Tuesday, june 14, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

1,500 NNPC staff shun asset declaration directive

Adeola Yusuf

ver 1,500 members of staff, mostly at the top hierarchy of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

(NNPC), are yet to declare their assets in flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) provision.

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the corporation, which has, for the umpteenth time, been enmeshed in

various corruption allegations, could only, as at May 2016, get just 70 per cent of its about 5,000 core staff declare their assets after

No further allocation of oil blocs –Kachikwu }7

a rigorous anti-corruption drive of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. A four-page NNPC document obtained by this newspaper showed that the 70 per cent asset decla-

ration figure was achieved through a strategic effort began in August 4, 2015 to “stop the bleeding; shine the light; increase efficiency; manage performance CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

FG new job portal records over 400,000 applicants }7

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 846

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Buhari

Mass demolition looms in Abuja }3

Bello

We fired 38 officers over corruption, misconduct –Minister }3

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

Dan-Ali

Gunmen abduct Kogi judge, kill orderly }9

N150

Governor Bello

Militants threaten to attack governors’ convoys …police stations, military bases, govt offices are targets lNiger Delta Avengers give conditions for peace talks }4 1

1. Embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (middle), being prevented from gaining access to the party secretariat in Abuja… yesterday. 2. Sheriff's convoy being prevented from entering the PDP secretariat… yesterday

3. A cross section of Sheriff's supporters at the party secretariat in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTOs: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Sheriff storms PDP secretariat with thugs

…declares himself national chairman lCaretaker c'ttee: We're studying the situation New gene discovery could end blindness in children }10

NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sheriff storms PDP secretariat with thugs

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

fter four attempts and over twohour consultations with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Aresa, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday reclaimed the leadership of the party. Sheriff, who stormed the PDP National Secretariat with about 300 thugs as early as 7:30a.m., was denied access to the premises by policemen from Wuse Police Station who were coordinated by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Ciroma Bala. He came in company of the former National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and former National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju. But it was not until 1:30p.m., that the gate of the party's secretariat was opened to allow them into the offices from which they were forced out about three weeks ago. In an ensuing argument between him and police officers shortly after his convoy arrived the national secretariat early Monday morning, Sheriff told journalists: "The party belongs to Nigerians and not the Nigeria Police or the people that were handpicked at Port Harcourt by Governor (Nyesom) Wike and his cohorts as the man who purported to be acting as the National Chairman of the party. One thing remains; there was no convention in Port Harcourt because I cancelled it. "I don't know why the police can say we cannot

enter our offices when we have a valid court order to that effect. We will take this matter beyond the Nigeria Police; the law will take its course in this matter." He frantically made calls to the Inspector-General of Police to instruct the DCP to allow him access, but Bala said he was acting on order from the above. After about two and a half hours of failed attempt to persuade the police to allow him enter the secretariat, Sheriff left for a meeting with the IGP, but with instruction that his supporters and the convoy should remain behind. He left at exactly 9:35a.m. When he came back about 12 noon, he met similar brick wall. Police told him to dismiss the thugs, as they could be unruly. After 25 minutes of consultation with his men under a tree, Sheriff left with his convoy, but as a decoy to disperse the crowd. It was later discovered that he went to Legacy House, the PDP presidential campaign office located along Shehu Shagari Way in Maitama, Abuja where he easily gained access. There was reinforcement of police personnel to contain the army of thugs who came in not less than 50 Abuja taxis who were drumming bands and wore T-shirt with inscription "Guardians of Democracy! Support Ali Modu Sheriff!" Sheriff’s invasion of the PDP national secretariat came barely five days after the seven-man National Caretaker Committee, led by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, took over the affairs of the party based on

Buhari, an unrepentant tyrant – PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described President Muhammadu Buhari as an unrepentant tyrant. The party also said the president and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) do not know anything about democracy. PDP in its twitter han-

60.8%

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

492

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving terrorists in 2007. Source: Satp.org

dle, @pdpnigeria, the party said since the APC took over the leadership of the country, prices of things have been on the increase. "This is a government that does not know what democracy or rule of law means. This president is an unrepentant tyrant," it said. According to the party, a bag of rice is now N18,000 while the minimum wage remains at N18,000, adding "CHANGE: A bag of rice is now N18, 000. Minimum wage is also N18, 000." PDP has, of recent, lost its voice as opposition party following the leadership crisis that left it factionalised. Some leaders of the party have been arrested and investigated for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

the decision of the May 21 Port Harcourt convention. But apart from the former National Working Committee (NWC) members, no notable member of the party accompanied him to the office unlike last week's formal takeover by the caretaker committee that was graced by about nine governors, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other party chieftains. Spokesperson of the committee, Prince Dayo

Adeyeye, said the committee would react on the development today. Adeyeye, who spoke on telephone, said the caretaker committee would study the development in the party before making a statement. Sheriff also read riot act to former NWC members who are supporting the caretaker committee, threatening to declare their offices vacant if they failed to change their mind. According to him, "The party constitution is very clear, you have right to re-

sign your appointments. There is a deputy to take over automatically. All the deputies are waiting if by tomorrow, anybody that did not come, we ask the deputy to apply for that office and take over." At a press conference shortly after assuming office, Sheriff said he remained PDP chairman till 2018. He disclosed that the exparte injunction obtained by the caretaker committee from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that barred him from act-

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) receiving a souvenir from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, after a meeting in London …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ing as chairman had lapsed after 14 days, adding that the caretaker committee was null and void because it was set up by an illegal convention. Sheriff also announced that the party had set up a committee to organise governorship primaries for Edo State. The committee is to be headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma. He said the party's governorship nomination fee is N10 million and not N16 million collected by the caretaker committee. "There is only one PDP; if anybody goes to buy form from any omnibus body called caretaker committee, they are on their own. PDP has spoken; PDP is only one party and we say our form is N10 million and we say they should go and pay the amount into the party’s account. If anybody goes and buy from some other body, he is on his own. "The only people that would be screened are those who show evidence that they paid N10 million for their form and show to the chairman of the screening committee. People have the right to do whatever they want, I am not forcing anybody. "If the candidates paid to the national party account and present their evidence to the chairman of CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

MTN fine: Reps threaten zero-budget for ministry, NCC Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives’ Committee on Communication yesterday threatened to withdraw the 2016 budget of the Federal Ministry of Communication as passed and deny the NCC to benefit of the 2016 appropriation yet to be considered. It also invited the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Communication Minister, Chief Adebayo Shittu and the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbata, to appear before it next Monday or face sanctions. The committee, which disclosed these at the public hearing held yesterday in Abuja, said the threat was issued in reaction to the purported negotiation leading to a unilateral decision to reduce the N1.04 trillion fine on MTN Nigeria by over 70 per cent without recourse to the House. Trouble started when the committee members arrived the venue of the

public hearing without the invited guest, compelling a member, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo) to walk out of the meeting in protest that the ministers and the NCC had taken the committee and the House for granted. "As much as I have great respect for the minister, when we held the hearing, he did say that there was no negotiation until we conclude our investigation. Only for us to read on the pages of newspapers that the fine has been reduced from N1.04 trillion to N330 billion without recourse to the assignment of this committee and the House. "The minister, to the best of my knowledge, is in the country and refused to attend the hearing, neither did he write to the committee why he's absent and why he didn't send a representative. If the EVC (Executive Vice Chairman, NCC) would graciously communicate to us on why he couldn't come because he's out of the country, I see no reason why the minister should take this committee for granted. I think we should issue a bench warrant on him," he said.

Speaking on oath after his arrival, the permanent secretary said Nigeria currently heads the Commonwealth Communication Union, which term is ending today (Tuesday) and the minister was there to perfect necessary steps regarding the handing over to the incoming president. He, however, told the committee that: "I'm in a position to confirm to this honourable committee that government has approved the sum of N330 billion as full and final settlement by MTN Nigeria Limited." But deputy chairman of the committee, Hon. Chukwuemeka Uja (PDP, Enugu), expressed disappointment on the manner, especially the way the Federal Government handled the matter involving MTN. "Honestly, I'm appalled at how this whole scenario is playing out going by the information the permanent secretary and the NCC are giving us. We also read in the newspapers where the minister said that the committee was the one delaying whatever settlement there is to be reached. "Now you are saying

that the ministry and the president agreed to reduce the fine by more than 70 per cent. Are you not setting a bad precedent? What modalities were used in arriving at this reduction? Won't other companies now on the basis of this behaviour take Nigeria for granted in future?” he queried. At this point, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) urged the committee to react not just in words, but take decisive action against the ministry and the NCC by making sure there's no budget for them this year. In his summation, chairman of the committee, Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi (APC, Oyo), said the report of the reduction of the fine by the NCC and the ministry is a major concern to section 7, 4th schedule of the NCC Act. "It has serious implications on the stability of the economy of Nigeria. The NCC’s current position on the fine is of serious error. This margin of error arises from the fact that there's no legal basis for this purported reduction; it is not backed by any provision in the NCC Act," he said.

TUESday, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mass demolition looms in Abuja

lFCTA gives residents two-week notice Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

ndications have emerged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, might have given the Department of Development Control to roll out its bulldozers to demolish all illegal structures in the nation’s capital. New Telegraph yesterday gathered that the Development Control Department has already embarked on a weekly sensitisation exercise to inform owners and residents of all affected illegal structures to remove their belongings before the commencement

of the demolition exercise. A source within the office of the FCT Minister informed New Telegraph that the demolition exercise, which Bello intends to use to restore the Abuja Master Plan, would commence in two weeks’ time. He, however, declined to mention areas that are going to be affected in the city, but further findings revealed that many slums and illegal settlements within and around the city that have been demolished in the past, but have returned over the years, would be affected in the demolition exercise. When contacted, acting Director of FCT Department of Development Control, Alhaji Hamza Madaki, confirmed in a telephone

conversation that the department was preparing for a demolition exercise. He also confirmed that residents of illegal settlements and owners of structures to be demolished are being sensitized to remove their properties before the date of demolition. “We are going to start

demolition very soon; we are sensitising the people to remove their properties before we mobilise to site. In two weeks’ time, we should go out there,” he told New Telegraph. It would be recalled that the FCT Minister had, in January this year, said he would stop at nothing to restore the Abuja master plan and declared that at

lEFCC loses bid to tender additional evidence Tunde Oyesina Abuja

A Prosecution Witness, Hamma Bello, in the ongoing trial of the former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye,

yesterday told an Abuja High Court that the total sum of N1,205,437,880.68 was lodged by Oronsaye in a secret account with Access Bank. This was just as the antigraft agency lost its bid to tender a document as ad-

We fired 38 officers over corruption, misconduct –Minister Abuja

he Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, yesterday confirmed the recent forced retirement of senior army officers, was necessitated by alleged corruption and professional misconduct established against the affected officers. This was as the Nigerian Army clarified that contrary to reports making the rounds, only 38 officers were given the boot. While offering clarification on the sack of officers, which has raised a lot of dust in the polity, Dan-Ali maintained that none of the officers was wrongly sacked. The minister further explained that the 38 officers were given fair hearing, having been earlier summoned to defend themselves on findings by a Board established to investigate allegations of partisanship and financial corruption. Dan-Ali urged the pub-

lic to see the retirement exercise as a step in the direction of reforms in the Nigerian Armed Forces. Many had imputed ethnic motive to the forced retirement of officers, saying it was carefully done to weed-out officers from a particular region. But, the Defence Minister said the development was well intentioned as it was far from being an exercise in witch-hunt. “What we did was to make sure that all those that were indicted in one way or the other for both professional corruption and monetary corruption, had the opportunity to defend themselves. “What I mean by professional corruption is soldiers’ involvement in partisan politics; if you are partisan, then you are professionally corrupt; you will be asked to go; that was what happened. “Of course, they were given fair hearing; they were called by a board and they went and testified. “Don’t forget that in the military, there is no half way to doing things;

ings on sewer lines, green areas and areas of public interest that are not authorised will be removed.” To the owners of undeveloped plots in the FCT, Bello warned that “beneficiaries of undeveloped lands in Phase 1 and Phase 2 stand the risk of forfeiting them.” Former Minister of the FCT and now Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, carried out several demolition exercises in Abuja.

Oronsaye lodged N1.2bn in secret account – Witness

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, flagging off the 10-km UzebbaOkpujeOkabhor road in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State... yesterday.

Emmanuel Onani

the end of the planned demolition, there would be no slum in the FCT. At a press briefing in Abuja, Bello promised to “deal with violations to the Abuja Master Plan,” stressing that he would not allow the emergence of slums in Abuja and would pull down all the existing slums in the nation’s capital. Bello had said: “Build-

NEWS

the moment you are found wanting, you have to succumb and you will go,” Dan-Ali said. He disclosed that plans were afoot for the implementation of a reform policy aimed at reducing dependence on the Armed Forces for duties that would ordinarily be carried out by the Police. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has expressed worry over the figure it said was circulating as number of officers eased out of service. The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, described the reports on the number of sacked officers as 'unethical and unfair.' The Army, which had failed to state the actual number of officers affected in the retirement exercise in its earlier statement on Saturday, however, stated that 38 officers were retired. It gave the breakdown as follows: nine Major Generals, 10 Brigadier Generals, seven Colonels, 11 Lieutenant Colonels, and a Major.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to speculations and rumours regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise. This is worrisome as some individuals and media houses went to the ridiculous extent of publishing outrageous figures and names of serving officers as being retired. This is unethical and unfair. “It is, therefore, necessary to inform the public to please disregard such inaccurate lists. We wish to state that only 38 senior officers were affected by the retirement exercise.

86,000

The official capacity of Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt. Source: Businessinsider.in

2,796

The total number of subscribers of IPNX (fixed/fixed wireless) as at March 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

ditional evidence in the ongoing trial. Orosanye is standing trial on a two-count charge for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N190 million while he was the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on FATF. Oronsaye was accused of converting the N190 million to his personal use through the investment of the fund in Access Bank Plc’s Banker’s Acceptance for a tenor of 90 days at 9 and 12 per cents interest rates “in violation of the extant financial regulations”. The defendant, while still serving as the Head of Service of the Federation, was appointed as chairman of the PCFATF, which was set up to ensure the passage of the anti-money laundering bill and countering financial terrorism, among other terms of reference. At the resumed hearing yesterday, Bello, who is appearing as the sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6) and an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), led in evidence by Offen Uket, told the court

that PCFATF officially had opened its account with Zenith Bank Plc. before Oronsaye secretly and without approval opened the Access Bank account for the PCFATF which he was the sole signatory. The witness further said that Oronsaye and one other member of the committee were the signatories to the official Zenith bank account. Meanwhile, the court had rejected a document sought to be tendered by the witness. The document was a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, being a reply to EFCC’s earlier correspondence. Defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), had opposed the tendering of the document, arguing that it did not form part of the commission’s earlier proof of evidence. The prosecution later withdrew the document. In her ruling, the trial judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck upheld the Defence Counsel’s objection, rejecting the letter. The court later adjourned to June 24 for continuation of trial.

PDP caretaker committee: We're studying the situation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the screening committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, that he was misled to pay N16 million, the balance of N6 million will be refunded," he promised. He said the party was facing difficult times since the national convention was put off. "I will, therefore, consider it the height of selfdeceit for anyone to pretend that the PDP is not in crisis, but also wish to assure you that we have been working round the clock to see how we can resolve the matter, without being on the wrong side of the law. "It is public knowledge that, although there was an order by the Federal High Court in Lagos, declaring me the authentic National Chairman of the PDP, I have kept away from tak-

ing steps that could jeopardise the law, following an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which had given a contradictory order, restraining me from operating as the chairman of our party notwithstanding some further orders from the Federal High Court in Lagos, specifically directing the Inspector-General of Police to provide me with adequate security to enable me carry out my duties. "Now that the ex-parte order given in Port Harcourt has since lapsed on the 9th of June and has not been renewed or extended, it is now my pleasure and privilege to inform you that I have fully resumed as the one and only National Chairman of our great party, the PDP," he added.

NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Militants threaten to attack governors’ convoys Wale Elegbede

he Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a group of militants that have claimed responsibility for attacks on oil and gas facilities in the oil-rich Niger Delta, yesterday threatened to attack seven state governors' convoys. In what it termed ‘last warning’ to the governors in the South-South and South-East, the group demanded the release of proBiafra activists in the custody of police and military in their respective states. In a statement signed by the group’s spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the militant group gave the governors 72 hours to free the Biafran agitators. The affected governors are Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta). In a statement posted on its website, the militants vowed to attack the governors’ convoys if they fail to secure the release of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in police or military custody. Also, the militants said it would carry out attacks on police stations, military bases and government offices in the seven states. The NDA said: “We request the immediate release of all pro-Biafra activists held in your various Police/military custody. You are hereby given 72 hours to release them or risk your convoys, police stations, military bases and government offices being attacked. “We are not negotiating with anybody and nobody is representing us. In 48 hours, we will release a video clip showing our arms and the targeted areas. “All strike team already in position awaiting command,” the NDA said. Scores of MASSOB and IPOB members were feared dead on May 30 when they clashed with security agents in some South-East states and Delta State. The clashes broke out following plans by the two separatist groups to organise the 49th anniversary of the declaration of the sovereign State of Biafra in 1967 by the late Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Police arrested over 400 pro-Biafran agitators in Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Delta states.

Some clergymen, who conducted inter-denominational service for the agitators, were also arrested. Those arrested were arraigned in courts and were subsequently granted bail, but some others are still being held in custody or in prison. Just recently, the proBiafran groups pledged allegiance with the Niger Delta militants. This show of solidarity might have been responsible for the NDA’s ultimatum to the governors, calling for the release of Biafra groups. In another statement issued later yesterday, the group also said it was ready to engage the Federal Government in dialogue, if it met its stringent conditions. Giving conditions for the talks, the NDA in a statement posted on its website stated that: “The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and lasting peace talk. “We want the Federal Government to commit member states of the multinational oil corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believe that it is only such environment that will engender genuine

dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger Delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace. “The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporations and international refinery operators that bring in vessels to the Niger Delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government has refused to use and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958. “If they refuse to heed to our advice, it will result to sinking of two of their mother vessels as examples to others. They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas fa-

cilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue. “We are using this medium to warn and condemn the activities of all brands of social media agitators being peddled around by some politicians to promote their criminal ways in affairs of the Niger Delta. This genuine spirit behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of connivance by politicians, traditional rulers, settled ex-agitators and criminals moving around to fill their pockets.” The group said the issues about Niger Delta remain the same and urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to turn the peace talk into a political

£5.2m

The annual salary of Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham Hotspur in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

The sex ratio of women to 100 men of (international migrants) of Cote d’Ivoire in 2010. Source: Un.org

jamboree. “The issues of the Niger Delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’Adua. We are warning this government of President Muhammadu Buhari, not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to

political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have been sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to save faces before the government of the day. “Finally, if need be, we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repair works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue. We want a peace with honour, not a peace of our time,” the statement reads.

Daughters of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu: Nicole (fourth left) and Olivia (fifth left), with friends during their birthday celebration in Abuja… at the weekend. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

1,500 NNPC staff shun asset declaration directive CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and push and profitability.” Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Igwe Achese had, last February, officially stated before the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that the state-owned firm’s core staff are about 5,000. Just 70 per cent of this figure, being 3,500 staff, according to findings by New Telegraph, have keyed in into the asset declaration after series of rigorous exercise. “What obtained before August 4, 2015, when the corporation got a new Group Managing Director in person of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is that nobody cares about whether anybody declares assets or not,” a retired Group Executive Director at the NNPC told this newspaper on phone after his anonymity had been guaranteed. The NNPC also confirmed that 30 per cent of their staff are yet to de-

clare their assets. In the Monthly Financial Operations Data of the NNPC for the month of May, published on its website, the corporation said that it “achieved 70 per cent compliance on assets declaration by staff of the corporation,” as a part of efforts to “enhance transparency and accountability and achieve zero tolerance for corruption.” The staff, further checks revealed, are scattered across the chains. While some are at the headquarters of the NNPC in Abuja consisting of four identical towers, others are also at the zonal offices in Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. Further checks revealed that the international office of the NNPC located in London, United Kingdom, is also peopled by some staff that falls culpable of flagrant disregard for the asset declaration. The NNPC had, on several occasions, been accused of corruption and fraudulent acts, but this is

the first time a revelation about the non-declaration of assets by staff of the corporation was brought to the fore. A KPMG report in December 2011, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance following concerns over the NNPC’s transparency, detailed the NNPC’s sharp business practices to include violation of regulations, illegal deductions of funds belonging to the state, and failure to account for several billions of naira that should go to the federation account. The auditors found that between 2007 and 2009 alone, the corporation over-deducted funds in subsidy claims to the tune of N28.5 billion. It has not been able to account for the sum ever since. Also, in May 2008, Willbros Group Inc., a United States (US) company, admitted to making corrupt payments totalling over $6.3 million to officials at the NNPC and its subsidiary, National Petroleum Investment Management

Services (NAPIMS), in return for assistance in obtaining and retaining contracts for work on the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS). Aside from this, ABB Vetco Gray, another US company and its UK subsidiary, ABB Vetco Gray UK Ltd, in July 2004, conceded to paying over $1 million in bribes to officials of NAPIMS in exchange for obtaining confidential bid information and favourable recommendations from Nigerian government agencies. In November 2013, after a report was published by Swiss Non-governmental advocacy organisation – Erklärung von Bern – allegations of heavy fraud surfaced, placing the NNPC under suspicion of siphoning off $6.8 billion in crude oil revenues. On December 9, 2013, a letter from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, dated September 23, 2013 showed details that the NNPC had not

remitted over $49.8 billion proceeds of crude oil sales to the government, surfaced. On December 13, 2013, NNPC responded that no money was missing. Reconciliation Committee (comprising representatives of CBN, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), The Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources) was set up. The reconciliation committee estimated unremitted funds at $10.8 billion on December 18, 2013, while CBN changed its claim to $12 billion. CBN then informed the Senate Committee on Finance, on February 4, 2014, that NNPC needs to account for $20 billion, as the apex bank could only confirm receipt of $47 billion out of $67 billion revenue for the period under review.

TUESday, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Offer-Circular

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA

Pursuant to the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act 2003 and the Local Loans (Registered Stock and Securities) Act, CAP. L17, LFN 2004

THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA on the authority of the

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE on behalf of the

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA Offers for Subscription by Auction and is authorized to receive applications for

N15,000,000,000 - 15.54% FGN FEB 2020 (5-Yr Re-opening)* N40,000,000,000 - 12.50% FGN JAN 2026 (10-Yr Re-opening)* N50,000,000,000 - 12.40% FGN MAR 2036 (20-Yr Re-opening)*

Auction Date: Settlement Date:

June 15, 2016 June 17, 2016

SUMMARY OF THE OFFER ISSUER:

Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”)

UNITS OF SALE: N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum subscription of N10,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter. INTEREST RATE: For Re-openings of previously issued bonds, (where the coupon is already set), successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus any accrued interest on the instrument. INTEREST PAYMENT: Payable semi-annually

STATUS: 1. Qualifies as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act. 2. Qualifies as Government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act (“CITA”) and Personal Income Tax Act (“PITA”) for Tax Exemption for Pension Funds amongst other investors. 3. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. 4. All FGN Bonds qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks. SECURITY: FGN Bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and are charged upon the general assets of Nigeria.

REDEMPTION: Bullet repayment on the maturity date INTERESTED INVESTORS SHOULD CONTACT OFFICES OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY DEALER MARKET MAKERS (PDMMs): Access Bank Plc. Citibank Nigeria Ltd. Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd. Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. FBN Merchant Bank Ltd.

First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. First City Monument Bank Plc. FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.

* (1) The DMO reserves the right to alter the amount allotted in response to market conditions. (2 Retail Investors are encouraged to participate.

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd. United Bank for Africa Plc. Zenith Bank Plc.

NEWS | national

Patients relocate from FMC, Bida

Dan Atori MINNA

n Niger State, the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has forced family members of patients at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida to take their wards to other hospitals for medical attention. It would be noted that the NARD in the state joined the strike on Friday and has had low patronage

of patients since then. Investigations revealed that only Resident Doctors at the FMC, Bida, Niger State joined the strike and patients, who have been on admission at the centre are now being taken to the General Hospital Bida and other private clinics. A woman, who gave her name as Shekwolo Jiya, told our Correspondent that she is taking her husband to the General Hospital, Bida because there has not been Doctors' attending to him.

Doctors join strike in Rivers

esident doctors in Rivers State have joined in the ongoing national warning strike. Dr Furo Green, the Chairman of Rivers branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, said that doctors in the state would be part of the warning strike called by

its national body. Doctors at the two major referral hospitals in the state, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH and the state-owned Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) are said to be participating in the warning strike.

tuesday, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Resident Doctors' strike Adeolu Adeyemo osogbo

esident Doctors’ strike in Osun State has entered its ninth month now following the state government refusal to offset their accumulated arrears and other medical entitlements. The strike, which began since last year September has wreaked havoc and led to loss of lives of many people, who needed medical attention but could not get such due to the on-going strike action in the state. A New Telegraph investigation revealed that many government hospitals in the state had been deserted while some buildings had been overgrown with grasses. Also, cobwebs have taken over some offices which had been abandoned since the commencement of the exer-

Strike enters ninth month in Osun cise in the state. It was however learnt that the state government had lost billions of naira to the exercise as it could not generate fund to its purse since the beginning of the exercise. The development has forced many inhabitants of the state to be visiting private hospitals where exorbitant fees are charged for their medical attention. One of the residents, who identified himself as Adewale Adegbite, while speaking with our reporter, charged both government and the strik-

121

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving security force personnel in 2007. Source: Satp.org

ing doctors to settle their differences in the interest of the suffering innocent citizens of the state. It would be recalled that the state government advertised the positions of the striking doctors as vacant and sought for new medical experts to occupy them but this was defeated as nobody applied for the job. The government, however, vowed not to beg the medical doctors to resume work while the doctors also insisted on proceeding on the strike until their accumulated monies are offset.

€44.8m

The estimated transfer value of Karim Benzema of Real Madrid in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com

No new admissions at UCH Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he nationwide strike called by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) commenced from Friday in Oyo State. It has affected the health sector as the referral University College Hospital (UCH), a premier teaching hospital, was as at yesterday managing the situation without taking new admissions. It was only attending to those in the wards. Confirming the position to New Telegraph, the Public Relations Officer for the hospital, Mr Deji Bobade said: "We are not admitting new patients for now but we are managing the ones on admission very well".

Strike increases hardship in Plateau Musa Pam Jos

n Jos, Plateau State, the strike has increased hardship for patients, especially at the Jos University Teaching Hospital JUTH since Thursday. A visit to most government hospitals, especially the Jos University Teaching Hospital, shows patients suffering without adequate doctors attending to them as result of the strike. President of the Nigerian

Medical Association NMA in the state, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, also described the strike action as unfortunate, saying the strike was coming barely a week after when the JUHESU called off its strike. He added that the strike would increase hardship for the patients in the hospitals. He, however, maintained that only the Resident Doctors were on strike while other medical personnel were working to attend to all patients in various hospitals.

Agony, death at FMC, Asaba

Dominic Adewole ASABA

he nationwide strike action declared by the Resident Medical Doctors of the Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) has assumed a dangerous dimension in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The strike has boosted the indefinite strike embarked upon by resident Doctors in the hospital in Asaba in past three months, owing to nonimplementation of their

FMC Umuahia grounded Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he strike action embarked upon by resident doctors across the country has grounded activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. New Telegraph check revealed that most of the wards were deserted as patients had been taken away by their relatives.

full salary scale and what the tagged as “arbitrary cut in their salaries.” While other tertiary health institutions were able to manage the problem without allowing it to escalate into industrial action, FMC Asaba could not. Hundreds of lives have gone into it even as sick persons across the state, including pregnant women, are now faced with no other option than to patronize private clinics and maternity homes, belonging to the striking Doctors, or traditional birth attendants.

L-R: Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu; Senator Mosurat Sumonu and Chairman, Senate Committee on Financial Crimes, Anti-corruption, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, during a courtesy visit to the EFCC office in Abuja… yesterday

Patients forced out of hospitals in Abuja Obinna Odoh Abuja

ollowing the indefinite strike embarked upon by the National Association of Residence Doctors last Friday, some government's Hospitals in Abuja have massively discharged and forced patients already on admission before the commencement of the strike out of the hospital. They also refused admission to the incoming patients. At the Kuje General

Hospital located in Kuje Area Council in FCT, a suburb of Federal Capital Territory, patients were left stranded as the hospital management discharged the patients without recourse to their plight because medical doctors refused to attend to them. When a New Telegraph reporter visited the hospital on Sunday afternoon, the entire hospital wards were left empty with only one female patient left in female ward. She was said to be on a special case and

being attended to by special doctors. The patient, whose name was given Areguamea Mary, could not talk but a relation disclosed to the New Telegraph's reporter in dismay that Mary came to the hospital on a referral and was being attended to by some doctors because of the peculiarity of her case. But the source said that the way and manner by which poor patients were thrown out of the hospital was unacceptable and disrespectful to human dignity.

Private hospitals take over in Ondo, Kogi Skeletal services in Benue

Babatope Okeowo Akure

ll workers in Ondo State, including medical doctors, have embarked on strike action over the inability of the state government to pay their salaries for the past six months. Following the strike action, all the govern-

ment owned hospitals, maternity centres, Mother and Child Hospital and specialist hospitals have been under lock and key for the past 10 days. The withdrawal of services of the medical personnel have led to the upsurge of patronage of private hospitals with many having to pay through their noses to get medical attention.

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

embers of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi branch, yesterday abandoned work, thereby crippling normal health services at the hospital. A New Telegraph correspondent who visited

the FMC yesterday, observed that all members of the association boycotted work, while only state government doctors were seen attending to patients. A staff of the hospital, who spoke to New Telegraph on strict condition of anonymity, regretted the absence of the Resident Doctors, which she said has resulted to skeletal services at the hospital.

Strike paralyses activities in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya and Clement James

he nationwide strike embarked upon by resident doctors has paralyzed medical activities in the government owned health institutions in Ebonyi State. When our Correspondent visited the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki(FETHA1 and 2), only nurses were seen attending to patients. One of the patients, Okoro Edwin, lamented the industrial action and called on the Federal Government to enter into dialogue with the doctors to enable them call off the strike. ''Government should do something urgently because it is we the masses that are suffering in this type of situation. I came here for medical treatment only to meet this type of situation. This is not healthy at all because many people may die within this period’’, he said.

national | news

tuesday, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG’s new job portal records 403,000 applicants in 36 hours

L-R: Representative of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu; Prince Oyekunle Oyewumi; National Chairman,All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and Pro Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Dr. Musa Mustapha, at an award ceremony by the University's Alumni Association in Ibadan… at the weekend

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

No further allocation of oil blocs –Kachikwu

Tony Anichebe uyo

he Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachukwu, has said that the Federal Government would not allocate fresh oil blocks to anybody for now. He said the government would rather concentrate on her ongoing sanitization of the Petroleum Industry. Kachikwu, who spoke against the backdrop of demands made by stake-

holders of South-South Zone, who attended the Federal Government town hall meeting held in Uyo yesterday, maintained that the Federal Government will initiate an open and transparent process to allocate fresh oil blocks when it decides. “When we decide to allocate fresh oil blocks, the Federal Government will use very open and transparent process and the South-South people will be beneficiaries. “The president I know

Buratai defends mass retirement Caleb Onwe Abuja

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has explained that the military high command exhausted all the processes according to the rule of engagement in the military before arriving to the decision to sack some of its senior officers. Buratai disclosed this yesterday, when he led a delegation of the Army high command to pay a courtesy visit on the Minister of Communication Technology, Chief Adebayo Shittu, in Abuja. He denied that the Army was embarking on what people described as “ ethnic cleansing” in the army. He rather explained that the Army ensured that no innocent officer was affected by the exercise allegedly carried out to remove those who in one way or the other jeopardized the fight against insurgency and other issues bordering on national security. “Why not now? There is no better time than now. It took us painstaking procedures to ensure that we don’t pick innocent ones and sack them. So, we

started with inquiries first of all. After that, we subjected it to legal review. After that, we forwarded our findings to the higher authority for consideration. So, just like court processes, the military has its own processes too.” Buratai, who came to seek for collaboration with the ministry in the effort to restore full communication in the Northeast region of the country, said that the army would need to partner with the ministry in the area of satellite communication, VHF radio and data communications, among other areas. “Coming to the ministry now for collaboration is not late. Like as I said, we have been partnering with the Ministry of Communication. If you go to north-east and see the level of destruction done to telecommunication masts, it is unfortunate that these telecommunication masts were destroyed by the insurgents. Some of the affected communities for some time now, we don’t have people living there but now they are going back there and that is why the telecommunication masts are needed to restore normal communication to the area”, he explained.

has no intention to favour anybody or group in particular. Since I assumed office, the president has not directed anybody to me for special favour. He believes in open opportunity for all,” Kachikwu said. He explained that the Federal Government hoped to invest over N7. Billion Dollars in Gas and Methanol plants in the Niger Delta but insisted that such good intentions can only materialize when there is peace in the Niger Delta region. Kachikwu, who also addressed the issue of Minimum wage raised by labour leaders in Akwa Ibom, stated that the Federal Government was developing their own templates just as the labour

is doing theirs, stressing that government was not unaware of the role the state government would play on the issues of minimum wages. Also speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, hinted that the over N13 billion land deal involving ex- Nimasa DG and ex-militant leader, Government Ekpomopolo was enough to build and complete several projects including the Maritime University. “Such huge sum of money claimed to be paid on land alone can buy half of Lagos State. If I have such funds handy, I assure that most of the proposed projects in my Ministry will be completed within one year."

he newly launched jobs portal of the Federal Government “N-Power. gov.ng,” has recorded over 403,000 applications from young Nigerians. Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, in a statement yesterday, said the portal, which was opened on Sunday, June 12 had been very successful. The statement by the Vice President's spokesman may have come as a result of media reports that the portal has crashed due to what was suspected to be massive applications by prospective candidates. Akande said: “We have been very impressed by the enthusiastic response to the call for applications. "As at noon on Monday June 13, only 36 hours after the launch of the portal, 403, 528 applicants had successfully registered on the site and were in the middle of completing the application process,”. “We are also very pleased that the registrations have been taking place without any hitches or system failures, considering the volume of

£433,300 The monthly salary of Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham Hotspur in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

Reps hold 193 sessions in one year Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives sat for 193 times in the first year of its legislative tenure, which came to a close last Thursday. The House was proclaimed by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 9, 2015 when Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Hon. Sulaimon Yussuff Lasun were elect-

ed as presiding officers. By the provision of section 63 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the House is to sit for a minimum of 181 days. It states that “the senate and the House of Representatives shall each sit for a period of not less than 180 days in a year” Chairman of the House committee on rules and business, Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev, disclosed that during the year, the House introduced 685 bills made

up of 19 executive bills and 675 private member bills. Out of this, 416 bills are awaiting second reading, 130 pending before committees, 85 passed, 12 rejected or withdrawn while three are awaiting consideration in committee of the whole. New Telegraph gathered that the sittings include plenary, executive session and joint sessions with the upper chamber, the senate.

response.” The statement said in all to this moment, all together, the website has received over 35 million hits since Saturday midnight.The Jobs Scheme, known as ‘N-Power’, is one of the five initiatives of the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government of Nigeria, described by President Mohammdu Buhari in his Democracy Day Speech as “by far the most ambitious social protection programme in our history.” The Federal Government has provided a total of N500billion in the 2016 budget for the implementation of the programme. Gover nment has said that N-Power was designed to help young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills to become solution providers in their communities and to become players in the domestic and global markets. It is expected to provide employment opportunities for 500,000 graduates as teachers, agriculture extension advisers, healthcare assistants, and civic and adult education instructors in communities across Nigeria. As designed, government said that there will also be a pool of 100,000 software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others.

Meanwhile, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has become the first speaker ever to have sponsored nine bills in one legislative year. Prior to now, no speaker of the House has sponsored up to five bills in four years. In all, only 187 out of the 360 members sponsored bills in the first year. Dogara was able to break the record sponsoring a total of nine bills in just a year.

Immigration boss orders delivery of passport within 72 hours Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, has directed Passport officers to issue International Passports to applicants within 72 hours. The CGI also has directed for the re-configuration of the NIS Passport plat-

form to enable passport applicants on change of name and loss of document obtain the passports at any passport office. The CGI, in a statement from the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Ekpedeme King, also gave all the passport officers 48 hours to clear all the backlog of passport applications. During Babandede deco-

ration as the CGI, the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdulrahaman Danbazau, rtd, had charged him to reduce complaints over delay in issuance of passport. Adhering to the Minister's charge, Ekpedeme said: "Following complaints and agitations from passport applicants concerning service delivery at our Passport offices, the Comptroller-General of Immigration Muhammad

Babandede at the Service Headquarters, Abuja has given all Passport Control Officers (PCOs) nationwide as well as Passport Issuing Desks in Nigeria’s Foreign Missions for hours to clear all backlog of Passport applications". According to the statement, failure to comply with the directive would be interpreted to mean the PCO is incompetent and will therefore be removed.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Ikorodu serial rapist disguised with wig –Residents Camillus Nnaji

esidents of Oke Ota community in Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of Lagos State yesterday said a suspected serial rapist cum killer identified as Badoo had a free reign because he used to wear a wig to disguise. Badoo was almost lynched on Sunday by a mob incensed by his atrocities. After sneaking out of his victim’s house, Badoo would write ‘I’m Badoo’ and paste it on his victim’s door. Badoo on Thursday allegedly raped and killed 27-yearold Mrs. Grace Obinna and her nine-month old baby after the woman struggled with him and did not allow him to clean her private part with his handkerchief. Obinna, a teacher at Methodist Primary School, Ibeshe, was found dead after Badoo allegedly chopped off her chin and plucked out her eyes. The rapist was discovered to be operating from a lonely uncompleted building in Oke Ota community, Ibeshe, where his operation weapons were found. He was said to have raped about five women including an 85-year-old woman who was presently receiving

Badoo

treatment at an undisclosed hospital. A resident of the area, who identified herself as Bose, said the rapist and his gang, still at large, started the crime last year. “The community has been troubled with a series of rape and killing perpetuated by this Badoo and his gang since last year. He started at Ilaje, Ibeshe Phase 1, Abule and now Oke Ota community. Nobody could identify him as a resident when he was arrested and handed over to Oba Ogunsanya Abayomi, the Olu of Ibeshe. The only person that recognised him at Oba’s palace was one of his victims. He killed and removed his victim’s teeth when she refused the handkerchief. I believe, when they torture him, he will talk.” Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, said Badoo had been operating by the strength and support of godfathers. “He cannot be doing this, if there are no strong people behind him. We have been trying over the months to catch him to no avail. In order to succeed this time, the community came together, performed some sacrifices, made incantations and went out for him. That was why

City Briefs Five kidnap victims escape as Police arraign two for robbery Victor Mba soldiers, cultists clash Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ive persons, who were abducted by cult members at the weekend in Elele metropolis in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, have regained their freedom during a fight between soldiers and the cultists. The kidnap victims were ambushed by suspected cultists in a community that lies between Emuoha and Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, and were held in Obelle community. But when soldiers from the

2 Brigade raided the area, and engaged the cultists in a shootout, five of the six kidnap victims fled from where they were being held. Sources say the cultists had camped at Aluu community in Emuoha, but fled to Obelle community, which the Army also raided. Some of the fleeing cultists have reportedly taken refuge inside the expansive Obelle-Elele Forest. The spokesman for the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, has confirmed that the Army carried out an operation in both Ibaa and Obelle communities.

Aba

wo men held for being in possession of firearms and conspiring to carry out a robbery operation have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates Court sitting at Agalaba in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The men, Jeremiah Kalu (24) and Onuoha Okpani (27), in company with one other person now at large were said to have carried out the operation in Obingwa Local Government Area. They were arrested by detectives attached to Uhuru Isimiri Division led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Titus Ugwoke.

The two men were picked up on May 28 following a tip-off. They were also accused of terrorising Umuikpeghi, Umukalika communities and Glass Industry roads. A member of the gang is currently at large as police have launched manhunt for him. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Emmason Okoroafor, according to the charge sheet with registration number MAG/21C/2016, told the court that security operatives from Ohuru Isimiri were able to recover two Itel Android handsets valued at N50,000, blackberry handset valued at N60,000, and Samsung Android phone valued at N50,000, and the N4,000 cash

he was caught,” the resident added. Badoo was caught at Ilaje roaming about by Ibeshe community youths. They had beaten him to stupor and were about to lynch him when on second thought, they decided to march him to Oba Abayomi. Thousands of residents, who marched on the palace, asked Abayomi to allow them to set Badoo on fire. But the monarch decided to hand him over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution. When contacted also, the Baale of Oke Ota, Chief Awoyemi Tijani, told our correspondent that the rapist was a total stranger. He said: “We don’t know him, neither do we know where he came from and we have handed him over to appropriate security agency, the police.” When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of Badoo. Badmos added that victims had been coming to identify him. She said: “He is under investigation. So far, two women have come up with their complaints of being his victims. He would soon be charged to court.”

from Kalu and Okpani said to be property of their victims identified as Helen Eze, Onyeka Ezugha, Chinyere Nwadinma and Madam Joy Samuel. According to Okoroafor, N30,000 cash suspected to be money they snatched from their victims was equally recovered by the police team. The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 5(6), 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap 398, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Abia State. The court did not take their plea while the magistrate said that the court did not have the jurisdiction to try the matter and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Aba Federal Prison.

METRO

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

unmen have kidnapped a Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal judge, Mr. Isaq Usman, while they shot dead his orderly, Corporal Abubakar Aba. In the Sunday incident, Usman was abducted on the Itakpe-Kuroko Road in Adavi Local Government Area while returning to Lokoja to resume work. The judge was said to have travelled to his country home over the weekend and was on his way back when he was abducted by the gunmen. It was learnt that the kidnappers shot and killed his police orderly. Usman’s driver also received bullet wounds before the judge was abducted.

Gunmen abduct Kogi judge, kill orderly According to a source, the slain police orderly was said to have been shot for resisting the abduction of his principal.

The driver was said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state capital. The Information Offi-

Kogi State Gov. Yahaya Bello

cer of the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. Saqeeb Saeed, confirmed the report yesterday. However, efforts to confirm the death of the police orderly were futile as the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Wllly Aya, did not pick his calls. Two weeks ago, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, deployed a detachment of Special Squad of SARS from Abuja and a helicopter stationed in Lokoja to combat the menace of kidnapping in the state. But a week after the deployed policemen returned to their base, criminal activities have resurfaced in the state.

11-year-old boy needs N11.5m for stem cell transplant Emmanuel Uti

leven-year-old Tosin Ujah, who is suffering from cerebral palsy, needs N11.8 million to live a normal life. His mother, Funmi Buraimoh (a single parent), said the amount was needed for a stem cell transplant in China. According to her, Tosin was a normal child until he turned three years old. She said: “I was hopeful about his future until at age three after he recovered from cerebral malaria he started convulsing from sleep. We were afraid as we were taking him to different hospitals before we discovered what was responsible for his convulsion.” Buraimoh said that several tests conducted on Tosin initially showed he was

We’re tired of police harassment, cry Onitsha traders

IG, Arase

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

ension has enveloped Onitsha following incessant raids and arrest of business owners by police over allegations of receiving stolen goods. It was learnt that about 12 business

owners including a visiting student on Industrial Training, Ifeanyi Agazie, were arrested by men of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and whisked away to Ogun State. Human rights lawyer and counsel to some of the arrested businessmen, Chuka Obele-Chuka, in a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), alleged that the incessant invasion of the policemen from FSARS Ogun State was “an arranged operation hatched between some elements from FSARS, Ihiala, Anambra State and their Ogun State counterparts with a background in an earlier investigation of a factory owner by the Ihiala FSARS of some allegations which were found to be untrue”. Obele-Chuka noted that despite a subsisting suit pending at Ihiala High Court and an order restraining the police from further arrests or detaining the applicants on the basis of the same facts and complaints which gave rise to the suit, the police on June 9 still disobeyed the court order

and stormed the area and whisked away three persons, Ebuka Obiakor, Ekene Jacob (an aluminum technician) as well as Aloysius Chikwendu, a customer. He called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene urgently and order the release of Obiakor, Jacob and others still in detention with the seized aluminum coils. He alleged that the police extorted N80,000 from Chinwendu on their way to Ogun State, as a ransom for his freedom. Some of the factory workers, who spoke with journalists yesterday, regretted that the FSARS men had turned Onitsha to their goldmine where they made illicit money. They threatened to revolt and defend themselves against policemen who storm their shops in disobedience of court orders. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Okechukwu Ali, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed that policemen did come from outside the state for arrests on investigation matters.

Police, AGF exonerate UNICAL lecturer from rape Clement James Calabar

olice and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation have exonerated a lecturer from alleged rape a student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL). This came nine months after an undergraduate of the institution accused Prof Cyril Ndifon of raping her. On August 29, 2015, 20-year-old Sinem-Obong Nkang, a 400 level student of Law accused Ndifon, who was the lecturer incharge of Law of Trust, of sexual harassment. The allegation and subsequent petitions by the supposed victim drew

the attention of the police who subjected the lecturer to a series of interrogations, while the university, his employer, suspended him, pending the outcome of investigation. However, a 33-page report by the Force Gender Unit of the Force Headquarters, Abuja picked holes in the allegation. The report, made available to journalists in Calabar, reads in part; “that the evidences of the complainant in this case are incoherent and partly disjointed,” and that “there is no material evidence to corroborate the testimonies of the complainant and build this offence of rape around the suspect sufficiently.”

The report also stated that “penetration, which is the crux of the offence of rape, was not revealed by the medical evidence.” Acting on the Gender Unit report, the Department of Public Prosecution at the Force Headquarters, in a memo with reference no: DPP/AVC: 007/16 titled FRN vs Prof. Cyril Ndifon and signed by A. Yusuf and dated March 16, 2016, noted that “rape is a state offence and in this case Cross River Ministry of Justice has the power to prosecute”. It, however, argued that: “But looking at available evidence of this matter, the prosecution cannot establish and sustain the charge of

rape in line with the laid down burden of proof principles in criminal case which is always beyond reasonable doubt.” Similarly, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Muhammad Diri, Esq, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, and dated May 23, 2016, absolved Ndifon of the alleged crime. The letter states in part: “I wish to inform you that we have carefully perused the aforementioned case diary. From the investigation report, no prima facie case of rape can be made out by the prosecution against Prof Cyril Ndifon of the Faculty of Law, UNICAL.”

Tosin

normal until CT-Scan test which showed that he had atrophy in the frontal part of his brain with a moderate dilation. A medical report signed by the Director, Nigerian Army Audiological Centre, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Irene Okeke-Igbokwe, confirmed that Tosin underwent audiological re-evaluation at the centre on June 27, 2011. Buraimoh said Tosin could no longer talk except to blab occasionally. She added: “Due to the careless and consistent use of powerful antibiotics at the general hospital, his expressive trait was impaired, he no longer speaks. His legs and movement are no longer firm and sharp on ground. He does not hear effectively though we also went for an audiology test thrice.” At 11, Tosin is a dependent child as he cannot eat, take his bath or go to the toilet on his own. According to his mother, since Nigeria has no medical facilities to cater for children with special needs like Tosin, doctors have recommended he goes for corrective brain surgery in China. Those who want to help Tosin financially should contact the editor.

My fiancé disappeared with N580,000, says prostitute Juliana Francis

prostitute, who gave her name simply as Becky, yesterday broke down and wept after the man who promised to marry her, disappeared with her N580,000, at the Ajegunle area of Lagos State. According to Becky, who had gone to report the matter to the police, the N580,000, was money she had saved, which the fleeing suspect, Stephen Onyeukwu, ought to use to pay her bride price. Onyeukwu was supposed to have gone to save the money in a bank account, pending when they were both ready for the marriage. But he disappeared with it. Becky said: “I never knew he is a fraudster. He went to bank and did not pay the money. Each time I called him on phone, he would tell me to forget about the money that I was his ‘Mugu’ (prey). He said I would never see him in Ajegunle again. He tricked me and I fell for him.” Onyeukwu was said to have met Becky in a hotel on Ojo Road where he expressed his love for her. They started dating and were eight months into the relationship, when Onyeu-

kwu proposed marriage. Becky accepted. She recounted: “Stephen used to sleep in my hotel room. He would wait for me to service my last customer for the day. On that fateful Friday, I gave him N580,000 to pay into my bank account. He disappeared since then. I knew something was wrong when I didn’t receive alert.” Becky said that every time she called, he would yell at her to stop troubling him. “God will never forgive him. I know how many men had sex with me before I saved that amount. He promised to marry me and even went with me to our church. Our pastor liked him. He swore that he would marry me or he would die. He told me that he would never disappoint me. I believed him because of the way he was behaving. “We were preparing to get married and I gave him the money so that he would have money to pay for my dowry. I told one of my police friend and the police are looking for him. I have been crying since that day. I cannot sleep. I love him apart from the money. But now I have lost all. I lost my love and I lost my money.”

NEWS | national

N14.14m fraud: Police arraign two Ecobank's staff Akeem Nafiu

wo members of staff of Ecobank Plc, Aghanenu Ikechukwu (41) and Stephen Nduka (36) were yesterday docked by the police before Magistrate P. A. Adekomaya of an Igbosere Magistrate's court over alleged theft of N14.14 million.

The two were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, stealing and conversion. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Police prosecutor, Inspector Ingobo Emby, told the court that the defendants and others, who are still being sought for, allegedly committed the

offences between September and November, 2015. He said the defendants with intent to defraud, allegedly forged the instruction of one Oluremi Egunjobi Christina, an account holder with the bank, saying that Ikechukwu and others, who are still being sought for, allegedly converted N10 million from the

bank's account number 274112825, belonging to Rabiu Oladimeji Lawal, to an account number 5322000255, belonging to one Okeneme Samuel, property of Ecobank Plc. Besides, the prosecutor alleged that Ikechukwu and the fleeing others on September 28, 2015 did fraudulently forge and liquidate the customer's investment into account

number 5323007058 to the tune of N4.14 million property of the bank. According to the prosecutor, the offences committed were punishable under Sections 409, 361 (b) and 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos

enowned constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, have called for true federalism in the country, saying that the way the country is being currently run would stifle development. Speaking yesterday as guest lecturers at the first anniversary of the eight Lagos State House of Assembly with the theme: "Lagos State In A True Federalism And State Police," the two Senior Ad-

Fashola: We’ll overcome power sector challenges soon Muhammad Kabir Kano

inister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said that the challenges facing the nation’s power sector as a result of the activities of militants in the Niger Delta region are not insurmountable as the government has deployed measures to tackle them. He said: “The difficulties facing Nigerians today because of the serious fall in energy supply across the country would soon be a thing of the past as the government is working day and night to overcome the challenges.” Fashola, who spoke during the sixth power sector and stakeholders’ meeting in Kano yesterday, said "difficulties and challenges don't last, but that tough people last, and we are tough people and are hell bent in tackling the challenges.” The minister, who inaugurated 63, 000 new meters supplied by KED-

change OF NAME

Utsua

I, formerly known and addressed as Felicia Mbakpega, now wish to be known and addressed as Felicia Utsua. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CO to its customers, explained that Nigeria will soon be free of the bondage of energy challenges. He added that as a government, “we are aware of the challenges facing Nigerians because of the shortfall in power generation and we are working day and night to see it through.” He urged the nation’s power distribution companies to patronise locally made meters so that we will help the nation grow and as well provide employment opportunities to the teeming unemployed. The Minister while commending Kano Distribution Company for supplying the 100, 000 meters noted that he understands that the meters cost the company N5.7 billion while it is also spending N500 millions to install.

New gene discovery could end blindness in children Appolonia Adeyemi

cientists from the Northwestern Medicine and University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) in the United States have identified a gene that causes severe glaucoma in children. This was the finding in a study published in ‘The Journal of Clinical Investigation.’ The research outcome validates a similar discovery made by the scientists in mice two years ago that suggests a target for

The total number of goals scored by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

future medication to treat a devastating eye disease that currently has no cure. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve which carries images from the retina, which is the specialised light sensing tissue, to the brain so we can see. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in older people. In glaucoma, eye pressure plays a role in damaging the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots develop in the field of vision and once nerve damage and visual loss occurs, it is permanent. Reacting to the study, Principal Investigator

Okiro urges Niger Delta militants to embrace peace

hairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, yesterday appealed to Niger Delta militants to embrace peace and stop sabotaging the nation’s economy. Okiro asked the militants to embrace dialogue as the only panacea for a lasting resolution of the issues at stake and corporate co-existence of the nation. He said he believes that

the activities of the militants can only hurt the long term interest of the region as the destruction being perpetrated would leave serious after-effects on the already devastated eco-system. “The activities of the militants is not only hurting Nigerians, but the real impact is wreaking havoc on Niger Delta the more.” As a man from the region, Okiro has every reason to

be irked by the restiveness in the region. It is instructive to remember that oil is a resource that will not last forever and the best option for the region is to use the present window of opportunity to re-negotiate a holistic template to provide the needed critical infrastructure to realistically develop the region in view of the looming post oil era.

State, 2011. The accused persons were, however, allowed home on bail in the sum of N3 million each with two sureties in like sum. Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till July 11, 2016.

Sagay, Falana canvass true federalism

Wale Elegbede

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left), with Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd), during Ali’s courtesy visit to Sokoto Government House…yesterday

tuesday, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

and Chief of Nephrology and Hypertension at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Susan Quaggin, said: "This work shows us how a genetic mutation causes a severe form of glaucoma called primary congenital glaucoma, which afflicts a significant portion of children enrolled in institutions for the blind worldwide." According to a report in the sciencedaily.com, the gene, TEK, is involved in the development of a vessel in the eye called Schlemm's canal, which drains fluid from the anterior portion of the eye. In glaucoma, this vessel can be defective or missing; creating pressure buildup that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. In previous research, Quaggin's lab showed that deleting the gene in mouse models led to glaucoma, but the scientists didn't know how mutations impairing the gene affected humans. After publishing that research, Quaggin met Dr. Terri Young, a pediatric ophthalmologist and chair of Opthalmology at the University of Wisconsin.

vocate of Nigeria (SAN) agreed that Nigeria needs both political and fiscal federalism for rapid development. According to Sagay, the constitution of Nigeria should be a reflection of its historical development, adding that Nigeria's federalism is too centralised and limiting the development of the country. The former dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, maintained that each unit ought to enjoy a measure of autonomy in a true federalism, and that governments have horizontal relationships in a federal system of government. "Nigeria has deviated from an ideal federalism because of over-centralisation of power. It is wrong to centralise institutions such as the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police Council, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and others. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was right to have said that Nigeria is not a nation, but a mere geographical expression." "There should be respect for nationalities and the basis of our association should be explained. Under the regional government, the region keeps 50 per cent of its resources, gives 20 per cent to the central government and the remaining 30 per cent is sent to the pool, which would be shared by the state," he said. According to him, each region had its own coat of arms, constitution and motto, but that the independence and autonomy of the regions were destroyed by the military in 1966. Sagay said the arrogation of power to the central government got to its peak during the era of the late General Sani Abacha as head of state. He added that Nigeria is the only federal republic without a state police, and that apart from states, local governments and even schools could have their own police.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview Akinsuyi: Lack of succession plan stifling development in Ondo

Politics KENNETH OFOMA reports on the marching order on the country’s restructuring given to President Muhammadu Buhari by eminent Nigerians, who converged at Enugu for the 17th annual convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM)

Agenda for a new Nigeria

he 17th annual convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in Enugu, last Sunday lived up to its billing as a harvest of storms. Going through the list of guests invited to the event during the pre-event publicity, observers of political development in the country had no doubt that the event would indeed present a fiery political firestorm. However, the question was whether these arrays of elder statesmen and women who have seen it all in the stormy political development of Nigeria would attend the event. Alas, they did! What more, the event coincided with the anniversary of June 12, which commemorates the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola, but was annulled by the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. Interestingly too, the evolving socio-political and economic upheavals and rise of ethnic militias and separatist groups, have combined to weigh heavily on national security and corporate existence of Nigeria. This has made it appealing for every well-meaning Nigerian to take advantage of any available platform to intervene in order to save the country. After a detailed review of the aforementioned developments and challenges currently facing

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

L-R: Adebanjo, Uko, Ekwueme, Ezeife, Gana, Obi and Dr. Arthur Nwankwo at the convention.

the country, the senior citizens and patriots gave President Muhammadu Buhari one single message- restructure Nigeria now! They said that the restructuring should be in line with the principles of true federalism. The elder statesmen and women, including Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; a chieftain of pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; resource control protagonist, Ankio Briggs and immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, advised President Buhari to begin the immediate implementation of the 2014 National Conference report as a first step towards restructuring the country. The leaders who spoke on the convention’s theme: "Still In Search of True Federalism," noted that the current protests and demands for separation by various groups in the country, as well as other socio-economic crises could be reduced by half if the confab report is implemented. This is as they also gave kudos to Igbo Youth Movement, headed by Evangelist Elliot Ukoh. They expressed happiness that about 70 per cent of the audience at the event were youths bellow the age of 30, who are leaders of tomorrow and who should begin to the learn the nation’s historical journey in “order not to repeat the mistakes of the past.” Ekwueme, who noted that every disappointment is a blessing,

Our diversity is not our problem, it is the people who are manipulating the diversity wrongly

said his incarceration in 1984 at Kirikiri Prison by the military junta ironically led Muhammadu Buhari and now current civilian president, afforded him the opportunity to reflect deeply on Nigeria's problems. According to him, he came out of prison with the idea of a six geo-political zonal structure, which he pushed for at the 1994 Constitutional Conference that much later became a convention and has taken care of minorities in the south and northern parts of the country. His words: “It was on the basis of that (balancing interest of minority and majority) that I came to the conclusion that we should have six regions or geo-political zones as you call them at the 1994 Constitutional Conference – three in the North and three in the South. “From the South you have South-West, the Yoruba; you have South-East, the Igbo and then you have two minority groups, Midwest and COR (Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers) as SouthSouth, making three zones in the South. In the North, you have the North-West, which is Hausa/ Fulani; then the North Central, Middle Belt which is aggregation of minorities ranging from Tivs to Idomas to Igalla to Nupe to Gwari and so on, and then in the North-East again minorities predominated by the Kanuris in Borno and Yobe and then other minority groups in Adamawa and Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi. “So, on that basis we had three major geo-political zones and three minority geo-political

zones: three in the North, three in the South, so parity on both sides.” The Second Republic vice president added recalled what Nigeria negotiated for and agreed with colonial masters before independence was a regional government where each has a constitution, which were annexed to the Republican Constitution of 1963. According to him, the Republican Constitution then provided 50 per cent revenue sharing formula for the regions, 30 per cent to a distributable pool, and 20 per cent to the centre. He said that the regions still benefitted from the 30 per cent meant for a distributable. This according to him gave the regions sense of equity and fairness and led to stability. “There is need for us to return to the basics of what we inherited from our founding fathers,” he said. Adebanjo on his part went down memory lane to trace the origin of federalism in Nigeria to various pre- and post-colonial constitutional conferences, and insisted that Nigeria must be restructured to correct the humongous damage done to the nation’s constitution by the military and to put a stop to various acts of uprising in the country today including those of the Niger Delta Avengers, Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

POLITICS

Buhari

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Briggs

Buhari gets marching order C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

noted that the regional structure upon which federalism was anchored on generated healthy rivalry among the regions as they were competitive in initiating various developmental projects in their areas of influence. “The autonomy the regions enjoyed under the federal constitution gave each region the liberty to develop at its own pace according to its priority. It is my strong view that to put a stop to the various acts of uprising in the country today be it Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB, IPOB or the new agitation for the state of Biafra will require a change of our constitution to allow for the restructuring of the country under a truly federal system. Then, and only then, can we have peace in the country without which there can be no progress,” he said. Prof. Jerry Gana stated that the nation’s founding fathers were right by agreeing to a federal structure, which he described as the best governance structure to guarantee peace, equity and justice. In a remark entitled “That we may live together in peace,” the former Information minister stated that it is only when Nigerians resolve as a people to love their God with all their heart, mind and strength, will they be able to love their neighbours as themselves. His words: “In a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and geographically diverse nation like Nigeria the only viable form of structure for governing, for living together in peace, is federalism. Therefore our founding fathers devised excellently. If they had chosen any other form of association, the difficulties would have even been greater than this. So federalism is the way forward; it is really the nature of that federal structure that we are now searching to make

sure it works. “The importance within a federation is the feeling of commonality, the feeling of togetherness, the feeling that you are within a federating unit that looks after your affairs consistently, effectively and properly. And so, there is self-determination and you are comfortable and you are happy, and you are at peace. “Therefore I join my elders to appeal to this government to implement the report of 2014 National Conference, which contains recommendations that were put up by some of the best brains in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who also consulted with their leaders and elders back home. What we have there are consensus positions of millions of Nigerians. Any serious government will take that report very seriously. It contains the kind of recommendations that when implemented will help Nigerians to live together in peace.” Briggs, who received the award of “Amazon of Truth” by IYM expressed dismay at the blame of murderous and criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen on Chadians and Nigeriens. She said that if that is the case, it then means that Somalia’s militants were responsible for the blowing up of oil pipelines in Niger Delta region in the name of Avengers, and that nobody should blame Ijaws and other ethnic nationalities within the region. She said: “Our diversity is not our problem, it is the people who are manipulating the diversity wrongly that are our problem and we should not allow them. A lot of people have made a lot of sacrifices in Nigeria but there is a way people are made to feel in Nigeria, there are people that feel like they are second class citizens. “I do not believe and I don’t buy into that idea, I do not believe that Nigeria must break but what I do believe is that if

There is need for us to return to the basics of what we inherited from our founding fathers

Nigeria continues the way it is going, Nigeria will break. But that doesn’t mean that I want Nigeria to break. So, the problem must be solved. We cannot have a situation in the 21st century of Nigeria, where people working in their farms are slaughtered in broad day light. We must discuss these things; I am not inciting people but speaking the truth. “It is infuriating to say Biafrans didn’t see the war; therefore if they cry there will be war. You cannot threaten a man who is dead that you are going to kill him. He is already dead. We have a religious problem in this country and we must accept it and face it. I am a Christian; I have never seen where a Christian group has gotten up in anger. There is a governor today that spoke blasphemously about Jesus Christ, he is still alive, he ran for election, he is a governor today nobody killed him. What is the meaning of blasphemy? Blasphemy is not in any law in Nigeria. Some people cannot behead a woman on the reason that she blasphemed, and you bring four people and say that they are the people and that you will jail them. The question is: For how long? “The punishment should go further than the four people. The governor should be held accountable politically, also the Emir of that place. How can you say that a Christian, who is living and working in the North did not observe a fast of Muslims and you attack him in this new Nigeria? I have not heard of it before, this is a new thing that is coming and we must say no! “On September 28 last year, our president went to the United Nations as the president of Nigeria, not as a Muslim president or Christian president, he went as president of Nigeria and he urged the United Nations to without delay grant the Palestinian people self-determination. How do you lock up my brother and

my son, Nnamdi Kanu for saying exactly the same thing? Kanu is a Nigerian asking for that in Nigeria and a Nigerian president went to United Nations on behalf Nigeria and made the same request on behalf of somebody who is not a Nigerian. “We cannot have a country that is bitter, you cannot say that 95 per cent of Nigerians voted for you and that the five per cent that didn’t vote for you, you won’t do anything for them but in the meantime, it is the money from the five per cent that you are using to do something for the 95 percent, then you say you are looking for Avenger, which Avenger?” Former Governor Obi, who also supported restructuring of the country on the basis of fiscal federalism, said while that is being addressed, there is need to urgently address the high cost of governance in the country. He also insisted that any governor who said he cannot pay salary should give way for other persons with better ideas. Obi who was honored with the award of “Best Governor Ever” at the event said governors cannot be complaining of not having money when they lavish their states resources on frivolities. He said that he shunned from building Anambra Governor’s Lodge in Abuja while in office because it was not necessary as the governor of the state does not live in Abuja. According to him, it was cheaper to put up in an hotel than to use billions of naira to build a big house and spend millions annually on staffing and maintenance. “I have been governor once, let the governor who says he cannot pay salary come and meet me. And I will ask him how. You cannot continue with the level and cost of governance, it is unacceptable. You cannot continue to live the same lifestyle you lived, have more than 27 vehicles as convoy, hire private jet and all that and say you cannot pay salary? I disagree with that. You can pay salary,” he said. Dr. Ezeife who also received award of “Igbo Peoples General” stated that the 2014 National Conference report recommended additional 18 states to make for a 48 state-structure in order to address some inequalities created by the military. He said: “We wanted to succeed at Abuja (2014 confab) on the issues we discussed. That made us broaden a group, consultative group and we from the East and West found that some people are suffering, especially in the Middle-Belt and they demanded some structural changes in their area. We needed to concede to them not only because what they said was right but because if we didn’t concede to them, they wouldn’t have conceded to us on the ones we needed, the West and the East.” Highlight of the event was the award of “Liberator” to the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, by the IYM, even as the national leader of IYM, Evang. Ukoh expressed the conviction of his group that if Nigeria is restructured, it would take care of the various agitations for break away by the various separatist groups.

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode: A humanist at 53 Habib Aruna

uring the thick of the governorship campaign in 2015, the then candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, came out with an instructive advert: Let my experience work for you. In the said advert, which was placed in major national dailies, Ambode explicitly came out with his intimidating credentials and the experience he gathered during his years in the civil service, when he left Alausa and went back to school in the United States and came back home to become a public finance expert. It was therefore not a surprise that few days to his first anniversary as the governor of Lagos State, some notable members of the National Assembly from the state, placed a centrespread advert in the dailies to remind the electorate that they made the right choice by voting for Ambode. In the advert that was rightly captioned: 'We say thank you Lagosians, his experience is working for you', the lawmakers enumerated the giant strides the state has recorded in the past year, and that despite the economic uncertainty in the country, the state under the leadership of Ambode, is on a sound footing for growth and development. In truth, for some of us working with him at close range, it's not too difficult to see the humanity, simplicity, compassion, pragmatism, discipline and courage in him. When we were disturbed few months after he came to power with negative media reports and slow pace of governance, the governor would always remind us that we are on a marathon race and not a sprint; he would tell us that it has always been his nature to be underrated. "Just wait and see", he would say with a smile. And while it has been difficult to keep pace with him, we find solace in what the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said of the governor during the launch of the BRT buses last year: "Ambode does not believe there is no solution to a problem; he believes there is always a solution to every problem". Hence, the unprecedented achievements of the past 12 months should be seen within this context. Here is a man who rose to become the Auditor General and then the first civil servant to hold the positions of both the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and the state Accountant General. Needless to say that he had variously been credited with successfully managing the account of the state when the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasango withheld the state Local Government funds. For sure, it is this spirit of doggedness and consistency that the governor brought to bear in the way and manner he has piloted the affairs of the state in the last one year. At every critical juncture of the journey, you always have this belief that you are working with a man who knows

Ambode

where he is heading; a man who listens and is very meticulous in everything he does; a man who is concern about every details of what you do and say on his behalf; a man who believes the Lagos city-state should rank among the best in the world; a man who understands the transient of power and above all, a man whose love for the State of Excellence is unrivalled and whose passion for his job is unmistakable. Indeed, you will always win a seat on the table with Governor Ambode if you have superior argument on any issue. But despite all he has done so far, the governor has served notice of something even more remarkable and iconic. His administration is about to convert Oshodi into what he calls “world-class transportation and commercial hub.” The more challenging term he used is “regeneration of Oshodi.” The area would witness the consolidation of all the 13 parks into three multi-storey bus parks and terminals to stand on four floors. There would be shopping mall, recreation points, bus lanes, lay-bys, green parks to soften the environment, proper waste management, fencing and – wait for this – a dedicated fully kitted security team for Oshodi. Apart from this, the administration has restructured the civil service for maximum voltage performance, while creat-

Ambode does not believe there is no solution to a problem

ing new offices to cater for the emerging needs of the people. He has cut the cost of governance by streamlining some ministries, departments and agencies. Ambode injected compassion into governance, paying N11bn to aged pensioners who had been owed for decades. He has personally attended to the distressed, the indigent and the severely handicapped. Recently he celebrated Democracy Day with the less privileged and persons with disabilities. Very early in his administration, he threw in the weight of government to wage a war against sexual and domestic violence. This compassionate governance philosophy has seen Ambode launch an unprecedented move to allay the security concerns of the citizens when within six months, he gave more than N6.6bn to equip the Police and other security agencies with armored tanks, brand new power bikes and scores of squad cars for Special Operation Services (SOS) for community policing. He has also launched an aerial policing of Lagos by donating three helicopters to the Nigeria Police Command in the state. He further launched a world class rescue operation unit, the first of its kind in Nigeria. Closely knit to these is a radical road infrastructure development leading to the construction and renovation of more than 500

roads in the state and 114 link roads in all the local councils and the Light-up Lagos Project meant to banish darkness from every corner of the state. In a pragmatic approach to massively reduce unemployment and empower fresh graduates, artisans and the youths, the governor launched the N25bn Employment Trust Fund (ETF) to ensure capital for start-up of small scale businesses with very minimal interest rate and also signed MoU with Kebbi State to ensure self sufficiency in food production thereby drastically reducing importation of rice and other food items. This will equally boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And just before the first anniversary, Ambode again did what many considered an uphill task with the signing of an N844bn Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the Fourth Mainland Bridge. The bridge that is expected to be completed between three and four years, would go a long way in changing the transportation system in the state. Instructively too, these achievements are anchored on the core pillar of his manifesto, which is Security, Infrastructure and Youth Empowerment. This tendency to post topflight performance on the part of the governor did not however spring up overnight. It indeed, has evolved and matured over the decades. Beginning with when young Akinwunmi Ambode emerged with 2nd Best Result in the Higher School Certificate Examination in the whole of West Africa, and he has since not dropped down from the Olympian Heights. He graduated at 21 at the University of Lagos and became a Chartered Accountant at the tender age of 24, and at 36 a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Between 1998-1999, he was at Boston University, USA as a Hubert Humphrey Fellow in Accounting and Finance. Ambode retired at 49, becoming the first Permanent Secretary and Accountant General to do so voluntarily. He thereafter founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited to provide Public Finance and Management Consulting services to government at all levels, its parastatals and agencies. Brandsmiths, in collaboration with Price Waterhouse Coopers, has trained government accountants and finance personnel. He went into politics the same year and introduced a fresh element of grassroots campaign that remains the talk of the town more than a year after. Ambode struck an uncanny affinity with those he came in contact with, assuring them that he would partner with their creative ideas to forge a peopleoriented society. As you clock 53 today, the people are felicitating with you and wishing you well as you churn out more of your great signature projects. Happy birthday sir! •Aruna is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ambode

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Not by fire, not by force My Word CLEM AGUIYI totalpolitics@ymail.com 0803-474-7898 (sms only)

urning 50 this June 2016 provided me an opportunity to reflect on my life, Nigeria and the Igbo nation. Fifty years ago, I was born into a nation in crisis and a tribe in turmoil. The people of the old Eastern Region were then ruthlessly savaged across Nigeria; children were abducted and women raped to death; pregnant women had their stomachs ripped and the content of their bowl bearing unborn children gushed out; thousands of Igbo men were beheaded or clobbered or shot to death by mobs aided by Nigerian soldiers. The world watched with horrified attention but did little to halt the genocide except for the heroic protest of some few individuals whom history will always remember:

Notably, Bruce Mayrock, a twenty year old Jewish American GS Student in protest against atrocities perpetrated by Nigeria against the Igbo immolated himself in front of the UN building; Mayrock was a student at the School of General Studies and a sports photographer for the Columbia Daily Spectator. According to witnesses, Mayrock doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself afire on the lawn outside the U.N. building. Before several hundred horrified delegates and onlookers he fell to his knees beside a statue bearing the Biblical inscription “Let us beat our swords into plowshares and the guards extinguished the flames. Mayrock was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was listed in critical condition with burns over most of his body and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. At the U.N., guards found a large cardboard sign on the front lawn which said, “You must stop the genocide--please save Nine million Biafrans (Igbo).” Steve Jobs the founder and CEO of Apple to gave up his faith and belief in God because of Nigeria’s atrocities against the Igbo: Jobs parents wanted him to have a religious upbringing, so they took him to the Lutheran church most Sundays. But that came to an end when he was thirteen. In July 1968 “Life” magazine published a shocking cover showing a pair of starving Igbo children in Biafra. Jobs took it to Sunday school and confronted the church’s pastor. “If I raise my finger, will God know which one I’m going to raise

even before I do it? The pastor answered, “Yes, God knows everything.” Jobs then pulled out the “Life” cover and asked, “Well, does God know about this atrocity and what’s going to happen to those Igbo children?” “Steve, I know you don’t understand, but yes, God knows about that.” Jobs announced that he didn’t want to have anything to do with worshipping such a God, and he never went back to church. It was the same Igbo circumstances that challenged Lieutenant Colonel Rolf Steiner, a professional soldier born in Munich, Bavaria to fight in defence of Biafra. Steiner fought for Biafra without receiving any salary because he believed the Igbo were unjustly persecuted and risked extermination by Nigeria. He commanded the 4th Commando Brigade in the Biafran Army. My mother still tells with sadness and anguish stories of the pains, anguish and gory deaths she witnessed before escaping from the North to the East, yet, thankful to God that she survived the horror. My mother who was then heavily pregnant escaped to safety in the East, thence I was born bereft of peace and comfort because the Civil War that followed denied the Igbo any luxury of peace. Mothers lost their children and sometimes their lives while escaping vicious attacks by Nigerian troops. Millions of children died of Kwashiorkor. Millions were orphaned and thousands of wives widowed. Children that were ferried outside the country to safety as a last resort to preserve the Igbo race outside the reach of Nigerian soldiers never came back. Officially, two million people died as a result of the unfortunate and avoidable war. Growing up, I was fascinated by stories of the war. I read every account of the war I could lay my hand on and was drawn to the nostalgic feelings of Biafra and the heroic gallantry of my father and forbearers. I concluded that war is bad, war is evil and we must do all we can to avoid another war by building a just nation. But where we cannot stop blaming the British and live in peace, then there will be no point keeping this union. Not by fire, nor by force. Fast forward to 2016; fifty years after the 1966 crisis, Nigeria shamefully is still in crisis with the same actors, acting similar scripts that led to the loss of two million lives in a civil war. The world like in 2016 is still watching in stupefied horror at the same insane politics, same corruption, headiness, tribalism, ethnic supremacy and bigotry, religious fundamentalism, violation of human right, abrogation of freedom of speech, general insecurity and excessive use of force by the state on agitators. In mid-December 2015, the Army killed thousands of defenceless Shia Muslims and reportedly buried them in mass graves. The Inter Society this June 2016 released a report of the discovery of mass graves at the Army Barrack in

History beckons on President Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigeria from another civil war

Onitsha where over 90 Igbo youths who were gruesomely killed by soldiers were buried. The youths were commemorating the fallen heroes of Biafra that were killed some 50 years ago. In Rafi Niger State, scores of Igbos were killed by Muslim youths who claimed an Igbo person blasphemed the Muslim Prophet on Facebook even though no one has been able to provide any evidence of such blasphemy. A week after the Rafi killings an Igbo lady, Mrs. Bridget Patience Agbahime was beheaded by irate Muslim youths in Kano who claimed and again without proof that she blasphemed the name of the Muslim prophet. These killings were coming on the heels of repeated killings of Igbo by Fulani herdsmen. During my recent visit to Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi, every Igbo person I met feared for his or her physical safety as Igbo phobia, crime, rape, killing and damage of Igbo properties are rampant and perpetrated by Northern Muslim youths against people of Igbo race. What is going on in Nigeria is a slow genocide of the Igbo population. The mounting homicidal violence against the Igbo by both private and state actors, the deliberate exclusion of the Igbo from national politics and the erasing of their history and culture mean genocide on the installment plan. It is wrong that the world is looking the other way and doing nothing to bring the Nigerian state actors to criminal justice. History beckons on President Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigeria from another civil war. His challenge is to start living up to the precepts of a democrat and to be president of every Nigerian irrespective of voting behavior, ethnic nationality or religion. It is no credit for the president to admit that one year after receiving the Confab report that he is yet to read it. Perhaps, he hasn’t read the Nigerian constitution and APC manifesto to acquaint himself with the party’s promises. A good way to start the reading is to begin from his inaugural speech and in particular his pre-nomination speech. Hear him: ‘I, Muhammadu Buhari believe that our politics is broken. Our nation needs urgent political reform and improvement in governance. If you nominate me in December 2014 and elect me in February 2015, my administration will initiate action to amend the Nigerian constitution with a view to devolving powers duties and responsibilities to states in order to entrench to federalism and the federal spirit’. I dare say that President Buhari’s position on our broken politics and restructuring as a remedy is not different from the agitation of IPOB members whom soldiers are killing and burying in mass graves; that the tools to fix our broken politics are contained in the Confab report which he needs to read a.s.a.p., and that his high handedness and approach to governance is what is making the case of the Avengers and IPOB easier to sell among people that ordinarily would disassociate from separatist agenda.

Ndigbo and APC's Buhari Modestus Nwamkpa

o doubt, the bottom level position that the Igbo occupy are forced to occupy presently under this Buhari led government of Change sloganism is such that should border any true or genuine Igbo man or woman except perhaps those whose Igbo paternity is doubtful. This is because it does appear to me that the Igbo are becoming endangered species in this country no thanks to the 95 per cent/5 per cent presidential declaration. It now looks as if there is this well orchestrated plan by the federal government to force the position of a second class race on the Igbo and unfortunately some of our leaders and our people particularly our APC brothers and Sisters have given an acceptance speech onbehalf of all of us making it look as though we have accepted this unacceptable position in Nigeria. I am particularly worried and miffed to see on daily basis how lost of broad day injustices are being melted on the Igbo race without strong oppo-

sition from the Igbo themselves unlike what obtains in other race like the Ijaw, the Tiv, the Yoruba etc.

Clearly, the present government of Muhammadu Buhari has not hidden its hatred for the Igbo. Buhari has demonstrated this through his body language, his speeches, his appointments and his antecedent. We will all recall that sometime early this year during his visit at the much publicized Chatam House, the President had told his interviewer that he would accord more attention to the race that gave him 95 per cent and less attention to the Race that gave him less than 5 per cent votes during the last election. Of course, he was referring to the Igbo as the people that gave him the less than 5 per cent. In that speech, the President clearly told the Igbo race that this four years government would most likely not favour them. Although, his media handlers and some blind Igbo supporters of the government quickly went to town with a different version and tried to advance all manner of explanations different from the real intention of the president just to correct an impression but unluckily for them, the Daura born former military General who was not trained in the art of diplomacy or hiding his feelings had already said his mind and made his position concerning the Igbo clearer.

In that interview too, the President was confronted with this same issue of hating or marginalizing the Igbo and immediately the old man burst into ferocious bitterness and angrily but rhetorically asked his interviewer: ‘What do the Igbo want’? Ofcourse, he knew that this was not the answer to the innocuous question. At best, it was just his own smart way of dodging the answer and he succeeded in a way but got hooked in another way. He parried the question because he knew that what the Igbo want are a fair deal and a commensurate consideration in his appointments like the Hausa –Fulani, the Yoruba etc. He knew that the Igbo want a President that will see every part or every race in the country as one and the same. Buhari knew that the tripod stand where the Igbo is an integral and in fact a major part of the stand is no longer balanced in this country. He knew that the Igbos want an explanation why their Son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could still be held by the state authorities in spite of two valid Court judgments ordering his release. President Buhari did not want to answer or give reasons why he considered the Igbo as being unqualified in meriting to be appointed in any of the 48 previous appointments that he made. So in essence, that question actually pro-

voked the president thereby exposing the real inner mind set Mr. President concerning the Igbo. It is no longer news that upon assumption of office. Buhari made his initial 48 appointments both within his government, the MDAs of government and security agencies including para-military agencies and none came from the five states of Igbo race. The closest was Ibe Kachukwu who is from Delta state. Over 90 per cent of those appointments came from the North and the rest came from the South West and South South. Igbo were not considered. Obviously, there was no better way again, in my opinion to tell the Igbo Race that they are not wanted in the present government than this unambiguous demonstration of revulsion and aversion on the Igbo because there was no justification for that in the first place. Last month, the rampaging Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Enugu state and scores of Igbo were feared dead. The belated action or response of Mr. President to that act of homicide on the Igbo is still considered not satisfactory up till date or rather not appropriate compared to his response in the issue of Boko Haram in the North East. •Nwamkpa (morest4u@yahoo.com) wrote in from Owerri

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EDITORIAL

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

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

APC waiting for opposition

ike a rudderless ship that it has become since its historic defeat in the 2015 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flounders in the ocean of crisis. It seems the party is yet to get over the shock of its defeat, which robbed it of its primal place in Nigeria’s political firmament, to prepare for its new position as an opposition party. The self-styled largest party in Africa that had ruled Nigeria for 16 years since the rebirth of democracy 17 years ago, went into the election in crisis and it was no surprise that it lost. The party, which until the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was the only national party in terms of spread and membership, began its descent into crisis following the intrigues that preceded the bid by former President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election. While many influential party members were able to tolerate Jonathan’s first term bid, in violation of the PDP’s zoning formula, they considered his re-election bid an affront to the zoning formula, which ceded the presidency to the North. The death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who died in office about a year to his four-year tenure, had paved the way for Jonathan, his deputy, to complete the tenure. As the incumbent ahead of the 2011 elections, Jonathan had schemed to snatch the party’s ticket despite opposition from some Northern elements. To pacify the opposition, he had pledged not to run for a second term. But like most politicians, promises are easier to make than to keep.

The party entered a crisis mode when Jonathan started scheming to renege on his promise not to run for a second term. Jonathan and his henchmen deployed the PDP’s machinery to oppress and suppress those perceived as opponents to his second term bid. Some influential party members such as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, five governors, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is now the Senate president and former House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, pulled out to join APC. Jonathan’s badly-managed second term ambition cost the PDP badly and ended its pipe dream of ruling Nigeria for 60 years. However, rather than face the urgent task of reengineering that would prepare it

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor, Group Head, Newsroom n Geoffrey Ekenna

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creative n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

claim to the leadership of the party. Hope that the party would be able to broker a peace deal to make Sheriff give up his claim to the throne has faltered. With both parties resorting to litigations to force out the other, the PDP may not be in a hurry to put the crisis behind it in order to prepare for the task ahead. It is no wonder that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) last week took over the running of the PDP national secretariat, which had been under the con-

Not all hope is lost for the party if its leaders are able to put the good of all above other vested interests

for its new role as an opposition party, the PDP has sunk deeper into crisis that has opened Nigeria up to a vista of a one-party state with its attendant dangers. PDP currently suffers poor public image due to the leadership tussle that has led to the factionalisation of the party and the moral burden arising from the alleged involvement of top party chiefs in the diversion of public funds to finance the party’s 2015 campaigns. Two people—former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and his erstwhile counterpart in Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff— are laying

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED

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

trol of the police to prevent a breach of the peace. There is no doubt t h at the PDP crisis has impaired its ability to serve as an effective opposition party that will be able to give alternative policy offerings to the

citizenry. The beauty of democracy lies in the multiplicity of choices and ability of other parties to keep the ruling party on its toes. With about 29 registered political parties, Nigeria could be said to be practising a multi-party democracy. However, the reality on the ground is that given the performance of the various political parties in electoral contest, Nigeria is in reality a two-party democracy. Apart from the crisis-torn PDP, other parties only exist to feel the democratic space as they lack the spread and character to be considered truly national par-

ties. Besides, majority of the opposition parties are like shell companies; mere fronts to prosecute future political agenda of some top political players in the country. The PDP has become hobbled and therefore, unable to discharge effectively its expected role in this dispensation. It will, undoubtedly, take the party a long time to resolve its myriad of crises because unlike before, the PDP has no rallying force that could bring all contending parties under its umbrella. When the party was in power, the president, who was the party’s national leader, served as a stabilising factor. Many party leaders deferred to him not only because of the respect for his office, but because he enjoyed the power to dispense patronage. This factor had seen the PDP through many crises while it was in power. But with the presidency lost and the last national leader, Jonathan, who seems to be disinterested in the affairs of the party, the PDP could not have suffered a worse fate now. However, not all hope is lost for the party if its leaders are able to put the good of all above other vested interests. The party is at a crossroads because its leaders are consumed by their personal ambitions ahead of 2019, and have been blinded to see the bigger picture. They, therefore, need to sacrifice these ambitions in order to be able to effectively reposition the party. A PDP that cannot effectively play its expected role as a vibrant opposition party would have little chances of making much an impact in the 2019 elections.

POLITICS

Former Commissioner for Special Duties in Ondo State and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the state, Hon. Niran Akinsuyi, in this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, speaks on lack of succession plan in the state and APC’s chances in the November 26 election. Excerpts What are the chances of the APC in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State? APC is at the centre of the game in Ondo State in terms of strength and content. We are populated by strategic personalities in Ondo State, people who are concerned and believe that we can do more than what we are presently doing. To a large extent, we represent the collections of the feelings and aspiration of the people of Ondo State. Since election is all about numbers and politics is about people, we have a group collection in that regards. Are you not worried by the large number of aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket? It depends on your interpretation of it. Yoruba will say you don’t compete for what is bad. If something is good and of benefit to the society, you will find it difficult to limit the number of ideas that you will get or number of people showing interest but I think the party will use its own internal mechanism to look into that. We are not disadvantaged as a result of the large number of people showing interest in the governorship. Don’t you see the present challenges facing the country in terms of security, high cost of living, among others, affecting the chances of your party as most Nigeria have blamed the APC-led Federal Government for the problems? The lesson of history is very important in our quest to serve the interest of our people. The issue of subsidy removal and the fraud associated with it have been on the table for a long time. The decay in the economy and in our financial system; the level of corruption in the system will also be on the table as well. What is coming out now is that past government treated these vital issues with kid gloves. So, this is the very first that we are having a leader with the courage to do the right thing, courage to take a decision and stand by it. Happily, majority of Nigerians are beginning to show understanding. Initially, the opposition tried to fight back in order to distract the present administration. At a time, they were talking about frequent foreign trips but everybody have come to the realization that the President should not permanently sit down in Nigeria, he needs to go out there because half of our re-

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akinsuyi: Lack of succession plan stifling development in Ondo sources are stashed away abroad. So, he needs to take the battle to those countries because today, we are faced with the challenges of payment of workers’ salaries and challenges of foreign exchange to activate the economy. What are your chances of clinching the APC’s governorship ticket? We are relying on what we are bringing into the system and we are going to establish an enduring political system under which a lot of our people can maximize their potential. I want to empower talents and also ensure that we solve the problem of Ondo State which is capital flight. Ninety per cent of our earnings never stay with us. As soon as they are received, they develop wings and disappear. So, we are coming with policies that will stop capital flight and ensure that there is fair and equitable distribution of resources in the state. In days to come, we are going to unfold our programmes, our policies and the reasons why we are coming into government. We have been able to identify that part of the reasons why the economy of our state has not been opened to the outside world, is the problem of leadership. What do you think is the problem of leadership in Ondo State? The major problem is greed and avarice and that is what is responsible for the failure of structure that has now put us at a very disadvantage position. I will give you the example of Lagos State, and let me say this; from 1999, we have been having an epileptic political structure in Ondo State. We took off from 1999 with Afenifere structure through the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and unfortunately that structure was relinquished by the leadership when they engaged in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term project, thereby giving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) an opportunity. The structure that was put in place was also through a popular revolution dismantled by the people and Labour Party (LP) came into the picture and you are a living witness to what happened to LP structure. It was abandoned to seek another system in the PDP. So, the problem is that people who are supposed to be in these structures, leaders who are supposed to acquire training

Akinsuyi

Leaders who are supposed to acquire training through the structures and move up... have been relegated because the system is not enduring

through the structures and move up the ladder like their counterparts in other states especially Lagos have been relegated because the system is not enduring. I am talking about Lagos State because you can feel and touch the benefit of enduring political system in the state. On the economy, you can see the continuation of policies and programmes. You can point today to more than five successful Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmes in Lagos state. You talk about Lekki concession arrangement with a South African firm that constructed Lekki/ Epe express way. You also talk about the rail system in the area of transportation. In the area of housing, Lagos State has been able to establish a good successful PPP model. On the political side, you will see a persona assistant in 1999, who has moved up to the position of a commissioner. You will see a chief of staff, who had been governor; you will see a member of House of Assembly who has gone to the House of Representatives, now special adviser to the President. You will see chairman of a parastatal, who is now in Abuja replicating what he has been able to do successfully in Lagos State. So, success comes from a long time of association with what you are doing. It is a learning process. For us, we need a visionary leader now to take us out of these political and economic woes. I say that because Lagos State is moving up to a position that should encourage other states in the South-West to connect to it. For me as governor, I believe if we should look at how Lagos State can provide financial assistance to us. We should look at how we can borrow from Lagos State if their Internal Revenue Generated (IGR) is now 13 billion per month instead of looking for foreign funds to borrow. We should look for investors in that area instead of going abroad to seek foreign investors who are not there. The reality on ground now like the dwindling resources that is a challenge to most of the states and has resulted to their inability to pay salaries should be a good a lesson for us in SouthWest to see how we can connect with Lagos State for economic and political integration. The governors of the South-West at a time mooted the idea of regional integration but political differences crashed the programme. How do you think can be achieved? We should be able to rise above party differences because the

challenge we are facing today does not wear the name of PDP or APC, it is about our people. We are concerned; all segments of the society, the media, judiciary and legislators, everybody is worried about the state of the Nigerian economy because it affects each and every one of us, not as politicians but as a people. I believe that the time is ripe for us to come together and see what we can do together economically. What are the things you are going to do differently from what Governor Olusegun Mimiko has done if you win the election? Not from what this government is doing, but from what has been happening in the state. For example, I know that in the area of oil and gas, I will bring about a successful Public Private Partnership. Lagos State has joined the league of oil producing states and they have already gotten a company and exploration is almost taking off. They have been able to know that they are capable of producing 40,000 barrel of crude oil per day. For me it is about vision and capacity and I have the understanding to know how to actualize that vision and build capacity that will bring most of the advantages we have gotten, especially in the area of mineral and natural resources. We had the privilege to have the Dangote Refinery in Ondo State but I know that there were reasons why the refinery found its way to Lagos. It is a lesson that we must run with our vision very quickly and the vision can best be actualised by the visionary leader. The difference between Lagos and Ondo is leadership. I know that the Lekki Free Trade Zone is a challenge to our own Olokola. I know that I must begin to work if possible 25 hours to bring life into that place because I will be dealing with a state that already has enormous advantage over us. Don’t you think that imposition may shatter these dreams? That is not APC; the party believes in internal democracy, it believes in transparency in the conduct of its business because we have a President who had been adjudged by the international community as a transparent person, so anything under him will be transparent. You used to be a close associate with the incumbent governor; at what point did you fall apart? He chose to go to the PDP and I pitched my tent with APC, it is a matter of choice. It is difficult sometimes to monitor the belief and ideology of your own children. It is normal political difference. I hold the belief that APC holds bright future for Nigeria and that influenced my decision to join the party when the LP platform crashed. Politically, the governor and I are not in the same political party but the Bible and Quran enjoined us to relate well with our neighbour.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Survival Making a living digging, decorating graves

Inside Abuja

Service How corps member got land, chieftaincy title

18 21

Headquarters of Abuja Geographic Information System ( AGIS)

Land speculators on the prowl The activities of land speculators, selling nonexistent pieces of land to unsuspecting members of the public, has become a worrisome trend in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and the adjoining communities in Nasarawa and Niger states. CHUKWU DAVID reports

t is becoming a very risky endeavour to seek to buy a piece of land within the Federal Capital Territory and the adjoining towns and villages in Nasarawa and Niger states as land agents have, out of greed, perfected the business of selling one parcel of land to multiple buyers.

ONWUKA NZESHI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

ÂŠ Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Virtually everyday, police stations within the FCT are flooded with people many of whom have fallen prey to the antics of land speculators. The common denominator in the cases is that some persons have been duped of huge sums of money following their purchase of a piece of land. Some are fighting over a piece of land sold to many buyers by one land speculator. Corporate Land Scammers In many instances, the dubious land agents pose as lawyers working with the authorities of the FCT Area Councils with a mandate to sell some plots of land to willing buyers at relatively cheap rates. Rowland Okoro, a victim of the land scam, told Inside Abuja that these fake land agents usually entice their would-be victims with irresistible offers that look real one could invest heavily on it. Rowland, a civil servant in one of the parastatals, said he got hooked when his neighbour who teaches in one of the secondary schools introduced him to a land deal being brokered by a lawyer friend of the school principal. In the said deal, Rowland said the teachers in the school were told that the Area Council authorities had plots of land for sale in some remote villages. A plot of land sold for N50,000 and the teachers were encouraged to buy at least two plots which they could either develop or sell off later when development reaches the area and the value of the land must have appreciated tremendously. "As someone who has been a tenant for years, I fell for the offer. I withdrew N50,000 from my

Since I paid that additional fee for the survey of the plot, the land agent has disappeared into thin air

account and gave to my neighbour to subscribe for a plot on my behalf. I got a receipt of payment duly signed by supposed authorities of the Area Council acknowledging that I had paid for a plot of land in one of the remote communities. "Two months later, my neighbour came again with the news that the plots of land have been allocated to those of us who paid but we were required to pay the sum of N35,000 for the lawyer to get a surveyor to place beacons against each plot. Again, I thought it was real and I paid as well particularly when I was told that as soon as the payments were received, we would be going to the site the following weekend to identify our plots. "Since I paid that additional fee for the survey of the plot, the land agent has disappeared into thin air. Neither the teachers in the school where my neighbour works nor myself who transacted the business by proxy, has seen him again," Raymond narrated. Community pimps Some residents of the FCT have also been duped by land agents working with community leaders who pose as the real owners of the land and have been competing with the government on the right to sell land. In Mararaba and other adjoining villages, it is the village heads and their relatives that are mostly involved in this illicit land business. They will sell a parcel of land to one person, and also sell same land to another person or other persons, as the case may be. Cases abound, where more than five buyers are in court over

one parcel of land, sold to them by one land speculator. These land fraudsters take advantage of the weaknesses in the nation's judicial system to perpetuate their illicit trade. Our correspondent spoke to some of the victims of this unlawful act, who expressed their frustration in their efforts to recover their lands or their money from the land sellers as the law enforcement agencies were not also forthcoming in punishing the criminals. Chilo Nnamani, a resident of New Nyanya, a suburb in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, said that this fraud was a common practice not only in the FCT but also in all the areas close to Abuja. He attributed the ugly development to high cost of land and housing within the territory and other communities that border the Federal Capital Territory. He said: "This practice of selling one piece of land to many persons is a common practice both in Abuja, Mararaba, Nyanya, and all these villages located close to the FCT. The situation has to be so because, land and housing are very lucrative business which give people quick money. "I have the experience but God was very gracious to me. I bought a parcel of land from the chief of our village there at New Nyanaya. From time to time, I go and check the land to ensure that nobody tampers with it; and the land has been there without any problem.â&#x20AC;? The victims "Unfortunately, one of these CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

INSIDE ABUJA | SLUMS

In these days of mass unemployment and many young people being drawn to criminality, two young Nigerians have chosen to become self-employed by helping the dead to rest in peace. CALEB ONWE went in search of these young men at the Gudu District Cemetery

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Making a living digging, decorating graves

“Y

ou cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” The above quote by William Faulkner, one of the most celebrated American writers and Nobel Laureate, is very relevant in telling the story of these energetic youths who decided to deploy their energies into what they term as ‘legal and unique job’ – digging grave and decorating it to earn a living. ‘Swimming for new horizons’ in this context, is getting the kind of job that will give them acceptability among their peers, while the ‘courage to lose sight of the shore’ is their resolve to hang around the cemetery on a daily basis, hoping to get contract of digging graves without minding what the society’s perception is about them. Dignity of labour When the late Dora Akunyili, the then Minister of Information started promoting a mantra, that Nigerians are hardworking people, some traducers thought that she was just deploying government’s propaganda machinery to justify her pay. But the truth remains that hard work is one of our heritage as Africans. Except for the few, who are caught in the web of get-rich-quick syndrome, majority of Nigerians profess that there is honour in working hard and earning a decent and honest living. Ismaila and Usman, as they simply want to be identified,

...At work at the grave yard

Abuja grave decorators

believe that there is dignity in labour, and that it is more honourable to eke out a living from what some people in the society consider as odd jobs, than to get involved in criminality that will further alienate them from social cohesion. The duo came to the Federal Capital Territory in 2009 from Kebbi State, with the mindset of picking money from the streets, a misguided belief that always turn out to be a great disillusionment. They explained that on arrival to the city of Abuja, without the resources to afford them a befitting accommodation, they were taken in as squatters by some tricycle operators in one of the uncompleted buildings

That money was big money for us, and after that day, we started getting more work there

that are directly opposite the Gudu District Cemetery. The Gudu District Cemetery is the major burial ground mapped out and managed by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB); it is demarcated into two segments by common perimeter fence, one for the Christians, and the other for the Muslims. Usman said he tried his hands in hiring tricycle to drive and earn a living, but did not last in that business, due to the harassment the operators face daily from security agents and the sparse savings he was making after paying the owner of the tricycle. One thing the two friends have in common is the desire to make money which they believe flows in Abuja, judging by the level of affluence demonstrated by the rich in terms of their exotic cars, and houses they live in. With unflinching determination and an iron will to conquer hunger and possibly become financially independent, the two friends said they decided to do anything that can put money in their pockets without them getting involved in criminality. How it began They explained that though they did not come to Abuja to dig graves at the cemetery, but the idea was borne out of circumstances. It has, however, turned out a huge blessing to them, no matter what people's opinion may be about what they do. The young grave diggers who spoke in ‘pidgin English’, explained that their journey into the business of repair-

ing final resting place for the dead started the day they were loitering around the cemetery because they had nothing to do and were contracted by one of the AEPB staff that look after the cemetery to come and dig a grave for some people who had come to bury their dead relative. “As the task force man call us to come and do work for somebody in the burial ground, we agreed to dig grave for them. That day, they paid us N15,000. That money was a big money for us, and after that day we started getting more work there,” they said. Accepting that offer the first time turned out to be a stepping stone to realising their dream for financial independence. The grave diggers who were very friendly in sharing their story with our correspondent, declined our request to take their photographs. Usman, who apparently is an extrovert and was answering almost all the questions, declined to our correspondent’s request to take their photo shot. He said that they will not like their faces to be shown on the pages of the newspaper, as that, in their opinion will expose them to ridicule or rejection by their girlfriends who may get to know about what they are doing in Abuja. They said they would rather dig graves to make money than join Boko Haram to kill people or get killed. Responding to a question, whether they pray for people to die every day, since there will be no work for them if there is no dead body to be buried, they said they only pray for their CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Amala Joint

The food business is becoming very competitive and eateries in the Federal Capital Territory are becoming more innovative in packaging themselves to attract clientele. JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM was at an eatery whose specialty is "Amala"

atosh Kitchen is one of the most popular 'Amala' joints in the Abuja metropolis. It is located at the Wuye District, which is just two-minute drive from the Berger roundabout and about seven minutes from Area One roundabout. These two roundabouts are well known in Abuja and they serve as great landmarks for those seeking to have a good lunch on African cuisine. The closeness of Matosh Kitchen to the Family Worship Centre, Pacesetter Schools and the Finance Quarters has further guaranteed its popularity in the neighbourhood as these other institutions are natural crowd

Abuja 'Amala' joint pullers. About four years ago when it started, the eatery was located on a plot close to Good Tidings Church. It is owned by a Yoruba woman, popularly called Iya Oyo by her customers and acquaintances. She manages the food joint which can accommodate over 100 persons at a sitting. It is run as a family business and her husband is the cashier. The joint, patronised by the high and low; classy and urbane, could attract about 500 customers daily. Among such customers are members of the National Assembly, top civil servants and business executives who value the taste of home-made dishes. While some of these customers go there in person, some send their secretaries or office assistants to pick up the dishes. It is not clear if the kitchen is involved with outdoor services as Iya Oyo declined to speak about her business to the media. Investigations show that the joint opens from 8a.m. and closes about 9p.m. Within this period, it is always a beehive of activities but the prime time for the joint is 1p.m. to 4p.m. During prime times, there is a scenario of heavy human traffic, as customers queue for some minutes before they would get

She manages the food joint which can accommodate over 100 persons at a sitting

to the serving point. A customer who spent less than 15 minutes had complained about it and was told by the person that introduced him to the joint to thank God it was not within the rush hours. The joint has its uniqueness as customers on the queue are expected to pick plates by themselves before they could be served. It is not allowed by the regulations of the joint that a waiter would pick a plate from shelf to serve a customer. To be precise, there are regimented rules you must follow for you to be served at the joint. The Amala and other starch and cereal foods are served very hot at the point of service with different soup like Ewedu, abula, gbegiri, efo, egusi, okro and stew. The meat, which is one of the attractions to the joint are all kinds of animal meat. It ranges from the organs of the slaughtered cow (known in Yoruba parlance as orishirishi) to the beef itself. Other kinds of meat sold at the joints are goat meats, dried fish, fresh fish, dried meat, etc., as many take pleasure in pointing at the meat of their choice from the stew. The minimum price of a "wrap" of food at the joint is N100, while the least pieces of meat also goes for N100. To have

satisfaction of your visit to the joint, you should be able to spend nothing less than N800, which will include a bottle of water. With family members to the joint, which many do, you will spend an average of N4,000. The presence of the Coca Cola Bottling Company is prevalent at the joint as its branded chairs, tables and other products are on display all over the place. Inside Abuja learnt that the beverage firm supplies all the seats and cooling facilities for the eatery. The joint also served as a tourist centre, especially for people from the South-West because a lunch or early dinner at the joint serves as a reminiscence of home. Among the Yoruba, you are respected and considered to know a good Amala joint if you speak of the Matosh, Iya Oyo Amala joint. You cannot be said to be a lover of Amala delicacy if you don't know the Matosh Kitchen in Wuye. The joint has a good advantage of a wide parking space and surrounded by natural habitation. It is located in a swampy area and gives a cool atmospheric condition. One man's meat is another man's poison, hence some customers at the joint are not comfortable with the regimentation which has to do with customers queuing and going to pick plates instead of sitting comfortably for waiters to take their orders and serve them.

Making a living digging, decorating graves C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 8

daily food. “We use to pray that God should give us our daily food; we don’t know how he will do it. We don’t pray that people should die," they said. Remuneration On how much they charge for digging a grave, they said that there is no fixed price. “We charge them according to what our minds tell us, and sometimes from the information the AEPB task force man give us, we will know what to charge, but we use to get up to N15,000 for one grave,” one of them said. On the frequency of getting the job, they said that sometimes, in a week they would have dug up to five graves.

Another fellow who is also making brisk business from the graveyard is Jasper, a skilled worker and the one that is often contracted to decorate the graves, using tiles with the preferred colours of his client. He told our correspondent that what he is doing in the grave is a “legal and unique job” that he can be proud of anywhere and anytime. Inside Abuja met him and his coworker in the cemetery decorating one of the graves. Jasper like the other grave diggers, declined our correspondent’s request to take his photograph. He said he did not want his face shown anywhere. He only consented to the photo shot that showed him and his co-worker because it was taken from the back view. Unlike the grave diggers, Jasper re-

fused to disclose how much he makes from decorating graves. Graveyard mysteries On the issue of mystification of cemetery as abode of ghost or demons, Ismaila and Usman who said they had been digging graves at the cemetery for some years, argued that such belief is not only a myth, but a figment of people’s imagination. “We never see any spirit here and we are not afraid of any demon, we don’t have any business with dead bodies, we are only working to make our money,” Usman said. On when they will quit the job of grave digging, they said they will quit it when they raise enough money to establish other business that will help them cater for their family members.

Both Ismaila and Usman are married, but not living with their wives and children in Abuja. They said that they always send money home to their families for their upkeep. The Abuja Environmental Protection Board staff that looks after the cemetery declined to provide answers to the questions from our correspondent who wanted to know whether there has ever been a case of thieves coming to the cemetery to steal corpses or harvest some human parts. He also refused to comment on the allegation that he collects commission from the grave diggers each time they are contracted to dig graves. He only told our correspondent that the grave diggers have no fixed price for the services they render to the families of dead persons.

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Change of baton at FCT Police Command …new CP assumes duty

Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

here has been a change in the command structure of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command as a new Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Alkali Baba Usman, assumed duty. Usman takes over from Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, who has been posted as Commandant, Nigeria Police College, Kaduna. At the handover ceremony last Thursday, the new CP, who was posted from Delta State Command, promised to carefully study the crime-fighting strategies emplaced by his predecessor, with a view to adjusting some, and retaining others, as the case may be. While pledging to operate an open-door policy,

the CP urged residents of the capital territory to support the police, noting that crime fighting was no longer the business of the police alone. "I am coming in today as the new Commissioner of Police FCT. I am coming in from Delta State to take over from Wilson Inalegwu. All his strategies, which he has put in place to checkmate crime and criminality in the FCT, will be studied where there is need for me to make adjustments and improvements, I will do so and where there is need for me to sustain such measures, they will be sustained. "Definitely, crime prevention and control is our pivot. We have accepted that crime prevention and control is no longer the business of the police alone. I have the belief that

we will all do it together because security is everybody’s business. My doors are open for all sorts of criticisms, contributions and guidance and information. I am going to operate an open door policy to take in inputs from members of the public and other stakeholders in policing the FCT," Usman said. On his part, Inalegwu stated that the atmosphere of security and peace that pervade the FCT, is a prod-

uct of the robust partnership he established with the public. He stated that such partnership was exemplified in Town Hall Meetings and others, where people were allowed to express themselves freely. "'I want to report that this partnership paid off in making the FCT a very safe and secured capital city. We have had a lot of town hall meetings and we allow the public air their

views, so in crafting appropriate strategies, we take input from the public. We made out help lines readily available. "'At most functions in Abuja, police hot lines are read out and we have the opportunity of having any engagement with the media, we publicise it extensively through our help lines. "The effect of all these, therefore, is that you are able to access policing service in the FCT once

you come across critical incident within five minutes and in the worst case scenario, 10 minutes because our patrol teams are so located as to able to response once they are called. Because of the cooperation that existed between us and other security agencies, we were able to record such modest achievements. FCT, I want to report is the safest city in Nigeria and in Africa," Inalegwu said.

Across section of students of Jc-Best Schools International, during the skill and leadership training programme, organised by Sterling Business Network in Abuja …yesterday

Nigeria gets National Migration Policy Ebere Ameh

he International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria has presented the National Migration Policy (NMP) to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The NMP was presented to the Acting Federal Commissioner at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Margaret Essien. Chief of Mission of IOM in Nigeria, Enira Krdzalic, while officially presenting the document, called for institutional collaboration, coordination and emphasised the need to put in place a machin-

ery to increase awareness on the policy. She urged the commission to ensure wide dissemination of the policy, as well as build synergies with other relevant institutions to establish mechanisms for smooth implementation of the policy in Nigeria. The development of the NMP started in 2006 and on May 13, 2015, the policy was adopted by the Federal Executive Council. The adoption of the policy is one of the key achievements of IOM’s ongoing national 10th European Union-funded project: Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

occasions, I went there only to discover to my greatest disappointment that someone has put up a structure there, which was almost at the lintel level. When I contacted the seller and told him what I saw, he started dribbling me. "I got angry and went and reported the matter to the police. It was at the police station that he promised that he would give me another piece of land in place of that one he sold to another person. This case is very rampant now. I even know people whose cases are in court today and they keep on wasting their money while there is no hope of getting back their lands or money. "I am sure that this fraud is thriving in our country today because the law enforcement agencies don't have the will power to bring the culprits to book and make them face the full wrath of the law. If one or two have gone to prison, the practice will reduce." Another victim, Mr. Dennis Etim, said that his case had lasted in court for two years and that he had no hope of recovering either his land or money. "The man who sold the land to me, also sold it to five other buyers in Mararaba but the most annoying thing is that the

Abuja gets $15m Korea Model School Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

fforts to increase access to basic education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has received a boost with the conception of a $15 million Korea Model School on Abuja Airport road. The school is the biggest bilateral project between the two countries. Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-duk, stated this in Abuja when he led a delegation from

the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to the office of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello. The Korean envoy said that his government would build a part of the Model School while the FCT Administration would handle other parts. He said the project was unique because it would serve as a landmark in the education sector between Nigeria and the Korean Republic. He observed that the electricity situation in the FCT was much better

20 years ago when KOICA first came to Abuja than now, expressing regret that the agency was running on generators to sustain its activities. “Some of the Korean companies have good experience and technology to build this kind of power plant, if the opportunity could be given to us,” the ambassador said. Bello commended the idea of building a Korea Model School in Nigeria, saying the school would serve as a landmark and strengthen the existing cordial relationship be-

tween Nigeria and Korea. He gave assurance that his administration would strive to provide the counterpart fund for the project as expected, and give necessary support to ensure its success. The minister also lauded KOICA for its proposed capacity building programme being planned for would-be teachers in the school. This, he said, would create quality managers whose by-products would positively impact on the development of the country when the school becomes operational in 2018.

Land speculators on the prowl court and even the police appear to be conniving with these criminals because they keep postponing the case. At the end of the day, you discover that you are made to spend more money than the cost of the land you are fighting to recover. "So, I am appealing to the government to give serious attention to this problem and see how it can be minimised. For instance, if they start jailing the criminals in this illegal business, others will learn their lessons that they have a challenge to do what is right or risk prison. "Again, it also behoves on prospective land buyers to do a thorough search to ensure that the land they want to buy are genuine. Some of us are usually very desperate to buy land and so, the basic inquiry we need to do, we omit it, only to discover shortly that we have entered into a wrong hand. Apart from these persons who have narrated their experiences, Inside Abuja gathered that there were many cases pending either at the police stations or courts as a result of the dubious activities of land agents.

Curiously, there have been some instances where desperate land speculators who were actually given privileged information that the lands they intended to buy had been sold; rather than retreat, they persuaded sellers to collect higher offers from them and refund the initial buyers their money. This has generated a lot of controversies and resulted in several legal suits. AGIS Perhaps, it was because of theses sharp practices that the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) established the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) to oversee issues of land allocation in the entire territory. AGIS has a mission to become a comprehensive, all-inclusive foolproof and state-of-the-art computerized geospatial data infrastructure for the FCT. It seeks to provide basic and quality services which every citizen is entitled to, in a quality, fair, honest, effective and transparent manner. Under normal circumstances, land allocation is supposed to be smooth and

swift if you formally apply to the agency for a piece of land. The process starts with the payment of a non-refundable application fee of N100,000, filling the necessary forms and returning same with all the required information about yourself or your organisation, including your tax clearance certificate for three years prior to the application. Some residents see this formal route as cumbersome particularly when applications for land could remain pending for several years. The long, drab process in AGIS has further bred corruption as touts hang around the gates of the establishment seeking the patronage of those who need land desperately to build their personal homes or business places. An official of AGIS explained that the apparent delay experienced by some persons who applied for land might be due to incomplete documentation of the applicants personal information, land availability and the discretion of the Minister of the FCT who holds the entire land in the territory in trust and on behalf of all Nigerians.

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Every year, thousands of young Nigerian graduates look forward to the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. While some take it as one year of fun to exhibit youthful exuberance, some make it a stepping stone to greatness. ONWUKA NZESHI reports

How corps member got land, chieftaincy title

hen the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), it was seen as a tool of reconciliation and re-unification of the various regions of Nigeria. It was just three years after the bloody civil, a conflict that lasted for three years and left millions of people dead or maimed and the rest of the populace bitter and suspicious of one another. Forty three years after the scheme kicked off, the scheme is facing some daunting challenges that many Nigerians have been calling for the scrapping of the NYSC. Some have argued that the scheme has outlived its usefulness, particularly when youths who are compulsorily conscripted into the scheme now stand the risk of losing their lives to terrorists operating in parts of the country. However, the story of Okolie Friday, a corps member posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the one year scheme may help those who are fed up with the NYSC to have a second thought about scrapping it. Okolie, who hails from OruEast Local Government Area of Imo State, is a graduate of Political Science from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State. After the strenuous paramilitary drills at the orientation camp, he was posted to the Nigerian Air Force as his place of primary assignment for the rest of the service year. In the course of the service, Okolie came up with the idea of doing more than the average corper. He initiated a personal Community Development Service (CDS) project which eventually stood him out from the crowd.

Okolie... after his conferment with a chieftaincy title

He was able to mobilise human, material and financial resources to provide a borehole, an overhead tank stand and water tank for the people of Dafara Community in Kuje Area Council of Abuja. "The idea of the project came to me the day some corps members serving with the Nigerian Air Force Hospital came back from a free medical outreach programme and narrated to me the nature of the community they visited and the urgency required to provide for them more medical facilities and other social amenities. The story of the abject poverty and deprivation of the people touched me and there and then, I decided to visit some communities in Kuje to know how I could help in my own little way to provide for them whatever their needs might be. I knew I did not have the needed finance to do anything but I was aware that I could use the platform of the NYSC to do something for these people. "When I got to Dafara community, I observed that they had a lot of challenges ranging from lack of healthcare facilities, schools, good drinking water and good road among others. My further consultations made me to discov-

Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung inaugurating Okolie's project.

the community gave him a piece of land and decorated him with a chieftaincy title of Sarkin Noma II of Dafara

er that their most pressing need was potable water," Okolie said. The community once had a borehole drilled for them through the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) programme of the Federal Government but the facility had collapsed many years ago. Since then, the villagers had depended on their locally dug wells, streams and ponds for water. Consequently, many families had lost their sons and daughters to cholera and other waterborne diseases. Okolie disclosed that the task of providing a borehole and other accessories for the Dafara community was not an easy task. According to him, he had to write hundreds of letters to individuals and organisations, soliciting for assistance in cash or kind. Among the individual's he contacted for help were Chief of Defence Staff, General AG Olanisakin and Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi and many others. Okolie recently passed out of the NYSC but before then, he had the privilege of fulfilling his dreams for Dafara community. The project was commissioned

at a colourful event attended by officials of the NYSC and other dignitaries who helped in one way or the other to make it a success. In appreciation of his innovation, sacrifice and dedication to serving his fatherland, the community gave him a piece of land and decorated him with a chieftaincy title of Sarkin Noma II of Dafara. Overwhelmed by the gesture from the community, Okolie eulogised the NYSC scheme and the Nigeria Air Force, his place of primary assignment, stressing that he could not have made the impact he made without these platforms. "In all honesty, NYSC brought me thus far and I will forever remain grateful for such a platform which enables me to impact, contribute and give back to the society. For those calling for the scrapping of NYSC, I appeal for a rethink, instead of scraping NYSC, let’s suggest good ideas and policies that will move the organisation forward. While I express appreciation to NYSC for creating the platform for the achievement of the project, I challenge my colleagues to take advantage of the opportunity to initiate positive ideas geared towards impacting positively on the society during their service year. "I want to let my fellow corps members know today that it’s not only just enough to answer corper. As we obey the clarion call and lift our nation high under the sun or in the rain with dedication and selflessness let’s not forget to initiate positive ideas that are geared towards impacting and contributing to the society," he said. As things stand, this might just be the beginning of greater things to come. Corps members who distinguish themselves during the service year often end up with national awards which sometimes comes with an automatic employment from the Federal Government.

INSIDE ABUJA

Kayode Fayemi

he recent state visit to Nigeria by President Jacob Zuma marked the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Nigeria and South Africa. Both countries have shared a sometimes turbulent history; we have also at different times reveled in the joy of aligned moral purpose – at some point towards the dismantling of apartheid, at some other point in the struggle to enthrone democracy. During the visit, both President Zuma and his host President Muhammadu Buhari made it a point of duty to strengthen the historical bonds of friendship between the peoples of Africa’s two largest economies. The rapprochement between both countries is one of the results of President Buhari’s economic diplomacy, which has focused on rebuilding Nigeria’s image and relationships in the comity of nations. This development can only result in positive outcomes for both economies, and also ensure alignment on the strategic future that we believe offers Africa its full potential. The visit also offered the opportunity for Nigeria and South Africa to renew the pledge of partnership on a number of key issues including Mining. An existing 2013 MoU outlining areas of partnership in the fields of Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgy which had not been implemented, was resuscitated. President Buhari thus mandated the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to work with our South African counterparts to pursue the full implementation of the Agreement. Having identified South Africa as one of our strategic partners towards growing our mining sector, and on the back of improved diplomatic relations, I recently led a small delegation on a 2-day working visit to South Africa, during which I met with my counterpart, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Hon. Mosebenzi Joseph Zwane, as well as the leadership of miningrelated government entities, mining industry leaders and experts. Our delegation gained a lot of insights from the knowledge sharing sessions with the leadership of the Department of Mineral Resources, Council of Geosciences, MINTEK and other government entities, and the progressive discussions on opportunities of collaboration with some of South Africa’s finance institutions – especially the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Accordingly, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has outlined details of the implementation plan for the 2013 MoU on Mining which provides details of the priority areas Nigeria wishes to benefit from the South African mining industry’s competitive advantage. These include: Advanced Geological Surveys – detailed geo-sciences data generation; data interpretation analysis and application; assistance in the accreditation of the Geosciences Analytical Metallurgical Laboratories in Kaduna; exploration data reporting standards, etc.; Mining Governance – the review of existing legal and legislative framework; improved mines inspectorate operations and technologies; upgrading and management of cadastral processes and operations

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, S’Africa: Forging bonds of mutual prosperity in mining

Dr. Fayemi (right) with the Acting CEO, Council for Geosciences, Pretoria, Mr. S. Sikhosana during the minister’s working visit to the council’s head office in Johannesburg, South Africa...recently.

etc; Mineral Processing and Development - processing of industrial Minerals; Beneficiation processes and technologies; value addition, quality assurance and standards in mineral development, etc. Other areas include Metallurgy – improvement of metallurgical inspectorate operations and technologies; indigenous professional skill acquisition and technology transfer; metallurgical processes; steel making technologies etc; Artisanal & Small Scale Mining Operation - production/supply of small and medium sized plants and machinery for small and midtier mining and processing eg the Igoli gold processing mill; development of Industrial Clusters in downstream mineral fabrication and manufacturing; Environmental Safety and Sustainability – enforcement of environmental safety and compliance regulations; review of sustainability frameworks and regulations; remediation processes etc. Nigeria is also looking to benefit from the wealth of human capital resource in South Africa’s mining industry in areas such as - capacity building in global best practices along the value chain of the mining industry – occupational, health, safety and environment (OHSE), mines inspectorate and revenue collection, mineral production assessment, ASM management, steel and metallurgical inspectorate technology and regulation, etc; as well as benefiting from technical assistance in the development of coal-to-power projects in Nigeria as part of our objectives to achieve a vibrant energy mix and realize our target of 10,000 mw of energy by 2019. The ministry also seeks to learn from the optimal organization of private sector players in the South African mining space. Conversely as South Africa’s putative oil industry gets off the ground, Nigeria should share the lessons that our experience affords us. Nigeria’s Oil history, while it has a number of prominent mis-

Nigeria is also looking to benefit from the wealth of human capital resource in South Africa’s mining industry

steps, still contains critical lessons which should be shared, together with our expertise in the Oil and Gas industry built over the years. Invariably, both our countries need to implement a departure from the perception and treatment of resource-rich locales as extractive farms, and move towards encouraging the establishment of value-added economic activities within them. This administration is particularly focused on creating a broad spectrum of value-added activities by fully maximizing the abundant opportunities for mineral beneficiation, exploiting the possibilities inherent in support services and support industries that will be nurtured around core mining activities. For the new resource economy to benefit both local and global stakeholders, we are taking an activist posture towards issues of developing local content and ensuring a transfer of skills and technology that will be to our nation’s advantage in the medium and long term. While we are committed to maintaining a liberal business environment, we are also mindful that the new resource economy results in a win-win situation for all stakeholders. This is why we intend to see to it that host communities are directly and positively impacted by the activities that will be undertaken in their domains. The historic restiveness in the Niger Delta and labour related uprisings in the South African mining industry can be put permanently in the past with this new approach to governance of the extractives industries. Today, the continent's fortunes appear partially stalled. Pundits wonder if our work of reform is entirely hostage to shrinking commodities demand from China and India. The decline the Naira and the Rand have suffered in the past year is partially linked to the commodities narrative. Nonetheless, the truth is that Africa's narrative of prosperity has deeper roots,

and is firmly in our control. Nigeria has our eyes set on a rebound in the global commodities market, hopefully sooner than later, and we are doing everything possible in the interim to ensure we position our industry for market dominance when that time comes. We will work towards stoking aggregate demand and restructuring entire swathes of our societies to prepare them for the next generation of jobs, and delivering a joined up locomotive of growth. Hopefully, other African countries will take a cue from the renewed commitment of our countries to partner towards building the capabilities to create jobs and broaden the economic opportunities available to young Nigerians and South Africans. The aggressive integration of our economies will also create new corridors of growth for our neighbors and partners in both the ECOWAS and SADC regions. We will find smart mechanisms for leveraging each other's key strengths and easing the modalities for engagement between businesses in both countries e. visa liberalization for skilled mining and petroleum workers to help speed transitions as well as maintain growth momentum. We will also push our citizens to interact more intensively, whether it is in vacationing in each other's countries or forming new personal networks. A shared experience and prosperity is the key to a new wave of African economic growth, and our Presidents are determined to deliver on that pledge. As we welcome South Africa's delegates to Abuja on a follow-up technical visit next week, and as momentum gathers towards the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Commission holding in August this year, we will continue to explore means of creatively building bridges between our countries towards modeling the possibilities that African integration offers for shared growth and prosperity. While we may have started at different points as independent, proud nations, our commitment to improving the living conditions of our citizens continues to pull us along a familiar pathway. Neither republic is perfect; we have our flaws, but we also have our strengths, and we are constrained by our responsibility to history and to our fellow Africans, to leverage them for the common good. We look forward to welcoming more South African investors to Nigeria, just as we know that South Africa is extending an equally warm embrace to Nigerians. Nelson Mandela's historic admonishment that Nigeria and South Africa must work together to transform Africa rings louder at this time than ever before. This is the least we can do in fulfilling the African Mining Vision (AMV). Indeed, as Madiba's spirit smiles on this partnership he so treasured, let us his followers and friends ennoble his legacy with a renewed pledge of progressive brotherhood, towards shared prosperity in mining. •Dr. Fayemi is Minister of Solid Minerals Development

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

Business What's new Ships with N98.9bn petroleum products berth at Apapa jetties

Dearth of funds stalls housing projects in cities

Aviation Liberalisation: Breaking the bilateral web

27 29

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2016...................................13.7% March 2016...............................12.8% February 2016............................11.4%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at June 10 )

(Interbank as at June 10)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N358 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N515 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N405

l Foreign Reserves – $26.401bn as at 8/6/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

p.24

NBS: Aircraft movement in Q4 2015 rose 6.9% L-R: Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Insurance &Actuarial Matters, Hon. Henry Daniel Ofongo; NDIC MD/CE Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim; Chairman of the Committee Hon. Olufemi Fakeye, at the NDIC-organised retreat for members of the Committee in Abuja, at the weekend.

p.24

SHORTAGE There is a decline in government income due to fall in crude oil price

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

Adeola Yusuf

he consumption of petroleum products by Nigerians slid to 882.13 million litres in April compared to 1,115.61 million litres in March 2016, New Telegraph has learnt. A document obtained from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), noted that the fuel scarcity, which culminated in the new pricing regime, was partly responsible for the slide in fuel usage. “Before arriving at the new price regime, a comprehensive study of the costs of importation was under-taken,” the document stated. All stakeholders, including marketing companies and independent experts, it continued, were “consulted in arriving at the appropriate cost reflective regime. This is in furtherance of the Price Modulation Framework rolled out in January 2016, which entails modulating prices down or up on

Nigerians’ fuel intake falls to 882.13m litres in April a periodic basis to reflect actual prevailing costs.” In April 2016, 882.13 million litres of PMS was sold compared with 1,115.61 million litres in March 2016. On the reason for a new price regime, NNPC noted that the rise in crude oil price and prevailing high cost of importation brought back subsidy regime. “Due to decline in government income, related to crude oil price and limited crude oil output caused by the spate of renewed vandalism and sabotage of oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta. “There is neither funding nor appropriation to cover this in the 2016 Budget,” the corporation said. “57.43 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was produced for the month of March 2016, representing an average daily production of 1.85 million barrels reflecting a decrease of 3.10 per cent compared to February 2016 performance,” the document

1.115 billion barrels Being the total volume of petroleum products consumed by Nigeria in March 2016

stated. The corporation said that there has been noticeable improvement in transparency of its activities. “In business brief, we continue with the successes of the 20 Fixes Initiative, which is the foundation of the pre-sent reform in NNPC with the focus on Shine the Light having shown in the last edition the achievements of the efforts at Stopping the Bleeding, which includes the recent liberalisation of petrol price and its net positive effect on NNPC financial position. “Stop the bleeding; shine the light; increase efficiency; manage performance and push; profitability,” it said. The NNPC reiterated that its payments update to the federal government hit 933, 116.78 in March, while the domestic Products Sales & Distribution in April 2016 stood at 882.13 million litres compared with 1,115.61 million litres in March 2016.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

Ships with N98.9bn petroleum products berth at Apapa jetties ABUNDANT There is abundant supply of petroleum products at Lagos wharves and jetties this month

Bayo Akomolafe

wenty-six merchant tankers berthed at Apapa jetties between April and June 2016 with petroleum products valued at N98.93 billion. Between April and May this year, the tankers ferried 677,670.74 metric tons of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS). In April, nine tankers discharged 216,768.679 metric tons of the products valued at N31.65 billion However, in June 15 vessels arrived with 460, 902.61 metric tons of PMS and aviation fuel (Jet A1). But no vessel brought AGO during the period. The products worth N67.29 billion are currently being discharged at the New Oil Jetty, Atlas Cove Jetty, NISPAN, Petroleum Wharf Apapa and Single Bouy Mooring. Already, MT Histria Ivori has been moored at New Oil Jetty to offload 20,030 metric tons of aviation fuel. Others laden with Petroleum Motor Spirit are Zoilo

IMPROVEMENT The upsurge was as a result of the festive period Wole Shadare

tatistics by the National Bureau of statistics (NBS) has shown an increase of both aircraft movement in the fourth quarter of 2015, with aircraft moving in and out of the Nigerian airports increasing by 7 per cent to 61,692. This figure when juxtaposed with the third quarter of 2015, which had 57,704 of aircraft movements, showed a decrease of 3,988 or 1.1 per cent in relative to second quarter of the same year under review. These data compiled by the bureau on May 1, 2016, indicate that the upsurge in aircraft movement in the fourth quarter of last year was as a result of the festive period; Christmas and New Year celebrations in that period. However, the bureau in its statistical analysis hinted that aircraft movement in the third quarter of 2015 reduced by 10.3 per cent when compared with third quarter of 2014, while the fourth quarter of 2015 represented 13.6 per cent decline when compared with the same period of 2014. The bureau added, “These declines were both larger than the corresponding year-on-year

with 30,000 metric tons; High Beam, 24,032.191 metric tons; PW Cough, 34,000 metric tons, Memphis, 34,907 metric tons, STI Yorkville, 37,700 metric tons and Sti Benicia, 38400 metric tons. Others are FSL Hamburg, 35,900 metric tons; Cape Beira, 31,356.610 metric tons; Cenito, 32,000 metric tons; Cape Beale, 25,000 metric tons;; Moxon, 29,000 metric tons; BW Lynx, 37,603 metric tons; Sti Gramercy, 30, 000 metric tons; Twinkle Star, 20, 974 metric tons and Sea Clipper, 35,000 metric tons. In April and May, Oceana

and Malbec were moored at Atlas Cove Jetty (ACJ) and Single Bouy Mooring (SBM) respectively to offload their products. Also, Alizea Daddo with 17,000 metric tons has berthed at Petroleum Wharf Apapa (PWP) jetty and Hinde Bluesea, 8, 000 metric tons at Ijora jetty, while MSK Meddittrean was laden with 37,990.679 metric tons; Malbec, 30,698 metric tons; Torm Trinity, 30,000 metric tons; Cumbria, 10,282 metric tons; Champion, 23,000 metric tons; Oceana, 24,000 metric tons and Sti Milaukee, 35,798 metric tons. The bulk of the fuel came from Asian

countries. In the last 12 months, data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that Nigeria spent N1.539 trillion on importation of PMS alone. The amount was N37 billion higher than what the country spent in 2014, when it imported N1.202 trillion. The 2015 figure was 367.55 per cent more than the 2013 fuel imports figure of N264.85 billion. A breakdown also indicated that in the first quarter of 2015, Nigeria spent N288.871 billion on petrol importation, second quarter, N389.257 billion; third

quarter, N250.329 billion and fourth quarter, N310.866 billion. The documents stated that between January and June, 2015, the country took delivery of N49.2 billion, N105.973 billion, N133.697 billion, N139.237 billion, N133.793 billion and N116.227 billion worth of petroleum products respectively at the various jetties. Also between July and December, N134.14 billion, N85.451 billion, N30.737 billion, N68.083 billion, N120.519 billion and N122.263 billion respectively were spent on the importation of petrol alone.

L-R: Representative of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mrs. Oluwafemi Nedd; Senior Special Assistant, Government House, Alhaji Ibrahim Adeyemi; Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed; Managing Director, Ningbo Jinsheng Ltd, Mr. Shin Zengchao and Director General, KPPP, Mr. Abayomi Ogunsola, after the signing of a $56m investment deal at Ningbo, East China

NBS: Aircraft movement in Q4 2015 rose 6.9% declines in passenger numbers, indicating that passengers per flight increased over this period. “In contrast with the number of passengers, the year-on-year fall in the number of domestic flights was larger than the fall in the number of international flights. “In the third and fourth quarters of 2015, there were 11.3 per cent and 14.3 per cent fewer domestic flights than in the same quarter of 2014 respectively, which resulted in a total of 46,157 and 50,686 flights in the third and fourth quarter.” NBS added that the year-onyear declines in the number of international flights were 3.3 per cent and 10.5 per cent in the third and fourth quarter of 2015 respectively, which resulted in a total of 11,547 international flights in third quarter of 2015 and 11,006 in the fourth. The Bureau also explained that there was a large quarterly increase in domestic flights in the fourth quarter of 2015 (of 9.8 per cent), international flights saw a decline of 541 flights, or 4.7 per cent, reversing the increase of 344 flights (3.1 per cent) recorded in the third quarter. The difference between the number of domestic and international aircraft to pass through Nigeria airports tended to be smaller than the difference between the number of domestic and international passengers, reflecting the fact that interna-

tional aircraft tended to be larger, and therefore carried more passengers. Also, the shares of domestic flights accounted for by each airport were similar to the shares of passengers accounted for by each airport. For instance, the Lagos Airport accounted for the largest share of domestic flights in each quarter considered, accounting for 37.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 and 35.6 per cent in the fourth, compared with domestic passenger shares of 37 per cent and 36.1 per cent respectively. Similarly, Abuja Domestic Airport accounted for 32 per cent and 33.8 per cent of domestic flights in the third and fourth quarters, compared to passenger shares of 34.7 per cent and 33.8 per cent. On the international scene, the international wing of Lagos Airport accounted for slightly lower share of international aircraft than of international passengers. Its share was 67.1 per cent in the third quarter and 69.8 per cent in the fourth, compared with shares of 67.4 per cent and 71.1 per cent for international passengers in the same quarters. Despite this, the airport still remained by far the largest international airport, recording almost four times as many international flights went through MMA than through Abuja airport, which accounted for the second largest number of inter-

national flights, representing 20.2 per cent of international passengers in third quarter of 2015 and 17.6 per cent in the fourth. As with MMA, these shares were slight lower than the respective shares of international passengers of 23.1 per cent and 20.5 per cent. This indicated that the international flights to pass through these airports tended to carry slightly more passengers than the average for all airports. In a related development, the Bureau has indicated that the Murtala Muhammed Airport has the most cargo movement in the fourth quarter of 2015, recording 12.8 per cent increase in cargo movement when compared to the third quarter of 2015. The NBS also recorded a total of 89.5 per cent of cargo movements across the country in the last quarter of 2015, stating that whereas the third quarter of 2015 saw a year-on year decline of 13.9 per cent, the fourth quarter saw a year on year increase of 12.8 for the airport. The bureau said that the third quarter of 2015 saw a quarterly increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Nigerian airports of 724,792kg or 1.8 per cent, to reach 41,636,713kg. NBS added that this was followed by a larger quarterly increase of 6,169,663kg (14.8 per cent) in the fourth quarter, to

reach 47,805,737kg. This, it said, contrasted the previous year result in which there was a decline in the weight of cargo movement between the third and fourth quarter. The bulk of the weight of cargo to move through Nigerian Airports it declared went through MMA in Lagos in the second half of 2015. The data added: “This airport accounted for 91 per cent and 88.2 per cent of the weight in the third and fourth quarters; the decline in the share between these two periods is in spite of an increase in the weight of cargo to move through MMA of 14.8 per cent. “The decline was mainly the result of a large increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Kano Airport between these periods. Whereas in the third quarter of 2015 the weight of cargo to pass through Kano was 1,681,772kg, this rose by 2,474,862kg (147.2 per cent) to 4,156,634kg in the fourth quarter. “As a result, Kano significantly increased its share of cargo between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, from 3.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent. Port Harcourt also saw an increase over this period, from two per cent to 2.7 per cent, despite a year-on-year decrease of 4.6 per cent in the weight of cargo moved. This decrease was considerably less than for Abuja (16.3 per cent) or Calabar (44.4 per cent).”

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

Some 136 million voiceless Nigerians, mostly in rural areas, would not enjoy electricity before the end of this decade due to the monumental fraud perpetrated by a few “untouchables.” ADEOLA YUSUF reports

y now, the rural power projects, a report on tenders by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) envisaged, should have been sited in 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country. The study sighted by New Telegraph showed that each local council already boasts of at least two to three projects in line with the policy on rural electrification. Unfortunately, most of the projects have long been abandoned despite the huge amount of money being sunk into them. In 2014 alone, government said that it would spend N16 billion on rural electrification projects and, according to the then minister of State for Power, Mrs Zainab Kuchi, that was to serve as a major impetus to connecting over 50 per cent of rural dwellers to the national grid by 2016 and over 75 per cent before 2020. The abandoned fortunes Despite the huge sum of money sunk into the rural electrification projects, investigations by this newspaper showed that over 1000 projects that were started in 2012 had been abandoned. The globally acknowledged audit firm, PwC, hinted in a newly released power audit that 136 million Nigerians, majority of who are rural dwellers, are in total blackout buoyed by lack of access to power from the electricity grid. The remaining 34 million are also battling with epileptic supply caused by the off-grid energy access approach of the policy-makers, the report entitled: “Electricity beyond the grid: accelerating access to sustainable power for all” revealed. With an estimation of 170 million population in Nigeria, the PwC estimate shows that only one in five people has access to power from the electricity grid in Africa’s most populous nation. Head, Rural Electrification Agency, Kenneth Achugbu, an engineer, confirmed that of the total 1,994 projects inherited in 2014 from the Ministry of Power, 1,946 projects were abandoned across the country. About 48 of the projects were initiated by the agency, which explains the difference in the number of abandoned projects. The ‘untouchables’ While about 2000 projects are still abandoned across the country, millions of Nigerians in the rural

Students raeding under candle light

Endless darkness for helpless rural dwellers

How greed, fraud put 136m Nigerians in perpetual blackout areas who those projects were initiated for have not been connected to the national grid based on 2016 projection and the hope for them to be connected before the end of year 2020 is hanging in the balance. This stemmed from the colossal fraud perpetrated by a few untouchable individuals, which had since been tactically swept under the carpet. Most importantly, the rural electrification scheme has been mired in allegations of corruption and fraud. Aside from the $16 billion spent on National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs), the alleged N6 billion fraud involving senior officials of REA, former Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Power, Ndudi Elumelu, Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbana and one other member caused ripples in the sector. The money, which was part of the N16 billion allocated for the National Independent Power Projects (NIPPs), seriously affected the implementation of the projects. The suspects were, however, slammed a 156-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On April 12, 2012, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said it had appealed against the ruling of the court, which freed former Senate Committee Chairman on Power, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, his House of Representatives counterparts, Hon. Godwin Elumelu, Hon. Jibo Mohammed and six others, over corruption and criminal breach of trust charges. A Federal High Court in Abuja had on March 24, 2012, absolved the former legislators of complicity in the 15-count criminal charge preferred against them by the EFCC,

Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola

The fraud in rural electrification has to be revisited

following the alleged role they played in a N5.2 billion Rural Electrification contract scam. The EFCC’s lawyers, according to the appeal documents obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, claimed that the trial judge, Justice M.G. Umar, erred in law when in his consideration of the 8th respondent’s motion on notice dated July 25, 2011, he held that he was unable to find a prima facie case or complaint disclosed in the proof of evidence against the respondent They noted: “The consideration of the question of whether or not a prima facie case has been disclosed against an accused is limited to the proof of evidence filed in support of the charge. The proof of evidence does not have to disclose absolute proof or evidence required at the trial stage; it is sufficient if a prima facie case is disclosed connecting the accused to the offence. “Using the above-stated parameters, the proof of evidence before the court below clearly reveals a prima facie case against the 8th respondent in relation to the offences for which he was charged.

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun

The learned trial judge adopted a wrong parameter in reaching his finding – hence the error.” Consequently, nothing has been heard about the case again, while millions of rural dwellers continue to wallow in darkness. A Port Harcourt-based Public Affairs analyst, Dagogo-Wilcox, did not hide his rage over the corruption allegation. He said: “The trial of some high profile former members of the House Representatives and senior officials of the REA for corruption in 2009 remained one of the greatest paradoxes of our time. “Elumelu and his colleagues in the committee exposed the underbelly of the graft-infested power sector, providing some insights as to why the nation remains in perpetual darkness.” The myth called rural electrification Eleven years after it was initiated, the rural electrification project is yet to take off at the level it was envisaged. Reason: it is being bogged down by shoddy implementation and corruption. CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Energy

BEDC exults over improved supply to Agbor, urges bills payment

enin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has congratulated residents of Agbor made up of Ika South and Ika East local governments on the improved power supply to their areas, assuring them of the company’s readiness to sustain and even improve on the development provided they pay their bills promptly. BEDC’s Chief State Head, Delta, Albert Esenabhalu, according to a statement, said this in a presentation he made at the Agbor Business Unit Customer forum held at the Ezinne Event Centre last Wednesday. It will be recalled that the Agbor area of Delta state had recorded poor electricity supply

in the past due to its disadvantage network configuration, as the only feeder servicing the entire area runs from Irrua covering over 62 kilometers through thick vegetation and bad roads thus constraining power supply. However, the 132KVA line step-down at Agbor awarded over 10 years has just been commissioned thus boosting power supply. Engr. Esenabhalu affirmed that the Ika nation was getting not less than 12 hours of supply but could have been getting more if not for the challenge of low generation to the national grid occasioned by gas shortage and vandalisation of gas pipeline. He noted that generation had dropped to 1500 megawatts

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

How greed, fraud put 136m Nigerians in perpetual blackout

When the Federal Government initiated the rural electrification scheme in 2005, its aim was to get over 2,000 communities connected to the national grid. Expectations were high that the project would stimulate growth by providing electricity to residents of rural and semiurban areas nationwide. It was also envisaged that by riding on the back of the project to bring electricity to the doorsteps of rural dwellers, their living standards would significantly improve, thus allowing them contribute their quota to economic growth. Eleven years down the line, the project is, however, yet to deliver on those promises, leaving the intended beneficiaries in the lurch, unable to access power from the national grid. REA, the body set up to promote and coordinate the rural electrification projects, appears hamstrung, unable to achieve much, if any. It was learnt that the agency, whose other responsibilities include inviting, screening, approving, and monitoring of contractors hired to handle the projects, is fraught with issues around funding and corruption, which is why most of the sites are littered with abandoned projects. The blame game Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, blamed the failure of the project on the inability of successive administrations to give it the desired attention. He lamented that this is inhibiting socio-economic growth, stressing that many of the projects were left uncompleted by governments and this exerts undue pressure on their successors. Amosun, who revealed this at the groundbreaking ceremony of a power plant in Magboro, Mowe area of Ogun State, said negligence on the part of leaders hindered the implementation of rural electricity projects. The wide gap in electricity infrastructure, he said, was caused by lack of cooperation among the stakeholders in the energy value chain. World Bank’s view The World Bank, in its poverty index on emerging countries,

A local lamp used in rural areas up to the 1990s.

underscored Amosun’s assertion when it said that 75 per cent of the rural populations in Nigeria live below the poverty line. The bank said the cost of supplying electricity to rural communities is relatively high and unaffordable. It said Nigeria is one of the countries with the lowest per capita income, adding that its citizens live under $2 per day. “High poverty ratio has made rural electrification impossible in Nigeria. Poverty and the high cost of supplying electricity is by far the most important problem facing rural electrification in Nigeria,” World Bank said. Speaking during the inauguration of an 11-man board for REA in Abuja, Zainab Kuchi, said a large percentage of the sum would be used to revive the numerous abandoned electricity projects scattered across various rural communities. She said: “The funding for the REA is N16 billion this year and that will go squarely for the development of the abandoned projects in our rural areas. The abandoned projects have been identified and we advise proper funding for these projects.” Government’s target, Kuch said, was to achieve 75 per cent rural electrification access by 2020. “This is your (REA) charge. Your key indicators will include the number of rural communities that have access to electricity and the number of investors who we are able to attract to the rural electrification sub-sector.

nationwide, saying that in such situation, it was difficult increasing supply to operational areas given BEDC allocation of 9 per cent. Esenabhalu added, “In spite of this, we need to let our customers understand the need to pay their bills, as we buy energy as well, without which we cannot serve them effectively the way we want to”. The Chief State Head, who noted that the drop in power generation was affecting BEDC’s ability to circulate power to customers despite its installed capacity, said that the company was working towards taking advantage of government’s window on independent power generation to augment

An abandoned state rural electrification project in Enugu

Off-grid policy of darkness The approach to off grid electricity being implemented by the Federal Government is another major hurdle on the way of achieving 75 per cent rural electrification by 2020. While government is expected to decentralise power generation and supply for rural areas, it still hold on to connecting the rural communities to the weak national grid. “To achieve universal access to electricity, current approach to offgrid electricity needs to be changed,” the PwC report had revealed. “The time is right for policymakers in Nigeria to reappraise their approach to energy access.” The study noted: “There are currently 634 million people without electricity in Africa and in Nigeria. “On current trends, twothirds of the world’s population will remain without electricity by 2030, which is the target year to achieve the newly agreed post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goal of universal access to energy,” the report stated, adding that a “new approach is needed that better recognises the part that off-grid technology can play.” Solution Current electrification strategies tend to focus on national grid extension plans, according to PwC’s Associate Director, Ad-

its allocation from the grid and increase supply on the long run. He warned Agbor residents against illegal connections, bypass and vandalism of BEDC installations in their domain, emphasising that only this could militate against electricity supply in the area. In his own contribution, Chairman, Ika south local government, Hon. Fred Ofume told the customers that the council held a meeting with BEDC management last Monday during, which far reaching decisions bordering on service delivery were made after exhaustive deliberations. According to Hon. Ofume, the decisions include the need to enumerate the communities,

Local lantern

visory Practice, Olumide Adeosun. He said: “It is critical that Nigerians take steps to understand and embrace the new starting points for energy provided by stand-alone renewable technology and mini-grids as discussed in this report. We believe these solutions provide a viable, bottom-up solution to the patchy availability of electricity in Nigeria. He noted that some of the enablers, such as mature mobile payment platforms and data analytics capabilities are already in place. Others, he said, will require investors and communities engaging policy makers to formulate an integrated energy access strategy, then working together in their communities to accelerate momentum in the electrification of Nigeria’s urban and semi-rural locations.” The report foresees a major transformation of the electricity sector in the period ahead and sets out five recommendations for accelerating the increase of electrification. These are to develop an integrated energy access plan and map – so that everyone can plan with more certainty for either off-grid or grid extension solutions; and to create an enabling environment for off-grid development - including clearer criteria for mini-grid development, support for skills and training and more supportive regulation to allow private players to unlock the off-grid market potential.

need to introduce Point of Sales (PoS) through collection agents in lieu of banks in some areas, the setup of Electricity Committee in the communities and need to install bulk prepaid meters on the transformers in communities. Ofume, who appreciated the challenges and reality BEDC was facing in the course of operating as a distribution company (Disco), promised that Agbor residents, being hospitable will do their best to assist BEDC in the realisation of its corporate objectives. He however harped on the need to increase manpower of field officers reading meters of customers and those involved in tracing of faults.

Others are to recognise the value of and promote the growth of mobile infrastructure, microloans and payment solutions in supporting energy access - mobile infrastructure is proving crucial in the take-up of standalone home systems, giving providers a low-cost channel for customer relations and an ability to automatically manage non-payment; to establish an off-grid innovation and development fund - a highly visible development and innovation fund can play an important part in spurring off-grid growth in each country; and to have a high-level energy access champion that can drive results – to cut through bottlenecks and monitor results. In his conclusion, Omontuemhen noted: “All or nothing’ approaches that focus primarily on the national grid are increasingly out of step to what is now possible in power technology. Advances in technology are rapidly changing the options available beyond the grid. Falling solar technology costs have spurred the growth of standalone home systems and are changing the economics of mini-grid systems. “Battery storage technology is fast evolving to the point where it is going to play a significant role in utility-scale solar power storage and is beginning to feature in smaller-scale offgrid solutions. “Together with access to mobile technology and mobile payment systems for microloans, a new era has arrived for beyond the grid electrification.” Conclusion The fraud in rural electrification has to be revisited with a view to bringing those found culpable to book. Aside from this, government should begin a plan to decentralise the power generation and supply for rural areas. This, coupled with sincerity of purpose will take the rural dwellers that have no voice out of darkness. A synergy between government and the private sector operators is also necessary to solve the problems facing rural electrification project. This would help in attracting funds for project and kick-start industrial activities in rural communities.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

Abandoned Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Estate

Only an urgent financial intervention by government will save many housing projects, which are in different stages of abandonment in Nigerian cities. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

bandoned housing projects are common sight in major cities in Nigeria, especially Lagos and Abuja. Developers blame the situation on paucity of funds. Many of the schemes, which are due for completion in Lugbe, Kubwa in Abuja and Lagos Island, Ijora Badia, Lekki and Igando in Lagos State, have been suspended by their initiators who are waiting for the economy to improve. Private developers are not alone in this predicament as contractors have abandoned many housing schemes of Lagos State government under construction in the last one year. A source in the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, who did not want his name in print, blamed the situation on paucity of funds. “Right now, there is no money to complete these projects and that is why they are in a state of abandonment. Government has limited fund now and until revenue improves, the projects will remain in that situation,” the source said.

Dearth of funds stalls housing projects in cities under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LAGHOMs) seems to have lost its steam. Unlike in the past when government announced new landlords on monthly basis, nothing has been done about the initiative in the last 15 months. Rent to Own Although Governor Akinwumi Ambode has disclosed plan to introduce Rent to Own housing scheme, there is nothing yet on ground to indicate that the project is about to take off. Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, during the last ministerial press briefing, said that the Rent to Own scheme would soon come into effect, having been approved by Lagos State Executive Council. The policy, he said, is aimed at making housing more accessible and affordable, particularly to low and medium income earners in both formal and informal sectors. He put Lagos’ housing deficit at 2.55 million, adding that 187,500 new homes are required over the next five years to reduce the deficit.

Abandoned housing projects Some of the abandoned housing initiatives include Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Estate, Omole scheme, Abiola Garden scheme, Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate in Ogba, Ilupeju, Mushin schemes and LAGHOMs Egan/Igando millennium The housing programme ini- housing projects. tiated by former Lagos State New Telegraph discovered Governor, Babatunde Fashola, that some of the completed

The most conspicuous abandoned housing projects are the Ilubirin and Ijora-Badia schemes

housing projects - Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate in Ogba, Abiola Garden Estate and many others are still unoccupied one and half years after completion. The most conspicuous abandoned housing projects are the Ilubirin and Ijora-Badia schemes. Ilubirin housing project, which is now a cynosure of all eyes, had reached roof level before the contractor abandoned it. Built on reclaimed land annexed to Lagos Island/Ikoyi, the Ilubirin housing scheme is divided into five blocks. The amenities include a shopping centre, water work, fire station, clinic, sewage treatment plant and an independent power plant. It is being constructed by Cyrou Turnkey Builders

According to him, work was still on the first phase, which comprised 20 blocks when dearth of finance hit the company. “We could not do much until February 2015, except the skeletal 27 per cent of the contract done so far. We could say we stopped work in April 2015 because of elections and funding,” the contractor said. Also, Mr. Reuben Oyewole, one of the contractors handling four blocks of the 12 blocks of project at Lekki Phase 1, said he was unable to go beyond 40 per cent of the project due to lack of fund. An official from Hammer Realtors and Developer Limited, Mr. Rotimi Ogunlola, stated that paucity of fund has limited the project to 40 per cent completion stage. The lawmakers plan to invite all contractors to the Assembly to consider the challenges and seek ways to address them. The committee had visited housing projects in Randle in Akerele, Surulere, Iponri, Ijora, Badia and Oyingbo. They also visted Mushin, Gbagada, Ilupeju; Omole 1 and 2, Oko Oba, Akanimodo and Amuwo-Odofin. LAGHOMs project encourages and supports home ownerships for first-time- buyer residents of Lagos State to purchase a decent and affordable home through the provision of accessible mortgage finance.

Contractors’ defense Some of the contractors, while defending the projects’ long abandonment before the state House of Assembly Committee on Housing during a tour recently, blamed it on poor funding. The contractors spoke in response to the Committee Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Layode’s complaint that the slow work pace. Managing Director, Cyrou Turnkey Builders, Mr. Obi Bombey, who is handling Ilubirin housing project, told the committee that financial constraint forced his team to slow Federal Level down on their work pace. The Federal Government has He explained that 66 blocks of 19 flats each were awarded said that it planned to build one to the company in March 2014, million houses per year and but that only 27 per cent of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 project had been completed.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | Homes & Property

‘Govt must adopt burnt bricks for affordable housing’

Mr. Biodun Adedeji, a chartered accountant, is the Managing Director of Ire Block Industry in Ire Ekiti, Ekiti State. In this interview with DAYO AYEYEMI, he speaks on the use of local building materials for affordable housing, challenges facing local manufacturers of building materials and need for government’s intervention.

if you use wrong clay soil it will crack. Can you believe that some people still buy the cracked burnt brick to build houses?

Why do you think burnt brick should be used for affordable housing in the country? If you soak burnt brick in water for 10 years, it will be shining; but if you try the same experiment with ordinary brick or hydra foam, it will not stand the test of time. Burnt brick is suitable for mass and affordable housing production. Besides, burnt brick, as the name implies, passes through fire of 950 degree centigrade and that makes it strong, unlike others such as clay bricks or hydra foam. If you just mould the latter and dry it under sun, it is done but after some years, you will begin to see moisture on the wall. When brick passes through fire,

What about the environmental issues surrounding the site where clay soil is mined for production of bricks. How do you go about this? We discovered that where you are digging your clay becomes a big well like a swimming pool after sometimes. What we do is that we must have studied the place before soil excavation. After digging, there will be water in the well and we use the water for irrigation during the dry season. We don’t just use any clay; we carried out study to know that the clay meets our requirement for bricks. We must carry out test until we get good clay before we start digging. What are the challenges peculiar to Ire Block Industry? The challenges are general. I am talking about manufacturing industries generally. Government should look at ways to stimulate the economy. One of the purposes of looking at this is to create employment. You cannot create employ-

ment when you don’t have manufacturing companies on ground. It is safe to say that most of the manufacturing industries are dead and government must look for ways to revive them. I mean challenges to the clay brick industry… One of the challenges is land, after that you have to source for fund and provide the road and other basic infrastructure. What is the relationship between your firm and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)? We have invited SON to see whether we are keeping to standard. We are currently on the verge of collecting our SONCAP certificate from the authority. Who owns Ire Block Industry? Odua Group owns 30 per cent, while Ekiti holds 70 per cent. Ire Block Industry is not a subsidiary of Odua, but an associate. Government should also do everything possible to revive ceramic industry in Ondo State because Nigeria needs not to import tiles into the country since we have the resource in abundance locally.

‘Shelter Afrique, developers seal $9m deal’ UNDERWRITTEN

Housing projects worth $50 million was financed by the agency between 2005 and 2010 Caleb Onwe Abuja

helter Afrique and Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase supply of affordable housing for low-income earner in the country. The deal will allow notable players in the sector to gain more access to financing in order to build more houses to meet bridge 17 million housing deficit. The MoU, according to a statement, was signed at the just concluded Shelter Afrique’s 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Symposium in Abuja. Specifically, the pact was signed between Shelter Afrique and Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and Shelter Afrique and Rock of Ages Properties, a member of Chikason Groups and Shelter Afrique respectively. Shelter Afrique is a PanAfrican Finance Institution

exclusively supporting the development of affordable housing and construction in Africa. Chief Operating Officer, Rock of Ages Properties Limited, Mr. Francis Onwuemele, according to the statement, said that Shelter Africa has recognised the little contributions of his organisation in tackling the myriad of challenges threatening the development of housing sector in Nigeria and has agreed to a partnership by providing the required funds at a friendly rate. He disclosed that the $9.1million MoU he signed with Shelter Afrique on behalf of his organisation will provide the needed succor, as the company strives to provide Nigerian workers with affordable housing scheme, which every individual who is interested in owning a house can afford. According to Onwuemele, his organisation has acquired 443 hectares of land at Lugbe Abuja from the government for the expansion of its mass housing scheme. He also noted that the funds coming from Shelter Afrique will go a long way in helping them to fasttrack the partnership his organisation entered into with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to provide affordable housing to Nigeria workers. Managing Director, Shelter

Afrique, Mr. James Mugerwa, who signed on behalf of the financial institution, said that in 2015, an estimated 1773 houses were financed by new approvals, while additionally 1,164 mortgages were created from new approvals and lines of credit. If the trend continues, going by the new strategy cycle, he said that Shelter Afrique will produce at least 10,683 houses and 6,984 mortgages. He said: “From 2005-2010, we financed and commissioned projects worth over $50million. Some notable projects among them are the Adiva Plainfields, which included the development of 376 units of different types and 251 serviced plots. “We have also worked closely with the Akwa Ibom State Government to deliver the Uyo Housing Project, which is now known as Shelter Afrique Estate. We also have a history of bolstering staff housing programmes and supporting saving societies. Notably, we have worked with Chevron Employees Cooperatives Limited, extending a line of credit worth $1.5 million dollars; the Africa-Re Cooperative Society extending an amount of $1.8 million dollars and the Abbey Building Society for $5 million dollars.”

Biodun

Dearth of fund heightens abandonment of housing projects CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

had rolled out modalities to achieve the dream. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, maintained that housing policies in Nigeria have been clearly unsustainable, attributing this partly to land issue and cultural differences. According to the minister, the issue in focus was to identify the design of houses that all Nigerians would accept readily. “What kind of houses do we want? Some people don’t even want houses, they want land to build, some want duplexes, some want detached houses, some want semi-detached,” he noted. The minister, however, said the focus of government was on the vulnerable majority of the populace who just want flats, one or two bedroom flats, adding: “Those are the most vulnerable ones and those are

the people we call our priorities in starting our housing programme.” He recalled that the ministry essentially had moved all over Nigeria to get the different designs. The minister gave assurance that in terms of design, the problem has essentially been solved, adding, “We are finalising, we hope to start building.” Fashola said what the ministry hoped to do this year was to use the designs to prove concept, adding that once the concept has been proven, the designs would be scaled up, leading to the standardisation of housing components for mass housing. Conclusion Housing is the third most important basic needs of man after food and clothing. It must be given urgent attention by governments to reduce the nation’s 17 million housing deficit.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

The global shift has now moved from Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) to air liberalisation in Africa and 21 nations out of 44 countries are already catching the bug, WOLE SHADARE writes

The debate This has been the argument. If every nation in the world had an air services agreement with every other nation, it would take about 12,500 bilateral agreements to blanket the globe. Now there are just over 4,000, but that is still enough to prompt not only the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to lament, but also proponents of African ‘Open Skies’. To this group, “the archaic nature of the current system (BASA) is no longer relevant to, or useful for, the 21st century reality. The flags on the tail of our aircraft were meant for protection when airlines were primarily an extension of national policy.” And, after racking up $50 billion in net losses over the last decade, airlines need to be in tune with the new reality. The norm International aviation is premised on the principle of national sovereignty of a State over the airspace above its territory under its control. The exercise of this right is often regarded as demonstrating the independence of a State. A national airline is sometimes regarded within this context as a physical manifestation of statehood by a government.

Liberalisation: Breaking the bilateral web Such an airline may be maintained to provide connectivity and promote business and tourism opportunities. The national sovereignty principle enables governments to have exclusive discretion within their domestic air transport markets. As a result, domestic product markets under the exclusive control of its government have generally been deregulated more quickly than international markets that are subject to the jurisdiction of at least two States where the origin and destination markets of passengers, cargo and mail (traffic) on international air services routes are located. Generally stringent local ownership and control rules are applicable for domestic airlines. BASA constraints The current system of BASAs constraints the ability of airlines to operate on a fully commercial basis on international routes much more than in domestic air transport markets where the behaviour of airlines is generally deregulated and subject to the free working of market forces. Particular operational (or product market) conditions normally provided for in BASAs include restrictions on the number of airlines permitted to operate on a certain route. This could be limited to one airline that may be designated by each State, dual or multi designation on single or multiple routes provided for under more liberal BASAs, the capacity (seating of aircraft) or frequency of flights that may be operated. This may be restrict-

The archaic nature of the current system (BASA) is no longer relevant

ed to specific numbers of seats per flight or per the number of weekly frequencies that may be operated is limited. The manner in which these limitations are determined in relation to historic or projected market demand indicates whether the route is constrained or liberal. Fares and tariffs may be regulated by both States whose prior approval must be sought by an airline, a country of origin approach, where each State decides on the tariffs within its own jurisdiction, deregulated tariff regimes or regimes that still require filing of tariffs but where the airlines are free to decide on tariffs and fares and so called double disapproval regimes under which airlines have freedom until a fare is disapproved by both States. Drawbacks Aviation experts said one of the drawbacks to air transport growth in the continent is political boundary, as every nation has one immigration barrier or another, all geared towards preventing their neighbour countries from gaining access to their countries. Besides retarding air transport growth, it has also stultified economic development of the region because it has been shown that by trading among themselves, African nations could boost capital formation among African states and empower the citizenry economically. But what has been prevalent is that monies earned in Africa are moved to Europe, Asia and America where they are exchanged for goods.

Benefits of liberalisation IATA has disclosed that enhanced intra Africa air connectivity would generate 17,400 jobs and add about $128.2 million annually to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This means that a Nigerian airline can operate from Lagos to Lome and Lome to Dakar without visa and immigration restrictions. It is expected that this would boost intra continental trade and make more people travel in the continent. The liberalisation of the airspace or open sky for Africa is the offshoot of the Yamoussoukro Decision, which African states agreed on, ratified and about 21 states will start implementing the policy in 2017 But it is not yet a smooth ride for some countries and some airlines, which feel that they are being short-changed in the whole arrangement. Well-established airlines that have thrived for decades and have developed network are enthusiastic to see the policy implemented. An airline operator told New Telegraph that the open sky for Africa plan is good and recalled that it was introduced by the United States, which over the years had well developed aviation industry, but noted that the industry is still relatively young in Africa. He said at a level playing field, open sky is good where everybody has equal opportunities, but the lope-sided reality of African airlines, where most of them are still operatCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | AVIATION

NANTA: Airlines’ exit from Nigeria’ll cut 3,000 jobs PANIC The action would affect travel agencies, government and the general public

Wole Shadare

anic of foreign carriers’ withdrawing from the Nigerian route was palpable at the weekend, as travel agents under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), said more withdrawal of airlines from the country’s route could adversely affect the sector. Besides, the group stated that the action could make the sector lose about 300,000 jobs. Meanwhile, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Delta have indicated their plans not to cease operations to Nigeria, saying they were hopeful the issue would be resolved

L-R: Capt Niyi Ogunnowo; Alhaji Na’Allah Ishaq, Executive Director, Business Development; Capt William Inyang and Alhaji Muneer Bankole, MD/CEO all of Med-View Airline on arrival of an additional Boeing 737-500 aircraft to the fleet of Med-View Airline at Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend.

quickly. International airlines have over $591 million of their monies trapped in the country, as Nigeria ranks behind Venezuela

Breaking the bilateral web CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 29

ing on the fringe, would be difficult to successfully implement the open sky policy. He said: “Open skies at a level playing ground are a good thing. This is where everybody is at the same level and has the same opportunities. It will be an advantage. But that is at a level playing ground. If we look at what is happening in the Middle East; the Middle East carriers don’t have open sky agreement with the United States. And the United States is still objecting to some of them because of the way they receive funding and subsidy from their governments. “In that case that is no longer a level playing ground. That is why the United States is objecting to their coming into their country. So in Africa too, we must have a legal framework where we define ownership of airlines, where we define subvention, where we define contribution and where we define outright bailout funds that are given to airlines in respective states before you start talking about liberalisation and open sky,” he said. He said this is necessary because government owns some airlines, while other are run and owned by individuals; some airlines are even subsidised and the government could float an airline, subsidise it and use it to fly to other countries. IATA backs initiative Vice-President (Africa) IATA, Raphael Kuuchi, said 21 African nations have moved away from their protectionist policy by embracing decade long BASA. The nations including Nigeria have so far signed the solemn declaration to open up

their markets unconditionally. He noted that the responsibility now falls back on African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to ensure that the framework within which airlines would be able to exercise this freedom is actually in place. “The assistance IATA is giving to AFCAC is to help them come up with an implementation framework that is conducive for implementation within the continent and which in the future, should there be a need to expand this to a globally liberalised market, there won’t be conflict or contradiction.” Kuuchi disclosed that they are bringing global expertise to ensure that there is complete alignment with existing liberalisation programmes around the world so that it may be easier to implement. He said that the support, “we are giving to AFCAC is to ensure that they come up with a framework that is not only applicable within the continent.” The commercial operation of a BASA air service route relies on traffic generation in the origin markets on either side of the route by means of services offerings in terms of seating capacity and price discrimination associated with timing and conditions/ restrictions on the use of tickets. Conclusion The lack of market access and especially the confidence in quick application of suitable competition rules combined with substantial differences in the operating scope of airlines is constraining the implementation of the YD. Hence there has been little progress with the actual implementation of YD and certain important air services routes have remained constrained as far as capacity is concerned.

as country with highest funds of foreign airlines trapped in the countries they operate. Speaking at the NANTA House in Lagos, its president, Mr. Bankole Benard, appealed to the airlines not to rush into withdrawing their services, as it will further deepen the current crisis, which will affect 300,000 jobs in the aviation sector, both upstream and downstream. Bankole stated that the development is going to affect everybody, the travel agencies, the government and the general public. He said that if a ticket that supposed to be issued in Nigeria were issued in Ghana, government would lose money. “Government is equally losing revenue to neighbouring countries, as tickets can be purchased

from outside the country and once that is done, the taxes on such tickets will not go to the government through the withholding tax, which they would have benefited from such transaction,” Bankole said. While calling on government to resolve the matter quickly, Bankole noted that the aviation industry contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The NANTA boss observed that if the industry were allowed to go down, it would lead to more job losses like what is currently happening in the banking industry. He said that the Federal Government had already instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to come up with a flexible foreign exchange policy

that will assist airlines to repatriate their funds. NANTA boss stated that he is trying to build on what the previous executives had done. “We want to open a new channel for NANTA and make ourselves to be known in the market and establish good working relationship with government,” Bankole said. He explained that the new executive is restructuring the secretariat by ensuring that members’ data are centralized; it is in talks with Association of South African Travel Agents, ASATA, Association of Kenya Travel Agencies, and others to help the industry get better, including a visit to the International Air Transport Association, IATA to forge a good working relationship with the body.

Emirates offers incentives to passengers

mirates passengers can experience more of Dubai this summer by enjoying deep discounts and exclusive offers across the city with My Emirates Pass, launched jointly with Department of Economic Development in Dubai. The airline in a statement, said passengers flying on the airline to or through Dubai between June 1 and August 31, 2016, can take advantage of a range of offers at some of Dubai’s best known hotspots by simply showing their boarding pass and a valid form of identification. It said special discounts and offers at over 65 restaurants and hotel dining outlets, 10 leisure experiences ranging from desert safaris, golf course packages and helicopter tours in addition to a range of spa experiences

can be accessed for less with My Emirates Pass in Dubai. Executive Director, Commercial Compliance & the Consumer Protection Sector of the airline, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, said: “The Department of Economic Development in Dubai ensures that Dubai’s visitors enjoy a memorable shopping experience, and we want to make Dubai their preferred destination to shop, dine, sightsee and so much more. The joint initiative between the Department of Economic Development and Emirates aims to provide tourists and consumers with the best that Dubai has to offer.” My Emirates Pass is one of a series of collaborations between Emirates and the Department of Economic Development to help visitors discover more of Dubai.

TUESDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview FG should remove disparity against poly –Rector

Education

Campus College, police partner against crime

33 35

RECRUITMENT

Stakeholders have expressed fears over the Federal Government’s plan to recruit 500,000 teachers into the primary and secondary schools across the country Mojeed Alabi

ew months after Lagos State Government recruited 1,300 teachers to fill the teachers’ gap in the state’s school system, the Federal Government is set to address this need in the primary and secondary schools across the nation. The dearth of teachers in the school system over the years has been one of the major challenges confronting the nation’s education sector, with the attendant poor quality delivery and mass failure in internal and external examinations. For the country to meet its teacher needs, in terms of quality and professionalism, the system would require more than 2.5 million teachers in the next five years. Worst affected are the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where in most cases, studies have shown that the teacher-student ratio stands at 1:100 ratio. Faced with this challenge and other crises stagnating the sector, including shortage of classrooms, decayed infrastructure, classroom congestion and inadequate instructional materials, among others, the Federal Government, last week, took the bull by the horns, when it announced the recruitment of 500,000 teachers to address the challenges. This, according to the Federal Government, controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had become imperative to shore up the schools’ teacher-base in order to guarantee delivery of quality education at both the basic and middle school levels. But rather than hailing the development, various stakeholders in the nation’s education sector including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT); the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA); the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), have expressed

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Pupils and a teacher in a classroom

Mixed reactions trail FG’s 500,000 teachers’ recruitment •NUT, TRC, ASUSS, others differ mixed feelings, raising several posers about the initiative. According to them, apart from not disclosing the details of the programme, they accused the Federal Government of not adequately carrying them along in its plans, as key stakeholders in the nation’s education project. The decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, they claim might on the long run be counterproductive. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had on Wednesday issued a statement directing would-be applicants to go online as from Sunday June 12, to commence their application processes, adding that successful candidates would be drafted to schools on a part-time basis. The initiative, which according to the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, is part of the Government’s social investment programmes aimed at cushioning the effects of the economic downturn in the country and the urgent need to create employment opportunity for Nigerians as well as reposition the education sector. He said the online applications for the positions in the direct teacher jobs scheme will be done through an internet portal namednpower. gov.ng. The statement reads in part: “It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in his May 29 Democracy Day broadcast to the nation formally launched the

Nigeria’s crisis in the education sector started with the scrapping of the Grade II Teacher training colleges

unprecedented social investment programmes already provided for under the 2016 Appropriation Bill by the administration. The 500,000 Teacher Corps, christened “NPower Teach on the Portal,” is one of the three direct job creation and training schemes the unemployed youths could begin to apply for beginning from Sunday June 12.” He added that other programmes, including technology training; building, construction, hospitality and automotive vocation training will also accommodate or target between 25,000 and 75,000 unemployed youths respectively, and that all trainees would be paid throughout the duration of their training. Akanded said: “The N-Power Teacher Corps initiative, which will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates, is a paid volunteer programme of two-year duration under which unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in primary and secondary schools, agricultural extension systems across the country, public health and community education covering civic and adult education. “Apart from their monthly take home pay put at about N23,000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development. They get to keep the devices even after exiting from the programme.” However, commenting on the programme, the Second Vice-Pres-

ident of NUT, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, said though it will provide a temporary relief for the already overworked teachers, but that in the long run the initiative may have no meaningful impact on the nation’s troubled educational sector. Adesiyan, who accused the government of complicating the crisis in the sector through what he described as policy inconsistences, said until the nation goes back to the drawing board, all the palliative measures currently being provided may not help matters. He said: “Nigeria’s crisis in the education sector started with the scrapping of the Grade II Teacher training colleges and since the young boys and girls leaving secondary schools begin to secure admission straight to universities, the value of teachers’ training had been lost. “Today, every Tom, Dick and Harry will apply to become teachers and the Federal Government will willingly draft them to our schools without requisite training.” Meanwhile, the Director at the Lagos State Office of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. Gbolahan Enilolobo, said the government should beware of mobilising quacks to schools to teach, even as he argued that where quality education thrives, core professionals are drafted to classrooms. “It is a welcome development that the government is looking into the teachers’ inadequacy in our schools. But it is not enough to recruit those who are not professionals. Teaching is like other speCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

education

wenty-Seven years after graduation, an alumnus of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Dr. Seinde Olatunji, a 1989 graduate of Geography Department returned to the university to donate education and Information Communication Technology (ICT) materials valued at N300 million. The donor and facilitator, Olatunji, an engineer, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who was represented by one of his 1989 set classmate, Mr. Ademola Adekanye, said he facilitated the donation from NITDA to develop their ICT infrastructure. He said the donation was a show of love and support for his alma mater, adding that he was impressed with the ICT drive of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele, who has started a transformational agenda in the university. According to Adekanye, an engineer, the materials include a 50KVA Inverter machine,

Expert blames ICT gap on graduates’ lack of practical knowledge Clem Khena-Ogbena Abuja

he appalling book-learning knowledge in Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the nation’s tertiary institutions, has been blamed on lack of adequate practical orientation. This was part of the views of an expert in Information Communication Technology and Chairman, Digital Africa Global Consult, Dr. Evans Ejike Woherem, at the just concluded three-day 2016 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum, which took place in Abuja. While expressing dismay that several First-Class graduates are found wanting in this regard, he, however, noted that in the area of ICT, the gap between Nigeria and the Western world is so wide that efforts should be intensified to bridge it. He hinted that this was because the developed world is reputed for breaking new grounds regularly in exponential technologies and innovations, stating that the best way such gap can be closed is to embark on massive capacity building in ICT by all stakeholders. Woherem, who noted that many graduates of Computer Science have to be retrained before they are employable, added that all Nigerians ought to realise that educational pursuit in this field of study is highly desirable for the teeming youths or students on one hand, as well as for the socio-economic development of the country. He insisted that tertiary institutions offering courses in Computer Science or ICT in the country should be properly resourced in terms of qualified lecturers, as well as equipment.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alumnus donates N300m worth facilities to alma mater 100 chairs and tables, desktop computer tables, laptops, studio headsets and printing machines. He added that a mast would soon be erected on campus to facilitate electronic library. In his remarks, the vicechancellor thanked Olatunji for his immense support and

contribution to the institution, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the university. He reiterated commitment to ensure that the university produces high quality graduates, who will be encouraged to face their studies, rather than a university system that suffocates and discourages students, or

worst still turn them to misfits. Bandele said that the university would provide a land space for the construction of the Mast and other facilities, even as the vice-chancellor hinted that the donation was a response to the Internally Revenue Generation (IGR) summit, where former students of the university were

called upon to contribute meaningfully to the development of the institution. In the meantime, the vicechancellor pleaded with other alumni members to take a cue from the good gesture of Olatunji by contributing meaningfully to the development of the university.

Scholars identify education as panacea to insecurity Kayode Olanrewaju

EKSU VC, Prof. Samuel Bandele (4th left), receiving the Educational and ICT materials

Kayode Olanrewaju

dekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA) ViceChancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has reiterated the need for administrators of higher institutions of learning to reshape and realign their administrative skills in line with best global practices for effective service delivery. Ajibefun gave the advice while declaring open a seven-day training workshop, organised by the university’s Teaching and Learning Centre for all administrative staff members of the institution, which was entitled: “We Can Do Better.” The vice-chancellor, who spoke on: “Expectations of the Administrative Staff of the 21st Century University,” noted: “Administrators are undoubtedly the chief drivers of the achievements of a university brand. Administrative staff must have strong and impeccable communication skills - expressive and re-

VC tasks administrators on professional etiquette

ceptive - and strong writing skills for them to function optimally.” He added: “They must be competent and proficient in Information Communication Technology (ICT), as well as have the grasp of their beats, and be drivers of the university’s resolve to be an institution that is eternally committed to producing globally competitive graduates, confident problem solvers, who are adequate in character and learning.” While condemning what he called act of promoting personal and primordial interests over official interest by some officers, leading to leakage of official information, Ajibefun urged administrators to treat the university’s information with utmost confidentiality. He thanked the Administrative and Technical Staff

Appointments and Promotions Committee for its efforts at uplifting the institution, which he said informed the hosting of the workshop. Besides, the vice-chancellor praised the organisers of this workshop under the leadership of Prof. Niyi Akinnaso not only for organising a befitting workshop, but also for creating yet another opportunity to retool the university’s operational strategy to achieve greater goals. The resource persons at the workshop were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Francis Oyebade; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale; Acting Registrar, Mr. Sunday Ayeerun; Director, Teaching and Learning Centre, Prof. Niyi Akinnaso; Prof. Kole Omotoso, among others. L-R: Skye Bank Plc Relationship Officer, Adeniran Ogunsanya branch, Uchechukwu Okereke; winner of the N1 million Category (Mechanical Engineer), Daniel Edem Umoh and Group Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli at the 11th cheque presentation to winners in the ongoing Skye Bank’s “Reach for the Skye” Millionaire Reward Scheme held in Lagos.

cholars have identified education as the panacea to security challenges globally. This was the thrust of the fourth edition of the Faculty of Education International Conference of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, with the theme: “Education for Global Security.” Declaring open the talkshop, which took place at the 3-in-1-Building of the Faculty, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. ’Lanre Fagbohun, noted that the importance of adequate security of lives and property should not be undermined. “Globally, security has become an issue and nationally, we should look at it narrowly, especially in the circumstances where criminals are highly educated,” he said. In his keynote address, the Chairman of Police Service Commission and former Inspector General of Police, Sir, Mike Okiro, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Niran Adeoye stressed that sustainable global security could only be achieved through proper and functional education, adding that education is important in resolving the security challenges. The police chief added: “Global security is imperative. Crime does not have colour, race or religion or gender and hence we should think outside the box when talking about security. We should not talk about it in isolation.” However, the guest of honour at the event, and Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi in his remarks, described the conference as timely, given the myriad of security challenges currently facing the country and the need for global peace. He, however, pointed out that technology through education was critical to human capacity development, saying: “We must take cognisance of people around us, especially our neighbours in order to attain everlasting peace and security. The topic is not only contemporary, but it will go a long way in providing lasting solutions to global security challenges confronting the world.”

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Since your assumption of office in 2014, how would you describe the management of the polytechnic? Well, it has been hot and cool. Let me state here that when we came in three years ago, the polytechnic was at its lowest ebb, in terms of funding. We introduced some strategies to improve the situation, and to a large extent ensured that the whole essence of leadership is to lead by example. The first thing we did was to block all financial leakages in the system. As we lead by example, others began to follow. We also initiated a drive for some income generating projects which shored up the finances of the institution. We took advantages of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and we use our influence and connection to secure some special grants for the institution. These, coupled with allocations from the Oyo State Government, the Proprietor of the polytechnic, and the Moderator to the polytechnic, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi have really supported the institution in terms of funding. What are the challenges facing your administration since your assumption of office? As usual, we have challenge of funds, which is not peculiar to The Polytechnic, Ibadan alone. I had experienced such in other institutions; I had worked before I got here. Be it public or private institutions the challenge of inadequate funding has always been a major problem. The country as a whole is dwindling financial fortunes, and the polytechnics are not exempted. Nevertheless, we have been trying to cut cost and embark on some community projects. But, majorly we have buoyed our development projects through access to TETFund interventions. How effective has this agency been in terms of providing funding assistance to higher education system? Well, it has been very effective. Without TETFund, we could imagine what the standard of education would have become. The intervention from the agency comes in three stages. There is one we call direct intervention. The direct intervention is given to institutions whether the institution goes out or not. There is the special intervention, one referred to as high impact intervention. Through TETFund, we have been able to take some advantage and do some projects. Given the autonomy granted the satellite campuses of the institution, would you say that has reduced the administrative load? Obviously, in terms of administration, the load has greatly been reduced and it is better at present. But, in terms of project, they are still under the parent polytechnic because all the projects are being handled through interventions and funding by the parent polytechnic. The bond between the parent polytechnic and the satellite campuses has not been broken completely, but in the next two years, the bond would be completely separated. So, they also take advantage of the intervention funds for their existence. Polytechnic is supposed to be purveyor of technological and innovation, what are some of the innovations that have been carried out by the institution?

rector’s forum | education

FG should remove disparity against poly –Rector Prof. Olatunde Fawole, a former lecturer at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, is the Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. In this interview with SOLA ADEYEMO, he speaks about the management of the polytechnic, challenges, and his administration’s achievements since he assumed office in 2014, among others Some level of innovations has been carried out by some of our lecturers, particularly in Physics Department. We have recorded fabrication of some equipment and machines that are very useful in automobile industries. In the Biochemistry, some of our lecturers have developed drugs, which we are testing on some mammals such as rats and others animals, but we believe that the drugs also have biological makeup like man. Although, we have not started testing them on human beings, while at the appropriate time, we will take the drugs to the market. The master stroke, which I realise the polytechnic has and which is not in any polytechnic in the South West geo-political zone of the federation is the Central Research Laboratory, where we have hi-tech facilities for research. I have traveled to virtually all the institutions around here, but I have not seen anyone like The Polytechnic Ibadan in the South West. The hi-tech equipment in the centre have continued to facilitate and aid our research. The building was fully funded by TETFund. In the centre is infrared spectrometer, ultra-violet spectrometer, among other equipment. There is disparity between products of polytechnics and their university counterparts, especially in career progression, and nothing has been done to remove it despite the outcry, how will you react to this? Well, at our end here, there is little we can do. But we realise this, especially those of us who have been at the two divides of the system. I was a product of this polytechnic and I grew to become a professor in a university and here I am now as the Rector. If we are to compare the two systems, in terms of quality and output, each of them has different mandates. But, when it comes to technological know-how and practical orientation, polytechnics surpass the universities. In terms of course content, they are basically the same. In terms of requirements for admission, the two institutions are almost the same. Polytechnics are more equipped in practical, as they have a one-year compul-

Without TETFund, we could imagine what the standard of education would have become

sory practical requirement that the students must undergo in fulfillment of their courses. However, the good thing is that the matter is now before the Federal Government. We hope and pray that the bill could be brought up at an appropriate time. Nevertheless, there must be a re-orientation in the system to discourage discrimination and the disparity, even among the members of staff across the country. The condition of service in terms of career progression should be looked into even if eventually the Federal government accedes to it. Over the years, cultism and other anti-social activities were rampant at the polytechnic like other tertiary institutions in the country. What has your experience been in the last two years? There is no straight way for curbing cultism. It is a combination of several methods. We use persuasive method at several fora like during matriculation and orientation to counsel the students on the evils of cultism. We urged our lecturers to relate with the students as their children and advise them appropriately. That is the persuasive side of it. The other method that we adopt is what we consider as “capital punishment.” Once a student is apprehended involving in cultism and cult-related activities, it is expulsion. And, before we expel such students,

Fawole

we parade them before the female students with boxers. What plan does the management have for distance learning programme? Let me start by saying that we have strengthened the management of the full and part-time programmes effectively. But for future development, we are thinking of a web-based distance learning system, instead of the part-time system, which is face-to-face. That was what we did at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). Meanwhile, discussion on distance learning is still ongoing with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Indeed, I can say with optimism that about 24 institutions are currently awaiting approval for the distance learning programme. But, because it is capital intensive, we are taking it stage by stage. Though the distance learning, we are going to move away from the face-to-face parttime studies to web-based distance learning, in which the students do not have to come to the campus except those in Sciences, who will come for practical at scheduled periods. If things go on well, we hope to kick-start the programme in the next one year. How will you rate the polytechnic in terms of performance of its products nationally and internationally? It will interest you to know that the products of the polytechnic are all over the world, doing creditably well. Wherever I may be, I am always conscious of my public conduct. Anywhere I am in the country, be it in Zamfara, Port Harcourt or Adamawa States, once they say meet Prof. Tunde Fawole, I know definitely that some people will come to me. At two or three occasions, I had had the privilege of some important dignitaries coming to identify with me. It makes me look like a star among other contemporaries (Rectors). Again, I want to add that some of the products of the polytechnic that I came across recently are doing well, excelling in their chosen fields. Among them is the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye, who is an alumnus of The Polytechnic Ibadan. All over the world, our products are doing very well. Some recently came and donated a borehole. Nobody invited them, they just realized on their own to contribute to the development of their alma mater. How will you describe your administration’s relationship with the workers? Well, I will restate that it has been very cordial and even with the students. I operate an open door policy and run an all-inclusive administration. My phones are available 24 hours to students and members of staff.

education | public discourse

Hijab controversy in Osun State schools

Adams: Religion shouldn’t be brought into education

mud. Why should the use of hijab constitute a major crisis in the education sector as if both Muslims and Christians are just co-habiting? At least, at over 60 years of age, and as an ardent participant in the education system, particularly at both the basic and middle level, I think I am old enough to tell the story of the nation’s education system. Osun did not just evolve under this administration and this administration too should know another one will take over from it. Let us all be guid-

ed by our conscience. We are appealing because we have no power to do anything except the power of prayer and to keep appealing to the government to do what is right and just. Unfortunately, since Chief Babs Animasahun, the former PTA President died, activities of PTA have gone under, so we cannot tell what the parents are doing to intervene on this matter. But we will keep praying for peace to reign in the country and for sanity to be restored to our education system.

Adesiyan: Government mustn’t succumb to pressure Alhaji Saka Adesiyan is a primary school teacher in Osun State and second vice-president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

am aware of the judgement on the use of hijab and the rumoured threat of some individuals to cause confusion in the school system. It is unfortunate that everything is being politicised in this country; but why should that be? Forget the fact that I am a Muslim, there are certain things known to some people. One of those things is hijab to Muslims. It is a commandment and can be found in the Qur’an which is their own Bible and this has been part of their lifestyle since time immemorial. Why should there be hues and cries over it now? It is only in this country that everything the government

gives to Muslims, Christians must strive to get their own. Is it in the Bible that Christians should perform pilgrimage to Israel? That is absolutely no. That was why in the past there was no Christian Pilgrimage Board set up by the government, but there has been Muslim Pilgrimage Board. It was after series of agitation that governments at various states introduced the Christian Pilgrimage Board. So, this judgement has only come to resolve an age-long conflict and I think if people were to be fair in their judgment they will understand the genuineness of the demand. And, more impor-

tantly, is that this hijab is a small cape and not the one that covers their faces. I think if anyone or any group has anything against the judgement, rather than taking the laws into their own hands, there is room for appeal. So, why not approach the Appeal Court? I am aware similar development is playing out in Lagos State, but the Muslims have not acted funny. If we all respect constituted authorities such threats as being rumoured should not have come up at all. But I advise the government not to succumb to unnecessary pressure as currently being mounted on it.

Enilolobo: Status quo ante should be maintained t amuses one to note the unnecessary conflicts over school administration in Osun State. If it is not about demolition, it is about hijab or even about uniform worn by the students. I think the government needs to review its position and intentions for the school system. I am above 50 years of age and I do not think these kinds of crises as we now witness in Osun State

had been witnessed in the education sector, particularly in the South West geopolitical zone of the federation. Why now? I saw the governor on television sometimes ago, putting on school uniform and I was made to understand that is the same uniform every student in Osun State wears to school. Wouldn’t that create identity crisis? So, to me, this issue of hijab is avoidable if the

n old girl of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, has advised pupils of the school to build on the legacies of integrity, dignity and commitment to excellence left behind by the school’s old students. Okunnu, who made the call during the 2016 edition of the annual celebration of Islamic Day, organised by the college’s chapter of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), noted that the nation’s foremost single sex school has built an image that should not be allowed to be dented by unholy activities. She said: “I am one of the pioneer students of this school and we championed the struggle to have Muslims’ rights respected. Through religious teachings, moral uprightness of our pupils has continued to be upheld. So, I advise you all to remain good ambassadors of the school wherever you may find yourselves.” The event, which featured many activities including quiz and Qur’anic recitation competitions, award presentation, also featured a lecture, delivered by Alhaja Muslimah Apampa. Apampa, who spoke on the theme: “The Challenges of an Ideal Muslim in the 21st Century,” dwelt extensively on the influence of social media on the Muslims globally, and urged the pupils to only take to the positive use of the platforms and avoid their bad influ-

government means well for the state and I appeal to the government to please consider the future of the kids and face governance as a serious business. I also appeal to stakeholders to maintain status quo ante over the matter and never result to violence. Or how will it feel to see students in various uniforms including white-garments, boys’ scout uniform and those for choristers?

interviews by mojeed alabi

ences. The school’s Principal, who coincidentally is the first Muslim to occupy the position in the school’s history, Dr. Lami Amodu, pledged her commitment to maintaining the academic and moral standard the school is known for. “I met the best standard practice here and we are going to build on that to groom the world leaders who will make us proud as a family of great people. We thank all our supporters at all times and we promise that the golden name of this school shall be promoted to the peak of glory,” Amodu noted. Meanwhile, the wife of an Islamic scholar and media practitioner, who was declared missing some years ago, Alhaji Rasak Gawat, Alhaja Fatimah, was among the awardees honoured at the event. She was decorated as a Pillar of Support of the school’s chapter of MSSN alongside others including the Vice-Principal of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Alhaja Mulikat Olabooye and the Senior Manager of Microsoft, Mr. Munir Osinowo. Of the five schools that took part in the competitions, Kings College, Lagos came first in the quiz competition, while Ansar-U-Deen College, Isolo won the recitation competition. Other schools that took part in the exercise are Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba; Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, and the Crescent College, Lagos.

Amodu, Okunnu and Hamzat at the event.

Stakeholders: Professionals, not quacks should be recruited C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

Mr. Gbolahan Enilolobo is the Director of the Lagos Office of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)

Okunnu to pupils: Sustain Queen’s College’s excellence Mojeed Alabi

Deacon Olusoji Adams is the immediate past South-West Coordinator of the Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA) t is sad that education is witnessing another round of crisis especially in Osun State. My question over this matter has been that; is hijab a new development for Muslims? How have they been using it for a long time that it did not create crisis? Is this new development being fuelled for political reason? I think the stakeholders in this matter need to search their conscience very well and consider the future of this country, whose education is being dragged into the

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

cialized professions such as Medicine and Engineering and should be treated as such. But, bringing graduates not trained as teachers will not help the education system,” Enilolobo stressed. Echoing TRCN’s position, the National Deputy President of NAPPS, Otunba Yomi Otubela, however, noted that since the recruits are already aware that they will only be employed for a period of two years, they may not be committed to the job. His words: “Teachers are not the type to be employed on part-time basis. Their whole attention is needed to perform optimally, but when they know they will be dropped very soon, their psychology will definitely be affected. “It would have been understandable if the government will employ them on permanent basis on low income, but with a pledge that as soon as economy improves their emoluments and welfare will be improved.” Given the same scenario, the Chair-

man of the Lagos State chapter of ASUSS, Mr. Kazeem Labaika commended the Federal Government for the initiative, saying it will go a long way in addressing the existing gap in the teacher-students ratio. He, however, cautioned the Federal Government to be thorough in the recruitment process and consider only those with relevant educational qualifications “and not just any unwilling applicant.” On his part, the immediate past Coordinator of South West PTA, Deacon Olusoji Adams, said it will be too early to either condemn or praise the government, but insisted rather that stakeholders should wait patiently for the outcome of implementation of the scheme. “It will be too early to start hatching our eggs before they are laid. So, we keep our fingers crossed till we see the outcome of the initiative. But, we still commend the government for thinking along the line of the mass vacancies in our schools,” Adams told New Telegraph.

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EKSU to confer honorary degrees on Disckson, Oyebode T

he Founder and Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, is expected to deliver the 21st Convocation Lecture of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, billed for this month. Several other dignitaries from all works of life across the country are also expected to attend the lecture, which will take place at the main auditorium of the university. Chief Babalola will speak on: “University Administration: The Role of Stakeholders.” Speaking on the choice of Chief Babalola as the guest lecturer, the university ViceChancellor, Prof. Samuel Bandele said his choice was arrived at considering his unmatched contribution to humanity, the rule of law, truth and justice and as a personality who founded a university considered to be of high standard in the country and abroad. Meanwhile, the university will confer its honorary degrees on some dignitaries including the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson; a telecommunication giant, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, and the Chancellor of the university and Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi.

ONIT College admits students, harps on discipline Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

ome 350 fresh men and women admitted into the ONIT Institute of Technology and College of Education, a private college located in Abagana, Anambra State for the 2015/2016 academic session, have been warned to shun crime and other anti-social acts that may lead to their rustication from the campus. The warning was given by the Consultant to the institution, Prof. Oby Nwafor, while administering the institute’s matriculation oath on the students at Community Secondary School, Awgbu in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state. Rather than involving in bad conduct that could truncate their education in the institute, Nwafor urged the students to place more emphasis on seeking knowledge and not to engage in acts of seeking to acquire certificate, which she said has strangled education system in the country.

campus

College, police partner against crime T

NOUN seeks senator’s support Mojeed Alabi

Lawrence Nwimo FCE, UMUNZE

o achieve crime prevention in the institutions of learning there is the urgent need for effective collaboration and synergy between the institutions and relevant security agencies. The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Prof. J. Ogbuagu, who said this, added that such collaboration would not only go a long way in helping to check crime rate on campuses such as rape, cultism, drug abuse and kidnapping, but also bring crime to a tolerable level in the larger society. He spoke while welcoming the Area Commander of Nnewi Police Command, ACP

David Jimwan and the DPO of Umunze Police Division, CSP B. Onuoha, who visited him in his office. He added that the Nigeria Police has done very well in performing its statutory duties to the people and the country in general. Specifically, he praised the Divisional Police Officer in Umunze, the college’s host community for being responsive to distress calls from the college at all times. His words: “I must commend the DPO in our area for doing a good job. Anytime we call on him, or his officers he is quick to respond to our distress calls and I must assure you that the existing relationship between the institution and the police would be sustained and further improved upon.” Responding, the Police

Commander said that the visit was part of means by the command to further strengthening the relationship between the police and the college. According to him, the familiarisation visit was to further partner the college with a view to finding lasting solutions to insecurity and curb cultism in the college. The DPO commended the provost for his efforts at ensuring secured environment for the members of the college community, and thanked the him for creating an enabling environment for the police and the college to interact. Onuoha promised that the police would not relent in their efforts in making Umunze community a crimefree environment for the students and people.

Ogbuagu (3rd left) with the police officers and other members of the college management during the visit.

he Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Abdalla Adamu, has sought the support of the members of the National Assembly to encourage young men and women in their constituencies to enroll for relevant academic programmes at the university. The vice-chancellor, who said the initiative would ensure that university education is taken to the grassroots, disclosed this during a visit to the Senator representing Kano North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Barau Jibrin. He said this has become necessary in view of the need to bring on board young girls and women who, as a result of cultural practices peculiar to their communities, have been denied access to education over the years. He explained that such cultural practices had relegated the womenfolk in the northern part of the country to the background and denied them their pride of place in nation-building. Adamu added that with flexible and affordable education being championed by the institution, “women now have unfettered access to education and this would go a long way in helping to remove prejudices in the society.” In his response, Jibrin expressed readiness to partner the authorities of the university in spreading the potential inherent in studying through the open and distance learning mode of education among his constituents. The Senator disclosed that he had sponsored a bill for an amendment in the Act setting up NOUN.

UNILORIN students showcase skills at project exhibition Toyin Ali UNILORIN

he grand finale of this year’s edition of the Engineering Projects Exhibition, which took place at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) that attracted undergraduates from various universities across the country has come and gone, but the students are still savouring

The LUBCON management team with the grand prize winner

the benefits of the exhibition. Tagged: “EPEX 2016”, the annual programme, which was held at the Main Auditorium of the university was organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. This year’s edition, according to the Faculty, was organised in honour of the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of LUBCON International, Mr. Jani Ibrahim, an engineer. While declaring open the programme, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Yunus Jimoh, pointed out that the exhibition is a yearly activity which is designed to promote and reward innovations among the university engineering students. He said; “This programme is a sustained tradition, which seeks to promote and reward innovations among the engineering undergraduates of the university.” Beyond the usual tradition of the project, this year’s edition of the programme took another dimension as entries were also invited from other students from outside the university, in which no fewer than 26 participants from different universities in the country emerged for the final. At the end of the exercise, six participants qualified for the grand finale of the project exhibition; where the finalists were given equal time to showcase their marketable products to the audience. Meanwhile, the dexterity and creativity with which they displayed their innova-

tions aroused louder ovation from the audience. Announcing the results, Abdul-Kadiri Habeebulah of the Kwara State University emerged the overall winner, with his project entitled: “Design and Control of a Quadcopter UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle”; while the second prize went to Hanatu Jimoh of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, with the project: “Design of a Solar Food Warmer Box.” A student from the University of Ilorin, Babatunde Abiola with a project entitled: “Sizing and Fabrication of a Fermenter for Production of Metabolites: Case Study Bioethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse,” emerged the second runner up in the competition. While presenting the prizes, the overall winner smiled home with the sum of N150,000; while the second and third prize winners received N100,000 and N50,000 respectively. The panel of judges, who are experienced academics, seasoned registered engineers and technologist of proven worth and integrity, include Prof. John Olorunmaiye of the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Ilorin; Prof. Adeola Adedeji of the Civil Engineering Department of the university; Dr. Mustapha Kabir of the Material and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Kwara State University and Dr. Abass Alade of the Chemical Engineering Department.

education

TUESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Teaching isn’t an option –Babcock Varsity’s best grad Mojeed Alabi

nlike many of her contemporaries, who ordinarily would be willing to dedicate their lives to teaching and academic works, and grow to become globally recognised members of the academia, the 21-year-old Comfort Inyang, the overall best graduate of the Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State, has refused to tow that path. The graduate of Computer Science, who was the cynosure of all eyes at the 14th convocation ceremony of the private university, owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, obtained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96 points out of the available 5 points. Rather than embrace the teaching job offered her, she said she would take to software development towards addressing key challenges facing Nigeria, as a country and Africa by extension. Inyang, whose parents are medical practitioners, was the best graduate out 1,616 undergraduates and 220 postgraduate students, who received their scrolls at the ceremony. She led the other 65 graduating students with First Class to receive the “Golden Handshake” from the ViceChancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo. She is said to have taken after her father, who had abandoned his medical practice for computing and energy solution.

According to her, unlike her two other siblings, who are currently undergoing training to become medical doctors, she had always been an ardent student of computer science as a field of study and that she does not have the required inspiration to become a successful teacher. Inyang said: “I do not hope to become a teacher or lecturer because I don’t think I have the calling. My interest is to develop software that will address major challenges, but I do not want to be specific for now. “It is too early to jump into that but I understand this country and the African continent are facing insecurity, unemployment and violence, among others as major challenges. I will be glad to dedicate my software development projects along that line.” Inyang, whose mother hails from Ogun State and father from Akwa Ibom State, was born and trained in Plateau State where her parents are currently living. According to her parents, Drs. Samuel and Bukky Inyang, Comfort since her childhood has always shown signs of excellence by winning laurels in primary and secondary schools. “She was always doing unique things right from her school days. We allowed her to be free in the choice of her career and unlike other siblings, who opted for Medicine, Comfort developed interest in Computer Science just like their father did and we encouraged her,” her mother, who currently

works with the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos said. This was as she lauded the university management for making learning a fun to the students in a more congenial learning environment. Meanwhile, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who was a special guest at the ceremony, charged the graduating students to be apostles of God’s ministry by providing solutions to the nation’s challenges. The governor said: “The apostles of these solutions are these graduates of Babcock University. Therefore, the world is looking unto you to show us the way so that the rest of us will follow. Depend totally on God and be yourselves; be the change agents of the world, rather than allow the world to change you. Every effort you make without looking first upon God will come to naught.” In his commencement address, the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, urged the graduating students to exploit every opportunity available to them and shun phobia for starting up their own businesses. On his part, the vice-chancellor said: “You have been trained to solve real world problems. That makes you entrepreneurial job-ready graduates. You must continue to function to lead and influence the thinking on best strategy to align infrastructure, education and skills to growth and productivity.”

Comfort (middle) flanked by parents

Joy Okorie

he 1995 set of Iganmode Grammar School Old Boys Association, Sango Ota, Ogun State, has donated two boreholes to their alma mater. Explaining the reason for the project, the President of the set, Mr. Olayinka Okelana, said it was a way of giving back to the school that gave them quality education in their formative years. “We made our investigation and discovered that the school and students lacked potable water, and that they have to rely on water ven-

Old boys give back to school dors in which the school spent a lot of money, and so we decided to provide them water,” he stressed. While noting that they had to detail members of the association, who were engineers to monitor the project in order to deliver a good project for the students, Okelana added: “We also discovered that the school has been streamed into the junior and senior schools with a separate principal and so we decided to provide the two schools a borehole

each.” According to him, they strategically situated one of the boreholes near the kitchen, so that the students could get food made from clean water.” He expressed the willingness of the set to embark on more projects in the years to come, even as he harped on the need for the school to ensure it maintains its pride of place among other secondary schools not only in the state, but also across the country.

EDUPEACE

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

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Muhammad Ali: The legend lives on

ike several millions of his admirers all over the world, the news of Muhammad Ali’s death hit me like a scud missile. I take it as a personal loss because there is probably no day that I don’t remember Muhammad Ali due to the sheer force of his humanity and the aggregate of his superb qualities. Just three weeks ago, this column zeroed on “rope-a-dope,” the boxing style I said Muhammad Ali invented, which has implications for patience, forbearance and determination to overcome challenges. Little did I know that the self-acclaimed “the greatest” would soon bid us bye, leaving the whole world morose and lachrymal. Muhammad Ali’s death is akin to the death of humanity, which was further attested to by the diversity of races at his funeral! Virtually everything about Muhammad Ali was spectacular. Do we talk of his wit and wisdom or sheer gift of the garb? Do we talk of his amazing boxing skills that would make him the greatest sportsman of all time? For me, Muhammad Ali was a school from which several lessons could be learnt and I would find myself masticating his words for pleasure. He had worked himself into immortality through the sheer force of his words, the profundity of his conviction and his tenacity of purpose. The legend lives on in our hearts! Well, I am a lover of words and I appreciate Muhammad Ali’s verbal eccentricities. His verbal engagements with his opponents were as devastating as his punches. An ideologue, he said of Patterson he was to fight in 1965: “I’m gonna put him flat on his back/ So that he will start acting black/ Because when he was champ he didn’t do as he should/ He tried to force himself into an all-white neighborhood.” A champ of the ring and king of hyperbole, his words before the “Rumble in the Jungle” bout of 1974 keep assailing the world’s psyche: “I done wrassled with an alligator/ I done tussled with a whale/ Only last week I murdered a rock/ Injured a stone, hospitalized a brick/ I’m so mean I make medicine sick”. How would you dare such a man? When he was to fight George Foreman, too, Ali waxed his powerful poetic lines with impressive end rhymes and cadence: “You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned?/ Wait till I whup George Foreman’s behind/ Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee/ His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see/ Now you see me, now you don’t/ George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.” He did as he said.

Above all, Muhammad Ali was a man of peace par excellence Ali surely knew how to blow his own trumpet. He called himself “the legend…/ the greatest boxer that ever will be/… Of a powerful punch and blinding speed/ Ali fights great, he’s got speed and endurance/ If you sign to fight him, increase your insurance/ Ali’s got a left, Ali’s got a right/ If he hits you once, you’re asleep for the night.” Of his speed, the exaggeration was decidedly humorous: “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.” Above all, Muhammad Ali was a man of peace par excellence. The Vietnam War was controversial and he wouldn’t be enlisted even if all hell would be let loose on him. He was persecuted but he stood his ground as a “conscientious objector” because he said as a Muslim, he wouldn’t fight an unjust war. Apart from his memorable words, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” he was ready to face the consequences of his decision: “Clean out my cell/ And take my tail to jail/ ‘Cause better to be in jail fed/Than to be in Vietnam, dead,” he said. When Muhammad Ali accepted Islam and opted to change his name from Cassius Clay, tongues wagged in the American media that the “good boy Cassius Clay” had become “bad Muhammad Ali”. His response was wow and prophetic: “I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky - my name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me.” The American society got used to the Blacks and a member of them was elected President. May God forgive Muhammad Ali and grant him Paradise!

Re: Rope-a-dope

r. Adedimeji, I am an ardent reader of your column, “Edupeace”, in New Telegraph. I savoured your stuff on “rope-adope”, applying Ali’s strategy in Kinshasha fight in dealing with people. I benefited a lot from it! As it was part of a material you presented at a conference in 2012, I wish to make a request that you kindly oblige me with a soft copy of the complete paper. My e-mail is…. Thanks. - Sunny Odogun

BUSINESS |Money Line

tuESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN set to introduce dual exchange rate system

RESOLUTION Guidelines will be released this week Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

here are indications that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may introduce a dual exchangerate system and weaken the naira when it unveils a new forex policy this week. According to Bloomberg, a source that attended the meeting between CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and bank

CEOs last Thursday, said that the apex bank would probably make the long awaited announcement in a circular to banks. Analysts including those at Renaissance Capital Ltd. have said they expect the banking watchdog to allow the naira to weaken around a trading band in the interbank market, while allocating dollars at a fixed rate to industries the government deems strategic. The source further disclosed that the CBN was still working out details of the system, add-

ing that the regulator could reinstate a minimum holding period for foreign investors buying naira bonds. Emefiele has been facing calls to devalue the currency, as other oil exporters such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Angola have done, amid a rout in crude prices since mid-2014 to around $50 a barrel. The refusal of the CBN to devalue has led to a sharp drop in investment into Nigeria, as foreigners were put off by capital controls needed to defend the peg, while local businesses

AfDB, ITC partner to boost ECOWAS regional trade

epresentatives from trade ministries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and other trade, customs and regional organisations will meet in Abidjan today and tomorrow to discuss ways of removing regulatory and procedural non-tariff obstacles to regional trade. The roundtable, co-organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and ITC, will be attended by Jean-Louis Billon, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for Commerce; Aicha Pouye, ITC’s Director of Business and Institutional Support, and delegates from the 15 ECOWAS countries. According to a statement is-

sued by the AfDB, the ITC will present insights on obstacles to regional trade within the ECOWAS bloc drawn from national business surveys on non-tariff measures (NTMs) in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali and Senegal. These surveys, which collectively document the experiences of nearly 2,000 exporters and importers, capture the trade-related challenges encountered at the product and partner country level by companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). NTMs cover measures such as sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPSs), technical barriers to trade (TBTs), price control mea-

sures, import and export licensing, inspections, as well as rules determining the origin of goods for the purposes of tariff treatment. Ms. Pouye said: “The trade landscape of the 21st century is one characterised by low tariffs with the average global applied tariff reflecting around 5 per cent of the cost of trade, while non-tariff measures may account for roughly 30 per cent of international trade costs. It is important to identify these measures and focus on where barriers can be alleviated and regional harmonisation accomplished. This will serve not only to boost inter-and intra-regional trade, but to make the region more attractive to investment.”

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 12.8 12 10.77 US$50.84 US$26,430,082,452

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Mar, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 13/6/2016 10/6/2016

Source:CBN

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

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.54 114.58 111.91 120.62 109.79 100.32 83.54 97.16

1.06 3.23 3.86 5.81 7.94 9.80 14.30 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.2500 8.2420 10.1127 11.7162

Bid Yield 10.45 10.54 11.61 11.43 12.23 12.43 12.49 12.54

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

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

Price 104.69 114.88 112.21 120.92 110.09 100.62 83.84 97.46

Tenor (Months)

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

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1731 6.4137 7.3300 8.8857 9.6247 10.5416

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.30 10.44 11.52 11.36 12.18 12.38 12.44 12.50

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

Money Market

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

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -0.08 ▼ -0.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

have struggled to import raw materials and equipment. The news agency also reported that naira three-month forwards rose to N301 against the dollar by yesterday afternoon in London looked set for a record close. It said the development suggested that traders see the naira falling to about that level from the spot price of N198.5. Forward contracts maturing in a year traded at 340, also a record high. The CBN has held the naira at N197- N199 per dollar since March 2015, with Emefiele and President Muhammadu Buhari insisting that a weaker currency would leave consumers facing higher prices. That’s already happened, with inflation accelerating to an almost six-year high of 13.7 per cent in April. Economists have blamed the capital controls for exacerbating a foreign-exchange liquidity crisis caused by the drop in the price of oil, which accounted for two-thirds of government revenue and 90 per cent of exports in 2014.

Growth was negative in the first quarter for the first time since 2004 and a recession, or two consecutive quarters of contraction, is imminent, the CBN said last month. The central bank’s reserves have fallen to a more than 10year low of $26.4 billion, as it seeks to defend the currency. The naira has plummeted to around N365 per dollar on the parallel market, as shortages of the greenback worsened. Bloomberg reported the President of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, as saying that the parallel market rate may strengthen if the official one is weakened and inflows from investors pick up. “The naira might trade around N300 to a dollar on the black market after the announcement, because we expect supply to improve. In the past weeks, the central bank created doubt in the market, which triggered another round of speculation,” he was quoted as saying.

Africa, US, others lead in social entrepreneurship –Report

ocial entrepreneurs are starting businesses in all the major regions of the world, with the most social entrepreneurship activity being undertaken in Africa, the US, Australia and Western Europe, reports the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)’s Special Report on Social Entrepreneurship. The study is the largest comparative study of social entrepreneurship in the world, based on interviews with 167,793 adults in 58 economies in 2015. “Social entrepreneurship – which GEM defines broadly as any kind of activity, organisation or initiative that has a particularly social, environmental or community objective – is now a significant share of entrepreneurial activity around the world; however, there is a wide variation in rates across economies, ” says GEM Executive Director Mike Herrington, also a faculty member of the University of Cape Town. “Social and environmental problems are ubiquitous in all economies. Hence, politicians, business leaders, and members of society are increasingly calling for endeavours that focus on social and environmental objectives – and entrepreneurs are responding!” According to the new report, early-stage social entrepreneurial activity, measured by the percentage of adults between the age of 18 and 64 who are currently trying to start a social purpose business is at a global average of 3.2 per cent – ranging from 0.3 per cent (South Korea) to 10.1per cent (Peru). Burkina Faso and Senegal come in close behind Peru with 9.4per cent and 7.2per cent respectively. By comparison, the rate of start-up commer-

cial entrepreneurship in the same regions averages 7.6 per cent (13.7 per cent in Vietnam and 22.2 per cent in Peru). World regions with the highest social entrepreneurial activity (both in the startup phase and those that are operational) are the US and Australia (11per cent), followed by sub-Saharan Africa (9 per cent). Southeast Asia is the region with the least amount of social entrepreneurs – at just 3.8 per cent. Of the world’s social entrepreneurs, an estimated 55per cent are male and 45per cent are female – a gender gap that is less pronounced than in commercial entrepreneurship. “A holistic view of entrepreneurial activity may nuance the apparent gender gaps observed in global entrepreneurial activity, as it seems that many women do display entrepreneurial behaviour albeit not as an employer or self-employed. These women tend to pursue this role in a more social setting – for example by becoming a social entrepreneur or by making an entrepreneurial contribution in the public sector,” explains report lead author, Niels Bosma, Assistant Professor with the Utrecht University School of Economics in the Netherlands. Bosma adds that the study finds that younger people between 18-34 years are more likely to start up social purpose organisations. “Social entrepreneurship is often associated with young changemakers who are idealistic in nature,” says Bosma. “There are more social entrepreneurs in this age bracket than commercial entrepreneurs in every global region, except for Latin America and the Caribbean.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

tuESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

tuESDAY, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Adeosun to stockbrokers: Deepen capital market NEGATIVE

Abdulwahab Isa

Equities drain, as investors step up profittaking

Abuja

igeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has challenged capital mar-

Stock market down by N45bn Stories by Chris Ugwu

lue chip companies yesterday began the week in the negative, as performance indicators, NSE ASI and market capitalisation fell further by 47 per cent. Market watchers believed bargain hunters had remained on the sidelines awaiting further clarity on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s forex policy before taking position on the equities market. Consequently, the AllShare Index shed 129.24 basis points or 0.47 per cent to close at 27,103 index points as against 27,232.68 recorded the previous day, while market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N45 billion or

0.47 per cent to close lower at N9.308 trillion as against N9.353 trillion. Meanwhile, a turnover of 240.6 billion shares worth N6.6 billion in 3,957 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. The premium subsector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 51.4 million shares exchanged by investors in 592 deals. Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Also, the banking services sector of the financial services sector, boosted by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and Access Bank Plc followed with a turnover of 41.03 million shares in 918 deals.

ket operators to step up tempo of activities in the market to enable them compete with the money market. The minister made this call yesterday in Abuja when she received in audience, capital market stakeholders led by the Chairman, Capital Market Master Plan Council (CAMMIC) Mr Olutola Mobolurin. She however, regretted that the capital market with it potentials to solve myriads of financial problems confronting the government had yet to live up to its potentials of providing long term funding for the government. The visit was to brief the minister on provisions contained in capital market master plan. “What is very important is what you did on the capital market master plan, and is

firmed up by 19.92 per cent from N1.521 billion the previous year to N1.824 billion in 2016. May & Baker had promised its shareholders increased returns of investments on their equity, as it commenced strategic plans that will take the company business to the next level. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, May & Baker, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, who stated this at the 2015 end of year media parley, noted that the management of the company was already re-inventing strategies that would position the company to consolidate its pole position in the country’s conglomerate sector.

sustainable source of funds than the bank.” Besides, the minister said there was also a need for the capital market to compete with the money market and to do that, they need to be faster at getting approvals. “We need to be very clear that it is a competitive market, so, we need to increase the competitiveness of the capital market to ensure that it takes its rightful place. We have had a lot of talk and I think we need to have some real concrete actions; we really need to get things done”, Adesoun said. Earlier, Mobolurin said the visit was to acquaint the Minister on efforts of the council and seek necessary support that would drive the Capital Market Master Plan (20152025).

Emerging market stocks set for worst drop since January

merging-market stocks headed for the biggest three-day decline since last January and currencies fell as concerns that the UK will vote to leave the Europe-

May & Baker posts N24m PAT in Q12016

ay & Baker Nigeria Plc has recorded a profit after tax of N24.723 million for the first quarter ended March 31 2016. Key extracts of the financial report and accounts of the company for the first quarter made available by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed a profit of N24.723 million as against loss position of N42.17 million reported a year earlier. The company’s pre-tax equally grew from a loss of N42.173 million in 2015 to a profit position of N36.358 million during the period under review. The company’s revenue

almost prophetic in the role it has to play in providing solutions. I wish we had made much more progress. I think there is a huge opportunity now to work very closely with you and as the chairman said in his opening speech, many of the financial solutions to the nation’s problems lies with the capital market; we need to leverage it, we need to harness it, and we need to grow it”, said the minister. “The capital market should be your natural source of funding for your long-term projects and I have had a long discussion with the DG SEC. How do we lighten some of those procedures to encourage states that have bankable projects to go to the capital market, which will provide a cheaper source of fund, a more transparent source of fund, a more

His words: “In the new dispensation, as world class operators, we are taking steps to build a new class of human capital through training, reorientation and motivational schemes. The underlying success factors to our new orientation are people, performance, productivity, and of course, adequate returns on investments. We are working closely on our people to raise individual capacity that make them fit into similar class of jobs anywhere in the world. As a part of the whole, the new crop of workers will create a unique synergy that will generate usual performance.”

an Union prompted a selloff in riskier assets before central bank meetings in the US and Japan. Chinese shares posted their steepest retreat since February and the yuan fell the most in two months as onshore markets traded for the first time since Wednesday last week. Taiwan and South Korea’s equity gauges slumped the most in at least four months. Brazil’s real slipped for a third day as a gauge of developing-nation currencies slumped toward a one-week low. According to Bloomberg News, three-week rally emerging-market equities driven by bets that the Federal Reserve will keep U.S. interest rates lower for longer peaked on June 8. The benchmark gauge has declined 3.9 per cent since then. The selloff accelerated Monday amid concern that the U.K. will vote to leave the European Union on June 23, reducing the allure of riskier assets. “Emerging markets are

more vulnerable in a risk-off environment, especially those with poor fundamentals and those that have rallied a lot year-to-date,” said Michael Wang, a strategist at hedge fund Amiya Capital LLP in London, who favours Indian, Mexican and South Korean stocks. “There may be some position-squaring ahead of the Fed meeting this week, but there are very few expectations that much will change.” Brazil, Turkey and South Africa have the most to lose in the current risk-off environment with the U.K. referendum and the terror attack in the U.S. state of Florida on Sunday weighing on sentiment, Wang said. Polls suggest the result of the vote for Britain to exit the EU is too close to call. Surveys published in the past week showed the ‘Leave’ campaign leading by as much as 10 percentage points. Others have shown a more balanced contest, with many voters still undecided.

News|south-west

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode swears in 57 administrators for LGs, LCDAs Muritala Ayinla

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State yesterday swore in new 57 sole administrators to take charge of the Local Governments and Council Develop-

ment Areas (LCDAs) in the State, urging them to live above board. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said that Lagos State is growing so

Ajimobi threatens workers with ‘no-work-no-pay’ rule Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that the N600million accruing from the targeted N1.2billion education levy on students would be used to renovate schools not under the ongoing private/public partnership arrangement. The governor who said yesterday that contrary to labour unions’ claim that his government had planned to sell the schools to private investors, insisted that his government had no such intent. He has however appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to call off the ongoing indefinite strike to allow for dialogue with the government, saying that failure to do otherwise would inevitably attract invocation of ‘no-work-no-pay rule’ commencing from today. Ajimobi said: “I am

appealing to them to imbibe the culture of dialogue. We want them to come because we are not quarreling with labour; we have no dispute that might warrant labour leaders to direct workers to embark on strike. “We don’t have problem with them, except for some that are being politically motivated. It is just a few who are using politics and are being influenced by failed politicians who wants to get through the backdoor what they failed woefully to get from the ballot box. “We are appealing to them to come and dialogue with us. It is the major ingredient of democracy. Consultation, participation, rule of law and peace that is all we want. But anybody who breaks the law will be prosecuted.” We may be forced to apply the nowork no-pay from Tuesday if they ignore my appeal.”

Centre to boost trade, investments underway, says gov Muritala Ayinla

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday said plans were underway for a world class International Convention Centre that would boost trade and investments, insisting that his unwavering commitment to make the state truly the Centre of Excellence would be second to none. This, the governor explained that the centre would be constructed on Victoria Island on a 30, 000 square meters space, adding that the edifice would be of international standard as it would compete favorably with best

convention and exhibition centres across the world. Ambode disclosed this at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he received a delegation from the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by its President, Dr. Nike Akande, saying that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Convention Centre had already been signed. He however commended the leadership of the organization for partnering with the state on economy, especially by ensuring that businesses and investments continue to thrive.

fast that the concept of the rural area would not be applicable to any part of the state in the nearest future. Governor Ambode, who also said that his government would put in place a strict monitoring, control and feedback process to check against excesses and abuse of office, warned that he would not hesitate to replace any administrators found wanting in the conduct and discharge of their duties. He said: “Our state is growing so fast that the concept of the rural area will not be applicable to any part of Lagos very soon. Our government is working hard to meet the yearnings of our people who live in what I term semi-urban areas by providing them with services like water, good roads, street lights, efficient refuse collection, cleaning of drainage and roads, primary healthcare, recreational

parks and sports facilities to make those areas liveable and economically viable.” “You are relay runners on a journey of reform that will ultimately culminate in the election of accountable people that will carry on the baton of good governance for our people. For the duration of your race, I urge you to run the race efficiently with diligence so you do not betray the trust that has been placed in you. The governor, who reassured that his administration would spare nothing to make governance at the grassroots vibrant and responsive, said the appointment of sole administrators was another step to deliver on his promise of a government of inclusion where no one would be left behind. He said: “The hallmark of any good government is to provide basic services to the communities at the grassroots. This is the only

Abeokuta

octors in the employment of Ogun State government yesterday made good their threat to begin an indefinite strike until the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration acceded to their demands. The doctors, under the aegis of National Associa-

tion of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), turned down new patients and refused to attend to inpatients across the state’s general hospitals. This came as the state government and stranded patients appealed to the striking doctors to suspend their industrial action and negotiate for amicable resolution. Doctors had on Friday

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

epartment of State Security (DSS) has begun with the screening of commissioner-nominees in Osun state ahead of their confirmation by the state lawmakers. Besides, New Telegraph learnt that some candidates being backed by two former governors of the state had failed to scale through as according to a source, the list of the prospective commissioners was competitive. Specifically, three of former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was allegedly screened out of the list. This is already raising dust in the state as some Peoples Democratic Party chieftains who decamped alongside the former governor were disappointed at the outcome of the process.

Senior Superintendent, Motailatu Church, Gabriel Akinadewo (middle), with some elders cutting the church’s anniversary cake, during the 52nd Founder’s Day/ Annual Conference of Motailatu Organisation Worldwide, at the International Headquarters of the church in Ondo City, Ondo State...at the weekend.

Hijab: CAN berates Aregbesola over alleged plan to Islamise Osun Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun state Chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of plan to Islamise the state by using the use of hijab as an instrument. It however counseled the governor to limit the use of

hijab only to schools owned by the government as its members would resist such in Christians Missionary Schools in the state. Speaking through its Youths Wing at a press Conference held in Osogbo and addressed by its Chairman, Mr. Owo-ofe Nicholas, the body affirmed that it would resist the Aregbesola’s agenda to Islamise the state. Nicholas said: “We believe this is the process of

Ogun, patients beg doctors to suspend strike Kunle Olayeni

way the real dividends of good governance can spread downwards and touch the hearts and minds of its people. “Your job is to go to the Local Governments you have been posted and make a difference to the lives of the people. You must touch lives and be prepared to have your lives also touched by our people. You must interact with the people, share their joys and pain, and reside among them. It is only through this symbiotic relationship that we can truly say we have begun to understand and serve our people.” The governor explained that the appointment of the administrators to manage the affairs of the Local Governments and the Councils was in line with the recent resolution passed by the House of Assembly which recommended that the previous local government committees be resolved.

DSS screens Osun commissioner –nominees

threatened to begin a “staggered strike” from yesterday to protest lack of basic equipment, essential drugs, manpower as well as poor conditions of service. The NAGGMDP Chairman, Dr. Oladunni Adetola, who spoke on their behalf, had said the doctors would be on strike every Monday and Tuesday of every week, adding that the action would continue indefinitely until the government

meets their demands. Findings by New Telegraph at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and some government-owned hospitals showed that doctors were not on their duty post to attend to patients. Some of the patients, who spoke with our correspondent, stated that they were told to return on Wednesday because doctors would not work on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Aregbesola Islamization agenda in the state which was earlier stated in 2012 by the Directorate of Military Intelligence and corroborated by OS-CAN in 2014. The Christian youths will oppose this dubious agenda. “Justice Falola’s judgement is simply a violation of religious rights of the original owners of Christian missionary schools as agreed upon when the schools were taken over by Oyo state government in 1975. “Implementing the judgement will show the whole world that Aregbesola led administration is trying to disturb the peace that the state is enjoying. “We want to call on all the security operatives, DSS, Police, Civil Defence to advice the state government accordingly on the security implication of implementing such judgement. “We will like to emphasise that we are not challenging the right of Muslim students to wear hijab for

the propagation of Islam in public schools. “What we are saying is that this should not be extended to schools that are originally owned by Christian missions as contained in the Osun State National Inter-Religions Council (NIREC) agreement of 2014”. “Should the State government decide to implement the judgement, the State YOWICAN will mobilize and instruct all our YOUTHS in different Blocs and schools to start wearing their Christian garments and vestments as part of their school uniform for propagation of our faith. “We are using this medium to ask Osun State Government not to implement the judgement of Justice Saka Jide Falola which he delivered on Friday 3rd June, 2016 that muslim female pupils in all public schools should be allowed to wear hijab to schools without any harassment or molestation.

News|SOUTH-EAST

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Umahi orders occupants to vacate defective buildings Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi yesterday ordered residents to relocate from two defective building situated at No 12 and 14 Orifite Street, Abakaliki to avert being trapped in the event of the collapse of any of the structures. The two three- storey buildings were said to have been ascertained to have reached the stage of imminent collapse anytime soon. The development had become imperative following last Saturday’s heavy down pour which pulled down the fences of the buildings and further rendered the buildings very weak. Accessing the level of damaged done by flood as a result of the heavy rains, Governor Umahi ordered occupants of the buildings to relocate within five days. “He said: First of all, we sympathize with you.

Whatever we can do to assist you we will do. But let me give you a warning because your lives are very important to us. These two buildings can collapse any moment from now, these buildings are very dangerous. “So if I were you I will start thinking of what to do. The buildings are very weak. The Commissioner for Environment has to bring the owners to see me tomorrow. But I want you to look at it critically and know what I have said especially with the rain coming and with the problem of flood we cannot solve it overnight. You have sewage underground it puts the lives of the occupants of the two buildings at risk. “We are directing immediate evacuation of occupants of the two buildings and the Commissioner for Environment must see through the town whether there are other buildings like these.”

Non-violence remains only option to actualise Biafra –MASSOB Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSAB) under the watch of Chief Solomon Ordu Chukwu, has said that its members will maintain its non-violent posture in its agitation for the actualisation of the Biafra nation. Chukwu, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said there was no need for MASSOB members to resort to the arms wielding or attack of oil installation, but noted that the group was determined to achieve its objective without violence. He also said that the agitative Niger Deltan youths were behind the actualization of Biafra,

contrary to claims in some quarters that people from the Niger Delta had disassociated themselves from the Biafra struggle. He said: “No, there is no way Niger Delta people can reject Biafra struggle because they are part of Biafra: there is no argument about it. What happened is that the colonial masters used the weapon of divide and rule to sensitize our people, making them to see themselves as strangers “ It is the same method that made an Ikwerre man to say he is not an Igbo man and that Ijaw man has no business with Abia man. But we have the same culture we inter-marry, we share boundaries. We bear the same name. Today, as an Ikwerre man I bear Chukwu and the Igbo

man also bear Chuckwu.” He said that Uwazuruike had not dumped the Biafra struggle but had assumed a bigger position in the struggle for the actualization of Biafra as the leader of the

Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has lauded the award of “A Great Liberator of Our Days” given to its detained leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM). The IYM, at the weekend at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel Enugu bestowed the award on Kanu, for his doggedness in the pursuit the cause of the Biafra nation and the interest of the Igbo in general. It said: “It is great that our

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

The total amount of Imports from Belgium for the 2014 Q4. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

£104,000

The weekly salary of Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham Hotspur in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

100,000 displaced in community cult’s war OWERRI

o fewer than 100,000 people have been displaced by the persistent cult-members hostilities which have plagued communities in the Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Areas of Imo State in the last few months. This was even as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged the state government to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the persistent cult-members hostilities which had led to the killings of several residents of the communities. NEMA coordinator, Owerri Operations Office, Mr. Evans Ugoh made the call yesterday during the agency’s assessment visit to Umuobi and Obile autonomous community in the two council areas which had remained de-

with the award of a Great Liberator Our Days by the IYM. Kanu has emerged a great liberator of our days and as the man who destroyed the falsehood in Nigeria with the truth without bullets and bombs. “His determination, resoluteness and truthfulness towards the liberation of his people accorded him the honour and respect among the youths across the world. “We in IPOB worldwide under his leadership congratulate and thank the IYM for their decision to honour our leader with such award. In a release signed by the Media and publicity officer of IPOB, Emma Powerful and National Coordinator, Comrade Chidiebere Onwudiwe, the group noted that though the Federal Government had refused to release the Kanu, but said it would still triumph because its objective was right.

N110.63bn

Widows and petty traders protesting on the streets of Onitsha over their eviction from Chukwujekwu Jesus’ Own Market by the state government … yesterday

Steve Uzoechi

new Biafra Independent Movement ( BIM). “Uwazuruike cannot lead BIM and MASSOB at the same time. So among the Biafra agitators, I was picked from the Niger Delta region to take over the leadership of MASSOB which is under the umbrella of BIM. And as far as this struggle is concern I remain 100 per cent loyal to him,” he said.

IPOB lauds Kanu over IYM award leader is being honoured

IBC pensioners demand 36 months arrears ollowing payment of their pensions since April 2012, the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Pensioners’ Association has decried the Imo State Government, threatening to embark on street protests to press home their grievances. In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Owerri, the state capital, the pensioners noted with dismay that apart from the non-payment of gratuities to retirees of the corporation, the Governor Rochas Okorocha led administration in the state also owes them arrears of pensions amounting to 36 months. The communiqué which was signed by the chairman, IBC Pensioners’ Association, Comrade Chidi Madu and Secretary, Rev. Richard Nwoko gave detail of the accrued arrears as: “April 2012-December 2012 (9 months), January 2013-December 2013 (12 months), December 2014 (1 month), April 2015-Dec. 2015 (9 months), January 2016May 2016 (5 months) bringing the total arrears to 36 months. “This has brought untold hardship and misery to our members.” The pensioners, who also disclosed that the issue of harmonization of pensions for members who retired some years ago had been ignored by the state government, said they had decided to resort to peaceful protest to press home their demands.

serted since March 2016 when the clash occurred. Ugoh recalled that on the eve of the 2016 Easter celebration, two rival cult groups clashed in Obile autonomous community, leading to the killing of eleven people including a man and his pregnant wife. Since then, he said, the cult groups had continued to hold the communities to ransom leading to many residents fleeing their homes to take refuge in neighbouring communities. Ugoh said: “The activities of the cult gangs have grounded schools, hospital, farming and other economic activities; with an assessment report of NEMA showing that no fewer than 100,000 persons have been displaced within the period of the clash. He said government must intervene to unravel the cause of the problem

and bring those responsible for the crime to book. “The situation calls for urgent emergency approach to end the crises. Imo State Government should as a matter of urgency setup a Commission of Inquiry to unravel the real perpetrators and sponsors of the groups”, he said. He listed major communities affected by the crisis to include: Ochia; Assa; Umuobi; and Obile, adding that if urgent steps were not taken to stop the wanton killings, it may affect the Federal Government He, however, promised that NEMA would collaborate with SEMA to provide relief materials to the displaced persons. The traditional ruler of Assa autonomous community, Eze Emmanuel Asor said the affected communities had remained deserted since the violence began.

Again, EFCC quizzes Chime others over N450m campaign funds Charles Onyekwuere ENUGU

or the second time in a week, former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime yesterday kept an appointment with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in continuation of the ongoing investigations into the $115million (N23billion) allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the course of the 2015 presidential election. Chime had been questioned by officials of the anti-graft agency at its South-East Zonal office in Enugu last week Wednesday. His interrogation reportedly centred on how he handled the N450 million that he allegedly received.

Apart from the former governor who was seen at the commission’s office located at the Independence Layout, Enugu, other notable chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including former party chairman, Ikeje Asogwa, the chairman of the party’s 2015 campaign organization, Chief Charles Egumgbe, were also guests of the EFCC. The party leaders were linked to the said N450 million. The Secretary of the 2015 Campaign organisation and Commissioner under Chime, Rita Mbah was however not sighted at the commission’s office. Chime had arrived the EFCC zonal office in a black Ford Sports Utility Vehicle with Enugu registration number, CV 950 ENU at about 10:58 am, and left about 13 minutes afterwards.

42 News|south-South

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhole: No going back on roads construction

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday affirmed that his administration will not stop work on ongoing road projects and the construction of new ones even if the price of crude oil crashes to zero. Speaking at the flag-off of the 10-km Uzebba-Okpuje-Okabhor road in Owan West Local Government

Area of Edo State, yesterday, the governor said the moment does not call for lamentation or shedding of tears about missed opportunities but that he was on a rescue mission. “Like I promised during the electioneering campaign in 2007, I said I have not come to join people to lament the misrule of the PDP. I have not come to shed tears about missed opportunities. I have come together with my colleagues on a rescue mission, to show that whatever they said was

not possible, to demonstrate that it is possible and that everything they refused to do, we will try to do. “We started by building schools, and I am sure in this local government you have what they now call the red roof schools. I am sure in a couple of places we have also sunk boreholes, and I am sure some of your sons and daughters who are working for Edo State Government, their salaries for May has been paid, and the wage has even been increased.

“I can assure you it has been tough, and it is still tough. It might get even tougher in the very near future. But there is nothing we have started in this state under my stewardship that we have abandoned. And therefore, this one is yet another project that we will complete. It will not be abandoned. Even if oil price crashes to zero, this road will be done,” Oshiomhole said. He said his government has already mobilised the contractor. “We are not ow-

His transfer came barely 48 hours after he denied stealing any 5000KVA (Mikano) generator belonging to the command Headquarters in Asaba, the monthly N10 million security vote from the state government and giving protection to criminal elements camouflaging as herdsmen, published on June 7, 2016, by the Sahara Reporters, New York. Handing over to his successor at the command’s headquarters in Asaba yesterday, Alkali said he

has significantly reduced crimes on land and sea in the state. While he acknowledged that crime control within his 20 months in Delta was not an easy task, he charged Zawwa to develop good rapport with top police officers, including the rank and file, to adequately

prevent kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, herdsmen, militancy, IPOB/ MASSOB insurgencies in the state. Zawwa described his posting to Delta state as “normal police routine”, and promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors.

Delta police commissioner redeployed Dominic Adewole ASABA

he Commissioner of Police in Delta state, Alkali Baba Usman, has been replaced with the former Commissioner of Police in Yobe state, Zawwa Muhammed Ibrahim. Alkali, who succeeded Ayo Ikechukwu Aduba (rtd.) on October 12, 2014, was redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Abuja.

3.88m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions in Austria in 2003. Source: Itu.int

61.6%

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

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Lawal: I, formerly known and addressed as Olaoye Oluwatoyin now wish to be known and addressed as Lawal Toyin Basirat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Abdulsalam

I formerly Miss Kafayat Malik now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Kafayat Abdulsalam. All former documents remain the same. Members of the general public should take note.

Ogu

I, Ali Moneycity Ogu do hereby confirm that the names Money Ogu Ali refer to one and the same me. I now wish to be known and addressed as Ali Moneycity Ogu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Ahmed

I formerly known and addressed as Abudu Rabiu Joy now wish to be known and addressed as Abudu Rabiu Ahmed. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public please take note.

Onyemalu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omorovbiye Agbonkonkon now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tina Omorovbiye Onyemalu. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

Fadeyi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibukun Christianah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Christianah O. Fadeyi. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Adewale

I, formerly known and addressed as Badmus Ahmed Adewale, now wish to be known and addressed as Badmus Hameed Adewale. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Nwachukwu

I, formerly known and addressed as Ngozika Achinine now wish to be known and addressed as Ngozika Marycynthia Nwachukwu. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

Joseph

I, formerly Babatunde Kayode David now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph David Sunday. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Ecobank and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, ABAKALIKI The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Engr. Agbom Godwin. I. (President) 2. Chima Nwali(Secretary) 3. Comrade Cletus Ikwor(SCT.) 4. Dr. Uchenna Nwudele 5. Chief Ezea Linus 6. Mr. Okeh Stephen 7. Comrade Ogobuchi Nwovu 8. Engr. Jack .C. Edeubaka 9. SCT. Igwe Chibueze .C. 10.Comrade Markans Obasi AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote and protect the overall interest and welfare of our members, as well as maintaining peace, unity and progress among our members and society at large. 2. To help members to advance their education and career Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

Ahunanya: I, formerly known and addressed as Okafor, Obiageri Doris now wish to be known and addressed as Ahunanya, Obiageri Doris Okafor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Mbari

I, formerly known and addressed as Glory Ngozi Okereke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Ngozi Emmanuel Mbari. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Popoola

I, formerly known and addressed as Mopelola Basirat Junaid, now wish to be known and addressed as Mopelola Basirat Popoola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Akinsele

I, formerly known and addressed as Agborga Beauty Perpetual, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinsele Beauty Perpetual. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Obayi

I formerly known and addressed as Obayi Virgnus Emeka now wish to be known and addressed as Obayi Personel Emeka. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ogunnaike

I, formerly known and addressed as Omowunmi Ojudun Sokan, now wish to be known and addressed as Grace Omowunmi Ogunnaike. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank, UBA and general public should note.

Sule

I, formerly known Miss Ohu Oluwabukola Dunni Kanyinsola wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sule Bukola Oyinkansola, All former documents remainm valid. neco, Ahmu Minning Company, gtbank, zenith bank and general public should note.

Obatimehin

I, formerly known and addressed as Uloma Judith Nwaogu now wish to be known and addressed as Uloma Judith Obatimehin. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Nwadialo

I, formerly known and addressed as Akinrimisi Abimbola Fransica now wish to be known and addressed as Nwadialo Abimbola Francisca. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IGBO UNITY BROTHERS ASSOCIATION AKWA IBOM STATE

The general public is hereby inform that the above named Association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Nwaguru, Victor Chijioke - Chairman 2. John, Chukwudi Obasi - Secretary 3. Nwabueze, Bright Ihezukwu 4. Chibuke, Opara Henry 5. Nnajiofor John AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To foster unity among members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: NWAGURU, VICTOR CHIJIOKE CHAIRMAN

ing; and the contractor has Owan blood. He must ensure that this road is better than any other road that we have built so that it will last much longer than 25 years because, for me, a government must never deceive the citizens because we don’t settle for less than the best. “That is why all the roads that we are constructing, we insist that they must have not just laterite base, we also ensure they have stone base to

make sure that the asphalt does not peel off fast, and that we create drainage wherever it is necessary so that the water can flow out and protect the asphalt. That is why our roads are better than PDP federal roads. None of our roads has failed, and I have spent seven and half years in office now. We have not gone back to the quality of roads we met before. So, I assure you that this will be the same,” he stated.

FMC Yenagoa plans mass burial for unclaimed corpses – CMD

he Management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, said yesterday that it planned to carry out mass burial for the unclaimed corpses in its mortuary. Dr Dennis Allagoa, the Chief Medical Director, stated this in Yenagoa in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that pathologists in the hospital were in the process of counting and sorting the corpses that had over stayed. Allagoa said that many of the corpses had been abandoned for over 10 years. He explained that the exercise was to create

space for fresh corpses being brought to the mortuary daily and to avoid pollution of the environment and the health facilities of the hospital. “We issued a 21-day public notice because we noticed that corpses have littered the entire mortuary and there is no space to take in new corpses. “As the decay goes on in the mortuary, the corpses have become a threat to human life because chemical and biochemical effects are ongoing. “So, we want to clean up the area so that people can enjoy the benefit of a good site and space to bring in their corpses.”

Ex-deputy governors laud Oshiomhole, say Edo’s peaceful Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Forum of Former Deputy Governors yesterday lauded Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the prevailing peace and the quick pace of development in the state within the past seven and half years. They stated this during the quarterly meeting of members of the Forum held in Benin, Edo state capital. Chairman of the Forum and former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Abdumalik Mahmud said: “We want to thank you, Mr. Governor, for leading Edo State in the last seven years. “For those of us who care to know what was happening in this part of the country, this place used to be very notorious. So, we are sending a message that, not only is Edo peaceful, in fact, even the entire Niger Delta is peaceful, despite some challenges here and there. “Each one of us, especially those of us who don’t know you personally wanted to come and see what you have been doing, but from the few things we have seen, we are convinced and we believe.” The former deputy governors said they would go round to inspect more proj-

ects executed by Governor Oshiomhole’s administration before departing the state. In his response, Governor Oshiomhole said there was a need for the review of the federal allocation formula to the three tiers of government in favour of states, adding that it would make the states the real centres of development. “To understand what is going on in the country and to comment authoritatively on national issues, you do need to move out of Abuja to know the real Nigerians living in the real world and assess them and see what is going on. “But also in the context of even development, it is also good particularly as we are canvassing for devolution of powers from federal to state to local government, and concomitant review of the revenue allocation formula to make the states the real centre of development,” Oshiomhole said. According to him, “it is nice to go round to see what is changing in states, and even local governments, that may help to strengthen the voice for more devolution of powers and a review of revenue allocation formula in favour of states and local governments”.

north | news

tuesday, june 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sultan to FG: Lift ban on rice importation now

Abdullahi Sokoto

ultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider its ban on the importation of rice into the country. He advised the government to reverse its policy of destroying seized items by distributing those not harmful to Nigerians who were in need. He said items that are good and healthy can be distributed to Nigerians rather than destroying them. Abubakar made the plea when he received the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hamid Ali Ibrahim (rtd), who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace. He maintained that government as a matter of urgency should reconsider reopening the land borders so as to ease the suffering and hardship of the citizenry. The Sultan noted that it will take a long time to achieve immediate food sufficiency level with the present situation where the borders remain closed and the common man con-

tinues to suffer. He said: "Let the borders be open so that we can have food and put smile on the faces of the common man who is not greedy." The monarch said he has been receiving series of complains from across all societal strata, complaining about the government’s policy on the closed borders. He said reopening the borders to allow the legal importation of rice and other items will help reduce the hardship. Abubakar maintained that doing so would uplift the well-being of the people and advance the course of the country. However, Abubakar while commending the policy of checking the smuggling and proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition, which he described as unhealthy, he urged the comptroller to do everything possible to uplift the standard of the service for posterity. Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to review its policies by giving it a human face so as to reduce the hardships faced by border communities.

Tambuwal spoke yesterday when he received the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd.) who led a team of officers on a visit to the Sokoto Government House. “I’m sure you know how tough things are in the country. So, I appeal to you to always implement policies with human face. If certain policies are introduced that will take a vast majority of people out of their jobs, I appeal to you to consider introducing some palliatives to mitigate the effect of the hardship on the people,” the governor said. On the ban on the importation of rice through land borders, Governor Tambuwal urged Customs to be flexible. “Before we become self-sufficient in

rice production, I urge you to show some flexibility in the policy. While insisting that the long term benefit of the policy is not in doubt, the governor said since many in the country are faced with weak purchasing power, it is imperative that the policy is reviewed to ensure that price of commodities are within the reach of the common man. While commending Ali for instilling discipline in the Customs, Tambuwal urged him not to relent until the revenue base of the federation has increased.

113

The sex ratio of women to 100 men of (international migrants) of Croatia in 2010. Source: Un.org

Nasarawa teachers embark on strike

Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

ctivities in Nasarawa State primary schools were yesterday paralysed following the strike embarked upon by teachers in the state to press home their demands. The teachers also staged a peaceful demonstration simultaneously in all the 13 local government areas of the state to protest the non-payment of their salaries. The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions including; "Don't distress our teachers, pay them,” “No full salary, No work,” “We want NSUBEB to pay our salaries," delivered their ‘letter of grievances’ to the Lafia Local Government Council, Sole Administrator, Ahmad

MAKURDI

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday approved the appointment of Dr. Bem Melladu, as the Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), following the health challenge of the substantive Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Targema Takema. Melladu until this appointment was Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Investment. Targema had last week slumped and went to coma over an alleged case of cardiovascular accident, commonly known as stroke.

Following the unfortunate incident, he was immediately rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), where he received a brief treatment and was later transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, on the directive of the governor. Ortom, who was at the Makurdi airport alongside other top government functionaries, when the SSG was flown to Abuja, had expressed optimism that Takema will return to good health. The letter announced the appointment of the acting SSG, which was duly signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Terwase Orbunde.

Plateau youths protest grazing reserve policy Musa Pam Jos

housands of Plateau State youths yesterday protested the state government’s grazing reserve policy, calling on the government to have a rethink and retrace its step. The protesters were seen blocking the road leading to the Rayfield Old Government House, asking Governor Simon Lalong to rescind

Adamawa needs N447m to conduct council poll

Ibrahim Abdul Yola

hairman of Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), Isa Shettima, yesterday said the commission needed N447 million to conduct the June 25 local government election. Shettima made this known while speaking

to newsmen in Yola, the state capital. He said the commission initially requested for N501 million, but that due to the present cash crunch in the state, the commission has to prune the figure to N447 million. He said the money has been approved and that the commission was waiting for the cash backing. Shettima, who however, expressed doubt over

Wambai Suleiman. The teachers also demanded the full payment of their salaries and the return of teachers’ salaries to the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for onward payment and not council areas as in the law establishing SUBEB in 2015. Addressing the teachers, state NUT Chairman, Tete Francis Jatau, said: "Following the percentage payment of salaries, teachers in Nasarawa State can no longer afford to feed their families, not to talk of transporting themselves to school or even meeting other responsibilities in the society. "The union has resolved in their meeting on June 8, 2016 that all members of the union in the state should embark on a peaceful rally on June 13."

Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola (middle), with Managing Director/CEO, KEDCO, Mrs Jamil Isiyaku Gwamna and others, during the flag-off of the deployment of new free meters in Kano

Ortom appoints Melladu Acting SSG Cephas Iorhemen

the reality of June 25 date, said the commission was experiencing problem with the contractor handling the printing of its materials, but if the contractor can deliver this week, the poll would hold as planned. Shettima said 10 political parties comprising of APC, PDP, PDM, SDP, KOWA, APGA, LP, AA, PPN and NNPP are participating in the election.

his earlier decision and delist Plateau from the states that have agreed to contribute land for the purpose of a grazing reserve. The protesters, operating under the auspices of the Plateau G-17 Youths for Peace and Progress Forum, were seen holding placards and wearing black dresses in keeping with the mood of the majority of citizens of the state. Speaking to journalists yesterday, convener

Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

member representing Obi 1 constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Sani Isa, yesterday said that 50 students from his constituency have benefited from the scholarship scheme initiated by him to assist the less privileged in their education. The lawmaker said 10

of the protest, Dachung Musa Bagos said: "Plateau State government must be careful not to take a decision that would mortgage our future and that of generations yet unborn with the likely consequences of further throwing the state into chaos as the policy has been rejected by majority of the people. "We therefore wish to state, unequivocally that we stand here today, in protest against any form of land grabbing and ex-

clusive privileges to any group under the guise of a government-sponsored grazing reserve policy. "The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe, came out with a list of 11 states, including the FCT, saying that the states have agreed to contribute land for the purpose of the establishment of grazing reserves for cattle herders and Plateau State was listed as one of the 11 states that have indicated interest in providing land."

Lawmaker pays WAEC, NECO fees for 50 students in Nasarawa students in the five electoral wards of his constituency got N14, 000.00 each from the scholarship scheme to enable them pay their WAEC or NECO registration fees. He also said 24 motorcycles were also distributed to ward leaders and some supporters cutting across the five electoral wards. According to him, he

had also donated N1.5 million to 120 women in the five electoral wards where each of them got N25, 000.00 to ameliorate the economic hardship being experienced in the country now. Isa said he plans to sink 20 motorised boreholes in the area to address the perennial scarcity of potable water in his constituency.

WORLD \ NEWS

NEWS

Kogi APC accuses NWC members of bribe taking Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he state executive of the All P ro g re s s ive s Congress and other members of the party from Kogi State, yesterday, stormed the National Headquarters of the party, accusing the National Working Committee members of bribe taken. The state party members were at the national secretariat to protest the recognition given to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello by the national leadership. According to some members of the Kogi State APC, led by Senator Dino Melaye, the state governor shares the state allocation with the national secretariat and the APC members at national

level. They accused the national secretariat of the party of withholding the state N59.4 million, which was 40 per cent of the total money collected for the sale of forms to Kogi aspirants in 2014. The state chapter of the party has been having unresolved crisis with the governor over political appointments made so far by the governor. While some stakeholders from Kogi State were meeting with the leadership of the party led by the National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, the Kogi State organising secretary, Isa Abubakar, in an interaction accused Oyegun of betraying the late Abubakar Audu. He said: "Kogi APC problem is not unlimited. The root cause of the problem is here at

the National Secretariat. We have the hierarchy of operations. We have three arms of government; the Legislative, Judiciary and the executive. Kogi scenario lies in the hands of the state party executives. "We are not discussing about Buhari. Our own state government, they could have sought our consent before deliberating on our matter whereas they did it arbitrarily because they have selfish interest and on this ground we say no. "Look at the state of treasury. We know what happened to our treasury. One third of our treasury is taken to the National Secretariat, one third to other people at the national level ad in the presidency and how can one third solve our problem in Kogi? And that is why Bello is there for their pockets to be full.

I won't disappoint you, Ikpeazu tells Abians

bia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has promised that he would not disappoint Abians. He stressed that he would commence massive rehabilitation of rural roads in the second year of his administration.  The governor said this in Ohafia and Isiukwuato during a town-hall meeting for Abia North Senatorial District, where he also promised to commence the construction of the Ohafia-Udumeze Golf Course and Event Centre.  "I've come to you as the owners of the mandate I am holding in trust, to report back to you what we've done in the first one year. As your steward and also unveil our plans and things we want to do as we

have entered the second year. "As your governor, let me reassure you that I will never disappoint you. I will not fail you. Despite the economic downturn in the country, we have not relented on the promises we made to you, when we came to you, asking for your votes.  "We promised to address the issue of road infrastructure. So far, we have completed and commissioned 32 roads across the state. And work is still ongoing on 30 roads across Abia. Let me say it here again that our roads have minimum lifespan of 10 years. That's why we are using the cement technology on most of our roads. "We are interested in the economy of Abia. That's why we are doing more roads in Aba,

because Aba will drive the economy of our state. But in this second year, we shall focus on rural roads. The idea is to ensure that what we produce in our farms in our villages and communities can be transported easily to the cities." Ikpeazu, while responding to a question, called on Abia youths to acquire relevant skills, and also get involved in agriculture.  "Let me use this opportunity to appeal and call on youths of Abia to go and learn handiwork. This is the time to develop skills. As you read for your certificates, also develop a skill.  "Think of agriculture, it's the way to go. Let us go back to agriculture. I'm going back to farming.

FG to tackle illicit drug peddling, use Ebere Ameh

or ried over the increase in domestic violence and other related crimes across the country in recent times, which are attributed to the consumption of illicit drugs and narcotics, the Federal Government said that concerted effort will be put in place to fight drug peddlers and consumers to salvage the country from its negative consequences. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, disclosed this recently in her Office in Abuja dur-

ing a courtesy visit by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, led by its Chairman, Senator Joshua Lidani. In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the federation, Mohammed Manga, the Head of Service emphasised that the case of consumption of illicit drugs by our unemployed youth is alarming. “It is very critical and the reality on ground is quite disturbing with the rate of crime particularly domestic violence is increasing as a result of the consumption of hard drugs by these youths, the produc-

tivity is so low. So something urgent must be done to salvage the situation.” She stated further that government would do everything possible to strengthen relevant agencies of government charged with the responsibility of enforcing narcotic laws in the country in order to salvage the country from negative consequences of illicit drug peddling and consumption. She advised the National Assembly Joint Committee on Narcotics to meet with the relevant MDAs with the view to finding urgent and best way to enhance the relevant agencies with the capacity it requires in combating the scourge.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Indonesia to execute 30 death-row convicts in 2017 – Attorney General

ambang Waluyo, Indonesian Deputy Attorney General, has said government planned to execute 30 death-row convicts in 2017. He disclosed this yesterday in Jakarta during a parliamentary hearing. Waluyo said that this year, his office is preparing to execute 18 convicts, after July 6, the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday, which ends of

the holy month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry said not less than 121 people are currently on death row in Indonesia, including 35 foreigners, mostly convicted of drug-related crimes. It explained that they include; Mary Jane Veloso from the Philippines, Lindsay Sandiford from Britain and Frenchman Serge Atlaoui. The ministry recalled

that in 2015 Indonesia executed 14 convicts, all but two of them foreigners, in a move that drew international condemnation. Under Indonesian law, each convict would face a squad of 10 gunmen. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who took office in 2014, has taken a tough stance against drug trafficking, saying that the country is facing a drug emergency.

Members of the Iglesias el Calvario at a vigil for victims in Orlando, Florida. Inset: Omar Mateen

US probes nightclub massacre

S authorities yesterday were investigating whether a gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando and declared his allegiance to Islamic State militants had received any help in carrying out the massacre. The FBI and other agencies were looking at evidence inside and in the closedoff streets around the Pulse nightclub, where New York-born Omar Mateen perpetrated the deadliest mass shooting in US history, and the worst attack on US soil since Sept. 11, 2001. Mateen, the 29-yearold son of Afghan immigrants, was shot and killed by police who stormed the club early Sunday morning with armored cars after a three-hour siege. Law enforcement officials were looking for clues

as to whether anyone had worked with Mateen on the attack, said Lee Bentley, US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. "There is an investigation of other persons, we are working as diligently as we can on that," Bentley said at a news conference. "If anyone else was involved in this crime, they will be prosecuted." Officials stressed they believed there had been no other attackers and had no evidence of a threat to the public. Mateen's rampage began around 2 a.m. Sunday (0600 GMT) when the club was packed with some 350 revelers. Many fled as the gunman raked the crowd with bullets from an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle and a pistol. An initial wave of officers charged into the club and trapped

Mateen in a bathroom, Orlando Police Chief John Mina told reporters. That action allowed many patrons to flee the club, though others were trapped in the restroom with Mateen, leading to the standoff. "We were able to save and rescue dozens and dozens of people," Mina said. Police negotiated with Mateen for about three hours before breaking a hole in the wall, which allowed hostages to escape. Mateen also emerged from the hole and was shot dead by officers, police said. Officials said two days ago the death toll was 50. Yesterday they clarified that the figure included Mateen. Some 53 people were wounded and 29 remain hospitalized at Orlando Regional Medical Center, the hospital said on Twitter.

Zimbabwean villagers displaced by mining

illagers relocated to a sprawling gover nmentowned farm complex in eastern Zimbabwe to make way for the nation's biggest diamond field are hoping that President Robert Mugabe's move to take control of the valued resource will benefit them. More than 1,000 families were moved in 2009 from a village adjacent to the Chiadzwa diamond field in Marange

to Arda Transau, a 12,000 hectare farm settlement about 40 km (25 miles) to the north with promises of a better life. Arda Transau was billed as a new township with tarred roads, shops and health clinics, but seven years later the villagers say they have yet to see the promised education and health facilities while their homes are crumbling and food is scarce. Seven mining companies licensed to mine

the area were ordered in March to leave by Mugabe who accused them of robbing Zimbabwe of wealth. Mugabe took over all diamond operations in the newly-formed Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company (ZCDC). Some of the affected diamond companies - Mbada Diamonds and Anjin Investments - have since taken the government to court with the issue still pending before the courts.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

Sport Adekunle Salami

he Nigeria Football Federation is making frantic efforts to name a substantive Head Coach for the Super Eagles before June 24 when the World Cup qualifiers will take place. Authoritative sources our correspondent that the federation had intensified efforts to get a coach, preferably, foreign manager for the team. It was also learnt that the plan was to name the coach and ensure he travelled to the venue of the draw for the World Cup qualifiers. “It will be funny to have an interim coach travel for the qualifiers. The sponsors are still discussing with the NFF and if it fails, there is a plan B,” our source revealed at the weekend. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation is considering three cities for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers billed to start across the continent in October. Although the draw for the competition is yet to be conducted and so the Super Eagles are still looking forward to know their opponents, the federation is working ahead on various logistics. New Telegraph can reveal authoritatively that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna is still being considered despite the crowd hitch recorded in the Nigeria/Egypt match. The other two are the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the Ultra Modern Stadium in Uyo, State. “The federation is trying to take the Eagles round so that the team will be closed to the people. Kaduna is still pre-

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Sport News Nwakali to join Arsenal for pre-season

That Diego Costa of Chelsea scored in his first four EPL games. He is only the second player to have done so alongside former Coventry City forward Micky Quinn.

International

Eagles coach to emerge before June 24

Euro: Pique’s late winner guides Spain past Czech

46 47

NFF considers Kaduna, Uyo, P’Harcourt for World Cup qualifiers

Egypt’s Omar Gaber (R) with Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo

ferred because the people of the state have passion and all the NFF will do is to provide better security. “The two other options are also on the cards. In the end maybe just two of the three will host the matches but all of them are being considered right now,” our source said. The World Cup draw takes place on June 24 with teams in the six confederations expected to know their group oppo-

nents. The NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, has said qualification ticket for Nigeria is not negotiable because it is the only way to say sorry to fans after missing the Gabon 2017 Nations Cup ticket. Meanwhile, the federation has settled for a Serbian foreign coach for the Super Eagles just as the body has penciled down Salisu Yusuf, Emmanuel Amuneke and Alloy Agu as substantive coaches if the foreign coach idea failed to click.

Ambrose

Falcons coach threatens to quit over ‘undue’ pressure Ajibade Olusesan

x-international Florence Omagbemi would have quit her position as Super Falcons coach because of undue pressure from ‘the top’ over players’ selection if not for the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, New Telegraph has reliably learnt. A source close to the NFF told our correspondent that the former captain of the women national team approached Pinnick to inform him about her desire to resign less than three

months into her job as she could not cope with constant pressure from influential Nigerians who desperately wanted their players in the squad. She reportedly told the NFF president, Pinnick, that

Omagbemi

the development was too much for her to handle and would rather go back to Sweden to continue her youth development project. “Omagbemi actually wanted to resign because of the under external that comes with national team job. Although she was familiar with the fact that people with several interest would introduce players to a coach but was scared when She was being threatened. “You can’t imagine some people even threatened to attack her if their bidding was not done. There are some people from the National Assem-

bly who would give players notes to the coach directing that their wards be drafted into the team. At that point she told the NFF president she was no longer interested. “But Pinnick told her to jettison the idea of resigning urging the coach to demonstrate more confidence to tackle the issue. Mr President reminded her that she was from Niger -Delta and should not fall for cheap blackmail and threat. The NFF promised they would give her the support to excel despite pressure coming even from higher authorities,” the source said.

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NNPC/Shell semifinals take place in Lagos Charles Ogundiya

he semifinals of the annual NNPC/ Shell Cup football competition organised for secondary schools in the 36 states of the country takes centre stage today in Lagos. In the first semifinal match, FOSLA Academy, Abuja takes on Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan at 2pm at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The second semifinal between Govern-

Nigeria Customs’ Afuwape Micheal going for a dunk against Kwara Falcons during the DStv Basketball League Conference Final held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium Surulere Lagos. Kwara Falcons won by 79-60.

ment Science Secondary School, Bauchi and Excel Education Centre, Port Harcourt, will come up by 4pm at the same venue. The young players are expected to intensify efforts to put up a good performance because the best two players in the competition will travel to Holland for a further training session with the Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Football Academy. The communication Manager of Shell Petroleum, Sola Abulu, who represented the General Manager of the company, Igo Weli, at the weekend

during a press briefing, noted that the organisation was proud of the competition which had produced some great players for the country. A N4.8m cash and development facilities award is also at stake for the winning team and so the best of football is expected be displayed by the school boys especially as Feyenoord officials are around for the semifinal and final matches. The final will however come up on Thursday June 16 also at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Nwakali to join Arsenal for pre-season Kano Pillars, Kwara Falcons, six others for Final 8 N DStv Premier League

Emmanuel Tobi

egular season leaders, Kano Pillars, and Kwara Falcons cruised past all opponents as both teams topped the Savannah and Atlantic Conference in the just concluded Conference playoffs. The stage is now set as the top four teams from both conferences are ready to battle it out for the national title from June 20 to 25. Pillars who lost two regular season games took down all opposition in the Savannah Conference Playoffs going 5 of 5 to seal their place in the DStv Premier

Basketball League Final 8. Joining them at this stage is Plateau Peaks tutored by Female coach Jacqueline Bushman; Premier League returnees, Niger Potters, who took games against favourites Gombe Bulls finishing ahead of them and defending champions Mark Mentors, ending their quest for qualification to the Final 8 suffering a third crushing defeat having already lost to Pillars and Bulls as well. Kwara Falcons , Rivers Hoopers, Customs and Oluyole Warriors qualified from the Atlantic Conference.

Ogba, Dikko, Inyama mourn Amodu Siasia, NTA too

he Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, on Monday visited the Nigeria Football Federation to commiserate with the football body on the deaths of Coaches Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu. Keshi, only the second man to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach, died in Benin City in the early hours of Wednesday. Amodu, five –time coach of the Super Eagles, died in the same city in the early hours of Saturday. Ogba said: “Amodu’s death was a big shock to me, just as Keshi’s. Both men were institutions based on what they achieved with the Super Eagles.” Also, NFF’s 2nd Vice President and LMC chairman, Mr. Shehu Dikko, wrote: “It is tragic. Words are inadequate to express the grief and sense of loss that the NFF feels right now.” Former member of the NFF Executive Committee and chairman of NPFL club Abia Warriors, High

Chief Emeka Inyama, lamented the death of both great figures within days of each other. Head Coach of the Nigeria U-23 team, Samson Siasia, was a sober figure at the Glass House. “This is heartbreaking for me. I can’t say much now.” Similarly, the Nigeria Television Authority also commiserated with the NFF on the death of Keshi. Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, the new Director General, wrote: “He will be fondly remembered for his great

contributions to the beautiful game in Nigeria which culminated in his being African champion twice, as a player and Coach.”

igeria youngster Kelechi Nwakali has told AfricanFootball.com he will join Arsenal for pre-season next month after he has signed a professional contract later this month with the English Premier League side. Nwakali, who recently turned 18, will travel to England later this month to sign the dotted lines with ‘The Gunners’ and he said he will join them afterwards for pre-season. “I will sign this month now that I’m 18, and then I will travel for pre-season next month,” he said. The deal that will see the Nigeria U-20 international move to the Emirates had been somewhat protracted, but has now been sorted. Nwakali shone as Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year in Chile. He is also younger brother of Manchester City youngster, Chidiebere Nwakali.

Adamu wants National Stadium named after Keshi Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

F Ogba

ormer Director General of National Sports Commission, Dr. Amos Adamu, has said it will not be too much to name any of the National Stadia in immortalising the late Super Eagles skipper Stephen Keshi who passed on last week Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State.

Sam Ocheho/Innjoo Handball

Civil Defenders beat Delta Force Emmanuel Tobi

ne of the favourites, Civil Defenders, beat Delta Force 38-12 in the male category to brighten their chances of winning the third edition of the Sam Ocheho/Innjoo Invitational Handball Championship taking place at Rowe Park Sports Complex. The competition sponsored by InnJoo entered its third day on Monday with teams battling to outclass each other for the title. In other games, Imo Grasshoppers continued their splendid run with a 33-18 points victory over Civil Defend-

Nwakali (left)

ers Babes. It was a game Grasshoppers dominated, which brought back memories of their glory days. Edo Dynamos are still in search of their first win as their game against Lagos Seasiders ended 23-23. The Aaron Okogie-tutored side battled hard against the Seasiders, but lacked the killer instinct to win the game. In the women category, Flowers of Benin Republic defeated top rival ASPAC 27-21 as both Beninoise female teams squared up at the third day of action. It was also sweet revenge for Flowers who played second fiddle to ASPAC in the Benin Republic National Championship.

Adamu who worked with Keshi in 1991 and 1993 when he was a Sole Administrator of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) described him as a nice and nononsense personality who stood for the best all the times. He urged the up and coming players to emulate Keshi’s works as a player and Super Eagles captain. “Before we play some matches I usually called him aside and told him to play a draw because we cannot afford to pay their bonuses, he will tell me that I should not worry, but when they entered the

pitch the winning margin will even be wider and he would come back and say we must pay the boys o! That is Keshi for you.” “He was stubborn but straight forward, reliable and when we were in a tight corner I called him and we proffered solutions to it, I was part of those who made the Togo job possible for him,” he added. Adamu said that he spoke with him three days before his death hit him from Benin City adding that he had promised to visit him in Abuja later in the week only to be shocked with the news of his death.

Adamu

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Euro: Pique’s late winner guides Spain past Czech

Shaibu Amodu 1958-2016

Veterans preach peace after Amodu, Keshi’s demise “I had just summoned a meeting of my executive to deliberate on how well to pay tribute to Stephen Keshi when like a thunderbolt, news filtered in that Coach Amodu Shuaibu was also no more…….” These were the pathetic words of Chief Jonathan Ogufere, President of the Sports Veterans Association on the sad news of the passing of two of Nigeria’s best coaches within four days. On behalf of the Veterans, Chief Ogufere said his members like and Nigerians all over the world were in deep sense of shock. “In Keshi and Amodu we have lost the

best there is in Nigerian coaching history, men synonymous with excellence, patriots to the core who did not believe that there was anything inferior about the Nigerian coach and lived their lives to the end defending and propagating the best that was Nigerian. “It is a sober moment, one that we should endeavour to learn from and make amends rather than use to sow seeds of discord. These gentlemen presided over a game that binds us together, one that guarantees peace and unity. It should not be different at their deaths,” the Veterans advised.

Spain’s Jordi Alba (left) tackling Czech Republic’s Pavel Kaderabek during the EURO 2016 game ... Monday

pain got their bid for a third consecutive European Championship off to a winning start 1-0 over a dogged Czech Republic thanks to Barcelona defender Gerard Pique’s header three minutes from time.

A profligate Spain seemed set to be denied by heroics from Czech Republic captain Petr Cech. The Arsenal goalkeeper made fine first-half saves from Alvaro Morata, Jordi Alba and David Silva, whilst Czech defender Roman Hubnik turned a cross

against his own post after the break. However, the holders’ pressure finally paid off when Pique – often booed by Spain fans this season for controversial anti-Real Madrid comments – nodded home Andres Iniesta’s cross at the back post.

Brazil out of Copa after Peru upset

T Late Amodu

Another heavy blow – Globacom

fficial sponsor of Nigerian national teams, Globacom, has expressed grief on the sudden death of former coach of Super Eagles and Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Shaibu Amodu. The company in a press statement in Lagos on Monday described the death of Amodu as unfortunate and sad; especially happening barely three days after the country lost another former coach, Stephen Keshi.

Globacom stated that Amodu left indelible footprints on Nigerian football, and that his outstanding contributions to the development of the round leather game in the country would be remembered for a long time. “Globacom commiserates with his family, the Nigerian Football Federation and the entire Nigerian football community on the death of Amodu, and prays that Allah will grant him Aljannah Firdaus”, the statement read.

Imo Deputy Governor mourns

he Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has expressed sadness over the death of Nigeria football legends, Amodu Shaibu and Stephen Keshi. Prince Madumere described their deaths, which occurred within

three days as devastating and shocking especially as they exited at their prime. He said the demise of the duo marks a serious setback to country’s football development given the position of Amodu occupied as the Technical Director of Nigeria Football

to the family of Shaibu Amodu who has passed away,” reads a statement. “We convey our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the Amodu family and pledge our profound moral support. We supplicate that God gives you fortitude at this moment of your extreme grief and pain. The 58-year-old Amodu was in charge of the Premier Soccer League giants in the second season of the PSL in the 1997/98 campaign.

Peru ended with Raul Ruidiaz bundling in Andy Polo’s cross from the byline, appearing to use his arm to score.

Ruidiaz wheeled away to celebrate and Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha signalled for the goal.

African Championships:

CAA commends South Africa Charles Ogundiya

thletics South Africa has received welcomed and timely thumbs up from the continental mother body, the Confederation of African Athletics on the ongoing preparations for the CAA 20th African Senior Championships to be held in Durban from June 22 to 26. This follows a threeday intense inspection on progress of King’s

Park Athletics Stadium and other areas of interest by CAA Vice President, Vivian Gungaram - who is also in charge of Competitions and Technical issues. Gungaram, who conducted his tour from May 30 to June 1, said: “I am very satisfied with all tasks performed by Aleck Skhosana and his federation by satisfying the CAA with their hard work to ensure that we host a successful Championship.”

Rooney, Hodgson beg fans ahead of Wales game

Federation and Keshi’s role model stature as the younger generation looked up them. He therefore sent his condolences to the family members of Keshi and Amodu respectively while praying God to grant them fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Orlando Pirates console family n the wake of former Orlando Pirates and Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu’s passing, the Soweto giants have since released a message of condolences. In a statement on the club’s website, Pirates management and the Bucs family sent their condolences to Amodu’s family. “Orlando Pirates management and the extended Bucs family would like to extend its heartfelt condolences

he Copa America Centenario erupted into controversy early Monday after a refereeing blunder sent Brazil crashing to a 1-0 defeat against Peru – and out of the tournament. The defeat left Brazil struggling to digest their worst performance in the Copa America since 1987, the last occasion the five-time world champions failed to make it past the group stage. Brazil, needing only a draw to qualify for the quarterfinals as winners of Group B, looked to be on course for a place in the last eight with 15 minutes to go against Peru. But a rare foray into Brazilian territory from

Rooney

ngland c ap t a i n Wayne Rooney and manager Roy Hodgson have made an impassioned plea to fans to stay out of trouble ahead of Thursday’s potentially explosive Euro 2016 clash against Wales. The violent scenes in Marseille over the weekend

involving England and Russia hooligans prompted UEFA to warn both nations that they face expulsion from the tournament should further trouble occur. The warning has prompted Rooney and Hodgson to make heartfelt pleas to fans travelling to Lens for Thursday’s clash against the Welsh, urging them to behave. The FA hope the statements from the England manager and skipper will dissuade any fans intent in causing trouble in

Lens into a rethink. Rooney stopped short of criticising fans, but did plea for fans without tickets not to travel. ‘I’d like to thank the England fans for the great support inside the stadium against Russia and now we have a big game coming up against Wales. I’d like to ask the fans, please, if you don’t have a ticket don’t travel. And for the fans with tickets, be safe, be sensible, and continue with your great support for the players.”

On Marble Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.

Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

Not by fire, not by force }14

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Ayn Rand

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016

N150

Public arena T he column you write

As Emefiele trudges on Boniface Chizea

n June 3, 2016 Godwin Emefiele the Governor of the Central Bank attained his second anniversary in office. Usually such landmarks are not the subject of celebrations but for some of us who have closely tracked his journey so far and have come to the firm conclusion that his has been an unusual tenure in the context of recent experience regarding occupants of this position would wish to draw attention to what we advisedly consider distinguishing features of the journey so far. This is a tenure which has been hallmarked so far with the struggle to maintain the foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the rate of exchange of the Naira against the background of dwindling reserves as a result of persistent softness of the oil market and sustained speculative attacks. He also confronted political headwinds arising from the outcome of elections for which for the first time in the political history of the country an incumbent government was unseated by an opposition party. And for Emefiele what made the outcome of the elections more challenging was the fact that he had been appointed by the outgoing administration and as he was targeted by politicians who consider politics a do or die affair for which the spoils belong to the winners, there was a determined and concerted attempt to unseat him regardless of the fact that some appointments are well protected by the laws of the land. But in the circumstances nothing was regarded off limits even including the attempt to unseat a Governor who had barely done one year of a five year tenure. It is a matter for the records that as this push gathered momentum irrepressible Adams Governor Oshiomhole weighed in on the agitation to issue a knockout blow to the jaws of those opportunists who would wish to unseat the Governor from his rather exalted seat. Comrade Oshiomhole is someone I have come to admire and respect for his free and easy deployment of native intelligence on serious issues. If you are yet to come to this conclusion here is a sampler. When the Cable, an on line media held a colloquium on the Naira whether or not it should be devalued and the Colloquium had the payoff headline: ‘The Naira on trial; to devalue or not to devalue?’ and the Governor was the Guest of honor, he prefaced his opening remarks at the event by asking who was prosecuting and who constitutes the defence and proceeded to provide answers. I thought that was vintage Oshiomhole. He argued that those calling for the sack of the Governor of the Central Bank are those who have been feeding fat on our common patrimony that are adept as manipulators of the exchange rate, moving monies across

CBN governor, Emefiele

borders and taking advantage of electronic transfers. He in fact comically added that those behind such calls are palm wine drinkers! I think it is ill advised to add more to this defence only to observe that in this era of palpable cry of marginalization for which the country has harvested sundry separatist agitations including states producing their own currency and the rising call to revisit the CONFAB report that there are certain politically hot potato it is well advised to avoid touching! Governor Emefiele as part of the Agenda for the Central Bank which he rolled out during his maiden world press conference just after his assumption of office on June 5, 2014 gave assurance of his determination to keep fidelity to his core mandate as the Governor; that is the maintenance of price and exchange rate stability, promised to work assiduously for the gradual but steady reduction on the prevalent level of interest rates, target accretion to the foreign exchange reserves while declaring his disavowal to currency devaluation in the prevalent circumstances of the economy and asserted that he would run a Central Bank that is apolitical, professional and people oriented. But it goes without saying that the reality is that issues surrounding the depleting reserves and the management of the exchange rates have made priority claims on the attention of the Governor almost making him neglect other also important issues which he outlined in the agenda under reference. When the Governor came on board the challenge of the falling oil price and therefore dwindling reserves was already with us and there has been no let up. Instead the situation had deteriorated that under the Governor’s watch the rate of exchange first moved from N155 to N168 after which the Dutch auction system was abolished and the interbank market was introduced at the

rate of N198 and therefore despite the Governor’s well-advertised disavowal to devaluation, he had no option but to allow the currency to devalue under his watch. And since the received wisdom is that the pegging of the Naira has accounted for the general contraction of the economy which has resulted to the economy witnessing negative growth rate in the first quarter of 2016 for the first time in about two decades, the Monetary Policy Committee had no option but to mandate the Central Bank to inject some flexibility into the determination of the rate of exchange. But the fact remains that flexibility in the determination of exchange rate is clear euphemism for devaluation. It is therefore difficult to envisage how the Central Bank can navigate this obstacle in the face of the clear opposition by the President for reasons that are historically correct to devaluation. All concerned are now waiting with bathed breadth for the details of this promised relaxation of the determination of exchange rate with the fervent prayers that it would herald the much touted inflow of foreign exchange into the economy from autonomous sources, kick start productivity, reduce unemployment, mitigate rising inflationary pressures and allow critical stakeholders to reclaim their independence from the strangle hold of exchange rate management pressures. Meanwhile the Central Bank has continued to pursue its development mandate under the leadership of the Governor with regard to promoting financial inclusion, deepening financial literacy and the promotion of the extension of credits to Micro, Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (MMSEs) and for agriculture. Financial literacy is so important since it will enable compatriots to build confidence in the financial system based on deeper understanding and appreciation of the workings of the financial system. It puts bank customers in a position to take full advantage of the service and product offerings of banks as they attempt to offer competitive robust service to their customers. It also aligns with the determination to offer protection to bank customers in their unequal relationship with the banks and in the process checkmate the perpetration of unethical practices on the part of the banks. The Central Bank has advisedly keyed into the promotion of credit to the MMSEs as a veritable platform for the promotion of growth in the economy by making available the N 220 billion targeted fund. To contextualize this observation a study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2010 highlighted the fact that at that time there were 17.2 million MMSEs in the country employing about 32 million people. And if this sector is given a boost so that each of these businesses employs just one additional person we would automatically be adding about

17 million jobs which would certainly make a whopping dent on the prevalent unemployment situation in the country. The Central Bank recently upped the ante by introducing the Anchor borrowers’ scheme which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in Kebbi State which had since been extended to other states of the Federation aimed to achieve a viable agricultural base for the country with more integrated value chain to enhance food security, reduce imports and enhance productivity and therefore employment. The other major development which is noteworthy as we undertake this review is the introduction by the Central Bank in conjunction with the Bankers’ Committee on February 14, 2014 of the biometric based unique Bank Verification Number (BVN) aimed at giving a boost to the effectiveness of the Know Your Customer principle on the part of the banks. This scheme is targeted at customer protection and for attaining growth in the volume of credit by addressing frontally issues relating to identity theft and generally offer protection to the banks through a reduction in the incidences of bank frauds. It is also noteworthy that the Federal Government recently leveraged on this scheme to exhume a number of ghost workers in its employment! We commend the Governor for his level headedness, his focus and for the avoidance of all manner of controversies as he continues to grapple with the challenging task of pi- Solution to puzzle 16 loting monetary policy in the prevailing excruciating circumstances in the country. • Dr. Chizea wrote in from Lagos.

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.