Thursday, october 6, 2016

FG secures $4bn Chinese investment in oil sector lKachikwu: $70bn investment pledges on the way

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Government has secured in-

vestment worth $4 billion from 40 Chinese businessmen in the oil sector.

The Chinese investors are expected in Nigeria

next month.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe

Kachukwu, who disclosed this yesterday after the Federal Executive Coun-

cil (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa, said this was a fallout from the July roadshow in China where Nigeria signed a $75.6 bil-

N330bn sanction forces MTN to Eurobond market }37

lion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in investment in the oil sector.

Kachikwu explained that the MOU signed during the roadshow generCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Tragic Wednesday

Man collapses, hospitalised as govt demolishes his shop, house Woman electrocuted, daughter burnt as fire guts four buildings Gunmen shoot ex-UI VC, Bamiro, in failed kidnap attempt }8 & 9 Epidemic looms in Imo as refuse take over Douglas Road

}4 & 19

Heap of refuse on Douglas Road, Owerri, Imo State

Tinubu’s bill throws Senate into rowdy session lSenators reject Statutory Grants for Lagos }2

Toxins from cigarette smoke can affect non-smokers –Study }6

2

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tinubu’s bill throws Senate into rowdy session Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate was, yesterday, thrown into a pandemonium over a bill sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Consequently, the Senate, at the end of the rowdy session, rejected the bill which sought to establish an Act to make provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio-economic significance and other connected purposes.

The uproar was triggered by uncomplimentary comments made by the Senate Chief Whip, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, when in the course of his contribution to the debate; he described the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a "rotten pampered child."

His comments irked many senators and gener-

ated mild commotion in the chamber.

Adeyeye's comment particularly provoked deep anger in Senator Philip Aduda (FCT), forcing the Chief Whip to withdraw the statement. But the withdrawal did not douse the tension, which had degenerated into a shouting match among the senators.

The strife generated by the partisan positions of the lawmakers was so intense that the Deputy President of the President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, had to leave his seat for several minutes to calm frayed nerves and bring the chaotic situation under control.

As the situation tended to get out of hands, Ekweremadu decided to stop further debate on the bill and went on to put the bill to a voice vote.

He did it three times and it was rejected three times and accordingly, the bill was rejected.

In the course of the debate, the bill suffered serious partisan consider-

ations from the lawmakers, splitting the Senate along geo-political divides.

While the bill was highly supported by SouthWest senators, those from the North, South-East and South-South rejected the bill, pointing out that it would give undue advantage to Lagos as well as set a dangerous precedence in the system.

Leading the debate on the bill, Tinubu urged her colleagues to support the proposal so as to help uplift Lagos status financially and otherwise, in view of the fact that it was a former federal capital of the country.

She noted that the bill sought to tackle many problems confronting residents and visitors in Lagos, by empowering the Federal Government to make provisions for economic assistance through grants as provided for under section 164 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The lawmaker also explained that the bill would

allow the grants payable to be determined by the President and Commander-inChief on the recommendation of the Governor of Lagos.

Tinubu, however, said that the recommendation would come with the proviso that recommends the modest amount not less than one per cent of the share of the revenue accruing to the federal government; the amount of which would be payable upon appropriation by the National Assembly.

She further stated that the grants would be utilised in meeting the public infrastructural need of Lagos State, such as improving on rail infrastructure to decongest the roads and for promotion of the conducive social economic environment for federal institutions, as well as increase the state's capacity to continue to play host.

While giving reasons Lagos deserved special assistance from the federal government, she described Lagos as a state with stra-

L-R: Managing Director/ Editor-In-Chief, New Telegraph Newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and Managing Editor, Business and Strategy, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, during Obi’s visit to the Corporate Head Office of the newspaper in Lagos…yesterday

tegic socio-economic significance being "the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria with available statistics indicating that 6 of 10 international passengers arrive in Lagos while 8 of 10 depart from Lagos."

According to her, a report from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2008, revealed that 86.2 per cent of companies' income taxes were collected in Lagos only while another 56.7 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was collected in Lagos.

Tinubu said with the degree of revenue being generated from Lagos, the state deserved a special treatment.

She said: "Key sectors of the economy namely: manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, financial institutions and insurance are domiciled in Lagos.

“Lagos is home to the major ports that served Nigeria. It accounts for over 90 per cent of all maritime exports.

“The state delivers much of the funds and charges that go into the coffers of the Federal Government. It is incontrovertible that Lagos State generates much of Nigeria’s income outside its oil sector."

The other two Lagos senators, Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) and Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West) as well as Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (PDP - Ekiti Central) and Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-west), expressed strong support for the bill.

Adeola drew the attention of his colleagues to the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos. He said if the grant was approved, it would not only benefit the state, but the entire nation.

Rasaki, wife of former

Arms deal: FG to consolidate charges against Dasuki Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Federal Government yesterday said it will consolidate all the charges filed against former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in respect of the $2.1 billion arms scandal.

At the moment, there are three different charge sheets against the former NSA before three different courts.

While one is before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, two are pending before two different judges in Abuja High Court.

Dasuki had earlier prayed the court to consolidate all the charges against him, on ground that facing

trial in two different courts on the same issues and subject would prejudice and cause him double jeopardy.

When the matter came up yesterday, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and that of Dasuki, Joseph Daudu (SAN), agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the Chief Judge of the FCT Judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello, to consolidate the two charges in the interest of justice.

The parties had applied to Justice Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the chief judge would consider the application for consolidation.

Justice Yusuf, who was billed to give ruling on Dasuki’s motion for consolidation yesterday, put off the ruling as a result of the

understanding between the prosecution and the defence and adjourned the matter till October 21.

Dasuki, who is standing trial before Justice Yusuf, is also standing trial before Justice Peter Affen, both of the same Abuja High Court, on the same subject matter.

Before now, Dasuki, who is standing trial over alleged misappropriation of funds along with four others before Justice Yusuf, had insisted that the charges against him by the prosecution on the same issue constituted a gross abuse of court process.

In a motion brought pursuant to Sections 6 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 1, 208, 396, 491 and 492 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,

2015, Dasuki had claimed that the two charges revolved around the same set of transactions and facts on the alleged funds misappropriation and the breach of trust.

He claimed that the two charges with NO FCT/ HC/CR/43/2015 and another one with FCT/HC/ CR/42/2015 pending before Justice Yusuf of the High Court No 4 and Justice Peter Affen of High Court No 24 are identical charges emanating from the Office of the National Security Adviser and as such must be consolidated in the interest of justice and fair trial to avoid double jeopardy.

The applicant further claimed that to stand trial before two different courts and two different judges on the same set of facts and

purported transactions of the office of the NSA will be prejudicial and great hardship against him as he stands the risk of double jeopardy, having being charged in two different courts on the issue.

In the alternative, Dasuki prayed that his name be struck out from one of the two charges in the interest of justice.

2.34m

The total volume of payment channels made by POS of Nigeria in February 2015.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

18,511

The total number staff deployed

by INEC for the 2016 Edo governorship election.

Source: New Telegraph newspaper

Lagos administrator, said the bill was overdue, adding that the state deserved the grant as a former capital city.

But Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North) initiated opposition to the bill, describing it as ill timed and unnecessary.

According to him, the bill will make Lagos richer and make other states poorer, warning that passing the bill would set a dangerous precedence because it would serve as an impetus for other states to also demand for special grants.

Wamakko's position received strong support from Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), who echoed that passing the bill would open windows for other states to come up with similar bills.

Uzodinma suggested that instead of allowing the bill to pass, the option of conceding federal government's abandoned property in the state to Lagos to augment its cost of maintenance could be considered.

Similarly, Aduda (FCT) said he would only support the bill if the same status being sought by Lagos would be accorded the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arguing that FCT also deserved special allocation for its development.

Also opposing the bill, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) said he would have supported the bill, but noted that the National Assembly had no power to make any law that would empower any state to exclusively draw money from the federation account.

Senator James Manager (Delta South) said Section 164(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) incapacitated him from supporting the bill, noting that the section authorised the National Assembly to first make a law before the federal government could grant financial assistance to any state.

It was the bitter altercation between Adeyeye and Aduda that provoked the tension and uproar, which eventually made the bill to be killed.

Adeyeye had argued that the demand for one per cent grant for Lagos was an underestimation of the real value of the financial need of the state, noting that Lagos deserved 13 per cent derivation from VAT the same way oil-producing Niger Delta states enjoy 13 per cent derivation from the federal government.

Adeyeye also dismissed the demand by Aduda for special grant for FCT, describing the nation's capital as a "rotten pampered child."

3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EDITORS’ HOUSE OPENS TODAY OCTOBER 6, 2016

24 MOJIDI STREET, OFF TOYIN STREET, IKEJA, LAGOS

THE GUILD FINALLY HAS A PLACE TO CALL ITS OWN, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF LAGOS STATE.

HOST GOVERNOR: Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Governor, Lagos State

HOST MINISTER: SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR: Alhaji Lai Mohammed Mr. Kashim Shettima Minister of Information and Culture Governor, Borno State

CHAIRMAN: Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Former Governor, Delta tate.

4

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FEC approves N3.5bn for prisons operational vehicles Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N3.5 billion for the purchase of 320 operational vehicles for the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS).

Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Abdulraman Dabazzau (rtd) disclosed this yesterday while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Danbazzau, who was joined by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) explained that the procurement of the vehicles was to assist in strengthening the country’s criminal justice system.

He said procuring the 320 vehicles will also help government to decongest

prisons across the country, which population as at today stood at 65,000 prisoners.

Danbazzau said: “For the prison system in particular, we are making efforts in a way, you know the prisons being one of the legs of the criminal justice system, the others being the police and the judiciary, is to see how best we improve in terms of conveying prison inmates to courts, in particular, so that we do not jeopardise the chances of their getting justice.

“And this has been happening because for a very long time the prison system has suffered lack of operational vehicles and as such quite a number of prisoners remain in prisons longer than necessary, because they do not have the opportunity to be conveyed to the courts. So, this is the essence of this.”

According to the minister of interior, contract for the purchase of the vehicles will be done through patronage of local manufacturers, vendors and assemblies under the Fed-

eral Government’s policy, which seek to encourage local firms.

“In our efforts to strengthen criminal justice system and to also contribute towards decongesting the system, we presented a memo for the procurement of 320 operational vehicles for the prison service at the cost of N3.5 billion.

“This procurement is from local manufacturers, assemblies and vendors within Nigeria and the effort is to follow through government policy to ensure that most of the procurement of the equipment and such vehicles are done locally. That will also provide opportunity for job creation and things like that,” he added.

“The prison population as at today stands at about 65,000 prisoners; out of this, about 70 per cent are awaiting trial. And part of the problem is lack of logistics, because there are 5,022 courts that on daily basis you have to transport prisoners to attend to their cases.

“There are other issues that have to do with other two legs of the tripod, that is the police and the court.

One of the problems of the courts is adjournment of cases, that is also tied to the issue of conveying prisoners to court. This is in addition to the fact that some of those delays are caused by the lawyers.

“The third part of the issue is how to strengthen

the police in terms of investigations, because if the cases are not properly investigated, that too can cause delay in the trails.”

Dambazzau explained that government was trying to reduce the number of prison inmates, which is being handled by an inter-ministerial committee.

Also speaking, Fashola explained that council approved over N1 billion for the purchase of three 150 MVA transformers for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The transformers, the minister said, will be utilised for the evacuation and distribution of power from three major sub-stations, including Shiroro “As you know, the

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

here is palpable fear of an epidemic outbreak in Owerri, the Imo State capital, following the mounting heaps of

refuse covering the greater part of Douglas Road in the city centre.

Owerri, which was adjudged the cleanest city in Nigeria under the administration of the late former Governor Sam Mbakwe, has in recent

times become a shadow of its former self with heaps of garbage taking over a section of the city.

Despite the squalor and stench of the refuse heaps, buying and selling were still going on along Douglas road. Some food vendors were sighted doing brisk business at some areas along the road while nursery and primary school pupils were also seen trekking and attempting to side-step the fetid rubbish on their way to school, thus raising concern over the health implications of undue exposure of minors and adults alike to such level of pollution.

Some Owerri youths who spoke to our correspondent in barely coherent tones near the St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Douglas Road believed that the growing mountain of refuse is a deliberate punitive action of

FG secures $4bn Chinese investment in oil sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

visited China.

“That was an all-African type front basis; this is completely separate. I will say that the target we had while going to China was to raise $40 billion, which is the total cost of our infrastructural gap for the oil industry. We raised about $75.6 billion, $69 billion of which were Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and government-related potential investments and loans and the rest directly to the private sector. If we get even 20 per cent of that, that will be a major achievement for us.

“I will say we have oneyear period to work on this. We expect that some will come earlier, there are some facility lines that are almost readily available close to about $3 or $4 billion, but the investment packages will take us time.

Transmission Company of Nigeria is the manager of the transition system, which is the transporter of electricity, in that it provides service to the generation companies to whom they evacuate power and to the distribution company to whom they deliver power.

“They needed three transformers of 150 MVA to be installed in sub-stations in Shiroro in Niger State, Oshogbo in Osun and Kumbotso in Kano State,” he said.

Epidemic looms in Imo as refuse takes over Douglas Road

President Muhammadu Buhari (fourth right), VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo (fourth left) and other members of the cabinet in CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME face caps after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

ally has a gestation period of about one year within which both countries set up their teams on bilateral lines to look at specific areas of investment interests.

“That is still work in progress, we are having a team of over 40 Chinese, members of some of those bodies about visiting Nigeria by the end of this month. We are also setting up a full interministerial panel that will be deliberating with them for each of those sectoral investments,” the minister stated.

He said that the Federal Government, during the roadshow, also received investment pledges from different Chinese private investors worth $70 billion.

This amount, according to him, is different from those made when President Muhammadu Buhari

-1.89%

The growth rate of Oil sector of Nigeria’s GDP in Q1 2016.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Realise that this is different from the pledges that were made when the president visited China which was an all-African type front basis, this is completely separate,” the minister said.

The NNPC had, in July this year, embarked on a roadshow to China seeking investments to bridge the infrastructure funding gaps in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

Government subsequently announced the signing of MOUs with some Chinese companies worth over $50 billion for infrastructure development.

The corporation had, in its statement, listed companies involved in the deal to include China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO Group), China Cinda Asset Management Company Limited (CINDA), China National

Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation/Addax petroleum (SINOPEC/ADDAX), International Chamber of Commerce/ China’s National Development and Reform Commission (ICCNDRC), among others.

Council also approved the resuscitation of the National Council on the Hydrocarbon, an ombudsman council that meets once a year to just review policies in the oil and gas sector.

The minister explained that the council is a gathering of people from the business, oil sector, oil communities and ministries that are directly or indirectly affected by the policies rolled out by the Petroleum Ministry.

“The criticality is that as we continue the dialogue we have been having with

militants, creating such fora enables anybody who has an interest in the area, to converge and develop the thinking process that will guide policies in this sector,” he said.

Kachikwu said the Council also approved the hosting of an international flare reduction convergence meeting in Nigeria billed to hold on November 30th and December 1st.

“We will use that as a chance to roll out efforts by the ministry to addressing the flare. You are aware Nigeria is next to Russia in terms of the highest flaring nation.

“Even though we have progressed positively to reduce 70 per cent of the flare, but the 30 per cent we still flare, is about 10 per cent of the world's flare. So, it is a huge amount of gas,” the minister added.

government against Owerri indigenes who own the area following the resolve of locals to resist government’s planned demolition and relocation of the now contentious Ekeukwu Owerri Market.

Dr. Philip Njemanze, the Chairman, Association of Private and General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (APGMPN), however, decried the total collapse of sanitation structures and the threat to public health by the nonevacuation of the pile of refuse on Douglas Road, Owerri.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Chief Udo Aguoha, said that the refuse at Douglas Road has remained unattended to because Owerri indigenes had dragged government to court, barring it from coming to Douglas Road area or entering the Ekeukwu Owerri market over the market relocation debacle.

Njemanze, while dismissing the commissioner’s claim as untrue, noted that the suit in question, which is in the public domain, only made reference to the Ekeukwu Owerri Market, which is in contention.

He noted that the suit neither made reference to sanitation work at Douglas Road nor did it prevent it.

His words: “At this level of environmental decay, Imo and Owerri, in particular, face the potent threat of cholera and Lassa Fever outbreak; for the state or ENTRACO to have left the heap of refuse at Douglas Road to pile up for about a month and putrefy to this extent, amounts to creating public health hazards that could put the entire Imo populace at risk. Nothing whatsoever can justify this level of life-threatening negligence.”

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

CBN: Forex liquidity to remain tight, bad loans to rise Tony Chukwunyem

C

urrency market liquidity in the system is set to remain challenging in the second half of 2016 due to low oil prices, which could push up credit risks for lenders, as naira weakness makes loans harder to service, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

"Although the outlook for the rest of the year appears to be challenging, the current measures put in place ... are expected to minimise the impact of shocks to the domestic economy," the apex bank said in its half-year financial stability report released yesterday.

The CBN said the move to a flexible exchange rate regime had led to a sharp fall in the naira and contributed to the decline in

asset quality for the banking sector.

Dollar scarcity has persisted after the 16-monthold peg of 197 naira per dollar was lifted, however, frustrating businesses, which need dollars to pay for imports.

The naira has weakened to as low as 485 per dollar on the parallel market in recent weeks, while holding firm at around N305 on the official market, supported by central bank interventions.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last Wednesday said the economy was likely to shrink by 1.3 per cent in 2016, a sharp downward revision of its estimates prompted by the naira's fall after dollar peg was dropped.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has told depositors and investors not to panic about the state of the banking sys-

tem, saying he was on top of any trouble resulting from the worst crisis in the economy for decades.

But the country’s 21 banks have been laying off staff, closing branches and slashing earnings forecasts as the economic crisis worsens.

The regulator said credit risk could rise into the second half due to higher loan charges and debtors' inability to service dollar borrowing, particularly oil and gas loans.

"The increasing quantum of non-performing loans posed a major concern for regulators in the review period," the CBN said yesterday, adding that it has enhanced supervision of loans to the oil and gas sector and the currency market.

Non-performing loans

(NPL) are expected to rise in the second half, after they hit 11.7 per cent in the first half, above the central bank's 5 per cent limit, the monetary authority said. NPLs stood at 5.3 per cent at the end of last year.

Loans to the oil and gas sectors accounted for almost a third of total bank lending while consumer credit declined owing to weak demand and increased risk aversion, the regulator said.

Tumbling oil mar-

kets since mid-2014 have forced Nigerian lenders, which have long thrived on business loans to the energy sector and government bond investments, to adapt their business models at short notice.

Nigeria emerges ATAF president

N

igeria was yesterday elected President of African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).

The country defeated Togo by 13 votes to four in the forum's elections held in Pretoria, South Africa.

Mauritius was voted Vice President.

Nigeria's representative in ATAF is Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Rev-

enue Service (FIRS).

Launched in November 2009 in Kampala, Uganda, ATAF’s mission is to provide a platform to improve the capacity, capability and performance of tax administrations in Africa.

The forum has, in the five years, made tremendous progress.

Also elected into the 10-country council were South Africa, Ghana, Burundi, Uganda and Libe-

ria.

The 36-member forum is made up of tax collecting agencies across Africa.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of Nigeria, Fowler pledged to expand the membership of the forum for the continent's development.

"Our goal shall be to aid the generation of revenue efficiently and sufficiently for the growth of all members," Fowler said.

Reps threaten arrest warrant on NNPC boss, Malabu, others Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he ad-hoc committee investigating the circumstance surrounding the sale of OPL 245 and the diversion of $1.1 billion being part of proceeds from the sale has threatened to issue an arrest warrant on the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), AA Oil, as well as Malabu Oil for failing to appear before the committee.

This is even as the adhoc committee has disclosed that OPL 245 houses about 9.2 billion barrels of crude oil in an expanse of land measuring 1,900 sqkm.

When the ad hoc committee reopened sitting yesterday, both the NNPC and Malabu Oil were not represented, causing the panel to issue its threat.

In his opening remarks, chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Abdulrazak Atunwa (APC Kwara) said that sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, empowers the House to carry out public investigations on any issue that affects Nigerians.

He insisted that the $1.1 billion (about N500 billion), which was alleged to have been laundered in the OPL 245 deal, was enough to fund the 2016 capital projects of the Ministry of Education or Power or even Health.

He also frowned at the statement from Shell through Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), stating

that the House lacks the jurisdiction and power to investigate the matter.

Giving historical details of the transaction, Atunwa said that OPL 245 was first sold by the former head of state, late General Sani Abacha to Malabo Oil at the rate of $20 million, but Malabu paid only $2 million.

According to him, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, he revoked the deal and another round of bid took place, which was won by Shell Petroleum at a bid price of $210 million amidst controversy.

Explaining further, Atunwa stated that Shell paid only $1.1 billion while the balance was laundered into foreign banks in Europe and unknown destinations.

Counsel to Shell, Mr. Dafe Akpede (SAN) also denied knowledge of the previous summons and details of the transactions, while appealing to the committee for more time to be abreast with the subject matter.

The committee fixed October 18 for further hearing and appearance of all the parties.

18

The total number of local government areas that elections for 2016 Edo governorship seat will hold.

Source: New Telegraph newspaper

11%

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years of Grenada in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (middle), during his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false declaration of assets in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI .

Assets declaration: CCT fixes Nov 17 for Saraki’s trial

…as chairman refuses to disqualify self Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

rial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been adjourned till November 17, following the refusal of the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself from sitting over the matter.

Saraki is standing trial before the tribunal over alleged false/anticipatory assets declaration.

The prosecution has called his first witness, Mitchael Wetkas.

The defendant is in the process of cross examining the witness when Saraki filed an application seeking the chairman to disqualify himself over the allegation of bias.

The chairman was quoted to have said that no matter how the defendant try to delay the trial, it will not stop the defendant from facing the consequence of

his offense.

Delivering ruling yesterday, Umar first admitted that every human being is bound to make mistake while speaking. He, however, noted that God will surely judge every statement made by man.

He added that people are prone to give different interpretations to every word said, especially when such people has a hidden motive.

He further held that his statement, which is in dispute, was not made with sentiment.

Umar further held that he would have excused himself if the defendant had requested, but for the constraint by the law which established the tribunal, giving it a special jurisdiction, which has not been conferred on any court.

According to him, “no other court has similar jurisdiction to entertain this matter. If the chairman excuses himself, it means the tribunal will not be able to sit again over this matter

because the constitution provides that there shall be a chairman of the tribunal.

“The constraint is based on Paragraph 17(3) (4) Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

The section provides for the procedure by which the chairman of the tribunal can be removed.

“Before the chairman of the tribunal can be removed, the president will write an address to that effect and forward it to the National Assembly, where if two-third majority agree to it, then the chairman can be removed.

“The National Assembly does not have the power to remove the chairman without an address from the president.

“The defendant’s application was not contemplated as far as the tribunal is concerned. The tribunal is not like other courts where a judge can excuse himself over a matter on the allegation of bias.

“When there is no chair-

man, there can be no tribunal. The defendant should be patient. An option still lies at the end of the case, if the outcome of the case warrants it.

“The application is hereby refused.”

Before the adjournment, Umar in an emotion-laden comment, said: “As human beings, we are bound to make mistakes and that it is only the Almighty God that is infallible.”

The CCT boss said that the comments were made with free mind and without prejudice to the Senate president and the trial.

Umar further stated that he was surprised that since the alleged statement was made, nobody has bothered to find out the veracity of the comment.

“We will give account of our deeds on earth to God on the resurrection day and we must therefore be fair and just in anything we are doing while on this earth.”

The tribunal later adjourned till November 7 for continuation of trial.

6

News|NATIONAL

THURSDAY, oCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Environmental issues, unpaid salaries top World Teachers’ Day …50 dead in Ogun over non payment of cooperative deductions

Our Correspondents

I

t was lamentations galore yesterday as teachers in Nigeria joined their colleagues all over the world to mark the World Teachers’ Day. October 5 of every year was set aside as the day to remember the contribution of teachers to the development of humanity.

The ceremonies which took place simultaneously across the states of the federation and Abuja saw teachers lamenting their woes, which they said has been exacerbated by the current economic problems in the country.

In Ogun State, it was noted that no fewer than 50 secondary school teachers in have died within the last one year over alleged failure by the state government to remit their cooperative deductions and bank loans.

The state Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, disclosed this in Abeokuta.

Lasisi said the non-payment of statutory benefits to the teachers running into several months had become worrisome, urging the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to release the “trapped funds.”

Lasisi said: “Ogun State secondary school sector of teaching has lost as many as 50 of its workforce to the cold hands of death and unfortunately, we are still counting.

“Many of our colleagues whose lives were cut short in active service to their dear state might not have died if their cooperative societies had had their deductions released as and when due by the government.

“What is more worrisome is the fact that these funds have long since been trapped or unnecessarily saved in government’s coffers ever before Nigeria strolled into economic recession.

“Today, teachers are prac-

tically being forced to beg for their possession kept in the hands of their employers.”

In Delta State, teachers demanded the immediate payment of their May and July 2016 salaries before it culminated into industrial dispute.

They threatened that their union has prepared to fight the “principalities” frustrating the educational system in the state and Nigeria at large, maintaining that the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), should furnish the state government with the information of indebtedness to primary school teachers with immediate effect.

Also in Taraba State, public school teachers demanded that the state government settled backlogs of salaries arrears owed them.

The teachers said the government owed them salary arrears of ‘July, August and September, urging the government pay them.

The state chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Aliyu Mafindi, made the plea in Jalingo.

The NUT also demanded that the Taraba State government provided instructional materials in primary schools ‘as was done for post primary schools.’

From Kwara, teachers called on the Federal Govern-

ment to take over the funding of primary education and also extend retirement age of teachers to 70 years like it was done to professors in nation’s universities.

Kwara State chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Musa Abubakar, who made the call in Ilorin said that the “finance of the local government is over stressed and cannot cope with the funding of primary schools”.

Many teachers, he said, were still being owed salaries up till date. He cited the example of Kwara where he said teachers are still owed about five months in salaries.

Nwabueze: Planned Islamisation of Nigeria real Kenneth Ofoma and Charles Onyekwere

L-R: Representative of the Minister of Education, Mrs Chetachi Azubuike; National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Michael Olukoya; and National President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, during the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day in Abuja.… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address some issues relating to their welfare. The union said that failure on the side of the government would lead to the withdrawal of their services to the nation.

The National President of the NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, gave the ultimatum yesterday at the occasion of World Teachers Day with the theme ‘Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status’ which was celebrat-

R

NUT to go on strike over welfare ed in Abuja.

Lamenting the treatment given teachers in the country, he noted that Nigerian teachers were denied their rightful status and pride of place in society and remains the least regarded profession that has continued to suffer societal disdain, neglect and degradation.

He said: “We must sit down, assess the situation, celebrate ourselves despite the fact that we are being maligned and oppressed from here and there. It is not Uhuru. Freedom is still very far from the realm of

teaching.

“It is therefore imperative that the Nigerian Union of Teachers use this occasion to once again draw the attention of both Federal and state governments to issues affecting the teachers, the teaching profession and the education system and to make the following demands.

“The Federal Government and its relevant authorities are once again called upon to kindly consider the age long demand of teachers for a raise in the retirement age from 60 to 65

years.

“The Federal Government should ensure that only professional trained and qualified persons are engaged in the proposed recruitment of 500,000 teachers in order to promote professionalism and effective service delivery.

“The union calls on the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts in the fight against terrorism and to ensure that our institutions of learning especially in the North East are totally conducive and safe for effective teaching and learning.”

Toxins from cigarette smoke can affect non-smokers – Study

Appolonia Adeyemi

T

oxins from tobacco smoke have been shown to persist in smokers’ homes for at least six months after they quit and remain a threat to non-smoking residents.

According to the findings in a study published in the journal ‘Tobacco Control’, even six months after smokers quit, non smokers in the same home still had detectable levels of a mark of tobacco exposure in their

urine.

The United States’ National Cancer Institute, NCI, has affirmed that tobacco smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and non-smokers.

“Breathing even a little tobacco smoke can be harmful,” the NCI states on its website.

“Of the more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia.

“Also, among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer.”

To establish that tobacco smoke linger in homes months after smokers quit, the research team studied 65 smokers who quit smoking and discovered that tiny particles from burning tobacco get into surfaces such as carpets, wallpaper, ceiling, tiles, upholstery, clothes, blankets and pillows and were still present long after a smoker quit.

There were large immediate declines in nicotine on surfaces and in dust, which then leveled off and remained the same, but still detectable, by the end of the study period.

Smoking has been found to harm nearly every bodily organ and organ system in the body and diminishes a person’s overall health.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, smoking is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer.

enowned constitutional lawyer and chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thought, (ILT), Prof Ben Nwabueze, yesterday declared that the alleged plan by some people to Islamize Nigeria was real.

Addressing journalists during a meeting of the group in Enugu, Prof. Nwabueze fingered lopsided appointments of heads of security establishments as well as widespread murderous attacks on some sections of the country by Fulani herdsmen as clear evidence of orchestrated plan to Islamize the country.

The elder statesman further warned agitators for a “sovereign Biafran state” to be more tactical, advising that instead of rooting for a “sovereign state of Biafra” they should insist on “right of self determination.”

On the menace of herdsmen, Prof Nwabueze called on South East governors to summon a meeting to take a

common stand on the issue, noting that they should insist on banning open rearing of cow by itinerant herdsmen on Igbo land.

“This is a very crucial meeting for us because we have not met for more than a year. And if you look at our agenda, such critical issues for discussion, issues like islamization agenda and its impact on the unity of the country. Islamisation agenda is real. It’s not something that somebody has just conjured up. It’s there. And it’s being implemented gradually. Look at the security agencies; every aspect of security, Islamists are in control in its entirety.

They are methodically in the way they are going about its implementation. Look at Fulani herdsmen menace, it is part of it.

“The agitation for Biafra, you will appreciate what is going on to provoke the Igbo, to provoke them so that they will say ah, we are pulling out. And then they will launch the final solution to the Igbo problem.”

EFCC quizzes FUTA VC, Bursar Emmanuel Onani Abuja

O

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have quizzed the Vice Chancellor (VC), Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Prof.

Adebiyi Daramola, and the Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun, over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.

A highly placed source, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said the VC allegedly drew Furniture Allowance annually, when same was supposed to be done once in four years.

“Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor Federal University of

Technology, Akure, Ondo State and the Bursar, Emmanuel Ademola Oresegun, are being quizzed at the Iyaganku, Ibadan office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of an alleged case of Abuse of Office and misappropriation of funds.

“The Vice Chancellor allegedly drew Furniture Allowance annually instead of once in 4 years as approved and was paying himself Housing Allowance while (allegedly) residing in the University’s Vice Chancellor’s Quarters,” the source said..

It was further alleged that “he diverted funds from various unrelated subheads to finance other projects without the appropriate approvals for such virement.”

national | news

thursday, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

7

Reps fault ongoing Federal Civil Service recruitment exercise

Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday picked holes in the way the ongoing recruitment into the Federal Civil Service was being conducted.

It consequently advised the Federal Civil Service Commission to immediately, declare publicly,

the number of vacancies available and distribute same according to states in accordance with the Federal Character principles.

This advice was given following the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to investigate the unwholesome practices involving the Federal Civil Service Commission with respect to the ongoing recruitment exercise

sponsored by Hon. Henry Archibong and Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki.

While introducing the motion, Archibong, who expressed concerns over the inability of Nigerians to access the recruitment portal, disclosed that the portal uploaded by the Commission was non functional as unemployed Nigerians have been unable to apply for various positions.

He said:"Thousands of qualified Nigerians have over the past days been trying to apply for various positions advertised by the commission via the portal but are unable to due to an ineffective portal.

"By uploading a non functional recruitment portal, the commission is deliberately denying thousands of suitably qualified Nigerians who

PDP caucus endorses peace with Sheriff Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he expanded caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has approved the reconciliation moves by the National Caretaker Committee with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party.

The caucus gave its nod after its meeting yester-

day in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by PDP governors, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), PDP National Assembly Caucus, PDP Former Ministers' Forum as well as state chairmen.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, had told State House correspondents that PDP governors was not aware of the reconciliation moves.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said the only agenda discussed at the meeting was the peace moves with members of Sheriff ’s faction.

Adeyeye also revealed that the committee that would fashion out the peace process will be inaugurated on Monday next week.

"The peace move has

been finally endorsed and supported by members of caucus without any dissent voice," he said.

Adeyeye however, denied that there are factions in PDP, arguing that what is in existence is disagreement among members.

"We don't have factions in PDP. There are some of our members who are aggrieved. We are making moves to ensure peace in the party.”

L-R: A customer of Skye Bank, Alhaja Sekinat Bamiro; Managing Director/ CEO, Skye Bank Plc., Tokunbo Abiru and Business Manager, Skye Bank, Alausa, Lagos branch, Taofik Aminu, during the 2016 Customer Service Week in Lagos.

Abuja

A

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed November 25 for judgement in the suit filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibraheem El- Zakzaky, for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

The court fixed the date after parties in the suit argued the processes filed in the suit.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to El-Zakyzaky, Femi Falana, SAN argued that the continuous detention of his client by the Federal Government was against his constitutional rights.

Counsel to the FG, Tijani Ghazali, in opposing Falana's position, argued that El-zakzaky was being held under protective cus-

commission and ensure a 24 hour accessibility of the recruitment portal for intending applicants and extend the deadline of the submission.

Meanwhile, the House has mandated the Inspector General of Police and Director General, Department of State Security Services to intensify efforts to ensure the prompt and safe release of the immediate past Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam, who was kidnapped on Monday.

The order was consequent upon a motion moved by Hon. Sunday Marshall.

Leading debate on the motion, the lawmaker noted that the armed men also kidnapped Mrs. Mallam's husband while her driver was shot and his phone taken and used to make contact with a family member to demand for ransom.

The House also mandated the police and other security agencies to step up strict surveillance on the Bwari/Jere route.

Aviation workers shut down, protest airports' concession

Wole Shadare

A

Illegal detention: Court decides El-Zakzaky's fate Nov 25

Tunde Oyesina

wish to contribute their quota to the service of their fatherland through gainful employment into the civil service, thereby subjecting them to hardship" He argued that the non functional portal "is a ploy by the commission to come up with names of friends and the children of the high and mighty in the society as the only ones that applied for the employment, thereby depriving the children of the poor and the Federal Government of willing and qualified hands to move the country forward".

The lawmakers noted that the action of the commission was against the change agenda of the present administration, principle of equity, justice, fairness, transparency and above all, the principles of federal character as enshrined in Section 14(3) and (4) of the constitution.

The House also directed its Committee on Federal Character to investigate the practice of the

tody due to intelligence report that his life is under threat.

After listening to argument from counsel, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, advised parties in the suit to explore resolving the suit through Alternative Dispute Resolution.

He thereafter adjourned the case for judgement, if they are unable to reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Muslim community in Saminaka have kicked against the decision of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria(IMN), popularly known as Shi'ites, to erect a building at the headquarters of Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, raising tension in the sleepy town yesterday.

Suicide bombers are Hell bound, says Sultan Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

T

he Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday warned that no religion preaches killing of human beings.

Abubakar III, also reminded youths never to allow selfish preachers and politicians use them for whatever reasons, added that, all religion (Christianity and Islam) preach peace and love.

“Religion is a personal choice of an individual.

855,270

The total number of interactions on Facebook of Cristiano Ronaldo in February 2016.

Source: Goal.com

Therefore, nobody can force any religion on anybody. Suicide bombers are going to hell,” declared the Sultan.

Speaking when one of Nigerians music icon, Innocent Idibia (2Face) alongside his wife Annie Idibia, Sound Sultan, among others, paid him a courtesy call yesterday, Sultan Abubakar urged 2Face to continue to use his talent in promoting peace and peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians youths.

The Sultan, who admitted that, 2Face was acting what all religion preaches by promoting peace across boundaries, advised that, Nigerian youths should not allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction by selfish politicians, elite and wealthy individuals for selfish gains.

viation workers under the aegis of National Union of Air Transport Association Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) yesterday shut activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, temporarily as they protested the planned concession of four of the major airports across the country.

The four aerodromes slated for concession are the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, the Port-Harcourt International Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

The protest took place

simultaneously in all the airports across the country.

The workers, who had thronged the road leading to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) headquarters, spoke on why the airports should not be concessioned, saying that the Federal Government was yet to convince stakeholders on the need for its action to concession them.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has pursued vigorously concession of the facilities, citing the need to improve decaying facilities at virtually all the airports and the quest to boost air traffic and efficiencies that are lacking at Nigerian airports.

INEC seeks media cooperation Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday sought the cooperation of the mass media in the conduct of election, saying the role of the media as conveyors of information would always remain critical to the success of future elections.

Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this yesterday at the 13th Public Lecture of the Electoral Institute in Abuja, said the media has a strategic role to play in how electoral

information was accessed, processed, distributed and consumed in the country.

He urged media practitioners and organizations to adhere strictly to the code of professional ethics and avoid partisanship in the presentation of news reports.

Yakubu, who was represented by a member of the board of the Ekectoral Institute, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, acknowledged that though both the electronic and print media had played positive roles in the electoral process, there was still room for improvement, particularly with the advent of the social media.

8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Man collapses, hospitalised as govt demolishes his shop, house

Taiwo Jimoh

D

octors are now battling to save the life of a 62-year-old man, Mr. Abdrahmon Amuka, after Lagos State government demolished his house and shop at Abule Egba.

Amuka’s structures were part of buildings demolished to pave way for the construction of an overhead bridge on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The demolition, which began on Tuesday, continued yesterday. Structures demolished included financial institutions such as GTB and Wema Bank and eateries among them

Sweet Sensation. Others were a filling station and some shopping complexes In all, about 28 houses were pulled down.

Amuka, it was learnt, collapsed yesterday when he was told that his house and shop had been demolished. He was rushed to Blessed Medical Centre, a private hospital.

When New Telegraph visited the hospital, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) said Amuka could not be disturbed at the moment.

One of the man’s close friends, Mr. Ajani Ahmed, described it as an unfortunate incident.

He said: “We never knew his house and shop would be

demolished.

We were only given one week notice to prepare ourselves and relocate to another place.

“They said the demolition was to give way for the expansion of the road construction.

To our surprise, some officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development came on Tuesday only to begin demolition the following day. We don’t have anywhere to pack to.

“Some landlords and I rushed Amuka to the hospital to prevent his death. We then sent for his children who later came. Some of us depend on the house rent to survive and we do not have any tangible work we do now because of

Some of the demolished buildings. Inset: Two of the house owners

old age. Government should look into our issue and compensate us.”

Mr. Moshood Alabi, another landlord whose house was demolished, said most of them built their houses with their gratuities.

He said: “It was true government promised to compensate us, but some of us do not have certificates of occupancy. We only have receipts of payment we collected from the land owners. Therefore, there is no way we can be compensated by government. Now, all our life savings had gone down the drain.

“Some landlords cannot recover from the shock of the demolition, because no amount of money government gives

Gunmen shoot ex-UI VC, Bamiro Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

G

unmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have shot former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, near his Oluyole residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Bamiro, who was shot in the leg on Tuesday night in a failed kidnap attempt, is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University College Hospital (UCH).

Bamiro, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, was UI’s VC between 2005 and 2010. He was succeeded by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole.

Confirming the incident,

UI’s Director of Communication, Olatunji Oladejo, said the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Academics, Prof. Gbemisola Oke, and the Registrar, Olujinmi Olukoya, had visited Bamiro at the UCH. He said: “I can confirm to you that our former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bamiro, was shot on Tuesday night. There is no detail of the shooting for now. The school’s DVC (Academics) and Registrar have visited him at UCH on behalf of the school.

“We are thankful to God that he is responding to treatment. We are in touch with the management of the hospital whom we trust to offer the best treatment to the

former VC.” The UCH Public Relations Officer (PRO), Deji Bobade, confirmed that Bamiro was

Bamiro

on admission at the hospital but could not ascertain whether he was shot or not.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the incident.

He said Bamiro was rescued by the prompt intervention of policemen from the Oluyole Division who responded to a distress call.

Ajisebutu added that the Police Commissioner, Mr. Sam Adegbuyi, had ordered the dispatch of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to go after the gunmen.

Bamiro, a first class graduate, was a professor of Mechanical Engineering and former vice chancellor at the university.

them will adequately compensate for their demolished structures.”

Some workers were seen at Progress Seafood Company salvaging the firm’s valuables from the rumble after the demolition of their cold room.

Mrs. Modupe Idowu, a fish seller at the cold room, said they were not happy with the demolition.

She said: “We have been sent out of the market. The cold room is the only place where we buy on credit from the dealer while we pay them back after selling. Now that the cold room has been pulled down, we do not know where to start from now.”

Idowu added that some of them were the ones taking care of their families.

According to her, some husbands cannot cater for their families’ needs because of the economic situation of the country.

Mrs. Chigozia Stella said the only shop that sustained her family had been demolished without providing alternative for them.

She said: “Our landlord did not inform us about the demolition. We just paid him another one year rent on Saturday only for the building to be pulled down today (yesterday). We are supposed to be given three months’ notice. This action is not fair to me and my family.

“We don’t know where to start from now. Our business has been destroyed. To bring development is good, but it ought to be done with humane face. Our landlord is not working and his three buildings have been demolished.”

METRO

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Emergency responders at the scene of the incident

Muritala Ayinla

A

middle-aged woman was electrocuted yesterday while her daughter was badly burnt following a power surge which caused fire that razed four buildings at Oke-Ira in Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

The tragedy occurred at Shokoya Close, off Dapson Street, Oke Ira about 8:29a.m.

For hours, there was confusion in the neighbourhood as residents scampered to safety while others ran to the power company to disconnect the power supply to the area.

It was learnt that the fire emanated from a 25kva transformer serving the four buildings located on number 4, 7, 9a and 9b. The four

Okeagbe monarch seeks support for palace building Kayode Olanrewaju

A

jana of Afa, Okeagbe-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Oladunjoye Fajana, has called on the sons and daughters of the town to contribute towards the building of a befitting palace for the community.

The monarch made the appeal yesterday as the community kicks off this year’s Agba Day Festival, which annually brings together the sons and daughters, as well as other well-wishers from all walks of life to felicitate with the traditional ruler and the people.

According to Fajana, the call has become imperative in order to complete the palace building project under construction.

He said the festival was being organised yearly to offer a platform for the people to come together to share thoughts and deliberate on the development and how to move the community forward.

The festival, which is in its third edition and marks the eating of the new yam by the Ajana, will begin today, with environmental sanitation and a football match between Afa and Oge Quarters at the Ajuwa Grammar School Sports Ground.

houses were affected by the inferno. The electrical cables and electronic appliances in the houses were burnt.

Before the emergency agencies arrived the area, the woman identified as Mrs. Florence Okanlawon had been electrocuted while attempting to switch off her refrigerator. Her daughter, Taiwo Okanlawon, was also affected by the fire.

The mother and daughter were rushed to the General Hospital, Ifako.

Okanlawon, it was learnt, later died as a result of severe burns she sustained.

Her daughter, however, is said to be responding to treatment.

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, described the incident as pathetic.

Tiamiyu said such incident could have been avoided through adequate precautionary measures.

He said: “The agency re-

9

Woman electrocuted, daughter burnt as fire guts four houses ceived a distress call on fire incident from a transformer at Shokoya Close, off Dapson Street, Oke-Ira, Ojodu LCDA through the 767/112 emergency toll-free line.

“Through the preliminary report gathered by the agency’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that the fire emanated from a high voltage 25kva transformer (a fourbuilding mini-transformer) which affected four buildings.”

Tiamiyu said the agency immediately contacted the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company at Oke-Ira to immediately disconnect power supply to the affected houses.

The LASEMA boss, however, advised Lagos residents to ensure that electrical appliances are disconnected while not in use.

Agencies at the scene included the Lagos State Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Man hospitalised after fiancée is electrocuted Camillus Nnaji

A

man, Mr. Segun Tolani, who suffered electric shock while trying to fix a television decoder, is battling to stay alive at an undisclosed hospital in Idimu area of Lagos.

During the incident, Tolani’s fiancée, Loretta Ewere, was electrocuted.

The tragic incident occurred on Ajoke Kazeem Street off Alaka bus stop, Idimu.

Tolani, it was learnt, had refused to invite an electrician

who charged N2,500 to fix the decoder on the grounds that he had no money.

He hired a ladder, asked Ewere to hold it, while he climbed up to do the connection. While at it, there was supply of electricity without the knowledge of the couple expected to get married in November.

It was also learnt that an electric cable had fallen on the ladder which Ewere used to support Tolani. The current had flung her and she hit her head on a concrete pavement. She died

after efforts to resuscitate her at Igando General Hospital failed.

The 35-year-old Ewere was the only daughter of her parents.

She hailed from Ewuru, Delta State and worked with a medical laboratory in Ikeja, while Tolani is an insurance company employee.

An artisan on the street, who identified himself as Taye, said Tolani fainted after the incident and was rushed to the hospital.

According to him, Tolani has been in the hospital since then.

He said: “It was a big tragedy.

Ewere

They (Tolani and Ewere) were even planning to wed on November 29. The husband has been in the hospital since then, where doctors are battling to save his life.”

City Briefs

Robber arrested with N1m Ex-minister, husband freed Willie Danjuma Gombe

P

olice have arrested a suspected armed robber, Kingsley Charles, after he robbed his victim of over N1 million in Kaltungo town in Gombe State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmed Usman, said in a statement that Charles was arrested in a hotel in Kaltungo Local Government Area.

Usman also told our correspondent that the suspect had trailed Maria Egba last Sunday, inflicted injuries on her and robbed her of over N1 million.

He added that a team of po-

licemen from Kaltungo Division swung into action after a tip-off and arrested Charles who confessed to have committed the crime.

The PPRO said upon interrogation, a substantial part of the money, the victim’s hand-bag and a mask were recovered from the suspect.

He said: “The command is hereby advising the public against moving around with large amount of money and other valuable items.

“The command has recently been succeeding in its operations as a result of an extensive township patrols, information gathering and prompt response to emergency situations.”

Taiwo Jimoh

K

idnappers have freed former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam and her husband, Mr. Pius Mallam, according to SaharaReporters, which quoted a family source.

The Mallam family reportedly paid an undisclosed amount of money to secure the release of the couple.

The ransom, it was learnt, was arrived at after a series of negotiations.

Earlier a family source had said that six armed men blocked the Jere-Bwari axis of the Abuja-Kaduna Road about 7p.m. on Monday and asked ve-

hicles from both directions to park.

“They just stopped everyone on the road and people with expensive cars were gathered on one side. The others were asked to lie face down.

“The former minister and other big men were herded into the bush, leaving Mallam’s driver behind,” the source said.

According to the source, it is doubtful if the kidnappers had known the status and identity of Mrs. Mallam during the abduction.

“She was not the sole target, the former minister and her husband were just caught up in an operation,” the source added.

10

NEWS | national

thursday, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Protesters to FG: Severe ties with Iran over Zakzaky Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he Federal Government has been called upon to severe diplomatic ties with the Republic of Iran over the role played by the country during the attack on the Chief of

Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites, led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

A civil society organisation, Sovereign Rights Coalition (SRC), which made the call during a peaceful protest from the Ministry of Foreign Af-

fairs to the Federal Ministry of Justice, also called for the prosecution of the leader of the sect, ElZakzaky and other members of IMN involved in the December 2015 attack on the convoy of General Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Coordinator of the group, Daniel Obaje, de-

scribed as blackmail, comments by human rights’ groups and the Western media on developments in the country, particularly in the area of security.

"It is pertinent for the immediate arraignment and prosecution of the leader of the sect on terror charges as deemed

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Sossou: I, formerly known and addresses as Adedoyin Esther Oghogho now to be known and addressed Sossou Esther Oghogho. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekwutosi Martha Ezea now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekwutosi Martha Onwusoba. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Jeremiah

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Mercy Emmanuel now wish to be known as Mrs. Mercy Promise Jeremiah. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

Herbert

I, formerly known and addressed as Macauley Eke now wish to be known and addressed as Herbert Obialor Eke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Coker

I, formerly known and addressed as Kareem Toyin Olaitan now wish to be known and addressed as Coker Toyin Olaitan. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addresses as Ijeoma Ugwoezumba now to be known and addressed Ijeoma Uchechi Okonkwo. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Tuebi

I, formerly known and addressed as Zibokere Woyenipreye, now wish to be known and addressed as Tuebi Zibokere. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Abiodun

I, formerly known and addressed as Adesanmi Bukola Omoyemi now wish to be known and addressed as Abiodun Bukola Omoyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Tayo

I, formerly known and addressed as Pelumi Jubril Tayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Pelumi Jubreel Tayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ASTER HEALTHCARE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES NIG. LTD (RC 1132875) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING

This is to confirm that Ezinwa Uche and Uchenna Caroline Ezinwa refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Ezinwa Uchechukwu. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc, Fidelity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Eze

I, formerly known and addressed as Odo Alice now wish to be known and addressed as Eze Alice Ngozi.

All former documents remain valid.

Fidelity bank Plc, UBA Plc and the general public should please take note.

Esomchukwu

I, formerly known and addressed as Udefi Daniel Chukwubuike, now wish to be known and addressed as Esomchukwu Daniel Chukwubuike. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Oladumoye

This is to confirm that Oladumoye Akinola Adeola and Oladumoye Adeola refer to one and the same person.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Oladumoye Akinola Adeola. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Odom

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oche Blessing Ori now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odom Blessing Ori. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Nosakhare

I, formerly known and addressed as Eghaghe King now wish to be known and addressed as Eghaghe King Nosakhare. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Ezeh

I, formerly known and addressed as Igbokwe Adaeze Kate now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adaeze Kate Ezeh. All former documents remain valid. Ebonyi State University (EBSU), GTB Plc and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olanipekun Romoke Victoria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fasiku Romoke Victoria. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should take note.

NWIGWE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwigwe Joy Chidimma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Igwe Joy Chimsimdiri. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Arikewuyo

I, formerly known and addressed as Adesina Alasunbo Rashidat, now wish to be known and addressed as Arikewuyo Alasunbo Tuntunlade. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Nworie

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Chiamaka Egbe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Chiamaka Nworie.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Onwuania

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukachu Sylvia Ifechukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onwuania Sylvia Ifechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Idoko

I, formerly known and addressed as Inalegwu Gabriel Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Idoko Gabriel Sunday. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Imene

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

PRAYER THEATRE INTERNATIONAL gospel MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under PART “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act. 2004.

The Trustees are: 1. Ameh James - President 2. Ajayi Modupe Grace 3. Dr Aliche Kingsley Onyekachi 4. Odewale Roseline Adunola - Secretary 5. Ojo Oduntan Olumide 6. Abah Musa Gowon 7. Abah Juliana Ele 8. Atu Okechukwu Timothy AIM AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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: FIRST BETHEL SOLICITORS, 27 ABEOKUTA ROAD AGO TAYLOR IBADAN

appropriate.

“We have also discovered that the relationship between our country and the Republic of Iran has become cancerous and will only be beneficial if such detrimental tie is severed to prevent further damage.

“Apart from ceasing all diplomatic relationships with the Republic of Iran, a total removal of her Embassy from Nigerian soil is pertinent and apt.

“All blackmails by bodies, including human

rights’ groups as well as the Western media must come to an end as it amounts to an affront on the sovereignty of Nigeria," he said.

"It is not news that the group, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) led by its leader, Ibrahim ElZakzakky had launched an attack on the Chief of Army Staff and his convoy in Kaduna, where in the course of the operation, he was arrested and a cache of arms was recovered in his place.

FG sets up committee to tackle herdsmen, farmers’conflicts

T

he Federal Government yesterday said it has set up a technical committee to come up with a strategy to ensure peaceful resolution of violent conflicts in the country, particularly between herdsmen and farmers.

A statement by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolutions (IPCR), signed by its Media Assistant, Abu Michael, says the committee is under the chairmanship of the Director-General, IPCR, Prof. Oshita Oshita.

Micheal, in the statement, said the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, conveyed the approval via a letter signed by the act-

ing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.

He said the committee is to develop a suitable road-map for an expanded stakeholders’ meeting.

“The committee, according to the terms of reference in the letter, is to outline a tentative strategy to deal with the conflict visà-vis methodology for an open stakeholders’ forum.

“It is also to situate the Niger-Benue generally and Nigeria in particular, as area of conflict between pastoralists and sedentary farmers.

“It will identify the problems underlying the conflict from regional and national perspectives."

Minister: Traffic offenders to undergo psychiatric test Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

raffic offenders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would henceforth be taken to psychiatric hospitals for immediate brain test, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed.

The Minister, who directed the Nigeria Police, FCT Command, to arrest any motorist that beats traffic lights in the Feder-

al Capital Territory, also directed the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat to make ambulances available at traffic interchanges to convey any motorist arrested by the police to undergo psychiatry test in the hospital.

Bello instructed the police to also permanently station the speed bikes provided by the InspectorGeneral of Police at various traffic intersections for the purposes of sternly enforcing the directive.

We’re fully prepared for digital switch, says GOtv Kunle Azeez

F

ive years after commencing operation in the country, pay-television platform, GOtv, has assured the nation that it has deployed the most recent technology that will make migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country seamless for them.

Nigeria has missed the global date of 2015 for all the countries to transit from analogue to digital broadband, but says it

would achieve full transition by 2017.

The Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, owners of GOtv, Mr. John Ugbe, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference to unveil activities designed to mark the fifth anniversary of the company in Lagos.

GOtv was first launched in Ibadan on October 11, 2011 and has since enabled hundreds of thousands of households in over 50 cities in 24 states and Abuja to join the digital television revolution.

11

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jalo-Waziri With Edo victory, APC has come to stay

Politics Edo State Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, speaks in this interview on his victory in the September 28 election, his plans for the Edo people as he prepares for the November 22 swearing in.

CAJETAN MMUTA reports

Fafunmi PDP’s wastages responsible for economic downturn

13 15

We’ll reach out to opposition for cooperation– Obaseki

As the Governor-elect, how do you hope to reach out to the opposition now that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared you winner of the governorship poll in the state?

I am aware and cognizant of the fact that as governor, I am governor of all Edo people and not a section of the political spectrum.

Therefore, I am going to reach out and fortunately many of the people on the other side are people who are known to us. Some of them are family members, so we will continue to reach out to them in terms of explaining what our policies are and what we want to do for our people. But clearly, even as a government of unity, we are not going to accept anyone on the opposition as a commissioner in my cabinet. We will reach out to them in other areas for cooperation.

When do hope you to appoint your commissioners?

The whole advantage of continuity is that having been part of the administration it has offered me the opportunity to interact with the political leadership and because we have a plan we are running on. I can’t put a timeline to it but the first thing we are going to do immediately I am sworn in is to prepare a budget for the House of Assembly. I am not sure if that will not be time consuming than to talk about cabinet. But I have a few days to think through to see which one is a priority, preparing a budget immediately or putting together a cabinet or see if I can accomplish both within a two-week time frame.

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Obaseki

What will be the focus of your government when inaugurated?

The focus will not change in terms of education and infrastructure; the added focus will be on job creation and empowerment. That is why we will focus on the budget and get the appropriation to emphasize those social aspects, which I highlighted during my electioneering campaigns. Yes, we will continue to build roads and refurbish our schools but more importantly is how we get people to work or put them to work.

How are you going to tackle the issues of pensioners and get them off the streets?

From what I know, people took advantage of the electioneering and tried to see if they will make a quick resolution. I wouldn’t call it blackmail but people had hoped that in anxiety to win election, there are issues that would have been resolved. The truth is that this government has been very responsive on pension issues. It is not as reported. There are two

Even as a government of unity, we are not going to accept anyone on the opposition as a commissioner in my cabinet

separate issues to pension: There are issues of pensioners in the state civil service and pensioners in the local government service.

The issue with the state pensioners is that we have four years of pensioners we have not been able to capture and pay.

That is 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. For 2012, 2013, the vouchers are ready and we are hoping to get more savings to pay those ones. For 2014 and 2015, we will plan the cash for them. Hopefully we should be able to see slight improvement from allocation in Abuja. The way it was painted by the opposition was as if we were not paying pensions; we pay our pensioners those ones that have been documented about 11, 700 pensioners.

The people we have not been able to categorize and pay is under 700 and that is the reality. In the case of the local service, we will have to sit down with them and make them more fiscally responsible to reduce their costs and increase their revenues so that they can make all their obli-

gations including pensions and salaries on a regular basis.

What are your plans for road construction?

We may not be able to build all the roads immediately but we may have to prioritise and ensure that we undertake traffic studies and it will inform us on which road we have to build first before others. I am sure that the study will reveal that in other to move traffic across the city from the western end to the eastern or northern end. We need something similar to a bypass. That is definite.

How do you intend to resolve the controversies surrounding taxation in the state?

Fortunately, I served as the chairman of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Committee while I was chairman of the Economic Team. I also served as a Chairman of the Tax Assessment Review Committee. So, I CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

12

POLITICS

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dogara: Leadership’s politician of the year Turaki Hassan

S

ince he assumed office as the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has left no one in doubt that he was poised to leave an indelible mark in the sand of times.

Within the short period that he has presided over the affairs of the House, Dogara has brought dignity and prestige, not only to the office of the Speaker, but to the House of Representatives as an institution.

But this is not surprising to close observers of the Dogara speakership. Having won a keenly contested election, he made a solemn promise to his colleagues, and indeed Nigerians, that under his leadership, they “shall wage an unrelenting legislative war on Nigeria’s problems.” And this war, he has continued to wage legislatively to confront Nigeria’s myriad of problems.

Speaker Dogara’s stellar performance so far is as a result of a combination of his upbringing and his leadership skill, honed over time from experiences gathered in various positions he held both as a member of the House of Representatives and as a lawyer.

Born in 1967 in Tafawa Balewa province of Bauchi State, Dogara rose from a very humble background to the apex of legislative leadership, largely through a stint of hard work and favour from God. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 from one of the most diverse constituencies in the country where Christians, Moslems, and many ethnic groups co-exist in peace.

It is this potpourri of ethnic and religious mix that made it easy for him to easily win the confidence of his colleagues across religious and political divides.

Under his leadership, the House of Representatives has improved in leaps and bounds. Apart from setting up a committee to review obsolete and outdated laws, the House, under the guidance of Dogara, set a record by passing for first reading, 130 bills in one day.

It is imperative to point out that in the 7th Assembly, which was rated high in terms of bills’ passage, 700 bills were presented in four years, while in just one session, about 600 bills were presented in the Green Chamber for consideration under the present leadership and almost 100 of them have scaled third reading as at June 9 this year.

It is not only in the area of lawmaking that the Speaker has excelled. As far as Dogara is concerned, to lead is to serve. And service he has been doing to not only his colleagues in the House of Representatives, but to his constituents, his state and indeed, the nation.

He has used his vantage position as the speaker to draw attention to the deprivation and want of the people in the North-East, who have to bore the brunt of the terrorist activities.

In this regard, the Speaker, for the first time in the history of the House stepped down from his exalted chair and presented a motion on the urgent need for the rehabili-

Dogara

tation, recovery, resettlement and reconstruction of the zone.

Again, he is sponsoring a bill seeking to establish the NorthEast Development Commission (NEDC), which will soon be passed into law.

Not only that, Dogara has also been advocating for the convocation of an international donor conference for the rebuilding of the violence ravaged NorthEast. This is in addition to his humanitarian visits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country, taking the message of hope to the people apart from providing succour to them.

To him, public office is not meant for personal gains but for public good. It is Dogara’s philosophy that leaders should at all times live exemplary lives of service, sacrifice and selflessness.

The Speaker always says that justice is needed in building a civil society, and that for societies to grow, leaders must understand the workings of justice which

Dogara’s stellar performance, so far, is as a result of a combination of his upbringing and his leadership skill

is necessary in any democracy for equality to thrive. Infact, he strongly believes that establishing both principles is necessary for Nigeria to make any meaningful progress.

Dogara’s argument is that for any society to grow and develop the process of development must start from the base to the top because where you start from the top, you are digging a grave. He noted that in Nigeria, we have not only dug a grave for democracy but are possibly in the process of burying it, obviously referring to the poor running of local governments in the country.

It is also his believe that democracy, which is the best system of government ever to be invented by man, promises nothing to its citizens other than life, liberty and the pursuance of happiness. That it is these tools of democracy that citizens can leverage on and harness their potential to build a greater, peaceful and prosperous society.

His practice of politics is that which is without bitterness. He believes in consensus building and compromise. It is his political philosophy that leadership is not a zero sum game and that at all level and at all times, inclusiveness must be the guiding principles of leadership so that greater good can be delivered for the greater number of the people.

In a show of his political sagacity and dexterity, Dogara conceded the House Leadership position to his opponent in the Speakership election; an act which helped in no small way in stabilising the House in the last one year.

The recent show of solidarity to the speaker by his colleagues when the House reconvened from its annual recess in September is worth a mention here because it once again proved the doubting Thomases wrong and is an attestation to Dogara’s political prowess and wide acceptability amongst his colleagues inspite of delibrate, intentional, calculated and desperate attempts by his traducers to discredit him and tarnish his hard-earned reputation by feeding the public with total falsehood, lies and by distortion of facts.

Thank God that Nigerians have since realised the antics of these disgruntled elements and unscrupulous individuals, who are pursuing personal vendetta against him.

Undoubtedly, these ignoble individuals thought that by telling and propagating the same lies again and again against Dogara, Nigerians will take and believe it hook line and sinker. Unfortunately for them, they have forgotten that even Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s infamous war propagandist, had cautioned against such when he asserted that “there will come a day when all the lies will collapse under their own weight, and the truth will triumph again.” This is the moment of truth.

For all the years he spent in the National Assembly before becoming speaker last year, Dogara had built for himself a well known reputation as an incorruptible lawmaker.

Indeed, it is a well-known fact that in the 6th Assembly when he chaired the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Dogara rejected $5 million bribe and went ahead to conduct one of the most credible and thorough investigations that resulted in the reform of the Customs Service. What more can one say about him?

As Leadership Newspaper confers this honour on one of Nigeria’s leading legislative icons, it will no doubt spur him to strive harder to impact on the people of Nigeria, whose interest is his major concern. It is well deserved.

Indeed, it was in recognition of Dogara’s political prowess and sterling leadership qualities that in June this year, he was conferred with the prestigious Zik Leadership Award for Public Service for year 2015.

Interestingly, the Leadership Newspaper Group has also said they chose him for the prestigious award in recognition of his gallant display of political astuteness, quality of social capital and his cosmopolitan disposition.

•Hassan is the Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to Dogara

L-R: Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former old Anambra State Governor, Senator Jim Nwobodo, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, …recently.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo-Waziri, in this interview, speaks on the recently concluded Edo State governorship election and also explained what the change mantra of his party is all about.

Johnchuks Onuanyim writes

Jalo-Waziri: With Edo victory, APC has come to stay

How would you react to the victory of your party in the governorship election in Edo State?

Actually, it is a victory for Nigeria and Nigerians and of course for our democracy, because if you look at the elections from the beginning to the end, it was free and fair and also less in rancour and challenges. So, I can say that we are very happy and also to tell Nigerians that it is clear that the APC has come to stay. Nigerians should believe in APC and of course believe in our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, to change this country for the better and to a prosperous, peaceful and progressive country.

But the PDP alleged some forms of manipulation. What do you have to say to that?

Well, it is normal with political parties that whenever election is held and result announced, most political parties don’t agree with it and that is why we have tribunals. Whoever has any grievance or does not agree with it can proceed to the tribunals and I believe the court would have the final say.

One of the things that made the headlines in the newspapers in the election was that the APC National Chairman, Chef John Odigie-Oyegun, lost his polling unit, as an NWC member how do you look at this?

Well there are two conflicting stories and I don’t know which one to believe. There is one that said he won and there is another one that said he didn’t win. So, actually l did not get the actual brief so I cannot comment on something I don’t know. But, it is not going to be a surprise, because this is democracy, people choose whoever they want whether you are big or whatever your position is they decide whom they choose. So, that is what democracy is all about. Even if he lost his unit, that does not make him not to be effective in his leadership and that does not make him to be a less politician and look it was because of his pedigree and leadership that we won this election. So, Mr. Chairman is doing well and I think it is normal for something like this to happen in

13

Jalo-Waziri

a democracy.

You have endorsed the leadership of the chairman tactically, how do you see the issues surrounding the Ondo State primaries?

You know, our democracy is evolving and so some of these issues can come up and we can as well take in some of these things.

Its when people are keeping quiet that we say all is not well. When people are speaking out and saying their minds I want to believe that is when we can say we are making progress. So what is happening with the issues in Ondo I think is part of what we should expect and be happy about because when there are conflicting interest or people having different views about issues in a democracy, it is good they voiced it out and by coming to a round table that is when we say we are making progress.

Still on the Ondo issue, was there actually a voting to decide on the Appeal Panel recommendations?

I wouldn’t want to comment on this given the fact that our chairman has said that he is going to speak about it after the Edo election. So, let me allow my chairman to say exactly what happened and Nigerians would know exactly what went wrong and how Akeredolu’s name was submitted.

Nigerians should believe in APC and, of course, in our leader

What is your take, is the party now certain with this victory to have another round of success in Ondo?

Well, we can definitely say that

by God’s grace we can win Ondo because Edo was a case study.

People thought APC would not win the Edo State governorship election and look at what happened. It is actually a morale booster for us for Ondo because we are one family and whatever our problem is, is a matter of sitting on round table and agree.

And by God’s grace we will come out with flying colours in Ondo State as well and I am very hopeful we will win that election.

What advised would you offer to party members and Nigerians generally concerning the nation’s economy?

Like everybody has been saying, what is happening in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria. We are even lucky to have a leader that would come out to tell us the true situation of things. In the past, so many things went wrong and the leaders didn’t have the courage to come out and say this is the situation we are in and how do we solve it. But with this kind of leadership, our president is somebody, who does not believe in hiding things for his fellow countrymen. Is somebody that would tell you if something is

black he will tell you it is black he doesn’t believe in hiding the true situation of things, that is why people know that okay we are in recession and why we are in recession. If we are talking about what is happening with our foreign exchange, you shouldn’t be surprise because our income has reduced. There is no magic we can perform to get more of foreign exchange because there are two critical factors that are responsible for not having enough of foreign exchange: the issues of price of crude oil, and of course the Niger Delta Issues. So, he is coming out to tell you that we have problems and let’s put heads together and see how we can resolve it. And for those that are following what is happening they would see that Nigerians have started coming back to their senses. If you look at the number of people that are travelling outside Nigeria to go and spend our hard earned foreign exchange they are not doing so again and if you at the area of Agriculture most especially in the North, many people have farmed this year and I want to tell you that by next year people would be surprised with the kind of income individuals would be able to generate internally couple with the initiative we have in Kebbi, Jigawa and so many other states that are producing rice locally in Nigeria. We don’t have business importing food items from other countries because, we have abundance of land, we have water we have the manpower so why should we import food from outside the country. For me it is the right step towards the right direction to assure Nigerians that by God’s grace, this president and our government would definitely take us to the promised land because what they are doing they are doing with all manner of sincerity and honesty and that is the only way this country would succeed and this is what is call the change because we are not used to doing things the way things are being done now. You know by putting things on the table and make sure we are focus and our problem having a lasting solution to it.

Some people have call for the resignation of the national chairman, you are a member of the NWC under the leadership of Odigie-Oyegun, how do you look at this call for his resignation by some members of the party?

Like I told you, we are in democracy and people are free to express their will and when those views are not expressed we can say we are in a dictatorship. Internal democracy allows people to view their opinion and is left for the majority to decide whether what they have said is right or not and I believe in a couple of weeks some of these issues that is going on within the party would definitely be resolved and the party would come out stronger and we will be better for it.

14

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

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

have a fair knowledge of what the tax regime in the state is. What I don’t have visibility on is what people are calling taxes because I know from the legal point of view the sort of payment due to the state and those payments are backed by law.

From what I gathered, during the electioneering, we need to understand very robustly what the issues are and who is paying what because it is so cloudy. If for instance, someone decides to sell her wares on the sidewalk, which is illegal and there is an arrangement that she will come every day to lay her wares and pay something to somebody, first, there is series of illegality, you are not supposed to trade on a sidewalk, it is the government that owns the sidewalk and even if any economic activities were expected on that sidewalk, it should come to government and it should be legislated.

But as we speak today, people go in and collect money from those people and the blame is on government. From what I know, the market associations and the various trade unions are people we need to have conversation with to know what is going on. What is legal and what should be collected. If there is an agreement to be paid in a particular market; if it is legal, they should look for a civil way for it to be collected and accounted for. I believe that is the way to approach it because right now, they have all sorts of people on the street doing what they like.

So we need to strengthen our law enforcement and make sure we get people who are affected and involve in the process rather than continue to complain.

At what point should Edo people owe you accountable on your electioneering promises?

Well, the only time you owe elected leaders accountable is when he is seeking another election and has not given account of what he has done. But we have a tradition to annually address the state on what we have done and what we have spent. That process is built-in already. What I am not too good at is playing to the gallery and trying to impress people. There is work to be done, we need to think through and get them done. People will know when you are working.

How will women at the grassroots benefit from your empowerment agenda?

Without been immodest, the experiences I have gathered over the last one year has been quiet unique. Government operates in a very interesting way. As a government and a government official, you are expected to execute your policies through the structure that is made up of ministries, department and agencies.

What I found interesting during the electioneering is that we also have an effective political structure on ground and I am not sure of how our ministries and agencies penetrate through that political structure at the grassroots.

So, if I talk about empowerment, I am not going to leave it for the Ministry of Women Affairs. I am going to try and work with the party leadership in every ward

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘My administration’ll create more opportunities outside govt’ the benefit of participating in a government but that benefit doesn’t have to come expressly in appointments; we will look for way to introduce them to those opportunities.

Obaseki

and community. That person will need to give information to the Ministry of Women Affairs on the number of women, so that the empowerment programme can get to them directly.

What plans do you have for the youth, especially those out on the streets?

One thing we are very weak on is documentation. We have a youth crisis, but I can’t tell how many are involved, how many people are between the ages of 15 and 35, who live in our various cities? How many of those people have received education up to a certain level? The first challenge is to understand the size of the problem, document them and that way, we will begin to provide opportunities quickly. If I know I have 200,000 persons in Benin, and I know what they are doing today, I know the qualifications they have, I can now say every month I need to look for training for 10,000. I am optimistic that given the economic situation and given the facts that opportunity exists today, I am of the view that if we can quickly document and understand the size of our unemployment problems, we can put in place an effective plan to be able to transit a lot of our young people from their current state into the opportunity that will be created.

Are we expecting more women in your government?

In constituting the cabinet, I have to go back to my political party because it is the party that won the election. And I have to use the women resources in the party, I will not go elsewhere and ask people to call people to be part of my government and during my electioneering I didn’t see too many women in politics relative to the number of men. If you

check the ward, out of 26 party officials, the maximum women you find is five.

So, except we begin to address the issue from the women participatory stand point we are not going to change it quickly. But my plan is that if you focus on women empowerment and get them more politically conscious by reaching them, they will see the benefit of participating in their politics. They do so now by going to vote but taking offices and being part of the way things are run even at their ward level, is what we will encourage.

There is work to be done, we need to think through and get them done

How grateful are you to the Edo people for voting you as governor?

I am truly grateful and I have every cause to be grateful because for me this is an unusual expression of trust. I am immensely grateful to them and to God but I believe that gratitude is best expressed by what you do rather than what you say. Yes, I can say thank you but beyond that, I should express my gratitude by going to work for them tirelessly and doing those things I promised to ensure that their lives are improved so that that expression of trust translate into better life for them.

Do you subscribe to a big or small government?

When people participate in politics, they expect something like an appointment as a way of compensation. Unfortunately, today, I will not be able to guarantee that I will be able to even pay them if I give them those opportunities but I am under obligation to give benefits and we are going to strike a balance. I believe that it is time we begin to open up the economic space by creating alternative opportunities outside government. People want to get

Any hope of recruiting more teachers into schools to improve the standard of education in the state, and what are your plans for the Edo Students’ Bursary Scheme?

First, government owes certain key obligations to us as a people. Free primary basic education and our policy in Edo State is to make sure that basic education is qualitative. So, the first thing we have done is to try refurbishing the infrastructures, particularly in our primary and secondary schools. The next thing we are going to do is to ensure that we improve the quality of our teachers, train them so that if one has access to only primary education, that education should be sound enough to lay the basis of life. At what point do we begin to pay for anything in the society? I agree primary, secondary education is free and we must sustain that but the contradiction is that we can’t make tertiary education free.

You are expected to contribute but as long as you have an admission into a university or a higher institution, and you want to have quality then we have to mechanism like bursary and loans for you to pay. That way it is guaranteed that we have qualitative university education. What we are doing now is pretending to ourselves that the university is out of the reach of the poor and as such people should not pay, what are the consequences. You are not able to pay the teachers, you are not able to get good quality teachers and therefore it affects the output. Therefore, you go to a university in Nigeria and it is not worth much because you can take it outside the country and so most people have now decided to send their children abroad and how much are they paying abroad?

They pay so much more when they send their children abroad, but there is an argument that they shouldn’t pay that amount in Nigeria. So, why do we deceive ourselves? That is why we decided to set up the Edo University, Iyamho. My goal is to get a world class university to partner with it. So, instead of sending your child abroad and pay 10,000 pounds, send the child here because it is the same faculty and pay 5,000 or 7,000 pounds. That is the value of the education you are receiving. So, the issue is how many people can afford it, if you get admission into the university, we will look for a way that you receive and complete the education.

Let us begin to move gradually out of the dependence syndrome.

What we want to do is like we are building quality in our primary and secondary, we should build quality at the university level but because it is much more expensive at the university level, you and I must contribute, it can’t be government alone.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ifako Ijaiye I Constituency. In this interview, the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, speaks on the Muhammadu Buhari administration and economic recession, among other issues.

WALE ELEGBEDE reports The country is currently facing economic recession. How did we find ourselves in this present situation?

When you look at the situation in Nigeria, you will agree with me that all over the world, nations go through some cycles, which is period of ups and down; period of abundance, period of have and have not. When you look at the situations in Nigeria, during the last administration, there was a time the price of oil was over 100 dollars per barrel. During this period, Nigeria was considered to be a country with so much resources, but what did we do with our fund during the last five or six years?

In the last six years, what the government concentrated on was basically to channel all our resources on recurrent expenditure instead of channeling the resources on capital expenditure that would simulate economic activity and allow for development in the country. Most of the resources that we ought to use for capital development were wasted on recurrent.

Later, some people lined their pockets with the money of Nigeria. You will not forget quickly about the money handled by the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, how people were exposed, how they enriched themselves with the resources of the nation. You remember that former President Goodluck Jonathan told us that stealing was different from corruption. You and I now understand better. Nigerians are wiser that stealing and corruption are the same. The economic downturn that we are facing in the country is as a result of bad governance and because we failed to manage our resources properly when we had abundance.

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PDP’s wastages responsible for economic downturn – Fafunmi much about the true state of the American economy. America is perceived to be transparent, when it comes to government policies and expenditures, but she cannot claim to have a total grasp of happenings within the government cycles. You cannot even expect Donald Trump that talks too much to know so much about happenings within the American government until he gets to office if he wins the presidential election.

President Buhari did not know that the decay in our economy requires more than a normal effort to put it back on track. According to experts, the dark period is over as they said that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is not as if the economy is very good, but it is better than what it was in the last six months. What I am saying in essence is that it is not as if the president is not prepared for office, but he never contemplated all the discovery he saw, when he got to power.

What is your take on ban on importation of goods and food, which seem to have contributed to the hardship many Nigerians are facing in the country?

There are indices in any economy. Three parameters are used to regulate any economy; they are the fiscal policy. When we talk of fiscal policy, it refers to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monitoring and controlling the monies in the economy through Open Market Operation (OMO) cash reserves. I saw the CBN fixing the No Purchase Required (NPR) recently, telling us the direction of the monitoring rate that we should go. The fiscal policy can refers to the directives on certain areas to invest in. One of the fiscal policies of the government is to ban importation of rice so that we can stimulate our economic activity locally. So, if you look at it, the ban on the importation of rice is the right thing for any government because you cannot continue to be a consuming nation. We are meant to pass

But some people are of the view that the present administration has not performed to public expectations…

Well, for any meaningful development to take place in the country, you have to ensure that there is stability in the country. When we talk of economic stability, how do we achieve the stability, when over 80 per cent of what we consume is being imported? Most people keep saying that the President was not really prepared for power. Probably if we have an idea of how the economy operates, there was no way we could know the details. You cannot tell me that Hillary Clinton, even having served as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama of the United Fafunmi States of America, knows so

through this phasing period. If countries like China and India could closed their doors against international trade for some period for them to strategize and not realign their interest with a bid of ensuring growth in their country and they eventually succeeded despite that kind of period, such a sacrifice is a price that we all need to pay.

The economic downturn that we are facing in the country is as a result of bad governance

Don’t you think the effect is so unbearable considering the view of some people that government did not put palliatives in place?

We have to go through this experience and that is what we are all going through now. When we know we are not prepared, and we don’t have substitutes, why then did we ban importation of items?

Now, we sometime allow demandpull to stimulate our economic activities. When there is high demand for rice, for example, which is our staple food, and the people are now demanding for it, a lot of people would spend money on the food in the process so as to meet that demand. Now during that period, there will be less pressure on the dollar; so it is a policy that is meant to re-orientate and possibly set us up on a wide track so that we do not keep consuming at all times. Americans make their own rice. Do some of us know what is happening now? Banks are not giving loans free. If you go to a bank to get loan, the interest rate is high. Is the government saying they are not going to reduce the interest rate? Agricultural Development Banks can no longer support agriculture.

Now with the ban on importation of frozen foods, importation of this and that, you can now make agriculture a source of livelihood for

some people. So many people are taking bold step by going into agriculture now. The Bank of Industry is supporting agriculture and so many other banks are supporting it. The problem with us is that we do not do the right documentation even those who are real farmers do not have access to information and access to fund. Those who are portfolio farmers are the ones who will do the right documentations and they will be the ones to get the loan. So, we just have to look at the whole issue in this case with a view of ensuring that the right peg is put in the right holes. If you put the right persons and the right personnel in place, all these administrative problems would be sorted out.

What is your advice to the government on the fund being seized from suspected corrupt former public office holders?

The money belongs to the Federal Government, so I cannot tell them what to do with the money.

But some people feel the money should be used as palliative and development of the states of the federation?

You can see that the President is seeking for an emergency power to have access to sell some of Nigerian properties, raise money and reinvest it. What I am saying in excess is that even if we have 1 billion dollars it should not be used for recurrent expenditures to pay salaries or to do this or that. The moment you commit such fund into recurrent it goes away. It is something that solves people’s problem temporarily after which the problem resurfaces again. So, what I will appreciate is that the Federal Government should commit such funds into capital project. You can link Lagos to Abuja by train, link Calabar to Lagos by train, commit funds into such projects and see how the economy of the country will be transformed.

One day, I was watching some things in New York and I saw metro line. I said fine, until we start seeing such things in Lagos or Nigeria, I would not be satisfied.

To get to that level, where you see mass movement of people is not easy. We are not developing; we cannot grow because the cost of transportation is high. Even, when you produce anything in any part of Nigeria, how do you move it out to where the market is? A lot of farmers produce goods in their villages, but they cannot transport them and they get bad within few days. They spend several days or weeks on the road. So, how do you now encourage such people to continue producing? So, what we want to do is to liberalize the economy to see how we can use common asset, transform those fixed asset into another assets, which would be a money-spinning asset. These are the areas and the direction I think the government needs to look into to take us out of this economic down turn.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Opinion The retribution of Eduardo Cunha Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-3097-251 (sms only)

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he law of retribution is a mythology, an inescapable agent of vengeance, capable of wrecking a deserved penalty against a person who has erred. It is also called Nemesis, which is believed, can cause an absolute misery or death, instantly.

However, this belief largely depends on the individual being. The Greek mythology may have caught-up with Eduardo Cosentino da Cunha, who was President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (February 1, 2015-July 7, 2016). It was alleged that Cunha played an active role in the impeachment of President Dilma Vana Rousseff on August 31, 2016. She was the first female President in the political history of Brazil, who served from 2011-2016.

Cunha’s grouse against the erstwhile president was her blunt refusal to invoke Governmental powers to protect him from being investigated for fraud and other related financial scandals, including the on-going Lava Jato bribe-taking allegation. He was born on September 20, 1958, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Cunha, is a descendant of an Italian migrant from the city of Costelluccio inferior in the Basilicata region. He attended the Candido Mendes University in Rio de Janeiro, where he studied Economics.

The ex-president of the Chamber of Deputies is a dual citizen of Brazil and Italy. He is a conservative evangelical Christian. Cunha was a member of the Progressive Party (19942003). And finally, he belong’s to the Brazilian

Democratic Movement Party (2003-present day). His political views were centered on the ban of abortion; increase in the punishment of marijuana offenders; restriction on homosexualism and a prison sentence of 1-3 years, including special levies on hotels.

Cunha’s political life started as a member of the campaign organization of Eliseu Resende, a candidate for state government on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (PDS) in the 1982 election. He also worked for Moreira Franco for the Rio de Janeiro Government with the PMDB political party in the 1986 election. Governor Antony Garotinho of Rio de Janeiro appointed him as a sub-secretary and within six months, he was sacked from office for alleged irregularities of no-contract bids, in favour of the Shell Petroleum Development Company. He was also involved in the adulteration of Tax clearance certificate.

Cunha was a State Representative (20012002); Federal Representative of Rio de Janeiro (2003); member of Deputies (2006). It was alleged that Cunha, was indicted in the “Operation car wash” scandal, which involved Perobas, the state owned oil company. The fraud was U.S. $40 million. He was also involved in massive money laundering, through an evangelical mega church. Prosecutors are requesting that if he is found guilty by the Supreme Court, of all the charges against him, he should be sentenced to serve for 184 years.

On May 5, 2016, the Supreme Court suspended him from the office of President of the Chamber of Deputies. Cunha’s recent offence was his attempt to intimidate members of congress coupled with his obstruction of the ongoing Lava Jato bribe-taking investigation. On Tuesday, September 12, 2016, 450 members as against 10 voted to strip him of the status of a Federal Deputy because he breached parliamentary decorum due to the fact that he failed

He was also involved in massive money laundering

to tell the truth about his secret off-shore Bank Accounts. He was also barred form contesting any political position for a period of 10 years.

However, only nine members abstained from the actions of members of the Federal Deputies. He faces a possible arrest and prosecution after losing his congressional immunity.

Let it be known that 60 of the 513 members of the chamber of Deputies, are alleged to be corrupt and are being investigated by the relevant security agencies in Brazil. In the face of these circumstances, which have highlighted the alleged dubious characteristics of Eduardo Cosentino da Cunha, it is simply amazing that his constituency tolerated and consistently voted for him to represent them at different levels of government. He is also a deft politician who has volunteered to embrace falsehood, rather than say the truth.

Eduardo, operated within the political sphere of Brazil as if he was a refined political colossus, who fought for the fundamental interest of his people and consistently too. The fact that he could not manipulate President Rousseff and annex the presidency as an extension of his office, was another major factor which he took seriously, to ensure that she was removed from office.

In reaction to Rousseff impeachment, member states of the Organization of American State (OAS), withdrew their Ambassadors from Brazil, tentatively, as a protest against the impeachment of the President, because the process embarked upon for her removal was not transparent, which by acceptable standard, is competent to fail any credibility test. Eduardo, by his evil and political actions toward Ms Dilma Vana Rousseff, did not last for three weeks before he too was sacked from office. It is glaring therefore that the law of retribution or nemesis may have caught-up with him.

Who will now rescue him from the ugly scenario which he created for himself ? The fear of God is actually the beginning of wisdom.

Recession: The solution in our hands Alonge Kayode

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umerous narratives and buck passing predating the official pronouncement of the economy entering recession have been so entertaining, warped and quite unrealistic. Commentaries by captains of industry and financial cum economic technocrats blaming the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)and the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the current economic downturn have not only been parochial, sentimental but quite misinforming.

It is rather worrisome that the elite class, who should know better about how we got into this quagmire instead of enlisting the support of the fiscal and monetary authorities in revamping the already comatose economy, has disappointedly engaged in damaging campaigns against the managers of the economy, particularly the CBN. Interestingly, to a very large extent, many of these critics are culpable for the present economic ruins. They are the economic predators who failed to do what was needed to be done when the opportunity called for it The descent into recession did not start

now. It predated the current helmsman at the CBN and the present Federal administration. It should be remembered that the CBN governor first sounded the alarm as far back as November 2014 that if drastic action was not taken the economy may head for recession. And the Bank in its wisdom suspended some 41 items from the interbank FOREX window, but rather than appreciate the measures put in place to forestall the doomsday, opprobrium and aspersions were cast on the Bank. There can be no pain without gain, and the only permanent thing in life is change.

Unfortunately, Nigerians are averse to change and we cannot continue threading this way. The suffering of today is not peculiar to the vociferous elite, but to every Nigerian, particularly the masses who were never part of the scheme that got us to the present scenario, nor were they taken care of or considered important by past managers of the affairs of the country.

But how did we get to this precarious state? Going back in history, there was a period when Nigeria depended only on revenue from agriculture for survival.

I am talking about the 50s and 60s, but with the discovery of oil; the sector was abandoned rather than build on the comparative advantage inherent in the sector to add value by way of light processing industries to improve terms of trade of theses commodities’ exports.

The fast money from oil and the mismanagement of the gains from it has brought us to this economic stalemate. We are now stranded just because we failed to trans-

late the agricultural endowment into light industrial hub capable of supplying the entire West Africa. Past administrations paid lip service to economic diversification when the signs were obvious that oil may have actually become a challenge rather than a blessing, but we did nothing.

We equally failed to save for the rainy day.

The question is, should the CBN be blamed or held responsible for the economic woes? Like everyone else, we cannot absolve previous administrations and managers of the economy from the blame of the present predicaments of the nation.

It is left to be desired, what they did when the country started drifting to this present state. Importation of foreign goods where we have abundant local capacity to produce assumed a crescendo that constituted a huge drain on the reserves and consequently put the Naira under undue pressure.

At a time until the second quarter of 2014 when the price of crude oil started to fall, world crude oil price was around $110 and by May 2015 it had crashed to around $50, and by the third quarter of same year, it fell to its lowest at $30, yet the huge appetite of Nigerians for foreign goods did not abate. Currency speculators with their foreign cohorts did not relent in subverting every step of the CBN to curb their criminal activities. The local currency exchange rate to the US$ was twice adjustedsince the monetary authority could not continue to defend the Naira as the reserves was getting unbearably depleted.

The attacks on pipeline installations by the Niger Delta militants was also a

major cause that affected the revenue the government expected from the sector, not to mention the rascally Boko Haram insurgents. It thus became an uphill task managing and sustaining the economic growth with all these distractions.

The credit balance left in the national reserves by the immediate past regime was more than the debts owed dubious oil marketers, aside other government commitments. The current recession is a cumulative effect of economic mismanagement over the years. Past regimes failed to take advantage of the high oil price boom to build required infrastructure in order to grow the economy. It was an era of unbridled daylight looting of the treasury.

Instead of the fruitless effort to locate the blame on any particular entity, Nigerians should own up to our culpability in the whole scenario. We were never satisfied with nor appreciate anything produced locally; it must be foreign. Our children must go to school abroad. It must be foreign rice on our dining tables; it must be foreign clothing materials we must wear to parties, and so on. This warped taste for foreign goods added more pressure on the Naira and affected the economy. it was to moderate our excessive taste for foreign products that the CBN suspended funding the importation of rice and other 40 items from the interbank FOREX window to enhance the capacity of local farmers, to create jobs and grow the economy. That action was not welcomed.

•Kayode is of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

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Some state governments have also raised their revenue base by introducing multiple taxation which has left many citizens with holes in the pocket.

Obi has now changed the mode of operation. Last Saturday in Lagos, he opened the eyes of Nigerians to the rot that goes on in public service. In other words, the former governor believes that while it is not criminal to borrow, it is stupid to borrow to service consumption.

In his words: “ The only way out of recession is to spend for growth. You can only spend for growth either from savings or

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nor in 2006, they said I needed bullet- proof vehicles for security reasons. When I discovered that the state had to part with 150 million naira to buy two of such vehicles, I stopped the purchase.

At that time, High Court Judges and Permanent Secretaries did not have official cars. I used the 150 million naira to buy almost 50 Peugeot 406 cars at three million naira each, from Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria [PAN], gave out 17 to the judges, 18 to the Permanent Secretaries and left

nomic sense. The money used in maintaining these buildings will be enough to pay salaries. Selling them off or converting them to commercial use will yield more money.

The truth will hurt the governors but they must hear it. There is need to cut costs. It is unthinkable that leaders who cannot pay their workers are busy flying first class. Some of these governors also embark on trips outside the country accompanied by as many as 200 officials. The officials may include thugs who were busy the rest for use snatching ballot boxes during by the Governelections. ment House.

It is because some governors All through use state of the art cars that ofmy tenure, I fer them ultra security that they did not use do not see massive youth unembullet –proof ployment as a big threat. When vehicles and conscience compels our leaders to use cost effective vehicles and nobody kidnapped me, no one buy fuel like other citizens, they killed me.” will even feel for and be closer to This is simple economics. Inthose they govern. stead of going outside the states Following the Great Depresto borrow money to pay workers, our governors must look inwards sion of 1929 and beyond, America had to brace up to the chalto cut costs. There are so many government buildings that should lenges. As from the early 1930s, President Franklin Delano be sold to the lurking international chain of hotels. The Federal Roosevelt initiated Programmes aimed at facing the challenge.

Secretariat in Ikoyi is far bigger His New Deal offered the Three than some of the best Five-Star Rs: Relief ,Recovery and Rehotels in the world. For so many form. years, that national pride has Our leaders should also put become the home of reptiles and on their thinking caps. Peter criminals.

State governments should take Obi has offered a New Deal. The money they want to borrow another look at their so called from Europe and America could Lodges outside .Some have in Labe saved from within. Governgos and in Abuja. As Obi rightly pointed out, it does not make eco- ment must cut its coat.

It is stupid to borrow to service consumption

borrowing. The question is what are you borrowing for? Are you borrowing for production or for consumption? When you borrow for consumption you are heading for disaster.”

He is right on course. Some of the governors who rushed cap in hand to Abuja to borrow from the Federal Government ended up using whatever they got to do nothing but pay salaries and service their numerous money guzzling desires. Some of the fund could also have been used to buy exotic vehicles to maintain the Government House fleet which looks more like a car Assembly plant.

Obi gave an insight into what it really costs to use these vehicles.

He said: “ When I became gover-

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

Peter Obi’s New Deal

hile economists and critics exchange strictures over Nigeria’s disabled economy, a workable way out of the mess or perhaps a layman’s understanding of the real problem with our recession was painted by the immediate past governor of Anambra state, Gregory Peter Obi. Obi is not a layman in the field of administration by any means.

A man who was Chairman of Fidelity Bank and governor for eight years and is today equipped with post graduate certificates from Harvard and Cambridge understands more than elementary economics.

Since the Federal Government came out boldly to announce that the economy was battling with harsh weather, there have been contributions from different quarters on how to manage the situation. The most popular word in all this has become Diversification. Compatriots have been urged to arise and take to other revenue generating ventures beyond oil.

In Imo state, Governor Rochas Okorocha bandied the weird step of limiting the number of workfree days to five from the usual two , to enable civil servants to spend more time in their farms .

This , the governor believes, will bring back the palm economy boom of the Michael Okpara years.

The Federal government, in the bid to save costs banned the printing and distribution of souvenirs

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EDITORIAL

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THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus

GEOFFREY EKENNA coordinaTor

goeekenna@yahoo.co.uk 08068774740

South South Focus Weighing the amnesty option

21 News Dumpsite of controversy

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The capital of Imo State, Owerri, was noted for its well paved roads and clean streets. But that is now in the past as heaps of refuse has thrown the city into one of the dirtiest around. STEVE UZOECHI writes from Owerri

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nder the administration of the late former Governor of Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Imo State was adjudged the cleanest state in Nigeria. Owerri, the state capital earned the state that status.

But present realities in the heartland state of Imo, leaves so much to be desired.

Under the circumstance, if no decisive action is taken by relevant authorities in Imo State; Owerri the state capital, may soon find its way into the Guiness Book of World Records, as the city in the world harbouring the largest heap of refuse found in one street.

What started as small pockets of refuse soon became piles of slimy dirt and today is aggressively growing into a mountain of garbage at different parts of the city.

As repugnant as the sight is to the eyes and as putrid as its stench is to the nose, the Imo State government has yet, found no compulsion to evacuate the refuse.

Heaps of refuse on Douglas Road on Monday Photo: STEVE UZOECHI

Douglas Road: As Owerri emerges garbage capital Old Owerri city centre is made up of five major roads; Wetheral road, Douglas road, Tetlow road, Royce road and the Okigwe road that goes all the way up to Assumpta road.

The busiest of all the roads and of greatest strategic economic importance is the Douglas road, which leads to the largest market in the Imo State capital, Ekeukwu Owerri Main Market. Douglas road runs a straight course to Bank road, making it easy for traders and business men to drive straight or enter just one short drop to the bank to lodge their trade dividends.

In spite of the key roles of that road and the fact that the road and Douglas House, the Imo seat of power, derive their names from the same source, the road has suffered gradually and systematic neglect from the present administration leading to massive degradation and dilapidation of the short stretch called Douglas Road.

Pot holes and dirty puddles,

For the state or its agencies to have left the refuse at Douglas road to pile up for about a month now and putrefy to this extent, amounts to creating public health hazard that could put the entire populace at risk

which have been left unattended to by the government have degenerated into near gullies at sensitive sections of the road.

Despite the outcries of traders and indigenes of the area, nothing substantial was done to ameliorate the plight of traders and road users.

In recent times however, the complaints over bad road and flood-sensitive state of Douglas road paled into insignificance with the seeming invasion of the road by garbage.

Before now, the pattern was for the traders and residents of adjoining streets to bag their disposables and dump them at select locations on Douglas road for pick-up by sanitation workers the next day.

This was the case until recently when the efforts of the refuse disposal outfit started going slack.

Their pick-up frequency reduced and became irregular to the point that small bags of refuse were seen ‘on parade’ from one end of Doug-

las road to the other.

Today, there is clearly no more pick-up runs of the refuse disposal unit with about 70 per cent of Douglas road now covered with refuse and still rising.

Beyond the negative economic impacts on the market and residents, there is also the looming threat of epidemic outbreak in Owerri, following the size and stench of the now completely fetid mound of rubbish along Douglas road, which is dangerously in close proximity to business offices and residential homes.

For more than one week now, the massive dump site called Douglas Road has put Owerri in the map of regions of the world under serious threat of an epidemic. Yet, the implications of that reality and its consequences on the life of Imo residents seem not to worry the state government in the least.

This is more worrisome when the State Commissioner for CO NTINUED O N PAGE20

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Creating awareness against HIV/AIDS Pamela Eboh Awka

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he dreaded HIV/AIDS disease is one ugly meal that has been in existence for so many years with its attendant scare and stigmatization. But despite that, people are yet to either refrain or abstain from the act of unsafe sex and indulging multiple partners.

Even the use of condom lately appears to be a caution thrown to the wind as according Mr. Ifeanyi Okagbue, “One thing must kill a human being, condom prevents one from enjoying sex as God proposed it”.

True to the words of Okagbue, many lives have been cut short by HIV/AIDS disease while a lot more are presently living with it, living on drugs and appearing very healthy on the outside even healthier looking than some people who have a clean bill of health.

Although the clamour to stay safe has ultimately reduced, some Non Governmental Organizations have continued to hammer on safe sex and Anambra State Agency for The Control of HIV/AIDS, ANSACA recently joined in the sing song to remind people that HIV/AIDS still exists in our midst and it doesn’t show itself on the face of the carrier.

A forthnight ago, the Integrated Supportive Supervision Team of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, and the World Bank from Abuja in collaboration with Anambra State Agency for the Control

Participants at an awareness campaign

of HIV/AIDS, ANSACA held a tactical meeting in Awka with the sole aim of strengthening the state’s coordina-

Douglas Road: Owerri emerges garbage capital C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

Health, who should have since raised a red flag and called the attention of the Governor to such life-threatening issue that runs deeper than politics, is a lawyer and not in any way a health worker. Barr. Ngozi Njoku, whose appointment seems more for political convenience than for competence in public health, may not see any urgency in the present state of Douglas road.

A functional State House of Assembly, no matter how subservient to the executive, should have at least raised questions of conscience on seeing a vital intra-city road shut down by an ever growing mountain of refuse, which has become a revolting sight and an avoidable embarrassment to the state.

Even if the Chairman, House Committee on Health and Sanitation, Hon. Nkenna John Nzerue, could be cowed into silence, what about the House member representing Owerri Municipal at the State Assembly, Hon. Lugard Osuji, whose country home is just a walking distance to the Douglas road dumpsite?

Many had also expected the clerics and parishioners at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Douglas road to raise an alarm for safety; even if not for themselves, at least for the kids of the nursery and primary schools run by the church who daily have to thread the garbage path to school and back.

Speaking to our correspondent, Dr. Philip Njemanze, a neurosurgeon, resident in Owerri, said Imo and Owerri in particular is running the risk of widespread Cholera and Lassa Fever outbreak.

Said he, “For the state or its agencies to have left the refuse at Douglas road to

pile up for about a month now and putrefy to this extent, amounts to creating public health hazard that could put the entire populace at risk. Nothing whatsoever can sincerely justify this level of life-threatening negligence.”

When contacted, Hon. Jeff Nwoha, the General Manager of the Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) in charge of evacuating refuse from the city, snubbed efforts to get his reactions on the reason for the non-evacuation of the Douglas road refuse heap.

He cut the line after the question was asked by our correspondent and did not respond to text messages sent to his mobile phone.

However, not a few had linked the mountain of garbage at Douglas road Owerri to the face-off between Governor Rochas Okorocha and Owerri indigenes over the planned demolition and removal of the Owerri Main Market.

As at September 30, the deadline given to traders at the Ekeukwu Owerri main market elapsed and operators and stakeholders at the market have been apprehensive as to when the Governor’s bulldozers will move in.

With the resolve of Owerri people to resist the relocation of the market, many indigenes believe that the abandonment of Douglas road and its environs to decay and dilapidation is a deliberate ploy by the administration to force operators of the market to relocate.

Under the prevailing circumstance however, it is yet uncertain what next the residents may face-Governor Rochas Okorocha’s bulldozers or his garbage trucks.

tion and prevention of HIV/AIDS in various health facilities in the state.

The meeting harped on the extension of the HPDP-2 and activities that would help condense the prevalence rate in the state which has risen from 3.1per cent at the end of 2009 to 8.9 per cent in 2014.

The meeting also dwelt on proffering ways to improve on what ANSACA is doing for programme efficiency with a view to strengthening the state towards reducing the scourge.

Speaking on the focus, the Executive Director of ANSCA, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said that the government of Chief Willie Obiano has earmarked some proactive projects in the state in line with its vision of being a foremost platform for the control of the disease in the state.

He noted that the agency in line with the governor’s mandate is poised to record landmark achievements that would help minimize the spread of the dreaded disease despite the current economic recession in the country.

Ibezim used the platform to commend the wife of the state governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano for her assistance in helping to restore electricity in ANSACA office in Awka which he said had been without electricity for three years, adding that with the restoration of electricity in the office, there has been an increased productivity by the staff.

He further revealed that there are currently 43 treatment facilities in the state which are currently providing free Anti Retroviral drugs with over 300 PMTCT facilities supported by the FHI 360 through the SIDGAS project and PPFN in the state.

The ANSACA boss noted that the unit had before now organized a residential workshop on gender

based violence which was coordinated by NACA facilitators with a central focus on the ways to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, rape in different situations and the legal actions to be taken when faced with such situation.

While noting that participants for the programme were drawn from different Civil Society Organizations, Non Governmental Organizations, NGO and individuals, he said that the programme featured sharing of experiences among those living with the virus.

In his words; “The impact of the programme was that they were exposed to effective resistance of stigmatization, healthy living, importance CDA count and check, adherence to prescribed drugs, etc.

“ANSACA equally attended a World Bank programme on environmental Social Safeguard meeting to ensure caution is taken in every world bank project before implementation with necessary measures adhered to in times of challenges in the course of the span of the project. Apart from the loud evangelism for people to either zip up, keep to a partner or wear protective glove, ANSACA has further planted a gigantic billboard at a busy area in Awka for passerby to see. However, as the promotion of safe sex continues to draw waves, there are signs that the HIV/AIDS disease may soon be a thing buried in history as Doctors in Barcelona, Spain are currently laying claim to finding a cure to HIV/AIDS causing virus that has affected the lives of more than 34 million people in the world according to World Health Organization, WHO. Until that is proven, it is a better choice to keep to partner, practice safe sex than living a life totally dependent on drugs till the last breath is taken or facing stigmatization or a shameful.”

21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has offered amnesty to criminal elements in the state as a way of avoiding prosecution or justice by the government. But unlike other programes, he has refused to offer money to the suspected criminals. So, groups are thinking of whether to accept or not as EMMANUEL MASHA, reports from Port Harcourt

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mnesty offer to repentant suspected criminals, especially cultists, kidnappers or militants fighting the Niger Delta cause is not new in Rivers State.

So, when the Governor Nyesom Wike administration granted amnesty to criminals in a bid to combat criminality, it was a familiar path that could impact on the state’s security.

In 2009, when the Federal Government granted amnesty to militants, who were having a field day blowing up oil installations and fighting the military in the creeks, Rivers was one of the states where there was a substantial turn-out of militants, and criminal elements who surrendered wholeheartedly to the amnesty programme.

This was despite the fact that they were unsure of the Federal Government’s readiness to fulfil its pledge of rehabilitating them.

From 2009 to date, the militant leaders, who spearheaded that phase of criminality and their foot soldiers, are no longer in business.

During the amnesty window, the calibre of weapons they surrendered impressed the soldiers overseeing the programme, that they kept asking how they (militants) managed to get them.

At the end, the repentant militant commanders were rewarded with multi million dollar worth of security contracts, while their boys were sent to overseas for trainings, and registered for the monthly amnesty stipend.

When the dust of the amnesty programme finally settled, there was a drastic reduction of violent crimes in the state. The relative peace was shattered during political seasons when demolition derby politics became the order of the day.

But in the last few months, the crime level has risen to the point that the state government was forced to introduce its own amnesty programme to make criminals repent, surrender their weapons or face the full wrath of the law.

File:Niger Delta militants undergoing Screening

Weighing the amnesty option

It first sounded like a big joke to some that the government was inviting criminals to the table for recognition, rather than going all out for them.

They reasoned that criminals who have kidnapped people, collected ransom money from victims’ families and possibly killed the victim or family member or friend who came to drop the ransom money should face justice; likewise robbers who not only robbed, but killed in the process or a cult member who joined other cult members in unleashing hell in towns and villages should not be compensated.

As the criminals sat back, relaxed and waited for the government’s package or largesse to influence the acceptance of the amnesty, and the surrender of weapons, the shocker came that there would be no cash for weapons, but only the rehabilitation and trainings.

The order from the government was clear; accept the amnesty or face justice. Even when the idea was being muted, Wike led security operatives to demolish houses used by kidnappers to hide their victims while awaiting ransom payment. Shortly before the demolition, some suspected cultists and kidnappers were arrested, and set to be prosecuted through the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) Law Number 3 of 2009 as amended by the current Rivers State House of Assembly.

It was Wike who assented to the bill, which makes provision for additional penalties, including confiscation of assets derived from kidnapping, cultism and related crimes.

The demolition was carried out less

This war against cultists and kidnappers will be sustained.

We are happy with the results we are getting

than one week after the governor and security operatives had stormed the house of a notorious kidnapper in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The demolished camps can be found at the Eagle Island neighbourhood of Port Harcourt, while one of the camps is located behind the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the other camp is known as Andoni Camp, according to the governor.

He also said that a police station would be built at the cultists’ camp behind the Redeemed Church, while a community hospital would be built at the site of the demolished Andoni Camp. He also vowed to make life unbearable for criminals who turn down his olive branch, stressing that the war against cultists and kidnappers would be sustained to ensure that people carry out their lawful businesses without molestation.

He said: “There will be no hideouts in the state. This war against cultists and kidnappers will be sustained.

We are happy with the results we are getting. “We appeal to residents to continue cooperating with the state government and security agencies by providing the necessary information.

“All across the state, these joint raids are taking place and the results are encouraging. Rivers State is safe for business and residential purposes.”

In Rivers State, one of the most problematic areas where criminals run riot is Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. Despite the strong presence of security operatives, including soldiers, cult groups, who run kidnapping and robbery operations have made life hellish for residents.

At times, when rival cult members

clash, they aim their weapons at residents whose only crime is living close to targeted rival cultists. Some of the residents of the area have fled to Port Harcourt and neighbouring communities.

Omoku, the headquarters of the council, is one of the most developed cities in the state outside Port Harcourt, and used to have a thriving economy, but is now a shadow of its former self. Some of the oil companies operating in the area are no longer comfortable allowing their staff to operate from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council, as both organized kidnap groups and freelancers patrolling on motorbikes scan hotels in search of victims.

It was in that axis that kidnappers seized the 14 passengers travelling from Port Harcourt to Omoku, and held them for days before setting them free.

Also, it was in the same area that 14 Nigerian oil workers were kidnapped and held for more than one week before they were eventually set free. It is unclear whether or not ransom was paid in the two incidents.

An engineer from the area was almost kidnapped when he parked his Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV along a deserted road to urinate, but was swooped on by three young men who attempted to seize him and his SUV. But he fled into the bush, abandoning the SUV, which had a tracker. Three days later, in the company of operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, he traced the SUV to a forest directly behind a community.

In Ahoada East and West Local Government areas, the activities of criminals also contributed to the amCONTINUED ON PAGE22

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News|south-south

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

A part of the dump site

Dumpsite of controversy Some citizens of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State are protesting the state of a dumpsite within their locality. They believe the gases oozing out of the site is the cause of death of about 28 people. TONY ANICHEBE, reports from Uyo

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to frequent inhalation of toxic substances, under which she had been exposed to over the years.

“I took her to India and the doctors there diagnosed her of lung infection. The doctors asked us if she worked in a factory where she was constantly exposed to hazardous substances, or live in a polluted environment. When we came back to Akwa Ibom State, we also went to Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo, where she finally died.

“We have lost many young people here. Apart from my sister, recently we also lost a youth leader, Nsima Udotung; a couple and a number of others. As we speak, the security guard who takes care of this environment has been severely ill.

“The soil around this vicinity is contaminated as iron dumped in the place, secretes acidic substances into the soil, contaminating portable water sources, plants, and vegetation. And in dry seasons, the heat in the dump site, usually trigger flame, causing thick smoke that engulf the entire area for days,” he said.

Umoh regretted that while previous administrations were able

senior nursing officer at St. Lukes General Hospital, Anua, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Irene Umoh and 27 others have allegedly died of lung related ailment caused by inhalation of polluted air from the state government dump site located in their area.

The dump site, located along the Old Stadium Road, off Barracks Road, Uyo, is said to be responsible for strange diseases and sudden death of residents of the street.

Apart from the stench, residents also complain of other environmental hazards like water pollution, destruction of farmlands and erosion.

While many residents had fled the area for safety, others led by a brother of the deceased nurse, Mr. Anthony Umoh, staged a protest

and barricaded the area to stop trucks from dumping refuse as series of appeals to government for help, were said to have fallen on deaf ears.

Addressing journalists who visited the dump site on Monday, Umoh revealed that some of the affected residents had written series of petitions, instituted court cases without commiserate response from government.

According to Umoh, the state government only responded when the protesters blocked access to the dump site, leaving truck loads of refuse all over the state capital.

Lamenting the death of his sister, Umoh explained that doctors at Max Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, India, on examining the deceased, traced her ailment

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

Weighing the amnesty option

nesty programme. But there were celebrations in the two council areas recently when the Police killed “General Igbudu,” a notorious cult leader and some members of his gang. The spokesman, of the state police command, Omoni Nnamdi, linked Igbudu to the kidnapping of fourteen (14) passengers from Omoku to Port Harcourt. Some of the items recovered from the late robbers include four Ak 47 Riffles with S/ Nos. 56-3453611, 1979 CH 01020, 562614653 KO 358312 and 30 rounds of 7.62mm Ammunition. Other weapons recovered from the gang include one Tokarev Pistol S/No. 96301517 with one round of 9.mm Ammunition, one Brownie Pistol No. F.A 5293 and two military faze caps.

The amnesty offer by Wike has so far netted a very big fish in Don Waney, who styles himself

as the leader of the Aggrieved Youth Movement (AYM), which operates in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council. He does not see his group as a violent one, while explaining that it’s agitation is traced to youth unemployment, lack of technical training for manpower development, scholarships for those in tertiary institutions, and widespread poverty.

He spoke to journalists in his country-home, Aligu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni area, after officially accepting the amnesty offer.

He said, “On a strong note, we are non-violent and we shall remain so in our collective agitation for a better ONELGA, Orashi and Rivers State. In the light of this, we call on the Niger Delta

We have lost many young people here.

Apart from my sister, recently we also lost a youth leader, Nsima Udotung; a couple and a number of others

Avengers (NDA) group to leave ONELGA and Orashi region out of their targets.

“We are against the bombing and destruction of vital oil and gas installations in our communities. We shall not allow them or any of their type to enter our land. We want peace and development and that is what we have signed with our father and governor, Nyesom Wike. Rivers State is peaceful and we do not want outsiders to cause crisis and general insecurity in our state again.”

“We hereby call on other armed groups to embrace the amnesty programme and give up militancy, so that together, we can benefit from the development efforts of the Rivers State government.”

Since Wike inaugurated the amnesty committee, it has been to some councils, where criminals have voluntarily surrendered their weapons. But critics have dismissed the calibre of weapons the committee has so far recovered, alleging that the amnesty recipients were not being sincere by not delivering high grade weapons.

They also argue that the weapons so far retrieved cannot be compared with the ones that the army or the police have so far recovered from criminals during raids and exchange of weapons.

When the amnesty committee visited Khana Local Government Area recently, it refused to grant amnesty to cultists in the area, because it was not satisfied with the

to push the refuse into the ravine, the immediate past and present administrations have displayed high level of insensitivity to the plight of the people around there by littering the environment with refuse, like corpses dumped in refuse bins; aborted babies in polythene bags, among others.

Another resident, Mr. Sunday Udo, attributed negligence of the area to personal interest of politicians in the previous and present administrations.

He alleged that most of the trucks used in carrying refuse to the site, belong both to the former commissioner for environment and a member of the state House of Assembly.

It was discovered that the dump site also harbour illicit businesses as some hoodlums run what a local resident describes as ‘the biggest drug cartel’ managed by a young girl within the dump site.

Scavengers have also exploited the opportunity to abuse 18 underage children, housed in a hut within the dump site.

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien, admitted the sordid state of the environment.

He noted that government was also working to provide alternative dump site that would be far from the people, along Uyo Village Road.

The commissioner, who commiserated with the deceased families and others affected by the pollutants, said the state government was currently working on a design for a proper waste recycling plant that would address the problem.

He regretted that the project could not be implemented immediately because of investors lack of interest as it is no longer business as usual.

He added that government would soon have a stakeholders’ meeting with residents with a view to administering health intervention and proper health check on those that have been affected by explosion to dump diseases.

He said, “The community is the lowest point around Barracks Road; that is why we have come out with a design to restructure the area and make the environment conducive for the residents.

“If you look at the place, you will notice that some residents can no longer drive to their homes any more. So, we need to take a very holistic look at the situation. So far, we have decided to provide alternative dump site.” weapons they surrendered. The chairman of the amnesty committee, Kenneth Chinda, made it clear in Ke-Khana, Nyo-Khana and Kaani Babe that the Committee would not grant amnesty to any group which refuses to submit sophisticated weapons, just as he warned cultists in other parts of Rivers State to sincerely submit all arms in their possession when the Committee visits their area.

Khana is not without its share of criminality, especially cultism and violent crime. It was where five people were killed some months ago over a disputed land between Lauwii and Kapnor communities.

It was about the ownership of a secondary school located at the boundary of the two communities. It was also where a lecturer of the Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori, Abiye Ogan was kidnapped.

23

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight Football league encumbered by auto crashes, armed robberies Lovers of Nigerian Professional Football League may not know, but footballers risk everything, including their lives, on a weekly basis to honour matches, writes CHARLES OGUNDIYA

S

eptember 23 will continue to be a day of thanksgiving for players and officials of Akwa United after the bus conveying the team to honour the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 37 fixture against Nasarawa United in Makurdi was involved in an accident near Okigwe Junction on Umuahia-Enugu Expressway.

According to a witness, an upcoming trailer bumped into the front side of the bus which was also in motion and damaged the wind screen and body of the bus.

The driver, Mfon Nkanta, thanked God for taking control of the situation with the Media Officer of the club, Uwem Ekoh, also appreciating God that no serious injury was sustained as a result of the incident.

Heartland FC of Owerri were left counting their losses after the team had an accident on its way to honour a league match against ElKanemi Warriors in Maiduguri on September 14. More than five players and officials were hospitalised with the most affected being the goalkeeper, Ebele Obi. The irony of the Heartlands accident was that the team actually travelled by air to the venue but was involved in an accident on its way to the hotel from the airport.

On July 21, after their Federation Cup game against Enyimba in Ibadan, Port Harcourt-based Rivers United were on their way back to base when they had an auto crash in Ndele, Rivers State, which left several players and officials injured.

Same day, the fans of Nasarawa United, after their victory against Akwa United, also had an accident on their way back to Lafia leaving several people injured, although no death was recorded.

Ikorodu United were left shattered after escaping death by a whisker after they were involved in an auto crash on their way to honour a Match Day 22 fixture against Lobi Stars.

The accident occurred along

Kano Pillars’ Gambo Mohammed after he was shot by armed robbers

Accident scene involving a bus conveying Ikorodu United players

AMA Brewery Road 9th Mile, Enugu. The team was travelling in a Chisco bus, which collided with a truck that over-turned and later exploded into flames.

A few weeks ago, Akwa United fans also had an accident on their way from Uyo to Port Harcourt to cheer their team to victory against Enyimba of Aba. While several of them were injured, it was unfortunate that one of the fans lost his life during the incident.

Also looking back, in January 2009, 17 players of Adamawa United lost their lives after their bus was involved in a crash in Jos on their way to a league match in Abuja.

We encountered the robbers just a little after we had driven past Okene. Initially, we thought they were policemen

A month later, precisely on February 20, 2009, a bus conveying players and officials of Zamfara United was also involved in an accident that claimed the lives of a player, Abdullahi Sabiu, and the team’s curator, Ado Umar. They were on their way to Gombe for a Premier League match against Wikki Tourists. Several other players sustained varying degrees of career-threatening injuries, amongst whom was midfielder, Peter Onehi, who was later diagnosed of suffering from a urethral rupture as well as an injury to his pelvic. That means Onehi will no longer be able to pass urine independently and his career was also

abruptly cut short.

Former Golden Eaglets defender, Friday Njengo, died on November 19, 2013, after being at the intensive care of the National Hospital, Abuja, for over nine months due to injuries he sustained in an auto crash.

Njengo sustained a head injury in the accident, while goalkeeper Abubakar was luckier and got discharged after a few days in the hospital. An operation was carried out on Njengo but he suffered loss of memory until he died.

Also, 15 members of FC Jimeta from Adamawa State were killed in a motor accident in Plateau State while on their way to Abuja for a league game a few years ago.

Eleven players died on the spot while four others lost the battle to survive in hospital.

In the same vein, 14 people, including 11 policewomen footballers died in a motor accident in Ijebu-Ode, near Lagos, on the Benin-Sagamu Expressway after a downpour in 1996. The bus conveying 20 policewomen footballers back to Lagos after a match in Port Harcourt plunged into a river.

These are few cases of accidents involving NPFL sides whenever they are on their way to honour league matches week-in week-out.

According to a recent report by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), 10,500 people die yearly from road accidents in Nigeria.

Statistically, this means there are 27 deaths on the roads daily and these exclude hundreds of victims who suffer various degrees of injury and permanent disabilities.

Some of the major causes of accidents stated by the FRSC are over-speeding, bad roads, overloading, bad weather, poor vehicle maintenance, bad driving habits and fatigue.

Apart from accidents, there have been cases of armed robbery attacks on the road.

At the beginning of the year, precisely on January 18, NPFL champions, Enyimba, were travelling to Kaduna for the Super 4 tournament, and immediately they passed Okene in Kogi State, they were attacked by armed robbers. According to report by one of the players, Daniel Etor, the driver made an attempt to escape but it was too late as they were ambushed by the heavily armed robbers. The bus passengers were made to pass through harrowing experiences as they lost their valuables.

“We encountered the robbers just a little after we had driven past Okene. Initially, we thought they were policemen because they CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

INSIGHT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

had stopped the car in front of us.

When we realised they were robbers, our driver tried to veer off the road in a bid to escape but two of the guys came out of the bush armed with guns,” Etor said.

“They ordered us out of the bus and told us to lie down on the ground. They said we shouldn’t raise our heads. They saw the name of the club and the logo on our bus and one of them said, “These are footballers.” But another answered angrily, ‘God punish football’.

“We thought we were going to be shot because they were shooting in the air. They hit our heads with guns. We thought they were going to kill us. But they only collected our money, phones, I-pads and other valuables.”

The police responded after the robbers had left hence. This brings to fore, the poor security system on Nigerian roads and the inability of the police to curb robberies on the highways.

Kano Pillars’ robbery attack was the biggest case in 2015. The then reigning NPFL champions were attacked by men of the underworld at Obaji, Kogi State, leaving five of their key players injured with several personal belongings of players and officials taken away.

Striker Gambo Mohammed had his arm seriously damaged from a gunshot and it was by luck and the grace of God that Mohammed is still alive and playing football today after the encounter. He was unable to play football for more than six months.

A few months after the Pillars incident, the players and officials of expelled Giwa FC of Jos also had a bitter experience when they were attacked by gunmen on their way to honour a midweek encounter against Abia Warriors.

These clubs often complain of lack of funds to embark on air travel while some who travel by air once in a while do so for a long trip. At times, these teams embark on a night journey to save the cost of lodging the players in the hotel for two to three nights, a dangerous adventure putting into cognizance the risks on the country’s major inter-state roads.

At the beginning of the current season, it was announced that the management of Rivers State club have signed a partnership agreement with a certain airline to airlift their players to match venues, but it came as a rude shock when it was reported that the team had an accident.

The team’s captain, Austin Festus, described the experience as very unfortunate.

“It was a bad experience for me because I never experienced such before but thank God we were lucky to have less injuries and no life was lost.

“Travelling by air is good for the team and I will continue to thank the commissioner, Boma Iyaye, and the government of the state for standing with the team and also allowing the team to travel like we have been doing.

“Getting a direct flight for matches sometimes force us to take the option of road, especially to states that have no airports like Abeokuta, Akure and so on. We transit from one place to another, instead of doing that we just take the option of travelling by road.

“From Ibadan, we will have to get back to Lagos before taking a

THURSDAY, OCTOber 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Incapacitated by lean purses

Akwa United players escaped without much injury

Akwa United fans after their accident

Giwa Utd bus attacked by armed robbers

straight flight to Port Harcourt and we might not even get a single flight to take all of us, hence the option of road,” he said.

Kano Pillars Chairman, Kabiru Baita, said the club tried to arrange partnership with a certain airline from the North, but it had been difficult because of the constant change of management. He also said the airlines and wouldbe sponsors were sometimes not sincere with the team as they continued to move proposals from one desk to another without any meaningful attention.

A Lagos-based journalist, Tobi Adepoju, said he would rather travel by night bus than to depend on some of the cairlines because of their erratic behaviour.

He said: “I am talking from experience, I booked a particular airline and the time on the ticket was 9a.m. but we did not depart the airport until 5:30p.m.

“If for example the management of MFM decided to travel with such airline from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Friday ahead of a 4p.m. game scheduled for Saturday. They are expected to get to Port Harcourt within an hour, rest, eat and go for training in the evening. Unfortunately they find themselves in same situation like me, automatically no training for them again that day.

“I will rather advise government to work on the country’s railway system to make transportation easier, not only for footballers but for every Nigerian. The frequent accidents and robbery in-

We travel early for matches, like two days before a match, unlike nowadays when teams travel just a day before a match to save cost

cidents will be reduced.”

According to our investigations, security is a major problem in the country as the road users are at the mercy of robbers and kidnappers.

Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, added his voice by calling on government to quickly address the issue of road construction and security. He said the roads had turned to death traps and urgent attention must be given to stop the constant deaths and destruction of property on the highways.

“In those days, our roads were very good, you don’t see bad roads like we see nowadays even though we have just two-way roads and not dual carriage ways we have now.

The security was good too. The drivers then were also patient; they drive with caution unlike now.

“We travel early for matches, like two days before a match, unlike nowadays when teams travel just a day before a match to save cost.

To travel on Friday for a Saturday match will not help any team.

Government should fix the roads.”

Providing solutions to road mishaps in the country, some respondents said teams should be travelling early for games to avoid fatigue on the part of the driver.

But another respondent said the model of the Major League Soccer in the USA should be adopted.

The MLS is divided into eastern and the western conferences with the top six from each coming together for the playoffs.

Chairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko,

told our correspondent that all efforts would be made to educate all clubs in the coming season on the options to ensure safety.

“Travelling by air is the best but because of the economic situation of the country, one cannot expect teams to fly every time. Their vehicles should always be in good condition and they must have at least two armed security people travelling with them,” Dikko said.

A top official of the FRSC, who prefers anonymity, gave an insight into the problem and also proffered solution.

He said: “We take many things for granted. For a long distance trip, it is always advisable to have two drivers on board with one taking over from the other to reduce stress. With such arrangement, right decisions will be taken almost at all times. It is stress that leads to over-speeding and many other things people see on the road.

“Security is also important.

Again for football there should be about two or three security personnel in a 32-seater bus. In emergency cases, the three of them will be good to save the situation. We also always advise that people should not travel by night because most of these roads have no light.

“Many of the inter-state roads, especially in the East, are bad but drivers still engage in over-speeding. These are some measures to help the football teams and they should encourage their drivers to rest at intervals while going on a long journey if there is no alternate driver.”

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THURSDAY, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business

Sale of national assets misplaced priority –LCCI

eWorld ‘Govts pay N2.6bn on software licensing yearly’

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What's new Telecoms: Nigeria hits 152.8m active lines

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‘Islamic economy lifestyle sector expenditure to hit $3trn by 2021’

L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Bolanle Ambode; Divisional Head, Retail/SME Banking, Heritage Bank Plc, Ori Ogba and Director, Motoring & Evaluation, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget, M&E Department, Ekundayo John Moyo, during the Applause Achievers Awards 2016/Talent Empowerment in Lagos.

PHOTO: Hussain

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE August 2016 ..........................17.61 % July 2016.................................17.1% June 2016 ..............................16.5%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market as at September 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N475 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N580 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N500

l Foreign Reserves – $24,566,419,718bn as at 29/9/2016

(Interbank as at September 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N305 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N397 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N347

Source: CBN

4GLTE: Telcos in hot battle for market share NEXT FRONTIER

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Provision of high-speed Internet on a network such as 4G LTE is expected to hold sway, as the next revenue potential for operating firms and determinant of subscribers’ service choice

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

Kunle Azeez

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elecoms operators in Nigeria may have started a fresh scrambling for market share in the provision of highspeed data services on Fourth Generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

This is coming as Globacom, last Tuesday, rolled out its 4G LTE network in major cities across the country, even as MTN Nigeria is billed to execute a soft launch of its 4G LTE network in Abuja today.

New Telegraph gathered that many mobile networks, including Spectranet, Smile and ntel, had earlier rolled out their respective 4G LTE networks in the country.

As Glo rolls out own network However, with the incursion of Globacom and MTN into the 4G LTE provisioning space, industry analysts say the quest for market share for 4G LTE subscriptions for individual mobile subscribers, homes and businesses has been ignited.

With Nigeria targeting 30 per cent broadband penetration up from its current 20 per cent penetration by 2018, industry analysts say deployment of high-speed Internet such as 4G networks has become critical to achieving the auspicious target.

According to a study by global telecoms body, the Global System for Mobile communications Association (GSMA) Intelligence, the number of 4G-LTE connections worldwide will pass one billion by next year.

GSMA said LTE users consume 1.5GB of data monthly on average, almost twice the average amount consumed by non-LTE users.

By next year, it forecast that LTE would account for about one in eight of the over eight billion total mobile connections forecast by that point, up from 176 million LTE connections at the end of 2013.

Also, nearly 500 LTE networks are forecast to be in service across 128 countries, roughly double the number

N1.580 trillion Being the value of Nigerian telecommunications industry’s contribution in real terms in the second quarter of 2016

of live LTE networks.

Speaking in an interaction in Abuja, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, had said the regulator would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the country achieves deeper penetration through deployment of LTE services.

Danbatta said: “In the recent wireless broadband frequency bidding process for 2.6Ghz spectrum by the Commission, MTN Nigeria emerged the winner of six slots. The licensing of frequency in this slot has suffered several setbacks until recently when six slots out of 14 made available by the Commission, were allocated for immediate deployment of 4G-LTE services.

He said by the rollout plans for this service, as provided by the winner, broadband services on this frequency spectrum will be available within the last quarter of 2016.

“We have also initiated processes for licensing of more broadband services on the 5.4 GHz spectrum band while we have opened the process for the allocation of frequencies in the 70/80 GHz band (E-Band).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

26

BUSINESS |news

Telcos in hot battle for market share CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

“Approval has been given for the deployment of 4G Long Term Evolution Technology by NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, which has launched the first VoLTE call on February 25, this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Globacom has claimed to have rolled out the country’s first nationwide worldclass mobile 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

According to Globacom’s Head, Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare, Glo rolled out its 4G LTE network, following a successful multi-dimensional test-run of the advanced network, thus making it the first provider to make the LTE services available across major cities of the country.

The cities include Lagos, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Abuja in the Federal Capital City, Jos in Plateau State, Warri in Delta State, Eket in Akwa Ibom State, Benin City in Edo State, Yola in Adamawa State and Zaria in Kaduna State.

Globacom said roll-out to other major cities of the country will happen in quick succession.

He said the new Glo 4G LTE network offers subscribers a ‘significantly improved experience,’ noting that the new technology would enable Globacom to empower most of the over 152.8 million telecom subscribers in Nigeria to have access to the Internet at a much faster speed, enjoy ultra-high definition video without buffering and utilise other high intensive data applications with ease.

MTN Nigeria also claimed that its 4G LTE service will enable higher productivity in mobile banking experience on the network across all connected parties, stressing that transactions will not only be faster but more reliable.

The telecoms company said it would push the ball over the line with their impending 4G LTE launch.

Analysts say MTN would have to battle with Globacom to offer the service in Nigeria. MTN’s 4G LTE roll-out has been in the works for at least three years and as well been the topic of tech bar talks for just as long.

“With the recently purchased 2.6 GHz band, MTN will roll out immediately to provide the full range of LTE services to Nigerians, empowering Nigeria with the latest mobile broadband technology,” said MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman.

Airtel and Airtel, which sources said, are also looking up to launching 4G LTE services in the country, currently offer services on 3.75G speed, which is also close to the speed 4G LTE. “The way we have seen intense competition in the area of mobile subscriptions in the country in the last 15 years of telecoms deregulation, we also expect the that we entering into another space where telecoms operators and other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have to compete to outsmart rivals in 4G LTE subscriptions,” said a telecoms analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo.

THURSDAY, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms: Nigeria hits 152.8m active lines REBOUND Mobile subscriptions return to growth

Kunle Azeez

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ctive telephone lines in Nigeria’s $35 billion telecommunication industry have hit 152.8 million, according to the latest official data obtained by New Telegraph.

The latest data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that the new subscriber base is the highest ever recorded in the nation’s telecoms sector.

In addition, teledensity has also reached an all-time high of 109 per cent in the country, suggesting the nation is consistently on the path of growth.

Telephone density, or teledensity, is the number of telephone connections for every

As teledensity rises to 109%

100 individuals living within an area.

In Nigeria, mobile subscribers control over 99 per cent of the total subscriptions in the country with code division multiple access (CDMA) and fixed networks sharing less than two per cent of the market.

Hence, as an alternative, industry experts proposed mobidensity or mobile cellular subscribers per hundred inhabitants.

Teledensity is calculated based on the 140 million population as documented by the 2006 national Census report in the country, NCC said in its latest report.

The latest data of 152.8 million represents the aggregate active subscriber base shared by telecoms players in the networks of the Global System for Communications (GSM) including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and

Etisalat and ntel, code division multiple access (CDMA) and fixed networks in the country.

This newspaper gathered that as at October 2015, telecoms companies achieved their highest active subscriber base of 152.12 million in the country.

However, following the sanction of N1.04 trillion imposed on MTN for failure to deactivate unregistered subscriber identity modules (SIMs) on its network and subsequent regulatory directive to MTN to deactivate over five million unregistered subscribers, among other factors, the monthly subscriber base has crashed.

As at last April, the subscriptions had crashed to 147.56 million, representing a loss of about 4.56 million lines on various mobile networks.

However, latest report released by the telecoms industry regulator has shown that telcos have recovered the lost 4.56 mil-

lion lines.

The re-engaged subscribers, thus, represent over 100 per cent of the total lost line since October last year.

Meanwhile, annualised teledensity figure provided by the Commission shows that teledensity increased from 0.73 per cent in 2001 to 1.89 per cent in 2002 and in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; it increased to 3.35 per cent; 8.5 per cent; 16.27 per cent and 24.18 per cent respectively.

In 2007, teledensity rose to 29.93 per cent and in 2008, it hit a record 45.93 per cent.

With the leap in active subscriber base to 74.52 million by the end of 2009, teledensity grew to 53.23 per cent, while the figure rose to 63.11 per cent in December, 2010.

Also, in December, 2011, teledensity was 68.49 per cent; 80.85 in 2012 and by the end of December, 2013, the figure rose to 91.15 per cent.

L-R: Company Secretary, Sterling Bank Plc., Justina Lewa; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Prof.

Alexander Kure; Wife of Kaduna State governor, Hajia Aisha Ummee elRufa’i and Co-founder/ CEO, Afrigrants, Thelma Ekiyor, at the Market Women’s Quick Cash launch organised

by Sterling Bank Plc. and Afrigrants, held at the Entrepreneurship, Research & Development Center, Kaduna State University.

‘Islamic economy lifestyle sector expenditure to hit $3trn by 2021’ RISING There is an increased private equity investment in Halal Food Tony Chukwunyem

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slamic economy lifestyle sector expenditure will likely reach $3 trillion by 2021, findings from the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2016 (SGIE 2016) have shown.

The report, which provides an overview on many emerging trends across different sectors of the Islamic economy, including the Halal food sector, Islamic finance, halal lifestyle, Islamic education and healthcare, was published by Thomson Reuters in partnership with the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and in collaboration with DinarStandard.

The study estimates

global Muslim spend across sectors at over $1.9 trillion in 2015, while the Islamic Finance sector has around $2 trillion in assets. Food and beverage tops Muslim spend by category, at $1.17 trillion in 2015, followed by clothing and apparel at $243 billion, media and recreation at $189 billion, travel at $151 billion and spending on pharmaceuticals and cosmetics at $78 billion.

Besides, it estimated that the revenue generated by Halal Certified Food and Beverage companies world-wide to be at $415 billion Muslim spend on food and beverages expected to reach $1.9 trillion by 2021.

According to the report, the Halal Food, the largest Islamic Economy Pillar by revenue, has shown clear signs of maturity with increased private equity investments in the sector. Upgrades in regulations are also occurring, with the introduction of accreditation to oversee

certifiers set to reduce complexity and encourage more players to enter the Halal Food industry.

It pointed out that the Islamic Finance sector has shown robust growth and increasing sophistication, adding that while the sector has been hampered by a lack of awareness of Islamic Finance product offerings, there is considerable opportunity for the sector growth to reach $3.3 trillion by 2021.

“Halal travel continues to broaden its reach with tremendous growth in Halal beach resorts, the launch of several dedicated airlines and the launch of the Muslim answer to Air billionb, Bookhalalhomes and TripAdvisor, Tripfez. While Halal Travel is a niche sector building momentum, it is expected to grow with Muslim spend on outbound travel expected to reach $243 billion by 2021.

“Modest Fashion is gaining mainstream interest with several retailers and

brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Uniqlo and Burberry entering the industry and several notable investments driving the sector forward.

As the sector gains traction, spend on Modest Fashion is projected to reach $368 billion by 2021,” the report stated.

In addition, the study pointed out that the Halal Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics sector continues to expand, as awareness about ingredients rises and new product development, such as permeable nail polish, the development of Halal vaccines and new ranges of nutraceuticals.

“Muslim spends on Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics products is expected to reach $213 billion by 2021 in aggregate,” the report said.

According to the study, a record number of 172 industry leaders were surveyed on their sector’s performance during the compilation of the report.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

InDUSTRY

27

THIRD QUARTER REVIEW

The last three months were full of uncertainties for manufacturing firms as the economic recession and other challenges marred the growth and development of the sector. Taiwo Hassan reports

Recession takes deep cut on manufacturing

E

conomic indices in the third quarter of the year showed that all was not well with the country’s real sector, especially manufacturing, which recorded low capacity utilisation, closure of companies/factories and massive unemployment.

Outlook At least, 13 activities in the manufacturing sector; including oil refining, cement production, food, beverages, tobacco, textile, apparel, footwear, wood and wood products, among others, faced utmost tests in the quarter under review, as economic challenges marred growth and development, especially relating to their output.

Specifically, nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the manufacturing sector during the quarter turned negative partly due to higher operating costs.

For many private sector operators, manufacturers and Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) owners, the disclosure by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that the country was in recession rattled them.

The drop in price of crude oil at the international market impaired global economic conditions of many countries especially members of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as they struggled to cope with dwindling oil revenues.

In Nigeria’s situation, it has been a very tough time for the country’s industrial sector, as firms have been groaning under harsh economic and business environment.

The economic conditions that characterised slowdown in the quarter include uncertainty around economic policies, adverse external environment, security challenges in some parts of the country, which affecting production and distribution of agricultural produce, poor electricity supply, fuel shortage and foreign exchange crisis.

Ease of doing business At the interactive forum organized by Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with captains of industries and Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) operators in Lagos, the Federal Government and industry stakeholders met to chart a path towards ease of doing business in the country.

An aerial view of margarine manufacturing plant

Speaking at the event, the Minister, FMITI, Okechukwu Enelamah, said that the forum was organised to brainstorm on ways of solving the numerous challenges in the industrial sector.

Enelamah admitted that the government was aware of the problems in the industry and was ready to assist manufacturers and private sector operators operating in the country to introduce seamless ease of doing business in the country.

According to him, enumerating the challenges facing the sector would not achieve the desired results, rather, collaborating as a winning team and finding a lasting solution to the challenges is the objective of his ministry and the government.

He said: “We would be deceiving ourselves if we pretend there are no problems. In fact, each of these potential we have articulated has one obstacle or another confronting it. For example, we cannot talk of competitiveness out there in the world market if we allow substandard products global.

“There are no sentiments in business competition, and only the products that meet international standards specification, stand a chance of being patronised. And this is why we commend Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which has not only relented in sanitising our country of substandard products.”

Job losses Also in the quarter under review, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) disclosed that it received fresh complaints from manufacturing firms of their intention to lay-off workers, shutdown production and relocate off-shore.

NACCIMA, which is the voice of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), said that these complaints from the affected companies bor-

About 70 per cent of SMEs in Abuja are at risk at the moment

dered on continued foreign exchange scarcity, low production output, high energy cost and decline in turnover (profits).

In a report made available to New Telegraph, a top member of NACCIMA and President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Tony Ejinkeonye, said majority of manufacturing companies and key blue chip companies were groaning, as economic recession took a dip cut on their businesses.

He said that the affected companies were groaning at the ways the Federal Government was handling the current economic situation in the country, saying that since they were not putting in much effort to get the country out of the economic recession, the investors might be forced to carry out restructuring exercise.

His words: “Several members of the chamber have complained bitterly over difficulties in accessing foreign exchange to procure raw materials. The situation is really quite pathetic for businesses especially those in the manufacturing sector.

“Our members are groaning over low output occasioned by non-availability of forex to get raw materials for production, which in turn has affected their turnover drastically. Just today, we received notice from different companies threatening to lay-off their workers or shut down production in the meantime if forex scarcity continues.

“Others are making plans to relocate to neighbouring African countries. Meanwhile, one only hopes that the government can come up with a strategy to address the current scarcity of foreign exchange so as to avert impending economic misfortune.”

The ACCI president stated that about 70 per cent of SMEs in Abuja are at risk at the moment as they battle to remain in business.

CBN loans Another talking point in the quarter under review was the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to set aside N500 billion as loans to non-oil exporters in order to encourage them export their manufactured goods.

CBN said it would invest in a N500 billion debenture to be issued by Nigerian Export- Import Bank (NEXIM) as part of a bid to diversify the country’s revenue away from crude.

According to the apex bank, it expects to nearly double its nonoil revenues this year to counter the effect of lost crude income. The facility was essentially designed to redress the declining export credit and reposition the sector to increase its contribution to revenue generation and economic development.

It will improve export financing, increase access of exporters to low interest credit and offer additional opportunities for them to upscale and expand their businesses, the apex bank added.

It said loans for up to three years would be granted at a maximum all-in interest rate of 7.5 per cent a year. Loans of more than three years will be granted at a maximum rate of nine per cent a year.

Much of the hard currency Nigeria needs to finance imports evaporated, as the central bank burned dollars in an attempt to peg the naira at 197 to the dollar, which it gave up under new FX guidelines.

MAN lauds CBN The pharmaceutical manufacturing companies under the auspices of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group-Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN), during the reveiw period, lauded the new directive by CBN to give 60 per cent of foreign exchange allocation to the real sector of the economy, saying the decision would assist local manufacturers to build capacity in the industry.

At the group’s forum in Lagos, PMG-MAN Chairman, Okey Akpa, said the apex bank’s decision to ensure that at least 60 per cent of forex sales are made to local manufacturers was timely intervention dedicated to boost local manufacturing.

He explained that since local pharmaceutical manufacturing was directly linked to national healthcare, a strong argument is also presented for the immediate prioritisation of the pharma sector, in order to maintain National Health and ensure the sanctity of human lives.

Akpa called on the government to urgently address the anomaly created by the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) in the sector, CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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business \ industry

ENCUMBERANCES A lot of obstacles including bidding, litigation, valuation and plans for compensation go with disposal of such items

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sale of national assets misplaced priority –LCCI

private sector (OPS) was very asset and the selling of that as- properties you want to sell we selective in joining issue on set may not come into fruition might be there for the next one the matter, saying that the sale in the next one year because year on the matter without bewould involve long processes there are certain criteria, in- ing fruitful at the end of the and looming litigations from formation and decisions you day. interest groups. have to get.

“For instance, the licence His words: “Sale of national “In addition, there are ad- of the sale of NITEL, look at Stories: Taiwo Hassan assets is not something you visers they (government) have the time it took us to disposed he Lagos Chamber of just decide that you want to to get, including appointment NITEL and also even PHCN. Commerce and Indus- do in one day. You will be sur- of properties advisers. These “Unbundling the PHCN and try (LCCI) has opposed prised that you can make a things don’t come easy like also selling some of their asFederal Government’s decision today on a particular that. Assuming you have some sets, you find out that it took so plans to sell some of the country’s national assets.

The Chamber described it as a misplaced economic priority at this critical period due to the rigorous processing, including bidding, litigation, valuation and compensation.

Vice-President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Sola Oyetayo, in a chat with New Telegraph, in Lagos, said it would be a wrong idea for government to go ahead with the sale.

He said that switching over to the sale of assets as part of plans to raise money for the 2016 budget would not be realistic at this period.

According to him, embarking on the sale of national asset will take a long time as the processes for the bid rounds, litigation and valuation of the assets do take years to be finalised.

He added that it would be a fruitless process at the end of the day.

Oyetayo explained that the Chamber being a leading voice for the country’s organised ollowing the economic engagements with other stakeHis words: “The question recession that appears to holders in the economy at both has come out severally from difhave defied immediate sectoral and macro levels, these ferent quarters about rejigging silutions, the organised pri- would help to arrange the qual- the country’s Economic Team.

“Why that question kept on vate sector (OPS) has joined ity of policies.” other eminent Nigerians urgIn his own remarks, the cropping up is that the econoing President Muhammadu Executive Secretary, Nigerian my is not functioning well and Buhari to rejig his current eco- Association of Small and Me- some of the issues that caused nomic team and also reshuffle dium Enterprises (NASME), that may not have started with CONTINUED FROM PAGE27 his cabinet.

Eke Ubiji, pointed out that this administration.

The OPS said the country’s the current economic situa“But you know governance whereby imported medicines economy needed a surgical re- tion showed that the president is a continuous process so attract zero duty, while raw tooling at this crucial time for it needed to heed the clarion call whether it is inherited or not and packaging materials for to get out of the current malady. of Nigerians and change the the government on seat now local manufacturing attract Director-General, Lagos country’s economic team. should sit up and do something up to 20 per cent duty.

Chamber of Commerce and He commended the efforts Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, being made so far in addressin a chat with New Telegraph, ing the CET imbalance, but said the private sector was worwarned that the high attrition ried with the current state of rate in the sector and the diangote Cement, owned lion tones as per June data, an the nation’s economy. sastrous consequences of furby Africa’s richest man, increase from 922,000 at a simiHe said it would be necessary ther delays in the implemenAliko Dangote, now con- lar period the previous year. for the president to tinker with tation programme indicated trols 22 per cent of the market The company’s cement rein Tanzania. the current economic team and the need for the government’s tails at $74 per tonne in Kenya imminent intervention. also change some ministers in Since its launched in the and about $80 in Tanzania, order to boost private sector “Our view is that this policy East African country in June, nearly 40 per cent cheaper than confidence in the country’s the low price has continued to competitors. will have positive impact on upset companies that have for The company plans to start economy. trade in the country. SpecifiAccording to him, President cally, the policy has the poyears dominated the East Afri- manufacturing cement in KeBuhari should be thinking of tential not only to increase can market. nya in 2019, as it steps up efNigerians’ access to mediways to revamp the ailing Lafarge Holcim of France, forts to oust Lafarge Holcim as economy by collaborating with cines, but also, support maswhich is the biggest producer the largest cement producer in stakeholders in the private secsive employment in the secin Africa, controls the big- Africa, Business Daily reporttor. tor, improve the economy and gest share of the East African ed. market by 27 per cent, Tororo On the need to tinker with facilitate export of Nigerian Dangote Cement exports Cement of Uganda has 21 per product to Kenya, the biggest the team, Yusuf said: “That will medicines to neighbouring countries. “These are cardibe necessary. At a time like this, cent, while ARM Cement has economy in East Africa. Its the country needs many ideas nal objectives of the present 17 per cent. current retail price for a 50-kimeant to fine-tune the economy. administration,” he said.

Kenya-based ARM Cement logramme bag is $ 4.70 while “So if government has acrecorded a $3.64 million loss in in Tanzania it is $4.50 and $6.90 Conclusion cess to ideas from other sectors the first half of the year and in Ethiopia, Geeska Afrika reof the economy, it would also be Although the country is passattributed it to increased com- ported.

In Kenya, the average retail petition in Tanzania. helpful. Government should ing through a difficult period, not limit its idea but should industry stakeholders believe Dangote Cement currently price for a 50-kilogramme bag give the economy surgical fine there is need to get the country’s has operational plants in Ethi- is $6.7 and $5.85 in Tanzania. tuning. opia and Tanzania with a total economy out of recession in the The low retail prices have “We also need to have more production capacity of 1.6 mil- shaken up the market in Kefourth quarter.

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much time. It is not something that you can say it is already in the market and in the next two months I want to collect my money. It is not easy like that.”

According to him, government should carefully look at the issue since it had already identified other areas of diversification to revamp the economy.

L-R: Director, Legal Services and Corporate Affairs, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Umaru Kawu; New Director-General, SON, Anthony Osita Aboloma, receiving the handing over note from Acting DG, SON, Dr Paul Angya. With them is the Director, Operations, SON, Mr. Felix Nyado, during the hand over in Abuja.

Stagnation: OPS demands reshuffling of economic team, ministers

Recession takes deep cut on manufacturing

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about it and that is why people are calling for a rejig of the economic team.”

Ubiji noted: “I think I align myself with those calling for changes in the economic team and ministers in the cabinet not for vendetta but just to make sure that round pegs are put in round holes.

“So that is the reason. The economy is in shambles and we are in trouble, no doubt about that, something seriously needs to be done.”

Dangote controls 22% of Tanzania’s cement industry

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nya and Tanzania. Dangote Cement slashed prices to penetrate the market in the two nations.

The company’s cement is 20 to 40 per cent cheaper than the price offered by local companies.

Dangote Cement made a regional profit of $3.43 million.

Its revenue in the region and Southern Africa was $82.2 million in June, an increase from $54.5 per cent last year.

Low production costs attracted the company to the region. In Ethiopia, the government supplies Dangote Cement at a discounted rate of $0.03 kWh, which reduced the cost of production by about 60 per cent compared to Nigeria.

Dangote Cement, which is the second largest cement producer in Africa, is undertaking an expansion into Rwanda, Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Jinja in Uganda and Burundi.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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n spite of the initial regulatory and operational issues confronting operators in Nigeria’s telecoms industry, the sector has continued to consolidate its growth on the 8-point agenda unveiled by the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The agenda, which provides a firmer direction for the industry and has become the barometer by which the performance of the industry is assessed, was unveiled early this year by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta.

Key items on the agenda include facilitation of broadband penetration, improvement in quality of service and optimisation of benefits of spectrum.

Others include the promotion of ICT innovations and investment opportunities, facilitation of strategic collaboration and partnerships, consumer protections and empowerment, promotion of fair competition and inclusive growth; and regulatory excellence and operational efficiency in the industry.

Deepening broadband, mobile subscriptions In terms of investment, the regulator has disclosed in the second quarter that the overall telecoms industry investment has jumped from $132 billion to over $135 billion. Much of this investment has gone into the area of broadband infrastructure development.

Broadband is the flagship of the 8-point agenda. In many ways, some of the other items of the agenda are either dependent on the success of the broadband, or are interwoven with it.

The provision of the National Broadband Plan that has set a target of 30 per cent penetration from 2013-2018 also accentuates NCC’s emphasis on broadband penetration.

As such, from where it used to be at about 14 per cent broadband penetration, a recent report released by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development showed that Nigeria has reached a penetration of 20.95 per cent.

Equally, on the percentage of Internet penetration, the country has reached a milestone of 47.44 per cent, second to South Africa in the continent, while mobile subscriptions has moved from around 147 million early in the year to 152.8 million. Teledensity has also moved from 107 per cent to 109 per cent as at August, this year.

According to experts, one of the key ingredients for successful implementation of a programme such as broadband penetration is the availability of robust regulatory framework upon which an appropriate strategy could been based and NCC, they argue, has been committed in this area.

While the NCC has been able to fine-tune the infrastructure company (InfraCo) provision licenses awarded for Lagos and

29

eWORLD THIRD QUARTER REVIEW

Telecoms waxes stronger Telecoms industry’s performance in the first three quarters of this year has been phenomenal. However, experts say there are still challenges facing the sector, which need to be tackled. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

Minister of Communication Technology, Adebayo Shittu

North Central Zones, it has initiated processes that would lead to the selection of service providers in the remaining five zones designed for effective coverage of the nation under the Open Access Model.

Additional spectrum has also been licensed as MTN emerged winner of six slots in the 2.6Ghz spectrum auctioned by the Commission this year. This is in addition to initiating processes for licensing of more broadband services on the 5.4 GHz spectrum band, the 70/80 GHz band (E-Band).

Approval has been given for the deployment of 4G Long Term Evolution Technology by NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, which has launched the first VoLTE call on February 25 this year and this is expected to grow broadband in the country.

Optimising spectrum benefits In the last three quarters, the industry has witnessed the commencement of a re-farming process for various frequencies to improve their efficiency. Through this process, some service providers, who were, hitherto, providing services on the 1800MHz Spectrum ban, have been allowed to re-farm and deploy services on the 4G/LTE Band.

Speaking on this at a forum recently, Danbatta said: “Through this, the NCC has been able to revive some of the companies whose services have been hampered by the characteristics of the frequencies.”

Analysts have pointed out also that the regulator has revved up continuous spectrum monitoring to ensure sanity in the industry, as through efficient monitoring and value-driven usage of spectrum for provision of different types of service, revenue generation for the Federal Government through frequency allocation and renewal fees have improved from the previous years.

According to available records, more than N47 billion was realised in spectrum usage and licensing within the period under review.

Danbatta

The country has reached a milestone of 47.44 per cent, second to South Africa in the continent, while mobile subscriptions has moved from around 147 million early in the year to 152.8 million.

Investment promotion The industry, in the past three quarters, has witnessed promotion of investment with approval of the acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding of Visafone Communications Limited in favour of MTN (Nigeria) Communications Limited. In addition, the industry has witnessed renewal of efforts in the type-approval of equipment through improved processing time and revenue generation. Today, the investment profile in the industry has reached over $35 billion.

QoS, consumer protection collaboration Quality of Service (QoS) has fairly improved on all networks following frequent initiatives and policy directions by the regulator.

Industry analysts suggest that quality of service on the various networks, including infrastructure service provider facilities, has also taken considerable attention of the Commission. Part of the measures taken by the regulator towards addressing the issue of QoS in the last three quarters are the creation of a Task Force on QoS and continuous engagement beween the NCC and industry players.

For instance, the Commission, recently, was able to secure the support of the Governor of Ogun Sate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to unseal 47 base stations shut down by an agency of the state government. Increased collaborations between the regulator and state authorities were also witnessed with a view to fostering more understanding on the need to support the deployment of infrastructure to energise economic activities in the states rather than discourage investments through imposition of taxes and multiple regulations.

Suffice to say that the past nine months have witnessed increase in the number of consultations with strategic partners.

“We have conducted several consultations with this objective in mind, including the National Roaming Consultation, Meet the Regula-

tors Forum, Consultation on the Regulations of Value Added Service (VAS), consultative forum on licensing of frequencies, among others,” Dambatta added.

It is also instructive that the introduction of ‘Do-Not-Disturb’ code was another measure taken by the regulator to combat rising wave of unsolicited text messages. Aside this, more than 75 per cent of the complaints channeled to it by the consumers, were successfully resolved and 25 per cent escalated. This is in addition to the various initiatives embarked to empower subscribers.

Competition and inclusive growth A key component of telecommunications regulation is the promotion of competition to provide choice and value for money for the consumer and a fair and non-discriminatory approach is a highlight of the 8-Point agenda.

In this regard, the Commission has continued to apply the principles of fairness in the regulatory process in the last three quarters. In the past one year, these principles have taken a prime position in some of our regulatory processes and decisions such as regulation of the VAS, among others.

The Commission has also applied the rules of the game very fairly and with the consideration of the future growth and development of the industry as a critical sector of the Nigerian economy. For instance, the sector contributes N1.8 trillion to gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter.

Going forward Despite the impressive performance of the industry in the first three quarters of this year, telecoms stakeholders have suggested the need to sustain the current growth momentum in the industry through confronting and tackling the various extant challenges facing the operators. These include multiple taxation, over-regulation, poor access to foreign exchange (forex) and right of way (RoW) issues, among others.

President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola and the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, who spoke with New Telegraph on phone, in their assessments, said the regulator has done well in consolidating industry growth through the latter’s 8-point agenda, which, they said, has become a compass for the industry.

They added that while other sectors of the economy are showing negative outlook, telecoms continues to wax stronger, despite the current macroeconomic upheavals in the country.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Govts pay N2.6bn on software licensing yearly’ CAPITAL FLIGHT Institute advocates local content development and patronage to curb capital flight in software industry L-R: Former Acting Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr. Vincent Olatunji and new substantive DG, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, when Pantami assumed office at NITDA headquarters in Abuja.

Kunle Azeez

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he Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has said some state governments and some ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) are paying close to $6 million (N2.6 billion) in software license/maintenance charges annually, underscoring the need for local content advocacy in Nigeria’s software industry.

ISPON President, Mr. Olorogun James, said this in a position paper made available to New Telegraph.

He said there was no excuse for anybody to complain on the need to adopt made-in-Nigeria software for all of the country’s businesses, in government, education, industry and the military and other sectors of the economy to curb capital flight.

“We must make concerted effort to develop, consume and enthrone made in Nigeria products in all facets of our lives. Only then would we be proud to say we are an independent nation,” he said.

James added, “We cannot say we are independent, when we import from match sticks to cars, soap, rice, fish, oil etc, when we produce and export crude, only to use the money to import fuel and gas. We are only working and labouring for others.

Nigeria’s AREWA24 for Eutelsat Awards

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REWA24, the first and only round-the-clock freeto-air Hausa-language entertainment and lifestyle satellite television channel from Nigeria is one of the finalists for the Eutelsat TV Award 2016.

According to the awards submission, AREWA24 was created by and for the Hausa- speaking community. Produced out of Kano, Nigeria, AREWA24 is currently broadcasting 11 original shows across popular entertainment and lifestyle genres all in Hausa.

The Eutelsat TV Awards is the only international event shining a spotlight on the quality of thematic TV channels broadcast around the world.

The jury, chaired by awardwinning RAI journalist, Duilio Giammaria, and assembling media experts from diverse markets, met in Paris from 24 to 25 September to assess the quality, innovation and creativity of over 120 channels from 40 countries.

According to the organisers, all participating channels in the Eutelsat TV Awards are now entitled to compete for the People’s Choice Award that will go to the channel generating most votes by the viewing public.

The award jury was drawn from highly-respected television organisations from across the world including Poland, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Turkey and Italy.

“Our officials carry our money to store in other countries, thereby making such countries stronger with resources that they can invest in their economy with low or no interest rates whilst our own cost of capital is totally unbearable. In the area of software, which is a goldmine yet to be fully tapped into in Nigeria, we must make effort to promote the sector and curb capital flight.”

He also explained the need to pay attention to the e-readiness of the country, saying the era of Internet of Things (IoTs) would create for coun-

tries in the digital economy.

He said: “As we enter the era of IoTs, Nigeria must be prepared more than ever, for the future, which shall be dominated by ‘e-Everything’ – with particular reference to the development and patronage of indigenous software.

“In 2050, most of the World’s citizens will live in cities – that is, smart cities and will need smart services driven and sustained by software and embedded system.

“The ubiquitous computing will become highly pronounced by 2020 as over 50billion devices would be connected through IoTs.

The task and opportunities before Nigeria is enormous.”

As such, ISPON President submitted that the current economic meltdown in Nigeria and out-of-the-roof inflation represents a significant wakeup call for retooling the national workforce with quality Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills and accelerating the application of innovative thinking in startup entrepreneurship and e-Commerce initiatives in Nigeria.

According to him, “The knowledge Olympiad is here and Nigeria, as the most populous black nation

in the world, must step forward to be counted and digitally ready at all levels, if she must survive the emerging critical challenges, traumatic impact as well as secure the opportunities and benefits presented by ‘globalisation order’ of the 21st Century.”

He noted that Africa, with an estimated population of over 1.2 billion people, which are about 16 per cent of the world population, has recorded 9.8 per cent penetration of Internet Users against the 90.2 per cent of the rest of the world as at November 2015.

ATCON tasks regulator on forex availability

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he leadership of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has called the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to prevail on the Central Bank of Nigeria and the banks to make foreign exchange (forex) more accessible to them.

The association made the call during an official ‘welcome into the industry’ dinner organised for the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC in Lagos.

According to ATCON President, Mr. Olusola Teniola, the current economic downturn has continued to take its toll on telecoms operators, adding that foreign issue could dampen network roll-out.

Aside this, he said while ATCON was interested in the continuous development of the sector, there are some issues that have constituted a threat to investment friendly and enabling environment for its

members.

He said other issues such as challenges included the implementation of national broadband plan, proposed 9 per cent Communication Service Tax bill, low local content within ICT sector, as well as the dumping of counterfeit phone in the country.

In the same vein, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, also stressed the challenge facing operators in the area of forex, saying “since most equipment used by telecommunications companies are sourced outside the country, not having access to forex to import telecoms equipment may dampen telecoms growth projection.”

He also tasked the NCC to strengthen its efforts towards tackling the myriad of challenges facing telecommunications companies in Nigeria including multiple taxation.

In his presentation, Chief Executive Officer, VDT Communications, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, said the recession was having negative effects on telecoms operators.

He said: “Nigerian economy has finally gone into a recession after contracting in the first two quarters of 2016. Inflation is 17.1 per cent all time high as at August 2016, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

“Free fall of Naira against foreign currencies since the advent of floating foreign exchange policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from N281 to $1 in June, 2016, when the policy started, to currently about N440 to $1.”

According to Omoniyi, limited foreign trade financing with bank’s credit lines is drying up, resulting in reduced foreign direct investment (FDI) and capital inflows into the economy.

tunji said the agency cued into the directive of Independent Corrupt Practices (and Other Related Offences) Commission (ICPC) to establish Anti-Corruption and Transparent Unit (ACTU) in NITDA to prevent corrupt practices.

“We have established ACTU unit to eliminate all traces of corruption in NITDA because we believe that it is corruption that has led us to where we are today. There is something in this country that international community is looking for and we have to change our orientation and mindset on corruption to attract them to invest in the country,” he said.

Olatunji assured that NITDA, as an Information Technology (IT) agency, would look inward for ICT tools that could be used to help prevent or better

still eliminate corrupt practices in the country.

He said: “Charity begins at home and as an IT agency, any tool we deploy in curbing corruption will be handed down to government because ICT is an effective tool that could be used in the fight against corruption.”

Meanwhile, the substantive Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has assumed duty at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

In a brief reception held in his honour, Pantami said he was glad to have been received in such a wonderful manner by the outgoing acting DG, Olatunji, and other members of staff.

IT can control corruption, says NITDA

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he National Information Technology Development Agency (NIDA) has said effective deployment of technology can help in curbing corruption in government circles.

Former Acting Director General, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, stated this during a two-day sensitisation workshop to prevent corrupt and sharp practices in the agency in line with the government’s recent ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign launched by the Federal Government.

The workshop was aimed at increasing the capacity of the NITDA management staff on trust ethic and integrity in the workplace by acting as apostles of morality and integrity to their subordinate.

Speaking at the forum in Abuja, Ola-

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THURSday, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

News ‘Underweight people face increased death risk’

Health

Getting active boosts health

Interview ‘Domestic resource, key to immunisation funding’

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PHOTO:nwbbs.org.png

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and it is likely to worsen in developing countries over the next two decades based on the projections by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Given the huge burden of this condition on survivors and caregivers, prevention is the key to address it, reports APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

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study published in The Lancet confirmed that people can reduce their risk of having a stroke by making lifestyle changes.

The study called ‘INTERSTROKE’ found that modifiable risk factors are responsible for 88 per cent of stroke risk. The good news is that most of these factors can be completely avoided, or at least modified.

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Using your lifestyle to avoid stroke Stroke is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death.

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and haemorrhagic, due to bleeding.

They result in part of the brain not functioning properly.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients.

With the current scourge of HIV/AIDS and the battle against other communicable diseases like multi-drug resistant malaria and tuberculosis; Nigeria stands to risk the further straining of its resources as a result of the increasing prevalence of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

The current prevalence of stroke in Nigeria is 1.14 per 1000. However, primary prevention is the key to reducing the burden of the disease.

Management of the disease is largely conservative while there is little or no funding for high-quality research in the country. It has been shown that majority of survivors pay out-of-pocket to manage stroke like the late Mr. Oluwaseun Oke, an indigene of Ibadan who experienced stroke at 49 years.

Relating the ordeal of Oke, his

Primary prevention is the key to reducing the burden of the disease

wife, Lola said within two weeks of the attack, Oke lost his power of speech, apart from being unable to walk nor feed himself.

Despite being admitted at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan for four weeks and paying expensively for treatment, “My husband did not survive the stroke.

It was very frustrating for the Oke’s who have since moved on.”

She added that the Okes especially those that are 40 years and above are however willing and committed to adopting lifestyle changes the doctors that handled the case of Oke had proposed as strategies to put stroke at bay.

A Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi said major health improvements can be made and the measures can reduce the risk of stroke by almost 90 per cent.

Speaking in similar vein, the President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, NCS, Prof. Amam Mbakwe observed that in every four Nigerians one person is hypertensive and warned that this rate is alarming and called for urgent action. Hypertension is major risk factor of stroke.

She encouraged Nigerians to eat the right diet which include enough vegetables and engage in physical exercise constantly as these could help

in averting cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including heart disease and stroke.

Measures to cut stroke risk

Control your blood pressure While there are medications to control hypertension (high blood pressure), lifestyle change is a key component of keeping blood pressure down. Following the DASH Diet and avoiding salt can help.

The DASH diet is a lifelong approach to healthy eating that’s designed to help treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). The DASH diet encourages you to reduce the sodium in your diet and eat a variety of foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Prof. Mbakwe similarly, encouraged Nigerians to eat the right diet which include enough vegetables and engage in physical exercise constantly as these could help in averting cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including heart disease and stroke.

Stop smoking Smoking not only increases risk of stroke, it is estimated to subtract 10 CONT INU E D ON PAGE 32

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‘Underweight people face increased death risk’ Ogunbamowo Elizabeth

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n recent time, many Nigerians seem to be more interested in how to lose weight rather than how to remain healthy.

The popular belief that obesity is a disease has led many into that. This is the era of slim teas and work out. The teas come in various brands and dimensions - Green, Rose, and Peppermint tea, among others. A visit to the gym on a Saturday would get you more convinced.

Truly, Obesity is a disease but as obesity is a disease so also is being underweight.

Research has revealed that being underweight is even more disastrous than being overweight.

According to the findings of a study, underweight people have a higher risk of death than obese individuals. What does it mean to be underweight?

A study conducted by Dr. Joel Ray, a physician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, was published in the ‘Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health’.

Being underweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5. This is estimated to be less than the body mass needed to sustain optimal health.

Another study by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that being underweight increases the risk of osteoporosis in later life.

When a person does not consume enough iron, that individual may develop anaemia, which may leave him feeling drained and tired.

The immune system of an underweight person is low, which makes him prone to catching a cold, the flu or other infections.

It also increases his risk of fertility problems.

Some Nigerians who are interested in losing weight revealed some of the reasons why they prefer to lose weight.

Mrs. Damilola Agbejule, a middle aged woman explained that the reason why she would like to lose weight is because she wants her shape back to normal.

In her words, “I used to have a model-like body before I got married, but now that I have a child, I’m becoming robust. I don’t know of the dangers associated with being underweight, but, I believe I would be able to balance it. I would meet the best trainers who would help me so I won’t be underweight.”

Miss. Imole Bamgbade also gave her reasons: “when people see me they think I’m older than my age because I’m fat. You know slim people look sexy and there is something about them that make them look young. That’s why I want to lose weight. ” Mr. Oloyede Olufemi, a middle aged man spoke with New Telegraph HEALTH that, “Losing

Long-term storage space

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our brain’s long-term memory, which develops until the age of 40, can hold as many as one quadrillion (one million billion) separate bits of information in a lifetime.

BMI formular

PHOTO: www.bestbmicalculator.com

Early menopause boosts heart disease risk Oluwatosin Omoniyi

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omen who enter menopause before age 45 are more likely to have heart problems and to die earlier than those who undergo the change later in life.

That’s the upshot of a new analysis that suggests longevity may be tied to the age when a woman enters menopause, says lead researcher Dr. Taulant Muka, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

One in 10 women enter menopause by age 45, Muka and colleagues wrote in JAMA Cardiology. That’s when the ovaries spontaneously reduce or cease production of certain hormones,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

like estrogen. For the new study, Muka’s team examined the medical charts of more than 310,000 women who had participated in a total of 33 studies published since the 1990s.

According to Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, a senior consultant, cardiologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, coronary heart disease increases with age. Generally, heart diseases, he said are more prone in men from age 40 than women because of the estrogen women produce during menstrual flow. The estrogen he explained is protective to the heart but reduces moment women stopped menstruating. He added that five years after menstrual flow, it levels with men. “Meaning that women who stop menstruat-

ing at age 40 may aptly fit into the category of the latest research,” he said.

The results showed women who had their last period before age 45 had a 50 per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease than those who entered menopause later in life. Women who entered menopause earlier were also about 20 per cent more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and strokes). Muka said the timing of menopause may influence the risk of heart disease and other health problems tied to hormones. As a result, women who enter menopause early may want to work on controlling their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and other factors affecting their heart health.

Reducing risk of having stroke CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

lesterol) to LDL (bad cholesterol) ratio - more HDL and less LDL is the idea. Eating more vegetables and less trans fats will help.

years from one’s lifespan.

Getting tips, strategies, stories and encouragement from people who have successfully quit smoking can be inspirational. And if that doesn’t help, consider how smoking results in premature ageing.

Lose weight, especially around your abdomen You might be surprised at how easy it is to incorporate easy weight loss methods into your life. Not only can you find yourself dropping pounds, but by slowing down and being more mindful about your food, you may also find yourself enjoying meals much more.

Manage your diabetes People with diabetes are at a higher risk of stroke than the general population. This risk is much higher when the diabetes is poorly-managed and blood glucose levels are elevated over long periods.

It is important to take your diabetes seriously (even if you don’t feel “bad” from high blood sugar), which involves sticking to your treatment strategies,

A woman and a man jogging

among other things. This will not only go a long way in reducing your risk of stroke but also will help bring down the likelihood of other complications.

Get active We know we should be exercising, but many of us simply don’t like it - and when you don’t like to do something, it is very easy to find lots of excuses not to do it. Instead of starting from a place of trying to do something you simply hate to do, why don’t you wipe the slate clean and look at exercise from a new

PHOTO: atlantablackstar.com

perspective? Learn to like, even love, exercise, and it will be much easier to commit to an exercise habit.

Get balanced diet There are many opinions about what exactly constitutes a healthy diet, which often leaves the average person confused to the point that they give up.

However, there are some things that are pretty universal here -- more vegetables, less trans fats, fewer trips through fast food restaurants. Add fruit to increase your longevity and adopt an overall longevity

diet plan.

Limit alcohol Clearly, drinking heavily is bad for your health, but much research shows that two or fewer drinks per day can be good for you, especially red wine. Any more than that starts working against you and harming your health. Learn how heavy drinking increases stroke risk by 45 per cent and the link between alcohol and brain ageing.

Improve your good cholesterol The idea here is to improve your HDL (good cho-

Manage heart disease As we age, our hearts have to adapt to our changing bodies - our arteries lose flexibility, our heart walls thicken and it becomes harder for our hearts to keep up with increased demand. All of these things (and others) are made worse when we have heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, angina or other problems that can lead to heart attacks. There are several approaches to managing heart disease, which involve medications, diet and exercise - many of the same things that will also reduce risk of stroke.

Avoid stress We know that we feel worse when we are “stressed,” but there is also significant evidence that stress impacts the frequency of negative health events, like stroke. Depression also has serious physical consequences and can lead to victims neglecting their health.

Human body contains gold There is 0.2 milligrams of gold in your body, most of which is in your blood.

The human body contains gold, but itis not enough to strike it rich.

The body contains approximately 0.2 milligrams of gold that is most diffused with the blood. However, you would need to bleed 40,000 people dry just to collect enough blood to make an 8-gram souvenir.

Human skeleton gets renewed Your skeleton keeps renewing itself every ten years which means that every ten years you get a new skeleton.

Tasty treats Your mouth contains around 10,000 taste buds, most of which are located on and around the tiny bumps on your tongue.

However, the sense of smell is necessary for taste, too.

Colour of bones Did you know the colour of the human bones actually range from beige to light brown? The bones you see in museums are white in colour because they have been boiled and cleaned.

Long arteries If your arteries, veins and capillaries were laid out end to end, they would measure 62,137 miles (100,000 kilometers). That is nearly enough to stretch two and a half times around the planet!

A charged heart Since a human heart has its own electrical impulse, it can continue beating for a period of time even if it is separated from the body.

The length of DNA in our body If the entire DNA in your body were uncoiled, it would stretch out to about 10 billion miles, which is from Earth to Pluto and back.

The speed of human brain If the human brain were a computer, it could perform 38 thousand-trillion operations per second.

The world’s most powerful supercomputer, BlueGene, can manage only .002% of that.

THURSday, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Remi Adeseun is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Programme Director (Strategy), PSN/ Partnership For Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) Project. In this interview, he discusses the implications of Nigeria transiting from GAVI-supported nation and how government can increase funding for immunisation purposes.

APPOLONIA ADEYEMI reports What exactly is the Partnership For Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) initiative all about?

Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) is a very unique project that cuts across the continuum of care in child and family care, ranging from routine immunisation all the way down to treatment of childhood killer diseases.

The routine immunisation which is what brings us together is anchored by a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) called Community Health Research (CHR) initiative and they are very instrumental in bringing about what is now called the National Immunisation Finance Task Team. They were instrumental in convening the meeting where the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, initiated this task team and what is the purpose?

Nigeria has a huge dependence on partner support and donor support on vaccination, among other things and this task team is determined to find sustainable ways of mobilising domestic resource so that this dependence will wind off gradually. You may be aware of the fund that has been assisting in procuring vaccines for our people but the richer a country gets, the less qualified it becomes for aid.

So, in the next couple of years we (Nigeria) may be losing that status of beneficiary from GAVI, the global Vaccine Alliance created in 2000. GAVI brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.

Do you think that financing for pneu-

Health\INTERVIEW

‘Domestic resource, key to immunisation funding’

also that Blumberg also confirmed it that our GDP has come down to about $290 billion compared to when it was above $500 billion. We have to now find out what population figure are we using because when we say per capita it means divided by the total population.

So, are we using 160 million; are we using 170 million; are we using 180 million? The answer to what our per capita income is right now needs to be officially pronounced, either by the Ministry of Finance or Bureau of Statistics or whoever is the government agency that’s in charge of that. When that pronouncement is made then we can compare it to what the GAVI cut off is which is open on their website. Other things we need to know is that a country has to be at that level for three years before being eligible to come on or go off.

However, as an advocate for child and family health, we will appeal that GAVI authority should look at it critically so that the children of Nigeria don’t suffer. There is always a human side to everything.

Adeseun

monia and diarrhoea was adequately factored into the 2016 Budget?

I would say the 2016 Budget had a lot more that could have been done.

The first thing is that contrary to the provision of the law the National Health Act, NHA, provided for one per cent of consolidated revenue fund of the Federal Government to be compulsorily allocated for health and that money would have gone into primary health care, PHC, where basic illnesses from pneumonia and diarrhoea are treated.

So, the single absence of that fund itself is a clear admission of government side of inadequate funding as prescribed by law, not discretionally but fortunately the Minister of Health and other government agencies are working towards ensuring that the one per cent is included in the 2017 Budget so that the poor financing which is

Nigeria should not be a beggar nation

‘Underweight linked to death risk’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

weight is good for my health.

Being obese leads to a lot of diseases that I would like to avoid. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be fit and having a good body.”

With all these good reasons on losing weight, some do not even have a hint that being underweight can be risky. Hardly would one find a Nigerian willing to add weight.

Professor Oguntona, a Nutritionist said, “There are categories of impact in being under weight.

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One is underweight, another is chronically underweight, but all the levels of low BMI constitute health hazards. The normal BMI level is 18.5 but when BMI is getting to 25 or 30, then the patient is in trouble of Obesity.

However, when its going to 17.5, then the person can be said to be underweight. And that is indicative of low food intake, inadequate total energy intake, excessive energy output one of which is physical exercise. “It is a function of intake versus output.” When output is higher than input, then there is

a very high tendency of having low BMI.” Other factors being normal, a person who engages in excessive work out would lose weight and it would lead to low BMI.” He also enlightened on consequences of low BMI. “An underweight person would be weak and lethargic, some people would immediately tackle it from there but for those that don’t treat it, after a very long time, it can result in stroke, collapse of some tissues and even death, but it has to be over a long time.”

far from the target of Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent, is addressed.

What that means is that most health care needs are underfunded.

It is even worse for pneumonia and diarrhoea which are second and third biggest killers of Nigerian children under five.

Unlike malaria and HIV which have a lot resonance in the press and community, very few are actively aware of the danger that this pneumonia and diarrhoea potent and so we are pushing and asking that the government should increase the resource allocation and also include the awareness that the people have of recognising these.

They have got a policy now that that can help. It is called, ICCMA, Integrated Community Case Management Approach where the issues of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia will be managed by community health extension workers, CHEWS, who will be trained and supervised to be able to intervene at the PHC level.

Do you think GAVI should review its position and reconsider Nigeria as one of the countries that will be receiving GAVI assistance?

I think organisations like GAVI is very systematic in their approach; they don’t make decisions based on whims and caprices. They have laid down procedures which are openly advertised. So, the calculation that will determine whether you fall in as a GAVI eligible country is open and even you as a journalist can go and cross check it. It is about 1,500 to 1,600 dollar per capita.

So we heard from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, and I think

What steps should the government take to step up funding for immunisation?

I think this is one of the most important steps. It is first to have a clear strategy as to how the government can achieve improved domestic resource mobilisation.

With regard to the National Immunisation Finance Task Team, there are several facets to it. What we are here for today is the advocacy component which is bringing the awareness and evaluating the evidence for intervention and alternative strategy. That’s just one part.

There is a technical part which is local production part. So the first step the government has taken correctly is championed by NPHCDA is setting up this Immunisation Finance Task Team. They have the technical competence to go about it effectively and we should all support their effort by giving them all the publicity they require and by engaging with them to make sure they don’t jump the board along the line.

What is the massage to the Federal Government?

Nigeria should not be a beggar nation. Nigerians have to be more productive and key into “Change Begins with Me”. We have to look inward. Let’s encourage local manufacturing. Manufacturing vaccines health care and health care products are national security issues. If we quarrel with America or Europe and those products are restricted from coming here we will all be in trouble but we don’t need to wait for that kind of situation.

So, Nigerians should look inward in everything including health care and Nigerians should adopt a health-seeking behaviour. Don’t limit health seeking to yourself; ensure that everyone around you have their children immunised.

They are aware where the nearest local health center is and be curious as well as hold the government accountable.

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THURSday, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Elderly prone to heart disease – Don

Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness Oluwatosin Omoniyi

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A cross section of some elders at the lecture

Esther Bakare

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ne of the concerns of old age is cardiovascular disease which has led to the deaths of many elderly people in the country. Many died as a result of ignorance on how to live healthy during old age.

Approximately one in four adults aged 65 years or older have diabetes and patients with diabetes are at very high risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated morbidity and mortality.

This risk increases dramatically with age because the different systems that serve human body and mind undergo alterations during the ageing process as an unavoidable part of life.

In view of this, a Professor of Adult Education at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Prof, Oluwayemisi Obashoro-John decided to

D

establish a Foundation after her name, Oluwayemisi Obashoro Foundation (OLOF) which she uses as a platform to celebrate her birthday with the elderly by giving lectures on how to live healthy in old age.

This year’s lecture dwelt on cardiovascular disease in old age and how to avoid it.

Participants were counseled to avoid drinking alcohol and the consumption of unhealthy food especially as they advance up to 60 years of age. These will help the elderly prevent disease.

One of the participants, Mrs Christianah Fagbemi, National Secretary of Senior Citizens of Nigeria, said the lectures were educative and helped to improve the conditions of the elderly.

“My advice to old people out there is that once you are 60 years old, you should watch what you eat and you should join one of the associations of the elderly

iabetes is one of the commonest diseases in our society today. It used to be regarded as a disease of the rich and affluent. But now, it affects even the poor, no thanks to modern civilisation and urbanisation.

But what is diabetes? It is a metabolic disorder caused either by a deficiency of the digestive hormone called insulin or the inability of body cells to use available insulin. In talking about diabetes, there is one organ in the body, which requires attention. The organ is the pancreas.

Causes of diabetes Heredity: It is believed that heredity plays a part in the spread of diabetes. However, there is no explanation of how exactly this happens. While it is true to say that diabetes tends to run in families, it does not imply that everyone born into such families will develop the disease. Nor does it imply that those who do not belong to such families will never get the illness.

It is good to note that in families where diabetes tend to run, the members will have a tendency to the illness, but they may not develop the disease if proper precaution is taken. Some scholars have maintained that what is inherited is not the disease, but lack of the chromosome that will resist the illness.

Overweight It is said that 60 to 90 per cent of diabetics are overweight. High intake of protein and heavy calo-

groups. You could similarly contact Prof. Obashoro to fix you up in one of the groups.

M r.

E m m a nu e l Shobowale, a member of the Makoko Welfare for the elderly group said the event is very encouraging as it teaches elders how to age gracefully, what to eat as well as how to live comfortably.

He lamented that the country does not take proper care of elderly people.

“I had the opportunity to stay in the United States (U.S) for some time and I witnessed how old people were caterd for. It is very sad in this country that they don’t take care of the elderly.

“My appeal to the government is to look into this issue of proper care for the elderly so that they don’t die unnecessarily. Good care will help them age gracefully and they won’t die too early.”

philosopher once said, “holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

A recently updated research said that holding a grudge causes more mental pain than the person who did wrong. It causes physical pain as well. According to a study done by Hope College researchers, there are many health benefits of forgiveness that may make one rethink whether that grudge is really worth it or not.

Health benefits of forgiveness

Lowers stress levels One of the benefits of forgiveness is that it lower amounts of cortisol. Researchers examined 71 participants and their physical

responses when they spoke about grudges as opposed to when they spoke about forgiveness and empathy.

Those who exhibited more forgiving perspectives had lower physiological stress responses.

Keeps your heart healthy Forgiveness is good for the heart-literally. One study suggests that people who hold on to grudges tend to have higher heart rates, while those who are more empathetic and able to forgive tend to have lower heart rates. Why hold onto anger when it will make your heart do more work than it needs to do?

Lowers pain Having a forgiving heart may lower both emotional and physical pain, according to a study done by Duke University Medical Center researchers. Out of 61 sub-

Muritala Ayinla

M

edical experts in Lagos State have called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to ensure that pro-poor health services for common health problems initiated by the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2) are sustained.

The experts who also also lauded the Lagos

Nature

State Government for trailblasing efficient health service delivery in the country, said successive administration in the has been able to implement one reform or the other,which according to them, distinguished the state health service delivery from other states in the country.

Speaking at the symbolic handing over ceremony of the PATH 2 to the Lagos State Govern-

nation if we want to stay healthy.

Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

Lifestyle It has been said over and over again that wrong lifestyle is one of the major causes of diseases in general. But how many people are ready to listen? Even as food can nourish life, so can it also destroy life. When a mother feeds her baby with plenty of Coca-cola drinks, sugar, ice-creams, biscuits,

Any treatment of diabetes should begin with proper food combination

Lowers blood pressure Letting go of that anger you’ve been harbouring might lower your blood pressure. Studies show that forgiveness is linked to lower blood pressure.

Extends life Your grudges might be shaving years off your life.

According to one study, after testing adults ages 66 and older and determining their ability to forgive, those who were more forgiving in nature tended to live longer. Forgive, and you’ll live!

Experts charge Ambode on sustaining health initiatives

How to manage diabetes naturally

rie food will lead to overweight.

Overweight occurs when there is no balance between the intake of food and the digestion and utility of this food. As a result, extra calories are stored in the system.

To cope with these extra calories, the liver, kidney and pancreas have to do extra work. This overwork eventually leads to a breakdown of these vital organs.

jects who suffered from chronic back pain, those who were more likely to forgive reported lower levels of pain, leading researchers to believe that “a relationship appears to exist between forgiveness and important aspects of living with persistent pain.”

chocolate and other refined foods, she thinks she is “civilized” and making her child “civilized”, not knowing that she is destroying the life of her baby. When a man drinks beer and drinks expensive wines, eats plenty of red meat, drinks coffee with plenty of sugar, he says to himself: “I am enjoying life”, not knowing he is eating himself to death. It is therefore important to learn the art of proper food combi-

Fruits and vegetables

Wrong medication Self-medication has become the order of the day. Hospital bills are hardly affordable. People would rather go to chemists and get whatever drugs they want, than go to see a doctor. The wrong use of drugs, as well as long term use of some drugs, can damage the pancreas.

Chemical drugs are dangerous and so should be taken with care. One should avoid them if it is possible.

Of what use is chloraphenicol if it cures your typhoid but destroys your sight or hearing? Those who constantly take drugs such as asthma drugs, arthritis drugs, and contraceptive pills are in danger of damaging their pancreas.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

PHOTO: www.todayifoundout.com

ment, Dr. Ibironke Dada described PATH 2 as International Development (DfID)-funded project in Nigeria responsible for facilitating the efficient and effective use of Nigeria’s own resources to attain the MDGs by improving the planning, financing, and delivery of sustainable health service.

She said: “I believe that Lagos health sector is brink of series of reforms.

Red wine fights lung diseases

F

ans of red wine have a new reason to raise a glass — resveratrol, found in red wine and grapes, has been shown to fight a variety of respiratory diseases.

According to findings in the study published in the ‘Scientific Reports’, the researchers at Georgia State University found that resveratrol can help control inflammation brought by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and middle ear infections.

A senior author of the study, Dr. Jian-Dong Li said: “We showed that an important component in red wine and also grapes called resveratrol can suppress inflammation. It has been shown that resveratrol can suppress inflammation, but how it regulates inflammation still remains largely unknown.

We found that resveratrol suppresses a major bacterial pathogen causing otitis media and COPD.” Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. The two main types are acuteotitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME).

35

THURSday, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOM’S ALERT

Mom&Parenting Marriage is sharing; sharing of everything, sweet and bitter. It is an institution, where couples get prize for the years of their sharing instead of paying the price for marriage. But how else can one explain it, when couples, after exchanging marital vows to live together in happiness, for better, for worse are actually living single? Is it by design, self design or nature?

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI looks at the unusual agonies of such families

I

t was exactly eight years September 27 that Funmi Ayilara,28,(as at the time of the wedding) exchanged the marital vows with Abayomi Akindayomi. Friends and relatives gathered to wish them well. The wedding ceremony was blissful and glamorous. It was like a wedding planned from Heaven.

Unfortunately, the marriage ended almost immediately it started. For three weeks after the glitz and glamorous ceremony, Abayomi’s long chased dream of an American Visa sailed through and he traveled.

He went with the excuse that he was going for greener pasture.

He also promised that once he settles down, he would arrange how his young wife would join him. One year passed by, two passed by as well. In fact, five years passed by, Abayomi still did not arrange for Funmi to come to America. Neither did he visit home. Perhaps, he was actually yet to settle down. Eventually, by the seventh year, he opened up to his wife that he got married in America in order to get the Green card (the citizen card) and the marriage arrangement, popularly called ‘arrangee’ in Nigeria, would last five more years. By then, she would be

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Unhappy married couple

photo:www.theatlantic.com

Agonies of married, but single partners clocking 40 years. He convinced her that the Green card will enable them to live a comfortable life in America and they would able to have all their children over there.

Again, she agreed!

For a while, Funmi was able to keep her fidelity but along the way, and with the encouragement of friends and some family members, she succumbed to pressure from male admirers, especially as she had needs physically, spiritually and financially.

As she told New Telegraph: “The moment people know that a lady is married, there is little or nothing they can do to assist her. My parents were like, they have handed me over to my husband. So, he should shoulder the responsibilities. But where is the man?” She added that “I feel famished, body and soul.”

Ordinary, friends and family members should be sympathetic towards her but she was rather condemned for having a boyfriend.

Her mother was the first to cast the stone at her by calling her a ‘loose woman’. She said her mother told her that it is in a man’s nature to cheats on his wife, and not the reverse. After all, it is a man’s world.

According to her, one of her friends told her that it has become a sin onto her because she is legally married; therefore, what she did was a condemnable act. “Instead of sympathizing with me, she told me if I knew I couldn’t cope being single, I could have divorced my husband. I actually tried it but my parents forbade it,” she said.

Marriage exists only when the partners involved are living together

It was indeed a tortuous bondage of marriage for Funmi, as her father put it. At the end, Funmi’s wait seemed to be in vain as this year-2016 makes it the sixth year as against the five years Abayomi urged her to wait.“The man eventually called my daughter to tell her that he has actually fallen in love with the white woman whom he had the arrangee marriage with.

He told my daughter to go look for another man of her choice!

You can imagine such shabby treatment after the long wait and castigations on her by her mother, family and friends. Where will she start from?” He asked.

Grace Nnamdi, from Orlu in Imo state, is a nurse and mother of three. She has been in Texas, America for nine years going.

Her husband, Kingsley, a Lagosbased businessman has been distraught. They had planned for the wife to travel first and the husband and the children will join her a year later. But after six years of waiting and no signs of the union, Kingsley began with a threat of divorce.

He couldn’t bear his wife’s absence any longer. One day in his shop where he sells clothing materials in Agege, area of Lagos, Kingsley was so frustrated with the emotional torture that he shouted over the phone: “Will I send my penis to you by post or do you expect me to go put it in a pipe to get satisfaction?

Remember your promise of

Parents beware!

Parenting Peer pressure is overrated

36 36

commitment to this marriage!”

He told New Telegraph that he allowed his wife to go abroad because he saw other ladies in the same profession with his wife going there and coming back with admirable and envious testimonies. “I wanted her progress and I believe I should let her achieve it but it’s like I have shot myself in the leg now,” he said.

According to Kingsley, he has been under severe pressure from friends and family members to get married to another woman. The ladies also won’t let him be and truly, Kingsley is good looking with wad at his disposal. He said they are always willing to assist him in everything he does even when he does not solicit for their help.

For Foluke Adejumo, (not real name) 26, lamentation of regret has become her slogan. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone into this marriage. It is as if I was blindly guided into it,” she said. For Adejumo, it is awkward. By 8pm, thrice a week, she rushes home from wherever she may be. Why? To consummate the marriage online- through Skype!

Unlike the Akindayomis mentioned above, she has a baby girl (nine years old) to show for the wait. In her case, the man came home only four times in the 12 years of long wait. The rest of the marriage was done online!

However, marriage counselors frowned at married couples who are living single. They said it is ungodly and it leads to temptation. Like the old adage that says when two elephants fight, the grass suffers, children, they pointed out are usually the victims of suchmarriages. Laura Akintemi, a marriage counselor in Lagos, said children raised in intact married families: are more physically and emotionally healthier. They are less likely to use drugs or alcohol and to commit delinquent behaviours.

“They also have a decreased risk of divorcing when they get married and are less likely to become pregnant or impregnate someone as a teenager,” she said. Akintemi added that “a child living with a single mother is 14 times more likely to suffer serious physical abuse than a child living with married biological parents. A child whose mother cohabits with a man other than the child’s father is 33 times more likely to suffer serious physical child abuse.”

Pastor Shade Etomi of Mountain of fire and Miracle Ministry, (MFM) emphasized the importance of living together as it will have a profound effect on the well-being of both partners. “It will yield great joy and fulfillment or heartache and disappointment to the partners.

The principles are universal, as a foundation for marriage,” she said.

According to Etomi, marriage exists only when the partners involved are living together. She explained that if either of the partners is absent, then it is married but living single.

“You are married but remain single when it is only one person fighting the battles of two people alone,” she said. Such couples, she added are exposed to temptations and dangers.

36 MOM&PARENTING

THURSday, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

When it comes to the issue of peer pressure, the weaker value will be conquered by the stronger

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Peer pressure is overrated Parents beware!

D

ear readers sure you and the family had a great time celebrating Nigeria’s independence. I honestly believe that we and our precious children are safe in God’s hands in this great nation blessed beyond every cause.

Permit me to share with you today a topic that is very dear to my heart and I think I should share with you my dear readers today.

It is what we generally called peer pressure and it is discussed more when we discuss peer influences in the life our precious children, particularly teenagers.

Pressure is very common among young people. It is in fact one of the dreads of parents. They fear that their children may be influenced negatively by their peers to be involved in negative activities like truancy, drug use, bulling, sexual immorality and so many others too numerous to mention. I believe the fear of parents is predicated upon lack of confidence in the stability of the character of their children.

This lack of confidence stems from either of these two: first, parents have not taken time to build the inner being of their children by laying the building blocks of values, which are muscles of character and fortified to a point of almost invincibility by the force of positive example; second, parents have taken time to build the inner being of their children, but they are not sure of the training they have given their children as same is not even tested.

As result anytime their children are away from under their nose, they are gripped by fear.

Some parents have even become very paranoid that they accuse their children of vices they have never thought of engaging in. In some cases, it is the paranoia that introduced their children to the vices; they had earlier accused them of. Peer pressure is an advancement made by the value system, existing in one child or a group of children to another child or group of children, aimed at conquering or brining to subjection the values system of the child or group of children to whom the advancement is made.

The acceptance of such advancement is predicated on two factors: the first is compatibility of values and the second is vacancy of

defined value system in the one to whom the advancement is made. It does not matter that the one(s) making the advance is not able to articulate his value system. That he is not able to articulate the tenets of his value system does not necessarily remove from the potency of same; it does not stop it from catching with magnetic accuracy the person with whom the values system finds compatible resonance. The truth is power does not shift except for superior power. When it comes to the issue of peer pressure, the weaker value will be conquered by the stronger.

We have seen situation, where children attempted to pressure another into a kind of behavior and it is the attempting ‘pressurer’ who ended being pressured into the counsel of the one he sought to pressure. This happens both on the positive and negative side. How do we now ensure that our children have the upper hand in the game of peer pressure? We have to build their inner being by laying the building blocks of values, which are muscles of character and fortified to a point of almost invincibility by the force of positive example, upon the premises of knowledge, skills and attitude in total agreement with universal principle of human behavior.

I do not think it is wise to send our children to boarding school or to live with a relation until we have won them in terms of values and we are sure they can stand their ground on the values by which we live. We must be able to tell them, ‘my son, if sinners entice you, do not give in,’ and be sure that they will believe and act in accordance with our instruction. When we successfully build the character of our children, they will become the pressure point anywhere they go. They will become the centre of positive influence. If you doubt if it is possible for children and youth to abstain from vices and stick to strong moral values, in the face of raw opportunities, study the stories of men like Dr. Myles Monroe, Billy Graham and the rest.

I beg to retire at this point and I shall see you next week. I charge you to Think the CHILD, Think TODAY and Think the FUTURE. Do have an inspired week.

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

FEMININE’S WORLD In her lesser biology, she makes men tremble As her world is as calm like a river pebble Joining minds of men to doubt in double In heart and body she plays the ball to dribble From pillar to post her world is for fun as giggle Feminine with style, fragile for men to handle

In sonnet and other lines of literature woman is poetry In satire and words log, man is from the pen and pain In fruity and vegetable, woman is from the guava In livestock and forestry, man is from the mahogany In judgments of life, woman is of the appeal court In fact of the judiciary, man is of the supreme

An errand of sheep as viable as of the women The eagles eye on like the pretty angels around Women furnishes the soil, seed from man for the growth Women in heart loves the world as if she is the God Believing that all around here should be for them But for man is the woman, for the world is for man

Feminine is the call of consideration and reconciliation During war, women are left in the dark room to roam In the festival of life, women are in the light of the day At the market square, the best home for the second being Even in the farmland, her effort is mild and needed as a later Feminine! The easiest world of the most controversial being

The picture of love and caring soul is hers for real Her world just like serving duly in her master’s voice Complete property of the first living creator as better half Judgments of reality, countless are woman’s defect Where there is no woman, men might live as gods Woman is the pillar of brick behind the world of man

Feminine world as the dicey role in a call of troll Feminine world as the fresh flower at the river bank Feminine world as strong as the chicken eyes and egg Feminine world as light as the mountain of the Everest Feminine world as choked as the pitch of a soccer ball Feminine world as real as the way and skin of chameleon

O

nly recently I was oppor- had lost almost a third of her tune to watch the movie bodyweight with a dangerously Thinspiration aka Starv- low BMI of 14. ing in Suburbia. The story Before developing anorexia, revolves around Hannah, a beauti- Lucy was an outgoing, happy young ful 17 year old girl and her family woman who was interested in fash- mum, dad and a brother. While her ion, at 17, she became addicted to brother was a wrestler with their posting pictures of her skeletal dad as his coach, Hannah was a frame on ‘thinspiration’ sites and dancer. Theirs was a pretty much constantly checked the comments happy family until mom started that her virtual ‘friends’ left. Lucy noticing Hannah picked at her loved Googling weight loss tips food at meal times. Dad dismissed and trawling the pro-ana websites it as nothing only for it to get worse. looking at pictures of the girls with Hannah over time became with- their bones jutting out. She thought drawn and aggressive at the slight- they were beautiful and she so est confrontation. much wanted to be like them. She Hannah had visited with her started up her own blog, where she very good friend and she intro- posted pictures of her body, for othduced her to a website that gloried er people to judge. They’d say she being thin, that was Hannah’s in- was too fat and she just wanted to troduction to the dark world of an- please them by losing more weight. orexia. Hannah visited the website Despite weighing less than six and looked at pictures members stone, internet posters continuuploaded, all pictures of their very ally told Lucy that she was fat and thin bodies which they were very needed to lose more weight. It was proud to show off. Hannah wanted only when she collapsed from exto be like them. She signed up and haustion and could see what she other users were there to welcome was doing to her family - her illness her, answered her questions and was tearing her family apart, that encouraged her to avoid food, to she realized she needed help. She starve, share pictures of herself had to stop and she began to get with them, and better. Lucy’s words, never tell anyone.

“I was obsessed with what my online famEverything began to fall apart, ily thought of me and her relationship pleasing them - until When we hand our with her family, I realized what I was her friends, her doing to my real famkid a smartphone, dance career, her ily. I never want to go a tab, a laptop health, even her back to that place hair began to pull again’. with internet In case you have a off, yet her online friends assured teenager around you connection, it is her they would be who might be prone there for her. She to such, here are some our responsibility got thinner and anorexia symptoms to protect them parents can watch very unhappy.

Instincts out for: from the dark pulled mom to Sudden weight Hannah’s wardloss, school work world suffering, eating as robe where she found rotten food little as possible, overHannah’s been hiding, and cut-out exercising, leaving the table immepictures of extremely thin people. diately after meals to purge food, Alarmed, she confronted Hannah lying about how they have eaten, and things got out of hand. Han- making excuses not to eat, talking nah was taken to the hospital and obsessively about food, repeatedly a counselor was recommended. reading cookery books and recipes, Hannah refused to corporate until withdrawing from friends and famher brother whom she found later ily, hiding food and eating in prito be one of the users at the ‘pro- vate, cutting food into tiny pieces, ana’ website dropped dead in the drinking lots of fizzy or caffeinated wrestling ring. She didn’t want to drinks to provide an energy hit. die too; the pain would be too much One of Stacey’s lines in the for her parents. Hannah deleted her movie Thinspiration, was: “It’s membership from the website and just a website, it won’t hurt me…” made a commitment to recover.

But watching the movie one would I decided to look up ‘Thin- see just how much her addiction to spiration’ online and what did I the website hurt her and her famfind? Another teenage girl (17) ily so badly, and I though how all who almost died after her weight the pain and loss could have been plummeted to less than six stone saved by prevention instead. When as a result of an obsession with we hand our kid a smartphone, a anorexia blogs. Lucy (let’s call her tab, a laptop with internet connecthat), first began to obsess about tion, even TV is not left out, it is also her weight when at 15, she bought our responsibility to protect them an extra small dress and struggled from the dark world on the other to fit into it. Despite already be- side waiting to suck them in. It may ing a size six, Lucy crash dieted not be excessive dieting, it could be to lose five pounds to fit into it. drug, sex and pornography, gamOnce she did, she just carried on bling or any other form of addicdieting. Within 12 months Lucy tion. Parents beware!

BUSINESS | Money Line

thursDAY, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Naira appreciates as dollar IMF warns on record global debt E sales to BDCs pick up

Strengthening Local currency closed at N468/$ Tony Chukwunyem

ering when it gained N15 to close at N475/dollar ;ast Friday evening, the same rate it closed at on Monday and Tuesday.

It, however, closed negative at N310.24 on the FMDQ OTC platform.

Attributing the naira’s recovery on the parallel market to Travelex’s increased sales of dollars to BDCs, an operator in Lagos, Mr. John Akinluyi, said: “More BDCs are now buying dollars from Travelex and this has improved forex supply in the market. This is the reason

T

he naira strengthened to N468 to the dollar on the parallel market yesterday, gaining N7 as global forex dealer, Travelex, stepped up its sales of dollars to Bureaux De Change (BDCs), New Telegraph learnt.

The local currency, which had been on a free fall in recent weeks, losing about 15 per cent of its value to drop to a record low of N490/dollar at some point, started showing signs of recov-

for the naira’s appreciation in the last two days.”

He said that although Travelex was currently selling only $10,000 to BDCs per week instead of the $50,000 stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the situation was much better in terms of forex availability in the market compared to the acute dollar scarcity challenge that operators faced when they had to access forex from the banks.

Forex dealers told this newspaper that the naira’s current apprecia-

tion on the parallel market was not sustainable, as the liquidity challenge in the official interbank market was yet to be resolved.

It will be recalled that in a move aimed at reducing the huge gap between the official and parallel market rates of the naira, the CBN had in circular dated July 22, 2016 directed agent banks to approved Inter national Money Transfer Organisations (IMTOs) to sell foreign currency accruing from inward money remittances to licensed BDCs.

N330bn sanction forces MTN to Eurobond market Kunle Azeez

ing offered at a yield ranging from 5.375 per cent to 5.5 per cent, according to another person familiar with the matter.

MTN is also marketing a 10-year bond at about 6.5 per cent, the second person said, more than 80 basis points over the yield of its outstanding bond due in 2024.

“The initial guidance is quite generous, well over the existing bond, but there’s a lot of economic and regulatory uncertainty in both South Africa and Nigeria,” a senior analyst

Nigerian telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The telecoms company is seeking the fund from the sale of two dollar bonds, as it returns to the Eurobond market for the first time since 2014, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Johannesburgbased company is seeking to raise at least $500 million apiece from five- and 10year bonds, said the person, who asked not to be identified, as details are private.

The five-year note is be-

T

he N330 billion finally imposed on MTN Nigeria has left the MTN Group comatose, as the telecoms is seeking to raise more than $1 billion from Eurobond market to fund its capital expenditure, New Telegraph learnt yesterday.

According to Bloomberg, the company is seeking funds after it reported its first-ever half-year loss, partly caused by an agreement to settle a N330 billion (about $1 billion) fine with

at Manulife Asset Management in London, Richard Segal, told Bloomberg by phone.

MTN’s bond sale comes after South Africa last week raised $3 billion in its biggest Eurobond offering, taking advantage of demand for emerging-market debt.

The carrier’s global subscriber base of 233 million didn’t grow during the six months through June, while MTN is struggling to repatriate 15.4 billion rand ($1.1 billion) tied up in its Iran unit.

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

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 17.61

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 August, 2016

14 10.77 US$49.9 US$24,566,419,718

26/07/2016 Mar 2015 5/10/2016 29/9/2016 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

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

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

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

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

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

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

Money Market

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

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

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197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

ight years after the financial crisis, the world is suffering from a debt hangover of unprecedented proportions.

Gross debt in the nonfinancial sector has more than doubled in nominal terms since the turn of the century, reaching $152-trillion last year, and it’s still rising, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday.

The figure includes debt held by governments, nonfinancial firms and households.

Current debt levels now sit at a record 225per cent of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the IMF said in its semi-annual Fiscal Monitor, noting that about two-thirds of the liabilities reside in the private sector. The rest of it is public debt, which has increased to 85per cent of GDP last year from below 70per cent.

Slow global growth is making it difficult to pay off the obligations, “set-

ting the stage for a vicious feedback loop in which lower growth hampers deleveraging and the debt overhang exacerbates the slowdown”, said the Washington-based fund.

“Excessive private debt is a major headwind against the global recovery and a risk to financial stability,” IMF fiscal chief Vitor Gaspar said in prepared remarks. “History has taught us that it is very easy to underestimate the risks associated with private debt during the upswing.”

The massive debt load complicates the task for global policy makers, who have been urged to use fiscal policy to boost growth amid the waning ability of central banks to stimulate the economy.

Finance chiefs and central bankers from the IMF’s 189 member nations meet this week in Washington for the annual meeting of the fund, which was conceived during the Second World War to oversee the world monetary system.

‘AMCON needs judges’ support to recover Nigeria’s assets’

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two-time former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi SAN, has called on judges in the country especially the ones that handle cases concerning the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and its debtors, to put pressure on the obligors to repay the huge debts, which he said was capable of revitalising the economy if recovered.

Agabi who spoke at the just concluded Judges Forum of the Federal High Court in Abuja, also praised the Federal Government for conceptualising and creating AMCON in 2010.

He added that the

country’s economy would have been worse than it is presently, if the Corporation was not established to restore sanity Nigeria’s financial system. He said now that the country is experiencing recession, it is the duty of every well-meaning Nigerian to join the war AMCON is fighting to recover Nigeria’s assets from a few greedy individuals.

Insisting that the judiciary is the only arm of government that has the capacity to expand its powers to save a nation, Chief Agabi noted that the success and survival of AMCON so far was due to the hard work of the judges and the justice system because the law is what the judge says it is.

IFC’s new platform to mobilise $5bn for infrastructure investments

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he International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched an innovative programme that aims to raise $5 billion from global institutional investors to modernise infrastructure in emerging markets over the next five years.

This would open up a new stream of capital flows to improve power, water, transportation and telecommunications systems in developing countries.

The initiative, called MCPP Infrastructure, according to a statement, builds on the success of IFC’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme, a loan-

syndications initiative that enables third-party investors to participate passively in IFC’s senior loan portfolio. In its first phase, the programme allocated $3 billion from the People’s Bank of China across 70 deals in less than two years. It demonstrated how large investors can benefit from delegating the processes of deal origination and approvals to IFC. The first partnership under the programme was signed with the global insurance company Allianz.

Under the agreement, Allianz intends to invest $500 million, which will be channeled into IFC debt financing for infrastructure projects in emerging markets..

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

thursDAY, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

thursDAY, october 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market down by N92bn BEARISH Sell pressure dominates market activities as bargain hunters retreat

Stories by Chris Ugwu

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday continued to witness sell pressure after it began the fourth quarter of the year on the negative note.

The overall performance measures, NSE ASI and market capitalisation, fell by 0.95 per cent.

This was due to sustained profit taking by bargain hunters in the wake of cautious optimism that had pervaded the market following upset in

the financial sector.

Consequently, the AllShare Index shed 268.53 basis points or 0.95 per cent to close at 28,009.40 index points as against 28,277.93 recorded the previous day, while market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N92 billion or 0.95 per cent to close lower at N9.620 trillion as against N9.712 trillion.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 187.2 million shares in 3,132 deals was recorded in the day’s trading.

The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 96.8 million shares exchanged by investors in 993 deals.

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access

Bank Plc and UBA Plc. Also, other financial institutions sub-sector, boosted by the activities in the shares of FCMB Plc and United Capital Plc followed with a turnover of 31.03 million shares in 332 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session

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and Emerging Markets Committee, Ranjit Ajit Singh, said: “The report is an important and timely assessment of the progress of emerging markets in aligning their regulatory frameworks and practices with global standards. It makes useful recommendations to address issues associated with corporate governance in emerging markets. It also demonstrates the commitment by emerging market regulators to enhance corporate governance standards and reinforce resilience in their markets.”

Executive Chairman of CVM Brazil and Chair of the Task Force that conducted the work, Leonardo Pereira said: “Securities regulators face, on a daily basis, problems that could be avoided or mitigated by the practical implementation of corporate governance principles and standards. In this sense, I expect the report to be a concrete opportunity

N39.90 and N1.26 per share respectively. Transcorp Hotels Plc gained 4.97 per cent to close at N5.28 per share.

On the flip side, PZA Cussons Plc led the losers’ chart with a drop of 9.71 per cent to close at N18.69 per share.

Carvrton Plc followed with a loss of 8.57 per cent to close at 64 kobo per share, while Flour Mills Plc dropped by 4.98 per cent to close at N20.05 per share.

FirstBank partners NESG on economic summit

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irst Bank of Nigeria Limited is partnering the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to host the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#22) with the theme: ‘Made in Nigeria.’

The confab, which is scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will highlight the significant role of public-private sector dialogue in national trans-

Emerging market regulators seek firm corporate governance

he Growth and Emerging Markets (GEM) Committee of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has published a report that seeks to strengthen corporate governance frameworks.

The study on corporate governance in emerging markets identifies possible measures and regulatory approaches aimed at strengthening corporate governance in emerging market jurisdictions and aligning regulatory frameworks with internationally recognised standards in this area.

The report is the first review of its kind by securities regulators on current corporate governance practices in emerging markets benchmarked against the revised G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (OECD Principles).

Vice Chair of the IOSCO Board and Chair of the Growth

was 20, while decliners closed at 22.

Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that FCMB Plc topped the gainers’ table with 6.31 per cent to close at N1.18 per share, while Okomu Oil Plc and Diamond Bank Plc followed with five per cent each to close at

39

for securities regulators to consider possible ways for improvements in their regulatory frameworks, favoring sounder conduct standards and more effective governance structures.”

According to a statement obtained from IOSCO’s website, the report focuses on three key areas: board composition and responsibility; remuneration and incentive structures; and risk management and internal controls.

The report is based on a comprehensive survey across regulators, exchanges, listed companies, institutional investors and other stakeholders on corporate governance practices in emerging market jurisdictions.

The study reflects that the regulatory frameworks in emerging market jurisdictions are generally aligned with the recommendations of the OECD Principles.

formation. The event is projected to drive consciousness and build national consensus on what is urgently required to rebuild, revamp and reinforce public-private dialogue for a collaborative and an all-inclusive economic growth.

It would also be a platform to drive stakeholders’ deliberation on the practical issues, opportunities, policies and regulations required to achieve a successful actuali-

sation of “Made in Nigeria” mantra through conscious and sustainable efforts to patronize made in Nigeria products and services.

According to the MD/ CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, “FirstBank supports initiatives that create opportunities for the advancement of inclusive and sustainable growth of the Nigerian economy.”

GTBank MD gets CEO of the year award

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anaging Director/ CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, has emerged the 2016 Ai Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) 30 CEO of the year the 9th annual Ai CEO Investment Summit which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Launched in 2007, the Ai Institutional Investment and Capital Market Awards is the only pan-African Awards designed to recognise Africa’s best performing stock exchanges, listed companies, investment banks, research teams, regulators, socially responsible companies and sovereign wealth and pension fund investors.

The investment and business leadership awards aim to reward exceptional business practices, economic achievements and investments across Africa, whilst recognising the institutions

and individuals improving the continent’s investment climate.

According to CEO of Africa investor, Hubert Danso “we are proud to honour a prolific business leader whose contributions across the continent has raised Africa’s profile as a viable international investment destination. In winning this award, GTBank’s CEO, Segun Agbaje, has displayed astute foresight in positioning the GTBank brand at the forefront of the African banking industry by providing alternative approaches to inclusive banking and economic growth across the continent.”

Commenting on the award, Agbaje said: “I am humbled and happy to be recognised as the 2016 Ai Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) 30 CEO of the year. This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the amazing team of people at GTBank.”

40

News|south-west

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekiti APC lauds teachers over NECO feat Buhari’s corruption war useless if Ondo injustice subsists –Abraham despite challenges of poor

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has commended teachers in the state for their students’ performance in this year’s result of the National Examination Council (NECO).

It however attributed the brilliant feat attained by the students in the NECO examination to a solid foundation of strict adherence to education policy laid by Dr. Kayode Fayemi while congratulating the teachers on this year’s anniversary of Teachers’ Day. APC in a statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun described the students’ NECO performance as a reflection of the teachers’ hard work and professionalism, saying the teachers deserved commendation and encouragement

work conditions imposed on them, including six months salary arrears by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

He said: “APC salutes the teachers for their hard work and dedication to duty, which culminated in the brilliant performance of Ekiti students in this year’s NECO examination.

“We also acknowledge conducive work environment and attention to teachers’ welfare provided by APC administration, which introduced Teachers’ Core Subjects and Rural Posting allowances, including prompt payment of salaries.

“It is on record that the last administration approved the teachers’ pecuniary allowance and relativity pay, which made Ekiti the only state that first started that policy in the South West.”

Fayose to Buhari: Stop blame game, take responsibility for recession Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to accept responsibility for the economic recession in the country, asking him to stop passing the buck to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Governor Fayose said Nigerians voted for a change for better and an improved Nigeria in 2015, noting that should the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government fail in acting and making people see and experience useful and meaningful change, ‘Nigerians will change the change’.

He said: “What we voted for in 2015 was plenty and bountiful blessing and not economic recession. Today, Nigerian teachers can no

longer afford three-square meals a day.

“Nigerians are not begging for too much, what they wanted is to change their fortunes for better.

President Buhari must stop complaining. He must address this recession that is killing Nigerians.”

He however commended the teachers for doing enough to make Ekiti come tops in the 2016 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Examination results in the country.

Fayose, who spoke yesterday while addressing the teachers at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state in commemoration of the 2016 World Teachers’ Day, donated N50 million to teachers in the state and a two brand new Kia Rio cars to the best teachers in public primary and secondary schools.

Ekiti Assembly in turmoil over committee chairman’s sack Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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he sack of Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, representing Ikole Constituency 1 as Chairman of the Ekiti Assembly’s Information Committee has generated fresh crisis as the Assembly has allegedly replaced him with Samuel Omotoso, representing Oye Constituency 1.

Aribisogan had earlier appeared before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges headed by Hon. Samuel Jeje during which a purported audio recording capturing his (Aribisogan’s) voice was played.

The embattled lawmaker was alleged to have had a secret meeting with Senator Buruji Kashamu,

representing Ogun East and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) at a Lagos hotel with a purpose of working against the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Aribisogan, in a reaction, described the allegation as mere fabrication and the audio tape said to be played at the panel sitting to indict him as “a superimposed voice-over to tarnish my reputation.”

Speaking with journalists on phone yesterday shortly after appearing before the panel, Aribisogan insisted those interested in occupying his seat as House Chair and gaining advantage on the forthcoming elections in the state were behind the entire drama.

lNWC member: Akinyelure lied on primaries

Babatope Okeowo and John Chuks

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gover norship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Dr Segun Abraham, yesterday said the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government will be rubbished if the governorship primaries that produced Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the candidate of the party is upheld.

Also, Abraham said the APC should kiss the November 26 governorship election in the state goodbye if Akeredolu’s name was not removed by the leadership of the party before the deadline allowed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking with some leaders of the party in Akure, the state capital, Abraham wondered if the party and President Muhammadu Buhari would encourage corruption in their party by allowing someone who emerged through fraudulent governorship primaries to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming election.

According to him, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Vice-Chairman of APC in the South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the Appeal Committee had described the governorship primaries as fraudulent and asked for a fresh one.

He said: “I am very disappointed with the chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that he does not read the Electoral

Act and the Constitution.

It is the same Oyegun who undemocratically sent the name of Akeredolu to INEC. He should write INEC and tell them that he has committed blunder; I did not want to say he has committed fraud being an elderly person. He should apologise to the people of Ondo State, Nigerians and to President Buhari.

“By his singular action, he has rubbished the anti corruption stance of Buhari’s government; by his singular action, he has rubbished the psyche of Nigerians telling them to do what they like and they would do that by voting them out come November 26.

“After a long time, Chief Akinyelure who is that National Vice Chairman has come out openly to say what transpired at NWC meeting.”

Meanwhile, the party’s South South National Vice Chairman, Prince Eta Hillard yesterday stated that his colleague at the National Working Committee, the South West NVC, Dr. Pius Akinyelure lied on his account on the Ondo State governorship primaries that was conducted on September 3. Hillard, who spoke at the APC press centre in Abuja stated that Akinyelure account was capable of deceiving party members and the public.

Akinyelure, who on Tuesday spoke for the first time on the Ondo State governorship primaries won

by Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu alleged that the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso manipulated the delegates list.

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adegbule; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT),Lagos State, Otunba Adesegun Raheem and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi at 2016 World Teachers’ Day celebration with theme:’’ Valuing Teachers, Improving their status’’ in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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o fewer than 50 secondary school teachers in Ogun State have died within the last one year over alleged failure by the state government to remit their cooperative deductions and bank loans.

The state Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, disclosed this in Abeokuta during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers Day. The event, with the theme “Valuing teachers, improving their status,” featured special anniversary lecture and conferment of awards on outstanding personalities.

Lasisi said the non-pay-

Unpaid deductions: ASUSS laments death of 50 Ogun teachers ment of statutory benefits to the teachers running into several months had become worrisome, urging the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to release the “trapped funds.”

He also appealed to the government to make available more teaching personnel, noting that deaths, retirement, change in job and duty posts had drastically reduced the number of teachers in the state public schools,saying that

2.41m

The total number of CDMA subscribers as at December 2014.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

the situation had further threatened productivity, efficiency, output, quality and lives of teachers.

According to him, the unremitted cooperative societies’ funds, bank loans, unions’ check off dues and sundry deductions had reduced the lifespan of many teachers.

Lasisi said: “Ogun State secondary school sector of teaching has lost as many as 50 of its workforce to the cold hands of death and unfortunately, we are still

2.9%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Botswana in 2000.

Source: Itu.int

Lagos intensifies traffic enforcement Muritala Ayinla

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agos State government yesterday said that it would intensify sensitisation of motorists as well as enforcement of the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 to ensure accident-free ‘ember’ months.

The government which also vowed to ensure that drivers must attend the Lagos State Drivers’ Institutes, LASDRI across the state to get training and re-training once in year, said that human error was responsible for some of the road accidents recorded in the state.

Speaking at a sensitisation of workshops held in various parks for Tipper drivers and commercial vehicles drivers in Ogolonto, Agric, Sabo, and Odongunya, all in Ikorodu area of the state, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Drivers Institute, Mr

counting.

“Many of our colleagues whose lives were cut short in active service to their dear state might not have died if their cooperative societies had had their deductions released as and when due by the government.

“What is more worrisome is the fact that these funds have long since been trapped or unnecessarily saved in government’s coffers ever before Nigeria strolled into economic recession.

“Today, teachers are practically being forced to beg for their possession kept in the hands of their employers.”

Philip Ogunlade, said the agency was worried by the high rate of human and material losses during ‘ember’months.

This, according to him had informed the theme of the campaign entitled ‘Life is worth Living-Drive safely’, adding that motorists in the state need to be safety conscious always, especially when on the wheel.

News|SOUTH-EAST

THURSDAY, oCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ECOWAS court hears Kanu’s suit November 8 Tunde Oyesina and Charles Onyekwere

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he ECOWAS court has fixed November 8 for definite hearing of a suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government over an alleged breach of his fundamental rights.

Justice Micah Wright, had adjourned the case for definite hearing following an application by the Federal Government seeking an adjournment on the grounds that its lawyer was having another matter before another court.

There was no pronouncement as to award of cost.

Earlier, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had opposed the application for adjournment and request-

ed that a fine of N1 million be slammed on the Federal Government for having no legal representation.

Kanu had in the suit joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) as defendants.

He is asking for $800 million in damages for the alleged violation of his human rights and an order directing his uncondition-

al release and his personal belongings.

He also prayed the court to direct the defendants to respect, protect and promote his rights to life, liberty, freedom of movement, assembly and expression.

Kanu also wants the ECOWAS court to declare that his arrest and detention since October 14, 2015 by the defendant was in flagrant disobedience to

several orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.

He also prayed the court to declare that his continued detention was a violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter of 1970.

Meanwhile in his reaction to the stalled case, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, posited that

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government has abandoned the case and ran out of genuine reason to continue to hold its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement, Emma said, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide has condemned the Nigerian Government, the security agents and APC for running out of fact in the case concerning our leader, Prophet Nnamdi Kanu.”

Touts defile govt order, take over Aba roads Victor Mba ABA

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directive by the Abia State government warning touts to steer clear of Aba roads has been defiled as scores of able bodied young men have taken over some major roads in the city. These touts are in the habit of harassing and intimidating motorists who operated in and outside the city, forcing them to pay various sums of money for picking passengers on the highway.

Besides, these touts had been a thorn in the

Bauchi State Governor, Muhammed Abubukar (left), with Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, during an official visit to Rochas Foundation in Bauchi …yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Victor Mba Aba

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he Commanding Officer 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Kasim Sidi, has read the riot act to publishers of incisive magazines and newspapers in Abia State.

Speaking to a delegation of newspaper distributors at Asa High School barracks in Ukwa East Local Government Area, Sidi noted that such magazine and newspapers had in the past planted seed of discord in Aba and its environs. He noted that the offensive contents of these publications which were capable of planting seed of disunity had been outlawed and should not

Enugu governor lauded over road project

Military to sanction publishers of R offensive magazines, newspapers be distributed.

According to him, “Most demonstrations that were hijacked by hoodlums resulting in clashes between protesters and security operatives were as a result of these publications. The military had spread his dragnet to get the publishers of these magazines and newspapers and hand them over to the law”.

Sidi further advised the executives of the vendors in Aba to educate their members on the dangers of distributing such offensive publications.

“There is the need for you, the enlightened

ones to engage in public enlightenment of your members to know that it is unlawful to sell such publications that tend to divide and threaten the unity of the country. Even though it is the responsibility of the Police, the military cannot fold her arms and see these publications sold freely in the city”, he said.

He assured the vendors that the army will protect anyone that sells nationally approved magazine or newspaper, even if it carried story on the Biafran struggle, saying it is only those with illegal and unregistered tabloids

that will be arrested. He further assured them that the military hard worked round the clock to protect them from criminals at their base at St. Michael’s Road, Aba. In his speech, Chairman of the Newspaper Distribution Association, Mr. Ike C. Ike, said the visit was to create a cordial atmosphere between vendors and the army and to plead with the Commander to give them more time to educate their members on the need to distribute newspapers and magazines that are duly recognized by government.

Ebonyi begins prosecution of building offenders Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

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bonyi state government yesterday said it will from the end of this month begins prosecution of landlords whose structures were erected on the roads, streets and water ways.

It also said it will prosecute those who built structures on their landed property without the approval of the government.

flesh of tricycle operators popularly called keke. In their mode of operation they had divided various major roads into what they describe as ‘pits’.

Every tricycle operator must load at the pit and be made to pay between N80 and N100 for each trip.

Eke Edwin, a commercial driver, said the operation of these touts had discouraged transporters from coming to Aba. He said, “I operate from Port Harcourt to Aba on daily basis and each trip is hell. It is either I lost my side mirror or had my windscreen broken by these touts.”

The Chairman, Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board, Chief Fred Udeogu, stated this in an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki.

He said the measure was to checkmate building collapse, flood and blockade of roads and streets in the state.

“There were approvals that were made before now and some of them were made in error and we find it very difficult

to correct them but in most cases, we insist that the right thing must be done. You will go to some places where somebody will erect a structure with archaic plan. A man brought us approval that was made in 1991 and proudly said he has building approval.

“We are moving towards getting approval from the governor to start taking offenders to court and it will start happen-

ing from the end of this month because there is no better way of enforcing the law other than taking offenders to court.

“A lot of people don’t know that you don’t need to excavate your foundation without the approval from the board. A lot of people don’t know that they need to have building completion certificate to certify that the building they have is good enough for human being to live,” he said.

esidents of Enugu have expressed delight over the commencement of asphalt placement on roads with potholes in the metropolis by the agency handling maintenance of roads in the state, the Nigerian Construction and Foundation Company (NCFC).

The residents applauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for keeping to his promise to commence the final placement of asphalts “once the weather is dry”, saying he had demonstrated his commitment towards ameliorating the plight of the people, especially road users.

The governor had

through the road maintenance agency’s chairman, Amb. Goddy Agbo, explained to the public that all potholes in Enugu metropolis had been identified and marked while “cutting, shaping and regulation of levels of the identified potholes are in progress”.

He also assured the people that “the final sealing (asphalts) of the affected areas will be done when the weather is dry”.

A cross section of Enugu residents who spoke on the exercise noted that it will reduce traffic gridlock being encountered on the roads in the metropolis.

Aba ready for Kumuyi’ s crusade Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

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ba, the commercial nerve center of Abia State is ready for the one day crusade and combined service of the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry (DLCM) Worldwide, Pastor (Dr.) William Kumuyi.

Tagged “Glorious Liberation Sunday Worship Service,” the service is one of the crusades Pastor Kumuyi has been holding across the country.

The crusade, according to the Abia State Overseer of the Church, Pastor Da-

mian Umeh, would hold at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba on Sunday, October 9, with expected turnout of over 100,000 persons from across Abia and neighbouring states.

Briefing journalists on the state of preparedness at the church’s camp ground, Umugo off Enugu-AbaPort Harcourt Expressway, the State Overseer said that all was ready for the special service as the people were expectant. He added that the combined church service would provide opportunity for people to receive impartation of the word of God through the teachings and prayers of Kumuyi.

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News|SOUTH-SOUTH

THURSDAY, oCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group urges Buhari to strengthen anti-graft agencies Clement James Calabar

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to strengthen legal and anticorruption institutions in the country to give verve to the war against corruption in the country.

A group, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, gave the advice yesterday while launching its anticorruption project entitled; “Voices for Compliance and Legality (VOCAL) Project in Calabar.

The group’s Programme Manager, Cletus Aloke, said for corruption to be fought outrightly in the country, government must strengthen institutions such as the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies as well as lay down punitive measures to serve as deterrent to others.

“Corruption is the biggest problem of Nigeria and this is because over the years, institutions have been weakened and they have been left to rust while corruption has flourished. Until these institutions are strengthened, the fight against corruption may

be futile.

“Corruption in Nigeria is so endemic that it constitutes a parallel system and has been accepted as a way of life in the society. It is the primary reason for poor policy choices, wastages and of course, bare-faced theft of public resources.

It is the main reason why a potentially prosperous country struggles to feed itself and provide jobs for millions.”

Giving reasons why corruption thrives in the country, the group listed inadequate virile political and social movements to tackle corruption, inadequate access to public information, low public participation in governance and weak law enforcement institutions as some of the causes of corruption.

It insisted that procurement compliance and transparency ranking portal for MDAs be established while the capacity of Civil Society Organisations should be built to, not only monitor procurement processes, but also conduct corruption assessment risks.

Ogoni fault Buhari’s independence remarks on clean-up Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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he people of Ogoni in the Niger Delta have faulted the Independence Day anniversary comment made by President Muhammadu Buhari, where he made reference to the clean-up of Ogoniland in line with the recommendation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo flagged-off the campaign in June while Buhari inaugurated the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Trust Fund for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the clean-up in August.

In Bodo community, the take-off point for the cleanup, the surrounding river remains polluted, while Ogoni youths within and outside the community look for means to partici-

pate in the exercise.

Fishermen in the area are also finding it difficult to ply their trade after some of them benefited from the compensation a United Kingdom court ordered Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to pay to the people of Bodo whose means of livelihood was affected from spills from its pipes.

They have lately been complaining of deteriorating condition in their businesses caused by environmental pollution.

President of the Ogoni Indigenous Authority, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, recently condemned the approach to the clean-up, noting that it runs foul of international standard.

“The President’s intentions have created considerable confusion and resentment. Either Buhari is conflicted, ‘tricked’ by ‘parties’ that corrupted the UNEP report or just politics as usual.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (left), acknowledging cheers from jubilant residents after inaugurating the reconstruction of Bonny Jetty at the Bille/Bonny/Nembe waterfront in Port Harcourt …yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Armed group rejects Wike’s amnesty, gives conditions Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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n armed group operating in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State, which has witnessed some of the most violent crimes, yesterday rejected the amnesty offer advanced

by Governor Nyesom Wike in a bid to check criminality in the state.

The group, which calls itself the Egi Freedom Fighters (EFF), said it would only accept the amnesty if the state government meets its demands, alleging that a multinational oil giant had been sponsoring the military to carry out attacks on their

Ola James Warri

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fresh crisis is looming in Delta State between youths of Urhobo and Ijaw communities in the state.

Youths of Otovwodo (Agbassa) community in Warri South Local Government Area and those of Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state were engaged in a face-off over an alleged molestation of Urhobo female traders by youths of Ogbe Ijoh community in

communities.

According to a statement issued by the group’s spokesperson, Jenniffer Black, some buildings in Obiezemini in Egi were destroyed by state forces allegedly sponsored by this oil giant, stressing that it wants the buildings to be rebuilt.

The group also wants their members in custody to be released unconditionally, just as it wants employment and empowerment opportunities to be created for the people of the area.

Black said: “We demand the rebuilding of all houses damaged in Egi communities by security forces and the release of all the people arrested during the raid

of Egi communities. Any skills acquisition and scholarship programme must come from the multinational oil company and not from the state government.

“The multinational oil company must create jobs for youths of host communities and maintain all existing structures in the communities. Beneficiaries of scholarship opportunities must be the less privileged in the community. The company must also create special opportunities for the widows whose houses were affected by the raid.

Meanwhile, Governor Wike yesterday said the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) cannot rig the forthcoming National Assembly rerun elections in the state, the way it allegedly rigged the governorship election in Edo State.

Wike said any attempt by INEC to rig in Rivers will be resisted by the people, just as he said that security operatives won’t be allowed to replicate what they did in Edo. The governor, who made the remarks while flagging off the reconstruction of Bonny Jetty at the Bille/ Bonny/Nembe Waterfront in Port Harcourt, said the people of the state were ready for any plan by INEC to deprive them of their mandate.

Urhobo, Ijaw youths in fresh crisis the area.

The report further said that there were sounds of sporadic gun shots in the area, causing panic among residents and traders of the nearby Main Market since on Monday October 4, when the crisis started.

In a telephone chat with our correspondent, the Warri Police Area Commander, ACP Muazu Mohammed, confirmed that there was a faceoff

between youths of the said communities in the market, saying that the situation has been put under control as he advised law abiding residents to go about their business without fear.

The police boss, who said he invited leaders of the warring communities, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Hon. Matthew Mofe Edema and leaders of the estranged market

women for a meeting aimed at brokering peace on the matter, called on the Delta State government to urgently find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis between the female fish sellers and the people of Ogbe Ijoh community.

It will be recalled that the market has recorded series of questionable fire outbreaks more than any market in the state.

PDP flays APC over comments on Dickson Be resolute, NSCIA charges Edo gov-elect T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Seriake Dickson was wasting a generation of youths in the state by refusing to pay for their school certificate examinations with the West African Examinations Council as mischievous.

The party said the APC

was not only being ‘mischievous’ in its comments but was also displaying total ignorance about what happened.

A statement by the Bayelsa State Chairman of the PDP, Moses Cleopas, yesterday said the allegation was a deliberate deceit to score cheap political points.

He said the APC had no

moral justification to criticise the Dickson’s administration, because ‘what Bayelsa State was going through was as a result of the misrule by the APC led government at the centre.’

Cleopas said the misrule of the APC ‘has completely ruined the nation’s economy through its inability to initiate policies to reinvigorate the economy.’

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Edo State chapter yesterday charged the state Gover nor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to be resolute and dogged in achieving the goals he has set for the state.

It also urged him to be accessible to the people while also listening to complaints of the people.

The state Chairman of the council, Alhaji Yusuf Bako, made the charge when members of the body paid a congratulatory visit to Obaseki in his office in Benin.

Accompanied by Halhajia Aminatu Moti, of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bako described Obaseki’s victory at the September 28 governorship election as the will of God. He said “we are happy with the build-up that led to your victory.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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he leadership tussle rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level has permeated the Benue State chapter of the party as its factional National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Tuesday inaugurated a parallel State Executive Committee of the party.

To this end, the party has been divided into two strong factions with former governor of the state, Dr. Gabriel Suswam leading the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction, while Chief Abu King Shuluwa is leading the Sheriff’s faction.

Sheriff was represented at the inauguration which took place at the Makurdi residence of former military governor of Katsina State, Senator Joseph Akaagerger by the Chairman of the PDP Elders Forum in the state, Chief Shuluwa.

Shuluwa told party faithful at the event that the inauguration of the state Exco was coming after the conduct of con-

News|north

Benue PDP crisis deepens as Sheriff inaugurates factional exco gresses by the faction from the ward and local government levels, saying that the congresses were conducted in conformity with the laid down procedure of electing party officials as enshrined in the PDP Constitution.

Shuluwa, who condemned the emergence of the John Ngbede-led exco of the party, which he said did not follow due process as regards zoning of offices, noted that it was unfortunate that some self-centred people handpicked some people and imposed them on party

members as their leaders without recourse to zoning arrangement.

“What happened the other time could not be said to be congresses. People were just handpicked without looking at the zoning formula. For instance, the position of State Secretary which ought not to have remained in Zone A was still foisted on the people just as that of Deputy Chairman who ordinarily ought to have moved to another Zone. You do not have third terms in party executives and that is why as concerned members of

the party, we have taken up the challenge in ensuring the enthronement of a genuine party leadership as exemplified by what you have just witnessed today,” Shuluwa stressed.

He charged the newly inaugurated state leaders to go back to the grassroots with the message of fair play in the party with the offer of constructive and objective criticisms on issues of governance.

In her remarks, the Deputy National Woman Leader of the faction, Mrs. Hannatu Ullam, assured the new Exco of

support from National Working Committee of the party and urged them to rededicate themselves towards reconciling aggrieved members as well as repositioning the party for victory in subsequent elections.

In his inaugural address, the new state Chairman of the party, Hon. Dan Ale, thanked members for the opportunity given the elected officers to serve, and promised to reconcile with aggrieved members as well as work for the growth of the party in the state and at national levels.

L-R: APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Malam Inuwa Abdulkadir; former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and author of President Buhari’s biography, Professor John N Paden, after a meeting in Abuja.

-4.7%

The percentage by which the total number of Insurance Index of the NSE dropped from Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

$1.08bn

The total amount of the Conglomerates sector of the Nigeria Stock Exchange for 2014 Q4.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

Bauchi: Group berates critics over dissolution of district areas Teachers bemoan effects of recession Ahmed Sani KATSINA

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Katsina-based political pressure group, the Barisiya Youth Progressive Democrats, has lashed out on the critics of Governor Mohammed Abubakar’s administration following the dissolution of the newly created districts and village areas by the immediate past administration of Governor Isa Yuguda in Bauchi State.

The group, led by its Chairman, Comrade Iliyasu Isah, noted that for any individual or group

of people to kick against the dissolution of the new district and village areas in Bauchi State, such people could best be described as retrogressive elements, who were bent on retarding the wheels of development of the state.

Iliyasu, who spoke yesterday during in a chat with newsmen Katsina, however, recalled that the new district and village areas were clandestinely created in Bauchi State to satisfy the whims and caprices of former governor Yuguda ahead of the 2015 general elections in the country.

According to the chair-

man of the group, despite the creation of the new district and village areas by the Yuguda’s administration, the former governor failed to win the Bauchi South Senatorial seat in the 2015 elections, a clear indication of the non-acceptability of the areas by the people.

He explained that the repeal of the law establishing the new district and village areas by the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the termination of the co-opted traditional rulers in the communities were greeted with fanfare in some local government areas of the state.

Kwara defends N500m allocation to IF-K Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr. Muritala Awodun, yesterday defended and described as sustainable, the N500 million allocated monthly by the service to the state’s newly inaugurated Infrastructure Develop-

ment Fund, otherwise referred to IF-K. Ayedeun, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital, during a programme organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication, said the service had been able to raise the state’s internal revenue from N5.8 billion in the first nine months of last

year to N12.5 billion this year and still expects to improve on the performance.

He also defended the involvement of the service in financing some social services under its Community Impact Scheme, saying it was provided for in the law establishing the service and that the state’s lawmakers had earlier approved the budget for such expenditures.

on welfare

Dan Atori MINNA

T

he Niger State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday cried out that the current economic situation facing the country was having negative effects on the performance and welfare of teachers in the state.

The union spoke during this year’s World Teachers Day in Minna, where the state NUT Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Umar, said the recession was negatively affecting the smooth running of the school system and the entire education sector.

“It is evident that teachers at both primary and post primary schools in the state are owed salaries for months and in some cases they are paid randomly and on percentage,” the union leader added, saying: “and, I tell you that the implication of this trend and its attendant consequences is greatly affecting the morale of our esteemed members and indeed the growth and development of our educational system.”

The NUT chairman, who lamented that the present challenges of irregular payment of their salary and allowances in the state is posing a red alert on achieving the government’s desired change in the educational system, said: “It is very demoralizing, unfair and unjust to allow teachers, particularly at the primary school level to stay for two to four months without salaries.”

Teachers, who according to him, are pacesetters and models have now been compelled to become unceremonious beggars and the most neglected species within the family of civil service, a position which ordinarily they do not deserve.”

The chairman, therefore, appealed to the state government to as a matter of urgency address all the problems in the school system, especially those confronting the teachers by ensuring regular payment of teachers’ salary and allowances as well as introducing hard line allowances for teachers in the rural areas.

43 Court adjourns Goje’s case to November 22 Musa Pam Jos

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Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital yesterday adjourned a five-year old case against former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje to November 22 for continuation of hearing.

Goje is standing trial with four others on five-count charges relating to financial dealings including contract on food supply to the Government House during his administration as well as loan facilities taken from the Access Bank Plc. and the Union Bank Plc. respectively.

New Telegraph had reported that the proceedings in the case got stalk when the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) prosecution counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu was interrogating his Prosecution Witness (PW8), Dr. Sani Gyauro.

The witness was testifying on the financial regulations and due processes needed to be followed in award and supply of food contracts as it applied to state governments, when Shittu told the court of his predicament on laying his hands on the documents to present before it in evidence.

Shittu then applied before the Presiding Judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri for adjournment to enable him to get the financial regulations and due process documents, which the witness talked about.

Kebbi: 3,000 women to undergo free breast cancer test Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

O

ver 3,000 women in Kebbi State are to benefit from free breast and cervical cancer test as part of the activities marking this year’s World Cancer Day. While addressing newsmen shortly after the phoning radio programme on Kebbi State Radio Station in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, wife of the state government and the facilitator of the programme, Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu, said that the programme was part of activities marking this year’s world cancer day.

The activities, which was being organised courtesy of Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, would cover over 3,000 women while over 1,000 women would be screened across the 21 Local Government Areas in the state.

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WORLD \ NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kenyan election commissioners quit

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ll 10 members of Kenya’s election commission have resigned, the government said yesterday, after months of protests by the opposition which accused the body of bias that made it unfit to oversee elections due next August.

The resignations at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission

(IEBC) are the result of cross party talks to address grievances voiced at weekly protests that began in April in which at least four people were killed, raising concerns of a return to election related violence.

The government said last week that a negotiating committee had agreed with IEBC to “facilitate the orderly and dignified exit of current com-

missioners and ensure a seamless transition”. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s chief of staff, Joseph Kinyua, said yesterday all 10 of them had submitted their resignations.

“The Government ... reiterates its unwavering commitment to pursuing a seamless and lawful transition within the IEBC and to having the August 8th 2017

general election proceed on schedule,” Kinyua said.

Violence has often been a feature of Kenyan elections.

After the 2007 vote, 1,200 people were killed in ethnic fighting. The opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), led by former prime minister Raila Odinga, tried but failed to overturn the result of a 2013 presidential election won by

Kenyatta. CORD, which organized the protests against the election commission, complained about the failure of electronic voter identification devices and other technical glitches, which they blamed on the shortcomings of the commission and on corruption.

The commission denied bias and its members had said in the past they would not quit.

Indian police detain 750 over US call centre scam

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olice in the western Indian city of Thane have arrested more than 750 people suspected of defrauding US citizens from a fake call centre. Officers say the suspects obtained lists of US tax defaulters and used threats to obtain their bank details.

The scam is said to have netted more than $150,000 (£118,000) a day, making it one of the biggest frauds in India’s history.

Thane police officials said they were contacting the FBI to ask for help.

Some 70 of those detained were formally arrested, police said, with the rest released pending further inquiries.

Nine people believed to have led the scam have been identi-

fied. The scammers pretended to be members of the US Internal Revenue Service, and told victims they owed back taxes.

In some cases, the victims were duped into buying gift vouchers from different companies and bullied into revealing voucher ID numbers, police said.

The scammers then made purchases with the voucher numbers. Police say those involved in the scam at the Indian end retained 70 per cent of the earnings, with 30 per cent going to their US collaborators.

Paramvir Singh, the police commissioner of Thane, told reporters that 851 hard disks, high-end servers, and other electronic equipment had been seized.

Polish Deputy PM rejects abortion bill

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olish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin has said proposals put before parliament for a near-total ban on abortion will not be implemented.

A citizens’ bill backed by the Catholic Church aims to ban all abortions except if the mother’s life is at risk.

State-run radio quoted Mr Gowin as saying that a nationwide protest on Monday against the proposals had given the government “food for thought”.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has also distanced the government from the bill. “I want to state very clearly that the PiS (Law and Justice) government is not working on any legislation changing the rules on abor-

tion in Poland,” Ms Szydlo told a news conference on Tuesday.

Poland’s socially conservative government has a majority in parliament, but the citizens’ bill is not sponsored by the government and all MPs will have a free vote.

The deputy prime minister told Radio Koszalin in northern Poland that the current abortion exceptions would remain.

“I want to reassure those who fear that in Poland abortion will be completely prohibited,” he said. “A total ban certainly won’t get through.

Abortion will certainly not be banned when the woman is the victim of rape or if her life or her health is in danger,” he added.

Russia suspends nuclear agreement, ends uranium pact with U S

R

ussia said yesterday it was suspending its nuclear and energy research agreement with the United States as a countermeasure against Washington for imposing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.

The government also said it was terminating for the same reasons an agreement between its nuclear corporation Rosatom and the US Department of Energy on feasibility studies into conversion of Russian research reactors to low enriched uranium.

Monday, President Vladi-

mir Putin suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons-grade plutonium, signaling he is willing to use nuclear disarmament as a new bargaining chip in disputes with the United States over Ukraine and Syria.

“The regular renewal of sanctions against Russia, which include the suspension of Russian-American cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, demands the adoption of countermeasures against the US side,” the Russian government said on its website.

Some had pinned high hopes on a woman being elected UN secretary

Ex-Portugese PM, Guterres, set to be UN secretary general

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ortugal’s former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is poised to become the next UN secretary general, UN diplomats say. Mr Guterres, 66, was the “clear favourite”, Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin announced yesterday.

A formal vote will take place in the UN Security Council today to confirm the choice of nominee. Mr Guterres, who led the UN refugee agency for 10 years, will take over from Ban Ki-moon early next year.

An engineer by trade, Mr Guterres first entered into politics in 1976 in Portugal’s first democratic election after the “Carnation revolution” that ended five decades of dictatorship.

He quickly rose in the ranks, becoming leader of the Social-

ist party in 1992 and was elected prime minister in 1995.

As head of the UNHCR refugee agency from 2005 to 2015, Mr Guterres led the agency through some of the world’s worst refugee crises, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq.

During that time, he repeatedly appealed to Western states to do more to help refugees fleeing the conflicts. Former Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said earlier this year that Mr Guterres had “left a legacy” at the refugee agency “that means today he is a respected voice and all the world listens to him”, according to the AFP news agency.

The 15-member Security Council cast secret ballots for each of the 10 candidates yesterday and none were found to oppose Mr Guterres.

They were asked to select from a

choice of ‘encourage’, ‘discourage’ or ‘no opinion’ for each candidate, with the former Portuguese prime minister receiving 13 ‘encourage’ votes and two ‘no opinion’ votes.

He beat nine other candidates, including EU budget commissioner Kristalina Georgieva from Bulgaria, to become the next UN chief. His nomination came despite a concerted effort to appoint the UN’s first female secretary general.

The Security Council - with five of its members wielding vetos - is the most powerful body in the UN. While not as powerful, the secretary general serves as the organisation’s top diplomat and chief “administrative officer”. It has been described as the most impossible job in the world, says the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

Kabila denies clinging to power

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ongo president says elections postponed to ensure millions of unregistered voters do not miss the chance to vote. Democratic Republic of Congo authorities have delayed elections to make sure the country is better prepared, President Joseph Kabila said two days ago, responding to accusations he is trying to cling to power.

Congo’s electoral commission said on Saturday that it expected polls to be delayed until December 2018. “We have decided to delay the elections to avoid locking out a huge

number of people most of them young voters,” Kabila told journalists in Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar Es Salaam. “As many as 10 million unregistered voters could miss out on the chance to vote if we proceed with the elections.”

Congo has not had a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. Protests over Kabila’s perceived attempts to extend his 15 years in power have led to clashes with security forces several times in the past year, with scores of people killed.

Supporters of Kabila, who was in Tanzania to discuss

oil exploration in Lake Tanganyika on the two country’s borders, deny he is behind the delays, which they say are due to logistical and budgetary constraints. But diplomats and observers fear increasing anger among Kabila’s opponents could trigger a repeat of civil wars that killed millions of people between 1996 and 2003.

Kabila brushed off such concerns. “There is no political crisis in Congo, what is happening at the moment is just some political tension ahead of elections, which is a normal thing in many parts of Africa,” he said.

45

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

Iwobi’s double wrecks Plateau Utd

That 734 goals was scored in 342 games played across 225 calendar days of the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League.

International Sport Brazil on the rise – Luis

46 47

When are you paying us?

Eagles confront NFF

Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

T

he Super Eagles on Wednesday demanded to know when their outstanding allowances and bonuses from previous international matches would be settled.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, had visited the team’s Bolton White Apartment Hotel, but he was surprised when the players confronted him to know when their allowances, bonuses and return tickets funds refunds be cleared.

“The players for the first time poured out their mind about the outstanding. They did not threaten the NFF but they demanded to know when their outstanding allowances will be paid,” our source said.

Pinnick, ac-

cording to our source who was at the meeting said the NFF was making frantic efforts to settle the outstanding payments of the players.

The NFF boss told the players not to rest on their oars until they ensure the World Cup ticket was in their kitty.

“The players had hinged their request on the fact that they are professionals and their rights must be respected especially in case of any injury,” our source added.

The NFF has in respect of this been pulling all strings to make funds available for the crucial tie against Zambia in Ndola on October 9th. A chartered aircraft is expected to fly the team to Zambia on Saturday.

Pinnick, it could be recalled, was at the National Assembly on Tuesday to complain over the federation’s cash problems leading to the crucial tie against Zambia in Ndola.

Pinnick

Iheanacho

Iheanacho: I’m ready to lead Eagles’ attack ... says Zambia beatable in Ndola Emmanuel Tobi

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

M

anchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, has expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Super Eagles’ attack when Nigeria battles Zambia in one of the opening games of the African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup billed for Ndola on Sunday.

The CAF 2013 Youth Player of the Year, who recently scored his first competitive international goal against Tanzania, has been in excellent form for his English Premier League side.

With the absence of the team’s top striker, Odion Ighalo, the 19-year-old added that the Eagles had the required experience to upstage the Chipolopolo at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

“It’s an away game for us and is going

to be a difficult one. We have great players that will make the difference against Zambia and I’m ready to lead the way and do the job,” he said.

Iheanacho maintained that the Eagles must not repeat the 2017 AFCON disaster adding that qualifying for the 2018 World Cup is a must for the team.

“It’s unfortunate we missed out on the 2017 AFCON but we are not out of everything. We have put that behind us and our focus is on the next games. We have to take that as a lesson and come back stronger to qualify for the World Cup. I will also work hard for my country as an individual; and we are going to put in all hard work collectively as a team,” he added.

The striker is upbeat on Nigeria’s chances of qualifying from the group which also consists of Cameroon and

Algeria.

“We have to overcome Zambia first before we can talk about Cameroon and Algeria. However, it’s not going to be easy and nobody knows what’s going to happen. We will keep fighting as a team to get to the World Cup. “To play in the FIFA World Cup will be a dream come true for me and is going to help my career as a player too,” he further stressed.

On his steady progress under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Iheanacho said: “Everyone knows what Guardiola can offer, and I’m happy he came to Manchester City. He’s a great coach with great qualities. Guardiola is a great manager everybody knows and I’m happy to be part of his team. I’m really improving under him and I hope to work more anytime I get the chance to play.”

46

SPORT NEWS

Kalaba to captain Zambia against Nigeria

Emmanuel Tobi

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ew Zambia coach Wedson Nyirenda has stated that TP Mazembe of Congo midfielder, Rainford Kalaba, will captain the Chipolopolo against the Super Eagles of Nigeria this weekend.

Kalaba has been captain since January, 2015 when he took over the role from defender

Kalaba

Stopilla Sunzu who briefly held the position after Christopher Katongo was dropped from the team in October, 2014 by excoach Honour Janza.

“In the meantime we are maintaining Rainford Kalaba as our captain. We will maintain him,” Nyirenda said.

Meanwhile, Nyirenda said he was impressed with the camaraderie at the teams’ Ndola base especially with the arrival of overseas call-ups starting on Monday.

“I am happy with the way the boys are applying themselves in training, the morale in the team and the brotherhood on and off the pitch.

We are looking set for better things,” Nyirenda said.

The match also will mark Nyirenda’s debut game in charge following his appointment as Zambia coach in mid-September when he

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iwobi’s double wrecks Plateau Utd Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

J

ust four days to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola, the Super Eagles yesterday beat NPFL side Plateau United 3-0 in a friendly match as part of preparation for the October 9th encounter.

Attacking midfielder Anderson Esiti, Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi all scored on Wednesday as the Eagles beat Plateau United 3-0 inside the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium.

Coach Gernot Rohr, paraded the combination of home based and some foreign based players in the first half of the game a selection that was not too impressive.

Super Eagles made the breakthrough in the 40 minutes of the encounter when Esiti picked the ball from midfield dribbled past two Plateau United players before fiving a

low cross to found the back of the net for the Eagle first goal.

Second half of the game witnessed the first 11 of Eagles players, a selection that brought a lot of changes with outstanding performance from Mikel Obi, Kelechi Ihenancho and Iwobi which eventually yielded expected result.

Iwobi scored the second goal in the 50 minutes of the encounter when he received a pass from Ihenancho in the midfield to run past a Plateau’s defender and hit a shot.

One minute into the extra time, Iheanacho’s cross met Iwobi inside the Plateau United’s box he however deceived a defender before he fired a low cross to score the third goal.

PGAN announces partnership with BJ Promotions

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rofessional Golfers Association of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BJ International Promotions as marketing partner for Tour events.

PGAN Director, Samson Lawal, who spoke at the MoU signing event said, the development was part of the association’s effort at

reaching more stakeholders for an improved tour.

“It is no doubt that our tour has pedigree on the continent. And this is evident in the number of countries that our members are drawn from. Only the Sunhisne tour in South Africa can rival us in this capacity,” he said

Lawal, who took over the helms at affairs of the professional body earlier in March, 2016 said he wanted to leave the PGA of Nigeria better than he met it.

Chairman of BJ International, Bunmi Jenyo, said, “We have a pedigree in promoting Nigerian talents across the world in the

past, although this maybe our first incursion into sports, we are hoping all our machinery will work for the good and development of the PGA” “The event we are working on is our maiden outing and it will be staged at the MicCom Golf and Country Club, Ada, Osun State,” he said.

Iwobi

ITF gives Nigeria eight wild cards for Lagos Governor’s Cup

T

he 16th Gover nors Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will serve off on Saturday October 8- 22nd at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan with eight Nigerians allotted wild cards into the championship.

The tournament which is upping its prize-money to $100,000 from $80,000 will see players from over 35 countries battling for two weeks in what is now officially the ITF highest prize-money championship in Africa, L-R: Social Performance Manager, Shell Petroleum, Emmanuel Ekpenyong; 2016 NNPC/Shell Cup MVP, Joseph Ejeh Asia and South America. of FOSLA Academy, Abuja; Shell’s General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli; Second MVP, Kelvin Amadi of Excel According to the chairman of the School, Port Harcourt; Community Relations Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Tolu LOC, Chief Pius Akinyelure, “This Derin-Adefuwa; and Shell’s Communications Manager, Sola Abulu, at a reception for the MVPs on their return from singular action ,the increase, has a training tour at Feyenoord Academy, The Netherlands... on Saturday

Dalung: FG can’t manage sports facilities Anule Emmanuel ABUJA

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he Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said that with the current economic recession in the country, the Federal Government cannot continue to fund the management of sports facilities in the country.

Dalung stated this on Tuesday while speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said government was set to give out the National Stadium in Abuja and Lagos to private management.

“I agree that there is under

utilisation of sports facilities in Abuja. That has taken us to the issue of concession. The facilities can’t be managed effectively by government looking at the budgetary allocation,” Dalung said.

“Government can’t maintain those things. So what we intend to do is to proceed with the privatisation process which we met on the ground.’’

According to the Sports minister the Federal Executive Council has already approved for the concession process.

Dalung said: “FEC in 2012 had approved concession of Abuja and Lagos Stadiums. We have proceeded with it and even appointed consultants.

“We are at the stage of getting the approval of BPE, from there

we can now proceed to call for bids and engage the private sector so that we can run the concession arrangement with them so that they can come in.

“We have also received the drawing on the proposed transformation of the place which will include the creation of artificial lake in the Abuja Stadium that will provide for 12 water sports; then the building of a five-star hotel here in Abuja.

“Lagos will have the same thing. The adjourning land will have a park emerge from there with a five-star hotel. The moment you put these two, the economic status of the stadium will be uplifted and you will have foreign athletes coming in because there will be facilities.”

not only cemented Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis in the number one position in Futures Tournaments in Africa, Asia and South America, it is also the final step towards the tournament’s upgrading to the Challenger Series. We will be moving from an ITF tournament to a Professional Tennis Association (PTA) tournament which is only a step away from the ultimate in tennis, the Tennis Open,” Akinyelure stated.

Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Sani Ndanusa, said the Governor’s Cup has now become a household name and carnival to tennis lovers in Nigeria and the entire world.

Musa still adapting to EPL –Ranieri Samuel Ebhodaghe

L

eicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has explained why Ahmed Musa has not been in action in the last two Premier League games.

The Italian manager, who led the Foxes to their first Premier League title last term, opined that the Nigeria star has to get used to the rigours of English football before he retains his place in the starting XI. Ranieri remarked, “He is working very well, but he is adapting now, When I watch him in the training sessions,

he now understands... it is tough, but I had to choose, But I think sooner or later, he will come back and he will play.”

The 24 years old winger, who moved from CSKA Moscow to Leicester in 2016, has had difficulties in starting up for all 11 matches in all competitions, including the Community Shield.

Musa

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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

Celebrating Rangers!

I Rev Mbaka presents cash, decoders to Rangers Nicholas Obisike

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ev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Catholic Adoration Ministries Enugu on Wednesday presented N2m and decoders to players and officials of Rangers FC for winning the domestic league title.

Mbaka made the presentation at the dedication of the league trophy to God at the ministry by the club.

The clergy said that he was happy that God fulfilled his promise to the club after 32 years in the wilderness.

“Before the 2016/2017 season began, we dedicated the players and the league to God in which a prophecy came that the league trophy belongs to Rangers.

“Today, we are celebrating God`s work in action, we are no more praying to emerge the champion but celebrating the champions.

“For this achievement, I and the Adoration Ministries hereby give N2m to Rangers FC and a decoder to each member of the club,’’ Mbaka said.

Luis (right)

Brazil on the rise – Luis

F

ilipe Luis believes Brazil are rediscovering the confidence and swagger that can take them back to the top of the world game.

The five-time World Cupwinners have endured a fallow period at senior level since winning their last Copa America title in 2007 and parted company with head coach Dunga after a group-stage exit in the centenary edition of the latter tournament earlier this year.

But they claimed back-toback wins over Ecuador and Colombia under new boss Tite last month to move up to second in the CONCACAF World Cup qualification standings for Russia 2018.

Brazil’s Under-23 side – captained by Barcelona superstar Neymar – won a memorable Olympic gold at the Rio Games and, with qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela coming up over the next week, Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luis reports a growing optimism around the Selecao.

“The Brazil national squad is conquering again this feeling of being used to winning,” he told a news conference.

“This feeling that we are a great team, other squads respect us, and that’s something we are achieving again through our victories and being humble. Knowing that everybody has to work, to defend and things will unfold.

Sharapova hits out at ITF, claiming bias T he International Tennis Federation has rejected Maria Sharapova’s claim that the hearing into her doping violation was “not neutral”.

The 29-year-old former Wimbledon champion tested positive for meldonium in January and was then sanctioned by the ITF in June.

On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced a reduction in the five-time grand slam winner’s doping ban, from two years to 15 months.

Sharapova’s lawyer John Hag-

gerty described the CAS ruling as a “stunning repudiation of the ITF”, while the former world number one said she was “counting the days until I can return to the court”.

She is expected to make her comeback in early May of next year.

In her first television interview since the CAS ruling, Russian Sharapova was again critical of the ITF, telling American broadcaster PBS she is “starting to think” the sports governing body tried to make an example of her.

Fury to lose licence over drug use

T

he British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is to consider whether to revoke Tyson Fury’s licence after the world heavyweight champion admitted to taking cocaine.

The 2 8 - ye a rold pulled out of a planned rematch with Wladimir Klitschko last month after being declared “medically unfit” to compete, and on Monday announced his intent to retire from the sport before reversing his decision just hours later in a series of bizarre Twitter posts.

In an interview

with Rolling Stone magazine, Fury revealed that he had done “lots of cocaine” in the last few months and is suffering from “depression”.

Fury went on to admit that he did not “want to live anymore”, adding: “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I don’t know if I’m going to see the year out, to be honest.”

Speaking to reporters, BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith confirmed that the governing body will meet on October 12 to discuss how to handle Fury.

Sharapova

Iwobi set for new Arsenal deal Ubong Emmanuel

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nglish club Arsenal is reportedly ready to hand Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi a bumper new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

T he Nig erian signed a new deal worth £25,000-a-week ($31,000-a-week) in April, but is now in line for a further extension. The new contract offer is a reflection of his everincreasing importance to the Arsenal cause.

The 20-year-old star has become a key part

of Arsene Wenger’s plans this season and is poised for another pay rise, just six months after his last contract extension.

Iwobi is one of the most exciting prospects to have emerged through the Arsenal Academy in recent years and the club are keen to reward his rapid improvement with a healthy contract rise.

Likewise, Arsenal are also seeking to reach an agreement with Hector Bellerin, the Spanish right-back who is another academy graduate.

got my baptism in reporting in 1979 when my uncle-inlaw, Chief Dapo Daramola, was Editor-in-chief at the Daily Express Newspapers on Igbosere Road adjacent my church-Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral and my primary school-Holy Cross where headmaster-teacher Savagemolded us. I had just completed two years of journalism studies by correspondence at the London School of Journalism-Fritam Heritage –and waiting for admission for Mass Communications. It was a choking experience at the Campos cemetery where the remnants of our great-grand parents had been exhumed to Ikoyi Cemetery-turned into that stadium where youths are being discovered through the Junior League-that former international and national coach-Tunde Disu-is struggling to revive through the Local Governments but not receiving assistance from Lagos Sports Commission boss-Deji Tinubu.

From that experience, I got my 1st by-line and later moved on when Dr Tunji Braithwaite and Chief Iyaniwura locked horns over the newspapers’ ownership.

Next stop was at the Ijora, stable of the Nationalist newspapers founded by ”politics without bitterness”Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim- where my then Sportswriters Association of Nigeria(SWAN) chairman-later National President –Lati Ogunnmade-and his Secretary-my ever respected icon-Segun Adenuga–pulled and developed my talent in sports journalism.

A year later, I was covering the Africa cup of nations hosted by Nigeria in Lagos and Ibadan. I was on the road daily in that Punch newspapers beetle, covering the “group-of-death” that had Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Guinea. It was an experience I will never forget because it had shaped my life. The Nigerian League was suspended for the continental event which Nigeria later won for the first time.

The League resumed and when the Punch “crisis” reared its head-Adenuga-made me switch from Onipetesi area of Agege Motor Road to Concord Newspapers-a safe ground on the Murtala Mohammed Airport Roadafter publisher-Chief M.K.O Abiola had “quit” politics within the government of the President- Alhaji Shehu Shagari-led administration. In Concord, I not only reported sports but my Editor-Chief Duro Onabule-a CHIP of the sports reporting block-followed by Nsikak Essienmade me get through this nation covering the league.

I recalled that after returning from my first World Cup reportage at the Mexico ’83 U-23 event, it was Chief Abiola’s 50th birthday and my first son’s 1st. As I was dancing with Chief (Mrs) Simbiat Abiola-Dr Doyin-our managing director-directed Nsikak to remind me that the log was that I had to get back to the Airport in an hour.

That was for the League match involving Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance. Those were the days when the League had a meaning that went beyond the present myopic stance. Then tribe had a meaning in this country, like other nations. A guy in London is proud of the cityditto, his counterpart from Manchester or Liverpool, or Newcastle with its coal. But they remain British.

In the United States-the man from New York will ask you questions about Texas. He has never been there for all he needs are in his area-from birth to death. But he remains an American. In Nigeria, it is natural for teams to be supported by their own with the Hausa/Fulani behind Kano Pillars, Yoruba with IICC ‘Shooting Star”, Bini with Bendel Insurance, Birom with Plateau United, Kanuri with El-Kanemi, Igbo backing to the hilt, Rangers and Spartans. Those were the tribal affiliations that gave way to competition.

I don’t know what better restructuring we are asking for in this nation, if not to enhance competition amongst the tribes and peoples for development. For in 1984 when Rangers won the league and in my presence at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, I was invited by Club chairman-Chief Jim Nwobodo along my friend-a Yoruba-Mutiu Oniyidewho was an unrepentant- “Nzobu Nzobu-Eyimba Enyi”- or “Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy-Enugu Rangers, Another Champion” -supporter! Mutiu has joined the saints triumphant and Nwobodo became Anambra State governor. All by backing Rangers. Later came my, brother-Bimbo Adeola.

As I hail the club-32years after-for another League win, let us give meaning to “tribalism” by supporting our teamswithin our tribal areas for-competition and identity-while fostering national unity-for it is not different in Egypt where a Cairo citizen supports Al Ahly while his neighbor backs “noisy”-Arab Contractors-just like the Manchester of United and City or London of Arsenal and Chelsea.

It is healthy for the system and country. Congrats Rangers!

On Marble

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

– Mae West

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie The retribution of Eduardo Cunha

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

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Rangers, Ndigbo and history “From the ruins of war, the rubble of adversity, dejection of defeat etched in despondent faces, Such signposts of wasted existence propelled the desire for a redefinition of life, enter an idea the year 1970, A dream is born,...Rangers International” –Sam Mbah’s, Preface on a book on Rangers

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

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hese Igbo self, why are they making noise about this Rangers victory as if its the World Cup or a feat no other club in Nigeria has achieved. What is the big deal in something Kano Pillars and Enyimba have won severally” Most Nigerians of the later generation or even history challenged older generation persons are understandably likely to reason the same way as this my friend who posted the above statement in reaction to the jubilation across the country that greeted the decoration of Enugu Rangers International, otherwise called the Flying Antelope, as the Champion of the 2015/2016 Professional football season.

This club is not just a commonplace football outfit; it’s a child of necessity.

What you see being celebrated is the history behind this great club and this victory coming at this time of the sociopolitical and economic history of Ndigbo has an enormous significance that you would appreciate if you follow the narration below.

Shortly after the civil war, a dream came through to Chief Jerry Enyeazu who was in the midst of a people grossly weighed down by the outcome of the 30 months brutal civil war. A people from the trauma of defeat and who were clearly knocked down largely due to the preceding economic hardship occasioned by the unjust conversion of all Biafran monies into 20 pounds to each person irrespective of how much you had. The people were searching desperately for what to do to burn out the stress and lift their fatally wounded morale. Then came the thought of raising a football club to be called “Enugu Rangers”, a name that helped to tie back to the people the “Rangers”, the unique spy group with a lot of Igbo ingenuity that helped the Biafran intelligence persecute the war for 30 months.

On 25th February, 1970 Chief Enyeazu’s dream came through as he combined with some philanthropic Igbo to form the club. In his introduction to a book “Rangers International-the story of Nigeria’s all conquering Clubside’ authored by the trio of very close friends of mine, Sam Mbah of blessed memory, Ikechuckwu Okoye and Okey Ezea (APC gubernatorial flag bearer in Enugu state in 2015), one of the philanthropists, who became life President of the Club, Chief A. W. Ibe wrote “In agreeing to be a part of the idea of the formation of Rangers, I was impelled by a desire to see our people overcome the prevalent feeling of dejection in the aftermath of the war,” That indeed was the spirit that informed the formation of the clubside that did not allow the trauma of war to affect it but instead was propelled to dominate the nation’s football stage for fourteen years at Club and National level. That was the period Ndigbo needed to come out of the

Ugwuanyi

shackles of the brutal war and Rangers provided it.

For the past 32 years, even though it remains the only club in the premier league that has not gone on relegation, Rangers never won any trophy. Reason perhaps being that Enugu State, its current sponsors, had not been too supportive.

But on May 29, 2015, a new Governor Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi mounted the throne and made the difference on Rangers. The result of his dogged effort is what the club and its numerous supporters are reaping now. Even though following the creation of states, some other clubs were established like Spartans which later turned to Iwuanyanwu Nationale and now Heartland and Enyimba including the Pentecostal clubs like Abia Warriors and Ifeanyi Uba FC all took their inspiration from Rangers who became the Catholics of the game from whom they drew their history.

The symbolic significance of this victory which must not be overlooked is the renaissance of Rangers at this time in the life of Ndigbo.

Since the end of the civil war in 1970, Ndigbo have never been as estranged from the Nigeria project as they are under the new dispensation. Less than ten years after the civil war, Nigeria found it necessary to make an Igboman the number two citizen with Dr Alex Ekwueme emerging as the Vice President in the Second Republic in 1979. In addition, even when Ndigbo did not vote for the then ruling National Party of Nigeria NPN, the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives was still given to an Igbo, late Hon.Edwin Umezuoke.

Since then every regime, even the military who fought the war respected the tripod upon which the political foundation of Nigeria was laid.

But today Ndigbo are in the receding tide of national politics, a development not unconnected with the way they voted in 2015 general election, a similar position they took in 1979 yet they got Vice President and Speaker of the National House.

But today they are cut up in the 95/5 per cent voting compensation theory.

In the executive arm, the situation is even more precarious. They are nowhere near the top positions in the hierarchy. On security, if the over ten military and para military chiefs, army, Airforce, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, Road Safety, Prisons, Immigration, Customs, Fire service, and DSS meet to discuss national security issues, an Igbo, one of the largest ethnic groups would be conspicuously missing.

The Ministers who had to find a place because it is statutory that every state must be in the cabinet are just nominal in their roles. For instance the real reason that would make a Professor, a former Vice Chancellor of a University serve under an Accountant in Ministry of Education as a Minister is because one is from “95 per cent area” the other from “5 per cent region” and such is obviously not based on competence, qualification or suitability to the function.

As the appointments roll out, whenever you hear an Igbo name, be sure his portfolio is going to be the least in viability. My brother, Osita Okechukwu, all he could get for all the years of shouting Muhamma-

du Buhari to Ndigbo is Director General of VON, a near moribund Organisation whose budget is not up to a department in NTA. You may wish to google to find out who got the others. NTA, FRCN, NAN, NBC, NOA. Against this backdrop therefore and added to the economic recession in the land with the level of graduate unemployment in the region, the highest so far, the mood and level of despondency of the people in the region at the time Rangers victory came can be likened to what it was in 1970 soon after the war when this Club was formed.

So for such a moral lifting outfit coming after 32 years to remind the people of their survivalist spirit, the Rangers championship this year should be seen from its allegory. No wonder Senator Ekweremadu said “For us, this is more than just a league title. This is a huge revival, morale booster, and comfort. It is one great achievement that refreshes memories and our survival instincts as a people. It is a reminder to all our people that though sorrow may endure for a night; joy surely comes in the morning”.

As an Enugu lad who grew up alongside this Club during its ups and downs, I can appreciate the mood within the “Cathedral” and beyond. My felicitations go to the coach and his players who now are on the same honours roll as other Rangers greats, Godwin Achebe pioneer captain 1970 to 1971, Dominic Nwobodo, Kennth Abana, Ernest Ufele, Chairman Christian Chukwu, the longest serving captain from 1974 to 1982, Emmanuel Okala, Jay Jay Okocha, Aloysuis Atuegbu, Christian Madu, Slyvanus Okpara etc. Governor Ugwuanyi who has become the jinx breaker also deserves a special mention for showing extra ordinary interest that produced this extra ordinary result at an extra ordinary time. Up Rangers.

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