of Afro-beat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Ilori had loved Fela to an unrepentant level just like he did of that Fuji Maestro-Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. At one of Ilori’s birthday celebrations at the expanse Punch staff quarters off Onipetesi on the Agege-Abeokuta, Lagos expressroad, Barrister was on the bandstand and Braithwaite, Ishola-Osobu came along just a few hours before Fela and M.K.O. Abiola arrived. Abiola came whiskers as Punch bosses-Chief Olu Aboderin and Sam AmukaPemu had departed for their appointment in Ibadan with the Olubadan. Braitwaite then at the event where he presided over Fela’s protection of his “girls” by marrying them in the traditional Yoruba culture moved over to form his political party-the National Advance Party. Foremost on his agenda was the elimination of cockroaches and rats from the country. People didn’t take him seriously especially at a time where he was a forebear of Osobu, Olu Onagoruwa and Gani Fawehinmi in keeping judges busy with lawsuits. Braithwaite was then treated as the “wole-wole” (sanitary inspector) that was destined to look into your neighbourhood seeking elimination of cockroaches and rats. It was later that his determination was a war against the leeches of the Nigerian political system which he extended to sports when he headed for the Courts suing the Nigerian government for the none-implementation of the Decree 13 of 171 as amended in 1979 for the establishment of the National Sports Commission Braithwaite had explained to reporters that the suit was necessary for Nigerians to respect the 1979 Constitution handed over to the democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Usdman Aliyu Shehu Shagari by then head-of-state, General Olusegun Obasanjo at the Lagos Race Course area that adjoined the National Assembly where Dr. Joseph Wayas was Senate President and Chief Ume Ezeoke, Speaker of the House of Representatives who received a proposed bill by the 1981 set of the Nigeria Union of Journalism -my set-led by Onagoruwa on the enforcement of the status of sports within the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution. Braithwaite was on hand to receive our delegation before we marched on the terraces of the National Assembly and with the arrival of more lawyers we were able to accept an affirmation from the UPN-opposition leader-Senator Odebiyi that the consolidated list which sports belonged will be an opportunity to review the Decree and put it in line with the Constitution and then strengthen sports administration in the country by making the regions strong in their area of excellence. Odebiyi promised that it would be easy to achieve as the Afuze training camp in Benin, Bembo Games Village in Ibadan and Lagos will be enough to develop sports in boxing, table-tennis, swimming and athletics. Lagos had the best of facilities then from the Onikan swimming pool to Rowe Park sports centre while Dr Samuel Ogbemudia as a military administrator turned Benin into a mini-mecca with the hosting of the Davis Cup and other tennis tournaments where Nduka “The Duke” Odizor, David Imonitie, Tony Mmoh, Yakubu Suleiman hit heights, By the Decree becoming an Act of the National Assembly, we as a nation would have gotten an answer to cattle rustling with indigenes farmlands because the Hausa-Fulani would have created our completion to Kipchoge Keino and other Kenyans and Ethiopians in middle and long distant races while the now South-South states would have provided a base for weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo and other combat sports. More were to be achieved by that law until the military led by Murtala Mohammed led the putsch that swept away the NPN and its personally labeled champagne out of office. President Mohammadu Buhari came as a man in khaki and he is here in Civilian garb chasing the cockroaches and rats in the corrupt ridden nation-just like Braithwaite. For now and as sports stand, I remember you sir as you are with the Lord this Easter. Rest in Peace as the cockroaches and rats mourn.

inedine Zidane has urged for his Real Madrid defence to be more forceful against Barcelona when they meet this weekend in his first El Clasico as coach. Zidane is keen to make his mark following Real’s humbling 4-0 defeat by their eternal rivals under his predecessor Rafa Benitez in November. And according to Wednesday’s edition of Madrid-based paper Marca, Zidane has decided that his side will have to physically dominate the reigning La Liga champions if they are to come away from the Nou Camp with victory. However, the Spanish publication rightly points out that discipline has proven hard to maintain for Los Blancos in recent El Clasico history with their headline ‘Red Alert’. Of the last 23 Clasicos, Real have finished eight of those with a numerical disadvantage - meaning that over a third of their meetings have ended in a dismissal. In the 4-0 defeat earlier this season, Isco was sent off for a late lunge on Neymar.

Luis Suarez (left) fires home the opener for Barcelona as they shocked arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu during the first El-Clasico

And speaking ahead of the return fixture, the Spaniard admits it would be nice to make amends away from home. “We must redeem ourselves on Saturday against Barcelona after the bad result at the Bernabeu (4-0

defeat),” Isco said. ‘Winning at the Camp Nou would be a big boost.’ Real travel to Barcelona sitting in third place on 66 points - 10 behind their bitter rivals who top La Liga after 30 matches.

Akwa wallop El-Kanemi in four-goal thriller As Wikki beat Warri Wolves 4-0 in Bauchi

Charles Ogundiya

Neville

Valencia fire Neville

alencia have announced they have fired Gary Neville as Coach ‘in the best interest of the club.’ Neville was a surprise appointment to replace Nuno Santo in December, having not held a senior coaching role following the end of his playing days, a career spent entirely at Manchester United. The former defender was an assistant to England manager Roy Hodgson as well as a television pundit and joined brother Phil Neville at Mestalla, the younger Neville having been on Nuno’s staff. Pako Ayestaran, who was appointed to Neville’s staff earlier in the season and previously assisted Rafa Benitez at the club, has been appointed until the end of the season.

kwa United on Wednesday walloped El-Kanemi Warriors 3-1 away from home in a Nigeria Professional Football League rescheduled match. The match was rescheduled due to Akwa’s Confederation Cup assignment before their elimination by AS Vita Club of Congo. Emeka Isaac gave the Promise Keepers the lead as early as five minutes into the game. The home team had an opportunity to respond instantly when they were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute after Nnamso Edo was adjudged to have handled the ball in

Ubah, Soribe win ArmWrestling Open Dapo Sotuminu

n Imo state-based policeman, Raphael Ubah, emerged the best athlete in the male category at the first edition of the Dr. Rafiu Ladipo National ArmWrestling Open Championship held at the National Stadium, Lagos. Ubah, who competed as a member of the Energy ArmWrestling club of Owerri, defeated all opponents he faced in the 100+kg class in the competition that 36 male athletes registered for went home with a giant trophy and a gold medal. 10 athletes registered for the female class and eight students’

entries. Chisom Ugwuani, also of the Energy Club of Owerri won the silver medal, while Ogunbanwo Sunday from Ogun state finished third in the 100+kg class male. In the keenly contested championships, national women’s champion, Ijeoma Soribe, in the women’s 80kg class retained her title when she defeated Ibiyeye Shukurat and Bukola Adeyeye who placed second and third respectively. Her brilliance earned her the award for the best female athlete. She also went home with a giant trophy and a gold medal.

the box, but Yakubu Auta missed the spot kick to the dismay of the fans. The terrible miss was punished by Akwa United as U-23 striker, Ubong Ekpai, doubled the visitors’ lead three minute later and it was game over with Chigozie Emmanuel making it three in the 16th minute. Ibrahim Mustapha however pulled a goal back for the hosts before the end of the first half in what was only a consolatory goal. The second half failed to produce any goal. Meanwhile, in another match played on Wednesday, Wikki Tourists handed Warri Wolves their biggest defeat since the beginning of the season in a 4-0 bashing in Bauchi. Godwin Obaje put the hosts in front in the 42nd minute before second half goal from Harrison Madu (68mins) and a brace from Idris Mohammed (84 and 90mins).

NPFL RESULTS El-Kanemi 1-3 Akwa Utd Wikki 4-0 Warri Wolves Enyimba 2-0 Shooting IfeanyiUbah 1-0 Nasarawa

On Marble

“I don’t trust people who don’t love themselves and tell me, ‘I love you.’ ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.”

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie There is no magic, afterall

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Maya Angelou

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

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Buhari’s remorse, Kachikwu’s arrogance

ast week can correctly be described as the week of confessions. President Muhammadu Buhari literarily climbed down from his high throne and made a sincere communication to Nigerians, the first of such humble disposition since he came to power about ten months ago. It was a week of sincere assessment of his administration and time to reply to critics of his government, Nigerians have been wondering if their President really knows the situation on ground; if he was really aware of the hardship in the land. Just last week in this space, in our discourse titled “Who will tell the President”, we mused about getting somebody to tell Mr. President that all was not well in the Kingdom where he is the King. Just the same day, he took time to address most burning issues in his administration and tried to console the people with some assurances of hope in the remaining three years of his fouryear journey. Addressing leaders of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, the president acknowledged his government was facing increasing attacks 10 months after taking office. “I know you are being harassed since the election that they haven’t seen anything on the ground,” the president said at the APC’s National Executive Committee meeting. “Well, if you have any explanation that could be accepted, (it) is that you have three more years to go”, he further stated. Mr. Buhari spoke about his government’s efforts to strengthen the economy, fight insecurity and improve the electoral system. He also defended his frequent trips abroad. “For globetrotting, sometimes, you need to present your case on personal basis to your economic colleagues and neighbours. Nothing is better than personal touch

Queues at a filling station

Political Musings IKE ABONYI igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only)

Buhari

and I believe that we are learning a lot and eventually, the nation will realize so.” The president concluded by again, urging party members to accept criticisms in their strides. “I don’t envy you on the harassment you are going through from your constituencies. Take it with a lot of determination and we will be all right, God willing,” he said. Perhaps the most passionate of all was when the President ate his humble pie to apologise to Nigerians

Kachikwu

for some wrong steps especially the dissolution of University councils and the sacking of Vice Chancellors as well as the inability of the regime to conduct credible and acceptable election since coming to power particularly in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states. This disposition was a huge relief for concerned Nigerians who were already beginning to feel their President is not a listening leader. Even though it is empirical that in a long distance race, take-off is key, and a dancer’s performance could be gauged from his first step; the President feels otherwise that his next three years would be better and result oriented. But politically speaking, from the position of hindsight, the President should be made to understand that he has only one active year left as experience has shown that two years to the next election, all energy and possibly resources are channeled to returning to power. Even if the President would not re contest, he sure will want his party or his choice candidate to take over from him. In Nigerian politics, this is a huge task that puts every other thing on hold. Buhari’s most consistent critic, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State however thinks the President should walk the talk in his apology by purging “himself of dictatorial tendencies and begin to see Nigeria as his Constituency, not the Hausa/Fulani and his APC members only.” Fayose, who described the apology as admittance that the Presi-

dent was not governing the country right since he assumed office, said the President must go a step further by holding his men, who caused the killings in Rivers State accountable for the crime they committed”; and also apologise to the Agatu people of Benue State for looking the other way when Fulani herdsmen were killing over 500 of their people, including pregnant women and children. But that notwithstanding, political musings must not fail to appreciate the fact that sorry is one of the hardest word for humans to say to the other and it takes a wise person to own up to own faults. For this we commend the President and in the same vain lampoon the Minister of state for Petroleum Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who displayed some arrogance in the course of his job, an action that has hugely inflicted enormous pain on the populace. American author of Healogy and Electric Personality, Criss Jami said that “There are two circumstances that lead to arrogance: one is when you’re wrong and you can’t face it; the other is when you’re right and nobody else can face it.” The minister knows which of the divide he belongs that led him into such insensitive utterance on fuel scarcity. Dr Kachikwu, certainly by his ambience belongs to the school of Frank Lloyd Wright who said “early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change” The Minister’s belated apology is however not ignored but what Nigerians need most now to assuage the insult is to find fuel to buy at the petrol stations and the Minister should do all within his power even if it means his turning a “magician” which he appear reluctant to be. God bless Nigeria.

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