Tuesday, june 16, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 482

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Federal government may scrap ministry of aviation

BVN: CBN begins Diaspora enrolment month end

lAll banks are healthy, says NDIC lSavannah Bank set to resume arrangements to enrol Nigerians living abroad that have bank accounts in Nigeria on the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform by the end of this month.

Tony Chukwunyem and Dan Atori

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has concluded

New Telegraph learnt that the exercise would begin with those living in the United Kingdom. The registration, according to CBN sources, would be ex-

ecuted through the outlets of Outsourcing Services International (OSI) and extended to the United States as well as China. New Telegraph learnt that CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

NEW TELEGR

N150

APH TUESDAY , JUNE 16, 2015

Corruption

Don advoca tes on corruption state of emergency

Varsity

ASUU, VC differ of union chair on suspension

Education 30

CrISIS

The crisis brewi ng at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) got last week with to a head the sack of the ViceChancellor and Deputy ViceChancellors .

Kayode olanre waju

he crisis rocking Osun State Univer sity (UNIO SUN), Osogb o, in the past another twistfew months took ing the sack last week, follow cellor, Profes of the Vice-Chan-sor Bashir and his manag Okesina In the White ement team. Paper on port of the the Rethe crisis Visitation Panel into released by the state government the univer and proprietor of governmentsity, last week, the Aregbesola mendation accepted the recom the Gover for the dissolution of ning Counc university il of the Okesina Adesiyan led by Prof Gabrie Olawoyin l (SAN). Although, the Counc the dissolution of il was not caveat: that without a the counc complete il should the Gover nor ing a new process of appoin t- tor, Burea and signed by vice-chancell Direcwill replac e Okesina. or, who & Strate u of Communicat ions Also recom gy, Mr. Semiu mended is to the Deput lawon, stated Okanmination the terthat of Grace Laoye- y Gover nor, Mrs. of the Deput the appointment intractable crisis “due to the Tomori, month in the y Vice-Chance the crisis sity, Professor rocking the noted that dissolvs, after which it should llor, the the Gover nor, who univerSiyan Oyewe had nothin institution ed. Visitor is also be former Provos so, the g to do with In its eighth as being specul Rauf Aregbto the university, Mr. religion Humanities t of the College recommenda esola, ated in some the govern of ters, but campus and and Culture, Ikire- Visitation Panel had set up the or has approv tion, quarmainly admin to probe former Chairm lapses. sis and come ed that istrative the appointment of Comm of up with the the crian Oyeweso ittee However, should be Prof. Siyan recominstitution. of Provosts of the mendations.” terminated ommendatiothe panel in its rec- for his negati The Counc Among ve roles ns, which the princi Chancellor il led by its Proindicted sis; his ambition-dr in the critions of theother recommenda pal and influence iven overstated: “The officers and others on the vice-ch the Regist panel, is the sack - Council, Prof. Chair man of , which of few month rar, Olawo ancellor lieves, based panel strongly contributed and the BursaDr. Julius Fanira be- the s ago, suspen yin had on immen n its Vice-C findin eviden r, princi sely to Alhaji Fatai ded gs and hance sisi respec ce that the La- tion pal officers of the three tively relationship able mistakes llor’s irredeembetween institu includ Meanwhile, . the in the admin Our union tion of led by Prof. Gover ning Counc lor, registr ing the vice-chancel-nor and Visitor the State Gover ar and the il ing the the university; for istraand manag G. A. Olawoyin (SAN) attend to the univer bursar would According two rebelli Rauf Aregb sity to the counci . ous meetin agains B. Okesin ement led by Prof. gs the govern esola has since given, trio was suspen l, the respond at a A. vice-c t the Council held ded over alleged ment nod most irretri has broken down professional the ommendatio to al- other hancellor’s house in the evably. ns of the the rec- misconducts,and administrati appropriate princi “We also with panel. A release ve strongly believe cials of the pal officers and offiby the Office it would amoun to the counci staggering loyalty university of the neglec time l, fraud, t to a waste that took a decisio , where forts trying t of unive nepotism, of efn not to attendthey rsity infraparties as to reconcile the two 12thJanuary, 2015 structure, the it is obviou hastiness meetin Council. both canno g of the distance s learning in starting t continue that they Other allega programme, together misuse of to work harmoniousl official car, tions again Oyewe progress of ASUU incitement so, y for the according st of against the amola to the Darview of this, the university. borehole issue, inflati council, In eso) -led panel, was his and to avoid party-win insistence tracts and (Oyew on a onethat the Counc other issues of contion, the the-other-lose situa- had been dissol to or tagged panel recom as abuse of relating ved witho il kayode olanr following, mends the enjoining the But, the power. management ut ewaju seek officia danger of bearing in mind reaction governor, in a swift EDITOr, EDUCAT to l clarification the matter had kayode olanrewa ION council anddissolving both inaugurated on February on the the manag ; and basing his 10, newtelegraphonlin ju@ advice same time.” management at tion Panel, a five-man Visita e.com the belief; ement on that errone to chaired by Adebiyi Daram as well as It, therefo Profes ous © Daily Telegrap ola, to look sor h Publishin cil with the re, saddled the coun- professorial and not letting his the crisis g Company into at institu task the perien of commencing Limited and compl ce have positiv tional exThe comm institution. eting the e impact on the appoin ing over the ittee, while handprocess for the university. committee’s Other memb chancellor, tment of a new vicereport ers of fell under with approvregistrar and bursar the govern staff, who or’s hamvice within ed conditions of ser-, mer, include Prof. a maxim Wasiu Alamu um of six

Uneasy ca

lm at UNIO SUN }23 EIGHT pages of EDUCATION

Lawmakers to get N9bn as wardrobe allowance CONTIN UED

lEach senator to receive N21.5m, Reps N17.5m

ON PAGE 26

Quick Read

N8bn currency scam: Court denies bankers }9 bail Court refuses Nyako's bid to stop arrest }50 NNPC terminates ex-militants, }5 OPC's pipeline security contracts

FIRE AT LAGOS MARKET: Traders clearing debris from their shops, which were razed by fire at the Ajah Market, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

US donates $5bn to anti-Boko Haram regional task force

lBuhari plans visit to Cameroon lSuicide bombers kill 10 in Potiskum Wale Elegbede and Hassan Jirgi

regional effort by Nigeria and its neigh-

bours to combat the Boko Haram insurgency has received a boost with a $5 billion donation by the United States to the Multinational Joint Task Force

(MNJTF). The 8,700-strong regional force draws its members from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon and is headquartered in Bagga, Borno

State. The US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced the donation

yesterday at a news briefing via telephone from the African Union Summit on the U.S. interests in Africa. A News Agency of NigeCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Congratulations!

His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, Executive Governor, Niger State

My family and I wish to congratulate Your Excellency Abubakar Sani Bello on your election as the Executive Governor of Niger State. This is a true attestation of your ability by the people of Niger State to take the state to the next level. We wish you a successful tenure in office. Signed

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, MON Chairman,

Slok Shipping

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Lawmakers to get N9bn as wardrobe allowance Chukwu David Abuja

embers of the National Assembly, comprising 109 senators and 360 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, are to collect a total of N8.64 billion as wardrobe allowance, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. According to a source, the amount, which has been earmarked for them

as wardrobe allowance, is different from their furniture, housing, vehicle and other allowances. Investigations showed that the N8.64 billion would be paid into the individual bank account of the lawmakers by next week. The source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives would collect N17.5

million each while the 109 senators will collect N 21.5 million each. The wardrobe allowance, like furniture and vehicle allowances, is meant for the entire four-year term of the 469 National Assembly members as against housing allowance that is given yearly. Housing allowance for political office holders is 200 per cent of their annual salaries; furniture is 300 per cent and motor vehicle

loan is 400 per cent. According to the source, 109 senators, apart from the Senate President and his deputy, will be paid N4.05 million each as housing allowance. They will also be paid the same amount every year because the housing allowance is on annual basis. This means that the 107 senators will be paid a total of N4.33 billion as housing allowance annually since both the Senate

President and his deputy are provided official accommodation by the Federal Government. Similarly, each member of the House of Representatives will be paid N3,970,425 as housing allowance on assumption of office. This means that the 358 lawmakers will collect a total of N1.42 billion as housing allowance. Also, the speaker and the deputy speaker are excluded from this allowance since the Federal Government provides their accommodation. Following the monetisation of entitlements of public officials, the lawmakers lost the right to occupy houses built and maintained by the Federal Government. Accordingly, the Federal Government sold to the legislators the houses previously built for them to occupy and quit at the end of their four-year tenure. The principal officers of the National Assembly also benefited from the sale of the houses. As a result, the Federal Capital Territory Admin-

istration is, at present, building houses for the four presiding officers from the Senate and the House. For furniture, each of the senators is to get N6,079,200. The furniture for both the Senate President and his deputy are to be provided by the government. This means that 107 senators will get a total of N650,474,400 as furniture allowance. Just like wardrobe allowance, furniture allowance is paid once in four years. Each member of the House of Representatives will be paid N5,955,637.50 as furniture allowance. This means that 358 lawmakers, excluding the speaker and his deputy, will collect a total of N2,132,118,225 for furniture. For vehicle allowance, each of the senators is entitled to N8, 105,600 while each lawmaker will receive N7,940,850.50. This means that 107 senators will collect N867,299,200 as vehicle allowance while 358 lawmakers will collect N2,842,824,479.

Reps to engage Buhari on PIB, constitution review Philip Nyam Abuja

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (right) and Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, during the governor's visit to Ekweremadu in Abuja…yesterday

BVN: CBN begins Diaspora enrolment month end CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the technical partner to the BVN project, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the CBN have sealed an agreement to this effect with the OSI. OSI is a Central American-based Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Customer Contact Solutions provider with a wide array of specialties in many industries such as travel, telecommunication, finance, healthcare, insurance and technical support. A top CBN official yesterday confirmed the impending enrolment of Nigerians in Diaspora to New Telegraph. This came just as the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) gave all banks operating in the country a clean bill of health. “I can neither confirm nor deny this, but I will advise you to wait. The CBN will come out with a statement on this development before the end of

this week,” the CBN official said. Hitherto, Nigerians in Diaspora had been worried about how to enrol for the BVN – with most of them lamenting that it makes no economic sense for them to travel down to Nigeria for the BVN, which closes to bank customers living in Nigeria by June 30. There are millions of Nigerians residing overseas executing banking services in Nigeria through various electronic platforms. The BVN, which is an initiative of the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee, was launched on February 14, 2014. It is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customers’ financial history and activities. This will allow banks access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit ap-

plications and other complex transactions. The initiative is expected to boost financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric information rather than traditional identification methods such as signatures. As part of efforts to boost banks’ compliance with the policy, the CBN had directed lenders to enrol 40 per cent of their customers on the BVN platform by December 31, 2014 and 70 per cent by March 30, 2015. Also, the apex bank directed banks to only honour transactions over N100 million from customers with BVN effective March 2015. It further advised bank customers to register and get the BVN by June 30, warning that customers without the BVN would be deemed as having inadequate Know- Your-

Customer requirement at the expiration of the deadline. Commenting on the initiative last week, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of UBA, Mr. Philips Oduoza, said the June 30 deadline would not be altered, adding that customers who failed to obtain their numbers would be denied certain banking services such as foreign exchange, credit and internet banking, among others. Meanwhile, the NDIC has said despite the economic challenges facing by the country, all banks operating in the country are healthy. NDIC Deputy Director, Research, Alhaji Hashim Ahmad, told reporters yesterday during the sensitisation of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Paiko, Niger State, that the corporation was responsible for supervising the banks to ensure they remain healthy. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

he House of Representatives is to constructively engage President Muhammadu Buhari on how resolve the impasse on the fourth alteration to the 1999 constitution, which former President Goodluck Jonathan withheld assent. Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara disclosed this yesterday in his office when he received members of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room who paid him a courtesy call. He said the seventh House had amended its rules to ensure that bills passed in the previous assembly do not suffer denouement. Dogara noted that the number of pending bills was worrisome but the House would compile all such bills particularly those passed and are awaiting presidential assent. He said the lacuna in the signing of the amended constitution, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) bills were topmost on the agenda. "As soon as we start legislative business, we will get a compendium of all

bills pending and engage Mr. President on how to resolve the issues around them,” Dogara noted. The speaker also urged the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to carry out a National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessments on the National Assembly so as to help set an agenda for the Nigerian legislature. He explained that such an assessment should be independent of the National Assembly and the outcome sent to them for consideration. He assured that his administration would place premium on the integrity of the budget process adding that the alleged non transparency in the process has been the cause of crisis between the National Assembly and the CSOs. "It (budget) has been a subject of bitter exchanges between the House and the CSOs. This time around, we are going to put it in the front burner," he said. Earlier, leader of the delegation and executive director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, urged the House to ensure that priority bills such as PIB, constitution review and NABRO are passed and signed into law.

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

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

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

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

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

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

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

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

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

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

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

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

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

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

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

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

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

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

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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

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

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

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

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

AEROCONTRACTORS

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

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

NNPC terminates ex-militants, OPC's pipeline security contracts lBuhari orders contracts' transfer to navy, police, NSCDC Adeola Yusuf, Wale Elegbede and Johnchuks Onuanyim

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has terminated the N9.3 billion surveillance contracts offered to some former Niger Delta militants and self-determination groups. New Telegraph learnt that President Muham-

madu Buhari embargoed the renewal of the multimillion dollars pipeline surveillance contracts which expired yesterday. In March, the Federal Government under erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan through the NNPC had handed over the job of protecting the nation’s oil and gas pipelines and waterways to former militants and selfdetermination groups. Among the beneficiaries of the contracts are

Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo and Chief Bipobiri Ajube (aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight) alongside Fasehun and Gani Adams of OPC. The terms of the contracts detailed seven companies to operate in allocated “regions” or operational areas: Egbe Security River One (Bayelsa), Gallery Security (Mosinmi-Ore), Close Body Protection (Edo State), Adex Energy Se-

curity (Rivers), Donyx Global Concept (Lagos and Ogun), Oil Facilities Surveillance (Delta) and New Age Global Security (Mosinmi-Ibadan). Checks by New Telegraph revealed that the President decided to wait till the expiration of the three-month contracts. "He has embargoed the renewal of the contracts to these groups. They are just three-month contracts and it is best to allow them to expire than

L-R: Vice-President, Customer Service, Airtel Nigeria, Ajay Bakshi; Managing Director, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya and General Manager, Brands, Mr. Dele Anifowoshe, during the unveiling of a promotion campaign, in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

to terminate them. He was advised not to rock the boat and he followed that advice," a source at the Presidency told this newspaper. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) confirmed that the contracts have not been renewed. The corporation told New Telegraph on phone that contrary to speculation that the contracts were terminated, they actually lapsed by mid-night of Sunday. Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, who said this added that it was not abnormal for contracts to expire. "The contracts expired and they are yet to be renewed," he said. The Presidency source, however, added that President Buhari who has not hidden his disdain for such contracts to be in the hands of civilian groups has ordered the contracts should be handed over to the Army, Navy, as well as the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Speaking with New Telegraph, one of the beneficiaries of the contracts and the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said the corporation

Politicians, technocrats’ll make Buhari's cabinet, says Oyegun lNWC member calls for APC chair's resignation

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday stated that the cabinet of President Muhammdu Buhari would be made up of politicians and technocrats. Oyegun, who spoke yesterday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, called on Nigerians to be patient with the administration on the ministerial list. He stated that the important thing was to get capable and committed hands to work with the president. "There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, who can deliver and subscribe passionately to the agenda of the president to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from or whether

the person is a card-carrying member of the party. What is important is the qualification and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President. "What we are interested in is the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set objectives and the ability to deliver on what the president wants. "Also, this is an executive function and the president has the right to consult as widely as possible. This means he might pick people within and outside the party. It is a prerogative of the president to exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding.” He added that President Buhari is capable of leading the country. "We have a very capable president. He is capable as ever. The president is a very careful man. He wants to be sure the kind of people he will appoint are people who are passionate about the country.

“What is really important is the speed of the delivery of his policies. You can see that things are already improving in spite of that fact. What the president is doing is to conduct a very thorough check on the background of the people he will appoint," he said. On insinuation that he is jostling for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Oyegun said: "On this issue of SGF, I will respond to you just in case, because I don't want to offend anybody but I will say this quite definitely. I have not in any way solicited for any position other than the national chairmanship of APC. I think I am clear enough. Isn't it? Nobody has approached me that he is considering me either for that position or another." Oyegun stated that the party leadership are in the process of resolving the crisis in the APC over the National Assembly leadership. He said: "All the party has decided to do is to re-

unify as quickly as possible our members in both chambers of the National Assembly under the existing realities. That is the first priority. Every other thing will follow. For instance, if the president says he wants to present his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate, we don't want a situation whereby the Senate will be divided. So, we are trying to sort that out; it is our number one priority. We are happy that we are arriving at amicable settlement of the situation; this one cannot wait for long. It has to be immediate." Meanwhile, a National Working Committee (NWC) member of the party, Comrade Timi Frank, has called for the resignation of Oyegun as National Chairman of the party. Frank, who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, hinged his call on Oyegun’s poor handling of the crisis that rocked the party over the National Assembly leadership. He said: "It was unfortunate that the leadership of

the party played hide and seek in the choice of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.” Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara had emerged Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively, against the wishes of the APC. Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila were favoured by the party after the duo won the mock elections organised by the party for the seats. Speaking with New Telegraph yesterday, Frank stated that the chairman and other NWC members of the party ought to resign having embarked on embarrassing mock elections that never had the blessings of the entire party's leadership, more so that the leadership exhibited gross incompetence to manage the National Assembly issue until it blew out of hand. This, he said, was because of the vested interest manifested by the chairman and few of his colleagues in the party.

sent a text message to him that it has invalidated the terms of agreement of the contract less than three months after they were awarded to the groups. Fasehun, whose company, New Age Global Security is in charge of pipelines in MosinmiIbadan, said: “The NNPC sent a message to us over the weekend that they are terminating the contract three months after it was awarded. They even commended us for doing a good job for the period we were in charge. But we have told them that they must pay our three-month arrears because they have not paid us for the period we worked there.”

All banks are healthy, says NDIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

He said: “Nigerian banks are relatively healthy in line with global standard. We don't normally announce the healthy status of our banks in the public, but we normally say in aggregate and I think our annual report will soon be released and be made available to the public. "The annual report normally summarises the health status of the industry. We don't particularly say Bank A or B is distressed. We are simply saying that on aggregate basis we will tell you the industry is this or that. "We undertake supervision of the banks as insurer, as you know, no insurer will sit back and allow his risk to crystalise before he wakes up. We are embarking on the supervision of banks to ensure they remain safe and sound.” He also said Savannah Bank would soon resume operations. “We expect the bank to bounce bank soonest because it has been handed over to the owners. At our own end (NDIC), we can only act and exercise our own mandate when a licence is revoked by the CBN,” he added. Savannah Bank's licence was revoked in 2002, prompting the promoters to sue the CBN, a case they won for the restoration of the licence. “As Savannah Bank stands, the licence has been restored by the CBN and there is nothing NDIC can do in terms of paying off depositors, since their licence is back to them. And we can't go and pay anybody,” Ahmad said.

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG may scrap aviation ministry lMinistry to be a department under Transport Ministry Wole Shadare

he Federal Government may have concluded plans to scrap the Ministry of Aviation by making it a department under the Ministry of Transport in line with the decision reached by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in 2000. A source told New Telegraph yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari was considering the idea of pruning his government to make for efficient administration and was ready to implement the decision, which he considered cost effective. The source added that the president was favourably disposed to the idea, not only because of the huge cost of running the ministry, but to curb alleged monumental fraud in the sector. The sector is replete with financial scandals and wastage that led to the unceremonious removal of four ministers. In 2007, the allegation of misappropriation of

over N19.5 billion-aviation intervention fund contributed to the removal of Prof. Babalola Borishade as minister. The case is still in court while the exminister has maintained his innocence. His successor, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is also embroiled in a legal battle to clear his name from the controversial N5 billion safe tower scandal. Both Mr. Babatunde Omotoba and Ms. Stella Oduah were also unceremoniously kicked out of office over N60 billion Abuja Airport runway mess and purchase of two

bulletproof cars for N255 million respectively. It was also learnt that a former minister was allegedly collecting N100 million from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) monthly alone under the guise of project execution. If Buhari did not change his mind on scrapping the ministry, then, there would not be a Minister of Aviation in the current dispensation. Rather, there would be Minister of Transport as fashioned out by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the second leg of his eight

years period. In the Ministry of Transport, instead of a substantive minister in the sector, there might be a director general or secretary to head the Department of Aviation in the ministry while the agencies would be managed by directors as against the positions of managing directors. In 2000, the ECOWAS Parliament had recommended that memberstates should not appoint ministers to preside over aviation, stating that rather, the parliament recognises a minister of transport to be in charge with

specialists in various segments of transportation, including aviation. It was in line with the decision reached at the ECOWAS Parliament that made former President Obasanjo to merge the Aviation Ministry with that of transport in 2007. But rather than a Department of Aviation, the sector had a Minister of State for Transport 2, a move, which some stakeholders and professionals in the sector felt further increased the financial burdens on the government. A United States-based aviation consultant, Mr.

Deba Uwadiae has been in the forefront of scrapping of the Ministry of Aviation as it is done in most parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and the US. He had called for the scrapping of the ministry and other nebulous appointments like that of Senior Special Assistant (SSA). He said while the rest of the world closed their aviation ministries, Nigeria kept hers, adding that if the government was sincere about reducing the cost of governance, the ministry should be scrapped.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

ENUGU

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ONITSHA

29o C 24oC Thunder Storms L-R: Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuff; Head of Political Section, British High Commission, Mr. Ben Lieweiiyn; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Team Leader, Governance and Social Development (UKaid), Mr. Oliver Blake, during a visit to the speaker in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI 29o C 22oC Thunder Storms

Buhari plans visit to Cameroon as suicide bombers kill 10 in Potiskum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

22 C 12 C Very Cloudy

38oC 24oC Mostly Sunny

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ria (NAN) correspondent monitored the press briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. She said: “We have been working with Nigeria as well as the African countries’ innovation to address their concerns about Boko Haram because we don’t see this as just a Nigerian problem. “We are having discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari on how we might bolster our support. We have already been working with them and providing information. “We are providing some training and support and we’ll love to work with the new administration to see how we might increase the level of support to Nigeria. “At the same time, we’ve just announced at the venue of the AU, $5 billion contribution to the Multinational Task Force. “We are also providing some equipment and support and we have a number

of meetings with the countries who are members of the Multinational Joint Task Force to look at other areas we might support.” Thomas-Greenfield said Africa had faced “some really horrendous terrorist attacks” over the past two years, citing the West Gate and Garissa University attacks in Kenya and the Boko Haram attacks, particularly the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, among others. “While I would not say Africa is under siege, Africa has some major security challenges. “That requires a very strong and very concerted strategic effort by African countries and partners to address the security concerns of Africa,” she stated. According to her, the U.S. is providing a strong support to AU on security as the U.S. has a strong partnership with the continent on security. “We are working closely

with the Lake Chad Basin countries: Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon to address the issues of Boko Haram,” she said. She said that U.S. had, so far, trained about 250,000 African peacekeepers, adding that Washington's highest priority in Africa remains security. Buhari had pledged $100 million for the MNJTF operations and just last week, the president ordered the release of $21 million. The president, who has given attention to stopping Boko Haram since his inauguration on May 29, is planning to visit Cameroon to cement a regional fighting force against Boko Haram. Buhari met his counterparts from Niger, Chad and Benin at a summit in Abuja last week, but Cameroon's leader, Paul Biya was absent as he was represented by his Defence Minister. The two countries have long had strained ties, in

part over a bitter territorial dispute, but also after Boko Haram mounted cross-border raids into North-East Nigeria from Cameroon's far north. Buhari visited Niger and Chad in his first week in office and said he would have gone to Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, for talks with Biya had he not been invited to attend the G7 summit in Germany. "But on my return to Nigeria now, I will try to go to Cameroon," he told AFP on the sidelines of the AU summit in Johannesburg. However, despite multilateral efforts to tame it, Boko Haram has continued to unleash terror on Nigeria as suicide bombers suspected to be members of the sect yesterday attacked Potiskum, Yobe State, killing 10 people. A resident, Mallam Isa Baba Dafa, told our correspondent on phone that the first attack was launched against the office of a vigilante group

located at Dorowa area of Potiskum where a suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing seven people on the spot. Another eyewitness, Mallam Babangida Garba, told New Telegraph that the second attack took place at Mashaya in Dorowa area of Potiskum. According to him, the suicide bomber was heading to a rowdy location when he was blocked on his way and the IED went off, killing two people and injuring many others. A source said 10 bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Potiskum. Those injured in the attacks are currently receiving treatment at the hospital. The police confirmed the death of 10 people. Boko Haram also struck in Chad, killing 27 people in an attack on the country's capital, N'Djamena.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

News

Group commends GIABA over fight against financial crimes Segun Edwards

ecognizing the importance of international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, a group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) the Egmont group, based in Arenberg, Brussels, Belgium, has commended the effort of the West African subregional body, the InterGovernmental Action Group against Money laundering (GIABA) for its fight against financial crimes. The group which has established an informal network of FIUs for the stimulation of international co-operation, known as the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, meets regularly to find ways to promote the development of FIUs and to cooperate, especially in the areas of information exchange, training and the sharing of expertise in the fight against financial crimes. At the opening ceremony of its 23rd Plenary in Barbados, the group presented a certificate of recognition, signed by its Chair, Mr. Murray Michell to GIABA.

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

n Abuja High Cour t has struck out a libel suit by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Buruji Kashamu against former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, struck out the case after Kashamu filed an application for discontinuance. In the application, Kashamu had informed the court that parties were engaged in on-going settlement moves. Counsel to Obasanjo,

Court strikes out Kashamu's libel suit against Obasanjo l Fixes June 25 to hear Kashamu's extradition request Mahmud Magaji, SAN, however, denied knowledge of such moves. New Telegrapn recalls that Kashamu had on February 6, 2014, sued Obasanjo, asking the court to award N20bn as aggravated and exemplary damages, and another N100m against the former President for “ma-

Abuja

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued four licences to four power companies to generate 774 megawatts of electricity. Granting the licences, which worth is $150, 000 (about N29million), in its Abuja headquarter, the commission said it is reviewing the status of 124

power generation licenses it had issued since inception in 2006 and would revoke inoperative ones on verification, noting that those licences ought to have generated 30,000mw. The four companies include: Pan Africa Solar Limited which ought to build 24mw solar plant at Kankia in Katsina State while Nigeria Solar Capital Partners would also build 100mw solar power in Ganjuwa, Bauchi State.

Others are Proton Energy intending to build 150mw gas Independent Power Plant (IPP) at Ogorode in Delta State just as Turbine Drives is working on generating 500mw at Ajaokuta in Kogi state. Speaking at the event, NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, said “These new licenses are here pledging to develop new power, different amounts of megawatts to the grid. That is

Police to have dedicated phone line, says IGP Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, yesterday said the police hierarchy is planning to install dedicated phone lines for members of the public to report cases of bribery and corruption in the force. He disclosed this in Abeokuta during a sensitization workshop on

liciously and recklessly” publishing a letter titled, ‘Before it is too late’, addressed to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2013 Kashamu had sued Obasanjo for libel in relation to the claims in a letter to ex-President Jonathan that he (Kashamu) is a fugitive wanted in the

United States for drug related offences. Trial had progressed in the case, with Kashamu calling two of his three intended witnesses, Haruna Rasheed and Omotayo Alade-Fawole. The witnesses had told the court that the publication of Obsanjo’s letter in the media por-

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Lawan Ado; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Kayode Aderanti; Chief Executive Officer, Apple Tree Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Olayinka Makinde and Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Johnson Kokumo, at the official handing over ceremony of security patrol vehicles to the Lagos State Police Command HQ, by MTN Foundation, in Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday.

NERC issues licence to four companies to generate 774mw Johnchuks Onuanyim

tuesday, june 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

"Reporting corruption using stop-the-bribes platform" organised by a non-governmental organisation, CLEEN Foundation. Represented by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Toye Jolaoye, the IGP said the initiative was aimed at stamping out corruption among policemen and by extension, the public sector. He urged Nigerians to always report cases of

corrupt practices, unlawful arrest and detention as well as police brutality irrespective of the gravity. According to him, the police force is working to put in place infrastructure and necessary staff to sustain the use of the line. Arase, who stated that not everybody in the police force is corrupt, warned Nigerians against encouraging policemen to take bribes.

really solving the customers’ problem. If we were a 10, 000mw market, the experience of consumers will be different.” Amadi also stated that the licence comes with expectations and that the companies and investors should embrace the cost reflective tariff which the commission has set as incentive for doing power business. In his address, NERC’s Commissioner for Engineering Standards and Safety, Dr. Abba Ibrahim, reminded the companies that the licences come with the challenge of achieving the goals.

trayed Kashamu in bad light. Proceedings were however, stalled in the substantive case when Kashamu on December 5, 2014 moved the court to grant a restraining order against Obasanjo, stopping him from proceeding with the scheduled public launch of his new book titled: “My watch,” on the ground that the subject of the libel suit was contained in the book. Proceedings were to resume on the main libel case, when Kashamu brought an application for discontinuance. The trial court in his ruling on May 26 however struck out the matter. In a related development, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will next week Thursday, open hearing in an extradition application filed against Kashamu. The application filed by the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN) seeks the court’s permission to transfer Kashamu to the US for trial on drug related offences.

Jega pledges improved electoral process, silent on his future Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday charged staff of the commission not to be carried away by the accolades showered on them on the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections but work towards improved performance in 2019. The INEC Chairman,

who spoke at a retreat for INEC staff in Abuja, was however, silent on his future at the commission. Jega is expected to leave office at the end of this month; he was quoted to have said he would not accept a renewal of tenure if such is made to him. At the retreat, which had INEC electoral officers in attendance, Jega stated that despite constraints, the commission was able to deliver credible elections to the country in 2015.

BPE, BPP, hail Egbemode's appointment Temitope Ogunbanke

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and its Public Procurement counterpart have commended the appointment of Mrs. Funke Egbemode as Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited. Bureau of Public Enterprises in a congratulatory letter signed by its

Director-General, Benjamin Dikki, viewed Egbemode’s new appointment as well-deserved elevation, given her experience and diligence as a thorough media professional. “We are confident that you will justify this new position. Our prayer is that God will give you the requisite grace to succeed. Let me assure you of the support of the BPE family as you take on this new

and exciting challenge. I urge you to use your position to strengthen the relationship that exists between New Telegraph Newspapers and the Bureau,” Dikki stated. In its congratulatory letter signed by its Director-General, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), stated that Egbemode’s appointment is well-merited.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY,JUNE 16, 2015

News

NATIONAL

N8bn currency scam: Court denies bankers bail Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

he spirited efforts made by counsel to the 39 accused persons, arraigned for the alleged N8b Central Bank of Nigeria mutilated cash scam, to secure bail suffered a setback yesterday as Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, ordered that they remain in the Agodi

Prison Custody pending trial. The Judge nevertheless ordered an accelerated hearing in the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while adjourning trial till July 6 and 7, 2015. New Telegraph learnt that counsel to the accused persons, standing 108- count charge, however indicated their readiness to appeal the ruling, saying that accused

persons in similar cases in the past were granted bail. Part of the charge was that the accused persons diverted, converted and made false entry of cash deposited by several banks into the CBN account between 2010 to 2014. Handing down his ruling, Justice Emmanuel said the type of offence linked with the six CBN staff and 33 others from various commercial banks “is like a capital

offence against the nation’s economy. The proof of evidence suggests to me a new wave in economic crime in the country”. He added that the pieces of evidence before the court were mind-bulging considering the pulse of the people in the country. The crime, according to the CBN report and EFCC prosecution, was “a systematic scheme, which has been on for several years, being run in which muti-

lated higher denomination notes, originally meant for destruction, were swapped with lower denomination currencies. The practice, known as interleafing, basically labels a box with a higher value than its true content.” The accused were arraigned in three batches viz: Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Philips, Salami Ibrahim and Emmanuel Odia; Pa-

tience Okoro Eye, Afolabi Olufemi Johnson, Ilori Olukunle, Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru and Fatai Adedokun Yusuf; and Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philips and Tope Akintade respectively. The Court in its ruling on the three cases marked: FHC/IB/35C/2015, FHC/IB/36C/2015, FHC/ IB/37C/2015 involving 10 accused persons dismissed outright the arguments of the defence counsel bordering on evidence available before the court.

Army fails to begin trial of Baga MNJTF commander Emmanuel Onani

Abuja

L-R: Chairman, Global Water Partnership, West Africa, Dr. Hassan Badliya; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Musa Istifanus and Project Manager, Water Sanitation, Food Security and Environment, European Union, Mrs. Kate Kanebi, at the National Consultation on Food Security and Water in Sub-Sahara Africa in Abuja …yesterday

Dogara appoints ex-Rep, Manwe, as Chief of Staff lSets up welfare committee PhilipNyam ABUJA

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has made his first appointment, announcing the immediate past chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Jerry Manwe as his Chief of Staff. A letter of appointment with reference No. NASS/ SPK/MGT/VOL.I/002 dated 15th June, 2015, addressed to the Clerk, National Assembly, personally signed by the Speaker, conveyed Manwe’s appointment as his chief of staff. Born on 26th June, 1958, in Karim Lamido, Taraba State, Manwe was first elected as

member of the House of Representatives in 1991, 2007 and 2011. HehadalsochairedHouse Committees on Finance and Economic Planning, Interior and Communications. The new chief of staff was also a Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development in Taraba State between 1999 and 2001, member Christians Pilgrim Board 2001-2003, Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education, 20052007. He holds Certificate in Accounting, Higher National Diploma in Business Management. He is Bachelor of Technology student. He attended Lau Primary School, 1966 - 1973, Government Secondary School

Jalingo 1974 - 1979, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, 1984 1986 and Federal University of Technology Yola. He started his working career as an Accountant with Mubi Burnt Bricks from 1985-1989. The appointment is with immediate effect. Meanwhile, Dogara, has approved the constitution of the Adhoc Committee on Welfare. A statement by his chief of staff, Hon. Jerry Manwe, said the setting up the ad hoc committee was in line with relevant provisions of the House Standing Rules. He said the membership is drawn from all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The committee is headed by Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila, from Sokoto.

The members include, Hon. Sam Onuig Members of the committee, drawn from 36 states of the Federation include Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak Sa’ad, Hon. Emmanuel Akpan, Hon. Eucheria Anazodo, Hon. Haliru Dauda Jika, Hon. Daniel Henry Ofongo and Hon. Adamu Ochepo Entonu. Others are Hon. Ayuba Mohammed Bello, Hon. Edim Eta Mbora, Hon. Mrs. Onyemaechi Joan Mrakpor, Hon. Lazarus Ogbee, Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, Hon. Zakari Angulu, Hon. Ali Isa J.C., Hon. Chukwukere Austine Ikechukwu O., Hon. Saidu Yusuf Miga, Hon. Sunday Marshall Katung, Hon. Sani Rano Mohammed, Hon. Ahmed Safana Dayyabu and Hon. Mohammed Umar Jega.

Nigeria, Singapore to sign air services, tax agreements in August Wole Shadare

igeria and Singapore have concluded plans to sign agreements to strengthen their bilateral air services and curb double taxation on investments in both countries.

Nigeria has Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) with over 55 nations of the world. While very few are serviced or reciprocated, many are left fallow because of lack of capacity by Nigerian carriers to service them. The Nigeria’s Ambas-

sador to Singapore, Amb. Nonye Rajis-Okpara, said the agreement would be sealed on Aug. 4 in Singapore. She said it would ensure passenger air carriers from Nigeria and Singapore would have the authority to operate any number of air

services between and beyond both countries. According to her, the double taxation component of the agreement would clarify the taxing rights on different incomes and investments arising from cross border economic activities involving the two nations.

he Nigerian Army, again, failed to commence trial of the Commander of the now disbanded Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti and his Commanding Officers (COs). Ransome-Kuti and his COs, are to stand trial over the fall of Baga in January, after the town and the MNJTF base were overran by Boko Haram fighters. A General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison, Abuja, which was scheduled to commence trial of the accused officers on May 21, could not proceed, following an application by one of the defence counsel, who held the brief of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN). The Army could, however, not arraign the one-

star General and his COs yesterday before the Major General Ekanem-led GCM, as one of the members was said to be absent. A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said: “The Court Martial didn’t sit today, even though the General and his COs were brought to court. “Unlike last time when an adjournment was sought and obtained in order for Falana (SAN) to appear for the General, yesterday’s adjournment came as a result of the absence of one of the members of the court martial. “A new date of May 29 has now been fixed for the accused officers to be arraigned for trial proper to commence,” he said. The Nigerian Army is currently trying 579 officers and soldiers before two GCMs in Abuja and Lagos. While 473 of the accused officers and soldiers are being tried in Abuja, 106 others are standing trial before a GCM sitting at 81 Division, Lagos.

CJN harps on corrupt free judiciary Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed again yesterday stressed the need for a corrupt free judiciary as the National Judicial is poised to deal with any judge found to be corrupt. He further called on judges to treat litigants with respect, saying that a situation where judges treat court users with disdain is not acceptable. The CJN, who was addressing newly appointed judges and khadis at an induction course for new judges organised by the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, also warned judges not to allow their religious belief to influence the way they treat litigants. “The Nigerian judicia-

ry is now more prepared and more poised than ever before to rid itself of all the ugly dirt inflicted on her by unscrupulous, fraudulent and corrupt persons occupying judicial offices in Nigeria,” the CJN stated. Justice Mahmud further stated that the National Judicial Council and the respective states’ judicial service commissions have been adequately empowered to remove, with ignominy, any judicial officer or judicial staff that has chosen the path of dishonour to be corrupt and fraudulent. According to him, “In the past, some judges regarded aloofness and guffness as adding to judicial authority and the mystique of the office. “Those days are gone. Everyone who comes before the court is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect”.

TUESDAY,JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Protest as soldier shoots Fake doctor bags two years in Ondo driver over N500 bribe Babatope Okeowo

sented Danladi Sunday to testify in Duclarie’s defence. In his verdict, Dosunmu pronounced the accused guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years imprisonment from the date he was arraigned in court. The prosecution counsel, Wale Bamisile, in his reaction said that the verdict was a victory for the judiciary. Olatubosun also said the judgement was satisfactory and would also serve as a deterrent to others. According to him, the case was prolonged because of the strike embarked upon by judicial workers which lingered for about six months. He commended the magistrate for delivering judgement without bias. Olatubosun said he got information last year that some people were operating a network of hospitals with branches in Ala, Akure, Owo and Ogbese settlements of the state. The director added that the hospital had in a flier “Modern Specialist Green World Doctors now in town” and the banner was on the heath facility saying they treat various ailments and diseases. He said: “We checked our facilities and discovered they were operating illegally because all hospitals must apply for registration with the ministry and must be duly certified.” With the judgement, Olatubosun said the medical profession would work to protect the populace from the antics of charlatans who parade themselves as medical practitioners. Also reacting to the judgement, Okwuokenye said it was victory for Nigeria and the medical profession. He wondered how many people must have developed various complications from the treatment received from the fake doctor.

Akure

Trailer drivers blocking the Kaduna - Zaria Expressway …yesterday

NARROW ESCAPE A trailer driver escaped death by a whisker when a soldier shoots him for refusing to offer him N500 bribe Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ravellers and motorists were stranded on Kaduna- Zaria Expressway yesterday as trailer drivers protesting the shooting of their colleague blocked the highway since Sunday night. The yet-to-be-identified soldier alleged shot the driver, Abba Saminu, for refusing to offer him N500 bribe at a

Camillus Nnaji

ome traders at Ajah Market in Lagos wept profusely yesterday over their loss to the inferno which ripped through the market on Sunday.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

check-point close to Mararrabar Jos town around 11pm on Sunday. As the news of the shooting spread, trailer drivers protested by blocking the KadunaZaria Expressway with their vehicles. Narrating the incident from his hospital bed at St Gerald’s Hospital, Kaduna, the victim said he was on his way back to Kaduna with Irish potatoes inside the vehicle when he came across a check-point mounted by the soldiers around 10pm on Sunday. He said: “They ordered us to park. As I was about parking by the roadside, one of the soldiers demanded N500 from me. I told him I could only afford N100. So he shouted at us and ordered us out of the vehicle.” Abba added that immediately he alighted from the vehicle

another soldier slapped him. He said: “When I turned to run, I heard a gunshot and I fell down. The soldiers entered their vehicle and zoomed off. Some people later picked me in my pool of blood and rushed me to the hospital.” At the hospital, Abba’s employer, who gave his name as Alhaji Ibrahim, appealed to the military and the government to end harassment of drivers by soldiers. The state Secretary, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Babangida Mohammed, also appealed to his fellow drivers not to always resort to blocking the highway whenever they have a dispute with the authorities. According to him, innocent travellers always suffer as a result of such actions.

30-year-old man, Mr Wembe Duclarie, was yesterday sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court for pretending to a medical practitioner and operating illegal hospitals. Duclarie had been operating four hospitals in different parts of Ondo State before the long arm of the law caught with him almost two years ago. The Chief Magistrate, Olubunmi Dosunmu, said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the accused held himself out as a medical doctor without a requisite qualification and also administered treatment to people when he was not eligible to do so. The accused, a Cameroonian, was arrested in April, 2014 and charged to court on a single-count charge of holding himself out as a medical doctor without requisite qualification or registration contrary to Section 17(1) and punishable under Section 17(5) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014. During the trial, which lasted two years, the prosecution called four witnesses to testify in proof of the charge while the accused called only one witness. Some of the witnesses included a police corporal, Egunjobi Sunday; Hope Olajide; Dr Obaado Olatubosun, director, Hospital Services, Ondo State Ministry of Health and chairman Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Monitoring Committee in the state and Dr Henry Okwuokenye, assistant registrar and head of Inspectorate Division, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Abuja. The defence counsel also pre-

Ajah market fire victims recount losses The market, which is home to assorted goods including electronics, cloths, shoes, bags and generators, was in a shambles yesterday. When our correspondent visited the market, smoke was still coming out of few burnt shops, while there was gridlock on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway. An electronics dealer, who gave his name simply as Eze, said he lost everything he had worked for.

He said: “I am finished. What I have laboured for over the years has gone in one day. I stocked goods worth over N15 million and that has gone. Where am I going to start from again?” Another victim, who did not give his name, said she was selling and sowing cloths in her shop, which was razed down. She said: “I am a single mother with three children. Everything has been lost to this fire. I don’t know where the governor

can start from to help us.” Another victim, identified as Chidi, said the fire took the traders unawares because it happened on Sunday. He said: “On Sundays, majority of us are usually in the church. Because of that, we could not do anything to save our goods. Besides, when the fire broke out, it was raining. We appeal to the government to come and help us because we don’t know where to People clearing their burnt shops at Ajah market, Lagos…yesterday. start from.”

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY,JUNE 16, 2015

City Briefs Police arrest newspaper vendors in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere Abakaliki

olice in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, yesterday arrested six newspaper vendors on Ogoja Road and Ezza Road for reasons yet to be ascertained. When our correspondent visited the Area Command Headquarters on Ezza Road, the policemen on duty confirmed the arrest but said they had no authority to comment of the issue. When contacted on the phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Chris Anyanwu, said he was not aware of the matter. He promised to call our correspondent as soon as he got details from thee area command. However, the PPRO did not call at press time.

PCC facilitates release of 10 awaiting trial inmates

he Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has secured the release of 10 people awaiting trial in Anambra State. The Federal Commissioner representing the state in the PCC, Dr Angela Mbah, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday. According to her, the release of the inmates while briefing newsmen on the release from the three prisons in the state by the state Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, was facilitated by PCC through her own intervention. Mbah, who expressed concern over the plight of awaiting trials in prisons across the country, called for greater collaboration among relevant government agencies to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. She commended Umeadi for setting the inmates free while entreating state CJs to make prison visit more regularly in order to reduce the number of innocent Nigerians languishing in prisons. Mbah also promised to redouble her efforts in checking administrative injustice and securing redress for the victimised and the aggrieved in line with the mandate of the commission. She called on the people to continue to take advantage of the PCC as a platform to secure redress for administrative injustice.

Madam Fadesere dies at 79

he Fadesere family of Ile-Oba Compound, Iree, Osun State has announced the death of their matriarch, Mrs Grace Modupe Fadesere JP. Fadesere, who died at 79, was a devout Catholic, a papal medalist and Iya-Ijo of St. Benedict Catholic Cathedral, Osogbo, Osun State. During her lifetime, the deceased was a school teacher, an administrator and a public commentator. She was former caretaker chairperson of Ila Local Government Area of Osun State and was YeyeOba of Iludun Ekiti. She is survived by a brother, children and grandchildren.

Proprietor, 70, defiles eight-year-old pupil Taiwo Jimoh

70-year-old school proprietor, Mr Isaac Iniasek, has been arrested by policemen attached to Igbogbo Police Division in Ikorodu area of Lagos State for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old pupil in his school. It was gathered that after the school hour on that fateful day, Iniasek asked the girl (name withheld) to go into his office and tidy it up. It was in the process of doing that the suspect pounced on the girl, tore her pants and defiled her. The incident happened at number 31, Eturenren Street, on the premises of the Brighter Glory School. The victim’s aunt, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said when the girl’s friend and her younger sister waited outside for a while, they went inside the proprietor’s office to check what was happening. According to her, they met Iniasek on top of the girl. She said: “Immediately they entered the office, the proprietor ran out of his office, while the girl was

Lagos CP, Kayode Aderanti

bleeding profusely from her private part. “They raised the alarm which attracted others. When we got to the school, the girl was still in a pool of blood. “We took her to a private hospital where it was confirmed that she was defiled. They showed us the semen which was brought out from her private part.” A resident of the area, who

also has a child in the school, claimed that was not the first time the proprietor had done that. She said: “A similar incident had happened in the school. The owner of the school was said to have inserted his finger into the private part of some girls.” The woman urged the Lagos State Government to do background verification on

schools before given them approval. The victim’s father described the proprietor as a disgrace. He said: “The girl was supposed to be his granddaughter. It was after the incident that I got to know that my daughter was not the only girl that had been assaulted by the man. “I want the man prosecuted to serve as lesson to others who may want to take after him.” When our correspondent visited the school, the suspect’s son, who craved anonymity, described what happened as the handiwork of the devil. He said: “What befell my father was a strange influence. My father is married, what would he derive from sleeping with the little girl?” When contacted on the phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed Iniasek’s arrest. He said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, for further investigation.

Court remands two suspected homosexuals

Eche Nwaobasi Nnewi

Chief Magistrates’ Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, presided over by Mr Nkemdilim Ike, yesterday remanded two persons in prison custody for alleged homosexual activities. The accused, Ebuka Anyasi (23) and Michael Ikegbunam (19), as well as oth-

ers still a large, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit felony by having carnal knowledge of Ifechukwu Okafor (14) and Tagbo Chukwuma, as well as locking both victims in conferment while the unnatural act lasted for seven days. Anyasi, Ikegbunam and others still at large carried out the unnatural act between 2010 and June 6, 2015 on Okolonji Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, Anmabra State. The two men, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge against them. The lead defence counsel, John Chukwuma, prayed the court to grant the accused bail since the offence was ‘bailable’. He said: “There is no need to further detain my clients, since before the law, they are innocent and their accusers have no evidence to proof the case.” The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Clem Nwancho, opposed the plea for bail. Nwancho said that some of the members in the cartel of homosexuals who were caught with the accused and granted bail by the police were nowhere to be found.

He said: “Your worship, it is clear that they would jump bail and abscond as others have done and they are at large now.” Also, the lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Godwin Mmadubuko, objected to the bail application, insisting that they would not be faithful to appear before the court when necessary. He said; “Keeping them out of custody, within the society, would endanger the lives of the victims, their families and the society at large since they would gang-up with their cartel to harm others.” In her running, Ike directed the counsel for the defence and plaintiffs to submit a written application for bail and against bail before June 22. She also directed the police prosecutor to investigate whether government health facilities can run medical test for the indigent free of charge and report to her before June 17. The magistrate further directed that the accused be remanded in Onitsha Prison till June 22, when she would determine the written applications of the counsel in the matter.

Living Faith pastor’s abductors inviting God’s wrath –PFN Clement James Calabar

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has warned that the abductors of a pastor of the Living Faith Church, Seyi Adekunle, were inviting the wrath of God on themselves. Adekunle, the Airport branch pastor of the Living Faith Church, was kidnapped in Calabar, Cross River State on Saturday

evening in his office on the church premises by armed men. But in a statement yesterday, the state Chairman of PFN, Pastor Lawrence Ekwok and Secretary, Apostle Frank Umo, demanded Adekunle’s immediate release. The statement reads in part: “As the wrath of God is upon you for that act, this is more so as the pastor was kidnapped at the time he and others were praying and

seeking the face of God for the good of the people of the state and country at large.” According to PFN, the action of the kidnappers is not only repulsive but devilish. “Any attempt by any group of people to want to make blood money by the kidnap of servants of God is highly condemnable and a grievous sin which attracts the wrath of God,” it warned. PFN, therefore, called on the police and other security

agencies to work round the clock to ensure the pastor’s immediate release. Meanwhile, a member of the church, who did not want his name in print, said no demand had been made so far and that no contact had been established with the abductors. He said: “We are yet to hear from the pastor or his captors and we have been praying fervently that God should keep him safe wherever they have taken him.”

News

SOUTH-WEST

TUESDAY,JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode sacks heads of 82 parasatals, agencies

lNames Abimbola Umar as Accountant-General Motor Vehicle AdministraMuritala Ayinla

he much-anticipated massive shake up in the Lagos State Government civil service got underway yesterday as the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, relieved all members, boards of parastatals and agencies of government in the state of their jobs. The governor, however, exempted three agencies namely: Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the

state Independent Electoral Commission. The governor has also approved the appointment of Mrs. Abimbola Shukrat Umar, as the new Accountant-General of the State. New Telegraph had exclusively reported that there were anxiety in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, following serious underground moves to remove some head of agencies perceived to be loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Babatunde

Fashola, from offices. By implication of yesterday’s dissolution of the boards of the agencies, no fewer than 82 head of agencies were affected as the governor ordered immediate dissolution of the boards of agencies which include: Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, Lagos traffic Management Authority, Lagos State Public Service Club, Lagos Television, Lagos Metropolitan Dev. & Governance Project, Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund, L/ State

tion Agency,Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture. Also affected are Lagos State University, LASU, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Lagos State Waterways Authority,Health Facility Monitoring & Accreditation Agency, Lagos State Internal Revenue Services. L/ State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAGBUS Asset Management Limited.

Governor Ambode, however, commended the modest contributions of the members of the dissolved Boards, just as he wished them well in their future endeavours. New Telegraph learnt that the need to sack the boards’ members was delaying the governor from commencing some of his reform agenda to take the state to the next level. It was also learnt that some agencies and ministries would be collapsed into one while new ones will be created to reduce the cost of governance.

Ekiti uncovers 1,000 ghost workers Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Government has said that its ongoing workers verification exercise in the civil service of the state has revealed over 1000 ghost workers out of which 250 were already dead. This development was unraveled as the state government reiterated that all workers screened and cleared during the exercise have been paid their April salary. This was stated by the Special Assistant, Public Communication to the Governor, Lere Olayinka, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday. Olayinka, who was reacting to a statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman in the state, Taiwo Olatubosun, that Governor Ayo Fayose, was taking too long to verify state workers and deceiving the public servants, advised the APC to first remove the log in its eyes before looking at the tiny toothpicks in another party’s eyes. “What the APC is up to is shameful. Their claim that the governor is deceiving workers is bolderdash. It is time the APC stopped acting shamelessly. “Over 250 workers that are already dead have been receiving salary through the e-payment system introduced and contracted to a Lagosbased company by the immediate past APC government. “The APC should first remove the timber in its eyes before aspiring to remove the toothpicks in other people’s eyes. The party should prevail on its governors in neighbouring states to pay workers that are owed as much as eight months salary,” he said.

L-R: Director-General/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Nwakaegho Elemo; National President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Mrs. Nnoli Akpedeye; Chief Executive Officer, Mojec International, Ms. Chatelle Abdul; Managing Director, Independent Power Project, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Lanre Opakunle and Chairperson, APWEN, Lagos chapter, Ms. Nimot Muili, during APWEN’s Public Lecture/Award in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Osun owes N480bn, says Omisore lIts a fraudulent debt figure –Aregbesola Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Osun State and the former chairman of Senate committee on Finance and Appropriation, Senator Iyiola Omisore, yesterday put the current debt profile of the state under the present administration at N480 billion. Omisore, while speaking to newsmen yesterday in his country home, Ile-ife, explained that the debts accrued from loans

obtained from the Federal government, banks and other financial institutions. “The debt profile of the state presently stands at N480 billion and only drastic reduction in the government overhead cost can save the state.” “I have predicted three years ago that Osun was running a deficit budget and what the state is experiencing presently is a result of poorly managed resources”. Meanwhile, the Head, Bureau of Communication for governor Aregbesola, Mr. Semiu Oka-

lawon, maintained that Omisore has merely demonstrated further the mischief and ignorance he was known for, with the fraudulent N480 billion debt figure he alleged. “Omisore’s fabricated N480 billion loan figure exposes his ignorance in matters of finance, he has also demonstrated his mischief in the outright lies in his figures.” Okanlawon said “If it is not crime for a state government to source for funds for the development of the state, Omisore needs to tell us why states under the ad-

ministration of his party, the PDP, are among the debtor states in Nigeria.’’ Omisore noted that the Aregbesola administration did not use the state funds for the purposes they were obtained, stating that the monies were spent on self-aggrandizement, which include monies for road contracts inflated by 90 percent. He said, ‘’for instance, the Gbongan-Akoda Road; Osogbo-Ila-OdoKwara Boundary Road were quoted at the cost of N102 billion while they were still in terrible states.’’

Doctors lambast Fashola over non-payment of outstanding salaries Esther Albert

octors in the employment of the Lagos State Government have decried former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, for his refusal to pay outstanding salaries owed them under his administration. In a statement issued by the Medical Guild

and jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. ‘Biyi Kufo and Secretary, Dr. Sunday Luro respectively, the doctors expressed regret over the conduct of the former governor, whom they described as a duplicitous personality, lacking honour and integrity. They decried the situation where the former governor had

earlier promised to pay the outstanding salaries owed the doctors only to refuse to do so, before quitting office. Similarly, the doctors noted that Fashola’s tenure as governor brought several crises in the health sector in the state, than was witnessed during all previous administrations before it.

The grouse of Lagos doctors stemmed from the former governor’s blatant refusal to honour his own gentleman’s promise to pay the doctors’ outstanding salaries despite the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, which they said urged the ex-governor to fulfill his promise.

PDP not informed about Ambode’s asset declaration, says Lagos APC

he Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not well informed on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s declaration of assets. The Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in a statement in Lagos, described the demands of the PDP as ‘uncoordinated thought’. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, had on Sunday called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, to publicly declare his assets on or before June 29 or be regarded as a ‘pretender governor’. It had made the call in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani. The APC, in its own statement, however, said that the Lagos PDP needed to be aware of the constitutional provisions regarding asset declaration before making such demands. ‘’PDP Lagos continues to make us believe it exists in Lagos where it has been dealt serious electoral blows year in year out. ‘’This can only be the fruits of uncoordinated thoughts or a way of expressing their electoral frustration.

DPR seals Lagos filling station

fficials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday in Lagos sealed-up a fuel station located along Lagos/ Abeokuta expressways for allegedly dispensing water as petrol to motorists. Eye witnesses said that the fraudulent action of the petrol station management allegedly damaged over 12 vehicle engines, because their petrol tanks were criminally filled with water. A source said the fuel station, which is alleged to be a family business, was first named, General Oil petrol station. “When their father died, there was tussle in the family over the man’s property and the petrol station happened to be one of the properties in contention,” an attendant confided in our correspondent. It was also gathered that since the demise of its founding owner, the station has had to change name thrice. “First it was General petrol station, Iwa petrol station and presently IYT petrol station.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Ortom vs Suswam

Debt burden

National Assembly

Benue: Supremacy battle goes on

Umahi’s lamentation

Why Ekweremadu won’t resign as DSP

Politics

Speakership: Why Gbajabiamila lost out

The emergence of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as speaker of the House of Representatives was a huge shock to the All Progressives Congress (APC). PHILIP NYAM recounts how and why the party’s anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was defeated

fter weeks of intrigues and horse trading, the Eighth House of Representatives was eventually inaugurated last Tuesday with elections of presiding officers. The outcome of the election is a bitter pill for the governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to swallow because it is in sharp contrast to the expectations of its leadership. Hon. Yakubu Dogara representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State in defiance to the party’s directive contested and beat the former minority leader and preferred candidate of the party, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere federal constituency of Lagos by 182 to 174 votes. The election was peaceful in spite of the tension it generated. The prelims On the morning of the election, within and around the National Assembly complex was tensed. The heavy and intimidating presence of security personnel made up of police, civil defence

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Gbajabiamila confering with Dogara after his election as the Speaker of the House of Representatives on June 9.

corps, Road Safety, Department of State Service (DSS) and Sergeant at Arms was visible at all the entrances to the National Assembly. Apart from the lawmakers, no one was allowed access to the chambers until about 9:30a.m. when they started screening people into the complex. Even at that, National Assembly staff, journalists, family members and friends of the lawmakers had to park their cars at the Federal Secretariat for those coming from the entrance at the National Arcade while the gate from the Presidential Villa axis was shut. The entrance from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was also closed and only staff of the office were allowed in. In the chambers In the chambers, the gallery was filled to the brim and members-elect were in ecstatic mood. At 10:04a.m., Gbajabiamila walked into the chambers amidst cheers from his supporters with the chants of ‘sai Gbaja’ meaning it is Gbaja we want. But while his supporters shouted ‘sai Gbaja’ Dogara’s supporters responded ‘sai Dogara’. Shortly after, Dogara

sauntered in at 10:11a.m. and the chant from his supporters was deafening. Hon. Tahir Mohammed Monguno, who contested against the deputy speaker, Hon. Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun arrived the chambers at 10:18a.m. and he received a rousing welcome too.

Gbajabiamila was the candidate to beat... his excellent performance as minority leader for eight years placed him a step ahead of Dogara

Proclamation At exactly 12:35p.m., the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa proclaimed the 8th House by reading a short message from President Muhammadu Buhari. He thereafter directed the clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed SaniOmolori to conduct a roll call of the members-elect. The roll call lasted till 1:03p.m. At 12:41p.m., Dogara’s name was called and the House went into frenzy again. Monguno’s name was called at 12:43p.m., while Gbajabiamila’s turn came at 12:52p.m. and Lasun’s at 12:58p.m. The exercise ended at 1:02p.m. and the clerk immediately called for nominations for the position of speaker. Before calling for nominations, the clerk announced that there were 358 members present while one was absent. One member had died about two weeks earlier.

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) was the first to nominate. He nominated Dogara and went on to read a brief citation on him but was interrupted by Gbajabiamila’s supporters who shouted him down. The nomination was seconded by Hon. Chike John Okafor (APC, Imo). For Gbajabiamila, Hon. Mohammed Sani Abdul (APC, Bauchi) made the nomination while Hon. Philip Shuaibu (APC, Edo) seconded. Gbajabiamila’s nomination was at 1:15p.m. While Dogara accepted his nomination at 1:09p.m., Gbajabiamila accepted his at 1:23p.m. and voting commenced at exactly 1:25p.m. and lasted until 3:32p.m. Counting commenced at 3:37p.m. and ended at 4:49p.m. At the end of the counting, Dogara got 182 as against Gbajabiamila’s 174 votes. The clerk announced the result at 5:02p.m. and consequently swore in Dogara as speaker. For the position of deputy speaker, Lasun from Osun State defeated Monguno from Borno State. Lasun scored 205 votes while Monguno got 153 votes. But before the election of deputy CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Benue: Supremacy battle goes on CEPHAS IORHEMEN writes on the supremacy battle between Governor Samuel Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam over enthronement and dethronement of traditional chiefs in Benue State

he battle for the control of power in Benue State by the immediate past governor, Gabriel Suswam and his successor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has continued to dominate discussions in the state. In Benue, it has become a stock in trade for governors who have left office to engage their successors in fierce political battles as evident in the case of George Akume and Suswam who till today, have maintained strained relationship all in the struggle for the control of the soul of the state. Akume was instrumental to the emergence of Suswam as governor in 2007, but soon after the deal was done and Suswam took over the helm of affairs, he instigated a political ‘cold war’ against his political godfather, Akume, by first sacking the ‘remnants’ of appointees left behind by his predecessor and replaced them with his foot soldiers. A similar situation is currently playing out in the state as former Governor Suswam and his successor, Ortom, appear not to be seeing eye-to-eye with each other over what can best be described as supremacy tussle. But the Suswam/Ortom imbroglio started way back during the electioneering when Suswam did all he could to frustrate Ortom who was then contesting the gubernatorial race on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform with his anointed candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor. Suswam called Ortom names to disparage him before the public, some of the reasons which made Ortom to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he contested and emerged governor. Even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ortom winner as governor-elect, Suswam thought it was a nightmare, but had no choice as he was the first to put a phone call to congratulate Ortom over his victory. But what followed closely after that gesture was the setting up of booby traps by the former governor through discreet massive recruitment into the state civil service, appointment of traditional rulers and the hurried constitution of local government caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state, apparently as a strategy to plant his structures. The traditional rulers were

Ortom

Suswam

Torkula

Abomtse

appointed in the five major Tiv speaking blocs including Kwande, MINDA, Jechira, Jemgbagh, and Sankera where his elder brother, Terkula Suswam was allegedly imposed on the people. Under that arrangement, the Tor Tiv was to be regarded as a paramount ruler of the Tiv nation and would be classless with the five new first class chiefs (including his brother) answerable to him. Suswam, who did that as a deliberate way of settling his brother, said his decision to appoint the chiefs was borne out of the realisation that Tiv land is large and populated enough to enjoy such an opportunity as done in other states in the country. He said: “When the institution finally takes off, they would add credibility and honour to the traditional institution in Tiv land as well as provide room for unity and peace.” The former governor also dethroned the Ter Tyoshin and chairman, Nagi Traditional Council of Chiefs, Daniel Ayua Abomtse and replaced him with Chief Edwin Nienge in that office over alleged “acts of gross misconduct and embarrassment to the Tiv Area Traditional Council.” But Abomtse had revealed that Suswam decided to remove him because he had voted for Ortom

Suswam... was the first to put a phone call to congratulate Ortom over his victory. But what followed closely after that gesture was the setting up of booby traps

and President Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 and April 11 governorship and presidential elections. Abomtse stated that as a prelude to his removal, Suswam had ordered security operatives to forcefully eject him from a lodge located within the Government House premises where he was staying as a result of sustained Fulani attacks on his palace in Naka. New Telegraph learnt that before the appointment of the chiefs were made, the state High Court presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande had slammed a court injunction on the state government restraining Suswam and eight others from doing so. Justice Hwande had ordered the respondents through their agents from giving effect to the State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils Bill/Law passed by the House of Assembly on April 7, 2015 pending the determination of the motion on notice. He also restrained the respondents or their agents from appointing or taking any step towards the appointment of any person to the office of the proposed first class chiefs, but Suswam, who had a few days to leave office as governor, hurriedly confirmed the appointments; an act which was deemed as contempt of court.

This triggered condemnation especially in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of the Tiv people as hundreds of youths, market women and other groups took to the streets in protest against the appointments. They accused the former governor of causing hardship to the people through nonpayment of salaries and trying to create more problems for his successor. They also condemned the appointments of Suswam’s elder brother, Terkura, as a first class traditional ruler. Other beneficiaries of the appointments include: Chief Ambrose Iortyer as Tor Kwande, Chief Ajoko Afaityo as Tor Jemgbagh, Chief Goddy Ikyereve as Tor Gwer, and Chief Moses Anageende as Tor Lobi. But Governor Ortom in his wisdom, feels that it was wrong for Suswam to employ more people in the state civil service and appoint the chiefs he cannot pay, more so that he was owing salaries of workers from four to six months. To him, the appointments were rather booby traps. Apparently miffed by the development, Ortom ordered the withdrawal of first class stools conferred on the five chiefs. He also stopped the over 4,000 lastCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the debt burden inherited by Ebonyi State governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, from his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi

Umahi’s lamentation

n May 29, the Abakaliki township stadium was filled to the brim by Ebonyians from across the 13 local government areas of the state. It was the day Engr. Dave Umahi was sworn in as the third democratic governor of Ebonyi State by the state Chief Judge, Justice Aloy Nwankwo. After the fanfare, the governor on assumption of office, started holding series of meetings and consultations with stakeholders across the state to intimate them on the financial status of the state. To put the record straight, the governor made it clear that his administration has inherited huge non-service contracts and backlog of unpaid salaries to civil servants both at the state and local governments as well as uncompleted projects scattered all over the state from the immediate past administration of Martin Elechi. Umahi, had in his inaugural speech after taking oath of office described the situation as challenging. He said: “Our skilled and manpower base is limited placing a huge burden of capacity building on us, uncompleted projects in state are vast and spread across the entire landscape each carrying liabilities in hundreds of millions if not in billions of naira. “The state is swimming in a large sea of debt especially of unpaid and accumulated salaries to our civil servants both at the state and local government levels. We are stepping into governance with serious financial challenges and negative balance sheet. “These inherited liabilities, combined with our manifesto pledges are going to challenge us in dimensions that cannot be predicted. Elimination of waste, prevention of corruption, intelligent rationing of limited resources, and accelerated exploitation of our natural endowment will see us through,” he said The governor stated that the state debt profile stood at over N50 billion. Umahi called on the people of the state to pray for his administration to overcome the challenges posed by the high debt profile inherited from the past regime. Although, the state governor had applauded the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi State chapter for contributing to his victory, he called for constant prayers and collaboration to enable him offset inherited debt from the past administration. Umahi reiterated his preparedness to ensure that those who embezzled state government fund and defected to other political parties few days to the end of the immediate past administration should get prepared to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Cor-

Umahi

Elechi

rupt practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). He lamented that the funds embezzled by those who worked for the past administration are funds meant for the development of the state, just as he reiterated his commitment to make Ebonyi State the most viable economy-driven state in Nigeria. He said: “Those who embezzled state government money and defected to other political parties just few days to end the last administration must vomit it whether they like it or not. “Ebonyi State shall be a leading economy-driven state in the nation. Not minding that we came in and inherited huge debt but God will help us to surpass it.” Umahi further preached peace and unity to reign in the state, stressing that will make his administration to succeed and fulfil all its campaign promises to the people of the state. Umahi recalled that if not the encouragement of his wife and men of God who stood by him, he would have not become governor.

The state is swimming in a large sea of debt especially of unpaid and accumulated salaries

He recalled how he was before the general elections offered a senatorial ticket to deter him from participating in the governorship election. “It is not an easy thing to fight a sitting governor and become victorious. Although, I love my former boss and friend, Martin Elechi with all my heart, I urge Divine Mandate Family to forgive all that worked against us, if we want to progress,” the governor said. Earlier in his sermon, Evangelist Uma Ukpai called on all politicians in the state irrespective of their political differences to work together for the interest and development of the state. He stressed that in unity, the state will witness uncommon progress, fruitfulness and divine blessings of God. At another forum, the governor reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance to corruption. While swearing-in the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Head of Service, Chief of Staff and acting chairman of the Traditional Ruling Council at the Akanu Ibiam International Con-

ference Centre, Abakaliki, Umahi stated that the fight against corruption involves everybody. According to him, if corruption is routed, the revenue of the state would increase tremendously and what is meant for the people would get to them. He pointed out that no great nation became great with corruption side by side and warned that state government would not take it light with civil servants who don’t go to work as they are prepared to look into the ministries, parastatals and agencies to know the areas that are overstaffed as to deploy them to the agricultural sector. The governor disclosed that government took into consideration the issue of equitable distribution of resources and positions and had to spread the appointments accordingly. He lamented that the state capital was too dirty and needs cleaning. Umahi stated that the state government would not hesitate to borrow money from the bank to clear the refuse dumps across the state.

Supremacy battle goes on in Benue C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

minute recruitments into the civil service. Ortom, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Targema Takema, said no further action should be taken on the matter until the determination of the substantive motion before the High Court is decided. “Any person or group of persons parading himself or herself as first class chiefs in the Tiv Area Traditional Council are by this announcement urged to comply.” He also approved the dis-

solution of the 23 caretaker committees constituted by Suwam in the twilight of his administration and directed them to handover to the DGSA’s of their various local governments to enhance what he called a smooth governance at the third tier levels. According to Ortom, the reversals became inevitable in view of the backlog of salaries and allowances in the state coupled with the empty treasury he met on assumption of office. Governor Ortom has also reinstated Abomtse. The traditional ruler was formally reinstalled at a co-

lourful ceremony in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area. Speaking at the reception in his honour, Abomtse said he has forgiven Suswam and the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula, whose combined effort led to his deposition over 30 days ago. He said: “I bear no grudge, ill feelings against the former governor and my father, Tor Tiv. Their combined actions make me to be the first chief to be deposed in the present Benue and the first to be reinstalled to office within 35 days by a man of God, Samuel Ortom.” However, those in support

of Suswam’s idea stressed the propensity for the upgrading of the traditional system. To them, the Tiv people have met up with their counterpart from other parts of the country, especially in the North where for instance, the Emir who is the chairman of the traditional council and other first class chiefs always attend the traditional rulers’ meeting with him, while Benue has only the Tor Tiv and Och’Idoma in attendance. They stressed the need for the people to jettison political sentiments and warned against imposition of some persons on the people.

Politics

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

speaker, there was some confusion in the camp of Speaker Dogara as former deputy leader, Hon. Leo Ogor of the PDP who had earlier entered into an unwritten agreement with the Consolidation Group to cede the position to the minority PDP. But when the clerk called for nominations, Ogor was surprised that a member of the group nominated Lasun and another seconded. Lasun even accepted the nomination. A second nomination from the Gbajabiamila camp came and Ogor became restless. While some of them had insisted that Ogor be nominated, others disagreed that since the South-West lost in the speaker’s bid, it should be allowed to produce the deputy. The tension generated by this became so intense that Dogara had to intervene. Ogor was heard shouting “this was not the agreement” but he was prevailed upon to back down on the contest. Why Gbajabiamila lost Before the elections, Gbajabiamila was the candidate to beat because apart from being the party’s preferred choice, his excellent performance as minority leader for eight years placed him a step ahead of Dogara. In terms of ranking, he was also ranked higher that Dogara because he came to the House in 2003, while Dogara was first elected in 2007. In spite of this seeming advantage he had over Dogara, Gbajabiamila lost 174 to 182 in the speakership election. Several factors were responsible for the inability of the Lagos-born lawmaker to cross the rubicon; and these factors are both remote and immediate. One of the remote causes of Gbajabiamila’s failure was his affiliation to the national leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu was alleged to be the political foster father of Gbajabiamila and it was rumoured that his speakership would be controlled from Lagos. This allegation was exploited effectively by his opponents who cited many other positions Tinubu is believed to have influenced over them. He is alleged to have singlehandedly nominated the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; he also facilitated the election of Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; his wife is a senator and that the national chairman of APC, Chief John odigie-Oyegun is also his candidate. With these statistics being reeled out, the campaign was rife against Gbajabiamila and even people who admired him as a person were sceptical and could not cast their votes for him. The conspiracy from the opposition PDP was also at the root of the problem encountered by Gbajabiamila’s candidature. The PDP, which had been badly wounded in the just-concluded election by the APC, saw the internal bickering within the ruling party as a means to latch on its and pay it back in its own coin. Gbajabiamila was also fooled by the over reliance on the numerical strength of the APC. The APC has 213 members while the PDP controls 140 with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Accord, Labour Party and All Progres-

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Factors that truncated Gbajabiamila’s ambition

Buhari

Osinbajo

sives Grand Alliance (APGA) controlling the remaining numbers and he need just 181 votes to win the election. Hence on several occasion, Gbajabiamila had declared that: “I can win with only APC votes, although I don’t want such a situation because if only the APC votes for me, it will be legal but not legitimate. All we need is 181 votes and I am sure I can get that.” Of course, Gbajabiamilah had assurances of over 200 members who had appended their signatures to register their support. Additionally, at the APC, mock election, he scored 153 votes meaning that he required only 28 votes to coast home to victory on June 9. But this is politics and things do not add up mathematically; and it never occurred to the Gbajabiamila group that the election was through secret balloting where lawmakers could change

Tinubu

Odigie-Oyegun

I can win with only APC votes... All we need is 181 votes and I am sure I can get that

Ogor

their minds without anybody’s consent. Worst of all, Gbajabimaila was accused of not being diplomatic in his lobbying according to his colleagues from the PDP. He did not exhibit political sagacity in his campaign particularly in relation to opposition lawmakers. Some lawmakers from the PDP had made some demands as condition to support his candidature but he could not handle it diplomatically hence losing their support to Dogara. A good case was that of Hon. Nnenna ElenduUkeje (PDP, Abia) who became a key mover of the Dogara’s Consolidation Group. Elendu-Ukeje had approached Gbajabiamila on the condition that if she supports him, she should be made chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts. But Gbajabiamila told her bluntly that he cannot guarantee her any par-

ticular committee at that stage because the responsibility rest squarely with the Selection Committee. The lady walked away and joined the Dogara camp. This is a well-known fact and Gbajabiamila confirmed this story when he met with the PDP caucus to market his candidature. There were many of such cases where Gbajabiamila was not politically sagacious. This was his greatest undoing. Conversely, Dogara was more diplomatic in his approach welcoming all manner of requests even though many of such demands will not be implemented now that he is speaker. This is the road that the speaker of the House never had travelled on from March to June 9, 2015. As a minority leader, Gbajabiamila was excellent and will certainly do well as House Leader.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Nicolas Ozor

lthough the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his Deputy, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives have expectedly not gone down well with some quarters, it has been widely celebrated across the nation as democracy and independence of the legislature in action. While there are some innocuous concerns arising from the Ekweremadu re-election, there are also several outright mischief going on. For instance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) or elements within it, appear most incoherent and mischievous about the whole drama, a clear sign that they are still dazed by the development. Otherwise, how do you explain their double standard in affirming the election of Saraki, while claiming that Ekweremadu’s election was improper, even with more number of senators voting? How do you also explain the call by some disgruntled APC senators who go by the name Senate Unity Forum for Ekweremadu’s resignation? Whereas one can easily agree that it is not common for lawmakers from minority parties in parliament to be elected presiding officers, Ekweremadu’s reelection not only has precedents, which even the APC has benefitted from, but is also part of the wind of change blowing through the polity for good. When the Benue State House of Assembly made up of 15 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 14 APC lawmakers (Minority), elected Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange of the APC as the Speaker of the House of Assembly and Hon. James Ejembi of PDP as deputy, it was change in action. When events in the Plateau State House of Assembly also saw a ranking member of the Assembly, Hon. Peter Azi of the APC emerge the Speaker at the expense of the PDP, which has 13 seats as against APC’s 11 seats, it still change. Although the developments in states assembly might not have received adequate national media mentions, they are nevertheless noteworthy, especially in interrogating the Ekweremadu reemergence. The first question is whether the emerging leadership structures in these states assembly and the National Assembly is democratic. I would say yes. Democracy, they say, is a game of number. It is about liberty. It is about choices. As was rightly pointed out by the APC National Publicity Secretary, the veteran Alhaji Lai Mohammed during the movement of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, from PDP to APC, all these point to the fact that our democracy is growing by the day. It shows that our democracy is dynamic. It also facilitates a balanced setting in government, which in itself is good for democracy. I mean, according to Alhaji Mohammed. And I buy into this. But what baffles one is why APC is comfortable with the Benue and Plateau scenarios, but un-

Why Ekweremadu won’t resign as DSP

L-R: Senate President Bukola Saraki; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Senator George Sekibo; and Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, during the swearing-In last Tuesday.

comfortable with Ekweremadu’s democratic election. But are these developments legal? I would also say “yes”. The Nigerian Constitution in Section 50 (1)(a) says “There shall be a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.” There is no caveat that it should be from the majority party. Also, the claim by the Senate Unity Forum that Ekweremadu ought to have been elected by at least 55 Senators, whereas he was elected by 54 is pure fallacy. Once a quorum (two-thirds) is formed, presiding officers of the National Assembly are elected by a simple majority. Even if they insist it must be 55, they seem to forget that the Senate is short by one member following the demise of late Senator Ahmed Zannah. Going further, do these developments enjoy the backing of history and precedence? Yes, Tambuwal’s defected in 2014 meant that Nigeria had an APC Speaker and PDP Deputy Speaker in the person of Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. We also had Joseph Wayas of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) heading the Senate in the Second Republic, whilst Chief Umezoke of the NPP (NPP was third in number of seats) headed the House of Representatives. The minority party also headed the Cross Rivers House of Assembly in 1991. Have presiding officers of the National Assembly ever emerged

Whoever thinks the party is toothless and deserved nothing in the Senate is living in a political Fool’s Paradise

against the wishes of their party’s leadership? Yes. The Tambuwal Vs. Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande scenario in 2011 answers that adequately. Interestingly, it was perfected with the support of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which has melted into the APC. They gave a block vote to the Tambuwal/Ihedioha ticket, just like the PDP lawmakers did in the case of Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara. Will the emergence of a PDP man as the Deputy President of the Senate obstruct or even sabotage the programmes of the Buhari administration as alleged? No. Senate is a game of number and the presiding officer has no vote. He only breaks ties where necessary. But importantly, it all depends on the political and psychological temperaments of the individual involved. Even a presiding officer of your own party can as well sabotage your programmes. The PDP is a typical example. For the most part of the 16 years it was in power, the PDP was both the majority and opposition party in parliament. From Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, we always had the leadership of at least one chamber at loggerheads and working at cross-purposes with the presidency. If some of his public comments are anything to go by, it is safe to say that Ekweremadu favours a responsible opposition. For instance, in his widely published address to his con-

stituents after the presidential and National Assembly polls, Ekweremdu said: “It needs to be reiterated, however, that the South-East PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and the overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular.” During the recent retreat by PDP National Assembly Members-elect in Port Harcourt, Ekweremadu was also to caution against destructive opposition. He told his colleagues: “But, let me quickly add that ours should not be an opposition that sees nothing good in any government action or policy. We should not engage in market square propaganda and destructive criticism that turn truth upside-down or tends to incite the citizenry against the government in power…. So, we must oppose responsibly and patriotically. We must play by the rules and stick to verifiable facts. The PDP lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly should hold the ruling APC accountable on each of its campaign promises…. “We should also provide policy alternatives, dissect every execCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Hajia Habiba's heart of gold Tope Noah

abiba Abubakar, a multipleaward winning strategist,a united Nation peace Ambassador,a delectable woman of essence and a kind-hearted social crusader is one woman who is very popular in Abuja and its environs for her philanthropic gestures. She is the founder of Foundation for the elderly and the poor(EAP). This NGO was founded in 2006 by this noble woman who will perfectly be considered as a Nigerian mother Teresa. The charity does not solicit or accept monetary donation from individual,Government and private organisation. lt is solely financed by her. This amiable and respected mother of three supports the elderly by ensuring that they are comfortable with the basic needs of life such as food,shelter, clothing materials etc

She also provides financial assistance to the poor and other less priviledged in our society through her NGO She provides orphans with the primary needs particularly in the area of education and medical care. She also provides financial assistance to the poor and other less priviledged in our society through her NGO. Recently, she was honoured alongside with immediate pass FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed andSenator lta Enang by National Waves newspaper for distinguishing them-

selves in their various chosen fields. She also won a gold honour award for best NGO 2013, for her contributions to the elderly, the poor and struggling families.lnfact,she has got more awards for her charity activities than any other woman from the northern part of Nigeria To demonstrate per passion and love to the welfare of the elderly, this easygoing and God-sent philanthropist wrote a letter to the then president Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives seeking a bill for free medicare for the elderly. Few weeks ago, she gave out one million naira in celebration of the Muhammudu Buhari victory in the just concluded 2015 presidential election. She celebrated our success at the poll out of her conviction that PMB has strong affinity with the poor and that their plight and interest will be taken care of under the new regime.What a golden heart!

At the moment,Habiba Abubakar is working on a charity reality TV show called'Goodwill ultimate talent show and Goodwill ultimate survivor to build'. The project's aim is to generate 1.2 billion naira for the development of the less priviledged school,elderly nursing home and a vocational centre. This project will propel some amateur artistes and great talents to stardom and commercially successful careers. This will certainly create job opportunities and youth empowerment. Finally,Hajia Habiba Abubakar is well educated and should be made special Assistant to the president on elderly and underpriviledged people matters. God bless our jewel,Habiba Abubakah God bless the federal Republic of Nigeria •Noah, an ethics and value advocate wrote in from Lagos

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Retirees as endangered species I only heard about the miserable lives or avoidable deaths of many of retirees from government service until I had the first time experience of the last days of my uncle, Mr. Samuel Ademola Ojo, popularly known as Sir Ojo amongst teachers in Oyo town. Mr. Ojo worked as a teacher in many primary schools in Oyo and rose to become a headmaster before he retired in 2011. Ojo was about 60 years old when he retired. By then, he had three children in tertiary institutions and one in secondary school. Ojo waited for his gratuity for almost five years to no avail. However, his pension was paid skeletally. Whenever I called him to enquire about his wellbeing, it was always lamentation. “Dewuyi awon government yi o ma san owo wa”, which translated means” Dewuyi, Oyo State government has not paid our gratuity. "There is no doubt that somebody with no source of sustenance will be miserable, particularly when one could not provide for the needs of his family. I heard that he developed hypertension and later complicated to a partial stroke. He eventually developed hi-cups. From his base in Oyo, he was rushed to Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso on Monday May 8, 2015. When I paid him a visit him on his hospital bed, it was a complaint galore – “Won o ma ti san owo wa naa, O de bami ko nkan si paper boya won o sanu wa” which translates as they (government) are yet to pay our gratuity, will you please help us write about our plight in the dailies, may be they will

remember us, second time I visited him, on May 14, 2015. I was told he had been discharged and returned to Oyo. However, he barely got to Oyo when the condition relapsed and rushed back to the hospital where he eventually gave up the ghost in the night of Friday, May 17, 2015. He served his fatherland for a whooping 35years, but corrupt and inhuman system denied him the fruits of his labour! I’m able to write about Ojo because he was my uncle and I have access to the dailies. How many retirees have died unsung? With the miserable end of many of our retirees, how can we curb corruption amongst our civil servants? As a matter of fact, Nigeria is still fortunate to find people who still join her civil service; this is because no one will like to work for the nation when one considers the miserable condition and avoidable deaths of many senior but unfortunate citizens. Present administration in Oyo State could not be blamed for non payment of the pensioners, although, many will not agree with me. Nevertheless, we read about embezzlement of over two billion naira pension fund by some civil servants in the state few years ago. This has made it difficult for the government to pay the pension and gratuity of many retirees. No one hears about the case again. Nigerian justice system is too cumbersome because of the delay created by technicalities introduced by stakeholders in the judiciary. If not, the case ought to have been adjudged and commensurate punishment meted

out to the disgruntled elements involved. As a matter of fact, capital punishment has to be introduced to curb corrupt practices in Nigeria. Unless this is done, corruption will one day consume us all. Meanwhile, I appeal to the able governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to please find other means to ameliorate the effect of hard times on our retirees. He has made his marks in Oyo State, I think putting smile on the faces of our retirees will enable them to enjoy their old age and fruits of their labour. A situation where those who have access to the corridors of power find it easy to collect their gratuity while many in my uncle’s shoes, who have nobody found it difficult to get theirs, years after retirement, is not only inhuman but a crime against humanity. A mechanism ought to be evolved which would make verification, accreditation and payment of gratuity and pension easier and less cumbersome. Agony they are subjected to during accreditation often leads to avoidable death. These are senior citizens who should be accorded respect due to their status, but unfortunately Nigeria is a country where Hobbesian state of nature is still in vogue. May the soul of Sir Ojo rest in perfect peace and may his avoidable but untimely death ginger our government to find solution to the plights of our retirees who are dying of hunger because of their decision to serve their fatherland. •Adewuyi Adegbite, Ogbomoso.

A word for Aisha Buhari OUR beloved Mother and Sister, I congratulate you for a fight well fought and a well deserved victory on your husband's installation as the Nigerian President. As a woman, I want to commend you for standing by Mr President and for encouraging him to persevere despite his failed previous attempts at the Presidential polls, as they say, behind every successful man there is a 'wise' woman, I am indeed proud of You Having said that Ma, my appeal is a strange but required issue which has to do with Women Athletes in Nigeria, I implore you to add these women to the list of those you intend to reach out to in the numerous programmes you have set aside to empower the Nigerian women. As an Advocate for Women Athletes in Africa, permit me to brag to you that most of the country's recent successes in Sports came from the Women, for example the U-20 Women National Team did so well last year at the FIFA world Cup, Super Falcons won the African Women Championship in Namibia. Athletics is however dominated by Women like Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume and so on, However, it has been a case of neglect sometimes and I would love you to come to their rescue.

None of the past wives of Nigerian President made much impact in the lives of these women, and as a Change Mama, I suggest you blaze the trail giving them a major platform in Nigeria, and rightfully, it has been widows, orphans, this time make an addition 'Women Athletes' In four weeks time, the U-20 women's team will start campaign for the FIFA World Cup next year; also the D'Tigress, National Women Basketball Team are getting prepared for the African Basketball Tournament, Afrobasket amongst many other upcoming events, they need your voice, attention and support. Please remember them as they give their all for the nation, it's only appropriate for them to be recognised and encouraged and not only them but the upcoming athletes in the grassroots will be encouraged, and your words will inspire and the effect will be felt by homes and the Nation in general which can lead to better future success in all Sports categories, what Nigeria has been crying out for. I wish you a smooth sail, and pray God to give you more wisdom to continue guiding your husband, Sports is an important unity tool which must not be ignored. • Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, Lagos.

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INEC: Enough room for improvement

he Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has received a lot of accolades over the outcome of the 2015 general elections. The election management body has become the darling of many Nigerians and the toast of the international community for successfully delivering the March 28 and April 11 elections. The elections were adjudged relatively peaceful, even though there were reported incidents of violence in some parts of the country. Local and foreign observers have also described the elections as free, fair and credible. Perhaps the g reatest endorsement of the election was the acceptance of the results of the presidential polls by President Goodluck Jonathan who though lost the election, promptly placed a telephone call to congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari, his main opponent in the race. These positive outcomes have somehow eclipsed the numerous challenges the electoral umpire faced in the build up to the elections. It could be recalled that the road to the elections was rough and many Nigerians were very skeptical about the ability of INEC to deliver on its responsibilities. Many Nigerians were apprehensive about INEC's capacity to meet the aspirations of the people because few weeks before the polls, millions of voters were unable to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and there were uncertainties about the func-

tionality of the Card Reader Machines ( CRMs), the device meant to authenticate the identity of every eligible voter. Quite frankly, the election did witness some hitches owing, although nearly everyone has agreed that INEC faced series of challenges in conducting the elections, the mere fact that the much feared postelection violence was averted seems enough consolation for everyone. But beyond this success story lies a lot of unresolved issues that would be difficult to gloss over if we must witness the needed improvement in the electoral process in Nigeria. Over the years, INEC has been facing capacity and integrity challenges. The bulk of its middle level personnel lacks the basic educational qualifications and professional competence to do the job they have been recruited to do. A sizable number of them found their way into the system by default and have managed to remain there because corrupt politicians have found them very useful in the game of electoral gerrymandering. Many electoral officers are willing to sell their conscience for filthy lucre. The top echelon of the Commission has not fared better. Apart from the politics that usually accompanies the appointment of the Chairman and National Commissioners , some of the policies that regulate the posting and operations of the Resident Electoral Commissioners ( RECs)

has not helped matters. In the current dispensation, INEC adopted a curious guideline that restricts the posting of RECs to only their geo- political zones of origin. In other words, one cannot be transferred outside his immediate environment and this has given the job a somewhat ethnic or regional coloration. This is wrong and should be discontinued because it breeds a lot of mistrust and creates the impression that a group of RECs from a particular zone could gang- up to manipulate votes in favour of a particular candidate or certain candidates. The RECs are appointed for a term of five years with an option for renewal for another term. In spite of this wealth of experience, the RECs are usually discarded after their tour of duty in the states. We believe that there ought to have been a system of transference of this experience such that RECs who do well at the states could be elevated to the headquarters as National Commissioners. It is instructive that under the current arrangement, the National Commissioners have little or no experience because they have not had practical field experience in the management of elections. The electoral umpire still has a lot of challenges in the area of deploying technology in the conduct of elections. Now that the crucial elections have come and gone, we think that the issues that arose with the use of Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs) and the Card

Reader Machines( CRMs) should be addressed before the next round of elections. Now that the generality of Nigerians have accepted the deployment of technology in the conduct of elections, we expect that INEC would move a notch higher by introducing full electronic voting before the 2019 elections. While we urge the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to enable Nigerians in the Diaspora exercise their franchise during future elections, INEC should equally commence preparations to accommodate the votes of millions of Nigerians living abroad. We recall that the production and distribution of PVCs should have been completed by September 2013 but the process was still on few weeks to the last election. This is unacceptable and goes to show that INEC has got some issues to resolve in its procurement contract system. We recommend that a transparent procurement system be put in place by INEC such that the delays and confusion witnessed on the PVC production and distribution would not repeat themselves in the future. The election is not an event but a process and it would be better for INEC to restructure and re-tool itself, retrain its personnel and re- design its logistics ahead of the coming elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo and Ondo states. The tone to build on the little gains of the Prof. Attahiru Jega era is now.

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Politics

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Ekweremadu won’t resign as DSP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

utive bills on its merit, and provide informed and energetic oversight of the executive to ensure that Nigerians are not cheated by the ruling party. We should ensure that successive national budgets address national needs and that they do so equitably. We should only support the confirmation of appointments that meet competency test and comply with the principles of federal character and equal op-

portunity.” Will Ekweremadu’s re-election as Deputy Senate President not make the ruling party or Buhari to deny the South-East “juicy” positions such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) it had planned to give to the zone? My answer is “No”- unless the party never really had any plans for the South-East in terms of substantive and appointive positions in the first place as it does appear. The official

position of the APC is a North-East Senate President (Senator Ahmed Lawn), North-Central Deputy Senate President (Senator George Akume), South-West Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila) and North-East Deputy Speaker (Hon. Monguno). The North already has the Chief Justice of the Federation, President of the Court of Appeal, and Chief Justice of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. Where was the South-

East and South-South in all of this ab initio? So, for the political stunt pulled by Ekweremadu and the PDP, there would not have been any South -East/South-South person from number one to the number seven positions in the country. Instead, Igbo stalwarts in the ruling party have been fighting dirty among themselves over the position of the SGF. Yet South-East produced some APC members of the House Representatives, while the South-

South produced both House members and a senator. By the way, it needs to be emphasised that the Deputy President of the Senate was not dashed to the PDP, Ekweremadu or the South-East by the APC. Instead, it was actually the PDP that gave the APC the Senate Presidency. The PDP could have taken advantage of their numerical strength on the day of the inauguration to reelect David Mark or anyone else since many APC

senators were sipping tea at the International Conference Centre at the time voting was going on. But the PDP respected the gentleman agreement it reached with the Saraki faction of APC Senators. PDP occupies 49 out of the 109 seats in the Senate. Out of the 49 seats, the South-East and South-South contributed 32 seats. Whoever thinks the party is toothless and deserved nothing in the Senate is living in a political Fool’s Paradise. So, if Buhari appoints an SGF outside Igboland, it is because he and APC never had such plans. Count Ekwermadu and PDP out of it! Some have also worried that Ekweremadu’s co-headship of the Senate means that the PDP could share in the blame if Buhari fails to deliver on the change mantra and other campaign promises? Well, we have had so many instances in the US in which the ruling party does not enjoy majority or headship in the Congress. In fact, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives since January 5, 2011 under the Barrack Obama’s Democratic Party Government is John Boehner, a member of the Republican Party. Americans would never hold Boehner responsible if Obama fails. In fact, if commentaries are anything to go by, Nigerians would actually have preferred a situation where APC and PDP are in charge of the executive and legislative arms, respectively. So, the sooner the APC gets over the Ekweremadu nightmare and face the task of governance, the better for it and the nation. Ekweremadu too needs to continue staying focused. There were those who thought he had come to the end of the road when he was faced with the uphill task of snatching PDP’s senatorial ticket from an incumbent PDP governor. Many also thought he had finally crashed after PDP’s abysmal performance at the elections. There also hypocrites who believe that Nigeria, including the National Assembly, belongs to them by virtue of being majority in parliament. They have every reason to kick and fret. But staying focused and continuously aiming for legislative excellence will do him lots of good. But there is no legal ground to call for his resignation. •Ozor writes from Enugu

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2015

Arts

CULTURE

46th Art Basel: African arts take centre stage

s art connoisseurs, curators and other stakeholders in the management of creative contents from Africa and the Diaspora join their counterparts across the world at 46th Art Basel, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S, for discourse on contemporary art, one of the key players who will present papers is the founder of Lagos-based Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Prince Yemisi Shyllon, who is one of Africa’s leading collectors. The event, the organisers stated, will feature 284 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, which will show over 4,000 works of artists across modern and contemporary masters as well as emerging artists from 33 countries. The opening starts with a central discussion about building new art institutions in Africa. It features Marie-Cécile Zinsou, President of Benin’s Fondation Zinsou; Touria El Glaoui, Founder of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair; Koyo Kouoh, Founding Artistic Director of RAW Material; Mark Coetzee, Director and Chief Curator of Cape Town’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, and Raphael Chikukwa, Chief Curator of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. On the Day-2 of the event, discussion is expected to feature Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Curator and Director of SAVVY Contemporary; Moataz Nasr, Artist and Founder of Cairo’s Darb 1718 Contemporary Art & Culture Center; and Chris Dercon, Director of Tate Modern — moderated by French curator Simon Njami. A following program considers art collecting in Africa, with the collectors Shyllon and Bruce Campbell Smith of Cape Town, moderated by Bomi Odufunade. Showing at the galleries section of Art Basel are 223 stands, which the organisers describe as “the world’s leading galleries of modern and contemporary art” and include galleries such as Kicken Berlin (Berlin) with seminal photography from East

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Shyllon

and West Germany from the 1970s -1980s, documenting a scintillating era that was both unsettling and full of promise; Barbara Mathes (New York City) featuring work by John Baldessari and a sculpture by Giulio Paolini; Almine Rech’s (Paris) exhibition about the use of flower with works by Pablo Picasso, Richard Prince, Christopher Wool, and Ugo Rondinone; and Blum & Poe (Los Angeles, Tokyo) with work by Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, and a host of Los Angeles-based artists. Other segments at the 46th Art Basel include Feature, dedicated to 30 precisely curated projects for both solo presentations by an individual artist with thematic exhibitions. Expanded across both exhibition floors, Features includes six galleries that are new to the show. Highlights of the segment include Tokyo Gallery +BTAP (Tokyo, Beijing) with a thematic show on the avantgarde Mono-ha movement in Japan from the late 1960s; Galerie Frank Elbaz (Paris) with work by Mladen Stilinovi, leading New Art Practice artist in Croatia; and Susan Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects (Culver City) with an installation of drawings by Andrea Bowers examining the social implications of a high profile rape case. New exhibitors include Braverman Gallery (Tel Aviv); Grieder Contemporary (Zurich); LEVY Galerie (Hamburg); Salon 94 (New York); Tokyo Gallery + BTAP (Tokyo, Beijing); and Tornabuoni Art (Paris, Florence, Milan, Forte de Marmi, Portofino). Also on the list is Statements, which features new solo projects by young and emerging artists presented through 16 galleries, of which half are completely new to the show. Highlights in-

Life size bronze art works in OYASAF garden

clude The Third Line (Dubai’s) plant taxonomy-based installation by Abbas Akhavan; James Fuentes (New York)’s a multi-media installation by Amalia Ulman; Wallspace (New York) with a presentation of Nancy Lupo’s installation exploring relationships between food and marketing. New exhibitors include Marcelle Alix (Paris); James Fuentes (New York); Grey Noise (Dubai); Hannah Hoffman Gallery (Los Angeles); JTT (New York); Platform China (Beijing, Hong Kong); Galerie Gregor Staiger (Zurich); and Wallspace (New York). Another segment is Edition, a section that will feature 15 leading publishers of works, prints and multiples exhibiting the results of their collaboration with renowned artists. With an installation of large scale works, curated for the fourth year by Gianni Jetzer, the Unlimited section will take centre stage at Art Basel. For the 46th edition, Unlimited will feature 74 ambitious works from large-scale sculptures and paintings to video projections, installations and live performances. Among projects in the sector are Ai Weiwei’s “Stacked” (2012), created out of 760 bicycles; OPAVIVRA!’s “Formosa Decelerator” (2014), an interactive installation within hammocks and self-blended tea; and Hector Zamora’s installation of suspended parachutes, challenging the limits of gravity and commenting on political structures.

Additional artists in Unlimited include Martin Creed, Olafur Eliasson, Zhang Enli, Dan Flavin, Gilbert & George, Shilpa Gupta, Jeppe Hein, Jannis Kounellis, Ryan McGinley, Bruce Nauman, Roman Ondák, Pedro Reyes, and Lorna Simpson. Other highlights include Film, Parcours, Conversations and Salon. Curated for the first time by Cairobased film curator and lecturer Maxa Zoller, the Film section of this year’s program includes Takashi Murakami’s first feature film ‘Jellyfish Eyes’ and Hassan Hajjaj’s new film ‘Karima: A Day in the Life of a Henna Girl’. The program will present the long-awaited European premier of ‘Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict ‘, an insight into the life of Peggy Guggenheim by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, selected for the program by film connoisseur This Brunner. In addition, Art Basel will collaborate for the first time with the Festival del film Locarno on a special screening. Making its third consecutive year, Parcour, curated by Florence Derieux, Director of FRAC ChampagneArdenne, it features 23 site-specific works installed in the historic center of Basel around the city’s iconic cathedral, infiltrating key locations such as the Museum of Culture, the Natural History Museum, the Town Hall and the Münsterplatz itself. Artworks are by internationally renowned as well as emerging artists.

Arts

ll is now set for the commemoration of this year’s edition of the World Theatre Day in Lagos. Earlier scheduled to hold on March 27, it was rescheduled to June 26 because of the presidential election that held on March 28. The celebration organized by Lagos state Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has ‘Theatre and Conflict Resolution in the 21st Century’ as its theme. Announcing this in a press briefing recently at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, the Chairman of the Lagos state Chapter of NANTAP, Ms Faith Eki Eboigbe said that the one day commemorative event that is supported by the Kabir Yusuf led National Theatre will hold at the serene Banquet Hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos on June 26 beginning at 12noon. It will feature a keynote speech on the theme of the commemoration, performances, presentation of awards and investiture of the World Theatre Day personality. The Managing Director of FSDH Mr. Rilwane Bello Osagie will chair the commemorative event while the Country Director of British Council, Lagos Mr. Connie Price will serve as guest speaker. “The International Theatre Institute (ITI) an arm of UNESCO had declared the day to be commemorated on every March 27th and NANTAP has annually commemorated the day since 1991, but the Lagos chapter of the association has had to move this year’s celebration to June 26th 2015 because of the 2015 election. The election that would have held in February 2015 was later moved to March 28th and this affected the planning and staging of the 2015 edition of the day,” Eboigbe said, adding that the day had to be moved forward because of the exigencies of the time. “We scanned our environment and realized that it will not be feasible to commemorate the day as a result of the anxieties that followed to the build-up of the general elections. Although we issued a statement then, it would be irresponsible and insensitive of us to go ahead with the commemoration when the country was that charged up. So we decided that we shift it until when we are done with the elections.” Eboigbe also disclosed that the Managing Director of Terra Kulture Mrs. Bolanle Austen Peters will be decorated as the WTD 2015 Distinguished Personality, noting that the choice of Mrs. Peters was informed by her passion, commitment and contribution to the growth and development of the theatre profession in Nigeria. “Each year we identify and recognize a personality that has contributed greatly to the growth and development of the theatre profession and Mrs. Austen Peters rightly qualifies to be honoured because of her immense contribution to the growth and development of the arts. Apart from running the upscale cultural centre in Lagos, Mrs. Peters has dedicated the space at Terra to sustained theatre production. She has also

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

World Theatre Day: NANTAP Lagos honours Peters, Osigwe, Odugbemi

Eboigbe

ventured into production of theatre with the musical production SARO, a production that has engaged so many of our members. I must say that the passion and commitment she has exhibited is worth celebrating and recognizing,” Egboigbe said. Chairman of the WTD organizing committee for Lagos NANTAP Shaibu Husseini spoke in a similar light. He reiterated that Mrs. Peters was unanimously chosen because of her invaluable contribution to the development of the arts particularly the theatre profession. “We usually vote to select a personality to be honoured each year but this year we unanimously chose Mrs. Peters because her record of service is there for everyone to see,” Shaibu said, noting that the WTD Personality award is just one of the awards that will be presented on June 26th. According to him, some important personalities will also be recognized on that day. “We shall induct some personality as Ambassadors of the theatre profession and another set as certified thespians. The idea is to remind the certified thespians of where it all started for them and that is the stage. As for the ambassadors, it is to appreciate them for their selfless service to the theatre profession” the NANTAP chair remarked. Those to be decorated as ambassadors include the filmmaker and Executive Director

Peters

of iREP documentary film festival Mr. Femi Odugbemi, Efe Omoregbe, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, the actor Yemi Sodimu, Dr. Ostia Ezewanabe of the University of Lagos and the founder and President of the African Film Academy Peace Anyiam Osigwe. Those to be decorated as certified thespians include the dance major and filmmaker Emem Isong, Najite Dede, Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun, Teju Babyface, Ejike Asiegbu, Pat

Oghre Imobhio and Rogers Ofime.” But beyond the performances and awards, there will be an arts exhibition which will be mounted in front of the Banquet Hall. “We intend to set up an endowment fund for the chapter and proceeds from the sale of art works will be used as seed money for the fund which is intended at supporting projects by members and meeting them at their challenging moments” Eboigbe said.

Day of Yoga for Happiness in Nigeria Tony Okuyeme

he celebrations commemorating the first International Day of Yoga in New York, to be presided over by Sushma Swaraj, broadcasting at Times Square will be shown live to a global audience. The UN will commemorate the inaugural International Yoga Day on June 21 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Sam Kutesa gracing the occasion. The India-led celebrations will also feature a special lecture and demonstration by Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In Nigeria, a group of Non-Gover nmental

Ogranisations (NGO’s) Nigeria Olympic Committee; The International Art of Living Foundation; Sewa International Nigeria, HSS Nigeria and Center for Values in Leadership and OFBJP Nigeria, have joined hands to become part of this inaugural event. The event, according to Sanjay K. Srivastava, in a statement, said that the groups will be hosting a two-hour event tagged “Yoga for Happiness” at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria on the 21st of June. The event is aimed at creating awareness for a healthy and happy way of living and will bring together about 2,000 youths across the country.

The UN General Assembly had last year overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution, declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day. A record 177 countries had cosponsored the resolution. The idea for declaring an International Day of Yoga at the United Nations was formally proposed by Prime Minister Modi in his maiden address to the 69th General Assembly session in September last year. He had indicated that June 21, one of the two solstices, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, has special significance in many parts of the world, and could be considered, for adoption, as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations each year.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Corruption

Varsity

Don advocates state of emergency on corruption

ASUU, VC differ on suspension of union chair

Education CRISIS

The crisis brewing at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) got to a head last week with the sack of the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy ViceChancellors.

Kayode Olanrewaju

he crisis rocking Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, in the past few months took another twist last week, following the sack of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bashir Okesina and his management team. In the White Paper on the Report of the Visitation Panel into the crisis released by the state government and proprietor of the university, last week, the government accepted the recommendation for the dissolution of the Governing Council of the university led by Prof Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin (SAN). Although, the dissolution of the Council was not without a caveat: that the council should complete the process of appointing a new vice-chancellor, who will replace Okesina. Also recommended is the termination of the appointment of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, the former Provost of the College of Humanities and Culture, Ikirecampus and former Chairman of Committee of Provosts of the institution. Among other recommendations of the panel, is the sack of the Registrar, Dr. Julius Faniran and the Bursar, Alhaji Fatai Lasisi respectively. Meanwhile, the State Governor and Visitor to the university, Rauf Aregbesola has since given the government nod to the recommendations of the panel. A release by the Office of the

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Aregbesola

Okesina

Uneasy calm at UNIOSUN Governor and signed by Director, Bureau of Communications & Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stated that “due to the intractable crisis in the university, the Governor, who is also the Visitor to the university, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, had set up the Visitation Panel to probe the crisis and come up with the recommendations.” The Council led by its ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Olawoyin had few months ago, suspended three principal officers of the institution including the vice-chancellor, registrar and the bursar. According to the council, the trio was suspended over alleged professional and administrative misconducts, staggering loyalty to the council, fraud, nepotism, neglect of university infrastructure, hastiness in starting distance learning programme, misuse of official car, incitement of ASUU against the council, borehole issue, inflation of contracts and other issues relating to or tagged as abuse of power. But, the governor, in a swift reaction had on February 10, inaugurated a five-man Visitation Panel, chaired by Professor Adebiyi Daramola, to look into the crisis at the institution. The committee, while handing over the committee’s report

Our union would respond at the appropriate time

to the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Laoye-Tomori, noted that the crisis rocking the institution had nothing to do with religion as being speculated in some quarters, but mainly administrative lapses. However, the panel in its recommendations, which indicted the principal officers and others, stated: “The panel strongly believes, based on its findings and evidence that the relationship between the Governing Council led by Prof. G. A. Olawoyin (SAN) and management led by Prof. A. B. Okesina has broken down almost irretrievably. “We also strongly believe that it would amount to a waste of efforts trying to reconcile the two parties as it is obvious that they both cannot continue to work together harmoniously for the progress of the university. In view of this, and to avoid a oneparty-win the-other-lose situation, the panel recommends the following, bearing in mind the danger of dissolving both the council and management at the same time.” It, therefore, saddled the council with the task of commencing and completing the process for the appointment of a new vicechancellor, registrar and bursar, with approved conditions of service within a maximum of six

months, after which it should be dissolved. In its eighth recommendation, the governor has approved that the appointment of Prof. Siyan Oyeweso should be terminated for his negative roles in the crisis; his ambition-driven overinfluence on the vice-chancellor which contributed immensely to the Vice-Chancellor’s irredeemable mistakes in the administration of the university; for attending the two rebellious meetings against the Council held in the vice-chancellor’s house with other principal officers and officials of the university, where they took a decision not to attend the 12thJanuary, 2015 meeting of the Council. Other allegations against Oyeweso, according to the Daramola-led panel, was his (Oyeweso) insistence that the Council had been dissolved without enjoining the management to seek official clarification on the matter; and basing his advice to management on that erroneous belief; as well as not letting his professorial and institutional experience have positive impact on the university. Other members of staff, who fell under the governor’s hammer, include Prof. Wasiu Alamu CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

24 Education

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kayode Olanrewaju

orried by the high level of corruption and its ravaging effects on national development, a Professor of Medical Sociology and don at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, IkejiArakeji, Osun State, has called on the Federal Government, to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on corruption and corrupt practices without further delay. The call was made by Professor Akinsanya Olubunmi Alo during the third inaugural lecture of the faithbased private university, owned by the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C). The lecture, which was entitled: “Corruption Monster – The Social Ebola that Transforms Physicians to Patients in Nigeria,” took place at the Oba Oladele Olashore Auditorium of the university. Alo, who lamented the stagnating effects of corruption on the sociopolitical and economic development of the country, said “the menace of corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, would require all the necessary control mechanisms as no single remedy could perform the magic of eradicating it. He wondered why Nigeria, a country abundantly endowed with natural and human resources; the eighth largest oil producer with the sixth largest deposit of natural gas in the world has remained stagnated with high rate of youth unemployment. While stressing that the resources have had little or no impact on the living standard of the citizenry, the don flayed successive administrations for the high level of corruption in the country, which has placed it among the 25 poorest nations in the world. “The Transparency International has consistently put Nigeria on top of the ladder of corruption rating from 1998 to date. In essence, corruption and disrespect for the rule of law which feed on and reinforce one another, remains the biggest impedi-

Don advocates state of emergency on corruption ment to the country’s quest for sustainable growth,” Alo said. He traced some of the major causes of corruption to lack of ethical standards among the agencies of government and business organisations in the country, saying it is unfortunately that many office holders either appointed or elected do not have clear conceptions of the ethical demands of their offices. According to him, the non-enforcement for the constitutional provision on corruption has remained another major reason for the manifestation of corruption and corrupt practices in the country. The Director of Masters of Business Administration, who described corruption as everybody’s problem said the war against the menace has

L-R: The VC, Prof. Fajana; Alo and the registrer, Mr. Wale Aderibigbe shortly after the lecture.

Lecturer harps on sustainable development Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

n Associate Professor of Public Administration at the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), Dr. Francis Chikeleze, has called for more emphasis on the acquisition of real knowledge that could be translated and deployed for sustainable development. According to Chikeleze, the guest lecturer at the inauguration of the Abia State chapter of the Public Administration and Management Development Institute (PAMDI), the country’s social system needed to deemphasize the possession of “mere certificates” that are not accompanied by proven knowledge which could be translated and deployed creatively. In his lecture, entitled”

to be fought by all and sundry. He, however regretted that the anti-corruption crusades mouthed by official government organs would not succeed if families, religious organisations and communities failed to change the people’s value system. He attributed the woes bedeviling the education sector, which have greatly affected the pre-school, primary and secondary schools to corruption, saying the schools were rendered moribund to allow private schools to flourish, even as he added that through corrupt practices the public universities were ‘killed’ deliberately so that private universities could thrive. Corruption, Alo pointed out, was indeed the major explanation for the seemingly intractable problem of poverty, diseases, hunger and general acute

“Towards an Efficient Public Service in Nigeria: The Human Resources Factor,” the don argued that the educational system should urgently synchronize the demands of the work place with the knowledge acquired in the school system in such a way that graduates should not be left out in any doubt as to what they will do with what they learn in school. He insisted that the graduates should clearly understand how the education they acquired in the school could be applied in specific service delivery process, adding that they (graduates) should be ready to prove that their certificates are substantially backed by real and functional knowledge in the areas they are certified. Specifically, Chikeleze said employers should initiate deliberate efforts to ensure that only emi-

nently qualified persons are engaged through widely circulated vacancy adverts and rigorous interview process that are capable of giving candidates the opportunities their knowledge and anticipated value to the organisation if engaged. This high point of the event was the conferment of the Public Administrator/Educational Excellence Award on the Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Uche Ikonne by the Public Administration and Management Development Institute. Other awardees at the event include the Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr. P.B.O Aharauka, and Mr. A.N Alozie, who were honoured with the institute’s Fellowship awards, while Chief Emma Omeokwe, an n industrialist, received the Industry Leadership award on Tourism and Hotels Management.

development tragedy in the country, saying the menace has seriously impeded the growth and effective utilization of resources in the country, and African continent by extension. To move the country forward, the inaugural lecturer in his recommendations, suggested that the country should institute appropriate and effective taxation system, where everyone is made to explain his or her source of income through end-of-the-year income tax filing and payment of appropriate taxes. Besides, Alo spoke of the need for the government and entrepreneurs to work together in order to create employment, saying there is a need for an effective leadership, which will eschew corruption and tackle the menace head-on. He added: “There must be political will, commitment and capacity on the part of the government, while appropriate legal and institutional frameworks and laws should be enacted to empower leaders to prosecute law breakers and corruption officials. The don also suggested an overhaul of the administration of justice and judicial system in the country, which is noted for and characterised by undue delay, too much adherence to legal technicalities and emphasis on the foreign notion of justice. “Another important factor that should be considered in the fight against corruption is the immunity clause in the Nigerian constitution. The immunity clause deters the judiciary and other anti-graft agencies from working effectively, as they do not have power to probe, question or sanction some of the political office holders.”

Cayley College proprietor solicits support for private schools T

he founder of Cayley College, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Mary Iyayi, has appealed to the government at all levels to provide enabling environment for private educational institutions to thrive. Such support, she said would go a long way in enabling the schools to join efforts with the government in its quest to raise the standard of education in the country. Iyayi, an educationist made the appeal while reviewing the state of education in the country, even as she noted that education, being a social service, require more attention and support from the government in form of educational grants and loans, particularly private institutions. According to her, such would serve as a motivation for private school operators to partner the government towards providing qualitative education to the teeming youth population of the country. She said: “When you consider the nature of education, you will realise that its effect is pervasive on the society at large. Whether we like it or not, happenings in education sector greatly affect all spheres of the society including parents, children, family, community, government,

corporate organisations as well as religious organisations. “This is more reason why the government at all levels should give helping hand to the private organisations that have invested so much in the education sector as the society stands to benefit handsomely from such gesture from the government. “You cannot divorce education from the society and vice versa. Schools are part of the society and if we look at our schools critically, we will discover that the ills of the society also rub off on it. But the negatives can be reduced to the barest minimum with collaboration and support from the government and other stakeholder.” Iyayi expressed displeasure on what she described as multiple levies private schools are subjected to, saying the “government needs to review downward the various levies charged private institutions, if truly education is a social service.” Worried by the frequent change of education policies by the government, the school proprietor insisted that the frequent change in policies and curriculum in the education sector is doing more harm than good to the system.

Education 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

UI Council chair restates commitment to reposition varsity

Mustapha

ro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, has restated commitment of the Council to reposition the nation’s premier university among the top 100 universities in the world. This was as the newly appointed Council chair said the institution would be a university of first choice in delivery of quality university education, especially at postgraduate level, adding that adequate attention would be paid on producing more renowned and accomplished scholars in the ilk of Emeritus Prof. Wole Soyinka, Emeritus Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Iya Abubakar and others, who will bring international recognition to the institution, and the country as a whole. According to him, deliberate efforts would be put in place to transform the academic activities of the university in the next five years, while the newly established School of Business would also be positioned to be one of the best in Africa. Mustapha, who disclosed this at a meeting of Council, according to

Kayode Olanrewaju

wners of Grace School, Gbagada, Lagos have brightened the hope of some indigent pupils to acquire qualitative education like their other peers. The pupils are beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme instituted by the school as part of its corporate social responsibility (CRS) initiative to empower the younger ones from the low income background to acquire quality education. Under the 2015 edition of the scheme, no fewer than three indigent pupils were awarded full scholarship into the school. The beneficiaries of this year’s edition of the scheme, which is made up of two female and one male pupils, include Orina Deborah, Idowu Oluwatobiloba and Ojelade Omotoyosi. According to the Administrator of the school, Mrs. Olatunkunbo Edun, the society to a large extent stands to benefit tremendously when the lowly and indigent students are empowered through acquisition of qualitative education. Mrs. Edun, who spoke at the 2015 edition of the school’s Indigent Scholarship Award ceremony which took place in the school, however pointed out that intellectual endowment has nothing to do with social status or background of a child, and therefore financial support should be given to the indigent

the university’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, however expressed belief in education as a life-long project. While assuring members of the university community that he would seek more harmonious working relationships between the management and members of academic and non-academic staff, he reiterated the determination of the council to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning to thrive. The pro-chancellor urged the university management to vigorously pursue the implementation of polices that would improve the welfare of the students, especially in the areas of accommodation, feeding, transportation, medicare and spacing of lectures hours, among other welfare issues. Mustapha, a Mathematician, pledged the Council’s readiness to assist the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Oyewole in actualizing the Mathematics Centre Project, even as the council chair advised the lecturers and students to shun plagiarism that could bring the reputation of university to public disrepute, which he noted carried serious penalty. He sought more collaboration between the ivory tower and other world-class universities, especially in the areas of Economics, Business Studies, Medicine, Forest Resources Management, History, Fisheries Management and Aquaculture as well as Wildlife and Ecotourism. The chairman, while reiterat-

ing his commitment to ensure strong interaction with the various workers’ unions and associations on campus, he spoke of plans to hold regular meetings with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the students’ union and the management of the College of Medicine. Born in Kano State, Mustapha, an alumnus of the Bayero University, Kano where he graduated in 1984 with B.Sc. in Mathematics, also holds a Masters of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Banking and Finance and Masters in Business Administration (MBA), both from the university. He is also a holder of three other Masters of Science degrees (M.Sc) in Industrialization, Trade and Economic Policy from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; MSc Engineering with specialization in Design and Manufacture of Communications products from Portsmouth University, UK; and M.Sc Energy with focus on Oil, Gas and Power from Heriot-Watt University, UK. He is holder of a PhD in Business Administration from the International School of Management, Paris and New York; PhD Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia and PhD in Finance, Economics and Entrepreneurship from Portsmouth University, UK in January 2010.

Grace School’s scholarships rekindle indigent pupils’ hope

The pupils during their cultural parade

students in the society. “It is in realization of this fact that Grace School, as a matter of policy, supports intellectually endowed students, who would not have been able to access quality education due to their poor background through the yearly scholarship

scheme,” she explained. According to her, young ones irrespective of their background should be availed equal opportunity and access to acquire quality education which will empower them to change the course of their life and their families.

Ayo

Covenant varsity excels in South Korea fair Mojeed Alabi

he management and students of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, are still savouring the institution’s outstanding performance at the recently concluded Korean Association of Women Inventors Exhibition (KWIA), which took place in Soul, South Korea, where the university won gold and bronze medals. The university was represented by the Renewable Energy Sub-Cluster from the Electrical and Information Engineering Department of the College of Engineering. The institution was said to have presented two innovations at the exhibition - Eco Friendly Energy Retention Bag (ERB), in which it won gold medal and a Solar Powered Weather Station, where the university won bronze medal. While presenting the trophies and medals to the university management, the head of the team, Prof. Samuel Wara said the Eco-Friendly Energy Retention Bag (ERB) is a temperature conditioning device. He explained: “It maintains the temperature of whatever is put in it, either hot or cold and only a single unit independently performs the functions with varying degrees of efficiencies.” The don, who added that the university should plan ahead to be part of other exhibitions coming up, noted that participation in such exhibitions would bring about exposure which will help capacity building of the lecturers. In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo, lauded the efforts of the group and the Electrical and Information Engineering Department for their hard work, even as he encouraged them not to rest on their oars. “There is no way this award would not add to the profile of the university. I can assure you that the management would encourage faculties to participate in more exhibitions to drive exposure,” he said. In a similar development, the graduating students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering have been urged not to allow unethical practices in their profession. The advice was given by the former National President, Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NiMechE), Prince Biodun Oyedepo, an engineer, who delivered a lecture at the induction ceremony of the graduating students. In his lecture entitled: “Towards Professionalism in Mechanical Engineering,” Oyedepo noted that mechanical engineers should inject humanity into their practice and be conscious of the safety and well-being of their immediate environment and the larger society. While insisting that engineering practice that is out of tune with people’s need is barren, he stressed: “Be active in the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and NiMechE in order to be abreast of the developments in engineering by attending engineering seminars and workshops, as well as imbibe engineering culture.” On the purpose of the programme, the immediate past National President of the institute, Mr. Ayo Fanimokun, said the main aim was to admit the students into membership of the institute after their graduation.

26 Education

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Uneasy calm at UNIOSUN over sack of VC, others C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

Gbolagade, who, based on the recommendation should not be allowed to hold any position of responsibility in the university for, like Oyeweso, his roles in the crisis; and for attending the two clandestine meetings against the Governing Council; for willfully absenting himself from the 12th and 22nd January, 2015 meetings of Council to which he was invited as a representative of Senate. Gbolagade was also sanctioned for having the effrontery to forward the circulars on the purported dissolution of the council to the Chairman of Council with ulterior motives, and circulating the circulars among some staff rather than advising the management to seek proper clarification; as well as his insistence that the council had been dissolved without enjoining the management to seek official clarification on the matter; and basing his advice to management on that erroneous belief. Also sanctioned by the state government is Prof. Bayonle Rashid Olorede, who according to the recommendation should be disallowed from holding positions of responsibility in the university for the next five years for attending the two rebellious meetings against the council. On the Chiarman of the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Dr. Oluseye Abiona, the white paper said he should be strongly warned to desist from using UNIOSUN-ASUU to pursue his private interests, and should be advised to foster a responsible and harmonious leadership on the union, and to be less involved in internal politics as a union leader. Besides, it added that Abiona should be relieved of his appointment as Coordinator of the Centre for Renewable Energy and be replaced with a senior person not below the rank of a Reader as Director. Meanwhile, when the New Telegraph contacted Oyeweso and Abiona on phone, they declined comments on the issue. But Abiona said: “Our union (Aca-

Oyeweso

Olawoyin

demic Staff Union of Universities) would respond to the government’s action at the appropriate time.” In its Recommendation 13, the Bursar; Prof. Kizito Folorunso; Prof. Gbolagade and any other person yet to refund the money paid to them as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) proceeds should be made to make the refunds with immediate effect. It noted further that the election of Senate where Prof. Oyeweso and Prof. Olorede emerged as Deputy Vice-Chancellors should be nullified. Also in its 29th recommendation, the panel criticized the multi-campuses system of the state university, saying it has more negative impact than positive effect on the running of the institution. Currently, the university has six campuses at Osogbo, the main campus; Okuku; Ipetu Ijesha; Ikire; Ejigbo and Ifetedo. The recommendation said: “There is no doubt that there will be duplication of facilities across the campuses; and staff and students would be travelling from one campus to the other. “Financing these constitutes a seri-

ous burden on the university’s resources, with the result that the university is not able to meet the minimum human and material requirements to effectively operate as a university. “Given the constraints of funds and ever-increasing needs of the university, it will be extremely difficult to attain excellence with the current structure of the university.” The panel, therefore strongly recommended that the Visitor to the university should consider ultimately reducing the campuses from six to a maximum of three, with a campus each in the three senatorial districts of the state. But some stakeholders, who craved anonymity, have faulted the government action in the implementation of the recommendations, expressing strong belief that the Council and Chairman of the panel were not fair in their judgment, event as they alleged complicity and witch-hunting in their recommendations. They said, in the first instance, the council must have erred in its appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, who was said to have vigorously repositioned the

Rector reiterates importance of grant writing skills

ederal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADOPOLY) Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, has stressed the importance of grant proposal writing as imperative for institutions and agencies that want to survive in view of the prevailing shortfalls in government allocations to them as a result of the present economic state of the country. She disclosed this during the opening ceremony of a three-day training workshop organised for the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Vocational Studies (CEDVS) by the Winrock/USAID International, an international non-governmental organization. “The writing grant proposal skills have become imperative for institutions and all agencies that want to survive in view of the prevailing shortfalls in allocations to them as a result of the present economic realities confronting the country, the Rector

said. The training workshop is entitled: “NG322 Grant Writing Training.” Dr. Akande, while reiterating that it was becoming increasingly difficult to continue to depend or rely solely on the government’s dwindling subventions for survival, especially at this turbulent socio-economic period that the nation is experiencing shortfalls in its external sources of income, she noted that this had invariably translated to a reduction in allocations to the various tiers of government. The Rector, who described funding as key to any Institution which desires growth and hoped to meet its numerous financial responsibilities, insisted that the need to source for grants from credible sources locally and international as much as possible has necessary. She, therefore, commended the organisers of the workshop for their

initiative, while describing the workshop as worthwhile especially at this period when the centre is faced with the challenges of executing the various projects before it. Akande, therefore, expressed optimism that at the end of the training, the centre would be more equipped with competent staff that would have been exposed to the new styles and ideas of writing proposals with better work plans.

Akande

university in the less than two years of his administration. They wondered why Okesina, a Professor of Chemical Pathology and Immunology at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and who was named the substantive Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN in April 2013, before the crisis had introduced four additional programmes including Nursing Science, Public Health, Educational Management, and Guidance and Counseling at the undergraduate level, should be treated in this manner. Apart from the infrastructural development of the university, they, however, recalled that Okesina’s administration established the School of Postgraduate Studies and the School of Part-Time programme with 11 academic programmes all approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), as well as the IJMB programme which has also secured the NUC’s approval nod. Oyeweso, a Professor of History at the Lagos State University (LASU), according to them, who apart from serving the university as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, was the Director of the Development Office and Centre for Human Development and Long-Life Learning, which midwifed the establishment the School of Programme Studies, School of Part-Time and the IJMB Programmes. While faulting the Daramola-led panel recommendation that Oyeweso “has not let his professorial and institutional experience have positive impact on the university,” they expressed dismay over the governor’s action to terminate the appointment of Oyeweso, who had served the university in several capacities including as a member of the Senate on the former Governing Council for four years, where he received a medal for serving diligently and without blemish. The governor’s action, they argued is an ill-wind that will blow the university and the state no good, even as they called on the state government and Visitor to the university to retrace their steps in approving the panel’s recommendations.

ICT firm equips Lagos school with Internet Esther Albert

n Information and Communication Technology firm, Vodacom Business Nigeria, has supported the effort of the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, in producing the best students in science and technical fields at secondary school level in the country. Meanwhile, in efforts to enhance the performance of the school in these subject areas, the company under its the ‘Power to You Project’ has donated and installed WiFi services in the classrooms, laboratories, workshops and staff offices for the students and teachers so as to boost Internet connectivity and ICT development in the school. Towards effective use of the Internet facilities, the management of Vodacom Business Nigeria donated a 220KVA generator as alternative power supply to power the facility whenever there is outage for the school to have connectivity at all times. Worried by what he described as “low Internet penetration in Nigeria, especially in public schools, the Managing Director

of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke said: “With the ‘Power to You Project,’ we aim to bridge the digital divide that exists in communities and schools without access to ICT facilities. And, it is for this reason that we are proud to provide this connectivity to the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba.” His words: “The power of the internet is invaluable and connectivity has the potential to transform education and accelerate economic growth in the country.” Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Principal of the college, Mr. Chris Ugorji, who said “the major mandate of the college is to provide and equip the students with scientific and technical skills required to produce self-reliant young men and women, who would be adequately ready for tertiary institutions and the ICT industry.” According to Ugorji, the provision of the high-speed internet access and generating set by the company would go a long way in guaranteeing the mandate, saying the school was happy and proud to be the beneficiaries of the project.

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Many private schools offer poor quality education, says proprietress

Our school is not only teaching the children academic activities; we equally train them the moral, discipline, tradition, culture and Nigerian languages. Also we encourage the children to speak their native languages and teach the friends too. Indeed, our aim is that this will bring about unity in diversity and cultural affinity. During our Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) meetings, we encourage parents to teach the children their languages and culture at their home.

The Proprietress of the Chrismercy Academy, Lagos, Mrs. Chrismercy Ihemadu, bares her mind with STANLEY IHEDIGGBO about her passion for children and education development. What motivated your interest to go into school business? This school, Chrismercy Academy was established in 2011. On what motivated me, it is the enthusiasm and passion that I have for teaching profession and because I have great love for children. So, wherever I found myself, I usually assemble children in that area together to teach them one thing or the other. Apart from this, since there is no job in the country and after my graduation I started the school as a source of making a living. Of course, I am a holder of Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, and so I am eminently qualified not only with the certificate or qualification to teach children. More importantly, I was born into a teaching family and right from my childhood, I have been involved in teaching of the younger ones. What are the challenges of running a school such as this? There are lots of challenges. But, I strongly believe in the saying that there is even a challenge in the air we breathe. For me, in all the challenges, I derive one joy or the other because challenges usually give me joy. I am able to survive and I grow more every day in the midst of challenges. The main challenge is that the location of the school is still a remote environment which is craving for development, and besides for the parents to pay the school fees, is another problem. Also, access roads in the school’s host

community are rather too bad, and indeed for us to convey the children from their various homes to the school and back is usually a great challenge because of the state of the roads. However, I believe strongly that very soon, with the cooperation of the parents, things will be better. What is your assessment of the standard of education at the primary and secondary school level? The standard of education in the country, for me, is improving unlike what we used to have before. Now, you will realise that many parents are sending their children to school despite their financial constraints. It is a good development and a sign that the nation’s education is fast improving. Some proprietors have failed to meet the Lagos State Government requirements for establishing private schools, what is your view on this? Let me stress here that the location of school does not really affect the quality or standard of such school to an extent that it would lead to its closure by the government. But, the issue let me be frank with you is that most of us proprietors of schools see establishment and running of a school as a mere commercial business. I want to say that whatever one is doing, he or she must have knowledge about it. Like I said earlier, most of the school operators do not have requisite knowledge about running of a school, but may be they heard or thought that there

Mercy

is money in school business, they jumped into it. Someone will just acquire a place and what next is to start to gather children since parents are eager to send their children to school. The school is celebrating cultural day and what would you say are the import of the event? I know many schools in the country are today celebrating one cultural day or the other, but unfortunately most of our cultures and values are fast fading away. Most of the children, when you ask them where they come from you will hear them telling you that they are from Lagos State, even when they are not indigenes of the state. It is that bad that they do not know their state of origin any

longer and so their culture just because their parents too do not bother to teach them or take them home. One thing we have come to realise is that when these children go to their states of origin, they speak in pidgin English. For me, as school operator, I find it difficult to really know what is going with this country. However, I decided that since we are in Lagos that has many tribes, we should educate the children by exposing them to their culture for them to know what such is all about. This is to prepare them that whenever they go to their state or home town, they will be able to relate very well with their people because in school we have already taught them what their culture is all about.

What are your expectations from the new government, especially in the education sector? First and foremost, I will like the new government to look critically into the primary education sub-sector because that is the foundation of education. Whatever a child could not get from primary school level, the child will find it difficult in the next level of his education. As a matter of exigency, the government should employ qualified teachers; provide adequate learning facilities, create enabling learning environment and educational or instructional materials. Also, the government should provide adequate classrooms for the children to sit comfortably to learn since most government schools have up to 100 pupils in a classroom with one teacher. There is no way such children can effectively learn anything and, most often these children put off their shirts when coming back from school because it is like they are coming out from oven. Besides, the teachers should be well motivated so that they can put in their best into teaching and training of the children in their care. The teacher should be monitored and supervised through active inspectorate division since teachers in public schools lack supervision. We can all know the implications lack of supervision or inspection on the development of education and the pupils, especially in a situation where the teachers are not been supervised by the appropriate authority.

Medical students equip pupils at health campaign

One of the medical students with the pupils

Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

s part of their mission to ensure that pupils of secondary school are well-informed on health issues, the 300-Level students and members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have equipped the skills of pupils of

Uselu Secondary School, Uselu, Benin City in health care. No fewer than 35 pupils of the school took part in the outreach programme, which lasted for more than two hours. During the campaign, the pupils who were already assembled in a hall were tutored on health-related issues, career counseling, social vices and salvation message. The Assistant Mission Secretary

of the association, Emmanuel Afesiumen, noted that the outreach is an annual activity of the association, which has among other objectives to educate the young ones on health related-issues and provide the pupils the opportunity to learn the act of communication which they acquired in community medicine. Addressing the students in their classes, the association urged them to shun social vices and drug addiction, which it said was detrimental to the well-being of the students. They advised the pupils to work hard and keep a neat environment in order to reduce the tendencies of falling ill. The outreach also featured a talk on salvation, where the pupils were admonished to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ if they aspire to live well in life.

It was an exciting moment, as some of the pupils gave their lives to God by becoming born again, and promised never to go back to their sinful lifestyle. Meanwhile, the outreach availed the pupils the opportunity to bare their minds on issues affecting them, ranging from pubertal changes, sexuality, career choice and other health-related issues. Various gift items were presented to the school and pupils by the medical students. One of the medical students, Samson Oshomoh, who described the outreach as an exciting moment in the life of the association, said: “I feel fulfilled for mentoring and inspiring the young ones. In fact, I am optimistic that they apply what they have learnt at home and in their everyday activities.”

28 Education

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNIBEN students donate materials to prison inmates Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

Some stranded students at FRANCO HOSTEL UNN after the announcement

UNN students mourn schoolmate Oladele Oge UNN

t was a moment of grieve for the students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and other members of the university community as they mourned over the death of one of their colleagues. The student’s death in a ghastly motor accident, which occurred on Tuesday night at the Nine Mile, a popular junction along Nsukka Road by the Nigerian Breweries Junction, were confirmed by the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Enugu. One of the students, Miss Anatogu Nkolika Sylvia, was until her death a 300-Level Veterinary Medicine undergraduate of the university. The body of Anatogu, who hailed from Onitsha in Anambra State, and the two others that died in the accident and whose identities were yet to be known had since been deposited at Our Saviour’s Hospital mortuary by the police, assisted by

officials of FRSC. Reacting to the student’s death, the Public Relations Officer for the university, Mr. Okwun Omeaku, expressed shock over the loss of the student who was said to have been traveling home for a two-week midterm break. While commiserating with the families of the student and others that died in the auto crash, the institution’s spokesman, said that a statement from the FRSC stated that the accident was caused by an articulated diesel truck with Registration Number AWK 311 XB which lost control as a result of brake failure and collided with the two buses with Registration Numbers UWN 406 XA and UWN 57 XA in which the dead student and the others were travelling. Meanwhile, the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps were said to have commenced further investigation into the major causes of the accident. However, the authorities of the university had on last week Monday ordered the students to proceed on a compulsory two-week

mid-term break based on the institution’s academic calendar for the 2014/15 academic session. While announcing the break over the University Radio Station (Lion FM), the institution’s Public Relations Unit said the students were expected to vacate their hostels and go home for the two-week break. The radio announcement read in part: “This is to bring to the notice of all students and the entire university community, that the University of Nigeria shall proceed on a two-week mid-semester break with immediate effect. “Consequently, all academic activities on the campuses are hereby suspended for the period. Students are by this notice directed to vacate their hostels within the next 24 hours, that is, not later than 6pm on Tuesday June 2.” Meanwhile, investigations by Telegraph Campus revealed that the students were not informed about the new development earlier enough, as the management’s directive was said to have been impromptu.

embers of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Igbinedion University, a private university located in Okada (IUO), last week set aside their books as they visited the inmates at the Oko Prison, Oko-Ogba Road, Benin City. The students numbering over 70, who took part in the outreach programme, were accorded warm reception by the prison officials, who conducted them round the prison facilities. During the visit, the students were acquainted with the rules and regulations guiding the inmates and the prison yard. According to the School Mission Secretary, Harry Ogodo, the visit was part of the association‘s efforts of reaching out to the needy. He urged the inmates not to feel condemned because of their predicament, even as he advised them to make good use of their stay in the prison and to apply the lessons learnt to their benefits when they are freed. “Being free is a thing of the mind and not necessarily being out of prison,” Harry said. In a talk, entitled: “Free at Last,” Aisosa Guobadia, a 600-Level student, admonished the inmates to develop personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to live a worthy life and to be assured of heaven when they are no longer in this sinful world. In his words of exhortation, Guobadia, who alluded to the story of Joseph in the Holy Bible, how he was imprisoned for what he never did, said despite their travail the Almighty God is working better plans for them. It was an exciting moment as some of the prisoners became born again Christians, and promised to live a righteous life worthy of good Christians. Meanwhile, during the ‘Dental and Health talk session,’ the students advised the inmates to cultivate hygiene habit by washing their teeth daily and live a neat environment in order to reduce the tendency of falling ill. The students, however, donated toiletries, boxers, sanitary pad and food items to the prisoners. The Director of Welfare Services at the prison, Mr. J. I Osemwengie praised the students over the visit, and encouraged them to be more focused and dedicated to their studies, as well as being law abiding. In his remarks, one of the students, Obehi Eseaton, 300-Level Medicine and Surgery undergraduate said the visit was more than an outreach, but a life excursion.

ABSU honours Onu, others Uchechukwu Amanze and Favor Nnadi ABSU

t was a roll call of who is who in the state, who gathered at the Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State penultimate Saturday to honour one of their own. The event was the third Special Convocation ceremony, where the former governor of the old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was conferred with the Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) of the university. To Onu, one of the honourees, it was a home coming to a state where he was the first civilian governor and the Abia State University, where he was the Visitor between 1991 and 1992, before Ebonyi State was carved out of the old Abia State. Before the mammoth crowd comprising top government functionaries, principal officers of the university, tra-

ditional rulers, captains of industry and party stalwarts, Onu, a chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt Honoris Causa). Other honoree at the ceremony, which took place at the Dr. Uche Oha Auditorium, include Eze Nwachukwu Okere (Iyi Ukwu Enyi 1 of Oheiyi-Ukwu Autonomous community, Ahaba Isuikwuato), who was conferred with Doctor of Business Administration (D. Bus. Admin. Honoris causa). The Chancellor of the university, Sir Francis Orji, while welcoming the guests, recounted his age-long relationship with Dr. Onu, saying: “I wish to welcome in a very special way, His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who has had a long standing relationship with me from our childhood to the present day without failing me in any of our relationships.” Congratulating the awardees, the chancellor added: “I join the entire

L-R: Senator Nwachukwu, Dr. Onu and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chibuzo Ogbuagu.

community of Abia State University, the Vice-Chancellor; Senate and management to heartily congratulate the honorees of our doctorate degrees and wish them greater success in their future endeavours.” He appealed to other well-meaning sons and daughters of the state and the country in general to support the gov-

ernment in ensuring the provision of quality education. His words: “It has been stated and reemphasized by competent authorities in the nation’s education sector that the government alone cannot adequately fund education especially in the face of the low economic activities and other pressing needs of the country.”

Education 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

UNILORIN students showcase skills at mock PR campaign Hammed Opeyemi UNILORIN

s part of the requirements for the fulfillment of their courses - Public Relations Techniques, otherwise known as MAC 312 - some 300-Level students of the Departments of Mass Communication and Library and Information Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State have showcased their practical skills in the course during a parlour-relations workshop. The students, who were grouped into two, were expected to implement a planned action meant to solve an identified problem using public relations strategies with a particular company as a case study. The first group was named SpringBoard Creative Services and Public Relations Agency, while the other group was christened Mouthpiece Public Relations Agency. SpringBoard in collaboration with a company, Maggi Nigeria Plc organised a public lecture aimed at eradicating the wrong impressions created by the public on the use of Maggi seasoning in preparing delicacies. The guest speaker, Mrs. Deborah Opaleke, who is a lecturer at the university’s Department of Home Economics and Food Science, described as false the impression in certain quarters that Maggi seasoning causes cancer. She, however, warned against excessive use of seasoning in food, stressing that “whatever you use in excess can cause negative effect. Too much of everything is bad.” “Maggi does not have any negative effect on the body, it only enhances the flavour and taste of the food without diminishing its nutritional and dietary value,” she said. She also noted that cooking with Maggi seasoning provides a source of iron and sodium for the body, which helps in the formation of blood and also prevents one from falling sick easily. Aside the lecture, there were other side attractions, which included games, dancing and cooking competition, where two students, Aminat Usman and Borokini Aminat prepared different meals.

Students protest irregular power supply Oladele Oge UNN

or poor electricity supply to their residential area, administrative and commercial activities at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Nsukka District office were disrupted penultimate week by the students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The students, who were said to have blocked the gate and offices of the electricity company, were

protesting, what they described as “outrageous billing system” and poor electricity supply to the area. The over 120 students, who are residents of Odenigwe area of Nsukka metropolis, were said to have stormed the Nsukka EEDC District Office at about 10.20am on the fateful day, blocking the main entrance gate, thereby preventing members of staff of the company and customers from either going in or coming out of the premises. The spokesman for the

students, Hope Vikki said the decision by the students to embark on the protest was borne out of the unfair treatment the electricity company meted out to them through non-supply of electricity to their area. Vikki recalled how in 2010 the residents of Odenigwe, who over 85 per cent of them are students raised N750 per room to purchase a new transformer, saying despite their contribution those living at University Market Road enjoyed power supply than their area.

He said: “Without our knowledge and permission, the EEDC connected Ankis bread factory and the university market road to the transformer which we contributed to buy. And, as if that was not enough, the company now gives us light for one day and gives Ankis and the university market road for four days. Due to this, most of us go to school with rough clothes since there is no electricity to iron our clothes.” According to him, the students resorted to the protest as the last option,

since they could no longer bear the situation. His words: “EDDC is treating us like this because we are students and we do not have money to bribe them, that is why it prefers to supply the bakery and the area more power in spite of the fact that we were the ones that bought the transformer.” Towards this end, they requested among other demands that the electricity company should disconnect Ankis and the entire area from that transformer without further delay.

30 Education

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Council chair institutes N1m competition for staff, students

dekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, has instituted N1million essay competition for members of staff and students of the institution. The essay competition, which is part of measures to engender transparency and due process in the nation, is on anticorruption. He disclosed during a three-day workshop, entitled: “Building University Culture in Adekunle Ajasin University,” organized by the management to sharp the skills of the staff members and students on the need to key into the university’s culture. The theme of the maiden edition of the essay competition, according to the Council chair, is “Can Corruption and Indiscipline be Eradicated from Nigeria? If so, how and what Role can Adekunle Ajasin University play in such an Undertaking?” Akadiri, who described the essay competition as intellectual engagement and indispensable element of university culture, added: “I am instituting a competitive academic exercise on the campus in form of essay that would be open to all

students and members of staff as a thesis or dissertation. The exercise will take-off in July and end in September this year. So far, N1 million would be awarded to the overall winner and the two runners-up at a presentation ceremony in October. The competition is being sponsored from my personal expenses.” Towards this end, the Pro-Chancellor directed the university management to set up a three-man committee to formulate all necessary rules and regulations and well as criteria for the competition. While noting that the university, named after the Second Republic Governor of the old Ondo State, the late Michael Adekunle Ajasin, is noted for its academic excellence, Akadiri said the institution and other universities in the country should inculcate moral culture of transparency, honesty and absolute integrity as a way of life, especially in this era of “universal corruption and pervasive indiscipline in our country.” His words: “On an equal footing with academic excellence, honesty and integrity must find a permanent home at Adekunle Ajasin University, to an extent that, when employers of labour are looking for incorruptible workers or employees, the university and its products will be their first port of call.”

Prof. Philomena Bolaji (middle) flanked by other members of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) shortly after she received an award from the society during its 50th anniversary in Rome.

ASUU, VC differ on suspension of union chair Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

niversity lecturers, under their umbrella union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerri zone and the Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, are singing discordant tunes over the suspension of the Chairman of university’s chapter of ASUU, Dr Uzochukwu Onyebinama by the university authority. While the union has condemned the suspension and called for its immediate reversal, even as it described the management’s action as insensitive, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Hilary Edeoga said Onyebinama’s suspension as members of staff of the university, was prescribed by the rules of service of the university, which he breached. According to the Vice-Chancellor, his punishment was based on the recommendations of the committee raised by the management to investigate the allegations of examination fraud and misconduct leveled against the lecturer and not on his role as ASUU chairperson. The union had at one of its congress last week resolved to commence action against the university authority until it

reversed the decision. The resolution which was announced by the Owerri Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Ike Odumegwu, said the suspension of Onyebinama has placed him on half salary and banned him from entering the campus because his court case against the university over injustice, were not acceptable. But in his reaction to the allegations of highhandedness, Edeoga said the suspension of Onyebinama was neither personal nor a witch hunt against ASUU, but that it followed the due process as contained in the university’s rule of service. Edeoga further explained that Onyebinama did not wait for the outcome of the investigation before going to the court, which he said was against the university’s rule. “You don’t take the university to court. The rule says that if you are suspended you go on half salary,” the ViceChancellor said. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Onyebinama was also guilty of examination fraud by awarding suspicious marks to students, which the university Senate found abnormal, adding that there were allegations of incompetence and mismanagement against him as the Director of Continuing Education Centre (CEC).

EDUPEACE

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

UNIOSUN: If wishes were horses…

his is not the best of times for the State of Osun. Recently, the state is always in the news for the wrong reasons. If people are not groaning loud because of unpaid salaries for several months now, with the opposition People’s Democratic Party cynically advising the Governor to sell the state-owned helicopter, the Nigeria Labour Congress and others would be begging wealthy Nigerians to donate food to the workers. As if the problems confronting the “Ipinle Omoluabi” are not enough, the State Government has unwittingly dragged itself directly into the crisis rocking its Osun State University. There has been a running battle for some time now between the Management and the over-bearing Governing Council, with the latter sacking the former before being advised that it could only recommend termination of appointment. The Government White Paper on the report of the Visitation Panel constituted on the crisis was recently released. I read the Paper. Though the Visitation Panel said it wanted “to avoid a one-party-win the other-lose situation”, it recommended among other things, that the appointments of the key Principal Officers be terminated, as the Council wished. This recommendation was accepted by the Government. Contrary to the claim of the Visitation Panel, it was the same situation it said it wanted to avoid that it created. Recommending a party for sack with the other party overseeing its replacement is a win-lose conflict resolution strategy and I think it is faulty. There are four strategies of conflict resolution, basically. These are Win-Lose, Lose-Lose, Compromise and Win-Win strategies. A Win-Lose strategy arises when a party gets fulfilled and the other is punished. The court system promotes this strategy, which is why Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) method is now gaining currency. In the Lose-Lose strategy, neither of the two parties is satisfied with the outcome. In Compromise, the two parties in conflict get what they want though they both sacrifice part of their goals. Living together as a couple requires compromise: you give some, you forgive some; you get some, you forget some and you thereby live happily together. In Win-Win, the outcome satisfies everyone. Win-Win solutions are the best. In the conflict under reference, compromise would have been the appropriate strategy for the Visitation Panel to adopt. Rather, the panel sounded defeatist ab initio, saying “it would amount to a waste of efforts trying to reconcile the two parties as it is obvious

Even the ASUU Chairman in the University is not spared the axe

that they both cannot continue to work together harmoniously for the progress of the University”. There is something disquieting about this negative attitude. Every problem has a solution if we have the right attitude. There is nothing absolutely stopping two professors from working together as there is already a common ground in scholarship. By appearing to do the bidding of the Council, the Visitation Panel has turned itself to a party in the conflict. Also, by accepting the various recommendations targeting only the Management, the State Government has demonstrated inability to solve the problem in a way that would ensure lasting peace in the University. Even the ASUU Chairman in the University is not spared the axe: Government accepts that he should be relieved of his appointment as Coordinator of the Centre for Renewable Energy. Ultimately, by adopting the Lose-Win strategy, the whole conflict results in a Lose-Lose outcome. The Council’s name will go down in history as the first to have directly worked for instability in the system of a Nigerian university through pursuing the path of a head-on collision course with the Management. Through the gale of sacks and warnings, the Management has also lost out, with its key officers humiliated. The State Government is as well a loser because at a time it is facing serious challenges, it could have managed its image better by resolving the matter amicably. Rather, it chose to accept recommendations that sought to throw the baby out with the bath water, thereby generating additional image problems for the state. Besides, the staff would have been polarised as they are pitched between the opponents and supporters of the two parties. The students also lose because they can only functionally learn in an atmosphere of peace and industrial harmony. If wishes were horses, I would wish the State Government and the other parties handled the conflict rather differently. Only if wishes were horses, I would expect a compromise to be reached rather than slamming sacks and sanctions. Only if wishes were horses…

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Energy

Before Nigeria runs out of crude

Property

Aviation

Facilities managers eye N2.7trn investments

Evaluating Nigeria’s FAA, ICAO audits

Business What's news

Experts seek new regulations for Airlines’ fleet expansion Stakeholders have prevailed on the aviation regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to ensure that airline capitalisation should no longer be based on monetary terms but centered on fleet expansion, equipment and route development.

p.32

Experts blame soaring cement price on high exchange rates, others The prevailing prices of cement are generating concerns in the housing industry.

L-R: Managing Director, Global Credit Ratings, Adebisi Ajiboye; Chairperson, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Registered Credit Rating Agencies & Managing Director, Agusto & Co, Vivien Shobo; Director General, SEC, Mounir H. Gwarzo and Managing Director, DataPro Limited, Abimbola Adeseyoju, during a courtesy visit by SEC Registered Credit Rating Agencies to the new Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in Lagos.

Investment lost to bid round delay hits N3.4trn he investments lost to foot-dragging in the 2013 marginal field schedule have risen to N3.4 trillion, New Telegraph has leant. This costs covered both the actual investments expected on the fields and the tax turnover, which government is expected to make on the investments. The situation is exacerbated by the Department of Petro-

leum Resources (DPR), which has still shrouded the identity of 31 oil blocks for sale in secrecy, 19 months after the first public announcement of the bid round. An investor who craved anonymity based on the risk, which full disclosure of his identity portends to his business concern, told New Telegraph that the delay could hurt the country further if nothing is done to correct it. “Aside the over N3.4 trillion investments, which the delay is holding, the delay is also having negative effects on the plan to boost the participation of Nigerian companies and expertise in the industry,” he said. He blamed the DPR for the non-disclosure of the identity of the block since February

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

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

SECRECY

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

DPR still shroud the identity of 31 oil blocks for sale in secrecy

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Adeola Yusuf

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

2014 when the former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, promised to do so. New Telegraph, which has been monitoring the bid round reported that the delay of the DPR to also make the names of the blocks for sale available has also hit 16 months. “Huge investments are being delayed with the continuous foot-dragging by the DPR to make identity of the oil blocks available on time,” the investor said, adding that the loss is now

Number of months the marginal field bid round has been delayed

over N3.4 trillion ($17 billion). He said: “The truth is that everybody is disturbed at the level of embarrassment this kind of arrangement is having on our level of coordination. “The foreign and local investors who want to bring massive investments to the country through the marginal field bid round are pushed aback by this non-disclosure of oil blocks identities 19 months after the commencement of the process.” He said that this has continued to create a very big lacuna in the flow of investments, which would have been hastened if the agency has followed the time table for the bid round exercise. Mrs. Diezani Alison-MaCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Jun 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N217 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N332 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

l Foreign Reserves – $29.127bn as at 11/06/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Jun 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223

Business | News

FLAYED

NCAA’s policy of just two aircraft for startup airlines has been faulted

Wole Shadare

takeholders have prevailed on the aviation regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to ensure that airline capitalisation should no longer be based on monetary terms but centered on fleet expansion, equipment and route development. They noted that for any airline to be eligible for Airline Operating License (AOL) and operate scheduled domestic routes only, it must have a minimum of five aircraft and operate not more than three domestic routes. The NCAA policy stipulates just two aircraft for startup airlines, a situation that many in the aviation industry have faulted, describing it as too dangerous for airline operations. Former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said that an airline wishing to operate regional, continental or international routes in addition to operating domestic routes, should have a minimum of 10 aircraft and should operate not more than six routes, including the domestic routes. Former Assistant Secretary General of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, shared the same sentiment, stressing that the policy should be reviewed in the interest of the sector. The high cost of lease of aircraft, experts said, had forced startup carriers to limit their

Investment lost to bid round delay hits N3.4trn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

dueke had earlier promised to complete the oil blocks allocation in February 2014 but this remained unfulfilled, 16 months after the deadline. Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who announced this on November 28, 2013, stated that the bid round would be completed by March, this year. A timetable for the oil blocks allocation given by the minister showed that the DPR is expected to make the identity of the oil blocks known by February, 2014. As at the weekend when the New Telegraph checked the agency’s website, the identity of the blocks was yet to be made known. For the first time in 12 years, the Federal Government kickstarted the process for the second marginal field licencing round, offering 31 onshore and offshore fields. Some operators had expressed fears that their technical partners may become apprehensive and withdraw their funds.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Experts seek new regulations for airlines’ fleet expansion acquisition to two airplanes for a start, thereby expanding their operations as time goes on. “Airlines wishing to operate domestic, regional, continental and international routes should have minimum 20 aircraft and could operate as much as 10 routes or more, including the domestic routes.” Ojikutu suggested that for any domestic airline operator to benefit from government’s intervention fund, it must raise funds from the capital market and, therefore, be a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Furthermore, to compete with the foreign airlines on the international routes and benefit from the huge market they offer, Nigeria Domestic Airlines must multiply or improve their fleet capacity. Alternatively, they should merge and not always depend on concession from debt owe to service providers and intervention funds from government,” he stressed. Financial institution observers are of the opinion that airlines are major players in the aviation industry and they are rarely borrowers.

They also believe that they have lots of cash and are mostly depositors. The model of airline business shows that they sell lots of tickets, which are usually paid for in cash and not on credit. Therefore, these airlines usually deposit cash in banks, convert them to foreign exchange and repatriate them as capital flights in case of domestic airlines or to their head office in case of foreign airlines. He, therefore, wondered the justification for Nigerian airlines to be indebted to the service providers in the sector, not

meeting their tax obligations to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (IRS). He lamented that they rarely meet the necessary insurance premium on their fleets, seldom pay compensation to aircraft accident victims and many at times, owing in arrears several months of staff salaries. Ojikutu advised that the policy review should determine if there should be justification for government to continue to give concession to airlines on debts they owe to government service providers.

L-R: Sales Manager, Mobile Communications, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Kabiru Kajogbola; Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Seonghak Kim; Commercial Director, Konga, Mr. Mark Russell and General Manager, Mobile Communications Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Steve Seungeui Lee, during the official launch of LG G4 smartphone, in Lagos

STATIC Cement sells between N1,950 and N2,000 Dayo Ayeyemi

he prevailing prices of cement are generating concerns in the housing industry. While homebuilders in the informal sector are blaming what they described as “handiwork of cabals” for their challenge, experts in the sector have attributed high exchange rates influenced by recent plunge in oil prices, for high cement price. Despite the rainy season, which is known as a period for decline in cement prices due to low construction activities, the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of cement currently ranges between N1,900 and N2,000 in the market, depending on location. Homebuilders, especially those who are targeting low cement price for construction projects during the rainy season, are currently in shock, as the price has remained stable six months into the year.

Homebuilders blame soaring cement price on high exchange rate, others Cement, a binding agent, is one of the major components of the building production process in Nigeria. Speaking with New Telegraph, President of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tunde Lasabi, said that the current high cement price was due to the turbulent economic situation in the country. He noted that the inability of the new government to settle down and give direction was a contributing factor. President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr. Kunke Awobodu, who expressed mixed reactions, said that the cost of housing would continue to rise if there is no intervention to reduce cement price and make the product affordable to homebuilders. He expressed surprise about the current cement price, saying that it was expected that the price would decline due to low construc-

tion activities usually during the rainy season between June and September. Awobodu emphasised that the devaluation of naira, high cost of importation, lack of policy direction and huge demand for office complexes were reasons for high demand for cement . He said: “In the beginning of the year, construction activities were reduced due to fear of election. Investors who were skeptical about the possible outcome of the election stopped their projects; but now that the election is over and stability of the nation has been guaranteed, demand for cement goes up.” Immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos chapter, Pastor Stephen Jagun, explained that the high demand for cement was responsible for its price at N1,900. He said: “Exchange rate may also be a factor to consider. Be-

sides, the current government is yet to give direction. So, it is a wait and see situation.” Chairman, H.O.B. Housing Estates, Chief Olusegun Bamgbade, attributed rising price of cement to demand. He noted that “prices are driven by the forces of demand and supply in any given economy.” Bamgbade confirmed that the demand for cement has not declined, irrespective of the season, urging cement producers to use the opportunity created by demand to keep the prices at advantaged position. He said: “It is not the season that determines the prices of things, including cement, but the forces of demand and supply. Even in the dry season where construction is believed to be predominantly high, some reasons may come up and be adduced for an unprecedented or unexpected fall in the price of cement.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Eko Disco defies court order, hikes tariff p.34

Energy

Before Nigeria runs out of crude Crude reserves in Nigeria have depleted further to 33.4 billion barrels, while exploration touched the lowest level ever in the country’s history. ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf, reports that the dry up of crude oil is imminent if nothing crucial is done to boost exploration.

NNPC’s headquarters

igeria’s crude reserves now have a life span of about 40 years. The country’s crude preserves have dipped further to about 33.4 billion barrels from 37 billion barrels three years ago. In the wake of this, the exploration drilling in the country has hit the lowest level ever experienced in the nation’s history. Statistics Data compiled by New Telegraph between January 2012 and May 2015, showed that the reserves were depleted with about 2.9775 billion barrels, while the search for oil during this period had dipped to the lowest ever in the nation’s history. The ratio of production to exploration, further checks showed, has continued to nosedive. This has reduced the country’s production sufficiency and imminent dry up, if no further oil discovery is done to raise the crude resrves up to 40 years. While about two billion barrels were depleted from the reserves between January 2012 and March 2014, according to statistics from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), 977.5 million barrels were produced during the 425 days between March 2014 and May 2015 based on an average of 2.3 million barrels per day output. The DPR records, which covered production between 2012 and 2014, released on March 18, 2014, showed that Nigeria’s oil reserves have dropped from 37 billion to 35 billion barrels in two years (2012-2014). The data unveiled by the DPR Director, Mr. George Osahon, linked the reserves’ dip to the country’s reduced crude oil exploration. A data collated by this newspa-

sible if explorationists drill deeper and deploy latest technology. “These and many more could be made possible if there is a boost in investment for exploration,” she said.

per showed a further depletion of about one million barrels between March 2014 and May 2015. Nigeria’s production recorded high level of stability, which saw the country meeting up with output target of 2.3 million barrels. This volume include the production of 1.87 million barrels for exports and 445, 000 local refining. Exploration’s lowest level Former President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Adedoja Ojelabi, told our correspondent that changes in the exploration for oil and gas “are even more profound.” She said: “For the first time in several years, the nation’s reserves are showing a sign of decline as exploration drilling has hit the lowest level ever experienced in the nation’s history. Expectedly, reports of new discoveries are few and far between and where reported, the reserves are getting smaller. “The operating landscape is experiencing an unprecedented rate of pluralisation as the industry witnessed the largest number of divestment and acquisition (D&A) activities that bring new players as operators to the risky business of oil and gas exploration and production.” She added that the Nigerian oil and gas industry landscape has, in the last five years, witnessed some of the most sweeping changes since the crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, in 1956. Ojelabi stated that NAPE would continue to support government’s efforts aimed at salvaging the nation’s oil industry. The nation’s 40 billion barrels reserves target, she said, was pos-

There has been little progress with oil exploration at the Chad basin

SPE blames contracts delay World highest body of petroleum engineers, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), has talked down on the delay in oil contracts cycle in Nigeria, stating that the consent time for contracts takes too long in the country. The group, which stated this in a communiqué released to newsmen in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, maintained that the reduction in contract processing time is necessary to mitigate the impact of oil price dynamics. Contract’s approval period in Nigeria can take as long as 36 months, while competing African nations conclude the same process in a mere three months, worsening Nigeria’s place in the ease of doing business index. “Nigerian projects have to compete for investment due to fund scarcity as investors selectively fund the most attractive global projects. Contract approval time takes too long in Nigeria,” the communiqué issued at the 2015 edition of the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum showed. The investment arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Petroleum Investments and Management Services (NAPIMS) is charged with contract approvals in the oil sector, but analysts say whereas officials of the NNPC spend virtually all their time meddling in the contract process, the result does not compare with the effort they put.

The SPE, however, recommended a reduction in contract processing time, which, it said, was necessary to mitigate impact of oil price dynamics. There should be a “continuous focus on asset integrity, proper balancing of short and long-term projects and avoiding off-load of talented employees will be key to surviving impact of low oil price in the long-term. Reduction in contract processing time is necessary to mitigate impact of oil price dynamics. “Institutional collaboration between the industry, the academia and the finance groups will help drive technological advancement,” the communiqué signed by Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Mr. Emeka Ene, stated. Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has, for long, been facing delay in contracts approval, which has culminated into outright discouragement of investments in the sector. The case of Brass LNG is one. Since Nigeria began to deliberate on the matter, it has not reached a final investment decision, whereas Angola went ahead to build her LNG plant, which is due to begin gas exports in a matter of weeks. This unusually lengthy contracting cycle has continued to choke Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The slow and winding contract processes are also discouraging investors who are interested in the country. Production unhindered A DPR production schedule seen by New Telegraph, however, revealed that the international oil companies (IOCs) and the indigenous operators of marginal field acreages produced an averCONTINUED ON PAGE 33

Business | Energy

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eko Disco defies court order, hikes tariff JUSTIFICATION EKEDC CEO says company is being run at a loss since inception

ing Company (PHCN), we need to know the truth about the whole mess,” he retorted. But the EKEDC CEO insisted. “There is no way we can have stable power supply with-

out adjusting our tariff, because currently we are running at loss,” he said. The EKEDC boss explained that investors in the company had invested lots of money,

which has no cost reflective on the supply distribution chain to customers. He said: “When you look at the economy indices, there is high increase of dollars in

terms of exchange rate, while other things had also gone up. Most of our equipment like transformers, cables and lines are imported, the rise in dollars had affected the cost materials.

Adeola Yusuf

espite a court order directing the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) not to go ahead with the hike in electricity tariff, the firm has insisted that it would make good its plan. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had ruled that the distribution firms and the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) must not increase electricity tariff, which was schedule to begin on June 1. But Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, Mr Oladele Amoda, disclosed at the stakeholders’ consultative forum in Lagos, that the present tariff regime does not reflect the reality of prevailing economic situation. “There is no way we can have stable power supply without adjusting our tariff, because currently we are running at loss,” he declared. He said that there would be an adjustment in tariffs to meet power supply within the company’s network and the reality of prevailing economic situation. The company, he said, will adjust its electricity tariffs to be more “cost reflective” on its operations. Some customers of the company have, however, reacted angrily to the company’s plan to go ahead with tariff hike, describing it as “heartless, callous, unjust and height of frustration.” Residents of Satellite town, for instance, told New Telegraph that the insistence of company to go ahead with tariff hike shows that it is insensitive to the plights of its customers who are being faced with epileptic supply. A residents, Aeron Okon, who expressed shock at the company’s plan to hike tariff, added that the Satellite Town Residents Association, who he claimed had protested crazy billing and epileptic power supply to them on several occasions, will “move against this new plan of exploitation.” Timothy Omoniyi, a residents of Lekki phase 1, corroborated this view. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what he called perpetual exploitation of Nigerians by the electricity company. “Aside from the fact that there is no moral justification for the hike, a court has proclaimed this step as unlawful, so why must this company announce the decision to go ahead and inflict this pains on Nigerians whose lives and businesses have been made miserable by the epileptic power supply and, at times, the lack of it? “I think it is high-time President Buhari look into this issue of privatisation of Power Hold-

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Ms Adebisi Awoniyi; Winner of the Kia Rio grand prize, Miss Gbemi Shotade and Managing Director/CEO, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mr. Christope Penninck, during the presentation of grand Prize to the winner, in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

age total of two million barrels per day from January till date. This is due to the relative stability in production from the oil-rich Niger Delta region during the time under review. New oil discoveries, on the other hand, are few and far between and where reported, the reserves are getting smaller. The challenges Osahon said that huge financial investments had been committed to increasing reserves from the old fields, adding that there has been little progress with oil exploration at the Chad basin. He said: “Nothing has been found there, but that we have not found anything at the Chad basin as at today does not mean that oil is not in the basin,” he said. “We are optimistic about this. We have come up with strategies to boost our reserves and, in due course, we would make this known.” Meanwhile, exploration for oil has been on the decline. While major exploration on Chad basin has been hampered by Boko Haram insurgence, others are been slowed down by the lack of policy direction occasioned on the other hand by the footdragging on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). History of fall in reserves There were 37.2 billion barrels (5.91×109 m3) of proven oil reserves in Nigeria as at 2011, ranking the country as the largest oil producer in

Before Nigeria runs out of crude Africa and the 11th largest in the world, averaging 2.28 million barrels per day (362×103 m3/d) in 2006. During the review period, there were 45 years of supply if no new oil was found. Pipeline vandalism, kidnappings and militant takeover of oil facilities have reduced production, which could be increased to three million barrels per day (480×103 m3/d) in the absence of such problems. The Nigerian government hopes to increase oil production capacity to four Mbbl/d (640×103 m3/d) by 2010. Nigeria is the world’s eighth largest exporter of crude oil and no longer sends 43 per cent of its exports to the United States due to the recent shale boom of that country. Nigeria is heavily dependent on the oil sector, which accounts for 95 per cent of her export revenues. Nigeria and São Tomé have an agreement in which a Joint Development Authority was created to explore and produce oil in the waters between Sao Tome and Nigeria. Nigeria and Sao Tome share this area, called the Joint Development Zone or JDZ. This area could contain up to, or over 14 billion barrels of oil. In 2006, Chevron drilled an exploratory well called OBO-1 and news reports came out that they had discovered over a thousand million barrels of oil in Block 1 alone

Last in a queue An industry analysis, which outlined the average contract cycle time of eight oil producing countries, including Australia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Venezuela, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Angola and Nigeria, underscored the deep difference on how the country’s oil resources are managed. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest producer and exporter of oil, according to the analysis, has the shortest average contract cycle time, which is three months. It is followed by Argentina and Kazakhstan, both of which have five months as the latest time for contract approval. Angola, Africa’s second largest oil producer, outperforms Nigeria, the Continent’s largest producer of oil and the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. Average contract cycle time for Angola is six months. Australia and Venezuela contract approvals take seven months, while for Indonesia, the cycle time is a mere eight months. Like Nigeria, Venezuela’s oil revenues account for roughly 90 per cent of export earnings and around 30 per cent of gross domestic product. But unlike Nigeria, it has recorded significant success in its oil and gas industry. Another major example is the case of the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which was first

mooted in 2000. It took Algeria barely two weeks in February to pass her own new oil law, which seeks to provide better incentives to investors in the face of a massive shift in the oil world. Consequently, analysts say actual and potential investors in the past three years have been turning to countries such as Angola and Ghana, with easier modes and shorter cycles, further compounding the investment gap the Nigerian sector has been witnessing with the delay in the passage of the PIB. The short time a contract should have taken is unduly prolonged by NNPC through legalistic and bureaucratic process. The NNPC, however, introduced online bid tendering in 2010 in an attempt to fast-track contract processes in the industry. This process, if adhered to, is to do away with the analogue era noted for poor transparency, accountability and a lengthy contracting cycle. Conclusion The Federal Government should provide a potent leadership for all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to increase the barrels of crude produce on daily basis through exploration. Government should also end delay in contracts awards and the foot-dragging on passage of PIB. These and others will go a long way to mollify Nigerians over the imminent oil reserves’ dry-up.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

NMRC set to grant mortgage refinancing loans p.36

Property&Environment

Facilities managers eye N2.7trn investments LOW Nigeria is ranked 134th in infrastructure out of 144 economies

Dayo Ayeyemi

acilities managers, who converged on Lagos at the weekend to celebrate this year World Facilities Management Day (World FM Day), have been tasked to brace up for the challenge of positioning themselves as key drivers of the nation’s real estate sector. Managing Director, Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Limited, (AMFacilities), Mr. Femi Akintunde, an engineer, said during the 4th edition of the Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable that the call became imperative following a recent report by PriceWaterCoopers (PWC) that real estate investment value is expected to increase from $9.16 billion to $13.65 billion next year. He urged the practitioners to up their games to support and sustain the anticipated growth and ensure that real estate industry contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). World FM Day World FM Day is a day earmarked internationally by Global FM, a worldwide alliance of member-centred Facility Management organisations, providing leadership in the advancement of the FM profession through FM institutions such as the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) International, F.M.A, Australia and many others around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Building Resilience for the Future’. According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the focus is on the important role facilities management plays in keeping businesses operational through risk mitigation, continuity plans, sustainability and energy management. “Ultimately, the intent is to underscore the facility manager’s ability to adapt and respond to shifts in business, politics, energy consumption, extreme weather and challenging economic conditions - keeping business operations running in all situations,” it said. Experts’ perspective Akintunde pointed out that for Nigeria to meet its vision 20:2020, there would be need for improved public infrastructure to drive the required positive change in the real estate and facilities manage-

Model of Abuja Centenary City.

ment industries. He said: “Going by this revelation, however, for Nigeria to meet its vision 2020, a lot still needs to be done in the areas of improved public infrastructure to drive the required positive change in the real estate and facilities management industry and the general living condition of the average Nigerian.” In addition, The AMFacilities’ boss implored the practitioners to embrace global standards and best practices when executing projects so that facilities management and real estate sectors can contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy. “In the last four years, AMFacilities has sponsored this event as one of the ways we are exploring to raise awareness, set agenda and promote global standards in the industry. We understand that the dynamics of the market are changing and we want to position Facilities Management to play critically in that mix,” he explained. Former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Shasore (SAN), noted that facilities management industry remained one of the few industries certain for growth in the foreseeable future of the country. Shasore was represented by the Managing Director of Cluttons Nigeria, Erejuwa Gbadebo, at the event.

A lot still needs to be done in the areas of improved public infrastructure

Need to bridge infrastructure deficit Shasore decried the current deficit in Nigeria’s infrastructure, saying that the country’s core infrastructure stock has been estimated at only 35-40 per cent of GDP, in contrast to international benchmarks of 70 per cent of GDP. This low value, he said, has been driven by historically low public and private spending on infrastructure. The highpoint of the event was the introduction of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), Nigeria Chapter. According to Akintunde, the introduction of BIFM was a welcome development to strengthen the advocacy for best practices in the industry and encourage knowledge-sharing among members and professionals. Participants The event drew members from five major sectors of oil and gas, telecommunications, real estate, government and public and financial services. In their submission, participants from the oil and gas sector noted that facilities management was still at its infancy and therefore could not attract the right investments, making it difficult for the oil and gas sector to engage the services of the local players. Speaking at a panel on behalf the financial sector, Head of Ad-

min, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Gabriel Igbeke, said that facilities managers lacked the financial capabilities to execute projects. He said facilities managers depend on the capital market for finance, pointing out that the process has created ineffectiveness in the system because of tough requirement in opening a financial book. The panellists stressed the need for the setting up of a regulatory body to oversee the operation of professionals in the sector. Participants from the telecoms, government and the academic sectors, however, acknowledged the importance of engaging the services of professional facilities managers. They advocated the need for training and retraining of FM managers to enhance their capacity to function efficiently. Responses Responding to some of the issues raised by the panellists, Akintunde said that there was need for more training and standardisation in the practice of FM in Nigeria. He acknowledged the fact that a lot needed to be done in this sector and stressed the need for organisations to keep to their promise of timely payment to facilities management companies to enable them deliver quality services.

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NMRC set to grant mortgage refinancing loans HOME OWNERSHIP 600 first-timers to be captured in the first phase Dayo Ayeyemi

igerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), may roll out the first mortgage refinancing loans for eligible participants of the affordable housing schemes of the Federal Government this month, New Telegraph, has learnt. It was gathered that the approval of bond by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) will be finalised before

the end of this week, while other regulatory matters concerning the mortgages have already been resolved. Spokesperson of the NMRC, Chika Philips, told our correspondent at the weekend, that SEC is in the process of approving the bond, adding that “hopefully, will be done in a few days’ time in order to grant the first mortgage loans this month by God’s grace.” On why the bond’s approval is important to the programme, she stated that proceeds from the bond would be used to fund the mortgages. She disclosed that the mortgage loans would have been rolled out last month but was put on hold due to some issues and SEC’s inabil-

ity to approve the bond. This is coming as part of the deal by NMRC to provide mortgage banks with access to long-term finance at an affordable interest rate. It will enable mortgages to be issued by the institutions to Nigerians on a long-term basis. About 20 mortgage institutions, including commercial and mortgage banks are members of the mortgage lending banks. Experts have, however, noted that the new initiative would set the stage to develop both the primary and secondary mortgage markets by raising long-term funds from the domestic capital markets and foreign markets to provide ac-

cessible as well as affordable housing in Nigeria. The refinancing will involve close to 600 mortgage refinancing loans for eligible participants of the affordable housing scheme of the Federal Government already in the market warehoused by eight mortgage lending banks. Chief Executive Officer of NMRC, Prof. Charles Inyangete, had once said that the approval was to fulfil the mandate to bring liquidity into the market. He said: “Activity is starting this month with the first refinancing of existing mortgages in the market called the legacy loans.”

Why housing corporations are underperforming – AHCN boss Dayo Ayeyemi

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Ltd (AMFacilities), Femi Akintunde; Chief Executive Officer, Fine & Country West Africa, Udo Okonjo; General Manager, Corporate Services, AMFacilities, Wale Odufalu; Managing Director, Fine & Country, Mr. John Strang, during the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable in Lagos.

Guides for first-time home buyers A

ccording to experts at www.johnlbradfield. com, the process of homebuying can be intimidating, particularly if they are not prepared. They stated that with some basic groundwork, people can improve the odds of first purchase to become a pleasant and rewarding experience. Here are some important issues to consider before jumping in. Have a budget and know how to use it New buyers often underestimate the hidden costs involved with owning a home. Home ownership comes with a number of new expenses, so good money-management skills are an essential must-have. Get your financial house in order Before you decide to become a homeowner, it’s vital to ensure that your credit profile is in good shape. If not, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to repair any damage previously done.

Have a deposit or down payment in place The deposit or downpayment required can vary depending on the value of the home you choose and on the loan requirements of the finance institution. Typically you will need between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the value of your purchase as a deposit. Get a pre-approved loan The fear of being rejected for a home loan is generally of huge concern for most first-time home buyers. To minimize the stress, get a pre-approved home loan before looking at prospective homes. This can go a long way to help boost your confidence and it may also provide you with a big advantage in situations where there may be more than one offer on the table for a specific property. Know what your transfer costs will be on the transaction First-time buyers often forget to allow for transfer costs, also referred to as

closing costs, when making an offer on a property. Expect to pay an additional amount of anywhere between three and six per cent of the total sales price for transfer costs. Don’t be pressurised into making an offer Don’t feel pressured into making an offer on the first home you see. This is a common mistake of many first-time home buyers. It’s important to see enough homes to get a feel for the property market in your chosen area, before you make a final decision. Let the buyer beware… You are entitled to conduct a careful inspection of the entire home. Look inside cupboards, turn on taps and flush toilets. Check for signs of damp or recent repair work. Ask for a copy of the building plans so that you can establish that any building work has been approved by the local authority. If no plan is available ask the agent or the seller to get one for you.

He noted that the refinancing is not automatic for lending banks, but would simultaneously be injecting the much-desired liquidity into the Nigeria mortgage system. Besides, he said that the banks would need to meet regulatory standards for them to be part of the NMRC market by investing minimum threshold into NMRC. The successful delivery by the NMRC on its mandate will unlock quantum opportunities in deepening and expanding Nigeria’s Mortgage Industry, the capital market and pivoting Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to new heights.

resident of Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN), Dr. Ifenna E. Chukwujekwu, has blamed the failure of housing agencies to deliver on their mandate on political interference and lack of total independence to execute projects professionally, among other factors. He explained that political interference in the activities of the agencies has grossly affected their performance by halting on-going projects. He said: “Unfortunately however, most of the state housing agencies are underutilised and have been rendered redundant and could hardly carry out their primary responsibility as elaborated in the respective laws setting up these agencies.” For the housing corporations to live to expectation, he wants every form of political interference with their activities to be discouraged. “Provision should be made to commercialise these housing corporations with full autonomy to make them more dynamic and productive. Their out-dated nomenclature and organogram should be restructured to reflect current dictates of administrative vibrancy,” he suggested. Besides, Chukwujekwu maintained that the problems of housing delivery were rooted in the lack of finance, escalating cost of building materials and infrastructural development cost, pointing out that these three problems have also constrained the performance of housing agencies. Presently, Nigeria’s homeownership rate is said to be about a probable 25 per cent, which unfavourably incomparable with 90 per cent in Singapore, 70 per cent in the USA, 74 per cent in Brazil, 63 per cent in Columbia, 56 per cent in South Africa and 41 per cent in Libya, to mention a few. The ACHN boss also blamed

housing corporations’ failure on the usurpation of their statutory responsibility by the states’ housing ministry. To him, housing ministries are supposed to formulate policy and monitor its parastatals to ensure policy compliance and accomplishment. Chukwujekwu emphasised that the inadequate financial support in terms of seed funding to assist state housing corporations to take off project execution was a limiting factor. He added: Inadequate moral support and backing in terms of loan guarantee for state housing corporation when seeking housing loan and politicking with such funds when released, which usually put such corporation in trouble servicing the loans, is another factor limiting the agencies.” Chukwujekwu explained that the non-availability of Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) to assist some state housing corporations in disposing some of their housing units has always been a problem. He said: “Lack of government support in terms of provision of infrastructural facilities in most housing estates, which often increase the cost of completed housing units and inadequate funding of research efforts into the use of local building materials to ascertain its suitability for peculiarity of the state. “Withdrawal of some state governments from the NHF contribution which put the housing corporations of such states at disadvantage in accessing estate development loans from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. The establishment of politically motivated parallel housing organization in the same state thereby duplicating the responsibility of the state housing corporation or agency.” AHCN was established in 1964 to ensure increased availability of dwelling houses and mass housing production in their respective state.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Bristow’s Africa region, academy partner on capacity devt p.38

Aviation

Evaluating Nigeria’s FAA, ICAO audits Three major audits, three successes; that is the hallmark of Nigeria to excel against all odds whenever the country has her back against the wall. The recent scaling of ICAO audit is heart warming amid decay in the aviation industry, writes Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE

hen you think that Nigeria is down or would find it very difficult to scale virtually all the assessment by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the country comes out stronger to shock ‘pessimists’ and those who have reservations about lack of infrastructure that make for good airports. With porosity of the nation’s airports and cumbersome facilitation processes at the aerodrome, many are seeking and evaluating the criteria for passing of these assessments. Kudos must go to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for rising to the occasion to save the nation’s face because the inability to pass these audit would have cast a shadow on some of the hard works done by the country’s aviation regulatory body and to a large extent, that of other agencies. Nigeria was in 2010 first awarded category one aviation status, which shows that the country complied with all known global aviation regulations in line with the provision of the ICAO. FAA/ICAO assessments Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), each country is responsible for the safety oversight of its own air carriers. Other countries can only conduct specific surveillance activities, principally involving inspection of required documents and the physical condition of aircraft. FAA conducts the International Aviation Safety Assessment Programme (IASA), assessing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the United States. Because of the provisions of the Chicago Convention and national sovereignty, FAA is not permitted to evaluate a foreign carrier within its own sovereign state. A former Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren, had worked

An airplane on final descent at an airport

tirelessly to ensure that some of the gaps noticed by the Americans were closed. But the spate of air accidents, about three in four years, raised a lot of questions about air safety in the country then. The interference in the affairs of the NCAA by the Ministry of Aviation, culminating in the removal of three Directors-Generals in a space of two years, was said to have infuriated the US and brought to questions professionalism in the agency. Implications for Nigeria When the Americans were to come to Nigeria four years later to re-assess the sector, there were anxiety as to whether Nigeria stood a chance to scale the hurdle, but some were of the opinion that the country would pass the audit. The failure of Nigeria to pass the test would have hurt Arik Air, as the carrier would not be able to operate to America with its planes but would have to lease plane from a category one rated country for them to operate to the US. Arik is the only Nigerian airline operating to America under the US-Nigeria ‘Open Skies’ pact between both nations signed in 2000 when former President Bill Clinton visited Nigeria. United and Delta are the two airlines servicing the Nigerian route from Atlanta and Chicago respectively. Four years later, the Americans visited again to see if Nigeria has not gone to sleep following its success at getting category one. Again, Nigeria retained its rating in 2014. Early this month, the apex aviation regulatory body, ICAO, arrived in the country to carry

out security audit. The exercise lasted nine days; June 1 to 9, 2015, and covered the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAA), Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano; Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, and many others. The team, comprising of four members, looked at the following areas - regulatory framework and the National Civil Aviation Security System, training of aviation security personnel, quality control functions, airport operations, aircraft and in-flight security. Areas of assessment Other areas they beamed their searchlight were on passenger and baggage security, cargo, catering and mail security, response to acts of unlawful interference and security aspects of facilitation. Members of the team were Karen Zadoyan, Steven Neu, Nuno Miguel Silva Ferreira Fortes and Wendy Mueller.

Spate of accidents raised questions of air safety

Noticeable gaps Although the Director-General of (NCAA), Usman Muhktar, said that the aviation regulatory body was in the process of certifying the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, in line with the ICAO regulations, observers expressed concern that current security issues, especially as it concerns stowaways, could have serious impact on the audit. The ICAO universal security programme was launched in January 1999 in response to widespread concerns expressed during the 29th ICAO members’ meeting.

ICAO assesses the effectiveness of implementation of the critical elements of a safety oversight system and the status of states’ implementation of safety-related ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs). Apart from the stowaway incident recorded last year at Benin and Lagos airports, two others recorded in February at Lagos airport raised question of how serious Nigeria is in tackling such issues. Unresolved security flaws Stakeholders are, however, worried that this development was becoming usual at Lagos airport, which is supposed to be the flagship. They said that it shows that both the security personnel and authorities were not up and doing or have not put in place necessary security measures such as high perimeter fences. “We also know that some airports lack required perimeter fences just like the Shasha end of Lagos airport; the danger in all these is that a stowaway may not have the intention of just travelling to escape, they may also have ulterior motive of either targeting the plane or airport. These are issues Nigeria needs to fix immediately if we tag these airports international,” Ade Kemi, an aviation security expert said. Conclusion Airlines should ensure the safety of their aircraft. And since lack of good safety infrastructure and good security network, among others, has seriously affected the rating of the facilities, the authorities should work towards getting the nation’s airports rated.

Business | Aviation

TRAINING Partnership with the Nigerian College of Aviation dates back to 2008 Stories by Wole Shadare

n a bid to enhance aviation training, Bristow’s Africa region has donated a “runout” Robinson R-22 to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to be used as a ground platform for teaching “basic helicopter maintenance and engineering training.” Bristow Academy supported the effort by inspecting, disassembling and shipping the aircraft to Nigeria, as well as training four NCAT college instructors in R-22 maintenance and basic helicopter engineering. Maintenance Training Coordinator, Jeff Salter, designed a four-week course curriculum for instructors from the college to become familiar with basic helicopter engineering and maintenance of the R-22.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bristow’s Africa region, academy partner on capacity devt The programme consisted of two weeks of classroom instruction and two weeks onthe-job training. “The goal of the programme I designed was to equip the instructors with the knowledge they needed to effectively teach their students,” said Jeff. “I wanted them to leave here with a well-rounded understanding of helicopters in general and a renewed perspective of training aircraft maintenance technicians. It was a great opportunity and I was honoured to teach them.” Senior Administrative Assistant, Jessica Britt and Africa Region Human Resources Business Partner, Yemi Adegbayibi, also supported the effort, working together to arrange for VISAs, travel and accommodations for the instructors. “NCAT is the foremost aviation training institution in Nigeria, and we’re very proud to

partner with them to develop future engineers,” said Adegbayibi. The partnership with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria dates back to 2008. During this time, Bristow has donated instructional books, and performed classrooms and instructor residence renovations; supply of modern maintenance tool boxes and installation of modern IT/ audiovisual instruction training equipment in classrooms. The partnership also included Bristow’s sponsorship of training for four instructors in Sowella College, Louisiana, which he said, “Went a long way in equipping them with critical knowledge for the students’ training programme.” Currently, Bristow is sponsoring 20 young Nigerian engineering graduates in the college’s Abridged Airframe and Power Plant and Avion-

A first class lounge of an airline.

Emirates invests $330m on lounges lUnveils new facility in Japan

mirates has celebrated the opening of its 38th dedicated lounge at Terminal 2 of Narita International Airport. The opening not only showcased Emirates’ premium lounge, but provided a unique opportunity for guests to experience the airline’s on-board food offering on its Japan routes. The Emirates lounge at Narita International Airport according to a statement, is the first airline-owned lounge in Japan. It will provide an experience of seamless luxury and comfort for its First and Business Class customers, as well as Platinum and Gold members of Emirates Skywards - the airline’s frequent flyer programme. This first lounge opening in Japan, according to the statement, reinforces Emirates’

on-going commitment to the Japanese market. President & Chief Executive Officer, Narita International Airport Corporation, Makato Natsume, said: “I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Emirates for opening its world-class lounge here at Narita Airport. This is a Japan first. I look forward to further developments as Emirates and Narita International Airport move forward. “Our commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of our business is the secret of Emirates’ success. The new Emirates Lounge at Narita expresses that commitment in a very concrete way.” The Emirates lounge at Narita International Airport provides a seamless transition to the elegant environment of

the onboard First Class and Business Class offering with a colour palette reflecting the neutral, earthy tones that customers have come to associate with the Emirates brand. In the lounge, passengers, according to the statement, are able to choose from a complimentary selection of fine beverages and a wide range of hot and cold delicacies from a gourmet buffet. State-of-the-art LED TVs ensure passengers remain upto-date with the latest news and entertainment, and a fully equipped business centre is available for those needing to catch up on that last bit of business before flight. Complimentary Wi-Fi service is also offered throughout the facility to ensure passengers remain connected. Passengers are also able to freshen up prior to their flight with the lounge’s shower facilities.

ics course. Upon completion of this programme, the company employs the students as trainee aircraft engineers. “We were pleased to be a part of this project to develop future engineers,” said Bris-

tow Academy Director Todd Smith. “This is a great example of what Bristow does best – setting the standard through innovation and teamwork, in the spirit of making a difference.”

AIR RAGE

WITH

Wole Shadare

Agony of Freky, passenger with disability

raveling by plane can be stressful for anyone - the long wait, the security hassles and lost luggage. But the process can be even more grueling for people with disabilities. Recently, news outlets reported on the unfortunate situation when airlines refuse travel to people with disabilities. While no one is suggesting that the airlines are acting intentionally, it is clear that a great deal of more awareness and advocacy is needed. Under the air carrier access act, to ensure that people with disabilities would not be discriminated against in air travel, the United States Congress passed the Air carrier access (ACAA, 14 CFR 382). Under the ACAA, all domestic and international flights with the US as its destination or origination are required to provide certain accommodations free of charge to people with disabilities in a way consistent with providing safe travel for all passengers. It was quite shocking that in Africa, some countries do not have deliberate policy that protects the right of passengers with disability. Helping with boarding and deplaning, properly trained staff must be available to help people with disabilities board and exit the plane. The airport must have properly trained personnel available to help persons with a disability in boarding and exiting the plane. However, airlines are not permitted to hand-carry passengers on and off aircraft, that is, to directly pick up a passenger’s body in the arms of airline personnel. How then can one explain the predicament and maltreatment Freky Andrew-Essien was subjected to on June 1, 2015, when Africa World Airlines said to her: “We don’t fly wheelchair passengers, we are sorry, but it is company policy.” This is a very absurd policy. Was she told that they would not be able to fly her because of her situation? Were wheel chairs in short supply in Ghanaian airports? Of what use is an airline that does not take

into consideration people with disability? Freky, as she is fondly called, is the founder of FAECARE, a non-profit organisation that plans and implements programmes that provides basic support services in education, health and psychological development to vulnerable communities. She has overcome limitations to be a development champion. People with disability like Freky are often limited to live up to their full potential because of discriminating policies like this. Many of them in the past have no voice. The media is expected not to keep quiet on this issue. If we all keep quiet on this issue, many more people like Freky will continue to go through difficulties like this. Freky’s story My story is quite simple- I live in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria and have an internship at an organisation in the Northern Province of Ghana. The route via air is Port Harcourt - Lagos; Lagos - Accra and Accra to Tamale. Flights were booked and on getting to the domestic airport in Accra, I presented my ticket, but was called aside by the airline official and told that the airline don’t fly wheelchair bound passengers because they don’t have facilities to board me...lifts and all. I told them it wouldn’t be a problem as I have experienced the general lack of facilities when it comes to PWDs (persons with disability) but that I was ready to work with them as I have always done when faced with these situations. And the next thing they said was that sorry, but it’s a policy...and added that if I could walk with a cane or something, they’d try. I asked for a refund so I could try booking another flight and they said I’d have to do that in their Lagos office. Anyway, I did approach the other two airlines - Antrak Air (which I have used before) and Starbow Airlines, they also said “sorry” and mentioned the policy. Bottom line no flight and thus a 10-hour trip by road. How is this right?

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Photo | News

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dadiya cultural dancers performing at the first annual cultural festival of Dadiya community in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. PHOTO: NAN

Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Atubokiki Ajienka (left), with the DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, at the graduation ceremony in Port Harcourt.

L-R: Operations Manager, Marine Offshore Services Limited Singapore (MOS), Mr. Felix Ho; Operations Manager, Broron Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Elijah Odigie; Executive Director, Mr. Goddy Oki; Executive ViceChairman/CEO, Mr. Henry Ojogho; Chief Executive Officer, MOS, Mr. Sam Yeo; Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Yeo and Mr. Jerimy Yeo, after the signing of a MoU between MOS and Broron Oil and Gas Limited in Lagos.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi; winner of a KIA Rio, Miss Gbemi Shotade and Managing Director/CEO, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mr. Christope Penninck, at the presentation of the grand prize to the winner, in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Former Adamawa State Governor and APC chieftain, Admiral Murtala Nyako (right), with some cyclists who rode from Yola to Abuja to honour him and his son, Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako, in Yola.

A member representing Gumel/Gagarawa/Migatari Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, Alhaji Sani Zoro (right), addressing his constituents in Jobi village in Maigatari Local Government Area over a land dispute between the community and Nigeriens.

L-R: Interim National Secretary, Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria (MDAN), Malam Suleiman Kato; Chairman, Northern Zone, Mr. Rotimi Fabiyi and Interim President, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello at the national meeting of the association in Kaduna. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Minister in Charge, Assemblies of God Church (AGC), Rosanwo, Surulere, Rev. Matthew Ubong; Youth President, Deacon Uche Ogbonna; Vice-President, Mr. Melody Oguh and Secretary, Miss Peace Ekeleme, at the General Council Assemblies of God Youth day, held in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

65% Nigerians lack access to bank, says NDIC BARRED Low income, distance to banks hinder access Sabiu Mustapha Jalingo

ixty five per cent of Nigeria’s population do not have access to any form of banking facility, North-

espite having nearly 170 million active mobile phones, the highest number in Africa and seventh in the world, Nigeria still lags behind Kenya, which only has 28 million active mobile phones, in the usage of mobile money, according to a report by Ventures Africa. While Nigeria reports about N5 billion ($25.1 million) in annual mobile money transactions, the East African nation boasts of about $30 billion annually. MPesa, the mobile money platform of Kenya’s Safaricom alone accounts for about $5 billion of this sum. Mobile money adoption rate in Nigeria is

east Zonal Controller of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Sabo Gidado, has said. He made this known yesterday while delivering a sensitisation and awareness lecture to the 2015 Batch ‘A’ stream II Corps Members deployed to Adamawa State, who are currently camping in Jalingo, Taraba state. Gidado said the percentage was arrived at following a research

conducted by Enhanced Financial inclusion and Access (EFiNA) - an organisation committed to reducing the unbanked population in Nigeria. He noted that the percentage consist mainly of people in the rural areas and those with low income due to irregular income, unemployment and distance to banks. The zonal controller urged people not to entertain any fear while saving money in Nigerian

banks as all lenders in the country are insured with the NDIC. He explained that with NDIC, a customer’s money is safe and in case of bank failure, the Corporation guarantees payment of deposits up to a maximum amount. “In case of a bank failure, NDIC guarantees payment of customers’ deposits within 90 days,” he said. Gidado emphasised that as one of the safety-net participants in

Nigeria lags behind Kenya in mobile money usage

very low - about 2 percent. This is partly due to the approach adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which is in charge of giving out mobile money licences. Mobile money in Nigeria is bank-led unlike Kenya’s telco-led. Mr Ike Eze, who is responsible for PocketMoni, the mobile money business of financial switching and mobile money company eTranzact, said in an interview last month, that the major hindrance to the growth of mobile

money in Nigeria is the exclusion of telecommunications operators from mobile money licences. “… If you look at how mobile money has permeated other societies, it typically has been on the back of an agent network built by a telco. There are already agents in so many places, both urban areas and rural areas … so piggybacking money on top of something like that makes it easy,” he said. Mr Eze, who is also eTranzact’s executive director for strategy

and corporate development, added that since Nigeria’s telcos are not allowed to own mobile money licenses directly, the country needs to find out better ways to improve adoption. The Director, Banking Supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dipo Fatokun could not agree more. He recently admitted that mobile money services, which started in the country about two years ago with 21 mobile money operators had not met the CBN’s target.

Economic Indicators As at M2*

N19,142,526.05m

Mar, 2015

CPS*

N18,579,219.49m

Mar, 2015

INF

8.7

May, 2015

MPR

4/6/2015

US$64.03

15/6/2015

US$29,127,899,016

11/6/2015

Bonny Light Ext Res**

Source:CBN

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

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM 1.17 1.87 4.04 6.62 8.75 15.10 19.09

Price 99.00 101.96 105.91 110.43 101.47 68.00 87.03

NIBOR

Rate (%) 13.5417 15.2981 16.6484 17.6663

FGN Bonds Bid Yield 13.96 13.84 14.03 13.92 13.89 15.55 14.12

Change (%) 2.88 ▲ 0.12 ▲ 0.07 ▲ 0.43 ▲

Change (%) 0.02 ▲ -0.10 ▼ 0.03 ▲ -0.04 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.03 ▼

Price 99.15 102.11 106.21 110.73 101.77 68.30 87.33

Offer Yield 13.82 13.75 13.93 13.85 13.83 15.48 14.07

NITTY

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 10.5921 11.9113 12.3059 12.6219 13.7046 14.1489

Treasury Bills

Change (%) -0.04 ▼ -0.06 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.28 ▲ -0.39 ▼ -0.42 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 11.24 11.54 0.34 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 11.96 10-Sep-15 11.49 11.81 0.34 ▲ 11.53 12.24 0.79 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 12.50 17-Dec-15 11.78 12.52 0.79 ▲ Bid Offer Spot ($/N) 198.19 198.29 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Change (%) 0.02▲ -0.10 ▼ 0.03▲ -0.04▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.03 ▼

Change (%) -0.28 ▼

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 198.9000

Offer 199.0000

Change (%) 2.54 ▲ 2.50 ▲ Change (%) 0.00 ↔ Source: FMDQ

Nigeria, the NDIC has continued to effectively discharge its mandate of insuring Nigerian banks,

thereby sustaining public confidence in the banking system and financial stability.

CBN to borrow N873bn via Treasury bills in Q3

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it plans to borrow about N872.96 billion in a new Treasury bills issue between June 18 and September 3. The apex bank said it would auction N215.12 billion worth of the three-month paper,

N238.5 billion in the sixmonth debt and N419.34 billion worth in the oneyear paper. The total debt proposed for the third quarter is 12.3 percent short of the N995.5 billion raised in the second quarter of the year, the data released by the regulator showed.

Group lauds GIABA’s support for FIUs

he Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), a major Anti Money Laundering/ Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) stakeholder has commended the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) over its support to the Group. The Egmont Group of FIUs promotes the development of FIUs and cooperation especially in the areas of information exchange, training and the sharing of expertise. In a press statement, GIABA said that it received a Certificate of Recognition from the Egmont Group, which was signed by the Group’s Chair, Mr. Murray Michell, at the opening ceremony of the Group’s 23rd Plenary in

Barbados. The Group noted that GIABA under the leadership of its Director General, Mr. Adama Coulibaly, has been working closely with the Egmont Group in achieving the Group’s mandate. It also made special mention of GIABA’s efforts at no cost to Egmont Group in translating into French the training modules on Strategic Financial Analyses Course. As an Observer Organisation to Egmont Group and in line with its strategic plan, GIABA continues to work diligently to ensure the admission of FIUs in its member States into the Group. Already, the total number of GIABA member States in the Egmont Group becomes nine, with the admission of Niger CENTIF at the June 2015 Plenary.

Afreximbank announces $5bn asset growth

he outgoing President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) , Mr. JeanLouis Ekra, has said that the total assets of the bank grew more than 10fold from about half a billion dollars in 2004 to over $5 billion in 2014, “despite challenges at the early part of my Presidency and episodic macroeconomic shocks thereafter”. In his report on the lender’s activities delivered during its 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the weekend, Ekra, whose tenure as President of the Bank ends this year, said that loans and advances accounted for more than 80 percent of the total assets during the period. “Unlike many other multilateral development

banks, your bank deliberately maintained very high loan-to-total assets ratio, consistent with expectations of its shareholders. “Net earnings grew five-fold from $20 million in 2004 to $104 million in 2014. Sources of the earnings became more diversified, with advisory fees accounting for more than 25 percent of total revenues during the period,” a statement by Afreximbank quoted Ekra as saying. Ekra said that the strong earnings performance ensured the consistent payment of dividends to shareholders, with payment ratio at over 22 percent, and that, except for a few years, non-performing loans ratio remained generally below 2 percent.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

15-Jun-15

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 193.73 600.00 573.14 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 299.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,407.40

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1.17 1.87 2.12 2.21 2.96 4.04 4.36 4.66 6.62 8.75 13.46 13.94 14.43 15.10 19.09

13.96 13.84 13.89 13.90 13.97 14.03 14.05 14.03 13.92 13.89 16.92 17.40 17.94 15.55 14.12

13.82 13.75 13.80 13.81 13.90 13.93 13.94 13.95 13.85 13.83 16.86 17.32 17.84 15.48 14.07

99.00 101.96 92.78 91.56 92.29 105.91 77.57 104.98 110.43 101.47 89.89 74.53 51.78 68.00 87.03

99.15 102.11 92.93 91.71 92.44 106.21 77.87 105.28 110.73 101.77 90.19 74.83 52.08 68.30 87.33

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.92 1.48 1.84 2.06

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85

15.81 14.94 16.57 16.73

101.25 101.35 102.39 98.69

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

301.29

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.21

4.44

16.26

99.13

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.29

3.23

15.33

99.28

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.54

4.46

17.07

98.49

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.57

3.48

16.15

99.65

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.84

1.00

14.90

92.30

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.11

1.00

14.77

99.00

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.55

1.79

15.72

96.49

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.93

1.80

15.69

97.31

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.94

1.00

14.89

98.52

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.12

1.00

14.89

99.32

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.13

4.78

18.67

92.37

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.11

1.00

14.89

100.97

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

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

2.55 4.44 2.61

2.02 1.00 1.00

15.95 15.05 14.93

99.04 98.25 99.62 97.61

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.05

1.82

15.80

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.45

1.00

14.98

94.60

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.55

1.00

14.97

100.08

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.20

1.00

14.99

98.83

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.23

1.00

14.99

99.99

99.53

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

448.65 434.80

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.17

1.00

12.63

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.48

1.00

13.47

99.33

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.32

2.63

14.78

99.80

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.29

1.00

14.85

97.84

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.36

1.34

15.23

98.79

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.29

1.00

14.91

96.35

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.53

1.88

15.82

103.55

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.57

3.84

17.78

97.68

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.74

1.00

14.92

104.33

101.48

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.74

1.00

14.92

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.29

3.00

17.00

92.60

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.84

2.29

16.19

99.26

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.92

6.11

20.00

97.07

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.55

2.16

16.09

99.75

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.42

2.76

16.74

94.78

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.43

1.80

15.71

94.18

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.54

2.63

16.54

99.63

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.29

1.00

15.14

105.59

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.29

1.00

15.14

90.69

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

178.07

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

171.10

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.66

1.00

14.94

89.87

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

15.03

84.16

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.96

5.76

103.71

104.68

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.01

4.64

100.33

101.36

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.20

6.04

101.07

102.11

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,525.51

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.39

4.31

100.97

102.84

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.51

99.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.85

9.38

90.33

93.76

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.57

7.06

95.38

96.84

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.94

97.70

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.09

9.64

95.72

97.13

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

9.29 10.53 9.73

9.29 10.21 9.73

95.25 94.67 91.50

95.25 96.05 91.50

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.26

9.70

92.51

94.96

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,492.99

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

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15

Bid Discount (%) 13.32 13.31 10.68 10.83 11.16 12.18 11.82 11.75

Offer Discount (%) 13.07 13.06 10.43 10.58 10.91 11.93 11.57 11.50

Bid Yield (%) 13.36 13.39 10.76 10.93 11.29 12.36 12.02 11.98

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.5417 15.2981 16.6484 17.6663

Rate (%)

OBB

11.96

O/N

12.50

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 12.00 13.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.19 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.29 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

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

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

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

100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 193.73 600.00 573.14 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 299.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Description

13.90 13.97 14.03 14.05 14.03 13.92 13.89 16.92 17.40 17.94 15.55 14.12

13.81 13.90 13.93 13.94 13.95 13.85 13.83 16.86 17.32 17.84 15.48 14.07

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

FMBN

NSE gains N34 billion

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

0.29 per cent on the back to close at 33,719.45, while of blue chip companies. the market capitalisaSub-National Bonds Stories by Chris Ugwu 31-Aug-10 The market had31-AUG-2015 also tion appreciated by N34 A/Agusto KADUNA 12.50 KADUNA 30-Sep-10 A-/Agusto *EBONYI EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 last Friday13.00 closed on the billion or 0.29 per cent 30-Jun-11 BBB+/Agusto *BENUE 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 to rading activiupward trend, as30-JUN-2016 market from N11.476 trillion 30-Jun-09 ‡ /Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 19-Apr-10 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS ties on the floor speculators took advanN11.510 trillion. 30-Jun-10 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA of the Nigerian tage of low prices of Further analysis of 30-Dec-10 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 ‡ /Agusto EDO 30-Sep-11 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA stock market yesstocks. the day’s trading showed 04-Oct-11 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER opened the week At the close of trading, that Guinness Nigeria 09-Dec-11 ‡terday /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITIin 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III price 12-DEC-2018 Plc topped the day’s a green territory, as the 24 stocks recorded gain14-Feb-12 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 local bourse sustained appreciation, while 21 ers’ table with 10.12 per 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 others constituted the confidence following apcent to close at N185.00 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 preciable demands by in- losers’ table. 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 per share, while Neimeth 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; LAGOS 13.50market LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 vestors.‡ /GCR The twin in- Nigeria Plc followed with 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 The twin market*EKITI per- dicators, the All-Share 9.24 per cent to close at 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 N1.30 per share.06-Jan-14 UAC formance measures, the Index rose15.00 byNASARAWA 97.7 basis TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE NSE ASI and market cap- points or 0.29 per cent Property Plc gained five TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION italisation, firmed up by from 33,621 last Friday per cent to close at N10.50 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Corporate Bonds

*UPDC *FLOURMILLS

nilever said *CHELLARAMS it plans to NAHCO raise its stake in its NiFSDH A/GCR UBAup to 75 gerian unit to BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING per cent in a $216 million ofNil *DANA A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER fer to minority shareholders AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER but would not de-list its subA+/Agusto; A/GCR UBA sidiary. BBB+/GCR BBB+/Agusto; *LA CASERA BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR According to *CHELLARAMS Reuters Nil *DANA News,A-/GCR the household prodA+/Agusto; NAHCO BBB/GCR FCMB ucts maker, which already A/GCR owns 50.1 per cent UBA of the NiA/GCR STANBIC IBTC A/GCR gerian subsidiary,STANBIC hasIBTC had TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE biggest operations in Africa’s TOTAL MARKET economy forCAPITALISATION close to a centuSupranational Bond ry and sees Nigeria as a longAAA/S&P IFC term investment, documents Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB showed yesterday. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Under the terms of the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION offer, parent firm Unilever Issuer plansRating/Agency to acquire 942 million ordinary shares at N45.50 FGN Eurobonds each, which would reduce the BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Nigerian unit’s free float and BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P trading volumes. BB-/Fitch; The parent firm valued the BB-/S&P Nigeria subsidiary at around TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE N172.14 billion ($865 million) TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION and said it would fund the Corporate Eurobonds tender offer fromGTBANK its availB+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I able cash reserves.ACCESS BANK PLC B+/S&P B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY PLC Unilever said it hadBANK exB+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC tended the offer toGTBANK June 25; B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC fromB/S&P June 10 to allow B/Fitch; DIAMONDmore BANK PLC B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC shareholders participate, BB/GCR

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

#{r}

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

ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

297.82

17-Aug-10

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

10.00

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

9.25 8.00

400.00 450.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

Maturity Date

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

19-Apr-17

1.84

1.00

14.90

92.30

30-Jun-17

1.11

1.00

14.77

99.00

31-Dec-17

2.55

1.79

15.72

96.49

30-Sep-18

1.93

1.80

15.69

97.31

04-Oct-18

1.94

1.00

14.89

98.52

09-Dec-18

2.12

1.00

14.89

99.32

12-Dec-18

18.67

92.37

14-Feb-19

2.11

1.00

14.89

100.97

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

2.55 4.44 2.61

2.02 1.00 1.00

15.95 15.05 14.93

99.04 98.25 99.62

24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

10.53 9.73

10.21 9.73

94.67 91.50

96.05 91.50

14-Aug-21

10.26

9.70

92.51

94.96

2.13

4.78

egency Alliance tunities and prospects company Insurance 3.05Plc has 1.82 and the 15.80 97.61 will 27-Nov-20 5.45 1.00 14.98 94.60 recorded 37.63 per make the best of all situ31-Dec-20 5.55 1.00 14.97 100.08 cent decline in he said. 98.83 31-Dec-20 3.20 pretax 1.00 ations,” 14.99 06-Jan-21 14.99 99.99said profit for the 3.23 financial 1.00 Karibi-White year ended December that Regency would 31, 2014. hold on to its corporate The insurance firm ideals and values99.53 of pro17-Aug-15 0.17 1.00 12.63 in09-Dec-15 a notice to 0.48 Nigerian 1.00 fessionalism, integrity, 13.47 99.33 06-Jan-16 0.32 14.78 99.80 Stock Exchange (NSE) 2.63 commitment and effi29-Sep-16 1.29 1.00 14.85 97.84 posted a profit before ciency while ensuring 25-Oct-16 1.36 1.34 15.23 98.79 30-Sep-17 2.29million 1.00 the creation 14.91 of 96.35 wealth tax of N505.295 30-Nov-17 1.53 103.55 for all 15.82 its stakeholders during the period un- 1.88 09-Apr-18 1.57 3.84 17.78 97.68 09-Sep-18 14.92 104.33 asder review as1.74against 1.00 and mitigating risks 09-Sep-18 1.74 14.92 N810.201 million. This 1.00 sociated with it. 101.48 30-Sep-18 3.29 3.00 17.00 92.60 represented a1.84 drop of 2.29 He said the in18-Oct-18 16.19 that in99.26 17-Feb-19 6.11 surance 20.00 97.07 37.63 per cent. 1.92 industry, with 01-Apr-19 2.55 2.16 16.09 99.75 of no The group’s 14-Nov-20 5.42 profit 2.76 the enforcement 16.74 94.78 20-Nov-21 6.43 15.71 no cover 94.18poliafter tax dropped to 1.80 premium 30-Dec-21 6.54 2.63 16.54 99.63 N439.074 million or 7.2 cy, the issue of delay in 30-Sep-24 9.29 1.00 15.14 105.59 30-Sep-24 9.29 15.14remittance 90.69 per cent in 2014 from 1.00 premium by N473.271 million record- the insured and the ined in 2013. surance intermediaries However, the group’s was drastically reduced 11-Feb-18 2.66 the year. 89.87 gross premium income 1.00 during 14.94 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 15.03 84.16 However, he added that firmed up by 17 per cent from N3.490 billion to the problem of rate cutting N4.084 billion. in the face of increased Maturity Bid Yield (%) Offer Yieldcompetition (%) Bid Price among OfferoperaPrice TheDate Chairman of the company, Justice Adol- Prices tors&intensified. Yields phus Karibi-White, at 5.76 Karibi-White said 28-Jan-21 5.96 103.71 104.68 the firm’s 20th annual that there had been in12-Jul-18 5.01 100.33 general meeting (AGM) 4.64 creased interest101.36 by for101.07 102.11 in12-Jul-23 Lagos, said6.20that he 6.04 eign players seeking to hoped that soon, the have a stake in the local company would be in a insurance companies. position to reward its Local investors, he added, were seeking to shareholders. 19-May-16 6.39 4.31 100.97 102.84 “We have strong con- 7.51 acquire99.50 stakes in99.50 the in25-Jul-17 7.51 02-May-18 that the 10.85 social 9.38 dustry, 90.33 93.76 which was makfidence 08-Nov-18 7.57 ing the95.38 insurance96.84 sector economic climate not- 7.06 22-Apr-19 6.94 6.94 97.70 97.70 withstanding, this is a 9.64 to become 21-May-19 10.09 95.72 an investor’s 97.13 07-Aug-20 9.29 oppor- 9.29 target. 95.25 95.25 land of immense 10-Oct-20

16.00 0.70 cials 09-Sep-11 had also showed a 30-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 negative route as Unilever 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.10 17-Feb-12 0.36 reported a revenue 18.00 of N55.7 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 billion,14-Nov-13 representing15.25 a 7 per 2.05 20-Nov-14 26.00 cent drop from the 14.25 N60 bil30-Dec-14 16.45 30.50 lion reported in 2013. 30-Sep-14 16.29 0.10 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 Pre-tax profits dropped 58 per cent to N2.8 billion from 178.07 N6.79 billion posted in 2013. 171.10 The drop in profits was af12.00 fected 11-Feb-13 by the drop in10.20 top-line 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 revenue as well as increase 24.95 in operating expenses for the 21.68 period. Profit after tax also Outstanding Value Coupon (%) fell 79 Issue perDate cent to N2.4billion ($mm) for the year compared to N4.7billion reported6.75a year 07-Oct-11 500.00 earlier. 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 Earnings per share also 12-Jul-13 6.38 to 64 500.00 slumped 49 per cent kobo from N1.25 posted in 1,500.00 2013. Unilever also proposed 1,525.51 a dividend payment of 10 kobo per share payable to share19-May-11 7.50 500.00 holders25-Jul-12 who are included in 7.25 350.00 09-May-13 before 13-17 6.88 300.00 the register Aril 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 2015. The dividend payments 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 represent a paltry 15.68.75 per cent 21-May-14 200.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 dividend payout.

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Risk Premium (%)

Regency Alliance reports 38% dip in pretax profit

2.50

Unilever offers $216m to raise Nigerian unit stake

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

91.71 92.44 106.21 77.87 105.28 110.73 101.77 90.19 74.83 52.08 68.30 87.33

es sector boosted by the activities on the101.25 shares 03-Apr-17 0.92 2.27 15.81 08-Dec-16 1.48 1.00 of FBNH 14.94 Plc followed 101.35 19-Apr-17 1.84 2.67 16.57 102.39 units 06-Jul-17 2.06 2.85 with 20.6 16.73 million 98.69 worth N121.6 million in sub sector was enhanced 516 deals. by the activities in the In all, investors ex31-Aug-15of Access 0.21 Bank 4.44 changed 16.26 99.13 shares a total of 229.7 0.29 99.28 Plc30-Sep-15 and Zenith Bank Plc. 3.23 million 15.33 shares, worth N4.8 30-Jun-16 0.54 4.46 17.07 98.49 Other financial 3,482 deals. 30-Jun-16 0.57 servic- 3.48 billion in 16.15 99.65

301.29 per share. On the flip side, PZ 12.50 Plc led the 8.50 losCussons 13.00 2.16 ers’ chart with a drop of 14.00 3.90 8.57 per at 15.50 cent to close 5.73 10.00 57.00 N32.00 per share,25.73 while 13.75 Berger 14.00 Paints Plc 25.00and 14.00 30.81 International Brewer14.00 9.00 ies Plc shed five per cent 14.50 12.40 9.21 each 14.00 to close at N10.68 15.50 27.00 and N19.01 per share 15.50 15.09 re14.50 80.00 spectively . 14.75 24.74 On14.75 the activity10.78 chart, 13.50 87.50 the Banking sub-sector 15.00 5.00 dominated in volume 14.50 4.55 4.56 terms15.00 with 151.3 million 448.65 shares worth N1.3 bil434.80 lion in 1,253 deals. The

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 saying a fuel crisis in Nigeria 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 since15.75 March disrupted LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 postal MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 services. 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Unilever it would not 15.25 NAHCOsaid II 14-NOV-2020 FCMB I changes 20-NOV-2021 make14.25any to the 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 board of directors or man182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC 30-SEP-2024 agement of itsIBlocal unit after the offer. Shares in Unilever - which has gained 25.7 per cent so far 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 this year - were flat at N45.05. 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Citigroup Global Markets (C.N) and Nigerian-based Chapel Hill Advisory Partners are acting Description as financial advisers to Unilever Overseas Holdings B.V. 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 Unilever Nigeria first12, 2018 quarter 20155.13 JUL net ear n6.3821 JUL 12, 2023 cent ings profit fell per to N590.448 million from N750.629 million recorded a year earlier. However, the company’s 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 revenue grew 7.25 byJUL 8 25, per 2017 cent 6.88 MAY 09, in 2018 2013 from N13.834 billion 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 to N14.910 billion during the 6.25 APR 22, 2019 year under review. 8.75 May 21, 2019 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 The full year 2014 finan9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

91.56 92.29 105.91 77.57 104.98 110.43 101.47 89.89 74.53 51.78 68.00 87.03

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Bulls take over stock market

BULLISH

2.21 2.96 4.04 4.36 4.66 6.62 8.75 13.46 13.94 14.43 15.10 19.09

Business | Financial Market News

4,407.40

Issuer

Agency Bonds

BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

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

15-Jun-15

3,650.00 3,492.99

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ Money Market professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability 10 25-Jun-15 13.32 13.07 13.36 17 24 31 38 45 52 Rating/Agency 59 73 80 87 101 108 122 136 150 164 171 185 NA 206 213 220 227 234 241 248 255 262 276

2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 Issuer 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 29-Oct-15 12-Nov-15 26-Nov-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 NA 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16

FGN Bonds

13.31 10.68 10.83 11.16 12.18 11.82 Description 11.75 11.26 11.74 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.49 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 11.90 12.84 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.39 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.53 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.22 13.74 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 11.86 7.00 23-OCT-2019 11.78 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.19 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.40 13.24 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.32 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.21 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.50 13.32 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.50 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.24 ^12.1493 12.99 18-JUL-2034

13.06 10.43 10.58 10.91 11.93 11.57 Issue 11.50Date 11.01 11.49 16-Aug-13 11.24 27-Apr-12 11.65 12.59 27-Jul-07 13.14 31-Aug-07 13.28 30-May-08 12.97 13.49 29-Jun-12 11.61 23-Oct-09 11.53 13-Feb-15 11.94 27-Jan-12 13.15 12.99 14-Mar-14 13.07 28-Nov-08 12.96 22-May-09 13.25 13.07 20-Nov-09 13.25 23-Jul-10 12.99 18-Jul-14 12.74

13.39 10.76 10.93 11.29 12.36 12.02 Coupon 11.98 (%) 11.52 12.05 13.05 11.81 15.10 12.31 13.34 9.85 14.01 9.35 14.25 10.70 13.97 14.64 16.00 12.55 7.00 12.52 15.54 13.09 16.39 14.53 14.39 14.20 14.52 15.00 14.43 12.49 14.82 14.64 8.50 14.90 10.00 14.64 12.1493 14.40

Bonds

283 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24-Mar-16

297

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

7-Apr-16

12.86

12.61

14.36

311

21-Apr-16

12.97

12.72

14.58

325

5-May-16

12.48

12.23

14.04

353 2-Jun-16 12.42 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.17

14.11

13.07

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

12.82

14.54

Description

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 581.39

Rate (%) 13.5417 15.2981 16.6484 17.6663

11.96

O/N

12.50

REPO

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 476.80 1M 2M 20.00 3M 100.00 6M 300.00 9M 12M 351.30

OBB

16-Aug-16

Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 10.5921 11.9113 27-Jul-17 12.3059 31-Aug-17 12.6219 30-May-18 13.7046 14.1489 29-Jun-19

233.90 23-Oct-19 193.73 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N)14-Mar-24 573.14 BID($/N) 198.9000 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.0000 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 299.50 18-Jul-34

Tenor Call TTM 1M (Yrs) 3M 6M

Bid Yield (%) 13.00

Rate (%) 12.00

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

14.00 15.00

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Yield Offer 3M (%) 6M 1Y

1.17 13.96 13.82 1.87 13.84 13.75 NOTE: 2.12 13.89 13.80 :Benchmarks 2.21 13.90 13.81 * :Amortising Bond 2.96 13.97 13.90 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.04 Management Corporation 14.03 13.93 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.36 14.05 13.94 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 4.66 Finance Corporation 14.03 13.95 IFC: International 6.62 13.92 Management 13.85 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 8.75 Aviation Handling 13.89 Company 13.83 O/N: Overnight 13.46 16.92 16.86 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 13.94 17.40 Company17.32 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 14.43 17.94 17.84 15.10 15.55 15.48 19.09 14.12 14.07

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

198.19 198.29 201.81 201.93 Price 202.28 202.13 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer 205.60 207.21Price 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27

99.00 99.15 101.96 102.11 92.78 92.93 NA :Not Applicable 91.56 91.71 ^ : Market Prices 92.29 92.44 # : Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 105.91 106.21 77.57 77.87 ‡ : Bond rating under review 105.28 †: Bond 104.98 rating expired 110.73 N/A :Not110.43 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 101.77 101.47 89.89 90.19 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 74.53Bank for Africa 74.83 UBA: United 51.78 52.08 68.00 68.30 87.03 87.33

4,746.32 4,407.40

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Volume(Bn)

03-Apr-12 17.25 2.40 09-Dec-11FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.00 BOND INDEX 112.22 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 116.70 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt

Outstanding Vol

Bucket Weighting

Value

297.82

1,433.74

1,409.48

40.58

42.92

3<5

1,244.17

1,173.14

33.77

37.24

662.91

891.07

25.65

19.84

3,340.82

3,473.69

Sub-National Bonds

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Total Outstanding

Market

100.00

12.50

8.50

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

Mod_Duration

0.92 1.48 1.84 2.06

Implied Yield

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85 Implied

Portfolio Price

15.81 14.94 16.57 16.73

INDEX

101.25 101.35 102.39 98.69 YTD Return (%)

0.41

18.19

13.95

105.6276

1,183.45

6.8238

0.34

39.57

13.90

110.9043

1,106.61

9.2875

0.26

42.23

14.96

78.6308

1,105.16

9.7463

14.36

100.4845

1,135.47

7.6084

301.29

31-Aug-10

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

1.00

100.00

31-Aug-15

0.21

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.29

3.23

15.33

99.28

14.00

3.90

30-Jun-16

0.54

4.46

17.07

98.49

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.57

3.48

16.15

99.65

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.84

1.00

14.90

92.30

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.11

1.00

14.77

99.00

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.55

1.79

15.72

96.49

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.93

1.80

15.69

97.31

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.94

1.00

14.89

98.52

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

4.44

16.26

99.13

Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015

Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031

Business | Capital Market Daily Summary (Bonds)

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 15, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 55 15 70

Current Price 33.16 34.50

Quantity Traded 397,641 32,660 430,301

Value Traded 13,190,677.17 1,077,471.05 14,268,148.22

Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. Fishing/Hunting/Trapping Totals

Symbol ELLAHLAKES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.26

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 202.50 202.50

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 2.30

Quantity Traded 326,728 326,728

Value Traded 752,853.93 752,853.93

757,079

15,021,204.65

Quantity Traded 104 4,785,213 180,075 4,965,392

Value Traded 93.60 13,501,792.20 7,502,874.52 21,004,760.32

Daily Summary as ofTotals 15/06/2015 AGRICULTURE Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

79 Symbol JOHNHOLT

No. of Deals 2 110 43 155

Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCORP UACN

Current Price 0.94 2.80 41.75

Page 4,965,392

155

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.96

12 1 of 21,004,760.32

Quantity Traded 39,584 39,584

Value Traded 36,417.28 36,417.28

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 52.39

Quantity Traded 50,813 50,813

Value Traded 2,635,767.33 2,635,767.33

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 10.50

Quantity Traded 109,370 109,370

Value Traded 1,148,160.00 1,148,160.00

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

199,817

3,820,844.61

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Value Traded 2 4,753,543.60 of 12

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Totals Activity Summary onParts Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price DUNLOP

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Published by The Nigerian BREW. Stock Exchange © CHAMPION PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NIGERIA PLC.EQTY Activity NESTLE Summary on Board

1 1

0.50

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 40 77 19 125 1 262

Current Price 6.74 185.00 19.01 150.00 3.26

Quantity Traded Page 759,931 6,177,704 178,110 6,394,215 50 13,510,010

1,038,496,626.60 3,386,091.10 960,138,181.84 155.00 2,006,774,598.14

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 178.10

Quantity Traded 13,814 13,814

Value Traded 2,486,682.17 2,486,682.17

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 18 25 118 22 1 47 1 232

Current Price 4.20 6.65 35.22 3.85 0.50 7.98 11.84

Quantity Traded 41,583 255,074 16,174,412 444,767 50 2,194,468 50 19,110,404

Value Traded 170,440.30 1,700,738.88 578,460,070.76 1,716,057.95 25.00 17,560,263.41 562.50 599,608,158.80

Quantity Traded 10,002 601,974

Value Traded 379,658.80 511,702,175.09

DailySymbol Summary (Equities) No. of Deals Current Price CADBURY NESTLE

CONSUMER GOODS

16 48

39.90 850.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 64

Current Price

Quantity TradedPage 611,976

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

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 1 29 1 31

Current Price 31.82 5.38 1.67

Quantity Traded 20 1,222,502 20,000 1,242,522

Value Traded 604.60 6,380,760.30 31,800.00 6,413,164.90

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 52 33 85

Current Price 32.00 45.00

Quantity Traded 331,308 69,340 400,648

Value Traded 10,610,334.64 3,134,553.69 13,744,888.33

34,890,374

3,141,109,826.23

Quantity Traded 113,957,909 901,512 3,892,089 2,133,028 10,269,484 1,758,939 349,315 3,591,198

Value Traded 710,923,784.18 3,876,209.60 85,634,661.88 3,801,027.32 274,496,373.31 4,358,968.82 722,101.24 18,489,525.99

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

689

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 186 DIAMONDBNK 16 ETI 73 FIDELITYBK 64 GUARANTY 295 SKYEBANK 54 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 17 UBA 83

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

PublishedFINANCIAL by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Current Price 6.30 4.36 22.00 1.78 26.65 2.47 2.10 5.11

Quantity Traded 1,800

Value Traded 2,034.00

Page Quantity Traded 1,800

12 5 of Value Traded 2,034.00 Value Traded 119.00 364.80 483.80

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 68 13 292 69 21 53 516

Current Price 2.92 4.00 9.00 3.10 27.00 1.42

Quantity Traded 2,042,961 2,299,969 9,774,763 4,167,569 101,028 2,270,174 20,656,464

Value Traded 5,843,252.17 9,198,816.20 88,021,106.04 12,533,829.76 2,759,841.76 3,261,189.30 121,618,035.23

176,940,400

1,479,617,297.75

Quantity Traded 685,500 200,000 248,836 384,671 804,330

Value Traded 1,145,285.00 648,000.00 10,973,274.01 653,430.16 1,043,750.33

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 1.14

Quantity Traded 100 60 160

1,884 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 7 3 25 11 15

Current Price 1.67 3.24 44.26 1.71 1.30

Page

7,032.10

Quantity Traded 83,590 522,791 27,723

Value Traded 1,787,833.10 5,269,733.28 1,103,043.85

Symbol CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 20 23 1 2 8 25 124

Current Price 10.55 178.00 0.83 1.33 4.25 99.00

Quantity Traded Page 374,040 72,024 100 550 128,270 568,358 1,777,446

Value Traded 12 7 3,960,889.60 of 12,770,205.36 79.00 698.50 540,907.00 56,241,917.52 81,675,307.21

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.75

Quantity Traded 24,666 24,666

Value Traded 41,612.22 41,612.22

Packaging/Containers

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 39.28

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 7,464.00 7,464.00

Symbol

1,802,312

81,724,383.43

Quantity Traded 2,800 100 2,900

Value Traded 27,748.00 737.00 28,485.00

Daily Summary (Equities) ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP

128

NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Metals Totals

Symbol Daily ALEX ALUMACO

Summary (Equities) No. of Deals Current Price 4 1 5

10.43 7.75

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 2 2

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES

Current Price Quantity Traded 0.50 21,650 12 Page 8 of 21,650

24,550

39,310.00

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 25,100 25,100

Value Traded 12,550.00 12,550.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 156 156

Current Price 17.05

Quantity Traded 3,174,120 3,174,120

Value Traded 54,022,781.25 54,022,781.25

No. of Deals 1 37 11 42 13 3 10 117

Current Price 0.50 40.00 2.53 177.99 148.00 50.54 159.99

Quantity Traded 100,000 363,064 220,929 88,921 13,005 137 6,710 792,766

Value Traded 50,000.00 14,888,967.02 583,820.62 15,642,160.52 1,923,447.55 6,578.74 1,057,461.20 34,152,435.65

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 338.00

Quantity Traded 2,765 2,765

287

Value Traded 909,145.95 909,145.95 Page

3,994,751

89,096,912.85

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.79

Quantity Traded 123,902 123,902

Value Traded 97,637.57 97,637.57

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 19 3 22

Current Price 5.25 1.22

Quantity Traded 115,218 6,271 121,489

Value Traded 597,998.37 7,274.36 605,272.73

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 38 38

Current Price 0.58

Quantity Traded 2,637,499 2,637,499

Value Traded 1,496,684.42 1,496,684.42

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 8

Current Price 3.75

Quantity Traded 186,450

Value Traded 701,962.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol

No. of Deals 8

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 186,450

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 4 8 13

Current Price 0.95 1.15 6.05

Quantity Traded 950 34,000 21,285 56,235

Value Traded 940.50 40,800.00 117,371.25 159,111.75

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.56

Quantity Traded 13,800 13,800

Value Traded 7,590.00 7,590.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 6 33 39

Current Price 2.08 5.25

Quantity Traded 88,000 267,417 355,417

Value Traded 185,950.00 1,365,349.53 1,551,299.53

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 3.60

Quantity Traded 5,800 5,800

Value Traded 19,836.00 19,836.00

131

3,500,692

4,639,444.50

3,470

229,410,144

4,850,552,813.44

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 Printed 15/06/2015 Support15:15:31.031 and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Published by TheProducts Nigerian Stock Exchange © MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 12 12

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.43

Quantity Traded Page 314,170 314,170

Value Traded 12 10 of 701,962.50

Value Traded 12 11 of 428,751.00 428,751.00

314,170

ASeM Board Totals

314,170

428,751.00

Equity Activity Totals

3,482

229,724,314

4,850,981,564.44

428,751.00

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 3 5

Current Price 10.61 2,272.00 15.42

Quantity Traded 20 50 140 210

Value Traded 212.20 113,600.00 2,170.00 115,982.20

ETF Board Totals

210

115,982.20

ETP Activity Totals

210

115,982.20

Value Traded 10,825.00 10,825.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA PLC. ETERNA FORTE OIL PLC. FO MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MOBIL Daily Summary (Equities) MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. MRS TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL Activity Petroleum Summary on Board EQTY Products Distributors Totals and Petroleum

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Daily SummaryTRANS-NATIONWIDE as of 15/06/2015 EXPRESS PLC. Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 1.25 6.40

8,690 Current Price 21.50 10.08 41.00

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Value Traded 549,002.77 527,305.62 2,500.00 1,005,400.00 500.00 50.00 870,410.00 429,246.40 1,190.00 25.00 100.00 500.00 498,588.38 3,884,818.17

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Value Traded 2,425.60 551.00 80.50 3,057.10

No. of Deals 13 23 9

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals

Quantity Traded 578,301 522,646 5,000 2,010,800 1,000 100 297,900 535,258 2,380 50 200 1,000 977,038 4,931,673

Symbol ABBEYBDS UNHOMES

Quantity Traded 640 50 50 740

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 0.95 1.01 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.83 0.80 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Current Price 3.98 11.02 1.69

OIL AND GAS Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals 20 10 1 4 1 1 15 10 2 1 1 1 44 111

Current Price

No. of Deals 3 1 1 5

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE HMARKINS INTENEGINS LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE STACO UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 2

Symbol CWG NCR TRIPPLEG

Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 CONOIL PLC Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031

Value Traded 1,565,163.73 5,009,581.20 78,174.50 245,156,354.78 1,354,111,926.55

Symbol

Value Traded 3,975.00 3,975.00

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Quantity Traded 155,687 1,999,383 78,765 12,262,994 151,350,303

14,471,797.00

Quantity Traded 7,950 7,950

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 10.00 2.50 1.04 19.80

2,326,087 Current Price 0.50

Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031 ICT Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY CAP PLC

Value Traded 3,305.50 4,752.00 14,471,797.00

No. of Deals 4 4

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

No. of Deals 30 34 14 387 1,253

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015

Quantity Traded 550 2,200 2,326,087

Symbol COURTVILLE

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 6.32 2.23

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

Daily Summary as of CO 15/06/2015 BETA GLASS PLC. Totals Printed Packaging/Containers 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031

Value Traded 3 of 12 512,081,833.89

No. of Deals 2 2 65

HEALTHCARE Totals

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol JBERGER

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Symbol NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

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

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Daily Summary as of 15/06/2015 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 15/06/2015 15:15:31.031

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Features

Scores of people gather round the carcases of vehicles burnt at Iyana-Ipaja

Fire without borders Within a week, there were cries and wailings in Onitsha, Anambra State, Iyana-Ipaja, Idimu and other parts of Lagos State as well as Accra, the Ghanaian capital, as fire sweeps through the two-sister West African nations, writes ABIODUN BELLO

alamities, it seems, do not know race, colour, region or clime. They do not know boundaries. Now, it also seems, is a season of fire. In the last couple of days, several lives, property and goods probably running into thousands of millions of dollars, have been lost to fire in different parts of the African continent. The last day of May was a black Sunday for the residents of Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

About 70 people were roasted alive when a trailer carrying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise called diesel lost control and exploded into the Asaba Motor Park at the Upper Iweka area of the commercial city. The tanker was said to be descending from the Army Barracks axis of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the crowded park. According to report, 11 commuter buses, the 40-foot fuel tanker and two motorcycles inside the park went up in flames. A few days later, precisely on June 2, a devastating explosion ripped through Iyana-Ipaja in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The explosion was also caused by a fallen fuel tanker. Yet another tanker crashed the same day at Badagry area of the state. However, no life was also lost. In the Iyana-Ipaja accident, which occurred about 1am, the truck fell off the bridge while its content poured into the drains, which later caught fire. The fire, which spread to more than five streets such as Bakare Jafojo, Abule Oki, Oremeji, Adebayo and Lawal, destroyed several houses, shops and over 20 vehicles. One of the vehicles was said to have been bought

two days earlier. The owner watched in consternation as fire reduced pleasure on wheels to carcase. Scores of residents were also rendered homeless. About 14 people were injured while trying to escape from the raging fire. As if that was not enough, another fuel tanker crashed and exploded at Idimu, also in Alimosho Local Government. In the June 6 incident, over 34 houses, 70 shops and a tricycle were burnt. What would have been the third fire disaster in a row was averted in Lagos on Sunday, June 7. Another fuel tanker crashed at Lekki area of the Lagos metropolis. But for the swift response of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders, property worth millions of naira, and probably lives, would have needlessly wasted. A few days earlier, it was the turn of another West African country to witness fire disaster. On June 3, over 100 people reportedly lost their lives in a flood-induced explosion in Accra, the seat of government of Ghana. The blast occurred at a petrol station while scores of people were taking shelter there from torrential rain.

The explosion, according a report quoting the fire brigade spokesman, Prince Billy Anaglate, was caused by a fire which erupted at a nearby lorry terminal and then spread to the petrol station operated by GOIL as well as other buildings. The fire, which ripped through the filling station, shattered windows and walls and reduced the station to rubble. Anaglate said: “It was raining and people took shelter at the filling station. And as they were there, it kept raining so there was still running water that was rising up. And, because it is a filling station there were a lot of fuel particles around it and it got contaminated with the water and then those that are not mixable with the water will definitely float. So, they were floating on the surface of the water - but it is running water, so it was able to run from the filling station to a distance where there was a naked fire and it picked the fire from there. “When we got there, we realised that the GOIL filling station and some adjoining structures were on fire. So we decided to rescue people who were trapped at the residential apartment close to the filling station. C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 4 6

FEATURES

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

“We had 10 people that we rescued. Though they received various degrees of burns, we were able to send them to the hospital. And then we continued to fight the fire. It was after fighting the fire that we saw there were lots of dead bodies scattered at the filling station and then we began to retrieve those bodies from the filling station.” The Mayor of Accra, Oko Vanderpuije, also said that firefighters battled the blaze into the early hours of the following day. According to him, police and soldiers joined emergency crew to help in rescuing people trapped in the wreckage. The following morning, burnt bodies and wreckage of about a dozen cars and mini buses littered the forecourt of the station. Anaglate said: “A team of rescuers wearing face masks and gloves went in to the filling station with stretchers to remove the remaining bodies, all of which were unrecognisable. Initial signs suggested the fire started by accident.” President John Mahama, who visited the scene of the disaster the following day, said he was heartbroken by the heavy loss of lives and damage. The President blamed the floods partly on people building houses and business concerns on waterways, blocking Accra’s drainage systems. Although no life was lost in the four crashes in Lagos, the loss in goods, valuables and economic activities may not be easily evaluated. During his visit to the scene of the Iyana-Ipaja disaster, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, expressed concern at the upsurge in tanker crashes. The governor, who was returning to Lagos from Abuja, promised that his administration would ensure that the victims of the fire were well taken care of. Ambode blamed frequent tanker explosions on carelessness and indiscipline of the truck drivers. The governor said it was time government at all levels addressed the problem associated with transporting fuel with tankers. He said: “At 1am, a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol fell from Ipaja Bridge and spilled its contents within the environs of Ipaja, covering almost five streets. “In the last four hours, all our emergency agencies have been effectively on ground and we have been able to manage and control consequences of what 33,000 litres of petrol would have done to this neighbourhood. “Thank God, there has not been any loss of lives, but again, there were victims whose shops were destroyed. “I would receive the report of the fire incident in the next 48 hours and we would ensure we do something positively to ensure that life can return to normal.” Expressing concern over the frequent cases of tanker explosion in Lagos State and other parts of the country, Ambode said the agencies had been able to report that everything had been put under control. Addressing journalists at the scene of the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, thanked God there was no fatality. He said: “The role of the police is to ensure that we investigate the re-

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, Ghana: United in grief

The scene of fire explosion in Accra, Ghana

People watch as fire rages in Onitsha

mote and immediate cause of this accident and bring to book whoever is responsible for this dastardly act.” On his part, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said the fire service responded promptly, noting that the agency recorded other two cases of tanker accident in other parts of the state, including Badagry. He said: “The advice I want to give is that tanker drivers that want to drive at night must rest during the day so that there would not be fatigue to handle the trucks at night. “The tanker that fell at Badagry, close to Toll Gate at Magbon bus stop, the driver was contesting the road with a tipper. Imagine a driver conveying combustible product contesting the road. We urge the drivers to be very careful, it is important they adhere.” The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr Aderemi Desalu, lauded Lagos residents for alerting the government on time through the emergency numbers: 767 and 112. “It is very critical that we need the partnership. The other thing is that I want to implore Lagosians is to keep back a bit whenever there is a disaster in order for those of us who are doing the work to be able to do it freely. I know you have good intentions, but if you obey the cordon, it would make our lives a lot easier,” Desalu said. Speaking on the Lekki crash, Fadipe said the driver must have slept on the wheel which made him lost control of the vehicle. He said: “The vehicle somersault-

Firefighters trying to put out the Idimu fire

Tanker drivers that want to drive at night must rest during the day

ed such that the tyres were facing the sky; the tanker was carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). It is also possible that the accident was a result of over-speeding because the road was free of traffic when the accident occurred. We were alerted at 5:13am. “Fire truck from Epe and Alausa were deployed to the scene in addition to the foam chemical used to prevent the explosion from the spilling petroleum content. “The driver and his assistant had been rushed to the hospital before we got there. The tanker has been placed properly while towing will take place immediately after the trans-loading of the remaining content to avert gridlock in the axis.” Also speaking on the incident, the General Manager, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said all emergency respond agencies were fully on ground to avert an explosion and manage any impending disaster from the scene. Oke-Osanyintolu advised tanker drivers and other articulated drivers to be cautious especially during the rainy season. He said; “LASEMA and its stakeholders averted a fire disaster by successfully trans-loading a 40,000-litre PMS loaded trailer which had been involved in an accident at Oribawan bus stop, Ibeju-Lekki early Sunday morning. We advise trailer drivers to be more cautious as the roads are slippery during rainy season.” But a source in the oil industry claimed that the tankers drivers

were diverting the product which explained the accidents. He said: “The drivers wanted to sell the product at exorbitant rates. They would therefore divert the product to areas where they would get a good bargain. That is why they moved stealthily in the night. “And because where they were taking the product to is not their usual route, they would not know the terrain coupled with the fact that they move in the night.” Meanwhile, to check the frequent tanker crashes and prevent loss of lives and property, Ambode summoned members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union to a meeting at Alausa on Monday last week. At the end of the meeting, the governor raised a committee to probe the causes of the tanker explosions. The meeting was called because of the need for the drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations in the state. The governor appealed to the union members on the need to ensure safety to avert needless loss of property experienced in Iyana-Ipaja, Idimu and other areas of the state. Reacting to the incessant accidents, Ambode said: “We do not want this to repeat itself again. We have said it before, we need to address our tanker drivers and start to enforce our traffic laws. “I have directed that the union of tanker drivers and the government would meet on Monday and we must make pronouncements relating to the usage of our roads.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY,JUNE 16, 2015

Okorocha intervenes in FMC crisis, urges workers to return to work Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has urged workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri who have been on strike for almost two months to call off their strike and return to work, while promising to take steps that would ensure that their demands were met. The governor met with the workers yesterday,

following the lingering strike, which has led to the closure of the centre and the denial of Imo people medical services. The workers through their spokesperson, Mr. Ibe Uchenna, were insisting that the Medical Director, Dr. Mrs. Angela Uwakwem be sacked over allegations of corruption and high-handedness. They are demanding the payment of the entitlements due to them, which have not been paid including promotion arrears, uniform arrears,

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among others. But the governor told the workers that since the establishment is owned by the Federal Government, he would only ask the workers to go back to work, while he would make effort to channel their demands to the Federal Government. The governor noted that the closure of the hospital for almost two months can only be seen as a disservice to the people of the state and Nigerians, who make use of

the centre to meet their health challenges. Hear said, “My appeal is that you all go back to work while I do everything within my capacity and within the government to rectify these issues according to your demands. This is my stand on this matter, and that is what I will plead and ask you the good citizens of Nigeria and Imo state particularly to do, for the sake of the sick ones and those who are dying.”

Ugwuanyi defends appointment of SSG G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has stated that the choice of his Secretary to the State Government was based purely on merit and devoid of any sentiment or political consideration. The governor stated this during the swearing in ceremony of the new SSG, Mr. Gabriel Ajah, at the Exco Hall of the Government House, Enugu. Ugwuanyi, who described Ajah as a thorough-bred civil servant, said, ‘’his appointment marked a further demonstration of our resolve

to take what we believe would constitute giant strides in the arduous task of governing our dear Enugu State in this dispensation” The governor further explained that the new SSG, prior to his appointment, was the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the state, having been appointed into the former office since 2001. He noted that Aja has served the state meritoriously and charged him to deliver on the new mandate given to him to justify the confidence reposed in him.

EFCC interrogates Elechi over N2.9bn LGA funds Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

here were strong indications yesterday that the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi state Chief Martin Elechi, appeared before the Economic and financial crimes commission(EFCC), over an alleged 2.9 billion financial impropriety of state and local government funds. Sources close to the anti-graft agency revealed that the former governor was expected to honour the invitation extended to him on the matter by the commission anytime from the 16th June,to explain his role on the allegation. It was also learnt that Elechi ought to have appeared on June 8, but a letter written by his counsel had deferred the ex-Governor’s wish to honour the commission’s invitation to a fixed date. The source disclosed that the former governor will face a team of interrogators during his visit to the commission, stating that several allegations

were being raised against him and some of his aides. It can be recalled that the commission had, in January, invited the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Works, Mr. Cornelius Onus, the State Accountant General, Edwin Igbele and the former Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Timothy Odaah, along with the former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Cele Nwali, who were quizzed on allegations of illegal deductions from the joint account for a failed asphalt project in the 13 local government areas of the state by the Elechi administration. They were alleged to have deducted funds running into billions of naira from the councils’ accounts. The governor’s son, Elechi Nnanna Elechi, was also in January, interogated over alleged money laundering running into billions by the anti-graft agency. Head media and publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, while confirming the governor’s invitation said he was invited for interaction.

L-R: Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; his wife, Monica; Deputy Governor, Hon. Cecelia Ezeilo and Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi, during a thanksgiving service for the governor at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy, Federal Government College, Enugu …yesterday.

Stop playing politics with projects, group tells Obiano human r i g h t s made available to the in early 2014 and the one The group said it was A group in Anambra press and signed by its between Enugu-Ukwu part of the interest that State, Intersociety has President, Comrade and Nawfia, were done monitored the progress warned the government to stop playing politics with development projects in the state. The group was reacting to the claim by Governor Willie Obiano that he had completed 50 per cent of the NkporAmawbia old Road. Obiano made the claim last week Wednesday during the inauguration of the road. But in a release

Emeka Umeagbalasi, the group said that the former Governor Peter Obi started and completed the road before Obiano, assumed office, dismissing the claim that Obiano’s administration rehabilitated the road. The group said, “We at Intersociety observed the last asphalt poured on Nawfia-OmuokpuAmawbia section was

in late December 2013. Peter “Okwute” Obi fought hard to complete the Road despite the APC and Ngige’s scornful use of it as one of their campaign weapons against him and his APGA, during the 2013 gubernatorial poll. The road, having been awarded since 2008; is Obi’s longest lasting road project in the state.’’

of the reconstruction of the road, stating that the Obi government rehabilitated portions of the road particularly the section between Nkpor Roundabout and Afor Nkpor to Afor Nkpor and Iyienu Hospital at Ogidi, as well as expand the gutters of portions that were too small and narrow to contain the ferocity of flood.

Okorocha vows to stamp out cultism Speaker belongs to all, says lawmaker lAs DSS arrest three secondary school pupils Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has promised active collaboration with the Department of State Security (DSS) in his bid to stamp out cultism in the education sector of the state. The governor, who spoke during a visit to the Director of State Security Services (DSS), in Owerri, assured

the DSS and other security agencies in the state of cooperation in the fight against kidnapping and cultism. Commending the DSS for their achievements, Okorocha said he will do all he can to encourage them to carry out their work effectively. The governor’s visit followed the arrest of three students of Emmanuel College, Owerri, who were indicted for involvement in cult activities and had hitherto

defied police arrest. Okorocha, who cautioned the arrested students on the dire consequences of cultism, reiterated his resolve to nip cult activities in the bud, assured that anti-cult groups would be formed in schools in the state. The state Director of State Security Services, Mr. Francis Chinedu Ejiofor, thanked the governor for the visit and his continued support to the command.

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ouse of Representatives member for Okigwe South, Hon. Chike Okafor, has dismissed the claim of major crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the elections into the leadership positions of the National Assembly. He maintained that the presiding officers of the House were elected for Nigerians and not for any group.

“In the language of Mr President, they were elected for everybody and not for anybody”, he said. Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital, Okafor, who seconded the nomination of Yakubu Dogara’s election as Speaker of the House of Representatives, explained that APC was a new party and an integration of people of different ideologies. According to him, it was normal to witness initial frictions and thereafter a smooth sail. He said: “APC is like a

big house where people may have to disagree to agree. This is natural and not strange in a political party that pursues robust political ideologies. Any political system that doesn’t go through this process would not endure.” Continuing he said, “This is not a crisis, it is just the interplay of political forces within a political party, it is not strange and I can assure you that APC would rise from this to implement the robust change ideology Nigerians voted for.

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tuesday, june 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Udom seeks FG’s help for erosion in A'Ibom

Wike dissolves boards, parastatals

Tony Anichebe

Emmanuel Masha

Uyo

kwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in efforts to arrest the erosion currently threatening to severe Calabar-Itu highway at Enen Atai Itam village in Itu Local Government Area of the state. The highway, which was built in the 1970s, is now almost severed by erosion that is threatening the road on both sides. Emmanuel, who was conducted round the scene by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Ifreke Ekpa, lamented the threat posed by the erosion to the economic life of the people in the two states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River as vehicles ferrying goods and services ply the route daily. The governor, who was accompanied by the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren and some permanent secretaries, however, advocated the need for the Federal Government to extend a hand of fellowship by entering into PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP) modality to construct and maintain the road.

Port Harcourt

ivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday dissolved all boards and parastatals in the state, urging the dissolved boards to handover to the authorities in their organisations. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, the governor said the

dissolution was with immediate effect. He said the boards of the Rivers State Waste Management Authority and that of Greater Port Harcourt Authority, which he recently reconstituted, were not affected by the dissolution. Wike announced the dissolution of the boards and parastatals barely a week after he dissolved the boards of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the Rivers

BENIN

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday challenged President Muahammadu Burhari on his anti-corruption war, asking him to start the crusade against corruption from the state. The party said starting the anti-corruption war in Edo State will underscore the seriousness or otherwise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari as far as such war is concerned. The PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Dan Or-

Benin

he election petitions tribunal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has fixed Thursday, June 18, for ruling on a motion by a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Peter

completed and put to use. Wike, who gave the charge while inspecting ongoing road projects at Eagle Island-Iroabuchi Link Road, Woji-TransAmadi Road and projects at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, urged contractors that have abandoned their projects for whatever reasons to return to site and complete their works. He assured contractors of prompt payment to ensure that they complete the projects, stressing that his administration would ensure that key and abandoned projects relevant to the prosperity of the state are completed on time. At the Eagle IslandIroabuchi Link Road, Wike urged the contractors to ensure the completion of work within three weeks, saying he was not interested in excuses. He said: “We will pay you on Wednesday and we expect that you complete the work in three weeks. We don't want to hear another excuse. You have said that you abandoned work due to lack of payment. We shall make money available.”

Ijaw youths condemned arrest of APC supporters Chris Ejim

bih, made the call yesterday at a press conference in Benin to x-ray some of the problems confronting the state. He said the probe of the Adams Oshiomhole administration had become imperative because “the governor allegedly is the most travelled governor in the country and must as a matter of responsibility display to the knowledge of Edo people how much the state government owes within and outside the country.” Orbih accused the governor of allegedly frittering away N200 billion being allocation belonging to the 18 local government

councils. He said: “In the country, the Edo State governor has made more foreign trips than any other governor in the country yet; he has not attracted any investment to the state.” Speaking on the issue through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the governor said Orbih lacked the nuances of governance and should restrain himself to the hollowness that characterised the PDP led government in the state and at the federal level under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tribunal reserves ruling on use of signature in Edo Cajetan Mmuta

ocratic Party (PDP), Mr. Felix Obuah, as the new sole administrator of the state waste management authority, giving him a 72-hour deadline to rid Port Harcourt of the mountain of refuse that has taken over most streets in the metropolis. Meanwhile, the governor yesterday urged contractors handling projects in the state to deliver them as promised, saying the people of the state are not interested in promises, but that such projects be

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (third left), speaking during the inspection of Eagle Island-Irobuchi link road in Port Harcourt …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

Start anti-corruption war from Edo, PDP tells Buhari Cajetan Mmuta

State Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC). The governor had acted on the recommendation of the state House of Assembly on grounds of official misconduct levelled against both agencies. The assembly had described the May 23 council elections in the state illegal and passed a resolution directing the state governor to dissolve the RSIEC. The governor also appointed the state Chairman of the Peoples Dem-

Akpatason. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 28 National Assembly election, Oladele BankoleBalogun, is challenging INEC’s declaration of Hon. Peter Akpatason, as winner of the polls on the allegation that the process was marred by irregularities in the

petition submitted to the tribunal by his counsel. Counsel to Akpatason, Ken Mozia (SAN), had observed that in the joint petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Bankole-Balogun, the petitioner signed in his column while some body signed on behalf of the PDP without indicating his name.

Yenagoa

Protesters shut down I NPDC flow station Gabriel Choba Ughelli

undreds of protesting women, including youths and leaders and elders of Urhobo and Isoko communities in Delta State yesterday besieged the premises of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Udu/ Ughelli South Local Government Area and shut down its flow station and operations over unresolved issues relating to pipeline surveillance contracts and unpaid OML30 GMoU N1.4 billion funds. In a statement issued during the protest and signed by Comrade Efe Okovwurie, Comrade Morrister Idibra, Rochard Erhurhore and Comrade John Obaro, the communities warned that all facilities in OML 26, 30, 34, and 65 shall remain shut until NPDC and NNPC award to Urhobo and Isoko nations their separate pipeline surveillance and intelligence

gathering contracts. The protesters, who stormed the Jeremi flow station at 9 a.m., shut down the facilities and also demanded that NPDC should immediately create a Contract Department (CD) in its Edjeba office to take care of contractors in the state. They added that NPDC must pay up the nine months outstanding monthly salaries of host communities’ workers in OML 26, 30, 34, and 65, alleging that NPDC is heavily indebted to most of the indigenous contractors. They also lamented the replacement of indigenous contractors, whose contract tenure had expired for over two years and the inability of the NPDC management to put new contracts in place. The host communities further demanded that NPDC should create Assets Department for OML 26, 30, 34, and 65, which must be located in the catchment areas where the facilities are located.

jaw youth group, the Bayelsa Youth Network, in Bayelsa State, at the weekend, condemned the intimidation and arrest of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the justconcluded general and rescheduled elections in the state. President of the group, Clement Adaminegbe, in a statement also accused the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named Operation Pulo Shield of complicity and unleashing mayhem on supporters of the party during the elections, alleging that electoral materials were hijacked using gunboats by agents of the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He noted further that what transpired during the 2015 general elections in Bayelsa State negated the tenets of democracy and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that elections results were not announced at ward and constituency headquarters, a ploy by the PDP to manipulate the election results in their favour.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 16, 2015

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Monarch cautions against provocative sermons Dan Atori MINNA

he Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, yesterday cautioned preachers against provocative sermons capable of inciting the public before, during and after the Ramadan Tafsir preaching. Abubakar spoke in his palace when he met with Imams, Islamic clerics and representatives of various market traders. “Religious preaching during this period should be targeted at maintaining harmonious relationship among the people and nothing should be done to divide the people,” the Etsu Nupe said. The monarch said such harmonious relationship among people should always be promoted to enhance peace, unity and progress of Nupe kingdom, Niger State and indeed Nigeria. He reminded the clerics of their roles as representatives of God, saying that they should always

be shining examples both in word and deed. Abubakar also warned against sectarianism in Islam and appealed to clerics to fashion out ways that would propagate the genuine teachings of the religion. He also appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always assist the less-privileged with food items, money for them to do the fasting with ease and calm. According to him, “People should use their God-given wealth to cushion the effect on those who did not have during this holy month of Ramadan.” The Etsu Nupe also appealed to traders not to hike prices of their commodities during the period. “Those using the period to increase prices of their commodities should have a re-think and fear God and not to cause unnecessary hardship on their fellow brothers and sisters in Islam,” he added.

Damina emerges as Bauchi speaker Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

he Bauchi State House of Assembly yesterday elected Hon. Kawuwa Shehu Damina, representing Darazo constituency as the speaker of the 8th Assembly. He succeeded Hon. Yahaya Mohammed Miya, representing Ganjuwa West state constituency, who was defeated in the last election. The new speaker, who was elected unopposed after his nomination by a member, Hon. Yusuf Nuhu, representing Lame

and seconded by Saleh Umar, representing Ganjuwa East constituency, assured his colleagues that he would make the welfare of elected members his number one priority. The House of Assembly also elected unopposed, Hon. Abdulmuminu Bala Fanti, from Pali constituency as deputy speaker. The principal officers were sworn-in by the Clerk of the House, Abdulkadir Jafar, who earlier read a letter from Governor Mohammed Abubakar, citing section 3, subsection 5 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ganduje to review Kano preaching law Muhammad Kabir Kano

ano State governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje, yesterday said the state would reinforce its Preaching Regulatory Law to ensure that only valid and well educated people engage in religious propagation. Ganduje spoke yesterday during the 22nd edition of Radio Kano Qur'anic Competition at Bello Dandago House, saying that government is not planning to witchhunt anybody, but intends to address the rampant cases of non-knowledge-

able people claiming to be Islamic scholars, but end up misleading people. “You may remember the Maitatsine saga in the state as well as what is happening now, which started through unguided preaching by evil-minded people posing as scholars,” he stressed. The governor added that if such activities are not standardised, considering the high population of the state, as well as what some of the selfacclaimed scholars are doing to attract followers, the situation could metamorphose into a big crisis in the state.

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello (left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Shehu Umar Danyaya and others, during the inspection of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Minna…yesterday.

Niger governor asks EFCC to probe Aliyu for misappropriation of funds fraud

For refusing to return N2.9bn, ex-governor keeps date with EFCC Dan Atori MINNA

he Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has sent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after his predecessor in office, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, alleging misappropriation of funds by the former governor during his tenure. Reports yesterday said Governor Bello has handed all relevant

financial misappropriation records concerning the former governor to the EFCC for his refusal to return the N2.9 billion he allegedly took from the coffers of the state on the eve of his exit as governor. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba, said although government has stated that it would allow the EFCC to do its job, it was important to ask some significant questions from the past administration. Dooba said government's attention has been drawn to the continued denial, in the media, by the officials of the past administration that they obtained a loan of N2.9 billion on the eve of their departure.

It will be recalled that Governor Bello said last week that he would want officials of Aliyu’s government return the N2.9 billion, saying “We want our money back. The money belongs to the people; I took an oath to protect the people and by the grace of God, that is what I am going to do.” According to Dooba, “For instance, why would the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) deny collecting any N600 million only for him to later admit he collected N612 million for “general” security during the last senatorial bye-election in the state? “Was the money actually budgeted for, and was it used for the purpose intended. Why was the said funds given to the SSG,

was he the Chief Security officer or INEC?” Dooba added that it was regrettable that instead of answering questions and making clarifications, these officials of the past administration have engaged in rhetoric thereby diverting attention from the major issue. He, however, said: “Why are they focusing on the definition of the “eve of departure? It is obvious that these government officials have chosen the hard way rather than the easy one, and the hard way they will get. “We continue to discover heinous scandals of the previous administration on a daily basis, however, like I said earlier, we will allow the EFCC to do their work.”

Crisis brews in Benue over UNILORIN VC tasks parents as NUJ builds school cabinet appointments Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

s politicians continued to jostle for positions in the new political dispensation in Benue State, Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, is poised to influence who gets what in the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom, in the state. Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that since the Ortom administration took off, two major set of appointments have been made with most of the appointees on the ticket of Akume, leaving the governor with a fraction

of it. Already, our correspondent gathered that the politics being played in the delay of appointment of commissioners and other key offices by the governor is linked to a deliberate ploy by Akume to 'plant his structures' in sensitive ministries, parastatals and agencies. It has been observed that in the aftermath of the Senate Presidency politics that played out against Akume, politicians jostling for jobs have continued to throng his home as well as his Maitama residence in Abuja, to fraternise and lobby for jobs.

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, yesterday reiterated the need for parents and stakeholders in the education sector to equip their children with the best form of education, especially at the basic level. Ambali, who made the call in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the foundation laying ceremony of Pen School, the brainchild of the Kwara State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) under the leadership of Abiodun AbdulKareem, noted

that education remains a critical foundation for every good thing in life. The vice-chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said the event showed a paradigm shift in the perception of NUJ as a professional body, because it showed that journalists are responsible citizens, contributing their quota to the growth and development of education in the society. The UNILORIN boss urged members of the NUJ to cooperate with the leadership of the union to ensure that the laudable project did not die a premature death.

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WORLD | News

Court refuses Nyako's bid to stop arrest

Sudanese leader flees South Africa

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday refused the application brought the former Adamawa State governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako seeking to restrain the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him. Nyako had by a mo-

tion ex-parte, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/474/2015, sought an interim injunction restraining the three security agencies from arresting or detaining him in relation to a case of alleged financial malpractice. Making the submission through his counsel, O. E. Ogungbeje, Nyako urged the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC pending the determination of an origination motion he filed for the enforcement of his fundamental rights. In a short ruling, the

trial judge, Justice A.R Mohhammed, refused the ex-governor’s prayer on the ground that there was no sufficient reason for the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC, listed as respondents in the suit. According to the judge, “Having read through the supporting affidavit, particularly paragraphs 5 to 19 which contain facts relating to this case, this court is unable to accede to the request for order of interim injunction sought".

udan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, has left South Africa, pre-empting a court ruling over an international warrant for his arrest. The Pretoria High Court was due to decide whether he should be handed over to the International Criminal Court, which has charged him with the crimes. Mr. Bashir was in Johannesburg for an African Union AU summit. A news conference will be held in Sudan's capital upon his arrival. A South African judge, Dunstan Mlambo, said

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

the failure to arrest Mr. Bashir had violated the country's constitution. Mr. Bashir had been barred by a court order from leaving the country until the arrest application had been considered. The Sudanese leader is accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Darfur conflict. The UN says that about 300,000 people in Sudan have died and more than two million have fled their homes since fighting began in 2003. Government forces and allied Arab militias are accused of targeting black African civilians

in the fight against rebels. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon said yesterday that the International Criminal Court's, ICC, warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir must be implemented by countries who have signed up to the Hague court's statutes, U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said yesterday. "The International Criminal Court’s warrant for the arrest of President alBashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes is a matter I take extremely seriously,"

SSANU threatens strike over proposed staff schools’ privatisation Mojeed Alabi

he relative peace currently being enjoyed by universities nationwide may be short lived as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, a body of senior workers on the Nigerian university campuses have threatened to embark on strike if the Federal Government does not rescind its decision to privatize the institutions’ staff schools. The union leaders, who addressed a media briefing yesterday at the Uni-

versity of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, said they were acting on a circular issued in April and signed by the Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Ebenezer Fayemi, where the universities with staff primary schools were instructed to stop funding their personnel costs with the federal budget. According to the association’s National VicePresident (Southwest), Comrade Alfred Jimoh of the University of Ibadan, the association received the circular with rude

shock, querying the rationale behind the new policy while also urging the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to upturn the decision. Jimoh, who said the universities’ staff schools are no different from the Police Staff Schools, Military Command Schools, Air force Schools, among others, which personnel running costs are funded from federal treasury, said if the intention was to cut costs, the Federal Government and the universities should prioritise their needs.

UNICEF warns against rise in child marriage Appolonia Adeyemi

he number of girls engaging in child marriage in the country has increased going by data available New Telegraph. This is contained in a statement issued by UNICEF to mark the Day of the African Child, which is commemorated on June 16. The world body stated that the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey MICS 2011 indicates that child marriage has risen by 18 per cent. “MICS 4 2011, shows that there is a five per cent increase in the number of

girls married before age 15. It was 13 per cent in 2007 and MICS 2011 indicates it is now 18 per cent.” The theme for this year’s celebration of the Day of the African Child, “25 Years after the Adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa”, is timely, UNICEF stated in the release. Child marriage denies children the attainment of their human rights as children. It erodes the child’s rights to life, good health, education and dignity. Studies link child marriage to maternal mortality,

school drop-out, Virginal fistula (VVF) condition and malnutrition among others. UNICEF believes that investments in girls’ education and getting more girls’ into school delays marriage and impacts the incidence of child marriage. “Girls’ Education is vital because educated girls become better mothers, have fewer and healthier children and more empowered. An educated girl will have a better life, as will her family. Every additional year of schooling delays age at marriage,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.

Airlines want abolition of multiple entry points for foreign carriers Wole Shadare

irline operators have called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency abolish the multiple entry point granted foreign carriers flying into Nigeria, affirming that such lopsided policy was in-

jurious to the nation's economy . Apart from the huge capital flight the multiple entry policy has occasioned, they stated that allowing it to fester may lead to the collapse of many domestic carriers. Nigeria, according to statistics from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Au-

thority (NCAA) loses over N500 billion annually to capital flight because of the inability of the nation’s airlines to compete with their foreign counterparts. Chairman, Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, made the call while speaking with the media yesterday in Lagos.

Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives to attend an audience for the participants of the Convention of the Diocese of Rome in St. Peter's square at the Vatican City.

Former archbishop to stand trial for sex abuse

ozef Wesolowski, a former archbishop and papal ambassador to the Dominican Republic, will stand trial on criminal charges of paying for sex with minors and possessing child pornography, the Vatican said yesterday. The trial, due to start on July 11, will be the first on such charges inside the tiny city state that is the headquarters of the 1.2 billion member Roman Catholic Church. Vatican sources said the decision by the president of

the Vatican's tribunal to indict Wesolowski could not have been taken without a green light from Pope Francis. They said it was another sign of the pontiff's intention to get tough on sex abuse by clergy. Wesolowski's trial will be the highest profile judicial event in the Vatican since Paolo Gabriele, a former papal butler, was convicted in 2012 of stealing and leaking private papers of former Pope Benedict XVI. He was convicted and later pardoned by Benedict.

The 66 year old former Polish archbishop, who was "apostolic nuncio," or Vatican ambassador, in Santo Domingo for five years, was arrested last September and detained in the Vatican. It was the first arrest there related to paedophilia charges. Wesolowski was recalled to Rome by the Vatican in 2013 when he was still a diplomat in Santo Domingo and was relieved of his duties after Dominican media accused him of paying boys to perform sexual acts.

Cold war brews between US, Russia

plan by Washington to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would be the most aggressive US act since the Cold War, and Moscow would retaliate by beefing up its own forces, a Russian defense official said yesterday. The United States is of-

fering to store military equipment on allies' territory in Eastern Europe, a proposal aimed at reassuring governments worried that after the conflict in Ukraine, they could be the Kremlin's next target. Poland and the Baltic states, where officials say privately they have been frustrated the NATO alli-

ance has not taken more decisive steps to deter Russia, welcomed the decision by Washington to take the lead. But others in the region were more cautious, fearing their countries could be caught in the middle of a new arms race between Russia and the United States.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2015

Sport News

International Sport

NFF warns Enyeama over comments

Neymar: Messi deserves Ballon d’Or

Women World Cup

We need team work to defeat USA, says Nkwocha

Features

Sport

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Emmanuel Tobi Live from

Canada

Oshoala: I want us to play like Real Madrid

Did you know? That the first time athletes from all five continents took part in the Olympic Games was at the 1912 Games in Stockholm, Sweden

Wrestling: Oborodudu retains African title Adeolu Johnson Abuja

igerian wrestlers to the just concluded African Championships in Cairo, Egypt, hauled in a total of eight medals in both Freestyle

Emmanuel Tobi Canada

he Head Coach of the United States at the ongoing Women’s World Cup, Jillian Ellis, has said her team will not do Nigeria any favours in the last group match scheduled to take place on Tuesday. Ellis said it was too dicey for the USA to toy with the game against Nigeria since her team has four points from two games. She stressed that the situation in Group D was such that all the teams could still qualify on the last day. “We are on top of the group but we have to go all out against Nigeria. Anything can still happen; we have to beat Nigeria to be sure of qualification and also top the group. “Nigeria is a very highspirited team with many good players and I have said it several times that this is the most athletic group because

and Greco-Roman. In the Freestyle, the duo of Blessing Oborodudu (63kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (53kg), a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, won gold medals, with Blessing winning her fifth straight Af-

rican title. Aminat Adeniyi (58kg) and Amas Daniel (86kg), won silver medals while Saso Tamara (86kg) and Ebikewenimi Welson (57kg) won bronze medals. In the Greco-Roman style, Emmanuel Nwori (75kg) and

Ituru Oke (66kg) won bronze medals in their respective categories. An elated Nigeria Wrestling Federation President, Dr. Daniel Igali, a Bayelsa State legislator, who announced the results, affirmed that Ni-

No mercy for Falcons, USA coach vows

all teams in this group have tremendous energy. It is going to be a good match for us and we will come out massively against Nigeria,” she said. When told that a draw was enough for the USA to move

on, Ellis said that would be a dangerous approach “We won’t look out for a draw but an outright win. We will not show mercy on Nigeria in order not to be on the back seat.

“Every team can still qualify in this group and it is not labeled the group of death for nothing. Every team has quality and we have to give our best to play each team.” Nigeria need an outright

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

gerian wrestlers had shown improvement in training and confidence and that Nigerians should expect results like this at the All Africa Games in September and the World Championships also in the same month.

Desire Oparanozie (right) of Nigeria in action during the Group D match against Australia

win to stand a chance of making progress in the competition. The team drew 3-3 against Sweden in the first match and lost 2-0 against Australia in the second match.

Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NFF warns Enyeama over comments Ajibade Olusesan

T Enyeama

he Nigeria Football Federation has warned Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, to be circumspect in his utterances after the goalie criticised the choice of Kaduna as venue for last Saturday’s 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Chad. Enyeama had berated the decision of the NFF to take

the match to Kaduna, saying the state was unsafe to host such an international match. Eagles defeated the Chadians 2-0, and the NFF warned the skipper to desist from making unguarded statements that could cause confusion. The NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, who confirmed the report in an interview with our correspondent, however denied reports that Coach Stephen Keshi was

also queried for handing an uninvited player the number 10 jersey in the match. “It is true that the NFF cautioned Enyeama over his statement as regards Kaduna but there was no big deal about it as it was just a mere administrative procedure. But for the Keshi story, nothing like that happened,” he said. Meanwhile, an apologetic Enyeama has said that he is looking forward to playing at

the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna again despite his earlier concerns. He added that the statement was only made to show concern for the players and fans. “I want to state that the comments were never made to bring down anyone or the good people of Kaduna because they are very hospitable people. I want to say sorry to the people of Kaduna and the governor of the state as well,” he said.

Minimah Boxing Open Red-card: Onazi to pay hefty fine to serve as AAG trials

LMC suspends nine stadiums

Ifeanyi Ibeh

Charles Ogundiya

he upcoming Kenneth Minimah National Men and Women Open Boxing Championship in Lagos will serve as the selection trials for the country’s boxing team to this year’s All Africa Games. The maiden edition of the Kenneth Minimah Boxing Championship holds in Lagos at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, National Stadium, Lagos, from June 28 to July 4, while the All Africa Games comes up in September in Brazzaville, Congo. And with the boxing tourney due to serve as the trials for the Brazzaville Games, President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Kenneth Minimah, has called on states willing to take part in the championship to take it seriously. According to the NBF boss, only boxers who take part in the weeklong event would be selected for the All Africa Games. Male boxers will compete in 10 weight categories while their female pugilists will take part in six weight divisions. As a result, interested states and all affiliated boxing clubs in the country have been advised to forward a maximum list of 10 male and six female boxers for the championship.

Rugby: Black Stallions depart for Zambia Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria’s rugby national team, the Black Stallions, on Monday left the country for Zambia, venue of this year’s Rugby Africa Cup 1C taking place in Lusaka, from June 21 to 24. The team, comprising 23 players and three officials, were led by the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Sir Fom Edward Pam, who stated that the team would be motivated by the recent qualification of the country’s Rugby 7’s side for the upcoming All Africa Games scheduled for September in The Congo. The Black Stallions will undergo a weeklong intensive training in Lusaka ahead of their opening game of the three-nation tourney on June 21 against the Zambians. African rugby powerhouse Zimbabwe is the other country taking part in the championship. The Zimbabweans were drafted in as a last minute replacement for Cameroon which pulled out of the championship on short notice. The winner of the three-nation tournament will gain promotion to Division 1B. However, Zimbabwe already play in Division 1A, so the winner of the June 21 fixture between Nigeria and Zambia will secure automatic promotion to the continent’s second-tier division. Only Division 1A countries get a chance to play at the Rugby World Cup whose next edition comes up in 2019 in Japan.

uper Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is to be slapped a hefty fine by the Nigeria Football Federation after he was sent off in last Saturday’s AFCON qualifier against Chad. Nigeria won 2-0 but the home team had to play the last 12 minutes a man short after Lazio star Onazi was sent off for an off-the-ball incident. “Onazi is to be fined heavily so as to serve (as a

deterrent). It was pure and simply an act of indiscipline by the player and he will not go unpunished,” an official was quoted as saying by AfricanFootball.com. The midfielder has since apologised for his dismissal. “I let my teammates and our loyal fans down with my action on the pitch (vs Chad). I apologise for my actions. Thank you for your usual support,” he

wrote on Twitter. “Nothing else matters to me at this point than my personal joy and conviction, that of my friends, family and fans and my well wishers. “I don’t ever feel like I have the right to refuse the criticism of the same people who praise me even when I don’t deserve it. Thank you all for your support and praises, even when I don’t deserve them.”

Onazi (left)

NOC boss tasks coaches on development Ifeanyi Ibeh

igerian coaches have been tasked by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, to lay more emphasis on grassroots sports development. Gumel, who gave the order in Abeokuta at the weekend during the closing ceremony of the week-long International Olympic Committee Taekwondo Solidarity Course, held at the Mockland Hotel Conference Hall, tasked the coaches that attended the programme to focus more on grassroots development where more talented athletes could be discovered instead of concentrating too much on competitions. Gumel, who was represented by the Secretary General of the NOC, Babatunde Popoo-

la, also charged the 25 coaches who attended the programme to go back to their respective states and start implementing all they learnt from the weeklong event. Course facilitator, Grand Master Kim JinBeom, a taekwondo expert from South Korea, who was visiting Africa

Winner of the bicycle race, primary section, Tomiwa Adeyemo, flanked by other riders with his gift donated by A&P FOODS,during the Aimosho Inter Schools Carnival

for the first time, gave special commendation to the event’s co-ordinator, Fadele Samuel Akinnola, the strategic and planning officer of the NOC, for a well packaged programme. Kim also praised the present administration of the NOC for its foresight in bringing such a good course to Nigeria.

he League Management Company on Monday wielded the big stick on nine stadiums in the country, banning them from hosting league games starting from this weekend’s Match Day 12. A release by the LMC stated: “Following reports of the various teams that assessed stadium facilities during the three weeks break of the Glo Premier League, nine of the twenty clubs have had their home grounds placed on suspension by the LMC. “The clubs have thus been directed to choose alternative home grounds from Match Day 12 while they fix the problems recorded against their playing turf.” The LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, said the decisions were reached at the recent LMC Board meeting in Abuja which, amongst other deliberations, assessed the reports as it concerned the state of the playing pitches. Four clubs were directed to effect minor repairs on their pitches for which another round of inspection would be carried out on the club’s invitation after Match Day 12. The clubs are Heartland, FC IfeanyiUbah, Wikki Tourists and Abia Warriors. Five other clubs whose grounds were adjudged to be in great disrepair have had their grounds suspended to host games over the next two weeks following which progress of the repairs would be reviewed at the invitation of the clubs. The clubs are Giwa FC, FC Taraba, El-Kanemi Warriors, Akwa United and Nasarawa United. “What we have done is to allow them time to fix the identified problems and if they get it right, the suspension will be lifted but if they don’t, it stays,” explained Abubakar.

International Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2015

Blatter: No going back on decision to quit FIFA

epp Blatter has indicated there has been no change of heart in his decision to step down as FIFA president. Blatter’s former election advisor Klaus Stoehlker has claimed it remains “open” for the 79-year-old to run again if a convincing candidate does not emerge. But a FIFA spokesperson said Stoehlker was no longer employed by Blatter and the FIFA president pointed to his statement of June 2 where he announced he would step down between December and February. The FIFA spokesperson said: “Klaus Stoehlker’s mandate from the FIFA president ended on May 31. The FIFA president would like to point to his remarks from June 2.” Stoehlker had told Sky News: “As long as there is not such a candidate it remains open for Sepp Blatter to run

Neymar: Messi deserves Ballon d’Or

N Blatter

again.” Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, had urged Blatter to stick with his plans to resign. Scala, who is overseeing the next FIFA presidential election, said in a statement: “For me, the reforms are the central topic. That is why I

think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of leadership change as it has been announced.” Meanwhile, Switzerland’s attorney general will make a statement on Wednesday about his investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals.

eymar believes that Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the last two awards and is coming off the back of a season in which he netted a personal-best 61 goals. However, Messi netted 58 times in 57 appearances in all competitions as he inspired Barca to a historic treble, with the Catalans claiming La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Consequently, Neymar believes that there is only one possible winner of the Ballon d’Or for 2015. “For all that he has done,

Messi deserves it,” the Brazil international told Globo. Neymar was speaking after helping his country to a 2-1 win over Peru in their Cope America 2015 opener. Christian Cueva shocked Dunga’s men by breaking the deadlock just three minutes into the game in Temuc, but the Selecao responded via a header from their captain two minutes later. Neymar would then play a decisive role in the winner, laying on the defence-splitting assist for Douglas Costa in secondhalf injury time, and the Barcelona man maintained that clinching three points was all that mattered.

England can rely on Rooney – Hodgson

ayne Rooney’s winning goal against Slovenia proves he is a man England can rely on, according to Roy Hodgson. The Manchester United star missed two clear chances in Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Ljubljana but picked himself up to score England’s decisive third goal after strikes from Milivoje Nova-

kovic and Nejc Pecnik had cancelled out a spectacular double from Jack Wilshere. Rooney’s 48th international goal brings him within one of Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time scoring record in an England shirt but Hodgson was just as impressed with his captain’s discipline when appearing to be elbowed by Bostjan Cesar in the second half.

“Wayne Rooney’s performance says a lot of things about him as a man,” Hodgson told reporters after a victory that sent his side nine points clear at the top of Group E. “Just before he took that chance he took a nasty blow from an elbow, which could have decked many a player and led to him losing his discipline. It didn’t and he got up.”

Messi

‘Casillas, not De Gea Spain’s best goalie’

pain attacker Pedro has hailed Iker Casillas as the nation’s best goalkeeper. The Real Madrid shot stopper has come under a lot of criticism over the last year for his performances for club and country with many insisting David de Gea should be made first choice keeper for La Roja. De Gea is also heavily linked to a move to Madrid, which would likely see Casillas leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, or at least become second choice. However, Pedro insists the 34-year-old is the best the country has.

Wayne Rooney in action for England

“Iker is a great goalkeeper and for us is the best,” he said. “There is nothing more to say.” Gerard Pique was the subject of boos from the fans after Spain’s 1-0 Euro 2016 qualification win over Belarus, but Pedro insists no players have a problem with the defender. “The squad is a large group and we all get along very well.” He was also full of praise for Vicente del Bosque, who coached his 100th game in charge of Spain on Sunday. “The coach has done great things with us and I am sure that we will achieve a lot more with him.”

Hiddink considers quitting Netherlands job Federer ready for Wimbledon

uus Hiddink has revealed that he is considering stepping down as Netherlands coach. The 68-year-old returned for a second stint with Oranje last summer, replacing Louis van Gaal, who left after World Cup 2014 to take charge of Manchester United. The original plan was for Hiddink to lead Netherlands to Euro 2016 and then be succeeded at the helms by assistant coach Danny Blind. However, that move could now be brought

forward, with Hiddink considering his position due to the Dutch being third in European Qualifiers Group A and thus in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for France with four games to go. “I have an idea about another role as senior coach,” the ex-Chelsea boss told De Telegraaf. “But before I decide anything about that, I want to discuss it with the people around me. “How long that will take? Oh, that could be clear in just one hour.”

Hiddink

oger Federer has boasted that he feels “in top form” going into the grasscourt season as he eyes a record eighth Wimbledon title. The 33-year-old Swiss world number two is starting his preparations for another assault at the All England Club from the end of the month. And Federer, who is looking to secure an eighth Wimbledon crown to move one ahead of joint-record holder Pete Sampras, feels another good outing in Halle,

Germany, where he won the title a year ago, will stand him in good stead to achieve his aim this summer. “I’ve been playing great for the last 12 months,” he said. “I had the feeling that everything went well after I played at Halle last year, except in Australia where it didn’t go so well. But I was confident everywhere else, so I hope I can play well here.” “Of course at this stage of my career I want to have the perfect preparation for Wimbledon. That

Federer

means a victory here. I want to defend the title in a tough field of competitors. That’s exactly what I need right now.”

Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Emmanuel Tobi Live from

Canada SNIPPETS from Canada

Team spirit high in Vancouver Super Falcons players are in high spirits ahead of their make-or-mar encounter against USA today. The players have shrugged off the 2-0 defeat to Australia and are seen walking and talking in a lively manner as if it’s just their first match. Falcons disappoint Winnipeg fans Few days after their 2-0 loss to Australia, a lot of Winnipeg fans who stood behind the Super Falcons are still disappointed with the performance displayed by the team last Friday. Most of the fans who are Canadians, Americans and few Asians still ask this question, “What happened to Nigeria?” Long but interesting road trip Long road trip in Canada is interesting courtesy of the luxury enjoyed in the Marcopolo bus which has a Wi-Fi for internet connection and charging points beside each passenger seat. There is a regular stop of five, 10 and 60 minutes respectively at intervals. I travelled for 22 hours from Winnipeg to see an old school mate in Calgary.

uper Falcons defender, Ugo Njoku, might have played her last game at the ongoing FIFA Women World Cup after she was handed a threematch ban by FIFA’s disciplinary committee on Monday. The punishment was for elbowing Australia’s Sam Kerr during the 2-0 defeat against the Matildas, she was also fined N641,349. The referee did not punish Njoku during the game but she was later handed the ban by the disciplinary committee, after having examined the video footage of the match. The Australia striker suffered a broken jaw after the incident. The 20-year old defender who came in as a substitute in the 52nd-minutes of the match will eventually miss the match

WOMEN’S World Cup

We need team work to defeat USA, says Nkwocha

uper Falcons striker, Perpetual Nkwocha, has called on team mates to do away with individual skills and play as a team against USA in Tuesday (today) game. The striker who will be winning her 101 cap for Nigeria if she features in the game against the USA said the team should put behind them the 2-0 loss against Australia and play together. “We had a bad day against Australia because we lost in all departments,” she said. “When I was on the bench I realised we didn’t start well from the beginning because we were trying to play more individually.

“We were trying to play according to their pattern as we were absorbing all the pressure from them instead of playing our own style. “We have to let go the 2-0 loss to Australia and focus more importantly on the US game.” Speaking further, the Clemensnäs IF of Sweden striker said she believed the team had a great chance of making it past the American. Nkwocha said: “I still believe we have a great chance of qualifying from this group although it might be tough against the Americans. “It not going to be easy but we must fight hard together which is the most important thing so we can beat the US.”

Nigeria’s Josephine Chukwunonye (left) vying against Australia Kyah Simon during the 2-0 loss against the Matildas

Nigeria need an outright win against the US to stand a chance of making it to the next stage of the

competition after picking one point from two matches played against Sweden and Australia.

FIFA bans Njoku for three games NSC urges Falcons to beat USA

Njoku (right)

against the USA on Tuesday, and two subsequent matches in the competition or any two

other official matches if the Super Falcons fail to progress in the tournament.

he National Sports Commission on Monday through the Director of Federations & Elite Athletes Department, Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, has charged the Super Falcons to go all out against the USA in their final group D match of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Speaking at the team’s hotel, Kulu-Akinyemi said that the nation was behind them to progress to the next round of the competition. “On behalf of the NSC and the Director-General, I came here to say we are happy with you; we are praying with you,” she said. “We are Nigerians and we don’t give up and I want you to know that it is not over until it is over. I want to advise that you girls be focused, believe in yourselves,

be confident and don’t under-rate or over-rate your opponent. Play as a team and just do it! “We believe in you ladies and I believe that on Tuesday, June 16, something wonderful will happen. God sees the desires of your heart and those desires will be met in this trip.”

Kulu-Akinyemi

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Mali, Senegal ready for semifinal battles Charles Ogundiya

Yaw Yeboah of Ghana is challenged by Diadie Samassekou and Hamidou Maiga of Mali

he two remaining African representatives at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, Mali and Senegal, are set for their semi-final duels against Serbia and Brazil respectively for a place in the final. Mali may have lost to Serbia in the group stage of the competition, but the African team has no fear of facing Serbia in the semifinals. Mali and Serbia meet in the semifinals Wednesday in Auckland after both won thrilling

penalty shootouts to advance. Senegal advanced to the semifinals in their first U-20 World Cup and will play Brazil, giving Africa bright chances to win title. Serbia beat Mali 2-0 in the group stage of the 24-team tournament, but Mali believe they’re a much better side now and ride a wave of confidence after beating Ghana and title favourite, Germany. Senegal qualified for the U-20 World Cup for the first time this year and were not expected to progress beyond the

group stage. Coach Joseph Koto admits the expectations of fans at home were not high, but that has changed since Senegal qualified behind Portugal and Colombia in Group C, then beat Ukraine in the round of 16 and Uzbekistan in Sunday’s quarterfinals. “I can tell you one thing, (Senegal’s capital city) Dakar isn’t sleeping right now,” Koto said. “At first everyone expected us to get smashed, 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, at every match we played but the team actually progressed through the rounds and

now everyone watches the matches.” Mali coach Fanyeri Diarra spoke of a team full of belief and ready to keep punching above its weight. Diarra said: “When we first arrived we were at a lower level, but we started to believe. “Our confidence has been rising and with that confidence, taking it step by step, the results have been getting better.”

Interview 55

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2015

Oshoala: I want us to play like Real Madrid

sisat Oshoala has had a pretty spectacular 12 months by anyone’s standards. The Ikorodu native took home both the adidas Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 en route to a second-place finish with the Super Falconets in August of last year; while just last week she scored in her senior Women’s World Cup debut. In between those feats, ‘Superzee’, as she is known by her team-mates, signed for Liverpool and earned the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year Award, while also picking up the CAF young and senior player prizes. Add in becoming a Member of the Order of the Niger, an honour bestowed upon the 20-yearold by her nation’s president and it would be safe to assume that Oshoala is content with how things are going at the moment! And you would be wrong. Despite all of the accolades she has recently earned and the attention she has received from all corners of the planet, Nigeria’s No8 has been finding it difficult to enjoy herself during her first Women’s World Cup so far. That is not to say Canada 2015 has yet to be a worthwhile experience for the young starlet, though. “I have learned a lot of

things about myself as a player,” Oshoala told fifa.com after her team’s 2-0 loss to Australia. At times during the U-20 Women’s World Cup last summer it seemed almost impossibly easy for Oshoala to find the back of the net. But as the young starlet quickly pointed out, that is simply not the case at Canada 2015. “This is a big tournament with much stronger competition. When you play at the under-age tournament, and then you come to the senior World Cup, you see it’s much harder. So, you just have to adapt to it. “My style of play can’t always be the same. I need to find different ways to change my attacking patterns so I can get behind the backline.” That is a lesson Oshoala duly learned after the Super Falcons’ loss to Australia, where she and her fellow forwards rarely threatened the Matildas’ goal. After a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw where Oshoala scored Nigeria’s second and presented herself as a constant threat to Sweden, the No8 found herself frustrated against Australia. “I would say Sweden actually made it very hard for us,” explained Oshoala. “Australia I think were an easier opponent. We were unlucky not to

Oshoala in action for Super Falcons of Nigeria

get the goals we needed. But it doesn’t matter; we have to be better, no matter what.” If coach Edwin Okon can get his front three - Oshoala is usually featured up top alongside Desire Oparanozie and Ngozi Okobi – firing on all cylinders in time for Tuesday’s big test against a tough USA side, the Super Falcons may just be able to soar into the

knockout stages, something Nigeria have only done once before, at USA 1999. Oshoala believes she and her team-mates have what it takes to reach the Round of 16, and as she explains with a smile on her face she would like to emulate the style of a certain attacking trio known the world over. “I want us to play like Real Madrid’s forwards!” Oshoala

says through her laughter. “They’re very, very good, Benzema, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. “We can be similar to them and I’d like us to play just like them as much as possible. As a front three we can be very dangerous and if we try to be like them, we’ll go very far in this tournament!”

• Courtesy: fifa.com

Injury at the London Olympics, my greatest disappointment – Miller World indoor 400m bronze medallist Shaunae Miller is among the world’s most versatile 200m/400m exponents. Iaaf.org chats to the 2011 world youth and 2010 world junior 400m champion from The Bahamas about some important elements to her life, both on and off the track. My best achievement in athletics My best achievement in athletics is the time I won the overall trophy award for the ‘10-and-under girls’ category at the CUT Games held in Jamaica in 2004. It’s my most memorable achievement thus far because it was the first national team I’ve ever made and it also gave me a greater insight into what I can actually achieve throughout the rest of my track and field career. My greatest rival I consider myself a ‘newbie’ (newcomer) at the professional level, so I am yet to identify a particular rival. The best track venue The National Stadium in Jamaica. The atmosphere in Jamaica is like no other. The crowd was phenomenal. The stadium was packed and the minute I stepped on the track the people went crazy. They are real track and field supporters and they show that by the fact they always turn up in numbers for many of the meetings.

Miller

The best piece of coaching advice “They’re not going to just hand you the gold medal. If you want it, you have to go get it. You worked hard for it didn’t you? That was the hard part; this part here is where the fun kicks

in. Go show the world the talent God gave you.” – Shaun Miller (dad). The best athlete I’ve ever seen Marie Jose-Perec (the 1996 Olympic 200m and 400m champion). I got the opportunity to meet her in Lille, France, at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships. We had a press conference and she was one of the guest speakers. I admired her because we’re basically of the same build and she competed in the same events as I do. In her career she managed to run personal bests of 48.25 in the 400m and 21.99 in the 200m. She also currently holds the Olympic record in the 400m. Watching a few of her races inspired me to do great things in both the 200m and 400m. My greatest indulgence My greatest indulgence would have to be chocolate. I know it’s not good for me but at the same time it’s so hard for me to say no. My greatest disappointment My greatest disappointment was at the London 2012 Olympic Games. I was competing in the 400m prelims and I was super excited to get the opportunity to compete at my first senior international meet. But in the sport of track and field, injuries are inevitable. I was ready to race. The crowd was live and roaring, the set-

ting was amazing, and I was ready to go. The starter fired the gun and I took off. After about 20 metres I felt my left hamstring grab me, it loosened up a bit and I tried to make a go for it again, but once again it grabbed me. I ended up suffering from a strained hamstring and couldn’t finish the race. Immediately tears rushed down my face and medics came running to my attention. They offered me a wheelchair, but I denied. I ended my first Olympic experience limping off the track with tears in my eyes. But I knew it wouldn’t be the end for me and I used it as a learning experience, only to bounce back faster and stronger than ever. The best pre-competition song I Understand by Smokie Norful. It keeps me calm and reminds me that even though I’ve been through so much that I must continue to trust in God’s plan, because he won’t let me down. My best achievement outside of athletics Being accepted into the University of Georgia to pursue my undergraduate studies. My best friend in athletics My best friend in athletics is Maicel Uibo. He is a decathlete from Estonia (with a best mark of 8356, set when winning the NCAA title last week). I first met him in 2012 as a freshman at the University of Georgia. We got closer as time went by. I can share anything with him, whether it is track related or not. He’s also a hard worker and encourages me daily to do my best and I do the same for him.

On Marble

Sanctity of Truth

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.

World Record

The Space Cowboy, aka Chayne Hultgren, holds the bizarre and painful record of pulling the heaviest weight with his eye sockets. In 2009, the Australian pulled 907 pounds (humans and cycle) on the ‘Lo Show Dei Record’ show in Italy.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

N150

Public arena : the column you write

Why Buhari needs more aides Kennedy Emetulu

his is not a mocking writeup, it is a serious piece meant mainly to draw attention to something that could become a real problem in the future. While they were on the campaign trail, President Muhammadu Buhari had been mocked for not remembering the name of his vice president, for not remembering the name of his party and so on. The reason for these mistakes is not far-fetched. President Buhari’s handlers and coaches at the time were not doing their job. I know Buhari is no longer a young man and they all have to be careful how much they exert him; but, c’mon, what does it take to go through a speech and master every name and every title the man needs to mention? These things matter, the so-called elementary things matter, because when you don’t get them right, people everywhere, rightly or wrongly, cannot trust you to get the more serious ones right. Yes, Buhari does not have a university education and he hasn’t been known exactly for his eloquence, but his handlers have to prepare him adequately before he makes public speeches. He is the president of a nation for Christ’s sake! Okay, I can understand all these mistakes on the campaign trail, but it just cannot be allowed when the man is president and when talking about important foreigners! Our president has just returned from the G7 Summit in Germany, a forum of huge magnitude and significance where he met world leaders and had several chats. After a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission yesterday, he spoke on Channels TV where he had reasons to refer to his recent trip to Germany, but what did we hear? He referred to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel as “President Michelle of West Germany”! C’mon, this is just so wrong, wrong on several fronts! First Germany has a President, but his name is not Michelle, his name is Joachim Gauck and I doubt Buhari met him. And even if he did, he was not the one Buhari was referring to; he was referring to Angela Merkel (not Michelle) and her title is Chancellor, not President. The worst of the booboos is to refer to Germany as West Germany. In 2015, West Germany? C’mon! That is just not excusable! If Buhari still has the worldview of 1985 when he was in office as Military Head of State and when there was indeed a West Germany, he has to be brought into this century with a proper lecture in international relations. Let me not end this without voicing concerns too about the way Mallam Garba Shehu has been doing his job as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. He keeps issuing empty contradictory state-

Buhari

ments one after another as if they’re going out of fashion. For instance, he was the one who on 30th of May, a day after the president was sworn in, issued the statement that President Buhari had publicly declared his assets as promised during the campaign, because he said he would do so immediately upon taking government. But, in fact this did not happen. All that happened was the routine declaration at the Code of Conduct Bureau. When curious Nigerians raised eyebrows at this volte-face, Shehu icily directed them to go use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to get whatever information they wanted on the president’s assets! Exactly a week later, the same Shehu in another cringeworthy attempt at some damage control issued a statement claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari has said that in fulfilment of one of their campaign promises, his declared assets and those of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be released to the public upon the completion of their verification by the Code of Conduct Bureau. So, did the president make two separate promises about declaring his assets in public during the campaign? Of course not! And rather than simply say the president would make the public declaration of his assets within his first 100 days in office and leave it at that, he’s now claiming he will release it after verification by the Code of Conduct Bureau. Of course, that raises another question of credibility. I mean, if you are making a public declaration of your true assets would you need anyone to verify it and ascertain it’s true before you release it to the public, especially where you have the precedent of President Umaru Yar’Adua and then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to follow? Won’t you feel confident releas-

Merkel

Gauck ing it to the public immediately, knowing there can be no contradiction from anywhere, because you know you are saying the truth? The idea of waiting for the conclusion of verification before releasing it indicates that you are not sure of what you have declared to the CCB and until they finish their verification and give you a clean bill of health, you can’t do anything. Does that mean you have something to hide, something you’re praying they don’t discover upon verification? Mallam Shehu was at it again. He was quoted as saying that President Buhari sent a communication to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa to delay the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, because the president was having a meeting at

the International Conference Centre in Abuja with elected legislators of the APC at the same time the inauguration was originally scheduled. This was after the Proclamation Letter from the president had already been sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly indicating that the ceremony should be performed at 10: 00 am. Now, aides of the National Assembly Clerk are being forced to deny that any such communication was made, not even by a phone call or via text messaging. It simply didn’t happen! So, why would Mallam Garba Shehu be making such a claim? What point is he trying to make? The significance of these two examples of how Mallam Shehu works is that they put the president in a bad light. It exposes him as someone who is not sure exactly what he wants to tell the Nigerian public, someone who isn’t firm with his decision-making. Shehu should not just think his job is to be issuing statements left, right and centre, he is also responsible for burnishing and protecting the president’s image with the national and international publics. That means whatever statement he issues must be absolutely necessary and must be trusted by the people. For instance, he didn’t have to issue any statement after the president declared his assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau. He should have waited to issue a statement when the president makes up his mind to make the public declaration he promised at anytime within his first 100 days in office. If he’d exercised that patience, the president wouldn’t be wiping egg off his face now nor would he have been made to appear as though he did not intend to publicly declare his assets, but for the outcry after Mallam Garba Shehu’s initial statement. The statement about the president sending a message to the Clerk of the National Assembly to delay the inauguration was totally uncalled for after the events of the day of the inauguration. In fact, it was and still is in the interest of the presidency to extricate itself from the day’s show of shame, rather than seek to show there was an attempt to stop the proceedings, possibly to placate some party leaders who are up in arms against Saraki and co by giving the impression that the president was always on the same page with them. If that was the objective, placating such leaders does not need making such selfindicting claim. The president can always explain himself to them privately outside the public glare. So, while the bright boys and girls bring the president up to speed with the state of the world in 2015, someone should also tell Mallam Garba Shehu that in his job, patience is a virtue. He has to constantly sniff the wind first before he delivers any statement, because he is the voice of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. •Emetulu sent this piece from the United Kingdom.

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