Tuesday, february 24, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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Vol. 2 No. 370

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N150

Banks reject fuel importers’ LCs as debts mount }5

anaging Director/Editor-inChief of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, Mr. Eric Osagie, has expressed the commitment of the titles in the company's stable to promote democracy, human dignity, free speech and liberty of all Nigerians. Osagie, in a statement to mark the

company's one year anniversary, said the newspapers would continue in the path of pursuing excellence in journalism. He said: "It is exactly one year today, February 24, 2015, that this newspaper, New Telegraph, rolled off the press as a daily, and was served to the Nigerian public through the newsstands and other channels. Since then, there has been no looking back. And despite the

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daunting challenges, which come with our kind of business; we keep marching on taking our rightful place, as one of Nigeria's formidable newspapers in politics and business reporting, as well as, in-depth foray in sports, arts and culture among others. "Of course, all thanks and glory go to the Almighty God for giving us the sustenance for the project thus far, but CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

st Santity of Truth

ry ersa Anniv

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‘We won't waver in pursuit of excellent journalism'

We're irrevocably committed to democracy, free enterprise and liberty of all Nigerians -Eric Osagie

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Fayose under fire over Buhari's health lEkiti governor accuses APC candidate of faking London interview }5

Jonathan, Mark, CJN, Buhari, others salute New Telegraph at one }2

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lGovs, business czars, administrators, Nigerians give testimonials }23 - 34 It is the most balanced, objective and creative newspaper in the country today

Mark

Emefiele

Akpabio

Aganga

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Jonathan

Buhari

Mahmud

Okagbare

Tinubu

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan, Mark, CJN, Buhari, others salute New Telegraph at one Ayodele Ojo

resident Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, governors, captains of industries and others have lauded New Telegraph for clocking one year as a daily newspaper. Jonathan and others, in separate goodwill messages to the newspaper which marks its first anniversary today, described New Telegraph as objective, balanced and highly professional news medium with bias in politics and business reporting. Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said New Telegraph had made tremendous impact in the last one year. “I know that this paper is impartial and it takes an objective middle of the

road approach to issues. Up till now, I can say that the paper is very factual and professional. In fact, I look forward to reading the newspaper. “As far as policy, politics and editorial reporting are concerned, which is my area of focus, I will give New Telegraph more than a pass mark,” he said. Also, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufa'i Alkali, applauded the management and proprietor of the paper for the “foresight, courage and determination to give Nigeria another window through which we can look at the world.” On his part, Buhari, who is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hailed New Telegraph for its innovation and steadfastness in its first year of publication. Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), Malam

Garba Shehu, described the newspaper as one of the shining lights of Nigeria’s newspaper industry. “Let me, on behalf of the APC presidential campaign organisation, congratulate New Telegraph newspaper for the successes it has recorded in the past one year. “It is very clear that New Telegraph belongs to the class of the very best, the leading lights in the country’s newspaper outfits. “I recall with fond memories my interview with New Telegraph newspaper and I can attest to the high level of professionalism of the newspaper. “I urge the editors and reporters of the newspaper to continue with the spirit of hard work and high sense of professionalism that has marked New Telegraph as a credible brand amongst the country’s newspapers,” he said. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also commended New Telegraph

for its successful run in the media industry for the past one year. Atiku, in a letter of commendation by his media office in Abuja yesterday, said that New Telegraph had made an impressive impact in the newspaper business in the country since it debuted as daily newspaper on February 24, 2014. Atiku said: "New Telegraph has brought a new paradigm to the newspaper business in the country. By its example, New Telegraph has erased the erroneous belief that an investment in newspaper in Nigeria is not a reliable investment. "It is also not in doubt that the editorial content of the newspaper is in the league of the best in the industry. "I have been privileged to be interviewed by New Telegraph and I must commend the frankness of their reporters, as well as the versatility of their editors.”

In its message, Mark said New Telegraph had come to reinforce and redefine journalism practice in Nigeria with its robust editorials. “I have seen the newspaper blazing the trail as a true national newspaper with no religious, political or ethnic bias. New Telegraph is upholding the time-tested attributes of good journalism,” Mark said. According to him, “the birth of New Telegraph is indeed, a positive addition to the growing media industry in Nigeria.” Tambuwal also commended the newspaper for its fearless but balanced coverage of news and events in the country. In a letter of congratulations signed by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said the paper had carved a niche for itself with its informed commentary on local and global events. "In its short but eventful lifespan, New Telegraph

Kano State Governor, Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso (left), welcoming former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was in Kano to inaugurate Bandiro City…yesterday

‘We won't waver in pursuit of excellent journalism' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

also for the appreciable acceptability and goodwill the newspaper has garnered within such a short period. "As we forge ahead in the coming years, we want to assure all stakeholders of our absolute commitment to our stated ideals and objectives, which is essentially to uphold the ethics and best practices of journalism. To this end, we reaffirm our guiding ethos which is: To remain resolutely and irrevocably committed to democracy, free speech,

human dignity, free enterprise and liberty of man. "In the last 12 months, we have sought to promote journalism of objectivity, excellence and dedication to the people of Nigeria. We have chosen to tow the path of unbiased reporting, with no leaning to any political party, religion or partisan interests. These remain our driving force. These will continue to be our commitment to the Nigerian people. "The last one year has seen us operating in

a very harsh economic environment, to put it mildly, with fluctuations in prices of production inputs, including newsprint, ink and other consumables. But we have continued to forge ahead with courage, believing that no sacrifice is too much in our desire to give to the nation a world-class newspaper, in the best global tradition of the profession, anchored squarely on the sanctity of truth. "All these have been made possible by the combined efforts of a highly committed corps

of editors, reporters and other support staff. Indeed, we have been blessed by a galaxy of stars who birthed this project at infancy. While some are no more with us, others remain to keep the flame aglow. We thank them all. "Within the last 12 months also, we have concretised a partnership with one of the world’s leading newspapers, The New York Times, because we believe the world is a global village and that journalism anywhere in the world should not be

different from the way we practice ours here. We believe also that our partnership with The New York Times has no doubt enriched our journalistic menu. "In the years ahead, the publisher, promoters, as well as the management of this enterprise will ensure the newspaper continues to discharge its duties to the Nigerian public without fear or favour, bias or ill-will. Our commitment is to the Nigerian nation and the Nigerian project. So, help us God."

has unearthed news of Nigerians from all backgrounds and communities, and has presented it in lucid language with well-defined pages. "I am impressed by the efforts of the editors to combine their rigour as reporters with personal commitment and integrity. The result is a newspaper that presents the news in fair and balanced manner." While congratulating the newspaper for the milestone, Tambuwal urged the staff to redouble their efforts especially in this critical and important election season. Mark’s deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, also said New Telegraph had made so much impact in the last one year that it was hard to believe that it was a young enterprise. He said New Telegraph was not just an addition in terms of number, “but in utility, commitment to national development, and creating a buoyant democratic environment where free speech, divergent opinions, balanced news and journalistic ethos thrive. Its editorial opinions are often on target.” In his tribute, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State helmsman, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said he was proud to be associated with the newspaper. According to Akpabio, “New Telegraph has done excellently well. You practise uncommon journalism in this part of the world. You are objective and unbiased. “Your news and analyses are first class. Keep up the good work. New Telegraph is a paper I’m proud to be associated with. “The years ahead, I’m sure, will even be brighter if you continue on the path of truth, objectivity, balance and fairness.” Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, commended the management and staff of the newspaper for a job well done. “Ever since you hit the newsstands, I have never missed reading the paper. You have carved a niche for yourself and you should continue to uphold the ‘Sanctity of truth’ that is your payoff line. New Telegraph remains unbiased and non-partisan in its content for the past one year,” Aliyu said. His Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said New Telegraph “is a refreshing addition to Nigerian journalism. You can't expect CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

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

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

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

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

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

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

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

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

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

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

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

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

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

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

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

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

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

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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

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

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

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

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Fayose under fire over Buhari's health lEkiti governor accuses APC candidate of faking London interview Onyekachi Eze, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Kunle Olayeni

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has come under fire over his persistent attack on former Head of State and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Fayose had placed advertisements in the newspapers raising alarm over the health status of Buhari, alerting Nigerians that a vote for the APC

presidential candidate would mean a repeat of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s illness saga. The governor did not stop at that. Last week he said Buhari’s trip to Britain was on medical ground despite statements from the APC that Buhari was going to participate in a conference on democracy at Chatham House, London. But Fayose insisted Buhari was undergoing medical treatment in London and challenged him to swear to an oath if he never visited hospital in the United Kingdom. Not done yet, on Sunday,

the governor declared that Buhari will never be president again. But APC chieftains slammed the controversial governor for his uncharitable comments on Buhari's health. Fayose's counterpart in Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, dismissed the Ekiti governor's claim, saying Buhari is healthier and stronger than his traducer. Amosun urged the Ekiti governor to desist from wishing Buhari dead. The governor also berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly politicising Buhari's

health. He told reporters in Abeokuta shortly after a meeting with representatives of community development associations and cooperative societies that it was untrue that Buhari was admitted in a London hospital. The governor, who arrived from London yesterday having accompanied Buhari on the foreign trip, explained that the APC candidate met with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, during the trip. Amosun said that Fayose's death wish for Buhari was unheard of and contravened the tradition

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, with the President/Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IOD), Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, during a visit by the council to the governor in Lagos...yesterday.

of the Yorubas. He said: "How can a sane person wish somebody else dead? It is a disgrace to our race as Yoruba for somebody to be wishing another person dead. For your information, General Muhammadu Buhari is even stronger than the character that is saying the man is weak. "For his age, maybe because of his military background. It's like seeing Baba Obasanjo too and saying he's old. This is a man that is very agile; we were even telling him (Buhari) that you have to slow down. We met Tony Blair, we left the place and we went to about five different places. The man is hale and hearty." Also, former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and chieftain of the APC, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, told Fayose that no individual can determine who becomes president of Nigeria. "It is not for him or any other individual to determine who becomes the president of Nigeria. It is Nigerians that should do so," Onu said. Another APC chief, Prince Tony Momoh, called on the PDP national leadership to call Fayose to order. According to Momoh, Fayose’s attack on Buhari should be an embarrassment to PDP. Meanwhile, Fayose has described as deceitful, the purported interview Buhari had with a local television station, "All Eyes on African TV" in London. The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation had last Saturday circulated a picture Buhari purportedly had during the interview with Kemi

Fadojutimi of the local television station. But the governor said the picture was taken at Room 880 at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. "This is height of desperation, it is misleading. This is the character of a man who wants to be the president of Nigeria. "General Buhari was in Transcorp telling Nigerians he was in London. He should stop deceiving Nigerians," Fayose said at a press conference in Abuja. The governor who re-enacted before newsmen the scene where the interview was purportedly held, accused Buhari and APC of engaging in propaganda. He said the settings in the room, the chairs where the interview and the interviewee sat, the table, flower and table light, were similar to those in the picture shown to Nigerians after the purported interview. He denied that he sent people trailing Buhari during his working visit in London, describing it as "petty". He said at Buhari's age he did not need to run after him. "My prayer is that he lives long. Buhari is old even to govern a state. He is frail, old and not strong to run the affairs of this country," he said. Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the campaign office was not going to take issue with Fayose. "We are not going to take issue with him; we have issues of security, stolen money and unemployment in the country. Those are the challenges facing Nigerians and that is what we want to talk about," Shehu stated.

Troops arrest Boko Haram fighters disguised as women

lAir strikes target insurgents locations in Bama, Gwoza, Sambisa Forest lJonathan, Central African leaders strategise on defeating insurgents Emmanuel Onani, Anule Emmanuel and Wale Elegbede

roops have arrested some Boko Haram fighters in Baga, Borno State, who in a bid to escape, disguised as women, the Defence Headquarters said yesterday. A statement by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said the discovery followed the ongoing cordon and search by troops after Baga was retaken by the military a few days ago. The statement added that the Nigerian Air

Force was intensifying bombardment of insurgents' targets in Bama, Gwoza and Sambisa Forest, preparatory to other phases of the operation. According to the DHQ, more arms are also being recovered, while arrest of the fighters in the town is continuing. However, in furtherance of global efforts to tighten the noose around Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with heads of state and government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Abuja where they deliberated on new strategies to end the insurgency in the North-East.

President Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of Congo and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equitorial Guinea were in Abuja and held private meeting with Jonathan on the way out of the crisis. The three Presidents reviewed the current security challenges facing the West African and Central African regions, especially terrorism and the menace of the insurgency by Boko Haram. They condemned the insurgency, its destructive activities such as indiscriminate killing of peoples and the wanton destruction of property. N’Guesso and Mbasogo

who represented the ECCAS, condemned the abduction of innocent women and children, especially young school girls, whom they said had been turned to sex slaves. The two presidents were on a visit to Abuja on the request of Jonathan following the decision taken by ECCAS during their summit in Yaoundé, Cameroon on February 16. Jonathan and the Central African leaders welcomed the proposal to have a joint summit of ECOWAS and ECCAS to further mobilise international support for the MNJTF. Meanwhile, some of the world’s most elite soldiers, drawn from the United

States and European forces, have commenced military training for African soldiers. In a report monitored on the Cable News Network (CNN), the latest coalition involved 28 nations and the training is tailored to combat extremism on the continent, especially in the Lake Chad Basin where violent activities of the Boko Haram sect continues to surge. Already, the United States Special Forces alongside its European counterparts are in remote parts of Chad and are being tutored in ground rules and comeback techniques. Other African soldiers, including

those from Nigeria, will be co-opted into the training, which is a renewed onslaught against extremism in Africa. France has also promised to support a bid by the African Union (AU) to win the backing of the United Nations Security Council for its five-nation force fighting Islamist militant group Boko Haram, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday. Fabius spoke on a tour of Chad, Cameroon and Niger, countries that have launched operations against the militants who have killed thousands in a six-year war for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Banks reject importers’LCs as debts mount lMinister summons PPPRA, importers over looming fuel crisis Adeola Yusuf

anks are now reluctant to finance fuel importation deals following the instability in the global oil market and the depreciation of naira that have combined to make the transaction less lucrative and highly risky. Industry sources confided in New Telegraph yesterday that some of the banks have started rejecting government's Letters of Credit (LCs) presented to them by marketers because of unpaid backlog of debts. One of the sources said the situation was threatening fuel importation and might soon lead to scarcity of petrol nationwide, if not urgently addressed. However, it was gathered that Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday in Lagos, met with fuel importers and some officials of Petroleum Product Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA) to avert the impending fuel crisis. The meeting came on the heels of complaints

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

33o C 27oC Thunder Storms

by importers over tight business environment, which the new foreign exchange regime and the skyrocketing subsidy has put their investments, as exclusively reported by New Telegraph yesterday. New Telegraph had reported that the new foreign exchange regime had put second quarter fuel imports allocation under threat. "The banks are not

29oC

24oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

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stated. The meeting between the minister and other stakeholders in the downstream sector, it was learnt, would also address marketers' demand for margin increase. Although the Federal Government has appropriated N200 billion for subsidy in the 2015 budget, the Major Oil Marketers Association

of Nigeria (MOMAN) Executive Secretary, Mr. Thomas Olawore, put the debts owe the marketers at N250 billion. "From the look of things, it is clear that the government does not have the money to foot the debt on subsidy," the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of one of the fuel importing firms said on condition of anonymity. "The unilateral deci-

sion of the minister to announce a cut of N10 on fuel pump price has also worsened the subsidy regime. Now that the crude price is moving up, the government will need to pay more." New Telegraph gathered that the MOMAN, which planned a press conference yesterday, rescheduled it due to the emergency meeting with the minister.

L-R: Chairman, Task Force on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Validation, Mr. Sam Ohabunwa; Chairman, SURE-P Committee, Lt.-General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd); Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on SURE-P, Senator Abdul Ningi and Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, during SURE-P scorecard presentation on Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Govs, business czars, administrators, Nigerians give testimonials CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ABUJA

forthcoming to take the financial risk again and their apprehension is germane. The marketers owe them because the margin of government debts on subsidy to marketers too is widening. "Consequently, there is a major crisis looming in the downstream sector and I think the meeting called by the minister, which is to address this, is commendable," the source

anything less... It is just a matter of time that the newspaper would take its rightful place among the leading newspapers. I congratulate all members of staff of the newspaper organisation on the first anniversary." Also, Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, lauded New Telegraph for its maturity in the presentation of news and the style of reporting. “I think that New Telegraph is a very promising publication and from the look of things, it will be a newspaper to beat in the near future,” he said Suswam's counterpart in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who spoke in the same vein, stated that within one year the newspaper had brought on board a unique professionalism that reminds one of the journalism of yore. Also commending the newspaper, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, said having watched with keen interest the evolution of the newspaper, New Telegraph is a paper to recommend for balanced reportage.

“New Telegraph from my perspective has put in professionalism and they are fast growing; they are in high demand and if they can keep and improve on this present status, they will have a place to go. “The quality of the presentation is there… In my opinion, the paper, in partnership with the New York Times is thoroughly coming up and representing what it claims to be. So, for me I will give pass mark for the growth of New Telegraph in one year.” In his message, former Governor of Anambra State and the Deputy Director General of the PDP National Campaign Council, Mr. Peter Obi, congratulated New Telegraph on what he called its “one year of resourceful, investigative and responsible journalism.” Obi, who noted the admirable print quality of the paper, said it almost came “ready-made” with arrays of brightest team of journalists in Nigeria. “With the team behind New Telegraph, one was not surprised that right from its debut, it started competing with older, en-

trenched newspapers in the country. Going by its wide acceptance, one is sure that its future is very bright,” Obi said. The former governor said that one distinguishing feature of New Telegraph was its nationalistic outlook in content, language, editorial policy, which, according to him, was often geared toward a deliberate policy of encouraging good governance and sustenance of our democracy. Obi said that even when evaluating campaign reports by the newspapers in Nigeria, New Telegraph was one newspaper that had respect for objectivity by offering all the parties equal space to express themselves. Captains of industries and big players in the financial sector of the Nigerian economy also applauded New Telegraph newspaper. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said New Telegraph “is one of the new newspapers in Nigeria that covers business, policy and politics. It is one of those serious newspa-

pers that any policy maker should read.” “Even though New Telegraph is new, its partnership with the New York Times has given it additional credibility,” Aganga said. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that the newspaper came at a right time. “New Telegraph came at a time when people are thinking about a paper that is strong both in business and political reportage. It has carved a niche for itself and this is due to the calibre of editorial team assembled to drive it,” Assistant Director, Corporate Communications Department of the bank, Mr. Isaac Okarafor, said. Besides, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Oando Group Plc, NIPCO Plc., Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) eulogised New Telegraph both

for its content and design. Foremost Economist, Bismarck Rewane, who is the Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), said: “This paper has become a source of relevant and functional analysis of contemporary financial and business issues. Please keep it up.” Managing Director, IRS Airlines, Mr. Yemi Dada, said New Telegraph had given readers a refreshing perspective to contemporary issues in Nigeria and the world. Also, some stakeholders in the judiciary commended the paper for the giant strides it has achieved within the short period it hits the market. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, described the newspaper as truly national as no personal ego has ever been expressed so far. The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Roseline Bozimo, advised New Telegraph to develop a policy to capture the readers in the corporate world as this will enhance more patronage.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Reps may quiz IG, AIG Mbu over killing order Philip Nyam Abuja

here are indications that the House of Representatives may summon the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba over threats by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mbu Joseph Mbu directing policemen to kill 20 civilians for any policeman killed during the forthcoming general elections. Information obtained from the House Notice Paper for Monday, February 23 to Friday February 27, 2015 reveals that Hon. Aliyu Madaki (APC, Kano) will raise a motion to that effect on the floor of the chambers today. The motion titled: "Violation of the constitution and disrespect to the Rule of Law by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu" will be the second motion of the day. Apart from the summons, the motion will be seeking to compel the police high command to take disciplinary actions against Mbu for giving

"such an unconstitutional order". It would be recalled that Mbu reportedly issued a threat that for every policeman killed during the March and April elections, 20 civilians should be killed in retaliation. According to the reports, Mbu explained that since policemen were also human beings, they should be ready to take revenge on any violent group(s) that might attack them or other innocent citizens. Mbu also affirmed the threat last weekend during the inauguration of the Olorunsogo II Power Station by President Goodluck Jonathan where he told journalists that “If one of my men is killed, I shall kill 20 of them, but don’t shoot first." If they shoot you, shoot back in self-defence. Anybody who fires you, fire him back in selfdefence,” The AIG was quoted in the media to have told his men at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, during a recent visit to do same.

Bring home your certificate from Cambridge, group tells Buhari Mojeed Alabi

he Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, has been urged to use the opportunity of his London trip to collect the original copy of his Senior School Certificate from the University of Cambridge as he claimed, “if truly he has one.” This call was made yesterday by Move on Nigeriaa civic action group working towards promoting good governance, democracy and the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, even as it advised the presidential flag bearer to produce his health certificate so that the controversies surrounding the two issues could be put to rest. In a press statement issued yesterday and signed by its coordinator, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, the group insisted that until Buhari produces the original copies of the documents, he stands unqualified for the March 28 election. It also advised the North not to fall into the same ditch by allowing an unhealthy man to represent the region, “and so should wait till 2019 when a vibrant and youthful candidate

can be presented to lead the country.” Aguiyi stated; “If Buhari will be willing to publicly declare his assets as he said he would, he should also be willing to publicly show his acclaimed certificate. So far, every independent inquiry with regards to Buhari’s qualification has returned negative; the onus now is on Buhari to ensure that he collected his original certificate from University of Cambridge before returning to Nigeria during his London trip in order to put rest to the controversy surrounding his academic qualification. Any cab in London can take him to Cambridge. "We strongly believe General Muhammad Buhari does not possess school certificate as he claimed and may have risen to the rank of General using the same deception but we want Nigerians to give him benefit of the doubt by bringing the result from University of Cambridge that claimed to conduct the said examination during his London trip and the result must tally with the earlier Statement of Result released through online medium by the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina.”

News

national Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

or mer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday declared that there was no official account on any social media being operated by him. Obasanjo also disclosed that all his previous accounts on either Facebook or Twitter had long been blocked, saying it was criminal for anyone to impersonate him. A social media twitter account @newsvergeonline had on Monday posted a tweet, claiming

I don't have social media accounts, says Obasanjo that the former president had described the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Femi FaniKayode, as a "democracy wrecker." It was learnt that the tweet account with the name "Olusegun A. Obasanjo" posted the story with caption: "FaniKayode is a democracy wrecker, who's very flu-

ent in stupidity. Give him food and he will sing and do 'shoki' dance for you." But speaking with reporters at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Obasanjo dismissed the social media account. "I don't know where this comes from. I don't have any account on either the Facebook or Twitter again," the former president said. He, however, warned those using his name

to operate illegal social media accounts to desist from such action. Obasanjo said he had placed security agencies on the alert to fish out the perpetrators. "Let me say that nemesis will catch up with anyone doing this. It is illegal and criminal. If I have to pass any message to the good people of Nigeria, I know how to go about it with no controversy," he added.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (middle), exchanging pleasantries with members of the Buhari/ Osinbajo Campaign Support Group at the official launch of "I am Ready" social campaign rally in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Buhari to Jonathan: Publish forensic audit report on missing $20bn Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to publish the forensic audit report of Pricewater House Cooper (PwC) on the missing $20 billion in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). APC said doing this

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

ostponed twice as result of insufficient fund in federation accounts, the monthly meeting of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) holds today in Abuja, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. FAAC by tradition normally holds between 17th and 18th of every month, and stakeholders comprising 36 state Commissioners of finance, Auditors- General, a

will show that the government actually believe in the rule of law and due process, public probity and accountability. The party also asked the president to submit the report to the National Assembly. Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday asked: "Why should the president and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) develop the feet of clay like an immovable colossus when the representatives of the

people in the National Assembly asked for copies of the forensic audit report, which public outcry forced the government to procure in the first place?" “So many respected experts on the national economy have condemned the wanton waste of the country’s hard currency earnings at the NNPC. Worse still, those in charge have treated Nigerians with impunity by hiding the facts relating to petro-dollar trade from the taxpayers. Some

of them have been gallivanting and globe-trotting around the world in luxury while their compatriots languish in poverty and squalor." The APCPCO spokesman questioned the position of President Jonathan, PDP and NNPC in disobeying the lawmakers’ request to scrutinise the PwC audit of NNPC. Shehu queried: "Is the NNPC a sacred cow? And should the president be an umpire in a game to which he’s a contender, or a judge in his own case?

FAAC holds today for January allocation representative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Revenue Mobilsation Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC), NNPC and Office of Accountant General of Federation (OAGF) meet to share revenue accruing to the account among three tiers of government. It is chaired by the Minister of State for Finance, while the Accountant General of Federation deputises for the Minister.

The Chairman, Commissioners of Finance Forum and Ebonyi State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Timothy Odah, confirmed FAAC will hold by noon today in phone conversation with our correspondent. New Telegraph had on Friday reported the postponement of FAAC. The session was hurriedly put off after Commissioners of finance and the Auditors-General had all assembled in Abuja.

A senior member of FAAC told our correspondent that among issue on table for discussion is NNPC's $1.48 refund to the federation account recovered with the assistance of PriceWaterhouseCoppers (PwC). There was a consensus among commissioners that the refund be treated as a fresh return of the month to the federation account and not to be treated as augmentation.

News

Kwankwaso: Obasanjo’s exit, our defection, big blow to PDP trouble ahead PDP is in trouble, great danger over defections, warns Kano State gov. Muhammad Kabir Kano

overnor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has said that the defection of five former governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the formal

tuesday, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the party has completely removed the ‘monster’ tag on the PDP and made rubbish of the boast to rule the country for 60 years. Gover nor Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers); Abdulfatai Ahmed(Kwara); Aliyu Wammko(Sokoto); Kwankwaso(Kano) and former Governor Muritala Nyarko of Adamawa State had quit the party in anger early last year. Kwankwaso, speaking on Sunday night to journalists in Kano, said, “Today, there is nothing PDP want like bringing us back to the

party and they are doing everything possible towards that direction. But they are seriously late because they should prepare for their burial in just few days to come” Kwankwaso noted that instead of accepting the fact that today, it is no longer business as usual, the PDP is rather describing Obasanjo’s exit as ‘a good omen’, forgetting that the exit has created a vacuum that will never be filled and will greatly help in burying the party. He said, “Realities have cropped up that PDP is in great danger and knowing full well

that they are in trouble, the managers of the party are seriously jittery, because they knew that their euphoria of ruling for 60 years would never work and that real politics would be played now.” While commenting on Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa’s comments that the five governors who defected should vacate their seats, Kwankwaso noted that, ‘Sule Lamido took us to the level of point of no return when we are opposing the party and in his usual manners, he ran away. He shouldn’t criticize us

APC to Jonathan: Your land grab is abuse of office, corruption Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of abuse of office and violation of the nation’s constitution with the alleged ownership of 90.04 hectres of land in the Aviation Village, Abuja. The land, according to the party, was acquired by the president barely seven months after he was sworn into office. APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in London yesterday, said nothing can justify the indiscretion of a sitting president acquiring such

You are Jonathan's real enemy, Ebonyi tells Ogbuewu Wale Elegbede

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Femi Ajayi; Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Fund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro and Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, during their meeting with the President on education in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Oshiomhole to military: Don’t protect anyone’s tenure Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday reminded the Nigerian Army that they must remain loyal to the nation rather than be reduced to defending the tenure of an individual. He said: “Presidents will come and go, governors will come and go but the Nigerian nation will remain.”

Oshiomhole, who spoke while receiving the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General Sanusi Muazu, noted that no political office holder should get so desperate and try to use the military to boost personal ambition. He cautioned that, “the reason why this has become an issue is because of the nature of our politics and the way political actors have put their personal interest over

and above the national interest.” According to him, “Presidents would come and go; governors would come and go, whether they are good or bad. Even the Armed Forces commander would come and go but the institution of the Nigeria Armed Forces would remain. Once we can distinguish between the person and the office, the institutions and the player, we may not have crisis.” He added: “I believe

that the forthcoming election with all the tension that people are raising, with all the speculation that Nigeria would have crisis, to me I have seen all these before and the God that created this country would ensure that after all the fog, the weather would be clear. Nigeria would stay.” The governor insisted that, “It is the peace and security of the part that determine the character of peace and security of the whole."

Group opposes Obanikoro's ministerial nomination Temitope Ogunbanke

igerians United to Save Democracy (NUSADEM), has urged the Senate not to screen former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for ministerial position again.

It said there would be impending danger, not only to Nigeria’s democracy but also to Nigeria as a country if Obanikoro was screened and cleared again by the Senate as Minister. Highlighting the reasons why Obanikoro should not be screened for ministerial position,

NUSADEM, in a letter to the Senate President, signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Adebayo Adebayo and made available to New Telegraph, pointed that: “Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has proven that he cannot discharge his duties as Minister with

loyalty to the Constitution and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This, he has brazenly exhibited while in office as Minister of State for Defence in the recent past before resigning to contest the governorship primary election of his party in Lagos State, which he lost.

a huge swath of land, as contained in a newspaper advert and yet unrefuted by the president. It said the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Bala Mohammed, was emboldened to also grab 40.40 hectres of prime land in Abuja, under the facade of using it for farming. “What happened in that Abuja land grab is nothing but the height of indiscretion and abuse of office, and cannot be justified or explained away just like that. Without mincing words, it also amounts to corruption, which is defined in part as a perversion of integrity, and a glaring instance of bad leadership,” the party said.

bonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi has reiterated his support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. The reassurance is coming as he described statements credited to the state's deputy coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Committee, Chief Franklin Ogbuewu,that he(Elechi) was working against Jonathan's reelection bid as false and malicious. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Onyekachi Eni, the governor said he and his supporters were steadfastly committed to the victory of the president ahead of the March 28 election. The statement reads: “If anybody is working against President Jonathan's victory in Ebonyi State, it is Chief Ogbuewu and his band of fortunehunters, who have selfishly cornered all the

resources meant for the campaign efforts to their private pockets. Therefore, Ogbuewu and his team are the real enemies of the President. “While Governor Elechi has never hidden his outrage over the manner in which the PDP electoral guidelines were brazenly and unjustly thwarted in the selection of the party's standard bearers in Ebonyi State, we wish to emphasize that the government and people of Ebonyi State have absolutely nothing against the president and are steadfastly committed to his victory in the forthcoming general election. “We recall that during President Jonathan's campaign visit to Ebonyi State last month, Governor Elechi had to independently source for fund to ensure the success of the programme while Chief Ogbuewu kept the money released by the national campaign organization for the exercise in a failed bid to sabotage the event and blackmail the governor.”

FAAN denies owing electricity firm N15m Wole Shadare

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) said it is not indebted to the Ikeja Distribution Company ( IKEDC ) for power supply to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Spokesman for the FAAN, Yakubu Dati, made the disclosure yesterday. The agency is said to owe the electricity company over N15 million. Dati said the airport authority continues to carry out its obligation to the power distribution

company to enable it serve its teeming clients at the airport, which require power supply for seamless passenger, cargo and other operations. He said information at his disposal indicated plans to cut supply of electricity to the airport was plot by some debtors, whom he said are reluctant to pay what they owe the authority. Dati urged users of the airport and other stakeholders to disregard any information suggesting that there would be power outage at the Lagos Airport on account of the alleged debts.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

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ASUP meets FG, Reps today over strike Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

etermined to forestall a total breakdown of activities at polytechnics across country tomorrow, officials of the Ministries of Education and that of Labour and Productivity as well as the Education Committee of the House of Representatives will today (Tuesday) meet with the leadership

of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). ASUP had issued a twoweek strike ultimatum which ends tomorrow, calling on government to reverse a directive suspending CONTISS 15 in polytechnics, removal of “autocratic” governing councils in Federal Polytechnics Oko and Ado Ekiti in Anambra and Ekiti states respectively and improved funding of polytechnics, amongst

other demands. The union suspended a 10-month strike middle of last year, following assurances by the Federal Government that their demands would be attended to. President of ASUP, Chibuzor Asomugha, who spoke to reporters in Abuja yesterday, said that even though the union had attended several meetings in the past without any concrete action by government, it is

compelled to attend today’s meetings because of its desire to see positive change in the system. Speaking on the several meetings it held with government, Asomugha said: “Last Friday, the Minister of Education invited us for a meeting and I think he also invited the councils and management of the two polytechnics but we met at different times and by the time we were meeting, we didn’t have enough time to actu-

ally get to the root of the issues; that meeting was rescheduled for tomorrow (today) Tuesday by 10 am and we hope, it is not just about Oko now. I believe we are going to look at all the issues and then get the perspective of the ministry on them. “We had complained; the NEC met when this Oko matter erupted and NEC took a decision on Oko and that was the ultimatum that we issued

government and it also took in the CONTISS 15 suspension letter because it was released at the same time and shortly after that Ado Ekiti took an action similar to that of Oko. “As I have just told you, the House of Representatives Committee on Education has also sent us an invitation for tomorrow (today) again by 3 pm and it is just before you now that the ministry of labour called also.”

Senate decries low access to broadband services Chukwu David Abuja

L-R: Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; overall winner of 2014 DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, Emmanuel Iyama and Public Relations Manager, DStv, Caroline Oghuma, at the presentation of prizes and certificates to winners in Lagos…yesterday.

N4.7bn fraud: EFCC kicks as court discharges Babalakin Foluso Ogunmodede and Emmanuel Onani

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, kicked against the discharge and acquittal of chairman of Bi-Coutney Group, Mr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court. Justice Lawal-Akapo had discharged and acquitted Babalakin and three others of a 27-count charge of al-

leged fraud, conspiracy, and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, preferred against them by the Commission. But, in a statement signed by the EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the commission said it will explore all options available to it, including that of appeal. The statement said: "The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to the ruling

today by a Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Lateef LawalAkapo which discharged and acquitted Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and three others of a 27-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct brought against them by the Commission. "The EFCC will avail itself of all available options, including the right of appeal, after careful study of the ruling." The ruling came three

years after the EFCC initiated a criminal charge against the Babalakin and four others over an alleged N4.7billion fraud. The court told the EFCC that its criminal information against the quartet was ‘incurably bad and defective’. Besides, it told the anti-graft agency that it lacked the required power to sustain the criminal charge as it never disclosed reasonable and enough information before the court against the accused persons.

No Pastor collected N7 billion PDP groups reject Taraba from Jonathan — PFN ministerial nominee Clement James Calabar

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has challenged anybody who knows the Pastors that collected the controversial N7 billion from President Goodluck Jonathan to substantiate their allegations by coming forward to identify them. The National Vice President of the Fellowship, Bishop Simeon Okah threw the challenge in Calabar on Sunday eve-

ning on the sideline of the inauguration of the Cross River State chapter executive of PFN. He said it was not true that the Presidency gave Christian leaders in the country the sum of N7billion to curry their support during the 2015 election. “When I read the report, I called Dr Okoye, who was the Aso Rock Pastor Chaplain when Olusegun Obasanjo was President to find out the veracity of the newspaper reports and he said it was not true.

Temitope Ogunbanke

oalitions of organised forums within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State have rejected the choice of Senator Joel Ikenya as ministerial nominee from the state. The groups insist his nomination was a political miscalculation that could rob the party of victory in the forthcoming general election. In a protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP Na-

tional Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, signed by leaders of PDP Fans Club, Ahmed Sani; PDP Concern Members, Mrs Christy Jushua; PDP Taraba Youth Congress, Mr. Peter Ezra; Goodluck Sambo Support group, Mr. Musa Adi and Neighbour to Neighbour 2015, Alhaji Abuduallhi Adamu, they said it was unfair and ill-timed for the PDP to nominate Ikenya from same Southern Taraba that produced the PDP governorship candidate, Darius Dickson Ishiaku.

he Senate Committee on Communications yesterday expressed concerns over Nigeria's little access to broadband services, in spite of the number of undersea cables running across the country. Expressing this concern at the 2015 budget Defence of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, said that it was lamentable to note that in the telecommunications sector, Nigeria finished 2014 with 8 per cent penetration after stagnating at 6 per cent between 2011 and 2013. Nnaji noted that telecoms operators were also of the opinion that the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, that foreign exchange should be sourced only through

the interbank had constrained their efficiency level and hampered their expansionary drive, with its attendant adverse effect on quality of service. The politician therefore, implored the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Engr. Eugene Juwah to highlight some of the critical issues pertaining to the development of telecommunications and Information Communication Technology, ICT in Nigeria. He mentioned some of the issues to include low penetration of broadband in the country and the effect of the falling value of the Naira on telecommunications quality of service. The lawmaker also expressed worries that there was no budgetary allocation to the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, SABI in the 2015 budget, and wondered why such developmental project was left out in the national budget.

Hospital activities resume after Lagos doctors’ warning strike Appolonia Adeyemi and Esther Albert

s the three-day strike declared by doctors under the auspices of the Medical Guild ended last Saturday, normal activities have resumed in hospitals in the state. Investigations by the New Telegraph revealed that hundreds of patients seeking health care yesterday beseeched the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, Lagos. Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Biyi Kufo, while urging the government to address the grievance of the doctors, confirmed that the strike ended at 8a.m last Saturday. Doctors returned to work since Saturday, he added. The Medical Guild, which is an association of

doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, declared the strike to press the Lagos State Government to pay an outstanding salary of two months and three days that the government withheld when the doctors embarked on strikes in the past. This followed the government’s implementation of ‘no work no pay’ policy, which further angered the doctors. The salaries include the salaries of three days withheld in April 2012 and May 2012, as well as two months salaries in August and September 2014. When the New Telegraph visited LASUTH yesterday, many doctors were seen at their duty posts attending to patients. The hospital environment was a beehive of activities as numerous patients were sighted at the Out Patient sections.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

My parents know I’m a robber, says suspect REGRETS A 22-year-old suspect says he ignored his parents’ warnings to desist from robbery Shola Adefuwa

etectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), were shocked when a suspected robber gleefully told them that his parents were fully aware that he was a robber. The suspect, Mutiu Rasheed, 22, said it was his mother who first discovered that he was into robbery. This, according to him, was after some gang members stormed their home and told his mother that he was in possession of their guns. The suspect and his gang members, Ahmed Musiliu, 23, and Sodiq Dada, were arrested by SARS during an operation led by Mr Abba Kyari on February 5. Two guns and six cartridges were recovered

The suspects

from them. Rasheed, who disclosed that his parents warned him strictly to desist from armed robbery, added that they had not come to visit him since his arrest. He said: “I live with my parents at Ketu. I used to work as an aluminium producer before I joined the gang. “My mother first knew about this when my gang members came to our house. They reported me to her, saying that I fled with their guns to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. My mother called me on the phone and begged me to return their guns, but I did not listen. I was using the guns for operations in Ijebu-Ode. “We snatched vehicles which included a Toyota Sienna. We sold them, but the gang has not given me my share. Since the police arrested me, my parents have not come to check on me.” The police said that the suspects were arrested at the Isheri Berger area. The police added that the gang used to organise robberies during which several vehicles were snatched.

Police re-arrest 110 inmates

Man needs N2m for eye surgery Juliana Francis

or years now, Chijoke Anthony Onyenwe has been traipsing round Nigeria, looking for a doctor who would help him regain the use of his eyes. When the solution finally came, he and his widowed mother could not raise the N2 million needed for the eye surgery he needs. Onyenwe, who used to trade in shoes, but had the dream of pursuing a gospel singing career, said he had been filled with despair until his sojourn to Eye Foundation Hospital, on Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos State. When he was told at the hospital that a surgery would help him regain the use of his sight, he almost wept for joy. But his joy was short-lived. He

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

was told that he needed N2 million for the surgery. One of the documents with him showed that an optician with Eye Foundation examined him on November 10, 2014. According to the document signed by Dr F. O. Oluyadi, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Onyenwe was “found to have right cornea opacity which will need cornea transplant”. The N2 million is needed for cornea, cornea transplant, surgery, admission and post-operative medications. The doctor added that payment was required before commencement of surgery. Almost close to tears, Onyenwe said: “I cannot see for now. I appeal to good Nigerians to help me raise this money for the surgery. The doctor said that my cornea is bad. He said the cornea transplant will enable me regain my sight. My widowed mother is just a trader. We can’t afford the N2 million.” Onyenwe, 27, said that his eye problem started in 2011 after he woke up one morning while living in Port Harcourt. He discovered that his right eye was hurting him. He started going from one hospital to the other, but instead, the pains spread to the left one and soon he was blind. “I started attending different hospitals. I was referred to different hospitals, even outside Port Harcourt. One of the hospitals I was referred to was Calabar General Hospital. An Indian doctor

Musiliu, who had served a one-year jail term at the Ikoyi Prisons, said he had been going out with robbery gangs for about five years. He said: “In 2008, I was arrested for armed robbery. We were five in that gang. I was sent to Ikoyi Prisons where I served one-year jail term. We had robbed in Ikorodu, Oshodi, Ketu and Ijebu-Ode areas. “When I came out of prison, I joined another gang. The gang leader provided the guns. I was part of the gang that snatched a Toyota Camry in Ikorodu area. We sold the vehicle at a giveaway price and I was given N100,000.” Dada, the third suspect, said he was formerly a commercial bus driver before he was lured into robbery. He confessed that he had gone on several robbery operations. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that investigations were ongoing on the matter. He said: “The suspects have made useful statements and investigations into their activities are ongoing.”

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

Onyenwe

examined me there. He said I had wounds in the eyes. He said that I needed to travel to South Africa for special eyes treatment,” he said. Onyenwe added that his mother did not have money for the South African trip, thus he settled for the eye drop the Indian doctor allegedly gave to him. The drop was supposed to ameliorate the pains. He was living with these pains when his mother met a woman who told her about Eye Foundation in Lagos. Apparently, the woman’s husband, who had eye problem before, regained his sight at Eye Foundation after surgery. Onyenwe said that he believed in the kindness of Nigerians and have faith they would assist him. Onyenwe can be reached on 08148318987 or 08185695781. He gave his account details as Diamond Bank, account number 0051243707.

olice in Ekiti State have re-arrested about 110 inmates who escaped from the Ado-Ekiti Prisons on November 30 last year. The police also apprehended 30 robbery suspects in the last few weeks. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, said this in Ado-Ekiti yesterday. Lakanu, who spoke through the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Albert Adeyemi, said the various security measures put in place by the command were yielding results. He said the police had put up various structures which had given room for constant patrol and raid of criminals’ hideouts. The commissioner added that the resultant effects of the new efforts made possible the arrest of suspected criminals and fleeing inmates. He commended Ekiti State Government and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, for donating patrol vans to the command, saying it had helped in stemming the tide

of robbery and other associated crimes in the state. Lakanu said the command would make its hotlines known to all the residents of Ekiti State, which they could call while in distress. This, according to him, formed part of the strategies put in place to rid the state of crimes. The commissioner added that more pin down and foot patrol operations had been intensified in some satellite towns within Ado-Ekiti metropolis and remote areas that were not motorable. This, according to him, is to complement the 24-hour patrol on highways and inner cities by his men. He said: “We are determined to tackle crime and criminality headlong in the state. We have put in place many strategies which include ensuring that the residents arm themselves with the numbers of the commissioner and other personnel to enable quick reach when in distress. “All these techniques have resulted in various arrests of armed robbers, burglars and other miscreants, the police cells are brimming to the seam by the number of the arrests so far made.”

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Epe fire victims grumble over financial assistance Muritala Ayinla

espite has come the way of some residents of Aiyetoro-Ijebu-Ode Road, Epe, almost six months after they lost their homes, shops and property to fire. The Lagos State Government has presented N50,000 cheque to each of the victims. But the presentation of the cheques generated mixed reactions from the beneficiaries. Property and other valuables worth several millions of naira were lost in the fire which broke out after an accident involving a fuel laden tanker on

September 13, 2014. But the disbursement of the financial assistance did not come without some disappointments, commendations and condemnations. While some hailed the government for not only providing foods and shelter for almost three months they have spent in the camp but also consider financial assistance for them, others bemoaned the gesture, saying the N50,000 was too little compared to what they lost. Some of the victims protested that their names were not captured on the list of the beneficiaries despite losing everything they had to the fire. One of victims, Gani-

yat Shittu, described the N50,000 assistance as injustice, saying the government would have given a tangible amount of money to some of them who lost property worth millions of naira. She said: “The N50,000 assistance won’t do anything compared to what I lost in the fire disaster. “I lost my two giant generators, my shops and freezers even my vehicle got burnt in the fire. Now tell me, what can N50,000 do in all these? I ran a restaurant in the area before the incident which almost claimed our lives.” A 38-year-old native doctor, Mr Abass Yahaya, who said he lost N600,000 to the fire incident, also said the money was too little.

Some of the victims on a queue to receive the cheques

14 arrested for tampering with electricity facilities John Edu

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 14 people in different parts of the Lagos metropolis for tampering with property of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC). The state Corps Commandant, Mr Abafi Gabriel, who made this disclosure to

journalists, said any person involved in reconnection of power that had been disconnected by IKEDC officials would be severely dealt with. The commandant said that the 14 people were arrested for mounting electric poles and by-passing prepaid meters, among others. He said: “The 14 people arrested were caught in the act of mounting the poles belonging to IKEDC and tam-

pering with the property of the company. “Those who by-passed their pre-paid meters clearly do not want to pay bills accrued to them. Some of the suspects illegally reconnected meters that had been disconnected by IKEDC officials.” Gabriel explained that NSCDC wanted the public to know that tampering with electricity facilities, was tantamount to economic sabotage.

The suspects during the parade

Robbers raid church Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

rmed robbers yesterday stormed the headquarters of Oasis of Fulfilment Church in Benin, Edo State capital and stole huge sums of money. The worship centre is located on the busy dual carriage Airport Road in the ancient town. The dare devil robbers were said to have, on arrival on the church premises about 2am, broke into its vaults and made away with the unspecified amount of cash. The four armed men were said to have beaten security guards attached to the church to pulp and tied their hands and legs before they ransacked all the buildings there without any challenge. Investigation showed that

about two weeks ago, the church inaugurated a multimillion naira ultra-modern building complex, which attracted top politicians, eminent men of God, popular business magnates and captains of industry from far and near. Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were wife of the Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly candidates and top clerics. It was gathered that some members of church, who went for morning prayer, discovered that the doors were forced open while the security guard were tied to a corner of the church building. Policemen at the Airport Police Station were later invited.

He said that those in the habit of mounting electric poles should desist, adding that NSCDC officials’ eagle eyes would henceforth be on them. One of the suspects, Yusuff Shittu, 32, residing on Governor Road, Ikotun, said he mounted the electric pole in the area he had his shop at Okota because he wanted to rectify a fault. He said: “Yes, I was caught by IKEDC officials while I was trying to reconnect an electric wire. The electric wire fell after a container attempted to drive pass. I’m an electrician but I do not do reconnection. “I only wanted to save others who might be accidentally hurt by the electric cable. People in the area alerted me, begging that I should assist them to fix it back.” The Head of Communications Strategy, IKEDC, Mr. Apekun Adeyanju, said his company was waging a war on vandals in collaboration with NSCDC.

Abducted lecturer found unconscious Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State has been discovered unconscious beside a river in the town. The man, who teaches in the Computer Science Department of the institution, was kidnapped about five days earlier. He was later found near a river through efforts of a search team of relatives and members of staff of the polytechnic in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area. It was learnt that the lecturer, whose name could not be ascertained at time of filing of this report, was said to be one of the agitators who insisted that the polytechnic should key into the epayment system of the Federal Government long embraced by many tertiary institutions, agencies and departments of government. A source said: “As we speak, he is in the hospital and has not been able to say anything about his ordeal. I don’t understand what this place is turning into.”

N120m drugs found inside traveller’s luggage Juliana Francis

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have discovered illicit drugs valued at N120 million inside the luggage of a man travelling to South Africa. The suspect, Mr. Okonkwo Isaac Ekemezie, 51, a Nigerian based in Johannesburg, was alleged to be attempting to smuggle 36.850kg of narcotic drugs to South Africa. The shipment was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja during the outward screening of an Ethiopian Airline flight. The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the suspected substances hidden in his luggage were field tested and found to be methamphetamine weighing

17.700kg and ephedrine weighing 19.150kg with an estimated monetary value of N120 million. The NDLEA Commander at Abuja airport, Mr Hamisu Lawan, said that Ekemezie was arrested a few days after the arrest of Ilo Chidera Alex with 15.850kg of cocaine concealed inside make-up brushes from Sao Paulo en route Dubai. He said: “Drug traffickers are always experimenting with new routes all in a bid to evade arrest by law enforcement officers. By our record at this airport, South Africa is not a common route for drug traffickers. “Ekemezie is a suspected member of a drug trafficking cartel in South Africa where he lives. His mission was to come to Nigeria to facilitate the exportation of 36.850kg of narcotic drugs to South Africa. That criminal action was, how-

Ekemezie

ever, aborted because of the vigilance of our officers.”

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

APC chides Mimiko on Jonathan’s campaign Babatope Okeowo Akure

ndo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday accused the State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, of using the state resources to fund President Goodluck Jonathan re-election campaign in the SouthWest geo-political zone. The party through its Publicity Secretary, Abayo-

2.6bn

mi Adesanya, said all the fund being channeled to Jonathan’s re-election campaigns should have been used to develop infrastructure in the state. However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) asked the opposition to account for all, APC controlled states money being expended on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaigns. The party through its Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, said the Mimiko’s administration

The estimated number of people without access to improved sanitation in 2015. Source:Unesco.org

was not using government fund to campaign for President Jonathan, stating that the leaders of the Yoruba who visited the state recently could not be bought with money. Adesanya, in a statement, alleged that the state’s meager resources were being spent on Jonathan re-election, in the name of post Confab summit while infrastructure decay and workers’ salaries remained unattended to. He said, the convocation

324,000 The total population of Maldives in 2012. Source: Un.org

of the meeting of Yoruba delegates, who went for the Constitution Conference held last year, by Mimiko last week, was a mere waste of commonwealth of people of the state on frivolity and fruitless mission full of mirage. His words: “The meeting was uncalled for at this crucial time of our dear nation. The Confab report that is still not known to the National Assembly months thereafter, people say is jamboree. “No wonder, numer-

134,878

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Barbados in 2005. Source: Itu.int

ous major political figures from the Southwest region on Thursday were conspicuously absent from this “post-national conference summit” hosted by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State in Akure, the state capital. “Our concern was not the Confab report, but to caution Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to stop lavishing our money on political campaigns for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, in the name of Confab.

48.2%

The percentage of malaria prevalence among children (age 6-59 months) in North-West Nigeria. Source: Itu.int

Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Ambassador Toye Olofintuyi (left) with Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, displaying the published photograph of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammdu Buhari, who was purportedly being interviewed in London…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

‘Jonathan, Yoruba monarchs romance lacks significance’ Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West, has decried the recent visits of President Goodluck Jonathan to some prominent SouthWest monarchs including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade, describing it as lacking in any electoral significance. Jonathan, in his apparent efforts to ensure victory in the March 28, 2015 general election, had toured some parts of the Yoruba land, paying visits to the prominent Obas, to curry their favour for vote for his second term bid. However, in the reaction of the APC, contained in a press release signed by the Director of

Media and Publicity of the South West of the party, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, and made available to New Telegraph in Ibadan, Oyo State capital yesterday, the party said, “the strategic question the President and his campaign managers should have tried to answer before engaging on the rash moves is: how many of such desperate and impromptu meetings were needed before Yoruba people voted for him in 2011? How much did President Jonathan spend to get Yoruba votes in 2011 and why should he think money will save him now? “All other regions extracted several promises from President Jonathan in the race to 2011 elections except the SouthWest, which voted based on their firm convictions and commitment to justice and good governance.

‘Stop using us for destructive purposes’ Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

he Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union (FOSSU) yesterday called on politicians to stop using them for their political gains, which was usually aimed at making them destructive, stating that they should focus their campaigns on issues capable of developing the country and the youths, who are leaders of tomorrow. Expressing the view during a press briefing held at the Oyo State NUJ press center, Ibadan, the Vice President of the union, Yusuf Imran, said the Abiola Ajimobi government, has not done badly in the area of lifting the education sector. He also used the occasion to endorse the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Teslim Folarin. He said, “We commend the present government of Oyo state on the state of education and the future development of this sector under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Hon. Sunmonu Monsura, Speaker of the State House of Assembly who have contributed immensely to the development of the education sector. Highlighting the achievements of the present administration, Imran, listed the reduction of tuition fees by 50 per cent at state-owned tertiary institutions; resolution of the crisis at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology between Oyo and Osun states among others.

Isiaka: APC insincere about promises of change Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, has asked Nigerians to be wary of being hoodwinked by the promises of change being canvassed by the opposition All Progressives

Congress (APC). Isiaka, said, the APC, was not sincere about redirecting the affairs of the country, urging the electorate not to be carried away by the party’s promises. He spoke at a forum, “An evening with GNI” organised in Abeokuta by the City People Media Group in conjunction with Ijebu News Extra Magazine.

The PDP standard bearer, used the occasion to call on Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the task of implementing the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. According to him, the issues of resource control, devolution of powers, revenue formula, fiscal federalism, state creation and autonomy

and several other contentious issues, contained in the recommendations of the Confab, would be addressed by the president if re-elected. He noted that the APC chieftains, were only interested in castigating Jonathan’s administration rather than identifying the focus of their vision, embodied in the change desired by the country.

APC to Fayose: Your anti-Buhari campaign diversionary Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of diverting the attention from his alleged fraudulent victory in the state governorship election, as revealed in the audio tape recently leaked, with his virulent campaign

against the APC presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. It said the revelations in the tape would not be eclipsed by his antiBuhari campaign antics, stressing that the money the governor was spending on his hate campaign could have been channeled towards the development of the state for the benefit of Ekiti people. The party also chided

the governor for lack of focus on development issues, stating that in the past four months, he had busied himself with debts profile of the state, while not forthcoming on the balances and refunds made to the state by the Federal Government. The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, that all Fayose,

was doing was the usual fraudulent antics associated with his administration to whip public sentiments against real issues of development and transparent management of state resources. The party’s spokesman also said the audio leak would not be wished away without those who perpetrated electoral fraud facing the full wrath of the law.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 24, 2015

Sokoto guber

General elections

Controversy

Interview

Court fixes March 4 for suit against Tambuwal

INEC disagrees with Amosun over 600,000 ‘strange’ PVCs

Buhari’s London interview: APC founded on deceit, says PDP

Peterside: Rivers guber election’ll be a walkover

Politics At a post National Conference summit titled “The National Conference, 2015 election and the Yoruba Nation,” leaders of the South-West, which cuts across academia, professional and political class last Thursday insisted that change in the country would come when the 2014 confab report is implemented. BABATOPE OKEOWO reports

Confab report as a bait

or the second time within a month, Yoruba leaders in the South-West geo-political zone have shown their preference for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), citing the need to implement the 2014 National Conference report as excuse. The pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, had earlier adopted President Jonathan as its candidate for February 14 presidential election which was eventually postponed to March 28. The major reason given by the elder statesmen was the need to implement the National Conference report. Citing the same reason, some Yoruba leaders also met in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to adopt the PDP’s candidate as their preference for the election. At the meeting convened by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the South-West coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation, the Yoruba leaders led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo hinged the decision to support President Jonathan for a second term in office

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

L-R: Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, and Publicity Secretary of Yoruba Unity Forum, Otunba Kunle Olajide at the Post-National Conference Summit, in Akure, last Thursday.

on the hope that he would implement the decisions reached at the National Conference. The confab report, they argued, is the panacea to the myriads of problems plaguing the country and not the change in those running the affairs of the country. But some people wondered if it was indeed the need to implement the report of the National Conference, the antecedents of Buhari which many of the Yoruba frowned at or the need to checkmate the control of Asiwaju Bola Amed Tinubu on South-West politics that made them to take the decision. It must be noted that none of the APC leaders attended the Akure meeting nor sent representatives, thereby giving the impression that it was a PDP affairs. However, the presence of the National Chairman of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun; coordinator of OPC, Otunba Gani Adams; Adebanjo; coordinator of Oodua Self Determination Group, Kola Are; Senator Femi Okunronmu; Mr. Yinka Odumakin among other leaders changed that perception. There were however PDP leaders including Governor Mimiko; Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; National Vice

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Jonathan

Chairman of PDP (South-West), Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe; Dr Kunle Olajide; FERMA boss, Engr. Jide Adeniji; governorship candidate of PDP in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, representatives of Lagos State and Oyo governorship candidates and National Assembly candidates. The aggregate of opinions of speakers at the one-day confer-

ence pointed to the fact that the ‘change’ Nigeria needs is not personality change but the change in the constitution that would give the template of good governance in the country. Setting the tone for the meeting, Adebanjo said he does not hate Buhari as a person but wanted a person that could implement the decisions reached at the National Conference. He, however, said the antecedents of the APC’s presidential candidate ruled him out of the exalted position. The octogenarian politician said if there are no structural changes in the country, all the efforts of the Yoruba leaders at the conference and heroes past would be in vain, and the only person who could implement the changes Yoruba people have been clamouring for in many years in the country is a minority person from the southern part of the country. His words: “By the time they tell you what we have achieved at the conference; our freedom, our autonomy you will know we are not fighting for nothing. Their campaign is that Buhari will clear corruption, he will do this, he will do that, those of us who know say he is not better. When you talk of CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Politics

TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mbadinuju dumps PDP, joins APC Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Mbadinuju was Anambra State governor on the platform of the PDP from 1999 - 2003. In 2003, he joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and contested Anambra State governorship election on that platform, an election he lost. After the 2003 election, Mbadinuju went back to PDP after he lost the governorship election on the platform of AD. In 2007, he formed the Nigeria Social Democratic Party (NSDP) and after the general elections, he returned to PDP.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the former Anambra State governor said: “The die is cast. I have called this press conference to inform members of the public that I have last week written to the PDP executive committee of my Ward, Umuaku Ward of Ihiala LGA of Anambra State withdrawing my membership of the party and conversely registered with the APC. “It is a painful but necessary action that I had to take. It is painful because, as a founding member of the PDP in 1998 who toiled hard to ensure that it gained acceptance of the majority of our people, I had very high hopes for the party.” He called on all wellmeaning Nigerians to cast their votes only for the APC in the forthcoming general elections.”

Sokoto guber: Court fixes March 4 for suit against Tambuwal Tunde Oyesina Abuja

ustice Evoh Chukwu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed March 4, for the hearing of the suit filed by the chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator Umaru Dahiru against the gubernatorial primaries that produced Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the April 11 election in Sokoto State.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Senator Dahiru approached the court, seeking an order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from placing the name of Tambuwal on the ballot for the April 11 gubernatorial election in Sokoto State.

Dahiru also asked the court to expunge the name of Tambuwal from the list of gubernatorial candidates already cleared to contest the governorship poll in Sokoto state. Tambuwal was declared winner of the APC governorship primaries APC in Sokoto State after he polled 3,466 votes to beat Umaru who gained 23 votes with three others including Alhaji Yushau Muhammed Kebbe, Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna and Prof. Muhammed Lawal Bashir scoring nil vote respectively. Dahiru, through his counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN),

is contending that the primary poll was conducted in clear breach of section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010; the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the 2014 APC Guidelines and the principle of natural justice, as well as urged the court to order the APC to organise a fresh primary poll in the state. Also aggrieved by the emergence of Tambuwal as the candidate of APC at the December 4, 2014 primary poll is Barrister Sanyinna. Sanyinna joined Dahiru to jointly sue the APC, Tambuwal and INEC before the court.

Jonathan’s support group debunks endorsement of LP guber candidate Steve Uzoechi Owerri

group, Goodluck Jonathan Booth2Booth Initiative (B2BI), has denied a media report suggesting that the group had endorsed Barr. Ngozi Olehi, the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Imo State as its consensus candidate for the coming April 11 election. Coordinator of the group, Mayor Clifford Akalonu, described the news report as misleading and mischievous, stressing that the group had not at any time contemplated adoption or endorsement of any candidate among the 22 guber contenders in Imo. He explained that the B2BI is a multi-party support group for the realisa-

tion of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term agenda, pointing out that he or any officer of the group never wrote to the Presidency endorsing a governorship candidate as averred. He said: “It is ridiculous for anyone to claim that we endorsed the LP candidate. Why and how; where and when? Our group is made up of members of several political parties who have their various governorship candidates but willingly chose to align with the PDP in support of President Jonathan. So how can we endorse one of them as consensus candidate leaving the others? “What unites us in the group is re-election of Mr. President. We are not fronting for any governorship candidate of any of the aligning political parties.”

L-R: Governorship running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Demola Seriki at a meeting with senior citizens and pensioners of Lagos State held in Ikeja, yesterday.

INEC to use ex-corps members for elections Onyekachi Eze Abuja

Ladoja assures civil servants

ccord governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has assured the state workforce that as soon as he becomes governor, professionals in the civil service will be in charge of all projects instead of employing consultants from outside the state as it is the current practice. In a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs in the Ladoja Campaign Organisation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the governorship candidate said he will utilise the experience of welltrained workers and keep the funds of the state within the state. The party also asked Governor Abiola Aji-

the progressives in Lagos has responded to the needs and yearnings of Lagosians by providing basic amenities. He said the safety of the commuters was the motive behind the traffic law of Lagos State, describing the awareness effort of the group as the right step in the right direction. He praised the volunteer group for the radical shift it has recorded in campaign management, stating that he was overwhelmed by the passion

mobi to fulfil his promise to pay the five-month salaries’ arrears of a few teachers he employed.

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will still engage the services of the immediate past National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for the elections even

though they were no longer in service. Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, who spoke yesterday shortly after the commission’s meeting with security agencies, said the former corps members had already being trained before the rescheduling of the elec-

tions. According to him, NYSC had earlier “kept these people in camps because of the election. But now that there is a shift, there is no basis for you to keep on holding them in camps. Now that the elections are rescheduled, you can’t hold them in camps for six week.

Ambode launches sticker campaign on cyclists’ routes T he All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, yesterday promised to advance progress recorded by the Babatunde Fashola administration by improving the people-oriented policies and ensuring the safety of all commuters. Speaking at the launch of the OKADALLOWED sticker campaign organised by the Support Group for Ambode 2015, Ambode said the government of

and commitment which made many professionals in the volunteer group to leave their businesses and commit their time to his election. Noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deliberately misinformed the general public to score cheap political points, he said the sticker campaign will expose their campaign of misinformation and show that the Fashola administration truly meant well. Also speaking at the

launch, the chairman of the Support Group for Ambode 2015, Chief Demola Seriki said the group discovered that the campaign of misinformation of the PDP was misleading many operators of commercial motorcycles to assume that they were banned from operating on all routes. He said each LASAA street pole on roads that commercial motorcyclists can ply according to the Traffic law would be decorated with the sticker.

“The corps members themselves, as many as have been trained and are available to take up the job for which they have been trained, they would still be there. Those that were trained and have passed out, they would still be engaged. They have been trained for the job.” Asked on the implication of engaging the corps members since they are no longer under the scheme, Idowu said: “They are the same people who were recently in the NYSC. The only difference is that because of the time of the rescheduling, they are no longer in camp for the NYSC.” He said the meeting with the security agencies over the election was a routine one “that evaluates the environment. Incidentally, this level is not a policy thing; this meeting is operational meeting, which is to plan, of course, for the election.”

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 24, 2015

INEC disagrees with Amosun over 600,000 ‘strange’ PVCs Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday differed with the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, over the emergence of strange 600,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the state. The electoral body made its position known as members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) staged a protest in Abeokuta over the irregularities in the distribution of PVCs in the state. The CDHR members, led by its chairman, Comrade Yinka Folarin, had marched from Kuto

Roundabout to the INEC office in Magbon area of Abeokuta, saying they have no confidence in the commission’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to conduct free, fair and transparent elections. Amosun had last week accused INEC of allegedly plotting to disenfranchise 800,000 eligible voters in the state and also raised the alarm over 600,000 “strange” PVCs, which he said, had surfaced in the state. But addressing the CDHR protesters, the INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr. Dickson Atiba, debunked the existence of strange PVCs in the state. Atiba explained that the owners of the cards were people living in the state before but had relo-

cated elsewhere. He also disclosed that the commission had collected 1,368,875 PVCs from Abuja out of which 795,962 were distributed so far by eligible voters. He said; “There are no alien cards in Ogun State. Those cards that the governor are referring to as alien cards are those that are meant for the state. “Ogun State has the largest number of institutions and some students who were here before and have completed their studies and some security personnel who have been transferred out of the state have their cards lying fallow with us here; who will collect it on their behalf ? “As at the time the governor was here last week, the number was

something around 600,000 plus but as we are speaking now, the number has reduced to 573,236. These numbers are those that are yet to be collected and we are not sleeping over it. We even received about 21 cards meant for Edo State and we have since returned them. The INEC official, however, assured that all the remaining PVCs meant for the state would be de-

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

L-R: Former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh; former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju and onetime governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, during Mbadinuju’s defection from PDP to APC in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Buhari speaks at Chatham House Thursday Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday speak at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) also known as Chatham House, London on “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition.” Confirming the approved appointment, the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that, “A post on the website of Chatham on Monday disclosed that General Buhari who is on a working visit to the United Kingdom will be speaking on

the topic “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition.” “The programme to be chaired by Sir Richard Gozney, former British High Commissioner to Nigeria will commence at 10a.m. London time and last for just one hour. “The postponement of Nigeria’s fifth election since its return to civilian rule in 1999, together with fierce political competition, a security crisis and severe economic challenges linked to the drop in oil price, have thrown into sharp relief the challenges of conducting this essential process in such a complex environment. While there is widespread speculation as to the reasons for the delay, there is also widespread acknowledgment

of the necessity that national elections do now take place as scheduled on March 28.” According to Chatham House, “General Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler (1983-85) and now opposition presidential candidate, will discuss the importance of democracy for Africa’s future, and in particular why delivering dividends of elected government matter both to Nigeria and internationally.” There will be a live streaming of the event commencing at 10a.m. GMT and all those wishing to pose a question to General Buhari are advised to do so via Twitter using the hash tag #CHAfrica. Buhari had left Nigeria last week for United Kingdom as part of the international engage-

ments of his presidential campaign. The APC presidential candidate has among other schedules met with former UK Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair.

livered before the end of this month. Speaking earlier, Folarin called for the extension

of the closing date for the collection of PVCs across the country from March 8 to 19.

Buhari’s London interview: APC founded on deceit, says PDP Onyekachi Eze Abuja

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cover up its lie on the purported interview conducted by a local television station in London has exposed it as a desperate and deceitful party. In a statement yesterday by the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi FaniKayode, the ruling party said APC lied about the location of Buhari’s interview for the TV show, ‘All Eyes on Africa,’ which proves it is a party founded and built on deceit. “It has come to light that the All Progressives Congress lied about the location of General Buhari’s interview with Kemi Fadojutimi of the USA-based TV show ‘All Eyes on Africa’. “While the APC had earlier claimed that the interview was conducted in London, UK, Mr. Mukhtar Dan’Iyan has proven through his Twitter handle, @AyeDee, that the interview was actually conducted in the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. This revelation proves the point we have made at various times in the past that the APC is a party founded and built on deceit.” PDP said nobody wishes General Buhari anything other than good health, adding that if Buhari is unwell, it is only right for him to seek medical attention wherever he chooses. “Anybody can fall ill

at any time. It is God that keeps us all. And we wish General Buhari good health so that he can spend quality time with his family in his retirement. “The issue at stake here is the credibility crisis the APC has brought upon itself with these pointless lies. As many Nigerians are now asking: If the APC can lie about the location of an ordinary interview, what else has the party been lying about? “Was the APC lying when the party said it had not cloned Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs)? Was the APC lying when the party said it had no plans to hack into Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) server even after hacking videos were found on its computers by the State Security Service (SSS)? “Has the APC been lying all along every time it has promised Nigerians ‘change’ in its ceaseless propaganda? Of the utmost importance, is it possible that every single thing about the APC is a lie since the party itself was founded and built on lies? “We invite Nigerians to assess the situation for themselves. “Let me conclude by reminding Nigerians that, irrespective of the number of lies that the APC decides to cover itself in, we in the PDP, and our presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, remain committed to implementing our party manifestoes, touching the lives of Nigerians, transforming our nation and bequeathing a legacy of development to future generations.”

Group mobilises 500, 000 votes for Emmanuel Dele Alao

head of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, a professional group, Udom Emmanuel Vanguard (UEV), said it has concluded plans to ensure it garners not less than 500, 000 votes for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Udom Emmanuel. Addressing the media in Lagos, UEV chairman, Elder Sam Bassey, said: “The group will contribute a minimum of 500,000

votes in the election of the state governor on April 11 through strategic and aggressive marketing of Udom Emmanuel.” To ensure this target is met, Bassey added: “The group through various meetings identified peculiar needs of each local government across the state through SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat) analysis in preparing for the election of Emmanuel. We have mapped out several strategies not only to ensure that Udom wins

the election but must see through his administration as the state governor between 2015 and 2019, and even beyond. “We have arranged to travel en masse for the gubernatorial election. This is the first time in the history of election in Akwa Ibom State that a group plans to collectively be at home to ensure that a gubernatorial candidate of choice wins the election. Advanced teams were sent to participate in the statewide campaign in all the 31 local government areas.”

16 Politics Hon. Dakuku Peterside is the chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum (Upstream). He is one of the lawmakers whose eyes are set on the Government House. The Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) speaks on electoral violence in Rivers, general elections and his chances in the April 11 poll. WALE ELEGBEDE reports With the spate of violence in Rivers State, what has happened to the peace accord between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)? We believe in the peace accord, it is still subsisting and everyday, we educate our people on the importance of peace and the importance of political tolerance. We hope that other parties to the peace accord are also doing that. If you notice, there is a trend, all issues of political violence have been directed against the APC. So, is it by coincidence? I am sure that your guess is as good as mine. All the attacks so far have been against APC. They have been attacking APC structures, buildings and rallies. All those killed so far, all of them are members of APC. So, will APC kill their own people? Not likely. Is it that the police is doing nothing to address the situation? The answer cannot be yes. After the last Okrika debacle, I publicly commended the Commissioner of Police and said, yes, the police tried, but they were outnumbered by these armed thugs and armed militants. But it is the fault of the Nigerian state. All along we knew that there were too many arms in circulation and that nobody is doing anything about it. I must commend the current CP because there is slight improvement, we are not there yet. You know when Joseph Mbu was commissioner? You all know what happened! Will you petition the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the spate of violence in the state? The situation in Rivers is degenerating daily. We have done a few petitions to the National Human Rights Commission and we will continue to petition, hoping that somebody, sometime will give attention to our cry in Rivers. So, we will continue to act within the ambits of the law; we will not go outside the law to arrest the situation. The alternative is to have a lawless state and that is anarchy; that is not the option in any civilised society. We are civilised men and women and will not resort to selfhelp. How are you sure you will get the security agencies to implement the plans you have outlined to protect

TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Peterside: Rivers guber election’ll be a walkover

the citizens of Rivers State? Everything you deal with in life depends on season and context. For those of us who are Christians, the book of Ecclesiastes says that there is time for everything. I know that if I get there, the context will be different, the factors at play will be different and I am optimistic that I will get all the cooperation I need to implement my security programme. Rivers State will be peaceful again, safe and secure again. You have claimed that Nyesom Wike is your friend. Are you surprised by the allegations of violence attributed to him and his party in your state? Yes, but there are many friends you have you cannot predict what they can do!

Are you optimistic that the votes will count in the general elections? I am optimistic the votes will count. Rivers people are optimistic to install the government that they deserve. They won’t be intimidated by anybody, they won’t be harassed by anybody, they won’t submit to all that threat and intimidation. It is a matter of time and we will rise to the occasion. We will cast our votes, we will defend our votes and we will ensure that our votes count. I am very optimistic and I am very convinced. I am also optimistic that we will get the cooperation of security agencies and will continue to spotlight what is going on in Rivers State and will attract the attention of the nation and the international community. It is not optional, because if votes don’t count in Rivers State, there is no guarantee that it will count elsewhere in the country. Today, we might isolate what is going on in Rivers State and say this is Rivers. If this trend of violence in Rivers continue, people in other areas may be emboldened and the whole country will turn into crisis if we don’t tackle what is going on in Rivers. So, we must all work concertedly to ensure that we stem the tide of political violence in Rivers, it is in our collective interest and I am sure that Nigerians are listening. What is your fall back option? I have no fall back option than to work with other stakeholders to ensure that the elections in Rivers State are free and fair. Till now, nobody has found a better form of government than democracy. Democracy is our only option and we need to make sacrifices to make it work and I know that Nigerians yearn for democracy. What are your chances in the April 11 governorship poll? I am not a man who will waste my time on things that are not viable. I can feel the pulse of Rivers people, I know what the issues are and I have been involved in politics in Rivers State longer than anybody who is running now. I have been involved in the politics of Rivers State longer than

Peterside

anybody who is running election today including Nyesom Wike. If this election is conducted three times, I will win three times. President Goodluck Jonathan is from the South-South; don’t you think the outcome of the presidential election will rub off on the governorship poll in Rivers? But I am happy you said that there may be a correlation between the outcome of the presidential election and the state election. As we speak, no one can say with certainty that either a General Buhari or a President Jonathan will win the election on March 28. I know that Rivers people are enlightened enough and the national scene is clear enough on who would win no matter how we pretend. All of us have an idea who will win the election and we won’t be struggling with six-week shift if somebody was not leading and leading clearly. We are battling with this shift and shift because somebody is leading clearly. The gap is not 60:40, it is not 55:45, it is 70:30. Do your own investigations. If we continue like that you can then be sure that it would be an easy walkover for me. You have repeatedly stated you would continue with the policies of the present administration. To what extent? Governor Rotimi Amaechi has laid a very good foundation for the state and we will continue with the things he has started, but that does not mean that we will adopt all his policies and programmes. No two governments can be the same just as no two individuals can be the same even if they are Siamese twins. We will progress based on context and challenges that we confront, but if we are going to continue with most of his programmes, the answer is yes. Would you continue with Amaechi’s

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

I am not a man who will waste my time on things that are not viable. I can feel the pulse of Rivers people, I know what the issues are... If this election is conducted three times, I will win three times

policy of giving the model schools to Indians to manage? The teachers are being retrained as you are aware and the retraining is for a maximum of one year, some in Oxford University and other UK-based universities and some in Nigerian universities under a phased programme and after some time, you won’t have Indians run the system again because we would have improved the capacity of our people so that we can get world class education. We shouldn’t compromise our standards because we are scared of what people will say, a leader shows the people the way and not the people showing the leader the way. How will you deal with the Ogoni question? Of everyone that is in this contest, I am more bonded to the Ogoni people than any other one. I come from that senatorial district, I lived in Ogoni land for 10 years when my mother used to be a lecturer in what is now Rivers State Polytechnic and I pass through Ogoni land to get to my own place of birth. The Ogoni issue is not just about environmental degradation; it has many components including social justice, exclusion from the political leadership and I have had series of conversations with Ogoni leaders and they know that we are the ones with the capacity to deal with the environmental issues. My community is affected by the environmental issues in Ogoni and this is because Opobo has boundaries with Ogoni. So, when there is pollution in Ogoni, you cannot isolate Opobo. It is not possible. Will I also run away from my own area? The Ogoni people like other parts of Rivers State are yearning for opportunity to pursue their own development and we will give them that opportunity by working with them.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

corruption in PDP and that of Buhari, it is in relative term. One stole N50 million another stole N100 million, a rogue is rouge. When you say Jonathan should go, who is succeeding him? Who is the person and what is his antecedent? Examine their past record whether that is what we want. I want a change and the change must be change of the constitution of the country. “It is that change that must make you and me to fight for the emergence of Jonathan because if another party goes in, that is the end. Some say if Buhari wins, he will implement the change, I answer in the negative because all the things we are fighting for, his people are the beneficiaries. If a minority of the southerner does not change this constitution, no northerner will change it. What we have done in the conference is to make it impossible for anybody to monopolise the presidency. We constitutionalised the rotation in the presidency. We have reduced the power of the Federal Government, the number of the local governments they are using to oppress us, we have rationalised that and you think a northerner will come and implement that, think twice and don’t let anybody deceive him. Buhari is a mistake Nigeria cannot afford.” Examining the antecedents of the APC’s candidate, Adebanjo said Buhari had put leaders of Yoruba race in prison on phantom charges of corruption and when the tribunal he set up discharged them, they were not allowed to breathe the air of freedom. Opening the old wounds when Buhari was the maximum leader in the country, Adebanjo said when Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1983 said the economy of the country was going to hit the rocks and the chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) said Awolowo was talking nonsense, it was the same leaders of the race that were sent to prison by the military regime of Buhari. His words: “A lot of Buharists are between the ages of 30 and 40, if you remember when Buhari was the head of state, they were either not born or were toddlers. So, they cannot understand. They cannot expect someone like me who was a victim of his dictatorship to do that. Even after winning that election, the people who said the government was rotten were the people he put into gulag. He went straight to Chief Awolowo’s house, broke all the seats there, went to Papa Ajasin and all the governments of the UPN were sent to detention. He set up a commission of enquiry over them, they discharged them; he did not release them. That is the man they want you and I to campaign for in Yorubaland. I don’t hate Buhari; it is his antecedents that I detest. We must tell our people that they should not open their eyes and go to the gulag.” Adebanjo said the 633 decisions reached at the conference have taken side with the people as the issue of state police, devolution of powers, resource control, creation of state and local governments and rotational presidency have been included in the over 400-page report. He added that Yoruba should support President Jonathan who convened the national conference as he would be the person to imple-

Why S’West must back Jonathan, by Yoruba leaders

L-R: Fasehun, Mimiko, Adebanjo, Adams and Okunrounmu

ment the recommendations of the national conference and not those who opposed its conveyance at initial stage. Fasehun, in his remarks, said his party, the UPN, had adopted Jonathan as its candidate because it was sure the president would implement the report of the constitutional conference. The report, if implemented, he said would liberate the Yoruba race from the slavery some people are trying to drag them to. The founder of OPC said Buhari put side by side with President Jonathan is no match as the democratic credentials of the president speaks volume. According to him, the problem with the country is not about reports but the failure of the previous governments to implement the outcome of the conferences. He added that if given the second term in office, President Jonathan would ensure the implementation of the conference report. Adams said the only person Yoruba should support is the person that will implement the conference report, saying if the race does not vote President Jonathan in March 28 presidential election, it would regret its decision in the long run. He said Tinubu who is the leader of APC had said he did not believe in the rework of the constitution of Nigeria and his party, the APC would not be in the position to implement the outcome of the conference. His words: “We must support the candidate that will implement the conference report. If we don’t vote President Jonathan, the outcome of the conference will perish. A change without the change in constitution is a waste of time. There is no way the country can develop without the conference report. To me, there is no difference between PDP and APC. Some people criticised the Federal Government without looking at the states and local governments.” Echoing the previous speakers, Adeyeye said the change that Yo-

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

We resolve, therefore, to fully back and work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election as only this could guarantee the implementation of the confab recommendations

ruba should be clamouring for is that of the constitution that would change the structures in the country. The minister, who was a former spokesperson of Afenifere, said anybody could be president in the country if there are proper structures on ground for him to work with Governor Mimiko said the dream of Yoruba coming together to dialogue on how they should be governed has come to reality. The recommendations, he said, should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. His words: “You will recall that for over two decades, the Yorubas were at the forefront of the agitation for the convocation of a National Conference. Convening the 2014 National Conference was indeed a historic assignment that we are proud of and as a people, we must do everything possible to ensure that the confab recommendations get implemented. “No doubt, Nigeria has passed through various stages of national dialogues before without being able to emplace a constitutional and political arrangement that is accommodating enough to sustain the dedication and patriotism of many. The constitutional and governmental experiments that we have had seem inadequate to capture the essence of those things that have the inherent capacity to unite us despite our ethnic and religious cleavages. “The idea of President Jonathan allowing Nigerians to discuss is therefore a right step in the right direction. The platform afforded Nigerians the opportunity to dialogue and through consensus, evolved a workable agreement that is geared towards the self-expression of its socially and culturally diverse peoples within a nation-state that reflects their desires. “The 2014 National Conference has come and gone. The conference dealt with many, if not all, of the difficult issues facing the country, including the structure

of the federation, devolution of powers, states creation, resource development, and state police, among others. Indeed, everybody has something in the confab report that contained over 600 resolutions which 492 people passed by consensus – that is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. “Therefore, it is clearly a different kind of report. The confab report when implemented, will create room for each state to have its own constitution, its own police force, its own prison service, can create its own local governments, can build its own airports, seaports and railways. In the economic domain, solid minerals that had been the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government since independence, have now been brought to the concurrent list. States can now create employment and develop at their own pace. With all that, it liberates everybody, it opens up the political space. “For these reasons, in a rational and reasonable society like ours, I don’t expect anything less than the enthusiasm in wanting to implement the report. I believe that the president, who set up the conference, wanted a transformed Nigeria and in his closing remarks at the end of the National Conference, he made it clear that the people of Nigeria have great roles to play in implementing the report. “Nevertheless, the challenge remains what is to be done to safeguard the confab report and ensure its implementation. Thus, this one-day summit that is designed to evaluate the 2014 National Conference has become necessary so as to contribute to the way and manner the confab recommendations get translated to concrete realities. Specifically, we want to x-ray the gains of the Yoruba nation from the 2014 National Conference and design optional frameworks for implementation of the confab recommendations with an eye on Yoruba interests.” The communiqué reached at the conference commended president for yielding to the yearnings of the Yoruba nation and the generality of Nigerians by convening the 2014 National Conference and its successful conduct. Also, they commended him for setting a technical committee composed of outstanding statesmen and technocrats to fashion out modalities and strategies for the implementation of the confab resolutions. It reads: “That the Yoruba nation is committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria based on the principles of justice, equity and rule of law, with ample respect and understanding for cultural, religious and linguistic differences; that the Yoruba nation is going to work assiduously to ensure that the Confab recommendations get translated to concrete realities; that we resolve therefore to fully back and work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election as only this could guarantee the implementation of the confab recommendations.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Ambode: The audacity of a technocrat

Wale Alabi “Our destiny is not written for us, it is written by us.” – Barack Obama

“Y

our Excellency, I cannot delay writing to congratulate you, members of your cabinet and your staff for the demolition of the partially collapsed Bank of Industry building along Broad Street, Lagos. Along with others invited to the ceremony I watched with amazement the power of science as the building came crashing down in one solid piece after you havdgiven a countdown for the demolition to be carried out. “Heartiest congratulations for the success which met the demolition work and for its being carried out hitch free and without any accident or damage to the surrounding buildings. May you continue to administer Lagos State as satisfactorily as you are at present doing. Once again,heartiest congratulations and felicitations.” These were the words of Mr Akintola Williams(FCA), doyen of the accountancy profession in Nigeria in a letter of commendation to Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola(SAN), the Lagos State governor for his sterling performance in the administration of the state since he mounted the saddle in 2007. Daily letters like this, phone calls and even e-mails get to the governor over his policies, performance and other laudable projects being executed in Lagos. When the Fashola regime came into office in 2007, it took only a short time before the populace began to notice that the government is purposeful, focused and positioned to deliver on its promises to the electorate. Fashola has not only revamped the machinery of governance, he has also succeeded in quietly transforming the state and thus ensuring that Lagos truly lives to its billings as the real ‘Çentre of Excellence’. The government’s performance indices in the areas of transport, environment, education, health and security are today serving as models to other states. They are testimonies to how good governance to a great extent transforms lives and changes a people’s destination on earth. Indeed, Lagos offers a unique example to apostles of transformation. That real transformation is predicated on concrete achievements or projects and not

hypes and propaganda. Without making any noise, it is obvious to even the blind, that Lagos has been transformed. These and more are the legacies of the Babatunde Raji Fashola led regime that prompted the first action governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande while endorsing BRF for a second term way back in 2011 to say,”Fashola has impressed me very much.” As Fashola is about to complete his tour of duty in Lagos in May 2015, he is not unmindful of his legacy and the future of the ‘Centre of Excellence.’ For a city that will be the Third largest in the world by 2015, Lagos definitely deserved a visionary, quick witted and ‘digitalised’ leader. The All Progressive Congress (APC) has found a worthy successor to Fashola in Akinwunmi Ambode, a former Accountant General and Permanent Secretary who served in the state civil service for 27 years. Suave, urbane, brilliant and intelligent, Ambode possesses all the attributes of a caring leader. But before dissecting the leadership traits embedded in this technocrat turned politician, a quick flip at his biography. Born on June 14, 1963 in Epe, Lagos. His late father, Festus Akinwale Ambode was a teacher while his mother, Christianah Oluleye Ambode (nee Oresanya) was an entrepreneur who ran a thriving sewing business. Ambode studied Accounting at the University of Lagos, graduating at the age of 21 in 1984. He completed his mandatory National Youth Service Corps year serving with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sokoto, Sokoto State. After his NYSC year, Ambode commenced his career at the Lagos State Waste Disposal Board (now LAWMA) as Accountant Grade II. He enrolled for Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) exams and at the same time was awarded a Federal Government Scholarship to pursue a Masters Degree in Accounting at the University of Lagos. By the time he was 24, Ambode had qualified as a Chartered Accountant and had completed his Masters Degree programme in Accounting, specializing in Financial Management. His career was fast-tracked and in 1988, Akinwunmi Ambode was appointed the Assistant Treasurer, Badagry Local Government. He criss-crossed many Local Government Councils in different roles in a 10-year period and got a first-hand experience of the direct impact of governance on the citizenry. In 1998, Ambode was awarded the US Fulbright Scholar-

ship for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program, in Boston University, Massachusetts, USA. His Fellowship Year was spent studying Public Leadership with emphasis on Finance and Accounting. During this programme Ambode had professional internships at The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Cabinet Office of Administration and Finance (Governor’s Office), City of Boston Treasury Office as well as with the World Bank and IMF. On his return from the programme, Ambode became acting Auditor-General for Local Government. This position was confirmed by the State House of Assembly in 2001. From his career timeline above, it is obvious that Ambode the technocrat turned politician understands Lagos and the inner workings of government in Lagos like the palm of his hands having worked in top echelon of public service and with different governors in Lagos. He confirmed this much while flagging of his gubernatorial campaign in Ikeja on January 14, 2015 when he said: “I have been an accountant all my life. I will be accountable to you. I will be like BRF. I will be like Asiwaju. I have learned under them. They will pray for me. I will perform better than them. I will not disappoint Lagosians.” Since he kick-started his campaign, Ambode has been sharing his vision with the electorate. Being a son of a teacher himself, on education Ambode pledged,” Since education is the one vehicle to take our children to the promised land and helps bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Free education and free meals is the right of every student.” On housing, the APC governorship candidate promised to revolutionalised the sector with a Rent to Own Programme. Ambode also hinged his economic development pillar on strategic investment, innovations and new technologies that would translate into economic empowerment for the youths by funding entrepreneurial projects in tourism, entertainment /arts, hospitality / sports and more. Indeed if Fashola is the actualiser of the Lagos dream as initiated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when elected, Ambode will be the ‘consolidator’. For he will not only consolidate on the developmental strides of BRF, Ambode will also take Lagos to the next level. • Alabi, an award winning brand analyst and publisher wrote in from Lagos. He can be reached at brandzrepublic @gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The antidote to electoral violence in Nigeria RECENTLY, President Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) and a host of others signed a peace pact as part of efforts to ensure a violence free Nigeria after the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. This act seems to be a welcome development to many Nigerians. Who feel the pact would frustrate the anticipated possibility of violence in the country, as it were shortly after the 2011 polls. More so, the prediction of the United States of America that Nigeria would break up by 2015, has strengthened the suspicion of many Nigerians that the 2015 elections would be greeted with another blood bath; thus, the pact a welcome development for peace loving Nigerians. However, it is not enough to sign a peace pact without looking deep into solving the problems that resulted into post election violence in Nigeria in the time past. Election in a democratic setting, is viewed as the sole and most reliable barometer to determine power equation as leaders

are determined through the view of the electorate via ballot boxes. But Nigerians believe that their mandates over the years have been defiled and not respected due to series of electoral malpractices and power play where “anointed candidates” are ushered into power by the “political heavy weights” that be in the society, this triggers annoyance from the hapless citizens who helplessly resort. This peace pact signed by the presidential aspirants in collaboration with the coalition of all political parties could only be realistic if the political hawks who in so many cases mastermind dreary situation to satisfy their dubious quest for wealth, repent and allow the will of the electorate to rule over the will of political god fathers. Similarly, violence, provocative statements during campaigns should be avoided and politicians who make such statements should be called to order and be punished for such treasonable words. The statement made by the Kaduna State Governor , Mukhtar Ramalan Vero that, “anyone who burns our campaign vehicles, we shall revenge” is an indication that

politicians are also stake holders of the act of violence , such utterance should be reversed because it is illogical. The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), has a big role to play by ensuring that the votes of the people count in this very election , this is the only peace pact that can ensure a violence free election after the March and April polls. The police should also try their best to ensure that the will of the people prevails by protecting the votes of the electorates. Transparency should be ensured throughout the election exercise to convince the people that the result is not manipulated, and people should not be intimidated by heavy military weapons. No matter the preaching, not even the Pastors or Imams, Jonathan or Buhari cannot hold the hands of aggressive Nigerians from violence in 2015, if the election is rigged. The most viable tool that can ensure a violence free Nigeria is for all stakeholders to ensure strict monitoring of the election process and guard against rigging. • Yisa Jemimah Amos, 300Level IBBU lapai.

Beyond religion and culture SOMETIMES I think in my mind that our source of electricity should not provide electricity indefinitely. This rather obscure thought was necessitated by the fact that many of our countrymen and women do not know how to live together with their neighbours. The noise they generate from their record players and televisions is enough to make one go mad. The irony is that when you tell some of the people in this line of behaviour to check their ways, they remind you of how you do not belong to this country and that you should go to Europe or America and live. Imagine! For me, I get insane with noise and it destabilises my mental setting. I do not enjoy the noise they make. Some neighbours would open, I mean, amplify the volume of their record players with the view that other neighbours are enjoying whatever their music was. No. Make the noise to yourself and do not disturb others with it. What is the benefit of creating noise day in day out? Noise distracts me from the essence of my life which has been consideration and meditation. They all include planning, reading and writing. But to many people immediately there is electricity, you see them exhibiting what one Jean Arp had characterised as “tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster”. So bad! Let us educate ourselves. • Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Writer, Rivers State.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

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More gruesome executions by ISIS

egularly, the world is fed with videos of all manner of executions, by the ultra terrorist group ISIS, in what has become a nauseating phase in this age of tablets and high definition. The latest video shows captured Peshmerga soldiers, in cages, dressed in the usual ISIS orange overall. They were paraded along Iraqi streets in what would eventually turn out to be a farewell. The terrorist group first displayed this cruel method following the execution of Jordanian pilot Muadh al Kasasbah. He was put in an iron cage and burnt alive. This could also be described as cremation, the irony is that only the dead are cremated. Today, ISIS cremates the living. Before the pilot’s execution, the fundamentalists were more at home,beheading innocent American and Japanese journalists. As repulsive as the word feels with the these barbaric styles of annihiliation, more decisive steps must be taken collectively to stem this beastly act. In a globe where many are questioning the relevance of death penalty, flashing photographs of cruelity on a daily basis only serves to remind us that some humans still belong to the Dark Ages. In the past, such bestiality was

common sight. We all recall how Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross to suffer pain. His manner of death was known as Crucifixion. It was used by Romans, Persians and Carthaginians to punish criminals. They would be nailed to the cross and left to bleed to death. There were other terrible forms of death. Flaying was another name for skinning someone alive. Breaking wheel or Catherine wheel left the condemned with all bones broken. Disembowelment brought out all a victim had inside. Impalement, Crushing, Death by burning, Death by sawing, Hanged, Drawn and Quartered and Slow slicing[lingering death or death by a thousand cuts] represented man’s inhumanity to man. Scaphism, Guillotine, Republican marriage, in which a man and woman were tied together and thrown into the sea to drown, Cement shoes, Execution by Elephant, Lethal injection, Electrocution and Gas are also part of the death bargain. Perhaps, the first time the world was shocked to watch a gory video that covered the execution of an individual was in 1991, when troops loyal to warlord, Prince Yormie Johnson tortured Liberian President Samuel Doe to death. In that video, the former Master-Sergeant’s ear was cut

while he pleaded for mercy. Doe was sliced to death and his body left on the road to rot. Doe was also guilty of brutality. One of his allies, who shot him to power ,Thomas Quiwonkpa was beheaded and his genitals cut off and affixed to the radio aerial of Doe’s vehicle and displayed on the streets of Monrovia. In Jean Bokassa’s Central African Republic, thieves were beaten to death. In Uganda, Idi Amin threw his enemies into the river, so that crocodiles could dine. In Nigeria, the first execution by firing squad, took Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Col. Adekunle Fajuyi. Both were tied to palm trees at Olodo, near Ibadan. The former was stark naked while the latter wore just underpants. There were stories that the duo were tied to a vehicle and dragged to the bush. In Nigeria, there are also so many cruel forms of execution, even if not sanctioned by government. In some cases, victims are buried alive. Some are forced to drink urine and eat faeces. A few are fed with cement, mixed with water. Officially, some countries use the firing squad to punish offenders. There are those who hang , Saudi Arabia beheads criminals after Friday prayers. Some American states use lethal injection. In lawlwess Somalia, criminals are stabbed or stoned to death.

The Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution, prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. And that was what the children of executed murderer, Dennis McGuire relied on, to scream to high heavens after he was put to death in Ohio. Agiure had raped and murdered one Joy Stewart in 1989. After watching her father go through the pain of death, Amber described her pains and the horrible journey the man went through for 25 minutes, before giving up the ghost. Some may argue that death is death, no matter how it comes. Reacting to the execution of three young Nigerians convicted of drug related offences in 1985, Gen. Yakubu Danjuma, said, “execution is less painful.” An Ohio lawyer, Thomas Madden thinks that criminals are “not entitled to a pain-free execution” This is time for the world to come together and fight this deadly group called ISIS before we have cases of people being thrown to lions and other wild beasts all in the name of creating an Islamic state. It does not have to be left to countries whose nationals have been incinerated by this terrorist group. And we all have to look at ways of stemming this neo madness that may consume everyone, in more gruesome ways than we have seen on video.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

THEATRE

Jos Festival of Theatre: Castles in the Air, Last Stand return for ‘Bonds of Interest Tony Okuyeme

he teeming art aficionados, critics, theatre professionals in Jos, and indeed, the general public, are in for a sumptuous drama feast as the 9th edition of the annual Jos Festival of Theatre holds in the Plateau State capital from March 10 to 14, 2015. Organised by Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT), this year’s edition of the festival which is on the theme ‘Telling Untold Stories.. making a difference through the arts’, will feature five plays alongside a pre-festival play a few days to the opening of the festival. The festival will include arts management workshops that will focus on proposal writing this year alongside directing and acting classes. The workshops will be facilitated by theatre professionals based in the city of Jos, founder and Artistic Director of Jos Repertory Theatre, Mr. Patrick Jude Oteh, said in statement. The plays scheduled for performances include: Barclays Ayakoroma’s Castles In The Air, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba’s Body Parts, Sefi Atta’s Last Stand, Jacinto Benaventure’s The Bonds of Interest and August Wilson’s King Hedley II. Castles in the Air exposes traditional prejudices on mixed marriages between diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT) in performance

Aminu and Stella are promised the sum of N10m if they get married within a year and give birth to a son. The race is on but are they ready to join the race? Body Parts is the story of a group of young men who out of being unemployed create jobs for themselves by hawking their vital organs to the highest bidder. There is a strong demand for kidneys and they have very healthy ones to sell. But there is a snag as they sell to someone who has a history with their family dating back thirty years. Last Stand, premiered at the Terra Kulture, Lagos last November and it is the story of a family torn apart by the will of

their dying patriarch, a retired military General. Who does he leave his estate to? The designated heir is not interested in the wealth and that leaves the estate open to a fight between two wives, a dead wife and their children. The Bonds of Interest is the story of two young men who live their lives duping people. They extend this by getting a lot of services on credit. They then plan the ultimate scheme – one of them is to marry the daughter of the wealthiest man in the city in the hope that when he dies they will inherit his wealth, pay off their debts and live happily as respected men of the society. The plan backfires as the one pretend-

Shakespeare’s Globe hits Lagos with Hamlet

year into this extraordinary theatrical ensemble, Hamlet Globe to Globe hits Lagos on 4th and 5th March 2015, with performances scheduled for the Muson Centre and St. Saviours School, Ikoyi. The Hamlet Globe to Globe tour opened at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, on April 23, 2014, the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. This unprecedented theatrical adventure is scheduled to tour every single country on earth over 2 years. Directed by the Globe’s Artistic Director, Dominic

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Dromgoole, this UK theatre production is presenting Nigerian actor, Ladi Emeruwa, in the shared role of Hamlet, together with an impressive international cast and crew of seventeen. Following rave performances at The Globe, in Wittenberg, in Tromsø within the Arctic Circle, in Moscow, through the Baltics, in Kiev, at the United Nations in New York, at the oldest theatre in Central America, the majestic Teatro Nacional de El Salvador, on the banks of the St Lawrence River in Canada, in the shadow of Mexico’s Yucatán Cathedral, at a beautiful marina in Antigua & Barbuda, on a mountainside in Guatemala, in St Kitts and Nevis, in Poland, outdoors in Chilean parks, in Argentina, and across majestic national theatres throughout South America, Hamlet arrived in Africa in January 2015. The first African performance was at Algeria’s National Theatre. Hamlet Globe to Globe has since performed at

the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, the beautiful St Louis Cathedral in Carthage, Tunisia, at Ethiopia’s National Theatre in Addis Ababa, as a free outdoor performance in Sudan - making its

Ladi Emeruwa as Hamlet and Matthew Romain as Horatio in the Globe’s touring production of Hamlet.

photo: Bronwen Sharp

ing to fall in love actually falls in love. Being chased by the law and their creditors, they decide to split up but these further compounds their woes as the daughter in question decides not to let go. King Hedley II depicts life in Pittsburgh in 1985. King Hedley II is out of jail. He comes back home, gets married and tries to live making his own rules. He lives with his mother and his wife whom he would very much love to see get pregnant. She eventually gets pregnant but decides to have an abortion as she would not want to have a child who would not know his father. His mother’s lover of thirty years appears and decides to formally marry his mother but before this happens, he asks her to tell King Hedley II who his real father is. Unfortunately, he had killed his father during a row over some gambling debts. On the day, they decide to get their marriage license; all the secrets which she had taught she will take her to her grave come tumbling out with disastrous consequences. “The 9th Jos Festival of Theatre 2015 will open at 5pm daily with workshops and exhibitions featuring during the day. The festival is receiving support from the US Mission, Nigeria, Grand Cereals Limited and a host of corporate and individual supporters,” Oteh said. way through East Africa, from Somliland to Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda. The cast and crew have travelled by boat, sleeper trains, jeeps, tall ships, buses and aeroplanes, across 7 continents to perform over 2 dozen parts on a stripped-down booth stage. The company of twelve actors and four stage managers has used a completely portable set to stage a Hamlet that celebrates all the exuberance and invention of Shakespeare’s language in a brisk two hours and forty minutes. The tour has attracted rave reviews internationally, including from The New York Times which describes it as “a production that prizes efficiency, clarity, accessibility and above all energy.” This event is supported by British Council, The Wheatbaker Hotel, Muson Centre, The St. Saviours School, Ikoyi and media partners; Thisday, Bella Naija, Smooth FM, Cool FM, Ebonylife TV, Channels TV, The Guardian, Ndani TV & Levitate

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

COUNSEL

STRIKE

AUN President tasks students on transformation

Polytechnics: Back to the trenches

Education TRAILBLAZER

Covenant University now leads the pack in the latest Webometrics Ranking of World Universities as the best in West Africa

CU: Thirteen years of unbroken covenant

Mojeed Alabi

hen the foundation stone of the Covenant University, a baby of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, (aka Winners’ Chapel), was laid on January 27, 2002, little did the owners realise they were building a fortress of academic excellence, that will 13 years later change the landscape of the nation’s education firmament. In the serene environment, with aura of academic excellence stands the faith-based university in a beautiful landscaping and well-tarred asphalt road network. The university, which took off in October 2002 with 1,534 pioneer students, 46 academic staff, comprising six professors, two senior lecturers, 13 lecturer I and II, 25 assistant lecturers and 12 senior administrative staff, has today shot up the ladder as the best in the country. Last week, in the face of the multifaceted challenges confronting the nation’s university system, the Covenant University, located on a 267-acre of land at Ota, an industrial community of Ogun State, took the world by surprise. It was ranked best university in the West African sub-region, 15th in Africa, and number 1,401 in the world, in the latest Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. More than 25,000 higher institutions were said to have been ranked globally by the world universities ranking body. The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), which is globally acknowledged as one of the largest academic ranking bodies

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

The university gate

Bishop Oyedepo

of higher education institutions. According to the Spain-based research group, higher institutions globally are rated equally and are so ranked based on web presence and impacts, including factors such as presence, openness and excellence. Thus, twice in a year, new ranking results are announced, specifically in February and July. In the latest ranking, Covenant University trails others including the University of Cape Town, South Africa, which ranks 328 in the world; Stellenbosch University, South Africa (462 in the world); and Cairo University, Egypt (474 in the

I will consider Covenant University a failure, if the graduates will have to join the army of unemployed youth roaming the streets for jobs

world), among others. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), which ranked after Covenant University is 21 in Africa and 1,791 in the world, while the University of Ibadan (UI) ranks 34 in Africa and 2,310 on the global table. However, to the owners, management and students of the university, the best is yet to come, as the institution in the last two years, has consistently ranked among the best 10 universities in Nigeria and 100 in Africa. In fact, in one of the rankings carried out by the global ranking agency, which based its assessment on open access initiatives of the university as well as offer of free access to scientific publications in electronic form and other academic materials, Covenant University was said to have ranked 13th in Africa. Basking in the euphoria of the university’s achievements, which is said to be built on “total man concept of education” and took off with three colleges and 20 academic programmes, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo, described the latest feat as the manifestation of God’s plan not only for the university, but also for Nigeria and the black race. “The dry bones of the world’s most populous black nation shall

rise again,” the Professor of Computer Science said, stressing that though the journey to success was not without thorns. Quoting from Romans 9:15-16, he noted: “For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So, then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” The Vice-Chancellor, also attributed the university’s sterling achievements to the contributions of its founder and Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo, who he said believes that any faith that relies absolutely on God to deliver a prophecy is an irresponsible faith. “Therefore, this means we have a role to play which we have continued to play very well,” Ayo said. On establishment of the institution 13 years ago, the ViceChancellor noted that Dr. Oyedepo placed heavy responsibility on the foundation team, when he said: “I will consider Covenant University a failure, if the graduates will have to join the army of unemployed youth roaming the streets for jobs.” Based on this mandate, the university rolled out on an eight-point agenda, which was CONTINUED ON PAGE22

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ADOPOLY rector to pay outstanding coop dues

s part of moves to restore normalcy to the polytechnic as well as ensure stability in the academic and administrative activities, the management of the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, has spoken of its readiness to pay all outstanding check-off dues owed the Cooperative Societies as soon as possible. The Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande disclosed this during a meeting with members of staff of the institution on Tuesday. It will be recalled that the

Dr. Akande

polytechnic had been engulfed in crisis in the last few months resulting in incessant strikes by the institution’s workers’ unions comprising the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). Following the strike, the polytechnic Governing Council had two weeks ago suspended union activities on campus, and ordered immediate resumption of the striking workers and students. Dr. Akande, who lamented the rate at which misinformation and falsifications were being peddled by the erstwhile unions’ leaders of the polytechnic, said arrangements had been concluded for the payment of all outstanding dues owed the cooperative society, arising from the implementation of the second phase of CONTISS 15. According to the rector, “the Governing Council, acting within the powers conferred on it, took the decision to suspend all unions’ activities on campus in good faith, so that peace could return to the polytechnic, after an unsettled academic calendar owing to incessant strikes by the unions. While urging members of staff to go back to work not mind-

ing the threats by the suspended unions’ leaders, the Rector appealed to the lecturers to put the interest of their students at heart, especially when the polytechnic was yet to complete the 2013/2014 academic session due to industrial unrest in the last three years. Reacting to the rector’s briefing, the Polytechnic Librarian, Mr Nurudeen Alokun, said since the Rector had approved that the Conflict Resolution Committee should swing into action in resolving the impasse between the management and the erstwhile union leaders, the committee would commence further reconciliation efforts next Monday. According to a statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, the Librarian assured the polytechnic community that all grievances of workers would be looked into and judiciously addressed. At the parley, some principal officers and staff members spoke on the need for all stakeholders and parties concerned to return to the round table for dialogue, while appealing to the striking workers to obey first the directive of the Council by returning to work, while other grey areas were being looked into with a view to resolving the matter once and for all.

AUN President tasks students on transformation

resh students admitted into the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State for the Spring 2015 have been charged to key into the university’s unfolding transformation. The President/ViceChancellor of the private university, Dr. Margee Ensign gave the advice while welcoming the students, the class of 2018, during their formal induction and pledge ceremony, which took place at the auditorium of the Robert E. Pastor Library & ELearning Centre. The President, while reflecting on AUN’s unfolding legend, hinted that the university is the only African university being represented at the sixth Hult Prize competition in Dubai, and winner of an honorary award last semester at the Model UN Conference in Washington D. C. as well as winner of a leadership award in the United States this year. She further reminded the students about the critical time Nigeria is facing, saying they should see the challenge as an opportunity to build leaders who will analyze and solve the

challenges that will face Africa’s largest country in the years ahead. “We are here as a community of passionate individuals, a development university, to give you the knowledge needed to lead Nigeria in this critical moment,” Ensign said, even as the President tasked the students to make a difference in their studies and community. Ensign, who reiterated the power of education to transform lives and the mind of the people, said education represents the embodiment of true transformation of the human spirit. The Vice-President (Academic), Charles Reith, who described the American-style pedagogy as one that “musters critical thinking, analyzes ideas, and articulates information clearly,” explained that this opens them to a broader and multidimensional understanding of the world. “At AUN, instructors are the best instructors Nigeria has to offer today. In order to reciprocate, the new students should be enthusiastic in learning and value every opportunity to fill all the gaps of knowledge,” he added.

Thirteen years of unbroken covenant CONTINUED FROM PAG E 21

anchored on creation of a culture of discipline and spirituality; increasing citation of research works; massive investment in facilities; creating international outlook through innovation; and industry income, among others. With the introduction of these plans and strategies, which aimed at creating a unique academic institution that will lead the pack, and depart from the bandwagon of mushroom institution which to him many of Nigerian universities have suddenly become, the Vice-Chancellor hinted that Nigerians were hard on the ivory tower and its management hitting them with harsh criticisms. He narrated: “When we started, you know it is not just easy to lead a revolution, we were faced with a lot of criticism from the public that Covenant University was turning university education to glorified secondary school because we introduced dress code, and other disciplinary measures. But we stuck to our gun, noting that the process will definitely inform the quality of our products. The VC said: “Our Chancellor’s favourite interpretation of insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result. So, we are mindful of the vari-

ous processes in other higher institutions and so Covenant University came into effect with a view to introducing a change and our coming on board was a clear departure from what others do. We were the first to introduce Entrepreneurial Education into our curriculum and was later adopted by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and when we scrapped the ‘pass grade’ from our grading system, the Commission has also adopted the policy.” The Vice-Chancellor, who pointed out that one unique thing about the university that has placed it as a leading institution among its contemporaries is the setting, on yearly basis, of certain goals that must be achieved, stressed that the goal of the current academic session is based on “Innovation, Impacts and Internationalisation.” Ayo, while blaming other institutions for mismanagement of resources, said part of what made Covenant University tick, is that on the campus, every penny spent is accounted for, and that the culture of maintenance is sacrosanct. Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, who insisted that the new feat was a tip of the ice bag going by the vision of the university, added that the new vision, which is targeted at becoming one of the world’s best

Ayo

10 universities by 2022, had commenced since 2013, even as he said that there was no going back. He said: “To achieve this mandate, I want to tell you that we have invested massively on facilities that have placed us on edge to compete with leading global institutions. Currently, there are no fewer than five tele-conferencing centres where we relate with best brains in the world for lectures, workshops and seminars. Just last session, two Nobel Laureates visited us here to be part of our programmes, and again this year, the university is planning something great with another

Nobel Prize winner that is being expected to collaborate with us.” Unlike other universities’ managements who are taken abroad for training, Ayo said: “What we do here is to look for First Class scholars and sign them to train us for two weeks right on our campus with members of staff and students of other universities in attendance, since we open such training to all interested institutions.” He also attributed the laudable achievements of the university to adequate funding and regular power supply to the university that have continued to enhance research and other academic activities, even as he said without the benevolence of the proprietor of the university, the story would have been different. Ayo, who insisted that the investment on the university in terms of financial profile and material provision could not be quantified in naira and kobo, said what has taken the university to such an enviable height could simply be described as huge. With the motto: “A commitment to creativity” and “promoting mental productivity” the university is envisioned to be the fountain of excellence where focus enhances creativity and boosts ingenuity. He, however, urged the Federal Government to extend the

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions to private universities, “so that we can teach the public institutions how to make judicious use of funds.” Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor expressed the desire of the university to reduce its school fees in order to enable more Nigerians to benefit from the quality education offered by the institution. To this end, he said the university was already working towards augmenting its revenue generation drive from the internally generated revenue by providing goods and services that will not only benefit the society, but will also add value to the country as a whole. He said: “Going by the thinking of the Proprietor and Chancellor, the university is thinking of reducing the fees with a view to allowing more people to benefit from the quality education that we provide here. But that is going to be highly competitive. This, in one way or the other will affect us since we would need to work more on our IGR, but we are always up to the task. “The beauty of it all is to be able to leave the university open to all. We are, however, mindful of our carrying capacity, which will only engender stiff competition before anybody would be able to secure admission.”

TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Santity of Truth

ry ersa Anniv

New Telegraph is upholding time-tested attributes of journalism – Mark Senator David Mark is the Senate President:

“I

t is pleasing to note that New Telegraph newspaper is marking its one year anniversary. How time flies! “New Telegraph has come to reinforce and redefine journalism practice in Nigeria with its robust and scintillating editorials. I have seen the newspaper blazing the trail as a true national newspaper with no religious, political or ethnic bias. “New Telegraph is upholding the timetested attributes of good journalism, to wit; objectivity, balance, fairness, currency and justice for all, as well as accurate reportage of local and international news. “The birth of New Telegraph is indeed, a positive addition to the growing media industry in Nigeria. “I urge you to continue to uphold this standard and to take full advantage of the Freedom of Information Act. “I wish you a blissful celebration and prosperous future.”

Aliyu

Aliyu: Unbiased, non-partisan Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, is the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum:

“I Mark

New Telegraph noted for balanced reportage – Fayose Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State:

“W

ell, so far so good. I have watched with keen interest, the paper and the presentation to the public and what they have made out of that paper. One, it clearly shows that there is a future for journalism and professionalism and the fact that the Nigerian public has been misled for too long, because in this country, the owners of most of the newspapers are politicians and they are putting a lot of influence to pervert the truth and those that are not owned by politicians are compromised at some point to achieve certain goals. “But the fact remains that, New Telegraph from my perspective, has put in professionalism and they are fast growing; they are in high demand and if they can keep and improve on this present status, they will have a place to go. So, I personally believe that New Telegraph is a paper to recommend if you want balanced reportage and you want to see things properly

because the media has a role to play in our democracy and if they must be fair to this country, they must discharge this duty with the fear of God and remember that Nigeria comes first above all. “The quality of the presentation is there. The photo quality, management and arrangement of stories is one thing that one would equally acknowledge and you don’t forget that what is inside the bottle goes beyond what is outside. What is outside matters. In my opinion, the paper, in partnership with the New York Times is thoroughly coming up and representing what it claims to be. So, for me, I will give pass mark

Fayose

for the growth of New Telegraph in one year. “My advice to the management: They should sustain what they are doing, improve on it and ensure that the key ingredients of journalism are represented in their daily activities; the training and re-training of their staff to remember that there is a difference in reporting and sending messages to the public and politics. They should separate politics in managing the paper. Whatever the mind of the owner of the paper is must not be tailored in the paper for the public. The independence of the paper is what I have seen that they have been doing and doing very well.”

must commend the management and staff of the newspaper for a job well done in the last one year. Ever since you hit the newsstands, I have never missed reading the paper. You have carved a niche for yourself and you should continue to uphold the ‘Sanctity of truth’. New Telegraph remains unbiased and nonpartisan in its content for the past one year. “Apart from breaking stories, publishing insightful interviews and editorials and writing well informed analysis and investigative reports, the newspaper possesses good aesthetic qualities

which makes it readers’ delight. “I think New Telegraph should continue in this direction so that at least, we have a balanced report. But, where majority of papers become so partisan, it becomes difficult to really know which paper you can really trust”. “In many countries, newspapers are the primary sources for research because whatever comes through a paper, it is assumed that it has gone through clearance by many major sectors of the society. Nothing goes into a newspaper until what we see in many of the papers are scrutinised. At least, true journalism as it should be.”

Suswam: New Telegraph has carved out a niche in political, business reporting Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State:

“W

ell, so far so good. New Telegraph has come to the market with a lot of maturity in the presentation of its news and the style of reporting, and I can say that within one year, the newspaper has made its mark in terms of popularising itself, making itself familiar with the Nigerian readers and also carving out a niche for itself in political and business reporting. I think that New Telegraph is a very promising publication and from the look of things, it will be a newspaper to beat in the near future. “Well, there is always room for improvement in any human endeavour and for a newspaper that is just one-year-old, there could be room for improvement. We can have a bigger newspaper, richer in content, in terms of the departments, in terms of the coverage of the society as it were. “If the newspaper has not established offices across the country, and extended its network, I think the second year of

Suswam

operation gives an opportunity for the organisation to spread its networks to the states where hitherto, it had not covered. “I also believe that for it to be a true national newspaper that it wants to be, there will be the need for it to establish its presence in each of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, and also ensure that offices are opened in these places and manned by personnel for both editorial and business operations. “One significant feature with New Telegraph which appeals to me is that it is publishing in partnership with The New York Times. It is a welcome development and it affords us the opportunity to also read the perspectives from other climes, especially the United States from the point of view of The New York Times. “So, I think these are some of the innovations that the paper has brought to the market and one can only enjoin the management to continue in that direction.”

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New Telegraph has caught up with older newspapers – Alao-Akala

Political analysis, highly admirable – Ekweremadu

Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala is a former Oyo State governor and governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP):

“S

ince its debut a year ago, New Telegraph newspaper added value to information dissemination through its indepth analysis and adequate reportage of events as they unfold. Indeed, within a year of its existence, it caught up with some major newspapers such that it ranks at par with them. It is a welcome development in the newspaper industry and I hope it will adhere strictly to the tenets of the profession to establish itself as a reputable news outfit to blaze the trail and remain a reference point on how best to practise journalism. “I am happy to note that it is peopled with best brains in the profession, hence the attainment of its enviable standard within a year. The paper’s partnership arrangement with New York Times is another trail blazing quality. There could, nevertheless, be room for improvement and introduction of more innovative ideas and projects into the paper.

Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu:

“F Akala

Such includes better visibility of the paper in terms of adequate and early supply to the markets.”

On the fast lane to greatness – Alkali Professor Rufa’i Alkali is Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters:

irst of all, I want to congratulate you, the management and proprietor of the paper for the foresight, courage and determination to give Nigeria another window through which we can look at the world. The issue of journalism and newspapering in the contemporary Nigeria and contemporary world is facing huge challenges. There are so many rested papers; there are also many flourishing papers. So, I feel that with the way you’re conducting your paper, you are on the fast lane to greatness. This is particularly more so because in the past one year and I believe in the in-coming year is only a transition period - preparing for the elections, forming a new government and consolidating government. So you have a lot to say. I wish you well. Well, I resist the temptation to pass judgement so that I will not say something outside what I

intend to say. What is important is that any paper is taken holistically, first and foremost. There are people who buy papers because of editorial comments, others because of feature articles, some others because of sports, news or social stories. Everybody has his own interest and bi-

Alkali

ases. What is important is that the paper itself in moment like this when party and politics is the order of the day, professional journalists and professional media men should remain above the fray. They should serve as judges, as umpires, not to be part of the argument. It must be able to present both sides of the arguments, all shades of opinions. Everybody should be given fair hearing. It is this balancing art that makes a paper different from others. Where a paper leaves this traditional path of fair hearing, it makes the paper more or less a political party’s pamphlet.

irst, let me congratulate the publishers, staff and management of New Telegraph on the one year anniversary of the medium. New Telegraph hit the newsstands with a bang and its impact has continued to resonate. “For me, the media is the oil with which democracy is eaten. The more, the merrier. But New Telegraph is not just an addition in terms of number, but in utility, commitment to national development, and creating a buoyant democratic environment where free speech, divergent opinions, balanced news, and journalistic

ethos thrive. Its editorial opinions are often on target. “New Telegraph is regular and punctual at the newsstands. It has done very well in terms of consistency and availability. It has continued to gain the confidence of readers as a paper that has come to stay. It is staffed with good and highly experienced hands. Its print and editorial qualities are highly commendable. The quality of its political analysis is also highly admirable. “However, like everything new, there is always a beginning. I hope it will continue to gain more readership in our highly competitive media environment. “Despite this and a few other teething challenges, I see New Telegraph at the very top in the very near future.”

New Telegraph ranks among the best – Nwagu Senator Igwe Paulinus Nwagu is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs:

“F

or the period I got acquainted with the paper, I am able to say that it came out as a paper that had undergone expert screening, design and review. Its content and presentation of news, views, opinions and information to the public makes it rank among the best news media in Nigeria within a short time. I commend it for its rich daily contents and hope it sustains its current reliability. “I think the paper has strong financial base which is why it has good quality and I believe its readership and acceptability should be its strength. What discourages people from reading newspapers is when it comes once and when people begin to put their interest in the contents, suddenly, it disappears from the newsstands. Nigeria is rich with information and the population is there. “The advent of social media may appear to be a discouragement to print media, but that shouldn’t be the case. In devel-

Nwagu

oped world, the print media competes favourably with the social media. “I do not think I have got anything yet to report negatively about the paper, but I think what attracts readers and mostly subscribers more to any print media is its ability to keep to its date and time in releasing news and information, especially paid adverts and editorials. The paper must be able to take strong stand by way of editorials on national issues that the populace expects to get views other than government position.”

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NNPC, Oando, NCAA, NLNG, business executives eulogise New Telegraph

ig players in the financial sector of the Nigerian economy have commended New Telegraph newspaper, which is just a year old on the newsstands today. Foremost Economist, Bismarck Rewane, who is the Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), said: “This paper has become a source of relevant and functional analysis of contemporary financial and business issues. Please keep it up.” The Managing Director Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, Mr. Damilola Ajayi, noted that the newspaper has done well within the short space of time it has operated. Ajayi noted that the organisation “has carved a niche in the industry and should not rest on its oars but keep on the good work.” Similarly, Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said the paper is growing at a very fast rate and has edged out many others that has existed before it made an entrance into the news market. Chukwu noted that the quality of the print, news content, guest columnists are quite impressive and should be sustained. National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said New Telegraph has been disciplined enough to report the truth and balance its reports. “My prayer is that the paper will live as long as God wants it. The paper has sustained the truth within the short period it began operations due to its credible management.” Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Credit Administration, Dr. Chris Onalo, said he has been impressed by the quality of New Telegraph. According to the American-trained credit professional, the newspaper has striking similarities to The New York Times, adding that he enjoys reading it especially editions carrying The New York Times pull out. Similarly, the CEO of the financial advisory firm, Henates & Associates, Mr. Henry Atenaga, cited the inclusion of The New York Times pull out in New Telegraph as the major reason that attracted him to the paper. He said: “Initially, I was not happy when I saw the paper and saw The New York Times pull out inside. I felt it was a form of imperialism. But going through it I realised that The New York Times contains a lot of valuable information on all aspects of economy and science, more than the local papers. With it, you are fully aware of what is going on in the world. New Telegraph is a quality newspaper. I hope the quality will be sustained.” Top players in Nigeria’s oil sector, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Oando Group Plc and NIPCO Plc have also poured eulogies on New Telegraph newspaper for changing the face of newspapering in Nigeria. The NNPC, which spoke through its spokesperson, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said that New Telegraph has distinguished itself with high printing quality and page layout.

Joseph Dawah, GMD, NNPC

Rewane

Tinubu

Usman

Nwosu

Ajayi

Alegbe in a congratulatory letter to the management of the newspaper, said it has established a standard, which it must continue to surpass in the coming years. Oando Plc. said that it doffed its hat for the newspaper’s “remarkable achievements in the last one year.” Specifically, it said: “As a burgeoning member of the Nigerian Fourth Estate, we doff our hats to your remarkable achievements in the past year. “We wish you even more success in the years to come.” NIPCO Plc., another major indigenous oil company, said that the paper has carved out for itself, a niche in professionalism within the last 12 months on the newsstands. NIPCO’s Manager, corporate affairs, Mr. Taofeeq Lawal, said: “On behalf of management and staff of NIPCO Plc., I heartily felicitate with Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd on the occasion of the commemoration of one year of the paper on the newsstands. “The paper, no doubt, has made its mark barely 365 days on the news market, a feat that might not be unconnected with the array of seasoned journalists and other professionals in the employ of the company. “NIPCO is very proud to be associated with the paper especially from the realm of the splendid manner its energy cover-

age is being handled. While praying for more years of meaningful reportage of events and analysis of issues around the globe, my organisation pledges continued cooperation with the newspaper in the overall interest of both parties. “May the newspaper continue to grow from strength to strength and remain a major player in the media industry.” The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) also said that the newspaper “has begun a revolution in print journalism in Nigeria with the layout and balanced stories on the newspapers’ stable.” Its General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, who said this during a courtesy visit to the newspapers head office in Lagos, commended the management of New Telegraph for its high level of professionalism in the Nigerian media industry within its short period of establishment. He noted: “The way the paper has broken into Nigeria’s media space is something for people to learn about.” Eresia-Eke promised his company’s partnership with the paper, stressing that it has distinguished itself with its content and layout in Nigeria’s media industry. In the insurance sector, Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, also praised New Telegraph. He said: “The way New Telegraph has broken in into the Nigeria’s media space

is something for people to learn about. You are doing very well. Your design is a very good one. “I cut my teeth at The Guardian and as a professional, one of the things I admire in your paper is its content and the way it looks,” he said. Top players in the telecoms industry also said the newspaper has proven to be a “credible source of information especially for the telecoms business community.” Speaking through the President of their umbrella body, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, the telecoms players described New Telegraph as one of the fastest-growing media houses with “balanced, fair and unbiased” contents. He said: “New Telegraph has performed very well in the last one year of its establishment. It has, indeed, redefined the face of business reporting most especially and we enjoin our members that are yet to tap into the fast-growing status of the newspaper to do so, to reach out to their growing subscribers and enterprise customers by using the newspaper for editorial and advertorial messages,” Ajayi said. Similarly, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, said: “In as much as the raison detre of newspapers and other agencies of mass media is to hold

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Policy makers must read New Telegraph – Aganga Dr. Olusegun Aganga is the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment:

“Y Daniel

Chukwu

government and other institutions in the society accountable for all their actions and inactions, I can say that your newspaper (New Telegraph) has been performing this role up to our expectation.” He added that the newspaper “is gradually becoming ubiquitous in terms of its circulation in the country, serving timely, in-depth and balanced reports to both the government and business community.” Ojobo tasked employees of the newspaper to always uphold the ethics guiding their profession by representing all shades of views and opinions in their daily reportorial activities. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, in his remarks, said: “For all I know, your newspaper (New Telegraph) has joined the league of other credible news media in the country. We get quality reports and articles and we buy the paper everyday because we have seen it as a reliable medium, whose quality reportage, we believe, goes a long way in helping investors to make informed decision.” Managing Director, IRS Airlines, Mr. Yemi Dada, said New Telegraph has given readers a refreshing perspective to contemporary issues in Nigeria and the world. He said: “The language of the paper brings to mind the glory days of the Nigerian press-good stories devoid of pedestrian English. “The views are also balanced and reflective of facts. It is a job well done that deserves commendation.” Deputy General Manager, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority

Dada

Ojobo

This paper has become a source of relevant and functional analysis of contemporary financial and business issues

(NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, who spoke on behalf of the agency’s Director-General, Capt. Usman Muhtar, also commended the newspaper. He said: “To be honest with you, I have read New Telegraph on few occasions. Having said that, New Telegraph is surely a quality newspaper in terms of the production layout, content and presentation. Keep it up. “One often wants to pass it for The Guardian. Please, consider some campaigns too to win more patronage because even the established ones are doing that.” In the industry circles, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc, Dimeji Owofemi, said: “I think the publication has not fared badly in the past one year. I could see the prospect in the publication judging by its editorial materials. But, the newsprint needs to be upgraded to conform to the status of the publication as a leading newspaper in Politics and Business reporting. While you start the journey of a second year, I urge those charged with the responsibility of determining the editorial direction of the publication to be fair and objective. Congratulations.” Principal Consultant, Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola, also hailed the newspaper. He said: “I sincerely think the newspaper is doing very fine for a publication of just one year and already rubbing shoulders with age-long publications. I suggest that the newspaper should strive to cover and report news from all parts of the country. Also, I think there is a need to review the paper make up, font and type size.”

es I read New Telegraph. It is one of the new newspapers in Nigeria that covers business, policy and politics. It is one of those serious newspapers that any policy maker should read. “I think Nigerians need to understand the difference between serious newspapers, broadsheet as we call them in the United Kingdom and the tabloids. New Telegraph will qualify as a broadsheet which means, a serious newspaper. I also recognised that it is quite new, just one year. So it will take time to start displacing the ones that have been on the newsstands because of legacy issues. But it is fast gaining grounds; it is fast occupying a very good space. “All the paper needs to do is to continue what it is doing more, making sure that the news materials it carries are of interest to the readers, which means the serious people who want to know about government policies, its implications on them and on business, as well as on their target consumers. “New Telegraph needs to focus on providing explanation to readers on what policies mean, to government, to private investors, foreign and local and to the consumers. What role can each of them play to ensure that the policies work? “I am surprised on the level of your coverage of the Nigerian Commodity Exchange. This is a plus for the paper. It is

Aganga

not clear to me if certain pages are dedicated to some sectors of the economy so that if you are reading the paper and you are interested in specific sectors, you are guided on which of them to go as opposed to random reading. The management can look at this and make it a little more clearer. “I think New Telegraph’s partnership with New York Times and the way they advertise it on the front page is a very clever thing. When I first looked at it, that was the first attraction and I asked what’s the relationship? Regardless of how you look at New Telegraph and assess it, it must be a quality paper for New York Times, a brand that has reached its goodwill with so many years, to associate its name to a good newspaper. Even though New Telegraph is new, this partnership with the New York Times has given it additional credibility.”

Debut apt, decisive – CBN Mr. Isaac Okarafor, a former editor, is the Assistant Director, Corporate Communications Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN):

“N

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

ew Telegraph came at a time when people are thinking about a paper that is strong both in business and political reportage. It has carved a niche for itself and this is due to the calibre of editorial team assembled to drive it. “Do more of business reporting, though you are doing well in that field, so that people don’t tag you more of a political paper. The issue today is economy and for Nigeria, everything revolves around the economy.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Future is rosy for the newspaper –Kalu Dr. Awa U. Kalu (SAN), former Attorney General of Abia State and Commissioner for Justice: “New Telegraph is a welcome addition to the nation’s print media. The print run, in my view, is large enough to satisfy the requirements of its teeming readers. I love its layout, and overall editorial policy is meritorious. One can only hope that the paper grows in leaps and bounds and from strength to strength.”

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It’s a neutral Telegraph’ll rank newspaper among the best – Ahamba (SAN) – Akuma (SAN) Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), 2014 National Conference delegate: “My opinion is that New Telegraph has made giant strides within the one year of its existence, and particularly, I have to say that the paper has been able to hold the balance of opinion to the point that I’m willing to say it is a neutral newspaper. And I believe that if it continues like this, it will definitely hit the top. I wish them very happy anniversary.”

Chief Solo Akuma (SAN), former Attorney General of Abia State and Commissioner for Justice: “New Telegraph is not doing badly, in view of the operating environment. You have broken into the market; all that is required now, is for you to start getting advertisements from members of the public. “I believe that New Telegraph has come to stay, and before long, it will rank as one of the best newspapers in the country. I, therefore, congratulate the management and staff, and urge them not to rest on their oars; they should keep it up.”

Mahmud

Bozimo

CJN, NJI commend New Telegraph

he Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, said the newspaper, which began production barely a year ago, have informed, wide and robust reporting covering virtually all aspects of the national life. He noted that New Telegraph is truly national as no personal ego has ever been expressed so far. Speaking through his media aide, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, the CJN noted that since journalism world over now lay more emphasis on investigation, New Telegraph would carve a niche for itself by reporting more exclusive

stories. “This is usually expensive, because to hack into privacy of an office or personality, it requires the right skill or staff to do the needful. But the reward is often times eternal. “The spread of the paper is commendable, but its handlers still need to do more. You need to target rural areas to garner more awareness and recognition,” he added. Also commending the paper for making a name for itself within one year on the newsstands, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Roseline Bozimo, however, advised New Telegraph to develop a

policy to capture the readers in the corporate world as this will enhance more patronage. Speaking through the Head of Information, Madu Emezie, the NJI said the management of the paper should ensure that it is well positioned to accommodate adverts. “You will definitely need aggressive advertisement and the management could visit some chief executives to sign memorandum of understanding. “The moment corporate establishments see you playing a major role in information dissemination, circulation, etc, the patronage will hit the roof top.”

Superb content – Lagos CP Ahamba

Akuma

Not yet uhuru – Nkwereum

Chief Akpan Nkwereum, a constitutional lawyer: “If I were to assess the paper, I think I will give it a pass mark. At the initial stage, when I was told about the paper, I thought it was

one of these tabloids that appear and fizzle out, but it seems that the paper is waxing stronger by the day. “I wish the paper a more brilliant success as it sets out for its second year operation.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti said: “To me, New Telegraph is one of the best in the industry right now. The paper has done well. I love the packaging and layout. The content is superb. Within one year, the paper has been able to move into the rank of the first 10 in the country, which is good. There’s no need for any adjustment.

You’re doing well – Sagay

Sagay

Former Dean Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN: “Your paper is a new paper. I must say that the paper is doing well. It”s well edited and the stories are interesting. I enjoyed myself reading the paper. The print is good and clear. You are doing well, but you need to push it further to the market. It’s good.”

Allow people to be the judge and know what the paper stands for. Always get the two sides. Don’t lean to the east or west. I suggest New Telegraph should be like New York Times, the most credible paper, so that people would want to read it for news that matters. Let expressions in the paper be understandable without the need for readers to seek for dictionary.”

Aderanti

New Telegraph demonstrates patriotism – Olukolade, DHQ

Olukolade

Major General Chris Olukolade is the Director of Defence Information: “The disposition of New Telegraph has been very impressive. It has demonstrated patrio-

tism, especially at a time like this. “We wish you all the best, and believe that you will continue to uphold the high standards of professionalism and patriotism.”

Good product – NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Emma Okeke said: “The paper is good, serious and straight to the point.”

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Arts and culture practitioners speak on New Telegraph I enjoy arts reportage – UNILAG DVC

Oni

It’s educative –Enwonwu Mr. Oliver Enwonwu, President of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and Director of Omenka Gallery, Lagos: “I celebrate with New Telegraph on the occasion of her first anniversary. In this short period, New Telegraph has established itself as a responsible and educative newspaper, bringing the latest news, as well as quality and accurate reporting about issues of significant national concern to Nigerians.

Professor Duro Oni, former Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), University of Lagos: “The performance of New Telegraph in the last one year has been outstanding. I have enjoyed the coverage of news and particularly the Art and Culture columns.”

Thanks for a unique, interesting perspective – Simoyan

Keep the good work – NANTAP Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Ms. Eki Faith Eboigbe: “Congratulations! You are one already? How time flies! New Telegraph has done very well this past

year. The Art section, especially, has always been on point and timely with news on the arts and culture sector. You have, particularly, continued to draw attention of the policy makers to see the need to develop the arts and culture sector and we want you to keep it up.”

‘This is just the beginning’ Acclaimed theatre director and artistic director, Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT): “New Telegraph: We know that it has been a very tough year, but you

have kept at it. We congratulate you because we know that this is just the beginning of greater things and achievements to come. Congrats.”

New Telegraph can do more – Olamiti, ICPC Mr. Folu Olamiti, a former newspaper editor, is the spokesman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC): “I congratulate New Telegraph newspaper for attaining one year in print journalism. So far, you have done so well, going by the aesthetic layout of the paper; it is very neat and the content is above average. “You need to do more of investigative journalism; news-behind-thenews. That should make

you more competitive, as the online papers are really competing; that will enable you to be more relevant in the market.”

‘Footprints on the sand of time’

A remarkable year –EFCC’

The Publisher Chief Detective, Nigeria’s number one crime magazine, Dipo Kehinde, said: “It has boldly stamped its footprints on the sand of time. I wish the project better days ahead.”

Olamiti

Mr. Wilson Uwujaren (Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC): “One remarkable year of great journalism devoid of sensationalism.”

Enwonwu

Osofisan

I’m encouraged by the product – Osofisan Prof. Femi Osofisan, renowned dramatist, theatre scholar and Professor Emeritus at the University of Ibadan: “I am always generally happy to see emergence of a new media organisation, and anyone that gives importance to the arts is always

encouraging to me, particularly when most media nowadays are more or less shutting down their arts pages. So, it is a good thing to see a particular paper give importance to the arts. So, I like what you are doing and I hope you will do more.”

Change activist and author of ‘The Eight Wonders of the World Made in Nigeria,’ Oluboludele Simoyan: “The paper has surpassed expectations. It has been one year of exciting journalism from a unique and interesting

perspective! It looks as if it has been around for years. To the great professionals in the house, keep up the good work you are doing! And to all the staff of New Telegraph, Happy Anniversary! God bless New Telegraph and God bless Nigeria.”

I’m impressed with New York Times’ partnership – Ugboma Veteran Film maker, Chief Eddie Ugboma, OON: “New Telegraph has done well. I am particularly impressed with their attention given to

arts and culture. I must say they have been very good in the art. I am also impressed with the paper’s partnership with New York Times.”

Mega City, innovative, unique – Olayi Ben Achue Olayi Director of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Lagos State: “My opinion about your paper within its one year of existence is that it has given a positive narrative. It has been quite objective and analytical, which makes it stand out among other newspapers. It means it can and will actually

stand the test of time. It will rank among the best of newspapers in terms of factual reporting and objectivity. “I like a section of the paper known as Mega City. It’s innovative and unique. It touches on topical issues that look simple, but it is a reflection of the environment and society at large.”

Exposé on police cells stands out – Ekpe The Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Ferdinand U. Ekpe said: “I congratulate New Telegraph newspaper as it marks

its one year. There’s no doubt that the paper has made its mark on the newsstands in the last one year. The expose on police cells nationwide in 2014 stands out.”

Ojukwu

New Telegraph’ll find a sure footing – Ojukwu, FPRO CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Force Public Relations Officer): “I find New Telegraph as a seriousminded medium, committed to credibility and balanced in its reportage. I’m hopeful that in the years ahead, the newspaper will find a sure footing in the company of the truly professionals.”

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New Telegraph should set international standard

– Enabulele, ex-NMA President Dr. Osahon Enabulele is the immediate past National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA):

“F

rom my own perception, New Telegraph newspaper has made a tremendous impact within a very short time. Most newspapers in Nigeria usually have a long gestation time before they hit the consciousness of their readers. Initially, it looked like one of these upcoming newspapers but suddenly from interaction with

people, it became very obvious to me that the newspaper is very well read. Even I note that on newspaper review on both radio and television, New Telegraph feature prominently among the newspapers brought to the consciousness of the public. “In terms of its strength, unlike some newspapers, one has not been able to clearly pinpoint bias in terms of slant towards individual or group position like some newspapers that are owned by some individuals want to do. So, there is some level of objective disposition in terms of its contents, analysis and the viewpoints. So, that to me, is something that has wormed the newspaper to the mind of the people and to my own mind, one can pick up New Telegraph and say

to a very large extent, what I read from this newspaper is clearly objective and not tilted in some ethnic, political or regional bias or colouration. That, to me, is a very huge, huge capital amassed by New Telegraph. “I expect New Telegraph to look at the international community and see how it can compare itself with those leading international light in the media industry and see how it can set a target for itself because the Nigerian market may not be a good example of how to get some level of international flavour or international readership. I think if New Telegraph can inch towards international pedestal, that certainly will distance it from other newspapers that are available in the Nigerian environment.”

Enabulele

Keep the Darah: A reputation earned on solid journalism sanctity of truth – Alaafin “I “N

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is the permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs:

Alaafin

remember I blessed your paper when it was presented to me officially. With the crop of people that make up the paper, I had been convinced that it will go places. I congratulate my son, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for this feat. The paper has been doing well. I am glad that within a year, it has even matched up with some other long-existing ones. “The production of

the paper is beautiful and rich in content. I can only advise that you do more in terms of your circulation so that people in the hinterlands can be having access to the paper early enough. “Your political analyses have been exciting and balanced. Keep it up. Sky is going to be your starting point if you continue to keep aloft the sanctity of truth you have as your motto.”

New Telegraph is impartial, says Okupe Dr. Doyin Okupe is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs:

“I

read New Telegraph. I will not compare the newspaper with other national dailies, but in just a very short time, New Telegraph has made tremendous impact. I am an average reader of the paper and I know that this paper

Okupe

is impartial and it takes an objective middle of the road approach to issues. Up till now, I can

say that the paper is very factual and professional. In fact, I look forward to reading the newspaper. “You know I am a very biased reader of newspapers, so I always read papers from the point of view of how are they treating my party, my principal and what are they saying about them? As far as policy, politics and editorial reporting is concerned, which is my area of focus, I will give New Telegraph more than a pass mark.”

Prof. G. G. Darah, a lecturer at the Delta State University, Abraka is a former Chairman of Editorial Board at The Guardian newspapers and a delegate to the 2014 National Conference: ew Telegraph Newspaper endeared itself to delegates at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja. The paper earned this reputation on the basis of its solid professional approach to journalism. While some tabloids frustrated readers with garnished and sensational reporting, New Telegraph steered a patriotic path by focusing on key issues and debates. The interviews and news carried in the newspaper reflected its philosophy of “Sanctity of Truth”. “I benefitted immensely from the materials that featured in the paper. The news coverage is fresh, diverse and detailed. The various departments – politics, economy, finance, business, arts, world news and sports are current and educative. “Surely, the paper has bright pros-

Darah

pects to grow and serve as the trusted companion of the Nigerian modern elite in this era of democratic recovery in Nigeria and Africa.”

Neutrality in reporting strikes me – Gumi Sheikh (Dr) Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi is a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric and Public Affairs commentator:

“N Gumi

ew Telegraph has caught my attention since when I was interviewed by Malam Ibraheem Musa, one of its correspondents. What strikes me about the newspaper is its maturity and neutrality in reporting. I wish it all the blessings in its journey through the turbulence of this day’s journalism.”

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Nation building should be paramount – Nkanga, Ex-MILAD Air Commodore Idongesit Okon Nkanga (rtd) is a former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He was the Director General, Godswill Akpabio Campaign Organisation and presently, the Director General, Udom Emmanuel Campaign Organisation for 2015 governorship election:

“H Nkanga

onestly, I have to congratulate New Telegraph on its feat so far. I saw the newspaper while we were at the National Conference and I got attracted to the newspaper because of its outlay and packaging. I was very impressed by its refreshing content. “You know very well that at this critical period of our nation’s history, some newspapers still publish falsehood to make sales, but New Telegraph is not in that class.

I equally want to ask those who publish to destroy Nigeria, where they will run to after ruining the country? Perhaps to Europe to become second class citizens. I must commend New Telegraph editorial content and objective policy “I am satisfied with what I read there. So, as a reader, I give the newspaper excellent mark. I will only advise that they really continue to focus on nation building and ensure that in all situations, the interest of the country should be paramount.”

Okei-Odumakin: New Telegraph has gained prominence Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, human rights activist and President of Women Arise for Change Initiative:

“F

rom my point of view, the strength of New Telegraph has been its ability to gain prominence within the very short period it came into existence, particularly in the South-West, where other newspapers have become so established years ahead. One weakness I observed, which I believe should be worked on, is the spread in circulation of the paper. Focus must be shifted from the major cities alone where the paper currently hits the stands.

“Another area I think the newspaper can improve is by ensuring that it doesn’t become attached to political interests and must be ready to promote all views on issues, particularly those within Nigeria where the paper is based. “New Telegraph has been able to compete in the very competitive media arena successfully in the last one year and it is expected that this is sustained. Then, we can begin to see the newspaper as a new medium of choice in the very near future.”

Prince Gboyega Isiaka, Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate:

“N

ew Telegraph, about a year ago, caught my attention as a new national daily and the reportage has been encouraging in terms of objectivity, balancing of news and fascinating col-

Chief Gary EnwoIgariwey, Presidentgeneral, Ohanaeze Ndigbo:

“I Okei-Odumakin

Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Josephine Washima:

Washima

Isiaka: I hope New Telegraph won’t rest on its oars

umns. The rate at which the newspaper has caught up with other existing national dailies is a testimony to the capacity of the managers of the publication. I hope they won’t rest on their oars. Congrats.”

You’ve done well – Ohanaeze president

I love New Telegraph – Washima

“I

Isiaka

do read New Telegraph. It is one of the newspapers I buy officially in my office and even at home during my leisure time to read. I have also appeared severally in the paper and you know when you feature often in a newspaper, it is just appropriate that you patronise it. “I will be very sincere with you, but I am not try-

ing to sell the paper. I am saying what I have actually seen about the newspaper. I think it is one of the wellpackaged papers that Nigerians should look out for. Maybe relatively new on the newsstands (one year), but the reporting style, I love it. The way that pictures are arranged, the colours, you know I am a lady and must talk about colours. “I love photo news, so, I usually look out for the photo section, especially the style and fashion pages. The paper is rich in content and I am sure the owners will improve with time also.”

have been enjoying reading New Telegraph titles, especially the politics pages, in the past months. I find your political reporting very interesting because you represent all shades of opinion, particularly in this period of electioneering. I also note that it is a feat for New Telegraph to

Enwo-Igariwey

have been consistent on the newsstands, meaning that the media outfit may have come to stay. “On what should be improved upon: Your news reports on happenings in the South-East are usually hidden inside your pages unlike The Sun title which will always carry the same kind of stories more prominently. I believe you can do better in the zone when you treat news from this area better, not hidden as they are now. But generally, you have done well in projecting the paper as a national daily.”

TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Political reportage quite impressive – Okorie National Chairman and presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie:

“N

ew Telegraph hit the newspaper stands with a bang. Before anybody could call the name, it has already been competing very well with much more older papers that have been there before its arrival. And it has maintained that first impression; we have seen publications that came with beautiful first impression, but failed to maintain that impression. “It has continued to improve; its political coverage, especially, is quite impressive; maybe because I’m a politician. It has given a good contribution to the media industry in terms of giv-

Commodore Olabode George is a former military governor of old Ondo State and erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP):

“F Okorie

ing more pages and indepth analysis of political issues. It is contributing in deepening our democracy.”

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State:

Ajimobi

attempt to push it under by online media, New Telegraph holds the hope of continuing in this tradition for years to come.”

The path New Telegraph should take, by Balarabe Musa Alhaji Balarabe Musa is a former Governor of Kaduna State in the Second Republic and onetime presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): rom my impression, the reporting of New Telegraph is balanced. But I think that there is an area which you should go into and I’m not blaming you for not going into it, because I’m giving you this advice due to my combatant nature. Almost all the newspapers can be grouped into one place ideologically; if they are not clearly conservative, they are too liberal for the concrete reality of the country where combativeness is called for. The ruling class is well entrenched and it is very conservative and reactionary. There should be a medium that should report the other side in a balanced way. And I hope you can do that. New Telegraph should take a position. “For example, up till the end of the Second Republic, you could identify left-leaning newspapers, even if they are in a minority. But today, virtually all the newspapers are the same; either conservatives or liberal. But

George

Chief Sam Nkire is the former National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC):

“O

ne year of being in the market, New Telegraph has brought on board a unique professionalism that reminds one of the journalism of yore. It spices this with a page layout that is fascinating and a clear printing which is reader-friendly. “I am not surprised at this clear sense of direction because the newspaper comprises respected practitioners who have paid their dues in the system. In this age when the print media is suffocating under stiff

or me, I find it hard to believe that New Telegraph is already oneyear-old but it is a clear sign that the morning shows the day. New Telegraph has caught up with the quality and standard of other newspapers, both in content and quality. I am shocked it’s all just one year. It shows that the foundation and concept has been solid. “I want to wish the management and staff of the organisation well. If they build on what they have achieved in the last 12 months, I am sure the future is bright.

“I want to advise that they create certain sections that will deal on historical perspectives. Such a section in your newspaper will keep our youths educated, give them a historical sense, attract them to your newspaper and increase your sales as well. Let them look at historical perspectives, who are we, how did we get to where we are, among others. So, New Telegraph should fill that big gap and that is a challenge for the managers of the newspaper.”

Partnership with New York Times unique – Nkire

Growth, not a surprise – Ajimobi

“F

Future is bright, says George

“I

’m an avid reader of New Telegraph. The collaboration with the New York Times is the best thing that could happen to it. New Telegraph comes from the same stable with The Sun Newspaper, but it has its own character. People who are looking for The Sun are looking for The Sun, but New Telegraph has its own audience and readership. Just one year, see how much strides it has made. People who read it seek after it. “When I was buying my copy today, I saw a lot of people asking for it and the first two vendors said their own have finished. So, New Telegraph is constant on the streets of Abuja, I don’t know about Lagos, Calabar or Enugu. I think by the time New Telegraph is five, it will displace several newspapers that started 10 years before it. I want to congratulate the man-

Musa

the concrete reality of Nigeria calls for something more radical. There are a number of newspapers like New Telegraph which engage in fair reporting, but we need more than that. “For instance, the present socio-economic system is based on the leading role of the private sector in the economy. And we feel that this is directly responsible for the negative state of the nation. We need government to take a leading role in the country in order to ensure peace, equality, justice and dignity of the human person and progressive development. The media has been taken in by the craze for privatisation and the role of the private sector in the economy. We need a newspaper that will reflect the other side. I pray that New Telegraph fills this void.”

Nkire

agement of New Telegraph, especially the Managing Director, Mr. Eric Osagie. Since he took over, in my own opinion New Telegraph has made a lot of progress. “You see, newspapers sell for three major reasons. One, reportage – what it carries, its style of writing and news worthiness. Two, newspapers also sell because there are popular columnists in it. People whose opinions are respected; people who are opinion moulders in the society. If you hear that Wole Soyinka writes for New Telegraph for instance, or that Thambo Mbeki, Tony Momoh, Orji Uzor Kalu or Bola Tinubu writes for New Telegraph, you can be sure it would have more readership. So, I want to suggest that New Telegraph tries to develop the columns by a way of looking for serious and well known columnists.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 24, 2015

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Perseverance’ll stand you out – Omolewa

You’re not doing badly – Adeyemi, VC Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, Vice-Chancellor, Bells University and Chairman, Committee of ViceChancellors and Registrars of Private Universities of Nigeria (CVRPU):

Prof. Michael Omolewa is a former Nigerian Representative in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):

“N

ew Telegraph has started very well. And like every good new newspaper, only perseverance could stand you out. As a historian, I have watched keenly the story of the surviving newspa-

pers and I must commend you for your quality, editorial content and objectivity. “I spend most of my time abroad, but whenever I come around, I see New Telegraph and, I pray it survives. Congratulations on your first anniversary.”

Omolewa

You deserve pass mark – Ojerinde, JAMB Registrar

Adeyemi

Devote more space to Islam – Akintola

Dibu Ojerinde is the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB):

“L Ojerinde

et me congratulate New Telegraph for your one year anniversary. It was like yesterday that you started. How time flies! Let me say that no human endeavour is perfect. But you need to give New Telegraph a high pass mark for living up to expectation.

The education column of the paper is just wonderful. The first time the paper carried the work of JAMB and the CBT, the publication was informative. The column objectively said it as it was. The criticism was constructive and of a very wide coverage from all stakeholders.”

Prof. Ishaq Akintola is a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) and Director, Muslim Rights Concern:

“W

e rate you high, the standard is very good and the spread is not bad at all because a few newspapers have been able to spread as you are currently, especially in their early days. New Telegraph is today national and we think you deserve some accolades there. “However, we will suggest that like other newspapers, we expect New Telegraph to give Islam more than one page it currently gives. And comments sent to the editor of the page

Newspaper, a compelling read – Adedimeji Dr. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji is the Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Ilorin:

“I

see New Telegraph as the contemporary flagship of Nigerian journalism today. Within a short span of a year since it hits the newsstands, the paper has scaled new heights, fathomed deeper depths and carved a niche for itself in Nigeria as a serious and respectable newspaper. Apart from its innovative partnership with The New York Times, which makes it the first Nigerian newspaper to explore such a collaborative venture that allows one to have a two-in-one package every week, I admire the editorial quality of the paper and the vast array of seasoned and veteran journalists the newspaper has managed to assemble. “As the paper clocks a year, I strongly believe it is on the

“I

think in terms of quality of publication, you are not doing badly and your editorial content is superb too. I suggest you carry out a marketing survey and make sure you find worthy news that can appeal to the individual environment to capture their attention.”

right track, especially, when it continues to pursue and respect the “Sanctity of Truth” which constitutes its motto. There is no doubt that the newspaper is a compelling read and as the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. It can actually do more. It should not rest on its oars as making a standard is a challenge but sustaining it is more challenging. “On the areas of what it can do more, I think the newspaper will add more value to its teeming readers if it can do three more things. First, New Telegraph should make its online version more reader-friendly. Instead of giving the headlines to its Facebook followers, there is nothing stopping New Telegraph from also providing the link to its stories. Besides, it should run a rich, vibrant and dynamic online version, generating comments and reviews and expanding its online clientele like some newspapers that are technologically-savvy. “Secondly, the paper can be made more entertaining through cartoons. Having a page devoted to different car-

Adedimeji

toon strips will not be bad for such a serious newspaper. “Lastly, it would also be more rewarding if the statistics provided by the paper, another unique feature of New Telegraph, can be more current and have more local relevance. Other than statistics of foreign countries mainly, it would be interesting to have vital statistics and hard facts on various aspects on the Nigerian society, education, economy, health, transportation, etc, distilled daily or regularly. This will make the newspaper even relevant more to researchers, not just casual readers of news.”

shouldn’t be delayed till the Fridays when it publishes to avoid being belated as we currently experience. So we congratulate New Telegraph newspaper on its first anniversary.”

Akintola

Devote more time to investigative reporting –YABATECH PRO

Congrats on job well done – OAU PRO

Mr. Charles Oni, Public Relations Officer, YABATECH:

Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju is the Public Relations Officer, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State:

“N

ew Telegraph has been successfully distinguished itself from other newspapers by the way it approaches issues. There is need for deep investigative reporting so that the newspaper could compete favourably with the very best in the industry.”

“T

alking about editorial content, New Telegraph is not doing badly. You are endowed with seasoned professionals who know how to do the job. On behalf of OAU, I say congratulations.”

TUESDAY, February 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Ekeji

Super Falcons’ striker, Desire Oparanozie, perusing a copy of New Telegraph during her visit to the Lagos office.

Okagbare

Ekeji, Bassey, Okagbare, national players applaud New Telegraph Prominent figures in Nigeria’s sporting world give testimonial about New Telegraph

in the market because the newspaper has won the hearts of many within the short time in the market. I also believe strongly that the paper has a bright future in the industry. I say bravo!”

Dr. Patrick Ekeji, former Director General, National Sports Commission: “New Telegraph is a very informative newspaper. I started buying because of sports, but later realised that it is a complete paper with great professionals in various fields. I buy the newspaper every day. It is unbelievable that the newspaper is just one year in the market.”

Godfrey Oboabona, Super Eagles defender: “New Telegraph’s coverage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was second to none in Nigeria. My friends and family across the nation enjoy reading the newspaper too. “The paper must strive to be at every important competition because that is the hallmark of any sports newspaper.”

Paul Bassey, CAF/FIFA media committee member: “As a journalist myself, I rate New Telegraph very high

Blessing Okagbare, African fastest woman: “New Telegraph has proven that other sports can be cel-

ebrated apart from football. I don’t miss a copy of the paper whenever I’m in the country and also I follow the stories online regularly. “The composition and quality on the sport team is a testimony to the leadership trait of the newspaper and it is on record that New Telegraph is the only newspaper in Nigeria that has done an exclusive feature on me and my family by going to my hometown in Sapele, Delta State.” Funke Oshonaike, National Table Tennis player: “I am so impressed with the content of New Telegraph from the start. The newspaper has high standard in all departments. It was a surprise to see some big names in the industry joining the organization and the result is there to see be-

Obioha: New Telegraph, a must read for me Chief Ralph Obioha is the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee and chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO):

“N

ew Telegraph is a must read for me among the dailies and it is actually my first choice. The content of the newspaper is very rich and the news and features of the newspaper are very educative. “The strength of the newspaper is that the layout is very new and you can go through it very easily and quickly, go to pages that are of interest to you

with the way the paper is packaged. “The newspaper has made great strides in one year and nobody will even think that New Telegraph is a one-year-old newspaper because it has made a lot of strides; it is just to keep it up. The delivery in the East has also greatly improved and it comes among the early newspapers that arrive in the morning.”

Okagbare’s dad, Pa Francis Okagbare, reading a copy of New Telegraph at his home in Sapele, Delta State

cause the content is very rich.” Asisat Oshoala, African Women Player of the Year: “New Telegraph has proven that sports journalism can be at its best. The paper has been instrumental in the development of women football in Nigeria by giving it the best coverage.” Joseph Dosu, Olympic gold medallist: “The Saturday edition of the New Telegraph can favourably compete with any sport newspaper in Nigeria. I’ve

not missed any edition since inception because it makes my weekend. I love the Sports Lifestyle concept on Fridays and the foreign Lifestyle of international stars on Saturdays.” Desire Oparanozie, Super Falcons striker: “I’ve been to the corporate office in Lagos and I know the quality the newspaper gives in terms of factual reporting. My day is not complete if I don’t read New Telegraph online in my base in France. I pray they will not deviate from the good work they are doing.”

Always be on people’s side – Abdullahi Prof. Ango Abdullahi is the former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the spokesman of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF):

“T

he newspaper has so far done very well under very competitive environment. Most of the papers that were started, particularly in

Abdullahi

the north, just fizzled away because of lack of patronage. This is how New Nigerian died. But in the last one year, you

have been doing very well because the quality of print is good. The editorials are also good but sometimes a bit timid, not as aggressive as they ought to be. A newspaper that will succeed in the long run, is a paper that will speak the truth on behalf of its clientele, the people. “Journalism around the world is a huge instrument of change. And the only way to bring the desired change is to say what people want or don’t want. Once you are on the side of the truth, most of the time you are on the side of the people.”

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

STRIKE Despite agitation by ASUP, the FG has refused to meet the union’s demands Mojeed Alabi

arely eight months after the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspended their nine-month-old indefinite nationwide strike on the intervention of the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the polytechnic system may be back to the trenches. The union has threatened to shut down the system, by embarking on an indefinite job boycott over the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands despite the minister’s promise to do so when he finally settled in office. However, stakeholders in the nation’s education sector including polytechnic students under their umbrella group, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS); the Joint Action Front (JAF) - a coalition of workers’ and students’ unions nationwide; and Education Rights Campaign (ERC), have condemned the failure of the Federal Government to accede the requests of the polytechnic lecturers, many months after the union suspended its prolonged industrial action. ASUP President, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha had at a media briefing at the weekend, directed its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from tomorrow, to demand the implementation of the union’s four-year-old

Polytechnics: Back to the trenches lJAF, NAPS, others carpet FG over strike agreement with the Federal Government. Lamenting the refusal of the Federal Government to address the union’s requests and the nonchalant attitude of the minister since the strike was suspended in July last year, two days to the appointment of the minister, he said: “The union had suspended its nine-month strike following a promise from the Minister, who was then newly appointed, that he would resolve the matter within three months.” Some of the union’s grievances include the continued discrimination against polytechnic graduates in public service and in the labour market in the country, the nonrelease of the White Paper on the Visitation to Federal Polytechnics, the non-implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration for the lower cadres and its arrears as from 2009 when the salary structure was approved, as well as non-establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) and the wrongful continued recognition of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as the regulatory body for polytechnics. Others are the non-constitution of Governing Councils for some federal polytechnics by the Federal Government, the snail-pace of the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act by the National Assembly and the gross underfunding of the polytechnic sub-sector and continued lopsidedness in the disbursement of TETfund grants and other interventions

clearly designed to the disadvantage of the polytechnic sector. In a telephone interview with New Telegraph, the National Secretary of JAF, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, said his group had initially kicked against the suspension of the strike last year, because of the Federal Government’s insincerity to keep to its promises in the past. “Now, we have been proved right.” He said JAF was in support of any step taken by the lecturers to ensure improved learning environment, academic quality in the country and that will bring sanity into the system. In a similar development,

etermined to deepen the level of scholarship and position the Federal university of Technology, Akure (FUTA), as one of the leading institutions in the world, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola has spoken of the plans by the university to send some of its students to some universities in Germany and Brazil on exchange programmes.

Daramola

The initiative, according to him, is part of its collaboration efforts, in addition to the existing relationships with institutions such as the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, USA. Daramola disclosed this last week while administering the university’s matriculation oath on no fewer than 3,675 fresh intakes admitted to the specialised institution. He, therefore, advised the fresh men and women to be of good behaviour and excel in their studies so that they could benefit from the exchange programme. The Vice-Chancellor, while urging them to complement the management’s effort by being peace loving and law abiding, charged the students to eschew cultism and other vices that could terminate their academic pursuit prematurely. Daramola, who said the students should count themselves lucky to have been admitted to the university, however noted that several

the Senate President of NAPS, Salawudeen Lukman, appealed to the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, resolve the crisis to prevent the sector from being plunged into another round of closure and disruption of activities in the system. He said: “We cannot blame ASUP because we were all involved when we appealed to the lecturers to give the Federal Government another opportunity. But now that government has failed to honour the agreement, if students should troop to the streets in protest closure of their institutions, the government should not say we are being sponsored by the opposition.” Also speaking, the National

Coordinator of ERC, Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, has pledged the support of his organisation for the planned strike, even as he insisted that the Federal Government has disappointed the education sector and the country in general. His words: “The shabby manner with which the Federal Government has treated ASUP is vexatious. It further reinforces the fact that the President Jonathan-led government is anti-poor, anti-worker and anti-education. The ERC shall stand with ASUP until all its demands are met. We call on polytechnic students and the entire labour movement and Nigerians to rise up in support of ASUP in its struggle to defend the integrity of polytechnic education. A people united can never be defeated.”

L-R: Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo (Chairman IDRDG), Hon. Ibikunle Saheed (Sec. IDRDG), Dr. Abdulazeez Lawal, Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and Mrs. Aderonke Ige, Registrar of the polytechnic during the signing of MOU on Deed of Gift with Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) for the building of the Late Prof. Anthony Adegbola Science Centre on Ikorodu Campus of the polytechnic.

FUTA partners German, Brazilian varsities Mojeed Alabi

thousands of applicants subscribed to the institution, which has become a toast of many young men and women seeking qualitative university education. Expressing delight about the approval granted the university to begin academic programme at the newly established School of Health and Health Technology, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the institution would continue to sustain its tradition of excellence in academic, research and peaceful learning atmosphere, as well as in the character training of students. The Registrar, Dr. Modupe Ajayi, who administered the matriculation oath on the 3,675 students, said the ceremony marked their formal confirmation as bona fide students of FUTA. Principal officers of the university at the ceremony, which took place at the new auditorium of the university include deans of schools, directors of units and parents of the matriculating students.

Veritas varsity set to graduate 151 students Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

o fewer than 151 graduates of Veritas University, a private university will received their scrolls at the combined second and third graduation ceremony of the institution. Addressing journalists at a press conference organised to announce the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Kwanashie noted that the ceremony would be preceded by the convocation lecture entitled: “Catholic Higher Education and the Crisis of Values in Nigeria.” The Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Reverend Godfrey Onah is expected to deliver the lecture billed for today at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium, Maitama District, Abuja. The Vice-Chancellor, who expressed the commitment of the university to continue to contribute to the development

and formation of character of Nigerian youth, pointed out that the students would be awarded first degrees having been found worthy in character and satisfactorily completed their academic programmes. “We will contribute towards the physical, moral, spiritual, social and cultural development of Nigerian youth in order to promote moral and ethical consciousness among them,” he said. Kwanashie hinted that the ceremony would offer the university the opportunity to celebrate the efforts of the founding fathers of the institution to provide qualitative university education in the country. Speaking further, the ViceChancellor advised the youth to hold the political leaders accountable for their promises to the people, even as he pointed out that the time has come for youth to be empowered and encouraged to take the leadership role for sustainable development.

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abia varsity student wins photo contest

400-Level Medical undergraduate of the Abia State University (ABSU), Chioma Maduagwu, has emerged the overall winner of the maiden edition of the Proudly Adamazi Online Photo Contest. The students, who smiled home with N200,000, beat other 32 contestants to emerged as the winner of the competition. Chioma, who is currently undergoing his Clinical programme at the university’s Teaching Hospital in Aba, was said to have been adjudged the best contes-

tantby a five-member panel of judges with her picture displaying traditional costume, matching accessories and good dancing gaits. According to the Director-General of Arondizuogu Heritage Foundation, the organisers of the contest, Mr. Uche Ohia, the initiative which trended for several weeks on Facebook and other social media, was aimed at promoting Igbo cultural heritage from an Arondizuogu perspective. Other contestants include Chioma Nwokeji, who

emerged as the first runner up; while two other contestants, Princess Charity Kanu and Faith Chinwe Ijita tied as the second runner up; and Adaeze Felix Nkaru, who placed third in the competition. Ohia said the formal presentation of prizes and certificates of participation to the contestants is scheduled to take place during the 2015 Ikeji Festival, stressing that the event would feature unveiling of Heritage Magazine, a bi-annual magazine of culture and tourism, among other activities.

Members of the group with children of the home during the visit.

When students showed love to orphans Sarat Temitayo Alabidun UDS

hen most people think of Valentine Day, especially the younger generation, what first comes to mind is romance and love between people of the opposite sex. However, for members of the British Council Active Citizens of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDS), it is a deviation from such thinking. They, therefore, set aside this year’s Valentine Day, which is usually celebrated on February 14 every year, to visit the Ministry of Social Welfare, Sports and Culture, Sokoto, where they showered the orphans with gifts and love. It was a mini-festival of some sorts as the children throughout the visit were not only radiating joy, but also beaming with smiles. During the visit members of the group took time off to interact with the kids, asking them their dreams and aspirations in life and if they would love to be visited frequently. Aliyu Umar, a 13-year-old

inmate of the Orphanage Home, said his dream is to be a Medical Doctor in future so that he would be able to help orphans like him. Aliyu, who is a Primary Five pupil of Alheri School, Sokoto expressed delight over the visit by the group, saying they would be glad if members of the British Council Active Citizens could visit the home frequently to interact with the children. Another inmate of the Home, who is simply identified as Hassan said he was very happy to see the group coming to visit them. Clutching a sachet of lollipop he held tightly on his hand, he added that he would like them to come with nice gifts during their next visit. Members of the group who were present during the visit expressed happiness in impacting meaningfully and positively on other people’s lives and to put smiles on the faces of the children and the less-privileged in the society. “We came up with this idea to show love to the motherless children on a day like this since we realise that love should not necessarily be romance,” Samuel Afanda, a 400-Level Sociology under-

graduate and member of the group said. Meanwhile, members of the group also saw the visit as an avenue to educate, enlighten and warn the youth against immoral activities, and instead impact the society positively. Another member of the group, Abdulhafiz Adebayo, a 400-Level Computer Science student said of the visit: “It is sad that nowadays some youth destroy their destiny and future by engaging in immoral acts through Valentine celebration. However, through this outreach the youth were occupied and we are able to reflect on the evil effects of pre-marital sex as some of these children are most likely products of such acts and they are abandoned.” It was also an emotional moment for some of the members of the group as they broke down in tears on seeing a one-month-old baby that was said to have been recently brought to the orphanage. “It is saddening that this child has to begin his life in this manner”, Enitan Adekunle, a 300-Level student from the Department of Modern and European Languages said.

EDUPEACE

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

Leadership is action

he third letter of the word leadership, for our purpose, signifies action. There is no doubt that leadership is all about action. It is the core responsibility of a leader to be active, not dormant or passive. As an actual or potential leader, if you are not active, probably sleeping, playing, chatting and drinking your days away, you are just deceiving yourself, you are not a leader and you won’t truly be! A person like former President Olusegun Obasanjo divides public opinion but you cannot take action away from him. Millions of people admire him for being active and that is a good quality of leadership. Obasanjo is mentally and physically restless. By his own admission, he is perpetually struggling to achieve one thing or another. Leadership is struggle; leadership is action. However, there is no doubt that sound action is based on good theory. You cannot perform without a good theoretical background informed by education or academic excellence. This is why it is said that theory without practice is lame and practice without theory is blind. Educational excellence provides a foundation upon which good action can be erected. Yet, knowledge is not an end itself; it is a means to an end. According to Jim Rohn, “Don’t let your learning lead to knowledge; let your learning lead to action”. In Nigeria, the problem is that there is much knowledge with little or no action. We have the “most knowledgeable” people around with truck-loads of degrees and diplomas. But what is the endresult? We are the laughing stock of the world because we know but we don’t act purposively and positively. The problem with many of us is that we often substitute words for action. People waste a lot of precious time in talks and meetings. Discussions and deliberations are passionately made but at the end of the day, they are pure wind without follow-up actions. Talk is cheap and as the Yoruba say, “words do not fill a basket”. Napoleon Hill wrote that happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing. If leadership function can be bifurcated, it will involve planning and action. It is said that to fail to plan is to plan to fail. If a student wants to graduate with a good grade, the first requirement is planning. This will involve sequential and deliberate process of having a time table, commitment to attending lectures and tutorials as well as determination to avoid distractors:

The problem with many of us is that we often substitute words for action false friends and many social engagements. Then, the time table is followed judiciously and the determination and commitment are followed through in practical dimensions. Hisham Altalib said something memorable that he called the pentagon of success. He suggested rightly that there is always a problem or a series of problems for a leader to solve. Solving the problem often is a function of a five-stage process. “The first four stages are theoretical and help us reach the right decisions, but until we implement them we have not moved ahead,” he wrote. The pentagon of success begins with 1) feel the problem, then 2) diagnose it 3) prescribe the solution 4) plan implementation and ends with 5) follow up/follow through. The last stage is the action stage and if it is missing, the whole essence is ultimately a waste of time. One of the most memorable quotes I got from the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, an action man par excellence, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, OFR, is that “hard work doesn’t kill”. Rather, it is indulgence and complacence that kill. So, I have grown to love more action than speech though I know that good speech stimulates action. There are three types of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder how things happen. Action men are leaders who make things happen while others only watch while the thoughtful ones just wonder. In choosing leaders whether within the micro level of the university campus or the macro level of the larger society, activeness is a quality that should be looked for in leaders. It is amusing to see some of our so-called honourable legislators warming the bench of the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly doing nothing. They see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. If you are a president, act presidential; if you are a Governor, act as one, not as a stooge of someone else! If you cannot be your own man, you have no business in the Government House and you are a disgrace to leadership. True leaders act; pseudo-leaders complain.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Property

Aviation

Why Lagos-Badagry Road project is delayed, by Hamzat

Arik continues investment in Africa’s air transport

Business EFCC, SSS probe What's news

$5bn Mambilla hydro project suffers setback

The 3,050 megawatts (mw) Mambilla Hydropower Plant in Taraba State, which is the largest hydropower dam in the continent, has suffered fresh challenges.

p.38

Report ranks Nigeria top loser in oil price rout Nigeria has been ranked as the number one loser in the oil price rout rocking the global crude market.

p.38

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

RE-INVEST

Proceeds from the privatisation of the NIPP projects will be re-invested into power

Adeola Yusuf

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security Services (SSS) are conducting final reassessment of bidders for the N512 billion ($3.2 billion) (N512 billion) power plants under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) slated for privatisation, New Telegraph has learnt. A source at the Presidency told our correspondent that the reassessment is part of measures to guarantee transparency in the exercise. Checks by this newspaper revealed that the EFCC and SSS had earlier conducted assessment of all bidders for the projects, but the Presidency source said that the on-going reassessment is to revalidate the books of the bidders. “Yes, this (assessment) was done in 2013/2014, but what is being done now is to revalidate the books of those who emerged. It is a normal financial security routine, which this government is doing to boost accountability and transparency for the privatisation process,” the source said. “I am aware that as this is on-going, the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) and the Investments and Securities Tribunal are having updates on this, which is the second phase of power sector’s privatisation,” he added. Just last Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan, while commissioning the N750 Mega Watt (MW) Olorunsogo II power plant, the second biggest of the 10 NIPP projects, disclosed that the on-going privatisation

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

N512bn NIPP bidders

of the plants had reached an advanced stage “The proceeds from the privatisation of the NIPP projects will be re-invested into the power,” President Jonathan

said, adding that his government had already spent over N1.213 trillion ($8.2 billion) on transmission networks “to ensure easy evacuation of power to be generated from various

power plants.” Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had also said that government was exCONTINUED ON PAGE 38

L-R: Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc. Mohammed Balarabe, Managing Partner, Brandzone Consulting LLC & Brand Consultant to Fidelity Bank Plc. Chizor Malize; Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo and Executive Director, South, Fidelity Bank Plc. Aku Odinkemelu, at the Fidelity Bank Brand Innovation Workshop recently in Lagos.

Foreign airlines seek cargo apron expansion Expert wants aviation fuel price slashed

Wole Shadare

resident of Association of Foreign airlines Representatives in Nigeria (AFRAN), Kingsley Nwokoma, has called on the Federal Government to commence the expansion of the cargo apron of the Murtala Mohammed Inter-

national Airport, Lagos. He explained that the enlargement of the apron would help to decongest and allow the landing of more wide- body aircraft. The expert also decried government’s inability to bring

down the price of aviation fuel despite the fallen oil prices in the international market. Nwokoma, who spoke in Lagos, at the weekend, frowned at the way the cargo apron was CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel as at Feb. 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N219 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N316 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N247

l Foreign Reserves – $31.36bn as at 19/02/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Feb. 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N197 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N300 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N256

Business | News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

$5bn Mambilla hydro project suffers setback UNREST

Insurgency draws back works on 3,050 MW Africa’s largest hydropower dam Stories by Adeola Yusuf

he 3,050 megawatts (mw) Mambilla Hydropower Plant in Taraba State, which is the largest hydropower dam in the continent, has suffered fresh challenges. The project consultant valued the cost at $3.2 billion (about N653.7 billion) in 2011, but it has encountered various hurdles since conception some 30 years ago. The new cost of the project, according to the Ministry of Power, is about $5 billion (about N1.021 trillion). The recent challenges, which backpedalled Federal Government’s efforts on the project stemmed from the inability of the ministries responsible for overseeing the project to reconcile their financial plans. Energynews reported that the project’s planned kick-off may also have been thrown into quandary in the wake of the increase in terrorism activities by Boko Haram

in the northeastern part of the country. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had to put off her scheduled travel to China last year to sign the billiondollar agreement with the Chinese builders, due to the economic downturn brought about by declining global oil prices. In light of the recent deadlock for the project’s signing last October, officials hinted that the newly contracted company, China Gezhouba Group Company Limited – that built the 22,500mw Three Gorges Dam (world’s largest dam) in China – will work with the financier, the China EXIM Bank, to arrange the finance. The inability to harmonise financial plans by the power ministry and its finance counterpart last year was the major setback that affected the project. Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan gave marching orders to the power ministry to ensure the flag off of the project before the end of 2014. However, reports show that part of the delay in the take-off was because Okonjo-Iweala was not originally in the picture of the project, a situation which had created logistical jam and resulted in

Foreign airlines seek cargo apron expansion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

abandoned by the contractor handling its expansion without prosecution. “We should have government that will make people work; you can’t just collect money and disappear, especially for a facility that will benefit the whole country. It’s something that government must look into,” he stressed. He explained that it was becoming worrisome and difficult for wide-bodied planes to come to the airport as a result of the inability of government to construct a bigger apron there. Nwokoma urged government to address the situation to avoid embarrassment from the international community, adding that all eyes were focused on Nigeria. “We have an airline that brings in goods and is made to park at the international airport. The apron is so small and we have had issues and incidents involving planes. The Cargo apron is an

eye sore. That apron has been there since the airport was built, we have been crying, calling for its expansion because safety is key here,” he lamented. On the need for sanity at the NAHCO shed, the expert called for the introduction of access control of people into the cargo area, especially with the security challenges that the country was passing through. The AFRAN president stressed the need for the installation of close circuit televisions within and around the airport to monitor every going activities in the area. “If we are going to achieve anything positive, manpower and equipment has to be at its peak. The airport must be illuminated,” he added. In decrying government’s inability of to bring down the price of aviation fuel, Nwokoma noted that prices have fallen compared with the United States dollar, adding that in Nigeria, aviation fuel has remained the same.

the halted last minute moves to flag off the electricity project in the North East last October. In 2006, the Chinese firms, CGC/CGGC, won the Lot 1 tender for about $1.4 billion while the contract was signed by May

2007 and later cancelled. This is a significant $1.8 billion (about N367.7 billion) difference of an upward review from the initial transaction plan. Minister of State, Power, Mohammed Wakil, gave the October

timeline at a political rally in Gombe State in September. He said: “The president has broken the jinx of the Mambilla hydro dam, which is worth about $7 billion. The dam is to generate over

3,000mw and is about the biggest on the continent. “This project has been on the drawing board since 1970. This president has given marching orders for the signing of the Mambilla hydro dam by this (last) October.”

L-R: Chairman, SmartCity Resorts Plc, Sir Demola Aladekomo; Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria-German Business Association (NGBA), Mrs. Jennifer Anoyika and Chief Executive Officer, NGBA/delegate, German Delegation of Industry and Commerce (AHK Nigeria), Mr. Andre Ronne, during a business meeting in Lagos.

WINNERS

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait are winners in the on-going price rout.

igeria has been ranked as the number one loser in the oil price rout rocking the global crude market. In the ranking, the report placed Nigeria, Venuzuela and Iran as the top losers since third quarter of 2014 when the crude price began to plummet. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of its budget. Describing Nigeria, which exports over two million barrel of crude per day as weaker Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member, the Bloomberg’s report stated that the country need higher prices but cannot afford to cut its crude production.

Report ranks Nigeria top loser in oil price rout The Excess Crude Account (ECA) created to absorb the price shock has been depleted while naira devaluation continues to sink economic recovery “The losers are Nigeria, Venezuela and Iran,” the report entitled “Biggest winners and losers of the oil price crash,” revealed, adding that the “OPEC’s weaker members need higher prices but can’t afford to cut production.” Other losers are inflation targets and buyout moguls because the cheaper energy “is pushing down prices at a time when central banks want more inflation, to prevent a sharp decline in prices and wages” and “oil losses sank year-over-year profits for David Rubenstein’s Carlyle Group (down 65 per cent; Leon Black’s Apollo (79 per cent drop) and Henry Kravis’s KKR (down 94 per cent). The private equity gang had invested heavily in the indus-

try during the boom years.” The Greenland and Deepwater Drilling are also a loser in the price rout as dreams of a drilling boom - and economic independence - have vanished as prices collapsed while “projects conditioned on higher prices don’t make sense in the new oil era, according to Goldman Sachs.” The report, however, named Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait as winners in the on-going price rout. “These wealthy producers are determined to protect their market share. They can handle lower prices,” the report said. Other winners in the price crash are, according to the report, include the United States Dollar. This, according to the report, is because “the US is sending fewer dollars overseas to pay for its oil imports, helping to strengthen the greenback.

EFCC, SSS probe N512bn NIPP bidders CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

pecting to earn N512 billion from the sale of the 10 power plants constructed under the NIPP. She gave an assurance of government’s determination to ensure transparency and accountability in the process. “The power sector has just

completed the first phase of its privatisation process with the bulk of the funding for the purchases coming from the banks. Government earned about $2.5 billion from a privatisation that many thought would never happen. “A second phase of power privatisation involving the

NIPP assets is estimated to bring about $3.2 billion into government coffers,” the minister said. She noted that the establishment of the IST in 2003 had been instrumental to infusing the much-needed confidence in the nation’s securities market.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Property&Environment debts FG owes Lagos N51 billion spent on federal roads Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

agos State government has explained reasons for the slow pace of construction works on the Lagos-Badagry expansion road. Apart from funding, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said that the inability to relocate the PHCN pylons and NNPC pipelines as scheduled on the road’s Right of Way (RoW) contributed to the delay. According to Hamzat, LagosBadagry expressway construction has been divided into segments and its Lot 1, covering Eric Moore to Mazamaza, has been technically completed, while lot 2, which is sub-divided into three segment) has achieved 80 per cent completion. He added that the Lot 3 and Lot 4 have only achieved 40 per cent and 10 per cent completion respectively, reassuring of government’s commitment to deliver the road since government is continue. Reacting to claims by the Minister of State for Works, Mr. Adedayo Adeyeye, that ‘Federal roads are the major roads in Lagos state’, Hamzat described the claims by the former as “a clear misrepresentation of facts.” He stated that it was wrong to claim that 11 per cent of Lagos’ 5500 kilometres of road is the essence of the state’s road portfolio. The commissioner noted that Lagos has 89 per cent of roads that are the concern of

Why Lagos-Badagry Road project is delayed, by Hamzat

Lagos-Badagry Expressway road project

the state and local governments. The commissioner also explained that many federal roads, including Ikorodu road, have been ceded to the state government, noting that the absence and neglect of these roads by the federal authority prompted the state to intervene in the interest of the people. Hamzat alleged that the state

government, like many other states, was owed N51billion (money spent on rehabilitation of federal roads in the state) by the Federal Government. He said: “Lagos State government has continued to undertake projects on federal roads. Such include the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Eko Bridge (where its 34 expansion joints

was repaired, Mile 12/Ikorodu road. No state has done the number of roads Lagos State has done. One can dispute various things but cannot deny the obvious. Road development is everywhere.” According to the commissioner, the state government had spent close to N500 million on Eko Bridge’s rehabilita-

Ogun to residents: Beware of hijackers

ollowing the incessant increase in fake staff of Ogun State Homeowners’ Charter staff, the State government has warned residents to be cautious of unscrupulous elements that are trying to hijack the initiative to make money at the detriment of the masses. Special Adviser/Director General Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo, gave this warning in Abeokuta, the state capital. Oshinowo said that the programme was an initiative of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration to reduce the stress and cumbersome being experienced in getting Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in the state at a discounted rate of 78 per cent. He warned that anyone caught in such act should be handover to the police for proper prosecution. “The scheme was to minimise disputes on the ownership of properties, while property

Amosun

related frauds and problems of land speculators are reduced to the barest minimum. The Homeowners’ Charter programme will also enhance the value of the property market in the state,” Oshinowo said. He disclosed that the programme which was launched in December 2013 by the state

government has recorded giant strides in rolling out Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O) to about 7000 applicants, adding that government would not condone any irregularities or fraudsters who may wish to hijack the scheme. “Our government would not fold its arms to be allowing and seeing unscrupulous elements of whatsoever to sabotage or bastardise our programme. It has come to fore that some people now disguises to be “Homeowners’ Charter” programme staff and extorting money from residents, whoever is apprehend in this act would be dealt with accordingly,” Oshinowo warned. He urged residents to be very cautious and monitor the activities of the staff of Homeowners’ Charter, as they would be in their uniform of Branded Sheet, Toyota Hilux Van and a bulk SMS would be sent to the owners’ property before the arrival of the team for inspection.

tion, adding that the contract was awarded to Messrs Julius Berger Plc. Hamzat also disclosed also that Apapa Bridge is currently being evaluated for rehabilitation, adding that the delay is to allow for the completion of Eko Bridge, so as not to shut down the state due to the importance of the two bridges.

Expert lists financial options for infrastructure devt

or Nigeria to bridge its infrastructure gap in the next 15 years, government must increase funding to 18 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to the sector, Managing Director of Atlantic Exhibitions Nigeria Limited (AENL), Mr. Ayodeji Olugbade, has said. According to him, the nation would need to spend up to 24 per cent of the GDP on infrastructure provision to meet up in 10 years. Going by the assumptions, he stated that there was need for Nigeria to up its ante by according priority to infrastructure development. In his paper delivered at a forum on: “Build Business Bridges While Building Nigeria”, Olugbade disclosed that the capital required for infra-

structural development in a developing country like Nigeria is huge, expressing fear that government might find it hard to do it alone considering the present economic deregulation. He called for strategic planning and a new paradigm to surmount the situation, adding that government should embrace Public Private Partnership this regards. He said: “PPP is the new attraction in the scheme of things. Such funding has, in the past, been instigated through bilateral or multilateral funding assistance by the World Bank, European Union, Japanese fund for International Development (JICA), and Chinese bilateral funding assistance, among others, with the collaboration of the private sector.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arik continues investment in Africa’s air transport EXPANSION No airline in West Africa has connected more routes in the region than the Nigerian flag carrier Stories by Wole Shadare

ith its inaugural flight to Abidjan last week, Arik Air, has continued in the last seven years the trend of investments in Africa’s air transport industry. The Lagos – Abidjan service is Arik Air’s first new route in 2015 and marks the airlines seventh destination in West Africa. Abidjan is the economic centre and former official capital of Cote d’Ivoire and the third largest French speaking city in the world, after Paris and Kinshasa. The city is considered a cultural hub of West Africa and is characterised by a high level of industrialisation and urbanisation. Investments have been triggered by the need to replace antique facilities that no longer ef-

fectively respond to present-day design and ergonomics, technology and user demands as well as safety and security. Investments also respond to the need to create non-existent aviation infrastructure. According to statistics and with exception to ASKY, no airline in West Africa has connected more routes in the region than the Nigerian flag carrier. Arik Air’s Vice-President, Captain Ado Sanusi, said that his firm was investing in opening up new regional routes because aviation enjoys a natural advantage as a means of connecting cities, where most of Africa suffers from poor or non-existent ground transport infrastructure. According to him, “there are great opportunities and we are eyeing the region keenly.” He noted that the economic and business climate in Africa has not gone unnoticed as major overseas airlines position themselves for a greater slice of the continent’s market. The demand is mainly driven by tourism, corporate and business travel as well as cargo – especially from Africa to other

markets. He said: “As the dominant commercial airline in West Africa, Arik Air is always seeking to strengthen its services in the region to give guests comfort and value for money. We will not shy away from providing greater choice and a convenient, accessible network to our valued customers in the West Coast of Africa.” The new service which began on February 16, 2015, will see the carrier operate four-times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The route will be operated using Arik Air’s Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft configured with 10 Business Class and 64 Economy Class seats. Arik Air’s Managing Director, Chris Ndulue elaborated on the new service: “Abidjan is a preferred destination for Nigerian businessmen and women. Arik Air’s foray into this commercial city will make life a lot easier for our guests who have been yearning for flight connection between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. This service will further underline Arik Air’s position as West Africa’s premier airline.”

AIR RAGE

WITH

Aviation Wole Shadare

New airport terminals must not be abandoned A

s at two years ago, Nigerian airports were in decrepit state. This forced the Federal Government to embark their remodeling. Government then expressed its commitment to work on all the airports in the country -some of which were completed while many others were not finished up till this moment. But that is not the crux of this writeup. While some lauded effort to give some of the terminals facelift, others saw it as a white elephant project, faulting the over N40 billion reportedly spent without value for money. Worried by the poor facilitation of travellers, government deemed it necessary to build new terminals at four airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu. Faced with obvious financial constraints, government approached the Chinese government for loans. Most of the airports had construction delays over a year on average.

These new terminals under the proposed Aerotropolis project, according to a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, hold tremendous promise of good return on investment for any investor. Government, however, called on the Chinese investors to take advantage of the huge opportunities, which the initiative presents, to boost the expansion of their business interest on the African continent. Nigeria, with a population of over 167 million people and a projected passenger growth of 50 million by 2026, is a huge and untapped market waiting to be harnessed by investors with an eye for guaranteed returns on investment. The $500 million loan agreement to finance the construction of four airport terminals was one that excited people, but many are not satisfied with the slow pace of work on site; a situation that has raised fears of abandonment.

Why MMA2 is best terminal in Nigeria — Penninck

Premium passenger inside Arik’s A340 aircraft

Expert cautions Chidoka on liberalisation, others

inister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has been cautioned on the implementation of the liberalisation and single sky policy for African carriers. In an interview with our correspondent in Lagos, Aviation expert, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said that Nigeria was not ready for the implementation of the policy. He

stressed that implementation by African governments had been cloudy over the years. Ohunayo maintained that for Nigeria to implement the policy, it required vibrant airlines that would be able to collaborate with other carriers, arguing that those airlines that are benefiting from the single sky policy are not solely owned by governments or

individuals even though they are protected by their respective governments. He insisted that if the policy is implemented by Nigerian government, foreign carriers, especially Ethiopian Airlines, which had been pushing for the implementation of the policy in the continent, would be the major beneficiary of the programme at the expense of the country.

wo months after the second terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2) was voted as the best in Nigeria, the operators have offered to show other terminal operators how to fly high in the industry by sharing with them their expertise. Speaking in Lagos at a dinner to appreciate its customers and stakeholders, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mr. Christopher Penninck, said MMA2 would soon commission facilities that will enable self-check-in by passengers. “Bi-Courtney is to organise an event around the development to encourage other airports to install a similar system in their terminals,” he said. Penninck also disclosed that MMA2, which is Nigeria’s first and only privately run terminal, “is in the process of completing the implementation of the latest version of the Common User Passenger Processing System (CUPPS)”.

He said that the IATAcompliant system “makes it easier and more efficient to process passengers and increases the dwelling time in the terminal.” The CEO disclosed that BASL has also installed new automatic gates, which, when operational, will ensure that only passengers with valid boarding pass can enter the secure zones. On what it takes to be a leader in the Aviation industry, Penninck told the audience at The Wheatbaker, in Ikoyi, Lagos, that in the last few months, the company had made massive investment in the development of infrastructure in the terminal, including software and hardware upgrades of its passenger processing equipment and the installation of 14 additional check-in counters. He said that the company would always look for opportunities to invest in new equipment, adding: “As promised last year, we increased the capacity of the check-in area.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Oil rout: Nigeria mulls emergency OPEC meeting MORE MONEY

Arab bloc, are “very uncomfortable,” she said. The comments are the first public sign of the deepening unease about the oil crisis since Venezuela and Iran last month pushed for the cartel to cut output in

Nigeria needs more money for its oil Stories by Ayodele Aminu

a bid to reverse the more than 50-percent drop in prices since June last year. In November, the 12-member group chose to hold production at 30 million barrels a day. The next official meeting is sched-

uled for June. Global benchmark Brent oil prices briefly rose by more than $1 a barrel on the comments, reversing earlier losses, but quickly sank again as dealers doubted whether

itch Ratings has affirmed the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of 10 Nigerian banks. The lenders, which the foremost rating agency confirmed as ‘stable’ are Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, United Bank for Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB). Fitch has also affirmed the National Ratings of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc . It said the ratings are all in the ‘B’ range, indicating highly speculative fundamental credit quality, and factor in Fitch’s expectation of increasingly challenging economic conditions and market volatility in Nigeria. “The operating environment is affected by persis-

tently low oil prices, continuing pressure on the domestic currency naira, likely further monetary policy and regulatory actions and increased political uncertainty. “At the same time, the ratings are underpinned by continued strong underlying economic growth in Nigeria, particularly in non-oil sectors. Fitch expects non-oil GDP growth of 5.5% in 2015 (2014: 7.5%), driven by continued economic reforms and limited impact from public sector austerity,” Fitch said. It noted that the IDRs of FBN, UBA, Diamond, Fidelity, Union and FCMB are support-driven, while Zenith’s, FBNH’s, GTB’s and Access’ IDRs are driven by their standalone strength as measured by their Viability Ratings (VRs). In assessing the probability of sovereign support, Fitch said it considers the authorities’ willingness to support the Nigerian banks

Economic Indicators As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

its oil, but if the Saudis, who control one third of OPEC production, do not go along, what can it do?” said James L. Williams, energy economist at WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas.

Fitch affirms 10 Nigerian banks ‘stable’ outlook

inister of Pe t ro l e u m , Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday said Nigeria will call an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) if crude oil prices slip any further. The Minister said this in an interview with the Financial Times of London. “We’re already talking with member countries,” said Diezani Alison-Madueke in the interview published on yesterday. As OPEC president, she is responsible for liaising with member countries and the producer group’s secretary-general in the event of an emergency meeting. If the price “slips any further it is highly likely that I will have to call an extraordinary meeting of OPEC in the next six weeks or so”, she said. Almost all OPEC countries, except perhaps the

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

there was any scope for rapid action given core Gulf OPEC members led by Saudi Arabia have given no sign they are ready to curb production. Nigeria “obviously needs more money for

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Tony Chukwunyem

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

ability, asset quality and capital ratios. These pressures are to an extent captured in Fitch’s ratings, and partly explain the Stable Outlooks. Nevertheless, should the operating environment deteriorate faster than expected, particularly should it significantly impact the banks’ capital and asset quality, VR downgrades cannot be ruled out. Said the report: “Fitch forecasts sector non-performing loans (NPLs) to rise above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) informal cap of 5%, but below 10% by end-2015. This reflects high credit concentrations as well as emerging risks, particularly in the oil and gas, and power sectors. “These factors, together with a shift to Basel II and CBN’s revised regulatory capital computation rules, are likely to add more pressure on capital than previously expected. Tier 1 capital ratios could fall below 15% for many banks, which is low in the Nigerian context. Oil & gas exposures, particularly upstream segment lending, will be sensitive to low oil prices, in particular when loans are extended to indigenous companies rather than large international operators. “ If low oil prices persist in 2015, Fitch expects some banks will have to restructure part of these portfolios by extending tenors to better match new cash flow projections. Fitch expects liquidity to remain tight in 2015, amplified by higher central bank reserve requirements. “New limits on foreign currency borrowing and net open positions are likely to reduce US dollar debt issuance. Despite increasing competition for low-cost and stable deposits, customer deposit growth should remain healthy and help loans-to-deposit ratios remain below the regulatory limit of 80%.”

Naira loses N2 at interbank market

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

to be high as demonstrated in the past, but its ability to do so may be constrained by Nigeria’s ‘BB-’ sovereign rating. Said the rating agency: “Fitch assigns Support Rating Floors (SRFs) based on each bank’s systemic importance. The most systemically important banks in Fitch’s view are FBN, Zenith and UBA, which are assigned SRFs of B+’. The other banks have SRFs of ‘B’. FBNH is the holding company of FBN. “It’s SR of ‘5’ and SRF of ‘No Floor’ reflect Fitch’s view that while the Nigerian authorities’ propensity to support local banks is high, the same level of support would not apply to holding companies.” Fitch however, noted that the ratings and outlooks are sensitive to a prolonged and severe recession that would affect the ability or willingness of the Nigerian authorities to provide support. “However, a one-notch downgrade of the sovereign would not necessarily lead to a downgrade of the SRFs,” it explained. Zenith’s and Access’ IDRs would only be downgraded if both their VRs and their SRFs are simultaneously downgraded (both banks VRs and SRFs are currently at the same level) and revised lower, it added. The IDRs of GTB and FBNH on the other hand, are driven by their VRs and are therefore not sensitive to changes in their SRFs. “The highly challenging and volatile operating environment in Nigeria constrain the VRs and the other key rating factors, particularly the banks’ financial profiles. The recent oil price shock and subsequent currency pressure has weakened the Nigerian operating environment and is likely to result in lower GDP growth in 2015. “In turn, the banks are likely to report weaker profit-

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he naira yesterday lost N2.00 against the United States dollar at the interbank foreign exchange market, opening the week weaker against the greenback. The local currency closed at N199 to the dollar compared with N197/$ it closed last Friday. The naira has oscillated between N197 and N199 to the dollar since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), citing the need to check the

widening margin between the value of the naira at the official market and the interbank, closed the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) and Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) foreign exchange window last Wednesday. However, the naira is faring much worse at the Bureau De Change (BDCs) segment of the forex market. Last Friday it depreciated by N5 to the dollar as it traded N215. It also depreciated by N7 at the black market, selling at N220 to the dollar.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

23-Feb-15

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 34.00 600.00 459.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 223.50

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.16 1.48 2.17 2.42 2.52 3.26 4.35 4.66 4.97 6.93 9.05 13.76 14.24 14.74 15.41 19.40

14.18 16.11 16.48 16.48 16.49 16.34 16.16 16.10 16.09 16.04 15.89 15.52 15.49 15.46 15.75 16.24

13.23 15.99 16.39 16.40 16.40 16.20 16.06 15.99 16.00 15.97 15.82 15.46 15.43 15.38 15.68 16.17

98.36 96.10 97.50 87.14 85.78 86.11 99.45 70.90 98.16 101.40 92.00 97.03 82.89 59.95 67.00 76.00

98.51 96.25 97.65 87.29 85.93 86.41 99.75 71.20 98.46 101.70 92.30 97.33 83.19 60.25 67.30 76.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,932.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,386.64

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.25 1.11 1.79 2.15 2.36

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

17.67 18.05 18.33 17.46 17.48

95.76 99.27 96.49 95.97 92.53

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.01

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.52

4.44

19.96

96.49

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.36

3.23

18.46

98.19

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.87

4.46

20.09

95.34

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.88

3.48

19.11

97.18

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.15

1.00

17.46

87.03

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.42

1.00

17.08

96.00

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.85

1.79

18.21

90.89

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

18.25

93.35

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.04

1.00

17.45

94.52

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.22

1.00

17.47

94.86

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.23

4.78

21.25

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.42

1.00

17.48

96.34

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.66 4.75 2.72

1.00 1.00 2.74

17.46 17.10 19.19

96.14 91.70 91.26

88.15

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.27

1.00

17.34

93.96

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.76

1.00

17.04

87.27

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.85

1.94

17.97

89.44

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.51

1.44

17.73

92.18

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.54

1.95

18.23

92.20

95.44

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 420.84

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.48

4.88

20.36

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.54

1.00

16.52

97.71

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.62

2.63

18.18

97.66

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.60

1.00

17.22

94.29

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.67

1.34

17.60

95.27

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.60

1.00

17.47

90.93

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.62

1.88

18.11

100.55

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.62

3.48

19.71

95.26

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.79

5.20

21.53

95.33

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.79

5.06

21.39

92.83

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.58

1.00

17.28

91.49 95.67

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.90

2.29

18.68

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.23

6.11

22.58

92.74

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.85

2.16

18.58

94.52

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.72

2.76

18.80

87.79

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.60

1.00

16.69

77.55

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.60

1.00

16.69

83.77

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

132.70

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

122.59

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.97

1.00

17.40

83.84

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

17.10

81.72

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 20.64

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.46

7.21

96.65

97.78

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.74

6.33

95.17

96.36

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.60

7.41

92.48

93.59

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,421.49

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

131.55

45.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.95

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.36

91.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

13.75

13.04

82.63

84.25

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

11.22

10.33

84.51

86.94

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.55

40.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

10.82

85.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

16.10

15.22

78.00

80.29

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

14.02

78.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

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

28.08 14.60 13.87

28.08 14.21 13.87

40.25 78.50 75.00

40.25 79.88 75.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.93

10.15

89.38

92.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,568.11

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15

Bid Discount (%) 15.33 13.81 13.13 12.91 14.25 14.34 14.84 15.03

Offer Discount (%) 15.08 13.56 12.88 12.66 14.00 14.09 14.59 14.78

Bid Yield (%) 15.39 13.90 13.25 13.05 14.46 14.60 15.16 15.40

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 19.5417 15.2535 16.3080 17.1055

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

17.50

O/N Tenor Call 1M

18.75

REPO

Rate (%) 20.00 21.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

200.50 201.31 201.63 202.37 203.73 205.09

200.60 201.43 201.78 202.86 204.80 206.70

***LCRM

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.01

19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.15 2.36

1.00 1.00

17.46 17.48

95.97 92.53

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.52

4.44

19.96

96.49

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.36

3.23

18.46

98.19

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.87

4.46

20.09

95.34

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.88

3.48

19.11

97.18

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.15

1.00

17.46

87.03

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY,LAGOS FEBRUARY 24, 2015 ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

Business | Financial Market News

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.42

1.00

17.08

96.00

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

90.89

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.85

1.79

18.21

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

18.25

93.35

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.04

1.00

17.45

94.52

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.22

1.00

17.47

94.86

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.23

4.78

21.25

88.15

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.42

1.00

17.48

96.34

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.66 4.75 2.72

1.00 1.00 2.74

17.46 17.10 19.19

96.14 91.70 91.26

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.97

1.00

17.40

83.84

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

17.10

81.72

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14-Aug-21

10.93

10.15

89.38

92.75

FBN Capital wins Stocks advance on investors’ optimism ‘Africa deal of the year’ CONFIDENCE

10-Oct-13

27-Nov-13 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 Bank, UBA,13.50 Vitol and Stock market gains 31-Dec-13 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Enterprise Bank pro31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 N136bn vided the funds. Other 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 BN Capital Limited financial parties to the TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE hasMARKET been CAPITALISATION awarded transaction include TOTAL the ‘Africa Oil and FBN Trustees as Secu- Chris Ugwu and Corporate Bonds Gas deal of the year rity Agent; First Bank 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 Deborah Olayode17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto *UPDC of Nigeria 12.00 asFLOURMILLS Hedge9-DEC-2015 award’ for the Oando EnBBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS Provider; and FCMB ergy Resources US$350 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 million Conoco Phillips also as rading activiA+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO Capital Markets 14.25 FSDH Lead 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto FSDH assets acquisition deal. Joint Mandated ties on the25-Oct-13 floor A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA The award according Arranger. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 of the Nigerian 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING to aNilstatement, was conSpeakingMPR+7.00 on DANAthe Stock Exchange 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 *DANA award, the Managing (NSE) yesterday began ferred at the IJGlobal MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER the week on a positive Europe & Africa Capital MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR Awards *TOWER Director of FBN UBA II 22-SEP-2018 trajectory as the 22-Sep-11 A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA bulls 2014, organised by the InMr. Kayode14.00 Akinkug15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR grip frastructure Journal*LA &CASERA be said, “We are very maintained their18-Oct-13 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS Project Finance Magabarpleased to have won this on equities, causing 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA gain hunters to jostle for zine at the Natural Histoaward, and remain in15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 NAHCO of blue chip30-Sep-14 comry A/GCR Museum in London. by the our 182Dtrust T.bills+1.20 STANBICshares IA 30-SEP-2024 STANBIC spired IBTC 13.25in STANBIC 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR Capital Limited 30-Sep-14 STANBIC clients IBTC panies. FBN place us IBto OUTSTANDING Analysts said the re(a TOTAL subsidiary of VALUE FBN help them achieve sucTOTAL MARKET Holdings Plc) CAPITALISATION acted as cess. We will continue to surgent of the bulls to Joint Mandated Lead strive to raise the bar on sustain market rally for Supranational Bond Arranger and financial industry standards with 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11-Feb-13 modeling bank for the regards to deal-making 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 Corporate Facility to and structuring.” TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE part-fund purchase of Director and Head of TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Conoco Phillips’ partici- Debt Solutions at FBN pating interest in OMLs Capital, Mr. Patrick Mg-Description Rating/Agency Issuer Issue Date 60, 61, 62, 63, 131 and 145 benwelu, also expressed Chris Ugwu Eurobonds by FGN Oando Energy Re- his pleasure on winning sources. the award. “We feel hon6.75 JAN 28, 2021 financial analyst BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 07-Oct-11 has called on doThe total consider- oured to be recognised BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 ation for the acquisition for the effort that the mestic investors in BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; of approximately US$1.6 client, every member of the Nigeria’s capital mar6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P billion was financed via the team, as well as every ket to leverage on the curTOTAL OUTSTANDING a combination of VALUE debt party to the transaction rent low prices of stocks MARKET andTOTAL equity, withCAPITALISATION the debt put into making this deal of companies quoted on portion of the acquisi- a reality”, he said. the floor of the Nigerian Corporate Eurobonds tion facility comprisThe IJGlobal Europe Stock Exchange (NSE) for 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 ingB+/Fitch; of aB+/S&P US$450 million & Africa Awards event future gains. 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 is the most prestigious The Managing DirecRBL Facility provided 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 by B/Fitch; bothB/S&P Nigerian and 6.88 MAYtor 09, 2018Crane Securities FIDELITY night BANK PLCof the year in the 09-May-13 offshore banks; andGTBANK a PLC Mr. Mike Eze infrastructure calendar 6.00 NOVLimited, 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P 08-Nov-13 10.25 APRwho 08, 2019stated this in a B/Fitch million CorpoAFREN PLC 08-Apr-12 US$350 asII it is a celebration of chat 6.25 APRwith 22, 2019 New Telegraph, B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P provided ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 rate Facility best-in-class deals in en8.75 Maysaid 21, 2019the market was B/S&P banks. DIAMONDergy BANK PLC 21-May-14 by B/Fitch; Nigerian and infrastructure ripe 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 First Bank of Nigeover the previous year, for investment going by 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 uniting over 6009.25/6M of USD theLIBOR+7.677 ria, Diamond Bank, the current low prices of JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 FCMB, Zenith industries finest.8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 stocks. JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch;Ecobank, B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 23-Jul-14

Chris Ugwu A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

#{r}

about eight days run11.10 ning 14.75 was an indication 13.50 87.50 rethat confidence was 15.00 5.00 turning to the market 14.50 4.55 in spite of upset in the 15.00 4.56 financial sector 460.61 arising from the build-up420.84 to 2015 general elections. The key market per10.00 2.50 formance measures, the 12.00 18.75 NSE All 14.00 Share Index 0.42 and market 13.00 capitalisation, 15.00 14.25 1.37 per cent 5.53 as rose by 13.00 20.00 market sentiment ex18.00 0.64 tended gaining streak 16.00 6.30 following 18.00 investors’ 2.90high optimism. 16.00 0.80 14.00 35.00 AllConsequently, the 2.40 Share15.75 Index gained 409.2 18.00 0.36 basis16.00 points or 1.37 per 4.50 cent to close at 29,793.13 15.25 2.05 as against 29,383.93 11.93 0.10 re13.25at the weekend, 15.44 corded while the market 132.70 capitalisation of equities122.59 appreciated by N136 billion or

1.37 per cent as market 10-Oct-20 3.27 sentiment returned to1.00 27-Nov-20 5.76 1.00 green territory . 31-Dec-20 5.85 1.94 Meanwhile, a turn31-Dec-20 3.51 1.44 over of 3.6 million shares 06-Jan-21 3.54 1.95 worth N3.01 billion in 4,139 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. Banking sub-sector 17-Aug-15 0.48 4.88 of09-Dec-15 the financial services1.00 0.54 sector 06-Jan-16 was the 0.62most ac2.63 tive (measured 29-Sep-16 1.60by turn1.00 25-Oct-16 over volume); 1.67 with 167.81.34 30-Sep-17 2.60 million shares worth1.00 30-Nov-17 1.62 1.88 N1.3 billion exchanged 09-Apr-18 1.62 3.48 by09-Sep-18 investors1.79in 1,5065.20 deals. 09-Sep-18 1.79 5.06 22-Sep-18 3.58 sub-sec1.00 Volume in the 18-Oct-18 tor was largely1.90 driven by2.29 17-Feb-19 2.23 6.11 activities in the shares2.16 01-Apr-19 2.85 of14-Nov-20 Access Bank 5.72 Plc and 2.76 UBA Plc. 30-Sep-24 9.60 1.00 30-Sep-24 Also, other9.60 financial1.00 sub-sector, boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc, followed

with a turnover of 84.04 17.34 shares 93.96 million valued 17.04 million 87.27 in 848 at N479.7 89.44 deals.17.97 17.73 92.18 Access Bank Plc led 18.23 92.20 the gainers’ table with a gain of 8.75 per cent to close at N6.09 per share, while Flour Mills of Ni20.36 95.44 geria 16.52 Plc followed with 97.71 8.01 per close at 18.18 cent to97.66 N34.00 per share. 17.22 94.29 UBA 17.60 5.57 per 95.27cent to Plc added 17.47 90.93 close at N3.60 per share. 18.11 100.55 On19.71 the other hand, 95.26 Beta 21.53 Glass Plc95.33 led the price 21.39 losers’ table, 92.83 dropping 17.28 4.98 per 91.49 cent to 18.68 95.67 close at N27.08 per share, 22.58 92.74 while18.58 Portland Paints 94.52 Plc followed with 18.80 87.79 a loss of 4.96 per cent77.55 to close 16.69 16.69 per share. 83.77 at N3.83 Red Star Express Plc shed 4.87 per share to close at N3.71 per share.

Analyst to investors: Leverage on low prices of shares

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

24.95 20.64

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Coupon (%)

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

their investments. a little quantity and & Yields “Because with thePrices when dividends are delittle amount of funds clared, 28-Jan-21 7.46 7.21 96.65the take 97.78home you will buy large will not be appreciable 12-Jul-18 95.17 quantity of6.74 penny6.33 and then you96.36 cannot stocks or low price think of any appoint12-Jul-23 7.60 7.41 92.48 93.59 stocks, and that en- ment as a result of hance your position as your shareholding. a shareholder. If such “In terms of capicompanies declare div- tal gain, if the price appreciates and you idends, the shareholder 01-Feb-16 131.55 131.55 45.00 45.00 will earn sumptuous decide to sell, 100.63 you will 19-May-16 6.95 6.95 100.63 smile91.50 to the bank with dividend. 25-Jul-17 11.36 11.36 91.50 of 84.25 funds if “The likelihood of13.04 big amount 02-May-18 13.75 82.63 in low being 08-Nov-18adopted 11.22a direc10.33 you invest 84.51 86.94 price 08-Apr-19 41.55 41.55 stocks, 40.50 but for 40.50 the high tor of the company is 22-Apr-19 10.82 10.82 price 85.00 also guaranteed. But stocks, if 85.00 the price 21-May-19 16.10 15.22 appreciates 78.00 with the highly capithe80.29 margin 07-Aug-20 14.02 14.02 78.00 talised stocks, inveswill not be much78.00 and you 09-Dec-20 28.08 28.08 40.25 40.25 tors may use enormous can only recoup79.88 the capi24-Jun-21 14.60 14.21 78.50 amount Eze 23-Jul-21 of funds 13.87 to buy 13.87 tal invested,” 75.00 75.00said.

Eze noted that it was obvious that activities will 6.75 stabilise in 500.00the market after the general 5.13 500.00 elections, adding that this was the perfect op6.38 500.00 portunity for investors 1,500.00 in to stake their funds 1,421.49 the market. “This is the right time 11.50 for investors to 450.00 take part in the equities 7.50 500.00 market, with the350.00 prices 7.25 of shares at their low6.88 300.00 est levels. Brokers 6.00 400.00are 10.25 300.00 the confident that after 6.25 500.00 elections, the market 200.00 would8.75 begin to stabilise and 8.25 investors 300.00 would 6.63 360.00 begin9.25 to record signifi400.00 cant 8.00 appreciation 450.00 on 4,760.00

23-Feb-15

3,568.11

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” Money basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee Market **Treasury financial Bills Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, Maturity performance or fitness a particular purpose any of(%) the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action basis DTM Bidfor Discount (%) Offer of Discount Bid Yield (%) Tenortaken on the Rate (%) of the Information. 10 17 24 FGN Bonds 31 38 45 Rating/Agency 52 59 66 73 80 87 101 108 122 129 NA 143 150 157 164 171 192 283 297 318 332 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 346 360 CAPITALISATION TOTAL MARKET

5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 Issuer 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 NA 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 18-Feb-16

15.33 13.81 13.13 12.91 14.25 14.34 Description 14.84 15.03 4.00 23-APR-2015 14.84 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.90 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.61 9.85 27-JUL-2017 14.24 9.35 31-AUG-2017 15.07 10.70 30-MAY-2018 15.12 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.27 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.06 13.49 15.54 13-FEB-2020 13.82 16.39 27-JAN-2022 15.13 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14.33 15.00 28-NOV-2028 14.37 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.41 8.50 20-NOV-2029 14.18 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.58 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 14.21 14.06 14.25 14.01

15.08 13.56 12.88 12.66 14.00 14.09 Issue Date 14.59 14.78 23-Apr-10 14.59 16-Aug-13 12.65 27-Apr-12 12.36 27-Jul-07 13.99 31-Aug-07 14.82 30-May-08 14.87 29-Jun-12 15.02 23-Oct-09 14.81 13.24 13-Feb-15 13.57 27-Jan-12 14.88 14-Mar-14 14.08 28-Nov-08 14.12 22-May-09 14.16 20-Nov-09 13.93 23-Jul-10 12.33 18-Jul-14 13.96 13.81 14.00 13.76

15.39 13.90 13.25 13.05 14.46 14.60 (%) Coupon 15.16 15.40 4.00 15.25 13.05 13.24 15.10 12.97 9.85 14.73 9.35 15.72 10.70 15.83 16.00 16.09 7.00 15.91 14.25 15.54 14.65 16.39 16.18 14.20 15.31 15.00 15.41 12.49 15.59 8.50 15.93 10.00 14.01 12.1493 16.22 16.12 16.48 16.26

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

(N'bn)

Value

535.00 23-Apr-15 581.39 NITTY 16-Aug-16 476.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 13.3024 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 14.9255 300.00 30-May-18 3M 14.9915 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 15.4566 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 15.6316 12M 16.7951 34.00 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 459.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 200.0000 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 200.1000 223.50 18-Jul-34

4,932.13

Risk Rating/Agency Premium is a combination of credit riskIssuer and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Description

Issue Date

OBB

17.50

O/N

18.75

REPO

Tenor TTM (Yrs) Call 1M0.16 3M 1.48 6M

Rate (%) Bid Yield 20.00 21.00 14.18 22.00 16.11 24.00

Tenor

(%)

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D Offer Yield 1M 2M (%) 3M13.23 6M 15.99 1Y

2.17 16.48 16.39 2.42 16.48 16.40 2.52 16.49 16.40 3.26 16.34 16.20 :Benchmarks 4.35 16.16 16.06 * :Amortising Bond 4.66 16.10 15.99 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.97 16.09 16.00 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 6.93 16.04 15.97 FMBN: Federal Nigeria 9.05Mortgage Bank of 15.89 15.82 IFC: International 13.76 Finance Corporation 15.52 15.46 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.24 15.49 15.43 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 14.74 15.46 15.38 O/N: Overnight 15.75 15.68 UPDC: UAC15.41 Property Development Company 19.40 16.24 Company 16.17 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement NOTE:

Offer ($/N)

200.50 200.60 Price 201.31 201.43 201.63 201.78 202.37 202.86 Bid Price Offer Price 203.73 204.80 205.09 206.70 98.36 98.51 205.77 212.95 96.10 96.25 219.74 225.71

97.50 97.65 87.14 87.29 85.78 85.93 86.11 86.41 NA :Not Applicable 99.75 # :Floating99.45 Rate Bond 70.90 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 71.20 98.16 98.46 ‡ : Bond rating 101.40under review101.70 †: Bond rating 92.00expired 92.30 N/A :Not Available 97.03 97.33 {r} :Issuer in receivership 82.89 83.19 59.95 60.25 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 67.00 UBA: United Bank for Africa 67.30 76.00 76.30

4,386.64

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration #

Rate (%) 19.5417 15.2535 16.3080 17.1055 Date Maturity

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

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

Volume(Bn)

24-May-12 0.00 03-Apr-12 17.25 BOND 09-Dec-11FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.00 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt

Outstanding Vol

Value

24.56 2.70 INDEX 112.22 116.70 66.49

Bucket Weighting

322.68

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

Mod_Duration

0.25 1.11 1.79 2.15 2.36

Implied Yield

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00 Implied

Portfolio Price

17.67 18.05 18.33 17.46 17.48

INDEX

95.76 99.27 96.49 95.97 92.53 YTD Return (%)

1,372.96

1,409.48

43.48

46.79

308.010.43

22.12

16.24

117.9586

1,120.37

1.1299

3<5

1,008.31

1,034.68

31.92

34.36

0.32

36.94

15.98

119.1385

1,008.82 -

0.3705

797.57

24.60 31-Aug-10 100.00 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11

18.84 12.50 100.00 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00

0.25

40.94 31-Aug-15 100.00 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18

15.88 0.52 16.00 0.36 0.87 0.88 2.15 1.42 2.85 2.02 2.04

83.7110 4.44 109.9092 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00

978.73 19.96 1,049.54 18.46 20.09 19.11 17.46 17.08 18.21 18.25 17.45

2.8090 96.49 0.5352 98.19 95.34 97.18 87.03 96.00 90.89 93.35 94.52

>5 Market

552.91 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 2,934.17 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

3,241.73

8.50 1.00 4.18 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 34.14 9.00

Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015

Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022

Daily Market Summary (Bonds) Business | Capital

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 23, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals Current Price 12 35.58 12 32.38 24

Quantity Traded 21,440 253,789 275,229

Value Traded 725,603.52 7,811,787.53 8,537,391.05

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals Current Price 12 2.13 12

Quantity Traded 141,401 141,401

Value Traded 307,581.92 307,581.92

416,630

8,844,972.97

Quantity Traded 132,410 1,796 13,881,028 14,537,670 28,552,904

Value Traded 148,075.73 1,724.16 35,964,057.15 498,908,540.54 535,022,397.58

28,552,904

535,022,397.58

AGRICULTURE Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 JOHN HOLT PLC. Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals Current Price 11 1.14 2 0.96 213 2.57 81 35.70 307

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONGLOMERATES Totals

307

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Page

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

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 20 1 21

Current Price 38.08 6.29

Quantity Traded 115,772 5,398 121,170

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 57,647 57,647

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 4,676 4,676

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 Parts Totals Automobiles/Auto Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. BREW. Activity NIGERIAN Summary on BoardPLC. EQTY

28 Symbol DUNLOP

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

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW Daily Summary (Equities) GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 66,292 66,292

No. of Deals 63 4 65 13 114

Current Price 5.02 0.89 124.90 17.86 139.00

Quantity Traded 1,529,648 75,045 301,326 200,666 914,380

5,270,754.48

Page Value Traded 108,300.00

Quantity Traded 30,000 3,051,065

174,954,970.46

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals Current Price 29 156.98 29

Quantity Traded 34,802 34,802

Value Traded 5,270,120.05 5,270,120.05

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals Current Price 23 3.51 42 6.11 149 34.00 15 2.90 18 6.79 1 0.50 248

Quantity Traded 366,144 943,523 2,519,334 385,138 279,852 250 4,494,241

Value Traded 1,290,006.04 5,814,964.51 84,688,518.02 1,112,562.86 1,911,300.08 125.00 94,817,476.51

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals Current Price 17 38.80 44 820.00 61

Quantity Traded 37,005 40,445 77,450

Value Traded 1,449,636.50 32,555,826.35 34,005,462.85

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 9 3.59 3 0.93 12

Quantity Traded 43,148 131,700 174,848

Value Traded 155,838.36 122,481.00 278,319.36

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

VITAFOAM Daily Summary (Equities) VONO

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 51 27.44 660,452 52 32.56 173,276 103 833,728 717

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded ACCESS 177 6.09 44,888,718 DIAMONDBNK 80 3.99 9,108,156 ETI 42 16.00 1,610,061 FIDELITYBK 71 1.19 22,871,424 GUARANTY 367 22.00 30,323,750 SKYEBANK 62 2.07 1,408,324 STERLNBANK 37 2.21 1,565,876 DailyUBA Summary (Equities) 390 3.60 42,571,095 UBN 14 8.92 104,478

Value Traded 269,907,209.17 36,113,400.56 25,864,678.60 27,976,287.99 664,509,603.12 2,935,404.10 3,460,027.96 151,373,996.18 930,665.91

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals Current Price 13 0.97 253 18.23 1,506

Quantity Traded 3,616,583 9,736,590 167,805,055

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE MANSARD NEM STDINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals Current Price 18 0.74 8 0.82 4 2.82 21 0.59 1 0.50 37 0.50 89

Quantity Traded 522,158 Page 302,500 60,125 5,185,750 10,500 1,638,017 7,719,050

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals Current Price 28 2.77 7 3.95 602 7.46 96 2.07 4 0.50 58 25.30 53 1.32 848

Quantity Traded 461,663 702,973 48,351,307 28,219,586 54,060 2,000,551 4,257,492 84,047,632

Value Traded 1,284,258.54 2,790,844.35 362,483,067.05 57,342,272.40 27,030.00 50,325,069.98 5,497,107.72 479,749,650.04

259,571,737

1,847,228,847.16

2,443

Page

OIL AND GAS Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

No. of Deals 3 3

1,027,460

2,327,449.00

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 55,801 55,801

Value Traded 27,900.50 27,900.50

55,801

27,900.50

Quantity Traded 193,917 18,500 56,467 48,000 360,744 10,000 257,000 615,619

Value Traded 4,023,685.97 150,615.00 2,069,749.86 502,920.00 55,755,278.66 8,300.00 984,310.00 52,571,758.52

3 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT Daily Summary WAPCO

No. of Deals 27 10 9 11 68 1 3 (Equities) 63

Current Price 18.98 9.00 36.10 10.71 153.10 0.87 3.83 85.00

Page

Symbol

No. of Deals 192

Current Price

Quantity Traded 1,560,247

Value Traded 116,066,618.01

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 1.57

Quantity Traded 23,012 23,012

Value Traded 36,538.72 36,538.72

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.59 27.08

Quantity Traded 125 100,000 100,125

Value Traded 190.00 2,708,000.00 2,708,190.00

1,683,384

118,811,346.73

198 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 13,920 13,920

Value Traded 6,960.00 6,960.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 152 152

Current Price 14.00

Quantity Traded 4,524,912 4,524,912

Value Traded 63,366,597.54 63,366,597.54

No. of Deals

Current Price 0.50 32.60 2.64

Quantity Traded 2,000 56,954 103,513

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,793,415.83 260,521.13

Symbol Daily BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA

Summary (Equities) 1 22 10

Page

Symbol FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 11 11

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

No. of Deals 74 17 1 10 135

Current Price 223.00 150.00 50.54 144.46

Quantity Traded 379,273 29,068 1,000 3,309 575,117

Value Traded 84,117,566.01 4,525,720.16 48,020.00 464,321.52 91,210,564.65

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Quantity Traded 5,064 5,064

Value Traded 2,351,225.30 2,351,225.30

5,119,013

156,935,347.49

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.76

Quantity Traded 129,000 129,000

Value Traded 99,152.39 99,152.39

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 14 2 16

Current Price 3.71 0.93

Quantity Traded 146,620 98,125 244,745

Value Traded 544,786.64 87,406.25 632,192.89

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,111 11,111

Value Traded 5,555.50 5,555.50

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.25

Quantity Traded 260,680 260,680

Value Traded 846,340.00 846,340.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA

No. of Deals 3 5

Current Price 1.16 1.21

Quantity Traded 14,683 54,953

Value Traded 17,518.61 66,834.48

Symbol UPL

No. of Deals 2 10

Current Price 4.20

Quantity Traded 3,500 73,136

Value Traded 14,610.00 98,963.09

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 8 15 23

Current Price 2.10 4.60

Quantity Traded 243,344 306,780 550,124

Value Traded 511,022.40 1,413,011.25 1,924,033.65

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 2.95

Quantity Traded 19,000 19,000

Value Traded 53,390.00 53,390.00

1,287,796

3,659,627.52

EQTY Board Totals

4,139

306,630,644

3,011,461,337.90

Equity Activity Totals

4,139

306,630,644

3,011,461,337.90

Hotels/Lodging Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name

Daily Summary of 23/02/2015 LOTUSasHALAL EQUITY ETF Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

Exchange Traded Fund

Name VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Current Price 445.53

302

SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 386,699.42 4 of 11 249,290.00 174,542.50 3,009,515.00 5,250.00 819,008.50 4,644,305.42

Value Traded 1,043,451.40 199,955.00 1,052,109.64 31,932.96 2,327,449.00

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 3,404,388.02 176,359,230.09 1,362,834,891.70

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Exploration and Production

Value Traded 18,086,359.26 5,886,839.98 23,973,199.24 333,332,694.47

Symbol COURTVILLE

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors FORTE OIL PLC. OIL NIG PLC. Daily SummaryMOBIL as of 23/02/2015 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

8,732,426

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Value Traded Energy Equipment and Services Totals Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 7,826,018.15 66,837.17 Printed 23/02/2015 Integrated14:45:22.022 Oil and Gas Services 37,259,601.10 OANDO PLC 3,586,800.74 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals 126,107,413.30 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 2 of 11 CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC.

Quantity Traded 348,010 5,000 659,458 14,992 1,027,460

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Value Traded 33,146.00 OIL AND GAS 33,146.00 Energy Equipment and Services

No. of Deals Current Price 3 3.61 262

Food Products--Diversified Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022

Value Traded Activity Summary on Board EQTY 4,613,683.08 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 35,626.80 INDUSTRIAL GOODS 4,649,309.88 Building Materials

Building Materials Totals Value Traded 574,684.60 Electronic and Electrical Products 574,684.60 CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Value Traded 46,760.00 Packaging/Containers 46,760.00 AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS

Symbol PREMBREW

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC Daily Summary as of 23/02/2015 CAP PLC Printed 23/02/2015 14:45:22.022 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

Current Price 2.99 42.00 1.62 2.24

ICT Totals

183,493

No. of Deals 2 2

No. of Deals 17 5 21 1 44

HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER PHARMDEKO

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD

No. of Deals 2 1

Current Price 9.83 2,311.00

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol VETGRIF30

Quantity Traded 6 28

No. of Deals 3 6

Current Price 13.52

Value Traded 58.93 64,708.00 10

Quantity Traded 75,480 75,514

Value Traded 1,020,489.60 1,085,256.53

ETF Board Totals

75,514

1,085,256.53

ETP Activity Totals

75,514

1,085,256.53

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Features

Lagos community turns robbers' den Despite its closeness to one of the major markets in the West African sub-region, Alaba-Rago community in Lagos is a settlement where every shade of crimes takes place, writes CAMILLUS NNAJI

An area of Alaba-Rago where parties are held

laba-Rago in Ojo Local Gover nment Area of Lagos State is a multitribal residential cum business community. It is situated on the ever-busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway. On the other side of Alaba-Rago is popular Alaba International Market where imported electrical appliances and electronics are sold. The slum is inhabited by Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike. The residents include Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Tiv, Ijaw from Nigeria and Togolese, Ghanaians as well as nationals of Republic of Benin and other African countries. That probably is the end of the good story about Alaba-Rago. More than any other transit settlements on the fringe of Lagos metropolis, Alaba-Rago has

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

groomed robbers, cult members, pickpockets and criminals. The area is a safe haven for criminals, miscreants, cult members, prostitutes and homeless youths drawn from within and outside Nigeria. Business activities also take place at Alaba-Rago. They include selling of rams, maize, etc, as well as feed mills. It also houses a section where electrical appliance shops and warehouses are located. The area has two community leaders, each called Seriki. One is for Alaba-Rago while the other superintends over ‘Kalambosa’. But the Serikis can be said to be only ceremonial. They have no power over their subjects. Crimes take place in front of their houses. A resident of Alaba-Rago, who craved anonymity for security reasons, took our correspondent round the area. The man described AlabaRago as a home to armed robbers and where new ones are groomed. According to him, there are women of easy virtue who work hand in hand with the criminals. He said: “This place is where robbers, cult members and those who have no identity live. You can see shanties formed into separate rooms where prostitutes live. If police conduct a search here, they will discover more than 50 guns. “There is a place they throw party right from 6pm till dawn, this takes place daily. If any criminal is being chased by police in the night, if he runs into the place, he is secure.” According to the man, the area of the community called Kalambosa,

means a bad zone. “At Kalambosa, many stolen items are re-sold. They call the items scraps. “Police usually conduct raids in the area and when they do, they always apprehend victims. But police action has not totally checked the activities of criminals in this area. “Sometime Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) comes for raid, but after the police have gone the criminals will regroup,” he added. According to him, robbers usually target the Alaba International Market. Investigation shows that the robbers, fully armed, sometimes break into shops, irrespective of the time, either day or night. One of the victims of recent robbery attacks at Alaba International Market is the Leader of the Industrial Section of Alaba International Market, Chief Sidney Okorie. According to him, cult groups and robbers have taken over the area. Okorie disclosed that he was robbed of cash and property worth N15 million. He said: “It is not that they are not identifiable. As a matter of fact, when they robbed me in my shop, it was in broad daylight.” The chair man said he had been terrified by the number of robbers living in shanties in the market. According to him, the criminals always pretend to be

commercial motorcycle riders, loaders, barbers and traders but in the night they go out for robbery. Another problem which has promoted robbery and cultism is leadership tussle. According to Okorie, fight for market leadership becomes an obsession for many aspirants. Sometimes it leads to bloody clashes. “Market leadership tussle is one of the problems encouraging robbers and cult groups. These aspirants groom them to pursue their interest, use them to threaten the lives of other aspirants. By so doing, these bad boys believe nothing can happen to them again. The aspirants go as far as ‘settling’ the police not to arrest any of their boys.” Okorie said that he would have been killed because he won an election as market leader. He accused the market leadership of favouring thugs, robbers, cult groups and prostitutes. “That is why crime is growing in Alaba-Rago,” Okorie added. When contacted, the Seriki of Alaba-Rago, Electrical Section, Baba Lawal, said his work was to make peace and eschew violence in the market. He admitted there were criminals in the market but through his security task force, he had been able to work with the police C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 4 6

FEATURES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Grooming criminals at Alaba-Rago

A section of Alaba Rago

Shanties at Alaba Rago C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

to flush them out. “Surely criminals are everywhere. But we are working with Ojo Police Station to fish them out. If it is beyond their power, we invite FESTAC Area Command,” Lawal added. One of the traders at the market, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that it was unfortunate that there are too many criminals and prostitutes resident at Alaba-Rago. He said: “Some of them are terrorists and assassins. Why is there no police station at Alaba-Rago? Why have the police not been able to apprehend their godfathers who are sponsoring them? “As I speak, everybody in the market is scared of them, because they are not afraid to attack any shop or person at any time. There should be a way of identifying people and what they do in the market, the market should not serve as a business and resident area at the same time. “These shanties they call houses should be demolished. All these girls who hustle in this area should be ordered to leave because they are partners to the criminals.” Another businessman, who gave his name as Cajethan for fear he might be attacked, spoke on the menace of criminals in the area. Cajethan said the business community would heave a sigh of relief if the police would evacuate miscreants and prostitutes using the area as a hiding place. He said: “We are tired of these boys, they can do anything. At Alaba-Rago, you will see robbers, assassins, prostitutes, cult members, ‘money doublers,’ fake travelling agents, and thugs. “The issue is that everybody comes out in the name of business, but not everybody is doing legal business. This has been taking place for a very long time and the criminals have not been checked.” Cajethan added that the criminals would later be used by some leaders at Alaba Inter national Market to

Alaba International Market

Lawal

intimidate other aspirants. According to him, the hoodlums always boast that they can never be made to face the law irrespective of crimes committed. He said: “They have been used to kill many innocent people. The hoodlums can be paid to do anything and they will do it. Many times, people have been killed while returning in the night or during the day. Some have been shot while they were driving or

Many times, people have been killed while returning in the night or during the day

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti

coming back from offices.” Cajethan said g enuine businessmen and women were always afraid of outbreaks of violence at AlabaRago. “If fight breaks out here, then you will know the kind of weapons hidden in this area. The police hierarchy should give us a police station at Alaba-Ra go. T he policemen at Ojo are not enough,” he added.

S o m e o f t h e re s i d e n t s claimed that policemen attached to Ojo Police Station had been raiding the area regularly. But according to them, the criminals will always return and unleash terror on businessmen and other residents of the area. When contacted on the telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, expressed surprise over the claims that Alaba-Rago houses criminals. Nwosu said the criminal report on the area was timely especially now that elections were coming up. He said: “I want to assure all law-abiding citizens in the market to go about their normal duties, what we shall do will be a massive raiding of the place, we want to rid the state of criminal hideouts, especially now the elections are coming up.” Although the police image maker promised that the police would soon raid the area to arrest the criminal elements, they were yet to go to Alaba-Rago at press time.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Petroleum marketers’ protest shut fuel outlets in Imo Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

esidents of Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday woke up to the rude shock of an unannounced shut-down of all petrol filling stations in the state capital, which left commuters and commercial transport operators stranded. The situation, has led to major roads in the state deserted as workers and other commuters were seen stranded, while others trekked several kilometers to their destinations. Few taxis and tricycles were seen plying the roads. The situation was even made worse as transport fares on all

routes was hiked by 50 percent increase and it is believed that if the situation persists, fares could go higher by 100 percent. Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Imo State chapter, stated that they had to shut down to protest their grievances, in a situation where they were being forced to sell petroleum products at a loss. The Imo State Chairman of IPMAN, Christopher Amadi, who spoke to newsmen, lamented that while marketers were buying fuel at the N90 per litre in Aba and Calabar depots, the Department of Petroleum Resources

(DPR) insists that they must sell at N87. According to Amadi, it has become impossible for marketers to continue to sell at N87, while buying at a higher rate and transporting same to

Owerri, at their own cost. Consequently, Amadi said marketers have faced severe harassments and intimidations from officials of DPR who seal their filling stations at random and fine defaulting mar-

keters the sum of N100,000. The group, however, appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and prevail on the DPR to first effectively regulate the price of fuel at the regional depots before enforcing the

N87 pump price. The shut-down, the group said, would last for three days, to serve as warning strike, expected to precede an indefinite strike action if their grievances were not addressed.

PPA begins sensitisation of voters Tony Okafor Awka

head of the March 28 and April11 general elections, the Progressives People’s Alliance(PPA), has commenced its sensitisation exercise on the electorate in Anambra State. The leader of party in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, said the exercise had become necessary to guide the voters aright, stressing that the electorate would need to be politically active and be made to understand some basic principles in the discharge of their civic right. Ezeemo stated this in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of the state, at a one-day voter education organised by the party for stakeholders in Anambra South senatorial district. He said that voters’

education had become imperative now, because of the low turnout in the collection of the permanent voter cards (PVC) in the area and the people’s parochial attitude to politics. He said, “We have got to change our mindset and redirect our vision properly, this is aimed at taking the right steps over our destiny, towards leading ourselves to good governance; our times and lives of meaningful existence lie within our powers. “ We can only exercise and change the ugly face of our present polity by simply voting according to our conscience and not inducement of any kind. ``Politics is not for the rich to get richer but to give sense of living to the down trodden, voice to the voiceless, strength to the weak , smiles to wrinkled faces and hope of living to the hopeless,’’ he said.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (left), exchanging pleasantries with Dr. Umar Ukpai, during a church service at the New Wave Assembly, Owerri

Enugu APC leadership crisis degenerates into violence Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he crisis that has plagued the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the past few weeks may have further degenerated as the leaders of the party, involved in the supremacy battle are said to be going after one another violently. Locked in the battle that has polarised the party into factions, are the State Chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye and the party’s

governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea, on the one hand and the party’s South East spokesman, Chief Osita Okechukwu and his State Vice Chairman, Mr. A.C.Ude, on the other hand. In view of the negative impact of the crisis on the party, the state chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned against the ripple effects of the crisis on the overall political interest of the party in the state, which it said has so far enjoyed a relative wide-

Abia residents rally support for Udensi, Kalu Norman Obinna

ens of thousand of Abia residents, mostly traders, politicians and civil servants have declared their support for the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) gubernatorial flag bearer, as well as the Aba North/South Federal

constituency candidates, Sir Chikwe Udensi and Mascot Uzor Kalu. Traders, under the auspices of Abia Traders for Good Governance, had asked all the people of Abia State, who desire positive change to wear traditional outfit last weekend in solidarity for the

PPA’s duo of Udensi and Mascot. Some of the residents who turned out in traditional attire attributed their compliance to the credibility of the PPA duo of Udensi and Mascot, saying their past antecedents stood them in good stead as the peolple’s candidates.

They further said that their decision to show solidarity publicly for the PPA’s guber hopeful, Udensi particularly, was based on the propaganda being circulated within the State that Abians have endorsed and have collectively agreed to cast their votes for APGA.

Ebonyi: Physically-challenged group demands employment right Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

hysically-challenged persons in Ebonyi State under the aegis, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) have appealed to the state government to

ensure immediate employment of its members into the state civil service. The association made the appeal at the Government House, Abakaliki, during a courtesy call on Governor Martin Elechi. Speaking during the visit, the Chairman,

Rev. Ebi Gabriel, also appealed to the government to approve the payment of the 2013/2014 bursary award for the physically challenged persons of the state in all tertiary institutions in the country. He, however, commended the government

for the regular payment of monthly subvention to the association and the increment of N20, 000 yearly bursary award to N100, 000 for the disabled persons in tertiary institutions but regretted, that the increament, was yet to be paid since it was announced.

spread acceptance ahead of the general election. The dispute said to have preceded the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammad Buhari, is said to have already claimed two casualties, the former Vice Chairman and the Woman leader, who were suspended by the state executive committee of the party, over allegation of of being moles of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, in the party. Nwoye, in his reaction at the weekend, to the de-

generation of the crisis in the party, said, the claim was mischievous but would not distract it, especially now that everybody were poised to ensure that the party wrest power from the PDP, which had failed Nigerians, woefully in the last 16 years. However, in spite of his rebuttal, those said to be in the other faction, claimed that they were assaulted at the campaign office, prompting their lodging a complaint on incident to the police.

Impeachment saga: Group calls for N’Assembly’s intervention Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

group, Network for Democratic Vanguard in Ebonyi State, yesterday called on the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis rocking the State House of Assembly to prevent the breakdown of law and order. National President of the group, Prince Ndubuisi Agbo, who made the call in Abakaliki during a press conference, noted that the crisis in the State House of Assembly, was escalating and that if not halted, could throw the state into serious trouble. “We have written to the

Senate leader, we have written to the House of Reps and we are going to write to internal communities; OAU, EU and other unions. National Assembly should not waste time to intervene in the house of Assembly crisis, this is necessary because things have fallen apart in the house of Assembly’’, Agbo stated. Agbo alleged that some members of the Assembly have concluded plan to impeach the governor on or before March 28, to enable them have their way in the forthcoming general election and accused notable politicians in the state and Abuja of sponsoring the impeachment plot, describing it as unfortunate.

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

JTF takes advocacy against oil theft to Bayelsa community APPEAL Task force address community on ills of crude oil theft, vandalism Chris Ejim Yenagoa

he Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ yesterday took its advocacy against oil theft

among oil communities in the region to Brass Island, Bayelsa State. Commander of the task force, Major-General Emmanuel Atawe, led officers and men of the JTF to address youths, women and members of the community on the ills of crude oil theft. Atewo had earlier paid an advocacy visit on the traditional ruler of Twon Brass, King Alfred DieteSpiff, who said acts of oil theft and vandalism were perpetrated by strangers

to the community. He, therefore, pledged the cooperation of the community with the JTF to fish out the vandals. Speaking at the Twon Brass town hall, Atewe said the JTF has recommended the legalisation of modular refineries in the Niger Delta to provide gainful employment to the teeming youths. He said under the plan, operators of such refineries would procure crude legally and refine for local use in an environmen-

tally sustainable manner. The commander added that oil theft deprives the government of revenue and distorts the ecosystem while also exposing the environment to toxic materials that negatively affects the health of the residents. He said the JTF believed in persuasion to get the people see the need to refrain from stealing crude. Atewe further solicited the support of the communities and urged

them to volunteer information to the JTF on the activities. Responding, Chairman, Community Development Committee of Twon Brass, Chief Ololo Inatim, noted that prevalence of crude oil theft was minimal in the area even as the community would collaborate with JTF in the fight. He appealed to JTF to flush out sea pirates from the waterways to enable residents of the island to travel freely to

other parts of the state in pursuit of their socioeconomic activities. “As far as oil theft and pipeline vandalism are concerned, the rate is so minimal, what we have bothering us is the menace of sea piracy and the few isolated cases of oil theft can be linked to the pirates. “So tackling the pirates will also eliminate oil theft and it will also make way for our people to travel frequently for socio-economic activities,” Inatim said.

NEMA, SEMA task business owners on safety Tony Anichebe Uyo

General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Sanusi Nasir Muazu (left), presenting a plaque to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, during his visit to the governor in Benin City…yesterday

kwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, has acknowledged the contribution of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) towards reducing disaster situations in the society through awareness campaigns and donations of relief materials to disaster victims across the country. She stated this during a sensitisation workshop on Fire Prevention and Response Techniques in Market Places, organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the State Emergency Management

Agency (SEMA) for traders across the state at Itam Market in Itu Local government area. Ebe described fire outbreaks as a major disaster that has resulted in loss of lives and property worth billions of naira. She listed some of the notable fire incidents to include that of the popular Balogun Market in Lagos State, the Keffi Central Market fire in Nasarawa State and the recent one in Anambra and Rivers States, which has brought a devastating toll on the psychology of its victims and the economy. The deputy governor attributed most of the incidencts to negligence on the part of the victims, natural disasters such as changes in weather and accidents.

$16bn EPZ project: Ijaw youths threaten to shut down oil, gas operations Joe Obende Warri

jaw youths in Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Local Government of Delta State have vowed to shut down all oil and gas operations in their area over alleged non-inclusion as stakeholders in

the $16 billion Ogidigben gas city project. Operating under the auspices of Ogulagha Clan Youth Association (OCYA), the Ijaw youths in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade John Bebapere, Secretary, Humphery Oluku and Public Relations

HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria drops to 3.4% Tony Anichebe Uyo

he National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) yesterday said that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country has dropped from 5.1 to 3.4 per cent. Director General, NACA, Prof. John Idoko, attributed the decrease in the prevalence rate to extensive awareness of the virus by Nigerians. He said the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Bill, which President Goodluck Jonathan

signed into law in 2014, has given hope to those living with HIV that they would not be stigmatised when other people were aware of their status. Idoko, who was represented by the Chief Programme Officer, NACA, Mr. Ali Ade-Yusuf, at the four-day free medical treatment, organised by NACA-Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme in Essien Udim and Ika Local Government areas of Akwa Ibom State, said the programme targeted 10,000 persons at each of the points.

Officer, Ebikeme Abanre, respectively, claimed that they owned 60 per cent of the total land area acquired for the project. The group, which accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of colluding with his Itsekiri kinsmen to deny them their rights, expressed regrets that

despite the series of publications on the matter, government had failed to recognise them as critical stakeholders like their Gbaramatu brothers. They described government’s action as “unholy, evil-minded, inimical, unjust, oppressive and highly condemnable

Army pledges security in Niger Delta Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Nigerian Army yesterday pledged its readiness to secure the Niger Delta and provide the enabling environment for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to better discharge its developmental objectives in the region. The Commander of 2 Brigade, Sector 2, Joint Task Force, ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ in Port Harcourt, BrigadierGeneral Koko Essien, who gave the assurance

during a courtesy call on the commission’s Managing Director, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, said the army was focused in sustaining peace and security in the Niger Delta region. “We recognise the development activities of the NDDC and we also know that some people may be hampering the efforts of the commission. However, I assure you that we will give you all the necessary cover you need to continue to serve the people without hindrance,” said the army chief who was recently posted to 2 Brigade.

in its entirety.” The group said: “Angered by this act of exclusion, we have vowed to fully mobilise all our youths in the kingdom to halt all oil and gas exploration and production activities of SPDC, Chevron, Agip and Brittania Nigeria Limited.

“This disruption will be total and inclusive of all contracting firms operating within Ogulagha Kingdom if the EPZ stakeholders do not rescind their decision to exclude Ogulagha communities and grant them equal opportunities like the Itsekiris and Gbaramatu Ijaws.”

Jonathan, others to attend funeral of female politicians Chris Ejim Yenagoa

resident Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be among personalities that would pay their last respects to Bayelsa State female politicians, whose lives were cut short in an auto crash on February 14, 2015. Governor Seriake Dickson stated this yesterday, when members of the Bayelsa Development Forum paid him a condolence visit at the Government House, Yenagoa. Thanking the forum for the visit, the gover-

nor said the memorial service earlier scheduled for Saturday last week was postponed till today to enable the President attend the solemn church service. The governor said: “We thought it proper as a government to honour their memory by organising a state funeral service, which would hold today. It should have held last Saturday, but the President called to extend his condolences and also offered to be part of the funeral service and so we had to adjust to accommodate his convenience.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

News 49

NORTH

Shettima commends army in fight against insurgency thumbs up

Governor hails armed forces' feat against Boko Haram Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

orno State governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday commended the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces in its recent fight against Boko

Haram in the state and the North-East in general. Shettima made the commendation at the Government House, Maiduguri, when the new Air Force Commander, 79 Composite Group, Maiduguri, Air Commodore Christopher Egwoba, paid him a courtesy call yesterday. He said with the recent feat achieved by the armed forces, Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past. “It surprises me when

some people are blaming the military in its fight against insurgents; the armed forces are doing their best. If any segment of the society is to be blamed, it is the political class, and the political leadership should be blamed for not equipping the military, the governor stated. According to him, for the past two to three weeks, the security situation in Borno and the North-East has been improving as the capacity of

the terrorists is declining by the day. He also commended the forces from the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun for joining hands with the Nigerian military in fighting the insurgents, stressing that though the neighbouring forces are doing a good job, the Nigerian military are doing the bulk of the work. “The recent feat would not have been achieved without the aerial bombardment from the Nige-

rian Air Force as the exercise is being carried out by the troops of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Nigerian Air Force, Shettima said. The governor assured the air force of his government’s support in its fight against the insurgents. Speaking earlier, the Commander, 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Air

FRSC warns officials against bribe Musa Pam Jos

L-R: Mr. Anayo Onyekwere (Kanayo O Kanayo); Mrs. Patience Ozokwor (Mama G) and Osita Iheme (Paw-Paw), at the National Orientation for Being A Good African (Nobaga) in Jos …yesterday

Speaker tells Niger deputy gov to go to court Dan Atori MINNA

he Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Usman, yesterday justified Governor Babangida Aliyu’s action in appointing him acting governor in the state, adding that any aggrieved person should go to court.

Ibrahim Abdul Yola

he paramount ruler of Ganye chiefdom in Gwangwari Ganye, Alhaji Umar Adamu Sanda, has urged politicians in the area to play politics according to the rules and without rancour or acrimony. He also called on his subjects to unite and create a conducive environment capable of bringing development to the area. The monarch made the call yesterday while receiving the Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Sa’ad M. C. Tahir, accompanied by the Attorney General and Commission-

Usman, who is the acting governor, stated this when the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP paid him a visit in his office. They commended him for accepting to act in the governor's stead and also taking the courage to declare the seats of the defected legislators vacant. According to the speaker, who was referring to the Deputy Gov-

ernor, Hon. Ahmed Ibeto; “anyone who is not satisfied with the decision of the governor, should go to court. “It is normal when you feel there is an infringement on your right, you approach the court. It is left for the court to decide otherwise.” Usman also disclosed that the House’ decision to declare the seats of two members of the House

vacant for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in tandem with the constitution despite the fact that the case was in court. According to him, “There was no order restraining the House from taking the steps it took, stressing that the action of the House was within the ambit of the law.”

Monarch advocates peaceful elections er for Justice, A. T. Shehu, on a thank you tour of Gangwari Ganye’s palace to seek for his blessings towards the general election. According to the monarch, any child who is going out to look for something good either for himself or for the society, must surely seek for his father’s blessing irrespective of any background he or she comes from. “So, I want to appeal to all of you here to advise all your supporters to avoid any abusive or provocative comments that may ignite violent reaction from opponent,

as God gives power to who He wishes and takes it any time He wishes,” he said. Speaking earlier, a member representing Toungo, Jada, Ganye and Mayo-Belwa Ahmadu Fons Wangubi, who spoke on behalf of the Attorney General said: “The purpose of the visit is to appreciate the fatherly role played by the Gangwari in facilitating the appointment of four indigenes of the chiefdom as commissioners, including Mr. A. T. Shehu.” He assured the people that the appointees will justify the confidence reposed in them. “Your

highness, let me assured you that they are good ambassadors. “We will continue to play our role of facilitating developmental projects into our domain,” he said. Also in his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Sa’ad Tahir told the monarch that Ganye, which was attacked by insurgents in 2013, is included in areas that would benefit from the Federal Government’s assistance. He described the attorney-general as a humble and detribalised politician, who is always out to ensure justice and fairness at all times.

Commodore Christopher Egwoba, commended the Borno State government for rendering support to the security agencies. He said: “I have been observing the activities of the Borno State government and his Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima, before I was posted to the state and you are doing a good job, as you have been supporting the security agencies in the state.”

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday in Jos warned its officers and men against taking bribe from motorists who violates traffic regulations. The Head, Policy, Research and Statistics of the Corps, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, gave the warning while addressing its officers and men at the headquarters of Zone 4 in Jos. Olagunju was in Jos to interact with its members of staff in the zone on the new thinking of the corps, which has to do with ‘Consultations,

Reward and Punishment.’ The corps’ Zone 4 with its headquarters in Jos comprised of three states of Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa. He said the corps would not tolerate the act of taking bribe or extorting money from road users by its officers and men as that would attract serious sanctions. “You must shun any act that will drag the name of the FRSC into disrepute, FRSC has good image, the perception of people about us is also a good one, hence we will not hesitate to identify the bad eggs among us and send them out of the system.

Ngilari threatens to probe council boss over campaigns Ibrahim Abdul Yola

damawa State governor, Bala James Ngillari, has threatened to probe local government chairmen in the state for alleged anti-party activities. Governor Ngilari made this known while reacting to allegations by the state party Chairman, Chief Joel Madaki that some of the chairmen and their councillors were involved in anti-party activities by not campaigning for the party. Madaki, who spoke before the governor at

the stakeholders’ meeting held yesterday at the Government House had called for action against the chairmen for act of betrayal. Ngilari, who had three months ago sacked Gombi Local Government Council following the defection of the chairman and most of his councillors to the APC, said to be fair to the chairmen, he would first probed the allegation. “We are not here to victimise anybody. As a just man, I will first investigate you before taking action. So, you better clear yourself,” Ngilari told the council chairmen, who are in the meeting.

AIG advises politicians to shun violence Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

he gubernatorial candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State,

Aminu Ringim and Badaru Abubakar respectively, have been warned to uphold the sanctity of the peace accord signed by the two leading contenders in the governorship election coming up on April 11 in the state.

WORLD | News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FBI downplays Al-Shabaab’s mall threat

ollowing threats from terror group AlShabaab in a video calling for attacks on shopping malls in Canada, the UK and the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told CNN Sunday that there's "no credible or specific evidence" suggesting a US mall attack is in the works. But he warned Americans to watch out. "If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today," he said, "they've got to be particularly careful." The Minnesota mall is among those mentioned in the video the Somalia-based ter-

ror group apparently posted on Saturday. The video talks about Al-Shabaab's September 2013 attack at an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, calling for similar attacks in the three Western countries. More than 60 people were killed in the Kenyan mall siege, which lasted four days. CNN is only naming the malls that have responded publicly to the terror group's video threat. Mall of America said it's aware that the video lists it as a potential target. "We take any potential threat seriously and respond appropriately," the Minnesota mall said in a statement. "We have imple-

mented extra security precautions; some may be noticeable to guests, and others won't be." The FBI and Homeland Security issued a joint written statement saying local law enforcement and first responders have been told the agencies are not "aware of any specific, credible plot against the Mall of America or any other domestic commercial shopping center." The police department in Bloomington, Minnesota, which regularly patrols the mall, also said there was no credible threat against it, describing the mall as a "very safe place." "Enhanced security measures to include additional

personnel have been implemented and all information is being monitored," police said in a statement Sunday. Stressing that there is no known credible threat to any mall, Johnson also cautioned, "I won't know about when the next bad actor is going to strike." Another US law enforcement official familiar with the situation also told CNN that there is no actual working threat against any mall in the country and added that no one should avoid going to a mall because of the online threat. A top Canadian official condemned the video, saying authorities there are monitoring threats and will

take "the appropriate actions" to protect public safety. "Canada will not be intimidated by threats from any terrorist organization," Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said. A joint intelligence bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI states there is no indication of an ongoing plot from Al-Shabaab in the United States, according to two law enforcement officials who have seen it. The bulletin, sent to law enforcement around the country, urges vigilance against a lone wolf-type attack that the group's latest video message could inspire.

Egyptian court jails activist for five years

Maldives' former President and current opposition leader, Mohamed Nasheed, in white, struggling with policemen who stopped him from speaking to journalists as he is brought to be produced before a court in Male, Maldives.

Police drag former Maldives president into court

olice yesterday dragged the Maldives' former president into a court, which ordered his detention while he is tried over his decision to arrest a top judge three years ago. Mohamed Nasheed was arrested Sunday and charged under an anti-terrorism law. He was brought to Criminal Court yesterday for the first hearing, and was dragged into the courtroom after he resisted police attempts to stop him from speaking to journalists gathered outside. He entered court limping and complained to the judges that he had been manhandled by police. Police told the judges that the fracas occurred because Nasheed tried to stage a sit-in. The three-judge panel gave Nasheed three days to name his lawyers and ordered him detained until the trial is over. They also asked authorities to give him medical attention. The Maldives government says the anti-terrorism law covers not only violent terrorism, but a wide array of actions against the state. Nasheed resigned as president in 2012 following weeks

of public protests against his order to arrest top Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed. Mohamed was arrested after he released a detained opposition politician, and Nasheed's administration accused him of political bias and corruption. Nasheed became the country's first democratically elected leader in 2008, defeating Maumoon

Abdul Gayyoom, who had ruled autocratically for 30 years. However, Nasheed lost to Gayyoom's half-brother, Yameen, in the 2013 presidential election. Nasheed's detention comes weeks after a key ally defected from Yameen Abdul Gayyoom's ruling coalition to align with Nasheed's opposition Maldivian Democratic Party.

Libya's parliament suspends participation in UN talks

ibya's elected parliament voted yesterday to suspend its participation in a UN-sponsored dialogue between Libya's rival conflict parties, vying for control of the oil producer, a lawmaker said. The United Nations has hosted several rounds of talks between the conflict parties since September, inside and outside Libya, to help defuse a violent power struggle threatening to break up the North African country. Lawmaker Essam al-Arabi told Reuters

the House of Representatives had voted to suspend its participation. The house has been based in the east, like the internationally recognized government, since a faction called Libya Dawn seized the capital Tripoli in August, reinstating the previous assembly and installing a rival government. Arabi gave no reason for the move. Islamic State militants have conducted several attacks and suicide bombings across Libya in the past few days, undermining the prospects for the talks.

n Egyptian court sentenced a prominent activist to five years in jail yesterday for violating limits on demonstrations, part of one of the toughest crackdowns on dissent in Egypt's history. After the verdict was read out, chants of "Down, down with military rule!" rang out from supporters of Alaa Abdel Fattah crowded into the courtroom. Abdel Fattah was a leading secular figure in the 2011 revolt that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. He was originally sentenced in absentia to 15 years in jail, along with 24 others, before a retrial was ordered. The blogger and software engineer is one of several activists to have been jailed since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in mid2013 and launched a crackdown not only on his Muslim Brotherhood but also on secular democracy activists. Laila Seif,

Abdel Fattah's mother, said she hoped her son would draw on the strength that helped his father, a human rights lawyer, through a five-year sentence under Mubarak. One other defendant, Ahmed Abdulrahman, also received five years in jail; 18 accused received three years; and others who were tried in absentia were given 15 years. Abdulrahman's lawyer said his client would appeal. The same court also adjourned to March 8 the trial of two Al Jazeera television journalists charged with aiding a terrorist organization - a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood. Activists say that, as officials from Mubarak's police state are gradually rehabilitated, all political dissent is being stifled. "Not a single official from the Mubarak regime has been sentenced, not a single police officer," said Khaled Dawoud, spokesman for the opposition Dostour Party.

IELTS to play leading role in new UK visa policy

he United Kingdom, UK, government announced yesterday important changes to language testing for visa applications, reducing the number of tests accepted for visa purposes and bringing in new requirements for the way the tests will be administered. The new system UK said government will be administered throughout the year in more than 100 key locations throughout the world. According to the UK, government, the International English Language Testing System , IELTS are Life Skills that have been approved for UK visas because it require proof of English language level; “The new test – IELTS Life Skills will be introduced for people who need to prove their speaking and listening skills at level A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference.(CEFR)” The IELTS test for visa pur-

poses, government said can only be taken at authorised centres and the centre must follow procedures specified by the UK government. When a test is booked, the customer must specify what the test is for and ensure that the centre is authorised to run tests for this purpose.” IELTS, which is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, has played a key role in language testing for immigration purposes throughout its 25 year history and is recognised by more than 9,000 organisations around the world including universities and employers in many countries, as well as by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. More than 2.5 million IELTS tests were taken in 2014 in more than 140 countries.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Sport News

International Sport

Niger 2015

Lagos ITTF Tour: Injury stops defending champion

Expect war, Aguero warns Barcelona

Its trophy or nothing –Nwakali

Sport

Did you know? That there wasn’t a single corner in the EPL game between Chelsea and Wigan on August 21, 2013

I’m ready for Eagles challenge –Ideye

Charles Ogundiya

n-form West Brom striker, Brown Ideye, has expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Super Eagles’ attack if invited for the March 26 friendly against Bolivia scheduled for the Akwa Ibom international stadium in Uyo. The West Brom record signing who had struggled since joining the Albions had since hit a rich vein of form, scoring against Burnley, Swansea and twice against West Ham taking his tally to six in 20 appearances. Speaking on a live television programme monitored in Lagos on Monday, Ideye, maintained that he had put behind his exclusion from the national team in recent times. “Why not, if I am invited I will surely come, Ni-

Sunderland’s WesBrown battling Brown Ideye during an EPL match

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

geria is my country, it was unfortunate that I didn’t go to the World Cup, because every player’s target is to represent their country at the World Cup, but right now I have put that behind me and looking forward to the future,” he revealed. The former Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine striker attributed his resurgence to his coach while commending the fans for helping him settle down easily. “I have worked hard to get to where I am today, but also significant is the help from my teammates and the coach.” On the last day of the transfer, the coach came to me and talked to me, asking what my problem really was despite my talent. He said a lot was expected of me and he didn’t want to let me go. He asked me to put more effort in my games which I did.

The former Nigeria youth international however ruled out setting a goal target while rating the English Premiership higher than the Ukrainian League. “Like I use to say, the most important thing for a striker is to score goals, for me I will continue to work hard and try and convert the chances that come my way. I will continue to do my best to help my team. The fans have been fantastic, they appreciate what I have been doing and that has helped me since joining the club. “In EPL you have to take decisions immediately you get the ball, but in Ukraine you have time to think on what next to do with the ball, the EPL is faster and gives you more room to express yourself,” he added.

Murray climbs above Nadal in world rankings

ndy Murray has swapped places with Rafael Nadal to move to third in the ATP world rankings. The Scot, 27, climbed to his highest ranking since occupying second place after beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final. He had dropped to 12th in September 2014 after missing three months following back surgery on a long-standing disc injury the previous year. Djokovic maintains

top spot with Switzerland’s Roger Federer second. The only other change in the top 10 is Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov moving one place above Marin Cilic of Croatia, who drops to 11th. Murray is in the draw for this week’s Dubai Duty Free Championships where he is seeded third and takes on Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in the first round. His last outing was a quarterfinal defeat to Frenchman Gilles Simon

in the ABN AMRO World Te n n i s Tournament in Rotterdam, but his form over the past few months has been impressive. Mur ray won back-to-back ATP tour events in Vienna and Valencia towards the end of last season and started this season by reaching the final of the Australian Open, where he lost in four sets to Djokovic. Nadal lost his first semifinal on clay for 12 years as he was beaten by Fabio Fognini 1-6 6-2 7-5 at the Rio Open.

SPORT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Falcons to play Mali in AAG final qualifiers

igeria’s Super Falcons will confront Mali in the final round of qualifiers for the women football event of the 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville later in the year. Gabon who were to square up with the Malians pulled out from the football event of the quadrennial showpiece. The first leg of the qualifying fixture will take place in Bamako on Sunday, March 22, while the decisive leg takes place in Nigeria two weeks

later. The reigning African champions returned to camp in Abuja at the weekend and would also be preparing for the qualifiers of the women football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games against the same Malians as well as the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals in Canada this summer. Falcons will campaign in Group D together with former champions, USA, Sweden and Australia at the global football fiesta.

Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly

Lagos ITTF Tour: Injury stops defending champion

Super Falcons in action against Cameroon during the 2014 AWC

Ajibade Olusesan

Flying Eagles star, Yahaya, to miss AYC Ifeanyi Ibeh

lying Eagles midfielder Musa Yahaya has been ruled out of next month’s African Youth Championship in Senegal due to a knee injury. The Tottenham Hotspur youngster suffered the injury during the Flying Eagles’ second test match against Ghana Black Satellites last week in Tema and scan has revealed that he will need at least six weeks to recover. Coach Manu Garba who broke the news on Monday said it was unfortunate that the player will not be available for selection for a tournament that starts on March 8. He said Yahaya’s absence

is a big loss to the team but they would move ahead without him. “The scan result shows that Musa Yahaya would not be available for the AYC,” disclosed Garba. “It’s a great loss for the team as he is a key player, but we have no choice but to forge ahead without him now. “We wish him quick recovery and hopefully he will join us for the World Cup when we qualify.” The player himself has taken his injury setback philosophically, saying it is the will of Allah. The Nigeria Football Federation has also contacted the player’s English Premier League club on the latest development. Manu is expected to announce a final 21-man squad latest Thursday midnight for onward transmission to the Confederation of African Football CAF.

omen’s singles defending champion of the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour tagged Lagos Open, Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly, will not feature in this year’s edition due to injury, an official has confirmed. According to the President, Egypt Table Tennis Federation, Alaa Meshref, ElDawalatly has been advised by her doctor to rest as she is undergoing treatment on her

knee. “She (El-Dawlatly) had a knee problem and you could see her knee wrapped in Kuwait Open on ITTV. She is under treatment and her doctor recommended that she should have a period of rest and then play gradually. The doctor did not approve her trip to Lagos in order not to start aggressively before she is totally ready and free of pain,” the ETTF boss said. He added: “The schedule provided by her doctor would her to be ready by the Span-

U-23 Eagles get Zambia test N

igeria’s U-23 Eagles will confront Zambia in the next round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers, after overcoming Gabon, in the second le g billed for March 7 in Abuja. Coach Samson Siasia’s team lashed the Gabonese 4-1 in Libreville on Saturday and will play Zambia in the next round following the withdrawal of Madagascar.

The winners of the two-le g fixture were billed to play the winners between Zambia and Madagascar, but the Indian Ocean islanders withdrew from the race to hand an automatic final round ticket to the Zambians. The first leg of the final round fixture will take place in Nigeria only two weeks after the return leg with the Gabonese.

My vision for Oyo FA, by Oloyede

Yahaya

n aspirant to the Oyo State Football Association Chairmanship position, Babatunde Oloyede, has unfolded his plans, if elected. Oloyede, a former Secretary of the Oyo FA and international competitions manager, outlined his plans in a speech to stakeholders at the weekend. The Oyo FA election is billed

ish Open.” Meshref, whose daughter, Dina won the last ITTF Africa Senior Championships however, promised that the North Africans would present a formidable team for the Lagos Open. “Egypt is coming with many good players and I am sure the fans in Lagos will enjoy the competition,” he said. The tournament will serve off on March 10 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.

to hold in Ibadan on Wednesday. Oloyede said: “I promise to work with the Oyo State Government to legislate on football at the grassroots and to seek private and corporate partnerships for all football related activities and running of this great institution in Oyo State. “God willing the lost glory of

hosting international matches in Oyo State will be a thing of the past. As one of the principal officers that worked effectively with Shooting Stars Sports Club between 1997 and 2000 and also in 1999 when we played in African Club Championship which happens to be our last International competition to date, I know this is

Also at the weekend, Burundi shocked DR Congo 1-0 in Kinshasa, Sudan edged hosts Ethiopia 2-1 in Dire Dawa and Uganda and Mozambique drew 0-0 in Maputo. Zimbabwe, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have also reached the final round of qualifiers following the withdrawals of Swaziland, Tunisia, Guinea Bissau and Libya.

possible. He added that, “As one of the stakeholders that ensured the promotion to the professional level in 1997 of Crown Football Club of Ogbomosho, I will work tirelessly with appropriate bodies and associations to ensure that the joy we derived from our football teams participating in international competitions is brought back to Oyo State within the shortest possible period when I come into office.”

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Expect war, Aguero warns Barcelona

ergio Aguero has warned Barcelona that Manchester City are ready to exact revenge for last season’s Champions League exit. Barca dumped City out of the competition at the last 16 stage last year, winning 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium and 2-1 at Camp Nou to progress at the expense of Manuel Pellegrini’s side. But Aguero believes City are more savvy in Europe a year on, and pointed to their wins over Bayern Munich at home and away to Rome – to reach the knockout stage – as proof of their growth. The City’s star striker, who will lead his side’s attack in a repeat of last season’s clash at the same stage, has warned Barca they won’t have it all their own way again. “Barca made it difficult

for us last time because they kept the ball so well,” said Aguero. “That’s one of their main strengths and that made it difficult for us to dominate the game. “We wanted to attack them more but we weren’t able to reach the final third of the pitch as often as we wanted to. “This is a new game and we’re are not the same as we were last season and they aren’t, either. “Both teams have had reinforcements that have improved the squad so we’ll have to see what kind of game it is, but one thing I think I can say with confidence is that they are both going to be great games.” Aguero also said he had not spoken with Argentina team-mate and Barca’s star man Lionel Messi since the draw was made, pairing the two sides together again.

Juventus tie is 50-50, says Reus

Barcelona’s Messi trying to get past Man City’s defenders, Kompany and Zabaleta

Rio Open: Ferrer beats Fognini to win title

“It was my best match of the avid Ferrer recorded a 6-2 6-3 victory over Fabio Fognini tournament and I’m very happy to secure his first Rio Open title having won two tournaments on Sunday. this season,” the world number World number 28 Fognini nine said. reached the final after ending Rafael Nadal’s 52-match winning streak in semifinals on clay on Saturday. Spaniard Ferrer took just an hour and 23 minutes to wrap up the win. The 32-year-old twice broke his Italian opponent’s serve in the opening set, and secured a decisive break in the fourth Ferrer game of the second.

Injury hits Monaco ahead of Arsenal clash

Kurzawa

onaco have been rocked by a succession of injury blows in the build up to their Champions League clash with Arsenal. The French giants travel to London for their last-16 first-leg tie with the Gunners on Wednesday. But, Leonardo Jardim’s side has been ravaged by injuries, especially to his defence. Defender Layvin Kurzawa, who is being hotly tipped with a move to the Premier League in the summer, hobbled off after 35 minutes in

Monaco’s victory over Nice at the weekend. Kurzawa suffered bruising to his left leg and spent Sunday having treatment as midfield star Yannick Ferreira Carrasco also picked up an injury in that match. The Belgian did play the full 90 minutes against Nice but picked up an injury to his right thigh and is doubtful. Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho missed Monaco’s last game after he was injured against Guingamp on February 8 but could be in contention to return against the Gunners. Fellow defender Andrea Raggi has only played one game for the French giants this month as he continues his recovery from a knee sprain. Midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko is continuing rehabilitation following his own thigh injury. And, former Everton loanee Lacina Traore is a longterm absentee as he will undergo an operation this week for a stress fracture to his right tibia.

Matic

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES Tuesday February 24 Juventus vs Dortmund 8.45pm Man City vs Barcelona 8.45pm Wednesday February 25 Arsenal vs Monaco 8.45pm Leverkusen vs Atletico 8.45pm

Federer apologises for India ‘bleed blue’ post the shirt to me. oger Federer has apolo- Dubai Open. R gised for getting caught up “It was a Nike camI support South Afin the bitter rivalry between In- paign they had because rica, and everybody

Federer

dian and Pakistani cricket fans after he was pictured admiring the blue shirt of World Cup champions India in a marketing photo-shoot. The 17-time Grand Slam title winner shares the same sponsor as the Indian team and on the eve of the two sides’ World Cup clash in Adelaide last weekend, Federer posted a picture on his Facebook page of him admiring a blue playing jersey with the caption “Dressing up for a Gentleman’s game today. #BleedBlue.” “It was more of a Nike thing to be quite honest,” said the Swiss star on the eve of the

Chelsea to appeal Matic red

orussia Dortmund’s midfielder, Marco Reus, has said the last-16 Champions League clash with Juventus is a 50-50 tie with no clear favourite. While Dortmund have struggled domestically and sit 12th in the Bundeslig a, they h ave i m p r e s s e d i n E u ro p e a g a i n a f t e r reaching the final and quar terfinals of the competition in each of the last two seasons. BVB finished top of Group D ahead of second placed Arsenal, while Juve qualified for the knockout stages having sealed the runners-up spot in Group A behind Atletico Madrid.

helsea are to appeal against the red card shown to Nemanja Matic during Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley, according to Sky Sports. Matic was sent off in the 70th minute at Stamford Bridge for his violent reaction to a studs-up challenge from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes. “A criminal tackle. Matic is a very lucky guy,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after his midfield player escaped injury. The 26-year-old Serbian international rushed at Barnes and pushed him to the ground but he was de-

fended by his manager. “Football is about emotions and clearly Nemanja Matic had a reason to lose his emotions,” Mourinho said. “What are the consequences of his push? Nothing. The consequence for Matic from the tackle? It could have been the end of his career.” Chelsea must submit their appeal to the FA by 1pm on Tuesday. Unless it succeeds, Matic will miss Sunday’s League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. He will also be banned for Premier League matches against West Ham United and Southampton.

I met some of the Indian players and I had just spent some time in India so they presented

knows that. The idea wasn’t to spark any fire and I’m sorry if it did that.”

Sport Trending

TWITTER |@NTelegraphSport Usain St. Leo Bolt Best way to get the week off and running.. Laughter non stop jordynaks and #zein handshake game on @usainbolt

Tosin Oke Had a fantastic morning at Woodbank Primary School in Bury, delivering an assembly and workshops, as part of their, ‘Aspiration week’ @Tosin_Oke Mikel Arteta Rehab going great.Getting strong to be back asap!/La recuperación va muy bien.Fortaleciendo para volver cuanto antes! @m8arteta Santi Cazorla Quieres mis botas firmadas? Do you want my signed boots?Sigueme en Instagram!follow me on Instagram!! @19SCazorla Rafa Nadal All my support to @alo_oficial in your recovery! Best wishes! @RafaelNadal Serena Williams Too tired to wipe off makeup... but makes for a good bedtime shoot @serenawilliams Emem Eduok Football is my life. The best footballers always believe in GOD and in yourself. You are the best.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ronaldo is great but Messi is better –Henry

Thierry Henry recalls some moments in his brilliant career, as well as talking about some other issues in this chat with FIFA.

Although you won a vast array of trophies and accolades, the Ballon d’Or eluded you, despite being among the 10 finalists from 2000 to 2006 and twice being in the top three. How do you feel about that award now? When you play football, your goal is to win team honours. You strive for that and only when your team has won and you’ve

made an outstanding contribution can individual awards follow. I never won the Ballon d’Or but I picked up other individual accolades that were very rewarding. However, that was never my objective as I was always thinking about collective honours. That said, I personally value the long career I had at the highest level. For me, that is like a title. A good example of the importance of the collective might be the Germany side Joachim Low guided to the world title in Brazil. What strikes you most about that

final of EURO 2008… Can you elaborate a bit more on that process? It’s curious, because with the France national team, we experienced it in reverse. First we had

Henry

the triumphs, then the bad times. This generation of German players learned more, in the sense that they lost, suffered, lost again but eventually learned. Their success is the reward for all that suffering – for never giving up and for continuing to try until they finally won. That generation of players, with people like Philipp Lahm, who was there right from the start, really deserved it.

team? It’s an extraordinary g eneration of players and one that has left its mark in the history of football. Just the way they defeated Brazil would entitle them to their place in footballing lore, but then they went on to become world champions. It was the culmination of a long process that was founded on past defeats. When they lost the Final at Korea/ Japan 2002, they realised that major changes were needed. They then reached the World Cup semis in 2006 and later the

What was your impression of the football at Brazil 2014 I think we definitely saw something new: [Manuel] Neuer changed what we perceive as the job of a goalkeeper. The role had already evolved when keepers were prohibited from picking up back-passes, but the person who has really revolutionised the position is Neuer. We’ve seem formations with a lot of people high up the pitch, but we’d never seen a goalkeeper play so far from his goal. Johan Cruyff’s Ajax side also had keepers who passed the ball a lot but never from level with the defenders. With Neuer, it’s like you always have an extra man. That change also owes much to the freedom he’s

been given by his coach, but Neuer can do it as he’s a truly great goalkeeper. He always stays composed when making his passes – he’s like a genuine libero. That role really emerged in the 80s and 90s but now Neuer is the new libero. That’s what amazed everyone at that World Cup, and now all keepers will start to play like him. Moving further upfield to a position you know well, would you rather have Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Well, I played with Leo, so you can guess my answer (laughs). I have enormous respect for Cristiano who has managed to remain at the highest level for many years – and by that I mean at an extraordinarily high level. It’s one thing to have a single great season, but to maintain it for so many years is something else. I don’t think we fully realise just what these guys are achieving. So, while huge respect goes to Ronaldo, having played with Messi and shared extraordinary moments with him, both in victory and defeat, it has to be Leo. Although you’re now working as a football analyst on TV, have you considered going into coaching? Yes, for sure but I have to go step by step. First I have to get my coaching licence, because it’s one thing knowing about football but something else entirely being able to pass that knowledge to the players and handle their egos. I have a lot to learn but, as an occupation, it would be interesting.

U-17 African championship

It’s trophy or nothing –Nwakali Ajibade Olusesan

olden Ea glets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, has said that no team will stop Nigeria from winning the on-going CAF U-17 Championship after they secured the World Cup ticket. The team will play against South Africa in the semifinal of the tournament on Wednesday, and the skipper said that the Amajimbos would not stand between them and the title. He said that the Nigerian team would play under less

pressure having sealed a spot at the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He said that they would express themselves better now although they were not going to underrate their opponents. “Our focus is to win the trophy having qualified for the World Cup in Chile. We are focused and determined to bring the trophy home,” he said. Meanwhile, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said that his team could never get carried away by their run so far in the competition. He said that although they had achieved their main ob-

jective which was to qualify for the World Cup, the two remaining matches in the competition were very important. “We savoured the victory over Zambia and the moment we got back to our hotel, it was finished. The boys themselves have realised what we have been telling them and they have realised that to achieve in life, you must be humble and disciplined. We have to remain focussed, the semi-final first and then we can begin to talk about the final but let us remain Nwakali (right) in action for Nigeria focused.”

WorldCupticketexcitesSouthAfricacoach

majimbos coach Molefi Ntseki was naturally in high spirits after his side made history by qualifying for the U-17 World Cup. South Africa booked a ticket to the FIFA event for the first time by reaching the semi-finals of the African Youth Championship with a 3-1 win over Cameroun on Sunday. Amajimbos will battle Nigeria on Wednesday for a place in the Final in Niamey, Niger, on March 1. Mali and Guinea will contest

the other semi-final, with all four teams earning the right to represent the continent at the U-17 World Cup, taking place in Chile from October 17 to November 8. “We are grateful to God first for always being with us, we believe that the entire country is happy,” Ntseki said. “I like to thank the South African Football Association and the technical team for all their hard work. “Cameroun came with a plan but we had prepared for them very well.”

Dike warns Eaglets against Amajimbos

ormer Golden Eaglets coach, Alphonsus Dike, has called for caution in the side’s semifinal clash against the Amajimbos of South Africa. The reigning world champions will tackle the South Africans for a place in the final of the ongoing African U–17 Championship in Niger Republic on Wednesday at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey. Eaglets garnered seven points to top Group A while South Africa finished second in Group B behind Mali. Dike said Eaglets must be at their very best on match day to be able to outsmart the equally good South African side. He said: “Unarguably, South Africa

are a good side, the country’s football has been on the upward rise in recent time. “It’ll certainly be a difficult encounter for both sides but the side that persevere and maintain 100 percent concentration will go home victorious. “That means Eaglets must be 100percent careful in their approach to the game as well as remain at their very best. “I believe Eaglets will win at the end of the day but they must not underrate the opponents or lose even a second concentration. “Absolute concentration is the watchword throughout the duration of the encounter.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

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Corruption: Banking on Mbeki’s report GUEST COLUMNIST Kolawole Olaniyan

he joint report by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on illicit financial flows from Africa has made good headlines. Some have described the report as “a turning-point”; others said its recommendations are “game changing,” and capable of addressing the problem both within Africa and globally. The report, produced by the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa presided over by former South African president Thabo Mbeki was earlier this month overwhelmingly endorsed by the AU at its 24th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa. Mbeki deserves credit for obtaining continent-wide endorsement for the report, and the panel’s recommendation that efforts to combat illicit financial flows be included in the post-2015 Development Agenda is timely, given the expected expiration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the steps by the international community to adopt a fresh set of goals (Sustainable Development Goals), expected to be fulfilled over the next 15 years. The report also contains some useful recommendations on the importance of preventive measures and institutional and capacity building in combating illicit financial flows. But the panel’s narrowed notion of what constitute ‘illicit financial flows’ (IFFs) combined with a disproportionate focus on the responsibility of big corporations and ‘organized criminals,’ while seemingly minimising the primary responsibility of African governments and leaders, suggests that much more is still required to effectively combat IFFs in Africa. I agree with the report’s finding that Africa has to address the wider systems that create IFFs in the first place. Yet, that is just one part of the story. The panel’s scanty treatment of fundamental questions about the nature of IFFs, especially grand corruption, and the impunity of high-ranking government officials that continues to provide the incentives for IFFs to flourish, is a wasted opportunity to rethink how Africa deals with the impunity dimension of IFFs. While the panel’s definition of IFFs as “money illegally earned, transferred or used” seems robust enough to cover a wide range of illicit activities in equal proportion, its quantification of corruption as amounting to just 5% of the $50 billion lost to IFFs each year is, to say the least, highly debatable. The panel’s calculation suggests that just around $2.5 billion of the $50 billion of IFFs account for corrupt funds. In contrast, commercial activities account for 65% while other criminal activities take 30%. But the panel’s

figure contradicts even the $18 billion that the AU once told us is stolen each year from Africa. The panel should have probed further the responses to its questionnaires that suggest that “corruption is the greatest source of IFFs from the continent.” Further, the panel’s terms of reference broadly called for it to determine the nature and patterns of illicit financial outflows from Africa but the panel would appear to have perhaps somewhat disingenuously redefined its own terms of reference by choosing to focus on the responsibility of large commercial corporations and organized criminals rather than carefully assessing the responsibility of senior government officials in IFFs. It looks like an effort to push policy down one particular, limited track without a sufficient treatment of the leadership question. This approach seems politically expedient but it has done a great disservice to the citizens of Africa. The approach also buttresses the impression among African citizens that their governments and ‘leaders’ generally are soft on corruption and soft on the causes of corruption. The panel’s recommendation that the mandate of the AU advisory board on corruption (established pursuant to article 22 of the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption) be expanded to cover IFFs ignores the many problems currently besetting the board. Yet, any potential role for the board with respect to IFFs must first resolve some critical issues such as allegations of mismanagement among its leadership, and the fact that its advice are routinely rejected by states. The board also doesn’t have a structure of its own, but is housed within a small department in the Secretariat of the AU Commission in Addis Ababa. To be sure, grand corruption (a generic term used to describe largescale embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, bribery, trading in

For example, Sierra Leone’s AuditorGeneral’s recent report showed that the government could not account for nearly a third of the $20m earmarked for fighting Ebola in 2014

Mbeki

influence and abuse of office, all at the highest level of government) poses a serious threat not only to African citizens and their communities, through for example, lives blighted by poverty, inequality and societies living in fear, but also a regional and global threat which can undermine the democratic and economic basis of societies, and thereby leading to a loss of confidence in the rule of law. Mis-invoicing of trade transactions and organized crimes are terribly bad but these are just symptoms rather than primary causes of IFFs from Africa. We all see high-ranking government officials with no previous records of success in business, inheritance or a lottery win “wearing Rolex watches, driving Mercedes, owning houses in Paris and London, while sending their children for private education in Switzerland.” The Ebola crisis in some parts of Africa in fact has exposed the level of grand corruption and its devastating effects on critical institutions of governance. For example, Sierra Leone’s Auditor-General’s recent report showed that the government could not account for nearly a third of the $20m earmarked for fighting Ebola in 2014. Related to the panel’s narrowed conceptualization of IFFs is the conclusion that “large commercial corporations are by far the biggest culprits of illicit outflows, followed by organized crime.” The panel’s conclusion is based on the assumption that “large corporations possess the means to perpetuate their aggressive and illegal activities,” while “drug dealers have the funds to corrupt many players, including and especially in governments, and even to capture weak states.” But the panel’s conclusion seems to reinforce the narrative that ‘outsiders’ and ‘other interests’ are primarily responsible for IFFs. It’s easy for the panel to portray African governments and leaders as

so powerless to address the problem. The panel seems to be saying to us: ‘it is fine to let fox guard the chicken house and everything will be normal’! But as one Yoruba proverb (owe) says “Bi ogiri ko la nu Alangba ko le r'aye wo be” (literally translated as: ‘If the wall does not open up the lizard will not be able to enter’). The key words here are “the wall” and “the lizard.” Without cracks and openings in a wall a lizard can’t inhabit. It’s true that globalisation has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in illicit financial flows globally. However, much of the illicit financial flows from Africa can’t happen without the direct involvement and complicity of African governments and high-ranking officials or their families and business associates. Clearly, big corporations and financial institutions are part of the problem but if African governments and leaders are docking responsibility for illicit financial flows, especially grand corruption, why should they expect ‘outsiders’ to play their role and be part of the solution? The sad reality is that African governments and leaders generally lack the requisite political will to tackle grand corruption. High-ranking corrupt officials also seem to be getting more cunning but anticorruption agencies, the police and security services are not independent or working hard enough to catch them. It’s going to be very difficult to get the report’s recommendations implemented as long as African governments and leaders continue to dock their primary responsibility, and corrupt leaders are not hit where it most hurts—in their huge stolen public funds that they and their families and friends are sloshing around the world’s onshore and offshore financial centres that depend heavily on de jure or de facto bank secrecy. If Africa is to truly exercise its sovereignty – both political and economic – it must make getting rid of grand corruption its utmost priority. Sovereignty implies “conducting an independent foreign and internal policy, building of schools, construction of roads, in brief, all types of activity directed towards the welfare of people.” Sovereignty cannot be conceived as a licence for African leaders to commit acts of corruption that imperil human dignity, and then to somehow attempt to shield themselves from responsibility. By taking grand corruption seriously, African governments and leaders will be reducing the incentives that allow other illicit financial flows to flourish. But if corruption is to be satisfactorily addressed across Africa, it will take a determined push from the ‘woman and man on the street’ and not an elite that becomes ever wealthier as it becomes ever less accountable. • Olaniyan, PhD is the author of ‘Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa’.

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