Tuesday, july 26, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

27.5m business owners evading tax, says FG

lFIRS: 70% of N559bn June allocation from non-oil sector Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

n its bid to increase the nation's revenue base,

the Federal Government yesterday said 10 million new taxpayers, especially in the informal sector of the economy, would be

brought into the tax net. The Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service

(FIRS), Dr. Babatunde Fowler, who disclosed this at the 135th meeting of

the Joint Tax Board (JTB) held in Abeokuta, also said no fewer than 27.5 million small scale business owners in the country are not

FG to NNPC: Search for more oil in the North }4

paying tax. He made the disclosure just as Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State called for an urgent review of the sharing formula CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Suspected Boko Haram member held in Lagos }44

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Vol. 3 No. 888

10 killed, thousands flee as herdsmen attack Benue villages }43

Kogi discovers 18,000 ghost workers }43

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

Abductors demand N100m ransom for RCCG pastor }9

N150

Watch your back, Obasanjo warns Buhari Owoseni

Ortom

Bello

Adeboye

...says I'm vindicated by budget padding Senate: We can't impeach president }5 Two die AS tanker exploDES in Lagos

Scenes of tanker explosion at Cele Bus Stop on Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Lagos…yesterday

Buratai: Army’ll use force against militants if... lAvengers blows up NNPC pipeline in A’Ibom lMilitary closing in on militant leaders }2 Assisted reproduction increases chances of natural conception

NEWS

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buratai: Army’ll use force against militants if… Emmanuel Onani, Tony Anichebe and Emmanuel Masha

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai, has said that the army would resort to force if dialogue with militants in the Niger Delta does not end the attacks on oil installations in the region. Burutai, who stated this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday, said there was need for the militants to explore other means to make their demands known. The army chief said that the resolve of the militants to use violence to drive home their point, rather than peaceful means was unjustifiable. He said: “Government is still committed to dialogue and whereby this cannot go on, then there could be resort to other means. “The non-kinetic (force) means has always been the first source before government can recourse to the kinetic means. So, there is need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government.” Burutai, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, at the inauguration of ultra-modern 2 Brigade headquarter complex and Olympic size swimming pool, said

the military would provide security for the July 30 legislative re-run election in Rivers if need be. He informed that the army was experiencing shortage of accommodation, offices and other infrastructure needed for optimal performance by troops, but pointed out that the army had started renovating dilapidated structures and building new ones in the face of dwindling national resources. And in continuation of its sustained attacks on oil facilities, the Avengers have attacked the Seven Energy Gas Pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at Ikot Atim, Oboetim in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The attack, which was carried out at about 11.30p.m. on Sunday, has cut off oil supply from the pipeline. An eyewitness told New Telegraph that about four fierce looking young men came around the pipeline area and the next thing that was heard was a strong and heavy explosion. The militants, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Brig.-Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, claimed responsibility for the attack and urged the NNPC to check for their pipeline. “At 11:30p.m. on Sunday, the NDA blew up NNPC gas pipeline at Nsit-Ibom LGA, Akwa Ibom State. NNPC should

check their pipeline if it is system Anomaly,” Agbinibo stated in a statement. When New Telegraph visited the area, fire fighters and other security agencies were at the site battling to quench the inferno. However, the Akwa Ibom State police command attributed the explosion to a technical fault from an ageing pipeline. The command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cordelia Nwawe, told New Telegraph that the fault was purely a technical problem against the ongoing rumour that the NDA was responsible for the blast. Nwawe said the engineers from NNPC were already at the restricted area working round the clock to rectify the problem. “Akwa Ibom is free from militants’ attack,” she said. But the NDA has not only accepted responsibility for the explosion that rocked Akwa Ibom State in the wee hours of yesterday, but have vowed to continue. According to them, blowing off a gas pipeline in Nsit Ibom was a way of announcing their presence in the state. The group, according to information gathered, are threatening that the next target in the state is ExxonMobil facility. The sound of the explosion, which took place at about 11:30p.m. on Sunday was followed by a huge flame that

£8.78m

The amount of money received by Watford as facility fees for the 2015/2016 season. Source: Goal.com

The annual population growth rate of Saint Lucia in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

brightened the whole site. “The scare was so obvious that some persons were on the verge of leaving their houses for dear lives if not for the fact that the fire started reducing after about one hour,” an eyewitness told New Telegraph. Meanwhile, there are strong indications that more leaders of the Avengers and other agitating groups in the Niger Delta, will soon be rounded up as the military and security agencies step up intelligence and surveillance operations. Senior military and security sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said strategies were being fine-turned, in an effort to end what was described as "economic sabotage" in the oil-rich region. It was gathered that while the Federal Government was adopting the dialogue option in seeking solution to the resurgence in militant activities, the military and relevant security agencies were maintaining vigilance in the area.

One of the sources drew attention to the arrest of the "leader" of the Joint Revolutionary Congress (JRC) of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), one Jones Abiri, by the Department of State Services (DSS), as a product of improved intelligence and surveillance. "We would not fold our arms and allow the militants to continue with the destruction of oil facilities and other critical assets in the Niger Delta. "As a matter of fact, we are closing in on some of the leaders of those groups, through active intelligence and surveillance operation," one of the sources said. Reminded that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government said it was in talks with some agitating groups, he said: "Yes, of course we respect our political authority, and we will support any move that will bring peace to our country. "We are still respecting our political masters; they have been negotiating with the so-called Avengers. We are maintaining a high-level of

security in the area," he stated. It will be recalled that the DSS, last Saturday, announced the arrest of Abiri, whom it said goes by the sobriquet "General Kill and Bury". The Service had said in a statement by Mr. Tony Opuiyo that the JRC "leader" had confessed to the vandalism of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) trunk line in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw LGA and bombing of oil pipeline belonging to Shell Development Company (SPDC) at Brass creek on July 8 in Bayelsa State. He was also accused of demanding for the payment of N500 million and N250 million from managements of NAOC and SPDC respectively. The militant leader also threatened to launch missile attacks against selected targets in Abuja, including the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock. "Darikoro is also the mastermind of the recently circulated hoax of planned overthrow of President Muhammadu Buhari by the military," the DSS stated.

We won’t join issues with Avengers, says Presidency Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Presidency yesterday said that it would not join issues with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on plans to negotiate with the group concerning their sustained attacks on oil and gas installations in the region. A competent source in the Presidential Villa, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed to our correspondent that it will be inappropriate for President Muhammadu Buhari to begin to argue in public whether or not there is on-going efforts to engage the group for negotiations. Buhari had, last week, disclosed that his administration was talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region. The president added that government was studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were

undelivered. In a rebuttal of Buhari’s statement that his government has opened discussions with militants in the region, the NDA described the statement as “a blatant lie”. The militant group also called on Buhari to desist from “disturbing the genuine agitation” of the group through what they referred to as "his alleged pseudopeace talks," wondering when, where and who was facilitating the reported “peace talks with the group.” T he presidency source, however, told New Telegraph yesterday that the president means well for the region and was committed to carrying out developmental projects that would improve the well being of the entire Niger Delta. "It is not about talking or arguing on the pages of newspapers. The flag off of the Ogoni cleanup project is one sign that should prove to any doubting Thomas that this present administration is serious about Niger Delta issues. "Why would the president lie to Nigerians if there was no such arrangement?” the source stressed.

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG to NNPC: Search for more oil in the North

l11 firms bid for NNPC mast installation contracts Adeola Yusuf and Johnchuks Onuanyim

resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to search more for oil in the North. The exploration for oil in the North, particularly in the Chad basin and Benue Trough, has been on for about a decade, but the president directed the corporation to do everything right this time around to get oil in the region. Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who disclosed this, according to a statement by the corporation

yesterday, maintained that the president particularly ordered deeper inquest into prospecting of some hitherto neglected finds in some areas in the NorthEast. Already the NNPC, Baru added, was stepping up measures to ensure a successful operation in the ongoing search for crude oil in the Chad Basin and other parts of the Inland Sedimentary Basin. Baru disclosed this while receiving the Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers, Abuja. According to the statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group

Ecobank staff arraigned over alleged N30m theft

lEx-FirstBank employee docked Akeem Nafiu

wo Ecobank staff, Tiaminu Lukeman (48) and Shogaolu Sherif (30), were yesterday arraigned by the police before Magistrate A.O. Sholadoye of an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over an alleged theft of N30 million. They were docked on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, fraud and stealing. Police prosecutor, Inspector Jimoh Joseph, alleged that the defendants conspired amongst themselves, with others who are still at large, to perpetrate the act between August 1, 2013 and June 2016 at about 2p.m. at Ecobank of Nigeria Plc. Lukeman, who is the head of human resource compensation and benefit of the bank, was said to have inserted strange names and account numbers on the list of people to be compensated by the bank. The strange names with their account numbers were given as: Veronica Okaocha – 0541022388, Ayodele Kayode – 482002534 and Ayodele Austine – 2263002679. He was alleged to have fraudulently credited them to the tune of N30 million. Lukeman was said to have shared the money with one Shogaolu Sherif. The prosecutor, while emphasising that the stolen money is the property of the bank, said the alleged offences were punishable under Sections 409, 285, 363 (1) and 323 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. However, upon their

arraignment, the duo pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Magistrate Sholadoye later granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties each in like sum. According to the magistrate, both sureties must have verifiable addresses while one of them must be a level 16 civil servant. The matter has been adjourned till August 10, for mention. In another development, a former employee of FirstBank of Nigeria, Timothy Adewale, who allegedly defrauded the bank to the tune of N4.1 million, was yesterday docked at an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos. Adewale (32), a former cash processor with the bank and a resident of Oko-Oba in Agege area of Lagos State, is standing trial on a charge of stealing. The prosecutor, Sergeant Nicholas Akpene, said that the accused committed the offence between April 18 and 26, during working hours at FirstBank Plc., Ikeja Industrial Estate branch. Akpene said the accused stole the sum of N4.1 million belonging to the bank. The accused pleaded not guilty.

2.19m

The total number of CDMA subscribers as at March 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

$200m

The net worth of Jet Li in 2016. Source: Fropky.com

Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mallam Garba Deen Muhammed, the corporation boss informed that the renewed search for hydrocarbon deposits in the Chad Basin would entail extensive probing of some allocated and nonallocated oil blocks in the region with a view to establishing the magnitude of the deposits. Briefing the governor on the intensification of crude oil search in the north, the NNPC GMD noted that the corporation had identified specific oil blocks in the area where some of the finds have been made and would move to reinvigorate exploration based on fresh strategy. “You know that very close home, we have exploration activities on the frontier basin in Chad and some areas close to the Kolmani River where Shell had made some indicative discovery of hydrocarbons and Mr. President has directed me to go into that area to reprove and fur-

ther explore the magnitude and prospectivity of those finds. We are taking steps to restrategise and get into those regions. “We will reinvigorate the frontier exploration and see how they collaborate with NNPC that is holding Block A09 where some of the finds have been made and also Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) for the other blocks that have not been assigned,” he said. Baru implored the governor to collaborate with the corporation in tackling the menace of pipeline vandalism, especially in the wake of reported line breaks along the NNPC products supply line from Jos-Gombe-Bauchi enroute the Maiduguri depot. The GMD said: "We are committed to collaborate with you and other state governors to drive all the initiatives that will fulfill this national aspiration expected from my industry, especially energy security. "It is a very difficult

time for us with all the leakages that we suffer, especially infractions on our infrastructure in terms of pipeline vandalism and theft, to be able to meet our obligations to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). We will continue to meet this obligation timely and effectively as much as possible." In his remarks, Abubakar said he was leading a delegation of Bauchi State Government officials to the NNPC Towers to felicitate with the new GMD on his appointment, noting that the state was proud of Baru and his accomplishments so far in the oil and gas industry. The governor stated that the government and people of the state would continue to support and pray for the GMD to ensure that his dreams for the NNPC come to fruition as he steers the ship of NNPC amid tumbling crude oil prices. Also yesterday, the NNPC flagged off bid opening for the decommissioning and installation of

towers and masts in Lagos, Benin and Port Harcourt area offices with 11 companies participating in the exercise. Speaking during the bid opening ceremony at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the Manager, Telecoms, Engr. Michael Ejike, said reputable telecommunication vendors with proven experience and capacity were invited to bid for the decommissioning and installation of towers and masts in some NNPC facilities to give it a facelift. He noted that the 11 companies that submitted bid were required to bid for any of the four refineries of their interest, adding that the exercise was geared towards providing equal opportunities for all bidders in a transparent manner. On her part, the General Manager, Supply Chain Management, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, said the result of the bid exercise would be ready in three weeks. She assured that all prospective vendors would receive equal treatment.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abbak Kyari; President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during Obasanjo’s visit to Buhari in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Anti-corruption war not against PDP –Osinbajo Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war was not targeted against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The vice president, who spoke yesterday at the 2016 Annual Conference organised by Mallam Bashir Yusuf-led Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), explained that what the government is doing was to recover public funds diverted for campaign purposes by the previous administration. "The war against corruption is not targeted at the opposition parties. What government is doing now is that money meant for essential services

should not be diverted for campaigns or any other purposes," he said. Osinbajo, who was represented by his Political Adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, stated that the aim of the graft war was to bring sanity to the polity in order to sustain democracy in the country. He added that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government recognised the critical role of opposition parties in deepening democracy, but stressed that they should be careful with public funds. "Politics and elections should not be war or depletion of public resources. Never again will government agencies be used in favour of any political party to win elections," he added. According to him, investigations conducted

by the administration showed that a huge chunk of money meant for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East was diverted into private pockets while part of the money was used for political campaigns by the party in power. He said the trend cannot be allowed to continue and called on IPAC to play critical role in educating political parties and the general public, and ensuring that democracy survives in Nigeria. "Some military men went to battle with 10 bullets, some went with nothing while others went with obsolete weapons," he said. Senate President Bukola Saraki, represented by his Special Adviser on Legal and Constitutional Matters, Ibrahim Tukur

El-Jadi, cautioned the political class on electoral violence. "We must work towards creating a system of responsible political behaviour both within and outside our parties – letting our supporters know that violence in all its forms will not be tolerated by party and its proxies. "To put an end to violence in politics, we must go a step further by imposing strict and heavy legal and political sanctions on those that may choose to perpetrate violence on behalf of our parties," Saraki stated. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that 41 associations have, so far, applied to the commission to be registered as political parties.

NEWS

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Watch your back, Obasanjo warns Buhari Anule Emmanuel and Chukwu David Abuja

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful and vigilant in taking decisions that would affect the country. Obasanjo, who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday to confer with Buhari, stated that it was important to get people with integrity in right places if the country must move forward progressively. Asked whether he was worried about the recent revelation in the National Assembly on padding of the 2016 budget, Obasanjo said: "It is not question of investigation, we should get men and women of integrity in the place and the president should be very vigilant, whatever should not pass should not pass.” The former president stressed that he was vindicated by the revelation, which is not different from his earlier warning about corruption in the National Assembly. Obasanjo had, in January, accused the lawmakers

14,725

The estimated number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians between 1988 and 2015. Source: Satp.org

173,855

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bahrain in 2001. Source: Itu.int

of sustaining a culture of impunity, opaqueness and corruption. In a letter criticising the National Assembly's budget of N4.7 billion to purchase exotic cars for individual members, the former president described their action as insensitive because it does not reflect the current economic realities. Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Buhari, Obasanjo noted that: "Well, if you said that I have said it in the past and if there are people who didn't believe what I said in the past, then you now say that what has come out confirms what I said in the past, then you can say what I said in the past is what I will say now." The former president expressed concern over the current budget padding accusation and counteraccusation between the leadership of the House of Representatives and the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin. Jibrin, who was removed as the chairman of the committee last week, had accused the leadership of the House of padding the 2016 budget to the tune of N40 billion. He alleged that the padding was done at a secret location with the backing of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three principal officers including Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor. On the purpose of his visit to Buhari, the former Nigerian leader said: "I am visiting this time because

I have some messages for the president. Not too long ago, I was in Liberia and Gambia and I have messages these two countries will want me to deliver to the president. "Also, only yesterday I came back from Seychelles Island where I attended this year's Annual General meeting of Africa Export Development Bank. And there are aspects of the proceedings that I think I should update the president.” Speaking on whether he was enjoying his travel around the world, Obasanjo said "travelling is a good education, what you will learn about a country by visiting that country for two or three days, you won't learn by reading through books.” He made some jokes when the former leader was asked whether he intended to slow down. "May God not allow you to slow now," Obasanjo noted. Meanwhile, The Senate has assured that there is no impeachable offence against Buhari and, as such, there is no contemplation of impeachment by the chamber. Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, said that it was not possible for the apex chamber to remove the president from office, going by the rigorous constitutional processes involved. He further explained that it was a wrong notion for people to be misled to believe that only the Senate could impeach a sitting president, saying that impeachment is a task that can only be collectively

Ex-Malawian President for Nigeria’s Women’s Power Lunch

ormer President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda, would be the guest speaker at this year’s edition of the annual Women’s Power Lunch scheduled to hold in Lagos. In a statement issued by the Chief Executive Officer, Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, the event, which would be attended by women leaders and influencers from government, private sector, civil society, academia/students, media and the arts, was designed to brainstorm on challenges facing women in Africa. According to Muhammed-Oyebode, “the Women’s Power Lunch attracts the attendance of a cross generational audience of women leaders and influencers from all walks of life including government, private sector, civil society, academia/students, media and the arts.

“A lot is already being done to advance equal opportunities and the rights of women and children in Africa. There is, however, a lot of grounds we are yet to cover, which requires the urgent need for women to network across geographies and occupations – to deepen our cooperation and develop new platforms for collaboration in the pursuit of our common goal of defeating patriarchy and misogyny in Africa. This is one of the goals of this initiative.” The statement noted further that, “The MMF was founded to commemorate the ideals and legacies of Nigeria’s 4th Head of State, late. Gen. Murtala Muhammed, which include the empowerment of women and children, as well as the social and economic integration of African people. “The Women’s Power Lunch is fast becoming a prominent feature in the

annual calendar of women’s events in Africa, where internationally-acclaimed and highly distinguished speakers deliver inspiring keynote addresses on pertinent developmental issues relating to African women, in an ambiance that stimulates robust engagement, rich discussions and networking opportunities.” Highlighting the profile of its guest speaker, the statement read: “Dr. Banda, a foremost entrepreneur, activist, politician, and philanthropist, is the founder and leader of the People's Party in Malawi and was the SouthEastern African country’s first female president and Africa’s second. “In 2013, Dr. Banda was named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine, and in December 2014, Forbes named her the most powerful woman in Africa and the 40th most powerful woman in the world.”

executed by the two arms of the National Assembly. He said that Buhari had not committed any impeachable offence that would warrant a contemplation of impeachment move against him. Ndume also argued that since the constitution required that the president be impeached by two-thirds majority of the membership of the two chambers of the National Assembly, planning to impeach Buhari would amount to a futile effort. His words: "The impeachment process is a National Assembly matter, not Senate. The Senate cannot impeach the president, it is the National Assembly and it is by two-thirds. It begins by clearly stating impeachable offences committed by the president, and such notice must be served on the person. “It is a long, tedious process; and in this country we don't even need that, we are not even contemplating on it and even if anybody contemplates on it, it is not going to work because this is All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate; we have the majority, we have 58 to 60 senators and you need 72 senators to start off impeachment process.

"Where are they going to get the 24? Let me tell you as some of them are coming into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), so many of them, their other leg is already with us. Many of the senators will come over to the APC. That issue of impeachment, we don't need it. We don't have a president that has issues of corruption, integrity, and mismanagement. We have a president that is straight forward, and he doesn't have record of any mismanagement or abuse of due process.” On the current crisis rocking the House of Representatives in respect of the alleged padding of the 2016 budget by some members of the lower chamber, Ndume declared that the use of the word 'padding' was a misnomer about the National Assembly because the parliament has the constitutional power to tinker with the budget. He explained that the legislative body was empowered by the constitution to add, subtract and or swap items in the initial proposal submitted to it for approval by the executive. Ndume blamed the members of the House for embarrassing the parliament.

His words: "I don't want to say that there was budget padding and I don't want to talk about something I really don't know, but what is happening in the House of Representatives is just very unfortunate because we have processes and procedures of doing things in the National Assembly. "There is nothing like budget padding. If it is the National Assembly that works on the budget; you don't call it padding because padding is like illegality. But when you tinker with and subtract from the document, you are simply working on the budget. "But if there are other certain abnormalities in the budget or what transpired in the budget process which is now an Appropriation Act, that's a different thing altogether. "I think they know the right thing to do. We have a committee on Ethics; if Jibrin is aggrieved, he can write a petition or whatever and that should be referred to Ethics and Privileges Committee who can do investigation on the issues raised. It is not good for us to embarrass ourselves and the institution over an issue that can be resolved internally."

Central Bank of Nigeria www.cbn.gov.ng

TENDER NOTICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO OFFERS NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91,182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N45,177,868,000 N80,000,000,000 and N120,000,000,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, August 04, 2016. All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 03, 2016. Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N10,000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non–Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 03, 2016. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid. Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, August 04, 2016, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, August 04, 2016. The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

NEWS

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG to fund 2017 budget with recovered loot

lFramework to be ready in October Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

reliminary works for 2017 budget have begun in earnest going by the declaration by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, that the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MEFT) will be ready for submission to the National Assembly by October. Udoma gave insight into the 2017 budget yesterday in Abuja during a

Stakeholders' Consultative Forum with Civil Society Groups and organised private sector on the 2017-2019 METF. He said: "Demand and supply factors are expected to keep crude oil prices low in the medium term compared to the period prior to mid-2014. We are considering a conservative oil price benchmark of $42.5 per barrel for 2017, $45 per barrel in 2018 and $50 per barrel in 2019. “We estimate oil production to be 2.2 million barrel per day for 2017, 2.3 million barrel per day in 2018 and

2.4 million barrel per day for 2019. We have pegged exchange rate for 2017, 2018 and 2019 at N290 to a dollar.” While disclosing that recovered looted funds would be used in funding part of the 2017 budget, he pointed out that N2.1 trillion had so far been expended out of the N6.06 trillion budgeted for 2016. He, however, added that only N253 billion out of the N1.8 trillion earmarked for capital projects had been spent so far. Government, he said, would continue in its effort to diversify its revenue

sources to non-oil sectors. "A significant increase in non-oil revenue receipts is projected due to a gradually recovering domestic economy and government's expected improvement in Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) tax collection efforts. Company Income Tax is projected to increase from N1.79 trillion in 2016 to over N1.86 trillion in 2017 and beyond while Value Added Tax (VAT) collections is to increase by about 42.4 per cent in 2017. “Operating surpluses projection have been moderated downwards for 2017 and thereafter a modest growth. Customs collections are projected to mod-

L-R: Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed; Minster of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, and DirectorGeneral, Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabuze, during a public consultative forum on the 2017-2019 Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, in Abuja …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

6,193

The estimated number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving security force personnel in between 1988 and 2015. Source: Satp.org

47,234

The estimated number of incidence of terrorist violence between 1988 and 2015. Source: Satp.org

ager, Actionaid Nigeria, Mr. Obo Effanga, reminded the government of the limited time they had to fulfill promises. "This administration is a four-year period and one year has gone already and even the government had admitted that the last year will be given to politics, so effectively they have just two years left. And we are preparing the budget for one of the two years remaining. So, if we don't make sure that this works very well, it means that we can only look up to 2018," he said.

Buhari: We're adopting Iranian approach to revive economy Anule Emmanuel Abuja

27.5m business owners evading tax, says FG of revenues accruing to the Federation Account through non-oil taxes, including Value Added Tax (VAT). The meeting with the theme: "Presumptive tax regime for informal sector: A leeway to grow IGR," had in attendance chairmen of Boards of Internal Revenue Service from the 36 states of the federation. Fowler, who led the JTB management team on a courtesy visit to the governor, said the Federal Government is committed to widening the tax net and maximise the potential of non-oil sector towards improving revenue generation. According to him, 37.5 million small scale business owners are in Nigeria but only 10 million out of the figure were currently on the FIRS tax net. He said the agency planned to bring additional 10 million people into the tax net from the informal sector before the end of this year. Fowler, who is also the JTB Chairman, explained that in the last six months about 700,000 corporate accounts had been brought into the tax net by the FIRS and the State Boards of In-

erate downwards for 2017 and thereafter a modest growth," he said. Also speaking, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr. Eze Onyepere, said government should learn and build on the mistakes of the 2016 budget. "We should draw lessons from the mistakes of the last budget. We have all seen that the revenue projections for 2016 were over optimistic. This is why we are finding it difficult to get money to fund the budget, especially the capital expenditure. “In 2017 onwards, we should be more empirical in our revenue forecast. Let it be more realistic so that there won't be a deviation of more than minus or plus five per cent. This is because if we have more money, we can do supplementary budgets rather than have an overly optimistic revenue projection and, at the end of the day, we are not able to fund our budget," he said. In his contribution, Governance Programme Man-

ternal Revenue. While stressing the need to diversify Nigeria's economy, the FIRS boss revealed that non-oil sector accounted for over 70 per cent of the N559 billion shared at the last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja. He said: "We have individuals in the informal sector and we also have corporate accounts. Those in the small scale business areas claim they have over 37.5 million members. What we have on our database nationwide, as individuals, is only 10 million. That shows there is about 27.5 million individuals who are not paying taxes. "We also have small enterprises, small businesses that are not paying taxes. But we, members of Joint Tax Board, all the states chairmen, have agreed to add a minimum of 10 million individuals before December 31st. So, we are going round the whole nation preaching the word, hoping that people realise that we cannot continue to rely on oil revenue." Fowler lauded the Ogun State government for its excellent performance in internal revenue generation, saying the state came

first in 2015 as it grew its IGR base by 50 per cent. In his remarks, Amosun said states that are contributing more to the Federation Account through non-oil sector should be appropriately rewarded. The governor, who described his state as the industrial capital of the country, lamented that the state was not getting its due derivation. Amosun said: "The non-oil revenue sharing formula currently in use is obsolete. As at the time it was done 20 years ago, Ogun State, for instance, was way back because of the number of industries we had then. Today, Ogun State is the industrial capital of Nigeria. The sharing formula should reflect this new reality. This is derivation in another form. "It is a good thing that for the first time in the life of this administration, non-oil receipt accounted for over 70 per cent of the funds shared at the last FAAC. It is a commendable and a welcome development because it signifies a major shift in focus from oil to non-oil revenue. "But in the same token, I think it is very expedi-

ent to ask that we cast a second look at the formula we use in sharing the proceed from these non-oil revenues. "If we make a lot of money from industries, we should also remember that these companies reside in a state and they put enormous pressure on the environment and the roads in those states. "Those various state governments carry the can and pick the bill for cleaning the environment. It is therefore only good for the management of RMAFC to give more back to those states hosting these companies.” Amosun also charged the JTB to devise creative strategies to ensure that more wealthy Nigerians are brought into the national tax bracket. He said: "The rich and wealthy don't pay taxes and even when they do, they underpay. They make a lot of money but don’t pay anything or don’t pay the requisite tax. "We all go to other advanced nations and see that these wealthy people don't escape the way they do here. So, the challenge for the JTB is to correct this. You must think out of the box to achieve this."

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the Federal Government was adopting the Iranian approach of diversification to revive the nation's dwindling economy. The president said his administration will not relent in working to ameliorate the challenges faced by Nigerians. Receiving the Special Envoy from the President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Abuja, the president said within a short period of understudying the experiences of countries like Iran, which thrived in adversity, government would grow the nation's economy. Buhari said the Iranian economy remains an inspiration for Nigeria in the deployment of technology to harness and export gas, grow food for the populace and promote entrepreneurship in education. "The progress made by Iran within a short period of 30 years is really commendable. Within the period, you have been able to harness gas flaring and you are now exporting. "You have recorded strides in security, manufacturing, agriculture and technology. "You have also achieved a lot in nuclear research. I must also congratulate you for successfully nego-

tiating with America and the European countries on the development of your nuclear energy,” he said. The president noted that Nigeria had all the potential for growing into a great economy through more inclusive planning, consistency in government policies and commitment to the realisation of development targets. “In Nigeria, we are learning. We are learning the hard way through hardship, and we are learning very quickly on how to explore other sectors of the economy like gas, solid minerals and agriculture for growth. “We are grateful for your support and cooperation in opening up the Nigerian economy for diversification,” Buhari told the envoy. In his remark, the envoy, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Iranian government would support the ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian economy. “We are very keen to see a better and stronger relationship with Nigeria, which is the largest country in Africa and a major global player,” he said. Zarif said he came into Nigeria with a delegation of more than 70 members of the Iranian business community who had already started discussions in investing in sectors like banking, education, scholarship, agriculture, energy, tourism and technology development.

News|National

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ahmed Mringa Maiduguri

he Nigerian Army yesterday said that it has resorted to fight Boko Haram insurgents with refurbished equipment. The army said modern weaponry and equipment are expensive to acquire. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Combat Support Arms Training Week in Maiduguri, said that the “acquisition of modern weaponry and equipment such as latest artillery guns, engineer bomb disposal equipment, cipher instrument to mention a few are quite expensive.” Buratai, who was represented by the Army’s Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Hassan Umaru, said “the Nigerian

We’re fighting Boko Haram with refurbished equipment–Army Army had therefore decided in its wisdom to refurbish and re-modify existing equipment to meet the realities of the times.” He added that: “This is what informed the tasking of the Special Vehicle Plant (SVP) located in Bauchi to undertake some daunting repair projects. Some of the vehicles sent there for re-modification or refurbishment have been certified serviceable for operational purposes and released to the end users.” He assured that “we shall continue to look inwards, and take advantage of our competences to navigate the dilemma of operational exigencies and inadequate

government resources to procure new equipment.” He said: “This is required of us at this point in time. Needless to say here that equipment maintenance is the business of everyone. It is a challenge for us to maintain our equipment, which requires a change in attitude from each and every one of us.” He said having gone through the theme of the training, “Countering Asymmetric Warfare in the 21st Century: The Role of Combat Supporting Arms”, “I am confident that the topics and resource persons for the training week have been carefully selected to ensure professional capacity.” He added that there was

no doubt that the outcome of the event would contribute positively to the decision making process of the Nigerian Army in its quest to effectively carry out its assigned constitutional roles. In Lagos, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sanni Usman, yesterday said there were no longer camps of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-Eastern part of the country. Usman made the assertion while addressing journalists at the inauguration of Strategic Communication Course for senior officers at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Bonny Camp, Lagos.

Assisted reproduction increases chances of natural conception Appolonia Adeyemi

ccessing fertility treatment classified as ‘assisted reproductive technologies’ (ARTs) such as Invitro Fertilisation (IVF)/ Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has been found to improve a woman’s chance of achieving natural conception. These are the findings of an Internet survey conducted by a group of gynecologists presented in the journal ‘Human Fertility’.

According to the study, women who have IVF)/ ICSI infertility treatments have a 29 per cent chance of conceiving naturally within six years of the cessation of treatments. ICSI is a specialised form of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) that is used for the treatment of severe cases of male-factor infertility. ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm directly into a mature egg. On its part, IVF is the process of fertilisation by manually combining an egg

and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. According to a science daily report, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that one in seven couples in the United Kingdom (UK) are affected by infertility, with so-called ARTs being widely employed. These treatments are emotionally and financially demanding, and not all couples will achieve a baby through these methods. However, the research

into conception rates after these treatments -- whether successful or unsuccessful -- has been limited, but the authors hope that their findings will be useful for counseling and reassuring women about their chances of natural conception after infertility treatment. Professor Allan Pacey, Editor in Chief of Human Fertility said: “This is really useful information that doctors can use to counsel patients about their chances of pregnancy after undergoing assisted conception. L-R: Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai; Senate Leader Ali Ndume; Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, and the Director General of the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Dr Ladi Hamalai, after the inauguration of the Committees on Budget Reforms by the Senate President in Abuja…yesterday.

Aviation fuel rises to all time N250/litre lOnly two marketers supply Jet A1 Wole Shadare

espite assurances from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that aviation fuel scarcity would soon be a thing of the past, the commodity sold for an all-time high of between N200 and N250 per litre yesterday. Only two marketers, Sahara Oil and Total Oil supplied Jet A1 to virtually all the carriers yesterday, thereby putting huge pressure on airlines and passengers, who struggled to get on-board flights to their different destinations. New Telegraph learnt that some of the marketers gave priority to foreign airlines. A Chief Executive of one of the leading domestic carriers, who pleaded anonymity, said the priority giving to foreign airlines in the supply of JET A1 led to the oil marketers hiking the price of the commodity. Aviation fuel rose from between N89 and N90 per

litre penultimate week to N170 per litre. Airlines bought for N250 per litre yesterday. This would have a huge effect on airline operators who are grappling with high cost of operations triggered by falling Naira against the American dollar. A dollar was yesterday exchanged for N370 at the parallel market. Most of the foreign airlines that spoke to our correspondent, said the supply they from Nigeria was not enough, the reason some of them brought in enough fuel for a return flight back to their country. A top of official of an European airline said where the carrier decides to take additional fuel along, they would need to reduce load capacity, stressing that most times, they make a stop-over at Accra, Ghana to buy aviation fuel. The source said doing that has a huge cost implication as they have to pay some extra charges.

Prepare to takeover in 2019, Ciroma tells PDP leaders Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ormer Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, has said that despite losing the 2015 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to occupy political discourse in the country. Inversely, he said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has not been able to put its act together, and continued to blame its failure on PDP. “PDP didn’t lose. APC didn’t win because when you talk of politics, people talk about PDP as if APC does not exist,” he said. Ciroma, who spoke yesterday when he received the Chairman and members of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), noted that APC was not playing the right role as a party in government, adding that APC would continue to make a

lot of mistakes. He advised PDP leaders to be ready to correct them when the party returns to power in 2019. The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor recalled that he warned PDP leaders, during the 2015 general elections to prepare for any eventuality and advised politicians to have the interest of the ordinary people in mind. “I insist that people must play the rightful role in politics and that role is to promote the interest of the poor masses.

16.8%

The percentage of the urban population of Saint Lucia in 2012. Source: Un.org

£12m

The amount of money received by Swansea City in the January 2016 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

N5.6bn contract: EFCC quizzes ex-Deputy Speaker, Nwuche NLC to fight multinationals on Nwuche was quizzed over tract even as he alleged that “He allegedly got three exploitation of workers Emmanuel Onani a contract a company alleg- the former Deputy Speaker, Abuja

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday interrogated a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, over an alleged N5.6 billion contract. New Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources at the Commission, that

edly linked to him got from the Presidential Amnesty Office under Mr. Kingsley Kuku. One of the sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, alleged that Nwuche’s company got three contracts sometime in 2012 to train ex-militants in Malaysia. The source, however, said nothing was done in terms of executing the con-

collected N2.8 billion. He said: “A former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. “Nwuche is being grilled over an alleged N5.6billion contract which his company...allegedly received from the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty Office.

contracts from the Amnesty office in 2012 for the training of ex-agitators in Malaysia. “Up till now, nothing was done about the contract. Yet, he collected N2.8billion”, the source said. It was further learnt that “the money was allegedly laundered through some companies, individuals and Bureau De Change operators back to Kuku, through a front, who is also being investigated by the EFCC.”

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it would be kick-starting the African component of a global campaign aimed at warning rapacious corporate entities against exploitation of workers. NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who

disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the opening a two day workshop on “Advancing Decent Work in Global Supply Chain In Africa” organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa, said the ills and iniquities of multinational enterprises have left scars on the workers across the continent of Africa.

tuesday, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Number plates’ removal, legal –Lagos Muritala Ayinla

Two die in Lagos tanker explosion Muritala Ayinla

t least two persons lost their lives yesterday when a fuel tanker exploded at the popular Cele bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos. The driver of the tanker reportedly lost control of the vehicle which fell on the road, spilled its content on the road and drainage channels before catching fire. At press time, two persons were reported dead while scores were said to be injured. Also, a truck and a car were damaged in the accident. For several hours, firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management

Agency (NEMA), among others, battled to contain the inferno resulting from explosion. Other agencies such as the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police, etc, had hectic time managing the situation. The sea of onlookers filled the pedestrian bridge as they helplessly watched the firefighters combat the raging fire. Vehicles were prevented from moving on both sides of the roads, while the thick dark smoke covered the area. It was gathered that the accident occurred at 5p.m. when the tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called fuel, lost control and crashed.

Speaking with New Telegraph, the state Director of Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said six fire trucks were deployed to contain the inferno. He described the accident as “serious”. Fadipe said the inferno was caused by massive fuel spillage into drainage which later caught fire. A motorist, who claimed to have witnessed the accident, said it was caused when two trucks collided on the expressway. He said: “Two male adults died in the incident. The accident occurred when the trucks collided. One hit the other at the back. The driver of the first truck and his ‘motor boy’ died in the accident.” Officials of LASEMA, who pleaded anonymity, said two male adults died in the accident while those who were

City Briefs

Crime: Police train vigilantes

Housewife to die by hanging for killing husband Ola James Warri

olice in Lagos have started training members of the Vigilantes Group of Nigeria (VGN) on how to combat crime in the state. The state VGN Commander, Mr. James Udoma, said yesterday that his members were being trained on anti-robbery, surveillance and marine operation by seasoned policemen at the state Command Police Training College, Ikeja. He said: “The essence of the training is to engage school leavers to secure job in the security sector as they would be deployed in different local governments in the state

injured were taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, speaking after containing the fire, Fadipe urged motorists using the road to be safety conscious to avert fresh fire incident on the axis. In a text message to our correspondent, Fadipe said: “Fire has been effectively contained now. Hoping that motorists will adhere to safety rules to avoid re-ignition.” General Manager, LASEMA, Michael Akindele, who said investigation would be carried out on the cause of the accident, also confirmed that two persons lost their lives. NEMA’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, said bodies of victims had been taken to the mortuary. Farinloye said the agency would still carry out further investigation to determine the casualty figure.

agos State government yesterday defended the decision of its traffic law enforcement officials to remove number plates of vehicles parked at unauthorised places. This is contained in a statement jointly signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde. According to the statement, many motorists prefer number plates’ removal to towing of their vehicles when they flout traffic laws. Kazeem and Ayorinde said parking on the kerb or walkways or outside the premises where the driver had gone “to transact business in a manner that either obstructs traffic or constitutes illegal use of public space is a violation of the law and could attract a fine of N20,000 or a community service after a documentary evidence has been presented to the offender”. The commissioners defended the removal of number plates as form of traffic law enforcement, even as they denied allegations of highhandedness against officials of the Task Force and those of the Special Offences Tribunal (Mobile Court). They described the complainants on social media as hypocritical and manipulative. Kazeem and Ayorinde said it was within the purview of the traffic law enforcement officers to identify violators of traffic laws and have them booked and tried according to the peculiarities of their offences without having to clamp their tyres or tow the vehicles.

A Udoma

to prevent kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, armed-robbery, rape and ritual killing after conclusion of the training.” Udoma urged parents to be more conscious of their environment because of the prevailing crime rate in recent time in the country and the state in particular.

Delta State High Court, Effurun, has sentenced a 28-year-old housewife, Mrs. Mary Attah, to death by hanging for stabbing her pastor husband with a kitchen knife and setting him ablaze. The presiding judge, Justice E. I. Oritsejafor, sentenced Mary to death having been pronounced guilty on the one-count charge preferred against her by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

The offence was punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006. Delivering the death verdict, Oritsejafor held that the prosecution led by an Assistant Director, Mr. Patrick Mekako, was able to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the convict. He said: “I must also add that the evidence before this court does not and cannot support the plea of self-defence in favour of the accused person. I agree

with the learned Assistant Director for the prosecution that there is just no possible defence to avail the accused person when she stabbed her deceased husband in the neck with a knife and thereafter doused him with fuel before she struck the match on him was to kill the deceased or do him grievous bodily harm. The law is trite that a man intends the natural consequences of his act. “The sentence of this court upon you, Mary Attah, is death by hanging by the neck till you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

METRO

tuesday, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

We won’t accept our members’ abduction, murder again –RCCG A

Remo needs £8,000 to fly Akarigbo’s body home Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

•Pastor’s abductors demand 100m ransom Taiwo Jimoh

he Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) yesterday said it would no longer accept the abduction and killing of its members any more. The Head of Media, RCCG, Mr. Segun Adegbiji, said this on the heels of Sunday morning abduction of a pastor of a parish of the church at Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Bajomo, and the recent murder of an assistant pastor in Kubwa, Abuja, Mrs. Eunice Olawale. This came as Bajomo’s abductors demanded N100 million for his release. Bajomo was abducted while kick-starting the workers’ meeting in the church. But reacting to his kidnapping, Adegbiji said: “RCCG will no longer accept abduction and murder of our members any more. We hate murder or torture of innocent people; whether they are our members or not. We like to warn murderers and abductors that God will show up in anger and fire and consume them

speedily.” A source close to Bajomo’s family said: “The kidnappers called the wife of the pastor this (yesterday) morning. They instructed her to prepare N100 million. They said that was the only condition which would make them to release Bajomo.” The pastor’s wife and some other members of the church were seen at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office, Ipakodo, Ikorodu, yesterday. They were there to make official report of the incident. The family members later led policemen to the place where Bajomo was kidnapped. Our correspondent asked Bajomo’s wife to comment on her husband’s abduction. “I’m not in the mood to talk. My husband’s release is more important to me,” she replied listlessly. On Sunday morning, the kidnappers disguised as new worshippers to enter the church. They later abducted the pastor inside the church. Bajomo was kidnapped by 7a.m. in the church located at Santos bus stop. Bajomo’s abduction

Owoseni

came on the heels of almost daily attacks, killings and kidnappings in Ikorodu area of the state. On Sunday last week, some militants stormed Oko-Iya Olosa area of Isawo, where they shot a man, identified as Kamoru, and a hairdresser, for resisting abduction. Both victims died.

The kidnappers stormed the community about 11p.m. and operated till about 3:30a.m. They shot and killed five people, including Kamoru and the hairstylist. The bandits abducted three persons; a hotelier identified as Chicago and twins. They later escaped through the creeks in a waiting speedboat.

t least, £8,000 is needed to fly the body of the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, back to Nigeria, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. Oba Sonariwo, 80, passed died on Saturday in the United Kingdom. The traditional ruler, who was until his death the chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, had travelled to the United Kingdom for medical check-up. But speaking in a telephone interview with journalists yesterday, a prominent monarch and the Ewusi of Makun, Sagamu, Oba Timothy Oguntayo, said Remo Traditional Council would need £8,000 to fly the remains of the Akarigbo back to Nigeria. Oba Akinsanya disclosed that the council had already sent a representative to the state government to help in meeting the expenses. The monarch added that he confirmed the Akarigbo’s demise from one of his wives who was with him in London. He said: “We have delegated the Asiwaju of Remoland to meet with the governor in a bid to help us out to offset the £8,000 expenses to bring the monarch back home. “We are really waiting for the government to assist us now. The earlier we got the government assistance, the better.” The Ewusi explained that the passage rites for the Akarigbo could not begin while his remains were still in the UK. When contacted yesterday, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, said government was still waiting for official confirmation of the paramount ruler’s death from the Remo Traditional Council. He said: “We are still waiting for official report from Remo Traditional Council. I learnt the council met yesterday (Sunday) and they are meeting again today (Monday).”

Man battles to live after policeman, Army officer’s beating Abu

The undergraduates

Undergraduates defraud foreigners of N16m

Cheke Emmanuel

Juliana Francis

ive undergraduates are now in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly duping some foreigners of N16 million. According to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, four of the suspects are from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and one from the Adekunle Ajashin University, Akungba (AAUA). EFCC said the suspects, Adeleke Paul (21), Adebiyi Tayo Abudu (22), Akinsanmi Olusola Adeniyi (21), Ogundile Ademola James (23) and Okali Ugochukwu (21), defrauded foreigners and other victim through scam mails. The anti-graft agency got wind of the suspects’ activities through intelligence gathering. EFCC operatives recovered a 2006, black Toyota Highlander marked Lagos LND 112 EG, 2010 light- green Toyota

Camry (Muscle) marked Lagos AAA 850 EF, laptops, three Apple iPhone 6 and three Blackberry phones from them. Some implicating documents were also found and downloaded from their laptops. Paul and his co-travellers, who are known as Tsunami Gang and Young Pablo Money, allegedly swindled unsuspecting foreigners and others to the tune of N16 million by engaging in fraudulent activities and obtaining money by false pretences through scam mails. The suspects were picked up at an Off-Campus residence, located at Anuoluwapo Close, Stateline Hotel Road, off FUTA South Gate, Akure, Ondo State. Paul is a 300 student of Building Technology, while James and Olusola are both 400 level students of Agricultural Resources and Mathematics respectively. Okali is a 200 level student of Urban and Regional Planning, while Adebiyi Tayo is a 300 level student of Mathematics at AAUA.

LAFIA

35-year-old man, Yakubu Abu, is currently battling to stay alive at the hospital where he was rushed to after he was brutalised by security personnel allegedly attached to Olam Farm at Rukubi in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Abu told our correspondent that he was first beaten by a policeman attached to the farm, while he was discussing with his kinsmen at Adori. According to Abu, on sighting him, the policeman demanded to know what he was doing there and before he answered, the policeman slapped him and started beating him without provocation. The victim, who spoke on his hospital bed at Hiltop Clinic and Maternity Centre, Shine in Lafia, added that an Army officer with a rank of a lieutenant (name withheld), who the policeman handed him over to, beat him mercilessly. Abu alleged that soldiers conveyed him to Taimako Clinic and Maternity Centre in Doma in a military van when

the officer discovered that he was unconscious after beating him. A source said that after the inhuman treatment meted out on Abu, the officer offered N30,000 to settle his medical bills and another N5,000 for feeding at the hospital. Abu was later referred to Hiltop Clinic and Maternity Centre at Shinge for treatment. Abu was in severe pains when our correspondent visited the hospital yesterday. The doctor in-charge of Hiltop Clinic and Maternity Center, Dr. Joseph Ewache, explained that Abu was referred to his clinic on the grounds that he was beaten by security men. He said the victim was due for X-ray to establish the cause of the nagging pain in his waist. Efforts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ismaila Numan, on the matter were unsuccessful as he neither picked his calls nor replied a text message sent to his mobile phone at press time. Also, efforts to contact authorities of 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, were unsuccessful.

10 News|NATIONAL Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

enate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday said the National Assembly will push for the removal of teachers’ salaries from recurrent expenditure in the national budget in order to stem the growing tide of arrears of salaries owed teachers by state governments. Saraki, who made this disclosure in a brief chat with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State during an inspection tour of facilities at the proposed Sheikh Muhammed Kamaldeen University, in the state capital, said senators would engage the executive arm of government over the proposal once they resume from their current recess. He promised to contribute to the take-off of the university where his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, was a benefactor. Saraki, who pleaded with Nigerians on the current hardship being faced due to the state of the national economy, assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in power was not out to deceive Nigerians and definitely had the capability to steer the nation through the period of hardship into prosperity. He said part of the intervention of the Senate on the issue of the national economy must have played a significant role in the

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate moves to remove teachers’salaries from recurrent expenditure rise in federal allocation to states for the month of July, as he promised that the next few months would see to the resolution of the salary crises across the local government areas in the country. But he canvassed dialogue with members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), whose activities had been one of the factors crippling the economy, saying the Federal Government must be ready to sit down with ‘whoever’ can be instrumental to the return of normalcy in the region. He said: “Before the

Senate went on recess, we spent a day discussing this non-payment of primary school teachers’ salaries across the nation. This is an area that should not be left in the hands of the local government areas. The matter now is beyond local councils. It is even beyond states. “My view and that of the senate is that the issue should be a national matter. We cannot be putting funds to Universal Basic Education Board (UBE) for building of classrooms, science equipment or even to tertiary institutions when the foundation, pri-

mary school teachers are not being paid. Who is going to go to the classrooms that we are building? “So, we must address that as a national issue and that is our plan at the Senate that during the recess and when we resume from recess, to engage with the executive arm and see how we can come together. I believe that payment of teachers should not be on recurrent because it is key to the foundation of education and it is key to whatever capital investment. “There is no point putting investment in classrooms where there is no

teacher that will turn up when they have not paid him or her. We move a resolution last time to address it and we are going to follow it up. I want to reassure the teachers all-round the country that definitely something is going to be done for all us to address this. “We all know that we have been experiencing tough time in the country. Even here in Kwara State, I have been talking to all our people that it has been a very difficult period for all of us not only in Nigeria, but all over the world.” L-R: Chairperson, Moremi Hall, Ms. Olaitan Zainab; Guest of Honour & recipient of Special Amazon of the year award, President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Moremi Hall Mistress, Prof. Virgy Onyene and Seagreen Brand Manager, Mr. Chukwuma Ozoh as Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin is honored at Moremi Hall, Unilag Intellectual Public speaking day…yesterday.

PDP chairmanship: Group EFCC arraigns two for forging college’s certificate purpose of securing tent to defraud, conspired to demands equity, backs George Foluso Ogunmodede the a visa. commit felony by allegedly Wale Elegbede

head of the August 17 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a youth group within the party, South West Democratic Youth Vanguard, has demanded a declaration of the party’s zoning arrangement, just as it said it is supporting the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, for the chairmanship position.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos, Coordinator of the group, Mr. Kola Salau, said the credibility and national network of George present him as the only man from the zone that can take the PDP through its present patchy state. While seeking clarifications on the blank and vague zoning of the chairmanship to the south, the group noted that, “there is need to clear the air on which exact part of the south is the chairmanship being zoned.”

Bribery in higher institutions x-rayed in Professor Johnbull 2

rofessor Johnbull, the wave-making TV drama series bankrolled by the grandmasters of data, Globacom, will, in its second episode today, beam its satirical klieg-light on the rampant incidents of corruption in the nation’s higher institutions. Tagged Sorting Things, the episode focuses on the hydra-headed conundrum of bribery in the nation’s tertiary institutions, where students offer bribes, in cash

and kind, to their lecturers in order to attract more marks above their academic aptitudes. This riveting episode elucidates on the various tricks both lecturers and students use to solicit or receive bribefor-marks while Professor Johnbull, the lead character played by Kanayo O. Kanayo, in his usual professorial candour, drills-down on the debilitating effects of the practice on the quality of education in Nigeria.

wo suspects, Mr. Animashaun Sadiq Abimbola and Miss Adeniji Olamide Modupeoluwa, who were arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly forging a National Diploma Certificate (ND) of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, to obtain a British visa, were yesterday arraigned at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. The duo of Animashaun and Adeniji, who were arrested and detained since April 25, allegedly forged the college’s ND certificate for

The forged documents were allegedly discovered by the verification team of the British High Commission, when the defendants presented the documents in an attempt to obtain the British document. They were, however, arraigned yesterday by the EFCC before the court presided by a vacation judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye on a 40-count charge offence.The offence was on conspiracy, forgery and use of false documents, among others. According to the EFCC prosecutor, Mrs. I. Daramola, the defendants on September 16, 2015, with in-

forging National Diploma (ND) Certificate of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun State, dated September 7, 2012. Daramola told the court that the defendants allegedly forged the documents to facilitate the procurement of the United Kingdom visa by false pretence from the British High Commission with the forged certificate, purporting it to have been issued by the school authority of Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke. Besides, she alleged that the defendants forged the institution’s statement of examination result and used same to facilitate the procurement of the visa.

Corrupt people not comfortable with because Nigerians are concerned about the govt policies, says guber aspirant state of the economy, Edwin Usoboh

governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Moyosola Niran, has said that corrupt people are not comfortable with the policies and actions of the President Muham-

madu Buhari administration. Niran spoke on Sunday in a chat at the sixth year anniversary of Trinity House, pastored by Ituah Ighodalo, where he was invited as a special guest. Asked if residents of Ondo State would vote for the party he represents

he said: “Nigerians are happy; it is the corrupt people that are complaining, it is the corrupt people that are not comfortable with the policies and actions of government. It is people that have skeleton in their cupboards that have been complaining.”

Switzerland generates 4,000 jobs for Nigerians Mojeed Alabi

he Swiss Consul General in Lagos, NicoletDit-Felix Yves, yesterday said no fewer than 4,000 direct jobs have been created for Nigerians through the investments of Swiss companies in the country. He added that his home country’s direct investments in the Nigerian economy amounted to $300 million as at March this year. The envoy, who gave the revelation in Lagos at a business meeting ahead of the forthcoming Second African Development Investment Convention slated for Switzerland in October this year, said his country also exports other items, including machinery, pharmaceutical products, textiles, among others, to Nigeria.

UNDEDSS denies dialogue with Niger Delta militants Wale Elegbede

he coalition of ethnic nationalities and civil societies under the auspices of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) has said that the report of an ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and Niger Delta militants is erroneous and misleading. In a statement issued yesterday by UNDEDSS Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Uranta, the group said though attempts are being made to open negotiation with the Niger Delta militants, it noted however, that no dialogue are on the table yet. The statement reads in part: “We note with dismay the insistence by some spokesmen of the Federal Government that ‘dialogue’ is ongoing with the ‘real militants’ of the Niger Delta. We hope the Federal Government is not being fooled by 419 scoundrels and impostors because UNDEDSS can affirm unequivocally that while attempts are being made to open negotiation channels, no ‘dialogue’ has truly commenced between the Federal Government and the armed actors like the Niger Delta Avengers. “The Presidency is well aware of the conditions that these key players regard as prerequisite to ‘dialogue’ commencing. They are calling on Mr. President to directly assure the nation that the National Maritime University remains on course; that he has appointed a Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to drive the 2009 Yar’ Adua template.”

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo guber APC explains 200,000 jobs promise

Politics

Ebonyi Clerics at war over spoils of politics

12 13

Senate, AGF's unfinished business The Senate’s aim of summoning the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, was apparently defeated last week as some of the questions he was supposed to answer were evaded, Chukwudi David reports

ollowing the criminal charges of conspiracy and forgery instituted against the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the Senate on June 21, summoned the nation's number one law enforcement officer to appear before it for clarifications. The Senate, while making its resolutions on the matter four weeks ago, decided that Malami should appear before it to explain and justify with evidence, the basis for charging its leadership to court in spite of an earlier court order, restraining him from interfering with the internal affairs of the upper legislative chamber. The lawmakers also required the AGF to explain why his action did not constitute gross misconduct, incompetence, contempt of court and court processes as well as abuse of his office. The Senate also during that session, affirmed that its Standing Orders 2015 (as amended), was not forged as claimed by some of their colleagues of the anti-Saraki group in the Senate, the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), and that the document remained the authentic rule book for the current Senate. Also, in the same vein, the Red Chamber accused President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to destroy the nation’s democracy

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Saraki

by first suppressing the National Assembly, which they described as the beacon of democracy, in order to impose a one-man rule. The resolutions of the apex Chamber were concomitant to a motion of urgent public importance, raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), which he entitled: “The imminent threat to our democracy as it relates to the alleged invitation of our principal officers by the high court in Abuja.” Presenting the motion, Melaye lamented what he described as the ongoing systematic degradation and abuse of the office of the leadership of the office of the National Assembly by the executive arm of government through intimidation and harassment. The lawmaker also regretted that, after being in civil rule for 17 years, the executive arm of government had not yet come to terms with the constitutional tenets of separation of powers and the independence of the legislative arm of government. Sequel to the submissions of Melaye, and the resolution to invite the AGF, the Senate mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to meet with the law enforcement officer and report back in one week. However, on June 30, instead of appearing in person, Malami sent Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, attached to the Office of the AGF, to represent him at the interactive session with the Senate committee. The absence of the AGF infuriated the lawmakers, who interpreted his failure to honour the invitation as a slight on the apex legislative chamber. In their rage, the senators walked out Obono-Ob-

Babachir

The AGF succeeded in evading some of the questions for which he was summoned

la from the meeting and reported to the Senate that Malami refused to respect its invitation. Consequently, the Senate last week went tough as it resolved to give the AGF the last chance to appear before its committee or risk being compelled to do so through a warrant of arrest. The resolution followed a personal explanation to the Senate by the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters committee's chairman, Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger East), who narrated to the chamber the efforts made to get Malami to appear without success. Ruling on the submission, Saraki, threatened that if the AGF failed to appear before the committee for the last time, the Senate would be left with no option than to apply its constitutional powers in compelling him to come. In a seeming move to avoid embarrassment of a warrant of arrest from the Senate, the AGF appeared before the committee barely twenty-four hours after Saraki threatened to invoke sections 88 and 89 of the constitution to compel him to appear. But during his appearance before the senators, Malami was never diplomatic with the lawmakers, as he told them that in respect of Saraki and Ekweremadu, he has the constitutional powers to investigate any case and prosecute anybody accused of breaching the law of the land. Malami asserted before the legislators that as the country's highest law enforcement officer, he has the constitutional obligation and powers to institute a criminal trial against anybody who has committed a breach of the law in the country. He said that the criminal proceeding he instituted against the

Senate president and his deputy was in public interest, and that he had no desire whatsoever to do anything to truncate the democracy as being insinuated by the lawmakers. The AGF further told the committee that the suit was based on already investigated case which was carried out by the Police before his appointment as the AGF, stressing that government is a continuum, and as such he should not be expected not to act on the report he met in the office. Meanwhile, drama suddenly ensued at the session, when division broke out among the members of the committee, obviously along the pro and anti-Saraki factions, leading to the lawmakers singing discordant tunes. Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC, Osun State), who is a member of the Senate Unity Forum, while interrogating the AGF, made comments that appeared contrary to the purpose and fundamental interest of the Senate in assigning the investigation to the committee. Omoworare continually maintained that the AGF had the powers to institute any criminal case against any Nigerian, which subsequently provoked the anger of the pro-Saraki senators in the committee. Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu State), who was highly angered by the seeming betrayal of Omoworare, was compelled to interrupt him, urging the chairman to call him to order. Utazi, in his position, countered the assertion made by Omoworare, stating that the AGF went beyond the bounds of his constitutional jurisdiction, while insisting the Malami's action was a clear intrusion into the internal affairs of the Senate. The brief disagreement was however, resolved by the intervention of the chairman of the committee, Senator Umaru, who appealed to Utazi to hold his peace as well and also halted Omoworare from making further contribution on the matter. However, it was observed from the meeting that the AGF succeeded in evading some of the questions for which he was summoned. For instance, he did not respond to the question on whether his institution of criminal charges against Saraki and Ekweremadu did not constitute abuse of office, contempt of court process and a negation of the principle of separation of powers. Moreover, the lawmakers did not insist that he should provide answer to the question because the dissenting voice from their colleague sent a signal of confusion to the committee, and they needed to bring the session to a close before it aggravated. At the end, it appears that the aim of summoning the AGF was defeated.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC explains 200,000 jobs promise

head of the Edo State gubernatorial election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown light on the 200,000 jobs its candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, promised to create within four years in office, if elected. The party said that contrary to expectations that the 200,000 jobs would be created within the state civil service, the plan is to provide the platform, training, support and an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive in a technology

driven economy. Prince Greg Ogiogwa, the Deputy Director in the Directorate of Communications, Media and Publicity of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation, made this known to debunk the allusion by one of the opposition parties that the job creation promise was a hoax. He said that job creation is not only about direct employment by the government and its agencies but through entrepreneurial development, industrialisation and infrastructural development across the

state. Prince Ogiogwa said that the entrepreneurial development would cut across different spheres of human endeavour ranging from agriculture, technical education, vocational interest, technological advancement, cottage industries and the likes. His words: “Developing and investing in these sectors is a sure short way to economic

sustainability that will provide jobs and create associated support businesses. “The plan is to galvanise the economic landscape of the state with modified policies for existing private sector businesses to be strengthened, thereby encouraging new ones to spring up.” He said the projection is that in the first year of the administra-

Edo DECIDES

tion, the above stated strategy would account for the engagement of no fewer than 50,000

persons who would be expected to grow to engage others. “If 50 per cent of this number grows to engage at least two persons each in the following year to sustain the growth of their businesses, then more than half of the promised jobs would have been created in just two years of the administration's life span,” Ogiogwa stated.

Obaseki family distances self from Pedro Cajetan Mmuta Benin

he Obaseki family of Benin Kingdom, headed by a Justice Otutu Obaseki (rtd), yesterday, distanced itself from the activities of Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, the former Accord Party governorship candidate and nephew to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, saying the family has resolved to back the latter’s governorship ambition. The family in a statement signed by Mr. William Obaseki, described the action of Pedro as shameful and embarrassing to the family, adding that it will soon meet to decide the next line of action. Pedro Obaseki recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared support for

the party’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to the chagrin of his family. But the Obaseki family in a swift reaction, said: “We wish to inform the general public that the family disassociates itself from the mischievous actions of Pedro Obaseki. “We hereby reaffirm Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki as the only recognised candidate, who has the blessings of the head of Obaseki Ogbeideoyoo family, Chief Justice Andrew Otutu Obaseki, Justice of the Supreme Court (rtd) and the Obaseki of Benin Kingdom for the September 10, governorship election. “We urge all Edo sons and daughters to support him, so that he can take Edo State to the next level. Nobody should be distracted with the activities of Pedro, our blessings remains with Godwin and God willing, he will win.”

L-R: Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly , Rt Hon. Justin Okonoboh; Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, during a visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole in BeninCity…yesterday.

Ize-Iyamu to Oshiomhole: Refund state funds expended on your 2007 campaign Cajetan Mmuta Benin

he governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu,

yesterday, urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund state funds amounting to millions of naira, which the former Governor Lucky Igbinedion deployed to bankroll his 2007 governorship campaign.

Obaseki replies critics of his speech

he All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has explained why he read a prepared speech when he flagged off his campaign inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Saturday, July 16. He said the idea was to present himself and his programmes to the people of Edo State, and then sign an accord with them upon which he would be assessed and held accountable at the end of his tenure. Obaseki made this clarification through the State Coordinator of his campaign organisation, Mr Osakue Aiyevbek-

pen, while playing host to some support groups that were in the campaign office on a solidarity visit. Mr. Aiyevbekpen said the candidate decided to put speech in writing and read to Edo people because of his burning desire to be accountable to the people based on his electoral promise to them and for the people to have a documented evidence of his promise in order for them to hold him accountable for his words. He noted that the criticism from some persons he described as a microscopic few is a mere propaganda to confuse the unsuspecting electorate in order to divert their attention from the issues that affect Edo State and

the solutions being proffered by Obaseki for the good of the people instead of telling Edo people if elected governor. He pointed out that amongst the array of candidates nominated by the different political parties for the forthcoming election in the state, the APC candidate stands tall as an intelligent, articulate, vocal and eloquent person that has the qualities of an astute administrator. According to Mr Aiyevbekpen, “it is very unfortunate and disappointing when people ask why Godwin Obaseki was reading his speech that was being uploaded on the internet simultaneously for everyone to

access instead of talking off hand. “If you were at the stadium you will understand that what he read was far more than a speech but a fundamental policy statement in form of a manifesto that was presented by him as a contract document, which by virtue of reading it to the hearing of the people, has become an undeniable signed contract document with them.” He further stated that Obaseki decided to present it in that manner so that whatever he has promised would be a documented evidence, which will be difficult to be distorted or misquoted in the future by his detractors.

Ize-Iyamu stated this during the launch of a book, “Betryal of Trust” written by a former Commissioner in the Oshiomhole administration, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, in Benin, the state capital. He said: “Since Oshiomhole has consistently accused Lucky Igbinedion of looting Edo State government treasury, I want him to tell Edo people where he got the money he spent to become the governor of the state. “In case he has forgotten, I will like to remind him that most of the money came from Chief Lucky Igbinedion. And since he is now saying that Lucky Iginedion stole all Edo State’s money, that money that Lucky Igbinedion gave to him to campaign to become governor, let him refund it to the Edo State government. He revealed that Igbinedion recommended Oshiomhole to his supporters in 2007 because some people in the state believed that he had not done well and they supported him for two reasons. According to him, "first was because Edo is one and

an Afenmai man has never become the governor. We felt it was time for an Afenmai man to become the governor. I also bought the story of Lucky Igbinedion that this man just left office as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress. This man will be interested in the masses, he will be interested in our pensioners, he will be interested in students. This man will excel. On that note, we supported him. He declared he had no money, we have to put all the resources together to support him.” He also claimed that Oshiomhole collected money from former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to ensure that the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lost the presidential election. Author of the book, who was a former Commissioner for Transport in the Oshiomhole cabinet, Omo-Ojo, said the book gives an insight into the person and administrative style of Governor Oshiomhole as well as reveals those who supported him to power and why he lost focus in governance.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ebonyi: Clerics at war over spoils of politics Intractable leadership crisis has enveloped the Divine Mandate Pastors (DMP), an umbrella body of some clerics in Ebonyi State, who worked for the victory of Governor Dave Umahi during the 2015 general elections, UCHENNA INYA reports

efore now, clerics were not actively involved in Ebonyi State politics. Only very few were given appointments. But over 500 of them are not only actively involved in the politics of the state presently but a handful are occupying exalted positions courtesy of the incumbent governor, Chief Dave Umahi, who promised to partner with the various churches for the development of the state. Umahi gave the clerics a sense of belonging early in his administration when he instituted an organ of his campaign organisation during the 2015 electioneering exercise. His campaign organisation was christened Divine Mandate, while the clerics were named Divine Mandate Pastors. The clerics played a major role in ensuring his success at the poll by mobilizing the people at grassroots. They were united in their course and the overseer of an inter-denominational worship centre in the state known as Power House of Prayer, Evangelist Ephraim Ononye, was made the leader of the Divine Mandate Pastors apparently because of his “ruggedness” during the political battle between Umahi, who was then deputy governor of the state and his boss, Elechi. During the PDP governorship primaries held at the Abakaliki Township stadium, Ononye was the only cleric, who openly identified with Umahi, when he was declared winner of the party’s governorship primary. His open support for Umahi, political watchers said, was responsible for his transfer from the All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Abakaliki to a rural area. The transfer came few days after the governorship primaries. Apparently worried by the church’s decision, Ononye established his worship centre located in OrokeOnuoha Mile 50 Abakaliki. A thanksgiving service he held in December last year, attracted top politicians in the state including Governor Umahi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Nwifuru; former deputy governor of the state, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu; senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, Chief Obinna Ogba, Chief Whip of the state Assembly, Hon. Chike Ogiji and members of the state executive council, among others. In his remarks, Umahi commended Ononye, for being one of the few men of God who proph-

Umahi

esied his victory and had the courage to say it despite persecution from different quarters. He restated the commitment of the state government towards partnering with churches as well as getting advices and constructive criticism. While the cleric’s group has enjoyed relative harmony in the past one year, the peace crumbled last week when over 500 of the Divine Mandate Pastors gathered at Pastoral Centre of the Catholic Diocese, Abakaliki and announced that they have removed Ononye as their leader, citing general misconduct, unruly behavior and arrogance, among others as his sins. In his stead, Pastor Ifeanyi Igwe was elected. But for the intervention of the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, there would have been breakdown of law. It took Nwali’s intervention to save the rowdy session of the clerics from degenerating into violence as some of the pastors engaged each other in verbal war and shouting match. Nwali had to use prayer to close the matter after several efforts to restore normalcy proved abortive. Addressing reporters shortly after meeting with the clerics, Nwali described the leadership crisis as a family rift. “It’s a family rift. Since the Divine Mandate Pastors were founded at the discretion of the governor, there will not be reshuffling of any sort without his consent. But from indications, there are lots of dissatisfaction in the system, a good number of them are quite dissatisfied that since after the election, they have not actually converged to sing, to pray or to even discuss their affairs. “They feel abandoned like sheep without shepherded and that bitterness led to their protest against their leader, who they said they have removed during the meeting. We have told them that since they are all partners in progress, they should remain calm until when his Excellency returns and interfaces with them. Because of that family discomfort, we will not give them the money meant for the empowerment of the poor in the state.”

Ononye

The pastors, like the apostles, are now seeking who should sit on the right or left hand

In their resolutions addressed to Governor Umahi, titled “Our plight” and signed by Pastors Igwe and Ernest Anayo, who were elected chairman and secretary respectively and some coordinators in the 13 local government areas of the state, Ononye was further accused not calling for meetings since the 2015 general elections. The resolutions read in part: “Your Excellency sir, we humbly wish to tell you by this medium once and again that the entire body of the Divine Mandate Pastors in the 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on Pastor Ephraim Ononye and that we have inaugurated a new leadership in the state with Pastor Ifeanyi C. Igwe as the Chairman and Pastor Ernest Anayo as the Secretary respectively. “The reasons for the change are on the account of general misconduct and unruly behavior on the part of our past leader. He is arrogant, autocratic, hostile and the worst is that he abuses pastors of Ebonyi State origin that they are hungry pastors. “We consulted him on several occasions to lead us to pay either congratulatory or courtesy visit to your Excellency so that we can find out why we are not remembered for Christmas, New Year and Easter packages like others but he blatantly refused and told us that the Divine Mandate Pastors group is dead and has been buried. He also told us to go and mind our pulpit and that was the point where he called us hungry Abakaliki pastors. “More so, the two chances given to us by the state government for pilgrimage to Jerusalem last year was high jacked on the way by the former leader after we have worked it out. He never consulted us about it, rather he gave one to his wife, who is never part of us and gave one to one of his partners. It was at this level that we decided to organise ourselves back in the 13 local government areas, so that we can take our place in the state because we worked for it and a labourer is entitled to his wages.” But in a reaction, some members of the group including Dr. Tina Nwaeze, Rev. Ukoma Nnachi

(Afikpo South), Ogbonnaya Inya (Afikpo North), Agwu Lawrence (Ivo), Okike Lawrence (Ohaozara) and Alloy Ogah (Ikwo), maintained that Ononye remains their leader and cannot be removed by anyone except Governor Umahi, who made him their leader. They described the Ononye removal as rebellion, saying: “Some disgruntled elements cannot impeach our leader, Onoye, because they don’t have the locus standi to do that. They did not elect or appoint him to lead us. It is the governor, who made him our leader that has the right to remove him. “Where were these disgruntled elements when the Divine Mandate Pastors were set in place? Some of these elements that are rebelling against our leader, Ononye, are the people that we brought into the group. Ononye personally called on some of them to be part of us and as a result of selfish interest, they started fighting him unjustly and the governor who constituted the organisation. “We stand against such illegality because we as ministers of God should be salt of the world and tell the world how the leadership should go. We want to sound it clear that Ephraim Ononye remains the authentic leader of Divine Mandate Pastors in the state, it is the governor that has right to change the leadership." They regretted that despite the meeting between Ononye and some leaders of the aggrieved pastors on the need for unity, they aggrieved pastors went ahead to factionalise the organisation and called on Governor Umahi to call them to order to restore normalcy in the group. They also cautioned the group to desist from politicking and concentrate on their duties as clergymen. A public affairs analyst, Richard Inya, who spoke on the crisis, described it as embarrassing. “There is hunger in the land. When a renowned gospel German preacher, Reinhard Bonke, visited Ebonyi sometime ago, he left this same crop of men proceeds from the offering and they fought over it. To tell you the truth; money is the first substance that draws them. “In all, there is nothing wrong with a man of God being in politics. However, there is everything wrong with him not being decent, imbibing self-discipline, and causing the people to see reasons why the righteous should be on the throne. In this case, Governor Umahi is well-intentioned, but the pastors, like the apostles, are now seeking who should sit on the right or left hand, seemingly forsaking the work of the kingdom,” he said. Another analyst, Godwin Ezaka, said: “The price Christians will pay for eschewing or abhorring politics is that they will forever be led by an anti-Christ. It is only light that can dispel darkness. Politics is a beautiful game but our own politicians play it very dirty and crude.” As the leadership crisis rages, the two camps are hopeful of carrying the day but there is no doubt that Governor Umahi, who is the founder of the Divine Mandate Organisation will adjudicate on the matter.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion World Bank and development in Rivers State Christian Maduka

ivers State Government and the Port-Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC) are implementing a project to provide water and sanitation services for the population of Port-Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Authorities (LGAs). The project is part of a sector wide institutional reform embarked on by the Rivers State Government, and is planned to be implemented with parallel financing support by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Urban Water Reform and Port-Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project, and by the International Development Association (IDA), hereafter also referred to as World Bank (WB), under the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (NUWSRP3). The planned allocations to Rivers State include USD 200 million in AfDB funds and USD 80 million in IDA funds. The Rivers State Government co-financing amounts to USD 48 million. The current population in the two LGAs is about 1.3 million, rapidly increasing, and expected to reach 4 million by 2040. Currently, its citizens do not benefit from any water services of acceptable quantity, quality or reliability standards, as the water system is considered to be largely non- functional. As a result, the population obtains water from a combination of private boreholes/ shallow wells (directly in their household or bought through intermediate vendors) and water sachets, with varying quality, costs and availability. For sanitation, most households in Port-Harcourt and Obio/Akpor are served by toilets with on-site septic tanks or household pit latrines, while most public centers such as markets and lorry parks lack adequate facilities. The project aims to improve access to safe water supply and public sanitation services in Port- Harcourt and Obio/Apkor and also to establish sound performance and longterm viability of the Port- Harcourt Water Corporation to ensure sustainability of services provided. To this effect, the project is structured around four components: (i). Rehabilitation and expansion of the existing water infrastructure and construction of public sanitation facilities; (ii) Institutional Support covering capacity building of the recently established Port-Harcourt Water

Corporation, consumer outreach, environmental protection, and longer-term planning for comprehensive sanitation services; (iii) Establishment of Public Private Partnerships for sustainable service operations; and (iv) Project Management. The population in the project area is primarily low income households, which requires special considerations in delivery mechanisms and tariff setting for affordability and sustainability. The objective of the project is to increase access to potable water to 100 per cent in the State. Notable projects identified in the development plan are: Port-Harcourt and Obio/ Akpor Water Supply Scheme, Resuscitation and O&M of 40 water supply stations (incl. Port-Harcourt) and Hydrological and hydrogeological surveys and monitoring of groundwater in the state For environmental sanitation, the State aims to ensure a pollution free environment and promote a healthy and sustainable green eco knowledge, attitude and practices of environmental sanitation improved and environmental standards and sanitary regulation enforced; (ii) All drainages are clean and flow freely to where they are channeled; (iii) 90% of population have access to internationally accepted excreta disposal systems, including modern sewerage treatment plants (iv) Rid the streets of Port-Harcourt of refuse sites; (v) Increase revenue base of the state through waste management; (vi) Implementation of integrated waste management system. Projects identified include: Construction of drainages in the State and Waste management (solid waste), hygiene education and promotion in 23 LGAs Sanitation is also included and transport agenda which in aims the to “make State’s the State best in the country in terms of road network and drainage and system,” has identified (i) a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan for Port-Harcourt and Local Government Areas headquarters to be developed; and (ii) Town Planning which includes the preparation of master plans and design layouts for Port-Harcourt and other centers to face the challenge of an increasing population and inadequate infrastructure. The Objectives of the Sector reform were to: Ensure that the existing abundant water resources of the state are provided in a sustainable and affordable manner. It appears there is a lot of water all over the state but none to

The objective of the project is to increase access to potable water to 100 per cent

drink; Improve the overall efficiency and strengthen the institutions to deliver services effectively whilst maintaining standards in terms of quality and quantity. The corporation shall ensure customer satisfaction and be able to attract the right investment from the private sector; Create the enabling environment for Private Sector involvement in the water sector; and Promote the fact that water is both an economic good as it is a social good by encouraging and sensitizing customers to now pay for water to ensure the sustainability of the service for the future. Reform implementation focuses on addressing the challenges of governance, infrastructure, capacity, and funding. The expected results from this gigantic include but not limited to the following: PHWC capacitated with the skills and tools necessary to ensure service delivery in line with international best practice, and commercial viability, A Public Private Partnership (Management Contract or similar) established, outsourcing the daily operations of the water system put in place , Pro-poor Unit established within PHWC, and the social connection fund is operational, Customer awareness raised for water conservation and the need to pay for water services, Tariffs applied that balance affordability with commercial viability and operational cost recovery, Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation plans established for PHWC operations, including Groundwater protection and monitoring, Key stakeholders (outside of PHWC) are capacitated with the skills and tools necessary to coordinate, oversee, and guide the continued and expanded water service provision in PortHarcourt and Jobs created in relation to the scaled up water services (mainly operators) This Project is part of 3rd Urban Water Sector Reform jointly funded by the WB and AfDB scheduled to be executed in 12 states of Nigeria. The Port Harcourt Water and Sanitation component of this Project was launched in Port Harcourt by the Governor of Rivers State Barrister Nyesom Wike on 15 April 2016 with Ramboll Environ Denmark as the Project Management Consultant. The project has long commenced with submission of its Inception Report and initial critical stakeholder’s engagement activities. *Christian Maduka is a Communications and Social Marketing Expert in Port Harcourt

Priority for youths in indigineous business Chris Emejuru

n the past, importing products for individual specifications or for business purposes was a normal routine. It was not met with critique as it is today. Our main export which was crude oil was an enormous earner to the nation which translated to an increase in foreign reserves. Therefore, importing was not met with much scrutiny as it is today. Was this scenario of importing goods for Nigeria relegating less importance on “made in Nigeria” goods. Yes, our foreign reserves covered the shocks of importing, but could we as Nigerians look in the mirror and say this was good for our country? The Federal Government inherited a lot of the difficulties that we are

currently facing and only through Youth participation, especially in indigenous locally made Nigerian enterprise can we fight our way to a more prosperous future for all of us. Thankfully, the Senate has made this mission easier on us. Recently, a bill was passed by the Senate, which puts more emphasis, more effort, more priority to producing locally manufactured goods. The law is entitled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Public Procurement Act to provide for and adopt a local content policy……… With proper thought and legislation like this put in place, local businessman are assured that they are on the path forward to developing their business along with the nation with less interference from imports. The Aquaculture (or Fish farming) industry can benefit from this

legislation because it is an example of how robust the economy Nigeria can be if we focus on locally made products. For example, importing fish feed can create significant overhead cost to local businesses who want to increase productivity in their business. To solve this problem, research has proven that certain Nigerian delicacies like maize and cassava can be used as fish feed thereby reducing costs, which in turn can expand business and create jobs. Another example is the indigenous implementation of the ICT (Information Communication Technology) Sector. Instead of importing talent abroad, we can harness talent here in Nigeria through increasing awareness by the establishment of more Research and Technology Centers. Nigerian Youths are now,

more than ever eager to contribute to an already growing sector so its just putting the proper procedures in place to do so. Being patriotic and proclaiming the significance of supporting locally made goods is one thing. To actually do it is another thing. Luckily, the Federal Ministry for Industry, Trade, and Investment in collaboration with MAN (Manufacturers Association of Nigeria) has made life easier for us. They have created an e-commerce web portal called buyNaija.com with the aim of selling locally made goods of great quality right here in Nigeria. With this initiative, we are able to support goods made right here in Nigeria which can compete with the best in the world! • Emejuru wrote in from Abuja.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Disturbing pictures from the IDPs camp

hen the photographs of some malnourished children first hit the internet last month, the general thought was that the pictures were another form of abuse on social media platforms. The ambivalence towards those photographs could be justified as there had been cases in the past where photographs of events that happened in different countries had been put on social media to appear as if they were Nigerian pictures. Even some major newspapers had been misled to publish such photographs on their cover pages. However, it came out to be true that the photographs were indeed those of malnourished children at the camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama, Borno State. The photographs were actually released by Doctors Without Borders also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a USbased non-governmental organisation that helps people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care worldwide. MSF issued a statement saying some 24,000 IDPs are in dire health situation with at least 30 people – mostly children – dying on a daily basis. The IDPs, who had hitherto lived within the comfort of their homes for many years, were displaced from their communities

after the Boko Haram terrorists invaded their homes. When President Muhammadu Buhari saw the disturbing pictures, he reportedly summoned the officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, who had since met with him at the Aso Rock villa. Before the meeting with the president, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, had paid a visit to Bama camp when he received reports that hundreds of malnourished persons recently rescued from Boko Haram captivity were

More than 30 people are dying a day due to hunger and illness

dying on a daily basis in a camp in Bama, a community that is 75km away from Maiduguri, the state capital. Miffed by the discovery, Shettima ordered that 61 children with acute condition of malnutrition should be relocated to the intensive care unit of the Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital in Maiduguri where they are currently being attended to. Beside the children, another set of over 400 persons with lesser cases of malnourishment were also moved out of the camp to a special care unit for proper feeding and medication. There is also a photograph of a young man suspected to be an IDP

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using a shovel to serve food in the camp. This is ridiculous and dehumanising. Shovel is meant to pack sand and not food! Also, the head of MSF in Nigeria said: “This is the first time MSF has been able to access Bama, but we already know the needs of the people there are beyond critical. “We are treating malnourished children in medical facilities in Maiduguri and see the trauma on the faces of our patients who have witnessed and survived many horrors. “Bama is largely closed off. We have been told that people includ-

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ing children there half starved to death. According to the accounts given to MSF by displaced people in Bama new graves are appearing on a daily basis. We were told more than 30 people are dying a day due to hunger and illness”. “It was because the g overnor visited Bama and brought the sick and malnourished IDPs to Maiduguri after the soldiers of rescued them that even the MSF were able to go there to administer medication on them. Since the disturbing pictures became public knowledge, a lot of people have been asking what happened to billions of naira donated by the federal, state governments, corporate organisations, NGOs

and individuals. Nigeria has been labelled as one of the countries with the highest levels of corruption. This is especially seen within the public sector including stealing public funds and accepting bribes. The nation could have lost around $4–8 billion yearly due to corruption between 1999 and 2007 when civilians took over governance after many years of military rule. The situation that led to the malnutrition of the children resulting in some deaths could also be as a result of corruption. It is the government responsibility to ensure that the lives and properties of its citizens are safe at all times. It is bad enough that the government could not protect the citizens from the onslaught of Boko Haram. It is even worse that those driven away from their homes are still being subjected to harrowing experience in the supposed safe haven as a result of lack of food and proper medication. This is double tragedy for the IDPs. Although the president had met with the officials of SEMA, Nigerians and donors deserve to know what happened to the billions of naira donated to cater for the welfare of the IDPs. Anticorruption crusade remains the selling point of this administration and Buhari should wield the big stick it is established that the money donated to the IDPs had been embezzled.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rivers rerun: The folly of self-deceit Simeon Nwakaudu

ight from that day when the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun threw caution to the wind to express the desperation of his non-performing party to capture Rivers State at all costs because of its resources, elections have become endless in the state. The APC using all manner of fraudulent means, known and unknown, has plotted the worst forms of crimes against the people of Rivers State. Since the return to democracy, no state has suffered the level of political torture and ungodly attacks that the APC has subjected Rivers State with the aid of its instruments of control of state tools of government. Therefore, for 16 months running, the APC and her tools of government have placed Rivers State in a perpetual condition of elections, expecting a particular outcome not desired by the people of the state. As a result of the manipulation of the APC, Rivers State has been without senators for about nine months and majority of the seats of the House of Representatives were vacant for the same period. For a duration, the state had only nine lawmakers at the Rivers State House of Assembly, while there was just one House of Representatives member at the time the Court of Appeal rolled out her mass nullification of the legislative elections in the state. Though, nobody is courageous enough to apologise for these erroneous nullifications, the judgments of the Supreme Court have thrown more light on the issue. Each time, the rerun elections were held, the security of the state got stretched beyond imagination. During the last March 19 rerun elections, several thousands of security personnel were posted to the state to manipulate the outcome. Because the people insisted on their votes being relevant, the security personnel got frustrated and unleashed mayhem on the people of the state. Several persons lost their lives in the process. It was a sad commentary for the nation. The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and other APC leaders in the state traversed the length and breadth of the community with soldiers. The people stood their ground and the APC lost. The APC at the national level also handed over the purse of the Federal Government interventionist agency for the region to the Rivers APC. As we now hear, the officials of the party fleeced that agency to fund the March 19 rerun elections. One would expect that the APC would consider national interest after losing the rerun elections. They sponsored several media attacks on the rerun elections, insisting that no elections took place in Rivers State. However, after issuing several press statements condemning the March 19 rerun elections, the APC met with the powers that be and approached the tribunal to declare her defeated candidates victors of the same elections that they lam-

Wike

pooned. Due to the evil machinations of the APC, the rerun elections in Rivers State have remained inconclusive. Though the IndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated July 30 for the conclusion of the elections, there are indications that the elections would be postponed again at the instance of the leadership of the Rivers APC. One of such indicators is the failure of the APC to campaign for the forthcoming polls. The other was the recent meeting that the Rivers APC chairman, Davies Ikanya, Senator Magnus Abe and selected APC leaders held with the INEC national chairman. Since leaving that inglorious meeting, Rivers APC has been calling for the postponement of the rerun elections as well as the transfer of the state electoral commissioner. This is the second time the party would be making such request since the last general elections. For the APC, if they fail to get Rivers State, then the state must remain in a state of political uncertainty. This, they have struggled to achieve by creating the impression that the state remains unsafe. Aside their sponsored false media propaganda, Rivers State has continued to witness relative peace with Governor Nyesom Wike implementing novel security techniques to reposition the state security architecture. Despite the manipulation of the electoral process and the seeming compromise of the umpire, Governor Wike led the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP,) to campaign for the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rivers East senatorial candidates at Etche on July 21. The PDP in the state has continued to wax stronger as a result of the superlative performance of Governor Wike. Having delivered on majority of his campaign pledges, the faith of the people in his ability to govern has been con-

The people will resist any attempt to use compromised security personnel to rig the polls

solidated. Therefore, they are not willing to be intimidated by any trick adopted by the APC. For instance, the Igwuruta-Chokocho road to the heart of Etche, Rivers State food basket will be commissioned in September. The governor has started the process of electrifying Omuma Local Government Area, while the Etche General Hospital will be rehabilitated. Every senatorial district has benefited from infrastructural projects while the people have been empowered through well-meaning government government programmes. This high level performance has further strengthened the grip of PDP on Rivers State and dislodged the APC. The Rivers East PDP Campaign at Etche on Thursday, July 21 was explosive with elements of liberation for Rivers State. Governor Wike used the opportunity to publicly expose the plots of the APC in liaison with the police and INEC to manipulate the elections . It was a session in defence of democracy. Governor Wike expressed displeasure with the fact that the INEC chairman met with the Rivers State APC chairman and Abe to discuss the forthcoming rerun elections. He accused the INEC chairman of concluding plans to postpone the elections in deference to the fear of defeat expressed by the leadership of Rivers State APC. He wondered why anyone would be happy to destroy Rivers State just because they want to satisfy the politician who funded APC national elections efforts using Rivers State resources. The governor said : "They are frustrating elections in Rivers State because of one man who sponsored elections for APC. They have posted electoral officers from APC states to rig elections and they want to accede to the request of the Rivers State APC to post out the Resident Electoral commissioner. "But the truth is that nobody can rig elections in Rivers State. The INEC National chairman only has the power to postpone elections, but he has no power to rig elections here. "As I speak with you, on July, 19, the APC chairman, Davies Ikanya, Senator Magnus Abe and others, 7.30 to 8pm were with the INEC National Chairman in his office. "Rivers State is key to the development of this country. Will they continue to deny us representation at the Senate and majority of the constituencies of the House of Representatives?" He called on the people of Rivers State to continue to resist every attempt by INEC to rig elections in the state because power resides with the people. According to him : "You saw what happened in Turkey where the people effectively resisted the Army who plotted a coup to dethrone an elected government. Here in Rivers State, the people will resist any attempt to use compromised security personnel to rig the polls". The governor said that the APC is not campaigning for the rerun elections because of the assurances they have received that the elections will be rigged in its favour.

He noted that just as the Rivers APC backed by security agencies could not swap the result sheets handed over to them by compromised INEC officials on March 19, so they will fail when the forthcoming rerun elections are conducted as a result of the vigilance of the people. He reiterated that anyone posted to Rivers State with the aim of rigging the elections should inform his family the location of his hidden wealth as he will face the treatment reserved for armed robbers. On the politicised posting of compromised senior police officers to Rivers State, Governor Wike said that he has written four letters to the new inspector general of police on the issue and made 45 calls to the police chief on the issue without getting a response. Speaking further, he said the new inspector general of police posted Mr Akin Fakorede, the former Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad distributed fake SARS uniforms to APC thugs during the March 19 rerun elections leading to the death of several innocent Rivers people. He also accused Fakorede of embezzling N18 million meant for the rehabilitation of armoured personnel carrier before he fled the state after the rerun. Governor Wike accused the inspector general of police of posting one Mike Tarfa back to the state after ran away upon his false testimony at the Tribunal. He stated that Mike Tarfa now heads Mopol 56 in Ogoni one of the major locations of the rerun elections. He added that the Police High Command has also reposted one Stephen Hasso , former Officer in Charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, back to the state after the same officer publicly declared that he will destroy the security network in the state. He informed that Hasso will now head the operations department of police in the state. "My interest is for the security of the state to be sustained. We are enjoying relative security in the state and I will not fold my arms and allow anyone destroy the security of the state through the posting of politicians who hide under police uniforms" , he said. It is shocking that the APC is yet to come to terms with the reality that it has lost Rivers State. This is unfortunate. There is nothing attractive in the APC that would lure the good people of Rivers State. While Governor Wike has been an example of good governance, the same cannot be said of APC. The party has cancelled outright, all her pledges to the people, while Governor Wike has fulfilled majority of his campaign pledges and is consulting with the people for additional areas of impact. Therefore, it cannot be disputed that the APC is wallowing in SelfDeceit if it imagines that its antipeople machinations will fetch them Rivers State. The people are ready to defend the honour of Rivers State, even at the risk of death. To test their resolve will be the most unfortunate thing to do. â&#x20AC;˘Nwakaudu is the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nyanya Market Traders groan under extortion

Inside Abuja

News Villagers, estate developer bicker over land encroachment

18 21

FCTA to close 556 illegal schools Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

lans have been perfected by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to commence the closure of over 556 illegal and sub-standard private schools across the territory, Inside Abuja has gathered. FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, it was learnt would soon flag-off the exercise in any of the illegal schools marked for closure within the nation's capital. Bello had expressed concerns over the quality and standard of many private schools operating in Abuja when he met recently with representatives of landlord association in Nyanya. The minister lamented that the environment where most of the so-called private schools operate is not conducive for teaching and learning even as he said some of the schools are sited near brothels while some are in dilapidated structures. It could be recalled that the Department of Quality Assurance of the Education Secretariat had a couple of weeks ago embarked on sensitisation of closure of all illegal schools in the six area councils in the territory. During the sensitisation campaign, the Director, Department of Quality Assurance, FCT Education Secretariat, Mr. Didam Ayuba advised parents to withdraw their children from 556 illegal schools in the territory. Ayuba maintained that the department would soon follow up the awareness campaign with an intensive closure of all identified unregistered and substandard schools in the territory, noting that most of the schools are make-shift structures and operate in unhealthy environment. “The message to parents in FCT is that most of these schools are not only unregistered, but there are no standard educational facilities for children to learn. Therefore, parents should stop

Onwuka NzeshI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

Pupils in one of the private schools

Pupils in another private school

sending their children to such schools. “We have very many public schools around, so, I don’t know why parents would send their children to substandard schools. This is because, in public schools, we have standard structures, qualified teachers and lot of teaching material,” he stressed. The director further revealed that the decision to close down such schools was to eradicate the dangers they posed to the academic, emotional and psychological development of the pupils, stressing that the identified schools lack basic or standard facilities for the academic

These schools are established in remote places without our knowledge

growth of the pupils. “It is not by adding private to the name of a school that makes it a good school, parents should send their children to LEA schools where there are qualified teachers and facilities,” he said. Speaking in the same vein, during the exercise in Kuje, the Deputy Director, Registration and Accreditation, Department of Quality Assurance, Hajya Hadiza Mamman, cautioned operators of one of the affected schools to stop running the schools or face the wrath of the government. Asked why the department did not prevent the proliferation of the schools, the deputy director

said: “The problem we have is that these schools are established in remote places without our knowledge; making it difficult for monitoring and inspection that could lead to closure of such schools before now.” Some of the schools visited are located in murky areas with some of them built in floodprone areas. Some of the affected schools visited are Raphil Nursery and Primary School, Kado Life Camp with about 25 to 30 pupils cramped into a poorly ventilated classroom. Other schools visited in the Life Camp area are Destiny Nursery and Primary School and Fountain of Peace School where primary one to five pupils were put into one classroom, while some schools visited in Lugbe on the airport road, serve as both school and church. One of such schools is the Signs and Wonders Academy located in Tudun Wada, Lugbe where a portion of the church auditorium has been segmented into primary one and two. Our correspondent also reports that the Winners Secondary School and the Goodness Nursery and Primary Academy in Tudun Wada are both located on a flood plain, which poses a threat to the lives of the pupils in the event of a heavy rainfall and sudden flood. Speaking to our correspondent in an interview, the proprietor of Signs and Wonders Academy located in Tudun Wada, Lugbe who refused to volunteer his name said that he established the school to render service to the less privileged who cannot afford the luxury of profile private schools in the territory. "If you see the list of enrolment, you will discover that they are mostly orphans and children of the extremely poor background that are in the school. Our mission is not to make money as a church, but to assist the less privileged in the society," he claimed. The proprietor who is also the General Overseer of Signs and Wonders Bible Church used the church auditorium during week days for academic session, while weekends are used for church activities. He, however, revealed that he charges N8,000 per term for pupils in primary school, while students in secondary level pays N15,000 per term. Also, the proprietor of Fountain of Peace School located in Idu Karimo, Mr. Ebere Sunday, also claimed that he established the school to assist the poor in the society.

Inside ABUJA | SLUMS

In these harsh economic times, petty traders at the Nyanya Wednesday Market have cried out that some government agents including security personnel have been milking them dry through multiple levies and charges. CALEB ONWE reports

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nyanya Market: Traders groan under extortion

ince the introduction of the cashless policy in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) became a very important transaction instrument which many Nigerians have no choice than to adopt into their socio-economic life. The new economic agenda made it mandatory for almost all the banking public to learn how to conform with the new system of carrying about a microchip card to dispense money whenever and wherever the need arises. This is exactly a typical scenario in the popular Nyanya market, located in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory. The market, which operates on Wednesday, usually witness an upsurge of traders of all commodities from all nooks and crannies of the FCT, some parts of Nasarawa and Niger states, every Wednesday; this upsurge always result to petty traders taking over some parts of the AbujaKeffi express highway to display their wares. Many of these traders who appear ruffled by the harsh economic weather and are desperately determined to survive at all cost by occupying part of the major road to do their trading in the market, do not consider any safety rule nor do they understand how susceptible they could be to dangers. The market is one of the places in the FCT where the poorest of the poor who cannot afford the exorbitant rent charged in some of the high profile markets and ever increasing shopping malls are accommodated to sell anything, wherever there is available space, but not without due 'settlement' to the market masters. In fact, all spectra of the society depend on the market for their family economic needs. Unfortunately, this market that is being regarded as the 'saviour' of the poor masses has been turned into an 'ATM' by government agents who are apparently also struggling to make ends meet given the realities of the economy. Investigations by Inside Abuja revealed that just as every holder of a 'cashful' bank account looks for an ATM to refill his wallet, so do government agents anxiously look forward to Wednesdays, to refill their pockets. Whereas a legal bank customer goes to the ATM with a valid card to effect a transaction, government agents go to Nyanya Wednesday market with intimi-

Nyanya Market

Poor sanitary condition at the market

Traders taking over the high ways

dation to effect their repressive extortion that often comes with alarming impunity. Multiple revenue collectors It is a known fact that government creates and builds markets as a platform for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), especially local governments, and in the case of the FCT, Area Council, but what has become very curious is the orchestration of certain unscrupulous individuals and groups who take advantage of such avenues to scale up their private purse and bank accounts. A reliable source at the market revealed that every Wednesday, multiple revenue tickets are forced on the traders with harsh punitive measures for anyone who may either question the propriety of these levies or fail to comply. Further checks by our correspondent confirmed that some of the tickets have monetary values ranging between N50 and N200. The most disturbing aspect of this revenue drive is that these tickets do not bear any resem-

Multiple revenue tickets are forced on the traders with harsh punitive measures

blance of a legal transaction instrument, yet the traders are forced to pay it. Inside Abuja gathered that these individuals and groups who come to the market with fathom revenue receipts to intimidate traders and extort money from them, have the backings of both serving and retired 'powerful' government officials. The most curious aspect of the whole oppressive and illegal conducts of these supposed agents of government is that they carry out their activities with serious inter-agency network that the poverty stricken traders have no choice but to comply. AEPB complicity During the investigations carried out by our correspondent, some agents of the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPB) were always sighted either wearing customised aprons with bold inscriptions 'AEPB' or a navy blue T-shirts that also indicate that they are Task Force team of AEPB in the market. The AEPB agents allegedly de-

ployed to the market to ensure that traders comply with sanitation rules, appear to be so overwhelmed by the realities of the assignment, that many of them have abdicated their duties to the pursuit of money. A female petty trader in the market who wants her identity protected, told our correspondent that they contribute money every week, sometimes up to N7,000 to bribe the agents of AEPB. According to her, it is the money contributed for the weekly bribing of the AEPB agents that is sustaining them in the portion of the market where they display their wares. It was also alleged that these AEPB agents collect up to N3,000 from each trader to allocate portions where they can stay in the market. However, Public Relation Officer of the agency, Mr. Sam Musa, has denied the allegation. In a telephone conversation, Musa told our correspondent "that those people could not be staff CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Inside ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ohnson Okolobo, a practising journalist in Calabar, Cross River State, two weeks ago, was on a special assignment in Abuja. This was his first visit to the nation's capital. As was tradition in his previous assignments outside his base, Johnson tried to locate the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council, to get possible assistance, and probably, reconnect with some old friends he knew in Calabar. Unfortunately, none of the cab drivers he flagged down was of any help, and no newspaper vendor (who ordinarily should know better), could give a clue. The truth is that NUJ, Abuja Council has no functional press centre at the moment. Since the demolition of the building housing the council's secretariat about two years ago, members have no place ago for social interaction or for cross fertilisation of ideas. Saminu Ibrahim, an Abujabased journalist said he was made to understand that some journalists gather somewhere in the evening but he has been there only once. "I attended the last delegate conference of the council where the present chairman was elected somewhere in a hotel at Utako. That was my first time to be there. "I know the former secretariat where the late Chuks Ehirim was elected chairman, I think in 2012. But it is now under construction," he said. The building was pulled down to give way for a "befitting secretariat" promised by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed. The project is being executed under the FCT's Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) programme with construction companies in the territory. The architectural design, according to an inside source, is a four-storey building. He disclosed that the money voted was enough to take the project up to the second floor. According to him, the sum of N150 million was raised by the ministry and "warehoused for the building of NUJ secretariat up to second floor." He, however, said he couldn't quantify the extent of work done, whether it amounted to N150 million but asked: "Have you been to the site? The project is of high quality." The contractors have not returned to site since the former FCT Minister left office, because no fund has been released to them by the present administration. The project is at decking level at present. Paul Ella, Chairman, NUJ Abuja Council however, assured that the contractors would soon return to site. He disclosed that the council executive have met with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello who assured him that the contractors would be mobilised immediately the ministry's budget was passed. "The FCT budget was passed only last Tuesday by the National Assembly. It is a good news for us and I am sure very soon work will start," he added. Ella blamed the delay on the

NUJ Secretariat, Abuja

Perpetually under construction

For more than 30 years since its existence, permanent secretariat building has continued to elude the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council despite government's assistance. ONYEKACHI EZE wonders if the council is jinxed absence of a minister after his assumption of office. "If you notice, for four months after our election there was no minister. But the matter has been resolved," he said. The secretariat of the NUJ Abuja Council has a chequered history. Before its present location at Ekukinam Street in Utako area of Abuja, the council operated from No. 5 Mombassa Street. It was a two bed-room twin bungalow, but the compound was enough for some attachment for bar, few lock-up stores and eatery. The building was donated by the FCT administration as take-off point for Abuja council, which inevitably came into existence following the creation of Abuja as Nigeria's federal capital. The few journalists who practised in the territory before

NUJ Secretariat, Abuja under construction

The truth is that NUJ, Abuja Council has no functional press centre at the moment

the allocation of the building operated from Suleja in Niger State. Apart from allocating the building to the council, the General Ibrahim Babangida administration, upon the relocation of the seat of power from Lagos to Abuja on June 12, 1991, allocated a plot of land at Utako district for a permanent NUJ secretariat. Babangida also gave the council the sum of N10 million for the proposed secretariat. The same amount of money was given to the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), which successfully built its own permanent secretariat at Area 11, adjacent the FCTA headquarters. Unfortunately, NUJ's N10 million was allegedly lodged in a bank, which later became distressed, and except some few pillars, there was nothing to show

of the council's N10 million secretariat project until 2005 when the then council leadership led by Malachy Uzendu was able to unravel the legal entangle with the former contractor. Work, once again started at site and was able to advance to decking level before the fund was exhausted. But not without securing some offices for council officials and a congress hall for council meetings and other social activities. Meanwhile, the council lost its temporary office at No. 5 Mombassa Street, Wuse during the monetisation policy of the Federal Government. Even though it paid the mandatory N10,000 expression of interest fee, the Mallam Nasir el-Rufai-led FCT administration said the council does not have valid documents (allocation papers) to qualify it bid for the purchase of the property. It said the building was allocated to NUJ by military fiat, the same reason the administration gave to eject the NUJ national body from its Area 11 national secretariat! What this means was that the NUJ Abuja Council operated from an uncompleted building from 2008 until 2014 when what served as its secretariat was demolished to pave way for the present structure under construction. This means that most council activities, which ordinarily supposed to hold at the council secretariat, were either suspended or relocated to another safer venue. The contractors handing the project had, for safety reasons, ordered evacuation of NUJ secretariat staff and members from the construction site. Although it provided two cabins to serve as offices but they are for council officials and secretariat staff only. For more than five months after the demolition, NUJ Abuja council was unable to hold its congress meeting, even though the NUJ constitution says it should be on monthly basis! According to the provision of the law, to qualify to contest for any council position in the union, a member shall be present, at least, in two-thirds (75 per cent) of congress meetings within the period of the outgoing administration. The NUJ tenure of office is three years. The first two of the congresses held after the demolition took place at a primary school in Jabi. The venue seems to be inaccessible to most members because of its location in the outskirts of the town. Ella confirmed that it costs the council huge sums of money to hold its monthly congress at a hotel located at Utako. This hotel also serves as meeting point for some journalists who could still keep the spirit of comradeship after the demolition of the council secretariat. Now that the government accepted the nation's economy is in recession, will the FCT ministry be able and willing to fund the project? Abuja NUJ council is not the youngest in the country but perhaps, it is the only one without a permanent secretariat. How soon this dream could be realised depends on the FCT minister.

INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fuel price hike, a blessing in disguise CHUKWU DAVID reports that despite the accompanying difficulties of the subsidy removal, it seems to have brought some succour to motorists in Abuja

he decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC)led government to remove fuel subsidy brought untold hardship to the people of Nigeria in different ways. It was immediately the fuel price was increased that prices of foodstuffs and other items skyrocketed in the market, to the extent that many Nigerians now find it difficult to eat decent meals three times a day. Cost of transportation has also gone up astronomically. However, for motorists plying the Abuja/Keffi expressway, the policy has brought appreciable succour to them and residents of communities and villages along the busy road, who go to the Federal Capital Territory virtually on a daily basis for their means of livelihood. There is no doubt that over the past years, the residents of communities along Abuja/Keffi Road have been passing through severe nightmare, occasioned by gridlock that has become a norm on the expressway. Those mainly affected by this agonising traffic situation are those living in the suburbs of Nyanya, Mararaba, One-man Village, Ado, New Nyanya, Masaka, and other nearby settlements along the road, stretching up to Keffi town in Nasarawa State. These settlements are mostly inhabited by civil servants working in the FCT, Abuja. Keffi is located at a distance of about 50

Queue at Oando Filling Station, Wuse in Abuja, recently.

kilometres from Abuja. It was the major demolition carried out by the current governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was then the Minister of FCT, that compelled most of the low and middle income earners in the territory to embark on the mass exodus that took place between 2003 and 2006 to make alternative abode in these suburbs. These Nigerians suffer a lot of inconveniences while moving from Abuja through the road to the adjoining settlements, as well as while moving from these locations in Nasarawa to Abuja, in agonizing traffic situations that the victims usually describe as a nightmare. Although the traffic situation was originally caused by human population within the area, it became worse by the incursion of the Boko Haram insurgents, who attacked Abuja several years ago and bombed Nyanya motor park twice, leaving behind devastation and indelible effects on the resi-

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 8

of AEPB." He further argued that they might be agents of Satellite Town Development Agency. Our correspondent's effort to get an official comments from the PRO of the Satellite Development Agency was not successful, as he neither responded to phone calls nor replied the text message sent to him. Police and army involvement The high-tech extortion going on in the market can also be said to have the endorsement of some security agencies. A reliable source in the market confirmed to our correspondent that the traders who display their goods by the roadside are allowed to do it because they contribute money to settle both the police and the military men deployed to secure the area after the series of bomb explosions that shook Nyanya a few years ago. One of the women who sells yams by the roadside, said her group contributes money every Wednesday to give to police, in order to retain their positions on the roadside. She went further to explain how

Most civil servants have been compelled to park their cars and follow commercial transport to work

dents. Motorists and other road users on the route were practically subjected to excruciating hardship on a daily basis as the gridlock could keep people on the road for two to five hours, depending on location of joining the traffic jam. It is the stop-and-search operations of detachment of military personnel along the road which caused the traffic jam, stretching over five kilometres. This also led to the residents of the axis passing through sleepless nights as they have to wake up as early as 3a.m. to go to work, to be able to resume work at 8a.m. on a daily basis. Apart from the traffic on the expressway, residents of Mararaba/ Nyanya axis have very terrible roads. The poor state of the roads in Nyanya, for example, makes movement of vehicles very difficult. The traffic condition worsens by the day as more vehicles and persons come into or leave Abuja through the expressway. However, immediately the

price of fuel jumped from N87 to N145, the tales of woe concerning the traffic situation on the road suddenly reversed and turned to a tale of joy, as the expressway is now free from the gridlock, and residents who ply the road daily now enjoy some reprieve from the stress. The reason behind the traffic decongestion is that more than half of the population of car owners have taken a wise decision and packed their cars, in line with the present economic realities in the country. For instance, a survey conducted by our correspondent shows that cars which cost N5,000 to fill the tank when fuel was N87, now takes about N9,000, depending on the filling station because some marketers adjust their pumps to defraud the consumers. Therefore, it became very difficult for many car owners to fuel their vehicles and still provide food and other basic needs of life for their families. So, most civil servants have been compelled to park their cars and follow commercial transport to work. The affected road users have expressed mixed feelings towards the situation. Some are not happy that the high cost of fuel forced them to park their vehicles and follow commercial transport system with attendant inconveniences while others who can afford the cost of fuel console themselves that they are now free from the traffic jam. Jonathan Okezie, a civil servant with one of the ministries, who spoke with our correspondent, said that it was economic wisdom for him and other people who could not afford the cost to drop their cars and come to work by public transport. He also expressed happiness that the road has been eased of the gridlock that tormented the residents of communities and commuters of the Abuja/ Keffi expressway, as the people could now sleep well and wake up in the morning to go to work.

Traders groan under extortion another woman who sells clothes in the market was brutalised by soldiers, because when the soldiers came for the weekly collection from the traders they were told that there was no sales that day and therefore do not have what to contribute. Inside Abuja also gathered that the perceived involvement of some soldiers in the extortion racket were later reported by the victim at the Mogadishu Cantonment which prompted the transfer of the suspected security personnel and the entire group from Nyanya. According to a reliable source, the attendant harassment from the soldiers abated for a while, but has resonated recently. The new security squad allegedly told the women to comply by making the weekly contribution for them or face ejection from the roadside where they display their goods.. Poor infrastructure, sanitation Proponents of taxation have always argued that citizens need to pay their

taxes to enable government provide basic amenities and adequate infrastructure that will enhance the living standard of the people. However, it is strange that taxes are collected without any measure to ensure accountability and there are no infrastructure provided in the market to justify such taxes. The condition of the Nyanya market is just pathetic, as it lacks almost all the basic amenities needed in a place where revenue is generated from. Environmental degradation is pervasive there following poor sanitation. There is no further evidence required to prove that the huge revenue collection drive there is just for the enrichment of some individuals who see the market as a personal chiefdom. Relocation of the market Successive administrations of the FCT have attempted relocating the market but such moves have failed due to several factors. Reasons always cited for the relocation is its proximity to the expressway

and lack of adequate spaces and facilities for traders. One of such attempts was said to have resulted to government officials sinking substantial amount into a project that was rejected by the tradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; association who went to court to contest the proposed relocation. Presently, there are new shops already built within the same environment to relocate some of the traders, however, this attempt is already being trailed by controversy, according to one of the tradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; association official who craved anonymity; the shops are too small and were constructed without adequate safety measures. He told our correspondent that even the FCT fire service operatives who came to inspect the new facilities have raised the alarm that the new shops were not designed and constructed in line with fire safety guidelines. Inside Abuja could not get an official comments from the tradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; association as officials expressed reservations on the idea of speaking to the press.

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

ll is not well between the original settlers of Idu village in Idu District of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and an estate developer, Chessboard Estate. The bone of contention between them is land encroachment which has dragged on since 2012. While the villagers are accusing the developers of using undue advantage over them, the developer on the other hand is accusing the villagers of abusing the privilege given to them. As it stands, the FCT Department of Development Control has already marked some houses including an ECWA Church for demolition in the village for encroaching into the over 5000 hectares of land belonging to the developer. The notice for demolition was served on July 14, 2016. The ECWA Church and houses marked for demolition, Inside Abuja gathered, were said to have been compensated for in the past but their owners are still demanding fresh compensation. The developer, it was learnt, had paid N46.2 million as compensation to the villagers According to the District Head of Idu, Alhaji Ishaq Ahmed, the prob-

Villagers, estate developer bicker over land encroachment lem of land encroachment between the villagers and the developer has been on for some time following which he said the developer after getting land allocation from the FCT administration came and identified houses and farms affected by the allocation. He said that the villagers and the developer reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which affected property owners and farmers were compensated with the sum of N80,000 each for their property and economic trees on their farms. His words: "This is a plot of land that we have been having small problems, between the community and the developer. They came and identified which area affected our people's farm and houses. “We reached an MoU, my people and the developer and N80,000 was given to owners of houses as free contribution and not really as compensation." The district head however attributed the recurring problem of encroachment between his people and the developer to the inability of the surveyors engaged by the developer to measure the actual boundary between

Nigeria, Israeli firm partner on tackling security challenges Clem Khena-Ogbena Abuja

inister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has expressed confidence that Nigeria and Israel could cooperate in the area of transfer of relevant technology that could help Nigeria tackle her current security challenges. Onu gave this indication when officials of an Israeli security and communication solutions company, Eleo Technology and Communications, paid him a visit during which they indicated willingness to help solve Nigeria's current security problems, through high level security measures and transfer technology. He said that the ministry was keen on research and innovation, that could lead to socio-economic growth as well as technological advancement of Nigeria.

According to him, the technology transfer initiative would go a long way in closing the gap currently existing in the country while providing the Israeli firm an opportunity to grow its business in Nigeria. "They would bring in their technology, they would do research work here, they would do innovation work here and then our people will benefit, but that will help them grow their business, because when they do that they would now be in a position to not only satisfy the Nigerian market but the African market also and even other countries. The nation will give them support if they do so," Onu said. An official of Eleo Technology and Telecommunications, Mr. Benny Meshite, said that he shared the same vision as the minister on matters of technology, economic growth and development of the nation.

the community and the estate. "We want genuine surveyors to measure the exact place so that there will be peace. Let's identify the right place and if it extends beyond where it was shown, we want the people to be considered. The owner should show mercy," he said. While arguing that his people were not properly compensated for their farmland and houses affected by the development

of the estate, Ahmed insisted that the developer ought to make special provisions for them as it is done in other places. But while responding to issues raised by the District Head of Idu, George Anunmba, a lawyer representing Chessboard Estate denied that the villagers were not adequately compensated for their farms and houses. "When we came newly, we noticed some illegal structures and crops on

the land. They demanded for compensation for the economic trees. We settled them with N46.2 million for those who have farms and structures. “We did that through the FCTA Department of Resettlement and Compensation. We paid them cash and it was the chief who lined them up to collect the cash. The payment was made in 2012. “Some were paid N100,000, some N200,000 up to N500,000. Not the

N80,000 he was talking about. The payments were documented and we have their pictures. Those who were paid are still standing here, they are still encroaching now. “We are begging them and they are still building houses on the estate land. We can't do that anymore. The church has been compensated. The cheque of N10 million was given to the Chief in respect of the church and other structures then," he said.

L-R: Director Funds, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Salawu Zubairu; Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Iris and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, at the Federation Account Allocation Committee, in Abuja…on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

NSITF donates relief materials to IDPs in Abuja Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

uccour has come the way of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) presented them with relief materials worth millions of naira. Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Trust Fund, Ismail Agaka who led other management staff of NSITF to Durumi IDPs camp in Area 1, Abuja to present the items said the gesture was in fulfilment of corporate social responsibilities of the Fund. He explained that as a

public social protection agency, the Fund has responsibilities to not only those in the formal sector but also those in the informal sector. His words: "What inspired us to do this is humanitarianism and feelings for fellow human beings. And it can happen to anybody. They are victims of circumstances, insurgency and terrorism. They have been forced into this kind of situation. “The least we can do for them is to show empathy and this is what we are doing as a public protection agency. We have a social responsibility to the needy, not only those in the formal sector. “This is another form of extending our social

protection services to the informal sector. That's just it. To show solidarity to them. This is demonstrating our corporate social responsibility by bringing direct relief to those who have been affected by the insurgency." The NSITF boss who handed over the relief materials comprising of foodstuffs, detergents and vegetable oil among others to the leaders of the camp however decried the condition of living of the IDPs and the environment which, according to him, "was not a normal habitable kind of environment." "Obviously, it is a makeshift and they are exposed to the elements, should there be any heavy rainfall, it is going to sweep the

whole camp away. Also, we have seen that sanitation is nothing to write about here. They do not have toilet facilities," he said. Agaka called on other government agencies to come to the aid of the IDPs to make their camp a better habitation. Speaking on behalf of the inmates of the camp, the IDPS Women Leader, Ayuba Liyatu, said that one of the new born babies died in the camp recently due to the poor environmental condition of the camp. The Durumi IDPs camp are about 2337 in number and mainly people from Gwoza and Bama local governments of Borno State as well as those from Yobe State.

Embrace technology, innovation, Oyo-Ita tells civil servants Ebere Ameh Abuja

he Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred OyoIta, has called on public servants to embrace technology and innovation for effective service delivery. She made the call in a keynote address at the 39th meeting of the National Council on Establishment (NCE), held in

Minna, Niger State. Oyo-Ita said that the “embrace of technology and innovation are crucial to lift the public service from its current state of inertia, and ensure that the service is SMART, in terms of work processes and procedures while reducing the transaction cycle to an acceptable limit.” According to the Head of Service, there is need for greater synergy among various services

and government institutions, to leverage on developments and innovations that will move the service forward for effective service delivery to Nigerians. She stated further that as the only most viable instrument available to all governments for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects, the civil service must develop the capacity and

competencies to adopt positive developments in the global environment, to maintain its relevance and discharge its primary function of promoting growth and development in the country. In attaining this lofty ideal, she said, there is the need to recognise and embrace emerging skills, knowledge and right culture required to propel the service to be a modern engine of governance.

INSIDE ABUJA

While other hair dressing salons are moneyspinners and thriving with impressive patronage in Lugbe and other parts of Abuja, that of Mrs. Happiness Arikpo-Michael was a source of constant sorrow and regret. CLEM KHENA-OGBENA reports

gnorance might have played some dangerous pranks on the young proprietress of Happy International Hair Dressing Salon, Mrs. Happy Arikpo-Michael. She was, apparently, unaware that the business premises she had acquired on lease had beneath its beautifully tiled floor, some fetish materials, capable of scaring away both the old and potential customers. She was confident in herself and trusted her ability to deliver quality services to customers. But after a period of no good results from her business, Mrs. Arikpo-Michael whose salon is located at Zone 6 Lugbe 2, Airport Road, Abuja, wondered why customers were not patronising her salon as much as expected, not even her old customers would like to come near her salon. So, the curiosity to unravel the mystery behind this dryness or rather no-customer-no-money scenario, prompted Arikpo-Michael who hails from Ugep in Yakor Local Government Area of Cross River State to invite the pastor of her church to the salon to pray and anoint the place for spiritual cleansing for a reversal of the negative situation. With a hoe and cutlass, the prophet broke and ripped open part of the floor of the salon to get at a bow of calabash of a modest size with cover and was subsequently exhumed from beneath the floor of the salon. Fetish Calabash In the full glare of members of the public, a pot containing a lifeless pigeon was exhumed. Many onlookers were either scared stiff or held spell bound, because of the content of the calabash. In her explanation, the dressing salon operator stated: "I was in my working place which I collected on June 29, 2016, when I called on my prophet to come and pray for me, because there is no work, and finally when my daddy in the Lord came, he found out that there is something in the ground and there are tiles on the floor of the salon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, he now prayed, and after the prayer, he asked me to go and bring him a cutlass; before I went

TUESDAY, JUly 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cleric exhumes pot of charms from salon

Ajodo

to get the cutlass, my own mother was already at the place and as I was away to get the cutlass, my mother ran after me and said I should come and see what the prophet has removed from the ground in the salon. When I came back to the salon, I saw a calabash with a cover and inside it, there was a big dead pigeon and other juju materials. The summary is that these are the things making customers not to come to my salon, and if I work, the money would go to the woman that gave me the shop. So, that is how we found out the place was under a spell." However, Happy appears to be standing between the devil and the deep blue sea, in the sense that her attempt to tackle and overcome this spiritual bondage has brought her face-to-face with the threat of her landlady, who is now spitting fire. Voodoo contract In tears, Happy told Inside Abuja that: "Now, the woman is boasting and threatening that she is going to fight me physically and spiritually, and that I should go and bring the fetish things back into the salon. She told me she was the one that put or buried the juju there, and I should pay her some money; whether I have stayed up to a complete month or not, is not her business. She said I must give her all the money I made throughout my stay, since I decided to destroy the juju pot. But I did not make any money; that is even the reason I invited my church pastor to pray on the place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing for me to use to pay. It's only when I get customers and make money that I can pay any money. She insisted I must pay the money before she would return from Lagos and that I have forgotten that she is an Ijebu woman and let me wait and see what will happen to me. I first gave her the sum of N3,550, being the money so far made

Arikpo-Michael

The next day, other fetish things were found in the four corners of the shop, as planted by the former user of the shop

from the sales of such items as weave-on, relaxers and shampoo. But she said I must pay her N6,000. I am only two weeks old there, and people know me in salon business but since I moved into that place, no customer has come to patronise me, even my old customers avoid me. For this woman who leased the place to me, she was making it or getting customers when she was using the place herself. Knowing that the juju is no longer bringing customers, she deceived and made me move into the place, so that whether customers or no customers, I must pay her money." Happy further told Inside Abuja that, due to the threats issued by her landlady, she had to move out of the business premises in peace, more so when the prophet further announced that it was not yet time to celebrate, as more fetish objects were still buried in the four corners of the salon. According to Happy, the prophet's later revelation drove some cold shivers down her spine, even though the prophet was very much on hand to tackle the situation. The vision Commenting on the incident, an eyewitness, Mrs. Happiness Osuoha explained: "I was around that place when the man of God came. So, he was praying with the lady and told her that he had seen a vision that somebody had buried something in the salon. The prophet pointed to the direction where the juju was buried. "Behold! There was a calabash and when they opened it, a lot of things, including a pigeon, were found inside the calabash and tied with some things. He brought the calabash out of the hole and started praying and binding everything. I was really shocked and I held my hands over my head, wondering who must have done this evil and wicked thing to this lady. People

are so wicked." In an interview, Prophet Abubakar Emmanuel Ajodo, General Overseer of In His Presence Prayer Mission (a.k.a Daily Miracle) Zone 1, Lugbe 2, Airport Road, Abuja, said he discovered that what had been responsible for the bad luck and lack of patronage were the negative potent powers of some fetish materials buried somewhere in the salon. "Happiness is a daughter of In His Presence Prayer Mission. At a point in time, she rented a shop where she is doing her hair dressing business, but unfortunately things were not moving as expected. Everything was going down day by day; for the period of time she spent there, nobody was coming. She made a phone call to me telling me 'daddy, I need you to come and pray in the shop.' So, we went there to pray and the Lord revealed to me, even though the floor was tiled, that there is a fetish object buried in the ground here, which needed to be removed for her progress to open up, so we got materials like cutlass and hoe. "So, we removed the tiles and opened up the ground to bring out the fetish container. Lo and behold! There is a big calabash, containing a big pigeon which is already dead and other fetish things as well as sacrifice that has been made on it. The next day, other fetish things were found in the four corners of the shop, as planted by the former user of the shop, who leased the place to Sister Happiness," the cleric said. Scriptural background Prophet Ajodo confirmed to Inside Abuja that the original owners of the shop threatened to deal with the salon operator. He however assured that no harm will come to her "because we are on the Lord's side and the Lord is the Head of all principalities and powers," according to the scriptures.

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

Business What's new How Nigerian airlines can get out of the woods, by expert

The big oil exports’ scandal

Homes & Property ‘Why investment of pension fund in housing isn’t allowed’

25 28

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7% March 2016..............................12.8%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market as at July 22)

(Interbank as at July 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N377 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N500 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N409

l Foreign Reserves – $26.347bn as at 21/7/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N310 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N386 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N322

Source: CBN

p.24

Experts: Invest N800bn Pension Funds in real estate p.24

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Banking Group, FirstBank, Dr. Remi Oni; Consul General, French Embassy, Nigeria, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux and Group Head, Corporate Banking Group, FirstBank, Mr. Osahon Ogieva, at the FrancoNigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry networking session in Lagos.

PACT Nigeria and Iran have signed industrial cooperate agreement

Adeola Yusuf

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

he Federal Government has called on Iran to collaborate with Nigeria in nuclear power generation, a violation of an agreement with Russia’s nuclear giant, Rosatom, which could jeopardise the $80 billion nuclear plants construction in Nigeria. A shared document between the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission and the Ministry of Power sighted by New Telegraph showed that an agreement with Rosatom gave the company the right to veto the nation doing business with any other nuclear vendor. Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, who gave an insight into government’s readiness to collaborate with Iran on nuclear power development, called on the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran to invest in the country’s power and training. “I know that Iran is advanced in nuclear power. We can use this as an alternative source of energy and train our unemployed people in areas where we can be able to generate or manufacture nuclear power,” Abubakar told the Iran

$80bn Russia nuclear deal threatened as FG eyes Iran Ambassador to Nigeria, Morteza Zarchi, who paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja, last weekend. Abubakar said that other areas the two countries could collaborate were in mines and steel as well as textile industry. According to her, Nigeria has caplets, but needed more training for the youths to be able to do better. He said that although the two countries had been very good partners in the past, but the “relationship did not flow.” “I am very happy to restart the relationship between Iran and Nigeria; we have been very good partners in the past, but somehow, the relationship has not been flowing as it’s supposed to. “This is a situation the country wants to change and we believe we have what it takes to be competitive in any international market,” she said. Abubakar said that the renewal of the relationship could only be done through engagements and dialogues. Earlier, the Federal Government had taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the construction of $80 billion nuclear plants to be constructed and operated by a Russia nuclear energy firm, Rosatom.

N4,000 MW Being the volume of electricity the Federal Government plans to generate through nuclear energy

New Telegraph had exclusively reported that the FID was taken after the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the sites and the completion of design for the plants. The sites have been approved, while the design for the financing had commenced, the document stated. “The agreement with Rosatom gave the company the right to veto the nation doing business with any other nuclear vendor,” the document stated. Chief Executive Officer of Rosatom, according to the document, has signed a document on financing with government, which stipulates that the Russian company “will hold a majority controlling stake in Nigeria’s nuclear facility, while the rest will be owned by the country, with roles to be specified in contracts. “Government will enter a power purchasing agreement for the nuclear plant.” The plants, according to the document, would be “financed by Rosatom, which will then build, own, operate and transfer them to government.” The pilot project, which is the first of the four plants, is to add 1,200 megawatts of capacity by the end of the decade. Neither CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

TRANSPARENCY Problems of the industry are so numerous

Wole Shadare

or Nigerian airlines to get out of the woods, the Federal Government must insist on clear-cut criteria on how to assist them so that whatever intervention government plans to give them is not mismanaged like the previous N200 billion handed to them some years ago. That was the view of a member of aviation thinkthank, Aviation Round Table (ART), Group. Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), in a chat with New Telegraph. He noted that there is nothing wrong in providing assistance to the country’s ailing airlines. He said that Nigeria has been giving out financial interventions to the wrong people and airlines and most times without input from the Ministry of Aviation, leading to the money being squandered. His words: “Government, before now, had no criteria to determine who was entitled to intervention funds and debt concession. There were evidence suggesting that the last intervention of over N200bn given to some

$80bn Russia nuclear deal threatened as FG eyes Iran CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

the Federal Government nor Rosatom has disclosed the specific locations of the sites, but New Telegraph learnt that the nuclear plants would be in Akwa Ibom and Kogi states. Both sites are planned to house two plants each. Abubakar however, said that the bilateral agreement between Iran and Nigeria ought to be signed to boost the partnership between the two countries. She added that the industrial cooperate agreement had been signed, but there was a request for continued dialogue, which had not been taking place to enhance the relationship. In his remarks, Zarchi said that his country would educate and train Nigerians in the area of SMEs. He also said Iran would collaborate with Nigeria in the areas of engineering services, agriculture and petrochemicals. Zarchi said that there would be a business forum between the two countries and that 40 investors would be present to see areas of possible investment in Nigeria. “We have many bilateral agreements we need to sign for the benefit of the countries,” he said.

How Nigerian airlines can get out of the woods, by expert airlines had no input from the Ministry of Aviation. A new entrant in the industry with little or no knowledge in the industry at the time of disbursement of the fund, got a substantial part of the fund and shut business thereafter.” To now sustain operations in the industry, he said the government must come out with criteria for airlines to be entitled to zero duties or zero Value Added Tax (VAT) on aircraft spares. Ojikutu however, cautioned “Government must be mindful of some aircraft owners who release their private aircraft to certain operators to engage in air transportation for the purpose of hire and reward in public category either for non-schedule or charter

without holding air transport licence; these could substantially be in violation of the NCARs particularly part 18.2.2.1 and 18.2.3.1 and should not be in consideration for zero custom duties and zero VAT.” According to him, no one is adverse to government providing succour for domestic airlines, but there is also need for a proper diagnosis of some of the issues before dangling the same prescriptions for them. He stated that no one would have problems with government giving a life support to the ailing Nigerian aviation industry, but tasked every discerning mind to question the rationale behind the continuous provision of same prescriptions in financial model for

same ailment without sufficiently diagnosing the ailment. He noted that the financial prescriptions have come in various forms and names; stressing that if it was not intervention fund, as it was for the government operators during Obasanjo/ Fani-kayode era and Jonathan/Oduah era, it would be debt concession as it was in Yaradua/Njeze era. “Today, what is being prescribed are zero custom duties and zero VAT on commercial airlines aircraft spares. All these financial prescriptions in eight years are only for private operators in the industry.” Ojikutu further stated that the problems of the industry generally are poor management structure and

lack of adequate skilled manpower, inefficient supervision from field managers and ineffective professionally inclined inspectors to enforce compliance to regulations. On the part of the Nigerian airlines, he disclosed that the problem had always been that of single ownership resulting always to uncontrolled diversion or divestment of funds, especially the generated earnings, from sales including the government intervention funds, to private uses and other businesses. “These are reasons why there had been no significant improvement in the quality of services provided in air transportation by both public and private operators,” he stressed.

L-R: Executive Director, Technical, Med-View Airline, Mr. Lookman Animashaun; Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; Organisers of the event, Mr. Ikechi Uko and Executive Director, Business Development, Med-View Airlines, Alhaji Isiaq Na’Allah, at the 2nd Weizo travel and tour conference and exhibition in Accra, Ghana.

HOUSING DEFICIT Nigeria requires 700,000 units yearly to bridge 17 million shortages

Dayo Ayeyemi

orried about the prevailing economic situation, which has further limited activities in their sector, housing experts have sought direct investment of accrued N800 billion pension funds in real estate investment. Relying on section 86 (H) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, the experts stated that investible total Pension Funds have reached N5.6 trillion and that 15 per cent of the amount (N800 billion) ought to have been released for investment in real estate/construction industry. Pension Reform Act 2014 allows Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to

Experts: Invest N800bn pension funds in real estate invest 15 per cent of their funds in real estate. The experts, under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), raised posers about the whereabouts of the deposit, when over 17 million Nigerians are in need of housing. Speaking on: “Investment of Pension Funds and Idle Funds in Housing Development,” during the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCDP) programme organised by NIESV, Lagos chapter, Principal Partner, Ubosi Eleh and Company, Mr. Chudi Ubosi, said that the N800 billion might just be idled in the banks, despite that section 86 of Pension Reform Act 2014 has listed real estate as one of the investment options for pension funds. “Where has the money gone? Is it in the bank yielding interests rather than investing in real estate?” Ubosi said, noting that Nigeria is one of

the few countries in the world with no mortgage. He advocated removal of the regulation limiting direct investment of Pension funds in real estate, saying that Pension Fund Administrator (PFAs) should be allowed direct investment in real estate for economic development. According to Ubosi, the impact of this singular amendment to the act would make fund available for mass housing development, adding that the Nigerian economy will be the main beneficiary. But, Director General, National Pensions Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, told the audience that direct investment of pension funds in real estate is not allowed due to difficulty associated with valuation of property and its liquidity or tradability. She stressed that property is not amenable to easy disposal. “In valuing property, you may have two to three values. It becomes difficult. We found

that investing directly in property is cumbersome,” she said. Represented by one of her officials, Mr. Ibrahim Kangiwa, the director general confirmed that the new Pension scheme made provision for increase investment in construction and housing , pointing out that major objectives of pension funds have to do with safety of fund and assets, and fair return on investment. According to Ubosi, provision from law’s guidelines gave room for Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) to invest directly in real estate while Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are restrained. Canvassing for increased investment of pension funds in housing, Ubosi described Nigeria as the “most populous Africa country” with over 180 million people and 17 million housing deficit. According to him, current housing production is about 100,000 per annum.

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

Between 1996 and 2014, under-invoicing of oil exports from Nigeria to the United States hit $69.8 billion, a 24.9 per cent worth of all oil exports to the United States. Adeola Yusuf reports

igeria was yet to overcome the shock arising from the on-going probe of corruption in its oil industry when the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) divulged the massive fraud arising from under-invoicing of crude oil exports from Nigeria to the United States. In just 18 years, Nigeria, the UNCTAD said in a report released last week, has lost $69.8 billion of its common resources to United States through illicit financial flows arising from under invoicing from oil export by International Oil Companies (IOCs), whose production are done through Joint Ventures (JV) or Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Internal corruption Nigeria has attracted billions of dollars of investments from the world’s top oil companies. Yet poverty in Africa’s biggest economy is rising, with almost 100 million people living on less than $1 a day, data released by the United Nation (UN) showed. “The percentage of Nigerians living in absolute poverty - those who can afford only the bare essentials of food, shelter and clothing - has risen to around 60 per cent,” the report added. An audit of the oil industry however, showed billions of dollars in irregularities despite years of the government promises to clean it up. This has prompted the ongoing probe of the industry that generates proceeds that the country uses to service over 85 per cent of its budget. Corruption has left oil-dependent Nigeria unable to cater for its basic health, infrastructure or education needs. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) - a government-funded watchdog - released its latest report of investigation into the oil industry, in which it listed discrepancies and showed billions of dollars missing from Nigeria’s oil revenues. The missing billions Getting a clear picture of how much money Nigeria has lost to corruption over the years is almost impossible. The system is hemorrhaging cash in so many places that accountants often struggle to make sense of it all. The NNPC does not, according to NEITI, mea-

Oil barrels set for export

The big oil exports’ scandal How IOCs, US swindled Nigeria of $69.8bn through oil exports mis-invoicing within 18 years sure its output. The government estimates that average output is 2 million to 2.6 million barrels of oil a day, making Nigeria Africa’s biggest producer. “Right now, no one can tell you exactly how much of our crude is extracted from our soil,” said Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, who sits on the board of directors of NEITI. “We depend on records from the oil companies. That clearly has to change.” The NEITI audit shows some startling gaps: $540 million missing from $1.675 billion in signature bonuses - these are advance payments to develop fields, a standard producer country demand. Then there’s 3.1 million barrels of oil missing from NNPC declarations about its joint ventures compared with the figures released by NNPC’s international partners. That equates to 0.25 per cent of the output. NNPC also received $3.789. IOCs The NEITI report of 2008, which is corroborated by the latest report, says that foreign firms also seemed to have underpaid petroleum profit tax by over $1 billion. The report recommended a review of the tax returns of Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Exxon officials were not immediately available to comment. A Chevron spokesman said the firm “complies with all laws and regulations in the locations where we operate, as a matter of long-standing policy Chevron does not release specific financial details.” But NEITI insisted that foreign oil majors might have also underpaid royalties “of $2.33 billion arising from subjective interpretation of volume, pricing,” and grading variables. “We are questioning the basis of those calculations,” Orji explained. “They are not calculated on the basis of empirical fact. And

there is connivance by officials,” he alleged.

Nigerians must demand for a probe of the oil export underinvoicing

Offshore ‘stealing’ The federal government was yet to unravel the massive corruption at the local stage of the oil industry when the UNCTAD released a report that showed that the internal stealing of oil wealth in the country was a child’s play. Between 1996 and 2014, the report noted under-invoicing of oil exports from Nigeria to the U.S. was worth $69.8 billion, or 24.9 per cent of all oil exports to the United States. Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mukhisa Kituyi, who unveiled the report, said that over and underinvoicing of trade transactions facilitated billions of U.S. dollars in illicit financial flows into or out of some developing nations. Mis-invoicing Trade mis-invoicing is thought to be one of the largest drivers of illicit financial flows from developing countries, so that the countries lose precious foreign exchange earnings, tax, and income that might otherwise have been spent on development. Findings of the report showed that between 2000 and 2014, underinvoicing of gold exports from South Africa amounted to $78.2 billion, or 67 per cent of total gold exports. Trade with the leading partners exhibited the highest amounts: India ($40 billion), Germany ($18.4 billion), Italy ($15.5 billion), and the UK ($13.7 billion).” Like Nigeria, like others in Africa In what appears as a crawl back to colonisation, other third world Africa countries suffered the same fate as Nigeria in the trades and exports of their natural resources with the developed countries. For instance, the report entitled: “Trade Mis-invoicing in

Primary Commodities in Developing Countries: The cases of Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia,” explained that some commodity dependent developing countries were losing as much as 67 per cent of their exports worth billions of dollars to countries such as China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Britain and Northern Ireland and the U.S. Some countries according to the report were losing up to 67 per cent of commodity exports to misinvoicing. The report, which was released by the UN agency in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, also discovered that trade mis-invoicing was thought to be one of the largest drivers of illicit financial flows from developing countries. The report, which was released during the UNCTAD Global Commodities Forum, uses up to two decades’ worth of data covering exports of commodities such as cocoa, copper, gold and oil from Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia It stressed that between 1995 and 2014, Zambia recorded $28.9 billion in copper exports to Switzerland, more than half of all its copper exports, yet these exports did not appear in Switzerland’s books. It noted: “Between 1990 and 2014, Chile recorded $16.0 billion in copper exports to the Netherlands, but these exports did not appear in the Netherlands’ books. “Between 1995 and 2014, Côte d’Ivoire recorded $17.2 billion in cocoa exports to the Netherlands, of which $5.0 billion (31.3 per cent) did not appear in the Netherlands’ books.” According to the report, fraudulent mis-invoicing of trade had hampered economic growth and CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS | Energy

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Election: Ghana’s politicians fret as Nigeria gas supply dips TIME TABLE

The issue is sensitive in the run-up to Ghana’s election that is expected to be closely fought. Power cuts have angered voters and come on top of a sharp slowdown in the economy, which for years was one of Africa’s strongest. Nigeria and Ghana had ear-

lier locked horns over the N34 billion ($170 million) debts by the latter whose government had, on October 20, 2015, said it would pay Nigeria’s N-Gaz the debts. This new supply cut was caused by the assault on gas facilities in the Niger Delta, this

newspaper learnt. Ghana’s state power generating company, the Volta River Authority (VRA), said that it would settle the debt in three tranches starting in November, Kweku Sersah, a spokesman for Ghana’s Ministry of Power, said. Power supplies are no longer at risk, he

added. “The high-powered delegation that went … (to the Nigerian capital Abuja) was able to negotiate for Nigeria Gas (NGaz) to continue to supply the country the needed gas,” Sersah said in a statement posted on the ministry’s Facebook page. Ghana gets about 25 per cent of its power from Nigerian gas, and N-Gaz’s threat to cut supply by 70 per cent would have made it harder to achieve that country’s goal of ending power outages this year and could have raised supply costs. Pressured by the forth-coming election, Ghana reiterated that it would clear a backlog of arrears, which stretches back to 2012 and has also committed to pay in full for gas received before the election. Meanwhile, against an amendment to push the vote forward by one month, the electoral commission said last weekend that Ghana’s presidential election would now be held on December 7. Lawmakers last Thursday rejected a bill seeking to change the date for the polls from December 7 to the first Monday of November for every election year.

Abdulwahab Isa

Kenneth Nwachukwu. Transparency in the distribution of petroleum, the group said, was the first step to be taken by the new NNPC helmsman in restoring public confidence in the corporation. AMFSON, the umbrella body of filling stations branded in NNPC colours and logo, own and operate over 600 filling stations across the country and employs over 20,000 Nigerians. “AMFSON welcomes the recent appointment of Baru as the new GMD of NNPC and our association is ready to work with him towards ensuring that petroleum products are readily available to Nigerians at the government approved rates,” the statement read. Nwachukwu regretted that the hand of fellowship extended to previous manage-

ment of the corporation was not reciprocated, noting that, the current relationship between his association and the corporation was not envisaged when the then management of NNPC adopted the Brazilian model as a strategic move to end perennial fuel scarcity in the country. He said that AMFSON offers NNPC and by extension the government the required platform to make petroleum products available to Nigerians, as the association own and operate over 600 outlets scattered

across the country. The AMFSON scribe expressed the readiness of the association to work with Baru especially in the area of sustenance of effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products in the country. He therefore called on the new GMD of NNPC to address the issue of price differentials in the price petroleum motor spirit (PMS), pointing out that the review have become very expedient in order to correct the distortions in the distribution of PMS across the country.

Electoral commission said that Ghana’s presidential poll would now be held on December 7 Adeola Yusuf

oliticians in Ghana are under pressure due to the sliding gas supply from Nigeria and an attendant fall in power supply ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 7. New Telegraph gathered that volume of natural gas exported to Ghana has continued to crash following incessant attacks on oil and gas pipelines by the militants in the Niger Delta. In March 2016 alone the supply crashed to the lowest in the last one year, subjecting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and the incumbent President John Mahama to more pressure on how to fix the problem before and after the poll. Dramani Mahama, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, is seeking a second, five-year term against Nana Akufo-Addo, of the main opposition NPP. The president is elected in Ghana using the two-round system, whilst the 275 members of Parliament will be elected in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting. Nigeria pumped 570 million standard cubic feet (or 18MMscf/d) produced in March into the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a facility through, which gas is transported to Ghana, Togo and Republic of Benin. This, according to a WAGP document seen by New Telegraph, followed a consistent pattern of a five month continuous drop, which started last November, when production plunged from 2.01 billion standard cubic feet (or 65MMscf/d) in October 2015 to 1.27Bscf (42MMscf/d) last November. Since then, it had been on a downward trajectory.

Power plant

NNPC marketers task GMD on fuel supply transparency Abuja

arketers and owners of filling stations branded in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) colours and logo, at the weekend tasked the Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, on transparency in the distribution of the refined product. Rising under the auspices of the Association of Mega Filling Station Owners of Nigeria (AMFSON), the marketers advised Dr. Maikanti Baru to enthrone transparency in the thruput, storage and distribution of petroleum products by proxy. The body gave the admonishion in a statement by its National secretary, Ambassador

EKEDP to FG: Promote women’s interest in engineering Adeola Yusuf

anaging Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKDC), Oladele Amoda, has called on government at different levels in the country to formulate policy for the promotion and encouragement of the interest of the girl-child in engineering. This, Amoda said, could be achieved when the government comes up with a wellarticulated and sustainable blueprint in areas presently considered as exclusive preserve of men. According to a statement by the spokesperson for

EKEDC, Godwin Idemudia, the power company’s boss said this at a programme for some female children of employees of the company. “The programme tagged ‘Bring Your Daughter to Work Day’, was a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative jointly sponsored by Eko Disco, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United States Energy Association (USEA),” Idemudia said, adding that the focal point of the programe was to improve gender diversity in the power sector. Amoda said that the evolvement of a sustainable blueprint for arousing the

interest of young girls in the engineering profession was necessary so as to reduce the present dominance of men in the profession. The Eko Disco chief added that since women have excelled in other fields of human endeavour, it was high time they explored other areas still being regarded as the exclusive preserve of the men folk. Amoda further said that with the invaluable role being played in the socioeconomic development of many nations, any nation that neglects the development and capacity building of the girl-child does so at its own risk.

The big oil exports’ scandal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

potentially resulting in billions of U.S. dollars in lost tax revenue in some developing countries. “Between 1996 and 2014, under-invoicing of oil exports from Nigeria to the U.S. was worth $69.8 billion, or 24.9 per cent of all oil exports to the United States,” the report read. Some commodity dependent developing countries are losing as much as 67% of their exports worth billions of dollars to trade misinvoicing, according to a fresh study by UNCTAD, which for the first time analyses this issue for specific commodities and countries. “This research provides new detail on the magnitude of this issue, made even worse by the fact that some developing countries depend on just a handful of commodities for their health and education budgets,” Kituyi said. The secretary general said that the commodity exports

may account for up to 90 per cent of a developing country’s total export earnings, adding that the study generated fresh lines of inquiry to understand the problem of illicit trade flows. Conclusion Nigerians must demand for a probe of the oil export underinvoicing, which had gulped over $69.8 billion that could have been used to better the lots of many that are battling with abject poverty. The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency probe the trade mis-invoicing with a view to ending the illicit financial flows that have cost Nigeria million of dollars that could be used to develop the country. Government needs the collaboration of the United States (US) government to get to the root of the matter while apportioning appropriate sanction to any company of individual found culpable of this scandal.

TUESDAY, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

As the bill prohibiting forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties by land grabbers awaits Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode’s assent, housing experts say that the Act would accelerate the growth of the sector, DAYO AYEYEMI reports

ollowing the passage of a bill by the Lagos State House of Assembly prohibiting forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties by land grabbers, built environment experts have lauded the initiative, which will soon become law. Describing the move as a welcome development due to the activities of land grabbers popularly known as Omooniles or Ajagungbales, the experts said the passage of the bill into law would curb the menace in the metropolis and promote accelerated housing development. They demanded a hurried assent to the law that will put an end to one of the challenges in the sector. Highlights of the Bill The new bill prohibits forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties in the state. With the eventual passage of the bill into law, offenders would have to contend with serious sanctions. The jail term for the offence ranges between five and 21 years while other related offences come with fines and other forms of punishments. Speaker of the house, Mudashiru Obasa, presided over the sitting to pass the bill that is now awaiting the assent of the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. The bill was passed after it scaled the third reading and a voice vote of all members present at plenary. Obasa later told the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the bill to Governor Ambode for assent. The bill provides for prohibition of forceful land take over, entry by force, illegal occupation of property, use of land agents, illegal use of law enforcement agents, encroaching with weapons, sales of property without authority and professional misconduct among others with their attendant punishments. Experts’ reactions Speaking with New Telegraph, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr. Bunmi Ajayi, said the passage of the bill into law was much awaited, adding that there was need for the law. With the new law coming into place, Ajayi stated that land grabbers would be a bit cautious, adding that the singular act would en-

Units of luxury homes in Amen Estate, Lagos. Inset: Governor Akinwumi Ambode

Stakeholders: Land grabbers’ Act’ll fast-track housing devt courage investments and ensure positive development in real estate sector. On his part, Chairman, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Samuel Effiong Ukpong, pointed out that signing the bill into law would reduce the nefarious activities of land grabbers in the state. Proper implementation of the law, he said, would restore investor confidence in real estate industry, adding that there would be seamless land transaction, while residential, commercial and office developments will soar in the state. However, Ukpong expressed caution about the annoying behaviour of some officials of government, saying that the general belief would be that they would not take excessive position in the implementation and enforcement of provisions of the new law. “Let us hope that the new bill, when signed by the governor, will not lead to a situation of running from frying pan to fire by the excesses of government officials. If government is sincere with the law, it will transform the real estate sector,” he said. According to the Principal Partner, Bisi Adedire and Partner, Mr Bisi Adedire, a town planner, the law barring land grabbers’ activities is a “positive move in right direction” by the Lagos State government. Unlike before, he said the state would begin to enjoy investor confidence in the aspect of land purchases and transactions for developmental purposes. He said: “Before now, if you buy land and refuse to develop it, these people (land grabbers) will encroach on it or hijack it and sell to other person. For this barbaric act , there won’t be development and at times, leading to crisis, loss of money and loss of lives. “This habit does not promote development. However, the passage of the new bill will promote openness in business transaction.” However, Adedire posited that

If government is sincere with the law, it will transform the real estate sector

the government should allow genuine land owners to use their original land receipts, which have been duly stamped, for the basis of granting provisional building approval to commence construction. He said: “This will allow close monitoring of building development by the government agency such as the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). Also, the initiative will improve government revenue.” President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr. Kunle Awobodu, while applauding the lawmakers for demonstrating leadership, described the passage of the bill as “good for the housing sector”.

ment by instituting such law. He said: “I think Ogun state should do the same. Truly, Ogun State does emulate Lagos State in terms of policy. As a sister state, I believe Governor Ibikunle Amosun is watching.”

Building collapse Hitherto, Awobodu said his group had been meeting with stakeholders on how to curb the menace of land grabbers (omooniles), which he mentioned as one of the factors responsible for building collapse. The activities of land grabbers, he noted, had always constituted nuisance to construction workers on site. He added that their continuous threats to workers were responsible for the poor processing of concrete works for building construction. He said: “Whenever they are around, workers always feel uncomfortable. During this process, they mix concrete wrongly. At times, the Omooniles will delay construction workers for hours by demanding for one money or the other while concrete already mixed is wasting away. “This is one of the reasons for poor quality construction work, which in the future lead to defect in buildings.” If the new law is implemented, Awobodu is of the opinion that it will reduce wastage and stress in building process. A resident in Ogijo, Ikorodu axis of Ogun State, Mr Kazeem Taofik, urged the Ogun State Government to emulate the Lagos State Govern-

Conclusion To further increase ease of doing business in Lagos, Governor Ambode should not hesitate to sign the bill that curbs activities of land grabbers in the state into law.

Experts to Nigerians: Source items from experts igerians have been called upon to patronise property merchants who can deliver world-class building and apartments with good quality materials and a touch of Italian and Spanish finishing in a floodfree serene environment. Chief Operating Officer, Admiralty Homes Limited, Mr. Olaiwola Salami, made this call in Lagos while speaking on the need for use of high quality materials in the day-to-day construction works in the country. He said: “The recent heavy downpour across the country had serious effect on the residents, especially in Lekki and Ajah axis of Lagos where a number of buildings were affected due to the low quality of materials used in the construction process.” He therefore called on Nigerians to patronise efficient and modern day property development companies that can deliver buildings that will stand the test of time. “At Admiralty Homes, we are dedicated to providing our customers world class buildings that will guarantee them rest of mind for decades to come. We use the best quality construction materials, which will give them a solid apartment,” Salami said.

Business | Homes & Property

TUESDAY, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Facility managers move to enhance service delivery CUTTING EDGE Intelligent 3D modelbased process equips professionals with tools to manage buildings and infrastructure Stories Dayo Ayeyemi

s part of efforts to offer clients bespoke services, speed up growth in the industry and ultimately become a major contributor to the real estate sector, Facility Management (FM) professionals have resolved to explore new technologies in delivering their services. This, they said, would see FM professionals leverage on top-notch technology solutions such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) – an intelligent 3D model-based process that equips professionals with the tools to efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. The professionals, who spoke at the 2016 Nigerian FM Roundtable recently, argued that with clients beginning to demand for more sophisticated services, the need for technology driven service delivery had become imperative. Themed “Empowering People for a Productive World” and organised by Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Limited in Lagos, the World FM Day also emphasised the relevance of FM in empowering the Nigerian

people for the level of productivity required for the nation to achieve economic goals. The theme also looked at the concept of empowering people for productivity from two perspectives: those who provide FM services and those who benet or consume the services. Managing Director/CEO, Alpha Mead Facilities , Mr. Femi Akintunde, an engineer, said that as Nigeria positions to stimulate its economic activities through agriculture, mining and critical infrastructure, stakeholders in the industry would be carrying out critical examination of how facility management can enable an increasing intersection of the factors of produc-

tion. “Our aim at this roundtable is to carry out a clinical examination of how FM can enable an increasing intersection of the factors of production, reduce reliance on oil and gas as the mainstay of our economy, and harness the potential of these sectors in the face of growing unemployment,” he said. Akintunde pointed out that FM service providers could no longer ignore the use of technology, adding that in recent years, there had been an impressive rise in facility management outsourcing in the corporate real estate sector, with complex industry like telecommunications and

mously agreed that technology would play major role in redefining the industry’s future, regardless of which segment of the property market a service provider decides to play in. Publisher, Castles Magazine, Mr. Dipo Davies, who facilitated one of the breakout sessions during the forum, noted that as the industry continues to grow, most emerging trends would revolve around the quality of service a facility manager can deliver. According to him, current trends in the industry have seen multinationals demand for some specific facility managers before taking up spaces in high profile assets.

L-R: Director, Adesoye Holdings and Olga Group, Mr Ola Olumuyiwa Garuba; Executive Secretary/CEO Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr Jim Osayande Obazee; President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mrs Mercy Torkwase Iyortyer; Chairman of NIQS, Lagos chapter, Mrs Adenike Ayanda; President/ Founder, First World Communities Limited, Gen. Tunde Reis (rtd); and lecturer, Department of Finance, University of Lagos, Prof S. I. Owualah, at the 8th Annual Distinguished Lecture of NIQS in Lagos.

‘Why investment of pension fund in housing isn’t allowed’

financial services now playing significantly in the mix. Deputy Managing Director, Alpha Mead Facilities, Mrs. Wale Odufalu, urged professionals to have increased focus on leveraging technology to ease of operations and proper accountability. She said: “Technology is a proven enabler, which makes work faster, easier and richer, and if well deployed can provide a spring board for pushing service delivery to greater heights of excellence.” According to her, British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) now has a guide on how to select FM Software. During the panel discussion, the professionals unani-

espite mounting pressure from the built environment experts on the need to invest the growing pension fund in property development, the Director General, National Pensions Commission, (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, has listed difficulty in getting valuation, property liquidity or tradability as cogent reasons for not allowing direct investment of the funds in real estate sector. She made this clarification while speaking during the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCDP) programme organised by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos chapter. She said the fact that property is not amenable to easy disposal has made it difficult to invest pension fund directly in real estate. She said: “In valuing property, you may have two to three values. It becomes difficult. We found out that investing directly in property is cumbersome.” The director-general, who was represented by one of her officials, Mr. Ibrahim Kangiwa, disclosed that the new pension scheme had made provision for increased investment in construction and housing. According to her, the new policy sup-

ports increased pension fund investment in infrastructure and housing through bond and mortgage and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). She pointed out that the major objectives of pension funds had to do with safety of funds and assets, and fair return on investment. In his contribution, the Managing Director, Stabic IBTC Pension Managers, Mr. Eric Fajemisin, said that pension funds were not being kept in the bank but being invested profitably in conceivable projects. He advised on the need to create financial products and mortgage backed securities so that pension funds can be invested in mortgage industry for onward lending. Canvassing for increased investment of pension fund in housing, Principal Partner, Ubosi Eleh and Company, Mr. Chudi Ubosi, said that Nigeria was the most populous African country of over 180 million people with 17 million housing deficit, Besides, he stated that 700,000housing unitswere required annually to meet the current deficit, while more than N59 trillion is needed to bridge housing gap. He said: “In Nigeria, housing contributes 1.3 per cent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), while it is more than eight per cent in Egypt and South Africa.

How to get quick home loans, by expert

ead, High Life, a Public Relation and Marketing firm, Johnson Fredrick, has given some guidelines on how potential homebuyers can keep an eye on their finances and credit. Always pay on time: No lender likes to lend money to an individual who has a repeated record of missing his payments. This indicates a lack of discipline and poor financial management, and it leads to a bad impression on paper. Keep your credit owed within limits: A good ratio is not having your unsecured credit outstanding above 50 per cent of your annual salary. Keep your credit card balances within half of the allowed limit. Always pay your dues on time, in full: This is one of the most important tips to improve credit score. On-time payments improve your credit score tremendously. It carries almost a 40 per cent weight on your score. Use two credit cards if you are a definite credit card spender: This is good and bad advice at the same time. Financial company does not consider spending money on two credit cards as one. But if you have two credit cards, you can keep your usage percentage in control.

Maintain a good mix of good and bad loans: Home loans and business loans are considered good loans. Personal loans and credit are considered bad loans. That is why investing in a home loan if you are a spendthrift is a better decision. You will have a good credit mix and be building an asset. Pay high-interest loans and small loans first: It is a prudent decision to pay your home loans over longer periods. Pay off your personal loans, credit cards and private loans first, as they tend to have a higher interest (typically 15 percent to 36 percent) with no asset creation. Close your unwanted savings accounts: Many people tend to abandon their savings accounts without closing them. If you have less than your Minimum Average Balance (MAB), it will start to affect your credit score. Also, when you finish a loan, it’s imperative to get the loan closure certificate. Monitor your co-signed joint accounts properly: In instances of cosigning a loan or maintaining a joint credit account, be careful when dealing with someone outside your close family. You need to monitor the statements closely to make sure everything is in order.

TUESDAY, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

Air peace airline

All over the world, aviation is considered an elitist and glamorous terrain. It is one industry that if care is not taken, operators can keep burning their investment to enhance their ego. WOLE SHADARE writes Hard times These are not the best of times for airlines particularly Nigeria carriers. The country is technically in recession. This has affected the revenue of virtually all the carriers amid sharp reduction in passenger traffic. Airline business is tough, unprofitable, and heavily regulated. It is even more overregulated in Nigeria because of the aggregate differences between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations, and the adverse policies issued by the ministry of aviation. Also, the quality of unknowledgeable players in the sector who keep ill-advising the government on how the industry should be guided would in no time lead to the death of the industry. Rise in Jet A1 price With aviation fuel spiralling at N170 per litre, passenger traffic going down fast as a result of the harsh economic reality, multiple charges by various aviation agencies, huge overhead cost, fewer aircraft availability, unfavourable operating environment and poor business model, the airlines are indeed in dire strait. An unstable currency is a precursor to airline failure.

Can airlines survive with dwindling revenue? Even in a stable economy, airline business is virtually unprofitable with very low return on investment. Naira slump A dollar, which now exchanges for about N300 and N375 per dollar at the official and parallel markets, for long, was pegged at $1 to N197 officially. Recently, the Nigerian economy had been hit by unprecedented financial instability. First was the falling oil price, which resulted in reduced government income. The airline fares are quoted in US dollars and Nigerians pay the equivalent naira at the previous exchange rate of N197. After the devaluation, the payment is now calculated at an exchange rate of N300. That is an enormous 45 per cent increase and the consequence is a huge reduction in travellers, as most people cannot afford air fares that are soaring. The majority of schedule and unscheduled aircraft operators face unfavourable business climate followed by the government policies aimed at snuffing lives of the operators. With terminal navigational and landing charges at a constant, it is needless to say that Nigeria is about the most expensive country in Africa to engage in airline business. Travel seen as luxury in Nigeria In Nigeria and in some other climes, air travel is seen as luxury rather than seen as driver of the economy. Airlines are basically catalyst of economic growth. They enhance profit-

Airline business is tough, unprofitable, and heavily regulated

ability of other businesses, but are, themselves, unprofitable. The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika seems to be too slow in hitting the ground running. He is too slow to react to situations that could help to reduce revenue that goes to the industry as a whole and does not properly give direction to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to tackle myriads of problems that stare stakeholders in the face. Who rescues the sector? It is very obvious that aviation needs somebody to galvanise the agencies to be proactive to their statutory functions. The NCAA as presently constituted is in disarray, with serious in-fighting amongst some of the directors; an action that does not augur well for the oversight function of the authority. The NCAA is a shadow of its former self, where professionalism held sway, where the training of inspectors and other key professionals was never compromised. The NCAA of old motivated workers to give in their best but that seemed to have disappeared with just God being the only saving grace that has kept aircraft from falling from the sky. It is not all doom and gloom as the Minister has helped to prevail on government to remove duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on aircraft and spares parts brought into the country. Operators lauded this policy because of the enormous amount of money they would save.

Govt’s intervention The government’s gesture was extended specifically to commercial aircraft operators and not private jet operators who are required to pay for luxury taxes. The clarification on the Zero Duty and VAT was contained in a letter dated June 20, 2016 and signed by the Nigeria Customs Service. It stated: “I am directed to inform you that by virtue of the Federal Government 2013 Fiscal Policy measures, Ref No. BD.12237/S.1008/T/11 dated January 15, 2013, all commercial aircraft and its spare parts imported for use in Nigeria shall attract import duty rate of zero per cent (0 per cent) and zero per cent (0 per cent) VAT respectively.” It would be recalled that the Federal Government had, aftermath of Dana Air crash four years ago, introduced zero duty policy on aircraft and spare parts. The policy was not fully implemented as a former minister of aviation then (name withheld), allegedly favoured selected airlines close to the Ministry of Aviation. The action of the ex-minister also saw to the influx of private jet owners who took advantage of the policy to purchase jets without payment of duty. But that is over now, as the exemption is only for commercial jet owners. In Nigeria, the Boeing aircraft is the dominant, as virtually all carriers operate the aircraft type. A former Assistant Secretary General of Airline OperaCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

BUSINESS | AVIATION

TUESDAY, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EgyptAir signs $900m Boeing deal B737-800 is known for reliability, fuel efficiency and economic performance Wole Shadare

he United States based aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, and EgyptAir, have announced an order for nine Next-Generation 737-800s. A statement by Boeing obtained by African Airline Association (AFRAA), said the deal is valued at $864 million at current list prices, with eight of the airplanes to be financed by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, headquartered in

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It noted that the order coincided with 50 years of partnership between Boeing and EgyptAir, that began with an order for a 707 aircraft in 1966. It also disclosed that EgyptAir placed its first 737 order in 1975. Chairman of EgyptAir, Mr. Safwat Musallam said over the years, Boeing has played an important role in our g rowth plan, a d d i n g t h at t h e N e x t Generation 737-800s have ear ned an excellent re pu t at i o n fo r re l i ab i l i t y, perfor mance and cost ef ficiency and has added tremendous value to our operations.” “The addition of sev-

eral more of this airplane will definitely enable us to continue with our plans to introduce modern, efficient aircraft on our short to medium haul destination network. we are pleased to be working with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise to finance eight of these airplanes,” he noted. He said EgyptAir currently operates 20 737800NGs and when the nine airplanes are delivered it will comprise the largest single-aisle aircraft type in its fleet. The EgyptAir chief also disclosed that the airline also has six 777-300ERs and two 777-200ERs. “EgyptAir forecast significant growth of our total fleet by 2026,” Musallam added.

Boeing said the 737-800 series are the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family. “Known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and economic performance, the 737-800 is selected by leading carriers

throughout the world because it provides operators the flexibility to serve a wide range of markets. The operating benefits will carry over to the future 737 MAX, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in 2017,” the statement stated.

NAMA Trains 18 AIS personnel Wole Shadare

three-week Train-the-Trainer Course on Map/Chart/eAIP Publication spanning from July 18th to August 5th. The next batch of 12 trainees according to the statement, is billed to also undergo training in Germany between August 15th and September 2nd, 2016 ahead of the deployment of Aeronautical Fixed Telecom Network (AFTN)/ ATS Message Handling System (AMHS) in Lagos and Kano, which will be networked to other airports in the country using the VSAT Network.

he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has begun the training of personnel on Aeronautical Information Services (AIS), which the agency plans to commence. Various categories of personnel according to a statement, are set to be trained in order to build adequate capacity needed for its deployment. Already, the first batch of six personnel has proceeded to Frankfurt, Germany for a

AIR RAGE

Can airlines survive with dwindling revenue? tors of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, welcomed the idea of full implementation of the policy, noting that it was partially implemented. He noted that usually when airlines bring in their airplanes, they usually pay 10 per cent of the value of the equipment to Nigeria Customs and another five per cent as Value Added Tax (VAT), describing it as killing for airlines. For the airlines to sustain their operations and to remain in business, they have adjusted air fares. This cushioning of the effect on their operations may not be the light at the end of the tunnel for them. No respite despite fare adjustment Even the adjustment in air fares from between N28, 000 and N32, 000 depending on the time of purchase of ticket is not the solution to the arresting the serious

Wole Shadare

Aviation minister must act now N

Former CEO of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, Dr. Oluropo Owolabi recieving an award from Publisher, Nigeria Travelsmart, Mr. Simon Tunba at a sendforth ceremony in Lagos at the weekend

CONTINUED FROM PAG E 29

WITH

MEGA DEAL

predicament the operators have found themselves. The Managing Director of FirstNation Airways, Mr. Kayode Odukoya, said that even at N30, 000, the airlines in Nigeria are not charging the appropriate fares considering the devaluation of Naira, which he said amounts to just about $80 for an hour flight. Comparing the situation to what is obtainable in Europe or in the United States where ticket on the go costs more than $200 for the same equidistance, Odukoya said the carriers are also wary of the tough economic situation people are currently battling. Conclusion Experts put the lifespan of Nigerian airlines at 10 years but with the environment getting tougher and businesses shrinking by the day, their life expectancy might actually be less than 10 years, as they now look up to the government to help ameliorate their burden.

ot many are impressed with the performance of Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika. They had bottled up their frustration over the drifting of the aviation sector. If one were to conduct a survey, it would be doubtful if the Minister would score 20 per cent in a performance-based rating. It took the courage of National secretary of Nigeria Aviation Professionals Association (NAPA), Abdulrasaq Saidu to bring to the fore the seeming apathy of the Minister to the sector. Saidu noted that the aviation was drifting alleging that the Ministry seemed to have no clue as to how to give policy direction to a sector in dire need of rescue. Aviation is economic driver for nations, not one that should be treated with levity, since we do not have accurate statistics to show what the country earns from aviation industry. For Nigeria, it oscillates between N40billion and N50billion annually. Aviation gives the United States $1.5 trillion per year in economic activity – jobs, commerce, leisure. Aviation is key to the America’s economy and is one of the main reasons NASA invests in aeronautics research to support the US to make air transportation globally sustainable. The sector needs urgent reform, just as the entire agencies need people to reinvigorate them as there seems to be lackadaisical at-

titude from top management of the agency as large-scale graft still persists in the sector. Sirika is too far from the sector he is presiding over. His impact has never been felt. He is totally detached from an industry he is expected to give direction to. This has necessitated a call to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently beam his searchlight on the industry and if possible, reassign Sirika before we are faced with more serious problems. This reporter feels Sirika should still be given the time to remedy the situation rather than the hasty call for him to be re-assigned. The NAPA scribe also alleged that there are lots of compromises by Sirika owing to the contract to build the Katsina airport; a project that was reportedly awarded to him by former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah when he (Sirika) was a member of House of Representatives. The agencies under the Ministry of Transportation, especially the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is in a mess over alleged infighting among the directors. Morale is at its lowest ebb, with the authority losing grip of its statutory function. The NCAA of today is more reactionary rather than be proactive, always engaging in the rebuttal of whatever it is accused of doing rather than laying a template for doing what is right.

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pledge VC promises to sustain Covenant Varsity’s vision

Education

Overhaul Obasanjo urges FG to overhaul education system

35 35

VCs unite against capital flight BRAINSTORMING

Vice-Chancellors of the 61 private universities in the country, under the aegis of the Committee of ViceChancellors and Registrars of Private Universities in Nigeria (CVCRPU), last week at a meeting, gathered at the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, to chart a new direction for the system, and reduce capital flight in the nation’s education sector

•Admission, funding, autonomy top agenda

Adeolu Adeyemo and Mojeed Alabi

or one day last week, ViceChancellors and Registrars of private universities in the country, relocated their offices to the Redeemer’s University, a faith-based ivory tower located at Ede, Osun State, to chart a new direction for the development of their universities and the nation’s education sector at large. It was a meeting of Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities in Nigeria (CVCRPU). The meeting, which offers a platform for the university eggheads and administrators to appraise the system and the challenges, with a view to suggesting workable solutions. The thrusts of the one-day parley include admission strategies for private universities; current challenges and the way forward; directive on the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening; the pertinence of the Association of Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities; election of new officers to direct the affairs of the committee for the next three years; as well as the review of the meeting of the Committee with the Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu. Setting the tone of the meeting, the outgoing Chairman of the Committee and Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technol-

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

The vice-chancellors and registrars at the meeting

ogy, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, who was presiding over his last forum as the Chairman, expressed dismay over what he described as the poor handling of the country’s education sector- the fulcrum for national development, claiming that the development has led to huge capital flight to foreign countries due to Nigerians’ quest for education. Meanwhile, in his contribution, the host and Vice-Chancellor of Adeyemi Redeemer’s University, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, described as unfortunate and ridiculous the staggering population of Nigerian students leaving the country in droves every year for foreign countries such United States, European countries, United Kingdom, Canada, among others, for university education, as well as to neighbouring countries Nigeria is including Benin Republic, Ghana reported to and Togo. He lamented: “While we are be spending busy struggling to address modaliabout N1.5 ties for admission, Nigeria is losing trillions of naira meant for our trillion abroad education sector to neighbouring yearly on countries. If you get to Ghana and you see the number of Nigerian education of students swarming everywhere, their wards you would weep for this country.” To buttress Adeyewa’s claim, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a non-governmental organisation, had in December, last year, revealed that Nigerian elites are spending about N1.5 trillion yearly for sending their children abroad for university education. In the report entitled: “Missing Links, Report on the Implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in the 2013 Financial Year,”

the centre said among other things that “children of the Nigerian elite have abandoned Nigerian tertiary institutions due to poor quality education rendered in these institutions, while Nigeria is reported to be spending about N1.5 trillion abroad yearly on education of their wards.” The report urged the government to increase funding into the sector that would address these challenges, while also calling on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight concerning the spending of the budgetary allocations and huge internally generated revenue (IGR) of tertiary institutions. However, the vice-chancellors disagreed that the influx of Nigerians abroad for education was as a result of poor education delivery in the nation’s universities, but insisted that the development is not unconnected with the poor leadership provided by the ruling class. The forum, therefore, resolved that though hope is not lost yet, as they promised to provide alternative to public education and halt the drift. “It is our responsibility to halt this drift and bring back our students who are spending millions of naira on education abroad. We can do it and we will do it. All we require from the government is enabling environment that will guarantee us smooth operation,” Adeyewa pledged. To achieve this purpose, the vice-chancellors unanimously agreed that quality education should be prioritised by the 61-member universities, arguing that some private universities

founded for the purpose of revenue generation for their proprietors should refocus their goals. On the current raging controversies over the modalities to be adopted for admission into universities for the 2016/2017 academic calendar year, which was at the front burner at the forum, they called on the Federal Government to give them the autonomy to determine the students that qualify for admissions into their various institutions. According to the Committee, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the agency saddled with the responsibility of supervising the university system in the land, should avail private universities in the country the latitude to conduct the selection process to pick their students for admission without interference. According to them, “private universities are known for credibility in the way they screen candidates seeking admission into the institutions and that is why we are appealing to the appropriate authorities to leave us to decide on our own who actually qualifies for our admission.” Speaking on modalities for placement test and screening for admission into the universities, Adeyewa explained that fresh students who possess fake Senior School certificate Examination (SSCE) and the UTME results conducted could not be admitted into the universities as investigations would be duly conducted to discover this before offering any CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

education

Elujoba

Kayode Olanrewaju

ollowing several appeals by the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), professors and other members of the university community, Prof. Anthony Adebolu Elujoba, accepted to be the Acting Vice-Chancellor, as part of strategies to return peace and stability to the crisisridden university. The Federal Government had few weeks ago sacked the Governing Council of the institution, led by its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba as well as the Vice-Chancellor designate, Prof. Ayobami Salami, due to persistent protest by the workers, who opposed the appointment of Prof. Salami to replace the embattled outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole. The workers’ unions, championed by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), had vowed that Prof. Salami would not be sworn-in as the substantive vicechancellor of the institution. The workers’ union had accused the outgoing vice-chancellor of various allegations

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

How Elujoba emerged acting OAU VC of financial misappropriation and vowed that any of his cronies would not be allowed to succeed him. Prof. Salami, until his appointment as the substantive vice-chancellor was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor under Prof. Omole’s administration. Worried by the crisis that engulfed the university and its continued closure, the Visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, ordered the Senate of the university to appoint a vice-chancellor in acting capacity for the university with immediate effect and with the proviso that such a professor should by someone impeccable character and pedigree who would be acceptable to the members of the university community. Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that it was at this point that the choice of Prof. Elujoba came up, but it took spirited efforts of the Senate and top professors at the university to convince him to accept the responsibility. With the appointment of Elujoba, a source in the university, who pleaded for anonymity, said there is likely to be a Senate meeting of the university tomorrow, where the reopening of the university would be announced, since normalcy has returned to the system. “It will be rather impossible for the students to return to campus this week, but hopefully next Monday. What I can say now is that the decision will be taken at the Senate meeting, which will be convened this week,” the source stressed. Consequently, during the

African varsities for climate change adaptation initiative Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State and the African Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI) have initialed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is aimed at fostering close collaboration on how to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba and the university Registrar, Mr. Gabriel Chukwu, signed the document on behalf of the university, while the Director of the institute, Prof. Ifeyinwa Ajike, endorsed on behalf of the continental body. Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, Prof. Ajike said the institute in conjunction with the Open Society Foundation (OSF) had been conducting research and training on climate and climate change, food security and flooding, which he added that the university based on the new agreement would benefit tremendously from all its programmes.

She listed the other six African universities participating in the programme to include the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); the University of Ghana; Mekelle University, Ethiopia; University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; the University of Dares-Salaam Tanzania, and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Prof. Ajike expressed satisfaction with the leadership of FUNAI under Prof. Nwajiuba for its research efforts and for keying in into the programme, even as she assured the university that the collaboration would bring about enormous benefits to the two institutions. In his remarks, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Nwajiuba, said the university placed high premium on the core mandate of the institution, which are research and teaching, in order to emerge as a world class university. Nwajiuba described ACCAI as a credible organisation and that it was based on this pedigree that the university is partnering with the institute through the Memorandum of Understanding.

election for the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the university, at the emergency Senate meeting, which was ordered by the Federal Government in order to restore normalcy to the system, Elujoba scored 201 votes to defeat his opponent, who polled less than 10 votes. Wild jubilation by the workers was said to have greeted the announcement of the appointment of Prof. Elujoba by the Registrar of the university, Mr. Dotun Awoyemi. The jubilating workers, according to the Public Relations Officer for the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, led Prof. Elujoba in a convoy of cars, with others trekking to Senate car park, which the workers had rechristened Freedom Park. “After more than two hours of heated debate, presided over by the outgoing Deputy ViceChancellor (Administration), Prof. Omolayo Ajayi, the over two hundred Professors who were at the meeting eventu-

ally elected Prof. Elujoba with 201 votes over his compatriot, Prof. Adebayo Lamikanra, who polled less than 10 votes,” Olarewaju said in a statement. The university had been bogged down by a protracted leadership crisis in the last few months following the opposition from some sections of the workers, led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), which vowed that the Vice-Chancellor designate, Prof. Ayobami Salami, would not be sworn-in as the substantive vice-chancellor of the institution. Olarewaju said: “The workers of the University, under the aegis of Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had protested the methods used by the dissolved Governing Council in the selection of Prof. Ayobami Salami, and had petitioned

President Buhari who summarily ordered the university Senate to pick a man of integrity to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of the 54-years-old university in acting capacity. “And, in total compliance with the directive of President Buhari and in a spirited effort at redeeming the image of the Obafemi Awolowo University, the Senate of the university overwhelmingly elected Prof. Anthony Adebolu Elujoba as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university.” Elujoba, a Professor of Pharmacognosis at the Faculty of Pharmacy, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom Research Institute looking into Nigerian Medicinal plants, a Public Analyst (FDA) and recipient of numerous professional awards. He had served as Acting Head of Department of Pharmacognosis; Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy; Chairman, Committee of Deans; Chairman, Faculty PG Committee/ Board of Studies; L-R: Acting Director, Information, Communication Technology Unit, Lagos State University, Dr. Moses Akanbi; Deputy Chairman, Task Force on LASU External System; Dr. Bola Oyefolu and the Chairman of Task Force, Prof. Cordelia Nwabuko, at a press briefing on update of the university’s external system.

COEASU boycotts job over shortage of staff Musa Pam Jos

he Colleges of Education teachers, under the umbrella union, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Federal College of Education (FCE), Pankshin in Plateau State chapter, have decried the shortage of staff at the college, describing it as one of the reasons for their ongoing strike. The academic staff, who lamented that the few of them at the college are over stretched, had on July 1 declared an indefinite strike to protest what they described as the management insensitivity to their plights and welfare. The Chairman of the union, Mr. Hembe Emmanuel, who spoke with New Telegraph in Pankshin, however, disclosed that the college had employed no lecturer since 2012 to replace those who

had retired, deceased or left the college for greener pasture. Hembe said: “The non-replacement of those retired, transferred and deceased academic staff since January 2012, have been weighing us down and apparently we feel we could not continue like this any longer. “As a result of this, the few of us remaining on campus are over stretched with work load following shortage of staff in the college.” He further explained that the strike, which had since begun on July 1, was not as a result of salary issue, but purely on other matter such as the shortage of staff which we considered very critical this time around. According to Hembe, some of the issues include the management’s inconsiderate determination to implement the still-underreview Scheme/Condition of Service, even though the content has not been made

known to COEASU at any time by the college. The union leader specifically insisted that one other burning issue was the nonimplementation of 2015 staff promotion/annual increments and the attendant arrears. This is as the chairman expressed regret that the management failed to understand the weight those issues have placed on his members either individually or collectively, while the college is adamant and uncommitted to the resolve the industrial dispute. Hembe, who said the management’s position, has left the union with no option, but to embark on strike in protest of their poor welfare, said since the suspension of the union’s first strike of January 19 to February 29, the disputed issues have continued to grow in number with the non-payment of 47 per cent of their December 2015 salaries, and irregular shortfall in the salaries of the lecturers since January. However, he pledged the union’s readiness to return to class if the disputed issues were looked into and addressed by the management and the Federal Ministry of Education.

education

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNILAG introduces programme for ND, HND holders gainst its old practice A of not admitting graduates of polytechnics for its

WAEC dismisses plans to adopt CBT exam mode

Mass Communication programme, the management of the University of Lagos is set to commence degree programme for holders of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND), and their equivalent in other institutions. In a statement by the university’s Department of Mass Communication and signed by its Head and the Programme’s Coordinator, Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika and Dr. Tayo Popoola, the programme, which will be run in the evenings, is to be anchored by the university’s Institute of Continue Education.

Olanipekun, WAEC’s Head of Nigerian Office

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

xpectations by stakeholders that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) may adopt Computer Based Test (CBT) to address the rising cases

of examination malpractice in its examinations due to the complex nature of the Council’s examinations have been dashed. According to the Council’s Abuja Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Yusuf Ari, the council is not thinking along that line now, in view of the logistics and infrastructure required if such mode is to be introduced. Speaking at the National Stakeholders Dialogue on Examination Malpractice in Abuja, he noted that WAEC examinations cover over 80 subjects due to recent additional new subjects to the list of available subjects by the Federal Government. “Unlike the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), that introduced or adopted the Computer Based Test (CBT) to curb examination malpractice in its examinations WAEC is not considering such

move at least for now as a result of the complexity of its examinations,” Ari added. According to him, the fact that the Council’s examinations hold in both urban and rural schools has also made the deployment of ICT difficult in the conduct of the examination. However, the WAEC Zonal Coordinator disclosed that the Council is leaving no stone unturned in order to reduce the incidence of examination malpractice in the conduct of its examination to the barest minimum. Ari explained that the stakeholders’ dialogue was being conducted nationwide, adding that people of high integrity are being deployed to handle the conduct of examination, which he said had gone a long way in helping to address the problem of examination malpractice in

Old students set to raise N5m for alma mater Mojeed Alabi

ld students, under the aegis of Ilupeju Secondary School Alumni Association, have decried the collapsing infrastructure in their alma mater, and have set October as the deadline to raise about N5 million towards producing the needed furniture for more than 2,000 pupils of the school. This commitment was made on behalf of the association by its National President, Mr. Idowu Oyebanjo, an engineer, during the donation of about 50 sets of chairs and tables to the school by the 1994 set of the association; the gesture he noted was geared at providing temporary relief for the pupils. Oyebanjo, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Prince Adetu and the General Secretary, Mr. Gbenga Odesanya, lamented how a school surrounded by many companies including PZ Cussons Nigeria to degenerate. Oyebanjo’s address, which was read on his behalf by Odesanya added: “It gives me great joy to be part of new beginning in Ilupeju Secondary School. We have had different sets doing one thing or the other for the school, but with the coming of the national alumni body of our school, we will be able to leverage on the potentials of the individual set to form a synergy that will produce better result as we see today. “The state of infrastructure in the school broke our heart and we quickly consulted the school authority for their needs in order of

priority. The furniture came top on that list. The two schools, the junior and the senior, required furniture that will seat 2400 students and with our design of three students per seat, we need 800 pairs out of which we would deliver 50 sets today.” He added that the association planned to engage the corporate social responsibility arms of the major companies to deliver the outstanding 750 sets of school furniture. “We have already set October 19 deadline to achieve this as it falls on the school’s Founders’ Day. This will cost us more than N5 million and we believe it is not an impossible task,” Oyebanjo said. While responding, the Principals of the senior and the junior schools, Mrs. Elizabeth Akinola and Mrs. Mariam Subair, thanked the association for finding their alma mater worthy of support. According to them, the government is trying very hard to ensure that good education is provided to the pupils in the state and that as a responsible government, supporting the schools by individuals and groups will be sincerely appreciated. Mrs. Akinola promised on behalf of the two schools that the furniture would be well protected and would be put to judicious use. The General Secretary of the association also added that the school has been advised that each of the students allocated the chairs should be identified and that in case of any damage, the students would be responsible for the repair.

Management of the school, students and members of the old students’ association inaugurating the chairs and tables donated to the school.

Adeyewa, RUN VC C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

student admission. Apart from this, he pointed out that expelled students from other tertiary institutions seeking admission into private universities would be thoroughly investigated and screened to ascertain why they had to leave their institutions of learning because private universities are not dens of cultism and other social vices. The Committee agreed that no candidate that scored less than the recommended 180 cut-off point will be admitted. It, however, added that the fact that only candidates that choose the institutions as first choice should be considered for admission, and that the point-based admission procedure recommended by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board were not in the best interest of the institutions. According to the ViceChancellor of Pan Atlantic University, Prof. Juan Elegido, private universities, and particularly the faith-based ones should look beyond academic performance in their choice of preferred candidates. Reliving his institution’s experience, the Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Ademola Tayo, said JAMB was not rigid about the directive on the first choice applicants for private universities, but that transparency should be maintained.

the system. Despite, he reiterated the need for parents, teachers and other stakeholders to do more to finally stamp out the problem of examination malpractice. He said: “In fact, WAEC is looking at the possibility of introducing the computer-base system, but adequate facilities such as sufficient computer systems, regular power supply and other infrastructural provisions must be guaranteed for that to come to reality. “WAEC examination is a very complex one. It may interest you to know that WAEC does not conduct examination in urban centres only. It penetrates through government and WAEC accredited schools in rural areas unlike in the case of the JAMB, which conducts its examination in designated centres in urban areas.”

VCs pledge to arrest capital flight However, on the quality of education imparted on the students, the Committee described it as second to none, saying all the three domains, which are cognitive, affective and psychomotor of the students would be developed to make them self-reliant in the society. According to the Committee, the forum is committed to critically look into the challenges of poor funding, bad economy and the poor infrastructure within the larger Nigerian society, so as to suggest solutions. The Committee, however, frowned at the way and manner in which the Private Universities Games is being run as if the body is autonomous of the Committee, saying the situation should be addressed. While presenting his threeyear stewardship, Adeyemi noted that one significant thing that has been achieved by the umbrella body is the deserved recognition by all the relevant government agencies as contributors to national economy. He also raised among other issues the need for synergy among the vice-chancellors and registrars, as well as between CVCRPU and the Association of Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities. According to Adeyemi, the need for synergy between the group and the pro-chancellors’ group had become pertinent, especially, in the face of complaints by some of the members that some proprietors of private universities were usurping their responsibilities. The committee, therefore, appealed to proprietors of the affected universities to grant the vice-chancellors the freedom to deal with all academic matters, and the overall development of the institutions. Meanwhile, shortly be-

fore the commencement of electoral process to usher in a new set of leadership for the forum, members unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the outgoing leadership, led by Adeyemi and the Secretary, who doubled as the Registrar of Bells University of Technology, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Gbadebo. They showered encomium on them for what they described as quality leadership they provided for the forum, as well as raising the banner of the Committee. The new election, superintended by the former Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University and now the ViceChancellor of Edwin Clerk University, Delta State, Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro, produced Prof. Debo Adeyewa, the host, as the Chairman of the Committee for the next three years; the university’s Registrar, Mrs. Bolatito Oloketuyi emerged as the Secretary, based on the Constitution of the Committee that the university that produces the Chairman will also produce the Secretary, a decision reached to provide ample chance for smooth running of the system. The election also produced the Vice-Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi; his counterpart from Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State and Prof. Uchefu Yakubu of Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State as Vice-Chairmen for the South-West, South-East and North geo-political zones respectively. This is as the Registrars of Bowen University, Iwo, Dr. Kayode Ogunleye and his counterpart from the Fountain University, Osogbo, Alhaji Olatoye Olanrewaju, were elected as the Public Relations Officer and Treasurer for the Committee respectively.

education | public discourse

Will appointment of acting VC guarantee peace at OAU?

Akinola: Peace’ll return to OAU at last Prof. Adegbola Akinola is a member of the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and former Chairman of the university’s chapter of ASUU

ther things being equal, there is every likelihood that peace has finally returned to our campus. And that is why we must appreciate the intervention of the Federal Government on this matter. We must emphasise that it is indeed the truth that the University Act guarantees autonomy, especially in the case of appointment of a vice-chancellor, but it does not also guarantee impunity. Autonomy is not immunity against impunity, and that is why the intervention of

the Federal Government was the best thing to do. Having exploited the lacuna created by the impunity of the past administration to put in place an acting Vice-Chancellor by the university Senate, it is expected of the new helmsman to work assiduously to right all the wrongs of the past. He should first convene the meeting of the Senate to kick start the process of reopening the university and then ensure that salaries and allowances are paid. And also, he must ensure that a task force

Port Harcourt

Akinola

is put in place to consider the appointments and promotion of staff. He should also look into the finances of the university within the last couple of years to quickly address the cases of allegations of corruption and sharp practices against some individuals and groups. All these will be very necessary to guarantee lasting peace.

Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju is the Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State ow, it has already guaranteed peace, because apart from the fact that there is no victor, no vanquished, everyone is rallying round the new helmsman to give their support. The fact that the Acting Vice-Chancellor scored more than 250 votes out of the available 270 attested to his popularity and the fact that everyone is eager to have peace restored on the campus. The aggrieved workers themselves led him to the Senate Building in a convoy of cars to show their solidarity. The workers applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the intervention. They also commended the uni-

versity Senate for giving them someone regarded as stainless, spotless and of higher integrity. He was the Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy; he was the Chairman of the Committee of Deans and had been chairman of the university’s ceremonial committee for many years in the past. He had also held several other academic and administrative positions on campus. So, the university community is appreciating the Presidency for the intervention and I can assure you that there is peace on campus already. Going by this, I can tell you that as soon as the

Faith Baptist College bids graduating students farewell Emmanuel Masha

Olarewaju: Peace is already here N

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Olarewaju

Acting Vice-Chancellor resumes officially, every necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the lost grounds are covered in terms of academic activities. So, we apologise to our loving students and parents for the inconveniences the situation might have caused them. We also appeal to them to be patient as the university is working round the clock to achieve eternal peace on the campus, as this can be seen in the action of the Senate in the last few days.

wners and management of Faith Baptists College, a private secondary school located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, last week bade their graduating students farewell amid pomp and ceremony. It was at the 11th graduation ceremony of the school, which brought together the students, parents and teachers to celebrate another phase in the journey of the students, who were said to have spent six years in the school that has shaped their lives and equipped them for the future. In the emotional farewell, no fewer than 23 graduating students, who distinguished themselves in the last six years in the school under the tutelage of dedicated teachers and other management staff, were sent forth to the world as total children, who have been well trained and groomed. Tears of joy rolled down the chins as they hugged and patted themselves on the back as they were set out to separate from one another after the six years they spent together. They exchanged pleasantries as they congratulated themselves for a job well done, and a reminder of the challenges ahead, and as the students geared up for another journey for their higher studies in the university and other institutions of learning. While congratulating the students and their parents, the Principal of the college, Mr. Charles Akah, in his keynote address, urged the students to remain focused in their pursuit of greatness, even as he reminded them that they had been well equipped in the last six years to meet the challenges ahead of them in their various endeavour.

He also advised them to shun dangerous peer and groups in order to keep their goals alive and achieve them, saying “success brings honour and failure brings shame.” The principal said: “It is my prayer and expectations that your dreams and desires will meet fulfillment and success. I will remind you of some wise sayings as I have continued to tell you from time to time that ‘life does not give you what you desire, but what you demand from it. ‘No one gives responsibility to an irresponsible person. “The implication of this for you is that the extent you go from now is dependent on your goals, determination, comportment and resilience. I look forward to inviting you to next year’s graduation ceremony, when we hope to hear from you good news and the progress made.” According to Akah, in the college’s 16 years existence, it has continued to churn out students who distinguished themselves in various fields, which he attributed to a “team of dedicated, focused, resilient, motivated and mentally sound teachers” paraded by the college. He added: “The last SSCE results for 2015 added more feathers to the cap of the college. A good number of our students obtained A1 and B2 grades in their various subjects. Over 50 per cent of them are already in the universities. It is a feat made possible by the hardworking teachers.” Also in his words of exhortation, Deacon Oniyinde Adisa, commended the graduating students for their accomplished feat in the college, and urged them to pursue careers that interest them. “As many of you proceed to universities, the monitoring by your parents will reduce because you have come of age. But, the training you have received here will place you at a greater pedestal in life.”

The graduating students during the event

Hassan: Not yet uhuru Hassan Taiwo Soweto is the National Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), a non-governmental organisation

Hassan

o. Peace will only return to OAU when the concrete issues of unpaid allowances of workers, undemocratic policies like ban on independent students’ unionism and the impunity as well as the endemic administrative corruption are addressed. The past administration committed grave injustice against the university community. The past administration mismanaged the finances of the university, refused to pay different categories

of staff their legitimate allowances as at when due and also infringed on the rights of students to independent unionism by banning their union and victimising union leaders. Olawale Ogunruku is one of such victims of the intolerance promoted by the past administration. For participating in a peaceful protest against fee hike in 2011, the young man’s admission was withdrawn even though he had been matriculated. These are the issues the new Acting ViceChancellor must boldly address if peace must return. The university must be reopened immediately, students union elections

must be allowed to take place without the usual undemocratic conditions, tele-guidance and interference from the university’s spy agency known as the Division of Students’ Affairs. Unpaid allowances of staff must be resolved forthwith and the university administration must be democratised to allow elected representatives of students and staff unions in decision making process. These are the basic and non-negotiable minimum conditions that the acting vice-chancellor must fulfill if he is to convince anyone that he is not just same of the same.

interviews conducted by mojeed alabi

Bank disburses N426m to corps members Taiwo Hassan

s part of moves to offer solution to the rising cases of graduate unemployment in the country, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has concluded plans to disburse N426 million to about 253 corps members undertaking their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Lagos. The initiative is coming under the bank’s Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) for graduates who want to secure loan facility to set up businesses in the country. The bank’s Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Waheed Olagunju, who disclosed this during the maiden edition of the Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund Cheque presentation ceremony in Lagos, noted that the scheme was meant to impact

instant capacity building on the corps members, who have demonstrated the zeal to go into businesses at the end of their Service. He said that disbursement of the cheques were already in progress and some of the beneficiaries of the loans would collect their cheques at the presentation ceremony to begin their small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). The implementation of the pilot phase of GEF programme, he noted was not immune from certain challenges, even as he listed some of the challenges of the scheme to include most proposals to be implemented are in locations different from the state of candidates’ places of primary assignment, which would hamper such candidates from commencing the implementation processes on time.

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

campus

L-R: Deacon Durodola; the Towulade of Akinale, Abeokuta, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye; Dr. Oyeyemi and Prof. Jegede at the event.

orried by the falling standard of education, the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. ‘Supo Jegede have for the umpteenth time called on the Federal Government to overhaul the nation’s education system without further delay. The former president, who specifically lamented the growing rate of examination malpractice in the country, described the menace as another form of corruption that must be tackled urgently. Obasanjo said that the menace had eaten deep into the fabric of the nation’s education system, saying the nation’s value system is gradually changing for the worse while other things could get worse unless drastic measures were taken to urgently forestall a total collapse of the system. This, the ex-president said, could not be achieved unless the education system is overhauled. Obasanjo, who spoke at the 18th valedictory service and prize-giving day of Good Shepherd Schools, which took place at Atan in Ota, Ogun State, hinted that the quality of education

VC promises to sustain Covenant Varsity’s vision

Obasanjo urges FG to overhaul education system Muritala Ayinla

would continue to dwindle unless the system is totally restructured and overhauled. According to former president, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Deacon Victor Durodola, there was need for total change in the system. While saying that examination malpractice, for instance, deserved to be dealt with seriously, he said: “We need to overhaul the education system. Unless we overhaul our systems, we will continue to have problem. The education system is just one subset of the system. Once we overhaul the entire system, every other system will fall in place.” “Our value system is changing, in fact, it has changed for the worse and unless we come back to arrest our value system and bring it to a path of rectitude, then we cannot change the education system for good. “But, when we reorder society, our value system is reordered and we reform all our weak institutions, everything will work well; the education system will also work well. It is because our system has crumbled that the education system is affected, it is a reflection of what the system has been all over the country. “Once we are able to reform ourselves, make our institutions to be strong, then the education system will be strong.”

However, Obasanjo charged students to embrace change by being different from others in the attitude towards life. In his paper entitled: “Changing the Nation: An Individual at a Time,” Jegede said there was need for every student to embrace change, stressing that positive change could be brought about by deliberate, consistent and focused action through proper articulation and visualisation. The don listed barriers to change to include distorted perception, interpretation barriers, vague strategic priorities, low motivation to change and lack of creative response. “As individual, when change reaches greater scale, they contribute to population level changes. The individual impacts are the building blocks of community change, if they do not happen; it is unlikely that a community will improve,” he explained. On his part, the Director of the schools, Dr. Adebayo Oyeyemi, who said that the school was churning out 225 pupils and students from its primary, junior and senior secondary schools, urged the graduating students to remain focus, work hard and strive to achieve their life’s dream of becoming great in the future as the school had impacted on them as gems to succeed.

he newly appointed ViceChancellor of Covenant University, Ota an industrial community of Ogun State, Prof. Adejare Atayero, has pledged to sustain the legacy bequeathed to him by his predecessor, Prof. Charles Ayo, towards achieving the institution’s vision to be ranked among the world’s best 10 universities by 2022. Atayero, who was once a deputy vice-chancellor, was recently unveiled by the university’s Board of Regents, as the fourth substantive vicechancellor of the private university. While announcing his appointment on behalf of the Chairman of the Board and Chancellor of the university, Dr. David Oyedepo, the Secretary to the Board, Pastor Chioma Okwuanyi, said the board decided to limit the choice among eminent professors to the products of the university in order to allow for continuity. Also, Atayero’s predecessor, who described his successor as perfect man for the task, presented his handover note entitled: “On the Wings of a Prophetic Verdict: Vision 10:2022” to the new vice-chancellor and prayed that God will give him the wisdom and the grace to take the university to greater heights. “I congratulate the incoming vice-chancellor. Actually, we started the journey togeth-

ODL to resolve admission crisis, says JABU VC Mojeed Alabi

s part of his recommendations towards resolving the challenge of access to university education in the country, the Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Prof. Sola Fajana has suggested the adoption of the Open and Distance Learning sys-

NCCE accreditation team visits college, appraises programmes Lawrence Nwimo FCE UMUNZE

o ensure quality service delivery in line with the mandates of the college, a 37-member accreditation team from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), was last week at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State on a five-day quality assurance as well as assessment of facilities, academic programmes and appraisal of the teaching staff.

According to the team leader, Dr. Vitalis Uji, who spoke during the opening ceremony of the exercise, which took place at the permanent site of the college, however, noted that the team comprised of experts from different professions across all the six geo-political zones of the federation. He said the team was in the college to assess the standard of all the academic departments with a view to reappraising and accrediting the courses that met the required standard, while those that fell short of the standard as

Cross section of the team and management of the college led by Ogbuagu shortly after the opening ceremony.

benchmarked by the Commission, would be denied accreditation. Uji, who spoke on behalf of the team, said that they would ensure a quality exercise, even as he described their visit as a normal exercise being carried out periodically in all colleges

er. I, therefore, have no doubt whatsoever that Prof. Atayero will be able to move the university forward at a faster rate, having been part and parcel of the vision,” Ayo said. In his acceptance speech, the new helmsman thanked the board for the confidence reposed in him to carry the mantle of leadership of the institution, even as he acknowledged that the task before him is not an easy one, but that he is optimistic that victory would be achieved. Atayero said: “When I was made the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), and I was writing my acceptance letter then, one of the things I noted was I am fully persuaded that this can only be done exclusively by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is pleasing that I am currently on the mountain, and one of the scriptures I read on the mountain is Romans 9:28: ‘For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth’. “I am convinced that victory would be achieved even before the last lap as set by our indefatigable Chancellor. Another good reason is that we are standing on a very sound foundation. It is only a privilege for us and the team coming in to be able to carry this mantle forward and we make bold to say that by His grace we shall not disappoint.”

of education across the country. He noted that their assignment was to sustain quality assurance and control in the system, saying the team’s terms of reference include assessment of the quality of students and the lecturers.

tem, saying it is the future of education system globally. He disclosed this while addressing participants at a training programme on the Open and Distance Learning Scheme at the university’s Centre for Distance Learning. According to him, ODL is one of the major ways the country can increase access to higher education, which he noted is crucial to the nation’s development. The human resource expert revealed that JABU, as the first private university in the country to kick start open and distance learning programme, explained past attempts by the university at creating a difference in the nation’s education system. Earlier in his speech, the Facilitator, Dr. Olusoji Adewunmi noted that the whole essence of the training was to help staff members to familiarise themselves with the modus operandi of the programme and to ensure the smooth running of the initiative. He said the programme is scheduled to commence in October as part of the 2016/2017 academic session of the institution.

education

TUESDAY, juLY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Winners of secondary school essay competition emerge Kayode Olanrewaju

he winners of the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition have emerged. They are Miss. Fadilah Saliu-Ahmed, a student of Zamani College, Kaduna, who led the pack; Miss. Barakat Adebayo of Roshallom International School, Egbeda, Lagos, who came second and Miss. Wuraola Adeoye of Fountain Height Secondary School, Lagos, who placed third respectively. The essay competition, a yearly intellectual contest for secondary school students was instituted by the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the as part of his contribution towards the growth and development of education in the country. The theme for this year’s lecture is “The State of The Nigeria Nation: Redefining Our Values” To emerge as the overall winner, Saliu-Ahmed scored 75 per cent in the first round of the competition and maintained the same grade to lead in the second round, according to the Chief Examiner, Prof. T. A. Ezeigbo,

a don at the University of Lagos. Saliu-Ahmed, she said, wrote with tact in a natural and effortless way. “Her expressive ability and the application of necessary grammatically disposition, made her the first prize winner for this year’s competition,” the don said. Other winners of the competition are Miss. Oluchi Onyenso of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, who came fourth; Moradeyo Olaitan of Fountain Height Secondary School, Lagos, came fifth, while the sixth and seventh position went to Nathaniel Brown of Ritman College, Ikot Epkene in Akwa-Ibom State and Master Ibe Solomon of Township Comprehensive Secondary School, Amaifeke in Imo state. According to the Chief Examiners’ report for 2016 edition of the competition, a total of 846 entries were received for the competition. On the grading of the essays, the organizer, Prof. Ezeigbo said introduced a filtering procedure and quality enhancement mechanisms, which ensured that only good and judgeable essays got to the judges for assessment.

“The competition has become immensely popular, and the formation of an alumni association is becoming an increasing possibility. This year, incidences of copying, collaboration and plagiarisms that regularly characterised the exercise in preceding years have reduced significantly,” she noted. According to Group Manager, Operations, TREM International, Reverend Oluwayomi Uteh, the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition was initiated in 2004, as part of activities making the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo and more importantly to contribute to the development of the educational sector. Explaining how the winners emerged, the Chief Examiner said: “In the first round of the competition, we adjudged seven contestants as suitable to proceed to the one-hour written test intended to confirm the integrity of their submissions. This test usually takes place in the premises of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Headquarters, and the contestants are able to meet face to face and have time, albeit a short one, to forge new friendships.

Saliu-Ahmed; Adebayo and Adeoye

Council, NUC to introduce Maritime Law in varsities Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council are collaborating on how to introduce Maritime Law as a course of study in Nigerian universities. Such course, according to them, is part of determination to address the dearth of knowledge in Maritime law in the Nigerian Judicial System, since Maritime Law is not offered in any Nigerian university either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie by his counterpart (Executive Secretary) of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council,

Mallam Hassan Bello. According to Bello, the dearth of legal practitioners and judges, who are knowledgeable in Maritime Law, has continued to hinder the adjudication of maritime cases in the country. He said the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed had directed the Council to collaborate with NUC to introduce the basics of Maritime Law in the curriculum of Faculties of Law in universities. Bello noted that other Justices of the Supreme Court had also requested the Council to follow suit, saying: “This, according to their lordships, is because until recently, Maritime Law was not taught in our universities both at undergraduate and post graduate levels.” He added: “As a result of

this, our Judges, who are called to dispense justice on complex maritime issues, found it extremely tasking to dispose of such matters expeditiously. As matter of fact, some Justices of the Supreme Court and those of the Court of Appeal had in the past admitted that they had no prior contact with admiralty law until after participating in the Maritime Seminar for Judges Series. “In several instances, their lordships find solace in the papers that were presented at the past seminars in determining complex maritime cases.” However, the Executive Secretary of Shippers ‘ Council lamented that Nigerians who are interested in developing a career in admiralty practice have had to undertake such course abroad at a great cost.

EDUPEACE

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

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Post-UTME, the baby and the bathwater

ike the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, many informed Nigerians were “more than shocked by the announcement that the post-UTME, as part of the qualifying procedure for admission into Nigerian universities, has now been cancelled.” More disturbing was the confusion that first trailed the announcement with the discordant tunes sung on the new admission modus operandi by both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB). Expectedly, the reaction of the core stakeholders, such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to the development was negative. According to the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the cancellation “portends serious danger for the quality of education in the country.” He added that the policy is “unacceptable and potentially harmful to the future of Nigeria’s education system.” However, the policy was welcomed by some Nigerians. For instance, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN) commended the Federal Government on scrapping it. In a statement issued by the Secretary General of SUN, Mr. Sunday Attah, Post-UTME is a mere guise “to extort admission seekers under the guise of screening them for competence.” This argument is simplistic and faulty but that is not our focus here. A bit of history will give the issue at stake a proper perspective. JAMB was created by the Federal Government in 1978 partly to address the confusion characterising the admission process, especially a situation in which multiple admissions were offered to same candidates by universities at the expense of other qualified ones. As it was a military era, no regard was given to the Act establishing universities, which gives them the right to determine the quality of their intakes. JAMB continued to do its work until it emerged that corruption had set in. Universities became miffed especially since the beginning of the current century about several cases of mismatch between high JAMB scores and the students, who paraded them at the point of entry. It became increasingly apparent that “miracle centres” with the alleged connivance of senior officials of JAMB corrupted the system such that marks became commercialised and high scores were awarded to the highest bidders. The matter reached its climax in 2003 with a dramatic incident bordering or inexcusable academic incompetence and universities decided they could no longer tolerate such anomaly. Despite the opposition of JAMB, Post-JAMB started in 2004 and it has witnessed considerable improvement in terms of quality and reliability, especially after the University of Ilorin, then under the leadership of Prof. Is-haq

...The cancellation portends serious danger for the quality of education in the country Oloyede (OFR), pioneered the use of Computer-Based Test (CBT) in conducting the screening. All universities were to follow that model and it became standard for suitable candidates to pass both UTME and Post-UTME before being admitted. All efforts by JAMB to stop Post-UTME were abortive, including dragging Vice-Chancellors to the National Assembly, till it achieved what I would reckon as a master-stroke last year. In 2015, JAMB fully migrated to the use of CBT thereby effectively tackling the human factor that eroded confidence in its results and engendered examination malpractice and corruption that once characterised its examinations. It became apparent that if the argument is on maintaining standard, JAMB scores can now be relied on again as the body uses the technology-driven model the universities have adopted. Admittedly, the conduct of Post-UTME comes with stress for hundreds of thousands of students who have to travel far and sometimes get exposed to unfavourable conditions at their screening centres and prospective universities. It is also true that some applicants get exploited, both financially and otherwise, by unscrupulous university officers who give them false admission assurances. Yet, the merits of Post-JAMB outweigh its demerits. In essence, it is always important not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Since Post-UTME has been tested and trusted, such that it even relieves some stakeholders from pressure as poor though influential candidates are easily weeded off, cancelling it altogether may not be in our best interest. Reforming it is otherwise suggested. For instance, if the cost of administering it is pegged at a maximum of N1,000 and adequate accommodation is guaranteed to needy candidates, Post-UTME would only enhance the capacity of the university system to produce more quality graduates.

RE: OGBONAGO’S AMPLE EXAMPLE

ood character is the essence of life. I commend Mr Ogbonago’s exemplary act in this era that greed is perceived as the norm. Sir, I agree with you that the bank should assist him to further his education. –Aina Akindele Oyebanji, Ketu, Lagos State.

BUSINESS |Money Line

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN MPC member: FG, state’s borrowings unsustainable

Caution Projects can’t generate income required to repay loans

Tony Chukwunyem

member of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Professor Chibuike Uche, has faulted the current spate of borrowings by the Federal and State Governments, saying that they are unsustainable. According to minutes from the 12-member MPC May meeting posted on the apex bank’s website yesterday, Professor Uche argued that both the Federal and State authorities have not produced any evidence to show that the projects they are borrowing to fund can generate the income required to repay the loans. He said, “The current spate of borrowings by both the states and the federal government is also unsustainable. Loans and ‘investments’ that cannot demonstrate a clear path for generating future income streams for their retirement should be discouraged. Perhaps the most ridiculous of these kinds of fiscal recklessness in the current widespread borrowing by state governments to pay civil service salaries and the continued unfettered access speculative foreign portfolio flows have to the Nigerian economy.” He added, “One sometimes

which among others include: education, transportation, electricity and security are all in tatters.” Similarly, last week, the Director-General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo, warned that most states of the Federation do not have the capacity to manage debts. He said that while the Fed-

wonders where the income streams that would be used to repay such loans would come from in the future.” The MPC member also called for an urgent restructuring of the civil service, stressing that such a move had become imperative given the worsening state of the nation’s economy. He said, “Given the cost dynamics of our currently limited national income, the need to restructure our over bloated, and some would say, corrupt and inept civil service is now urgent. A situation where more than half of our national budget is spent on maintaining the civil service is unacceptable and unsustainable.” Professor Uche, one of the academics on the MPC, further stated that while monetary policy can assist in steering the country out of its present economic difficulties, the fiscal authorities had a greater role to play in tackling the crisis. According to him, “Although the current war against corruption and the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) have been bold steps in the right direction, very little progress has been made with respect to diversifying our economy away from its dependence on oil rents. Admittedly, doing this would not be easy especially given the fact that valuable oil rents were wasted in the past four decades to the detriment of the infrastructural development of the country. The consequence is that all the key infrastructural facilities that support economic development,

s part of the process of easing its grip on the naira and attracting inflows, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) foreignexchange trading platform, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, has called on banks to disclose all their currency transactions, including those done with customers that weren’t previously booked. Bloomberg quoted FMDQ OTC’s Chief Executive Officer, Bola Onadele, as asking dealers in an e-mail on July 21 to “update all trades irrespective of the exchange rate.” He said, “The Central Bank of Nigeria is very interested in credible price formation for the spot foreignexchange market. It is also imperative for price discovery and liquidity assessment of our market, which are key

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 27/6/2016 27/6/2016

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM

Price 104.54 114.58 111.91 120.62 109.79 100.32 83.54 97.16

1.06 3.23 3.86 5.81 7.94 9.80 14.30 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.2500 8.2420 10.1127 11.7162

Bid Yield 10.45 10.54 11.61 11.43 12.23 12.43 12.49 12.54

Change (%) -0.21 ▼ -0.87 ▼ -0.90 ▼ -0.66 ▼

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

Price 104.69 114.88 112.21 120.92 110.09 100.62 83.84 97.46

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1731 6.4137 7.3300 8.8857 9.6247 10.5416

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.30 10.44 11.52 11.36 12.18 12.38 12.44 12.50

Change (%) -1.82 ▼ -0.82 ▼ -0.75 ▼ -0.32 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.34 7.47 -0.35 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.75 30-Jun-16 7.59 7.73 -0.35 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.37 8.12 8.47 -0.24 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.25 8.74 -0.24 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.40 10.32 0.04 ▲ 9.15 10.02 0.04 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

to activate foreign portfolio investment flows.” Banks should publish all their so-called “off-line trades” on the trading system “within 30 minutes of execution of such transactions,” according to a separate e-mail sent to dealers by FMDQ on the same day. The naira fell 3.9 per cent, the most since the devaluation, to N305.25 on July 22, the day after Onadele’s e-mail. Reuters however, reported that the naira declined 2.5 per cent to a new closing low of N310 per dollar yesterday, failing to lure in local investors or foreign players as trade dried up a day before an expected interest rate hike from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The news agency reported that the local currency had opened at a record low of N302.10 and traded a total of just $8.64 million by the close, far less than $100.54 million last Friday, when the CBN spurred the market by selling some of its dollars. Last Thursday, the naira fell through N300; a month after the apex bank lifted its controls on the currency. Last Friday it hit an all-time intraday low of N331 before recovering ground by the

close. The CBN had hoped that scrapping the dollar peg and letting the currency fall by a third would help attract investment and erase the need for a black market, where the naira trades another 17 per cent weaker against the dollar. But some foreign players have stayed out of the market, traders say, adding that they will be closely watching the outcome of the central bank’s policy meeting today. Analysts expect the bank to raise interest rates, which should make the currency more attractive to foreign investors. Before the CBN pegged the naira to a fixed rate against the dollar, the interbank market had traded volumes of over $100 million a day every day. The Federal Government has struggled to attract foreign money into its bond and equity markets since devaluing the naira by 30 per cent on June 20, ending a 16-month peg of N197-199 per dollar, with investors concerned the CBN was still controlling the exchange rate. FMDQ started operations in 2013 and its chairman is Sarah Alade, deputy governor of the CBN.

Nigeria to host African Central Bank Governors’ meetings

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

spread view that a country’s capacity to borrow depends on its debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, contending that while this is important, what is more significant is the debt to revenue ratio. “Before a country borrows it must ensure that it has the revenue to repay the debt otherwise there is no point borrowing that amount in the first place,” he stated.

●Currency closes at N310/$ amid liquidity shortage

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$45.18 US$26,321,577,251

eral Government represented by the Debt Management Office (DMO) has the capacity to manage debts, almost all the states lack this capacity. According to the WAIFEM boss, before any state borrows it should ensure it has the capacity to manage the debt otherwise it might not be able to effectively utilise the borrowed funds. He disagreed with the wide-

FMDQ asks banks to book naira deals

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

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -0.08 ▼ -0.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Isa Abdulwahab

he 2016 Annual Meetings of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB) have been scheduled to hold in Abuja, from 15-19 August, 2016. The meeting of the Assembly of Governors, according to a statement by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will be preceded by a technical committee and Bureau meetings from August 15-17, 2016 as well as a Symposium on August 18, 2016 with the theme: “Unwinding Unconventional Monetary Policies: Implications for Monetary Policy and Financial Stability in Africa.” The symposium scheduled to hold at the CBN Head Office, Central Area, Abuja will be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, while the Keynote address will be delivered by Professor Mario Draghi, Governor, European Central Bank. Speakers at the symposium include Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, Former Governor,

Central Bank of Kenya and Dr. Augustin Carstens, Governor, Central Bank of Mexico. The concept for the formation of an Association of African Central Banks according to the statement, was first introduced on May 25, 1963, at the Summit Conference of African Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this regard, African Heads of State and Government unanimously agreed to set up a preparatory Economic Committee to study a large range of monetary and financial issues, in collaboration with Governments and in consultation with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The first AACB meeting of Governors was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 15th-22nd, 1965, mainly to examining a cooperation mechanism and its related organs. Since then, the Association has, in addition to various extraordinary meetings, organised 38 ordinary sessions.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market down by N10bn LOW CONFIDENCE Market closes southward

Stories: Chris Ugwu

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday opened the trading week in the red, sustaining bearish trend in spite of 26 gainers recorded against 17 losers. The NSE All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation fell by 0.11 per cent each. The downswing according to market watchers was due to sell off that had pervaded the local bourse lately. Consequently, the AllShare Index dropped by 29.54 basis points or 0.11 per cent from 27,659.44 index

points last Friday to close at 27.629.90, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N10 billion or 0.11 per cent to close at N9.489 trillion from N9.499 trillion. Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that Oando Plc topped the day’s gainers’ table with 9.96 per cent to close at N5.63 per

share, while Transcorp Plc followed with 9.63 per cent to close at N1.48 per share. UCAP Plc added 5.26 per cent to close at N2.40 per share. On the flip side, Forte Oil Plc led the losers’ chart with a drop of 9.74 per cent to close at N175.91 per share. Seplat Petroleum Development Plc shed five per

cent to close at N313.50 per share. Avon Crown Plc followed with 4.83 per cent to close at N1.38 per share. On the activity chart, banking subsector of the financial services sector dominated in volume terms with 143.4 million shares exchanged in 1.082 deals. The sub sector was enhanced by the activities in the shares

The company in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a profit after tax of N779.783 million during the half year as against N868.222 million in 2015, representing a decline of 10.18 per cent. Profit before tax was down by 9.90 per cent from N1.272 billion in 2015 to N1.146 billion during the period under review, accounting for a decline of 9.90 per cent. The company’s revenue dropped marginally by 3.12 per cent to N3.447 billion in 2016 from N3.558 billion in 2015. CAP Plc, a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc and manufacturer of Dulux had

of UBA Plc and Skye Bank Plc. Premium subsector boosted by the activities on the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc trailed with 142.4 million units traded in 647 deals. In all, investors exchanged a total of 378.5 million shares exchanged in 3,519 deals.

Nascon reports 23% H12016 PAT growth

ascon Allied Industries Plc has recorded 23.35 per cent growth in profit after tax for the half year ended June 30, 2016. According to the company’s notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the profit after tax stood at N1.273 billion from N1.032 billion in the same period of 2015, indicating an increase of 23.35 per cent. The company’s pre-tax

profit for the period ended 2016, equally grew by 23.38 per cent to N1.873 billion from N1.518 billion recorded a year earlier. Revenue firmed up from N6.605 billion in 2015 to N8.589 billion in the review period of 2016; showing an increase of 30.03 per cent. Addressing shareholders recently at the AGM, the former Chairman, Aliko Dangote said: “The past three

years have seen substantial investment in expanding our product lines as well as strengthening and restructuring almost every aspect of our existing operations. In 2015, our objective was to grow seasoning, refined oil tomato paste businesses to ensure that these new product lines compliment and straighten our existing refined salt business, contributing to revenue and delivering

CAP’s Q2 net earnings down by 10% hemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc has recorded a 10 per cent drop in net earnings for half year ended June 30, 2016.

recorded a turnover of N7.06 billion, a growth of one per cent and profit before tax of N2.57 billion, an increase of five per cent over N2.442 billion in 2014. Addressing the company’s shareholders at the AGM in Lagos recently, Chairman of the Company, Mr Larry Ettah had said: “On the strength of this performance, the Board has recommended a final dividend of N840 million representing 120 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary share to shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on May 27, 2016 for consideration and approval. “This is in addition to the interim dividend of 115 kobo per share paid on December 15, 2015. This brings the total dividend for 2015 financial

year to N1.645 billion, representing 235 kobo per share.” On the review of the company’s operations, Ettah said that to further improve the company’s brand visibility and accessibility to consumers, the company opened additional Dulux Colour Centres in Yola and Gombe and Dulux Colour Shops in Lafia, Ada-George Port Harcourt, Ado-Ekiti, Dugbe Ibadan, Agbor, Suleja, Lugbe Abuja and Jalingo. Ettah stated that the company retained its ISO 9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certifications on Quality and Environmental standards respectively as it continued to offer high quality products and services to customers while complying with regulatory requirements and conduct its operations

in a healthy and safe manner, ensuring minimal impact on the environment. On the outlook for 2016, the Chairman stated, “Fiscal policy is expected to be largely expansionary, as the government seeks to stimulate economic activities and generate employment. The year has, however, started on an adverse mode, with acute shortage of foreign exchange.” Ettah also noted, “The cumulative effect of the scarcity of forex, falling oil prices, and the resurgence of restiveness in the Niger Delta, which could endanger the production output of 2.2m barrels per day and the continued depletion of foreign reserves pose serious threats to businesses and social activities in 2016”.

profit. “We resolved the technical difficulties encountered during the installation and testing phases for the vegetable oil refinery and tomato paste packaging machines. The crude palm oil refinery, with an installed capacity of 156,000 metric tones and the tomato paste packaging plants, with an installed capacity of 37,440 metric tones were commissioned in the third quarter of 2015. Dangote said that the production from these new lines have been constrained due to current foreign currency restrictions. He disclosed that the Board on December 15, 2015 appointed Yemisi Ayeni, who succeds him as chairperson of the company. Dangote noted that the Board is confident that she will drive Nascon’s advancement, adding that her influence has already been established in her commitment to provide stable and well directed leadership, which has enhanced the board’s performance. The new Chairperson, Ayeni said that it was an honour for her to succeed Aliko Dangote as Board Chairman. “I am confidence that as we continue to invest appropriately in existing and new product lines, we will achieve our strategy of growing revenues,” she said.

NEWS | south-west

N25bn ETF: Lagos to jail applicants with falsified information Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday threatened to jail any applicants who applied for the state's N25billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF)with falsified information, saying such applicants would also be forced to pay times two of the loan collected among other penalties. The government which also assured that interested residents would begin to access the fund by September 2016, said modalities were being worked on to ensure a hitch-free disbursement of the fund for the would-be-entrepreneurs. Speaking at the sensitisation programme organised by the Office of the Civic Engagement for the artisans, associations and residents in the informal sector, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Kehinde Joseph, said the programme was to assure residents that the funds was accessible to residents irrespective of tribes, age, religion or group as long as they resided in Lagos. Kehinde said: "In pursuit of wealth creation and

reduction of youth unemployment, the state government has put in place a whopping N25bn Employment Trust Fund backed by the necessary legal administrative machinery for effective implementation. This approach is one of the many strategies adopted by the administration to enhance productivity, reduce social conflict and ensure socio-economic growth of the state." On the penalties for those who applied for the fund with falsified data, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adedeji Kazeem,

said defaulters would be liable to two years imprisonment and forfeiture of the funds. The Attorney-General, who was represented by Mrs Tola Akinsanya, said residents shouldn't see the money as part of their national cake but a means to assist those willing to do something tangible with available capital. He said: "Section 29 of the Employment Law states clearly the penalties. The punishment varies. For instance, if you misrepresents fact, that is; if you give false information, when fill-

ing the form or represent an interest group you defraud the Trust Fund, the minimum offence is that you pay twice the amount which you collected. You may also be imprisoned for two years upon conviction or you will be sentenced to community service under non-custodian law." Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Civic Engagement said there were constrains in the employment of billions of job seekers across the globe just as the state government was also doing its best to reduce unemployment rate in the state.

tuesday, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo PDP sets up committee to reconcile aggrieved aspirants Babatope Okeowo Akure

he leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo North senatorial district of Ondo State has set up a five-man committee to resolve disputes among the governorship aspirants of the party in the zone. There have been disputes in the State chapter of the party over the support given to Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN as the candidate of the party by some aggrieved aspirants dialogue. The aggrieved aspirants, Prince Bamiduro Dada, Alhaji Yekini Ola-

L-R: Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ferguson Dukas Bobai; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Abraham Olema Adaji, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Lagos … yesterday

Fayose: Ekiti got N2.51bn, not N9bn for July allocation Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has debunked claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the state received over N9billion from the Federation Account for the month of July. Instead, he said his government got a net allocation of N2.5 billion from the Federation Account contrary to an alleged claim by the APC that the state got over N9 billion.

Fayose made this disclosure in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital yesterday while featuring on state radio and television stations. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor challenged the APC and any other person or group having contrary figures to make such public. Holding the allocation paper containing the breakdown of the latest receipt from Abuja, the governor clarified that after the deduction of over N900 million to

service the state's debts, what eventually came to the state was N2.51 billion just as the 16 local governments received N2.01 billion. Fayose said: "Those peddling unfounded rumour were given their own opportunity to lead the state and they left the state in huge debts. Their failed white elephant projects litter the state. The uncompleted civic centre; the new Governor's Office along NTA Road where they only scrapped the ground, the pavilion was uncom-

Hijab: Osun ruler preaches religious tolerance Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

raditional ruler of Iragbiji, in Osun state, Oba Abdul Rasheed Olabomi yesterday asked Muslims and Christians to live in harmony, urging them to shun any act capable of endangering peaceful coexistence among the adherents of the two religions. The traditional ruler who made the remark at a post-Ramadan Lecture of the Guild of Muslim Professionals in Osogbo en-

titled:" Tolerance in Islam, a Misunderstood Concept" cautioned them on resorting to self-help in order to resolve any religious differences among themselves in the name of religion. He said: "All Nigerians must subscribe to religious understanding and accommodation rather than tolerance which previously preached in the country. "Muslims and nonMuslims must learn to accommodate one another for peace to reign in the country." “Tolerance applies when

one grudgingly accepts what should ordinarily be rejected or repelled but understanding is accepting the other person for what he is, including his strength and deficiencies. “Hijab is a way of life for Muslim ladies and women, is worn at home and in public places without which they are not complete as Muslims; hence non-Muslims must accept and accommodate it as part of the fundamental human rights of Muslim ladies to the existence and religious expression.”

pleted and left in a state of disrepair. "I have always made known whatever comes to the state as allocations. There is nothing to hide as even the federal authorities do publish the allocations in daily newspapers. Their mischief has failed and by God's grace they cannot defeat me. Let them continue to delude themselves, Ekiti people

are no fools, they know the truth and those who stand for the truth.” However, the governor reiterated his commitment to ensure that the social security scheme where 1000 people would be paid N5000 monthly stipends would soon take off, assuring that the money would be paid directly into people's accounts and not given to anybody to disburse.

nipekun, Mr Dayo Fadahunsi, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Hon Bakitta Bello, Senator Remi Okunrinboye, Chief Sola Ebiseeni and Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye have vowed to protest Jegede’s endorsement. Besides, they vowed to shun the party’s primaries involving any aspirant from Ondo Central senatorial district because of the perceived endorsement of Jegede by Governor Olusegun Mimiko. They argued that since the governor had majority of the delegates who would determine the fate of the aspirants, there would be no need to compete with the governor’s anointed candidate. But yesterday, leaders of the party from the Owo/Ose axis of the zone has set up a fiveman committee headed by a former Minister of Education, Dr. Ade Abitoye to dialogue with the aspirants in order to work as a team for the forthcoming election. Other members of the team included the pioneer Chairman of the PDP in the State, Col Babatunde Awodeyi, Mrs Eniolorunda, Mrs Mobolaji Suuara and Mr Ojo Adewale. At a meeting held Mr Tokunbo Modupe's residence in Akure, the state capital, the leaders agreed to support the aspiration of Jegede and persuade other aspirants to key into the party’s decision. At the meeting were the chairmen of local governments, commissioners and party officials from the North senatorial district.

8.76m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Argentina in 2004.

Group wants FG to tackle religious, ethnic crises Temitope Ogunbanke

orried by the activities of herdsmen, religious fanatics and ethnic bigots across the country, a group, Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights (CECCUR), has called on federal and state governments to tackle ongoing senseless killings in the country in the name of religion and ethnicity. CECURR in a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Debo Adeniran, called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to be preemptive in identifying potentially crisis prone groupings and differentiation with a

view to nipping the fruits of hatred, ethnicity and religious bigotry in the bud by deploying strategy. It reads: “We are convinced that it is only education, dialogue and promotion of tolerance and unity that can assuage this prevalent situation nationally and globally. Our people must be educated on the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘tolerance.’ “Situations where mosques, churches, traditional worships, party mongers etc go about their activities without consideration for the rights of other persons will never foster harmonious co-existence. “It is important to note thatthe incessantkillings;the hatred and seeming national disunity are link to the undy-

ing national question which inspired and gave birth to the call for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) since the late 80s. “A Sovereign National Conference organised by the people themselves is the one and only way to resolve the national question that continues to linger and rears its disturbing head almost at all facets of our national life. “Government must address these killings wholesomely. It must first put in everything it takes to protect lives and property and address the varied grievances of the people from the perspective of understanding their strong sentiments rather than derogating them."

south-east | news

tuesday, july 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disclosed that Nigeria will know no peace until their leader Nnamdi Kanu is given unconditional release. A statement made available to the media and signed by their spokesman, Emma Powerful, stated that refusal to release Kanu will bring dire consequences on Nigeria to an extent that Nigeria might be turned into another Somalia. It reads: "When the dust settles over the numerous calls for separation and restructuring in Nigeria, the world will know that it all started with the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu. Fortuitously, retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari's public approval rating was 80% in October 2015, the same month he illegally kidnapped Nnamdi Kanu. Ever since, Buhari’s personal political standing as well as Nigeria's economic well-being has

No peace for Buhari until Kanu is freed –IPOB nose-dived to 30% approval rating as at July 2016. As Prophet Nwoko had predicted, ‘Heaven will strike if Nnamdi Kanu is not released’. "Between the illegal detention of Nnamdi Kanu and the massacre of Biafrans on the 30th of May 2016, Buhari has steadily and continually engaged in ethnic cleansing of the Biafran people. His killing spree on Biafrans and the despoliation of the Biafran environment plus the refusal to obey court orders on the release of Nnamdi Kanu were harbingers to the emergence of diverse freedom-fighting groups which Buhari and his acolytes nicknamed militants. One of these freedomfighting groups is the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). The NDA has dealt a devastating blow in the oil and gas industry and for which hydrocarbon production has plummeted. "The political environment in Nigeria has remained unstable. Nigeria

change OF NAME

Falade-Ope

I, formerly known and addressed as Falade Hajarah Omitola, now wish to be known and addressed as Falade-Ope Hajarah Omitola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Onyenachi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nworji Katherine onyenachi wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Endurance Amboro Katherine. The documents bearing my former name Miss Katherine Onyenachi remain valid. General public take note.

Ileozoh

I, formerly known and addressed as Deborah Dedewo, now wish to be known and addressed as Ngozi Chioma Ileozoh. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Mathew

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Hughes

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Ziteirai

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Kolomo

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Alabi

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Oluwaseun

This is to confirm that the names Ogundare Olusola Samuel and Ogundare Samuel Oluwaseun refer to one and the same person. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Apolola

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Orogwu

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Mmaduabuchi

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Oboro-Aye

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Zaccheus

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has developed irreparable fault lines engendered by Buhari’s inept partisan governance style and his non-observance of the ethos of democracy and the rule of law. Both Executive and Legislative arms of government are confused, unproductive, and antithetical to democratic objectives. Instead of Buhari to carry out reflexive praxis on the many issues bedeviling the country he claims to be the presi-

dent of, he is busy beating war drums and enjoying his pastime which is the slaughter of innocent Biafrans. Unknown to Buhari, the root cause of the aforementioned political woes facing his country is the illegal incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu and the flagrant disobedience of court orders related to the unconditional release of Mr. Kanu. As a matter of fact, the call for restructuring wouldn't have hap-

pened if not for Nnamdi Kanu's well-articulated and relentless pursuit of Biafra and Buhari's dictatorial nature of interfering with the judiciary. According to the group, “the social spectrum is also badly hit by Buhari’s lack of basic understanding of how democracy works and the need to subject himself to the law of the land which he swore to uphold and obey under Schedule-7

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (middle), and others, during the inauguration of Urban Radio at Independence Layout, Enugu…yesterday.

of Nigeria’s Constitution. “Several thousands of lives have been avoidably lost to terrorist attacks coming from Islamic fundamentalists of Northern extraction, under the protection of Buhari. From Borno to Benue and from Potiskum to Port-Harcourt, several lives have been cut short courtesy of a dysfunctional security and law enforcement system. People are now walking and looking over their shoulders and around them while thanking their creator for sparing every minute of their lives. This was not the situation prior to the illegal incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu. "Religious bigotry has reached a crescendo in Nigeria under the presidency of Buhari especially since the illegal incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu. There have been beheadings of Christians by Islamic fundamentalists, lynching of non-Muslims by Boko Haram members, and outright mass-murder of Shiite Muslims by Sunnipracticing members of Buhari’s armed forces.

Imo North: Okorocha on a wild goose chase –Ekweremadu

he Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has reacted to a statement by Governor of Imo State, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, alleging that the Deputy

President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, relocated to Imo State during the inconclusive Imo North Senatorial District re-run election, in a bid to influence the outcome

Former Abia PDP chair berates opponents of state congress Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

s the leadership crisis in the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, the immediate past chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, has flayed the action of the splinter group for discrediting the state congress that produced the present leadership led by Chief Johnson

Onuigbo. In a statement issued by Nwaka and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, yesterday, the former chairman described as mischievous a situation where people who have used the party to achieve their political aim turn around and fight it. According to Nwaka, “Abia State PDP remains one and indivisible under the current leadership of Chief Johnson Onuigbo.

NDE resettles 1,000 youths in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Ebonyi State, yesterday said it has resettled over 1000 graduates during the implementation of its Vocational Skills Acquisition programme in the state. The State Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Marcel Igboanude, stated this in Abakaliki while briefing reporters on the achievements recorded by the

Agency in the state. He noted that the mandate of the NDE was geared towards employment generation, alleviation of poverty and creation of wealth for youths. According to him, NDE had three functional skills acquisition centres which were located in Nkwegu Abakaliki for Ebonyi North zone, Amaeze Ishiagu Ivo for Ebonyi South zone, and Egunnwenu in Ikwo for Ebonyi Central zone in the State.

in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A statement issued by Mr. Anichukwu, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Deputy President of the Senate, stated that it would have “allowed the governor to continue to wallow in his delusions and wild claims, but, considering the fact that this is the second consecutive statement by the governor in one week wherein he attempted to impugn the integrity and democratic credentials of the Office and person of the Deputy President of the Senate, we are being compelled to set the record straight. “The Deputy President of the Senate visited Imo State for the last time in 2015. It is also instructive that the governor’s claim comes on the heels of another statement by some

All Progressives Congress (APC) elements in Ezeagu Local Government Area on Sunday where they whined bitterly over the huge solidarity shown by the good people, stakeholders, and traditional rulers of Enugu State to Senator Ekweremadu during his annual Ikeoha Scholarship and Bursary Awards/Adult Literacy Day at the Council headquarters on the same Saturday, June 23, 2016. “For the same party to also claim that the same Ekweremadu who was empowering his people at Ezeagu in a well reported event on the same Saturday was also in Imo State at the same time to influence election is just another showcase of the buffet of lies, deceit, and confusion that has become the order of the day in the ruling party.”

Media, driving force for advancement of democracy – Ugwuanyi

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said yesterday that media organisations in any clime are instruments for the advancement of good governance and democracy. Speaking during the official opening of Urban Radio 94.5 FM Enugu, a private media outfit, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that its establishment was a welcome development which came at a time when the state government was making frantic efforts to attract more

investments to the state. He also stated that the station would enhance the efforts to ensure greater awareness, cooperation and participation of the citizens in the activities and programmes of the present administration in the state. While commending the management of the new station for its vision in establishing the outfit in Enugu, the governor emphasised the importance of the media in the development of the society.

42 News|south-South Edo pensioners protest non-payment of gratuities, pension Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ggrieved pensioners in Edo State yesterday defied the heavy down pour in Benin, the state capital to protest the non-payment of their 24-month arrears of pension owed them by the state government. The protesters, who were armed with placards, stormed the secretariat complex of the Edo Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where they laid their complaints and called for urgent steps to address their plights without delay. Spokesman for the pensioners, Mr. Gabriel Osemwenkhai lamented that the pensioners in the state have been visited with hardship over the non-payment of their pen-

sions and gratuities. The situation he said had led to the death of some of their members as they could not afford to pay their medical bills. Osemwenkhai said the pensioners were drawn from workers of the state civil service who retired since 2011, but were denied their claims by the state government. They also alleged that the state government had refused to commence the payment of their pension since the date of their retirement as stipulated in Civil Service Pension Law, pointing out that government’s refusal to listen to them had paved the way for backlog of arrears owed them. The situation according to him had further been compounded by the dissolution of the state pensions board.

Delta Speaker gives recipe for peace in Niger Delta Dominic Adele ASABA

peaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to admit that power belonged to the people, if he desired an end to the resumed hostility in the Niger Delta region. The speaker said unless the President investigates and review the ownership of oil wells in the region, peace in the troubled area may remain a ruse. He blamed the President for failing to allow the people of the region to control 65 per cent of their natural endowments since he assumed office last year. Addressing journalists in Sapele, his constituency, the speaker wondered why

the greater percentage of the oil wells in the region was owned by non-indigenes of the area. According to him, except the President open genuine dialogue with the people of the region and harken to their demands, the current recession in the country may be longer than expected. He said: “Mr. President should dialogue with the people. What are their problems? He should listen to the people. Power belongs to the people. In the interest of peace, harmony and unity of Nigeria, he should embrace dialogue. How many South-South people are owners of oil wells in this country? He should allow 65 per cent ownership of the oil wells by the people of the Niger Delta region.”

Oporoza community debunks $2,000 ‘gift’ from Dalung Ola James Warri

he people of Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State yesterday denied receiving $2, 000 from the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, during his alleged visit to the community. Reacting to reports that Dalung doled out money to a cross section of representatives of the community, who had come out to welcome him during the visit, the Public Relations Officer of the Oporoza Youth Executive, Paul Kirefede, said the Minister and his entourage dropped N20, 000 for a group of women and children who entered a group photograph

with Dalung and his entourage. According to the image maker, who claimed to have received the Minister on behalf of the community, “Dalung gave a group of children who had a group photograph with him N20, 000 and not $2, 000 as claimed in some quarters. Giving details of what transpired during the visit, Kirefede said: “After they declined proper identification of themselves leading to a walkout on them, a member of Dalung’s entourage now came to us saying there is N20, 000 for you guys. I guess that is the money they used in convincing the children to enter a group photograph with them.”

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okonoboh emerges new Edo Assembly speaker Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he political intrigues rocking the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State over the zoning of elective positions for equity and fairness may have finally been laid to rest as members of the state House of Assembly yesterday elected a new Speaker, Hon. Okonoboh Justine. Okonoboh hails from the Esan nation in the central senatorial district of the state. Until his emergence yesterday, Okonoboh, representing Igueben constituency of the state, was on May 4 elected the Deputy Speaker of the House fol-

lowing the impeachment of the former speaker, Hon. Victor Edoro and the subsequent election of the only female speaker, Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie, representing Uhummwode constituency. Okonoboh is a first timer in the hallowed chamber of the house. Ativie, before the election of the new speaker, stepped down and assumed the position of the new Deputy Speaker of the house. The member representing Owan East constituency and Majority Leader

of the House, Hon. Folly Ogedengbe, had moved the motion requesting the lawmakers for a change in the leadership of the House and was seconded by Hon. Chris Okaiben, representing Oredo West constituency. The new speaker had on assumption, assured other members that he would keep and continue to build on the peace and unity existing among the APC and PDP members in the House. Okonoboh also told newsmen shortly after

33%

150,000

The estimated percentage of the antiretroviral therapy coverage (range) of East, South and SouthEast Asia in December 2009. Source: Who.int

The official capacity of Rungrado May Day Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea. Source: Businessinsider.in

his election that, “what you have witnessed today is a family affair.” He promised that the welfare of “women will be taken care of and that all matters concerning women will be tabled before the House.” The new deputy speaker and immediate past speaker, Ativie, was also announced as the chairman of the Committee on Women Affairs. It will be recalled that leaders, elders and other stakeholders of the ruling APC in the state had met to deliberate and clear all grey areas that paved way for the emergence of the new speaker from Esan nation in the Edo senatorial district of the state, who replaced Elizabeth Ativie as speaker.

L-R: Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Justin Okonoboh, and his deputy, Hon Elizabeth Ativie, during a visit to the governor to introduce the new leadership of Edo State House of Assembly to the Governor, in BeninCity… yesterday

17,000 farmers scramble for CBN’s loan in C’River Clement James Calabar

o fewer than 17,000 farmers in Cross River State have completed the registration process required to access the Anchor Borrower Loan Scheme for the production of rice and other targeted crops facilitated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This disclosure was made yesterday by the

Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Prof. Anthony Eneji, in a briefing with journalists in Calabar. According to him, his Ministry was upbeat that before the expiration of the registration period, more farmers would have registered as the state expected not less than 30,000 farmers to register for the project. “We held a stakeholders’ forum with the farmers with the participation of the Central Bank, where

we jointly decided on how much it will take to farm and we arrived at N230, 000 per hectare and every farmer will get a minimum of N230, 000 per hectare, while the maximum is five hectares, Eneji said. “Those qualified were those who have opened bank accounts with the designated banks and have bank identification numbers and the required size of farmlands for rice cultivation.” Eneji said the farmers

will be provided with improved rice seedlings, pesticides, fertilizer and other inputs to enhance, saying benefitting farmer will not be allowed to sell the rice at the open market at the end of the harvest, but to designated rice processing companies selected for the purpose. He said other crops like oil palm and cotton were also approved by the CBN alongside rice, noting however, that rice was the flagship of the project.

Again, militant group gives FG two-week ultimatum Ola James Warri

militant group, Asawana Deadly Force of Niger Delta (ADFND), which earlier gave a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to grant the Niger Delta region sovereignty or risk the bombing of the Niger Bridge, Lagos Third Main Land Bridge, Forcados Terminal, among other important places, yester-

day said it was giving the Federal Government “the very last warning to do what it demanded or it will carry out the attack without further notice. In a statement by the group’s leader, Olomubini Kakarakokoro, aka No Mercy, “the Federal Government should not take us for granted any more. Our patience is running out and we have decided to let the world know our grievances and pains

again. We are sounding this as a last warning before the whirlwind gets down. The tsunami that would descend in the coming days would be severe for the current government to handle. Eneji said: “We bet you the government wouldn’t be able to handle what would happen in the Niger Delta in the days ahead. The operations that would follow our plans are strategic and all operations

would be codified as our goals have been codified in a one-line mission statement. Our mission is simple; give us our rightful due as producer of Nigeria’s oil wealth - that is our sovereign state. “The Federal Government cannot continue to give us crumbs. We own the oil, we own the wealth, we will no longer accept outsiders controlling the oil blocs that are in our land.”

News|north

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

10 killed, thousands flee as herdsmen attack Benue villages Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

unmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen yesterday launched fresh attacks on residents of Gaambe-Tiev in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving no fewer than 10 people dead and score others homeless. The attack was coming barely two weeks after a meeting between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the community involving traditional rulers from the warring sides to broker peace took place. It was also coming after some groups of herdsmen laid ambush in a church in the area and slaughtered

some farmers, including a school supervisor and his brother, who were said to be going to farm. New Telegraph gathered that the attackers, who violated the peace accord, made incursion into the area about 7:30 am, where they first attacked residents of Adayohol along Uwev-Gov/Sekav Road, killing two people and inflicted varying degree of injuries on several others. Our correspondent also gathered that more bodies were reportedly recovered from the bush as at the time of filing this report, while thousand others who fled their ancestral homes were taking refuge in other communities con-

sidered safe. A resident of the area and former media aide to the immediate past governor, Gabriel Suswam, Chief Joseph Anawa, told journalists that the two victims, Mr. Kuranen Uver was shot simultaneously on the stomach and on the hand, while the other, Aondohembe Isa, was macheted on his head and neck. Anawa said the victims who hail from Sontyo and Mbavuur communities were killed on their way to the farm located around Adayohol area, adding that their bodies were thereafter taken to the NKST Hospital in Anyiin, where several others who sustained varying degrees of

injuries were also receiving treatment. A member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Logo Constituency, Hon. Kester Kyenge, who confirmed the attack, condemned the incessant brutality on his people and called on the state government, whose responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the citizens, to rise up to its responsibility and provide adequate security for the people. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu said he was yet to receive details of the matter, but promised to brief journalists as soon as he gets adequate information on the attack.

Auto crash claims 7 FGGC students

ghastly automobile accident along Bauchi to Darazo road , involving a bus conveying students of Federal Government Girls College, Bauchi, and two other vehicles, on Monday claimed seven lives. A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the scene just as corpses of the deceased and those injured were being evacuated, reports that the students, 17 of them, survived the accident. Some of the students who spoke to NAN but did not want their names mentioned, said they were indigenes of Borno and were being conveyed to Maiduguri as the school had closed for the long vacation. They said six of their colleagues had minor injuries and had been taken to the hospital in Bauchi. Narrating the cause

of the incident to NAN, driver of the bus , Malam Dayyab Tahir,said a car coming from the opposite direction in high speed, veered off its lane and collided head-on with another car moving ahead of his bus. He said that but for the automatic brake he applied which reduced the impact when his bus also rammed on the two vehicles, the casualty on the part of the students would have been very high. Public Relatins Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi, Mr Rilwan Suleiman, confirmed the incident to NAN. He said dangerous driving and high speed by one of the cars involved, caused the accident. He said that of the 33 passengers in the three vehicles, seven died and nine were injured.

Bauchi: Abubakar apologises to civil servants over verification Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi

Parts of the Textiles Section of the old market, gutted by fire in Sokoto …at the weekend.

Kogi loses N213bn to ghost workers in 16 years Ademu Idakwo Lokoja

ogi State Government said it has lost N213,036 billion to ghost workers syndrome in the last 16 years. The governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who disclosed this however lamented the colossal lost recorded by the state through the syndrome, saying his administration has put a permanent stop to financial theft and activities of the financial saboteurs in the state. Bello stated this yesterday when the Backup

Committee jointly led by the Auditor General of the state, Alhaji Yusufu Okala and that of Local Governments, Mallam Usman Ahmed Ododo, submitted their reports to the governor during the stakeholders’ forum, which took place in Lokoja, the state capital. The governor said the screening exercise is the first layer of the civil service reform which his administration embarked upon, adding that the government was determined to reposition the civil service for it to play vital role of a facilitator in the economic growth and drive

in the state. The Auditor General, who presented the reports before the large audience at the forum, said as at February 22, the strength of the state and local government workforce stood at 88,973 with a monthly wage bill of N5.8 billion. He further explained that the unintended beneficiaries discovered through the screening exercise were 18,211 ghost workers. “Some workers were unjustly dropped by the Workers Verification Committees not to embarrass the governor, while

those who were not qualified were computed into the data.” he stated. The auditor general’s report received accolade from the crowd who had come to the forum with the mindset that state government was merely deceiving the workers, however, noted that the state will save N1.365 billion monthly through the verification exercise. Meanwhile, the governor has set up an 11 member review committee to entertain complaints that may arise from the screening exercise, which is expected to submit its report within 21 days.

Fire guts Sokoto old market, destroys valuables Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

roperty and valuables valued at several millions of naira were said to have been lost to the Sunday night inferno that razed the Sokoto Old Marked, as marketers has continued to count their losses. The fire, which was traced to a spark from the electricity supply by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, which was alleged to have ‘brought

and took off’ power simultaneously, was said to have begun at around 10.00pm, and raged for over three hours. According to an eye witness, the fire was put out by the combined efforts of fire service men from the State Fire Service, traders and good Samaritans, including Governor Aminu Tambuwal and members of the state cabinet. However, there was still pall of smoke yesterday when our correspondent visited the scene of the fire at the market, popu-

larly called “Kasuwar DanJabalu.” Following the inferno, hundreds of shop, onestorey stall, reputed for assorted clothing materials, foot wears, jewelries and foreign currencies exchange shops, among others, were destroyed in the inferno. A cross section of the traders, who are victims of the fire incident, described the tragedy as an act of God. One of the victims, Abdulkadir Mainiyo, while

narrating his ordeal and counted his loss, said of the fire incident: “This is a tragedy and we have taken it as such as faithful Muslims. We are, however, soliciting assistance from the federal and Sokoto State governments and other public spirited individuals, as well as corporate organisations to come to our help.’’ Meanwhile, Governor Tambuwal has expressed deep sympathy with the traders over the burnt market and their loss to the inferno.

auchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has apologised to civil servants in the state, lamenting that the verification exercise has failed to yield any meaningful result. The governor made the appeal during a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House, Bauchi, the state capital. The meeting, however, went into a closed door session, where issues associated with the verification exercise and the inability of the government to pay some workers for some

months were persistently discussed. Abubakar described the verification exercise as “rancorous” and regretted that the whole exercise was hijacked by politicians in the state, saying: “The verification exercise of the workers has become very essential in order to engender credibility in our payroll. We have gone through a very rancorous verification process, but to be honest with you those people, who are entrenched in the system, were fighting the system all the way.” He said: “In the process, some of them were recruited by politicians. The entire process was turned into politics. The verification, though rancorous, has not succeeded in yielding the full results and we are all aware of this.”

Nasarawa appoints interim management committee for councils Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

asarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday inaugurated Interim Management Committee for the Local Government Areas of the state, with a charge that they should look inward in diversifying the internally generated revenue. The governor further tasked the interim management committees to identify priority projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people at the local government areas in the state. While administering the oath of office on members of the Commit-

tee during the swear-in ceremony yesterday at the Government House, Al-Makura reminded the appointees that the current economic realities in the country did not call for luxuries. According to him, the government would not relent in its responsibilities of catering for the needs of citizens despite the financial challenges. The governor, therefore, urged the interim management committee to collaborate with other organisations to attract development to their respective local government areas. Al-Makura, however, assured them of government’s support to enable them to discharges their duties effectively.

NEWS

Suspected Boko Haram member held in Lagos Juliana Francis

etectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command have started quizzing a suspected Boko Haram member. The suspect, Mubaudeen Sadique, was arrested at the Igando area of Lagos yesterday evening, in full military camouflage uniform, long beards and turban. The suspect confessed to being from Kwara State. But his story leaves so many loopholes. He claimed to have attended Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), being a hunter and an agriculturist. He also refused to state where and how he got his military camouflage uniform. Eye witnesses said

Sadique was about to be lynched by the suspicious soldiers, when policemen on patrol duty, rescued him. The soldiers believed the suspect is a Boko Haram because of his dressing. He was in full military camouflage uniform and turban. The soldiers said that was the manner Boko Haram members used to dress. The suspect however denied being a member of Boko Haram. He described himself as soldier of God. A police source said: “He said he’s not Boko Haram member, just a soldier of God. Soldiers confronted him, but he denied being Boko Haram. We heard that the soldiers wanted to kill him, when police rescued him. He said that he

attended NDA; he’s a hunter and an agriculturist. When he was asked where he got his military uniform, he said he had been using it for long. He was dressed like Boko Haram member. He was in full military uniform, turban and long beards. No rifle was recovered from him.” The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, confirming the story, said: "The suspect was wearing army uniform and turban. Soldiers were about to lynch him, when policemen on patrol, rescued him. He said the uniform belonged to his brother. We are extending our investigations to the Nigerian Army, to ascertain if the uniform truly belonged to his brother."

WORLD \ NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Verizon buys Yahoo for $4.8bn

S internet firm Yahoo is being acquired by American telecoms giant Verizon Communications for nearly $4.8bn (£3.8bn) in cash. Yahoo will be combined with AOL, another faded internet star, which Verizon bought last year. The deal does not include Yahoo's valuable stake in Chinese firm Alibaba. The price tag for the deal is well below the $44bn Microsoft offered for Yahoo in 2008 or the $125bn it was worth during the dot. com boom. Verizon said the deal for Yahoo's core internet business, which has more than a billion active users a month, would make it a global

mobile media company. Marissa Mayer, chief executive of Yahoo, said: "Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL." In an email to staff, Ms Mayer said she was "planning to stay", adding: "I love Yahoo, and I believe in all of you. It's important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter." However, the takeover, which is due to be completed in early 2017, raises questions about whether the Yahoo brand could disappear. "That's the big open-ended question: what are they going to do with the brands?" said Michael Goodman, a direc-

tor at Strategy Analytics While this is a sad day for Yahoo - as big as Facebook and Google in its prime - it raises interesting questions about its new owner. What are Verizon's ambitions? Beyond the talk of becoming a global media company, Verizon chief executive Lowell McAdams wants a larger share of the booming digital advertising pie. And he thinks this deal will help him. As a leading US mobile phone network, Verizon already had a wealth of data from smartphone users that it could mine. Its purchase of AOL a year ago for its programmatic advertising technology allowed it to leverage that more effectively.

Buhari mourns former Kano deputy gov, Magaji Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of prominent politician and former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Senator, (Engr.) Magaji Abdullahi. The President, in a statement yesterday described Magaji as one of Nigeria's finest and resultdriven engineers of his time. In a message to the fam-

ily, the government and people of Kano State delivered by a Federal Government delegation led by Engineer Sulaiman Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources, President Buhari noted that under Magaji's tenure as head of one of the foremost water development agencies, Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA), he helped Kano State to enjoy the best water supply and availability on record, a feat he said was remarkable. Buhari said the late

Magaji was preoccupied with producing practical results rather than theorising about his job, a quality he noted, made the deceased an outstanding engineer who deserves a special place in our country’s engineering profession. Buhari also noted that achieving results was the best advertisement for any man's record in office, adding that the late Magaji's notable contributions to the development and progress of Kano State would not be forgotten.

Ngige inaugurates committee on safety, healthy profile Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

owards aligning with the rest of the world in the pursuit of sustainable preventive occupational safety and health culture, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator, Chris Ngige, has inaugurated the National Tripartite Technical Committee on the development of the first National Occupational Safety and Health profile in Nigeria. The Minister stressed that the National Occupa-

tional Safety and Health Profile when completed, would play a vital role in providing insight for the systematic strengthening of the National Occupational Safety and Health System thereby creating prospect for the methodical review of the progress and impact of the National Occupational Safety and Health Management in the country. Ngige, who was represented by the Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department in the Ministry, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade, noted that development of occupational

safety and health profile was a significant step towards sustainable occupational safety and health management in Nigeria. In his words: “The development of Occupational Safety and Health Profile is a significant step towards sustainable Occupational Safety and Health management in Nigeria. This giant stride marks the beginning of our nation`s efforts towards the development of the first National Occupational Safety and Health profile to benchmark Safety and Health Management system in Nigeria.

PSquare plans reunion

uccour may finally be here for lovers of Peter and Paul Okoye, the P-Square brothers, who announced their separation a few months back. This is following a reconciliatory note, one of the singing duo, Peter, etched on his Instagram page yesterday.

The message reads,"My dear fans, P-Square is back. Ours is a journey that started from our mother’s womb. It was a journey that started from Primary School, continued to St. Murumba College, to when we were in University in Abuja. It was a journey in which we shared childhood

memories and grown-up dreams. We are back because brothers do not let each other wander in the dark alone. We are back because we have tried the lonely road and it was not the same. I want to take responsibility for what has happened and sincerely apologise to you our fans.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reviews a guard of honour as he arrives to the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey

Turkey detains 42 journalists in crackdown

urkey ordered the detention of 42 journalists yesterday, broadcaster NTV reported, under a crackdown following a failed coup that has targeted more than 60,000 people, drawing fire from the European Union. The arrests or suspensions of soldiers, police, judges and civil servants in response to the July 1516 putsch have raised concerns among rights groups and Western countries, who fear President Tayyip Erdogan is capitalizing

on it to tighten his grip on power. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker questioned Ankara's long-standing aspiration to join the EU. "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period," Juncker said on French television France 2. Juncker also said that if Turkey reintroduces the death penalty - something the government has said it must consider, responding

to calls from supporters at public rallies for the coup leaders to be executed - it would stop the EU accession process immediately. Turkey abolished capital punishment in 2004, allowing it to open EU accession talks the following year, but the negotiations have made scant progress since then. Responding to Juncker's comments, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Haberturk TV that Europe cannot threaten Turkey regarding the death penalty.

Obama's half-brother to vote Trump

resident Barack Obama's half-brother, Malik Obama, says he will vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump in the US election in November because he likes the candidate and he is unhappy with his brother's leadership. Malik, who is in his 50s, told Reuters by phone from Obama's ancestral home of Kogelo in western Kenya that he supports Trump's policies, especially his focus on security. "He appeals to me and also I think that he is down to earth and he

speaks from the heart and he is not trying to be politically correct. He's just straight-forward," he said. Malik, a US citizen, has lived in Washington since 1985 where he worked with various firms before becoming an independent financial consultant. Trump's stance against Muslims coming in to the United States was understandable even to Muslims like himself, Malik said. "I'm a Muslim, of course, but you can't have people going around just shooting people and killing people just in the

name of Islam," he said. He criticised President Obama's record in the White House saying he had not done much for the American people and his extended family despite the high expectations that accompanied his election in 2008, both in the United States and Kenya. The two men appear to have drifted apart but were previously close. Malik has visited the president in the Oval office and was also best man at Barack's wedding, reports Reuters.

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport

Sport News Enyeama, Mikel, Moses betrayed me –Oliseh

That the 1936 Berlin Olympics (also known as the ‘Nazi’ Olympics) was the first Olympic Games to ever be televised.

Football SWAN Cup: Zenith Sports kits New Telegraph

46 47

Pinnick ignores NFF board, others

Eagles’ coach:

Ajibade Olusesan

Super Eagles’ defender, Efe Ambrose (left)

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

he President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has ignored the expertise of the NFF Technical Committee and he is personally searching for a substantive coach for the Super Eagles. The board of the federation last Wednesday gave a seven-day ultimatum to the technical committee to get a new candidate for the Eagles job after Frenchman Paul Le Guen rejected the NFF’s offer. However, our correspondent learnt on good authority that Pinnick had usurped the duty of the committee to look for the coach instead. New Telegraph spoke with a member of the committee who admitted that he was yet to get an official invitation to attend a technical meeting on the Eagles coach despite the fact that the ulti-

matum will expire on Wednesday. to dig into the latest on the issue A member of the ad-hoc body of Eagles manager and sources at said that,” I am not aware of the the federation said Pinnick was ultimatum, from what I heard in the one running the show despite the media, it will expire an impeachment threat by some on Wednesday and as members of the board at the at today (Monday) noemergency meeting last Tuesday. body has spoken to “The NFF President was the me about any coach one doing everything about or any meeting the engagement of the new to interview coach; he’s the one that anyone.” has been speaking “All of with coaches and only those things give directives to the we hear technical commitin the metee chairman, Chris dia about Green. Pinnick ultima“He forced Le tum are Guen on the comnot real, mittee and he is because even as a about to tell them member of the technical commitwhat to do again tee that supposed to interview and even though the collective decirecommend a coach, I am yet to sion of the board was for Green be officially contacted and we are and his men should look for a talking about ultimatum.” coach and recommend to the Our correspondent attempted board,” the source said.

Okocha is world class, says Alladyce Adekunle Salami

ew England Manager, Sam Alladyce, on Monday described former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, as a world class player. Alladyce who was speaking at his very first press conference noted that he had worked with many top players in the world even though he was yet to win a major title at club and national team level.

He said: “I have managed some world class players. Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff, Jay Jay Okocha, Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and Michael Owen. I have managed some talented players; the good thing about that is they make your life easier, they know what you want. “Working with the England elite players will be very exciting for me because they will take on board ideas very quickly.

“In terms of winning no trophies or cups, unfortunately, as an Eng-

Okocha (left) and Alladyce

lish manager I never got to go right to the top of the Premier League. “I saved clubs and never got relegated, and they are not the same as winning the FA Cup or League Cup, but they are big achievements.” Allardyce says his new job will be the “greatest challenge” of his career. He said “man management” was his “biggest asset”.

Infantino’s visit: Buhari hails FIFA’s reforms

4 Page

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Olympic flight tickets ready –Ministry T

L-R: Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, Victor Moses and Mikel Obi

Enyeama, Mikel, Moses betrayed me –Oliseh Emmanuel Tobi

ormer Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh on Monday accused Vincent Enyeama, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses of betrayal during his reign as the Super Eagles coach. Oliseh on his website berated the players for their lack of commitment. “My first official act was to call the team Captain Vincent Enyeama to rub minds and fix an appointment to see him. Same act was accorded to Obi Mikel and Victor Moses of Chelsea. All except for Mikel picked up my call,” Oliseh said. “I went to London to see Mikel and Moses but could only see Moses as Mikel did not reply my calls. Oliseh added that both Moses and Enyeama failed him when it mattered most. “Three weeks to my first official game in charge of the Super Eagles against Tanzania, and the invitations were sent out to the clubs. Two weeks

to the game Moses opted out citing fear of contracting an injury whilst playing for Nigeria in favour of his club. “Most players reported to camp on Monday prior to the Tanzania game, Enyeama was supposed to fly in Tuesday morning only for me to be surprisingly informed via SMS that he was skipping the game because he lost the mum some weeks earlier. “I called him up and made an agreement with him, as I needed not only my captain and such a good goalkeeper for my opening game, that if he came for the game on Friday, I would release him to go to the village after the game and skip the friendly game versus Niger scheduled for three days later after the Tanzania encounter, which he agreed. “The team was scheduled to fly out on Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon Enyeama called to say he was not coming for the game, definitively. I was shocked as we had an agreement; we needed his experience, leadership...”

Udo-Obong gets GTBank staff members moving S ydney 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and celebrity wellness consultant, Enefiok Udo-Obong, at the weekend engaged the staff of GTBank to their annual orange walk and a series of tough cross fit tabata exercises. The event, which was attended by the bank MD, Mr. Segun Agbaje, was a fun-filled day to mark the end of the bank’s health week in which Udo-Obong spent a week giving lectures on wellness, organized aerobic classes and pitched staff against their wits with

some challenging health and fitness based quizzes. Mrs Ekhoe Ame-Ogie of GTBank said the bank takes the well-being of its staff as a priority and no other way of proving this than to bring Nigeria’s most decorated Olympian as their consultant. Udo-Obong who has a Masters in Advanced Studies in Sports Administration from Switzerland, owns a fitness centre, Fitness Options and is a certified trainer and wellness consultant.

(L-R) President, Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick; FIFA President, Gianni Infantino; President Muhammadu Buhari and FIFA Secretary General, Ms. Fatima Samoura during the FIFA executives’ visit to the State House, Abuja yesterday. PHOTOS: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

he Ministry of Youth and Sports is to send air tickets for the Rio Olympics to athletes by midweek. Youth and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung said this during a meeting with the President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria AFN and staff of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department FEAD in Abuja yesterday. The minister had summoned both parties to establish the author of the email purportedly sent to athletes on behalf of the ministry. Dalung reiterated Federal Gover nment’s commitment to ensure that Nigerian athletes are well taken care of ahead of the games , describing the mail as mischievous. “ The author of that email lacks the authority to write on behalf of the Ministry or even the Federal government of Nigeria. At no time did we ask our athletes to sought for

funds to travel knowing too well that athletes are very fragile people to be managed. “There are so many things that come to play in determining their success. It’s not just skills, training and determination. The psychology of an athlete at the point of contest is also very important so if you ask them to look for money to buy air tickets, how sincere could you be in terms of planning for Rio. The said letter which generated a lot of negative reactions is not the position of the ministry. We have a responsibility to transport our athletes to and from Dalung anywhere they are because they are on national assignment. Whosoever published that email and his motive will definitely be investigated” Dalung said. Team Nigeria athletes to the Rio Games will depart on August 1 through Ethiopia Airlines as the Games village opened on July 24.

Infantino’s visit: Buhari hails FIFA’s reforms Anule Emmanuel Chukwu David and Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has commended FIFA for its new reforms which he said were geared towards transparency. The President who stated this while receiving the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and the Secretary-General, Fatma Samuora, said his administration would pay keen interest to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in the country. President Buhari challenged football administrators to fashion out strategic programmes to develop the game. Congratulating the duo on their election, particularly Samuora, the first African and first female to be elected FIFA Secretary-General, President Buhari commended FIFA’s reform. The President pledged Nigeria’s support to FIFA president’s reform agenda, noting that they were similar to those his presidency had outlined to resuscitate Nigeria. ‘‘Majority of Nigerians are married to football. In the rural areas, when there is no electricity and there is a game to watch, Nigerians go to the extent of renting small generators, popularly known as ‘I better-pass-my neighbour’ to watch the game. ‘‘We will take the development of football very seriously and I encourage the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to behave itself and organise effective competitions for the good of the game,’’ he said. ‘‘Accountability is serious business and I welcome you (Infantino) into the club of accountable Chief Executive Officers,’’ Buhari said. In his remarks, Infantino asked the

Nigerian authorities to pay attention to infrastructure and find a lasting solution to the problem of violence and insecurity at match venues. ‘‘I foresee Nigeria as a bedrock for the development of the game in Africa, however infrastructure, stability and security are needed to make this happen, ’’ he said. The FIFA officials were accompanied by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel. Earlier, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, appealed to warring factions in the Nigeria Football Federation to sheathe their sword in the interest of football development in the country. Saraki made the appeal in Abuja, when Pinnick led FIFA boss, Infantino, and Secretary General, Samoura on a courtesy visit to the National Assembly. Members of the board of NFF and Presidents of Football Associations (FA) from other African countries also accompanied the FIFA President on the visit. At a media conference , Infantino gave hope to football federations around the world with the pledge to increase their yearly grants. He said that FIFA would from next football calendar increase the grant from about $300,000 to $1.5billion. Infantino said: “We want to invest more in football development. We want to make sure that what our plans are implemented in Africa, particularly on developmental stage. “I saw the president of the country today who is want to help and support NFF and I think he will be ready to assist the federation. But in particular FIFA is increasing the financial support and financial investment in all associations.”

SPORT

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SWAN Cup: Zenith Sports kits New Telegraph

UEFAfinesLiverpool£13,408

EFA has announced that Liverpool have been fined £13,408 for unfurling an “illicit banner” and setting off fireworks during the Europa League final in May. It was a miserable night in Basel for Jurgen Klopp and his players as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla. After the match, the European governing body charged Liverpool and Sevilla with crowd disturbances, while the Reds were also charged with setting off fire-

…as NT Strikers wallop SuperSports 3-0

works and their Spanish opponents were punished for throwing objects. UEFA announced the amount of fines today, with Sevilla being ordered to pay £14,245.

enith Sports Group through its foremost Nigerian sports brand, Haggai, is the official sports kits sponsors of the New Telegraph Newspapers football team, NT Strikers, competing in the ongoing Lagos SWAN Five-A-Side competition. L-R: Technical Director, New Telegraph Football Team, Mr. Adekunle Salami; Managing DirecThe Managing Di- tor/Editor-In-Chief, New Telegraph newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; Skipper, Mr. Edwin rector of Zenith Sports Usoboh; Team Coordinator, Mr. Dipo Sotinminu; and Team Coach, Mr. Tobi Emmanuel, during presentation of New Telegraph Football Team to Mrs. Egbemode in Lagos…yesterday. Group, Mr. Paul Madua- the PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE kor, said in Lagos yesterday that he agreed cial sports kits sponsorship practicing journalists Lagos SWAN Cup FiveKlopp to become the official for New Telegraph would be who find it difficult A-Side Football comsports kits sponsors extended beyond the Lagos because of the tight petition to clinch the of the New Telegraph SWAN Cup competition nature of their work three points at stake. newspapers following into a bigger competition schedule to get involved While receiving the vibrancy of the like the NUJ Games which in sports. Our partner- the team on Monday, newspaper within a has more sporting events to ship with New Tele- New Telegraph MD, very short period of the compete for. graph newspapers in Mrs Funke Egbemode, company’s existence. “I am a strong supporter the area of sports will charged the Emmanuel gation into Niersbach, and He noted that, the offi- of physical exercises for also enable our sports Tobi tutoured team to it was concluded that the brand Haggai to be lev- keep winning. FIFA executive committee eraged in Nigeria.” She promised that member should be issued Maduakor, disclosed the team would emwith a 12-month ban. that, a small window bark on a tour of not A statement from the will be opened at the less than five European independent ethics comcorporate headquarters countries if the players mittee read: “The adjudiof the New Telegraph in perform well in the oncatory chamber found that Lagos to enable inter- going competition. Mr Niersbach failed to reested staff members get Team skipper, Edwin port findings about possible their own branded jer- Usoboh, told the MD misconduct concerning the seys at a reduced cost. that the NT Strikers awarding of the 2006 FIFA New Telegraph Strikers flanked on the second left by the General Meanwhile, NT were fired up to excel World Cup, including po- Manager, Zenith Sports Group, Amaka Okolie, and flanked on sec- Strikers recorded an in the competition. The tential breaches of the FIFA ond right by Gloria Ntiaju, Group Marketer in a team line-up before emphatic 3-0 victory team plays Radio NigeMonday’s game against SuperSports in the Lagos SWAN Cup. Code of Ethics (FCE). over SuperSport in the ria today. PHOTO TONY EGUAYE

IFA bans former German FA president, Niersbach F

IFA has announced that former German FA president Wolfgang Niersbach has been hit with a one-year ban from all football-related activity following his role in the 2006 World Cup-bidding process. Niersbach is alleged to have been aware of a bribe that resulted in FIFA receiving a £4.9m payment in exchange for votes. The governing body’s ethics chief Dr Cornel Borbely conducted the investi-

Countdown to

Olympics

WADA ‘disappointed’ by IOC’s refusal to ban Russia

he World AntiDoping Agency says it is “disappointed” with the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Games. WADA claims the IOC’s ruling could lead to “lesser protection for clean athletes” with decisions on individual athletes’ participation in Brazil now in the hands of each sport’s international federation. The global anti-doping agency reinforced its earlier recommendation that a blanket ban on Russia should have been implemented. “WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straightforward, strong and harmonised approach,” WADA President Sir

Craig Reedie said in a statement. “The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code.” A report by WADA alle ges that during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics the Russian Sports Ministry was complicit in manipulating doping samples, of which some were even swapped. In order to compete at the Rio Games, all Russian athletes will need to meet strict criteria laid out by the IOC, including proving they have been tested by “reliable” international anti-doping bodies to their respective federations. Athletes with a proven doping history will be banned from the Games, even if they have served their sanctions.

Days to Go

Bolt ready for showdown Bolt

t the weekend, the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, proved any news of his demise was premature. Coming off a hamstring injury that sidelined the Jamaican superstar sprinter for one month, Bolt stormed back into the Rio Olympics’ gold medal conversation winning the 200-meter dash at the London Anniversary Games. Bolt is the 100-meter and 200-meter world record holder, and with his Jamaican teammates, also holds the world record in the 4x400m relay. He enters the 2016 Rio Olympics as the back-to-back reigning Olympic champion in all three events, sweeping all three in both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games. Just a month ago, it appeared that Bolt’s chance to defend his Olympic crown would be in jeopardy. After winning the 100m semifinals at the Jamaican Olympic trials, Bolt was forced to withdraw from the finals after experiencing discomfort in his hamstring. To the shock of track and field fans around the world, it was later discovered that Bolt had suffered a Grade 1 hamstring tear and his status for the Rio Olympics seemed in doubt. After a month of recuperation, all eyes were on Bolt as he made his return on Friday to the same stadium where he took three gold medals in 2012. And after 19.89 seconds, Bolt put all fears about his health to rest, storming to victory in the 200m.

On Marble “Change has to come for life to struggle forward.”

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Helen Hollick

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016

N150

"The FIRST time drug testing was introduced was in World Cup finals in 1966. Players banned after failing in drug testing include Haiti's Ernest Jean-Joseph (1974), Scotland's Willie Johnston (1978) and Argentina's Diego Maradona (1994).

Public arena T he column you write

Nigeria's third Mahdi and the last of the Amalekite kings

orgive me for my curious silence over the last few months but this was due to circumstances beyond my control. As you know I was locked up in President Muhammadu Buhari's gulag and I was not allowed to write from there. Needless to say I missed all my readers. I have chosen to share my views about our nation today because I am aware of the fact that President Buhari has not finished with me yet and I may be picked up and thrown into detention on other trumped up charges very soon. This government will do and say anything to silence my voice but they shall not prevail. Whatever the case my safety, life and future lie in the hands of God and not theirs. Despite the obvious dangers and various warnings that I have received from both my persecutors and well-wishers I shall continue to write as long as God gives me life and liberty. It is not what happens to me that matters but rather what happens to Nigeria and the millions of ordinary people that are suffering in our country from the daily oppression of our modern-day slave masters. That aside, permit me to share my views. A couple of weeks, ago a 73-year-old Christian grandmother was killed in Kano because she asked some muslims to stop washing their feet in front of her door before their prayers. A few days later a female pastor of the Redeemed Church of God was hacked to pieces in the Kubwa district of Abuja simply for doing her morning cry of evangelism and urging the people to give their lives to Christ. Not too long after that two hundred muslim youths burnt down a Catholic Church and attacked worshippers in Niger state claiming that they had no right to go to church on a Friday because it was the muslim day of worship. A few days later a Christian traditional ruler in Plateau state was matcheted to death. Such attacks are now common place in our country and they are no longer isolated events. Worse still cases of institutional racism and religious bigotry are on the rise because our government appears to be encouraging it. Permit me to share one example. During my prolonged detention at the EFCC a group of cell mates were conducting an all night christian prayer. All of a sudden, the cell guards burst in and screamed at them saying that this "nonsense" must stop and they must go to sleep immediately. The inmates complied sheepishly out of fear and the prayers stopped. It was 1 a.m. in the morning. I was in the opposite set of cells but I heard all the noise and warnings of the guards. I sent for one of them and I asked him why he stopped the inmates from doing an all night prayer. His response was that that was EFCC policy because the prayers were too loud and they maybe planning an escape. I told him that all he had to do was to ask them to lower their voices. And that God and prayer was all they had. I also told him that if the inmates that were praying were muslims he would not

Crossfire FEMI FANI-KAYODE ffkjnr@gmail.com

EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu

have ordered them to stop. He stormed off in anger. The EFCC has become a tool of oppression in the hands of the core muslim North who are using it to crush dissent and silence the opposition. This assertion is confirmed by the fact that 98 per cent of those that are detained be the EFCC for two days or more are Southerners and Middle Belters whilst 98 per cent of those that run the agency at the top are from the core muslim North. Worse still the lingua franca of the agency is hausa whilst the overwhelming majority of detainees are christians both in Lagos and Abuja. Core Northern detainees are treated like royalty whilst Middle Belt and Southern inmates are treated like filth. Just as the Nigerian military was an institution that was designed and used to suppress and intimidate all the so-called lesser ethnic groups in Nigeria between july 29th 1966 and May 29th 1999 so it is with the EFCC today. That is how emboldened the hegemonists in our midst have become and that is the level of barbarity that we have descended to as a nation. Yet it gets even worse. Just a few weeks ago, the Minister of Internal Affairs told a bewildered nation that the Sultan of Sokoto (the leader if the Muslim community in Nigeria) "directed" him to declare a particular day of the week a public holiday. Without any hesitation he complied with despatch and, with pride, he announced it to the public. Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Nigeria where the caliphate rules. Is it any wonder that every single one of the numerous security and intelligence

agencies in our country except for two is headed by a Northerner? Whether it be the army, the air force, the police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the EFCC, the National Securiry A'dvisor's Office or the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), they are all headed by individuals that are from the north. The exception, to the rule are the Navy, and the Nigerian Iintelligence Agency (NIA), the agency which is responsible for external intelligence and international espionage and which are headed by a Southerners. Can such a state of affairs be justified under any circumstances? Are Southerners and Chrustians not Nigerians as well? Are they not qualified to head more security agencies? Does the concept of Federal Character have any meaning in President Buhari's Nigeria? For how much longer will our people tolerate such reckless impunity, racism and injustice from those who believe that they are the Boers and supremacists of what is fast turning into apartheidNigeria? My father's generation fought the battle for independence from our erstwhile British colonial masters. It was indeed my father, Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode, that succesfully moved the motion for Nigeria's indepence in Parliament in 1958. The battle that must be fought today by my generation is the battle for independence from the sons of Futa Jalon: our internal colonial masters who are relentless in their quest to subjugate and enslave others and who believe that they were born to rule. This quest for expansion and domination and this insatiable desire to islamise our nation is best reflected by the words and actions of the three Mahdis of the North. The first was Usman Dan Fodio, the second was his great grandson Sir Ahmadu Bello and the third is Muhammadu Buhari. The hegemonists must be stopped. It is our duty to either restructure or break Nigeria and to ensure that Buhari is the last of the Northern Mahdis through a peaceful and democratic process. Consequently the prayer is no longer "God bless Nigeria" but rather "God break Nigeria". It is no longer "God defend Nigeria" but rather "God restructure Nigeria". It is no longer "God deliver Nigeria" but rather "God deliver us from Nigeria". It is no longer "God preserve Nigeria" but rather "God redefine Nigeria". It is no longer "God remember Nigeria" but rather "God dismember Nigeria". We must break our chains of oppression because no one else will break them for us. We must reject slavery. We must rise up and resist our oppressors. We must break the

yoke of servitude and set ourselves free. For this great cause no price is too high to pay. If it means laying down our lives or suffering the bitter pain of persecution then so be it. The heavy yoke of the last of the Amalekite kings must be broken. The rulership of the third and last Mahdi must be brought to an end in a free and fair election. That is the challenge that we face today. That is the great work that the Lord would have us complete. That is our duty and our calling: to bring the unbelieving pagans to heel and to pull down the evil structures of caliphate power. Those that joined forces with the internal colonial masters and helped to enslave their own people shall pay a heavy price for their treachery, collaboration and betrayal. Our new nation has no room for such people. They will be herded into labour camps and ultimately deported. They are a shameful eyesore: animals with no sense of dignity and pride. They are not fit to live amongst us. Yet blessed are the courageous and faithful who speak nothing but truth, who despise the oppressor and who champion the cause of the oppressed. They shall flourish like the palm tree in season and their seed shall excel. Blessed are those that are persecuted for their faith and that are regarded as the "hewers of the wood and the drawers of the water": so-called ethnic inferiors in their own nation. They shall inherit the land and, in the fullness of time, they shall be liberated from their tormentors and they shall rule over their adversaries. That is the promise of the Alpha and the Omega and the Ancient of Days. That is a sure word from He that is known as the Lord God of Hosts and the Man of War. That is the counsel of the God of All Flesh: the Adonai, the Elohim and Jehova El Shaddai. None can resist Him.

Solution to puzzle 22

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.