Tuesday, july 21, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

APC governors oppose fayose as NGF deputy chairman

Irish bureau to return $6.5m Abacha loot Bayo Akomolafe

he Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is to return $6.5 million looted money discovered in an Irish bank account

to Nigeria. A report yesterday by Bloomberg quoted the bureau, based in Dublin, Ireland, as saying the bonds were bought with money illegally taken out of Ni-

geria, laundered through various institutions by a former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, before ending up in Ireland. The CAB said the funds

were the proceeds of crime linked to the late Abacha, who was alleged to have plundered more than $4 billion from Nigeria. The $6.5 million investment bonds were discov-

ered by the bureau in an account with HSBC Life Europe in Grand Canal Square and had been frozen by the High Court, the report said.

Education

UI VC: Race for the strongest

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

}23

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Gbajabiamila

/newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 517

APC group insists on Gbajabiamila as House Leader }5

Ex-militants petition Buhari over non-payment of allowances }48

Buhari

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

No secrecy in National Assembly finances –Mark }4

Mark

Buhari seeks US help to recover $150bn loot

lWhy I'm not in a hurry to form cabinet, by president

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with the United States President Barrack Obama, at the White House in Washington DC…yesterday.

Jonathan's ex-CSO to face trial for treason lAssociates angry with ex-president

News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari seeks US help to recover $150bn loot Ayodele Ojo and Anule Emmanuel

resident Muhammadu Buhari has sought the help of the United States President Barack Obama to recover $150 billion looted from Nigeria by former public officeholders. In an article published yesterday in the Washington Post as he began a four-day visit to the US, Buhari lamented the plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth by public officeholders. In 2014, the US took control of more than $480 million siphoned away by former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha and his associates into banks around the world. His plea came a day after the US had offered to assist Nigeria to trace looted funds.

Washington has broad powers to track suspicious funds and enforce sanctions against individuals. As part of activities marking his state visit, Buhari, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, met with US Vice-President Joe Biden and Obama during which he commended the US for its contribution in ensuring a peaceful transition in Nigeria. Buhari, in the Washington Post article, outlined efforts by his administration to fight corruption and Boko Haram. He said: “This lack of a governance framework has allowed many of those in charge, devoid of any real checks and balances, to plunder (Nigeria). The fact that I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts

on behalf of former corrupt officials is a testament to how badly Nigeria has been run. This way of conducting our affairs cannot continue. “Indeed, the failure of governance, it can be argued, has been as much a factor in Nigeria’s inability thus far to defeat Boko Haram as have been issues with the military campaign itself.” According to him, an end must be put to impunity in the Nigerian system through instilling good management and governance. “So, the path we must take is simple, even if it is not easy: First, instill rules and good governance; second, install officials who are experienced and capable of managing state agencies and ministries; and third, seek to recover funds stolen under previous regimes so that this

money can be invested in Nigeria for the benefit of all of our citizens. “We seek the support and partnership of the United States in these tasks. The importance of the fight against terrorism and corruption in Nigeria, Africa’s most powerful economy and largest populace, cannot be underestimated,” he stated. The president also gave an assurance that his cabinet will be in place by September. He said: "As I meet with President Obama today (Monday), I will be discussing my plans for critical reforms. So, too, will I discuss why the formation of my administration is taking time and, crucially, why it must. Already there are voices saying these changes are taking too long – even though only six weeks have passed since my inauguration. I hear such calls,

L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; former military President Ibrahim Babangida and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, during a visit to the governor in Minna…at the weekend. PHOTO: Dan Atori

happy at all. “Some of us warned shortly after the election that this man (President Muhammadu Buhari) will come after some of us; that we should put in place some specific measures, like legal and other strategic contingencies that any time the dictator strikes, we should have a readymade response. “But what are we seeing now? Persecution, intimidation and witch-hunt; and the man for whom we are all being vilified is not bothered. It can only breed anger, especially when a man who served you as NSA is being publicly disgraced and you are saying nothing. There is not even

during which the two leaders shared views on the spate of insecurity in the North-East being perpetrated by Boko Haram. Biden hosted Buhari to a breakfast meeting. A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the meeting afforded both leaders to compare notes on the terror war. He said America had been beleaguered by terrorists, who launched massive attacks that killed hundreds in September 2001, while Nigeria battles the Boko Haram sect causing carnage in the North-East. According to Adesina, during the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the US Vice-President, Biden shared with Buhari what America had learnt from the terror war. Biden told Buhari that victory cannot come from military option alone. He said military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes. Biden assured Nigeria that America would work with it in that direction. He also said Washington would assist Nigeria in rebuilding its economy, but Abuja must tackle corruption and weak institutions to benefit from reforms. Buhari thanked the US for standing by Nigeria in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, noting that the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, was critical as it sent home the message that America would not brook the subversion of the people's will. Speaking on oil theft, Buhari estimated losses at between $10 billion and $20 billion, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others. Both America and Nigeria pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the very insightful meeting. After the meeting with Biden, Buhari met Obama who expressed confidence in the ability of his visitor to tackle the multiple challenges facing Nigeria. Obama said Buhari came with a clear agenda to tackle corruption, insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram sect and other violence criminal activities. He said his administration would continue to assist Nigeria in overcoming its challenges. Obama said: "It is a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here in the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

but this task cannot and should not be rushed. “When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim. “In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place.” In the piece, Buhari also sought for collaboration on the anti-terror war. “Our allies can provide much-needed military training and intelligence as our soldiers take the war effort to Boko Haram,” he added. Buhari stated that his government would give Nigeria the much-desired change. “I was elected on a platform of change. I know this is what the people of Nigeria desire more than anything else. I know they are impatient for action. I realise the world waits to see evidence that my administration will be different from all those that came before. “Yet reforming my country after so many years of abuse cannot be achieved overnight. In our campaigns against both Boko Haram and corruption, we should remain steadfast and remember, as it is said: “Have patience. All things become difficult before they become easy,” he said. However, as part of his engagements yesterday, Buhari met with Biden

Jonathan's ex-CSO to face trial for treason

Donald Ojogo, Emmanuel Onani and Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal Government may arraign former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Gordon Obuah, for treason, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. A source said that Obuah, who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), may be arraigned before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. Obuah, arrested last week on the heels of the raiding of former National Security Adviser (NSA) in

the Jonathan administration, Colonel Sambo Dasuki’s house, it was gathered, was being investigated on security spending by the last administration. The source said: "What I can say now is that the former CSO may be charged with alleged treasonable felony against the state. "I think he has been held (allegedly) incommunicado for a few days now. "It's possible that the relevant security agency may soon freeze his accounts." However, New Telegraph gathered that the spate of arrests of some key personnel in the Jonathan administration and the former president's perceived "nonchalant" attitude towards the tra-

vails of some of his former aides have caused rumbles in the camp. A source in the camp of the former president said many of them were angry with him because he kept them in the dark, "giving no specific direction immediately after handing over." There were also concerns that more of the former president’s associates might be arrested in what is regarded as a clampdown on top officials of the previous administration. The source also dismissed a media report that close associates of the former president have gone into hiding. He said: “The report that we are all in hiding is not totally true; yes, there

may be some elements of truth in it, but I don’t think we should take it as such. “If you say we are not coordinated, we are not having direction, yes; but not hiding. Hiding for what? The only unfortunate thing is that the former president appears unconcerned about the plight of his men shortly after he left government; he looks not bothered whether or not something is brewing or not. “In my mind, and I think I am speaking the mind of most of us who worked for Dr. Jonathan, that by giving no specific direction immediately after handing over, he is sending a message of I care not and we are not

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Army frees officer who destroyed six armoured tanks, 13 patrol vans lRansome-Kuti's trial adjourns till July 27

Our Correspondent

General CourtMartial (GCM) sitting at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the Commanding Officer (CO) of 21 Support Engineer Regiment, Lt.-Col. J. O. Ememe, over wilful destruction of service property. Specifically, the discharged officer stood trial before the GCM presided over by Brigadier General Alabi, for destroying six Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), four Toyota Hilux patrol vans, five Mitsubishi Counters, four Ford patrol vans, as well as large quantity of

Anti-Aircraft (AA) ammunition, which were under his command. New Telegraph gathered from military sources, that the CO, whose Battalion is under the 23 Brigade in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, told the Court-Martial, while being led in evidence by his counsel, Colonel G. Anyalemechi of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), that after successfully capturing Bazza, where he held the ground for about five hours, he had to withdraw. He said his action was informed by the absence of reinforcement from the other companies, who were charged with the task of reclaiming the town, even as it was learnt that

he never got the air bombardment that was promised, prior to the operation. He was said to have told the GCM, that he blew the heavy equipment out of patriotic zeal, to deny Boko Haram fighters the privilege of capturing them. New Telegraph gathered that the officer's case was further boosted, when Anyalemechi, who had earlier successfully defended one Lt.-Col. S.S Tilawan, who was tried and acquitted over wrong channel of communication, called his Brigade Commander, Colonel Ebelahme. Ebelahme, who was tried on a related offence by a GCM in Lagos and freed, was said to have

testified to the accused officer's bravery. In discharging and acquitting the officer, the GCM was said to have agreed that the decision he took was the best in the circumstance, and one done out of patriotism and love for his country. Earlier, the Army had called two prosecution witnesses, wherein the investigator was said to have insisted that at the time the officer destroyed the equipment, he (officer) had the opportunity of safeguarding them. The second prosecution witness (pw2), New Telegraph gathered, told the court that the officer took the best decision ever. Meanwhile, New Tele-

L-R: Accountant/Administrative Manager, New Telegraph Newspapers, Abuja, Mr. Emeka Abonyi; Acting Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Onwuka Nzeshi; wife of the late Managing Editor, New Telegraph, Mrs. Bisalla and Deputy Business Development Manager, Abuja, Mr. Suleiman Bappa, during the presentation of a gift to the family of the late Mr. Suleiman Bisalla in Mararaba, Nasarawa State…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

No secrecy in National Assembly finances –Mark Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

mmediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday said that there has never been any secrecy in the affairs of the National Assembly. He said contrary to the insinuations in some quarters, all issues, programmes and actions of the National Assembly were carried out in the open in line with the dictates of parliamentary practices and procedures. Reacting to recent speculations that the annual budgets and salaries of members of the National Assembly were shrouded in secrecy, Mark maintained that such allegation

was borne out of outright ignorance, blackmail or deliberate mischief. "How can anyone claim that the National Assembly budget is secret? Or that our earnings are secret? The National Assembly budget is part and parcel of the federal budget? It is not a separate document. If anybody is in doubt, he or she should get a copy of the national budget and clarify. It is a public document. "Every time you hear people talk about National Assembly budget as if it is independent of the federal budget. For heaven's sake, the National Assembly budget is an open document; it is a public document. Unless you are saying you have never seen the national budget.

"The National Assembly budget is in the open. Anybody can access it. We don't fix our salaries. An appropriate Federal Government agency does. What we earn is open. I think we should put an end to this cheap blackmail," he said. Mark said it was sad and ridiculous for people to suggest that the National Assembly budget had continued to increase annually. "I make bold to say that the National Assembly under my leadership was bold, courageous, steadfast and truly patriotic. We stood on the side of the people, the truth, transparency and above all in the interest of the nation. "We were the first to

make a cut in our 2015 budget. People should appreciate what we are doing. We tightened our belts more than any other ministry or parastatal today. I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction to say we make a lot of sacrifices in our budgetary systems. "People should not play politics with serious national issues like appropriations. With every sense of responsibility, in 2008, the National Assembly under my leadership was the first arm of government to return the sum of N7 billion unspent fund to the national treasury during late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration. Some people would have done otherwise," he stated.

graph gathered that the trial of former Commander of the disbanded Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, Brigadier General E. Ransome-Kuti, has been adjourned until July 27.

It was learnt that the Army has so far called three witnesses against the one-star General, whose offence border on the overrunning of the MNJTF and Baga in January, by Boko Haram.

Leave Jonathan alone, Fayose tells Obasanjo Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop attacking the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Fayose said Jonathan should be allowed to live a private life devoid of bashing from people like Obasanjo. According to him, “Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is no longer the President of Nigeria, he should be allowed to live a private life devoid of mudslinging from elder statesmen like Chief Obasanjo.” He stated this in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday in a statement by one of his media aides, Lere Olayinka. Fayose said he was miffed that Obasanjo could choose the 11th Convocation Lecture of Benson Idahosa University (BIU) Benin, Edo State to say that the performance of Jonathan while in office would haunt the people of the South-South for a long time to come. The governor noted the people of the South-

South had already demonstrated their approval of Jonathan’s performance while in office by voting overwhelmingly for him on March 28 despite the gang-up orchestrated by Obasanjo and his allies. “Most importantly, Jonathan’s performance as a democrat has been widely acknowledged locally and internationally, particularly by President Muhammadu Buhari, who on many occasions acknowledged the role he (Jonathan) played in midwifing a peaceful and successful transition programme, thereby averting the feared crisis in the country. “This is in contrast to Baba Obasanjo who tried third term when he was about concluding his constitutional two terms. And who knows whether he would have tried fourth term if he had succeeded with his third term agenda? “The reality is, assuming but not conceding that Jonathan performed below expectation, democratic governance that he established in Nigeria is more important than any other performance that Obasanjo alluded to,” the governor said.

Buhari: Why I'm not in a hurry to form cabinet CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

White House for his first visit since the historic election that took place. "Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the World, one of the most important countries in the African continent. "Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. Nevertheless, the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that can change takes place. "President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very

clear agenda, that is to make sure that he has been bringing safely security and peace to his country. "He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists.” In his remarks, Buhari commended Washington for mounting pressure on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria will forever remain grateful to America for this singular act.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

APC group insists on Gbajabiamila as House Leader Philip Nyam Abuja

he leadership tussle over appointment of principal officers in the House of Representatives has deepened as All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers loyal to the defeated speakership candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have rejected the zoning formula proposed by Speaker Yakubu Dogara. The group insisted that the party’s position must be obeyed. Dogara had last Thursday written to the APC’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun notifying him of his decision to zone the position of Majority Leader to North-West; Chief Whip to South-South, Deputy Leader to North-Central and Deputy Whip to SouthEast as against the party’s arrangement that Gbajabiamila from South-West be made leader, Hon. Pally Iriase from South-South be named Chief Whip, while Deputy Leader should go to Alhassan Ado Doguwa from North-West. According to Oyegun’s letter, Hon. Mohammed Monguno from North-East, who lost the deputy speakership should be made Deputy Whip. In a counter-letter dated July 18 titled “Nomination of Principal Officers in the House of Representatives” and addressed to the national chairman, the Gbajabiamila camp under the auspices of APC Loyalists Group rejected in its entirety reasons adduced by Dogara for defying the party’s sharing arrangement, insisting that the party is supreme and its directives must be obeyed and respected. The letter signed by the group’s leader, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon-Daura (APC, Katsina), maintained that the party had made so much concession in favour of Dogara, warning that “enough is enough”. The letter reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the letter written to you by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara in response to your letter to him almost a month prior. We find Hon. Dogara's letter fraught with several fundamental flaws in his analysis and interpretation of the Constitution and House rules. This is to set the records straight. “This party has bent over backwards for the Speaker and enough is enough. He refused zoning before the elections and because of his refusal the party decided to con-

duct primaries and allow the members themselves to decide, he refused that too and struck a deal with the opposition. It seems for the speaker who won his election by eight marginal votes, it is his way or the high way. “We cannot adopt this winner takes it all approach as it will be unfair to Nigerians. Our party campaigned against the Peoples Democratic Party’s impunity in all its ramifications and so did the Nigerian people and we cannot be seen to be condoning the very thing we condemned the PDP for. That smacks of hypocrisy. The people of Nigeria voted for change and that change includes not sacrificing merit on the altar of ethnicity. “We are not in doubt that all the shenanigans is merely a pretext to exclude our principal, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a man acknowledged to have served the House, party and country meritoriously, who was the face of opposition in the National Assembly and who led our party from minority to majority in the House. A man who gallantly congratulated Mr. Speaker after an unexpected loss and who extended a hand of cooperation to him severally. Such injustice must not be allowed to stand.” Reiterating its stand on the party’s supremacy, the Loyalists Group said: “Mr. Chairman, history beckons and posterity will always judge our conduct and contributions to the development of our democracy. A political party is an institution and its supremacy is universal and not a Nigerian coinage. “It is on record that the Speaker defied the party going into the elections and he is about to repeat such defiance. The party must assert its authority over all its members the Speaker inclusive as none of us came to the House as independent candidates and we subscribed expressly and impliedly to the party's supremacy in political activities.” The lawmakers argued that “the president himself has spoken severally that the party is supreme and its decision must be obeyed. He said the same thing just recently at the National Executive (NEC) meeting.” On the constitutional issue of federal character referred to by Dogara, the group noted that “we stand on our earlier position that whilst we accept and agree with the principle of federal character, the constitutional provisions in that regard are strictly in reference to the appointment to

the federal executive and its agencies.” “Assuming federal character was meant to be applicable to the National Assembly, then certainly one of the Houses of the National Assembly must be headed by a southerner. Remember sir, that in the run-up to the election of the Senate President and

Speaker, our party made a deliberate choice, to apply this same principle of federal character such that all qualified zones will be represented in the spirit of national unity, which we embrace, but we all know how that ended. “Furthermore to accept the speaker's arrangement would mean the two most

Travellers on arrival after Eid el-Fitri holiday in Lagos…yesterday.

powerful positions in the Senate and House after the presiding officers would be occupied by the North,” the group stated. On the matter of morality, the letter said: “Right now, the Senate President and the Speaker are both from the North. We find it highly immoral, disingenuous, insincere and

downright hypocritical, that someone who rejected and was anti-zoning will now be the person waiving the zoning card when it serves his purpose. We cannot pick and choose or flip-flop on the application of zoning based on our whims and caprices and he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Associates angry with ex-president CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

a post-election spokesman to speak for him. Is that what it means? “The irony is that this is a man you cannot trust to say you want to defend because he will disappoint you. Look at the way he conceded defeat without letting anyone know. As far he is concerned, he is the good guy and all others are for themselves. There is no team spirit as it was immediately after Baba Obasanjo left office. We are unhappy, that is the truth." But a top security source told New Telegraph that the president has directed the DSS to probe top shots of the past government. “The new DSS is in charge of all top flight probes for now. For now, no one knows exactly what the president might do next, but clearly, all indications are to the effect that the new DSS is in charge of all top flight probes for now,” he said. The source said former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, might soon be summoned over her alleged involvement in the controversial spending of N10 billion on chartered flights while she was in office. Investigations into the matter had been stalled by suits filed by the former minister.

Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as dictatorial, the harassment of associates of the former president. National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said in a telephone interview that rather than face governance, it was obvious that the Buhari-led administration was poised on persecuting perceived political opponents. “Rather than face the challenges of governance which, in our opinion, are beginning to overwhelm this government, President Buhari is on a witchhunt to rubbish the past government and its officials. This is dictatorship which is condemnable and it must stop because the essence of governance is being ridiculed by the day,” Metuh said. Also yesterday, some senior lawyers described the treason charge levelled against Dasuki as an accusation that would have to be proved before the court before it can stick. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, said under the law, the security officials have the power if they suspect the commission of a crime or if a crime is about to be committed to arrest a suspect. "As long as they act within the confines of the

constitution and in this instant, I learnt that they have a search warrant, that is a legal backing needed to conduct a search. If there is no search warrant, my reaction would have been different. "The fact that somebody is highly placed does not make him to be above the law. Not even the president is above the law," he said. Another lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated that inasmuch as the SSS displayed a search warrant, they were covered by the law. On the allegation against the former NSA, Okoye said the security officials must have got their intelligence right before making the accusation. "There is no crime in alleging, there is a procedure to be followed and if the SSS is prepared to follow the procedure, then it is covered by law. "The procedure is to take the allegation before a competent court and allow the court to pronounce guilty or not guilty. "I don't think what the SSS is doing is passing verdict as to whether Dasuki is guilty or not, but rather alleging probably from the intelligence gathered. We should know, however, that the agency is not a court and hence does not have the power to pronounce

anyone guilty or not. The highest it can do is to allege, which it has done. "The rest will be transferred to the court to determine whether Dasuki is guilty or not. For me, it is not out place for the SSS to allege," he stated. Another Abuja-based lawyer, Chief Edwin Enenta, stated that under the law, allegation could be levelled against anyone. "Nothing prevents a security agent from alleging, especially when it concerns security of a nation which is more important than the right of individuals. "However, the SSS has the duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt its allegation against Dasuki. "It is when the service fails to substantiate its allegation in court that Dasuki can now take them up. But as it is now, I think he (Dasuki) should subject himself to trial before the court so as to clear himself or otherwise," he added. Another lawyer, Mr. Ben Amosikhua said all what SSS had said were allegations, which would have to be proved or disproved before the court of law. "In law, allegation is not a final pronouncement, but the beginning of a test of evidence that will be brought before the court," he said.

News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC govs oppose Fayose as NGF deputy chairman lThey don't have a choice, says Ekiti governor Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ndications emerged yesterday that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would oppose the nomination of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State as the Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). But in a swift reaction, Fayose said he was not interested to be the deputy chairman but chairman of the NGF. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors had proposed Fayose as deputy chairman of the forum. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State is the chairman of the NGF. Fayose told New Telegraph that the APC governors have no choice over the matter. According to him, “I am not interested in the position because it comes with responsibilities but my colleagues are insisting that I must be the Deputy Chairman of NGF. “I am the longest serving governor today, having served in the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

ENUGU

IBADAN

CALABAR

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

29oC 23oC Rain Showers

19oC 12oC Rain Showers

20 C 17 C Storm

30o C 22oC Thunder Storms

28oC 22oC Storm

28oC 21oC Storm

25oC 21oC Storm

34o C 24oC Thunder Storms

28oC 22oC Storm

and also serving today. "The APC governors are intruding as the PDP governors did not make any contribution when they chose the governor of Zamfara as NGF chairman." An APC governor, who pleaded anonymity, said that the choice of Fayose by the PDP was ill-consid-

ered and unacceptable by the party. The source said that the APC was wary of the controversial governor and would not accept Fayose to such a sensitive position, asking the PDP to find a suitable replacement. “I wonder why the PDP thinks the Ekiti governor

should be the choice for the Deputy Chairman of the Forum when they could not accept him as the chairman of their PDP Governors’ Forum. The choice is unacceptable to us and we would oppose it when we meet on Wednesday,” the source confided. He also pointed out

that Fayose has remained a divisive factor during the electioneering and has remained so after the polls and it would be an ill-informed decision to have him occupy such a position. According to him, "the APC was not averse to the PDP fielding a level-

headed governor to deputise for the chairman of the forum, but certainly not Governor Fayose that is giving to reckless and inciting statements and actions.” The Forum will meet on Wednesday where the deputy chairman would be adopted.

L-R: Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau; Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Tanko Al-Makura (Nassarawa), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, at the Blair House in Washington DC...yesterday.

PDP holds congresses in Kogi, Anambra today Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold ward, local government and state congresses in Kogi and Anambra states today. The congresses in Anambra State are to elect party executives at the ward, local government and state levels while that of Kogi is to elect party delegates for the forthcoming governorship primaries. PDP is without elected party executives in Anambra State for over 10 years. Appointed caretaker committees have been running the affairs of the party since then, which has been described as undemocratic. This has given rise to crisis and many court actions, which are believed to have contributed to the failure of PDP to win Anambra governorship since 2003. The party in a statement on Sunday explained that the conduct of the congresses was in obedience to court order. The Kogi State congress is as a result of the cancellation of the June 27 ward delegates congresses by the PDP National Working Com-

mittee (NWC) due to what it called "the participation of a local organising committee,” which it said is unknown to the constitution of the party and the guidelines. Since the cancellation, the state governor, Captain Idris Wada had visited the PDP National Secretariat twice for consultations with the party leadership. It was gathered that the cancelled congress was in his favour, and he has been reportedly instigating organised protests by his supporters in the state for the reversal. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states for November 21 and December 5, 2015 respectively. Incidentally, Governor Wada and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Hon. Seriake Dickson are seeking re-election. Going by the tradition of the party, the two governors ought to have been given automatic ticket to fly the party's flag and therefore, saved the rigours of going through the primaries. During the just-concluded general elections, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov-

ernor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombo State and former Governor Ramalan Yaro of Kaduna State, were given automatic tickets. Of all these candidates, only Dankwambo was able to get re-elected. The candidature of Wada is, however, facing strong opposition due to his alleged nonperformance. A group, which called itself, Young Democratic Patriot (YDP) led by one Dare Atoye had implored PDP to give Wada a soft landing by not fielding him in the November 21 governorship elections. "Gover nor Idris Wada, cannot win the Kogi governorship election, even if it is conducted 100 times. With due respect to Wada, he has tried his best but cannot go beyond his limit,” the group said in the statement. The candidature of Dickson is also facing some challenges. There have been avalanche of defections from PDP, which is the ruling party in Bayelsa State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to Dickson's style of governance. Some PDP stakeholders from the state have petitioned the party's

NWC against the governor, and are reportedly working against his reelection. A source at the PDP National Secretariat revealed that PDP governors are pushing for automatic ticket for Wada and Dickson in accordance with the party's rule. "Yes, there have been calls for them to be given automatic tickets but the problem is, will they win the election? We know that in Kogi State, for instance, APC won all the National Assembly seats, what is the guarantee that the people will vote for PDP in the governorship election if Wada is given the ticket?" the source asked rhetorically. He disclosed that the party is afraid that power of incumbency might not win the states for PDP and is shopping for a candidate who will match whoever APC fields in the governorship. PDP had blamed the loss of its traditional states, especially in the North-Central on former state governors who insisted that their preferred candidates should be the one to fly the party's flag in the general elections. In the last general

elections, some governors elected on the platform of APC were card-carrying members of PDP.

Irish bureau to return $6.5m Abacha loot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Last March, Mr. Justice Raymond Fullam found that the funds were the proceeds of crime. It claimed the bonds are linked to the late general's son, Mohammed, and breach Irish laws on tax evasion. It was learnt that the bureau had started a legal process in Nigeria and the CAB would be staking a claim to the funds for the Irish Exchequer, but this is likely to be contested by the Nigerian government. "A Proceeds of Crime order has been served in Nigeria. The Criminal Assets Bureau will be claiming the money for the Exchequer but the Nigerians can claim the funds for themselves. Whether or not the money returns to Ireland "depends on what the Nigerians will do," the report quoted a source as saying. An official at the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin said the embassy had no knowledge of Cab's proceedings.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, july 21, 2015

News

national

Nigeria, others may get US visa lottery eligibility again N Wole Shadare

igeria, the United Kingdom and other countries removed from the eligibility list of the United States' Congressional-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV), also known as the US Visa Lottery may be returned to eligibility list. This is because the list is modified every year based on trends of the previous five years within which they were removed. Nigeria, which was removed from the eligibility list in the 2015 DV program may return to eligibility list after the 2020 DV program. A spokesperson for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Ashley Garrigus, in a response to inquiries by The Immigrant and sent to New Telegraph from the US explained that "the Congressional-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV) makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas each year, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

"The section of the law establishing the Diversity Visa program limits the list of “eligible countries” to those countries from which fewer than 50,000 persons in various visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. The Spokesperson added that "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) modifies the list of eligible countries for

each year’s DV program on the sole basis of this five-year calculation. "The list is modified every year based on trends of the previous five-years. The list of eligible countries can change each year of the program." Initially, Nigeria had a low rate immigration to the United States and remained in the program since it started in 1995 fiscal year.

Those born in any territory that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years are not eligible to receive a diversity visa. For DV-2016, natives of the following nations are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico,

Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. The Diversity Visa Program usually opens for entry at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), from October 1 and closes at noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) first Monday of November.

Abuja

he Federal Government has been called on to look into the alleged acts of corruption and financial mismanagement at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control ( NAFDAC) and prosecute all those found wanting. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the National President of the Nigerians United Against Corruption (NUAC), Comrade Ola Oluwasanmi, the leader of the group called on the presidency and all anti-graft agencies to look into the matter with urgency so as to save the nation from disaster. The group said that there have been allegations that since Mr. Paul Orhi’s appointment in 2009 as its Director General, the fortunes of the agency has continued to

Nigeria Union in South Africa now affiliated to international body

he Nigeria Union in South Africa is now affiliated to the South African United Foreigners Trade Union (SAFU), an international body comprising of entrepreneurs in that country. Dr Anthony Usenbo, the Vice President of the Nigeria Union, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg yesterday. “SAFU is a union that tends to bring all foreign business entrepreneurs in South Africa under one umbrella in order to cater for their well being as well as ensure proper marketing and protection of their goods and services. “It has become necessary to form a body that will liaise with government to ensure that trade is not hampered due to unnecessary violence that may erupt from time to time," he said.

VC threatens media houses with legal action Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T L-R: Head of Operations, Badagry Unit, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ms. Edith Eluka; Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Mr. Bisi Kazeem and Unit Commander, Badagry Unit, Mr. Salisu Galadunci, during the Eid-El-Fitri special patrol monitoring on Lagos-Badagry Expressway... yesterday.

Investigate fraud in NAFDAC Saraki, Ekweremadu may derail Buhari’s now, CSOs urges FG administration, says Lawan’s Group Yekeen Nurudeen

dwindle due to financial recklessness which has plunged the agency into over N5 billion debt owed various contractors. It also alleged that staff of the Finance Department are being randomly re-deployed to other departments whenever they fail to pave way for unsubstantiated payments as directed by the Director General. The group said about 70 per cent of contracts awards by NAFDAC were not advertised and awarded by the DG over the phone to contractors who determine how much they want to be paid for the job, while the 30 per cent advertised still lack due process. “He gives waivers to people without due process; no one knows the terms of such waivers or why the beneficiaries should be entitled to such waivers or the amount of the waivers,” the group added.

Iyobosa Uwugiaren Abuja

he crisis rocking the Senate over its leadership is not over yet. The Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan-led group in the senate said yesterday that the ‘’impunity’’ perpetrated by Senate President, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Danjuma Goje, was capable of derailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The spokesman of the group known as the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Barau Jibrin, stated this in an open letter to the deputy senate president and Goje. According to him: ‘’Unless the rule of law is restored in the 8th Senate, the foundation of impunity and double-talk presently being played out in the current Senate is capable of derailing the

Buhari administration’’. Jibrin, a former House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Appropriation, wondered why the Saraki/Ekweremadu-led group in their desperate political ambition, which according to him manifested few days before the ‘’June 9 betrayal’’, suddenly turned upside down the time-tested values of democracy and leadership they had professed publicly and privately in the past. The senator representing Kano State recalled in the open letter, how Senator Ekweremadu in a paper titled “Leadership in the National Assembly” that he presented in Abuja at the Induction Certificate Course on Legislative Studies for the 8th National Assembly held on April 27, 2015, had espoused party supremacy particularly as it affects the appointment of the principal officers of the Senate.

Accusing the deputy senate president of double-speak, Jibrin said he was shocked to hear Ekweremadu’s unfair remark that the National Assembly was not a party secretariat, when the All Progressives Party (APC) insisted recently that its supremacy and wishes in the matter of who occupied leadership position be respected. "It is not only the flouting of the rules concerning the party’s latitude to present the leadership of its senate caucus that Senator Ekweremadu has provided support for but he has also provided support to Senator Saraki to flout the ranking rule in the legislature unlike what he explained at the same public gathering’’, the spokesman for the Unity Forum stated. “Ranking Rule: Both the House and Senate Standing Orders lay emphasis on legislative experience or Ranking Rule."

he cold war between a faction of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Vice-Chancellor, Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Professor Hilary Edeoga, has taken a new dimension. Edeoga has threatened a legal action against media houses. While the union has accused the Vice-Chancellor of improprieties, a team of law practitioners, acting in support of the VC, asked media houses that published the damaging stories to retract them or face legal action. The union had, among other issues, alleged that Professor Edeoga was involved in a N300 million unsubstantiated fraud from the N60, 500 hostel charges from about 5,000 new students. The law firm, Jerry Akhazemea and company, in a letter made available to newsmen, titled: “Libellous publication against Professor Hilary Edeoga, Vice-Chancellor, Michael Opara University, Umudike” said the stories were too damaging to the person of Edeoga. They averred that their client had been “injured in his credit and reputation and has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt and has suffered loss and damage”.

News

Onwuka Nzeshi and Johnchuks Onuanyim

former Director, Legal Services of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Idada Don Ikponmwen, yesterday threw his weight behind the ongoing investigation into allegations of treasonable felony leveled against the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) . He urged Nigerians not to frustrate the current efforts by the Federal Government to fight corruption and impunity in the country. Ikponmwen, a onetime Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Army, said while he had nothing personal against the embattled former NSA, he would want the Federal Government to investigate Dasuki thoroughly, given the weight of the allegations against him and the need to establish the truth about his roles in the counter- terrorism war in the last six years. He expressed dismay at the protests in some quarters since the DSS raided the Abuja and Sokoto homes of Dasuki and argued that the search conducted on these residences were in order as long as the security officials who went on the operation were armed with search warrants obtained

national

Why Nigerians shouldn't frustrate Dasuki's investigation — Ikponmwen

l We won't comment on security matters — APC spokesman from a court of law. "I believe that Nigerians should support anything that would unearth any wrong that had been done. There is a procedure and the Department of State Services(DSS) told us that they got a search warrant from a court of law. Once you have a search warrant, you can go anywhere and

search . If you don't spring surprises, how can you get anything from your investigations? "Where are we going in this country? When the President doesn't act, they quarrel; when he acts, they raise issues. When would we stop creating obstacles on the path of good governance? I support any

he Nigerian Army has raised the alarm that fraudsters were using the name of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General T. Buratai, to send Facebook requests to unsuspecting members of the public. That is with a view to defrauding them. A statement by the Acting Director of Army

Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, reads: "It has come to our knowledge that some unscrupulous and criminal elements have started using the name of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General TY Buratai through Facebook platform requesting for friendship, extort and defraud unsuspecting members of the public. "So far, three such accounts exist with various types of names us-

ing photographs of the COAS in uniform and that of Director Defence Information as profile photographs. "While the matter has been reported to Facebook and relevant security agencies for tracking, arrest and prosecution of the criminals, the public is please requested to note and advised not to accept any friendship request or overture from any of such social media accounts."

Police commission disowns recruitment advertisement

he Police Service Commission has disowned an online advertisement on the recruitment of general duty police officers. This was contained in statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission. “The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to an online publication of an

move that would bring out the truth and a new move to stop us from going down the road to perdition which corruption has put us. Even if President Buhari does nothing else but only to fight corruption convincingly and successfully, this country would be on its way to re- inventing itself in the comity of na-

tions. Corruption has been a major problem of this country not only in the immediate past regime but over the years. We have to start from somewhere and in so far as President Buhari is a man known to have zero tolerance for corruption, Nigerians must be happy

L-R: Deputy Company Secretary, Beta Glass Plc, Mrs. Titi Talabi; out-going Chairman, Chief Joseph Babatunde Oke and Managing Director, Mr. George Papachristou, at the Annual General Meeting of Beta Glass Plc, in Lagos…recently. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Fraudsters using COAS' name on Facebook — Army Emmanuel Onani

tuesday, july 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

advertisement for the recruitment of cadet ASPs in the professional cadre purported to emanate from the commission. "The commission wishes to state that the said publication did not originate from its office and it is not presently recruiting that category of police officers," it said. The statement advised the public to discountenance the publication. It said that the commission was currently inves-

tigating the source of the advertisement. The statement appealed to the media to always crosscheck any information before publication. It said that the commission would continue to use its established channels of communication in dissemination of information. The statement said that masterminds of the advertisement would be dealt with.

Group threatens to sack NASS members over unending recess Chukwu David Abuja

riends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative (FGAI), a legislative advocacy, monitoring and lobby group, yesterday cautioned the National Assembly members to be serious with their legislative work or be sacked from the complex. The non-governmental body was particularly piqued by the postponement of the resumption of the National Assembly members from July 21 to July 28, 2015 without giving any justifiable reason for the action by the Senate and the House of Representatives or the National Assembly management. In a statement issued in Abuja by its Executive Director, Mr. George Oji, the group noted with bitterness that this was the third time the present National Assembly would be embarking on such an inexplicable recess since its inauguration on June 9, 2015. The aggrieved group therefore, warned that if the legislators contin-

ued with this style of unseriousness, FGAI would have no choice than to, in collaboration with other civil society groups, call for a civil protest to sack them from the National Assembly. The advocacy initiative recalled that shortly after its proclamation on June 9, the lawmakers sat only for three days and went on its first break on June 11, which lasted till June 23. The purported reason for the break then was to enable the management of the Assembly sort out the issue of accommodation and other logistics for the legislators. FGAI lamented that three days after the resumption of the lawmakers on June 23, the legislators, again on June 25, embarked on another three-week break, that would have seen them resuming work on July 21, before the recent extension. The group argued that, by this postponement, the National Assembly would have cumulatively worked for six days in approximately two months of its existence.

when he moves against corruption," he said. Ikponmwen said that if the preliminary findings of the investigations are anything to go by, Dasuki should be made to explain what the armoured vehicles, lethal weapons and other items found in his home were meant for even after he had relinquished his position as the NSA. Meanwhile, the ruling party, All Progressives Congress ( APC) yesterday declined comments on the Dasuki saga and the allegations of treasonable felony against him. National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told New Telegraph yesterday that the APC would not comment on the charges against the former National Security Adviser, Col. Dasuki Sambo because it was purely a security issue.

Ex-minister, PDP BOT member defect to APC Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

head of the Kogi gubernatorial election, the state leader and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu has apologized to the people of the state on any possible wrong doing, during his reign as governor of the state in from 1999 to 2003. He said such actions were not deliberate. The former governor made the appeal yesterday, during the decamping ceremony of former Minister of Police Affairs, Barrister Humprey Abah to the APC, at Ayingba, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state. Other prominent PDP leaders who defected to the APC, included member of the PDP Board of Trustee (BOT) and Sure P, Hajiya Halima Alfa, among others. The former governor, who insisted that his administration’s policies might have offended some people in the state, declared that he was not coming for vengeance if elected as being speculated, because no civil servants or any other person in the state offended him during 2003 gubernatorial election.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, july 21, 2015

News

national

Attack on Sultan: Group urges Oritsejafor to check abuse of CAN’s name Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) has urged the President of

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, to stop the wrong usage of the association by its officials or other individuals to fan ember of discord. This followed comments credited to an of-

Voice of Nigeria, Radio Deutsche Welle pledge better cooperation

igeria’s international radio broadcast organisation, the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and its German equivalent, Radio Deutsche Welle (DW), over the weekend agreed to strengthen their existing bilateral relationship with the objective of promoting socioeconomic advancement of Nigeria and Germany. This followed a high-level meeting between the two Corporations which took place over the weekend at the Broadcasting House, Ikoyi, Lagos station of VON. In his remark, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Sam O. Worlu, said the meeting became necessary in order to review existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two international radio networks which was signed 16 years ago and reviewed last in 2006. Such a review, he said, would ensure that all elements of the MoU are

made effective, so as to engender maximum benefits to the two organisations. While praising Radio Deutsche Welle for its effective service delivery as well as rich news and programmes content, Worlu said VON is looking forward to acquiring technical assistance and training of its staff, to enhance its online service, among other needs. He announced that VON would soon re-start its German programme which was closed down when Germany was divided into two different countries. Responding, the Director General of Radio Deutsche Welle, Mr. Peter Limbourg, applauded the improvement of VON service, especially its recent compliance with the demands of the new media, saying that reaching young people in Germany is being made easier by the online services of VON.

ficial of CAN, Sunday Oibe, attacking the Sultan of Sokoto and PresidentGeneral of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and also the Secretary-General of the council, Professor Ishaq Oloyede. Spokesman of the Ummah, Alhaji Femi Abbas described a statement titled ‘Oloyede, NIREC and merchant of lies’ purportedly issued by one Oibe who claimed to be the Director of CAN’s National Issues on behalf of CAN as bellicose and uncharacteristic of CAN. He spoke in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday titled "The Ranting of a Frustrated Cleric". Alhaji Abbass said

MUSWEN refused to believe that such damaging press release emanated from the real CAN as the allegations contained in it were fictitious and baseless. “The ‘press rerelease’ was apparently issued by a clique of Christian charlatans who are masquerading in the cloak of religion within CAN. Ordinarily, the CAN we know very well which consists of decent gentlemen and women of dignity would not have issued such an unguarded statement especially at this festival period of EidulFitr when congratulatory message from Nigerian Christian brethren to Nigerian Muslim Faithful was as usual expected. “Thus, we refuse to be-

lieve that such a reckless statement attacking the personality of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA as well as that of the NSCIA SecretaryGeneral was issued by CAN. Issuing such a baseless and inflammatory press statement to attack the topmost leadership of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah at this time confirms the fictitious source of the obnoxious Press Statement. “Thus, we call on the genuine CAN leaders (not charlatans) to take a second look into the contents of that Press Statement purportedly issued on their behalves with a view to investigating its source because we do not think that such a state-

ment with such a gutter language could have emanated from the CAN’s ‘Glass House’ which Nigerian Muslims hold in high very esteem,” Abbas said. He said that as for using NIREC as the reason for issuing the statement by its issuers, the MUSWEN official urged the NSCIA to maintain its usual cool-headedness and maturity in ignoring the statement as it lacks value. The MUSWEN spokesperson added that rather than being distracted, what NSCIA should concentrate on this time is its ongoing contribution to overcoming the pervading insecurity and eradication of corruption in the land especially now that Nigeria’s $15 million surreptitiously funneled to South Africa early this year for importation of illegal arms into Nigeria by those charlatans has been returned to the country.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WATCHMEN PROTOCOL AND PREVAILING MISSION This is to inform the general public that the above named MISSION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for incorporation under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Rev’d Elijah Adetunji Adelani 2. Rev’d Peter Oloyede 3. Rev’d Kunle Onawumi 4. Past. Abraham Sayo Onaolapo 5. Past (Col. Rtd.) Micheal Oladoye Olagunju 6. Chaplain Joseph Timothy Adeleke 7. Past (Mrs) Martha Oloko AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provides humanitarian services to the Christian fold during and after gospel crusades 2 To establish a central prayer centre to mobilize leaders of ministries and saint to pray for a continued monumental global evangelism 3 To promote crime prevention activities by organizing meetings, seminars and conferences 4 To contribute to developing loc. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NIGERIA ASSOCIATION OF TOUR OPERATORS (NATOP) This is to inform the general public that theabove named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) Abuja for a Certified True Copy of Certificate under part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES REMAIN THE SAME AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY

A cross-section of members of Kogi State Political Liberation (KPL), during the Freedom Walk organised by the group agitating for power shift to the other senatorial district of the state.

Gbajabiamila lacks capacity to be House Leader — Hembe Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe, yesterday said he did not throw his weight behind the emergence of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House because he lacks the capacity to hold firm grip of the House. Hembe disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists in his Makurdi residence during the celebration of his 40th birthday that had former speaker of the House, Alhaji Dimeji Bankole and current speaker, Yakubu Dogara in attendance. The Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market said, Gbajabi-

amila is bereft of humility, capacity and pedigree to steer the affairs of the green chambers of the National Assembly, but said he has found in Dogara, someone who has the quality, and capacity of leading the House to the promised land. "I do not see Gbajabiamila with the capacity to lead the House. And let me tell you, it's no longer a hidden fact that I supported the emergence of Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is somebody who has the capacity and who can reach out to find solution to the crisis rocking the House," Hembe said. Hembe who represents Jechira constituency said, it was regrettable that Gbajabiamia is not ready to accept defeat after he lost out at the election.

Rivers APC alleges gang-up at election tribunal Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some judges are planning to frustrate the party’s petitions. The party chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who made the allegation in a statement after the tribunal ruled against two of its candidates (Dr. Dawari George and Mr. Lucky Odili), expressed fear that similar fate awaits its other candidates. He faulted the tribunal’s decision to dismissed the petitions of George and Odili because

the APC’s revised notice for the conduct of the party’s primaries outside the stipulated 21 days. He said: “The panel had after several applications filed by PDP to frustrate the suit at the early stage, decided to strike out the suits on grounds of technicalities. “The reason cited by the tribunal is based on section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act 2011 which states that political parties shall give 21 days notice to INEC before their primaries are held to choose their candidates, an Act which APC allegedly did not comply with. “Incidentally, the Electoral Act 2011 under this section did not stipulate any punishment for flouting the said Act."

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro Suspected homosexual, other killed in anti-gay protest

Rasak before his alleged killing

Protesters before the bloody confrontation

BLOODY DEMONSTRATION A suspected gay allegedly crushed a man to death and injured others during a protest against him before being murdered by protesters Taiwo Jimoh

wo persons were killed yesterday during an anti-gay protest at Temidire, Alagbado area of Lagos State. First, a 48-year-old father of five was crushed to death while protesting against a supposed homosexual in the community.

According to witnesses, the deceased, Mr Ganiyu Adebayo, a bricklayer, was crushed to death by the vehicle of the alleged gay, identified simply as Alhaji Tunji Rasak aka Alhaji Gay. The residents were protesting against Rasak’s continued stay in the community. They alleged that he had been ‘raping’ their young boys and terrorising the community with his thugs. The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions. One of the placards reads: “Alhaji Gay must leave our community! We want peace.” When contacted on the phone, the man at the centre of the storm, Rasak, denied all the allegations. This was

shortly before news came that Rasak was also killed in the clash. The protest started last week with the community members angrily storming the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, levelling allegations against Rasak. The protest continued yesterday, but turned bloody, leading to Adebayo’s killing allegedly by Rasak. Adebayo’s remains have been deposited at Ifo General Hospital Mortuary, according to the Baale of the community, Alhaji Najimu Abioye. The protests were led by Abioye. Last week, the protesters submitted a petition to the state Commissioner Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni. Abioye said: “After we re-

ported him to the police without any action being taken, we decided to come together. We staged this second protest. We want the world to know what we are going through in the community. “We were at the Temidire Junction, protesting when he (Rasak) drove pass. I cautioned some of the protesters not to take law into their hands. Unfortunately, he came back to the spot where we were protesting. He came with his thugs and crushed one of us to death. He also injured other protesters.” The Baale alleged that Rasak had raped many young men in the community, and usually move with hired thugs to extort money from traders and the people building houses in the community. He added: “When we confronted him, he claimed he was given the right to act as land agent on behalf of one Abiri family in Sango-Ota. We have been living in this community for over 40 years and had not experienced such wickedness. We cannot sleep with our eyes closed owing to fear of being attacked or killed in our sleep by his thugs.”

It was gathered that the matter had been reported at Alagbado Police Station, but nothing has been done about the complaints, as Rasak allegedly continued to threaten residents with thugs and bragging that the police could not arrest him. Another resident, Chief Ayo Apanisile, said: “We are tired of the man’s threats. He has thugs who work for him when it comes to unleashing mayhem. That is why we are protesting to register our grievances to the Lagos State Government, so that the government can assist us to tame him or curtail his excesses. “He is also a gay. He used to lure some of our youths to his house and asked them to undress and rape them. “We have written several petitions to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the state governor on this matter. We learnt the suspect was chased away from Ibadan, Mushin and Ikorodu. We cannot accommodate him at Alagbado. This is why we are crying out to the authority now.” When contacted to confirm Rasak’s killing, the Baale said he was not aware. He said: “I am just returning from the mortuary where we took the body of Adebayo to.” But the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed in a text message the protest and the killing. He said: “About 11.45am, a distressed call was received that on Tunji Rasak was attacked and injured when he came to the midst of the residents of Temidire, Alagbado who were protesting against the activities of land grabbers. “He was rushed to the General Hospital where he later died. “One other person, whose name is not yet known was also injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment.” The PPRO added that preliminary investigation was ongoing.

Corps members decry non-payment of allowance Tony Anichebe Uyo

S ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

ome National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have decried nonpayment of their allowance for five months. The corps members in Batch ‘C’ made this known in separate interviews with journalists in Eket. The corps members said the local government was supposed

to pay them N5,000 per month. One of them, Emeka Onwuka, serving in Eket Local Government Secretariat, expressed displeasure, saying that the development had caused hardship to corps members. Onwuka said it was difficult for him to feed and transport himself to his place of primary assignment as the money helped him to perform his duties. He said: “I am not happy because they have not been paying us our monthly allowance in Eket Local Government since

March. “We are praying to God everyday that they should pay us because it augments our allowance from the NYSC.” Another corps member, Grace Inyang, expressed disappointment, saying that the development had kept her at home for three months. Inyang said the situation had exposed them to hardship. She added that such action could discourage corps members from discharging their responsibilities effectively.

Corps members at a parade

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

I urinated when robbers threatened to rape me –Student Busola Salawu

23-year-old undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has narrated how she urinated on her body after four armed robbers broke into her room through the window at Agbowo area of Ibadan and threatened to rape her. The victim, Olamide Ogunbanjo, said she prayed fervently and repeatedly recited Psalm 23 while the operation lasted. The lady lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her aunt but, on that fateful day, she was home alone. She said: “I lay down on my bed and prayed. I prayed they would not rape me. At a point, I started urinating on my bed. But I did not mind that I urinated on my body and wet my bed. My main concern was to get out of the situation alive and untouched.” According to her, the four men were able to gain entrance into her room through the window which she had left open the previous night before going to bed. The said she first knew

strangers were in her room when one of the robbers hit her with a stick around 3am, forcing her to wake. She said: “I was asleep in my room when someone suddenly hit my neck with a stick. I woke up, crying out in pains. I looked around and saw strange men staring at me. They surrounded my bed. They said if I make any noise they would shoot me. I had left the sliding windows opened because of poor ventilation in the room.” Ogunbanjo later discovered that the men, in their determination to steal, tore through the window nets. Although the house was fenced, the men entered the premises by scaling the fence, before sighting the lady’s window, which apparently was the only one opened in the compound. She added: “They scaled the fence. We checked the padlock at the gate and discovered that it was not tampered with. This means they could only have gained entrance by scaling the fence.” Ogunbanjo recalled that the robbers promised not to harm her if she cooperated with them. “They gave me two op-

The window through which the robbers entered Ogunbanjo’s room

tions. They said either I lie down on my bed and remain quiet or they would rape and shoot me if I scream or make a noise. My voice shook with fear when I answered them. I chose the first option,” she said. Ogunbanjo, who is a student in the Depart-

ment of Linguistics, said she was shocked because she had never witnessed a robbery before. She said at that point, she was scared. She couldn’t relax until she heard the men escape and fade into the darkness through the same window they had entered.

Vigilantes arrest 12 cultists in Benue communities Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

Benue Gov, Samuel Ortom

vigilance group, assisted by youths, yesterday combed Modern Market Ward area of Makurdi in Benue State and arrested 12 suspected cultists. Cult activities have been on the increase in Makurdi metropolis and its environs, leading to the killing of sev-

eral persons by rival cult groups. The development is causing panic among residents especially those living around Iniongon, Agbouhol, Demekpe, Wadata and North Bank areas of the state capital. The Chairman of the vigilance group at Community Unit 2, Modern Market Ward, Mr Istifanus Tor, explained that the step became imperative to rid the area of cultists

Nigeria must tackle crime from the roots, says DPO Idris Idris

he Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Ben Osuji, in charge of Idimu Police Station, Egbeda, Lagos State, has called on Nigerians to tackle crime and criminality from the roots. Osuji, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), also called on the government to help in providing jobs, which would also help in keeping youths engaged. The DPO, who linked the problems to numerous causative factors, such as peer

group influence, unemployment and upbringing, said Nigeria was in grave danger if crimes such as breaking in and stealing and sexually-related offences were not treated from the roots. According to Osuji, most crimes can be curbed or at least reduced, if government, families and all agencies stand against vices by performing their respective primary assignments for the society. He added: “The government must provide jobs; families must be firm when it comes to child rearing.

Security agencies must be socially responsible for our nation.” Speaking on measures taken by the police to combat crimes, the DPO said: “We work hand in hand with community leaders to organise forums through which youths know what and what not to do. We provide them with tangible work opportunities such as informing them about military and paramilitary recruitment forms, the police form, the need to engage in agriculture as various untapped businesses remain hidden.”

who, according to him, have continued to unleash terror on innocent citizens. Tor added that 16 traditional rulers in communities that make up the ward had, at a meeting, mandated his group and the youth to chase away cult groups from the area. According to him, following the mandate, an ultimatum given to the cultists to renounce their membership of cult groups expired last Sunday. He said: “These boys have been killing people and giving our area a bad name and we do not want that anymore. That is why the 16 chiefs in this ward met and gave us the mandate to chase away cultists from the area. All we are saying is enough is enough for cultists in this place. “That is why we came out today to arrest those who have refused to leave our area. So far, 12 of them have been arrested and handed over to the police while the raid is still ongoing. We expect to arrest more and hand them over to the police.” The state Commissioner of Police, Hyacinth Dagala, who confirmed the arrest of some of the cultists by the vigilantes, said some were already in police net.

City Briefs ‘Planned Egbe-Ikotun Road reconstruction good’

monarch in Lagos has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for deciding to expand and reconstruct the ever-busy Egbe-Ikotun-Isolo Road, which has been abandoned for over 10 years. The Elegbe of Egbeland, Oba Ashimiyu Adebowale Olorunfemi Dada-Otta, gave the commendation while fielding questions from journalists at his palace during the Eid el-Fitri celebration. The traditional ruler said the reconstruction of the road would be the best decision to relieve the people of the area who, according to him, spend at least three to four hours on the road daily. He said: “It was with great relief to hear the governor make the promise to work on the road that has been neglected by the previous administrations. We thank him for the bold move and urge him to fulfil the promise on time to ameliorate the suffering of over six million people that ply the road daily. “The Egbe-Isolo-Ikotun Road is very important to all of us; it will not only boost the commercial activities of the area, but enhance the Egbe industrial estate.” The monarch described the neglect of the road as criminal has brought untold hardship to the people in the communities as a result of which many tenants have to relocate to other areas. He said: “I raised the issue of the road with the former governor, Babatunde Fashola, that he should do our road before the last elections, and all I got was that the government was busy working on Jakande-Ijegun Road, resulting in the abandonment of the road.”

Seadogs donate drugs, food to orphanage Tony Anichebe Uyo

he National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Eket chapter, yesterday donated drugs and other items to Way of the Nation Children’s Centre at Ikot Ibiok in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Donating the drugs on behalf of the association, Dr Kalu Anyan, said the gesture was part of measures to improve the healthcare and wellbeing of the lessprivileged children in the state. The drugs included malaria drugs, deworming expeller, single worm expeller, fully equipped First Aid box. Others were three cartons of noodles, two cartoons of fruit juice, six big rolls of toilet papers, among other. “The programme is reaching out to the less-privileged. We felt we could use one opportunity to achieve two things, by reaching out to the less-privileged children and helping to control common diseases among them in order to improve their health and wellbeing,’’ Anyan said. According to him, the outreach programme under the medical charity of the association is targeting disease that is common and responsible for morbidity among the populace. He added: “We are out to help some of those we consider as less-privileged people in the society. “Today, we single out malaria treatment for children because that is a big challenge, and infestation by worm is the outreach programme focus today.” Also speaking, President of the association, Eket branch, Mr Benjamin Robert, promised to check the less-privileged children quarterly.

News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Police quiz Raji-Rasaki’s aides over fracas at Ekiti tribunal Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

wo loyalists of the senator representing Ekiti central senatorial district, Mrs. Fatima Raji-Rasaki, are being investigated by the police in Ado-Ekiti, over their roles in the fracas that ensued at the venue of the sitting of the state election petitions tribunal about

two weeks ago. The persons, according to police sources, are Ibukun Ayodele and Mrs. Bosede Adeleke, both Raji-Rasaki’s anchor persons during the campaign period. They were arrested by the police at different locations in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend. The suspects were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police Headquarters

where they were interogated for their alleged roles in the violence that rocked the tribunal venue where the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gbenga Olofin, is challenging the election of Mrs. Raji-Rasaki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A source at the command said that they had confessed to being loyalists of Mrs. Raji-Rasaki and also admitted being

present at the venue of the sitting of the tribunal on the said day. The senator has been reportedly invited by the police, but was yet to honour the invitation. The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Alberto Adeyemi, when contacted yesterday said he couldn’t to speak on the matter as he was not in the office. But a source at the State CID, said the two

suspects were later released, but they were expected to report back after the public holiday. “It is true that they were arrested in connection with what happened at the court premises on that day (June 30) but we asked them to go and come back later. “We had to release them because it is against the law to detain somebody beyond 24 hours without charging him to court and we

are not oblivious of the long public holiday. “I just want to plead with you to be patient with us because they must show up again, as we continue our investigation of the incident,” a source said. It was reported that some people unleashed terror on the APC witnesses and members present at the tribunal hearing on June 30 shortly after Olofin closed his case.

Falling education standard due to lack of quality varsity teachers –Osundare Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

L-R: Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West, Archbishop Magnus Atilade and Rev. Samuel Abimbola, at the thanksgiving service for peaceful transition in Lagos State and Nigeria, organised by CAN in Lagos.

rofessor Niyi Osundare of the University of New Orleans, USA, and one of the distinguishing poets in Africa, has attributed the falling education standard in Nigeria to the dearth of mentors in the Nigerian universities. Osundare, a former lecturer at the University of Ibadan, stated this during a luncheon organized in his honour at the Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, by Dr. Lekan Are and his wife, Olabisi, to celebrate his recent conferment with the Nigerian National Order of Merit award. Lack of mentorship as of old, Osundare, said, was one of the problems associated with the gradu-

al collapse of the nation’s educational system, as well as inability to produce quality graduates for the employment market. Osundare also revealed that many Nigerian students were intelligent but that the nation’s education system cheated their intellectual development. “The system cheats the students. I am appealing to the lecturers not to allow the system to cheat them anymore by playing their role properly. The standards have collapsed and there is proliferation in our country today, but the graduates’ quality is low. “I once told a journalist that if I were to be a student in Nigeria of today with the falling standard, I would not have achieved what I achieved today.”

Court affirms Ijaw tradition Osun maintains silence on church’s rice distribution on land ownership Amosun assures community of the state by the church. Adeolu Adeyemo

Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Customary Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital has established the age-long tradition of the Arogbo-Ijaw people in Ese-Odo local government area of the state that stipulates that the earliest settlers on lands are the rightful owners of such lands. The judgment of the Appeal Court made available to New Telegraph exclusively yesterday settled the dispute over who was the owner of a land in the coastal area of the state and also settled the dispute among the same siblings over a parcel of land after the original owner who is the brother to the Appellants had died. The judgment was delivered by Justices Eunice Alade, C.T Adesola-Ikpatt and Michael Owoyemi. The plaintiff was FlorenceAdamaswhilethedefendants were Mr. Government Baijoh, Stella Odongighi and Dimoju Ikoigha. Both the plaintiff and defendants were siblings. Adams Driver who was

the original owner of the land had died some years ago prompting his brothers to want to dispossess his children who are the new owners by inheritance the ownership of the land. However, late Adam’s sister, Florence Adams who sued on behalf of the late Adams Driver children asked the court to affirm that her late brother was the owner of the land being the first person that disvirgined the land. Through her lawyer, E.E Ojubulu, she claimed that her late brother became the owner of the land by Customary Right of Occupancy in Egbesubiri in Arogbo, after he deforested the land.

Osogbo

sun State Government yesterday turned down the request to comment on the distribution of food materials including rice undertaken by the Winners Chapel Church, in Osogbo at the weekend. When contacted for government comment on the development in a telephone conversation, Director, Bureau of Communication to the governor, Mr. Semiu okanlawon, said he had no comment. It was observed that muslims and other worshipers in Osun State, stormed the church for the Sunday Worship and benefitted from a trailer load of rice distributed to people

Presiding Bishop of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo, had two weeks ago said that the church headquaters would send rice and other food items to the state. It was learnt that woshippers had arrived the church in Osogbo, as earlier as 7.00 a.m in compliance with the directive of the church authority’s announcement that, it would distribute food items to people of the state to cushion the hardship brought about by the non-paymant of salaries by the state government. Female Muslims who were in the church wore their hijabs not minding that they were not christains.

of project completion

he Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has assured the people of Remo community and Ogun State in general that all the on-going projects embarked upon by his administration would soon be completed. The governor, represented by his Deputy Chief Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, stated this in a goodwill message at the 25th Coronation Anniversary thanksgiving of His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, the Paramount Ruler and Akarigbo of Remoland. The Governor re-affirmed that the state gov-

ernment has paid the salaries of its workforce up to date in spite of limited resources at the disposal of the state, pledging that his administration would continue to strive to reposition the state economy for meaningful opportunities. In his sermon, the Bishop of Methodist Diocese of Remo Central; Rt. Rev. Gboyega Ohu, described the event as a celebration of divine favour upon the Paramount Ruler, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo and the entire people of Remo land, urging the monarch to prioritize God in all his dealings.

Bail-out: Buhari didn’t breach constitution –NBA chair Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Chairman, Ikere Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Bunmi Olugbade, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari, did not breach any provision of the constitution by the

release of the $2.1 billion bail-out funds to all the three tiers of government to ameliorate their financial problems. Olugbade, a former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, said the constitution empowers the President to act in time of emergency to meet the needs of Nigerians.

He also said the release of the money, taken from the profits of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, (NLNG), without recourse to the National Assembly, was in order. Speaking in a telephone chat yesterday, Olugbade, described as mere misrepresentation of facts, the feelings in

some quarters, decrying Buhari, for not resorting to the National Assembly for the appropriation of the money before sharing it among the three tiers of government. The ex-lawmaker, however, pointed out that Section 6 subsection 6 (b) of the constitution empowers any Nigerian to chal-

lenge any government’s policy in court on issues of rights and obligations. He added that whoever was contesting Buhari’s action should be doing so within the ambit of the law, warning that such persons should not be condemned but rather be accorded the freedom to do so.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Buhari

Power tussle

Nigeria committed to good governance, fighting terror

UPN: One party, two chairmen

Parliament

Echoes from Sunshine State

Politics These may not be the best of times for former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), as the Department of State Services (DSS) has accused him of treasonable felony. EMMANUEL ONANI reports

The ‘trial’ of Dasuki Case against Dasuki l Treasonable felony

l l l l l l

vents of Thursday, July 16, will certainly remain a sore point in the military and political careers of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). If anything, the prince of the Sokoto Caliphate may wish that the sordid experience was a dream that never came to pass. Alas, Thursday’s invasion of No. 13 John Kadiya, Asokoro, Abuja, home of former NSA to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), may just be an ominous precursor to what the state intends to put him through, if a statement from the DSS late Saturday night, is to be subjected to logical interpretation. Dasuki, who was relieved of his position alongside former Service Chiefs last Monday, had his home searched by secret service personnel, who occupied the expansive residence till the early hours of Friday. The paradox here is that the son of the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, occupied the exalted office of NSA for three years, during which he exercised enormous constitutional power over the same secret service. The travail, the retired Colonel lamented, literally prevented him from fully observing the Eid-ElFitri celebration, even as reports had quoted sources close to him

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Dasuki

as saying the action of the DSS bore the imprint and insignia of “witch hunt.” A newspaper quoted Dasuki as explaining, in an exclusive telephone interview, that: “the SSS operatives came in two trucks with a search warrant from a Magistrate Court. The warrant gave them the power to search for ‘illegal weapons and any incriminating item.’ You can imagine what that is supposed to mean. “I left office on Tuesday and they got the warrant on Wednesday and executed it by 6p.m. on Thursday. “From 6pm on Thursday, throughout the night till about 6a.m. (Friday), they were searching my house looking for incriminating items. “They restricted my movement. I cannot go out and no one can visit me. All those who attempted to see me were stopped

What could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars?

from doing so. “In fact, my son was blocked from entering my residence. My two cooks, who used to come from their homes to prepare my meals, were also disallowed from leaving my house. “The only person allowed was the man who feeds my dogs. And he only related with the dogs. “By Friday morning, they packed away all the nine cars in my residence. I could not go out to perform the Eid-el-Fitr prayer because of the restriction. Even when I sought permission to go to Eid Praying Ground, they promised to provide a vehicle but they never did.” He was quoted to have added that: “this is just a witch-hunt; they are desperately looking for something to implicate me. “They went to my father’s house including breaking into the ceiling to look for incriminating

Recovered items Five new bullet proofs vehicles Seven new exotic vehicles Seven high calibre rifles Several magazines Military related gears High assault weapons

documents. They broke a safe in my father’s house. “Also, my sister kept a 20-year old box in my father’s house, they also forced it open. What has my father got to do with this? “And the old man is in hospital in London. He was shocked to hear that they broke into his house. The good thing is that they did not find anything.” There were also reports that the former NSA’s international passport, was seized, ostensibly to prevent him from travelling outside the country. While this lasted, many had speculated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, may be interested in knowing how huge funds released for the procurement of military hardware and equipment, were expended. The ex-NSA was said to be largely responsible for the purchase of arms and ammunition, when the Jonathan administration resolved to strengthen its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the North-East, by upgrading available equipment, which were considered obsolete. It will be recalled that the former security adviser’s office, was said to have authorised the $9. 3 million cash-for-arms deal in South Africa. The deal went awry. However, the DSS, which had been silent while the controversy surrounding its men’s search on Dasuki’s home lasted, came out with a late night statement on Saturday, where it explained its action. The Service, in a statement signed by Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said the decision to search Dasuki’s Abuja residence was a fallout of an intelligence report of an alleged plan by the former NSA, to commit “treasonable felony” against the Nigerian State. It further noted that the action CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari: Nigeria committed to good governance, fighting terror President Muhammadu Buhari, in this article published on Monday in Washington Post, writes on his quest to tackle corruption and terrorism. He also said his cabinet will be in place by September

his month, the world moved a step closer to the defeat of Boko Haram, the jihadist group that has terrorised hundreds of thousands in the northern states of Nigeria. In one of my first acts since taking office as president six weeks ago, I have replaced the heads of Nigeria’s army, navy and air force. Our new military leadership has not been chosen because of their familiarity with those in government, as was too often the case in the past, but on their track records and qualifications alone. These new military leaders will be based in Borno State in northern Nigeria, where the headquarters of the armed services has been relocated. This shift of resources and command directly to the front line, in addition to the replacement of the head of the State Security Service, Nigeria’s intelligence organisation, and a new emphasis on working in partnership with our neighbours, has equipped us to take the fight directly to Boko Haram. Already we are beginning to see a degrading of Boko Haram’s capabilities as a fighting force. In recent weeks, it appears to have shifted away from confronting the military directly to an increase in attacks on civilian areas, as we saw only last week when an elderly woman and 10-year-old girl blew themselves up at a Muslim prayer gathering in North-Eastern Nigeria. We should not be confused by this change, hateful as it is: It does not mean that Boko Haram is succeeding in its aims – it shows that it is losing. While we work to defeat the terrorists, I ask the people of Nigeria and the world for resolve and fortitude. The campaign we will wage will not be easy; it may not be swift. We should expect stages of success and also mo-

Buhari

ments when it may appear that our advances have been checked. But no one should have any doubt as to the strength of our collective will or my commitment to rid this nation of terror and bring back peace and normalcy to all affected areas. Similarly, my determination should not be underestimated in other matters. This includes instilling good governance and tackling the scourge of corruption that has held Nigeria back for too long. As I meet with President Obama today (Monday) – the first time a president of the United States will encounter a Nigerian counterpart following the peaceful transfer of power in a contested election in our history – I will be discussing my plans for critical reforms. So, too, will I discuss why the formation of my administration is taking time and, crucially, why it must. Already there are voices saying these changes are taking too long – even though only six weeks have passed since my inauguration. I hear such calls, but this task cannot and should not be rushed. When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full Cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim. In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the

Obama

I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen

interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place. I cannot stress how important it is to ensure that this process is carried out correctly, just as it has been crucial to first install the correct leadership of the military and security services before we fully take the fight to Boko Haram. There are too few examples in the history of Nigeria since independence where it can be said that good management and governance were instituted at a national level. This lack of a governance framework has allowed many of those in charge, devoid of any real checks and balances, to plunder. The fact that I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts on behalf of former, corrupt officials is testament to how badly Nigeria has been run. This way of conducting our affairs cannot continue. Indeed, the failure of governance, it can be argued, has been as much a factor in Nigeria’s inability thus far to defeat Boko Haram as have been issues with the military campaign itself. So the path we must take is simple, even if it is not easy: First, instil rules and good governance; second, install officials who are experienced and capable

of managing state agencies and ministries; and third, seek to recover funds stolen under previous regimes so that this money can be invested in Nigeria for the benefit of all of our citizens. We seek the support and partnership of the United States in these tasks. The importance of the fight against terrorism and corruption in Nigeria, Africa’s most powerful economy and largest populace, cannot be underestimated. Our allies can provide much-needed military training and intelligence as our soldiers take the war effort to Boko Haram. Similarly, we look to U.S. businesses as well as the Obama administration to help develop governance initiatives that can ensure that Nigeria’s wealth benefits all its people, not just a few. By taking these steps, we will be positioned to benefit from increased investment – particularly in energy and electricity – from the United States. I was elected on a platform of change. I know this is what the people of Nigeria desire more than anything else. I know they are impatient for action. I realise the world waits to see evidence that my administration will be different from all those that came before. Yet reforming my country after so many years of abuse cannot be achieved overnight. In our campaigns against both Boko Haram and corruption, we should remain steadfast and remember, as it is said: “Have patience. All things become difficult before they become easy.”

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

WALE ELEGBEDE writes that the battle for the soul of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) is getting fiercer by the day as the party now parades two national chairmen

UPN: One party, two chairmen disagreement in the leadership hierarchy of the party over who to endorse for the now concluded 2015 presidential elections. While Fasehun made no secret of his intention to pull the UPN weight behind the candidature of former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, the other faction preferred that the party pitch its tent with the APC. Thus, the long stretched battle for the soul of UPN, perhaps took its root from the politics of endorsement for the 2015 polls.

he decision to resuscitate the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the wake of the 2015 general elections by a group of politicians led by Dr. Frederick Fasehun, raised eyebrow from many quarters. In fact, many clearly described it as an effort in futility owing to the weight and influence the ‘original’ UPN under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo commanded in the Second Republic. UPN in Second Republic Regarded as an offshoot of the old Action Group (AG), the formation of the UPN in 1978 under the political leadership of Awolowo, elicited much delight in the advent of the Second Republic especially in the South-West. Expectedly, the party held sway in the region and became dominant due to its strategic and coherent plan of action during the electioneering of 1979 general elections. Expectedly, the UPN inherited its ideological leanings and structure from the AG and it had its focal areas on social democracy and promotion of free education, thereby earning a reputation as a welfarist party with many notable adherents spread across the country. The party puts smiles on the faces of citizens through its cardinal programmes, namely: free education, free health, gainful employment, rural integration and development and functional transportation system. However, with the political impasse and confusion that trailed the Second Republic, the military coup of December 31, 1983, sacked the political and constitutional process and as such, UPN and its other political peers had to go under. The Resuscitation Nearly 30 years after the proscription of the Awolowo-led UPN by the military, the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fasehun alongside other associates initiated process to revive the UPN. Fasehun’s move, however, wasn’t a smooth ride as his effort to bring back Awolowo’s political platform invoked resentment especially from some of the late sage’s disciples who queried the appropriateness of the Fasehun who was never known to have any tutelage under Awolowo to revive one of Awolowo’s legacies. Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) berated the resuscitation championed by Fasehun, saying it was another conspiracy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause disaffection in the South-West ahead of the now concluded 2015 election. Similarly, issues were raised in some quarters about the incursion of Fasehun’s OPC, a pan-Yoruba self-determination group, into politics. Interestingly, the Independent National Independent Commis-

Fasehun

Okuwa

sion (INEC) disregarded the tirade against the reinvention of UPN and by April 2014, the electoral commission registered the party with Fasehun listed as the national chairman. INEC also approved the constitution, manifesto, logo and the list of national executive officers of the party. The revolt Signs of a crack within the UPN started manifesting less than six months after its registration. The cord that bound members of the executive, which prior to the registration of the party had christened the UPN as the next big thing in party politics in Nigeria could only last for a while. Interestingly, the revolt against the leadership of Fasehun came from members of his kitchen cabinet, who described him as an undemocratic leader who only believes in imposition. The insurrection against Fasehun was led by the duo of the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Manzo Abubakar and the National Publicity Secretary, Adedeji Salau The first crossfire between Fasehun and his former allies was over the legitimacy of the party’s first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in 2014. While Fasehun described the NEC meeting and its resolution as illegal, the Salau-led faction rubbished the meeting because it held without his permission, saying that the OPC founder was steering the wheel of the party in a direction different from the philosophy of the late sage. Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Salau, who was a former Chairman of Somolu Local Government, said Fasehun transferred his authoritarian tendencies used in running the OPC to the UPN as against the mechanism of democratic ethos. He said: “Dr. Fasehun has no lesson to teach anyone on democracy and is not capable of condemning anyone for ‘selectocracy’ because this is his trademark. The UPN will forever be grateful for the initial contribution of Dr. Fasehun to register the party but

The long stretched battle for the soul of the UPN, perhaps took its root from the politics of endorsement for the 2015 polls

he drastically needs to make a Uturn from the delusion that he as chairman, he could do as he likes.” Moving beyond mere castigation of its chairman, the aggrieved members announced the indefinite suspension of Fasehun, just as it elevated Abubakar, to the position of its Acting Chairman. Irked by moves to get rid of him, Fasehun said the crisis rocking the party was the handiwork of moles planted to prevent UPN from flourishing after its resuscitation. He said: “Things began to go wrong when those in a section within the party, led by Messrs Teju Olateju, the National Organising Secretary and Adedeji Salau, the National Publicity Secretary thought they had found an ATM machine, where they slotted in falsehood and money would flow out for them to embezzle. When they were cautioned and directed to follow due process, that is, that money coming into the party must follow the constitutionally-stipulated channels, they revolted. “These people claiming to have suspended or sacked me from UPN are being sponsored and used against me and majority of other party’s exco and ordinary party members who are with me by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. “These people met with Atiku in Abuja and he gave them an initial sum of N10 million to go and look for a building to be rented as party secretariat. I challenged Atiku to deny my allegations. I make bold to say Atiku is behind these rebels in UPN and I challenge Atiku to disprove my claim. I have strong evidence linking him with the plot to hijack UPN.” While denying allegations of highhandedness and dictatorship in his leadership of the party, Fasehun said anyone who accuses him of being a dictator at the age of 79 was only dressing him borrowed robes, adding that he is addicted to democracy and its ethics. Politics of endorsement For many, it is believed that the string of crisis within the party was actually orchestrated by the

Battle of congresses After the 2015 polls, the two factions returned to the trenches, this time over who control the party’s executive. While the Fasehun’s faction insisted that its Lagos national convention is the recognised congress by INEC, the splinter group claims that the electoral body gave its nod to the Kaduna’s congress that produced Prof. Bankole Okuwa. Speaking for the Fasehun’s faction, the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Adeoye Jolaosho, stated that “By virtue of the first UPN national convention held at the Yard 158 Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the pioneer national chairman of the party, was returned to the position.” He said the election of Fasehun as well as other members of the National Executive Council (NEC) complied with Article II Section 7(2) of the party’s constitution, which stipulates that: “The National Convention shall elect the… National Officers of the party each of whom shall hold office for a maximum of four years or for such other lesser duration as the National Convention may fix but shall be eligible for re-election.” While describing Okuwa as a stranger in the party, Jolaosho said, “We have never seen this pretender, the so-called Prof. Okuwa, the supposed new national chairman at any UPN meeting. He has never been registered as a member of the party, talk more of being a member of our national executive, or becoming the national chairman.” Defending his factional mandate, Okuwa stated that Fasheun should stop parading himself as the national chairman of the party, stating that the party’s convention which was held in March in Kaduna and supervised by the INEC produced him as the national chairman. Okuwa said: “INEC has just confirmed my election and pronounced me as the national chairman, but we have issues concerning former national chairman, Dr Fasheun who is parading himself as the national chairman while he has been removed. He is not recognised by INEC so he should stop the impersonation.” He added further that: “I just appeal to him to respect himself. He is an elderly person. I was elected by all the 36 state chapters on March 6, which is the birthday of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and what we had to do was to wait for INEC to act on that. They sent their officials to supervise the election and they were satisfied and the report CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

Buhari

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buratai

Daura

The ‘trial’ of Dasuki C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

was a proactive move to nip the alleged plan in the bud. The statement insisted that operatives were armed with a validly issued and signed search warrant. This is even it said the operation lasted till the early hours of Friday, because of the alleged uncooperative disposition of Dasuki, who may be contemplating a legal action against the Service. DSS “incriminating” finding The DSS added that “incriminating” items recovered from the search operation, included five bullet proof cars and many assault weapons. According to the Secret Service: “On 16th July, 2015, about 1650 hours, based on credible intelligence linking the immediate past NSA, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col Rtd) with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col Rtd). The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State. “The search operations was planned to be simultaneously conducted, but Dasuki, refused the operatives entry into his main residence located at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite being presented with a genuine and duly signed search warrant. Consequently, what was to last not more than two hours, lasted more than 10 hours, up till the early hours of 17th July, 2015. “Indeed, if not for the sense of maturity and professionalism of the officers and men assigned this task and the very good understanding and timely intervention of the new Chief of Army Staff, Tsukur Y. Buratai (Maj Gen), there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and Service

operatives, as Sambo directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the subsisting court order. Sambo thereafter raised a false alarm to the military authorities to come to his aid as he failed to correctly tell the military that his property was about to be legitimately searched. “Gentlemen, please recall that Sambo retired from the Army as a Colonel, and therefore not entitled to have military guards, if not for the fact he was NSA. Even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been entitled. “The search was thoroughly conducted, and several items recovered, among which were some incriminating items. These include seven high calibre rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines and military related gears. “The team also recovered 12 new vehicles, out of which five were bullet proofs. These vehicles which are all exotic vehicles were retrieved from Sambo’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership. For instance, what could he be doing with five bullet proof cars as a retired NSA? These cars which from all available evidence were purchased

The ex-NSA was said to be largely responsible for the purchase of arms and ammunition

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

was adopted. I can tell you affirmatively that there is no division in the party. Fasehun should accept the fact that he is no longer the national chairman of the UPN,” said Okuwa. Scramble for INEC’s recognition Lately, the two factions have turned the INEC’s headquarters in Abuja to their party secretariat as they slug it out to get the assent of the electoral body on their respective list of officers from the two congresses held. According to Sokoto, who is the factional National Secretary of the party, the list of the new executives of the party that emanated from its first national convention held in Kaduna from March 6 to 7, where Prof. Okuwa was elected as UPN’s new National Chairman was forwarded and accepted by INEC.

with taxpayers’ money, were being kept for possible sinister enterprise. “The Service would want to state categorically that this search operation is not a witch-hunt. The Service decided to move at this time in line with current management resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days. The Service is also aware that the lethal arms and the vehicles recovered were not reflected in Sambo’s handover notes or what could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars which put together could disrupt the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while. “On the search of his three (3) properties, including the Sokoto residence, the Service is aware that in his capacity and given his antecedents, he might decide to use any of his residences for such diabolical plans, rather than his main residence.” Falana justifies action Meanwhile, human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has justified the search on Dasuki’s residence. Falana stated that the security

agency did not breach any law in carrying out the operations. Falana noted that the fundamental rights to personal liberty and privacy of the home of every Nigerian citizen are constitutionally guaranteed, but that such rights are not absolute. He said the fundamental rights may be breached in accordance with a procedure permitted by law. According to him, by virtue of section 146 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the residence of any citizen can be searched with a warrant duly signed by a Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace. His words: “Section 149 thereof imposes a duty on any person residing in any building which is liable to be searched to allow free and unhindered access to it and afford all reasonable facilities for its search. “It is pertinent to point out that the law requires the owner or occupier of any house or apartment to allow a search once a search warrant signed by the appropriate authority is produced by law enforcement personnel. “Without any legal basis whatsoever, Col. Dasuki breached the law when he refused to allow the SSS officials “free and unhindered access” to his residence for several hours last Thursday. “Contrary to the misleading information circulated in the media by the former NSA, his house was not illegally raided but lawfully searched pursuant to a warrant issued by a Magistrate. Since we operate a neo-colonial legal system which confers special privileges on people of influence, Col. Dasuki was treated with dignity in the circumstance. “In other words, the SSS personnel would have executed the warrant, rather forcefully, if the search involves the home of an “ordinary” citizen. Indeed, the special status extended to members of the ruling class has also been demonstrated in the decision of the SSS to place the retired Colonel under “house arrest” in a country where the flotsam and the jetsam are regularly railroaded to jail even when they are not associated with any “incriminating evidence!” The offence of treasonable felony is one that attracts life imprisonment upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction. As it is, a case is expected to be filed in court against Dasuki on felony. The days ahead promise to be turbulent for the once powerful NSA.

UPN: One party, two chairmen He noted that the convention was held in accordance with the provisions of Section 3, sub-section 1.2 (Election of Officers) of the party’s constitution, adding that the information is also contained in a letter sent to INEC by the party, receipt of which was acknowledged on April 21, by the electoral body. However, Fasehun dismissed Sokoto’s report of having their list ratified by INEC, saying that, “INEC has no reason to recognise them. That will be a flagrant disobedience to the constitution of the land. I have the certificate for the registration of the party and I am still the chairman of the party. “I do not think that anything like that can happen and I am telling you I was not notified as the national chairman of the party.”

The clash of septuagenarians Interestingly, the two gladiators slugging it out for the chair of the UPN are in their 70s. Both Fasehun and Okuwa are septuagenarians. While 79 years old Fasehun, a medical doctor needs no introduction owing to its political antecedent, his counterpart, Okuwa , who is 74 years old, served as legislator in the first Ogun State House of Assembly during the Second Republic under the late Governor Olabisi Onabanjo. After that, he was pioneer head of Department of Political Science, Ogun State University and political adviser to Nigerian delegation to 47th United Nations’ general assembly session, in New York in 1992. He was also a visiting professor at the Department of Political Science at the Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Echoes from Sunshine State Security agents are on the trail of two lawmakers in Ondo State House of Assembly for presenting themselves to be sworn in by the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Jumoke Akindele. While the lawmakers, Abayomi Akinruntan and Malachi Coker, said they committed no offence, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) differed. BABATOPE OKEOWO examines the legal and political controversies rocking the state

major political and legal controversy have broken out in Ondo State following the swearing-in of two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abayomi Akinruntan and Malachi Coker, as lawmakers representing Ilaje constituency 1 and 11 in the state House of Assembly. The lawmakers, who contested the April 11 House of Assembly election in the oil-producing area of the state, were among other 23 sworn in by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Princess Jumoke Akindele, who had earlier been sworn in by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu. The 26 lawmakers were representatives of different constituencies in the state. The issue The crux of the controversy was the allegation by the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidates in the election, Gbenga Edema and David Akingboye, that the PDP candidates did not possess Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before they were sworn in as members of the State House of Assembly. The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, sowed the seed of discord on April 12 when he did not declare the results of the Ilaje constituency 1 and 11 because of the violence that characterised the election in the area. He had said the results of the two constituencies in the volatile local government were put on hold until the national headquarters of the commission makes pronouncement on them. Agbaje said: “The violence in Ilaje led to the cancellation in several polling units with total registered voters that have effect

Akindele

Coker

on the final result if elections were not cancelled in those polling units. “The Returning Officers for Ilaje constituency 1 and 11 were forced to declare the results under duress by armed thugs even though the cancelled polling units could affect the final result. The Returning Officers in separate reports to REC declared the results of Ilaje 1 constituency 1 and Ilaje constituency 11 inconclusive because the outcome of the cancelled votes could change the final results accordingly.” Mimiko reacts However, Governor Olusegun Mimiko asked INEC to declare the result of the election held in the two constituencies of the riverine Ilaje Local Government Area of the state. Mimiko warned the REC against tampering with the victory of the two candidates of the PDP at the Assembly election in the local government. The governor said the REC has no power to tamper with the victory of the PDP candidates in the election, adding that whoever that is not comfortable with the outcome of the election has the option of going to the tribunal. His words: “As far as we are concerned, strictly in compliance with the electoral act, results have been collated for Ilaje Constituencies 1 and 2. The results have been declared and result sheets signed by the appropriate returning officers. “As far as we know, there is nothing inconclusive about the election. The results have been collated, declared, signed and delivered for the candidates that were returned in Ilaje 1 and 2 constituencies, so we don’t know anything about inconclusiveness; elections have been concluded. What we know is that once elections have been concluded and results relayed, anybody that has any complain should go to the tribunal.” APC, PDP head for tribunal Displeased with the outcome

While the session was going on at the tribunal, the lawmakers... abandoned their vehicles and escaped through the rear gate of the High Court

Akinruntan

of the election results announced by the electoral umpire, the APC candidates in the two constituencies asked the Election Petition Tribunal to upturn the victory of PDP candidates at the polls. Other APC and PDP candidates in other constituencies also followed suit in asking for setting aside the results of the elections. The petitioners included Festus Aregbesola from Akure South constituency 1 against his PDP’s counterpart, Kemisola Adesanya and PDP’s Adeniyi Adetokunbo against Dr. Kazeem Suleiman of APC from Akoko South. Others included Abayomi Ode of the PDP against his APC’s counterpart, Mukaila Ayinde from Owo constituency 11 and Gbenga Edema of APC against his PDP’s counterpart, Coker Malachi from Ilaje 2. Others are PDP’s Kunle Adejuyigbe from Akure South 1 against Sunday Olajide of the APC and Adeyinka Banso of PDP from Akoko North West 1 against his APC counterpart. Similarly, the APC petitioners included that of Akingboye David of Ilaje 1, Smart Omotadewa of Idanre, Akintunde Folajimi of Ondo West 2, Olamide Adesanmi of Ondo East and Olumuyiwa Ojo of Akoko North East state constituencies. The PDP candidates who were declared winners in the election are Abayomi Akinruntan of Ilaje 1, Akintehinwa Tuyi of Idanre, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu of Ondo West 2, Siji Akindiose of Ondo East and Fatai Olotu of Akoko Northeast state constituencies. APC fires another petition Despite the ongoing litigation at the tribunal, the APC candidates for the two constituencies petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS) asking the two lawmakers to be arrested for impersonation as they were wrongfully sworn in as lawmakers of the eighth Assembly.

The APC also called for the arrest and prosecution of the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Assembly, for alleged conspiracy and compromise to swear in Akinruntan and Coker. The party’s spokesperson, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “It is illegal for these two gentlemen to be sworn in as members of the State House of Assembly without Certificate of Return from INEC. When a candidate is elected as a member of the National or State Assembly, a Certificate of Return is issued in the name of the contestant by INEC, which the Clerk of the Assembly will confirm before performing oaths of office and allegiance, which in turn will be in the custody of the Speaker of the House for record purposes. In the case of these two gentlemen, they have not followed the due process.” Police’s foiled arrest The matter came to its head at the venue of the tribunal when the duo of Akinruntan and Coker were fortunate to have escaped being arrested by the police. An order to effect the arrest of the two lawmakers was said to have come from the Inspector-General of Police and policemen drawn from ‘A’ Division Akure besieged the premises while the duo were attending the sitting in their petitions in which they were respondents. When the officer sent from the IGP approached the two lawmakers and communicated to them what he was commissioned to do, the lawmakers, it was gathered, told the officers that they could not go with them at the moment and that they should allow the tribunal to rise and thereafter they could leave. While the session was going on at the tribunal, the lawmakers were strategising on how to leave the venue discretely. They outsmarted the police as they abandoned their vehicles and escaped through the rear gate of the High Court, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Restore military checkpoints Adewale Kupoluyi

few weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the removal of all the military checkpoints put in place nationwide in the wake of the onslaught by the Boko Haram sect. The president, who gave the directive during a meeting with the service chiefs, noted that the decision was meant to eradicate the hardships being experienced by commuters and motorists due to the existence of the checkpoints. Since then, Nigerians have received the decision with mixed feelings in view of the increased and recent attacks carried out by suicide bombers in many cities of the North such as those that occurred in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau and Yobe states, thereby fuelling fears that the insurgents might have exploited the opportunity of checkpoint removal to be launching further attacks on the nation. Those against the dismantling feel that the reversal would encourage terrorists, armed bandits and criminalminded persons to have a field day in terms of unhindered movement, hence further jeopardising the already parlous security situation in the country, others are of the opinion that it was a wrong move to keep the checkpoints for a number of reasons. The first argument in support of the removal

is that it would ease traffic on major routes by reducing the untold hardship such checkpoints often caused road users. This position also tallies with the rationale given by the presidential order. Secondly, it is believed that the presence or absence made little security difference as the operatives never engaged in any thorough search that could lead to the arrests and seizure of arms. Rather, Boko Haram members were believed to have variously attacked checkpoints, killed operatives and carted away arms and ammunition. Thirdly, heavy presence of the military is said to create an impression that the country is still under a military rule, which should be seen as an aberration under a civil democracy. Driving past series of checkpoints manned by soldiers is considered as odd, except for a nation that is mired in deep turbulence. Lastly, objects used to block the roads have been blamed for unnecessarily reducing the number of lanes that could be used by motorists, thereby creating heavy traffic build up making travelling avoidably risky, boring, challenging and frightening. For instance, it was cited that there are almost 30 checkpoints located between Badagry in Lagos State and nearby Seme border post in the Republic of Benin, which ordinarily is just a distance of about 20 kilometres! Honestly, the order by President Bu-

hari that military checkpoints should be dismantled is understandable, sensitive and appreciated, based on the imperative of making the movement of roadusers less cumbersome and the premise that the job of internal security actually belongs to the police since the military have enough to cope with in safeguarding sovereignty of the nation but the truth is that the Nigeria Police Force, as presently constituted, is incapable of providing adequate internal security for the nation. It is logical to advise that in trying to ameliorate the suffering of the people, though laudable, the government should not be seen as throwing away the baby with the bath water. On announcing the scrapping of the checkpoints, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, had stressed that the additional 158 patrol vehicles would be deployed across the country to fill any security vacuum that may occur with the removal of military checkpoints. This may not be assuring enough because the issue of fighting terrorism and national security go beyond the acquisition of additional operational vehicles. Therefore, the complete taking-off of the military from the responsibility of internal security appears too sudden and dangerous for the country. If this would have to be done, it is better to make it a gradual process. Many vulnerable flash points still remain in several parts of the country that cannot be left unsecured

without the military. We should not forget to realize that the reason why military operatives were involved in internal security in the first place may not be too far from the fact that the NPF has to contend with the challenge of adequate personnel and its inability to effectively protect lives and property, especially with the introduction of terrorism into the nation’s security landscape. Hence, no vacuum should be created with the removal of checkpoints such that insurgents would deceptively take advantage of the situation to further launch more deadly attacks. The President’s directive to re-focus the military on its primary duty of national defence is ideal but given the present dire security situation in the country, before the military is totally disengaged from internal policing, certain measures should be put in place in order not to expose the citizens to greater and undue danger. To begin with, the government should adequately fund the police to enable the institution perform its constitutional role by patrolling the nooks and crannies of the nation using more of intelligence system, tactics and effective surveillance. The police should be better motivated and strengthened. •Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, @AdewaleKupoluyi, adewalekupoluyi.blogspot.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The agony of bullion vans on our roads GONE are the days when financial instititions transfer hard currencies from one institution to another almost unnoticed, the seemingly inexorable rise in crime over the years and the fear of the uncertainty has made financial institutions to adopt stringent security measures in the transfer of large sums of money from one location to another. And one of such measures is the use of bullion vans with retinue of police escorts. In more organized climes, cash less policies have made transactions very easy and convenient, all transactions and purchases are made through the use of credit cards, cheques and direct transfers from one account to another. This has greatly limited the flow of hard currencies from one location to another in such climes but here in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. The nature of our economy and other factors have made cashless policy an impossible a task. The nature of our economy is cash driven and since cash is used in almost all our transactions, the demand for cash most times warrants the movement of cash from one location to another. There's hardly a day in a week that will pass by without the wails of sirens of bullion vans and their

retinue of escorts transferring cash from one location to another. One won't be concerned if such movements are done in an orderly way. But the way they ply the roads with their over bloated escorts makes one wonder if we are in a siege. On the road, they harass and intimidate other motorists. They don't obey traffic lights neither do they exercise patience in gridlock, they must find their way out. If it's possible to ride on people's cars to get to their destinations, these security escorts wouldn't mind, they don't care about the pains they subject motorists and other road users to. On daily basis they exhibit their lawlessness on our roads through the firing of gun shots into the air to scare motorists away, at other times they use sticks to hit on cars they think are obstructing traffic or use their whips on such drivers. Road users are not left out too. Most times in trying to avoid the convoy, motorists end up involving themselves in serious accidents. Scores of other road users have also bemoaned their losses over such inexcusable acts from security escorts of financial institutions. • Joe Onwukeme (unjoeratedjoe@gmail.com)

A word for Eghagha DEAR Professor Hope Eghagha, Greetings In the village setting, children are not allowed to talk when elders are talking. But in the intellectual arena, a preceptor will never be pleased if the students are not asking questions based on his or her tutorials. The latter is the reason I have found it optimum to write you in respect to my belief in Karma, which perhaps contravenes your belief of the ‘Almighty God’. I believe you must have come across the sentence which states that when Confucius (551–479 BC; a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history) was asked about death, he replied: “Why do you ask me about death when you do not know how to live?” In one reasoning, I had said that the professor whom you have been mourning his murderous demise might be a victim of Karma; something you rebuffed and opined that the killers ought not be the payers of any wrong of the persona. You said that all wrongs must be left for the ‘Almighty God’ to reward.

Sir, while you are very much entitled to your opinion and views, I want to conflict that our deeds should be left to the ‘Almighty God’. Juxtaposing to that I want us to believe that the referral to the ‘Almighty God’ is axiomatic in the sense that our natural concept of human existence is that ‘what you sow you reap’. Karma is existential in both animate and inanimate objects. You propagate yam you get yam, you sow rice you get rice… It is not left for the ‘Almighty God’ to give cocoyam when one planted yam. ‘What you sow you reap’ whether in the world before or in the world now. Please, I would counsel that you do not see my perception to supporting the killers of the professor. No. I do not support their act. It is odious. I’m only exhuming the spiritual perception of what perhaps led to the ruinous termination of the professor whom I can attest to that you have been mourning for as I could sense on your Facebook timeline. Assuming that the professor was paid by Karma, how his killers treated him is also left for Karma to treat.

As a student of ‘The Karma Club’, Jessica Brody lectures: “Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can't get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don't care who you are. What goes around comes around. That's how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.” This is Karma at work! In the Igbo spiritual etymology we believe that when a man builds a nice, homely and comely home, he will eventually reincarnate into such a home. The reverse is also the case. Stephan A. Hoeller (Tau Stephanus, Gnostic Bishop) in the work "The Gnostic World View: A Brief Summary of Gnosticism" surmises in the following about Salvation: 1. Evolutionary forces alone are insufficient, however, to bring about spiritual freedom. Humans are caught in a predicament consisting of physical existence combined with ignorance of their true origins, their essential nature and their ultimate destiny. • Odimegwu Onwumere, Port-Harcourt.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EDITORIAL

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

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

A media partner of

Sanctity of Truth

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Strange security votes in higher institutions

he increasing level of impunity and financial recklessness in the nation’s tertiary institutions, especially in public institutions of learning in the recent times, will continue to raise concern and cast aspersion on the integrity of the management of these institutions. This unguarded profligacy as a matter of exigency should be nipped in the bud, for the system to play its leading role in the scheme of national development. Such mismanagement of funds by the administrators of the institutions is so massive that despite the government’s huge investments and exter nal g rants from various channels, the system has failed over the years to muster or marshal plans that will take the country to its socio-economic and industrial plain. It is, however, a misnomer that in the 21st Century, our higher institutions are still buried in corrupt practices, to the extent, that no cuttingedge innovation has sufficed from the system. For this greed, many institutions are today eng rossed in one crisis or the other, owing to non-payment of their several months of arrears of salary or allowances, resulting to strikes by the workers’ unions, despite the income generated by the institutions. The most recent of this alleged profligacy is the crisis that has now reached a crescendo at the nation’s oldest institution, the 68-year-old

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), where the Rector, Dr. Marg aret Kudirat Ladipo, is accused by the estranged Bursar and Financial Officer of the college, Mr. Olu Ibirogba of allegedly collecting five million Naira monthly as security votes. The five million Naira monthl y security votes, though said to have been approved by the Governing Council, according to the spokesman for the college, Mr. Charles Oni, was not strange as it has become imperative in view of the security threat posed by the volatile nature of the institution host communities. He said: “The five million Naira monthly security votes, is no longer strange, in view of the peculiarities of the college’s environment, especially concerning the security threats constituted by the “Fadeyi Boys,” “Jibowu Boys” and “Abule Oja Boys,” which informed the decision of the Council to approve the money.” Viewed from the premises of an institution where students sleep in classrooms and abandoned structures for lack of hostels and other municipal facilities, the five million Naira security vote to the rector is a wastage and financial miscalculation on the part of the managers of the college. It is perhaps more worrisome that a governing council that is expected to guide and monitor the rector and the management team as well as checkmate all avenues of

financial recklessness in the system could aid such level of impunity. The Federal Gover nment, the proprietor of the polytechnic should raise a highpowered visitation panel to carry out thorough investigation on the security votes, and appropriate sanction should be meted out. More importantly, as investigations have revealed there are no other higher institutions in the country, either state or federal, where the Vice-Chancellors,Rectors or Provosts statutorily receive security votes. Indeed, with YABATECH surrounded by various police stations and posts, and even army barracks, the college is protected enough against any external invasion by hoodlums and since there has not been report of breach of security in the college, the need for such capital flight, in the guise of security votes, is highly unnecessary and unwarranted. To say the least, from this milieu, findings have revealed also that there are no antibomb detectors or devices at the two main gates of the college to screen visitors coming in and going out of the institution, at least to justify the security votes collected monthly by the rector. Neither are the college security men at the gates conducting security checks on vehicles coming in and going out of the college, nor car tallies or gate pass given to car owners, as part of the security maintenance. Besides, security materials and tools such as guns, whis-

tles, boots, uniforms and berets, among others, are no materials to be purchased every month by the rector. Ibirogba alleged in his petition that the five million Naira monthly security vote is apart from the institution’s organic security staff (about 150 personnel), six outsourced security companies, as well as monthly payment of motivational allowances paid to the Sabo Police Station and DSS staff at Sabo.” The police have since distanced themselves from such allegation of financial inducement, and are currently prosecuting the embattled bursar, who had since been sacked after his suspension since 2013 by the YABATECH management, for given false evidence in order to cause disaffection in the system. Government through the Inspector General of Police (IGP), should muster enough will and courage to provoke an investigation into the matter. The rector and the council should be made to provide explanations on the use of the monthly security votes, and the justification for such in a college still grappling with inadequate facilities and infrastructure. The question is, now that the Industrial Arbitration Court had in its judgment on July 1ruled in favour of the bursar (Ibirogba) that he should be reinstated and all his entitlements paid till date, while the management sacked him the same day, what protection then does a public officer (a whistle blower) have before the law, to reveal excesses in the system.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor n Emeka Obasi

Deputy Editor n Ayodele Ojo

General Editor n Iyobosa Uwugiaren

News Editor n Geoffrey Ekenna

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Politics

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Controversy over swearing-in of lawmakers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

premises within which the tribunal was sitting. Speaker Akindele, who later came to the tribunal, had discussion with the police officers. She was said to have promised to produce the lawmakers and make them available to the State Commissioner of Police. Counsel to the lawmakers, Remi Olatubura, informed the tribunal of the development. The

tribunal condemned the development and summoned the counsel to the petitioners, Titiloye Charles, to explain what happened. Titiloye told the tribunal that the petitioners had nothing to do with the purported arrest. He said he was aware that the State REC had promised to prosecute the two lawmakers for presenting themselves to be sworn in by the Assembly when INEC never issued them the Certifi-

cates of Return. In a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Pastor Leke Akingboye and Hon. Gbenga Edema who were the APC candidates for Ilaje Constituencies I and II in the April 11 House of Assembly election, described the development as a case of impersonation. The letter written by their lawyer, Charles, asked the police to investigate the Clerk and Speaker of the Assembly for administering oath of

office on Akinruntan and Coker as members of the Assembly. The petitioners, had in the letter, invited the IGP to look into the case of fraud and conspiracy to defraud the government and people of Ondo State through unlawful swearing-in of persons who did not possess Certificates of Return to earn salaries and allowances not due to them. PDP reacts In its reaction, the

PDP through the Publicity Secretary, Prince Banji Okunomo, asked the IGP to call his men to order and avoid being used to settle political score. The party said the only offence Coker committed was that he won an election. His words: “We ask the IG to protect the integrity and impartiality of the force by not allowing his men to be used to settle political score. We condemn the attempt by the APC to use security

organs to intimidate other Nigerians who do not belong to their party. We therefore remind them that Nigeria has since gone beyond the age of impunity.” Tribunal dismissed APC’s petitions The Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Anthony Ogar dismissed virtually all the petitions of the Assembly candidates including the two contentious Ilaje constituencies. The major plank the tribunal based its judgement was that the petitioners’ lawyers failed to apply for and file the pre-trial form within seven days after the close of pleadings by the respondent making the petitions substantially incompetent. Lawyers react Counsel to the PDP, Olatubora, said INEC was wrong not to have given Certificates of Return to the winners of the election. He added that the Certificate of Return is not a prerequisite for being sworn in as a member of the Assembly. According to him, Section 94 (1) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that every person elected to House of Assembly before taking his seat declares his assets. Also, Olatubora said Section 68 of the 2011 Electoral Act states that it is the Returning Officer that has right to declare results of elections and once that is done, it is only the tribunal that can upturn the decision of the INEC returning officer. Counsel to APC candidates, Charles, said the Electoral Act 75 (1&2) is categorical that you must present Certificate of Return before you can be sworn in. Alternatively, he said the Electoral Act stipulates that the candidate must present judgement by final court. In the House of Assembly, it is Court of Appeal and governorship Supreme Court. He said the INEC has declared the election in Ilaje inconclusive because of violence and that the Retuning Officer was made to sign the result sheets under duress. The result sheets the PDP candidates were sworn in with, he said, were not alternative to Certificate of Return. He added that they should have waited before for the outcome of the Appeal Court judgement before they could be sworn in as lawmakers.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 21, 2015

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

espite challenges of funding, the organisers of the yearly Wole Soyinka International Culture Exchange (WSICE), have note doubt made a bold statement with the success of this year’s edition of the project commemorating Soyinka’s 81st Birthday in Abeokuta. The 6th edition of the WSICE which began on Sunday July 12, ended last Tuesday July 14, 2015, with a rich line-up of activities including, storytelling presentations by two guest artistes – Auntie Thea (from Trinidad & Tobago), and Auntie Noma (from Nigeria); dance drama by the Ogun State Cultural Troupe; spoken word (poetry) performance by guest artiste, Efe Paul Azino, and stage performance of Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest by Crown Troupe of Africa in the Ijegba Forest Theatre located in the neighbourhood of the residence of Prof. Soyinka. It was indeed a night of brilliant performances that brought to a close this year’s edition of the WSICE, as theatre enthusiasts, government functionaries, culture administrators, scholars, musicians, art aficionados, among others converged at the Ijegba Forest Theatre to not only savour the show but also be part of the celebration. Also in attendance include 81 students from across the country who are the finalists in the annual essay competition on the theme of the celebration “Justice & Freedom: Essential Conditions for Humanity”. The performances began with a colourful dance presentation by the Ogun State Cultural Troupe which set the stage for the rich harvest of drama from the creative heritage of the Crown Troupe of Africa that has carved a niche for itself with avant-garde interpretations of plays. But the intellectual note of the night began with a poetry (spoken word) performance by Efe Paul Azino. Kongi’s Harvest brings to the fore the issue of tyranny and bad leadership, a phenomenon in many countries across the African continent. Kongi’s Harvest is a satire on the contemporary political scene prevailing at that time, attacking directly the politicians

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

CULTURE

WSICE 2015 ends in style with Kongi’s Harvest in ‘Ijegba’ forest

A scene in the Crown Troupe’s performance of Kongi’s Harvest at the amphitheatre in Ijegba forest in Abeokuta

who have shaped the present direction of modern Africa. It cleverly portrays both the traditional rulers and the new political leaders. The play tells the story of Kongi, the president of Isma. He has the spiritual leader King Danlola under ‘preventive detention’ (PD). He also insists that Danlola should be seen by the people at the festival to bring him the New Yam with his own hands. Kongi plans to use the New Yam festival, a festival highly respected by the people, to make Danlola relinquish his kingship to him. It is also meant to launder his image. But he does not want to raise any dust over it; he wants to make it appear as if Oba Danlola relinquished power without compulsion. If Danlola hands Kongi the new yam during the festival it would mean Kongi would not only be the political leader of the people, but also the spiritual one. Kongi has been increasingly involved in image building, before the festival comes to a shattering climax. The action of the play takes place on the eve and the day of the national celebration of Isma. The play begins on a palpable somber and pessimistic mood. The king is endangered. What follows in the narrative depicts that nothing good will come out of Kongi’s leadership over the land of Isma. In the words of the Superintendent, one of Kongi’s right-hand men, Danlola’s supporters have been gathering to desecrate

the national anthem of the land. Consequently, Kongi puts Sarumi and Danlola in detention. By so detaining them, the king has been deprived of his traditional power and sovereignty, hence conflicting with the president. To make things work in his favour, Kongi engages the services of a fraternity of Aweris and the ubiquitous organising secretary supported by a brutal Carpenters’ Brigade. However, despite efforts to achieve his ill-conceived plans, his former mistress Segi challenges him both privately and openly. Danlola gets to know of the plan; he then resolves not to relinquish his religious functions to anyone. Knowing his stand Segi and Daodu persuade him to play along to draw Kongi to the public celebration where he would be humiliated and assassinated. The counterplan works, but the assassination plot fails and Segi’s father is killed instead. Later, when Kongi discovers the counterplan, he chases away Daodu, the heir apparent of Danlola and Segi and asserts himself more repressively. The play is divided into four sections; ‘Hemlock’ is the prologue. It tells how Oba Danlola tries to save Ismaland and the people from Kongi’s anarchy. It also warns of future political instability and the despondency the people would face in Kongi’s regime. The first section leads into the belly of the play; it un-

veils the story in stages while the hangover is the epilogue. Although written decades ago, this brilliant satire on contemporary political situation in most African countries, including Nigeria, where most political office holders, rather than serve the people, see public funds as private treasures to be looted, is still relevant today. The political office holders steal and enrich themselves and their family members with public funds at the expense of those who put them to power. In the hands of Crown Troupe the play finds new expression with infusion contemporary dance, songs to engage the audience without losing the message of the play. The yearly Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) programme was initiated in 2010 and debuted on the 76th birthday anniversary of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as the “quintessential artist and symbol of our humanity”, according to the promoters of the project, Nigeria-based ZMirage Multimedia Company and US-based GlobalNewHaven. WSICE is the core project of the The Open Door Series promoted by Alhaji Teju-Kareem-led Zmirage and Professor Segun Ojewuyi-led GlobalNewHaven, and it has been staged every year since 2010 when Soyinka was 76. Last year witnessed the grand fifth edition, which marked the 80th birthday anniversary of Prof. Soyinka.

Arts

Agwu Enekwachi.

he genre of photography was once again brought to the fore at a time that the medium is increasingly gaining attention in the mainstream art circles comprising the curators, art critics, artists and the media. The event was a photography exhibition by Emeka Egwuibe and four of his former students, with a revealing title “The Tutor and the Tutored”. The exhibition hosted by the National Gallery of Art, Enugu, opened on June 26 and ended on July 13, 2015. Egwuibe’s trajectory in creative photography started from the 90s during his undergraduate studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). This journey continued through his many years of professional practice in the printing and advertising industry and later as Photography and Advertising Design instructor at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu. During this period, he strived to stretch the boundaries of what photography is in the popular imagination of people, as can be seen in his works. Interestingly he has followed the progress of some of the talented students he taught, in an uncommon show of mentorship. The students who are all holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) have been active in photography and have taken part in many Photography Competitions. These students include Eze Mariagorretti, the 2013 first prize winner of “Life in My City Art Competition”, Enugu; Doris Ukatu, a photographer and lecturer in Zenith Vocational School in Republic Du Benin; Ifedilichukwu Chibuike, an Enugu-based artist and culture entrepreneur, and Ezennia Onyinyechi, a first class graduate in Graphic Art and a practicing artist.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

From Egwuibe, former students, blend of photography, passion In this exhibition an impressive artistic current flows through the entire body of work. The strength of the works individually and collectively makes it hard to separate the master’s from his students’ oeuvres. The hybridisation of Fine art and Photography where painting effects and photography blend, creating a fusion that visually narrows the perceived gap between the work of the camera and that of human creativity, is the thrust of the exhibition. Photography uses light to model images through the skillful use of the camera. For Egwuibe “drawing a line between visual journalistic or documentary photography and creative photography is viewing the later as a work in progress until it gets to the point of consummation”. For him, photography does not stop at “click the shutter - focus the viewfinder - pick a shot-and- click mode”. But he takes his art beyond, where he can “add colour, spice up and tell a unique story.” During his Masters of Fine Arts programme, Egwuibe worked on Digital Darkroom techniques which involved using different software to recreate images that reflect his personal idiom. On the essentiality of creative photography he says: “It has always been a joy to take photography beyond mere click of the camera. I have impressed it upon my students and it is the fruits of that we see here.” Ordinary subjects around us are transformed to visual spectacles by the introduction of elements and principles that

Egwuibe

imbue the works with dramatic effects. The issues addressed by the artists are culturally, socially and politically engaging. It is important to note that the prism from which their lenses address these varied themes are rooted in the standpoint of the masses who yearn for better housing, accommodation and improved living conditions as reflected in such works as “Clutters”, “Sit Don Dey Look”, “ My City My Life” and “Dwelling Place”. The Culinary also engages the artists as Egwuibe’s “Fire Beneath”, Ukatu’s ” Mother’s Cooking Academy” and Ezennia’s “National Cake” deal with Cooking and Eating. “Eating” is used euphemistically for living “large” among Nigerians. While the poor cry for food, the political elite regard the common wealth, which they

UNILAG’s Creative Arts dept. honours lecturers, artists Tony Okuyeme

o celebrate the home coming of several persons who have served in the Department of Creative Arts and also others who contributed immensely to the old Centre for Cultural Studies from which the Department evolved in 1997, the Department has put together series of events which will hold from the 21st to 29th of July, 2015. The series of events lined up for the celebration comprise lectures, performances and plays, which are also to mark the end of the tenure of the Ag Head of the Department of Creative Arts, Dr Peju Layiwola, will hold at the new complex of the Department of Creative Arts, located near the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos. The Department is a fast growing art school that has turned out many distinguished alumni in various aspects of music, performing arts and the Visual arts. Some of the old students would be in performance. Notable amongst these alumni are Pat King of the midnight crew fame, Demola Olota, Mocheda, Femi Brainard, Wole Ojo, Kachi Nochiri, Seun

Ajayi, Princess Damilola, Helen Paul, Mercy Aigbe, Segun Adefila, Dare Art Alade, Stella Damascus and many more. Recipients of the awards of excellence who had contributed immensely to the development and growth of the Centre for Cultural Studies which metamorphorsed in the Department of Creative Arts include Professor E.J Alagoa, Professor Laz Ekwueme, Professor Akin Euba, Professor Abayomi Barber, Professor dele jegede, Professor Sherifdeen Adetoro, Professor A.V.E Mereni, Late Professor Bode Osanyin, Professor Ebun Clark and Professor Duro Oni. Some served as one time Director of the Centre and others, as Heads of Department. Demola Olayiwola would be honoured for his meritorious service to both the Centre and the Department. Engr Yemisi Shyllon, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya and General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries would also be honoured for their immense contributions and assistance to the growth of the Department. The Press category of awards go to Jahman Anikulapo, Chioma Okpara, Ozolua Uhakheme, Tajudeen Sowole and Tolu Lamidi.

Window of Trandition (2011) by Chibuike

superintend, as national cake and many consider themselves, as called by fate or Godfather to “eat”. Perhaps Ezennia’s “National Cake” captures succinctly the frenzied behavior of these people whose major concern is to cut chunks of the so-called national cake. The biggest child in the picture seizes the bowl of food and decides who gets what. The centre of the composition is the bowl which the artist cleverly highlights the bowl and its content with red and yellow against the dominant grayscale of the composition. The child with the bowl of food is draped in an APC (political party) garb while the other Children dressed in PDP and APGA garbs stare expectantly from the side and peep from behind. Other characters in the composition are captured in varied actions, postures and gestures of resignation, expectation and interest or disinterest. In “twilight experience” and “Dwelling place” by Ezennia, the issue is about an age long condition in many parts of Nigeria where people struggle to find water fit for drinking and domestic use. Other issues addressed by the artists in this exhibition are on the persisting lack of electricity as captured by Eze in her “Search for Wisdom”. Two lads study under an overpowering cloud of darkness with a Kerosene lantern in a 21st century Nigeria despite huge gov-

ernment spending to provide the essential amenity in recent years. Other themes include Traditional Music, Cultural celebrations and Landscape as seen in the celebratory works such as “The Window of Tradition”and “Otigba” by Ifedilichukwu. The works are expressions of social conditions seen from the keen eyes of the young artists and their master who speak to us from the vantage point of familiar environment. Egwuibe’s style has no doubt influenced his ex-students greatly. The incisive visual approach in these works brings refreshing perspective which refocuses and highlights issues that are both depressing and elevating. In his address, the Curator and Head of Enugu station of National Gallery of Art, James Irabor, notes: “This is the first creative photography exhibition we are hosting in this gallery outside ‘Life in My City Arts Festival’s Photo Africa’. I am highly impressed and my perception of Photography as something strictly in the applied arts has changed”. Irabor believes that the surging interest in photography today is because people are looking for new directions, new vistas in art. “Creative Photography like you see in this gallery is getting closer to Fine art. Photography is trending globally and it has become even more fashionable to embrace it,” he says.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 21, 2015

Human Rights AUN advocates collaboration against human rights abuse

Education RACE

As the race for the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) reached a crescendo, some 12 eggheads are in the race, jostling for the exalted position, set to be open in November. Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

n the next few months, power will change hands at the 67-year-old nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI). A new vice-chancellor to succeed Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, whose five-year single term will expire in November, will be named for the university. Already, 12 professors are in the race, jostling for the 12th substantive vice-chancellor ship position ahead of the expiration of Adewole’s tenure. Adewole, a Professor of Medicine, succeeded Prof. Olufemi Bamiro as the university’s11th substantive vice-chancellor in 2010. The unprecedented battle to take the baton of the leadership of the university, which had since begun few months ago, however, reached a crescendo last week, when the candidates were grilled during an interactive session, organised as part of the processes to select the best from the available candidates. The session was organised by the members of staff and students, under the aegis of the University of Ibadan Community Forum 2015 Committee. The event, which could be tagged “the big event,” was held at the popular Trenchard Hall, one of the historical monuments of the university, which was filled to capacity. The session, which was coordinated by the human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), according to the Convener, Prof. Nelson Fashina, was to create a level playing ground for the candidates and to guide against the previous practice of imposition of

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

UI gate

Race for the strongest vice-chancellors on the university community without the platform for the contestants to interact with the stakeholders in order to showcase the qualities they possess to qualify for the exalted position. It was chaired by the legal icon and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), who was represented by the former ViceChancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Ebonyi State, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, The interactive session offered the audience the ample opportunity to ask the candidates salient questions bothering on their plans for the ivory tower in terms of repositioning it for the challenges of the 21st Century. As the race hots up and with the interactive session, the university community is already anticipating who takes over the mantle of leadership of the ivory tower from Adewole, with the expectation to consolidate on the progress and landmark achievements of the institution. To occupy the vacant position, the 12 eggheads with intimidating credentials shortlisted after the advertisement in some national dailies as qualified to vie for the job participated in the session, only with the of exception Prof. Arinola Olasumbo Sanya

Adewole, outgoing VC

Anyone who leads the University of Ibadan can lead any university in the world

(Physiotherapy), the only female candidate and former Education Commissioner in Oyo state, who was absent. At the session were Professors Dele Layiwola (Institute of African Studies), Akinyinka Olusegun (Pediatrics), Francis Egbokhare (Linguistics and African Languages), Kunle Fagbemi (Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology), Labode Popoola (Forest Resources Management), Abel Idowu Olayinka (Geology), Ayodeji Oluleye (Industrial and Production Engineering), Olufemi Olaleye (Virology), Augustine Falaye (Aquaculture and Fisheries Management) and Adigun Agbaje (Political Science). The two external candidates are Professors Adedeji Oluwole Olanrewaju (Medicine) from the Lagos State University (LASU) and Muphtha Smith (Crop Science & Pest Management) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). No reason was, however, given for Prof. Arinola Sanya’s absence from the interactive session by the convener of the forum. Declaring open the session, which was not attended by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Musa Mustapha, and the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Adewole, but who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Emilolorun Aiyelari, the former

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of UNILAG, Babalola rated the university as an institution of academic excellence. He, however, stressed that any of the candidates that emerged as the next vice-chancellor of the premier university has as responsibility to move it to a higher level in order to sustain its primus inter pares status among other universities in the country, and the world at large. Babalola, who described the university as the pace setter of policy decisions in the country, said; “Anything that happens in Nigeria starts from the UI. Policy statements that influence the nation are made by many from the UI. “Anyone who leads the University of Ibadan can lead any university in the world and my fervent prayer is that the best would emerge,” he added. While insisting that the university has potentials for economic innovation, he urged anyone that emerges the 12th vice-chancellor to improve on this. He, therefore, urged the entire university community “to give the incoming vice-chancellor the necessary support to move the university to its lofty heights in academic and research development.” To ensure transparent assessCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

24 Education

TUESDAY, july 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

AUN advocates collaboration against human rights abuse

T The late Agagu

Olusegun Agagu Foundation offers scholarship to students Babatope Okeowo Akure

lmost two years after the death of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, his foundation, the Olusegu Agagu Foundation, instituted by the family in his memories, has begun to put smiles on the faces of some students in the state. As part of activities commemorating the anniversary of his death, the Foundation inaugurated a new series of educational support programmes for students who are indigenes of Ondo State and other parts of the country. The new scholarship scheme, according to one of his sons, Mr. Feyi Agagu, is an addition to the earlier ones instituted by the foundation for Nigerian students in the various institutions across the country. The foundation’s educational programmes, which are in forms of full scholarship and prizes for different categories of students in secondary schools and undergraduates in Nigerian universities, were instituted in line with the mission statement of the foundation and the credo of the late academician and politician. The late governor’s credo is to leave the life better than he met it by working passionately towards intellectual excellence, good governance and national development. Under the scholarship scheme, beginning from the 2015/2016 academic session, the Foundation, in partnership with the Governing Council of Adeleke University, Ede in Osun state, will award scholarships for suitably qualified students for the study of Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chemistry and Public Health. The scholarship at the Adeleke University, Agagu said was specifically meant for deserving students from Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, the local government area of the late governor, who have demonstrated commitment to forging their education in spite of the financial hardships they are facing. He added that apart from the scholarships instituted at the University of Ibadan for undergraduates in Nigerians university, a new scholarship scheme and prizes has been initiated at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

he President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Dr. Margee Ensign, has advocated stronger collaboration between the government, and international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address the humanitarian crises ravaging the world. This was part of her views at the just concluded meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which was held in Geneva. This year’s meeting was said to have brought together refugees and 500 local, national and international non-governmental organisations, including the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) founded by Dr. Ensign in the wake of insurgence in the north east part of the country to find long-term solutions to global humanitarian crises. In his presentation, which dwelt largely on the report on the success of the AUN-API model, Dr. Ensign, who led the Adamawa group, argued that local organisations should not only have greater understanding of their culture, but to also have better ability to gather information and respond to rapidly changing conditions. The AUN-API was represented at the UNHCR meeting by Dr. Ensign; the Secretary of the Adamawa Muslim Council, Imam Dauda Bello and President of the New Life Gospel Centre, Jimeta, Bishop Stephen Ransom.

While explaining that the AUN-API model has extremely been successful and should be replicated, the members expressed delight that in Yola there has been no evidence of youth joining the Boko Haram sect. “In addition to its local peace education efforts, AUN-API has provided humanitarian assistance in the form of food, water, medicine, clothing, and other supplies to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who sought refuge from the Boko Haram violence,” she said. Dr. Ensign, however, wondered that “the international response to the growing number of IDPs has been slow and inadequate in addressing the situation at hand,” adding that despite the initiative efforts have been intensified at providing a long-term durable solution. On the situation in Adamawa State, she pointed out that “the number of IDPs grew exponentially during the summer of 2014, saying it was not until December of 2014 that NGOs began to arrive at the scene and by this time AUN-API, Dr. Ensign said had consistently been feeding about 300,000 IDPs for six months without any assistance from outside. Under Dr. Ensign’s leadership, AUN and API, was said to have helped thousands of vulnerable Nigerian youth to acquire education, develop valuable life skills, and nurture the fortitude to resist recruitment by the Boko Haram, which has slained innocent children, women,

and men and displaced more than 1.5 million who fled their homes. She said: “With strong extended family bond in the local culture, most displaced people now live with relatives rather than in refugee camps. For instance, an estimated 405,000 IDPs fled to Yola, while only 15,000 are being sheltered in refugee camps. The international aid community, however, is generally ill-equipped to deal with refugees outside of camps or camp-like settings.” “The AUN-API, which she told the UN group, comprises prominent Muslims and Christians, traditional rulers, academic and business leaders, NGOs, and other members of the Yola community, has the capacity to address the challenges in good time, given adequate access to aid such as funds, food and other supplies. “We know our community and we are in a unique position to bring diverse resources together to find and implement solutions to crises, prevent our youth from succumbing to the temptation to join extremist organizations in order to restore stability to the region,” Dr. Ensign added. She, however, expressed satisfaction that the AUN-API collaborative model had worked, saying they strongly believe that governments, international organisations, and other groups working in conflict regions should pre-identify local peace groups such as the AUN-API, with a view to evaluating and using such local networks to solicit assistance.

Dr. Ensign (first right) addressing the session.

College harps on qualitative education for girl-child

he Director of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos, Mrs. Olufunke Fowler-Amba has spoken of the need for parents to ensure that they provide qualitative education for their children, especially the girl-child.

Mrs. Fowler-Amba

This, according to her, is the major panacea for the elevation of the status of womanhood in the country. Fowler-Amba, who underscored the urgent need to education the girl-child, wondered that the current situation in the society calls for properly mentoring and reshaping of the orientation of girls. Towards this end, she said all efforts should be geared towards encouraging and inspiring girls to fulfill their dreams and achieve their goals in life. She made the call during the graduating ceremony for the Junior Secondary School pupils of the college for the 2015 school year, which took place on the school premises. On the efforts to properly educate the girls, the director recalled how the college, which is a school for girls only, had over the years provided veritable framework for conducive learning experience for girls, but also inspired them

to achieve their life laudable goals. While reiterating that the vision of the college is to integrate and promote womanhood into the topmost heights in all aspects of human endeavour, Fowler-Amba added that since its inception the college has focused on improving the lives of the girl-child both morally and academically. The mission of the college, according to her, is to offer the girl-child qualitative and functional secondary school education; inculcate in the girl-child the pursuit of perfection and excellence. Fowler-Amba, who was basking in the euphoria of the landmark achievements of the school, expressed delight that the mission of the college in bringing out the best out of the girl-child has been yielding enormous results with the excellent performance of the students in academics.

Education 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 21, 2015

EXCELLENCE

Owners of Cayley College, a private co-education school, located in highbrow Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, are happy that the mustard seed sown 20 years ago has, today, grown to an oak of academic excellence, producing quality students. Kayode Olanrewaju

hen the college was established in 1995, little did the founder and owners of Cayley College, Agidingbi, Lagos realise that the mustard seed planted 20 years ago, would today grow to an oak of academic excellence. Located in a serene learning environment in the heart of Ikeja Business District, the college has continued to wax stronger, especially in the delivery of quality secondary school education and production of well-trained graduates for tertiary institutions. The college, which took off with 11 pupils and 15 teachers, according to its founder and Executive Director, Dr. Mary Iyayi, is a coeducational institution, founded on a solid foundation of academic excellence and moral rectitude, which have remained the core values of the college. With the mission statement “Building a Total Child for a Challenging Future,” she however said the college’s vision, which has also remained its guiding principle and philosophy is the “desire to be a leading private secondary school operating in a climate that ensures academic excellence, high moral values and the promotion of Godly principle.” While tracing the journey of the school and the various challenges facing the development and running of private schools in the country, the former teacher and school principal noted that her passion to interact with children and impact positively on them propelled her to establish Cayley College. She, therefore, expressed delight about the journey so far, saying: “Though, it has not been rosy, the joy in seeing the young boys and girls growing under normal academic situation, has kept me going.” “The challenges have been there, but the fact that the children are well taken care of and the joy I receive seeing them growing in their education and high moral value have kept me going, and I give glory to God for His continued benevolence to the school, teachers and the students,” Dr. Iyayi said. The executive director, who declared that the core value of the college is a sub-set of the mission, hinted that it is not merely about academic activities or acquiring education alone, but mainly to acquire qualitative education and the totality of the students in terms of moral upbringing and value-reorientation. Basking in the euphoria of the school’s excellent academic performance, especially in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), in which the students have continued to record Distinctions in Mathematics, English Language and other science

The school building

Cayley College, setting a pace in quality education delivery subjects, Dr. Iyayi said the results obtained by the students are true reflections of their ability. “Examination malpractice is a taboo in our school and the management frowns greatly against it and other misdemeanor,” she added, stressing that the children were trained with the fear of God. Her words: “I am proud of our children. Whatever marks obtained by them in any examination is the true reflection of their ability. We do not award marks or encourage cheating in our examinations in order to impress the parents. Our core value is integrity and fear of God.” Dr Iyayi, who pointed out that the school runs a well-structured class ratio of five pupils to a teacher, with a class size of 20 pupils, added that apart from WASSCE, the college also undertakes the National Examination Council (NECO), as well as other foreign examinations such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Cambridge GCE, among others. “We build in our students confidence and resilience in the quest to achieving our mission statement,” Dr. Iyayi noted, saying: “That is exactly what Cayley College is wired to do for every child that passes through it.” On the security measures put in place to ensure the safety of the students, she insisted that the college has continued to maintain the lead in providing adequate security as well as a home away from home atmosphere. Towards this end, she said the

college has continued to review its service delivery in terms of academic, facilities with a view to meeting the parents and students’ expectation by maintaining the standard of global best practice in education delivery. Faced with these challenges, Dr. Iyayi recalled that the college introduced several trade subjects such as marketing, painting and decoration, catering and crafts, as part of efforts to equip the students with relevant skills before their graduation from the college. Enumerating the various achievements of the school and laurels won, Dr. Iyayi, who expressed delight over the outstanding performance of the college, recalled that recently the British Council Arts Exhibition held and the students came second, adding that the students have continued to do the college proud in other local and national competitions, where they won laurels for the college. Meanwhile, the executive director explained that the school offers all relevant school subjects in a more congenial learning environment in line with the need to equipping the students for the future challenges. She listed some of the facilities provided to facilitate qualitative teaching and learning process to include well-equipped laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology; functional classrooms with modern teaching and learning materials, well-equipped and hygienic boarding system (dormitories), ICT laboratory with Internet connectivity; music and arts studios; Home

Economics room; as well as sporting facilities such as lawn tennis court, table tennis court, basketball court and Chess boards, among others. According to her, these were provided and will continue to be provided to harness the innate abilities in the students, as well as to engage them positively so that they would be able to channel the energies towards their overall development. On the use of corporal punishment, the proprietress, who hinted, however, that “as a professional who does not believe strongly in the use of corporal punishment on pupils, said corporal punishment should be commensurate with the offence committed by such students. While reiterating that the college frowned at, and did not abuse the use of corporal punishment, she explained that the use of counseling has been adopted mainly by the management and teachers as the needs arise. The executive director, who insisted that a lot still needs to be done in the area of curriculum development, pointed out that experts and those who use the curriculum should be involved actively in its development. Dr. Iyayi said: “We should not change our school curriculum too often as it is being done presently. It is high time we reversed such frequency and there should be no disconnect between the secondary and higher institutions as we need to integrate the curriculum with the next. More so, the people who use the document should be involved as well as to make it flow with all levels of education.”

26 Education

Olaleye

TUESDAY, july 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agbaje

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

ment of the candidates, Falana was selected to coordinate the process. Fashina, while stressing the import of the forum, described it as a platform for the entrenchment of leadership qualities, values of creativity, innovation and positive contributions towards town and gown relationship, as well as to expand the frontiers of transparency, integrity and crossboard opportunities provided for all the candidates. While unveiling his manifestos for the development of the university, Layiwola according to his credentials is a two-time Director of African Studies and the current Director of African Studies. Layiwola, who was elevated to a full professor in 1998, has served on major committees such as the Senate and the Governing Council of the university. The Visiting Fellow at many foreign institutions including the University of Ulster, Coleraine, anchored his manifesto on 3Cs, which are Courage, Compassion and Character. He promised to ensure structural and systemic development, and welfarist programmes, even as he restated his commitment to strengthen collaboration with foreign universities towards achieving the set goals.” To Adedeji, the Deputy Provost, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the provision of a conducive environment for excellent and qualitative education would be his ultimate. According to him, part of his vision is to provide good governance, facilitate staff training, and enthrone accountability, appropriate policy implementation and developmental programmes. In their separate presentation, Prof. Adigun Ajao Bolarinwa Agbaje, 58, and a Professor Political Science, is a former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences between 2003 and 2005 and was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) between 2006 and 2010. Agbaje, who acted for the vice-chancellor on several occasions, coordinated research proposals that attracted several millions of dollars in grants to the university in the areas of graduate training, among others. If appointed, his vision is to position the university in the next five years as a pre-eminence higher institution in the African continent in terms of intellectual platform.

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, has appealed to the management of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to extend its intervention in the tertiary institutions to

Akinyinka

Olayinka

Race for UI VC hots up Agbaje promised to ensure strong leadership that will be more inclusive and work collectively with members of the university community to achieve the purpose of the university. In his submission, Akinyinka, who is currently the Provost of the university’s medical college boasted that as the provost, he facilitated the building of a 250-capacity library through funds from international grants and the N3.7 billion Otunba Tunwase Paediatric Centre. He expressed his readiness to work towards improved funding, global visibility of the university and staff development, among others. Born 52 years ago in Edo State, Prof. Francis Egbokhare is the former Acting Dean of Faculty of Arts, and Director of the UI Distance Learning Centre between 2004 and 2010, whose focus is to create an agenda for change and break away from the cycle of failure. This was as he identified inadequate expertise, integrity deficit, lack of entrepreneurial ability, as the bane of university education in the country. He told the large audience that his administration, if appointed would carry out total reform of the system by refocusing and restoring the potentials of the university. According to Prof. Fagbemi, his focus is to restore the dignity and honour of the university as a meritdriven institution, and thus pledged to engender a system that allows contribution of ideas without intimidation, as well as ensure independent and virile students’ union that is treated with dignity. In the areas of infrastructural development, he pointed out that the overcrowding in the hostels would be addressed, while the production of the university bread and water would be refashioned and commercialized on a big scale. The 53-year-old Prof. Falaye on his part, said with his vast experience in academic and corporate world, and as a member of the Presidential Committee on Fisheries Development and Alternate Chairman of Aquaculture (2004-2006) that provided the blueprint for fisheries development in Nigeria, he pledged to consolidate on the achievements of the past vice-chancellors with a view to sustaining and improving the ranking of the university, which to him, would be his major

thematic preoccupation if appointed. He told the gathering that he would enhance internalisation of staff and students through exchange programmes, which he is set to introduce towards the rebranding and re-dedicating the university for effectiveness. However, the Ogbomoso-born Prof. Olufemi Olaleye, who is the current Dean of the university’s Basic Medical Sciences said as the Principal Investigator of the university’s MEPIN programme, he facilitated about $27,557,642 research grants for the university. He listed some of the challenges facing the institution to include poor graduate employability, relatively low research grant, high individual research but little impact on the university rating at the global avenue, as well as little impact on the immediate community and national development. He promised to address these challenges and raise the bar of academic excellence in the university. He said: “I am going to ensure lifechanging education that will allow for global competitiveness, while I will also ensure a virile students’ union if I am appointed as the vice-chancellor of this great university.” While unveiling his plans for the university, Olayinka Abel Idowu, a Professor of Applied Geo-Physics, and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university and the Dean of Postgraduate School, introduced many innovative ideas especially in the areas of capacity building, maintenance of active academic environment, mentoring of young scholars, scholarly publications, processing of a five-year backlog of degree certificates, among others. Olayinka, who promised a paradigm shift in class attainment, said the award of Third Class and Pass degrees would be reduced through provision of enabling environment and facilities for enhanced learning. According to him, earned allowances for members of staff, which has hitherto been creating problem and strike in the system, would be tackled headlong. He promised to embark on vigorous fund-raising drive to take the institution to loftier heights. In his plans to foster sustainability of resourcefulness, Prof. Ayodeji Emmanuel Oluleye, who described himself as “the petroleum manager

Egbokhare

for the university,” spoke of plans to provide and put 2,000 computers on the network, as well as encourage grassroots participation in the affairs of the university. Oluleye, who recalled that he facilitated the production of identification cards for the students from his office without contracting such project to outsiders, pledged to enthrone excellent management - labour - student relationship in the university. “The students will be equipped with life skills and our administration, if appointed, will build capacity, capability, confidence and competence in the students, while delay of staff promotion will be a thing of the past.” Meanwhile, 55-year-old Prof. Olabode Popoola said as the first to serve the university as Sub-Dean (Undergraduate), (Postgraduate) and (Postgraduate School), he spearheaded introduction of several innovations including full online method of application for admission and registration; introduction of electronic boards/ smart classrooms to aid teaching and demonstration. Popoola, who recalled how he facilitated $5 million grant to the institution, while addressing the gathering, said he would create the pathways for consolidating the sterling achievements of the university, restore its core values and system for its sustainability. He promised to promote research, creativity and innovation, motivate the workers, improve security and ensure effective transportation system. If appointed, he insisted on initiating overseas trip for all PhD students for about two weeks on research and training. As an alumnus of the university, where he obtained his first degree and postgraduate, Prof. Muphtha Adekunle Smith, said his coming to give back quality leadership to his alma mater would go a long way to entrench its core values and orientation which positioned them for the great heights. To move the university forward and align it with the needs of the 21st Century, Smith promised to expand the university’s Distance Learning Centre programmes beyond Arts, Social Science and Education. Against this background, he said as part of welfare package for the staff and students, he would create career opportunities for all, even as he expressed plans to foster linkage opportunities in line with global best practices.

VC urges TETFund to intervene in critical infrastructure other critical infrastructural development such as road construction, optic fiber for internet and hydro-power plant. The vice-chancellor, who spoke in his office in Akure, when a team of journalists monitoring TETFund projects at tertiary institutions visited the university,

noted that the agency should take its interventions beyond infrastructure that have direct bearing on teaching and learning to other critical infrastructural needs. He said: “What we are saying is that those things are very important, we do not even have enough of them but at the same

time we need power. You and I would agree that you need power to run any decent university. You need investment in water provision for the environment to be decent. You need fiber optic for internet access, and of course, you need good road network.”

While noting that tertiary institutions in the country would not have function properly without the interventions from TETFund, the vice-chancellor stressed that the provision of such critical infrastructure would enhance effective teaching and learning as well as research efforts.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 21, 2015

Campus

Project

TETFund

Lawmakers assess constituency project at UNN

Provost lauds FG on TETFund intervention

Don faults evolution of human theory

Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

he maxim, “All work, no play makes Jack a dull boy,” came to the fore last week at the College of Medicine, University of Benin (UNIBEN), when the students, under the aegis of the University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBENMSA) set aside academic activities and laboratory practicals, for sporting activities. It was at the week-long sporting fiesta, tagged: “Deans Cup 2015,” which was organised by the students to develop and harness the sporting potential in them, as well as to reduce academic stress. The week-long activities featured variety of sporting events such as soccer, Chess, Scrabble, track/field events, volleyball and table tennis. The Dean of the College of Medicine, Prof. Moses Mommoh, while declaring open the sporting fiesta commended the association for organising the event, which he noted would go a long way to accelerate all round development of the students. He stressed the need for the students to exercise and engage in sporting activities despite their busy academic schedule, even as he noted that their active participation in the sporting fiesta underscored the saying that the UNIBEN medical students are well-grounded in all areas. The association’s Director of Sports, Anthony Adams, said the event was organised to foster healthy relationship and friendship among the students, as well as to create a platform for them to refresh themselves and develop their sporting talents. The opening match, which was played between the 100-Level and 600-Level students, ended three goals to two in favour of the 600-Level class. Several other matches were played during the week, while the final match between 400-Level and 600-Level students, also ended after the 90 minutes of play, two goals to zero in favour of 600-Level students. Other highlights of the sporting fiesta featured volleyball match between the Pre-Clinical and Clinical students, which was won by the Clinical students. The 100 metre race was won by Imana Eragbai (300-Level undergraduate), while Amedu Osemudiamen (400-Level) and Joseph Enejo (600-Level) students came second and third respectively. In the 400 meters race, Adeleke Adeyusi (600-Level) came first, while Ese Udi (200-Level), who came second beat Temitope John (100-Level) to third position. Also, in the marathon race for boys

Afeez Gbadamosi OAU

he Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) has described the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka as a blessing to the country and the world of literature. The association stated this in its birthday message to the literary icon, in which the students said Soyinka has become an enigma and a global hero, who should be celebrated by the entire black race for his contributions to knowledge.

The captain of 600-Level class with their trophy. With them is Mommoh (middle).

Students sharpen skills at sports fiesta and girls, Orgo Oriri, Chioma Eleje and Victoria Anekwe all in 400-Level came first, second and third respectively in the female category, while the trio of Degustin Oteri (400-Level), Isreal Osagie (600-Level) and Adeleke Adeyusi (600-Level) also placed first, second and third positions respectively. In the table tennis, Victor Idubor, a 600-Level undergraduate won, while Kiko

Igwubor, a 100-Level student won the Chess game and Sere Ikhimi (600-Level) also won in Scrabble. At the end of the events, the 600-Level class led the medal table as the overall winner with four gold , four silver and three bronze medals. The 400-Level class was the first runner up with two gold, four silver and one bronze medals respectively.

Professor of Philosophy at the Ekiti State University, Zacchaeus Ogundare, has submitted that the Evolution Theory of man, which claims that man emerged from the physio-chemical reactions in inorganic matters, could after all be in-consequential. According to him, new studies have revealed that evolution could not bridge the gap of the huge leap between chance explanation and possibility. The don declared this while delivering the 42nd inaugural lecture of the state university, explaining further that evolution which supports spontaneous generation of life from non-living matter could not explain, for instance, the origin of the genetic code which poses a massive chickenand-egg problem, relative to proteins and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). According to the inaugural lecturer, intelligent source of life, such as egg and chicken alongside other postures included in the origin of the amazing photosynthesis, the order in the Milky Way galaxy with its billions of stars and the natural laws that govern the universe could not favour evolution. In his lecture entitled: “Origin and Existence: The Inconsequential Conclusion, Ogundare posited more counter arguments to the Darwin’s evolutionism theory, stating that it would amount to an un-examined conclusion about origin and existence, if we agree without probing that “Life is by Chance.” He added that the whole theory was beyond evolution considering the evidences from the genetic code argument, the amazing photosynthesis, the complex awesome universe and the unique planet and the natural law argument. Ogundare, however, noted that the universe was replete with superb organisation that staggers imagination and could therefore be appropriate to conclude that superb organisation requires a superb organiser; and intelligent designer “who must be God”. Besides, the don held his audience that comprised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina, who chaired the lecture, spell bound for more than one hour, further acknowledged the argument of some Philosophers such as Leibniz Theodicy, St. Aquinas and St. Augustineth of Hippo, who favoured the existence of a God as the author of the universe. The vice-chancellor described Ogundare as hardworking, focused and highly cerebral scholar.

OAU students hail Soyinka at 81 The message, which was signed by the association’s President and Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Sodiq Oyeleke and Afeez Gbadamosi respectively, added that the works of Soyinka have been of tremendous help not only to Nigerian students, but also their counterparts across the globe. The message reads in part: ”We align with and join other well-wishers from across the world to celebrate iconic literati, audacious nationalist and social justice activist, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Akinwande Soyinka, as he ascends

another phase of human existence in abundant vitality. “It is indeed a blessing for Nigeria to be endowed with a cerebral intellect, who has thrived enormously in every genre of literature. Your highly sententious published works and performances illuminate and ridicule the ills and foibles of the nation with the sole aim of revamping the ebbing nation. “There is no gainsaying that what we students of literature enjoy today was the yield of your dogged labour in Nigerian universities as a tutor, practitioner and writer. There-

fore, the recession in Nigerian education today is a result of shortage of tutors of your competence in the ivory towers.” While advising the younger generation to emulate the sage, the association expressed its respect for what it described as “Soyinka’s staunch advocacy for the preservation and promotion of African cultural values and belief system.” The association added in the message: “Today, we celebrate your strong moral fibre and yearning thirst for knowledge despite your unprecedented success in the realm of

Soyinka

literature. Your deeds and writings give much credence to the aphorism “that pen is mightier than sword.”

28 Education | Campus

TUESDAY, july 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lawmaker assesses constituency project at UNN Oladele Oge UNN

he Senator, representing EnuguNorth Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, last week visited the University of Nigeria Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka (NASRDAUNN) and the rural communities. The essence of the visit, according to the lawmaker, was to assess and examine the projects established by government in the university and the communities with a view to taking necessary steps to complete them. The senator, who explained that education and research development are his priority, said the visit was also to look critically at how more developmental projects could be initiated in the constituency, such as schools, research centres and road for the welfare of the people of the senatorial district. Receiving the lawmaker to the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin

Ozumba, on behalf of the university’s Governing Council, told the delegation that the institution is proud of Utazi, who he described as a great alumnus of the university. “The reports reaching us about the Senator Chukwuka Utazi has been so encouraging, it is my hope that the university and its neighbourhood will enjoy maximum Federal Government connection through our illustrious son, Utazi,” the vice-chancellor said, adding that “once again, on behalf of the governing council of this great citadel of learning, I am urging you to contribute your quota towards the process of nation building.” Responding, Utazi noted that “university education is a universal phenomenon and therefore, the mode of employment and admission process should be based on merit. This, he noted had become necessary for the nation’s good, saying: “I can vividly recall the time I was an undergraduate here at the Political Science Department, where most of my lecturers were from overseas. This culture of universality,

however, made many universities strong in those days. “For any country to be ahead of its contemporaries, the quality and sound education in research development must be fully established.” The lawmaker thanked the multitude that trooped out to witness the occasion and to receive him and his entourage, even as he described their action as a friendly attitude, pledging his readiness to respond to their needs anytime the need arises. The second segment of the visit, was the inspection of the Federal Government research agencies located in the university, the Centre for Basic Space Science (NASRDA), which was established in 2004 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he inspected the cutting-edge research carried out with little funding disbursed to the centre. Senator Utazi, who frowned at the poor funding of the centre, said: “We could no longer wait to see the luxury delay to allow the powerful arm of technological innovation and knowledge transformation to continue to rot away”.

He called on the director of the centre, Prof. Fidelix Opara to map out the necessary equipment that would place the country ahead in astronomy research in Africa continent and the world at large and recommend such to the Assembly for approval. This was as he said that he would back up the request before the Federal Government to intervene in projects at the site. Outlining the facilities that are urgently needed at the centre, Opara said the 25-metre Radio Telescope (NRT) is the main tool for scientist in record space information, weather and data collection on security challenges such as kidnapping, bombing, rape and other social vices that could be tackled through the Radio Telescope when it is installed at the centre. He added that the infrastructural development for the staff convenience is already functional, particularly for the IT, undergraduate and postgraduate project research materials for students and international researchers to conduct their research work. The director said one of the major aims of the NASRDA is to train young Nigerians mainly on astronomy and space research, which over10 secondary schools had benefited tremendously, pointing out that this has further assisted the students from the community to be ahead of their peers in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other competitions.

Provost lauds FG on

TETFund intervention Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

T Senator Utazi (third right) while assessing the CBSS facilities

Ekiti students seek review of bursary award Temitope Yakubu Ado Poly

igher students of Ekiti State origin, under the umbrella, the Association of Ekiti State Local Government Students’ Union Presidents (AELOGSUP) have pleaded with the state government, led by Ayodele Fayose to reverse the local government bursary scheme from the state to each Local Government Area as it was the practice before. This was as the students said the move would give all students, who are entitled to the bursary the opportunity to benefit from it. The Chairman of the student body, Dada Adebowale David and the Secretary, Oluwayomi Tunde, in a statement shortly after the union’s meeting at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, called the attention of the state government to issue affecting the union. The statement reads in part: “We the students of the state origin in the 16 Local Government Areas of the state, under the Association of Ekiti State Local Government Students’ Union Presidents unanimously call the attention of Ekiti State Government to issue rocking the grassroots

Fayose

students’ union in the state. The bursary allowance which we were receiving in our various local government areas before had been withdrawn from the councils to the state level. We are using this medium to call on the state government to remove the Local Government bursary from the State Bursary Board back to the local government council.” The students’ body, however, listed some problems being encountered at the State Bursary Board to include lack of transparency, unnecessary bu-

reaucracy and protocol to scare away the larger percentage of eligible students, inaccessibility of the bursary forms by the students at the state level and misappropriation of the bursary funds. According to the students, who condemned the action of the government to move the bursasry from the councils to the state, noted that since the scheme was transferred to the state efforts by them to obtain the bursary forms had been bogged down by undue bureaucracy. The students, who reiterated that obtaining the forms at the local government council, when the scheme domiciled there was more reliable than at the state level, said the bursary award could easily be traced and monitored at local government councils rather than at the state level. The association condemned the past administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in the state for introducing what it described as “the bad policy,” and urged Governor Fayose to take critical look at the issue. To the students, such deliberate action by the Fayose’s administration would go a long way in forestalling chaos or any misgiving the status quo ante could bring between the government and students of the state origin.

he Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in Anambra State, Prof. Josephat Okechukwu Ogbuagu, has commended the Federal Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its various intervention efforts in developing the higher education sector and sustaining the funding of tertiary institutions in the country. Ogbuagu gave the commendation during an interactive session with journalists in his office, where he declared that the college had benefited tremendously from the TETFund interventions. He noted with joy that the agency has gone a long way in creating enabling environment that has helped move the education sector forward, even as the provost disclosed that the college is one of the beneficiaries of the agency. Meanwhile, he assured TETFund management that he would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring judicious use of the funds in order to achieve the desired objectives. According to Ogbuagu, the Provost’s office and other administrative offices will soon be relocated to the permanent site of the institution for effective management of the temporally and permanent sites of the college. However, he promised to continue to work assiduously to sustain the existing cordial relationship between the host community and the institution, even as he commended the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano for his untiring efforts at moving the state’s education sector forward, especially in the areas of education and security. Towards this end, the provost promised that the college would be ready to partner relevant agencies in the state and the country at large in moving the education sector forward.

Education | Campus 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 21, 2015

Imam tasks Muslims on Ramadan lessons Oladele Oge UNN

s Muslims in Nigeria joined their counterparts across the world to celebrate this year’s Ramadan, the Imam of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Central Mosque, Sheik Adam Idoko, has urged Islamic faithful in the country to allow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed and the lessons from the Ramadan fast to reflect in their lives. The Imam, who is also the Leader of Muslim community in Enugu State, gave the advice in Nsukka on Friday during the Eid-el-Fitr prayer to mark the end of this year’s fasting. He urged Muslims to live in peace with their neighbours’ irrespective of religion, creed, tribe and political affiliations, saying: “Islam is a religion of peace that does not compel anyone to belong to it, but shows love to all.” His words: “It is based on your conviction that you become a Muslim, and the teaching of Islam is that you must show love and care to all without discrimination. If we want to receive more blessings during this period of celebration and after we must remember the poor and the needy around us as well as obey all the teachings of Islam.” Idoko, while insisting that Muslims should always show gratitude to Allah, given the fact that not all that celebrated Ramadan last years were alive to witness this year, he said: “We must be grateful to Allah for sparing our lives as well as making us to be followers of Islam the religion of peace and way of life. “Many people, who witnessed this celebration last year are not able to witness it this year, it is not because we are better than them, but because of the love and mercy of Allah on us,” he noted, adding that “in all we do, we should always be thankful to Allah for his countless blessings, favour and protection.” However, the Imam warned them to avoid alcoholism, over-eating and reckless driving during and after the festivities, stressing: “Please avoid alcoholism, overeating and reckless driving by ensuring that you do your celebration in

line with Islamic laws and teachings.” Idoko also admonished those who are in positions of authorities to ensure justice, equity as well as avoid corruptions in order to move the country forward. “Every Nigerian should support President Mohammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to rid the country of bribery and corruption,” the Imam pleaded,

adding that judges and security agents should ensure that only guilty persons are punished and ensure that innocent suspects are set free. “Every Nigerian no matter the position or class should always say the truth no matter whose ox is gored in order to restore the dignity of this country,” Idoko said. Some Muslims in a chat with Telegraph

The chief Imam with the Muslims at the prayer session

Campus thanked Allah immensely for making

it possible for them to complete the Ramadan

fast as well as be alive to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr.

30 Education

TUESDAY, july 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMC to develop next generation of leaders in Africa Appolonia Adeyemi

MC Technologies has restated its commitment to the development of the people and facilities across the African continent, saying Africa is a key region in the quest for deepwater hydrocarbons. No fewer than 16 FMC Technologies employees from across Africa participated in a week-long leadership programme, which held in Ghana. Already, FMC Technologies University’s Talent Development group has developed the Management Essentials course, which is customised to fit into the diverse population, as well as the logistical requirements for the region. The university, launched in 2012, offers employees the opportunity to advance their skills, especially in the Management Essentials, which include modules on Transition to Leader; Cultural Diversity; Human Resources Fundamentals and Crucial Conversation. Participants at the leadership programme were drawn from a variety of professional backgrounds, job responsibilities and cultural backgrounds. Speaking about the training, Surface Operation Supervisor from Port Harcourt, Ajikere Abuchi noted: “The training was the best I have ever had in my

career and it touched on every aspect of what I needed to carry out for my leadership responsibilities. “In my 14 years of working with FMC Technologies, I have found that the company has a great regard for staff training and development. It gives staff the flexibility to acquire knowledge from other departments and encourages employees on their career paths, and that contributes to a conducive working culture and environment.” According to the participants, the course was a great success, and a positive step toward strengthening the nationalisation of FMC Technologies’ workforce. The focus on collaboration between diverse cultures during the training resulted in building strong relationships and networks. Equally importantly, the company is building momentum in the nurturing of strong leaders from countries such as Angola, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria. The company continues to focus on developing people and skills across the continent, with future programmes on mentoring and coaching; while collaborating with educational institutions in the region; career development (job rotation/changing assignments); project management training; and additional leadership programmes.

L-R: Head Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Koye Sowemimo; overall best graduating student, Sunday Oyelami; Fasehun and Kim at the graduation ceremony.

Mojeed Alabi and Segun Giwa

t was a moment of joy for some 53 graduates of the Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy, who have been offered appointments by the management of the company. The successful graduates upon completion of their internship, under the vocational training instituted by Samsung as part of its corporate social responsibilities in partnership with the Lagos State Government, are to be absorbed by the company. Managing Director of Samsung West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, announced the cheering news during the graduation ceremony of the graduating students drawn from the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja. Kim, while addressing the gathering comprising top government officials, management of the college and parents, said the

Samsung offers job to 53 academy graduates academy, which was established in 2012 in partnership with the Lagos State Government through the World Bank-assisted Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, was to empower indigent Nigerians and positively impact the communities. Since its inception, he said the academy has trained over 100 students, adding: “Samsung is dedicated to creating a large pool of skilled engineers with a target of training 10,000 students across Africa. The graduating students from the academy, it was gathered had successfully completed a one-year intensive specialised training to repair modern, digital electronic and home appliances such as LCD televisions, smartphones, refrigera-

tors, air conditioners, laptops and computers, among other appliances.” According to Kim, the graduating students are eligible for internship at Samsung’s channel partners with the outstanding performers who will be granted the opportunity to work as independent service technicians or employees in the company’s retail channel outlets. While commending Samsung for what she described as its investment in such a critical initiative that has the potential of empowering beneficiaries to become entrepreneurs, the Head, Eko Secondary School Project, Mrs. Folasade Fasehun, said the students had undergone a full year training programme in basic, intermediate and advanced engineering skills.

EDUPEACE

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

Action against internet addiction

nternet addiction, otherwise called online addiction or internet addiction disorder, is a potent problem that is increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. Unlike what obtains in some parts of the developed world where such problems are given systematic support and special intervention, little or nothing is being done about it here in Nigeria. Internet addiction operates in a variety of ways. Its forms include cybersex addiction, cyberrelationship addiction, net compulsion, information overload and computer addiction. You are likely to find people, especially the youth, around you that have these problems. If they are not online for a day, it is as if they are lost in the wilderness. Cybersex addiction is a disorder that makes you to always access internet pornography or hop from one adult chat room to another. You are wired to see online literature, videos and photos relating to sex and you do that often such that the real world is negatively affected by your virtual experience. Cyber-relationship addiction concerns your compulsive attachment to social networking. You chat, you ping, you text, you tweet, you “watsapp” and you are closer to those who are far from you and become distant from family members that are supposed to be close to you. You must read every thrash posted by every friend and you must “like” or share it to show support. Net compulsion arises from your predilection for online gaming, gambling, shopping and extreme use of auction sites. It is a compulsive engagement with the net with negative implications for work and concentration. Information overload is excessive online surfing, database searching and non-stop browsing all in the name of seeking information. At the end of the day, precious time is lost and the much of the information is useless. Computer addiction was the precursor to internet addiction. Playing computer games is what operates here. Anytime the addict gets to hold a computer, his destination is straight to the offline games. We have become so much addicted to technology and gadgets that we are losing values that define us and we put ourselves in danger’s way. People text and ping when they drive while others receive such phone calls. We talk less with family and real friends as we are engrossed with replying and following virtual, social media friends who regale us with updates that have little bearing on our lives. Internet addiction is worri-

Internet addiction is worrisome because it affects education some because it affects education. There are many students who pretend to listen in the class while quietly chatting with their online friends with their devices hidden under the table. As a matter of fact, studies now show that poor educational performance is associated with internet addiction. I do not understand why a student should belong to more than three social media sites. However, for many students, they are there on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, My Space, 2go, Instagram, PinInterest and so many of them. They chat excitedly all the time at the expense of what really matters: their tomorrow. Guarding against internet addiction is in the interest of peace and education. We know that several atrocities are committed online, from fraud to child trafficking and terrorism. Saving ourselves and our impressionistic young ones from the dangers of internet addiction is a task that must be done at the personal, parental and government levels. At the individual level, discipline should be our watchword in dealing with the internet. You don’t have to be online 24/7 to be trendy. Only go online when you have something to do there. Then, time management is crucial. There is time for everything and all time should not be spent surfing. Parents need to constantly keep an eye on the online behavior of their children. Smart phones are double-edged swords especially with the low rates of data subscription these days. I just read a heart-rending story of how a young girl was lured into prostitution in Italy just because of a cell phone gift, through which her manipulator was able to achieve his ulterior motive. On its part, government should support outdoor games, school sports and other activities that keep people healthy and really social. The good old days of exciting inter-house sports should be brought back as the current situation of playing all kinds of games, from football to ping pong, on the screen is counter-productive. Technology, including smart phones and gadgets, is for us to use and control. Technology is not to use and control us. A stitch in time saves nine. Stop internet addiction and be free.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Energy

Daunting task of fixing NNPC

Property

Aviation

How to solve Nigeria’s housing challenges, by experts

Why airlines aren’t profitable

Business What's news

NIOB: How Nigeria loses N9bn to foreign artisans yearly President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tunde Lasabi, has given the details of how the country is losing over N9 billion to foreign artisans and tradesmen annually.

p.32

NPA allegedly approves N8.4bn for controversial contract The board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has allegedly directed its ailing Finance Director, Mr Odutan Olumide Abayomi, to pay $35 million (about N8.4 billion) to Calabar Channel Management Limited for the maintenance dredging of the Calabar Port.

p.32

L-R: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Etisalat Nig. Ltd, Mathew Wilsher; Executive Director, Lagos and West, Keystone Bank, Mr. Innocent Ike; and the Group Head, Telecoms Media, and Tech, Keystone Bank, Mrs. Yetunde Jaiyesimi; during the Etisalat N40 billion syndicate loan facility event in Lagos.

FG heightens war against jobs’ exports, forex drain INVESTMENT

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Board pledges to facilitate and encourage investments in Nigeria

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

Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government has heightened clamp down on international oil companies (IOCs) and their local counterparts over jobs’ exports and foreign exchange drain in the industry. Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe, disclosed this during the commissioning of $4 million

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Africa’s first glass fibre spooling facility in Nigeria. He promised that the Board, under his leadership, would continue to implement the framework and other programmes geared towards encouraging investments and establishment of facilities in Port Harcourt. The $4 million investment, he said in a statement by Obinna Ezeobi, came on the back of the Board’s Nigerian Content Equipment Component Manufacturing and Certification (NCEC) programme, which commenced under the leadership of the pioneer Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa. He described the NCEC initiative as laudable, pledging that the Board, under his leadership, will continue to implement the frame-

work and other programmes geared towards encouraging investments and establishment of facilities in Nigeria. Speaking further, Kentebe, the statement revealed, stated that such facilities contribute to the Board’s vision to use Nigerian Content as a vehicle to industrialise Nigeria and create employment and training opportunities for qualified Nigerians. He stressed that the strategic focus of the Board is to create

$4 million Cost of Africa’s first glass fibre spooling facility in Nigeria

shop floors that will train and empower Nigerians in all sectors of the industry, adding that NCDMB will continue to promote hands-on training opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, marine, subsea, drilling, well services and all other activities across the value chain. The Bell Oil & Gas glass fibre spooling facility, the statement said, is reputed to be the first of its kind in Africa and worth about $4 million. The facility manufactures pipes with diverse bends and angles, delivering liquids to various outlets at different temperatures and pressures, hence cannot be manufactured in conCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2015.................................9% April 2015................................8.7% March 2015.............................8.5%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at July 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N245 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N365 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N265

l Foreign Reserves – $29.955bn as at 13/07/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199.00 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N315.27 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N225.60

Business | News

SKILL- GAP

Institute plans training and certification of local artisans Dayo Ayeyemi

resident, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tunde Lasabi, has given the details of how the country is losing over N9 billion to foreign artisans and tradesmen annually. The NIOB boss, who spoke with New Telegraph in Lagos, said that some of these artisans come into Nigeria from countries such as Ghana, Togo, Republic of Benin, Ivory Coast and Cameroun, among others. He noted that they have taken over the jobs of local artisans with the conspiracy of house developers and construction companies. This scenario, he said, was also applicable to professionals that are being imported into Nigeria from Asian. He said: “There are some of them from neighbouring West African countries who came to Nigeria as artisans. There are some who are being invited by some construction companies in Nigeria, whose headquarters

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NIOB: How Nigeria loses N9bn to foreign artisans yearly are abroad. “They called themselves engineers, builders and so on, they make money here and go back to their countries,” Lasabi said. If the trend is allowed to continue, Lasabi warned that it would not do the country any good, stressing that it would lead to capital flight. Some of the foreign artisans, he alleged, earns N3,000

per day as individual, amounting to N18,000 per week and N72,000 per month on the average, at the expense of locals. He lamented that while foreigners made away with this money, a huge number of Nigerian bricklayers, iron benders, carpenters, tillers and POP makers that need employment, roam the street without jobs. “In our own estimation, Ni-

geria is losing nothing less than N9 billion to our neighboring countries annually. The same thing goes on with the professionals that are being imported into Nigeria,” he lamented. Lasabi said that NIOB has taken up the challenge with the Immigration Service, urging it to enforce the law that would bar any foreigner from walking into the country without duly registering with pro-

fessional bodies and pick a job. Besides, he said that the institute has identified skills gap among the local artisans, adding that it is doing everything possible to train and certify them. “Our problem is the skill gap. We are working in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics and National Board for Technical Education to train our artisans,” he said.

FG heightens war against jobs’ exports, forex drain CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

ventional pipe mills. Spools, which are forms of Glassfibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes, believed to be resistant to corrosion because they do not have metal as part of its composition and can handle pressure up to 3500 pound per square inch (psi) and temperatures of up to 121 degrees centigrade, the statement said. In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Kayode Thomas, said that the company blazed the trail in the installation of GRE pipes in Nigeria since 2004 on Bonga floating production, storage and offloading platform. He announced plans by the company to take on complex projects, become certified to train and certify other trainers and make Nigeria the West African hub for GRE pipes. Thomas said that the company’s motive is to add value in-country, create employment, contribute to its host communities and further demonstrate that Nigerians can do big things in the industry. He expressed regret that some operating and service companies still take jobs abroad even when capacity resided in-country, adding that such firms will need to change or be compelled to. In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe, explained that the company’s investments had changed the scenario where all spools required in Nigeria were made in factories abroad, thereby exporting jobs and draining foreign exchange.

L-R: General Secretary, NAFDAC Staff/Workers Union, Mr. Joseph Peter Anzaku; Chairman, Mr. Isah Ibrahim Attah and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Albert Udeme, during a press briefing on the refusal of NAFDAC Director of Finance and Accounts, Abuja, Mr. Andrew Ademola Moghojuri, to proceed on redeployment to NAFDAC Training Institute, Kaduna, held at NAFDAC Office, Oshodi, Lagos.

ADAMANT

Former NPA MD, Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, had refused to sign the contract, citing the irregularities in the deal

Bayo Akomolafe

he board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has allegedly directed its ailing Finance Director, Mr Odutan Olumide Abayomi, to pay $35 million (about N8.4 billion) to Calabar Channel Management Limited for the maintenance dredging of the Calabar Port. Already, part of the payment ($7.5 million or about N1.8 billion), according to a source at the authority, was allegedly paid to the contractors last Thursday. The outstanding $27.5 million (about N6.6 billion) is billed for payment soon. The Finance Director, who had just returned from a medical trip in the United Kingdom, was mandated to pay NPA’s equity contribution of N120 million in Cal-

NPA allegedly approves N8.4bn for controversial contract abar Channel Management Limited, which was incorporated two years ago. It was revealed that the finance director may soon go back to the United Kingdom hospital to continue with his therapy. He has been on admission in the past six months. When the authority’s Assistant General Manager, public Affairs, Mallam Musa Iliya, was contacted, he neither responded to the telephone calls nor text message sent to him. However, his Principal Manager, Mallam Issa Suwaid, said that he would respond on Tuesday (today) when he resumes duty. It was gathered that the deft move to recall the Finance Director was initiated by a former minister whose motive was to strengthen the hold of Calabar Channel Management Limited on the contract and safeguard his interest in Calabar Port before another minister and a new board are appointed.

Calabar Channel Management Limited is a partnership between NPA and Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company Limited, which belongs to a PDP senator serving his second term in this dispensation. The firm was awarded the juicy contract for the capital dredging of the port last year. But the contract did not pass through the usual procurement process as required by the Public Procurement Act 2007. The company had earlier secured the maintenance dredging of the same port in similar circumstances in 2013. Sources at NPA alleged that the former minister and the NPA board took advantage of the delay by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in appointing ministers and dissolving boards of parastatals, to hatch the plan for the payment of the contractor and NPA’s share capital in the firm. These bills had remained

unpaid since August last year when the contract was awarded. Former NPA Managing Director, Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, refused to succumb to pressure to make these payments or represent NPA on the board of Calabar Channel Management and that cost him his job. He had cited the irregularities in the contract award and the objections that followed as reasons for his refusal to budge. Abdullahi also was weary of falling foul of the law given that there is a pending suit challenging the contract. NPA is the fourth defendant in the suit and is being represented by a legal team. But his hard posture on the matter did not go down well with the former minister. Abdullahi was consequently kicked out of office in the twilight of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero was asked to take over.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Nigeria, others’ crude oil under pressure –Report p.34

Energy

Daunting task of fixing NNPC The Department of State Services (DSS) heightened manhunt for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials in a fresh onslaught on corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari. Adeola Yusuf examines renewed efforts to plug the leaks in the corporation.

o stakeholders like Antony Goldman of Nigeriafocused PM Consulting, the probe of the NNPC requires tougher approach than envisaged. Goldman expressed strong belief that the probe was conceivable. His reasons are not far-fetched: not even insiders knew the real value of the various deals agreed on behalf of the company. The more the president takes a critical look at the corporation’s book, the more revelations he stumbles upon. Buhari, who was petroleum minister when the Corporation was set up in 1977, dissolved the board and more sackings are expected to follow. As at that time, what the public knew was the alleged missing $20 billion and the crude oil swap deals. However, last month, the National Economic Council dazzled the already dump-folded public with a new figure of corruption. The NNPC had earned N8.1 trillion ($41 billion) between 2012 and the end of May 2015, but paid only N4.3 trillion ($21.6 billion) to the Federal Government, the Council, chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibajo, said. A 2013 investigation by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Lamido Sanusi, found that NNPC had failed to pay $20 billion in revenue to government accounts between January 2012 and July 2013. The corporation argued that the money was not lost at all. A subsequent audit by PwC found that some funds were unaccounted for, but bemoaned a lack of cooperation and issued an audit with extensive caveat. The Council is chaired by the vice president and includes all state governors and the central bank head. The NNPC could not be reached to comment directly on that report. The task Buhari wants to plug the leaks, but this may prove difficult. “The fact that the NNPC has effectively

NNPC headquarters

become impossible to audit suits a lot of people,” Goldman of Nigeria-focused PM Consulting said. He said that it was conceivable that not even insiders knew the real value of the various deals agreed on behalf of the company. Beyond this, the NNPC has gone through six general managing directors since 2011, a clear sign of “political interference in the day-to-day running of the operation.” NNPC’s influence The NNPC represents interests in oil and gas exploration, manages the energy sector and is the regulator, making it arguably the most important institution in Africa’s biggest economy and top crude producer. As if to underline the point, soldiers guard the NNPC building from raised platforms and visitors are required to go through four separate security checks. In the shadow of one of NNPC’s towers, a fleet of sleek 4x4 vehicles can be seen in the car park. But inside, the carpets are threadbare and window frames are rusting, symbolic of the decay that has befallen NNPC over the years. Campaign promise 72-year-old Buhari swept to power this year on an anti-corruption ticket. He has made it clear that he wants to overhaul Nigeria’s oil industry, starting with

The task of fixing the rot at the NNPC should not be an exclusive duty of the president

the behemoth at its core. Nigeria’s intelligence agency, the DSS, has heightened the manhunt for top-notches of the corporation for questioning over $20 billion missing fund at the corporation. New Telegraph gathered that the agency has summoned Group Executive Director for refining and petrochemicals and other GEDs for questioning 11 times since May. Meanwhile, the DSS has been carrying out investigations. “There is a siege mentality here at the moment,” said Udoh, an NNPC veteran of 36 years. He said that Buhari’s initiative had given fresh legs to media coverage of the accounting holes worth over $20 billion identified by two separate investigations, and that the public pressure was dominating management meetings. “The DSS has been harassing some of us,” said Ian Udoh, NNPC’s group executive director for refining and petrochemicals, who has been hauled in for questioning 11 times since late May. Pitfalls for reforms The fact that the NNPC has gone through six general managing directors since 2011 is a clear sign of “political interference in the day-to-day running of the operation,” said Zainab Ahmed, executive director of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparen-

cy Initiative (NEITI), a corruption watchdog. The petroleum minister has traditionally had an office at the NNPC and sits on its board. In reform proposals seen by Reuters, Buhari’s advisers have recommended a root-and-branch overhaul of Africa’s biggest oil industry. The oil sector provides government with roughly 70 per cent of its revenue and the slump in crude oil prices since last year has hit the economy hard. Under the constitution, the NNPC is supposed to hand over its oil revenue to the Federal Government, which then pays back what the firm needs based on a budget approved by parliament. But in a legal contradiction that has never been resolved, the Act establishing the state oil company allows it to cover costs before remitting funds to government, in effect, enabling it to do what it wants with the cash. Root of matter The greatest indictment of the NNPC may be that Nigeria’s four refineries have never reached full production, due to poor maintenance, leaving Africa’s biggest crude producer to rely on expensive imported fuel for 80 per cent of its energy needs. Watchdogs say that governCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Business | Energy

CARTEL OPEC currently supplies approximately 32 per cent of world’s crude oil Adeola Yusuf

igeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are under pressure to secure demand for their crude supplies, Delloite has hinted. A report obtained by New Telegraph revealed that OPEC would cede power in the interim to the United States (US) by 2018. “OPEC’s oil market share will fall by five per cent by 2018 as the supply of US tight oil picks up. “While that share may recover over the long-term as supply patterns shift (particularly if US production flattens), OPEC will cede power in the interim,” the study said. The OPEC organisation currently supplies approximately 32 per cent of world’s crude oil.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, others’ crude oil under pressure –Report Stating that the fluctuating industry dynamics are fuelling a power play between traditional and new oil suppliers, Delloite noted that the United States “continues to maintain its place as a major producer of both oil and gas,

while historical energy trade patterns are shifting.” With the loss of the United States as an anchor market, the world’s major oil suppliers, the report said, are searching for new buyers. “As oil and gas supply and

demand fundamentals continue to evolve, new global trading patterns are emerging. As relations between emerging trading blocs strengthen, OPEC may look to expand its share of the Western European market.

“This would not, however, be a self-sustaining strategy. In 2013, almost 60 per cent of OPEC’s crude oil exports went to Asia and European consumption could not replace this volume,” the study noted.

Task of fixing NNPC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

ment may be losing billions of dollars through opaque contracts in which crude oil is swapped for refined imports such as gasoline and diesel. Many of the problems that gripped the NNPC from the 1990s onwards, as the refineries began to decline and oil imports rose, stem from a failed restructuring in the late 1980s, which led to the creation of 12 strategic business units. They were supposed to be privatised but remained part of the company, acting as separate departments with little or no contact, beyond the reach of effective oversight. Way out “The NNPC’s relationship with government should primarily be one of financial accountability and reporting,” said Rolake Akinkugbe, head of energy and natural resources at FBN Capital. “It should be restructured in a way that permanently severs its regulatory functions from its operational functions,” she said. Buhari, who may not name his cabinet until September, is widely expected to keep the petroleum portfolio for himself, marking a return to a role he occupied more than three decades ago when he oversaw the construction of national refineries. Udoh told Reuters that the modern NNPC was very different to the “dynamic” organisation he joined in 1979, when its Lagos office held a fraction of the 2,000 people who work in today’s Abuja megalith. “People had bigger dreams back then,” he said, “and could develop their vision.” Conclusion The task of fixing the rot at the NNPC should not be an exclusive duty of the president. And all hands must be on deck to assist his noble cause to put finances at the Nigeria’s economic cash cow in right perspectives.

L-R. Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC), Ikeja Forum, Reginald Odiah; Branch Chairman, Ikeja Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Prince Oba Felix Okojie; Chief Finance Officer, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Aigbe Olotu, and Director General, MAN, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun, at the Consultative Forum between Ikeja Electric and MAN recently.

REGRET NOSDRA DG expresses regret over deadly Bayelsa pipeline Inferno

Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government has begun probe into the pipeline explosion that killed 13 people including engineers and staff of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, and National Agip Oil Company (NAOC). Director-General (DG) of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor, disclosed this in a statement. He said that the inves-

Agip explosion: FG probes 13 engineers’ death, others tigations, which are being spare-headed by NOSDRA and Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, were to determine the cause of the deadly pipeline incident. Expressing regrets and sadness over the fire that killed a staff of NOSDRA, Mr. Ositadinma Onyekachi Ugwu, a senior Technical Officer, and 12 others, the NOSDRA boss gave assurance that the pipeline tragedy in Bayelsa State would not deter NOSDRA in its avowed commitment to enforcing strict

compliance with safety and environmental standards in the oil and gas industry. The other victims of the unfortunate incident were from Bayelsa State Ministry of NAOC. They met their untimely death during a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site of a pipeline undergoing a routine maintenance in Azuzuama-Clough Creek in Bayelsa State. In his condolence message, Sir Idabor, according to the statement signed by

NOSDRA’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogbuike, conveyed his commiseration to the families of the victims of the pipeline inferno, urging them to bear the irreparable losses with calm and fortitude. He particularly described the NOSDRA staff caught up in the tragedy, Mr. Ositadinma Onyekachi Ugwu, a senior Technical Officer, as a dedicated and committed officer who died in the active service of managing oil spill in our country.

Spear, IHS partner on reservoir management services

pear Engineering Consulting Services has announced its appointment as Nigeria’s official representative for IHS Incorporated, owners of the Fekete Reservoir Management suites and a global leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas of business landscape. The company, which announced this in a statement, added that this partnership would help to provide efficient reservoir and well performance management

services from the globally recognised brand to interested oil and gas industry operators in Nigeria, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea. “We are very excited to work with IHS Energy,” said Remi Akano, Group Chief Executive Officer (COO) of Spear Ventures, parent company of Spear Engineering Consulting. “As a company, which delivers up-to-date expertise in individual professional disciplines, our drive is always to offer best-in-class, yet cost

effective solutions that will impact positively on the efficiency, productivity and the bottom line of our clients in the Oil and Gas industry. This is why one of the focuses of our service is to provide reservoir analyses and studies that will result in the optimum strategy for our clients’ field development planning as well as managing existing producing assets,” he added. “Teaming up with IHS, which has a formidable team of industry experts with over 20 years’ global experi-

ence and is well recognised within Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) to provide efficient reservoir management and consulting services is an exciting development. “It will enable us offer the best software solution in the market (IHS Harmony™ suite), to help our clients meet the reserves evaluation and production forecasting goals, which we recognise are some of the main deliverables for every E&P operational and management team.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

‘Remove Land Use Act from Constitution’ p.36 Challenges confronting the housing and past efforts to resolve them were again brought to the fore last week in Abuja. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

Property&Environment How to solve Nigeria’s housing challenges, by experts ers’ level, local government/community level and commercial banks level to help alleviate this burden. She articulated roles that government and private sector industry players can play in providing access to finance to lowincome groups. These roles, she said, would involve government creating enabling environment via regulatory and legislative means for private sector participation, using public-private-participation mechanism and private sector assisting government in providing technical efficiency in developing new mortgage loans targeted at the low segment of the market.

ousing professionals and other stakeholders have called on government to design ways to solve the problems of home ownership among Nigerians. The experts, who converged on the Abuja Housing Show, were drawn from the real estate, public and financial sectors. They took advantage of the platform to look deeply into the problems confronting housing delivery and suggested solutions on many ways to fast-track housing provision processes. They also called on government to create site and services schemes across the country in order to make land available to Nigerians in need of their home. Besides, they want government to liberalise the environment in terms of land ownership, management and administration, such that all transactions in land matters will be simple, easy and achievable within a time frame that is cost-effective. While decrying the risky conditions under which many Nigerians live health-wise, the experts said that the situation has become a source of social instability in the country and the African continent. The conference attempted to critically appraise existing policies with a view to remoulding and developing new ones in order to build enduring structures for faster housing delivery Government’s position Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who was represented by Senator Osita Izunazo, said that land acquisition and funding have become the most pressing issues affecting housing provision in Nigeria. He said that the issue of housing has become one of the major priorities of the current administration. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. George Ossi, said that the ministry has developed roadmap for the sector in order to meet the housing demand. He stated that the ministry intends to promote national building standards in collaboration with private developers to enhance the implementation of government’s housing visions. Also, Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), John Chukwu, an engineer, pointed out that overcrowding in the urban areas also put pressure on existing infrastructure. He said that this has undermined efforts of the

Buhari

Inyangete

FCTA at providing housing for the population. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, represented by Mr. Daniel Tifatu, noted that as a non-tradable sector, the housing sector has tremendous multiplier effects on the broader economy in terms of job and wealth creation through private residential investments and consumption spending on housing services, economic and social inclusion. Promoter of Abuja Housing Show, Mr. Festus Adebayo, while highlighting the challenges bedevilling the sector, emphasised the need for stakeholders to continue discussions on innovative ways to dealing with housing issues. Bottlenecks Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Professor Charles Inyangete, took a closer look at the need to facilitate broader access to affordable housing finance for Nigerians. While emphasing the bottlenecks in the delivery of affordable housing, the NMRC boss mentioned complex land registration and titling, high and volatile interest rates, short tenor of mortgages, lengthy and complicated foreclosures, high building costs and absence of mortgage insurance, as contributing factors. NMRC’s initiatives Inyangete reeled out the initia-

Lack of housing market information is a big issue

tives of the NMRC in stimulating investment in the mortgage market and delivering affordable housing in general. He said that these included the adoption of Uniform Underwriting Standard, introduction of Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (which is on-going), first issue of bond in the capital market (which is currently being finalised) and other on-going mortgage relief packages that intend to tackle, among others, challenges relating to down payment required of prospective homeowners and high interest rates. Finance expert with Dunn Lorren Merrifield, Miss Chiamaka Nwokolo, explained the essence of the Model Mortgage and Foreclosure Law (MMFL). She said that its provisions were intended to strengthen the mortgage processes and procedures. Among the innovations embedded in the MMFL, she said, included the streamlining of the whole process of mortgage registration and titling. Sovereign guarantee Head, Public Private Partnership (PPP), Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Eucharia Alozie, an architect, noted that people at the lower segment of the housing market bear the brunt of the severe challenges inherent in the housing sector. For this reason, she wants government to provide sovereign guarantee at real estate develop-

Kogi, Lafarge’s examples Former Managing Director of UACN Property, Mr. Stephen Mayaki, who represented Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, at the event, noted that the state government, over the years, had provided enabling environment for private sector participation in the housing and construction sector through investments in infrastructure projects such as housing, road, power, education and health. “Kogi State government has partnered the private sector as well as the FMBN to deliver housing for public servants in the state,” he said. Managing Director of Lafarge, Mr. Guillaume Roux, said that the success story in Mumbai, India, are being replicated in Nigeria by his company. He said that Lafarge has partner Kano State government and other private entities of like minds to increase the speed of housing development. “Providing access to finance to low-income earners though is necessary, but not satisfactory, hence lack of housing market information is a big issue among consumers that government and other stakeholders need to pay attention to. Affordability of housing and durable solutions to housing needs are country specific, hence require support from multinational organisations,” Roux said. Conclusion Both the experts and government were urged to pay special attention to training and retraining of different levels of skills needed for housing production, particularly at the artisanal level, as lack of institutional capacity, scarcity of housing market information, insufficient calibre of technical and artisanbased skills, among others, have slowed down the Nigerian housing sector.

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Remove Land Use Act from constitution –Akomolede

Chief Kola Akomolede, is the Vice President, International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), Africa Chapter. In this Interview with DAYO AYEYEMI, he spoke on how President Muhamodu Buhari can bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit

Government must find a way to make finance available at affordable rates of interest as it obtains in developed countries to both property developers and individuals who want mortgage to buy a house. Interest rate on mortgage is between three and five per cent in most civilised countries, but here in Nigeria, it is between 18 and 24 per cent. By the time property developers add this to their cost of production of houses, the houses cannot be affordable at all. For people who want to buy these houses, it is difficult to meet the monthly or yearly repayment, even on a long term basis. Government must set in motion the necessary machinery to re-examine the National Housing Fund (NHF). The NHF is a veritable vehicle for collection of money for mortgage, but government lacks the political will to implement it to the letters. Experts must be assembled to re-examine the law and remove areas of conflict in it and recommend how it can be implemented for the benefit of all.

there is nothing the Federal Government can do. This is not good enough.

What agenda would you set for President Muhamodu Buhari? If the President wants to be remembered after leaving office, there are three monsters he must confront in the housing sector. These include high cost of acquisition of land, building materials and finance. He must start to wage war against these three enemies of affordable housing, just as he waged war against indiscipline through WAI, (War Against Indiscipline), during his tenure as military head of state. First, he must start the War Against High Cost Land (WAHCOL) by proposing a bill to first remove the Land Use Act from the constitution to make it amenable to necessary amendments as and when due. Unless this is done, the common man will continue to have little or no access to land. Under the law, even if the Federal Government (FGN) wants to provide houses for the masses, it has to beg the states to give land and if any state refuses,

What about Governor’s Consent? The issue of governor’s consent, which had been an albatross against the transfer and perfection of title to land, should be immediately addressed, among others. Easy access to land is the first step on the way to affordable housing for the masses. The second war is the War Against High Cost of Building Materials (WAHCOBM). At the present price of major building materials, there is no way affordable housing can be provided. Cement, which is a major component in our building system, is about N2,000 per 50 kilogramme bag or more, depending on your location. Government must look for ways to bring down the cost of cement and all other building materials. How can this be done? Government can give grants or very low interest loan to cement manufacturers to expand their production capacities, remove import duties on cement manufacturing equipment and remove excise duties on cement manufactured in the country. As an interim measure, government can allow the importation of cement for the next two years at no import duty to crash the price. This should

Akomolede stop as soon as the local manufacturers have completed their expansion projects. This country can produce enough cement for our consumption and even export to other West African countries. We have the limestone in abundance. All

‘80% owners of demolished houses in Ogun lack C-of-O’

gun State government has said that 80 per cent of owners of structures demolished to give right of way to road construction did not have requisite title document. But, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kayode

Amosun

Ademolake, an engineer, said that despite this, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in his magnanimity, has directed that owners of such demolished buildings be compensated. In a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Ayokule Ewuoso, the permanent secretary said that government realised that many of the buildings were constructed over 80¬ to 100 years ago, hence no documents. He said: “We are conscious of the fact that those structures are physically on ground there and we know that in those days there were no documents. Government knows that following official procedures will result to throwing families into hard conditions. It is better once we find a structure on ground according to the governor’s instruction, compensation must be paid. “Over 80 per cent of those that fell into this category have no building approvals. Many of these

buildings have been constructed over 80 to 100 years ago, so once we get there and capture them pictorially, we give them number and immediately call in valuers to evaluate their property and they are compensated accordingly,” he added. Ademolake disclosed that the issue of compensation is fractional as it is in different stages. According to him, while government compensated some landlords monetarily, others have their houses repaired. “Mostly along these roads when you see houses with green roofs, it is a sign that the houses were reconstructed by government. The second category comprised the people that were compensated monetarily,” he said. The permanent secretary noted that all roads that were being constructed in the state have stipulated time of completion, assuring that they would be completed at a record time barring all odds.

the above should be applicable to all other building materials and not cement alone. Is that all? The third war is the war against high cost of finance. This war is on two fronts.

How do you want low-cost housing tackled? The Federal Government must accept housing a social responsibility, especially to the middle and low income and therefore make budgetary allocations to the sector the way it does for education, health, agriculture, works, aviation and sports.

UK govt, mortgage industry to make lending process transparent

he UK government and the country’s mortgage industry have pledged to work together to ensure that home lending is available for every stage of life from first time buyers to retirees. Following a meeting between the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, other government ministers and mortgage industry representatives, work is to be done to make lending more transparent. The meeting, according to Property Wire’s report, also discussed measures that have already been taken to boost help for first time buyers such as Help to Buy and ISAs and how they can be taken forward. It comes at a time when advice given by lenders to borrowers has been found to be mixed in the aftermath of changes brought in last year. In particular, there has been criticism of the new questionnaire that all applicants have to fill in so that lenders can ascertain that they can afford repayments with instances of people not revealing all their spending plans for fear of being rejected. Many older people and self-employed have also found it hard to get mortgage.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Harriett Baldwin, revealed that since 2010, some 2.8 million mortgages have been advanced, worth a total of £444.5 billion, and by backing the government’s flagship Help to Buy schemes, the industry has helped nearly 100,000 people get onto or move up the housing ladder. “The government’s Help to Buy ISA which is due to launch later in the year will get young people on to the housing ladder, while our work on supporting lending to older people will make sure the mortgage market delivers for those who have worked hard all their life,” she said. “We are pleased that the real effect which the mortgage market can have on people’s lives is recognised within government. We take the industry’s responsibilities to borrowers very seriously,’ said Paul Smee, director general of the CML. “We hope the improvements we are making to the transparency of fees and charges will help make it easier for people to understand mortgage costs more easily, and will support the many benefits that a wide choice of mortgages brings to consumers,” he added.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Bi-Courtney CEO: Concession, power are major challenges p.38

Aviation

Why airlines aren’t profitable The airline industry, in its history, has never made money. WOLE SHADARE writes that the profitability of the industry has been somewhat mutable

igeria’s aviation industry is not only small but also fragmented. It is so tiny compared to its population said to be over 160 million. In some climes, aviation is money spinning, contributing significantly to their nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is, however, a different situation in Nigeria where the sector contributes less than one per cent to the country’s GDP. It is appalling and very dismal to a country with the largest economy in Africa. With the near death of the carriers, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) keeps issuing Air Operators Certificate (AOC) to intending airlines. No sooner than they begin operations, than the reality begins to dawn on them that the sector is highly capital intensive, requiring deep pocket to sustain their operations for years. Dire straits Investigations by New Telegraph show that most of the airlines’ airplanes only get fuelled after passengers have paid for tickets and part of the money used to pay oil marketers who have resorted to a cash and carry arrangement in order to avoid growing airlines’ debt. Despite this, the aviation regulatory body is accused of issuing AOC, coupled with pressure from powerful government officials who are said to be very close to the operators. The pressure is so intense on the NCAA that the director-general, most times, buckle under such pressure. But a former Director-General of NCA, Dr. Harold Demuren, was able to withstand the pressure when an investor, because of his closeness to the wife of a former Nigerian president, threatened him to issue AOC, which he declined, insisting that the operator must meet all the requirements for the issuance of the certificate. So sure of getting the all-important AOC, he did something out of the norm. He flew in about six airplanes in anticipation of easily getting the certificate. The aircraft, since almost three years ago, have remained on the tarmac of the Lagos airport and have become economically unviable according to experts. Expert’s view Managing Director of BiCourtney Aviation Services

Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, Lagos

Limited, Christophe Penninck, operators of the ultra-modern Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), has called on the NCAA to limit the number of AOC to prospective operators. He noted that designation of many carriers on the few routes has led to a glut in the market, making carriers unprofitable. Penninck stated that the aviation regulatory body should allow the carriers consolidate rather than proliferate airlines in the country, amid reports that government is planning to float a new national carrier. While Nigeria grant licenses to many airlines that meet stipulated criteria under the NCAA civil aviation regulation, the Ghanaian government only licenses not more than three airlines to save the sector and make the carriers profitable. He said: “The NCAA should check the way it issues AOC to airlines. There are too many airlines in Nigeria, while market share is just too small. Many of the carriers are doing the usual triangular routes of Lagos-Abuja-Port-Harcourt. The proliferation of these airlines has eroded the gains of the airlines. “I hear the Federal Government is planning for a new national carrier; I would encourage government to exercise caution because all over the world, airlines are consolidating. China, with a population of over one billion people, has four major airlines, so, if the FG is bringing in or floating a new airline, how will the other airlines survive?” Solution Penninck said that government must focus its attention on bringing in the few strong, profitable, affordable and safe airlines, rather than adding more. He said that apart from Arik Air, Nigeria’s biggest domestic

airline, the country does not have any large or strong airline, adding that most of the nation’s airlines are weak, underfunded and under-capitalised. Closing down a large unprofitable airline would involve the loss of thousands of jobs, inconvenience to hundreds of thousands of travelers and millions in losses for the airline’s creditors. Not to mention the loss of national pride if the airline in question is a national carrier.

Most of the airlines’ airplanes only get fuelled after passengers have paid for tickets

Fleet planning Selecting the right aircraft for the market an airline wants to serve is vitally important to its financial success. As a result, the selection and purchase of new aircraft is usually directed by an airline’s top officials, although it involves personnel from many other divisions such as maintenance and engineering, finance, marketing and flight operations. There are numerous factors to consider when planning new aircraft purchases, beginning with the composition of an airline’s existing fleet. Do existing aircraft need to be replaced? What plans does the airline have to expand service? How much fuel do they burn per mile, how much are maintenance costs, and how many people are needed to fly them? These are the type of questions that must be answered. In general, newer aircraft are more efficient and cost less to operate than older aircraft. A Boeing 727, for example, is less fuel-efficient than the 757 that Boeing designed to replace it. In addition, the larger 757 require only a two-person flight crew, versus three for the 727. As planes get older, maintenance costs can also rise appreciably. High cash flow Because airlines own large fleet of expensive aircraft, which de-

preciate in value over time, they typically generate a substantial positive cash flow (profits plus depreciation). Most airlines use their cash flow to repay debt or acquire new aircraft. When profits and cash flow decline, an airline’s ability to repay debt and acquire new aircraft is jeopardised. Labour intensive Airlines also are labour intensive. Each major airline employs a virtual army of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, baggage handlers, reservation agents, gate agents, security personnel, cooks, cleaners, managers, accountants and lawyers, among others. Computers have enabled airlines to automate many task, but there is no changing the fact that they are a service business, where customers require personal attention. Over one-third of the revenue generated each day by the airlines goes to pay its workforce. Labour costs per employee are among the highest of any industry. Thin profit margins Consequently, the result of all of these, is thin profit margins, even in the best of times. Airlines, through the years, have earned a net profit between one and two per cent, compared with an average of above five per cent for US industry as a whole. Conclusion Unlike many service businesses, airlines need more than storefronts and telephones to get started. They need an enormous range of expensive equipment and facilities, from airplanes to flight simulators to maintenance hangars. As a result, the airline industry is a capital-intensive business, requiring large sums of money to operate effectively. Whatever arrangements an airline chooses to pursue, its capital needs require consistent profitability.

Business | Aviation

In an interview with New Telegraph, Christophe Pennick, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited, speaks on the need for government to respect the concession pact regarding the Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MM2) and why Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) seem to have issues in several countries of the world What has been the company’s experience in running an airport terminal? It has been interesting and going strong. We have a 36-year concession on MMA2. Seventyfive per cent of domestic (air) traffic in Lagos is from MMA2 and there are five airlines. From here, you can go anywhere in Nigeria. Today actually is a special day because you can now fly from here to Maiduguri. What is special about today? Today is special because from today, you cam fly from this terminal to Maiduguri. Melview has started flying four times a week, which I think is a very positive development for us, for the aviation industry and the country in general. We are, I think, a pioneer in many ways in aviation in Nigeria and West Africa. We have inaugurated recently a brand new check-in system. It entails a lot of things. It not only allows you to do self check-in, you have e-gates, you have systems behind the scene that guarantees that your bag is on-board, and if you are not flying, your bag is not loaded. We can proudly say that we are the only Airport terminals with 24/7 light, the only time that we don’t have light is between the time that public power supply is off and we switch to the generator. We never have power failure. We also have the only airport in Nigeria with functioning air bridges, full functioning air bridges. Even at international airport, half of them are not working. We installed seven brand new lifts; I think two more to go, three brand new escalators, two to go. We are doing phase one because we don’t want to disturb the flow of passengers and two, because it is capital intensive. Besides, we installed the first panoramic lift and we also have an automated car pack with a chip technology for regular customers. This means that you don’t have to do anything on your car, you enter and the system detects your car and opens the gate and closes it behind you. Basically, if I have to summarise, we are a 21st century airport, and I think the only one in Nigeria. We have been able to keep up with time and technology. If you fly out of MM2, or you fly out of Heathrow or you fly out of Johannes burg, it should not be a

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bi-Courtney CEO: Concession, power are major challenges shock to you what the other countries are doing compared to what we do. Many airlines and many stakeholders and even in the past government; people will say this is a norm. We are the example of what all the other airports should be. And we have been elected best airport terminal in Nigeria twice in a roll. The Lagos State commissioner of environment also said that we are the cleanest place in Lagos after his own office. I will say the same thing to a beautiful woman, that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen after my own wife. What we also want to do on the aviation side is to assist as much as possible the development of the aviation industry or the travelling public here in Nigeria. We want to make it easy, convenient, efficient, safe and secure to fly out of the terminal, or fly basically in Nigeria. That’s it on the hieratical side. We want to be the best and why do we want to be the best?One, because we want to show you that private sector does it better. Two, is that whatever we do is possible in Nigeria. So, we don’t want to hear ‘This is Nigeria.’ No! No! No! ‘This is Nigeria’ should be a good thing, and not have a bad connotation. Many times I say that if Nigeria has managed to build a third Mainland Bridge, what is it to maintain a terminal? Bridge is a massive thing... On the aviation side, we want to be an example there and also what we want to do is make MM2 a convenient place to shop. We are trying to diversify our business as much as possible, and that is for two reasons. One, I think around the airport, people should have places where to shop. The closest place (to shop), really, is Ikeja Mall and traffic and all kind of things doesn’t make it convenient to passengers already at the terminal Two, I think for passengers, it is nicer to travel out of the terminal that you have things to do, you can eat, you can shop, you can entertain yourself all in one place. And I think personally, that’s the way to go. I truly believe that if government will have a programme of privatising airports, it should look at success stories, which I think we are, in the country, before starting to decide to go to Europe or to Asia to find companies to manage their airports. I think we have shown that we can do it very well in Nigeria and there should not be any reason for them to go and ask outsiders to. And at the end of the day, we are a Nigerian company; I am the only non-Nigerian here. Are you looking at investing in any other airport or replicating this in any other part of the country? That’s a question that we can only answer a ‘Yes’ to, but we are not the one who can decide this. Usually around the world, airports or terminals are concessioned and the concession comes from the authority, and if the authority now ask us to

us, if it’s happening to us, it means that it could happen to any company. Not only is it very detrimental to local investors, but definitely to foreign investors, because we are a Nigerian company. So, if two Nigerian parties cannot agree, what is a foreign party going to be able to do? A foreign party is always weaker.

Pennick

go and manage another airport, definitely we will replicate this.

Power is a very big issue. We spend millions on power every week

What is the status now, are you friends with FAAN now or things are still the way they were? There are two aspects to this relationship. We are friends by force because we are operating in a FAAN environment. I am talking to a press also. So, we are friends by force in terms of operation. We have to have a kind of good relationship operationally. We have currently 50 or 60 FAAN staff in our terminal. They are the ones doing the security, and are also mostly in charge of the fire safety. These are all the things that FAAN is supposed to do... and is in the concession agreement. So, on ground, we don’t slap each other when we see each other, we are very cautious. Now the other side of the course is that we would have preferred that FAAN would respect the concession agreement like they signed. We didn’t want to quarrel. I think that about nine years ago (in 2006) when the concession agreement was signed, the terms were clear. And now when you unilaterally decide not to respect certain terms of the concession agreement, don’t be surprised that there is an issue. So, are we friends on that aspect? But we also disagree. I will not say we are enemies, either. We are just two parties with different views. The views have been presented to courts several times and the courts have already ruled. The only thing we want to do now is to sit and say: FAAN, listen to the court and respect a body that is recognised in the country. But unfortunately, they are not respecting the court, which is actually very detrimental to the country as a whole. If your court now is not able or capable of enforcing a judgement, if it could happen to

What are the challenges you face? We are PPP, and because PPPs are new in this environment, the parties, especially the one that is giving the concession, might not understand what their role is and their responsibility. And not only here, it happens in many counties where they have PPPs. Governments give PPPs because they cannot do it themselves, and then when they see the private sector is actually thriving, yet private sector is giving the other party – government or the state – whatever they are entitled to, they say ‘but this is not right, we should be getting more, because it is our country and it is our domain’, and then they make the PPP look like its lopsided to the private sector. But the private sector, like I said, does it better. We usually are more cost conscious. We are also more concentrated on the value of a person that can bring to the organisation, than to know where the person is from, what family is he and all these kind of things. And of course, you have the other difficulties to operate in Nigerian environment, which is power. Power is a very big issue. We spend millions on power every week, which in turn, makes it very difficult for other people to operate with us because, your cost is always the basis of how much you are going to charge someone to do business with you. Hence, if your own cost of production is high, you are pushing it onto your customers, its normal and it’s a pure basic economics. So, one is the fact that we have issue with the concession. Two is the power issue. Three, I think we overcame that, is to change the culture of when you buy something and you don’t maintain it. The culture of ‘Its new now, let us wait until it breaks down before repairing it.’ We have educated and trained our personnel. We have a maintenance culture in the organisation, which means that, whatever you see today will remain the same, hopefully in 20 years’ time, it will still be there and functional. Some years ago, there was the issue about Courtney Aviation Services having the right to operate an airport outside of the Federal Government within Lagos. This was an issue some years ago when Lagos was talking about building an airport at Epe. I know that they haven’t dropped that plan but do you still have those rough edges? What the concession says is that all domestic flights from Lagos would be from MM2, and we believe that Lagos is one whole entity, so, situating another airport in another part of Lagos will definitely contravene the concession agreement, so that is what the concession agreement says.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, JULY 21, 2015

Photo | News

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), receiving a badminton racket from the DirectorGeneral, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut, at the finals of the 2nd Lagos International Badminton Classics organised by Lagos State Badminton Association held at Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola (standing) while acknowledging prayers from the members of Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), during the Post-2015 Ramadan Prayers/Lecture organized by (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, exchanging pleasantries with a market woman during a familiarity visit to the Itoku Market in Abeokuta.

L-R: Wife of the General-Overseer, Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministry, Joy Muoka; General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, during Lazarus’ visit to the governor in Umuahia.

L-R: A beneficiary, Mr. Ozioko Christopher; Vice-Chairman, Peace Mass Transit (PMT) Mrs. Ifeyinwa Maduka and Chairman, Mr. Sam Maduka, during the presentation of buses as long service award to staff of the transport company in Enugu.

Wife of Adamawa State Governor, Hajiya Maryam Jibrilla (left), presenting chocolates to the Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (Adsema), Alhaji Haruna Furo (right), for distribution to children, during a Sallah party she organized for Internally Displaced Persons in Malkohi Idps Camp in Yola. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Olori Oluwo of FCT Abuja, Abdulrazaq Jawesola; Oba Ogboni Aborigin Fraternity, Abuja, FCT, Chief Apesin Jimoh; President, Omo-Oodua Yoruba Community, FCT, Prince Adewale Adelabu; Mukaila Olorunisola and Mrs. Abimbola Tifase, during their courtesy visit to Adelabu in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

The Council Chairman of Nsukka, Charles Ugwu (left) with the Chairman of Nsukka Urban Renewal Committee, Chris Offor (right), during the committee’s fact finding and assessment visit to Nsukka town and environs.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

PALTRY

Why remittances input to Nigeria’s GDP is low –FBN Capital

Bank accounts and tax nets should be more widespread

es of tracing them, FBN Capital Research has said. In a note made available to New Telegraph, the firm stated that “until bank accounts become more widespread and the tax net is extended,” Nigeria would continue to have challenges in tracing remittances coming into the country. It pointed out that although remittances from

Tony Chukwunyem

espite being the second largest source of foreign exchange inflows into Nigeria, remittance transfers represented only 3.7 per cent of Nigeria’s 2014 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) because of the challeng-

the large number of Nigerians in the diaspora constitute a significant amount of foreign exchange inflows into the country, financial institutions receive less than 25 per cent of the total amount. The firm noted, “Remittances are the second largest source of foreign exchange inflows into

Nigeria recorded in the balance of payments. On the basis of the CBN’s latest External Sector Development Report, current transfers amounted to US$21.9billion in 2014. This compared with US$80.0billion for oil and gas exports, US$5.3billionn for foreign portfolio investment, US$4.7billion for foreign

Sub Saharan African banks beat continent peers

Tony Chukwunyem

n terms of efficient utilisation of debt, banks in Sub Saharan Africa perform better than their peers in the northern part of the continent, a survey conducted by Thaddeus Investment Advisors and Research Limited has found. Explaining the need for the survey in a statement made available to the New Telegraph, Founder, Managing Director and Principal Analyst at Thaddeus Investment Advisors and Research Limited, Mr. Jude Fejokwu, noted that African banks are raising capital across the continent to adjust to regulatory requirements and the challenges of the competitive environment going forward.

Consequently, he said it was necessary to find out, “When is debt accumulation too much? Which banks are utilising their debt optimally?” Shedding light on the survey methodology, he said that the firm examined 40 African banks classifying them into those that are not debt burdened and those that are. An assessment was also undertaken to determine, which banks got positive returns on their debt in excess of what it cost them. He said, “ Nine banks did not borrow in excess

of the cost of their property and equipment. All nine banks achieved Return on Equity (RoEs) in excess of 20 per cent and all are not debt burdened and generated positive returns on debt usage. Two of the banks are from Egypt, two from Malawi, one each from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and Namibia. All the banks are located in the southern part of Africa except for Egypt.” He further stated that the survey discovered that three Sub Saharan banksEquity Group Kenya (32.2 per cent), NBS Bank Ma-

lawi (31.3 per cent) & Bank of Kigali Rwanda (30.8 per cent)- were able to generate a positive return from their use of the debt. “The lower half of Africa is apparently blazing the trail when it comes to efficient management of resources,” he stated. He pointed out that the two highest ranked Nigerian banks -Guaranty Trust Bank and Diamond Bank on the list have received capital from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). While GTBank received debt capital, Diamond Bank received equity capital.

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

As at Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 June, 2015 4/6/2015 Mar 2015 16/7/2015 13/7/2015

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9.2 13 10.77 US$57.76 US$29,955,854,769

Source:CBN

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 98.21 100.26 102.51 101.61 104.99 95.39 68.00 81.40

1.09 1.78 3.95 4.58 6.54 8.66 15.02 19.01

NIBOR

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

Rate (%) 9.4583 14.6645 16.0898 16.9052

Bid Yield 14.86 14.89 15.13 15.03 15.16 15.16 15.57 15.15

Change (%) -4.96 ▼ -0.52 ▼ -0.49 ▼ -0.51 ▼

Change (%) -0.09 ▼ -0.11 ▼ -0.13 ▼ -0.31 ▼ -0.19 ▼ -0.12 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.28 ▼

Price 98.36 100.41 102.81 101.91 105.29 95.69 68.30 81.70

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 14.71 14.79 15.02 14.94 15.09 15.10 15.49 15.10

NITTY

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 12.3327 12.6839 13.7576 14.4257 14.6368 14.7674

Spot ($/N)

Offer 197.55

Change (%) 0.25 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 0.30 ▲ -0.10 ▼ -0.36 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 13.31 13.76 0.24 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 8.08 15-Oct-15 13.56 14.03 0.24 ▲ 13.35 14.30 -0.11 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 8.75 14-Jan-16 13.60 14.59 -0.11 ▼ 12.49 14.04 -0.01 ▼ 02-Jun-16 12.74 14.36 -0.01 ▼ Bid 197.45

Change (%) -0.09 ▼ -0.11 ▼ -0.13 ▼ -0.31 ▼ -0.19 ▼ -0.12 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.28 ▼

Change (%) -0.44 ▼

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 198.9500

Offer 199.0500

Change (%) -6.33 ▼ -6.17 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

CBN Clearing Rates of June 11, 2015 Spot ($/N)

195.95

196.95

0.00 ↔ Source: FMDQ

direct investment and US$3.9billion for non-oil exports. “The CBN data show that workers’ remittances accounted for more than 90 per cent of current transfers. Some informed estimates place the share received through the banks as low as 25 per cent of the total.” Besides, FBN Capital noted, “The remittance may be received by the beneficiary through a bank, at a bureau de change, at the local office of the money transfer corporation or through independent channels such as a mobile telephone. We do

not envy the statistical authorities responsible. The data do not show a marked fall-off in transfers in 2008 and 2009 when the global credit event shook at least two of the countries where the Nigerian diaspora is well represented (the US and the UK.)” FBN Capital also noted that while Hargeisa, the capital of unrecognised Somaliland, has been rebuilt in the past 25 years with remittances, “in Nigeria, however, the transfers represented 3.7 per cent of 2014 GDP and merely add to the grey areas in household consumption, imports and small-scale production. Until bank accounts become more widespread and the tax net is extended, we will have to live with these frustrations.”

SMEs’ll drive global payments revolution –Report

he Banker magazine has predicted that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) would drive the global payments revolution. According to a report by the publication, “This is for two reasons – first, SMEs have been poorly served by banks and so there is an appetite for change; second, the new global SMEs are being run by a young generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs who expect payment to happen anywhere at anytime without delay.” The study pointed out that the Internet has opened up the buying process to the extent that sending small parcels across the globe now underpins many commercial ventures. “Domestically, distribution has reached a point whereby an item ordered in the morning can arrive

by the afternoon – which is all well and good provided the payment is as fast or quicker. Often it is lagging behind. SMEs with limited financial resources depend on real-time payments to make this model work, which is why they are becoming increasingly demanding. Since governments are always banging the drum that SMEs are the key to future growth, they too are pushing faster payments,” the report stated. It disclosed that some 18 countries around the world already have realtime retail payments systems, with another 29 looking at creating them. “But what we don’t have is faster payments systems that talk to each other across borders. For the global SME that is a big drawback and banks and regulators need to focus on this,” the study noted.

Obstfeld is IMF Economic Counsellor

anaging Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Christine Lagarde has announced her intention to appoint Professor Maurice Obstfeld as Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF’s Research Department. Mr. Obstfeld according to a statement from the IMF, succeeds Olivier Blanchard whose retirement was announced previously. He is expected to begin his work at the Fund on September 8, 2015. “I am thrilled to have Maurice join us at the Fund. His outstanding academic credentials and extensive international experience make him exceptionally well

placed to provide intellectual leadership to the IMF at this important juncture. He is known around the globe for his work on international economics and is considered one of the most influential macroeconomists in the world,” Ms. Lagarde said. A Professor of Economics (and former Chair of the Department of Economics) at the University of California, Berkeley, Mr. Obstfeld has advised many governments and consulted at central banks all over the world. He is currently serving as a member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, on leave from Berkeley.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

16-Jul-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 233.73 605.31 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 324.50

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

1.09 1.78 2.03 2.13 2.87 3.95 4.27 4.58 6.54 8.66 13.37 13.85 14.35 15.02 19.01

14.86 14.89 14.94 14.95 15.04 15.13 15.11 15.03 15.16 15.16 15.91 16.00 16.10 15.57 15.15

14.71 14.79 14.84 14.86 14.97 15.02 15.00 14.94 15.09 15.10 15.85 15.93 16.01 15.49 15.10

98.21 100.26 91.35 90.09 90.13 102.51 75.10 101.61 104.99 95.39 94.97 80.62 57.89 68.00 81.40

98.36 100.41 91.50 90.24 90.28 102.81 75.40 101.91 105.29 95.69 95.27 80.92 58.19 68.30 81.70

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,846.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,398.87

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.97 1.40 1.76 1.97

2.94 1.00 2.66 3.13

17.44 15.82 17.58 18.06

99.83 100.17 102.31 97.93

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

299.02

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.13

4.44

17.64

99.29

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.21

3.23

17.15

99.10

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.71

4.46

19.01

96.83

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.72

3.48

18.03

98.36

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.76

1.00

15.92

91.17

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

1.25

1.00

15.70

97.88

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.46

1.79

16.78

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.84

1.00

15.92

97.07

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.85

1.00

15.92

97.03

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.04

1.00

15.94

97.61 91.05

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

94.57

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.04

4.78

19.72

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.02

1.00

15.94

99.26

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

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

2.46 4.35 2.52

2.02 1.00 1.00

17.01 16.09 16.00

97.10 95.09 97.55

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.46

10-Oct-20

3.06

1.82

16.88

95.21

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.37

1.00

16.11

90.79

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.46

1.00

16.12

96.00

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.30

31-Dec-20

3.30

1.00

16.09

96.19

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.31

06-Jan-21

3.33

1.00

16.10

97.36

99.65

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

440.27 416.70

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.09

1.00

13.88

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.40

1.00

15.46

98.67

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.22

06-Jan-16

0.48

2.63

17.18

98.53

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.21

1.00

15.66

97.12

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.28

1.34

16.06

97.91

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.21

1.00

15.96

94.61

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.44

1.88

16.73

102.24

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.48

1.00

15.89

100.08

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.65

1.00

15.91

102.74

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.65

1.00

15.91

100.06

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.21

3.00

18.08

90.31

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.76

2.29

17.21

97.85

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.84

6.11

21.03

95.83

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.46

2.16

17.15

97.74

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.33

2.76

17.87

91.15

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.35

1.80

17.01

89.48

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.46

1.00

16.22

100.88

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.21

1.00

16.28

99.96

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.21

1.00

16.28

85.72

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

177.87

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

167.79

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.58

1.00

16.00

88.12

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.79

1.00

16.15

86.71

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.80

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.17

5.95

102.70

103.71

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.14

4.81

99.95

100.87

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.45

6.29

99.56

100.51

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,511.03

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.91

101.25

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.52

99.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.53

10.20

89.09

92.06

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.77

7.26

94.91

96.34

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.81

95.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.17

9.66

95.57

97.12

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

9.39 10.63 10.10

9.39 10.27 10.10

94.88 94.27 90.00

94.88 95.78 90.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.66

9.98

90.88

93.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,461.44

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 21 28 42 49 56 70

FIXINGS Maturity 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.43 11.58 12.47 12.32 11.34 12.39 12.74 12.75

Offer Discount (%) 9.18 11.33 12.22 12.07 11.09 12.14 12.49 12.50

Bid Yield (%) 9.44 11.63 12.56 12.43 11.49 12.59 13.00 13.06

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.4583 14.6645 16.0898 16.9052

Rate (%)

OBB

8.08

O/N

8.75

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 8.75 9.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.45 199.30 199.72 200.69 202.60 205.04

197.55 199.82 200.26 201.32 203.43 206.16