Tuesday, april 21, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 2 No. 426

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

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N150

Buhari vows to tackle Boko Haram, prospect for oil in North }6

FG, states, LGs lose N86.42bn in revenue

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

evenue accruals to the federation account has continued its downslide

slide as the nation lost N86.423 billion revenue in March which affected the monthly allocation shared to the tiers of government. Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador

Bashir Yuguda, stated yesterday that Nigeria recorded a gross revenue of N315.044 billion in March, a figure lower than N401.467 billion received in February. The minister, who

doubles as chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), attributed the revenue dip to the "continued shut down and shut in of trunks and pipe lines at various ter-

minals which continued to impact negatively on crude oil revenue." The revenue loss has affected the March allocation as FAAC approved N435.061 billion to be shared by three tiers of

government. The amount is lower than N522.052 billion shared in February. The amount shared comprised of statutory revenue of N314.515.467 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Rage over S'Africa lNigerian youths draw battle line over attacks lMTN frets over $15bn investment }2

National Coordinator, Advocate for Peoples Rights and Justice (APRJ), Victor Giwa, with his members, protesting against the killings of foreigners in South Africa, in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

APC NEC set to overrule NWC on zoning lParty cautions against speculations on appointments

Donald Ojogo and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

head of tomorrow's meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), strong indications have emerged that the party's apex decision-making body may upturn the zoning formula proposed

by the National Working Committee (NWC) to fill the leadership positions in the National Assembly. The APC's NWC had,

last week, evolved a zoning formula, which zoned the Senate presidency to the North-Central and the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Quick Read

Editorial

Worrying deaths across the }19 Mediterranean Jonathan, }7 Buhari, others mourn Chukwumerije

News

TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerians draw battle line with S'Africa over attacks Kunle Azeez, Cajetan Mmuta and Akeem Nafiu

igerians protested yesterday attacks on foreigners living in South Africa by nationals of the former apartheid country. They marched on the South African Embassy in Abuja, the office of the DSTV and MTN office, in Benin City, Edo State capital, and called for an end

to the carnage that began last week. Some of the protesters called for the boycott of South African companies in Nigeria in retaliation against the attack on foreigners, including Nigerians, living in South Africa. The brewing angst, it was learnt, had become a source of concern to managements of DSTV and MTN that feared that Nigerians might attack their facilities. Yesterday, MTN, fear-

ing for the safety of its $15 billion investment in Nigeria, condemned the xenophobic attacks. Protesters in Abuja, under the auspices of 1Africa Initiative, who were led by an Abujabased popular radio presenter, Ordinary Ahmed Isa, carried placards with inscriptions such as 'We have shown Africans and South Africans love, why are they attacking us?'; '#SayNoToXenophobia';; 'Stop the killings, South Africa Act Now!' and 'We

are Africans.' Isah, who is also the founder of Berekete family, lamented what he described as unwarranted attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. He called on South Africa and the National Assembly to ensure that an immediate action is taken to stop the crime against humanity going on in that country and ensure that justice is done. He also called for compensations for victims who lost their lives and

investments. Addressing the protesters, South Africa's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mngoni, condemned the xenophobic killings by his compatriots back at home. He stated that South Africa shared in the pains of Nigerians and other Africans killed. While receiving the protesters at the office of MultiChoice Africa, the holder of the DSTV franchise, Deputy Director, Sales Department, Mr.

L-R: Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu El-Kanemi, during a visit by the state delegation to Buhari in Kaduna...yesterday.

Again, N'Assembly misses passage of PIB lNew government may not revisit bill till 2016

Adeola Yusuf

he Seventh National Assembly has finally terminated work on the 15-year-old Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), a move that has jacked up Nigeria's loss to the inefficiency in the oil and gas sector to above $125 billion. New Telegraph gathered that the yet-to-be-constituted Eighth National Assembly may also not consider the bill until 2016 when the government of the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to focus attention on taxes in the nation’s multi-billion oil and gas industry. Close allies of the President-elect have already revealed that the government has resolved to give priority to reforming the sector before taking up the issue of taxation. This means that the loss arising from the de-

lay in the passage of the bill will exceed $125 billion by 2016 when serious deliberations are likely to be reopened on the bill. The Federal Government’s loss to the nonpassage of the PIB from February 2009 to February 2014, has already hit $125 billion. The estimated $125 billion loss given by stakeholders at the Chatham House forum on the controversial PIB in 2014, was occasioned by the inability of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, to attain its annual crude production capacity of about 3.6 million barrels per day due to investment drought in the industry since five years ago. Experts have, after assessing the growth prospects of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, raised the alarm over the declining investment in exploration and production since 2009, when the PIB became controversial.

Analysts have earlier suggested that a watereddown version of the bill may be implemented in 2015, and that while not perfect, it may put in place some guidelines to guarantee a stable operational environment for operators and remove funding constraints. However, this suggestion appeared to have been jettisoned by the National Assembly. Some experts have, however, advised the President-elect to encourage the phase-by-phase passage of the bill. “The Petroleum Industry Bill is not likely to happen this year, but may be split up in more manageable bits,” Thomas Horn Hansen, senior analyst at Control Risks, said. While it could hardly be disputed that Nigeria’s energy sector is ripe for a radical review, its failure to improve the investment climate will continue to stifle oil and gas indus-

try’s growth. At the Chatham House forum on the controversial PIB, experts from the private sector, operators in the oil and gas industry, management and financial consultants, also warned that government’s business was facing a turbulence, which may wreak havoc on the economy of the country that depends largely on oil proceeds to service over 85 per cent of its budget. The upstream sector was responsible for the loss of the $125 billion from 2008 to 2014 as it failed to attain its annual crude oil production quota even when resources and investment to achieve it are available. International oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have said that the delay in the passage of the PIB has completely slowed down their N17.2 trillion ($109 billion) proposed investments in the oil industry.

Oil majors, under the aegis of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had said the planned projects were no longer profitable due to the fiscal terms of the bill. Members of the OPTS are Shell, Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Agip. “$109 billion in planned investments is not progressing as new projects are no longer economical,” Mark Ward, who is the OPTS chairman, had said. But the government insisted that the bill, if passed, would put the Nigeria’s oil industry on the right footings. The government, according to the new bill, also jacked up its stake in the Deep Offshore blocks from the current level of 61 per cent to 73 per cent. It was learnt that prevailing realities in the global oil and gas industry necessitated this.

Ismail Olalekan, called on South Africa and Nigeria to ensure that the perpetrators did not go unpunished. One of the organisers of the protest, Deji Adeyanju, said some of his friends in South Africa told him they were afraid to come out of their homes. “We also feel the plight of fellow Africans and foreigners who feel this same way. We use the opportunity to call on the South African government to act now. We are more concerned about the South African government stopping the violence,” he said. Another protester, Tolu Ebo, said: “They have to stop it (xenophobia) now. The South African government cannot tell me that they don’t know the people that are involved in these acts. Their faces are all over the place. Why have they not been brought to book?" Also, a coalition of 29 civil society organisations, State of the Union Nigeria Campaign Platform (SOTU-N-CAMP) has called on the South African government to end the ongoing xenophobic attacks in that country. SOTU-N-CAMP also called on the African Union to probe the attacks. In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Chairman and Secretary Mr. Ken Ukaoha and Austin Erameh respectively, the group said such measures would serve as a deterrent to future occurrence. In Benin City, youths, under the umbrella of The Flagship, marched on the streets of the town to protest the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. They threatened to shut down South African firms operating in Nigeria if urgent steps are not taken to end the attacks. The youths during a protest at the MTN office on the 3rd East Circular Road, Murtala Muhammed Way, carried placards with various inscriptions such as 'Xenophobia is inhuman'; 'Zuma call your boys to order' and 'S/Africans can't be making money from us and killing us.' Spokesperson of the group, Austin Enabulele, described the attacks as inhuman and condemnable, adding that the protest is a warning to the South African government to end the attacks on Nigerians or risk losing its foreign investments. He said: "We are all CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015

Travel Advisory

TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015

APC NEC set to overrule NWC on zoning CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

speakership of the House of Representatives to the South-West. But as the NEC gets set for the final ratification tomorrow, a top party official confided in New Telegraph yesterday that a new twist might alter the envisaged equation. The source said the new thinking within certain powerful blocs was that the North-East should produce the next Senate President. It was gathered that in

order for the new move to sail through, a series of pre-NEC meetings had been taking place, especially in the South-West where a consensus is said to have been reached among party leaders to back a candidate from the North-East for the position. Promoters of the new North-East candidacy are banking on unanimous support from the SouthWest, Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi in North-Central, North-West, North-East and the South-South ex-

cept Rivers NEC members. The source said two options were being considered in ensuring that the North-East would get the Senate presidency. First is an outright zoning of the Senate presidency to the North-East while the second option is to throw the race open to both the North-East and North-Central. It could not be independently confirmed if the latest thinking in the camp of those the source called “core APC men” is

informed by the insistence of a ranking senator from the North-East to vie for the position. The aspirant is said to be close to the Presidentelect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. "We thought the issue of the Senate presidency had been settled, but as things are now, new turns are beginning to lace the scenario as there are serious reports that core APC men who are shakers and

makers of the party are already thinking that the position should go to the North-East. "We do not know why, but from all indications, there are confirmed reports that the decision may have been informed by the need for the party to carry the North-East along in the scheme of things. "You know that the North-Central has held the position for eight years and some forces are of the view that the NorthEast should be adequately

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi (middle), with Nigerian victims of xenophobic attack in Johannesburg, South Africa… yesterday.

Nigerian youths draw battle line over attacks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Africans; we wonder why they should attack our fellow Nigerians who are doing their legitimate businesses in South Africa when we have shown them love to operate in Nigeria. "We have come here to say to (President Jacob) Zuma to call his people to order because if he fails to call them to order, we will do the needful. We are aware of all their businesses in Nigeria. We know of MTN; we know of Shoprite; we know of MultiChoice Company and we know of every other company that belongs to South Africa. "We will shut down all their services if they continue the killing of our brothers and sisters. So, we have come here to tell them to put an end to the killing of our brothers and sisters who are doing their legitimate jobs in South Africa." The group's Vice-President, Gloria Noren, decried what she described as ingratitude of South Africans, whom she said had received financial support from Nigeria

during the apartheid era. Noren called on the Federal Government to commence the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from the crisis-ridden country in order to forestall further deaths. She said: "We have videos of Nigerians that have been killed; I personally watched the video. How can someone come out to say that we are taking their jobs from them? What about the money they are making from us? "Nigeria spent over N60 billion fighting apartheid for them. Why should we show love to them and they extend hatred to us. It is totally inhuman, distasteful; it is disgusting. "We are sending this message to our Nigerian government to go ahead and evacuate all Nigerians from South Africa because we cannot keep losing our brethren." However, following the growing calls for the boycott and attack on South African businesses in the country, MTN Nigeria has taken a major move to protect its over $15 billion investment in the

country. The telecoms company yesterday condemned the incident in its home country, saying the xenophobic attacks are not state-sponsored. MTN, however, urged strong measures against its spread within the region. MTN Nigeria’s Corporate Service Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, told reporters at a news conference in Lagos that the MTN Group had announced financial assistance for victims of the attacks kept at the Transit Park in South Africa. He cautioned against the reprisal campaign, saying: "MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company with South African root, with 99 per cent of its workforce being Nigerians." According to him, MTN is concerned about online campaign for reprisals and boycotts of South African firms in Nigeria. "MTN Nigeria joins comity of nations to condemn, in all ramifications, xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals

in South Africa. "MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company with South African root. We believe that boycott or reprisal attacks of South African firms in Nigeria will not augur well for the country’s development. “There should be no cause for revenge in Nigeria. We are confident that the South African government will deal with the matter, which they have been able to bring under control in the last few days," he stated. While appreciating the efforts of the Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Martin Cobham, on the several efforts employed to protect Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa, Goodluck said there were peace protests to their offices in Abuja and Benin, yesterday, on the issue, which he said, the telecoms firm had been able to manage effectively. He appealed to Nigerians to shun any act of violence, stressing that MTN and, indeed, all South African-affiliated businesses in the country were working to en-

sure that the problem is under control. According to him, the call for boycott of MTN and other South African businesses in Nigeria is unjustifiable as attacks on such businesses will mean attacking Nigerians working with them. "MTN Nigeria has 6,000 direct and contract staff; employs about 500, 000 people indirectly. Also, 99 per cent of MTN Nigeria employees are Nigerians, only 12 expatriates are here. This is purely a Nigerian business. Attacking it will be unjustifiable,” he added. Goodluck said MTN had, till date, invested over $15 billion on network roll outs, expansion among others and had spent about N10 billion on corporate social responsibility in the country. Also yesterday, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, called on South Africans to stop the attack on foreigners, including Nigerians. Obi, at a meeting of Nigerian Union, an umbrella organisation of CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

compensated not just for the massive support, but in order to rotate the position among the three zones. This is not final, I know because it appears that if it becomes impossible to push through, we are also expecting that the position might be thrown open to both zones for the most popular candidate to carry the day. "From all indications, the race has gone beyond what some of us thought initially was going to be the situation because people are already thinking beyond today; the focus has now shifted to calculations towards 2019,” the source stated. Those who have indicated interest in the Senate presidency so far are Senators Bukola Saraki (North-Central), George Akume (North-Central) and Ahmad Lawan (NorthEast). It was also learnt that the outgoing Senate President David Mark, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was scheming to cash in the likely crisis that APC might face in retaining the position. While the Buhari/Tinubu forces within the APC are said to be considering either Akume or Lawan, another power bloc led by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, is reportedly backing Saraki. Efforts to reach APC's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to speak on the brewing crisis in the party over zoning formula, proved abortive as his telephone line was switched off at the time of filing this report. However, the APC has urged Nigerians to disregard speculations in the media on the ministerial nominees and zoning of the leadership of the National Assembly under the incoming Buhari administration. Mohammed, in a statement yesterday, refuted reports that the party had adopted a zoning formula on the distribution of positions. Mohammed stated that all issues of public interest would be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians through the usual communication channels. “No appointments have been made and no offices have been zoned. The main concern of our party at the moment is to ensure a smooth transition and to hit the ground running in the overall interest of the long-suffering people of Nigeria,” he said.

News

TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari vows to tackle Boko Haram, prospect for oil in North Temitope Ogunbanke

he President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has assured the people of North-East that his administration will give priority to ending the Boko Haram insurgency and bringing stability to the beleaguered zone. He also promised to focus on re-activating the Lake Chad in addition to deploying enormous resources to resume the search for oil along the Chad Basin. Speaking at his residence in Kaduna while responding to requests made by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar ElKanemi and some elders of the state who paid him a visit, the President-elect said he was much aware of the problems of the NorthEast and would not waste time in taking them up one after the other. He said his administration would enhance collaboration with Chad, Niger and Cameroon to

curtail the trans-border movement of Boko Haram insurgents, cut supply of arms to the militants, as well as disrupting recruitment and training of fresh recruits. According to him, the stability of the NorthEast is a must project for his administration as nothing can be achieved unless peace is restored to the troubled region. ‎Buhari also assured the delegation that the receding of Lake Chad would be addressed through the transfer of water from the

Central African Republic to the lake to boost fishing and irrigation farming. He said he would handle the matter because he believed that the lake could create millions of jobs through irrigation and many other commercial uses it was associated with many years ago. While acknowledging delay in oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin, Buhari said as a former Minister of Petroleum and head of state, he was aware of exploration activities in the area since 1978 and,

therefore, he would step up efforts after assumption of office. He said he had, many years ago, suggested the need to take the search for oil in the North seriously not only to increase the export potentials of Nigeria, but also to balance cross regional perceptions and manage agitations so as to enhance the stability of the country. He also promised to pay special attention to the economic potentials of the North-East so as to make it attractive for investments.

Earlier, Shettima who led the delegation whose membership included traditional rulers, elders, lawmakers and other stakeholders, said they were in Kaduna to congratulate Buhari over his historic victory in the March 28 presidential election and to remind him of problems affecting the state. He said the people of Borno trusted Buhari given his background as someone that served as military governor in the state and therefore the citizens looked up to him with

so much hope because he was much familiar with their problems. The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amim El-Kanemi, appealed to the President-elect to consider making the Federal Government take over the welfare of youth volunteers fighting insurgency in the state. He also appealed for Buhari's intervention for the resumption of commercial flights to Maiduguri, suspended almost two years ago.

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FG, states, LGs lose MTN frets over $15bn investment N86.42bn in revenue CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Kudo Eresia-Eke; Managing Director, Babs Omotowa and Deputy Managing Director, Isa Inuwa, at the presentation of the facts and figures on NLNG 2015 publication in Lagos...yesterday.

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billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) N71.197 billion and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refund of N6.330 billion. The figures were announced yesterday by the Minister of State for Of the amount approved, Federal Government got the highest allocation of N146.486 billion, states got N74.282 billion while local governments got N57.282 billion. The oil-producing states got N29.378 billion as 13 per cent derivation. The sum of $2.7 billion balance is left in excess crude accounts. Meanwhile, a committee has been constituted for the purpose of thrashing out the refund of NNPC $1.48 billion

ordered by PriceWatersCoopers (PwC) audit firm. The Chairman, Commissioner for Finance Forum, Mr. Timothy Odah, gave updated information on the NNPC refund. He expressed confidence that the NNPC refund would come before the present administration winds down. "We are making a clarion call that the directive on the $1.48 billion coming from the audit of NNPC should be made available so that we can clear with that. The coming (April) FAAC is the last FAAC and we believe it should come during that period because if it doesn't come by then, it is belated and we don't want it to escape that period," Timothy said.

all Nigerians living in South Africa at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, commended the stand of the South African government against xenophobic attack. He also called on Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding and treat one another as brothers and sisters. He said other nationals in foreign land such as Indians and the Jews absorb the catastrophes of life because they are always together, assisting one another. Explaining that he was in South Africa to access the situation and to offer assistance to Nigerian affected in the attacks, he said his coming was beneficial since by visiting the affected areas, he was able to see Nigerians with various degrees of injury. He expressed optimism

that the government of both countries would work towards forestalling such attacks in future. In their different reports, Nigerian chapters from different provinces gave accounts of the effect of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in their different zones. The meeting also exchanged ideas on how to guard against such attacks. The Nigerian Counsel General in Johannesburg, Ambassador Uche AjuluOkeke, requested all the chapters to submit their reports as a basis for engaging the South African government in the search for enduring peace and harmony. A human rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has, however, urged the Federal Government to drag the South African govern-

ment before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to seek effective remedies, including adequate compensation, for Nigerian victims. In a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation the serious human rights abuses called "for strong and decisive action from our government.” “Both South Africa and Nigeria have ratified the African Charter. If President Goodluck Jonathan is to side with the victims and ensure that they receive adequate compensation, he has to immediately instruct the Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke, SAN to urgently file an inter-state communication before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” the organisation stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

NATIONAL

Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku, others mourn Chukwumerije Anule Emmanuel

ore tributes yesterday poured in for the late Senate Committee Chairman on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who died on Sunday. Some of those who paid tribute for the late former Minister and journalist, were President Goodluck Jonathan; PresidentElect, Gen. Mohammadu

Buhari; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hn. Aminu Tambuwal; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Dr. Alex Oti, among others. Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, extended condolences to the Chukwumerije family as well as the government

and people of Abia State over the death. He also commiserated with the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the passage of Chukwumerije, who he described as “an ardent believer in national unity, peace, political stability and progress.” The President further said that the late senator left behind an impressive legacy of discipline, honesty, integrity and hard work in public service.

“As the nation mourns him, the President urges Senator Chukwumerije’s family, friends and associates to honour his memory by continually upholding the values and principles which he lived for and never stopped fighting for till his death”. Buhari described Chukwumerije in a condolence message by the APC Presidential Campaign as a Pan-African par excellence. “As a man of my own

President Goodluck Jonathan, with the visiting President of Cote d’Ivoire, Alassan Ouattarra, during Ouattarra’s visit to the Presidential PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN Villa, Abuja…yesterday.

generation, I observed the progressive political activities of Uche Chukwumerije and admired the Pan- African interests and national patriotic zeal which dominated and dictated major part of his actions and pursuits,’’ Buhari said. He recalled that in the Second Republic, Chukwumerije’s parted ways with the ethnic and regional politics of that era to identify with Mallam Aminu Kano, the leader of the masses (Talakawas) and this “marked him out as a worker for national unity and a man of noble values.’’ The President-elect noted that Chukwumerije lived an active life and never sat on the fence on any national issues. Atiku, in a press statement signed by his media office in Abuja, said the news of Senator Chukwumerije’s death came to him as a rude shock. “ S e n at o r Chukwumerije was in the class of those gentlemen you cannot but notice his outstanding qualities even when he stood in the midst of other men. Also speaking, a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, described Chukwumerije as one Senator and renowned public servant that was not afraid of his own, rusty voice. He prayed to God for

the repose of his soul. Tambuwal expressed shock and sadness over the death. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the deceased Senator as a fine legislator and a refined gentleman, whose passion for the unity and progress of Nigeria is welldocumented. He said Chukwumerije’s deep knowledge of legislative ethics and practices is unequalled, adding that given his contributions to the development of Nigerian legislature, history will be kind to him. Also, former Abia State governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu called for the immortatization of Chukwumerije. Onu said it was a great loss to the nation as Chukwumerije was an institution on legislative matters. Otti described his death as a great loss to the nation. In a statement issued in Umuahia, Otti described Chukwumerije as a great Nigerian whose death was a huge loss to Abia State, Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole, saying that with the death of Chukwumerije, “Ndigbo have lost a vibrant, fearless, outspoken, dogged and veteran politician, whose views on national issues were highly respected.”

Fayose: Schools shut over Ekiti Okonjo-Iweala: China’s slow impeachment crisis growth, harmful to our economy Adesina Wahab and Onyekachi Eze

ost secondary and primary schools in Ekiti State whose resumption date had earlier been slated for Monday were shut yesterday as parents and guardians expressed reservations about the safety of their wards. In Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, most public and privately-owned schools shut their gates against pupils and parents. Some of the few ones that opened for the third term had to politely send back parents and their wards on the excuse that the coast was not yet clear as far as safety of lives and property was concerned. A parent, Mrs. Ajoke Ifeoluwa, said she decided to keep her three children attending a prominent private secondary school in Ado-Ekiti at home because she received a text from the school authorities on Sunday, announc-

ing shifting of resumption date till Tuesday, April 21 as a result of security concerns. However, despite the fear expressed by some residents of Ekiti State that there could be a breakdown of law and order in the state on Monday as a result of the deepening face-off between Governor Ayo Fayose and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, commercial and business activities went on without any hitch. There had earlier been various threats of protests on Sunday by leadership of both commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called “Okada riders” and those of road transport unions. They had threatened to storm the streets to protect the mandate given to Governor Fayose at the polls by Ekiti people and prevent the 19 APC lawmakers from going ahead with their impeachment project against the governor. Fully armed regular

and mobile policemen were on hand to keep the peace as well as repel whatever negative action that might come from either of the two sides. The usual barricade of roads and prevention of both human and vehicular movements which had become a common feature since the crisis began were also absent on Monday, as many residents were seen going about their normal businesses but only few vehicles and motorcycles plied the roads in the early hours of the day over apparent fear of attack. Meanwhile, all the 25 newly-elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly lawmakers in Ekiti State on Monday issued a statement where they alleged that the personal ambition of both embattled Speaker Adewale Omirin of APC and a federal lawmaker, Senator Babafemi Ojudu was responsible for the aggravation of ongoing political crisis in the state.

Ayodele Aminu Washington D.C

oordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has warned of the dire consequences for the Nigerian economy of the slow growth in China. She told reporters on Sunday night in Washington DC at a joint press conference on the outcome of the 2015 Spring Meetings of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the Finance Ministry and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials that Nigeria needed to monitor events in China as they could have impact on its economy. Besides, she also distanced the ministry from funding of President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential campaign, saying that only the security aspect of the elections was funded, as appropriated, in the 2015 budget. She said: “Definitely, the slow growth in China will affect Nigeria because they

are likely to reduce their oil imports from the country. Also, the slow growth may affect lending to Africa.” China, which is the major importer of crude oil from Nigeria after the United States had halted imports, has become Nigeria’s largest trading partner. The minister said the fall in commodity prices, especially oil prices, which have fallen by half at the international market, was hurting oil-producing countries but stimulating the global growth, which is projected to add another one per cent on account of falling oil prices. Okonjo-Iweala also lamented the multiplicity of taxes, saying some of the taxes do not generate the anticipated kind of revenue. She added that a joint taskforce has been put in place to harmonise all the taxes in the country. “In our economy, there are entities charging all manner of fees, from the Federal Government, ministries, agencies, to the states and local governments. They

are too many and sometimes they don’t raise the kind of revenue that is needed. “The key thing is that the taxes that raise revenue for the economy (the VAT for an example) has not been used as a policy. We’ll probably raise far more revenue than all these small taxes that are being raised. “At the Council of State meeting, all the governors agreed to this because they know that it would also boost their revenue,” she stated. Notwithstanding the fact that the economy may be experiencing some hiccups at the moment, the outlook remains robust, the minister said. “Although Nigeria’s economy may have some short-term difficulties to get over this year, but the fundamentals are strong; and we’ve been building those fundamentals for quite some time. We are going to have an economy that is robust and strong. It’s not going to happen without hard work. It needs work and concerted effort to tap into those fundamentals,” she added.

News

tuesday, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Ondo: Minister dismisses Ebola claim Obinna Odoh Abuja

he Minister of state for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo, has called on the general public to ignore the speculations in some quarters that the outbreak of the strange disease that led to deaths in Ondo State was a return of the Ebola virus to Nigeria, attributing the incident to the consumption of a poisonous local liquor the victims. The minister stated this yesterday in Abuja,

l Insists cases linked to poisonous local liquor during a media briefing, said that the epidemiological laboratory investigation indicated a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of local gin that have been contaminated with methanol(poisonous material). According to Nwankwo, this particular poisonous substance (toxic) was being ascertained. He explained that the results of the detailed investigations currently being conducted by the ministry

and partners are still being awaited and would be made public as soon as possible. "The victims of the illness are males between the ages of 22 and 75 years. They mostly exhibited headache, blurring of vision, sudden blindness, loss of speech, unconsciousness and sudden death within 48 hours. At the last count, 18 out of 23 cases have died. The remaining five are receiving treatment at the University Collage Hospital (UCH)

Ibadan. "Preliminary laboratory investigations indicated that the outbreak cannot be attributed to any infectious Organism(Bacterial or viral). The outbreak was also clearly not due to Ebola Virus Disease, as being claimed. "Epidemiological findings indicated a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of a local gin that may have been contaminated with methanol(poisonous ma-

terial). At this stage, the particular poisonous substance(Toxic) is being ascertained. The results of these detailed investigations currently being conducted by government and partners are still being awaited and will be made public as soon as possible. He reassured the general public especially residents of the affected communities, not to be alarmed and go about their normal business as the problem had been brought under control. The World Health Organisations (WHO) country's representative, Dr. Rui Gama Vas, during a question and answer ses-

sion denied the reports in the media, stating that the WHO attributed the cause of deaths to insecticide application and said that WHO, does not work in isolation with the ministry of health. Vas said as the International Organisation, earnestly worked in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in the containment of EVD, the same way it would continue to work with the ministry in all the related health challenges that may occur. He urged the media to create adequate awareness and health education to the public and also verify their information from the right sources before reporting to avoid misleading the general public.

How northern leaders sabotaged PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

I Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio (left), congratulating Chairman, Akwa Ibom State University Governing Board, Obong Asuquo Udofia, after his inauguration in Uyo…yesterday.

PDP’s woes self-inflicted, says Ndoma-Egba Clement James Calabar.

he Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba has broken his silence over his defeat and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 28, Presidential elections, saying the defeat of the party was selfinflicted, following what he described as the impunity perpetrated within the party in the run off to the elections. Ndoma-Egba, who

spoke on Sunday in Calabar, during an interactive session with Journalists however, dispelled the claim that he was planning to defect to the All Progressive Congress (APC). “One big lesson that we’ve learnt from the elections was that impunity is not sustainable. Impunity can only hold for a while but in the long run, it’s not sustainable and it’s going to be very costly. We’ve seen the price we have paid,” he said. Ndoma-Egba, who

claimed that for the past three years, the leadership of PDP in the state has not invited him to any of its meeting, stating that some people appropriated the party to themselves, thus ensuring the defeat of the party at the center. “The impunity has cost us a lot and it is going to cost us much more. So, PDP as far as I am concerned, needed this shock treatment; we needed to be shocked to grapple with the reality and this is an opportuni-

ty, rather than be boastful and be arrogant, we should go back and do proper introspection. If we think that what has happened can endure for much longer, then we are living in self-denial. Impunity is not sustainable,” he said. On the genesis of the crisis in the party, NdomaEgba said, “After the primaries nation-wide, there was a a lot of movement, which was in one direction, and that is where we ought to have gotten the alarmed.

ndications emerged yesterday on why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to secure the mandatory 25 per cent votes in most northern states that would have put the party in good stead to win the March 28 presidential election. In 2011, despite losing most of the states in the region to Muhammadu Buhari's Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), PDP presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was able to win 25 per cent votes in most of the states, which gave him overwhelming victory. PDP also went ahead to win 15 governorship positions out of 19 northern states. This year, the party not

Cleaning to commence at Shell’s spillage site in Bayelsa Chris ejim

Plateau APC raises the alarm over new civil service recruitment Musa Pam Jos

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, has raised the alarm over an alleged indiscriminate recruitment of staff into the state civil service six weeks to the end of the governor Jonah Jang's administration. The party faulted the "hasty recruitment" exercise, saying it was being done in bad faith since the exercise did not follow

due process and meant to leave a burden for the incoming government. Addressing journalists yesterday in Jos, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Latep Dabang, noted that whilst governance was a continuous process, the incumbent government should ensure the smooth take-off of the new administration without any form of encumbrance. He said, "It has come to our notice that about 6,800 people cutting across ministries and departments were being recruited. The

lists have been sent to the Civil Service Commission for the execution of mandate and these actions are not fair and patriotic. "Are these actions not wicked with grand design to set booby traps for the incoming government, queried, adding, six weeks to the exit of the Jang government does not provide justifiable reasons to embark on major policy decisions and execution like recruitment with attendant financial implication. "The APC as a party

has a clear policy on employment, empowerment and engagement of citizenry, we do not need an outgoing regime to do any of these policy focuses for us and without due consultations with the incoming government." He also decried the government intention to create districts/village areas, chiefdoms and development areas, adding "since there are court cases on the creation of these administration institutions, any action by the government is sub-judicial."

only lost the presidential election, it equally lost all the governorship seats where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared vacancies. A source at the PDP national Secretariat told New Telegraph that some top politicians in the north, including the governors worked against the party. "The demand that it is the turn of the north to produce the president made even PDP members to vote against the party. Some of them did it out of fear of being attack. You can see what happened when the result of the election was announced in their favour. It was that bad that even the outgoing governors were able to sacrifice the opportunity to produce their successors in office", the source said.

yenagoa

he management of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) are said to yet to commence the expected clean up exercise of the oil spill on its Kolo creek manifold. The leakage within the Kolo creek oil field operated by SPDC in Bayelsa State discharged was yet to ascertain how many volume of shell’s crude blend went into the environment on April 15, 2015. A site visit to the oil spill site on yesterday indicated that oil spill re-

sponse workers deployed to halt the spillage, had left the site while clean-up activities were yet to start. A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) conducted by officials of SPDC, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Community representatives and oil industry regulators on April 16, concluded that the spill was caused by sabotage. A statement from SPDC’s spokesman Joseph Obari, had said the leak was detected on April 15, 2015. “A leak was detected today April 15, 2015 on the SPDC JV Kolo Creek Manifold.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

News

NATIONAL

CJN begs govs to release funds to judiciary TundeOyesina Abuja

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday called on state governors to respect the judgement of the court which ordered them to release to the heads of court in the states, funds appropriated to the judiciary. The CJN made the plea in Abuja while speaking at a workshop organised for magistrates on judicial ethics by the National Judicial Institute (NJI). Justice Mohammed said he was not unmindful of the hardship being faced by the magistrates in the course of carrying out their duties. He, however, blamed such hardship on the state governors who refused to release funds appropriated to the judiciary. The CJN said: “I am not unmindful of the hardship many of you are going through. I am aware that some of you sit in town halls and other unsuitable venues. Many of you live in rented apartments with co-tenants some of whom may be or become litigants in your courts. “The security of your lives and properties are very

porous. Many of you have been attacked by hoodlums. Some have been kidnapped and huge ransoms demanded from their families. Some have even been killed by assassins. All these make the condition of your work so bad and challenging. “These ugly scenarios are occasioned by the refusal of some state chief executives to obey the constitution and give to your heads of courts what belong to the judiciary of

your state. Without proper funding, no head of court can perform magic. It is on this note that I call upon all the state chief executives, including those that will be coming on board on May 29, that they should please respect and obey the constitution they have sworn to uphold. “All the funds appropriated to the state judiciary should be promptly released to heads of courts so that they can function effectively. When the mag-

Abuja

resident Allasane Quattara of Côte d’Ivoire has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat early enough in the March 28 presidential election. Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Quattara said the step taken by the Nigerian President had saved the most populous black nation from possible strife. The Ivorian leader recalled the civil war his nation had to fight due to the refusal of former President Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat when he (Quattara) won the presidential election.

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has denied the involvement of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in the disbursement of the party’s presidential campaign fund. He spoke yesterday on a radio programme monitored in Abuja. Metuh explained that all the fund for the campaign were directed and managed by the directorates of the Presidential Campaign Organisation,

which the NWC had no control over. “As a party, we have refrained from joining issues publicly on this matter. But in the light of series of enquiries arising from allegations that the NWC embezzled the money meant for the campaigns, we need to make some clarifications. “As the spokesperson of the PDP, I want to place it on record that the National Working Committee was not part of the management of funds for the presidential campaigns. The NWC did not receive any money neither was it in any way involved in how the

He noted that Jonathan had set an example for the rest of West Africa to follow. The Ivorian President said he was in Abuja to congratulate Jonathan, the President-Elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and the people of Nigeria on the successful general elections as well as to appreciate the leadership Jonathan had provided for the sub region over the period. He said: “I think avoiding violence, avoiding civil war when we have elections in Africa should be our utmost objective. People are more important than power and Mr. President, my good friend, am not surprised about what you did and I want to congratulate you, the Nigerian people, and the President-elect for the success of the elections in Nigeria. “It is a legacy for the

African countries and I think we owe you a lot in ECOWAS. I will like to also say that for two years, I was chairman of ECOWAS after yourself and we had to deal with very difficult issues like the wars in Mali, the terrorist implementation in Northern Nigeria, the problem in Guinea Bissau, the problems in Togo. You were always present. For us, you are a West African before being a Nigerian and we thank you for what you did for West Africa.” The Ivorian leader added: “You know that about five years ago, Côte d’Ivoire had elections and I won the election and the former president decided not to leave office.” “This brought the civil war. Three thousand people were killed and we were put at the hotel for protection by the United Nations four and a half months.”

N1.8bn suit: Court defers Oyedepo’s objection to May 27 Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on May 27, rule on the preliminary objection filed by the Founder, Living Faith Church a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, against a N1.86 billion suit slammed on him by

country occupy important positions and perform functions that are very vital to the judicial process in Nigeria. According to her, they are the gateway to the Nigerian judiciary. “Over 70 per cent of cases that come to the Nigerian judiciary started at this level. The participants therefore occupy a strategic position in the hierarchy of courts. The magistracy also serves as the academy from where judicial officers of the superior court are appointed.

PDP NWC didn’t disburse campaign fund, says Metuh

Ivorian president hails Jonathan for conceding defeat Anule Emmanuel

istrates feel unsecured by the government, they are tempted to provide the security themselves. “Financial insecurity is the worst because it exposes the magistrates to some corrupt and ignoble practices. This must be avoided by all means. The magistrate must be adequately encouraged to discharge his duties without fear or favour, affection or illwill.” The Administrator of the Institute, Justice R. Bozimo, said magistrates in the

a stock brokerage firm over alleged breach of contract. In the suit, the plaintiffs, Valueline Securities and Investment Limited and its Managing Director, Samuel Enyinnaya, are seeking, among others, monetary claims in the sum of N1.86 billion from the pastor, his family, his book publishing

company and the Winners’ Chapel for an alleged breach of contractual agreement on a N9 billion investment entrusted to them. Joined as co-defendant is the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which the plaintiff accused of being biased in its investigations into the N9 billion business dispute.

funds were spent. Even as the National Publicity Secretary of the party and Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee, I did not receive any money from anybody and no fund whatsoever was given to me for the campaign,” Metuh stated. He decried what he called the demonization of the NWC and wondered how anybody expects it to account for fund it never received, adding that the president in his wisdom set up directorates and gave them the responsibility to directly manage the elections including the funding. Metuh also “decried

the unnecessary heating up of the party system by certain elements who, apparently have been hired by some divisive elements within and outside the party to sponsor negative publications ostensibly to pull down the leadership.” He said the primary focus of the leadership at the moment is how to ensure that the party’s candidates in all the rescheduled elections across the country emerge victorious while also perfecting all processes to ensure that those who fell victim of the irregularities that characterized the 2015 elections reclaim their mandates.

Don seeks developmental institutions in Nigeria Chris Ugwu

university don, David Florence Professor of Government, Harvard University, Prof. James Robinson and some other experts have called for inclusive political and economic institutions to drive economic development in Nigeria and other African countries. Robinson spoke while delivering a lecture titled; “Why Nations Succeed” at the Wema Bank 70th commemorative lecture in Lagos yesterday. He said inclusive economic institutions create incentives and opportunities for the broad masses of the population, a level playing field and rule of law based on universal principles. Robinson, who is also an economist and co-author of the book; “Why Nations Fail,” noted that inclusive political institutions allowed for broad participation, pluralism, planning constraints and checks on politicians, but extractive economic institutions create opportunity for a few and none for most.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GINDIRI P.M.B 01000, GINDIRI, PLATEAU STATE

INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER FOR 2013/ 2014 (MERGED) TETFUND NORMAL INTERVENTION 1.0 The College of Education, Gindiri invites interested and reputable contractors with proven competence and experience for pre-qualification and tender for the following projects: Lot 1: Construction of Science Laboratory Complex Including External Works Lot 2: Rehabilitation Work of Existing Office Block and Two Floors of Classroom Including External Works Lot 3: Procurement of 2Nr Semi-Executive Table, 24 Nr Semi-Executive Swivel Chair, 48Nr Visitors Chair, 22Nr File Cabinet, 24Nr 1.12kw (1.5HP) Split Unit Air conditioner, 108Nr Collapsible Chair with Writing Top For 5Nr Students Lot 4: Procurement of 9Nr Size 8340× 1000×900mm High Constructed With High Quality Plywood of Island Bench to Accommodate 20 Students Type A, 4Nr Size 8340×1000×900mm High Constructed With High Quality Plywood of Island Bench to Accommodate 20 Students Type B, 4Nr Laboratory Island Bench Size 8340×1000×900mm, 3Nr Teachers Desk Type A With Anti Chemical Resin Top Size 1800×750×900mm, 4Nr Teachers Desk Type B Laboratory Bench Size 1800×750×900mm, 434 Nr Labortory Stools Size 300×300×600mm High ETC 2.0 PRE-QUALIFICATION CRITERIA Interested Contractors are to submit their company profiles the following pre-qualification documents: i. Evidence of registration with the College as a contractor; ii. Evidence of incorporation of company with Corporate Affairs Commission; iii. Evidence of the Tax Clearance Certificate for the past three years; iv. Evidence of VAT Registration; v. Company profile and organizational structure with list and resumes of technical staff; vi. Evidence of Compliance with Pension Reform Act; vii. Evidence of Compliance with ITF Amendment Act 2011; viii. List of similar jobs executed with evidence of names of Clients, Letters of Award and Certificates of Completion; ix. Evidence of Financial Capability and Banking Support; and x. Program of work(graphic)/ Method Statement hard and Soft Copy xi. Evidence of successful execution of projects of 300M xii. Quality Assurance Policy xiii. Sworn Attestation that Information Provided are Genuine xiv. Any other document(s) that will enhance the potential of the company. 3.0 SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS Two copies of Pre-qualification documents should be submitted (with the original marked “original copy”) and sealed in separate envelopes enclosed in a common envelope. All envelopes must be wax sealed and bear the lot number and project title at the top right hand corner of the Envelope. The name and phone number of the Company should be indicated on the reverse side of the envelope and addressed to: The Registrar College of Education Gindiri P.M.B 01000, Gindiri Plateau State, Nigeria. These documents should be dropped in the Tender Box situated in the Registrar’s office before or on 4th May, 2015. 4.0 COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS Contractors that scale through the pre-qualification will be communicated to collect the tender documents from the Registrar’s office of the College, fill and submit same in the Registrar’s office before or on 11th May, 2015. 5.0 OPENING OF TENDER DOCUMENTS AND BIDDING The tender documents will be opened on 11th May, 2015 in the College Boardroom. All Tenderers and the general public are invited to witness the opening exercise. NOTE 1. The lowest bidder may not necessarily be the winner 2. Successful bidders shall be notified to collect the award letter 3. The College shall not enter into correspondence with any unsuccessful bidder. Signed: DYEK, NA’OMI DAUDA (Mrs) REGISTRAR DBDM

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Girl abducted from Lagos church

Baby Ajelero

RANSOM Days after the Orekoya kids were rescued by the police in Lagos, the abductor of another baby is demanding a N300,000 ransom Camillus Nnaji

idnappers again struck in Lagos and stole a three-year-old baby girl, Oluwabumi Ajelero, during a service at the Surulere Baptist Church. The church is located at 52/54, Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos. The child’s parents, Mr and Mrs Dapo Ajelero, said since the incident on Sunday, they had been moving from one

The church

place to the other in search of their daughter. The mother, Mrs Toyin Ajelero, who spoke to our correspondent amidst tears, said the abductor had demanded a ransom of N300,000. She said: “We were in church yesterday (Sunday), the church closed about 12:30pm, at 1pm a boy of about 10 years’ old came running to us. He was shouting that a man on a motorcycle has taken our daughter and rode away with her. “The boy said he confronted the man but the abductor said he was going to buy biscuit for her. That was how he took my daughter away.” Toyin said the abduction caused pandemonium in the church as worshippers

FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

clusively with the father of the child. Ladipo said when the girl’s father, Dapo Ajelero, arrived on Sunday night, he was ordered to go home and speak with the abductor alone. It was gathered that the kidnaper assured Ajelero that his daughter was safe. The abductor also allowed Ajelero to speak with his daughter before he demanded the N300,000 ransom. A relation to the Ajeleros, Kehinde Clegg, said she was in her own church at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) near the Baptist Church when she saw the post of the missing child on Facebook. Clegg said since Sunday, everybody had been going

about looking for the child. She said the matter had been reported at Area ‘C’ Police Station. According to her, the family was told at the station to wait for 24 hours before the police could take any action. A police source at the station confirmed that the matter had been reported. Oluwabumi is said to attend Kays Nursery and Primary School, located at 1/5 Fasehun Street off Nathan Road, Surulere, Lagos. But the head teacher said it was only her elder siblings who were pupils of the school. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, did not pick his calls at press time.

Technicians set agenda for Buhari John Edu

ABIODUN BELLO

started running helter-skater, looking for their own children while friends and relatives started to make calls on the whereabouts of Oluwabumi. On the church premises yesterday, friends and sympathisers, especially women, clustered in small groups, to pray for the release of the innocent child. The Church Administrator, Mrs Modupe Ladipo, said the kidnapper attended the church service and collected the church bulletin. According to her, the abductor got the contact of the reverend in-charge of the church, Rev. Michael Afolabi, from the bulletin. She added that the kidnaper called Afolabi on the phone about 10pm on Sunday, requesting to speak ex-

otor Mechanics and Technicians’ Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN) has called on the incoming government of Gen Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil promises made during the campaigns. The National President of the association, Mr Sulaiman Oseni, made the call at a press briefing, on the challenges confronting the country. Oseni, who said his organisation was dealing with the sales and distribution of motor spare

parts as well as handling mechanical issues, called on the incoming government to develop the automotive industry. While noting that there are about five motor assembly plants in the country, the MOMTAN president called on the President-elect to ensure the training of some of his members in the plants. Those trained, according to him, would in turn train other members of the association. He said: “It has been a usual slogan in government, when elected officials will promise to

do the expected but as soon as they are in position of power they tend to forget so easily what they have promised. “So, the incoming government should employ professionals who know where the shoe pinches. They should also specifically consider the appointment of special adviser to the President on mechanical issues that will speak at both the federal and state levels on mechanical matters because it is one of the basic things required in developing the country’s economy.”

Oseni

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Five kidnappers bag 180 years jail Akeem Nafiu

ustice Olabisi Akinlade of an Igbosere High Court has sentenced five persons to 180 years imprison for robbery and abduction. The convicts - Esther Faith Philips, Patricia Inna, Kingsley Okonwa, Osita Adigwe and Uzochukwu Ezioha - were taken before the court by the Lagos State Government for conspiring together to rob and kidnap one Ayodele Olaoye. They were accused of robbing Olaoye on April 22, 2012 about 16.00 hours on Iba-LASU Road, Lagos, of his GSM mobile phones, wristwatch and necklace valued at N600,000. According to the prosecution, Ayodele was kidnapped by the convicts following which a ransom of N5 million was collected from Engineer Segun Olaoye. Upon their arraignment on a four-count charge bothering on the crime, all the five persons pleaded guilty. However, two others, Jude Sunday and Michael

Olanrewaju, who were arraigned alongside the convicts, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their guilty plea, lawyers to the five convicts approached the prosecution for a plea and sentence agreement. It was agreed, among others, that the convicts would be sentenced to nine years on each of the counts and that the number of years they had spent in custody before

their conviction would be deducted from the jail term. Delivering her judgement, Akinlade noted that the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, had established all the ingredients of the offence committed against the five persons. The judge, while acknowledging the fact that none of the convicts had any previous criminal record, disclosed that they had entered

into the plea and sentence agreement voluntarily. She said: “I have considered the plea and sentence agreement. I have accepted the plea and sentence agreement. I hereby sentence the five accused persons to nine years imprisonment on each of the four counts.” The sentence, according to the judge, shall run concurrently beginning from June 13, 2012, when the convicts were taken into custody. Akinlade added that the convicts shall also testify as prosecution witnesses against Sunday (6th accused) and Olanrewaju (7th accused), who pleaded not guilty to the charges. After their conviction, the trial of the 6th and 7th accused continued with the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness (PW3), Edward Igoma, by the defence lawyer, C. J. Ajakona. Under cross-examination, the witness disclosed that he could not remember the date of the incident and that the two accused were not at the scene of the incident.

Bank manager held over N10m fraud Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

olice in Anambra State have arrested former manager, Nice Micro Finance Bank, Nise, Eke Awka branch, who was declared wanted a few years ago over alleged missing N10 million in fraudulent transactions. Police sources said yesterday in Awka that the manager (name withheld)

surrounded herself about 10 am on Thursday and made a statement on how the transactions went and why she should not be held liable. The police also invited the bank chairman for questioning but released him later after a member of the Board of Directors and a monarch, Igwe Romanus Iloh, the traditional ruler of Nise community went to the police headquarters. Iloh was also former chairman of

the bank. Nice Micro Finance Bank was known as Nise Community Bank before it was upgraded. It has branches across Anambra State with headquarters at Nise NgeneAwka junction. The missing money, according to the police source, was over N15 million but currently the bank estimates it to be N10 million. The source said that the Awka branch manager, who

was on the run, never showed herself to the police until the Bank Chairman, Sir Chris Onoh, made his statements on Tuesday over his roles in the transactions. Onoh was allowed to go on self-recognition because he is also the president-general of Nise Town Union. According to the police source, the fraud perpetrated against shareholders of the bank has run some of the bank’s branches aground.

Five injured as traders clash in Lagos

One of the victims

Taiwo Jimoh

t least five persons were seriously injured when two factions of traders’ associations at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos, clashed. Some of the victims accused the one of the leaders of the Automobile Dealers’ Association of leading a

group of hoodlums using locally-made guns and cutlasses to harass innocent traders and passers-by. The traders called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, to come to their aid as they lives were being threatened for allegedly refusing to support the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) in the just-concluded elections. A trader, Mr Christopher Nzeribe, told our correspondent that one of the top leaders of Ladipo Central Executive Automobile Dealers’ Association was threatening those who did not support the PDP. He said: “The executives of the market have told us that they would make the market uncomfortable for some of us who did not support the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State “We, therefore, urge the Lagos State Government to call the executives of the market to order, because the majority of us were only looking for our daily bread.” But the spokesman for Ladipo Central Executive Automobile Dealers Association, Mr Onyeaka Igwe, said “the allegation levelled against the association’s chairman and vice-chairman was not true. “On the alleged political

crisis, we are not threatening any trader in the market. We are all the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters. “What caused the crisis was when the president general of the market ordered all traders who were trading by the roadside to stop treading to allow free flow of traffic.” However, another trader, who simply identified himself as Okafor, said: “Before the 2015 general election, there was peace and harmony among the traders in the market. “The executives of the market were intimidating and harassing us for supporting the candidate of the APC. Since after the election, we cannot trade and walk freely in the market. “As I speak with you now, five traders were lying critically ill at a private hospital receiving treatment from the injuries they sustained from the attack on them by the hoodlums of the executives.”

City Briefs Lagos Carnival holds May 2

agos State Government has announced Saturday May 2 as the new date for this year’s Lagos Carnival. The Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr Disun Holloway, who said this in a statement yesterday, disclosed that the change from the traditional Easter Monday was consequent upon the shift in the date of the general election which was concluded April 11 nationwide. Holloway said the change of date was approved by Governor Babatunde Fashola following “the alteration in the electoral calendar”. The commissioner said that last Sunday, the Lagos Boat Regatta, which traditionally precedes the Carnival, was held with pump at the usual Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, venue of the festival. He said: “Both the Boat Regatta and the Carnival are part of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival.”

50 women benefit from NDE training Clement James Calabar

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Cross River State has commenced one-week training for 50 women on skill acquisition. The state NDE Coordinator, Mr Edem Duke, who said this at the launch of the training programme in Calabar yesterday, disclosed that the women would be trained in cosmetic production, comprising powder, soap, body cream, detergent, perfume production, among others. Duke said that the participants would also undergo business orientation for two days to equip them with management skills which would enable them to set up their own businesses after the training. He said: “This training is all geared towards curbing unemployment problem in the state and country as a whole. The NDE is so concerned with the training of women in skill acquisition because when a woman is trained and empowered, there is a multiplier effect in her output.”

Fashola’s aide presents book on taxation

he Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State governor on Justice Sector Reforms, Lanre Akinsola, will on April 25 present to the public his latest publication on personal income tax. Akinsola had earlier served as the senior special assistant on Taxation & Revenue to Governor Babatunde Fashola during his first term in office. The book, Personal Income Tax Act – Principles and Cases in Nigeria, is a response to recent developments in tax administration in Nigeria. With various tiers of government reviewing their tax administration machineries for the purpose of maximising their internally generated revenue, taxation is gradually reclaiming its pride of place as the prime source of government revenue. The book is an attempt to present the Personal Income Tax Act through the eyes of the courts. The public presentation will hold at the CITN Tax Professional Place, Plot 16 Jobi Fele Way, Alausa by 2pm.

12 News

Group congratulates Ambode, APC Temitope Ogunbanke

ollowing their victories in the March 28 and April 11 elections in Lagos State, the Old Students Alliance - Badagry (OSAB), has congratulated Governor-elect, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, his deputy, Dr Oluranti Idiat Adebule, and all newly elected members of the National Assembly. The group also enjoined the Governor-elect to ‘hit the ground running’ by immediately immersing himself and his team in the arduous tasks ahead to sustain the enviable height of the Centre of Excellence as the state of reference in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a statement by its President, Mr. Felix Sadare and General Secretary, Otunba Yomi Olomofe, the group also drew the attention of the newly elected office holders to the extremely high expectations of the people of Lagos State and Nigerians in general in the areas of infrastructure developments, quality and affordable health care delivery, provision of quality and affordable housing schemes across the state, continuous employment generation, security of lives and property of Lagosians. “We wish to place on record our unwavering confidence in the calibre and competence of our Governor-elect, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, his deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, and indeed, the candidates, representing Badagry at the federal and state legislative chambers. These are people of exceptional personal and professional endowments, who have made invaluable contributions over time, to growth of Lagos State. We therefore envisage a seamless transition and subsequent elevation of the state to higher levels of excellence,” he said.

Muritala Ayinla

iqued by piracy and other forms of intellectual theft, film makers yesterday took their protest to the office of the Lagos State Governor, Alausa, with a call on the government to consider stiffer penalties for piracy. They disclosed that the action of pirates could send them out of business if government refuses to take drastic actions against them. The protesters brandished placards of various sizes with the inscriptions such as, “Save our business from piracy"; "Piracy is affecting our growth; "Do not patron-

Abeokuta

he National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO) yesterday canvassed the introduction of 25 percent affirmative action for the youths, urging the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to implement the proposal in the nation's governance. The group noted that if women could enjoy 35 percent affirmative ac-

Film makers seek govt's help to fight piracy ize pirates”; "Piracy is killing!”, among others. Addressing the gathering, the coordinator of the protest, Mr. Tunde Kelani called on the government and stakeholders to come up with legislation to curb the criminal act. He said, "Lagos is the hub of entertainment industry in the country and the centre of the activity is the Alaba market, Ojo Local Gov-

ernment. And in Lagos, it is disheartening for investors to see their work pirated and sold on the street of Lagos without anyone to stop it. "The trend of piracy we are witnessing now has assumed a dangerous level where films produced in Nigeria still showing in the cinemas are pirated and released, sold on the streets of Lagos before official release

by the investors. Kelani said piracy was a major albatross to the growth of the movie industry as it discouraged investments in film making and undermined creativity. Kelani who is the proprietor of Mainframe Productions also sued for the elevation of piracy to the same level as armed robbery, financial crimes and narcotics.

Another producer, Mr. Kunle Afolayan, who claimed his latest film“October 1”, had just been pirated before official commissioning, lamented the situation and called for serious legislation. “I feel very perplexed because I have a distributor I work with, he distributes all types of films and he released my previous films- Phone Swap, Figurine and Irapada.

L-R: Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Akinola Fatiregun; Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju and Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, after a press briefing on the Irele outbreak, in Akure…yesterday

'World Bank spent N75bn for agric development in Lagos, others' Muritala Ayinla

agos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Prince Gbolahan Lawal yesterday said that the World Bank has spent $380 million (N75, 240,000 000) on development of agriculture in Lagos and some other states in the last eight years. The Commissioner,

NACOMYO tasks Buhari on 25% affirmative action Kunle Olayeni

tuesday, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

tion as internationally gazetted, the youths also deserve some recognition as a result of their active participation during the electioneering process. Addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the NACOMYO National President, Kamal'ddin Akintunde, implored Buhari, governors-elect and the new set of legislators to govern with fear of Allah and embrace the rule of law in governance.

who also disclosed that the Lagos State Government would meet the 25 percent food sufficiency target in the state by 2018, said that strategies had been put in place to boost food production. Speaking during the ongoing ministerial press briefing at the state secretariat, Alausa, Lawal said that $180 million was spent on Commercial

Agriculture Development Project (CADP) while $200 million was spent on National Fadama Development Project (FADAMA) by the World Bank. The commissioner added that the $200 million Fadama grant was accessed by six states while the $180 million was accessed by five states, including Lagos. According to him, the

Commercial Agriculture Development Project and the Third National Fadama Development Project have impacted on over 6,000 farming families in the area of technology innovation, rural infrastructure, market, water supply among others. Lawal said, "Because of the of performance of Lagos State in the World

Bank assisted project, the state is one of the six that will benefit from the Fadama, Additional Financing. The Fadama additional financing is the $25 million grant from the World Bank through the Federal Government. The focus of the financing will be on rice production from 30ha to 1030ha within four years.

LAUTECH graduates 33 First Class Emulate Jonathan, Ogundipe Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

adoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso would, tomorrow, confer First Class honours on 33 out of its 4, 697 graduating students for the 2014/2015 session. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin said this at a news conference organised in commemoration of the institution's 12th convocation ceremony in Ogbomoso yesterday. According to him,

other categories of graduands include "1,144 Second Class Upper categories, 2,575 Second Class Lower, 692 Third Class and 14 Pass. "In the Clinical Department, 99 people graduated from Medicine while in Nursing, 25 had credit and 115 had pass", the VC said, adding that over 9,000 high degrees would also be awarded during the convocation. Gbadegesin said the institution had enjoyed rapid growth through the pursuance of achievements of the vision of its founding fathers.

tasks APC lawmakers Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

ational Vice-Chairman, South-West of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, has described as needless the war being waged against the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, by All Progressives Congress (APC) legislators. He cited the manner the outgoing President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, placed national interest

above personal interest and conceded defeat to the incoming President, General Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking in a chat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he said it would be better for the APC and other opposition leaders in the state to know that Fayose is God-sent. Ogundipe also admonished the 19 APC lawmakers to note that they had little time before their tenure would lapse, saying they ought to engage in stock taking.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

General elections

Animosity

14, 15

Successes, failures of senators in guber polls

Mimiko, Olanusi flex muscles

Politics Seven members of the House of Representatives participated in the April 11 governorship poll. PHILIP NYAM reports on the performances of the legislators

From parliament to Government House

efore Saturday April 11, only three serving members of the House of Representatives have been lucky to walk straight from the Lower Chamber to the Government House. At the beginning, 13 members of the House vied for governorship slots in their states but at the end of the party primaries, only five of them got nominated by their parties, while two were chosen as running mates. Those who got nominated were: Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (APC, Sokoto), Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha (PDP, Imo), Hon. Dakuku Peterside (APC, Rivers), Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (PDP, Enugu) and Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau (PDP, Bauchi). Those nominated as running mates were Hon. Asita Honourable (APC, Rivers) and Hon. Haruna Manu (PDP, Taraba). With the results of the April 11 governorship election announced so far, only two members of the House, Tambuwal and Ugwuanyi; and perhaps, former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari and Governor Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara), a former member were able to cross the Rubicon. History Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State became the first serving member of the House to win election as governor in 2007. After two terms in the House, he was promoted to the Government

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Tambuwal

House, Makurdi. In 2011, Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara became the second member of the House to move straight to Gusau Government House from the House. In the same 2011, Hon. James Bala Ngilari, a former member of the House was also elected as deputy governor to the impeached Governor Murtala Nyako. Today, he has fought his way back through the courts as governor of Adamawa State. In 2012, Hon. Seriake Dickson, who was chairman of the House Committee on Justice and was serving his second term in the lower chamber had a swift ride to the Bayelsa Government House after the incumbent governor, Timiprey Sylva was disqualified from contesting. Before all these, a former Deputy Speaker of the House in the Third Republic, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso was elected as governor of Kano in 1999. He lost in 2003 to the present, Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau but came back in 2011 to reclaim the seat. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Tambuwal was declared winner by the Sokoto State Returning Officer, Prof. Abubakar Bagudo, who said the Speaker polled 647,

Ugwuanyi

Only two members of the House, Tambuwal and Ugwuanyi... were able to cross the Rubicon

Masari

609 votes to defeat his former boss and closest rival, Senator Abdallah Wali who polled 269, 074. Tambuwal’s victory was expected drawing from the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections of March 28, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) trounced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in every contested position in Sokoto State. Tambuwal represents Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency. A lawyer by profession, Tambuwal began his political career as an Assistant on Legislative Matters to erstwhile Senate Leader, Senator Abdullah Wali between 1999 and 2000. In 2003, he contested and won elections to represent Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency and subsequently won elections two times. In the House, he has been a principal officer all through beginning with Deputy Minority Whip to Deputy Minority Leader and Deputy Chief Whip. To many political pundits, Tambuwal has largely remained an enigma since 2011. His political image keeps soaring even as his unusual style of politicking continues to be a mystery to many others. The manner he emerged as speaker in 2011 still lingers in the political psyche of close followers of events in the polity since the return of democracy

in 1999. In 2011, against all odds and with the tacit support of his colleagues, he aborted the PDP’s zoning arrangement and became speaker by beating the party’s anointed candidate, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Like Tambuwal, Ugwuanyi’s victory was long foretold. He is the preferred candidate of the Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime. Ugwuanyi scored 482, 277 votes as against his closest challenger, Okey Ezea, of the APC who polled 43,839 votes. Chime had endorsed Ugwuanyi to the chagrin of other aspirants like the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, who challenged the decision in court but lost out. Apart from being anointed by the governor and key PDP stakeholders, Gburugburu, as Ugwuanyi is popularly called, is said to be popular in the state and wields a lot of influence based on his performance in the House particularly as Chairman, Committee on Marine Transport. His uncommon humility has also worked well for him. Ugwuanyi does not discriminate between the rich and the poor and he is always ready to assist. He is said CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Successes, failures of senators in guber polls

Ayade

Okowa

Bindowo

In the build up to the 2015 general elections, 22 serving senators bided for the governorship seats of their respective states, but only nine scaled the primaries. Even at that, four of them eventually got elected as governors in the April 11 poll. CHUKWU DAVID reports

rior to the March 28 and April 11 general elections in the country, many senators indicated interest to move their political career from the parliament to the executive arm by angling for the governorship seats in their various states. However, only few of them got the support of their parties by getting the tickets at the primaries to contest the number one political office in their states. So many of them were disappointed as they were either outrightly denied the ticket by their parties/ or their governors or defeated at the primary elections in controversial circumstances. The failure of many of the senators and other party chieftains to secure tickets to pursue their various ambitions provoked a lot of rancour and acrimony in the parties, particularly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In fact, it is believed that the intractable controversies and protests generated by the situation, and the failure of the party leadership to amicably and satisfactorily resolve the crisis, contributed adversely to the weakening of the party, which subsequently led to its woeful outing in the justconcluded general elections both at the state and national levels. In the beginning, over 20 serving senators in this 7th Assembly muted their intentions to vie for the office of governor in their respective states. But due to a number of factors, many of them were not able to actualise this vision. Expectedly, this precipitated a lot of intra-party wrangling

which compelled some of the lawmakers especially from the PDP to decamp to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Checkmated at the primaries The senators, who indicated interest to contest the office of governors almost a year before the primaries were conducted include: the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who represents Lagos West. He actually contested the primary election but failed. His failure could be traced to the influence of godfatherism in Lagos State. The Lagos Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, was the preferred candidate of the leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Moreover, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riwan Akiolu, also threw his wait around Ambode, leaving Solomon and other contenders in the race to their fate. In Lagos also, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East initially indicated interest to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola. But seeing the thick hurdle on his way, he abandoned the governorship project; made a wise decision and re-negotiated for a return ticket to the Senate. Another senator who wanted to go for the office of governor is the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Abdul Ahmed Ningi. He represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP. It was obvious that after series of political calculations and negotiation, Ningi withdrew his ambition. He was given a return

Many of them were disappointed as they were either outrightly denied the ticket by their parties...

Bagudu

ticket to the Senate but he lost in the March 28 poll. In Imo State, Senator Chris Anyanwu, representing Imo East and elected to the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had to defect to the PDP when she wanted to contest for the governorship primaries. She, however, lost the ticket to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who actually contested with the incumbent APC governor, Rochas Okorocha. Senator Nkechi Nwaogu of Abia Central Senatorial District also indicated interest to contest and take over from Governor Theodore Orji but she was eventually stopped by the state governor. Orji also took her senatorial seat. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South-PDP) is another member of the Senate from Abia, who also targeted Orjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job but could not make it. The incumbent governor had a preferred candi-

date in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. But being a force to reckon with in Abia politics, Abaribe was pacified with a return ticket to the Senate. Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North/PDP) made a dogged and desperate attempt to occupy the Enugu Government House come May 29 but there was a connivance from the PDP stakeholders from his zone and the state governor, Sullivan Chime, never to allow him get to the position. Eze tried to put up a fight against his political opponents in the state, unfortunately the society, they say is greater than any individual. So, Eze lost the bid and was not given the chance to return to the Senate like some of his colleagues in some other states. Other senators who showed interest in moving from the Senate to their state government houses include: Benedict Ayade (PDP, Cross River North); Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP, Delta North);

WILL SHE MAKE IT?

Alhassan

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), Helen Esuene (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), Aisha Alhassan (APC, Taraba North); Solomon Ewuga (PDP, Nasarawa North), and Magnus Abe (APC, Rivers South East). From Adamawa State, Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow who represents Adamawa North made his interest known early enough and did not relent until he achieved his goal. He contested on the platform of the APC and won. Senator Igwe Paulinus Nwagu, representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District went for the PDP governorship primaries but lost. He then defected to the Labour Party (LP) and became the running mate to the LP governorship candidate, Edward Nkwegu but they lost the election, despite Governor Martin Elechi’s massive support for the party. Senator Atiku Bagudu, who represents Kebbi Central Senatorial District was about the last senator to be mentioned in the governorship race but fortunately for him, he emerged victorious at the poll. Another serving senator, who tested his popularity in the governorship contest but failed is Gyang Pwajok (PDP, Plateau North). He lost to the APC candidate, Hon. Simon Lalong, the former Speaker of the Plateau

State House of Assembly. Similarly, Senator Akin Odunsi, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, who was a member of the APC until late, contested the governorship of his state on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and lost to the APC candidate, Ibikunle Amosun. After all the politicking and horse trading that took place before, during and after the primary elections, only nine senators finally qualified and actually contested for the governorship seat in their states. These senators are: Ifeanyi Okowa; Atiku Bagudu, Gyang Pwajok; Benedict Ayade, and Simeon Ajibola. Other senators who succeeded in standing for the April 11 gubernatorial elections in their states include: Aisha Alhassan, Akin Odunsi, Helen Esuene and Jibrilla Bindow. At the end of the polls however, only four of these nine senators emerged victorious as governors-elect.

At the end of the polls, however, only four of these nine senators emerged victorious as governorselect

Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) In Delta State, Senator Okowa fought two major contenders to emerge winner of the April 11 poll. Okowa polled 724,680 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party (LP), who got 130,028 votes. Chief O’tega Emerhor of the

fell by THE wayside

APC took the 3rd position with 67,825 votes. Okowa won in 21 local government areas out of the 25 in the state while Ogboru clinched the remaining four LGAs. In the Delta State gubernatorial race, the strongest defining force was zoning. For instance, Deltans seemed to have shown little or no interest in what the candidates presented as their programmes, or who among them would consolidate on the effort of the out-going administration. Their greater attention was focused on rotating the office of governor to another senatorial district. This zoning principle perfectly worked for Senator Okowa, who hails from the northern district of the state. This is because two of the senatorial districts have produced governors since the state was created out of the old Bendel State in 1991. The first civilian governor of the state, who ruled from 1992 to 1993, Felix Ibru, and Mr. James Ibori, who ruled from 1999 to 2007, are Urhobos from the Delta Central senatorial district, while the outgoing governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, an Itsekiri, is from the Southern senatorial district. The Northern senatorial district comprising distinct Igbo subgroups of Ika, Enuani (Aniocha/Oshimili) and Ukwuani

(Ndokwa), insisted that it was its turn to produce the next governor of the state and mobilized massively to actualise the goal by electing their son, Senator Okowa. Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) Also, in Kebbi State, Senator Bagudu representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District emerged as governor-elect after scoring 477,376 votes against 293,443 votes polled by Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki (Rtd) of the PDP. He was a very strong member of the PDP but when the party did not give him ticket at the primary election, the APC immediately invited him to come and be their governorship flag bearer. The idea was to weaken the PDP stronghold in the state in order to win the election at all cost. The Buhari factor and lack of cohesion within the PDP which forced many party leaders out of the fold contributed to the victory of Bagudu as APC won everything in Kebbi State. Benedict Ayade (Cross River) In Cross River State, Professor Ayade of the PDP also emerged the winner of the governorship election with a total of 342,016 votes. His two opponents, Mr. Odey Ochicha of the APC and Mr. Fidelis Ugbo of the Labour Party had 53,983 votes and 36,918 votes respectively. Interestingly, Senator Ayade was neither the preferred candidate of Governor, Liyel Imoke nor other political godfathers. However, the unresolved confusion in the governor’s camp paved the way for him to emerge as the candidate of the PDP in the state. Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa) Senator Bindow of the APC defeated Nuhu Ribadu of the PDP in the Adamawa governorship. The wind of ‘Buharism’, which swept out the ruling party in most of the northern states did not spare the party in Adamawa. Bindow polled 362,329 votes to defeat his closest rival, Engr. Markus Gundiri of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who polled 181,806 votes. Surprisingly, Ribadu came a distant third with 98,917 votes.

Esuene

Pwajok

Abe

Odunsi

Ajibola

Eze

Gyang Pwajok (Plateau) Senator Pwajok, representing Plateau North is one of the five senators who stood for the governorship election but lost. He lost to Hon. Simon Lalong of the APC. In fact, the failure of the PDP to win Plateau is still a great shock to the chieftains of the party. But looking at the whole situation more critically, one can conclude that Governor Jonah Jang robbed the party of the seat. Jang, for reasons best known to him, decided to negate the zoning arrangement which the state has put in place to reduce the acrimony emanating from marginalisation of some sections of the state. The first executive governor in Plateau when this democracy came on stream in 1999 was Senator Joshua Dariye from Plateau Central. The incumbent Governor Jang is from the Northern district. So, going by the zoning arrangement, Plateau South CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

16 Politics

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mixed fortunes for lawmakers

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

to have provided jobs and empowered a lot of widows and youths in his constituency and in the entire state. He represents Nsukka/Udenu federal constituency and comes from Enugu North Senatorial zone. Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari In 2011, Governor Yari of Zamfara became the second member of the House (from 1999) to move straight to Gusau Government House from the House. He ran on the ticket of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and with the tacit support of Senator Sani Ahmed Yerima, he defeated an incumbent Governor Aliyu Shinkafi. In the 2015 elections, Yari who was the flag bearer of the APC again defeated Shinkafi of the PDP. He polled 716,964 votes against Shinkafi’s 201,938. Aminu Bello Masari Former Speaker Masari floored

Jatau

the PDP candidate, Alhaji Musa Nashanu by scoring 943, 085 to Nashanu’s 476, 768 votes. Masari was Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. Upon leaving the House in 2007, he made an attempt at the Katsina Government House but lost out at the primaries. In 2011, he ran on the ticket of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) but lost to Governor Ibrahim Shema, after a crisis ridden primaries that saw Senator Yakubu Lado who claimed to have won the CPC’s primaries supporting the PDP instead. Haruna Manu Manu is the running mate to Architect Darius Dickson Ishyaku, the PDP candidate for Taraba State. Right now, the result of the Taraba governorship is in the limbo as the election has been declared inconclusive. There are conflicting reports about the re-

Peterside

sults from the state. Manu represents Bali/Gassol federal constituency of Taraba.

At the beginning, 13 members of the House vied for governorship slots in their states but...

Emeka Ihedioha The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is presently trailing Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, though the result is still a subject of controversy. He represents Aboh/Mbaise federal constituency and is serving his third term in the House. Okorocha defeated him in 19 out of the 27 local government’s areas of the state so far declared. The election is however inconclusive. From being chairman of the House Committee on Marine Transport in his first tenure, Ihedioha fought his way to become the Chief Whip in 2007, when his kinsman and co-aspirant for governorship, Hon. Bethel Amadi was shoved off the position after the removal of Hon. Patricia Etteh as

Speaker. In 2011, he worked with Speaker Tambuwal to thwart the PDP zoning formula by contesting and becoming deputy speaker. He emerged unopposed after Tambuwal floored the party’s preferred candidate Hon. Mulikat AkandeAdeola. Okorocha is still ahead in the election with 381,904 votes. Ihedioha polled 305,020 votes in the results declared so far. Dakuku Peterside Though the result of Rivers is being disputed, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike of the PDP as governor-elect. Peterside represents Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency in Rivers State and serving his first term in the House. He is the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). Peterside contested alongside Hon. Asita Honourable, who is his running mate. Asita is also a member of the House and chairman of the Committee on Local Content. Wike scored 1, 029, 102 votes to defeat Peterside, who polled 124, 896 votes. Mohammed Auwal Jatau Jatau is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and was the anointed candidate of Governor Isa Yuguda. His attempt at the governorship could not yield result as the APC’s candidate, Barr. Mohammed Abubakar trounced him and eight others by polling 654, 934 votes, while Jatau came second with 282, 650 votes. Jatau’s defeat became imminent when Yuguda lost his senatorial bid and General Muhammadu Buhari cleared the votes in the state in the presidential election. In addition, the no love lost between the trio of Yuguda, the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mu’azu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, affected his chances.

18 senators fail to make it to Govt House C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

ought to produce the next governor of the state. Contrary to this arrangement, however, Jang still imposed Senator Pwajok, who is from the same zone with him. The South protested but he did not listen. Therefore, the electorate cast protest votes against Pwajok, irrespective of the fact that Plateau is a PDP-controlled state. Lalong polled a total of 564 913 votes, to defeat Pwajok, who scored 520,627, winning by a margin of 44,386 votes. The slim margin shows that if not for the protest votes, PDP would have won the election. Helen Esuene (Akwa-Ibom) Senator Helen Esuene is also one of the female senators that courageously went for the office of governor in their states. She represents Akwa Ibom South and was a formidable member of the PDP until she was denied the ticket at the contentious primary election that took place in Akwa Ibom State late last year. She initially had confidence in getting to the top position because of the earlier zoning arrangement between the

Ibibio and the Anang tribes in the state towards producing a successor to Godswill Akpabio. Out of anger, however, Esuene decamped to the Labour Party (LP), on which platform she contested the gubernatorial election and lost. Esuene came third in the governorship poll. She secured 86,000 votes. PDP’s Udom won in a landslide with 996,071 votes while APC’s Umanah Okon Umanah scored 89,865 votes. It was not possible for Esuene to win the Akwa Ibom governorship election because Governor Akpabio has tremendous political influence in the state. Since his preferred candidate is Emmanuel Udom, it became difficult for anybody else to succeed in defeating the PDP candidate. Despite that 22 other aspirants ganged up against Akpabio and his candidate, yet Udom emerged the winner. However, a lot of protest has trailed the conduct of the governorship election, as all the disgruntled political stakeholders in the state claimed that election never took place in Akwa Ibom.

the APC to the SDP. He contested for governorship but was defeated by the APC candidate and incumbent Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. In fact, Odunsi came third in the contest as Amosun secured 306, 988 votes to defeat Gboyega Isiaka of the PDP, who had 201 440 votes. Odunsi polled only 25 826 votes. The platform upon which Odunsi contested for the governorship poll was responsible for his failure.

Akin Odunsi (Ogun) Senator Akin Odunsi defected from

Aisha Alhassan (Adamawa) In Taraba State, the two major fac-

Simeon Ajibola (Kwara) Senator Ajibola represents Kwara South and was the PDP governorship candidate for Kwara State in the April 11 election. Without much debate, it was manifest that as long as Kwara politics was concerned, the Saraki factor must come to play. As soon as Saraki, who is the political rallying point in the state defected to the APC, it was certain that the PDP would have problem in the state. Therefore, Ajibola’s failure was not of any serious surprise to political analysts.

tors that have always influenced elections are religion and ethnicity. The state, for instance, is dominated by indigenes, who are mainly Christians and of Jukun stock. Over the years, there has been serious strife between the Jukuns and the Hausa/ Fulanis, who are considered as later settlers in the state. This explains why the indigenes, who have numerical advantage always produced the governor since 1999. Winning the April 11 governorship election in Taraba would have been a walk over for the PDP candidate, Darius Ishaku. But the political godfather of the state, Theophilus Danjuma, was accused of imposing a wrong candidate on the state. Ishaku is seen to be weak and does not enjoy the acceptance of the people of the state. That was why the APC’s, Senator Aisha Alhassan appeared to be giving the PDP candidate a tough fight, resulting in the stalemate witnessed at the election. Despite the odds, the tendency is that the PDP will still win in Taraba. In the results so far announced, Ishaku polled 317,198 votes while Alhassan scored 262,386 votes.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

Mimiko, Olanusi flex muscles Reminiscence of the 1983 saga between Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo in old Ondo State which led to the loss of many innocent souls, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is up in arms with his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi. BABATOPE OKEOWO reports

he echo of 1983 political saga in Ondo State when the Governor, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin and his deputy, Chief Akin Omoboriowo, fought over the governorship seat is reverberating again in the state. This time, it is between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, over who controls the lever of government in the state in the months ahead. Unlike Omoboriowo who defected from the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to contest against his boss and was announced as the winner of the 1983 election before the court overruled the decision of the electoral umpire, Olanusi did not defect to contest against Mimiko but planned to supplant his boss in a ‘palace coup’ masterminded by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). But similar to 1983 scenario, Olanusi had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC a few hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The move caught the government and the PDP’s hierarchy unaware as the Deputy Governor and his wife, Alhaja Bejide, were present when the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, came to Akure, the state capital, to campaign for her husband less than 24 hours before then. Deputy Governor’s grouse In his brief letter of defection, Olanusi said: “In the unfolding political development in our country today, and in Ondo State in particular, it is increasingly clear that I need to chart a new course for majority of my followers who look up to me for direction and leadership and who have watched helplessly in the last six years, the untold marginalisation and total exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place. “While still being in place as the democratically elected Deputy Governor of Ondo State, I have decided to lead my teeming supporters and well-wishers in the state into the All Progressives Congress (APC) where we can find justice, fairness, equity and democratic liberty – a party to which majority of our kits and kins in Yorubaland belongs. I have taken this decision at this

Mimiko

Olanusi

critical time, in the best interest of peace, stability and good governance of our dear state and for the overall development of the South-West and the nation.” Mixed reactions The government and the PDP which spoke separately said the departure of the deputy governor would not have effect on the outcome of the election and that the party would still win the election, the assertion that actually was proved wrong by the outcome of the March 28 election as the APC won the presidential election in the state. This put the governor and his cabinet on the edge as the next election would not be about who controls the Federal Government but the survival of the governor in the months ahead. The government and the party tried to wave the defection as inconsequential as Kayode Akinmade, the government’s spokesman in his reaction said: “The state government just received the news of the defection of Alhaji Alli Olanusi, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State to the APC. Though it came as a surprise, government acknowledges his right to determine his political affiliation and wish him well.” Similarly, the Director of Publicity of the PDP, Mr. Ayo Fadaka in the party’s reaction said: “It has come to our attention that the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Alli Olanusi has decamped to the APC. It is however pertinent for us to underscore the fact that Alhaji Olanusi is not a member of the PDP in Ondo State as he was not re-registered in his ward and local government by the party.” He added: “While admitting that he did attend two party functions recently, he was a mere passive observer at such functions and his attendance does not in any manner confer membership of the party on him. By his latest political gymnastic action, it is obvious that he had been a

clandestine member of the APC, and a mole in the government of Governor Mimiko, who have just received order to declare openly for them. “Of course, we suspect that his action is intended to serve as a response to the declaration of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru. We however declare that both are not in the same cadre. While Ikuru possess the power and influence to inflict devastating damages on the fortune of APC in Rivers State, same cannot be said of Alli Olanusi of Ondo State. As we go into the elections on Saturday, the PDP will coast into victory here.”

The plan of APC was to take over the rein of government in 2017... Olanusi was also referred to as the incoming governor of the state

Collateral damage The assertion of the party and the government was proved wrong as Olanusi teamed up with other members of the APC who had defected to the party earlier and defeated the PDP in Ondo North Senatorial District where Olanusi hails from. The APC also won majority of the National Assembly seats and defeated the ruling party in the presidential election. Emboldened by the result of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC moved to control the State House of Assembly so that it can impeach the governor and replace him with one of their own. Indication to this emerged when a former leader of the PDP, Chief Olusola Oke, defected to the APC after the presidential election. The state chairman of the APC, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, told the cheering crowd including the deputy governor that the APC would control the state earlier than expected. Kekemeke said the plan of APC was to take over the rein of government in 2017 but that plan would come earlier than expected. Olanusi, who was at the event, was also referred to as the incoming governor of the state. Similarly, a leader of the APC

in the state and re-elected senator, Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice attested to this in an interview when he said: “Almost everybody in Ondo State is fed up with the present Ondo State government, the governor in particular. We have all decided to vote against the PDP. In the last election, we had two senators, and five members of the House of Representatives. That was before people like Olusola Oke and Gbenga Oguniya and many other very prominent members of the PDP defected to the APC. With their influence now, we are expecting that we will have about 21 members in the House of Assembly. If we have that you can now hazard a guess of what is going to happen.” Failed plot But the APC’s plan failed as PDP won 19 out of the 24 declared seats in the State House of Assembly and was in clear lead in the two constituencies declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as inconclusive. This development has put the seat of the Deputy Governor in danger as the majority members of the Assembly may impeach Olanusi for gross misconduct or any offence it wants any moment from now. Indications to that have emerged in the state as different groups have been calling for the resignation or impeachment of Olanusi as Deputy Governor. The groups included the National Association of Ondo State and the Concerned Ondo State. The youth groups staged a peaceful protest to the Governor’s Office to also demand the exit of Olanusi as deputy governor of the state. According to the spokesperson for the group, Comrade Akintunde Lawal, the defection of Olanusi to the APC would definitely hinder the existing peace and development being recorded by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Abia: Between winning and rigging Emelogu Martins

he mass protests, negative public reactions, inconclusive results processing, etc that have trailed the March 28th and April 11 national and governorship elections in Abia State constitute food for thought for followers of Abia politics, particularly those genuinely committed to the struggle for change. The real winners of that election are not essentially the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidates who are temporarily robbed of their victories, but Abians who voted in defiance of weather condition, hunger occasioned by several months of backlog of unpaid salaries, proven harassments, occasional molestations by agents of the outgoing monstrous administration in the State. We witnessed a most desperate attempt to keep whitewashing glaring failure, near total lack of governance and incompetence of the last eight years of the exiting administration in the state. There is no doubt that Abians have made up their minds to vote against any stooge planted by a government that has turned her eyes the other way while several pensioners and retired public servants languish to death as a result of unsettlement of due benefits, a government that has stashed the State funds away for the purpose of muscling out opposition through selective payments. Abians are not fooled by all these. These profligate acts could have been uncalled for if the PDP administration in the state had endeared itself to hearts of Abians through noticeable performances. Abians are prepared to give the PDP administration in the State its score card. As another date approaches because of the inconclusiveness of the governorship election, it is important to urge Abi-

ans to continue to vote for change notwithstanding the egregious manipulations and provocations. We must remain vigilant in these few days preceding this decisive election. After all, eternal vigilance is said to be the price of freedom. This is one way through which Abians can stand on their way as they prepare to execute their evil machinations on the day the INEC is yet to decide. A few days to the conduct of the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections, the PDP in Abia State was in frantic moves to circumvent the processes that had been laid down by the INEC for the conduct of the elections. As transparent as the REC in the state has been acknowledged to be, it is important to re-emphasize that she must not sit and fold her arms while the PDP script is being acted by her immediate subordinates. It is important to stress at this time how the prayers, fasting, and steadfastness of Nigerians were attended to by God himself to avert the catastrophic predictions of the concluded national elections. We do not expect that any second tier leader would want to create a cataclysmic environment of violence for his subjects in a bid to win in a do or die means. The attempts to thwart the will of the people through a rancorous manipulation of the electoral process as being planned by the PDP in Abia State is to say the least condemnable. The national elections were successful because INEC strictly adhered to the provisions and guidelines for the conduct of the elections. One is at a loss why the PDP is opposed to the use of Card Readers for the next elections. The scheming to abandon the Card Readers in collusion with the suspected Principal elements in the Commission points to a glaring electoral malpractice which the REC should have by now been concerned about. If she had had no inkling, Abians are drawing her attention to this worrisome developments within the INEC in the State. The resort to mass production of incident forms beyond

what has been sent to the state is an ominous signal for impending rigging. It is important to allow Abians to freely and willingly decide what manner of Abia State they want. Whether they want an Abia with the continuation of the pervasive rot, controlled by a nest of mindless and unconscientized cohorts who carry on by deceit and perpetual falsification of truism or an Abia driven by an independent minded achiever and technocrat who has the pedigree and potentials to reposition the state within the comity of states in the country. Whether they want a man who has made committed pronouncements to the future of Abia children and youths or a leader who will sustain the promotion of the culture of touting and reward for brigandeous behaviours. The plan to cause the abandonment of the use of the Electronic Card Readers which is one the innovations by INEC to guarantee the integrity of the voting process and enhance the belief and commitment of our people to the democratic evolution must be resisted. Anything that did not follow the planned pattern as specified by INEC must be challenged. Abians must also question the late arrival of materials and officials to polling units, as this has been uncovered to be deliberate in order to drag the voting and collation processes into the night to wear out voters who may be determined to wait to protect their votes. This is further intended to cause psychological provocation, and facilitate their planned mass rigging. Abians must also resolve to challenge overzealous security men, some of whom may be fake, in their brazen attempts to keep the voters away from polling and collation centres. We must be united n our resolve to ensure that the huge sums of the public funds which have been deployed to buy over the electoral officials in the state are rendered ineffective. • Emelogu, Legal Practitioner wrote from Lagos

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ndigbo deserve respect THE 2015 election have come and gone, but the spate of abuses poured on the great Igbo nation by all sorts of characters, from all quarters is both annoying and eye opening. Some blamed us for not abandoning President Jonathan, others blamed us for not flowing with the band wagon. They mocked Ndigbo to no end, assuring us that the South East has surely lost out completely in National Assembly leadership. Many assured us, we will be sidelined, oppressed and afflicted. All expected Ndigbo to switch sides and pursue solely political accommodation of any sort without convictions. What a great pity. Surprisingly, so many pretended they have conveniently forgotten where Ndigbo stand in the debate for a successful Nigeria. Ndigbo stand for a restructured Nigeria anchored on true feder-

alism, based on regional autonomy. They told the world so 48 years ago at Aburi, Ghana, they are echoed it at Gen. Sani Abacha’s constitutional conference 20 years ago. They reaffirmed it at the 2014 Confab, because we truly want Nigeria to survive Our vote pattern is synonymous with our conviction; that only true federalism will take us to the Promised Land. Yes, we all know that the political class is dominated by hypocrites and crass opportunists, who will decamp and join Boko Haram tomorrow if (God forbid) Abubaker Shekau seizes central power tomorrow. These politicians who do not believe in anything except their pockets, will shamelessly and gleefully announce that Abubaker Shekau is the saviour Nigeria needs, just like they did 17 years ago at the two million man rally in Abuja. Men without honour. Apostles of any government in power.

These leeches and vultures who dominate the political space cannot take away the core values and beliefs of a people, no matter how much they tried. Ndigbo believes in a restructured Nigeria, where no man is oppressed, where the unjust containment of Ndigbo in five states is removed, where all are equal, where no section is born to rule. Mocking us, abusing us and telling us we will be punished by the next government, probably vindicates our vote pattern and reminds the younger generation of the task to sustain the struggle for freedom from internal domination. The joke really is on our compatriots who promise to wage a war of attrition and pursue a scorched earth policy towards Ndigbo. They probably do not know that we are used to all that already. • Evang. Elliot Uko, Founder: Igbo Youth Movement Leader: South East Self Determination Coalition

What Lagosians don't know about Ambode AMBODE or chana dal vada is a south Indian recipe. It is known as ambode (kannada), aamvade, parappu vade (tamil, telgu) or chana dal vada (hindi). It is a split chickpea recipe. Ambode is also part of festival foods. It is also a perfect rainy day or a winter day evening snack. When it is made on festivals, no onions or garlic is used but as a snack you can make many variations which you will find below. Chana dal is also known as bengal gram dal. Instead of chana dal, toovar dal (also known as arahar dal, toor dal, pigeon pea) can be used. But I think chana dal ambode tastes best. How to make ambode: Ingredients for ambode - chana dal vada to make 10-12 ambode • Chana dal (split chickpeas) - 1 cup • Green chilies - 4-5

• Ginger - 1/2 inch piece • Curry leaves chopped (optional) - 10 • Coriander leaves (cilantro) chopped - 1 tbsp • Fresh grated coconut (optional) - 2 tbsp • Rice flour - 1 tbsp • Water - to wash and soak dal • Salt - 1 tsp or according to taste • Red chili powder 1/2 tsp • Oil for deep frying. Preparation for ambode: • Soak chana dal for about 2 hours in water. After two hours, pour onto a colander to drain all the water. • Grind the soaked dal with green chilies and ginger to a coarse paste. No need to grind it to a very fine paste. It is okay if a few dhal grains remain unground. • Remove to a bowl. Add curry leaves, coriander leaves, coconut, rice flour, salt, red chili

powder. Mix well. Form into lime sized balls. Keep aside. Method to make ambode - chana dal vade 1. Heat oil. Keep the flame medium. When oil is hot, press each ball to flatten a little and drop carefully in the hot oil. You can add 4-5 or more ambode at a time depending on the size of your kadhai (fryer) and the amount of oil you are using. 2. Fry till the ambode are golden brown on both the sides. Turn the vade once in a while so that they will be fried evenly on both the sides. 3. Remove from oil after draining well. Fry all the ambode in the same way. Ambode are great to eat hot or cold. They will keep well for two days without refrigeration. Serve by itself or with chutney or tomato ketchup. • Okey Okoroji

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

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Worrying deaths across the Mediterranean

or the umpteenth time, the familiar news from the rough Mediterranean sea is staring us in the face. Many more migrants going to meet their mentor earlier than they should, all in the guise of taking a plunge to greener pastures in Europe. Sunday April 12, 2015 was a particularly terrible day for some of these migrants, who risk their lives in what could be aptly described as suicide missions. On that day, 700 deaths were recorded when , a 20-metre[70 –foot] fishing boat capsized, 70 miles[126 kilometres] off the Libyan Coast, about 110 miles South of the Italian Island of Lampedusa. Spokesperson of the United Nations Refugee Agency [UNHCR], Carlotta Sami, saw it as sheer waste of precious lives. “ It seems we are looking at the worst massacre ever seen in the Mediterranean ,” she said. In what has become a deadly ritual, migrants flock to North African port cities, braving everything, to set sail for Europe through the rough seas . Not even threats of deportation and imprisonment, deter them from the misadventure. In October 2013, 360 migrants lost their lives, when their boat caught fire a few miles to Lampedusa. There was a higher figure in September 2014, as 500 died in a shipwreck off the Maltese Coast. So far, the figures are startling. A total of 1,600 persons are buried in the belly of the sea. Pope Francis joined in mourning the dead. According to the Pontiff, ”they are

Nigerians should be worried. Most of the migrants are from our country. Some of them who even bear muslim names and claim to be nationals of other countries, are compatriots

men and women, like us”. However, many more, from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn and Middle East, continue to advance to the ports to keep the sea route busy. Last year, 170,000 migrants landed in Italy. In the past one week, over 11,000 have been rescued by Maltese and Italian security agencies. The Italians who bear the burden of these migrations are not happy with the level of support from other European Union[EU] states. Last year, the country suspended naval rescue operations because of the financial burden it entailed. Their effort, code named Mare Nostrum, was replaced by the EU’s Tri-

ton which has been unable to achieve up to one fifth of what Italy offered. Italian Foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, did not mince words in bewailing the European approach. “Ninety per cent of the cost of the patrol and sea rescue operations are falling on our shoulders, and we have not had an adequate response from the EU,” he complained. The migrants are an admixture of people fleeing from various degrees of maladministration from countries ,spanning from the Atlantic to the Sahara. Some are also displaced persons from the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. War in Syria, strife in West Africa, terror in Somalia and insurgency in Libya, these are some of the reasons why the trip through the Mediterranean has become a deadly alternative. On Thursday April 16, another gory story emerged from the deadly sea. Twelve migrants were thrown overboard by fellow passengers, around the Strait of Sicily, following a heated argument over religion. Their boat had left North African waters with about 100 passengers. The twelve who drowned were from Nigeria and Ghana. Their assailants were fellow West Africans from Mali, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire, all muslims, whose reason for the crime was that the dead were Christians. Nigerians should be worried. Most of the migrants are from our country. Some of them who even bear muslim names and claim to be nationals of other countries, are compatriots who would do

anything to escape the hardship visited on this nation by politicians. Nigerians, boys and girls, men and women ,out of desperation , frustration and at times ignorance ,embark on journeys that send them to a tortuous ring of uncertainity. The ladies end up as prostitiutes, the men die on the way, many of them unaccounted for. The hazardous trip does not start from the coasts of Libya. Many of them are lured with stories of life in Europe where money is easily picked from the litter bin. When they are initiated , it becomes a different ball game. The journey takes them to Mali, Senegal or Burkina Faso. They are deceived to believe that visas come easy from such routes. Weeks turn to months, months to years. Instead of flight tickets and visas, the migrants start struggling for meal tickets and life jackets. A promised journey by air, eventually ends in doom in the Mediterranean. What the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari government must do as from inception on May 29, is to create a conducive environment for thousands of Nigerians who prefer risks beyond our borders , to a life of nothingness at home. This country needs all hands on deck. A Nigerian soul lost to the tempestuous waves of the seas, is an indictment on the administration. With a planned economy, transparently honest leaders, this country will bounce back to reckoning. And the Mediterranean would be spared unwanted voyagers.

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Politics

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Battle for Ondo: Governor, deputy flex muscles CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Mimiko administration in the last six years. Lawal stressed that the ambition of the deputy governor to become the governor of the state, hoping that the APC would win the majority seats in the last Saturday’s assembly election was proved wrong by the good people of the state, who voted en masse for the PDP candidates leading to PDP winning 21 out of 26 seats. Different backgrounds It is instructive to note

that the duo of Mimiko and Olanusi were not always in the same political camp since the beginning of the present democratic experience until recently when they joined hands to dislodge the government of Dr. Olusegun Agagu of the PDP. When Olanusi was in the PDP, Mimiko was in the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD). When Mimiko joined hands with Agagu to remove the government of Chief Adebayo Adefarati, Olanusi was one of the few

that insisted that Mimiko should not be given the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) which he bargained for before joining them. But when Mimiko became Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mimiko and Olanusi were united in removing Agagu as governor of the state. Olanusi who was the state chairman of the PDP was instrumental to getting the support of the party’s hierarchy to support Mimiko instead of Agagu who was one of the founding fathers of

the PDP. Olanusi defected from the PDP in 2006 to the Labour Party (LP) to shore up the support base for Mimiko as he was made the running mate of Mimiko in the 2007 elections. The secretary of the PDP, Mr. Boluwaji Kunlere, was also given the LP’s slot for Ondo South Senatorial District. Since 2009 when Mimiko became the governor and Olanusi his deputy, there was no sign of ill-feeling between the two personalities until 24 hours to the

March 28 presidential election when the duo parted ways politically. Ragging battle Signs that things would no longer remain the same in the state happened on Monday April 13 when Olanusi had to enter into the Government House in Alagbaka in hail of bullets being fired by his security aides who feared that he would be prevented from entering Government House on his return to the state capital from Supare-Akoko, his home town. Some

protesters armed with different placards had also gathered at three different junctions in protest against the deputy governor. On entering the Government House, Olanusi accused the governor of a plan to assassinate him. His words: “It is very surprising and rude shock that a sitting governor after conducting election is still going around with thugs to attack me in the state house. You can see things yourself at the roundabout, the thugs he hired there, if I had not come with my convoy, they would have attacked me. I will call on the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of this zone, and the Inspector General of Police to protect me more for God’s sake. They should provide me with more mobile policemen to guide me. I am ready to resume duty as elected deputy governor of Ondo State. Nobody has told me to resign. If they are talking about impeachment, they should go about it in a lawful way, not using thugs to attack an elected deputy governor. They should realise that as Mimiko was elected as governor, I, Ali Olanusi was equally elected. He cannot be chasing me with thugs.” Already, seven persons have been arrested by the Police and taken to AIG’s office in Osogbo over the alleged attack on the convoy of the deputy governor. Since the deputy governor had defected to the opposition APC, he has not seen eye to eye with his boss. Both the governor and the deputy who live within the same compound have also remained silence on the development putting the people of the state in suspense on what may be the likely outcome of the shenanigan going on in the state polity. In the next few weeks, the new party of the deputy governor, APC would control the government at the centre while the governor’s party, the PDP, which controls the state apparatus would remain in the opposition. For now, the PDP has 24 members in the State House of Assembly and it could use the majority in the Assembly to impeach the deputy governor before the inauguration of the APC-led Federal Government on May 29. Whether or not this permutation would succeed would be seen in few weeks.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2015

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

hen poet and painter, Emmanuel Eni opens his next solo exhibition “Art Merchant 2 Salon” opening 6pm at Yesuf Grillo Art Galerry, Yaba College of Technology on Tuesday 28, April 2015, the show would be a consolidation of the artist’s recent outing in Lagos. It is the second, in the series of two – months long publicized international exhibitions, which the artist and social campaigner mounted recently at the National Museum Onikan, Lagos. The first display show mounted by the Painter and his German wife who also shares Eni’s passion for using art to uplift the society, was grandiose. It was opened by veteran collector, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon. The display which began showing in Onikan, Lagos on Saturday, March 2, featured 30 very colourful and engaging pieces depicting designs, scenes, design and abstract compositions by the painter. Apart from the use of colour, laying it in chunks, and beautiful framing, some of the painting in the “Art Merchant” echoed multi-cultural themes of illuminated canvas the Artist invented in his - Light painting series. There were also positively intriguing and wonderful large scale sculptures. Currently back to his base in Germany, Eni who has put in over 30 years as studio artist is planning something chunky and real In other to project and actually feature Art in the GDP of free market economies. The exhibition will try to exploit possible means to attract more activities in the art market, Nigeria in particular. To create good atmosphere for full visit to exhibition - as the opening falls on a week day- accompanying programme of - Blackman in European kitchen Versus The curator- designed to feature poet and drummer, in world acclaimed poetic musical performance including discussions on “The New ways of African art Market”. Eni, a professionally trained artist, poet and teacher, art installer, philosopher and vocational social artist, gave a deeper hint of the new wave of the “Art Merchant2 Salon” and New way of the Nigerian Art Market. The maverick artist who studied Fine Arts in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), and also holds a Post Graduate Degree

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

CULTURE

Art Merchant 2: Eni returns with conceptuality, form in Sculpture at The royal academy of Arts, stated that the primary objectives of continuation of “Art Merchant 2 salon” was built on establishing the gains of the first outing. Challenged that most of his colleagues in art have not deemed it fit to use their works to ameliorate the plight of the underprivileged, especially, poor artists he said that “Art Merchant2 Salon” was initiated to fill this gap and also that “The essence of this second exhibition is to give my country the opportunity to see my works in another space. This is what I have done because I can see that some of them missed the first outing. So I believe that with a show like this, it will offer opportunity for everybody to see the works’’. “Art Merchant 2 Salon”, he also explained, will showcase works in a salon of entertainment in a celebration of art that is aimed at reflecting the art market place in Nigerian GDP” exhibition will run through 6th of May 2015. Eni, who used his Blackman in European Kitchen, and “Do you love machine” another works of his to popularize performance art, in Nigeria, is including his most recent sculptures and paintings in “Art Merchant2 Salon”. “I am very happy that I will showcase the works I did not show in the first one to the public. I am Very happy to have a Salon where art lovers will come together to feast on contemporary art issues,’’ he said.

Tony okuyeme

fter a very rigorous and painstaking selection process, organisers of the annual Ikorodu Community Development Awards (ICDA) have shortlisted successful nominees for various categories of the 2015 edition of the awards. Fuji music exponent, Sulaiman Adio, a.k.a Atawewe, music sensation, Chidima Ekile, and the Ikorodu-born female football star and Liverpool football club player, Azzezat Oshoala are among celebrities topping the lists of nominees shortlisted for the prestigious awards to be presented at a special award dinner at Ikorodu Town Hall on Saturday April 25th, 2015 by 3pm. According to the Chairman Circuit Screening Committee of the awards, Abra-

Eni

The essence of this second exhibition is to give my country the opportunity to see my works in another space One of the works by Eni

Atawewe, Chidinma, Oshoala for Ikorodu Community Development Awards ham ‘Peju Akinyemi, ‘ the ICDA was taken to another level with the introduction of nomination questionnaires administered on residents of the Ikorodu division’s six LGA / LCDAs to sample their views on some of the candidates for the awards’. He added that this singular effort has gone a long way in bringing the nominations for the awards down to the grassroots. “The 2015 and third edition of the awards is very historic due to the endowment of two educational categories of the awards by Bishop Mike Okonkwo of TREM and Rhoda Youth Centre, Ikorodu. The awards are now to be known as ‘Bishop Mike Okonkwo

Awards for the Most Outstanding Secondary School in Ikorodu Division’ and ‘Rhoda Youth Centre Award for Student with the Best Result in WASSCE’ respectively,” Abraham said. Other categories of the awards include, Sport, Arts, Best CDA, Best Market and Primary health centre and best motor parks or garages. While commending Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Rhoda Youth Centre for supporting the ICDA initiative, Austin Awulonu, Chairman, board of trustees of Ikorodu Community Development Awards Foundation and sponsors of the awards also challenged other wellmeaning Nigerians as well as Ikorodu indigenes and

residents alike to contribute to the development of Ikorodu division, by endowing other categories of the awards for future editions of ICDA. Doyen of community journalism and publisher of Oriwu Sun newspapers, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago is expected to chair the classy award dinner. Assuring guests of a worthwhile experience through a perfect blend of music, word and entertainment, the Senior Pastor, TREM Liberty Centre, Ikorodu, Pastor Mike Egwu stated that the annual ICDA is part of the TREM, Ikorodu’s efforts towards community development and social responsibility.

Arts

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ebere Ameh

he Society for The Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), an institution that combines Nigerian cultural traditions with worldclass training in art, dance and music, is ten and is rolling out drums in celebration. A not for profit, non-governmental organisation, SPAN aims to set a world-class standard for performing arts education in Nigeria, offering unprecedented opportunities in dance, music, theatre and visual arts to Nigeria’s art talented citizens, through formal and informal professional classes. Statistics show that Nigeria has over 800,000 professional and amateur dancers and a teeming population of youthful citizens who are keen to build formal dance skills. The performers and viewers involved in the various televised dance competitions in Nigeria, such as Celebrity Takes Two, Malta Guinness Street Dance, Maltina Family Dance All, M-Net Let’s Dance etc., attest to the fact. Launched in December 2014, SPAN was to set up to be a world class performing art center in Nigeria that will educate, empower and showcase performing artists and their God talent. So far, it has trained hundreds of youths in the professional field, showcased and partnered with over 100 NGO’s and Mission work, and has jobs for the teeming talented youths in the entertainment industry. It is the first institution in Nigeria to offer professional dance training in Ballet, Hiphop, Jazz, Latin and Ballroom dance styles. According to the founder, Mrs Sarah Boulos, SPAN was established as a response to a need ‘to educate and present performing artists - to provide them with job opportunities and present their art; and for children to develop themselves in an area of educa-

SPAN celebrates 10 years of nurturing creative talent tion that was missing in Nigeria’. The organization targets both upper and lower class citizens. Money raised from paid classes is ploughed back into teaching the less privileged for free. “Not only are people from underserved communities educated and trained for free in the art form of their choice, they are also trained on how to manage their work so that it provides a means of livelihood for them and their families. “SPAN takes pride in our African art and we embrace it wholeheartedly. We are committed to supporting the preservation of Nigerian performing art works as a language that engages gifted artists. To educate our generation with appropriate skills and techniques that can provide them with a profession, enhance our humanity and facilitate the continuity of Nigerian art, which though not spoken by everyone, seems to be understood and appreciated by all.” At ten, SPAN has lived up to its vision of building performing arts centres where the richness, faith and diversity of Nigeria’s culture and tradition can be nurtured, preserved and showcased for all to see and experience. Its aspiration to be a creativity hub where the community not only finds a place to escape, be inspired and educated but also to be engaged in speaking life through the arts is no longer in doubt. Though she was faced with the challenge of acceptability at the onset, she saw the need to build awareness and educate the audience that this was a worthwhile

Members of SPAN in performance

project that is very much-needed in our society and it paid off. Today, SPAN has not only become a household name in performance arts, it is now a world class centre where talents are discovered and nurtured. The activities for the celebration of its 10th anniversary will start with International Dance Organization (IDO) Dance Battle, a free event that will take place on Thursday the 23rd of April 2015. This will be followed by a gala night at the Eko Hotel and suites on the 25th of April. A black tie event, it will feature the best that SPAN has to offer. Also joining in the celebration is Zip Zap Circus, a social circus that was founded in Cape Town in 1992, to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa. Just like SPAN, Zip Zap works with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds,

National Troupe in Egypt for Drums Dialogue for Peace Tony Okuyeme

delegation of artistes of the National Troupe of Nigeria and officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation left Nigeria on Friday April 17, 2015 to participate at the ongoing 2015 International Festival of Drums and Traditional Arts in Cairo, Egypt. The festival is organised by the Arab Republic of Egypt with the theme ‘Drums Dialogue for Peace’. Although the invitation to perform at the festival is at the request of the Federal Ministry of Culture, the Artistic Director of the National Troupe Mr. Akin Adejuwon has been named as the leader of delegation, the Troupe said in a statement. Mr. Adejuwon stated shortly before the Troupe left Nigeria for the week-long festival that the Troupe, which just staged a successful Easter production, titled Spectacles, have packaged a special pro-

duction of drums, which the Troupe will showcase at the festival. In his words, “I understand that this is the third edition of the festival and it is aimed at promoting peace and unity in Africa and addressing the spate of terrorism in Africa as well as showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Africa. Luckily this is the focus of our productions for this period. Using the performing arts to resolve conflicts and promote peace. That is what we tried to achieve with ‘Ajoyo’ and then ‘Spectacle’ which we just staged. So we have worked on a package based on this theme which we will be showcasing at the festival”. The Troupe is expected back on Sunday April 26, but Adejuwon hinted that he would not return with the delegation as he is billed to travel to Brazil to sign a memorandum of understanding that will facilitate co-production in the area of performing arts Members of the National Troupe in between Nigeria and Brazil. performance of Spectacles for Easter

helping kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality. “The celebration will reinforce SPAN’s vision and the need to develop more educational programs and to build a place to accommodate students and citizens to explore the wonders of the performing arts,” the organizers said. A seasoned dance instructor and firm believer in the power of performing arts, dance and jazz music as a tool to changing lives, Sarah Boulus, lives each day passionately teaching love, discovering and exploring the creativity in youths. Born to a Lebanese father and a French mother, she settled in Nigeria with her husband and established SPAN with a view to changing the course of history in Nigeria by developing performing arts classes in different public schools and so much more.

Snapshots of The Beatification of Area Boy for LBHF Tony Okuyeme

s part of the drama performances for this year’s edition of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF), which began at the Freedom Park, Lagos; the Nigeria premiere of The Beatification of Area Boy, a play Written and directed by Wole Soyinka, goes on stage today Tuesday April 21 at the Park. The Beatification of Area Boy premiered in Leeds, England, from where it toured a number of European cities and Australia. Eventually directed by the author himself in Kingston, Jamaica on invitation from a company known simply as ‘The Company’, the playwright/director worked with a group of disadvantaged youngsters. In The Beatification of Area Boy, subtitled “A Lagosian Kaleidoscope”, the action takes the audience through the seamy underbelly of a bustling, chaotic and predatory environment that still seethes beneath the surface of the city, despite all physical transfor-

mation since the departure of the military. The play is set in the middle of a military dictatorship. Action centres on a day in the life of a rather unusual ‘megadi’ in charge of an upscale plaza which jostles with a slum environment. The megadi not only looks after the plaza but oversees the local habituees, shoppers, and other oddities to the area, among them a disbarred lawyer with a slippery seizure on reality. Two other plays, Seizing Sambissa, a dance-drama written by Francesca Emanuel and Ogochukwu Promise; conceptualised by Segun Adefila, and Snapshots written and directed by Bode Sowande and produced by Odu Themes, will mount the stage on Thursday April 23. While Seizing Sambissa, will be staged at 1pm at the Main Stage, Freedom Park, Lagos, the performance of Snapshot will hold at 6pm at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, April 23, and on Friday, April 24, at 7pm at Freedom Park, Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Interview

Surgery

We don’t compromise academic excellence, says Caleb varsity VC

Ejiro, ailing student needs N4m for surgery

25&26

Education REJECTION

Workers at the National Examination Council (NECO) have rejected the appointment of a new Registrar for the examination body, alleging lack of due process Mojeed Alabi and Dan Atori

he leadership crisis rocking the National Examinations Council (NECO) is not over yet. While the dust raised by the crisis tailing the tenure elongation of the immediate past leadership of its Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Promise Okpalla was yet to settle, the appointment penultimate week of Prof. Monday Tommy Joshua to succeed him as the new Registrar and Chief Executive, and which is expected to douse the tension, has set the workers against the government. The National Examination Council was established by the Federal Government in April 1999 as a parallel examination body to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the conduct of the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and other allied examinations. NECO, which came into being through a Decree by the administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was established from the transformed National Board for Educational Measurement (NBEM), which had been conducting the Junior Secondary Certificate Examination since 1992. The Council was thrown into a fresh crisis, when the workers, who opposed the appointment of Joshua, a Professor of Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation in the Faculty of Education at the University of

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Shekarau, Minister

Okpala

NECO’s crisis deepens Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, protested his candidature for the office as approved by the Federal Government. With his appointment on April 9, by President Goodluck Jonathan, Joshua, whose appointment was to take effect retrospectively on March 30, was to replace Okpalla, who served the Council for two terms of eight years as the Registrar/Chief Executive of the examination body. The appointment letter, dated April 2, was said to have been signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Joshua, the third substantive Registrar of NECO, hails from Afasha Nsit II of Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of AkwaIbom State. The workers, while challenging and opposing Joshua’s appointment are accusing the Federal Government for violating Federal Character rule and due process in the appointment. The Federal Character rule as it concerned the appointment of a new Registrar for the examination body, according to the NECO chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Research and Allied Institutes (ASURI), is against the appointment of a new Registrar for the Council from Southern

...We considered his (Joshua’s) appointment as intolerable and unacceptable

part of the country. They, however, alleged that since the pioneer Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, who is currently holding sway at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is from Oyo State also in the South-West and Okpalla is from the South East, the next Registrar should have come from the Northern geo-political zone of the federation. The union, which claimed that the appointment has been done in utter violation of due process and rejected the new Registrar, said President Jonathan is to be blamed for the fresh crisis rocking the Council. The position of the union was contained in a letter to the Minister of Education, and which was made available to Journalist in Minna, the Niger State capital, and signed by its Chairman Comrade Agwu Arisa. The letter read in part: “For the avoidance of doubt, since the inception of our institution (NECO), there has been two Registrars/Chief Executive Officers to wit: Professor ‘Dibu Ojerinde, who is the pioneer Registrar is from the South-West geo-political zone of the federation, and after serving his tenure, the out-going Registrar, Prof. Okpalla, also from the South-East geo-political zone

was appointed. “He has now not only completed his term, but enjoyed a period of extension of tenure without due process as being violated by the Federal Government.” Expressing dissatisfaction over the development, the union insisted that “in the present circumstances, and bearing the principle of federal character, it would only be fair and reasonable to expect that the next to be appointed to the office of Registrar of NECO should come from the northern geo-political zone of the country.” The union, who noted that it has been reliably informed that Prof. Joshua who is considered for appointment as the next Registrar, is not only a non-northerner, but he was never being recommended by the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau to the President for such appointment. Therefore, the union said: “It is in view of this development that we considered his (Joshua) appointment as intolerable and unacceptable. We hereby convey our discontent premised on the violation of due process, and failure to imbibe the principle of federal character as clearly defined in the relevant legislation guiding such appointments.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

24 Education

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kayode Olanrewaju

he authorities and students of the University of Ibadan (UI) are mourning the death of their former Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Tekena Nitonye Tamuno. The renowned Professor of History was 83. Announcing Tamuno’s death with regret, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole described the news of the death of the foremost historian, consummate higher education administrator, public intellectual and former ViceChancellor came to the institution, Nigerians and the whole world as a rude shock. According to him, Nigerians would really miss him, especially his immediate constituency, the academic community. It is significant to note that “TNT” as he was fondly called, was the first alumnus of the University of Ibadan to become its Vice-Chancellor. The spokesman for the university and Director of Information and Protocols, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, in a statement said: “The man, Emeritus Prof. Tamuno would continue to live in the memories of the university community, where they had the benefit of his services as the ViceChancellor or Pro-Chancellor, especially at the University of Ibadan, where he stood out for his effective leadership.” Adewole stressed that Prof. Tamuno made giant strides in areas of infrastructure, staff development and academic empowerment during his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of the nation’s premier university. Also in the statement, the university Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, described the deceased as “a brilliant scholar, renowned academic, world-class Professor of History, university administrator par excellence, visionary national plan-

UI mourns ex-VC, Tamuno

Widow of late Tamuno, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Tamuno (left) with Adewole, during the Vice-Chancellor’s condolence visit to the Tamuno family in Ibadan

ner and a Nigerian who had indeed outstandingly contributed to the development of the country. However, Adewole recalled how the university honoured the late Tamuno with the award of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt. Honoris Causa) during the institution’s 2014 convocation and 66th Foundation Day ceremony on November 17, last year. Born on January 28, 1932 in Okrika, Rivers State, the late Prof. Tamuno studied History at the University of Ibadan from 1953 – 1958, before leaving the shores of the country for further studies at the University of London and Columbia University. In 1963, he joined the Department of History of the University Ibadan, where he rose to a Professor in 1971.

NUT canvasses resuscitation of teachers’ training colleges Musa Pam JOS

he Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Plateau State chapter, Mr. Gunshin Yarlings, has canvassed for the resuscitation of the teacher training colleges, saying that is the best way to ensure production of quality teachers in the state. The Chairman, who spoke with New Telegraph in Jos, the Plateau State capital, however noted that the poor performance of the state in the last Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) was an indication that there was the need for concerted efforts towards the training of teachers in the teacher training colleges. Yarlings, who recalled that prior to the scrapping of Teachers Grade II Certificate, students were performing excellently well in their various

internal and external examinations, said: “The scrapping of Teachers Grade II Certificate culminated to the poor standard of education the country is currently facing in the quality and performance of the students in the SSCE and other examinations, conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).” According to the NUT boss, it was not right for secondary school stu-

Gov. Jang

dents to secure admission directly to colleges of education without first being groomed and trained at teachers’ training colleges. He said it will rather be difficult for graduates of colleges of education to perform better than graduates from teacher training colleges because of the intensive training on the rudiments of teaching they are exposed to in the college. Alluding to his school days, Yarlings recalled that as students the school had a teacher observation period, where teachers taught while the students made observations and asked questions on areas that they required further clarifications. “We had first and second teaching practice and we were exposed to infant method of teaching which include drilling and writing in the air method which is not taught at the colleges of education,” he stressed.

At the University of Ibadan, his alma mater, Tamuno served as Head of History Department between 1972 and 1975; Dean of Faculty of Arts between 1973 and 1975; and the ViceChancellor from 1975 to 1979. In addition to his teaching and administrative career, Prof. Tamuno was a distinguished scholar and author of international repute. Apart from numerous articles in high impact journals, especially in history and related disciplines, his major books include the following: Nigeria and Elective Representation; The Evolution of the Nigerian State: The Southern Phase; Herbert Macaulay, Nigerian Patriot; Abebe: Portrait of a Nigerian Patriot, among others. The late Professor Tamuno was an accomplished academic and an

epitome of knowledge; one who epitomised the capacity of the Ibadan alumnus to be among the best in the world in his chosen profession. A man of immense resourcefulness, he had trained and mentored generations of academics, administrators and industrialists, who today occupy commanding heights in their respective careers. The late academic icon, who was until his death an Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, was said to have projected the image of the university nationally and internationally. The late Emeritus Professor Tamuno served as Chancellor of the Redeemers University; Chairman of the Presidential Panel on National Security from October 2001 to December 2002 and Panel on Policing Nigeria Project from 2002 to 2003. As a recipient of the national honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL), Tamuno and the famous Ibadan School of History ignited the fire of African Historical Scholarship, which is still burning till date. According to the university, Tamuno’s place in African historiography is cast in stone and it will always continue to be celebrated. Described as a legend in African history, Adewole, on behalf of council, senate, congregation, management, staff and students of the University of Ibadan condoled with the family, friends and the academic community over the death of the erudite scholar. According to the Vice-Chancellor, “Emeritus Professor T.N. Tamuno has lived and done his best but he will forever live on in our memories.” We pray his wonderful soul rests in perfect peace.”

NOUN partners group over food safety campaign Mojeed Alabi

s part of activities marking this year’s annual World Health Day, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has partnered the Young Men’s Christian Association of Lagos to organise a talk-shop on the danger of unsafe handling of foods. The keynote speaker at the event, who spoke on the theme: “How Safe is Your Food? From Farm to Plate,” Dr. Florence Uchendu of the university’s School of Health Sciences said unsafe food causes more than 200 diseases that leads to the death of about two million people worldwide on annual basis. According to Uchendu, the campaign for food safety is everybody’s business, because beginning from the farming to the processing and even the stages of storing foods, contamination arises. She insisted that to curb the menace, every family particularly the women must learn how to keep their foods clean and should encourage all food vendors and marketers to encourage good hygiene. The lecturer, who lamented, the poor hygiene campaigns in Nigerian

Tenebe

society, recalled how schools ensured pupils kept clean nails, clean uniforms and cultivated in them regular hand washing habit. While welcoming participants to the event, the university’s ViceChancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tennebe, who was represented by the Director of Regional Training Institute for Open and Distance Learning of the university, Prof. Vincent Ogunlela, said as a responsible academic institution, NOUN partnered the grassroots youth group to pass the message to a larger society. He said beyond other much publicized causes of untimely deaths, unsafe foods is avoidable cause of major diseases and death requiring the efforts of individuals and organisations to address.

Education 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

We don’t compromise academic excellence, says Caleb varsity VC Ayodeji Olukoju, a renowned Professor of History, is the ViceChancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos. In this interview with KAYODE OLANREWAJU, he bares his mind on why private universities should benefit from TETFund allocations; roles of private universities in national development; research and development, academic standard and tone of discipline in the institution. How equipped and positioned is Caleb University in terms of research and development profile? Well, in terms of research development in the university system, we can identify two types of research. These are individual research which is carried out by scholars, and we have the joint or collaborative research which is done by a group of researchers. The latter could be within the university itself, that is, by the members of the university or across campuses or national boundaries. In the area of funding of research which is very crucial, research is either funded by the researchers themselves or the university or through external funding bodies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and grants awarding organisations locally and internationally. As far as this is concerned, we at Caleb University, lecturers have been funding their research woks in an individual level. We have records of our members of staff who have published their research in leading journals within and outside the country. Most recently, a team from a professional body that came to accredit one of our programmes, particular singled out one of our lecturers for praise. In fact, the body said the lecturer ought to have risen to higher position based on the number of his quality publications. That is a clear indication of the kind of quality research we conduct here. That our lecturers publish in leading journals is a true test of scholarship and that is to show that they are highly competitive. The second point I want to make is that we have lecturers who are on their PhD programmes, and by the time they

Olukoju

complete the programmes, it is evident that their level of scholarship and research will be higher. And because they complete their programmes as mature students and as lecturers, it means their research would be of high quality to have earned PhDs. The third type of research which our lecturers conduct is the one that is commissioned and has sponsorship from outside. Last year, the Lagos State Government awarded grants for research into problems of solving projects. That is, about projects that could be studied to enhance the quality of life of the people of the state. For instance, such projects as road traffic, infrastructure, urban and land use and I am happy to mention that one of our lecturers, Dr. Tunde Odesanya won one of the grants which runs to millions of naira, while another lecturer though he didn’t win the grant, but was shortlisted. This shows the level of efforts put into the research by the lecturers. By and large, here at Caleb University and a young institution, it will be wrong to compare us with older universities that were established over 40 years ago. But in relation to our size, resources and the number and quality of teaching staff, we are doing well in scholarship and

The loss of public universities is the gains of private universities as far as human resources and development are concerned.

research. Private universities are clamouring to benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations. But, being a product of ASUU agitation, will it not be wrong for private universities which do not belong to ASUU to benefit from the funds? I like that admission to the fact that TETFund is a product of a union’s struggle. But, the truth of the matter is that whether it is ASUU or SSANU or any other union, or whether it is even non-unionised fund, the important thing is that the whole process of building institutions and developing a country is everybody’s business. And, for the fact that ASUU, a union that resides only in public universities struggled for it, does not mean that it is only for that union’s personal aggrandizement. Anything that is of benefit to all Nigerians must be shared by all Nigerians. For instance, it is like saying because I have crude oil in my area I should not share the benefits with other Nigerians. Having said that, I will add that access to TETFund allocations should be given to lecturers and students of private universities. And, I want to anchor my argument on two important angles. First, the students studying in private universities are there by choice and they are studying

there as citizens of this country. As citizens, I strongly believe they should have access to whatever facilities that is available to any other citizen of the country. In other words, we should not discriminate against them for going or choosing private universities. To do that, is to exclude them abinitio and that is not the purpose of it. The second thing, which I believe is more compelling, is that most of our students and staff are not restricted to private universities. When we produce graduates here he or she may to go to public universities and visversa. Both students and lecturers may leave public universities and come to private universities. What I am saying in effect is that private universities contribute to the labour pool in the country and the products of the universities are to develop the entire country and not public or private Nigeria. To that extent, we need to put all our resources, financial, material, human and natural together to develop human capacity of the country and the government owes it a responsibility to develop capacity for the country. Therefore, I believe strongly that whatever activities that are there to develop capacity for Nigeria, as Nigerian scholars or students it should be readily made available to all and sundry. The case that I want to make is that TETFund is a product of taxation accruing from private sector. And it should be for everybody either you are studying in public or private universities. It is not like the Value Added Tax. Whatever that is paid to the coffer of the government as tax, should take care of all interests across board. That is why I said that whatever that is on ground should not exclude students of private universities. At least, they should have equal access to it as other students in the country. I particularly want to make a case for the academics too. Indeed, if you say you are not going to give to students, which I never agree with because students are citizens of this country, who can take a degree here and go to federal universities for their Masters or as teaching staff. It means that if we are compartmentalizing private universities to train their own staff and retain their students, then what type of country are we building? There is freedom of mobility and crisscrossing from private to public universities, and vis-versa. To that extent, I believe we should encourage everyone, and utilize the resources of Nigeria to develop Nigerians. The only thing I will agree to is that such funds are not given to proprietors of private universities. I won’t object to that. TETFund can give it to the universities as a loan, may be at five per cent interest. I want to puncture that argument that, to the best of my knowledge, no private university has made any profit since a lot of resources go into infrastructure and their running cost. So, private universities are just like other institutions. After all, is it not this country that the Federal Government gave grants running to billions to Nollywood. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26 Education

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Private varsities deserve TETFund allocations C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

But those in Nollywood are making money for themselves. So, if you can give grants to Nollywood and all that, I believe private universities also need assistance. Yes, they may not give the money in terms of cash. For instance, if a university wants to set up a centre of excellence or acquire laboratory infrastructure, TETFund could request for how much that university has and if the university has 70 per cent, the agency can provide the remaining grants which could be in form of loan payable by 20 years period. The government can do that. I am aware that there is an enabling law establishing the fund that is constricting it, but the government should make it more flexible that whichever university that can justify the need for such grant should be given. Even in America, government gives grants to some selected private bodies as education subsidy. What would you say are the areas of strength of the university? First and foremost, I want to restate here that our staff-student ratio is extremely positive. In other words, we do not have too many students in our classrooms and laboratories. All the people that have come here, especially from the National Universities Commission (NUC) have continued to say our student-staff ratio is positive. The second thing is that since the university is relatively young, we give our students proper attention. Apart from the counseling section, we have the chapel which is very strong. We hold our chapel every week where we put our students through series of trainings in the words of God. When I got here as the Vice-Chancellor, I instituted the Caleb Leadership Academy, where we teach the students the principles of leadership. We invite people of impeccable character and integrity to talk to them. Recently, we brought here Dr. Christopher Kolade to give them a lecture. The other thing is that here at Caleb University, we do not compromise academic excellence. People know us for that. For example, we do not say because a student requires 0.01 or one point to make First Class then we adjust his marks. No, we don’t do that here. We are very tough on maintaining standard because we realize that one thing that will set us apart and define us is the quality of our products. So, we do not compromise on that. By and large, our moral training or standard is very high. If, we talk about how our students and lecturers behave, I am proud of that. And again, one of the reference points is that our university is in a very quiet environment and as it were, is custom-built for research and study. I write my papers here. And we have been able to attract a number of people here. The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria was here in 2012; the American Consulate has been organizing programme with the university every Thursday since 2011 on campus. Last year, we held the UN-HABITAT report presentation, which is done once a year by a university in a continent across the world and Caleb University represented Africa last year in that edition. Many parents like our university’s combination of moral behaviour with scholarship for the students’ overall development.

Olukoju

To what extent would you say private universities have contributed to academics and national development? Well, I will say private universities have made an important contribution in giving people a choice. However, with the coming of private universities, people now have a choice as to where to send their children and wards. Secondly, people have a choice as to where to work within the university system. In terms of quality control, assurance and competitiveness, private universities have made a mark. And of course, private universities have been able to project some courses regular universities may not like to run. For instance, we run courses in Quantity Surveying, Building, Physics and Electronics, and our Architecture and Mass Communication programmes are very strong. I forgot to mention also that all our 16 academic programmes have full accreditation by the NUC and other professional bodies with none with either interim or partial accreditation. Private universities have also contributed to the nation’s labour pool as products of our university, especially First Class are very competitive. Recently, we absorbed one of our products with Masters in Industrial Chemistry into the system as lecturer. One other thing people do not appreciate about private universities is that many old or retired lecturers that could have probably gone back to their villages or who would have been redundant are back in private universities. We have been able to blend the experience of retired lecturers with the energy and currency of the younger people. The loss of public universities is the gains of private universities as far as human resourc-

es and development are concerned. As for Nigerian students, they now have a choice of which institution to attend. Let me also mention here that Caleb University is the only private university that has continued to maintain a single fees regime since its establishment in 2008. We have never added a kobo to our school fees, which covers students’ accommodation. Another thing is that those who would have sent their children or wards abroad for their university education now have the choice of sending them to private universities. Indeed, the good thing about this is that private universities are helping the country to check or reduce capital flight. Instead of spending money taking the children to Ghana, UK, U.S.A, Canada and Germany, among others, they send them to our universities, where there is stable academic calendar and structured programmes. With this, Nigeria’s foreign reserve has been checked considerably. There is the need for Central Research Laboratory where university lecturers or researchers could collaborate and conduct cutting-edge research. Are private universities thinking along this line? At intellectual level, I believe lecturers in private universities and their counterparts in public universities should interact to exchange ideas. For instance, at Caleb University we host the Professor Idowu Sobowale Conference, which brings together participants from private and public universities to share thoughts and compare notes on topical education and national issues. So, in terms of joint conferences and projects we can always do that. But, in terms of establishing a central research laboratory, or a coordinating research unit, I don’t think we have anything like that at the level of private univer-

sities. This could be understandable as each private university wants to carve a niche for itself in many areas because we are in a market economy where each university wants to project its unique selling points. As we all know that things are tough in the country at present and every organisation is struggling for survival. So, such centre may not be feasible in the short term for private universities, as it were, to sideline or belly their survival instinct. But, I strongly believe that it is what we can think of in the future. It is a centre where we can have a pool of talents and resources from which the system can draw from. Apart from that, I want to also suggest that private universities should in future think of a way of exchanging students and faculties. What I am saying in effect is that when private universities are signing a Memorandum of Understanding, it should not alone be with foreign universities in United States, United Kingdom, Europe or China, or with public universities, but it could be between two private universities in Nigeria in which the two can set up a platform which can interface with other universities even elsewhere outside the country. So, in effect it could be along that line of collaboration which may be in some selected areas such as exchange of personnel or sabbatical for those who are ready to go to certain universities. Of course, any lecturer willing to go on such exchange could even be given a leave of absence. Already, we have some universities coming to use our laboratory to conduct research because of certain equipment we have that other universities do not have. If we have knowledge of what a university has that we do not have, we can arrange for our students to go on exchange in order to attend classes in that particular university. Those are the areas of possible collaboration since we are all still struggling and it is better we struggle together to develop. What is the university doing to improve its ranking on the Webometric Ranking of World Universities table? Let me stress here that as a matter of fact ranking is a welcome development. As a lecturer, I rank my students and through such exercise I am able to determine that a particular student is a first class material and that the other is second class material. If ranking is objective, it is good since it tells you what a university should have done that it did not do, or things it could do now. One criterion for ranking universities is their websites, and this is because website is a gate that links that university to the world and this is exactly where many universities have invested a lot of resources to ensure that certain things are done correctly and materials are uploaded accurately. As far as Caleb University is concerned, we are looking beyond what is on our website, even though our website is good, it can still be better. We are interested in what we have in the university. For instance, as a Vice-Chancellor, I want to see that we have quality and high calibre staff; and that we are doing so much and doing it well. And for me, the principal areas are in staffing which is number one; the quality of students is number two; quality of our products is number three principal area; as well as adequacy and quality of our facilities.

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

ACCA trains 2,000 corps members on skill development Mojeed Alabi

ver 2,000 corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been trained by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) at an employability seminar designed to expose them to entrepreneurial skills. The exercise, which held in Lagos, was organised in collaboration with Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) of the NYSC, Lagos and Human Capital De-

velopment Consultants, a nongovernmental organisation. Speaking on the event, which was aimed at equipping the corps members with skills that would make them easily employable in post-service year, the Country Head, ACCA, Mrs. Toyin Ademola explained that the exercise was part of the association’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, which is geared at reducing the unemployment challenge facing graduates in the country. She said: “One of the key things we have noticed as a major hindrance to graduates not securing jobs is because they are unemployable and not because they are no jobs. When we say employability, it is not because these graduates are not qualified, but because they lack some of the basic qualities that

appeals to any employer.” While tasking the corps members on the need to have robust interview skills, Ademola added: “When you go for an interview, it is an opportunity for you to sell yourself, and there is nobody else that can sell you better than yourself. So, even if it is your uncle or the president that recommended you to that employer, you have to be properly prepared for the interview.” She also advised the graduates to be determined, focused and to have the vision of what they want to achieve in life. Her words: “Whether you are working for yourself or for an organisation, be energetic and always go the extra miles. Whenever you are selling yourself, you are selling your idea, your intelligence and your integrity. You must be confident

about your ideas.” Speaking further on the partnership with NYSC, Ademola explained that “one of the things we have set out to do for the corps members is to send their Curriculum Vitaes to our partner recruitment agencies that will advise the graduates on how best to draft such and also help them to secure job interviews.” She, however, noted that efforts by ACCA to address the unemployment challenge in the country were already yielding positive results. Ademola added: “I think our efforts have contributed immensely to the employability ratio of graduates, though it might take a little longer before the overall impact becomes very visible. Remember we are in a country of over 170 million people that produces

an estimate of 100,000 graduates yearly, and there is no way we can get in touch with every single graduate.” In her presentation, the Chief Executive Officer, Human Capital Development Consultants, Mrs. Bisola Longe, pointed out that the first step to success is for one to have a vision of what he or she wants to be in life. To her, a clear vision serves as a compass that would detail which part of career development to pursue, how and when, including what job opportunities to look out for. “You must know where you are going. The people that succeed most in life create their own world. So, the best way for you to predict your future is to create it and you must have the right attitude,” she said.

Registrar’s appointment divides neco C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

Prior to the latest crisis and following the expiration of Okpalla’s tenure scheduled for April 8, the Education Minister had in a letter ordered that Okpalla should proceed on terminal leave, in line with the extant law and the statute guiding the tenure and operations of NECO. In the letter, Okpala was directed by the Minister to hand over to the most senior director in the Council. Thus, going by the letter, the Director of Account and Finance, Dr. James Ojebode, was expected to take over from Okpalla in acting capacity until a substantive Registrar is named for the council. Based on the letter, the NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), NECO’s chapter had at a press conference organized by the union urged Okpalla to obey the Minister’s order by proceeding on terminal leave. But, the embattled Registrar was said to have flagrantly disobeyed the Minister’s directive, an action the NASU Chairman, Comrade Abdulrasheed Rabana, faulted and accused the registrar of refusal to comply with the Minister’s directive. Rabana, while citing Section 100238 of the public service rule which states that “a public office holder should go on disengagement or pre-retirement leave of three months,” however wondered why the Minister could no longer give directive to public officers to go on disengagement leave. The Registrar, who ignored the calls from his opponents that he should proceed on terminal leave, however, said “he still has all the instruments as the boss and that he was still at work.” But, investigations by New Telegraph further revealed that the Minister’s letter of 23rd January was set aside through another letter from the

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mac John Nwaobiala, invalidating the first letter from Shekarau. Nwaobiala was alleged to be acting on a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with reference SGF/S14/11 of 27th January, 2015, thereby asking Okpalla to continue in office and complete his tenure which would lapse on April 8. It was also gathered that the Permanent Secretary acted on the SGF’s letter directing the Council’s Board that “the status quo ante be maintained” contradicting the earlier order of the Minister that the Registrar should proceed on a terminal leave. As the crisis lingered on, more facts emerged that the Director of Finance and Accounting, Ojebode, who was then already posing as Acting Director had been discovered to have overstayed his civil service years having spent 42 years as a Civil Servant, contrary to the Civil Service rules. It was gathered that Ojebode in the information contained in his personal data, as filled on December 3,1993, when he joined the then National Board for Educational Measurement, now NECO, indicated that he began his civil service career in 1973 as a Clerical Assistant (Account). However, it is believed that if not urgently addressed, the leadership crises bedeviling the 18-year-old institution may negatively affect its activities, especially the conduct of its examinations. Apart from the leadership crises rocking the examination body, stakeholders are worried over the massive failure of candidates and examination fraud characterizing NECO SSCE examinations. With its mandate and structure, NECO to the workers, is expected to continue in the business of building trust and confidence in its examinations rather than engaging in internal crises.

L-R: Chairman, Young Men’s Christian Association of Lagos, Mr. Mike Onilude; representative of the Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Ogunlela and Dean, NOUN’s School of Health Sciences, Prof. Mba Okoronkwo during the enlightenment programme on food safety organised by the institution in conjunction with Young Men’s Christian Association of Lagos to commemorate this year’s World Health Day, recently

WAEC, FCTA equip 400 teachers with skills on teaching methods Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

orried by the dwindling performance of candidates in its May/ June and November/December Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has trained over 400 secondary school teachers drawn from public secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on how to improve teaching and learning in the school system. The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu said the Council has been gravely concerned about the poor performance of candidates in the two diets of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Eguridu, who spoke in Abuja during the opening of the training for senior secondary school teachers, which was jointly organised by the examination body and the FCT Education Secretariat, said research conducted by the Council has revealed a number of factors were responsible for the worrisome trend. The HNO, who was represented at the event by a Deputy Registrar and Zonal Coordinator, Abuja zone of WAEC, Mr.

Patrick Areghian, lamented what he described as an exiating wide gap between the interpretation of the curriculum and in relation to the examination syllabus. This was as he also noted that inappropriate implementation of the syllabus is another factor why candidates perform woefully in the Council’s examinations. “Rarely do teachers cover the syllabus, whereas WAEC, for example, sets questions on all aspects of the syllabus. This, no doubt, puts candidates at a great disadvantage,” he said. Eguridu, however, pointed out that the training was designed among other things, to highlight the evils of examination malpractice, the need to avoid or curb sharp practices as well as the need to maintain the validity and reliability of WAEC examinations and up-hold the integrity of certificates awarded. The training, according to him, was also intended to correct the imbalance and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools and the performance of candidates. He said the Council identified gap between teacher-made tests and standardized tests, like WAEC tests, noting that even when students excel in the internal examination, they fail woefully in the external examination.

28 Education

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ejiro, ailing student, needs N4m for surgery Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

erely seeing him, one could easily conclude that he is sick as he is struggling to walk. Despite his health challenge, he hopped from the first floor of Regina Idiado Villa at Ekosodin, a student hostel on the outskirt of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City to the ground floor to fetch water. When other students are struggling to take their bath in the morning, he has to wait because it is difficult for him to join in the rush. To him, cooking has become a no go area as his friends now take turn to cook for him. This is the plight of the 22-year-old Ejiro Diachevbe, a 300-Level student of Economics and Statistics at UNIBEN, who has over seven months been suffering from Avascular Necrosis of the right hip joint. Ejiro, who recalled during a chat with Telegraph Campus that he has been confined to this type of life in the last few months, also explained how he started feeling sharp pains on his hip over a year ago. He recalled: “When I approached the Health Services Department of UNIBEN, I was treated but the pains returned a few days later. Upon my second visit, I was referred to the Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology of the UNIBEN Teaching Hospital. The consultant in charge of my case, Dr. A.O Ogbemudia recommended that an x-ray be carried out on my hips. Following the medical advice, the x-ray was conducted by Consultant Radiologist and Sonologist, Dr.

JOGSOBA 79/84 set re-union for Saturday

Ejiro

A.I Akhamacuna at the Benin Radiological Services (BRS), Uselu, Benin City.” The result of the x-ray, according to Ejiro, read in part: “There is some deformity with flattening of the Right capital femoral epiphysis associated with partial fragmentation. The Iliac, Pubic and Ischial bones are intact. Findings are in keeping with avascular necrosis of the right femoral capital epiphysis.” Ejiro added: “When I took the x-ray report to the consultant at UBTH, he said I have avasular Necrosis and require an urgent surgery to correct it and the surgery will cost N4 million. I went online to learn more about the illness and discovered that the disease has to do with compromise of blood flow to the hip joints and can be caused by abuse of drug and alcohol. However, I realize that the only drug I take without doctor’s prescription are antimalaria drugs, which everyone takes. I am a Christian and I have not for once taken alcohol. I am still wondering how I could get this disease. I am just praying to God to come to my rescue and heal me, and spirited individuals and corporate organizations

to assist me with the surgery.” Ejiro went on in an emotional laden voice: “For the past five months, I have been going for check-ups at the Consultant Outpatient Clinic of UBTH every Thursday, while my health challenge and cost of medication have drained my parents savings. Whenever I go for check-up, it is either I am told to undergo one x-ray or the other. I just returned from the clinic few hours ago where I spent N10,000 on drug and another N15,000 on x-ray and laboratory test. The money people contributed for me for the surgery is what I am currently spending to manage the condition. Two weeks ago, the doctor told me that the longer I wait without the surgery, the worst the situation becomes and the more expensive it will be.” Investigations by Telegraph Campus revealed that currently, Ejiro is at the point of defying his admission at the university, as his health condition has caused him to continually miss classes or lectures since the beginning of the semester and he will not be able to write the second semester examination scheduled to begin this Friday. Ejiro said: “As it is the practice, ailing students who are referred from UNIBEN health centre to UBTH are usually given credit facility card, but the university has denied me this opportunity because the management claimed that the surgery is beyond what the university could finance. I have taken my appeal to some nongovernmental organisations (NGO) and other civil organisation groups, but nothing much has come out of my efforts. I am about to defer my admission so that I can source funds to undergo the surgery and return to school.

UNILORIN inducts medical graduates Odeyemi Olawale

UNILORIN

female medical graduate from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) College of Health Sciences, Miss Akera Ganiyat Ade was the cynosure of all eyes during the induction ceremony of the medical graduates where she received the numerous awards as the best graduate. For her brilliant academic performance, Akera did not only stand tall among her contemporaries, she also received a standing ovation from the crowd. No fewer than 64 graduates of the college of health sciences were inducted at the ceremony presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of the university. For winning all the prizes in all the award categories, Akera went home amid cheers with the College Annual Prize award donated by the Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences of the university to the Best student in Maternal and Child Health; Annual Prize donated by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) to Best female student in Maternal and Child Health, Annual Prize donated by Academic Staff College of Health Sciences to the Best student in Pathology; the Professor Mathew Akinyemi Araoye Annual Prize to Best student in Medicine. She also won the College Book Voucher donated by the University of Ilorin to the two overall best students; the Late Dr. Hamzat Olayinka Braimoh

Academic prize award to Best student in Medicine, as well as the Olalomi Hospital Annual Prize as donated by Dr. Kola Olafimihan to the Best student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In his welcome address, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Wahab R.B Johnson, a renowned expert in Paediatrics & Child Health, congratulated and welcomed the inductees, whom he described as the “Quinta Essentia Class and 64 Olive Green Inductees” into one of the world most fulfilling profession. His word: “Our robust MBBS programme has continued to churn out, on yearly basis, welltrained medical doctors who have continued to contribute quantitatively and qualitatively to the health-care needs of our beloved nation. Indeed, with today’s induction of 64 additional doctors, our medical school has produced 4,062 in the 38 years of existence. Over this years, we have continued to receive institutional commendations from sister health facilities, indicating a distinctive UNILORIN brand of clinical competence and a commendable knowledge base by our younger products.” The Professor of Paediatrics added: “My worthy inductees, your formal initiation into the medical profession today (with your solemn affirmation of the Geneva-modified Hippocratic oath) constitutes a prestigious entry into a time-honoured, honourable, most frequently sought after, and indeed the dream profession of several youth.”

UNIBEN hosts maiden football competition

he 30th anniversary and grand re-union of the Ijebu Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association (JOGSOBA) 79/84 club will hold on Saturday April 25 at the school hall. The President of the club, Mr. Olusola Dawodu, in a statement, urged all members to attend the crucial re-union activities. The event, which, according to the President, would attract dignitaries and old boys from home and abroad, is aimed at bringing together all the old boys in the set to rub minds and initiate ideas towards the development of their alma mater and progress of the members.

A cross-section of guests at the events

Osagiede (In white) shaking hands with some of the players during the opening ceremony

Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

he University of Benin (UNIBEN) community for three days last week

was a beehive of sporting activities as members of the community, especially students thronged the football pitch of Medical Hostel to watch the maiden edition of the Le-Bolt Football Cup.

The football match, which was organised by a final year student of Medicine and Surgery Osehike Igwubor in collaboration with the University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBEMSA) is a Six Aside tournament. Declaring open the football fiesta at a ceremony organised to flag it off, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Francis Osagiede, lauded the student for initiating the competition, which according to him, will go a long way in the history of the university as a unifying sporting tournament. Stressing that the role of the competition in the development of the students’ sporting

talents could not be overemphasised, Osagiede called on the participating teams to play to the rules of the game and exhibit the spirit sportsmanship throughout the competition. In his remarks, Osehike noted that he deemed it fit to organize the competition as a way of giving back to the university before his graduation. He said: “I am a lover of football and over the years, the kind of football competitions oragnised at the university is usually at inter-faculty level. The peculiarity of Le-Bolt tournament is that it is mixed faculty. Each team has at least three persons from three different faculties.”

Education 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, april 21, 2015

College sharpens teachers’ skills in capacity building Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

ollowing public outcry over poor quality of holders of the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and their inability to effectively deliver instruction at the primary school level, the management of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State has organised a threeday capacity building workshop for teachers on Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) in the college. The capacity building workshop, which was organised in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), had as a theme: “Towards Enhancing Quality Standard of Teaching and Learning in Colleges of Education.” Part of the aims of the three-day skill enhancement workshop is to build the capacity of teacher educators on the best global practices for the training of indigenous early childhood education for preservice teachers using Indigenous Early Childhood Care and Education Modules for successful implementation of NCE’s ECCE curriculum. Speaking on the workshop, the Head Quality Assurance Unit of NCCE, Dr. A. Abdulkareen noted that the workshop would enable the participants to understand the structures, contents and methodologies of the new NCE curriculum and implication of restructuring of colleges of education, to guide the participants in identifying effective ways of transforming the Quality Assurance units into effective organs in the colleges. Besides, the workshop is to guide and support the participants towards articulating effective strategies for promoting a culture of quality and mainstreaming the approved standards of pre-service teacher education and to understand the aims, objectives and structures. He stated that the ECCE curriculum is in tandem with regional efforts in ensuring a culturally relevant ECCE approach that is both African in orientation and affordable to local population in the continent. According to him, the Commission has reviewed its teacher education curriculum and aligned it

with that of basic education to make it more relevant and adequate for teaching at the basic education level. Abdulkareen, while noting that the review led to expansion of NCE Minimum Standards which include five new level specific NCE programmes, he listed these levels to include Primary Education Studies, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Junior Secondary School Education,

Adult and Non-Formal Education and Special Needs Education to produce specialist teachers for each of the five focal areas. He further explained that the Commission, with support from DFID under the Teacher Development Programme, has embarked on series of orientation workshops for the management and lecturers on the new curriculum and restructuring of the college.

NCCE officials with management and staff of the college shortly after the workshop.

The Provost of the college, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, in his welcome address, said the workshop was aimed at building the capacity of

early childhood teacher educators in the country, stressing that the “objective is to build the capacity of teacher educators on the best global prac-

tice of training indigenous early childhood care and education modules in support of NCE minimum standards ECCE curriculum”

30 Education

TUESDAY, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FUTA, UK varsity ink MoU for students’ exchange Mojeed Alabi

he Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and the De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, United Kingdom have endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on students’ exchange. Specifically, the partnership is aimed at enhancing purposeful collaboration towards attaining the global relevance for the two academic institutions. The Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola represented his university while DMU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for international, James Gardner, signed for his institution. According to them, the initiative would offer the two universities the platform to further strengthen their internationalization drive and grant their staff members and students opportunities for exchange programmes. Under the partnership, the students, in particular, could choose to complete their five-year-programmes in any of the two universities from their 300-Level. Daramola noted: “Under the terms of the agreements, FUTA staff and students will have opportunities to undertake knowledge sharing and skill development that will engender creativity, connections, cultural integration, leadership traits and team work. The departments that will benefit mostly in

FUTA include Architecture and Industrial Design.” He added that there are also provisions for six months industrial training, 10 days short workshops/courses in summer, winter or Easter breaks, to cover design and theory in Architecture, with a field trip to a continental European city. “Members of staff will have the opportunity of undergoing PhD programme in full time, split size six months and by distance learning, cohosting conference on Tropical Architecture, adjunct lecturing via Skype and visiting fellowships,” he explained. The collaboration, according to the university, is being facilitated by an alumnus of DMU School of Architecture who is currently a lecturer at the Department of Architecture of the federal university, Dr. Dorcas Ayeni, with inputs from DMU’s Head, School of Architecture, Prof. Raymond Quek. The university, according to the management, is already collaborating with a number of leading universities across the globe including the Fort Valley University, Georgia, USA where the first set of FUTA students are expected to undertake their one-year complementary studies in August this year and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, USA where the second set of FUTA students are already undergoing their one-year complementary studies.

Daramola and Gardner during the signing of the MoU on collaboration between both institutions.

Japan, UBEC sign $8.5m pact on education development Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

he Japanese Government and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have entered into a pact for the construction of 30 primary school blocks in Oyo State at a cost of $8.5million US Dollars. The project, which is being undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation System, is under a special scheme tagged the Japan’s Grant Aid for Community Empowerment 2014. At the opening of bid for the school projects, which took place at the UBEC headquarters in Abuja, the Project Manager of Japan International Cooperation System, Mr. Kazunori Ogaguchi, said under the project over 325 classrooms are expected to be delivered when completed. He hinted that a similar project which had earlier been constructed in Kano State provided 490 classrooms as part of Japan’s assistance to the Nigerian Government to boost access to basic education.

The tender bid ceremony featured two prominent companies - Best and Crompton Engineering Africa Limited and Ciroco Nigeria Limited which presented their tenders document for evaluation by a Special Committee raised for that purpose. According to Ogaguchi, part of the project specification involves provision of safety and maintenance components after completion of the classroom structures. He said: “Our budget for the construction of these classrooms is $8.5million US Dollars and it is for a period of 12 months. We have constructed similar project in Kano State and Oyo State is the next phase where we are going to execute such projects. The whole essence is to create accessibility to basic education through the projects and after construction we will provide safety components such as organising safety training and maintenance for the buildings.” Similarly, Iro Umar, Project Coordinator International Development Partner for UBEC said the Commission is empowered by law to seek assistance for educational development.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Tamuno: Man of peace, rest in peace

y first real encounter with Prof. Tekena N. Tamuno was in 1998 through an article written by the highly cerebral Professor of Virology, Tam David West, for “This Day” newspaper. In the article, “On winning war and winning peace”, published on June 28, 1998 (p.3), Prof. West made several compelling allusions apart from citing a galaxy of world political and opinion leaders to buttress his points. I wondered then as a final year undergraduate student how so much information could be packed in a single article as brilliantly done by Prof. Tam David West. Of all names, including those of Charles Darwin, Hebert Spenser, Richard Morris, Thomas Hobbes, Julius Caesar, Horace, Aristotle, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther and authors of books on the Nigerian Civil War like Olusegun Obasanjo (My Command), Ben Gbulie (The Fall of Biafra), Alexander A Modiebo ( The Nigerian Revolution and the Biafra War), among others, evoked in the article, it was that of Prof. Takena Tamuno that struck me most. This was due to the timeless profundity of the words quoted from him. Prof. David West recalled that after Prof. Tamuno was forced to “throw in the towel for the statutory second tenure or term as Vice-Chancellor”, he delivered his valedictory on November 17, 1979 as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan where he was concerned that “All things bright and beautiful. All creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful, Nigerians kill them all.” The words stuck to my skin. His submission always haunts my sub-consciousness as Nigerians have a penchant for “killing” all things bright and beautiful, including the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola and Chief Bola Ige. A recent example is that of the character assassination campaign launched against the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari. I know quite a number of “bright and beautiful” personalities that Nigerians sought to “kill” one way of the other. Fortunately, I had a physical encounter with Prof. Tamuno in April 2012. I was a member of and Secretary to the Organsing Committee of the 2012 Annual Lecture of the Nigerian Academy of Letters that the University of Ilorin hosted between April 25 and 27. The lecture, delivered by the late Prof. Nur Alkali on April 26 was on “Nigeria’s Road to Nationhood”. It was so nice to have an opportunity of interacting with Prof. Tamuno, a Fellow of the Academy, and serving other big names in the Nigerian academic community. My last personal encounter

If you were with him, you may forget you were not with your age mate with this intellectual Titan was when he came to the University of Ilorin again last year, precisely March 24, 2014 for the opening of the 8th International Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice. At the event, Prof. Tamuno was applauded for laying a solid foundation for the University of Ilorin as the first Principal of the then newly established University College in 1975. In his remarks, he said the University of Ilorin was fine in 1975 but it wasn’t he who created the beauty that he could behold in the University. He urged all stakeholders to strive more to even make the University more beautiful. That was his humility. I was privileged to discuss with him at a more personal level and it was so great to drink from his fountain of knowledge and experience. His gracefulness was striking, his words were soft and carefully chosen and his ambience was peaceful. I can therefore confirm what Prof. Francis Egbokhare said of him: “For a man of his kind of stature, an intellectual and an administrator, he was unbelievably accessible to the younger ones, unlike others who would strut like Emperors. If you were with him, you may forget you were not with your age mate.” To learn of his death while attending the African Peace Research and Education Association (AFPREA) conference on last Monday in Abuja was really devastating. Our last encounter was at a peace conference and I was to learn of his death at another peace conference. He was a man who lived for peace and radiated peace in all he did. Born on January 28, 1932, in Okrika, Rivers States, and educated in Nigeria, United Kingdom and United States of America, Prof. Tamuno was an embodiment of all the qualities of a true scholar: truthful, honest, humble, deep, rigorous, versatile, humane, prolific and disciplined. A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, he was the Chairman of the Presidential Panel on National Security and the Panel on Policing Nigeria Project. Adieu, man of peace; Prof. T.N.T., rest in peace.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Energy

Buhari’s energy policy and investors’ fear

Property

Aviation

Stakeholders’ worries over NMRC heighten

Code share pact: Fresh vista for Nigerian airlines?

Business What's news

Apprehension as BPE Bills get stuck in National Assembly Barely few weeks left in the life span of present legislative year, fears have heightened as eight Executive Bills on privatisation and commercialisation transmitted to the National Assembly may never be passed, thus stalling critical reforms the Bills envisaged to impact on the economy.

p.32

Mobile phone ownership surges in Nigeria, others Mobile phone ownership in Nigeria and other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa has grown “exponentially” over the last dozen years with text messaging, picture taking and video recording the most popular activities, a new Pew Research Center survey found.

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

L-R: Chairman, Panel of Judges, 2015 Edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Prof. Uwemedimo Enobong Iwoketok; General Manager, External Relations, NLNG, Dr. Kudo Erasia-Eke; and Chairman, Literature Advisory Board, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, handing over entries for the 2015 NLNG Prize for Literature in Lagos.

NNPC, IOCs, others make $55 bn in 12 months

verage revenue of $55 billion was made from crude production in Nigeria between January 2014 and February 2015, an independent data collated by New Telegraph has revealed.

The daily production and crude prices data (crude basket) by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), collated by this newspaper between January 1, 2014 and January 30, 2015, showed that the crude production from Nigeria averaged 2.17 million barrels per day while crude price during the time under review also averaged $75.5 per barrel. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest exporter, depends largely on crude proceeds to service over 85 per cent of its budget. OPEC basket crude oil price development from February 2014 to February 2015 (in U.S. dollars per barrel) illustrates the monthly average crude oil

INFLATION RATE March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2%

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

DATA

Nigeria’s average crude production and commodity price between January 2014 and February 2015 stand at 2.1 million and $75.5 a barrel

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Adeola Yusuf

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

prices of the OPEC basket for the period between February 2014 and February 2015. The OPEC basket is a weighted average of prices for petroleum blends produced by OPEC countries. It is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices. In July 2014, the average price of the OPEC basket was at some 105.6 U.S. dollars per barrel. The price, which peaked at

2.17m bpd Average crude production by Nigeria between 2014 and 2015

$107, also dipped to $44 per barrel between January 2014 and February 2015. The data collated took production shut-ins by Shell and other Joint Ventures (JVs) partners during the period under review. In the 365 days, over $55 billion revenues were made from production in Nigeria through the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) and the Joint Ventures (JVs) between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and operators of marginal field acreages. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Apr. 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N210 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N303 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223

l Foreign Reserves – $29.481bn as at 16/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Apr. 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N214

Business | News

EXTENSION

Further extension may affect prospects of the legal documents Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

arely few weeks left in the life span of present legislative year, fears have heightened as eight Executive Bills on privatisation and commercialisation transmitted to the National Assembly may never be passed, thus stalling critical reforms the Bills envisaged to impact on the economy. The Bills are Railway Bill, Inland Waterways Bill, Ports and Harbour Bill, Federal Roads Authority Bill, National Roads Fund Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Competition and Consumer Protection Bill and Postal Sector Reform Bill. They were transmitted last year by the Presidency as Executive Bills to the National Assembly. Prompt treatments of the passage by the National Assembly were envisaged for the positive impact each of the reformed sector could have on the economy. The Bills, among others, seek abrogation of existing monopoly laws and to liberalise the various sectors to allow private sector participation,

Apprehension as BPE Bills get stuck in National Assembly ensure a conducive business climate to encourage private investment, promote competition and institute a sound legal and regulatory framework that would ensure independent regulation. Speaking to New Telegraph on the sidelines

The OPEC crude oil price is defined by the price of the so called OPEC (Reference) Basket. This basket is an average of the prices of petroleum blends, which are produced by the OPEC members. Some of these oil blends are, for example: Saharan Blend from Algeria, Basra Light from Iraq, Arab Light from Saudi Arabia, Girassol from Angola, Es Sider from Libya etc. OPEC tries to keep the price between given maxima and minima by increasing and decreasing its oil production. The OPEC reference basket includes both heavy and light crude oils, and is heavier than most other crude oil mixtures (benchmarks). The OPEC Basket is one of the crucial benchmarks for crude oil prices worldwide. The most significant benchmarks are UK Brent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Dubai Crude (Fateh).

of an event in Abuja , the Director–General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Mr. Benjamin Dikki, expressed apprehension that the Bills may never be passed by the current legislature considering the time constraint before the lapse of

their tenure. Dikki told New Telegraph that hopes on the possibility of the Bills being passed within the remaining weeks were not lost, noting that the Bureau had initiated consultation with the National Assembly in that

direction. “Already we are consulting with the National Assembly, engaging them to see the possibility of the Bills being passed before this legislative year ends. The implication of them not being passed this legislative year is

that you have to start the process all over again with the new administration. “As you are aware, government has set up a transition committee, the incoming government is also setting up transition committee.”

L-R: Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesong Ra; Head, Business Development, Technology and Mobile, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu, and Samsung Electronics Brand Ambassador, Banky W, at the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphones…at the weekend. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NNPC, IOCs, others make $55 bn in 12 months CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Because there are many types and grades of oil, such benchmarks are indispensable for referencing them on the global oil market. Looking at the OPEC price within the last 12 months, the highest peak was reached in February 2013, when the annual average price stood at almost 113 US dollars per barrel. Since then, the tendency goes towards a slow decrease, oscillating slightly above $100 per barrel. OPEC stands for “Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries” and was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The following countries are members of the organisation: Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. The main aim of the OPEC is to coordinate the oil policies of these countries, and thus to have more influence on the international oil market.

LEAD

Nine in 10 Nigerians and South Africans currently own phones Kunle Azeez

obile phone ownership in Nigeria and other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa has grown “exponentially” over the last dozen years with text messaging, picture taking and video recording the most popular activities, a new Pew Research Center survey found. In 2002, only about 10 per cent of the population in seven surveyed countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Ghana, owned a mobile phone. Today, mobile phone ownership is as common as it is in the United States, according to the Pew report released April 15. For example, in 2002, only about eight per cent of Ghanaians said they owned a mobile phone. Today, it’s about 83 per cent. In the United States, 89 per cent of adults own a mobile phone as of last December, up from 64 percent in 2002. In fact, about two-thirds or

Mobile phone ownership surges in Nigeria, others more surveyed in those African countries said they owned a mobile phone with South Africa and Nigeria ranking highest in ownership, with nine in 10 owning a phone. However, smartphones are not as common on the continent and spotty among different countries. In South Africa, about 34 per cent own such a device while it’s 27 per cent in Nigeria. Pew surveyed more than 7,000 people face-to-face between April and June last year. Mobile phone ownership has allowed people there to skip landlines, which is near zero ownership in those countries. According to the report, the highly educated are most likely to own mobile phones and smartphones. It says men are more likely than women to own phones and it’s also more common among those who speak some English. For example, three-quarter of Ugandans who speak or read some English own a mobile phone while it’s only half for those without any English proficiency. However, mobile phone

ownership is roughly the same among 18- to 34-year-olds and those 35 and older among all the countries except Tanzania. In that country, a greater percentage of younger people own smartphones than older people. Among activities, a median of 80 percent of mobile phone owners said they send text messages while 53 percent say they take pictures or videos. Mobile banking is another relatively popular activity within some countries. In Kenya, 61 percent of mobile phone owners do mobile banking while it’s 42 percent in Uganda and 39 percent in Tanzania. “With minor exceptions, most of the other cell phone activities tested in Africa are not as widespread,” according to the report. “Medians of about two-inten or less of mobile owners say they get political news (21 per cent), access social networking sites (19 per cent), get information about health and medicine (17 per cent), look or apply for a job (14 per cent), or get consumer information such as prices and product availability (14 per cent) on their phones.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Hope rises for African producers as oil hits 2015 high p.34 Investors in oil, gas and power sectors are eagerly waiting for the direction of policy by the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, reports ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf.

Energy

Buhari’s energy policy and investors’ fear

he President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, held his strategic plans for the energy sector close to his chest but his allies in the All Progressives Congress (APC) went to town last week, literarily painting the town with policy of the incoming government for the energy sector. While newspapers were a-washed with news of the policy and transactions, investors, who have put down billions of dollars as investments in the country, trail the policy direction with their hearts in their mouths. Oil reforms first, taxes last Nigeria’s president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari’s priorities for the oil sector may be focused on ending corruption and reforming the opaque national oil company as opposed to fiscal related issues, All Progressives Congress (APC) sources have confirmed. Senator Bukola Saraki, whose APC party controls both houses of parliament after a landslide win, told Reuters; “We need to address the structural issues and leave the fiscal for now. A more transparent NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) is needed with reasonable accounting.” Oil rig. Inset: Buhari APC leader, Bola Tinubu, whose support was instrumental in Buhari’s victory and wields huge influence also told restore credibility. It is also likely a Bill Reuters; “No way will we discuss that will be drafted to break the NNPC into now.” four entities, as already prescribed in the Buhari owes his March 28 victory latest PIB draft. But it will also, crucially, against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan remove the oil minister from the NNPC’s partly to a perception that Jonathan al- board of directors to curb political interlowed corruption to get out of control ference, one APC source said. Another — especially in the oil sector. A string of parliamentary APC source said the Bill multibillion dollar oil corruption scan- could be submitted to the National Asdals tainted the NNPC and other bodies sembly in the first quarter of next year. that handle energy. However, the fact that the issue of fis- Power investors’ fear over reversal of cal terms, seen as crucial by the indus- privatisation The Chairman of the Nigerian Electry, will have to wait on current thinking about oil and gas policies for Africa’s tricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), leading producer is worrisome for some Dr Sam Amadi, used cardinal part of industry stakeholders. last week to restate government’s unCrude output has stagnated close to wavering commitment to the ongoing two million barrels per day over the past privatisation of the power sector, saying few years, owing partly to under invest- he does not entertain any fear that the ment arising from uncertainty over fis- privatisation could be reversed. cal terms in the Petroleum Industry Bill Investors, both within and outside the (PIB) which was redrafted in 2012 and country, are living with their hearts in has been delayed in the National Assem- their mouths over the regulator’s commitment to drive the reform process to bly for a decade. The main concern for the oil compa- a conclusive end. While reacting to reports suggesting nies here is tax. The Bill proposes 20 per cent tax on offshore projects and 50 per that the president-elect, General Mucent for onshore. Shell, Exxon and other hammadu Buhari, could cancel power majors had all complained publicly that privatisation, the regulatory agency, the terms were unfair, given the risk as- in a statement issued, said, “The spirit sociated with operating in Nigeria. and intent of establishing the commis“The worry is that there’s going to be a sion remains the implementation of the lot of time wasted in witch-hunting. That Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) could take a year in which nothing else Act 2005. Amadi had during an interview with will happen,” said a Nigerian investment banker focused on upstream oil and gas journalists in Abuja stated that although projects, who declined to be named. the privatisation was not the problem APC sources say the new administra- of the sector, the new government has tion will first sack and replace the top a responsibility “for making policies in management of the state oil company, which case it can change existing policy, and then it will review its accounts to review existing policy or vigorously pur-

Crude output has stagnated close to two million barrels per day over the past few years

sue existing policy.” He added further that from his understanding of the two political parties, their policies were in line with the framework of the National Electric Policy issued in 2000 by the PDP-led government which is clearly premised on privatisation and securing the financial viability of the sector as a way of improving power supply by sustaining investment. Meanwhile, other happenings also dotted the news space during the week under review. These cover a long spectrum of the good, the bad and the ugly incidents in the nation’s energy sector. Power firms now free to fix tariffs – NERC Amadi has earlier said that electricity distribution companies could now set their own tariffs based on the cost

of operating in their various locations. Although such will, according to the NERC boss, be subject to approval by the commission, the Discos would have to interface with their customers before presenting the tariffs to the regulator. Speaking at the end of the regular monthly meeting that the commission often holds with the power generation and distribution companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Amadi stated that the commission had in the past allowed the Discos to hold consultations with their customers on issues pertaining to tariffs, but noted that this time, it would be the duty of the companies to set the tariffs and not that of NERC. The permission for the Discos to fix their tariffs will take effect from July when the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) will take place. According to the commission, the development will not lead to the jettisoning of the MYTO, but the tariff structure will be the framework for the idea. “The MYTO remains as the framework for tariff. What has changed is that the Discos will be required to engage with their customers before presenting a tariff application for approval. The customers will not be in the shadows anymore. The Discos will have to engage with the customers,” Amadi said. NERC, he said, would only approve what would be brought to it by the Discos as the new tariffs after it had done all necessary consultations. Amadi said, “It is not that we have not been doing that before now; we have CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Business | Energy

SLASH

APPA members, like Equatorial Guinea, have had to cut budgets due to oil prices Adeola Yusuf

rude oil prices jumped to a fresh 2015 peak on Thursday, trading at $63.98 a barrel before the end of transactions at the global market. The price surge was buoyed by news that a tribal group made up of former Al Qaeda militants took control of a major southern oil terminal in Yemen while the dollar’s weakness also provided some lift for dollar-denominated crude oil prices. Oil prices pulled back earlier on Thursday when Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said in its monthly report that its own output surged by 810,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March, even as low prices start to weigh on US production. Talks between OPEC and other major producers triggered speculation about deals to cut production and supported oil prices on Wednesday, though most analysts said an agreement was unlikely. This came as the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

been having public hearings. But the difference here is that the reason for tariff setting for generating the cost will be squarely that of the Discos. “This is for three benefits. One, they are the ones who know the actual cost of power tariff. Two, they know their customers’ profiles better and know how those costs can be better distributed. And thirdly, they interface more with their customers.” He explained that the methodology would allow each Disco to adequately factor in all its expenses arising from the operational challenges faced, while distributing power to its customers in its area of operation. The NERC boss noted that this was better than setting a tariff for a Disco without actually knowing the operational challenges the firm was facing. Amadi said, “For example, take the Yola Disco that is having problems with insurgents. Thank God we have contained the insurgency. Assuming it

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hope rises for African producers as oil hits 2015 high Crude trades at $63.98 a barrel reiterated call for a cut in oil output globally. APPA members, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola and Libya are also OPEC members. APPA is launching an initiative, led by Angola and Algeria, to seek collaboration between members of OPEC and other oil

producers to reduce output and stabilise oil prices. According to the group, they would like to “set up a platform of commitment at the international level from the producing countries,” said OusmaneDoukoure, director of exploration and production at Cote

d’Ivoire’s oil ministry, reading a statement at the end of the APPA meeting on April 3. Some APPA members like Equatorial Guinea have had to cut budgets due to oil prices. “We are very concerned by the drop of the price,”

said Gabriel Lima Obiang, Equatorial Guinea’s oil minister, after the meeting. “We are revising already our budget because of the price and we have been welcoming an initiative by Angola and Algeria to study a way we can work together to stabilise the price in the future.” This is not the first call to OPEC and other pro-

ducers to cut production, however OPEC’s largest producer, Saudi Arabia, has been successful in rallying other members to its side to maintain current OPEC flows. Brent crude for June delivery rose 66 cents to settle at $63.98 a barrel, rallying from a $62.00 low and reaching a 2015 peak for frontmonth Brent of $64.95.

L-R: Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Folusho Phillips; Director General, NESG, Mr. ‘Laoye Jayeola and former MD, SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, during a visit to the NESG by Shell leadership... recently.

Buhari’s energy policy and investors’ fear was very devastating for them, they could come and say the cost of doing business has escalated. And they have to prove it if that is the case. “Now, part of the requirement is that they will go and conduct consumer/stakeholder consultations with their consumer groups. They will propose to them the rate of increase that they are asking for. Of course, you don’t expect the consumers to clap for them when they increase tariffs. “But the idea is that if there are consumer complaints, within that period they will create legitimacy first, and acceptability and affordability. And then, our job will be to attend such consultations; observe what is going on, and at the end of the day, the Discos will send to us a report showing that they have done consultations.” Amadi said the initiative would ensure transparency in the sector and maintained that no

increase in tariff would be made without being approved by NERC. “But ultimately, it is NERC that approves the tariffs but what we are doing is that the onus is on them (Discos) to justify to us the increase and to also tell us how far they have carried the consumers along.” Last line Like many Nigerians, the World Bank has thrown its weight behind President-elect, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd), over his plans to reform the energy sector, which will include the probe of the NNPC over allegations of missing funds. This support has shown the level of goodwill, which the President-elect enjoys among both local and international communities. His policy for the all-important energy sector should however be supported by all stakeholders including the investors for the betterment of their multi-billion investments.

World Bank, IFC target 5m rural Nigerians for off-grid power generation DEBUT

IFC’s Lighting Africa programme takes off in rural Nigeria Adeola Yusuf

he Lighting Africa program, a joint initiative of IFC and the World Bank, revealed at the weekend that it aimed to help five million Nigerians not connected to the electricity grid access clean energy by 2017. This has already been launched in Nigeria where it will help increase access to affordable, clean and safer lighting for more than 30 per cent of Nigeria’s population who live in rural areas, and have low incomes and no access to grid electricity. This is expected to avert 100,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, associated with current fuel-based lighting technologies. Lighting Africa mo-

bilises the private sector to build and develop markets that enable access to clean, affordable, quality lighting products by fostering partnerships among local and global manufacturers and creating new channels through local distribution companies that will help build robust supply chains for off-grid lighting products. Program Manager for Lighting Africa program, Itotia Njagi, said, “Lighting Africa is helping to build a market to bring off-grid lighting and energy services across Africa by establishing quality standards, investing in consumer education, creating a favorable investment climate, and supporting innovative business models. As we foster these partnerships among all parties in the industry, various opportunities would be explored and our goal of inclusive electrification would be achieved in Nigeria.” The expansion of the Lighting Africa program to Nigeria supports the

World Bank Group’s Energy Business Plan. Under the Energy Business Plan, each World Bank Group institution will leverage its competencies and products to provide solutions to projects that encourage their viability and contribute to the sustainability of Nigeria’s power sector to underpin the government’s ambitious privatisation and reform program. IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, Eme Essien Lore, said, “Part of the World Bank Group’s targeted interventions in the power sector includes off-grid solutions that make access to power more inclusive. These solutions, mostly solar powered, will reduce the hazards of using fuel based energy resources, improve the climate and accelerate development in Nigeria.” Lighting Africa is a key component of the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP), an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

LASG reveals hitches to 4th Mainland Bridge take-off p.36

Property&Environment

One of the housing estates in Lagos. Inset: Okonjo-Iweala and Iyangete

Stakeholders’ worries over NMRC heighten DEFICIT Mortgage firm yet to commence undertakings 18 months after creation Dayo Ayeyemi

hen the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), a greenfield secondary mortgage company in Nigeria, was inaugurated in January 2014, the entire stakeholders including government, operators of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), real estate developers and accommodation seekers celebrated the news with high hope. The berthing of the NMRC was one of the strategic goals of the Nigerian Housing and Urban Development Roadmap to facilitate private sector led delivery of 800,000 homes per annum in the next 10 years. NMRC is supposed to promote group mortgage to ease access to housing for households not currently qualified for individual mortgages. With the full operation of NMRC, the belief is that a substantial building block will be put in place for mortgage finance institutions to meet Nigeria’s current housing deficit of 17 million. However, almost one and half years after the inauguration of NMRC, information reaching New Telegraph revealed that Nigerians have not witnessed any transaction carried out by the company despite the launch of 10,000 mortgages last August. Supported with World Bank’s approved loan of $300 million (about N48 billion) for its take off and other financial institutions (OFIs) like International Finance Corporation (IFC), Shelter Afrique, Nigerian banks, primary mortgage banks and private equity investors, NMRC was set up to refinance mortgages created by eligible mortgage lenders; develop the market by standardising mortgage

practices; develop the secondary mortgage market; and deepen the capital markets by raising funds through the issue of high quality long term securities. It is believed that its creation would increase annual mortgage origination in Nigeria to 200,000 from the current average of 20,000 mortgages within the next five years, representing an increase of 900 per cent. If the information of the company’s alleged non-performance is anything to go by, the implication is that the aspirations of over 17 million Nigerians in need of accommodation of their own would remain a mirage. It is in public domain that the company has put in place Uniform Underwritten Standards, effective payment system, staff recruitment and trainings, support launch/national rollout of first 10,000 mortgages and unveiled list of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), but NMRC’s inability to announce the latest action about the prequalified subscribers to its scheme has left accommodation seekers with no option than to doubt the seriousness of solving the problem of housing finance in the country.

He warned that the mortgage refinance company may find it difficult to survive unless the PMIs survive, adding that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) would have been recapitalised to fill the gap. He said: “I told them not to start the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company in 2014. The company has not recorded a single transaction 18 months after. We don’t need NMRC. We must build our PMIs first. “It is whatever mortgage we create in the primary market that will be sold to refinance company. When the primary mortgage banks create 100 loans, they will sell that to the refinance company for them to move on. But as it is now, no single transaction has been made in 18 months.” He blamed absence of mortgage in the country for the increasing housing deficit, which according to the United Nations (UN) is in the tune of 17 million. He advised the need to make mortgage work in the country by allowing every company, institution and department to create staff quarters for the workers based on mortgage.

Raising concern The lull has kept stakeholders worried and confused as the housing deficit gap continues to widen from about 16 million a few years ago to as much as 17 million as at this moment. Professor of Estate Management at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Timothy Nubi, expressed concern about NMRC’s activities since inauguration, claiming that the refinance company had not carried out single transaction in the last one and half years. Nubi faulted the idea of setting up NMRC as a secondary mortgage company, saying that the Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) would have been developed before the creation of the former. “If there is no mortgage, there will not be need for refinance,” he said.

Findings Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the NMRC might be going through some challenges bordering specifically on liquidity right now. According to a source, the takeoff capital of the company was low and in order to get going, it has to float bonds in the capital market. The source added that the process of the issuance of the bond was yet to be completed, slowing down the operation of NMRC. In a recent interview, the Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had mentioned that high cost of houses (high price) might pose a clog in the wheel of progress of the NMRC, saying that everything must be done to keep price of housing units affordable for easy mortgage to the targeted

If there is no mortgage, there will not be need for refinance

groups. Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, recently faulted the guideline establishing Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), arguing that the agency lacked adequate capital, and called for increase in the minimum capital base of NMRC to about N10 trillion. He noted that in spite of the lofty ideas behind setting up the company, the mirage of challenges on ground if not properly tackled will render it ineffective. Some of the problems, according to him, include poor take-off capital, issues of enforcement of contract, absence of foreclosure laws and the general issues of equity contribution, period of recovery of loans and the uncertainty about what amount to recover in the case of breach of repayment plans. New Chief Executive of NMRC, Charles Iyangete, said he expects many Nigerians to benefit immensely from the activities of the company in the next five years. He said: “In the next five years, we have projected that we will refinance close to the region of 400,000 to 450,000 mortgages for one segment of the market. Update on 10,000 mortgages It would be recalled that the Federal Government had last year instructed primary mortgage institutions (PMIs) to process the applications of the over 66,000 Nigerians who applied for the 10,000 NMRC housing programme. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had directed the 17 PMIs and four commercial banks involved in the mortgage exercise to share the 66,402 applications among themselves and prequalify those who met the criteria for accessing mortgage facilities under the NMRC initiative and get back to the government in eight weeks. CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

LASG reveals hitches to 4th Mainland Bridge’s take-off SCORECARD Government completed 281 roads, measuring 296.517 kilometres between 2011 and 2015 Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

acts have emerged why the Lagos State government has not been able to commence work on the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge in Lagos. Speaking at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the fourth year of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s second term in office, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, D r. Obafemi Hamzat, said that apart from the fact four kilometres of the bridge would

be on water, 69 buildings on its right of way would be demolished, adding that compensation of these building would also run into billions of naira. Due to these challenges, the commissioner said that the government was considering realignment of the bridge towards the Lekki Free Trade Zone, where other facilities and industries such as Dangote Refinery would complement the project. He said: “We are considering the realignment of the bridge. The work is ongoing and Dangote is interested in the project.” To reduce traffic pressure, the Lagos State government had proposed the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge. The operation will include the insertion of a bypass; a bridge within the body of Lagos. The new bridge will not be typical

infrastructure as it will connect people in large numbers and improve their natural flow through a re-organisation of vehicular, waterways, and pedestrian modes of transportation. The bridge in conjunction with existing road networks is expected to establish a primary ring road around Lagos. This ring road will provide alternative traffic routes from Lekki to Ikorodu, Ikeja to Ajah, relieving the 3rd Mainland Bridge of its overstretched capacity. With this improved flow of people across Lagos, the city is expected to be relieved of traffic congestion. But 10 years on, there is no hope in sight to ascertain when the construction of the bridge would commence. Meanwhile,the state government said it had completed 281 roads, measuring 296.517 kilometres between 2011 and 2015,

while additional 80 roads have undergone grading and surface dressing during the period. Showcasing the performance of the state government, Hamzat said the number of roads constructed in the second term of the governor was an improvement on the number of roads constructed during his first term. According to statistics provided by the ministry, 150 roads measuring 176.030 were completed between 2007 and 2011. The total number of roads constructed during the first and second term of Fashola’s administration (2007 to 2015) totaled 431, measuring 472.547 kilometres. The commissioner explained that about 201 roads were still under construction and rehabilitation, including additional 71 roads going through grading and surface dressing. Hamzat pointed out that the beauty of the whole exercise was that the road construction works cut across all the local government areas of the state, adding that as the state was attending to the highway, the inner roads were not left unattended to. He maintained that as much as the state government would have loved to construct and re-

habilitate more roads, paucity of funds had limited it. While phase 1 of Idimu-Ejigbo Road has been completed, the commissioner said its phase II, which is about 2.5 kilometres, has been awarded to Palmyra Construction Nigeria Limited last October, adding that Ago Palace Way phase V in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area was still ongoing. He blamed obstruction caused by the oil and gas pipeline on the right of way of Ipaja-Ayobo road for its delay, assuring that immediately it is relocated, the work would progress. Other ongoing roads in the category of key/special projects in the state include Obafemi Awolowo road in Ikorodu, Ebute Igbogbo road (Phase 1), First Avenue/Bank road, Ikoyi, and Isasi road among others. In the area of bridge maintenance, the commissioner said that expansion joints of some bridges have been replaced to improve the driving comfort of the users. The bridges include Carter Bridge, Ikotun-Ejigbo Bridge, Oke Afa/Egbe Bridge, Dopemu Bridge, Iyana-Ipaja Bridge, Alhaji Masha Bridge, Itowolo and Eko bridges. He also mentioned that 3,716 roads had witnessed maintenance.

Estate surveyors showcase new Lagos Island neighbourhoods

D Model of the 4th Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

Developer boosts housing stocks, rolls out Cranbel Courts

n order to meet the annual accommodation needs of over 600,000 people coming to Lagos to stay permanently, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited has taken another giant stride with the launch of Cranbel Courts Estates, comprising luxury apartments and terrace buildings. Situated within OPIC’s New Makun City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, just about three minutes’ drive from the Youth Centre of the Redemption Camp, Cranbel court is scheduled for delivery in 2017, about the same proposed completion period of the road expansion Cranbel Court is expected to provide affordable and stylish homes for youths who desire to have their own homes and for investors who desire to take advantage of the influx of people to this axis. The estate is equipped with green area, club house, tennis court, gym and functional roads. Propertymart’s Managing Director, Mr. Adeyinka

Adesope, maintained that Cranbel Court remained the ideal location for both investment and residential purpose with the estate boasting two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom terrace duplexes. Adesope pointed out that every unit had been well apportioned with ensuite bedrooms, elegantly designed living room, kitchen and a pantry. “Each terrace unit has a two-car parking space and green area. Also available in the estate are three-bedroom duplex,” he said. Adesope further explained that the company was embarking on the new affordable and value oriented project following the successes recorded in its other housing estates. He said: “We are pleased to offer modernised homes that perfectly match your lifestyle with guaranteed high yields on your investment. We remain your perfect platform for all the real

estate support and services you may need.” Giving details on the unique offerings of Cranbel Courts, the developer stressed that the company had a track record of providing quality housing and its commitment to deliver same in the new estate. “The amazing attractions for home owners who would buy into the estate include lush green areas, recreational area, children’s play area, uninterrupted water and power supply, easy access to malls and premium schools, quality infrastructure, centralised sewage treatment plant and perimeter security among others,” Adesope concluded. With high consideration to buyers, Cranbel Court is presently being offered at discounted prices of N4.8 million on outright purchase per unit of a two-bedroom apartment. Subscribers can pay a minimum deposit of 10 per cent on installment price of N7.4 million and spread balance over 24 months.

ue to current development in the sector, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Lagos State Branch, will be showcasing the new Lagos Island neighbourhoods, when they meet during its annual Business Luncheon next week in Victoria Island Lagos.

Due to the significance of the topic, the one day event is meant to be attended by all professionals in the built environment and the public at large under the Managing Director of Orange Island Development Company, Yinka Ogunsulire, who doubles as the guest speaker.

Stakeholders’ worries over NMRC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Okonjo-Iweala updated the media recently on the progress recorded under the 10,000 NMRC scheme, which was launched last year. She announced that out of 66,000 applications received, 25,000 had been pre-qualified while 9,000 had been given offer letter and 33 had monies disbursed to them to acquire their homes. She said that government was working with a number of institutions to make sure the wide gap in housing sector is closed. Among the options she said government was tinkering is to work out modalities that would enable workers borrow from their pensions in their Retired Savings Account (RSA) domiciled with the National Pensions Commission (PenCom) while consultation was also ongoing with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to see how to make home affordability a success in Nigeria. Lending banks/PMBs The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC)

released names of NMRC’s member mortgage lending banks include Sterling Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc, Homebase Mortgage Limited, FHA Homes Savings & Loans Limited, Aso Savings & Loans Plc, Trust Bond Mortgage Bank, Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc and Resort Savings & Loans Limited Others are Platinum Mortgage Bank Limited, Jubilee Life Savings & Loans Limited, Haggai Savings & Loans Limited, Refuge Home Savings & Loans Limited, New Prudential Building Society, Sun Trust Savings & Loans Limited, Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank Limited and Mayfresh Savings & Loans Limited. The launch of NMRC was expected to result in the formation of more group mortgage companies, providing wholesale mortgages for PMBs and other financiers on behalf of subscribers and subsequently support these subscribers to own homes under flexible home finance mechanisms.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Emirates signs $9.2bn Rolls Royce pact p.38 As Nigerian carriers tinker with the idea of code-share pact, Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE, writes that it is the best way to go. With this arrangement, one carrier services and places its code on another carrier’s flights Controversial regulatory reform Commercial aviation was one of the first industries affected by the controversial regulatory reforms that began in the 1970s. The number of new carriers that entered the industry and increased competition during the early years of deregulation confirmed the expectations of some that the deregulated airline would approximate the classical model of multiple firm competitors. Air transport is a major industry in the world economy on its own, with air travel revenues usually accounting for about one per cent of national GDP. Furthermore, since the 1980s, global air traffic has experienced an average annual growth rate over five per cent, outpacing economic growth, and according to the forecasts of the two largest aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, this trend will continue in the next 20 years. In addition, air transport has a widely acknowledged impact on the development of world trade and tourism; and, from a wider perspective, the fast and safe airborne transport of people and goods to any place in the world facilitates economic, political, and social change. Challenges The main operators of passenger air transport, the commercial airlines, comprise a challenging industry characterised both in the US and the rest of the world by low profits and high volatility in returns. A distinctive element in the airline business is that most of the largest carriers in the world are enrolled in one of the three existing international strategic alliances oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam - which are often recalled as the global airline alliances. These networks of airlines provide their members with a rich international route portfolio at a marginal cost that would be difficult to be reached through organic growth. In Nigeria, no airline is part of these global airline alliances; as such, they are not playing at the highest levels of global aviation. The two largest airline transport markets in the world, United States (US) and the European Union (EU), accounting for 60 per cent of the world traffic, each have a liberalised domestic mar-

Aviation Code share pact: Fresh vista for Nigerian airlines? Most of the major airlines today have code sharing partnerships with other airlines, and code sharing is a key feature of the major airline alliances. Typically, code-sharing agreements are also a part of the commercial agreements between airlines in the same airline alliances.

ket. The United States was first in deregulating its domestic airline markets in 1978, which provided carriers 14 freedom to enter and exit routes and to price them as they pleased, subject only to the US competition law. Strategic alliances Strategic alliances are not a unique phenomenon of airlines, as they are evident in many other manufacturing and service industries. In fact, every year there are about 2,000 new strategic alliances in the world, and partnerships in the form of alliances have been increasing at 15 percent annually. In the airline industry, carriers enter into cooperative arrangements to generate greater revenue, to reduce unit costs from economies of size and to minimise or share risks by strengthening their position out of their domestic market. In a first approach, cooperation can be characterised as taking the form of either tactical or strategic alliances. This has informed the decision of a start up airline, Air Peace, to

seek code share alliance with any airline willing among the domestic carrier.

Most of the major airlines today have code sharing partnerships with other airlines, and code sharing is a key feature of the major airline alliances

History beckons If it works out, Nigeria may witness the first airlines partnership going by the plan of the country’s start-up airline, Air Peace, to code-share with an undisclosed airline. The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said his airline would rather go into code-sharing with any airline that is ready to do business with it than merger. According to Onyema, “We can go into code-sharing with any airline that wants to do business with us. We will prefer code sharing to merger. We have invested so much into our operation than to merge with another airline that is not ready to pursue our goal in setting up of the Air Peace. We want to employ more Nigerians. We are out to provide jobs for Nigerians.” A code-share agreement, sometimes simply code-share, is an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight.

Expansion plan Speaking on his expansion plans, the airline chief said, “We take it a day after another. First and foremost, we started with a fleet of seven aircraft .If we have started with two aircraft, yes, we might be talking of expansion now but we started with seven aircraft. At times with more aircraft, they are not available for operation, because they are down or probably, they have gone for maintenance. “However, nobody wants to be static. We look forward to adding to our fleet. When God says it is time for expansion, we will do that. It is the wish of every airline to expand. We do not want to bite more than we can chew. Greed at times can make people want to service every route. For us, we want to be sure the route we want to operate into will be viable.” He lamented the high costs of aircraft maintenance, stressing that it was very dollarised, hinting that light maintenances are done in Nigeria but heavy checks are done abroad. Aircraft maintenance checks are periodic inspections that have to be done on all commercial/civil aircraft after a certain amount of time or usage; military aircraft normally follow specific maintenance programmes, which may or may not be similar to those of commercial/civil operators. Airlines and airworthiness authorities casually refer to the detailed inspections as “checks,” commonly one of the following: A check, B check, C check, or D check. A and B checks are lighter checks, while C and D were considered heavier checks. He disclosed that his firm had outsourced its maintenance to a British company anchored by BTC Maintenance Aviation Limited, adding that they are in the country. According to him, “They are here. We brought them down from the United Kingdom. None of our aircraft is taken to the sky without their permission. It comes at a huge cost. We embrace this because we do not play with lives of our passengers and staff. We do not want to play with our machines also. I have not flown another airline since we began operation because I trust the maintenance done on the machines.”

Business | Aviation

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Emirates signs $9.2bn Rolls Royce pact HISTORIC The success of Emirates, over the last 30 years, has been extraordinary Wole Shadare

mirates has announced an historic $9.2 billion deal with Rolls-Royce for Trent 900 engines and a long-term TotalCare package. The engines will be used to power 50 Airbus A380s ordered at the Dubai Air Show in 2013, which will begin entering service in 2016. The airline in a statement said the deal, which is the largest ever for Rolls-Royce, and one of the largest ever export orders for a UK based company, was part of Emirates’ ongoing investment into the UK and Europe. New Telegraph learnt that the partnership marks a significant milestone for aviation manufacturing in the region, securing jobs across RollsRoyce’s supply chain, from Bristol to Scotland. The carrier further disclosed that it would further support trade ties between the

UK and the United Arab Emirates, building on the estimated $13.4 billion of bilateral trade recorded in 2013. President, Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark, said, “RollsRoyce is a key partner for Emirates and we have been impressed with its commitment to continual improvements in the economic and operational performance of the Trent 900. These improvements have been decisive factors in our selection of the product for 50 of our A380s. “Today’s announcement is significant not only because it cements the partnership between Emirates and RollsRoyce, but also because of the large and sustained economic impact that this will have on aviation manufacturing in the UK and Europe.” Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce, John Rishton, said, “The success of Emirates over the last thirty years has been extraordinary. Rolls-Royce has been proud to have been part of this success, powering Emirates aircraft since 1996. We are delighted that Emirates has again placed its trust in our technology, with the biggest order in our history.” “This year we are celebrat-

ing the 10th anniversary year of the A380’s first flight and we would like to congratulate Emirates for continuing to place the A380 at the centre of their future growth plans. This is exactly what this remarkable aircraft was designed for; helping leading worldwide airlines such as Emirates to develop and grow profitably,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. Emirates’ investment in the Airbus A380 programme has had a significant impact on the UK and wider European economies. A recent Frontier Economics report identified that in 2013/14 Emirates’ investment in the A380 created 7,000 UK jobs, equating to a $630 million (€595 million) GDP contribution. Across the EU, Emirates’ 140 A380 orders are estimated to have supported 41,000 jobs, equivalent to a massive $3.6 billion (€3.4 billion) GDP. The A380 programme sits at the heart of Emirates’ growth strategy. Sixty A380s are currently in operation, with a further 80 on order, making Emirates by far the largest purchaser of the aircraft. Since its introduction in 2008, over 36 million of the air-

line’s passengers have flown on the aircraft. The aircraft has made Emirates’ operations significantly more effi-

cient, carrying more passengers to and from the world’s busiest and most slot constrained airports.

UK Met to assist NiMet commercialise, train staff Clem Khena-Ogbena

he United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office has indicated readiness to assist the Nigerian Meteorological agency (NIMET) meet its responsibilities to generate money by means of commercialisation and to help it train its workers. The Met Office International Development Manager, Mr. Gary Derbyshire, who disclosed this in Abuja during an interview with New Telegraph, said that an agreement had earlier been signed by both agencies, aimed at commercialising NiMet. He added that the partnership would enable NiMet gain both the experience and expertise of Met Office. Derbyshire stated, “We set out on this plans some time ago; we signed technical services agreement with the primary objective of helping NiMet to commercialise the organisation. “We in Met office have been supplying commer-

cial sector for more than 50 years, and we cover sectors from oil and gas to construction, aviation and renewable energy. There are many many sectors we provide services for, for commercial revenue. “So, we want to use the experience, the capability to pass on our expertise and experience to the guys in NiMet. We can develop their own capacity, we can develop their commercial capability, for example, sell their own services or our own services to NiMet, initially to the oil and gas market for example, which, of course, is the most important in Nigeria. “There are two key strands to this plan: To develop commercial revenue stream in a very quick way for NiMet. What we decide to do is to make our products, which have been established in the market, available to NiMet so they can sell them to their own customers for revenue and they would develop revenue.”

NAAPE congratulates Buhari, seeks technocrat as Aviation Minister Wole Shadare

P Qatar Airways’ Country Manager (middle), Mr. Isaack Wambua, with travel agencies’ staff

Qatar Airways rewards frontline travel agency staff Wole Shadare

atar Airways, the only five star airline serving the Nigerian market, rewarded frontline travel agency staff in Nigeria for their excellent performance to the airline at a workshop it hosted in Lagos recently. The travel agency workshop organised for frontline travel agents staff across Nigeria, witnessed the giveaway of ticket vouchers worth over $20,000 in recognition of their contributions to the growth of Qatar Airways in Nigeria. Olabiyi Oladele of Pat-Elo Travels Limited, who received

ticket voucher worth over $1,000, expressed his appreciation to the airline for recognising their contributions to the development of Qatar Airways in Nigeria. Explaining the motivation behind this move, Country Manager of Qatar Airways in Nigeria, Isaack Wambua, said the contributions of the travel agents to the growth of the airline were most cherished by the airline, adding that one of the reasons for this gesture was to recognise their efforts and motivate their partners in Nigeria. “We value your commitments to the airline and we can say that our accomplishments are largely made possible by

your contributions. This is why we decided to give this amazing offer to reward your unflinching efforts. “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing markets in the Qatar Airways network and we are committed to offering and delivering excellent services on the ground and in the air.” Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Currently, Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of over 100 aircraft to more than 140 diverse business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

resident, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Isaac David Balami has congratulated President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) for winning the just concluded Presidential election. He however, craved Buhari’s indulgence to be favourably disposed to having an aviation professional as Minister of Aviation, adding that it has been, “our long held opinion that an experience aviation professional with the needed managerial and political clout at the helm of affairs in the aviation ministry will move the industry forward better and faster”. “It is, therefore, our fervent prayer that His Excellency gives due and favourable thought to this request, especially as Nigerians who fit this billing exist in needed numbers”, he added. He tasked the President-elect to clear the

Augean stable of the aviation sector because of the vital nature of aviation and its relevance to national development. He urged the new government to look into foreign domination and the related question of capital flight, adding that the faces of this issue are the foreign mega carriers which give the Nigerian small carriers very unfair competition. Balami stated the need for foreign manpower supply created by local poor manpower development policy and practice, noting that this lack of certified local maintenance facilities which necessitate maintenance abroad has done incalculable damage to the sector. He stated that there was the need to encourage the quick completion of at least one aircraft maintenance hangar in the country, such as the Uyo facility that is already at advanced stage but now abandoned due to high costs.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, APRIL 21, 2015

Photo | News

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, receiving a souvenir from the President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, during a courtesy visit in Minna.

L-R: Nigeria’s Vice Board Chairman, Actionaid, Prof. Sam Egwu; Out-Going Country Director, Mr Hussaini Abdu; New Country Director, Ojobo Atuluku and Deputy Country Director, Ifeoma Charles, during Actionaid Nigeria’s Change of Leadership news conference in Abuja. PHOTO-NAN

Gombe South Senator-elect, Sen. Joshua Lidani (right), being presented with Certificate of Return by INEC Supervising National Commissioner, Gombe State, Dr. Nuru Yakubu in Gombe.

L-R: Managing Director, CMC Connect Limited, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Chairman, Lagos Water Regatta, Chief Segun Jewando and Flag Officer Commanding, Nigerian Navy Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Babalola Egbedina, at the 2015 Lagos Water Regatta in Lagos.

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Director-General, State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, at the Security Council meeting in Abuja. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Project Wheel Engineering, Mr. Koki Sagir; Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, Arewa Untied Group, All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, Alhaji Kabiru Abdullahi and Chairman, North Central United Group, Alhaji kpatako Mohammed Sharu, at an evening celebration of Ambode’s victory in Epe.

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his wife, Olukemi, Guest Minister and President of Christ Life Ministries, Pastor Olubi Johnson and the governor’s son, Bayonle, at the April edition of Divine Agenda Praise Night, in Akure.

L-R: Director-General/CEO, Office of Transformation Team, Lagos State, Mr. Toba Otusanya; Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, at the service charter week in Lagos.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Dollarisation of economy: CBN threatens to sanction banks

Warning

Banks will be punished if they collect foreign currencies for local transactions Tony Chukwunyem

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to mete out sanctions on banks that fail to comply with its directives prohibiting the use

of dollars and other foreign currencies for local transactions. In a circular to all banks posted on its website, the apex bank warned deposit money banks in the country to desist from the collection of foreign currencies for payment of domestic transactions on behalf of their custom-

ers and the use of their customers’ domiciliary accounts for making payments for visible and invisible transactions (fees, charges, licenses, e.t.c) originating and consummated in Nigeria. Condemning what it described as the rising trend of currency substitution and dollarisation

Weak naira may worsen inflation –Analysts Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the background of the increase in March inflation to 8.5 per cent from 8.4 per cent recorded for the previous month, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) have predicted that the inflation rate is likely to rise further in the coming months because of the ailing naira. The analysts made the forecast in the latest edition of the FDC’s economic bulletin released at the weekend. According to the FDC, the 0.1 per cent increase

in March inflation was in line with market expectations because of the devaluation of the naira and its impact on the cost of imported goods. The firm stated, “In 2015, Nigeria’s headline inflation has been projected to average 11.5 per cent by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), up from an average of 8.1 per cent in 2014 and 8.5 per cent in 2013. The forecast is highly dependent on the outlook for food inflation coupled with the impact of the weaker exchange rate on the core index. The naira has weakened by 7.01 per cent year-to-

date and by 22.79 per cent against the dollar since the beginning of 2014. This would suggest that consumer inflation should move somewhat higher over the coming months.” The FDC further said, “The risk to the Nigerian inflation forecast remains firmly to the upside due to the likelihood of a further devaluation of the naira. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is likely to be more concerned about maintaining its price and currency stability objectives, and may consider raising interest rates to curb in-

of the economy in recent times, the CBN reiterated that the naira remained the only legal tender in the country, reminding the general public that Section 15 of the CBN Act 2007 provides that the unit of currency in Nigeria shall be the naira. According to the regulator, “Section 20 (1) of

flationary pressures.” It, however, noted that future interest rate decisions will depend on the desired support level for the naira which could range between N205210/$ at the interbank market. According to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce, increased at a faster pace for the third consecutive month, rising by 7.5 per cent (year-on-year), up by 0.5 percentage points compared to 7.0 per cent in February. The strongest increases in the core index were observed in the clothing and footwear, and miscellaneous goods and services division.

Economic Indicators N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$29,481,468,806

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 16/4/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

liable on conviction to a fine or six months imprisonment.” It, however, explained that foreigners, visitors and tourists could still use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currency for local currency at any of the authorised dealers’ outpost including hotels.

Polls’ positive momentum boosts bond market – FBN Capital Tony Chukwunyem

BN Capital Research has attributed the recent rally in the country’s bond market to what it described as a, “positive momentum generated by the elections.” In a note issued at the weekend, the firm pointed out that the total bid of N186billion at last Wednesday’s monthly auction of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds by the Debt Management Office (DMO) was, “the highest since July 2014 and a sharp increase on the previous month’s N116billion.”

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

the same Act provides that the currency notes issued by the bank shall be legal tender in Nigeria at their face value for the payment of any amount and Section 20 (5) further provides that a person who refuses to accept the naira as a means of payment is guilty of an offence and

It further stated that the auction which saw the DMO comfortably raising its target of N70 billion, also saw increased buying by local institutions as well as foreign investors. It, however, noted that, “Some players may have re-entered the market, having seen the theory of a third devaluation after the elections overtaken by events.” According to FBN Capital, “In the absence of a sustained recovery in the oil price to underpin the public finances, we assume that investors are buying into talk of much tighter fiscal management under a Buhari administration.”

EMP expands agreement with FCMB

As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

merging Markets Payments (EMP) has announced the expansion of its agreement with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited. In a statement, the firm noted that it had been providing FCMB with processing services since 2010, adding that under the expanded agreement, it commenced the issuance of Nairadebit cards for FCMB as well as continuing to provide processing services. Chief Executive Officer, EMP Africa, Murat Ozulku, said, “Over the years, EMP has been able to support partner banks to achieve their business strategy by providing solutions that render cardholders a seamless, convenient and secure payment experience. We believe that expanding FCMB’s card offerings with EMP will provide cardholders with more tools that best cater to their needs, encouraging them to take advantage of the various benefits of electronic payments.” Commenting on the

new agreement, Executive Director of FCMB, Mr. Nath Ude, said, “EMP’s position as an industry leader is undeniable. As a premier financial services group, FCMB partners with the best of the best for the benefit of our customers. I’m pleased to say that EMP is most certainly among the best in the business. We’re looking forward to our next phase of growth together.” According to the statement, the debit cards can be applied for at any of the FCMB branches across Nigeria. FCMB Naira debit cards can be used to complete transactions through all POS terminals and ATMs that accept debit cards in over 210 countries and with over 30 million merchants across the world. With EMP handling the issuing and processing on behalf of FCMB, the bank’s clients enjoy being a part of an efficient, reliable network that processes more than six transactions a second and acquires billions of dollars’ worth of transactions a year.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

20-Apr-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,275.70

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

1.32 2.02 2.27 2.36 3.11 4.19 4.51 4.82 6.77 8.90 13.61 14.09 14.59 15.26 19.24

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.74 13.79 13.81 13.82 13.85 13.87 13.90 13.90 13.91 13.94 16.01 16.29 16.61 15.08 14.04

13.62 13.70 13.73 13.74 13.72 13.78 13.79 13.82 13.84 13.89 15.95 16.23 16.53 15.01 13.99

99.14 102.24 92.45 91.22 92.23 106.54 77.45 105.55 110.60 101.24 94.43 79.18 55.90 69.93 87.47

99.29 102.39 92.60 91.37 92.53 106.84 77.75 105.85 110.90 101.54 94.73 79.48 56.20 70.23 87.77

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.09 1.08 1.64 2.00 2.21

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.99 2.85

15.25 16.23 15.78 15.79 16.66

98.54 101.03 100.25 101.22 96.40

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

321.34

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.36

4.44

15.98

98.72

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.45

3.23

15.38

98.97

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.72

4.46

17.64

97.61

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.72

3.48

16.67

99.17

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.00

1.00

14.80

91.95

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.26

1.00

14.88

98.72

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.70

1.79

15.62

96.48

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.08

1.80

15.61

97.30

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.09

1.00

14.81

98.60

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.07

1.00

14.80

99.44

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.07

4.78

18.58

92.69

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.27

1.00

14.81

101.18

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.70 4.59 2.66

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.83 14.90 14.83

101.35 98.66 99.82

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.21

1.00

14.85

99.75

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.61

1.00

14.92

94.70

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.70

1.00

14.92

100.24

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.36

1.44

15.30

98.00

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.39

1.00

14.86

100.28

99.25

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 439.69

Corporate Bonds *UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.33

1.00

12.28

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.39

1.00

12.71

99.70

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.47

2.63

14.95

99.58

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

A-/Agusto

‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto BB/GCR

29-Sep-16

1.44

1.00

14.80

97.72

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.52

1.34

15.11

98.86

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

29-Sep-11

13.00

20.00

15.00

30-Sep-17

2.45

1.00

14.82

96.36

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.47

1.88

15.67

103.63

Nil

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.72

1.00

14.79

101.75

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.89

1.00

14.80

104.90

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.89

1.00

14.80

101.81

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.43

3.00

16.86

92.75

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

2.00

2.29

16.09

99.43

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.08

6.11

19.91

96.99

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.70

2.16

15.99

99.99

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.57

2.76

16.68

94.92

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.70

1.13

15.07

105.64

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.45

1.00

15.18

83.93

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.45

1.00

15.18

90.46

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

158.14

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.81

1.00

14.83

89.61

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.90

86.27

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.92

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.57

5.36

105.76

106.79

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.98

4.65

100.43

101.39

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.90

5.74

103.04

104.08

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,546.16

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

158.16

43.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.52

4.24

100.99

103.38

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.35

92.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.13

10.32

89.26

91.18

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.32

6.73

95.93

97.72

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.51

42.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.13

97.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

11.72

10.86

90.57

93.18

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

9.27

95.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

26.16 11.55 9.30

26.16 11.12 9.30

44.00 89.91 93.00

44.00 91.64 93.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.11

10.63

88.63

90.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,907.19

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 10 17 24 31 45 52 66 73

FIXINGS Maturity 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 13.05 9.58 12.01 12.28 12.24 12.02 12.08 11.84

Offer Discount (%) 12.80 9.33 11.76 12.03 11.99 11.77 11.83 11.59

Bid Yield (%) 13.10 9.62 12.10 12.40 12.43 12.22 12.35 12.13

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 14.5417 15.3919 16.4450 17.4846

Rate (%)

OBB

14.21

O/N

14.58

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 14.25 14.30

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.08 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.18 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

10.00 12.1493

591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,275.70

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

15.26 19.24

15.08 14.04

15.01 13.99

69.93 87.47

70.23 87.77

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.09 1.08 1.64 2.00 2.21

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.99 2.85

15.25 16.23 15.78 15.79 16.66

98.54 101.03 100.25 101.22 96.40

Agency Bonds FMBN

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Investors’ wealth *EBONYI drops by N97bn *BENUE ‡ /Agusto *IMO

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

BBB+/Agusto

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

by Chris Ugwu ‡Stories /Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER *EKITI

*NIGER

he Nigerian *ONDO bourse saw*GOMBE deLAGOS cline in value of BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN BBB-/Agusto equities as profit *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; /GCR LAGOS taking ‡resumed, particuBBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*EKITI

12.50

8.50

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

04-Oct-11

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

Zenith Bank reports 15% growth in pretax profit

06-Jan-14 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 enith Bank Plc*NASARAWA has TOTALrecorded OUTSTANDING VALUE 15 per cent TOTALgrowth MARKET CAPITALISATION in profit beCorporate fore taxBonds for the first quar10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto ter ended March 31, *UPDC 2015. 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS The bank in a filing for the financial year N95.312 billion for the 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO ended Decembers 31, same period in 2013. with the Nigerian Stock FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 Gross earnings30-Sep-10 grew Exchange (NSE) FSDH said 2014, up by14.25 12.8 per cent 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR UBA its first quarter pretax from N106.209 billion by 14.76 per cent y/y 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING DANA 9-APR-2018 to N403.343 billion 09-Apr-11 Nil profit rose 15 per *DANA cent during theMPR+7.00 as correspondMPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR to N33.12 billion*TOWER as against N351.470 reing period of last year. MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER against year This was corded a year earlier. 14.00contained UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCRN28.91 a UBA 22-Sep-11 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 While reacting 18-Oct-13 Bbb+/Agusto; *LA CASERA in a filing15.75 earlier. BBB+/GCR with the Nito the MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS Turnover also rose gerian Stock Exchange results, analysts at FBN 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA andNAHCO obtained to N113.32 com- yesterday 15.25 in all, II 14-NOV-2020 Capital said: All 14-Nov-13 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR billion NAHCO 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR pared with N94.32UBA bil- by New Telegraph. the results were 30-Dec-14 ahead T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC lion posted the previProfit 182D after tax for of expectations. Zenith 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC ous year, representing the period under review, delivered an ROAE of TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE a growth of CAPITALISATION 20 per cent. according to the bank’s 19 per cent for 2014. We TOTAL MARKET Zenith Bank Plc had unaudited end year re- would expect consenSupranational Bond posted a profit before sult, was N99.445 billion, sus estimates for11-Feb-13 2015 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC tax of N119.796 billion up by 8.6 per cent1-FEB-2021 from to move up slightly.10-Jul-14 11.25 AFDB Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.47

1.88

15.67

103.63

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.72

1.00

14.79

101.75

18.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Shareholders laud SEC’s action on BGL

Issue Date

investment hitches. ome shareholders in the local bourse. FGN Eurobonds have commended BGL Securities LimOkezie called on the 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 the Securities and interim management ited is a dealing member BB-/Fitch; 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P Exchange Commission FGN to ensure they unravel of the Nigerian Stock BB-/Fitch; (SEC) for suspending Exchange and is one of whatever the problem is 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P the board of BGL Plc the leading stockbroking that led to the financial TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE and appointing an in- firms in Nigeria strategi- crisis and also recover TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION terim management for cally known for executing investors’ money. Corporate Eurobonds the group. high volume transactions. “The new management 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 Shareholders under President of the Proshould dig deep to recover 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 the aegis of Progressive gressive Shareholders investors’ money and re7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 Association of Nigeria, Shareholders Associaposition the company . If 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 a big ticket portfolio B+/Fitch; B+/S&P 08-Nov-13 tion in a telephoneGTBANK chat PLC Mr. Boniface Okezie, said BGL, 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 08-Apr-12 with New Telegraph de- the action of the regulator management, is having 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 problems then what it scribed the action of the was to enable the compa8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 apex B/S&P market regulator ny meet their obligation means is that the capital 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; FIRSTas BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC IIIto investors and also save 09-Dec-13 a step in the right direcmarket its threatened,” 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 others from running into tion that will bring sanity he said. 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 23-Jul-14 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

09-Sep-18

1.89

1.00

14.80

104.90

09-Sep-18

1.89

1.00

14.80

101.81

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.43

3.00

16.86

92.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.11

10.63

88.63

90.63

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

2.54

0.70

2.10 Bank Plc18-Oct-18 2.29 16.09 terling has recorded2.00 from N84.7billion to N88.4 99.43 billion 18.00 0.36 17-Feb-19 2.08 6.11 19.91 96.99 a 25 per cent growth in its due to profit accretion, while total 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 2.70 2.16 15.99 99.99 profit for the first5.57 assets excluding contingent94.92 liabil2.76 16.68 15.25 2.05 after tax14-Nov-20 16.45 quarter ended 30.50 30-Dec-21 1.13 105.64 March 31, 2015. 6.70 ities advanced by15.07 2.1 per cent from 11.93 0.10 30-Sep-24 1.00 15.18 83.93 According to key extracts of the9.45 N824.5billion to N841.9 billion. 13.25 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.45 1.00 15.18 90.46 In the bank’s quarterly update results 161.53 released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), to investors and analysts, the Man158.14 which showed appreciable growth aging Director/ Chief Executive, Adeola,14.83 stated: Our first in all key12.00 performance indices, the2.81 Mr. Yemi 10.20 11-Feb-18 1.00 89.61 after tax leapt from4.75 quarter was 86.27 in line 11.25 bank’s profit 12.95 01-Feb-21 1.00performance 14.90 N3.1 billion with expectations having recorded 24.95 to N3.9billion yearon-year. 21.92 a 25 per cent growth in bottomSimilarly , pre-tax profit rose line earnings. This was driven by Outstanding Value Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price ($mm)cent from N3.5 billion by 14.1 per non-interest income, which rose to N4.0 billion, while non-interest by 32 per cent to N8.0 billion on Prices & Yields income grew by 31.9 per cent from the back of a 51 per cent increase 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.57 5.36 105.76 106.79 N6.1billon to N8.0 billion, driven by in fees and commission. 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.98 4.65 100.43 101.39 a 51 per cent growth in fees and com“We recorded a marginal inmission, which rose to N5 billion. crease in operating expenses, 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.90 5.74 103.04 104.08 In the same breadth, net oper- which was slower than the growth 1,500.00 ating income in net operating income resulting 1,546.16 inched up by 6.1 per cent from N15.3 billion to N16.2 bil- in a 14 per cent improvement in lion on the back of a growth in non- profit before tax. Overall, the bank 11.50 01-Feb-16 158.16 158.16 43.00 43.00 interest 450.00 income and 19-May-16 a 10.4 per cent achieved a 19 per cent pre-tax re7.50 500.00 6.52 4.24 100.99 103.38 reduction in impairment charges. turn on average equity (annual7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 11.35 11.35 92.00 92.00 Net loans and advances also11.13 ised). 10.32 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 89.26 91.18 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.73 95.93 97.72 increased by 5.7 per cent from7.32 “During the period, we achieved 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 41.51 42.00 N371.2billion to N392.4.0 billion41.51 a return on average assets42.00 of two 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 7.13 7.13 97.00 97.00 due to the lender’s selective apper cent by prioritising efficiency 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 11.72 10.86 90.57 93.18 proach to asset creation. 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 9.27 in the management 9.27 95.00of our balance 95.00 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 26.16 44.00 opBesides, shareholders’ funds in-26.16 sheet in response44.00 to a difficult 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 11.55 11.12 89.91 91.64 erating environment.” creased marginally by 4.3 per cent 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 9.30 9.30 93.00 93.00 15.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

14.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Sterling Bank’s Q1 profit up by 25%

16.00

#{r}

B-/S&P

9.00

16.00

Description

4.44

13.73

Issuer

0.36

14.00

Rating/Agency

30.81

31-Aug-15

14.50

N97 billion or 0.81 per 14.00 10.20 cent as market sentiment 15.50 27.00 15.50 to the trenches. 15.09 returned 14.50 80.00 Meanwhile, a turnover 14.75 25.70 of 395.2 14.75 million shares 10.78 87.50 worth13.50 N2.6 billion in 4,497 15.00 5.00 deals 14.50 was recorded4.55 in the 4.56 day’s 15.00 trading. 452.88 The insurance sub 439.69 sector of the financial services sector was the 10.00 2.50 most 12.00 active during the 18.75 day (measured by0.42 turn14.00 13.00 15.00 over volume); with 192.4 14.25 5.53 million shares worth 13.00 20.00

#{r}

shares valued at N789.1 million15.98 in 1,505 deals. 98.72 Salt manufacturer, 30-Sep-15 0.45 3.23 15.38 98.97 Na30-Jun-16 0.72 4.46 tional Salt 17.64 Company 97.61 of 30-Jun-16 0.72 3.48 16.67 99.17 Nigeria, gained 5.06 per 19-Apr-17 2.00 1.00 14.80 91.95 30-Jun-17 1.26 1.00 cent to 14.88 98.72 per close at N8.92 31-Dec-17 2.70 1.79 15.62 96.48 share. Ashaka Cement 30-Sep-18 2.08 1.80 15.61 97.30 Plc followed with a gain 04-Oct-18 2.09 1.00 14.81 98.60 09-Dec-18 2.07 1.00 14.80 99.44 N99.2 million exchanged of five per cent to close 12-Dec-18 2.07 4.78 18.58 92.69 by14-Feb-19 investors in 133 Flour 2.27 deals. 1.00 at N21.02 14.81 while101.18 02-Oct-19 2.70 14.83equally101.35 Volume in the sub-sec- 1.00 Mills Plc gained 98.66 tor22-Nov-19 was largely 4.59 driven by 1.00 five per14.90 cent to close at 12-Dec-19 2.66 1.00 14.83 99.82 activities in the3.21 shares of 1.00 N35.70. 14.85 10-Oct-20 99.75 27-Nov-20 5.61 14.92 Standard Alliance Insur- 1.00 On the flip side,94.70 shares 31-Dec-20 5.70 1.00 14.92 100.24 ance Plc and NEM West 98.00 Africa 31-Dec-20 3.36 Insur- 1.44 of Costain 15.30 06-Jan-21 3.39 1.00 Plc led14.86 100.28 ance Plc. the losers with Also, the banking sub- a loss of five per cent sector of the financial to close at 95 kobo per services sector, boosted share. Nacho Plc plunged 0.33 99.25 by17-Aug-15 activities in the shares 1.00 4.96 per12.28 cent to close at 09-Dec-15 0.39 1.00 12.71 99.70 Ikeja99.58 Hotels of 06-Jan-16 UBA Plc and 0.47 Access 2.63 N6.52 while 14.95 29-Sep-16 1.44 14.80 97.72 cent Bank Plc, followed with 1.00 Plc dropped 4.95 per 25-Oct-16 1.52 1.34 15.11 98.86 a turnover of 82.3 million to close at N4.61 per share. 30-Sep-17 2.45 1.00 14.82 96.36

5.73

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

14.50 EKITIof 09-DEC-2018 larly on shares con- basis points or 0.81 per 12-Dec-13 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 sumer goods, industrial cent to close at 34,721.61 as 14-Feb-12 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 02-Oct-12 15.50and GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 as well as oil gas en- against 35,005.05 recorded 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 tities. the previous day while the 12-Dec-12 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 Consequently , the All- market capitalisation of 10-Oct-13 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 27-Nov-13 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 Share Index13.50 dipped 283.44 equities depreciated by

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

KOGI

31-Aug-10

09-Dec-11

‡ /Agusto

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

Stock market opens week on negative track 321.34

PLUNGE

Sub-National Bonds

Business | Financial Market News

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION A/Agusto

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

20-Apr-15

3,907.19

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, theBidInformation is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Tenor basis and mayRate not(%) be accurate or up to date. We do & notForwards) guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Yield (%) NIBOR the accuracy,10timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 30-Apr-15 13.05 12.80 13.10 17 24 31 FGN Bonds 45 52 66 Rating/Agency 73 80 87 94 101 108 115 129 136 143 157 NA 164 178 227 241 262 276 290 304 318 332 339 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 353

VALUE

7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 Issuer 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 NA 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16 24-Mar-16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

9.58 12.01 12.28 12.24 12.02 12.08 Description 11.84 10.25 10.00 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.18 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.73 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.01 9.35 31-AUG-2017 11.98 12.27 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.50 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 11.94 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.11 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.42 11.78 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.63 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.61 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.88 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.78 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.85 12.78 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.79 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 12.65 12.92

7-Apr-16

12.70

9.33 11.76 12.03 11.99 11.77 11.83 Issue 11.59Date 10.00 9.75 16-Aug-13 9.93 27-Apr-12 10.48 27-Jul-07 11.76 31-Aug-07 11.73 12.02 30-May-08 12.25 29-Jun-12 11.69 23-Oct-09 11.86 13-Feb-15 12.17 11.53 27-Jan-12 12.38 14-Mar-14 12.36 28-Nov-08 12.63 22-May-09 12.53 20-Nov-09 12.60 12.53 23-Jul-10 12.54 18-Jul-14 12.40 12.67 12.45

9.62 12.10 12.40 12.43 12.22 12.35 Coupon 12.13 (%) 10.49 10.24 13.05 10.45 15.10 11.06 9.85 12.45 9.35 12.45 12.82 10.70 13.11 16.00 12.53 7.00 12.78 15.54 13.16 12.50 16.39 13.71 14.20 13.76 15.00 14.20 12.49 14.14 8.50 14.30 14.30 10.00 14.39 12.1493 14.29 14.68

Bonds

14.48

Description

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 581.39

Rate (%) 14.5417 15.3919 16.4450 17.4846

14.21

O/N

14.58

REPO

Tenor Call TTM 1M (Yrs) 3M 6M 1.32

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 476.80 1M 20.00 2M 100.00 3M 6M 300.00 9M 351.30 12M

OBB

16-Aug-16

Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 12.1072 27-Jul-17 12.4877 31-Aug-17 12.5992 12.6797 30-May-18 13.3708 29-Jun-19 14.2491

233.90 23-Oct-19 98.31 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 524.68 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 75.00 28-Nov-28 BID($/N) 199.0000 150.00 22-May-29 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 279.50 18-Jul-34

Rate (%) 14.25

Bid14.30 Yield (%) 14.35 14.40 13.74

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Yield Offer 3M (%) 6M 1Y 13.62

2.02 13.79 13.70 2.27 13.81 13.73 2.36 13.82 13.74 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 3.11Bond 13.85 13.72 µ :Convertible Bond 4.19 13.87 13.78 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.51 13.90 13.79 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.82 Mortgage Bank13.90 13.82 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 6.77 Finance Corporation 13.91 13.84 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 8.90 13.94 13.89 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 13.61 16.01 15.95 O/N: Overnight 14.09 16.29Company 16.23 UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.59Africa Portland Cement 16.61 Company16.53 WAPCO:West 15.26 15.08 15.01 19.24 14.04 13.99 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

197.08 197.18 201.81 201.93 Price 202.28 202.13 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer 205.60 207.21Price 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27 99.14 99.29

102.24 102.39 92.45 92.60 91.37 NA :Not 91.22 Applicable ^ : Market Prices 92.23 92.53 # : Floating Rate Bond 106.54 106.84 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 77.45 77.75 105.85 ‡ : Bond105.55 rating under review †: Bond110.60 rating expired 110.90 N/A :Not101.24 Available 101.54 {r} :Issuer in receivership 94.43 94.73 79.18 79.48 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 55.90Bank for Africa 56.20 UBA: United 69.93 70.23 87.47 87.77

4,582.44 4,275.70

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills Rating/Agency Issuer

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN Modified Duration ***LCRM Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

<3 3<5 >5 Market

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

24-May-12FMDQ FGN0.00 BOND 03-Apr-12 17.25 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 Outstanding Vol Value 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50

1,438.11

1,409.48

42.01

44.33

1,169.45

1,099.68

32.78

36.05

636.28

846.07

25.22

19.62

3,243.84

3,355.23

100.00

INDEX 24.56

2.40 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

0.42

322.380.33 321.340.25 1.00

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 % Exposure_ 19-Apr-17 Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17

19.59

0.09 1.08 1.64 Implied Yield 2.00 2.21

13.81

2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.99 Portfolio Price 2.85 106.6918

15.25 16.23 15.78 INDEX 15.79 16.66

1,195.37

98.54 101.03 YTD 100.25 Return 101.22 (%) 96.40

7.9000

38.46

13.93

108.9161

1,086.77

41.95

14.70

76.5188

1,075.48

7.3283 6.7984

100.00

14.23

99.8123

1,127.87

6.8885

A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.36

4.44

15.98

98.72

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.45

3.23

15.38

98.97

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.72

4.46

17.64

97.61

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.72

3.48

16.67

99.17

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.00

1.00

14.80

91.95

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.26

1.00

14.88

98.72

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.70

1.79

15.62

96.48

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.08

1.80

15.61

97.30

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015

Quantity Traded 253,276 9,768,257 8,462,151 58,362,913

Value Traded 136,736.28 283,243,838.73 13,337,772.89 570,170,072.53

333,182,096

1,458,582,430.13

Quantity Traded 1,723 21,800 21,547 727,658 90,940 863,668

Value Traded 3,273.70 72,068.00 1,155,327.45 1,388,373.20 90,030.60 2,709,072.95

863,668

2,709,072.95

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 199,666 199,666

Value Traded 99,833.00 99,833.00

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 1,196

Value Traded 13,861.64

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023

Symbol ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Business | Capital Market

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No. of Deals 2 56 125 895

Current Price 0.54 29.00 1.57

2,541

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 1 4 14 35 9 63

Current Price 1.99 3.35 56.26 1.86 0.99

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 20, 2015

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

HEALTHCARE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 9 14 23

Current Price 27.24 26.25

Quantity Traded 8,795 277,508 286,303

Value Traded 234,726.50 7,276,440.60 7,511,167.10

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 35 35

Current Price 2.53

Quantity Traded 895,843 895,843

Value Traded 2,314,220.80 2,314,220.80

1,182,146

9,825,387.90

Quantity Traded 138,780 100 15,917,721 3,912,599 19,969,200

Value Traded 200,361.00 90.00 49,975,348.08 163,587,505.17 213,763,304.25

19,969,200

213,763,304.25

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023 U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

58 Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 6 1 173 108 288

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.45 0.94 3.15 41.28

288

Activity on Board EQTY Published by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Page

ICT Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 Computer Based Systems Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023 COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC.

ICT IT Services IT Services Totals

Quantity Traded 584,207 584,207

Value Traded 560,724.86 560,724.86

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 51.57

Quantity Traded 163,988 163,988

Value Traded 8,518,664.50 8,518,664.50

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 45 45

Current Price 11.88

Quantity Traded 2,497,464 2,497,464

Value Traded 27,343,099.76 27,343,099.76

3,245,659

36,422,489.12

Current Price 7.99 168.00 20.71 160.84

Quantity Traded 336,100 211,733 14,630 1,947,381 2,509,844

Value Traded 2,607,362.65 35,450,110.35 302,617.00 313,916,752.41 352,276,842.41

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 38,274 38,274

Value Traded 6,290,177.50 6,290,177.50

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 26 46 13 148 233

7UP

18 18

163.10

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 47 119 144 38 40 1 389

Current Price 4.42 7.30 35.70 3.33 8.92 18.05

Quantity Traded Page 473,898 7,129,282 3,038,319 851,810 695,000 599 12,188,908

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 18 51 69

Current Price 41.01 940.00

Quantity Traded 88,453 50,365 138,818

Value Traded 3,547,136.53 47,593,259.83 51,140,396.36

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 29 2 31

Current Price 4.28 1.06

Quantity Traded 7,317,917 150,000 7,467,917

Value Traded 30,754,614.02 154,000.00 30,908,614.02

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 19 36 55

Current Price 27.00 41.65

Quantity Traded 77,308 230,296 307,604

Value Traded 2,143,988.30 9,686,484.09 11,830,472.39

22,651,365

620,733,610.17

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Food Products Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015

Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023 Products Personal/Household

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

795

Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION NIG.PLC. Daily Summary as ofBANK 20/04/2015 WEMA15:01:23.023 BANK PLC. Printed 20/04/2015 ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Printed 20/04/2015 Mortgage15:01:23.023 Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUPon PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY PublishedFINANCIAL by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

Other Financial Institutions ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Page

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.75

Quantity Traded 262,449 262,449

Value Traded 450,689.83 450,689.83

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 28.70

Quantity Traded 1,806,265 1,806,265

Value Traded 51,836,475.55 51,836,475.55

3,824,686

152,719,470.88

Value Traded 1,525,682.32 4,374,284.99

Value Traded 13,212.50 113,523.50 1,900.00 5,000.00 50,841.10 801,013.88 50.00 4 of 11 91,798,608.50 17,050.00 490,426.91 99,191,593.70

Symbol INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM NIGERINS STDINSURE UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 5 1 1 1 4 16 1 4 1 33 133

Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.04 0.69 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

Quantity Traded 26,425 227,047 3,800 10,000 16,790 1,189,394 100 Page 183,597,217 34,100 936,651 192,458,717

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.17

Quantity Traded 59,420 59,420

Value Traded 72,296.00 72,296.00

Symbol INFINITY

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.42

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 710.00 710.00

No. of Deals 85 (Equities) 18 524 85

Current Price 2.95 4.05 10.19 3.46

Quantity Traded 4,699,039 581,081 20,916,167 13,682,942

Value Traded 13,943,463.35 2,369,786.85 210,868,139.44 46,270,334.99

No. of Deals 2 56 125 895

Current Price 0.54 29.00 1.57

Quantity Traded 253,276 9,768,257 8,462,151 58,362,913

Value Traded 136,736.28 283,243,838.73 13,337,772.89 570,170,072.53

333,182,096

1,458,582,430.13

No. of Deals 1 4 14 35 9 63

Current Price 1.99 3.35 56.26 1.86 0.99

Quantity Traded 1,723 21,800 21,547 727,658 90,940 863,668

Value Traded 3,273.70 72,068.00 1,155,327.45 1,388,373.20 90,030.60 2,709,072.95

863,668

2,709,072.95

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 199,666 199,666

Value Traded 99,833.00 99,833.00

Symbol NCR

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 12.19

Quantity Traded 1,196

Value Traded 13,861.64

Page

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Exploration and Production Totals

Quantity Traded 1,410,508 5,006,685

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

Daily Summary (Equities)

180

Page

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals Current Price 4 5.21 4

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Value Traded 28,046.70 28,046.70

5,666

28,046.70

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals Current Price 253 18.69 253

Quantity Traded 6,002,075 6,002,075

Value Traded 111,962,005.05 111,962,005.05

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 21 38.00 22 2.98

Quantity Traded 36,576 528,786

Value Traded 1,421,510.80 1,623,820.66

Symbol FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 40 12 2 11 108

Current Price 200.00 160.00 50.54 171.00

Quantity Traded 87,185 12,365 76 22,785 687,773

Value Traded 17,431,728.87 1,938,497.58 3,649.52 3,710,695.40 26,129,902.83

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 397.79

Quantity Traded Page 137,600 137,600

854,721,080.00 of 11

Daily Summary (Equities) CONOIL ETERNA

372

192,813,037.88

Current Price 0.85

Quantity Traded 657,643 657,643

Value Traded 561,118.14 561,118.14

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 2 10 12

Current Price 3.60 1.29

Quantity Traded 5,500 268,122 273,622

Value Traded 20,790.00 354,648.07 375,438.07

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 201,200.00 201,200.00

CILEASING

No. of Deals 2 2 4

Current Price 4.28 4.61

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 6 10 16

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

402,400 402,400

Page Quantity Traded 16,621 68,778 85,399

9 of 11 Value Traded 67,647.47 317,066.58 384,714.05

Current Price 1.45 4.64

Quantity Traded 15,500 167,739 183,239

Value Traded 22,720.00 771,671.15 794,391.15

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.56

Quantity Traded 579,000 579,000

Value Traded 320,406.50 320,406.50

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 44 47

Current Price 2.20 6.52

Quantity Traded 14,500 975,859 990,359

Value Traded 32,400.00 6,379,696.10 6,412,096.10

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.14

Quantity Traded 38,600 38,600

Value Traded 124,059.00 124,059.00

121

3,210,262

9,173,423.01

Daily Summary (Equities) 4,496

395,163,158

2,696,883,967.63

SERVICES Totals

Page

54,721,080.00

6,827,548

No. of Deals 14 14

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Value Traded

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

EQTY Board Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

0.50

Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 Support and Logistics Totals Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023

Symbol JAPAULOIL

5 5

SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Quantity Traded 5,666 5,666

OIL AND GAS Totals

1.04 0.90

2,541

Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 OANDO PLC Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023

Exploration and Production

34 32

113,694.64

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC.

AIICO CONTINSURE

Page

200,862

Value Traded 6,366,348.54 2,226,948.02 2,695,301.58 2,507,229.20 7,711,252.35 250.00 78,924,975.81 100,432,305.50

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Value Traded 13,861.64

Quantity Traded 302,876 240,740 74,796 216,116 43,827 500 877,117 1,755,972

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Quantity Traded 1,196

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Value Traded 92,966,354.43 36,815,578.31 8,988,315.53 15,444,624.56 224,977,350.19 8,968,389.88 9,893,055.42 120,523,175.74 9,585,870.98 124,833.90 260,860,208.96 789,147,757.90

Symbol ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Current Price

Current Price 21.02 9.55 35.66 11.68 174.01 0.50 90.00

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Quantity Traded 13,571,480 8,189,743 429,673 7,958,724 7,781,163 3,531,244 4,474,291 24,126,527 864,922 126,910 11,245,869 82,300,546

Symbol AFRIPRUD Daily Summary CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB

No. of Deals 1

Page Symbol

Value Traded 2 of 11 2,114,229.70 52,557,798.06 104,731,347.82 2,849,189.13 6,024,269.93 10,272.85 168,287,107.49

12.19

No. of Deals 21 27 26 26 19 1 42 162

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 6.89 4.50 20.90 1.94 28.82 2.51 2.20 5.00 11.09 0.99 23.20

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

No. of Deals 268 60 61 76 282 76 47 304 66 6 259 1,505

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM FIRSTALUM WAPCO

Daily Summary as ofand 20/04/2015 Electronic Electrical Products Totals Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Daily Summary (Equities)

NCR

ICT Totals

Current Price 0.95

No. of Deals 2 2

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 12 12

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Daily Summary as of 20/04/2015 INTERNATIONAL Printed 20/04/2015 15:01:23.023BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Symbol COURTVILLE

Symbol COSTAIN

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.55

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,620.00 1,620.00

1,000

1,620.00

ASeM Board Totals

1,000

1,620.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,497

395,164,158

2,696,885,587.63

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 3 5

Current Price 10.65 2,298.00 16.10

Quantity Traded 10 20 8,759 8,789

Value Traded 106.50 45,960.00 139,882.53 185,949.03

ETF Board Totals

8,789

185,949.03

ETP Activity Totals

8,789

185,949.03

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Features

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fasanya in front of their burnt shop

“I

was sleeping when my phone rang. I picked the phone and someone said my shop was on fire. I jumped out of bed and wanted to head for Iyana-Ipaja, to take a bus to my shop. Someone stopped me. The person pointed out that I was naked. I did not know that I had not put on my clothes. “All I could think of was my shop. When I got there, everywhere was on fire. I struggled and opened my shop. Fire roared, bottles shattered and got into my eyes. I was rushed to the hospital. I lost everything. I’m still in shock.” This was the lamentation of Mrs Joy Samuel, a mother of five. The single parent said she lost everything in the early morning inferno which consumed 52 shops at Iba Junction, Iba Drive, Lagos State, on April 10. The shops were burnt to the ground and nothing was recovered. Goods, instruments, money and other valuables were gone like a puff. The fire razed the shops on a Friday and by the time owners got there, many collapsed. While others were rushed to the hospital, a distraught trader, who lost every hope of raising funds to restart his business, slipped inside the gutter. A woman, who runs a restaurant, Mrs Samuel, said one of her daughters, an apprentice in a hairdressing salon, was preparing for her graduation. The woman had bought hair-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Up in flames Traders and small business outfit owners bemoan their fate as fire destroys millions of naira worth of goods and property at a Lagos community, writes JULIANA FRANCIS dryer and other vital items for the lady to start life immediately after the graduation. She kept those items in the shop. They also got burnt. When her daughter heard, she fainted and was hospitalised. Since the beginning of this year, fire has razed homes and killed many Nigerians. Fire in Nigeria is usually caused by either gas/fuel explosion or a surge in electric supply. At other times, it remains mysterious, with the cause unknown. In the case of the Iba Junction fire, the traders were screaming arson. The fire started from the middle of the long lines of shops, specifically from the shop of a furniture maker. “Someone set our shops on fire, but we do not know who or why. The fire started around 1am, while everyone was asleep. There was no power supply, so nobody should say it was a power surge. The power was supplied around 6am, after the fire had gutted everything,” one of the traders said. Some of the traders felt that some of the shops would have been saved and the fire stopped from spreading, if firefighters had responded immediately they got to the scene. Rather, they wasted time, asking a frantic trader if she used to pay her tax. And almost all of the fire units assembled there did not have water. One that had water came with half a tank, which was exhausted in a few minutes.

According to them, real action did not start until a lone fire tanker crawled from Orile area to the scene, loaded with water. Alas, by the time it arrived, the shops were nothing but a roaring fire. Many of them recounted their losses with tears, anger and despair. An angry Lotanna Ndubuizu said: “I got here by 4am. I noticed two fire engines. I asked why they were just waiting, doing nothing, while the fire continued to ravage our shops. One of them told me there was no water in their tank. They said I should wait, that another tank was coming and they just stood there! When they came, the fire had not even spread. They were asking us where they could get water.” Another trader, Mrs Antonia Ajumobi, recalled her experience. She said: “When I came, I saw them standing, I said they should start before the fire spread, but one of them asked me if I used to pay my tax. His partner cautioned him. I fetched water myself, trying to stop the fire. A fire engine later came from Orile. They said we should assist them to draw the hose, we did, but it was too late. Everything was gone. I am just fed up.” On his part, Mr Babatunde Fasanya, said the traders stood helplessly with the firefighters. He said: “We were watching as my life seemed to get burnt, watching as shops and businesses die.”

Fasanya, an engine oil seller, said he had just bought six drums of engine oil a day before the incident. He reckoned that he lost about N350,000 to the inferno. Alhaji Abass Ayodele, a surveyor, said that he lost valuable documents that had to deal with clients and landed property in the fire. Some of the burnt documents may lead to loss of millions of naira, he added. He said: “I got the call around 3am that my shop was on fire. Some of my friends living around there wanted to know if I used to keep the key nearby, so that they could recover some things for me, that the fire had only consumed five shops. “I live at Egbe. By the time I got there, the fire had consumed everything. I heard they attempted to break open my shop, but it was futile.” Ayodele is worried about documents that had to do with ministry, perimeter fencing, and agreement among others. He added: “I have plans that have to do with plots of land that were yet to be collected. The Idelegbede Royal family is my client. I have 320 plots of their survey. There is also Owoyele community land in Ogun State. Their perimeter fencing is 100 acres and I have 100 plots there that belong to me.” Ayodele also said that he had been using one of the shops as office for almost 20 years. He said that his entire survey instruments lost in the fire worth about N1.2 million. Mr Tunde Ogundele, a plumber, said that he lost his drilling machine, machines used for drilling and survey pumps. He said: “I also have some materials I just bought for clients. I wanted to use those materials for clients on that Friday. I bought the items on Thursday before I left for home. Since the incident, we have all been crying.” Mr Yekini Mutiu Olawale, a paint seller, said that although he lived nearby and got to the scene within five minutes after receiving the call that his shop was on fire, he still could not save anything. He said: “I lost about N150 million. Since that Friday, I had not been able to eat. I’m still in shock. At home today, I gave my wife just N100 to buy pap. I’m selling that burnt aluminium to get money to buy food to eat.” Mrs Ismailahi Halimat, owner of Sunshine Photos, disclosed that she lost all her professional instruments. She said: “I live nearby. But it was around 3am I got the call that my shop was on fire. I left home and started running to the place. I was still far from the place when I saw the fire billowing into the darkness. “I tried to open my shop, but fire seemed to rush at me. All my work and instruments were gone. I sell memory cards, foot wears and other things. As I’m here now, I don’t know what to do or how to begin afresh. I’m the one that keeps the money of my association. It also got burnt in the fire.” Mr. Sunday Ofor, who sells plumbing materials, said that what he would never forget in a hurry was that there was fire everywhere, whenever he looked. Ofor, who still looked dazed, said: C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 4 6

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Weighed down by their losses C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

“There was no power supply that fateful day. We believe the fire was the handiwork of some arsonists. The persons started the fire around 1am. Everything in my shop burnt to ashes. I couldn’t recover a pin. I lost about N2 million worth of goods in that fire. “Right now, I don’t know what to do or how to start again. I have a wife who is not working and I have kids. I have been in this plumping material selling business for over 15 years. I just don’t know what to do now. We know somebody did it, but we don’t know who, which is why we have not reported to the police.” Mr Eugene Obiakor, a boutique owner, said he had been trading there since 2010, adding that he had never seen such destruction. He said: “I discovered everything in my boutique had been gutted by fire. I have designer shirts and tops. I even have clothes for kids and sell different types of foot wears. I lost about N1.4 million. It could be more.” Onyebuchi Okafor, a provision shop owner, said he met his shop burning and witnessed the arrival of firefighters. According to him, the firefighters couldn’t save his shop because the fire was too much. Filled with despair, Okafor said he did not understand why bad things seemed to target him. He said his shop had once been robbed by criminals, who entered through the ceiling and cleared his shop. Okafor said he was just recovering from it when this fire incident happened. He added: “Right now, I need help. I have absolutely nothing left. I lost N800,000 in that fire. Government should help us. Government should give us soft loans.” Olugbenga Adeniyi, 52, who operates a computer school and sells computer accessories, said he lost eight units of computer, seven laptops and more. According to him, he was so worried about the laptops and was intent on saving them, unmindful of the danger when he fell into the gutter. If not for the gutter, Adeniyi would probably have been roasted alive. He said: “It was the laptops that I was rushing to save, that I fell into gutter. People told me that the laptops did not worth my life. But how do I start? I have kids in school and soon it would be time to pay school fees. I’m not a young man. “A woman, who had just rented shop here, fainted right away. She had not spent up to three weeks in the shop. You should have been here that day. People were crying and others were collapsing. I’m yet to get over my shock. “We don’t need to appeal to the government before they know they should assist us. This is a great tragedy. Government just needs to come to our aid. Money was burnt and in-

Ayodele and another trader in front of their shops

Fasanya

strument of businesses burnt too. We need gover nment’s intervention. At this point, almost all of us need to start from the scratch. How do we get the money if not from the government?” On her part, Mrs Samuel said she did not know she was naked until someone grabbed her. She said: “I stocked my shop before that fire. I sell wines and drinks. I run a restaurant. Due to the things I bought that Thursday, I got home with just N5. I have five kids and I’m the only person caring for them. “My daughter is right now in the hospital. I was also rushed to the hospital because broken bottle particles entered my eyes when I tried to go into my shop. I thought I could save something, anything. The doctor that removed the particles from my eyes didn’t collect money because I did not have

Okafor

Right now, I need help. I have absolutely nothing left. I lost N800,000 in that fire

Halimat

money to pay. “The food I eat this morning was bought for me by somebody. The way I am now, I will

Samuel

die if nobody comes to my aid. “How do I manage with five kids? Please somebody should help me in the name of God.” Tears, which filled her eyes, streamed down her cheeks. Mr and Mrs Peter Fasanya, a couple operating a fashion designing business, said they lost some expensive sewing machines. Mr Fasanya said: “I sell male clothes, while my wife sews female clothes. My wife used to keep money contributed by others in the shop. The money went with the fire. “We lost seven straight sewing machines, three industrial machines, two buttonhole machines, pressing button machines and China Ankara and other clothes which my wife sells. “We live at Oke-Ofo, Badagry area, by the time we got here, everything was gone! We even met firefighters here.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

bonyi State House of Assembly yesterday ordered the freezing of Local Government Areas and Development Centres accounts in the state over alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds. The House also froze the joint accounts between the council areas and the state government for lack of sufficient proofs of meaningful projects that affects the

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Ebonyi Assembly freezes LGAs’ accounts lives of the people with the funds that accrue to it. It also passed the resolution stopping the sale of forms and allocation of shops for the international market being built by Governor Martin Elechi, saying that the project was still ongoing and had not been completed to be allocated to the members of the public. It described the action as fraudulent. In a motion by Hon.

Obasi Odefa, representing Onicha East and seconded by Hon. Frank Onwe, representing Ohaukwu North constituency, Odefa called on the House to freeze the account of council areas over the alleged rot in the system over the years. He stated that no project had been executed by the chairmen of the council areas and development centre coordinators, but only cutting of grasses, stress-

ing that there was no accountability in the system. He said that the banks involved should comply with the order, or be black listed for the next eight years if they fail to comply with the resolution of the house, saying that only workers’ salaries should be paid to the council areas. Onwe, while seconding the motion, said that by the order, the Joint Allocation Committee had ceased to

exist, directing the Treasurers, Head of Personnel Management, Accounting Officers and others with the financial records of finance in the council areas to submit same to the House for further investigation. In another motion on the allocation of shops at the International Market by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry moved Hon. Valentine Okike, rep-

resenting Onicha West, the House condemned the sale of the forms for the shops to the public without the completion of the project. The Speaker, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, in a voice vote, unanimously adopted the motions and directed the clerk of the House, Mrs. Rose Nwokporo to communicate the resolutions of the House to various ministries and bodies involved.

‘Anumudu, Chukwueke, others’ defection undemocratic’ Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ollowing the sudden exodus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) occasioned by the outcome of the recently concluded general elections, the PDP Youth Movement has decried the defection of some prominent stalwarts of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, the Chairman of the movement, Greg Okwuozo, expressed disappointment that rather than remain in the party and assist in rebuilding it to provide effective leadership and direction for members in its

trying times, they chose the inglorious path of defection. Okwuozo described as most unfortunate, the actions of some politicians, including Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Jerry Chukwueke and Humphrey Anumudu, who rose to prominence in Imo politics on the platform of the party to have chosen to exit the party, following the outcome of the Presidential election, dismissing them as ‘hypocrites who should never be trusted with leadership positions’. The youths alerted the people of Imo State, to be wary of the ongoing alliance between Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Araraume, over purported plan to hand over to Araraumein 2019.

Igbo group warns APC against marginalisation justice and the prin-

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

rominent Igbo groups and organizations have condemned the recent zoning formula adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) where the South East was excluded from the leadership of the national legislature, describing it as unacceptable and signs of marginalization within the party. Consequently, the groups are demanding that the position of the Speaker of House of Re presentatives be zoned to the South East, noting that it was against national

ciple of Federal character for the North to keep the Presidency, the Senate president and the Speaker of the House Representatives. Addressing newsmen in Owerri yesterday, a coalition of several Igbo groups, prominent among which are Igbo Youth Vanguard, Abia Demo c r at i c I n i t i at ive, Imo League of Professionals, United Igbo Traders Association and National Association of Igbo Students, deplored what they ter med, the retur n to the “evil years of marginalization of the Ndigbo”.

Peaceful protest by Ukwa-Ngwa Youths demanding the immediate release of the April 11 governorship election results by INEC, the protesters are also demanding the immediate sack of the state REC, Miss Celina Oko…yesterday

INEC responsible for Abia poll debacle, says APGA Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) has been blamed for the stalemate in the Abia State elections, as all categories of staff of the commission were alleged to have been compromised during the elections by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its desperation for victory.

Abakaliki

bonyi State election petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, yesterday said it has received six petitions from aggrieved contestants in the just concluded National Assembly elections in the state. The Secretary of the tribunal, Mr. Daniyan Ogunyemi, who made this known

to newsmen in his office, said Governor Elechi’s son, Nnanna Elechi, who contested for Ebonyi Central senatorial election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) filed a petition against Chief Obinna Ogba of the PDP. He revealed that the member representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Peter Ogeali, who contested Eb-

where there were cases of irregularities. Abarikwu said the party has sent petition to the INEC, in which it outlined the irregularities in all the wards in the constituencies that make up Umuahia North local government area, demanding total cancellation of the results and holding of fresh elections. He revealed that INEC has even deleted some of the wards, including Ndume, Ibeku West and

Ebonyi council workers protest non-payment of salaries Uchenna Inya

ABAKALIKI

undreds of local government workers in Ebonyi State under the umbrella of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE),

Elechi’s son, others head for tribunal over National Assembly polls Uchenna Inya

A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ibeku, Umuahia North council area, Mr. Obinna Abarikwu, who was also the campaign coordinator of the APGA candidate for Umuahia East State constituency, Kelechi Apugo, told New Telegraph yesterday in Umuhia, that the party demands total re-run in the constituency and some parts of Umuahia North and Umuahia Central constituencies

onyi North Senatorial election also as the Labour Party candidate, is challenging the declaration of former Governor Egwu by INEC as the winner of election. Ogunyemi said Chief Tobias Okwuru, a member of the House of Representatives and the Labour Party’s candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal constituency, has also filed his petition against Chief Lazarus Ogbee of the PDP.

yesterday stormed the office of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) and office of the Commissioner for Local Government, demanding payment of their enhanced salaries and arrears. The workers, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘JAAC, save our dependants from dying’, ‘It’s now or never, JAAC pay us our Minimum Wage’, ‘Stop these wanton destruction from LG fund’, ‘JAAC it is a deliberate action holding our salaries till now’, ‘We need our September 2011, March salaries and February arrears salaries’, among others, were led by the state president of NULGE, Comrade Leonard Nkah. In his address to the workers at the two sepa-

rate protests, Nkah said the workers have suffered untold hardship as a result of the non-payment of their salaries by the state government since February. He explained that the union has received information that government was about to pay the workers with the old salary structure against the agreed enhanced salary structure with the government. “We know that workers in the ministries and parastatals have all collected their salaries and they don’t want to pay us. “We have been treated with levity, we have been deprived, we have been marginalized and treated like second class citizens and we are saying no to this.”

so many polling units in Ibeku East 1 and 11, originally scheduled for the April 25, re-run elections, alleging that a PDP candidate paid money to an INEC staff in charge of the listing of affected areas to do so. The APGA chieftain said there were no collation of results anywhere in the constituency, adding, “ballot boxes snatched and taken away were not seen for collation, prompting the refusal of the party agents to sign because there were no elections.” He wondered where INEC got the results that were announced. He also specifically named some of the villages in Ibeku, where elections did not hold to include Ameka, Mbom, Isiadu, Umuezeagwu, Isieke, Nkata, among others, because the people insisted they must see the original materials or they would not vote, adding that when the INEC staff failed to produce the materials, the people refused to vote. According to him, “INEC’s electoral and returning officers, including the ad hoc staff, in connivance with PDP deliberately hid the original result sheets and ballot papers, saying, ‘’I am surprised that the people’s widespread outcry against INEC staff was being ignored.’’

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tuesday, april 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akpabio tasks Christians on gifts to God

kwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has enjoined Christians in the country to maintain a life of purity when they present gifts to God for it to be accepted in Heaven. Akpabio who made the call on Sunday during the dedication and centenary celebration of Methodist Church Nigeria, Ukana Ikot Ideh (Uduakabasi circuit) in Essien Udim Local Government Area, said: "Christians must keep their hands clean when presenting gifts to God for it to be accepted in

Heaven. Presenting gifts to God with clean hands attracts blessings from God." Congratulating the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sir Etekamba Umoren for building the church, the Governor remarked that the good works of one would be rewarded by God. “Sir Umoren has experience of service, that was why he was appointed as a Permanent Secretary and later as Chief of Staff. So, I must thank him for his services to the state and for supporting my administration.

Odidi oil spill: Community issues NPDC 14-day ultimatum Joe Obende WARRI

didi Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State has issued Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) 14-day ultimatum to take a categorical stance over the four lives lost to the April 4 fire explosion in Odidi River or risk disruption of their production. It will be recalled that a mother, Mrs Ebisinde Foto and her three daughters, namely, Esegha , Gift and Princess, were killed

following an explosion that resulted from an oil spill believed from NPDC's facilities while fishing on Odidi River in the wee hours of April 4. In a statement signed by the Chairman of the community, Mr Boro Danpolo, an elder, Gowon Akibra and spokesperson, Stanley Goodboy, which was made available to newsmen yesterday, the community said the husband of the deceased, Mr. Foto, as well as other members of the family had been in shock since the incident occurred a forthnight ago.

Edo election: Reps' Minority Whip calls for calm Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South and incumbent Minority whip in the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie yesterday urged all his supporters, friends and wellwishers to remain calm and wait for the outcome of decision of the party leaders and elders over the conduct of the March 28 and rescheduled April 11 National Assembly elections in the state. Osagie, in a statement in Benin, the Edo state capital, noted that Edo people have spoken

and loudly too, “but not without some misgivings about some of the results, particularly, from Oredo and Ikpoba Okha Local Government areas.” The lawmaker commended the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the leadership of the APC for according him the opportunity to serve the nation and Edo people in the capacity as he presently does at the Green chamber of the National Assembly and for the veritable platform to aspire to the Senate seat. “Without the outcome of the just concluded elections, we have convincingly shown that change is, indeed, possible,” he said.

INEC Supervisory Commissioner for Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Mrs. Iremiren Thelma (left), presenting Certificate of Return to Rivers State Governor-elect, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

PDP sweeps Rivers' rescheduled assembly election

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rivers State chapter has cleared the rescheduled House of Assembly election in six constituencies in four local government areas which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC organized last Saturday. The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, who announced the result, noted that the candidates of the PDP, including Martyins Umana-Ahoada East 1, Ehie Ogerenye EdisonAhoada East II and Ogeh

Samuel-Emuoha won. She also said that Opurum Iroanya NwuzomaEtche I, Tony Uchechukwu Ejiogu-Etche II, and Diri Kelly Adonye-Opobo/Nkoro equally defeated other candidates to emerge victorious. Khan said the winners, having satisfied the requirements, will get their certificate of return on a later date. It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had boycotted the election after the lawmaker representing Emohua in the State House of Assembly;

Cajetan Mmuta

African Bar Association seeks to unravel killers of Ughelli NBA chair

BENIN

embers of the African Bar Association (AFBA) have condemned, in very strong terms, the gruesome murder of the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ughelli branch, Delta state, Mr. Austin Ichege. President of the AFBA, Hannibal Uwaifo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, Edo state capital, tasked the Nigerian government, Delta state government, the state police command and all other security agencies to rise up and nip in the bud what he

called “monstrous challenge by criminal-minded persons in the society”. Uwaifo described the murder of Mr. Ichege as “one too hard to comprehend by any person with good conscience,” stressing that “the perpetrators of this criminal murder must be fished out to face the full weight of the law”. He urged the federal and Delta state governments, as well as the various security agencies not to allow anything to chance towards ensuring the security of law abid-

Hon. Chidi Lloyd spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt a day before the election. Lloyd, who accused INEC of bias, had noted that APC candidates were leading in the results of the assembly election in those constituencies before INEC decided to declare the election inconclusive. Meanwhile, the state’s Governor-elect, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike yesterday received his Certificate of Return as the duly elected governor from INEC commissioner in charge of Akwa Ibom, Cross River

ing citizens. The body expressed deep concern that the late branch chairman of the NBA in the area was murdered in front of his house in a harrowing experience which must be unraveled by law enforcement agents. Uwaifo further enjoined citizens of the country to be vigilante and always cooperate with security agencies to check the criminal activities of hoodlums in the society, assuring that AFBA would partner

and Rivers State, Mrs Thelma Iremiren at the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt. Irimiren also gave the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr (Mrs.) Ipalibo HarryBanigo her Certificate of Return alongside elected National Assembly members in the state. At the event, Wike assured the people of the state of his resolve to speed up development, just as he assured them of the party’s readiness to defend their mandate by working against alleged APC plot to lead the state through the judiciary.

with all relevant agencies in digging into the root of the crime towards exposing those behind the dastardly act. The leadership of AFBA also commiserated with the family of the slain legal practitioner and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the unfortunate incident. “We in the African Bar Association are appalled by this sad and bizarre murder of Mr. Ichege who was a legal practitioner of note and sound disposition.

APC: PDP mobilising against our tribunal appeal move Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged

that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was mobilizing youths across the state to protest against the move by the APC to appeal against the conduct of the just-concluded elections in the state.

APC chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who made the allegation in a statement, also alleged that the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state, Chief Nyesome Wike, and

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, were sponsoring the move. Ikanya noted that the move was aimed at blackmailing the APC, and capable of endangering

peace in the state. “It has been brought to our notice that instead of towing the path of peace and dialogue on how to enhance security of lives and property in Rivers State, Chief

Wike, Dame Patience Jonathan and other PDP chieftains are mobilizing innocent Rivers State youths to embark upon futile protests against the decision of APC.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Group tips Ogbeh, others for ministarial posts Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

Adamawa speaker dares lawmakers Ibrahim Abdul Yola

head of the May 29 handover date, a group under the auspices of the National Leadership Congress (NLC) in Benue State yesterday tipped some prominent Nigerians to make the ministerial list of General Muhammadu Buhari, as he prepares for the tasks ahead. Prominent among the people being touted as possible ministerial candidates are the former military governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Dangiwa Umar, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and erstwhile Senate President, Mr. Ken Nnamani. The group also suggested the appointment of former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chief of Staff to the President respectively. In a statement released to New Telegraph in Makurdi yesterday, the group said the calibre of ministers to be appointed would determine the extent to which General Buhari would effect the changes that he and his party, the APC, have been professing.

s the battle of wits continued in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, yesterday dared the lawmakers about his impeachment, saying that he was not afraid of the plot being

Makurdi

oodlums believed to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yet again at the weekend set ablaze the INEC office in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. New Telegraph gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 10, stormed the office and burnt it down, thinking that sensi-

hatched against him. “I am waiting for them, do they have the required numbers, the two-third majority needed for my impeachment?” he asked. Reacting to yesterday’s move to impeach him, Fintiri said attempts by some lawmakers to resume sitting was against the ethics and privileges of the House. Fintiri further ex-

Maiduguri

he senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday said the people of the North-East, especially those from Borno and Yobe States, deserve to produce the next president of the Senate or the speaker of the House of Representatives. Ndume, who disclosed this in an interview recent-

move to impeach Governor Bala James Ngillari, “that they had just collected money from the executive and were acting to please their sponsors.” Some lawmakers, led by the member representing Nasarawo/ Binyeri Constituency, Umar Abdulkarim, in a statement, alleged that members have lost confidence in the Speaker and

tive and non-sensitive materials used in the election were still in the structure, not knowing that all the materials had been moved by INEC before the incident. The state police commands spokesman, Austin Ezeani, who confirmed the incident said no arrest has been made, but expressed optimism that the culprits would be apprehended as the command has commenced investigation unravel those behind it.

ly in Maiduguri, said the people of Borno and Yobe States have not produced these key principal officers in the National Assembly in the last 16 years of democracy in the country. He said if the position is conceded to the people of Borno or Yobe State, it will help in no small measure to develop the area, as according to him, the North-East sub-region is one of the poorest and that had resulted in the emergence of Boko Haram, Janjaweed and other

his style of leadership. Abdulkarim said they started having problem with Fintiri after their refusal to be part of his plot to impeach the governor. He also accused Fintiri of deliberately shutting the assembly complex to frustrate members from removing him. “The leadership of the House under Fintiri has exhibited a high level of high-handedness in the conduct of the activities of the House. “In view of the foregoing, we have lost confidence in the Speaker and his leadership style and, therefore, consider him incapable of leading the House. “In conclusion, we call on all those behind the closure of the complex, including security operatives, to open it to enable the House resume full legislative duties under a new leadership,” the statement said. When contacted, the governor’s spokesman, Mr. P. P. Elisha, denied that the governor was involved in the crisis rocking the House. “They are just mischievous, how could the governor have his hands in their crisis? Let them face their problems,” Elisha retorted.

Ortom: My administration’ll punish corrupt officials Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

enue State Governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday said his administration will punish corrupt government officials as one of the measures to curb corruption in the state. Ortom, who spoke in Makurdi during a church service, said one of the ways to con-

‘North-East deserves to produce Senate president’ Ahmed Miringa

plained: “If any lawmaker has any grouse against the Speaker, he should state his grievances on the floor of the House. “They should take cognisance of the fact that the Speaker is not an appointee of the House, but an elected leader,” he said. The Speaker also denied the allegation that he was spearheading the

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (middle); Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Yusuf Garba Tagwai (right) and others, during an inspection tour of the new Minna Ultra-Modern Stadium…yesterday

Again, INEC office burnt in Benue Cephas Iorhemen

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such militia group. “I believe other Nigerians will concede either of the two positions to us as Borno has never produced Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives in the last 16 years.” He said if given the opportunity it will help the state come out of the hardship faced as a result of the Boko Haram crisis as Borno and Yobe have their share of the insurgency, including loss of lives and destruction to property.

serve scare resources to confront the challenges confronting the state would be to tackle corruption headlong in consonance with the principles of the Buhari administration at the federal level. The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, said at the personal level, he had forgiven those who offended him during the campaigns, but that he would allow the

law to take its course for those who offended against the state. The Governor-elect said his emergence in the election had convinced unbelievers of the existence and power of God and strengthened the faith of believers, who saw divine power in operation in his favour during the election. According to him, his administration would also provide a conducive environment for

the private sector to thrive, appealing to those with creative and viable business ideas to bring them forward for funding, which he said would be sourced from within and outside the country. He also pledged to implement the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which provided for free and compulsory primary and secondary school education in the state.

Kano to sponsor 100 Borno orphans Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

t least 100 pupils of Borno State origin, who lost their parents to the Boko Haram insurgency in the state, have been offered scholarship to study in Kano State. Governor Kashim Shettima, while addressing the pupils at the Government House, Maiduguri, shortly before their departure to Kano, said the opportunity

was as a result of the scholarship offered to the orphans by the Kano State government in collaboration with Borno State. Shettima, who was represented at the occasion by the Borno State Head of Service, Yakubu Bukar, congratulated them for the opportunity, as the scholarship is for their education from primary up to the tertiary level. He said: “I hope the gesture will greatly reduce the burden on Borno State in taking care of all the chil-

dren, who have been orphaned as a result of the crisis in the state, I also express the hope that the relationship existing between the two states will be sustained.” Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajja Fanta Babashehu, described the gesture as timely, saying that the sponsored orphans were carefully selected from some local governments that were critically hit by the Boko Haram insurgency.

WORLD | News

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Zulu king denies inciting S.Africa's anti-immigrant attacks Z ulu king Goodwill Zwelithini yesterday denied whipping up xenophobic hatred in South Africa after he was accused of triggering violence that has left at least seven people dead and forced thousands from their homes. Zwelithini had made an angry speech last month blaming immigrants for rising crime and saying they must leave the country, in an outburst seen as inciting the spate of attacks on Zimbabweans, Somalians, Malawians and other foreigners.

Addressing a tribal gathering of several thousand Zulus in the port city of Durban the king insisted he had been misrepresented. "My speech... was directed at the police, calling for stricter law enforcement, but that was never reported," he said. "The public was instead given another side of my speech, which has been twisted and misrepresented.â&#x20AC;? This violence directed at our brothers and sisters is shameful." South African authorities have struggled to contain mobs in the economic capital Johan-

nesburg and Durban who have been hunting down foreigners. At least seven people have been killed and 307 suspects arrested in the worst ethnic violence since 2008, when 62 people died, mainly in Johannesburg's townships. Numbering 12 million people, the Zulus are the largest ethnic group in South Africa and Zwelithini, their traditional leader, retains great influence over his subjects. Wearing a suit and tie rather than his royal animal-skin dress, he told the audience that he had never called on his people to attack foreigners.

"Had I said that, this country would be in ashes," he said to loud cheers. Many in the stadium, which was built for the 2010 football World Cup, booed when foreign dignitaries were introduced and during multi-faith prayers. Violence has receded in recent days, but one person was injured when shots were fired at an antixenophobia march in the Alexandra township of Johannesburg. The rioting and looting has exposed deep tensions between South Africans and immigrants from across the continent. For-

eigners are often the focus of resentment among locals who face a chronic jobs shortage and lack of opportunities for many in the impoverished black majority. South Africa's economy grew by just 1.5 percent last year and unemployment is at around 25 percent -- soaring to over 50 percent among young people. President Jacob Zuma moved to counter accusations of ignoring the attacks, which have provoked protests from African countries whose citizens have been targeted.

China, Pakistan launch $46bn economic plan

hina and Pakistan launched a plan yesterday for energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan worth $46 billion, linking their economies and underscoring China's economic ambitions in Asia and beyond. China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Pakistan to oversee the signing of agreements aimed at establishing a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor between Pakistan's southern Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea and China's western Xinjiang region.The plan, which would eclipse U.S. spending in Pakistan over the last decade or so, is part of China's aim to forge "Silk Road" land and sea ties to markets in the Middle East and Europe. Xi, whose visit to Pakistan winds up today, said it cemented an "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership" between the neighbors. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the corridor would transform Pakistan into

a regional hub and give China a shorter and cheaper route for trade with much of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. "Friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy," Sharif said in a speech. The corridor, a network of roads, railways and pipelines, will pass through Pakistan's poor Baluchistan province, where a long-running separatist insurgency that the army has vowed to crush will raise questions about the feasibility of the plan. China is also worried about Muslim separatists from Xinjiang teaming up with Pakistani militants. Although Xi did not refer to the issue yesterday, he linked economic cooperation with security in a statement Sunday. "Our cooperation in the security and economic fields reinforce each other, and they must be advanced simultaneously," he said. Sharif added: "I assured President Xi that Pakistan considers China's security as important as its own security."

Distress call from sinking migrant boat in Med

he International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said the caller reported 20 people had been killed as the boat - one of two floating near each other - sank in international waters. Joel Millman, a spokesman for the IOM Rome office, said: "The caller said that there are over 300 people on his boat and it is already sinking. "He has reported fatalities, 20 at least." Colleague Federico Soda said the organisation had contacted the coast guard with the coordinates for the vessels, but said "they do not have the assets to conduct these rescues right now". He added: "The weekend incident has tied up a lot of resources. The coast guard will probably try to redirect commercial ships to the area." Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Italy was working with Malta to rescue migrants

on the two boats, which are thought to be carrying 400 people between them. The vessels are an inflatable life-raft near the Libyan coast and another boat further out to sea It comes after at least three people were killed after a boat carrying migrants ran aground off the coast of the Greek island of Rhodes. Video footage showed the wooden double-masted boat, with people packing the deck, rocking wildly in the Aegean Sea just metres away from the island. Passengers can be seen jumping into the sea and swimming towards the shore, as coast guard officers and onlookers climb down rocks to rescue the migrants, including a child wearing a lifejacket. The Greek coast guard said it had received an emergency call from the boat, which was a wooden gulet.

Wooden double-masted boat with people packing on board, just metres away from the Greek Island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean Sea yesterday.

Shipwrecked bodies brought ashore, EU proposes doubling rescue effort

he European Union proposed doubling the size of its Mediterranean search and rescue operations yesterday, as the first bodies were brought ashore of some 900 people feared killed in the deadliest shipwreck while trying to reach Europe. Three other rescue operations were underway yesterday to save hundreds more migrants in peril on overloaded vessels making the journey from the north coast of Africa to Europe. The mass deaths have caused shock in Europe, where a decision to scale back naval operations last year seems to have increased the risks for migrants without reducing their numbers.

"The situation in the Mediterranean is dramatic. It cannot continue like this," said European Council President Donald Tusk, calling an extraordinary summit of EU leaders for Thursday to plan how to stop human traffickers and boost rescue efforts. Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said as many as 900 people may have died in Sunday's disaster off the coast of Libya when a large boat capsized. That is the highest death toll in modern times among migrants, who are trafficked in the tens of thousands in rickety vessels across the Mediterranean. In Vienna, more than 3,000 people including President Heinz Fischer

gathered at a memorial service for the dead. The demonstrators put candles on an inflatable raft in their memory. EU ministers held a moment of silence at a meeting to discuss the crisis in Luxembourg. The bloc's executive, the European Commission, presented a 10 point plan to address the crisis, which would include doubling the size and the funding of "Triton", an EU naval operation in the Mediterranean. But even that would leave the operation smaller and less wellfunded than an Italian mission abandoned last year due to costs and domestic opposition to sea rescues that could attract more migrants.

Ethiopia says Christians killed in Libya were its citizens

thiopia said yesterday that the 30 Christians shown being shot and beheaded in Libya on a video purportedly made by Islamic State were its citizens. The video, in which militants call Christians "crusaders" who are out to kill Muslims, showed about 15 men being beheaded on a beach and another group of the same size being shot in the head in a patch of

scrubland. "The Ethiopian government is deeply saddened by the barbarous act committed against our innocent nationals," a government statement said. Officials were working to identify the victims, it said. Ethiopia will observe three days of national mourning starting today, with flags lowered to half-staff mast to mourn what it described as

"atrocities committed against our nationals in Libya and South Africa". Ethiopian nationals have also been caught up in a wave of anti-immigrant violence sweeping across South African townships. A distress call from a migrant boat sinking in the Mediterranean Sea with 300 people on board has been made to authorities in Rome.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2015

Sport News

International Sport

Salisu may lead Eagles to CHAN

Guardiola under pressure as Bayern take on Porto

Table Tennis

Toriola eyes good outing at China ITTF tourney

News

Sport

Tight security for Okpekpe Road Race

Did you know? That Lionel Messi has scored 400 goals in 471 matches for Barcelona

Ighalo targets league title, EPL Ifeanyi Ibeh

uper Eagles striker Odion Ighalo is targeting a double in England. He is aiming to win the Championship title with Watford and also gain promotion to the elite class, the English Premier League. Ighalo compared Watford’s two remaining Championship games to finals as the season draws to a close with his club aiming to win the trophy to avoid the play-offs. The Hornets top the table by a point with only a trip to Brighton and a home match against Sheffield Wednesday left. “We are where we want to be but we still need to win our next two finals,” the 25-year-

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

old told BBC Sport. “We have our promotion ticket in our hands and we cannot afford to miss out on making history.” A battling 1-0 win over Birmingham at Vicarage Road on Saturday lifted Watford above Bournemouth, who are second in the table ahead of Middlesbrough on goal difference. And with the positions very tight, Ighalo insist no-one at Watford is taking anything for granted, Ighalo said: “Right now, the attitude is to do the perfect business by winning at Brighton and hopefully complete the job at home on the final day. “It’s all about the strong mentality and I share a dressing room with players who are not getting carried away because we are top of the table. “As players we know exactly what is ahead of us because any slip could be costly,” said Ighalo, who has 16 goals in 10 games in 2015 and is the top scorer in all four professional divisions in England this year. “When you are two games away from winning the league you don’t switch off, so our minds are focussed on what lies ahead.” Born in Lagos, Ighalo joined Norwegian side Lyn Oslo in the summer of 2007 and a return of 10 goals in 23 appearances led to a switch to Italian side Udinese in July 2008. Apart from a loan spell with Cesena, he played the majority of his football in the past five years for Granada in Spain. He added: “On a personal level it’s been a good season for me because I have scored 20 goals for the first time in my professional career. “I also made my senior debut for Nigeria, and with Watford we are just two games away from completing a fantastic season, I can only thank God for everything.”

Odion Ighalo (right) of Watford taking on James Tarkowski of Brentford during a Championship match at Vicarage Road

Athletes in the dark over youth tourney Charles Ogundiya

thletes penciled down for the defence of the Africa Youth Athletics Championship in Mauritius later this week are in the dark over participation of the country at the meet. The Athletic Federation of Nigeria last week released the names of athletes and coaches that will travel to Mauritius with a note of warning that those on the list could only attend the championship subject to availability of funds. Some of the invited athletes who spoke with New Telegraph

on Monday said they were yet to be informed of their movement. “After the trials in Lagos last week, we were told to get ready to come back to Lagos on Monday and travel to Mauritius on Tuesday, but up till now (12.15pm on Monday), nothing has been said,” the athlete who is based in the Eastern part of the country said. Another athlete who spoke with our correspondent said: “I just came out of the gym now keeping fit for the competition, but I don’t know if we will be going because we are yet to get any information from the federation.”

Team Nigeria won the maiden edition in Warri two years ago with 13 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals, but might be denied the opportunity of defending the title due to lack of funds. An official of the AFN said the athletes might find it difficult to achieve anything tangible at the championship even if they still travel for the competition. The official said: “If the team fails to travel by Tuesday (today), I cannot guarantee if jetlag will not affect their performance.” The championship starts on Thursday.

Sport

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Salisu may lead Eagles to CHAN Ajibade Olusesan

l-Kanemi Warriors coach, Salisu Yusuf, is set to be named the Super Eagles coach assistant coach and reports have also suggested the former Kano Pillars handler will be in charge of Nigeria’s homebased team too. There are strong indications that the tactician will replace Daniel Amokachi in the new backroom set-up of the Eagles and he is expected to work with Coach Stephen Keshi as soon as the former Mali national team boss expectedly sign a two-year contract this week. Although Keshi led the home-based Eagles to the last Championship of Afri-

can Nations in South Africa last year, an official told AfricanFootball.com that his in-coming assistant, Salisu, will be in charge for the 2016 edition of CHAN in a new arrangement. “Besides assisting Keshi in the Super Eagles, Salisu will also be in charge of the home-based national team, who will soon begin preparations for the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda,” the official who sought anonymity said. If things go to plan, Salisu will lead the CHAN Eagles in the first qualifying match in January. The home-based team will welcome the Burkinabes in October for the second leg. Last year in South Africa,

Salisu

Nigeria finished third on their debut of the competition reserved for players who are plying their trade in the local leagues.

NPUGA starts December 10 Charles Ogundiya

Falcons defender, Onome Ebi

Falcons off to Canada May 19

igeria women’s team, the Super Falcons, will begin their pre-World Cup training tour on May 19 in Toronto, Canada. Falcons’ spokesperson, Gracious Akujobi told, AfricanFootball.com the team would train in Toronto before they move to their match venue in Winnipeg. Nigeria are drawn with United States of America, Sweden and Australia in the first round of the 2015 World Cup, which

kicks off on June 6. In the meantime, the team is preparing for a 2016 Olympic qualifier against Mali at home on May 9. Incidentally, the African champions trounced their Malian counterparts 9-1 on aggregate to qualify for the football event of the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville. Meanwhile, striker Desire Oparanozie has promised to be available for the Olympic qualifier.

he 6th edition of Nigerian Private University Games Association has been scheduled to take place between on December 10 and 20, 2015 at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. The decision to organise the bi-annual Games in December was reached during the NPUGA council meeting held recently at Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Speaking with sports writers after the event, the president of the association, Akintunde

Akinola, noted that the resolution to organise the games the said date would afford all the participating universities to be fully prepared for the sporting events such as football, volleyball, basketball, chess, athletics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis. The director of sports at Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State added that this would ensure the host institution, ABUAD, enough time to be adequately prepared for the games in terms of facilities. “This edition will be more competitive going

by the interest from other new universities compared to the last edition,” Akinola said. “The aforementioned date will be enough to ensure that all the participating universities get their athletes ready for the games. “Even before that period, the council will not relent in its efforts to inspect the facilities to be used at ABUAD since the management has promised to provide state of the arts facilities also of international standard for the games and hopefully they will not disappoint us before the date.”

Polo players storm Ibadan for MTN tourney

badan Polo Club is set to host the best players in the game of Polo in this year’s edition of Ibadan International Polo tournament. The annual tournament is schedule to commence on Wednesday 22nd and end on 26th April 2015 with the telecommunication giant MTN playing a major sponsorship role. Addressing newsmen in Ibadan, the Club President,

Prince Adeoye Ajibade, stated that arrangements were in top gear to ensure a grand event that would linger for long in the memories of all participants. Adding that, “most of Nigeria’s biggest Polo patrons and top players have signified their intension to storm Ibadan for this year’s tourney. “We would have a team featuring players as young as 13

years in this edition; this is as a result of the club’s many efforts to increase the awareness for the game by introducing it to the younger generations. “Teams from every part of the nation have confirmed their participation, with five teams coming from Kano, four from Lagos and the host state is also sure of featuring five teams” Prince Adeoye noted.

Sunshine vs Dolphins: NFF suspend match officials Charles Ogundiya

Fresh

he Referees Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has suspended, until the end of the current season, referee John Charles and Assistant Referee Ogunta Matador, for poor performance in a Nigeria Professional Football League Week 4 match played on Sunday. They were both on duty when Sunshine Stars FC of Akure hosted Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt on Sunday. The homers won the game 2-1. Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Fresh, said the two officials were suspended for “gross

misconduct and performance below the required standard.” The coach of the Port Harcourt side after the game on Sunday accused the match officials of biased officiating, calling for quick action as a deterrent for others. “The referee made us to lose this game. The whole world has seen it. Even under live television this happened. We have to do something about this because it is not the best,” Eguma said. A controversial goal in added time by Prince Aggrey gave Sunshine Stars a 2-1 win over Dolphins. Aggrey scored after a glaring hand ball that both the referee and his assistant missed.

Sanusi

Sanusi hails Supersand Eagles

he General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, has praised the efforts of Supersand Eagles in claiming bronze at the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship in Seychelles. A narrow defeat in overtime (4-3) by Senegal in Saturday’s semifinals meant the two-time African champions missed the cut for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal, but Audu Adamu Ejo’s wards fired from all cylinders to pound Cote d’Ivoire 9-1 on Sunday and finish in third place. “We refuse to condemn the

team. They put in their best effort each time they go on the beach and they certainly wore the green-white-green with passion and pride. “Yes, they narrowly missed qualification for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. But we have to commend them for their effort and the fact that they gave it their all. I believe that their performance has done much to boost the efforts we are making to start a Beach Soccer League in Nigeria,” Sanusi said in Abuja on Monday. The Nigeria delegation to the championship is expected back in the country on Wednesday.

International Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2015

UEFA CL: Iniesta fit to face PSG

arcelona have announced that midfielder Andres Iniesta has been passed fit for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou. The Spain international was forced off eight minutes into the second half of the first leg at Parc des Princes after suffering a pelvic injury in a collision with PSG playmaker Javier Pastore.

Colombian striker Martinez rounds Neuer with ease before slotting into an empty net and putting Porto 3-1 ahead

The 30-year-old World Cup winner was subsequently forced to sit out Barca’s Liga win over Valencia on Saturday but has now been cleared to return to action. “Iniesta has received medical clearance,” read a statement released on the Catalan club’s website on Monday. “The midfielder is now available for coach Luis Enrique, having recovered from severe contusion suf-

fered during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals versus PSG. “Both he and the rest of the available first-team players worked out on Monday morning. Jeremy Mathieu did individual work, while Thomas Vermaelen worked out with the group.” Barca will take a 3-1 advantage into the return fixture in Catalunya, with Neymar netting the opener before Luis Suarez struck a sensational double.

Mayweather trains in different gloves ahead of superfight

Guardiola under pressure F as Bayern take on Porto

ay e r n Munich must turn around a 3-1 deficit in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Porto. The pressure will be on in front of their own fans and that means more scrutiny on Pep Guardiola after a difficult week. Tuesday’s game will see Guardiola make 100 games in charge of Bayern Munich. The

celebrated coach has seldom found himself under such scrutiny. With Bayern needing to haul back a twogoal deficit from the first leg against Porto, the pressure is on and the intensity has only been exacerbated by the untimely departure of long-time club doctor Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt. The 72-year-old, an iconic figure in sports medicine, released a

statement last week claiming that the “relationship of trust has been damaged” and withdrawing the services of his medical team. Reports suggesting Guardiola had blamed them for the defeat to Porto, given the club’s injury situation, amounted to a public relations nightmare despite his attempts to play down the situation since.

loyd Mayweather has uploaded a video to his official Facebook page of him training in a variety of pairs of boxing gloves ahead of his fight with Manny Pacquiao. The American mixes it up during sparring sessions to minimise the risk of picking up an injury. A member of Mayweather’s team said: “He has multiple gloves, multiple choices and it’s really down to the champ to decide which pair of gloves he wants to spar in. “They go by weight. You’ve got the 14s, you’ve got the 16 inch ones which are colder with a different

Mayweather in trainning

padding. “You’re more likely to use a 16 when you’re sparring for less [risk of] injury. When you go with your 10s and your 12s you’re looking for a nice hard punch.

“It’s about the feel of the hands, it all depends on him. It’s like being in a race. So he doesn’t get cold and his body doesn’t tighten up. “When he says he wants this done, it’s done.”

Mohammed resumes training with Flying Eagles F lying Eagles captain, Musa Mohammed, who reportedly absconded from the camp of the Nigeria Under-23 team, is currently training with the national U-20 team ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup slated to take place in New Zealand in July. Musa has come under intense criticism after he reportedly left the camp of the U-23 team who were preparing for the second leg of the All Africa Games qualifier against Zambia without the approval of the coach of the team, Samson Siasia.

Initial reports suggested that the 2015 CAF U-20 Championship top scorer travelled to Germany for trials but according to SL10.ng, the player did not leave the country as reported. The football website quoted Flying Eagles team sources that although the player had denied leaving the country for trials abroad; officials are still in doubt of the claims. Also, the Nigeria Football federation has said it will punish the player but the de-

fender is one of early birds to the Flying Eagles camp. Linked with several European teams, the FC Hart full back will reportedly make a move after the World Cup after he failed to secure visa to travel to where he was supposed to sign a pre contract. Besiktas of Turkey have been named the favourites to land the defender but latest reports indicated that teams from the German Bundesliga and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria are also keen on his services.

Bronze medal finish a disappointment –Azeez

Azeez

uper Sand Eagles striker, Abu Azeez, has described their third-place finish at the Africa Beach Soccer tournament in Seychelles as a disappointment. The Nigerians were impressive as they beat Cote d’ Ivoire 9-1 in the third place match at the Roche Caiman Sports Complex with Azeez grabbing a hat-trick. But that wasn’t satisfactory enough for him, seeing that Nigeria’s failure to reach the final means they have missed

out on yet another World Cup appearance. “Beating Cote d’ Ivoire 9-1 was impressive on its own but not enough for us because it didn’t give us what we wanted,” he said. “What we wanted was a World Cup ticket which we didn’t get and it is very disappointing not to have gotten it. “After we qualified for the semifinal, all we had to do was to win one more match and get to the World Cup but Senegal stopped us, which was disappointing.”

Mohammed

Fasimoye hails Nigeria Rugby rankings

ice President of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Tunji Fasimoye, has commended the efforts of the federation, media, players and all stakeholder following last week’s announcement of Nigeria’s rise to 73rd place in the world and 11th in Africa by the world rugby body. The former national team player said, without all the stakeholders’ collective effort, such achievements would not have been possible. He described members of the media as genuine partner in progress as he appreciated them for projecting the image of the sport in good light and supporting the activities of the federation through objective and accu-

rate reportage of their activities Nigeria ranked 81st in the world and 13th in Africa prior to the 2014 Africa Nations Cup 1C in which the Black Stallions placed third behind Botswana and Mauritius and quickly climbed three places to 78th after the tournament. Speaking further, Fasimoye, also lauded the senior national team captained by Azeez Ladipo for representing their fatherland well whenever they were called upon to serve the nation as exemplified during last year’s Africa cup 1C in Botswana where Christian Ogar, Ladipo and Isaac Sani were voted man of the match against Zambia, Swaziland and South African Cell C champions, Impala, respectively.

Sport

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN Tennis: Record entries excites national coach Ajibade Olusesan

ational junior team coach, Ubale Mohammed, is excited after the 2015 edition of the CBN Junior Tennis Championships served off in Lagos on Monday with record entries. The tournament had a total of 184 entries beating the previous record of 172 participants. Lagos, the host state, expectedly led the entries with 48 participants with Ogun State following with 20 while Rivers and Ekiti States had 12 each. Mohammed said, “It took more than six hours to conclude the screening and draws but we are happy that that the bulk of the entries are in the right ages of 10, 12 and 14.” Asked to explain the possible reason for the explosion of entries, Ubale said, “I think the performance of the junior players in the

senior tournaments where Moses Michael won the Lagos Governors Cup and Sylvester Emmanuel won the Ikoyi Club Masters must have excited them and given them belief that they too can excel. These were players that were playing the same junior tournaments with them two or three years ago. The coaches also are greatly encouraged.” In some of the early round robin matches played, Austin Stephen caused the first upset when he beat the No.3 seed in the Boys 18, Godgift Timbra from Port Harcourt in the opening match. Marylove Edwards also signalled her intention to gun for two titles when she overwhelmed Ngowari Jim-Jaja 9-0 in the girls 16. The tournament which is part of the International Tennis Academy Junior Tennis Circuit is scheduled to end on Saturday with the grand finale starting at 12 noon.

Toriola eyes good outing at China ITTF tourney

s one of the experienced players in the Nigeria team, France-based Segun Toriola believes he still has the quality to cause an upset at the 2015 ITTF World Championships in Suzhou, China. With more than 500 players from 100 countries competing in five events at the one-week tournament, which serves off on April 26 and runs to May 3, Toriola, whose performance at the last Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland confirmed the quality of the former African champion, said. “I have started my preparation for the championships because it is not going to be an easy tournament for any player and my target is to play and surprise many players. Also at the world championships that you are seeded means nothing because every player

Toriola

will be playing under pressure. Most top stars know that all the players that they

contront from the groups are as good as seeded players,” Toriola said.

Tight security for Okpekpe Road Race

T L-R: Director, Brands & Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye; former Nigeria goal keeper, Peter Rufai; Head, Events & Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani and Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Angelone Francesco, at the match draw of the Etisalat U-15 School Cup in Lagos…Monday

he organisers of the Okpekpe Road Race have finalised plans to put in place top-notch security when the events hold on May 16 in Okpekpe, Edo State. Technical Director of the race, Yusuf Alli, said yesterday that the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba had been contacted, while Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

Security Consultant , ASP Gideon Akinsola (rtd) will also be on ground to ensure the race is hitch-free. “For a race of that magnitude, which is of international standard, everything has to be put right and that includes security. We have contacted the IG to ensure policemen are on hand to provide security for the runners and spec-

NOC, NSC commiserate with late Chukwumerije family

he Nigeria Olympic Committee and the National Sports Commission have described the death of late Senator Uche Chukwumerije as a great loss to sport. President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, expressed shock and sadness following demise of former Information Minister and Chairman, Senate Committee on Education. Gumel said that sports has lost an icon, a disciplinarian and a man whose passion for Taekwondo fetched Nigeria a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games through one of his sons, Chika Chukwumerije. “He was an all-rounder. He was meticulous in everything he did and excelled in them. He was brilliant and was a consummate and passionate lover of Taekwondo which was embraced by all his children’’. The NOC President recalled countless times that the late Chukwumerije sponsored the Nigeria Taekwondoists from his personal funds to ensure that Nigerian flag flutters at international competitions. ‘’He was present at events and cheered Nigerians and

showered money and gifts to them. We have lost a passionate lover of sports’’, Gumel mourned. Late Chukwumerije had a clan of seven children who are all black belt holders including him. His elder son, Uche Chukwumerije (jnr) was captain of Taekwondo team who won a cocktail of medals for Nigeria. Also, the Director General of the National Sports Commission Gbenga Elegbeleye has commiserated with the family of late Senator Uche Chukwumerije who died on Sunday at the age of 76. Late Chukwumerije, according to the DG of the NSC on Monday would be sorely missed for his great contributions to sports especially Taekwondo in Nigeria. Elegbeleye said: “Chukwumerije was a passionate lover of taekwondo, a martial art sport, and he was a black belter and also used his personal contacts to help promote the sports in partnership with the National Sports Commission during his life time. He not only did that he also encouraged his two sons

Chika and Uche Chukwumerije to take up taekwondo and personally nurtured and groom the two athletes to become Africa Champions in the sport. Chika won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Senator Chukwumerije funded the training of his son Chika for the games. “We pray that God grants his family the fortitude to bear this loss and also pray that he rests in perfect peace.”

Elegbeleye

tators before, during and after the race,” Alli added. He also assured stakeholder that there would be few vehicles on the race track with motorcyclists banned from joining the race. He said that the Governor Oshiomohle convoy would be made up of two cars to ensure that the runners get the space to exhibit their talents.

COMPRO wins cricket meet for Ogun

gun State representatives, Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro (COMPRO) has won the 19th National Junior Cricket Championship in Ughelli, Delta State. Competing with 12 schools from other states, the Ogun State school beat Onitolo Community High School,Surulere, Lagos by scoring 35 runs for loss of three wickets in seven overs to win the final match. Ambrose Alli University Staff Secondary School, Ekpoma, Edo State, came third. Aside from emerging winners, Comprehensive High School`s Adeleke Olumide won the man of the Match Award for the final match while the same cricketer won the Batsman and Man of the Series Awards. Receiving the team after their victory, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Moyosore Olowonmi, praised the cricketers and their handlers for doing the state proud at the junior national competition. She said their victory was a testimony to Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s huge investment in sports development in the state.

Sport

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN Tennis: Record entries excites national coach Ajibade Olusesan

Toriola eyes good outing at China ITTF tourney

Toriola

will be playing under pressure. Most top stars know that all the players that they

contront from the groups are as good as seeded players,” Toriola said.

Tight security for Okpekpe Road Race

NOC, NSC commiserates with late Chukwumerije family

he Nigeria Olympic Committee and the National Sports Commission have described the death of late Senator Uche Chukwumerijie as a great loss to sport. President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, expressed shock and sadness following demise of former Information Minister and Chairman, Senate Committee on Education. Gumel said that sports has lost an icon, a disciplinarian and a man whose passion for Taekwondo fetched Nigeria a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games through one of his sons, Chika Chukwumerije. “He was an all-rounder. He was meticulous in everything he did and excelled in them. He was brilliant and was a consummate and passionate lover of Taekwondo which was embraced by all his children’’. The NOC President recalled countless times that the late Chukwumerije sponsored the Nigeria Taekwondoists from his personal funds to ensure that Nigerian flag flutters at international competitions. ‘’He was present at events and cheered Nigerians and

Elegbeleye

COMPRO wins cricket meet for Ogun

Special Features

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Kalu: A youth at 55! Ebere Wabara

hen I joined The Sun Publishing Company Limited in 2003 as a very senior member of the Editorial Board and Friday Back Page Columnist, among other tangential assignations, courtesy of Messrs Mike Awoyinfa, the late Dimgba Igwe and Femi Adesina, there were pressures on me to quit the medium by people who were opposed to the publisher and one of Africa’s 50 richest men according to Forbes, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON), over issues that were largely mundane! Of course, I ignored such occupational intrusions. Let me, for the first time, use this comemmorative channel to thank Egbon Awoyinfa and Adesina for the employment opportunity on personal (professional) recognition and stout belief in my competency and reputational pedigree. Blow your own antecedental trumpet! The strident reservations some friends of mine had over my relationship with The Sun were such that a few people, including a member of the House of Representatives, called me when I left for the banking sector as a Public Relations Manager to applaud me for “leaving that outfit”. All this while, I had not met Dr. Kalu who was then the Executive Governor of Abia State (1999-2007). So, I could not understand the fuss about my current principal. In fact, the only time I had come in contact with this financier and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in 2001 during the First National Media Tour. The point to underscore is that Dr. Kalu is mostly misunderstood and at another level underestimated by some jealous and timid people who interface with him. A few of his critics accuse him of aristocratic haughtiness, among other sundry and pedestrian allegations. For me, it has been fun and rewarding working with him—I have no regrets whatsoever. Therefore, come along with me as we celebrate this international investor who clocked 55 years today, but still looks boyish! And to prove the rapport between us, he has graciously accepted to be the chief host at my book presentation next month while Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode will be the host, among other summit guests. From the foregoing, essentially, I have the privilege, responsibility and great honour to especially celebrate this principal of mine today, on his 55th Birthday. The choice of this soaraway medium for this particularly unique commemoration is informed by its quintessential profile underscored by exclusivity of elitist professionalism among its genre of top-class journalism and of course the ownership factor. A highly detribalized Nigerian going by the ethnic configuration of thousands of humanity in his global conglomerate, this boardroom guru’s passion for quintessence in all departments of life hallmarks existential fanaticism that clearly domesticates survivalist responsibility. He does not subscribe to short-cuts. An executive with multifariousbusiness interests whose triumphant attitudinal disposition to life is unimaginable, he goes for the best with superlative anchorage. No half-measures in any circumstance. He believes nothing is impossible in this world. That is his philosophy of life. All challenges are surmountable

Kalu

hence he does not take impossibility for an answer. To him, everything is doable as long as you put your mind to it. That is his unimpeachable resolution! The superfluity of his philanthropy, which transcends consanguinity, is such that he does not like seeing people suffering. There have been instances where he met less-privileged members of the society in sorry situations and had to intervene with alacrity in changing their lives. He does this without any class or other extraneous considerations. This economic wizard’s generosity is breathtaking. Nothing makes this entrepreneurial whiz-kid happy as diligence, which explains the robustness of his passion for hard work by those privileged to be associated with his vast empire. Apart from the direct human capital in his international institutions, he has fertilized and watered innumerable private initiatives of people who have come his way over the years from all walks of life. His accommodative organizational capacity is unequalled in this part of the world. The declarations you digest here are factual beneficent attestations to this astute world-class business expert who has an uncommon penchant for breaking new grounds. Overall, Dr. Kalu, an unprecedented visionary symbol, has a profundity of energy, enthusiasm and empathy running in his veins. At times, those who know him closely wonder whether he would ever retire from economic activism. I have the conviction that his beneficiaries’ prayers for him have the propensity to keep him for a long time to come. Simply put, this man has affected and continues to affect uncountable lives, many of whom I know. He enjoys offering Nigerians and non-Nigerians limitless platforms particularly through the instrumentality of Slok Group. The writer does not know, yet, if there is anyone who can be compared to this multi-billionaire in terms of attitudinal disposition, philanthropic invaluableness, generation of novelties and success inclination. It seems, somehow, that there is divine manifestation in whatever this staunch Catholic lays his hand upon which gives rise

to Midas touch in all he does. He does not compromise excellence and goes for the best in anything at stake: there is this amazing consciousness about quality. His sagacity, mind fertility and business versatility are unequalled in our time. I will not go into his politics having written volumes on that. As you read this, his vast business empire keeps expanding, beyond bounds. The best is yet to come from this adept innovator, revolutionary extraordinaire, gem of our time and a generational statement. Dr. Kalu’s sport gestural involvements, particularly football with Enyimba Football Club as a testament, can only be compared to the sporting activities of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of blessed memories. The point that needs to be emphasized here is that this man has empowered— and is still uplifting—many Nigerians (and other nationals) who had the rare privilege of coming his way, strewn with unlimited potentialities. Everything, apart from resurrection, is possible with my oga! This is my unapologetic brief contribution to the anniversary of the birth of this prodigious philanthropist of our time, a multi-billionaire by British standard, who is misunderstood by the minority and immeasurably appreciated by the majority of Nigerians, most especially because of the holistic revolution he wrought with the introduction of soar-away Sun titles. Happy birthday, sir! You have done 45 minutes (first half) of your sportive life which implies that after today you have another 55 years for the second-half of your blissful existence. In prospective time, your detractors will comprehend you, your philosophy of life and your quintessence. To some of us, you are a solution while you remain a puzzle to your vanishing clan of hypercritics and ingrates. Join me on Thursday in Abuja as we toast to the continued good health, prosperity and long life of our candid man, OUK! Biographical notes Young, ebullient and enterprising Orji Kalu is an enigma meaning different things to different people. His rise

to national and international limelight was quite meteoric, making him one of the most visible businessmen, politician, philanthropist and humanist in Nigeria today. He went through his academic career at Christ the King School, Aba for his primary education, Eziama High School, Aba; Government College, Umuahia for secondary education and tertiary education at University of Maiduguri; Abia State University, Uturu where he obtained B.Sc in Political Science, Harvard University Graduate Business School (AMP 153) Boston, USA IEA Certificate by USAID, honorary doctorate degrees in Law by the University of Port Harcourt, Abia State University, Uturu, and City State University, Los Angeles, USA. A thoroughbred man in commerce, industry and administration, he became Chairman of Borno Water Board at a tender age of 25 years, where he initiated policies aimed at the provision of potable water for over 5 million Borno State indigenes in a guinea worm endemic area. He also served as the Chairman of Imo State Marketing and Supply Agency, where he evolved strategies for the formation of policies for the procurement and distribution of essential commodities. He created a record not yet equaled when he became the Chairman of Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited in 1987 at the age of 27, making him the youngest person till date to assume such an elevated position in Nigeria. Orji Kalu is widely traveled and has his fingers in many pies: banking, oil/ telecommunication, import and export, trading, merchandising, insurance, publishing, real estate, shipping and manufacturing. Prior to holding public offices, he had built his business empire – SLOK GROUP which comprises -Ojialex Furniture Company, Slok Nigeria Limited, Slok (UK)Limited, Adamawa Publishers Limited, Slok Vegetable Oil, Aba, Slok Paper Factory, Aba, Slok USA Inc., Slok Ghana, Togo, Cotonou, Guinea, South Africa, Liberia, Botswana, Slok Korea, Supreme Oil Limited, Slok Airlines, First International Bank Limited and International Insurance Company Limited ( Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia) and the Sun Publishing Limited (Nigeria and Liberia), Metro Energy (Guinea) Ltd, Daily Telegraph Publishing Company (Nigeria and Liberia) Ltd, Cecoon Oil and Gas (Nigeria) Ltd, Bende Export- Import Ltd, amongst others. In politics, he is a household name. He served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 1992 to 1993, and held two key positions of deputy chairman of the Finance and Internal Affairs Committees. He moved the famous Dual-Citizenship Rights Bill in the House. He was elected the Governor of the mineral-rich Abia State in 1999 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a political party he co-founded and financed with others. His achievements as a Governor astounded, even, his most vitriolic critics. He is presently the Coordinator of Njiko Igbo, a non partisan political movement for the actualization of the dreams and aspirations of the people of south east extraction of Nigeria and G37 a group of like minds commited to the enthronement of good governance in Nigeria. Orji Kalu is a role model and mentor to the younger generation who see him as the face a new Nigeria. Orji Kalu is happily married and blessed with children. •Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media advisor to Dr. Kalu.

On Marble

“Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized. In the first, it is ridiculed. In the second, it is opposed. In the third, it is regarded as self evident.”

Sanctity of Truth

Kalu: A youth at 55!

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Arthur Schopenhauer

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

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N150

Public arena The column you write

When Nigeria decides, Nigeria wins Linda Thomas-Greenfield

he world takes notice when Nigerians, citizens of Africa’s largest democracy, decide. By participating peacefully and enthusiastically in the recent electoral processes in March and April, millions of you stood strong to re-affirm Nigeria as a leader for democracy in Africa—and around the world. It was an honour for me to lead the U.S. observer mission during the presidential and National Assembly elections last month. Today, I join the chorus congratulating you and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the April 11 vote, which built upon the earlier successes in March. Many Nigerians waited for hours, in sun and rain, to cast their ballots and see their votes counted. When I spoke with voters, I was struck not only by their patience, but also by their determination to show Nigeria’s dedication to democracy and to democratic principles. Elections are ultimately about people—the volunteers and poll workers who manage polling stations, the party candidates and supporters who craft policies and political platforms, the civil society activists who work for transparency, the journalists who report on the campaigns and events on election day, the political leaders who accept victory or concede defeat, especially when stepping down is in the country’s best interest. It is about those men and women who shared their stories with me as they stood in line and those members of the security services who remained neutral and vigilantly guarded against fraud and intimidation. Again, we salute you all. I especially want to reiterate President Barack Obama’s accolades for INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega. Under Chairman Jega’s steadfast leadership, the staff of INEC succeeded in conducting a generally smooth electoral process and making improvements between March 28 and April 11. We commend INEC for its extensive efforts to increase credibility and transparency in the electoral process, including through the use of technology. Despite some technical glitches, it is clear that technology and use of social media—INEC’s online posting of results for each polling unit, live tweeting of results, the use of biometric permanent voter cards and electronic card readers—improved efficiency and limited fraud. I encourage Nigeria and other nations to continue to explore the use of relevant technologies in future elections. This electoral process, however, was not without violence and irregularities in a number of states. Some individuals worked to undermine the will of the Nigerian people, interfer-

President Jonathan and Obama

ing with electoral processes and resorting to violence and voter intimidation. We regret any loss of life and destruction of property. As Secretary John Kerry said when he visited Nigeria in January, violence and rigging have no place in democratic elections. Anyone found to have incited violence or interfered with electoral processes will be unwelcome in the United States and subject to visa sanctions. When President Obama spoke to you last month, he said successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today. Now more than ever, it is up to all Nigerians to stay united so that Nigeria can move forward with a clear set of priorities for the future. We welcome the commitments made by both President Goodluck Jonathan and PresidentElect, Muhammadu Buhari to work closely together in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new government. This next phase is critical as the world continues its hopeful watch for what happens in Nigeria. Indeed, because you showed up, stood in line, and respected the results of elections even when you may have disagreed with the outcome, Nigeria will serve as an example to other African countries and nations elsewhere in the world preparing for elections. Nigeri-

an democracy will be a beacon across the continent and beyond. With deep appreciation for the long friendship and partnership between our two great countries, the United States looks forward to the inauguration on May 29 and the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship. We are deeply committed to working with you, the Nigerian people, for many years to come. Nigeria, you made us all proud! Biography Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a member of the Career Foreign Service, was sworn in on August 6, 2013 as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. In this capacity, she leads the bureau in the Department of State focused on the development and management of U.S. policy toward sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this appointment, she served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources (2012-2013), leading a team of approximately 400 employees who handled the full range of personnel functions for the State Department’s 70,000-strong workforce -- from recruitment and hiring, to evaluations, promotions and retirement. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield’s 32-year Foreign Service career includes an ambassadorship to Liberia

(2008-2012), and foreign postings in Switzerland (at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations), Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In addition to the Bureau of Human Resources, her Washington postings include the Bureau of African Affairs (2006-2008) where she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (2004-2006) where she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield was the 2000 recipient of the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs in recognition of her work with refugees. She has received several Superior, Meritorious, and Performance awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Service Award. She was a 2010 inductee into the Louisiana State University Alumni Association Hall of Distinction. Prior to joining the Department of State, Ambassador ThomasGreenfield taught Political Science at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, where she also did work towards a doctorate. • Thomas-Greenfield is U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 0902 928 1425, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.