Tuesday, august 2, 2016 binder1

Shell forecloses return to Ogoniland Taiwo Hassan

S

hell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has stated that it has no intention

of returning to Ogoniland in Rivers State for crude oil lifting in the nearest future.

The oil giant, however, said that it was ready to

honour its 30 per cent funding contribution for the Ogoniland oil spill cleanup exercise as recommended in the United Nations Environmental

FG takes over Ajaokuta Steel Complex

}6

Programme (UNEP) report.

The cleanup exercise is expected to cost $1 billion.

Also, SPDC said it cannot solve the infrastructural challenges in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Kano State government

RESULTS FOR MINJIBIR BY-ELECTION

APC

21,970 votes

PDP + KWANKWASIYYA 1,238 votes

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

FG sacks JAMB Registrar, 16 CEOs of education agencies }10

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 895

Mahmoud beats Gadzama, emerges NBA president }7

New Telegraph, a credible media platform – LASU VC }2

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com @newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

FG begins importation of special grass for cattle }44

N150

22 states owe pensioners Ojerinde

Mahmoud

Fagbohun

Ogbeh

We’re dying, senior citizens cry for help }4-5 States owing pensioners

Buhari: Blame Boko Haram, not my govt for IDPs' suffering

}6

Months Abia Benue Imo Ekiti Edo Niger Yobe Bayelsa Akwa Ibom Taraba Delta Kaduna Osun Kebbi Kwara Nasarawa Adamawa Ondo Plateau Kogi Enugu

10-20 24 13 - 71 6-20 42 12 5-10 6 5+ 2 3-6 1-9 4-12 5+ 7 4 5 6 7 3-7 1-7

Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Federal Government Science and Technical College, Jalingo, Taraba State... yesterday.

Budget padding: Jibrin submits petition to EFCC, ICPC, DSS, Police lI'm not plotting against Dogara, says Gbajabiamila Vitamin D reduces risk of cognitive decline }7

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NEWS

TUESday, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Budget padding: Jibrin submits petition to EFCC, ICPC, DSS, Police

Philip Nyam Abuja

F

ormer chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin yesterday made true his threat by submitting petitions against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other members of the House at different anti-graft and law enforcement agencies.

The agencies include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police.

A lawmaker close to the ex-chairman confirmed to New Telegraph that Jibrin actually visited the agencies and submitted the petitions yesterday.

Jibrin, the lawmaker

turned whistle blower, had yesterday announced that he would be visiting major anti-corruption agencies to shed light on his allegations of budget padding against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the lower chamber.

He promised to cooperate with investigators to get to the root of the alleged rot in the budget padding scam and abuse of office by the speaker and his ‘cabal.’

The ousted appropriation committee chairman in the announcement on his Twitter handle said: "My lawyers have confirmed my appointments for today with security and anti-corruption agencies to personally provide insight on my petition."

Tweeting further, he said: "We will be at the ICPC 10 a.m., DSS 12 noon, EFCC 2 p.m. and Police HQ 4 p.m. The law will surely catch up with the corrupt

Speaker Dogara and others.”

Those mentioned in Jibrin's petition are Dogara; his deputy, Yussuff Lasun; Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa; Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and 11 committee chairmen.

Jibrin had, over the weekend, named 10 committee chairmen who were allegedly involved in the budget-padding spree.

But an attack on him by chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Nkem UzomaAbonta, shortly after his appearance on Channel Television on Sunday made him to include the Abia lawmaker on the list of the alleged corrupt legislators.

He said: "I added one new name to my petition, Hon. Uzoma- Abonta. The member who spoke after me on Channels and denied corruption exists in the House.

“Let me use Hon. Abonta as a case. I have asked the anti-graft agencies to investigate his office running cost. Wait for the shocking outcome.”

Meanwhile, House leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday broke his silence on the raging budget padding scandal, denying being behind Dogara's ordeals in the hands of Jibrin.

Gbajabiamila, who was reacting against the backdrop of text messages being circulated by members allegedly loyal to Dogara insinuating that he was behind the plot to oust the speaker, however, admitted that the budget process needs to be reformed.

He said: "On the budget issue at hand, it is clear that our budget process needs radical reform and very quickly too. Yes, allegations have been made, but I strongly believe judgement should not be passed

Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof.

Olanrewaju Fagbohun (left), receiving copies of New Telegraph newspapers from the Managing Editor, Business and Strategy, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, during a courtesy visit to the university in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: MOJEED ALABI

New Telegraph, a credible media platform –LASU VC Mojeed Alabi

T

he Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has described New Telegraph newspaper as a credible media platform, worthy of partnership and support for mutual benefits.

The vice-chancellor, who spoke in his office yesterday when the management of the newspaper paid him a courtesy visit, said at a time when fortunes of businesses were nose-diving, New Telegraph has defied the order through its consistent excellent performance and sustainable growth.

The Professor of Environmental Law, therefore, pledged his administration’s support for the brand, saying the ongoing reforms in the university

require strong relationship with media houses known for constructive criticisms and wider circulation.

He added that his administration would leave no stone unturned to reclaim the institution’s lost glory by pursuing excellence and discipline, and through massive investment in research, welfare of both staff and students, among other measures.

Fagbohun said: “We want to do a lot of things as a university and they all centre on discipline and excellence, so the need for media support is important. I am not a vicechancellor who would say media houses should not use a story, but all I am asking for is for the reports to be balanced by seeking information from us.

“But I can say that in the case of New Telegraph, the story is different. We

see you as a credible media platform. And for me personally, your fonts and typesetting are too captivating for me to ignore. So, it is one of the few papers we buy here.”

Earlier in his remarks, the newspaper’s Managing Editor, Business and Strategy, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, commended the new leadership at the university for what he described as the massive turnaround of the 34-yearold ivory tower.

He thanked the university for the audience granted the newspaper’s team and promised that as a paper with national spread and coverage, New Telegraph is best positioned to serve the university’s diverse market and stakeholders.

The university’s Acting Head of the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ademola Adekoya, also appreciated

the newspaper for the support so far and sought for further collaboration between the two institutions.

On the university’s team was also the Registrar of the university, Mr. Akin Lewis; Deputy Registrar for the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mrs. Anat Adesunkanmi and the Principal Assistant Registrar, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mr. Wale Anthony; and Information Officer, Information Unit, Mr. Olaniyi Jeariogbe, among others.

$180m The net worth of Aamir Khan in 2016.

Source: Fropky.com

£8.78m

The amount of money received

by Swansea City as facility fees for the 2015/2016 season.

Source: Goal.com

based on allegations.

"We operate a constitutional democracy and we must, at all times, submit to its dictates and ethos.

All parties are innocent until otherwise proven.

This should be our guide.

I plead with all members.

The mudslinging must stop.

"Since the budget controversy that engulfed the House about a week ago, I have pointedly maintained a dignified silence. I did this for the sake of the institution I represent and which I have laboured hard to grow and protect, knowing that whatever I say could be impactful both within the House and outside it.

"I was determined to keep in place the glue that holds an otherwise fragmented House, protect its integrity and, at same time, avoid eroding the little confidence and vestiges of hope Nigerians have in us."

Addressing the allegations against him, Gbajabiamila maintained, "Unfortunately, the controversy has now taken a different turn following the rather strange, if not comical, text making the rounds amongst members about my complicity in this rather sordid matter. I am being dragged into an arena I tried very hard to stay out of only for the good of the House."

He noted that: "The speakership election has come and gone. The election was divisive and acrimonious, but I have since worked hard to heal the wounds some of which still fester amongst members on both sides.

"It is my responsibility to bring all tendencies in a

House I lead together and I have worked well with the Speaker and all other principal officers in a bipartisan manner and in the interest of the institution and the country.

"This text message, which desperately seeks to finger me in some macabre plot to destabilise the House is a throwback and echoes our dark post speakership election history. The resurfacing or resurgence of the faceless text messengers will not help us as a House and let me quickly add that it will fail.

"My strongest critics and biggest political adversaries in the House cannot deny the fact that my commitment has always been to strengthen the legislature and its processes and our democracy as a whole.

"I consider everyone a friend and colleague and urge that as we collectively work towards a stronger legislature and strive to deepen our democracy, we do not pull back the hands of the clock nor lose sight of the enormous responsibility placed upon us by providence as members of a critical arm of government," he submitted.

It will be recalled that since Jibrin came up with these allegations, Gbajabiamila as House leader has never been mentioned or linked to any.

All efforts by New Telegraph to get the House spokesman, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, and his deputy, Hon. Jonathan Gaza, to comment on this development were unsuccessful.

Calls and text messages sent to them were not answered or replied.

FG extends application deadline for 600,000 youths Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Government has extended the application deadline for the employment of 600,000 young Nigerians under the N-power online job and training programme.

A statement yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said this decision was taken in order to pull in more potentially qualified candidates and expand the opportunity base around and across the country.

The deadline for the N-Power online jobs and training applications has

been extended till the end of August.

The application process commenced on June 12 and was to close on Monday, July 25, 2016.

According to Akande, government intends to keep its promise of empowering and uplifting young Nigerians by improving their livelihood and creating opportunities.

He said the new deadline for the receipt of applications is now Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

N-Power is one of the initiatives of the N500 billion President Muhammadu Buhari's Social Investment Programme designed to empower young Nigerians with life-long skills to find or create work.

TUESday, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEWS

TUESday, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pensions: Nigeria’s senior ...as 22 states owe retirees

Our Correspondents

R

etired civil servants or senior citizens all over the country are groaning over the inability of state governments to pay their pensions and gratuities.

From the oil-producing states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia and Ondo to the less fortunate states as Osun, Ekiti, Yobe, Nasarawa and others, the story is the same.

A New Telegraph's investigation across the states showed that only few states such as Lagos, Kano and Cross River are in the clear or with minimal burdens of pension debts.

But the story is far different from no fewer than 22 states, where the backlogs date back to as much as 12 years.

In states such as Imo, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Yobe and some others, the stories are not good to the ear.

In Bayelsa, for example, where three people slumped in a verification exercise, the state pensioners are owed about eight months. In Edo, the state government workers are not complaining much, but workers of the local governments are groaning. It is the same in Oyo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Osun, Kwara and some other states, where protests have taken place by the senior citizens.

The common denominator of their lamentations across the state remains neglect.

Imo: 13-71 months

Despite the recent mass action by pensioners in Imo State under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), not much seems to have changed.

Chairman of NUP, Chief Gideon Ezekiel, during a recent protest march in Owerri, said pensioners in Imo State have never experienced the level of brinkmanship, abandonment and hardship they are facing under the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration.

According to a statement by the union, which was not contested by government, civil pensioners are owed 13-16 months as at May 2016; local government pensioners, 1417 months; retired primary school teachers, 23-26 months; Imo Broadcasting Corporation pensioners, 36 months and Alvan Ikoku College of Education pensioners, 68-71 months.

Ezeji further alleged that the state government has refused to harmonise pensions based on the Federal Government pension award of six per cent in 2003, 15 per cent in 2007 and 33 per cent in 2011.

The perception that the governor had cleared arrears of pension for 12 years was also dismissed by the union.

They added that government has used endless verification exercises to stall and frustrate the pensioners.

However, the state Commissioner for Internal Resources and Pension Matters, Chief Vitalis Ajumbe, promised that the state government would commence payment of pensions immediately the ongoing verification is concluded.

Abia: 10-20 months

The pensioners in Abia State have not fared better. Apart from the arrears of pensions from January to July 2016, pension arrears of 2014 and 2015, which range from four to 10 months are still outstanding.

Retirees of Abia State University Teaching Hospital are the worst hit. The pensioners have not been paid for the past 20 months.

The pensioners have made several appeals to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, but noth-

A 60-year-old pensioner of Nigeria Postal Service being revived when he slumped at the protest ground in NIPOST office, Obalende, Lagos

ing has changed. This has forced them to seek help from the legislature.

Benue: 24 months without pension

While civil servants in Benue State continue to groan over non-payment of their four to six months’ salary arrears, pensioners are being owed close to two years.

Investigations by New Telegraph shows that the last time the pensioners were paid was 2014 and since then, efforts to clear their backlog of pensions had, at various times, hit the rocks.

Governor Samuel Ortom, on assumption of office, promised to address the plight of pensioners as soon as the financial position of the state improves.

During a recent meeting with the national leadership of Benue State University Alumni Association at the Government House, the governor approved the release of N40 million for the payment of pension and gratuity to local government and state pensioners every month.

Osun: Four months full, one year plus in part

Hopes of pensioners in Osun State are still hanging in the balance over non-payment of their accumulated arrears by the state government.

New Telegraph's investigations revealed that the state government is still owing the pensioners arrears of 50 per cent pensions for July 2015 to February 2016 and full arrears of pension of March, April, May and June, making it a total of four months.

A retiree, who identified himself as Gbenga Oyeleke, in an interview in Osogbo, argued that their situation was worse in the state.

they are variously owed by their local governments. Lagelu Local Government owes the most – eight months’ arrears.

"The third category – primary school teachers – is the most unfortunate. Since Governor Abiola Ajimobi came into office, he has not paid them a kobo. They are being owed up to about N20 billion of gratuity. They are owed arrears of monthly pension between eight and 35 months.

Their case has been pushed aside by government.”

Bayelsa: Eight months

Bayelsa State pensioners were being owed about nine months from October last year till date before they were paid one month in July, which covers October for those at the state level.

According to the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tari Duonana, local government pensioners were paid two months, while those at the state level are receiving one month.

This payment, however, came after the conclusion of the verification exercise, which the Bayelsa State government embarked upon to ascertain the actual number of pensioners in the state.

Already, about two people have died while three persons slumped during the verification exercise.

According to the TUC chairman, so many of them must have died because they were in dire need, in addition to the economic situation in the country.

Akwa Ibom: Five months

The plight of pensioners in Akwa Ibom

Oyo: N41bn pension arrears/ 8-35 months

Secretary of NUP, Oyo State chapter, Olusegun Abatan, disclosed that the three categories of pensioners in the state are being owed several months’ arrears running into about N21 billion.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Abatan said: "State pensioners are being owed seven months’ arrears. It has now accumulated to over N21 billion. The arrears of six per cent and 15 per cent of past salary increment for Nigerian workers based on circular from the Federal Government, with concomitant increase in pension of workers, have not been paid to us. The case on it has been in court since 2013.

"For the local government pensioners,

Osun State pensioners protesting seven months of unpaid arrears

State appears to be worsening by the day as hard times stare them in the face. This is owing to delays and irregular payments of their pensions.

New Telegraph's investigations revealed that government owes pensioners at local government councils four months arrears, which includes those of March, April, May, June and July.

Their counterparts at the state level’s woes varies, with some claiming that their last pension was paid sometime in 2015, while some others who spoke with New Telegraph claimed to have received their last pension in January 2016.

Edo: 42 months and counting

In Edo State, pensioners have, at several instances, staged protests against government over non-payment of their pension arrears.

The Edo pensioners recently protested against the non-payment of over 42 months of pension arrears and gratuities.

The pensioners lamented their plight and alleged abandonment after serving the state meritoriously in various capacities.

They complained that most of them, who retired from public service in the state between 2013 and 2016, were yet to be paid their pensions and gratuities.

Delta owes N38bn pension, 3-6 months

The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has since admitted that the state is owing N38 billion unpaid pension and a committee has been set up to look into the debt.

The state owes arrears of three to six months.

NEWS

TUESday, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

citizens cry for help Kaduna: Different claims

Kaduna State government is owing different categories of pensioners various unpaid pension arrears in the last one-year, New Telegraph has learnt.

A pensioner, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that there are two categories of pensioners, namely old and new pensioners.

According to him, new pensioners are those who are yet to be put on the payroll, adding that government owes some of them up to one-year pension arrears, depending on when they left the service.

The source, who described himself as a new pensioner, said that he is being owed nine months’ arrears because he retired in November 2015.

“About five weeks ago, United Bank for Africa (UBA) captured our biometric data.

We heard that government will soon start paying us. But up till now, we have not been paid a single kobo,” he lamented.

Speaking further, the source said that old pensioners are faring better.

“They are being owed three months’ pension, but in the first week of June, government paid them one month arrear. Last week, they were paid another one month.

So, they just have one month outstanding,” he said.

A highly placed government official explained to New Telegraph that those who have not been paid are part of the 4,000 pensioners who have problems with their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) or other bank issues.

Kebbi: N9.9bn in arrears

The Kebbi State government owes pensioners over N9.9 billion from 2012 to date.

New Telegraph gathered that the payment is for the gratuity and death gratuity, which has accumulated to over N9 billion.

A senior driver in the Government House, who also retired in 2014, Alhaji Hassan Usman, expressed dismay over the delay of his gratuity, adding that he was supposed to receive N2.5 million, but he was only given N250,000.

Kwara: LG pensioners crying

In Kwara, the state government does not owe any arrears of pension, but it owes them gratuity since 2014. However, the local government pensioners have not been paid since January 2016 and their gratuity has been stopped since 2009.

Another challenging aspect of the pension scheme in the state relates to the case of some 9,000 pensioners, who are still waiting on the Supreme Court to decide on the judgement of the Court of Appeal given since 2011 over their pension entitlements.

Last week, protesting local government workers embarked on a street protest that ended at the Government House in Ilorin.

The protest was after series of strikes and resumption of duty by the aggrieved workers, who once asked Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed to pay them from his security vote.

Rivers: Six to eight months

Barely two months after Governor Nyesom Wike assumed office, he directed that pensioners should be paid three months’ arrears. Before then, they were owed over six months by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

But since Wike's directive in July last year, things have taken a turn for the worse rather than the better as pensioners are being owed months, unlike workers in the state civil service whose salary is regular.

While some pensioners are owed for more than six months due to the biometric exercise which the state government insists was necessary to curb leakages, some pen-

5

Adamawa: Five months’ arrears

In Adamawa, the same fate is playing out with both workers and pensioners.

As the state government owes workers two months, it also owes the pensioners over five months arrears.

The state pensioners, led by their chairman, Mr. Samson Almuru, recently appealed to the Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa, to intervene in the prompt payment of pension and gratuities arrears.

Just recently, two pensioners slumped during the screening and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The state Commissioner for Information, Ahmad Sajo, stated that “the state government is concerned about the plight of the pensioners and that things will soon get better.”

Bauchi: two months

In Bauchi, the state government owes pensioners one-month arrear while local government pensioners are being owed two months.

The state government recently paid six months’ pension arrears.

Bayelsa State pensioners protesting the non-payment of their gratuity

Enugu: 1-7 months

Pensioners during a protest in Benin City

sioners are owed eight months.

Wike had lamented that the salaries and pensions bill of the government is almost N7 billion, despite the fact that in March the state received only N3.5 billion.

Nasarawa: Three months

Pensioners in Nasarawa State are also hit by the wave of non-payment of pension allowance. The state government owes them three months arrears.

Pensioners in Nasarawa were last paid in March this year. They are currently being owed the month of April, May, June and July respectively, including gratuity.

Yobe: Five to 10 months

In Yobe, the state government employees receive their salaries, but local and state governments pensioners are being owed between five and 10 months.

According to Mallam Hussaini Abbati, a former staff of Potiskum Local Government Area, he has not collected his pension since last five months.

"I've retired for more than three years. I have children and two wives. I don't know where I will get money to feed my family," he told New Telegraph.

Ondo: Six months

Pensioners in Ondo State are being owed six months pension arrears just like the civil servants in the state.

The state and local government pensioners are suffering due to paucity of funds to pay the senior citizens.

With the agreement between the labour and the state government over the salary arrears, the pensioners are likely to receive one-month arrear.

Taraba: Two months, N15bn gratuities

In Taraba, local government pensioners, including ex-teachers, are being owed two months. The major issues pensioners in the state are contending with are their gratuities.

State chairman of NUP, Hassan Abubakar, told New Telegraph that pensioners in

the state are owed about N15 billion in gratuities.

"Our problem is not about payment of monthly pension, because the state pensioners receive their monthly pension regularly. Our plight is about the payment of gratuities," he said.

He disclosed that the last time the gratuity was paid in the state was about one and half year ago.

Plateau: Seven months

Pensioners in Plateau State are facing hardship as a result of non-payment of seven months arrears by the state government.

Recently, the pensioners staged a protest at the Plateau State House of Assembly and the Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat to demand payment of their pension arrears.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Simon Lalong on Media and Publicity, Hon. Mark Longyen, told New Telegraph that the state government is working hard to pay pensioners in the state.

"I want to assure you that Governor Lalong is working hard to ensure the settlement of pensioners in the state, as well as prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

Already, he has paid the pensioners November and December arrears and he is working hard even with the present challenges in government to settle them the remaining months from January to date."

Kogi: 3-7 months

In Kogi, both state and local government pensioners are being owed three to seven months’ arrears.

It was gathered that out of 9,000, only about 4,000 received four months out of seven months’ arrears while over 5,000 are yet to receive a kobo.

Retired teachers are being owed five months out of the pension arrears, as some of them have been paid three months’ arrears.

Similarly, three months’ arrears were paid to some local government pensioners, out of five months being owed.

Before Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi took over in Enugu, he inherited outstanding arrears of unpaid entitlement to pensioners in the state from the past administration under Sullivan Chime.

State chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Viginus Nwobodo, said the state government owed only one month for pensioners under state while that of local government has accumulated for seven months.

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Emeka Okere, said that government has concluded plans to pay all outstanding pensions to both local and state government workers.

Niger: 12 months

In Niger, pensioners are being owed arrears of 12 months (one year). Gratuities are also being owed.

Ekiti: 6-20 months

While Ekiti State owes regular workers five months arrears, the pensioners claim the state government owed them nearly 20 months arrears.

Findings actually revealed the situation was not the same for all pensioners.

While some were being owed about 6, 7, or eight months, others had started counting theirs in scores.

A retiree told New Telegraph that the state government owed her 17 months, which she attributed to inconsistency on the part of the state government.

Anambra: Dispute over percentages

Anambra State pensioners are crying over the seeming ignorance of their plight by Governor Willie Obiano. They said that it was the duty of the executive governor to inherit assets and liabilities; hence, the governor should intervene where his predecessor left off.

Ebonyi: Umahi seeks loan to clear 23 years’ gratuity

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, an engineer, is to approach the Federal Government to seek a bond facility to clear 23 years’ gratuity of retired civil servants owed them since 1993.

Umahi puts the 23 years’ gratuity owed the pensioners at N8 billion. He reiterated his readiness to pay off the gratuity, adding that no pensioner in the state is owed any pension.

Up to date

Lagos, Sokoto, Cross River, Ogun, Katsina, Jigawa and Kano have been paying monthly pensions regularly and promptly to retirees.

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NEWS

TUESday, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari: Blame Boko Haram, not my govt for IDPs' suffering Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has condemned reports blaming his administration for the sufferings of Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) in different camps across the North Eastern part of the country.

The London Telegraph, in an article at the weekend titled: "Children Face Death

by Starvation in Northern Nigeria," blamed the Federal Government for the hardship of IDPs and malnutrition of children, which has claimed several lives.

In a statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and

Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari pointed out that government's humanitarian lapses was rather strengthening Boko Haram's terrorism agenda.

Garba said both the earlier report by the same London newspaper that "Nigeria using UK aid to persecute President's political foes", published in April and the current article, were incorrect as it is unhelpful to the course of defeating the insurgency war.

The second report by the London newspaper had claimed that Nigeria was diverting UK aid monies away from defeating Boko Haram towards those it identified as political opponents of the administration.

Shell forecloses return to Ogoniland CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Niger Delta, asking the Federal Government to take up its responsibility of bringing the desired development to the region.

SPDC’s External Communications Manager in Nigeria, Mrs. Sola Abulu, who made these revelations at a media briefing at the company’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos yesterday, said that the management of SPDC was in total support of the UNEP report.

The 2011 UNEP report found severe and widespread contamination of soil and ground water across Ogoniland.

The UNEP report recommended the funding arrangement as follows: Federal Government (55 per cent), Shell (30 per cent), Total (10 per cent) and National Oil Agip Company (NOAC) (5 per cent).

Abulu noted that SPDC has stopped crude oil lifting in Ogoniland since 1993 despite its major trunk line that passes through Ogoniland to Bonny Terminal, which has been encroached by oil vandals.

“In terms of returning to Ogoniland for crude oil production; no. We have not produced a single drop of oil in Ogoniland since 1993. We have no intention of doing so. Let us be very clear about that. You will continue to see people saying or bringing out statements in the newspapers speculating that we want to go back to Ogoniland and all of that. So, we have no intention of going back to Ogoniland for oil production.

“In fact, what most people don’t understand is that even at peak level of crude oil lifting in Ogoniland, my understanding

was that the highest crude oil we ever produced from Ogoniland was 28,000 bpd.

So, Ogoniland has never been one of our highest oil-producing areas, but we have a major trunk line that link straight to Bonny Terminal and that’s not in our plans at all.”

Reacting to the rumour that the Federal Government has ordered SPDC to fund the Ogoniland cleanup exercise alone, Abulu said: “The report that Shell is going to finance the Ogoniland cleanup exercise alone was faulty. I think that sometimes ago, there was a bit of confusion in terms of people understanding when somebody says SPDC. So, the SPDC Joint Venture is a JV; in every expenditure by SPDC, there is Shell share, there is NNPC share, there is Agip share and Total share, so long as it is done by SPDC. That is the requirement of the joint operating and agreement. All our budget is pre-approved by our partners and our spending is also pre-approved by the partners and reviewed after spend.

“So, our fund contribution to the implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland still falls under our normal operating procedure. That is why we continue to say we will contribute our share under the joint venture agreement that is, Federal Government (55 per cent), Shell (30 per cent), Total (10%) and National Oil Agip Company (NOAC) (5 per cent)."

Abulu, however, commended the Federal Government for approving the appointment of a 23man team, to oversea the implementation of the UNEP report.

According to Garba, "these claims in both articles are attributed to an unnamed “source” in the United States and “Western officials.”

He explained that "yet when the first article was published, it drew the condemnation of the US Embassy in Abuja as having drawn conclusions directly opposite to the position of the US government.

The presidential aide explained that the United Kingdom Government does not give development aid to the Nigerian administration for use in military operations against Boko Haram.

"Where British military support – such as intelligence – is provided, it is precisely and only, given for operations directly against Boko Haram. Similarly, the

Nigerian Government is in no position to divert aid monies used for emergency relief for refugees or IDP camps for any other purpose, as these are dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other organisations, with which we enjoy excellent relations," he stressed.

"The humanitarian situation in these camps is real. The administration remains deeply concerned about the medical, health and nutrition challenges and we are doing everything with the limited resources we have at our disposal to improve the situation. However, the blame for the plight of refugees lies with Boko Haram.

They are its cause, not the Nigerian Government.

"In the light of ongoing efforts, we regret the recent attack on the UN humanitarian convoy in the North-East and are encouraged by the world body’s determination to continue rendering assistance to the displaced victims. That the attack was repelled by Nigerian troops escorting the convoy shows precisely how the government and humanitarian agencies are working together," Garba noted.

He continued: "As for claims that the administration is targeting Christians and the opposition, these are without foundation.

"Since assuming office, President Buhari has treated all Nigerians without bias for ethnicity or religion – as the composition of his cabinet and the policies and programmes of his ad-

ministration demonstrate.

"To suggest his government as deepening MuslimChristian division is not only untrue, but plays into the hands of Boko Haram who wish to divide Nigerians along religious lines.

Fighting this group is key priority of President Buhari’s administration.

Indeed, the international community has widely acknowledged his determination to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad Basin.

"There is nothing to gain by attempting to mould public opinion against these facts. Therefore, we invite The Telegraph to visit Nigeria: to witness first hand not only the challenges we face, but the administration’s determination to confront them," Garba noted.

L-R: Chairman, Global Steel Holdings Limited, Mr. Pramod Mittal; Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, during the signing of the Modified Concession Agreement for the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

FG takes over Ajaokuta Steel Complex Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Federal Government has finally taken over ownership of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex with the view to engaging a new operator for the company.

The decision was reached yesterday after the signing of a new management agreement with Global Steel Holding Limited (GSHL) that would lead to commencement of steel development in the country.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the signing ceremony at the presidential villa, Abuja, signalling the official reversion of the ownership of the complex to the Federal Government.

While the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, signed on behalf of government, Chairman of GSHL, Prammod Mittal, signed for his company.

Speaking during the event, Osinbajo lauded the mediation process, which led to the resolution of the

problems that have made it impossible for the two national assets to be functional for years.

With the signing of a renegotiated concession agreement with GSHL for the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe, the complex has now reverted to the Federal Government.

According to the vice president, the long abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex project is one of the cases of failures in the country in the past.

He said: "It is a tragedy of immense proportion that we have both Ajaokuta Steel Complex and NIOMCO and couldn’t get anything out of them for years.”

Osinbajo explained that making the entities to work was a top priority of the administration.

The vice president, who therefore urged GSHL to keep to the various timelines in the agreement in the spirit of mediation, said that it was important the concession work “so that Ajaokuta can take off too”.

In his remark, Fayemi said with the new agree-

ment on NIOMCO, the next step was to commence the process of ensuring that Ajaokuta Steel Complex is given out to a serious operator with proven technical and financial capacity.

Fayemi said: “It is our expectation that we would accomplish two things – bring NIOMCO to full function and start the process of retaking Ajaokuta and then give it to a new operator.

“With this, we will move from being just a mineral nation to a mining nation.

Once the first phase of the agreement is accomplished, it is the intention of the Federal Government to quickly move into accomplishing the objectives of concessioning the Ajaokuta Steel Plant to the most competent operator who meets the requirements of credible track record, technical capacity and financial competence," he added.

The chairman of GSHL, Mittal, said the company waited for eight years to achieve the amicable settlement.

He said his organisation was committed to the objectives of the agreement

and guaranteed supply to Ajaokuta plant and Delta Steel Company, after which it will sell what is left to other interested parties.

Mittal assured the Federal Government of its readiness to commence operation soon, adding that in the next two years, Nigeria would begin to produce steel.

Also in his remark, the International Mediator, Mr. Richardson, lauded the government and GSHL for opting for mediation as a means of settling the dispute.

Government has said that the new agreement effectively frees the entity from all contractual encumbrances that had left it uncompleted and non-functional for decades, while GSHL retains NIOMCO.

£11.18m

The amount of money received by Swansea City as merit payment for the 2015/2016 season.

Source: Goal.com

$32m

The total pay from endorsements of Jordan Spieth (Golf) for 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

News|nATIONAL

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mahmoud beats Gadzama to emerge NBA President Foluso Ogunmodede

A

fter weeks of brickbats and legal battle over the 2016 Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA), lawyers, yesterday, elected Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as their President.

Mahmoud, a former Kano State Justice Commissioner and AttorneyGeneral was elected through the association’s newly adopted universal suffrage and electronic

voting. He will lead the Bar until 2018.

Mahmoud will on August 23 take over the NBA’s leadership from Mr. Augustine Alegeh as the 33rd President of the lawyers’ umbrella body.

He was declared winner by the NBA Electoral Committee having polled 3,055 votes to beat his opponent, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama.

Gadzama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria polled 2,384 votes.

Other winners are Mr. Caleb Gal Dajan, First Vice President; Mr. Monday Ubani, Second Vice Presi-

dent and Mr. Benedict Oji, Third Vice President, all of whom were returned unopposed.

Mr. Isiaka Olagunju polled 2,721 votes to beat Mr. Desmond Yamah, who polled 2,510 votes, while the post of First Assistant Secretary went to Mr. Okey Leo Ohagba, who received 2,402 votes to beat his closet rival, Mr. Olukunle Edun, who polled 1,653 votes. Mr. Enebi Mohammed Salihu polled 1,067 votes to place third.

Other winners are Ugbuji Cecilia Ngede, Second Assistant Secretary; Ado

Aisha Abdullahi, Treasurer; Adesina Adegbite, Welfare Secretary; Ngozi Udodi, Financial Secretary; Dorcas Ngwu, Assistant Financial Secretary; Chuwuemeka Mbamala, Assistant Publicity Secretary, and Oyeyemi Rafiu Balogun, Legal Adviser.

The campaign team of Mahmoud’s opponent, Gadzama had asked an Abuja High Court to compel the NBA to postpone the elections on various grounds of alleged underhand ahead of the July 30 and 31 dates fixed for the elections.

L-R: General Manager, Assist2-Sell Properties Limited, Patricia Ukogu; Chief Executive Officer, Oak Homes Limited, Mr. Olukayode Olusanya and Convener, Lady Realtors Training Series, Chukwunonso UmeEzeoke, at a lecture on real estate investment in Lagos …yesterday.

Vitamin D reduces risk of cognitive decline Appolonia Adeyemi

S

cientists have found that low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline.

These findings can be found in a study published in the ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series’.

Vitamin D is any of a group of vitamins found in liver and fish oils, essential for the absorption of calcium and the prevention of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

They include calciferol ( vitamin D2) and cholecalcif-

erol ( vitamin D3 ).

It is known to have many health benefits, including improved bone health, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, lower risk of multiple sclerosis, and better chances of surviving cancer.

Similarly, it has also been found to have a significant effect on cognitive health, with previous studies in Europe and North America showing that a low level of vitamin D is linked with an increased risk of cognitive decline.

This new study, conducted by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) and Duke University in Singa-

pore is now the first largescale prospective study in Asia to look at an association between vitamin D levels and the risk of cognitive decline and impairment in the Chinese elderly.

To look at the possible association, the team of researchers recruited 1,202 participants, 60 years of age or older from the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey carried out by the university.

The baseline Vitamin D levels of participants were measured at the start of the study and participants’ cognitive abilities were assessed over a two-year period.

Professor David Matchar, first author of the study, said, “Although this study was conducted on subjects from China, the results are applicable to regions in Asia where a large proportion of the elderly are ethnically Chinese, like Singapore,” reported newsmaxhealth.

For those looking to increase their levels of vitamin D, the main source of the vitamin is from exposure to sunlight. However, individuals can also increase their levels by consuming foods rich in the vitamin such as oily fish, including sardines and mackerel, beef or calf liver, eggs and cod liver oil.

Buhari: Nigeria’ll respect UN decision on Bakassi Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his government would abide by the decision of the International Court of Justice on the ceding of Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.

Nigeria handed over Bakassi to Cameroon in 2008 following the judgement of the ICJ on the disputed oil rich peninsula.

Buhari, while receiving

a United Nations Mission led by a Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, at the presidential villa, Abuja, said that Nigeria would not do anything to hamper the work of the various UN committees on the border demarcation.

“We will abide by the law. Having accepted the judgment of the ICJ, we are ready to support the security and logistics requirements of the Cameroon-Ni-

geria Mixed Commission (CNMC) to carry out the border demarcation,” the President said.

Buhari expressed his total support for the exercise, recalling that as Military Head of State between 1984 and 1985, his administration instituted the demarcation of the Nigeria land borders from Benin to Bakassi and urged that all committees be allowed to carry out their functions in line with the ICJ decision.

Earlier, Mohammed

Ibn Chambers, Chairman of CNMC, had informed Buhari that 2,001 kilometers out of 2,100 kilometers separating Nigeria and Cameroon had been marked, leaving a balance of 99 kilometers to conclude the demarcation.

He expressed hope that the remaining area will be completed latest by the first quarter of next year following the relative calm that has returned to border areas earlier inhabited by Boko Haram terrorists.

7

Padding casts doubt on 2016 budget–PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the drama in the House of Representatives over the alleged padding of the 2016 budget has put the integrity of the budget to question.

The party also described as depressing that barely one month to the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 2017 budget as required by Fiscal Responsibility Act, debate is still going on the integrity of the 2016 budget.

In a statement yesterday

by Deji Adeyanju, Director, New Media, the PDP said the revelations of former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin in

an interview on Channels Television raised more questions than answers.

“The entire ruckus caused by these allegations and counter allegations call the integrity of Budget2016 to question. This entire budget process has been an absolute fiasco,” the statement noted.

PDP recalled that many Nigerians, after a review of President Muhammadu Buhari’s N6. 08 trillion budget, presented to the National Assembly, observed that the budget was full of inflated figures and frivolous allocations.

According to the party: “The presidency then raised an alarm about insertions into the budget at the National Assembly. The presidency further stated that Mr. President would not sign the budget until ‘it was cleaned up.”

Nothing can stop PDP’s national convention, says Wike Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, billed to take place in Port Harcourt on August 17, 2016 will go on as scheduled.

He said that Sen. Ahmed Makarfi remains the acting national chairman of the PDP, arguing that the court that sacked him is a court of coordinate jurisdiction that initially recognized him as acting chairman.

The Governor, who made this known while addressing the South-South Executive Committee of the PDP at the Government House, Port Harcourt,

noted that the court has not heard the suit filed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff challenging the holding of the National convention.

“The court could not have sacked Senator Makarfi because it cannot sit on appeal on the judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction” he said, adding that there was an application to allow Senator Markafi to be joined as a party in the suit, which he said was adjoined to August 15, 2016.

Wike said that the leaders of the PDP in the Southern Geo-political zone will meet on Thursday to determine the zoning of positions during the convention, noting that the PDP will emerge stronger from the current challenges.

Bode George declares for PDP chair Wale Elegbede

F

ormer Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, yesterday formally declared his interest in the party’s National Chairmanship ahead of the party’s forthcoming National Convention billed for Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

However, George’s protégée and the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State at the last election, Jimi Agbaje, was absent at the well-attended event.

Agbaje has been tipped in some quarters to emerge as the party’s national chairman.

Speaking at the carnival like flag-off held at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja GRA, George said he has the political magic wand and requisite skills to re-

position the party from its present state.

Lamenting the present state of the party, George said, “These are not happy days for our party. The times appear dark and bleak. The horizon is uncertain. We are being assailed in every corner. Problems brew everywhere. Our challenges appear endless and intractable. Every day, we are confronted with a new drama and with a new hurdle. Certainly, there are some obvious and not so obvious interests inside and outside our party who do not wish us well.

“Ah, times have changed! Our great party is no longer recognizable today. A lot of distortions have set in. Indiscipline has eroded the foundations of old. Selfishness and greed have compromised the great idealisms and the logical principles of our founding fathers.”

8

tuesday, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Again, robbers kill inspector, civilian in Lagos •Police shoot dead two, arrest one Taiwo Jimoh

A

four-man gang of robbers invaded Idimu area of Lagos yesterday and killed two

persons.

The suspected robbers shot dead a police inspector and a civilian at Okunola Street, Idimu, on the outskirts of Lagos metropolis.

The yet-to-be named inspector was shot while he was withdrawing money from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at a bank.

The robbers, who stormed the area about 11a.m., had earlier attacked a bank customer and robbed him of a huge sum of money which he had withdrawn inside the banking hall.

The gunmen, who wielded two guns, went for the customer who was on his way out of the bank.

The suspects had successfully robbed the man and were fleeing when they saw the inspector using the ATM and shot him in the head.

Onlookers rushed the inspector to a hospital where doctors confirmed him dead.

Meanwhile, policemen stationed at the bank called for reinforcement.

Men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Mobile policemen deployed in the area went after the fleeing robbers and caught up with them. In the ensuing gun battle, the po-

lice shot and killed two of the robbers, arrested a suspect identified as Gaffar Ismail while the remaining one escaped.

The police recovered motorcycles, as well as the two guns used for the operation from the suspects.

A police source said the robbers had an insider source in the bank.

“There is someone in the bank who usually informs them when a customer comes to collect huge money. The way they came, it was clear that they had information and knew exactly who to target.

“The suspect that was arrested has earlier killed a policeman and he was the one who shot the inspector,” the source said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the robbery attack and the arrest of a suspect.

Badmos, however, said the inspector did not die and was responding to treatment at the hospital.

She said: “The case was transferred to the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) where investigation, Gaffar, was on the wanted list of the command for cases of Okada (motorcycle) robbery.”

The PPRO said two locallymade pistols, four live ammunition and one Bajaj motorcycle were recovered from the suspects.

Ismail

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

EFCC, INTERPOL arrest fraudster for $60m internet scam Emmanuel Onani Abuja

O

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in conjunction with the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), have arrested a 40-year-old Nigerian, suspected to be the head of an international criminal network, which specialises in online fraud.

In a statement posted on its website, EFCC alleged that the suspected fraudster identified simply as Mike, “is believed to be behind scams totalling more than USD 60 million involving hundreds of victims worldwide”.

The commission said the suspect, who was arrested in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, allegedly duped his victim of $15.4 million.

“The network compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the US, with the financial victims mainly other companies dealing with these compromised accounts,” EFCC said.

It added that the head of the network, which involves about 40 suspects, “had money laundering contacts in China, Europe and the US who provided bank account details for the illicit cash flow”.

“Mike’ first came onto the law enforcement radar through a report provided to INTERPOL

by Trend Micro, one of its strategic partners at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore. This, combined with actionable analysis and intelligence from Fortinet Fortiguard Labs in 2015, enabled specialists at the INTERPOL Digital Crime Centre.”

City Briefs

Hailstorm destroys over 70 farmlands Army trains 40 officers in defence procurement Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

M

ore than 70 farmlands have been destroyed by hailstorm in some villages in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The local government Chairman, Alhaji Jabbi Shagari, confirmed this yesterday.

Shagari told journalists in Sokoto that the affected villages included Gangam, Illela and Lambar-Yabo, among others.

He said the disaster destroyed assorted farm produce such as millet, guinea corn and others believed to worth several millions of naira.

The chairman added that the local government had set up a four-man committee to investigate the extent of damage caused by the disaster.

The committee, according to him, will also find out the actual number of farmers and farmlands affected and recommend the form of assistance to be rendered to the victims across the villages.

Flora Onwudiwe

A

bout 40 senior officers were drawn from the Army Headquarters, other formations and units to participate in the 2nd quarter conference tagged; Defence Procurement: Imperative of the Public Procurement Act (2007) for the Nigerian Army, held at the Army Finance Corps, Apapa, Lagos.

The Acting Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Jahadi Jakko, said the conference was designed to enlighten officers on guidelines necessary for defence procure-

ment.

He said: “The issue of procurement in the Nigerian Army in particular and defence procurement in general has become quite challenging.

“If you recall contracts that are awarded in January last year were based on the dollar exchange rate of N197 to dollar.

And most of our defence procurement, particularly the hard wares, the arms and ammunition are denominated in dollars even though we have to convert them to our currency in naira.

“Today, if you are to execute such contracts with the in-

crease of naira exchange from N197 to like N350 today, you can see that you might not even be able to pay half the price of a contract. Now these are part of the challenges that are confronting us.”

Jakko said the central objective of the reforms of the Federal Government was to promote transparency and accountability in all aspects of public bureaucracy.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, advised the officers to always follow the leader.

METRO

tuesday, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’ll sustain Arepo bombardment –Military •Amosun orders destruction of militants’ boats Taiwo Jimoh and Kunle Olayeni

T

here seems to be no rest for the militants terrorising communities in Arepo and Ikorodu areas of Ogun and Lagos states.

The military said yesterday that the aerial bombardments of Arepo and Ikorodu creeks by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets would continue until the militants were routed.

The Chairman, Operation AWATSE and Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, said this at the NAF Logistics Command Headquarters, Ikeja, shortly after a security meeting attended by participating agencies.

This came as Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday ordered the destruction of boats, jerry cans and other facilities used and abandoned by suspected militants at the Arepo area.

Amosun gave the directive during an onthe-spot-assessment visit to the creeks at Ebute Ibafo, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which had hitherto been inhabited by militants and vandals.

Bobai said the decision to sustain the bombardment was reached to enable the forces to completely penetrate four key targets identi-

Taraba seizes IDPs’ relief materials, minister alleges Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

I

nternally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially women and children, were disappointed yesterday when they learnt that Taraba State government did not release grains sent to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The IDPs had converged on the Federal Government Science and Technical College, Jalingo, the state capital to collect the grains.

The kick off of the distribution of Presidential Support Maize to IDPs turned to a crying event as the would be beneficiaries started shedding tears when the President’s representative, the Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan, told them that the state government

Brigadier-General Mohammed Danwalis (second left), Governor Amosun and others during the visit

fied in the areas.

At the briefing were the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Sani Ahmed, the Commander, 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Sani Mohammed, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Tajudeen Balogun.

“After using some of their surveillance air craft to carry out racking of the areas since Thursday, the NAF pilots were at the Logistics Command today to brief us.

We identified four key targets which we believe when knocked off, will set confusion in the militants and vandals’ camp,” Bobai said.

“The NAF, over the weekend, used their Alpha Jets and helicopters to identify the targets and so, we had to call all the agencies involved to do an after battle assessment.

“We have watched the video that the racking aircraft have captured and we are convinced that there is need to sustain the operation.

So, we are going to sustain and continue to mob up the ground as the NAF use their air power to neutralise some other areas,” he added.

Bobai said the joint taskforce had arrested 11 suspected militants who were being processed.

He added that concrete plans had been put in place to ensure that fleeing suspects attempting to infiltrate other areas of the state were caught.

The chairman also debunked claims that over 100 casualties had been recorded in the operation.

According him, even the military has not completely entered the creeks because it is not easily accessible.

Although Bobai said the casualty figure was yet to be ascertained, a source said that from the surveillance video captured by the Air Force, a few human casualties, believed to be militants were seen at Maware, Abuja, Fatola and General, the four targeted militants’ enclaves.

“I have consistently told you that the terrain is not that easy to access. As far as we are concerned, we are yet to enter the place proper to ascertain the number of casualties.

“Frankly speaking, we have not entered deep into the place and it will be too early to tell you the casualty figure. Also, we carefully selected the targets and so far, we have hit only those carefully selected targets.

“As far as I know, we have 11 suspects in our custody.

They are still being processed.”

Meanwhile, Amosun, who was received amidst jubilation and cheers by hundreds of residents, was with his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, top government functionaries and security chiefs.

Woman abandons three-weekold baby in bush Juliana Francis had refused to hand over the grains to her for the distribution.

She said: “Mr. President had graciously provided maize to be given to IDPs in the North-East states.

The President further directed all ministers in the six states of the North-East to go back to their states and conduct the distribution exercise.”

The minister announced that 10 metric tons (20 trucks, 12,000 bags) of maize had been allocated for distribution to IDPs in Taraba State.

She added: “The grains were brought into Taraba State by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and delivered to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for safe keeping and with clear instructions to hand them over to the minister upon her arrival for the distribution exercise.”

Alhassan also disclosed that she was informed that only 19 trucks were received as one truck was yet to be delivered by the transporter.

D

etectives attached to Festac Police Station, Lagos, have rescued two babies, three-week-old and six-weekold.

The first baby, a girl, was said to have been abandoned by her mother, Bose Ojo (27), inside a bush, moments after she delivered the baby herself.

Ojo was unaware that a woman was watching her from a storey building.

When attempted to leave the baby in the bush, the woman raised the alarm.

Fielding questions from investigators, Ojo, from Kogi State, denied attempting to abandon her baby girl.

She told police that she just dropped the baby to have a rest, when she was seen and suspected to be abandoning her.

“The woman denied trying to abandon her baby. She said the father of the baby is Odu-

ayo. She doesn’t know his surname or his contact address.

She only had a primary six education. She has no skill, except selling of sachet water.

She came to Lagos in December 2010 and met the father of the child in 2006. She said the man, who is a professional driver, is from Ekiti State. She was his live-in-lover at Orile Iganmu, Lagos State, before his house was demolished and he abandoned her,” a police source said.

According to the source, the mother of the baby appeared to be a victim, needing assistance, than jail term.

It was gathered that preliminary investigation revealed that she is not married, had no visible means of sustenance, no accommodation, and no skills and appeared to be in bad health, since she never attended or received any anti-natal treatment.

“On July 27, two babies were picked up in different parts of Festac Town.

9

The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the operation.

According to him, the aerial bombardments carried out by the Nigeria Air Force fighter jets have flushed out daredevil militants in the area.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government not to relent in providing adequate security in the affected communities to prevent the regrouping of the militants.

Amosun recommended that houses and structures that are 500 metres to the creeks should be cleared so that criminal elements would not have places to hide.

He said: “I want to appeal that we should not just leave this place like that. Yes, the criminals have run away for obvious reasons but we have what I call a force beyond theirs. You know ordinarily they will come, even go to places here and do all sorts of crime.

Catholic priest quizzed over banker’s suicide Taiwo Jimoh

D

etectives in Lagos yesterday grilled the priest in charge of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Northern Foresore Estate, Lekki, in connection with the death of a bank manager, Olisa Nwakobi.

Nwakobi (44), the head of Operations, Lekki branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), allegedly shot himself over deals gone awry.

The priest described as “the first witness” was invited by the police because the manager reportedly informed him of his intentions.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, confirmed that the questioning of the priest.

She said: “We are not investigating the priest but being the first witness, we asked him some questions in order to aid our investigation.”

Nwakobi had reportedly gone to his priest at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Northern Foresore Estate, Lekki and complained bitterly of how he approved a loan for a customer who had refused to service the loan.

Shortly after visiting the priest, Nwakobi reported shot himself.

However, a top official of the bank, who pleaded anonymity, said Nwakobi did not approve any loan.

Nwakobi

10

News|NATIONAL

President Buhari sacks JAMB Registrar, appoints 16 education CEOs Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sacked 17 Chief Executives of Parastatals and Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education.

Top on the list is Prof.

Dibu Ojerinde of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB. He was replaced by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Ishaq

Oloyede.

That president also approved the appointment of replacements and retained four Chief Executives.

A statement by the Deputy Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Benjamin Bem Gong, said the appointments were with effect from Monday, August 01, 2016.

The 17 agencies affected and the new Chief Executives were: National Universities Commission (NUC) – Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; Nigerian Institute for education Planning and

Administration – Pro, Mrs. Lilian Salami; Universal Basic Education, Dr. Hameed Bobboyi; National library of Nigeria, Prof Lanre Aina and National Examinations Council which has Prof Charles Uwakwe as its new chief executive.

Others are the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal education with Prof Abba Aladu as the Chief executive; Nomadic Education Commission, Prof Bashir Usman; National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Prof Isioma

Isiugo-Abanihe; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof Sunday Josiah Ajiboye and the Computer Registration Council of Nigeria with Afolabi Aderinto as the chief executive.

According to the statement, the National Commission for Colleges of Education has Prof Bappah Aliyu as its new boss, while Tertiary Education Trust Fund has Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa as the new boss, while the National Teachers Institute has Prof Garba Dahuwa Azare; Libarian Registration

L-R: Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Elemo; Minister of Science &Technology, Dr. Ogbonnya Onu; his wife, Chinyere and Chief Executive Officer, Erisco Foods Limited, Mr. Eric Umeofia, at the official confirmation of state of the Art Tomato Paste Processing in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Council of Nigeria, Prof Michael Afolabi, National Mathematical Centre, Prof Steven Ejugwu Onah and National Institute of Nigerian Languages – Prof Chinyere Ohiri-

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Aniche Those retained by the president included the heads of the Nigeria Educational Research & Development Council, Prof Samaila Junaidu; Nigerian French Language Village, Prof Rauuf Adebisi; National Board for Technical Education – Dr. Mas’ud Kazaure and National Arabic language Village – Prof Muhammad Mu’azu.

FG to support Erisco Foods on local production Paul Ogbuokiri

T

he Federal Government will soon start to give support to local manufacturers, especially Erisco Foods, makers of Gik-Rico tomato paste and Erisco food brands.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, who disclosed this after a tour of Erisco Foods facilities in Lagos, said the government’s support would enable Erisco and others mass produce food locally for domestic consumption and export.

Coming on the heels of President/Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia’s threat to shut down and relocate abroad if the current harsh manufacturing conditions in the country persists; the minister lauded the company for the huge invest-

ments it has made towards manufacturing tomato paste and assorted foods in the country.

The Minister also assured manufacturers in the company that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to, not only making the country self-sufficient in food production, but also wants to make the Nigeria a net food exporter.

“I am happy with what I saw at Erico Foods facilities. I am equally happy that a Nigerian has made such investment. What he is doing meets international standards, using stainless steel where there is contact with food. Mr. President is committed to seeing our economy recover to the point that we can feed our citizens, and what is going on here is relevant to the plan of government.

Kalu rues serial killing of Nigerians ASUU laments poor funding of state varsities in South Africa of under-funding of public universities in the country, noting that the situation is very alarming in many state-owned universities.

President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said many state governments like the Federal Government had failed to fully implement the 2006 agreement in which they all participated.

He particularly lamented that state governments had been neglecting universities that they established while some state governors, according to him were going ahead to establish new ones while those brought to life by their predecessors were neglected to rot and die.

According to him, Governors Segun Mimiko of Ondo and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo states have established two new state universities in their respective states while they have failed to fund existing ones.

He said the state governors have turned establishing universities to constituency projects, which they use to boast even without adequate funding.

“Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, have not received subventions from their owner governments for upward of nine months.

Court to Union Bank: Get firms to audit NICON, Global Fleet accounts

ings, AMCON’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali (SAN), informed the court that his client has nominated KPMG, but that Union Bank was yet to present its nomination.

He said: “I recall that at the last adjourned date, we agreed that parties should appoint chartered accountants. I am happy to report that the defendants appointed the firm of chartered accountants, Adewale Folowosele & Associate and AMCON appointed KPMG and it’s for Union Bank to appoint their chartered accountant because Union bank is the primary creditor.”

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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minent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has condemned the incessant killing of Nigerians, especially of Igbo extraction in South Africa, noting that the barbaric act was capable of jeopardising the healthy bilateral relation between South Africa and Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria has over the years accommodated South Africans to the extent that over 150 South Africa companies are operating in Nigeria without any form of discrimination.

Kalu lamented the recent killing of Ikejiaku Chinedu, who hailed from Ogwa, Imo State, Gideon Ogalaonye, an indigene of

Onitsha, Anambra State, at Limpopo Province in South Africa and Nnamdi Michael, an indigene of Enugu State, at Johannesburg last week.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “It is disheartening and shocking the way Nigerians are being killed in South Africa in cruel circumstances.

“The barbaric behaviour of the perpetrators is not only unacceptable but also calls for urgent attention by diplomatic authorities in Nigeria and South Africa.

“Considering the support and co-operation South Africans, including South African business or-

ganisations, are enjoying from the Nigerian government, I begin to wonder why such injustice is being meted out to Nigerians living in South Africa.

“As I am not in the know of what must have transpired between the deceased persons and their killers, I strongly believe that every country has its laws and no one should act above the law of the land, by taking the life of another person in a cruel manner.

“In the interest of diplomatic ties, it is important for the South African government to, as a matter of urgency, investigate these incessant killings and prosecute the culprits in order to forestall future occurrence.”

WAEC to release 2016 WASSCE result Friday Mojeed Alabi

I

ndications have emerged that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will on Friday announce the release of the results of this year’s edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The results, if released,

will brighten the hope of many candidates who wrote the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, who had applied for admission to higher institutions while awaiting the result.

New Telegraph exclusively gathered from a source at the examination body, who did not want his name in print, that the deci-

sion was made yesterday at the management meeting chaired by the Head of Nigeria Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Isaac Adenipekun.

The source said: “That was the conclusion at the meeting, I was told. But the final decision is still the prerogative of the HNO, who can decide to shift that to Monday.”

T

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed worry over the problem

1

The estimated deployment of electricity (TWh/year) in the small hydro market area of Middle East in 2010.

Source: Unesco.org.

10,969

The total number of comments on Instagram of Cristiano Ronaldo in February 2016.

Source: Goal.com.

Akeem Nafiu

A

one-week ultimatum was yesterday handed down to Union Bank of Nigeria Plc by Justice Abdulazeez Anka of a Federal High Court in Lagos to nominate a chartered accountant for the purpose of carrying out forensic audit of statement of accounts of NICON Investment Limited and Global Fleet, owned by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

A N50 billion loan alleg-

edly granted to the business mogul by the bank has been a subject of litigation.

The firm is expected to work with two other accounting firms nominated

by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, in carrying out the auditing.

The judge had on July 11 vacated an interim order granted to AMCON to take over some assets belonging to Ibrahim.

At yesterday’s proceed-

11

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo guber How PDP stole $31m belonging to Edo people – Oshiomhole

Politics

Power play Leadership tussle rocks Enugu APC

12 13

Senate crisis: Saraki stoops to conquer CHUKWU DAVID reports on the intrigues of the recent move by Senate President Bukola Saraki to douse opposition to his leadership of the upper legislative chamber through giving out some 'juicy' committees to some senators of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF)

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here is no doubt that the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, would have been thoroughly overwhelmed by the relentless opposition he received from the members of rivalry group in the Upper Chamber, the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), within and outside the present government.

His emergence as the Senate president against the wishes of the leadership of the ruling party really provoked untold antagonism, oppression, persecution and eventual prosecution against him and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The number three citizen, however, appears to have been toughened by the barrage of attacks he has received by those who want him ousted from the exalted office, to the extended that he acquired uncommon confidence that he would certainly weather the titanic storm and still remain the chairman of the National Assembly in the next three year.

His trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges bordering on false assets declaration, is definitely stunning political analysts, who initially concluded that his days in office were numbered, judging from the body language and utterances of the Chairman of the Tribunal, Dan-

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Saraki

ladi Umar, who Saraki's loyalists accused of acting a written script.

However, Saraki was able to mobilise eminent lawyers, led by a legal luminary, Kanu Agabi, who were able to delay the case until the court joined other regular courts in their annual vacation, thereby availing the embattled lawmaker some period of reprieve.

Also, the forgery allegation against Saraki and Ekweremadu, which culminated in criminal charges against the two presiding officers, was the aftermath of the grievances of the members of the SUF, who want Sarki and Ekweremadu out of office at all cost.

When Saraki first announced the distribution of the chairmanship and membership of the standing committees of the Senate on November 18, 2015, some members of the SUF accepted their allocations and ceased from antagonising Saraki. But his two strongest fighters, senators Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, were not satisfied.

In fact, Marafa rejected his appointment as the Chairman, Committee on National Identity.

Hunkuyi, who was appointed as the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Federal Character, also turned down the offer, and the two lawmakers persisted in their pursuit of Saraki's downfall.

Meanwhile, many mediatory efforts went on among senators to get their aggrieved colleagues sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign in the apex chamber but Hunkuyi and Marafa appeared to have resolved not to be appeased.

However, the last reconciliatory move, made by Saraki Thursday last week, in which he carried out a minor committee reshuffle, seems to be yielding positive re-

Tinubu

The last reconciliatory move, made by Saraki... seems to be yielding positive result

Marafa

sult as his opponents decided to accept the committees given to them.

In the new arrangement, his major antagonists, Marafa and Hunkuyi got Committees on Petroleum (Downstream) and National Identity, respectively.

Also Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was former chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, and a member of the SUF, is now chairman Committee on Environment.

Saraki also made changes to reward his ardent supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For instance, Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo, PDP) who was chairman, Aviation, is now in charge of Customs, while Adamu Aliero, who was in in Customs is now in Aviation.

Others are: Tertiary Institutions- Senator Jubrin Barau, who was Acting Chairman, Downstream, after Senator Uche Ekwunife was sack from the Senate by court.

Women Affairs is manned by Binta Garba Masi, who earlier chaired Tertiary Institutions, while former Chairman, Solid Minerals, Joshua Dariye, is now heading Public Procurement.

Senator James Manager was moved from Committee on Power to Committee Solid Minerals while Senator Enyinnaya Abariba, who was in Information, is now in Power.

Other appointments are: Information and National Orientation- Senator Adokwe Suleiman; Legislative Compliance-Babajide Omoworare; Rules and BusinessaBaba Kaka Garbai; and Federal Character, Tijani Kaura.

It will be recalled that Senator Babjide Omoworare was the former Chairman, Rules and Business but it was learnt that he was

removed for being perceived as anti leadership in his actions.

New Telegraph learnt that Omoworare's problem with Saraki started last year, when the former distanced himself from a vote of confidence passed in the leadership of the Senate when the SUF was doing everything to sack the leadership.

Omoworare was also seen to have played anti-leadership script, when he told the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, last week that he had unfettered powers to prosecute anybody in the country, when the AGF appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, in respect of the forgery case.

Senator Garbai, who replaced is a first timer, who from Borno Central, where late Senator Ahmad Zanah represented.

Saraki also made some adjustments in the Vice Chairmanship positions to comprise; Marine Transport: Ahmed Ogembe; Land Transport: Ovie Omo Agege and Downstream Petroleum: Philip Aduda, who is also the Minority Whip.

Meanwhile, investigations carried out by our correspondent however, revealed that Marafa, Hunkuyi and other members of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), who benefited from the committee sharing lobbied for the juicy committees given to them.

An insider within the Senate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the beneficiaries embarked on high level scheming to get Saraki and other decision-makers in the Senate to grant their requests to be given the choice committees.

The source further said that CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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POLITICS

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

How PDP stole $31m belonging to Edo people, by Oshiomhole Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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do State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, accused the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state of alleged fraudulent siphoning $31million from the state treasury with which it set up the Avan Cement factory in Akoko Edo in the name of an individual.

He revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has employed the services of some Senior Advocates (SANs) to institute a legal action against the perpetrators with a view to recovering the money and the factory for the state government, while prom-

ising that those involved would be prosecuted accordingly.

Speaking during campaign tour of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to Igarra Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Oshiomhole said: “All the problems we are suffering today is as a result of the bad leadership of the PDP in Edo State during their 10 years reign and the 16 years they led this country.

“The PDP government in Edo State took $31 million from the Edo State government account to set up the Avan Cement factory in the name of an individual and gave the state 15 per cent but that factory is 100 per cent Edo State asset.

“That is why we have

Edo DECIDES

told our people to be vigilant. The last time I heard they were trying to steal the assets after I revealed what I saw in the books, we arrested some of the guys and handed them to the police. Giving the natural endowment we have in Akoko Edo, when we bring that factory into operation by reclaiming the ownership from the thieves, we will employ our people there.

Because you cannot take $31million from Edo State account and set up a business and you call it a private business.

We will not accept that.

We have already briefed some senior advocates to ensure that that factory is returned to the government of Edo State. And it will be Godwin’s pleasure to bring that factory into work. He will create jobs with it.”

Oshiomhole pointed out that the PDP killed the state and that the people can never go back to Egypt. “Things are tough today in Nigeria because of how PDP looted this nation and today one fake pastor is coming from the godfathers that he wants to be governor, we will punish them with our votes,” he said.

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairmanship aspirant, Chief Olabode George; Lagos PDP Chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador; Hon. Dare Adeleke; former State Chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle and Engr. Deji Doherty, during George's declaration for PDP national chairmanship, in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Onaiwu'll restore Edo's past glory, says Nwagwuna Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

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he Deputy Director, Digital Communication of the Osaro Onaiwu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Emeka Nwagwuna, has urged Edo people to be vigilant to avoid the deceit that has become the attribute of many politicians as they elect a new governor, so that the state can return to its glorious past.

Nwagwuna noted that it is unfortunate that even the modest infrastructure which Edo inherited upon its creation in 1991 has so lost value that one wonders whether successive governments were asleep, pointing out that in Benin the capital of Edo State, there is virtually deep gullies everywhere, and when there is a tarred road, the adjoining street would be better described as swamps.

He noted that though all the candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election do certainly have some selling points, Onaiwu, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, stands out in so many respects.

According to him, as former Director General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Onaiwu`s exposure to the patterns of development in all other states of the federation means that he is not coming to learn on the job.

The APGA party stalwart in an interview with journalists in Benin, lamented that the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, best known for sporting activities in the country has lost its face value due to lack of facilities, adding that in the area of human capital development, Edo is one of the worst cases

in the country.

He noted that the security situation in Edo has so degenerated, making the state a capital a cesspit of crime and criminality with the youth taking to crime like kidnapping, cyber crime and armed robbery, among others.

Nwagwuna added that All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Edo State that has abandoned the people for the past eight years should not be trusted with the leadership of the state for another four years.

Oshiomhole lied over Obaseki's free service – PDP Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has faulted the claim by Governor Adams Oshiomhole that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been in the services of the state without pay.

Obaseki has been the chairman of Edo State Economic Team and is said to be rendering free services. But the chairman of Edo PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, yesterday, described the claim by the governor as a lie.

Orbih, who addressed PDP supporters during the party’s campaign rally for its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at Ugo'Niyekorhionwon in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of the state, displayed various vouchers emanating from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Governor's office in Benin, between 2012 and 2013, in which the governor approved millions of naira for Obaseki from the state coffers for his services.

According to Orbih, on September 17, 2013, follow-

Obaseki enters into social contract with Akoko Edo people Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, entered into a social contract with the people of Akoko Edo in the north senatorial district of the state with a promise to upgrade the Technical College in Igarra.

Addressing the crowd of party faithful, Obaseki said: “I want to declare my contract with the Akoko Edo people. My contract

We’ll conduct a conclusive election – INEC

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured of its readiness for the September 10 governorship election in Edo State with a promise that poll would be conclusive.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Sam Olumekun, who gave the assurance in Benin, yesterday, during the commission’s voter education implementation meeting, said INEC is poised to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

The Peoples Democrat-

ic Party (PDP) has raised the fear over the poll given the inconclusive nature of most elections in recent times and urged the commission to put its house in order to avoid such.

The party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who expressed the fear in a recent interview said: “Whether you believe it or not, elections are very expensive, so to do an election and it is declared inconclusive and you conduct it again and it is declared inconclusive, is not the best. I think that INEC just have to put its acts

ing a memo raised by Mr. B.I Emoedewe, the then Permanent Secretary at the government house, Governor Oshiomhole approved N23.8 million for Obaseki and three others for a trip to the United States.

He said: “How can the governor say that Obaseki has not been collecting any money since he took office? I have been hearing him going about at APC rallies telling people that the reason why he brought Obaseki is because he has been working for free, but these vouchers show that it is all lies.

“As you can see from this voucher, Obaseki travelled with the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. John Inegbedion, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Macdonald Obasuke and the Executive Director of the PPP, Mr Igbinidu Inneh to New York on September 21, 2013 after the governor approved the sum of N23.8 million for them.”

Orbih explained that from the voucher alone, Obaseki alone received the sum of N9.45 million for a seven-day trip to attend the 4th Nigerian Investment Summit in New York and he collected the monies in US dollars at the prevailing rate then of N164.

together. At least, let Edo election be different from the ones we have seen.”

But the Olumekun, who allayed such fear said: “We want to assure the people that we are prepared to conduct a conclusive governorship election on September 10.”

He explained that inconclusive elections were not about INEC, attributing them to incidents of violence and thuggery, adding the meeting was to critically x-ray the effective ways to sustain voter education ahead of the election.

with them is one, to provide jobs for the young people of Akoko Edo. “These jobs will be created from agriculture and investments in mining so that people from this place can work anywhere in the Nigeria. I will upgrade the Technical College; I will make sure that my government and the investments I am bringing invest in the Technical College to train the youth, so that they can work in those factories.

“We will affiliate the Technical College to the Edo State University, Iyamho. In the area of mining.

I pledge to Akoko Edo that of the almost 60 licenses, 20 will be operational before the end of our tenure.

I pledge that the cement factory will become operational in my tenure.

“Because I am bringing industries and investors, I will make sure that Akoko Edo is secured. I pledge to Akoko Edo that Ojurami Dam would be resuscitated because all the factories we are bringing will need water and the people will also need water.”

Obaseki had earlier visited the Palace of the Otaru of Igarra, HRH Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki 11, where the monarch prayed and gave him his royal blessings.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

13

Leadership tussle rocks Enugu APC CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the leadership tussle rocking the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its impact on the party’s opposition role

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he hope of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to offer a formidable opposition in Enugu State in the present political dispensation still remains a mirage given the leadership tussle that has engulfed the party in the Coal City state.

There are seemingly unresolved issues within the state chapter of the party that still rocks the bond of unity among its stakeholders to the extent that they seem not to be projecting a common purpose and agenda in their bid to provide credible opposition to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Precisely, the state chairman of APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, is seen by most party members as holding a different stance from that of other party leaders. Such discordant tunes, they claimed, are manifested through the several press statements allegedly issued by the state Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Kate Ofor, in opposition to the stand of the state party chairman.

This has obviously created a crack in the opposition party in the state. The two factions openly disagree among themselves, especially on the procedure for carrying out criticisms of Governor Ugwuanyi’s policies and programmes, which would have entrusted the APC, as a veritable opposition party in the state, come 2019.

Those opposed to Nwoye insist that the actions and policies of the ruling PDP are anti-people and project the APC up as a people-oriented party that should be sought after. But, they believe that what the state APC chairman is doing is de-marketing the party and thereby blocking its chances of gaining the needed ground in the state for future elections.

There are several instances of such open altercations, but within the past three weeks, Nwoye has had course to publicly retract press statements issued by the office of his state Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Ofor. His reason for such action was that the positions contained therein were not the collective decision of members of the state executive.

On January 6, Nwoye disclaimed an earlier press statement issued by Mrs. Ofor. The publicity secretary had in the said statement criticised Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration for replacing the 17 local government chairmen in the state with Heads of Personnel Management (HPM), at the end of

Odigie-Oyegun

their tenure, pending when the list of caretaker committee members would be made public.

Mrs. Ofor, had in her press statement, accused Governor Ugwuanyi of violating the constitution by ordering the Heads of Personnel Management in each of the councils to take over the administration pending the appointment of caretaker committees.

But, not comfortable with the press statement, Nwoye disclaimed her position. He told newsmen that the said statement did not emanate from the authentic leadership of the party in the state and that it is an embarrassment to himself and the national wing of the APC. His words: “Once again, the APC in Enugu State wants to make it categorically clear that Mrs. Kate Ofor, does not have its authority or approval to issue any press statement on behalf of the party. The Publicity Secretary has not been attending our state exco meetings; she has been operating on her own. Therefore, any statement authored by her, should be disregarded by the public, because it has no link with our party.”

Mrs. Ofor reacted immediately by issuing another statement, criticising the 2016 Enugu State Budget proposal, but did not say if she did so with or without recourse to the party’s leadership.

For analysts, the implications of the APC crisis is that the PDP is likely to continue to hold sway in the state. The former had been in control of the state since 1999, winning elections in all the 260 wards and 17 councils of the state in the last elections.

On several occasions, the PDP leadership had boasted that there will never emerge any opposition party in the state. The slogan is: “In Enugu, it is either you belong to the PDP or you are not a politician.”

Aside the leadersip crisis, the Enugu APC is also contending with the purported suspension of its vice chairman in Enugu East senatorial zone, Chief Anike Nwoga.

Nwoga was reportedly impeached for allegedly making some uncomplimentary remarks

Nwoye

We are going to report Nwoye to the national chairman...

He cannot romance the PDP and at the same time chair our great party

against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Reacting to the development, the Zonal Organising Secretary of the APC in the zone, Mr. Emeka Anike, accused Nwoye of spearheading the impeachment of Nwoga at a meeting he “hurriedly conveyed because Chief Anike berated Senator Ekweremadu.”

It could be recalled that Chief Anike, had at a mini-rally at Awgu Local Government Area on July 9, berated Senator Ekweremadu for writing to the international community over his trial for alleged involvement in the forgery of the Senate Rules.

He said: “Senator Ike Ekweremadu should retract the letter he wrote to the international community; the desperate letter is 360 degrees at variance with the Oath of Office he did solemnly swore to.

By this unwarranted letter, he has desecrated the constitution, tarnished the image of Nigeria and by extension our dear President.”

Chief Anike also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had no hand in Ekweremadu’s travails, insisting that “the charge against Senators Saraki and Ekweremadu followed complaints by members of the Senate Unity Forum that the election of the two did not follow the 2011 Standing Orders of the Senate and that at no time did the 7th or 8th Senate amend Senate Rules to produce the purported 2015 Senate Rules used for their election. Where is President Buhari in this matter?

How is democracy being threatened? Why is he panicking without exhausting the court process?”

Anike, who accused Nwoye of setting up a Kangoro panel, which is at variance with Article 21(4)(c) and other relevant sections of the Constitution of the APC, said: “The sections stipulate the various careful steps with the aim of ensuring peace and harmony in the party.

“My understanding is that Nwoye is inclined more to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) than the growth of the APC. He attacked Mrs. Kate Ofor for opposing the governor for appointing caretaker committees to run the local government councils.

“He attacked me for advising Chief Jim Nwobodo to cleanse himself of the arms deal scandal before joining the APC he worked against. We are going to report Nwoye to the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for anti-party activities. He cannot romance the PDP and at the same time chair our great party.”

The man at centre of the crisis – Nwoye, however, blames a chieftain of the party in the state and Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, for his problems.

He said: “The VON DirectorGeneral is not a member of our executive, but he takes delight in carrying lies and misinforming people. He has made himself and has lived up as 'gossip terrorist.’

He puts up these things to damage my person.”

Nwoye explained further that Nwoga was suspended long ago by Enugu East district leadership of the party for offences even before the charge of forgery was brought against Ekweremadu .

He said that though he, as the state chairman of the party, lacked the power and authority to suspend Nwoga, but he couldn't have suspended him because of his criticism of Ekweremadu.

But, reacting to Nwoye’s allegation, Okechukwu said: "Our dear chairman, Ben Nwoye, should better clear his name from serial anti-party activities imbroglio he found himself instead of chasing shadows.

“He should give me a break.

Am I the one who diverted the seed registration money given to him? Instead of accounting for the money, he suspended our Deputy Chairman, Comrade Adolphus Ude and our Women Leader, Lolo Queen Nwankwo, who had the guts to query the misappropriation.”

While the APC leaders in Enugu State continue to trade words over who is responsible for the crisis in their party, the least political watchers in the state expect is a virile, cohesive and coordinated opposition party; one that mobilise the people to change the course of events in a state that is seen as “one party state.”

14

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The inspiration of Igbo aspiration My Word CLEM AGUIYI totalpolitics@ymail.com 0803-474-7898 (sms only)

I

don’t wish to be Joe Igbokwe who arguably is the most hated Igbo man alive today especially among his own brothers.

Weeks after my publishing the article ‘Joe Igbokwe never sounded so badly’, readers’ angry reactions are still pouring in. A particular reader who invoked several deities against Joe likened him to some Jerusalem aristocrats in the days of Antiochus who were so eager to imitate the Greeks or be accepted by the Greeks that they underwent operation to repair their circumcision.

But not everyone hates Joe. Most SouthWest and northern elites who wrote to me like him for telling the Igbo what they considered the hard truth. A short text from 08032659150 said ‘the wailing wailer, Joe Igbokwe is perfectly in order’.

I still cannot understand how the right to determine who governs you and how you are governed has become a crime in democracy to the extent that a whole tribe of people will be punished on account of how they voted or didn’t vote. This is where Joe got it wrong and the APC got it all long the moment they began to divide Nigeria between 97 per cent and 5 per cent. To promote such narrative as a norm is to kill democracy.

Need I then remind those that think Ibos are wailers that we aren’t wailing neither are we complaining on account of how we voted or didn’t vote. If anything we are vindicated because our fears are now justified.

Rightly, we feared that APC will be unfair to us; we feared the leadership will reverse the gains of transformation; we feared they will crash the economy; we feared they won’t respect human rights and rule of law; we feared that democracy will come under serious threat; we feared that marginalization will continue; we feared the type of change they promised’.

What we have tried to do in the last one year or more is to point out to the powers that be that Nigeria is dangerously drifting;

that our current leaders does not understand the imperative of unifying the federation; that people in the administration are more interested in either settling personal scores or settling members of their tribe and faith at the exclusion of others; that their failure to address the terrorism of the herdsmen with the same hatred it has descended on pro-Biafra protesters does not augur well for the peace and unity of our federation; that one Nigeria is possible; that peace is possible and that unity is not far if we accept to forge a just society.

As Igbo we will always vote our conscience.

Come 2019 we will exercise the same right no matter who wants to jump into the Lagoon. We have seen many things and survived their and nobody should live under the illusion that we can be subdued; when they bloodied the South East, killed millions of people in a civil war that lasted three years, we didn’t complain; when they stripped us of earthly possessions and were giving just twenty pounds , we didn’t complain; when they adjusted the boundary down to our back yard to be sure that none of our oil reserves are accessible to us and that we have no buffer zone, we didn’t complain; when they instigated our brothers and cousins to deny their Igbonness and heritage, we didn’t complain .

As very unique people, we did what we knew best; we looked up to heaven, called onto God in prayers, gathered our strength and went back to work; with hard work and determination we gained back all that we lost.

I don’t know any other tribe in Africa with our kind of story. I don’t know of a people more unique than we are. Leave an Igbo man in the desert with nothing for a few years, return to the desert and see how he has turned the desert into Canaan. Go to Anambra and see how in just eight years we were able to turn our education around, produced the best graduating students and best teachers. We have the best economy without oil and proved that true federalism is feasible and viable.

We may have voiced out our frustrations too many times but we are people who neither beg nor complain about our adversity , we work and we work real hard to be the best in whatever we set our eyes on. If there is any group of Nigerians that can transform and help reshape the fate of this nation, that group can be found among the Igbo.

We are not wailers. What we tried to do is to

There are things peculiar to us which no dictator or oppressive policy can take away from us

point out the way forward for Nigeria.

This is why I have chosen to write this inspirational story of Igbo aspiration, so that our people do not despair because God has a plan and purpose for us. We must be ready to rise and chart a new course and we must act quickly to retake our place in history, jump their hurdles and break down their ill-conceived barriers otherwise we may destroy the psyche of our generations unborn.

Any day Pharaoh wants to fix the economy and grow the nation back to prosperity he will knock on the doors of people with the entrepreneurial spirit, who understand trade. And that door is our door. We must not be tired of striving for excellence and contributing to the growth of Nigeria.

Above all we must think home, think of how to develop the South East. We must extend our hands of brotherhood to the South – South, we must forgive those that hurt us so that we will reach the height of our prosperity.

Above all we must understand that there is strength in our unity. We must come together as one people, stay together and pull together as one. We must resist the temptation to pull apart for nothing frightens the enemy more than seeing us united as one.

All that we have suffered today economically, socially and politically is because we became too individualistic which God hasn’t designed for us. Our political leaders must find a way to bind together a common vision of progress and socio- economic development of the South-East.

There are things peculiar to us which no dictator or oppressive policy can take away from us. It’s for us to strengthen these potentials like our fathers did. We must therefore build on our political power through good governance, purposeful leadership and prudent management of resources.

We must take our community service and civic duty serious by registering to vote in elections. Whatever is the thinking of the enemy we must freely use our vote to vote against bad leaders that are not serving us any useful purpose. So if you are Igbo and you are reading me , my charge is that you must register yourself as a voter, you must obtain your national ID card, you must work hard and you must always cast your trust in God. I am not in doubt that God will bless us and raise for us a Moses.

Assassins in Ibadan, butchers in Abuja...

Fred Nwaozor

T

he last time I checked, the overall members of the Oyo State House of Assembly were deeply bereaved as a result of the sudden and untimely demise of one of their own in the person of Mr. Gideon Aremu. The deceased was reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen who stormed his Ibadan residence, precisely on Friday 1st July 2016.

The Late Aremu who until his sad departure was the Chairman of the Oyo State House Committee on Information and Security, was gruesomely murdered while driving into his house situated at Alakia area of Ibadan district. More devastatingly, the Labour Party (LP) legislator representing Orelope State Constituency and the only opposition member of the chamber was slain in his wife’s presence, while she was opening the gates for him on

his arrival. As the said gates were let open, two men riding motorcycles shot at him severally.

Funny enough, according to the source, the assassins waited several minutes afterwards toward ensuring he was really dead before taking their leave, as if the bullets weren’t enough. It was equally reported that they left with his cell phone. The spokesman for the state’s Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed the assassination disclosed that the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade had directed an outright commencement of thorough investigation into the killing.

One may boldly be of the notion that Oyo State is synonymous with such aforementioned crime. It would be recalled that penultimate year, on 1st April to be precise, the then Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Agugu police division in the person of Mr. Ike Nworgu was brutally killed by a certain angry mob. It was gathered

that the deceased who until his death was a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), was performing his legitimate duty at about 4pm on that fateful day till he responded to a distress call that a house located at Adekile area of Ibadan was about to be set ablaze by an irate mob over an unsubstantiated allegation that the place was being used as a ritualists’ den.

The DPO, on arrival at the scene, made a passionate appeal to the mob and prevailed on them to jettison their intent to commit arson. Therein, a holistic search of the house in question was conducted by the police officer with the help of some civilians present at the gathering but the allegation could not be confirmed. However, some disgruntled unscrupulous elements attacked the DPO in the process and inflicted fatal machete cuts on him, and further shot him dead. The callous hoodlums equally made away with his service pistol and eventually set the controversial

house among two others on fire having looted valuable property from the affected buildings.

It appears extrajudicial murder has become a legitimate act in Nigeria.

Barely few days after the assassination of the Oyo legislator, a certain group of religious fanatics slew an Abuja-based female preacher, Evang. Eunice Olawale in cold blood, at Kubwa - a suburb of Abuja metropolis. The 41-year-old Mrs. Olawale who happened to be wife of a pastor of the famous Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was dastardly butchered at about 5:30am on Saturday July 9, 2016 as she was, as usual, delivering her early morning street sermon otherwise known as ‘Morning cry’ in her neighbourhood, with her megaphone and Holy Bible. Her throat was reportedly slit, and therein her head was meant to rest on the Bible she used for the preaching.

•Nwaozor (frednwaozor@gmail.com) wrote in from Owerri.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Police retirement and Onovo's clarion call

F

ormer Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonnaya Onovo’s comment that the sacking of all Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and 21 Assistant Inspectors General in one swell swoop was unfair must have shocked many Nigerians.

But service practice immaterial, his reasons are worth a thorough examination in the interest of the force and the country as a whole.

To him, the sacking of the top officers four or more years before their terminal dates was most condemnable even though it got the nod of the Police Service Commission. For approving the retirement of the officers, he said the PSC has set a dangerous trend.

He described the action as a waste of human resources and invaluable police experience.

‘Some of the DIGs sent away still have about five years in service. Some of the AIGs have seven years in service. It is not fair. When we joined this job as Nigerians no one told us we can be sent away by mere whims and caprices of politicians. Onovo said bearing in mind the fact that’ they were trained both internally and outside the shores of the country, all the experiences they acquired through the years have gone with the retired officers prematurely.’

He wondered which experienced hands the current IGP would work with as he mounted the saddle without the officers forced out of the Force.

Interestingly, Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Ibrahim Idris attempted to justify the action,

occasioned by the appointment stating it was in conformity with of an AIG from the lowest level traditions among uniform personof the amounts to decimating the nel in the country in his words: “I force of its time-tested, experiwant you to understand one thing; enced officers. The timing was the Nigeria Police Force didn’t also very inappropriate. At a begin and end with me. Same period when the nation is battling thing in the military in Nigeria with various internal security and everywhere, uniform personissues like militancy, cultism, nel have a tradition. It happened armed robbery in Lagos, Ogun, in the military, not long ago. When Rivers, Nasarawa and nationwide Major-Gen Kenneth Minimah was kidnapping, in the face of defecappointed Chief of Army Staff tive intelligence and law enforceand many officers were retired. ment capabilities, wiping off a Besides that, Idris and indeed many top police generation of officers said that professional was justified and very thorbecause having ough officers his course mates with the wave When we joined this on the Police of the hand job as Nigerians no Management was anything Team would have but a product one told us we can be been counter-proof a thoughtsent away by mere ductive because ful considerwhims and caprices of their loyalty could ation. never be guaranWithout politicians casting asperteed.

Much as the choice was made

by President Muhammadu Buhari, we hasten to put our weight behind Onovo’s position and join the clarion call for the jettisoning of the destructive tradition in the general interest of the nation.

For one thing, an average police or military officer enlisted in the force to complete his 35 years of service or retire at age 60. During this period, he or she must have acquired invaluable training and hand on experience in policing and internal security as well as protecting the nation’s territorial integrity even at theatres of war.

Though the mass retirement

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sion on Idris’ operational competence and ability to manage the police, one undeniable fact is that the force is in dire need of sound police officers with track record to rise to current dynamics of crimes in the country.

At this time in our nation’s history, the country is in awful need of officers capable of drawing, and operationalising effective investigative, intelligence and operational plans and follow them to preventing crimes. And where necessary, such officers will gather evidence and arrest criminals to secure conviction in courts.

Years back when cross-border

banditry and bank robberies threatened the nation’s internal security and the likes of Hammani Tidjanni stormed many states in the South-West, especially Lagos and Ogun states, killing many Nigerians and herding convoys of state-of-the-art vehicles to Togo and Benin Republic, many tested officers rose to the situation.

That was when the likes of Deputy Commissioner of Police Amusa Bello, late Tunde Sobulo, Adenrele Shinaba, Umaru Manko and many others designed an operational plan which not only culminated in the arrest and conviction of Tidjani and his cohorts, but also led to the recovery of dozens of exotic vehicles and restored normalcy .Many Nigerians would remember then that Tafa Balogun, the then Inspector-General of Police mobilized the police to queue assimilate and operationalise his crime control strategyOperation Fire for Fire. The rest as they say is history.

Paradoxically, many of these DIGs and AIGs recently retired belong to that cream of officers who arrested the situation. Therefore, for reasons of continuity and effective crime control, the time to discontinue this waste of human resources and put in place a productive succession plan in the force is now. Otherwise, Nigerian will be positioning itself a laughing stock in the comity of nations my facing the current spate of internal security crises without with less suitable men.

16

POLITICS

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akpabio: Leading opposition for national unity Jackson Udom

“I

t’s not about going around trying to stir up trouble. As long as you’re honest and you articulate what you believe to be true, somebody somewhere will become your enemy whether you like it or not,” said Criss Jami, the author of the two-in-one book entitled “Killosophy” and the lead singer of the American rock band, Venus in Arms.

This well-thought-out statement to say the least, is accurate in describing the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Obot Akpabio's first 365 days in office as a lawmaker.

Akpabio has faced different criticisms for his politics of development and transformational leadership as governor of Akwa Ibom for eight years as well as his solid leadership of opposition senators in the current session of the National Assembly. But for the Ukana- born politician, politics had always been about the people and their interests, with the legal practitioner cum politician, always at the vanguard of causes and ideals that will better the lots of the people.

As governor, not only did he commandeer the transformation team that gives Akwa Ibom State a new image, he oversaw a state that now towers above its contemporaries in both physical and human developments.

As chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, he led his colleagues to defend the party from annihilators and aggressors who had conspired to rile it and destroy its very existence.

Though the 2015 general elections, especially the presidential election, was not the most accurate picture of Akpabio’s struggle and leadership of the party, it was no doubt a proof of his erudition and ebullience as a leader and primus inter pares. It was against the backdrop of the focused and articulate leadership the former governor provided to the PDP governors that he was chosen as the Minority Leader of the Senate, despite being a first-timer and what in legislative parlance is known as a non-ranking senator.

When that decision was made, tongues wagged; with most people expressing doubt in Akpabio’s ability to lead the opposition senaC O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

Akpabio

tors due to his perceived inexperience. Unknown or known to those who worked against his elevation to the revered position of the Senate Minority Leader, Akpabio entered the 8th Senate with over twenty years experience in public service and the last eight years in a chief executive position of the governor of not just a state; Akwa Abasibom State. Fifth columnists, especially some elements from the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were scared by the governor’s sterling credentials and his towering leadership testimonial had quickly moved to sow a seed of discord in the PDP over Akpabio’s choice.

Their fear was stemmed from the erroneous belief that having Akpabio as the opposition leader would create a lot of problems for the new government.

However, the PDP stayed resolute about Akpabio’s choice, just as his colleagues and ranking senators threw their weights behind him, passing a vote of confidence on his leadership ability and capacity to lead the opposition PDP in the Senate. Even when a member of the opposition party rose in stout opposition to Akpabio's elevation, the Senate President was said to have asked the said lawmaker of why he was crying more than the bereaved, in this case, the PDP. Three hundred and sixty five days down the line, that decision

SUF senators did not come directly to Saraki to lobby for the positions but used other influential persons who are close allies of the President of the Senate to pass their message.

He also told New Telegraph that, before Saraki consented to give out the "lucrative" committees to his antagonists, he had to seriously consult with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus for their approval because they had been his stronghold from the inception of his turbulent leadership.

According to the source, it was for that purpose that Saraki attended the meeting of the PDP senators at the residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu last

With Akpabio as Minority Leader, the synergy between the National Assembly and the PDP governors... became effective and solid

to saddle Akpabio with the onerous responsibility of leading the powerful PDP minority in the Senate has not only been a perfect one for the party, it is, indeed, a fillip for its vital drive to reposition and rebuild ahead of the 2019 elections.

With Akpabio as Minority Leader, the synergy between the National Assembly and the PDP governors as well as the party’s national leadership became effective and solid, as the former governor’s experience and relationships with most of the stakeholders are continually being deployed to the advantage of the party, and this was also manifested in the way the party handled the recent leadership tussle.

Secondly and most importantly, the minority party in the Senate, given its history of having ruled for 16 years, was feared and dreaded by the new ruling party as being capable of derailing its governance and ‘plans’ for Nigerians. This was why most APC stakeholders kicked against the overwhelming influence of the PDP in the emergence of National Assembly leadership back in June, with most of them shifting their ire to the emergence of Akpabio as Minority Leader of the Senate.

For this class of politicians, the fact that Akpabio was a vehement, ardent and intelligent supporter of the previous PDP government meant that he would “work” against the APC government at all costs.

But Akpabio, in one of his numerous press briefings on his positions and that of his party on issues brought before the lawmakers stated categorically that, " the PDP Senators are not here to play blind oposition, we will not oppose policies of government brought before this Senate, just for opposition sake. We will provide credible and positive opposition. We will suport any government policy that is aimed at making lives meaningful and bearable for Nigerians and we will oppose any anti people policies. We all want our president, Mohammadu Buhari to succeed, hence, we will not blindly oppose his policies the way the APC opposed us when we were in power."

True to his promise, in the one year of holding the sensitive post of Senate Minority Leader, not only has the Essien Udim-born lawmaker distinguished himself as a patriot, he has successfully put partisanship behind him in the interest of the nation by galvanizing his colleagues in the PDP

to support whatever will be in the best interest of Nigerians.

So far, not only has the PDP senators proved to be an integral part of whatever development will bring succour and comfort to Nigeria and deepen democracy, they have been active in opposing decisions, which they view as capable of setting back the country and derailing the developmental achievements of previous PDP governments. The recent public condemnation and denial of alleged plan by the APC dominated senate to invoke the impeachment clause in the constitution against the President is a major reference point in the resolve of the Akpabio-led opposition not to support any decision that would further heat up the polity.

Within the period under review, PDP senators actively moved to challenge the confirmation of an individual whom they felt his appointment would cast blight on the ongoing “anti-corruption” fight of President Muhammadu Buhari and also worked towards making life better for unemployed Nigerians through calls for the urgent implementation of the N5,000 monthly stipends to them. Though APC senators played opposition to both efforts and scuttled the PDP’s good intentions, the PDP senators stood for what they believed and one can only give credit to their leader in the Senate, Akpabio, whose style of opposition politics is legendary and aimed towards national unity, cohesion and development.

As the government of Buhari trudges on, many Nigerians have shifted their hope and focus to the National Assembly, which they believe would be the saviour at this auspicious moment.

Addressing APC Senators in one of their sittings, Akpabio said, "Inspite of all your efforts not to succeed, we're here to make you succeed."

However, since the APC senators have on a few occasions demonstrated loyalty to their party at the expense of Nigerians, the PDP senators are now considered the much-sought-after saviours, the true progressives who will put Nigeria and Nigerians first.

Fortunately, with Senator Akpabio as the progressive leader of this group of senators, the future can only be bright and better.

•Udom is Special Assistant to the Senate Minority Leader on Media.

Senate crisis: Saraki stoops to conquer week Wednesday.

He said that Saraki went as a mark of honour and reverence for the opposition lawmakers, for their unalloyed support and encouragement in his toughest moments, to explain to them about the committee reshuffle and get their advice on how to smoothly execute the proposal to bear the desire fruit.

New Telegraph learnt that it was in Ekweremadu's house that they finally agreed on the mode of the committee reshuffle, and summarily resolved on who got what, as later announced by Saraki.

Also another source reinforced the fact that the committee reshuffle in the Senate was actually designed to resolve

all pending grievances, in order to maintain peace, harmony and stability in the Chamber.

The senator who also preferred to speak off record, told New Telegraph that this last decision was one of the recommendations of the Senator James Manager-led Reconciliation Committee, towards bringing enduring peace in the crisis ridden Chamber.

The source said "the move is to ensure that everybody is carried along because the issue of committee sharing has always been a problem even in the previous senates and the House of Representatives. It was the decision of the leadership based on the recom-

mendations of Senator James Manager Committee".

On whether or not the pacified members of the SUF would withdraw their case in court, so that the forgery charges preferred against Sarki and Ekweremadu would be dropped, the respondents all said that it was not specified before giving out the committees to the aggrieved lawmakers.

However, Marafa and Hunkuyi did not pick their calls to confirm whether or not they lobbied for the committees allotted to them, neither did they respond to text messages forwarded to them by our correspondent to that effect.

17

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hardtimes Living on "mouth organ"

Inside Abuja

Transportation Cheers, jeers trail launch of Abuja-Kaduna rail line

18 20

Protesters at the gate of Wuye Ultra-Modern Market.

There has been a protracted crisis over the ownership of the Wuye Ultra-modern Market located in the Wuye District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

CALEB ONWE, who has been following the story, reports

T

he end to the imbroglio between the former First Lady of Benue State, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, and traders over the ownership of Wuye Ultra-modern Market, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, appears not to be in sight yet.

If not for the quick interven-

Unending crisis over N6.5bn market project tion of a combined team of the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), there would have been a bloody clash recently between the traders and suspected thugs allegedly hired by the developers at the market.

The traders, under the aegis of Association of Wuye Ultra-Modern Market Allottees (AWUMA) allegedly went to the market to take full possession of their shops and open spaces with a court judgement said to have

been delivered by Justice O.A. Musa of the Abuja High Court on April 29, 2015 in their favour.

The traders have vowed not to sheathe their sword until justice is seen to have been done

Onwuka NzeshI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

IGP Ibrahim Idris

Mrs. Suswam

Resurgence of violence The issue which has over time snowballed into a serious economic crises in Abuja, and hitherto remained a legal battle, is now gradually changing dimension, creating a situation that may threaten the peace, law and order in the nation’s capital, if no proactive measure is taken to forestall it.

Looking at the contending par-

ties, one thing that is common among them is frustration, exhaustion occasioned by the long journey in search of justice and depletion of resources that have been deployed in the process.

The traders said they cannot wait endlessly for the execution of the court judgement which the former FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Alkali Usman, who is now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, recognised and had directed that it should be executed before the sudden change in the Police.

Frustrated by the failure of relevant authorities and the feuding parties in the matter to show respect for rule of law and execute a subsisting court judgement delivered in favour of the traders, the traders mobilised members of their association and went to the market on Thursday July28 to forcefully take possession of their allocated shops and open spaces, which they claimed was legally allocated to them as affirmed by the court.

The attempt of the traders was however sternly resisted by suspected thugs allegedly hired by the All Purpose Shelters Limited, the company that developed the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

18

Inside ABUJA | SLUMS

A maize farm in Abuja

As the economic downturn takes its toll on Nigerians, some residents of Abuja are taking advantage of this corn season to fill the gap in their daily menu.

Corn, a local snack mostly prepared by women on the roadside, is now served as a full meal. DEBORAH OCHENI reports

A

s the economy downturn in Nigeria takes toll on foodstuffs, Abuja residents are taking advantage of this corn season as substitute to full meals.

Maize farming in Abuja and its environs is a very lucrative business of the season owing to the skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs in Nigeria. Maize also known as corn is one of the most common and important food crops across Africa; it is widely eaten in different form.

This season of fresh corn is a season that many homes await with all enthusiasm owing to the fact that it is cheaper than rice and wheat, two of the other most consumed cereals.

Amazing crop In most parts of Nigeria, fresh maize popularly known as ‘mouth organ’ in Karu Local government area of FCT is roasted or boiled on its cob and serve as snacks but such is not the case any longer. The hitherto snacks has been transformed to full meal.

During Inside Abuja’s visit to Karshi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, where corn is widely planted, some farmers noted that maize is a very lucrative crop as it matures very fast.

Abudu Karim, a Karshi-based farmer told Inside Abuja while harvesting corn on his farm land, that: “I graduated from the university in 2003, I have been in faming since then and I don’t think I am ready to quit anytime soon because the yearly proceed from my farm produce is nothing compared to the so-called annual salary. There is serious boom in corn this season; I did not really spend much in planting it apart from the money I paid labourers that helped in planting and weeding.

“Last year, we sold 10-15 corns at the rate of N100 but this year depending on the size of the corn we sell four or five corns for N100. You can imagine the difference and an-

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

People gathered to buy roasted corn

Living on "mouth organ" other fascinating thing about this season’s harvest is that buyers are after us thereby we don’t need to spend money bringing them to the market; buyers come to the farm to harvest and they also bear the cost of transportation.”

Another farmer who simply identified himself as Shehu said: “Walahi, corn sell well well this year, I don finish my house wey I dey build since because I get plenty money this year. This is the second time I am planting corn this year and you can see how it is growing (pointing to farmland with growing immature maize plant). Food don cost, everything don cost, so plenty people dey eat corn now.”

Why corn?

Johnchucks Isreal, a civil servant, said he eats corn daily because it is both affordable and satisfying. “I don’t know but I personally like corn, I take corn daily at least two corn after the close of work.

May be it is because it is affordable and satisfying, there is no way you will eat two corns and water that you will not be filled. I prefer corn to other processed snacks.”

Mrs. Rebbeca Aba, an entrepreneur and a mother of two, said she and her household eat corn as dinner most times because it is healthier than other affordable snacks.

“Rice is very expensive now even beans and yam. We cannot afford eating rice twice a day, so what I do is that I cook food once either rice, fufu or yam for breakfast and lunch then I will buy some roasted corn and pear or coconut home for my children with maximum of N250 and dinner is ready for all my family members. I don’t know if it is the change that is affecting the price of corn this year, it was cheaper last year

Road littered with corn peel

because as at last year you can get one corn at N20 but it now N50.

Thank God we are in the season of fresh corn,” she said.

There is no way you will eat two corns and water that you will not be filled

Challenges Nigerians are hardworking, smart ones maximise any opportunity that presents itself and such is the case of fresh corn retailers.

How do these less privileged in the society that depend on sales of fresh corn for survival cope with life when the season is over? This curiosity led Inside Abuja to find out from some those that roast corn by the road side what life means to them after the rosy season of fresh corn.

Madam Ugonma, a widow that depends on proceeds from sales of roasted corn to train her children, said she started the business of roasting corn in 2008 when her husband died to support her job as a janitor. “We were living an average life before the death of my husband in 2008. Things became so though for me and my children, somebody employed me as a cleaner with the salary of N7,000 monthly but the money was not enough to take care of my children so I decided to roast corn in the evening because I work as house cleaner from 7a.m. to 12noon,” she noted.

Ugonma added that she relies on selling oranges, roasted yam and plantain when there is no more fresh corn. “I am selling corn and pear now because we are in the season. I sell oranges, roasted yam and plantain when there is no more fresh corn, yam and plantain are very expensive now while fresh corn and groundnut is affordable.

So, what I do is to alternate,” she said.

Mercy Ajah, a roasted corn seller who has been in the business for the past 18 years, also falls back to

Mercy Ajah... roasting corn on the roadside

roasting yam when the season of corn is over. According to her, “I have been in this business for 18 years now and I use the proceed from here to train my children. It is expensive now and like every other business, it is either you gain or you lose. Before now we buy the bag at N1,500 but a bag is now N6,000. If the season of fresh corn is over, I will sell roasted yam.”

Medical implication Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, President/ CEO, Association for Reproductive and Family Health, noted that road side food is the most unhygienic.

He, however, said there is minimal risk if any in roasted corn since it passes through heat.

"For as long as those handling it are hygienic there is no any infection once you roast it because it passes through heat. It is just like popcorn; sometimes when those handling it put it in dirty paper, the person consuming it doesn’t know what is on the paper but somehow, most of them don’t have any problem.

“Somebody like myself will not eat road side roasted corn wrapped in local paper because if I do my stomach will be upset straight away but many people are lucky and unless one does a study to find out what proportion of people eating corn on the road side have problem for example; stomach upset, diarrhoea or vomiting, one cannot categorically say but it is not an ideal way to process food that we eat. I don’t subscribe to roadside food but it is just our culture and government cannot do anything about that, but there is a minimal risk if any that is why majority still patronies it. The meat they sell on the road is the most unhygienic; food that you eat must be properly protected”

Going the mouth organ way

Inside ABUJA

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Abuja Housing Show has come and gone, but one aspect of the event that will reverberate for a long time is the consensus among participants that what is needed urgently to resolve the over 17 million housing deficit said to be staring Nigeria on the face is positive actions. CALEB ONWE reports

T

he 10th edition of the Abuja Housing Show provided both policy makers and the major players in the housing sector the opportunity to brainstorm on how to expand access to affordable housing in Africa. It also exposed the encumbrances that have continued to inhibit the desired results in the sector.

While delivering a welcome address to the participants, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Chairman of Fesadeb Communications Limited, the organisers of the event, pointed out that there are certain factors that must be addressed urgently for a sustainable and affordable housing to be achieved.

According to him, for access to affordable housing in Africa to be expanded, Nigeria being the most populous African country in the world must get it right. He noted that the housing laws that are operative in Nigeria are long overdue for review.

Izunaso further pointed out that stakeholders in the sector must unite to take actions that will ensure that the 1978 Land Use Act that is still used for land administration in Nigeria is repealed and a more investment friendly legislation enacted.

He also urged both policy makers and the players in the industry to work towards reviewing the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Act, the National Housing Trust Fund and all other laws that that are needed to develop the housing sector.

Legislative intervention A strong indication emerged during the event that there is a well calculated legislative awakening aimed at salvaging the housing industry through laws that will create a more conducive environment for investors in the sector.

This disclosure was made by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, while delivering his speech at the event. He emphatically stated that the lawmakers were already working on the 1978 Land Use Act, with the aim of making it more compliant with the realities of the contemporary era.

Saraki urged stakeholders to identify all the laws that are not favourable to sustainable development goals in the sector and forward same to National Assembly for legislative actions.

Ministerial endorsement Abuja Housing Show was graced by the presence of the Min-

19

Abuja Housing show: So much talk, little action ister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. He used the occasion to further his propagation on what he describes as the need for developers of affordable housing to be predisposed to cultural heritage of the people in planning and designing homes.

The action plan he recommended to stakeholders is the need to always create a synergy with the government, especially the state governors in whose domain all lands resides. This, according to him, will further build trust and confidence required to accentuate accelerated development of the sector.

Organised labour kicks Abuja Housing Show was also embraced by the organised labour that took advantage of the events to ventilate their anger on what they described as government's hypocrisy to housing development in Nigeria.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), one of the major arms of the organised labour in Nigeria threatened to withdraw its support to the National Housing Trust Funds, over an allegation that the Federal Government has over many decades now reneged on contributing its equitable share to the funds.

TUC President, Comrade Bob-

The housing laws that are operative in Nigeria are long overdue for review

Cross section of dignitaries at the housing show

Turkish Ambassador (middle) at the show

boi Bala Kagama, noted with displeasure that the Federal Government which initiated the funds and established the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria through an Act for the purpose of managing the funds, has refused to contribute what is its obligation according to the law.

He also stated that positive action was needed to attain the destination as far as affordable housing was concerned, not talk shows that have not only remained counterproductive over the years, but also resulted to colossal waste of resources.

Kagama threatened that the organised labour might pull out of that arrangement if the wrongs that have continued to cast a shadow of doubts on the integrity of that funds is not urgently addressed.

"Yes, particularly the National Housing Fund Act made provisions for the Federal Government to make contribution to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) which has the responsibility of running the national housing fund, but unfortunately, neither the Federal Government nor the other government agencies like I said have contributed even a dime of their equity share to that bank, yet they are dipping their hands in the accumulated

funds of Nigerian workers, this is funny.

"It is only in Nigeria that somebody will contribute to a fund and will not have a say to the management of that fund. One hundred per cent of the funds is from the Nigerian workers. Yet, the workers have no say; government will give contracts for housing projects from the funds and those who give the contract will get their own cut, they will develop and some will not even complete the construction while their cut has already been received. And even when it is completed, the unit cost is being passed to the beneficiaries who cannot even afford it. That is why you see so many housing units in Abuja that are empty, because workers cannot afford it; yet it is their money that is used to develop it," he stated.

Also, the union is demanding that the 50 per cent of the board members of FMBN should be from workers who are the major contributors to the funds.

This, according to him, will guarantee effective and prudent management of the funds towards achieving sustainable development in the housing sector.

Private sector evaluation Some of the major players in the industry that spoke during the event made some revelations on the challenges in the sector and also proffered solution on the way out.

One of them is Dr. Chika Okafor, Chairman, Rock of Ages Properties Limited. He stated that what the sector lacks is sincerity of purpose and determination to do the needful.

He urged the government to adopt local technology and encourage people who manufacture building materials locally to sustain the effort. This, he said, will go a long way in reducing foreign exchange.

The Chairman of Urban Shelter Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, emphasised on the problems that have hampered the development of the sector.

He said that in order to resolve the ever widening gap of housing shortages in the country, the public and private sectors have to focus critically on doing essentially two things.

According to him, those essential factors include; creating the channels for accessing finance for houses and providing houses to the middle and lower income earners.

Thrill The event recorded participants from over 10 countries who brought so many innovations like the green house revolution, rent to own scheme and several others.

Exhibitors from several reputable construction and manufacturing industries were present at the event.

The foreign exhibitors showcased technologies that have helped in achieving sustainable and affordable housing in their countries.

20

INSIDE ABUJA

After 10 years of working behind the scene by successive administrations, President Muhamnadu Buhari had the honour of inaugurating the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

AMADI NNAMDI reports

Colourful inauguration The flag-off ceremony of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line last week held amidst pomp and pageantry.

At the ceremony which featured array of dignitaries, President Muhammadu Buhari described the completion of the project as a way of keeping with his vision of bringing about the desired change to make life easier for the generality of Nigerians through the development and provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure.

Buhari while speaking at the event stated that: “This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it. The train service will provide the much-needed alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, a corridor which has a huge potential for industries, agricultural activities and a growing labour force.”

The president assured Nigerians that “most state capitals and major commercial and production centres will be linked with railway system as a way of bringing about rapid socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of Nigerians and promoting social and regional integration.”

“Furthermore, I wish to also reassure Nigerians that due attention will be placed on pursuing the 25Year Strategic Railway Master Plan which is aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505km narrow gauge rail line and developing and constructing new standard gauge rail lines across the country,” he stated.

While commending the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and his team for ensuring the speedy completion of the project, he pointed out that “it is on record that between 1963 and early ‘80s, Nigeria had a vibrant rail system which conveyed agricultural and livestock and solid mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt seaports from where they are exported to other parts of the world.”

“It is our vision and hope that those good old days will soon be back with us and indeed in a more prosperous way with the restoration of rail transport system which today’s occasion symbolises,” he said.

Amaechi had earlier announced that the train has been attested to be very cost effective, as the fare from Abuja to Kaduna for economy class is N500, while business class will cost between N800 and N900.

The minister added that rail line with modern and fully airconditioned coaches will ease the transportation burden of all

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cheers, jeers trail launch of Abuja-Kaduna rail line

A driver boarding to work during the official flag off ceremony of Abuja-Kaduna Commercial Train Operation at the Idu Train Station, Abuja.

L-R: Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; President Muhammadu Buhari; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el Rufai; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Mahmud and the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during the event.

classes of the citizenry.

He expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, the ChinaEXIM Bank and the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, for their financial support and fulfilment of their responsibility and commitment to the rail project.

The Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, also said that the revival of rail transportation was important to the growth of the nation’s economy. “You know economy means transportation, that’s logistics, to be able to move from place to place both persons and goods. So, when you do that the economy will definitely shoot up.

“Some people fear going to Abuja to do some businesses perhaps due to the roads and timing.

The good thing about rail is that you can use your laptop because we intend to put a wireless service on the rail so that people can subscribe and use it,” he assured.

The project The Abuja-Kaduna rail is a standard gauge rail system constructed by Chinese construction company, China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCECC) that gulped $1.457bn.

Inside Abuja learnt that the

The train service will provide the much-needed alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State

project employed approximately 4,000 people and is expected to create more than 5,000 additional jobs.

It promises to make movement of goods and people between the two cities faster and more efficient. It is a 186km line with standard gauge railway tracks and nine stations and catering for both passengers and cargo trains.

The passenger trains on the line can operate at a speed between 200km/h and 250km/h. The travel time between Abuja and Kaduna will be reduced to one hour and each passenger train can carry up to 5,000 commuters.

According to Mr Lv Feng, the General Manager CCECC, Abuja Regional Office, the company has put in place measures to guarantee passengers safety. “We have been running it for more than one month now and it’s been safe. “A total of 68 Nigerians have been trained in the first stage of the three-phased training of train engineers. This operation is being operated now by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), but we are providing the technical support,” he stated Demolition and compensation Since the official flag-off of the

Abuja-Kaduna rail line last week, some stakeholders have been revisiting the various issues surrounding it.

Owing to the length of the rail line, traversing several communities, many buildings had to give way while a number of bridges had to be built across locations where the rail line cut through existing roads.

In the process, the contractors incurred huge responsibilities in terms of monetary compensations. For instance, in Byazhin, a community in Kubwa District of Bwari Area Council, a number of private estates, residential buildings and even hospitals fell on the rail track and were either instantly demolished or quit notices served on their owners to warn them of the advancing bulldozers.

Inside Abuja learnt that in many of these demolitions, compensations were not paid hence creating a negative impression of the project in the minds of the populace.

For instance, one of the outstanding cases was that of St. Vincent De Paul Hospital, Byazhin, Kubwa hospital which was founded by some Roman Catholic missionaries led by Rev. Sister Geraldine Henry and managed by Reverend Sisters of The Daughters of Charity congregation.

They only got some form of compensation three years after they were forced to vacate some of their buildings after the intervention of Amaechi.

Amaechi, earlier in the year, had observed that the payment of compensation on properties to be demolished had been the major impediment to the commencement of operations of the railway.

The rail project also witnessed series of commencement postponement. Couple of times, the commencement dates were shifted to enable the provision of adequate security and logistics for the railway.

On one of such occasions, during a routine inspection carried out by Amaechi, he announced that the flag-off date was rescheduled in order to give Buhari time to perform some religious obligations during the festive sallah period.

Reactions Similarly, there have been mixed reactions about the project, particularly when the commissioning became an avenue for the two main political parties in the country to flex muscles. Nigeria's leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), derided the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that after one year of its administration, it had no project to commission except the PDP’s railway project.

PDP said that the APC government appropriated the project, which was conceptualised, awarded and constructed by the PDP’s administrations.

The party’s spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, explained that the rail CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’re ready to partner financial institutions – Bello Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

M

inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has said that the FCT Administration will partner with financial institutions across the country to play very important roles in property development in Abuja.

The minister gave this assurance when the Managing Director of the Jaiz Bank Plc., Mr. Hassan Usman, paid him a courtesy call in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

He reiterated that the partnership would surely make available the needed funds for the development of properties in the territory with beneficial multiplier effects on the society.

Bello emphasised that the collaboration would stimulate economic activities in Abuja, thereby,

providing skilled and unskilled employment opportunities across board.

He specifically enjoined Jaiz Bank Plc. to continue to be in the forefront in participating in the property development of Abuja, stressing that the market has a lot of untapped potential.

"You have been known to be a very good important player in the property market and you know here in Abuja, the property market constitutes an important segment of economic activities.

“The FCT as you know has mandate for the entire Territory, which includes the six Area Councils. A lot of our interventions are commercial related.

Some are educational or social; but whatever service we provide, the need for financial institutions like yours is always there. So, we will continue to partner with you,” he said.

Indian investors to create 5000 jobs Caleb Onwe Abuja

A

n India firm, Triton Group, is to expand its investment and operations in Nigerian agribusiness with the target to save foreign exchange of over $125 million per year and also create 5,000 jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

The disclosure was made in Abuja when the group led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Raju Samtani, visited the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Samtani told the minister that his group, a global conglomerate

with presence in about 10 countries, has a mega agriculture project at Seriki village in Oyo State.

The minister advised the group to train Nigerians in aqua culture and other areas of agriculture.

The group while expressing its determination to execute a five-year plan designed to enable their firm reach 100,000 metric tons of local production of fish and poultry, requested that the minister allocate to the firm land production of tilapia and catfish.

The group said that it had identified Gurara in Kaduna State and Doma in Nasarawa State for the project.

FG flags off graduate youths empowerment Caleb Onwe Abuja

A

s part of the efforts to encourage youths to embrace agriculture, create employment and boost food security, the Federal Government has launched the first ever graduate youths empowerment scheme in agriculture.

Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu who flagged off the empowerment scheme in Ejiba, Kogi State, reiterated the commitment of the Muham-

madu Buhari-led administration to agriculture, youth empowerment and job creation.

Adamu assured that the administration was committed to catering for the needs of all citizenry and will not abandon any segment of the country to a life threatening situation.

The Governor of Kogi State, Ahlaji Yahaya Bello, represented by his deputy, Simon Achuba, stated that there can be no meaningful development or empowerment in food production without water.

21

Abuja residents groan under AMAC extortion Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

A

ctivities of some officials of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) are already making life unbearable for many residents of Abuja who are small scale business owners as well as taxi drivers.

AMAC which is the central area council in the nation's capital controls and collects taxes from residents and businesses operating in the city.

It has become a common sight in Abuja for fierce looking and hefty young men to stop taxi drivers operating in the city demanding for one tax or the other in the name of AMAC. From Wuse District to Berger and Jabi areas of the city, the touts are always lurking in the corner of the road waiting for traffic lights to stop motorists to latch on to their unsuspecting victims.

But those who have fallen victims of some officials of the Area Council

who way lay taxi drivers and shop owners to collect certain tariff said they are not finding it easy with the incessant extortion they are passing through in the hands of these touts.

Inside Abuja gathered that these officials operate at liberty by imposing tariffs they dim fit on businessmen who are struggling to make a living.

Findings revealed that some of them are often dressed in mufti with a bib or dressed in green for those who chase after Abuja taxi drivers.

“The most notorious of this lot are the ones that go to offices looking to extort and obtain money from the business owners,” a source who is a victim has said.

“They came to my office saying I should pay N150,000. Right there, I negotiated that same amount to N50,000,” he said, adding that it would be impossible to negotiate if the fee was set out by law based on certain parameters.

“How was it possible for someone posing as a

collection agent to just negotiate it with the business owner, just like that?

On whose authority?” he queried.

Another victim in one of the plazas in the Jabi area of Abuja narrated how five hefty looking men, dressed in mufti stormed his office.

“What ensued could easily have passed for a regular armed robbery case except for the fact that these ones had no guns. Five of them came, claiming to be collection agents from the now notorious AMAC. One of them said that my rate is N150,000 because I have a large office. This person has not enter my office yet he determined the size of the office by merely imagining a sum.

“But he said that is how we do it! And after a heated argument he raised it to N300, 000 and issued a document to that effect which he signed as Bulus Aba. Mr. Bulus Aba also made it clear that the stipulated amount was different from other AMAC charges, which he promised would come

later,” the victim said.

Our correspondent reported that there are several cases of AMAC officials or those claiming to be AMAC agents victimising shop and business owners in Abuja.

The victims are saying that activities of AMAC has made Abuja the most expensive place to do business in Nigeria and called on government to look into activities of AMAC officials and bring the situation to a halt.

A taxi driver, Olaniyan John told Inside Abuja that the fear of the touts working for AMAC is the beginning of wisdom for many taxi drivers in the city.

He disclosed that they usually come with certain tickets that they would ask driver to buy for about N200, noting that failure to buy it will lead to payment of another N3,000 as fine.

However, efforts to reach out to the Special Assistant on Media to AMAC Chairman, Dayo Lawal, for reactions to this allegation were not successful as his mobile phone line was not available.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni; Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Mrs Joan Ayo; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita; representative of the Vice President, Pastor Oluseyi Malomo, and other officials, at the memorial service to mark the Civil Service Week celebration in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Cheers, jeers trail launch of Abuja-Kaduna rail line C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 0

project was conceptualized by the Obasanjo administration and successive PDP administrations of President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan commenced work and built the project to 99 per cent completion.

They argued that the only work done by Buhari on the project was the commissioning.

The party said the usual rhetoric of the APC had always been that the 16 years of PDP’s rule were years of waste, and rhetorically asked if the railway project was also a waste?

Contrary to the argument pushed forward by PDP, the leadership of APC has vehemently argued that although the government of Jonathan commenced funding

of the project, it had however been on the drawing board for a longer time, adding that it was Buhari that successfully completed the project in just one year.

Making this assertion recently, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun stated that “the project’s speedy completion was achieved within this period, despite attempts by past governments to break the jinx since 2006 when it was first muted.”

Employment prospects According to the chairman of CCECC, Mr. Yuan Li, over 5,000 jobs were created during the construction period and its operation while more than 1,000 permanent jobs were created in addition to the over 10,000 job opportunities that would emerge as a result of train

operation.

Going forward, Senator Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate, has assured that the New Nigerian Railway Bill has been passed to ensure that the desire of the present administration to revamp the rail system was not jeopardised.

Saraki also stated that in order to attract more investors and improve the transport sector, the lawmakers have in their wisdom decided to allow the issue of rail to be on both exclusive and concurrent list of the constitution.

He expressed optimism that with the return of the rail system in Nigeria, the country was on the way to joining the league of other countries where the rail system has boosted its economy, adding that rail transportation holds lots of prospects for the nation’s economy.

22

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Unending crisis over N6.5bn market project C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

market. The market is valued at approximately N6.5 billion.

Inside Abuja gathered that the frustration of the traders was compounded by the refusal of the developers to obey court orders, and the inability of the Police to execute the judgement of Justice Musa which affirmed the right of the 707 allottees to "occupy, use and enjoy their shops or open spaces" allocated to them by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Background of the project The market, which was built on 7.3 hectares of land under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Built, Operate and Transfer initiative, and subsequently inaugurated by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan in February 6, 2015, has remained shut out of economic activities, due to several litigations that have trailed the project.

The traders have vowed not to sheathe their sword until justice is seen to have been done. To the traders, justice can only be seen to have been done when they are allowed to take full possession and enjoy their shops and open spaces purportedly allocated to them by the administration of the FCT. The traders are aghast at what they call “outright disregard to a court judgement by those who are supposed to enforce the judgement”. Their cry also to whoever that wants to listen to them is that All Purpose Shelter Limited, an estate company allegedly belonging to the former Benue State first lady and the developer of the market, is trying to rip them off unjustifiably.

They argued that the shops and open spaces were allocated to them by FCTA with all necessary payments duly made to Aso Savings and Loan Plc., as was directed by the government.

According to their counsel, Sepiribo Peters, the traders secured the land for the construction of the market, under the aegis of Association of Wuye Ultra- Modern Allottees, in 2002 as approved by the then FCT Minister.

Peters also said that the allocation was an interventionist measure of the government to ameliorate the hardship of the traders who have suffered a series of inferno incidents, resulting in loss of lives and properties worth millions of naira.

The last of such inferno that eventually displaced the traders is said to have occurred in December 2001, at the new Wuse Market, where the NNPC mega station is now situated.

Explaining further, he said that the traders are entitled to their shops and open spaces, as they had paid the money to the FCTA in respect of the allocation, as directed by the then FCT minister, Abba Gana.

“Instead of delivering the shops to these poor traders, the FCT wants them to pay millions of naira to a private company for another re-allocation of same

Protesters at the gate of Wuye Ultra-Modern Market.

shops to the tune of N5 million,” he said.

The traders are of the opinion that the age-long refrain that “the judiciary is the hope of the common man” has lost its efficacy in this case. Their view is predicated on the allegation that Suswam’s wife and company have flagrantly disregarded an extant court judgement.

On April 2015, an Abuja High Court entered judgement in favour of the traders against the defendants in the effect “that the defendants shall allow the plaintiffs to have and enjoy quiet possession, occupation and use of their various shops and/or open spaces lying and ‘situate’ in Wuse Ultra Market, which is also lying and ‘situate’ in Wuye District, Abuja” The traders said that they are emboldened in the fight, considering the fact that judgement of a competent court of jurisdiction remains valid until it is been appealed at a higher court.

More disturbing to the traders is the stance of All Purpose Shelter Limited, that has not appealed the judgement, but is already collecting money and re-allocating the shops to undeserving members of the public who do not know much about the court’s pronouncement over the market.

Another portion of the judgement which Mrs. Suswam and her company have been accused of violating is “that the defendants are hereby restrained perpetually either by themselves, servants, agents, privies however described from reallocating or in any other way giving possession of the plaintiffs shops and/or open spaces in Wuye Ultra-Modern market lying and ‘situate’ in Wuye District, Abuja to any other person.”

Expectedly, the unending faceoff between the warring parties is gradually degenerating into a dangerous impasse, capable of crippling the economic landscape of Abuja residents and further

dealing more deadly blow on economic fortunes of the traders who have no other occupation apart from buying and selling.

The chairman of the traders association, Chief Ifeanyi Ezejim, has also accused the police of taking side with the developers without properly evaluating the situation and the pronouncement of the court. He said that while the police have continued to prevent the traders from going into the market, they are providing escort for Suswam’s wife and her company staff into the market.

Ezejim who is worried that the company is fraudulently reallocating the shops to people, also warned members of the public to be wary of such transaction as they may be given a defective or invalid title.

The developer built the market with bank loan and that interest on the money is running on a daily basis

Disquiet over the complacency of FCTA Curiously, the FCTA and other agencies of government involved in the transaction have also been accused by the traders of complacency and also trying to “rewrite” the judgement of the court.

In the opinion of the traders, the statutory fees which the judgment allows them to pay cannot be the “outrageous prices” which the FCT Administration is allegedly pushing them to negotiate with the developers and pay.

Actions of the developers The developer is said to have started advertising and selling the shops secretly at, N3.5 million for 9ft by 10ft size shop, N4.8 million for 12ft by 13ft size shop, while a small size warehouse goes for N8.5 million.

Irrespective of the cry of the traders and subsequent resistance, Suswam and her company have resolved not to leave anything to chance in protecting their investment and possibly recouping billions of naira that went into the construction of the market.

According to their legal advis-

er, Lekan Oguleye, the developer built the market with bank loan and that interest on the money is running on a daily basis.

He stated that the same government that purportedly gave the traders allocation paper was also the one that gave the developers a list of over 5,000 other individuals that should benefit from the shops.

Ogunleye argued that the traders grossly misunderstood the court judgement. In his opinion, the court never said that the traders should not pay before taking possession of the shops. However, to get further clarification on the order, he said their company has approached the court to expatiate on that order, and that the matter will come up November 10, 2016.

This is even as he revealed that other people have been paying the developers in millions of naira in respect of the shops, since 2007.

The big issue now is who determines what the ‘statutory fees’ will be, and who will it be paid to? Since the thinking of the traders is in sync with the position of the other parties on the matter of fees to be paid.

Another complexity in the matter is the disagreement between the traders and the developers on the number of shops available in the market. While the developers maintain that there are only 1,600 shops, the traders alleged that there are over 4,000 shops available in the market.

The traders claim that the developers are intentionally concealing many of the shops for the purpose of defrauding the original allottees.

Another bombshell from the developers which the traders described as the “action of a drowning man” is that the letters released to the traders were clearly marked “letters of provisional offer of allocation of shops/ or open space” which is dependent on the other conditions stipulated in their letters of provisional offer.

23

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

Business

26

‘Discos retain only 24% of money collected’

Homes&Property Tenants spend 60% of income on housing

27

What's new Property market yet to feel impacts of $6bn Eko Atlantic City p.24

Expert to FG: Focus on infrastructure, reforms p.24

L-R: Divisional Chief Executive Officer, Switching and Processing, Interswitch, Mr. Akeem Lawal; Chief Evangelist, Chatpay, Mr. Gbanga Adams and General Manager, Mobile Finance Services, Craft Silicon, Mr. Niladri Sekhar Roy, during the launch of Chatpay at Civic Centre, Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NAMA to install N2bn lightings at Lagos runway

CHEERY NEWS Absence of lighting at runways compromises safety standards

Wole Shadare

T The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

here are indications that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has concluded plans to install airfield lighting project at the Lagos airport domestic runway, popularly referred to as Runway 18Left.

The airstrip had existed for over eight years without the important facility that disallows aircraft to land after 6pm.

A top official of NAMA, who spoke to New Telegraph, said the equipment, which would cost over N2 billion, adding that the agency plans to complete the project by December this year.

Electing that his identity be veiled as he wasn’t’ authorised to speak on the matter, he said: “I want to tell you that we are working on that facility because it would help to reduce congestion of airlines for take-off and landing and we will be able to get more rev-

enue. This has been on for so long but we plan to put an end to it.”

NAMA had in 2013 installed solar-powered lights at the domestic runway with many criticising the acquisition as a waste of money when good equipment could be procured to serve the airlines.

A former Managing Director of NAMA, Nnamdi Udoh, had told reporters that the installation would guarantee uninterrupted light at the runway and would cost less to maintain, as the agency intended to extend the project to other airports.

Even at that, airlines could not land on the runway beyond 6pm, raising curiosity as to why the equipment was bought in the first place.

Apart from the three Nigerian International airports - Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and the Port Harcourt International Airport - that have functional airfield lighting, relatively a few other airports in Nigeria have a functional lighting for night depar-

N1.5 billion Being value of the cash Nigerian domestic carriers lose annually to lack of runway lighting

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

ture and arrival. Runway lighting allowed for operations in the dark or at times of low visibility, it forms an integral part of any runway at a modern airport.

A standard airfield lighting runway must possess details, including colour, intensity and extent of the runway threshold lights and any wing bars; the runway edge lights; the runway end lights and any wing bars.

Others are any runway touchdown zone lights; any runway centre line lights and any stopway lights.

But in Nigeria, airports with no runway lighting include, Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, Yola, Kaduna Airports, Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport Sokoto, Yakubu Gowon Airport – Jos, Sam Mbakwe Airport – Owerri, Katsina Airport. Others are Minna Airport, Ilorin Airport, Ibadan Airport, Akure Airport, Benin Airport, Makurdi Airport, Zaria Airport, Warri Airport and Bauchi Airport.

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2016...........................16.5% May 2016.............................15.6% April 2016........................13.7%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel Market as at July 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N378 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N495 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N415

l Foreign Reserves – $26,229 as at 26/7/2016

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N316 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N410 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N345

24

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

OVERVALUED Analysts say rents in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki areas remained inflated above fair value Dayo Ayeyemi

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arely five months to the end of 2016, impacts of the $6 billion Eko Atlantic City are yet to be felt in the property market, New Telegraph understands.

According to projection, the first phase of the expansive city and real estate developments on a reclaimed land in Lagos waterfront is expected to have been completed by now, thereby increasing the level of housing supply in Lagos, especially Victoria Island (VI).

But findings have shown that the six major buildings/ office developments in the city, which their construction started three years ago, are yet to be completed.

Eko Pearl, one of major developments in the city has reached 60 per cent completion stage.

According the current survey of vacant properties in the upper class neighborhoods of Ikoyi, Lekki and other high enclaves in Lagos by experts, impacts of Eko Atlantic city are yet to be felt, as low vacancy and high rental values still persist in these neighbourhoods, especially Victoria Island.

It was learnt that the recent low-pace in the development of Eko Atlantic city was not limited to global plunge in oil revenue, but current economic environment, foreign

NAMA to install N2bn lightings at Lagos runway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

According to investigations, when it is 6pm, no aircraft takes off or arrive these airports, because they lack runway with airfield and approach lighting, which could guide the pilot to land on the runways and also taxi to the apron in the night?

Further investigations have shown that Nigerian domestic carriers lose over N1.5 billion annually to lack of runway lighting. The airlines that were supposed to work 24 hours operate for 12 hours because there is no lighting to make them work round the clock.

Also, the absence of lighting at runways also compromises safety standards of the airports.

In many parts of the world, it is basic that an airport runway has accompanying airfield and approach lighting, which guides the pilot to land on the runway and also taxi to the apron in the night.

Property market yet to feel impacts of $6bn Eko Atlantic City exchange policy and dwindling in subscribers’ purchasing power.

Although, the promoters of Eko Atlantic City, Messrs South Energyx Nigeria Limited recently completed an eight-lane arterial road stretching over 1,500 metres long in the emerging city, real estate experts said that this milestone is yet to translate to housing supply in the neighbourhood.

Eko Atlantic city sits on 10 million square metres (sqm) of land in which five million has already been reclaimed from the ocean. The project is estimated to cost $6 billion.

As at last count, 1,000 sqm of land in the city costs $1,250.

It would be recalled that in 2006, South Energyx Nigeria Limited was awarded the concession to reclaim land, develop infrastructure and

act as the exclusive authority over the development of Eko Atlantic City, next to Victoria Island in Lagos.

Meanwhile, latest report

by Bismarck Rewane-led Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), showed that real estate markets in upper class neighborhoods of Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi have a marginal increase in the vacancy factor from 171 to 172 in June 2016.

This, the report said, implied a 72 per cent rise in the number of vacant properties based on the housing stock as at January 2015.

Analysts noted that rents in these areas have remained inflated above fair value and continue to be responsible for the high rate of delinquency and abandonment of property.

The study also confirmed that Victoria Island has the

lowest level of vacancy.

“This area has a preponderance of mixed-use developments and converted properties (adaptive re-use).

Properties originally meant for residential are subsequently converted to commercial use,” the report said.

They described Lekki as ‘the big loser,’ noting that vacancy rates were highest in the suburb, adding that it also has the largest number of residential developments.

They noted that Admiralty way, a major commercial street in Lekki, has the largest number of vacant properties.

“Ironically, in spite of the high vacancy, Lekki has the lowest level of uncompleted projects. “This might be because of the level of developer optimism that the market will turn around soon,” the ana-

lysts said.

According to the report, residential vacancy factor index (VFIX) increased by 6.6 per cent from 177 in March to 189 in June 2016.

It stated that commercial VFIX on the other hand, has remained flat at 148, explaining that the huge gap between both indices was due to the fact that residential properties have a higher sensitivity to economic downturn.

The analysts noted: “A residential property can easily be vacated without the tenant incurring a huge cost. Business, however, will face high costs for moving and so the decision is not made as quickly.

“For example, companies will face switching costs like changing addresses on business cards and will most likely lose some customers as a result.”

L-R: Executive Director West African Ventures, Alhaji Ibrahim Sambo; Legal Manager, Uchenna Agwagon; Chairman, Oil & Gas Committee, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce & Industry; House of Reps Committee Chairman, Emmanuel Okon, committee member, Henry Ofongo; Head, Safety & Environment, WAV, Mr Eddy Bassey and Reps committee member, Loveth Idisi, during the ongoing verification of indigenous marine capacity, at the shipyard and fabrication facilities of West African Ventures, in Onne, Rivers State.

Expert to FG:Focus on infrastructure, reforms DIVERSIFICATION Experts want inclusive national long-term plan that outlives any political party in power Dayo Ayeyemi

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he Federal Government has been urged to make huge investments in infrastructure and institute institutional reforms to drive the current efforts geared towards diversification of Nigeria’s economy.

Lecturer in the Department of Finance, University of Lagos, Professor Sunday Owualah, made this call during the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) Annual Distinguished Lec-

ture in Lagos.

He stated that pillars of diversification were not limited to expansion of economic base of nation’s agricultural and industrial manufacturing outputs.

He cited the example of economic diversification in Saudi Arabia with its vision 2030 aimed to liberate the Kingdom from its primary reliance on oil.

The lecturer pointed out that the consequences of Nigeria’s failure to diversify her economy away from oil were evident in breakdown in physical and socio-economic infrastructures, depreciating value of the naira/scarcity of foreign exchange/low foreign reserves and rising inflation.

He listed others to include rising level of unemployment, declining revenues for government at all levels, slid-

ing foreign investment flows, harsh business environment and high probability of severe contraction of the economy.

Harping on investment in infrastructure development, the lecturer stated that a number of projects have fuelled demand for Saudi real estate, adding that the economic diversification plan addressed house ownership and affordability and hopes to increase the rate of home ownership from the current level of 47 per cent.

He said: “2.5 per cent tax on white land (empty plots) is expected to boost construction activity and raise revenue for the development of affordable housing projects.

He added that specific policy targets were to stepping up investments in education (science/technology; technical/vocational education); de-

velopment of specific sectors and industries, investments in physical infrastructure and strengthening of the legal and regulatory environment to reduce cost of doing business. Also include are encouragement of entrepreneurship and innovation via improved access to ICT, finance and research and development (R&D).

The lecturer stressed that Nigeria’s economic diversification should be an allencompassing and inclusive national long-term plan that outlives any political party in power He noted: “Nigeria’s touted current diversification plans apart from focusing on the rudimentary and mundane, are not holistic, hence cannot go far in putting her on equal pedestal with her oil producing counterparts.”

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

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BLACKOUT Two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity Adeola Yusuf

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he United States (US) and its partners have announced plans to generate 30,000 Mega Watts of cleaner and more efficient power for Nigeria and some other countries in Africa.

US Consul General, F. John Bray and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Nigeria, Michael Harvey, said this during their visits to Edo State.

They said that this initiative is part of the assessment of the progress of partnered investments that advance U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature initiative Power Africa.

Announced by US President Barrak Obama, in 2013, Power Africa is working with African governments, the private sector, and other partners to add over 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and 60 million new connections in

South Sudan under studies Nigeria gas flare-out model Adeola Yusuf

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he South Sudan has deployed engineers on Nigeria to understudy the gas flare out model operated by the country.

The board of directors and executive management of South Sudan’s state hydrocarbon company, Nile Petroleum and Gas Corporation Nile Pet, disclosed this during a working visit to Nigeria.

The two-fold mandate for Nile Delta, according to Africa oil and gas report journal, are gas utilisation and monetisation – To propose solutions towards the elimination of gas flaring and the commercialisation of gas through the implementation of gas production, processing, distribution, and sale projects in South Sudan.

“Another is crude oil production optimisation – To propose solutions, designed to achieve the reduction of produced water, maintenance of reservoir pressure, and ultimately increase the volume of net crude oil production.

“It was NilePet’s first PanAfrican joint venture, and it was created only after NilePet had sent its staff to Nigeria to observe firsthand, how gas flare-out and other operations at NDPR’s Ogbele Integrated facility were achieved with wholly Nigerian staff,” the report read.

The South Sudanese had

Long queues for kerosene at filling station in Lagos

US, partners mull 30,000mw power generation for Nigeria, others sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

“The work of bringing much more electricity to many more people in Nigeria and Africa is well underway,” Consul General Bray said in a statement.

“Two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity. We recognise the great challenges ahead.

“But through Power Africa, the United States and our African partners are committed to improving lives, and energiz-

T

he Ekiti State Commissioner for Public Utilities and Infrastructure, Mr Deji Adesua, has assured to Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) of the state government’s commitment to partner with it, to enable it achieve its corporate objectives, even as he canvassed prompt payment of electricity bills by citizens of the state.

He gave this assurance during a Town Hall meeting held at Olojido Palace, IdoEkiti, at the weekend.

Mr Adesua, according to a statement from BEDC, said the plea for electricity payment on regular basis was informed by the fact that responsibility for the collection of revenue shared by the entire power sector value chain rested on BEDC, hence only prompt payment of bills can facilitate the realisation of such objectives.

He noted that the idea of prompt payment for electricity would enable BEDC serve the people of Ekiti State better since it was only one of the company’s four state of operation.

Adesua also requested that BEDC should outsource the procurement of prepaid meters to licensed contractors since according to him, it is the only way to ascertain the customers’ actual consumption.

ing economies.”

Consul General Bray and Mission Director Harvey toured the construction site of Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant, a landmark 450 MW open cycle gas turbine power plant that represents Nigeria’s first new plant in over a decade.

Power Africa officials and USAID worked with the government of Nigeria and the private sector to set the power plant on a successful trajectory.

The construction of AzuraEdo Power Plant is bringing hundreds of jobs and the prospect of reliable energy to Edo State and beyond.

Consul General Bray and Mission Director Harvey also visited Ihovbor Power Plant to assess how best Power Africa can assist.

The US officials also discussed ongoing cooperation with Benin Distribution Company, as part of a two-

year agreement signed in May 2016 for Power Africa to provide consultation aimed at improving systems and infrastructure for more reliable consumer access to electricity.

While in Benin, Consul General Bray and Mission Director Harvey met with Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole and His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.

Ekiti to residents: Pay your electricity bill Speaking at the occasion, Chief state Head for Ondo/ Ekiti, Mr. Ernest Edgar, said BEDC is entitled to only nine per cent of whatever power is generated in the country and this will be shared among the four states under the company’s coverage.

He stated that the need for prompt payment by the customer was the only antidote for more power to the customer.

Besides, he explained the nature of distribution of electricity, which he said is naked, could only explain why most people steal illegal connection or hanging of wire at night.

He district accountant explained to the audience different payment channels avail-

able to the customers, which according to him, include Point of Sales (POS), commercial banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or online payments. He advised customers not to give cash out but rather use any of these means made available

by BEDC. In another development, as the country explores the diversification of the economy as a means of ensuring national survival following the continued drop in the prices of crude oil, the Chief State Head, Ondo/Ekiti, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) Mr. Ernest Edgar has said that electricity is a crucial enabler for sustainable development and growing prosperity in the area of

agriculture. BEDC, he noted was an enabler and willing to partner with government, citizens and potential investors on economic re-generation.

Mr. Edgar, who made the assertion said that there was hardly any branch of agriculture, which electricity should not be employed, made the remarks in a paper titled “Electricity as an Agricultural Enabler in Ekiti State, which he presented at the Ekiti State Agricultural Summit held at the Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Iyin Road in Ado Ekiti.

He highlighted the various uses of electricity in agriculture, which includes fertilizer production, Irrigation, storage and agro-allied Industries.

NDPHC upgrades 3 Gas insulated substations in Lagos Adeola Yusuf

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he Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has taken took delivery of three upgraded Gas insulated substations from contractors in Lagos.

Pivot Engineering Company Limited (PECL) and its partners, including Siemens Transmission & Distribution

SAS France and Siemens Nigeria Limited, which said this at the weekend in a statement, added that they have completed three power transmission projects in Lagos.

The projects were for the upgrade of Gas Insulated Switchgears substations in Ajah, Lekki and Alagbon (Ikoyi) areas of Lagos to further ensure reliable and qual-

ity power supply to the state.

Speaking on the project, Bayo Oluwafemi, the GM Projects of Pivot Engineering, said that the three substations upgraded “are very unique and among the few GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgears) Substations embarked upon

by NDPHC as majority of the other substations have AIS (Air Insulated switchgear).”

26

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Energy

‘DISCOS retain only 24% of money collected’ hydro including Jebba, Shiroro and Kainji .

All the others including Egbin power station depend on gas and we have to pay power producers as well and that leads to tariff increase.

Executive Director, Association of Electricity Distributors (ANED), Mr Sunday Oduntan in this interview with ADEOLA YUSUFF speaks on the response of the association to the price hike reversal, challenges of electricity theft and victimisation of DISCOS staff by the military. Excerpts

What is the status of the power sector particularly the distribution of electricity?

We clamoured for the Federal Government since 2013 to live up to the obligations as contained in the performance agreement, which we both signed at the point of take over. The crucial part of that agreement, which the government did not obey was that the electricity product would be appropriately priced.

What is contained in that agreement was a cost-reflective tariff effective from November 1, 2013. Two and a half years later, nothing of such happened and the effect of that was that there was a big shortfall. Hence, the falling gap and the needed investment have not been sufficient enough because Discos businesses are not bankable.

A business is bankable only when banks and other financial institutions can look at your bottom line and see that they can finance it and be able to recoup their investment. But when they know that an entrepreneur is running a business at a loss, they would not be able or willing to finance it.

So, that was the situation and until December 2015 when the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) board was constituted at the eve of their departure, a new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015 that was supposed to be effective from February 1, 2016 was approved.

For that to take effect on February 1, 2016, there was a shortfall and another shortfall in January 2016.

Nevertheless, from February 1, 2016, we had a tariff that was structured over a 10-year period. This was designed in a way that Discos under recover now and then recovered later.

It is over a 10-year period and tariff is up. Sometimes in third year, the tariff would start coming down.

That is the model and we are not the one that invented it.

This method that we are using in Nigeria was copied from New Delhi in India where it has worked very perfectly and other countries like Georgia and several countries in Africa have adopted this model.

However, where we are today is that a gentleman went to court

Oduntan

and a court judgment, which had been given asking us to reverse the tariff.

It means just when we think we are getting there, we were sent back to the drawing board. As for the court case, for me as a lawyer, I respect every judgment and every court ruling.

The Discos as a body, respect the judgment and shall obey it, and do the appropriate things normally done when we receive court judgement for such instance.

Users of electricity need to be aware of the fact that we still have the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which is the apex court where the finality lies.

I thanked the Honourable Judge for his judgment, we respect it and we shall obey it. We shall follow the rule of the court in taking the next step.

Back to the issue in the electricity sector, people also need to realise that there is a value chain in this sector. We have the generation companies, transmission companies and the distribution companies. So, when we are talking about tariff, this tariff is not all about the Discos alone. The Discos only receive 24 per cent of what is collected and all the rest goes to the value chain.

For instance, 11 per cent goes to the transmission companies and four per cent goes to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) because they gave us intervention loan, which some people mischievously call bailout. It is intervention loan payable over a 10-year period at the rate of 10 per cent.

Another four per cent goes to NERC and other stakeholders in that value chain. Fifty Seven per cent also goes to the generation companies because they have to pay gas suppliers. Remember, in this country, we use gas and out of 26 power plants that are working now, only three of them are

Federal, states, local governments, ministries and agencies owe N100 billion

Since you have accepted the verdict of the court, are you going to return the amount collected as 45 per cent hike in tariff back to customers?

I have just told you that there is what we refer to as the rules of court and I just mention to you what we call finality.

The finality of any judgment or any court processes lies with the Supreme Court. So, when you have a judgment of the High court and you are appealing that judgment at the same time filing a Stay of execution of that judgment pending appeal, I think we still have some other steps to take.

I have no doubt in the Honourable justice. In this case he would give us the opportunity to appeal and grant us a stay of execution in the interest of Nigerians, not in the interest of the Discos.

We want to put Nigerians first because all of us should work together so that this sector will not collapse or else we would wake up one morning and everywhere would be dark.

Once the power sector crumbles, it affects everybody everywhere including the presidency; businesses and all of us would be affected.

We need to come together to save the sector, where ever we get it wrong, we need to be corrected and sanctioned but wherever others are stealing energy for instance or people are not paying.

For instance, Federal, states, local governments, ministries, and agencies owe N100 billion.

The worse among them is the military especially the Army. The Nigerian Army is a set of bullies that owe debt and refuses to pay.

When we persuade them, they harass and beat us up. Under Ibadan Disco at a place called Alamala in Abeokuta, they assigned one of the officers to beat up our staff in the dispatch room.

If people do not pay how do we invest in the system? How do we even refund our loans?. Do not forget that there is an acquisition loan on this.

There was 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent loan investment in the power sector. When you invest in system like this, there are allowable ravines. When you can’t collect revenue, that means your collection losses will keep going up. Your commercial losses, which is the energy theft, keep going up.

How do we revive the industry?

People need to have light, how do we ensure that there is adequate power supply? What we are doing now and thanks to the present Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola is working on incremental power, which allows us to increase the power through generation everywhere. That leads to increase in distribution.

After incremental power, we can now discuss stable electricity.

After stable power, we now discuss uninterrupted power supply.

Those are the three phases we

are working on. But we are stalled on how to get incremental power because the Niger Delta Avengers are denying us the much needed gas to fire the turbines.

Now the power plants are performing below their installed capacity and when they cannot generate, we cannot distribute.

We can only distribute what has been generated to us. So, when we talk about the power sector, we should remember the value chain, we should know that they are interconnected to each other. We should be thinking of how to reach 20,000 megawatts (mw) that would guarantee stable electricity.

As a stakeholder, how do we address the issue of inadequate gas supply and challenges of Niger Delta militants?

The issue of essential power supply is linked with Niger Delta militants. I think government needs to be up in their game.

I do not believe we should negotiate with criminals. We should negotiate with stakeholders in Niger Delta instead. All the bombers are not from heaven and they are within our communities in the Niger Delta.

We should also address their reasonable grievances. The Federal Government should look at that as a way out of the Niger Delta problem.

The military also should do their job particularly by focusing on intelligent gathering and get to the root of the matter.

I think we are covering criminals in our communities. I don’t think we are doing enough in terms of intelligent gathering in this country. It is not just using force, consultation also matters.

If the area is peaceful, there would be opportunity to supply gas.

Government has a very credible and sustainable roadmap to sustain that.

I remember that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) senior officials also partake in our power sector’s meeting every month. I have no doubt that NNPC has a very good and robust plan of how to get gas to the power generating stations. The problem that we have that is delaying us from progressing is the consistent and continuous criminal bombing of the gas pipeline not about planning.

What price do you think is adequate to help Discos recover cost?

Power tariffs are set by the regulator anywhere in the world including Nigeria’s NERC. They consider a lot of factors relating to the cost of doing business. They take into account, bank interest rates, foreign exchange and many more.

We need a price that can cover the cost of production like any other products. It is not for us to fix price, it is the duty of the NERC and we agreed with MYTO2015 as a good starting point.

Not that we were there yet but we are going there. Prior to MYTO 2015, we had a shortfall of over N300 billion down and nobody is talking about that. We are not even talking about who is going to pay that.

From November 2013 to January 31, 2016, there is a massive shortfall in that system to that funding gap because we didn’t have that funding gap.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

27

Tenants spend 60% of income on housing Real estate stakeholders have x-rayed various challenges confronting affordable housing in the country and suggested ways out of the woods, Dayo Ayeyemi reports

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ontrary to United Nations (UN)’s advocacy of 20 to 30 per cent income for rent payment, most tenants in Nigeria currently pay over 60 per cent of their disposable income.

This scenario, experts in the sector say, is due to huge number of housing deficit and absence of virile mortgage industry in the country.

The experts and policy makers, who converged on a three-day event tagged: “Abuja Housing Show,” canvassed for effective mortgage system with indigenous technical inputs and private participation to enhance home ownership among Nigerians.

Themed: “Expanding Access to Affordable Housing in Africa,” the professionals identified serious barriers to housing provision in Nigeria and canvassed proper amendment of the laws and the constitution in this regard.

Experts and policy makers at the forum include the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Governor of Kano State, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje and professors of architecture, University of Lagos, Olumide Olusanya, among others.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the forum, the participants described the current commercial banks lending rate as unaffordable.

They said: “There is no quick fix to Nigeria’s housing problems.

We need to address all the challenges. There is no doubt that Nigerians can and are building houses. What is needed is access to affordable housing.

“But, there is need to define affordable housing, knowing that a 100 per cent home ownership is a utopia.”

Land Use Act While a section of audience favoured the repealing of the Land Use Act of 1978, others canvassed for total enforcement of the law.

“Since legislation is not the problem, there is no need to revoke the Land Use Act. We only need to enforce it and put a cap on it,” they said.

Stakeholders in the building industry had in the past identified

Units of threebedroom flats in HOB Housing Estate, Akure, Ondo State

the 1979 Land Use Act as a clog in the wheel of housing development in the country.

Addressing the audience, the Senate President urged them to identify extant laws that required amendments and come up with a roadmap for addressing the housing deficit in the country.

Affordable housing On affordable housing, the experts said there was need to really define what is affordable to different strata of the society.

They pointed out that affordable housing had the potential to create jobs as it has a large market.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, called for synergy between government and the private sector in order to bridge the deficit.

Fashola noted that splitting the N35 billion earmarked in the 2016 budget for housing across the 36 states would only amount to less than N100 million, which can build only a few houses.

To make affordable homes available to the target group, the stakeholders said: “We need measures in place to prevent the rich from buying off potential low income houses. We must also differentiate between affordable housing, social housing and lowincome housing.”

To bridge the nation’s housing deficit, housing experts urged the governments at all levels to get involved in deliberate housing provision.

They noted: “Government should and needs to be involved, because only 54 per cent equity contribution has worked.

Government can provide land cheaply to reduce cost by 25 per cent.

“Government can provide

infrastructure to reduce cost by another 25 per cent. Mortgage loans can be amortised successfully when deducted from source.”

Experts said there was need to really define what is affordable to different strata of the society

Mortgage The forum noted that mortgage had been misunderstood as loans for new builds or home completion.

Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) observed that contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) hardly had access to mortgage, lamenting that the NHF has never contributed its equity to the fund.

The stakeholders urged mortgage handlers to consider a programme to renovate existing homes, saying they may be of great consequence in solving the problem of land for development.

“Empty existing structures may be reconfigured for mass housing instead of mansions, for highest and best use,” they said.

The forum also canvassed for reduction in bureaucratic bottlenecks in the mortgaging sector.

The experts pointed out that Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) housing contributions and NHF’s 2.5 per cent of income, interest at six per cent worked so fine for 20 years after inception.

They, however, noted that contributions from beneficiaries were meagre.

Other constraints faced by FMBN, they said, included inability of institutional contributors such as banks and insurance companies to pay directly to FMBN. “Also, prolonged loan processing and associated charges have become problematic,” they said.

To enhance easy access to

mortgage, the housing experts urged the government to limit its role to creating enabling environment, adding that it should concentrate on how to take away cost of land, waive charges and focus on the full implementation of the NHF Act. “There is need to enhance labour productivity through paradigm shift and building technology with job creation,” they said.

Urban regeneration The forum canvassed for urban regeneration to bailout most Nigerians that are currently living in slums with no access roads, water and light.

“We need urban regeneration not new built houses. For example, in 1977, roofing loan was introduced. Since it takes 15-25 years to build a house due to lack of finance and, not land, then massive urban regeneration through instruments such as home completion loan can help.

“Cooperatives can also come in because there is no collateral but membership of a cooperative society,” they said.

Besides, the forum urged stakeholders in the private sector to develop resilient housing finance strategies within volatile economy.

The communiqué read: “For instance, husbands and wives can consider making mortgage contributions with legal backing.

“Others include shared equity scheme, rent to own and the approach to Nigeria Police Force (NPF) cooperative.”

Conclusion From the foregoing, the forum needs the stakeholders to think global and apply local solutions to immediate housing problems, while embarking on synergy.

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Business | Homes & Property

HOUSING DEFICIT Nigeria requires 700,000 housing units yearly to bridge 17 million shortages

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Experts to govt: Invest N800bn pension funds in housing

Stories: Dayo Ayeyemi

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orried by current economic downturn, which has further limited activities in their sector, surveyors in the country have called on the National Pension Commissions (PenCom) and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to look at possible ways to devote N800 billion pension fund into direct investment in real estate.

Relying on Section 86 (H) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, they stated that investible total pension funds had reached N5.6 trillion and that 15 per cent of the amount (N800 billion) ought to have been made available for investment in real estate/construction industry.

The Pension Reform Act 2014 allows PFAs to invest 15 per cent of their funds in real estate.

The experts, under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), raised posers about the whereabouts of the deposit, in view of the findings that more than 17 million Nigerians were in need of housing.

Speaking on: “Investment of Pension Funds and Idle Funds in Housing Development” at the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCDP) programme organised by NIESV, Lagos chapter, Principal Partner, Ubosi Eleh and Company,

Participants at the 10th Abuja Housing Show held last week in Abuja

Mr. Chudi Ubosi, said that the N800 billion might just be idle in the banks.

“Where has the money gone? Is it in the bank yielding interests rather than investing in real estate?” Ubosi asked.

He described Nigeria as one of the few countries in the world with no mortgage.

Ubosi canvassed for the removal of regulation limiting direct investment of pension funds in real estate, saying that PFAs should be allowed to invest directly in real estate for economic development.

Besides, he said the impact of this singular amendment to the Act would make fund available for mass housing

development.

He added that the economy would be the main beneficiary.

However, the Director General, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, told the audience that direct investment of pension funds in real estate was not allowed due to the difficulty associated with valuation of property and its liquidity or tradability.

According to her, property is not amenable to easy disposal.

“In valuing property, you may have two to three values. It becomes difficult. We found that investing directly in property is cumbersome,” she said.

Surveyors decry intrusion by non-professionals

W

orried by the spate of encroachment into their profession by others, built environment professionals, under the auspices on the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos chapter, have been urged to take over what belongs to them.

Speaking at the 2016 Cocktail with Fellows held in his honour by the Lagos chapter of the association, a former President of NIS, Dr. Olusola Atilola, urged surveyors to take over all opportunities offered by the profession and move their careers forward.

He expressed worries over

the manner in which surveying had been relegated to the background, adding, “each time we make progress, we draw back.”

He said: “Most of the areas where we have competence are now being taken over by other professionals except cadastral, which has to be signed.”

He tasked his colleagues to wake up to the reality on ground, urging them to make good use of the profession.

Atilola urged NIS to revive the compulsory professional development training programme, saying, “this is the way to go.”

Chairman of NIS, Lagos

Chapter, Mr. Gbenga Alara, who described Atilola as a distinguished fellow, said the event was meant to celebrate the contributions and landmark achievements of leaders of the profession.

He said: ‘They have been able to inspire and influence, perhaps consciously and have therefore thrown up thought patterns for generations of surveyors.”

At this crucial time in the life of the institution, Alara said members would be expected to look up to some leaders for inspiration and direction in handling some burning issues.

Lagos to remove structures under high tension

A

s a confirmation of its zero tolerance for all structures and properties built under high tension cables across the metropolis, the Lagos State government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to owners to remove such shanties.

Commissioner in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Anifowoshe Abiola, a town planner, stated that buildings on the Right of Way (ROW) of high tension electricity cables were dangerous, illegal and a source of serious concern to the state.

He said: “Having residential

buildings or conducting business under high tension power lines constitutes a danger to lives and properties that could have fatal consequences” The commissioner stated that the state’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, prohibited building under the centre-line of over-head electricity wires.

Besides, he said the law also specified the distance to be observed between a property and a public utility such as the PHCN high tension cables.

“The state government, through its relevant ministries

and agencies, will henceforth, enforce applicable law strictly by removing all development and activities encroaching on the right of way of utilities and services” the commissioner said.

The required setback for buildings from the centre-line of overhead wires and horizontal distance between such buildings should not be less than six meters for 11KV wire lines and nine meters for 33KV wire lines.

Fur ther more, the recommended setback for 132KV wire lines is 15 meters, while a 22.5 meter setback is recommended for 330KV power line.

Represented by one of her officials, Mr. Ibrahim Kangiwa, the director general confirmed that the new pension scheme made provision for increased investment in construction and housing.

He pointed out that the major objectives of pension funds had to do with safety of fund and assets, and fair return on investment.

According to Ubosi, provision from the law guidelines gave room for Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) to invest directly in real estate while Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are restrained.

Nigeria’s hotel room revenue to hit $507m, says PwC

H

otel room revenue in Nigeria is expected to grow to $507 million in 2020 from the $321 million achieved in 2015, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has said The expected major increase in hotel room revenue in the next four years, according to the report, would hinge on increases in both stay unit nights and average room rates.

The experts noted that in spite of the challenges in the nation’s hotel market, new hotels were springing up.

According to the report, there are a number of new hotels planned or under construction, with a forecast that additional 4,700 rooms will be added in Nigeria in the next five years.

They noted: “Hotel room revenue is expected to grow to $507 million in 2020 from the $321 million achieved in 2015, due to increases in both stay unit nights and average room rates.

“The hotel market in each country is affected by both the local and global economy, with some countries being more dependent on foreign visitors than the others.

“The growth forecast is therefore dependent on how well both the local and global economy performs and grows over the next five years.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

29

AVIATION

Arik Air

Nigeria is firmly positioned to reap abundantly from aviation, occasioned by huge potential in the sector. But dominance of the market by foreign airlines, small aircraft capacity and faulty policies have eroded the gains that should have accrued to the sector. WOLE SHADARE writes Frittered air pacts igeria has become the butt of jokes for her inability to position the aviation industry and for failing to capitalise on the different Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) it has with many countries.

Many are of the opinion that what is the use of signing so many BASA’s without plans to activate the pact? Perhaps, the government did it with the hope that sooner than later, airlines from the country would decide to fly to the destinations, which agreements had been signed.

This underscores the fact that the air transport system is still in the woods. From a few foreign carriers that were flying into Nigeria a few years ago, the number continues to increase by the day. The global economic recession however, slowed the expansion of airlines, with some cutting down or closing routes, while few others reduced their frequencies.

It is time for a high level meeting of all aviation industry stakeholders to review where we are as a country, where we should be and how we can get there.

A former Managing Director of an airline who preferred

N

Nigeria not reaping from budding aviation market anonymity, said he would recommend that, “we sit down together and find practical ways to transform the Nigerian aviation industry.”

Adjustment to recession The recession has forced Emirates, which hitherto used to operate two flights daily into Lagos to cut it down to just one flight daily, reducing the frequencies to Lagos from Dubai to seven instead of the 14 it used to do.

Others such as British Airways, Air France and others deployed smaller but same quality of services on the Nigerian routes but South African Airways recently added Abuja to its destination in Nigeria. Ethiopian Airways is regarded rather sarcastically as Ethiopian Airways domestic airline in Nigeria because of the way it has spread its wings to Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Kano.

Not many know that Ethiopian has only activated the air liberalisation policy of Yamoussoukro Decision that liberalised air transport in Africa. Nigeria is a signatory to the pact that is fully yet to be complied with.

Africa’s huge size The need to enter into what is known as Africa’s type of ‘Open Skies’ was because of the cognisance of the continent’s population that is growing rapidly without effective and strong air links.

The current high population growth rate began in the second half of the 20th century, when the number of people on the continent almost quadrupled from 230 million to 811 million.

For airlines in Africa to survive and prosper in today’s world, they need a critical mass of aircraft

By 2010, this number reached one billion and if current demographic trends persist, Africa’s population will be 1.4 billion in 2025 and 1.9 billion by 2050.

The size and rate of expansion of a country’s population, its wealth and trade activity are all indicators of the level of aviation activity that might be expected. Cities with a large population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and high airline capacity (seats) may indicate a potential location for a viable hub. Nevertheless, there are only a few significant hubs in Africa such as Johannesburg (with the largest level of connecting traffic) followed by Addis, Cairo, Casablanca and Nairobi. The low level of connectivity in West Africa is notable, reflecting the lack of hub airlines.

Air treaties Two key treaties/decisions in Africa relating to liberalisation in the aviation market are the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the ECOWAS Treaty.

The objective of the former is the gradual liberalisation of scheduled and non-scheduled intra-African air transport services.

Of the 54 African states, 44 have signed and formally became parties to the YD and in theory, therefore, should have a liberalised air transport market in operation, both within and between them. In practice, however, this is not the case: the YD has not been implemented, or has only been partly implemented, and whilst it is cited on occasion in bilateral air service agreements, it is not, in practice, taken into account

during negotiations for air traffic rights.

Experience in other countries shows liberalisation provides opportunities for airlines and benefits for consumers, resulting in passenger growth.

Foreign airlines dominance Unfortunately, while the continent’s carriers are not taking advantage of the YD pact, foreign carriers have taken over the domestic market, amending and/or convincing government for more routes to expand their operations.

This development has been accelerated by the unfavourable aviation policies being signed by our government with other foreign countries- a policy that grants them (foreign airlines) multiple entry points into our county. Nigeria has BASA with over 60 nations that are not used or reciprocated by Nigerian airlines.

The Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration was most guilty of hurriedly signing bilateral agreements without thinking them through, fuelling insinuations that huge amount of money may have exchanged hands as the foreign airlines had a field day because of the disadvantaged position the local carriers found themselves.

They were helpless and lack the wherewithal to make their voices to be heard.

This is detrimental to the growth and development of the domestic arm of the industry.

At the rate we are going, the multiple entry point policy, operators maintained would damage indigenous operators.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

30

BUSINESS | AVIATION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SAHCOL boss seeks good mgt of Nigeria’s airport SEAMLESS TRAVEL Airlines want reduction in time spent on apron

Wole Shadare

F

or passenger to have a seamless travel experience, the entire airport operation process should be managed as an integrated system.

This view was shared by ViceChairman of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr. Chike Ogeah.

Ogeah, in a presentation he made at the just concluded at Accra Weizo 2016, held in Accra, Ghana, said for airport operations process to be managed as an integrated system, stakeholders, airlines, airport operators, ground handling service providers and government agencies have to play their roles.

The expert disclosed that the airport operator has a major role in identifying service gaps by knowing if they are delivering on their promises to all stakeholders; get feedback from airport users, create a performance score card for the entire airport community and measure performance periodically.

He also noted that the implementation of action plan, identifying who, when and creation of a reward system to engage airport employees, would provide good airport experience.

To the passenger, the airport experience is viewed as a single continuous part of their trip, unaware that airport operations actually involves different stakeholders; the airline, the airport operator and the ground

Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

handlers, all working together to deliver a seamless passenger flow.

Consequently, Ogeah stated that airlines are demanding shorter turn around period, noting that extended ground time prevents the airline from generating revenues.

His words, “For an airline, reducing non-productive time spent in the apron is priority. This should be done to boost flight frequencies and attract schedules. Doing this would help to enhance competitive edge, increase passenger volume and more revenue.”

It would be recalled that the air transport industry has promoted the idea of seamless travel for many years.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) vision for its current Fast Travel programme is that 80 per cent of passengers be offered a complete suite of self-service options based on industry standards.

What that means for the passenger is a faster and smoother journey as that

Nigeria not reaping from budding aviation market CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 29

Expert’s view A former Secretary General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Nick Fadugba told New Telegraph that it would be very difficult for the government to rework the policy.

Once you have given away your market in a legally-binding air services agreement, it is difficult to renege on the contract.

His words, “How do you tell a foreign airline that you have given, say, 10 frequencies, that you are reducing the number? Even if we do so, do we have local airlines that can readily fill the gap and provide the same efficient and high quality service?

“It has become a big problem for airlines in Nigeria because various Nigerian governments have been very generous in giving traffic rights, concessions, designations and entry points to non-African and African airlines alike. Meanwhile, Nigerian airlines are now left with just three per cent of the air traffic market to and from Nigeria.”

African airlines collectively carry only 20 per cent of the air passenger

traffic to and from Africa. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa as well as the most vibrant air transport market on the continent.

It is hard to rationalise and justify why Nigerian airlines have such a small share of their own market. The fact remains that Nigeria is a signatory to the Abuja Treaty of 2004 under which the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999, liberalising African skies, is legally binding. Nigeria has no choice than to abide by the treaty.

Conclusion For airlines in Africa to survive and prosper in today’s world, they need a critical mass of aircraft and air traffic and an optimal route network. For Nigerian airlines, they are small and very weak. Arik Air, to its credit, has most of the ingredients to be effective and efficient. It has the largest airline fleet in Nigeria, with over 20 modern aircraft, the largest route network and almost certainly the largest revenue turnover. So, the size and scale of an airline’s operations are important. It is very hard to compete against bigger African and international airlines with just a handful of aircraft.

demonstrates how airports are using such technology to enhance the travel experience.

With the growing popularity of self-service and other seamless travel measures, IATA estimates that for outbound passengers, 10 minutes from curb-side through to duty free is

possible and is already happening at a number of airports today.

The inbound journey is more difficult to predict because at major hub airports the distance from the gate to the baggage carousel can be extensive and border control has to be factored in.

RwandAir begins daily flights to Lagos Wole Shadare

E

ast African carrier, RwandAir has concluded plans to begin daily flight services between Kigali and Lagos beginning from October 1, 2016.

This is coming as the carrier plans to connect flight services between Lagos and its hub in Kigali into Far Eastern routes including Mumbai in India and Guangzhou in China, according to its Country Manager, Ms. Ibiyemi Odusi.

Part of reasons why the airline decided to operate into these routes, she said is to bridge in services by the airlines operating on the route.

Odusi said the airline would deploy a bigger aircraft on the route to give passengers value for their money.

She also spoke of plans by Rwand Air to extend flight services between Kigali and China as well as Mumbai in India.

Her words, “We are planning to launch two new routes for the Nigerian market, they are Mumbai and Guangzhou in China. We did our marketing research and discovered that Nigeria has a need for more carriers into the Far Eastern routes, and as a strong player on our current routes, we thought there is a great need to satisfy our passengers . ”By September, Rwand Air is taking delivery of an Airbus A330, with a flat-bed in business class, fee on-board Wi-Fi mobile

network, world-class in-flight entertainment which will serve these new routes .

She said that by December 2016, the company would take delivery of another Airbus plane to further service the routes to complement their Nigerian routes, adding that as an airline, they feel the need to empathise with their customers by giving them quality aircraft as travel time increases on routes.”

The Country Manager said the airline has pursued an ambitious fleet growth programme with eight aircraft in service in the four years of its existence.

She said before the end of the year, the number of aircraft on the fleet of Rwand Air would have increased to 10 brand new airplanes.

She said the carrier would offer Nigerian passengers, generous baggage allowance on the new routes, it has introduced, with a bigger aircraft that would give them enough space for their baggage in addition to offering competitive fares to attract passengers interested in medical tourism in India.

Odusi said, “There is a huge gap in flight services for Nigerians interested in flying into Mumbia and Guangzhou.

The number of airlines flying into these routes is not enough.

That is why Rwand Air is tapping into this opportunity to further add value for our passengers.

We are driven by the core values of safety, on time departure and excellent customer services.”

31

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pledge VC promises to sustain Covenant Varsity’s vision

Education

Overhaul Obasanjo urges FG to overhaul education system

35 35

EXCELLENCE

For their brilliant performance and for lifting this year’s national ENACTUS trophy, Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY) Team, will represent Nigeria at the ENACTUS World Cup Challenge, billed for Canada in September

Mojeed Alabi

I

t was a moment of joy for Kamilia John (not real name), a 10-year-old Primary Five female pupil of a private school in Kaduna.

For John, her dream to acquire education had suddenly crumbled like a pack of cards following Boko Haram’s attack on her parents’ home about three years ago, had forced them to relocate to one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.

But, for providence, her hope of going to school has again been rekindled by the Enactus Team of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State, which adopted James and 10 others from their IDPs Camp and facilitated scholarships for them at some private schools in Kaduna.

Reliving her experience, John told New Telegraph: “I lived in Polo, GRA in Maiduguri with my parents until about three years ago, when Boko Haram insurgents attacked and bombed our homes. We were later taken to the IDP camp, when some people came to open classrooms for us after more than two years we did not have the opportunity to attend school.

“They later offered to take us away from the camp and I was selected among the 11 children.

Initially, I feared that I was being taken away to be killed as some of my friends I learned were killed by the Boko Haram sect. But, after the camp leaders talked to me, I agreed to go. Today, I am a proud child. I am happy now that I do not want to go back to Maiduguri.”

John, like her 10 other counterparts, was in Lagos last week for the first time in company of the polytechnic’s Enactus team.

The little girl, who was so ex-

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Members of the team with their trophy

ENACTUS 2016:

KADPOLY’s intervention for IDPs lifts the trophy

cited and beaming with smiles all the time, seemed to have put her plight behind her, as she was bubbling with joy and jumping from one place to the other in the hall.

It was at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, where they had been camped with other higher institutions’ students who are members of Enactus teams from more than 30 universities and polytechnics across the federation.

The event was this year’s edition of the ENACTUS Entrepreneurship Challenge, organised yearly by ENACTUS, a global entrepreneurial-driven nongovernmental organisation with presence in over 35 countries of the world.

The competition is a platform for students of high institutions across the globe to design and implement innovative entrepreneurial projects, with a view to harnessing and developing their entrepreneurial skills and competence towards addressing societal ills.

The Lagos event came ahead of the World Cup of the entrepreneurship challenge, billed for September in Toronto, Canada.

We developed a special curriculum for teaching the traumatised children...

The national edition featured teams from more than 30 different institutions, both public and private, which showcased innovative projects targeted at addressing one or two socio-economic or political problems in the country.

For this year’s national crown, four institutions slugged it out as finalists, on Friday, July 28.

The teams are from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State; the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State; the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State and the Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), Kaduna State.

The tension-soaked challenge, which was witnessed by key stakeholders in the nation’s business, industry, governmental and non-governmental sectors, including the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Perry John Calderwood; the General Manager of Silverbird Entertainment, Mr. Jonathan Murry-Bruce, among others, featured creativities and innovations at their peak.

The ABU team’s projects presented are the Solar Initiative for Empowerment and the Conversion of Waste Products to Pro-

duce Items such as polish; while Covenant University team’s project are Ecobag and Palmwealth Projects; the team from the Federal Polytechnic, Idah showcased Rice Husk Gas and AITA (Agriculture is the Answer) projects; and the Kaduna Polytechnic’s innovation is Power to the IDPs Project.

The Ecobag project for instance, according to one of the Faculty Advisers from the Covenant University, Mr. Michael Fagbohun, is an innovation that helps to retain temperature of substances for as long as 72 hours, proffering solutions to electricity charges and helping to save cost and maximize business profit.

Meanwhile, beyond the power of the innovation, are the communication skills and presentation styles of the participants, where emotion is brought into play.

This is where the Kaduna Polytechnic Team had an edge.

The team, led by its leader, Adikpe Emmanuel Odeh, brought to the fore the dehumanising lifestyles of the Internally Displaced Persons in various camps across CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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education

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

LASU’s Senate approves reviewed students’ code of conduct

Fagbohun

Kayode Olanrewaju

M

embers of staff of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos have been advised to be above board in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities to the students and university.

This was as the university Senate at its 229th Statutory Meeting of June approved new code of conduct for the students. This was coming on the heels of certain irregularities discovered in the existing students’ code of conduct of the institution that may hamper

Parents warned over wards’ excessive exposure to TV Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

P

arents have been advised to discourage their children and wards from addiction to too much exposure to television, video and TV games, as this portends greater health risk for the children.

According to a medical expert, Dr. Samuel Harrison, excessive exposure to television and video games, is dangerous for the health of children and adults as long hours of sitting down at a spot has negative effects on legs’ cells.

Harrison gave the warning during the speech/prize-giving day and graduation ceremony of Excellent Kiddies Montesorri Academy (EKMA), Abuja.

He also enjoined parents to make their wards available to routine immunization as well as special immunization for diseases such as hepatitis and polio, among others.

While advising parents to keep clean environment in order to promote good and healthy living, the medical personnel advised parents to go for medical check-up at least twice in a year.

This was as he recommended dental check-up for adults and children, adding that people should eat well of food comprising vegetable and avoid eating heavily.

“Children should have more time to sleep to repair their cells and system. We should avoid watching television and video for two hours at a stretch. Sitting down is a risk to our health. We should have at least 30 minutes of exercise every day,” he said.

In her welcome address, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Esosa Imudia, noted that the school’s standard has reached an enviable position as it can compete with its contemporaries within and outside the country.

LASU entrance

the implementation of code and also affects the entire university community.

The Senate, however, approved the reviewed students’ code of conduct that will now guide the conduct of the students on campus.

Specifically, under the approved reviewed code, violation of the university dress code would be treated as serious misconduct.

The new code of conduct specified: “Without prejudice to section XIX of LASU Code of Conduct for students, which expressly lists out what constitutes indecent dressing, specifically wearing of facecaps and sagging of trousers is completely outlawed in the university, and shall attract

immediate and indefinite suspension of violators from the university, pending hearing of the case at the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

“Any suspended student found within the university campus during the period of his or her suspension, except on invitation of a statutory body of the university or officer so assigned to carry out such duties shall be summarily expelled.”

The Section VIII of the code of conduct as amended now states: “Students are also reminded that suspension from the university implies suspension from participation in academic activities on the campus.

Any suspended student who continues to attend academic lectures or course or partici-

pate in any other students’ activities on the campus while the suspension is still in force shall be summarily expelled from the university”.

Under the amended and approved code, members of staff, both teaching and non-teaching found entertaining, attending to, keeping company of or aiding and abetting suspended students, shall face appropriate sanctions.

It, therefore, states that members of staff are strongly advised to desist from interacting with students who are indecently dressed.

The Senate further noted that some staff members are in the habit of divulging information to students; while those who are members of the Students’ Dis-

A cross section of the graduating pupils of Al-Adeedat Model and Primary School, Lekki, Ajah, Lagos during their graduation ceremony.

High tuition forcing Nigerian students abroad home –NUC Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he outgoing Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie has attributed the returning of many Nigerian students schooling abroad to universities in the country to improved quality of Nigeria university education and the crisis of Foreign Exchange (Forex) that has raised tuition fees and other expenses paid by their parents.

Okojie, who stated this in

Abuja during a session with journalists, said the return of the students to the country was also connected to the improvement in the quality of university education in the country.

He said: “Many Nigerian students are coming back home, not only because of issue of high school fees, but because there is improvement in academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

They are coming from Ghana and all over the world. The rate of Nigerian lecturers going abroad has also reduced and we will continue to improve our university system.”

On the non-acceptance of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) law graduates by the Nigerian Law School, the NUC scribe blamed the problem on the erroneous belief that programmes of NOUN are on part-time basis, saying that the Commission is working very hard to resolve the problem.

“We are addressing the issue and other areas such as the quota system. NOUN is not a part-time programme,” he said.

Okojie, who has spent 10 years as NUC Executive Secretary and another two years as a Visiting Professor in the Commission, advised his would-be successor to build on the existing structures to further transform the Nigerian university system.

ciplinary Committee feel insecure due to harassment from students.

According to the Senate, some students of the university are involved in activities such as armed robbery, rape and abduction of students for initiation; while the Students’ Disciplinary Committee had recommended that the Vice-Chancellor should meet with heads of tertiary institutions in Lagos State and approach the State Government to set-up a “special tribunal to try such cases.”

The Senate, after deliberations, therefore agreed and directed that all staff of LASU should desist from the habit of divulging information to students on disciplinary cases, as this is injurious to the university system; students involved in the vices described in (c) above, once apprehended, should be handed over to the state government; they should also be placed on indefinite suspension for not less than one or two academic sessions.

VC makes case for maintenance culture in institutions

T

he Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele has stressed the need for governments at all levels, organisations, government establishments and individuals to cultivate the right maintenance culture.

He made the call while inaugurating the newly completed multi-million naira Centre for Gender Studies building complex at the university.

While receiving the keys to the building from the contractor handling the project during the handing over and inauguration ceremony, Mr. Oladimeji Olowe, the vice-chancellor noted that the bane of the society today, especially with the public utilities, was lack of maintenance culture, even as he added that it was time for the people to change.

Bandele hinted that several beautiful and magnificent structures in some high institutions are unkempt due to lack of maintenance culture among the people, and specifically the users.

According to him, proper maintenance of buildings and equipment would not only make them last longer, but would also save money for the , rebuilding or the reconstruction of such structures.

Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for providing funds and support for the construction of the edifice.

The contractor lauded the university management for giving him the opportunity to execute the project, stressing that the project was executed according to specifications.

education

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BELLSTECH’ll rank among best 200 global varsities soon – VC What is your vision for this university?

Thank you very much for this opportunity. It is good that New Telegraph Newspaper is coming in at this time. Everyman has a vision, if he has to go to places. The Bells University of Technology (BUT) is a private institution, particularly of technology. Like the outgoing ViceChancellor mentioned sometimes ago, that out of 1,000 universities ranked globally, only two are among the listed in Africa.

So, one of the vision I have is that we should be listed among the best 200 globally ranked universities as soon as possible. Also, our products must be uniquely different because today we operating in entrepreneurial world, where it is not business as usual. The usual thing in the past is for the universities to train their products for the white-collar jobs, but the case is different now. They must be able to stand on their own and be employers of labour. So, we are bringing in a new world controlled by Information Communication Technology (ICT). So, if you are a graduate of engineering, science or technology, you must be able to generate employment upon graduation. And how do we go about it? We must inculcate this in the students right from the period of their training. You see, the mindset is very important for our students; their mindsets shouldn’t be that in which someone going out to get a job, but one that is ready to create jobs.

Since I came in here, the projects I have seen being carried out so far by the students themselves have convinced me that we have students with sound orientation, who can go out to move mountains. Again, like we have always said, why are private universities not entitled to TETFund monies? Are we not producing products for the labour market within the nation’s economy?

So the vision is to ensure that BUT moves to the top among other leading universities in the world. This is very possible.

Prof. Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. He assumed office last week as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH), Ota, Ogun State. In this interview with KAyode olanrewaju and mojeed alabi, he speaks on his vision for the private university and solution to admission challenge in the country, among other issues Admission is another major challenge with the nation’s education system.

What do you recommend as the way out of the crisis?

There are openings now with the coming on board of the private universities. But private universities need to do more by being more creative and proactive. We should also be able to move out and make our fees pocket-friendly. One thing we have gotten right is that our academic calendars are stable. Unlike in a public university where my daughter spent 10 years in Medical School, that would not happen in private universities.

Consistently, we are on, but people must pay for this stability because inability to foot bills by the public institutions actually led to the instabilities in their calendars. As I am talking to you, I can confirm to you that LAUTECH is shut, OAU is just trying to resume, among others.

You just spoke about making your fees pocket-friendly, but how do you achieve that when the student enrolment is low in most private universities?

What I meant by making our fees pocket-friendly is that we should be creative in the way the fees are paid. We can devise means of distributing these fees for students to pay per semester instead of making them to pay once. You can even still further divide the payment per semester so that payment of school fees does not affect other parental responsibilities.

You have actively been involved in the public and private universities. How will you compare the two in terms of In the area of operation, research and teaching? globalisation, Well, in terms of infrastructure, how do you the public universities as old uni- intend achieving versities are usually endowed with linkages for this better infrastructure, but in the re- university? cent time, some private universiFirst of all, ties have done very well in terms we have collabof infrastructural development, oration with especially when you talk about i n d u s t r i e s ; modern facilities. Unlike the pub- which is just lic universities, where they still l i n k a g e use analogue tools, many private within the universities have gone digital. And country. that makes the students to move T h e r e far beyond. And in terms of teach- is also ing, there is no much difference t h e between the two, but the private universities have adopted entrepreneurial approach to learning.

Private universities are teaching for the system by being dynamic.

Part of the challenges with the public universities is that they think they have made their names and they sit where they are. So, private universities are Ojediran catching up with them.

Also, our products must be uniquely different

linkage with external universities in terms of exchange of faculties (staff) and students. As we build our students we also build the staff. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is what we are now to work on. We will go to Europe, America and Asia for mutually beneficial partnerships.

We understand Mechatronics as a course of study is not common in this part of the world, but we are doing it here. On that alone we are working on linkage with institutions from overseas that run such programme. We will also encourage research into areas that are important and beneficial to the society. I have always maintained my stance, especially to my doctoral students, if your research is not solving any problem in the country you have not started. Both o u r

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students and lecturers here must go out of their comfort zones in search of problems to solve. It is then we can call ourselves a university.

Could you briefly give an insight into your background?

I am Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, a Professor of Agricultural Engineering. Dean, Faculty of Engineering for six years in LAUTECH and was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in the same institution for more than two years. I studied at the University of Ibadan for my first degree and my second degree was in Silso College, Cranfield Institute of Technology, now Cranfield University, Silsoe Bedford, United Kingdom. I had my third degree at the University of Ibadan also.

I have worked in polytechnic for 12 years, and I have been in the university system in the last 24 years. I have worked at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso; I have worked for one year at the University of Development Studies in Ghana where I established their Engineering Faculty.

I have also worked at the Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State. Currently, before I moved in here, I have been at Adeleke University, Ede, where I also established their Engineering Faculty within the last two years or thereabouts. So I have been into teaching profession for close to 36 years now.

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education | public discourse

Autonomy for private universities: How achievable?

Adeyemi: It’s important for institutional development

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Each request is usually directed to the proprietors, who we learnt have created offices for themselves in the institutions and resume their on daily basis. Such cannot and will never help the universities in any way.

The story is different with my university, where I have spent the last 10 years of my career as the Vice-Chancellor. Apart from the fact that Chief Olusegun

O Adeyemi

Obasanjo hardly comes in more than once in a year, which is during convocation ceremonies, even when he comes, he sits among the crowd and creates no special scene for himself. He allows us to run the institution professionally, and that has helped us to achieve the much success we have recorded as Nigeria’s pioneer private university focused on technology.

Adeyewa: At Redeemer’s University, our story is different Prof. Debo Adeyewa is the Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, and the newly elected Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities in Nigeria (CVCRPU)

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feel very bad whenever I hear the stories of how poorly our colleagues from some private universities are treated by their proprietors. It is unfortunate and very sad. But, we must also say that this thing also largely depends on how these vice-chancellors carry themselves.

There is no doubt, there must be self-respect and dignity. If you have these two, you can call anyone’s bluff. But some of our colleagues present themselves cheaply to their employers and those ones

also look down on them.

On our own campus here, the story is different.

We run this place professionally and we are granted as much freedom as you can think of. Our proprietors ensure that we do the best simply by providing the needed financial and moral supports.

They do not impose their ideas on us, they ensure that we do what we think is the best for the institution without any hindrance. And to a large extent, such has helped us to be proactive in our ap-

Adeyewa

proach to resolving issues.

Apart from the fact that we do not suffer any bureaucratic bottlenecks, both members of staff and students also enjoy some level of freedom in addressing issues.

So personally, I thank the proprietor of this university for being professional in their conduct and for the support we enjoy. I feel the relationship between our Committee and the Association of Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities can address some of these issues where such conflict of interests presently arises.

Elegido: Private varsities deserve freedom Prof. Juan Elegido is the Vice-Chancellor of the Pan Atlantic University, Lekki-Epe, Lagos State Elegido

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rivate universities are specially designed to fulfill certain goals and so are not expected to follow the decision of the multitude at all times. Among us are faith-based institutions, technology-focused institutions and businessoriented ones such as the Pan Atlantic University, which deserve different criteria to determine their students, staff and

management.

So, beyond the interference of the proprietors, I think it is also important to discuss the interference by the regulatory bodies such as we are witnessing with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the admission system. I believe the faith-based institutions will also emphasise moral uprightness as well as academic performance of their

Grace Schools: Sustaining qualitative education, moral values Kayode Olanrewaju

Prof. Isaac Adeyemi is the immediate past ViceChancellor of the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State and the immediate past Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of private Universities in Nigeria t is truth that many of our colleagues are not treated as heads of institutions by the proprietors of their respective universities. In fact, some of them have complained to me about the usurpation of their roles by their employers.

They cannot even take important decisions on academic matters, not to talk of the management of the finances and other activities of the universities.

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

would-be candidates, but if JAMB has resolved to send in the list of their admissible candidates to them with little or no inputs from the institutions, then the purposes for their establishment may be defeated.

Therefore, there is the need for the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities to look into this area and take appropriate steps to address the issue.

interviews conducted by mojeed alabi

wners of Grace Schools, a group of private schools located at Gbagada, Lagos, have said that the main role of education is not merely to provide knowledge, but as an avenue to develop the character traits of the students in order to live a useful life.

“Education goes a long way in moulding and shaping the lives of the students and this is one critical area that Grace School focuses on,” the Administrator of the schools, Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun stressed.

According to her, the Grace Schools comprising of Grace Children School and Grace High School, were established in 1968 and 1994 respectively to showcase the potentials of every student, thereby creating a platform to make them excel, as well as equipped them with the requisite skills to succeed in life.

The schools established by the late Deaconess Grace Bisola Oshinowo, could boast of enabling and conducive teaching-learning environment, with the state-of-the-art facilities for intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical development of the total child.

In its 42 years of commitment to academic excellence, Grace Schools, the Administrator noted, have remained the trailblazers in the country private education sector, saying the school’s academic prowess speaks volume by the quality of its products, who have continued to hold important positions within and outside the country in their various fields of endeavour.

Mrs. Edun added: “We are poised to producing godly students, who are the future leaders in all ramifications.

Grace Schools are committed to providing complete and quality education with a view to churning out wellgroomed scholars that will contribute

immensely to the society.

The school, which has won several laurels, according to her, is a recipient of several awards from reputable organisations including the British Council.

Mrs. Edun, who hinted that the schools is championing teaching of Chinese Language in the country, said this was made possible by the healthy relationship and partnership between the school and the Chinese Embassy and the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos, for which the Chinese Ambassador and Head of Consulate have visited the school on many occasions.

With the mission “to create a conducive environment, using top class facilities and human resources for academic, moral, religious and skill development of a total child,” Mrs. Edun has continued to nurture the legacy inherited from her mother, who established the school.

Today, she has been able to reposition the schools as a reference point and role model among its contemporaries through the provision of top class primary and secondary school education.

On academic performance, the students have continued to excel in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), IGCSE and other foreign examinations.

However, contrary to general belief, Mrs. Edun insisted that the Nigerian school curriculum is the most effective and result-oriented in developing the capabilities of the Nigerian child.

“The Nigerian curriculum is the most appropriate to train the Nigerian children because culture, societal norms have utmost importance on the overall development of the child,” she added, stressing the need to tailor the curriculum towards developing the learning capabilities of the Nigerian child.

Cowbellpedia Maths competition for broadcast

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he airing of the second stage of this year’s edition of the Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition for Secondary Schools, being sponsored

by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, on some television stations across the federation, has since begun on July 30.

This is coming four months after the qualifying examination for the 2016 edition of the mathematics competition was held nationwide.

No fewer than 77 male and 31 female students will compete for the star prize of N1 million and an all-expenses paid educational excursion outside the country, while the teachers of the winning students in each category will receive N400,000 each.

The first and the second runners-up will go home with cash prize of N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively, as well as plaques, mathematics textbooks and

a desktop computer for the winners.

Promasidor Category Manager, marker of Cowbell brand of milk, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, explained that the programme would be beamed to millions of Nigerians on seven designated television stations across the country.

He added that the second stage, which will be in quiz format, will further be sub-divided into preliminary, semifinals and finals to be serialised and aired in 13 episodes.

Meanwhile, parents and stakeholders in the education sector have continued to laud Promasidor for sponsoring the initiative, which is aimed at discovering and celebrating young scientists and inventors in the country.

The competition was instituted over 20 years ago to improve students’ performance in Mathematics, as well as encourage and reward hard work among students and their teachers.

education

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Team leaves for Canada September C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

Borno State in North East Nigeria.

At the height of insurgency in the region, the team had left their comfort zone in Kaduna, and headed for Maiduguri to provide succour for the IDPs, who they claimed are also human beings desirous of better livelihood and guaranteed future whatever their present situation.

As students, they had relied on their innovative skills to lift the battered spirit of the displaced persons.

To achieve this, they decided to support the IDPs’ need for education, which according to the students, is the root of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Describing the project, Adikpe said: “It is aimed at ensuring that IDPs children have access to qualitative education, while economically empowering their parents to have a sustainable livelihood, and reintegrate them back into the larger society.”

Through the project, he said the team established an on-camp school system by constructing six classroom tents using waste flex banners, and producing 126 tables and chairs using waste tyres.

He added: “We developed a special curriculum for teaching the traumatized children, provided 252 children unfettered access to quality education in the camp; adopted and gave 11 of the children scholarship in top private schools in Kaduna; distributed more than five million books valued at about N1.2 billion; trained 360 IDPs on different mar-

ketable skills; empowered 50 IDPs skilled in weaving the popular Borno caps with the necessary materials for cap production, among other items produced, and we guaranteed steady sales of the materials produced by establishing 15 sales outlets in Abuja, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Kano States.”

Adikpe added that among other benefits, the earth was saved of degradation by recycling over 10,000kg of wastes, which he said were collected through partnership with the Kaduna State Environmental Agency.

Despite the accomplishment, according to the team leader, the road to success was very rough and tedious.

He recalled the day the team visited the Borno State Commissioner for Education, and few minutes they left the Post Office Area in Maiduguri, the state capital, some bombs exploded.

“It was a scary moment for all of us. If we had spent just three minutes more at the scene, we could have been trapped by the explosions,” Adikpe recalled.

The Final Year student, who said he had lost his parents in 2013 to circumstance he would not have loved to recount, said many family members, had advised the team against the risk of traveling to Maiduguri. ” But, I could remember telling them that since one could die in his or her rooms without taking any action, why not die while taking action to give hope to the hopeless for you to be remembered for something great.”

For this project, the team won this year’s national trophy.

Handling the trophy to the 11 adopted kids, who also dressed in the same attire with members of the team, Adikpe noted that the team had not only taken part in the competition to win, but also to tell the story of the IDPs to the world.

He thanked many Nigerians, who donated books and the Postal Services Management for the partnership with the team, ensuring that the books could be sent free of charges through post offices nationwide.

Speaking on the success story, the Faculty Adviser for the team and Director of the polytechnic’s College of Business and Management Studies, Dr. John Aliyu, noted that the students have won the trophy six times since 2004 and, last year, reached the semifinal stage in the World Cup through the support of the management and the commitment of the members.

“Kaduna Polytechnic has incorporated Entrepreneurship Studies into its curriculum and it is studied across all levels. Though, ENACTUS to us is an extra curriculum activity, we only admit best students in various departments. In the last four years, Kaduna Polytechnic is the only institution that has consistently participated in the final.

“Last year, during the world cup in South Africa, where we reached semi-final stage ahead of many teams from Europe, America and Asia, the Rector travelled with us to encourage us and he is ready at all times to be part of us,” Aliyu explained.

According to him, apart from the entrepreneurial initiatives that has been

generating funds for the team, each student of the polytechnic also pays mandatory ENACTUS fee, to show the polytechnic’s support for the programme.

In his keynote address at the final of the competition, the Canadian High Commissioner, said he was dazed by the array of innovative projects displayed by the students, saying that the country was ready to lift the trophy at the World Cup Challenge this year.

“What I have seen here has convinced me to conclude that with little support, Nigerian youths could be the best in the world,” Calderwood said.

Similarly, Murry-Bruce also encouraged the youths to dare to dream, saying it was high time they redirected their energies to productive engagements such as this in order to reclaim the nation’s lost glories.

The Country Director of ENACTUS in Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ajayi, thanked all the partners and supporters of the initiatives in the country, and urged the management of the various institutions to key in into the projects, towards ensuring that their students engage in development-oriented innovations.

He thanked his predecessor in Office, Mrs. Adesuwa Ifedi, who was presented with an award, for laying solid foundation for the organisation. The ceremony had coincided with Ifedi’s birthday.

The panel of judges had included captains of industries, entrepreneurs, representatives of various organisations including the KPMG, among others.

KADPOLY team at the event

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wo members of academic staff of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), have won the world-acclaimed Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany (AVHF) and the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden grants for research.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, who expressed delight over the grants, said: “Our researchers or lecturers have what it takes to compete globally.”

Foreign grants boost varsity’s research profile

The lecturers are Dr. I.A Ololade, an Associate Professor and Acting Head, Department of Chemical Sciences, who won the International Foundation for Science $12,000 grant, and Dr. N.A. Ladoja, a Senior Lecturer and Hydrochemist, who won equipment grants valued at over 19,800 Euros.

The vice-chancellor, while inspecting the scientific

equipment procured through the grants at the Bio-Chemical laboratory, described the grants as ‘big donations’ from the Foundations.

He expressed the confidence that university has researchers that can compete favourably with their peers anywhere around the world, saying it would take only great scholars to win such world-acclaimed grants.

While insisting that the grants would, no doubt, add substantial value to research efforts of the university, the vice-chancellor added: “It is equally important for members of staff, particularly the academic staff, to compete for international grants to enhance scholarship and the image of the university locally and internationally.”

Oshiomhole

Tension at Tayo Akpata Varsity over plan to sack 700 workers Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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here is an uneasy calm at the newly established Tayo Akpata University (TAU), Ekiadolor, Edo state following the state government’s plan to relieve about 700 workers of the institution of their job.

Already, members of the academic and non-academic staff of the defunct College of Education (COE), which was upgraded to the Tayo Akpata University, have kicked against the plot, which they claimed was grand designed of the government so as to recruit fresh staff members.

Members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the state government have been at dagger drawn over the claim by the union that the government owed them more than four months’ salary arrears.

But, the Chairman of the union, Comrade Fred Omonuwa in a chat with newsmen in Benin, the state capital, raised the alarm over the plight of the workers.

This was as he said that they were shocked at the statement credited to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Mr. Thomas Okosun published in some national dailies (not New Telegraph) that members of staff in the institution would all have to reapply.

Besides, he pointed out that the present staff of the institution “are not members of staff of Tayo Akpata University.”

According to Omonuwa, the implication of Council chair’s statement is that workers of the college of education have been sacked.

The union, therefore, vowed to resist any attempt by the state government to throw them into the labour market, even as the workers reminded the state government that Section 67 (2) guiding the establishment the university states that “new universities established shall inherit both assets and liability of the college.”

The union leader urged the government to adopt the Prof. Dennis Agbonlahon Committee’s recommendation on higher institutions in the state.

Omonuwa said: “When the Chairman, Governing Council of Tayo Akpata University made that statement we were disappointed, and apparently it shows that they are not well informed as to the state of affairs of the school. I want to say that Hon. Thomas Okosun might not have read the Agbonlahon Report after it was set up by the state government to verify whether that place will be good for a university and the recommendation of the report states that over 130 staff member are qualified to lecture in the university having gone through their Curriculum Vitae and credentials and their published conference papers.”

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education

TUESDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Management: Brexit’ll benefit Nigerian students in UK Mojeed Alabi

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he management of one of the leading pre-university colleges in the United Kingdom (UK), Abbey DLD Group of Colleges, has described the exit of the country from Europe as blessing in disguise for African students, and especially Nigerians.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the college’s Director of Sales for Africa Region, Mr. Charles Johnson; and the Students Admissions Manager on the continent, Muazu Jalaluddeen, said the exit would open up more opportunities for African students in the UK. While saying that the usual priorities that were hitherto accorded Europeans will now be extended to Africa as the newest destination for development, Johnson hinted that the performances of Nigerian students abroad have been excellent and deserve the right support from the country of their training.

“Now these supports will be more available than

before because the United Kingdom can now have time to refocus its priorities and I am sure African and Nigerian students in particular will be great beneficiaries,” he argued.

Meanwhile, Johnson urged Nigerian parents, who aspired to offer their children an unrivalled opportunity to secure admission into some of the best universities in the UK, including Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College, London, should send them first to Abbey DLD Group of Colleges to equip them with the required tutelage and knowledge.

While highlighting the importance of high quality programmes as offered by the college, Johnson noted that most Nigerian students often complete their secondary school education with O’Level, which is not the same as the required A-Level needed to secure entry into the UK’s universities.

“Our courses include comprehensive GCSE, ALevel programmes and a number of international foundation programmes,”

he said, adding that attending Abbey DLD will allow Nigerian students to “acclimatise” and achieve the grades they needed to outdo other international students competing for places at top universities.

In his remarks, Jalaluddeen said the two-year preuniversity programme at Abbey DLD Group of Colleges does not only allow Nigerian students to pass their A-Levels in flying colours, but it also helps them to understand and get used to the British education system, which he said is slightly different from that of Nigeria.

“Abbey DLD Group of Colleges have first class reputations in the education community and in the wider employment world; reputations which grow every year with each new cohort of students. FortyNine per cent of international students achieved A-A* Grades in their ALevels and 25 per cent has secured places to study STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in 2015,” he said.

L-R: Director of Sales, Africa, Abbey DLD Group of Colleges, Charles Johnson; Syudents Admission Manager for Africa, Mr. Muazu Jalaluddeen, and the Editor-in-Chief, Simonateba.com, Mr. Simon Ateba, at the briefing.

Temitope Ogunbanke

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igerian Students admitted into the United States (U.S) universities have been urged to be diligent, courageous and be good ambassadors of Nigeria during their stay in the country.

This is as a statement by the Public Affairs Section of U.S. Consulate General, said some Nigerian students have received numerous scholarships totaling $3.8milliom from several American universities.

This advice was given by the alumni and students of various United States of American universities during the pre-departure orientation organised for Nigerian students admitted into U.S.A universities for the 2016/2017 academic year.

Speaking at the orientation programme held at the Multi-Purpose Room, U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, an alumnus of Texas

Nigerians urged to be good ambassadors in US varsities A&M University College and Earth Scientist, Mr. Oluwafemi Esan, advised all the students not to violate any immigration laws and their academic status, adding that they should return to Nigeria once their visa and other documentations expire.

He also advised them to ensure cordial relationship with their lecturers, supervisors and classmates, and belong to relevant professional and students associations for them to graduate in flying colours.

A doctoral management student at the Colorado Technical University, Denver Colorado, Nkem Dibia, counseled the students to represent the country well and be good ambassadors of the country by ensuring that they do not commit any offense during their stay in United States.

On his part, a Nigerian linguist and writer, Mr. Kolawole Tubosun urged the students to work hard in order to graduate with good grades by participating actively in class assignments, homework, class attendance and to be friendly with their supervisors.

He also advised them to join sports teams, clubs and societies and make friends with classmates, especially the foreign students for career and education opportunities.

An alumnus of University of Texas, Mrs. Taiwo Esan, admonished them to take advantage of information online, manage their time effectively and ensure that they are conversant with their institutions and United States laws, cultures and norms for them not to run afoul of the laws.

EDUPEACE

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

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

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Why not me?

t is an incontrovertible truism that peace is needed everywhere because without it nothing else is possible.

As a matter of fact, possibility itself occurs where there is peace.

While peace is much desired in our society and the world at a large, it is nonetheless required within oneself in order to relate more constructively with the world. This is why ultimately; nothing is as beautiful and profound as the peace of mind, that psychological state of harmony that the Germans call the “Weltanschaung”.

The reality of our life is that despite all our pretensions to modernity and development, peace of mind is generally eluding even those who are supposedly living in peace. One manifestation of the missing peace of mind is the question that often comes out of people facing one difficulty or the other, “Why me?”

Whether we like it or not, there are certain things in life that are given. Everyone will, or is likely to, experience them at one time or the other.

These are happiness and sadness, meeting and departure, good health and ill-health, success and failure as well as life and death. The mere fact that one enjoys the desired ones at a time does not foreclose the nearness or inevitability of the undesired ones in a lifetime.

In other words, it is natural that we all aspire that we all have the first parts of the pairs, “the positives”, while we despise and pray against the other sides, “the negatives”.

Yet, our lives would not be complete without experiencing the other parts. What is important is to brace oneself so that when anything undesirable happens, as it does happens in life, we wouldn’t say, “Why me?”

I think “Why me?” is loaded with conceit and hatred. It is conceit to assume that one is so special that one should not experience what is ordinarily part of the life for millions.

And it is hatred that one wonders why God does not choose one’s neighbour for the calamity that has befallen one.

Those who are ill-prepared for challenges as a result of poor education in the school of life would lament and query the Almighty God. Those that are better educated know that nothing is permanent and there is ease after difficulty, hence they confront the undesired situations with planning, prayers and patience.

The way to peace of mind is to prepare oneself adequately for challenges and to confront them squarely or accept them in good faith. Through that process, one would live happier and longer, instead of lamenting and complaining about things

The way to peace of mind is to prepare oneself adequately for challenges one cannot change. Rather than wonder, “Why me?” the better question is, “Why not me?”

The story is told of the legendary Wimbledon player, Arthur Robert Ashe, who was dying of AIDS as a result of infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. Mr Ashe received several letters of support from his fans but there was a particular fan who wondered, “Why did God have to select you for such a bad disease?”

It was to this message that Arthur Ashe said something striking about, which we should all imbibe and apply to our own situations.

According to him, “50 million children started playing Tennis. 5 million learnt to play Tennis. 500,000 learnt Professional Tennis. 50,000 came to Circuit. 5,000 reached Grandslam. 50 reached Wimbledon.

4 reached the Semifinals. 2 reached the Finals and when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never asked God, ‘Why me?’ So, now that I am in pains, how can I ask God, ‘Why me?’”

As someone said, “Happiness keeps you sweet. Trials keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human. Failure keeps you humble. Success keeps you growing. But only faith keeps you going.”

If we have faith, we would have peace of mind and everything will be kept going. This is the attitude and this is the question (why not me?) when life reveals an aspect of its true colour.

Re: Post-utme, the baby and the bathwater

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niversities can never be healthy as long as our primary and secondary schools are neglected. The foundation must be sound – George.

Re: Ogbonago’s ample example

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gbonago’s act speaks for many good Nigerians who despite their financial and material impoverishment would not steal. It boils down to proper values and such have to be imbibed early enough, nay at childhood. So, there is hope for my country. – Gabriel Ikono

BUSINESS |Money Line

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CBN intervenes with dollar sales to bolster naira ●As local currency plunges on parallel market

WEAKNESS

Naira closed at N315.50/ dollar Tony Chukwunyem

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fter appearing to have deliberately decided not to intervene in the interbank market in recent days, the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) again yesterday resumed its role of occasionally stepping in to support the naira with dollar sales.

Reuters reported traders as saying that the naira opened at N315 to the dollar and weakened to N324 before the apex bank intervened to help the local currency close at N315.50 to the dollar.

According to Thomson Reuters data, a total of $27.05 mil-

lion was traded yesterday.

The naira, however, depreciated further against the dollar on the parallel market yesterday, exchanging at N380 to the dollar, from N378 it traded last Friday. It also exchanged against the Pound Sterling and the Euro at N495 and N415, respectively.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market, the currency exchanged

ChatPay boosts financial deals in Nigeria Kunle Azeez

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mobile banking application, which seeks to provide seamless financial transactions to Nigerians and other social media users, has been launched into the Nigeria’s electronic payment industry.

ChatPay said over 100 billion daily active users on Facebook, twitter, WeChat, Skype and Telegram can now experience the ease of performing their financial transactions directly from these platforms with the aid of the recently introduced solution, ChatPay. “Never before experienced and a major leap in innovative banking solutions, ChatPay uniquely allows everyone with a social media account to conduct various transactions from the comfort of their homes, offices or wherever they are located,” said

the Chief Evangelist of ChatPay, Mr. Gbenga Adams.

Uniquely different from almost similar applications, Adams said ChatPay is built on the artificial intelligence structure, which allows it engage users intelligently directly from their social media channels.

“With ChatPay, Nigerians now have the opportunity to perform various transactions ranging from funds transfer, airtime purchase, bill payment, location of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) nearby, purchase of cinema tickets as well as viewing movie listings and trailers, all with the assistance of ChatPay,” he said.

Adams described the platform as a fusion of advancement in robotics and artificial intelligence to create a unique and very personal experience in managing finances.

“Think of ChatPay as your per-

sonal financial assistant and this is why we’ve named her ‘Kiki.’

She will help you run all your financial errands, which include transfer of funds to any bank in Nigeria, purchase of airtime, payment of your utility bills, hotel, flight tickets and much more.

Kiki will help you find the closest ATM should you need direction with voice navigation,” he said.

The beauty of ChatPay, according to him, is that it is open to everyone irrespective of the bank where his or her account is domiciled.

Adams further added at the launch event, “As long as you have a Verve, Visa or MasterCard, all you need to do is download ChatPay from the Play store or iTunes app store and connect with any of the social media platforms presently available such as WeChat, Facebook messenger, Telegram, Skype, or Twitter.

More will be added as we go on.”

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 16.5 14 10.77 US$41.56 US$26,209,234,809

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 June, 2016 26/7/2016 Mar 2015 1/8/2016 28/7/2016

Source:CBN

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

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.54 114.58 111.91 120.62 109.79 100.32 83.54 97.16

1.06 3.23 3.86 5.81 7.94 9.80 14.30 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.2500 8.2420 10.1127 11.7162

Bid Yield 10.45 10.54 11.61 11.43 12.23 12.43 12.49 12.54

Change (%) -0.21 ▼ -0.87 ▼ -0.90 ▼ -0.66 ▼

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

Price 104.69 114.88 112.21 120.92 110.09 100.62 83.84 97.46

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1731 6.4137 7.3300 8.8857 9.6247 10.5416

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.30 10.44 11.52 11.36 12.18 12.38 12.44 12.50

Change (%) -1.82 ▼ -0.82 ▼ -0.75 ▼ -0.32 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.34 7.47 -0.35 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.75 30-Jun-16 7.59 7.73 -0.35 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.37 8.12 8.47 -0.24 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.25 8.74 -0.24 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.40 10.32 0.04 ▲ 9.15 10.02 0.04 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -0.08 ▼ -0.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

at N378 for the dollar, N490 for the Pound and N413 against the Euro.

The naira has dropped 40 per cent on the interbank market since June 20, when CBN ditched its 16-month-old peg of N197 to the dollar in a bid to lure back foreign investors who had fled after a plunge in the price of oil, Nigeria’s economic mainstay.

Significantly, in a bid to encourage foreign investors to bring in capital to boost liquidity in the interbank forex market, the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee(MPC) last Tuesday voted to increase the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 12 per cent to 14 per cent.

However, forex dealers believe that the naira would con-

tinue to weaken on limited dollar supply, as foreign investors would not return until the economy shows signs of recovering from the impact of currency controls.

For instance, a treasurer at a Tier one lender, who asked not to named, said foreign investors would not be in a hurry to bring in investments, as they were still concerned about the state of the economy.

He said, “I don’t believe foreign investors will be in hurry to bring in investments. This is because they are still worried about the weakness of the economy. Although the government has said it will focus on diversification, the economy remains heavily dependent on oil exports.

Until diversification takes place, the naira will not really appreciate against the dollar.”

Wema Bank to issue N20bn bond this month

W

ema Bank Plc, which aims to expand its branch network this year, plans to issue N20 billion in bonds this month, its Chief Finance Officer (CFO) said yesterday.

The lender is issuing local currency bonds after scrapping plans last year to issue a $100 million seven-year dollar bond because of currency risks.

Reuters quoted the CFO, Tunde Mabawonku , as saying, “We expect to open in a couple of weeks. We are awaiting final regulatory approvals and we expect to conclude the process this quarter.”

Wema, which won regulatory approval last year to switch from a regional to a national bank, plans to re-open branches in Nigeria, which it closed to become a regional player, he said.

Wema obtained shareholders’ approval in May to issue

bonds or preference shares this year to raise N20 billion in the first tranche of a N50 billion programme, but market conditions then deteriorated.

Mabawonku said the midtier lender was watching debt markets closely for rates, adding that it had a target breakeven rate at which it wanted to issue the notes.

Nigeria’s one-year treasury bill is offering around 18 per cent yield, traders say. Yields on fixed income securities have been rising in recent months with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mopping up naira liquidity to lure back foreigners.

The CBN lifted interest rates by 200 basis points last week to 14 per cent to help fight inflation, which hit a 10-year high of 16.5 per cent last June.

“Yes the economy has slowed but there are still business opportunities,” Mabawonku said.

‘How to lift millions of Africans out of poverty’

A

new report by the World Bank has found that reducing the price of food staples by 10 per cent could lift nearly half a million people out of poverty in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia alone.

The study stated that African countries have much to gain by encouraging open and competitive markets, particularly as a means to spur sustainable economic growth and alleviate poverty, noting that yet in reality, many markets have low levels of competition.

According to the report, “More than 70 per cent of African countries rank in the bottom half of countries globally on the perceived intensity of local competition and on the existence of fundamentals for market-based competition. Monopolies, duopolies, and oligopolies are relatively prevalent compared to other regions. In more than 40 per cent of African countries, a single operator holds over half

the market share in telecommunications and transport sectors.”

This lack of competition has drastic costs. Retail prices for 10 key consumer goods – white rice, white flour, butter and milk among them - are at least 24per cent higher in African cities than in other main cities around the world. While these higher prices affect all consumers, the poor are hit the hardest.

A new report from the World Bank Group and the African Competition Forum, Breaking Down Barriers, estimates the gains from tackling anticompetitive practices and reforming policies to enable competition. For instance, reducing the prices of food staples by just 10 per cent, by tackling cartels and improving regulations that limit competition in food markets could lift 500,000 people in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia out of poverty and save consumers more than $700 million a year.

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

TUESDAY, AUgust 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

TUESDAY, AUgust 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

RECOIL Investors remain on sideline over volatility in the economy Chris Ugwu

T

he equities market yesterday saw sustained bearish activities, as trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed bearish with overall market performance indicators, the All Share Index and market capitalisation, each declining by 0.59 per cent.

The local bourse recorded only 15 gainers against 28 losers, while the NSE Consumer Goods Index led by 1.86 per cent.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

Stock market drops N57bn

Shares of Total Oil Nigeria, The Okomu Oil Palm Company, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Dangote Flour Mills gained N18.59, N1.34, N1.30 and N0.25 to close at N200.09, N35.00, N21.50 and N4.90 respectively.

Conversely, shares of Nestle Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Nigeria and Cadbury Nigeria depreciated by N12.50, N3.99, N1.50 and N0.71 to close at N837.50, N134.00, N93.00 and N13.56 respectively.

Dangote Flour Mills Plc (9 Months, June 2016), the food-focused conglomerate recorded a year-on-year increase in revenue by 50.59 per cent to N49.85 billion. In the same vein, they recorded an increase in profit after tax of

131.65 per cent to N2.87 billion in 2016.

Nigerian Interbank Treasury Bills True Yields rose for most maturities on the back of sell pressure -yields on one month and three months and six months rose to 15.84 per cent,16.51 percent and 19.22 per cent respectively. However, the yield on 12 months fell to 19.47 per cent.

In the same vein, NIBOR rose for all of the maturities amid liquidity strain -NIBOR for overnight funds, one month, three months and six months tenor buckets rose to 7.25 per cent, 15.76 per cent, 17.71 per cent and 20.38 per cent respectively.

Bond prices moved in mixed

Oando posts N27bn H1 2016 loss O ando Plc, one of the Nigeria’s indigenous energy group listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges has recorded loss after tax of N27.291 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2016.

The company in a filing with Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) reported a loss after tax of N27.291 billion during the half quarter as against N35.015billion a year a earlier, representing a percentage change of 22.05.

Its loss before tax stood at N66.836 billion during the period under review from N31.127 billion in 2015.

However, the company’s revenue grew by 27.89 per cent to N116.23 billion, from N90.877 billion recorded in 2015.

Oando had last week issued profit warning in respect of its second quarter ended 30th June 2016.

The group said in a statement to the Exchange that it expects to report materially lower earnings for the second quarter of 2016 due to the impact of the

Naira devaluation against the US dollar (USD), resulting in unrealised foreign exchange losses.

It said: “The impact of the Naira devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to amount to an unrealised foreign exchange loss arising from USD denominated liabilities, outstanding bank trade facilities as well as vendor payables.

“As at the time of the devaluation the company had USD denominated borrowings of $261 million in our

F

idelity Bank Plc has reported a profit before tax of N6.284 billion for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 as against N9.664 billion in Q2 2015, representing a decline of 34.95 per cent.

Profit after tax declined by 31.92 per cent to N5.593 billion from N8.215 billion in Q2 2015, while gross earnings decreased marginally by 2.59 per cent to N70.415 billion from N72.291 billion in Q2 2015.

However, net interest in-

Naira dominated earnings businesses, consisting of $68 million in core loans, $89 million in bank trade facilities, $83 million in asset financing and $21 million in other payables. A circa 40 per cent devaluation in the value of the Naira against the US dollar from the bank rate of N199.00:$1.00 to N280.00:$1.00, has effectively resulted in these significant foreign exchange losses, which we have prudently booked into our financial statements,” the group noted.

directions across the maturities - 20-year, 10.00 per cent FGN July 2030 bond and 7-year, 16.00 per cent FGN June 2019 debt rose by N0.45 and N0.19 respectively, while correspond-

39

ing yields fell to 15.26 per cent and 15.43 per cent respectively.

However, the 5-year, 15.10 per cent FGN April 2017 debt was down by N0.71 (yield rose to 20.53 per cent).

Press Association tasks journalists on ethics

P

ress Association (PA), one of world’s leading news agencies in the world, has called on financial journalists across the world to imbibe the ethics of the journalism profession to assist in the overall development of world economy.

A course leader with PA and also a lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London, Mr. Neil Fitzgerald, made call in London yesterday while taking selected financial journalists from Nigeria through a course titled, “Trends in Business Journalism,” at its Training Centre, Vauxhall, London.

He said at the workshop organised by First Bank of Nigeria PLC, “the time to look at the ethics of the profession is now when the world is facing serious economic issues.”

He also called for a more realistic reportage of business activities in the national interest.

Fitzgerald said the media in various countries of the

world should operate under the code of ethics available in their countries just as journalists and editors in the United Kingdom abide with provision of the International Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) code of practice.

He added that the Brexit referendum, which led to the exit of Britain from European Union was a case where the British media failed in the responsibilities and could not educate the public enough on the impacts of the decision, adding that this will backfire on the media when the impacts begin to take its toll on the people.

“The media in the United Kingdom under reported the Brexit and that it will go under heavy criticism when the exit begins to bite on an average Briton”, he stated.

The market reacted with a loss of about £3 billion, while the pounds went down by 300 basis points to the American dollar for the first time in 50 years.

Fidelity Bank reports N6bn Q2 2016 pre-tax profit come increased by 16.47 per cent to N31.268 billion from N26.846 billion in Q2 2015.

Fidelity Bank reported a profit before tax of N4 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 as against N4.7 billion in Q1 2015, representing a decline of 14.6 per cent.

Profit after tax fell by 10.5 per cent to N3.6 billion from N4.0 billion in Q1 2015, while

gross earnings decreased by 5.5 per cent to N34.4 billion from N36.4 billion in Q1 2015.

However, net interest income increased by 30 per cent to N16.1 billion from N12.4 billion in Q1 2015 and net operating income equally increased by 6.2 per cent to N20.8 billion from N19.6 billion in Q1 2015.

Speaking recently at the lender’s AGM in Lagos, Dep-

uty Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mohammed Balarabe, said that the bank’s 2015 FY performance reflects the disciplined execution of the management’s medium-term strategy and the resilience of evolving business models despite the extremely challenging business environment in 2015.

40

NEWS | south-west

Mimiko, 814 delegates to determine Jegede, others' fate August 22 Babatope Okeowo Akure

P

eople’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, yesterday expressed confidence that it was the party to beat in the November 26 governorship elections. The party said it had enormous capacity to win the election by beating the rival All Progressives Congress’ (APC) hands down.

Its chairman, Chief Clement Faborede exuded confidence as an aspirant and immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN yesterday picked his nomination and expression of interest form to contest the November 26 governorship election under the platform of the PDP in the state.

He said no fewer than 814 delegates including Governor Olusegun Mimiko would determine Jegede and other aspirants’ fate at the August 22 fixed for the party’s primaries.

Faboyode said 14 nomination forms had been brought from Abuja for the prospective aspirants.

He urged aspirants to sell their programmes to the delegates as such among others would determine their fate during the primaries.

The delegates, Faboyode said would be elected as party leaders from the 203 political wards and 18 local government areas of the state, saying a day had already been set aside to elect three people each from all the 203 wards that would become automatic delegates during the August 22 primaries.

He however urged all

Non-academic unions disrupt activities at UI over ‘incomplete’salaries Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A

cademic and administrative activities were yesterday disrupted at the University of Ibadan as the institution's nonacademic staff unions engaged in warning strike to demand full payment of their salaries and arrears from January 2016 to date.

Staff of the university had since January been collecting incomplete salaries due to shortfall of allocation from the federal government to the institution, New Telegraph has learnt.

Led by SSANU’s Chairman, Wale Akinremi, the unions had embarked on agitation last Friday when it held a joint congress at the university

CONFIRMATION/ change OF NAME

Yinusa

I formerly known and addressed as Matthew Adekunle now wish to be known and addressed as Mathew Adekunle Yinusa. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Aina

I formerly known and addressed as Deborah Oluwabusayo Onifade now wish to be known and addressed as Deborah Oluwabusayo Aina. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Sali

This is to notify the general public that my correct name is Yusuf Sali but was wrongly written as Yusuf Sanni.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Sali. Also, my correct date of birth is January 1, 1984.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

entrance gate, forcing people to trek distances to their destinations as they held on to keys to major offices while postgraduate lectures were held under special arrangements.

As early as 7a.m yesterday, the Joint Action Congress of Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and NAAT stormed the entrance gate for a joint congress and put the entrance gate under lock and key, causing traffic snarl for several hours and hiccup to some undergraduate examinations still ongoing in the school.

The unions said they were forced to take the latest action owing to the failure of the university administration to yield to the demand of commencing full payment of salaries by July ending and arrears of shortfalls from December 2015 to June 2016.

Akinremi said the congress of their unions had resolved to proceed with industrial action without any further warning following several unfulfilled promises.

However in a post on the social media, Bursar of the University, Mr. Michael Alatise yesterday disclosed that the university had received payment of shortfalls covering January to April 2016 with directive of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, that the money be paid.

the aspirants to collect their forms, insisting that the party would not recognise aspirant without the form during the primaries.

He said: "PDP havethe capacity to win election in the state. We have no rival.

What is happening at Abuja right now will make the party strong within the next two weeks. PDP is the only alternative to what we have presently at the federal level.

"PDP is the party of the masses, the party for

the rich and the poor. We need somebody who will continue with the building of markets for our women, building of more Mega Schools and Mother and Child hospitals."

Faboyede however assured that the party will

tuesDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

conduct free, fair and credible primary election come August 22 and asked those interested in the party’s ticket to collect the forms at the party secretariat.

Meanwhile, Jegede who is the first aspirant to pick the form had resigned his appointment a few days ago in order to vie for the governorship election.

Jegede assured his supporters that his hope to pick the ticket of the party and eventually win the election in the state remain unwavered.

A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Mr. Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede holding his nomination form in Akure, Ondo State

TUC, JNC condemn NLC/Ajimobi's plan to restructure Oyo workforce Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

L

eaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) in Oyo State yesterday dissociated themselves from the recent agreement the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had with the State government leading to the call- off the last seven-week strike.

Led by Mr. Emelieze Andrew and Mr. Emmanuel Ogundiran, the unions complained bitterly about an alleged clandestine meeting which occasioned

the suspension of the strike, saying that the NLC leadership had agreed that the state government should go ahead with reduction of the workforce to take care of shortfall in its monthly allocations.

Andrew said: "You will recall that the Oyo State Government and the NLC entered into an unholy alliance by signing a lactiferous and satanic agreement that is inimical to industrial harmony in the state.

The agreement is illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable to the TUC. "We condemn it in strong term as we see the sophisticated and nonsensical

Oke, Olabimtan berate Mimiko over N108bn debt Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

T

wo leading aspirants for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Ondo State, Hon. Olushola Oke and Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan have berated the governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for under developing the state and leaving behind a debt profile of above N108 billion.

The two aspirants lamented the eight years decay of governance in Ondo state at the APC National Secretariat where they obtained their expression of interest and nomination forms.

Oke and Olabimtan, who served in the government of the late Dr. Oluse-

gun Agagu as governor of Ondo State at different capacity described Agagu’s era as the last time the state witnessed development.

Olabimtan, who was Speaker Ondo State House of Assembly during Agagu-led administration alleged that Mimiko inherited N38 billion from Agagu when he took over but could not construct 200 kilometers of road in Ondo State for eight years.

He said: "The present governor took over in 2009.

I say it with all emphasis at my disposal that he has not constructed one inch to what Dr Agagu constructed in Ilaje land (in the southern senatorial district of the state) up till now.

"Ask anybody in Ondo state, ask anybody in llaje.

resolution which allows government to sack workers and reduce workforce.

"We at the TUC condemn the recent pronouncements by the state government to restructure the public service aimed at sacking workers in the state.

"Governor Abiola Ajimobi should resign if he cannot pay workers' salaries.”

Also, JNC leader, Mr. Ogundiran condemned the alleged agreement which according to him only stipulated payment of salary alone excluding other allowances, saying that it was anti-thetical to wellbeing of the workforce in

Is that not a failure? Today, Akoko land in the northern senatorial zone has the worst road network and before he came in, those roads were okay.

"This government of Mimiko in Ondo State, I make bold to say, has not constructed up to 200 kilometers since they came on board almost eight years ago, and you tell me it's not a disaster.

"That was a government that inherited N38 billion, as in liquid cash, apart from the assets inherited and as at the time Agagu was leaving in 2009, oil sells for 58 dollar a barrel and during the tenure of the incumbent governor, it rose to about 120 dollars per barrel.

"If you go to Ondo state today, you can't see what this money has been used for and that is why the people of Ondo state are clamouring for change."

the state.

The unions unanimously gave the state government extra five days after the expiration of the initial 16 days to settle all outstanding salaries or face another round of indefinite strike.

LUTH resumes as nurses suspend strike Appolonia Adeyemi

A

fter a protracted strike by nurses in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba which resulted to the discharge of all patients in the tertiary hospital, the nurses yesterday announced the suspension of the strike.

To this end, full services would be resumed at the hospital from today, raising the hope that patients who had abandoned the facility since June would begin to access care again from the hospital.

The strike, which led to all patients deserting the tertiary hospital, began since June 10.

Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LUTH Branch, Stephen Olutola, told the New Telegraph that the strike was suspended after a meeting between the leadership of the nurses and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) during which the ministry pledged to address the demands of the nurses.

News|SOUTH-EAST

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

41

Kanu’s release, restructuring, Ekweremadu dominate S’East town hall meeting Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

S

ome leaders of the South East geo-political zone of the country yesterday tackled the Federal Government over issues bothering on restructuring of the country, release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu from prison and trial of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu during the town hall meeting in Enugu yesterday.

The Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, threatened that if the All Progressives Party (APC)-led Federal Government succeed in removing Senator Ekweremadu as

Deputy Senate President, the Igbo might be forced to rethink their membership of the country.

Chukwuma faulted what he called the lopsided fight against corruption and the marginalization of the people of the South East geo-political zone in key federal appointments and insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari must address the issues in order to foster unity and sense of belonging among every part of the country.

The clergyman specifically called on the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to leave Ekweremadu alone or Igbo would disown him “Ekweremadu should be left alone to do his work.

He has been elected constitutionally as deputy senate president and nobody can remove him there. If they do that it, it means that this

government doesn’t want the Igbo; then you are calling for its secession from Nigeria because that is the high ranking position we have and we are all behind him and he has been performing, and he should be left to perform,” he said.

On his part, the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, declared that “the plot by some forces within the APC to remove Ekweremadu was a very dangerous move.

On the demand for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Isiguzoro maintained that “the Federal Government must immediately release Nnamdi Kanu; that is the only thing that will assuage the feelings of people of the South-East.”

Former Minister of Information, Chief Nnaia Nwodo, who commended

the Federal Government for the town hall meeting, which he said provided opportunity for government officials to explain so many things bothering the minds of the people, however urged for accelerated action to save the nation from collapsing under the weight of economic and socio-political crisis.

“It took you five months to appoint ministers, it took you five months to approve a budget and you are telling us about rain.

State governments have finished building roads. I’m not saying this to castigate the Federal Government; I’m saying this to say we got to change the gear,” he said.

The minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who took up most of the issues raised especially on restructuring and implementation of the 2014

Njiko-Igbo Canada supports Buhari for 2019

A

head of the 2019 presidential election, a group, Njiko-Igbo Canada, has said that President Muhammed Buhari had demonstrated endurance and a rare leadership capacity which would guarantee him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in the coming election.

The group, made this known while addressing journalists in Calgary, Canada, on its various activities to draw up support for President Buhari.

The National President of the organisation, Mr. Clement Ezegbe Jr., who said that the organisation which was founded by Dr. Orji Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, has the mandate to ensure victory for Buhari, added that the transformation recorded in some key sectors of the economy showed that Buhari remained the candidate to beat, in spite of the challenges confronting the nation.

Ezegbe Jr., who stated that the organisation’s

membership is spread across Canada, Poland , USA, Chile, Switzerland and Brazil to mobilise Nigerians and ensure victory for the President in 2019, added that rival candidates and parties should have a re-think on their positions.

He further urged Nigerians to give President Buhari another opportunity to consolidate on his achievements in key sectors of the nation’s economy.

He said: “God has revealed that there is no rival to Buhari’s second-term

bid and that is why we are giving him all our support.

“For any other party to think that they can dislodge Buhari, they must have a rethink. ”I am urging Nigerians to come and support Buhari’s second term bid.”

On the current security challenges, while calling for the understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians, the national president said that the federal government is doing everything within its capacity to ensure the safe release of the over 200 Chibok girls.

L-R: Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; and his counterpart of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, during a town hall meeting at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu… yesterday.

Cardinal Arinze, Dominican Sisters remember Obi D ominican College, one of the most famous institutions of learning owned by the Catholic Church and managed by Dominican Sisters held their graduation over the weekend.

During the mass to mark the beginning of the event, Francis Cardinal Arinze said that the society must work with the Church on education to restore societal values.

Submitting that education without direction is like a sentence without a verb, the Cardinal commended the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, for giving direction to education in Anambra State by the return of schools to the church and the massive investments of his government in men and school infrastructure. He called on others to emu-

late Obi’s foresightedness.

In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Rev. Sr. Sadafe Mary Elizabeth, said that nothing would erase the achievements of Obi on education and said the best thing others should do was to follow in his footsteps.

Confirming that all schools in Anambra benefitted from the Government of Obi, Sr. Sadafe said

it was through his intervention that Spring Bank, now Heritage Bank, constructed a hostel for them, in addition to computers, generator, Internet connectivity, among others, their school received from him.

Chairman of the occasion, Price Emeka Udodieme, prayed that God would continue to endow Nigeria with a leader like Obi, who was out to serve the people selflessly.

national conference, stated that outcome of any conference where delegates were appointed instead of elected, remains very doubtful and difficult to implement.

He called on Ndigbo to put on their thinking caps and stop wallowing in self pity, noting that Nigeria is a federation where nobody is ready to pity anybody but to have what they can get.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama;

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe, Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu and Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelama were in attendance while Gov IfeanyiUgwuani of Enugu, Ebonyi Deputy Gov Kelechi Igwe, DSP Ike Ekwremadu and other prominent politicians from South East were in attendance.

Stop preaching fear, hopelessness, bishop warns clergymen Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he Bishop, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Diocese of Okigwe South, Dr. David Onuoha, has advised clergymen to stop preaching messages of hopelessness to Nigerians.

Onuoha gave the advice on Sunday, in his episcopal message at the ordination of five priests at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Abueke, in Ihitte-Uboma Council Area of Imo State.

He said though Nigeria is currently experiencing socio-political and economic challenges, the clergy should inspire hope, rather than preach messages of despondency which further discourages the people.

“If you listen, you keep hearing stories of economic recession, job losses and non-payment of salaries and pensions, political squabbles among politicians, problem of Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers, Biafran agitators and kidnapping.

“These situations are not enough for ministers of God to charge the atmosphere with frightening messages; you should rather inspire hope and confidence because our God is God of hope and a living God,” he said.

He noted that in spite of the present tribulation, God will restore life to all sectors of the country’s life if Nigerians would imbibe the right virtues and trust in God. “Nigeria will smile again, what is happening to us today does not mean that things had gone completely bad, God is on the throne and will not abandon His people,” Onuoha said.

The cleric, who hailed the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari, called on those criticising the campaign to rescind their opposition to the policy.

“Corruption before now has been a big monster plaguing the growth of Nigeria; that we produced a president who summoned the courage to fight corruption is a positive development in our history.

Ebonyi moves to fish-out ghost workers Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

E

bonyi State Ministry of Education has ordered the auditing of attendance register of teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state to fish out erring workers who have been collecting salaries without coming to work.

The state Commissioner for Education, Professor John Ekeh, gave the directive while declaring open a oneday seminar on effective management of schools for principals of secondary schools organised by the state secondary education board.

He explained that the state Ministry of Education will no longer tolerate indolence, pointing out that four school principals were recently demoted to classroom

teachers for encouraging indolence.

He enjoined the principals to forward to his office the attendance registers for immediate commencement of the screening exercise.

While describing the seminar as preparatory ground for education transformation in the state, he assured that the state government will adopt holistic approach in tackling challenges confronting the education sector in the state.

10.47m The total population of men of Cote d’Ivoire in 2012.

Source: Un.org.

9.15%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Brazil in 2002.

Source: Itu.int.

42

NEWS | south-south

Don't militarise Niger Delta, Dickson tells FG

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday called on the Federal Government not to militarise the Niger Delta region, stressing that dialogue remains the best option to amicably settle the security challenges bedeviling the region.

He, however, called on the Federal Government to engage the youths in dialogue, “because military option is not a solution to the problems of the Niger Delta.”

The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, made the observation in

Warri, Delta State, during a meeting of Ijaw leaders and elders of thought, who were brainstorming on the way forward for the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

The meeting was attended by Ijaw leader and first republic Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark; Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby and one time Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, among others.

Dickson, who applauded the efforts of Clark and other prominent leaders for championing the cause of the people, urged them to work together for peaceful co-existence of the region and the country as a whole.

The governor said he

was at the meeting "to lend support to the on-going discussions for the enthronement of peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta area."

According to him, Ijaw leaders and elders had always provided leadership and support to the various state governments, where the Ijaw people domiciled towards strengthening the bond of unity and protection of the collective interests of the Ijaw nation.

Dickson reiterated his administration's preparedness to continue to contribute its quota to the

$3.2m

The total amount from endorsements of Henrik Stenson (Golf) for 2015.

Source: Forbes.com

wellbeing and development of the Ijaw nation as the leader of the only homogeneous state for the Ijaw people.

He said: "I have always said that there are issues which call for collaboration that are not to be resolved by war. I have said that there is no need for war in the Niger Delta; certainly not in Ijawland, but rather we should dialogue.

"A few days ago, most of you must have heard comments that I made to the right authorities along the same line and I am delighted that our leaders of the Ijaw nation are thinking along those lines. I am talking about the need for dialogue, peace and development of our states and ultimately the country at large."

L-R: First Class Graduating Amnesty Scholarship beneficiaries, Lucky Azibanagein Godswill; Nathaniel Nicholas Goodnews; Coordinator, Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh and Torubein Fawei, during a reception held for the 114 amnesty scholarship beneficiaries graduating from schools in the UK, in London …at the weekend

Yenagoa

T

he presence of the military yesterday forced Niger Delta militants, the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA), in Boro Town, the country home of the late Ijaw freedom fighter, Isaac Adaka Boro, in Kiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to suspend the planned declaration of the Republic of Niger Delta.

New Telegraph gathered that the military locked down Boro Town, following threats by a group of militants to declare a republic in the region.

Adaka Boro Avengers had earlier said it would declare a Niger Delta Republic and open the headquarters of the republic in Kaiama.

The massive presence of the military, however, forced the militants to cancel the planned declaration.

The Niger Delta Re-

Amnesty boss assures ex-militants of regular stipends

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

A

gainst the backdrop of delayed payment of stipends to former militants in the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, BrigadierGeneral Paul Boroh (rtd), has assured them of continuation of payment, just as he has again appealed to the ex- militants in the region to shelve their planned protests.

Boroh, who expressed concern over the plight of the ex-militants in respect of their delayed stipends, said President Muhammandu Buhari, appreciates their patience, adding that the hiccup in

Akure

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public was first declared on February 23, 1966 by a group of armed militia, Ijaw Volunteer Force (IVF) led by the late Boro, who battled the Federal Government and demanded a fair share of the oil money accruing to the country.

Despite the gallantry of Boro and his group, the firepower of the federal forces easily routed, arrested and jailed the militants for treason.

But the then administration of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), granted Boro amnesty on the eve of the Nigerian civil war, enlisted him in the Nigerian Army, where he fought on the side of the government but was killed in mysterious circumstances in active service in 1968.

On December 11, 1998, Ijaw people representing over 40 Ijaw clans also gathered at the historic town of Kaiama, to advance their agitation and articulate their aspirations for Ijaw people.

They founded the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) after adopting the famous Kai-

ama Declaration.

New Telegraph gathered that following threats by the ABA to repeat what the late Boro later renounced, the military in a joint operation with the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), stormed the community at the weekend.

A number of security operatives have reportedly taken strategic positions in different parts of the community.

A resident of Kaima town, Caroline Desiede, said many people fled the community at the weekend for fear of the soldiers, who had taken strategic positions in the ancient town.

Delta community applauds navy’s free health service Ola James Warri

S

uccour came the way of thousands of Alaka residents in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State as the Nigerian Navy in Warri offered free health services on various ailments to scores of persons in the area.

The gesture, described as timely by the people, was to cushion the trauma being faced by the downtrodden, who could not afford standard medication

for treatment.

Commodore Joseph Dzunve, Commander, NNS Delta and his counterpart at the Nigerian Navy Hospital (NNH), Commodore Lawal Adams, emphasized that the programme was part of the Navy’s corporate responsibility in strengthening civil, military relations in its areas of operation.

According to him, "People suffering from various ailments including malaria, fever, eye defects, urinal dysfunction, among others, had free treatment and drugs."

the payment of their stipends were already being addressed.

According to the amnesty boss, President Buhari attached so much importance to the programme, which explained why the President in his inaugural address to the nation, specifically promised “to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place for the ex-militants in the region.”

The coordinator, who commended the former militants and the people of the Niger Delta for their usual cooperation, further reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government in making the amnesty programme to run better for the benefit of the 30, 000 ex-militants and other youths in the region.

NDDC orders contractors back to site Babatope Okeowo

Military presence forces militants to suspend republic declaration Chris Ejim

tuesDAY, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

iger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), yesterday ordered contractors handling various projects in the Niger Delta region to go back to site with immediate effect.

Acting Managing Director of the agency, Mrs. Ibim Sementari, who gave the order yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the management would soon commence inspection of projects awarded by the commission to the nine Niger Delta states in order to ensure compliance.

Also, she said Ondo State has been given preferential treatment in the 2016 budget in order to address the cry of marginalisation by the various stakeholders in the state.

Speaking with reporters during a two-day training for top management staff of the commission

on procurement and due process mechanism, Sementari said other states were shortchanged this year in order to ensure that those states producing less oil received more benefits benefit more.

She added that projects awarded in the NDDC states were subject to the production quota policy and the Act, which stipulates that the states which produce more oil get more projects among the existing nine oil producing states.

This, according to her, was to make sure that there would not be massive variance in the levels of development in the area, as it was aimed at achieving even distribution and development in the region.

The NDDC boss, who also said the commission would embark on projects inspection across the state, said her last visit to the sites was to ensure that no project was abandoned by the contractors.

Emmanuel seeks closer ties among religious bodies hristian associations in interest to becloud their C Akwa Ibom State have identity as members of been called upon to close one fold and emphasised ranks and work together for the collective growth of the Christendom and the larger society.

Governor Udom Emmanuel made the call at a thanksgiving service for the newly elected Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Ndueso Ekwere, at the United Evangelical Church, Ikot Ekpene, Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

He advised both the leadership of the Pentecostal churches and the orthodox Christian denominations not to allow other

the need for them to eschew all forms of divisiveness and bitterness, noting that this would single them out as true Christians.

Governor Emmanuel, who decried the incessant propagation of falsehood in Christendom noted that the trend had permeated the fabrics of the society thereby depleting the core values of which the Akwa Ibom person was known for and pointed out that it behooved on Christian bodies to work for the restoration of core values among members of the society.

tuesday, august 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

F

ollowing the ongoing probe of alleged N107 billion leveled against former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam by the administration of Samuel Ortom, the Senator has said that he was not afraid of going to jail over the allegations.

Governor Ortom had at inception of his administration, constituted an investigative panel to probe the eight-year tenure of his predecessor, the report which indicted Suswam and 51 others of allegedly embezzling the N107 billion.

But Suswam, while addressing supporters of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Lessel, the headquarters of Ushongo Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, however, wondered if there was a government on ground in the state given the wanton killing, kidnapping and endemic poverty arising from non-payment of salary to civil servants.

This was even as the former governor said the primary responsibility of every government was to protect lives and properties, noting, "when a government cannot do these things, it means there is no government, but something else."

He added that it had be-

I'm not afraid to go to jail, Suswam tells Ortom come worrisome that his successor could not pay the workers’ salary when he used the same issue to campaign against him during the electioneering campaign.

Suswam said: "I am not afraid of going to jail, great people than me have been jailed at one time or the other. It was later that it was discovered that jailing them was gross injustice. The likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Aper Aku were jailed. Only PDP is a party of the people. The suffering you are going through, it is God speaking to you.

"Today, in Benue State we hear of killings here and there, kidnapping here and there and there is poverty in the land and people are dying every day of hunger. The primary responsibility of every government is to protect the lives and properties of the people, but when a government cannot do these things, it means there is no government, but something else.

"If there is government in Benue State, would other ethnicity still be mocking the Tiv people of having no Tor Tiv? The Tiv paramount ruler died

and has been buried long ago. Yet, it is taking more than necessary for us to have someone elected to that position. We heard they are trying to change the rules and guidelines so they would bring a moron to the throne.

“If there is government, would we still be hearing of a government official been assassinated like a chicken and till date there is no proper investigation to unravel the culprits? A government that is on a daily basis harassing market women, forcing them to pay multiple taxes cannot be called a government."

north | news

Plateau signs MoU with UK firm to rebuild market Musa Pam Jos

F

ifteen years after Jos Main Market was razed by fire, the Plateau State Government yesterday, as part of its efforts to rebuild and reconstruct the market unveiled plans for the market.

To rebuild the market, the state government is partnering Roughton International London (UK) Limited in collaboration with Cynergy Associates Consortium.

Towards this end, the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal (left), with the Moroccan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mosidfa Bouh, during their meeting in Abuja.

Bauchi, others to share ADB's $250m intervention fund

Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi

N

o fewer than six states in the North Eastern part of the country, including Bauchi are to benefit from the $250 million African Development Bank (ADB) intervention provided for the rebuilding of the region.

The other states that will benefit from the grant are Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe and Taraba states.

The ADB Leader, Mrs. Rosemond Offei-Awuku,

who disclosed this in Bauchi during a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of various ministries and government agencies, said that the grant will enable the bank to key into the rebuilding efforts of the Federal Government for the North East region.

Offei-Awuku noted that of the amount, $150 million would be channeled into the water and sanitation sector, while the remaining $100 million will be used for socio-economic interventions in various sectors of economic empower-

Nasarawa: 13 LGAs receive N1.92bn for June/July allocations Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

D

espite the financial downturn confronting the country, the 13 Local Government Areas in Nasarawa State has received N1,928,942,638.08 for June and July allocations from the federation account.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tijani Aliyu, dis-

closed this yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, while briefing newsmen.

Aliyu explained that the funds would be distributed to the 13 LGAs in the state for the payment of June and July salary of local government workers.

According to him, the money would be paid to the local government council workers and their counterparts in the Development Areas based on percentage.

ment of the people such as job creation, skills acquisition programmes and other relevant areas of their needs.

Offei-Awuku hinted that the grant was reviewed upwards by the bank after other components were added apart from the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.

While responding, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mohammed Ghali Abdulhamid welcomed the delegation to the state and command-

ed the management of the bank for the support.

He, therefore, recalled that the bank's delegation which had earlier visited the state in November 2015, lauded the state government's effort to improve water supply and hygiene.

According to him, the state government has recently provided N100 million as part payment of N300 million counterpart funds to the United nations Children Education Funds (UNICEF) after which the balance

Niger: Governor sacks SSG Dan Atori MINNA

N

iger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello yesterday sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdullahi Danyaya and immediately replaced him with Isa Ladan.

However, the reasons for his sack were still unknown as at the time of filling this report, though it was gathered that the former government scribe reported for duty on Monday morning before he was said to

have been invited to the Office of the Governor at about 10.30am.

Our Correspondent gathered that it was after the meeting with the governor that his sack was announced, while the governor immediately replaced him with Ladan, a 55-year-old seasoned politician and former Senatorial aspirant for Niger North Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner representing Niger State in the Federal Character Commission.

43

of N200 million will be paid within the next few months.

Also, the General Manager, state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr. Garba Magaji, an engineer, pointed out that all the stakeholders in the intervention programme were committed and would ensure the success of the programme in all sectors.

with the companies.

The document was signed yesterday by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ezekiel Daju on behalf of the state government for the development and enhancement of the market, which was ruined by inferno in 2001.

Daju, who noted that the market remained a critical project to the development of the state, however, urged the Roughton Company to use the project to attract investment in the state.

According to the commissioner, the MoU is for the first phase of the rebuilding and development valued at N230 millions for a period of 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Nde Ezekiel Gomos lauded the governor, Simon Lalong for his administration’s determination to rebuild the famous market that had positioned Jos, the state capital, a hub for trading and businessmen and women from all parts of the country and other West African nations.

According to the unit, which comprised the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Jos Main Market Authorities, and Plateau Investment and Property Company (PIPC), the bidding process for the rebuilding of the market was transparent, in which Roughton International Company became best bidder.

The chairman of the unit, however, pledged the total commitment of the state government towards the re-building of the market.

$220m

The net worth of Robert Downey Jr. in 2016.

Source: Fropky.com

Cattle rustler arrested with 110 cows, 25 sheep in Kebbi Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

T

he Joint Securities Operatives attached to border area between Kebbi and Zamfara States to curtail the rising activities of cattle rustlers, has apprehended a cattle rustler with 110 cows and 25 sheep.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the Local Government Council security meeting at the Mahuta, the Sole Administrator of the area, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammad said that it had become obvious for the security personnel to beef up security since the President launched

the Nigeria Army Day celebration in Dansod in Zamfara State which shared borders with Fakkai Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

He further revealed that the culprits had taken advantage of the proximity of the area and spill over to the local government as their hideouts which eventually were not known to the people.

The sole administrator explained that the aimed of the meeting was to find lasting solutions to the menace of cattle rustling, adding that over the years the communities had enjoyed peace and harmony with the communities.

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NEWS

WORLD \ NEWS

Herdsmen: FG begins importation of special grass Philip Nyam Abuja

A

s part of measures to end the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country, the Federal Government is to commence paddock development of importing and growing special grasses for cattle this month.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who made the disclosure at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, said that his ministry has started bringing the special seeds of grass (fodder seeds) into the country.

Ogbeh explained that after some time, the country would become an exporter of the grass to earn foreign exchange. “The Saudi Arabia is asking that if Nigeria can grow enough grass, they will buy to feed their cows,” he said.

The minister noted that: “Farmers and herdsmen’s clashes are getting worse by the year. But I want to assure you that by the grace of God, I will bring it to an end. On August 4, we shall begin the paddock development, that is, the growing of special grasses for cattle. And we are try-

ing to invite the president to be there.”

According to him, “We have started bringing in some special seeds of grass. It’s called foda seed, because grass is not just grass. Some of these grasses are even poisonous and injurious to cattle. And the reason why these cows are roaming is as a result of search for grasses and water. Over the years, we have not done much to look after cows, so the conflicts are increasing.

“No farmer in the world would like to plant his crops and arrive to see that cows have eaten everything up. It’s not fair.

Then conflict begins with the herdsmen coming from as far away as Senegal. In fact, some of the herdsmen claim that the grass around Agatu and parts of Northern Benue are so rich that the grass increases the fertility of their cows. So, it’s like, ‘kill us if you like, we are bringing our cows here.’”

He assured that with the paddock development, the clash between farmers and herdsmen in the country would become a thing of the past.

Ogbeh cited an instance where some of the herdsmen arrested could not

speak any of the Nigerian languages.

He said that there was a need for the country to end the herdsmen roaming with cattle even it was a culture.

The minister noted that one culture cannot become a source of conflict in the nation.

He said that there are 415 grazing reserves spread across the country, with Adamawa accounting for 73, adding that some were gazzeted while some are not.

Ogbeh said that many of them have been encroached upon, saying that the FCT was one of the routes, serving cattle going to the South-East and South-South from the North-West through Benue.

He said that after the development of ranches, it would be an offence for any herdsman to allow his cattle to roam the streets.

The minister said that government has been allocated land in some states that would be used for ranches for herdsmen to acquire for their cattle.

He said that cattle produce more litres of milk when they are kept in one place than when they walk about in search of food.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

India plans to bring back 10,000 citizens sacked from Saudi Arabia

I

ndia plans to bring back some 10,000 of its workers who were rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj said yesterday.

The government was arranging exit documents for those who wanted to return but could not pay for the flights, she told the parliament. The workers were laid off by Saudi construction companies after the slowdown in the industry due to the fall in global crude oil prices. "We cannot leave our workers in a crisis.

“I contacted the Saudi foreign office and labour office, we have asked their foreign office to authorise us to bring them back from Saudi Arabia," Swaraj said.

She also said the Indian Government would ensure that the workers who have not been paid in many cases for as long as eight months get their dues. Junior foreign minister VK Singh will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow to meet with officials there. Swaraj also said that all Indians who live in five worker complexes or

camps in and around the city of Jeddah were provided with food rations by the Indian government for the next week.

About 70 per cent of the 3 million expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia are blue-collar workers, mainly employed in the construction, oil and infrastructure sectors. Some Indian media reported that the Saudi government was investigating complaints of companies not paying wages and will order them to do so by imposing fines and penalties.

Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fire artillery towards IS fighters' positions in Sirte.

Group advocates six months maternity leave US launches air strikes on IS in Libya A

group, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), yesterday urged the three tiers of government in the country to extend maternity leave to six months to enable mothers exclusively breastfeed their children.

The Programme Manager of the group, Partnership for Child and Family Health and CS-SUNN, Mr. Okonkwo Sunday, made the observation at the commemoration of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in Abuja.

The programme was tagged; “Breastfeeding - A key to sustainable development.”

Sunday said scaling up of breastfeeding practices to almost universal level was estimated to prevent 823, 000 annual deaths of children below the age of two years in the country.

According to him, without the extension of maternity leave to six months and non-availability of crèche in working places, the possibility of mothers imbibing such practices was nonexistent.

He called on the legislative arm of government to ensure inclusiveness in funding for maternal, child and adolescent nutrition interventions, among

others.

The official said that 37 per cent of Nigerians under five years of age were stunted, 29 per cent underweight and 18 per cent wasted, by the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

However, Sunday attributed the development to lack of breastfeeding and funds, among other factors.

He identified full implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) 2014 to 2019 as providing a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem of malnutrition.

Hotel owners laments exploitation by FAAN Tony Okuyeme

L

agos State chapter of Hotel Owners Association has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the ongoing probe to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the spokesman of the association, Jubril Agabi, alleged that the organisation, which is statutorily charged to manage all commercial airports

in Nigeria, has turned to an organ of exploitation to hotel owners.

He added that rather than encourage hotels to promote tourism in Nigeria, FAAN is trying to throw them out of business.

According to him, the official price for five square metre space in the airport is N40.000, but the officials ask hotel owners to pay as much as N5 million.

He noted that in other climes, hotel owners are encouraged to showcase their hotel at the airports as a

way of promoting tourism but the reverse has become the case in Nigeria.

“We are appealing to President Buhari to beam his search light on the organisation because it is stinking with corruption.

Federal Government is talking about diversifying from oil and we, the hotel owners are ready to use our hard earned investment to support government in this regard but we are being discouraged by the exploiting tendencies of FAAN officials.

T

he United States has carried out air strikes on positions of so-called Islamic State in Libya, following a request by the UN-backed government there, the Pentagon says. The strikes targeted positions in the port city of Sirte, an IS stronghold.

Libyan PM Fayez Sarraj, in a televised address, said the strikes caused "heavy losses". Western powers have become increasingly concerned at Islamic State's growing presence in Libya. The air strikes are the first such US military interven-

tion co-ordinated with the Libyan unity government.

The Pentagon said yesterday's strikes, authorised by President Barack Obama, were in support of government forces currently fighting IS militants.

The government began an offensive against IS fighters in Sirte in May and said two weeks ago that it had made its largest gains to date. Western officials say the number of IS militants in Libya, previously estimated at 6,000, is declining in the face of concerted government

action and pressure from other militia.

"These actions and those we have taken previously will help deny ISIL a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and our allies," the Pentagon statement continued, using another term for IS. Mr. Sarraj said no US ground forces would be deployed. Libya has become increasingly divided since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with competing governments and rival militias seeking to gain territory and influence.

France seeks more influence over mosques

D

ozens of prominent French Muslims and Prime Minister Manuel Valls have called for a national drive to promote mainstream Islam and combat the radicalisation of young Muslims.

They issued separate appeals in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) newspaper, as France remains in shock from the murder of a priest by Islamist extremists last week.

The 41 prominent Muslims and Mr Valls said a French Muslim foundation set up in 2005 must be relaunched. Mr. Valls's

stance drew some criticism. Two politicians in the right-wing opposition party The Republicans - Eric Ciotti and Christian Estrosi - accused Mr Valls of hypocrisy for failing to prevent the opening of a Saudi-funded mosque in Nice. Mr. Valls was booed at a commemoration in Nice on 18 July for the 84 people killed by a lorry which ploughed into a holiday crowd on the city's beachfront promenade.

The Tunisian driver is believed to have been inspired by so-called Is-

lamic State (IS). There is widespread concern in Europe about the influence of Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative Wahhabi version of Islam.

In his appeal in JDD (in French), Mr Valls said the French state must avoid "any paternalism" towards Islam, but "there is an urgent need to help Islam in France to rid itself of those who are undermining it from the inside".

"To do that, we have a duty to build a real pact with Islam in France, and give the foundation a central role."

45

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport News

46

Sport Igali: Wrestlers will be idle for two weeks in Rio Golden Eaglets face Niger in Abuja

That over 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will compete for honours in 28 sports at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Fumes over early trip of athletes Confusion over travelling plans

Adekunle Salami

T

he President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, on Monday expressed disappointment over the shoddy preparation of Team Nigeria for the forthcoming Olympic Games.

The 31st Olympiad opens on Friday in Rio, Brazil with over 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees who compete for honours in 28 sports.

It was disappointing as Igali left the country on Monday with heavy heart following the refusal of the Nigerian government to allow sparring partners of the wrestlers follow them to Rio. The Olympic gold medalist explained that the wrestlers were rushed to Brazil too early especially as the sparring partners were not allowed to travel.

Igali said: “Everything we have suffered in our preparation is about money. We did not have enough funds to go on foreign tour and have better training with modern facilities. Now I wanted the sparring partners of my wrestlers to travel and this was also turned down.

“I gave another option which was to stay in Nigeria for another 10 days and train more since the sparring partners are here. This was also rejected.

We are going to be in Rio for 15 days doing nothing because it is not ideal for competing wrestlers to train with

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

one another and we do not also have money to engage partners in Rio. “The preparation for this Olympics is so horrible. There is so much confusion and no motivation for the athletes.

I wonder what magic the authorities are expecting us to perform out there.”

There was more confusion in the travelling arrangements as some of

International

Champions League miss good for Chelsea

47

Sparring partners dropped

the athletes departed on Monday.

Many of the athletes were unsure of the travelling arrangements and the schedule given to them kept changing till some of them eventually travelled on Monday.

“It is crazy. We were in the dark about almost everything. We were not sure about our trip and this kind

of confusion affected us psychologically and it also upset our training programme,”one of the athletes said.

Our correspondent observed that some athletes who were earlier told they would travel on Wednesday were rushed to the airport in the early hours of Monday . They eventually travelled 48 hours before the scheduled time.

Nigeria Wrestling Olympic squad at the unveiling in Abuja on Sunday

Top athletes to dump Nigeria after Olympics Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

T

op Nigerian athletes are contemplating changing nationalities and compete for other countries after the Rio Olympic Games, New Telegraph has exclusively learnt.

Investigations conducted by our correspondent in Team Nigeria’s camps revealed that some key athletes had made up their mind to dump the country and turn out for other nations at the 2020 Olympics

Games in Tokyo.

According to our source, interested countries had started making enquiries about Nigerian athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

Some of the athletes who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity cited lack of welfare and exposure to quality training facilities as their reasons.

Most of the athletes representing the country had severally decried the non-payment of camp allowances and lack of good training facilities.

One of them said that

athletes who were not well treated or taken care of by the country could easily be swayed by other countries who were ready to give them the treatments they desire.

“The likes of Francis Obikwelu (a former European 100m, 200m champion Portugal), Gloria Alozie, Samuel Francis (100m) and Femi Ogunode (200m Qatar), while Kemi Adekoya (400m hurdles Bahrain) are some of the most popular athletes to have defected in recent

years,” the source stated.

Our source said unless the government does something to upgrade the conditions of athletes, many more would defect.

However it was learnt that most of the athletes were urged to go ahead and prove themselves first in Rio as this might get them new suitors.

We also gathered that some of them were scared that if they got injured they might be neglected by Nigeria just like Obikwelu who defected in 2001

Minister threatens Siasia over salary comments

Page 46

46

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Minister threatens Siasia over salary comments Ajibade Olusesan

M

inister of Sports Solomon Dalung has threatened to sanction national U-23 team coach Samson Siasia over his comments about the poor condition of his squad at their training base in Atlanta, United States.

Siasia slammed sports authorities in the country saying that he was owed salary just as his players were suffering from lack of care ahead of the Olympic Games.

The remarks did not go down well

with Dalung who has now threatened to sanction the erring coach.

In a press statement released by the minister’s media aide, Nneka Anibeze, on Monday, Dalung said at the team’s training ground in Atlanta that although he was unhappy about the condition of the players and officials ahead of the games, the coach erred by going to the media to register his grievance.

He said the ministry was not considered when plans were made for the U-23 team and should not be blamed for what happened to the squad during the tour.

…as Voigt picks Diogu, 11 others

Emmanuel Tobi

G

P

ortland Trail Blazers big men Al-Farouq Aminu and Festus Ezeli were not on the Nigerian Olympic basketball team announced Monday.

Aminu reportedly withdrew due to issues with the Nigerian Basketball Federation, while it was previously reported Ezeli would not play due to the federation not reaching an agreement with the Blazers on insurance of his NBA contract.

The team coached by Will Voigt is led by former NBA big man Ike

Diogu, who paced the team with 14.8 points per game at London 2012, where Nigerian went 1-4 and failed to advance out of group play.

The team does include Aminu’s older brother, Alade Aminu, Detroit Pistons second-round draft pick Michael Gbinije and for mer NBA point guard Ben Uzoh.

Nigeria opens group play in Rio against Argentina on Sunday.

Team list: Josh Akognon, Alade Aminu, Ike Diogu, Ebi Ere, Michael Gbinije, Ekene Ibekwe, Shane Lawal, Andy Ogide, Chamberlain Oguchi, Stan Okoye, Michael Umeh, Ben Uzoh

Golden Eaglets face Niger in Abuja he Nigeria Football Federation Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s T has picked Saturday, August 6 and qualifier, the Golden Eaglets will on the National Stadium, Abuja to host Wednesday tackle Piloter Football Al-Farouq

Saviour leaves U-23 Eagles’ camp N igeria’s chances of a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games have been dealt another blow after one of the listed players asked to leave the team to rejoin his club.

Striker Godwin Saviour is one of the four alternate players listed by coach Samson Siasia for the Games and ahead of their trip to Brazil, he has now asked to be exempted as he would prefer to return to his club instead.

On Saturday, Taiwo Awoniyi who is on the alternate list withdrew from the squad, after his club Liverpool recalled him.

So as it stands now, the Nigerian team

any conduct that is not within the code of Rio operations. All federations are hereby directed to stick to the rules” Dalung said.

He said arrangements had been concluded to airlift the team to Manaus, Brazil venue of their first game in a chartered plane today. (Tuesday) Barrister Dalung said clearance had also been obtained from the International Olympic Committee in Rio to facilitate smooth flight operations.

The U-23 team will play Japan on Aug 4. They are in Group B also with Columbia and Sweden.

Rio: Al-Farouq,Ezeli snub D’Tigers

Iyoha: Instability made me dump Nigeria for Germany

ermany youth International Emmanuel Iyoha says the political instability in the running of football in Nigeria made him snub the West African nation for Germany, the land of his birth despite his father hailing from Nigeria.

18-year-old Iyoha who plays for German second division side Fortuna Dusseldorf featured for Germany at the recently concluded European U-19 tournament, making one appearance in the six goal thriller against Netherlands, which they later won 5-4 on penalties.

“I’m a real native of Dusseldorf, as I was born here, although my father is from Nigeria, my mother is a German but I feel German in every way, I presently play for the U-19 and am happy because Germany is just right for me, Nigeria is a political unstable country,” he said during an interview with Bild.

“There is no doubt that the ministry was not considered while plans were being made for the Olympic football team. Nevertheless, we shall intervene to remedy the situation. I have appealed to the captain to assume control of the team and restore sanity. “ For officials who decided to violate the code of their profession and take to media rampage to secure cheap blackmail, their conduct will definitely be measured with existing rules. We have decided to restore sanity and discipline in Team Nigeria.

We shall stop at nothing to sanction

might have only 20 players at the games, following Awoniyi’s withdrawal and Saviour’s impending departure as well.

Nineteen-year-old Saviour plays for Oostende in the Belgian Jupiler league, and is hoping to return to Europe to join them for the remainder of pre-season.

“Saviour has asked to leave the camp and return to Belgium to join his club for pre-season,” a team official informed fcnaija.com.

The team has been in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States where they have been training ahead of the Games in Brazil.

this weekend’s CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Golden Eaglets and Junior Menas of Niger Republic.

Nigeria’s Eaglets, who won a record fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy in Chile last year, were drawn bye into the second round by CAF in the race towards Madagascar 2017 and will now start their quest against familiar foes in the Junior Menas.

Last year, the Eaglets came fourth at the continental cadet championship hosted by Niger Republic, where they inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Junior Menas in front of their fans at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey.

Incidentally, Saturday’s match will be the fourth encounter between both sides in the last four years with the Golden Eaglets also claiming a 10-1 aggregate win in the qualifiers for the 2013 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations hosted

by Morocco.

Academy of Kaduna at the National Stadium, Abuja in what will be their seventh friendly match against local teams.

Manu

Ezeji backs Enyimba to defeat Zamalek or mer Nigerian Amiesimaka Stadium in are still very much in F international and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. the race to qualify for Enyimba striker, Vic“Enyimba remain the semifinals stage of

L-R: Member, Nigerian Sports Award Panel, Mr. Ejiro Omonode; Chairman, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo; Marketing and Communications Manager, Bet 9ja, Mr. Tunji Mesh; and Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited , Mr. Kayode Idowu, during the 2016 Inaugural Press Conference for the 5th Edition of the Nigerian Sports Award in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

tor Ezeji has expressed deep conviction that the Nigerian champions will not lose the reverse CAF Champions League clash at Egyptian giants, Zamalek SC. The People’s Elephant will be the guests of the North African side in the CAF Champions League matchday 3 group clash on Sunday, August 14 at the Petro Sport in Cairo, Egypt.

The Nigerian campaigners lost 1-0 to Zamalek in the first fixture clash at the Adokiye

great team in the land and Africa. Although started the campaign wrongly, losing first two matches to Zamalek and South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns, I strongly believe they

Ezeji

the competition.

“I do not think Enyimba will lose the reverse clash at Zamalek, the Egyptians were lucky to win the first clash in Port Harcourt.

“A win at Zamalek in Cairo, Egypt will restore Enyimba’s hope for the last four tickets before the last group match on home soil against the South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“The clash at Zamalek is crucial and decisive for both teams progression in the competition.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Xavi donatesluxuryyachttorefugee charity B arcelona legend Xavi has done his bit to help victims of the ongoing refugee crisis by donating his luxury yacht to a charity that helps migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.

Non-governmental organisation Proactiva Open Arms will not use the yacht directly but will auction it to the highest bidder and use the money raised to fund its humanitarian work.

POA thanked the Spanish midfielder with a post on its Facebook page.

The soccer player Xavi Hernandez collaborates with Proactiva Open Arms with the donation of a recreational craft to be auctioned in the near future. He was introduced to our work a while ago and decided to donate his yacht to obtain more resources in order to en-

sure the permanence of the mission. Thank you, Xavi, gestures like yours, will save many lives.

Xavi won eight La Liga and four UEFA Champions League titles during his 17 years with Barcelona before joining Qatari side Al Sadd SC in May 2015.

Xavi

Yedder rejects Arsenal for Sevilla

W

Yedder

Countdown to

issam Ben Yedder turned down the chance to join Arsenal in order to move to Sevilla, according to Toulouse boss Pascal Dupraz.

The 25-year-old was one of stars in Ligue 1 last season, scoring 17 goals in 35 appearances as Toulouse narrowly avoided relegation.

Ben Yedder had attracted interest from the Gunners but rejected the opportunity to link up with Arsene Wenger, and has now signed a five-year deal with the La Liga club.

“He could have gone to Arsenal, who are one of the best,” Dupraz told ESTADIO. “But Sevilla are also a big club and I think La Liga is perfect for him, because he is a technical player and very attacking.”

Brazil battle water pollution A

s past Olympics hosts like Russia and China have learned, hosting the games comes with a plethora of potential problems. With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro fast approaching, Brazil is now facing a number of pressing challenges — among them, the issue of contaminated water.

Water pollution has been plaguing Brazil for decades. Rio de Janeiro only treats a small percentage of

its sewage, resulting in water teaming with sludge and discarded trash, according to the Guardian. As Fusion put it, these Olympics could be the “shittiest” ever — literally.

“Olympic athletes are almost certain to come into contact with disease-causing viruses that in some tests measured up to 1.7 million times the level of what would be considered hazardous on a Southern California beach,” the Associated Press reported.

Champions League miss good for Chelsea –Conte

C

helsea’s lack of Champions League football will boost their Premier League challenge, manager Antonio Conte believes.

Antonio Conte believes failing to qualify for the Champions League will give Chelsea an advantage in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last year, but Conte says the lack of European football at Stamford Bridge will give him more time to work with his players.

“Chelsea aren’t involved [in the

Olympics

R

Mikel, Khune most experienced stars N

igeria skipper John Mikel Obi is one of only two players at the men’s football tour nament of this year’s Olympics with as many as 75 senior caps. The other is South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Mikel starred for the Nigeria U-17 squad at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003. In 2005, he was in the U-20 squad that reached the final of the FIFA U20 World Cup in The Netherlands. The Flying Eagles were pipped 2-1 in that final by an Argentine team that includ-

Conte

Days to Go

Nadal arrives Rio as Spain’s flag bearer

afael Nadal is currently in Brazil with the Spanish tennis team bearer. and he is also due to Rafael Nadal has be his country’s flag conceded he is not yet sure that he will be able to represent Spain at the Rio Olympics as his fitness concerns linger. ed Lionel Messi.

The 2008 gold medalThe 29 –year old midfield won list withdrew from his first senior cap for Nigeria the French Open in a friendly against Libya in with a wrist injury Tripoli on 17th August 2005, and missed Wimbleand would then score a brilliant don. goal against Zimbabwe at the “I will not be at Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt the best level in any the following year as Nigeria of the categories,” scooped bronze.

Nadal told journalNigeria’s Ministry of Youth ists after arriving in and Sports has already named Brazil on Sunday. “I John Mikel Obi as Captain of have not competed Team Nigeria to the Games. He for two months and is also the captain of the footI have not trained a ball team, as well as captain of lot.” the Super Eagles.

Champions League] this season but these things can happen to big teams,” Conte told the Evening Standard.

“In my first season in charge of Juventus, they were in the same position. I took over after they had finished seventh the season before.

“Obviously we didn’t play in the Champions League or the Europa League and our energy was only focused on the championship. We were able to take advantage of that and we won the title. I hope to do the same with Chelsea.

47

Nadal

10

Saudi Arabia double female participants S

audi Arabia will send four women to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, doubling its female participation after two women competed for the first time at the 2012 London Games.

Hosam Al-Qurashi, executive director of the Saudi Olympic Committee, said that two of the women will participate in track and field, one in judo and one in fencing.

The track and field athletes are Sarah Attar, who competed in 2012, and Cariman Abu Al-Jadail. Judoka Wujud Fahmi and fencer Lubna Al-Omair are the other competitors.

Attar, Abu Al-Jadail and Fahmi have been training in the United States, where they are students. Al-Omair will be traveling to Rio from the eastern Saudi city of Khobar.

A total of 11 Saudi athletes are competing in Rio of which five have been given wild card entries by the International Olympic Committee, including all four women.

On Marble Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

The inspiration of Igbo aspiration

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Thomas Edison

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

F

}14

N150

What Donald Trump would not do

our months ago I wrote an essay titled "Mr. Trump and Islam".

In that contribution I argued that Donald Trump, the American entrepeuner and billionaire presidential candidate, was unstoppable.

I said he would win the nomination as flagbearer for the Republucan Party and then, against all odds, go on to win the November presidential election against Hillary Clinton.

The first has happened and, even though many in our country would disagree with me, the second is likely to happen as well. In my view the world needs Donald Trump and consequently I am with him all the way.

During the coming election debates he should do the Nigerian people a favour and ask Hillary Clinton one question. That question is as follows. Why did she and President Barack Obama refuse to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation until late 2014?

This was after they had slaughtered over 100,000 innocent Nigerians in the space of four years.

If the victims had been Americans would they have taken so long to designate them as terrorists?

Is Nigerian blood not red and do Nigerian lives not matter?

Donald Trump would never have made such a mistake or tolerated such evil.

If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years and not Barack Obama Boko Haram would have been designated a terrorist organisation five years ago.

If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years there would have been no ISIS today and Al Qaeda would have been history long ago.

If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years there would be no war in Syria today, Muammar Ghadaffi would still be alive and Libya would still have been at peace.

If he had been POTUS for the last seven years the American Ambassador and four others in Benghazi would not have been murdered, the Muslim Brotherhood would never have won an election in Egypt and Iraq and Afghanistan would be in better shape today.

If he had been POTUS for the last seven years Al Shabab would have been destroyed, Somalia would have been less dangerous, Israel would be safer and Iran would not have been handed a "sweet" nuclear arms deal on a silver plate.

Hillary Clinton was the Secretary of State of America when all of these things happened or were initiated. She therefore has to bear as much responsibility for them as Barack Obama does.

Unlike Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, when it comes to foreign policy, DonaldTrump is incapable of tolerating and accepting evil from those who espouse terrorism and the cold-blooded murder of women and children as a way of life.

That is the difference between him and them. He knows what to do to the islamist terrorists and he will support any foreign government that will take a hardline against those that slaughter innocents in the name of their god.

Crossfire FEMI FANI-KAYODE ffkjnr@gmail.com

Trump

He will crush those that wish to establish a new world caliphate in which non-muslims and moderate muslims are slaughtered or turned into slaves.

Unlike Barack Obama he will not pamper the terrorists, encourage them in some parts and treat them with kid gloves. Instead he will wage a hard, full-scale, relentless and comprehensive war against them.

He will, like Russia's Vladimir Putin, see it as a battle of the forces of light against the citadels of darkness. He will view it as an end-time war between the sons and daughters of God and the emissaries and agents of satan.

He will decimate the ranks of the Philistines, the Amalekites, the Midianites and all the other vultures, vampires and blood-thirsty barbarians in our midst.

He will not support a Nigerian government that has a clear-cut religious and ethnic agenda, that seeks to shame and dehumanise Christians and that is attempting to restrict the spreading of the gospel of Christ.

He will not pamper and encourage a government that goes out of its way to persecute and destroy all those that it perceives as a threat and that it considers to be its enemies.

He will not prop up an administration that joins an all-muslim international military coalition even though the majority of the population that it governs are christians.

He will not stand by a government whose army murdered one thousand shiite muslims, bulldozed their homes and desecrated their graves simply because they blocked a VIP from using a road.

He will not support a President who is incapable of reaching out to those that refused to vote for him even in the name of peace and national unity.

He will not encourage a government who wages a selective, vindictive and nonsensical "war against corruption" in which the enemies of state are locked up indefinately and the friends of the President and his ruling party are above the law and untouchable.

He will not support a government that refuses to protect its own people from the barbarians and terrorists known as the Fulani herdsmen and which has made no arrests after thousands of non-Fulanis have been murdered and raped by those same terrorists over the last one year.

He will not support a government that sat by silently and allowed genocide to take place in Agatu and who encouraged the state-sponsored murder of many young, defenceless and innocent IPOB protesters in the south-east.

He will not support a government that calls in Blackwater mercenaries from Saudi Arabia to wage war against his own people and is hell bent on using his army to crush the militants and good people of the Niger Delta area.

He will not cheer for a government that violates court orders, breaches the constitutional and human rights of its own citizens and tries to intimidate the Judiciary.

He will not stand by a government that tries to humiliate and muzzle the National Assembly by destroying the Senate President and discrediting that hallowed chamber.

He will not support a government that locks up its political enemies and, despite court orders and public outrage, throws away the keys.

He will not support a government and a political party that is surreptitiously trying to push a National Grazing Reserve Bill through the House of Assembly in an attempt to grab southern and Middle Belt lands. It is for all these reasons and much more that I am an ardent fan and supporter of Donald Trump. America needs him and so does the rest of the world.

It is time that we had someone in the White House who is not fettered by political correctness and who has the strength of character and political will to do what has to be done to rid the world of evil. That man is Donald Trump and despite what others may think I believe that he will make a damn good President.

Pernit me to end this contrubution with an aside.

On 29th July 2016 CNN reported that "the Nigerian government is preparing troops for a crackdown in the Niger Delta if peace talks fail".

This is sad and ominous. As United States Senator Ted Cruz once said "the light of truth is stronger than the terror of darkness".

It follows that the biggest mistake that the Buhari administtation can possibly make is to attempt to "crack down" on the Niger Delta and kill innocent civilians.

Sadly the slaughter has already started with the reported bombing and killing of over one hundred people by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the creeks of Lagos, Ondo and Ogun states on the fringes of Yorubaland all in the name of fighting the Ijaw militants.

The question is this: were those that were murdered and whose villages were subjected to what the Nigerian media has described as "massive aeriel bombing" innocent Yorubas and Ijaws or were they war-mongering and pipeline-vandalising militants.

The answer to that question remains to be seen but whatever it is one thing remains clear: the cries of marginalisation and the cause of the people of the Niger Delta, and indeed that of the Igbo people of the eastern region, is rooted in truth and is manifestly just.

Their struggles and aspirations are legitimate and reasonable.

Self-detetmination is a right. It is a concept and principle that is universally accepted and that has the backing of international law. You do not threaten to bomb those that seek to exercise that right: you treat them with respect, decency and decorum and you attempt to persuade them to stay.

This is a point that is lost on President Buhari and those around him.

The bottom line is this, the Niger Delta Avengers are not Boko Haram: taking them on in the field of battle would be a monumental error.

Violence begets nothing but violence and peaceful dialogue is the only way to appease a people that have been maligned, cheated and wounded.

A word is enough for the wise.

Solution to puzzle 23

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